by Quinn Loftis
“Wait a second,” said Stella. “What’s underneath these terrible overalls?” She grabbed her front zipper and pulled it down. Underneath, she was wearing a black T-shirt with a pixelated picture of a castle. Above it, were the words” Your princess is in another castle.”
“I don’t get it,” said Stella.
“What? You’ve never played Mario?” asked Kara.
“Like the video game?”
“Yeah.”
“No, I don’t play too many video games.”
“Even in my foster homes, there was usually a Nintendo. Though sometimes they were old or broken. If you’ve never played, you wouldn’t understand, I guess. After you beat the original Mario Brothers game, you find this little toadstool guy, and he says the princess Mario was trying to save wasn’t even in the castle, and you have to start the whole game over again.”
“Ooookay, and why the little joke, Peri?” Stella asked.
“Ciro, the Italian, needs to know what he’s looking for isn’t under those clothes.”
Stella rolled her eyes. “Wasn’t the video game guy a plumber?” asked Stella.
“I’m sure Ciro is going to love being compared to a plumber,” said Kara.
“Just don’t let him come in to inspect your main drain,” said Heather.
“Good thinking, Heather. I’ve heard that can sometimes lead to them trying to lay pipe,” added Kara.
“And he might need to use his ballcock valve,” continued Heather.
“Occasionally, they have to break out their caulk guns,” said Kara.
“Shut up,” yelled Peri, holding up her hands. “No more plumber jokes.”
“Thank you, Peri. What does yours say?” Stella grabbed Kara’s zipper and yanked it down.
“Watch it,” cried the younger girl. Underneath her clothes was another black T-shirt. This one had Jailbait emblazoned across it in large pink letters.
“Well, that’s pretty self-explanatory,” said Stella.
“What does it say?” asked Heather.
“Jailbait,” Kara replied deadpan.
“Ah, too bad, Jailbait,” said Heather. “Big, bad biker boy’s gonna have to keep his hands off you or risk ending up being snared on To Catch a Predator. Read mine,” she commanded, unzipping her own coveralls.
Neither of the girls said anything.
“What is it?” she asked, and Peri could hear the anticipation in her voice.
“Um … it’s just a bunch of dots,” said Kara.
“Dots?” asked Heather.
“It’s braille, you goobers,” said Peri.
“Peri, why did you do that? They can’t read it,” said Heather.
Peri shrugged. “Not my problem. Figure it out.”
Heather huffed. “Describe it to me, Stella.”
“Okay, well, there looks to be two lines of dots. The first one has four … letters, I think,” said Stella.
“What’s the first one look like?
“What’s it … look like?”
“Bad choice of words. Like, where are the dots positioned?” asked Heather.
“Um, one is at the bottom, then there’s like a space, and then there’s another—”
“Hold on,” interrupted Heather. “Do you have any coins?”
“I’ve got some,” said Kara, grabbing her purse.
“Dump them on the dresser and position them how they look on my shirt.”
Kara put several coins on the top of the dresser and spread them out. “There’s not enough to do it all, but here’s the first line.”
Heather placed her hands on the surface of the dresser and moved them gently across it. She felt three coins there. “First letter is k,” she said. She moved to the second letter which was only one coin. “The second letter is a, then l then e. It says Kale. Must be a message for my mate. Exciting. Do the second line.”
“Okay, hold still,” said Stella. “I can’t see the dots.” Kara pulled Heather’s T-shirt down and straightened it so Stella could see the second line. Stella arranged the coins on the desk. “I think that’s it.”
Heather ran her hands over the coins and called out the letters. “H-A-N-D-S.”
“Hands,” said Kara excitedly.
“Yes, Kara, we can spell,” said Stella.
“O-F-F. And there’s an exclamation point at the end,” said Heather. “Hands off? Oh, come on, Peri!”
Peri, Kara, and Stella burst out laughing.
“That is not funny,” said Heather. “Well, guess what, Peri? Kale doesn’t even read braille, so joke’s on you. He won’t even get the message.”
