Etti was so engrossed in the blissful moment with her new extended family that she didn’t hear the knock at the door.
“I’ll get it,” Marc said, startling Etti out of her daydream.
Instinct made Etti pull Izzi to her chest, and when she saw who was at the door, she knew why. Her father stood in the doorway, with her mother, slightly hidden behind him.
“What is she doing here?” Etti hissed in a low, hostile tone.
But Etti’s father didn’t get to respond. Her mother dropped to her knees, tears streaming down her cheeks. Everyone in the room was stunned, most of all Etti. She’d never seen her mother cry, or fall down. She was the toughest woman Etti’d ever known.
Grey came to stand at Etti’s side, while everyone in the apartment watched Etti’s mother chant in words only Etti and her father knew. She was saying a Cherokee blessing—one that begged for protection of a child.
A part of Etti’s heart twisted at her mother’s words. Etti had tried for years to harden her heart against her mother so she couldn’t hurt her anymore. But as Etti watched her mother weeping and praying for her grandchild, the protective walls around Etti’s heart began to unravel.
She moved toward her mother, with Izzi tight in her arms. Her father helped her mother to her feet when Etti stopped in front of them.
“Etu,” her mother sobbed. “Forgive me for my foolishness. I will do anything in my power to help you protect this child.”
“Anything?” Etti asked.
Her mother nodded.
“How do I contact Esme Laveau?”
“I already told you, Etu. Blood calls to blood. You only need to put your child’s blood on her ancestral tomb and she will answer the call.”
Etti’s stomach knotted. Her mother had tried to help her after all. Etti just didn’t know what she meant. Etti had stubbornly refused to study the old ways, as her mother called them. She didn’t know how to contact her ancestors. But if this was true . . . they could finally find Esme and ask her to protect Izzi.
“Thank you, mom,” Etti whispered.
Her mother smiled and reached a tentative hand toward Izzi’s outstretched one. Etti nodded and watched as her daughter curled her tiny hand around her mother’s finger.
Maybe new love could heal even the oldest of wounds after all.
Chapter 11
Greyson
Grey continued watching Etti after she put Izzi down for the night. Her parents left hours ago and he was still waiting for the other shoe to drop. The moment he saw Mohe and Ama at the door, Grey was ready to fight. But the feud he’d been expecting never came. Instead it seemed Izzi had somehow repaired a lifetime of damage between Etti and her mother. Perhaps their baby truly was a miracle.
He knew it was foolish to hope all was forgiven, but it was a much needed step in the right direction.
The rest of the night had been uneventful. Once Etti’s parents left, Grey made sure his family had everything they needed to settle in for the night. Grey’s mother and cousin were sleeping on a futon in the nursery and Ethan the couch.
Grey returned to his bedroom to find Izzi nestled safely in their bed. Etti gave Grey a kiss and slipped into bed next to their daughter. Grey carefully climbed under the covers too, kissing the top of Izzi’s head. Her little eyelids were already fluttering with sweet dreams.
“So,” Grey whispered. “Are you gonna talk about what happened tonight or do I have to pull it out of you?”
Etti smiled still looking at Izzi. “You saw what happened. Our little girl charmed the pants right off her big bad grandma.” Etti turned her gaze to Grey. “You heard her. She gave us what we need to find Esme.”
“And you believe her?”
Etti nodded. “I felt it. She was telling the truth. She truly wants to help her granddaughter.”
“And the words she was chanting?” Grey asked.
“An old Cherokee blessing for a child. It begs protection of the elders.” Etti’s eyes looked far away. “She gave us what we needed before. I just wasn’t listening.”
“What do you mean?”
“At the farm, when we asked for help. My mother said blood calls to blood before she stormed out. I thought she was just being herself and spouting anti-shifter nonsense. But . . .”
“But what?” Grey pressed.
“It just makes me wonder how many times I’ve misunderstood her?”
Grey watched a dull sorrow flicker under Etti’s thick lashes. “Babe, you can’t change the past or fix everything all at once with your mother. All you can do is make progress like you did today.”
