Winter Tails: A Limited Edition Winter Shifters Collection

by Fox, Piper

  The man grimaced. "I'm sorry. It's not a dream. I wish it was. I wish you didn't have to face what's coming." He gestured around the lounge at all the damaged furniture. "I'm sorry about all this, too. But at least you can replace the furniture. Better a few smashed chairs than ending up dead."

  "Dead? What? You...Just who the hell are you and, if you're not a dream, what the hell are you doing in my house?" Icy fear ran down Kat’s spine and she shivered. This couldn't be real. It couldn't.

  The man raised an eyebrow, “I was a little busy for introductions, if you remember. My name’s Ethan. Ethan Alexander. You’re Kat Emerson, aren’t you?”

  “Yes. How did you know?”

  “I live just over the other side of the village from you and, I know it sounds like a bad movie, but I’m here to protect you.”

  Kat’s eyes widened, “From who?” she whispered.

  “Not who, what. I know this won’t be easy to hear, but they’re demons.”

  “Demons? Demons are real?” That was hard enough to grasp, but the rest was even worse. “But…why are they coming after me?”

  “Honestly, I’m not sure. All I know is that there have been quite a few deaths in this area and elsewhere. Good people who shouldn’t have died. I’ve been keeping an eye out for trouble and looking out for the supernatural and magical people in our area. I was out jogging a few nights ago and I saw one of the demons outside your home. I knew you were in trouble and I’ve watched out for you since then. So here I am.”

  Kat was struggling to keep up. “Wait, go back. You mean…? But I’m not…I don’t have any magic.”

  She swallowed as Ethan all but prowled up to her. He came up close and sniffed her neck, and she was sure her heart was going to beat out of her chest.

  He stepped back, “Yes, you do. I can smell it. And they can too, or they wouldn’t be out there.”

  “This is all too much. I need to sit down. And I need a drink.” Kat headed for the kitchen, then stopped. “Oh, wait. Do I have any chairs left?”

  Ethan smiled. “I’m sure there are a couple around the dining table. And I could go for a drink, too.”

  “I still have a dining table? Oh, lucky me.”

  “Well, mostly.”

  * * *

  Kat righted a chair and dragged it to what was left of the dining table. “Here, sit down. I’ll get us something to drink. I hope vodka is okay. That’s all I’ve got.”

  Ethan picked up a chair for Kat and then sat down, “Vodka is fine.”

  Kat pushed a glass across the table to him and sat opposite him. She took a drink and hoped that the shaking would stop soon. She’d never been so scared. “So now what? What do I do?”

  “We. You’re not alone, Kat. We’ll get through this.” Ethan reached across the table and touched her hand. “I’m not going anywhere.”

  “Can we really fight them off? I mean, is it true that demons are immortal?”

  “Well, mostly. But, hey, even demons can’t concentrate on mayhem and destruction when they’re worried that vital parts might get bitten off.”

  “I’m not doubting you, not after what you’ve already done for me, but is there anyone else we can call for help?”

  “There is no-one else. Not near enough to get here in time, anyway. I can keep them at bay for so long but I can’t defeat them by myself. I could use your help. So, what’s it to be? You can either run or fight. And I know which I’d rather do.” He growled softly.

  Kat shook her head and wrapped her arms around herself. “Run. I want to run. I can’t fight and I’m absolutely terrified. I’ve never even taken so much as a self-defense class. And, as for magic, I doubt I could summon enough to blow out a candle, never mind take out a bunch of demons.” Actual demons. She still couldn’t believe she was having this conversation.

  “Okay. I can understand that. Well, we’ll get a good night’s sleep and then pack in the morning.”

  “What if they come back while we’re asleep?”

  “They won’t be back tonight, I promise you. They were scared and a couple of them didn’t come off well after my jaguar got hold of them. They were expecting a woman on her own, with maybe some magic to deal with. They’re used to that. But they weren’t expecting me.” He smiled. “My jaguar enjoyed the fight. You’ll be safe tonight. You sleep, I’ll keep watch.”

  “If I leave here, where would I go?”

  “Anywhere far enough away from here. Leave for long enough and they’ll lose the scent. Not to mention, demons aren’t known for their long-lasting patience. They’ll get bored with no-one to attack and go looking for another target.”

  Kat finished the last of her drink. “Oh, I have so many questions, I don’t know where to start with all this.”

  Ethan squeezed her hand reassuringly. “I’m sure you do. I doubt I can answer them all, but fire away.”

  “You said they’ve been hanging around for a few days. Why didn’t they attack me before if they were already here?”

  “Well, I’m not an expert on demon behaviour, but I’d guess they were testing to see if there were any protection spells on your house and seeing if, and how, you’d respond to them poking around. Not even a demon wants to walk straight into a fire fight with someone who has magic.”

  “That makes sense. And speaking of which, how did I not know I had magic?”

  “I don’t know. I guess it takes longer to come out in some people. Does anyone in your family have it? I’m guessing not?”

  “No. I thought all this was just myths and fairy tales until tonight.” She smiled, wryly. “I’m still half convinced I’m dreaming, to be honest.”

