by Bonnie Vanak
Stunned, she watched him walk away. As Jake started examining the plant life, Sienna craned her neck toward the sky. She didn’t like Gabriel prowling about on his own.
Removing a knife at his belt, Jake sawed off a twig from an oak branch and studied it. Sudden anger flared inside her, destroying the camaraderie they’d established. The Elf inside her howled with anger. How dare he harm a tree?
The darkness inside her rose up, nudged her to action. The Lupine held no respect for the forest. Maybe he liked hurting trees, liked hearing them scream inside, their cries rippling through the silent air…
Her hand dropped to the stiletto strapped to her right thigh. Sienna slid out the blade, staring at the tall Lupine’s neck. So easy to creep up behind him, cut him quick, see his blood bubble bright red as he gasped as surely as the tree had gasped when he cut the branch…
Advancing toward the Lupine, knife held behind her, she kept her gaze focused on his back. Close, closer still….
Dear Gods, what was wrong with her? The blackness inside her, the toxicity, was urging her on.
She would not surrender to it. She would fight the evil inside her.
Make him suffer, the darkness urged. Make him scream…
Sienna reached deep inside herself, pulling free the dim white light overwhelmed by the darkness. Rage filled her, wanting her to hurt Jake for hurting the land.
No, you’re not going to win, she silently told the darkness.
And then deep inside her, the light doused the darkness, reminding her of the torment etched on the Lupine’s face as he’d recalled the female who’d died at the Mitchell Ranch. Sienna forced her gaze to the crisp uniform. Jake was a ranger, a protector of land. Not a threat.
Deeply ashamed, she slid the blade back into the sheath as he turned, holding out the twig like an olive branch. The twig was covered with green scales.
“The tree’s got fungus. It’s spreading from the younger saplings to the big old pines that have stood here for years. You’re Elven. Can you fix this?”
Horror crept through her. He asked for help and she’d been ready to cut his throat for hurting the tree. She truly was dark and evil for entertaining such thoughts. If she lingered longer without using the spring of Danu, the darkness would take over and she’d hurt someone badly.
Maybe even Gabriel.
I have to get rid of this evil inside me before I lose control for good.
Sienna spread out her hands, trying to control their trembling. “I can’t. Not now. But I promise when all this is over, I will return and heal your forest.”
Jake nodded and dropped the twig. “Appreciate it. I’ve considered other natural methods, but it’s spreading fast and I’d hate to see the big old guys die from it.”
“You really love your park,” she mused aloud.
He gave her a level look. “It’s not my park. It belongs to itself. I’m just a caretaker. Like you, only I lack powerful Elven light. Or an even more powerful dark.”
Sienna’s shoulders drooped. “How did you know?”
“Word travels fast among the Lupine grapevine. Aiden told me about the Elf who saved the earth when she siphoned away the evil from the soil.” Jake looked deep into her eyes. “I’m sorry about what happened, and I understand what it’s like. Anything I can do to help you, Lady Elf, you give the word.”
Deeply uncomfortable with him knowing her defect, and even more uncomfortable with the praise, she gestured in the direction Gabriel had taken. “I should go check on him.”
Jake’s mouth quirked upward. “He said you were like that.”
“Like what?”
“Stubborn.”
“Not as stubborn as a certain Florida panther shifter.”
His smile dropped. “Go on, but be careful. When Gabe’s in cat form, he can be very aggressive, even to those he cares about. Watch yourself.”
“I can handle him.”
Pine needles crunched beneath the soles of her boots as she walked south, following the line of power poles. She scented nothing unusual, heard nothing except the hum of insects in the trees and the occasional chirp of birds. It was very quiet.
Too quiet.
After a half-mile, sweat dripped down her neck, matted her hair. Sienna wiped her forehead with the tail of her shirt.
Something crackled in the undergrowth. Her head snapped to the left, tracking the movement. There, amid the thick tangle of saw palmettos… was an animal.
Nostrils flaring, she tried detecting the scent. But her senses weren’t as developed as a shifter’s. Sienna advanced toward the scrub. Heart thudding hard in her chest, she kept one hand on the blade strapped to her right thigh.
