Unnaturals (21 page)

`Pig's arse!' Ralph shoved her back.

Ruth sympathised.
Oh, Renee
, she thought,
can't you see how he's hurting? Don't push him away.

`Just stop it!' Renee screamed at him. `I couldn't do anything, Ralph. You wanted me but it would have killed you if I'd given in. Losing you, I couldn't bear it. Don't you think I feel anything? You need to leave, please.'

Anger faded from Ralph's eyes, but the pain lingered. He made no move to leave. `Who is he? Why him?'

`Not now.' Renee turned away.

`Don't shut me out.' He grabbed her arm and spun her around to face him.

`Let me go. Leave.' Renee pulled free, snarling.

Ruth let Nikki go. `Stop.' She had to stop the fighting; it felt wrong for lots of reasons. `Stop it.' Energy hummed through her body. They have to stop. They
will
stop.

Ralph blushed, looked at his feet. `Uh, sorry about that.'

`I don't know what to say.' Renee looked around, wide-eyed, and Ruth went to her.

`Fighting between friends is the ugliest kind. You care for each other, accept that.'

Renee shifted beside her. `I can't care for him, not how he wants me to.' She touched his cheek. `I didn't mean to hurt you.'

`Bones and flesh will mend,' Ralph said, eyeing Ruth. `But it hurts here.' He thumped his broad chest. `To see you with him when I have been so close all this time.'

`He, Mason, is my husband,' Ruth said with her heart skipping a beat. `He is my husband, and yet he is immune to Renee's curse. What should
I
do?'

Ralph's face changed and his pupils contracted as he looked from her to Nikki. She could see him piece everything together. Smart boy.

He stepped back, frowning. `This is so fucked up.'

Renee looked at her, wearing a little frown of her own, then her face smoothed. `Thank you, Ruth. Gaia blessed you well.'

Ralph shook his head. `Gaia?'

Ruth took her time to really see him, a boy who lived his life in the surf. Now everybody was calmer, she had time to appreciate how strong Renee had been to resist him.

`Ruth has Gaia's blessing,' Nikki finally said. `That's why she was able to reason with you both.'

`To stop this becoming something ugly,' Ruth said with a soft smile. `Hi, I'm Ruth.' She held her hand out and waited.

He took her hand so gently that she squeezed, hard.

`I look fragile,' she grinned as he winced, `but I can play rough if you want me to.'

Nikki bumped her. `Keep that for later.'

Warmth crept into her skin.

Ralph's face said a lot. He looked at Renee, who shrugged.

Ruth tried to not smile too much. `Nikki and I are exploring our relationship. We don't hide it.'

`I can't believe you just said that,' Nikki whispered. `No one has ever said it out loud like that.'

`Wow.' Ralph moved closer to Renee. `That was quick. I thought Nik didn't date.'

`Yeah, well, things happen.' Renee crossed her arms. `And nice to see you can keep your mouth shut.'

`You two talk about me?' Nikki sounded edgy.

`Well, she's your sister, so of course.' Ralph crossed his arms, so he and Renee almost looked like bookends. `What do you think we've been doing when we're together? It's not like we get all hot and passionate and it's not like she has anyone else to talk to about her family problems.'

He turned to Renee. `And suddenly no one's telling me anything. Like how come you're running around the estate all dangerous and naked with a married man, Renee. A married man! And an old dude.'

`Don't say it like that,' Renee said, pushing him on the shoulder in a sisterly manner. `I kissed him, not the other way around.'

`You were drunk.' He threw his hands up in the air. `So, you go to this island, get drunk, kiss some old guy, bring a private army back with you. No wonder Eleanor called me here. Someone has to think with their brains and not with their…' His eyes flickered over Renee's body and he blushed. `I don't know how to finish that but you know what I mean.'

`Pussy, Ralph.' Ruth put in. `Men have dicks. Yours is nice by the way. And women have pussy.'

When he blushed he looked quite adorable. `To continue your education, women have sex drives, often last longer than men and some, like me, aren't afraid to talk about it.'

It was hard not to laugh at his horror. The wolves behind him snorted and snuffled while Ralph's face turned a brighter red.

`Oh, my god, you didn't just say that?' Renee moaned as Ralph tried to regain his composure. She covered herself with her hands, which pulled Ralph's attention back to her groin. `And don't look at me like that, you idiot.'

`You're terrible,' Nikki said, squeezing Ruth. `I've never seen them blush so much.'

