Chapter
42
by Michelle M Pillow & Mandy M Roth
Secrets Revealed
It figured the one time she
wanted to find Muir in the last three weeks, Mandy couldn’t. He’d called her
house, lurked outside her window with a suppression spell and now that she
actually wanted him around—granted, it was to kick his immortal ass—he was
no where to be seen.
“Maybe you beat him up more
than you thought,” Michelle said.
Mandy frowned. She was mad,
but Michelle seemed to be losing some of her steam. For good measure, she
said, “Need I remind you, Conner poisoned you?”
“He didn’t poison me,”
Michelle glanced across Mandy’s new car. Well, the convertible was used, but
new to Mandy.
“Casting a spell to take away
something from a person is as good as poison. No one has a right to take
away a person’s will. Especially OUR will.”
Michelle nodded, her eyes
closing as she slumped in the seat. “I know. I’m all for the ass-kicking.
I’m just feeling a little dizzy, is all.”
“Do you know what would really
stick it to Conner?” Mandy asked, unable to keep the grin from forming on
her lips. She could practically hear Michelle groaning before she said
anything. “Sleeping with Dmitri.”
“Sleeping?” Michelle gave a
small laugh, not opening her eyes. “Trust me, if I get that man into a bed,
it won’t be to sleep.”
“Michelle!” Mandy gasped,
shocked her friend had said it. Excited, she bounced in her seat, nearly
swerving out of her lane. A car honked and some asshole yelled at her. Mandy
flipped him off and kept driving.
Suddenly, Michelle’s eyes flew
open and she sat up straight. “Oh gawd, tell me I didn’t just say that
thought aloud?”
Mandy grinned, nodding. She
took the wheel and turned, screeching the tires. Michelle crashed into the
window, cursing under breath as she reached to put on her seat belt.
“Told you to buckle up,” Mandy
said, suddenly feeling cheerful and pleased she’d not put the top down.
Losing Michelle out the side would have certainly dampened her mood, not to
mention ruined her plan.
“What the hell are you doing?”
Michelle grumbled.
“Taking you to Dmitri before
you change your mind,” Mandy hit the gas, going faster. “What are best
friends for? I’d like to think you’d do the same for my sex life.”
“There is no mind to change,”
Michelle protested, holding onto the door as if she tried to decide whether
or not she should jump. “I’m not going to sleep with Dmitri.”
“I know, you said—”
“I know what I said and I’m
not doing anything with Dmitri that requires a bed,” Michelle protested.
Mandy couldn’t resist.
Michelle must really be off her game to give her so many easy openings. And
who was she to not take them? “The fire station it is. I always wanted to
have sex in a fire truck. Do you think that Dmitri’s cousin would put on the
outfit and give me a go?”
Michelle balked. “Mike?
Ohmygod, tell me you are not talking about Mike.”
“He is kind of cute. What’s
his story?”
“He bartends at some club. The
Raven, I think it was. When I met the guy, he asked me if I liked pony rides
cause he had a pony in his pants.”
“Huh,” Mandy pouted. “I
thought I was the only one who used that pick up line.”
“Oh gawd,” Michelle rolled her
eyes.
“Kidding, the line is dated.
Seriously dated. Like junior high. Should we clue him in?” she winked.
“Mike’s not my type, anyways.”
Michelle’s eyes narrowed.
“Speaking of your type. What about you and Armando? Wanna stop by the
cemetery and give him another go?”
Mandy closed her eyes, feeling
a wave of instant, hot desire washing over her at the thought of the
vampire. She forbid him entrance into her house, and tended to hide indoors
a lot during the night hours when he could be out. That didn’t stop her from
fantasizing about him. In fact, she hadn’t told Michelle this, but that’s
what she’d been doing with the vibrator when Muir came stalking the night
before.
“I can drive if you need a
second,” Michelle said wryly.
“Bitch,” Mandy mumbled.
“Whore,” Michelle answered
back, chuckling.
Mandy was glad to see some
color come back to her face. Michelle hadn’t looked good lately. If she
wasn’t hot to the point of feverish, she looked pale and shaky. For a
moment, she thought of taking her friend to the ER instead, but held back
knowing Michelle would refuse to get tested for anything.
Instead of voicing her
concern, she said proudly, “You know it, babes. Now, let’s go find those
spell-casting jerkwads. If I can’t have sex, I want to beat something up.”
