Sorcerous Rogue: Spirit Sorceress: Book 3 Read online

  We both got up and headed our separate ways. I knew I’d still see her after I moved, but I was also going to miss not seeing her at every meal anymore. What can I say? I was greedy, and wanted it all.

  The one thing I really wouldn’t enjoy was the commute, but that didn’t mean I didn’t love the location of the pack house. It was private, on several acres north east of the city itself, and close enough to the forest to allow a shifted werewolf to get there without worry of being spotted, with just a modicum of caution.

  Twenty-eight shifters were rather on the high side for a pack, and their pack house was equally very large. It was a three-story mansion, and the individual rooms for the pack were on the second and third floors. The only exception to that would be the alpha’s rooms which were on the first floor, and compromised a private full bath, bedroom, and study.

  I was fairly sure the reason for that was the alpha was not only in charge of the pack, but was its ultimate protector. Any invaders would have to go through him first, before they could get to the rest of the pack.

  The first floor also had a large stainless steel industrial type kitchen, like a restaurant, with two large ovens, eight burners, and a full sized griddle. They even had their own walk-in freezer and walk-in pantry, I couldn’t imagine what the monthly food bill would be. Although they certainly made enough as one of the premier construction companies in the area.

  I pulled up their driveway, soon to be mine as well, and parked on the side of the house. It looked like a damned parking lot, there were at least fourteen cars there. I wondered if they’d needed special zoning for that.

  I let out a deep breath, and felt nervous.

  Jared had never gotten back to me on my last comment, and how he felt about me having to put the coven above him and the pack.

  I knew it still didn’t sit right with me, but I really didn’t have a choice.

  I felt the pack in the backyard, which wasn’t much of a surprise, when I’d come here last Thursday night we’d spent most of it outdoors, until he’d taken me to bed.

  When I opened the car door, I smelled meat cooking along with the scent of burning charcoal. I moved around the side of the house and toward the back, and everyone looked my way as soon as my scent reached them. I supposed I felt tentative, because I’d moved to scent range without making a sound in the way vampires could.

  I was fairly sure that the air magic helped with that particular perk as well.

  Most of the looks ranged from neutral to tentatively friendly. The exceptions to that of course were Bob and Reah who looked happy to see me, and Ted who looked at me like he’d just gotten some crap on his shoe.

  Jared looked… really amazing, but he was also in what I had termed as alpha mode. He didn’t react much at all outside of a faint smile my way, although it was easy to read the welcome in his eyes as I walked his way. It must have been tiring for him to always need to appear in control of everything like that. Then again, maybe not, it was just a part of him as an alpha wolf, instinct. It would only be hard for me.

  Bob moved down without asking, and practically pushed the reluctant Ted to make room. Bob was very big, and should make a good barrier between Ted and I.

  I leaned down to give Jared a quick kiss before I sat down, but he had other ideas.

  He kissed me until I was breathless, and then let go with a low chuckle as I sat rather unsteadily.

  I blushed, as it occurred to me the whole pack could probably scent my body’s reaction to that kiss. No wonder nudity and PDA weren’t issues in a pack, between the need to be naked to shift, and with their sensitive noses, there was no way to hide anything anyway.

  Regardless, I was a lot more confident now as well, if he had an issue with what we talked about earlier, he wasn’t showing it.

  Jared was at the head of the table, I sat to his right. Bob was to my right, Ted was passed him, and across from me was Reah. Next to Reah was the twins, Cade and Harris, and past them was Tim, the young werewolf we’d rescued from that psychopath Needleman.

  The rest of the pack was scattered around the yard, some as humans, some as wolves, and Gina was over by the large brick barbeque. Gina was the omega, the least dominant wolf in the pack, and the only person here that was actually shorter than me at five foot two.

  I had her beat by an inch, which didn’t happen a whole lot.

  “Hi everyone.”

  Reah smiled, “So Jared says you’re moving in next Monday?”

