by R. A. Boyd
Teague searched his memory, trying to remember that scent. It sounded familiar. He didn’t see anyone. Everything that happened after Aaron shot him with Heaven’s Flame was in a fog. There was agony, fear. Those were his companions while he laid there on the floor praying that Riley would be okay. There was nothing more than that. Until Riley came and offered her arm to him. He’d felt her body close to him. And then there was the ripping, gutting feeling of his body being broken into millions of pieces; the feel of his bones and skin and organs being torn apart and reshaped.
There was nothing but Riley, and then there was everything she had given him.
He would never be an angel again, never sore through the skies and break through dimensions to experience them all. But she was his sky. She was his transcendence.
“Spices?” he said, using his thumb to calm that worry line on her face. He thought and thought and thought, and when it hit him it was like being struck by lightning. “Witches. That’s the scent of a natural witch. Fuck.” They’d been trying to find the witch that supplied the shifters with Heaven’s Flame, and his mate knew what he looked like. “Well, at least you got a good look at him. We’ve been on the hunt for a witch who sided with the rogue shifters to take us down. And you may have just offered us our first lead.”
Chapter 12
The replacement furniture was there, back in its original place as if it had never been gone. Everything was fixed. It was spotless. So much so that Riley wanted to mess it up a little so Liv wouldn’t get suspicious. She kept a neat and clean house but this was over the top. Riley sat in the window waiting for Liv to get home. She’d thought of going to pick her up but she didn’t want to rush her having a good time. Liv loved hanging out with her best friend. The girl was sweet and her mother was just as protective as Riley was.
Guilt rubbed its way through her chest, but she quickly tucked it away. Daria would be okay running the shop by herself today. It was an extra day so Riley was giving her overtime pay. She only worked a few days a month and anything more than that was out of Daria’s willingness to sacrifice her time to work. Nothing said Thanks for working the shop by yourself on a Saturday like overtime. Riley had tried to tell her that she’d be in to relieve her no later than noon, but it had already gotten around that Aaron hadn’t shown up for the custody hearing. Everyone was being really considerate, overly so, if you asked Riley.
Daria’s parents had gone through a separation and their custody hearing was more like a battle. She was more sympathetic and understanding to Riley more than anyone else.
A car pulled up as Riley wondered about what to do, and Liv got out. Riley could hear the radio playing low in the car, and she gasped as she listened in on their conversation. She would have to get used to her shifter hearing. It was wonderful, yet intrusive.
Reaching in to hug her friend Liv whispered, “That’s the plan. As soon as I’m eighteen I’ll be living here full-time. See you next weekend.”
Riley’s heart swelled. Gratitude and fear took up residence in her chest all at once. She was happy Liv wanted to stay with her, but after she found out what Riley did she may change her mind.
In her reflection from the window, Riley could see her eyes brightening by the second. They’d gone from their normal plane brown to bright amber. “Fuck,” she said, slapping her hands over her eyes and massaging them. Would that help?
With her eyes closed, Riley could focus on everything. She could hear Liv’s heartbeat and leveled breaths. The sound of her boots trailing up the walkway. Riley could hear the click and scratch of a rock caught in the underside of Liv’s shoe.
“Come on Riley,” she whispered to herself. “Control yourself.” She took a deep breath and started counting, hoping she could calm herself before Liv walked through the door.
She did some jumping jacks, wondering if tiring herself out would take off the edge. It didn’t. By the time Liv opened the door, Riley had already done twelve and it did nothing but piss her off and make her more anxious. She would have put on her sunglasses if she didn’t think it would make her look like a dick. Liv would know something was up before Riley even started explaining why she was wearing them in the house.
“Riley, I’m home.” Liv walked into the living room and dropped her bag on the floor by the couch. She headed to the kitchen, giving Riley a quick wave as she passed her.
Taking a deep breath to build up her courage, Riley followed Liv in to the kitchen and started digging through the freezer. “Want me to warm you up something?” She was already grabbing the strawberry tarts Liv liked.
“Have any of those strawberry tarts left?” she asked hopefully.
Riley blinked and then stared at her reflection in the shiny door of the refrigerator. Her eyes were normal. She smiled and turned around, presenting the pastries to Liv. “I’ll pop these babies in the oven. And then, Sweetie, we need to—”
“Holy shit-sticks, Riley! You let Teague bite you.”
“Aw, fuck. I mean fudge. Watch your language.”
This, Riley thought. This is why Liv curses like a freaking sailor. Riley let more curse words fly out of her mouth than any respectable mother should. Well, at least Liv was a straight-A student who respected her elders.
Liv let out a loud squeal that made Riley clamp her hands over her ears. She hunched in on herself and closed her eyes. That loud frequency only teenaged girls could hit had resonated deep down in her soul.
“Riley, this is awesome. Wait till Dad sees. He is going to go freaking mental. I want to be there when you tell him. We should wait until his birthday in two weeks.” She threw her arms around Riley and held her close.
