The Raven

Chapter 32 Stray Cats & Angry Kittens1


Dmitri pressed his hands into the Optimulialus’ throat. It was a demon common to the seedier side of the underground culture. He’d had the unfortunate pleasure of meeting up with one a year ago. After the burns from its saliva healed on his arms, he swore to rip the next one he found apart. Not wanting to be too hasty, he’d held back. This one was proving to be one of the biggest pains the ass Dmitri had dealt with lately. It even beat Mike out for top spot. The promise he’d made to himself was sounding better and better. 2

The creature looked surprised that a lycan would dare to challenge him. But how could he not? Dmitri had spent the last two months prowling the alleys trying to find someone he could bump off the supernatural doctor’s list. The doctor could possibly be Michelle’s last line of help and Dmitri would be damned if he let a chance for her to see him slip by. Dr. Putnam was notorious for packing up and disappearing overnight. Once, he’d vanished for a century. Michelle didn’t have a century. 3

Dmitri didn’t care that the demon outweighed him by three hundred pounds or that if he wanted the demon could probably cast a spell over him to curse him for three lifetimes. This ugly creature had the earliest appointment time with Dr Putnam and Dmitri wanted it. Now. 4

The creature laughed, baring his hideous teeth. “I know who you speak of. You’re not the only one who’s been asking around for her, lycan. Others inquire about her well being.” 5

Dmitri stiffened. He could only assume this creature was mistaken. As far as he knew, he and Mandy were the only ones trying to find Michelle a cure and Mandy ran all her leads past him, leaving him to do the leg work.
“Don’t believe me, lycan?” 6

“I want that appointment and you’re going to give it to me,” Dmitri growled.
“Her name is Michelle. She is a blonde human. Ugly, lycan.”
Who you callin’ ugly? 7

Getting a good whiff of the beast’s foul stench, Dmitri curled his nose in disgust. There were times when having super senses wasn’t such a blessing. “Who’s been asking around about her?” 8

A third eye opened in the Optimulialus’ forehead. The creature ignored him, taunting, “You can’t touch her, can you? Something always gets in the way. I’ve seen that look in a lycan’s eyes before. You’ve been holding yourself back, saving yourself for her. You’re going mad, aren’t you? And for her. How sweet.” 9

“Shut up, you know nothing about it! Now will you give me your appointment or not?”
“You should stay away from her lycan. She’s not for you.” The beast laughed hard, before swinging out his arms. He thrust Dmitri back into a gate, slamming his body into the brick wall of the dank alley. “He’s not going to be happy if you touch his daughter.” 10

Dmitri took a deep breath. He surged to his feet. “Her parents are dead. You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“She’s soft isn’t she?” The Optimulialus laughed. “Would you trade her to me for the appointment?” 11

Dmitri stiffened. “You will never lay a filthy paw on her!”
“Neither will you.” The beast laughed. “Dogs and cats never did get along. A doctor can’t help her. If you want her to get better then leave her alone. Never speak to her again.” 12

Dmitri moved to charge him. The beast reached out, tossing a dumpster at Dmitri’s head. The metal container slammed into his body, sending him flying back into the wall. Dmitri moaned, weakly pushing the container off. Stumbling to his feet, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a list. It was time to pay a visit to the creature with the second appointment time. One way or another, Michelle would be getting in to that doctor today. 13

*****14

Mandy stood near the office door with her eyes wide and her stomach in a knot. She’d promised Dmitri that she’d drop a few more leads off at the Raven before she had to get home and review her weekly column. She thought it would be a simple task. Armando had been missing in action for weeks and she’d resided herself to the fact that he hated her, or at least she thought she had.15

Seeing him making out with another woman nailed the lid on the coffin—pun intended. The woman was almost as tall as he was and had a head of gorgeous red hair that hung to her mid-back. Mandy knew she should leave them, give them privacy but she couldn’t get her feet to move as she watched the mysterious woman unbuttoning Armando’s shirt. A shirt Mandy had given him as a gift. 16

Unshed tears filled her eyes as Armando returned the woman’s kisses with as much energy as she had. Not wanting either of them to find her standing there, Mandy turned fast and ran directly into Muir. She bounced off him hard and staggered back a tiny bit. Instantly, he reached and grabbed hold of her, keeping her upright.
“I did not mean to startle you. I thought you realized I was near,” he said, his voice low and polished. 17

She should have known he’d be close. He was always close anymore. Since the moment he’d shown up in the middle of a snow storm he’s shadowed her every move. At first Mandy was convinced that he was a stalker but when Darren explained that Muir had been sent by the high council to watch over her she’d stopped worrying about him harming her and started worrying about why in the hell she’d require protection.
Staring up into his royal blue eyes, Mandy did her best to appear fine. After seeing the man she loved with another woman it was hard to do. 18

