Change (The Shape Shifter Series) (3 page)

She could feel how tense Tiamhaidh was. She wanted to ease his pain, but she didn't know how. She couldn’t talk with him telepathically anymore. She could only feel slight emotions through their bond, but that was nothing compared to what they used to share. His mind had been closed to her long ago. She knew it was partly her medication that had caused it, but that didn't comfort her at all. She was afraid she would never again feel the deep satisfaction that filled her when she shared her mind with him. She was like a ghost. A shadow of the girl she used to be.

What if she stayed like this? What if her hope was useless? If the elders couldn't help her, who could? Could she live as a shadow and wait for death when she
’d had a chance to taste Tiamhaidh's immortal soul? How could she face him day by day? She loved him so much that she couldn't stand to see him suffer. If no one could cure her, she would have to find a way to let him go. She just had to.

She felt the hot tears burning under her eyelids. She felt Tiamhaidh wiping them away and it made her cry even more.
“Calm down, little one
,
”
she heard Mom say in her mind. She sobbed quietly and looked at her. She smiled at her and tried to reach her with her mind, but felt nothing. She should've known better. Mom was a mindshaper and she was nothing. She was just a poor little girl whose life sucked.
“Stop that!”
Mom ordered strictly and Marie tried to smile.
“It's not fun listening to your mind whining. Besides, self-pity doesn’t suit you
,
”
Mom scolded telepathically.

Sofia got up and asked Tiamhaidh to change places with her. He growled something quietly and stood up. In a minute she had put her arms around Marie and held her tight. Her shirt smelled like heaven. She always used the same perfume, and when her mom's familiar scent surrounded her, Marie's eyes closed and she fell into a merciful sleep.

The bright sun blinded Sofia as she shuffled out of the plane.
Tromsø, she thought with warmth. The snowy mountains surrounded the city and the fresh mountain air filled her senses with its pureness. She took a deep breath and let her gaze wander around. The last time she was there the town had consisted of nothing more than a handful of small houses and a few people. No cars and definitely no planes. She could still see the old red ochre-painted houses here and there, and when she closed her eyes she could picture horses pulling carriages along the cobblestoned street. Old women watching the kids, who played with wooden wheels. Children's laughter and the noises that came from the market place. Yes, nothing would ever be the same. Time would go on. Places would change, and she would still be there. Eternally. For once she felt ancient. 

Everything looked peaceful. David had no clue of the danger that lurked under the surface and she sure wasn't going to spoil his illusion of a happy family meeting. Hopefully, he would get all the answers he wanted from the elders, and after that … well
… she could only hope he got out of this trip alive.

“
And why wouldn't he
?
”
Tiamhaidh's voice echoed in her mind. She glanced at him.
“The elders have no reason to hurt him
.
”
Tiamhaidh grinned and she smiled dryly. He knew exactly what awaited them in Senja. But he, too, knew this was Marie's last chance, and if David got the some answers he so desperately needed it would only be a bonus. Most of the shape shifters wanted to destroy Sofia for what she had done. Even now, when Gunward was gone, she might be in danger. It was too late for regrets, though. She needed to believe they would survive. That at least David and Marie would. Her mother would keep them safe. It was Sofia's head that was at stake.

She put on her sunglasses, shrugged and glanced around. Someone would probably pick them up from the airport. Her mom knew exactly when they were supposed to arrive and had arranged at least a few cars for them. She walked slowly down the stairs and stopped.

Next to the plane stood a tall blond man who looked vaguely familiar. She looked closer and barely recognized him as one of the elders. He appeared relaxed and only the sharp, focused look in his eyes exposed him. How could that be? She should've sensed at least something. Sofia tried to touch his mind, but it was shielded so well she only managed to scratch the surface before he pushed her roughly away. She gasped, confused. His smile never left his face.

