TybollStunned isn't the correct word. I'm dumbfounded. Veda is my mate. Everything inside of me buzzes with the knowledge. It doesn't matter that she ran. We both felt the shock when the unbelievable happened. If it wasn't for little Deme, I'd have run in the opposite direction from Veda. Not that it would do any good. We are chosen mates and only one of our deaths can break the bond. Mandy was right. This is not how I felt with Patreous's mother. She was not my true mate. The blood pounding through my veins right now never happened with her. I desired her with the blinding need of youth, but it was only lust.Veda is my mate.The more I process this, the more I accept it. Demetria squirms and I pull her tighter against me. "No, we are almost home and you are not getting down." Her wolf form dissolves and I hold a bear cub. I can do nothing but laugh. She uses the form that gives her the best advantage. She's a sneaky child just like her mother.I carry her up the stairs of Mandy'
VedaEvery muscle that rests against the vehicle's floor aches when I wake up. And I'm starving. The truck slows down, turns, and comes to a stop. The rumbling from the engine immediately shuts off. I scramble to grab my pack when the door rolls upward.The unexpected voice startles me. "I know you're in there. Come on out and I'll feed you. There's an inspection station a few miles from here and you need to ride up front."My eyes adjust to the light coming through the doors and I lower my arm. The man I'm staring at reminds me of Tyboll. Scruffy hair covers his face, though he's much older than Tyboll. Well, not older. Tyboll has lived for centuries and only looks like he's in his thirties. The man smiles and I relax a bit. He has a nice smile."I'm sorry."He shakes his head. "Don't be. It's not the first time and it won't be the last. I'll buy you a meal and give you a lift to the city."I know I'm still too close to bear territory, but I'll have a chance if I can lose myself
TybollThe damn she-bear has been gone for two weeks and I'm not safe to be around. Even Patreous went to stay with Mandy and Honey. Now that Mandy has shifted to her wolf form so the babies will come sooner, a child Patreous's age can be at their cabin. My son found them having sex on the kitchen table once and it took months before he would go back.I grab another piece of wood, set it on the tree stump, and swing the ax. There's a four-foot pile of wood that I toss the split halves onto. There aren't enough pieces of wood in the entire forest to alleviate my anger. Damn woman."So why don't you go after her?" Mandy, my sly she-wolf daughter, says telepathically after sneaking up on me."Why should I?" I grunt as I swing the ax again. "If she wasn't interested, that's all she had to say."Mandy cocks her head, her thick wolf's coat shining in the sunlight. I can hear the derision in each word she sends into my brain. "Like you're some kind of catch or something. Have you looked
VedaLarry left me in wonderful hands. Becky is his age and the toughest person I ever met. She cooks for the diner and makes a mean hamburger and vegeburgers for me. She likes to cook and prefers to stay out of sight from the restaurant patrons. That is unless she needs to knock a few heads. The woman allows no disrespect to her employees. She also works around my severe learning curve. Put me in a forest and I easily survive. Place me in the middle of the city and I'm a newborn child.I'm also sick. Sick at heart. The longing for Tyboll is so strong my entire body shakes at night beneath the covers. It's a physical pain and runs so deep I feel it in every bone and muscle. I'm not sure how much more I can take.A customer slapped my butt this morning and he's lucky I only broke his fingers. My bear almost exploded from my human skin. The man yelled out, but Becky was on him before he could lift his uninjured fist. She told him if he came back she'd personally castrate him."You ne
Tyboll"What the hell do you mean you allowed her to leave?" I roar at my liege as I grab a vase from his desk and throw it against the wall.Dmitri's eyes go amber. "Try asking that again, bear." His clipped, steely voice brings me out of my suicidal rampage. Dmitri can kill me with little more than a flick of his wrist.Dammit. I'm losing my mind. I put my hands on the sides of my head and pull my too-short hair. "I can't take this.""You will take it. She will return in two days. It took you long enough to come after her."My head lifts. "I will go insane. I cannot take another day.""I will give you plenty to do to pass the time. Now that you're presentable, the club can use you."I bite back a growl.Ten hours later, I'm in the basement bringing up another crate of alcohol and I growl as loudly as I can. The music, chattering noise from patrons, and the stink of humans has me gritting my teeth, which causes an ache in my head. Damn vampire.I walk up the stairs for the tw
