Faerie Godmother: Mythic Series, Book 1 (10 page)

It was the most she could hope for under the circumstances. Ana took a deep breath and readied herself. “So, you know I went to the after party, right? Well, what I didn’t tell you was...”

––––––––

“H
oly shit, Ana,” Dani said a long while later, a veritable feast laid out before her to both prove Ana’s incredible story and sate her hunger. “I can’t believe you were holding out on me.” She shook her head. “All this time, all the good things that have been happening lately, it has been because of you?”

Ana shifted in her seat. “Not all of it.”

“So, when I totally rocked those SATs, that was your doing?”

“No,” Ana said emphatically. “That was all you. I just gave you an extra push to keep you calm and focused so you didn’t panic. You knew all that stuff, you just lacked the confidence to believe you could do it.”

“And when that big company upriver that was dumping all that stuff illegally suddenly closed down and went out of business...?”

Ana looked into her mug. “Some shredded and incriminating documents
may
have been reformed and ended up in the hands of a couple of key officials and reporters known for their green policies.”

“And Sascha’s unexpected letter from the family she thought perished in those earthquakes when she was just a baby?”

Ana’s eyes glistened, but she said nothing.

“What about the high rate of matings and healthy litters we’ve had over the past couple of months?”

“I can’t create something from nothing, Dani,” Ana said, squirming uncomfortably. “I can only work with what’s already there.”

Dani gaped at her in wonder. “You’re like a faerie godmother.”

Ana looked wholly embarrassed. “Your brother called me a genie.”

“He knows?” Understanding began to dawn in Dani’s eyes.

“Yeah. He’s the only one beside you.” Ana grew serious. “But no one else can, Dani. I trust you, and I trust Matt, but that kind of knowledge changes people.”

“You think Matt wants you because of what you can do.”

Did she? Despite the lingering doubt that would always be there — no, she didn’t really believe that. If it were anybody else, maybe. But it would be pretty smart on his part if that were the case. Matt knew she cared deeply for the pack, and as the Alpha’s mate, that bond would only grow. Who wouldn’t want someone with her abilities looking out for their pack?

Aside from being gorgeous and caring, Matt was also incredibly intelligent. While it was likely that he had carefully considered the benefits of selecting her, she didn’t think that was the primary reason behind his offer to mark and mate her. Matt would go to great lengths for his pack, but he would consider her needs as well.

“No, I don’t think that,” Ana replied honestly. Matt did care for her and wanted to protect her, even if she didn’t fully understand the depths of those feelings. “I’m just not convinced I’m the best choice for him.”

“You’re beautiful, Ana. Sweet and smart and caring. You’re already taking care of us. Why wouldn’t you be?”

“Of course I care about the pack. You’ve become like family to me. But look at you. You’re tall and strong and beautiful. A perfect she-wolf. Everything a normal, healthy male could possibly want in a mate. Now, look at me. I’m nothing like that.”

“Don’t sell yourself short, Ana. I wasn’t kidding when I said there were a lot of males interested in you.”

“Because I’m different. A novelty. But I would always be a liability, don’t you see? I’m not strong like you, or brave. Even now, Matt feels the need to protect me. Making the pack take turns guarding me. Sending his younger sister over here under the guise of a sibling spat to keep an eye on me.”

Dani’s eyes widened and Ana smirked. “Yeah, I knew. Give me some credit, will you?”

“I don’t see where any of that’s bad,” Dani said defensively.

“It’s not bad,” Ana said gently. “I’m honored and touched that you care for me so much. I really am. Which is exactly why I couldn’t bear it if anything happened to you because of me. Anyone who knows anything about me knows how much I care about you and that I’d do anything to keep you safe.”

Unlike Matt, Dani did not immediately discount Ana’s fears. She was silent for several moments, considering the possibilities. “Vlane Masterson knows, doesn’t he?”

“I don’t know. He knows
something
, but I’m not sure what or how much. He’s managed to connect enough dots to figure out I was the one at the after party that night, and he knows he can speak to me in my thoughts when my guard is down.”

Dani’s eyes widened again. She was beginning to look more like an owl than a wolf. “Oh, Ana! Have you told Matt?”

