“Kee? Hey, it’s Shannon. Have you heard from Shayla? Is she all right?” Kiesha sat up in the bed. “What do you mean? You’re the second person that’s asked about Shay tonight. Is something going on with my cousin I should know about?”
“That’s what I’m trying to find out. When we left your house the other night, my truck broke down, and we got separated. Some of the wolves from the pack caught my scent and were hunting me. I sent her on to the house while I ran off in the other direction. I don’t know what happened after that because I’m just getting home.” Kiesha waited while Shannon paused to take a deep breath.
“From the looks of things, she only recently left, but she appeared to be in a hurry. She left some of her stuff behind, and I don’t think it was intentional. I wouldn’t be concerned except something must have happened here. My basement’s trashed. It looks like a class-five tornado swept through it.”
Kiesha jumped off the bed and started throwing on clothes. “Stay right there. I’m on the way over. I want to know what the hell is going on around here. Rory is here asking about Shayla, and now that I think on it, he never did answer when I asked about you. I’ve got a feeling that my mate’s involved and doesn’t want me to know. Sit tight. Maybe between the two of us, we can get to the bottom of this.” She hung up the phone and rushed out of the room, still trying to put on her shoes. The men looked up when the bedroom door banged open. Kiesha got the last shoe on and came running down the stairs, keys in hand.
“Where do you think you’re going?”
“You are in a shitload of trouble, mate. That was Shannon on the phone. I’m going to find out what’s going on around here and what happened to my cousin. We’ll finish this when I get back,” she said as she headed for the door.
“That was Shannon?”
“Where is she?” The two men spoke over each other.
Kiesha brushed past them, not responding to their questions. Alex made a grab for her arm, but she surprised him by dodging his grasp with the swiftness of a shifter.
“I’m coming with you,” Alex said determinedly.
“No, you’re not,” Kiesha called over her shoulder. “I want the truth, not just what you’ve determined I should know.” The door slammed behind her, punctuating her words.
Kiesha’s SUV roared to life, and they heard her spin out of the driveway.
“Damn, when she finds out what happened the other night, especially about you and Shayla, the shit is going to hit the fan. I’ve got to get there and do some damage control.” Alex did not want his mate angry with him again. Once was enough. He slipped out of his jeans and tied them around his neck.
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“What are you doing?”
“I’ll get there faster if I shift, but I’ll need something to put on when I change back. I don’t think this is the time to explain to Kiesha that nudity doesn’t bother shifters.” Shifters spent so much time in the raw that they didn’t view it the way humans did.
Kiesha was still too new to be comfortable with him being nude in front of another female, even if that female was a shifter as well.
Alex ran out the door, focused on reaching Shannon before Kiesha. She already had a head start. He shifted and took off running through the woods, just barely noting that Rory had shifted and was running beside him, his pants also flapping in the wind.
Shannon placed the phone back on its cradle and stood there. They would be here any moment, and she had no doubt that it would be “they.” For where Kiesha went, Alex was sure to follow, and if Rory was there, he’d be close behind.
She needed to shower, to wash Nikolai’s scent off her body, but for reasons she didn’t want to examine too closely, she was strangely loath to do so. Instead, she went into her room and put on a pair of jeans and one of her mock-turtleneck sweaters. She didn’t believe Nikolai left any visible marks on her, but she wasn’t taking any chances. She’d barely finished running the brush through her hair when she heard Kiesha pull into the driveway.
Throwing down the brush, she opened the door in time to see Rory and Alex emerge from the woods. Both men were wearing just their pants, which let her know they’d shifted and ran over, probably trying to beat Kiesha here.
Kiesha ran up the stairs to the door, either not seeing or ignoring the men. “Okay. Now what’s going on? Are you all right? Where have you been for the last couple of days?”
“I’m fine. I’m more worried about what happened to Shayla. Rory, what happened to my room? It looks like a demolition crew came through and ripped it to pieces.” Although Rory was still a good distance away, Shannon didn’t raise her voice. She knew he would hear her.
“Never mind about the room,” he answered. “Are you all right? Where have you been?
I was worried.”
