It was too much for her to take in. Exhaustion swamped her and the pain in her head, which had disappeared, was back with a vengeance. She touched the crown of her head and winced slightly.
“You are hurt?” The concern in his voice warmed her.
“Just where I hit my head earlier. I’m okay.”
His hands were gentle as he pulled down her bra and shirt, smoothing them into place. He lifted her into his strong arms and carried her to the sofa. Arand settled her on the sofa and stretched out beside her. It was a tight squeeze and he was lying half on top of her with his feet hanging off the end. “Rest. We will talk later.”
Good advice. Her mind was already on overload and she couldn’t handle anything else. She inhaled, breathing in the unmistakable scent of sex and sweat and the woods. Whatever cologne Arand was wearing, she wanted to bury her face in his hair and stay there forever.
Even if he was nothing more than a vision brought on by deep meditation, she could see herself going to the department store, sniffing all the men’s cologne until she found that particular scent and buying a bottle of it to remind her of him.
Pathetic.
What if he was real? She couldn’t even begin to wrap her brain around that idea.
Her head ached and she closed her eyes. But there was no blocking him out. She could feel his body against hers, one of his hands resting against her belly and one of his legs lying across hers. His deep breath fanned over her skin.
Slowly, her breathing matched his and she relaxed. Whatever reality existed, she’d deal with it later.
Chapter Eight
Sabrina’s eyelids fluttered open. It was still night, the streetlights casting their glow on the room. She was so tired, and her eyelids slowly drifted shut again. The image of what she’d seen made her frown.
Why was she lying on the sofa and not in bed?
She racked her brain, trying to make sense of it. She started to move and groaned as various aches and pains in her body made themselves known. She fell back against the sofa and moaned. What in the name of all the saints had she done last night?
She forced her eyes open and blinked to help clear away the fog in her brain. No sudden movements this time as she assessed her body. She was lying partly on, partly off the sofa, her head resting against the arm, and not on one of the comfy pillows. And she was half naked.
Memory rushed back. The wolf. Arand. Hot sex.
What a crazy, realistic vision her meditation had created. She’d never had one where she’d stripped off most of her clothing before.
She pushed herself up and saw her panties and jeans in a heap by the wall. Cautiously, she padded over, picked up her underwear and slipped them on. She felt sticky between her thighs and her frown deepened. She didn’t bother with her jeans as she planned to get a quick bath and go to bed.
“What a night,” she muttered. She glanced over at the corner of the room and froze. Her wooden wolf was gone.
“How do you feel?”
The male voice so close had her shrieking and swinging around, leading with her right fist. He caught it easily and cocked his eyebrow at her as if to ask, “What next?”
She glanced down and heaved a sigh of relief when she realized he was wearing pants. Granted, they were tight leather pants that clung to his rock-hard thighs and emphasized the impressive bulge in the front, but they were pants.
“I can’t still be having a vision.”
He released her hand and put both of his on his hips, studying her. “No, you’re not. We need to make plans. I don’t think it will be long until we have company.”
Sabrina swallowed hard and forced herself to take deep, slow breaths. Otherwise, there was a danger she’d start hyperventilating. This was no lifelike vision. This was real. All of it—the wild ride on the wolf, the tinny carnival music, the hot sex. She rubbed her forehead. “Crap.”
“Does your head hurt?” He cupped the back of her head in his palm, and she felt a blast of heat seep through her skull and into her brain. The pain disappeared instantly.
She pulled away and stared up at him. “What did you do?” Amazement swept through her. She didn’t know whether she should hug him or run screaming from him. Her heart was racing, her palms were sweaty and she felt a little lightheaded.
He shrugged his massive shoulders, bringing her attention, once again, to his smoking hot torso. She shook herself and brought her gaze back to his face.
“I merely rid you of the pain in your head. My powers have not fully returned, but I can do minor healing.”
