Rocky (Tales of the Were) (16 page)

“The next Lords, right?” she asked. “Because they’re twins?”

“Because they’re intensely magical,” Rocky clarified. “And yes, because twin births are rarer than rare among shifters. They are significant because we believe they are directed by the Goddess Herself.”

“They’re so little. It’s hard to think of them being like Tim and Rafe one day.”

“But they will be. And we’ll be here to guide them. To help them become the men they are destined to be.” Rocky kissed to top of her head as she nestled against his chest. She felt warm and protected. Surrounded by his love.

“I like the sound of that.”

Epilogue

Christmas Eve

Rocky had been working on the terabytes of information from Tony’s external hard drive for some time. It would take weeks to sort through all the files and figure out what to do with the information. The Lords had tasked him with the project, since he knew Tony better than anyone.

He was working on his laptop while Maggie listened to the news from the outside world on the television in the living room. They’d been through so much in such a short amount of time. It was nice to spend a quiet moment with her in such regular, commonplace pursuits.

But then he heard something in the distance…growing nearer.

“What in the world is that?” Rocky asked, rising from his seat on the couch. They were sitting by the fire, enjoying a few moments of privacy while his parents put the babies to bed.

“What? I don’t hear anything,” Maggie answered, turning off the television before joining him. He could see the concern in her eyes. She still hadn’t quite recovered from the ordeal they’d been through, but she was getting a little more secure every day.

“Singing.” Rocky went to the window
and peered out.

A group of shifters sang carols as they hiked through the woods toward Rocky’s house, giving him ample warning of their arrival. By the time they were on his doorstep, Maggie and Rocky were ready for guests. The knock on the door came as no surprise, but when Rocky opened it, the sight that greeted him did.

A large blue spruce had been transplanted from elsewhere in the forest to his front yard. On it were garlands of popcorn and berries that would no doubt feed the feather winged population the following day.

“Maggie, you’ve got to see this.” He made room for her under his arm as she moved to his side. Her little gasp of appreciation told him she was as impressed by the gesture as he was.

Rafe and Tim stood off to one side with Allie as Betina sprouted gossamer wings that shone in the moonlight. Fluttering her wings, she lifted herself to the very tip of the tall tree and placed a magical pulse of her energy to light up the top branch like a star. Applause broke out from around the clearing and Rocky realized nearly the entire wolf Pack had come.

Allie stepped forward and held out her hands to Maggie. “We want to welcome you and the boys to our community, Maggie. We hope you like our gift.”

“We didn’t think you’d mind the tree there,” Rafe said as he came up behind Allie, placing one hand on her shoulder. “We can move it later if it’s not exactly where you want it, but we figured this position would look nice from inside and outside.”

“It looks good.” Rocky leaned forward to shake Rafe’s hand
and then Tim’s. “Thanks for doing it. I think Maggie can’t be in any doubt now as to how welcome she is here.” Rocky settled his arm around her shoulders.

“
It’s beautiful,” she said with a tear in her eye and a slight hitch in her voice, clearly moved by the shifter
community’s gesture.

A small party followed that mostly took place outside in the snow. Maggie got into a frolicking snowball fight, though nobody was aiming to really hit anything. If Maggie was the only person bundled up tight in layer upon layer of winter clothes, nobody seemed to mind.

Marissa and Joe came outside with the babies—now wide awake and laughing at all the commotion—in their carrier, and thermal flasks full of hot mulled cider and the ingredients for s’mores. The sugary snacks were soon being toasted over an impromptu campfire in the barbeque pit at the side of the house, and Rocky knew Maggie was enjoying herself.

She settled in his
embrace as they sat in front of the fire, facing the new tree somewhat distant in their front yard. Marissa and Joe kept watch over the babies, who had shifted into little bear cubs and wriggled out of their carrier. They were sniffing around the new tree and gumming some of the popcorn hanging off low branches, but Marissa’s sharp eye kept them out of any real trouble.

Rocky marveled at his family—new and old—and the woman who had made this happy scene possible. Maggie was the center of his universe and he’d keep her warm and safe for as long as she’d let him. The rest of their lives… And he prayed they would live a long, long time.

“Rocky,” she whispered, clutching his arm. “Do you see him?”

He followed her line of sight to the new tree with its magically glowing star on top and his heart nearly stopped. “I do, honey,” he whispered.

There was no need to say more. They both saw the ghostly outline of Tony, bending to touch each of his sons, as if giving them a benediction from beyond. Marissa and Joe didn’t seem to see anything amiss, but it looked like the babies were very aware of their ghostly visitor as they moved into Tony’s phantom touch, trying to lick his hands with their tiny grizzly bear tongues.

He spent a long time admiring his boys before standing once again and facing the fire. Rocky was frozen in place, afraid if he moved he’d shatter the moment.

He could see through his old friend, and the magic of the glowing star atop the tree seemed to illuminate Tony’s outline as he smiled and nodded in Rocky and Maggie’s direction. Did he approve of their new relationship? Rocky wasn’t sure.

