by Rosanna Leo
Fleur crouched in a corner and tried in vain to cover her intimate parts. It was no use. He saw it all. He knew every mole, every scar, every imperfection. She glanced at her body. Before her eyes, it erupted in black bruises, ones she recognized. He’d given them to her in life and had resurrected each contusion.
Capable of giving life to former injuries, surely he was capable of brainwashing her again. Terror took hold of Fleur’s frame. She tore at her hair and wrapped her arms around her waist, in the hopes of rendering herself invisible.
Jani couldn’t help her this time. In her reduced state, she couldn’t reach out to him. Their telepathic connection had been severed as effectively as he’d severed Wilf’s head. Now she lived in the darkest chamber of her mind, all alone.
With Crane.
“I told you, Fleur,” Crane taunted. “I said you’d never get rid of me. Now that horrid little man has filled you with all sorts of yucky stuff, I get to play with you again.”
She huddled in the corner, her knees drawn up, hugging herself. “Go away. Please.”
“Ah, come on, you filthy dog. Be a sport. Do you have any idea how bored I’ve been? When I was alive, I was glorious! I had control over hundreds of shape-shifters. We were going to take over the world.” Crane sighed. “Now this is all that’s left of me. I’m little more than a ghost, and it appears I’ve been condemned to spend my eternity with you. Yay, me.”
“Leave me alone.”
Crane kicked her, sending her sprawling. “God, you’re no fun!” He kneeled next to her and drew her close to him. “Let’s reminisce. Think back to the old days, when you and I first met. We had a blast, remember?”
“No.”
“‘The lady doth protest too much, methinks.’ Oh, wait. You were never a lady.” Crane snorted at his own humor and sat next to her, making her lean with him against the imaginary wall. “Well if you can’t recall the particulars, allow me to refresh your memory. Shortly after we met, I fucked you. Actually, I think it was within the first five minutes of meeting you. I’ve got to say, your behavior has always been a tad questionable.” He rubbed her head. “That’s what I love about you. You’re so low-rent.”
“Stop it.” She tried to pull away from him but he hauled her back down and forced her onto his lap, gripping her there like a vise.
“Now, now,” Crane warned. “You’re in my world. We play by my rules. You know, you might think you’ve married up by attaching yourself to that brute of a tiger but we both know you’re still trash at heart.”
“I’m not.”
“Why? Because your darling Jani says so? Toots, even if he dressed you in bobby socks and poodle skirts, you’d still look like a whore. And don’t forget, you were my whore before he ever touched you.”
“I’m not a whore!” Fleur yelled and threw herself off him, running to the other corner of the empty room, knowing there was no escape.
Crane stood and his demeanor changed. No longer in the mood to tease, the stoop to his shoulders spoke of danger. He walked slowly toward her. “Really? If you’re not a whore, then how come you threw yourself at me time and again? Please, August. Mate with me, August. I want to be your concubine. I’ll do anything to please you, my alpha. Does any of that sound familiar?”
“You brainwashed me. You made me believe you could be in love with me. I was confused and just wanted to love you.”
“As if I could love the likes of you.” He looked her up and down, his blue eyes full of derision.
“I don’t need you to love me anymore. Jani loves me. My friends love me.”
He laughed. “Your friends? Are you delusional as well as stupid? Your friend Elaine seems to really care for you. Didn’t she call you her enemy right before she hit that moose?”
“She was upset. She didn’t mean to call me names.”
“Oh yes, she did. And as for Jani, you’re just a piece of ass to him. A brainless, uninspiring piece of dog tail.”
“You don’t know about us.”
“No? I see everything, Fleur, even all your warped little desires and dreams. I knew you liked it rough, sweetheart, but letting him bite you like that? I guess it proves the point that you’ll do anything for a quick lay.”
She turned away from him, stung.
Crane hurled her back, only to slap her hard across the face. She flew across the space, startled at his inhuman strength, her head crashing into the opposite wall. She lay, temporarily blinded by the pain, and tried to catch her breath.
