Anice: The Cursed Clan

by Schroeder, Melissa

  He led her over to Callum, who stared at him as if he had lost his mind. Brody waited until Phoebe sat down before returning to Anice’s side.

  “What the bloody hell was that?” Callum asked.

  He didn’t say anything because now that he stood next to Anice, he drew in her scent and was lost. He wanted to touch, to please, to capture her cries as she came.

  “I’ll explain since the wolf seems to be in heat,” Rena said. “Shifters are very protective of the pack. While Phoebe isn’t part of his pack by blood, she is important to Anice; therefore, he would lay down his life to protect she and her baby.”

  Phoebe blinked. “Wait, what? He’s a shifter now?”

  “We’ve always been shifters.”

  Phoebe sighed. “I would really like to delve into this, but I want everyone here. So, I need tea, something to eat, and we need to rouse the house. Something tells me everyone will have questions.”

  Chapter Eight

  Anice sat down in the chair beside Brody’s. She didn’t think she wanted to see him today, let alone be near him, but the moment she knew he was in the house, she had been drawn to him. And no one had come to tell her that he was there. Instead, there was something inside of her, something in her soul, that had heralded his appearance.

  The rest of her family had arrived, all of them called in for a family meeting. These were getting a little bit silly, in her opinion. They didn’t need a family meeting to discuss Brody. He was going to help them with the jewel, that was all.

  ‘So, now that everyone is here, tell us what is going on,” Angus said.

  “It seems that our new partners left something out of the discussion last night,” Callum said. He was standing behind Phoebe, who sat at the desk, the diary in front of her.

  “We didn’t leave it out. It just never came up.”

  “Lame,” Anice said.

  Brody looked at her, sadness filling his gaze. Dammit, she wanted to pet him.

  Where had that thought come from? She wasn’t sure, but it was there, right in the tip of her thoughts. She wanted to reach up and stroke his jaw. She knew that it would soothe him.

  “Okay, it was a little lame. My family not only has a connection to Maggie’s and that diary,” he said pointing to it, “but we’re also shifters.”

  There was a beat of silence and Anice waited. With the McLennans, there was always an explosion after the calm.

  “What the bloody hell are you blathering on about? Shifters?” Fletcher said, snorting. “Sure, you’re a werewolf.”

  “You doona believe in shifters?” Rena asked.

  Her brother looked at his fiancé. “There are shifters?”

  Rena nodded. Then he looked back at Brody. “And your family? Esme and your brother, they’re shifters too?”

  He nodded. “Esme can shift, but she identifies with the witchy side of our family more.”

  “There are two of you,” Maggie said.

  “What?” Angus asked.

  “There are two of you. It is what Jack kept saying. He sensed it. I thought maybe it was because you were lying to Anice.”

  “No. It’s not like I hide it, but we doona announce ourselves around here. It could be a death sentence.”

  “That’s why your family left Scotland. With the killing of the last wolves, you would be exposed,” Maggie said.

  He nodded. “Although many remain. To do that, you have to have your own land.”

  “Now it all makes sense,” Phoebe said. Anice watched Brody shift his attention to her cousin-in-law. “You need your land back, so you can return here.”

  “Yes. It is rightfully ours, but the bastard who now owns it keeps raising the price.”

  Everything clicked into place in that one moment. “Gavin holds your family’s land?”

  “Yes. He controls it all. We have enough money for what it would normally go for. But he has tripled the price. We know that even if we had the money, he would raise it above that price as well.”

  “And you have to be on your lands to shift?”

  “No. My sister Eloise has told us she is never living in Scotland again. We moved when she was very young.”

  “She’s the one in Texas?”

  He nodded.

  “But you want your land?”

  “Yes, although we would take other land. Gavin has made that impossible.”

  “Sounds about right,” Callum said. “That bastard would make sure no one would sell to you.”

  “Yes,” Brody said, a grim look on his face. “He wanted to make sure we would do his bidding.”

  “We should be thankful,” Phoebe said.

  “Love?” Callum asked.

  “If Gavin hadn’t done that, I would have never been able to figure out that Anice and Brody need to go after the amethyst.”

  “You think he’s supposed to be my partner?” Anice asked, even as she knew the reason. The universe had never been that fair to her. Of course he was the person she would work with.

  “Yes. The passage I translated this morning has told me everything I needed to know.”

  Then she said nothing.

  “Love, could you tell us?”

  “Sorry,” she said with a smile. “Pregnancy hormones are making me a little forgetful. Anyway, I translated this passage and now it makes even more sense.” She opened the diary and pulled out a slip of paper. “The one with two selves is the protector to the key. He will ensure that she completes her quest. He will fight every enemy. His needs will complete her desires.”

  “What the bleeding hell does that mean?” Fletcher said.

  “It means that the one with two selves—which is Brody, since we now know he’s a wolf—is needed for Anice to complete her quest.”

  “What was all that blathering nonsense about desires?” Fletcher asked.

