by Kari Thomas
Trust.
Where do we search from here? Gavin broke into Aiden’s dark thoughts with a nudge, bringing his attention back to the task at hand. Whoever it was may not have left a trail behind here, but I know where ‘he’ most likely came from.
Aiden rumbled low in his throat. Back off, Gavin. You’re letting your feelings for Lena cloud your common sense.
Gavin growled and sat down on his haunches. First off, I don’t have any feelings for that deceiving witch. And, second, since when did you forget Sonia Douglas’s coming into our lives was the beginning of all this? We just buried a friend; one who was obviously murdered much the same way our brother was. The stench of witchcraft still lingers in the air. Kira hasn’t been here for more than a week and already another of our people has been brutally murdered. Face it, Aiden, it’s no coincidence, and you know it. His angry eyes narrowed to mere slits as he glared at his older brother, knowing he had to say what was on his mind or burst.
Granted she’s a beautiful woman, and it’s obvious her pheromones call to something in your primal male. But you can’t ever forget she’s a human. And a witch, Aiden. What more has to be said? You know I am right.
Aiden wanted to roar and howl, deny what Gavin was saying. But he couldn’t.
Their lives hadn’t been the same since Sonia had married Kyle, then murdered him in that bizarre ritual before killing herself. As much as he wanted it to be otherwise, especially for Marissa’s sake, he knew Kira couldn’t be trusted. She had unknown motives for wanting sole custody of their niece.
Could it be she knew about their heritage? Had Sonia managed to tell her somehow, before she died? And what would she do with a half-breed, the result of a human and shape-shifter mating?
Kyle had told him Sonia had only discovered their secret a month before Marissa had turned three. But then he’d also mentioned that Sonia hadn’t been in contact with her sister since they were children. Had Sonia lied about that as well as everything else? Or had she told Lena and Lena told Kira? Lena and Kira had been in contact for years.
Damn.
He had the sudden urge to rip someone apart, to tear them into little, bitty pieces. Unfortunately Sonia was already dead. So that left Lena.
Or Kira.
Could he afford to give her the benefit of the doubt? Could he be thinking about this all wrong and she really was innocent? Just thinking about her made his body hard, his blood heat, and his muscles try to morph back to human form.
He felt a moment of panic.
He shouldn’t be reacting like an aroused human male when in cougar form. That went against all the known principles of shape-shifters. He hissed in anger, his claws lengthening, as he forced himself to retain his cougar shape, not willing to give into his desires. Once he was in control of himself, he turned his head and gave his brother a hard cold stare. We can’t be sure of Kira’s involvement in any of this. Yet. For Marissa’s sake we have to give her the chance to prove herself.
Why? Gavin grumbled.
Because she’s Marissa’s only remaining link to her mother. We, of all races, know how important heritage is. If Kira is innocent then Marissa deserves the chance to get to know her.
Gavin stood, and started walking away. If she’s innocent? What if she isn’t? Are you going to let your attraction for her get in the way of doing what needs to be done?
Damn it, Gavin. You’re pushing this too far. You know I’ll destroy anything, or anyone, who threatens us. And, if that means Kira Douglas, I won’t hesitate. This Evil needs to be stopped…now!
I know, Aiden. Gavin sighed. Truth is, I’m hoping I’m wrong about this...about Kira.
Aiden followed his brother, his thoughts chaotic. There had to be another reason, someone else involved with these mysterious deaths. Riana’s words about Kira’s fiery aura came back to echo in his mind: “It could symbolize a dangerous, destructive force that has the power to consume.” Unfortunately she was already consuming his thoughts, had been since the first moment they’d met.
But he’d be damned if he would allow her to cause any more destruction.
If she was behind this, her alluring innocence wouldn’t be strong enough to protect her from his wrath.
*****
Kira’s thoughts weren’t on business for the magic shop and it was becoming blatantly obvious. So far she’d wrapped the wrong potion for two separate customers and was half-heartedly listening to another customer explain why she really did…almost…need a fertility statue.
