I screamed, quickly covering up as much as possible.
Will laughed harder. “Naked and tangled up. It must’ve been some party last night.”
“I—no.” I felt my whole body blush, from the tips of my toes to the top of my head.
“Miss Cavanaugh.” Isaac found me next.
Where Will was just standing there staring, Isaac quickly took off his jacket and threw it over me. “Thank you, Isaac.” I tried to cover myself but I was still mostly tangled.
Adam burst through the two men and bent beside me. “What the hell?” He ripped at the stupid lounge chair until I was free. Then he picked me up, making sure I was covered and practically ran toward the house.
“Wait for me,” Will called.
“Isaac, will you make sure Will leaves?” I asked, my gaze catching the butler’s.
“Of course. If you would,” I heard Isaac say.
Adam mumbled something under his breath.
“What?” I asked, mortified but trying not to be.
“I don’t like that kid.”
“Who, Will?” I shrugged, which made Isaac’s jacket fall off my shoulder and slide down my chest so I was exposed. I gasped.
Adam kept his eyes forward. “Don’t talk. Don’t move until I say so.”
I glanced up at his face. He was clenching his teeth, his jaw flexing and un-flexing. “You’re kind of bossy,” I said, surprised.
At my words his bright eyes found mine. He made a point of focusing only on my face. “Shhhhh.” Then he faced forward, opening the back door, walking through the living room, down the hall, and up the stairs. When he reached my room, he kicked open the door and basically tossed me on the bed. My limbs went flying, the jacket all but coming off. My face burned, embarrassed. The door slammed shut and I was alone.
“Rude.”
I thought I heard a bark of laughter from the other side of the door. “When you’re decent come find me.”
“Fine.” I jumped off the bed and ran into the bathroom, desperate to see my face. I was dirty, but still me. There were no sharp teeth. There wasn’t any fur. No claws or paws. I sighed. “Sleepwalking?” I thought aloud.
“More like shifting,” Fizban said from my cell phone.
I yelped. “How did you get in here?” I was asking my phone, which hadn’t been in the bathroom moments ago.
Fizban answered. “I can be anything. Why would you think I couldn’t move your phone?”
I took a deep breath to calm my racing heart.
Fizban popped out of my cell phone and was suddenly sitting on my toilet seat. The ends of her long red hair rested in her lap. She was dressed in fingerless gloves, a dress that’d seen better days and shoes with holes in the toes.
“Why are you dressed like Raggedy Ann?”
“Why are you not dressed at all?” She smirked when I suddenly reached for a towel and wrapped it around myself.
“I’m in the bathroom, where I should have privacy,” I sputtered.
“Uh-huh. Well get in.” The water in the shower turned on.
“Not with you in here.” The shower was a snail cove, which meant I went inside the shower and had privacy, but knowing her, she’d climb in too.
“I solemnly swear not to peek.” As she spoke, she raised her right hand.
“Fine.” The faster I finished, the faster I could find Adam. I walked into the shower, hung my towel on a hook nearby and stepped into the water.
“So, tell me how you’ve been?”
I snorted. “You probably know more than I do.”
“Perhaps, but I want to hear you tell it.”
She sounded suspiciously close. “I was shopping yesterday when I was overwhelmed by all of these emotions. I fell from the second story. Luckily Adam caught me.” I smiled at the thought of him. It was weird that I already cared for him. Cared. Yep that was the right word. I cared. For him and Isaac and Mrs. Dotts.
“I see. And what have you learned about the Vaktare?”
“Nothing,” I huffed, rinsing out my hair.
“That’s not true.”
I glanced around the corner. She stood right next to the opening.
“Get back,” I hissed.
She laughed. “Tell me what you’ve learned.”
I thought about it. “I can tell you what I think I’ve learned.”
“Let’s hear it.”
“Last night I thought I was dreaming and a big black cat tried to kill me. Then a large wolf saved me. And I—I saw my reflection.
“And?”
