“The things you do to me,” his voice rasped.
Her heart fluttered again.
He took another deep breath and then rose and began clearing the dishes. She insisted on helping, so they could get done faster. He relented and began washing while she rinsed and dried. He playfully flicked a bubble her way and a minute later they were both covered with suds, laughing.
“What’s going on in here?” Seff asked, poking his head in the door. He took in their condition, shook his head and rolled his eyes.
They burst into more laughter.
“We’re getting things set up out here. Caleb is bringing the girls up in a little while.”
The boys were impressive in their willingness to accommodate the girls. Once the dishes were done, Jaisey made a large pot of hot chocolate and Quinn grabbed a package of cups. They headed out just as the second truck was pulling up.
The girls looked overly nervous again, Jaisey thought. Apparently, it would take more than one afternoon to break through all the barriers.
“Give them time,” Quinn responded. It was like he knew exactly what she had been thinking.
Jaisey nodded and allowed him to pull her down to sit with him again. She was completely at ease being so close to him. His arms were wrapped around her and she had entwined their fingers together. They snuggled close and settled in for the evening.
As the night progressed, Quinn would lean down and whisper in her ear if he noticed something she hadn’t, and she would twist up to him to point other things out.
Honi had situated herself next to Caleb, and at one point he had reached over casually and taken her hand. Quinn had seen that first and chuckled quietly. They’d been sure he was oblivious to the girl, but apparently not. It was a bold move, and her opinion of the boy was raised even more.
Jaisey had watched Seff and Ayame closely. Ayame was watching Seff, but he was sitting next to Colin, so probably misread where she was looking. Jaisey wondered if she would have to say something to Seff to get him to act, but then Ayame took control. She rose and asked Seff if he wanted to go in to watch a movie. He looked flustered for a moment but rose quickly and led the way.
Jaisey had nudged Quinn, so he would see them as they passed. Seff had reached out and taken her hand to lead the way.
A group of them followed Seff and Ayame in to watch the movie, which was fine with Jaisey. She and Quinn sat outside enjoying the evening. The quiet only interrupted by occasional outbursts of laughter from within the cabin.
Quinn nuzzled at her neck, kissing and nibbling. She never wanted the evening to end and knew she would never want to feel anyone’s touch but Quinn’s.
She didn’t pay attention to the time, but then Caleb rose and said he would take the girls home and would be back for the boys. He never did let go of Honi’s hand as the girls loaded into the truck.
They were definitely making progress. They sat alone staring into the fire quietly for some time before Quinn broke the silence.
“So, let’s go see your dad tomorrow,” Quinn said. Jaisey stiffened a bit at the comment.
“It’ll be fine… you’ll see,” he assured her.
She just nodded. Her stomach started fluttering.
“Jaisey stop.” Quinn turned her face up to his. “Don’t be anxious, I promise you it’ll be fine. There’s nothing to worry about. I’ll be right there with you.”
That eased her anxiety a little. She sighed and nodded, trying to relax back into his embrace.
“Better,” he murmured, nuzzling her neck again. “I think I’d better invite Honi and Caleb to come with us.”
She turned her head up to him in question.
“I can’t be expected to resist such temptation,” he replied huskily. The heat had returned to his eyes and he lowered his lips to hers and kissed her deeply. She was instantly on fire with the kiss and she realized what he meant.
He pulled his face back, his eyes still smoldering.
She cleared her throat lightly, “I have a tent I can share with Honi.”
Quinn nodded, “I’m sure I can find one that Caleb and I can share as well.”
As if summoned, Caleb pulled back into the clearing in the now empty truck.
As he walked past them, Quinn said lightly, “Took you long enough.”
Caleb ducked his head, looking embarrassed and went to gather the boys up.
“What was that about?” Jaisey asked, not understanding the comment. He’d only been gone long enough to drop off the girls and get back.
“He was giving me a hard time last night about how long it took me to approach you,” he replied with another chuckle.
Jaisey turned to look at him. “Since the bonfire, after Tala’s song?” she asked, remembering the first time she had felt drawn to him.
He shook his head no, “Before that, but that’s a story for another time.”
He lifted her off his lap and then rose to lead her back to the porch. The boys were ready to go, and he was leaving for the night. Jaisey sighed.
“I know,” he replied, seeming just as sad to be separated.
She wrapped her arms around him, and he lowered his head to hers to kiss her again. It was a sweet, lingering kiss, nothing like the fiery one from before. It would be enough to last her until tomorrow. She said good night and watched as they pulled away, her heart full.
Twenty-four
Quinn
Quinn watched as Jei and Maicoh took off through the forest, headed toward Jaisey’s cabin. They were taking watch for the night so Quinn could get some rest for the hike to see Kenyon the next day. Honi and Caleb were recruited and had agreed to come along as well, to keep things from getting too intimate. He had to keep reminding himself that he and Jaisey were not yet avowed.
