Charmed by the Werewolf (28 page)

Xavier.

She repeated his name in an unending circuit. The mantra matched her quick footsteps. As she neared the party, she threaded through the festival goers that careened along the walkway, disguised in masks and costumes, some drunk, some merely high on life. Sophia snickered as a man clearly dressed as a fake wolf passed by in a rubber mask with tufts of faux fur glued to the backs of his hands. Real werewolves did
not
look like that.

Xavier.

Shoving through the thickening crowd like an upstream salmon, she stood on the tips of her toes, straining her eyes to locate Xavier or even Mona. A string quartet played off to one side, their melody blared strong and driving from the amplifiers.

People danced and cavorted around a huge bonfire, their bizarre and comical masks made gruesome by the flickering light and shadows. She kept to the edges of the festivities, slinking along as she avoided the more inebriated individuals.

Where is Mona? Did Xavier find the hundred-year oak?

She blew out a frustrated breath. A line of people snaked past her. Sophia squinted; certain some of those assembled were not merely humans in costume. They must be part of the beings that came to vote for the next Immortal Court officers. She crept along the serpentine formation, listening to snippets of conversation, but not able to use any of what she heard. At the head of the line, a table draped in black linen stood with three costumed characters seated behind it. Votive candles in orange, blown glass globes flickered in the breeze. A stack of voting slips lay in front of each representative.

Immortals, and they freely mixed with the human population.

A movement from the corner of her eye caught her attention. Sterling sidled over to the table and engaged one of the men in a low conversation punctuated by angry hand gestures and intent glares. She needed to move. Ducking through the tightly packed line, Sophia emerged on the other side, and gasped.

Xavier.

The werewolf lounged with a shoulder against the trunk of a huge, gnarled oak tree that must be five feet in diameter. His stance appeared to be one of casual elegance, but
she knew better. His eyes glinted bright gold, almost yellow, his muscles tense and ready for action. He acknowledged her stare with the briefest of nods and a wink.

He fingered the cork on the vial in his hand. At least he’d conjured a brand new brown silk suit that hugged every lean muscled inch of his body.

Damn him and his convenient magic.

She made a move to join him, then stopped at a slight jerk of his head. Sophia turned slightly in the direction he indicated. She froze. Mona, dressed like the Muse she claimed ancestry with, ran across a clear patch of grass, her eyes wide as she glanced over her shoulder. Sophia followed her gaze; squinting through the smoke from the bonfire and the crush of people, but it was the collective gasp of appreciation that alerted her to the potential danger. Her blood ran cold, her knees quivered until she thought they might not support her weight.

A massive black dragon appeared on the edge of the party, its sickly green underbelly gleaming from the fire, and twin curls of smoke issued from a long snout that bristled with wickedly sharp teeth.

“Braeden.
” She took a step forward as the dragon lumbered in Mona’s direction.

The crowds parted, clapping and cheering as if the animal was a prop designed for their amusement. She couldn’t blame them for being fooled. He was quite impressive, and the ground shook with each sure, calculating step.
She slid her gaze to Mona. In her obvious terror, the smaller woman tripped over the many extension cords that snaked over the ground. One of her feet caught in the rat’s nest, her white fingers showed in sharp relief as she clawed at the cords.

From the church a few blocks away, the bells in the old tower chime
d the midnight hour. Sophia’s attention careened back to Xavier as he began the steps of the ritual. She longed to go to him, make sure he performed them correctly, wanted to be there at the exact moment he gained his human status, but the tableau between Mona and the dragon wouldn’t let her be free.

Clang.

The dragon bore down on her roommate. Mona emitted a high-pitched squeak and pulled violently at her accidental bonds.

Clang.

Sophia glanced at the Immortal Court table. Her eyes met the angry red gaze of Sterling. Sweat drenched her skin when he edged in her direction.

Clang.

Her teeth chattered as the cool breeze collided over her damp skin. She looked again at the werewolf then back to Sterling and nearly retched up the meager contents in her stomach. The Portal Master veered off his course to her and instead walked purposefully in Xavier’s direction.

She couldn’t move. Time had seemingly paralyzed her feet.

Clang.

She threw an agonized glance at Mona. The dragon closed the distance between them with slow and deadly accuracy, now looming over the girl as the curls of smoke from his snout ruffled her curly, upswept hair.

Who did she help? Who deserved to be spared more?

The clock called the sixth note.

Swallowing her terror, Sophia made a decision. She’d rescue Mona then if she survived the encounter with the dragon, she’d see to Xavier and Sterling. As a human or a wolf, he was more than capable of handling the Portal Master. Mona needed her more.

