The Tantric Shaman (3 page)

              “
Listen, I understand you need information, but we have to hurry. They are right on our trail, Candy said before Bo could even start talking. She took the time to size Damian up further. He was shorter than she thought he'd be, well under six foot. But he was thick and looked solid. He had his long brown hair drawn up in a ponytail, and was wearing only blue jeans. His muscles were well-defined, but not overly so. Something about him exuded danger, but his big brown eyes were soft and caring. Candy felt attracted to him despite herself.

              “I know they are, and don't worry. I've slowed them down a little. You two are the last thing on their minds right now, trust me. Now, give me some background information, and Candy, relax. Do you need a drink?” Damian said.

              Candy slowly shook her head and leaned back onto the sofa.

              “How old are you two anyway?”

              “I'm nineteen, and Candy's almost nineteen too,” Bo answered.

              “Jesus. Two fucking kids. Shit. You two married yet?”

              “No, not yet.”

              “Okay, just wondered. Anyway, talk to me,” Damian urged.

              “Candy and I met each other at a local hangout back in Grove Holler. We knew who and what we were, but we couldn't help it. We just―felt something,” Bo explained.

              “Those are called hormones kid. So let me be sure I'm clear on this. You're Wolf Clan, and she's Bear Clan, correct?”

              The two both nodded.

              “And your clans have been at odds for centuries, also correct?”

              The two looked at each other and then down at the floor, nodding again.

              “So just what in the hell made you two think this little fling was a good idea?”

              “It's not a fling!” Bo shouted. “I love her, and she loves me!”

              Candy rubbed Bo's shoulders and nodded in agreement.

              Damian leaned back in his chair and threw his hands up. “Oh, so I got me Romeo and fucking Juliet right here in my living room! This is just fucking great!”

              The two looked down again, unable to meet Damian's gaze.

                “So fill me in on what happened after because this is some crazy shit I'm hearing,” Damian said, almost sounding amused.

              “When our parents found out, they tried to keep us apart. But we wouldn't have it, we ran away. And when we did that, they cast us both out. We've both been marked for death now, and we don't know what to do,” Bo said, and Candy broke out in tears. Bo put his arm around her and shushed her.

              “I feel like I'm missing something here. This inter-species crap is rare, but it does happen. They mostly just get banned and go live out in the fucking woods like a bunch of inbreds. I don't think I've ever heard of a kill order being given. The only time that happens is―oh shit,” Damian ran his fingers through his hair in frustration. “Can I ask who your parents are?” he said, directing his question to Candy.

              “My parents are Hannah and Grundar Gadriel,” Candy said quietly.

              Damian nodded. “Also known as Queen Hannah and King Grundar of the goddamned entire Southern Bear Clan. Bo, what the fuck! You had to pick a princess to get all hot and bothered about? Do you know the shit this could cause?”

              “I'm sorry, I can't help who I fall in love with!” Bo argued.

              Damian quietly stared off into the dark when he heard these words. “Yes. You definitely have a point there...”

              Candy and Bo sat in silence as Damian seemed lost in thought. Finally, Damian spoke again.

              “So I know at least two that are after you. Sam and Gigi from the Wolf Clan. That's the warmaster and his mate.”

              “I think he's the one that got me cast out to begin with! He's got my father's ear, but I don't think he has the best interests of the clan in mind, only his own!” Bo shouted.

              “Yeah, I've heard about Sam. He's a ruthless sonofabitch and he only cares about himself. Gigi's the same way, and she may be more bloodthirsty than he is. At least I know what I'm dealing with there. Candy, who did they send after you? Horis and Indigo still the warmasters of your clan?” Damian asked.

              Candy hesitated before speaking. “Yes, Horis and Indigo Jinder are still the warmasters...”

              “Okay, and? I feel like there's more?”

              “They didn't send the warmasters...”

              “Oh, god. Please don't tell me what I think you're about to tell me,” Damian said, rubbing his temples as if fighting a headache.

              “They sent two of the Broken instead,” Bo said.

              “Fuck! I knew that's what you'd say! Shit, this is more serious than I thought. Both of you shut up for a second,” Damian said, leaning back in his chair. He was very still, and Bo and Candy thought he may have fallen asleep. The room brightened slightly, and the two thought Damian began to glow.

              “Jesus, it's worse than I thought. But at least we have a little time. Good, that's good,” Damian said, mostly to himself. He stood up and grabbed a bottle of whiskey from a nearby table, opening the top and taking a big gulp.

              Bo watched him. “Grandpa said you liked your liquor, but is this really the time to get drunk?”

              “I'm not getting drunk, I'm just preparing myself for what I have to do next,” Damian said, setting the bottle back down and wiping his mouth with the back of his hand.

              “What's that?” Bo asked.

              “I have to fuck your girlfriend,” Damian said.

CHAPTER TWO

              Sam, Gigi, and Alice continued to fuck like bunnies for the next several hours. The three tried every position they knew, and even invented a few as well. Alice was doing her best to delay the couple, trying to give Damian the time he needed. He hadn't told her much, only that she needed to slow these two down for a while the best way she knew. He'd grinned and winked. Damian had known she'd enjoy this.

