Fang Chronicles: Tyboll Page 3

  “Take care of my children and see that Mandy suffers without me for the rest of her life.” A louder-than-necessary groan follows this diatribe. He’s been like this for more than an hour. Shifting hasn’t helped and Patreous hasn’t returned with Mandy.

  “You’re not dying,” I explain for the twentieth time.

  “Please don’t say that. If you’re right, I may need to kill myself. Goddess, it hurts.”

  I grit my teeth. Honey seriously needs to grow a set. My daughter has somehow emasculated our next alpha.

  Finally, I hear Mandy and Patreous approaching. “Your mate is back,” I whisper. “It’s in your best interest to beg for forgiveness.”

  “It doesn’t matter. I’ll be dead.”

  I look to the door when Mandy walks through naked and sporting a large grin. She ignores her husband and pulls on sweats and a t-shirt.

  “Where is my granddaughter?” I huff loudly.

  Mandy walks to Honey and sits on the side of the bed. She pushes the hair from his face. Honey shakes off her hand, jumps from the bed with a moan, and runs into the bathroom.

  “Was poisoning your mate absolutely necessary?” I demand.

  Her grin grows larger. “I think so. How bad has it been?”

  “He thinks he’s dying and nothing I say will change his mind.”

  “He’s lucky I only gave him a third more than your dosage. I thought about doubling it.”

  “You are a terrible mate,” I say with long-suffering impatience.

  “Yes, I believe I am.” She doesn’t look contrite in the least.

  “My granddaughter. Is she with the alpha?”

  “No…”

  I don’t like her tone. “His mate?”

  “No…”

  This is Mandy at her finest with trouble in every nuance of her short non-satisfactory answers. “What have you done, daughter of mine?”

  “She’s spending a few hours with Aunt Veda.”

  I’m beyond stunned. It takes about three seconds before my voice explodes into the room even louder than the near-death groans coming from the bathroom. “You endangered my granddaughter by leaving her with that old crone? Are you out of your scattered wolf’s brain?”

  Mandy’s smile completely disappears. She arches her eyebrows before squinting and giving me her death stare. “Veda is not an old crone. She’s a beautiful woman who has never had a child to care for. This clan should be ashamed of itself.” She stands and moves in front of me, her nose a foot below mine but tilted up at me in anger. “She has helped all of you for years. I’ve asked around and she has never harmed a soul.”

  I’m barely holding onto my temper and I happen to know that it’s never a good idea to challenge Mandy. Another loud groan from the bathroom proves it. “You have no idea what you speak of. The entire bloodline of that woman is evil.”

  Mandy crosses her arms and drops her voice an octave. “You had better check every cup you drink from for the next few months because you will pay for that.”

  I’ve crossed the line and I know it, but my grandchild is more important than upsetting my daughter. “I shall go fetch Demetria. If one hair on her head is harmed, the witch will pay with her life.”

  Mandy waves me away. “That’s what I planned all along. Off you go.”

  I can only stare in consternation. Why do I bother? I turn and exit the cabin grumbling beneath my breath. Before stepping from the porch, I tear off my clothes and shift to bear.

  “Do you wish me to go with you, Father?” Patreous asks telepathically.

  “No. I will handle this myself. You best stay out of it or you will find yourself over the toilet releasing your bowels. Go home and leave Mandy and Honey to straighten out their problems in their own way. It’s what I should have done.” I take off into the trees.

  I repeat my promise in my head during the entire trip. I will kill the woman if she harms my grandchild. She’s had her for at least two hours now. A woman who can burn down her own cabin should not be placed in charge of any young beastkind. No, I don’t think Veda will harm her purposely, but the woman can’t be trusted with keeping herself safe much less a rambunctious child.

  I shift right before approaching the cabin. I’m surprised the door is closed and that she isn’t expecting me. I try the handle and find it unlocked, so I push the door open and enter. I don’t see them on my first sweep. Then my eyes return to the bed. Veda is curled around Demetria and they are both in human form. Veda’s hand rests on Demetria’s small, bare baby bottom. The child sucks her thumb in her sleep. Veda’s eyes are closed, too. If I didn’t see it with my own eyes, I wouldn’t believe it. Demetria never sleeps in human form; she rarely shifts to it.

