Only After Dark The Boxed Set Books 1 - 4: Shifters Forever Worlds (13 page)

“This can’t come out,” Leandra beseeched Theo.

“I’m not living a farce anymore.” He turned toward Alexa. “I’m not trying to be cruel I don’t want to hurt you… I’m sorry…”

I’m not.
“It was never really that way between us.” Relief coursed through her, relief that she and Theo could be friends.

“Theo.” Leandra indicated Alexa. “Alexa has to be protected until she’s mated. That’s the decision.”

“What?” His lion’s grumble sounded in his chest.

“Just a while longer.” Leandra worried her bottom lip with her teeth. “Alexa’s time to find a mate is near.”

“You saw something?” Theo asked.

“So now you believe in her powers?” Alexa was confused. A few minutes ago he was scoffing at Leandra’s skills as a witch.

“That was part of the spell I had to put on him. He had to hate me, not believe in me, and he had to be in love with you.” More lip chewing. “At least until you found a mate.”

“Which you say will happen soon.” Alexa reminded her.

After today’s events, it was the last thing she wanted. How could she trust anyone, if a simple spell could make one think they were in love?

Would Leandra cast a spell to make her love someone so she could have Theo back? Would she cast a spell on Alexa to get her a mate?

“And after Alexa finds a mate? Then what?” Theo’s fist punched his other palm.

“Then we’d be together again.”

Exactly what I was thinking. She misses her man, and I could be the sacrificial lamb so she can have him back.

Would Leandra do that to her? She hadn’t thus far. Why would she suddenly use magic to find her Alexa a mate?

Leandra put a hand on Alexa’s arm. “I wouldn’t do that.”

Did she read minds too?

“You want me to pretend I’m in love with Alexa.”

“Hey, you don’t have to make it sound like it’s the most miserable assignment in the world,” Alexa mock-grumbled.

“Sorry, Lex.” He ruffled her hair, the way he used to when they were younger.

Alexa liked this new/old Theo. She liked the easy companionship that they used to have.

“Yes,” Leandra told Theo. “You’ll pretend until she’s with a mate.”

“Hold on a minute.” Alexa raised a hand. “You’re saying I’ll find someone—without your interference.”

“True.” Leandra nodded.

“No magic?” Alexa pressed her further.

“None.”

Laughter bubbled from deep within Alexa. “Not likely.”

Leandra gave a half-shrug.

Theo nodded.

“We’ll see,” Alexa told the witch. “I’m not looking for a mate anyway.”

Leandra put her arms around Theo’s waist. “Neither was I when this lion of a man entered my life.”

Theo kissed her on the cheek. “I can’t play act for long.”

Another thought occurred to Alexa. “Would your spell have worked when I was out of town? Does my brother know about this? About the two of you?”

Theo gritted his teeth, his jaw muscles working. “How can he? Her spell made it so as I couldn’t even remember loving her. I couldn’t tell your brother what I didn’t know.”

“You still can’t. Lézare cannot know that I’ve been here. You can’t tell him anything,” Alexa said.

“Alexa.” Leandra’s tone was serious. She turned to face away from Alexa, fiddling with items on the table. “I saw a wolf. And I saw a path with two choices. One choice was dangerous—your life was in danger. The other…” She shook her head. “The other was not as clear, but it held happiness.”

Why does it feel like she’s holding something back?
“Does this have something to do with the change that will happen in Arceneaux Point?”

“It’s a part of it.”

“We should get going,” Theo tapped Alexa on the shoulder. “You have a ball to prepare for.”

“Yeah, and Lézare is still absent. I wonder if Valencia’s made it in yet.” Alexa glanced at her phone. No service.

Great. So even if Valencia has made it home, I won’t know until I get into an area that has service.

Theo took Leandra in his arms, eclipsing the woman against his wide chest. Her eyes gleamed as she tilted her head. He placed his lips on hers gently.

Uncomfortable, Alexa averted her eyes and slipped out of the cabin to wait on the porch. The sound of their soft murmured promises carried out the windows while the breeze caused sheer fabric to drift in and out of the open shutters.

Moments later, Theo stepped onto the porch, his face ruddy, while Leandra dabbed at the corner of one eye.

“Soon,” Leandra whispered.

Theo nodded. “Ready?” he asked Alexa, his voice tight with emotion.

She nodded.

Alexa and Theo made the trek back together.

Alexa slowed her pace. “Where is this coven? Who is in it?” Alexa kept her voice low, knowing his shifter hearing would pick it up, but not wanting anyone else to overhear.

“I don’t know. I don’t get involved in that part of her life. I used to visit her in her cabin, until…” He scratched his head. “Until she put me under the spell that kept me from her.”

“Theo.” Alexa stopped, put a hand on his shoulder. “I’m sorry. It seems I disrupted your life.”

“You didn’t. Someone else did on your behalf. I don’t hold you responsible.”

“Do you plan to seek vengeance?” Alexa couldn’t imagine Theo not acting on his anger that he and Leandra had lost precious time together.