Riley took a few deep breaths, breathing in Liv’s scent to remember her by. If Liv left after she learned what had happened, at least Riley would always remember her scent. Rose scented soap, mint strawberry gum, and books. Liv always kept a book in her purse.
“Liv,” she said, pulling away from the embrace. “We need to talk. About your dad.” Riley didn’t want to let her go. Even though she moved away from her, she still had her hands on the girl’s shoulders. “Your dad’s been through a lot lately.”
“Don’t make excuses for him, Riley. Did he back out of the custody agreement?” Her face scrunched up and two little dimples appeared on either side of her face. They were caught in the mass of perfect freckles that peppered her face.
Riley cleared her throat and gave a tight smile. “I’m not. And he didn’t.” There was no easy way to say it. “He got himself bitten so he would be a cougar shifter and joined the rogue pack that I told you about. The shifters that are after Teague and his people.”
Liv rolled her eyes and clicked her tongue on the roof of her mouth. “Of course he did. His only priority in life is him and what he wants. Screw everyone else involved. Me included,” she yelled. Liv pulled Riley in tight and hugged her again, and when she backed away she grabbed Riley’s hand and led her toward the living room. As they both sat on the couch she said, “Oh, my gosh. Did my dad bite you? Is that why you’re a shifter now.”
“No,” Riley said, shaking her head and taking a seat next to Liv. She put her hands up to quiet her. “Please. Let me finish. After I tell you what happened if you decide you want to leave and never see me again, just know that I won’t blame you. I’ll let you be the one to decide my fate. He came here last night. He said he was going to claim me and then bite you, to make us a family again. Teague was here. Your dad shot him with something that made him really sick.”
Liv started shaking her head back and forth, fast running tears making zig-zag patterns across her reddening face. “No. Is Teague alright? Is my dad in jail? Riley, I’m so sorry.”
“No. Your dad called some people to come to get us. While he was opening the door I let Teague bite me. It was the only way I could think to save us. To save him. Then I changed, and so did your dad.” She was blinded by her own tears now, and her heart pulsed against her sternum as if trying to break through and offer it
self to Liv as penance. How would she say the words? “He, um, he came at me. I hit him. My nails were so long when I shifted and I didn’t… I didn’t realize what I could do. Olivia, I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to do it. I killed him.”
The expression on Liv’s face was a movie screen, and so were the emotions that were teeming off of her. Pain. Riley watched as pain and heartache took hold of Liv. Her eyes were wide and her mouth sat open. She looked around the room as if waiting for the joke to be over. She wasn’t breathing. Liv put her hand on her chest and balled her hand into a fist. Riley had done this to her.
Liv let out a moan of despair that rang through the room like the heavy bells of a church. She wrapped her arms around her middle and took slow, labored breaths. “You killed him. What am I supposed to do?”
Riley wasn’t sure if she was asking her or some divine being that neither of them could see. “Whatever you want,” she cried. “Liv, I’ll do whatever you want. Turn me into the police, go stay with your grandmother. It doesn’t matter. I’ll do it. I’m sorry. I’m so, so sorry.”
Liv’s head snapped up and she looked at Riley with some unknown emotion known to Riley’s senses. Liv lunged at her and Riley sat still, waiting for her daughter to unleash wrath and hatred on her.
But she surprised her. Liv bound her arms around Riley’s neck and cried. She screamed and cursed, and cried. Riley wrapped her child with every ounce of love she had ever known to be in her existence and held on.
Time passed as they sat there comforting each other. Riley said a prayer of thanks to whoever would listen to her. In all the despair that blanketed the room, Riley was so happy that Liv was holding on to her.
“Did he hurt you?” Liv muttered, her face shoved into the bend of Riley’s neck.
“It doesn’t matter.”
“So, he did. Riley. It’s all my fault. What he did. Why he’s dead.”
No. Riley would never let Liv feel like any of this was her fault. She backed away and looked at Liv, shaking her head and giving her a tear-filled smile. “No. There was nothing you could have done to incite what happened last night or prevent it.”
“But I did.” Her voice was thick, and Riley had to pay attention to make sure she understood every word. “I prayed for this. For something to happen so that I could stay with you forever. For him to leave or get hurt in a fire so that I wouldn’t have to be with him anymore. I prayed so hard that he would go. Anywhere. Just leave.”
Her ivory skin was blotched red, and her nose was beginning to swell.
“Darling, you didn’t do this. Your dad did. He made every decision on his own. The way he treated you, me, everyone. You hit the nail on the head when you said it. He was concerned about himself, only himself. Don’t you ever blame yourself.”
“Then don’t blame yourself either.” Liv whispered so low, Riley almost didn’t hear it.
“You can take your time to figure out what you want to do. You may have wanted to stay with me, but you didn’t want me to kill him.”
Liv was silent, and Riley was afraid she would ask to leave. She was prepared for that. Forgiving someone was one thing, but forgiving someone that had wronged you and then having to see them every day was another.
Liv sniffed and used her shirt sleeve to wipe away the tears. “Riley. I want to stay with you.”
