Hour of the Lion (The Wild Hunt Legacy #1) (24 page)

find it a burden.‖

―I suppose people might react badly if they knew about you.‖

He felt his jaw tighten, his hand close in a fist, and realized that as her barriers had

disappeared, so had his.

―Calum?‖ She pushed up onto one elbow. ―What… Something happened to you, didn‘t it?‖

He stared at the rock wall until she stroked his shoulder, drawing his attention back. Her

eyes were soft, worried—for him. How odd to feel a female‘s concern and desire to share

sorrow. He‘d never had that with Lenora.

―I was lifemated—married—many years ago.‖ He set his palm over her small hand, keeping

it against his face. ―She was an only child. Shy. She painted. Much like a sprite, she lived in the

moment. She‘d often forget to cook—or burn the food when she did, and would disregard the

rules about using the portals or shifting near trails.‖

He stopped, not wanting to share the horror, but Victoria‘s eyes stayed steady on his. This

female wouldn‘t shy away from pain. ―The wildflowers had bloomed, and she trawsfurred to

visit the alpine meadows. As far as we can tell, a human saw her shift back. When she didn‘t

return, I went to look for her.‖ And found her body far too near a hiking trail, her eyes looking

up at the sky as if wondering why help had never arrived. The man had used her own blood to—

‖The murderer had written DEMON on her chest. We discovered later that he was rabidly

religious.‖

His jaw clenched as the memory kindled his fury. He‘d tracked the killer through the

darkening forest, and his fabled control shattered the moment he‘d smelled Lenora‘s scent, seen

her blood on the man. By the time his sanity had returned, the ground was soaked with blood, the

human‘s body mangled beyond recognition. The man‘s shrieks haunted Calum‘s nightmares for

years. ―I…lost control and killed him.‖ It had been the last time he‘d allowed emotions to rule

his actions.

Calum braced, waiting for Victoria to pull away, to show her horror.

―Of course you did. Good job.‖ She patted his cheek.

Well. After a moment, he remembered what Alec had told him about the bodies littering the

bookstore. This female was nothing like Lenora—perhaps like none he‘d known before. In a

wolf pack, she‘d be the alpha female.

And that made her submission to him all the more meaningful. An alpha female submits

only to her mate. He cleared his throat. ―So we fear individual reactions as well as the

government‘s reaction. We‘d either be studied like lab animals or simply exterminated.‖

―That seems a little…‖ Her mouth pulled down, and she sighed. ―Actually, that‘s probably

what would happen.‖

―Aye. That‘s why we have a law that if a shifter reveals the Daonain to humans, he is put to

death.‖

Her gaze turned to the dark water, her jaw tight, and Calum set his hand on her shoulder.

How could he have forgotten she was so new? She turned to him, attempting to smile.

―Come, cariad. We should sleep. Tomorrow will be long.‖ He pulled her closer, nudging her

head down in the hollow of his shoulder. After a second of stiffness, she softened and cuddled

with him, filling the holes in his soul with her mere presence.

It was approaching noon the next day when Vic followed Calum down the tiny trail and into

the ―village‖ of scattered cabins. ―This looks like one of those old west towns in the movies.‖

―Very close. We bought the property from a mining consortium and fixed up the abandoned

cabins.‖

Deep within the mountain range, the village nestled at one end of a small valley under a

light layer of snow. Vic frowned. Things didn‘t look right. There weren‘t any real streets, for

one. ―Where‘s the Main Street? The stores and all that.‖

―None.‖ Calum stepped down onto a ledge and turned to help her.

She ignored his hand and jumped. ―Where‘s the power lines, electricity, cable?‖

―None.‖

―Too bizarre,‖ she muttered. The scent of wood smoke wafted past. ―And everybody has to

walk to get here?‖

He dropped back to pace beside her on the wider trail. ―It doesn‘t take as long in animal

form,‖ he said. ―A dirt road gets as close as the nearest cliff. In the winter, we use snowmobiles

to get that far.‖

―Grocery? Bookstore?‖

―We bring them supplies every few months.‖

―Damn.‖ Although the sun was high, the air still held a nasty bite. She eyed the tree-covered

mountains. ―At least they won‘t run out of firewood.‖

His hard hand gripped her nape, and he drew her close enough to take her mouth in a long,

thorough kiss. Her knees sagged. Pulling back, he ran a finger over her swollen lips. ―I will keep

you warm, cariad, never fear.‖

Cariad. It sounded more intimate than darling. She sighed. The night she‘d spent with him

had been terrifying. He‘d taken control and kept it, satisfying her with hands and mouth, taking

her hard and then gently, again and again. She‘d never experienced anything like it, the way he

pushed her one moment, cared for her the next. Why had she let him? Let him? Hell, admit it, she‘d totally gotten off on doing whatever he commanded, surrendering her will to his. And he‘d

reacted as if he‘d both expected, yet treasured, how she‘d…submitted.

