Kiss of Fire: A Dystopian Shifter Romance (The Whitemoon Warriors #2) (The Whitemoon Warriors Series)

by Nichole Wolfe

  His mum floated down the stairs a few minutes later, festive as ever in her favorite red satin gown and smiling at the three of them. Then, her gaze flickered behind them. “Well, don’t you two look wonderful. I’m glad you decided to join us as well, Nessie, Charlie.”

  A pit dropped into his stomach at the mention of his other sister’s name. And her boyfriend. He turned on his heel, placing his body in front of Autumn’s. The couple stood just in front of the basement door where they’d skulked out of. Apparently, his mother had made Nessie a dress as well. A simple gold gown that hugged her hips. Sleeveless. Surprise, surprise. Because her being half-vampire, half-lycana meant she didn’t even register the cold.

  He opened his mouth to tell them to beat it.

  “Torin,” his mother warned.

  Snarling under his breath, he took a breath. “Yes, very nice of you to join us.”

  Nessie raised a brow at him. “Thanks. You couldn’t look more thrilled to see us, really.”

  He gave her a droll look, which she returned.

  “Well, we best be going. Don’t want to miss the tree lighting,” Charlie interjected, holding an elbow out for Nessie. “Shall we?”

  Nessie took one look at the formal gesture and rolled her eyes at him. “Oh, yes. Wouldn’t want to miss that excitement.” And she took off out the door, leaving Charlie to chase after her.

  “Well, I like her,” Kayline chirped. “It’s quite funny seeing someone else get under Torin’s skin.” She gave him a wide smile and skipped out the door after them.

  Torin rolled his eyes before turning on his mother. “Why did you invite the bloodsuckers? And why in the gods’ names did you make her a dress? She is your husband’s child from another woman!”

  His mother bristled, anger flaring in her brown eyes. Her gaze flickered to Autumn, softening before she looked back at him. “Out of respect for Autumn, I will not dignify those ridiculous questions with an answer. I will simply tell you, my dear son, that your new sister has been through every bit as much as that woman you’re so protectively guarding.” She walked past him, lifting the billowing skirts of her dress in her rush to get away from him. “Nessie deserves a break in her life, too.”

  It was his turn to blush in embarrassment...and shame. Had he really been that shitty to her? He glanced over at Autumn, who stood wide-eyed and confused. Would she think he was as shitty as he felt right now?

  Seeing the questions in her eyes, he said, “Nessie is the bloo...I mean, woman...you met back at Blackmoon.”

  Autumn swallowed and nodded, so he continued. “She also happens to be my half-sister.” Unfortunately.

  She raised her brows, puckering her lips at him.

  “Yeah, I haven’t been too thrilled about it.”

  Her lips curved in a small smirk. Ya think.

  “Anyway, enough about my family tree growing. Let’s get to the fun stuff, shall we?” He held his arm out (just like Charlie, ugh. Hate myself right now), but, unlike his prissy sister, Autumn smiled widely and slipped her arm over his.

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  Autumn couldn’t believe her eyes. She had never seen a more beautiful scene in her whole life and her fingers were itching for a paintbrush. Hanging lanterns were scattered throughout the village, a fire crackling in the huge firepit that marked the center. Potted pine saplings formed a wide circle around the pit with shiny colored ornaments of all shapes and sizes. She ran to get closer, yanking Torin’s arm.

  Oh, my sweetness. Miniature sleighs and snowmen hung from the branches along with snowflakes made from yarn. And atop each little tree was a shining white moon, the silhouette of a howling wolf lit from the inside.

  Torin finally pulled her away from her admiration of every little decoration by insisting she try some food. She begrudgingly allowed him to lead her towards a long, long table of food. She’d never had much of an appetite. Being in a case of constant fear and disgust usually did that to a person. Besides, she was only ever permitted to eat when someone told her to, or brought food to her little room in Blackmoon.

