Wyrd Calling (Wyrd Bound Book 1) (3 page)

I sighed and collapsed on the bed, trying not to groan and curse. I'd been through worse. If anything, I was more pissed off that I'd allowed my condition and training to lapse to that point. I took as deep a breath as my ribs would allow and stripped down. I hated the feeling of dirty bedding and sleeping in my clothes. I eyed the bathroom door, considering a nice hot shower. My body laughed harshly at me. So I crawled under the covers and allowed sleep to take me.
 

4

I scrunched my eyes closed as I tried to breathe a little deeper when I woke. I cursed every god I could think of under my breath as I slowly tried to sit up. Shifters heal quicker than most creatures, but I was still looking at a long week of pain before I'd be anything like back to normal. I cursed the draconic asshole in every language I could muster as I swung my legs over the side of the bed and eyed the bathroom. I couldn't stand feeling dirty; I blamed it on my jaguar aspect, but maybe I was just that much of a princess. I didn't care either way. I wanted to wash the blood, sweat, and filth off me. I wrinkled my nose when I thought I caught the faint whiff of draconic on me. I definitely needed that shower, pain be damned.
 

I muttered every curse known to man and beast on that short shuffling trip to the shower, but I made it and it was worth it. The hot water streamed down my bare skin, agony wrapped me up in her embrace as I felt every cut, bruise, and muscle tear scream in a twisted symphony. I closed my eyes and focused on the sensation of the filth being washed from my body leaving me cleansed, fresh, and smooth. Breathing became easier with each passing moment and my muscles finally began to relax a little. That was the nice thing about being in hotels and similar establishments. I wasn't paying the water bill.
 

I didn't know or really care how long I'd been in there when I finally emerged to towel myself down. The cheap, slightly rough towel did not feel good against my injuries, but I curled my lip and got on with it. The shower was over. The peace was lifting. I had shit I had to get done. I tried to pull up a mental inventory of the items and clothing I'd managed to bring with me. There wasn't much in the way of essentials, so I'd need to steal some more. I smiled to myself as I pulled on my cut-off shorts and blue strap top. I could easily afford to buy what I wanted, but I loved the thrill of thieving a bit too much. I had plenty of tricks and enough money to cover me for a little while, but that feeling when I slipped the items into my bag and walked out of the shop no one any the wiser. That was why I did it.
 

My reverie and focus were broken by a quiet knock at the door. I eyed it suspiciously trying to think who would be knocking. The most logical thought would be the maid, but I didn't want to get caught off guard by some draconic thug. I bent down to rummage through my bag for one of my multiple blades, but the door opened before I could lay my hands on one. His silky smooth energies wrapped around me as I stood up to try and see who dared intrude. A grin erupted on my face as I tried to hobble as quickly as I could over to him. I threw my arms around his neck and gently bit his throat.
 

"My dear Lee, it's been far too long, my beautiful.”
 

He pulled back a little to look at me. He pursed his lips as he surveyed my injuries before he sighed. "Suriel, I am sorry for the damage you sustained. It was meant to be a little game."

I dropped down onto the bed in disbelief. I should have known. "That was you!"

I couldn't help but run the word Suriel back through my head, the way his tongue wrapped about the syllables and added the smooth finish always made me smile and formed little butterflies in my stomach. That didn’t stop me from glaring at him for a second, though. I loved our games, but it had gone a bit far.

He smiled sheepishly at me before sitting next to me. “I thought you'd appreciate a bit of fun. You always were a thrill-seeker."

 
I raised an eyebrow and looked into those familiar moss green eyes. "There's thrill-seeking and then there's being beaten by a huge draconic..."

I couldn't stay mad at him, though. That was part of us, part of our dance. He looked down and away; his hands settled in his lap. I glared at him. He should have been quietly affectionate, playful, something other than the reserved thing he was. Something was wrong, and I had a sinking feeling that I knew what it was.

"This isn't a social call, is it?"

He leaned in and kissed my forehead. "Sorry, Suriel."