Chapter 13
“They’re here,” Teague said, watching a car and a van ride up the middle of the street in their tucked away community.
Riley and Liv were coming to stay with him. That brought him a sense of peace. He’d be able to keep them with him, keep them safe. It came as no surprise to him that Liv wanted to stay with Riley. Even after she’d found out the truth. Riley was a good person. A good mother. And Liv knew it.
Liv asked if she and Riley drive to Teague’s house so she could pick out her room. She knew that Riley’s best shot at adjusting to being a shifter was here with them. The girl may have only been fifteen years old, but she knew more than she let on. Riley insisted that they stay where they lived for another few weeks. It would look suspicious for Aaron to go missing and then they just so happened to move in with him. They’d agreed on staying with him and the rest of the Ghosts, but to keep up the façade that they were still in the rental.
The emotions that were coming off of Liv was that of relief. Sadness for her father’s death had taken a backseat to what life was going to be like from now on. Teague was happy for her, but her dismissal of her father’s death bothered him. The love must have been nonexistent for her to just let him go so easily. Teague knew Aaron was a dick, but for his own child to let him go with no emotion was of his own doing. He knew he would never replace what her own father should have been to her, but he would do all he could to support her and be there for her.
“How long is Audra going to be gone?” Riley asked. She walked up behind him and put her arms around his waist, resting her head between his shoulder blades.
It felt good to have her this close. She was settling him. Knowing his sister was about to be put under and taken away angered him, depressed him. Audra deserved so much better. She had tried to hold on to her sanity, and she’d always been hopeful that her mate was coming to soothe her like Riley was soothing him right now.
Teague put his hand on Riley’s and shook his head. “I don’t know. Ronan,” he said, tripping over his brother’s name, “has been gone for over seventy years. I can’t imagine being without her that long. She was the one always promising that our mates would come. Always.”
Maybe Audra had given so much of herself to keep her family hopeful and happy that she didn’t have anything left to keep her afloat. She’d held on for so long, but as far as she knew her mate may not have even been born yet.
The vehicles parked in front of the community hall where Audra was being held.
His breath caught in his throat and his chest fluttered. This was happening.
“Shh,” Riley said, still holding him close. “She’ll be fine. It’s what she wants. It would be one thing if this was being forced on her. Cass and I sat with her for a little while this afternoon. She’s doing this to save you. To save all of us. Imagine how she would feel if she hurt people. I don’t want her to go either, but it’s what’s best.”
Teague turned around and held her in his arms. She smiled up at him shyly and kissed his chin. How could he have gone so long without this woman? “Thank you for being there with her. And for being here with me,” he said low.
The corner of her lip twitched up in a smile as she rubbed his arms, making him even more at ease. “I should be thanking you.” Her eyes bled to a soft golden hue that shimmered around the edges. “You’re mine, Teague Durrell. And I’m yours. You’ve been there for me no matter what I’ve gone through over the past few years, and not once did you make me feel bad for my decisions. Staying with Aaron, leaving Aaron, fighting for Liv, putting shelves up in the shop in the middle of the night,” she said, voice tapering off into a laugh. “Thank you.”
Tears spilled down her cheeks, and Teague wiped them away with the pads of his thumbs. “You shouldn’t be thanking me. You saved me. Even before I knew you were mine, you helped me hold on. Thank you.”
She ran her hands up his shoulders and clasped her hands behind his neck, pulling him down into a kiss. Her lips were so soft. So warm.
He held her to him and swayed with her to the rhythm of their heartbeats. Teague hummed absently as they slow danced.
Even though he was about to bid farewell to his sister, Teague knew that she wouldn’t be under as long as Ronan had been. She was stronger than that.
His clan was waking up. First Jax and Damon, and now him. They were powerful and would stand against whatever rogue pack or witch tried to come against them. This woman right here in his arms had fought for him. She was strong, and so were the rest of his people.
He took a deep breath and kissed the top of her head. “Come on. Let’s see how she’s doing.”
Riley no
dded. “Liv,” she called out. “Stay here. We’ll be back in a little while.”
“M-kay,” she yelled from somewhere upstairs.
“Teague,” Riley said. “Audra’s going to be just fine.”
He grabbed Riley’s hand and headed for the door. No matter what happened, Riley was with him and he believed anything was possible if she said it was true. She’d given him back his hope. His soul. His grace.
Maybe the witches who’d come to take Audra could help figure out what witch was helping the rogues. He could only hope. Either way, Teague had no doubt that this would work out for his family.
The time of the Ghost Shifters was coming to an end, and the saber-tooth cats were being reborn. One by one their beasts were peeking through, being brought back to life by their mates. Riley was the best of him. She inspired him to be the best he could be in all ways, and because of the hope she’d given him Teague knew that his sister would be okay. She was thankful for him? No. He thanked the All Mighty Creator for this woman.
Riley made all his doubts disappear. She believed in him, in their people. And now he did too, more than ever.
Up next in the Ghost Shifters series
Audra Defoe gets her story in
The Shifter's Salvation
Coming February 2019