“Don’t be so sure,” replied the fae.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” asked Heather.
“It means you all are using this time to get to know your mates. So, do that. They might have some surprises in store for you. But that is all this time is for. No touching, no kissing, and for the Great Luna’s sake, do NOT let them bite you. No matter what happens.”
“Biting, off-limits, we got it,” said Kara.
Peri stood back and looked them over. They really did look ridiculous with their makeup, styled hair, and industrial coveralls. She knew what they were doing was important, but it scared the hell out of her. If something went wrong, the entire plan might collapse. Nothing to be done about it now. She’d just have to trust them.
“Great, now zip up your coveralls and get out there. Those males are going to be pacing back and forth outside, probably wearing a dirt path in my beautiful zoysia grass. Have fun.”
“We will,” said Kara.
“But not too much fun,” added Peri.
“No promises,” said Heather. She put a hand on Kara and followed her out of the room.
“Don’t worry, Peri,” said Stella. “I’ll keep an eye on them.”
Peri grunted. “Your mate said the same thing.”
“See,” said Stella, “I told you. We’re the mature ones. We are respectful of one another, and I’m not ready to move things along just yet. We’ll be okay.”
Stella walked out and Peri stared after her. “Somehow, I’m not reassured,” said Peri after the healer had gone. “Oh, well, no rest for the weary. Now, I’ve got to go see a djinn about a witch.” She flashed from the room.
Chapter 8
“My brother thinks he takes care of me. He thinks he protects me from the world. In reality, though, it’s just the opposite. You see, Derrick has never had a role model. All he’s known is our father. And that’s about as far from a positive male role model as you can get. But because Derrick has to continue to be my hero, he can reject the life our mother and father chose. He can be something better. This keeps him from walking the path of darkness the world offers.” ~Stella
“We’re supposed to spend the rest of our lives with these men, correct?” asked Kara.
“Yes,” confirmed Heather.
“And apparently that life is going to be a lot longer than you thought, seeing as how we are some crazy supernatural healers and all,” added Stella. “Why do you ask?”
“When I imagined dating my future husband, I certainly didn’t picture myself wearing coveralls and a T-shirt underneath proclaiming me off-limits.” The disdain was evident in her voice.
“The coveralls and ludicrous T-shirts are not the most bizarre things in this entire scenario,” Stella quipped.
“No,” Heather agreed. “I’d say the most ludicrous thing is a blind chick wearing a shirt with braille dots on it that can’t be read by touch.”
“Pretty sure Peri did that on purpose,” Kara said.
“Exactly,” said Stella. “We have no doubt if the braille dots were real, you’d be using the shirt to try and teach”—she made quotations with her fingers—“your mate how to read the braille when in reality he would be trying to cop a cheap feel and you’d be enjoying it.”
“That is brilliant,” exclaimed the blind healer. “And I have to say
I am quite disappointed with myself for not even considering that.”
“Of course, you are.” Stella sighed.
“So, what’s the plan to remain pure of wolf bite?” asked Kara. “I feel like there needs to be a plan in place. Being prepared is always the best policy.”
“Is that years in the foster care system speaking?” Heather asked.
Kara thought back to her time in foster care and shuddered. Being prepared to move, run, or defend herself at a moment’s notice had become a way of life. She’d learned very young that no one was going to look out for her best interest. That was her job, always had been. “You could say that,” she finally answered.
“You okay?” Nick’s deep voice was a soothing balm to her old wounds. Kara had been so lost in her thoughts she hadn’t noticed the males approaching.
She looked up at him, his tough-guy exterior incongruent with the tender look in his eyes as he stared back, the concern evident on his face. She nodded. “I’m good,” then corrected, “I’d be better if I wasn’t wearing the fall fashion for Mechanics Gone Tame.”
The three males all chuckled.
“Might I inquire as to why you three are wearing such out-of-character attire?” Ciro asked.
