Forged by Greed (7 page)

Penelope sighed, her brows arched. “Promise me you won’t do anything
stupid.”

“Yes, Mom,” the other two teenagers said in unison.

She shook her head and walked to the front door, grabbing her small Tory
Burch purse on the way. Without looking back at her friends, she raised her
hand and waved. When the door closed behind Penelope, Jatred pulled Jasmira
toward him and kissed her. His hands slid up to the back of her head. She
encircled his neck with her arms, her eyes closed.

“J, we should go now,” she said with her mind, no conviction in her
voice.

Jatred broke the kiss and looked at her, grinning. “You don’t sound
like you
really
want to run now.”

“No, but it’s so beautiful outside. It’s gonna rain tomorrow.”

“So let’s go.” He took her hand.

Together they walked to the back of the kitchen, where two double-doors
guarded the access to the backyard, and then through a large, covered outdoor
lounge area. A soaring fireplace and an industrial-type grill were built into
the opposite walls. Plush furniture was arranged in the best way to take a full
advantage of the view: a three-section pool and the woods behind it. The
property covered over ten acres of land, most of it an old forest. It had been
in Jousenne’s, Jasmira’s grandmother’s, family for three generations. The land
was fully enclosed, with the warning signs “NO TRESPASSING” posted every twenty
yards on the tall wood fence. The vast woods provided a safe place for the
Summer Shifters to roam around in their animal forms.

When they passed the forest’s edge, they shifted and unhurriedly
walked between the trees. They were both black, from their noses to their tails.
Picking up speed, they ran together, nudging each other with their muzzles, and
swishing their tails. With a rumbling growl, Jatred surged forward, quickly
advancing on Jasmira. She responded with a short snarl and took after him.
Jatred took a sharp turn, and Jasmira skidded headfirst, twisting her body in
his direction. Her paws scrambled on the forest floor, but she regained her
balance. She lurched ahead, gaining on Jatred. She rammed into him with the
side of her head, sending him tumbling into the bushes. He yelped, but swiftly
got up, and rushed after her, his sharp canines flashing.

A small squirrel raced up a tree trunk, letting out its high-pitched
chatter.
 
Several birds hurriedly took to
the wing, shrieking in fright. A pair of deer raised their heads in alarm and
shot to the side. The wolf and the leopard paid them no attention.

Jatred snarled. He caught the end of Jasmira’s tail between his
teeth and pulled lightly. She whirled with a low rumble and snapped her teeth
around the loose skin at the back of his neck, then shook her head fast from
side to side. He let go of her tail and fell. Jasmira tumbled on top of him,
kicking her legs in an attempt to get up.

She rolled off him to the other side and leaped up. The wolf dashed
after her, almost colliding with a tree. She ran fast, dodging the trees and
bushes. She jumped over vines that covered the forest floor and the twisted
roots protruding from the ground. Jatred was right behind her when she stopped
abruptly, her paws skidding on the damp surface.

The wolf bumped into her and yelped, pushing her forward. She
regained her balance, turned her head and glared at him.

“Sorry.” She heard his voice
in her mind. He was laughing.

Jatred prodded her with his nose, attempting to make her move
forward.

“Be still. Quiet,” the leopard responded.
 
She turned her head, catching a scent on the
wind, her muzzle raised.

He stood in a similar position, smelling the air. His keen ears
swiveled to the sides, trying to catch a noise different from the usual forest
sounds. They swore at the same time, turning their heads. The sound of pouncing
paws came from the side. A few moments later the noise subsided, and they saw a
pale leopard, slowly walking toward them. Even in the animal form Jousenne was
visibly frowning. Her upper lip was slightly pulled back from her long sharp
teeth.

Jasmira lowered her head between her shoulder blades, watching her
grandmother. The fur on Jasmira’s neck and back stood up, her tail low between
her hind legs.
 

 
Jatred’s lips curled in a silent
growl. Backing up two steps, he fixed his eyes on Jousenne. A sudden breeze
ruffled his thick black fur.

“Jasmira,” Jousenne’s sharp voice sounded in their minds. “You
disobeyed me.”

Neither of the teenagers said anything. They stood almost
motionless, looking miserable.

“There will be consequences,” the grandmother added, glaring at
Jasmira. Then she turned her head toward the wolf. “You are trespassing, Prince
Jatred. This territory is
not
opened
to the public.”

“I invited him—” Jasmira cut in.

“You have some explaining to do,” Jousenne hissed with her mind, her
eyes flashing angrily. “Go inside.”

“But, Grannie—”
 

“Jasmira.” Speaking in their minds, Jousenne drew the girl’s name
out in a sharp whisper.

“This is my fault, please—” Jatred tried to explain, but Jousenne
wouldn’t listen to him.

“Go back the way you came in, wherever it was. I trust you are
careful enough not to reveal yourself to any human passerby, or you might risk
getting hunted and shot,” she said dispassionately.

Jatred hung his head low and took a few tentative steps toward
Jasmira. He nudged the side of her head with his nose. She turned to look at
him, her eyes filled with sadness.

The old trees around them creaked and groaned under a gust of wind.
There were splashes of sunlight on the forest floor and one of them fell over
the teenagers.

