by Hayes, Susan
“Never mind the towels, Jim. Hunter, can you check her injuries?”
“On it.” Hunter hurried over to Tiffany. “Hi, I’m Hunter, and you look like you just went three rounds with an angry cactus. What happened?”
“Shazam-the-fucking-dingdong happened. I got my ass handed to me by a damned Siamese. It’s embarrassing.”
Hunter chuckled. “Don’t feel bad. He’s more or less untouchable. Any physical harm done to that cat rebounds back on the one trying to hurt him.”
Tiffany huffed. “Seriously? That’s yet another thing my little brother failed to mention when he asked me to watch over Fern. I swear, when you get your father back, I’m going to throw him so far into the ocean he’ll skip three times before he sinks.”
“My father is your little brother?” Fern’s words were as sharp as her cat’s claws. “Why didn’t I know that? And why were you pretending to be my familiar, Auntie?”
“I told you. I had promises to keep.” Tiffany looked at Fern with regret. “In hindsight, we probably should have done some things differently. It was just so hard for your parents to think of you as a grown woman when you were still a girl. We…made some mistakes. But I swore on my magic. If I’d broken my word, I wouldn’t have had any way to protect you. Plus, Baba Yaga made sure I couldn’t talk about some things. Literally.”
Fern took a couple of towels from Jimbo and started rubbing down Shaz, who purred softly at the attention. Orion had never heard the feline make that sound. It was too cat-like for the stuck-up yet foul-mouthed familiar.
“I’m sorry, Shazzy,” she was explaining as she ran the towel over his sopping fur. “They made me forget about you. I still don’t really remember, but I know I should. Fuck, this is so confusing.”
The pain in her voice made Orion want to wrap Fern in his arms and carry her off somewhere to comfort her, but the way she was stroking Shaz had him thinking the cat wasn’t the only one she’d doused in water. He’d like a nice rubbing down, too.
The two thoughts merged and became a powerful need to do both. Preferably naked. He reached for her and then made himself grab a towel instead. Damn, her perfume was as enticing as she was. She smelled like apple pie and a summer’s day just after a storm, when the asphalt was hot and the earth was lush and green. He breathed in deeper. Those were some of his favourite scents in the world.
It took a second for him to realize what that meant. By the full fucking moon and the Goddess on high. No. This was not happening. He took a step back from the lovely witch and her cat. For fuck’s sake. His mate was a cat person? The Goddess had to be out of her blessed mind.
He growled in frustration and Fern’s head snapped up. “Oh! I’m so sorry I did this to you. The least I can do is put things right.” She waved her hand and a surge of green and gold energy flew from her fingertips. It swirled around him a few times, and by the time the glow faded, he was warm and dry again.
“Thank you. I’m Orion, by the way. This is my pub. And uh, that’s my brother Hunter over there.” And everything I have is yours because you’re my mate. Sooo… wanna get naked?
Fur and fangs, he used to have game. Any other woman in the world and she’d be putty in his paws, but this one? Five seconds after catching her scent and he was a babbling idiot whose filters barely worked.
“I really am sorry about the water thing. I was trying to break up the catfight and well… I got a bit carried away.” She must have used some of the same magic to dry off Shaz because he was now dry, fluffy, and looking pleased as he nestled in his mistress’s arms.
“Magic can do that. I mean, so I’ve heard. Breeze has the same problem. You’re going to want to talk to her. They did something to her memory, too.”
“They did?”
Shaz was almost glowing with smug feline contentedness. “That lunatic bitch-witch, Baba Yaga took you from me. She did it to protect you from that foul fucking asshole, the Father of Shadows. But you have returned and I am certain your memories will come back. Perhaps if we go home and have some tofu ice cream, it will remind you of who you were. Oh, or a spinach and kale smoothie. You used to love those. I have stocked the house with all of your favourite things in anticipation of your return.”
His mate liked kale smoothies and tofu? Oh, hell, no.
