Inevitable: Shifters Forever Worlds (Only After Dark Book 5) (7 page)

He studied the dark-skinned beauty before him.

Tears glistened on her cheeks.

Why was she crying? He hadn’t… Had he?

He shook his head once more while deep within, his lion roared.

He sought his clothing, found it on the floor, and was out the door, fastening buttons as he ran down the ramp that led to the swamp.

I don’t know what the hell just happened, but I’m not telling Lézare a thing until I figure out what 's going on.

M
onths and More Months Passed

A
nd so it was
, for months and months, then months turning into years, Leandra tethered the spell that bound Theo into loving Alexa Arceneaux. Loving Alex just enough to protect her, but not enough to push them into a bonding. That Leandra couldn’t do. She couldn’t face the idea of losing the only man she’d ever wanted. The only man she ever would want.

The only one for her.

She kept an eye from afar, carefully controlling the spell that kept Alexa and Theo bound, not allowing it to become that which Leandra’s heart feared most.

* * *

L
eandra kept to herself
, avoided coven politics, studied the craft her grandmother had loved so much and grew her powers. She’d tested her strength against the occasional vampire that crossed paths with her and was victorious.

Leandra had arrived to a state of sorcery where, unbeknownst to her and to many of the Black Glade Coven, she’d become the most powerful witch in the area.

This meant nothing to the cappuccino-tinted, dark-haired beauty that no longer smiled.

And then one day, unexpectedly, she received the sign her heart had been waiting for. She prayed it wasn’t too late.

Leandra had a vision of Alexa and a wolf. Leandra traveled onto forbidden Arceneaux territory, visiting the former plantation cabins at Arceneaux Point where she met the wolf from her vision.

Alexa’s wolf.

Reese.

Alexa’s fated mate.

This was during the Escape Weekend which held the Shifter Masquerade Ball and other shifter events.

Leandra became an accessory in the Arceneaux sisters’ adventures without the knowledge of their big brother Lézare.

And it wasn’t long, before she’d joined in on their escapades, saving the life of more than one Arceneaux.

Leandra wondered if somewhere from witch heaven her Mémé wasn’t smiling.

Unless she’s turning over in her grave at the idea that I’m helping the Arceneaux.

* * *

A
lexa Arceneaux stood
before Leandra in Mémé’s cabin.

“Changes are coming to Arceneaux Point.” Leandra felt odd repeating the words from her dream.

Alexa’s eyes narrowed. “What?”

Leandra felt him. There was no way Theo could sneak up on her at this stage. She was too connected to him. And as silently and stealthily as he tried to move up the ramp, she sensed him, felt his heartbeat with her own.

The door flew open.

“Alexa! What the hell are you thinking? Your brother has forbidden you from coming here alone.” Theo barely gave Leandra a glance.

The sting of seeing him so close and not having him, of not being his woman made her nose burn with unshed tears.

“Theo! Why are you skulking through the bayou following me?” Alexa’s face reddened in anger.

Leandra didn’t breathe a sigh of relief out loud, but was happy that Alexa hadn’t formed an attraction for Leandra’s man.

Theo squared his shoulders. “Lézare told me to watch you while he was out of town. Seems he knows your propensity for trouble.”

“Theo Ricoletti.” Leandra unfolded legs tucked beneath her as she perched on the banister and rose from her seat.

“Witch,” he scoffed.

That stings.

Alexa looked between the two of them, curiosity on her face.

I wonder if she can sense our chemistry.

“Lézare shouldn’t have felt the need to have you protect his sister from me.” Leandra crossed her arms over her chest, using arrogance to mask her pain and the love she felt for Theo. “Me, of all people. As if I’d do an Arceneaux harm.”

Theo didn’t respond. He put a hand on Alexa’s arm. “Let’s go.”

Alexa yanked herself from his grasp. “I’m not going until I’ve talked to Leandra.”

Oh, no. This could get ugly.

Theo’s eyes narrowed, his nostrils flared. A growl came from deep within his chest. His dark brown eyes flared with an amber light. “Then I go with you.” He took a step onto the ramp, which sunk into the soft dirt with his wide shouldered, thick chested bulk.

Alexa glared at his back.

Leandra shook her head, tried to keep from appraising his body—the body that had brought her so much joy. “He is no different than he was years ago, on a rampage, angry at the world, this lion shifter.” She forced amusement into her tone.

The growl in Theo’s chest became louder.

Alexa followed him up the ramp.

Leandra opened the door to her cabin and entered, Theo and Alexa followed behind.

“Sit.” Leandra sat then nodded toward the chair across from her.

Alexa looked at Theo, then back at Leandra.

“Be seated,” Leandra repeated.

Alexa joined her at the table while Theo leaned against the doorjamb.

“I’m fine right here, thank you for the hospitality, Miss Mathieu.” A fake smile remained on his face, pulling his features tight.

Leandra nodded, but her heart was pierced by his formality.

“What changes are coming to Arceneaux Point?” Alexa jumped right in.

“I can only tell you the essence of matters.”

Theo released a soft snort. “Basically, nothing.” He rubbed his nose as if offended. “Witchery.”

Leandra bristled.

“You are welcome to leave, Theodoros Ricoletti, son of an Italian lion shifter and his Greek servant woman, raised by the servants in secret until the lion shifter learned he had a son. Theodoros Ricoletti, stolen by his lion shifter father from his servant woman mother, reared by governesses and nannies.”

Theo flinched. His eyes narrowed, muscles flexed in arms clad in a short sleeve shirt.

“Does my recounting of your life need any correction, lion? Would you like me to provide more of your history?” The flame of anger at their situation lighting her cheeks on fire.