`Okay,' Ralph said, waving his arms and trying not to look at Nikki. `Where is he? I mean he wasn't shy before when he was belting the crap out of you. And us.'

`Here. Always here.' Mason's voice echoed around them.

Ralph froze, blood draining from his face while his wolves edged closer. Renee did the opposite. Her scent changed and warmth radiated from her.

`We weren't fighting, Ralph.' Renee flushed pink and Ruth wondered how she was going to explain foreplay to Ralph. `It's what Huntress and Hunter do before they mate.'

`Foreplay?' he squawked. The wolves snuffled. `Wait. You're Huntress. And he's—'

`Hunter.' He whispered from the darkness and Ruth felt the touch of a cold energy. Mason's gift had changed.

`Mason?' Ruth reached for him but only a strange cold greeted her mind. `What's happened?'

`He's different as Hunter. He didn't want to show you yet.' Renee faced her. `But Ruth, I told him, "No secrets between us.

Together we're stronger so we need to be open about what…who we really are". That's what I felt you would want and it is what I want. And I said so.'

Ruth remembered to breathe. Renee was right. Everything she'd said was right and Ruth couldn't help feeling she was going to like Mason's Huntress much more as time went by. Ruth nodded. `You were right.'

Renee's smile was so big Ruth almost missed the change in the darkness around the clearing.

`Darla's gift is very different from Gaia's.'

A movement in the darkness drew Renee's eyes. The others moved to see what she was looking at.

`As Hunter I am — not human.' Mason stepped out of the darkness, tendrils of which trailed off him.

Ruth gasped. He was so changed. So much bigger. But she could still see him. She could still see Mason. `I… see you.' She swallowed as he moved closer in perfect silence.

`It's still me. I'm just stronger.' Mason stopped and Renee reached out to run her hands across his chest.

`He still smells the same,' she muttered, slipping behind him until Ruth could see only her hands reaching around to press against his chest.

`I want to hold you,' he said. Arms raised, he waited for her.

Ruth felt a familiar thread of fear, and swallowed:
he
was afraid. `How does it feel, to be like this?' She stepped closer, spotting Renee's hooded eyes watching from over his shoulder.

`Nothing like being Butcher. I am in control.'

Ruth took his hands, the scales soft under her touch. `They're so warm. And soft.' He touched her face.

`Yes. Soft for the people I love.' His voice changed, becoming softer as she leaned in against him.

`Nice.' She smiled as his arms covered her. His heart boomed. The thread of fear was still there. `There's more, isn't there?'

`Oh yes,' Renee whispered. `Show her, gently.'

`Show me what?' Wrapped as she was in his arms, Ruth couldn't see anything. Something touched her on the shoulder. Renee? Then she heard Nikki gasp. The wolves growled.

`Turn around. Touch them,' Renee said hoarsely. `They're amazing.'

She turned slowly within the comfortable warmth of his arms. Then Mason let her go.

Ruth stared at the odd shapes held just in front of her face and realised they must be his fingers. Beyond them she recognised long arms and elbows. Silken black membranes reflected moonlight.

`Holy shit! Wings?'

`Yes,' Renee whispered, touching Ruth's shoulder. `We can fly and there is more.'

`Don't move,' Mason said. The fingers seemed to slide back.

Ruth flinched as long black claws slid out. More appeared down his forearms to the elbows.

`Fucking awesome, eh?' Renee's hand tightened on her shoulder. `They look just like mine.'

`Nice.' Ruth said, feeling Renee's excitement ooze from her.

`Here, feel this.' Renee took Ruth's hand and pulled it down into Mason's shorts. `Is it still the same? Is it okay still?'

Ruth grinned, enjoying Renee's excitement as much as she enjoyed feeling Mason's sex harden under her touch. Ruth squeezed his shaft, and Renee's hand joined her, pressing down. The realisation of what was happening caught her. She was sharing Mason.

`Jesus Christ, you two!' Mason's shaft pulsed in her hand.

`Okay, that's it!' Ralph yelled, bringing her back to reality.

She let Mason go.

`This is seriously fucked up!' Ralph roared. `It's disgusting. I can't, I won't.' He spun around to the wolves. `We're outta here.'

`Where can we find you tomorrow?' Mason rumbled.

Ralph stopped. `What?'

`We need to talk. Not now. Tomorrow.'

