Brain

by Candace Blevins

  He opened the door to his room, grabbed his laptop, and sat on the bed. “Sit beside me, Harmony. This is how we communicate when we don’t want every wolf in the building to hear our business.”

  I stepped behind the bed so I could see, too, as he woke the screen, opened a word processing program, and typed, “I vow to you we will never subject you to that. No one will ever lay a hand on you in anger or consequences. I can’t imagine you being stupid, but if you are, and we have to levy consequences, they’ll come in the form of a fine or banishment. I never want to smell that kind of terror in my clubhouse again. If Ivankov were alive, I’d kill him all over again.”

  I spoke up, worried Harmony would take his words the wrong way. “She can’t help how she smells, Duke. Something hits her the wrong way, that’s what we get.”

  “Yeah, and I get that, so she needs to leave the room before someone’s spanked, and she needs to remember,” he stopped talking and typed, “it’ll never happen to you. Not while I’m president and Brain’s VP.”

  Chapter Fifty-Two

  Harmony

  We’d been moved into our new house six weeks now, and I couldn’t imagine life could get any better.

  I’d done several white hat jobs for Aaron, and in return he’d bought me four horses. The dummy corporation that owned the farm had bought three, and I had room for another five before I’d need to expand the existing facilities, which meant I’d soon advertise to board horses for more income.

  I already had five riding lesson students, some once a week, most twice a week, with one at five days a week. I’d be taking her to a competition in a few weeks, and I looked forward to getting the Hidden Springs Ranch name out there.

  I was about to ‘hire’ Harmony Johnson as the caretaker and head cook. She’d live here rent free, plus get a small salary — enough for her car payment, and to begin paying down on her credit cards.

  Meanwhile, the original Harmony had died two weeks ago. I’d arranged for a nurse to take care of her until her final breath, and then arranged for her cremation, and had spread her ashes in the Tennessee River on a beautiful, windy day.

  It’d taken some work to acclimate the horses to Brain — they’d smelled wolf and freaked at first, but he’d been as patient with them as he’d been with me, and now they adored him.

  I’d even ridden alongside him, my horse running side-by-side with the wolf, for a short time during the last full moon. Every day with Brain was sheer magic, but some days had more fairy dust than others, and I’d remember that night for the rest of my life. We might repeat it a hundred times, but the first time would always stick in my head.

  I’ve been held captive twice in my life. I killed my first captor, and I’m living with the second. Funny how life works out, sometimes.

  I fed and watered the horses, made sure they had everything they needed for the night, and went in the house to take a shower. Tonight, I was meeting Gen, Bethany, and Pebbles at the RTMC’s bar for a drunken night of partying. I’d been welcomed into Brain’s MC family with no question, and after living on my own for so long, it was surprisingly easy to get used to having a support system, again.

  * * * *

  Brain

  I watched Harmony from the catwalk as she sat beside Gen, and chatted and joked with the other women. Duke was across the street taking a shower to wash other people’s blood off. I’d managed to take my people down without getting messy, so I had time to sit and watch my Buttercup.

  She never ceased to amaze me, the way she took on new experiences as if she was an old hand.

  And watching her with the horses these past weeks had made me fall even more in love with her. They’d brought a part of her to the surface I’d only seen glimpses of, before. She smiled and laughed, more. She was full of joy, full of life.

  Full of sunshine.

  She was truly my Buttercup now, come to life under the rays of the sun.

  Duke texted me he was on his way across the street, and I met him at the front door so we could walk in, together.

  It’d been a long day, but the highlight happened when she turned as I neared, and her eyes lit up with joy at seeing me.

  No matter how long we lived, that would never get old.

  The End

  If you enjoyed Brain, you may also like the other books set in the same universe, though in different series.

  Chattanooga Supernaturals series, paranormal romance:

  •The Dragon King (Aaron Drake’s story, and the first time we meet Duke and Brain)

  •Riding the Storm

  •Acceptable Risk (Oct 16 )

  Only Human series, urban fantasy

  •Only Human

  The Safeword series, intense BDSM contemporary romance

  •Safeword Rainbow (Tyler and Viv’s story)

  •Safeword: Davenport

  •Safewords: Davenport and Chiffon

  •Safeword: Quinacridone

  •Safeword: Matte (Ethan and Sam’s story, and we first meet Cassie and Frisco)

  •Safeword: Matte – In Training (Ethan and Sam’s story continues, and we meet Cam)

  •No Safeword: Matte – The Honeymoon (Ethan and Sam’s story continues)

  •No Safeword: Matte – Happily Ever After (Ethan and Sam’s story continues)

  •Safeword: Arabesque (Isaac, Frisco, Cam, and Cassie’s story)

  Rolling Thunder Motorcycle Series

  •Duke

  •Brain

  •Bash (TBA)

  •Gonzo (TBA)

  Check out other books by Candace Blevins at candaceblevins.com.

  Keep reading for an excerpt from The Dragon King

  The Dragon King

  By Candace Blevins

  Prologue

  Aaron

  Sophia is the most adorable two year old I’ve ever seen. Fluffy blonde hair, rosy chubby cheeks, and a laugh that makes my heart sore.

