FINN
“I can’t imagine what would’ve happened if you hadn’t found me,” Spencer said quietly. “At least now I have a chance.”
She was lying next to me with her head on my shoulder, and I pressed my lips to her soft hair.
“Finn, I need you to promise me something.”
“What is it?” I didn’t like the sound of that.
“Promise me that if I don’t make it—”
“Okay, you have to stop right there,” I cut her off.
She sat up. “Please, let me say it.”
I pushed my hands under my head and stared at the ceiling.
“If something happens to me, promise me you won’t leave Mom all alone. At least not in the beginning.”
“First of all, I thought you knew me better than that by now. And second—you can’t think like that.”
What we came up with to save Spencer’s life was our hope that we might've found a loophole in the curse. But our plan wasn’t a hundred percent guaranteed that Spencer would make it through. Not even fifty.
Would the symbols be able to suck out enough of her magic so that my powers wouldn’t overwhelm her? And how do we know if it’s enough? And what if there are things about that damn curse we still haven’t figured out? The thought that if something went wrong, I would lose her, froze my blood.
I couldn’t go there, and I couldn’t let her do that either.
I could hear her puttering heart. I sat up too, pulled her on top of me, then brushed back her hair and cupped my hands around her face.
“I love you,” I whispered. “And I know you’re strong enough to win this battle.”
“I love you too. You’re the best thing that ever happened to me in my screwed-up life. I don’t want to die. Not now. Not when—for the first time in my entire life—I’m happy.”
“Spencer, I know you’re scared. We all are. But I know you will make it. It will be hard and painful, but you’ll come out at the other end, and that's what matters. Do you hear me?”
Her tearful eyes fixed on mine, and she nodded.
“You need to rest.” I lay her down again and pulled her to my side. “Get some sleep.”
* * *
We just finished lunch and were having coffee on the porch when a car drove into the front yard.
“Let me talk to him first,” I said to Spencer and Clare, getting up.
“Man, what the hell is going on?” Looking confused, James threw a glance at the porch. “Is that your new girl? And . . . Is that her mother?”
“Yes.” I held out my hand.
James shook it, and with a grin across his face, he leaned his tall body against the car and folded his arms across his chest.
“Don’t get me wrong, Finn . . . She’s something. Damn,” his grin grew wider. “And the mother too. Nice catch, you dirty—”
“If you say another word, your tongue won't be the only body part you’ll lose.”
“Chill man. I’m just saying . . . I thought you said we have a new shifter.” He chortled. “If I knew we were having a party, I would’ve brought—”
“We are not.” Just like me, James was a hybrid, and I expected him to sense Spencer at once. “Don’t you feel the wolf?”
“Barely. Where is he? Where’s the shifter?”
My look slid to the road behind him. To suppress my smile, I cleared my throat.
“You’re looking at her, you idiot. It’s not a he.”
James's grin vanished. “What the hell are you talking about? What is she, a rejected mate? Or a runaway from some pack? If so, you know they’ll come after her, Finn, and you know we can’t do that. We don’t want problems with them for many—”
“Would you shut up for a second? She’s neither, okay? She’s like us.”
“What? No fucking way,” he gasped, straightening up. “Holy—”
“Like I said. This is a complicated one. So get your shit together. We have work to do.”
“Finn, this isn’t a complicated one. This is a not-going-to-happen one. What did you say to that poor girl? Does she know the truth?”
I nodded. “She knows. They both do. But . . .” I heaved a breath. “I’ll explain everything when Liam is here. By the way, where is he? I thought you were coming together.”
“No. He was in Atlanta. But he’s on his way.”
“James,” I rolled my eyes, “You’re staring, and your mouth is still open. Shut it and follow me.”
“Right.”
“Clare, this is my friend I told you about,” I said as we climbed the porch stairs.
Clare put down her cup and held out her hand.
“James.” James beamed, shaking it.
Clare smiled. “Thank you for coming, James.”
I moved behind Spencer and rested my hands on the back of her chair.
“And this is Spencer.”
“It’s nice to meet you.” Spencer leaned forward and took his offered hand.
“Oh no. It’s nice to meet you. It’s an honor, honestly. I don’t think you realize how special you are. I could never—”
But before he could finish his sentence, he noticed my clenched jaw.
“Would you like some coffee, James?” Clare asked.
“Ya.” He nervously ran his fingers up his shaved temple and into his chestnut colored mane with blond highlights on top. “Thanks.”
I pointed at the vacant chair, and as James dropped down, I took my seat next to Spencer.
James’s eyes followed Clare as she headed to the kitchen.
“I can tell your mom isn’t the wolf,” he turned to Spencer.
“No.” She shook her head. “She’s a witch.” She stopped her eyes on him for a second, then asked, “How long have you been a wolf? Shifters age differently, and it’s hard to tell by just looking at you.”
