Wicked: A Savage Alpha Shifters Romance, page 40
I tug on her hair band to get it out of the ponytail she put it in.
“Why do you keep doing that?” she mutters.
“Pretty corkscrew curls like that deserve to be free.”
She rolls her eyes.
“All good with your aunt?” I ask.
“So it seems. No change.”
The blonde sister appears. “Mornin’. Oh my.” She’s also blatantly staring at my naked upper body.
“My eyes are up here,” I tell her, pointing to my face with the bacon tongs.
“Might wanna wear a shirt if you don’t wanna be objectified, there lover,” Rikki says with an eyebrow wiggle as she dumps cat food into a bowl.
Ronnie reaches up beside me for coffee mugs while blatantly staring at me. “Sorry, Erica, but he made coffee and he’s cooking bacon. Plus he looks like that? The shirt won’t take the hot factor down, so he might as well forget about the shirt. So he should probably just go shirtless all the time.”
“Good idea!” the now entering and smiling Vivica says.
All five are in my kitchen, all are checking me out.
I hear a hiss. I look down. The other female cat is putting her two cents in. “Bullshit,” I tell the cat. “You were sleepin’ on her who was on me last night so don’t keep pretendin’ that you don’t dig me, too.”
“Oscar is a cuddler,” Rikki says.
“Yeah, he was sleepin’ on my neck,” I mutter.
Rikki smiles at me. “Petunia is bitchy by day, snuggly by night. Penny is shy and sweet and hisses only when Petunia hisses first. She doesn’t mean it. If you pet her after a hiss, she’ll just melt. Try it.”
“I’ll pass,” I mutter.
“Lucinda sent me a text message,” Vivica announces. “It’s safe to pull the dagger out of Aunt Mimi, so I called Grey and told him. He’s coming over. Can I get some java? One for Auntie too? Then shall we?”
I answer. “Help yourself. Make yourselves at home, sisters-in-law,” I invite. “Breakfast’ll be ready in ten minutes and then we’ll head over to the town hall for nine, yeah?”
“Sounds good, cat daddy,” Rikki kisses me and then sets the cat food bowls up in a line on the floor. She then pulls three more bowls down from the cupboard and turns the tap on.
I swat her ass.
She gives me a beaming smile. “Can you put their water down? I’m gonna run up and be there when they pull it.”
“Yeah. Do that, baby,” I kiss her and watch her jog upstairs.
As I’m nearly finished frying the second package of bacon, Jessica is back with a big smile.
“Everything good?” I ask.
“All good,” she replies happily. “She looks fifteen or twenty years younger. It was like she opened her eyes and years just melted off. Says she feels great. She’s hungry. I came to help you with the rest of this. What can I do?”
“Toast?” I suggest.
“On it,” she declares.
Danica comes into the kitchen smiling. “That’s why Lucinda is in her nineties and looks forty. Looks like we got more years out of that ordeal for Auntie so it wasn’t a total loss. I need one of those daggers.”
“Nineties?” I ask.
“Yup,” Danica nods.
“Well, shit. We should get hooked up with one for all of us then. It’ll work on any supernatural?”
“Yep. And no kidding,” Jessica replies. “Though, I’m glad Vivi took out that dagger. Ronnie didn’t even wanna set hands on it after touching Lucinda. Says that woman has a story and a half.”
Danica steps up beside me and reaches into the kitchen cupboard. “I’ll set the… oh… there’s no table. I’ll set up here for now.” She pulls plates down and sets them on the island, then starts hunting through my fridge.
“You need a dining room table,” Danica informs me. “But I do approve of your jam selection.” She carries an armful of jam jars to the counter.
“My mother stocked the fridge in time for us to come back the other day. And yeah, I do need a table,” I agree. “Once your sister finds homes for all these plants I’ll make sure we get a table for twelve. I sense there could be a lot of these family meals in the future.”
“You sense correctly,” Jessica says, nabbing a piece of bacon from the paper towel-lined plate. “But, hear this: life with Erica Young? You will always have too many plants in your house from now on. Get used to it.” She bites the end of the bacon strip and gives me an extreme expression.