Anything could lurk in that scrub. Anything that wished to hurt her…
The saw palmetto near the power poles rustled. She turned, gripping the blade’s hilt.
A low snarl came from her right. She stilled.
A big cat prowled out of the undergrowth. Green gaze holding hers, he padded closer. The musk of cat and the unique spice of Gabriel flooded her senses. She released the knife, fear replaced by another, sharper emotion.
Pure lust.
Gaze holding hers, he advanced, muscles moving fluidly beneath his fur. He growled his displeasure. She held her ground. Cowering before him would make her vulnerable.
The cat studied her. Its furry, triangular ears twitched as he sniffed. As he turned away, she felt a sharp stab of disappointment. Such a beautiful creature of the wild. Untamed and free. And he turned his back on her like everything else she’d ever admired and longed to emulate. Gabriel would not turn his back on her now. After all, she’d come to make sure he was safe.
She was so tired of everyone ignoring her, taking her for granted, treating her as a lesser being.
“What’s wrong, panther? Hungry for other game? What about me?”
The darkness inside her rose up, nudged her into action. Do it. Do it.
Sienna unbuttoned her blouse and yanked it open. Not good enough. She pulled it off, unhooked her bra and tossed them both aside.
“Never seen a naked Elf in the woods before? Take a good look, but make it quick. I have places to go, people who are interested.”
Dear goddess Danu, had she actually spoken those words? What was wrong with her? Exposing herself to a beast shifter like Gabriel, whose sexual need was only equaled by his fierceness in protecting the land?
You can’t blame the dark magick inside you for this. It makes you behave irresponsibly but you want him. You’ve wanted no one else ever since he took your innocence. That’s why you’ve avoided this area for so long, until you had no choice but to use the spring of Danu. Gabriel breaks all your will power. Run now, before he takes up the invitation.
The cat stared at her breasts and then licked its lips. It gave a low growl.
His balls swung gently from between his legs. Sienna drew in a deep breath. A reddened shaft, slick and wet, protruded from his sheath.
He was hard and ready to mate.
Sienna quickly retrieved her blouse. My bad, she thought, staring at the cat. But it advanced, prowling silently toward her.
The panther snarled, showing fangs that could render and tear. The cat’s nostrils flared. He’d scented her arousal.
He wanted her equally.
Sienna turned her back.
She did not hear him, not even as his paws clambered through the soil and needles. Sienna barely had time to glance over her shoulder.
Gabriel pounced, shifting back to Skin form as he leapt through the air. Never had she seen such astounding speed and power. She barely had time to draw in a breath when he was upon her. Naked, straddling her, he pinned her to the ground.
“Gotcha.”
“Gabriel…”
“Never tease the panther, pixie.” His gaze darkened, the jade irises overshadowed by the black pupils. “Tease the cat and pay the price. Now, give me your mouth.”
Her lips parted. “Maybe this isn’t such a good idea…�
�
“Too late.”
He kissed her.
Chapter 7
His mouth upon hers was warm and firm, slightly authoritative. Gabriel kissed her slowly, coaxing her to open to him. Feverish with want, she slid her arms around his neck and kissed him back.
He started rubbing against her, slow, sinuous moves that put her hormones on overdrive. It had been too long, far too long.
Moaning, she ground her bottom into the bed of pine needles. Not caring that she had sand in her hair, her clothing. Only caring about the hot pressure of his firm mouth upon hers. Gabriel closed his mouth over her right nipple.
The shock of pleasure made her gasp as he suckled her, flicking his long tongue over her nipple. Arousal bit hard and she undulated her hips, silently pleading for more.
A tiny voice inside her protested. This wasn’t right, caught on the ground with a beast shifter, out in the open where anyone could see her disgrace…
He suckled her harder. Then his right hand skimmed down her belly, unfastened the steel button of her jeans. Sienna lifted her hips.
“Take them off. Be careful of my blades,” she told him.
The slow rasp of a zipper accommodated the slow strokes of his tongue upon her shivering flesh. When her jeans were down to her ankles, he slid his hand down to her panty line, stroked along the dainty lace and then slipped into her panties.
