Psyche Honor (Psyche Moon) (10 page)

You’re so wet. You smell delicious.
She rumbled
through our connection. I couldn’t reach her, so I touched my own breasts,
rubbing my hard nipples roughly between my fingertips. She pulled the finger
out of me and I cried out in protest before she shifted and entered me again,
deeper and rougher. No longer caressing my labia, she plunged two fingers in
and out mercilessly.

I squeezed my own breast hard as I orgasmed, my legs
clenching her into me fervently. Spurred on further, she penetrated me deeper
and grazed my clit with her teeth.
More! Harder!
I cried into her mind,
and she complied instantly. With Wolf strength, she lifted me until only my
shoulders still lay on the ground. She continued, and the second orgasm began
before the first ended. My entire body throbbed with ripples of burning
ecstasy, and my feet ached. Distantly I heard myself cry her name.

She pulled out of me, allowing my climax to ebb. As my legs
relaxed around her neck, she lowered me to the ground. My feet sank to the
forest floor, and I opened my eyes not realizing I’d closed them. Billie, green
eyes intense and face flushed, watched me from between my knees.
You scared
the birds again.
She grinned wickedly.

That was so fucking good I think I pulled something.
I gasped for air.

I would have kept going, but you weren’t breathing,
she joked and crawled to lie on top of me, chin once again propped in a hand
and penetrating eyes on mine. Her breasts pressed against mine, and I shuddered
again. Too spent yet to do anything, my arms rested on the ground beside me.

It doesn’t get better than this.
I finally recovered
enough to wrap my arms around her waist, caressing her muscled back.

It gets better every time. Her gaze didn’t leave my eyes,
and I melted. I ran one hand through her tangled red curls and brushed her
cheek with my thumb.

How did I get so lucky?
I asked her. Fisting her hair
at the base of her skull, I pulled her mouth towards mine and kissed her
roughly.

Want to get lucky again?
She asked roguishly, and I
laughed. Her eyes softened as our lips parted.
You taste like home.

I feel like I’m home. For the first time in my life, I
feel like I’m home.
We lay in each other’s arms, enjoying the afternoon
silently.

Sensing the pack’s return, I groaned. “They're on their way
back,” I announced, feeling a little self-conscious about the inevitable smell
on us. “It would be nice to wash up.”

She chuckled. “It's a normal scent for us. It's not like
we're being sneaky anyway.”

I sighed and wrinkled my nose. “I'm still having trouble
with the smelling thing.” I grabbed my clothes and started to dress.

Billie watched me from the ground, unconcerned about her own
nudity. “I hear them,” she mentioned. I zipped up my jeans shortly before the
Wolves trotted into view.

Jazz rippled into her human form, her body nearly as
exquisite as Billie’s. She smiled widely, eyes shining. “That was the best hunt
I've had in a while.” She sank to the ground beside Billie, scooting onto her
back and laying her head in Billie's lap. Amy trotted over, white fur in stark
contrast to the summer landscape. She curled beside her friends contentedly,
her tail wrapped around her.

Doggie pile time, love. Come join us.
I did, resting
my head on Billie's shoulder with a hand rubbing the spot between Amy's ears.
She arched her head towards me in enjoyment. In no time, Kathryn and John
joined us, and we lounged peacefully. Jazz and Billie recounted the hunt,
enjoying the memory. John, satisfied in wolf form for a while, wanted to say
something, so he shifted to human form.

“I hate to break up the party, but those two Humans are
headed our way. Less than a mile out, I would guess,” I sighed.

“Time to head home.” Billie began to untangle herself from
the pile of bodies.

“I like the early warning system,” Jazz remarked
appreciatively.

Billie shifted into wolf form, as we headed leisurely
towards our stash of clothes. Jazz walked with me in human form. Her curiosity
about me had risen since we met. “They tell me you were raised as a Human,” she
commented as we walked. “Do you know anything about your biological parents?”

“All I know is that my mother abandoned me the day I was
born. She walked up to some woman in a parking lot and handed over her baby.
She didn't say a word and took off. The police looked for her but never found
her, and social services found me a home. They never even figured out who my
parents were, so my new parents adopted me.” The story of my abandonment had
always disturbed me.

Jazz considered the situation objectively. Intelligent and
pragmatic, she didn’t respond with shock or anger like most mothers. “That is
very strange. I've never heard of a Mage child being raised by humans. I wonder
why she did that.”

