by Vella Day
Lexi jerked her head up and blinked. She must be hallucinating. A woman, who looked a lot like Vinea was hovering several feet above the ground. She was dressed in a black gauze-like material that flowed about her body, and in her hand was some kind of crystal dagger. Between the tone and the knife, Lexi refused to do as she asked.
“No.” Lexi managed to stand and then move between Vinea and Sam, but her heart was beating faster than a hummingbird’s, and her energy was draining fast. “Stay away. He’s hurt.”
Vinea lowered herself to the ground and became less transparent. “Who’s going to stop me? You think you can shift into your wolf and kill me like you did Justin? Look at you. You can barely stand up.”
How did she know that she’d killed him? Okay, perhaps the dead body behind her gave her a clue. “I plan to try,” she said, even if she had to use the last ounce of her strength to stop her.
“You are a little fool. I am a goddess who can destroy you with a flick of my finger.”
Goddesses were supposed to be good, though most likely she was some magician if she could float and appear almost invisible. The woman who Devon helped in Vermont had to be bluffing.
Sam had told her that Naliana was the only goddess to have ever visited Silver Lake. This wasn’t Naliana in disguise since Vinea looked about twenty-five, and Naliana was supposedly closer to sixty. “Show me.”
“Showing you will kill you.” Her lip curled, and her eyes turned almost black.
“I’ve already called for help. They’ll be here any minute.”
“Then I guess I don’t have much time.”
“Time for what?” Lexi stiffened. She had to stall for as long as possible until Jackson arrived. Whether he had any abilities to stave off a proclaimed goddess, she didn’t know. “Vinea, why are you even here? Devon and everyone have all been really nice to you.” She used her soft, cajoling voice that she often used with students who acted up in class.
She scowled. “That just means they are all fools.”
Where was this hatred coming from? “Why do you want to hurt Sam? He’s never done anything to you.”
“Since you seem so fond of this young man, I’ll let you in on a little secret. I had something stolen from me, and I want it back; plain and simple.”
Nothing was plain or simple about theft. “The last person on earth to steal something would be Sam.”
She waved a hand and chuckled, but it held no cheer. “Sam didn’t do the stealing. My sister, Naliana, did, and the only way to fight her for what is rightfully mine is to regain more power.”
Clearly, she was insane. Nothing she said made any sense, but Lexi would play along. “What power is rightfully yours?” Her legs were about to give way, but she had to stand tall against this woman.
“The ability to be the matchmaker for all shifters. To do that, I need to be able to control people’s thoughts.”
That was what Sam could do. Lexi glanced behind Vinea hoping to spot Jackson coming to their rescue, but not even a bird was in view. She needed to distract her, only how? “There already is a goddess who is in charge of doing that, or so I’ve been told.”
“Naliana. Yes, but that was supposed to be my job, now please stand back. I wasn’t planning on killing Sam or you, but I will if you don’t let me have his powers.”
“What good will they do you?” Lexi could guess, but if she could keep Vinea talking, she could figure out a way to take her down.
“You humans are so slow. I plan to fight my sister for my rightful place. Now stand back. This is my last warning.” Vinea lifted the hand that contained a clear crystal dagger and moved so quickly Lexi didn’t even see her move until she was inches from them.
She shoved Lexi. Losing her balance, she landed on her butt. Lexi had to shift. It was her only hope of saving Sam. Just as she was about to, an incredibly bright ray of light blasted Vinea, temporarily blinding Lexi.
“What are you doing here?” Vinea asked, her voice filled with hatred.
Lexi stopped the shift. As she opened her eyes, another ethereal creature appeared before them wearing a gossamer white gown. This newcomer was taller and thinner and had silver hair that rippled down her back. Despite the sheer outfit, the woman didn’t look the least bit cold. While her skin was smooth, she looked to be in her sixties. This had to be Naliana.
“I’d like to ask you the same question,” the older woman said with a stern voice tinged with disgust.