  I turned to her father, the Swan King, and chose my words carefully. “Raul, you’re sure this is the best course of action? I know you’re still grieving over Angelique’s death, but can you truly prepare Sophia for a life of leading your people if you keep her a prisoner in your home her entire life?”

  I could only get away with asking this question because I’d helped raise and train Raul, helped prepare him to take the crown when he beat his brothers and won the throne.

  “I did my best to protect my wife from supernaturals, and a damned human hunter took her out. Sophia won’t leave the walls of the castle until she marries, and hopefully whoever wins her will follow my lead and also keep her behind protective walls. She won’t see the same fate as Angelique.” His voice was firm, didn’t waver, and let me know further conversation on the matter would be met with hostility.

  Sophia is the first Swan Princess without at least one brother since before I was born, and by my best guess I’m around nine thousand years old. Give or take a thousand.

  Swan Princesses are usually given to other royalty as a way to unite families and sometimes species, but they never have a hope of the throne. Their brothers are required to fight each other for power, the strongest and most cunning winning the crown.

  Instead of finding another wife to give him sons, Raul is arranging for a contest between the other Swan royalty, with the strongest being allowed to care for her until she turns twenty five, and then marry her and eventually take the crown. Personally, I think Raul wants to step down and find a way to join his dead wife. The grief of her death still holds him.

  I’ve trained the past seven Swan Kings, including Sophia’s father, Raul. I know him well, and I know he loves his daughter. However, he’s still feels such pain over his wife’s slaughter, I worry about the decisions he’s making.

  There is precedence amongst some other supernatural species for his keeping Sophia in seclusion, finding a suitable King, and not giving her a choice in who she’ll marry. However, watching the toddler play and laugh and flirt, my heart hurts with the knowledge she’ll grow
up with no control of her major life choices. Or, likely the minor ones, either.

  She’s such a happy baby, so full of life and adventure. I hope her life turns out better than most fairy tales.

  * * * *

  Ten years later, my heart aches as the court Herald announces me into the Swan King’s mansion for Sophia’s final unchaperoned lesson. I’ve been coming to the mansion once a week for a four hour session since she was six, but this must stop once she becomes a teenager, which in swan lore makes her a woman.

  I’ll be allowed to come four times a year for an all-day review session, but will never again be alone with her. After today she’ll have a chaperone or minder with her anytime she’s with a man besides her father — or husband, once she’s married.

  I’m going to miss my time with her. In my busy life, my half-days with the Swan Princess have been the sunshine of my week. Sophia is a special child, so smart, so willing to learn, and a joy to be around. My heart is happy when I’m with her, and we most often go to our spot near a manmade waterfall on their property so we can talk without worrying so much about being overheard. Someone from the house can see us, but our words are drowned out. Sometimes, though, my favorite part of the day is her smile when I arrive and she skips to me for a hug. Today will be the last time she’ll be allowed to hug me for no reason, just because she’s happy I’ve arrived. My heart hurts as I wrap my arms around her and tell her I’m happy to see her.

  We walk to our spot, sit on our rock and I open a few books as I give her another to hold. The rushing waters may provide white noise to block our voices, but we still need to appear as if I’m teaching her.

  “You know this is the last time we’ll be alone, right, Soph?”

  Sophia looks down, takes a breath, and raises her gaze back to mine. “I know. I’ll miss my time with you.”

  “And I’ll miss you, but you’re a Princess, and one day you’ll be Queen, and this is the way it has to be. I’ll be back to review the important stuff, but there are some things I’ve taught you that I won’t be able to review with you out loud. I’ll try to write it in a notebook and let you read it, so you’ll remember, but there is some danger in that, so I won’t do it every time.”

  “Why take the risk? If I’ll never rule, never make a difference, why put yourself in danger?”

  “Because I’m grooming you for power, Princess. No one knows for sure what the future holds, and to fully do my job I can’t just teach you the palatable parts of your history. I understand your family wishes to shield you and protect you, but I can see the strength in you.”

  Sophia sighed. “I’ll still see you at social occasions? Not just the four times a year you’ll be allowed to come for review?”

  “Yes, and I may or may not be allowed a dance with you. I will certainly not be able to take you outside for a conversation.”

  She nodded, and I carefully said, “Sophia, if ever you find yourself in need of a protector, get a message to me. Your father and Cyrano will look after you, but if you find yourself without their protection I hope you’ll feel comfortable letting me keep you safe.”

  Shaking her head, Sophia said, “Cyrano scares me. My latest Governess tells me when I’m a woman I’ll appreciate him for his strength and resolve, and I must remain meek and quiet around him while I’m a child.”

  I wanted to wring Cyrano’s neck for frightening her, as well as the Governess’s for giving crap advice, but I had to walk a fine line. “I’m sorry he scares you, Princess. I would advise you to speak to your father about it, see if he can intercede on your behalf.”

  “You always do that.”

  I tilted my head and let my eyebrows raise, and Sophia explained. “When we’re just talking, I’m Soph or Sophia, but when you’re thinking politically, you call me Princess.”