VedaTyboll's eyes go dark a split second before his lips crash against mine. Gentleness is replaced with fierce desire. I instinctively suck his tongue deeply. My bear is just beneath the surface. I smell his just as strongly - wild, musky... perfect.I manage to pry my eyes open and he watches me as our lips devour each other's. His hooded lids speak volumes. I. Need. Him. I press forward against his hands trying to lower mine. I want to touch him. He refuses. His lower body pushes more fully against me and his erection presses hard. I'm not afraid. Since I left him, all I've thought about is his body entering mine. Now I feel him so close to the part of me that aches with longing. I may go insane.A knock at the door startles us. I'm airborne before I know what's happened. My back hits the bed as Tyboll rips the door off its hinges. I hear the connection of flesh on flesh then a groan. Not the vampire, thank the Goddess, or my mate would be dead.Tyboll props the door back up an
TybollI think we are dead.It figures.After facing enemy cats and vampires, I'm taken down by a witch. My entire body hurts. My eyes are closed and I feel Veda still beneath me. Damn, but we're going to be stuck in the afterlife together. I don't think I even like her.The pounding on the door clears the smoke from my brain and I think we are in my room at Dmitri's club. The smoke is real, though; the entire room is filled with it. I jump up because I realize the entire place must be burning down.My damned pants are still in the way and all I can do is hop. I throw the dresser away from the door then toss the door against the side wall.The hallway is filled with my clan but no smoke. They watch me in stunned fascination. The smoke from my room begins leaking out into the hall.What the hell is going on? I glance over my shoulder."You've claimed a witch, you dumb-ass bear. You can't claim a witch." She's up on her knees shouting. She's incredible. She's glorious. She's mine
VedaInfuriating monster.I'm aware of how the bears have treated their women for centuries. I'm also aware that Mandy has made great strides in righting the wrongs. At least until it comes to her father. And that's only the beginning of my problems. He claimed me. He can't do that. He shouldn't have been able to do it. Now, my power is tied to his. I can feel the pull. Does he know? I don't think so. He's not the brightest man alive. How can he possibly think calling me woman is romantic? It's degrading... I think. I've been called witch and Veda in my life. Oh, and Becky calls me sugar. Stupid bear. I prefer Veda.I stop a foot from the bear standing at the end of the hallway. He's young and doesn't appear as self-assured as most bears. "Where is your vampire?""Umm, Dmitri. He's not here.""Tell him I no longer need his protection, but his bear might." It's very unsatisfying to see the young man's fear. I know he won't pass on my message.To hell with the bears and their vampi
VedaWe hear the music before the lights come into view. The party is outside on the large patio at Dmitri's house. Nikka decorated with white sparkling lights and paper lanterns. The music is unknown to me, which isn't a surprise. Technology is not my friend and I prefer the peace of the forest.Dmitri's voice echoes over the music. "Welcome, Veda, Witch from the line of Josephine, mate to Tyboll, and new member of the bear clan."The music shuts off suddenly and I can do nothing but return the formal greeting. "Thank you, Black Demon Bringer of Death, mate of Nikka, Liege to the bear clan."A restless mumble from the bears fills the night. Have I said something wrong? Tyboll's hand tightens on mine. Nikka appears slightly shocked before she steps forward and wraps me in her arms. "What have I done," I ask her silently."You're fine. He just hasn't used his full title in centuries," she replies into my mindI turn to Dmitri, who looks at his mate with a soft smile. "I am sorry,
TybollShe shows me her circle of herbs - explains about upsetting the balance and using all the Goddess's gifts wisely. I listen. Part of me is terrified and the other in awe. To live separately from everyone to hide your secrets takes great sacrifice.She understands my need to examine what I've learned. She heads to the cabin to cook while I go running as bear. She holds no fear that I will give away her secrets. We are mates. Her secrets are mine.I close my mind from Dmitri as I think about all Veda has told me. I shouldn't have been surprised when the largest bear of our clan blocks my path a few miles from my cabin. The Kodiak, alpha to the greatest clan, stands in front of me. He is also my brother by blood and like most brothers, we have our differences. This situation will be no different."Tyboll," his snarly voice rings through my head."Alpha," I reply pleasantly."You don't fool me. You are mated to the witch. Did it occur to you that I should be informed of this?"
