Crimson Bayou (Things that go Bump in the Bayou Book 1)

by Alizabeth Lynn

  “So, what do we do?”

  “We keep digging. Was there anything else—any other files that we haven’t looked through?”

  Carissa shook her head. “Not on his computer.”

  “What about his email.”

  “I didn’t think about that. I can’t get into it, though. I’m pretty sure I don’t have his password.”

  Aden grinned as he positioned his fingers over the keys. “And I’m pretty sure I don’t need it. Give me his email address, and I’ll get us in.”

  Carissa retrieved a piece of paper and wrote it down, sliding it to where Aden could see it. Minutes later, he grinned again. “We’re in.”

  His eyes narrowed. “And I think I’ve found something. It seems your husband was an organized soul. Look at this folder.”

  “Council Correspondence.”

  “Yep.” He clicked on the file, opening it, and Carissa’s breath caught. She leaned closer, inhaling his scent – a kind of floral spice mixed with metallic undertones – as she read the email over his shoulder:

  Leader Pembelton,

  I am Ryan Blaine, liaison of the North American Werewolf Packs. I am writing you with a request from our Supreme Pack Master. He wishes to merge our forces, as we have a common goal: The ruling of humanity and all those supernatural forces beneath us. He is including the dragons in this equation. No scale has been seen or heard of in centuries; therefore, he believes this to be a safe solution to both of our desires. Your yearly meeting takes place in two nights. We would appreciate your answer directly after.

  In confidence,

  Ryan Blaine

  Carissa opened her mouth to say something, but Aden shook his head, and clicked open the reply, dated three days later:

  Ryan,

  I’ve given a great deal of thought to your request, and it was my original intention to decline your offer to merge our forces. However, upon further reflection, I have decided to agree. An alliance between the vampires and werewolves would prove most beneficial in our common goal of domination over humans and other supernatural forces. Consider this a test run. Inform your Supreme Pack Master of my decision forthwith, and have him contact me with a meeting time.

  Best regards,

  Leader Pembelton

  Aden turned to her. “What happened in those three days? At that meeting?”

  “I don’t know, but it doesn’t sit right. A spell, maybe?”

  Aden shook his head with a frown. “Possibly, but I only know of one sorceress in this town, and I can’t see her doing something like this.” He gestured toward the laptop. “And what did he mean by dragons? I don’t know about you, but I didn’t find anything about them in his files.”

  “It’s probably some kind of code.” Carissa waved her hand dismissively. “Either way, I think we should keep this between us. I don’t even want to tell my nana, and I tell her everything.”

  Aden nodded, and Carissa breathed a sigh of relief. “So, what do we do, now?” she asked him.

  Aden sat back and scratched his ear again, his eyes finding hers. “I don’t know, but I really don’t think either of us needs to be spending time alone,” he said quietly. “We should probably stick together as much as possible—unless you have a better idea.”

  “Not that I can think of,” Carissa conceded—her heart jumping at the prospect of spending more time with him. Maybe she’d get up the courage to tell him how she felt…

  Aden nodded and looked out the window, surprise covering his face. “What the–?” Then, without warning, he pulled her to her feet.

  “Come with me,” he said in a rush, as he pulled her to her feet and tugged her toward her front door, “I think I know someone who can help us.”

  Aden sounded so excited Carissa didn’t argue. She ran with him across the street, focusing intently on her feet so she didn’t stumble and fall on the way. When they got there, he pulled her up his porch steps. It was a toss-up to see who was more shocked.

  An old woman stood on the porch, staring at them with a radiant smile crinkling her faded blue eyes. “Nana!” Carissa exclaimed.

  Aden stepped back. His jaw dropped as he looked back and forth between them. “Nana?”

  The old woman didn’t say anything, but Carissa nodded, placing a hand on his arm. “Yes, Nana. She’s my grandmother.” She faced the woman. “And I’m wondering what the hell she’s doing at your house?”