  Torin’s face, on the other hand, lit up as the feast came into view. Probably much the way her face had just lit up moments ago. He snatched up a large hunk of meat and glanced over at her. “Take what you want,” he said through a mouthful of meat.

  She quirked a brow at him. Whatever she wanted?

  He waved a hand at the food. “Don’t be shy. Here, you gotta try this.” He shoved the hunk of meat in her face, making her back away. The smell of it turned her stomach, and brought the past screaming to the surface of her mind.

  “Autumn,” a booming voice called in the darkness as the door of her tiny room creaked open, bringing the stench of blood and sweat into the air. “Where’s my pretty girl?”

  She tried to hold her breath as she rocked in the corner, hugging her knees to her chest. I’m not here. I’m not here.

  “There you are.” He chuckled as his dark eyes landed on her. “Trying to hide again, are you?”

  He squatted down in front of her, a beefy hand fisting in her hair and yanking her head up. “Silly girl. You can’t hide from me.” He pulled her head forward making her wince as a chunk of hair tore from her scalp. He closed his eyes, taking a long whiff of her hair. “I could smell you from miles away, my pretty girl.”

  Autumn kept her eyes on him as he threw her to the floor and climbed on top of her, shoving her filthy dress out of the way. Even as he pushed inside her, she watched on. Because the monster didn’t like it when she closed her eyes. If she did, she’d wake up with more than just the junction between her legs screaming in agony. But she couldn’t stop the tears as she waited in the wreaking darkness for the monster to be done with her.

  Turning away, she ran. And vomited behind the closest building she could find.

  Torin followed her, ditching the hunk of meat. But she vomited again, waving him off. “I’m just trying to help,” he said, reaching for her.

  She flailed her arms harder. Well, you’re not! You’re disgusting!

  He threw his arms in the air. “Alright, fine, I’m going!” He spun on his heel and marched away, muttering about confusing women.

  When she’d rid herself of the little bit of breakfast she had eaten that morning, she leaned against the side of the building to catch her breath. And trying to remind herself that this wasn’t Blackmoon. After finally composing herself, she straightened and inspected the dress that Lauren had made her, praying it wasn’t ruined. She’d never owned anything so beautiful in her life. She sighed in relief when she found no damage had been done.

  She eyed the food table, but Torin had disappeared. And her appetite was gone. But she tiptoed out from behind the building, determined not to cower in the corner. She’d spent her whole goddamn life cowering in a corner!

  “I see my son got his way and brought you to the celebration,” a curt, male voice came from behind her. Her body ceased immediately, her breath coming in short bursts as fear froze her lungs.

  Torin’s father came around her and she stared up at him, swallowing down more fear.

  “I told him there was no point, but he won’t listen to me,” he continued. “Not since he brought you here.”

  Gulp. The contempt on his face made any determination she’d previously had to enjoy herself shrivel up and run back to the corner screaming.

  ***

  Torin slammed the door shut as he exited the bathroom. He’d washed his hands clean of any food residue. Even though he was still starving. Damn women. There went his perfect first date.

  What did you expect? She didn’t even know it was a date.

  He cursed himself to the moon and back. Until he spotted his father...talking to Autumn. And she looked petrified, her hands pressed over her mouth as she held back tears.

  “There’s no other way,” he heard his father say as he raced over to them, pulling her behind him. She squealed, reminding him that she’d been yanked around enough. He released her arm, mouthing a qu
ick “sorry” at her. But she was shaking her head, her eyes locked onto his as tears finally broke free.

  “What did you say to her?” he yelled, turning on his father. Not giving a fuck that his father looked pissed at his tone.

  His father composed himself, looking serious, as always. “I told her what you refuse to acknowledge,” he stated and walked away.

  No, he thought, praying his father wasn’t really that cruel. Torin looked back at Autumn. “Don’t worry,” he began, but she took one look at him and fled towards the house.

  ***

  Autumn stood staring into the fire, once again locked inside Torin’s room. Only this time, she’d locked herself in. After a while, she went into the adjoining bathroom to grab a tissue, gasping as she caught sight of her reflection.