`Ask Renee.' He didn't look back, just shook himself and melted into his Wolf before leaping into the night.

`Nikki,' Mason rumbled and a wave of shame hit Ruth. `I won't harm you.'

`Nikki.' Ruth held out her hand. `I'm sorry. I—'

`It's okay. He's your husband. I understand.'

`He is. But you're important to me as well. I want you.' Ruth trembled. `
We
want you.'

`Yes, girl,' Mason said. `I don't understand what it is between us but I know Ruth wants you. We have a lot to discover about what is happening. And about each other.' Renee clung to his back, legs around his waist, hands gripping his chest away from the wings flexed high into the night sky. `But first we have to try something.'

He held Ruth in one arm and moved towards Nikki.

`No, no definitely not!' She tried to run but he scooped her up.

Ruth managed to grab her hand and the ground fell away under them.

`Wrap your legs around his,' Renee yelled, as the air rushed past her, pushing her words away.

`This is insane!' Nikki screamed. The lights of the city flickered beneath them.

Ruth tugged Nikki's hand. `It's fantastic!'

She realised Nikki's eyes were closed. `He will not let you fall.' Supported by Mason's arm, Ruth was able to take Nikki's face between her hands. `You have to trust him — us.'

`This is madness. What if we're seen?' Nikki mumbled.

`So what?' Mason said. `What can they do? But I'm not sure if we can be seen anyway.'

`It's fucking awesome — enjoy it!' Renee yelled from behind them.

Ruth squealed in excitement. The city blinked at her below. The moon shone brightly over the ocean. `We're flying. Actually flying!'

`Damn right!' Renee hollered.

Nikki squeezed her hand hard. `I trust you.'

`And I you.' Ruth leaned in and kissed her, the thrill of flying adding to the delight of Nikki's tongue.

`Do it now, Mason.'

`Do what?' Ruth mumbled, reluctant to leave Nikki's mouth.

They fell.

Gravity pulled at her but Ruth clung to Nikki's lips, the buzz tripling the pleasure.

`Dive, baby, dive!' Renee hollered and Ruth pictured her sitting on Mason's back like a wild naked cowgirl.

`I think I love you,' Nikki whispered into her mouth, tasting her again, finally trusting.

Ruth held onto her as the air roared past, the force of their descent sandwiching her between Mason and Nikki. She kissed Nikki back.

 

Wilson felt much better. His head had stopped hurting. Lilly's cool hands had been very soothing.

`Well,' she said, sitting beside him at the window of the kitchen, their small table covered in plates of food. `That's what I call a real cook up.'

`Yeah.' Wilson sat back, smiling. Steak, lamb and chicken lay before him. `Sorry about being so weird before.'

`Forget it.' She leaned against him. `You forget about the weirdness of my family. Your weirdness was nothing.'

`Suppose.' He munched on a chicken leg. `Any ideas why I'm still so hungry?' Hunger pushed aside the pleasure he felt at having her so close.

`Well, we get hungry when we use our gifts a lot. The more we use the more we eat.'

`But I haven't even got a gift.'

`Perhaps. But it might just take time before it surfaces and your body is preparing for it.'

`How come you don't eat meat?' Wilson waved his hand at her vegetables and fish.

`Eating red meat has an unpleasant side effect.'

`Allergic?'

She played with her prawns for a moment. `Kinda. Not really. Blood is important in so many ways and has many qualities that can affect our kind. Bloodells crave it and draw great physical strength from it. But lose their humanity.'

`Seen that myself.'

`Yes, you have and so has your father. If I decide to eat red meat, the pull to try human blood will become powerful. Most cannot resist and choose to go down the Bloodells' path.'

`Wait — you mean you're all family and it is a choice to become a killer?'

`For most. Some are made into a Bloodells.'

`So what's your gift, then?'

`It is a sound gift. Sonik. My Song can render you unconscious. For a day or worse if I wish.' She smiled at him and ate more food.

`You sing, then?'

`Kind of. Depends on what I want to do.'

Wilson focused on a steak. His hunger had not abated. `I saw Nikki do something with a white energy she could throw from her hands.'

Lilly nodded. `Nikki is a magi, the highest rank other than priestess. She can manipulate energy as a force, to kill if necessary.'

Wilson sat quietly, absorbing her words as he ate. Her leg felt warm against his and she didn't move it away.

`You aren't being this nice to me because Tashia told you to?' He didn't look at her, concentrating on his plate.