Romancing the Paranormal

by Stephanie Rowe

  “I like your hair long,” I whisper. “Kiss me please, Tyboll.” I wait.

  “You like my hair long?” He looks like a little boy seeking approval from a parent.

  “I love your hair long.”

  He unthreads my fingers and takes my hand within his. He moves our hands so mine is behind me. I feel his growing erection and smile. “I do not need witchy powers to make something grow.”

  He looks so proud of himself and I burst out laughing. His eyes intensify and I wonder if I shouldn’t have laughed. His free hand goes to my ribcage and he tickles me. I have another trick. He most likely has it, too, he just doesn’t know it yet. Electricity arcs from my fingers and travels into his body. It probably wouldn’t have been so surprising for him if I wasn’t holding his erection. The next thing I know, he stands up and my body slides backward. My bottom slips beneath me and my head goes underwater. Tyboll drags me up by my arms as I spew water from my mouth.

  He’s looking at me so strangely and my nerves tighten. “Enough play, witch.” Using his fingers, he brushes his hair from his face. “There are things we must talk about.”

  Here we go again. Talking to each other never ends well.

  A few minutes later, we’re dressed and sitting on the front porch. Tyboll adjusts me one step down so I’m between his knees. Our clothing keeps our skin from coming in direct contact, but I can still feel the heat he throws off. He needs to release some of his new witch’s power to lower his temperature or he’ll have problems. There are so many things we need to talk about.

  “Dmitri has asked me to share your secrets with him.” Every muscle inside of me tightens. Tyboll’s hands land on my shoulders and he soothes the tendons that are stiff with dread. “I will never share the secrets of my mate without her consent. You need to know this up front. I thought he was exaggerating about your power, but then you made my hair grow. There are things you need to tell me so I understand what you can do.”

  I want to turn and look at him. I don’t because I’m too afraid. “You can do those things also. I doubt you have any different powers than me. It didn’t work that way with my mother or grandmother. Somehow, with our mating, I have passed power to you without dying.”

  He grunts and digs harder into the muscles on my arms and shoulders. “What is your… our power, Veda?”

  It is very difficult to voice this. This is what I would tell my child. Tyboll is so far from a child it’s laughable. Not that I wanted to laugh. I inhale deeply before speaking. “We have the power to create life.” His hands stop moving. “All life.”

  Slowly, he turns me so our eyes lock. “Explain.”

  “We can create life. Two bears, two wolves, two cats. We have the power to allow two of the same species to procreate.” I see and feel his shock. For centuries beastkind could only procreate with a human. Babies were stolen from human mothers. Female shifters sought human males, had sex, and went back to the clans. It wasn’t until recently when different species of shifters began mating that beastkind discovered they can procreate with another shifter of a different species.

  I watch the anger gather in his eyes. His hands are no longer gentle as his fingers bite into my skin. He has no idea he is doing it. I need to teach him a painful lesson and I really don’t want to do it. “Release me, Tyboll.”

  His hands immediately drop away. I stand up and face him. “We cannot interfere with the plans of the Goddess. That is not our job. We are the guardians of life. The Goddess has no power over humans; they are without magic. The existence of beastkind has always been tentative. We live in a world dominated by humans.”

  He scoffs. “Vampires and beastkind could easily destroy humans.”

  I shake my head in sadness. “That is not true. I have one reason for being here. Now you have the same. If all is destroyed and there are only two beastkind left on earth regardless of species, we create life.” He doesn’t believe me and it’s time to show him. “Step down off the porch and strike me across the face.”

  His eyes grow large. “You are crazy. I would never strike you.”

  “You can’t. That’s what I need to show you. First no harm. Those are the first words my mother taught me. You can’t even think it, Tyboll. I dare you. Think about hitting me.”

  He jumps from the porch without touching the stairs. “I will end these silly notions you have. I would never hit you, but I can easily picture spanking your beautiful ass until it’s too red for you to sit for a week.”

  “Picture it. I dare you.”

