by LeeSha McCoy
“Is hunting a big part of your life?” she asks as we walk into the woods.
“Yeah, especially now.”
She smirks. “Sorry.”
“You ain’t got a thing to be sorry for. What do you do when you’re stressed?”
“You mean, when we aren’t being intimate?”
“Yeah.”
“Well, these days, we like to dish out punishments, or play with our sword.”
“Oh, yeah, I forgot you’re a savage.”
She laughs. “You couldn’t imagine.”
I can, and that’s the problem. I groan.
“Do I make you feel like that?”
I take a quick look down at her. “All the time.”
She bites her lip, and my dick instantly responds. “We feel the same, believe me.”
I stop and turn to face her. “As much as I love these conversations with you, I think we should get this hunt underway.” I swear I can smell her arousal.
Her expression tells me she understands. “I agree.”
Thirty
Karrisee
“I feel a little nervous,” I confess.
Amarey cups my chin before gently trailing his hand down to my shoulder. I love that he’s touching us more frequently, but I also long for more. “Why?”
“Because this will be the first time I’m seeing you in your other form. I barely got a glimpse of you the day we met.”
“Don't be nervous. I'm the same in either.” His eyes suddenly darken. “You know I won't hurt you, right? I’d never hurt you.”
I nod. I don’t know how I know that, but I do.
He breathes a sigh of relief as he scans my face. “I can't wait to see you in all your forms.”
“Neither can we,” I reply, my heart practically blossoming inside me. This man is everything I’ve wished for, truly not anything like anyone I've ever met, but as a result, I feel as though I’m fighting with my life to not mentally or physically run away from him, because these feelings I have scare the living hell out of me.
‘Remember what your mother said. Love doesn't care about time, and nor does the heart,’ Malika says.
‘I know…’
“You ready?” Amarey asks.
Excitement builds inside me. “Yep.”
He steps back. “You gonna run with me or you wanna jump on my back?”
“You're gonna let me ride you?”
He groans, as if he's in pain. “Don't say shit like that to me.”
I bite my lip, but that seems to make his torment worse.
“Fuck, if you only knew. Yes, I'm gonna let you ride me.”
I smile, hoping he does soon. “Then yes, I’m ready.”
“Aight. You probably won’t be able to understand me, but I’ll try to make you.”
“Okay.”
The sound of his clothes shredding is matched with him transforming before my eyes.
And my God...
‘That is fucking sexy,’ Malika gushes, becoming more excited than she ever has.
She isn’t lying.
I tilt my head to begin at his, then I slowly take in the magnificent beast standing on two legs. His eyes are so dark, no longer gold and shimmery, but he still has his lashes, and they’re even longer. His snout is long and powerfully formed, flaring with each breath, and just a few of his canines peek through the sides.
And his fur…
Wow.
It’s the same as his hair, the darkest brown with flicks of gold throughout that shimmer all over him. His arms, chests, the backs of his huge claws…
“Stunning.” I look back up at his face. “You're the most incredible thing I've ever seen in my life.” He huffs as I step closer. “Can I touch you?” I’m desperate to.
Another huff and a nod of his head tells me I can, so I waste no time reaching up to run my hand over his chest.
I almost lose mine and Malika’s mind.
“So soft… Softer than silk…” I slowly circle him, keeping my fingers weaved through his fur the entire time. He even has a long, bushy tail… “I love this,” I say, running it through my hand. I’m almost emotional from this moment, because I’ve dreamt of this for so so long.
My mind continues to race as I circle him again. I'd love to lie naked beside him, feel this fur all over my skin, over my breasts... The thought of that alone drives me insane.
‘I want to feel him, too,’ Malika says, so I release her. She needs to experience this herself.
Amarey seems to be able to tell it’s not me anymore, and he releases a sound that makes me believe he’s saying hello to her.
“It’s me. Malika,” she says, running her hand down his abdomen. She inspects his dick, too, and even though I shouldn’t be surprised, I am. ‘I bet he’s huge.’
‘Stop torturing him. You know what he said yesterday. He can feel emotions…’
‘So?’ She tugs on his fur, just above his navel, and he releases a tortured groan. “Do you know?” Malika asks him. “How we feel?”
He nods and closes his eyes momentarily. It makes me feel bad for him. His attraction for us is clear, and I feel bad for testing him like this.
‘Malika…’
‘Fine. You can have him back.’
She recoils, and I sigh deeply when it dawns on me just how much stronger his scent is to me when he’s like this. “You smell divine.”
He raises his claw, and after carefully combing it through our ponytail, he lowers to all fours and turns. We jump to get up on his back, but he swiftly reaches an arm around to help us, and we’re up.
“Can I hold onto your fur here?” I ask, stroking his neck.
The sound he makes tells me it's a yes, so I fist it. “Okay, I'm ready.”
He takes off slowly, and I know it's so I can adjust, but then he's gone like the wind, and the entire scenery around us blurs.
‘This is so exciting,’ Malika screams. ‘I'd love to be able to shift like him.’
