by Sophia Danu
A gentle breeze blew around us, though not a single tree on the ridge moved. The spirit of the Goddess called to me and came in the form of a small whirlwind sweeping the two of us in a windy cocoon. Our hair rose in the air of the warm, loving magic. After but a moment, it eased and settled. In that brief moment, I felt the feminine power of my family— those still alive and those that have gone before— connected through me. With a smile I recognized the loving hand of Nana and my mother.
Alex looked at me, intensity and fierce emotion evident in his gaze. “I love you, Keeley. You're amazing and extraordinary and your soul is pure and,” he continued in a tone thick with satisfaction, “you are mine.”
I smiled and kissed his lips softly. We made our way down the mountain for our goodbyes to the physical remains of Nana. The funeral was a short and very moving service. Ellen, the Presbyterian preacher who was good friends with Nana presided over the services. As a tribute, she asked people whose lives were touched by Nana to stand and say a word. Over thirty people testified how Nana helped them or someone they loved.
I cried during the moving service and felt compelled to follow in my grandmother's footsteps as I witnessed the miracle of her gift. To listen to so many people give thanks for her and share their story was very special to me and inspired me. Nana affected these people's lives for the better. There was no better way for me to use my gift than this.
Alex sat beside me and held my hand, quietly lending his strength. I was glad to have him with me. It's interesting how things change, how time changes feelings and heals wounds. We both needed to travel our own journey before we were ready to come together. Nana was right after all about waiting for him, I mused. She understood all along.
After the gravesite service, we made the trip back up the mountain. I arranged the flowers from the casket spray in a glass-blown vase that I made for Nana when I was in high school. Alex dropped me off and then drove to his house to get clothes and toiletries. I assume he was planning to stay the night with me and I was fine with it. My breath hitched a little when I thought of the naughty things we might do. My nipples tightened as I thought of various possibilities.
I changed out of my dress clothes into a tank top and cutoff jean shorts. Loaded with a turkey sandwich from the church ladies lunch meat tray and a bottle of water, I retreated to the study to read the books until Alex returned. I munched on the sandwich while I read page after page.
I made note of pages that I wanted to research further. I was intrigued by ways to modernize spells since some of the ingredients weren't easily found in today's world. Forty-five minutes and ten pages later, Alex's SUV came back up the mountain. The books were safely put away and I was spread out on the kitchen table when he came in the door.
He laughed, dropped his bag by the door and practically leaped across the room to the table. Embarrassingly, I sort of shrieked. Such eagerness was thrilling and made me hot. He dragged me to the edge of the table and spread my legs on either side of his hips. He kissed me, savagely, dominantly and I wrapped my arms and legs around him. Oh God. I was crazy with it. I wanted him to fuck me now.
He pushed my top up over my breasts, then licked and bit my nipples. I arched my hips into his and felt the press of his cock against my shorts. They had to go. He read my mind because he leaned back and stripped them off roughly, in one sweep. He put a hand between my legs and swirled a finger in my cream. His finger thrust inside of me. I moaned as he continued his assault on my breasts.
He worked his way down my body, kissing the soft skin, licking a curve there and biting a nerve there. With large hands circling my ankles, he pushed my legs up and placed my feet on the edge of the table. He lowered his head to me and then licked and sucked my clit like he was starving. For several dizzy moments, he stabbed and pumped his tongue into me.
With my arms overhead, I grasped the table's edge— the leverage allowed me to arch my hips into his face. I couldn't get enough of him and, unless I'm a bad judge of character, he felt the same way. Then he put two fingers into me as he continued to eat me and briefly leaned back to growl, “Come for me now.”
I moaned as his words and actions sent me into a powerful climax that left my lower body writhing against him frantically. He unbuttoned and pushed down his faded jeans, then plunged into me. His hands on my hips pulled me against him forcefully with each thrust. I would have bruises from his strong fingers on my skin, but it was worth it. Seeing him lose a bit of that tightly reigned control was very arousing.
