Animal Attraction

by Tracy St. John

  I sank into my chair behind the desk and looked the two impossibly sexy shifters. Their lips still curled in slight smiles from whatever they’d been discussing before my arrival. Thank goodness Tristan showing up to collect me this evening had guaranteed I’d swallow an ocean of Blood Potion. Otherwise, I’d be a bloodthirsty, cockhungry mess right now.

  I gave them cool and collected Patricia gaze. “Do I even want to know?”

  The attitude made Levi act professional for once. He straightened in his chair and gave me a serious look. “I dropped by to see if you’d found out anything interesting today. Maybe something I can work on with my missing instructors?”

  I nodded. “Maybe.” I asked Gerald, “Did you tell him about last night’s visitor?”

  Gerald was more relaxed but still about business. “I gave him the low down on what your sister told us. I figured you’d be okay with that.”

  Levi’s curiosity came through. “How’s that link to Tattingail look?”

  “Solid, but I’m still not sure what’s up with it.” I shared everything I’d found out.

  The two men sat quietly as they churned the information over in their heads. Gerald finally spoke.

  “I know I’m in left field on this, but my mind keeps going to that movie I watched last night. You know the one where all the guys get together to beat the shit out of each other? A secret club of some sort.”

  Levi nodded. “Great flick. That’s a heck of an idea, Kitten. Can you imagine a fighting pit where humans and shifters duke it out?”

  “More likely shifters against shifters since we’re stronger than norms. Thunderdome to the death stuff.”

  “Unless the norms are allowed weapons. Shifters get hurt, maybe killed. They don’t come back.”

  “What lovely thoughts you boys bring to the table.” I felt queasy at the idea since Tattingail would no doubt love such a scenario. Then I had to bark a harsh laugh. “I’m trying to picture wimpy-butt Cliff Tattingail taking on a bear. That’s what Ryan Warner is.”

  Gerald snorted. “The Tats is a little bitch. No offense, Pup.” He gave Levi a broad grin.

  Levi looked like he might be taking the idea seriously. “If something like that was going on, a coward like Tattingail would arrange it, not take part. Maybe bet on it or sell tickets.”

  Gerald nodded. “That man loves money.”

  “And hates shifters. No doubt he’s got the odds stacked sky-high against them. Where would they put something like that together?”

  I had to put the brakes on their wild supposing. “You don’t know that’s what’s going on. All he said was take the staff entrance and follow the signs.”

  Levi’s gaze was distant. “An established location. High end. Could be on Hamilton Island then. Even one of the billionaire homes.”

  “Which takes out your den of fighting shifters. I can’t imagine the maid service not talking about cleaning up blood stains.”

  Gerald snorted. “Put enough money on the table, a lot of people will keep their mouths shut.”

  “Or if threatened with the right blackmail. Tattingail’s got a soft spot for that, from what it sounds like.” Levi stood. “I’ll make some calls, see about Tattingail’s favorite haunts. Nice work, Brandilynn. At least now we’ve got something to work with.”

  I won’t deny I didn’t preen a little over the praise. I stood to show him out. “You still can’t make it official, huh?”

  He gave me a wry smile. “I can’t even go to the police with what you heard, seeing as how the information is coming from a ghost.”

  I knew it was a dead end (pun not intended), but I pointed out, “As Patricia, I’m undead though. Vampire testimony is allowed.”

  “And how shall we say you overheard these conversations? Trespassing, spying without a warrant?”

  I blew out a breath. “The system needs an overhaul.”

  Gerald stood and yawned, showing off his pointy fangs. “Yeah, we’ve been saying that for decades now.” He gave Levi a not so gentle shove. “Hey, you catching the hoops this weekend?”

  Levi looked at him like Gerald had asked if he masturbated in public. “Heading into March Madness? You’d better believe it.” He grinned in anticipation. “Give me a call and we’ll figure something out.”

  “Sweet. Later, Pup.”

  “See ya, Kitten.”

  Levi blew me a kiss and left. Well at least I wasn’t completely forgotten in Man Land.

