Lenorre, my mother, and my brother talked freely. Somewhere during their casual conversation and questions of how we met and how long we'd been together, Bailey sneaked up behind me and started begging for attention, which I gave, ruffling the top of her furry head.
"Start setting the table," my mother said to me when the timer in the kitchen beeped. To Lenorre, she said, "You're welcome to help yourself to Bailey. She's been driving me bonkers all day."
Lenorre tilted her head. I couldn't tell what she was thinking, but I reached out and touched her arm gently. "She's joking and they're harmless. Please, don't run screaming."
The corner of her mouth twitched. "I do not run screaming."
My brother put a hand on Lenorre's shoulder and said, "Then you'll fit right in."
Lenorre might not have been the type to run screaming, but if Bailey didn't get off my heels, I was considering it.
"Bailey!" I exclaimed as we made it into the dining room. "Get off my ass!" Bailey fell back, hesitating for a second with the command. I set the table, sparing glances at Lenorre.
She smiled, reassuring me that she wasn't going to slip out the back.
Halfway through my meal, I excused myself from the table to use my mother's bathroom. I turned the faucet on over the shell-shaped sink, washed my hands, and dried them on the designated blue hand towel.
"Kassandra."
I froze until a strand of hair tickled my cheek and I whipped around to face the mirror.
It was only for a moment, a split second, long enough to blink. I saw Avaliah, her eyes burning with an inner fire.
An owl hooted outside the bathroom window and I jumped, backing up too hard and too fast and hitting the towel rack behind me.
When I looked back to the mirror, the image was gone. I clutched a handful of my shirt, trying to remember how to breathe. A light tap sounded on the door, sending my heart jumping back up into my throat.
"Kassandra?" It was Lenorre's voice. "Are you well?"
I opened the door with shaking hands. "I'm fine."
"You don't look fine." She stepped into the bathroom, investigating.
She brought my attention to the towel rack. I'd knocked a screw loose, leaving it hanging in a way that my mildly OCD mother would notice.
"Shit," I said.
"What happened?"
"I ran into the towel bar, obviously," I grumbled.
"That's not all, Kassandra."
I shook my head. "Not here, Lenorre." I set about trying to push the loose screw back into the wall with my fingers, which worked out well enough to disguise the fact that I'd knocked it loose in the first place. Of course, it'd only disguise it until someone came along to use the towel to dry their hands.
Lenorre took me by the shoulders, turning me to face her, her beautiful features etched with concern. "Kassandra, what happened?"
"I'll tell you later, Lenorre. Not here. It's not a conversation for here and I'm not letting that bitch ruin my night."
Lenorre's mind worked behind her eyes.
"Avaliah?" she asked.
I nodded.
"When we go back out there, stay close to me."
"You don't think she'd try to do anything here, do you?" I asked.
"It wouldn't be in her wisest interest," Lenorre said. She took my trembling hands in hers, pulling me into the circle of her arms. I let her, breathing out a sigh and trying to force myself to relax.
"Calm your beast, Kassandra."
"I'm trying." I could feel her within me, her senses rocked to high alert, pacing uncertainly, uncomfortably, feeling my anxiety as her own.
It made my chest tight. It made me focus harder on breathing.
When I could feel my heartbeat slow against Lenorre's chest, she released me, her energy clinging to my skin like soft snow.
"Thank you." I hadn't realized until she stepped away that she'd been helping, which said something of Lenorre's subtlety.
She pressed her silken mouth against mine, murmuring, "You're welcome."
I licked my lips, tasting her coolness.
Lenorre buried her face in the bend of my neck, our scents mingling like a cool summer night.
"Lenorre?" I interrupted the moment.
"Hmm?"
"You didn't poof on my family, did you?"
Lenorre stood up straight. "Bloody hell," she said.
I laughed.
"What?" she asked.
"I'm taking that 'bloody hell,' as a yes, and well, with your track record, they were going to find out about your poofing abilities, eventually." I laughed again. The corners of her mouth twitched before she let out a quiet chuckle.
"Hey, lovebirds!" Keegan called from the dining room. "You going to join us again anytime soon?"
I peeked out the bathroom door and yelled down the hallway, "Coming!"
"Hope not!" Keegan responded. "Don't think mom would appreciate you using her bathroom for that!"
I heard my mother exclaim, "Keegan!"
When we made it back to the dining room, Keegan was grinning like a twelve-year-old boy.
