by Crymsyn Hart
Natalie kissed him, glad her cowboy had come through and saved her. The sounds had stopped upstairs, so she assumed Scott had taken care of Michael. She didn’t think Michael was dead since she hadn’t seen him in the house.
“You shouldn’t be here.”
Natalie snuggled into him closer. “I don’t think I have a choice.” Her hand passed through his face. Panic seized her. She glanced at her hands. They were transparent. She tried to focus back on her body, but wasn’t able to feel it. “What’s going on?”
Dustin eyes were full of sadness. “You’re dying.”
Upstairs she found Scott pressing something to her neck, but it was already soaked with blood. He had untied her and tied up her ex-husband in the corner. Tears streaked down his face. Scott looked up when she got closer to the bed. He could see her.
“You can’t leave me.”
“I don’t want to go.” Natalie reached out to him but wasn’t able to touch him. The edges of the room were starting to blur and grow white. She tried desperately to stay focused on them.
“I’ve tried. But you’ve lost too much blood.”
“You can bite her.” Dustin said next to her.
“It might be too late. I don’t know if it’ll work.”
“It will turn me into a wolf, won’t it?” she asked.
“Yes.”
I can’t be a wolf. But if they don’t then I’ll die. I don’t have a choice. I can’t leave them. They said one bite or scratch would turn me. It’s my only chance. “Why don’t the both of you bite me? You’re both my mates. It only seems fair.”
“It might make the transformation go wrong. I won’t risk it,” Scott explained.
“We don’t have time to argue. This is what I want. Please.”
Dustin nodded. He left her side. Scott looked up at her. His eyes were amber. Dustin knelt next to the bed. A tugging on her soul for her to leave them started inside of her, but she held on with everything she had.
They kissed her cheeks. Scott lifted her left hand and brought it to his lips. When he bit down, her body twitched. She felt a burning pain shoot up her arm. Dustin pressed his lips to her right shoulder and bit down. Another searing jolt speared her body. The room went white, and it blurred completely around the edges. Natalie reached out to her mates, but they vanished before her eyes.
Chapter Thirteen
It was the thumping that Natalie heard first. She thought it was the drums of the spirits on her land, leading her into the next world. However, the longer she listened, the more she came to realize that the drums were real. They had a deep echo that resounded in her soul. The thunder of the drums was followed by singing and chanting. Each note drew her closer until she opened her eyes.
When she did, Scarlett was there pressing something against her forehead. The smell of mint and lavender along with sage invaded her nose. The air was heavy with the perfume. Natalie tried to move, but everything hurt.
“You should remain still.”
“What day is it? What happened? Where are Scott and Dustin?”
“Hush. It’s Christmas Eve. The tribe has gathered to remember their ancestors and guide you back from the world of the spirits. Scott thought it might help bring you back. The Elders are downstairs. I hope you don’t mind. I think they’ve invaded your kitchen. My mother loves your fireplace. She’s been cooking for two days now.”
Natalie laughed some, but it ached. Her throat hurt where Michael had sliced her neck and the wounds on her shoulder and hand throbbed where her mates had bitten her. “That’s fine. Tell them I said thank you.”
Scarlett pressed the cloth to her head and then laid her palm on her cheek. “You’ve come out of the transformation fever remarkably well. Your wounds are almost healed. By tomorrow, I figure you’ll barely have scars. The full moon is in a week, so I’ll let them show you what to do when that comes.”
“I’m a werewolf now?”
Scarlett nodded. “Yeah. We just don’t know which one you’ll take after because they bit you at the same time. Smart move. I think that’s what saved you.”
Natalie heard the floorboards creaking and glanced at the door. Both men stood there waiting for the okay to come in. A smile turned up on her lips. They both grinned and rushed over, each taking a side of the bed. They started to speak, but Scarlett spoke first.
“Gently, guys. She isn’t completely healed yet. You only have a few minutes then I’m going to kick you out. Understand?”
“Come on, Sis. We need time to be alone.”
She rolled her eyes. “Fine. Come get me when you’re done. But nothing kinky. She still needs to rest.”
“Thank you,” Dustin replied.
Scarlett left the room and closed the door. Natalie needed to be with them. The overwhelming urge to be in their arms was stronger than it had been a few days ago. They picked her up together in their arms and hugged her.
Natalie snuggled into their combined embrace and felt at home. Their scent filled her nose. It also triggered the need to make love to both of them. The longer she was in Dustin’s arms, the more she realized he was warmer than he had been before.
“You’re warm.” She pulled away. “Does that mean…?”
He nodded. “I’m no longer caught in between.”
“How? What happened?”
“After he bit you, you opened your eyes and grabbed me. A larger presence filled the room. It was like a cleansing breath blew through the whole house. My mother was gone. My father was gone, but it didn’t blow me away with it. Instead, I was able to cross back over. You kept me here. Thank you.”
He brushed his lips across hers. He began to pull away, but she wrapped him in her arms to feel his solid form. She deepened the kiss, wanting so much more, but pulled away after she was out of breath. Her shoulder hurt.
Scott guided her down on the bed and sat on the chair Scarlett had occupied. He kissed her forehead and then her lips, sweeping his tongue across her mouth. The need to taste more of him threatened to overtake her, but everything started to go a little fuzzy around the edges.
“What happened to Michael?” she asked.
“Called the sheriff who is a friend of mine. Belongs to the tribe so we left out certain details about you being nearly dead and Michael covered in blood. He was arrested for breaking and entering while you weren’t home. He’s being shipped back to prison. You don’t have to worry about him again.”
“Thank you both for saving me.”
“You’re welcome,” they said in unison.
Natalie tried to keep her eyes open, but it was impossible. She was warm and felt the bites starting to tingle. Without fighting it, she slipped into a blissful sleep.
