Shadows of the Past (5 page)

Amethyst was so closed off that he chose not to simply ask why she
had moved up to Edenton. Not yet anyway. He wanted to know who her ex was so he could make sure the bastard didn’t cause her any more trouble.

Maybe he should call
Paavo and see if he would be a little more forthcoming than he expected Fallon or the twins to be. Paavo would probably appreciate Hayden looking out for her. Amethyst may not. Still, he would feel better if he was prepared.

She was quiet and reserved, but t
here was fire in her eyes when she had pushed back, and he liked it. There was a fighter in there, someone who wouldn’t take too much shit. The way she calmly reacted even with Simons breathing down her neck proved she had a backbone. He just couldn’t figure out why she let Simons manhandle her, unless she was afraid of how she could have dealt with him.

The council probably fucked with her head. He would love to rip the head off anyone who made her doubt her
abilities.

While Amethyst was getting their drinks, Fallon had whispered to him, “Whatever you’re thinking about her, give her time. Don’t push her too hard or I will rip your balls off. Trust me, I’ll do it. If that look means what I think it does,
you need to take it slow and get to know her. She deserves that.”

Hayden
had wanted to laugh, considering how fast Brody and Fallon were bound together, but he got the point. Whatever Amethyst had been through still haunted her. He needed to earn her trust.

It didn’t help that she kept avoiding his gaze
. It made his damned cock hard as steel. He couldn’t help but watch her every move. Everything she did was a sensual treat for his eyes. She swirled her drink with her straw before wetting her lips and taking a sip.

Adam’s voice broke into his thoughts.
“You’ll come in tomorrow morning, with Fallon?”

“That was the plan
.” Amethyst smiled with a gleam in her eye. “Fallon says that none of you like to deal with piercing anyone or anything, and you’ve been turning some away.”

“You aren’t shy, are you?” Tomahawk grinned, “You’ll pierce anything?”

Her laugh was low and seductive. “As long as it’s not just some cocky bastard, trying to show off his goods, then yeah.”

Darla’s face scrunched up in a grimace.
“You’ve had men ask for a Prince Albert just to show you their dick?

Amethyst nodded.
“Among other things. They usually pass out when I bring the needles out.” There was a hint of devious delight there. “That’s when I send them home.”

“I don’t think I could handle that,
and I’m a nurse.” She shook her head with wide eyes. “Just ick.”

Amethyst
laughed. “It’s not so bad. It’s just another part of the body, and very few enjoy the actual piercing.”

Darla’s mouth fell open in a gasp.
“Some enjoy it?”

“Some people like pain.”
Amethyst shrugged, her shoulder brushing Hayden’s arm. A shiver trickled through him.

“Amethyst has a gift of dampening
, or even blocking the pain. It’s why she was so popular down in San Francisco.” Fallon smiled at her.

She blushed
. “You make it sound like I do something hinky. It’s not like that.”

Hayden fought back the smirk that wanted to arise. She could heal others without lust, but not herself? That was
a sign of a gifted healer.

Tomahawk just raised a brow.
“What do you mean? Not like what? Because now I’m thinking something dirty.” Darla narrowed her eyes at him, and he just laughed.

“It’s a natural gift of hers
,” Fallon explained. “She doesn’t do anything. Hell, I hardly felt it when she pierced my nipples and she didn’t do anything freaky.”

Hayden was really curious now. Not that he was thinking about Fallon or her piercings, nor did he want his dick pierced, but he
had a pair of enchanted earrings his brother had sent him as a gift some time ago. Now he had an excuse to have them put in.

Shaking his head
, Tomahawk grinned at his woman. “Don’t worry, I’m not having that pierced, Darla. I’m not a masochist.”

“Good, because that’s mine.
No one gets to see it but me,” Darla challenged Tomahawk, and then turned to Amethyst with wide eyes. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to imply you would want to go there.”

A laugh burst free.
“Don’t worry, none taken.” After taking her last sip, she turned to Fallon. “You really don’t have to leave with me. I can get everything up tomorrow, if not tonight.”

“Don’t be silly
.” Fallon took a look at everyone before swinging her gaze back to Amethyst. “I’d be surprised if we don’t have everyone helping.”

“Oh
, please don’t,” Amethyst pleaded. “Really, I’m just tired, and I only plan to take one box up for now. No one needs to come at all. I have the directions I’ll be fine.”

“I’m coming,” Fallon smirked, “Brody will follow of course. I can’t stop the Sheriff, but the rest of you, just stay here.”

“This way, you won’t have to do it tomorrow,” Hayden murmured with a smile that she returned. It only lasted for a second before she frowned and shook her head. She pushed the stool back and started for the exit.

Fallon was right behind her, and bef
ore Hayden could take two steps Brody grabbed his arm. “You’ve spooked her. Back off.”

“I’m not doing a damned thing but trying to help. Simons was so pissed off about his home situation
that he
dragged
her in, in cuffs. He didn’t even let her walk. I don’t want her to think we’re all a bunch of assholes.”
Especially me
.

Brody sighed
. “Just don’t push her. I’m not going to stop you from helping. I know you two have something in common, but she’s not in a place where pushing will do a damned bit of good. Fallon told me part of what happened, why she moved, but she doesn’t strike me as someone who wants to share her problems.”

“
I figured that out already.” Hayden sighed and pushed his fingers through his hair. “Don’t worry. I’ll leave as soon as we have her boxes upstairs, in her apartment. Let’s go before Fallon and Amethyst try to do it all themselves. I know Fallon will, but something tells me Amethyst is every bit as stubborn in her own way.”

Brody chuckled.
“So I’m told.”

“Any chance you’ll tell me what happened?” He asked quietly, knowing better.