“You’ve said enough, witch.”

“Why does Theo hate you?” Alexa asked.

“He knew me before…” Leandra glanced at the bed, then away quickly, making her face an unreadable mask.

“What is the essence of what you feel? What sort of changes at Arceneaux?” Alexa persisted.

“You know Lézare would not be happy with this.” Theo’s words were clipped, coming from a clenched jaw.

Leandra had heard enough of Lézare. A day of reckoning with that man would come. “He would be happy if he knew my efforts could save lives. You send Lézare to me, if need be.”

“Would you two quit bickering?” Alexa slapped the tabletop, making it reverberate. “Save lives? What changes are coming to Arceneaux Point?”

“New mates, new types of beings. Some friendly, some not so much.” Pushing away from the table, Leandra rose from her chair.

“That’s it? How am I supposed to… what am I to do with that information?”

“Be accepting. Be forgiving. Be vigilant. And be happy.”

Theo released a scoffing laugh. “That’s all you have, witch?” He took a step toward Leandra.

Leandra backed up. She had no idea how she would handle it if the man she loved tried to hurt her. She’d have to use her witchcraft to protect herself.

Luckily, Alexa rose to intercept him.

He froze, his gaze a squint, a flash of amber in his eyes.

“What’s this?” Theo reached for an object on a shelf.

Leandra gasped. How the hell did he see it?

“Leave it.” Leandra snatched the object from him, ran toward the door and before Alexa could react, she’d opened it, said a few words to dispel it, and tossed it out.

It splashed when it hit the water and sank immediately.

“What were you doing, witch?” Theo wrapped a large hand around her wrist. “What have you been up to?”

“Theo, don’t hurt her.” Alexa put her hand on his arm.

His head snapped in Alexa’s direction. His dark eyes had become fully amber, heralding an impending shift. He dropped on all fours. Theo’s face widened, then a tawny muzzle began to take form, thick wiry whiskers poked through the skin on his face.

Bones crunched, tendons tore, creaking presaged his change into a large, dark-maned lion.

Leandra raised her arms. She’d have to protect herself. Maybe even Alexa.

Alexa’s eyes closed, then they flew open. Sinew and muscles lengthened painfully, flesh stretched, fur emerged. A growl emanated from her widening chest.

In her tigress form, Alexa stood to her full height in front of the large lion that Theo had become.

His lion rumbled at Alexa.

Alexa’s tigress snarled back.

He leaned back and opened his cavernous mouth wide, jaws spread, teeth bared and gleaming. He released a roar that shook the cabin’s contents, leaving tiny glass goblets tinkling as they clinked into each other.

Leandra hadn’t told Theo that she could listen in and join shifters in the syncs—their silent means of communication when in their shifted form. The way the shifters minds linked up to talk.

Leandra felt Theo push Alexa for a link.

She felt Alexa accept his request, and then Leandra silently joined them, eavesdropping.

“Leave,”
Theo commanded Alexa.

“I’m not going. You can’t hurt her.”

Alexa was protecting her? Leandra began to like this Arceneaux woman even more.

“My lion wants to—”
Theo pawed at the pine floor. His claws extending, blade-sharp, they dug into the wood, dragged across, leaving deep cream-colored gashes in the weathered dark flooring.

Leandra wondered what his lion wanted. She felt his pulse racing, driving hers to rise.

“Shift back, please. Let’s talk this out,”
Alexa said.

“No!”
Theo released another roar, this time in the sync.

Leandra fought the urge to cover her ears. She didn’t want to divulge that she was eavesdropping, though she did need to tell Theo as soon as possible.

“Shift. I’m asking you as your boss’s sister.”

Leandra took a gamble. Surely their love could overcome this. “I know you won’t hurt me. I know you can’t. You, the one I couldn’t control. You’re not as easy as Theo, are you, chère?”

Seconds later, after more creaking and stretching, then contracting, Alexa shifted into her human form, then staggered, starting to fall.

Leandra leapt forward and caught her before she could dive headfirst into a bookshelf that housed glass, ceramic, and porcelain pestles, bowls, and cups.

Alexa held on to Leandra for support.

“I’ve got you, Alexa,” Leandra whispered, then turned to Theo’s lion. “Bring Theo back, brave lion. I promise, no spells.”

The lion released a chuffing sound.

He stretched, his jaws opened in what looked like a yawn. Within seconds, his muscles contracted and his body morphed, bringing Theo back and pushing the lion into the man she loved once more.

Theo glanced at Alexa, then his stare pinned Leandra. His face turned ashen under his olive complexion. He shook his head as if confused.

Leandra stared at him defiantly. “I did what I had to do to protect Alexa.”

To save us.

How could she even begin to explain this? She would. As soon as the dust settled.

Still shaking his head, he paused, then asked, “What is going on? Why do I…” He rubbed his face, then ran his fingers over his head. “Leandra?” He put his arms out.

Leandra leaned into his embrace. Her heartrate matching his “I’m here. I’m sorry.”

“Why do I remember? Why didn’t I before?”

“Your blood. It was in the vial I tossed out.”

“You collected my blood?”

“Not I. But it was given to me, and with it an ultimatum. I did it to protect you. To protect her.” She indicated Alexa.

“So why did you throw it away? Why now, after all this time?”

She cast her eyes down. When she raised her head, she couldn’t see through unshed tears. “It was in a vision. These things must play out, though I do not always understand them.” She was rambling, unsure what she was saying.

His lips alit on Leandra’s forehead, then he pulled back. “You cast a spell on me? You made me forget about us? And made me think I was in love with Alexa?” His thumb traced her lower lip.

Alexa stared at them silently. To Leandra, she was barely there.