Embrace the Wind (12 page)

“Hey,” he said, reaching over and grabbing her shoulder. He gave her a gentle shake. “Don’t think about it right now. We’ll take this one hour at a time.”

She shifted the mug to her right hand and with her left patted her chest. “I’m kind of dead in here. At least that’s the way it feels.”

“Are you sure it isn’t that you’re simply resigned? Because you have a lot of passion, a pleasure in life that makes me think you’re not dead at all.”

“Is that what you see?”

“Yes.” He’d set his plate aside as well and also held his mug.

“Well, maybe. I don’t know. I just want you to be aware that I was perfectly content with my cottage across from the bar, or at least I was for the first couple of days when I moved in.”

He cocked his head. “Why do you say that? After everything you’ve told me, that makes no sense.”

“Because about two days after I had the keys to my house, you showed up at the Elf Lords Hideaway. And the next thing I knew, I was caught up ghosting you for the first time. I remember being drawn out onto the porch and the moment I saw you it was though I got hooked into something I still don’t understand. Though the blood rose thing explains a lot.”

~

Zane sipped his coffee. It was full dark, and he needed to get the night started.

Earlier, while preparing their first meal, he’d made a few decisions about how he wanted the next several hours to go. But he’d definitely been looking forward to this time with Olivia to get to know her better. It was one thing to enjoy her body, to pleasure her and to have her respond. But that wasn’t enough for either of them to figure out how to move forward in this difficult situation.

His biggest problem was with what had happened at the bar. He didn’t blame Ely. The other mastyr was only responding in a very normal, predictable way to an unbonded blood rose. He’d felt the same thing when he’d first laid eyes on Willow. He’d even fallen to his knees and begged Malik to do something or he’d attack her.

“One thing we need to do is to find a way to keep other mastyrs from trying to close the deal with you.” He shared what had happened in Ashleaf Realm when he’d first seen Willow.

To his surprise, Olivia bared her teeth and a soft growl left her throat.

He took her hand and turned over her wrist. He licked the veins, then struck so that blood pooled. He took a moment to savor her cinnamon taste, then began streaking his arms with her blood. “Maybe your blood on me will keep you safe from other mastyrs. Malik did this and it made a huge difference, seemed to keep my drive toward Willow in check.”

She growled again. “And what about you getting near other women here in Swanicott? So long as we’re in this, I won’t take kindly to any woman hanging on you. I need you to know that, Zane. The shifter in me is possessive, as in tear-down-the-house. And I’m not talking about a relationship, I’m talking about your body. You’re mine, for however long this lasts.” She reached over and slid a hand very slowly across his zipper and fondled his half-erect cock. She probably wanted to make sure he didn’t misunderstand what she was saying.

He stared into glittering green eyes, loving that her lips kept stretching just enough to show elongating canines. He’d never known a woman like Olivia before, and he should have been put off by her demands. Instead, his heart started pounding with sudden need, like he wanted to take her back to his bed, flip her over on her stomach, and once more take her in a position female shifters really liked. He’d use his teeth again on the back of her neck, holding her in place.

He tore his gaze away from her and took a few deep breaths.

“Your scent,” she said, “Tells me that for some reason my wolf-fangs are working you up.”

“You have no idea. But, listen, I’ve set up a couple of meetings for us and we don’t exactly have time right now for me to service you the way I’d like to. So, let me give you the run down.”

She settled back in her chair, her mug once more to her lips. “Go for it.”

“I’ve started orchestrating an attack on Margetta’s camp. I intend to burn the place down tonight, every last piece of wood and canvas until nothing’s left. My Vampire Guard, Shifter and Troll Brigades are all on alert.

“First, however, I need you to pay homage to the shifter community.”

She sat forward suddenly. “What?” she sounded panicked. “I can’t meet them, not the packs. Not yet.”

“You said you’ve been on the Internet, so you must already know that you’re in violation of Realm-shifter protocol.” A shifter had to present him or herself to a pack alpha within twenty-four hours of arrival in Swanicott. Olivia had been here for months.

