Romancing the Sweet Side

by Tianna Xander, Elle Boon, HA Fortman, Trinity Blacio, Cheryl Dragon, Caitlyn O'Leary, Dawn Montgomery, Megan Slayer, Viola Grace

  “No! Shit!” The huge trees she’d managed to avoid by some miracle were growing farther apart, but the shrubs and ferns were becoming thicker. They were almost laughing as they sliced small, stinging cuts, taking their payment out in her flesh.

  A loud snap brought a shrill scream that boomeranged around the small clearing, aided by the lack of sleep and the terror of her trip down the side of what was possibly the world’s tallest mountain.

  Now, Chrissy knew she had to be dreaming, a nightmare, although the pain was real as it radiated in sharp spirals up her leg. She watched herself slowly came to a stop in a small clearing.

  “Help... please...” Who would dare to help her? Was there even anyone out there to hear her crashing down the hill?

  Chrissy battled back the all-consuming need to sleep. Just rest her eyes for a little bit. But she knew she couldn’t. Gravely, pushing herself once more to her feet, the last thought was to keep going, to be thankful that the fog was mysteriously gone.

  Stepping forward, her calf shot white-hot agony up her leg, overriding the rest of the pain that seemed to dully pulse through her body. Instead of bearing her weight, she collapsed in a heap. Not prepared for the fall, Chrissy wasn’t able to stop her headlong collision with the moss-covered boulder that just barely peeked through the knee-high grass.

  A kaleidoscope of color washed through her vision, reminding her of the fireworks in a dark sky. With a soft sigh, Chrissy lost the battle. The darkness consumed her and dragged her into unconsciousness.

  Chrissy awoke to a symphony of aches and pains throughout her body. A soft groan escaped her lips, as she attempted to roll over. “I need a new mattress; this one feels like a rock.”

  Unable to move more than a few inches, she lifted her head and peered around through blurry eyes. The last thing she recalled was falling down the hill and intense pain as her leg gave out unexpectedly. Perhaps she had crawled her way into this cave?

  Other than the warm darkness, the echoing drip of water somewhere in the depths of shadows dancing along what appeared to be rough-hewn stone walls, and the rapid breaths of many creatures there wasn’t anything else to hear in the barren cave. And since when had darkness ever been warm?

  She could hear the shallow breaths of several... beings... all about her, and feel the weight of several bodies radiating heat against her sides. Chrissy moved her arms that rested on top of the covering, feeling the soft blanket that stretched from shoulders to toes. That would explain some of the warmth at least.

  She felt her head being lifted and lowered with the steady breath of someone beneath it.

  It was obvious that she had been found in that lonely valley and they had brought her here, sheltered her from the encroaching night. But where was she?

  “You’re awake.” The rumbling voice vibrated against the back of her head, followed by gentle fingers that almost pet her as they moved against her forehead. The sound and touch were definitely from a male; the voice was too deep to be from a female and the calloused fingers too large.

  She tried to move once more, but the weight of bodies on either side, resting on top of the blanket covering her, pinned her in place. “I... where am I? Who are you? Why can’t I move?”

  Chrissy hadn’t meant to bombard the person with questions, but once she started, the flood gates opened and she couldn’t seem to stop. Even if they were nothing more than a choked-off whisper.

  “Be at ease, they will not harm you. No one will.” Again, that light touch to her forehead, sending tingles throughout her body, eased her discomfort. It seemed to grip her fear and set it aside, much like a father would when comforting a child until his fingers brushed against the wound, a feather-light collision that burrowed into her very skull, a sharp spike of pain she felt down to her toes.

  Chrissy gasped and covered the offended area, shocked at finding a large welt just below her hairline and hidden beneath what felt like damp leaves.

  A memory came flashing back—the mad dash through the forest as she bolted from some unseen, unknown adversary. Chrissy tried to recall exactly why she had leaped through the forest like a terrified deer, moving aimlessly through the maze of gloom.

