Shadow Web

by Yasmine Galenorn

  Tally turned to me. “Do you mind if I go for a run in the woods in my alt-form?”

  “Not at all, but are you sure you don’t want to wait for your brother?”

  She shook her head. “No, he’ll want to eat first, and I want to give you two some time alone.”

  Something occurred to me. “Does shifting change because you’re pregnant?” I asked.

  She tilted her head, thinking. “It’s usually safe through the first five months, then the body shuts down the ability till after birth. That’s why most shifters who are pregnant are pretty darn surly during the latter half of their pregnancy. The urge builds up, but the body won’t cooperate—probably a self-protective measure to take care of the baby as well. I won’t be able to shift more than a couple more months, not until after I give birth.”

  “When do shifter children start to shift?”

  “Oh, when they’re little, but they can’t control it at first. That control has to be learned over time.” She laughed. “I remember my mother complaining how it took me until I was five years old to control my spontaneous shifting. It drove her nuts. Shifters aren’t allowed to go to school until they’ve learned to control it, so there are community daycares among the Packs. Giving mothers a break from their children is vital—a shifter child who is constantly turning into a wolf and piddling on the floor and knocking over stuff is absolutely exhausting.”

  “I think most children are exhausting,” I said, grinning. “I’m not very maternal, and I’ve never been one of those women whose biological clock went off with a shrieking alarm.”

  Tally snorted. “I hope you’ll consider babysitting, at least. I’m going to need my brothers’ support, as well as that of my parents.” She poked me in the arm. “Considering you’re likely to end up as ‘auntie’ to my children.”

  There was something about the way she said the latter. I squinted at her and then caught a hint of a thought. “You’re having twins?”

  She blinked. “What—how did…” Pausing, she threw her hands in the air. “You’re a witch. I don’t know what I expected. Yes, but I haven’t even told Killian yet. I thought you’d take the ‘children’ part generically, to mean any I have down the road. But yeah, twins and triplets are a lot more common among any sort of canid shifter.”

  “Does Les know?” I wondered how many more surprises Tally had hidden up her sleeve.

  “Yes, he knows, and of course, the doctor. And now, you. I want to wait to tell Killian until I also tell my parents. So please don’t give me away?”

  I gave her a quick hug. “I promise, I won’t say anything. Come on, let’s set the table. I don’t want Killian to feel awkward eating alone. Even though we ate a late lunch, I can manage a slice.”

  “I can manage more than that. Ever since I got pregnant I’ve been ravenous.”

  The next moment, Killian burst through the door. He sniffed the air, making a beeline for the pizza on the table. “That smells divine. I’m so hungry I could eat a horse.”

  I slipped into the kitchen and brought back three plates and some napkins, since Tally indicated she decided to eat too. We gathered around the table and Killian loaded up his plate after I had taken a slice and Tally had taken two. I loved pizza but lunch had been filling, so I nibbled on mine. Tally managed to pack hers away quickly, though.

  Killian glanced at me. “You all right? You’re not eating much.”

  “I had a snack earlier. So I found your solstice gift today.” I grinned at him. He waited for a moment, looking at me expectantly. “You don’t think I’m going to tell you what it is, do you?”

  “Apparently not,” he said with a grin, going back to his pizza.

  While he ate I told him about the decorations I had bought. “I want my house to be visible to the astronauts!”

  “Well, you’re getting there,” he said. He glanced out the window. “I think I might wait to put them out though, if you don’t mind.”

  I followed his gaze. Not only was it growing dark, it was pouring rain. The raindrops bounced off the sidewalks and streamed into the gutters along the curb, turning them into streams that swiftly rolled along the street.

  “I’m glad we live up on a hill,” I said. “Too many houses around here flood if they’re in a low-lying area. I wonder if we’ll see snow this year.”

  “I’m pretty sure we will,” Killian said.

  “It’s snowing on the passes,” Talia said, glancing at her weather app on her phone. “That means it’s snowing up in Carbonado.”

