Biting Bigfoot (Harmony Glen #17)

Chapter 1

Chapter One

TILDA

When the rest of Harmony Glen goes to sleep, I head for the lake to swim. The cool water gliding over my skin is as close as I can come to my former life. I stroke through from one end to the other, and all the while I’m hyper-aware of the Sasquatch watching me from the shore.

I’ve often wondered how his kind can go unnoticed to the point of becoming myth. At his size, it’s hard to imagine him hiding, though he does blend into nature more easily than I would have imagined.

Officer Maxime Gant is almost as big as my vampire sister’s giant.

He’s not in his police uniform as he watches me swim.

Last night, he must have been on duty, but tonight, he’s wearing jeans and a white tee shirt that shows off his thick biceps and the brown hair that covers his arms. I’ve wondered more than once how much of his body is covered and which parts are smooth like his hands.

Since Harmony Glen is populated, and this is a public lake, I’m wearing a bathing suit just in case one of my neighbors decides to take a walk at one in the morning.

My skin has started to prune, leaving me little choice but to end my swim. I step out, and Max meets me at the spot where I’ve left my things. He leans down and picks up my towel, then hands it to me.

“Thank you, Officer Gant.” I take the soft white towel and wrap it around my chest, tucking the end into my black suit. “What brings you out again tonight?”

His voice is deep and rumbles. “As you know, the sheriff asked me to keep an eye on you in case Brochet finds his way back here, Miss Schwan.”

“It’s Tilda, and I can take care of myself when you’re not on duty.” My cheeks heat for no reason other than he’s tall, broad, and makes me feel safe, which is ridiculous. I’m not safe. Safety is an illusion. “Besides, Ion Radu is a formidable vampire. He won’t let Pierre Brochet get loose again.”

Pierre made me a vampire. Normally a creature, as in not human, cannot be made into another creature, but somehow when my swan was sleeping deep within, Pierre managed to cheat the rules. Now I’m a miscreation. I have no place in the monster world or any world.

“I’m sorry if my presence is uncomfortable for you, Tilda.

I’m tasked with your safety until we hear back from Mr. Radu about how his attempts to rehabilitate Brochet have gone.

If anything happened…” He doesn’t finish his thought, but his deep voice is strained, as if my life means something to him.

That’s probably just my own vanity reacting to an attractive male. I brush aside the notion. Max is just doing his job. “I’m not uncomfortable. It’s only that there must be other things for you to do in Harmony Glen. I’m not the only resident who might need police assistance.”

His smile is rare and too beautiful as he shows off his long, white canines. “I’m happy to watch you, Tilda. You’re not hard to look at.”

My vampire canines elongate and ache with need. “Thank you, Officer Gant.” My voice is soft and not as self-assured as I’d like.

“Max.”

My face is on fire. “Max.”

A low grumble rises from his chest. The sound is sudden and brief before he takes a step back from me. “I’ll walk you home.”

I should tell him not to bother, but I know he’ll follow behind if I refuse his offer, and I’d much rather have his company than feel stalked. “Give me a minute to dress?”

Either he’s blushing around the hair that covers a good portion of his face, or my eyes are playing tricks on me as he quickly turns his back.

Pulling on a long white skirt, I shimmy out of my wet suit bottoms and toss them into my bag.

The white top I brought has buttons and ties at my waist. I pull the tie at the back of my neck and at my back and remove the suit top as well.

The shirt clings to my damp skin, and I hope the dark will hide the fact that I’m not wearing underwear.

I don’t know why I care all of a sudden.

I never wear a bra because I don’t need one, and I find them stifling.

With a shrug, I pick up my white bag with its bright pink flowers. “I’m ready, Off…Max.”

He takes my bag as if he’s used to carrying a very feminine beach bag. Maybe he’s just secure enough not to worry about what anyone else thinks. It’s possible that at one in the morning, he knows it’s unlikely we’ll encounter anyone.

I like that he’s a gentleman and not a big talker. Quiet and thoughtful is a nice change. Still, I’m curious about him. “How did you come to be in Harmony Glen?”

“My family is in the Pacific Northwest, where my people come from. They don’t want to mix with the public, preferring to remain hidden and constantly pursued by myth-busters.

I wanted a different kind of life. So, when the Great Revelation happened, I came here, and Chief Martinez helped me get into the police academy.

