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11: Home Away from Home
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2024-10-29 19:42:56Ian
When Darby and Dr. Myers start talking medicine, it confirms my earlier suspicion that helping out in the hospital, learning modern medicine, might be something Darby enjoys. Then Kasey interrupts, and no one can get a word in edgewise.
Though she looks a bit nervous leaving without me, I know within moments, Kasey will have her feeling at ease—it’s one of her gifts—she’s the perfect hostess.
But when I reach the packhouse and see how withdrawn my mate has become, I’m exceptionally worried.
“Our rooms are down the hall to the left. Ivan and Kasey and their girls have the rooms on the left side of the hall, and the rooms on the right are ours.” I talk soothingly to her, but the anxious expression doesn’t leave her face. In fact, it seems to g
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Where Wild Things Roam 12: Parents
Darby By the time we finish Townsend’s sumptuous picnic, walk back to Ian’s office building to collect both laptop computers—these are a significant improvement over the computers I was introduced to the last time I left my valley—then drop Ivan’s at the hospital and get back to the hotel, it’s late afternoon.Afternoon tea is delivered to our room on a tray, complete with creamy cucumber sandwiches, scones with clotted cream and cherry sauce and a decadent chocolate cake so rich I can’t finish it. I feed Ian by hand from the tray, giggling and wincing and moaning in response to what he does while my fingers are in his mouth, while he reviews his e-mails and documents, triaging the work he must get caught up.Tessa sleeps belly up on a cooling vent in the corner, snoring soft
Where Wild Things Roam 13: Ceremony
Jack “If we were going to wait until dusk to make her the Luna, why did we have to start this party at noon?”Though Candlewood’s a small town made up of mostly weres, a few other shifter species have taken up residence here too, along with a few humans, mostly extended family of humans turned were that live with their mates. Right now, I’m certain exactly all of them are crammed into every nook and cranny of the three blocks surrounding the pavilion in the center of town. The plaza is closed to vehicle traffic, but it’s packed nearly shoulder to shoulder and people have set up blankets and folding lawn chairs on the grass around the pavilion, even in the streets. Darla and Joe’s, the local sandwich and pie shop that makes my favorite
Where Wild Things Roam 14: Storm
Darby Nearly unbearable pain throbs in my leg, blood streaming down it and over Ian’s sleek coat. I’m grateful for his smooth gait, because I don’t think I could take the jarring otherwise, but nevertheless I shudder with relief when he halts at the packhouse.I don’t know where he learned to do it, but as Ian shifts, I wind up in his arms. Carrying me as easily as a beloved small child, he rushes up the steps just as the door opens from inside. Looking over his shoulder, I see a timber wolf position itself outside, guarding, and two leggy but more finely built tan and black ones start their shift.The desert pack brothers. I recognize the deep honey colored eyes, one of them boring directly into mine.“Townsend—.” Ian shouts, working his way around t
Where Wild Things Roam 15: Dangerous
Darby Good morning, beautiful.Have some things to take care of at the office.Townsend and David will take good care of you.I’ll see you at lunch time.All my love,IanI lay the note aside. “Tessa?”With a graceful leap, she lands beside me on the bed, looming over me and wiggling excitedly. Good morning, Luna.“And to you
Where Wild Things Roam 16: Exchange
Sean Did you feel it?Oh, shit, Sean. What have you done?It’s lifted! The curse is lifted! How?Candlewood’s Luna. Please don’t tell me you seduced her. I swear Sean, I’ll turn you over to Ian myself. On my honor, I did not. Your honor? Where females are concerned, you have no honor. I do now. Listen. We came here to bargain with Candlewood, but we’re in the weaker position. Are you trying to provoke me? Or did the Luna addle what’s left of your brains? Tell me something I don’t know. We have nothing to o
Where Wild Things Roam 17: Fae Gemini
Sean“Luna?”“I’ve no desire to talk to you, Second triumvir.”Darby sneers the title and I sigh, trailing after her and Tessa behind the packhouse and out to the survey markers where the new addition made of more faery-friendly materials will be.It’s been nearly three weeks since Ivan and his family left for Desert pack and I assumed his role here at Candlewood. In every other aspect, this is pretty great. But Darby’s seething resentment is wearing on me in ways I didn’t expect it would, both as the triumvir and as her mate, which I’m certain now I am—her superbloom scent is intoxicating anytime I’m around her. I’m tired of my apologies falling on deaf ears, of her cruel avoidance.“It’s Sean. And yeah, you’ve made that clear.”