“What else can you do?” Sabrina was equal parts terrified and enthralled by Arand. If what he’d told her earlier was true, she was in a heap of trouble. She tried to remember everything he’d told her. None of it was reassuring. In fact, all of it was downright scary.
He put his hands on his hips, sliding his gaze over her bare legs. She held her jeans more securely in front of her. But that was sort of like closing the barn door after the cow got out. He’d already seen her all but naked.
“I can conjure clothes and weapons.”
“Weapons?”
A four-foot-long blade appeared in his hand, the metal gleaming in the light beam from the streetlight. Oh, shit. This was suddenly all too real.
Sabrina swayed on her feet and leaned against the wall for support. “All of this is real, isn’t it? The devil is coming for us.”
Arand slowly inclined his head. “He will come or he will send one of his minions to bargain with us. Or he will send demons to destroy us.”
A blast of anger gave her renewed strength. “What’s with the we stuff. How did I get involved? I didn’t ask for this.” And why had the evil been stalking her before she released Arand? Was it simply fate that she was the woman to release Arand? Was this entire situation something beyond her control?
No, she refused to believe that. The evil or Hades or whatever he wanted to be called might be urging her to do certain things, but she was still in control of her life, still had choices. She couldn’t believe anything else or she’d end up curled in a fetal position in a corner somewhere, too afraid to move.
He tilted his chin up and his jaw tightened. “No, you did not ask for it, but it is a fact nonetheless. You released me from captivity and now your fate is tied to mine.”
“Great. That’s just great.” She stormed past him, or at least tried to. Anger was a much better emotion then fear. He snaked out an arm, catching her as she went by.
“Let me go.” She curled her hands into fists. Honestly, she was ready to pop him one.
No, it wasn’t his fault that she released him from the curse. That was all on her. She’d just had to have the wolf. But he shouldn’t have had sex with her. He’d known that she thought all of it was nothing more than a vision.
“Where are you going? We must stay close.” Even in the dim light she could see the honest concern in his eyes. A little of her anger drained away, leaving her frightened and slightly lost. She had no idea what she should be doing.
“I’m going to get cleaned up and then I’m going to figure out what to do.” She glanced down at his arm where it was wrapped around her and then arched a brow at him. He slowly released her and she stomped off to the bathroom. She could feel his gaze on her all the way and cursed the fact she was only wearing panties and carrying her jeans.
She shut the door solidly behind her and leaned against it. “What are you going to do?” she muttered. She turned on the light and stared at her reflection. Other than her tousled hair and slightly pale complexion, she didn’t look any different from a few hours ago. But everything had changed, including her perception of reality.
She was in the middle of an honest-to-goodness war between a god and a goddess. It was crazy and would be absurdly amusing if it weren’t happening to her.
She desperately wanted to call Tilly or Jessica, but it was too early. Besides, what exactly would she tell them that wouldn’t sound like she was totally off her rocker?
She grabbed her brush from the vanity and attacked the tangles in her hair. When it was smooth, she braided the fiery mass to keep it out of the way. She longed for a shower but had no idea how long Arand would wait before knocking. And then there was the whole Devil and demon thing. If any of them showed up the last place she wanted to be was the shower.
She ran the water in the sink, got a clean cloth from the cabinet and got a quick wash. When she was done, she pulled her jeans on. Shoes, she needed shoes. And information.
Leaving the bathroom, Sabrina hurried back to the living room. It was time to make plans. No way in Hell was she waiting around for some demon to attack her. Okay, maybe she should scratch the word Hell from her vocabulary for the near future. No need to tempt fate.
She didn’t see Arand at first. He was standing in the shadows, looking out through her living-room window. She’d had enough darkness and turned on a standing lamp. A snarling wolf stared back at her, and she gasped.
Arand whirled around so fast he was nothing more than a blur. There was a reddish tinge to his eyes and his mouth was parted on a silent snarl. His gaze snapped around the room before returning to her. “What’s wrong?” He raised his head and sniffed at the air. “Do you sense something?”