I sat down, ignoring Bailey as she stirred from the floor at my mother's feet to come sit on the floor by me.
My father engaged Keegan in a conversation about sports as we finished our meal. I was only half-listening, focusing on the only slightly warm food in front of me when a chill made the back of my neck prickle.
I dropped my fork, clinging tightly to the knife in my right hand.
Not now, I thought. Fucking hell, not again.
A voice whispered like the dance of leaves across concrete. Soon.
Lenorre put her hand over mine, her energy washing over me like cool silk, drowning out that rustling sound and putting an end to the creepy sensation that crawled up my spine.
"Not tonight," Lenorre whispered low enough not to be heard, her eyes slightly misty with power.
"Dessert?" my mother asked.
Lenorre blinked, her gaze returning to normal. She smiled beautifully. "No, thank you. Kassandra?"
Slowly, I lowered the knife, keeping Lenorre's hand in mine. "Sure," I said. "I hope to hell it's chocolate."
About the Author
Winter Pennington is an author, poet, artist, and closeted musician. She is an avid practitioner of nature-based spirituality and enjoys spending her spare time studying mythology from around the world. The Celtic path is very close to her heart. She has an uncanny fascination with swords and daggers, and a fondness for feeding loud and obnoxious corvids. In the shadow of her writing, she has experience working with a plethora of animals as a pet care specialist and veterinary assistant.
Winter currently resides in Oklahoma with her partner and their family of furry kids.
Books Available from Bold Strokes Books
Worth the Risk by Karis Walsh. Investment analyst Jamie Callahan and Grand Prix show jumper Kaitlyn Brown are willing to risk it all in their careers-can they face a greater challenge and take a chance on love? (978-1-60282-587-1)
Bloody Claws by Winter Pennington. In the midst of aiding the police, Preternatural Private Investigator Kassandra Lyall finally finds herself at serious odds with Sheila Morris, the local werewolf pack's Alpha female, when Sheila abuses someone Kassandra has sworn to protect. (978-1-60282-588-8)
Awake Unto Me by Kathleen Knowles. In turn of the century San Francisco, two young women fight for love in a world where women are often invisible and passion is the privilege of the powerful. (9781-60282-589-5)
Initiation by Desire by MJ Williamz. Jaded Sue and innocent Tulley find forbidden love and passion within the inhibiting confines of a sorority house filled with nosy sisters. (978-1-60282-590-1)
Toughskins by William Masswa. John and Bret are two twenty-something athletes who find that love can begin in the most unlikely of places, including a "mom and pop shop" wrestling league. (9781-60282-591-8)
[email protected] by K.E. Payne. Is it possible to fall in love with someone you've never met? Imogen Summers thinks so bec
ause it's happened to her. (978-1-60282-592-5)
High Impact by Kim Baldwin. Thrill seeker Emery Lawson and Adventure Outfitter Pasha Dunn learn you can never truly appreciate what's important and what you're capable of until faced with a sudden and stark reminder of your own mortality. (978-1-60282580-2)
Snowbound by Cari Hunter. "The policewoman got shot and she's bleeding everywhere. Get someone here in one hour or I'm going to put her out of her misery." It's an ultimatum that will forever change the lives of police officer Sam Lucas and Dr. Kate Myles. (978-160282-581-9)
Rescue Me by Julie Cannon. Tyler Logan reluctantly agrees to pose as the girlfriend of her in-the-closet gay BFF at his company's annual retreat, but she didn't count on falling for Kristin, the boss's wife. (978-1-60282-582-6)
Murder in the Irish Channel by Greg Herren. Chanse MacLeod investigates the disappearance of a female activist fighting the Archdiocese of New Orleans and a powerful real estate syndicate. (978-1-60282-584-0)
Franky Gets Real by Mel Bossa. A four day getaway. Five childhood friends. Five shattering confessions…and a forgotten love unearthed. (978-1-60282-585-7)
Riding the Rails: Locomotive Lust and Carnal Caboosesedited by Jerry Wheeler. Some of the hottest writers of gay erotica spin tales of Riding the Rails. (978-1-60282-586-4)
Sheltering Dunes by Radclyffe. The seventh in the award-winning Provincetown Tales. The pasts, presents, and futures of three women collide in a single moment that will alter all their lives forever. (9781-60282-573-4)
