“No.” She laid a finger against his lips. “You can’t toss a chance to be human for a jump in bed. I won’t allow it. I want the guarantee you’ll be in my bed as a man, not a wolf.” Her gaze was so intense he thought he might drown and be happy to do so. “It might have taken me awhile to come around to your way of thinking, but now that I’m here, I don’t intend to let you get away.” She faltered, dropped her gaze. “If you’re a wolf then…” Sophia buried her face in the crook of his neck. “…you’re just going to have to find a way to make me one, too.”
Last night she said she wouldn’t do that. For a moment, Xavier couldn’t do or say anything except lift her face to look into her eyes. He blinked at her sober expression. She’s truly amazing. “I…you cannot…” He held her close, content with stroking her back as words failed. Whatever happened in the cosmos to give this woman to him, there’d be no way he could adequately repay that generosity.
“What, no snappy comeback?” Her breath warmed his ear. “I think I’m getting to you.” She pulled back. A brilliant smile parted her lips and lit her eyes.
“I won’t deny that statement, especially after last night.” He slowly drew her forward, intent to spend a few moments teasing mouth, when the front door slammed open to admit the roommate. Damn it all to hell. “After this mission is over, if you don’t consent to move in with me, I’ll personally kick each and every being in this apartment out. No exceptions.” He leaned his forehead against her with some level of frustration.
“No arguments from me.” She stroked his cheek, her smile still in place. “Use force if necessary.”
“Geez, get a room you two.” Mona shook the rain from her umbrella then deposited a few canvas grocery bags on the kitchen counter. “It looks like the sun’s trying to come out. Maybe there’ll be a rainbow.” Her eyes sparkled with her grin. “It’s been ages since we had a good rainbow.”
Sophia sucked in a quick breath. “A rainbow. Do you think—?”
“It could be possible.” She’d never been as beautiful as she appeared in that moment with her eyes opened wide with hope and a faint blush on her round cheeks. Xavier hated to spoil it by moving.
“I never considered the probability before.” She slipped from his lap and padded to the window. He quickly followed, not willing or able to be apart from her.
The rain had indeed slacked to a desultory drizzle and the sky had lightened to a pale gray.
“Stranger things have happened.” He touched her shoulder. “Ready to go? We could be lucky and find the magic dust.”
“Wild horses couldn’t tear me from it.”
“Uh, guys?” Mona cleared her throat. “I found this stuck to the front door. I think you might want to take a look before you head out.” She waved a black envelope.
“Don’t open it!” Panic ran through Sophia’s voice as she lunged for the stationery just as Mona broke the red wax seal. “It’s an Immediate Summons.”
“Oh, no.” Xavier knew exactly what the letter meant. “Send me instead.”
“I can’t. You know the rules.” Sophia shook her head. Red words glowed in the air.
“Your presence is requested without delay at the Immortal Court.”
The air surrounding the two women filled with thick red smoke, winding around them like a rope. Xavier sprang forward, tried to yank Sophia from the smog but his fingers slipped glanced off as if it were a silky wall. “Break the ward, Sophia. It’s too strong for me.”
“I can’t. The magic is too powerful.” Her frantic gaze met his. “The rules state whomever breaks the seal of an Immediate Summons will also be transported along with the Summonee. Xavier, go. Find the rainbow’s end without me. There’s no time to waste.”
“Sophia!” He darted into the red mist but the women vanished and the haze disappeared. Stumbling into the kitchen counter, he threw back his head, and howled.
*****
“Are you sure Sterling’s schedule is clear today?” Sophia heard the whine in her voice and hated herself for it. She gripped the armrests of her chair with nervous fingers and exchanged an anxious glance with Mona.
“Honey, I’m telling you the truth.” Astral glanced away from her computer screen as she fished around in her blue beehive hair-do for a pencil. “He asked me to clear his afternoon when I issued you the Summons. That’s all I know.”