  There in the mirror was the woman who had haunted her dreams. Long, flowing locks of red. Eyes of jade. And ugly streaks of tears blotching her face. It was like seeing a ghost.

  Before she could contemplate the meaning of that realization, a knock came at the door.

  “Can I come in?”

  It was Torin.

  She couldn’t tell him to go away, so all she could do was remain silent. Pretend she wasn’t here, or something lame like that.

  “Autumn, please.”

  She bit her lip. Why did he have to go and use her name? It sounded so...wonderful. He made her actually like hearing it. Damn him.

  She unlocked the door.

  He didn’t smile at her this time. Instead, he looked...sad. Like he was the one hurting. And then he looked angry. “My father’s an asshole.”

  He was angry at his father. Not her. Why? Because he’d told her she’d have to return to Blackmoon.

  “And he can go fuck himself because I won’t let him take you. Over my dead body.”

  Autumn heard herself gasp just before she launched herself into his arms and sobbed all over again.

  ***

  Torin clutched her against his body, absorbing her tears like he wished he could absorb her pain.

  He put a gentle hand on the back of her head, cooing at her until her body finally stopped shaking with sobs.

  When she lifted her head to look at him, he raised his palms to swipe the tears from her face. “Let’s try to salvage the night. I promise I won’t let the asshole known as my father near you again.”

  She half-cried, half-laughed as she circled her face with her finger.

  He smiled at her. “You still took beautiful to me,” he said, winking.

  Her cheeks flushed instantly, but she rolled her eyes and disappeared into the bathroom. After some short nose-blows, she came out with a smudge-free face, eyes still a little red and puffy, but that would fade soon enough.

  “Perfect,” he chimed, holding out his arm for round two.

  Once back outside, he found himself eyeing the food table. His stomach must have noticed because it growled in unison.

  Autumn glanced over at him, her gaze dropping to his noisy stomach before raising an eyebrow at him. Her plump lips curved into a tiny smile.

  He gave her a wide grin. “So what do you like to eat?”

  She thought about it for a minute before shrugging.

  “Well, I’ll bring you a few things. You try whatever you want, okay?”

  She looked surprised, but nodded a moment later, waiting at a distance as he piled food onto a plate. Her eyes watched his every move. He made a point to avoid all meat. Maybe she was a vegetarian or something.

  After cautiously inspecting the plate, she peeked up at him through her eyelashes with the slightest hint of a smile. His gut clenched at the haughty, flirtatious look. She picked off a few grapes, popping them inside her mouth one at a time, gauging his reaction.

  Good gods, she had no idea how sexy that was. How sexy she was. His face must have given his thoughts away, but instead of looking terrified again, her eyes heated, her mouth parting.

  He was almost ready to lean into her when she shoved a huge chunk of buttered bread into her mouth. She grinned at him, cheeks puffed full of food. And he couldn’t help but laugh.

  But his laughter died as he spotted “the asshole” through the billowing smoke rising over the bonfire. His father stood on the other side of the village center, talking with Nessie’s mother, Eva, a palm pressed against the building as he gazed down at her. There was too much noise for Torin to pick up a word they were saying. Then, his father grinned, teeth showing, eyes crinkling. A real smile. One that he had not seen on his father’s face in years. The sight of it made Torin seethe, searching the village for the woman his father should be laughing with.

  Instead, his mother and her friends were talking and laughing over some steaming cups of cocoa. She hadn’t seemed to take notice of his father. Or his company.

  Eva laid a hand on his father’s arm, gazing up at him with such longing on her face it made Torin want to gag on his festive pudding pie.

  And then a hand rested on his own arm, pulling his attention away from his two-timing father. Autumn looked up at him with concern, her own eyes darting over to his father and Eva.

  “Yeah,” he muttered. “The asshole’s batting a thousand today.”

  Concern turned to confusion as she tilted her head and quirked a brow.

  He shook his head. “Nevermind, I don’t want to talk about it.”

  She patted his arm and motioned for him to continue.