All day she’d been unsuccessful in getting Aiden, and Marissa, out of her mind. If she wasn’t thinking about her adorable little niece, her mind was being rebellious, lingering on heated thoughts about her niece’s too sexy uncle.
It didn’t take but the briefest of thoughts for her to remember the hungry demand of his lips on hers and those invisible butterflies would begin their dance in her stomach. She couldn’t recall ever being kissed like that before, and it left her breathless just thinking about it. Aiden exuded a raw sensuality that was potent enough to melt her insides. But it wasn’t just his good looks. It was that ... aura of wildness surrounding him.
It pulled her, like a magnet. It was too…too…
“Much too erotic, don’t you think?” Kira watched the elderly woman turn the small seven-inch statue over in her hand, admiring it from all angles. Kira would have thought its impressive attributes would have been enough for the woman to set it down on the nearest table and leave, shocked and looking for some ice water. “Hmm. It’s a fertility god, you said?” She chuckled, patting the small stone rump. “Just what the doctor ordered. I’ll take it.” Kira hid her chagrined smile and followed the woman to the counter. Lena, who had overheard the conversation, winked at her with a mischievous smile hovering on her lips while she packaged the endowed statuette for the older woman.
After the woman left, clutching her tiny god with a tight grip, Lena placed the closed sign over the door and locked up. “It’s been a long day.”
Kira nodded. “I didn’t think it would ever end. Are you always this busy? Sedona is small. Where do all the customers come from?”
“You’d be surprised at how many thousands of people visit Sedona weekly. And this is our busiest season.”
Kira held back a remorseful sigh. She hadn’t been thrilled with the idea of being involved in the world of magic again but she’d promised herself to give it a shot. She didn’t really have any other choice. She shook her head. “Who would believe there are that many people interested in the supernatural? I must have sold seven love potions, this morning alone.”
Lena laughed lightly. “Five, actually. You accidentally gave away two bottles.”
Kira felt her cheeks heat, embarrassed that her absentmindedness had caused a loss of sales. “Sorry about that. My thoughts have wandered all day.”
Lena looped her arm with hers. “Yeah, I know. Can I guess where those thoughts wandered? Or should I say to whom?”
“To Marissa. Of course.”
“Yeah, right. And her uncle didn’t occupy your thoughts one time today, huh? Wrong. Maybe I should warn you, Kira. You don’t have a poker face. Every time you thought about him, your cheeks turned pink, your eyes darkened, and your lips made heartfelt sighs. Is it any wonder that only your customers wanted to buy love potions? I sold charms and books all day.”
Kira grinned sheepishly. Had her wayward thoughts been that obvious? “Okay, I’ll admit it. But I have a good excuse. He only affects me because he’s so different from any other man I’ve ever met. The problem is that he aggravates me as much as he attracts me.” She grimaced. “I have to keep reminding myself he’s the enemy. I know he’s going to fight me on this custody battle with every thing he has and that should have me running scared. But it doesn’t.”
“Should have?” Lena eyed her quizzically, uneasy with this new attitude. “What are you saying, Kira? What have you come up with?”
“Remember that old saying ‘you can catch more flies
with honey’? I think I just started out on the wrong foot with Aiden. From what he said about Sonia there was a lot of tension between her and his family, so he is, naturally, expecting me to be just as problematic. I’ve decided I’m going to be the perfect example of a loving, giving aunt…and substitute mother to Marissa. That won’t be hard to do because I love her desperately, even if it has only been a short while since we actually met. But I want Aiden to see me that way too. Sooner or later, when he gets tired of me begging to have custody of Marissa, he’s going to give in. He’ll see it’s for the best.” Having said it aloud, she wasn’t happy about how naïve her plan seemed.