“You’re right,” Etti said, light returning to her gaze.
She reached a hand over to brush some of Grey’s hair out of his face. It’d grown shaggy. He was way overdue for a haircut, but he loved it when Etti ran her fingers through his hair like she was now. He leaned into her touch.
“So when do you want to leave for New Orleans?” Etti asked.
“Whenever you think we’re ready,” he replied nodding to Izzi.
“We’re ready.”
“Then how about this weekend?”
“Perfect.”
Grey leaned across his daughter and kissed Etti. “I love you,” he whispered onto her lips.
“I love you too.”
Grey’s wolf was already pressing at his skin, wanting more of his mate. “Maybe we can splurge for a nice room and make it a bit of a second honeymoon. I’ll make it worth your while,” he teased.
Etti grinned, and the arousal he scented from his mate made him want to tear her clothes off. He didn’t care about his family in the next room. The only thing stopping him was the precious baby sleeping between them. Grey sighed and rolled onto his back, groaning. “I think I’m gonna have to take a cold shower again tonight.”
Etti laughed, opening her mouth to give a smart retort, but it never came. Instead Grey heard a crash and a blood-curdling scream.
He jumped to his feet. “Take Izzi. Get in the bathroom and don’t come out until I come back, do you hear me?”
To Grey’s surprise, Etti only nodded, grabbing their daughter and retreating to the adjoining bathroom. Once Grey heard the door lock, he shifted, prowling into the living space to see what the commotion was. It only took him a second to find the source—the nursery.
The small room was a blur of fur and blood and Grey threw his wolf into the battle. He scented the hunt the instant he was in the room—Jake and Kellan from the rogue pack had come for his daughter.
Grey’s gut twisted as he locked eyes with Jake’s wolf. He’d been Grey’s only friend in the hunt and it pained him to have to kill him, but he would, without hesitation if it meant safety for his family. Kellan’s wolf, a large russet beast with powerful jaws, was fighting off two grey females—Brooke and Sarah. Grey glanced back to Jake, but Ethan was easily keeping him at bay, almost too easily Grey noted as he charged in to help his mother and cousin with Kellan.
“Have you finally come out to play, deserter?” Kellan taunted.
Grey shivered at the voice in his mind. He hated that part of the hunt’s bond. They could all communicate to each other through thought alone at close range.
Grey responded by jumping between the two females and tackling Kellan. Grey was a large wolf, but Kellan was massive—probably why he’d been recruited by the hunt.
Kellan laughed, easily kicking Grey off of him. “Did you think you could hide forever?”
“Who’s hiding?” Grey snarled snapping for Kellan’s neck.
“Your pretty mate and child are,” he growled, scenting the air.
Anger at the threat coursed through Grey like wildfire and he pounced, but Kellan had been ready for it and dodged the blow. Grey was only down for a moment but that’s all it took for Kellan to get the jump on him, pinning him to the floor with his crushing weight.
The other wolves in the room stilled, knowing the killing blow was coming. But Grey wasn’t about to give up. He had too much on the li
ne. And Kellan might be strong, but he was dumb. Grey shifted again, reaching his hand out like lightning to grab a broken spoke from the crib. He jammed it up into Kellan’s chest when the wolf regained focus and charged like Grey knew he would.
Kellan howled in pain as he crashed down on the splintered wood. But the wound only momentarily stunned him. Grey reached out for another piece of debris in the destroyed nursery, but Kellan was on to him now, pinning his hand and shredding flesh before Grey could reach another weapon.
The massive russet wolf snared in Grey’s face. “I’m going to enjoy this.”
Grey saw his family charge for Kellan, but they were too late. Another wolf shot across the room colliding with him and Kellan. They were a tumbling fury of fur and flesh. And when it all stopped, Grey was looking into the glowing amber eyes of the wolf he’d always called friend—Jake.
Kellan’s massive head lay a foot away from Grey and Jake. Another five feet away was the rest of Kellan’s lifeless body. Blood pooled from the motionless corpse.