“Thanks.” She frowned as Mona calmly flipped through an outdated magazine. How could her friend remain so unfazed? The old familiar dread and fear bubbled through her stomach and she wished she were anywhere but there. For an hour, she and Mona had waited in the reception area, but Sterling had yet to make an appearance. “Astral, what’s the deal with the shake-up in the Courts? Are they really inviting humans to sit on the bench?”
A smug grin lit the secretary’s face as she looked over the tops of her reading glasses. “It’s true and Sterling’s pitching a fit. The eight Immortals decided their courts were a tiny bit biased, especially when beings of Sterling’s ilk are involved. So, in order to add a bit of fairness to the functions of the Court, they’re allowing two mortals to join in each Realm.” She tapped the pencil against her desktop. “It’ll be interesting.”
“I’ll bet. Where are the Samhain festivals this year?”
“All over the Mortal Realm near each Portal. I’m surprised you haven’t heard about them since there’s one in the park near you.”
Sophia shrugged. “I’ve been a bit preoccupied.” Her cheeks burned when she thought about just how much.
“She’s got a boyfriend.” Mona tossed the magazine onto a table at her side and leaned forward. “He’s gorgeous and a—ow!” Her words stopped as Sophia stepped hard on her foot.
“He’s a sharp dresser was what Mona meant to say.” She threw her roommate a hard look. “He’s also a pain in the butt sometimes.”
Astral cocked her head. “Honey, aren’t all men worth their salt?” Sterling’s office door opened. “Showtime.”
“Great.” Sophia glanced at Mona in trepidation.
“Send up the Gatekeeper!”
She knew one moment of profound panic as she struggled to her feet. “Mona, are you coming?”
“No. I think I’ll just wait for you here.” She rifled through the rest of the outdated reading material before selecting a tattered copy of a periodical. “I’d rather not see him in action.”
“Some moral support you are.” Sophia trudged up the staircase then pushed open the partially open door to Sterling’s office. “I’d like to say it’s a pleasure to see you again, Sterling, but we both know that’s a lie.” She cringed as the door slammed shut behind her at the tiniest flick of his wrist.
“Sit down, Miss Raines.” It was an order, not an invitation.
“There was no need for an Immediate Summons.” She wet her dry lips. Her knees shook as she sank into the soft leather chair in front of his desk.
“I disagree.” His fingers flew over his computer keyboard. “You’d have ignored a normal Summons.” He hit a key. “You’re in serious trouble.”
“Why? Did you foresee my doom in your tarot cards, or maybe you’ve recently purchased a crystal ball?” She pleated the strap of her purse in her lap.
“Spare me your attempt at humor.” Sterling stood in one fluid movement then perched on the front of his desk. “I had an interesting visitor this morning who gave me an earful of your recent…escapades.” He plucked a white fiber from his sleeve and gave her a malicious grin that sent chills over Sophia’s skin.
“Oh?” She refused to give him the satisfaction of showing fear. “I hope you’ve heard only good things. You know how rumors start.”
“Don’t play games with me.” Sterling’s eyes blazed red before resuming their original onyx hue. He left the desktop to pace about the office, his movements carefully controlled. “Braeden Hollister had some remarkable news to share.”
Prickles of alarm crept up and down her arms at the mention of the dragon’s name. “I see. Is he a
friend of yours?” She bit her lip as her birthmark flared to life with excruciating pain.
“Don’t pretend you don’t know who I’m talking about.” She jumped. His voice came from directly behind her, his lips inches from her ear. “It escapes me for the moment how you found him, but let me assure you, I’m none too happy to hear you paid him a visit. I’m even less amused to find out you didn’t go alone.”
Sophia swallowed around the ball of fear in her throat. Sterling once more came into her line of vision. “You must be talking about my boyfriend, Francis.” She felt enormously pleased for being able to remember the false name Xavier selected. “If we ran into Mr. Hollister it was purely by accident.”
“Enough!” His eyes flashed red. “This penchant of yours for lying isn’t endearing.” He gripped her chin between his thumb and forefinger until she had no choice but to meet his gaze. “The man is more than he seems.”
