A Touch of Magic, page 6
part #8 of True Mates Generations Series
Weariness sank into him, replacing the adrenaline that was now seeping out of his system. He plopped down on the chair wishing he’d taken up Ransom’s offer of a drink. Even a few seconds of a buzz would have been welcome right now.
Taking off his shirt, he winced as the fabric abraded his injured shoulder. The skin was still red and angry, but much better than it had been a few hours ago. With a wave of his hand, he covered it with fresh bandages and some burn salve from a recipe Signe had taught him. His brows drew together at the thought of his grandmother and all those summers he spent with her, learning how to make potions and activate them with simple spells. But thoughts of Signe always brought him back to that one particular summer and one particular lesson he could never forget. The irony was not lost on him.
Putting those thoughts aside, he concentrated on getting comfortable. Rest would help, and he could get it out here. No one would be able to track him anymore, not here. The Savage Wolves MC kept to themselves and had no alliances or allegiances; after all, no one liked associating with Lone Wolves. Most who turned Lone Wolf were outcasts or simply had no place in Lycan society. Though they were not allowed to hold territory and were required by Lycan law to register with the high council, there wasn’t much oversight, and as long as they kept out of trouble and wore a tattoo to signify their status, no one bothered them much. It wasn’t usual for Lone Wolves to come together; it was rare, and so was forming some kind of club. He supposed The Savage Wolves were able to skirt rules about territory because they were technically a motorcycle club and not a clan.
Leaning back on the couch, he closed his eyes. Just a couple of hours. Uninterrupted sleep should help him figure out what to do next.
Chapter Four
Without a watch or her phone, Sabrina didn’t know what time it was when she woke up. For just a second, she thought she’d dreamt it all. A bunch of people appeared in her loft in New York and tried to kill her, then she was rescued by a man she couldn’t remember meeting who turned into a giant white wolf and could also teleport, and now they were in Kentucky. But, when she found herself inside the cabin, wearing the flannel pajamas she’d found folded on the bed, she knew it hadn’t been a dream.
She lay in bed, her fingers twisting her ring as she contemplated the events of last night. Her life had changed overnight, and she had more questions than answers. But these answers wouldn’t come easy, and maybe for now, she’d just have to roll with it.
Sitting up, she crawled toward the window next to the bed. The early morning sun was peeking out from behind the mountains, bathing the valley in a soft light. Her fingers itched to paint it. If only she had her painting supplies. Well, she thought, she’d have to go outside first, but the thought of stepping out of the door made her nervous.
After doing her business in the cramped bathroom, she headed toward the kitchen. Her heart slammed into her ribcage when she realized Cross was sitting at the table.
“Did you sleep all right?”
“I, uh …” Her tongue found it difficult to move as she fully took in Cross’s presence. Despite being seated, he still seemed to take up a lot of space in the cabin. Last night, she’d been so distracted by, well, all the stuff that happened, that she didn’t notice how tall or large he was. He must be at least half a foot over six feet, which made her feel small. His shoulders were broad but not overly large, and tattoos peeked from under the collar of his white shirt and down his arms. And that face … strong features, piercing eyes, firm lips which not even his beard could conceal. His hair, she realized, though kept long was shaved down the sides, unlike in her paintings. It was funny how she’d spent a year painting him and yet, she still felt like she’d been hit by a Mack truck just from staring at him.
“Sabrina?” Blue-green eyes looked at her with concern. “Did you want to eat? If you don’t like any of this stuff, I can get you something else.”
“Huh?” It was then she realized that the table was, indeed, laden with food—platters of eggs, a pile of toast, crispy bacon, pancakes smothered in syrup, bagels and smoked fish, coffee and tea. Everything looked freshly made too.
Heat crept up her face as she sat down. She’d been too busy ogling him to notice. No wonder he didn’t answer when she asked if they were “more than friends” last night. He was an Adonis and could probably get any girl he wanted, so why would he want anything to do with her? Cross was way out of her league, and for once, she was glad she had amnesia, because that meant she’d never know if she threw herself at him and he rejected her. She wanted to cringe just thinking about it.