I shook my head. "They're calling me in?"

His eyes looked into mine once more, holding my gaze with a familiar fire behind them. I rolled my eyes and looked away with a wry smile. He knew me better than almost anyone else.
 

"Fine, I won't run away this time.”
 

He offered a quiet laugh and rested his hand on my knee. The sadness in his eyes betrayed his intent. This was his apology. Not just for the previous night, but for his message, his purpose in seeing me again. I hated it, but I couldn’t change it, so I focused on the process. The cool silk of his energies wrapped their tendrils around me, slowly searching out my injuries before slipping into them, pulling bone back into place and muscle tissue together once more. It was an odd sensation that I had grown to love over the decades. His warm energies mingled with my own and wove their way through my body in an intimacy unlike any other. The pain was dull and almost itched when the muscles knitted together. There was something bizarrely pleasant about the entire experience. A feeling of being refreshed and almost new again. I breathed as deeply as I could while he completed the process. I needed to remain calm and keep my mind out of it so that I didn’t distract him or interfere.
 

He nipped the tip of my ear before standing and giving me a small nod. I couldn't help but feel the weight press down on my shoulders as I watched him walk to the door. I wanted things to be as they were before. The freedom we had enjoyed together, rather than small nods and a clear distance. It had been many years since he and I had danced, and our reunion had had to be for this. It was agonisingly brief. There were so many things I wanted to say and to share with him.
 

Instead I simply said, "thank you," when he walked away, again.
 

I was left with the warm, dull ache and the weight of waiting. My injuries were still present, but he had helped me to the point that I could walk almost comfortably and breathe properly again. I put my face in my hands and tried to find that inner calm I'd achieved in the shower. Everything had gone to hell in the space of 24 hours. I gritted my teeth and dragged the shred of acceptance and calm to the surface as best as I could. I was created for this purpose. There were many times when I hated it, but that was tough shit, wasn't it? I swallowed down my pride and escape plans and prepared myself for
them.
 

I didn't have to wait long. A tall willowy woman with long golden-blonde hair down to her waist appeared a couple of feet in front of me. She was wearing a simple white shift. I fought very hard not to roll my eyes. Why couldn't they dress like normal people? She smiled warmly at me. I tried to be thankful it was only one of the Sisters, and not all three this time. Her voice was warm and almost soothing. I curled my lip, refusing to accept the comfort it offered.
 

"Thalia, I'm sure you know why I'm here".

I tried to keep my voice level. "To put me back where I belong, in the role I was created for."

She laughed softly, "There's no need for quite so much contempt."

I bared my teeth at her. I couldn't really hurt her, but there were times when I was very tempted to try. She openly took my freedom and clipped my wings, yet I was supposed to be calm and accepting of it all? I covered my teeth again and reminded myself that this was my purpose, like it or not.
 

She simply nodded. "Contempt aside, you're right. You'll return to Arkarith and Alexei and step back into your role."

I sighed and mentally pulled up my list of possible contacts. If I could get together a couple of old souls and maybe some fae, then I'd be able to hide for a few more years...

She laughed full heartedly this time. My face must have betrayed me. She could just have read my mind; I never did quite grasp the full extent of her skills and place in things.
 

She said, in the manner of a mother, "Thalia, just go and do this. Stop wasting your energy."

I pouted and muttered under my breath before saying, "Fine. Where am I heading to?"

"Arkarith's cottage. You'll meet them there."

My mind skipped over the word
them,
although it didn’t go entirely unnoticed.

I tucked my knees up to my chest and wrapped my jaguar tail around me, not that I'd realised I'd even shifted it. "Has he moved in the last decade?"

"This is Arkarith..."

I nodded. "Alright, I'll head out once you leave then."

With that, she smiled and vanished.
 