  Instead of responding, Eleanor gripped them both by the elbows and marched them into Aden’s living room. She didn’t speak until the door was shut and locked.

  “It’s not safe to talk under the moon,” she told them, sitting down in Aden’s recliner while Carissa and Aden took up spots on the couch. She pinned Aden with an intense stare. “If you don’t want to turn to dust, young man, I suggest you stay inside at night.”

  Carissa felt Aden stiffen beside her, his arm tensing up against her own. “Might I remind you that I’m a vampire?” he said slowly. “I’m only active at night.”

  Eleanor simply raised an eyebrow at him. “Well, you’ll be a dead one if the Vampire Council catches up with you.” She turned her attention to Carissa. “And you, missy…”

  Carissa sat forward, brow furrowed. “Me?”

  “Yes, you. What did you think you were doing, walking around the woods at night with a vampire?”

  Stunned, Carissa shook her head. “I’m not even going to ask how the woman who told me she was going to be out of town knows anything about that. Besides, at the time, I thought he was an alien, not a vampire,” she muttered, refusing to look at Aden, “but, regardless of that, I will point out that I’ve never been in any danger from him. There’s more to be worried about in this town than the nice vampire across the street,” she ended sullenly.

  Eleanor smoothed her skirts, her lips twitching. “I was out of town, Carissa. I had a meeting with the Crimson Bayou Pack Master, which I couldn’t very well tell you when you didn’t yet know about supernatural creatures.”

  Carissa looked up them, her eyes colliding with Aden’s, whose were filled with as much shock as she felt jolting through her body. “Well, now I do, so spill.”

  Eleanor nodded. “I suppose it’s about time I did, huh? Especially since you were finally bit by werewolf.”

  Carissa blinked. “What do you mean, finally?”

  To her surprise, Eleanor smiled gently. “Sweetheart, the wolf targeted you for a reason.”

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  The air whooshed from Carissa’s lungs, and she slumped against Aden. “You’re kidding me, right? What reason?”

  “No, I’m not.” Eleanor paused for a moment. “Let me see if I can lay this out for you. Wolves reach maturity around the same time as humans, even though they live about eight-hundred, or more, years longer. Their lifespans make procreating difficult, and over the years, humans and vampires have dwindled their numbers. Many wolves mate with mortals, as mortals are more fertile. Unfortunately, mortal were-children do not automatically inherit the ability to change.”

  Carissa tried to interrupt, to tell Nana she’d read different information in Ryan’s files, but Eleanor held up a hand, continuing as if her granddaughter hadn’t moved a muscle.

  “Those that do not have the ability to change can mate with whomever they choose and not suffer any repercussions. However, should they wish to gain that ability, a fully matured werewolf, must bite the offspring, letting the saliva of the wolf seep into the wound. Once bitten in such a way, they are subject to the rule of the moon.” She raised her eyes to Carissa’s. “As you now are.”

  Trying to process what her grandmother was telling her, Carissa latched onto one sentence. She threw her hands into the air. “Hold up! Who said anyone was mating here?”

  Eleanor grinned. “Well, by werewolf law, wolves are only allowed to mate with people who are fertile, whether it be humans or other wolves. To intentionally move outside those boundaries can result in death at the hands of the Pack Master.”

 
Carissa sat forward, glaring at the older woman. “Nana, why are you still talking about mating?”

  Eleanor ignored her and continued, “As a result, the mating of a vampire and werewolf is prohibited. Also, once a werewolf mates, it mates for life. Any children born outside of the union are unable to be changed once they reach adulthood. To bite one would cause sickness and, eventually, death.”

  Carissa huffed out a breath, and Aden cursed. “Stop. Talking. About. Mating!” Carissa didn’t yell, but it was a hard-won internal battle. She and Aden shared an exasperated look, and she rolled her eyes.

  Eleanor merely raised her eyebrows at the pair of them. “My main point is that your father mated with your mother for the protection of the species. The wolf who bit you knows you spend time with Aden. If they find out you’re in love, they’ll kill you both.”