  Anice loved her twin, but every now and then, she wanted to make him cry like a baby. Like right now. It took all of her control not to stand up and pull his hair. It was immature, but she couldn’t help it. He was being an ass. As usual.

  “The one thing that she has desired is to break the curse.” Phoebe looked first at Anice, then shifted her gaze to Brody. “You need to stick close to Anice to keep her safe.”

  He sat up straighter and she almost wanted to groan. Phoebe had just given Brody the right to do what Anice was trying to avoid. Any time with him and she would make a fool of herself.

  “No problem,” he said, a smile playing about his lips.

  She was doomed.

  * * *

  Brody settled in his room, trying to remember if he ever had a space this big to himself. He wasn’t one who wanted to spread out. Most shifters, especially wolves, liked to stay close together. Safety in numbers, yes, but it was also a way of life, and being near other pack members was healthier for them.

  Of course, he was much better off near Anice.

  There was a knock on the door, then it opened.

  Fletcher.

  “Sure, come in.”

  Fletcher shut the door behind him and stalked toward him.

  “I need to have a word with you.”

  He could see Anice there in his eyes, in his mouth. The two of them were twins and it wasn’t hard to see. In personality, they were complete opposites. He knew Fletcher before he was even dating Anice, and they had always had a good working relationship. Now, though, he looked like he would happily castrate Brody.

  “Stewart?”

  “Sorry. I was just thinking how much you look like your sister.” He shook his head. “What did you want to talk about?”

  “You and I are going to go around about Anice.”

  He rocked back on his heels as he studied Fletcher. She had told Brody that Fletcher had come out minutes before her and had been trying to tell her what to do ever since.

  “We are?”

  “Other than working for the amethyst, you are not going to go near her.”

  He blinked. “Excuse me?”

  Take him
down. Teach him who is in control.

  “Yes.”

  He moved toward Fletcher, using his wolf speed. Fletcher’s eyes widened.

  “I think you are mistaken. You doona control the situation. I do.”

  He didn’t take a step back, Brody would give him that. He was either stupid, or brave—or both. At the moment, though, Fletcher might not understand the situation he was in.

  “You control nothing,” Fletcher said.

  “I think you have that right,” Anice said from behind her brother. He had been so intent on warning off her brother that he hadn’t even noticed when she had joined them. That was stupid.

  Fletcher made a face and Brody understood it. Anice wasn’t easy to deal with. That’s one of the reasons he loved her.

  Brody blinked.

  Love? No. They were mates, and while he knew there was affection there, it was more about their desires and compatibility with each other.

  “Step aside, you idiot.”

  He didn’t love her. She was bossy and would make a good mate for what was in store for them. Love meant that his emotions were involved and that was too damned scary.

  “Fletcher.”

  He did his sister’s biding. Anice was standing in the doorway. Anger lit her eyes and she had settled her hands on her hips. She was furious with both of them and damn if he didn’t want her now.

  Now.

  “I think you need to leave,” she said.

  “Anice.”

  “Fletcher.”

  “This isn’t over yet,” Fletcher said, then he stopped by his sister and whispered something in her ear. She nodded, and he left after throwing another nasty look in Brody’s direction.

  When he left the door open, Anice rolled her eyes and shut it herself.

  “You would think I’m fourteen years old and need to be taken care of.”

  “There’s nothing wrong with the way he’s watching out for you.”

  “Yes, there is. I’m a woman grown.”

  “One who fell for my line.”

  Her jaw flexed, telling him she was grinding her teeth.

  “How kind of you to point that out, again.”

  Why had he done that?

  Because you’re an idiot. A coward.

  Shut it.

  “What is going on in your head?”

  He opened his mouth, then snapped it shut.

  Disappointment stamped her features. “Never mind.”

  “No. it’s just...I was talking to my wolf.”

  “Your wolf?”

  He nodded.

  “That’s a thing?”

  “Yes. We have this other side of ourselves, one that drives a lot of our wants and needs. And they tend to talk to us.”

  “In your head. Like Jack said.”

  “Yes.”

  She nodded. Then silence. It stretched out until it was awkward.

  “Is there anything else you want to know?”

  She hesitated.

  “Anything.”

  “You say you’re a wolf and you can just shift.” She snapped her fingers. “Like that?”

  “Yes.”

  “Does it hurt?”

  “A little. Nothing like the first time.”

  “So you aren’t born like this?”

  He shook his head. “Nope, normal humans until about the age of thirteen. Once puberty hits, we can shift.”

  She opened her mouth, then hesitated again. He hated she felt she didn’t have a right to ask him anything. “I said anything.”

  “Do you only get involved with other wolves?”

  “Apparently not, since I’m involved with you.”

  “We are not involved and that was because, well, we both know what that was for.”

  He opened his mouth to argue but she stopped him.

  “No. I doona want any lies.”

  Tell her. Tell her about our feelings.

  No.

  “He’s talking to you again?”

  “Yes. I can’t shut him up, especially around you.”

  “What’s that mean?”

