Imminence (12 page)

Ciall, the youngest of the males, got up with reluctance but dared not challenge Matt. All the males were reluctant to enter Sofia’s house, for even though the elders had often stressed the importance and uniqueness of this female, they had also warned them that Sofia was one of the most dangerous shape shifters. No one knew exactly what she was capable of; probably even she herself did not know. Besides Sofia, there were only a few shape shifters who could influence the thoughts of others and prevent others from exploring their minds. In addition to that, Sofia was capable of manipulating others to do anything she wanted, and she could also share another’s mind while she was in a certain shape. Taking a new shape posed no difficulty whatsoever to her and she could shift from one shape to another within seconds. The elders had scared the other shape shifters so thoroughly with stories of Sofia's skills that the mere thought of facing Sofia terrified them. And yet they had dared kidnap Sofia's child. They must have been out of their heads, to have agreed to Matt's foolhardy plan. There were other things, too, but even the elders were unwilling to discuss Sofia’s skills. However, fear of Gunward and Adam’s rage sufficed to make the youngsters follow Matt's instructions without grumbling and they left without delay to fetch the medicines from the home of David's parents. Tiamhaidh dropped Matt to the floor and attempted a friendly smile at the girl.

“Thank you,” the girl whispered.

Tiamhaidh looked thoughtfully at the girl. There was nothing special about her. Nothing to differentiate her from all the women and girls who had offered themselves to him over the years. Nothing, and yet everything. Tiamhaidh felt peace descend upon him. For decades he had honed his skills to make himself a dangerous predator. He had learned numerous martial arts, spent years in the shapes of the best predators, sought peace for his soul which urged him to continue his search, to always strive to be better than others. And now he had finally found the purpose of his life. Effortlessly, Tiamhaidh moved closer to the girl and touched her chin. He stroked the curve of her chin, the beautifully shaped neck. His ice-blue eyes looked over the girl with wonder.

Marie regarded the stranger with bafflement. A young man, better-looking than any of the boys she knew. This was a man, though, no longer a boy, and clearly older than herself. Probably twenty at least, she thought. Dark, short hair, dark stubble. He looked like he’d just got out of bed. Marie’s thoughts took a new direction and suddenly she blushed bright red. The man smiled a lopsided smile. As if he’d known exactly what Marie was thinking. His eyes are absolutely blindingly gorgeous, she thought and sighed softly. She tried to look sternly into his eyes, but couldn’t help nervously licking her lips. He drew a sharp breath and let go of her. Marie was now able to observe him more closely. He was tall but not too tall, about 180 centimeters or perhaps a little over. He was strongly muscular and dark tattoos encircled his arms, disappearing underneath his sleeves. His entire body was superbly trained, down to each individual muscle, and Marie found herself wondering what other tattoos his clothing might conceal. He moved with effortless ease. Everything about his movements spoke of body control. Each move he made happened so effortlessly that looking at him, one hardly noticed before he had moved to another spot. Everything the man did indicated complete control of his body. Still, Marie was quite certain that she was making the man nervous. She boldly lifted her gaze back to the man’s face and licked her lips. His eyes darkened and each muscle seemed to tighten. Marie held her breath. The other males had assembled behind the man, cautiously, confused. They had never seen Tiamhaidh behave like this. Tiamhaidh was always dangerously collected. Never, not once in his life had anything made him this nervous. Even though the other males had known Tiamhaidh only for a short while, they had heard disconcerting stories about his skills, one of which was to remain coldly calm even in deadly situations and come out of those the victor. A low growl rose from the throats of the males. Matt sidled closer to the girl and kicked her foot. Tiamhaidh yelped and threw him aside like a rag doll. Not for a moment did he tear his eyes off the girl.

Tiamhaidh’s fists were clenched tightly as he stared at the girl, desperation in his eyes. Only now did he understand what a lie he had been living all his life. If he did not get this girl, he would never find peace for his soul. It would not matter what shape he lived in, for without Marie he would only be an empty shell. A shadow of the man he ought to be.

Marie got up slowly. She thought she must be mad to even think of toying with this man. The other men around her frightened her and they emanated uncontrollable violence, but this dark man was different. Marie knew he wouldn’t harm her. She closed her eyes, wishing all this was only a dream. Still, she knew that this man’s image would follow her for the rest of her life. What did this all mean? Only yesterday she’d been a young girl, almost a child, but now she felt like a woman. A woman, who had a strange power over this man. Tiamhaidh, Marie thought and opened her eyes. His blue eyes were still locked on her face. The men had moved closer and Marie felt her back touch the wall. A few more centimeters and she wouldn’t be able to move. She gulped. If she lifted her hand now, she could touch the dark man. She could barely breathe. She heard the low growl of the other men, but none of them rose to challenge Tiamhaidh again.

None of them dared, Marie realized. He lifted his hand as if about to touch her, but swiftly lowered it again. Marie still stared at him. She took a step closer. He didn’t back off even though they were now close enough for her to feel the warmth emanating from his body and his breath on her face. This is unbelievable, Marie thought. She lifted her hand to his cheek and he moaned softly. Strange thoughts filled her mind and she saw herself and this man together. She felt herself move north to the fells and the sensation was so real that she could have sworn she felt the cold wind in her hair and the fresh fragrance of the forest. She saw herself and a dark brown wolf next to her, and knew she had finally come home. Marie’s eyes were locked with the man’s eyes and carefully, as if afraid everything would shatter, she lowered her hand off his face. Tiamhaidh quickly seized both her hands. Marie breathed sharply. It felt as if life were flowing into her. As if she’d slept throughout her earlier life and only now come into life, and the strangest thing was, that she knew he felt the same. The other men backed slowly away from the room, leaving the two of them alone together.

