Andrew: Lanning’s Leap: Erotica Shapeshifter Romance (Lanning's Leap Book 5) (11 page)

BOOK: Andrew: Lanning’s Leap: Erotica Shapeshifter Romance (Lanning's Leap Book 5)
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“I don’t. Especially since he’s got you all tied up in a knot.” Kendra smiled, then looked at her with a frown. “Now what is it? He’s not making you do things you don’t want, is he? Are you afraid of him doing the things he does to you?”

“No. But some of them are...strangely sexy.” Linyah laughed and Kendra smiled again. “You must think me silly. Like a small school girl with her first experience with men. It is, but I’ve been around men my whole life. I should be used to them and their ways.”

“Why? All men are not alike. Some of them like things to be their way. Others are fine with going along with the person who knows the best way to make it work.” She looked over at her own mate. “Thomas knows more about being around humans and their ways than anyone I know. Especially me. But I know security and the elements that go with it, so that part he leaves up to me. Not that I don’t listen when he suggests something, but we work together and that’s what a good solid relationship is about.”

“But I’m ruler and he doesn’t seem to care.” Linyah asked her sister why he should care. “Because I don’t want him to forget that I rule. It’s the only thing I have to offer anyone.”

“Oh Kendra, I don’t think he cares if you rule or not. And you have a great deal to offer him and anyone else if they want to look deep enough. He’s in love with you. He wouldn’t care if you were a dung mistress, shoveling out stalls for the rest of your life, so long as you can be together. Why do you need for him to realize that you rule? Are you afraid that he’ll try and take over?” She said she wasn’t. “Then why keep harping on that?”

“Because I’m not like you.” Linyah felt the pain of her words to her heart. “I mean, you’re so secure in your life and the one you have with Thomas. I don’t know what I’m doing. You know everything.”

Linyah laughed and Kendra started to walk away, but she stopped her. “Do you think it comes easily to me? Having a mate that is as different to me as anything in the world? At least Tristin is like us. He understands the ways of our kind. He knows what you’re capable of and how you are the ruler of the lands. Don’t push him away because you don’t understand. Talk to him.”

“I don’t know what to say to him that will not make me sound like a fool.” Linyah watched Tristin come toward them. “He might hate me when he finds out I’ve not a clue what I’m doing.”

“He won’t. I promise you.” When Tristin wrapped his arms around Kendra, her sister seemed to melt against him. It was the way it should be, each of them offering the other comfort when they needed it. Linyah reached out to her sister and told her what she had before. To talk to her mate and tell him her fears.
He will never hate you, Kendra. He is in love with you
.

When they left the room, just faded out, Linyah wondered what sort of adventure they would get into now. Smiling, she looked at her mom when she sat beside her. She seemed to be glowing with happiness.

“She’s all right, isn’t she?” Linyah told her she thought that her sister was very all right. “I so worried about her. A few weeks ago, when she and Max started out on their adventure, she told your father and me that she was going to find a mate that she would be able to rule. And basically stick in a corner until she was ready for him to come out and hang on her arm. I had hoped that she’d find something very unlike that.”

“She has.” Her mom looked at her. “He’s not going to rule her, at least not outside of sex. But she worries that he won’t let her be in charge. I think that will come to her after a while. She’s insecure, she told me, too.”

“She is. I’ve noticed that all my children are to a point. Even you.” Linyah knew that she had been. Even now she was still insecure in her actions, especially around Thomas. But she also knew that she was getting stronger all the time. “He’s a nice person, her Tristin. I think he will do well beside her. But I doubt he’ll stay in the corner for long. Do you?”

“No. He won’t. But I don’t think he’ll rule either. He knows what is needed of him.” Her mom sat there, just looking around the room. Linyah did as well. They were a very eclectic family, she thought. Her mom spoke again before she could put too much thought into it.

“Do you ever stop to think how this all came about? The families, I mean.” She told her mom she was just thinking about how they were all so different. “Not so much really. Men and women really. But what I meant was, the way we all connected. Had Hannah really died when Sonya had said, none of this would have come to pass. Hannah brought us Misha in her own way. Then with Misha having Thomas as a brother, he became a part of our family in a large way. Nic watched over Murph for Carter or she’d not be here either, bringing us her son. Then there is Max and the Dorans. We have a larger family now, thanks to his having a grandmother that worships him. A larger force too…I think Sonya found that out the hard way. Andrew brought us, in a way, Tristin and a love for our Kendra by falling in love with a woman that has some special abilities which brought her to the antique store that night.”