“I didn’t… umm….”19

“Mandy?” 20

Hearing Armando say her name chipped away madly at the thin hold she had on herself. Hot tears ran down her cheeks. She didn’t turn to face Armando. She couldn’t. The man had taken everything from her when he walked out of her life. She was a shell of herself. A numb, going through the motions robot that wasn’t sure she’d ever be about to feel again. 21

Muir reached out and ran his thumb over her wet cheek. His soothing touch was the only thing that kept her from audibly sobbing. It was humiliating enough having been caught spying, for lack of a better word, on Armando and her replacement but to break down so openly would have been too much for her to deal with.
“Sweetie, are you going to introduce me to your friends?” the redhead asked, her voice a tad higher than Mandy thought it would be.22

“I… errr… yes, umm….” 23

“My name is Vivien, Armando.”24

“Yes, right, Vivien,” Armando murmured. “That is Muir from the council. He’s a representative of the Magik section and the other is….”
“Late for an appointment.” Muir stared down at Mandy and gave her a soft look.25

“Mandy?” 26

As much as she wanted to turn around, she couldn’t. There was no way she could put on a happy face. Not when she still loved him with all her heart. Putting her hand on Muir’s massive chest, she patted him gently. “You’re right. I need to go.” Muir took her hand in his, shocking Mandy and headed towards the front door.
“Mandy, wait. I wish to speak with you.” 27

She could feel Armando moving up behind her but she refused to turn and face him. The man assumed she had sex with Darren. What he’d walked in on looked horrible and in fact was horrible. She deserved to lose him. Hell, she should have never even had him to begin with. Armando was a nice guy. The kind of guy she’d spent so long avoiding. She should have known it would end badly. 28

A cool hand fell upon her shoulder, sending a chilling sensation over her. Instantly, her body reacted to Armando’s touch. “Please, Mandy, I wish to speak with you.” 29

“Why?” she asked, still refusing to face him. “I’m fine. It’s over. You’ve moved on. I’m happy for you. Have a nice life, Armando.”
Muir tightened his grip on her hand. “Are you all set?”
“Yes.” 30

“Where do you have to go that is more important than speaking with me?”
That comment made Mandy turn to face him. “I have to stop by the church, Armando. Today’s the day we were supposed to be there ourselves, in case you forgot. Turns out a couple of the people you invited didn’t get the memo about our wedding being called off. They’re giving Father a hard time about leaving. I need to handle that. Then I’ve got an appointment to view a house and I don’t want to miss it. Go back to celebrating your freedom. It’s good to know that it didn’t take you long to bounce back into the game.” 31

Looking into Armando’s dark eyes and not crying was the hardest thing she’d ever done. There was no way she was going to give him the satisfaction of seeing her break down. She’d shed more than enough tears over him.
His eyes widened. “Today is the day we were to….” 32

“Wow, you didn’t even remember, did you? Damn, if you should happen to have a knife on you and would like to thrust it into my gut, by all means, have at it. It may actually relieve some of the pain of guilt that I have. Not that you care if that ever goes away.” Mandy didn’t bother to hide her shock and outrage. He may have walked out of her life and moved on but at one point in time she believed that he truly had cared for her. 33

Apparently not. 34

“I will see to the guests at the church. Go enjoy your,” he gave her a questioning look, “Did you say that you have an appointment to view a house?”
“Yes.” 35

“I thought you were happy with your apartment and its location.”
She couldn’t believe he was serious. This had been one of the hardest days of her life and here Armando stood asking about why she was moving as if everything was fine between them. “I’m not happy in my place anymore. It doesn’t hold good memories and it… it… umm. Never mind.”
“It what?” Muir asked softly. 36

Because Muir asked, Mandy answered. “It gives me the creeps every time I come in and out of the downstairs entrance. I keep having the worst dreams about that area. It’s insane, I know it is but that doesn’t mean I feel comfortable there anymore.”
Armando gasped, drawing her attention towards him. He stared at her like he was seeing her for the first time. “Are you well?”37

“Am I well? What? Are you implying that I really am crazy? Oh, go with heartless bitch. That’s one of my personal favorites. How about a woman who obviously likes pain?” 38

Muir squeezed her hand tighter. “Come, let us get on our way. Darren will be concerned if we are too late. Even if the vampire handles the other matter, you are still behind schedule.” 39

“How is Darren doing?” Armando asked, taking Mandy by complete surprise. No amount of sarcasm was detectable in his voice.
“Listen, I don’t want to make small talk with you, Armando. Go back to screwing your new girlfriend and I’ll leave you be. I don’t care anymore. I can’t care. I’ve got bigger things to worry about.”
“Bigger things?” 40

Mandy snorted. “You really did walk completely out of my life didn’t you? Hmm, let’s see. Besides finding out I’m still married to Darren, finding out that you walked out on me without so much as a goodbye, worrying day and night about Michelle, having some guy show up out of the blue telling me I require protection, skull spitting headaches that come on all the time now and dealing with some weird energy that keeps coming over me, I haven’t been up to much. And yourself?”
Armando arched a brow and stepped closer to her. “Headaches and energy?” 41

