Bitter Change

by Mara Lee

  * * * *

  Lothos watched the play of emotion on Ethenia's face. She was furious with him, he could feel it. He bit back a smile. He was happy to feel her anger. It was the first true display of Loopin emotion he had felt from her. Her submissive nature irked him, mostly because he knew that it was not truly her way. She had been beaten into submission by that bastard and the knowledge of that fact made Lothos wish that Kieran was before him so that he might crush the asshole's heart where he stood. Lothos shook off his dark thoughts. He had to remain focused. He could not allow himself to become too attached to this girl. “Cheer up angel, Sophie is a delight. You'll be very happy, not to mention safe, with her.”

  Ethenia ignored him.

  Lothos sighed. Fuck, it was going to be a long trip. How had he forgotten that Loopin had notoriously bad tempers to boot? He looked over at Ethenia's defiant face. Yes, this trip was going to be a damned nightmare.

  * * * *

  Sophie's home was lovely. It lay on a high point of a hill and overlooked lush land and deep forest. She owned ten acres and often invited the Loopin to run the woods. She was an invaluable friend.

  Lothos dragged Ethenia up to Sophie's door and held her in an iron embrace as he knocked soundly. He wasn't about to let her run.

  After two knocks the door opened, but it wasn't Sophie that answered. The man standing at the door emanated power. He had hair so black it appeared to have sapphire strands winding through it. His eyes were a startlingly bright shade of turquoise and his skin was so pale that fine blue veins were apparent just beneath the surface. He was beautiful, and obviously dead.

  Lothos hissed, and instinctively pushed Ethenia behind him. What was a vampire doing in Sophie's home? If he had hurt her—

  “Oh for goodness sakes, Lothos, stop hissing at Xethre. Xethre, stop gawking at my guests.” Sophie Alexander was a brunette beauty. She was petite, standing no more than five feet tall. Her rich chocolate curls fell in profusion to her tiny waist and her sparkling mocha eyes twinkled with mischief. “Lothos, oh it is so good to see you. Come in, come in.” Much to the amusement of the man beside her, Sophie pushed him out of the way, elbowing him in the ribs to do so. “Do you wish to stand in the dark on my porch, Lothos?”

  Lothos still eyed the stranger standing by Sophie warily. What was Sophie doing keeping company with one of the undead? “Good evening Sophie.” Lothos kept his arm wrapped around Ethenia and stilled her movements.

  Sophie saw the golden head that was peeking out from behind Lothos's muscular form and smiled. My, my, my, it seemed that her friend had brought someone interesting to dinner. Sophie stepped forward and opened her arms. “Well, Lothos, are you not going to greet me properly?”

  Lothos hesitated for but a moment before striding up and taking Sophie into his arms and giving her a huge bear hug. He lifted her up and swung her around. “It is good to see you, Sophie girl.”

  Sophie laughed.

  Ethenia saw that the handsome dark stranger was eyeing Lothos and Sophie with bemusement. Too bad she couldn't be so blasé about the matter. Ethenia flinched when Lothos kissed Sophie's forehead. Damn it, why did she care? He had made it clear that he didn't want her.

  “Put me down,” Sophie said chidingly.

  Lothos laughingly obeyed.

  “So, now, will you come inside?” Sophie asked.

  Lothos nodded. He moved back and grabbed Ethenia's hand. He sighed when she jerked her hand free. It seemed that the young woman was angry with him.

  Sophie rolled her eyes. Men had no manners. “Lothos, introduce me to your friend.”

  Lothos narrowed his eyes. “You first,” he ground out.

  Sophie's mouth dropped open in shock. She began to laugh. Oh how she had missed him. “Lothos Freemont, meet Alexethre Roistkauff, otherwise known as Xethre.”

  Lothos nodded curtly at the dark haired stranger before pushing Ethenia forward. “Sophie Alexander, meet Ethenia Deveux, otherwise known as angel.” Lothos smiled at the blush that stained Ethenia's golden skin.

  Sophie watched the way Lothos eyed his 'friend'. Oh yes, but wasn't this an interesting development. “Ethenia, what an unusual and lovely name.”

  Ethenia's blush deepened. “Uh, thank you. I was named after my grandmother.”

  Sophie smiled. Delightful, she was just delightful. “Well, Lothos, Ethenia, please come and be welcomed in my home.”

