Wolfen Secrets (The Western Werewolf Legend #3) (9 page)

“I find the description of life after death
or when we leave this world fascinating. Somehow, coming from you,
I accept the inevitable better than I have before. Your peace with
the whole concept of death and dying is amazing. I want to
understand.”

“You will, my love. I’ll help you. In the
meantime, though, we should stop lounging the day away.” He grinned
her way before rising. “Why, it’s still daylight outside. We have
shopping to do – there’s a dance coming up on Saturday.”

He rolled to the bed’s edge before reaching
back. His blue eyes shown with a vibrancy. Sonja’s breath caught in
her throat. No, no ordinary man was this. She took his hand to
rise.

Chapter 4 - A Night to Remember

“Robert,
I have news!” Claudine trailed her taller, elegant companion.
“Robert, did you hear me?”

Sighing, Robert stopped. The woman wouldn’t
shut up until she had his undivided attention. This latest
companion was grating on his last nerve. “Yes, my darling, I heard
you. What is it?” Snapping the last word off with a temper brewing,
Robert offered her a cool expression, as if he battled with
boredom. The woman could be such a bother at times. So hard to find
good help these days. Not like before the war, when all one had to
do was promise a slave freedom to get them to do your bidding. With
another exaggerated breath, Robert feigned interest. “Yes, yes,
what is it!”

Claudine winced, his forearm rising in
defense. It was true, when Robert became upset, he had a propensity
toward physical violence. He’d long ago acquired a certain need for
perfection in all things. “I’m sorry love, what did you want to
share?” The soothing reassurance went only so for. After all, the
last couple of months had been a disaster and that was putting it
mildly. What with the damn werewolves still out there along with
his promise of eternal blood for the master, Draco looming over his
head, he was a vampire under extreme scrutiny.

Dealing with women, most of which were
idiots, wore on his patience. All they could focus on was his offer
of blood. Draco held his Yankee vampires hostage until he’d
completed this tedious task of capturing the wolves who possessed
the eternal blood, the master demanded. Robert had to admit, he
craved the chance at immortality as well. If the lore proved true,
the blood would stop even fire, not to mention beheadings from
ending his kind. Without concern of retribution, they would
vanquish the humans and werewolves as well as any others who chose
to cross them. They would rule the world! The gods couldn’t even
touch them.

“Robert?”

“What?” With a backhand, Robert sent Claudine
sailing through the air. “I don’t have time for your babbling. Tell
me what you have to report. Be quick about it.” Slapping his riding
crop against his thigh, Robert glared at the woman huddled in a
heap on the floor. With a labored breath, Robert reached out and
plucked Claudine up. “There, there, my pet. I’m sorry. I’m under so
much pressure. Forgive me?” A rose appeared in his hand as he
extended it toward her.”

Hesitant to accept the gift, Claudine took
the flower, smiling fractionally.

“You were saying?”

“We found them!” A tentative smile crossed
her face where a long red mark started to bruise.

“You found who? The werewolves? Where? Damn
it, don’t stand there, show me on the map.” Wheeling on his heel,
Robert strode toward the large map attached to the wall of his
makeshift office. “Hurry, there’s no time to lose.”

Following behind the vampire, Claudine
stretched her arm to indicate the town of St. Louis, Missouri on
the map’s surface. “Here, right here.” Breathless, she swallowed.
“They’re in St. Louis. They’ve taken rooms in a hotel.”

A slow smile creased his lips. “Excellent,”
Robert said, giving each syllable equal weight. “We’ll strike
tonight. They won’t know what hit them. Good work, my darling.”

With an elegant hand outstretched, Claudine’s
eyes brightened. “You have something for me?”

“Here!” Robert dropped three U.S. gold coins
in her outstretched palm. “Now, be gone with you!” His hand whipped
toward the door. “Disappear.”

Claudine disappeared, greedily clutching her
treasure.

Robert kept his voice low as he spoke to the
guard at the door. “Have the others prepare for tonight. We can’t
wait any longer. If we don’t strike now, we won’t get another
chance. My authority ends at the river. I won’t be denied this
capture!” He indicated the trophy wall behind his massive mahogany
desk where a number of human heads hung.

“Don’t worry. It won’t happen, my lord. The
men have been training. Each one is ready to do what is necessary
to secure the she-wolf.” The guard’s brow creased. “Are you
expecting trouble?”

