Twisted Time

by Candi Fox

  A sad smile tilted up the corners of her mouth. “I did the day of the ritual. Whatever day that was.”

  “You think we’ve lost time?”

  She moved his hand, placing it over her belly, “Don’t you think so?”

  “It’s likely. Did you use your father’s money to make Evanora feel bad?”

  Emma shook her head, a real smile on her beautiful face. “No, I used my money to let Evanora know a few things. She told the Franks you would pay off her debts. Earlier that morning she tried to turn a group of townswomen against me. Claiming you were her husband. Since the house is the woman’s domain, I didn’t think you would mind.”

  “I don’t, but I’d appreciate a heads up on large purchases. Was that all your allowance?”

  “It’s not an allowance. I have money of my own. I saved all the money I received throughout the years as presents. On my sixteenth birthday I asked my father to invest my funds. I chose the investment, since unmarried women are only allowed certain liberties.

  “It’s grown into a goodly sum. Our sum now. It belongs to the family. To our pack.”

  “I like the sound of that. Our pack family. I’d like to tell my parents everything.”

  “Of course. Thank you for waiting.”

  “Anything for you, Em.”

  He rubbed his thumb across the back of her hand as they finished their walk. He used the cat’s vision to guide them easily through the darkness.

  His brothers guided the others behind them. The first thing he noticed when they reached the property was the barn. It stood finished with a fresh coat of red paint with white trim.

  Planters and planting boxes full of fall flowers livened up the porch. He opened the door quickly locating a fancy gas lamp, then locating the matches in a nearby drawer he lit the lamp. Leading the way into the house before lighting more.

  Part of him wanted to see all the changes rendered in the home, but he knew Emma’s parents deserved answers.

  “Please everyone, come in and sit down.”

  Emma

  Wide-eyed, Emma sat on the overstuffed Turkish sofa. She ordered a five-piece suit the afternoon of the ritual. The furniture would have taken at least three weeks to arrive, and up to six weeks.

  Her father took one side while her mother sat on the other side. Each of them took a hand. She squirmed in her seat, trying to get comfortable, not being used to her baby belly.

  “Start at the beginning, bell.”

  Emma started with the first night she arrived, surprising herself by admitting to being with Cord the first night. She told them everything, well not about the amazing sex, but everything else.

  “Son, do you have anything strong to drink?”

  “Em, where would you put the spirits?”

  “In the dining room sideboard. Plenty of glasses as well.”

  She sat there, stunned not only at the events, but how did she know where something was that she never placed there, or did she?

  Cord brought back a bottle of cognac on a tray with several glasses. He poured the women a finger each before pouring the men three full fingers. Her father surprised her by gulping down the drink, pouring another, and finishing it off.

  “I have how many grandchildren on the way?”

  “Three.”

  “Are you certain?”

  “Wolf can hear their heartbeats.”

  “May I?”

  Emma nodded her head in agreement. Surprised when her father said a few words in Latin and suddenly the butterfly fluttering of three heart beats could be heard.

  “You’re magickal, too?”

  “That’s a tale for another time, the short answer is yes. Now what do you say we all work together and see if we can make sense of what happened?”

  “What do you have in mind Phillip?”

  Her father smiled at her Cord. “Dad please. From all of you.”

  “All right, Dad. What do you have in mind?”

  “I know a spell that should help, I just don’t know the depth of the help we’ll get. If everyone will “lend” me their energy, I can focus it and increase the strength of the spell.

  “Bella, just concentrate on your hands, feel them begin to warm with energy. Close your eyes and focus. Picture soft white balls of energy in each palm.”

  She closed her eyes, picturing balls of energy forming. Her hands tingled and warmth spread through them. Opening her eyes slowly to see each hand, held a ball of soft white light.

  “That’s my girl. Just hold that thought. Sons, please join us; Sage, Amanda, Aponi.”

  Everyone’s hands joined. Her father’s hand rested under her left one while her mother’s hand rested under the right.

  Warm energy began to swirl softly about them. White energy was soon joined by motes of pink and blue flashes of the past that gave way to ghostly memories.

  Cord’s lips and hands brushing against her. Stolen moments with Nik, dinner, and tea with his family. Nights under the stars with Wolf.

  Then the first time she felt the babies move. Everything else forgotten, Emma concentrated on her children. Each little energy, similar yet different.

  Their little flutters gradually grew larger. A laser focused memory surfaced: the four of them in a large bed snuggled up. Each of her mates had a hand on her stomach, the babies moving. It felt like they were dancing in her womb.

  Large tears ran down her face. A mixture of sadness and joy. Surrounded by the people she loved most, memories somehow intact no matter how much time had passed; she remained grateful for the abundance of love in her life.

  When her eyes came back to focus, Wolf sat on her right side, Nik on her left, and Cord knelt directly in front of her. Each of them had their hands on her stomach, tears in their eyes. She must have somehow shared the memory with them.

  Cord spoke, his voice raw with emotion. “I love you, Arabella Emmaline Masterson. I’m sorry it took me so long to say the words. Honestly, I’ve loved you from the moment I set eyes on you.”

