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Grayish light filters through the narrow window, rousing me from sleep. When I dig around for my phone on the bedside table, I see that it’s still early—not yet seven a.m.
Luckily someone—Kyan most likely—had arranged for a compatible charger in the room. At least I now have communication back. I send a quick text to my cousins to let them know I’m somewhere safe and ask that they call or text me as soon as they can.
Still foggy and disoriented, I stumble into the small bathroom that adjoins the bedroom. I pick up the soap and towels thoughtfully laid out and before long I’m standing under a warm, firm spray of water in the shower.
I close my eyes and, sans coffee, let the water wake me up properly. I’m grateful for the chance to recalibrate after the chaos of yesterday.
I hate chaos.
My inner peace, however, is short-lived. Though there’s a tiny part of me that trusts these shifters, I know I can’t stay here forever. The pack may have their motives for wanting me safe, but every second I spend here, I’m potentially putting them in danger, too.
And there are families here. Children...
The demon’s minion did seem to want to wait until Kyan wasn’t around, judging by what was said last night, so I can’t imagine it would choose to invade pack territory, on its own. But what if it comes back with reinforcements?
After the kindness these people have shown me, the least I can do is get out of their way before the enemy comes knocking.
With a plan cemented in my mind, to sneak away before everyone is up and about, I towel dry my hair and then re-bandage my ankle before dressing. I try not to remember what happened last night when Kyan first put the bandage on for me.
The injury feels a lot better today, though the extra support will be welcome.
I pad around the room, testing out the strapping, and also to appease my curiosity. Is this Kyan’s bedroom? Or just a guest room for people like me—strays running from monsters?
My gaze catches on a strange carving in the headboard of the bed. I was too distracted last night to pay much attention to my surroundings. I run my fingers over the wood, frowning.
It’s an animal in silhouette, limbs outstretched, running. On either side of the creature are simple etchings that look like dancing flames.
Ordinary enough—shifter packs are heavy on the animal imagery. Why would wolf shifters be any exception?
But... the animal doesn’t look like a wolf.
And I’m positive Kyan is not lycanthrope.
A faint noise comes from somewhere outside the room. I tense my spine and straighten, listening hard.
Silence.
I pick up my bag and clutch it to my side. My window of opportunity to sneak away is narrowing with every second.
When I crack open the door and peek out, the hallway is empty.
I try to move as soundlessly as I can, hoping that most of the pack are still asleep—especially given how late they were up last night.
I retrace my steps to the large communal area at the front of the building. It looks different in the daylight, empty and cold. I step around couches, tables, and chairs, careful not to jostle anything.
When I reach the barn door and slide the heavy bolt to the side, I wince at the rasp of metal. Forget shifters. There are humans at the city limit probably wondering what the hell that was.
If the pack were asleep before, they’re certainly unlikely to be, now.
I shove open the door and rush outside. A fresh breeze hits me, filling my lungs with cool air, and I allow myself a moment to breathe deep as my fingers close around my car keys.
“Bit early for a road-trip, don’t you think?”
I jump about a foot in the air and almost drop the keys. A few feet away, Kyan is leaning, arms folded, against the door of my car, looking for all the world like he’s just hanging out and passing the time.
***
Kyan
I expected her to make a run for it. I read the guilt in her face last night—especially when she looked at the pack kids playing air hockey.
I grin at her shocked look, which quickly turns into a scowl.
“What are you doing out here?” she asks.
“Waiting for you. Obviously.”
She tilts her head, studying me, her hair slightly damp and blowing gently in the breeze. She looks clean and fresh, and the urge to take her into my arms and kiss her scowl away almost overtakes me.
I scowl right back at her. “I knew you’d run.”
She makes an annoyed noise and strides around the car, holding up the keys and waving them at me. “You’re not holding me prisoner here.”
“You’re not a prisoner.”
“Good!” She pulls open her car door and slides into the driver’s seat.
I wait, breathing heavily and willing my heartbeat to slow before I open the passenger door and lean down. “Just out of interest, where are we going?”
She snorts and puts the key in the ignition. “We’re not going anywhere. I’m heading off—alone.”
“Yeah, that’s not going to happen.” I glance back at the building. “See, the thing is, it’s my duty to protect you—”
“Oh, bloody hell, not this again—”
“And if Burley finds out you’ve taken off without me, I won’t be able to show my face round here again. Regardless of whether or not I’m his second.”
“That’s your problem, not mine.” She glares at me.
“I would love to put you over my knee and give you a spanking, little witch.”