“I’m sorry. This shouldn’t have happened,” Jatred whispered with his
mind to Jasmira. “Are you gonna be okay? I have to see you again… soon.”

Before she could respond, her grandmother commented, “I can hear
everything you say, and I don’t think you will be seeing each other anytime
soon.”

Jasmira formed a mental shield and quickly said to Jatred, “J, I
will call you… you know, the same way as before. Now
please
go.”

Unhurriedly the wolf turned around. He stood for a moment, looking
at Jasmira over his shoulder, then faced forward and walked away. Both leopards
watched him disappear into the woods.
 
He
ran through the shadowed and the sun-lightened spots, his black fur contrasting
with the greenery around him.

“You lied to me,” Jousenne’s voice sounded clearly in Jasmira’s
mind. It was definitely reproachful, although the pale leopard’s eyes were sad,
with no trace of anger.
 

“No, I didn’t lie. I disobeyed you, but never lied. I don’t recall
you asking if I have seen Jatred lately. So I didn’t lie,” Jasmira said, a note
of challenge in her voice.

The air around Jousenne rippled in small visible waves, momentarily
distorting the clear edges of the tree trunk behind her. She shifted into her
human form. She was tall and although intimidating, her eyes were pinched with
concern.

Jasmira shifted too, turning away from her grandmother, her jaw
muscles clenched.

A small bird sat in the near-by tree, chirping a sweet serenade.
Both women turned their faces up toward the soothing sound.

Jousenne sighed heavily. “I am not against you dating, but you are
the Summer Race’s Princess. You and Jatred don’t belong together. It’s just too
complicated. We’ve talked about that; I thought you understood.” A golden pin
in her hair winked the light when she shook her head. Her long heavy earrings
quivered from the movement.
 

“I love him, I can’t help it. He…” the girl broke off, her eyes
stinging.

Jousenne took a few steps toward Jasmira and touched her elbow. “I
know, child. I know. I wish it was possible for you and him.” Her voice was soft.
“But the Goddess won’t allow it—”

“Amber has nothing against this. She actually told me to stay with
Jatred.”

“What?” Jousenne asked in a whisper, her face set in a mask of
surprise. “Wait a minute, our Goddess said this?”

“Yes. So you have nothing to worry about,” Jasmira said in a level
voice, lifting one eyebrow, her hands on her hips.

“That’s odd. The Goddess doesn’t like when we get too close with the
Winter Race. You know that.”

“Maybe she finally realized there’s nothing wrong with our Races
mixing,” Jasmira said stubbornly.

Jousenne frowned. “When did you see her?”

“She summoned me to the Summer Realm this morning.”

“To the Realm? That’s pretty unusual. She normally summons us within
the Human World.” Jousenne was taken aback.
 

“I think she just wanted me to meet the first Royal couple,” Jasmira
said.

“That explains it. The Spirits of the past can’t leave the Realm.”

“I didn’t like them. Mean freaks.” Jasmira made a face.

Jousenne said in a soft voice, “I know. They disregard everyone. I
suppose Amber decided it’s time for you to learn who they are. There are many
things you need to know about our Race and the Goddess. Amber wanted to wait
until your seventeenth birthday, that’s why I haven’t introduced you to any of
these facts. Anyway, let’s go inside.” She smoothed her Alexander Wang skirt. “I
want to hear
exactly
what the Goddess
said to you about Jatred.
 
I’m very
concerned about her sudden approval of your relationship with the Winter
Prince.”

CHAPTER 8

Human World, August 13.

“At least you’re not grounded anymore. So what did she say?”
Penelope asked. She sat on the bed, crossing her legs.

“She doesn’t like the idea of me and Jatred together. Even if Amber
says otherwise.” Jasmira paced around the room, clutching a cordless phone in
her hand.

“Because you guys belong to the rival Races?”

“That too. But mostly because she’s suspicious of Amber’s sudden change
of heart. Amber’s fine with me and Jatred dating, but Grandma sees it as
something alarming.”

“She might have a point.” Penelope frowned. “The Goddess doesn’t
want us to mix with the Winter Race, never had in the past. That much I know
for sure.”

“Ugh. It’s okay. She said so herself.” Jasmira stopped pacing. She
clenched her fist around the phone, breaking it in half. When pieces of metal
and plastic fell to the floor, she looked at her bleeding hand.

“Was this a display of your Shifter’s strength? I’m not impressed.”
Penelope’s voice dripped with sarcasm. “Your housekeeper will have a fit when
she sees this phone.”

“Crap.” Jasmira lifted her hand up and walked to the nearest
bathroom. A thin streak of blood trickled from her palm down her wrist. A
moment later Penelope heard the sound of running water. She got up, rolling her
eyes, and went to the bathroom.

“Sorry,” muttered Jasmira, glancing at her friend.

“Don’t apologize to me. Your hand’s cut, not mine.” Penelope
shrugged. She opened one of the cabinets mounted on the wall and pulled a box
of Band-Aids.

“I don’t need this. Look, the cut is already closing.” Jasmira
examined her hand.

“I’m hungry and I smell chicken sausages. Ana must be cooking a lunch
for us.” Penelope rushed downstairs with Jasmira following close behind.