She shook her head and walked toward him as if pulled by an invisible cord. “The tattoo on your back.”
He stilled as she got closer, his dark, fathomless eyes tracking her every movement. “You know I am the wolf and he is me. You saw me change.”
Yeah, but she hadn’t believed it was real then. “Your tattoo is a lot like mine.” Both wolves were black and gray in color. Hers was friendlier, more a guardian. His was more primal strength and cunning.
“You belong to the wolf.”
She could tell from the way he said it that he believed it. And she wasn’t sure she could refute him at this point. Everything in her life, every moment, every choice, had led her to this moment.
“Can I see him?” She wanted a better look.
Slowly, Arand turned his back on her.
It went against every instinct he had as a warrior to turn his back on Sabrina, but if he couldn’t trust her he might as well be dead. He kept his hands loose by his sides and tried to relax, but it was impossible with Sabrina standing behind him.
He could smell her, the perfume of the soap she used mixed with the pure essence of the woman herself. And he could still smell himself on her. It was barely there, mostly having been washed away. His wolf snarled within him, wanting to mark her with his scent once again.
Her red hair was pulled away from her face in a braid, emphasizing her large green eyes and high cheekbones. Her lips were full and kissable. He licked his lips, still able to taste her.
Even her ears were beautiful—the seductive curve and the trio of silver hoops in each lobe. Her body was slender, but her breasts were full. A low growl escaped him and he sensed her trepidation.
“Touch my back.” He wanted her hands on him, on his wolf, wanted her to come to depend on him in both his forms. He almost snorted aloud. Fat chance of that happening. He hadn’t known her long, but he sensed a wide streak of independence in Sabrina.
His skin tingled as the air around him was displaced and then her hands were on him. She touched the wolf’s head and he felt her touch on his scalp. Sabrina traced her fingers over the wolf’s flanks and Arand’s skin tingled. His cock was already standing tall, but now his balls ached uncontrollably. Goose bumps rose on his flesh wherever she touched the wolf.
“He’s really incredible.” The wistful tone of her voice made him turn around.
“Would you like to see him again?”
Her eyes widened with wonder. “You’d do that?”
Did she not realize he would do anything for her? She belonged to him, was his to protect and care for. In answer to her question, he took a step away and willed his pants to be gone.
She gasped and he caught a light whiff of her arousal. His shoulders straightened and his cock flexed with pride. She liked what she saw and there was no denying she wanted him.
Sabrina swallowed hard and took a step back. “Ah, you said you were going to shift.”
What he really wanted to do was pounce on her, drag her to the floor and fuck her until she screamed his name as she came over and over. He snarled with anger, knowing he couldn’t do it, not now. But when the curse was done—
Arand embraced his wolf and allowed the shift to overtake him. His wolf, ever eager, jumped to the fore, craving freedom as much as the man did. Both of them had been imprisoned for fifty centuries.
Bones cracked as his limbs reshaped and reformed. Fur pushed through his skin to cover it. His jaw lengthened and his teeth grew. Arand stared at her through the wolf’s eyes, seeing her wonder and excitement, sensing her fear.
“Wow. You’re amazing.”
He padded over to her and sat, hoping to ease some of her trepidation. Even then he could almost look her in the eyes, as he was much larger than any normal wolf.
“Can I touch you?”
He dipped his head in silent assent and she slowly reached, her fingers trembling slightly. She touched his head and pulled back slightly before doing it again. He patiently waited, allowing her to become accustomed to his wolf form.
“You’re so strong, so powerful. You look exactly like the carousel wolf I bought.” She tentatively stroked her hand over his left front flank. “Of course, you look like him. You are him.” She shook her head. “Do you realize how crazy that sounds?”
As much as he enjoyed her touch, time was of the essence. Plus, the more she touched him the more aroused he grew. If she didn’t stop rubbing his neck and back soon, he wasn’t going to be responsible for his actions. After so many years in captivity, he was starved for a gentle touch, her touch.