“I’ll deal. If I can deal with her three cats, I can deal with some plants,” I mutter. “Cats in a fuckin’ wolf shifter village.” My eyes roll.
“She almost always has way more than three,” Jessica advises. “The three she brought were only half of her current menagerie. But she wasn’t about to take them all and leave our house without any. Erica’s mantra is that a house isn’t a home without housecats.”
“Fuck sakes,” I mutter, moving the last of the cooked bacon onto the plate. “One of you wanna put on another pot of coffee?”
49
Erica
It’s a parade of witches led by my wolf shifter toward the town hall from Riley’s house and I can’t get over the spring in Aunt Mimi’s step. She didn’t want to be driven. She wanted to walk, so we walked.
She woke hungry and full of energy after Lucinda’s wand was pulled from her belly and not only was there no blood, the wound vanished instantly. Not even a scar. Over breakfast, she was talkative. She teased that we should’ve left her daggered another twenty-four hours, so she’d wind up looking our age.
She then told us that she didn’t expect her power would revert to her when she woke, but thinks because of all the energy I sent, they’ve both got it. She also told us that Greyson is now an official coven member and as the eldest of our generation, he’ll be the new leader of our coven after she’s gone.
And now maybe we’ll have twenty more years with her instead of just a couple.
Vivi didn’t seem miffed about Greyson leading at all. We’ve never talked succession, have operated as a family unit always, and nobody ever told us about the eldest of a coven taking over as a general rule. I assumed it’d be Vivi as she was the first of us to join the coven, the most experienced of our generation.
Greyson is technically the eldest of our generation as he’s a year older than Vivi and he’s willing to be listed as the head of our coven, but Aunt Mimi says that with his life here, his pack responsibilities, his work, and his new mate, he doesn’t know how involved he can be so wants to start out as a figurehead and see how it goes. He stopped by during breakfast to check on us all, stayed for a quick coffee, and then said he’d see us at the town hall.
The two of them seem to still have a psychic link, too, because of the power share of last night, which Aunt Mimi says also comes as a surprise.
Although Grey plans to defer to the rest of us, he’s willing to do whatever he can to help when necessary, though doesn’t want to be involved day-to-day. She’s counting on all of us to guide him, particularly me since we’ll be living in the same village. She then said she’ll go back and forth between Marblehead and Drowsy Hollow to be present for all of us, particularly me as I’ll need help learning to manage and wield my new powers. Being the fountain of information she is, she says she has connections that can help me. Connections that aren’t part of the SCC. And I plan to study witch history the way she does. Supernatural history in general, because her experience and deep knowledge saved us last night.
Greyson has what he was born with, what she gave him from herself and he has what Aunt Lyrica had. And she told us while heaping seconds onto her breakfast plate that since at his mating he inherited his mother’s original powers before hers were stripped, that meant he also gained the powers of his grandmother, Mimi’s twin. He’s a very powerful warlock. I don’t know exactly what this means for us going forward, but I’m sure it contributed to things working out last night.
***
When we get to the town hall, Lucinda and Mitchell are here along with the rest of the council alphas. But standing beside Greyson is a woman I don’t recognize. She looks nervously at the group of us coming in.
“Aunt Mimi, everybody, this is my mate, Stacy,” Grey confirms my suspicions, bringing her to Auntie. “Stace, my cousins: Vivi, Ronnie, Jess, Dani, and Erica. And this knucklehead is Riley Savage.”
She’s attractive. Wavy dark hair. Dark, pretty eyes. Thick lashes. Dressed in jean shorts, a t-shirt, and sandals. She’s nervous. Very nervous. Her eyes lock on mine and I go directly to her, hoping to put her at ease. I have a pretty good idea how she must feel being here after how it all came about.
“I’m Erica. The other newbie around here. Great to meet you.” I give her a quick hug, adding softly, “Let’s exchange numbers. I thought they’d all hate my guts after what I did to Riley, but I promise you, these people are awesome.”