Where Wild Things Roam 18: Mates
Jack So the whole threat to Darby thing really has Ian riled. And not that I don’t think what they’re contributing isn’t great, but Sean and the Desert trackers aren’t making that easier. Which means that my normally cush job, just got annoying, and it’s putting a crimp in my sex life.Between regular maintenance contracts, and now the addition to the pack house, there are all kinds of contractors and crews coming and going constantly. Getting their background checks and keeping track of them the whole time they’re in Candlewood is an exercise in irritation. I’m actually considering sending the alpha pair on a honeymoon—a long one.The team I put together to enforce the security protocols, while loyal, follows my instructions to the letter but can’t think outside
Where Wild Things Roam 19: Charms
Sean I yawn, bleary-eyed, and take another sip of coffee.We’ve got patrols circling outwards from Candlewood proper to our borders, looking for any other signs of the vampire that triggered the ward. The only odd thing we’ve found so far though is one of the local nutjobs, an elderly woman named Kassandra. Jack and I found her a few miles deep in the woods behind the packhouse smudged head to foot with some silty black dust and looking for all intents like she’d been dragged through an ashtray. She was covered in cuts and scrapes from running in the pitch dark through the underbrush, and I’m waiting to hear from the pack hospital that she’s stopped her repetitive babbling and I can come and question her.Across from me, Ian’s shot and stares blankly at t
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Where Wild Things Roam 54: Postlude
IanStanding at the bare office window in the temporary building housing me, Sean and our assistants, I stare unblinking even against the brightness, noting the construction crews’ progress clearing and rebuilding the Candlewood shops along the destroyed plaza. With the framing complete for the shops in the small notch where Suzanne’s boutique once stood, the contractors have started installing the building’s major systems, including plumbing pipes, electrical wiring and heating and cooling ducts. I cross my arms over my chest, pleased overall.Further around the plaza, crews are working on a new façade— the forties style diner storefront Darla and Joe have always wanted—and the Main street government offices like mine and Seans and Jack’s Security building will be restored to look as they did before. On the opposite side of the plaza, I see Charlie, dresse
Where Wild Things Roam 53: Afterward
JackLili? Anna?We’re good here, lover. Anna took care of the vamps—did you know she can see when they port in?—and ten, maybe fifteen minutes ago, the zombies all evaporated in this reddish mist. The packhouse is brimming with people though. Townsend’s working his way around with first aid. What happened? Is it over?I think you could say that. Stooping, I pull a dazed and wobbly Leo to his feet. I’ll give you the details when we get home. “Fucking Christ!” Leo wipes a hand over his face, rubbing his eyes, and surveys the destruction of the plaza. “What the hell happened? We get hit with an intercontinental ballistic missile?”“Kinda.” Turning him towards the shallow depression where Darby still clings to Ian, Tessa sittin
Where Wild Things Roam 52: Shifting Tides
CarsonWhen you’ve planned something out to the tiniest of details—using a fold, one the weres mistakenly failed to close, to march a massive contingent of hungry ferocious vampires into the snowy sleeping midst of your rival’s territory and cursing their own raised dead to send battling against them, then drink the blood of a god, becoming one yourself so you can take captive your rival’s reigning queen—to suddenly find yourself spectacularly upstaged after all that damn work, well, it grates on you.A lot.It was irritating enough when the Candlewood alpha made his grand entrance to my plaza mayhem by fucking dropping out of goddamned nowhere, pulverizing an entire building to absolute rubble, complete with rolling thunder and a superhero pose. But when he stands up buck naked, flaming like Lugh of the Long Arms himself, and strikes d
Where Wild Things Roam 51: Rising Waters