  Reah was very outgoing, and seemed to like me a lot. If I had to guess I’d say it was more about her uncle finding a mate than about me specifically, or maybe she was just that outgoing and friendly with everyone, but I was sure we’d become good friends over time. It was hard not to like her.

  I cleared my throat.

  “That’s the plan, after the ally bond. I’ll be around before then of course, but Monday it’s official.”

  When Ted made a disgusted noise, I reached out and took Jared’s hand.

  I loved that he wanted to defend me, but I hated that I was the cause of any tension in the pack. The alpha and beta especially shouldn’t be at odds, I could see the effect of it on everyone in the backyard. Luckily, most of the disapproval there seemed aimed at Ted, but I still wasn’t happy about it. Especially since I had Carly’s memories, and knew that the pack was very close knit. Jared and Ted had always been very close, like brothers.

  My presence… changed that. It was why I wanted to put things on hold a bit until after the ally bond.

  Bob cleared his throat ostentatiously, and patted my back.

  I also knew from my memories that packs were extremely tactile, and that touching was typical between those in the pack. I was actually heartened by the gesture. Did he already think of me that way?

  “So little sis, gotten in any trouble recently?”

  I shook my head, “Nope, it’s been quiet, for three whole days now.”

  Bob said, “You sound surprised by that, are you evil vampires that unruly?”

  I elbowed him for the evil vampire comment.

  Bob looked at Jared and accused, “Dad, she’s touching me.”

  I laughed, and Reah started to giggle.

  Ted got up in disgust at our banter, and went across the yard to the farthest group from us and I sighed.

  I considered Bob’s question, and if I should answer it. I decided it wasn’t really a secret, and just told the truth.

  “To answer your question no. We have a bad element just like humans, or shifters. It’s just that Ceara rules our kind, so every jackass with delusions of power seem to focus on Seattle. She calls me a trouble magnet, but it’s really her. If one of them managed to take Ceara out, vampires society would fall to anarchy, and every city would have its own rules. It would be… bad.”

  Jared looked at me for a moment, and asked, “Do you think they’ll succeed?”

  I shook my head, “I doubt it. She’s almost two thousand years old. She also has powerful allies,” I added, thinking of Melody, and Tina.

  I thought about the warehouse again, and the fight there. She’d been virtually helpless until we left the confines of the witch’s spell. I imagined a strong enough sorcerer could do it, even a witch, but not another vampire. Plus, she had allies that way as well. Despite her apparent young age, Melody was a very old and powerful earth sorceress.

  Jared frowned, “But it puts you in more danger.”

  Damn, time to change the subject.

  “Maybe a little, but I’m mostly just the pack liaison, and I’m going to work at Pulse weekend nights. I do some investigating for Ceara too, but…” I trailed off and admitted, “Okay, yeah, a bit. Nothing I can’t handle though. It’s not like I’m a guard or anything. So what do you do Reah?”

  Reah smirked at my pathetic redirect, but answered.

  “College, mystic pack duties, and I help with the company’s books sometimes.”

  Damn, short answer.

  I turned to Jared, “So what happened th
is morning, you never did comment on the last thing I told you.”

  Jared stared at me a minute, and I knew the conversation wasn’t over. Damned alpha wanted to wrap me in bubble wrap and put me on a shelf somewhere for safe keeping. Still, he let it go for now and answered my question.

  “Alarm went off, breakfast and morning run. As for the other I expected something like that, and I understand it.”

  I felt relief go through me, but it was short lived.

  Jared sent, “I want to know when you’re in danger, and when you’re out of it. You will keep me informed.”

  His mind voice was stern, the tone of an alpha. There was no sign of compromise or weakness, and he expected to be obeyed.

  It turned me on to the point I was weak in the knees and was glad I was sitting, and it also made me want to tell him no just on principal. I was his mate, not a submissive shifter he could boss around. It was the former part of my response that made me nervous, and gave me pause. I wouldn’t allow myself to be subsumed under his authority as a pack alpha.