  Lothos shot one more look at the vampire standing so still on the porch before walking into Sophie's home. Ethenia followed hesitantly, her steps faltered when the blue-eyed stranger blew her a kiss. She rushed into the house, missing the vampire's secretive and seductive smile.

  * * * *

  “So what the hell is this all about, Sophie?” Lothos asked stiffly.

  Sophie handed Lothos a steaming cup of apple cider and grinned. “Drink your cider, Lothos.” She turned to Ethenia. “What would you like to drink, darling?”

  Ethenia moistened her lips with her tongue. “Uh, well, it, it doesn't matter.”

  Sophie clucked her tongue. “Now, now, don't be shy, speak up.”

  Ethenia thought for a minute before she blurted out, “Cassis.”

  Sophie laughed. “Cassis it is. And how would you like it prepared?”

  “Could, well, could I have it with champagne?”

  Sophie nodded. “A Kir it is.” Sophie picked up a goblet from the side table and poured some water into it. She murmured a couple of words and spread her hand over the top of the glass. When she removed her hand the goblet contained white wine and cassis. Sophie handed the glass to a stunned Ethenia.

  Ethenia looked up at Sophie with wide eyes. “What the hell are you?”

  Sophie's laughter was like tinkling bells. “Don't worry darling, I'm perfectly harmless.”

  “Yeah right,” Lothos muttered under his breath.

  Sophie shot him a dirty look before turning her attention back to Ethenia. “I'm a majii.”

  “A what?” Ethenia asked.

  “A majii, I suppose the rest of the world likes to think of us as witches.”

  “You're a witch?” Ethenia blurted out. Well, that would explain the water to wine stuff.

  Sophie nodded. “Although the proper term is majii, or one who controls magic. I am also a particularly strong psychic.” Sophie reached down and ran her hand down the length of Ethenia's soft hair. “And you, my darling, are a Loopin.”

  “Yes,” Ethenia murmured. She watched as Sophie petted her hair. Her skin broke out into goosebumps. Ethenia growled low in her throat. It felt wonderful. How had the woman known she loved to have her hair petted? Oh yeah, she was psychic.

  Sophie was entranced. This little Loopin had unbelievably soft hair. It was like silk under her hand.

  “Do you plan on touching her all night, pet?” Xethre's thick-as-molasses voice cut through the sexual energy that was pulsing through the room.

  Sophie jerked her hand away from Ethenia and turned with a pout toward Xethre. “You spoil all my fun, Xethre.”

  Xethre laughed. Even his laugh was like sex—dark, heavy and full of promise. “You know that isn't true. I enjoy fun, pet—but only if I can be a part of it.”

  Lothos was disgusted. What in God's name was going on? Who or what had Sophie gotten herself mixed up with? He knew that he had stayed away too long this time. He should have come back long ago to check up on her.

  “Yes, you should have come long ago, Lothos.” Sophie said.

  Lothos swore. Damn, he had forgotten about Sophie's telepathy.

  “If you had come to visit often as you promised, you wouldn't have forgotten, my old friend.”

  Lothos sighed. Yes, yes, Sophie had every right to berate him. He had promised to visit often, and well, the last time he had seen her sunny face was…

  “Over a year ago,” Sophie finished for him.

  “Damn it woman, stay out of my mind.”

  Sophie laughed. “All right, all right, I know it wasn't right of me to pry. But
your mind is open tonight, Lothos. Shield yourself better and I will attempt to stay out of that delicious mind of yours.” Sophie sighed, “Now tell me why you stayed away so long, and what has happened since you left me.”

  Lothos groaned. Where to begin? Well, he should probably begin with telling Sophie why he had brought Ethenia to her. He turned cold eyes to Xethre. “Can he leave?”

  Sophie sighed. The men in her life were always difficult. She always had enjoyed a good challenge, and they didn't come anymore challenging than Lothos Freemont and Alexethre Roistkauff. “I have no secrets from Xethre, and neither should you, Lothos. I think you will find that Xethre is a good man to have by your side.”

  “He's no man. He's a corpse.” Lothos spat out.

  Ethenia gasped at Lothos's harsh words. The silence in the room was deafening.

