“I am. But she’s a Witch of the Light, and of Earth. She showed justice instead of revenge when she defeated her enemy; an enemy that would have threatened the world if left to grow too powerful.”
The man scoffed. “You still concern yourself with the mortals when we have our own world to care for?”
“I do, Father. If a force on this world becomes too powerful, our own world comes under threat.” Adrian turned to face Persephone straight on. “Which is why I wish to remain on this world with Persephone, and together we can help restore the balance between Darkness and Light.”
“Really?” she whispered.
“You still belong in this world. It isn’t yet your time to know what lies beyond. And I couldn’t imagine spending another day away from you, my love.”
Adrian’s mother clapped her hands, breaking the moment. “Well then, we have a lot of preparation to do, don’t we?”
“Mother,” Adrian groaned, “there really is no need.”
“Of course there is,” she curtly replied in true matriarchal fashion. “You’ll need supplies to last until you settle in a village, wherever that may be. You’ll also need transportation.”
“Gypsy!” Persephone clamped her hands over her mouth. “I forgot her, I’m so sorry, Adrian.”
He chuckled. “Sweetheart, don’t worry. After seeing your cousin back to safety, she skirted the fighting and returned to me. And she wasn’t alone.” An odd noise on the rocks near the cave entrance caught her attention. Sure enough, Gypsy walked tentatively over the stones towards them, as well as Daniel’s stallion, Chiron, and Persephone had to fight back a sob.
“Didn’t I tell you she was special?”
A tut-tut from Adrian’s mother brought Persephone’s attention back. “Like I said, you will both need transportation, and supplies. So quickly now, follow me and we’ll get you both sorted and on your way. Really, Camden, let the boy be. Don’t forget your young foolishness,” she chided Adrian’s father. She stepped forward and held her hand out like a queen. “Call me Fira, my dear. If Adrian is so taken with you, then it is the least we can do to support his choice. I’ve watched you over my son’s shoulder, and admit I do admire your strength. My son is a lucky man.”
Persephone blushed and took Fira’s hand, unsure if she should curtsy or kiss the matriarch’s hand. Fira smiled warmly at her then turned around, walking towards the cave. “Come now, the sooner everything is sorted, the sooner you can be off.”
Camden nodded with a slight frown marring his face, then followed Fira. Persephone sighed and leaned against Adrian as he pulled her in close and kissed the top of her head.
“Don’t worry about my parents, they rarely seem to agree. How they rule our world is beyond me, but they make it work. Now come on, my mother wasn’t joking with the hurry along. She’ll send Father back out here to drag us in by our ears.” Adrian laughed as Persephone looked at him in horror. “Not literally, but we’d best hurry.”
With Adrian’s solid strength beside her, Persephone followed Fira and Camden in to the cave, which was now lit from within by the same light that she’d seen from atop the cliff. Everything was strange, and yet it felt right. She had found her love again, against her belief, and now they were on their way to starting their lives together, restoring the balance between Dark and Light in this world. There was only one thing left for her to do before they did that, though.
She stopped, forcing Adrian to stop as well.
“What is it?”
“I need to see my cousins, as well. Rosetta promised me that she would let them know I’m alright, but I need to see them myself.”
Adrian nodded. “That is fine, my love.” He tried to keep walking, but Persephone held him back, remembering one last detail.
“George.” She didn’t know how to continue after saying his name, as his death flooded her memory.
“I know, sweetheart.”
“I don’t think you do,” she rushed, trying to say everything before the loss hit her. “There was this night at the inn—”
Adrian put a finger to her lips. “Sweetheart, I told you. I know. Don’t you remember my message?”
“I thought I was just imagining things.”
He smiled at her and suddenly she felt silly. “My love, I know your heart. You never stopped loving me, even though you thought me dead. I know that you wouldn’t have entertained the idea of a night with George for a moment if you suspected for a second that I was still alive. I sent you that message just in case we didn’t get our chance to have a life together. I wanted you to experience the kind of love you deserve, even if only for a night.” He leaned down and kissed her forehead. “Now come on, the sooner we sort out supplies and clothing for you, then the sooner we can stop in and see your cousins.”