  My eyes don’t linger on my granddaughter because I’ve never had a chance to openly study Veda. She’s incredibly beautiful even though I hate to admit it. Her skin is sun-kissed from all the time she spends outdoors in human form. Freckles pepper her face and arms. A long, flowing skirt is twisted around her legs and keeps me from viewing them. Her shirt is threadbare and a size too large. I look back to her face. High cheek bones, full lips, and long eyelashes that only accentuate her gorgeous green eyes. And then her hair—red, fiery, and long with flowing curls that never quite conform to the braids she insists on weaving. The reason I dislike red hair is because of hers. Every time I see a woman with it I’m reminded of this witch. My body reacts and I work very hard to tame the longing that flows through me. I’m surprised at the yearning I feel. I thought Patreous’s mother had cured me of sexual desire when she left. Just thinking of that woman deflates the erection swelling between my legs and I give a sigh of relief.

  Veda opens her large green eyes. I place my finger to my lips. She glances at the sleeping child and smiles softly. Goddess, the red hair makes this woman absolutely stunning. I nod to the door because I need to get out of this enclosed space and clear my head.

  She follows a minute later and closes the door behind us. “I should have known you wouldn’t want me with the child. I would never harm a baby.” The pain in her expression is palpable.

  Her scent, which overtook me when I entered the cabin, fills my senses again. I find myself staring at her lips. They’re full and sensuous… begging to be kissed. I look up into her eyes and see tears on her cheeks. “I know you would never harm a child, but accidents happen.” It’s the best I can do. I really don’t want her crying.

  She wipes her eyes, but her hurt expression remains. “Why didn’t you tell me you didn’t burn down my cabin?”

  Heat creeps up my neck. “It’s not like you stopped yelling long enough that I could get a word in.”

  Now her skin pinkens. She looks away for a moment before returning her gaze to mine and changes the subject. “I’m sorry I couldn’t save your mother. She was a good woman.”

  “Yes, she was. You did what was right.” She did. I know that now, but at the time anger guided me and hateful words filled with recrimination spilled out.

  “That doesn’t make it easy.”

  “No.” I look away because I don’t want to see pity in her eyes. This entire conversation makes me uncomfortable.

  Veda speaks before I can think of something to say. “Demetria played for over an hour before settling down for her nap. I have no idea how long she’ll be asleep, but I think she’ll be in a better mood if we allow her to finish her nap.”

  Recently, we’d been lucky if the rascal slept for more than thirty minutes at a time. Maybe this woman has some kind of a witch’s touch that we could take advantage of. With supervision, that is.

  Veda sits on the porch and pats the space beside her. It’s too close, especially without my clothes on. But my feet apparently have a mind of their own as I move close to the spot where Veda wants me to sit. Holding myself stiffly beside her, I sit and try not to touch her. I feel like a juvenile worried about cooties. Nakedness is not uncommon with beastkind. Though, putting on clothes is the polite thing to do within the bear clan and we usually d
o it after shifting to our human forms.

  We sit in silence for several long minutes. I don’t understand why her scent affects me like it does. I turn my nose away and look out into the shadows of the forest. I can see that it would be quite lonely to stay out here alone all the time. “Why do you choose to live out here away from everyone?” I finally ask as I turn to look at her.

  “It’s how we’ve always lived.” She doesn’t explain further and she isn’t looking at me.

  I can’t read what she’s thinking if I can’t see her eyes. “It makes no sense. Only a short time ago there was a beastkind war going on. You were in danger.”

  Now her gaze meets mine. “I will die when the Goddess deems it my time. I hold no fear of the cats.”

  Her answer irritates me. “You should. The cats don’t hold to any set of voodoo rules.”