“There was a cat or a Vaktare staring back, which means I’m a Vaktare.” I ran a razor over my soapy armpits. “The evil Vaktare, the one who tried to kill me, he called the wolf ‘Locanis’ but I don’t know if it’s the wolf’s name or his species.”
“Wow. See. You have learned a lot.” She stuck her head around the corner.
I screamed, cutting myself with the razor. Blood immediately formed. “Ouch. Dammit. You said you wouldn’t peek.”
“I say a lot of things.” She moved her head back around the corner, out of sight.
I rinsed the blood and waited for more. But none came. “So a Vaktare is a big hairy cat-beast. And I’m one of them?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“Okay. And how did this happen? Did you turn me into one of these Vaktare when you cursed me?”
She peeked around the corner again, but this time I was prepared and splashed water in her face. She let out a yelp and moved back. “The curse isn’t really a curse. It’s more of a reverse curse.”
“What? You’re not making any sense?” I turned off the water and grabbed a clean towel.
She zipped her lips and then locked them with an invisible key.
“You aren’t going to tell me?”
She unzipped her lips. “Part of breaking the curse, or reversing the curse, is that you need to be the one to figure out what’s going on. If I help you, then you’ve really learned nothing. You need to experience what your life is truly about.”
“Oh, great. Like last night?” I opened the bathroom door and went into my closet. I wondered if she would follow or if she were somehow attached to my phone.
She followed.
“Can I get a little privacy? Please?” I asked with extra sincerity, batting my lashes.
Fizban laughed. “You’ve already changed, Beatrice. I hope it’s enough to save everyone.” She skipped out of the closet.
“Save? Who? My mom and dad?” I pulled on a lilac bra and undies.
“Sure, them and more. A lot has happened in eighteen years.”
I pulled on a pair of dark jeans and a lilac peasant top. “I don’t understand.” Looking back, the last eighteen years didn’t seem real now I could actually feel. “Are you talking about my ability to experience emotions now? Why couldn’t I before?” I quickly buckled on a pair of wedge heel sandals. Coming out of the closet, I went on, “My emotions are wonky. I cry constantly.”
Fizban was sitting on my bed flipping through a magazine. “Last night you shifted. It means your true nature is returning much faster than we—I expected. You need to be careful.”
“No kidding.” I opened my bedroom door. “Celeste,” I called out of habit before I remembered she was gone. Adam had replaced her. I glanced down the hall. It was empty. Isaac opened the bedroom door across from mine.
“Isaac,” I said, surprised.
“Miss Cavanaugh. I hope you don’t mind, but I took the liberty of helping Adam move into this bedroom. I think it might be wise if he were closer to you.”
I turned my head, trying to figure out if he were being honest. That he’d done something so huge without my consent would’ve been grounds for dismissal in the past. He never would’ve tried it with my mom and dad around. Isaac grabbed the ends of his vest. “I’m sorry if I’ve overstepped, Miss Cavanaugh. I’m just worried.”
I let out a breath. “It’s okay, Isaac. I appreciate your concern.” Adam appeared behind Isaac.
“It’s for the best,” he said, bossily.
I lifted my chin. “I agree. It’s like Isaac read my mind.” I tried to slam the door but Adam stuck his foot in the way.
“Allow me to do your hair, Miss Cavanaugh.” He winked, his face filled with mischief.
“You’re acting weird.”
He chuckled as he walked into the closet. “Have a seat, Miss Cavanaugh.”
I did as he asked, wondering absently where Fizban had gone. Adam picked up the brush and started on my hair.
“My weirdness is in direct correlation to your weirdness. So it’s your fault, you know.”
My cheeks burned red.
Adam bent down so that I could see his handsome face in the mirror next to mine. “I’m sorry, Miss Cavanaugh.” He nudged my cheek with his. I thought about how I would’ve reacted to such familiarity a few days ago. I would’ve had him arrested. At least fired. But he’d saved my life. He’d stayed up the entire night making sure I was okay. He . . .
“I already told you to call me Beatrice,” I said, pretending to study my hands. They trembled slightly.