He was about to shift when there was a disturbance in the air, a more rancid smell slipping into the atmosphere. His wolf scented evil. Arand leapt at the front door, knocking Sabrina to the ground where she would be safer. She cried out, but he ignored it for now, focusing all his attention on the threat. He’d kill whatever came through that door. Nothing and no one would take Sabrina from him. He was alpha male and she belonged to him.
Sabrina scrambled back to her feet and stared at the front door. For a brief second, when he sprang at her, she’d thought she was about to become the wolf’s dinner. It had happened so fast she’d had no chance to defend herself. But she hadn’t needed to. As always, it seemed the wolf was determined to protect her.
If she hadn’t already believed in the paranormal, if she hadn’t been dealing with the dreams and visions and fighting back the evil that threatened her, she might have been calling 911 and checking herself into a psych ward for evaluation.
Her entire life was turned upside down. She had a wolf in her living room, for Heaven’s sake, and not just a wolf, but one that turned into a man. Not quite a Loup Garou, but something even more astonishing—a shapeshifting immortal warrior. If she were a drinking woman, she’d need a big one right about now.
Arand’s dark gaze was fixed on her front door, a menacing growl rumbling up from deep in his chest. Something was coming. Even she could sense it now. She glanced down and noticed the slightly scuffed layer of salt. Marcel and Jules must have disturbed it when they brought her the wolf earlier this evening.
Sabrina sprang for the door, shoving the wolf aside. The large beast grabbed her top and started dragging her backward. “No,” she cried. “I have to fix the salt.”
The wolf released her and she rushed to the entryway, falling on her knees. She frantically swept the salt back into an unbroken line. Something hit the wooden panel. Hard. Sabrina scrambled away, her butt sliding on the floor, but she kept her gaze on the door, terrified of what was waiting outside. She needed help.
Coming to her feet in a flash, she tried to remember where she’d left her phone. She’d tossed it on the coffee table after she’d talked to Jessica. It wasn’t there. It
had probably gotten knocked off in all the commotion. Sabrina only hoped it wasn’t broken.
There it was, lying in front of the unfinished paintings in front of the shelf. She dove for it and hit the second button on her speed dial. “Come on. Come on. Answer.”
Arand was still blocking the front door with his massive body. She could hear something moving outside, and then a low growling sound that had all the short hairs on her body standing on end. This was so not good.
“Hello.” The groggy greeting reminded Sabrina that it was really early, or late depending on how you looked at it.
“Jessica. Wake up. I need help.”
There was another growl. This one morphed into a blood-curdling howl.
“Sabrina?” There was a sound of bedclothes rustling and she knew her friend was awake now.
“Yeah. I need help. That carousel wolf I bought is really an immortal shapeshifting warrior. Oh, and I released him from his five-thousand-year-old curse and now we have twenty-four hours to evade the devil or he kills us and gets our souls.” She was sobbing for breath by the time she finished.
Arand glanced over his shoulder and snarled his disapproval. She ignored him. He might not like her contacting someone else for help, but that was his problem. At a time like this, she needed someone she knew was on her side and didn’t have any hidden agenda. She wanted to trust Arand, but he had his own priorities. After all, the guy worked for a goddess. Surely getting to her and his fellow warriors was on the top of his to-do list. Hers was simply staying alive until this nightmare was over.
“Were you dreaming again?” Now Jessica sounded really concerned.
“No, I’m not dreaming or having a vision of any kind.” She held out the phone as a demonic scream ripped through the air. Sabrina had no idea why one of her neighbors hadn’t called the cops to complain about the noise. “You hear that? It’s outside my front door. And a gigantic frigging wolf is in my living room.” She could hear the growing hysteria in her voice and took a deep breath to bring it under control. Losing it wouldn’t help her now. If she lived through this she’d have a nervous breakdown.
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