“There is also Charlie and Phillip. Had he not taken her as his mate and brought her here to save her, she too would have died and left a hole in all of our hearts. Now she is a happy, healthy woman, something that I think she’s not been for a long while.” They both looked at Rider, the last Lanning to be single. So far. “His mate won’t be like the others. Not entirely anyway. She’ll be magical, strong, with all the elements in both realms. Happy, but only after Rider finds her and brings her to his heart. Our mates do that for us. Even I wasn’t as strong as I wanted until I met Thomas.”

“I think Rider’s mate, when she comes, will be the strongest of them all. Mostly due to what you’ve done to him. He still has no idea what it is, does he?” Linyah told her he didn’t. “Taking him the way that you did, holding him safe for what will come to him, you did him a great service. I wonder if he will ever know the sacrifice you made to claim him.”

“It wasn’t a sacrifice to me. I liked him even then. And had I not, then we both know what would have happened to him in the future.” Her mom nodded sadly. “He belongs to me, and whoever comes to take him, and they will, Rider will not be beheaded, nor will he die at the hands of someone stronger than any of us. I told you this.”

“Yes, you did. And I have seen it too, the future he has now over the one that he would have had. The woman is still a blur, but the man, he is there. I see him every time I close my eyes.” Linyah shivered. She saw him as well. Thomas wasn’t aware that the man who would have killed his brother lurked close by, even now. “You will tell him, will you not? Someday, you’ll give him what he needs to break the bond between the two of you?”

“I will. But only to give it to his mate. She will hold him then, as it should be.” Linyah couldn’t see her, but she knew that she was stronger than any of them. Both in personality as well as magic. “Max cannot see her either. I’ve asked him what he knows of Rider’s mate. He thinks he cannot because of the bond I have with him. I hope that holds true to the one that comes for him.”

“As do I. I think…I have no idea why, but I think when the time comes we will need all our strength to keep us whole.” Linyah said nothing to her mom. Whatever was coming for Rider, it was going to be quite the war. “You will keep them safe, won’t you, love? All of us, you’ll keep us as safe as you can?”

“I will die to protect what is mine.” Her mom thanked her and moved away. Linyah watched her family and knew that what she had said to her mom was true. She would gladly die for any of them.

 

Chapter 10

 

Andrew held up the small lamp and thought it was the ugliest thing he’d ever seen. To think that this person wanted an entire dime for it; he thought them asking too much. Maybe they should have given a dime to someone who would take it from them. Sitting it back down on the table, he looked at Max.

The kid was having a great time, and a very profitable one. He’d purchased a dresser for his shop, a box of jewelry, as well as several boxes of old clothing. The rest he could understand, but the clothing he didn’t. Andrew was planning to ask him about it as soon as they got back to their hotel.

Carter had backed out at the last minute. Not that he wanted to, but he’d heard about a tag sale in the opposite direction they were headed and he went with Rider. Andrew wondered if that trip was as fun as the one he and Max were on. They’d been gone three days so far, and had had to ship things home twice. Not the furniture, but some of the smaller items.

“You should buy that.” He looked at Max, then at the lamp he’d only just sat down. “There are enough parts on it that you can make your money back in no time.”

“It’s ugly.” Max laughed. “Why would anyone save something like this for years and years? Seriously. I might have accidently broken it when it was given to me.” He glanced around the garage they were in and noticed something he’d not seen before. “Did you see that trunk over there?”

“No. I didn’t. Darn it. You want it now, don’t you?” Andrew did but not to sell. There was something about it that he loved, even at first glance. “Go see if it’s for sale. I’ve not had much luck on the other items they have around. Why would one put out things and then say that they’ve decided not to sell?”

“I have no idea. Remember that woman in the other house? She nearly had a fit when I asked her if she’d go any lower on the box of door knobs. I thought that seven thousand dollars was way too much for nine door knobs.” Max laughed with him as they made their way to the truck. “It doesn’t have a price tag on it.”

It was gorgeous. Leather straps and brass fittings. There was a skeleton key hanging from the lock that turned easily enough. It had been well cared for, that much was obvious. When he opened it, he nearly slammed it shut again, not wanting anyone to see the treasures inside. He looked at Max when he decided that he’d pay anything they wanted for the trunk so long as he could have it all.

“You like that?” The woman that had been sitting behind her makeshift desk smiled at him. “It was my grandfather’s and he loved it very much. I just don’t care for old things like he did. That’s what most of these things are. His. We put him in a nursing home about three months ago, and I just don’t want to store this in my basement anymore. He was a collector, he said. I called him a hoarder. I love him so very much, but he had more stuff than we could fill four houses with.”