  Xethre's skin began to glow. His bluer than blue eyes began to burn and his nails stretched out and hooked into talons. He stepped forward. He would have shown the upstart Loopin a thing or two if Sophie hadn't touched him and forced his energy down. The moment her soft hand touched his skin she felt his energy crawl back inside of him. He was strong, yes, but Sophie's magic was a subduing effect. “I understand my pet,” Xethre said. “I will not harm your friend.” Xethre frowned. “Although I would love if you would allow me to teach him some manners.”

  Lothos stood up abruptly. “I would like to see you try.”

  Sophie let out a beleaguered sigh. It would serve them right if she just set a binding spell upon the both of them. She was getting tired of this shit. “All right, enough with the theatrics. Lothos, you either accept Xethre's presence in my home, or you leave right now. Xethre you will stop taunting Lothos or your invitation will also be revoked, do you both understand me?”

  Lothos clenched his teeth but nodded. Xethre moved back, his feet never touching the floor.

  “Good, now that we understand one another, we will proceed. Lothos, you were going to tell me how you came to be here?”

  * * * *

  Lothos sat down and took in Ethenia's pale face. He grasped her cold hand in his. “Are you all right?”

  Ethenia looked at him gratefully. “Yes, thank you, merely tired.”

  Lothos nodded. It had been a long day and it was shaping up to be an even longer night, what with the vampire's presence. “I will make this quick, angel. Then we will find you a bed.”

  Ethenia gave him a wan smile.

  Lothos turned back toward Sophie. She was staring at him strangely. Her eyes were twinkling and her mouth was curved up in a smile. He didn't like the look she was giving him. When she gave him a look it usually meant she was up to something. “When I left you, I joined a Pack in upstate New York. I recently left that Pack.”

  “Why?”

  “Don't you already know why?” Lothos said dryly. When he saw her bland expression, he sighed. “Sorry, that was rude. I left because I became discontented with the atmosphere.”

  “You disliked the Alpha?”

  “No, much to the contrary.”

  “The Pack members then? Or perhaps you didn't like the politics of the Pack.”

  Lothos shook his head. “No, although I do not always agree with Pack politics, it is not why I left. I left because I decided to go on a pilgrimage. I decided to find my amouratesh.”

  Sophie's eyes widened. She looked quickly between Lothos and Ethenia but wisely kept her mouth shut and let Lothos continue.

  “I took refuge in my caves. You know the ones.” Sophie nodded. “Ethenia sort of dropped into my lap.”

  Sophie smiled coyly. “I would like to hear about that.”

  Lothos looked at Ethenia. She was now staring down at her hands. Her shyness, her absolute meekness still made him wary, if not crazy. He did not know how to proceed with a Loopin who was as submissive as Ethenia. She was so far beyond his understanding that he couldn't fathom her. “She needed help,” was all that he said.

  Sophie nodded and smiled. Her friend Lothos didn't realize it yet but he was hopelessly gone on this soft golden-haired wolf in front of him. Sophie was even more certain of the fact that Ethenia was her dear Lothos's amouratesh. If only the man wasn't so stubborn. If only he would open his eyes and more importantly, his heart. If he stopped trying so hard to find his bond mate he would see with clarity that it was Ethenia and only Ethenia. Sophie had known this from the moment she had seen the beautiful wolf. She had seen Ethenia's strong yellow aura and she had seen it mingling with Lothos's prominent green aura. Plus she knew that the two had already fucked like bunnies. Auras never lied. “So you helped her.”

  Lothos shrugged. “As much as I could.” His eyes grew dark and sad. “But I cannot help her any longer, Sophie. I must return to my search and I need someone to look after her.”

  Ethenia's eyes snapped open at Lothos's callous words. She might be meek, but she wasn't deaf. “Hey, don't talk about me like I'm not here, asshole. And, by the by, I am not a dog, I don't need looking after, as you so quaintly put it.” Ethenia was incensed. How dare he treat her like some piece of baggage to be passed around, how dare he … not want her.

  Lothos's eyes went wide with shock at her words.

  Sophie and Xethre laughed. Sophie nodded. “Ethenia is quite right. She is not something to be passed around so casually.” Sophie turned to Ethenia. “I apologize for our lack of manners. It is appalling, speaking about you as if you weren't here.”

  Ethenia felt sheepish. “That's okay.” Trouble, she turned her gaze to Lothos. “I'm sorry I called you an asshole.”

  It was Lothos's turn to look sheepish. “That's all right, angel. I'm anticipating that they'll be times when you call me much worse.”

  Ethenia felt blossoming joy. Did his words mean that he meant to stay with her?