Feeling one coming on, Mandy slowly rolled her neck and took a calming breath. “The day after you left, I started getting them. They come out of nowhere and only stick around for about twenty minutes or so but they still hurt. And talk to Muir about the power thing. He keeps claiming its some magic. I’m thinking it’s something the cable company did to me. So far, I’m a human channel changer and able to blow up television and computer monitors with just a thought. I’d get a cape but none match my shoes.” 42

Armando looked at Muir. “Explain this to me.”
Outraged that Armando would dare to speak to Muir with that tone, Mandy started to say something but was cut off by Muir.43

“It’s simple, vampire. When you impregnated her, you kick started the vampire in her. When you killed her and then brought her back, you kick started the portion of her that contains the magiks gifted upon her. It’s really rather simple. Then again, everything has been very simple yet the two of you made it all so very hard.” 44

It took Mandy a minute to register what Muir had just said. The second she did, she was unable to hide her laughter. Holding tight to his hand, Mandy leaned forward as she moved from a loud outburst to the silent laugh phase. “Ohmygod, that was good. I think I like the part about me being pregnant best. I’m fairly sure I’d know if I was by now. Don’t you think?”45

A sad look passed over Muir’s handsome face. “Mandy, you are correct. You are no longer with child.” 46

“No longer with… that’s not possible. Armando can’t have children and I’ve not been with anyone but him since the first day I went out with him.”
Muir shook his head slightly. “Occasionally, it is possible for a vampire to reproduce. You carry the blood of one in you from long ago. It makes since that your body would accept what his offers.” 47

“It makes sense? Nothing makes sense! The whole lot of you are delusional. Armando tell this man that we were never pregnant and you have never hurt me like that. I mean, sure, you tore my heart out and staked it to the wall for all to see but that doesn’t constitute as killing me.” 48

Armando spun her to face him completely and pulled her close to him. His cool energy wrapped around her a second before he pushed his power out and over her. Images of the last night she’d seen him flooded through her head. It was all from his prospective. She saw herself in the bed with Darren and how very much it looked as though they were indeed having sex. She saw herself being pinned to the wall by Armando’s magic. Images Armando forcing Darren to shift passed by. 49

The minute the images moved to the hallway, Mandy felt her stomach drop out. She watched as Armando threw power at Darren, hitting her in the process. She’d been told that it knocked her out cold but the moment she saw her body lurch high into the air and flip over the second floor railing Mandy knew it had all been a lie.
The images continued. This time showing Armando and Darren sitting beside her unmoving body. It all kept coming. Hearing Armando tell Darren that he was unable to save his child send chills through her. The second that Darren revealed that he knew she’d been with child and that it was Armando’s made her feel as though a truck had slammed into her. This couldn’t be true. The two of them would never keep information this important from her. No. They would have told her. One of them would have told her. 50

“I am telling, or rather, showing you now, Mandy.”51

**** 52

Two elves, a slippery troll and a slime demon later, Dmitri had his appointment. He was sore, smelly, slimy and covered in some kind of magical dust. But, it had been worth it. All he had to do was shower and find Michelle. 53

When he got home the house was quiet. She’d been going to the office to work lately. It was strange, but she had never once said anything about Brian burning down her house. Mandy was babysitting her cat so Michelle had been going there a lot as well. Part of him wondered if it was just an excuse to avoid him.
Jumping in the shower, Dmitri washed off the slime. Wearing a pair of black slacks and a matching black shirt, he ran his fingers through his hair and headed out the door. 54

I love Dmitri.
Dmitri stiffened to think of it. She’d said those words. Michelle had actually said those words. The last two months hardly changed anything. He’d tried to get close to her, but she skirted away from his touch. If he hadn’t heard the words for himself, he might have had to give her up completely. 55

Dmitri got into his jeep and started it up just as his cell phone rang. “Yeah?”
“Um, Dmitri?” Michelle’s voice whispered, sounding shaken. “Are you terribly busy right now?” 56

“What is it?” His hand tightened on the wheel. 57

“I, um, hate to bother you, but….” 58

“What’s wrong? Where are you?” He felt his whole body tense.59

“I’m, ah, at the office. Can you get down her right away?” 60

*****61

Mandy stared up at Armando with so much hurt, so much anger that she couldn’t find the words she needed to express how she felt. Hell, she wasn’t even sure how she felt. This wasn’t news that ever in a million years she’d expect to hear or see in this case. 62

“Kitten, say something.”63

How could he dare to call her Kitten when he’d walked out and left her lying in Darren’s arms only to show up with a redhead in his office. A redhead that he was most certainly going to screw. 64

Not once in the entire time he’d been gone had Mandy done anything more than co-exist with Darren. He’d filled a void in her life that didn’t include sex. It wasn’t as though she hadn’t thought about it. Her body lit with so much sexually charged need that at times she thought it would burst into flames but Darren had stopped it when Mandy had been physically unable to. Between the two of them, they’d avoided what they both had wanted to do only for her to find out that Armando had been fucking other women all along. 65

