by Connie Wood
The marks stood out against the contours of his muscles, lighter than the smooth brown tone of his skin. Silvan continued to gaze at the scars, as memories of the origins of those marks seared his mind. He closed his eyes and blocked out the vision. It would do him no good to remember. The scars were reminder enough. That was why his house held no mirrors.
He turned his back to the mirror and changed quickly before leaving the bedroom. Tithe stood in the living room, pulling a shirt over his head. Silvan flinched. Only Tithe held more scars than he did, or anyone he had ever seen. Sensing his presence, Tithe whipped around, anger burning in his eyes before he shielded himself.
“Sorry, I didn’t realize you were there,” Silvan apologized, knowing the man’s unease by being caught unaware.
“It is I that am sorry. Highly strung from tonight’s work, I guess.”
“I understand that.” Silvan perused the cozy room. “I never knew you owned a house up here.”
“I don’t. It belongs to the organization. It is not used a great deal. I did offer it to the last venator who was stationed here, but he chose to live out his penance in harsher climates.”
“Thank you for your assistance tonight,” Tithe said after a minute.
Silvan nodded, he could sense that Tithe had something else to say, though his instinct told him he wasn’t sure whether he wanted to hear it.
“Your assignment here is over,” Tithe started before he paused a second. “You can go home to your sun-soaked green fields. Not a drop of snow in sight.”
“I can hear a ‘but’ coming,” Silvan said.
Tithe smiled. “I forgot you know me best of anyone. There is something I must ask you to do. I need you to stop in Rome on your way home.”
“Why?”
“A venator stationed at a small outlying town near there has gone missing.” Tithe crossed his arms against his chest and exhaled audibly.
“Well, that’s not totally unusual. Our profession is dangerous, shifters have been known to take out a few of our kind before,” Silvan answered.
“Yes, but this is one of the only venators with a family. They don’t know what happened to him, but his wife is asking questions, she deserves answers if we can give them to her. His children need closure if it’s due.” Tithe moved over to the small fireplace and stood in front of it, the flames reflecting orange against his face.
Silvan’s heart lurched. This was the reason most venators didn’t have families, it was too dangerous. Silvan pictured a woman and children left in the dark about their lover and protector’s fate.
“Fine,” Silvan replied. “I will make my way to Rome first and investigate what happened.”
“Thank you,” Tithe turned to face him. “There’s one other thing.”
Foreboding rose in Silvan’s stomach at Tithe’s words.
“The venator who is missing is Lazarus.”
Silvan cursed. It seemed as if his past was coming back to haunt him.
~* * *~
Tithe marched through the Hall and stomped straight into his office. Rin rose from behind his desk the instant he saw him enter.
“Is the wendigo destroyed?” Rin asked.
“Yes.”
“And Silvan was unharmed?” Rin stepped out from behind the desk.
“Yes, Silvan has caught a flight to Rome. He is to search for Lazarus.” Tithe moved over to the window at the side of his office and peered out at the quiet street, hoping some of the peace would seep into his soul.
“Is that wise?” Rin queried.
“Probably not. However, Silvan is one of the best venators we have and Lazarus needs to be found.” Tithe pulled the curtains closed, turned and sat down in his chair behind his desk.
“And the bear?” Rin asked.
“So many questions, Rin.” Tithe looked up at the man standing before him. “You have concern for the bear?”
Not a muscle moved, no emotion betrayed Rin’s true emotions.
“You certainly have concern for the woman,” Tithe said, creasing his brow in curiosity. “I know it was you who gave her directions to the bear.”
“I did.” Rin didn’t deny it. Tithe knew he wouldn’t.
“You are a contradiction. You obviously believe in love, even though you have seen firsthand the consequences it has. You show concern for your enemy, yet would never back down from a fight.”
“Life is a contradiction,” Rin said bitterly.
“True enough,” Tithe conceded. He stood up. “My thanks for your assistance in looking after the city.”