“Yes, Beatrice.” He held my gaze.
A burst of pain seared my heart. It had become almost bearable. Sometimes I forgot it was there. But at that moment, the way he looked at me, it came back with fervor. It was so strong it nearly knocked the wind out of me. I couldn’t put my finger on what the feeling was though.
Adam leaned his cheek against mine. “What is it?”
Inside the fireworks I’d felt before suddenly turned into falling rose petals. “I—I don’t know,” I answered honestly.
He stood up and continued working the knots out of my hair.
I tilted the mirror so that I could see his face. “Adam?” My whole body started to shake and I realized I was scared. But I needed to tell him. He had to know what happened last night.
“What is it, Beatrice?” he asked, his eyes filled with warmth.
“If you need to freak out, it’s okay. Feel free to freak out.”
Adam chuckled. It was full of kindness. “If the urge arises, I’ll be sure to freak out.”
“But don’t leave,” I said, worrying my hands.
“Beatrice Cavanaugh, you have my word that I will not leave.” His eyes were serious. His mouth set.
I wanted to believe him. I hoped he was telling the truth. “Last night. I . . . had what I thought was a dream, but it wasn’t.” I told him what happened. About the black cat and the blond wolf and about seeing myself in the pool. When I finished I said, “I believe a Vaktare is a cat-type thing.” I couldn’t hold his gaze any longer. “And I’m a Vaktare so that makes me one of those . . . creatures.” At some point during the story he’d paused in brushing my hair. I couldn’t read the expression on his face. “Are you freaking out?”
He began brushing again, his touch tender. “It’s quite a story, Beatrice.”
“You saw the way I was tangled in the chair?”
He nodded.
“And I was naked,” I whispered.
He smiled at that.
“So you’re like a werewolf, except a cat?” Adam divided my hair into three thick strands and began braiding it.
“Pretty much,” I said, thinking it over. I’d seen at least one movie with a werewolf in it. In my changed form I was hairy and had large teeth. I liked to hunt. But not people. I shuddered at the thought. “I’ve been craving red meat. And I’ve had a need to sleep under the moon.” I shrugged. “You’ve seen the changes I’ve been going through. Fizban told me I shifted, whatever that means.”
“Wait,” he wrapped the end of my hair in a tie. “Fizban? When did you talk to her?”
“While I was in the shower.”
“She was here?” Adam turned me around and started to work on my face.
“Yes.”
“So now what?” He brushed some mascara on my lashes.
“Now I need to call the number in that box and see where it leads.”
Adam finished my makeup and I stood up. Together we walked over to the box. I opened it, since it would only respond to my touch, and took out the paper. Adam handed me my phone. I dialed the number.
”Hello.”
“Yes, hello. My name is Beatrice Cavanaugh. I need to speak with Adam Henry.” I glanced at Adam, curious about whether he thought it was weird that his name was so similar to the one in the box, to the man on the phone.
“Well, Ms. Cavanaugh today is your lucky day. I am Adam Henry.”
I swallowed, suddenly nervous. If he didn’t have the answers I needed, I’d be lost. “Have you heard of the Vaktare?” I figured I might as well get right to the point.
The other end was silent for several long seconds. My Adam mouthed, “What’s going on?”
Shrugging, I said, “Mr. Henry? Are you still there?”
“How soon can you be in Boston?”
I shook my head, confused. “I don’t know. Soon, I guess.” My father owned a private jet.
“Excellent. Do not allow your flight to land after midnight.” He paused a moment. “The sooner you get here the better.”
I didn’t know this man. He could be a total creep. “It’s okay, your father and mother know me. Their names are Fisher and Lenora, correct?”
“Yes, but anyone could know that.”
The other line was silent again. I nearly hung up.
“Recently you began experiencing emotion . . .” He trailed off when I gasped.
“How did you know that?”
“Please, Beatrice, come as soon as you can. We have a lot to discuss. Call me when you land.” He hung up.
“What did he say?” Adam seemed nervous.