  Carbonado was the town where Killian’s parents and Tally lived. It was up near Mount Rainier, a little town high in the mountains above the Puyallup Valley. Killian and Tally’s brother Darryn lived in Puyallup proper, and he was a mechanic. Their mother was a fifth-grade teacher and their father was an accountant. I had met them briefly when they came to visit Killian in the middle of summer, but we hadn’t had much time to spend together. They were nice people, and they seemed open to Killian dating me, even though I wasn’t a shifter.

  “So, what’s going on with the Majikoil case?” Killian asked.

  “Tomorrow night Ari and I are supposed to meet with Sheryl and pay her the money for the buy-in. Rowan’s coming over early to fit us with the wires. We go in and then we have to get Sheryl to promise that we’ll make not only money, but extra life energy by recruiting. And we have to do it before she draws the life energy off of us or we’re going to be in trouble.”

  Tally swiveled her head. “What?”

  “Unlike the typical pyramid scheme, Majikoil drains life off its reps. Or rather, Sheryl does. That’s why the recruitment process is so important. You have to recruit others in order to gain back the years that you lose to your upline. Life energy doesn’t regenerate.”

  Killian very carefully set down his piece of pizza and stared at me. “You mean they drain you of life?”

  I nodded. “It’s not magical energy. That you could regain. No, Sheryl is draining her recruits of a percentage of their life. Fifteen percent, to be precise.”

  “How do you know how long you’re going to live, or rather, how does she know? How does she know how much to drain off of you?”

  “There’s a spell that can do that. It’s a very high-level spell, and no ethical witch will perform that spell willingly unless there’s a damned good reason. The spell itself can sense how long you have to live, but you’ll never know the answer. It will siphon off the appropriate amount of life that it’s programmed to. Of course, whoever is on the receiving end will be able to tell whether your life is long or short. It’s a complicated process, and I don’t fully understand it myself. Except for the most important thing: Ari and I could lose years off our lives.”

  Killian leaned his elbows on the table and rested his chin on his folded hands, staring at me. “You know that I think it’s ridiculous for the Court Magika to put you in this position. What happens if they don’t make it in time? What happens if she manages to drain several years off of your life?”

  “If I have the normal lifespan of anyone who’s witchblood, it’s more than several years. Hell, it could be up to twenty years or more. Look at the Aseer — she’s over four hundred years old. She’s the exception rather than the rule, but there are a number of witches who live into their late two to three hundreds. I could lose up to forty-five years if my destiny slates me to live that long.”

  “Damn, she’s accruing a tidy lifespan, isn’t she?” Tally asked. “And what happens when the pyramid scheme runs out of juice?”

  “Then a lot of people get screwed over,” I said. “Which is why Ari and I are doing this.”

  Killian picked over his pizza. “I know I can’t stop you, but please be careful?”

  I pressed my lips together, staring at the table. I didn’t want him to know that I was honestly scared, because he would encourage me to back out of the whole situation. And I had given my promise. Sheryl Brown was hurting a lot of people.

  Instead of answering, I simply
looked out the window at the rain. “I think I’m going to make the pies and freeze them so that they’re ready to bake on Wednesday.” I stood up, carrying my plate into the kitchen. After a few minutes, Tally entered, offering to help.

  We spent the rest of the afternoon making pies and getting the dough for rolls ready. I wanted to do everything I could to take my mind off what was ahead of me. The rain let up after a while and Killian went out to put up the new decorations. By the time evening came around, I lit a fire in the fireplace and we snuggled up to watch The Great British Baking Show in some much-needed downtime.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Killian let Tally have his house to herself that evening and stayed with me. He didn’t mention the sting operation again, and I was grateful. One thing he had learned about me: if I didn’t want to talk about something, or if I had made up my mind, no amount of pressure would work on me. In fact, it drove me further into doing what I had decided to do.

  We were headed to bed when I caught a glimpse of Esmara standing in the kitchen. I gave Killian a kiss on the cheek and told him I would be up in a minute. After he was on the way upstairs, I slipped into the kitchen and looked around. Sure enough, Esmara was standing over by the sink, staring out into the darkness.