To his relief, Fern turned slightly green and shook her head. “Kale? Goddess in a G-string, no! I can’t stand the stuff. And tofu is tasty fried, but as ice cream? That’s an abomination.” Fern lifted the cat up to stare into his eyes. “Are you sure you’ve got the right witch?”
“You’re where you’re supposed to be,” Tiffany stated.
“Yes, you are. You might not know us yet, but we know you,” a male voice confirmed. While they’d been busy, Greg had led a group of the local residents into the pub. They were packed in tightly, looking at Fern with hopeful but welcoming expressions.
Fern turned to look up at the massive grizzly Shifter and smiled uncertainly. “You do?”
“Sure. We used to go skip rocks down by the wharf. I’m Greg. My family runs Grizz Fizz.”
“And your favourite flavour was the ginger beer,” Greg’s mother, Gertie, chimed in.
“And you used to love my vegan muffins. Especially the carrot and raisin ones,” Eleanor added.
After that, everyone pressed in and started talking at once, sharing details and memories of Fern’s childhood. She’d had a life here, filled with friends and family who had missed her all the years she was gone. There was no way Orion could compete with that.
He took another step back, ready to leave her to the townsfolk, when he saw the look of pure panic in her eyes. She had Shaz in a death grip, and for the first time he saw the slash across the back of one hand. It was still bleeding a little, though it was hard to tell under the shimmering swirls of green sparks that flowed around her hands and wrists. Shit. She was hurt, dazed, and not even close to being ready to deal with all this. If the others weren’t careful, they would push her over the edge.
He moved to her side, dropped a hand to her shoulder, and uttered a short, piercing whistle. “That’s it! Did we learn nothing from the last time this happened? Back up and give Fern a little breathing room. Okay? She’s not going to remember anything while you’re all shouting at her.”
Fern gave him a grateful little smile that made his wolf want to howl and wag his damned tail at the same time. “Thank you. I just…I’m not…”
“I know. And so do they. They’re just excited to see you again.”
Tiffany walked over to join them. Shaz hissed at her, and to everyone’s shock, the witch hissed back, revealing a delicately pointed set of canines.
There was a collective gasp from the crowd.
Tiffany squawked in dismay. “Flying pixie farts, did I just hiss?”
“And you have uh…” Fern tapped her lips.
“Fangs,” Greg rumbled as he walked up to Tiffany. “Very cute ones.”
For a man only a few boulders short of being designated a mountain, the bear Shifter sure could move quietly. The witch spun around and then leaned back so she could look up into Greg’s face. “Fangs aren’t cute.”
“They are on you. I’m Greg Fisher.” He offered Tiffany his hand. “And you’re my mate.”
Well, wasn’t that just fucking perfect? Orion was tempted to ask the Goddess what drugs she was on and if she’d like to share her stash.
Everyone started cheering and clapping, surging around Greg and his newly minted mate, uttering congratulations, and introducing themselves. Greg peered over the crowd, winked at Orion, and then tipped his head toward Fern. Clever bear. He’d done it on purpose. Orion made a mental note to treat the big man to a meal on the house.
“Come on, we can slip away while they’re all distracted.” He held out his hand to Fern, who eyed him warily and didn’t move.
“I don’t know you.”
“And I don’t know you, which is something no one else here can say except my brother. We’ve never
met before, so I have no stories to regale you with about a childhood you don’t remember. Also, I don’t like kale, and tofu ice cream is absolutely a crime against the culinary arts. Good enough?”
She smiled and took his hand. “Good enough. Get me out of here.”
He led her out the back and into the kitchen, passing Hunter along the way. His brother cocked a brow and grinned, but Orion cut him off before he could say a word. Whatever smartass thing was about to fly out of his brother’s mouth, he didn’t want to hear it right now.
“So, where are we going?” Fern asked they left the pub and stepped into the back parking lot.
“How about I take you home?”