Knowing that he cared so little about her, about causing her to lose their child that he ran off to gods knew where, with gods knew who sickened her. Mandy prayed that Armando was eavesdropping in her mind again. She wanted him to know what she couldn’t seem to verbalize. He was a coward. He should have been there when she woke. He should have told he what had happened. He should have stood by her side during the last several months. He could have stayed and just told her flat out that he didn’t love her, that he never really did. But he didn’t. Instead, he left another man to clean up his mess. 66

“Would you ever have told me the truth if Muir hadn’t have brought it out in the open, Armando?” 67

He looked away, his dark eyes refusing to meet her gaze, refusing to face her just like he’d down for so many months. 68

“I see. I guess we’re done here.” Mandy let out a disgusted grunt. “Sorry that we interrupted your late afternoon quickie. Carry on. It’s clear you have no problem doing that. You might want to call Michelle. Maybe she’d be willing to act as your conscience, Armando, since you seemed to have lost your somewhere along the way.”
Turning, she walked towards the exit. Mandy had thought she was numb before. That was nothing compared to the way she felt now. She’d gone from desperately wanting Armando back in her life to being ashamed for him. She wasn’t without fault in the situation but when it’s reached the point that people got hurt, people died and an innocent was stripped away for no reason other than jealousy the scorekeeping ended. 69

“Mandy, we need to talk about this. It cannot be left this way between us,” Armando pleaded. 70

A slight smile played across her lips as she continued on her path for the exit. “Why, Armando? You had no problem leaving this as is for so long. Hell, you were planning on leaving them status quo for the rest of my life. Thank the gods I won’t live as long as you or you might have to pretend this even slightly bothers you for eternity.” “It more than slightly bothers me, kitten. It has eaten at me. It is something horrible that I must carry.” 71

“Pfft, that’s some heavy burden. Tell me, does ramming yourself into the redhead help alleviate the load? Oh, gee what am I talking about? Of course it does.”
Muir fell into step with her, not saying a word and not having to.
Mandy thrust the door to the club open, hoping that Armando had followed too close and that the sunlight would hit him. That would be too easy of an out for him. The coward’s path. Then again, he’d proven himself to be a man who seems to enjoy taking that fork in the road. 72

*****73

Michelle stared down from the filing cabinet, not exactly sure how she got up there. All she knew is that three very big cats were looking up at her—a black panther, a white tiger and a female lion. One minute she’d been wading through the ton of paperwork Hank had flooded her with after she refused to go out on a date with him, then the next, she was leaping through the air to get on top of her filing cabinet. 74

They growled, roaring violently beneath her. She watched the cats pace around her desk. It was like they were looking for something—or waiting. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she began to cry. 75

“They sense your fear, lass,” a low, male voice said, the accent unmistakably Scottish. 76

Michelle tensed. That wasn’t Dmitri. She wanted Dmitri. Dmitri always protected her. He always came when she needed him. When she came to her senses, he was the first person she thought to call. 77

The man lounged in the doorway. At first all she could see was the top of a head. Long blond waves spilled over his shoulders. His black jacket was buttoned from neck to waist, falling open over his pants. When he looked up at her, she was struck by startling yellow-green eyes. The man was handsome and by the smile lining his mouth he knew it. 78

Almost weak, a name passed her lips. She didn’t know where it came from. “Connor.”
“You know me,” he said, smiling. He lifted his hand up to her as if he expected her to take it. 79

Michelle shook her head. “No.” 80

His smile faded. “You remember?” 81

“Get them away,” Michelle demanded, looking at the cats. The beasts had settled and were lying contentedly on the floor.
Connor frowned up at her. Slipping sunglasses out of his front pocket, he put them on. His voice hard, he stated, “You get them away and do try to remember me before we meet again.” 82

“No,” Michelle said as he walked away, leaving her in the office. “Wait.”
The cats lifted their heads, becoming restless once more. Michelle didn’t dare take her eyes off of them. 83

“Dmitri,” she whispered. “Where are you?”84

***** 85

Dmitri ran into Michelle’s office building. He felt the stirrings of supernatural magic in the air. It was eerily quiet. There had to be some kind of powerful magic over the place to make everyone in it disappear. Sniffing, he smelled cats.
“Shifters,” he whispered. Running, he detected Michelle, her scent unmistakable. He ran faster. 86

Seeing a group of cats in Michelle’s office, he growled, letting his body partially shift.
“Michelle?” Dmitri roared.87

“Here! I’m here!” 88

A cat roared. Dmitri opened his mouth and gave a mighty growl. The animals took off, sensing his anger. He swiped at them as they darted past, but didn’t give chase. It had been too long of a day to play animal control with a bunch of stinking cats. 89

Walking into Michelle’s office, he glanced around. Michelle sat on her filing cabinet, her eyes closed tight. He felt himself relax. Lifting a hand up, he said, “Michelle, give me your hand.” 90

