Taking on Tory(23)

“Only you can answer that, sweetheart,” Aura said. “The future is never set in stone. Well, most of it.”

“I know,” Tory whispered miserably. “I just wanted to have some fun. All I wanted was to see a little bit of the world that Benjamin and Alexandru talked about. Now, now I think I would have been better just staying in Magic.”

“Where it was safe?” Aura asked.

“Where it was boring?” Fortune asked.

“Where you would never have met Simon Drayton?” Destiny added.

“Yes,” Tory muttered, leaning forward on her elbows and resting her chin on her palms.

“Why?” All three of her godmothers asked at the same time.

“Before he fell asleep…” Tory blushed a bright red, but didn’t look away. “Before he fell asleep, he said he would never let me go. That I was his.”

“And that scared you,” Destiny replied in a gentle voice.

“Yes,” Tory nodded.

Aura turned with a grumble. “We have to go. One of the patron’s is about to have a baby in here. Trust in the future, Tory.”

“But, don’t let him run over you, dear,” Fortune added. “Werewolves can be very possessive.”

“We love you, dear. If you need us, just let us know,” Destiny said as she began to disappear.

“Love you, too,” Tory whispered just as the door opened and a very pregnant woman stepped inside. She stared at her reflection in the mirror for several long seconds. “Well, at least I know there were no consequences to last night besides me being an emotional basket case and a horny Vampire. Perhaps this is the Fates’ way of telling me to quit while I’m ahead.”

*.*.*

Simon reached out an arm for Tory. He was horny again. The pull of the full moon was on him now and the beast would not rest again until after it was over. Until then, he would be insatiable.

His head jerked up when his hand came up empty this time. A low, menacing growl escaped him as his eyes darted to the open bathroom door. He rolled out of the bed and strode over to it. Empty.

His eyes darted to where her dress and boots had been tossed. They were gone. He turned, feeling the change come over him.

Lowering his head, he sniffed out the path she had taken. He nosed open the balcony door and stepped outside. Rising up on his back legs, he curled his front paws onto the railing where her scent suddenly disappeared. A long, loud howl escaped him as rage washed through him.

Simon lowered himself back down. Returning to the bedroom, he shifted again. He swiftly dressed. A knock on the door told him that Youssef had recognized his fury. Opening the door, he ran a hand through his hair as he glared at Youssef.

“She’s gone,” he snarled.

“I’ll have a team dispatched to Carson’s apartment at once,” Youssef replied. “Should you…”

“No,” Simon snapped. He knew that Youssef wanted to know if he should be incarcerated in the lower chambers he had built in the basement of the house. “No, I will get her back.”

Youssef gave a sharp nod. “Did you find out what she was?” He asked hesitantly.

“Yes,” Simon replied in a short voice, descending the stairs to the lower level where his office was located. “She is a Vampire.”

“How? She was in the sun,” Youssef forced out in a strained voice.

“It would appear that many of the myths are incorrect,” Simon answered as he stepped into his office. “And, Youssef. She is not the only one.”

“There are more?” Youssef replied in dismay. “Where?”

“We can assume that Alexandru Carson is one,” Simon replied with a glance at his friend while turning on his computer. “She also said there are other Werewolves.”

“Other Werewolves!” Youssef’s face paled. “Should I gather a team together?”

“Not yet,” Simon ordered. “I want to know more about the place she came from. In the meantime, find her, and Youssef, make sure she doesn’t disappear.”

“I will oversee this myself,” Youssef replied in a quiet voice. “You are sure that she is a Vampire?” He asked in a hesitant voice from where he stood by the door.

Simon looked up and grinned. It was not a smile of amusement. He saw the shudder that went through Youssef’s tall frame. The beast must be closer to the surface than he realized.

“Yes,” he said before turning his attention to the computer in front of him.





Chapter 10


Simon’s mind was swirling with confusion. Youssef had called him twenty minutes before to say he had a visual on Tory. She was in Alexandru Carson’s apartment.