  Lucky for him, I also got the subtext, or I would have read him the riot act. He was an alpha that was terrified his mate would be in danger, and worse, he’d be helpless to defend me or even fight beside me most of the time. He just wanted to establish control where he had none.

  I knew that because I could relate, I was really worried about him this morning, not knowing what was going on. Luckily, I could feel him through the mate bond I’d forged unknowingly, and stopped worrying after an hour or so when I could still feel him.

  The bond was what would share my extended life with my mate, and I could always follow it with my spirit, but it didn’t do much more than let me know he was alive, which had been enough. The pack ally bond would tell me more, and I looked forward to that as much as he did.

  I sent back in a mostly reasonable tone, but it had a hint of steel in it I couldn’t hold back.

  “I can’t promise the before part, there won’t always be time. But I won’t hide anything, or lie to you. Besides, this will be moot after the ally ceremony in eight days, you’ll know when I’m in danger and when I’m out of it all the time.”

  Assuming I didn’t purposefully suppress it of course, but I had no intention of doing so.

  I squeezed his hand, and felt relief when he broke the intense gaze. Would my life with him always be this intense?

  I hoped so, or at least a part of me did. So… maybe I was a little neurotic.

  Bob asked, “You were here this morning?”

  It took me a second to remember the last thing we’d said out loud. I guessed Jared hadn’t told him about it yet.

  “Just in his dreams.”

  I giggled at the look of confusion on his face.

  “Literally,” I added.

  Gina said from over by the barbeque, “Food’s ready.”

  We ate after that, and I spent time with those at the table. Not many others stepped up to say hello, and I wasn’t sure what to think about that, except I was more sure about my decision to wait until after the ally bond than ever.

  I did learn that the twins were pack protectors, and Tim was a protector in training. Reah was a mystic, and Jared was alpha. So maybe that was normal? Just the important positions at the table? I’d figure it out, and it didn’t have to be today.

  After lunch, we went for a run, and after that Jared and I spent the rest of the time in his bed until I had to leave. I honestly couldn’t get enough of him, and was reluctant to leave, but I had to be at Pulse for my shift…

  Chapter Eight

  After a dinner which was entirely too quick, I had to skip a shower since I just didn’t have time. I thought I’d left soon enough, but afternoon traffic had been worse than I’d expected.

  I shapeshifted to my fox form and back which was just as good, though not nearly as satisfying as the hot spray on my pleasantly sore muscles would have been. I really hadn’t wanted to leave Jared at all.

  That was okay though, perspective and all.

  I put on a pair of short jean shorts, and the pulse shirt, as well as a pair of comfortable sandals. I managed to conceal a pair of knives in the small of my back under the shirt, that would have to do. I’d still have my sword under the bar as well.

  I really didn’t want to be unprepared, I doubted a rogue would call ahead to schedule his attack.

  I snorted at that thought, and then ran downstairs to the garage, and hopped into the back seat of the jeep. I’d felt them waiting for me, their spirits I mean.

  “Thanks for waiting guys.”

  I wasn’t that late, we’d still get to pulse fifteen minutes before opening.

  Andrew winked at me, “Not a problem, with the pack again?”

  No doubt he could smell Jared on me, our noses weren’t as quite as sensitive as werewolves, but vampires had a pretty good sense of smell. He’d also sounded genuinely curious, and not disgusted, so I told him about my afternoon. Well, most of my afternoon.

  “Anything happen at the coven?”

  I had the feeling I’d be asking that question a lot.

  Steven shocked me by being the one to reply in his gravel voice.

  “Nothing that I know of, but we all slept this afternoon, after morning training, weird hours.”

  Paul said, “Yeah, it just feels more natural that way, working after we wake, then off time followed by training.”

  I nodded, “That makes sense, I’d have felt the same way. Except it isn’t worth changing my schedule for just two nights a week.”

