Chapter 1
The asphalt blurred under Jack’s heel, his knees sent him flying south along the road. The plan had worked and he had Lelani. He always wanted her so badly and this was victory. It almost could have gone worse. The other people had seen him with his backside hanging out the cabin window, Lelani in his arms and about to start running.
The werewolves didn’t care about the vertical surfaces. Jack tried to stay in human form while he held Lelani. She was freezing. He took a header into the bushes; he shifted on his way down. He ran in a flat sprint for his cabin while his legs and heart pumped. Every branch etched against his vision. He knew Lelani’s people would look for her especially her sister Luna. Howling through the woods, he shifted to a wolf again and propelled to the other side using his paws. Paws were good for many things but not carrying Lelani. He had to shift again to human form.
Lelani opened her eyes as Jack put her on the bed. She looked up and saw three men looking at her. She sat on the bed as she tried to cover her nakedness. She was terrified and the alcohol was wearing off. She started remembering how Jack lured her into his trap.
Lelani sat at the elegant marble bar, an un-drunk glass of champagne bubbling in front of her. The reason the champagne was un-drunk was apparent upon further inspection. On the rim of the glass, a tiny silver winged figure sat. His feet were dipping into the champagne. The amber colored wine swished around the glass as he moved his tiny feet back and forth. Lelani pinned the tiny fairy with her angriest glare.
“My last date was a disaster, Clint. What made you think that an unwashed werewolf would be a fitting lover for the lioness of history?”
Clint gave the lioness an abashed glance. “Now Lelani it wasn’t that bad. I mean granted, he smelled a bit… woodsy.”
“Woodsy?!” Lelani sputtered. “He smelled like he hadn’t bathed in months. Perhaps I could have overlooked the fragrance.” Lelani made a moue of disgust.
“Certainly he was handsome enough. If it hadn’t been for…”
The tiny fairy held up his hand. “I know, I know. I should have checked out his educational background a bit better. That’s completely my fault.” She knew that was sarcastic.
“He thought I was Cleo, Clint. Not Lelani the Lioness, but Cleopatra Philopator, last pharaoh of Egypt. Cleopatra! Who not only was a mortal, but has been dead for almost two thousand years.” The lioness put a hand up to her aching head.
“I realize we lionesses aren’t as well known in this millennium as we once were. I understand, truly I do. However, don’t you think, Clint, if you were trying to find me a mate, you might have at least stopped to check and make sure your candidate knew who I was first? When he realized I wasn’t the Egyptian seductress, he got all pouty and barely spoke to me the rest of the night!”
Clint blushed. “Yes, I probably should have thought that through better. At least he was better than the first guy!” The fairy said brightly, trying to put a positive spin on the terrible date.
Lelani gave Clint an exasperated sigh. “Oh yes. I will give you that. At least the werewolf didn’t try to enslave me! Why did you try to set me up with a sloth?” The tiny fairy flushed, his whole body taking on a pink hue.
“Hugh is an old friend of mine. When he heard I was trying to find you a mate, well… he volunteered. I thought you two would hit it off. I sort of forgot…”
“What did you forget Clint? That Sloth enslave women with poisoned sweat glands? Of course Hugh volunteered. If I wasn’t immune to those sorts of enchantments, Hugh would have been the only sloth with a pet lioness. Yuck by the way. That was revolting. I’ve never been gladder to be invulnerable to mortal female ailments. Why are you friends with a sloth anyhow?”
“It’s a long story involving my ex-mate.” Clint muttered under his breath. He plunged on louder “I know the last two guys weren’t exactly your cup of tea Lelani. I already apologized about Hugh. Just hang in there with me. I promise tonight’s guy is going to be perfect!” Lelani shook her head and gently poked the fairy.
“He had better be. I realize you are trying for a promotion Clint, but I only promised you three chances. If this guy is another stinker, we are done. Now will you please get your feet out of my drink? Fairy foot doesn’t exactly add to the taste.” Clint obliged her. When she tried a sip, Lelani wrinkled her nose in disgust.
“You owe me a new glass of champagne. Waiter!”
While the waiter brought the lioness a new drink, Lelani looked around the elegant immortals only restaurant where she was meeting her third blind date. A mixed crowd of fey, vampires and other beings of mortal legend sat at linen draped tables, eating and enjoying each other’s company. A dark skulking movement in the corner of her eye caused the muse to turn. However, Lelani could see nothing that matched the dark shadow she thought she had glimpsed.
“Clint, did you see something odd just now?” The lioness asked, turning back to her tiny companion.