Clang.

A loud commotion at the Immortal Court voting table jarred her from her purpose. A woman in mossy green robes and flowing russet hair stood. “This madness must stop! Order will be restored in the Eight Realms!”

An eighth note from the distant bell tower echoed on the suddenly silent air.

No conversation, no singing, no laughter broke the stillness. Only the relentless count of time as the clock rang out the ninth note.

Then the tenth fell into through the darkness with the force of a thunderclap.

Sophia sought out Xavier. He, too, had paused, the vial of potion hovering at his lips, uncorked but untouched. “Xavier, drink it!” Harsh and ragged, her voice shot through the quiet, but had no effect.

The eleventh note quivered in the heavy night.

His hand never moved as his gaze met hers. Sophia collapsed onto the cold grass, and the never-ending hole in her chest swallowed her, consumed her from the inside.

As the twelfth clang of the bells declared the hour of midnight, one of the Immortals, a dark-skinned man with well-kept dreadlocks, brought a silver gavel down on a wooden square.

Time stood still, shimmered in a wash of dancing glitter and sped up at the same time. The world as Sophia knew it swirled together in a mash of colors, tilted sideways, then vanished altogether.

Sophia blinked at the sudden change in location as she regained consciousness.

Instead of the general Halloween revelry she expected, a quiet, peaceful courtyard stretched before her. Soothing bushes of colorful night-blooming flowers lined the walkways, perfuming the air. Somewhere in the background, the faint tinkling of water from a fountain rang delicately through the air. Her heartbeat slowed to normal and her blood ceased its relentless rushing in her ears. She inhaled, comforted by the flowers and Xavier’s spicy scent.

Xavier!

She stirred, stretched her sore limbs, surprised to find she sat on a white wooden chair with Xavier to her right, his arm around her shoulders.

“Welcome back, gorgeous.” The smile he gave her nearly melted the fillings from her teeth, but the emptiness in her chest blanketed all other feeling. She blinked in response. “They’re just about to announce the new members of the Immortal Court.”

“What?
” She glanced up; taken aback at the velvety black sky that twinkled with thousands of sapphire blue stars. A full moon, white and bright, provided enough illumination to see clearly the columns of the Roman-style building. Steps led to a dais and on the raised platform rested a sturdy table of white marble that sparkled as if a million ground diamonds were used in the making of the piece of furniture. “The election?” Sophia twisted slightly in her chair. Rows of chairs, occupied by various beings, filled the grassy space behind her. Everyone held red paper ballots in their hands and identical looks of rapt attention on their faces. She swiveled around,               meeting Xavier’s amused gaze. “What about the potion and Braeden?” Her skin prickled as a shiver crept over her. “Where’s Sterling? What happened to Mona?”

“Perhaps you should pay attention to the proceedings. The answers will be forthcoming, I’m sure.
” He removed his arm from her shoulders in order to lace his fingers with hers. “This is a moment in history you need to witness.”

She frowned and then really looked at the werewolf. “Nice suit. Wish I had magical skills.
” When he let loose a growl that tickled inside her chest, Sophia grinned. “Never mind. I recognize the Earth Mother, but the other two are unknown to me.”

“Miss Raines, why don’t you come up here and share with the rest of us since you obviously intend to keep talking.
” The man with the dreadlocks pinned her with an annoyed glance. “We can’t conduct our business through your jabber.”

“Um, no, I’ll just stay here, thanks.
” Her cheeks burned as the dark-skinned man stood. “I promise to be quiet.” She squeezed Xavier’s hand, glad for his solid strength.

The man’s eyes blazed with silver heat. “Please join us on the stage since this next bit concerns your life.
”

A spark of resentment flared deep inside as she stood, walking up the grassy center aisle. “You know, I’ve been pushed around by Immortals all my life, and when you guys aren’t messing it up, it’s the lesser beings like the Portal Master that control my fate.
” She glared at the man. “I’m kind of annoyed about it. No, scratch that, I’m ticked off, at least I hope that’s what it is rolling around inside me, and I’m not taking it anymore.”

“I’m glad you feel that way because it’s exactly why we’re enacting these changes.
” The man chuckled, and the sound skittered around the assemblage as they, too, laughed. “I’m Father Time, or Aeon if you’re Greek.” When Sophia lifted an eyebrow and remained silent, he continued. “With the recent restructuring of the Courts, I’ve also attempted to update my image, so you can call me Daddy T.”