She looks relieved as I pull back. And Greyson is looking at me with approval.
“Nice to meet you, Erica. Everyone. How are you feeling, Mrs. Young?” Stacy asks, nervously.
“Never married so nix the missus. I say, why cook and clean up after a pig year-round when you just get the craving for sausage occasionally?”
Riley barks out a laugh.
Greyson’s face goes sour.
The rest of us are gobsmacked. Completely. She’s been our mother figure for sixteen years and has never once told a dirty joke around us.
“Who are you and what have you done with Aunt Mimi?” Jessie gasps.
Aunt Mimi ignores her and keeps speaking to Stacy. “Since you’re part of this crew now, you can call me Aunt Mimi or Auntie like the rest of these brats. Welcome to the family.”
Stacy startles and then as her eyes bounce to the shock on all of our faces, she slowly smiles a dazzling smile.
“She’s surly, but we wouldn’t trade her for anything, ” I tell her.
Ronnie adds, “She’s usually the quiet, observing type but she’s had a harrowing twelve hours.”
“I heard,” Stacy says with wide eyes.
My sisters take turns hugging Stacy. When Ronnie does, her body goes rod-straight and she gives Greyson a look of alarm for a split second before she hides it. Ronnie felt something when she touched her, and we all know her well enough to know when we see her hide a reaction it means there’s something extreme there.
“Can we get started here?” Mitch asks. “Sorry to rush you folks along, but Lucinda has a flight to catch and it’s a long drive to the airport.”
The circle is still set up from yesterday’s meeting, but this time there are no refreshments. We all move in. The women sit and I note the men all remain standing. Riley is at my back, hand on my shoulder. His thumb grazes the mark on my neck briefly and I lean into his touch.
I love this man more and more every day.
“Right,” Lucinda begins, “There needs to be an accounting for the events of the night for the SCC. I’ll forward a copy of my report to Vivica to show you all before I file it so you can check it for accuracy and let me know if I missed anything important or if you want anything changed or added.” Lucinda gestures to Mitch beside herself. “Mitchell is taking me to the airport, then coming back and staying until tomorrow before he goes back to Scotland. He’s arranging to transport Aviva to her next of kin.”
Riley says, “We’ll arrange round-the-clock security to watch the building.”
“That’s not likely necessary. She’s not going anywhere,” Lucinda replies, but then adds, “Although that wand needs to go to our archives in Bucharest, so a separate transport needs to be arranged for it and I wanted to ask for assistance with that.”
“You can’t take it with you?” Tyson asks.
Lucinda shakes her head sharply. “I don’t want it anywhere near me, especially after last night. I want no waters clouded because Aviva and I traveled here together and worked together seven years ago on Erica’s case.”
“If you never have it in your possession, you’ve got no shadow of suspicion on you,” Greyson guesses.
“Yes. But not just that. Power is intoxicating. Especially dark magic. I go out of my way to avoid temptation. I don’t even want to set eyes on it again. My advice to any witch in this room is to stay away from it as well.”
“Don’t wanna go all Gollum from Lord of the Rings?” Mitch jokes.
Lucinda looks at him like he’s an ass for a brief moment before replying, “Something like that.” And then she turns back to us. “It’s a serious responsibility to make sure it gets there, and I recommend at least two escorts. Perhaps one from the coven and one from the pack. I also recommend a spell to protect it in a lock box. I can do it if the coven prefers not to.”
“I’m taking a vacation in Greece next month. I don’t mind doing a detour to Bucharest on the way,” Danica offers.
“I’ll go with her,” Jase states. “We’ll keep it under guard here until then.”
“Fuckin’ Jase,” Riley mutters under his breath.
“Unless you’re mated by then,” Tyson adds.
“Yeah… uh… unless that,” Jase mutters, looking pale.
“We’ll make sure Danica has a shifter escort,” Riley offers.
“I’ll leave that with this group giving you the responsibility for it. You’re willing to take that on? To be personally responsible for it until it’s handed over?”
“Yes,” Dani confirms.
“Mimi, would you be able to put a lock on it? Or would you like me to do it?”
