The Legacy of Kilkenny (40 page)

The couple nodded in unison and cheered one another for scoring a free dinner.
 
I try tuning into their thoughts and there isn’t any hostility or ill feelings about Allie going over to their table.
 
Interesting.
 
I can’t help but wonder if she has the ability to compel someone to her will.

“Where were we?
 
Oh, oh yeah the trip to Louisiana.
 
Actually no we’re not going to be able to go.
 
Arien told me today that it was going to be a while before we would have a chance to go visit.”
 
She shrugs it off like it doesn’t bother her.

Pru put her hand on Allie’s hand, and told her that she is sorry.
 
Both she and I were actually greatly relieved we wouldn’t have to come up with some wild plan to keep her in town.
 
I tuned in to Pru for a second and she was taking note that Allie’s hand felt colder than normal.
 

“So, what do you think about Reno?”
 
Pru asks, trying to guide her back to the movie deal.

“You know, it sounds pretty
rad
and all, but I’m not sure.
 
I’ll have to talk to Arien and see how he feels about it.”
 

I can’t believe my ears, my once independent sister is now allowing a man dictate to her what she can or cannot do.
 
I want to scream.
 

“Allie?
 
You’re going to
ask
Arien if you can be in a movie?
 
Wow, you’ve changed.”
 
I try not to sound too condescending; it is hard not too though.

“It isn’t like that Abel.
 
Really?
 
You’re going to lecture me about discussing something with my boyfriend.
 
You don’t think he would be concerned if I left town?”
 
She put her finger to her ear like she was trying to hold it in place.
 
“You’re really pissing me off Abel.
 
If I didn’t know better, I’d think you and Pru were trying to keep us apart.
 
Is
that
what you’re doing?”
 
She glared and Pru and I.

“Of course not Allie.
 
I think what Abel is trying to say is he’s just worried that you haven’t known him
that
long, so it is a little hard to digest that you want to consult with him over such a big opportunity.
 
You have to see the benefit, I mean look, you’d be free to finish school without any debt, that would be awesome.”
 
Pru says.

“Funny.
 
I don’t know if you realize this or not Pru, but you and Abel haven’t
known
each other that long, yet I can’t even have dinner with my brother without you.
 
No offense but I think it is a little pot calling the kettle black.”
 
Allie crosses her arms leaning back into her chair.

I take a deep controlled breath before I
answere
her.
 
“I’d really appreciate it if you wouldn’t talk that way to my friend.
 
This is different Cat, I’m sure you can tell the difference.
 
It isn’t like you’re hiding something from him, but the burden of your college would be taken off our parents
and
you’d have a great summer.
 
I’d really appreciate an apology to Pru.” I’m proud how civilized I was on my answer to her.

Allie turns to face Pru.
 
“Sorry.”
 
She looks at me, “Satisfied?
 
If we’re done here, I have to go.
 
I’m meeting Arien for an astrology lesson.”
 
She gets up and drops a hundred dollar bill on the table and says “That should be enough to pay for our food and the nincompoops at that table.”
 
She put her arms around me to hug me and said, “By the way, Arien paid all of my student loans off, so college really isn’t an issue for me.”
 
With that, she turned on her heel and walks out the door, not before sliding her aviators on.

“Slightly intense huh?
 
I doubt she does the Reno gig since her prince charming is paying for everything.”
 
Pru says to me as she rummages through her purse pulling out her cell phone. “I mean, look at the big picture, if she leaves she may lose him to another girl and he won’t be bank rolling her anymore.
 
I don’t know Abe, I’m really worried about this.”

“I know.
 
Me too.”
 
I’d come to realize my sister is breaking my heart, watching her turn into someone I don’t know, someone that I’m not sure I want to know.
 
I lean over to the table next to us and tell them I’m sorry, she is having a really bad day.
 
They smile at me telling me it is fine.
 
Yeah, I wondered if they’d feel the same if they just realized the
bride of vampire
just paid for dinner.

Three days later I get a text from Allie.
 
“Sorry if I seemed moody the other night
L
I’m going to go to Reno and the meet director tomorrow.
 
Luv
AC”

She took the bait.
 
Finally something goes right
I think to myself.
 
I send Pru a quick text telling her we can focus on training and Allie will be tucked away in Reno.

PRU

With Allie in Reno I had expected to hear from Arien via dream walking but he was quiet.
 
Actually he was so quiet it started to worry me.
 
Silence isn’t always good.

The weather was so nice lately with the high in the 80’s and the humidity fairly low I did most of my workouts in the backyard.
 
I’d just set my yoga mat out when I see Shaynie dressed in black yoga
capris
and a hot pink tank top, her pony tail bouncing around as she jogging over to me.
 
Why is she coming towards me?
 
Go away, please go away, and don’t come over here.
 