The table scooted across the floor as he slammed into me. I opened my eyes just barely and watched him climax, amazed at his beauty and masculinity. His muscles were taut beneath the short sleeves of his white t-shirt. The skin there gleamed with a moist golden sheen that thrilled me. He dropped his head back. With his eyes closed, he growled when he unleashed his seed inside of me.
He looked at me then with those eyes that were a swirling maze of gold, wolf eyes. He bared his teeth and he thrust long and deep once more. Afterward, he leaned over me, replete. He laid his head against my chest and his hair tickled my belly.
I wove my fingers in the soft strands and held him close. I loved him wholly and completely and I would never leave him, but that's a moot point because he'll never let me. If I tried he would find me. I closed my eyes, secure in the knowledge that he loved me.
Seconds later, he stood, swayed slightly and laughed. “Damn, girl. Please spread yourself across the table every day, okay?”
I laughed. “I couldn't wait for you to get back.” He pulled me off the table, holding my arm until he was sure I was sturdy. He handed my shorts to me and moved to the kitchen to get a bottle of water and clean off.
“What do you want to do today?” he asked after he gulped down half the bottle.
“I want to check out Nana's herbs and replace what's low. I know all of her spots. Do you want to come with?” I pulled my shorts back on and noticed his heated gaze when he watched them travel up my long, tan legs.
“I'll come. Are you going to start healing?” He handed me the water.
“Yeah, it's what I've always wanted to do. It's what she taught me to do. She always told me that having a gift like ours meant that we have a responsibility to others. How can I not when there is so much suffering?” I tilted my head to the side and watched him walk to me, although stalk may be a better word.
“It's good that you're here, Keeley. I hoped you decided to stay since I wasn't going to let you go back to California anyway,” he said in a half-teasing, all-serious tone.
I snorted and rolled my eyes. He lightly poked a finger against my chest causing me to stumble backward. My hips bumped the table. “Hey!” I mean, really, the strength of the man was incredible. He leaned his arms against the table, trapping me, and bent close to my face. He kissed me lightly on the mouth and ran his tongue sensually along my bottom lip.
“You believe me, don't you?” he taunted in a husky voice.
Dear Goddess. I squeezed my legs together— thoroughly enticed by his dominant manner. “Yes,” I whispered. He spoke true and I was so turned on. He would never let me go, but that's fine because I didn't want him to.
“Good,” he said with a sexy grin. He stood and pulled my hand in his toward the door. “Then slip on some shoes and let's go after your herbs.”
The day was beautiful. The sun was bright in the sky. The beauty of the mountain was hard to put into words. Everywhere you looked was a wonder to see— a pink lady slipper bloom here, a vivid white Trillium there, a mimosa tree with its pink frothy flowers in full bloom, a woodpecker knocking away in the pine tree and towering trees with long grapevines looming. The organic and fragrant smell of the earth and plants were healing in their own right. I was so glad to be home.
California was a beautiful place with its own fantastic wonders, but there was something about the mountains for someone born in Appalachia. It's indescribable. It's a feeling of serenity, and well, homecoming, my heart's here and nowhere e
lse can give me that feeling.
We walked among the tall trees, talking as I gathered herbs in my basket. I laughed at the antics of the squirrel that stood on his hind feet and chattered at us. Delighted by the creature, I lifted my face to the warm sun streaming in a bright shaft through the trees. In that moment, I felt the pure beauty and love of the Goddess. She filled me and I became her.
A howl rent the air behind me, echoing deep in the woods, causing birds to lift in sudden flight. I jumped at the fiendish sound and looked behind me to see Alex staring at me with raw hunger on his face. It was thrilling.
He growled one word, “Run.”
I shrieked and took off running. After giving me mere moments of leeway, he gave chase. When he got me where he wanted me, he tackled me next to a chilly waterfall with moss covered rocks and small mountain darter fish. He stripped my shorts and plunged into me fiercely. More growls, pants and moans filled the air. It was nearly dinnertime when we arrived back at the cabin.