“He told me to fly to Boston.”
“Fly?” His face seemed to turn several shades of green.
“Are you afraid of flying?”
He coughed. “No, not at all.”
I went to my bedroom door. “Liar,” I said with a smirk.
Adam ran a hand through his hair. “Just a tiny bit.”
“Isaac,” I shouted.
He came up the stairs. “Yes, Miss Cavanaugh?”
“I need you to have the plane readied.”
“Oh?” he asked when he reached the landing. “Where are we flying?”
“I am flying to Boston, Massachusetts. Please schedule me a car and driver, book me suite, and have my bags packed.”
“When will you be leaving?” It was obvious he didn’t like that I was leaving him here.
I glanced at the clock next to my bed. It was ten in the morning. “How soon can the plane be ready?”
Isaac turned to head back down the stairs. “I’ll make the calls and let you know.”
“Thank you, Isaac.”
His features softened. “Of course.”
“Oh, and Isaac?”
He paused.
“Yes, miss?”
“Please make sure that I land well before midnight.” I had a feeling Mr. Henry made that recommendation because of what I’d become or what I was. A Vaktare? A werecat. I’d shifted after midnight last night. Maybe he did know something about me. The prospect scared and excited me.
“Of course.”
Out Of My League
Eleven
“I’m going with you,” Adam said for probably the tenth time.
The truth was I wanted him to go. I didn’t want to do this alone, but it was so obvious he was terrified of flying and I didn’t want to do that to him.
“It’s fine, Adam. I’ll be okay without you. There’s no need for you to fly.” His face went white as a sheet when I said fly. I was in my closet trying to decide what to pack. I’d already changed out of my jeans and into a Valentino casual suit. The jacket had three-quarter sleeves with black polka dots and black piping. The skirt went to mid-thigh. I paired the outfit with simple black Jimmy Choo pumps. I had no idea what to take or how much, but finally settled on as little as possible. If I stayed longer, or needed more clothes, I’d
buy them.
Adam took the floral dress from my hand and walked it into the bedroom, laying it carefully on my bed. “Really,” he began, “it isn’t a problem.”
But I could hear his confidence wavering.
“Stay here. See your mom. I’ll be back before you know it.”
Adam growled, frustrated. “I’m supposed to take care of you. That’s my job.” He caught my gaze and held it. “Who will do your hair?”
I laughed out loud. “I’ll find someone.”
“Miss Cavanaugh?” Isaac asked as he knocked.
“Come in.”
He opened the door and rolled in a suitcase. “The plane will be ready in two hours. There will be a car waiting on the tarmac when you land and I’ve reserved a suite for you at the Boston Plaza. Would you like me to drive you to the airport?”
“No, I’ll drive her,” Adam said.
Isaac glanced at me. I nodded. Adam had given up. He wouldn’t be going with me.
“Very well. Mrs. Dotts is on her way up to assist with the packing.”
“Thank you,” I said with a big sigh of relief. Just because I wanted to do more didn’t mean I could. Packing was out of my league.
***
The ride to the Salt Lake International Airport was mostly silent. Adam drove the Lykan, his eyes focused on the road. I tried to start a conversation with him a couple different times but it never went anywhere. Finally I gave up and focused on the view. It was early summer, so wildflowers bloomed all along I-15. In the distance were the mountains. Seeing them reminded me of what I’d experienced last night. Hunting and then seeing a werecat or Vaktare and then a werewolf. I found it odd that the Vaktare wanted to kill me while the wolf protected. It seemed like it should’ve been the other way around.
My phone vibrated. It was a text from Will. A wave of guilt washed through my body. He’d been the first to find me but I hadn’t even thanked him. And I’d thrown his present into the pool. I’d been terrible to him since the day we met.
Can I see you? His text read.
I quickly texted back: Can’t. On my way to the airport.
Where to?
I debated whether to tell him.
“Don’t tell anyone where you’re going. Not until you’re sure who you can trust.” Adam watched me from the corner of his eye.
A Beauty So Beastly Page 8
