Chapter Twenty-Seven

 

The balcony was especially romantic that night. Devon stood under the starry sky and raised her arms to the heavens.

“We are all one,” she stated to the sky, the trees, and the animals.

Jameson came behind her and slid her hands around her waist. She whispered in Devon's ear, “We are one.”

Devon turned to her and they kissed, greedy and arduous. Jameson slid her hands under Devon's sweater, eager to make love under the night sky. A rustling above stopped her. She scowled at the owl roosting on the roof.

“Oh, please, please, no more death,” Jameson cried. “Go away.”

The owl relocated to the balcony railing. Relax it is me.

“Mom?” Jameson's joy turned to embarrassment when she realized that her mother witnessed their kiss. “Mom!”

The owl turned its head one hundred and eighty degrees.

I saw nothing.

“You were right, as usual.”

Of course I was. Love did find you.

The owl dipped down to snatch a frog from the ground.

Devon frowned as she watched it vanish with its supper.

“So that's your mom?”

Jameson furrowed her brow. “Yes and no.”

* * * *

Under a dusky sky, Analise found Claire relaxing at the brink of the pond. She kicked off her sandals and joined her.

“That tea seems to be helping,” Claire noted. “You seem more agile and energetic.

Analise smiled and took a sip. “It's delicious, too. My pain is gone and I can hold my bladder.”

Claire pulled her close. “That's wonderful news.”

“Do you think Devon will ever forgive me?”

Claire stared at the duck floating. “It likes the middle the best.”

“What?”

“The duck, he likes the middle of the pond. I guess he feels safest there. He can see everything.”

“I would think the edge would be safer. An alligator or turtle can hide in the deep. The duck should be mindful of its delicate feet in the depths of the dark water.”

Claire retracted her feet from the pond. “The little guy is fearless or maybe he just doesn't know any better.”

“We are all prey to something,” Analise shrugged. “Look at me, victim of disease.”

“I thought you said the tea was helping.”

“It is curing me, I can feel it. It will take time. Do you think she will forgive me?”

Claire smiled but her eyes were remote. “I forgave you.”

“Did you?”

Claire smirked. “Not really.”

“I tried to tell you but you wouldn't listen. You thought I was crazy.”

“I still can't believe you convinced me to help you procreate your kind. I must have been out of my mind.”

“Love is a powerful motivator. Because of you Devon can broaden our teaching.”

“She will never reproduce, she has a female lover.”

Analise shrugged. “Like mother, like daughter. I did my part.”

“I never asked you details. How did you find him?”

“My visits to Elks Pass Sundries were not uncommon. I met Joann Jordan at a lecture series during my first year of college. She spoke on the myth of the Limmikin. I approached her afterwards. I knew she would understand. I needed to talk to someone about my condition. We became friends. When you were out of town with Burke, I visited her. That's when I bought the lodge, remember?”

“Yes, you bought it for us,” Claire reminded her. “At least that's what you claimed.”

“I did buy it for us, but I also bought it for me. While you were away doing god knows what with Burke Danforth, I was free to commune with my pack.”

“Was Jason your wolf-mate?”

Analise cringed at the jealousy in her tone.

“No, Kai was my mate. When he died I stopped going there.”

Claire inhaled to stifle her temper. “No, I don't forgive you. The truth of who you are is the reason I waited so long. It frightens me.”

Analise pushed her onto the lawn and stared down at her with narrowed eyes. “The part of me that frightens is the part you ache for. You cannot resist the wildness. That is your disease, my love. I am your addiction. You crave me like a beast in heat.”

Claire's eyes smoldered. She grabbed Analise by her hair and pulled her close. “Then give me what I need.”

Analise howled with hunger and went for her throat. Claire smelled like food to her. Analise didn’t want to harm her mate. It wasn’t her fault that Claire had bonded with the duck energy. Now she was fair game.