Wicked After Dark: 20 Steamy Paranormal Tales of Dragons, Vampires, Werewolves, Shifters, Witches, Angels, Demons, Fey, and More

by Mina Carter

  “All right, I’ll get the next one,” she went to the other end of the car while I sat on the bumper of the still open hatch for a couple minutes, letting my body absorb some of what I’d drank.

  As the next volunteer rounded the front of the vehicle I stood again and prepared to continue. I shifted four more of our volunteers, with a break after two for another drink, before I called a break. I needed to walk around some and I needed more food, but I was getting sick of the shakes.

  I mingled with the remaining volunteers for a few minutes, getting to know some of the pack members a little better. When I started feeling a little better I approached Alexis to ask if she had thought to bring anything else I could eat, because I hadn’t, but when I was almost to her Joe stopped me.

  “I thought you could use something real to eat, so I’ve started the grill and I’ve got a stack of burgers ready to go on as soon as it’s ready.”

  “Thank you,” I said gratefully. “I was just headed to ask Alexis if she had anything but those shakes. They work great, but you can only stomach so many at a time.”

  “I haven’t picked up any of those yet, though word’s gone out that they’re good, quick energy. I can imagine they’d get old real quick if you were using a lot of energy.”

  “They can,” I confirmed.

  “Give me about half an hour, and I’ll have some meat ready for you to sink your teeth into.”

  “That sounds like heaven, thank you.” He turned away and went back to cooking. I went ahead and spoke to Alexis, I told her what Joe had said and continued with, “I think some real food will help.”

  “Good. I think a break will to us all good.” She finished her conversation with another woman and turned back to me. “Are you feeling more comfortable in your ability to call animal forms yet?”

  “Yeah, I do. I’m pretty sure I have it down. It’s a lot more draining sometimes, and I can’t figure out why sometimes it’s like they don’t want to shift, but I can do it.”

  “It feels like they’re fighting you because they are. I asked several of the volunteers to resist shifting, so that you would get some practice calling reluctant animals. Sometimes medications or injury will make it difficult to call an animal form, this is a good way to practice it. I didn’t tell you because I wanted to see if you could tell the difference, and how strong you are. Some of those resisting are pretty strong, but you’re doing great.”

  “Thanks. It’s good to know I’m doing a good job. I’d like to eat, then finish shifting the last few, and then head home. Do you think we can do that or will not shifting and joining the run be considered an insult?”

  “Nah, Joe’s pretty understanding. Plus, I warned him that you might want to just go back to town.”

  “Good. I don’t want to upset anyone, but the longer I go the more tired I feel. Real food will go a long way, but after shifting the rest I’m gonna be tired again and I just want to get back before I’m totally drained.”

  “Not a problem. I’ll let Caden know the game plan and then we’ll see if Joe’s got those burgers ready.”

  “Caden won’t stay and run?”

  “No, he’ll go with us.”

  “I thought he was going to run.”

  “If we were running, he would, but since he’s security, he stays with us, whatever we end up doing.” I nodded, understanding.

  We ate the burgers that Joe made for us and I shifted the remaining volunteers, including Joe before Alexis, Caden and I climbed back into Alexis’ vehicle and headed back into town.

  I was quiet most of the trip, enjoying the view I’d been too nervous to notice on the way out. I listened to the music that Alexis and Caden chose while I drank another of the shakes from the ice chest and listened to the two of them when they talked.

  By the time we pulled into the parking lot at my apartment I was feeling better, I thanked Alexis for organizing the morning, and Caden for watching over us. I gathered my things and headed up to my apartment.

  Chapter 25

  A FEW DAYS after the marathon shifting session Bill called me. It was early, before I’d made it into work yet.

  “Nickie, I have news,” he said as soon as I answered the phone.

  “Tell me it’s good news.” I was hopeful.

  “Well, good news and bad news. I’ve talked Alexis and several others around the country. No one has ever heard of anyone ever trying to force the animal form of a non-shifter in the way you’re wanting.”

  “And that means?”

  “That means that no one I’ve talked to knows if it can be done, most think it can’t, but some think it may be possible.”

  “Well, I guess that’s something,” I said. “I still think I can do it. I want to try.”

  “I’d like to see if you can too. But we still have to see if Devon even wants to.”

  “I’ll take care of that, with your permission.”

  “You have it.” We wrapped up the conversation and disconnected. I went to work trying to figure out what I would say to Devon.

  I’d decided that I wanted to approach the topic to Devon on my own. I thought I could ease into it, not influence him, and let him make the decision for himself. I was afraid that a having Bill or more present when the topic was approached would only push him into doing something that he may regret in the future, and that was the last thing I wanted to do.

  That evening I made a point to seek out Devon on my way in from work. I invited him to come up to my place for a quick dinner, I told him I had something that I wanted to talk about with him if he didn’t mind.

  Forty-five minutes later we sat down to a dinner of salad and grilled steaks.

  “Dev, you’re aware I have several talents, right?” I cut several bites off my steak as I asked.

  “Yeah, what about them?” He took a bite of the salad.

  “One of my talents is that I sense powers in others.”

  “I know, I heard you talking about it with Hank.”