Andrew nodded that most everything in her garage was older than he was. But he really did want this chest. And its contents. Smiling, he looked at the woman again.

“It doesn’t seem to have a price on it. And I was wondering if it came the way it is. I noticed that there were some things still inside.” She was nodding even before he finished. “Is it for sale then?”

“Oh yes, it goes like it is. I didn’t think anyone would want that old stuff either, and hoped to kill two birds with one stone.” She looked around the thing. “I swear it had a price sticker on it. Oh well, how about five bucks? It’s really too heavy for me to carry back to the basement.”

He looked at it then, trying his best not to look excited. Five bucks? Sure, he’d pay that. Andrew had been willing to pay five hundred for it. When she lowered her price down to two dollars, he told her he’d take it off her hands.

After paying her for it, he took it out to the trailer that they’d rented to do this trip with. The lock was cheap looking, but they’d had a little magic put on it before leaving and now he was glad that they had. As he was locking up, a man spoke behind him.

“I was gonna buy that.” Andrew said nothing to the older man. “You have to go back and tell her you changed your mind. I really do want that. For my granddaughter’s bedroom. She was gonna put her dollies in it and their things. I need that chest for my granddaughter, and you need to sell it back to her so I can get it.”

“I’m sorry. But I’ve already paid her.” He nodded but told him he really did want it. “So do I. And as I said, I’ve paid her for it. I’m sorry.”

“No, I don’t think you understand. I want you to take that out of there and hand it over. I need that chest for my granddaughter. She has had her eye on it since they brought it home from that old man’s house.” He smiled at Andrew, and he felt his skin crawl. “Now, I’m trying really hard to be nice here.”

“No you’re not. You’re rude. And as I have said, several times, I’m not selling it or giving it back. I have it now and that’s where it’s going to stay.” The man took a swing at him, and Andrew only ducked. He didn’t fight back. There was no need to. The man fell on the ground and lay there looking up at him. “What is wrong with you? It’s just a trunk that I now own.”

“It’s mine, I tell you. I want it now.” When he started back up off the ground, the woman who had sold him the trunk put her foot on his chest. “Martha, I told you I wanted that trunk. You should have sold it to me, not this upstart. I told you several times that I was gonna pay you fair and square for it, and you went and sold it out from under me.”

“He paid me, when all you did was make promises that you would. He paid me, as you said fair and square, and you lost out. Now go home before I call your missus.” The man grumbled but got up to leave. When he entered the house across the street, Andrew thanked her. “No problem. Harvey is harmless really. He’s been telling me for weeks now that he wanted the chest for his granddaughter. He doesn’t have one. Not any children at all. Two weeks ago he came here telling me to sell him my dog. I don’t have one of those either. But he had it in his head that he wanted me to sell him to him and finally I had to call his wife. Poor old thing gets confused.”

Andrew thanked her again and went back to find Max. He wanted to leave, but Max had found something that he wanted and Andrew watched him while he spoke to Laci.

I just bought a trunk for the house. It’s beautiful and well cared for. And inside of it are the most wonderful things.
She asked him what.
Hats. Men’s and women’s hats from the twenties and thirties, I think.

Hats? Old hats? I love hats.
He knew this. She’d told him the other day how she’d collected them when she’d had the money, but had lost them all when she and her aunt had run. Andrew had someone packing up her house now and was having her things brought to her as a surprise.
I don’t suppose there are any with veils, are there? I so love those.

I didn’t get too look that closely, but I could see a pale yellow one with what appeared to be a veil on it. I’m not going to go through it all until I can do so with you.
He felt her love.
I love you as well. How is the shop going? Have you gotten our latest shipment?

It came this morning. Charlie came over to help me when your note said that there were things in there for her. She loves the tiny baskets. I think she’s going to make some ornaments out of them. Charlie is so creative.
She was at that and he agreed with her.
Oh, and the soap molds that you found too, she’s going to start making some of those on her next batch. I had no idea that those things were even around anymore. I thought that they would have been melted down for scrap. She acted like you’d given her the keys to the castle when she opened the case up.

Max has some old jewelry too he’s sending home to you. And you should expect a couple more boxes. Clothing in one, and the other is just odds and ends of things we’ve found.
She told him she’d watch for it.
I love you, Laci. I don’t think I tell you that nearly enough.

And I love you as well. When do you think you guys will be back? And Carter called, he said that he’s rented a large moving truck. He’s made a hell of a deal on some household things. I’m almost afraid to see.
He laughed when she did.
I miss you.

