Romani Blood (Shifter Blood: Romani Curse Book 1)

by Frances Trilone

  “You can’t rough him up. He’s a tourist,” Markus replied. “Let me talk to him.”

  “He’ll be lucky if I don’t kill him,” Kaleb muttered. “We need to get her home.”

  “We can’t drive her. What if someone sees us?”

  “There’s a path behind Henry’s house that leads to Willow’s Point.”

  “How do you know this?”

  “I go there to think.” Kaleb scratched his jaw and glanced at me. “Get the boat and I’ll take her home.”

  Markus shook his head. “You can’t risk it. What if someone sees you? You know what—”

  “Do it,” Kaleb snapped.

  Markus glanced at me and then ran in the direction of the bonfire.

  Going home was the last thing I wanted. How did Kaleb know I only took one sip? Was he right about Roger spiking my drink? “Uncle Henry will kill me if I show up with you.”

  “He won’t see me. No one will.” Kaleb glanced over his shoulder. “We need to get to the shore. Can you walk?”

  I couldn’t answer Kaleb’s question. Not because I couldn’t talk or didn’t hear him. Something caught my attention when the moonlight shone on his chest.

  A bite mark.

  A bite mark in the same exact spot as the wolf’s … except this mark slowly faded right before my eyes.

  I glanced toward the bushes where Kaleb had appeared. They were the same bushes where the wolf had trotted off earlier.

  “Did you hear me?” He waved his hand in front of my face. “That guy spiked your drink. The effects should wear off in a few hours.”

  I ignored what he said as I reached out and ran my fingers over the barely visible bite mark. I must be hallucinating from the spiked drink. The only way Kaleb could have the same bite mark as the wolf was if . . .

  No.

  HELL NO.

  “Sienna, are you okay?” Kaleb touched my arm.

  I swallowed hard and touched his faint bite mark, realizing why Mom had said the wolves in Woodlake were different. Why she wanted me to stay away from them. “Does it hurt?”

  “No. But next time I see Carter, I’m biting him back.”

  “You’re a Norwood wolf.” My legs wobbled, and I passed out in Kaleb’s arms.

  Chapter 13

  “You can’t stay in bed all day.” Mom pulled the blanket off me and opened the curtains, letting the sun light up the bedroom.

  “What time is it?” I sat up but fell back on the bed when my head throbbed. I wasn’t sure what a hangover felt like, but I would have sworn I had one.

  “It’s almost one o’clock. Did you have fun with Wendy last night?”

  “Yeah, we met up with some of her friends.” I closed my eyes and tried to remember how I’d got home. How had I managed to sleep through the entire morning? I never slept in late.

  “You need to get ready and come eat lunch.” She left, closing the bedroom door behind her.

  I stumbled my way into the bathroom and grabbed aspirin from the medicine cabinet. After gulping down two pills with water, I climbed into the shower and thought about yesterday.

  Kaleb had come to the fortune-telling tent. Wendy and I went to the bonfire party. We’d met some of her friends, and Roger gave me a drink.

  Think. Think. Think.

  I rested my head against the shower wall and let the water trickle down my body. Something happened last night. Something important.

  Images flashed through my mind. Roger had invited me to Norwood Isle. A brown wolf had followed Kaleb into the woods. I’d run to warn him. He’d said Roger spiked my drink. More wolves showed up including a large wolf with soft, kind green eyes.

  The wolf had eyes like Kaleb’s—and a matching bite mark.

  I turned off the shower and groaned when I remembered telling Kaleb he had sexy muscles. I’d accused him of being a Norwood wolf. Wait … he’d said the next time he saw his cousin he’d bite him back.

  But that couldn’t be possible. People turning into wolves?

  I slipped into my favorite comfy jeans and a t-shirt, ready to demand answers from Mom. She’d warned me to stay away from the wolves, but she’d left out one important detail—humans shapeshifted into wolves. She had to know. Why else would she warn me to stay away?

  I followed the sound of Mom’s voice and found her in the kitchen with Aunt Norma and Uncle Henry. They sat at the table eating chicken and rice, discussing yesterday’s tent incident with Kaleb. The Elders had heard what happened and demanded punishment from Kaleb’s father.

