Shifters of the Wellsprings: The Complete Paranormal Collection

by Leela Ash

  “So where is he?”

  “I have no idea! He just vanished!”

  “Briggs turned invisible at my grandparents’ house. Can other Shifters do that?”

  “Not that I know, no. On the other hand, I didn’t know Dragons could do it either! Maybe…”

  Behind them, the bell on the diner door rang. “Hey!” their waitress screeched. “You can’t run out without paying!”

  Without…? Oops!

  The waitress didn’t calm down until she had two twenties in her hand. Even then, she waved away their apologies and explanations. “I didn’t see nobody with purple eyes. And I waited on that table.”

  Adrenaline had kept Ash going. By the time they settled the bill and walked outside, all that strength had seeped away. Leaving her nothing except jitters.

  And fear.

  What did ‘purification’ involve? She couldn’t recall her Mom ever doing it. How soon was ‘right away’? A month? A week?

  An hour? Was this filth warping her child even now? Twisting it into some monstrous parody of a baby?

  Strong and steady, a hand closed around her elbow. “Hey,” Lucas murmured. “Tell me what this guy said.”

  None of it was his concern, really. Still, the words spilled out of her in an unstoppable flood.

  He listened quietly. Slipped an arm around her shoulders as they walked. Held her close. That heat, that closeness, calmed her – and his next words made her heart sing. “Look, I want you to know that I’m here for you. I know I’ve said some stupid shit lately. I’m sorry for that. But we’re in this together.”

  How much she’d longed to hear him say that! Even in the midst of this happy glow, however, a shadow remained. Because he was wrong. She was alone. Neither her lover nor her mother would help her with this child. All she had was herself, and –maybe – the Clays.

  No sense kidding herself. “Thanks, but… you don’t have to.”

  “I know. Nobody’s making me do anything. This is something I want. Look, Ash, I owe you.”

  “No you don’t. You saved my life, remember? If anybody’s in debt, it’s me.”

  “I owe you because I’ve been a dick.” An unladylike snort of laughter escaped her, despite her worries, and Lucas grinned. “I have. I know it. I’ve been so caught up in my troubles that I haven’t paid any attention to yours. Which are, honestly, way worse than mine. Well, that ends now. I’m here for you. I’m going to help you get purified, whatever that means. We’ll find your Mom and rescue her. And then… I don’t know.”

  She didn’t know either. For the moment, she dared to dream that there might be a path forward.

  For both of them.

  Chapter 21.

  As it turned out, purification required a resort. A very fancy one.

  Lucas chattered all the way to Ringo’s Spread. About his life, his family, college and his half-hearted attempts to build a career. In a few short hours Ash learned ten times as much as she had in the last couple days.

  Trying to cheer me up. Keep my mind off the reason for this trip…

  She appreciated that. It was kind, a sweet gesture. One that proved her ‘lone Wolf’ did care for other people.

  It even worked. Sort of. Every now and then his words would blur into background noise and she found herself staring out into the desert, sick at heart. Whenever he saw that, though, Lucas brought her back with a pat on the hand, a gentle touch. He never chided her, or even mentioned her lapses into melancholy.

  He can be so loving… when he wants.

  Only Casey Briggs seemed glad to see them. Once Lucas explained why they were here, though, even the surly Wolves of the Sand Pack Wolves softened. No one – Wolf or Dragon – had any clue about the man with the strange eyes. However the name ‘Nemo’ raised eyebrows all around.

  Lily quivered with excitement. “Same dude told us where to find some crap that the Fangs stole from Casey’s Flight.”

  “It wasn’t ‘crap’,” the Dragon huffed. “It was a small stone fetish, symbolizing the trust that…”

  His Mate cut him off. “Okay, it was important crap. Like this Aegis thing.”

  “Not that important,” Casey muttered.

  His disagreement set his Mate’s eyes alight. “Now you’re just being difficult,” she chuckled. Like difficult men were tons of fun.

  Lily King, Ash decided, was a very strange woman. “So this ‘Nemo’ knows when the Fangs steal things. What does that make him? Some Rat mastermind?”

  “Renegade member of the Fangs?” Lucas suggested.

