LOGINShare
51: Rising Waters
Last Updated:
2020-11-06 11:43:15Carson
“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
Related chapters
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
Last Updated : 2020-11-07Where 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
Last Updated : 2020-11-08Where 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
Last Updated : 2020-11-09Where Wild Things Roam 1: Battle Cry
Darby “Oh, here it is.” At the annoyed grumble in my voice, Tessa raises herself awkwardly and slowly limps the few steps to my side. She sets her head gently on my lap, and I stroke the white stripe that runs from the tip of her nose to just behind her pricked ears, her tail swishing softly on the red oak floor. I continue to read from the rough yellowing page of an ancient text, this time out loud so she can hear.“The natural state of the universe constantly tumbles towards lowest energy and chaos, a benefit to dark magick practitioners similar to that which assists a demon’s unholy magick, and unlike other magick types with foundations in the order of specific creation.”“Well, that’s obnoxious. Why should they have it easier?”Unde
Last Updated : 2020-09-15Where Wild Things Roam 2: Surprise
Ian Pressed against my strong side, Ivan groans and slumps towards the ground as we reach the top of the ridge.There! See? I told you!I hear Jack crow in my head through our link and duck my shoulder again to lift Ivan and keep him on his feet between us. The fletching of the silver tipped arrow protrudes from just below his ribs and even that brushing against me irritates my skin through my thick, black coat. I can’t imagine what it’s doing to him.Below in the valley is a two-story human cottage with an actual thatched roof. A walled garden wraps around it and the detached potting shed beside it. The garden buzzes and flickers with the flash of myriad wings I can see across the distance as the various pollinators move from multicolored flower to flower. The stone cott
Last Updated : 2020-09-15Where Wild Things Roam 3: Strange Magic
Jack Dark magic.Green magic.I don’t care what the fuck kind of magic it is! She’s a witch and I’m going to kill her.I’d stop that if I were you, the bossy border collie warns through the link. Milady can hear your thoughts. I know she wouldn’t harm you, but Alpha would. Right now, he’s behind the exam table and she’s on my side of it, I retort menacingly.Behind the table where he can see your approach. Alpha is no idiot. You might be though, she adds unnecessarily.That was harsh.Offended, I glanced down at the dog, my brows drawn together. She turns in hobbling circles a few times, then eases herself stiffly to t
Last Updated : 2020-09-15Where Wild Things Roam 4: Resistance
Jack Let me carry you. I don’t want to be carried, Triumvir. Listen, Tessa, we’re on a time crunch here. When Ian says, ‘don’t be out here long’— I gesture to the edge of the orchard we have only just reached, the one I think we’ve been trying to get to for a few years—it means get the job done pronto.Alpha understands that I am old. There’s something in the way she says ‘old’ that makes me pause. She really is a cute old lady and I like her. How old are you, Tessa?Nearly eighteen in human years.I’ve given up trying to convince her to
Last Updated : 2020-09-15Where Wild Things Roam 5: Wolf
Darby“You’re my mate! MINE!”The roar is so loud it feels like my head will explode. My vision is tunneling rapidly towards darkness and I bang the heel of my palm ineffectually against his wrist at my neck. “I-Ian,” I gasp weakly.“Say it!” he snarls into my ear, loosening his hold on my neck just enough I can draw a shallow breath. “SAY IT!”“O-only you,” I breathe, shaking my head slightly. “N-no others.”Releasing my throat, he lifts his weight, grabbing my wrists and pinning them over my head. With the pressure off my diaphragm, the vacuum in my burning lungs heaves air into me painfully.Sucking it in despite the pain, I try to clear my vision, only to have the tunnel constrict again and burst with stars when he rams
Last Updated : 2020-09-25
Latest chapter
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