  As Patricia, I had nothing pressing on my agenda that night. I asked Gerald, “What should we do this evening?”

  He grinned and winced at the same time. “Flying practice.”

  The night was not looking up. “Crap.”

  Gerald let a note of hope creep into his voice. “Wendy’s coming along this time. You get pro help for a change.”

  I blinked to absorb that. Wendy? One of the vampires? Well Tristan had promised to make them accept me more. I offered a weak, “That’s something, I suppose.”

  Gerald went to the cabinet and hauled out a full case of BP9. “Thanks for the vote of confidence,” I said, and headed out the door.

  Who was I kidding? With a reluctant vampire along to see how bad I performed something they all took for granted, I needed as much happy-juice as possible.

  Chapter 8

  I had to admit that night’s lesson was going better than previous ones. Wendy proved to be amazingly patient ... and nice. Nice went a long way, especially when one had dropped from the sky for the fourth time.

  I lay on my back staring up at the star-splashed sky over the field. I saw the telltale lights of an airplane passing overhead and hated it. How dare it fly when I couldn’t. Stupid plane.

  I heard Wendy coming over. Not wanting to appear as defeated as I felt, I got to my feet. A glance at her pale orb face told me she did her best to not laugh. I appreciated the effort, because I know to everyone but me it was funny.

  Her voice sounded unnaturally bright as she said, “Okay Brandilynn, let’s see what we’ve got. Straight flight is improving, turning in midair is still a problem.”

  “You think?” I brushed myself off. Thank goodness I’d changed out of the nice Armani suit I’d started the night out in. I was beginning to appreciate the mass produced offerings of supercenters. Messing up a tee shirt that asks ‘I Got Out of My Coffin For This?’ didn’t hurt my feelings a bit. I knew letting Gerald shop on my behalf had been a mistake.

  Wendy arched a brow. “You’re vamping, dear. Do you need a drink?”

  I glanced at Gerald, who stood back at a distance. He held a couple of bottles in his hands. Too bad it wasn’t Blood Potion I would lunge for if he came near enough to hand it to me.

  I did not want to go that route, because I knew where it would lead. I forced myself to look away from the werepanther who offered so much more than blood.

  “No. No, I’m good.”

  For a vampire, Wendy managed not to be as cold and detached as most. She smiled as encouragingly as a human. “Excellent! First and foremost, try to control your speed. Zipping around like lightning is what’s messing you up. Think control.”

  I did my best not to whine. “How? I think ‘forward’ and I’m off like a rocket. I think ‘turn’ and I give myself whiplash. All I seem to have is two settings: supersonic and stop. And fall. Three settings. I’ve got three.”

  “Being serene helps. Think happy thoughts.” She held up a warning finger. “Don’t you dare make a Peter Pan joke at me.”

  I snorted despite myself. Wendy had a mischievous glint in her eye that told me she tried to lighten the mood.

  It worked. The humor helped me focus on the task rather than my failure. I took a deep breath. “Okay. I’m trying again.”

  Wendy motioned to a familiar tree at the edge of the field. “See that magnolia over there? It’s nice and big. Fly to it and make a wide turn around the widest spread of the branches. If we start with a more gradual turn, you might have better results.”

  “Got it.
” I didn’t tell her me and the magnolia were old friends in that manner.

  I slowly rose, concentrating on drifting upward rather than lifting off. I was aware of Wendy keeping close watch.

  I got about ten feet off the ground. My coach called, “Remember, serene! Like you’re doing now. That’s great, Brandilynn.”

  I tried to hold onto that light as a feather feeling as I rose into the air. “A little pixie dust and we’re off to Neverland,” I muttered.

  I was high enough now. I willed myself to move forward, trying to go slow. The magnolia tree in the distance closed on me. It was one of those that didn’t shed its leaves in the winter. With my vampire sight I could see the veins in the dark green foliage.

  Darn it, the tree came at me faster despite all my attempts to keep my pace gradual. The magnolia already loomed a matter of feet away. I tried to slow down. My body jerked and plunged towards the ground for a brief second.