  He leaned forward burying his head in her expanding lap. The others accommodated him then closed in the space, so each gave the other comfort. Whatever emotions held him back he released in great heaving sobs.

  “I love you too, my husband. From the moment you mistook me for someone else, you had my heart. How about we see if that bed is real or a figment of my imagination?”

  He chuckled. “Best words I’ve ever heard.”

  Cord stood up then plucked Emma from the couch and headed up the stairs.

  Her father spoke up causing Emma to blush to her roots. In the tender moments with her husbands she’d completely forgotten everyone else.

  “We’ll see ourselves upstairs after turning out the lights.”

  “Thank you, papa. I didn’t mean to be rude.”

  Her father laughed. “It’s understandable while the three of you shared the imagery the rest of us shared the emotions while we were all connected by the spell.”

  He seemed to be as embarrassed as she felt. Cord had the grace to choose that moment to carry her up the stairs to their bedroom.

  Chapter 53

  Cord October 25, 1875

  They lost over four months of time the night of the ritual. Thankfully, the spell his father-in-law led restored all their memories. According to the prophecy, a planetary convergence would take place on October 31.

  With the help of Sergei, he, Wolf and Nik were able to gather evidence on Nora and Beaufort.

  Sergei tracked them after they escaped from the fort. Beaufort had a hideout a few miles outside of Cooperstown. One night while Nora and Beaufort were living it up at Ruby’s. Nik and Wolf snuck into the hideout. They found spell books, components and Beaufort’s diary.

  Nora and Beaufort wanted to use the convergence to open a gate to hell. Literally unleashing hell on earth. Both Wolf and Nik were invaluable in not only gathering the evidence but also creating a counter spell that would shut down the portal should it open.

  With any luck
he’d soon have proof the mortal world needed to lock up the entire gang behind bars. Philip told him he’d take care of making sure the otherworldly beings couldn’t escape.

  His father-in-law hadn’t offered any additional information on what he would do, and Cord hadn’t asked. The man held certain things close to his vest, and Cord had sense enough to know the man must have a good reason for being secretive.

  The front door of his office flew open. Nora strolled in with Festus hot on her heels.

  “Now, Miss Nora, the sheriff is a busy man you ought not bother him.”

  She turned on her best smile. “I’m sure the Sheriff is not too busy to see an old friend.”

  He stood up. “Festus is right, I’m a busy man, and we were never friends, Nora, not really.”

  “How can you say such a thing? You love me.” She stomped her foot. “Tell him Festus, remind him how much he loves me.”

  “Festus give us a few minutes. It seems I need to set Ms. Standhope straight on a few things.”

  No sooner than the door closed Nora threw herself at him, trying to kiss him. He disengaged her arms and stepped back.

  “What’s wrong, love? You used to welcome my embrace.”

  “Not since I met Emma.”

  “I can’t believe you want that trollop when you can have me.”

  She stepped closer again, running a hand across his cheek. He grabbed her hand.

  “Keep your hands to yourself. You and I both know, my only interest in you had to do with magick.”

  Her eyes widened in surprise though she was quick to gain her composure. “We did have magick between us. We have something special. Don’t throw it away on that ragamuffin.”

  He couldn’t hold in his laughter. Her mask slipped in the face of his amusement. He finally saw the real side of Evanora, the cold calculation.

  “You’ll regret rejecting me, Cord Masterson. Just you wait and see.”

  “The only thing I regret is knowing you in the first place. I’m telling you right now to keep my wife’s name off your lips and for that matter, never again tell anyone I’m picking up your tab. It’s not happening. Now or ever again.”

  Without a word she turned on her heel and marched out of the office.

  Emma

  Klara Frank twirled in front of the full-length mirror. “It’s beautiful Emma, thank you for buying me this dress. I’ve never had anything like it. I feel like a princess.”

  Emma kissed her on the forehead. “That’s what big sisters are for. You’ll be the belle of the ball tonight.”

  Klara giggled. “It’s not a ball, it’s a barn dance.”

  “Then you’ll be the belle of the barn dance.”

  “Do you really think so?”

  “I do.”

  “Emma, Elspeth is here with your dress.”

  Ilsa Frank entered the room with Elspeth not far behind.

  “Thank you, Mama.”

  Emma kissed the older woman on the cheek.

  **

  Three hours later, she descended the stairs fashionably late for the party being held in her barn.

  “Sorry my loves, the babies did not cooperate with getting ready.

  She’ made half a dozen trips to the water closet in the time it took her, Amanda, and Elspeth to get her dressed.

  Wolf

  She took his breath away when he spotted her at the top of the stairs. The silk green dress she wore, a few shades darker than her eyes, made her skin glow. Her long hair was pinned up in an elaborate coiffure with large pearl headed hair pins sprinkled throughout. The pearl necklace she wore must have cost a white man’s fortune.

  Five strands of pearls larger than peas gathered around loosely around her throat. In the center was a large piece with a pearl, the three-cent piece, surrounded by diamond and even more pearls. Then three long strands came down her décolletage. Two smaller center pieces adorned it before the three strands separated hanging at three various levels. The last ending inches below her décolletage with a centerpiece slightly smaller than the first, ending with a large tear drop shaped pearls.