  That reminded me. I pulled out my phone and typed up a quick email. Ceara already knew about my change of hours, but I wanted to make sure Eustice knew as well since he ran the clubs, bar, and pool hall. I also didn’t want to talk to the prejudiced ass, so email sounded like a good plan.

  He and Ethel could go on hating me from a distance.

  Of course, Ethel didn’t bother me nearly as much, she’d never pretended to be my friend.

  Andrew asked, “You going to do that weird mind thing tonight?”

  I laughed, “Weird mind thing? You mean mind speech?”

  He nodded.

  I said, “If there’s trouble I will, hopefully it will be just as quiet tonight.”

  Andrew scowled and looked around, and then muttered something about no damned wood.

  I snickered, “Why, does it bother you?”

  He shook his head, “How do you know though, do you read minds?”

  “No, souls. I kind of, skim.”

  Paul raised an eyebrow and turned toward the backseat, “Like a strainer?”

  I giggled, “No. Okay, I’m always connected to souls around me, if I want to read someone, and their past lives, I just focus on that person, and I get everything. When doing it that way I can only do one person at a time.

  “Skimming is like… in a fight where you see everything and focus on nothing. I turn my attention, diffusely, toward everything. Like a light touch. It lets me pick up the last few things the soul did, who they are, and what they want. It’s a little more complicated than that, I have to be careful not to get swept away so to speak, and stay grounded.”

  I’d probably said enough there, and I wasn’t keen on explaining the spiritual plane and my connection to it. People could get really upset when their idea of the afterlife didn’t align with reality.

  Steven spoke again, “Do you do that to us?”

  I shook my head, “I don’t like to read people I know.”

  Andrew peered at me, “But you did do it, when you captured us.”

  I frowned, I shouldn’t have started this conversation.

  “Yes, but not since. I also didn’t examine everything, you know, it was mostly just looking for where mark was, and what his plans were.”

  Paul grinned and said jokingly, “You poor thing. I don’t even want my memories.”

  I smiled, but didn’t respond verbally, I hoped things wouldn’t be too awkward now. I was also sure what was discussed would be all
over the coven by tomorrow morning. Just… great, I should have kept my mouth shut.

  We pulled into the parking lot, and I took care of the bar stock quickly, and getting ice. We opened just ten minutes later…

  Sunday night was slower of course, and it was almost easy to keep up with everything while practicing my magic. It wasn’t until later that night, around eleven, that there was a problem.

  And it wasn’t a rogue.

  I felt the soul approach, and was kind of in denial that it was really happening, until I felt him pull into the parking lot.

  “Jared?”

  He replied, “Yes baby?”

  I probably should have been offended at being called that, but it sent a shiver down my spine, in a good way. Not to mention his tone of voice. I shook my head to shake it off.

  “Is there a good reason for Ted to be at Pulse?”

  Vampires stayed away from pack places, werewolves stayed away from ours, it was a rule.

  He replied, “Tell me your kidding,” with alarm in his mind voice.

  “He’s not inside yet, but he just pulled in the parking lot.”

  Jared replied, “I’m on my way.”

  Damn, I quickly told Andrew, Paul, and Steven in mind speech, not to kill the werewolf heading toward the door, all while I poured drinks and smiled at the customers.

  What the hell did he think he was doing?

  I didn’t want to read him, but I needed some idea, so I added him to my skim.

  Crap, he was drunk. For a werewolf, that meant he’d drank a lot.

  He was also determined to put me in my place, which was not as a part of his pack.

  I worried, I knew despite what Jared had told me, werewolf packs have soured before, and even split. I really didn’t want to be the cause of something like that, or at least the catalyst.

  Ted was on the edge about this, and that had to be a strain for everyone.

  I was also angry, because I wasn’t going to give up my mate, which meant I felt conflicted and torn about it, and not just a little bit selfish.

  Ted walked in and caused a scene, although it could have been worse. Thank Inari there hadn’t been a line outside, but he ignored the human up front that took the cover charge payment. Then he looked around, and headed straight toward me across the dance floor.