~*****~
“Have you had enough?” Dmitri
demanded, standing over his bloody and beaten cousin. He was so glad Mike
came to visit him. The two of them were really close, though neither would
say the words out loud. Ever. Having Mike around gave him the next to
perfect outlet for all his built up tension. Mike, seeming to understand he
needed it, had no problem goading him into a fight.
The perfect outlet wouldn’t
return his calls. At best, Michelle would leave a message before she knew
his shift started, saying the calendar was a little behind, but she should
still be able to get him proofs before production. He was so sure seducing
her in her own environment as she took his picture would have done the
trick. She’d been a wild woman as he fucked her against the car, going so
far as to bite and claim him. Now he was ruined for all women and the one he
wanted wouldn’t even see him. Hell, she didn’t even remember fucking him or
biting him. She didn’t even remember she was a fucking werecat.
Cats and dogs don’t mix,
Mikes taunting words filtered through his head.
Dmitri frowned, punching Mike
in the mouth as he stood. His cousin stumbled back in surprise, hitting the
wall. Laughing as he slid down to the floor, Mike didn’t stand up again.
Though his eyes danced with merriment.
“Feel better?” Mike asked.
“No,” Dmitri grumbled. He
reached out his hand. Mike eyed it distrustingly before finally taking it.
“Why don’t you get out of
here?” Mike asked. “Come back with me. Raven needs someone to run it and I
sure as hell don’t want the job. Bartending keeps me right there in the
front lines, scoping out the pretty ladies. I have more bed partners than I
know what to do with.”
Dmitri lifted a brow,
smirking. He didn’t need to say anything about Mike’s prowess. The opening
to make fun of his cousin was just too easy, it wasn’t worth it.
“I don’t want any
responsibility, but you might like it. You did run that tavern back in the
1700s. Could be fun. Two lycans on the prowl with plenty of supernatural
hotties just ready to hop on the wild ride.” Mike swung his hips, slapping
the air like he had a woman in front of him.
The thought of leaving
Michelle, even a distant, never seen Michelle, left Dmitri cold. “I have my
reasons to stay.”
“Does she even know she’s a
reason?” Mike asked. “I tell you, cuz, you’re losing your touch.”
Dmitri scowled, balling his
fist.
~*****~
Armando walked around his
underground home, unable to sleep even though it was nearly noon and he
should be passed out like the dead. Living had lost its color. Blood no
longer held any flavor for him. He’d tasted Mandy, her sweet essence, her
sexually charged body. Being angst wasn’t how he wanted to spend the rest of
his immortal life. Unfortunately, he appeared to have little say in the
matter.
No matter how many times he
grabbed his cock and pumped, the ache inside of him wouldn’t go away.
Looking down his lean, naked body he frowned. There it was, lifted high, as
thoughts he was sure came from Mandy filled his head. Or did he just want
them to be her thoughts so badly that he imagined they came from her?
Was she thinking of him? Of
their time together?
He honestly didn’t know
anymore. Almost lazily, he grabbed himself, pumping his fist in easy
strokes. Her green eyes came to mind. Her dark hair. Her lush lips.
“Arrgh.” He fisted his cock as
seed spilled forth.
“Kit-ten,” he said, his voice
shaky. “Look what you have reduced me to.”
~*****~
Mandy shivered, really hot. It
felt as if a cool hand was caressing her nether region, brining her close to
peak. She gripped the wheel, her breathing irregular as thoughts of Armando
filled her head.
Biting her lower lip, she
whimpered as an orgasm rushed through her.
Kit-ten, look what you have
reduced me to.
Panting, she stared wide-eyed
at the road ahead. Had she really just heard Armando’s voice in her head?
Felt his hands on his skin? Felt him…
She blushed, shifting
awkwardly in the driver’s seat. Indeed, she had.
Embarrassed, she bit her inner
cheek, deciding to focus on anything but Armando. A flash of Muir came to
mind. Not only Muir, but another. Her skin tingled and she was about to pull
the car over when a feeling of power surged inside her. She looked at
Michelle, who stared out the window, searching the streets.
“I know where they are,” Mandy
said, as sure of it as she’d been of anything in her life. She jerked the
steering wheel as she made a u-turn in the middle of the road. “I know where
to find Muir and Conner and they’re together.”