  Now her eyes spark with irritation. “What rules do you speak of? The ones where I’m ostracized from the bears because of my gifts. Kept away from children. Only visited in fear because curiosity gets the better of she-bears. They don’t befriend me and they never stay long. My mother told me of this, but when she was alive the loneliness was bearable. Some days I would give anything for the sound of another voice. The touch of another person. A gentle word.”

  I’m stunned. I can’t remember how long ago her mother died. Many, many years. Our clan is close-knit. We need each other. Even when I was at my worst the clan didn’t abandon me. Without thinking, I reach for her hand.

  An explosion of electrical current jumps between us the moment our skin touches. The shock jolts us both and we come to our feet.

  It can’t be.

  No!

  Veda slowly backs away from me. “It’s impossible. It goes against the great texts.” She opens the front door of her cabin. “Take your granddaughter and go away now. Never return.” Fear shows in her eyes and I’m too stunned to do more than shake my head. Veda slowly removes her clothes without taking her eyes from me. She shifts and scrambles ungracefully over the side rail running into the forest. I take several steps intending to follow her. I hear Demetria cry from inside the cabin. What the hell do I do?

  The Goddess has chosen my next mate.

  Chapter Seven

  Veda

  No, No, No! This can’t be. It’s impossible. I cannot mate. It has never happened. Why would the Goddess do this? I run until I can no longer place one foot in front of the other. My legs quiver, my sides heave. Thinking I’ll never have a child is one thing. Mating a bear and making it reality is something else entirely. I thought I had given up all hope of motherhood but I lied to myself. To never hold the soft skin of a child against me again is more painful than I can bear. Now that I know the feeling, inhaled Demetria’s scent, it’s just that much more agonizing.

  Each she-witch before me followed the same path. Time with our mother until it’s time for us to receive the gift. Years of loneliness until our time to produce a child comes upon us. Then we have our own child to make the isolation tolerable. It’s the cycle of a witch’s life. Why would I be the one to end it?

  I curl into a ball, shift, and cry as only a human female can. I don’t want to be alone. I want a family. I want children. I can’t believe I’m thinking this. I want that big, horrible bear.

  ***

  Hours later, I drag myself to my feet. Self-pity will get me nowhere. I must leave. The mating call will have Tyboll back here within a few days. Though I’ve never felt the pull until now, I’ve read about it and spoken to she-bears who suffered through it. The result is always the same. You are mated for life.

  And I can never have a life mate. It’s not a witch’s destiny.

  When I reach my cabin, I pour out the contents of a large backpack I use to hold herbs. I have very little in the way of clothes. Only castoffs from she-bears who need something from me. I try to tamp down my resentment. I have very little money too.

  After I fill the bag, I know what else I need to do. I peel off my clothes and lay them on the bed. It probably won’t fool him, but I must try. Tears fall from my eyes as I light the cabin on fire to destroy the home Tyboll built for me. This is my only chance. I walk away with the flames spiking into the sky behind me. This part of my life is over. I’ve always wanted to be around others. Beastkind, not human. Beggars can’t be choosers.

  I’m weary on the outside and terrified on the inside. The human world is one I’ve never seen. Yes, occasionally hunters break the rules and enter this sanctuary, but I’ve always known they were coming. Now I’m seeking out the people I’ve stayed away from all my life. It will take me days to get there and lose myself within the city. But I never will if I don’t take the first step. I refuse to look back. The smell of burning wood follows me for miles.

  I sleep high in a tree when fatigue finally over takes me. It’s overcast and I can see only a few stars. No moon. I nod off for about an hour at a time. When the sun peeks over the horizon, I’m exhausted. It doesn’t matter. I crawl down from the tree, relieve myself, and eat a few dry berries from my pack. I drink my water and continue my journey. I’m entering a strange world and I’m afraid. Not of danger. With my beastkind blood I’m able to defend myself. It’s fear of the unknown. I’ve never been in this predicament. I always have warning of what’s ahead. My dreams give me a garbled sense of things to come.

  What have I done to offend the Goddess so badly that she has forsaken me?