  A wicked grin spreads across his face. A second later he falls to his knees holding his head between his hands. His groan is loud and drawn out. I’m sorry for his pain. The training of a witch is an uncomfortable process. For Tyboll, I know it will only be worse because of his stubbornness.

  “Make it stop,” he begs.

  “Only you can make it go away. Clear your mind and remove the picture of harming me.”

  He looks up almost immediately.

  “To save your mother. To create life. It takes the sacrifice of ours. We are here to guarantee our existence. If that time comes, we are the sacrifice so beastkind lives. To do harm is excruciating. To create life is deadly.”

  I watch so many emotions cross his beautiful face before he speaks again. “Does Dmitri know this?”

  “No one but the two of us knows what we can do. We cannot interfere with what the Goddess has planned for beastkind. Slowly they are evolving. Prejudice is being put aside and breeding of the different species has begun. It is their lesson to learn and not ours to hinder.”

  When everything I say fully registers, he realizes the ultimate message of which I speak. “You have the power to grant a child to vampires, don’t you?”

  “As do you.”

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Tyboll

  She shows me her circle of herbs—explains about upsetting the balance and using all the Goddess’s gifts wisely. I listen. Part of me is terrified and the other in awe. To live separately from everyone to hide your secrets takes great sacrifice.

  She understands my need to examine what I’ve learned. She heads to the cabin to cook while I go running as bear. She holds no fear that I will give away her secrets. We are mates. Her secrets are mine.

  I close my mind from Dmitri as I think about all Veda has told me. I shouldn’t have been surprised when the largest bear of our clan blocks my path a few miles from my cabin. The Kodiak, alpha to the greatest clan, stands in front of me. He is also my brother by blood and like most brothers, we have our differences. This situation will be no different.

  “Tyboll,” his snarly voice rings through my head.

  “Alpha,” I reply pleasantly.

  “You don’t fool me. You are mated to the witch. Did it occur to you that I should be informed of this?”

  The hair near my tail stands on end. “Actually, no. You cannot stop a mating. Why would I inform you of something you probably knew seconds after I myself discovered it?”

  He grumbles because what else can he do? I’m right. “She’s dangerous to our people. Dmitri says she has shared her power with you.”

  He is trying to piss me off. “Dangerous how? She’s never harmed anyone. We all but forget she exists most of the time. The men completely ignore her existence. The women gossip and share their misplaced fears. What has the witch ever done to us?”

  Now The Kodiak’s hackles rise. “I know you asked her to save our mother.”

  I have no idea how he knows this, but it doesn’t surprise me. “And I was stupid to think a woman, even a witch, could change the will of the Goddess. Because Veda can mix herbs and stop menstrual pain does not mean she could save our mother.” I am treading too close to the truth, but it’s the only thing I can do. My brother did not become The Kodiak because he is unwise.

  “So show me your power that suddenly you’ve been gifted with,” he demands.

  Now we are at the root of the problem. “You’re worried, big brother. Worr
ied that I’ll kick your ass and take your title?”

  It surprises me when The Kodiak sits his fur-covered ass down. “No. I just don’t like what I do not understand. Dmitri thinks this is a good thing and you will be a tool just as your mate will be now that she is part of the clan.”

  I know Dmitri thinks only of our clan’s best interests. He or The Kodiak knowing the things I’m trying to wrap my brain around is in no one’s best interest. “I will always protect the clan and in doing so protect my mate.”

  He looks at me for several long moments before he turns and walks away. Things were so much easier when I didn’t have sex on the brain. I walk for another hour and come up with a solution to keep my mate and the clan safe. If one of them harms her, I will kill them. This, ultimately causes danger to the clan.

  ***

  Veda

  I have never attended a party, especially not one in my honor. The party is tonight and I don’t think I’m ready to be around so many people.

  It’s been two weeks since I told Tyboll about his powers. He asks a lot of questions at night when he comes home. I answer them all. A week ago, he joined me in a circle to thank the Goddess and added his energy. It might go down as the best sex we’ve ever had. Our energy spiked higher than it ever has. I blush at the memory.