Please, God, she begged. Just let me hear Jani’s voice one more time before I die.
Crane continued to berate her, the only sound in the room, aside from her heavy breathing. Just as she began to lose hope of ever hearing his accent again, she swore she heard a rumbling in the distance. Low and deep, it commanded her attention, somehow cutting through her confusion and shame. It sliced through Crane’s high-pitched taunts and seemed to fill the room with pockets of air, helping her breathe.
No one has the right to touch you like this, not even Crane.
Jani’s kind voice, uttering the words that first made Fleur fall in love with him. The words that drew her out of her downward spiral.
Jani?
Fight him, my flower. Fight him.
How was she supposed to do so? Locked in this purgatory with no windows and no doors, she wasn’t even sure there was a way out. What if she was stuck there? What if this was it?
No way, came Jani’s voice. There’s no way I’ll leave you alone with Crane.
She was dreaming. She had to be. How could Jani possibly understand what was happening?
Fleur cradled her heavy head. She could barely lift it. She just wanted to shut her eyes and drown out the world. Nothing seemed right in this place. Crane’s dimensions had always been imposing. As a shape-shifter, he’d been blessed with muscles and strong genes. However, in this world, his height and girth seemed exaggerated. Even his facial features looked wrong. His smile had all the warmth of a hyena’s and his eyes burned blue fire.
He scared her, just as much as he used to inspire devotion.
“Your kitty cat can meow all he wants,” said Crane. “He can’t reach you here. You’re dying, Fleur. Between Breckenridge’s poison and my power, you’ll dwindle in no time. I didn’t get the chance to kill your spirit when I was alive, but now you’re stuck with me. It’s just a matter of time before your heart gives out under the strain.”
“No.”
“You should show some gratitude. I showed you great favor in life. Do you think I chose to spend my afterlife with you? I was meant for great things and yet here I am, slumming it again.”
My beautiful Fleur. I’m not nearly good enough for you.
Once again, the memory of Jani’s voice sliced through the haze of her thought process. Every time she thought she heard his voice, she felt stronger, less confused. His voice was like a wonderful dream within a dream, a fantasy glimpsed through dark veils. But how could a memory help her get away from Crane?
This isn’t a memory. I’m here with you.
How? I don’t understand.
Suzan’s here. She’s helping me hear what’s in your head. It’s all in your head, Fleur. Crane is dead. He has no power over you.
Jani, no. Can’t you see? He found me. I always knew he would.
Crane extended his hands toward her. For a second, she feared he’d beat her. However, he stood still and black clouds began to shoot from his fingertips. Like an evil wizard in a fantasy novel, he waved his hands at her and the clouds followed. They swirled toward her, enveloping her in darkness and hatred. She swatted at them but her fingers raked through the diaphanous masses. As they circled around her head, the billows caused her to stumble. She couldn’t see, could only hear every derogatory remark ever made about her.
Her father’s voice joined with Crane’s. Before long, Ricky’s joined the clamor as well. Even Elaine’s, which pained Fleur most of all. Togethe
r, they repeated the insults she’d heard all her life, their voices raised in sinister unity.
You’re trash.
You’re bad.
Do the world a favor and just die.
Fleur choked on the clouds of negativity, trying her hardest to spit up the ugly sentiments, but they had taken hold long ago. She’d been a fool to think she could escape her destiny. She was bad through and through. Jani was so much better off without her. She was worthless, expendable.
Not to me. Never to me. Jani’s voice interrupted their chant. Don’t listen to them.
All I ever wanted was to be good for you, Jani. I want so badly to be good.
You are, mindenem. You are my life, and I won’t let you forget what we have together.
She sank to the floor and pulled up her knees so her head could drop. She just wanted to forget the world. It would be so easy to forget.
Fleur! Get up now. Don’t let that bastard beat you.
Fleur closed her eyes. Somewhere in the background, Crane laughed. She’d escape the world now.
Jani’s voice broke through again.