“Did you want—”
“No, this is great. Just great,” she said, trying to sound cheerful as she spooned some eggs onto a plate and grabbed a piece of bacon. “Just great.” The food was delicious, and she didn’t realize how hungry she was until she gobbled down all the eggs and bacon, plus two pieces of toast, which she washed down with coffee. “Thank you.”
He opened his mouth to speak but was interrupted when the cabin door opened. “Well, as I live and breathe,” came the feminine voice. “I thought Ransom was pulling my leg when he said you were here.”
Two people entered the cabin; the first, a gorgeous, slim redhead who gave Cross a big smile. Her flannel shirt, slim jeans, and knee-high boots clung to her curves and made Sabrina feel horribly underdressed in her loose pajamas.
Behind her was a tall man, not as tall as Cross, but much broader. He wore a black leather vest over his flannel shirt, but she could see tattoos extending from his elbows to his wrists. Though his beard was a shade darker, his dark brown hair with highlights set off his golden eyes. No wait, they were green. Or both?
Cross stiffened, then got up and turned around. “Hello, Silke. Ransom.”
The redhead sauntered up to Cross and pulled him into a hug, and Sabrina felt a hot, tight ball curl in her chest. Who was this woman, and why did she have her hands all over Cross? Sabrina felt an urge to scratch her eyes out.
“You’ve finally decided we were worth a visit, huh?” she asked.
He eyed the other man. “You told her?”
“Hey.” The man held his hands up. “It’s her place. I can’t hide nothing from her.”
She turned to Sabrina, her emerald eyes going warm. “Hi there, I’m Silke Walker,” she said, walking toward her and holding her hand out.
Sabrina stared at it for a moment before taking it. “I’m Sabrina.”
The redhead clasped both hands over hers. “Ransom—that’s my brother over there”—she tossed her head back to the man in the leather vest—“told me that you needed a place to crash because you’ve got some bad people after you.” Her lips pulled back, and Sabrina noticed a long, thin scar that extended from the right edge of her lip all the way to the tip of her cheekbone. “Is it a husband? Boyfriend? Dad?”
“I, uh …”
Silke shook her head. “You don’t have to tell me, sugar. But, please, stay as long as you need.”
Sabrina was speechless, and she felt shame that she’d judged Silke too harshly. “Thank you. I don’t know how long I’ll be staying, but I’ll try not to be too much trouble.”
“Thank you, Silke,” Cross said. “I appreciate it.”
“No trouble at all,” she said, which earned a snort from Ransom. “You’re one to talk. This man saved your life—”
Cross cleared his throat. “We just need a couple of days, and then we’ll be out of your hair.”
“I’m sorry we don’t have much in here,” Silke said, gesturing around the cabin. “It’s not really meant for long stays. We would put you in one of the guest lodges or rooms, but we have other people staying there and they’re at the front part of the property, closer to the highway.”
“Other people?” she asked.
Silke nodded. “I run the Seven Peaks Mountain Lodge and Cabins, but don’t worry, while the lodge sits on the same property as we are, they’re far away enough.”
“Silke owns about fifty acres of land up here,” Cross explained. “And the lodge takes up about thirty. The rest is where Ransom and the MC live.”
“MC?”
“Jonasson,” Ransom said in a warning voice. “Just because I’m letting you stay doesn’t mean you can tell everyone about our business.”
“I’m letting her stay,” Silke said, patting Sabrina’s hand.
Ransom rubbed a hand down his face. “I have shit to do.” Without another word, he left the cabin, the door slamming shut behind him.
“I’m sorry to be causing trouble between you two.” She lowered her gaze.
“Don’t let my brother’s gruff exterior fool you; he’s a sweetheart … most of the time,” Silke explained. “He’s just … he’s had a tough year.”
“You both have,” Cross said. “He told me your father died. I’m sorry.”
“Oh no, I didn’t realize.” Sabrina said. “My condolences.”