“I’m not even sure where the blame lies. On Leandra’s people?” He squared his shoulders. “I’ll talk to Leandra first.” He exhaled a ragged breath. “There’s this part of me that wants to raise hell, take no prisoners. Then again, rash actions could put her in danger.”

“I don’t understand the witch hierarchy and how things work.”

“That makes two of us.”

“One more thing.” Alexa worked on her phrasing. “How was your lion during the spell? Did it affect him?”

“He knew you weren’t the one for me. I guess her spell only works on humans, and that part of shifters that are human. But he wouldn’t tell me anything more. It’s like he’d forgotten what she and I had. Or maybe it was buried somewhere in me.”

“So your lion knew. All along that I wasn’t the one for you?”

“All along.”

Alexa breathed a sigh of relief. “At least my tigress wouldn’t be fooled if Leandra did put a spell on me then.”

“She said she wouldn’t.”

“My trust levels are low right now.”

“Understandable.” He nodded. “But still… it’s Leandra.”

“I don’t even know what that should mean anymore. She has allegiances. I thought I had some sort of friendship with her.”

He took a step forward, then looked back at her. “Let’s get going. You don’t need to be missed, and neither of us needs to be found out here. Too many questions would come up.”

“You’re right.” She tried to keep up with his long strides, her second pair of shoes, sneakers tied together by their laces, hanging off her shoulder. She swatted at a mosquito on her arm.

T
he afternoon passed in a flurry
. Maylene was curious about Alexa’s whereabouts but thankfully spent no time fixating on her absence. The tour bus returned, but there was no sign of Evie. Someone said that someone said—according to the temporary help—that Evie had returned and locked herself in isolation again.

I’m so over the drama.
Alexa shrugged and made her way to her room to get ready for the ball. A short time later one of the temporary help knocked on the door to see if she needed assistance.

Alexa turned her back, all she needed was a hand with the zipper. Moments later she was alone again and working on what she could do with her hair. She’d put half of it up and then let the rest of it drift on her shoulders and pray that the humidity wasn’t her enemy this evening.

A knock on her bedroom door pulled Alexa away from the mirror. She set the makeup brush and loose powder down then opened her door.

Maylene stepped back. “You’re a sight.” She whistled low under her breath. “And spitting image of Ms. Celine. Those eyes, that profile.” Tears welled. “Spitting image. Is that why you chose the dress?”

“The attendant at the dress shop wouldn’t have let me buy another one.”

“Clearly it is perfect for you.”

The ball gown, an exquisite concoction in satin, was cream-colored and judging from what the mirror showed, Alexa knew she looked like she’d been poured into it. She hadn’t wanted to wear strapless, not originally, but the lady at the shop said this dress looked like it had been made for her.

Alexa couldn’t argue that.

She also couldn’t argue that it was very similar to the one that Celine was wearing in the portrait that hung at the top of the stairs. Between her dress and her likeness to Celine, it wasn’t astonishing that Maylene noted the resemblance. What had been surprising was the sign of her tears.

Maylene dabbed at the corner of her eye with the knuckle of her index finger, though no tear had actually been shed yet.

“Callie Rivera had a contraction earlier. No one knew where you were.”

“I need to check on her and see if Doc thinks she needs anything.”

“Where were you? Theo was nowhere to be found either.”

Shit.
What could she tell Maylene?

Nothing.

Best defense was an offense, they said. “Well, don’t go starting rumors about me and Theo.”

Maylene shot her a sharp glance.

Guess she doesn’t like my answer.

“Lézare is back.”

Alexa was thankful for the subject change. “It’s about time.” Her brother had almost waited too late. The ball was to start in fifteen minutes.

Maylene tucked back one of Alexa’s wayward curls and went through motions of tugging at the dress, adjusting and tweaking.

“If only I could hold my breath all night,” Alexa grumbled about her curves.

“Hush, Alexandria. You’ve a body to make men start wars.” She touched Alexa’s cheekbone. “And that face.” Maylene fanned her eyes as if she were warding away more tears.

“You’re emotional tonight.” Alexa took her hand and looked in the other woman’s eyes. “What is it?”

“Change makes me emotional.” Maylene took a bobby pin and opened it between her front teeth, then slipped it near the nape of Alexa’s neck, pinning something that Alexa hadn’t even thought was awry.

Alexa did a double take. “What change?”

“What?” Maylene, picked up another bobby pin.

“You said change.”

“Don’t pay me any attention. I’ve a few things on my mind.” She patted Alexa on the shoulder, set the bobby pin down and made an exit.

Alexa cocked her head. “What the hell,” she muttered under her breath and picked up the makeup brush again, making circles on her face to apply the powder evenly.

“
R
eady
?” Rory’s voice had a tone of impatience.

Reese shot his brother a dirty look. It wasn’t as if they’d be late to the damned masquerade ball. He adjusted his tie in the mirror. The gritty feeling in his eyes bore testimony to his sleepless night. The bags wouldn’t be as much an issue—
not with this on
—he raised his mask and slipped it over his head.