  He’s practicing his energy, or maybe playing is more like it. He’s very good at harmless fun and keeping pain from taking him to his knees. He’s learned quickly. He uses sexy thoughts when he zaps my butt from across the room, but it startles me. I’ve caught him unawares a time or two in retaliation. He can be quite evil in his paybacks. I always look forward to his special kind of wicked.

  Patreous is coming over more and more. I enjoy his company. He’s inquisitive and has no preconceived ideas about witches. He thinks of me as bear and he’s mostly correct. I’ve had this second form so long I’ve forgotten I have a choice. Tyboll doesn’t know that yet, but he will when I think he can handle it. I like his grumpy bear form, so keeping this bit of information to myself doesn’t hurt him.

  Mostly, I miss my mate during the day. He comes up with excuses to be away and I know they are excuses. Well, until he’s hungry or needs sex. The man is ravenous for both. But not during the day.

  Mandy comes over with Demetria in tow almost daily. I know it’s difficult for her being in wolf form during her pregnancy. She has another four weeks until the twins are due. Nikka joins us and we shift and walk through the forest. I enjoy our time together. I haven’t seen Honey at all and Mandy grumbles from time to time about something he says or does. Their lack of a sex life is making her irritable. She can do little to help plan the party, which also makes her moody.

  The party. Nikka ordered me a dress online and now I’m wearing it. I’ve worn long skirts most of my life. Since my travels to the city, I’ve discovered denim jeans and love them. A fancy short dress with a ruffled skirt just isn’t my thing. But here I stand waiting for my mate.

  “I’m bathing in the lake, woman, and I’ll be there in plenty of time to take you to the party. I know you’ll look lovely in the dress, so keep it on,” he says into my mind and I realize I’m not blocking him. I receive his sexy laugh for that thought.

  I’m nervous in the dress and also nervous to see everyone at once. Nikka and Mandy have introduced me formally to several of the she-bears. Of course, I already know them, but they act as if it’s the first time we’ve met. I haven’t complained because I want peace within my new clan. I like Mandy and Nikka’s friendship. I love Demetria and Patreous. And, I love my mate. At the same time, I realize I don’t need the approval or attention of anyone.

  I’m standing in the front room when the door opens. Tyboll takes my breath away. His hair is wet from his bath in the lake. We cut it before anyone saw it long. We cut it every few days because I can’t resist growing it long when I get my hands on it. He’s wearing a suit that I didn’t know he had. It’s dark with a white dress shirt beneath the jacket. The look in his eyes accents the entire package. He’s looking at my legs.

  “Turn around slowly,” he says huskily.

  I turn.

  He growls low in his throat and I fight a smile. “Stay close to me tonight. I will not be responsible for my actions if another male gets too close to you.”

  I don’t expect this. “You are my mate. I am meant for no other.”

  He stalks close and pulls me to him by my hips. “I know that, but it doesn’t mean I will think about it if another bear is sniffing too closely.”

  “Kiss me, mate,” I say as I lean into him.

  He whispers against my lips, “If I do, we will never get out of here. It’s your party, so let’s go.”

  I would rather skip the party. He smiles and I know he hears my thoughts. I’m always forgetting to turn them off. I hear his most of the time, too. For some reason he’s always reciting how much he likes sex.

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Veda

  We hear the music before the lights come into view. The party is outside on the large patio at Dmitri’s house. Nikka decorated with white sparkling lights and paper lanterns. The music is unknown to me, which isn’t a surprise. Technology is not my friend and I prefer the peace of the forest.

  Dmitri’s voice echoes over the music. “Welcome, Veda, Witch from the line of Josephine, mate to Tyboll, and new member of the bear clan.”

  The music shuts off suddenly and I can do nothing but return the formal greeting. “Thank you, Black Demon Bringer of Death, mate of Nikka, Liege to the bear clan.”