The woman was like fire in his veins; making him feel as though he would burn up with each little touch or kiss. His mind registered every shift of her body, every emotion, everything. He was sure she didn’t feel it the same that he did… at least, not yet. He knew the adrenaline in his system was making it much more intense. He had to wonder if all the men in the pack felt this way upon finding their mates.
He shook his head to clear it. They hadn’t talked about marriage or spending the rest of their lives together, though it was a conversation that was coming soon. He knew he had Kenyon’s blessing to be with her, but Quinn wanted to be sure she was ready. Once they were avowed, he could mark her and his claim on her would be unbreakable.
The pack didn’t perform a typical marriage ceremony, but it was similar. When two people decided to become avowed, they would hold a celebration and the pack elders would bless the union. The couple would then pronounce their devotion for all time and would be bound together by the wrists for the first full day. It was an echo of an ancient tradition. Centuries before, a couple wanting to be avowed would be bound together and each would be given a small knife. The couple would then be sent out on a full moon, to return at the next full moon. If they were able to return with their bindings in place, their union was sealed.
Quinn had no doubt that he and Jaisey would still be bound after a month’s time. He smiled at the emotions that stirred up in him. He was almost sad that they wouldn’t get to participate in the old tradition. A month tied to Jaisey would be heaven. He sighed and headed to bed with his thoughts.
* * *
Morning came quickly and he woke feeling anxious and excited. He needed to have the truth out in the open. He’d realized at some point in the night, that he could do nothing more about the love he felt for Jaisey until the truth was fully known.
As much as he wanted to whisk her away and spend the rest of his life making her happy, he first had to be sure that she would want this life, and him, once their secret was out.
Would she accept her other half? Would it scare her? Would she want to leave? He was sure of their love, but nothing else. He couldn’t know if that love would be enough to overcome the shock of having her whole world turned upside down.
He shook the speculation from his mind. It wouldn’t do any good to worry about her reaction. He had to accept that whatever was meant to happen, would. Either way, he would live with the consequences. He could not think about a future that didn’t contain her, so he would try to stay focused in the moment.
He packed quickly for the trip. They would be camping for a night or two, so he grabbed a seldom-used tent and sleeping bag. When Caleb and Honi knocked on his door, he was just finishing pulling things together. They had similar packs, though he and Jaisey were bringing the tents. The girls would sleep in one and the boys in the other.
They got to Jaisey’s and found her waiting on the porch with Jack, who promptly ran to spin and say hello. He chuckled once again at the dog’s exuberance.
She had her pack all set and was dressed the part. She looked as anxious as Quinn felt. This trip would be pivotal. The outcome would change his life, and hers, in one way or another.
They set out, following the road past the ranger station. Quinn watched Jaisey carefully as they passed the point where Seff had been attacked. She didn’t seem to be overly troubled at the site, but then he saw her knuckles were white from the strain of the grip she had on her walking stick. He closed the space between them and took her hand. She smiled and relaxed a bit. He realized having her hand in his helped ease his own anxiety. He and Caleb would be on the lookout for auras and scents that did not belong. They would be safe. If necessary, they could shift to protect the girls. In fact, even Honi could shift if the need arose. Jack provided yet another level of security as he ranged out ahead of them. Quinn knew he would let them know if anything out of the ordinary approached.
After hiking for a time, Honi pulled Jaisey back with her and they let the boys take the lead.
“So Jaisey,” Honi began, “I know you have questions about our way of life. And I know you think we’re overly secretive, but you can ask your questions if you like.”
Jaisey smiled warmly at the girl. “I have wondered about a few things.”
“Shoot,” Honi replied.
Quinn sent a questioning glance back at Honi, but she just winked. How had the girl known Jaisey had questions? It was obvious in retrospect, but to just tell her to ask them hadn’t even occurred to Quinn.
“What do you all do about education?” she asked.
“Well, I don’t know if you noticed, but the road into the village picks up on the other side and heads east. From there it connects to the main highway that runs up to the town of Castlerock. Some of the children choose to attend school there. Others prefer to be schooled in the village. We have a few retired teachers in the village. My mother was a teacher for years, so she sometimes works with those that stay. Though mostly she likes working with the younger kids, helping to get them ready for school.” She laughed at Jaisey’s expression. “Did you think we never left the village?”
“I guess it didn’t occur to me that you were interacting with people beyond the mountain,” she replied.
“Jaisey, we come and go as we please. We’re not hermits on our mountain. We have villagers that work in surrounding towns and ones that are off at college. We even have some that have moved away for good. But mostly, we’re raised here, and we love this mountain. So, eventually, we find our way back.”
“But if you aren’t really that secretive, why didn’t Seff ever bring me down to meet you all?” she asked.
“Ah, that. Well, there are two answers to that really. One you’ll have to get from your father,” she replied. “The other… well, we are cautious about bringing people to our homes. There’s a certain privacy that is afforded in the way we live. Typically, unless we’re sure we’re going to marry someone and bring them into our way of life, we just don’t bother.”
Quinn watched the thoughtful expression that crossed Jaisey’s face. He’d never noticed how much a person gave away with those simple expressions.
