“I thought it would be a while before Lily was released. I didn’t know she could sneak into your apartment.”
“You thought Alveron and Lily would wait until you said it was okay for him to free her?”
“No, I—”
“I don’t care.”
“Sasha—”
“I’ll take the darned potion, because Lily is more powerful and it’ll help me deal with her. However, I have concerns, too. What about my work? I have teachers’ in-service on Monday, then the students return the day after.”
“I’m afraid you must take it immediately. Every moment we wait, Lily could strike. I don’t want you unprotected.”
She goes quiet. My stomach lurches and I silently chastise myself. What am I doing? Now she’ll hate me. She’ll call off the wedding for sure. How can I face the years ahead without Sasha at my side? If I hadn’t approached her in the first place she would’ve escaped the position I’ve put her in. That’s the worst of my crimes—putting the one I love in danger. Mentally, I call myself every foul name I can think of and a few more in other languages.
No other Thirdling would dare put their intended through what I’m asking of Sasha. How could I have mucked it up? I want to blame Lily, except I doubt she’d care if Sasha took the potion or not. She’ll always toy with me and anyone connected to me, as she’s done in the past. It was one thing when it was Bast and I. Now Sasha’s involved. I heave a sigh.
“Fine,” she says angrily. “I’ll call in sick.” She picks up the phone.
I sit on the couch, my emotions spinning around me. I blame myself, Lily, Alveron. Fury rises within me. Creator, let me a chance at them. Give me the opportunity for justice.
Sasha starts dialing, then lowers the receiver. “Why can’t I stay in the Third Realm?”
“You’d have to quit your job. Are you prepared for that?”
“It’s the one sane thing in my life.”
“I doubt she’d attack you at the school, anyway. Too many witnesses.”
Sasha picks the phone back up and dials a number.
I should’ve taken better care of her. I could’ve tried harder. I grind my teeth. Damn! Why didn’t I go to Alveron myself? I rub my temples. He wouldn’t have changed his mind. My thoughts turn towards the memories. Lily never made a secret of her desire for me. Even when we were younger. Next time she shows her face, I’ll end her game.
Sasha clears her throat and I glance up. “Finished?”
“I left a message for Marjorie. I told her I’d be out on Monday, but I will be there on Tuesday. No matter what.”
“You don’t have to do this, Sasha. If you want, you can call the whole thing off.”
Sasha’s lips form a thin line. “So you’d make that decision for me, too?”
Startled, I reply, “Given the situation, I thought—”
“Monroe, stop. I’m tired of Lily running things. I’m sick of wishing for the fairy-tale instead of living it. Whatever my feelings, it’s my choice to go through with everything.”
I stare at her in shock. “You mean it?”
“Every word. Now, I’m going to go pack.”
Despite the fact I could provide anything she might need, I nod. She disappears down the hall.
After few minutes, she returns, carrying an overnight bag.
“All right,” I say.
In spite of her brave words, my heart weighs heavily in my chest as I lead her through the rift, into my home.
Chapter 32: Sasha
Monroe escorts me through his castle into our private room. He leaves the door wide open and shuffles over to the coffee table while I sit on the couch.
“I hate forcing you, Sasha.”
“I told you, it’s my decision.” My anger simmers on the surface. Regardless of how guilty Monroe feels, or how frustrated I am everything is happening sooner than I expected, Lily has pushed us up against the wall. And, I’m sick of it. If this is the only way, so be it. Yet, through my resolve, a tinge of fear works its way in me. What if it’s not enough? What if it all goes wrong? Perhaps I’m fooling myself into believing I can take control as I’ve never done before.
What if Monroe decides to change his mind? I may not like the current situation, but he’s still the same man. He didn’t want to force me. He’s always left the decisions in my hands. My heart softens a little. I can try.
Monroe picks up a crystal decanter and pours white wine into gleaming stemware. “Brinda said to mix it with wine, the alcohol is supposed to relax the body enough to accept the change. You have to drink the entire glass.”
I grit my teeth, remembering the driver who killed my parents. “Don’t let me behind the wheel of a car.”