“You’re alone? You weren’t mated?” Alex looked around, puzzled, obviously doubtful that she had made it through her heat without collecting a mate, especially since she was gone for so long.
Rory rushed toward her, his intent gaze checking to see if she was unhurt when he recoiled as though he’d run into an invisible force field.
“Vampire!” Rory spat out, looking at Shannon as though she were the devil incarnate.
“What?” Alex looked at Rory like he was crazy. Then the wind shifted and Alex smelled it too, judging by the distasteful expression on his face.
98 Zena Wynn
Although part of her withered inside, Shannon stood straight and tall, staring Rory in the eye. While she’d known it could never work between her and Nikolai, she was surprised to realize that a part of her had been hoping that they could find a way. That fragile hope died a sudden and painful death once it was confronted with Rory’s reaction to Nikolai’s scent. He looked at her like he hated her.
Kiesha looked at the three of them. “Why are you looking at Shannon like that? What’s wrong with you two?”
“Where have you been, Shannon?” Alex asked quietly.
“And why do you smell like vampire?” Rory asked in a hard voice.
When Shannon didn’t answer, Rory stepped closer. “Did you mate with him? If I pull down your collar, will I find his mark on you?” His hand reached out to do just that.
A growl rose up out of Shannon that wasn’t her own. It was a warning, a stamp of possession, and a statement of intent. It said, Keep your hands off, or suffer the consequences.
“Nikolai, please. Let me handle this.”
“He is not allowed to touch you.”
“He’s my brother.”
“I know who he is, and I care not. He will not put his hands on you.” Rory froze when the growl came out of her. “Oh hell. You’ve gone and mated him, haven’t you?” He gave her a look of disgust and walked a couple of feet away as though he could no longer stand to be near her. He kept his back to Shannon as he ran his hand through his hair.
“Have you mated him, Shannon? Did you mark him?” Alex asked, watching her closely.
“Mated who?” Kiesha asked.
“No, I haven’t marked him, and he’s speaking of Nikolai, Kiesha.” As she said his name, gentle warmth flooded her being. Nikolai, letting her know she was not alone.
“You and Nikolai?” Kiesha asked, astonishment in her voice.
“He thinks I’m his chosen,” Shannon informed them.
“Know, love, I know that you’re my chosen.”
“What’s a chosen?”
Alex answered, “It’s the vampire equivalent of a true mate.” Kiesha rubbed her forehead. “Is that possible? I thought you said vampires and shifters don’t mix?”
“Hell no. It isn’t possible, and damned straight the two don’t mix.” Shannon ignored Rory. She watched Alex, waiting to see what he had to say.
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“It doesn’t matter what he says. You are my chosen. Nothing will change that. Nor does it matter how they feel about it.”
“It’s rare. Extremely rare. So rare that tales of it happening are more legend than fact,” Alex said.
Rory spun around in disbelief. “What the hell are you taking about?”
“I’ve listened to the old ones talk. In times past, before the wars, it occasionally happened. It’s rumored that such matings were one of the causes of the wars.”
“What wars?” Kiesha asked, intrigued.
“Vampire-Shifter Wars,” Shannon answered. “Vampires were our enemies. The two species fought until both were almost extinct. A truce was called, more in an effort to preserve what little of us remained than a true peace.”
“Ancient history, love. It has no bearing on us.”
“I don’t care what may or may not have happened in the past. My sister is not mating a bloodsucker,” Rory said in disgust. “What kind of children would they have? If they could have any. We’re two different species. It won’t work. I don’t care what went on between you two for the last couple of days. You stay away from him, Shannon. Nothing good can come of it.”
Shannon flinched. She hadn’t even thought of that. She wanted children someday, or at least, she wanted the option of having them. Being with Nikolai would mean no children --
ever. If, by some miracle, he did manage to impregnate her, what kind of child would it be?
Abomination.
The word whispered through her mind, causing her to feel sick to her stomach. Nikolai was strangely quiet, reinforcing her fears.
“Come on, guys. Let’s go. It’s getting late, and I’m sure Shannon needs some time alone.