When she woke up again, the house was silent. The place still smelled of sage, but it wasn’t as strong. Her stomach rumbled. After getting up slowly, she headed into the bathroom. Once she was done, she wanted to examine her wounds.
Carefully pulling back the bandage on her throat, she traced the pink scar with her finger, but it looked like it was already months healed and not just a few days old. Her old scars remained. She took off the bandages from her mates’ bites and underneath them was smooth skin. There was no sign they had ever bitten her.
Deciding to shower, she got under the hot water and let it massage her muscles. The way the water felt on her skin was different than before. It sunk into her pores and warmed her from the inside out. She could even smell the chemicals in the water. Come to think of it, she could taste the dust on her tongue and the minerals that were in the droplets.
Once she was done, she dried off. Her normally soft towels felt scratchy now. She inhaled and smelled food cooking downstairs.
Listening, she could hear the sizzle of meat hitting a pan. She got dressed and before she left her room, she heard Jeannie giggle. The little girl appeared before her and waved. Natalie waved back.
When she walked into the kitchen, Dustin was standing at the stove cooking. Warmth shot through her at seeing h
im there in his plaid shirt and jeans. He didn’t have his cowboy hat, but he was in his boots. She snuck up behind him and ran her hands down his thighs. Natalie pressed her breasts against his back.
“Howdy, cowboy.” She licked his ear.
A contented growl came from his throat. He spun around and had her pinned to the wall before she could blink. His mouth pressed against hers, kissing her fully. His hands clutched at her breast with a frenzy she hadn’t sensed in him before.
She began to pant from the sudden lust he had ignited in her. He licked and nipped her throat on the unscarred side and claimed her lips. Natalie began to lose it. She moaned and pushed against him. His cock was starting to harden. Raking her fingers down his back caused Dustin to hiss in a breath.
“That’s enough, you two. Presents first. Sex later.” The blast of cold air from the door closing snapped her out of her passionate haze. Dustin backed away trying to catch his breath. Scott came in carrying a bundle of wood and placed it by the fire. His hair and shoulders were dusted with snow.
“It’s Christmas?” she asked.
“Yeah. We were hoping you’d wake up.” He set the wood down in the living room and came back into the kitchen. “How are you feeling?” He pulled her to him. Her lust was set ablaze again. But she was also comforted by his arms.
“Fine. Wonderful actually. Still kinda sleepy. What happened to everyone who was here yesterday?’
“Once we knew you were past the rough spots, they finished their ritual and went home. Your fridge is stocked with plenty of casseroles, and the tree is filled with presents from the tribe.”
“They didn’t have to do that.”
“I think they wanted to say welcome or thank you for letting them back on the land.”
“Well, they’re welcome anytime.” She wrapped her arms around his neck and formed her body to his. Natalie noticed his scent was stronger now. He pulled in a labored breath when her nose traveled along his neck. She licked his flesh and enjoyed the taste of his skin. “Hmmm. You both taste so good.”
He stepped back. His eyes had turned amber. “I promise I’ll make love to you after. But first, I wanted you to open your presents from us.”
Her eyes widened, and his comment helped bring her back into reality. “You guys got me presents? You didn’t have to do that.”
Dustin knitted his fingers with hers and led her into the living room. The room had been transformed. The tree was adorned with ornaments. The rest of her decorations were up. The old star was up on the tree, and underneath the tree overflowed with packages.
Before she sat down, Natalie dug into the back corner to find the two things she had gotten for them. She handed them their gifts and then sat down between them. Scott opened his first. It was a painting of a wolf playing in the snow, painted on a slab of wood.
“I hope you like it.”
He kissed her. “I love it.”
Dustin opened his next. Inside was a figurine of a cowboy riding a bucking bronco. “I saw it and thought of you. The whole cowboy thing, you know.”
He kissed her, too, and slipped her a little tongue. “It’s perfect. Now open ours.”
Natalie opened the present in her lap. Inside the box was also a figurine. When she pulled it out she saw that it was three wolves all standing together and howling. It reminded her of her dream. Tears came to her eyes.
“You like it?” Scott asked.
She nodded. “It’s beautiful. It’s all of us together.”
“That’s what I thought, too.”
She hugged the both of them and then set the statue on the mantle. Her fingers ran over the backs of the three wolves.
Her mates looked at her expectantly. Both of them had saved her from death and from the evil monsters that had haunted her. Together they were a miracle.
Everything was right with the world. Natalie no longer needed to fear her past. Dustin had driven the ghosts away, and Scott had taken on her ex. They could do anything, and she looked forward to seeing what being a werewolf would be like and enjoying the many nights in the coming winter with the two men she loved.
The End
About the Author
Crymsyn Hart is a bestselling author of Erotic Romance. Her worlds are filled with luscious vampires, gorgeous gods, quirky witches, and everything else that goes bump in the night. Crymsyn worked as a psychic for many years in Boston while attending Emerson College. She graduated with a BFA in Writing, Literature, & Publishing. When she gets bored, she sneaks away to local cemeteries and coffee shops to find peace and quiet. Crymsyn shares her life with a small zoo, two playful puppies 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. Crymsyn has a collection of Living Dead Dolls and five bookshelves overflowing with books. Of course there's always room for more.
Visit her on the web at:
www.RavynHart.com
Also available from Crymsyn at Purple Sword:
Tarnished Choices
Tarnished Souls
Tarnished Wings
Remember Me?
Role Reversal
Murmurs
Violet and Silver
Bitten By Love
Soul Reaper Series Book I: Masquerade
PURPLE SWORD PUBLICATIONS
Romantic Speculative Fiction
www.purplesword.com