Rin bowed his head and Tithe wondered if the man would ever be able to leave his Samurai training behind. Rin turned smartly on his heel and left the office, clicking the door shut behind him.
Tithe exhaled and started to pace the floor, his mood ferocious. The task with the wendigo, though revolting, didn’t affect him the way it did Silvan. Tithe saw it as a monster that had to be disposed of. No complications in that.
But when he had returned to the cabin, the constant barrage of work and life-altering decisions awaited him. And those lives to be altered were of his closest allies and some he called friend.
Lazarus had disappeared and his widow specifically requested Silvan’s assistance. Alarm bells screamed at him at the appeal, and yet he knew he had to send his friend. They had all served together on the Brigantine ship, Tithe as captain, Silvan and Lazarus part of the finest crew to board a vessel. And the deadliest.
Now they were all hunters and their brotherhood demanded the respect to stand together, even if the two men loathed each other.
Tithe silently cursed and looked at his desk. Rin had tidied it to within an inch of its life. The man was almost retentive. But he was loyal and strong. Tithe frowned, was Rin strong enough to carry out the next order Tithe knew he had to hand down? An email Tithe had received while at the cabin specified that there had been a number of deaths of a couple of prominent officials by a shifter.
Tithe knew who was responsible. He would have to send Rin. He would have to order Rin to kill the hawk.
Against his will, his heart went out to his men. He knew what it was like to kill one you loved. The burden of it held onto your soul, never to be relinquished.
Tithe’s mood darkened as pent up energy coursed through him, making him agitated. He crossed the office and flung the door open, it hit the opposite wall with a deafening bang.
He strode out and across the length of the Hall. Nobody dared to stop him. He reached the gigantic front doors and easily pushed them open. Fresh night air cooled his heated skin but did nothing for his mood. He needed to release some emotion. The question was, how did a man of such immense power release some energy?
The darker side of his psyche whispered quietly; kill something. The humanitarian side of him agreed. Just kill something evil, it sighed.
Chapter Twenty-One
Dane’s arm lay heavy across Lea’s waist, comforting her as she woke with a jolt. Images of the wendigo had found their way into her dreams, turning them into fully fledged nightmares.
Lea rubbed her sleepy eyes while they adjusted to the morning light. She twisted her body to get a better look at Dane beside her. She grimaced as a dull ache turned into a throb in her upper arm. Experimentally she moved it and felt the rasp of a bandage against a wound. Then she remembered, the wendigo had sliced open her arm as it stole her from her bed in the hotel. The cold of the snow must have numbed it, sending it from her mind.
She recalled all of it now and tears filled her eyes. A sob tore from her lips, her emotions too strong. She covered her eyes with her hand as she cried.
“Shh. It’s all over now.” Dane’s soft voice soothed her, it was low and groggy from the sleep he just woke from.
He didn’t say another word. He just continued to hold her as she cried, sometimes patting her hair with his huge hand. She released all the pain and fear she had kept in check the night before. Now it spilled out unheeded.
Slowly her tears aba
ted but she continued to lay there in the comfort of Dane’s embrace for what felt like hours.
“I’m sorry,” Dane said, emotion breaking his voice.
“For what?” Lea asked. “I’m the one who’s been crying all over you.”
“For leaving you at the hotel.”
Lea shivered. “I was so terrified.”
“I know,” this time Dane’s voice did crack.
“But you weren’t to know that thing would come for me.”
“It’s no excuse,” Dane ground out.
Lea snuggled into his warmth, careful not to touch too many of his bandaged wounds. Last night when they arrived at the house, she had cleaned and dressed his injuries the best she could. She worried that some may be fatal. Dane had looked at her almost sadly and stated that it took a hell of a lot to kill a versipellis.
“I feel safe here with you,” Lea murmured as she snuggled closer.
“I will never leave you unprotected again.”