  The exercise in futility did nothing more than increase that throbbing, searing pain. Panic rode her hard; Chrissy tried to bolt upright and dislodge the heavy weights on either side but ended up only moving them a little bit.

  Soft yelps and the sound of claws scrabbling on smooth stone raised the hairs on her arms. It wasn’t another person that had lain on top of the blanket on either side but two canines. And from the sounds as they moved farther away, they weren’t little lap dogs.

  The darker shadows moved from her side, standing so tall, she knew they would easily reach her mid-chest if she were standing.

  What appeared to be long, shaggy coats fluttered in a soft breeze; the fresh air carried the distinct scent of cinnamon and lavender. A combination she was sure wasn’t from the canines, melded seamlessly with the faint hint of maple. It had to be coming from the man.

  Chapter Two

  Moving carefully, her body reminding her that any sudden moves would be a very bad idea, Chrissy pulled herself further away from the stranger. It wasn’t just the aches and pains that demanded she go slowly, but Chrissy knew that these... creatures might take exception if she moved too fast.

  A soft squeak escaped when she moved the soft blanket and discovered that she’d been stripped of her tattered clothing. Swiftly wrapping herself back up, Chrissy dropped inelegantly down once more. “Where are my clothes?”

  “They were nothing more than rags. The dire wolves decided they were offensive and buried them like offal.” A chuckle followed the sound of a body moving behind her, the sound of cloth rubbing against cloth as he did something in the inky darkness.

  She tilted her head, closing her eyes to better hear where he was, “How can you see without crashing into something? You must spend a lot of time in this... cave?”

  She didn’t hear him move anymore but saw sparking light through her lashes out of the corner of her eye. Slowly, a fire gradually brought brightness to the cave.

  Flickering light danced off of the crystals embedded in the rough walls. “So, they just ripped them from me and you didn’t try to stop them? What am I going to wear?”

  Chrissy was too busy staring around the walls, the intricate designs and animals drawn in red, brown and black lines were mesmerizing as they seemed to move with the dancing shadows of the fire. The floor was the same tan stone as the walls, worn smooth by time. She could get lost in the parietal art if she let herself.

  “With animals that large, do you think I’m going to argue?” Chrissy turned as he spoke, breaking the spellbinding effect of the cave painting. “Besides, I have some clothing you can wear. They might be a bit big for you, but it’ll work.”

  Casting her eyes around the cavern, she discovered just how large they were. What she thought would reach her chest was actually the “runt” of the pack. The rest, though, they were easily tall enough to look her in the eyes. Chrissy thought they were at least six feet from nose to tail, but the largest was easily another foot taller and longer. Chrissy knew they could easily hurt or kill her if they got it in their heads to attack, and there wouldn’t be a single thing she could do about it.

  “Are you hungry? Do not fear my wolves. They will not attack unless provoked, and I don’t imagine you are going to attack me.” He kept his voice soft, almost as though afraid of spooking her. “Yes, they are dire wolves, and I am Arwan.” The way he said his name, with the stress on the when, made her think of the Celtic music her mother used to listen to.

  Chrissy blinked; she remembered a small tidbit, a fleeting memory that was gone before she could fully latch onto it.

  Movement out of the corner of her eye caused her to turn and catch the pale-blue tunic and pants Arwan tossed to her, or at least she attempted to. She tried to keep the light blanket firmly ov
er her bare body while slipping into the borrowed clothing.

  Hastily, she pulled the long, simple shirt over her head. The soft fabric tied in the front just below her neck and again at her waist but left ample space for her to slip it off without untying if she wanted to. Its long sleeves stopping a few inches after her fingers, Chrissy knew she would have to roll them up several times just to reach her wrists.

  Turning her back to the man, she slipped her legs into the long pants after pushing the sleeves out of the way, rolling the legs up several times before standing and tying the waist. Once she was sure the length was closer to her ankles and not her toes, she made sure to roll the waist over a few times. It wasn’t a glamorous look, but at least she was dressed.