  Carissa’s heart lodged in her throat. She made a strangled sound before forcing the needed words past her lips. “In that case, we should be fine. We aren’t in love with each other.”

  If anyone noticed the hesitation in her voice, no one remarked. Instead, Aden looked at Eleanor and changed the subject. “Aren’t you going to tell Carissa how we know each other?” he asked Eleanor.

  The old woman merely smiled and stood up. “No. I’m going to leave that task to you—it’s your future you’re securing, after all.” With those cryptic words, she shifted her gaze to Carissa’s. “I’ll handle Baby Steps until after the full moon. I think you have enough on your plate without adding business management into the mix. You take a bit of a vacation from the shop. I can handle it. In the meantime, you and your young man need to talk.” She walked away, but turned back at the door. “Remember this: If you choose to follow your heart, the consequences will be severe, but the rewards could be so much better. Either way, you have my blessing.”

  Carissa watched her grandmother walk out with a mixture of amusement and confusion. She looked at Aden as the door swung shut. “What do you think she meant by that?”

  He shook his head. “I have no idea. Do you still not want to tell her what we found out?”

  “For the moment, I think it would be best. It seems like she already knows enough to get her into trouble.” Sitting back again, Carissa crossed her arms over her chest and changed the subject. “So how do y’all know each other?”

  Aden told her how he and Eleanor met, and Carissa laughed. “So my nana is a sorceress who worked some magick on you, and now you’re protected from alligators? That is so like her!”

  As the lapsed into silence, Aden put his arms around Carissa, and she rested her head on his chest. They stayed that way for about twenty minutes before Carissa spoke again. “I can’t believe I’m still awake. It must be close to dawn, and I’m just now feeling tired.”

  Aden’s arms squeezed gently. “The sun will rise in an hour, so it’s probably the werewolf toxin changing your body and adapting you to the pull of the moon.”

  She turned her head and looked at him. “You’re probably right.” She yawned. “It’s no use wishing this didn’t happen. I may end up wondering why this is so easy to accept, but right now, I really just want to sleep.”

  “Why don’t you stay here?” Aden suggested. “I have a spare bed, and like we discussed earlier about staying closer together, I’d worry a little less knowing you were safe.”

  Carissa yawned again, and her eyes fluttered shut. Her words slurred when she spoke. “I don’t think I could walk back home anyway.”

  Aden felt her body relax against him, so he picked her up and carried her back to his spare bedroom. He would love her to be in his room, but he didn’t think she’d be too comfortable with that just yet. He could tell by the way that she looked at him that she cared deeply, but he wouldn’t force her to admit it until she was ready. He held Carissa with one arm and pulled the covers back on the bed before laying her down. He slipped her shoes from her dainty feet, then smoothed the comforter up to her chin.

  Carissa snored gently and didn’t awaken.

  Taking the opportunity, Aden leaned down and pressed his lips to her forehead. “Your grandmother was right about one of us, you know,” he whispered, “I’m very much in love with you, Carissa.”

  He left her to sleep, returned to her house for his laptop, and sat at his kitchen table for blood and research before he retired for the day. He spent the next half hour cataloguing the pertinent information from the jump drive. Something about the Vampire Council’s slayers niggled the back of his mind, but he couldn’t grasp what was so off-putting. He closed his laptop with a snap as the sun’s rays illuminated his kitchen curtains. He and Carissa could look at it with fresh eyes the next time he saw her.

  Already dimming with the oncoming night, the sun shone through the window when Carissa finally woke. Propped against the pillows, she stretched her sore muscles under tight skin. She might as well have lifted weights while running twenty miles before she went to bed. That was not a pleasant feeling. Wincing, she threw the covers back and sat up. She braced her hands on the side of the bed, looking down as she did so, and was so shocked she almost toppled backward. Her legs, beginning where her shorts cut off at mid-thigh, were beginner’s-bodybuilding-muscular.