He waved at her and suddenly she knew who he was. She wasn't sure if she had ever met him, but she sure had heard about him.
A cold, heartless man, who was a really talented shape shifter. Old, maybe even older than she was, and cruel. This man followed the law exactly. And the law was against her. She was a refugee. An outcast among her own. It didn't matter that her parents were the leaders of the elders. It didn't matter that they had invited them there. The law was the law, and it was the same for everyone. She had broken the one and unconditional rule by abandoning her own kind and choosing humans over them. She had humiliated Gunward by making their union a bad joke, and now she was laughing in the elders’ faces by coming here with her human spouse. Not good. Not good at all.

S
he swallowed. She felt an urgent need to run, but she couldn't. She had come this far and brought her family here. Now was not the time to lose courage. She knew she had powers, too. Great powers, the others believed. She just didn't believe in herself. She had run for too long and forgotten her legacy.

“
Gather yourself
,
”
Tiamhaidh tapped into her mind.
“He's just a man
.
”

Sofia took a deep breath and met the man's eyes. He was Erag Groven and he hated her. If she’d had any doubts before, they were all gone now. His mouth was smiling but his eyes weren't. They stared at her with such a predatory look that she instinctively stepped in front of the others. She felt a cold flush as he tried to enter her mind and she shielded herself fast. A cold acceptance flashed in his eyes as his mind crashed on the strong wall. Good. She had just proven she was no weak victim. She was his equal. Well, sort of.
She lifted her chin defiantly and examined his face. Erag had been one of the strongest objectors and one of Gunward's supporters, so it was strange to see him standing there smiling at her like a long lost friend. What had happened that her mom had allowed him to come here? She didn't believe for a second he had changed his opinion of her, and he couldn't have fooled her parents. Or could he? She shivered but kept her ground. She wouldn’t let him frighten her. Her back straightened and coldness crept into her eyes. She weighed the options in her mind. If he so much as moved threateningly she would act. But he did nothing. His cold gaze drilled into her eyes and she returned it steadily. The voices around her faded and for a moment they seemed to be there alone. They both waited for the other to make the first move. The temperature seemed to fall and she growled quietly. He revealed his teeth, half-smiling, and she could feel Tiamhaidh moving closer to Marie, blocking her from this strange, intimidating man.

David moved closer and put his warm hand around her waist. Erag’s gaze moved to him for a nanosecond before returning to her. David coughed and broke the awkward moment.
Sofia wanted to shake herself but she didn’t want Erag to see that he had any kind of impact on her, so she glued a fake smile on her face and tried to push aside her suspicions. However, she remembered her brother Gavin’s words when he had told her about this man. When the elders had found out she was married to a human, Erag had been the one who demanded they punish her in the severest way. He’d also had some delusional demands about her returning to Gunward's arms and leaving her human family. Only Gunward’s unexpected words had succeeded in turning Erag's head.              

The blond Viking looked at Sofia, amused. His ice-blue eyes challenged her, but she decided to stay calm and looked steadily into his eyes. If this was supposed to be funny, she wasn't amused. She was scared, but she hid it under her smile.

“Welcome,” he said, stepping closer and kissing her on both cheeks politely.

She felt an ice-cold wind in her heart and stored it in her mind. Something strange was going on, she was sure of it, but she decided to play along. Although she knew she couldn't just pass him and turn her back to him. Ever. Erag was obviously the same as before and would never accept her choice.

David smiled hesitantly and held his hand out to Erag, who didn't take it, but pushed past him and went to say hi to Tiamhaidh.

“What was that?” David whispered.

Sofia exhaled and narrowed her eyes. “You just met one of your worst enemies. Never turn your back to him, and don't believe a word he says to you.”

David nodded slowly and looked at Tiamhaidh. He
was laughing at something Erag said.

Suddenly, Sofia noticed the way Erag was looking at Marie and something ugly knotted in her stomach. “And never leave Marie alone with him,” she spluttered and David nodded again.