  He pulled his arm away. “I said I don’t want to talk about it, okay.”

  Snatching her hand back against her chest, she pressed her lips together as she stared up at him with wide eyes filled with apprehension.

  Luckily, the tree lighting ceremony began a moment later, overshadowing his quick snap at her and saving the moment in a flash of bright colors that had her eyes lighting up every bit as beautifully as the tree.

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  It had been almost a week since Torin had brought her to his home. Rescued her from hell and introduced her to what she could only assume was actual happiness. It was a foreign feeling, but one she could definitely get used to in a hurry. Each morning she seemed to wake up earlier, anxious to start the day and see everyone’s smiling faces. Well, except Talon’s. Because his was never smiling. Ever. At least not when she was around.

  But even as she flitted about the house like a happy little harpy, deep in the pit of her stomach she knew it couldn’t last. Talon had been very blunt with her at the festival. Her time here was limited, and her days numbered. Still, she was determined to enjoy it while it lasted. She’d need these happy memories to keep her sanity back in Blackmoon.

  Her heart ached everytime she thought about returning to that personal corner of hell. But that was a worry for another day. Today, she was taking her painting supplies into the village, finally putting the vision that was the Winter Solstice festival onto a canvas.

  She spent ten minutes picking the perfect spot to set up. Because lighting was crucial, of course. Then, she settled in for a few hours of her favorite past time. Torin probably wouldn’t be back from his hunting trip until dusk anyway. In no time, her mind was completely immersed in the task of getting every detail right. Torin who?

  “Oh, my stars,” someone gasped behind her, startling her. Not that it took much. “That is spectacular!”

  Autumn turned to smile at Lauren’s kind words.

  “I had no idea you were so talented, dear.” Lauren gazed at her artwork for several more seconds, shaking her head in amazement.

  Then, the woman jerked, her eyes lighting up as she looked at Autumn. “That would be perfect for you. An art teacher! Oh, sometimes I think I’m a genius. Wait until I tell the children!”

  Autumn gaped after her as she skipped through the village and out of sight. What was a teacher? And what did children have to do with it?

  She pushed the notion from her mind as she returned to her work. No matter. As intriguing as the idea sounded, she probably wouldn’t be here long enough to actually participate
in this teacher thing anyway. Or so she thought…

  It only took a few minutes before children from all over the village came bustling through the previously-quiet street. Lauren trailed behind them, huffing and puffing to keep up.

  “Children, children, settle down,” she demanded coming to stand beside Autumn. And the children listened. This woman had some magic up her sleeves or something. No woman she’d ever encountered had wielded such unquestionable power before. “Everyone, this is Miss Autumn.”

  “Good morning, Miss Autumn,” the children sang in unison as they all smiled up at her.

  “Now, Autumn doesn’t say much, but I’d like you to watch her for a few minutes while she paints. Watch carefully, though. Because one day very soon, I’ll be having all of you try to paint something as pretty as Autumn’s picture.” She held up a finger, her face turning serious. “But only if you behave yourselves, am I understood?”

  “Yes, Mrs. Delaney.”

  Autumn stared at the children as they stared up at her with curious faces. Lauren laid a hand on her arm. “It’s okay, dear. They’re going to love watching you paint, I’m sure of it.”

  Gazing up at Lauren’s hopeful face had Autumn pressing her lips together and nodding. She didn’t want to disappoint the woman who apparently had so much faith in her ability to keep the attention of a dozen small children.

  ***

  A few miles outside the village, Torin crouched in the thick bushes, his fingers hovering over the hilt of his sword. Alaric knelt next to him in an identical position. Jarden and Lucas, two more of the Whitemoon Warriors, hid in the bushes across the path. They’d been out hunting since this morning and their wagon was only half full. Where the hell was everything? The forest was eerily quiet. As if the animals sensed the uneasiness in the area.

  “Something’s not right,” Alaric muttered. “We should have had twice as many catches two hours ago. It’s past sundown. We’ve been at this all fucking day.”