Lost Without Them (17 page)

“Keegan,” Margaret snarled.

“Shut up, Mother.” Keegan stepped closer so that she could whisper, “Just be thankful I’m not exposing all the lies you told about the were-shifters. Enjoy your retirement, and from now on, don’t make the mistake of thinking you have the right to speak on council matters.”

The shocked look on her mother’s face was enough reward for Keegan.

* * * *

They were finally alone, at least for a while, but Sam couldn’t seem to stop studying his surroundings long enough to pay any attention to Keegan. His mind was still buzzing with all the crazy shit he’d seen today. At the back of his mind, he still wondered if he was going to wake up any moment and realize the last three days had all been a dream.

He’d never seen Keegan move things with just her mind. He’d never seen the wolves, the shape-shifters, the vampires. That one still had him speechless. Vampires?

Shivering, he took in a deep breath and slowly let it out.

The view of the beach was amazing. The whole house was amazing. Ten thousand square feet of old-world charm just steps from one of the most beautiful tropical beaches he’d ever seen. No wonder Keegan had spent most of her childhood here.

“Can you believe all this?” Cody asked. “I keep pinching myself, trying to make sure I’m still awake.”

Sam glanced sideways at his brother before turning his gaze back out the large picture window. “You and me both.”

“Keegan’s worried,” Cody murmured. “I can see it in her eyes. I think she’s afraid we’re going to run.”

“Hell, even if I wanted to, I’m not sure in this world where we would run to.”

Cody chuckled. “No kidding. You know, I haven’t seen anything electronic in this place. I mean, there’s a kitchen, but no TVs, no computers, no cars. It’s almost like living in another time.”

“Where is Keegan?” Sam asked as he turned to survey the large sitting room.

“She’s talking to the staff.”

Sam sighed and nodded. “How are you handling all this?”

“Fine. How about you?”

Sam started to answer, but Keegan came into the room. She was dressed in jeans and a pink tank top that highlighted her tan complexion. She’d put her hair up, leaving her neck exposed, and Sam wanted to place a kiss on that neck, make her feel confident again.

When they were in the council chambers, she appeared strong, sure of herself. Right now she looked like a scared rabbit.

“Are you guys okay?” she asked. “I know all this has been kind of…”

“Weird?” Cody answered for her.

She winced. “Yeah. Weird.”

Sam’s lips twitched. “I’ll give ya weird. But I can do with a little weird.”

Keegan didn’t smile. She stood where she was, just inside the room, wringing her fingers in front of her.

“I know it’s…” She sighed and dropped her hands. “If this is all too much…”

“Keegan,” Sam said as he walked forward and took her hands in his. “This is going to take some getting used to. Yesterday I was riding a horse and working a ranch. Today I’m popping from one place to another, learning that vampires and mermaids actually exist. It’s a lot to take in, but that doesn’t change how I feel about you. And I know Cody feels the same.”

“I do,” Cody agreed.

Keegan smiled slightly at Cody around Sam’s shoulder before turning her attention back to Sam. “I can teach you guys some of this stuff.”

“Some of what stuff?” Cody asked as he came forward to join them.

“I can teach you to cast spells that would allow you to move from one place to another without me.”

Sam frowned. “You mean magic?”

Keegan nodded.

“How is that possible?” Sam asked.

“Most magic you can’t do because you weren’t born with the ability. But there are some spells that have a magic all their own that work much the same way. Even a mortal can do them.”

“That sounds intriguing,” Cody drawled, grinning.

Sam gave a sideways nod of caution. “Let’s get our bearings first. Then maybe we’ll tackle magic.”

“Fair enough,” Keegan whispered. “So does that mean…?”

“Does that mean that we’re staying?” Sam asked. He brought her hands to his lips and kissed the backs of her fingers. “I think we can stay for a while.”

Keegan smiled and threw her arms around his neck.

“So,” Sam said as they all lounged on the beach. “I think I could get used to this.”

He smiled toward the setting sun that cast the entire ocean in shades of red and purple. Keegan giggled softly as she reached over and brushed a lock of hair off Sam’s brow.

Dastan and Dmitry both smiled as well as they stretched their legs out before them. Sarah was there too, but she seemed stiff and uncomfortable being so close to the shifters.

Keegan had been watching her all evening and had finally come to the conclusion that she wasn’t afraid of them, she was attracted to them. Which surprised Keegan, considering her friend’s aversion to shifters. She also hadn’t missed Dmitry’s and Dastan’s sideways looks at Sarah. Sarah was beautiful, and that knowledge had not been lost on her shifter guardians.

Perhaps there was something she could do about that. Her mind began to wander over the possibilities as she dropped her hand from Sam’s hair and stared out over the ocean.

“Life
is
good here,” Dastan said.

“Yeah, I see that,” Cody said with a chuckle. “I think I might like to stay awhile. Enjoy life with Keegan and maybe learn a little magic myself.”

Sam reached over and grabbed her hand. “I agree.”

Keegan squeezed his fingers and smiled. This was the first opportunity they’d had to relax since the whole wolf incident at the ranch, and it felt good to be together.

“What will you do about the ranch?” she asked.

Sam frowned and looked around her to Cody. “What will we do about the ranch?”

“I have a suggestion,” Dastan offered. “How about Dmitry and I take over?”