“What else can I tell you?” Honi prompted.
“Well, one thing has been bothering me since I met Seff and the rest of you. You all seem vaguely Native American, but is that right?” she asked.
Honi laughed. “Yes and no is the short answer. I guess we have time for a history lesson.”
They heard Caleb groan and Honi laughed. “He never did like history.”
Caleb turned, “That’s completely untrue. I love history. Just not ours.”
“See, the elders believe in an oral tradition. Our stories aren’t written down, so we’re required to memorize our history orally,” she explained.
Jaisey gasped, “That must be a lot of information.”
Caleb turned, and with a roll of his eyes and another groan, said, “You have no idea.”
Quinn chuckled at the exchange. He’d personally loved learning their history. He wondered how Honi would edit it so that it would make sense and yet not give away any important details. Watching the two women interact gave him a feeling of deep satisfaction. Honi had definitely been a good choice for this trip.
“I believe you heard the story of the she-wolf that had two sons,” she said.
“Yes,” Jaisey said hesitantly.
Quinn chuckled.
“Well, that story is the first hint of where we came from,” she explained.
Jaisey nodded. “There are similar myths in ancient Greek and Roman mythology - Remus and Romulus.”
“Exactly. So, we believe our first ancestors were here long before anyone knew this continent existed. And it makes sense. When the settlers first set foot here, they found natives.”
Jaisey nodded again.
“So, in all our history there are stories of our two families – two tribes if you will – two places on the earth where we have extended family,” she explained. “The first is here; the Castlerock tribe. The other part of our family is half a world away in what’s now Romania, though the original history starts in a land that was known as Dacia. They’ve become known as the Dragasani tribe.
“Because there were two tribes with common ancestors, it became the practice over the years to travel between the two to visit, and perhaps find new companions to keep the bloodlines fresh. Of course, both groups have had outsiders marry in from time to time as I said before, so our genetics have remained varied enough. So, to answer your question, yes, we do have native blood, but the additions over time have given us our own identities. Beyond calling ourselves the Castlerock tribe, we’ve never linked ourselves with a specific native tribe.”
Jaisey, who had listened with rapt attention, was quiet for a few steps before she spoke again.
“So, that original story… you believe that your ancestors settled here because they were able to become wolves, because of some power in the earth?” she asked.
Quinn stiffened a bit at the question, but Honi just laughed softly.
“I believe nearly every native tribe has some form of shapeshifting mythology in their past, whether in spirit form or physical form,” she said.
Honi’s response made him chuckle. She’d make a good elder someday. It really was an art to avoid answering questions directly and yet still give just enough information to satisfy.
Jaisey smiled, “True. It’s just fascinating. I would love to hear more of your oral history.”
“Anytime, except right now I think we need to stop,” she replied with a glance at Caleb, who was trying to root through his pack while it was still on his back.
Jaisey smiled and stopped, pulling her own pack off, “Lunchtime already Caleb?”
He turned and grinned, “Well, at least time for a snack.”
They all sat for a few minutes, and the talk turned to less revealing subjects. Quinn was relieved at that. While Honi had done a great job dodging the trickier questions, he knew that none of them would lie to her directly and she was dangerously close to asking the wrong questions.
Honi asked Jaisey about her science degree and listened with fascination as she explained why she loved the varied sciences so much, a
nd how she hadn’t been able to choose just one area to focus on.
When they were up and hiking again, Quinn kept Jaisey next to him. He wanted as much time as he could have now, in case… he couldn’t even finish the thought.
As they walked, they talked about anything and everything. He kept looking over at her, continually amazed by the effect her presence had on him.
He grabbed her hand and pulled it up to his lips to kiss it, “You know… I believe I would follow you to the ends of the earth.”
“And I believe I would stay here forever,” she replied, tightening her grip on his hand.
A muffled choking sound came from behind them. They turned to find Honi punching Caleb in the arm. He was stifling laughter.
“Sorry. It’s just so sickeningly sweet to watch the two of you,” he explained in his defense. Honi gave him another jab for good measure.
“I think it’s wonderful. Of all the people there are in the world, to find the one that’s your perfect match is incredibly rare,” she said. And then, with an angry look at Caleb, she stalked ahead of Quinn and Jaisey, leaving them behind.
“Crap,” Caleb mumbled. “Honi,” he called, running to catch up to the girl.
Quinn and Jaisey slowed, giving them time to make up. Quinn was completely content to stroll slowly holding her hand. It was so comfortable to just be with her.
“I guess maybe we are a bit much,” Jaisey said with a chuckle.
“Everyone should be so lucky,” Quinn replied.
They caught up to the pair sitting next to a stream – kissing.
Quinn cleared his throat and said in a mocking tone, “Now that’s just too sweet.”
They all laughed and Caleb had the good sense to look contrite.
“Why don’t we go ahead and camp here? We’ll have an easy hike tomorrow to make it to Kenyon’s,” Quinn suggested. The bank of the stream was cleared enough they would have a comfortable enough night.
Shift (Castlerock Shifters Book 1) Page 20