After Leandra’s visit, Reese’s night was sleepless for the most part. A brief excursion into slumber resulted in the dream he often had—a dream where his wolf was cornered and had to fight his way free, only to flee from even more attackers—vague, nebulous forms in his dream.

T
he forest was dark
. The trees stood shoulder to shoulder, like sentries tightly packed to prevent entry or escape from the forest. The trees’ thick branches with their leaves and needles provided a barrier against the moon’s silver light.

Reese’s wolf pressed through the densely-packed foliage, winding his way, twisting his body to avoid catapulting into trunks that would render him senseless if he ran into them at this speed.

He was being pursued, and he’d be damned if he were caught. His wolf’s breath released in rapid-fire pants, perched on the cold air like tiny clouds before dissipating. Not that Reese’s wolf had the time to appreciate or notice the puffs his breath made. He was too busy running from four-legged beasts with fangs and glowing eyes.

His wolf pushed harder, not trying to pace himself, not worried how long he could keep this speed up. He’d keep it up as long as he could or risk dying.

Hot blood seeped down his hind leg from a gash that extended the length of that limb. He ran past a branch, brushing against it, causing it to flick the gaping wound with the intensity of a whip. He refused to yield to the pain of the wound or the weakness of lost blood.

Finally, he heard no clamor, howling, or panting behind him. He chanced a glance backward, saw no glowing eyes. He slid into a slow trot, not willing to lose momentum, ears still perked for pursuers, eyes scanning the unwelcoming environment for cover. He needed a place to hide, somewhere to heal.

If possible, a place to go into a healing sleep. A dark maw appeared to the side, mostly hidden by the trees. He drew to an abrupt stop and approached the hole slowly, inhaling, sucking a lungful of air in, tasting the scent to see if there was any sign of an animal within the opening.

Let it be a cave, his wolf’s mind hoped.

He made his way carefully into the slight hole, one paw after the other placed carefully to avoid the snap of twigs and the rustling of leaves.

The interior past the hole was dark, no problem for his wolf’s night vision. Step after step he made his way into what was definitely a cave. The cave had a tunnel, it led to another cave. He tested the air for the scent of another animal but found nothing fresh. A scent that was older permeated his senses. He paused to identify the smell, letting it roll through his olfactory sense.

Tiger? Tigress. A female? Maybe more than one.

He realized why it wasn’t easy to discern. The smell of his own blood overpowered all others. He glanced backward at his wounded hind leg. The blood was flowing steadily from the laceration.

He leaned against the cold, hard wall of the cave, then slowly crumpled to the ground, licking at the wound sluggishly.

His eyes closed as a healing sleep overtook him, sending him into the deepest of slumbers, taking him from the penetrating bone-numbing cold.

Later…

Who knew how much later as the wolf slumbered in a state of no cognizance…

A rhythmic pressure penetrated his wolf’s sleep, parting the blanket of comfort he’d been under. The pressure was steady and repeated over and over gently, with an abrasive sandpaper texture.

The wolf opened his eyes, his vision instantly sharp. He was greeted by a series of white and gray stripes merged with black ones on luxurious shiny fur.

One scent overrode all others.

Tigress!

He snarled and leapt to an unsteady stand, his body against the cave’s wall to keep from wavering.

The black, gray, and white being jumped back. Vivid green eyes glowed, but were not menacing. The tigress stared at him.

He chanced a look at his thigh. It had healed, leaving behind a nasty, jagged scar.

The tigress swiveled abruptly, then turned, bounding out of sight instantly.

Not sure whom to trust, his wolf sniffed around to see if the other attackers had been in the vicinity. He traveled toward the outer cave, senses on high alert, eager to catch the scent of danger before it was too late.

The only scent he could discern was the tigress’s.

Except she was long gone. She’d been licking his wound clean of the blood that had been there—blood that would have given away his presence if any of his pursuers had been near. He breathed her scent in, wishing he could find a way to express his gratitude. Silhouette altered by the trees leaves, a sliver of sunlight gave hint that the night had passed.

And she had guarded him.

“
R
eady
?” Rory tapped his fingers against the porcelain sink.

“Ready.” Reese pushed the memory of the dream away. It came to him so often, it was etched in his memory. The same dream, every single time. A white tigress saving his wolf.

He had no memory of anything like that ever happening in his life. That didn’t explain why he had a scar on his thigh that matched the wolf’s in his dream.

His parents said that he did it to himself when they were out-of-town on a vacation and left him and Rory with a nanny. They said Reese had tried to shift before knowing how to do so fully and he’d inflicted that on himself with his claws.

That was what the nanny told his parents. Reese was two; he had no memory of that time, but for some reason the account didn’t sit well with him.

“Let’s go then. They’re waiting outside with a golf cart.”

“As if we can’t make the walk to the main house?”

Rory shrugged. “When in Rome…”