“Only for three years,” James grinned. “But don’t fret, I’m as strong as—”
I laughed. “Go on. As whom?”
He rolled his eyes at me. “I wasn’t going to say—”
“Relax, I’m just teasing you.”
“Listen, James,” Spencer sighed, “I know this can be dangerous for you. You didn’t know what you were getting into. And if you want to leave—”
“Spencer,” I squeezed her hand. But before I could say anything, James cut in.
“Are you kidding? No way am I missing this. And besides, no one knows you’re here. Am I right?” He turned his eyes on me. “And believe me when I say that it’s not me I’m worried about.”
“No. No one knows.”
Clare came back, put the coffee cup in front of James, and sank onto the couch under the windows.
“Thank you, Ms. . . .” James glanced at me for help.
“Marshall.”
“You can call me Clare.”
“Thank you, Clare.” He picked up the cup, took a sip, then turned to me. “You said there’s work to do. What is it? Where do we start?”
“First, we need to put—”
We all turned our heads to the sound of the engine as another car showed up at the gates.
Liam was the oldest of the three of us. He was over thirty and even though he looked younger than that, sometimes his age showed through his serious gaze and his body language.
He pulled his car right to the porch, then got out, and stood facing us, with his feet shoulder width apart. Tall, with broad shoulders, black hair, and wearing a black shirt and black sunglasses, he looked ominous.
He took his sunglasses off, and unlike James, he didn’t look at anybody but Spencer. I could feel that it made Spencer a little uncomfortable, but she held his gaze until Liam turned it to Clare.
Then I heard his voice in my head.
A rogue wolf? Seriously? Finn, you’re smarter than that. You know we can’t get involved.
It’s not what you think.
Then what is it?
I got up and pushed my hands into my pockets.
Doesn’t it seem strange to you that you can sense her when she’s not even a wolf yet?
Right. Liam frowned. What’s going on?
She’s not a rogue. She’s a half-witch, like us.
Liam stared at me.
Are you sure?
I nodded. “I am,” I said aloud.
Spencer’s eyes darted from Liam to me and back.
He stood thinking for a moment, then took a step forward, looked at Spencer, and smiled.
“Well, hi there.”
Spencer pushed herself deeper into her seat. “Hi.”
“You sensed her wolf?” James gaped at Liam. “How did you know?”
Liam gave him a sideways look. “It comes with experience. Don’t worry, you’ll get there,” he smirked, “I hope.”
“Liam, this is Spencer. And this is her mother, Clare.”
“I’m sorry. I forgot my manners. It’s nice to meet you.” He approached Clare and gently shook her hand. “You’re a witch, I presume. Is the father around as well?”
“No. No father.” Trying to hide her anxiety, Clare folded her legs and leaned back with her hands in her lap, but I could see the knuckles of her interlocked fingers whiten as she clenched them tighter.
“This is an extraordinary case,” said Liam. “And the full moon is tonight.” He glanced at me. “Have you talked Spencer through?”
He tried to sound optimistic, but I knew that in reality, he thought this case was completely hopeless.
I could feel Spencer’s mood, the fear growing inside her all over again, and I wanted to protect her from possible skepticism or unpleasant questions that might follow.
“Spencer knows the odds are not in her favor. But the three of us have been doing research, and we came up with some ideas that can help her with the transition. How about we go to my study, and I’ll fill you in?”
“Sure,” said Liam, who seemed to be glad to get away so he could stop acting like everything was normal and Spencer’s upcoming shift was just another day in the office.
“Ladies, see you in a bit.” James drew himself up. “Damn, it’s hot today,” I heard him say to Liam as they headed inside.
“There are cold drinks in the fridge,” I threw after the two of them.
“Are you sure we can trust them?” Clare asked me, nervously tapping the tip of her feet against the ground. “That Liam guy,” she leaned forward and lowered her voice. “He seems a little weird, or I don’t know . . . judgy?”
“Clare, the two of us have been friends for years. He’s a good man.”
“Man? You mean . . .”
“Yeah, not old, no, but he’s older than me. He was taken aback because he thought Spencer was an ordinary wolf, who, as you know, we try to stay away from. Do you really think I would risk Spencer’s safety by bringing someone here I can’t trust? There’s no reason for you to worry, I promise.”
“Shouldn’t we talk all together?” Spencer looked up at me from her seat.
“We will. Right after I fill them in. You’ve been stewing in this all this time, there’s no need for you to hear the details of the plan all over again.” I ran my hand under Spencer’s hair and rested it around her neck. “You two have been through a lot of stress already. You need to relax, do something normal.” I glanced at Clare. “Have some ice cream or go for a walk or something. Okay?” I bent over and kissed Spencer on top of her head. “This shouldn’t take long.”
“Okay,” she nodded.