I shook my head. I’d wondered the same thing many times. As
a child I believed there was something wrong with me. As I came to understand
human behavior better, I’d begun to speculate. “The only thing that makes sense
to me is that she believed I was in danger. Mothers don't do that kind of thing
otherwise.”

She nodded. “True. Why would you be in danger, though?”

“Maybe someone was after her. My biological father? A Wolf?
Another Mage? I don't know.”

“You wonder if a Wolf killed your mother?” she asked, a
little surprised.

I looked at the Wolves trotting around me, listening to us
speak. “I've heard the stories. It sounds like most packs have a standing order
to kill any Mage in their territory. Perhaps she was afraid they would kill her
baby too.” I shrugged. “It's one possibility among dozens.”

“Doesn't that idea bother you now that you live with
Wolves?”

I paused, considering how to answer her question. “If your
pack encountered a Mage with a baby, what do you think would happen to the
baby?” Every pair of ears listened with rapt attention.

She thought about my question intelligently and answered
honestly. “I believe a few people would want to kill the baby, but they would
be in the minority. Not many people could actually do something like that. I
don't think anyone here could. It would cause a great deal of commotion and
debate, but I think most packs would find an alternative.”

I nodded affirmatively. “I agree. But maybe she didn’t know
that. If that's even what happened.”

“This has to be very strange for you. You don't even know
your people, and you're sleeping with the enemy. Literally and figuratively.”

I grinned and glanced sideways at her. “Strange would be an
understatement. I feel like I've stepped into someone else's war, and yet I'm
somehow the focus.”

“I'm not surprised you feel that way. You have and you are.”

“I don't know Mages, but I do know prejudice. You can't
judge an entire group of people for any reason. I don't believe that all Mages
are bad any more than I believe all gay men are fashion designers.”

She didn't speak for a few minutes, considering my argument
logically before replying. “Devil's advocate,” she announced when ready. “What
you said about prejudice is true. To judge an entire group for any reason is
bigotry. But from what I’ve heard described, the power is addictive. Doesn't
that change the dynamics? I wouldn't trust a meth addict.”

“I wouldn't trust a meth addict who's using,” I replied. “A
meth addict who chooses not to use meth is a whole different story.”

“They're more likely to use meth than the next person.” She
didn’t argue, I realized. She evaluated her opinion through debate.

“True. It doesn't mean they will. Then it’s judging someone
for what they might do in the future.” She nodded and her eyes shone as her
opinion formed. She craved intellectual and philosophical debate. My voice
lowered automatically, and I looked apologetically at her. “Will I use
magepower again? Only if I have to. Will I give into the seduction if I do? God
I hope not. The possibility scares me. I wouldn't be scared if I was certain I
could control it.”

“I like your honesty. I'll be honest in turn. I've lost
friends to Mages, and I've seen horrible things at their hands. Having a Mage
in our pack and mated to our Beta worries me. But I like you. I'll try to treat
you for you and not for them.”

“Thanks.” I looked around. “I'll be honest. I'm lost.”

She giggled. “It's not far. See that lighter colored stand
of trees?” She pointed off to our left. “That's where we left our clothes.
We'll head down this ridge a ways and then cross in that direction.”

“Oh. Then we have a problem.” Billie's ears perked my
direction.

“What's the problem?”

“The Humans are headed the same direction we are.”

We shouldn't be seen as wolves,
Billie told me.

“I think you'd stand out less in fur than naked, love.” Jazz
followed the gist of the conversation.

I don't like leaving you alone, but we'll have to hide
from them. Especially now. Wolf season begins soon, and people talk.

“
You're just a thought away. I'll be fine.” She
argued with herself so I probed the Humans a bit. “They're just hikers, and
they're friendly.”

She agreed reluctantly and looked squarely at Jazz who
understood. “We'll talk more later.” She shifted into her wolf form quickly.

We hiked in silence for a bit before the Wolves suddenly
darted into the forest, scenting the nearby Humans.
We won't be far, love.
She showed me the route I should take.
Call if you need me.

After the constant company, I found the sudden solitude
strange. Heading down the route she showed me, I kept my senses open. Before
long I heard footsteps and soft voices. Continuing along the ridge, they came
into view.

“Hi. Are you lost?” The woman asked when she saw me.

“Nope. Just hiking.”

“You really shouldn't hike alone. You could fall or come
across a dangerous animal.” The man expressed his concern.