              The three were finally taking a break, covered in sweat and laying in Alice's bed. The night was still and they were quiet, coming down from the incredible sexual high they'd just experienced.

              “Fuck, that was amazing,” Gigi said, breaking the silence.

              “No kidding, I really needed that,” Alice said.

              “That was intense,” Sam said. “Too fucking intense.”

              Gigi frowned in the darkness. “What do you mean too intense?”

              “I mean that wasn't natural. Something's going on here,” Sam said, his voice slowly turning more guttural.

              “Yeah, something's going on all right. Some really good fucking,” Alice said, trying to play him off.

              “No. Fuck, no. There's magic here,” Sam said, shifting slightly to wolf form. His eyes glowed yellow in the darkness, but Alice didn't show alarm.

              “Sam, what the hell are you doing?” Gigi asked.

              “She's not even scared, Gee. What the hell are you?” Sam asked Alice.

              Alice sighed. “So I guess this means we won't go for another round?”

              “Cut the shit and answer the question. I can't smell any animal on you, so you're not a shifter. I'm guessing you're a witch,” Sam said, climbing out of bed.

              “Yeah, you got me,” Alice said, deciding not to press her luck. “I am, and I'm very well protected. Even you know better than to try a witch in her own home, warmaster.”

              Gigi sprang out of bed. “Warmaster? Okay, what the fuck is going on here? You know what we are? WHO we are?”

              Alice sat up in bed and leaned against the headboard. “Yes, I know you're werewolves and the warmasters of the Southern Clan.”

              “So were you planning on killing us or what? What's your game?” Sam said, shifting more to wolf form as dark hair sprouted over his body.

              “No, even I know better than to kill you. I mean, I could do it if I had to, but eventually I'm sure your clan would find out. I just don't need that kind of grief,” Alice said.

              “This is...this is just...fuck!” Gigi said, her own wolf form starting to show involuntarily.

              “Listen, all I was supposed to do was slow you two down for a while, and I was told not to use force but just use―charm.”

              “Told by who? Are you friends of Bo and Candy? How do you know them?” Sam asked, his voice really a growl by this point.

              “I don't know any Bo and Candy. I honestly don't know why I was told to slow you two down. I was just a distraction, that's all.”

              “Bullshit,” Gigi said. “You know more than you're sayin!”

              “Who told you to slow us down?” Sam asked.

             
You told me to answer all of their questions and not put myself in danger. I hope you know what you're doing, Damian,
thought Alice. “Damian Ivory,” Alice said.

              “Damian Ivory? Who the hell is that?” Gigi asked.

              “No fucking way,” Sam whispered, shifting back to human form. “Damian Ivory...”

              “Okay, who the hell is Damian Ivory!” Gigi said.

              “The Tantric Shaman,” Alice said.

              Gigi frowned again. “That's not a real person, that's a legend.”

              “No, he's real all right,” Sam said.

              “Mmm hmm, he's very real,” Alice said with a smirk.

              “What the hell does he have to do with any of this?” Sam asked, the anger gone from his voice and replaced with concern.

              “I've told you all I know, I swear. He just told me to keep a look out for you two, and if you showed up, to keep you busy for a few hours. I don't know why, and don't want to know why,” Alice said.

              Sam flipped the light switch on and began to dress, searching the room to find his clothes. “Get dressed, Gigi. We have to go now.”

              Gigi didn't argue and began to put her clothes on, having to search even harder as hers were tossed everywhere. Alice just sat on the bed and watched, wondering if she should try to stop them.

              “Don't even think about stopping us,” Sam said as if reading her mind. “We are going to get those two, I don't care if the devil himself is standing in our way.”

              Gigi had never seen this side of Sam. He was always so confident, arrogant even. She was hearing something in his voice she'd never heard before. Could it be―fear?

              “I'm not stopping you. I just hope you know what you're getting into,” Alice said.

              Sam stared a hole in her as he finished dressing, pulling his cell phone from his pocket once he was done. “Where is he? Where's Damian?”

              “I don't know, and I wouldn't tell you if I did,” Alice said, only partially lying.

              Sam knew she was probably not telling the truth, but decided not to press the issue. “Come on Gigi, let's get out of here. And you,” he said, pointing to Alice, “better not cross my path again.”

              “Yeah, yeah, get out of here doggie, and take your bitch with you,” Alice said, lying back in bed exasperated.

              “What did you say?” Gigi said, moving towards Alice with teeth bared. Sam grabbed her arm and pulled her towards the door.

              “We have things to do and places to be, forget this trailer trash,” Sam said. “I have to make a phone call and then we have to get on the road.”

              “Did you just say―I thought you said―I heard―did you just say fuck my girlfriend?” Bo stammered.

              “Yes, that's what I said. You two aren't virgins, are you?” Damian asked as he started to undress.

              “No, we're not virgins! But we've only been with each other! And this is―I can't―what?” Bo said, incredulous.

              “Do you know what a tantric shaman is? Either of you?” Damian asked.