“Sonia wasn’t just problematic, Kira.” Lena paused and her features saddened. “She caused a lot of trouble for the Calhouns. When she fell in love with Kyle, Aiden forbade them to marry. They ran away – Sonia was the influence on that decision—and didn’t return until she was pregnant with Marissa. It was almost like a war zone in that house during that time. Sonia’s instability worsened every day. Right before Marissa’s third birthday, Sonia and Kyle had a huge argument, a real knock-down-drag-out. She came home, without Marissa, and stayed with us for a few months. Aiden forbade her to see Marissa but, at that point, she didn’t seem to care, one way or the other, about her daughter. She seemed focused on meting revenge on the Calhouns for some wrong-doing only she saw. I asked her time and again but all she would say was that they had it coming.”
“Aiden hated her.” Kira said the words quietly, but with strong, solemn conviction. “He didn’t think she was good enough for his brother, did he? And the fact she was a practicing witch must have factored in there someway as well.” Maybe convincing him that she was nothing like her sister was going to be harder than she’d expected. “But I can’t just give up, Lena, despite the odds. Marissa means too much to me.” She shrugged her aching shoulders. “So Aiden Calhoun is just going to have to get it through his stubborn head that I’m going to be a part of her life, no matter what he wants. One way or another.” Locking the connecting door between the house and the shop, they walked through the living room toward the kitchen.
Warren opened his study door and saw the two women. He carefully locked the door behind him and asked, “Kira, honey, are you planning on visiting Marissa tonight?”
“Yes, right after dinner. I promised I’d start telling her stories about her mother’s childhood before she goes to bed. She’s been asking a lot of questions.” A lot of questions. She frowned. “I can’t figure out why the Calhouns never told her much about Sonia.”
“Hmm.” Warren sat down on the sofa. “I’m surprised Aiden agreed to you doing that.”
“I didn’t ask him.”
Warren laughed. “Good for you. I have a feeling you’re going to set things right soon, and Aiden Calhoun doesn’t stand a chance at winning against you.” His words sounded too much like a battle cry for her peace of mind, but Kira had to silently agree.
She just wished it didn’t have to be a win or lose situation.
*****
He’d had no other choice but to leave.
Aiden growled low, deep in his chest. He’d known the exact moment Kira had entered the house. Her scent had reached his nostrils, causing him to emit a purely male growl of primal possessiveness that angered him.
Then she walked into the family room and his senses were sent into overdrive by her ethereal beauty and innocent sensuality. The blood heated in his veins, quickly pooling to a hardening part of his anatomy that left his jeans feeling uncomfortably tight. It didn’t help the matter any that her jeans were enticingly snug, molding and accentuating every sexy curve.
His mind had painted a vivid picture of his hands smoothing, caressing over every inch. From her shapely legs, to her slim hips, over that cute little bottom. Then he’d made the mistake of following that mental visual up her curved waist and straight to the low vee of her blouse. His mouth had watered as he eyed the curve of her breasts, the beaded nipples straining up against the soft material of the blouse.
Damn. She wasn’t wearing a bra.
He’d hardened even more, cursing his weakness when it came to this human. He must have made more noise than he’d thought because she’d looked straight into his eyes, her own filled with innocence and curiosity. He hadn’t stopped his low rumbling growl and knew, without a doubt, that he couldn’t stay nearby while she was visiting Marissa.
At least not tonight.
His primal instincts were on overload just looking at her. Being close, at this point in time, would be disastrous.
For both of them.
So he’d charged Riana with supervising the visit and fled into the night.
Now, hours later and close to midnight, Aiden restlessly prowled the darkness of the quiet night. His padded paws barely touched the ground, making little sound as he glided through the dense foliage. He walked an unmarked path he could follow blindfolded. Deeper into the woods he roamed, his instincts leading him while his chaotic thoughts kept him less than normally aware of the activity around him.
Purely male visions, erotic thoughts and images, reigned free.
Kira.
Despite hating himself for it, he wanted her, and the need was growing deeper, stronger with each day that passed. He found himself thinking about her when there were more important things to consider.
The nights were the hardest.