His hand was between her legs. Wetness gushed from her as his fingers probed and dipped inside her. Gabriel found her clit and stroked gently with his thumb. Moaning, she clung to him, her anchor in a storm of erotic bliss.
“I’m going to make you come now, pixie. Here, in the open, where anyone can see us. No more prim and proper Elf. And then after you’ve come, I’m taking you into the bushes and fucking you until you scream and scream. Putting my thick cock into you and pushing harder and harder until we shatter, lying there, sweating and naked, nothing but sun and sky covering us.”
He thrust his finger into her hard, and all her internal muscles clenched. Sienna whimpered. Dimly she knew she must stop this before it was too late.
But the tension built higher and higher until her body became a giant bow, arching and ready for release. Gasping, she clung to him, forgetting everything except the pleasure of his fingers and his mouth upon her most intimate flesh. It had been too long, oh gods, far too long…
Every nerve screamed as she exploded, the orgasm like a firecracker. Sienna buried her face into his sweating shoulder to muffle her cries. Wetness gushed from her, soaking his fingers and her panties.
Sitting up, he withdrew his hand from her legs. Holding her gaze, he sucked his two fingers deeply, licking off evidence of her sexual arousal.
“You taste so damn good, pixie. I can’t wait to put my tongue down there, too. But first I have to fuck you hard or I’m going to die.”
Boneless and shaken, she lay upon the sand, feeling the grit against her arms, in her hair. The sun blazed upon her face, but her insides felt chilled from the knowledge of what she’d done.
She wriggled back into her jeans, but left her blouse off. His gaze intense and unwavering, Gabriel looked impassive and hard. He would have her, and now. Already she felt the lust take over, begging for more of his touch.
Sienna put her hands to her flushed face.
“Come Sienna. It’s time,” he said in a deep voice.
Peering through her splayed fingers, she looked up at him. Clasping her hand, he pulled her upward with little effort. Gabriel’s expression remained blank, but the hard edge of desire danced in his darkened eyes. Her gaze roamed over his naked, beautiful body. He had such a perfect face, from the arched brows to the chiseled cheeks and his wet, red mouth framed by beard and mustache. His deeply tanned skin stretched smoothly over muscled biceps and well-defined shoulders. A thick triangle of dark gold hair covered his chest, marching in a line down to the thicker hair at his groin and his penis…
It jutted upward, an angry purple. Droplets glistened at the tip.
She’d pushed him way too hard.
But, overwhelmed with her body’s demands, she did not pull away. Why couldn’t she be like others who enjoyed sex? No one would know…
Gabriel’s gaze sharpened and he swore softly. “Jake’s coming. Put your clothes on.”
She turned and saw someone in the distance. Then Sienna glanced at Gabriel’s erection. “Shouldn’t you do the same?”
His expression turned intent. “I don’t care if he sees me naked. But no male is seeing you naked, pixie. No male but me.”
A rustling came from the bushes to their left. Sienna froze.
Gabriel whirled so fast, his long hair flew out. A low growl rumbled deep in his throat as he fisted his hands. The stench of putrid decay fouled the air. Sienna blinked her watering eyes and forced herself to analyze the smell. It was horrid, but natural. Almost as if someone wished to disguise their true scent…
And then she saw a small nose peek out from the bushes and caught a glimpse of red fur.
“Go to Jake. He’ll keep you safe. I’ll take care of this intruder,” Gabriel ordered.
“Wait!”
Too late. He’d shifted back to panther and stalked toward the undergrowth. He wasn’t thinking clearly, was too cranked up from sexual need.
My fault.
Sienna called out to him again, but he ignored her. She snatched up her blouse and shrugged into it, buttoning it closed. As she started for Gabriel, a large gray timber wolf bolted forward and leapt upon the panther. Snarling, the big cat rolled. As the wolf tried pinning the panther, Gabriel raked a claw through the wolf’s thick fur.
“Stop it,” she screamed, rushing forward. “Stop it, Jake’s trying to protect her.”
