Feral

by Sheri WhiteFeather

  And he wanted to talk to Jenny about Noah’s dream.

  Noah’s phone rang. He answered it, and Coyote came on the line and said, “Guess who I’m meeting for dinner?”

  Seriously? That was the reason for this call? Noah had better things to do with his time. “I couldn’t care less.”

  “But this is someone I’m excited about.”

  “Fine, then tell me who it is.”

  “You’re supposed to guess.”

  For cripe’s sake. “I don’t fucking know.”

  “Come on, play along. Think about it.”

  Noah took a moment to consider what type of person Coyote would be excited about dining with. A celebrity, probably. He was always clamoring after the stars and already had a fairly impressive roster of A-list clientele.

  Off the top of his head, Noah recited the name of a spoiled young actress who loved to pose for the paparazzi.

  “Nope,” Coyote said.

  He rattled off another party girl’s name.

  “Wrong again.”

  “Do I have the gender right?”

  “Yes. But aside from her being blond and female, you’re way off base.”

  So it wasn’t young Hollywood. “You’re getting together with Jean Harlow.”

  “Smart-ass. She died in 1937.”

  Noah smiled. “You should be dead by now, too.”

  Coyote laughed. “So should you.”

  “True. But Harlow was hot in her day.”

  “This woman is hot, too. But she’s not a bombshell. She’s much more innocent.”

  “An innocent actress? Does that even exist?”

  “I never said she was an actress.”

  “Then just tell me who it is. I don’t have all day to screw around playing guessing games with you.”

  “Okay, but you’re not going to like it.” A pause, then, “It’s your latest lover. The lovely Ms. Jenny.”

  Noah snapped. “You little prick. What the hell are you up to?”

  “I didn’t have anything to do today, so I took the liberty of calling her. She was surprised that I knew what was going on. But apparently my timing is perfect because she’s anxious to get my take on the dream, and I’m looking forward to sharing my ‘Beauty and the Beast’ thoughts with her.”

  “That’s what this is about? That fairy-tale cock-and-bull?”

  “I already told you that it’s a perfectly lovely story.”

  Noah damned himself. Confiding in Coyote was a mistake he never intended to repeat. “I should fire you as my accountant and ban you from Aeonian.”

  “Oh, don’t be so dramatic. You should be grateful that I’m giving you a heads-up.”

  “You’re not telling me for my benefit. You’re playing both ends of the field.”

  “Of course I am. Everything I do is for my own amusement. But somewhere in my trickster heart, you know that I love you. You’re like a brother to me.”

  “The way Cain was a brother to Abel? Go fuck yourself.”

  The traitor chuckled. “I would if I could. I’m not big and handsome like you. I hardly ever get laid, even at that raunchy club of yours.”

  “Your half-assed sex life is the least of my concerns.”

  “Says the shifter who’s bored with all of the pussy that’s available to him. But that’s why you seduced Jenny, isn’t it? To combat the boredom? Then you go and have a powerful dream about her. Gosh, who knew it would be this exciting?”

  A moment of nerve-grating silence passed.

  Coyote spoke again. “Oh, and just in case you’re wondering, I’m meeting her at a quaint little eatery in Santa Barbara. She suggested it, and it sounds fabulous.”

  “I wasn’t wondering about the damned restaurant.” But now that it had been mentioned, he envisioned Jenny at a candlelit table, listening to Coyote spin his yarn. Would she think it was ridiculous? Or would she hang on every word?

  “I’d better go,” the other man said, much too gleefully. “I don’t want to be late.”

  Coyote hung up, and Noah cursed. The last thing he needed was Jenny getting storybook notions about him.

  Eight

  Jenny studied her dinner partner. He was an average-looking guy with short brown hair, narrow features, and conservative clothes. Although he fit the stereotype of an accountant, she’d met him at the club under the guise of Coyote, and that was how she’d come to think of him.

  “Why did Noah tell you about his dream?” she asked.