  “Come, eat.” Mom pointed to a plate across from her and took a sip of white wine from a crystal glass.

  I gripped the top of the kitchen chair, torn between wanting to ask about Kaleb and wanting to ask Mom why she was drinking wine. She never touched alcohol. Not even on special occasions like weddings or New Year’s Eve. I’d only seen Mom drink twice—the day after Dad died, she’d locked herself in her bedroom with a bottle of wine. She’d done the exact same thing after receiving her cancer diagnosis.

  “Mom, you’re not supposed to be drinking alcohol,” I said. “What about your chemo treatments?”

  “Your mom’s fine,” Uncle Henry grunted. “You’re staying at Drina’s tonight while I meet with the Elders.”

  “But Mom and I are watching a movie later,” I replied. How could I ask about Kaleb? I certainly couldn’t tell them what happened last night.

  “Your mom’s leaving tonight,” Uncle Henry said. “Norma’s driving her to Dover.”

  “You just got back yesterday.” I folded my arms. “How long will you be gone?”

  “Maybe a few weeks. I don’t know.” Mom sighed and set the empty wine glass down. “They’re testing a new cancer drug, and I’ve been selected. This should be the last time. I promise. When I get back, we’ll take a trip. Go somewhere nice.”

  “I’ve heard Norwood Isle’s pretty,” I replied.

  Aunt Norma dropped her spoon and gasped. Uncle Henry broke into a coughing fit.

  “We can’t go to Norwood Isle.” Mom poured more wine into her glass. Her voice sounded strained. “The wolves are different. They don’t like us. I told you that, remember?”

  “I want the truth,” I said. “Can Kaleb turn into a wolf?”

  Uncle Henry’s face twisted as he grabbed Mom’s arm. “You didn’t tell her about the shapeshifters?”

  “It wasn’t easy moving here.” Mom pulled her arm away. “I couldn’t tell her everything. She needed time to adjust. Besides, she agreed to follow the rules. She knew to stay away from the wolves.”

  “No. That’s crazy.” I shook my head. “It’s like saying vampires are real.”

  The room grew quiet.

  “You won’t see any vampires in Woodlake,” Uncle Henry said. “But they exist.”

  I sank into the chair and stared at the plate of food in front of me. Shapeshifters and vampires were real. Kaleb didn’t leave me alone with three wolves: he shapeshifted into a wolf.

  “Nells, you should’ve told her,” Aunt Norma said. “You saw how Kaleb came into our tent. Thinking he can touch Sienna and get away with it. He’s a monster.”

  Uncle Henry laughed. “I thought you were being brave yesterday. Now I know why you weren’t scared of him. You didn’t know what he was.”

  “I’m tired.” Mom stood, steadying herself with one hand on the chair as she drank the rest of the wine. She placed the empty glass down, walked around the table, and kissed my forehead. “I’ll be back soon. Don’t worry about those wolves. They can’t hurt you.”

  Mom left the kitchen, with Aunt Norma close behind.

  “At least her headache’s gone,” Uncle Henry mumbled as he continued eating.

  I took a bite of chicken and thought about the Norwood staff. They looked up to Kaleb and followed his orders. They were always together like a pack of wolves. “Are they all wolves? The Norwood staff.”

  “Yes, but some of the wolves can’t control their shifting, so they remain on Norwood Isle. The pur
ebred shifters are called oldens. They shift whenever they want. They’re stronger and faster than the others. They age differently—something to do with their cells. I don’t understand it, but they live for a long time.”

  Uncle Henry pushed his plate aside. “You met Kaleb yesterday. He’s an olden, and he’s much older than he looks. You need to stay away from him. He’s dangerous.”

  I glanced at Uncle Henry. I wanted to say that wasn’t true. Kaleb had saved me last night, and he only came to the fortune-telling tent because I’d invited him. “He didn’t seem so scary.”

  “Don’t let him fool you. He’s a very strong alpha. The other wolves are scared of him.” Uncle Henry scratched his chin. “He’s next in line to lead the Norwood pack. What did he say to you in the tent?”

  “He told me to read his palm.”

  “And?”