Vinea dropped the knife, and Lexi was tempted to grab it, but her muscles seemed to be frozen. She blinked and the newcomer materialized, looking fully human.
“I needed this man’s power,” Vinea announced as if stealing it was the most natural thing in the world. The slight fear in her voice had been replaced with arrogance.
“By cutting it out of him? I’m sorry the darkness had spread so deeply within you, but the light I just infused you with should help reverse that now.”
Vinea’s brows pinched, and her hands clenched, suddenly looking very human. “How does it make you feel to once more cheat me out of what is rightfully mine?”
Lexi didn’t understand the conversation, but she was highly thankful to Naliana—if that was who she was—for stopping Vinea from taking Sam’s power.
Sam moaned, and Lexi placed a hand on his heart, hoping her presence would help him stay calm. Right now these two women were focused on each other, which meant every minute that went by, Jackson had a better chance of arriving. Unfortunately, the addition of a few more wolves probably wouldn’t bother a goddess or two.
The second woman moved closer. “Vinea, your actions of long ago caused the gods—not me—to ban you. In fact, I begged them to reconsider, but your own jealousy turned your heart too black. My wish was not granted because the gods were not pleased that I refused to visit them for so many years. Trust me, I didn’t abandon you… You had to be sent to the dark realm.”
What was she talking about? So Vinea really was a goddess? And what the hell was this dark realm place anyway?
“I happen to like it there, but by stripping me of my powers, I’ve been forced to continue my evil ways as you say, instead of making amends. It’s why I need Sam’s magic.”
The second lady chuckled. “To do what? Get into my head? The gods would never allow it.”
“We’ll see.”
“Obviously, you have no intention of repenting, but if you ever do want forgiveness, I’m sure we can find a way to make it happen.”
“Forgiveness?” Vinea’s brows furrowed and she planted a hand over her chest. “Oh, shit. What’s wrong with me? What did you do?”
The second woman smiled. “It’s the white light working on you. I wanted to help you before, but when you were banned, I couldn’t follow to give you the light of goodness. With time, you’ll want to do good by helping others.”
Vinea looked around, her gaze falling on Sam. Goddess or not, Lexi would shift if she had to in order to protect the man she loved. An overwhelming need for him filled her. Yes, she loved Sam Pompley, and no one was going to get near him. She’d die first.
Vinea whipped back toward the woman. “How are you even here? The white moon isn’t for another few days. I planned it that way so you couldn’t interfere.”
“Oh, Vinea. You’ve been gone so long that you don’t understand how things work in the light realm anymore. When the gods became aware of what you’d done, they gave me special compensation to return to earth—but only long enough to beg you to cease this crazy plan of yours.”
Shouts sounded from the path below, and Lexi almost wept from joy. Jackson and one or two others had arrived. Naliana glanced in their direction.
“You need to decide what you want to do, Vinea. Get help, or you’ll have to remain in the dark realm forever.”
Vinea glanced at the path again. A second later Jackson, Connor, and Devon rushed onto the field.
It was as if Jackson and Connor didn’t even see these women because they both ran over to Sam w
hile Devon kept his focus on Vinea. Lexi couldn’t read his expression, but from the way he was staring, he was in turmoil.
“What’s going on, Vinea?” he asked, his voice nearly cracking.
“I’m being scolded by my younger sister. That’s what’s going on.”
Chapter Twenty-One
‡
Devon was in total shock. His entire belief system had just been crushed. Upon seeing the two women, Jackson had whispered that the taller lady was the goddess Naliana. While Devon had never personally met her, he’d heard many tales. The first of which was that she only took her human form on the white moon, yet there wasn’t one tonight. Did goddesses not have to adhere to the rules all of the time?
Why was Vinea even here, and what did she mean when she said her younger sister was scolding her?
“How can Naliana be your sister?” Devon asked as he moved closer.
Vinea sighed. “My poor Devon. I haven’t been honest with you.”
Her words took a moment to sink in. “Are you telling me you’re a goddess?” Sure, she looked like one, but his body reacted as if she were his mate—as in a human mate.
