Chapter 2
Her heart had finally slowed by the time she pulled into the far spot in the motel’s parking lot. Jacinda laid her head back and counted to a hundred, willing herself to relax.
She needed a room and to attempt to sleep. In the morning, she’d find food. Shaking off the nerves, she pulled the visor down and flipped on the light. Blood splattered on her face and chest. She grabbed her hoody that sat in the passenger seat and cleaned the blood off, then gripped the shoulder of her tank top and transmuted it into a T-shirt. She changed her pants into a skirt and tied her hair back because she couldn’t quickly detangle the mess after rolling around in the dirt with the asshole.
Once she was fairly certain her voice wouldn’t shake half as bad as her hands, she stepped out of the car and touched the roof, morphing the color from blue to white. Then she touched the plates, and morphed the numbers so no one from Saint Morton could place the car.
Finally, she plastered a smile on her face and walked into the office. Shaman magic hummed through the building, and Jacinda closed her eyes, taking it in. Her father had mentioned Wanatoga was home to many shaman, and a few druids.
“Good evening,” a pleasant voice called.
A smile stretched across her face before Jacinda crossed the room to the counter. “Sorry it’s so late, ma’am—”
The woman held up her hand with a warm, inviting smile. “No apologies. Please. I’m Loretta, and you?”
She wet her bottom lip and decided to go with the truth. “Jacinda. I was hoping I could get a room.”
“Of course. How long are you planning to stay?”
“I’m not sure yet. Let me pay for a week, and if I need more time, I’ll pay for another then.”
Loretta gave her the rate, which seemed far too low, but Jacinda handed over cash, and Loretta gave her the key for the room on the end.
“Thank you for the room.” Jacinda started for the door and her stomach rumbled again.
“My nephew should be here anytime. I’m going to send him over with some leftovers,” Loretta offered.
“Really, that’s unnecessary. I don’t want to trouble anyone.” It had to be eleven, maybe later. She lost track of time somewhere along the way. “I’m tired, and I’m sure your nephew could use his sleep.”
“Oh, he’s grown. Don’t worry about that. He’s a bit of a night hawk. Chatan should be over shortly.”
“Thank you.” She nodded once and slipped through the door with the key gripped in her hand. After gathering her box that held all of her possessions, she entered her new home for the next few days or weeks.
That all depended on how long it took to find the answers she needed.
Inside, she took in her surroundings. Warm earth tones. A table and two chairs sat under the front window. A kitchenette was to one side, with a couch and small entertainment set on the other. A woven blanket covered the back of the couch with two matching pillows. The bathroom was a typical motel bathroom. The bedroom sported a queen-sized bed. Roomy enough for her and cozy.
Jacinda stashed her box in the corner of the closet and grabbed the brush. Time to detangle her messy mane.
Luckily, she managed to tame her hair without much trouble before scrubbing her face with a rag and water. Feeling halfway presentable, she went back to the bedroom to grab her father’s journal.
Picking up the book gave her the feeling he was there with her. Only, he’d died when she was two years old. He lured Thanatos away from her and her mother. The beast tore him apart.
If Mom found out where she was, she’d come to drag her away before she got a chance to finish Dad’s search. Mom had warned her every day since losing him.
Jacinda had put off the search too long. Time was running out. Her father had been convinced the only way to stop Thanatos was with something hidden on the reservation.
Besides, Jacinda was twenty-two, an adult, and had been on her own for the last six years because it was safer apart than together. Not to mention the fact her magic worried Mom.
Thanatos had been hunting her maternal bloodline for ages. He’d wanted a woman of her bloodline, tried to claim her by force, and she’d cursed him. He’d asked for help from a powerful force and become something truly evil. None of them were safe, and so far, nothing had stopped him.
The knock on the door made her jump out of her skin. Jacinda rushed across the room, tucked the journal under the pillow, then walked over. She pulled the door open as far as the chain would allow.
Her breath caught as she took in the powerful thighs, the white shirt stretched across a sculpted torso, and silky black hair that hung over his shoulder. Blinking, she forced her gaze up to the darkest eyes she’d ever encountered.