Robert glanced back, shaking his head
briefly. “No. I wasn’t expecting trouble the last time I attempted
her capture either though. Damn wagon train! They came to her aid
too swiftly.” With a glare for the nearest subordinate, he cursed
low, making the man cringe in fright. “Certainly I will have what I
want. The master will have Sonja, Queen of the Western Werewolves.”
The gleam in his eyes grew brighter. “With this capture, all events
in the future will change. We will once again rule the world. Our
birthright will be ours once more.” Staring up at the trophies on
the wall, Robert mentally counted off the victories he’d garnered
over the years. “So many have tried to defeat the vampires. So many
have ended up stuffed and hanging as a reminder of their failings.”
Waving his hand at his man, Robert commanded him, “Make haste! See
to everything’s order. They expect us to attack as they cross the
river.” He laughed, the sound a caustic rumble from deep within.
“No one will expect us with so many humans nearby. We’ll have the
element of surprise on our side. Now go!”

***

“I love the fact we’re all going to the
dance, Sonja, don’t you?” Out the window of her sister’s hotel room
overlooking the bustling street below, Briann sat, enjoying the
view. “There’s so much activity going on. I don’t know how a
person’s supposed to keep up.” Turning to Sonja, she smiled at the
vision her sister made in the new shift and corset Ty had purchased
for the upcoming festivities. The blush pink of the undergarments
set off her sister’s complexion perfectly. “You’re as pretty as
those advertisements in Harper’s Bazar.”

Sonja waved away her compliment. “Don’t
exaggerate Briann.” She smiled at her image in the looking glass.
“Ty insisted I get this one. He said it made my eyes sparkle.” She
turned to her sister, grinning like a schoolgirl with her first
infatuation. “I never considered my eyes to sparkle. Their color is
drab, like overripe peaches.”

Briann wrapped her arms about herself and let
go a laugh, deep and sincere. “Sonja, how could you not know your
eyes are like jewels? Like Topaz with glimmers of Citrine when the
light catches their irises. I love your eyes. They’re one of your
best features.” She moved to stand behind Sonja as she turned back
to the mirror.

“Really? Maybe that’s why Ty tells me they
remind him of good Bourbon.” With a grin and a wink, Sonja turned,
hugging Briann tight. “I’m so glad for both of us.”

“Me, too. Who would have thought we’d both
fall in love with…such talented men?”

The sisters giggled at the jest.

Floating away to dance about the room, Briann
hugged herself close, smiling dreamily at the ceiling. “I am the
happiest I’ve ever been, Sonja. How about you?”

The sentiment was infectious. Sonja couldn’t
remain silent. She imitated a waltz, twirling once before bowing
low over an imaginary hand. “Tis truly a time of happiness. I’ve
never felt so alive.”

“Oh, dear sister, I understand. You mustn’t
let the trials of crossing the river diminish your contentment.
You’ve found your prince charming. Isn’t he all you’ve ever dreamed
of?”

Nodding, Sonja slowed in her next curtsy.
“He’s a miracle.” She rose and smiled for Briann, who twirled in
place before sitting quickly as not to fall. “I’m sure, I’ll never
be as content as I am right now.”

Sonja’s brow creased. “Don’t say that,
Briann. What if he asks you to marry him?”

Briann shook her head. “He cannot. He says he
can’t break the curse projected on him when he was attacked.” She
lowered her eyes to her hands clinched tightly in her lap.

“Can I ask you a personal question?”

Sonja’s voice must have sounded serious.
Briann’s attention shifted. “Of course, what is it?”

Sonja waited a beat. Her mouth was dry and
her shoulders tense with the possibility she was right. “Do you
allow the general to drink your blood?”

Briann’s mouth fell open a second before
clamping shut. Her head tilted as her eyes searched the carpet on
the floor between them. “Can you understand how much I love this
man, Sonja?”

Without another word, Sonja rose, moving to
the window. A cool breeze swept in. “Thank the gods for some
relief,” she said fanning her face. “His trepidation over hurting
you must be subsiding.”

Briann crossed to stand beside her sister.
The warmth of the sun on the glass windowpane embraced them both.
She was contemplatively quiet. “I know what I’m doing,” Briann
said.