“I’ll do that,” Aunt Mimi replies.
“Right. I have to say this is preferable to sending it via courier. We do use a service that transports important artifacts, but there’s a familial connection to Aviva at that organization, so I’d rather not use it. That wand has the potential to be dangerous, particularly if another Starling coven witch gets their hands on it. Other than all that, I might need testimony if I’m called to answer for last night’s events. If I do, I’ll be in touch, or you’ll get a subpoena. If any of you need me, please reach out.” She moistens her lips and then her eyes are on me. “Erica?”
Riley wraps his arm around me protectively.
“Yes?” I reply.
“On behalf of the SCC, I apologize to you and to all of you for what Aviva tried to do last night. If I had any idea whatsoever, I would’ve stopped it. I’ve known her thirty-five years. I know her well. I would never, in a million years, have expected this.”
“I believe you,” I say.
“And that said, my door is open to you or anyone here. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you need help with anything. I know the SCC will not hesitate to reach out to you for help and that goes both ways. Don’t be afraid to utilize us. We have a large team of experts on all things supernatural. I hope you’ll all look on us favorably despite last night’s events. That was definitely out of the norm.”
Riley scoffs and I know he’s still holding a grudge. I squeeze his hand.
“We always do what we can to help,” Aunt Mimi replies. “And we appreciate the offer of help in return. But the SCC will need to put effort in to cultivate a relationship with Greyson and my nieces if they want a reciprocal relationship.”
“We intend to,” Lucinda says. “We have resources at your disposal if you need them. I’ve been advised to issue a stern warning to you, Erica, about conducting yourself within the guidelines of our treaties. But I already know I don’t have to deliver that warning to you.”
“No, you don’t,” I confirm, looking into her eyes.
“Good,” she says softly, then she hands Greyson a business card and extends one to me. “Call any time. Erica, or any of you. Young family: there is an alternative to Aviva’s witch retreat held in Ireland every year for Samhain. I can arrange invitations since the Albania option is now off the table.”
“We’ve got an assignment at that point,” Vivi advises, “Perhaps next year.”
“Can I see the body?” Ronnie asks.
The room goes quiet.
“Why?” Mitch asks.
“I just want to ascertain that this is over,” my sister replies softly. “Psychopically. I need to touch her. For peace of mind.”
“Very well,” Mitch replies. “Follow me downstairs. If you’re quick. I need to get Lucinda to the airport.”
“I’ll wait in your car. I need to make a few calls,” Lucinda says.
“I’ll come,” Aunt Mimi gets to her feet. “Goodbye for now, Lucinda. I might reach out in ten years for another night spent with your wand.”
Lucinda smiles. “You’d be welcome to spend a weekend with me at my home. Do not share information about the function of my wand and I’ll extend that invite to the rest of you, too. Best wishes, Mimi.”
“Meet you outside,” I say to Aunt Mimi and Ronnie, then get up. “Until we meet again, Lucinda.”
“Accurate,” she replies with a warm smile. “I have the feeling you will make an excellent council addition when the time comes.”
“I want to make up for lost time with Riley. Have a family. Start a business. Heal. Flourish.” I shrug.
“When you’re ready, contact us. Though we might reach out before then.”
“Try and wait at least eighteen to twenty years,” Riley speaks up. “We have a family to make and raise.”
Lucinda smiles and it seems genuine. “Until next time. Farewell.” She waves and walks out.
“What are we doing now?” I ask. “Head back to our place?”
Vivi, Dani, and Jessie rise.
“We have a few errands,” Vivi says. “Can we catch up a little later?”
“Oh. Okay,” I say.
“I’ll call you in a bit,” Vivi says and hugs me.
“It’s over,” I whisper.
“I hope so,” she replies.
“Do you have doubts?”
“Not doubts,” she says carefully. “But something is brewing. I don’t know if it’s about you, about Grey and the problems he’s having, or something else. But something’s in the air.”
“Might just be residual energy from last night,” Jessica offers.
“Maybe,” Vivi says warily. “Talk to you in a bit.”
