Transforming Love (A Koning Clan Novel) (6 page)

    “
Not to worry
, I have a plan, but first you have to teach me all you can about shifting. S
o when do we start?”

     Charlie shook his head, knowing all too well that any plan she had would be full of trouble. He opened the library
’
s door and motioned for her to follow. Before she passed by he gave her a bear hug.

     “
You know I love ya as I
would my own daughter.”
Jenny nodded unable to speak, because he was crushing her. “
Good
,
remember that, because the first time you shift it hurts like hell.
There
’
s one more thing, Gryph said he
w
anted to
teach you
.
”

     Her face went white. Her blood
ran for the hills like a pack of wild dogs was nipping at its heels. Jenny didn
’
t like pain. She cried when she got a splinter. She closed her eyes and pictured herself in wedding dress marring an unknown man. He
r
temper
boiled hot and thick like a pot ful
l of her Dad's campfire
chili
. If her plan was going to succeed, she needed to be brave. After all, it was in her
genes
.
Maybe she was getting too big for her britches.

     “
H
e
’
ll meet
you
outside. The first time is easier when you can connect with
nature.”
He released her and pointed
the way out back.
She gave him a small wave goodbye. The trip
was a quick walk and Jenny was ready to get it over with.
Her body thrummed with excitement, but she wasn
’
t sure if it was shifting or Gryph that drove the r
esponse.

     She opened the French doors and stepped onto a cobblestone patio. Gryph stood like a Greek statue facing the towering trees. It seemed like he was silently challenging them to fall down to his greatness. Jenny snorted.

     He turned his head
and his eyes blazed a trail over her body.

     “
Jenifer.”

     “
Gryph.”
She tilted her chin.

     “
Are you ready to listen?”

     She narrowed her eyes.

     “
Yes, I am.”
s
he spat.

     “
Good
,
now take off your clothes.”

     “
What?”
she squeaked.

     One of his eyebrows lifted
and he tapped his foot
.

     “
Do you want to learn or not?”

     “
Yes.”
She began to lift her shirt over her head and stopped when his laughter replaced the sound of the singing birds.

     “
You really are clueless.”

    She
pulled her shirt down so fast
,
she popped stitches.

    “
I
’
ll get even. Just you wait.”

     He flashed his white teeth. “
I look forward to it.”

     “
Ok
ay
, don
’
t worry about your clothes. They stay with you when you shift. It
’
s part of the magic,
and I
couldn
’
t explain it if I wanted. I want you to picture a ball of white light
,
and in the center is your animal.
Y
ou can picture whatever you want. You have to focus until things become more natural to you. When the change hits you the first time it
’
s slow,
and that
’
s why it hurts. The better your focus
,
the less it will hurt.
Are you ready
?”

     “
Yes, I believe I am.”
She blinked
,
almost believing her own lie.

    
“
Good, whatever you do, don
’
t stop. You have to finish the transformation.”

    
Her hand
trembled as
she
reached down to her ankle to remove her charm bracelet. She did the best she could not to show how truly scared she was. She placed it softly on the ground. She closed her eyes and steadied her breathing. She pictur
ed her ball of light and saw her
animal of choice
within.
The small coyote watched her like she was looking into a mirror.
Then she felt it. The slow burn started at the tips of her fingers and toes, but it quickly built into a raging fire. All of her musc
les and bones popped and pulled. It felt like she was being torn apart from the inside. She screamed, and it turned into howl.

     She did it. She shifted, but it only lasted for a moment. She fell to the ground in her human form curled into a ball. She
still felt like she was on fire.
Gryph
bent down and lifted her into his arms.

     “
You did well.”

    
She burrowed further into his chest taking strength
and his scent into her body.

     “
That was pathetic. When I win the Slag, I may not want her for
my queen.”
A man w
ith black hair and eyes so dark
that
they looked soulless stepped from the trees.

     Fangs exploded from
Gryph
’
s
mouth, and his words sounded slurred when he spoke, “
Who are you and what are you doing here?”

     “
I
’
m Kane, Kane Drac
he
, and she is no
t worthy to be queen. When I win her I will use her body as I see fit and find a more suitable mate, one that is more…
equated to my needs.”