Lea reached up and caressed the rough stubble of his jaw, it tickled her palm and sent shivers through her. She could feel his dark gaze on her, but she wasn’t sure if she could stand their intensity right now on top of everything else. Instead she looked around the room, taking in the classic décor.
“I don’t come here often,” Dane said, obviously noticing her checking out the place.
“It’s homey, comforting.”
“It is with you in it,” Dane said roughly.
Lea raised her head and finally looked in Dane’s eyes. He was serious.
“You know I love you, Dane. Today more so than ever before. I don’t know how it can work out between us,” she added sadly, her heart aching anew.
She felt him balk at her statement and she placed her hand on his chest, remembering how it calmed and soothed him. She felt his heart beat pounding strong beneath her palm.
“Are you willing to try? Just for a little while?” she asked.
“Try what?” She thought she heard hope tinge his voice.
“Try being together.”
He didn’t answer, his reluctance split her heart but not her soul. She wouldn’t give up on them.
“What does it feel like?” she asked, changing tactics.
“Feel like?”
“To shape shift. To be two very different things in one package. Does it feel wonderful?”
“Sometimes,” Dane slowly answered. “But lately all I want to feel is with you, be it man or bear.”
Lea’s heart soared.
~* * *~
Lea sat at his huge white oak desk, writing a letter. She was the first person to ever sit there. The thought bought him pleasure. She was the only woman ever to enter his home, or his den for that matter. The only woman to enter his heart.
It had been a week since the horrifying night with the wendigo. Slowly Lea’s nightmares lessened and together they had settled into a cozy domestic routine. His wounds were slowly mending, they would leave scars forever. His strength had returned. It had been the best week of his life. The idea made him pause. He would miss her when she was gone. And she would leave, it was only a matter of time.
How long could such a vibrant amazing woman stay with a man who could potentially turn into a bear and rip her throat out in a moment of weakness?
But for now, Dane sat contently and watched Lea write her letter, reveling in the normalcy of it. A knock at the door bought him out of his reprieve. Lea started and dropped her pen at the sound.
He jumped to his feet and quickly strode across the room. Dane grasped the handle of the large wooden door as another knock echoed through the room.
Dane opened it, slowly, readying himself for what may be outside.
“Darius.” Surprised, Dane embraced his cousin. “Come in.”
Darius stepped over the threshold dramatically.
“Christ cousin, what animal used you as a scratching post?” Darius asked.
“A wendigo.”
“Yes, I heard.” Darius turned toward Lea as Dane shut the door behind them. “My lady,” Darius greeted her.
Lea stepped away from the desk and came to stand in front of Darius. A feat most men couldn’t pull off without either cowering or preparing to fight.
“I don’t think we’ve been introduced, though I do recognize you from the venator’s hall.” Lea produced her hand. “I’m Lea.”
Darius shook it, a sly grin crossing his handsome face before he raised her hand to his mouth and kissed her knuckles.
“Cousin,” Dane warned.
“Relax,” Darius said, releasing Lea’s hand. “I can see she is yours. I would never dream of hurting you so.” Darius looked up at him. “Or angering you.”
“Would you excuse us?” Darius said to Lea. “My cousin and I have some things to discuss.”
“We do?” Dane asked.
“Yes. What do you think I came all the way out here with no purpose? We need to talk.”
Lea smiled and graciously stepped back. Dane continued to stare at Darius. His cousin had never been so polite, except when he deigned to bed a woman. And Dane knew he would never be as stupid as to try it on his woman.
“Come, Cousin,” prompted Darius.
Dane turned to Lea. “We will be in the bar,” he leaned down and kissed her soft lips before heading toward the other room, Darius following behind.
“How are you doing?” Darius asked as they reached the bar.
“Well enough,” Dane answered, jumping up to sit on the unused bar. “I must admit, the wendigo did some damage.”