“I…I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Sour bile rose in her throat. Above all, she wanted to shield Xavier for as long as possible.
“Perhaps it has escaped your notice that your fair-haired boy-toy is in reality a werewolf, and what’s more, he’s telling people far and wide he’s your life-mate.” His smile was a study of cruelty as it smirked across his face, leaving that chiseled visage thunderous. “Ah, the truth is in your eyes. You’ve never mastered the ability to hide your emotions.” He resumed pacing, hands clasped behind his back. “I’m disappointed in you, Sophia.”
Relief washed over her. The truth was out in the open. Now she could at least try to put a spin on the tale. “So what if Xavier is a werewolf? I didn’t have concrete proof of his status until recently, and remember you advised me not to bring in any more fake paranormal subjects.” She pushed at her glasses. “You don’t like that, remember?”
“Ah, but it’s not the whole story.”
“That depends.” Restless, she left her chair, almost colliding with Sterling. When he didn’t offer up further comment, she sighed. “Xavier is a werewolf, that much is true, but in his defense, he’s trying to lift a gypsy curse to become human, so he won’t be a paranormal for long.” Her heart lurched when she realized she missed Xavier, longed for his comforting, over-protective presence.
“The state of his humanity doesn’t concern me.” He came to a halt near the office door. A frown marred the hard set to his lips. “Tell me, what are his plans once he’s free of the curse?”
“I…” Her cheeks burned anew. Should she answer truthfully, tell her boss she hoped as soon as Xavier’s curse was lifted, he’d throw her to the ground and jump her bones? Would Sterling find the humor in that? “I hope he’ll stick around. Right now, we’re still attempting to gather ingredients for the potion.”
“Ah, a potion, huh?”
Damn. An expression akin to joy spread over Sterling’s face, out of place with his evil persona. “The gypsy said she’d lift the curse if we brought her the ingredients for a magical potion. Xavier will need to drink the concoction by the end of All Hallows Eve.”
“Interesting.” He tapped a forefinger against his chin, his dark eyes gleaming.
She fought against the urge to vomit. “Why interesting?”
“Nothing to be concerned about, Miss Raines, but make no mistake, I will have the werewolf eventually.”
“He won’t come willingly. He’s a stubborn man.”
Sterling smiled, and Sophia nearly bolted from the room in terror. “Oh, he will, because I have something he desperately desires.”
She laughed at the absurdity of his statement. “There’s nothing you have that Xavier could possibly want. He’s your opposite in every way conceivable.” Her insides clenched when she remembered the way Xavier’s eyes glowed when he looked at her. “You could never understand what drives him to succeed.”
“Poor, trusting Sophia. You forget—I have you.”
Her knees buckled and she slumped into her chair. Nothing would stop Xavier from coming after her—not even the threat of death. Tears sprang to hers eyes. She blinked them back. “Once he’s free from the curse you won’t be able to touch him. He’ll be fully mortal and beyond your grasp.”
“True, but then I don’t expect him to succeed in his quest.” He straightened his tie. “This interview is over, my dear. I’ll be in touch.”
“What do you mean he won’t succeed? We’re close to obtaining the last of the potion compounds.” The urge to run screaming from the room pressed in on her. She needed to return to Xavier, hide him away, keep him safe, and reassure herself that he could survive an attack from Sterling.
“I’m sure you are, but because you’re bound to me, I control your destiny.” He moved to his desk and seated himself behind it. “Did you really expect me to let you wander off into the sunset with a happy ending?” He picked up a pencil and began to conduct an imaginary orchestra. “After all, what would happen to my reputation if your life was sealed with a kiss and you married your true love?” If his laugh could take on an existence, it would be a black, shapeless thing, the type of entity that haunted children in dreams. “You love him, don’t you? My poor, pathetic underling has gone and fallen for a werewolf.”