I agree with her. I wonder what it would be like to be a ware, to have all this power. If I had the chance to be like him, as much as I love my own world and my family, I can’t say I wouldn’t trade it all.
That would never happen, though, because wares have to bite people to change them, and I know for a fact that one drop of his bane could kill me.
One can still dream, though.
Amarey picks up the scent of a deer, I can tell by the way he tips his head to the side and changes the direction we're heading. The deer quickly comes into view, but he doesn't slow. He picks up speed, striding forward with a focus so intense, even we can feel it.
The next moment passes so quickly, I barely grasp what’s happening. All I know is that somehow, he’s managed to set us down, catch the deer, snap its neck with perfect fluidity, and is now kneeling over it on the muddy ground.
‘How the hell did he do that?’ Malika asks, sounding as confused as I am.
‘Heaven knows.’ As fast as he was, he was so gentle with us…
I walk the few steps over to him. “That was the most exciting thing we've ever done. Thank you so much.”
He grabs us when we’re in arms reach and proceeds to inspect us carefully.
‘He’s making sure we’re okay, even though he knows we’re strong,’ Malika says. ‘I think I just fell in love with him.’
I run my hand over his braids to reassure him. “We’re fine.” I look down at his kill. “Can you show us how you take the meat off?”
His eyes soften as he nods, and I feel something inside me that I don’t think I’ve experienced before. I don’t know what Ariella had planned by introducing me to Amarey, but whatever the reason, I hope more than anything that it doesn’t ever end.
***
Once we’ve stripped the deer of all its meat, we return to his house to pack it away, and then we both take a shower. Amarey helps me pick something comfortable to wear, something called a maxi-dress, while he wears what he said was a sweatsuit.
Which I can
clearly see the imprint of his dick through.
‘Told you,’ Malika says.
I guess now it’s our turn to be tormented.
“Can I do your hair?” I ask him as I follow him down the stairs. He took it out and washed it, and all I can think of is how much I want to run my fingers through it.
‘Good job he’s so fast. He has so much hair…’
He really has.
He turns to face me when he reaches the bottom. “You wanna do my hair?”
“I’d love to. Can I?”
“Yeah.”
‘He really likes that you’ve asked.’
‘I’m glad I asked.’
He grabs a box full of hair products, then after explaining what each one is for, he gets me to sit on the couch and sits between my legs.
“I’ll pick the film today.”
I smile as I part a section of his hair. “No chick flick this time?”
“Nope, something better.”
I look at the screen and see a film displayed called BloodRayne.
“You’ll like this…” He plays the film, but my attention is elsewhere.
His hair is so easy to comb, so soft. “I loved your hair the moment I saw it. I’m so glad you don’t have locs.
“My dad tried to get me to when I was longer, but I was determined not to.”
“I’m glad you didn’t. It’s beautiful. Most men in the kratius have locs, especially royalty. I really hope you can visit me there soon.”
“So do I. I wanna see the Princess in her element.”
I laugh. “Well, I’ll work on it.”
“So will I.”
Thirty-One
Amarey
I wake up to knocking at my door. No Karrisee beside me today, but before I let that get to me, I remember she said she was moving back to her own castle.
“Mah?” Dre shouts. “The fuck is wrong with your door, man? Open up!”
Ells reinforced all the doors and windows in my house last night before she took Karrisee home. Fuck knows why. She said she’d explain why today.
“Wait a sec’,” I shout back.
This shit should be interesting.
I’ve already got my lie lined up and ready, it’s just whether they’re gonna accept it or not. If anyone doesn’t, it will be Rome. He doesn’t trust anyone as it is, with his sceptical ass. I swear he’s—
“Mah!” Rome shouts this time.
I roll my eyes as I head down to the front door. “Can you fuckin’ chill? I’m coming. Damn.” I open the door to let them in, then walk straight to the kitchen.
No traces of the fruits on the table, and when I check the side, the Caroian whiskey’s gone, too. Must’ve been my sis. I need to be more careful if I’m gonna have visitors.
“I know Ella told us to give you a week,” Dre says, going straight to the fridge to find something to cook, “but we were worried, man.”
“Respect, bruv, but I’m good. Trust.”
“You sure?” DJ asks, sitting backwards on a chair. “‘Cause you looked hella mad the other night. What happened?”
“I asked Ells about my mate but she wouldn’t tell me, so I was already in a shitty ass mood. Harmony just turned up at the wrong time, or right, I guess.”
Rome shoots me a look, but I ignore it.
“As much as you scared the shit out of everyone, it was hella fire to watch,” DJ says. “Tiny was shocked as shit when she realised it was you. I don’t think she expected you to be bigger than her brother.”
“Yeah, well, they were gonna see me eventually, so I don’t really give a fuck. I’m sorry, though. I didn’t mean to speak to you all the way I did.”
Rome snorts. “Bruh.”
“I know. I mean it, though. I’m sorry.”
“Sorry it wasn’t good news about your mate, bruv,” Dre says, chucking some deer on the side. “Did she not say anything at all?”
“Nah, just that I’ve gotta wait and see. Y’know what the fuck she’s like.”