I was left alone once again. Preparing myself to return to my role and a whole host of challenges that I didn’t want to think about. I didn’t know who they were, but I had no doubt I didn’t want to deal with them. I sighed and flicked my tail idly. That acceptance I tried to tell myself I had was waning, but realistically I had no choice. I had already run from my role as Wyrd Bound. I’d lost everything and turned from every facet of my existence to try and free myself of them. Yet, I knew they would always find me and drag me back. I was born into that role. As much as I was stubborn, determined, and downright pig-headed at times, I knew in the darkest recesses of my mind that I belonged to them. Trying to fight against the Wyrd Sisters was pure foolishness. I had to embrace that fact and make the most of it.
 

That didn't stop me from dragging my heels, though. I carefully repacked my bag so that I could get my blades quickly and easily. When my stomach growled, I knew that I had to at least leave the hotel room. I assumed that Lee had covered the bill; if not, I'd try my feminine wiles and hope for the best. I could have paid, but I didn't like the idea of losing my hard-earned money thanks to them. That may have made me petty, but I didn’t care.
 

Walking was much easier thanks to Lee. I wasn’t quite fighting fit, but I could have held my own if I needed to. I abandoned my bag on the passenger seat of my car before returning to hand over the key. The middle-aged woman behind the desk barely bothered to look up from her computer, no doubt whining about how crap her job was on Facebook or playing some meaningless game. She gave a quick nod of acknowledgment and returned to her essential game of solitaire or whatever she was doing. My stomach made it quite clear that it was my next priority. Pancakes sounded amazing, but I wasn't fussy. The first thing that came up would do.

 
Unfortunately, the first thing to come up wasn't food. I walked slowly back to my car to find a trio of males talking loudly and gesturing at it. I pursed my lips and wished I'd kept a blade on me before reminding myself that slitting their throats in broad daylight just for irritating me… wasn't going to amuse the Wyrd Sisters. Or the human police. That didn’t stop me from toying with the idea, though. The jaguar was quite keen on the concept. I did need a good way to vent, after all. I pushed the jaguar back and tried to make myself relaxed and firmly human. I put on my best false smile, put my shoulders back, and added a little sway to my hips with plans to get the situation resolved as quickly as possible.
 

"I see you guys like my car, then."

The tall one must have been at least a foot taller than me, his thick dark brown hair forming a mop that fell too close to his eyes. He flashed me a lop-sided grin before allowing his lupine energies far too close to the surface. Great, a sloppy cub.
 

"Yea, she's a beautiful example; have you had her long?"
 

I was in absolutely no mood for car talk, so I decided to act like the ditsy girl. "A few years. I picked it up in a sale, it was just the right price and colour at the time."

The dirty blond male turned to get a better look at me. His amber-green eyes flashed slightly. I tried not to curse under my breath. Did no one teach the bloody wolves to control themselves in public these days?
 

"She is certainly a pretty colour. She matches you in that way. I bet she’s comfortable for long journeys and late nights, too."

I rolled my eyes. "If you don't mind, I'm heading out."

The third one moved to block my path. His dark blue eyes shimmered slightly but held no lupine sensations, yet the way he held his slightly short frame gave away his tension.
 

"It's not often that we meet a female of our kind..."

Straight to the point, fantastic. There I was thinking I was being subtle and would escape the situation.

 
I tilted my head to one side and gave him my best bunny eyes. "I'm sorry, your kind? Do you mean car drivers...? I'm pretty sure lots of women drive cars."

They all laughed before they took a step forwards. My patience was growing thin, and I had very little when I started the conversation.

Mr. Blue Eyes leaned forward and said, with a predatory smile no less, "You know that isn't what we mean..."

I raised an eyebrow and crossed my arms. I was bored of the facade. "Boys, you'd best back off and leave me alone, otherwise I’ll castrate you before you have a chance to realise it’s happening.”

They laughed again, for the brief moment it took me to cover the short distance between us and hold the tall male's balls in a vicelike grip. I looked at the other two.
 

"Now, be good little cubs and do as you're told, or I'll keep my word."

They bared their teeth a little, but backed off. The tall one didn’t dare move a muscle until I let him go. He stepped behind the others, but I was no longer interested. I got into my car and put them out of my mind. Stupid bloody wolves.