I put the herbs away to prep later and was in the kitchen warming up a chicken tetrazini from Jane Rose Smith when Alex got the call that Byron escaped from jail. Tension filled my body and suddenly a vision of the escape came upon me.
“Fuck!” he bit out, enraged. “He pretended to choke and overpowered Todd, the guard, when he came to help. Byron took his gun and shot Randy, my deputy in the office on his way out. I should have been there. This never would have happened.”
“Don't blame yourself, Alex. Todd never should have gone in there without backup. Now, go find him and be careful. I'll be waiting for you.” I saw the worry in his eyes for his friends and the fear that Byron would take someone else out before he was caught. I promised to lock the door and keep my cell phone with me at all times and, with that assurance, he tore off the mountain to join the search.
I whispered a brief prayer for everyone's safety. I ate the casserole while I browsed spells. Finally I turned the page to the picture of a snarling wolf. Interested, I leaned forward intently and became absorbed reading about men shape shifting into werewolves. Every myth was based on fact, I mused.
I relaxed back into the comfy leather chair and thought of Alex's wolfish tendencies. A part of me denied this theory, but the seed was planted. I remembered his leap across the room to the table, his golden, hypnotic eyes, the way he growled when he was angry or stimulated and the way he liked to bite me... If I followed that line of reasoning, odds were stacking up in favor of being the one from prophesy. Scary thought that.
I kept reading and, on the next page, there it was. In scrolling calligraphy, I read prophesy of the sorceress and the wolf, a mated pair, that sends the demon Alastiros into the Fade for eternity. With an ancient talisman, the sorceress focuses all of the collective feminine power of her lineage through her to send the demon into the Fade for eternity. The words were spellbinding, no pun intended. Magic has been my life since birth so I didn't dismiss the prophetic statements, despite the ancient theatrical spin. Now I just need to figure out if it pertained to me.
I leaned back in the leather chair and stared at the ceiling in thought. Could it be? Could Alex be a wolf? It sounded crazy, but in retrospect it made a lot of sense. There were so many signs— his abilities, his father's death, his depression and anger when we were kids, his fear of commitment to me and his insistence on commitment now— with me as his mate.
He accepted my abilities. Maybe it was because he came with his own set of unique abilities. Nana told me about the prophesy for a reason. I'll bet she knew about Alex. Why didn't she tell me years ago? None of this was conclusive— I needed to talk to Alex. How did I do so without sounding completely loco if he wasn't a wolf?
I went back to the book. The talisman was my next priority. What was it and where was it? I looked at the sketch. It was beautiful. There was a huge stone in the center and dainty scrolls around the setting. Historically each woman with the greatest power inherited the books and talisman to protect and wield until she passed them on to her daughter.
Nana was the one and now it was me. Since the books were here that means the talisman must be here also.
I stood and stretched and curled my toes in the plush rug. Where would Nana have put the priceless object? As I pondered that question, the phone rang and my senses told me family called. Energy poured from the phone and I raced to get it. Thank Goddess.
“Hello,” I said breathlessly. “I'm glad you called,” I added before the caller spoke. Soft laughter chimed from the other end. I relaxed, glad to have this connection.
“You are very strong. I feel it in you. You are the one, Keeley. You will end this curse for us all.” The voice was female and very soft and old. The years, knowledge and power were clear in the lyrical voice. “I am your great-aunt Avarian. I'm sorry for your loss, lass. We have all grieved the loss of Elise. This is a difficult time for you. I feel your grief and uncertainty. Let me tell you something, Elise visited me before she died. She chose to go to the other side so that you could benefit from her power. She foresaw her death and recognized this as your time. The demon's growing stronger and if we don't finish it now, he will prevail.”
She broke off and I felt her pain when she remembered the death of her own daughter by the demon. The tragic event that I understood prompted Nana to flee to the States. “Are you sure I'm the one?” Even I recognized the sliver of doubt in my voice.