  “He needed someone to talk to, and I’m one of the few mortals who knows that he’s a real shapeshifter.”

  Was Coyote mortal? With his thin lips and pointed nose, he actually resembled the animal he likened himself to, much in the way that Noah had natural catlike qualities, even in his human form.

  He looked about, taking in the atmosphere. “This place is as quaint as you said it would be.” He opened his menu. “I like Italian food. But I like everything. I’m not a fussy eater.”

  Jenny continued to study him. In the wild, coyotes were capable of adapting to different environments and often changed their breeding habits, diet, and social practices to go along with it.

  “Any recommendations?” he asked.

  “I normally get tortellini Alfredo.”

  “That sounds good. I’ll order that, too. Do you want to share an appetizer? Let’s see . . .” He scanned the selections. “How about calamari fritti?”

  “Sorry, but squid always sounded a bit icky to me. But you can get it, if you want to.”

  “No, no. I’d rather share.” He gazed at her from the top of his menu. “What about a nice, safe antipasto platter?”

  She agreed and soon the waiter appeared and took their orders. Once the appetizer arrived, they nibbled on a variety of deli meats, cheeses, and vegetables.

  “I told Noah that I was having dinner with you,” Coyote said. “And now he’s upset with me.”

  Jenny didn’t know what to think. “Why did you tell him?”

  “For the fun of it.”

  The salami she’d been eating hit her stomach like a rock. “This isn’t a game to me.”

  “I know.” He skewered an olive. “Now, why don’t we get down to business, and I’ll tell you my theory. You’re dying to hear it, aren’t you?”

  “Dying” wasn’t the word she would have chosen, at least not while she was seated across from a man who might be a real coyote. Then again, she’d been sleeping with a lion shapeshifter, and that was far more dangerous.

  He said, “Since the sapiya referred to Noah as a beast, I think they want you to try to save him.”

  “Save him?”

  “In a ‘Beauty and the Beast’ kind of way. Are you familiar with that story?”

  “I know it’s a fairy tale and that Disney made a movie of it. But I’ve never seen it.”

  “Actually, the original author is unknown, but the first published version was in the eighteenth century. It’s been rewritten many times since.” Coyote leaned forward. “Would you like me to highlight my favorite rendition for you?”

  Unable to contain her curiosity, she nodded.

  He started with, “Belle, or Beauty as she has come to be known, is a dear girl, beautiful and pure of heart. She has two equally beautiful sisters, but they are selfish and never satisfied.” He popped another olive into his mouth. “Their father is a merchant who lost his wealth, but he is pursuing a means to regain his assets. Before he embarks on a trip, the older daughters insist that he bring back costly gifts. All Belle wants is the safe return of her father, but she doesn’t want to offend her sisters by not asking for anything, so she requests a rose.”

  Jenny remained glued to her seat, foolishly seeing herself as Belle.

  Coyote continued, “The merchant is unable to regain his wealth and on his way home, he becomes lost in a cold, dark forest. He finds shelter in a castle, where a feast awaits him. He eats the food, drinks the wine, and falls asleep by the fire, but he doesn’t meet the owner of the castle.”
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  “Is it Beast?”

  “Yes, but let’s not get ahead of ourselves.”

  “Sorry; go ahead.”

  “The next morning, the merchant leaves the interior of the castle and wanders the grounds. On his way out, he notices a rose garden. Recalling that Belle wants a rose, he picks the prettiest one he can find. Then he is approached by a horrid beast.”

  Jenny envisioned Noah, only he wasn’t horrid, of course. But he was still a sight to behold.

  “Beast claims that the merchant has just taken his most prized possession and must die for his crime. He locks the merchant in the castle, intending to kill him.”

  The waiter arrived with their entrees and interrupted the story. Once the server was gone, Coyote didn’t resume talking. He tasted his tortellini first.