I think to myself.
 
Apparently myself isn’t listening today.

“Pru?”
 
She asked while chomping on some giant wad of gum.

“Yes?”
 
I replied.

“I was just wondering.
 
Do you like me?”
 
She tilted her head to the side trying her best to look innocent.

“Do I like you?
 
I don’t really know you to form an opinion.”
 
I was trying to be as honest as possible with her.

“You
are
a good liar.”
 
Shaynie said.

“What did you just say to me?”
 
I closed the space between us, getting in her face.
 
“I don’t believe I heard you right.
 
I hope you do realize who I am.”
 
I could tolerate a lot, but I would not tolerate her being insubordinate to me.

“I’m talking to the Pack princess, right?
 
I thought so.
 
You see, I am still a guest, thus your silly little Pack rules don’t really apply to me.”
 
She pulled her yoga mat out sitting down on it.
 
“I don’t know what your problem is Pru, but I’ve been here a short time and I’ve done absolutely nothing to you, and you walk around like you have a chip on your shoulder when I’m around.
 
I don’t get it.
 
Are you afraid your little friend Oakley will notice me?
 
Or is it that you’re afraid of me?
 
Are you afraid of women that are a challenge to you?
 
Am I going too fast?”

I wanted to tear her from limb to limb. “Shaynie, wow, you give yourself too much credit to think that I actually give a care about you.
 
I don’t.
 
You really think that I care if you’re pretty?
 
Please.
 
I know you’re up to something you little twit, I
will
figure it out.
 
Until that time, stay away from me, and if you know what’s good for you, you’ll keep your nose out of our business.”
 
I was fuming and knew at any moment our verbal argument was going to turn physical.
 
One thing I knew for certain, I could take her.

Still stretching she looked away and laughed to herself before saying, “I think I’ve hit a nerve.
 
Oh look, your little pet is coming over here.
 
I just love the way you two look at each other.
 
It would be a shame if you were separated somehow.”
 
She stood up and put her mat back in her bag.
 
“I guess we probably won’t do yoga today since you have your tail in a wad.”

Oakley was jogging over to us.

“Ladies.
 
Am I interrupting?”
 
Oakley said.

Shaynie put her hand on his shoulder and in her sappiest sounding voice said, “Oh Oakley, don’t worry, the princess here was just making it clear how she feels about me.
 
She is such the jealous type.
 
You really need to watch out for the controlling kind of girls, they have issues in their head.”
 
She put her finger to her temple swirling her finger around giving the crazy sign.
 
She reached up and whispered in his ear, “If you ever want to know what it’s like to be with a real woman, just stop by my room.”

I dove at her and Oakley grabbed me pulling me behind him.
 
“Shaynie, I think it’s time for you to leave because in just a moment I’m going to turn a blind eye and Pru will whip your ass.
 
Just
sayin
’.”
 
His eyebrows lifting in his cocky way.

“One day, maybe in the not so distant future, you’re going to need me and you just might regret this little rift.
 
Just
sayin
’.”
 
She headed back towards the house, stops, turns around and blew us a kiss.

“Did s

he just threaten me?
 
I hate her, really I do.
 
I’m going to have a talk with my father.
 
I’m not going to let her just walk into my Pack and threaten me.
 
And what was that anyway, you pulling me behind you.”

He put his hands on my shoulders facing me, “P, you know that if I didn’t put a stop to it, that there would be a rift between the General and the Dallas Alpha, we have to keep our allies just that.
 
If you go and kill one of their girls I doubt it would go over very well.”
 
He pulled me in and kissed the top of my head.

“I hate it when you’re right.
 
Just so you know, she started it.
 
I was just minding my own business when she started this whole thing.”
 
I put my head on his chest feeling his muscular arms pulling me tighter to him.

“You smell pretty, what perfume do you wear?”
 
He asked me.

“That would be essence of Pru?
 
No, really I don’t wear much, just some body splash.”
 

“Give me essence of Pru any day.
 
You always smell sweet and spicy to me. Let’s run.”
 
He looked down at me winking.

“That’s me, sweet and spicy.”
 
I took off running to the woods ripping my clothes off as I shifted.

ABEL

I pull up to Ta Ta’s and I see Chrissy walk out to the car in high heels that show off her athletic calves.
 
I catch my breath as she opens the car door and I smell her perfume mixed with
hotwings
and soap, I file it in my memory bank.
 

She leans over and kisses me on my cheek.
 
“Hey you, thank you for picking me up at work.
 
I changed in the bathroom, I hope I don’t smell like food.”
 
She reaches over to snap her seatbelt in place.

“Hey, right back at you.
 
You smell and look great,” I say as I put the car in gear.
 
“I’ve never done the water taxi at the canal before.
 
I hope you’re up for it.”