“None. That’s hers to tell. Fallon doesn’t even know most of it.” He slapped Hayden on the back. “Just keep in mind that she’s been through hell in the last few weeks.”

* * * *

This time, Amethyst followed all the speed limits. She had already memorized the directions. She didn’t really want to talk, but also knew that Fallon wasn’t going to let her stay silent.

Fallon twisted in her seat, her hands knotted into fists in her lap
. She practically vibrated with anger when she asked, “So what happened with Carl? Last I heard he was following you around. Then you drop that bombshell that the little bitch sent you to the council. Did you actually go through with sleeping with him to force the suggestion? If not, I’ll go down there and put a stop to it.”

Amethyst
sighed, focusing on the road. “I went through with it. It was the only way. It just all went wrong.” She swallowed hard, squeezing the wheel so tight the leather groaned. “Until that day I called you a few weeks ago, he had only tried to get me to talk to him. I would ignore him, and just keep walking and he didn’t push, just said really stupid stuff.” She took a deep breath. “He was there when I got home. I kicked him out after he scared me.” She bit her lip. “I called shortly after. I was hoping I could get away without having to resort to sex and magic.”

“And when did the council come in?” Fallon’s eyes were narrowed in on her.

“Right after I hung up. It’s why I didn’t call you back. Why I haven’t talked about it.”

“W
hat happened there? Did Jarvis…” Fallon was seething.

“Actually
, Preston stepped in and stopped that from happening. He spelled the cell. The only one who could get in was Preston. He even got the Magister involved. So it wasn’t so bad.”

Fallon shook her head, but there was a touch of amusement in her expression. “He’s always been such a big brotherly type around you. It’s kind of sweet.”

“Oh my,” Amethyst gave Fallon wide eyes, “Did you just say something nice about the
cocky mage
?” That’s what Fallon always called him.

“I did.” Her mouth twisted in a smirk. “We’re past our issues. He’s been good to Jamie, he helped with the Dales, and he’s buddies with Brody. Plus, after protecting you, I can’t hold anything against him.”

“Good. I think you may have crushed his ego when you wouldn’t keep your fling going.”

“Whatever.” Fallon sat back and grinned. “Preston wasn’t mine. I found my mate, and I won’t trade him for anything. Besides, Preston is kind of cute with Jamie.”

“I could have told you that.”

“Wait, you knew?” Fallon demanded.

She nodded sheepishly. “Jamie was afraid you’d freak. She swore me to secrecy.”

“Jess freaked. Not me,” she grumbled, but then changed the subject. “So, you r
eally slept with Carl after he had you locked up?”

“
You guys didn’t leave me much choice. It was let you, Gabe or Preston kill him, or deal with him without violence.” A shiver travelled down her spine. “I screwed up though.” Tears blurred her vision but she blinked them back. “I didn’t want him dead, but I did something wrong.”

Fallon turned in her seat, her eyes wide in disbelief. “You killed him?”

“No,” she groaned. “He did it himself. Stabbed himself in the heart.”

“
Fuck, hon. That wasn’t you at all. That was him. He was sick and wrong. You gave him plenty of opportunity to walk.” Fallon shook her head. Her mouth fell open as she stared. “Wait, you said he stabbed himself in the heart? How the hell did he manage that?”

“I don’t have a clue.” Amethyst took a deep breath. “I don’t want to think about it either. You didn’t see the look on his face
he came, and then he ran out of there like I was some kind of monster. He killed himself that night.”

“Don’t blame yourself,
Ame, it wasn’t you. You told him no more. I can’t see you ordering him to kill himself.” Fallon reached over to squeeze her shoulder. “You can’t carry the guilt around for his actions.”

“I know.” She just wasn’t sure she believed that. “Come on, we need to start before they
get here.” She pulled into Fallon’s driveway.

“Over here, closest to the stairs.” Fallon chuckled
. “We better hurry if we don’t want the guys to take over.”

Amethyst
parked and hurried around to the back to grab one box, Fallon took two, and they started up the stairs. Just in time for Brody and Hayden to pull in.

With a sigh,
Amethyst picked up her pace and unlocked the door. It was a nice apartment, totally livable. She had a feeling Fallon had added some decoration to the place. Little things that made Amethyst smile, like cute vases with hand cut flowers, and scenic paintings. Fallon told her it was pretty void of that kind of stuff when she originally moved in. Fallon wasn’t the type to care about her surroundings.

Amethyst
sat her box in the corner of the living room and hurried back down to gather more.

Hayden had three boxes stacked, same with Brody. At least she managed to hold back her comment
about showing off. She even gave them a slight smile on her way to grab another load.

They were done in just a few minutes and she insisted on carrying the last box herself.
“Thanks, guys. I appreciate it.”

A warm smile graced Brody’s handsome face
. “No problem, Amethyst. Here, you can have the last spot in the garage. Fallon and I keep our bikes in the same slot.” He glanced over at Fallon with a sweet little grin before handing Amethyst the garage door opener and an extra key.

“Thanks, I’ll move
my Jeep tomorrow. Right now, I’m beat. I just want to sleep.” She yawned for effect, but she wasn’t ready to go to bed yet. She just needed a little alone time.

Brod
y gave her a quick friendly hug. “It was nice to finally meet you.”

“
Thank you, and the same goes for you.” He kind of reminded her of a big teddy bear. Big, broad, but gentle, with that sweet smile he always wore. He really did make Fallon happy, which made her like him even more. It was no wonder they were getting married so soon after meeting. Then again, werewolves mate hard and for life.

Fallon hugged her too
. “Good night, hon. Come down tomorrow around eight, and we’ll have breakfast ready.”

“A
ll right.” They left her alone with Hayden, and she nearly jumped when the door shut. She squeezed her eyes shut for a second before turning to look up, way up, at Hayden. “Uh, I appreciate the help.”