  Finally he said, “When Beauty hears that her father has been imprisoned and is awaiting death, she goes to the castle and offers herself as his replacement. Beast agrees to the arrangement and releases the merchant.”

  Jenny ate a bite of her meal. “Is Beauty frightened when she first sees Beast?”

  “Oh, yes. Terribly so. She trembles when she speaks to him.”

  “And what does he think of her?”

  “He is impressed that she is willing to die for her father’s crime. As the days pass, Beauty wonders when Beast is going to kill her and worries about the manner in which it will happen. But he treats her kindly instead. They dine together each night, and although she still finds him frightening to look at, she is pleased by his goodness.”

  “Noah is much wilder than Beast. He would’ve seduced Beauty by now.”

  “I suspect that Beast wanted to, but it wouldn’t have been seemly then.”

  “What happens next?”

  “Beast asks Beauty to marry him. This shocks her, and she refuses. But he doesn’t give up. He proposes every day, hoping that she will be become his bride.”

  “But she never agrees?”

  “No, but she vows that she will never leave him altogether. Still, she asks if she can visit her family and promises to return in a week. Beasts allows her to go and tells her that he will die of a broken heart if she doesn’t come back.”

  Entranced, Jenny waited to see the outcome.

  “Beauty goes home, but she gets trapped by her sisters and isn’t able to keep her promise to Beast. When she finally returns to the castle, she finds him unconscious and near death. She throws herself across his body and listens to the faint beat of his heart. Knowing that she loves him, she begs him to live so they can be married. As soon as she says this, the castle lights up and Beast turns into a handsome prince.”

  Like the silly female she was fast becoming, Jenny visualized the sparkling scene in her mind. “How did he become a beast in the first place?”

  “He was cursed.”

  “Do you think the woman who turned Noah was cursed? Do you think that’s how she became a shifter?”

  “I don’t know, but it would be interesting to find out.”

  “If she was cursed and the spell could be broken, then Noah would probably go back to normal, too.”

  “Like Beast?” Coyote smiled. “Do you want me to look into it? To try to find out who she was?”

  “Will you actually do that or are you tricking me?”

  “I’ll do it, but I’m not going to keep it a secret from Noah. It would be more fun to bring him into the loop.”

  Jenny wasn’t thinking about fun. She was thinking about saving Noah and whether it was actually possible. “It’s going to make him angry.”

  “He’ll just have to learn to deal with it.” Coyote removed his cell phone. “I’m going to tell him right now.”

  This soon? “No, don’t—”

  Too late. He made the call.

  Afterward, he grinned. “He’s pissed, all right. Now let’s finish our dinner.”

  Jenny could barely eat, but Coyote savored every morsel of his meal and topped it off with spumoni. She sat idly by while he spooned into his ice cream and chatted about inconsequential things.

  They finally parted ways, and by the time her headlights shined on the narrow path that led to her house, her mind was in a tizzy. Dealing with Noah wasn’t going to be easy.

  She walked toward her porch, then started.

  There he sat, glaring up at her. He must have headed right to her place after Coyote called him. He was in his human form, but that didn’t make him any less menacing.

  He stood up. “So you’re going to try to find a way to save me?”

  She slowed her steps. “Coyote offered.”

  “This is a big fucking game to him.”

  “Yes, but it’s not a game to me.”

  “I don’t want to be saved.”

  “Maybe deep down you do. Maybe you’re more like Beast than you’re willing to admit.”

  “That story is a load of crap.”

  “The sapiya called you a beast.” She took a chance and inched closer to him. “So maybe they want me to be like Beauty.”

  His glare got deeper. “Why? So we’ll fall stupidly in love? Get real, Jenny.”

  His admonishment hit her like a fist, packing a big, scary wallop. “I never said that’s where this was leading.”

  “Then what’s your agenda? Why save me if you’re not interested in being with me?”

  “I’m just exploring the possibility of what the sapiya wants.”

  “Why would you do that unless you thought there was a future in it?”