  “Can’t be too renegade-y… renegade-ish…” Lily shrugged, “because he never warns us before crap gets swiped.”

  Ash nodded. “And the Violet-Eyed Man did say Nemo wasn’t our friend.”

  “Yeah, but we’re not sure Mysterious Vanishing Dude is a good guy either,” the other woman protested.

  “Well, he warned me about the threat to my baby.”

  “Okay,” Lily admitted. “Point in Vanishing Dude’s favor. So where does that leave us? Who’s Nemo? Who’s Vanishing Dude? What’s their game?” Shifters and Kin glanced at each other, all silent. After a few seconds, Lily shrugged. “Right. I’ve got no ideas either. We need to know more. So screw it. Let’s stop wasting time ‘thinking’ and do something instead.”

  Casey shook his head with exasperated amusement. “What do you suggest we do? We don’t know where to find our enemies.”

  “Too bad because ‘beating up bad guys’ is always my first choice.”

  The cheery menace in Lily’s voice raised Ash’s spirit. Weird or no, the Wolf Princess was a good person to have on your side.

  She was right, too. ‘Finding Nemo’ could wait. “Any ideas on how I can purify myself?”

  To her profound relief, Casey nodded. “Lily, is there a sweat lodge here at the Spread?”

  “No.” Disbelief dripped off the word, like the Dragon had just requested a ‘rainbow-farting unicorn.’

  “How about a sauna?”

  The Wolf waved at the decrepit trailers that surrounded them. “Which one of these wrecks looks like the day spa? I mean, there’s no air conditioning. So if I boil a pot of water in one, it’ll probably turn into a sauna…”

  “That is not appropriate for purification.” Casey seemed appalled by the mere suggestion.

  Ash’s heart sank. Was it really that difficult to find a suitable sauna?

  Lily tapped her lip. “What about Ancient Ways? Nice place like that has to have saunas. Plus the Bear that owns it owes me a favor.”

  ‘Nice place’ turned out to be an understatement. Nestled tastefully amidst the desert sand and rocks, Ancient Ways was a glittering oasis that even her mother would adore.

  Its owner, Rex Fairburn, was the quintessential Bear. A big, burly hulk of a man with thick arms and a barrel chest. Yet he moved quietly and spoke with a gentle strength. As soon as Lily explained why they needed the sauna, Rex made it clear he’d move heaven and earth to help them. Bears were all about family. Protecting an unborn child would be a sacred duty to one. With Lucas on one side and Rex on the other, Ash found her confidence growing. They could do this. Together, they’d save her baby.

  When Casey emerged from his inspection of the sauna, the Dragon seemed pleasantly shocked. “This is… lovely. Why it even has real stones rather than some cheap heater.”

  “Only the best for my guests,” Rex rumbled. If the Dragon’s surprise insulted him, he didn’t let it show. “And you’ll have it all to yourself. I’ve had it ‘shut down’ for ‘repairs.’”

  “Thank you.” Ash let her relief and gratitude warm that simple phrase.

  Even Lucas supported her, one arm wrapped around her waist. “So what happens now?”

  “Now I put some sage and herbs on the stones. While the sauna heats, I’ll cut a few switches for you.”

  “Switches?” Ash gulped. “I’m not sure I can whip myself…”

  “I’ll help,” Lily offered. “Give me the switches. I’ll
smack her around.”

  At once, Lucas bristled at his sister. “You’re not going to smack anyone a…”

  “The blows are symbolic,” Casey growled, silencing the two Wolves before the fight got any worse. “Light taps to stimulate the blood.”

  “Oh.” Lily looked disappointed.

  Ash was relieved.

  “Having Lily with you would still be good,” Rex interjected. “Some people faint during their first sauna. She can make sure you don’t overheat.”

  “As long as she doesn’t mug her,” Lucas grumbled.

  His sister made no promises.

  Fifteen minutes later, the two women sat on their towels, surrounded by steam and stifling heat. Two tiers of benches ringed the red-hot stones. Rex warned that the lower bench was cooler and they should step out for a cold shower every fifteen minutes to minimize the danger of heat exhaustion.

