hands under the silk, he arranged it in an oval.
It was lovely, with heavy jade pieces, bright green against the white. The pendant that hung from the necklace was almost circular, and an odd color. It looked rough, like the inside of an oyster, yet it seemed to sparkle with all colors in its depths.
For just a moment, I seemed to feel the necklace around my head, resting cool against my collarbones, then warming against my skin. The pendant would lay upon my breast, heavy yet light, with…
“It’s lovely, Wan.” I whispered.
“You look upon-”
I could barely hear him. The necklace seemed to call to me, and on impulse I reached out and brushed the pendant with my finger, just wanting to feel-
“Kate, NO.” Wan shouted.
My finger touched the scale and the world went white.
I was floating, suspended between earth and the heavens, hanging freely as if underwater, clouds all around me.
I gasped at the change, then gasped again when cool air rushed into my lungs, with a taste of rain and spring on the air. I breathed again, filling my body with energy and light, lost in the sensation.
The clouds eddied around me, heavy with mist, white and intangible. I started to try to tread the air, to see if I could turn, but my hands passed through the clouds, collecting the heavy drops within. I couldn’t move.
Something else could, though. I caught the movement out of the corner of my eye. There was a rumble, as if of far distant thunder on a sunny day. I saw a huge form moving in and out of the clouds, flowing like a snake. I had a quick glimpse of scales that glittered all colors of the spectrum, then a huge head reared up before me.
I’d seen enough to know a dragon. No wings, just a fierce, lovely face and huge teeth and claws. A museum print come to life, the only source of color in the white billowing clouds.
It saw me. Not just me, it saw through me somehow, right down to my soul and I shook as I hung there, pierced by its gaze. Then it threw its head back, and shook it’s mane, and laughed.
The heavens resounded, and the earth trembled with the sound, as if all of creation shared the joy of this being. For it did not mock, nor was it threatening. It was a joyful sound, and my heart shared in its delight.
It coiled around me, massive and powerful. It’s… no… his eyes were warm and bright, considering me as if part of a series of endless possibilities. The laugh came again, and I felt it in my chest, as if it delighted in this strange happening.
“Let it be so,” a voice thundered, and I was thrown back, pitched into a body of flesh and muscle.
“Kate, Kate, speak to me.” Wan’s voice sounded odd in my ear. He was on my shoulder, tugging at my earlobe.
Mac kneeled by my chair, one hand at my wrist, the other on my chest. I blinked at him, and took a breath, feeling so very odd.
“What happened?” Mac demanded.
“I don’t-” I licked my lips, and swallowed. How the hell did you explain…?
“Oh, Kate.” Wan’s voice was sorrowful. “You should not have done that.”
What had I done?
Itty and Bitty raced ahead of us into the house as we walked in. Mac went first. Wan was on my shoulder, alert and ready for trouble.
Nothing had been touched. Even the computer room and Wan’s library were intact.
“I’ll go out and cast the wards. You’ll be safe within the house.” Mac said.
“The dogs,” I started.
Mac nodded. “I’ll do the backyard as well.” He slipped out the sliding door.
I turned to the kitchen, determined to make a pot of coffee. Wan stayed silent as I worked. He’d been babbling in the car, about sacred guardians and destiny, until I had a headache and Mac’s eyebrows had climbed into his hairline. I’d told Wan to shut up in no uncertain terms.
Yes, I knew he had things to tell me, but it could damn well wait until I’d had more coffee. About a gallon should do it.
Wan seemed to think that I’d offended the gods by my actions, but I remembered the joy in the dragon’s laugh. I might have upset the balance of things, but I don’t think he minded that much. In fact, I rather thought he’d delighted in it, truth be told.
I offered Mac some coffee when he came back inside, but he just shook his head. “I need to contact people. Don’t leave this house until you hear from me. The possum is still out there.”
Swell.
Mac turned to Wan. “Guard her with your life. Whatever has happened, Kate is extraordinary now. See to her safety.”
Wan bowed. Mac gave me a nod, and left.
I sighed, taking a long sip of my coffee. Hell of a few days. I dreaded checking email and messages, but that could wait. Poor Wan was about to bust with talk, and I needed to hear it. “All right, Wan. Tell me what this all means.”
I figure he’d bust right out, but he just jumped down to the counter and stood looking at me, his sword over his shoulder. “Kate, I thought you were extraordinary before you touched the sacred necklace.”
I hid a smile in the rim of my mug. “So what did I do, exactly?”
Wan drew himself up, and took a deep breath-
Someone knocked on the front door. Itty and Bitty raced for the entryway, farting like crazy and barking their fool heads off.
I sighed. Wan leaped for my arm, and climbed up. “Careful, Kate. The Doctor’s wards are strong but we should have a care.”
“It’s probably the mailman.” I put the cup down, and headed for the door, only to find a small army of guys with tattoos and leathers on the other side, staring at me grimly.
“Uh… ”
“Lady, your van was found with our stolen hogs alongside I-75. WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED?”
Uh-oh.
THE END-or is it?
Stalked by Kelley Armstrong
I had to get rid of the mutt.
Killing him would be easiest but, unfortunately, out of the question. If Elena found out, she’d be pissed. Ten years from now, I’d still be hearing about it: “Clay couldn’t even get through our honeymoon without killing someone.”
She’d laugh when she said it… in ten years. Right now, she’d be furious.
She’d argue there were better ways to handle the situation. I disagreed. The mutt knew we were in town and that by sticking around, he was taking his life into his hands. If he’d skittered into the shadows and stayed out of our way, I’d have said, “Fuck it,” and pretended not to notice. After all, it was my honeymoon.
Even if he’d just stood his ground and refused to hide, I wouldn’t have made a big deal of it. Beaten the crap out of him, yes. Had to. The Law was the Law, and it stated that a non-Pack werewolf had to cede territory to a Pack one. Unfair, maybe, but if you let one mutt break the rules, the next thing you knew, they’d be camping out back at Stonehaven, knocking on the door, asking if they could use the facilities.
But this mutt wasn’t hiding or defending his territory. He was stalking Elena. He’d been following us all morning and was now sitting across the restaurant, gaze glued to her ass as she bent over the buffet table.
When your mate is the only female werewolf, you get used to other wolves sniffing around. I’d spent the last eighteen years dealing with it or, more often, watching her deal with it. With Elena, interference is not appreciated.