~*****~
“The park?” Michelle frowned.
Screams filled the air as children played nearby, sliding down the long
slide only to reach the bottom and run around to climb up the ladder to do
it again. Others swung, their little feet kicking into the air. A wave of
longing and protectiveness washed over her as she thought about stopping
them. Surely it wasn’t safe….
“Michelle?” Mandy broke into
the thoughts. “Are you listening to the plan?”
“Ah,” Michelle glanced from
the children to Mandy and back again. “Sorry, I…”
Mandy put a hand on her arm.
“I know what the doctor said and I know that’s why you don’t ever want to go
back to one, but he could be wrong. Miracles happen and you might someday
have a baby. And if not, well, I’ll have a ton and share them with you and
just think, they won’t need SPF 5000 sunscreen.” Michelle gave a small
laugh, unable to help it. Mandy continued, “And if not that, there is always
adoption.”
Michelle knew Mandy was trying
to make her feel better, but there was nothing anyone could say. “I don’t
know why it’s been bugging me lately. Maybe with all that’s happened, with
Conner being a jerk and no prospect of a man…” She shrugged, trying her
damnedest to look nonchalant. Mandy’s look said she wasn’t buying it. “This
wasn’t the plan, you know. I can’t shake the feeling that something went
terribly wrong and that I should be married right now and pregnant with my
second baby. I dream about it, sometimes, you know. Silly, huh?”
“No,” Mandy shook her head.
“Wanting a family, one that you’ve never had, is not silly. Wanting to be a
mother and a wife…never silly.”
“I can’t shake the feeling
that something was taken from me. It’s like I was walking along on this path
and the husband was so close, I could feel him, but then everything flashes
and the baby we made was gone,” Michelle paused, touching her stomach,
feeling as if it were empty, “and he was gone and I’m just alone.
Floundering.”
“That’s not silly at all,”
Mandy said, her voice tight. “I feel the same way sometimes. Like it was
right there and I lost it somehow. But with me, it’s like I fell out of a
window or off a balcony or something and when I woke up it was all gone.
Everything was gone.”
“I think it’s time we found
those two losers,” Michelle said. “I want to know exactly what it is they
took away from us.”
“This way.” Mandy balled her
hands into fists, leading Michelle away from the playing children to a
secluded area. She slowed, motioning for quiet.
“Pavel, I have done all I can.
She won’t talk to me,” Conner said.
Michelle frowned, unable to
see him through the trees. Mandy’s eyes met hers and if by silent
understanding, they didn’t move.
“What is she doing around that
dirty lycan scum if you have done all you can?” a male voice answered.
Michelle could only assume it was Pavel. “I did not go to all this cosmic
trouble to get you a bride if you can’t even hold onto her!”
“What do you want me to do? I
used the spell you gave me. I used everyone one of the spells you gave me!”
Conner yelled. “I got her into my bed and—”
“You should have bitten her
when you had the chance. You should have claimed her!” Paval hissed.
“Instead,” a third voice
inserted, more calmly than the other two, “I had to use my magic to make her
forget what truly happened at the Vampire Ball.”
Michelle covered her mouth to
keep from making a sound. Her ears strained, as she desperately wanted to
discover what had happened at the Vampire Ball.
“Do you know what that could
cost us?” The third voice said. “If that devious little snipe, would have
seen me… Those two little women of yours are damn lucky she didn’t. Her
meddling in their lives…” His words cut out as if he were pacing away from
them only to come back. “…I know she thinks she’s protecting them, but—”
“Yes, I know, Garmor!” Pavel
snapped. “Tru is a meddlesome little goddess, but a goddess nonetheless.
She’s taken an interest in the women’s fates. We have to be careful.”
Michelle shared a look of
disbelief with Mandy. They each mouthed, “Tru?” The idea that their nutty
neighbor could have anything to do with this was beyond their imaginations.
The woman was a certified crazy lady. A crazy lady with a baking fetish to
boot.
“I am Michelle’s fate!” Conner
declared. “Everything in the prophecies have said it is so.”
“And I am Mandy’s,” came
Muir’s bored, almost uninterested voice.
Michelle felt Mandy stiffen as
if she would rush forward at the sound of Muir’s voice. She knew the
impulse, but held back. They had to hear everything and once they confronted
them, they might not learn any more than they could right now. Mandy’s lips
pressed tight and Michelle’s hand tingled where she touched her friend’s
arm.