  Kat poured them another drink and leaned back in her chair, the initial shock beginning to wear off. “So, tell me about you. I hope it’s not rude to ask, but what are you?”

  Ethan laughed. “Direct. To the point. I like it. I wouldn’t go asking everyone in polite company, though. Some people are sensitive about it, but I’m fine with you asking. I’m a jaguar shifter. I can change forms at will.”

  “Are there others like you?”

  “Yes and no. Shifters are pretty common but I’m what’s called a double shifter, and I have the ability to change twice. I’m made to do that. It can be pretty handy, too. That’s really rare, though. To the point where I’ve never met another one.”

  “Can you change into more than the cat and the jaguar?”

  “No, just the two. From what I know about it, the two animals have to be similar enough for it to work, so you might get a wolf shifter who can also turn into a dog, but you’d never get a lion shifter who could shift into a chicken or anything.”

  “Wait a minute, if you could change back into you, why didn’t you do that when I walked in and saw you as a jaguar?”

  “It takes energy to shift and, after a battle like that, I needed a minute to get my energy levels back up. And I didn’t want to scare you with shifting either, so I stayed as I was at first.”

  “You thought an enormous black jaguar with the biggest teeth I’ve ever seen would be less scary than being you?

  Ethan grinned at her. “Well, I didn’t think a strange man in your house in the middle of the night would go down well, either. Anyway, my turn for the questions. So, Inky? You thought you’d call me Inky? Still think I’m a sweetie pie?” he asked, trying to lighten the mood.

  Kat glared at him, “Well, how was I supposed to know you were really the great big, hulking rugby player type underneath all that fur?”

  Well, that had certainly taken her mind off her troubles. Now all she could think about were his muscular arms and abs you could bounce a coin off. Focus, Kat!

  “Hey, I just thought of something. When you were the cat, you saw me get ready for bed.”

  “I didn’t peek.”

  “Really?” She stared at him, disbelieving.

  “Okay, I may have peeked a bit.”

  Chapter 2

  The following morning, fresh drifts of snow piled up agains
t the house and Kat and Ethan realised they were going nowhere. The few restless hours of sleep they’d had brought no more answers for what they were going to do or for how Kat was going to discover her magic.

  After breakfast, Ethan had her seated in the centre of the lounge, cross-legged.

  “I don’t know what I’m doing,” he said, “but I think being relaxed can only help you. Close your eyes, slow deep breaths, right from your diaphragm. Try and let your mind go blank and relax.”

  Kat did as he asked, settling herself down onto her cushion and letting her shoulders drop. She closed her eyes, doing everything she could to let the events of the previous evening go and empty her mind.

  She wriggled her shoulders and circled her neck, trying to get the tension out.

  “Okay,” Ethan said. “Now, concentrate on your breathing, in and out, nice and slow. You can do this.”

  Several minutes of long, slow breaths later and Kat was no nearer to either relaxing or producing any magic at all. She blew out a long breath and tried again. The problem was she had no idea what she was looking for, how it was supposed to feel or what do to with it if anything happened, any more than Ethan had.

  If only she had a family member or a friend with magic to describe it for her, maybe she’d have more success. She screwed her eyes tightly closed. Come on, concentrate.

  After a few minutes, she frowned, “Stop staring at me. You’re not helping,” she said.

  “You could feel me staring at you? Maybe it’s working.” Ethan began to pace the room, excitedly.

  “Nope, not a flicker. I could just tell you were there. I could hear you breathing.”

  “Anything at all, yet.”

  Kat opened her eyes, “I don’t know. I don’t know what I’m doing either,” she wailed. “What if I can’t make it work?”

  Ethan took hold of her hands. “You will. The magic is inside you.” He placed a hand over her heart. “It’s right here, and we just have to find some way for you to tap into it. That’s all.”

  * * *

  Several days passed as Kat practiced over and over again to the point of exhaustion, trying everything she could to bring out her magic, but nothing worked.

  She’d tried yoga, meditation, online reiki and tai chi to relax, tarot cards, spells off the internet, Wiccan groups, episodes of Charmed, and an extremely strange call to a medium hotline, which cost her a fortune, and where the woman wanted to know all about her before she told her anything, which was really not the way Kat had expected it to go. She really had tried everything she could think of. And she wasn’t sure where to go next.

  Ethan continued to protect her, somehow managing to fight off attacks from the demons, though she had no idea how he did it.

  And as they got to know each other, the more she realised she couldn’t fight the attraction she felt for him, and nor did she want to. The more she learned about him, about how funny, warm and caring he was, about how much he protected the people he cared for, and even people he didn’t know at all, the more she fell for him.

  But each time, he came back just a little more damaged, a little more the worse for wear. But he always made it. He always came back.

  She just didn’t know how long he could carry on for, if she couldn’t make this work.

  Chapter 3

  Another day, another attack, and still not a flicker of magic from Kat. Ethan knew it was there and, although he hadn’t known her for long, he had no doubt that she would succeed eventually. He just hoped it would be in time. But for now, it was time to concentrate on the kill. Or at least the bite hard and scare off, in the case of the demons. Protect our mate, grumbled his jaguar, wanting action. That was the other thing. His mate. He’d known that she was his mate was from the moment he saw her, but this was hardly the time to be bringing that up and giving her even more to think about. She had enough to concentrate on.