I shrugged. “I'm fine, and it's a beautiful day.” They
didn't like the idea of leaving me all alone, and they exchanged a meaningful
look. “Really, I'm fine. I'm headed back to my car now anyway.”

“We can walk back with you, make sure you get there,” the
woman offered.

“No need. Enjoy your hike.” I didn’t pause as I passed,
effectively ending the conversation. They hesitated before continuing.

They were concerned about my safety out here all alone,
I joked to Billie.

I heard.
She sounded amused.
We're flanking you
just out of sight. We'll rejoin you in a few minutes.

True to her word, they trotted into view before we reached
our destination. We traveled the last few minutes together. One by one they
stretched and shifted into their human forms and began dressing.

“Careful now, Sadie!” Amy mocked the Humans. “Something
dangerous could jump out and eat you!”

“I already did.” Billie replied smoothly. Amy giggled and I
blushed brightly. Fully clothed, we set out for the car.

“Wish me luck.”

“With what?” Her question caught me off guard. I'd been
daydreaming while looking out the window on the foothills.

“Not kicking Richard's ass at work today,” she scowled.

“Ah. Good luck. Do you think he'll get into it at the firm?
That seems kind of risky.” I didn’t want to think about Richard.

“I doubt it. But my temper is running short with him since
he threatened you.”

I nodded, still hurt by the way he treated me. I understood
why he’d said such ugly things to me, but it haunted me. “He's your best
friend,” I remarked vaguely.

“That doesn't make it easier,” she replied scornfully.

“No, that makes it harder. For both of us. He's still your
best friend.” I reminded myself as I said it. My face tightened, and she saw my
conflict.

“I don't know if you're safe.” She spoke the words that
plagued her frequently these days. She expressed her concern softly despite the
anger behind it.

“I don't feel like anyone's coming after me right now.
Angry, yes. Coming for me, no. I'll be okay. And if someone does, I think I can
handle it now.”

“Really?” Her eyes brightened at the pronouncement.

“I didn't panic when Richard threatened me. I felt in
control of myself.” Her Wolf training understood the balance. To be in control
of one's power also meant not hurting others unintentionally. She felt better
hearing me say it.

“That's a relief. I still don't like leaving you. Richard's
not the only one who thinks you're a threat.”

I reassured her. “I'll be fine. Besides, at work he gets to
see that you're the same Billie that you've always been.”

“Um, hot-blooded, temperamental, and controlling? How's that
supposed to help?” She poked fun at herself.

“You forgot strong, smart, loyal, and protective. He
respects that about you.”

“I don’t like losing my temper,” she admitted. She didn’t
even like to acknowledge she had a temper.

“You want to keep your mate, your best friend, and your
pack. Billie, when have you ever failed at anything?” I encouraged her with a
soft kiss. “Will it help if Richard doesn't sense me today?”

“Maybe.” She mulled it over reluctantly.

“Then let’s spend the day apart and let him see that you are
still you. If anything happens, I can call you. Otherwise I'll go for a jog,
take a long hot bath, and read a book.”

“I miss you when you’re not in my head. I'll be more
productive, but I'll miss you today.” She smiled but the joy didn't reach her
eyes. With the incessant worry for my safety, the light contact we enjoyed
helped to reassure her.

With Billie headed to work, I began stretching. Our mental
contact helped to reassure me too, but a little space between us would be
useful. I wanted to tell Billie everything, and guilt over lying to her plagued
me. Only Kato's vision of her death held my tongue. Accomplishing my task and
getting rid of the Mages would solve a lot of problems, so I focused on the
next step. Nathan's owner hadn't contacted me yet. Despite my impatience, I
couldn’t think of a way to hasten the meeting.

A route at the base of the foothills sounded comforting. I
wanted to talk to Kato, and I knew better than to call him. So jogging where
I'd seen him last made me feel closer to him. With the hills to my left, I
relaxed into the steady rhythm of exercise and the cool morning air on my face.

A strange sense of foreboding had surfaced, rising in me
since I awoke. I didn’t know what to make of the new sensation, and it
escalated as soon as I left the house. I didn't have long to wonder. Just
before rounding a corner, I sensed her. Someone had been watching me all
morning. I’d always been the one watching, never experiencing it from the other
side. It made me appreciate the way others responded to me in a new way. I
slowed to a walk to catch my breath.

Excitement at meeting a Mage face-to-face for the first time
warred with anxiety. My earlier impatience fled, and I suddenly didn't want to
meet this woman at all. Turning a sharp corner, I saw her standing at one of
the trailheads, waiting for me.

