by M. L. Briers
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“Oh!” Fallon said, pulling up short.
She was startled out of her mood by the sight of her grandmother as the elder lowered herself down into the large wing back chair with a huff of exhaustion, and Fallon shot a quick look around her, berating herself for not paying attention and walking in on the woman.
“Don’t mind me, just pretend I’m not here,” Dorothy grumbled.
“Like you did with me for the last twenty two years,” Fallon muttered back.
“If you’ve only ever heard one side of that story then I guess you’d think it the right one,” Dorothy said, and she lifted a hand and motioned back towards the door. “Go ahead, don’t worry about my feelings.”
Dorothy lifted her chin in hurt and defiance. Fallon took a step back and started to turn around, when guilt smacked her upside the head, and she groaned inwardly…
“Ok, fine.” Fallon turned back.
“Ok, fine, what?” Dorothy tossed back.
“Ok, fine, go ahead – what’s your side of the story?” Fallon asked, but from the way the young woman was pressing her lips together, Dorothy knew that she was probably on a hiding to nothing…
“Is that going to be a waste of my breath? Cos I’m a little out of it…” Dorothy shot back.
“I’ll listen, but I can’t say as I’ll believe it or not.”
“Then … park your backside,” Dorothy sighed.
She guessed that she had a shot of telling her granddaughter what she wanted her to know. The woman was an adult and she’d take it or leave it at will, but at least she’d get to say her piece.
Fallon bit down on the inside of her cheek as she walked towards an identical chair to the one her grandmother was sitting in, and she eased herself down into it.
She figured that she’d driven all that way to track the old woman down, and the least that she owed herself was hearing what the elder had to say in her own defence…
After all, she figured that there had to be something concrete to come out of the chaos that her life was in at that precise moment in time.
Finally meeting her grandmother after all those years of wondering about her was strange enough, but now she had found a mate as well … her life was inside the tumble dryer and someone had been kind enough to press the on switch…
Whatever happened next – the day really couldn’t get any stranger, or worse – could it?
CHAPTER TWELVE
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“That’s your story and you’re sticking to it?” Fallon offered her flippant comment because she didn’t know what to say.
She’d listened to the explanation from her grandmother of what had happened all of those years ago before she was even born, and she’d tried to take it all in, and, some of it had sounded quite reasonable, especially the part about her father, but still, some things still just stuck in her craw.
“Believe me or not, Fallon. I’ve said my piece now, I’ve told my side, and I can go to my grave any time knowing that you’ve heard me, even if you’ve not believed me.” Dorothy offered back.
“So, you tried to find me when my mother died?”
Fallon’s head was still spinning. She wished that she could find the off switch for it, but she wasn’t having much luck with that.
“I did.” Dorothy assured her. “I felt her light passing out of my life and I knew that she was gone from this world. But as I said; your father was a very accomplished warlock, and his blocking spells and wards were far beyond my being able to break them.”
Dorothy resented that man even now, maybe especially now, because her granddaughter was looking at her with a certain amount of scepticism, and she didn’t like it. Not one little bit…
Fallon could vouch for her father’s magic. It was one of the reasons that the man was so damn popular with vampires – hence, Jaxon, and her damn debt to him.
She could also attest to his personality – he was a narcissist, and a very accomplished manipulator of; not just magic and events, but people and the truth.
“But, you did send my mother away?”
“Send her away? No.” Dorothy said, and she’d thought about it a lot over the years. She’d relived that day a hundred times. Relived the arguments that had led up to it, over and over again…
“I’m sensing a but…”
“I suppose that – chased her off – would be a better description.” Dorothy admitted. “I told her not to handfast with your father – I certainly didn’t hide the fact that I didn’t like, nor did I trust the man.” Dorothy sighed deeply. “She was blinded by love – or bedazzled by magic. Either way – she left, and I couldn’t find her…”
“But you didn’t tell her to leave and never darken your door?” Fallon made light of everything that her father had told her when she’d brought up the subject of family.
The man was a master manipulator and she guessed that he’d used his guile on her as well. She should have known that it was just one more lie that he was dishing out to keep her on side, to use her for her magic, after all, that was her sum worth to him…
“Never. Not once when we argued, and…” Dorothy gave a small wry smile at the memory, “boy, did we argue. Your mother was a stubborn, head strong witch, much like you, I imagine. I always thought that she’d see through him and come back home…”
And she’d stayed in the same house so that she’d know where to find her. Right up to the point where she couldn’t feel her daughter in the world anymore…
Then the house had felt cold, big, and empty. Hollow to the point where every memory became stained with pain.
“Well, you’ve got a little sassy fire brewing there yourself,” Fallon offered back.
She’d almost called her grandma, just for the sheer fact of her age. It was a toss away comment that she might have offered to anyone of Dorothy’s advancing years.
But it still didn’t seem right. She still didn’t feel like family – not then – not yet.
Maybe never.
Some bridges just couldn’t be rebuilt.
Some roads couldn’t be walked down, and Fallon had to wonder if that applied to the relationship between her and her grandmother.