  It was enough to make her wonder if she had run twenty miles at some point. And suddenly, the reasons for it all slammed into her with the force of a Mack truck—the pain of the realization a physical ache that had her crying out in agony. Doubling over, Carissa grasped her sides, digging her fingers in as her breath hitched, and tears streamed from her eyes. She was changing now—the undeniable proof a literal weight upon her body. She squeezed her eyes shut against the burning pain in her belly.

  Fear and uncertainty gnawed a hole in her soul, making her wish for things she’d never be able to change. She wished she could go back and not follow Aden into the woods. She wished she’d never unlocked the shed—wished she’d never gone to college and met Ryan. She didn’t want this. She liked not knowing about all the paranormal crap. Why couldn’t she just be a normal human?

  Because you were born different.

  The defiant little voice in the back of her mind was right, she realized. Carissa slowly unfurled her body, sniffling as she stretched her aching limbs. She wiped the tears from her eyes with a trembling hand. Wishing her circumstances away would do no good if she couldn’t wish away her existence. She stared blindly at the floor, seeing the pronounced detailing of the wood grains beneath her feet without acknowledging them. She didn’t feel like herself anymore, but she was a new self, and she needed to get used to it—needed to reaffirm her humanity, heal her soul and her heart. The first would be difficult, but for the second…all she needed was her vampire.

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  Aden stopped at the open door in time to see Carissa double over, clutching her stomach. He thought for a moment she might be sick, but then the tears began to fall, and he couldn’t bring himself to say anything. He would have gone to her, but the waning sunlight spilling across the floor was a big deterrent. So, he stood in the doorway, heart aching, powerless. As much as he wanted circumstances to be different, there was nothing he could do to ease her pain. If he could go back and change that night—well, they wouldn’t be where they were, and, selfish or not, he didn’t want to give her up. Aden knew he stood a better chance with Carissa knowing the truth. There was still the likelihood that he would have to leave her eventually, but he was in no hurry to make that happen.

  Aden started to step back into the hallway, but Carissa chose that moment to look up. Her eyes were practically glowing in the growing darkness. He would bet money that her eyesight was as good, or better, than his own, and that was disconcerting. He didn’t know much about werewolf behavior, but if the look in her green eyes was any indication, it seemed he was about to get a very personal lesson.

  Carissa stood up, a sly smile gracing her lips. Her hips swayed as she sashayed across the floor. Sliding her arms around his waist, her hands caressing his sides, she
held tight, pressing her face into his chest. Returning her hug, trying to ignore the feel of her breasts pressed against his chest, he realized her back was no longer soft, but a well-defined mass of sculpted muscle. Her curves remained as supple as ever, and holding her so close, his body was ready to be grateful—very grateful.

  Aden closed his eyes and took a deep, centering, breath. His body responded to Carissa’s in a very primitive way, but he knew he needed to move back before things went too far, too soon. That thought in mind, his own emotions resisting, he tried to do what was right and pull away. She wouldn’t let him. Not budging from where she stood, Carissa dug her fingers into his hips as she looked up at him through heavy-lidded eyes. Aden opened his mouth to tell her to stop, but she claimed his lips in a kiss that seared his brain and stopped his desire to talk. Her mouth moved over his, nipping, tasting, devouring his resolve with tantalizing insistence.

  Unable to help himself, Aden kissed her back, his tongue fighting hers for dominance in a war that could only end in a draw. Then, before he knew what was happening, Carissa had her hands under his shirt, her nails scraping lightly from his chest to the waistband of his jeans. His skin quivered beneath her gentle ministrations, the kiss deepening as her hands continued to explore his torso. His teeth grazed her full bottom lip, and she moaned, her fingers entwining in the bottom of his shirt. On a gasp, Carissa pulled her lips from his, and yanked his shirt over his head so quickly he didn’t know it happened until she was done. Pressing her lips to his again, her hands flew to the button on his jeans, shocking him back to reality.

  Aden broke the kiss and grabbed her wrists, his breath heaving out in resistance to his morals. “Whoa! What are you doing?”