“Well, that’s definitely one myth busted for me, seeing Father Time as anything besides an old guy.
” She cocked her head and studied the jovial man. Gray velvet robes embroidered with red scrollwork swept the ground in majestic grace. Heavy silver necklaces dangled from his neck, the most prominent bauble a fist-sized letter T, eclipsed only by a six-inch hourglass. “How’s the makeover working for you?”

“Not bad.
” He smoothed a manicured hand over his dreadlocks. Two chunky, jeweled rings winked in the moonlight. “This is the Earth Mother, Danu.” He nodded at a tall, graceful woman who stood at the introduction. Her auburn hair gleamed with streaks of gold. “And that other lovely lady is Lyrica, a representative the Fates sent over since they were unable to attend tonight’s meeting.”

“Pleased to meet all of you.
” Sophia slid a glance over to the sleight woman who remained seated behind the table. A thick, white ponytail bobbed at the back of her head, which matched the rest of her fifties soda-shop ensemble, complete with pink poodle skirt and neck scarf. “Just come in from a Halloween party?”

“Yup, since no one told me I’d be pinch-hitting tonight until the last minute.
” She shot a telling look at Father Time, but he merely grinned.

Sophia rubbed her temples as a headache loomed. “I don’t care about any of that. I mean, I’m sure your problems are important, but I’m kinda in the middle of something huge. At least I was until we came here.
”

“Miss Raines—”

She continued as if Father Time hadn’t spoken. “I work for the Immortal Courts system and I have to tell you, it really stinks what you’ve done to it.” She wrapped her arms over her mid-section and paced before the long white table. “Do you realize I’ve made more enemies working for Sterling than a mob boss does in a lifetime? Not to mention my boyfriend’s stuck as a wolf forever since you whisked us all here before he could drink the gypsy potion.” Her words stumbled to a confused halt as she caught Xavier’s gaze—his very, warm, golden-brown
human
gaze. “Wait. Why isn’t he a wolf?”

“Hello?
” Father Time twisted one of his rings around his finger. “If I could get back to explaining why we’re all here? Or would you rather keep up the diva act?”

“I’m sorry, just nervous.
”

“You have every right to be.
” He fingered the scant hair on his upper lip. “Currently, time is at a standstill in the Mortal Realm until we sort through a few things, namely the whole Portal Master debacle.”

“You have no idea what he’s done. He—
”

“That will do, Sophia. You forget, we
’re immortal, and therefore aware of everything that goes on in the Eight Realms.”

She huffed. “
Yet, somehow Sterling took my soul in exchange for letting Xavier live.” She gave him the thumbs up sign. “Way to keep on top of things.” As soon as the words were out of her mouth, she wished she could reel them back.

Father Time crossed his arms over his chest as a thunderous scowl darkened his face. “Girl, if you interrupt again, you’ll be banished from these proceedings.
” He moved to his chair behind the table and settled himself. “Let’s finish this. Time’s a wasting.” He chuckled, nudging Danu with an elbow. “Did you see what I did there with the time, since I
am
Father Time?”

“Um hmm.
” The Earth Mother brushed a lock of shiny hair behind her shoulder. “Before the voting starts, there a few loose ends which need to be tied. It seems Sterling Abbignon is the common denominator in all of them.” She opened a huge book, scanned through a few pages, sticking her forefinger on one entry. “Will Sterling please rise?”

Sophia swung around as a murmur moved through the crowd. Sterling
stood. Tightly controlled anger scrawled across his features as his eyes glowed red.

“I was well within my rights as the Portal Master. I stand by every decision I’ve made and sincerely hope you’ll take that into account in my bid to sit on the Court.
” He stealthily approached the stage. “Even if I’m not elected, I’ll take my spot by force, thanks to Sophia.”

“You!
” She ran to the edge and leaped off, tackling the Portal Master. They tumbled to the grass as she pummeled him in the chest with fisted hands. “I want my soul back, you damn bastard.” She kneed him in the crotch before he rendered her immobile with hands around her neck.

He squeezed and cut off her oxygen supply. Black spots danced in her vision.

“People, stop fighting!” The Earth Mother’s cry went ignored once the werewolf entered the fray.

“Release my woman.
” Xavier’s howl reverberated through the courtyard, grew in intensity until Sophia thought her eardrums would burst from the noise. She clawed at Sterling’s fingers, able to turn her head in time to see Xavier latch onto his back. “No one touches her but me. Now, remove your fucking hands from her person unless you want them ripped from their sockets.” He bit down on Sterling’s shoulder. The Portal Master cried out in pain, but the pressure on Sophia’s neck eased.