“Yes, but I don’t live where Naliana resides or rather where she floats about.”
Her sister interjected. “Devon, I’m Naliana, and yes I am her younger sister. I’m sure Jackson and Connor have told you how I lived on earth for many years once I met James.”
“They did.”
“Because of my stay, I aged while Vinea did so very slowly. Vinea and I had to part ways many years ago. It was one of the reasons why I couldn’t face returning to the light realm for so long. That and I wanted to be with James. You see, Vinea was so jealous of me for being designated as the shifter matchmaker that she was stripped of most of her powers and sent to the dark realm to repent.” Naliana glanced over at her sister. “I’m sad to say she’s failed at changing her ways. However, I still have hope that she can redeem herself—with help.”
With help? “I don’t understand.”
“It might be best for now, that you don’t. It will take a while for most of her evil spirit to dissipate.”
That explanation didn’t help at all. Needing to touch Vinea, possibly to believe she was real and not some illusion, he drew closer.
Vinea held up a hand. “Don’t, please, Devon. This is equally hard for me to understand. Right now, I can feel my body changing, and I hate it.”
“Changing?” She wasn’t a shifter. “I just want to touch you.” Okay, that sounded creepy, but his wolf was going crazy around her.
Stand down. This woman is evil, he told his animal.
“I need to go,” she said.
“No, wait. I have to talk to you.”
Ignoring him, she rushed toward the woods, but before she reached the tree line, her figure became faint and then disappeared completely. What the hell? He needed answers. What happened just now had been wrong—so terribly wrong.
“Devon, give us a hand,” Connor called, acting as if Vinea hadn’t just been there.
Shit. He’d come to help Sam, not touch base with the woman who’d haunted his dreams. “Coming,” he replied then faced Naliana once more. “Please help me understand.”
“My time here is up, but I will give you this piece of advice: Be patient.”
With that, she moved backward then floated above the ground. Her image faded and then disappeared into nothingness just like her sister before her.
“Devon!” Connor called.
He jerked his attention to the two men who’d placed Sam on the canvas cot. He rushed to them, pushing aside his confusion and frustration. “Where do you need me?”
“Grab one of the front handles, as all the weight will be at that end when we head downhill.”
“Let me grab his bag too,” Devon said. Lexi was on her feet, but she was swaying. Devon placed a hand on her back. “You need to shift.”
“I’ll be okay.”
Her lips had already turned blue. With her legs bare, the poor woman had to be freezing. It appeared as if she’d shifted to fight Justin Kapok who now lay bloodied and naked twenty feet away. His admiration for her grew even more.
“Please.”
She looked over at Jackson and Connor who were waiting for her before they picked up the stretcher with Sam on it. “All right,” she said.
Lexi slipped off her coat and stepped out of her shoes. A few seconds later, she was in her wolf form. Devon shoved her gear into the bag then lifted her wolf and placed her on top of Sam’s legs. He figured it would do both of them some good to be near each other.
For the next half hour, they carefully carried Sam down to Jackson’s truck, hurrying yet trying to be careful not to jar him too much.
“Put him in the back,” Jackson said as he handed Connor the keys. “I’m going back to take care of Kapok. You take Sam back to the office. I’ll meet you there.”
“I’ll drive Sam’s truck back,” Devon said. “Can you find his keys?”
Jackson dug his hand into Sam’s pockets. “Not there.”
Devon searched Lexi’s coat pocket. “Got ’em.”
He opened the backseat and Lexi jumped in. He was pleased she appeared more energetic. The half hour rest had done wonders for her. Devon followed Connor back to the office, hoping Sam would be okay.
*
Lexi had too many questions to ask to remain in her wolf form. Besides, the rest down the mountain had allowed her wolf to heal her quite well. Keeping low, she shifted in the backseat. “Brr.”
“Welcome back,” Devon said. “I’ll turn up the heat. I put your coat and shoes in the bag.”