  His jaguar, though, as usual, had other thoughts. Our mate. Want her. But bite first.

  He hushed his jaguar and went back to the task at hand. Though he was surprised that the demons hadn’t done more to try and deal with him. It was almost as if they were waiting for something.

  He lowered his head and stalked his prey through the undergrowth at the bottom of Kat’s garden, his smooth, graceful movements hardly stirring even a single blade of grass. He opened his mouth and scented his prey. There he was, just ahead of him. This would be easy.

  His body shimmered as he turned back into his ordinary, domestic black cat. He peered out through the grass, checking the demon was still there and then sauntered boldly into view, keeping his distance just a little. While he knew the demon would see him as no threat, he also knew they weren't renowned for their kindness to animals.

  "Meww," he said, acting the part of little lost kitty.

  The demon turned its head and sneered at him. "Beat it, cat. Before I make a meal out of you. Well, more like a small snack." The demon chortled at its own wit and Ethan sighed. Demons weren't renowned for their standup performances, either.

  He took a risk and moved a little closer to the demon, aiming to get into the perfect position for a pounce, then as the demon aimed a kick at him to drive him off, Ethan leapt. He launched straight at the demon's face and part way through his leap, he shimmered into his jaguar.

  The demon's face was a sight to behold. He'd started off expecting to grab a domestic shorthaired cat out of midair and kill it, and now there he was on the ground, with Ethan's jaguar on top of him. It was clawing and biting, and taking huge chunks out of his flesh. The demon screamed, thrashing, and writhing to shake Ethan off and get away and, after a very satisfying few minutes, Ethan let him.

  The demon limped off, as best it could, and Ethan purred in satisfaction, knowing it would be at least a couple of days before that one would regenerate enough to bother anyone.

  Next! More bite, more kill, exulted his jaguar, who wasn’t given to articulate, full sentences when he was excited.

  He circled the house, silently, listening out for more demons and scenting for another loner to attack.

  At the far side of the house, he found the perfect target, and hunkered down, awaiting his moment. This one even had its back to him. Piece of cake.

  He crouched low, butt wiggling in excitement, before trotting out behind the demon and getting ready to pounce.

  In focusing so much on what he was doing, and thinking about protecting Kat, he didn't notice the three demons hiding upwind of him until it was too late. Before he could shift again, one member of the group grabbed him by the scruff of the neck from behind. He immediately shifted to his jaguar, but it was too late. More demons piled in to hold him down.

  * * *

  Kat heard the banging on the back door, and then an oily, sickening, singsong voice that would give her nightmares years later called to her, "Lady. Oh, layyydeeee. We've got your cat, Kat. Just think of all the things we're going to do to him. We're going to enjoy that. And then we're going to come for you. Or you could save us the trouble. Come out now, give yourself up, and maybe save your friend."

  The dish she'd been holding fell from her fingers and she sank down onto the nearest chair, trembling, and trying not to imagine what Ethan might be going through. She leaned forward, head between her knees, feeling faint and dizzy, and utterly panic stricken. If she'd been trying to delude herself even for a moment that he didn't mean anything to her, all that was gone now. She loved him and the thought of being without him now was unbearable.

  She made her decision and stood on shaky legs. Going to the door, she opened it and shouted through the gap, "I'm coming out. Don't hurt him."

  An anguished roar sounded from outside, "No. Kat, don't do it. Stay insi-." His voice was cut off, abruptly.

  "Come on, Katy Kat. Come and get your cat. He won't be looking so good soon. Though I'm sure he'll still be tasty." The sickening voice turned her stomach and her gorge rose, but she somehow managed to hold herself together.

  She opened
the door and stepped out to meet her fate.

  * * *

  On the ground, face down against the earth, Ethan tensed again as he heard Kat’s voice.

  “I’m here,” she called, her voice quavering slightly. “Let him go.”

  "Walk towards me, layydeee. We're not letting him go until you come to us."

  Ethan fought the urge to struggle against the arms that held him down, waiting for the right moment until the demons were distracted. He heard Kat step onto the patio outside. As she neared the group, the arms holding him down loosened as all the demons turned their attention to Kat. Before anyone could move, he shifted back into his cat, easily leaping free from the demons' grasping hands. Turning back towards Kat, he raced towards her, shifting rapidly again, back into his jaguar, and bowled her away from the group of demons and back towards the house. As he neared the door, he shifted to human, picked her up bodily over his shoulder and powered back into the kitchen, adrenaline pumping. He slammed the door behind him.

  He dropped Kat into the nearest chair, locked the door, and slumped down behind it onto the floor, bleeding all over his back from the wounds the demons had inflicted.

  Kat recovered her breath and hurried over to him. "Ethan. Ethan, are you okay?" She knelt in front of him and flung her arms around his neck, kissing him all over his face. "I thought I'd lost you. I thought I might never see you again."

  Ethan stirred and took her face in both hands, "My lovely Kat, I'm here. I'm okay."