Grief marred Silke’s pretty face. “We weren’t expecting it. And … well, Ransom wasn’t his, but Pops never treated him different, you know?”
Sabrina blinked. “Wasn’t his?”
“I was a baby when his mother and Pops got together,” Silke explained. “My momma died after I was born; she was the one who owned the lodge and the property.”
“I never knew my mom. She died after I was born too,” Sabrina said in a soft voice.
“Really?” Silke blinked and then flashed her a sad smile. “We have more in common than I thought.”
“So, Ransom’s your step-brother?”
“I thought that would be obvious, seeing as I’m fully human.”
Sabrina looked at her with confusion. “I don’t know what that means.”
Silke looked up to Cross. “What’s going on? Does she not know about Lycans?”
“It’s a long story,” he said with a sigh. “I’m sorry, Silke, for not telling you myself. I wasn’t sure if you wanted to get involved in all this.”
“After what you did for Ransom? Of course I want to help out.” She planted her hands on her hips. “All right, I’m sure you have your reasons, but you should tell her …” She shook her head. “I’m sorry, Sabrina, I don’t mean to talk about you like you weren’t here, but …” She let out a sigh. “I have to go, but I’ll come and check back on you occasionally, okay?” With a wave goodbye, she left the cabin.
“So, they’re … interesting,” Sabrina said.
“Yeah.” Cross sat back down across from her. “Listen, I know you have a lot of questions, still. And I promised you I would answer them if you came with me, so go ahead.”
“I don’t know where to begin.” So far, the only thing she knew was that they knew each other before the accident, but she’d forgotten about him. How could she forget all these things? “Silke said she was fully human. That means you and Ransom aren’t? Can he turn into a wolf too and do magic?”
A pulse ticked in his jaw. “Ransom can turn into a wolf, yes. He’s a full Lycan, which mean both his parents were Lycan, and he can shift back and forth from human to wolf form. And no, it doesn’t have anything to do with the moon, except for one exception. Silke’s mother was a human, so that’s why she can’t shift. Usually, only two Lycans can produce a Lycan pup, but there are some exceptions.” He paused. “I’m part Lycan, but also part warlock. My mom’s a Lycan but my dad’s a warlock, and so I’m what’s called a hybrid, which is why I can do both.”
A dead silence filled the air. “It’s a lot to process. If I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes …” A throbbing ache began in her forehead, but she ignored it. Instead, she took another sip of coffee. “And those men who came into my apartment last night?”
He swallowed audibly. “Those men are entirely different. They’re called mages, and they are my kind’s sworn enemy. They want to destroy us.”
“But, I’m not one of you … why did they come after me?”
“They want …” He paused. “They want to do something bad with you.”
She gasped. “With me?” A cold chill ran through her. “What?”
“I don’t know. But trust me, Sabrina.” Reaching out, he took her hand in his. “I won’t let them get to you.”
Could she believe him? She looked him straight in the eyes. He didn’t avoid her gaze nor did she feel uncomfortable. She desperately wanted to believe him. But there were so many missing pieces. “My dad,” she said suddenly remembering him. “Oh, my God, he’s going to worry. I need to talk to him.”
“You’ll put him in even bigger danger,” he said. “If the mages find out he knows where you are, they might go after him. Better to keep him in the dark.”
“But—”
“Think about it, Sabrina, you know I’m right. If your dad thought you were missing, he’d call the police. They’d do a search of your home and put out an APB. Your father would probably hire private detectives. When the mages who tried to kidnap you see that, then they’ll know he has no idea of where you are either and will stay away from him.”
Darn it, he was right. “Okay, fine. We won’t tell him, but I’ll have to let him know I’m okay.”
His mouth thinned into a grim line. “Once the threat has passed, you can tell him yourself.”
“And how long will that be?” She stood up. “And what exactly am I supposed to do? Twiddle my thumbs?”
“I’m sorry, I didn’t think.” He scratched his head. “I’ll get you some stuff, okay? I’ll be right back.”