  A restless mumble from the bears fills the night. Have I said something wrong? Tyboll’s hand tightens on mine. Nikka appears slightly shocked before she steps forward and wraps me in her arms. “What have I done,” I ask her silently.

  “You’re fine. He just hasn’t used his full title in centuries,” she replies into my mind

  I turn to Dmitri, who looks at his mate with a soft smile. “I am sorry, Dmitri, I meant no disrespect.”

  “None taken,” he replies and raises his voice, “Veda is now part of our clan. She is trained in the centuries-old protocol of greeting. If you have a problem with it you are welcome to challenge her.”

  I suddenly find myself behind Tyboll. “No, my liege, no one will challenge my mate without facing me first.”

  What by the Goddess is he doing? He can no longer fight. A man I don’t know steps forward. His power rolls off him in waves and I realize he is The Kodiak.

  “They will first go through me. Veda is now my sister-in-law and a direct member of my family.”

  I’m not sure what to do when Honey steps forward. “And they shall go through me also.”

  Tyboll breathes against my hair and I feel him relax. At this point, I’m not surprised when Patreous steps forward.

  “She is now my mother and I fight also.”

  Tyboll hooks his hand around his son’s neck and pulls him close to his side so Patreous and I are held within his arms. Nikka has her hands on her hips and she doesn’t look pleased with her husband. A war is about to break out all because I came to a party.

  To my surprise, Dmitri bursts out laughing. “See, witch, you have nothing to fear from this clan. We want you.”

  Tyboll’s body completely relaxes. “Damn vampire,” he mutters.

  “That was not nice, Dmitri,” Nikka scolds her mate broadcasting her telepathic words to the entire clan. “This is Veda’s party.”

  Dmitri tips his head at his mate before turning his eyes to me. They go amber. “I am liege to a stubborn clan of bears. They need to know you are one of us and protected by your family.”

  I’m surprised because the vampire knows I do not need the protection of family. I can’t seek out someone to harm, but I can protect myself by any means necessary.

  Dmitri speaks into my mind. “Yes, witch, but they do not need to know that. If you want to be accepted, they need to feel your family will protect you.”

  This is why my mother taught me that va
mpires are sneaky. They’re also intelligent and by doing this, he also protects Tyboll. I know about the whispers of Tyboll’s new powers. Patreous is a fountain of uncensored information.

  Maybe, just maybe, I can like this vampire.

  Nikka disrupts my thoughts and speaks into my mind. “We have made a vegetarian meal for dinner. Let us enjoy the food in your honor, Veda.”

  The groans are louder now, but there is laughter mixed in. Nikka prepared food I can eat. No one has ever cared before and I feel a tear slip own my cheek.

  “No, mate. No tears. This night is your celebration,” Tyboll whispers in my ear as he ruffles his son’s head.

  Before we head to the large tables covered with food dishes that smell wonderful, the bears approach one by one. Most shake my hand and introduce themselves. Several of the females surprise me with hugs. I feel no fear or worry from any of them.

  The food, the music, and the laughter make it a perfect night. I’m tired after dancing with Tyboll and Patreous. None of the other men ask because if they come near, Tyboll growls. I think they only do it to tease him. Mandy and Nikka have promised to take me to Dmitri’s club after Mandy’s children are born.

  “Only if I’m with you,” Tyboll assures me when I look at him in panic. I lived with the humans, but the city is a place I never need to return to. If Tyboll didn’t live in the forest, I’m not sure I could handle it.

  Becoming part of the bear clan is wonderful, but I also miss the life I left behind when I burned my cabin.

  “Are you tired?” Tyboll asks as we leave the party.

  I’m emboldened by the gruffness in his voice. “No. I miss my mate and I plan to be up with him most of the night.”

  “I have a place I would rather take you if you’re willing to shift so we can travel faster.” I’m curious and have no problem removing my dress and shifting. Tyboll picks up the dress in his teeth after he’s in bear form.

  “I like the dress and may let you put it on later,” he says into my mind.