See me, p.29
See Me, page 29
Black nodded and kept his chin lowered. I could see that he was trying not to grin.
“I don’t feel very strong,” I mumbled. Hell, right now my legs wouldn’t support me.
“Explain yourself, daughter,” she commanded.
Oh shit, oh shit, oh shit. “I meant no disrespect, Goddess. I only meant that by my being human, I’m not as physically strong as a Lycan. We, er, he must be careful with my body,” I added weakly. Did I just try to discuss our sex life with a goddess?
Black gave my neck a comforting squeeze. “I could break her, Goddess.” Apparently, he had no problem doing so.
“So, she should be physically stronger.” This was not a question.
“Uh,” I started. Suddenly, I was very afraid.
“That will be remedied,” the goddess spoke.
There was no warning. Suddenly, I was hit with so much pain I don’t think my brain could comprehend what was happening. I felt my muscles tense, freezing me in place. I couldn’t breathe, but I couldn’t figure out why. The tension vanished, and then I felt like I was being burned alive, while being torn apart. I tried to scream but was incapable of crying out. I tried to use my gift to reach out to Black. I needed him to anchor me because I was breaking apart.
Thirty-Two
Raider Black
My heart thundered. I’d never heard anyone make noises like that. Theo was in so much pain I thought she should be dead, and yet I could feel her heart beating. I couldn’t make myself remove my hand from her chest; the steady rhythm reassured me.
The Goddess had done something to her. I’d felt the energy. It raced up my arm through my connection to her body. Suddenly, a thousand bees were stinging me. My wolf fought to change, but I needed my hands to catch Theo as she wilted to her side.
Next, the convulsions began. I wrapped my body around hers. Not impeding her movement, but I wanted to keep touching her, hoping that it brought her some level of comfort.
The next time I opened my eyes, we were back in Conal’s yard. Theo was screaming while writhing in pain. That brought Wale, Conal, and Solle running.
“Hurts,” she wailed, as she stayed in a ball on the grass, her knees pulled closely to her chest. A moment later, she unwrapped and straightened her body, her legs bicycling in the air. Her lips were pulled back into a grimace and the worst part was her eyes were open, but not registering anything but the pain she was experiencing.
“What the fuck?” Conal slid on the grass as he stopped.
“What’s happening?” Wale brandished his gun.
I knelt beside her and tried to pull her to me.
She shrieked. If she was trying to use words, they didn’t sound like anything I could decipher.
Conal looked at Solle. “Do something,” he shouted.
The doctor didn’t move. “I don’t know what to do.” She threw up her hands.
Theo began to roll from side to side in a jerking motion. “Ba-a-a,” she choked out. Then, “Black,” she called and threw out her arm as if she was trying to find me.
I crawled closer to her and wedged my knees against her side as I captured her arm in my hand. “Right here, baby.”
She was panting. “Black?” She opened and closed her mouth as though she couldn’t form the words.
“I’m fine, Theo,” I rasped, figuring that was her question.
She closed her eyes and panted a few more times. “Guh.”
She stayed on her back, but her legs were bending and straightening. “Hurts.”
I leaned over her. “Tell me what to do, Theo.”
“Hurts,” she said louder.
My wolf roared his anger as he watched her in pain. “I don’t know what to do.”
Her body bowed toward the sky as she screamed, “Please.”
* * *
When the worst had passed, Solle ordered Wale to go, and for Conal to crank up the hot tub. Theo had either passed out or fallen into an exhausted sleep in my arms.
It was then I told Solle everything that had happened.
She looked like she was going to cry. “I don’t think I can do anything for her.” She smoothed Theo’s sweat-soaked hair from her face. “The hot tub will help with her muscle aches, but I don’t know how to treat a Goddess’s intervention.”
So, I spent two hours boiling in their hot tub. I wouldn’t relinquish Theo to Conal or Solle. I couldn’t.
* * *
It was after three the next afternoon when Basil buzzed. “Theodora’s guard is on the line, and she says the Seer would like to speak with you.”
“Put her through,” I said quickly.
“Laird,” Theo’s voice was hoarse.
“I was trying to tie up a few things, and then I was coming to check on you.” I hadn’t wanted to leave her this morning, but my duty called.
“I’m better. Still sore and stiff, but I think I’m okay.”
“Did Solle examine you?” I’d left explicit orders that the doctor was to make sure she was going to be fine.
“She did. I guess you all were worried about the seizures, but I don’t even have a headache today.” Theo cleared her throat and continued, “I don’t think I’ll ever complain after a session with Glass, again.”
“Tonight, I want you to stay with me. I’ll pick you up as soon as I can leave.”
“I’m going to Zumba. I’ll be done around eight. Can you pick me up there?” she asked slowly. “I need to do the normal stuff, Black.”
I looked at my ceiling. I could overrule her wish. It would be so easy to tell her I didn’t want her out in her weakened state. “You’ll take it easy?”
“I will. Solle agrees that moving is going to help with the aches…” Her voice trailed off. “Thank you for allowing me to go.”