“Be right—hey!” He disappeared into thin air before she could ask anything else. She massaged her temples. Oh Lord, hopefully this headache would go away.
A sharp knock made her start. “Come in,” she called.
The door swung open, and Silke strode back inside. “Hey, Sabrina, I hope you don’t mind, but I figured you might not have any clothes with you. Or anything to entertain you while you’re camping out here, so I brought you a few things.” She held up a bag. “Cross should be able to scrounge you up some stuff too, but I see he’s gone again.”
“Oh, thank you.” There were a few things inside, including some sweatpants, a hoodie, and some paperback books. “You’re too kind.”
“Not at all,” she said. “I’ve … I’ve been where you were, you know.”
“Y-y-you have?”
She nodded. “And, well, I know what it’s like, wanting to escape a situation and feeling like you don’t have anyone. I’m just glad I had Ransom to bail me out and …” Her voice drifted off. “Anyway, if there’s anything I can do—”
“You’ve done a lot already, letting me stay here.”
“We owe Cross, so I’m happy to return the favor.” She sat down opposite Sabrina. “He found Ransom half-dead and brought him back here to us a year ago. You know, I don’t really know much about him. He came back every couple of days to make sure Ransom was recovering, but we haven’t seen him since.”
“So, he hasn’t been back at all?”
“No, why would he?” Silke shrugged. “Anyway, I never thought he’d visit us. Not everyone wants to associate with Lone Wolves.”
The throbbing in her temple intensified. “Lone Wolves?”
“I—”
“Sabrina, I’m back—oh.” Cross had materialized again, this time, just by the door. “Silke, I didn’t think you’d be back so soon.”
The redhead got up. “I only thought to bring Sabrina some clothes and a couple of books to keep her occupied. Though I suppose that’s what you brought along?” she asked, staring at the large bag in his hands.
“Yeah.”
“Well, I’ll be off.” She patted Cross on the arm. “Don’t be a stranger, okay?”
“Sure, Silke.”
“I like her,” Sabrina found herself admitting once Silke was gone. Then she blinked.
“What’s wrong?” He crossed the room in a few strides. “Sabrina?”
“I just …” How could she explain it to him? “Since the accident, I’ve had this condition, you see. I get anxiety every time I have to leave the house and meet new people. My chest tightens, and my palms get sweaty just at the thought of having to cross from the front door or meeting a neighbor in my elevator. I can count the number of times I’ve left the house in the last year on one hand, and I haven’t interacted with anyone except for Dad or Barbara. And yet …” Her head pulsed and throbbed again. “In the last twelve hours, I’ve not only left my house, but now I’m in another state and I’ve met three—er, two new people.”
“How are you feeling?”
“That’s just it … I don’t feel nervous or anxious at all.” It really was puzzling. “I mean, I do have a headache right now, but I didn’t turn into a nervous wreck meeting Ransom or Silke.”
A strange expression flickered briefly on his face. “I can get you some pain killers for your headache.”
“No, it’s fine.” She waved her hand at him. “But, what did you bring me?”
With a wave of his hand, he cleared the table, then placed the large canvas bag on top. “Since you don’t have anything else to do, I thought I’d get you some supplies.”
“Supplies?” She opened the bag and let out a small cry. “Oh, my God!” Reaching in, she pulled out some tubes of paint. “These are my brand too!” Of course he knew what brand she used. She rooted in the bag to take out brushes, a palette knife, linseed oil, paint thinner, and a few other essentials. “Cross, I don’t know what to say. Thank you.” She clutched the supplies to her chest.
“The easel’s outside.” He jerked his thumb toward the door. “And I’ll get you anything else you need.”
“Oh, this is really …” He was standing so close to her, she could smell his delicious, chocolatey smell. How could someone smell exactly like her favorite cookie, anyway?
“One more thing.” Cross reached into the bag and took out a small electronic device and a speaker. “I know you like to listen to music when you’re in your studio, so I got you this.”
“That—wait. How did you know I like to listen to music?” She took the offered music player and pressed the play button.