“I won’t let you do anything you’d regret.” He pulls out a bright red vial and pours clear, sparkling liquid into the wine.
I take the glass from him. The wine glitters in the lamplight. So innocent, you can’t even see the potion inside. I lift the cup. “Here’s to being adventurous.” I raise the cup to my lips and gulp it down. The wine dances on my tongue, a crisp, sweet flavor, with something in the background I can’t identify. “It’s done.” I set the glass on the coffee table.
I squirm under Monroe’s intent observation. Has my appearance changed? Did he notice something strange? Perhaps there’s a mirror in the room and I can check for myself. I start to get up when an odd feeling works its way from my head to my toes, almost like the pinpricks I get when my hand loses its circulation. I bite down hard on my lip when a peculiar urging yanks at me. “What’s going on?”
He rushes to my side. “How do you feel?”
“There’s this need inside me . . . and a sudden desire for raw meat.”
“That’s the lioness wanting out. Get down on your hands and knees, shut your eyes, and concentrate on what a lioness looks like. Careful, you’re going to want plenty of space.”
I get up and circle behind the couch and drop down onto the floor, my palms pressed against the carpet. I close my eyes and focus on the pictures I’ve seen of lionesses. I imagine their massive heads and big eyes, their long limbs, and tail. Another tingling sensation starts in my feet and blazes quickly through my arms into my head. I cry out, even though I feel no pain. It’s curious. I’m me, but more so. Power surges within my body and I sense I could do anything. Uncertain of myself and what the feelings mean, I keep my eyes shut.
“By the Third Realm, Sasha, you’re magnificent!”
At the sound of awe and wonder in his voice, I peek down at myself. Where hands used to be, huge paws make indentions in the carpet. I extend my right front paw and sharp claws spring forth. “Incredible,” I breathe, then stop short when a soft growl emits from me. Retracting my claws, I peer up at Monroe. “What about you? Do I have to learn all this alone?”
His face brightens. “You want me to teach you?”
“Who else could?” I’m confused over his eagerness and the fact I’m not angry anymore. My heart soars. I’m like him now. I understand why he cares so much about his lion side. The energy, the instincts. Everything is sharper, clearer, more pronounced. Even the pale colors in the room are fresh and vibrant.
He chuckles. “True, you will need instruction. Please move over. I’ll need some room.”
Cautiously I sidestep, trying to avoid hitting the couch. His fragrance entices me. It’s more inviting and far more masculine than I ever noticed before. I don’t even feel shy as I walk toward the door and crane my head around to watch his transformation.
He gets down on the floor just as I did. His eyes slide shut. Awestruck, I watch his human body melt away and reveal an enormous male lion. He reopens his eyes, and flicks his tail.
My pulse races. Why hadn’t I noticed how amazing he was in his lion form the first time he changed in front of me? His golden fur shines in the light. Desire flames within me, different from when he was human. An animalistic impulse. I struggle to remain in control.
“Uh oh,” he says. “We better distrac
t you with hunting. I can smell your sexual ardor.”
The potency of the new emotions wars with my embarrassment. “I can’t seem to help it.”
“I guess that’s one of the side effects. Come on, we’ll go to the Adon Forest.”
In the hall, my tail bangs on the walls and I almost jump at the sound of it whacking the stones.
“It might take you time to learn the way your body moves in this form.” I detect a hint of amusement in his tone.
I nod, trying to adjust to the difference in size and shape. I trip over my paws.
“You okay?” He twists his head around to look at me.
I regain my footing. “I’ll manage.”
“A few more turns and we’ll be at the front door. I’ll call Ayres to open it for us.” The floor shakes beneath our paws as we pad into the front hallway. “Ayres!”
The valet appears out of thin air. His eyes widen when he sees me. “Well, I see it worked. How are you, Miss Brighton?”
“A bit out of my element. I’ll figure it out, though.”
“Yes, my master was unwieldy the first time he changed, too. You’ll pick up on it.”
“Open the door, Ayres,” Monroe orders.