I miss you as well. We’ve about six more stops to make today, then we’ll go back to the hotel. I can meet you there, at the house, in about two hours if you want. Or in the back room of your shop? I need you.
Andrew had been going home at night after Max had fallen asleep. It had been a wonderful time, making love to his wife and then going out all day with young Max.
I think he knows, by the way, that I’m leaving him at night.

I’m sure that he does. He might be young, but he’s not stupid.
She laughed, and he asked her what was going on.
Max told me before you guys left that I could clean out the back room for him. There is all kinds of junk in there, and I thought it would make a good cleaning room. You know, someplace to polish up the things brought in here rather than on the floor. Anyway, I’m finding the strangest things. I found an old ledger. It has listed what someone had been storing. But it doesn’t say where it might be.

I’m sure if you just put it aside, whatever it is, it’ll turn up later.
She said she had an entire box of things like that.
I love you.

I love you too.

Closing down the connection, he went to find Max. When he said he was ready to go, the two of them made their way back to the van and moved to the next home. He thought that they were going to either have to find a shipping company soon or they were going to quit. He was actually ready for the latter of the two.

“One more street, then we can go.” Andrew asked him if he’d had enough or thought he did. “I’ve had enough. And I miss my bed. I’m having fun, but I’m ready to go home.”

“Yeah, me too.” Pulling up in front of the next string of houses that they were going to visit, he looked over at the younger man. “I’m really glad that we did this. You’re a lot of fun.”

“Thanks. You’re not so bad yourself.”

~~~

Monroe looked at the thing in front of him. It was a person, yes, but not much of one now. He’d had too much fun, he supposed, or he’d let his anger get the better of him. Smiling, he thought that his temper hadn’t been this unleashed in a great many years. It had felt good, too good he supposed, to let it out for a little while. But he wasn’t finished just yet. Martin still had information that Monroe needed. Or really, he just wanted it.

“You never answered me when I asked you why you thought to take my child. I should like your version of what transpired. Because, you see, you led people to think that he was yours, and we both know that is not the case. Cyrus was mine.” Monroe thought of Cyrus, all these years he’d been lost to him. Something had kept him from finding the one man that he’d grown to cherish above all others. A friend. “Tell me, Martin. My time with you is growing boring.”

“He was lost. And I found him. For all these years, I cared for him as my own. You should ask him about it. He was lost, I tell you.” Someone, some magical creature, had hurt his Cyrus, and his mind had been blocked from him. It was the only explanation that he could think of. Monroe had been injured and had gone to ground for a time. And when he arose, his child was lost to him. Not dead, but lost. “I found him wandering the streets, and he came to me willingly.”

A kick to the head rendered the man unconscious. Standing up and pacing, Monroe thought about just destroying the man, then going to find Cyrus. He knew only that he lived and that he had been under this man’s power, but nothing more. Reaching out again, he hit the same wall, but this time he felt a woman instead of a male answer his call.

Who is this?
She didn’t speak, but he knew that she could hear him.
When I ask a question, I demand an answer. I am not one to trifle with. Who is this? I shall not ask you—

You didn’t ask at all, you overbearing shit. You demanded. And I don’t respond well to dick heads. You want a question answered by me, then you fucking well better be polite about it.
He wanted to be angered by her words, but instead he found himself admiring her. He was still going to hurt her, but he did like that she stood up to him.
Now, we’re going to start over. If you want something, ask. You don’t have to scream questions at me.

Her voice was soft, kind. Monroe found himself leaning against the wall to relax his anger and to continue speaking with her. Like a game of chess, he knew for some reason that she’d give him his due and not let him win because he was who he was. Smiling, he answered her.

I’m sorry.
He found that he was
. I’m only asking because I was looking for a dear friend of mine and I connected with you. A female. I was angry already, but I should not have taken it out on you.

He felt...well, strangely attracted to her when she told him it was all right. Not in a sexual way…for all he knew she could be several decades old and have no teeth. But he didn’t think so. He thought her to be young and smart. Very smart.

I don’t know who you might be looking for. I’m fairly new to this mind connecting thing. I don’t even know if you can get wires crossed or sort of dial up the wrong number when you reach out to people. Maybe if you tell him his name, I can tell you if I know him.
He told her, knowing that there was something crossed somewhere and he was somewhat sad to lose the connection to her.
The vampire, Cyrus?

BOOK: Andrew: Lanning’s Leap: Erotica Shapeshifter Romance (Lanning's Leap Book 5)
10.16Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
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