Her brown eyes burned cold, and she postured like someone
accustomed to having anything she wanted. She looked to be about my mother's
age, perhaps a bit older and dressed like a blueblood. Dyed blond hair hung in
light curls just past her shoulders, coiffed just like the rest of her. She
made obvious effort to impress those around her.

Meeting her eyes, I acknowledged her. We appraised each
other warily as I approached. She disapproved, and her disdain might have been
insulting if I believed she treated anyone otherwise. “Who are you?” I asked
the Mage without preamble.

“Cassandra. And you are?” She spoke her name as if offended
I didn’t know it, a light southern drawl to her words. I couldn't tell if she
omitted her last name to protect her privacy or because she didn't think she
needed one.

“I'm Sadie.”

She appraised me again visually while mentally probing.
Annoyed, I automatically pushed her out, startling her and raising her
interest. She'd revealed her mind to me in her attempt. It felt viscous and
more complicated than any I’d felt before. My barriers rose.

Her smile didn't reach her eyes, and I thought of a cat
smiling at a mouse. “I apologize for my rudeness. I'm simply curious about
you.”

“That makes two of us.” I plunged into the conversation
despite feeling warning bells tingling up and down my back. Not knowing how to
gauge the level of her power bothered me, and I sensed only selfish ambition in
her intent. “You're a Mage, aren't you? You're like me.”

She laughed a little and spoke as if to a child. “Of course
I'm a Mage. Like you. What else would I be?”

“You're the first one I've met.” I’d chosen to keep my story
as close to the truth as possible.

Her eyebrows raised, and her eyes widened. Curiously, she
shifted into a motherly countenance, and I felt sorry for her children if she
had any. “Oh, dear child, you don't even know who you are? How is that
possible?”

A woman walking our way turned down a side street. She used
her power to deflect the pedestrian away from us. I preferred to keep our
conversation private as well. “I don't know. I was adopted by Humans. I only
heard the word Mage recently.”

“If I'm the only Mage you've ever met, how is it that you
know about us at all?” She knew of my association with the Wolves and tested my
honesty. To my surprise, I could read her like I could read anyone else.
Strangely, she didn’t notice, and I didn't dare peer any deeper than the
surface.

“The Wolves told me what I am.” I gave her the simple truth
but did not elaborate, letting her see my caution.

She scoffed, waving a hand in dismissal. “Wolves are
clueless. I doubt they had anything useful to say.”

I shrugged, not wanting to admit she was partially right.
They didn’t have much useful information about Mages, but I wouldn’t call them
clueless - far from it. “It's confusing, but at least they know something.
Humans just think I'm a freak.” Her opinion of Humans wasn't much higher than
that of Wolves.

“I'm surprised the Wolves let you live,” she replied
dramatically.

“They're still debating, but for now they've decided not to
kill me.” Some of my irritation showed through, and it came across as dry
humor. For once, my defense mechanism served a valuable purpose.

“That's very unusual. How is it that you came to be
associated with Wolves?”

This part of my story could be tricky. I had to give her a
realistic explanation without hitting too close to the truth. “I met a woman,
and we started dating. We figured out what each other was when I saved her from
dying. Since I saved her life, the Alpha gave me a pass.”

“You couldn't tell she was a Wolf?” Her condescension made
my skin crawl.

“I didn't know Wolves existed until then,” I snapped at her.
“How was I supposed to understand what I was sensing?”

She took offense to my tone, and I reminded myself to be a
little nice. “Have you claimed her?” I didn’t respond immediately, and she
asked again impatiently. “Have you made her yours?”

“Like Nathan is yours? No. Not exactly. I, uh, helped her
overcome her distrust of Mages when the relationship was about to implode. And
I've had to plant a few suggestions to keep things under control with her pack.”
The simple lies came out easily, a skill learned through many years of hiding
my abilities from the people around me. I didn't let any guilt surface where
she could see it. She had to believe I held no loyalty to the Wolves.

She smiled broadly, buying the lies completely. “Then you're
on your way to claiming her. I'll let the others know she's off limits.” Apparently
I’d hit the lottery with the lie. Claiming Billie made me one of them while
protecting Billie from them.

“Others? How many of you are there? Why haven't I met any of
you before?”

“Wolf territory is dangerous. No Mage has lived here since
they moved in, so it's unlikely you would have run into one of us. That's all
going to change. Right now there are three of us, and as we take back this area
our numbers will grow.”

