Kindred: Book 1 A Realms of the Otherworld Book (21 page)

Alaric stands us back upright and my knees buckle as I regain my bearings secure in his arms. I cling to him like a vine climbing a tree. Needing to break the sexual tension I blurt out the first thing that comes to mind, “By the way, the wall sconces are super cool.” The laugh that erupts from him lightens my soul as I look upon his handsome features. At that moment I hear a knock and Alaric releases me and moves to open the door that leads to the outer hallway.

I hear from the hallway a female voice that I’ve not heard before and I instantly bristle, my inner jealousy demon is pushing to the fore front of my being and to my embarrassment a growl erupts from me as I hear, “My lord, I am here to assist the princess prepare for this evening’s festivities.”

“Claire, a moment please?” Alaric turns to me, a curious look on his face as he tilts his head, he closes the door to give us some privacy.

I’m mortified, I have no idea where that came from but apparently I’m not backing down. Alaric approaches me gingerly. “Mo grá, she is just the seamstress that I hired to make your wardrobe. She asked to be your lady in waiting to help you prepare for this evening’s events.” I hear him say but I can’t seem to apply rational thought to my suddenly animalistic reaction to her. It’s like I suddenly have two different beings living inside me and my rational side is being pushed aside for this carnal being.

I know that I’m over reacting but can’t stop as another feral growl erupts from deep inside me. “You cannot allow her in this suite this evening. I will not have another female in here before we mate.” I say forcefully. Wait. Where the hell did that come from? In a moment of clarity I swallow hard and look at Alaric with wide fearful eyes, “I’m sorry. I don’t know what has come over me.” I say trembling forcefully as yet another snarl threatens to burst from the depths of my being as I struggle to contain myself. My voice is not my own as I ground out, between clinched teeth, “No female is allowed in here.”

“Mo grá, it’s okay. I’ve heard of this happening prior to the bond being completed. It’s rare and typically happens in the shifter breeds of Faerie.” He pauses before continuing, “ What I’m trying to say is this may give us a clue as to who your father may be.” He says soothingly as I continue to battle another feral snarl as it erupts from me.

I sense the female waiting beyond the door. “Tell her to leave! I’m afraid that I may hurt her!” My control is slipping through my fingers like grains of sand as I continue to grasp for it. My internal struggle is the only thing that matters now. My skin is crawling and I can barely focus as my breathing grows ragged. Another growl issues forth from me low and menacing. I’m scared and with wild eyes I look at Alaric, “What’s happening to me?” I beg of my kindred. A fierce convulsion rocks thru my entire being and I’m thrown forward onto the floor beneath me as a low incessant yowl erupts from my throat as another tremor wracks thru me. As the tremors subside, I realize that I feel off and my vision has changed. Everything looks weirdly crisp with a definition I’ve never experience. I feel different as I look back and forth and crane my neck to look up at Alaric. He’s looking down on me with an odd smile but mostly he looks relieved. I don’t understand what’s going on and a low whine issues from me that sounds very feline. I’m still on all fours and look down to see paws. What the…? What the hell is that behind me? I look back over my shoulder. That can’t be right. Where did the cat come from? Wait. What? I have a tail. I have a freaking tail. I don’t know what to do. I turn in a circle as Alaric looks down on me. He takes a seat as I continue to freak out. He’s pushing comforting thoughts toward me thru our bond. I lay down at his feet as my tail swishes in agitation and I continue to whine low and uncertain. My fear and unease is evident as Alaric tries to calm me.

“Áliann, I need you to calm yourself.” He says as I look around the room. I see that I shredded my clothes in my shift and that agitates me. I get up and pace as I whine my unease. My tail has a mind of its own as it flicks back in forth in agitation. I can’t seem to settle down as I pace the room. Alaric gets up and walks toward the door. A predatory growl issues from my feline throat as my tail continues to twitch in agitation.