  “I told him he had a long life line, and then Aunt Norma came back.” I shrugged as I decided to offer as little information as possible. “I heard you guys say the Elders demanded his father punish him? I don’t understand. They’re not allowed near us?”

  “We have an agreement to stay away from each other.”

  That explained why Kaleb was upset I worked at the café. “Why don’t they like Romanies?”

  “Because we created them.”

  “What?” My voice cracked.

  “A witch cursed them. Turned them all into wolves.”

  “A Romani curse,” I muttered under my breath, remembering the half-charred house. “Did Marie curse them?”

  “No, she tried—”

  Uncle Henry stopped mid-sentence. “We don’t talk about Marie or what she tried to do. It’s a rule. The wolves were cursed over two hundred years ago, long before Marie was born.”

  I ate more chicken and rice and let the information sink in. What did Marie try to do? It must’ve been something important if the Elders didn’t want anyone talking about it. “Does everyone know about the Norwood wolves?”

  “All Romanies know about the wolves, but you don’t have to be afraid. We’re safe in the community. Our ancestors made an agreement with the Norwood wolves. They’re not allowed on our land, and we stay off Norwood Isle. It’s a death sentence if you go there.” His eyes searched mine. “Be careful when you see them in town. They’re telepathic.”

  None of the Norwood staff acted as though they could read my mind, including Kaleb. If he could read my mind then he’d know I had feelings for him. “Wait—I’m safe here, but not at my job at the café. Why did you—”

  “Woodlake is sacred ground. You weren’t in any danger because it’s forbidden for the wolves to shift there.” He shook his head. “Kaleb coming to the tent and grabbing you … it doesn’t make any sense. He knows the punishment for his actions. I don’t—”

  “But he didn’t hurt me.” I tried to hide the concern in my voice. “He asked for a palm reading.”

  “Trust me. If Kaleb came to the tent, he didn’t come to have his palm read. He’s up to something, and it can’t be good,” Uncle Henry said. “The Elders called me this morning, asking if you saw him last night. Did you see Kaleb?”

  I nodded. Uncle Henry could easily find out where I was and if the Norwood wolves were there. “They were at the party last night.”

  “Did Kaleb threaten you?”

  “No.” I needed to change the topic before he asked me any questions I didn’t want to answer. “Do Bill and the people in town know about the wolves?”

  “The descendants of the first settlers’ families know about the wolves, which includes Bill. We never talk about the shapeshifters in public. A tourist might overhear.”

  He shook his finger. “You can’t tell anyone about them. It’s part of the agreement we have. We protect their secret, and they allow us to remain in Woodlake. That includes Wendy. She doesn’t know, and neither does her mom.”

  “The sheriff and the other cops must know. What about the Town Council members?”

  “Yes, they know. The town rigs the election every year, so only the descendants serve on the Town Council. Makes it easier to handle any issues with the wolves, but we haven’t had any issues for a long time. Not until yesterday.”

  The doorbell chimed. Aunt Norma appeared in the hallway, hurrying toward the front door.

  “Are there other packs?” I asked, remembering Kaleb’s cousin, Carter: the one who’d shapeshifted and bit Kaleb. Didn’t Markus mention the Kingsleys? That sounded like a pack name.

  “Yes, but they don’t come to Woodlake.” Uncle Henry stood as Aunt Norma ushered Wendy into the kitchen.

  I sat up straight; surprised to see Wendy. “Hey.”

  “Whatever she’s selling, we don’t want any,” Uncle Henry grunted as he placed his plate and cup into the sink.

  “This is Wendy.” Aunt Norma cleared her throat. “She’s the sheriff’s stepdaughter and works at the café with Sienna.”

  Uncle Henry’s demeanor instantly changed as he flashed her a warm smile. “Sienna didn’t tell us you were coming over.”

  “Well, I . . .” I glanced from him to Wendy, trying to remember if she and I had made plans for today. Had I invited her over and forgotten about it? “I must’ve—”

  “That’s my fault, I’m sorry.” Wendy fumbled with her purse and then held her hand out. “Sienna didn’t know I was coming.”

  “It’s nice to meet you.” Uncle Henry shook Wendy’s hand. “You’re welcome to visit anytime.”