  “Around the tree. Around the tree,” I coaxed, my voice rising in desperation. I jolted to one side. It wasn’t pretty, but I avoided collision. I sailed past the magnolia, again picking up speed.

  “Slow turn, slow turn, slow turn,” I chanted, still trying to will my power to behave. My body jerked harder than ever, making me look like a marionette being flung about.

  A surge of anger flashed at my inability to control what came so easily to the other vampires. With the moment of temper, I lost my tenuous power over the ability. I twisted in the air, bringing me face to trunk with the tree. I shot straight for it.

  At the last second, I veered off to one side. I missed the trunk but still smacked into several large branches. Gravity took the last of my conscience influence away, and I landed in a heap at the foot of the tree.

  Pain and disappointment robbed me of my usual abhorrence for vulgar language. I let loose with profanity that would make a sailor proud. It was the crowning moment of my failure.

  Once I’d emptied my store of potty mouth, I sat up. The one good thing about my situation was having an undead body that healed quickly.

  Boisterous laughter interrupted my moment of thankfulness. Someone found my predicament funny, and that made me mad all over again. I shot to my feet and readied to make someone pay.

  Neither Wendy nor Gerald enjoyed so much amusement at my expense. I looked in the direction of their stares to see Arthur Dragwald approaching us from the wooded area flanking one side of the field. His gait was impeded by the fact he doubled over in laughter.

  Had he been watching the entire time? Why was he here at all?

  Important questions, but his hilarity over my latest mishap eclipsed my confusion. Anger rose higher with each rude guffaw.

  “See something funny, Arthur?” My voice was dangerous without effort.

  He managed to calm enough to speak. “Oh my, yes. Right into the tree! Ah, poor tree, do you think it will survive?”

  He drew close. As furious as I felt, I couldn’t help but notice that funny charred smell of his. It was strong, not quite like toast this time. The scent was different from anyone I’d ever met, though I could have sworn I’d come across it before. It was a vital scent, one that made me think of jalapenos or wasabi. I thought Dragwald might be a livelier bite than even Gerald.

  Plus giving him a nice big chomp would shut him up.

  I did make the attempt to be reasonable though I felt anything but that. “You should know laughing at a new vampire, one with little control over her emotions, is an invitation to trouble.”

  Arthur stopped a couple of feet away. His eyes narrowed but the mocking grin remained. “Do you want a taste, young lady? I warn you, it could be a very bad idea.”

  For him, yeah. “Keep irritating me, and you’ll find out how bad an idea it is.”

  His smug look never wavered, maybe because Wendy and Gerald reached us just then. Wendy’s voice was cautious. “Calm down, Brandilynn. Look, Gerald has your blood.”

  The bottle waved in my face. The aroma coming from its open top smelled old and disgusting compared to Gerald ... and most especially Arthur. It was an insulting slap in the face to be offered such bilge.

  I smacked the bottle away and lunged for the still-smirking interloper. I guess Gerald knew what was coming, because he jumped in front of me to take the hit.

  The next few minutes were a flurry of blood and sex. I was aware of nothing but the throat in my mouth, blood going down my throat, and the cock in my pussy. Orgasm hit once, twice, and then a third time.

  Little by little, the madness abated. I returned to the real world, once more the trapped and regretful Brandilynn.

  Gerald’s blood churned in my guts, mixing in a sickening soup with the feeling of utter failure. I dragged myself off the gasping shifter and gave Wendy my most miserable look.

  “I hate this. I really do.”

  She nodded, her expression evincing sympathy for my plight. “I know. Are you okay now? What about you, Gerald?”

  As Gerald struggled to his feet and said, “I’m fine,” I shamefacedly mumbled, “I’ll manage.”

  The werepanther glared into the dark night. “Where did that British bastard go? He goaded her into losing control.”

  Reminded of who had set me off, I looked around too. Humiliation poked at my anger again, but I was well fed now. I wouldn’t want to chew on anyone for at least half an hour, but I thought I might take a generous bite out of Arthur anyway.

  He was nowhere to be seen. He’d vanished as quickly as he’d shown up.