Alaric opens the door just enough to speak thru the door, “Claire, I apologize for the inconvenience. Your services will not be needed this evening. Can you please have The Dagda pay us a visit as soon as possible? It is a matter of the utmost urgency. Thank you. By the way the dress is stunning.” He says before closing the door.

At that I let loose another full throated feline growl. I’m agitated and want to change back but I don’t know how. I pace back and forth and begin to whine as I push my agitation thru our bond. I can see Alaric bristle as he can feel my discomfort, unease and fear. He calmly walks to the door to our bedroom and opens the door. I follow him in as he walks towards the lit fireplace. He sits cross legged on the floor. I walk toward him and lay down by his side resting my large feline head in his lap. I whimper and whine as I’m not sure how to shift back. I’m scared that I’ll never be able to take back my other form. Alaric begins to stroke my large black head and as I begin to relax a feel a thrumming begin deep inside me and I hear a deep throaty purring being issued from deep within.

Alaric continues his ministrations, further calming me as I try to wrap my head around everything that has happened to me in the last week or so. What the hell! It would appear that one of my first abilities to come to the forefront would be from my father’s side. From the looks of me now, I would guess that he was a panther shifter. To say that I’m a little over, all the physical changes that I’ve gone through in the last week is an understatement. Why wouldn’t Danu give me a heads up on this? This is seriously messed up.

Alaric inhales deeply and then says, “Mo grá, I know you’re scared and feeling uncertain about this new turn of events but let me tell you what I think about this side of you.”

(Alaric)

My beautiful Ashlinn, she’s as striking in this form as she is in her elven form. Magnificent comes to mind. She has risen to every occasion time and again and we have not even truly begun our journey to save the realms. I have no doubt that she will overcome her feelings of uncertainty about being a shifter. She has proven that she can adapt quickly just as she did after taking that arrow, to our spiritual binding, to the chase today, interrogating the Fomorian prisoners, and now this. In this form the one thing that remains the same are those beautiful amber colored eyes and the talisman she wears around her neck that somehow survived the shift. If I had to guess her talisman is charmed to adjust in length as needed, she looks up at me expectantly waiting for me to continue. “You are beautiful mo grá. No matter what form you take. I was taken with you in your human guise. Then after your awakening you took my breath away as your elven side was unlocked. Tonight you have surprised me and yourself as you have taken yet another form that is graceful and sleek. Your feline form is stunning.” As my words sink in and as I push reassuring thoughts and love through our bond, I begin to feel her relax. She nuzzles her nose against the crook of my neck and her whiskers tickle me. Then her large, sandpaper textured tongue licks me from my chin to the top of my cheekbone which I’m not ashamed to say is a real turn on. I grab her massive panther head in my hands and lean my forehead in to touch hers. “Stop that, little one. You may just awaken a beast within me.” Her purring takes up a resonance deep inside me as she nuzzles me and I my desire for her is becoming evident. Her purring is sexy as hell.

From the doorway of our antechamber I hear my uncle discreetly clearing his throat. “Well, well, what do we have here? My dear you are full of surprises now aren’t you? May I come in and have a seat?” He asks Ashlinn.

She is much larger in this form than in her elven form. Her panther is an impressive creature and massive as she casually lowers her form to the floor beside me. Her paws are larger than my hands and she is probably more powerful than she knows. As my uncle comes in to have a sit she gets up and walks over to the gown hanging from the wardrobe and whines in a low throated sound. As she walks back I notice that her tail is twitching again and I send her calm reassuring emotions through our bond. “Uncle, she’s worried that she’ll not be able to shift back. This is an unexpected turn of events. One that neither of us were prepared for. I have not had many dealings with the shifters of our Realm and once again we seek your counsel.” I say as my kindred walks back toward me to lie down beside me. I stroke her head and her ears. The moment that I touch her ears I hear her snort. She shakes her head but does not move away so I continue stroking her. I can’t help but grin as I know what she’s thinking. Those ears of hers are super sensitive and now we may know why.