Fuck. I can’t believe those words actually came out of my mouth.
I’m trying to keep things neutral between us, so I can do what I need to without lust or emotion getting in the way. It’s the reason I left so abruptly last night—because if I hadn’t, we’d have ended up having sex.
I need a clear head to protect her. Every gut instinct I’ve ever had is telling me that, if Topaz and I have sex, I will not be able to keep a clear head.
Her cheeks flush with pink at my declaration, and her delectable mouth drops open as she stares at me.
“You wouldn’t dare.”
This time I manage to hold back my instinctive wanna try me response, giving her a toothy grin instead.
Her fingers squeeze tight on the steering wheel.
“Fine,” she says, through clenched teeth. “Get in.”
I slide into the seat, adjusting it back to accommodate my long legs.
“This doesn’t mean anything,” she adds, shifting the car into drive and taking off down the dirt track. “Except that I’d rather not have you on my trail along with the demon.”
I lean my head against the seat, gazing sidelong at her. Hopefully, my smug grin speaks volumes.
There is silence for the first few miles. Outside the windows, the landscape rolls past, green fields and valleys thick with trees. It has turned into a pleasant, cloudless day, and if it wasn’t for the terror of last night, and the strange almost-sexual tension arcing between us, we could almost be out for a simple and relaxing drive in the countryside.
“So,” I say, breaking the silence. “Do you have a destination in mind, or...?”
“Of course.” She clears her throat, and the rest is delivered in a softer tone. “Amethyst runs a spa resort an hour or two from here. I don’t necessarily want to lead trouble to her, but I can’t raise her or Sapphire on the phone and I want to double-check they’re okay.
“Plus, Ammie’s the smart one. She might have some ideas about how I can boost my protections. Save you having to be my constant companion for the rest of your days.”
She laughs, but there’s an awkwardness to the sound.
Surprise spears through me as I realize I don’t hate the idea of having to be around Topaz for longer than expected. That wasn’t the case when Burley gave me this task. But now that I’ve met her, now that I’ve held her deliciously curved body beneath me, kissed her warm lips...
A lick of need shoots straight to my dick and I move uncomfortably in the seat.
Fuck! Concentrate on the job. Tamp the libido back down.
Silence reigns once again. As the miles of road disappear beneath the wheels, I allow my eyes to close, though I am hyper-aware of every breath, every little move, from Topaz beside me.
When she rolls to a stop, I open my eyes. A gas station. That’s good as we both skipped breakfast and I have a shifter’s hunger. I need sustenance, and soon.
“Do you want coffee?” she asks.
Her voice is husky. A hot curl of need turns in my stomach. Last night...
We’ll have to talk about it sooner or later.
I nod. “Black. No sugar, thanks. And whatever you can find to eat.”
Her gaze traverses my face, before she finds the door handle and jumps out.
So, the little witch feels the connection between us, too.
It seems like she’s as uncomfortable with it as me.
***
Topaz
I need coffee—as strong as possible—before I can deal with being in that enclosed space with Kyan for one more second.
I head into the gas station and grab a pack of donuts, my head spinning. There’s a sharp prickle beneath my skin again. Now that I’ve stopped moving, fear rears its head. It surprises me how safe I felt last night at the shifter compound.
Despite the strangeness of the situation, something deep inside me must have known it was okay to fall asleep. Thank goodness.
Not so now. My gaze darts around the space, empty except for an attendant behind a pane of bulletproof glass. Everything is as it should be. Shelves are stacked in neat rows, and generic music hums faintly in the background.
I give myself a mental shake. Pull it together. Luthor is hardly going to be hiding in the candy aisle.
Still... I keep one eye on the entrance the whole time I’m in there, and by the time I get back to the car, my jitters are almost out of control.
I hand off a cup of coffee and the donuts to Kyan, who takes them gratefully.
“Want me to drive?”
I shake my head, setting my own cup into the console holder before turning the key in the ignition. I move the car only a few yards, pulling into a parking bay over to the side of the station. Then I turn off the engine and cross my arms, turning to face him.
“I think we need to talk, Kyan.”
He tilts his head, looking me up and down. “Well, you did bring me donuts.” He flashes one of his grins that I’m beginning to suspect hide a lot more than they show. “What do you want to know?”
“For starters...” I pick up my coffee, needing something to do with my hands. “What the hell is up with your pack?”
“That’s kind of a broad question,” Kyan says. “A little rude, too, if you don’t mind me saying.”