Persephone let out a deep sigh of relief and followed Adrian to the cave where his parents were waiting for them. Her life began now.
Go Back
Not Your Bitch by Angelica Dawson
“Can't you go any faster? How much crap do you have in there?”
“Just give me a second. I felt them.” Zoe continued to rummage through her purse. She had heard the keys slip through her fingers and farther into the bag just a second ago. What was Elliot in such a hurry for? Wasn't he planning to stay the night? What was a couple of minutes if they were going to have hours?
Maybe he doesn’t want hours. It wasn't like he was hanging on her words or fascinated by her body.
“Zoe! Hello.”
Zoe cringed. The last thing she needed was Elliot pissing off her landlady. “Hello, Mrs. Brown. I'm having trouble finding my keys.”
“Oh, here, I can let you in.” The key was different from Mrs. Brown’s front door, but she kept it on her ring. It was her house after all, and she had saved Zoe from disaster once before when she left the iron plugged in. Zoe had never caught her snooping or hovering. Her son, on the other hand…
“Hi, Zoe!” Wash was only fourteen. He had taken to spiking his hair with gel and wearing body spray. Zoe liked him better before. Everyone grew up, she supposed, but the twelve year-old she'd met when she moved in was in awe of her. This boy seemed to give her a different look. “Who are you?” he asked Elliot.
“Wash, manners. I'm sorry, Zoe,” Mrs. Brown said while unlocking the door. “You can have any visitors you like, of course.” She gave her son a look Zoe did recognize—the same one her mother gave her even at twenty-two. It said, shut up and stay shut up. It made her smile.
Elliot wasn't smiling. “Yeah, whatever. Let's go.” His fingers latched onto her upper arm. She winced slightly. It probably wouldn't bruise, but it didn't feel nice, either.
“Hey, Wash, what's keeping you?”
Zoe glanced in the direction of the new voice, and Elliot did as well. The man standing in the open front door was her age with creamy brown skin like Mrs. Brown and Wash. He had the same glossy black hair as Wash, but his wasn't styled. It was short and pointing in a hundred directions. It didn't detract from his slightly wild visage, the stubble on his jaw, the curls of chest hair revealed by his half unbuttoned shirt, his torn jeans…Zoe pulled her gaze back to Elliot, heat rising in her cheeks.
“Everything okay, Auntie Norm?” he asked, stepping onto the stoop.
“Fine,” Zoe said, rushing to her door. All the eyes on her made her cheeks even hotter. She had to get out of there. “Thank you, Mrs. Brown.”
Elliot, his grip never easing, shoved her through the door she was already eager to escape through.
“What the hell?” the man on the stoop asked.
She didn't hear anything else as the door slammed and Elliot pushed her down the stairs.
“Stop!” Zoe cried, missing a step and sliding down hard on her hip.
He scooped her up and put her on her feet, then began pushing again. “I don't like waiting, and I don't like being upstaged.”
Of course he had noticed her looking at Mrs. Brown's nephew.
“Get thos
e clothes off, now. And then I want to watch you make me something to eat.”
It had taken her years to land a boyfriend. So despite her desire to say no, she dropped her shirt and pants at the bottom of the stairs, and entered the tiny kitchen/dining/living room of her basement suite. Hopefully her underwear would suffice.
He didn't argue and lounged in the only upholstered chair, leaving her the wooden dining table one. She fixed a sandwich, grilling it the way he liked, and made a plain one for herself. She didn't like the gooey cheese on her crisp lettuce.
She was flipping his when his hand slipped into her large brief panties and pulled them down. “I thought you were going to replace these.”
“They're the most comfortable,” she tried to explain, but he sent them to her ankles.
“Give them to me,” he told her.
Closing her eyes, she stepped out of them. She turned at the sound of scissors. Her jaw dropped as he cut them in half before throwing them in the trash.
“What are you—”
“Find new ones. Or don't wear any. For fuck's sake, Zoe, why do you think I come here? The decor?”
