He leaned in and kissed her before nuzzling her neck. “Oh, I think so. Especially when I have a few hundred years to make up for.” He bit her lightly on the throat and found a ticklish spot above her elbow.
"You are bad. Very, very bad."
"Alena, I am more wicked than you know."
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Epilogue
"Hello, Alena."
Alena looked up from the host station of her restaurant. No, not mine anymore, she reminded herself. After coming back from her “vacation,” she had put the restaurant up for sale. Her best friend Deborah had gotten enough money and bought the restaurant from her. Alena was staying during the transition period while Deborah learned the ropes and the business side of things. Now, six months later, these were her last few days on the job, and then Alena would be giving up her apartment and going back to be with the pack. They understood she had to tidy up the loose ends of the mortal life she left behind, but hated she had to be gone for so long. She was already driving up and back there every other weekend to make sure she was not forgotten, which seemed unlikely.
Ever since she had been initiated by Morena, no one had questioned her authority or pushed her in anyway. She had legal guardianship of her little cousins, whom Marija was taking care of at the moment, and there had been no ill will when Vincent left. None of the ones he bit were able to slip their skins now, and she was the only one save the older werewolves who could change at will. Everything was peaceful, and in the back of her mind, she was waiting for the other shoe to drop and for trouble to start, but it didn't. Even if the pack got rowdy, she knew she could handle the upheaval.
Alena took in the man before her, he was a far cry from the werewolf he had been. Vincent stood before her in a grey rumpled suit looking like it had been slept in one too many times. His dark hair was lackluster, and she could see the age setting in around his eyes now that he was human. She felt bad for him but wasn't going to go against the punishment of a goddess.
"Hi, Vincent. What can I do for you?” She tried to keep her tone matter-of-fact.
"I was hoping you were still hiring for a chef. I saw the sign in the window and—” He shrugged.
She looked him over. He might have made bad decisions being a pack leader, but he seemed to be trying to walk the straight and narrow since he was now human. “You know how to cook?"
He smiled. When he did, she saw the echo of the wolf he used to be. “Who do you think fed the pack? Please, cos, I need a job. I'm not good at this human stuff."
"Alena, who's the hottie?” Deborah whispered into her ear. She looked at her best friend and shook her head.
"He's here to apply for the chef's position."
"Great. I mean unless you don't think—"
Alena shook her head. “Naw, I think he would be a good fit. Vincent, why don't you go out back and make Deborah something? She'll be your boss."
His smile captivated her friend. When he walked by her, he stopped and gave her a quick kiss on the cheek. “Thanks. Take care of them for me. Okay?"
Alena saw the sadness in his eyes and felt the emotion in his mind. She nodded. "I will," she whispered in his mind.
"Hey, baby. You almost ready to go?"
Alena heard tapping on her window. The largest black raven she had ever seen was sitting on ledge pecking at the glass. "In a minute. I have to get Cin, before I go."
She felt her mate shudder when she mentioned the cat. Darius was not so fond of him. She was afraid Cin would not be so fond of her when she got back considering she had turned into a full wolf, but the cat was still infatuated with her like the day they had met.
"Do we really have to bring that damn cat?"
"Raven Warrior, if you say one more word about my cat I will come out there and eat you for dinner."
"Is that a promise?" His taunting laughter played in her mind.
"How is Jonathan"?
"Fine. He wants to know when we can go hiking again. I think he has a crush on Trina."
Alena smiled when she thought about Darius's charge and her little cousin. She did think the two teenagers made a good couple. Hey, anything could happen. She didn't object. "Maybe. Soon." She closed the reservation book, knowing the place would stay in business without her. Deborah had a good head on her shoulders and she had already invited her up to the compound to stay for a weekend. A quick sense of loss passed over her for everything she had worked for. This restaurant had been her sanctuary, and she was giving her livelihood up. But in giving it up, she was gaining so much more. A contented growl came from inside her thoughts from her wolf half making itself known. They had integrated pretty much, but her wolf liked to poke its head out once and a while for attention. Alena felt its fur rub against her insides. It was getting antsy too. Her other half wanted to run and feel its paws on the soft earth of the forest. The city was getting on its nerves.
"You ready?"
This time Alena looked up, and Darius was leaning in the doorway looking suave and handsome. He was dressed a long black tunic, a red plaid kilt, and his large broadsword over his back. Tonight was their official joining ceremony with the pack. Today was the second day of the full moon and she still had to get ready. Thank God she had a magickal mate who could whisk her away wherever she needed to go.
She smiled, walked over, and kissed him full on the lips. His hands slid over her ass and pinched her hard. “You'll pay for that later, mister."
His grin widened. “I sincerely hope so."
Alena wrapped her arms around his neck and laid her head on his chest. She felt his power gathering around him. The cold of the shadows touched her, but she was used to the thin slice of cold that touched her. Tonight, they would join before the pack, her ancestors, and his brethren. Alena already knew the evening would be a magickal one filled with a little bit of feathers and a whole lot of fur.
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About the Author
Crymsyn Hart's worlds are filled with luscious vampires, gorgeous gods, quirky witches, and brooding shifters.
Crymsyn is a crafty witch and psychic who, for many years, worked in Boston while attending Emerson College. She graduated with a degree in creative writing. When she gets bored, she sneaks away to local cemeteries and coffee shops to find peace and quiet. Graveyards might be a great place for the dead, but she still has to listen to their chattering. It can get annoying when all you want to do is write, but she can tell you quite a ghost story. Crymsyn shares her life with a small zoo including a playful puppy and her hubby Mark.
If you come after dark, you're more than likely to find her snuggled up with a gory horror movie or a bloody vampire movie.
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Visit www.amirapress.com for information on additional titles by this and other authors.
Fur and Feathers [A Raven Saga Book 2] Page 23