  Ash thanked him and found a seat on the lowest bench. Lily took his words as a challenge and promptly clambered up to the top row, confident that she could make the whole 45 minutes without a break.

  I’m not sure which one of us is going to be babysitting the other!

  The scent of sage and herbs added a tang to the air. Ash drew in deep breaths, letting those plants work their ‘magic’ both inside and out. Every now and then she gave herself a half-hearted swat with the switches. Meanwhile Lily lay back and gazed at the ceiling.

  “Thanks for the tip,” Ash told her.

  “What tip?”

  “About taking a pregnancy test. I had no idea…”

  “Yeah, I figured.” The Wolf grimaced and began to pick absent-mindedly at the edge of her towel. “So my brother, is he gonna man up and marry you?”

  It was none of her business. Yet, even though Ash didn’t really know this woman, the urge to share her pain was too great. All of her friends from school were human. She had no Shifters or Kin she could bare her soul to. “I told him it wasn’t his.”

  “Hell!” The Wolf bolted upright. “Is he such a dick you don’t want him around?”

  “No! Not at all. I…”

  She what? She didn’t love him… did she?

  Ash licked her lips and tried again, feeling faintly queasy. “I don’t want him to feel trapped, or like he has to marry me. Marriage should be about love. Not mistakes.”

  For once, all mockery fled the Wolf’s face and her words grew somber. “That’s smart. Nobody likes a trap – especially not Wolves. Put a leash on us and we go crazy. Still, that’s a big cup of shit for you.”

  “Not really.” Her hand brushed across her belly, summoning another wave of nausea that Ash fought to ignore. “I want this child. My Mom will probably disown me.” If she’s still alive… “And I don’t think I can stay in college. But I’ll manage. We’ll manage.”

  “Well, if you ever need a place to crash, you’re welcome at the Spread. I can kick someone out of a trailer for you.”

  That was a kind offer. A Wolfish sort of kindness, but it still felt good.

  “Thanks. I…”

  A rush of bile swept up her throat, choking her words off. Ash gagged, clamping a hand over her mouth as if she could physically hold back her sickness. “I’m going to… I’m…” She bent forward as her insides turned to liquid.

  The Wolf scrambled back in horror. “Not on the rocks!” she wailed. “Don’t puke on the hot rocks!”

  At the last moment Ash twisted away from the steaming hot stones. As she dropped to her knees on the sauna floor, she choked, wretched…

  And darkness, not vomit, can streaming forth. A thick clot of inky black that plopped onto the wooden floor.

  “Hey!” she gasped. “Hey, I think this is work…”

  The blob twitched – then stretched out towards her like a dazed leech.

  With a scream, Ash scrambled up onto the bench. Above her, Lily Shifted, snarling. As the Wolf crouched low, ready to spring on their enemy, she grabbed her by the scruff of the neck. “Don’t touch it, Lily!”

  Dull claws scrabbled across wood as the Wolf backpeddled. Then she howled, a shrill cry that echoed in the close room.

  Ash glanced down. A small, sludgy tentacle had squeezed up between the slats of the bench. Now it waved blindly, searching for her feet.

  With a squeal of disgust, Ash pulled herself on to the top bench beside the furiously barking Lily. Beneath them, the demonic leech pulled itself up too and inched across the hot boards. Seeking the prey it could sense, but not see.

  What the hell were they going to do? Neither of them could touch this thing! She glanced wildly around the empty sauna… and then realized that she still held her foolish switches, gripped tightly in one hand. As Lily yelped and howled, Ash leaned over carefully and smacked the leech as hard as she could.

  The sticks passed through it, as if it was nothing more than a shadow. Sensing her, the blob flailed at her hand, stretching high into the air. With a hiss of revulsion she jerked her arm away. The creature waved back and forth, as if tasting the air, and continued its hasty trudge across the bench.

  Suddenly the sauna door was flung open. A blast of cold air rushed into the room, freezing on her naked skin.

  Three huge men – Wolf, Bear, and Dragon – tried to force their way in at the same time.

  “Watch out!” Ash pointed at the leech, half hidden by the steaming air.

  To her surprise, the Bear’s eyes widened in shocked recognition. “Don’t touch it! They possess people!”