“I can see that,” Darius pulled out a bar stool and sat down. “But I meant more along the lines of the woman.”
“She stays here for now. But we both know it must end soon enough.” Dane said it with as much bravado as he could muster. Darius eyed him with those strange translucent blue eyes.
“Perhaps it doesn’t have to end.”
“We’ve discussed this, Cousin,” Dane’s voice like ice.
“I know a way you can change her,” Darius blurted out.
“Change her?”
“Into one of us.”
Dane jumped down from the bar, his heart about to burst as he offered Darius a disbelieving look.
“There is no way to change us, it is impossible as far as I know,” Darius continued. “But you can transform a human into a shifter.”
Dane stopped. “How?”
“There is a verse that is to be read aloud by the versipellis trying to change the human. It’s written in one of the ancient texts.”
“What, that’s all?” Dane asked. He knew Darius was well versed in the legends of their kind. He had studied the ancient legends of many lands.
“You have to kill her first,” Darius stated.
“No way,” Dane bit out, horrified even by the thought.
Darius stood up. “You have to kill her, say the verse and then, if her love is true for you, she will resurrect as a shifter.”
Understanding suddenly dawned on Dane and his heart broke for his cousin standing before him. “Is that what happened with Beatrice?”
Darius’ eyes hardened, he looked feral and mad. “Yes. I loved her and killed her,” he said, and then some of the bitterness left his voice, leaving only the sadness. “But she apparently didn’t love me in return. She didn’t come back.”
“I can’t do it,” Dane said.
“You can change her into one of us,” Darius rasped and Dane was surprised at the emotion in his words. “It will give you and Lea a chance for a real life together.”
“Then you need to do it, Dane.”
Both men spun around. Lea stood at the door, blind determination blazing in her face.
“You need to change me into one of you,” she repeated.
“I will not kill you,” Dane said with steel in his voice. “I can’t.”
“Kill me to have a better life.” Lea stepped forward and took Dane’s hand in hers. “A life with you.”
“A life with me is
not worth your life.” Dane pulled his hand away.
Lea stepped back, tears glistening in her eyes.
“The venator, Rin, warned me that I would encounter magic that could cost me my life.”
“Then listen to him,” Dane barked. “This will cost your life and then some.”
“Dane,” she pleaded.
“You will not die by my hand.”
~* * *~
Darius walked barefoot through the fresh snow. He savored the feel of it, languished in it. He had been away from his true home for too long. He’d been in the city a long time. It was starting to dull his senses.
He meandered slowly along, only his thoughts for company. Just like he was used to. Sweet solitude.
He had gone to Lea’s house in the city to speak with her. The venator guard was very uncooperative. Darius had no qualms about putting him out of his miserable existence. Strangely, he was mildly pleased that it wasn’t the other venator, the one with the Samurai sword.
But before he disposed of the hunter, he had learned that Lea had come to find his cousin. He liked her spirit, she obviously loved Dane. And Dane loved her, whether he was willing to admit it or not. He had known his cousin too well for many centuries not to know that his heart was now claimed.
It was the only reason he had told them both of the changing ceremony. He was certain their love was true. He would never have told them otherwise. He would die before he cursed his cousin to his own fate.
A fate alone, with unrequited love festering deep within his soul, tainting everything he did. Bitter bile rose within his stomach and he cursed his weakness at his memories.
Darius stopped and crouched in the snow, feeling it through his fingers. He grinned and lay down. He shivered slightly in his leather pants and light shirt. They sky was iridescent blue, perfect and unmarred, just like the snow beneath him.
He could lay here like this forever, so peaceful he could fall asleep. But out here, to sleep out in the open was to die. And he wasn’t ready for that journey yet. Not yet.
Grudgingly, he got to his feet, shaking the wetness out of his long hair. He looked around and sighed. He needed some excitement in his life, he decided. Something to get his adrenaline pumping, his soul singing. Bring his body pleasures he’d long denied himself.