“No, and you’re not going to tell him either,” Ana said firmly. “He’ll have me under lock and key if he finds out.”

“Yeah, but this is Vlane Masterson we’re talking about. He’s a powerful vampire.”

“Exactly. Which is why you have to let me handle this.”

“I can’t let you do this alone,” Dani insisted, shaking her head. “It’s too dangerous.”

Ana looked at Dani, deep into her stubborn golden brown eyes, so like her brother’s. Of course it would come to this. She had known it would. Maybe that’s why she shared her secrets with Dani —because inwardly, she knew they would wind up here.

She reached her hand out and cupped the side of the girl’s face gently. She knew what she had to do. “I know, Dani. You are a good friend.”

“Thanks, Ana. Don’t worry. We’ll figure something out.”

Ana already had. She let the magic build slowly inside of her. “For your safety, I wish for you to forget I told you about my gift,” she said softly. “That you forget everything I told you about Vlane Masterson. About what transpired the night of the after party and since. That you know how glad I am to have you in my life and you can come to me any time to talk about school, boys, your overbearing brother, and all the other things you’re dealing with right now.”

Ana pulled her hand away slowly and sat back. Dani blinked, her eyes somewhat sleepy and dazed. Then, she yawned.

“I’m sorry, Ana. I think that warm vanilla milk thing really did the trick. Thanks for letting me unload on you.”

“Anytime, Dani,” Ana said with a serene smile as she gathered their mugs and put them in the sink. “I’m always here for you.”

* * *

V
lane paced the length of his private lair. For the first time in a very long time, he did not know how to proceed.

There was no doubt now that Ana was aware of his repeated attempts to connect with her, but even the slightest brush against her mind was now met with extreme resistance. While it frustrated him, it intrigued him as well. Finally, he’d found a woman worthy of making an effort.

He did so enjoy a challenge.

D
ani rolled her eyes, gripping the can of soda while Matt gave her the third degree. She hadn’t been back in their house two minutes before he sat her down at the kitchen table and began the interrogation. “Honestly. We
talked
.”

“Derrick said the lights were on from two a.m. to five a.m.! What could you possibly talk about for three hours?”

“Girl stuff. Jeez, Matt. No wonder Ana’s freaked out. You have her under constant surveillance.”

Matt flinched. “She’s really freaked out?”

“Wouldn’t you be?” Dani asked. “She’s got big hairy wolves breathing down her neck every time she turns around, watching her every move, sniffing at her like she’s some kind of juicy snack.”

His features hardened. “Who’s sniffing her?”

Dani rolled her eyes again. She had it down to an art form. That, combined with the smirk she gave him, reminded him she-wolves could be every bit as cunning as the males.

“Chill, Alpha-brother. There’s only one wolf that’s captured her interest.”

“Yeah?” he asked, unable to hide all of the hope he felt at his sister’s words.

“Yeah, but you’re scaring her, I think,” Dani said, softening a little. “She’s not like us, Matt.”

He exhaled heavily and his shoulders slumped. “I know.” Man, did he know. He scratched the back of his neck, feeling the frustration of that fact. “I don’t know much about” – Matt caught himself before he said ‘genies’ – “human females.”

“You don’t know much about females, period,” Dani shot back, but it was a gentle stab. “Are you courting her?”

“I’m
protecting
her,” Matt clarified. “Keeping her safe, making sure she has everything she needs.”

“That’s great, if you’re her pack leader or her boss. But if you want to be more than that, that’s not going to cut it.”

“So, what are you saying? I should buy her flowers? Take her out to dinner? That kind of thing?” The thought of such things was enough to give him a rash. She-wolves were much less complicated. Courting among Weres was a simple, straightforward process. When a male was interested in a female as a mate, he let her know by proving himself worthy with a show of strength, skill, and physical attributes. Easy.

But somehow, Matt didn’t think beating the snot out of other eligible males vying for her attention and then mounting her in a victory claiming would impress Ana.

“It would be a good start. Maybe she’ll begin to see you as more than the guy who feels indebted to her.”

“Christ. Is that what she thinks?”

Dani shrugged. “Ana’s hard to figure out, even for me. But I do know I really like her. And I want her to stick around.”