“But …” She scowled and chewed on her lower lip.

He thought he understood. “You’re afraid one of these men will be your father.”

“How did you know?”

He shrugged. “It’s not hard to guess, and it must be weird for you. If I were in your shoes, I really wouldn’t want to meet the man who abandoned my mother. But after you meet Luther and he acknowledges and accepts you, we’ll be heading to the Fae Guild, but not for a few hours. So we may have some down-time between the lodge and the Guild.”

Her brow crinkled. “Why are we going to the Guild?”

“I know someone there who might have sufficient power to disrupt Margetta’s spell and expose the camp.”

“You mean the Ruby Fae, the woman called Regan?”

“You know about her as well?”

“What can I say? I have a lot of free time on my hands and surfing the web can be a pleasant way to spend the evening.”

~

In order to make herself presentable to an alpha, Olivia needed to change out of her plain, cotton shirt for something a little more formal. Zane still needed to shower, so she took her clothes and other essentials to one of the lower guest-houses. There simply wasn’t enough room in the compact bathroom to house both of them. Besides, a little time apart wouldn’t be a bad thing.

She kept her jeans, but donned a violet silk blouse and black leather vest. She rarely wore jewelry, no rings or bracelets, not even earrings. For one thing, they were the kinds of things that could get caught on farm equipment or lost in the dirt when planting or hoeing. For another, she just wasn’t into adornment.

She brushed out her hair, parting it in the middle. Whoever had provided her clothes had also packed up her make-up, such as it was.

Olivia put on a little mascara, shaped her brows with a light-colored pencil and added lip gloss. She could count on one hand the number of times in the past few years she’d made up her face. Her only social life involved the bar across the street, except when Zane was there. Even then, she’d usually wait until most of the bikers had left, then she’d steal in for a nightcap and have a gossip with the bar owner, Heather.

She’d learned a lot about Swanicott’s history, as well as Zane’s, from her numerous late-night trips to the bar. Heather had expressed the strong opinion more than once that Zane had been an idiot to marry a vegan-artist like Emily in the first place. “The woman didn’t even like killing flies.” Heather had rolled her eyes after revealing that bit of information.

Olivia had seen Zane eat his steak; Emily would have recoiled every time.

Basically, Zane’s wife had seemed like a delicate type, with a very tender soul. She couldn’t have been happy as a mastyr’s wife, at least not this mastyr.

When Olivia finally emerged, Zane was on the deck of his bedroom texting on his cell. He glanced at her and she waved, but that’s when things went a little nutty, because he slid his cell back into his pocket then suddenly leaped into the air and levitated down to her. “You look great.”

“You seem surprised.”

“You’re wearing a little make-up. I don’t know. Your blouse is dressy. Love the vest.”

She smiled. “I guess I clean up okay, then.”

He stroked her cheek with his thumb. “You look wonderful. You have from the first moment I met you.”

“I’ll return the compliment, but then you always put on a good show because that uniform is damn hot.” She took a step back and checked out his boots. “I miss the skulls, though”

He laughed. “I do, too, but those boots will need some serious repair.”

She reached down and slid her finger along the inside rim of the hips boots, which meant she was essentially stroking his upper thigh through his leather pants.

He took her shoulders in hand. “You need to stop because that feels way too good.”

She sighed. “So, where exactly are we headed? Luther’s home?”

“Nope.” He held out his arm and she stepped up on his right boot, sliding her arm around his neck. “About thirty miles north in the mountains. The shifter community has an HQ out by Donegal Springs.”

“Right. I’ve read about it, of course.” Over the months she’d been in Swanicott, she’d explored most of the coastal regions of the realm, but she’d avoided Shifter Headquarters.

He flew her north, continuing through the mountains, and made a quick trip to what proved to be a large lodge set among pine trees.

Olivia switched to telepathy.
We’re expected, right?

We are. Representatives from the Swanicott packs have gathered to meet you. Nervous?

As hell.

Hey, stop worrying. You’ll be fine. I explained everything to Luther. He said he might have to throw you in prison for a couple of years, but after that, he’ll let you in.
Zane chuckled.