While roaming in cougar form, his thoughts were less controlled, more primal. But lying in bed, too keyed up to sleep, his thoughts were more male, more human, more erotic.
More dangerous.
She had the softest looking skin, like peaches and cream. He knew it would taste just as sweet. He had felt her silky softness under his roaming tongue. Her daintily curved body would melt into his possessive embrace, fit against his hard frame as though they were two pieces of a puzzle, made for each other.
Her soft, southern accented voice would caress his tightly strung nerve endings, flowing over him like the softest of satin, leaving a burning trail of escalating desire in its path while the eager rasp of his tongue caressed every womanly inch. He would sip at the moans emitting from her luscious pink lips. His touches would bring shivers, causing them both to tremble with fire, with want. Devouring heat would surround them, burning them with the incredible, unstoppable desire that had no intention of lessening – only building – until they both went up in flames.
Inevitably. Willingly.
Panting heavily from the images, Aiden suddenly stopped and made the conscious effort to dispel the pictures from his mind.
Damn. Damn. Damn.
Looking around, he realized he’d reached the end of his journey, though he hadn’t paid any attention to his traveling. That was a first for him.
A habit that could carry dangerous consequences.
One thing he’d learned the hard way: always be aware of your surroundings. It was something else to be angry with Kira for.
She was a distraction he could not afford.
Not now. Not ever.
He sighed and shook his feline head in an attempt to clear his mind.
He loved this spot. Completely secluded, so well hidden that he doubted anyone else, family or shape-shifter, knew about it, this grotto was his private sanctuary. The gentle sound of cascading water never failed to calm him, and this was the only place in the world he felt truly at peace.
In front of a deep, dark cave was a short waterfall camouflaging its entrance, pure clear water cascading down in torrents to swirl in the deep pool at its feet. Tall, emerald green grass, soft and sweet smelling, covered the ground all around the pool. Overhead, imposing, ancient, oak trees formed a heavily matted, interloping branch canopy, sheltering the cave, waterfall, and pool, shutting out the rest of the forest, enveloping the grotto in a completely private world of its own.
On nights when his restlessness refused to ease, even after long miles of running, he came here…to the grotto. The utter peacefulness calmed his tortured soul, off
ered peace when nothing else could. He hadn’t slept a full night since Kyle’s murder, had been tortured by the memories of that night.
But here he could rest. For a short while he could find reprieve from the thoughts and memories that haunted. He let the tranquility surround him, easing into the tense muscles of his cougar form. With a sigh, born from both exhaustion and the unrelenting desire that teased his mind, he flopped down onto the soft welcoming grass and let the constant trickle of falling water lull him into a restful nap.
Amidst the thoughtless mind wanderings of his spirit, he suddenly found himself searching for something. Something deep within his soul. Something so well hidden he dreaded disturbing it. And the ‘something’ came with a name. A name that sounded like the most intimate of caresses, a delicate stroke on sensitive senses that craved its touch. A name that elicited trepidation and aching longing.
Kira.
Chapter Six
Kira laughed as Marissa grabbed the little stuffed bunny she’d given her and streaked on baby legs across the room to dive underneath a small end table. Marissa giggled mischievously and pretended that she and the bunny were now invisible from Kira and Riana.
They’d been playing nonstop games all morning but, when Marissa started yawning, Riana had announced it was naptime – and that’s when the chase had started. The little girl was determined to stay up, despite her increasing yawns. Kira and Riana decided to give in and make one last play at pretending to find her.
“Where can she be?” Kira made the pretense of looking everywhere but at Marissa.
“Hmm…maybe she’s hiding under the bed?” Riana lifted the bed’s comforter and leaned down to look under. “Nope. She’s not here.”
Kira placed a finger on her chin and tapped it against her bottom lip several times. “Maybe if we find bunny LoLo then we’ll find Marissa.” She appeared surprised as she stared at Marissa who was trying hard not to giggle. “Look, Riana. There’s bunny LoLo!”