VedaTyboll's new rule works. Less talking and more sex. This is one demand I am incapable of dismissing. We are stretched out on the bed with me lying on top of him. His fingers run up and down my back while he breathes into the hair against my neck. Where he bit me is sore, but I wouldn't dream of complaining. It feels right. Being in my mate's arms is right. I whisper a silent thank you to the Goddess.Tyboll answers. "You're welcome."I roll my eyes, but don't bother correcting him. I'm actually thankful to him, too."Come on, woman, we're taking a bath." He lifts me as he stands. I'm cradled in his arms and feel incredibly safe. And loved.Does he love me? I'm careful to keep this thought from drifting into his mind. Nikka told me how to do it. I just need to practice. He doesn't respond, so I must have been successful. Tyboll lowers my feet to the floor when we're in the bathroom. I watch as he leans over and turns on the water. His back and thighs are muscular and sexy. His
Tyboll"I've listened to you shout for an hour now. Calm yourself, bear."I hear the end of patience in Dmitri's voice. I take several deep breaths and try to do as my liege says. It isn't easy. I keep thinking of meat. Each time I do, I feel nauseated and my anger rekindles. To never eat meat again is not going to happen. I've run out of things to say anyway and throw myself onto the large couch in Dmitri's front room."I knew this happened last night. Your blood smells even better than bear. You now have witch blood running through your veins." He holds up his hand. "Do not blame me for my silence. You were in no condition to have this conversation. I also needed a night to think on what needs to be done."My stomach twists painfully. "You cannot reverse it is what you're saying?""No, I cannot. I'm not sure if you will actually want it reversed once you know your capabilities." He continues before I can object. "The difference between you and your mate is that I trust you."I
VedaThat did not go well. I didn't think it would, but I held onto a small amount of hope. I know eventually he will come to his senses. Right now, though, I am left in need. Staring at his bare chest and wanting to run my nails over his muscled flesh almost made me beg. The man might be stubborn, but he is gorgeous.As a mated pair, I know at this point we should be having so much sex that we are both sore. I've made plenty of tinctures to alleviate the soreness so mates can continue without a break.A lot of good the knowledge on how to make such a tincture is now. If I'm not running from Tyboll, the stupid man is running from me. It's strange because after the thought of Tyboll becoming a witch settled, I wanted to celebrate. I am not alone. I can share the sacred knowledge with another. I do not need a child. I will no longer be alone with the great texts.Tyboll might not like it, but the gift bestowed by the Goddess can only be undone by her. No vampire can help him. I decid
TybollI wake from what feels like a winter hibernation. I'm starving and the rumble in my stomach only enhances my need for food. Something smells wonderful. I'm naked in my bed and vaguely recall my illness the night before. I remember Dmitri coming to the rescue. I also remember my thoughts that Veda poisoned me again. Unlikely, because I ate nothing before going to Mandy's. She is a witch, though, and there's no telling what they're capable of.My nose leads me to the kitchen. Veda stirs a large pot on the stove. I peer over her shoulder to see what has such an amazing smell. Without looking at me she speaks, "Clothes or I will not feed you, bear.""Humph." I wrap my arms around her and run my nose down the side of her face and stop at her neck. "I could eat you, woman, and I'd start right here." She stops stirring the pot. I can smell her arousal. I bite down gently on the skin holding my attention. "How did you know I'm not dressed?" I breathe against the mark I've just left.
VedaStupid hare-brained bear, I mutter as I look the other way, pick up the slab of nearly raw meat, and toss it out of the cabin. Serving cooked meat was the hardest thing to do while I worked at the diner. The only blessing was that Becky didn't prepare the blood-dripping horror I just got rid of. I look through the kitchen and there are no vegetables. I settle on bread and cheese, though I'm no longer hungry. I just know I need to eat."You stay here or when I find you I'll lock you up," were the last words Tyboll yelled before he left.I thought about challenging his dictate, but right now I am too tired. I finish my meal and walk outside in the opposite direction from the barely cooked meat. My hope is that a wild animal will take it away in the night. This is what I did with all the meat given to me over the years by the bear clan as payment. My mother accepted their offering and then gave it to the wildlife, so I did the same. Maybe I should have said something, but politene
TybollThe feelings running through me are impossible to comprehend. It took hours to drive to Dmitri's club and another hour to track Veda's scent and find the diner. The closer I came, the more insistent an inner... well... buzz intensified. When our eyes finally met, I felt as if a mountain had crumbled over me. I fought collapsing at her feet. I knew it was her witch's power and wondered if she cast a spell that made it difficult for me to come close to her.I continued thinking this until her lips met mine. Now we're on the floor and she's wrapped in my arms. Words that turn me into an utter pussy slip from my mouth and I don't care. If it bothers her so much that she leaves me, I won't call her woman. Though, she is. A beautiful woman."I can hear your thoughts," she sighs against my neck. "Maybe the word woman is not so bad." She lifts up slightly and stares at me. "I've never done this, Tyboll. I've had very little interaction with anyone. I never thought to have a mate. You
VedaWhy is the pull to a mate so strong? I pour over the great texts expecting the answer it usually offers. Nothing. I've read sections about mating, but they don't offer a solution to the problem.Mating is a bond that only death can sever. A witch's power is not stronger than the bond and a witch shall not interfere with a mated pair.Blah, blah, blah. My mother told me not to mess with a mated pair. I understand this. But now I'm part of a mated pair. I need answers about a witch mating and there is nothing.A witch will take a human male into her body. A female child will form from this union. You will know the time to search out your human. Do not call the power of your beast when in the human's arms. Control your beast or bear the consequences.It's too late for that. Tyboll and I allowed our bears to rise when we mated. Now I feel Tyboll pulling my power from me. Can he feel it? He must. The texts are written for a human and witch. Not a beastkind and witch. I fli