Dagda watches us both as we interact together before asking, “May I ask what happened to bring on the shift? Claire was in a bit of a state when she came to relay your message.”

At the mention of Claire’s name a low menacing growl emanates from Ashlinn as her tail flicks about in agitation. I’m not sure why but I’m seriously turned on by her possessive behavior.

A chortle escapes my uncle as he comes to his own conclusions. “I see.” He says with a huge grin on his face. Ashlinn’s growl turns into more of a yowl as The Dagda continues to assess the situation. “My dear boy, you are going to be in for one more of a night or two. If I am correct we’re looking at an unmated female shifter who is about to claim her mate.” He pauses as he stops to think, “Most shifters don’t typically experience their first shift until their early twenties and the same goes for their heat cycles, but I believe that Ashlinn’s sense of time is messed up for several reasons. There is the time difference between the Mortal Realm and Faerie, then there’s the fact that your kindred bond was recognized eighteen years ago by mortal standards. On top of that, there is the incomplete binding and all of the events that have happened leading up to tonight.” He continues, “Then there is the information that I shared with you both regarding my thoughts on Danu and her plan to separate you two and viola. The animal instinct takes over pushing to the fore front. I’m not sure festivities will be in order for the two of you but if you insist we can arrange a brief meet and greet, although I would not recommend it. This kind of explains why the bond is so very intense between the two of you. As elves we’re drawn to our kindred through the kindred bond once it’s recognized. Shifters tend to recognize their mates through a mating bond at a rather early age, if they happen to meet early on. Danu should have known that, I belief that I may know who Ashlinn’s father is and if I’m correct then Danu is playing a very dangerous game here. Indeed. He will not be happy about being kept in the dark over Ashlinn’s existence. You should know that the intensity of your bond is twofold; you share not only the kindred bond but a shifter mating bond as well. I will go down to greet your guest and relay that there has been a change of plans. I will explain that until this evening Ashlinn’s shifter status was unknown and that her panther has made an early appearance. Most in attendance this evening will understand that the mating ritual will be underway this evening. There will be no need to hide your binding status moving forward as everyone in this realm understands how these types of mating bonds work.”

I feel Ashlinn’s haunches rise and her inner animal is taking over as my uncle talks of mating bonds. Again my arousal must be obvious as her panther looks at me and lets go an animalistic cry that is not a growl and not a whine and as the sound intensifies I begin to understand what all this means. Ashlinn’s panther is calling to her mate. Me. I lean over and whisper in her ear, “Soon álainn, very soon.”

Dagda continues, “I have a gift for you both. Whatever you decide I will be on board. My gift is simple. It is a charm to be worn by you Ashlinn, a sort of Otherworldly birth control, if you would. If you wear this wrist cuff, it should ward off a pregnancy. It is best I can do on short notice. I was going to present this to you at the banquet tonight as a binding gift, but now is as good a time as any. Once the kindred binding is complete along with the shifter mate claiming, you both should be able to return to your normal daily routine. Until then I’m afraid that Ashlinn may not be able to suppress the urge to shift if you are around any other unmated females.”

Ashlinn paces in her feline form as we both take in the meaning behind my uncle’s words. There will be no gathering for us tonight but rather we will be spending the evening in our chambers.

“I will arrange for staff to bring food for your nourishment. It will be left inside the outer chambers doors for your enjoyment this evening and throughout the day tomorrow. Hopefully I will see you both at some point tomorrow.” With a smirk he says, “Enjoy your evening, son.”

“Wait! How do we get her to shift back?” As aroused as I am right now I want to be with my kindred in her elven form.

He shrugs. “When she’s ready she will shift.”

He’s about to walk out when Ash jumps to her feet and bounds toward the door at the same time I’m suddenly thinking of Jasmine and Alexia and it becomes apparent thru our bond that she wants us to break the news to them in person. My uncle looks wearily at Ashlinn’s panther that now stands between him and the exit.