  What’s going on? Is there something you need to tell me?

  Esmara turned to me. I want you to be careful tomorrow. What you are planning on doing depends so much on the people who are supporting you. I like Rowan, but as much as she and I have come to an understanding, there are times she forgets that others aren’t as strong as she is. Has she ever introduced you to a member of the Court Magika? I mean, in terms of this particular situation? Are you sure that they’re behind this?

  I stared at Esmara for a moment. Surely you don’t think Rowan is lying to me? Why would she? What reason could she have?

  No, not lying, Esmara said. But Rowan has always been antsy around anything that reeks of someone taking advantage of another. Just make sure you do have backup tomorrow night, and don’t let her snow you into going in without knowing who is there to come in and help you out. Once Sheryl starts that spell, there isn’t much you can do about it. Some spells have to run their course once they’ve been initiated, and a life-drain spell—which is what she will be performing—will work remotely.

  I thanked Esmara for the warning and headed upstairs, my fingers trailing along the banister as I thought over what she had said.

  Killian woke me up in the most delightful way. I opened my eyes to find him leaning over me, a sensuous look on his face. He reached out and stroked my cheek, trailing his fingers down my skin, then down my chest between my breasts.

  “Do you have time, my sweet?”

  “That depends on what the time is for,” I said, leisurely stretching beneath him, reaching up to wrap my arms around him. “Are you interested in a morning romp?”

  He laughed, then leaned down to kiss one of my breasts. “A morning romp sounds absolutely delicious.”

  “I should brush my teeth,” I whispered, but Killian handed me a mint strip, touching my lips with his finger so that I opened them. He slid it inside, placing it on my tongue and I closed my mouth, letting the mint dissolve. “You’ve thought of everything.”

  “Believe me, I don’t like interrupting the mood.” He held up a condom. “I come ready for action.”

  The bed was cozy, and it was warm beneath the comforter. Outside the wind was howling, blowing up a storm. A branch skittered across the window. Western Washington was known for its November windstorms, and sometimes they were ferocious enough to produce hurricane-like winds. Deciding to ignore the gale going on, I positioned myself so that Killian could easily reach my breasts. He leaned down and took one of my nipples in his mouth, coaxing with his tongue. I moaned, hunger racing through every fiber of my body. I often woke up horny as hell, and sleeping next to Killian with his musky scent added to the mood. He trailed one hand down my side, curving across my hip, as he slid his fingers between my thighs, stroking my fire into a frenzy. I moaned, hungry for him.

  Sex with Ellison had been perfunctory, and usually left me unsatisfied. He claimed it was my fault, but ever since I had been sleeping with Killian I knew different. There was absolutely nothing wrong with me or my sex drive, and Killian helped me prove that time and again.

  Killian let out a gruff laugh, sliding under the covers so that his head disappeared. I pulled the comforter up around my chest to keep warm as he pried open my thighs, landing his tongue direct center. I moaned again, thrusting my hands beneath the covers to hold his head as he went down on me, nibbling and stroking with his tongue, circling around my center.

  My thighs tensed as I tried to keep from shoving his head deeper between my legs. With one hand he reached up to palm my breast, and with the other he slid three fingers inside of me, coaxing me higher.

  I tried to get him to let up, to give me a break but he wouldn’t, he just kept eating me out, devouring me with his voracious tongue. And then it hit, like a knife through my core, and I let out a little shriek, coming so hard I could barely feel my body. I spiraled up and out and then back into myself as the orgasm rippled through me, spreading like concentric rings on a pond.

  I gasped, leaning up on my elbows as I panted. Killian popped out from beneath the covers, a delighted smile on his face. “You liked that?” he asked.

  I took a deep breath. “I liked that very much,” I said.

  “Shall we try again?” His voice was sultry as he moved up between my legs, his cock rigid and pulsing against my leg.