Then Tony took all doubt away, sending them both two thumbs up—a gesture he’d often used to convey happiness and approval while they were growing up. That gesture and the broad smile on his face left Rocky in no doubt. This was Tony and he was giving them his blessing.

“Thanks, brother,” Rocky whispered, tightening his arms around Maggie as she began to weep. “We really miss you.”

Tony acknowledge
d his words with a smiling nod as he faded from view.

Maggie turned
in Rocky’s arms and buried her face against his chest, crying, when he noticed a gentle presence come up beside them and sit.

“Don’t worry, Margaret,” Betina said softly. “Your first love sees what happens here and approves. You will see him again, both here and in the next world.”

The words and Betina’s comforting, magical presence made Maggie stop crying, thank goodness. She wiped her eyes as she sat up again and faced the older woman who had revealed beyond a shadow of doubt tonight that she was fey. Rocky didn’t quite know what to make of her now. Fey were among the most magical of creatures, rarely seen and seldom involved in earthly affairs. That she was here now, with the Lords in this time of increased danger, seemed ominous. And yet hopeful at the same time.

When she saw she had Maggie’s attention, Betina went on. “I’ve heard Antonio was a gifted shaman. I have seen the truth of it myself here tonight. He left a part of his soul in this realm, probably to look after his boys. He will watch them from afar as they grow
, and occasionally—at very special times—he may be able to communicate with them. This is something only the most powerful of magics can accomplish, which should give all
were
hope for the future. Twins born of such a sire will be strong leaders for the new generation.”

“But I’m with Rocky now. I love
Tony. But I love Rocky too. I love them both. I think I always have.” Maggie’s voice shook with emotion and Betina reached out to touch her shoulder.

This was the sticking point.
Rocky knew Maggie would never really be his until she’d come to terms with the conflict within her heart.

“He knows, dear. He’s always known that you love Rocky as much as you love him.” Betina smiled and it felt like the whole world was filled with a magical sparkle, even in the pale moonlight of a cold winter’s night. “The heart knows no limits when love is true.”

Betina got up and walked away, her words ringing in their ears.

Rocky held Maggie as a light dusting of snow began to fall.

“I loved Tony and that will never change,” Maggie said after long moments.

“I know,” Rocky replied solemnly. “I don’t want that to change. I loved him too. He will always be my brother. But there’s room in our hearts for more, honey, just like Betina said.”

Maggie turned and kissed him, and he had his answer. Her mind was settled and her heart open wide. Rocky could feel the last little barrier between them fall and his heart filled with joy at the love they both felt.

Wrapped up in each other, only Betina saw the tall, glowing shadow of a man smiling down on them from just out of reach.

# # #

Bianca D’Arc
has run a laboratory, climbed the corporate ladder in the shark-infested streets of Manhattan, studied and taught martial arts, and earned the right to put a whole bunch of letters after her name, but she’s always enjoyed writing more than any of her other pursuits. She grew up and still lives on Long Island, where she keeps busy with an extensive garden, several aquariums full of very demanding fish, and writing her favorite genres of paranormal, fantasy and sci-fi romance.

Bianca loves to hear from readers and can be reached through Facebook, her Yahoo group or through the various links on her website.

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WWW.BIANCADARC.COM

Other Titles by Bianca D’Arc

Now Available:

Jit’Suku Chronicles: Arcana

King of Swords

King of Cups

King of Clubs

Jit’Suku Chronicles: Sons of Amber

Ezekiel

Michael

Brotherhood of Blood

One & Only

Rare Vintage

Phantom Desires

Sweeter Than Wine

Forever Valentine

Wolf Hills

Tales of the Were

Lords of the Were

Inferno

The Purrfect Stranger

Rocky

Dragon Knights

Maiden Flight

Border Lair

The Ice Dragon

Prince of Spies

Wings of Change

FireDrake

Dragon Storm

Resonance Mates

Hara’s Legacy

Davin’s Quest

Jaci’s Experiment

Grady’s Awakening

Gifts of the Ancients

Warrior’s Heart

String of Fate

Cat’s Cradle

StarLords

Hidden Talent

Print Anthologies

Ladies of the Lair

I Dream of Dragons Vol. 1

Brotherhood of Blood

Caught by Cupid

Guardians of the Dark

Half Past Dead

Once Bitten, Twice Dead

A Darker Shade of Dead

The Beast Within

Dead Alert

Coming Soon:

Jit’Suku Chronicles

End of the Line

Available in ebook – January 2013

Dragon Knights

Keeper of the Flame

Available in ebook – February 2013

Jit’Suku Chronicles: Arcana

King of Stars

Available in ebook – Spring 2013

Dragon Knights

The Dragon Healer

Available in ebook – Summer 2013

Dragon Knights

Master at Arms

Available in ebook – Summer 2013

Brotherhood of Blood:

Wolf Quest

Available in ebook – Fall 2013

We hope you’ll enjoy this excerpt from an upcoming short story set in the world of Bianca D’Arc’s
Jit’Suku Chronicles…

End of the Line