  Absentmindedly, she began to fold the blanket and set it down before using it as a cushion. “I’d love something to eat. And thank you for finding me. I... I’m sorry if I seemed ungrateful. I’m just... how did you find me? I thought no one was in the forest.”

  “Be at ease, child. The wolves heard your screams as you were falling down the hill and went to investigate. When they found you, they raised the alarm and brought me to you.” As he spoke, Arwan went to what appeared to be a hole carved into the floor of the cave and retrieved a bundle of leather from its depths. “I healed you, but it took a lot out of me. You’ve been asleep for several days.”

  “Wait, did you say they were dire wolves? I thought those went extinct ages ago!” Absently, Chrissy took the proffered slice of dried meat Arwan handed her. She couldn’t remember much from her history classes, but she remembered that dire wolves were no longer around. “But... how?”

  She wasn’t sure, but she thought she heard Arwan mutter, “On Earth but not here.” But she couldn’t be sure. He was shuffling things around behind her, and the wolves—she could accept that they were wolves—were pacing back and forth, their claws clicking on the rocky floor.

  Making her way through the jerky, an appreciative moan slipping past her lips at the almost sweet taste, Chrissy watched the man and his wolves make their way toward the front of the cave.

  There were so many questions she wanted to ask him. How had they gotten her to the cave after they found her? How had he healed her? She distinctly remembered her leg breaking, trying to stand and falling where she cracked her head on the rock. Mostly, she wanted to know why she couldn’t remember anything other than being lost in that fog-covered forest.

  The sudden reappearance of Arwan startled her into nearly choking, her body jerking back from the leather bag-like canteen dangling in front of her. “They go to hunt; apparently, they feel that my wares aren’t good enough for a young, healing pup. Tell me what you remember. Why were you in the veil wandering as though some monster was chasing you.”

  Taking a healthy sip of what she thought was water, Chrissy started coughing on the wine. Helpfully pounding her back, Arwan just gave her an indulgent, and slightly guilty, smile. “That’s not water!”

  “I apologize; I should have thought to warn you. It is Ice Wine, filled with herbs to help you regain your strength faster.”

  Shaking her head, Chrissy took smaller sips this time before passing it back. “I... I wish I knew where I was or why I was running through the forest. All I remember is stumbling through the thickets and thinking that I had to run from “them.” That I couldn’t let “them” catch me. I just don’t know who “they” are or anything else!”

  Large, warm hands rested against her shoulders, “Breathe. It will come back to you when the time is right.”

  “You act like you know...” She knew she sounded sullen but couldn’t help it. She needed to know what was going on.

  Gently, Arwan turned her to face him. “I do know what happened. And no, I cannot tell you. It is something you have to remember on your own. If I were to tell you, it would send you into a shock so deep, even I wouldn’t be able to heal you again. Just know that it is not as bad as you seem to think. And it will be answered in due time.” He waited until she gave him a reluctant nod before moving away with a soft chuckle. “The wolves are back, and they’ve brought you a surprise.”

  Chrissy didn’t know what to expect, but to see three of the wolves herding in mythical fauns, with their male upper halves and goat legs, and pixies of all shapes and sizes with everything from butterfly wings in amazing colors with long, narrow dragonfly wings, loaded down with baskets of food and flowers were definitely not it.

  She almost laughed at the comical expressions of annoyance on their faces and the way the wolves pranced with pride around her. “Thank you, would you all care to share? There’s way too much for just me to eat!”

  Mountains of food were set before her, each of the twenty fauns and pixies gave her a shy smile before shaking their heads.

  Finally, a brawny faun that easily stood six feet in height presented a large basket of fully cooked meats to her. “Would that we could, Miss, but the rest of us have already broken our fasts. Please, accept these gifts and fill your plate with our blessings.”

  As quietly as they arrived, each bowed low to her and Arwan before turning and vanishing into the darkness. They all left, except for the wolves, who now sat before her with all the expectant air of a small child waiting for gifts.