  When darkness fills the sky again, I find another tree. I’ve come across fewer wild animals, so I know I’m getting closer to the human world. I sleep even less than the night before. I want nothing more than a bath and my bed. I want Tyboll. The longing inside of me is an electrically charged cable that needs grounding. The farther away from him I get the worse it is. I had hoped it would improve.

  Does he feel the same imbalance?

  Does he think I’m dead?

  I’m so tired, I stumble and fall.

  “Whoa there, are you okay?” a voice says from my right.

  I’m dizzy and sick to my stomach from living off dried berries for two days, but my fear is greater. I scramble to my feet. “Get away or I will kill you.”

  A man in strange clothing steps out of the trees. He places his hands palms out, slightly lifted. I see a gun on his hip and a shiny star on his chest. “Let me call an ambulance and get you some help. I’m just going to reach for my radio.” Slowly, his hand lowers and he pulls a black box from his hip. The thing makes a loud, crackling noise and I flinch.

  This isn’t good. I need to get away and shift so I can travel faster. I take off running.

  “Hey, I only want to help,” he calls from behind me.

  I don’t care. I don’t need his help. I run for over a mile. Even in human form, I’m fast. He can’t keep up with me, but I know I need to put greater distance between us. I cross a road and clamber into dense trees on the other side. I stay hidden in foliage as I follow the road. I freeze when a driving machine speeds past. My mother told me about these machines. She gave me as much information as she could about the human world so I would be prepared to seek out a man to breed with. She explained that it’s easy when you find the right human male. Again, it’s something I was supposed to understand when it happened.

  Is my mother crying in the Summerlands because I have failed? Failed a great and majestic lineage. I am the first to do so and I will be the last because I will never bare a daughter. I keep walking. Branches jump out at me and I stumble. At least it feels as if they jump out. My eyes are bleary and now I just want sleep. I finally see lights in the distance. I stay back and wait until I’m sure no one is near. Rest Stop, the sign reads. There is a building with a woman in a dress painted on one door and a man painted on the other. I enter the room marked for women and find a bathroom. It stinks. There are two toilets and a sink. I use the toilet and then remove a soft shirt from my bag and wet it with cold water. I begin washing my face, neck, arms, and hands. It feels wonderful.

  I check
outside and it remains quiet. I quickly change into clean clothes. My hair is wild with my braid unraveling. I slowly unplait it, brush the unruly strands, and re-braid. When I’m finished, I feel much better now. Calmer.

  I walk outside and immediately hear the sound of another vehicle. I run to the trees at the edge of the road and wait. A large truck pulls up and a man gets out. He spits on the walkway on the way to the men’s bathroom and goes inside. I run to the back of the truck and push up on the heavy, rolling door. It lifts and I scramble inside. It’s dark, but it doesn’t smell unpleasant like I expected. There are several large containers tied down by cord. I crawl behind one wondering if the driver will open the door and check on his cargo.

  A few minutes later, he opens and closes the door where he drives. The engine rumbles and I fall slightly backward when he pulls forward. The floor is too close to my exhausted body and I give into temptation and lie down completely. It’s uncomfortable, but I’m too tired to care.

  The steady rumble of the truck’s engine makes me sleepier. The memory of Tyboll’s hairy face is the last thing I think about before I pass out.

  Chapter Eight

  Tyboll

  Stunned isn’t the correct word. I’m dumbfounded. Veda is my mate. Everything inside of me buzzes with the knowledge. It doesn’t matter that she ran. We both felt the shock when the unbelievable happened. If it wasn’t for little Deme, I’d have run in the opposite direction from Veda. Not that it would do any good. We are chosen mates and only one of our deaths can break the bond. Mandy was right. This is not how I felt with Patreous’s mother. She was not my true mate. The blood pounding through my veins right now never happened with her. I desired her with the blinding need of youth, but it was only lust.

  Veda is my mate.

  The more I process this, the more I accept it. Demetria squirms and I pull her tighter against me. “No, we are almost home and you are not getting down.” Her wolf form dissolves and I hold a bear cub. I can do nothing but laugh. She uses the form that gives her the best advantage. She’s a sneaky child just like her mother.