“She’s not getting on the back of that fucking death machine you ride. We can teleport, thank you.” Shaz shot him a baleful glare. “Fern is my witch, and I will safeguard her with my life. Your assistance in removing us from the crowd is appreciated, but your presence is no longer necessary. So… you can let go of her hand, now, wolf.”
“Wolf?” Fern was blushing as she withdrew her hand from his. Fucking fuzzball. This was one of the many reasons he was not a cat person.
“Shifter. Orion Warrington, alpha wolf Shifter, at your service, milady.” He managed a reasonably smooth bow before turning and gesturing to his Harley. “And if you would rather not teleport until you’re feeling more yourself, my chariot awaits.”
She sank her teeth into her plump lower lip and his blood started another southerly migration. If this kept up, he was going to need to buy jeans a size larger just to avoid putting permanent zipper marks on his joystick.
Instead of answering, she tipped her head to the side and gave him an appraising look that started at his toes and swept upward. Slowly. By the time she reached his eyes, he was on the verge of spontaneously bursting into flames, which would be an ironic way for a volunteer firefighter to cash in his chips.
“You’re one of those bad boys they used to warn us about back at boarding school. Aren’t you?”
At the word boarding school, his fevered brain dressed the woman in front of him in a plaid skirt, knee-high socks, and pigtails. Oh, hell yes. For her? He’d be the biggest, baddest wolf there was. He growled just a little and leaned in close. “I’m not a bad boy, no. Do you want to know what I am, angel?”
Her eyes widened and those pretty lips parted in a breathless gasp. “What?”
“I’m a bad, bad, wolf.”
“For the love of little green fucking fairies, can we go home already? Please, Fern, I’ve waited thirteen years for you to come back. I have so much to tell you, and Breeze is going to show up any minute and you need to talk to her, too. But I don’t want to share our moment of reunion with him,” the cat turned the last word into a curse.
“One more word out of you, Shazam-alanga-dingdong, and I will never make you crème brulee again.”
The cat muttered something that was simultaneously obscene and biologically impossible and then stopped talking.
Fern tapped her familiar lightly on the head. “Hush, Shazzy. I have one more thing I need to ask Orion before I make up my mind.”
“And what would that be?” Orion asked.
“Can you really make crème brulee?”
He gave her his best smouldering look—the one he saved for special occasions and angry mothers. “It’s one of my specialties. Sweet, smooth, and sinfully good. Anytime you want a taste, angel, you just let me know.”
The little minx licked her lower lip and then nodded. “Oh, believe me, I will. Alright, Mr. Wolf. I’d like a ride home.”
Shaz mewled in horror. “It’s a death machine! All civilized transportation has at least four wheels. Everyone knows this.”
Orion ignored the cat’s protests and strode over to the machine, undoing his apron and tossing it into one of his saddlebags. “Can you conjure yourself up a helmet or do I need to grab the spare from inside?”
“I’ve got it.” A moment later, Fern was wearing a stylish white helmet with a little fern painted on the side. She flipped up the visor and grinned at him. “Where will Shazzy ride?”
This was the best part of the plan. Orion pointed to one of the saddlebags. “He’ll be safest in here.”
“The hell I will! Fern, don’t you dare. The Goddess only knows what he’s carried in that thing.”
“Guns, snakes, pizza. A couple of pixies that got drunk on elderflower wine and couldn’t make it back to their circle on their own…”
“Snakes! You see, Fern?”
“He was joking about the snakes. Weren’t you?” Fern asked.
“It was months ago. I swear, he’ll be safe.”
“Bastard.”
“My parents were mated, thank you very much.” He waited for Fern to get the cat secured and then swung a leg over his bike, brought it upright, and then patted the seat behind him. “Come on, Fern. Let’s get you home.”
Goddess be blessed, when she sat down behind him, her skirt rode so high on her thighs all he could see was bare flesh pressed against him. Focus on the road. The road. Not the woman. Holy hell, this was going to be the longest ride of his life.
Then she leaned in and wrapped her arms around his waist, and his wolf howled with approval.