But Fallon was starting to understand her. She was starting to see things in a different light from the way that she had always perceived them to be – from what she’d been told.
Her father had a habit of getting his own way one way or the other, and she guessed that he’d used whatever means possible to keep her from her grandmother. In much the same way that he’d used whatever means possible to keep her working her magic for Jaxon…
Jaxon … damn.
I need to leave…
“I should go…” Fallon pushed up to her feet and Dorothy’s eyes followed her. She looked like a startled rabbit…
“I understand. You have your life to live. I hope it’s a happy one…” Dorothy rushed out.
She couldn’t say that she didn’t feel hurt. That she’d hoped against hope that Fallon would understand…
Fallon felt the rush of guilt within her. Her grandmother looked somewhat older than she had before she’d told her side of the story, and she wanted her to know that her leaving didn’t reflect on what the elder had said, and she would take it on board.
“It’s…”
“You’re not going anywhere,” Jamie announced from just outside the doorway of the room.
He’d been listening to most of it – just like Sarah had. Neither one wanted to eavesdrop, but both had felt like they had a vested interest in hearing the truth…
Fallon spun in place at the deep tones that sounded, not only adamant, but more of a command, and she locked onto the sight of him just as he bridged the gap in the doorway.
His shoulders spanned the distance between the door frame. His body became the door…
“Oh dear…” Dorothy couldn’t help but chuckle at the sight of the beta. She knew that sound – that look in his eyes – b
ecause she’d only just witnessed it for herself. “Looks like we both found a mate.”
“You found a mate?” Fallon twisted her head on her neck and stared down at the elder in disbelief.
“Well, don’t look so shocked, young lady. I’m not dead yet,” Dorothy chuckled.
“Not far off it,” Chloe called from outside the window, and Dorothy pushed forward in her chair to look around Fallon’s body and eye the vampire with disdain…
“Enjoying the view?” Dorothy called back and saw the woman’s top lip twitch with annoyance. “Shame you can’t come in and see it from this side. It’s a very pretty Inn…” she teased, stirring the pot, and getting her own back in a heartbeat.
“Well, I’m glad you’re enjoying my house,” Chloe sneered.
“Sarah’s Inn,” Dorothy tossed back.
“Who is that?” Fallon asked, somewhat bemused by the female vampire appearing once more.
“Sarah’s aunt, the Inn’s former owner, and the resident bloodsucking newbie leech who used to be a witch.” Dorothy thought she had everything covered, and she gave the vampire a wicked grin of pure satisfaction as the woman sneered back at her from the other side of the glass.
“Oh,” Fallen shrugged. “Why don’t you just stake her?” Fallon looked towards her mate and the man frowned.
“Sentimental reasons,” Dorothy assured her. “But if she doesn’t curb her wicked ways soon…”
“Bite me,” Chloe hissed back, turning on her heels and walking right into Monty.
The vampire sighed…
“What did we say about stalking the living Fae?” Monty asked like she was five years old.
“I can’t exactly stalk the dead ones, now can I?” Chloe offered back on a huff.
“Go to your room,” Monty teased, raising his hand and pointing off into the distance, and she placed a hands on her hips and offered him an old fashioned look. “Where I left you a blood bag or two to curb those cravings.” He grinned.
Chloe returned the smile.
“Fine, but only because the witches won’t play with me anyway,” Chloe lifted her chin and wrinkled her nose. “Smell that?” she frowned.
“Is that a trick? Did you fart?” Monty teased.
“Vampire…” Chloe said.
“Pot – kettle – black,” he tossed back.
“No, sniff…” she wafted her hand in the air…
“Vampire…” Monty agreed.
“That’s not good…”
“I’ll warn the witches, you warn the pack…” Chloe said, and then she bit down on her annoyance. “That’s right, I can’t get in.”
“You stay right behind me as we warn both.” Monty offered back.
“I have my…” Chloe was so used to saying it that she’d forgotten she didn’t have magic anymore.
“Stay behind me, Chloe. I won’t lose you now.”
Monty took a step towards the window and Jamie caught his eye. Perfect timing – two birds, one stone.
“Jamie, tell the pack – vampire,” Monty bit out.
He hoped that it was loud enough for the shifter to hear, but low enough so that he didn’t give the interloper a warning that he’d been busted.
“Got it,” Jamie growled back.
At the same time that the man stalked across the room towards his mate and Dorothy, so he used the packs psychic link to warn his kin of the trouble that was ahead.
‘Monty says we have a new vampire on the loose…’
‘What’d he do – turn someone else?’ Samuel growled back, but the man was already up on his feet – ready and willing to defend the pack.
‘I’m on my way to the Inn – Samuel, you’re in charge of the pack lands – get the job done. Jamie – protect the Inn and witches until I get there…’ Nathan growled, cursing that he wasn’t right on the doorstep already.
‘Done…’ Jamie said as he eyed his mate when she fidgeted on her feet at his advance.