Zoe actually loved her cozy apartment. It was why she hadn't even considered looking for another while she finished her degree. She'd gotten permission, and some money, from Mrs. Brown to paint, buy curtains, and install laminate flooring. Now she had pretty rugs on the clean floors and her bedroom was a lawn green that made it feel like spring even in the dead of winter. The bathroom still needed work, but a new tub wasn't a necessity, so she managed with the odd pink thing. Her bookshelf filled one wall and her table folded up if she needed the space, which she almost never did.
“Well?” Elliot asked, looking for a response.
She took a deep breath to fight telling him off. “I understand.”
“Good.” He stepped closer, rubbing his hand over her round bottom and making her shiver.
“Shit!” she said, turning to the burning sandwich and flipping it onto a plate.
“Stupid bitch,” he said lightly, shaking his head. He seemed to think the term was endearing, like she should be happy to be his pet. Sometimes she didn't mind. Today, it was grating.
“Here.” She shoved a plate into his hands. Her own sandwich disappeared in seconds and she opened the fridge to find something else to eat.
Her bra unsnapped behind her. Zoe straightened and closed the fridge door. She wasn't going to get to eat anything more.
Elliot ran his hands over her plus-sized figure, making her flab flap by lifting and dropping it. He moved his attention to her F sized breasts next.
“Come with me,” he whispered in her ear.
Zoe closed her eyes, hearing love where he only had lust. She imagined him worshipping her body and taking her slowly, carefully. But she knew that wouldn’t happen.
He bent her over her bed and slapped her ass. “That's my tail.” He slapped the other cheek harder than the first. Zoe continued to dream of what she really wanted. He was caressing her ass, teasing her.
His cock seemed to split her in two, but damn if it didn't feel good once it got moving.
“Yeah, Zoe. Make me come. Squeeze it out of me.”
Zoe was squeezing him, but in her mind it came after she had already climaxed twice at his hands and mouth—impressive when he'd only done the former and hadn't done that in months. Her imagination had developed over the years. It seemed the only way she got any fulfilment at all.
He wasn't done with her. He curled up on the bed, pulling her hips back into his cock until he was ready to go again.
“Y'know what I would like?” he asked, his breath thick in her ear.
“What's that?”
“I want to fuck your ass. I know you always say no, but I want it. I don't know how many more times I'll come over without getting it.”
“Next time?” she begged, desperately looking for a way out.
“Next time, but I'm holding you to it.” He pushed her head off the pillow, bending her to put her pussy on the right angle and taking her again. It was better this time, but her fear at him taking her in the ass negated most of the lube she had worked up.
He fell asleep after that, snoring loud enough that she couldn't even concentrate to read, let alone sleep. Lifting his arm, she slipped out of his hold. He didn't wake, just rolled over and snored louder.
Zoe pulled on a pair of PJ pants and her thick coat. After climbing the stairs, she went through the backyard gate to sit on the edge of the ravine, on the bench the Brown family had sponsored in memory of their grandfather. She looked up at the stars; as many as she could make out amid the orange light pollution. Holding her breath, she waited for the sound that broke her heart.
The coyotes began to howl and she wept.
***
“Thanks for coming, Linc. I didn't know what to do with him.”
Linc play-punched his little cousin. “Wash, are you giving Auntie Norm a hard time?”
His immediate reply was, “No.” Auntie Norm cocked an eyebrow. “Not on purpose,” he whined.
Linc smirked. “I know, you're antsy. So am I. Same drill as last month. We stay deep in the river valley until sunrise. We don't need anyone thinking we're more than coyotes.” There hadn't been a wolf spotted in the area since the settlers came.
“Yeah, I know. Can we go now?”
Auntie Norm answered, “Yes, for God's sake, get the hell out of my house!”
That made Linc laugh. Wash looked appalled. “My mom says the same,” he explained.
“Auntie Birdie never swears.”
Auntie Norm snorted and Linc laughed again. “That you hear,” they both muttered.