“Alright, bad wolf. Show me what this death machine can do.”
“Whatever you want, angel.” And Goddess help him, he actually meant it. Fuck a duck in orange sauce, he was in so much trouble.
Chapter Five
Agreeing to let Orion drive her home was the best bad decision she’d ever made. For one thing, she needed a little time to get her head cleared before she tried teleporting herself to a place she’d never been. Doing that in a distracted state could end in all sorts of unpleasant ways. At least, that’s what her instructors at her exclusive boarding school had always claimed.
Even better than the fresh air and time, though, had been the chance to get up close and cuddly with the hunky wolf Shifter who smelled amazing. She’d cracked open her helmet just so she could keep breathing in the yumminess while fighting the temptation to run her hands down the man’s abs. Goddess in gumboots, he had to have a full six-pack under the simple black t-shirt he wore.
Between the hard body of the man in front of her and the thrum of the bike’s engine, she was all kinds of hot and bothered by the time he pulled up outside what she assumed was her home.
“This is where I grew up?” It was a rambling structure that had clearly been expanded several times over the generations. The main house had a boxy, two-story layout, but it had a variety of bumps and bulges as rooms had been added. It was nestled between two round, turret-like additions that looked like a pair of lighthouses tacked on at each end, and the whole thing was painted white with blue-green trim.
The front yard had an honest to Goddess white picket fence that barely contained the explosion of wildflowers and greenery that filled it. There was a narrow gravel path leading up to the door, and she could see bits of blue water through the trees. It looked like a child’s fantasy of a house by the sea, and it was absolutely nothing like the places she’d lived in for the last thirteen years.
She liked sleek, modern designs with the best of everything money could buy. This was something wildly different, but so far, everything had been that way. Everyone was so sure they knew who she was—Fern Summers, the little witch who liked kale smoothies and lived in a seaside cottage with architectural delusions of grandeur. The trouble was, she didn’t remember being that person.
“Indeed, this is your family abode. I’ve kept it in immaculate condition while you were away.” Shaz’s head poked out from the saddlebag. “Now, will someone please release me from this prison of poorly tanned animal hide? It fucking reeks of sweaty socks and poor life choices in here.”
Fern freed Shaz, and he hopped to the ground, his tail lashing from side to side as he glared up at Orion. “I appreciate the fact you delivered us home in one piece. Now…don’t you have a business to run?”
Orion f
lipped him the bird before dismounting and pulling off his helmet. “Just making sure Fern has everything she needs before I go.”
“She has me. She’s fine.”
“Shazzy, be nice.” She turned to Orion and got another whiff of his cologne. Yum. He smelled like Autumn in cottage country—crisp leaves, mulled cider, and a crackling fire all rolled into one. Part of her was tempted to invite him in and try to get him naked. A night of mindless sex was a lot more appealing than dealing with her new reality.
She let her gaze wander over Orion’s impressive form one more time. He was tall, at least a few inches past six feet, broad shoulders, strong arms, and a body she could personally verify was solid muscle. Her libido revved to the redline mark again. Oh yeah, he was so much more appealing… But then she looked at Shaz and knew that wasn’t the responsible thing to do. It was a strange feeling. Since when had she ever worried about doing the responsible thing?
“Thank you, but I think we’ll be okay. I appreciate the ride. And for getting me out of there. I’ll summon my luggage and let you get back to work.”
“If you’re sure.”
“I am.” She stepped in close and rose on her toes to kiss his cheek. “Thanks again.”
He growled her name and wrapped her in his arms. She squeaked and fell forward, her hands landing on the hard planes of his chest as he bowed his head and kissed her.
Holy hell in a festive handbasket, he knew how to do it right. His fingers tangled in her hair, drawing her head back as his lips covered hers in a hard, heated kiss that melted her brain and turned her knees to water. If he hadn’t been holding her, she’d have slithered to the ground in a boneless mess of hormones and goo.