  “Yes, because this is the way an elder speaks to someone of royalty. I’m your teacher, I know more than you, but I must also show respect. It’s a balance, Sophia.”

  She shook her head. “I don’t know what you are, and my father either doesn’t know or won’t tell me, but I’m positive you’re royalty, too. I’ve learned to tell the difference in someone with their own power who addresses me and my father as an equal while using all the right words, and someone with no power who addresses us with the same words but a completely different energy.”

  I hoped my smile showed how pleased I was with her insight. “You make me proud, Sophia. I hope you’ll keep your suppositions to yourself, though.”

  She nodded. “Of course, and I hope someday you’ll trust me enough to tell me what and who you really are.”

  I needed to be sure she understood my offer, so I repeated it. “Do you understand what I’m saying, Soph? If you ever need help, a protector, a friend, an advisor…If you’re ever in trouble I hope you’ll find a way to get a message to me.”

  Chapter One

  Sophia

  I’d been planning my escape for eleven years, and tonight I’d either fly to my freedom or die trying.

  I was to be married to Cyrano on my twenty-fifth birthday, in seventeen days. However, I was determined it was never going to happen.

  Tomorrow, my governess was meeting with people in Charleston on my behalf to assure the wedding would go off without a hitch. Since I was never allowed off my father’s property, if someone couldn’t come to me then I had to send someone to them, and the caterers had decided they couldn’t make yet another trip to go over last minute details.

  I knew they wouldn’t, it was part of my plan.

  I’d sent my governess away earlier this evening so she could stay in a hotel and be present for the seven o’clock meeting tomorrow morning, and then make surprise visits to check in with the florist and a few other vendors.

  I’d brought books up from the library to my bedroom, asked for my tea service a little early, and told everyone I wasn’t to be disturbed.

  I’d been nervous and anxious for months, so no one paid any attention to my scent anymore. I was perpetually on edge.

  It was eight fifteen, and I figured I’d have until the guard shift change at three in the morning before anyone realized I was gone. My current guard wasn’t likely to decide he needed to put eyeballs on me, but I knew they’d look in on me at shift change. They always did.

  Swan shifters need to Change a minimum of four times a year, at both equinoxes and both solstices. However, since my father didn’t want me leaving the property, when I Changed they immediately turned me back human. I’d never been allowed to even try to fly. The rest of the time I wore an anklet my father had brought someone in to create especially for me. It kept me from turning into a swan any other time of year.

  I’d spent years combing through the books in our extensive library, and was convinced I’d found a way to defeat the anklet. I’d also learned from one of our servants years ago that it was possible for a virgin to change without the normal flogging to rip enough skin away so we could shift into our swan form.

  She said one could use a knife to cut a seam from one foot, up the outside of the body, from armpit to fingers on the bottom of the arm, and then fingers to shoulder on the top of the arm, over the head and scalp, skip the right arm and go down the body to the right foot, and then as the left foot comes out and forms, use the claws to rip a seam in the skin from the right arm so it can pull free.

  I had a very sharp crafting knife and hoped it would do the job.

  Meanwhile, I’d long ago figured out how to defeat the alarm system at my window so I could at least open it and get fresh air. I used a screwdriver to carefully removed the contact from the window’s hardware, taped it to the stationary contact on the window frame, and then slowly opened the window, making sure everything stayed put.

  Taking a breath, I poured the hot water from my tea service into the plastic bin that normally held items in the storage area of my closet.

  It’d taken me years to assemble all of the herbs and roots without arousing anyone’s curiosity, and I n
ow dumped them into the bin and stepped into the scalding water. Trusting the concoction would do its job; I bent with the knife, stuck it into my foot just under my ankle bone, and began the excruciating task of literally skinning myself.

  I’d known it would hurt, but this was worse than the traditional flogging a virgin must undergo in order to Change. I was more than determined, though, so I did it fast and didn’t make a sound, even though I wanted to scream and cry.

  Halfway through the process I knew I’d been wrong about having hours until my escape was discovered. They were used to smelling fear on me, but not pain, and certainly not blood. I was going to have to fly for my life and hope they couldn’t keep up. I cut faster, and my blood flowed into the hot water at my feet.

  As the knife finally reached the outer edge of my right foot, I stood and imagined myself a swan, thought of how it felt to Change after I was flogged, and breathed in relief as I felt the transformation happening. The herbal concoction worked, and the anklet would end up in the water once I turned into a swan and it could come off my foot. As I Changed, it only took a few slices with my claw to rip the skin on top of my right arm enough for it to come free of the skin and turn into a wing, thank goodness.

  I made it onto the window sill, looked out at the Waccamaw River, and knew if I couldn’t figure out how to fly within a few minutes, and the crash landing didn’t kill me, I needed to find an alligator and hope he was hungry. I was going to either escape or die — I couldn’t live the rest of my life trapped in this house, and being forced to marry Cyrano was the final straw. People might make fun of the Princess trapped in the mansion with anything her heart desired at her fingertips, but this Princess preferred freedom to riches.