  Reaching down to grab hold of his hips, I pulled him inside me, gasping again as he penetrated deep, driving himself toward my center. He began to thrust as I groaned. He was still rubbing against my clit, and once again I began to build toward climax. He was so thick and hard inside me that I could barely think.

  I focused on the feel of him driving himself between my legs, and let out a little groan as I wrapped my arms around his back, raking gently with my nails. His butt was firm and tight, and his chest rubbed against my breasts as he ground himself against me, driving his cock in and then withdrawing to penetrate me again.

  Killian slid his arms beneath me and rolled over, bringing me to ride astride him. I leaned forward, bracing my hands against the headboard as I began to ride him hard. He bucked beneath me, and my breasts began to bounce as he reached up, pinching my nipples as I picked up the pace. And then he grabbed my waist again, holding tight as he thrust up, arching beneath me. His thumb hit my clit and I shrieked again, tumbling back into climax, coming with him.

  A moment later, he relaxed and I fell forward onto him. He wrapped his arms around me, pulling me to him as he was still inside. I kissed him gently as he reached down to hold the condom firm while I slid off.

  We cuddled for a while after he cleaned up, enjoying the leisurely morning. I glanced at the clock. It was eight-thirty, but there was no need to get up immediately. However, Xi and Klaus had other ideas. They came bouncing into the bedroom and up on the bed, landing on my stomach. Xi began to knead immediately, while Klaus burrowed between us, trying to sniff Killian’s armpit.

  “You little goober,” Killian said, laughing. “That tickles.”

  “I suppose we better get up and shower. What are you going to do today?”

  Killian grinned. “Finish putting up the decorations that you bought. I think I also want to practice my woodworking in my garage. It’s been a while since I’ve had the spare time to devote to it. I miss it, to tell you the truth.”

  “What are you making?” I had seen several of Killian’s projects and he was good. In fact, he was very good. He could have probably become a professional woodworker but he loved his veterinary business far more. But woodworking offered him a relaxing outlet, so I was glad to see him pick it up again.

  “I thought I’d make you a hope chest. Or maybe just a chest, if you don’t need to hope for the future.”

  My arm around Xi, I half-turned,
making sure not to roll over on Klaus, and kissed Killian again. “I’d love it if you made me a chest. Cedarwood?” I loved cedarwood. It was protective against moths, and it was magically protective.

  “Really? You wouldn’t think it was corny?” He looked radiant.

  I smiled. “I’ve wanted a cedar chest for years, but I never thought to buy one.” I sat up, pulling the blankets around my chest to keep myself warm. Even though the heat was a comfortable seventy degrees, the wind was blowing fierce, and it had to be close to forty degrees outside. “You might want to wait on the rest of the decorations.”

  “You might be right on that. That wind is going to knock over anything I try to put up today. And it’s probably knocked over what I put up yesterday. I’ll take care of the decorations later this afternoon if the storm has died down. As far as your chest goes—the one I’m making, not the one I’m staring at—I can definitely make the liner out of cedar. The outer shell will be oak. That way you’ll have the best of both worlds on both a magical scale and a mundane scale. The oak will keep it from getting marred up, and the cedar will protect everything inside of it.”

  I smiled and started to turn back the covers. “Do you want to shower together?” I asked.

  “Of course. Then we’ll go down and feed the cats and feed ourselves. What do you think about waffles for brunch? I can call Tally over if you like. Or we can keep it private between us.”

  “Of course, call your sister over. I like her a lot and we had a lot of fun shopping yesterday. Waffles sound great. Let’s go clean up because I’m starting to get hungry.” I smacked him very lightly on the arm, and he grabbed my hand, kissing my fingers before letting go.

  “Are you a dirty girl?” he asked, winking. “I like my women dirty.”

  “Go on with you,” I said, jumping out of bed. Killian smacked me across the butt as I leaned over to grab my robe from where it had fallen on the floor. I stood, staring at him, rubbing my backside. The smack hadn’t hurt so much as made me tingle. I was beginning to wonder about myself because the thought of letting him spank me was starting to turn me on.