  Wendy scowled at the tree line where he’d emerged from. “I told that jerk to disappear or I’d make his absence something permanent. He’s a smart man. He took off running into the trees over there. Asshole.”

  I didn’t protest her language. Heaven knew I’d unloaded plenty of rudeness myself. “Augustus needs to get better friends. Can we call the lesson done for the night?”

  Wendy nodded. “That would be for the best. You did better than you give yourself credit for though. Good work.”

  It was nice that she was so encouraging, though probably on Tristan’s orders. No amount of supportive cheerleading could mask the truth: I was a huge loser. I couldn’t fly and I’d lost control of my hungers again.

  Clutching the tattered remains of my clothes and pride, I trudged across the field towards Gerald’s car. Not even putting Armani on would make me feel better at this point.

  * * * *

  Dressed and somewhat refreshed, I poked my head in at Para Central after returning to the King George. I hoped to find Dan there. If he waited at the library, I’d have to hoof it on foot through the tree root tangled underground remains of Old Fulton Falls.

  Fortunately for me and my designer outfit, Dan was in the reconfigured ballroom. I also saw Taylor conversing with Wendy, who’d gotten back well before me through her power of flight. Patricia’s girlfriend shifted her gaze from my appearance ... but not before offering me a quick nod of acknowledgement. Miracles do happen.

  Gerald accompanied me to Para Central. He wandered off to talk to some of his shifter pals. Dan was busy looking over the whiteboards that detailed the important stuff to be done by Tristan’s staff. He apparently overheard Wendy or Taylor something about me, because he turned to look my way.

  We met halfway down the aisle separating the rows of desks. “Got a minute?” I asked.

  Chocolate brown eyes warmed my soul. “How about eternity?”

  Despite being in ‘failure mode’ I had to smile. “Smooth, big man.”

  Maybe he heard the note of pathos in my tone. Dan brushed his hand against my cheek. His ghostly touch offered the slightest wisp of feeling.

  We went to my office. We sat side by side in the chairs Gerald and Levi had taken up earlier that night.

  Dan wasted no time in guessing at what had my mood low. “How was flying school? I heard Wendy showed up to help.”

  “She did what she could, but I have to face the fact that I’m flight-disabled.” I sighed. “It did go a little bett
er than usual. The flying part, at least. I’m no winged angel, but I had half-seconds when I didn’t careen completely out of control.”

  “I heard her talking to Taylor. She said you showed some progress over the couple of hours you were out there.”

  “I would have said so too. Then that Arthur showed up out of the blue. He laughed himself stupid when I crashed into a tree.”

  Dan winced in sympathy. “Ouch to body and pride. What was he doing there?”

  I made a face. “You know, I got so mad I never thought to ask him. When I lost control over my temper, Wendy made him leave. I tried to bite him, but Gerald stopped me.”

  “Too bad. It sounds like he could have used a good chewing. If he wasn’t a friend to Augustus, I’d wonder about him.”

  I sank into my thoughts. I thought about what came after taking live blood. I was grateful that Gerald had jumped in, but still...

  Dan interrupted rueful realizations. “Talk to me, sweetheart.”

  I looked into his eyes. So warm, so good. They reflected the man himself. Windows into the soul indeed. “I’m thinking how funny it is that I’ve been afraid for so many years about settling with one man. And how hard I found choosing between you and Tristan. Now I’d give anything to have it just be you.”

  His loving gaze never altered. “I know you’re doing your best.”

  I shook my head, hating my afterlife as I never had before. “Every time I lose it and take it out on Gerald – well, after each time that happens – I feel awful. Almost sick inside. If I had gotten to Arthur, it would have happened with him. How can I keep going like this?”

  Dan’s hand covered mine, though I could barely feel it. “Stop it, baby girl. You know I can’t stand to see you hurting over me.”

  “Just like I can’t stand to see you hurting over me.”

  He did his best to reassure me. “I know what you’re up against. I’m fine, Brandilynn, I really am. You’ll get control over this thing one day. You have to take one step forward at a time. Especially when you feel like you’ve stumbled. We’ll get through this. We’ll be stronger for it in the long run.”