His full mouth curved into a smile. “Loretta sent me over. I’m Chatan.” The aroma of a home-cooked meal reached her nose and her stomach rumbled.
“Oh, right, hi. Hang on.” She shut the door to drop the chain and prayed her mouth was watering from the food and not the beautiful man before her.
Chatan was not what she expected.
She pulled the door open and stepped aside. “Sorry. I assumed your aunt would send a teenager.” She winced.
He chuckled and stepped inside. “I wasn’t expecting such a divine creature to come all the way out to Wanatoga.”
Blushing, she moved toward the table. “Thanks.”
“Mind if I eat with you? It’s hot, and she packed both meals into one basket.” He ducked his gaze.
She froze for a second, then turned to him. His aura radiated with warmth, curiosity, a hint of desire, but nothing to worry her. It was late, and if he was half as hungry as her, she didn’t want to make him wait to eat.
She offered a smile, hoping she didn’t look nervous. “Sure, make yourself comfortable.” Maybe she could learn something from him, if she could do more than stare at him.
Man, what’s wrong with me? It’s not like I haven’t seen insanely gorgeous men before. Okay, not quite this gorgeous, but he’s a man, not a god.
Mentally shaking out the stupid thoughts, she sat down and waited while he pulled two covered dishes out and two glasses, then the bottle of iced tea. “Would you like some?”
“Please, thanks.”
He motioned to her face. “You’re hurt. What happened?”
She gulped, touching the tender cheek. “Ran into the roof of the car when I climbed in.” She hoped the lie convinced him. “I’m not the most coordinated person around.”
He looked into her eyes and reached out to caress her cheek. Her panties probably melted, but she was too busy leaning into his touch while he pushed healing energy at her.
The pain ebbed away. She wanted more contact, a lot more.
His eyes twinkled. “Better?”
“Thank you, yes.” Blinking, she glanced down at her hands. “Most casters don’t do things like that without knowing what the other person is.”
He lifted a shoulder. “You’re definitely Other, and I’ve never been discriminating. Figured a little good old-fashioned healing wouldn’t hurt.”
“Not at all.”
He tipped his head. “What are you? I mean, your magic is…” Chatan shook his head. “I can’t place it.”
She frowned. “Then why do you think it’s magic?”
He sat back, his brow cocked. “I sense it. Don’t worry, your secret is safe with me. Eat. Please.” He handed over a napkin and silverware.
Maybe if the food hadn’t smelled so scrumptious, she could have kicked him out. But she was intrigued, and she’d likely need a guide to find some of the landmarks her father mentioned in the journal.
* * * *
Captivated, Chatan couldn’t help watching Jacinda. Striking red waves that brushed the curve of her ass, slight build, wide pale green eyes. He wanted to taste her plump, pink lips.
Her stomach grumbled again.
“Please eat. I promise, the food is good. My aunt always fixes fresh meals, even when she’s working at the motel.” He lifted the lid of his plate and nodded to hers as he took a fork.
Her eyes shot up. “I should have stopped earlier to eat, but I was driving and didn’t think.”
He offered a warm smile. “Understood.” He took a bite of the salmon.
She popped the lid and devoured her food, keeping her eyes down. He really wanted her gaze on him, but she seemed unsure of herself. Earlier, she’d fought with confidence. Now, she was nervous.
“My aunt says you’ll be here about a week.”
She dipped her head. “Yeah, I guess my father loved this place. He wanted me to see things here.”
His head cocked. “Who was he?”
“He died many years ago. Even if you met him, you wouldn’t remember. And I understand his friend moved on long ago. Still, I want to see the place for myself.”
“I see. Do me one huge favor. Whatever you do, stay here, on the reservation. Don’t venture over to Saint Morton. The town is full of people who hate what we are.”
Her brow arched. “We?”
“Others, in general. Please tell me you aren’t like some of the elitist Others.”
“Oh no, not at all. I just haven’t been clumped into a collective we. It’s strangely comforting to hear.” Shaking her head, she dropped her gaze and focused on her meal.