“I…” She gave up trying to deny it—to him or herself. Xavier had gotten under her skin, past her defenses, and into her heart. Now, she’d do anything to keep him away from Sterling. She shoved her glasses up the bridge of her nose when the words wouldn’t come.
“After the death of Evangeline, I, in my capacity on the Judgment Panel, added ten years to your servitude because you pissed me off. That brings you up to what, ninety years? What would you say if I were to null your contract and let you seek the employment of your choice in the Realm of your choice?”
“What would I have to do?” Long experience with him had taught her to be very wary of anything he said.
The Portal Master waved a hand in dismissal, tossed the pencil on the desk. “Bring the werewolf and the gypsy potion to me. I’ll discuss my plans for you further at that time.” He tapped a few keys on the keyboard. “But do have a care. You have little more than two days. After that, Golden Boy will be nothing more than a furry pet. You’ll be bound to me for what will most likely be the rest of your miserable life with no hope and no love.” His grin was wide. “That’s the sort of ending I prefer.”
“But—” The office door flew open with enough force to crack the window glass, admitting a highly agitated Mona.
“Sophia, we need to go. I saw that dragon person wandering around downstairs, and I think he recognized me from the elevator yesterday.” She rocketed into the office, her dark curls streaming behind her. “Ooh, is this the Portal Master?” She came to an abrupt halt near Sterling’s chair. “You look so much different than the last time I saw you. You were all dark doom and gloom then with threatening curses and dire warnings.”
“Of course he’s the Portal Master.” Sophia’s jaw hung open when her roommate batted her eyes.
“You really should try to smile more, sir. A face as handsome as yours doesn’t look as good as it could with all that scowling, and your unfortunate choice of wearing black all the time isn’t doing anything for your complexion.” She leaned forward to straighten his tie. “Silk. Nice.”
Sterling blinked in amazement. “Pardon me?” The silky purr of his voice heralded dire things.
Sophia jumped from her chair. “Mona, leave the nice Portal Master alone.”
“But maybe he wouldn’t be such an evil man if he had a friend. Maybe he just needs someone to talk to or a home-cooked meal.” She smiled at him. “Now, I can’t cook but maybe you’d like carry-out?”
“Mona…” Sophia hoped she wouldn’t be blasted to the Arkadva Mines right in front of her. “Come on.”
Sterling cleared his throat as the stupor of surprise wore off. “The lost daughter of the Moussai family.” His eyes gleamed red and he rested his gaze on Mona. “I regret to inform you my heart is as black as the night. I have no redeeming qual
ities whatsoever, but thank you for your concern.”
“How do you get your eyes to do that cool glowy thing? Can you teach me?” Mona scooted closer to him to peer into his face. “Sophia doesn’t ever let me do anything fun like that, but I guess you can’t blame her since I tend to break things or catch things on fire.”
“Glowy thing?” Sterling made a weird choking sound. “What?”
Sophia stifled a laugh at the flabbergasted expression on his face. Mona’s constant chatter had broken down lesser men than the Portal Master. “Your point, Mona?” She gathered her purse then slunk to the door, keeping a cautious eye on her boss.
“Yes, why exactly are you here, Miss Moussai?” Sterling got to his feet, staring at Mona as if she were a puzzle he couldn’t quite figure out. “I’ve been lenient regarding your case up to now, but if you wish, I’d be happy to turn you over to the proper authorities. The dragon, for one, is very interested in you.”
Mona’s lavender eyes clouded with uncertainty. “I’m happy where I am, thank you, with the exception of Sophia’s strictness.” She smiled and twisted a strand of hair around her finger. “See, if you would just not frown so much I’m sure you wouldn’t feel the need to be so terrorizing all the time.”
“I’m the Portal Master and I’ll be feared at all times! I can take your wretched soul and bend it to my will!” Sterling’s roar reverberated through the small office. “Get out before I change my mind.”
Sophia hustled Mona down the staircase and past Astral’s desk in record time. “Are you happy now? You ticked him off. That won’t bode well for anyone, least of all me.”
Charmed by the Werewolf Page 21