Michelle instantly climbed down, falling into his arms. “I was so s000000 scared. I don’t know where they came from. Suddenly, everyone was just gone and I… and…” She sniffed clinging to him. 91

“Shh, it’s all right.” Dmitri patted her back as he walked her quickly away. They weren’t the only ones left in the office. He felt magic stirring around them. “Let’s get you out of here, all right? I’ll keep you safe, I promise.” 92

*****93

Michelle lifted her head as Dmitri led her away. Dmitri was partially shifted into his lycan form and she found it incredibly sexy. His protective arms were around her, holding her. He pushed the button for the elevator, breathing heavily as he looked around. Michelle couldn’t resist. She slid her body to the front of his, pulling her arms around his neck. 94

“You came for me,” she whispered, molding her body to his.95

“I’ll always come for you,” he whispered back. 96

Glancing over her shoulder as Dmitri pulled her into the elevator, she saw Connor watching them from an office door. She shivered, Dmitri pulled her closer. Connor shook his head in warning before he disappeared.97

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Chapter 33 Begin Again 107

Powers That Be meeting…108

“Jody, I cannot believe my ears. You say that the human called Mandy has managed to lure Muir to her but how? We did not send him forth,” Garmor said, staring at his friend and fellow councilman with nothing short of shock on his face. 109

“I speak the truth, Garmor. Somehow she tapped into the powers he bestowed upon her prior to her birth. Our scout has sent word that Muir has been with her months now and that he has told her that he represents our wishes.” 110

Shocked, Garmor shook his head, sending long waves of white-blond hair scattering about. “This cannot be true. Muir stepped down from the council. He chose to go his own way and sever all ties with us because…”111

Jody nodded as he touched the white marble table before him. It lit with a blue flame that burned out quickly. “Muir left because he did not like the destiny we had laid out for her. His concern for her has led him to care about the destiny of the other as well.” 112

Garmor snorted. “It was not for him to like. It is how it should have been. It was bad enough that she fell into bed with a vampire.”113

“It is how what must be? And who fell into bed with a vampire?” Tru, the elder of the Fay asked as she entered the meeting chambers. Her short, spiked black hair only added to her pixie-like appearance. 114

Garmor grit his teeth. “It would appear that Muir has contacted the human called Mandy.” 115

“The one he bestowed with his own power prior to her birth?” Tru’s eyes widened.116

Both men nodded. 117

Tru shook her head in disbelief. “No.” 118

“That seems to be the standard response.” 119

“Has he done what he threatened to do?” Tru asked, her hands shaking slightly. “Has he changed her fate as well as the human they call Michelle?” 120

Jody laughed, drawing attention to himself. “Do you think Muir would take corporeal form and not meddle to that extreme?” 121

Garmor sat silent as he thought about what Jody had suggested. Of course Muir would intervene. He’d done it without thought when he stumbled into the mortal realm and happened upon Mandy’s mother. Something had made him give powers to a child that should not have that sort of power. Sure, Mandy had the blood of supernaturals in her veins but it was diluted to the point that it could very well have laid dormant for all her life. Muir’s gift assured that someday she would indeed develop gifts. 122

Jody sighed. “We should call the council together at once. I fear that Muir has left us no choice but to act swiftly and without mercy.” 123

Garmor rubbed his temple not liking what he knew had to happen. “The council will not take kindly to having to rewrite history.” 124

“They will take to having Muir mating a woman carrying the blood of a vampire, Fay and the power of an elder. It has been proven that she can indeed carry a child with a vampire. What says that she cannot carry one of an elder?” Jody asked. 125

Tru stiffened. “Would it be so wrong to allow that to happen?” 126

Garmor did his best to keep his temper in check. At two hundred, Tru was the youngest elder on the council. She did not know all that she needed to, yet, but soon she would. “Tru, Muir is among our most powerful warriors. To allow him to simply select a mate of his choosing goes against the carefully woven fabric of destiny. Do you not wonder what he may have changed by simply interfering with her prior to birth?” 127

“But what if he was right? What if he was meant for her?” 128

Jody slammed his fist down on the table. “Elders, we have no idea why Muir acted the way he did all those years ago and we know not what his intentions are now. All that we are aware of is this situation became uncontrollable years ago. Mandy and Michelle were not created and destined to run around doing nothing but spinning the wheels of gossip in a journal devoted to supernaturals. They were destined to fight the evil that they hold so dear.” 129

“I do not believe that for a minute,” Tru said, baulking at the very suggestion. “I have seen Michelle’s love for Dmitri. I have felt it as it were my own.” 130

Garmor rolled his eyes. “That is precisely why I said no women should be on the council. You get too emotionally attached.” 131