Fleur Bissette, listen to me. Don’t you dare give up. I mated with a strong, capable woman. Are you telling me I made a mistake?
Jani. She could almost see him through the clouds now. Green eyes. Such a handsome face, handsome to her anyway. How she loved the chunks missing from his ears. Crane says you don’t need me.
I do need you. If you stop fighting, I’ll die. Do you want me to die?
Oh, God. No. She didn’t want Jani to die.
Fleur, you’re my mate. Please don’t leave me. Believe in yourself.
Believe. Jani helped her believe. She’d begun to believe in herself as well. Why had she stopped?
Yes, she’d made some bad mistakes in her time. She’d likely make more. However, she’d learned from every single one. She was stronger today than she had been years ago, even weeks ago. Having hoped for a better future, she wanted to live it now.
She lifted her head, bolstered by Jani’s love and a need to see him again.
Crane’s face registered surprise, even a touch of fear. “What now, dog?”
Fleur picked herself up, battling through the heaviness that weighed down her head and limbs. “Get out of my head, Crane.”
The cult leader’s wraith took a step backward. “You can’t tell me what to do. I own you.”
Fleur, baby, please tell that piece of shit he talks too much.
Fleur laughed out loud. God, it felt so good to laugh again. Locked in this hellhole with Crane, all she’d known was the suffocation of misery.
No more.
“What’s happening?” demanded Crane.
“Jani says you talk too much. I agree.”
“Really? No more talking, then.” Crane raised his hands again, ready to shoot more of those terrible black clouds at her.
Fleur didn’t give him a chance. Summoning every ounce of bravery, every bit of hope she’d stifled all her life, she threw herself at him. Allowing her wolf an outlet, it exploded out of her being with a war cry. Fur replaced skin and stood on end. Her teeth retracted and her wolf’s fangs broke through her gums. Her claws extended in fury, Fleur scratched at Crane’s eyes, gouging them until he shrieked. She snapped at him with her teeth, tearing at his flesh. She growled and slashed and howled. Whether he was a figment of her imagination or not, Fleur fought and fought, wanting him to experience all the pain he’d made her suffer.
Once he collapsed against the wall, bloodied and bruised, Fleur shifted back into human form. Bruises no longer covered her body. Her skin was unmarked, save for the mark Jani had given her in love.
August Crane lay still, his eyes closed. She waited for him to bounce back to life like a movie villain, but he began to fade. Piece by terrible piece, bits of him disappeared. With each vanishing limb and joint, Fleur experienced a renewal. She stood up straighter. Her mouth spread in a smile of relief.
She’d destroyed him. She and Jani.
“Jani.”
The moment she whispered his name, Fleur’s head rushed. Something was wrong. Stumbling, she braced herself against the nearest wall, praying a window or door would appear. No entrance materialized. She looked about, seeking help, but found none.
Perhaps she really was stuck here.
All of a sudden, Fleur’s body began to fade as well. She held out her arms, inspecting them. At first, her arm hairs faded away. Little by little, her skin paled and began to disappear. Her elbow, her wrist, her fingers. In their places, blank space. Horrified, she glanced down at her legs and feet, but they weren’t there any longer. Nothing was left of her, just the remnants of those black clouds, swirling around where her feet should have been.
Fleur let out a desperate cry but even that dwindled into a whisper.
Chapter 16
“WELCOME back, életem.”
Fleur cracked open her eyes. From beneath the fringe of her dark lashes, she swore she spied Jani’s bright eyes. She blinked a few times and the wonderful vision grew brighter, clearer. “Jani?”
Her mate leaned over and kissed her forehead, lingering there, sweeping his lips over her skin several times. As he did, a couple of his tears dripped onto her nose. Chuckling, he wiped them away. “Sorry to drown you. When I saw your eyes flutter just now…” He sighed. “Fleur, I’ve never been so scared. I thought I’d lost you.”