“Huh? No I didn’t notice anything, beyond all the normal strangeness.” He indicated the entire restaurant. “Don’t worry our guy should be here any minute now.” Clint said in an attempt to placate her. Lelani continued to look around the restaurant, trying to figure out what had drawn her eye. That was when she saw him. A striking man was being escorted to a lone table by the host, a bouquet of narcissus in his hand. He was dressed in an impeccably cut Italian suit, his slightly long, dark brown hair was bound back with leather thong. Put him in armor, and he would easily have been at home on a Greek battlefield. Lelani gave a little sigh of longing. She hadn’t thought they made men like that anymore. He certainly wasn’t anyone she recognized from the old world.
The host tapped Lelani on the shoulder, interrupting her thoughts.
“Lady Lioness, your table is ready, right this way.” With Clint perched on her shoulder, Lelani followed the host into the main restaurant. When they stopped at the table with the narcissus bearing man, Lelani could not have been more shocked. The host pulled Lelani’s chair out, while the handsome man stood up.
“Glenn will be your server this evening. I hope you enjoy your meal.” The host gave the table a little half bow and walked back towards her podium at the front of the restaurant.
“Ahem.” Clint cleared his throat, and settling on the edge of the table, introduced the couple. “Jack Currian, may I have the pleasure of introducing Lelani, the lioness of history. Lelani, this is Jack, first born of the claw.” Jack took her hand and kissed it.
“See, I told you he’s perfect.” Clint told her in a stage whisper. Lelani greeted the werewolf, accepting the bouquet of narcissus, which she realized had been wrapped in parchment. “That’s very thoughtful Jack, thank you. Will you please excuse me for just a moment? I have to use the ladies room.”
Picking up the fairy by his collar, Lelani marched to the ladies restroom. Plunking her erstwhile matchmaker on the counter, she began to touch up her makeup.
“That is a werewolf, Clint.”
“Well yes, of course he’s a werewolf. Didn’t I just say that when I introduced you?” the fairy answered, obviously confused.
“Yes, you did. Did you bother to run a background check on this guy?” Lelani asked. “Well of course I did.” The little fairy said, perturbed. “He is from a very old noble family of werewolves living in Eastern Europe. He hasn’t managed to find his bride yet, and he was taking some heat from his old man. So he moved out here.”
“Listen here, mister. The first guy you set me up with tried to enchant me. The second man insulted me. If this werewolf tries to eat me, or glamour me, or do anything else vaguely evil I am coming after you. I will lock you up in the largest book of fey history I can find, and not let you out for five hundred years! Don’t think for a second that I won’t do it. I’m not the proclaimer for nothing!” Lelani snapped her handbag shut and spun on her heel.
From behind her, she heard Clint’s voice. “Dang it…This had better work.” Heading back to the table, she plastered a pleasant smile on her face, and prepared for the worst.
Her memories were interrupted by Jack as he snapped his fingers.
“I want you to eat something.” Jack said.
“I’m not eating anything. All I need to know is why you have kidnapped me?” she said.
Jack liked Lelani the first time he saw her hunting. No one saw him watch her. He had been looking for a way to meet her but it was impossible. She was highly protected by her sister Luna. His plan for making his pack more powerful than Seth’s was about to come true once he could mate with Lelani. He risked his life to take her from the cabin and was ready to explain to his father why he did it. He always wanted to be strong and lead his people after his father.
“I only wanted to protect you,” he answered. He wanted her to love him not to see him as a mate. He was the perfect man for her. He looked at her with pain in his heart, he never wanted to profess his love to her in this kind of situation.
“From what?” she was curious. Gideon pulled Jack to the side. He was nervous of the war that was coming. Lelani trembled with fear, she now realized why her sister warned her not to go out by herself. Tears fell down her cheeks.
“Are you sure you want to lock her here?” Gideon asked.
“I want her to be mine, don’t tell my father anything, let me be the one to talk to him.” He said.
“You should have kidnapped her sister not her, she’s a helpless lioness who will only bring you trouble.”
“I only want her, I have my reasons why.”
“Okay.” He went back to check on Lelani. She looked vulnerable.
“Please let me go back and I swear I won’t tell anyone about this,” she pleaded. Jack wanted to let her go but he couldn’t let the Steel Fangs rule.
“I promise I will never hurt you.” He tried to hold her hand but she moved. She was not ready to be here and would do anything to escape. She realized Jack had feelings for her. He was the only way for her to escape. If she could use the seshat powers on him then he would become her slave.
“I’m doing okay,” she pretended. She wanted to act normal and gain his and everyone’s trust.
“I will protect you with my life if you let me.” He touched her hand and this time she didn’t resist. She felt at ease and he knew she trusted him.
“What do you want from me?” she asked.
“I only want you to stay here and feel at home. You will get anything you want. I will assign someone to help you and stay with you. My sister will be the one taking care of you. I’m not your enemy, I want to be your friend.” He kissed her hand. She pretended to smile at him.
“It’s okay, I will behave if you don’t do anything stupid.” She warned him. She had a plan and had to execute it soon.