  “Well, the thing is, I can sense a wolf in you.” That caught his attention and he set his fork down and blinked at me a moment before he said anything more.

  “But I’m not a shifter.” he protested.

  “You’ve never been able to shift before, I know. I noticed this some time ago, but it took me a while to realize what it was. I can’t sense anything similar in humans, I’ve tried. I’m certain that I’m feeling your wolf.” I saw confusion in his eyes and continued. “Have you ever thought about what you might do if someone gave you the option, the possibility, of being a shifter?”

  He was silent, picking his fork back up and eating for several minutes before he responded, “You know, I honestly don’t know. When I was younger I resented not being able to shift, I was convinced that there was something wrong with me because I couldn’t shift. But now I’ve come to terms with it, I realize that it’s just the way I am.”

  “I understand that, and really, I’m not going to push one way or the other. I am raising a possibility. If you were given the option of having someone try to bring your wolf, and it worked, it made you into a shifting Kitsune, would you?” He remained silent, unsure what to say. “You don’t have to answer now, think about it a while. Let me know what you think.”

  “I’ll think about it. It’s never been suggested so I didn’t think it was possible.”

  “It may not be,” I warned. “I’m the only one we know of who can sense your wolf, but I’m also the only person in the pack who can sense powers and call animal forms both. It may simply be that the two skills in combination are what it will take. Or it may not work at all.”

  “So even if I decide to try, I could end up unchanged? Still a non-shifter?”

  “I’m afraid so. It’s something only you can decide if you want to try.”

  “I’ll consider it. Who all have you talked asked about this, if it was possible and all?”

  “I’ve only talked to you and Bill. I didn’t want to mention it to you if we knew it wasn’t poss
ible, so I asked Bill. He’s talked to several people, though I doubt he used names, trying to find out if it’s ever been done.”

  “I see. Can you give me a while to think about it?”

  “That’s not a problem, I know this is pretty sudden and it’s not a decision I’d expect you to make in an instant.”

  “Thanks. Can we keep it between us? I don’t want a bunch of people hounding me for a decision.”

  “Sure, I hadn’t planned on telling anyone anyway. It’s nobody’s business but yours.”

  “Thanks for that.” We were quite most of the rest of dinner, but it was a comfortable silence. After dinner Devon thanked me for the meal and excused himself, siting that he had to get up early the next morning. I knew I’d given him a lot to about.

  A couple of days later while I was on my way to the clinic my PCD rang. I glanced at the screen where the device was attached to the dash and saw it was Raine. I wondered what he wanted so early in the morning.

  “Hey, Raine. What’s up?” I asked after hitting the button that sent the call through the car’s stereo system.

  “I wanted to know if you have plans for this evening.”

  I thought for a second before replying, “Nope, what’s up?”

  “Come to my place for dinner. We should talk.”

  “Is something wrong?”

  “No, nothing wrong. Just come over, I’ll feed you, we’ll talk.”

  “You going to tell me what you want to talk about?”

  “No, just come.”

  “Mysterious ass.” He laughed on the other end of the line. “What time you want me to show up?” I asked.

  “Come by about six.”

  “Want me to bring anything?”

  “Just you.”

  “All right, I’ll see you then.”

  I ended the call, parked the car and went into the clinic, wondering what Raine wanted to talk about.

  Chapter 26

  ALEXIS LET ME go early that evening so I could get ready to go to Raine’s. I went home and showered and changed before heading over to his place. He lived on the south end of town, and by the time I got there I was almost late. I knocked on his front door, and only had to wait for a moment before the door swung silently open, revealing my brother. He was close enough to me in height and age that I didn’t really consider him a big brother, though he was almost a year older than me. I walked in and wondered what was going on, we saw each other every week at the family dinner, but it was uncommon for him to have one sibling over without the others.

  “Hey, How you doing?” He gave me a hug as I stepped inside the house.

  “Good, confused as hell, but I’m good.” I watched as he closed the door and turned toward the living room.

  “I’ve got enchiladas in the oven, they’ve still got a while to cook,” he said. “Do you want anything to drink? I’ve got sodas, tea and water.”

  “A Pepsi would be great, if you have one. If not, I’ll take tea.”

  “I have Pepsi, let me get that for you. Have a seat, I’ll be right back,” he invited, heading into the adjacent kitchen.

  When he returned he handed me a glass filled with ice and the dark soft drink.

  “So, what’s up?” I asked.

  “I thought we should talk.”

  “You said that on the phone, about what?”

  “Life. Changes. What’s happening with you, all of it.”

  “I’m not sure what you’re talking about,” I pretended ignorance.

  “Yes, you do, Nickie,” he said calmly, confidently. “But I guess I’ll go first, since I’ve been keeping my secret longer.”

  I stayed silent, waiting to hear what he felt he needed to tell me.

  “I have what I think of as a blessing,” he looked down at his hands, clasped together between his knees. “I’ve known some who’ve called it a curse, but more often than not, it’s been a blessing to me.” I raised one eyebrow in question, but didn’t say anything.