“I love how you make it sound so reasonable,” Stella said. “As if it’s not completely and utterly side-splittingly laugh-worthy we are dressed in matching, full-body coveralls that leave only our hands and faces exposed.”
“Would this happen to be the work of a certain eccentric fae, hell-bent on making sure that you lasses remain unbonded?” asked Kale.
“Sharp as always,” Heather said, pointing in the direction of her mate’s voice. “And as determined as she is, I find it curious she actually put such cute sayings on the T-shirts underneath. She knew we’d want to unzip these things to show you all.”
“She’s slipping in her old age,” Kara joked.
Nick leaned forward and pressed his lips to her ear. “Mate, could you please refrain from talking about removing clothing? I would greatly appreciate it if I could remain a gentleman and intact of all my parts. That fae who dressed you three has already threatened to do irreparable harm if I even breathed in your direction in an inappropriate way.”
Kara’s lips turned up in a slow smile. “Then you’re going to love what she put on the front of my shirt.”
Nick groaned, causing the others to laugh.
“And on that note, if you four don’t mind, I’d like to have a look-see at this underclothing my mate has so kindly pointed out,” Kale said as he took Heather’s hand and tucked it in his elbow.
“Pretty sure that is exactly the opposite of what she wants,” Stella called out as they began to walk off. “We haven’t made our anti-bite plan, Helen!”
Heather held up a hand and waved at them over her shoulder. “Don’t worry, Stells. I’ll make sure my beast of a mate keeps his canines to himself.”
“What about his hands?” asked Kara.
“I’ll be keeping close track of those as well,” she assured them.
Kara glanced at Stella. “Did you notice she didn’t say she’d be making sure that he kept his hands to himself, just that she’d be keeping track of them?”
“I did,” said Stella. “Oh well, we just have to trust her at this point.”
Nick grabbed Kara’s hand. “Let’s go before there is more discussion about clothing removal. I swear you three are trying to get my pelt turned into a rug.”
“You do have beautiful fur,” Kara said with a grin. “But it would be a shame to put it on the floor where people could step on it. I’ll make sure she turns you into something like a coat. That way, I can wear you out and pet you wherever I go.”
“How considerate of you, my mate,” Nick deadpanned. “So glad you find my demise humorous.”
“I don’t find it humorous. I do, however, find it irritating that you and Peri insist on regulating my choices about my relationship with you, my supposed soul mate,” Kara said.
Nick gave her hand a gentle squeeze but didn’t say anything, which only irritated her more.
“Nick—” Kara began but he cut her off.
“We will talk about it once we’re in private. Let’s just get farther away from the others. Okay?”
This appeased her for the moment, but she wasn’t about to let it go. Kara may only have been seventeen, but she’d been grown in many ways, for a very long time. High fae or not, mate or not, she wasn’t going to be told how to live her life. She was free of the hell she’d lived in for so long, and her choices would be her own.
***
Ciesel flitted through the tops of the trees watching the couple walk along below them. It was the last of the three, the youngest. He’d already cast mind-influencing spells upon the other two, pushing them, increasing their lustful feelings. Or tried to anyway. The Irishman and the blind healer were almost too easy. He hadn’t stuck around to see the completion of the Blood Rites. Listening to them whisper sweet nothings to each other had almost been enough to make him vomit. Watching a werewolf mating ceremony might just push him over the edge.
The other couple, an ancient wolf named Ciro and his mate, had been more difficult … actually, impossible. He’d tried to breach their minds to cast the spell but couldn’t make any headway with either of them. The wolf was simply too old and too strong. Trying to cast the influencing spell on him was like tossing a bucket of water onto a brick wall. No effect. If he’d have tried any harder, he’d surely have alerted the wolf to his presence. The girl was much the same. Despite her young age, she had a maturity of someone far more experienced. Her mind was like an impenetrable fortress. Ciesel realized right away he wasn’t going to influence her either, so he’d moved on to these two. Volcan would just have to get over it. Ciesel had the feeling that when this was all over, Volcan would be in such a good mood from defeating Peri, he wouldn’t be concerned about one little failure.