She scrambled out from under Sterling, slipping her glasses
back into place. “Xavier, let go. He’s not worth the fight.” Sophia stretched out a hand, but he snarled and knocked it away.

“This no longer concerns you. I need to settle a score with him.
” He pulled back and cold-cocked Sterling. The crunch of cartilage sounded as blood gushed from Sterling’s nose. The werewolf grunted when the Portal Master slumped face first to the ground. His body muffled the soft tinkle of breaking glass. “Defending you against him is becoming tiresome.”

“I didn’t ask you to rush to my rescue.
” Sophia struggled to her feet and planted her hands on her hips. “What the hell is your problem? I’m capable of dealing with Sterling.” She nudged her boss with the toe of her shoe. He groaned but didn’t attempt to stand.

“Sophia, Xavier, I must ask you to…
” The Earth Mother’ voice faded.

A thick, curling column of orange smoke rose from beneath Sterling to twine around Sophia’s body. She inhaled the scent of fresh citrus. The citrusy, grapefruit aroma made her mouth water, then the almost viscous cloud enter her body. She opened her mouth, encouraged it down her throat as if it were a supernatural milkshake since it seemed that’s where it wanted to go anyway.

She emerged, gasping, and her gaze flew to the werewolf. “Xavier.” She ignored the members of the Immortal Court, ignored the curious glances of the crowd, ignored everything in order to concentrate fully on the man who stood not two feet away. His chest heaved, eyes blazed, and upper lip curled in a snarl. Sophia’s vision swam with sudden tears. “I’m so glad you’re here.” She stepped over Sterling, who stirred with a moan. “I can feel again.”

“Your soul has been returned?
” Concern painted Xavier’s voice. He captured her hands in his. “Do you remember what you mean to me?”

As if an emotional faucet had been turned on high, thoughts and feelings flooded through
her mind in a torrent so strong her chest constricted. Pain stabbed her heart from the onslaught. Terror for their situation froze her brain, followed by a fierce protectiveness for Mona, but a tidal wave of love swept those lesser emotions aside. It rushed through her body, warming every recess, filled her being with a searing, unwavering sense of peace, and belonging.

She fell into Xavier’s arms as sobs shook her frame. “I thought I lost you when I realized you didn’t drink the potion, and then Mona and the dragon, and Sterling was there…
” She pressed her lips to his, stopping the disjointed flow of words. “I love you. I don’t care if you’re a wolf and I’m a statue, my feelings will never change.”

“Sophia—
” His voice wobbled with strain.

She shook her head and covered his face with tiny kisses. “Just promise that if I
’m a rock, you’ll put me out in a garden, but don’t pee on me to mark your territory as a canine, okay?” She ran her fingers through his curls and snuggled closer to his body as another thought emerged from the jumble in her head. Prickles of awareness entered her bloodstream to super-charge her nerve endings. “I want you, right here, right now, naked and sweaty and—”

“Sophia!
” This time, exasperation was evident in his strangled cry. “As much as I’d love to take you up on that offer, this is hardly the time.” He pushed her to arm’s length and gestured toward the stage with his head.

“This brings the whole bizarre evening back to me.
” Father Time and the two other Immortals stood at the edge of the stage. Three pairs of eyes bore into Sophia with three identical expressions of amusement. “Mortals are so annoying. I can’t believe we’re letting two of them serve on the Court this year.”

“Take it up with the Fates.
” Lyrica planted her hands on her hips. “Look, is this mortal-fest going to take much longer? All Saint’s Day started like twenty minutes ago, and it’s a bit of a busy time for me, you know with all the thread measuring and cutting and what not.”

“You are right, Lyrica.
” The Earth Mother clapped her hands. “Thank you all for coming for this historic vote, but unfortunately we need to address a few concerns before the voting can actually take place. Therefore, I will send you back to the Mortal Realm with Lyrica. She’ll collect your ballets.” With one snap of her slender fingers, the crowds and the third Immortal disappeared.

Sophia glanced from one remaining Immortal to the next. “What does this mean for Xavier and me? The midnight deadline passed and
he didn’t drink the gypsy potion. I won’t be able to survive in this form without Sterling’s tinctures. What about Sterling? Does he get to walk away with no consequences?” Apprehension sat heavily on her shoulder. “Where’s Mona and Braeden? If you sent them with back won’t he keep hunting her?” Sophia glared at Father Time. “Daddy T? I need answers, now.”