“I don’t remember inviting
these two, Conner,” Muir said. “Tell them to leave.”
“You have no right to talk to
us like…” Pavel’s voice trailed off.
“Don’t make me tell the others
the truth about what you did that night,” Muir said, his tone harder and no
longer pretending to be bored. “The only reason I haven’t reported it is
because you stopped Mandy from,” Muir paused. “Because your interference at
Tru’s Vampire Ball, in regards to Mandy, suited my purpose. I never would
have guessed the pull would be so strong between them. Even ending their
lives and giving them new ones has worked against us. I even gave her part
of my power to save her from your stupid, divine plan. I’ve given up a lot
for her and I will not lose her. She is mine, whether she chooses it or not.
No one,” his voice deepened and Michelle felt a small wave of power washing
over her from behind the trees. “NO ONE WILL STOP ME!”
Mandy’s skin practically
sizzled and Michelle gasped as it heated beneath her palm, as hot as a lit
stovetop. Before she could react, Mandy shot through the trees, a strange
blue glow emanating from her. “You!”
Michelle barely missed a
swinging tree branch as Mandy let go of it. She fell forward, onto the
ground by Mandy’s feet.
“Michelle!” Conner made a move
to help her. Michelle opened her mouth, expecting any number of the little
speeches she’d practiced to come spilling out. She was so angry, so betrayed
and Mandy’s anger only propelled her on as she felt her friend’s magic.
Instead of words, a long, deadly hiss escaped her throat. On instinct, she
leapt for Conner, catching him by the throat. Riding his body to the ground,
she clawed at him, not really understanding what she was doing.
Behind her, she had a vague sense of Mandy moving in a circle, power pouring
off her friend. Power off Mandy? There was no time to think about it now.
Pavel and Garmor fled, leaving the two men to their fate at the hands of two
very pissed ex-lovers.
“Michelle, stop,” Conner
pushed up at her, his body flailing to get her off. She knew he was a
shifter, knew he could hurt her if he wanted, but he didn’t. His body
shifted beneath her, the rock hard muscles moving with familiar thrusts. The
man was turned on! “Ah, shit, Michelle.”
The fact that he seemed
unfazed by her attack only pissed her off more. She grew viscous, her mind
blanking as she hit him. All her frustrations came pouring forth. Maybe it
was Mandy’s magic that gave her strength. She couldn’t be sure. All she knew
is she felt more powerful than she’d ever felt in her life.
~****~
Mandy circled Muir, her eyes
burning with unshed tears. She had a vague sense of Michelle on the ground,
but so long as her friend kept the upper hand, Mandy knew she’d be okay.
“How could you, Muir? I
trusted you. Me! You know how hard it is for me to let people in.” She shook
her head, wishing he’d explode into a million pieces. Power flew from her
body at the thought, trying to make her desire reality. Muir was struck, his
body jerking violently. For a moment, he seemed to come apart, his body
separating from itself into tiny pieces. In an instant it was over and he
stood before her once more.
“How is it you tapped so
deeply into your fay powers?” He took a step back. Mandy knew he could
strike out, had seen what he could do, but he held back, looking stunned.
“You hate me.” The words were soft with disbelief. “That is how… No,
Mandy.”
“Yes, I hate you. You betrayed
me!” Her body felt as if it were aflame.
“They were right. You will
never love me.” He took another step back. His arms lowered and he was
defenseless. “Twice and you still don’t love me.”
“You’re wrong, Muir. I did
love you, part of me did very much. But we were never meant to be. And after
what you did, after you tried to take my will, I will never love you again.
No part of me will ever be yours. Ever.” Her hair swept up in long waves,
floating around her head. Her feet lifted off the ground. “You cast a spell
over me. Tell me, what did you suppress? What did you try to take from me?”
she demanded, desperate to know.
He gave a weak laugh. “Why
should I tell you? You hate me.”
“Yes, I do.”
Muir growled, tossing up his
arms. Mandy flung back toward the trees, only to be stopped inches before
impact. Muir was angry, but he still didn’t hurt her. When she managed to
right herself, he was gone.