Tru flicked her wrist and a bolt of power shot forth from her hand, narrowly missing Garmor’s head. “I am an empath you buffoon. Of course I would pick up on her feelings. Mandy’s love for Armando was true as well until the rest of you decided to interfere and tear them apart. Darren would not have come if you had not given him the ‘suggestion’ to seek out his wife again. And bringing in Conner to tear apart Michelle and Dmitri was wrong. I vetoed that from the get go but none of you listened.” 132

Jody laughed. “You underestimate Darren, Tru. We did not push him nearly as much as we should have. Garmor merely whispered the human’s name while the were slept and the next day he went to her. Conner would have succeeded in winning Michelle’s hand if Muir had not opened the lycan’s mind to Michelle’s need for him.” 133

Garmor nodded. “It is true. It is also true that this has all spiraled out of control.” 134

“Then it is up to us to put them back on course.” Tru smoothed her white robes down looking less than pleased with her own words.135

“Yes. I agree,” Jody said. “Though this is no small matter to adjust. Too many lives have been touched by the girls. This calls for drastic measures and the assistance of all the elders. We will not be able to do a thing to re-write Muir but the rest should not be an issue. The vampire and the lycan will prove to be a tiny challenge but I believe we can handle them as well.” 136

“I vote we leave them be.” 137

“Tru, you are outnumbered. There are no sympathizers on the council to go with you on this.” 138

Garmor smiled as an idea came to him. “Rather than re-writing history would it not be easier to simply make them do it over again?” 139

“There is a limit as to how far back we can go,” Jody offered, shaking his head. “And this can only be done once. From that point on we will not be permitted to meddle with their lives using our powers.” 140

“We should not interfere at all,” Tru said, her eyes narrowed and her jaw tight. “By doing so we are giving up any and all chances of fixing future mistakes. Allow chance to run its course.” 141

“Chance will run its course, woman. Should the girls end up with their supernatural lovers again then so be it but I believe it is our sworn duty to assure ourselves that everything was done to prevent it from happening.”142

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~*****~144


“I find it hard to believe that two sexy supernatural studs can’t hold a picture up straight for me to hang it,” Mandy said, smiling as she watched Muir and Darren exchange knowing looks. 145

Muir arched a dark brow. “Tell me, Darren. Does she always demand that men take their shirts off and do manual labor before her?” 146

Shrugging, Darren chuckled. “Pretty much. Be happy that Michelle isn’t here. The two of them would be in lounge chairs with margaritas watching us do this.” 147

“I see.” Muir glanced at Mandy and she gave him an ‘I’m so innocent’ look. He didn’t appear to buy it. “Seems only fair that should go both ways.” 148

Darren’s eyes widened. “No, don’t dare her to…”149

Mandy pulled her Stabbing Westward T-shirt off and tossed it aside. Putting a hand on her hip, she stared at the two of them wearing only a black bra and her jeans. Muir’s eyes widened a second before he dropped his end of the six foot wide painting of a demon orgy. It crashed to the floor. “Hey, be careful with that. I had to date a werewolf for years for that gift.” 150

Darren snorted. “Oh, dating me was such a chore, huh? Is being married to me growing on you or am going to have to go out and buy you a statue of the two demons having at one woman?” 151

Mandy wagged her brows and winked at Darren. “Oh, you know me well, baby.” 152

Bending and grabbing his portion up again, Muir smiled. “You could just use your power and hang it yourself without our help. It would be so much easier for you.” 153

Snorting, Mandy licked her lower lip. “One, I have no clue how to do anything but act like a human channel changer. And for two, why the hell would I do that when I get to stare at two buff supernaturals flexing their muscles? Are you mad?” 154

“I’ve been accused of that from time to time. Though, more often than not I’m referred to as…”155

Darren growled and gave Muir a hard look. “If my wife starts staring at you and demanding to see your ‘equipment’ I’m going to be pissed.”156

That piqued Mandy’s interest. She grinned as she watched the two men before her size each other up as if they were about to drop the painting and start brawling. That thought scared her. “Boys, fight outside. Hurt the painting and die. Immortal or not, I will kill you.” 157

Darren blew her a kiss and winked. “You’d never hurt me.” 158

“Oh, what makes you think that?” 159

“Because the timeframe you agreed to give me to try to make our marriage work has been up for almost a month now, Mandy. I’m still here and I’ve referred to myself as your husband more times than I can count. Never once have you corrected me.” 160

Mandy stilled, thinking about what Darren had said. Had the time really passed by that fast? So much had happened that it was impossible for her to keep track. Losing Armando had been hard, finding out she’d lost a child had been devastating. In that entire time Darren had stayed true, never once pressuring her for sex, nothing beyond friendship. And never once did divorce enter Mandy’s mind. 161

I don’t want to be married to Darren, do I?162

Something tickled the back of her mind. Armando’s scent suddenly filled the air around her and images of satin sheets and nights of passion assailed her. Closing her eyes, Mandy did the unthinkable; she opened her mind wider to the memory of their time together. The moment she felt as though Armando was wrapping his cool arms around her, Mandy pulled back, understanding then that it wasn’t her doing. It was his. 163