“Yes, sir.” He tugs on the massive onyx doors, proving a space large enough for Monroe and me to crawl out side-by-side. “Best wishes, Miss Brighton!”
“Thank you, Ayres.”
In the courtyard, a high granite wall surrounds the front and sides of the castle. The gritty dirt between my toes feels luxurious against the pads of my paws. Birds sing in the distance. Scratching in the ground beneath my feet perks my ears up. Involuntarily, I run my tongue over my teeth. The human side of me wrenches at their fear, while the lioness revels in the knowledge that I’m a dominant being.
“Ready?” Monroe asks. “We’re going to transport ourselves to the forest.”
“How?”
“Same way you changed form. Concentrate on the destination. Imagine a dense forest filled with dark green leaves, towering trees, and herds of deer.”
“All right.” I squeeze my eyes shut and pictures form behind my eyelids. My mouth waters when images of deer leaping over the undergrowth materialize in my mind. Suddenly, I sense I’m floating through the air, a blur of motion until I drop soundlessly back onto the ground. I open my eyes.
Monroe stands beside me, an anxious look on his face. “Have a good trip?”
“It’s less debilitating than when I traveled with you.”
“Normally I travel in human form then let the lion out, but either way works. I don’t think you could’ve waited to transform. I know I didn’t wait to leave the castle during my first transformation. You’ll gain the ability to control the compulsion the next time it comes over you.”
“Now what?”
His eyes gleam. “Now, I show you one of my favorite past times. The hunt. Do you suppose you can run?”
Butterflies flutter in my stomach. “I’ll try.”
“Then let’s go.”
Through the thick foliage, I make out the outline of leaves and ferns as we duck under bushes and weave through the trees. Nerves bounce around in my stomach. How am I going to keep up with Monroe? I’m barely able to walk, much less run.
In spite of my clumsiness, I’m eager to view him in action. His lion form flares my desire into a fire. Throwing caution to the wind, I jump on top of him. He’s never seemed so sexy. Such raw power. I wish I had chosen an earlier wedding date. I swallow the disappointment. Darn church being booked.
Remembering his kisses, a fantasy of us rolling around in his bed springs into my thoughts. I imagine him pressed against me and—
“Easy there, Sasha,” he rumbles, his strong forepaws nudge my shoulders.
I sniff the air. “You feel the same way. I smell your ardor.”
“Can you blame me? You’re giving off signals that you want me to mate with you. Then you leap on top of me. It’s all I can do to keep myself in check.”
A mix of emotions runs through me. What am I doing? I’m not assertive. Who cares? This is amazing! I ignite his passions the same way he does mine. Yet, he’s always first and foremost a gentleman. Would I want him any other way? “You’re so honorable.”
He nudges my flank with his head. “Believe me, the thoughts I’m having aren’t.”
Hmmm . . . maybe I can find a compromise between honor and desire. “Are you a lion or a chicken?”
“Sasha . . . I thought we were hunting.” His tail flicks side to side, mesmerizing me.
“We will.” A toy! I pounce on his tail.
“You’re in trouble, now.” He whirls around and jumps toward me.
Tripping sideways, I scurry behind a tall oak tree.
“You can run, but you can’t hide.” He bounds around the tree. “Gotcha!”
I yelp as he pins me to the ground.
His massive chest rises and falls with each heaving breath, his voice low and husky. “Who are you and what did you do with my shy fiancée?”
“I don’t know. Your tail moved and I couldn’t help myself.”
“You don’t attack everything that moves, Sasha.” His growl is full of mirth. “Some other afternoon we’ll play. Today, we hunt.” He draws his front paws off me and nods toward an open space near us. He lowers his voice to a whisper. “Come on, we must go further in. Quietly, though. Our prey might hear us.”
Silently, I follow him through more trees and under huge elephant ear leaves. The density of the trees thins a bit.
Monroe motions me over. “Can you see the deer?” he murmurs. “I suspect there’s a dozen of them in the clearing.”