  “He recognizes you as our mate.”

  “Our? Oh, I see, you and the wolf?”

  He nodded.

  “But I would think to marry, you would need another wolf.”

  “Not always.”

  “And you have one mate? Like there is only one person or shifter for you?”

  “No. You have the potential for a lot of connections. Some are stronger than others.”

  “Stronger if you are both wolves?”

  “Usually. Not with you.”

  She crossed her arms beneath her breasts. “I said doona lie.”

  “I’m not. I swear.”

  “Then explain yourself.”

  He drew in a deep breath trying to get his thoughts in order. He had screwed this up so much, he needed to ensure he didn’t make it worse.

  “From the moment I saw you in person, I felt a connection. I can’t explain it because it’s never happened with a human before. Not for me.”

  “But with me?”

  “Yes. Then...when I talked to you, I couldn’t get you out of my mind.”

  “That’s called lust.”

  Tell her.

  He ignored his wolf, who had started to pace inside of him, ready to pounce as he stepped closer to Anice.

  “A bit. But not all. There is a connection between us. One that I truly doona understand yet.”

  I do, you wanker.

  “I do. Your family has an obsession with me.”

  “I can’t deny that. My cousin has lost his mind.”

  She opened her mouth, but there was a knock at the door.

  “It’s Callum. If either of you are naked, cover yourself.”

  Then the door opened without enough time for either of them to get dressed if they had been naked.

  “If either one of us is naked?” Anice asked, irritated amusement filling her voice.

  “Phoebe has something she wants to talk to you about. Both of you. Come.”

  Then he turned and walked out of the room.

  “Does he do that a lot?” he asked.

  She shrugged. “He’s been laird, for over two hundred years. It’s kind of who he is. I bet your brother isn’t much better.”

  “No. He’s been Alpha for about eighty years.”

  “So, you do live longer than humans?”

  He nodded. “Our lifespan can be over two hundred years.”

  She opened her mouth to ask him another question, but Callum yelled out, “Come now or I’m going to be unhappy. Anice, let him know what happens when I’m unhappy.”

  A small smile played about her lips and her eyes twinkled. “He stomps around and mutters a lot.”

  “Anice!”

  She winked at Brody, then she walked out of the room. And just like that, he realized he was in love with her.

  Truly. Madly. Once in a lifetime love.

  Bloody hell.

  Chapter Nine

  Anice followed her cousin into his bedroom, her heart worried and her head pounding. Her conversation with Brody hadn’t made her feel any better. If anything, it made her even more confused. Feeling sorry for him and his family was understandable, but forgiving him was probably beyond her own abilities.

  What was she thinking? Of course she had already started to forgive him. Well, not completely, but she understood his motivation.

  Phoebe was sitting in a huge chair by the window. Her feet were propped up on an ottoman. Callum stood by her chair as if he were guarding her. The sweet picture they made together almost made Anice weep in envy.

  Phoebe smiled at Anice.

  “I thought…oh, there you are Brody. Come on in, you two.”

  Anice turned as Brody stepped up beside her. He looked...well, shocked.

  “Are you okay?” she asked.

  He glanced at her and nodded, then waved his hand motioning for her to go first. She hesitated for a moment, then stepped in front of him. As s
he walked to the sitting area, he prowled behind her. There was no other word for it, and it wasn’t because he was a wolf. She had thought that her brother and cousins all acted the same way around their women.

  Dammit. She needed to stop thinking that way. She wasn’t his woman and never would be. And why did that make her want to weep?

  “Anice, are you all right?” Phoebe asked.

  Anice blinked. “Yes.”

  “Good, now sit down,” Phoebe said. “I’m sick of people towering over me,” she said, giving her husband a pointed stare.

  Callum waited until Anice and Brody had sat down before taking the chair next to hers. Anice had to bite her bottom lip to keep from laughing. She would have never expected Callum to be such a doting husband, but he was.

  “I have found a few things that seem to make sense. Just so you know, Maggie, Meghan, and Rena are working on a plan to steal the amethyst. I am sure you two are going to have to deal with it, but we’ll worry about that later.”

  “Steal the amethyst?” Brody asked.

  “We haven’t been able to buy them, that doesn’t work,” Callum said, his voice dripping with disgust. One thing they had excelled at was making money, but they found it completely useless in trying to gain a jewel. “We need to acquire them in some way.”

  “Yes. But what I wanted to talk about is Anice and the McWalton’s fascination with her. I think I figured it out. Or, have an inkling as to why they may need you.”

  “Need me?” Anice asked.

  “Yes. See, what I have been reading about is the key. I told you that earlier.”

  Anice nodded.

  “Well, this passage today seems to indicate what I had thought was going on. The Key is strong, and she is good. She will be the only one to unite the Clans, the only one who can save them all.”

  “Uh, what makes you think it’s me?”

  “It mentions you.”

  “What?”

  “Her mane is dark as the night and her eyes as clear as the sky above. She alone can bring them together.”

  She blinked. “That could be anyone.”