Fuck, she‘d submitted to him. Like a whipped dog. She pulled back and glared at him.

His eyes narrowed, and he studied her, slowly, his gaze moving over her face, her body.

―Little cat, what has you upset?‖

―I‘m not a dog.‖ He wasn‘t getting it, so she added, ―I don‘t go belly-up for a man.‖

―Ah. This is about last night.‖ His lips quirked. ―No, I doubt you‘ve ever gone…belly-

up…before.‖ The utter confidence in his expression, in his whole body, sent a quiver through

her. ―I‘m pleased that you would surrender to me, Victoria. Did you not enjoy making love?‖

He‘d broken down her defenses until her emotions had been as open to him as her body.

He‘d made her beg, dammit. She averted her gaze.

His hand cupped her cheek, turning her back to face him. His voice held an officer‘s stern

determination with that thread of tenderness that undermined all her resistance. ―Answer my

question, little cat.‖

She‘d never wanted to lie so bad in her life. But aside from the necessities of the job, she

didn‘t. Dammit. ―Yes. I enjoyed it.‖ She turned her head. ―Too much. I don‘t like that I liked it.‖

―Look at me.‖ Gray eyes should be cold, but his were warm. So warm.

―This isn‘t who I am, Calum.‖

―You only surrender to me because you trust me. And because you want to.‖ He brushed a

kiss over her lips. ―This is who you are when you sheathe your claws. You don‘t have to stay on

guard all the time, Victoria.‖

Her mouth flattened. Yes, I do.

He smiled slightly, then started them back down the mountain, leaving her more confused

than before. Sometimes when he looked at her with that penetrating gaze, it felt as if he‘d

touched her soul.

The man scared her spitless.

As they walked past the houses, Vic saw a guy step out of one, bare-assed naked. Without

looking around, he shifted into a bear and lumbered up the steep slope. Damn, right out in front

of God and everyone.

Calum rapped on the door of a larger cabin.

Vic scowled. Being with Calum was one thing—meeting a bunch of shifters? Entirely

different. She didn‘t know how to act around them. Deep breath. Things change—deal with it. At

least he‘d knocked; they obviously observed a few human courtesies.

An old guy, as tough and stringy as a piece of jerky opened the door. ―Cosantir, we weren‘t

expecting you.‖ His nostrils flared, and his brows went up as he looked between her and Calum.

―Well, well. Come in.‖

Calum let Vic precede him into the house. She checked the exits: front door, two front

windows, and another on the left, door at the rear to a hall leading somewhere. They were in the

living area with a woodstove radiating glorious heat. Unlit lanterns hung from hooks on the wall,

and woven rugs brightened the wooden floor. Looked like a hunting cabin but without any

mounted animal heads or antlers.

After helping her out of her jacket, Calum said, ―Victoria, this is Aaron. Aaron, meet

Victoria. She has an interesting story for the Elders.‖

Vic nodded politely. Great, she‘d spend the day being interrogated. She‘d been insane to

come here.

The old man opened the woodstove and poked at the fire. ―Are you staying for a bit?‖

―For tonight. One room will serve for us.‖

God, just announce to the world that we‘re having sex. Vic gave him a nasty look.

Calum‘s eyes lit with amusement. He ran his hand down her arm, a touch that soothed even

as it sent a wave of heat through her. Those hands were... She stepped back and scowled at him.

Sneaky cat.

Aaron cleared his throat.‖I‘ll summon the Elders.‖ He inclined his head in a slight bow to

Calum, smiled at Vic, and left the cabin.

The small meeting room at the back of the house contained a round oak table with eight

chairs. The first Elder to arrive was a wizened old woman.

―Maude, you look in good health,‖ Calum said.