I ignore his obvious attempt at deflection. “Since when does a wolf shifter pack care about the safety of a witch?” I lean close, until I see a flicker of something crimson behind his eyes. I swallow and move back again. “I’m going with wolf for now, even though I’m positive you’re not. But the rest of the question stands. And don’t give me some bullshit answer about my family having history with your pack. I need to know more than that, Kyan. My life was normal, this time yesterday.”
I don’t mention the weird carvings in the room I slept in, or the way Kyan’s pack members look nothing like any other shifter I’ve met, wolf or otherwise.
“You are owed more, I agree,” he says. I’m almost surprised by the sincerity in his voice. It’s a far cry from the sardonic tone he seems to have adopted around me, up to now. He takes a couple of bites of donut and swallows before continuing. “Years ago, we had some trouble. I don’t really remember it—I was only a kid at the time—but it was bad. Real bad. Our old Alpha—Burley’s father—got into this territorial dispute with a pack in the next county. We came here, from... somewhere else, and of course, things got ugly, fast. A new pack moving in... trying to take over land...
“We didn’t have the numbers to protect ourselves, and we were facing being wiped out, or having to return to where we came from. Which wasn’t an option.”
“Where was that?”
He shrugs. “Not relevant. Suffice to say, none of us wanted to go back, and we needed help. The Alpha reached out to the local witch coven.”
He glances over at me, and I resist the urge to interrupt. Inside, curiosity burns in my chest. Things must have been seriously bad for a shifter pack to reach out to witches for help.
“There were some who opposed him, of course, but desperate times call for desperate measures, I guess. Most of the coven refused the job, but there were two witches who offered their support. Amber and Lorelei Redferne.”
I gape at him, certain that I must have heard wrong.
“Amber Redferne? My mother? And... Aunt Lorelei?”
Kyan nods. His eyes are distant; he’s clearly recounting a story that’s been told many times over. But this is new to me, and the knowledge shocks me. “They ignored the unspoken stand-off between shifters and witches. They helped our pack. Without them, we wouldn’t have the territory we do today. I don’t even think we’d exist as a pack, anymore.”
“Wow.” I don’t even know what to say. “I...um...never really knew my mom. Or my aunt. They died when I was young.”
In truth, that’s why I’m so close to my cousins—they are more like sisters to me. We all grew up together, the three of us shuffled around between relatives and foster homes. Three misfit orphan girls with latent magical powers and no idea how to use them.
“Sorry to hear that. The Redferne name is highly valued by my pack.”
“So, what happened?”
“They cast a protection spell over the territory we were claiming as ours,” Kyan says. “A strong one. Set up a shield powerful enough to keep out even our most ferocious enemies. That’s part of the reason I brought you to pack lands last night—it’s the safest place I can think of.”
Now that Kyan has shared this information, I think back to the way Burley looked at me—with a kind of pride that seemed so out of place, given I was a stranger to him and his people.
Suddenly, I wish we’d stayed longer. That I’d paid more attention, traced over every inch of the magic embedded in that place. How did I not recognize the feel of the magic as being cast from my own flesh and blood?
I barely have anything of my mother’s, save for a few spell books and the protection sigil I wear on the chain around my neck. If only I’d studied those pack wards more closely...
“Topaz?”
“Hmm?” I return my distracted attention to Kyan.
A frown passes over his face, but it’s gone before I can really register it. “That’s why Burley took such an interest in you. We’re shifters; we take care of our own, and we don’t ever forget a debt. Your mother and her sister saved us. It’s the least we can do to protect their blood in return.”
He has blindsided me with this story. For a minute or two, we just sit there. The silence isn’t awkward this time, however. It’s almost comforting, as if I’m sharing a moment of connectedness with a valued friend.
“From everything I’ve heard, they were remarkable women,” Kyan says, breaking the stillness. He spears me with that sincere expression again—the one I don’t quite know what to do with. “My memories are kind of vague, but... the witches were very powerful, I do remember that much. Your mother and aunt were unusual magic-wielders, Topaz. They just wanted to help others, regardless of who the others were, where they were from, or what their backgrounds might be.”
Grateful tears prick at the back of my eyelids, and I blink hard to hold them in.
“It’s lovely to hear that.” My lips tighten as I try to maintain control of spiraling emotions. I sniff hard and start the car. “Thank you.”
I want to get back on the road and reach Amethyst before I do something stupid, like burst into tears.
I don’t know if my cousin will have any answers to our current predicament, but I’m out of ideas at this point. Quite frankly, I need her input.
I just have to hope I’m not bringing danger directly to her door.