Matt’s head snapped up. “What do you mean? Did she say something about leaving?”

Dani bit her lip. “Not exactly, no. Call it intuition. I just have this feeling she’s going to bolt.”

He stood up and puffed out his chest. “She can’t do that.”

“Yes, Matt, she can,” she said quietly. “She doesn’t belong to you. And...something’s just not right.”

“Dani, if you know something, you have to tell me.”

“I can’t. It’s more like a feeling than actual knowledge. Like, there’s something I
should
know but just can’t quite grasp. The more I try to think about it, the farther away it gets.”

It was frustrating as hell. Matt was a wolf, goddammit, and the Alpha. But pushing Dani wasn’t going to get them anywhere constructive. He blew out a heavy breath and ran his hands over his face. “All right. I think you should continue to stay with her for a while. Keep an eye on things.”

“She’s going to figure it out, Matt. She’s not going to buy this teenage angst thing forever.”

“I know.” He just didn’t know what else to do.

* * *

A
na tugged off her plastic gloves and dropped them in the waste container. “Chauncey’s heart is working too hard, Mrs. Conroy,” she said bluntly. “If he doesn’t lose some weight and start exercising, he’s not going to see his next birthday.”

She wasn’t normally quite so direct, but she had a soft spot for the little Dachshund. He had big, soulful eyes and a gentle temperament. He was only four years old. He should have a lot of life left in him, but at nearly three times his healthy body weight, the poor guy was suffering.

“He likes his treats,” Mrs. Conroy sniffed. She looked like she was a couple times her healthy weight, too. The glare she gave Ana suggested someone as small as her couldn’t possibly begin to understand.

“Of course he does. But he’s hurting, Mrs. Conroy. And he’s not opening the cupboards and treating himself, now is he?”

The woman opened her mouth to say something, but Ana halted her. “I know you love Chauncey and you want to spoil him, but maybe you could do so in healthier ways?”

“Like what?” the woman asked cautiously.

“Well, there’s a great program in town where people take their dogs for an hour or so each day. There’s a heated swimming pool there. He could get some exercise without putting any undue stress on his joints. Then, when he loses a few pounds, you could enroll him in a doggie play group.”

“A play group?”

“Yes. He’d get to socialize with other dogs around his size and temperament. I believe several of the owners get together and have coffee or take a walk around the park. It might be fun for both of you.”

Mrs. Conroy seemed to consider it. Ana didn’t know too much about her, but she did know Mrs. Conroy was a widow who lived on the outskirts of town and generally kept to herself.

Ana took a business card from the counter and wrote on it. “Here’s the number. There’s usually a waiting list, but Jake — the guy who owns it — is a good guy. Tell him Doc Ana sent you and he’ll arrange for a tour so you can decide if it might be something you and Chauncey want to try.”

She still seemed unsure. “You say it will help Chauncey?”

“Without a doubt.”

“Okay.”

“Great! How about we schedule a three-month follow-up, no charge, to see how he’s doing?”

“Okay.” Mrs. Conroy seemed particularly brightened by the no charge offer.

“And here’s a list of healthy snacks for when he’s giving you the hungry eyes,” she smiled, ruffling Chauncey’s ears. He gave her a big doggie grin in response.

Ana heaved a sigh of relief as she wiped down the exam table. Dani wouldn’t be back for another couple hours, and the ever-present guard around the Sanctuary seemed to have let up a little, at least during business hours. The way she figured it, she had a whole hour to herself.

Or so she’d thought. No sooner had she put everything away then the jingle of the front door sounded, announcing another visitor.

Oh, well.
She didn’t really want that cup of tea anyway. And it was probably better to wait until later tonight to pick up that book again. Once she did, it was so hard to put down, and the girl in the story was just about to make up her mind between the vampire and the werewolf. Ana wasn’t sure which one she was rooting for.

She emerged from the back to greet whoever it was, forcing a pleasant and welcoming smile to her face. That smile froze, however, when she realized who it was that stood before her.

A tall man, she judged him to be at least six-two, lean and nicely proportioned. Late twenties, or thereabouts, with blue-black hair, perfect, pale skin, and piercing, jet-black eyes.