Grey stared at Jake, mouth agape. “Jake . . . What have you done?” The offense for killing your own in the shifter community was steep and in the hunt it was even worse. “Derik will kill you.”
Jake answered in Grey’s mind. “I don’t care. My days are numbered anyway.”
“What do you mean?” Grey asked.
“Derik’s been recruiting for the hunt. He practically has an army now. I came to warn you to get the hell out of town, but Kellan followed me.”
“Jake . . .” Grey’s heart went out to his friend. “I don’t know how to thank you.”
“Don’t. Just leave town, now! And keep that baby safe. She’s the only chance any of us have to outrun the hunt’s curse.”
“Come with us, Jake,” Grey pleaded.
“No. I’ll only be one more target on your back.” Jake shook himself off and glanced toward the fire escape beyond the window. “Be safe,” was all he said before leaping through it and disappearing into the night.
Etti
It took every ounce of will Etti had to stay locked in the bathroom with Izzi. She knew her mate and family were out there fighting the hunt. She’d heard the growls and crashing furniture. Only shifters could make that much noise. And the hunt was the only pack that would dare hunt their own kind in Blue Creek.
When the noise from the battle died down, Etti’s chest tightened. Where was Grey? Why hadn’t he come back for her?
She refused to let her fear get a hold of her. Her mate was strong and smart. And his whole family was out there backing him up. Plus, she still felt his pull on their mating bond. He was tired, hurt, but still alive.
Etti stared at Izzi, who blinked calmly back at her. She hadn’t made a peep the whole time, like she knew how important it was to stay hidden. Etti had wrapped her in a blanket and set her in a basket, tucking it under the sink where she’d be hidden if need be. Etti was prepared to shift and defend her child with her own life it came down to it.
She counted the seconds of silence until finally, there was a knock on the bathroom door. Etti’s heart pounded as she waited to hear her mate’s voice.
“Babe, it’s safe. You can come out now.”
She exhaled as she threw the door open and flung herself at Grey.
“Where’s Izzi?” he asked, panic in his voice.
“Safe,” Etti said darting back into the bathroom for her daughter.
Grey didn’t seem to calm down until his daughter was in his arms.
“What happened?” Etti asked.
“The hunt.”
Etti paled. “Your family?”
“They’re fine. Disposing of Kellan.”
“Grey, we need to leave. If they attacked us once . . .”
“I know. Jake said as much.”
“Jake was here?” Confusion flashed across Etti’s face. “Did you let him get away?”
“Yes, but he saved my life. He came to warn me that Derik is building an army. Kellan followed him here.”
“Shit! Grey if Kellan came on Derik’s orders and doesn’t return . . . They’re never going to stop until they get her, Grey.”
“Then we stop them first,” he growled.
“I’m scared,” Etti whispered. “I don’t want to lose any of you.”
“I know,” Grey grumbled, pulling Etti to him.
“We need to leave now!” she hissed trying to keep her voice down so she didn’t scare Izzi.
“She’s right,” Sarah said striding into their room. “We took care of the wolf, but scented a lot of other rouges in the area.”
Fear sliced through Etti’s heart. What if they were surrounded? They couldn’t fight off an army of shifters.
“What do we do?” Etti begged, looking from Grey to each member of his family, who now crowded into their bedroom.
Brooke stepped forward. “I have an idea.”
Chapter 12
Wes
“Your cuz is a genius, dude,” Wes said stretching his legs out in the front seat of Cali’s car. He was riding shotgun while she sped down the interstate.
“What about me?” Cali shot back sounding wounded.
“Baby, you know you’re my number one. And that grossness you snagged from the hospital . . . that was some creepy Dexter shit, my little mastermind.”
Cali grinned proudly. “Thanks.”
Wes leaned over the backseat, pretending to talk without Cali hearing. “She’s sexy as hell,” he said to Grey and Etti. “But sometimes she scares me.”
“Heard that,” Cali said, but Wes caught the amusement in her voice.