He, too, had seen the look that Erag had given Marie. Marie was sitting in a wheelchair and seemed blissfully unaware of what was happening around her. And yet Erag dared to look at her as if she were something repugnant. An abnormality. Something that shouldn’t be allowed to live. How could someone be so cold-hearted? Marie looked so helpless and innocent. Her green eyes were scanning the area abashed and her hands were trembling slightly in her lap, and any sane person should’ve felt the urge to protect her instead of hurting her. If Erag despised David, it was nothing compared to the rage David felt for him. Marie was his child and no one would hurt her. “You can count on that,” he said aloud and gave the Norwegian man a long, icy look.

Two brand new black Jeeps were parked in the airport's parking area. A breathtakingly beautiful young woman was leaning on one of them. She was tall and her long, thin legs seemed to go on endlessly. She had soft, baby-blue eyes and her long blonde hair fell to her waist like a soft cloud. Her skin was perfect and a friendly smile lay on her beautiful sculpted mouth.

“Tiamhaidh, my love,” she sighed and threw herself into his arms. With her long, manicured fingers she stroked his face, and didn't seem to notice how he tried to push her away. “I've missed you so much,” she said and her blue eyes filled with tears. “You've been away way too long.” She puckered her lips. “You naughty boy.” She pressed herself deeper into his arms and breathed slyly
. “It's been so boring without you.” She sighed theatrically, and before Tiamhaidh could react, pushed herself further and pressed her mouth to his, kissing him passionately. Or at least she tried to. He stood stiffly in her embrace and did nothing to respond.

David coughed and Tiamhaidh pushed her roughly away. He seemed to be in shock but she didn’t care. She giggled girlishly and gave him her one-thousand-watt smile. He growled and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. “Don’t you ever try that again,” he spat, his eyes burning.

She ignored his shrouded threat and refused to see his hands that were squeezed into fists and the rage he tried to hold back. Giving him a laughing glance, she bent down and eyed Marie like she was her newest toy. She laughed joyfully. “Enchanting! But seriously? How long do you think you'll be able to play with her, mo gaol?”

Tiamhaidh leaped next to Marie and looked like he was going to punch the woman.

Sofia stepped between them. “Gu leór!” she snapped. “You're making a fool of yourself, Isabel.”

The woman turned and glanced poisonously at her. “Me? You, my dear cousin, made a fool out of yourself when you started to mess with insignificant mortals! You had something precious. Something that the others could only dream of.” Sofia looked confused and Isabel’s beautiful face twisted maliciously. “Gunward.”

Sofia couldn’t help her cheeks flaming red.

Isabel looked pleased. “That’s right. Blush all you want, little cousin, but that doesn’t change the fact that you screwed up. You drove him away, and not just once but twice.” She inhaled
as if shaken. “If he would’ve been mine, I would've done a lot more with him than play cat and mouse,” she spat, and Sofia paled.

“Isabel! That's enough!” Erag thundered.

“Whatever,” Isabel said nonchalantly, but dropped the subject, turning her gaze back to Tiamhaidh. “I could settle with you, though,” she laughed and looked mockingly at Marie.

Marie didn't understand anything that had just happened. A divinely beautiful woman had just tied herself around Tiamhaidh like a constrictor, and now she was playing some sort of game with him and her mom. If her head had been clear enough she would've laughed at her. Everything in Tiamhaidh screamed that he despised her. And even if he had stood speciously calmly when she held him, Marie had sensed what an enormous effort it had been. So if she with her fuzzy head had sensed it, the other must
have, too. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes for a moment. She felt strangely calm, and for the first time she was convinced that she could find help there. She didn’t care if all of the other shape shifters were like Erag and Isabel. Not when something in them seemed to draw away a bit of the weird feeling she had been feeling for months. Fair enough, she had hoped for a friendlier welcoming committee, but she could live with what she got if that helped her. She reached for Tiamhaidh's hand and linked her tiny fingers with his.