“Thanks.” She pulled them out and then shoved her arms in her jacket and stuffed her feet in her boots.
“Want to tell me what happened?” Devon asked.
She explained about them going out there for target practice. “As I was taking a bathroom break in the woods, Sam’s yells and the wolves’ cries had me racing back to help. Two wolves were clawing at him when another two showed up. Then Justin appeared.”
“Sam was being attacked by four wolves? I’m surprised he lived.”
“The second two were watching. I was about to shift and help him when Justin appeared. When he saw me, he called off all of the wolves.”
“Why would he do that?”
“I think he was trying to get my attention. He succeeded. Justin told me that if I didn’t go back to Vermont with him that he’d give the order for his men to kill Sam.” Her voice shook retelling the story. “By then Sam had collapsed. I could tell the wolves could have killed him easily, and I couldn’t have stopped them all.”
“But you didn’t go with Justin.”
“No. I thought I could bluff my way out of it. I told Justin that Sam and I were already mated, but he didn’t believe me because he’d bugged our truck.”
Devon shot her a look. “Oh, shit. You mean this truck is bugged?”
She’d forgotten about that. “Yes.”
“Once we have Sam stabilized, I’ll check it out.”
“We know Justin can’t listen in since he’s dead, but yes, take it out by all means.”
Devon didn’t ask any more questions, probably because some of Justin’s men might be listening. It wasn’t long before the McKinnon and Associates office came into view, and Lexi’s anxieties shot up once more. Devon pulled to a stop behind Connor, cut the engine, and handed her Sam’s keys. “Don’t worry.”
Like that would ever happen? He jumped out, and she followed. Cold air blasted her, but her heart was beating so fast that she barely noticed. As much as she wanted to run up to Sam, she didn’t want to impede their progress. Connor swiped his thumb on the keyless entry, and Lexi held open the back door for them. Once inside, she followed them to the infirmary.
Sam held out his hand, and she clasped it. His skin was pale, and he struggled to talk. “I love you.”
“I love you too. Don’t talk, just concentrate on getting better.”
Sam’s eyes rolled back in his head, and Connor touched her arm. “I’ve called Missy and she’ll be here soon. Go clean up and put on something warm. I imagine you’ll be sitting with him for a while.”
“I will.” She figured he mostly wanted her out of the way so Missy could do her magic.
Lexi rushed to Devon’s office where she disappeared behind the bookcase. Sam was alive, and that was all that mattered. In the moments when he was lying in the field, the life draining out of him, her own life had passed before her eyes. His importance had become solidified in each and every cell of her body. She made a promise: as soon as Sam healed, she’d make things permanent. Justin Kapok was dead, and the men and women of Silver Lake had become her family.
Would she miss Ronan and her friends back in Vermont? Sure, but she’d made new friends here, though she might be able to convince her brother to visit. Who knows? He might fall in love with the town just as she had.
Still chilled to the bone, Lexi turned on the shower, and only after the water warmed did she remove her jacket and boots. Her legs, she feared, might stay frozen for life. The first dip hurt, but as soon as she warmed, she sighed from the relief. As much as she wanted to stand under the heated stream for an hour, Sam was upstairs, and she was a firm believer in giving support. If she’d been injured, just having him there would have helped her heal.
Once Lexi was positive none of Justin’s blood was still on her, she stepped out of the shower and dried off. A few scrapes and cuts still marred her body, but most of the deep ones had healed. Thank goodness for her wolf.
After pulling on a comfy sweatshirt, her baggiest jeans, a pair of thick socks, and sneakers, she rushed upstairs. When she stepped into their infirmary, Missy had lit candles and incense and placed them around Sam’s bed. She twisted around to face her.
“Lexi!”
“Hey, Missy. How’s Sam?”
“Doing better. I put a poultice on his back and then placed some herbs under his head. He might need stitches, and because we don’t need the authorities questioning you about wolves, you should have a shifter doctor look at him if he isn’t better by tomorrow. The last thing you need is a manhunt for these wolves.”