“Good?” he asked, hoping to keep her talking.
“Mmhmm.” She swallowed the bite in her mouth. “Very. I really should have stopped for dinner earlier.” She glanced up. A shiver worked through her before she dropped her gaze once more.
She had stopped for food. He saw her stop, not that she had time to eat anything. Thankfully, she got away from Mason and left him far more hurt than the bruise across her cheek.
He didn’t blame her for omitting the earlier events. She had no reason to trust him, yet. As long as he convinced her to stay, he could find out later.
Which gave him an idea. “I could show you around, take you to all the sights. There are many beautiful places on the reservation.”
She nodded slowly, her gaze sweeping back to his. “You aren’t too busy?”
He shook his head. “Tomorrow is my day off. I’d be happy to show you around.”
Her eyes twinkled. “Your girlfriend won’t mind?”
“No girlfriend, no wife, no woman to call my own. I’m all yours for the day.” He probably shouldn’t have said it that way with the way pink raced across her cheeks. Then again, he couldn’t have been the first one to compliment her.
“Oh, I…uh…”
“Didn’t mean anything by that. Sorry. You asked. I’m only pointing out I don’t have someone to be jealous if I spend the day playing tour guide.”
“Sorry. I can be…awkward.” A small laugh escaped. “I don’t spend much time with other people.”
“You lead a nomadic life?”
She tipped her head from side to side. “You could say that. Easier that way. But never mind that.”
“Can I ask how old you are?”
Her brows drew together. “How old are you?”
“Thirty.”
She sighed. “Twenty-two. Why?”
“Curious. Others rarely look their age, but I imagined you were around there. How long have you been on your own?”
Her eyes turned steely, a challenge. “Since I was sixteen.”
“Parents gone?”
“My father is dead. My mother gave me her blessing before I left. She knew I needed to find my own way.”
He nodded slowly. “My mother died when I was young. I come and go between Wanatoga and up near my brothers and father up in Washington. This is more home than there.”
“I’m not sure I’ve ever felt at home anywhere. I prefer to be on the move, learning, exploring.” She looked down at her food and finished off the last of it.
“You’re welcome here.”
Her brow arched as she drank her tea. After setting down the glass, she met his gaze. “Thank you, but none of you know me.”
“Yet.” He offered a smile. “I’ll introduce you to a few people tomorrow.”
She turned her fork in her hand before lifting her gaze. “Why?”
“Antisocial?”
“Not on purpose.” She glanced out the window. “I’m not good with people.”
“Let me be the judge. Maybe you haven’t been around the right people. No one here will judge you.”
“We’ll see how that goes.” She gathered her plate and silverware, and he placed a hand on her arm to stop her.
“I’ll take them home and wash them. I live at my aunt’s, next door. It’s a short walk down the trail. And I’ll be by in the morning to show you around.”
She chewed her bottom lip a moment, then let out a breath. “That’s really not necessary.” However, she’d said earlier he could.
His brow arched. “Afraid you’d get bored with me?”
Her nose wrinkled. “More like you’d get bored with me.”
“I’m looking forward to tomorrow,” he admitted with a grin. And he was, probably more so than he should.
“All right,” she answered slowly, her gaze delving into his.
He took the last drink of his tea and placed everything back in the basket. “What time do you wake up?”
She lifted a shoulder. “Depends.”
Standing, he moved to the kitchenette and pulled a pen and pad of paper out. Then he wrote down a phone number. “Call when you’re awake and ready to go. And I’ll take you to breakfast.”
“I really can manage breakfast. It was just late when I finally got here. I didn’t figure anything would be open.”
Nodding, he pushed the paper forward. “I’m sure you can, but Loretta will insist you come over. I guarantee it.” He tapped the paper. “Call, please.”
“Sure.” She covered her mouth and let out a long yawn.
“Sweet dreams, Jacinda.” He let himself out, and she followed him to the door, watching him head back toward a trail.
“Thank you for the company.” She licked her bottom lip, then shook her head slightly. “And tell Loretta thank you.”
“I will.”
“Good night.”
He dipped his head and took the dishes home.