As the pixie hovered over the final couple, he knew influencing them would be a cakewalk. They were both young for their respective species, especially the girl. She wasn’t even what the humans would consider an adult. Now, listening to her drone on and on about not being told what to do by Peri, Ciesel almost laughed. In his experience, if someone had to tell you how mature they were, then you knew they weren’t. Ciesel extended a hand and muttered several words in an ancient pixie language. An invisible bolt of magic flew toward the man and landed on his head like a gentle wind. It was then the man increased his advances toward the woman. He pulled her close and, with a quick motion, had her resting on her back with him leaning down on top of her. She didn’t object.
The girl, Kara, clung to her man and leaned her head back when he began kissing her neck. Ciesel rolled his eyes. The couple was whispering to one another. Ciesel couldn’t hear their words. All of a sudden, the girl pushed back.
Uh oh.
The man, still under the spell, continued his advances. The girl turned her head. She opened her eyes and…
Double uh oh. She locked eyes with Ciesel.
She’s seen me. Nothing to be done about it now. Might as well have some fun. Ciesel gave her a sinister grin and winked at her. The girl responded by increasing her efforts to fight off the necking werewolf. The pixie laughed as he turned away, flitting through the trees. He’d be long gone before they untangled themselves and gave chase.
Chapter 9
“It’s strange being among the first werewolves mated to a fae. All my life, which has spanned hundreds of years, I had dreamed about her. Of course, all that time, I had imagined her as a wolf. I had pictured us in our wolf forms, hunting together, striding side by side through the forest, feeling the wind in our fur and the dirt beneath our paws. I’ll never have that. And as I look at my beautiful fae mate, I realize I’ll never need it. Elle has taken my expectations and blown them out of the water. Now, I feel sorry for those poor wolves who are mated to Canis lupus. They’ll never get to
experience having a mate that is so utterly and completely … magical. Sad, really.” ~Sorin
Sorin watched as Thadrick, Adam, Adira, and his mate, Elle, all struggled against the invisible barrier to the draheim realm. The other wolves—Drayden, Bannan, Antonio, Aimo, and his packmate, Crina—stood around looking just as useless as he felt. Sorin could feel his mate’s anguish through their bond. She was lending her strength to Thadrick to help him fight against Volcan’s magic, and the effort was draining her energy, which, in turn, drained his own. He could also feel the dark magic seeping through the veil. It felt like an oily film, covering every inch of his skin.
Sorin didn’t understand why the djinn was having so much trouble. Wasn’t this guy supposed to be all-powerful? Sure, Volcan was a high fae, perhaps the strongest of all the high fae, but Thadrick’s power was supposed to be other-worldly. So far, all the djinn had done was stand around, muttering some unintelligible words, wave his arms a bit, and look constipated. Not for the first time, Sorin was glad he didn’t have to bother with silly magic and foolish spells. If he wanted something done, he just phased and used his teeth and claws to make it happen.
“By all means, love, rip the invisible wall to the draheim veil open with your fangs. I’d love to see that.” Elle’s strained voice came through their bond.
“You heard that thought, did you?” Sorin asked Elle.
“It’s hard not to. Your frustration is coming through loud and clear.”
“Sorry, love. I’m just sick of sitting idle. I’ve fought evil fae before. They run and hide and scheme. They never fight fair. When you can’t see them, that’s when they’re most dangerous. I’m ready to find this bastard and sink my teeth into him.”
“Maybe you will if we can figure out how to get this damn veil open. Until then, the only one you’re going to be sinking your teeth into is me.”
“I think I can make that work.”
“Enough!” Thad’s loud voice pulled Sorin from his conversation with his mate. “These efforts are futile.” Immediately, Sorin felt Elle relax as she stopped pushing against the dark magic keeping the veil closed.