I concentrate on the parting in the foliage. A thin beam of sunshine filters through the trees and spotlights a herd of deer. They’re much larger than the ones I’ve seen. The massive animals frolic around a field of daisies. The ground trembles as they buck, jump, and dance upon their hooves. Good thing they are so big. Monroe and I aren’t exactly regular-sized lions. My tongue lolls out the side of my mouth. I hope I’m not drooling.
“They’ll smell us shortly. We need to act fast. Do what I do.” He coils his body, lowering it into a pounce.
I crouch down and wait. Seconds tick by. Monroe’s tail swishes along the ground.
Springing forward, he roars, “Now!”
I leap after him and nearly fall on my face. “Ooof,” I grumble. Irritated, I right myself, enviously watching the grace with which Monroe moves.
“It’s okay if you can’t do it,” he calls, his sudden presence scattering the herd. “I can get enough for us.”
“No!” I get back on my feet and race after one of the other deer going in the opposite direction. Just as he promised, my feline instincts take over and I gallop after a deer, chasing it through the trees. It’s young and inexperienced. The deer catches her leg on a vine and stumbles. I fly through the air, and land on top of it. She bucks, trying to get me off. I cling to its back with my claws. Leaning down, I tear into it. A solid whack with my paw, and it crumples to the ground, unconscious. Ravenously, I bite into the deer’s flesh. A wild, tangy flavor bursts over my tongue, richer than anything I’ve ever eaten. I rip into the flesh, not minding the savagery of it all.
Within seconds, I’ve devoured the animal. Realization seeps in as I back away from the body. What have I done? Horror freezes my blood. I’ve become a beast. A wild animal without any thought for the helpless creature I mutilated. Remorse wars with the satisfied sensations in my stomach. I’m not a violent person. Why did I do this?
Monroe pads up behind me. “Had enough?”
The carcass seems to stare mournfully up at me. “Yeah.”
“What’s wrong?”
“I-I don’t know. On one hand, I’ve never enjoyed a meal more. On the other, I feel like such a beast.”
He roars with laughter. “You are a beast. It’s part of what we do. We hunt for food, we mate, and we reproduce. We live as both human and animal. What did you think becoming a
lioness meant?”
“I only thought of sharing every part of who you are. I didn’t consider what would happen.” I lower my head in shame.
He moves closer to me and his head nuzzles my neck. “Eventually it’ll be second nature and you won’t think about the violence.”
“So much for my bravery.”
“No one else I know has the courage you do.”
“I don’t feel very courageous. I feel like a monster.”
“You’ve eaten meat.”
“I’ve never killed my food.”
“Why don’t we return to human form and go home?”
I assume he means his home. Either way, it’s better than contemplating what I just did. “Okay.”
He backs up. “Do the same thing you did to get into the lioness. This time, however, think about how you look as a human.”
My eyelids drop and I picture my human face with my blue eyes, blond hair, and human body. The tingly sensation spreads out from my limbs and I feel the lioness vanish.
I reopen my eyes, stand, and brush the dirt from my clothes.
Monroe, once more a human, smiles ruefully. “That’s the one drawback. The magic protects your clothes from everything but dirt and grass stains.”
I straighten my pink blouse and smooth my hands over my blue jeans. “Lucky I wasn’t wearing white.”
He grimaces at his white button-down shirt. “I forgot to change. Ayres isn’t going to be happy.” He shrugs. “Oh well, it’ll keep him busy and out of my way.”
I giggle. “You’re so mean to him.”
“I wouldn’t be if he weren’t a busybody.”
“Too bad I don’t feel sorry for you.” I laugh at his incredulous expression.
“I can’t even get any sympathy from my future wife?”
I suck in a breath as the feel of his hand travels up my arm and warms every part of me. He’s totally irresistible! How am I ever going to wait for December?
“Calm down,” he says, sensing my inflamed passions. “Soon we’ll be husband and wife.”
“Can’t it come any faster?”
“My sentiments exactly.” He draws me closer. “Let’s get you back to your apartment. Perhaps it’s best if you don’t stay with me.”
All's Fair in Love and Lion Page 23