Are you well? Armando asked, his voice so clear that she could have sworn he was standing next to her and not communicating through her mind. 164

Mandy tried to close a mental door on him. It didn’t work. I have nothing to say to you. 165

I did not bed the woman you found me with, Mandy. 166

Letting out a soft laugh, Mandy shook her head. Pity. I’d have loved to see you thrust her over a railing to her death. You probably should have knocked her up first. You could have assumed it was the milkman’s and tried to kill him while you were at it. 167

The minute she projected the thought out at him Mandy felt his pain, his sorrow for what he’d done. Slowly, her lips curved upwards into a smile. Her mind took pity on him but her body had been trained to react to situations with a hard as nails bitch approach. Too bad Armando wasn’t there in the flesh to witness it. 168

I deserved that and so much more, Mandy. 169

Yeah, I know. No updates required. She drew in a long breath, doing her best to calm her nerves. What do you want? 170

Only to tell you that I love you. 171

Mandy was prepared to hear Armando try to apologize or explain away his actions. She wasn’t prepared for that. It was on the tip of her tongue to tell him that she loved him too but she stopped when a warm hand fell on her shoulder. Opening her eyes, Mandy found Muir standing there staring at her. 172

“Mandy? Do you wish for us to hold this steady in the air the rest of the day while you daydream?” 173

“Huh?” 174

Mandy, his intent is to keep us apart. Our union is not one the high council wishes to see occur again. I have learned that Muir may have more at stake than he is willing to admit. He does not want us to reconcile. 175

Fat chance of that, she pushed out at Armando. Why the hell would they care one way or the other? And why now? 176

They did not know that we were able to conceive a child. Armando sighed. That changed everything for them, Mandy. It changed everything for me as well. I was wrong. Dead wrong and I will never be able to forgive myself for that. I only ask that you let me know that you are well, that you are happy and I will bother you no more. 177

Muir touched her cheek and soothing energy moved through her, chasing the smell of Armando away. He smiled. “Are you ill? Perhaps you should lie down and allow Darren and me to finish up here on our own.” 178

Nodding, but unsure why she suddenly felt so complacent, Mandy locked gazes with him. “That sounds like a good idea.” 179

“Mandy?” Darren asked, sounding puzzled. “You’re really going to relinquish control of the decorating decision making to us?” 180

“Of course she is, Darren.” Muir caressed her cheek gently. “Don’t you see how tired she looks?” 181

Staring into Muir’s eyes, Mandy found herself smiling gently. “He’s right, Darren. I’m really tired.” 182

“Hey, what the hell’s going on?” Darren asked, dropping the painting and moving towards her fast. 183

Muir put his hand out and Darren stopped in mid-motion. A slight buzz of power surged up and around the room. “Nothing is wrong, Darren. You know that all is well and that Mandy is cared for. Now, you wish to go to town and finished the errands you needed to complete. No part of you wishes to return here today. Understood?”184

Darren nodded. “Errands. Yeah. Errands sound like a good idea.” 185

186

187

~*****~188

“Dmitri.”189

Dmitri stiffened, automatically waking up at the seductive sound of Michelle’s voice. It was dark, but his lycan eyes could see around his bedroom easily. 190

It had been a month since he’d found her in her office surrounded by shifters. She really didn’t talk about what happened, but she was jumpy and extremely nervous. Dr. Putnam had examined her for all of two seconds and handed her a bottle of pills. She was taking them once a day. All Dmitri could see them doing is making her sleep. If she wasn’t working, she was sleeping. It made it really hard to talk to her. Dr. Putnam said it could take up to a few months for the pills to work and that Dmitri wasn’t to pressure her until then.191

“Dmitri, are you awake?”192

It was Michelle’s voice, but it didn’t sound like Michelle. There was something to her tone—a lowered confidence. It was almost sultry, vixenish. His eyes focused on her and he couldn’t breathe. It was like someone punched him in the gut. Her eyes were outlined with a heavy black, her hair fell straight along her shoulders. Dmitri’s eyes drifted down, over her body. She was in a dark blue negligee. 193

“Dmitri…” The bed shifted as she crawled over his thighs. “I want you, Dmitri. Make love to me right now.”194

Dmitri’s body hardened. Was this a dream? How long he’d waited to hear those words from her lips!195

Her hands skimmed along his outer thighs. His cock hardened in response. For some reason, he didn’t move. Fear curled in him—fear of scaring her off from her purpose. Though, looking at her, she didn’t seem scared at all. Her body moved with catlike grace over him. She pulled at his silk pajama bottoms, forcing the material to glide over his heated flesh to leave him completely naked.196

“Michelle—”197

“Shhh.” She pursed her lips, licking them for his carnal pleasure as his ruddy cock bobbed before her. The second her lips formed an ‘O’ and moved over the top of his penis he jerked, doing his best to skive off the orgasm threatening to hit. 198