  Sophie pressed a hand to Ethenia's flushed face. She stroked the Loopin's skin slowly and forced her own desire down. She looked into Xethre's eyes and saw the knowledge there. He knew her desires and he shared them. Sophie heard Ethenia's moan and jerked her hand away. She hadn't even realized that she had stopped stroking Ethenia's cheek and begun to stroke and press the Loopin's shoulders. Sophie took a deep breath. “I believe I should show Ethenia to her room, it has been a long day for her.”

  Ethenia sighed, relief clearly showing in her tired eyes.

  Sophie smiled. “Come darling … let me show you to your room.” She turned to Xethre and Lothos, her eyes narrowing warningly. “Don't start something that I will have to finish. Behave, boys.”

  Lothos nodded curtly. Xethre merely smiled. Sophie sighed—she would cut her losses and accept those vague gestures as yes.

  Chapter Four

  Lothos eyed the black-haired, blue-eyed vampire with distaste and distrust. In turn, the vampire smiled at him. Lothos's mind was still a jumble of unanswered questions. How had Sophie become mixed up with Roistkauff? Had the bastard bespelled her with his eyes?

  “You know better than to believe that nonsense,” Xethre said impatiently. “Sophie's psychic powers protect her from mind ensnarement. Even so, I would never play such games with one such as she.”

  Lothos's jaw fell open. The vampire had heard him? The vampire had been in his mind.

  Xethre sighed. “I am telepathic, yes. It is one of my inherent abilities. It is one of the reasons I connect so well to Sophie.”

  “Are you and Sophie…?” Lothos couldn't finish the question.

  “Lovers? Is that what you were going to ask?”

  Lothos nodded. His eyes were hot with anger.

  “At times, we both have needs, and such needs will not be denied.”

  Lothos felt heat overtake him. The thought of this … this vampire touching Sophie, well, the thought made his skin crawl.

  “What angers you more, wolf, the thought that I touch your friend Sophie—or the thought that she may enjoy such touches?”

  “You go too far,” Lothos cried.

  Xethre shook his head. “On the contrary, I do not go far eno
ugh. You, my friend, must learn some truths.”

  “I am no friend of yours,” Lothos ground out.

  Xethre threw up his hands in disgust. Why he even bothered he didn't know. Alpha wolves were such annoying creatures. “Fine, we are not friends. We do however share a mutual friend.” Xethre saw the dawning of comprehension on Lothos's face. Perhaps the wolf would come around yet. Lothos was obviously an intelligent Loopin; he only just had to open his mind a little to the possibilities that lay on the horizon. “Sophie and I are friends, as you and Sophie are friends. I would not hurt her, wolf.”

  “Perhaps not willingly,” Lothos said. He held up a hand when Xethre would have spoken. “Hear me out, vampire. I understand now that perhaps you are honest in what you say, that you and Sophie are friends. But now you must understand my position. Your presence in her life only brings darkness down upon her house. I cannot tolerate, nor can I stand seeing Sophie put into harm's way.”

  Xethre nodded. “It does you credit that you care so much for your friends. But perhaps you should begin to worry about your own mate.”

  Lothos shook his head. “Ethenia is not my mate.”

  “Oh isn't she?” Xethre asked innocently.

  Lothos's shook his head. “No.”

  “Then you will not mind if I have a go at her.”

  Lothos shot to his feet, claws instantly unsheathed and pointed at Xethre's white neck. “If you go near her I will slit that pretty throat of yours.”

  Xethre laughed. The wolf was so predictable. He obviously was besotted with his mate. Why was he fighting it? “Do not worry, wolf. I will not touch your mate, unless of course you invite me to.”

  Lothos growled, and Xethre laughed harder. The wolf didn't know it yet but he was caught in a web of his own making.

  * * * *

  Sophie watched as Ethenia paced across the room. The poor thing was exhausted and yet she stayed awake and worried over Lothos's well being. Sophie smiled. “Do not worry for Lothos. He can take care of himself.”

  Ethenia nodded. “Of course, it is just that … well, that vampire didn't seem so trustworthy.”

  Sophie laughed. “Xethre? Xethre is as dependable as a rock. He would never hurt Lothos. Taunt him, yes, but hurt him—no.” Sophie walked over to Ethenia and put her hand on her taut shoulder. “What is really bothering you, darling?”