“For real. It’s why I still ain’t asked her about mine, as much as I want to.”
“You still should.” I turn my attention back to Rome. “What about you? Ain’t you curious yet? Your change ain’t far either.”
“Nah, fuck all that. And after seeing your reaction to the word no the other night, I’d rather chill for a little while longer.”
“Your choice. You all ready to whoop hold one’s asses on the pitch tomorrow?”
“Damn right,” DJ says. “Tiny’s coming, too, so you know man’s looking to impress with his skills.”
Rome snorts, which kicks off an argument between him and DJ, and then my thoughts drift.
I wonder if I’ll ever get the chance to have Karrisee at one of my games, or even take her for dinner. God knows I want to, but just like the million other questions I have that ain’t getting answered, I push it away and attempt to stay in the present.
Right now, everything’s good.
“I’ll help you cook.”
***
The boys dip soon after we eat, then Ells shows up.
“Hey, how you feeling?” she asks, following me to the couch.
“Good. You?”
“I’m good. Things are busy right now, though, so I apologise in advance if I’m not around as much as you need. I’ve taken on the responsibility of a shit load of humans, and they’re killing me.”
“Sounds rough.”
“Believe me. Some of the newly changed wares have managed to draw the attention of the authorities, so now we have to fix shit before too many people find out.”
“Damn, that’s fucked up. Can I do anything to help?”
“No, Von’s helping, so hopefully it will be over soon. Anyway, that’s why I’m here now. I know you have questions, so ask me and I’ll answer the ones I can before I have to go.”
“Aight. Can I take Karrisee out for dinner?”
“No. And that ties into why I reinforced this place.”
Fuck sake. “Why not?”
“Because although her scent might be alluring to you, remember vampires and werewolves are natural enemies, and others won't feel that way. What if you cross a ware’s path? I know you can fight—”
“Exactly. I'll protect her.”
“I know, but still. Why put her at risk?”
Hold on… “Is Karrisee the reason why you’ve been so hard on me over the self-defence?”
“Maybe.”
I shake my head. “I could fucking strangle you sometimes with those maybes.”
She holds back a laugh. “Sorry. Next.”
“Can’t you remove her scent when she visits? Then no one will know.
“Nope. Next.”
I hold my growl. “Fine. Is there anything I can cook for her then?”
“You could make bloodfruit broth.”
“Aight. What’s the recipe?”
She shoots the kitchen a glance. “Recipe’s on the table. Ingredients are in the fridge.”
“Thanks.”
“You’re welcome. Next.”
“Can I go visit her?”
“Not sure yet. Aura’s still deciding.”
“Alright…” Not a no, so I’ll deal. “Can you remove my bane?”
Her eyes widen. “What? NO!”
“But I wanna fucking kiss her, sis.” I wanna kiss her so badly, it hurts. The way she touches me when I shift in front of her, and Malika, and what she says, then when she helps me strip the meat off my kills, and she does my hair… “I fucking love her and can’t even kiss her. Do you not understand what that’s like?”
Her eyes soften. “I do understand, but removing your bane is not the answer. She’s your mate, Mah. You have to believe you have the strength to control it.”
“But one drop, Ells. One damn drop.”
“I know, but you can do it. I know you can.”
I grind my teeth. That shit ain’t what I wanted to hear. “Can she at least drink from me? And what about me biting her?�
�
She smiles, so I know this must be good news. “You can bite her, her blood won’t kill you, but she can’t drink from you—”
“The fuck? That’s one of the ways she gets off—”
“She can’t drink from you yet.”
I frown. “Yet?”
She shakes her head. “Have you seriously forgotten that vampires have venom?”
Oh, shit, I actually did…
“Exactly. The same way you’ll need to control your bane, the same she’ll need to control her venom. It won’t kill you, but best believe it would hurt.”
“Aight. So when will she be ready?”
“She’ll know.”
“How?”
“She just will. Next.”
This shit is stressful. “When can she know we’re mates? And that you’re my sister? I don’t like lying to her, Ells. It makes me feel sick.”
“Don’t worry about that, alright? Seriously. Once she finds out, she’ll understand why. It won’t be long now anyway. Believe me.”
I hope not, ‘cause this shit is long. I wanna tell her everything I’m feeling, but I can’t while these lies are hanging between us.
“Is that all?”
I sigh. “Yeah. Is she free yet?”
Her eyes swirl. “It won’t be long. I’m sure she’ll get her mom to send her when she’s ready.”
“Aight. Thanks, sis. I do appreciate this shit, you know that, right?”
“Of course I do.” She stands. “And you know I’ve always got your back, too, right?”
“Yeah.”
“Good.” Then she disappears.
Guess I’m gonna have to bring dinner to her...
***
I finish cooking around three, but there’s still no sign of Karrisee.
“Ella? I know you’re busy, but can’t you at least tell Karrisee—”
“Hello, Amarey.”
I frown. “Aura. Hey.”
“Ariella’s tied up right now. Can I help?”
“Um, yeah, maybe. I was looking for Karrisee. Ells said earlier that you were thinking about letting me visit her. Have you decided yet?”