  “Thanks for driving me home last night,” I blurted, hoping Wendy understood I needed her to lie if Uncle Henry asked her any questions. I didn’t like her being in the same room as him. What if he asked questions she didn’t know how to answer? “Is everything okay?”

  “Everything’s fine. Bill made a few changes to our schedule, and I volunteered to tell you.” Wendy strolled over to the kitchen window. “You have such a beautiful house. Is it okay if Sienna and I sit in the gazebo?”

  “Of course.” Uncle Henry opened the back door.

  Wendy walked outside as I got up to wash my plate.

  “Go on. I’ll take care of the dishes.” Aunt Norma took the plate from my hand.

  “Thanks for lunch.” I headed toward the back door, relieved Wendy had suggested we sit outside.

  “Remember what I said, you can’t tell her,” Uncle Henry said in a stern voice. “No more parties until we know what Kaleb’s up to.”

  I nodded and hurried toward the gazebo where Wendy sat, looking at her cell phone. “What are you doing here?”

  “I’ve been so worried about you.” She pulled me into a hug. “You went off with Roger and I couldn’t find you. Then Markus told me you were sick and got a ride home. I didn’t know what to think.”

  “Sorry, I wasn’t feeling well.” I sat next to her. “I think it was the punch.”

  “That’s strange. I drank the punch too, and I felt fine.”

  “Must’ve been something I ate at the Norwood Festival.” Kaleb had been right about Roger spiking my drink. I should’ve been more careful and less trusting. “Did you see Roger last night?”

  “Only when he was talking to you, but something spooked him and his friends. They came by the café this morning, saying they’d canceled their trip to Norwood Isle. Did something happen last night?”

  If they’d canceled their trip, then Kaleb or someone from Norwood Isle must have said something to them. No way would he and his friends leave town on their own—not when they’d spent a year planning this trip.

  But I couldn’t tell Wendy what had happened. At least, not all of it.

  “Roger was a jerk,” I said. “Kaleb thinks—”

  “You were with Kaleb last night?” She squealed. “Did you kiss him?”

  My throat went dry. Did I kiss Kaleb? No way would I forget kissing those lips. “Of course not.”

  “You don’t look sure.”

  “I’d remember kissing him.” I glanced around, shuddering as a chill crept down my spine. “You didn�
�t tell anyone I liked him, did you?”

  “No way.”

  “Did you tell him about my mom having cancer? Because he knew.”

  She shook her head. “I swear I didn’t tell him.”

  “He probably overheard me talking to Bill,” I replied, remembering what Uncle Henry had said. The Norwood wolves can read minds, which meant Wendy hadn’t betrayed me. She’d never told Kaleb any of the things I’d said to her. “I’m sorry for thinking it was you.”

  “I would’ve thought the same thing.” She wrapped an arm around my shoulders. “We should double date. Cole and I. You and Kaleb.”

  “Shh. Someone might hear you, and he doesn’t like me. At least, not like that.”

  Of course, Kaleb didn’t like me. He detested Romanies because they’d cursed him.

  I glanced toward Wendy’s car parked on the street. “Hey, how’d you know where I lived?”

  “Markus told me. He said I should check on you.”

  “When did you see him?”

  “He came by the café this morning and asked if you worked today. When I said you didn’t, he said I should check on you.”

  “But. . .” My voice trailed. How did Markus know where I lived? He and Kaleb were the last ones I saw last night. They must’ve offered to drive me home, so I’d given them my address.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “Nothing’s wrong. I was thinking about Markus. He’s a nice guy.” I looked at Wendy. I wanted to tell her about the Norwood wolves. Would she be in danger? “This thing with Cole—it’s not serious, I hope. You’re leaving for college in a few months, and I’d hate to see you get hurt.”

  “We’re just having a bit of fun. I don’t even think he’s the kind of guy to get serious.” She changed the subject and went on and on about Jenny being late to work this morning.

  I tried to listen, but all I could think about was Wendy hanging out with a Norwood wolf. I needed to know she wasn’t in danger, but that meant talking to Kaleb and getting some answers.

  Chapter 14

  After dinner, I changed my clothes and tucked my hunting knife into my boot. Even though Uncle Henry had told me we were safe in the community, I didn’t trust the wolves. Not after what happened last night.