“For real though, I think this is the most solid plan we’ve had so far,” Wes admitted.
“Me too,” Grey agreed.
But Etti remained silent, her gaze fixed on Izzi. She hadn’t said anything since they’d started their road trip.
Wes and Cali had been in the middle of a sunrise sex sesh when Grey called Wes. He immediately answered, because Grey only ever called when Etti was in trouble. Grey had quickly laid out his cousin’s plan to set decoy shifters at Etti and Grey’s apartment to throw off the hunt while they made their escape, asking Wes and Cali if they’d be willing to come along to help protect Izzi.
They quickly agreed. And after hearing the whole plan, Cali recommended they add a gross bag of umbilical blood to their scheme. It was apparently being saved for emergencies. But a hunt army seemed like a pretty fucking big emergency.
Cali said it would put the right scent over the apartment so anyone from the hunt sniffing around wouldn’t doubt that Etti and Izzi were still inside.
Grey’s family stayed there too, just like they would if they were protecting their own. They also helped set the stage with Grey’s scent. The last piece of the puzzle had been hauling Marc out of bed to play getaway driver again. They made him drive to the Painted Wolf to pick up Etti, Grey and Izzi.
To anyone else, Marc looked like an employee dropping by work. But after he went inside and talked to the decoy shifters Cali had arranged to play, Etti, Grey, and Wes, the pale tattoo artist slipped out the back with the real Etti, Grey and Izzi hidden in his trunk. He dropped them off where Cali and Wes were waiting, bags packed, with everything they needed for their road trip.
“We’ll be in NOLA in three hours,” Wes said trying to get Etti’s attention. “Where do you want to go first?”
“My ancestor’s tomb,” Etti replied.
“Hold up,” Wes protested. “Are we trying to find a dead witch to help us? Because that’s gonna make things a bit more difficult.”
“No. Esme’s alive. But only blood calls to blood,” Etti said.
“Okay, I can get on board with creepy, but anyone care to clarify?” Wes asked.
“My mother told us the only way to call Esme out of hiding is to put Izzi’s blood on the tomb of her ancestor, Marie Laveau.”
Cali gasped. “Hold the phone, Etti! You’re related to Marie Laveau? Like the Marie Laveau, Queen of Voodoo?”
“That name is her alias,” Etti replied. “She’s been hiding from the hunt too.”
“Okay, so she’s Esme Laveau? Descendant of some famous witch?”
“Not just any famous witch,” Cali interrupted. “She’s the witch. As in the woman who spawned the dynasty of legendary voodoo magic that New Orleans is famous for.”
“Okay, witch doctor,” Wes said. His hair prickled on his arms learning his mate was so into this witchy shit.
Cali smirked, probably scenting his unease. “You tease, but that’s how witchcraft started. Witches are healers by nature.”
“Okay, so this Laveau lady was a good witch?” Wes asked.
“Not everything’s black and white, Wes. All I know is she was very powerful, and if I were you I wouldn’t joke about her or voodoo,” Cali warned. “Especially in the French Quarter. Witches take respect very seriously.”
Wes glanced at Etti and Grey in the backseat, exhaling nervously. “Okay, so do you know where this descendant of yours is buried?”
“St. Louis Cemetery No. 1,” Grey replied.
“How do you know that?” Etti asked.
Grey smiled. “Google.”
Wes laughed. “Gotta love technology. You hear that Izzi? You got witches, shifters and Google at your disposal. This’ll be a piece of cake.”
Wes put his sunglasses back on and reached over to take Cali’s hand, praying they weren’t driving into some sort of witchy voodoo trap, because as it was, his spidey senses were tingling.
Chapter 13
Etti
Etti sighed as she looked around the gorgeous suite at the infamous Dauphine Orleans Hotel. Everything was so beautiful, and it made Etti bitterly jealous that they weren’t here just to enjoy themselves. “Cali, you didn’t have to do this.”
Sassy Ever After: Sassy Ink 3: The Hunter's Curse (Kindle Worlds Novella) Page 5