Keegan frowned. “You guys? Cowboys?” She shook her head. “I just don’t see it.”

Sarah rolled her eyes. “Me either.”

“Why?” Dmitry asked.

“Do you two know anything at all about ranching?” Cody asked.

Dastan shrugged. “It’s been a long time, but I’ve run ranches before. The new stuff we can learn. You’re not going to be able to stay there forever. People will begin to question why you don’t age. Dmitry and I no longer need to be with Keegan. We’re free to do what we want. I personally would like some time away from the dimension. To see how the other half lives for a while. In fifty or sixty years or so, you can return to the ranch, and we’ll trade back off.”

Sam looked at them thoughtfully. “Interesting idea.”

Dmitry smiled as he stared up at the stars as they slowly began to appear in the night sky. “I like it.”

“A Persian and a Russian in the middle of Montana,” Keegan said with a giggle. “The West will never be the same.”

“Damn straight,” Dmitry drawled.

Keegan glanced over at Sarah as an idea came to mind. Perhaps her friend just needed a little time alone with the shifters to get to know them. “I was just thinking. Dastan and Dmitry will need some help at the ranch. Maybe Sarah should go with you. Act as your housekeeper.”

Sarah’s eyes widened as she shook her head quickly from side to side. Almost frantically.

Dastan leaned closer. “Keegan? What are you doing?”

“Trust me,” she whispered. “She dislikes you for some reason. I think it’s time you got to know each other.”

“I don’t have a problem with it,” Dmitry drawled, his lips spreading into a wicked grin. “I’ve always liked blondes.”

Sarah scowled at him. “I would not be dinner. I would be the help. And you keep your hands off the help.” She turned her scowl to Keegan. “That is if I decide to go.”

“I would really appreciate it, Sarah. You would be doing me a huge favor,” Keegan replied.

“Keegan,” Sarah murmured as her scowl turned to a look of sudden fear.

Keegan almost felt bad for her but didn’t really. Dastan and Dmitry were definitely intense, but they would never hurt her or make her do something she didn’t want to do. Sarah couldn’t be any safer. Maybe that was what her friend needed. A little bit of intensity in her life.

“Please?” Keegan whispered.

Sarah sighed and glared at Keegan. “Fine, but you owe me. Big.”

Keegan smiled, pleased that Sarah had agreed without her having to resort to playing the lead councilwoman card. “Great. You will accompany them to Montana, and you can keep me informed of their progress with the ranch and let me know if they get into any trouble.”

“Don’t worry, beautiful,” Dmitry said as he reached over with his foot and rubbed her calf. “I won’t touch you until you beg me to.”

Sarah jerked her leg back and frowned at him angrily.

Beside her, she heard Sam snicker and Cody cough.

“You’re a wicked woman,” Sam murmured in her ear.

“No, just an observant one.”

“So it’s settled,” Sam said as he obviously tried to hold back an amused laugh. “Tomorrow we’ll head back to the ranch and introduce the three of you to the hands as the new owners.”

* * * *

Later that night, Keegan snuggled closer to Cody’s body as Sam settled in behind her. The only thing that covered them was a sheet, which felt good against her skin. The warm sea breeze blew off the beach through the open french doors of her bedroom. With a deep, contented sigh, she smiled at just how things had worked out. But her smile faded somewhat as she thought about Sarah.

“Do you think she’ll forgive me?” Keegan whispered to neither man in particular.

“If you’re right,” Cody said, “I’m sure she will.”

“The three of them do look good together, don’t they?”

Sam snorted. “Yeah, if you like feral animals circling each other.”

Keegan snickered softly. “It wasn’t that bad, was it?”

Sam adjusted his arm around her waist. “All night, I kept waiting for Sarah to explode. Dmitry just kept doing stuff to antagonize her. Dastan just watched her like he wanted to eat her for dinner.”

Keegan grinned. “You noticed that too, huh?”

“Hell, you couldn’t miss it.”

“I don’t know why I didn’t notice that before.”

“Has she always disliked them?” Cody asked.

“She dislikes all shifters, although she’s never said why. The few times I’ve tried to drag it out of her, she just changes the subject.”

“Can shifters and witches, you know…” Cody asked.

She looked up at him and grinned. “What? Fuck?”

Cody returned her smile. “I have no doubt they can do that. I meant can they be a couple?”

Keegan’s smile widened. “Of course, although it’s rare. There are vampire and witch unions, vampire and human unions.”

Cody brushed the backs of his fingers over her cheek. “And of course, witch and human unions.”

“Can’t forget that one,” Sam murmured as he kissed the side of her neck, sending shivers of delight up her spine.

“No, definitely not,” she whispered just before Cody’s lips covered hers in a sweet kiss.

Blood Rite

Darkness Falls

Dead Reckoning

Deadly Crimson

Leave Me Breathless

Lost Without them

Shutter

* * * *

The ENTWINED FATES Series

Captive

Destined for Two

Mercenary

Remember Me

Slaves

I live in the land of dreams, where alpha men are tender, heroines are strong and sassy, and villains are brutal and conniving. When not deep in the mind of my next serial killer, ghost, or futuristic space pilot, I can be found in the mountains of Tennessee, spending time with family and friends. At least until the next story calls.