“I'd like to meet them,” I said eagerly.

“You will,” she replied slyly.

“Will you tell me about Mages? About who I am?” This played
into her arrogance while giving me an opportunity to learn about where I came
from.

“I would be delighted to,” she drawled. “Come, let's walk.”

Glad for the movement, I stepped into rhythm beside her. The
low foothills trail made for an easy walk, though she found it rustic and
tiptoed through the trail. “Mages are a step above Humans in the evolutionary
ladder. You've figured out we can read and control thoughts? We use our brain
to its highest potential, much more than Humans and Wolves. Humans know nothing
about us, except for the ones we've claimed.”

“What do you do with those you've claimed?”

“Anything we want, of course,” she pronounced as if obvious.
“They provide for our needs. I have a few just for income, and I live very
comfortably off of them. I keep a few others with me to cook, keep house, and
fill my bed. Humans help us keep track of the Wolves since they can sense us
somehow. That's why I was so surprised they didn't know you're Mage.”

I ignored her veiled question. “What about Wolves? You have
Nathan.”

“Ah, yes. He's a fine pet. Wolves are such primitive
creatures. It takes more to claim their minds than it does a Human. They're
worth the effort, though. Your redhead will make a good pet someday.”

I managed not to bristle when she referred to Billie as my
pet. “How is it done? How do you claim someone?”

 She believed I wanted advice on claiming Billie, and her
assumption gave me the information I sought. I wanted to understand how
collaring worked so that I'd never accidentally do it. “Humans are easy. Your
Wolf will take more time. Keep planting suggestions that maleate her mind to
your will. A person's barriers go down during sex, so that's a perfect time for
it. Take it slow and keep her surface mind intact so even she doesn't know what
you're doing. Wolves are stubborn. They fight it more than Humans, so don't
push her too hard. And be careful that the pack doesn't get suspicious. They'll
kill you in a heartbeat.”

“Got it. You said mine is off limits. Are there rules about
pets?”

“Oh, most certainly. I'm glad you asked, because you've
already broken one.” I glanced at her in surprise. “You meddled in my pet's
mind. As soon as you knew he was mine, you should have left him alone.”

“Reading someone's pet is taboo?” I liked the idea. It
protected Billie.

She wrinkled her nose in distaste. “It's like putting a
camera in someone's bedroom without their permission. My pet is my property and
off limits to anyone else.”

“Oh. Sorry, I didn't know.” I paused for a moment. “So I
don't have to worry about someone stealing Billie from me?”

“It happens, but not often. We don't tolerate that kind of
behavior.” Her surface thoughts told me she violated that courtesy whenever she
wanted.

“Good. She's mine.” Cassandra smiled conspiratorially at my
possessive tone. I didn't believe she would refrain from reading Billie, but it
gave me leverage. “What can Mages do? I've controlled minds a bit, and I read
people pretty easily. But it's just been trial and error my whole life. What is
the extent of our powers?”

She enjoyed lecturing and answered my questions easily.
“Some Mages are more powerful than others. The mind works on many layers - we
call them strata - and the deeper strata require more power to penetrate than
the outer ones. We tend to speak of three strata. In reality, they’re not that
clearly defined, but it's a manner of speaking about them. Humans and Wolves
are similar in many ways. Their minds are very primitive and uncomplicated. The
Wolf mind is more rigid and hostile, which makes it more difficult to control.

“The outer strata are easy to penetrate: emotions and active
thoughts, basic illusions. All Mages can reach the outer strata with some
proficiency. The middle strata are where unconscious thought, memory, and
behavior are reached. Different Mages can reach the middle strata to different
levels. You're reaching into the middle strata when you plant suggestions in
your Wolf's mind. The power of the Mage determines how well we can read, alter,
or control.”

“Is there a deeper level?”

She hesitated before answering, her lips pursing. “It takes
incredible power to reach the lower strata. Not many of us can do it.”

I didn't have to feign my worry. “What can they do?”

She stopped and almost touched me before pulling her hand
back. Her eyes burned into mine, and I almost tasted her fear. She whispered.
“Anything they want. Kill with a thought. Know anything about anyone. The rest
of us can read each other, and we can erect barriers to prevent even that much.
Barriers mean nothing to a Kratos, and they’re the only Mages who can control
another Mage. They can turn one of us into their pet if they want. You don't
want to mess with them. You don’t want to meet one.” She knew a Kratos, and the
Mage terrified her.