“I thought I’d lost you too.” She tangled her fingers in his shirt buttons and held him close. “I didn’t know where I was. I couldn’t see you. Crane was there, trying to kill me. At least, I think he was. It was awful.” Her head pounded. Clearly, the drugs hadn’t worn off yet. Had she fabricated Crane’s bizarre visitation? She wasn’t sure and didn’t care to investigate the matter.
“Josh said you might feel sick for a while.”
“I’m okay. As long as I have you, I’m okay.”
“I’m not going anywhere. I’m yours to command, Fleur.”
She smiled. “That sounds intriguing. Later, when I’m not as limp as a rag doll, remind me to take you up on that.”
“You’re not well enough to have such dirty thoughts.” He brushed two fingers against her temple. “Do you have a headache? Josh told me it’s one of the common side effects.”
“Yeah. The mother of all headaches.”
“I wish I could take it away from you. At least it’s not worse. Eventually, you’ll be okay. You and Elaine.”
“Oh, my God, Elaine! Jani, I have to see her.”
“In good time. You need to rest.”
“No, you don’t understand. We had a fight. I need to apologize.”
There was a knock on the bedroom door. It opened and Elaine hobbled in, followed by Connor. She looked like death but resolve flashed in her eyes. Unable to hold herself up, Connor propped her up. “I’m the one who needs to apologize,” she said.
Connor helped Elaine sit at the edge of the bed. “This woman is so stubborn. I told her she could apologize once she felt better, but she insisted I bring her to you, Fleur.”
Fleur smiled. “She’s tough for a ballerina.”
Elaine cocked her head. “I’m not a ballerina.”
“I know.” Fleur shrugged. “You just look like one to me. Look, if your head hurts as much as mine does, you should be in bed.”
“In a minute.” Elaine took a deep breath. “I said some mean things to you, Fleur. I need you to understand I didn’t mean any of it. I was just angry and hurt. I want you to know I see you as a friend, a good friend.”
“You do? That’s good. I’ll be honest. I’ve never had so many friends. I’m not quite sure what to do with you all.”
“We’ll figure it out.” Elaine rubbed Fleur’s arm over the blanket.
“There.” Connor helped Elaine to her feet. “We’re all comrades now. Back to bed, blondie.”
The bear woman leaned on him. “I owe you an apology, too, Connor. A big
one.”
“The only thing I need to hear,” he replied, “is that you’re staying. You have a home on Gemini Island with the rest of us. You and the kids.”
Elaine averted her eyes. Fleur had a feeling her new friend still planned to leave, despite Connor’s inability to accept it.
“Anyway,” Elaine said. “Feel better, Fleur. I’m glad you’re okay. We’ll talk soon.”
Fleur waved as Jani closed the door behind them. Knowing Elaine was alive made the throbbing in her head subside somewhat. When Jani joined her on the bed, drawing her alongside him, she felt even better. For a few minutes, she closed her eyes and simply reveled in the feel of him. The way his long thigh pressed up against her own. The way his embrace seemed to protect her from everything that had ever scared her. Most of all, she loved resting her head on his chest, listening to his breaths and the steady beat of his heart. He stroked his fingers through her hair, kissing the top of her head, and hummed a quiet tune.
“I love listening to your voice. I don’t ever want to stop hearing it.”
Jani tipped up her chin. “I thought I’d heard the last of yours. Fleur, to see you like that was the worst thing I’ve ever endured. Between your injuries from the car accident and the way the drugs acted on your system…”
“You don’t have to say anything.”
“No, it’s important I say what’s in my heart. Those men were planning to rape you, my mate. They would have killed you.”
“You took care of them.”
“Not all of them. Ricky Mason got away.”
“Don’t think about him. Something tells me he’ll steer clear from now on.”
“I will have vengeance for your sake.”
“Jani, please. No more vengeance. I just want to live my life with you.”
He grunted, displeased at her desire to let Ricky go. “Well, I won’t argue with you right now. I’m sure, once you’re better, we’ll argue again.” He grinned, teasing her.