“Uhh,” Dmitri panted, sliding his fingers into her long blonde hair as she took his cock all the way in, allowing it to hit the back of her throat. Her gag reflex kicked in, only adding to the feeling over his dick. 199

Dmitri tried to pull Michelle’s head up to prevent her from chocking but she held tight, sucking hard on him. His shaft twitched, wanting desperately to release come down her throat. This had to be a dream. 200

“Mmm,” Michelle moaned, flicking her tongue over his cock as she worked her way back up him. She bit down lightly, scraping her teeth over his flesh, causing him to clutch tighter to her hair. 201

Fearing hurting her, Dmitri let go and grabbed the bed sheets fighting the urge to shift into full wolf form as she continued to suck him off. It was beyond heavenly. His mate. His love. “Michelle, please. I can’t hold it.” 202

Looking up at him with lust filled eyes, Michelle moved up and over him quickly. Before he could even suggest protection, not that he would have, she had his cock lined up with her pussy. As she lowered herself onto him, he bit his lower lip as her hot core gripped the head of his penis. 203

The lower she went, the more her body fisted him. Dmitri cried out as his right hand shifted. He dug his clawed hand into the bed, not caring what became of the mattress. All that mattered was that he was finally in Michelle. 204

“You like that, don’t you?” she asked, sounding so unlike herself that Dmitri worried that she might not be in full control. 205

“Michelle, don’t do this if you don’t want it.” 206

She snarled, sounding so much like a cat shifter that he couldn’t help but stare at her as she rode him slowly at first, then steadily increasing her pace. “Say my name.” 207

“What?” he asked, forcing it out as he fought to maintain control of not only shifting fully but coming too soon. Michelle felt too good, was too perfect that he knew any minute he’d release himself into her forever bonding himself to her and her to him. 208

She fucked him faster, finding a rhythm that left her doing half thrusts half swivels on him. As her breathing grew erratic, her pussy began to spasm. “There…uhh…I’m close. So close.” 209

Taking hold of her slender hips, Dmitri used caution with his shifted hand, not wanting to scratch her and infect her with his lycanthrope DNA. Not that it mattered. Once he came into her she would be his. She’d share all that he had to offer so long as she continued to receive his semen on a regular basis. She’d forever wear his scent, marking her for all to know that she belonged to him and no other. 210

“Oh gawd, there,” Michelle murmured, stilling on him as the walls of her channel clenched down on him tight. Reaching behind her back, Michelle took hold of his sac and pulled down gently, causing him to lose control instantaneously. He came with a start, filling her with all that he had to give. Each hot spurt claimed her again and again, soaking her in his essence. 211

“Mine,” he growled out as he pulled her down fast, let his teeth lengthen and bit into her tender flesh. 212

Michelle cried out and came again, leaving her pussy so wet and so warm that Dmitri thought for sure he would die then and there. She kissed his neck softly and drew back a bit. The rest happened in a blur, Michelle bit into him, cutting through the flesh and tasting his blood as another orgasm hit him. Bright white light filled the room, bringing with it a feeling of despair. 213

Taking hold of Michelle, Dmitri tried desperately to hold onto her, sensing that something bad was happening. “I love you.” 214

She pulled off his neck and held tight to him. “I love you, too.” 215

The light reached a blinding point and all around him faded away. 216

217


~*****~218


Mandy shifted slightly, unable to rest comfortably. Something was off. She turned again, hoping this would be the time that she found that perfect resting spot. As the bed dipped down behind her, she gasped. “Darren?” 219

“No,” Muir said, chuckling slightly. “Did you want it to be him?” 220

“No,” Mandy answered honestly. She wanted it to be someone but couldn’t for the life of her remember who. “Muir?” 221

“Yes.” He slid in behind her, lying dangerously close to her. 222

“I feel weird.” 223

“It’s because I’m calling the power within you.” The way he answered so quietly while sliding his hand over her bare arm left Mandy wondering what was going on. Muir seemed to read her mind. “It’s as it should be, Mandy, and we don’t have much time.” 224

“Much time for what?”225

He sighed. “A friend of mine has warned me that the council has decided to take action to change the course of events that have led you here. There is a way that I can stay connected to you in an even greater form than normal.” 226

Confused, Mandy turned to face him. His long black hair lay in waves around his head, mixing with hers and leaving it impossible to tell where one started and the other ended. He stared at her with eyes of blue that seemed to see through her. “Muir, I don’t understand what you’re talking about” 227

Lifting his hand, he touched her forehead gently and sent a shockwave of power running through her body. Images of sex, pleasure, endless nights of being wrapped in his arms hit Mandy hard. Her body lit as though it were truly taking place. She opened her mouth to question it all and felt Muir’s warm mouth cover hers. 228

Forever. 229

The sound of Muir’s voice invaded her head just as a bright white light enveloped them. Fear took hold as she felt herself being pulled in the opposite direction. Instantly, her heart slammed in her chest. “Armando,” she called out, a second before the light swallowed her whole.