Sonja listened to the confidence in her
sister’s reply. Reaching out she gathered Briann’s hand to her
lips, kissing the knuckles gently. “I pray you do, sister. We know
so very little about this man except what he was when he was
human.”

Briann’s brow furrowed as she gazed out at
the bustle of the street below. “I know.” Her eyes glistened with
tears for a moment before she blinked them away. “I also know I’ve
never felt this way about another before, not even my late
husband.” She turned toward Sonja before gathering her other hand
in hers. The two stood facing each other. Briann squeezed her
sister’s fingers. “Don’t worry about us, Sonja. We’ll be fine now.
Jeb will take care of us.”

Sonja nodded. I remember when you asked me to
watch after the boys in case anything happened to you. The vampires
almost killed you with a poison potion.” Briann tried to speak.
Sonja kept going. “I remember when you came to me in this very
room, suggesting we talk with Jeb about his concerns over being a
vampire. Trying to convince him to believe his presence wasn’t
endangering you all. What’s changed, Briann?”

Tears sparkled in Briann’s eyes. Her lips
curved up in a smile lighting her face with joy. “I’m
pregnant!”

Not sure if she understood her sister, Sonja
stared, mouth agape. “Pregnant? But…how…are you telling
me…that…Jeb…is - you are– how is such a thing possible?”

Her sister bit her bottom lip, nodding
vigorously. “Yes, apparently, he’s been given a gift by the gods.
Of course it’s not normal for the undead to bear children.” Her
lips trembled. “The gods granted him this gift. They said since his
destiny was altered with the attack, they wished to right the wrong
in some small measure.”

Sonja didn’t realize she’d reached out,
gripping Briann by the arm. “Why couldn’t they give him back his
life?”

Briann shook her head. “They couldn’t was all
he told me.” Briann rubbed her arm. She took a step back, giving
Sonja a weak smile. “I’ve never been happier.” The happiness in her
eyes made Sonja want desperately for the news to be completely
joyful. When the gods granted gifts it usually meant they regretted
what had befallen the recipient.

“Are you happy for me?”

Briann’s excitement was infectious. Tomorrow
was time enough to worry over the reason attached to such a
miracle. Sonja would celebrate with her sister. The family would
grow as a new life joined their clan. Her own worries she could
take out in private to examine. For now, she’d share in Briann’s
good fortune.

“Hortence will know what to do for your
morning sickness,” Sonja assured her.

Briann laughed. It was a light soft sound.
“Funny, I’ve had no morning sickness. I’m about three months now.”
She wrapped her hands around her stomach, giving her belly a good
rub. “See, I’m starting to show.” The giggle sounded so unlike
Briann, Sonja could only stare as she displayed the small bump
beneath her hands. Her solid, grounded-in-reality sister was
rubbing her belly and laughing like a loon. An idea struck Sonja,
stealing her breath.

“Briann, will the babe be human, vampire or
both?”

Briann drew in her bottom lip and blinked. “I
don’t know.” She reached out, taking Sonja’s hands in hers. “Oh,
Sonja, I’m going to have a little girl. She’ll have gold curls like
her aunt and grow up tall and strong like her father.”

Infectious, the dreams of a pregnant mother
couldn’t be considered bad. Sonja gave her a hug so tight. Briann
had to beg for air.

“Have you told the boys?”

“Not yet. I hoped to tell them when we
reached the western bank. Our new home wouldn’t be far off. The
news would be fresh like our new start.”

“Yes, of course.” Some of Sonja’s enthusiasm
waned with the plan. “Something more to look forward to, eh?” Her
own contentment took an apprehensive turn. “You’ll love Texas. Ty
says the land goes on forever in all directions. We’ll have cattle,
horses, crops and a garden.

“I’d love a garden!” Her sister’s eyes lit
with the mention of growing food. Their parents had been avid
gardeners, so both girls loved growing things. Would she enjoy
Texas? What would Ty’s family think of a ‘she-wolf’?

“Don’t worry, Sonja. Texas will be
wonderful!”

With the contact of their joined hands,
Sonja’s concerns were clear for Briann to hear. Surprised Briann
noted the change in her, she swore under her breath. “I’m sorry. I
didn’t mean to dampen the celebration of such wonderful news.” Not
only were they traveling to a new land, they were new creatures.
“Ty’s never seen his family as a wolf. What their reaction is
concerns me, that’s all.”