Oh, you are so funny.

When he set her down on a rock path leading to the entrance, she couldn’t make her feet move. In many ways, she’d been avoiding this moment all her life, afraid to discover how unwanted she’d been. It also didn’t help that she was part human and even in shifter terms could do things that would be considered bizarre. How was she supposed to fit in? And how angry was the alpha, anyway, that she hadn’t submitted herself to him when she first arrived? Zane could joke, but the shifter part of her knew this wouldn’t be easy.

Her heart set up such an annoying racket that she finally stomped her feet and shook out her hands.

“Hey, you okay?”

“No. I feel like I’m facing a firing squad.”

“Oh, it’s worse than that. Just sayin’.”

She turned to Zane and shoved his shoulder. Hard. Or at least tried to. Being the size of man he was, he barely moved.

He did smile, however. “I’m teasing you, trying to get you past this. You’ll be fine, and I think the wolf in you will know exactly what to do once we’re inside.”

She huffed a heavy sigh. Maybe her life had been horribly isolated because of her overactive shifter genes, but she hated cowardice more than she feared walking up the steps and through the doors.

She got herself moving and heard Zane murmur an approving, “You’ll do.”

He followed behind. This was her show.

She lifted her chin as she mounted the short flight of steps.

The lodge was enormous, which made sense since shifters as a group were on the big side, unlike trolls or even elves and fae.

Pulling the door wide, she stepped into a vestibule but could see beyond to what looked like a throne and a massive blond shifter lounging there in black leathers and an open, woven shirt. On either side of a long wide aisle ranged at least three hundred shifters.

Oh, shit.

Reaching the threshold to the large communal room, she glanced behind in Zane’s direction. He remained back several feet in deference to the shifter community, no doubt. Zane might rule Swanicott, but the lead alpha held sway in all things having to do with the four packs of the realm.

She sniffed the air and straightened her shoulders. All eyes were on her and no matter what, a shifter never showed fear or backed down from a fight. These things she felt deep in her wolf bones.

She ignored all the other shifters in the room, focusing her attention solely on the man on the throne. She kept her shoulders well back, her spine straight, and flared her nostrils.

She heard a lot of growled disapproval because Zane was right; she’d broken protocol and now felt the displeasure of the community. She knew the shifter population of Swanicott numbered over a hundred thousand, and those present represented the leadership from all over the realm.

When she was within fifteen feet, the Alpha’s features told its own tale, and might have been the real reason Zane had pushed for this meeting. She knew by his blond hair, green eyes, and the general look of him that this man was family. She also knew instinctively he wasn’t her father. But he was definitely a relative. Cousins, maybe?

She wished now she’d spent a little more of her Realm Internet searches on the shifter world instead of almost exclusively on Zane.

She took two more steps then dropped to her knees and bowed her head. Slowly she stretched her body forward until she was on all fours with her chin touching the floor.

She said nothing else, but waited.

The creaking of the boards that led up to the throne told her the alpha approached her.

The room was completely silent.

Luther spoke in a loud, booming voice, “Shifter, Olivia, why did you not present yourself when you arrived in our realm? I understand you had knowledge of our protocol and knew what was required. Our community demands an explanation.”

She didn’t say anything yet, sensing it was important she remain silent. She saw his heavy boots as he marched in a circle around her.

“You may rise and give your answer.”

She stood slowly, her heart pounding so hard in her chest she only wondered why it didn’t explode. As before, she pulled her shoulders back and stood as upright as she could manage. But she didn’t look at Luther, though he drew near and stared at her. Eye-contact would have been a mistake, so she focused on his forehead as she answered. “I have never been part of any community. The idea is foreign to me, as foreign as Swanicott when I arrived.”

“You insult us.”

Surprised, she asked. “How? The difficulty is mine, not yours.”

“You may look at me, but I wish to know what you want from us now.”

She met his gaze and unwilling tears filled her eyes because it was like looking in a mirror. She saw herself in this man and for the first time in her life she thought maybe she would finally belong.