“We’ve got a vampire problem…” Jamie informed them.
“So stake Chloe and have done with it,” Dorothy shot back.
“I heard that,” Chloe called from outside.
“What does he look like?” Fallon asked, and that rang more than a few warning bells within the beta’s mind…
“Wanna tell me who he is?” Jamie asked.
He wasn’t certain that his mate knew, and yet from the sheepish look that she gave him; he had a good idea that the witch might just know the identity of the bloodsucker that hadn’t been invited to the party.
“Could be a guy called Jaxon…”
She tossed up a shoulder, feeling a little guilty inside for bringing trouble with her.
Fallon didn’t do coincidences. Sure, she knew that there were some in life, the odds were split, but where Jaxon was concerned – the man liked to keep his assets close, and she guessed that she’d right royally messed with that plan.
She should have told him that she needed a day or two. He might not have liked it, but finding her gone could have been a red rag to his bullish nature…
“Jaxon Bream?” Monty asked through the closed window…
“You know him?” Fallon shot the vampire a look.
“I know of him – I think we crossed paths once, a long time ago…” Monty informed her…
“Forty three years to be precise…” Jaxon announced.
The unwelcome vampire appeared in front of Monty in a heartbeat, and eyed Chloe like she was something to be weighed and measured… It unnerved her a little…
Jaxon didn’t like taking chances, especially where newbies were concerned – they were even more unpredictable than werebears, and a lot more deadly…
“Give me a moment’s reflection and I could probably narrow it down to the day, time, and second for you.”
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
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“Not necessary.” Monty offered back, giving a small shake of his head as he put his body between the vampire and his mate.
“Hmm, interesting…” Jaxon mused, eyeing Chloe a little longer than Monty would have liked.
It wasn’t so much the way that the man’s eyes was taking in his mate, more the ice cold tone that resided within his voice. He may have appeared benign in that moment in time, but Monty knew that he was anything but…
“My territory,” Monty informed him, bringing the man’s attention solely back towards him.
“The land or the woman?” Jaxon offered back.
He had a small, cruel smile on his lips, and Monty didn’t like it. Didn’t like the whole feel that he was getting from the vampire.
“Both.”
“Ah.” Jaxon nodded in understanding, just once, but that was all that it took.
Then he turned and started a slow, thoughtful pace of the area. He might have appeared to be lost in deep thought, but Monty knew better – the vampire was coiled and ready to fight.
“Ah?” Monty echoed.
“Then we have a small problem.” Jaxon informed him, and those words were meant for him alone.
This was about territory. At least, that was where Monty wanted to take the diversion away from the vampire’s assessment of his mate…
“Do we?”
“We do.” Jaxon turned his attention back towards him. “You have something that belongs to me.”
Jaxon lifted his hand and pointed through the window at Fallon. The witch pressed her lips together and bit down on the desire to tell him where to get off.
Her father might have owed him a debt, but that didn’t mean that she belonged in his service. Not then – not ever, and she’d fight him tooth and nail on that point.
One favour. One spell – that was all that she’d agreed to give him in return to wipe her father’s debt out.
Owned by a vampire. Not bloody likely!
Fallon took a long step towards the window and noted that the beta matched it. That protective movement was both irrational, as the vampire hadn’t been invited in, and redundant, as she could more t
han take care of herself…
But, she understood it…
“There’s a difference between working for you, and belonging to you,” Fallon bit out.
“Yes, there is, and we both know which one applies to you,” Jaxon met and held her gaze.
His eyes took her in. Every twitch, every breath that raised and lowered her breasts, every emotion on her face, and every thought that all of that conveyed to him.
The woman was getting brazen. He couldn’t allow that.
Her father had known his place and had acted accordingly. She needed to know that too.
He’d need to show her just who was in charge and what would happen to her should she deviate from the script.
Just … not then.
He was more than happy to take on both of the vampires, and any shifters that he’d scented on the land. Hell, he didn’t even mind taking on a witch or two, if he needed to do it…
But, he was outnumbered with them all in the one place at the same time, and he hadn’t been invited in. He really didn’t need to waste his time laying siege to the house until his wayward witch gave up, admitted that she’d lost, and came out with her proverbial tail between her legs.
No, the one thing that he could do was to bide his time. After all, he had plenty of it.
“You’re coming back with me,” Jaxon informed her like it was an absolute. A given. A foregone conclusion, and in his mind – it was.
That ruffled her feathers.
“I never said that I wasn’t,” Fallon offered back.
She knew that rocking the boat wasn’t the way to go. There were too many variables right then for things to go down smoothly, and with her growly, protective mate on hand; she knew that things could go very badly wrong in a heartbeat.
No, she had to bide her time and play it smart…
“Good to hear,” Jaxon announced.
He was trying to read her emotions, and yet, right then she was completely blank to him.
He didn’t like that – she was definitely her father’s daughter.
“But you need to leave now,” Fallon said.
It wasn’t a demand, but she hadn’t made it sound like a request either. She knew better than to try to force the man’s hand.