She smiled and thumped him affectionately along the ribs. ―And you also, laddie. Gi‘ me a

squeeze.‖

He hugged her, having to bend almost in half to reach her. Turning, he said, ―Maude, this is

Victoria. Victoria, Maude who is an Elder of this territory.‖

―This territory?‖ Vic repeated. ―There are others?‖

―Of course,‖ Maude said. She studied Vic with sharp blue eyes. ―What area are you from?‖

Good question. Vic glanced at Calum.

―Mine, Maude.‖ Calum seated the old woman. ―I‘ll explain when the others arrive.‖

Even as Aaron appeared with a pot of coffee and cups, three more came in. Abigail, Leland,

and Perry. All with leathery faces seasoned by sun and wind, keen eyes surrounded by an

abundance of wrinkles, and the stringy leanness of barn cats or coyotes.

Aaron took a place at the table and so there were five Elders. Calum pulled out a chair for

Vic, and she joined them reluctantly. Whoopee, stuck at King Arthur‘s Round Table. She

glanced at Calum out of the corner of her eye; at least the king was a hunk.

―You summoned, Cosantir. We‘re here. Spit it out.‖ Leland was taller than the rest and had

the bowlegged stride of someone who‘d spent time on a horse.

―First, let me finish introductions,‖ Calum said. ―This is Victoria, a new shifter who has not

yet experienced her first trawsfur.‖

With their impassive expressions, Maude and Leland must play poker, Vic decided. The rest

stared at her in blank shock.

―At her age? How can this be?‖ Aaron asked.

After Calum explained, Maude had tears in her eyes. ―I taught the lad in his First Year.

Filled with pranks. I didn‘t think he‘d paid attention, but he remembered when the time came.

Well done, Lachlan.‖ She lifted her cup. ―Goddess willing, he will return to run with us again.‖

The rest raised their drinks, saying, ―As She wills.‖

Calum smiled at Vic. ―Lachlan has brought us a strong woman; she rivals Alec both in

courage and sheer stubbornness.‖ As the Elders laughed, he said seriously, ―I bring Victoria, a

werecat, to be Seen.‖

There was silence as the Elders studied her. Their eyes seemed to burn deep inside her,

exposing her weaknesses, the darkness in her spirit, even the men she‘d killed.

She wanted to slink down in her chair, to disappear under the table. So she firmed her spine,

straightened her shoulders, and stared back.

The Elders spoke together. ―We See Victoria.‖

Calum raised his cup again. ―Rejoice, Daonain, the clan increases.‖

And cups clinked.

* * *

That evening, Vic lay on one of the twin beds in the room and watched Jamie pull clothes

out of a backpack. To everyone‘s surprise, Alec and Jamie had shown up an hour before, having

driven as far as possible and hiked the rest of the way. Vic and Calum would have a ride back to

Cold Creek tomorrow.

―What kind of a party will this be, anyway?‖ Vic asked. ―I didn‘t bring any nice clothes.‖

Looking between two T-shirts, Jamie said, ―It‘s not a fancy party, not like we have in Cold

Creek or anything. Nobody here has dress-up stuff.‖

―Well, that‘s a relief. So this is all right? Jeans and a shirt?‖

―Yeah.‖ Jamie finally picked up one shirt—a blue one that matched her eyes—and pulled it

on. ―Everybody will bring stuff to eat, but we don‘t have to since we don‘t live here.‖

Vic grunted. ―Good thing. I‘m not much of a cook. That‘s a nice color on you, Jess.‖

―Thanks.‖ The kid looked up from under her lashes. ―I‘m glad Lachlan made you a shifter. I

didn‘t want you to leave.‖

Vic blinked as warmth enfolded her like a hot bath. ―Well. I—‖ She sighed and let the words

spill out. ―I would have missed you, munchkin.‖

―Were you going to miss Daddy too?‖

Look out, Sergeant. This conversation is booby-trapped. With relief, Vic heard a door open

and cheerful voices from the living room. It sounded as if more people arrived. Oh, wonderful,

she had two no-win options: being polite while strangers stared at the new freak shifter, or

discussing a this-can‘t-happen relationship with a man‘s daughter—or niece—and wasn‘t this so

totally screwed up?

She chose the least dangerous option and said with a groan, ―Guess we‘d better get our butts

out there.‖

Jamie snickered. ―Oh, Vicki, it won‘t be that bad.‖