What does this mean? Marie wondered, and at once her mind received an answer which clearly originated from the man.

Tiamhaidh pressed Marie gently against the wall and looked deep into her eyes. Marie felt herself sinking deeper and deeper into his gaze. His eyes were a brilliant blue and Marie felt her thoughts becoming blurred.

“Don’t do that,” she whispered.

Tiamhaidh went on staring. Their eyes were only a few centimeters from each other and Marie found herself wondering what it would feel like to press her lips on his. She felt her mouth go dry, and swallowed.

“Don’t you do that either,” Tiamhaidh told her hoarsely.

A deep silence descended, as if their thoughts had frozen in confusion. Marie absently played with Tiamhaidh’s short dark hair, and he felt as if he had drowned somewhere in her deep green eyes.

“I don’t know. It’s as if a door is open to your mind and I only need to peer in through the door to see everything. Your past and your future. Everything.” Marie swallowed and inched closer to Tiamhaidh.

“That’s incredible. I feel exactly the same.”

“What do we do now?”

“You do know I can never let you go? Not now, when I’ve just found you, and not later either. Even if you don’t choose me, my fate will be to follow you forever.” Tiamhaidh placed his fingers on Marie's lips and smiled a lopsided smile. Marie felt her knees falter.

“How can you even think like that? Just as you belong to me, I belong to you. Forever,” Marie said in her mind, and Tiamhaidh sensed how vulnerable she was. He felt Marie's fear mingle with a young girl's first love. He could break the girl's heart in the blink of an eye, but he needed Marie to understand he would never hurt her. Marie was enchanting! Disbelief overwhelmed him. This incredible, strong woman of a fey beauty wanted him - a wolf several years older than the girl. A child! His mind shouted loudly.

“Does it matter so much? We have this moment and my forever. That will have to be enough,” Marie looked at Tiamhaidh with adoration.

“You gave me back my life. I was sure I’d have to live all my immortal life without my soul. Empty. Always looking for something to take this emptiness away,” Tiamhaidh sighed and pressed his head against Marie's forehead.

“Are you really immortal? Isn’t there any way you can die?” Marie pushed Tiamhaidh further and looked at him with curiosity.

“I am, my love. A shape shifter can’t die. It’s completely impossible. However, the oldest shape shifters have taken forms they have vanished into. If you spend too long as, say, the wind, you won’t be able to change back and you forget who you are, so technically they aren’t dead, but they’re gone. Irrevocably.”

“Haven’t you ever heard of anyone who returned?” Marie practically bounced with excitement. This was definitely the most exciting thing she had ever experienced.

“Never,” Tiamhaidh let out another sigh. A much deeper one this time. What on earth would he do with this child who had completely twisted his heart around her slender fingers? If he was already this badly lost, what would the future bring him?

The other males had relaxed by now and were holding an agitated conversation in the next room. Their yelps sounded at times like cries of elation and Marie couldn’t understand how she had previously been scared of them.

“No, Marie. Don’t you see? This is going to save your mother. They believe you, too, are a shape shifter and as you belong to me, our line will continue. They no longer need your mother. Even if the elders never release your mother from her bond with Gunward, the others won’t harass her,” Tiamhaidh gave Marie a long, intimate look and Marie had to avert her gaze from his eyes for a moment.

“But I’m not a shape shifter! And I really don't want any children with you! At least not yet,” she exclaimed with anguish.

“They don’t know that. And I wouldn’t be so sure of it either. I don’t know how the change happens with someone who is half human and half wolf. Now the other males can stop their silly games with human girls and really start looking for mates. If this works with us, it has to work with others as well.” The look in Tiamhaidh's eyes softened and he reminded himself that he would have to proceed with great caution.

Marie could not understand what kind of turmoil was going on in the minds of Tiamhaidh and the other shape shifters. This would change everything. Any one of them would be able to find a spouse among human females. Still, a doubt crept into his mind. What if Marie was the only one capable of this? What if it all depended on Sofia's unbelievably strong ability to shift shape? Tiamhaidh thrust his doubt aside and attempted a light laugh. The only sound he managed, though, was a muffled wheeze that sounded desperate at best.

“I don’t really think I can change into anything at all, but if the others believe it, so be it. I only want my mother to be safe and that we can go on living as before,” Marie regarded him with such incredible trust in her eyes that Tiamhaidh's throat constricted.

All the males turned to look at them. Marie thought she saw incredible joy in their eyes. The males were so wolf-like that Marie couldn’t figure out how she hadn’t noticed the lupine features before. She could imagine a pack of young wolves looking exactly like these men. Ears slightly pulled back, heads drooping abashedly and tails hanging down as an indication of embarrassment, perhaps wagging cautiously as if begging for pardon. Marie felt like laughing. Tiamhaidh pulled her to him.