  “I’ve had it as long as I can remember, my grandmother, who had the same gift, taught me when I was very young never to tell anyone, ever, about it. So when Mom and Dad adopted me I kept it secret. You’re the first person I’ve ever told.” He looked back up at me, meeting my eyes.

  “And why are you telling me now?” I wanted to know.

  “Because it’s time to share, Nickie, for both of us.”

  I tried to calm the panic in my chest. I could hear my own heart beating too rapidly, and I couldn’t make it slow. I could only hope that Raine couldn’t hear it.

  “I don’t know what you mean,” I tried to pretend I didn’t know what he was talking about.

  “I think you do, but I’ll continue anyway. I’m a seer, at least that’s what Nan called us. I sometimes have visions. Bits of the future, events that could happen. Sometimes I can change them, sometimes not, and sometimes I don’t even try, or want to.

  Sometimes it’s not events that that I get but insights into others, sometimes people I’ve just met, sometimes people I’ve known for years.” I was trying to keep a straight face, not to let him know that I already knew about his talent.

  “I know what you are, Nickie,” he continued. “I’ve known about your kind, though not about you, for years.”

  I couldn’t keep my shock off my face, how could he know? I blinked at him, unsure what to say.

  “I didn’t ask you here to make accusations, condemn you, or to rail at you. I just wanted to let you know that I know. So you don’t feel like you have to continue keeping it secret from me. Someone to talk to is something we all need sometimes.”

  “How do you know?” I finally found the words to ask.

  “I saw you shift.”

  “When? I’ve been so careful. I would have scented you if you’d been around.” I was almost panicking at the thought that I had somehow missed him and if I’d missed him I could have missed someone else.

  “I wasn’t physically there, but as for where, I would say you were on the mountain. You were standing next to an old pickup.” A blush rose up my face. It occurred to me that if he’d seen me shift he’d also seen me naked, but I tried to ignore that tidbit.

  “How long have you known?” I asked

  “A few days.”

  “Not about me, about the Kindred.”

  “I assume by kindred you mean the shifters?” he asked. When I nodded, he continued, “Years. The first time I encountered one and picked up a sight of them in wolf form, was when we were teenagers.”

  “And you’ve never said a word?” I wondered.

  “I figured I had secrets too. I wouldn’t want them to share mine, so I kept quiet about theirs.”

  I was amazed. I’d never imagined that Raine would know about us, but the thrill that I no longer had to keep my secret from him raced through me.

  “You know, Mom and Dad know what I am,” I shared. “But the Anikitos said I couldn’t tell the rest of the family, as the whole race is a secret.”

  “I understand,” he said. “I just wanted you to know, you don’t have to keep it from me.”

  “I’m glad.” A timer went off in the kitchen and Raine went to take care of dinner. We visited a bit more while we ate and then I went home.

  Saturday morning, as soon as I’d eaten breakfast and dressed for the day I called Bill.

  “Are you busy?” I asked.

  “Not really, what’s up?”

  “We should talk, and I think it should probably be in person.”

  “Are you all right?” he asked.

  “Yes, I’m fine. It’s not urgent but it should be soon.”

  “All right, I believe you. How about noon? Come see me, and we’ll talk.”

  “Noon’s great, I’ll see you then.”

  “See you then.” I disconnected the call and sat down the phone, trying to figure out the best way to say what I knew I had to tell him.

  I knocked on Bill’s door at exactly noon. I’d asked for the meeting and I felt like it would be
rude to be late after he’d made time for me. After a few seconds Gabriel answered the door. I’d forgotten that he would probably be there.

  “Hey Nickie, how you doing?” he asked, ushering me into the house and closing the door to keep the cool air inside.

  “Pretty good, you?”

  “Staying busy. Bill said you’d be coming by, and to tell you he’s in his office when you got here.”

  “Not going to escort me down there and guard him from me?” I teased, making him smile.

  “No, I know you won’t hurt him. Besides, he said not to,” Gabriel admitted.

  I laughed. “I guess I’ll see you later, if you’re still around,” I said over my shoulder as I headed down the hall for the office. As much as I wasn’t looking forward to it, I wanted to get it I over with at the same time.

  I didn’t see Bill in the room when got to the door. I stepped inside anyway and looked around the room, still not finding him. I was about to turn around and go back to Gabriel when Bill appeared in the doorway. He was carrying a plate piled high with cut fruit in one hand and a pair of glasses in his other.

  “Have a seat; I got us something to eat,” he motioned toward the seating area we generally used. I sat down, but on the edge of the black leather chair, instead of all the way back like I normally would.

  “You said we needed to talk?” Bill prompted, setting the plate and glasses down and taking a seat in the other chair.

  “I did.” I took a deep breath and let it out slowly before speaking again, “I wanted to be face to face when I told you that Raine knows.”

  “You told your brother?” Bill was carefully showing no emotion, keeping me from being able to judge his reaction.

  “No, I didn’t have to. He already knew.”

  “Who told him?” He seemed to be running short on patience.

  “Let me tell you what happened last night, then you’ll know as much as I do.”

  “I think that would be a good idea.” hHis voice terse.

  I explained to him what Raine had said to me last night, and finished with, “I already knew he was a seer, but I didn’t know he’d be able to tell that we were shifters.”