But the pair kept fighting, the wolf’s claws raking over the panther’s muzzle. Gabriel yowled and hissed, rolling on the ground as the wolf snapped at him, those fangs dangerously close to his throat.
She had the power to stop this. Sienna focused all her strength and yanked hard inside her, reaching for the light.
The tiny ball of blue-white energy floated toward the fighting shifters like a soap bubble, then popped into the air.
Too weak. If she tried separating them without magick, they could hurt her badly.
Sienna closed her eyes and murmured the ancient chant Kendall had taught her, to find peace between her dueling halves. Then she reached inside and drew out the dark magick, envisioning it as a ball of pure power. She thought of Gabriel’s kisses, and how good he’d made her feel, and how she wanted to keep that pleasure.
Stretching out her hands, she felt the ball of pure energy dance upon her outstretched palms. Sienna opened her eyes. A baseball-sized globe of black energy, encased by pure white light, rested in her hands. The energy did not burn with the zeal to destroy, but pulsed with powerful light magick. Stunned she bounced it up and down.
She had created this. How was this even possible?
“Sorry guys,” she murmured, and flung the power at the fighting shifters.
It slammed into them with the force of a hammer. The wolf and the panther howled and broke apart. The ball separated instead of dissipating and started to pursue the shifters, eager to punish again, eager to hurt…
“No! Back to me. I command you!”
Sienna pulled hard, and the globe of energy hurled toward her. She stiffened, bracing herself for the white-hot pain. It encased her and then sank deep into her body. Stunned, she absorbed the power. It did not hurt like hot razors as when she’d pulled Terithen’s evil essence from the earth into herself. Rather, it felt like sinking into a warm bath.
Was Gabriel correct? When they’d kissed and shared sexual energy, had it molded the dark power she carried? Could she do this again?
Looking rattled, the two males shifted back to their human forms and clothed themselves by magick, but Jake left his shirt off. Rows of crimson stripes marched down his torso to the waistband of his gray trousers. The wounds had begun to heal. Blo
odied scratches covered Gabriel’s handsome face, but they also knit together.
Respect flared on Jake’s face as he looked at her. “Thanks, Lady Elf. I tried warning him off, but he thought I attacked.”
“You did attack.” Gabriel touched a healing laceration on his cheek. “Next time you want to spar, give fair warning, wolf.”
“He wasn’t sparring. He didn’t want you assaulting her.”
Gabriel looked in the direction of her pointing finger.
Half-hidden by palmetto bushes, the red wolf quivered. Slightly larger than a fox, its fur a deep red, she looked terrified. Sienna could smell its fear and knew the shifters did as well.
As his nostrils flared, Jake’s eyes widened with shock. “Molly? What are you doing here?”
The wolf shrank back into the bushes.
He crouched down and held out a hand. “Come on out, sweetie. No one’s going to hurt you. These are friends.”
Knowing the wolf had witnessed the violence, Sienna advanced. The wolf retreated into the undergrowth. Jake made an impatient sound, but she gestured for him to quiet.
Sienna dropped to her knees before the palmetto scrub. “Hi Molly. I’m Sienna. I’m sorry the guys scared you. Jake only attacked Gabriel because he caught your scent and didn’t want Gabriel hurting you. Right, Jake?”
“Right.” Jake kept holding out a hand. “Come on out, sweetie. It’s okay.”
The red wolf stepped daintily out of the bushes, shook its body. Sleek red fur rippled in the wind. Jake ran his hand over the wolf’s hindquarters. “You okay, Molly? What are you doing so far from home?”
The wolf lifted her muzzle and he scratched behind her ears. “Is the rest of your pack here? Why are you disguising your scent?”
The red wolf stepped back and shifted to a petite woman. She waved a hand and jeans and a bright yellow T-shirt covered her body. The Lupine pushed back a lock of long red hair. Then she stepped into the saw palmetto bushes and picked up a blue cloth. Sienna’s eyes watered. “Goodness, is that what I smelled?”
Molly gave her an apologetic glance as she dropped the fabric. “Sorry. I soaked it in swamp water and …other things. This is my favorite place to visit. I didn’t want my pack following me, so I used this to cover my scent.”