She twisted me up in knots. I was tired. I hadn’t slept last night. I’d stripped her of her clothes in the hot tub and when it was time, I’d carried her to bed. I spent the night listening to her breathing and monitoring the beat of her heart. “I’ll see you when you are done.”
“Later, Black.”
“Later.” I chuckled as I hung up the receiver.
* * *
I arrived at the Community Center with Conal. Tonight, I would see this popular event Theo had organized. The parking lot was full and the bass was thumping loudly as we neared the front door.
“Solle says it’s very popular.” Conal opened the door for me.
“Just to dance?”
“All ages and levels can do it. Plus, it’s a gathering.” Conal followed me inside the large room.
There was a lot going on. Tex was in the corner in charge of the music; Brian, the nurse from Solle’s office, was on an elevated platform, wearing a wireless headset and counting as he danced. It took me about twenty seconds to locate the Seer. She was leading a line of kids who looked to be around six or seven, dancing along the edge of the floor. The others were dancing or standing in groups talking.
There were well over a hundred members of Novus taking part. The mood was happy, and many were wearing smiles on their faces.
Theo and her group drew near us. She held up her hand and made a signal. The kids started to march in place. She showed me her brand.
“Seer.” I moved closer to her.
She held out her hand. “Join us, Laird.” There was a teasing challenge in her eyes.
“Think I can keep up?” I took her hand, and she made room for me to cut in behind her. She put my hands on her waist and made another gesture. Small hands gripped my waist from behind, and we began to move. It was six steps forward and two back. The little boy behind me was laughing like this was the most fun he’d had in ages. As we reached the corner, Theo turned her head and said, “Bridge.”
I had no idea what she meant, but she took my hand and guided me so that I was standing, facing her, and we held our hands out until they met in the middle as the kids passed under our bridge. I couldn’t help but smile. This was fun.
The song ended, and she said, “Stay out here. This next routine is really easy.”
“Are you joining our class, Laird?” asked Mildred, who was a teacher at the school.
“Glad to see another man here.” Jim, who owned the feed store, slapped me on the back.
“Time to cool down,” Tex’s voice rang out over the sounds of Pitbull.
“Take my hand,” Theo didn’t wait, she took hold of mine. “We start to the right, then back to the left, forward and back.”
I caught on pretty easily, and with Theo leading me, I could concentrate on the mood of my Pack. They were enjoying themselves. I laughed when I turned too early and bumped into her.
She giggled while winking at me.
The music stopped, and Tex reminded everybody to come back next week. We were surrounded by participants, asking if I was going to attend more sessions.
Finally, Conal and Tex broke up the group so that we could leave.
Solle had wrapped a towel around her neck. “You know she did all of this, right?”
I nodded. I’d given my approval. However, I didn’t advertise how closely I monitored my human.
“I thought a few would come out, basically to see her, but more come every week.” She used the edge of the towel to pat her chest.
“I was surprised to see so many young.”
“She’s great with them. At first in the office, parents were cautious, but now, I think some set up appointments just so their kids can play with her.” Solle smiled.
I raised an eyebrow. “So, your point is what, Solle?”
“She’s good for the Pack in many ways, not just because of her gift.” Solle looked around.
I lowered my voice. “How is she today?”
“She slept deeply until two, then she ate. She said that her muscles were sore, but I think by her ease of movement tonight, the lactic acid has worked its way out of her body.” Solle glanced at her friend as she teasingly bumped Brian with her shoulder. “She seems fine.”
I nodded.
“She said she’s going to Packhouse, tonight,” Solle said, fishing.
“She’s never been there.” I felt for the protective doctor. She wanted her questions answered, but she’d promised Theo not to pry. “Don’t worry. I promise to take good care of her.”
Conal joined us, wrapping his arm around his mate. “We know that.” He spoke for the two of them. “Last night was jolting. I’ve never seen anyone in so much pain.”
I hadn’t either, which made it even more amazing that she was dancing and laughing tonight.
“I hope The Lady knows what she’s doing,” Solle said, shaking her head.
Theo joined us, her gaze scanning us. “Hey, sorry about all of that.” She was trying to figure out the mood of our group. I felt her use her gift. She was doing that more often, I didn’t think she even realized she was doing it.
“You have quite an event here.” Just thinking about the many smiling faces, I was proud of her.
“You all like to party,” she said with a shrug.
“Babe, I’m starving. Let’s go home,” Conal said to his mate, giving us all an excuse to leave.
As we walked out of the building, I noticed Theo put enough distance between our bodies so that it didn’t appear we were together. I’d address this later. When she was uncertain, she turned cautious. I opened the door to my SUV for her and sat beside her. I gave the order to my guard to drive once she was settled.
She glanced out the window, “I’m excited about finally seeing the Packhouse.”
“Why’s that?”
“I hear you have a dungeon and that it’s haunted.” Her body was turned toward me, and she leaned against the door.
“Who told you that silliness?”
“It’s not true?” She sounded disappointed.
“Sweetheart, the house was built in the nineteen-fifties. It hasn’t been there long enough to gather ghosts.”
“Okay… But is there a dungeon?”
Her bloodthirstiness always surprised me. “There are cells in the basement.”