Rory, you can crash at our place if you don’t feel like driving home.” Alex looked at his mate, then at Shannon. “Come on, Rory. Let’s go.”
“You two go ahead. I’m not going anywhere.”
“Rory, please. I need to be alone,” Shannon appealed quietly, close to tears.
Rory hesitated, visibly torn. Shannon knew he wanted to stay and make sure that Nikolai didn’t come, but it was her house, and she was a grown woman. He couldn’t make this decision for her. “Okay, I’ll leave. Call me if you need me.” He kissed her on the cheek, then walked quickly down the stairs and left.
Kiesha hugged Shannon. “Call if you need to talk.” She turned and walked away, grabbing Alex by the hand and pulling him with her as she left.
* * * * *
100
Zena Wynn
Nikolai wasn’t perturbed by what he’d overheard. He’d known he would have to fight for Shannon from the moment he made the decision to claim her. Animosity between the two species ran too deep for them to accept her loss without a fight.
It was his chosen who he had to convince. Shannon was strong. If she decided to claim him, she’d let nothing and no one stand in her way. He just needed to convince her that he, and he alone, was who she wanted as her mate.
His mate watched the others leave. No one had noticed the large black hawk seated on the branch of the tree overhanging the driveway. When the vehicle was out of sight, his mate sighed, turned, and went into the house. He could see she was extremely disturbed by the reactions of the others. Knowing she needed some time to herself, he granted her a few hours to adjust to the changes in her life.
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Chapter Eleven
Shannon awoke later that evening, naked and covered in red rose petals. It was startling because when she went to bed, she had on an oversize T-shirt. How did he come in without waking her or her wolf?
She propped up on one elbow and looked around. The rose petals trickled off the bed, onto the carpet, and trailed out the bedroom door. Curious, she sat up, disturbing the hundreds of petals blanketing her body. She rose from the bed and followed the trail.
It led out of the room and to the front door, which was cracked open. Hanging on a hook from the door was an emerald green satin nightgown. She reached out a hand to caress the fabric. It was beautiful. She took it down and went back into her room to stand in front of the mirror.
The gown was ultrafeminine and blatantly sensual. She’d never worn anything like it in her life. Halter-style, it had a plunging neckline, and the back dipped so low she knew it was meant to be worn without underwear. She put it on, enjoying its silky feel against her skin, and gazed at her reflection in wonder. A sexy siren with her features stared back at her.
She felt a moment’s disquiet.
Shannon knew how to handle herself as a wolf. As an alpha-fem, she knew what males wanted from her, and it all boiled down to the three Ps -- power, position, and pups. In her world, feminine equated to soft, and soft got you abused or killed.
Nikolai wasn’t interested in any of that, which made him an unknown entity. For the first time in her life, she’d met a male who was interested in Shannon, the woman. Frankly, she didn’t know how to deal with it or him, but she was too curious to draw back.
Opening the door, the first thing she noticed was the matching ballerina-style slippers.
She put them on her feet before following the trail, which continued down the stairs, across the drive, and into the woods.
102
Zena Wynn
Once in the woods, the petals switched from red to white. The trail went about twenty feet before slowly tapering off into a small moonlit clearing. In the center was Nikolai. He lay on his side on a quilt, looking luscious. She was so captivated by his appearance it took a while for her to notice the picnic basket sitting beside him.
“Come, love. I’ve waited hours for you to appear,” Nikolai said as he held out a hand to her in invitation.
Shannon crossed slowly to his side and allowed him to pull her to her knees beside him. Nikolai kissed her fingers and then opened her hand to place a kiss on her palm. “You are as beautiful as I knew you would be in that gown.” She self-consciously ran her fingers through her short hair and then wiped her face, remembering that she had sleep creases from her pillow on her cheeks.
“No, love, you are beautiful.”
“What is all of this?” Shannon pointed at the basket and then at the wine bucket directly behind it.
“If the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach, then surely the path to a woman’s heart must be the same.” He reached inside and came out with two wineglasses.
“Is that what you’re after…my heart?” Shannon watched as he poured them each a glass of white wine.
“For now.” Nikolai handed her one of the glasses.