“Come on,” Linc told Wash, grabbing him by the back of the head and pushing him toward the door. The boy stripped down to just shorts and he'd leave those in the backyard before the sun finished setting.
“What's up with the girl downstairs”?” he asked his aunt.
She sighed and shrugged. “I know she's had him over before, but I'd never seen him until tonight.”
“I don't like him.”
“Agreed, but I'm not her mother.”
“Why do women waste their time on men like that?” he wondered aloud.
Norm shook her head. “I have no idea. Your uncle was a fine man and would still be one if that fucking drunk hadn't—” She shut up and took a deep breath. “I guess some ladies think they can't do better.”
“She can. She's cute.”
Norm smiled. “Maybe you should tell her that, not me.”
Linc nodded, trying to remember more than the girl's round face and full cheeks. They'd been red, but he didn't know if that was the cool fall breeze, or anger, or embarrassment. All he knew was that it looked good on her.
“I'll get Wash back in time for school.”
“You better go or he'll be streaking through the ravine and scaring some poor senior out for a walk.”
Linc laughed his way out the front door imagining just that. Wash sat on Grampa Ike's bench in the buff. The sun was red in the southwest and the moon was visible in the indigo sky in the east. Full and yellow—a harvest moon—it looked gigantic and Linc felt his teeth lengthening and shifting. “Okay, bud. Gimme a sec.” He tossed his ruined jeans and worst shirt under the bench next to Wash's shorts. “Let's go find the others.”
The last of the red light faded, leaving only a purple-pink smudge on the horizon. Wash and Linc's bodies both arched, grew thick dark fur, and dropped them to all fours.
“Stay away from the path,” he yipped. Linc had never figured out how they made anything intelligent out of the canine woofs and barks, but he hadn't had any trouble understanding his grandfather, uncle, or cousins. Wash instinctively understood him.
“No path, and deep as we can get,” the boy recited.
“Exactly. Let's head south. I think that's where the others were planning to hunt tonight.”
Sprinting into the tree line, the wolves hoped only their glowing yellow eyes were
visible among the shadows. They splashed through the creek to avoid hikers on the path, climbed to a bluff, and then tumbled down to the off-leash area, skirting it and the dogs within. A few always chased, which made Linc laugh.
The city just kept growing, rolling out onto more Alberta grassland. Fortunately, and Linc suspected one of the reasons his grandfather moved here, there was an extensive and continuous stretch left green and relatively wild. The river valley connected to several creeks and ravines, and ran through the entire city. They never had to leave the city limits
A little further east, Adam and Franklin were playing with one of the many stupid rabbits that lived in Edmonton. They'd gotten so tame and reproduced so much that they weren't even good at avoiding the coyotes. Those dogs ate until they were stuffed and still the majority of the hoppers ranged unharmed and unaffected. Rabbits weren't worth eating, though. No meat on them.
“Washington! How's it feel this time?”
“Better,” he howled. “I thought I was going to kill my teacher today, I wanted out so bad.”
“Yeah,” Franklin answered. “It sucks being cooped up.”
“Says he who works for the city in parks,” Linc teased.
“Yeah, and why do you think I fought to get that job?”
“Mine doesn't suck,” Adam pointed out. “And they need a lot more gas and water meter readers than parks laborers.”
Adam and Franklin started nipping at one another and Wash joined in. The three were one rolling ball of fur until a scent blew through the valley.
“Holy shit, a moose? We never get moose in town!” Franklin was back on all fours and loping upwind.
Linc bit on his tail and pulled him back, making Franklin yip.
“Yeah, a moose, as in big. It's going to take all of us to bring that down.” It would be worth it, though. If they fed that well tonight, they might not have to hunt at all for the rest of the moon.
“We all stay downwind,” Adam said, taking charge. “Lincoln, you go southeast. Washington, northwest. Franklin, you circle wide. I'll push it first to Washington, then to Lincoln, and then Franklin comes around from upwind to close the circle.” A solid plan, and something the boys had done with their uncle and grandfather for smaller prey. They'd never taken down a moose before.
Beyond The Veil: A Paranormal & Magical Romance Boxed Set Page 288