“Your grandmother was the strongest of us, then your mother and now you. You are mated to the wolf. Prophesy tells us you are the one. Discover the talisman in the dark book,” she continued. “You'll find it there as long as you believe. We'll lend you our strength when you need it the most. The Goddess be with you.”
I felt lighter after talking to Avarian. The conversation boosted me. Pride for my family swept through me and determination followed on its heels. I would go to any lengths to kill the demon and end this curse.
I bit my lip and plotted my next step. Well, first I needed to look in the dark book and find the talisman. Talking to Alex about everything was now imperative. He needed to come clean about the whole wolf business and I should probably tell him about our prophetic future. The thought of that discussion exhausted me. Suddenly the events of the past days hit me.
My legs shook and I sank to the floor, my back against a chair as I sat in shock. I was overwhelmed by it all. Nana was gone, my mate was a wolf and I was at the root of an ancient curse and prophesy leading to an upcoming battle with an evil demon that might end in my death and possibly that of my family. My mind raced as I tried to absorb the implications of the bizarre turn my life had taken.
“Oh, Nana, I wish you were here,” I whispered and dropped my head in my hands.
And there she was when I needed her most. Her spirit guided as I was physically lifted up and pushed into the direction of the study and the books. She was with me as I opened the dark book and saw no talisman inside. Knowledge poured into my mind and I whispered, “Show me.” In a swirling mist it appeared— a beautiful ruby and gold necklace fastened around my neck. With reverence, I lifted it up and held it to the light. Rainbow color swirled around the room from its vibrant magnificence.
I closed my eyes as power of the ages vibrated through my body like a tuning fork. Visions of different women throughout time that held and used the talisman, flashed before me. Images of beautiful females, young and old, attired in the clothing of their time, so many of them. Fascination froze me as I watched them. Pride, awe and ferocity to protect grew in me.
The phone rang and startled me. I nearly jumped out of my skin.
“Hello?”
“Keeley? It's Renee Malone,” she whimpered in a soft country voice. “I need your help real bad. I know you have had a... ” she paused as she gasped in pain, “a tremendous loss, but I'm hurt real bad and— ”
“Renee,” I interrupted urgently, “where are you?” I remembered the little waif Renee, Byron's abused sister. She was molested by her father before and after he killed her moth
er. I always felt so sorry for her. Now she called me after her brother killed my grandmother. Desperation was clear in her voice.
“Mother's house,” replied the tortured voice.
“I'm coming,” I said and slammed down the phone. I hid the talisman under my shirt and quickly put up the books. I slid into the medicine room at a run and gathered Nana's bag after a quick peek to check that it contained what I needed. I recalled doing it a thousand times for Nana. I didn't hesitate as I turned and ran to my room for shoes and keys. I locked the door and hopped into the Volvo.
I took off down the mountain with gravel flying and dust filling the air. Renee's distress filled my head and I was anxious to get to her. I made quick work of the eight or so miles to the Malone's residence. I noticed the cruiser outside of the house, but didn't see anyone around. Knocking firmly on the door, I yelled Renee's name and turned the knob. I opened the door to find her sitting in the floor with her back against the couch. The furniture was turned over. A lamp was busted on the floor. A fist-sized hole decorated the plaster in the wall next to the phone.
I hurried to her and helped her lay down on the couch. She moaned in agony. “Tell me,” I said simply.
“Byron,” she cried. “Oh God, I'm so sorry for your grandmother, Keeley.”
Her despair hit me like a fist in the gut and I forced myself to breathe. “Don't, Renee, don't apologize. Just tell me what he did to you,” I said as I wiped the damp, clinging hair back from her forehead. I saw blood in her hairline and covered it with gauze. I diagnosed her with a concussion, but I was going to fix that in a jiffy, after cleaning the blood from the wound. I laid my hand on the gash and closed my eyes.
Instantly I saw Byron from Renee's point of view as he clipped her with a pistol. My hand warmed with healing power and I saw the cut close in my mind, watching the skin reattach itself. I lifted my hand and inspected the wound. It was nearly healed, but still needed salve.