  Matching earrings hung from her delicate lobes. He wanted nothing more than to take her back upstairs and spend the night with her in his arms.

  Instead, he wore a white man’s shirt, and soft white buckskin breeches. He offered to dress like the white man did for parties. His mate told him no. She preferred him naked or in his loincloth.

  “Little dove, you look more lovely than the stars that grace the night sky.”

  She smiled, a blush spreading across her cheeks. He adored that she had no idea just how beautiful she was. Take away the fancy dress and expensive jewelry and she would still be the most beautiful woman in attendance.

  “You are too kind, my love.”

  “I’d kiss you, but you have red paint all over your lips.”

  She blessed him with a brilliant smile. “I decided I’d try something new tonight. Since I’m a married woman a little lip color is acceptable.”

  He laughed, sweeping her up in a bear hug. He kissed both her cheeks before dropping a kiss on top of her head.

  Both Nik and Cord did much the same before the four of them walked out. As they neared the barn, Cord offered Emma his arm to escort her into the dance. Their immediate families were the only ones that understood their unusual union.

  Music filtered out of the open doors families and couples strolling around the grounds. The moment Cord and Emma swept into the room not only did the music stop, but every pair of eyes turned in their direction.

  Emma laughed, the musical sound carrying.

  “Please don’t stop on our account. I’m hoping to get my husband to dance with me. Even if I am nearly the size of the barn.”

  The entire town turned out. Bad apples included. He spotted Evanora Standhope and Jacque Beaufort. They stood in a corner, their eyes on the newlyweds. Evanora turned three shades greener than little dove’s dress.

  A smile curved the corner of his mouth as he watched the entire town watch his mate and his brother. Everyone wanted to be them, yet no envy marred his love for them.

  He happily blended into the crowd, talking to his new in-laws. Too bad he couldn’t talk his sister Aponi into joining in the celebration.

  Chapter 54

  Emma

  Thanks to some help from their parents and a little magick, the foursome snuck out of the party early. A quick change of clothes in the woods and they headed to caves more than a hundred miles south of them.

  The prophecy gave them the location for the perfect convergence. Cord planned on them arriving early. He knew that neither Evanora or Jacque could resist the lure of a town party or the necklace Emma wore.

  Hard for a robber to resist a one of a kind necklace of that value. The necklace was a gift from a tribal leader in the South Seas to Emma. He took a shine to the five-year-old beauty and decided to gift her a small box filled with pearls.

  Her parents had the necklace made as a gift for Emma’s eighteenth birthday. Worth thousands of dollars, they had the necklace insured before bringing it out west with them.

  A pretty bauble to lure the eye while the four of them got a head start. The group could have traveled faster, but it wasn’t safe for Emma to try a shifting spell, not while pregnant.

  Emma rode astride Spirit, while Nik rode beside her on a rawboned mare leading a string of horses. Two riding horses and two pack horses. Wolf in animal form scouted ahead of them while Cord in lion form followed them at a safe distance making sure no one trailed them.

  They kept to the main roads for now, the horses hoof prints leaving marks like the dozens of others that passed the same area regularly.

  The group traveled without issue for four days, then a freak snowstorm had them seeking shelter. A rickety line shack provided a place for them to get out of the weather and regroup. A shelter not far from the house made a perfect sanctuary for the horses.

  Nik started the fire; Wolf scouted the area to make sure they
were safe while Cord went to hunt for dinner.

  “You should rest,” Nik told Emma.

  “I’ll just take a short nap.”

  She lay down on top the moth-eaten covers. She pulled her cloak tightly about her for warmth while the fire began to chase away the chill in the air.

  Great snowflakes fell lazily in the afternoon sun. Emma pulled the cloak tighter around her, amazed at the softness of the fur cloak. The color blended into the landscape as she traversed slowly along the forest path.

  Spying a drop of red she hunkered down to get a better look. The drop was still warm, blood. She spotted another drop and then another.

  An enormous white furry beast lay on its side. Red slowly dripped down its side. Every time it howled in pain the storm worsened around them. Slowly, she approached the creature. It looked at her with baleful eyes, snapping its razor-sharp teeth at her.

  “Easy. I just want to help.”

  She took another tentative step towards it. The beast continued to snap and snarl, yet it made no move to stop her approach.

  Finally, she reached the beast’s side to see a great gaping wound. Emma’s hands hovered a few inches from the creature’s hide. She closed her eyes, envisioning balls of soft white light forming. Once the balls formed, she opened her eyes, sending the balls of light into the wound.

  Slowly the wound began to knit together. Emma kept concentrating the glow encasing both of her hands. After a time, the wound fully closed; the beast ceased its howling and regarded her with much friendlier eyes.

  The snow stopped falling and warmth began to sink in. Emma flung back the cloak, sitting up on the bed. It took her a few moments to get her bearings. What an odd dream.

  A freezing wind blew in when the door opened, admitting Cord and Wolf. Cord carried a couple of skinned rabbits.

  “I’m afraid we are already too late.”

  “What do you mean, Wolf?”

  “The gate has already been open: it’s a demon beast that caused this storm.”