Carson“Oh-ho-ho, yeah!” I chuckle-growl wickedly, stretching and looking from one hand to the other. Not that I needed to see it. I can definitely feel the power of a fae god pulsing inside me. There’ll be no wiping this smile off my face, that’s for sure. “Well, on to bigger things.”Reaching inside my leather duster, I draw out one of the iron cuff bracelets I’d used before on my lovely little princess. Nudging her father’s limp form with a toe, I roll him over and stooping, slip the iron cuff over his wrist, loving the sound of his weak groan. “You just wait right here, Dad, while I take care of your daughter.”I glance around the wrecked plaza as I make my way to the front steps of the hotel. The entire host—undead and were—have stopped what they’re doing and stare wide-eyed at me. Ex
Where Wild Things Roam 50: Invaders
CarsonI’d have preferred launching a rapid assault into Candlewood to capture my lovely fae Luna while she was still in her grove. But if she and these filthy weres are going to make it difficult, then I can certainly adjust.I’m flexible and obliging that way.In fact, it might even be better. Because if I’ve got to march a vampire contingent through that boring little dump town to get her, I’m letting them loose to wreak havoc and tear it apart at the seams. Wipe those hairy were bastards off the face of the planet like that stupid slacker Cordelion was supposed to.Since it’s a land attack, I don’t have to contend with whatever that scary as hell sea monster thing was and Madame Soublet’s doing an admirable job keeping my snowy-haired necromancer kitten and her vampire-devouring smoke phantasm busy here in New Orleans.True, I’ve no real counters for the bird woman, or the nifty fiery fox the weres brought to Cordelion’s reservoir slaughter. Absent intelligence otherwise, I have to
Where Wild Things Roam 49: Deadly Tic-Tac-Toe
JackAn anxious looking Dr. Myers is waiting outside Darby’s door when Sean and I arrive.“Good morning, Dr. Myers.”“Good morning, triumvirs.” She glances, nodding, to each of us in turn. “I assume you’re here to talk to the Luna as you’d previously mentioned.”“If we can.” There’s a faint hint of concern in Sean’s voice. “Is there something wrong?”“Not really, no.” Dr. Myers inhales deeply, then continues slowly. “The hospital’s staff psychologist has been in this morning already. It’s only been a few days and based on the Luna’s responses this morning, I don’t think we’re at therapeutic dose on the antidepressant yet. If you’re going to talk to her, I would ask that you do so gent
Where Wild Things Roam 48: Second Chances
JackSo when’d you figure out you’re fae too, Tess? I blur along with her, about two seconds behind Leo with Darby, and with Sandy and Sean somewhere behind, undoubtedly arguing about why she went and did what she wanted after he told her not to. I’m sure I’ll get an earful for encouraging her later.What else can I do? Not like I could have stopped her.When you shouted that our Luna was walking out over the water. I thought to shift and break the window to escape the closed office. The thought was what broke the glass. And this—this—travel? You thought and it happened too?No. I could see how the lady triumvir did it when she carried you to the reservoir. So I followed. Fae are somewhat strange, are they not, triumvir? Wolves are much simpler.
Where Wild Things Roam 47: Desperate Measures
CarsonIf I thought it sucked clawing and dragging my blackened flesh out of the scraping clinging earth, I was sorely mistaken.Compared to the blinding screaming pain of crumpling every severely damaged nerve against every inch of edgy crisped flesh into the smallest iota of space, then twisting and squeezing it through a port, crawling over frozen coarse loam and grit to lay in the snow was child’s play.When I come to, I have no clue how long I’ve been draped like a wet towel over the back of a Queen Anne wingback chair in the downstairs parlor. Just that the scratchy cotton-polyester upholstery I spent a small fortune for during the renovations here feels like I’m lying on ground glass.Ahhh, home.The scent of garden violas drifts on the mercifully warm moist air and from somewhere in the distance, the
Where Wild Things Roam 46: The Call
Anna Jack’s arm tightens around me reflexively as I try to leave the bed. “Roll over, lover,” I whisper, pushing against him, and obliging even in his sleep, he does as he’s asked. His hand unconsciously seeks Lili as my replacement and he pulls her against him on the other side, allowing me to slip out. I kiss his temple, then hers.It doesn’t make any sense. I pad quietly to the French door that leads to the courtyard, ruminating. Then again, neither does what I’m about to do. I don’t know why, but it’s all I can think of since Ian’s funeral. Now that all the strangers have departed for their home territories, there’s time for me to pursue it.The bitter cold raises fierce gooseflesh over my entire body as I soon as I step outside and I shiver. Fighting th