Holy Rollers by Rob Byrnes. Partners in life and crime Grant Lambert and Chase LaMarca assemble a team of gay and lesbian criminals to steal millions from a right-wing mega-church, but the gang's plans are complicated by an "ex-gay" conference, the FBI, and a corrupt reverend with his own plans for the cash. (978-160282-578-9)
History's Passion: Stories of Sex Before Stonewall edited by Richard Labonté. Four acclaimed erotic authors re-imagine the past…Welcome to the hidden queer history of men loving men not so very long-and centuries-ago. (978-1-60282-576-5)
Lucky Loser by Yolanda Wallace. Top tennis pros Sinjin Smythe and Laure Fortescue reach Wimbledon desperate to claim tennis's crown jewel, but will their feelings for each other get in the way? (978-1-60282-575-8)
Mystery of The Tempest: A Fisher Key Adventure by Sam Cameron. Twin brothers Denny and Steven Anderson love helping people and fighting crime alongside their sheriff dad on sun-drenched Fisher Key, Florida, but Denny doesn't dare tell anyone he's gay, and Steven has secrets of his own to keep. (978-1-60282579-6)
Better Off Red: Vampire Sorority Sisters Book 1 by Rebekah Weatherspoon. Every sorority has its secrets, and college freshman Ginger Carmichael soon discovers that her pledge is more than a bond of sisterhood-it's a lifelong pact to serve six bloodthirsty demons with a lot more than nutritional needs. (978-1-60282-574-1)
Detours by Jeffrey Ricker. Joel Patterson is heading to Maine for his mother's funeral, and his high school friend Lincoln has invited himself along on the ride-and into Joel's bed-but when the ghost of Joel's mother joins the trip, the route is likely to be anything but straight. (978-1-60282-577-2)
Three Days by L.T. Marie. In a town like Vegas where anything can happen, Shawn and Dakota find that the stakes are love at all costs, and it's a gamble neither can afford to lose. (978-1-60282-569-7)
Swimming to Chicago by David-Matthew Barnes. As the lives of the adults around them unravel, high school students Alex and Robby form an unbreakable bond, vowing to do anything to stay together-even if it means leaving everything behind. (978-160282-572-7)
Hostage Moon by AJ Quinn. Hunter Roswell thought she had left her past behind, until a serial killer begins stalking her. Can FBI profiler Sara Wilder help her find her connection to the killer before he strikes on blood moon? (978-1-60282-568-0)
Erotica Exotica: Tales of Sex, Magic, and the Supernaturaledited by Richard Labonté. Today's top gay erotica authors offer sexual thrills and perverse arousal, spooky chills, and magical orgasms in these stories exploring arcane mystery, supernatural seduction, and sex that haunts in a manner both weird and wondrous. (978-160282-570-3)
Blue by Russ Gregory. Matt and Thatcher find themselves in the crosshairs of a psychotic killer stalking gay men in the streets of Austin, and only a 103-year-old nursing home resident holds the key to solving the murders-but can she give up her secrets in time to save them? (978-1-60282-571-0)
Balance of Forces: Toujours Ici by Ali Vali. Immortal Kendal Richoux's life began during the reign of Egypt's only female pharaoh, and history has taught her the dangers of getting too close to anyone who hasn't harnessed the power of time, but as she prepares for the most important battle of her long life, can she resist her attraction to Piper Marmande? (978-1-60282-567-3)
Wings: Subversive Gay Angel Erotica edited by Todd Gregory. A collection of powerfully written tales of passion and desire centered on the aching beauty of angels. (978-1-60282-565-9)
Contemporary Gay Romances by Felice Picano. These works of short fiction from legendary novelist and memoirist Felice Picano are as different from any standard "romances" as you can get, but they will linger in the mind and memory. (978-1-60282-639-7)
Pirate's Fortune: Supreme Constellations Book Four by Gun Brooke. Set against the backdrop of war, captured mercenary Weiss Kyakh is persuaded to work undercover with bio-android Madisyn Pimm, which foils her plans to escape, but kindles unexpected love. (978-1-60282-563-5)
Sex and Skateboards by Ashley Bartlett. Sex and skateboards and surfing on the California coast. What more could anyone want? Alden McKenna thinks that's all she needs, until she meets Weston Duvall. (978-1-60282-562-8)
[Kassandra Lyall Preternatural Investigator 03] - Bloody Claws Page 26