Her forehead wrinkled as she turned serious. “How do you determine who stays in the cells and who is brought directly to Novus?”
“Good question.” One I preferred not to answer, but I felt her attention become more focused. “Traditionally, the Packhouse always had space to hold those who had threatened the pack and any feral wolves we located. It’s well-lit and clean.”
Her hand found its way to my thigh. “If you don’t want to talk about this, we don’t have to,” she said in a gentle voice.
“It was a very long time ago.” I rested my palm on top of her hand. I could grow used to her compassion, but I wondered how much she knew about my own imprisonment, and who had told her?
“So, at your Packhouse, you use the cells for a found wolf, whose threat level has yet to be determined or you already know it but you are delaying the inevitable.”
“That is simplistic but correct.”
“And nobody leaves Novus custody alive,” she added in a sober tone.
“I will not tolerate a threat to my Pack.”
“That’s one of the reasons why the pack is so loyal.” She sounded like she was talking to herself. “I doubt they know how much you do to keep them safe, but on some level, they must.”
“My goals are simple. Provide security for those who have sworn allegiance to Novus, so that they can live a good life.”
“They love you.”
“They respect me,” I corrected her.
“They do. Didn’t you feel the mood shift tonight when you came through the door? They loved that you were participating.”
“Are you trying to make a point?”
“Would you be open to hearing it?” she asked respectfully, but she was smiling.
I shook my head. “You are so much trouble.”
“But I’m cute.” She flashed me a sexy smile and shined her fingernails over her tits.
“Speak your mind, Seer.” I tried to sound uninterested, but I was curious about what she had to say.
“Black, you work hard. You have many responsibilities and little free time. I know you go out, like to The Club, but you’re surrounded by guards. I understand that’s part of the deal.” She started to roll her eyes but stopped. “Why don’t you mix with the pack more often? Like, host a party or even a huge potluck picnic? The Pack can gather, but it’s casual. They can bring their kids, and you can hang out in a relaxed atmosphere.”
“Are you looking for something to do once Conal closes the pool?” I teased, although the suggestion had merit.
“I don’t want you to be lonely.”
“You think that I am…lonely?”
“Maybe,” she said quietly, “a little.”
“And you’re going to help with that.” She was going to turn my life upside down. Hell, she already had.
“I’m going to try,” she promised.
We pulled into the long drive leading to my large home. Packhouse was made up of three sections: my private quarters, the large gathering space, and guest suites for visiting dignitaries. Thankfully, the days of easy travel were upon us. No more housing guests for months as they recovered from a long journey.
She stared out her window. “It’s huge.”
“Novus is steadily growing.” I was proud that Lycans wanted to join my Pack.
At the front door, she insisted, “Tour.”
“You’re very demanding tonight,” I teased as I opened the door. I had arranged for the guards to patrol the exterior only. Knowing she was a modest human, I didn’t want her to feel like we were being watched.
“I’ll make it up to you later, after the tour.” She turned in a circle looking at the foyer.
“Laird.” Clifton, the Majordomo of the house, approached on quiet feet.
Theo jerked to a stop and slid closer to me. I don’t think she even realized she’d sought my protection from the stranger.
I reached for her hand but captured her wrist. “Theodora Morrissey, Seer to the Novus Pack, this is Clifton, the wolf in charge of Packhouse.”
Clifton dropped his chin in deference to meeting a Marked. “Seer, welcome.”
“Thank you, sir,” she said, her voice infused with warmth. “The Laird has promised me a tour of this beautiful house.”
She’d said the perfect thing to the man. If Clifton got the opportunity, he’d lecture her about one of the paintings or the antique crystal.
He wore a small smile. “If I can be of any help, please ask.” Then he turned to me. “Sire, Titus has called three times for you. He claims it to be most important.”
“It always is with him,” I grumbled.
Clifton nodded and disappeared.
With a sigh, I turned to her. “I’m sorry. I’ve got to make a call. He’s a representative of the Clayton Pack.” He was a gossipy gnat who caused many problems, but I couldn’t continue to ignore him. “It won’t take long.”
“I understand.” She turned away from me. “Can I look around?”
I headed to my office. “Sure.”
Thirty-Three
Theodora Morrissey
For a bunch of wolves that rode bikes and lived in jeans and T-shirts, this place was refined and posh. The art on the walls looked expensive and the rugs were thick and soft. They did like their comforts.
I’d been through five rooms, but I was growing impatient. I wanted to see the basement. Damn Issa for telling that story. I’d have to come up with something really scary to tell her on my next visit. She’d like that, and one day soon, we’d laugh over it. I felt a twinge of pain in my chest and tried not to think about my friend lying in that hospital bed so very still.
I opened the door at the end of the hall. There were metal steps leading to the floor below. I thought about it for a second, glanced around guiltily, and then started down. Black could track me by my scent, so when he was finished, he would find me easily.
I didn’t rush down the stairs; I wasn’t reckless. I listened hard and heard nothing. I reached the bottom step and glanced around. It was brightly lit, and although I saw a cell with bars to my left, it was empty. I was just going to peek inside, and then I’d sit on the steps until Black caught up with me.