  “Are they... are they waiting for something, or am I the main dish?” She was only half joking as she cast a worried look at Arwan. She felt her body tensing, even though she knew she’d never make a single step if they chose to attack.

  “They are waiting for you to give them permission, to share in breaking your fast.” Arwan spoke softly, “It is polite to share since they were the ones that gathered the others.”

  Chrissy swore several of the wolves nodded, but that couldn’t be. Yes, they were intelligent animals, but they were just that, animals. She couldn’t deny that they all shifted their gazes from her to Arwan and back again. They even did that crazy head tilt, some even bending so far the tips of their ears brushed the stone floor, which she always found comical.

  There was enough food placed before her to feed a small army. “I’m not going to be able to eat all of this.” She muttered softly, bending down slowly to peer through the baskets. There was everything from some strange flat bread to roasted chicken!

  Searching around through the baskets, Chrissy found a plate and silverware. When she picked the plate up, it weighed as little as a paper plate but looked like delicate china. The silverware was actually silver, some of the delicate roses on the handles looked to be hand carved.

  Chrissy dished herself a bit of the chicken and some of the mixed vegetables, even some of the flat but crispy bread. She would save what looked like brownies for later. After making sure she had a bit of everything set aside for Arwan, she motioned for the wolves to help themselves.

  With a sense of wonder, she watched as the largest wolf stepped forward, growling menacingly at the others until they backed off. He was obviously the alpha of the pack and nudged the smallest pup forward.

  Her plate nearly hit the ground when a muted golden light surrounded both the largest wolf and the pup, swirling purple stars danced around streamers of blue and silver.

  The hairs on the back of her neck jumped to attention when the light faded; her knees wanted to buckle when she blinked away the dancing spots of light in her vision.

  Mythical fauns and pixies, she could deal with... but this? This was pushing it beyond her coping abilities.

  Chapter Three

  It... He... It was definitely a male, and he was currently kneeling where the largest wolf she had ever seen had once been standing! She knew it was the same... thing, because its eyes were still that haunting faded gold with brown striations. The shaggy hair, that now reached his shoulders, was that same mahogany streaked with black.

  He was watching her closely as she raced backward. Amazingly, she could deal with seeing the other creatures, mythical beings brought to life before her very eyes, but seeing this? Everyone knew
wolves didn’t magically change into men. A nearly naked man, at that, as he stood in only a pair of loose pants. Nope, her brain refused to process it.

  Backing up as fast as she could, Chrissy nearly collided with the fire,would have, had the man not leaped forward and grabbed her by the shoulders. “Easy. You don’t want to add a burn to your head injury.”

  His voice was deep, sending shivers racing through her body. She thought the fog-enshrouded forest was terrifying or the sense that she had to run as fast and as far as she could before “they” caught her, but that was nothing compared to the sheer panic zipping through her right now. Werewolves weren’t supposed to be real. None of this was.

  “What... how...” She couldn’t even put two words together, her sentence ending in a soft whimper.

  “Breathe. Chrissy, you need to breathe, darlin’.” He had an accent? It sounded like something she would hear from someone down south in Alabama, not something she expected from a wolfman. “We’re shifters. We can change at will from humans to wolves. It’s why we let the rest of the world think we were extinct. Once man started hunting us, we went into hiding. Arwan and his people give us shelter in exchange for our protection.”

  She felt him guiding her to a small outcropping of rocks, urging her to sit down on its smooth surface, but she couldn’t take her eyes off of the man before her. He appeared to be not much older than she herself, but it was hard to tell. Do they age the same?

  She knew that the laughter was slightly hysterical, but she just couldn’t keep it down. It started as a few giggles and grew into a riot of nearly rib-breaking laughter before it finally died down once more.

  Swiping at the tears that ran down her cheeks, Chrissy saw the concerned looks from the rest of the wolves. Arwan had come to kneel before her with the strange wolf-changing man on her other side.

  “Are you better now?” Arwan’s voice was soothing as he rested a hand on her shoulder.