  “All right, so it crossed my mind that maybe it’s supposed to be more than an affair. But I never consciously used the word ‘love.’ ”

  “And you’d better not, either.”

  The scary wallop came back. Loving him would be a disaster, especially if making him mortal wasn’t possible. But the fact that she was already getting attached only managed to exacerbate her fears, as well as her anger.

  She snapped at him. “Don’t tell me what I’m supposed to do or how I’m allowed to feel.”

  He snapped right back. “I should whisk your stubborn little ass off to a castle and show you what it’s like to be locked up with a real beast.”

  “As if you would.”

  “I have enough money to pull it off.”

  She challenged him. “Then do it, Noah. Flaunt your wealth and show me how beastly you can be.”

  “Fine. You want a goddamn fairy tale, I’ll give you one. But it’s going to be warped.” He snatched her keys and unlocked the front door.

  They went inside, and he made a beeline for her computer. He started it up, got online, and searched for “Castles for rent in California.”

  Was there such a thing? Jenny wondered.

  Sure enough, there was. Noah found one in a wooded area that suited him, and she stood over his shoulder and read the information on the screen. With more than a hundred rooms, the three-story structure had been built for weddings, special events, and private getaways.

  He checked the website and rattled off upcoming dates that were available. They chose a day that fit their schedules, and he made a reservation.

  She gazed at the pictures of the enormous castle. It was magnificent, but overwhelming, too. “Just how warped is this adventure going to be?”

  “Getting cold feet?”

  “I was just wondering what you had in mind.”

  “You’ll find out when the times comes.” He shut down her computer. “Be prepared to play Beauty’s part.” He shifted into cat form and trailed a claw along her blouse, making a deliberate cut in the sleeve. “Without the happily ever after.”

  On the day of the outing, Jenny was chauffeured to the location by the same driver who’d been taking her back and forth to the club. She had no idea if Noah was already at the castle or would be arriving later, but as the town car approached the building, butterflies the size of helicopters erupted in her stomach.

  Surrounded by towering redwoods, the castle was even more imposing than it had been in pictures.
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  The driver parked and opened Jenny’s door. She got out and stood beside him.

  “What happens now?” she asked.

  He removed her bags from the trunk. “I’ve been instructed to take you to your suite.”

  They went inside, and the entrance with its cathedral ceilings, gilded archways, and sweeping staircase left her awestruck.

  He bypassed the stairs and led her to the east wing. They stopped at a lavish door with a sign on it that read, “Beauty.”

  The suite offered a sitting room, a bedroom, and a connecting bath, all of it fit for a princess.

  After a moment of silence, he directed her to a gold-leafed armoire in the bedroom. Upon opening it, he said, “Each of these is in your size.”

  She stared at the elaborate gowns. Jenny didn’t know much about old-style clothes, but she assumed they were similar to fashions from the eighteenth century, when “Beauty and the Beast” had first appeared in print.

  “A selection of shoes and undergarments has been provided, as well,” he said.

  For now, it seemed wonderfully romantic, but she suspected that was part of Noah’s “warped” plan.

  The driver spoke again. “After I depart, you’re supposed to don the gown of your choice and fix your hair and makeup.” He gestured to a mirrored vanity table. “There are jeweled combs and ribbons in the drawer if you’d like to use an ornament for your coiffure.”

  “What am I supposed to do after I’m ready?”

  “Wander the castle and search for your host.”

  She widened her eyes. “By myself?”

  He nodded.

  “But there are over a hundred rooms in this place.”

  “I’m sorry, miss. But I can’t alter what’s been required of you.” With that, he left, closing the door behind him.

  Trapped inside the demented fairy tale Noah had created, Jenny went through the armoire and chose a blue gown with a velvet-trimmed bodice. She was nervous, but strangely aroused, too, especially when she discovered that the undergarments were a corset and petticoat. Nothing had been provided to serve as panties, so she assumed that she was supposed to go bare underneath.