     “
Drache, I
’
ve
heard of your clan
.”
A
n
ominous
sound rumbled deep in his chest.

      Kane mo
ve so quickly it was almost imperceptible. His clawed hand circled
Gryph
’
s
throat, choking the life out of him. Still he did not drop Jenny. She wanted so badly to help, but she couldn
’
t move. All of her energy had been spent shifting for the first
time
. S
he couldn't even cry out for help.

     Gryph held
her with one arm as his claws unsheathed
drawing deep cuts into Kane
’
s
fore
arm.

     “
Enough.”

     “
Fuck you
.
I don
’
t follow your orders.”
Kane sneered.

     Gryph spoke through clenched teeth
. “
If you
do not release me
I will be forced to banish you from the Slag. You are a guest in my home and territory, so you will follow my rules.”

     “
Fine, but only so I can have the honor of defeating you.”
Kane released
his hold and
s
hifted into a large black h
yena. He let out a demonic laugh as he lopped into the woods.

     “
Are you alright?”

    
Jenny
gave an almost imperceptible nod. Panic flooded
her
as she listened to
his
labored breathing. Still
,
he carried
her
into the house and up to her room.
He
plac
ed her gently on top of her bed
, covering
her with the soft white blank
et that was draped at the foot of it
.

    
His voice was raspy as he spoke
, “
Rest for a bit.
You will feel better in a few hours and then you can take a
bath and have something to eat
.
”
Gryph
wiped the last tear from her cheek and left
,
closing the door softly behind him.

     She stared at the door
,
trying to understand what just happened. He could have dropped her and dealt with Kane, but instead he endured an injury just to keep fro
m hurting her further. Maybe he was right. She certainly shouldn
’
t judge someone from their appearance.

     Jenny woke to the feel of a cold cloth on her forehead. She opened her eyes and tried to sit up. A
small c
ry of pain rushed past her lips, and s
he fell back down to her pillow.

     “
Shh…
it
’
s alright. I
’
m not going to hurt you. Here, take this
,
it will help with the pain.”
It was the same soft, feminine voice from the phone.

     Jenny felt two small
pills at her lips and opened her mouth. She swallowed greedily as the fresh water flowed down her throat.

      “
Easy now, you don
’
t want to choke. My name is Marlena, and I
’
m here to help you rec
over. Don
’
t worry about Gryph;
he is resting at my promise
to help you. That Kane fellow is real bad news. I
’
m glad Gryph
was with you
. Those pills are fast acting
,
and after a long nice soak
,
you
’
ll feel right as rain.”

     Marlena had a soft
, kind face complete with laugh lines, soft brown eyes an
d matching h
air. She was middle-
aged reminding her of her mother. Warmth spread along her limbs. She felt better already and scooted up to the top of her bed.

     “
Thank you
.
”

     “
The pleasure
’
s all mine
,
dear. Now
,
would you like a bath?”

     “
Yes
,
please, that sounds lovely.”

     “
Okay, are you able to walk or would you like me to carry you?”
At Jenny
’
s inquisitive look, Marlena continued, “
I am a lot stronger than I look.”
She winked and waited.

     “
I believe I can walk
,
if you would be so ki
nd as to let me lean on you just a bit.”

     “
Sure, let
’
s get started.”
Marlena opened her arm to allow
Jenny
to use her as a crutch.

     The idea of a satisfying hot bath sounded too tempting to pass up. Jenny maneuvered to the edge of the bed and too
k Marlena
’
s outstretched arm. Jenny was still sore, but whatever was in those pills made her feel a lot better.

     Jenny loved the tub too
,
pity she couldn't marry it instead. She sighed
,
in heaven once again. Marlena put in some noteworthy oil
,
scented
like lilacs
,
and all her remaining aches and pains melted int
o the water. Her stomach protested,
waking
her from her bliss. So she decided to g
et out and dress. She walked
into her bedroom and found a lovely gown gently displayed on her bed
,
complete with
a note. Her hand stroked the soft silk like fabric. It was a dark hunter green and was just short enough to show of
f
her fantastic legs. She leaned over and picked up the note.