  All of their would-be saviors skidded to a halt, baffled by that same problem: how could you kill something you couldn’t touch.

  Casey began to push the others out. “Let me burn it.”

  Rex wouldn’t budge. “They’re immune to Dragon’s breath. I’ve seen them take a direct hit and not flinch.”

  Only Lucas ignored the debate. Light blazed in his eyes and his lips curled back as he Shifted. Before anyone could stop him, the black Wolf threw himself at their tiny foe.

  “Lucas no!” Ash wailed.

  Snap! His teeth closed around the leech and he flipped it into the air. Snap snap! And it was gone.

  Lucas Shifted back as the others stared at him in shock.

  “Did you just eat that thing?” Rex asked.

  “Uh… maybe?” The Wolf scratched his head. “I’m not sure. It kind of evaporated. Or something. They do that.”

  “Let us hope another sauna can fix this too,” Casey sighed.

  “Wait.” Ash held up a hand and stared closely at her lover. “I think you’re okay, Lucas. People get shadows under their eyes when they’re possessed. You don’t have any.”

  One of the Dragon’s eyebrows arched primly. “You can identify possessed people? That’s very good to know.”

  Clearly, it was Ash’s fate to always be praised when her mother wasn’t there to hear it. Still, Ash’s heart swelled with pride.

  Until Lily Shifted human and bellowed at the top of her lungs.

  “WHAT THE HELL, PEOPLE! THIS IS THE WOMEN’S SAUNA. GET OUT!”

  Three sets of male eyes darted to the two naked women. Three pairs of cheeks burned red.

  Then all three Shifter men climbed over each other in their haste to escape the sauna.

  Chapter 22.

  “Nausea?”

  “Nope.”

  “Chills?”

  “Nope.”

  “Voices in your head?”

  “Hell no.”

  No matter how many symptoms Briggs and Fairburn tossed out, Lucas kept shrugging. “Guys, there’s nothing wrong with me. I think I’ve killed three of these things now. Haven’t been possessed yet.”

  “Huh.” The Bear’s square face scrunched up in puzzlement. “Maybe the First Flight doesn’t know what it’s talking about.”

  Briggs grimaced, disappointment plain in his words. “While it grieves me to forego an opportunity to denigrate that Flight, what they say is correct. From all I have heard, dark spirits need to be fought with magic and fire.”

 
Silence settled around the little group as they waited for the women to get dressed.

  “Hey, I don’t know if this matters,” Lucas tossed the suggestion out, more to kill time than because he thought it was important. “I bit a possessed Wolf once and he went into convulsions until one of these slugs jumped out of him.”

  “Your bite… exorcised him?” Briggs fought to keep his expression polite.

  Fairburn didn’t waste the energy. “That’s crazy. Only thing a Wolf bite ever gave someone was rabies.”

  “Just tossing that out there…”

  “Wait.” With a sharp wave of his hand, Briggs quieted them both. “We forget: you are not simply a Wolf. Your mother was an Adanai, a creature of the Other Side.”

  “And my dad might not have been a plain old Wolf. The thing possessing Ash’s mom knew me. It called me ‘Lucas Hrolf-son.’”

  The Dragon glanced over at Fairburn. “You are more familiar with the Shifters of this area than I. Is that name familiar to you?”

  “Nope. I’d remember a weird name like that.”

  The two women strolled in, calmer and cleaner. Lucas bounced to his feet, offering Ash a chair, which she took, gratefully. When Briggs followed suit, Lily ignored him and began to pace around the edges of the room. A restless, trapped motion that set Lucas’ own Wolf on edge.

  “Caught the end of that. You guys are saying that me and Dipshit are special and can bite these things.”

  “Hey!” Lucas snapped to attention, glaring at the annoying woman.

  Lily ignored him. “Ash can see ‘em. We can bite ‘em. Sounds like we’re a demon-hunting Pack!”

  Fairburn dissolved into whuffling snorts of laughter. “Sure. You’re a Pack. As soon as you and Clay duke it out to see who’s the Alpha.”

  “Challenge accepted.” Lily’s smile was full of sharp teeth.

  Dammit, he had never hit a woman in his life… but his sister made it so tempting!