Floating to the ground, she
turned to the hissing grunts coming from Michelle and Conner. Mandy
stiffened. Michelle was moving too fast for her to see much, but she did
detect the blood dripping along Michelle’s arm. As Mandy rushed forward to
help her friend, she saw Conner’s partially shifted face—fangs bared. His
clawed hands swept like a blur, but only knocked Michelle’s hand away before
it made impact on him. It wasn’t Michelle’s blood, it was his. A gash cut
along his cheek, its twin along his neck near an artery. Michelle was
killing him and he didn’t seem to be fighting back.
“Michelle!” Mandy ordered, no
part of her wanting her friend arrested for manslaughter. Or catslaughter.
Well, cruelty to animals in the very least. If Michelle hurt him, she would
never get over it. She was too good for that. “Michelle, stop!”
The flurry of movement stopped
as she said the words. Michelle’s eyes turned to her. Mandy gasped,
automatically taking a step back in shock. No part of her feared Michelle,
but she was scared for her. Yellow had invaded her friends gaze and
fangs, long and deadly, grew from her mouth.
“What did you do to her,
Conner?” Mandy demanded, seeing that her friend was part cat.
“You fear for her?” Conner
gave a weak laugh. “I’m the one bleeding.”
“But, she’s a…” Mandy
swallowed. “She’s a…”
“Princess?” Conner offered.
Mandy met his eyes.
“My prophesied mate? Ah, I
know what you’re looking for. She’s a werecat. Like me. Like her parents.”
Michelle’s gaze swung down to
meet Conner’s. Mandy could feel her tension and cautiously made her way
forward, not wanting to startle her. Michelle didn’t speak, merely stared.
“It’s okay,” Conner crooned.
“The first shift is always hardest to control, but I’ll help you.
Everything’s going to be okay now.”
Michelle shook her head.
“I don’t think she wants your
help,” Mandy said. “In fact, I know she doesn’t want you.”
“Then who?” Conner spat. He
pushed on Michelle’s shoulder with surprising strength despite his wounds.
Michelle flew back, but landed on her feet, crouched with one hand on the
ground.
Just like a cat, Mandy
thought weakly. Omigod, my best friend is a princess! OHMYGOD!
“That dog?” Conner spat. “She
can’t be with him. Cats and dogs don’t mix. Being with him will kill her.”
“She will never choose you,”
Mandy said.
“Conner,” Michelle’s voice
sounded like hot gravel. She was breathing hard and there was a deadly
finality to her tone. “I should have told you. I will never love you. We are
not going to happen.”
“But.” All cockiness faded
from him at her oddly calm words.
“No,” Michelle said.
“You can’t have Dmitri. It
will never work,” Conner spat.
“This has nothing to do with
Dmitri,” Michelle said. “I’ve never been with Dmitri. This has to do with
you being a lying, deceitful, bossy, manipulative—”
“I got it!” Conner
interrupted.
“Piece of shit fucktwat!”
Michelle yelled, her voice sounding more and more like her self, though her
body didn’t shift back.
Mandy snorted, before quickly
covering her mouth to keep from laughing.
Conner stood, cradling one
arm. “As you wish, my princess.” He bowed, before turning and limping away.
Michelle collapsed to the
ground. Mandy was instantly at her side. Tears in her eyes, Mandy looked at
her.
“This is a shock, huh?”
Michelle gave a weak laugh. “A cat.”
“Fay,” Mandy said softly,
petting back Michelle’s hair.
Then, sniffing as tears rolled
down her partial shifted face, Michelle asked, “Am I at least a pretty
cat?”
“Beautiful,” Mandy promised.
“But at least we know why you’ve been sick. And we know to take you to a
supernatural doctor.”
“I just want to go home before
anyone sees me.” Michelle gave her a pointed look. “At least you look
normal, a little sparkly, but still human. I’m going to sprout fur!” She
started to cry. “And I’m so hormonal right now I think my period’s
starting.”
Mandy helped Michelle to her
feet. “Ah, sweetie, at least you’re a furry princess.” She made a face to
make her friend laugh. “And we got to beat up a couple of guys.”
Michelle snorted, choking on
near-hysterical laughter. “There is that.”
Giving a small sweeping bow,
Mandy said, “This way, your highness.”
Michelle grinned through her
tears. “After you, your highness’s best buddy.”
The both laughed, as Mandy led
them along the trees away from the sight on the children playing nearby.