Once I graduated, he hired me.” He swings my bag, and we walk in silence for half a block.

“The chief is a good man.”

Chief Jorge Martinez is human, but still asked all the right questions and has been good to me since Pierre sent me to find my sister, Mari, for him. Pierre collected me just like he collected Mari. She got away, and luckily for me, the giant she’s mated to is stronger than a very old vampire.

“He is.” Max clears his throat. “I don’t want to sound ignorant, but will you tell me about being a swan maiden?”

“I’m not that anymore.” My gut knots.

Stopping, he gently holds my wrist so that I turn to look at him. “You are. Every move you make has the pure grace of a swan.” His eyes are dark and seem lit from behind with warmth and caring.

“I can’t fly.” A tear escapes, and I dash it away. “I’m grounded and have to drink blood to survive. I’m a monstrous abomination.”

The air between us is heavy as if charged with emotion. Part of me wants to run, but I stand my ground and stare into those captivating eyes.

Before I know what’s happening, he wraps me in his strong arms and pulls me against his chest. The scent of oak and fresh grass fills me with comfort as he rubs his hand up and down my back.

“You are the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.

I’m a monster. Heck, half the town are creatures of one kind or another, but just because you’re not exactly what you were born to be doesn’t make you wrong.

I was born to hide among the tall trees in Washington state, yet I’m here.

” He rests his hand lightly above the swell of my ass. His fingers comb through my hair.

“You don’t understand.” My voice is muffled, but I don’t want this hug to end.

“Explain it to me.” He releases me and places one finger under my chin so I’ll look at him. “I want to help.”

“I wish you could.” I really do. Turning, I head toward the house my sister gave me to live in.

She’s moved in with her giant, Sam, a few blocks away, since his home was built for his size, and he barely fits into her house. It’s comfortable, and Mari comes every day to teach piano and singing lessons to the locals. If only I were as relaxed in my own skin, maybe I could be happy.

“Tell me how you became a swan.” Max’s demand is soft yet commanding.

“On my eighteenth birthday, my aunt gave me a coat made of soft, pure, white feathers.” I close my eyes and remember the way they tickled my skin and how it felt when I put it on that night. With my eyes closed, I stumble.

Max takes my elbow and steadies me. Without a word about me walking with my eyes closed, his lips twitch, and he releases me.

“She told me that when the moon rose, I should open my bedroom window and put on the coat. When I did, I transformed into a swan. Though not without my knowledge of my human form. My aunt was waiting for me in the pond near our home. She was a beautiful swan and flew with me that night. She made sure I knew when it was time to return to my human form. Every night we swam and flew, and it was pure joy.”

His chest lifts as he draws a deep breath. “Is the swan shifter a family tradition?”

I nod. “One female in each generation becomes the swan. The eldest female.” I dash away a tear.

“Perhaps my biological sister could become the swan if I make her a coat of feathers. I haven’t seen any of my birth family since before I was changed into a vampire, but maybe there’s a way for swan maidens to continue to exist.”

“Don’t give up, Tilda. You will fly again.” He takes my hand, threading his fingers through mine.

His skin is warm and callused and his fingers three times bigger than mine. Yet it feels right to have this connection with him. “How can you sound so certain?”

At my front door, he turns toward me. “My kind is in tune with nature. We know the land, the trees, and everything that grows and flows, rivers, lakes, and streams are cued into our blood. When I look at you, I see the graceful bird, the woman, and the vampire. I don’t think one is meant to suppress the others. ”

“The vampire demands a foul price.” My gut tightens.

“Everything must eat. Why are you so against the vampire? You have accepted Mari as your sister. She is a vampire.” His voice is soft, and his question honest.

“Mari is the first person who has ever wanted to help me. She risked falling into Pierre’s clutches again to save me. I can never repay such a debt.” I know it doesn’t answer his question, but I don’t know the right thing to say.

Cocking his head, his long hair shifts, making me long to know if it’s as soft as it looks. “Then not all vampires are evil? Mr. Radu is your grandsire. He has accepted you as family as well.”

“He is far away.” And for as long as Pierre is with him, I hope he remains far away.

A chill runs up my spine at the thought that Pierre might be loose in the world.

He could have harmed Ion and we wouldn’t know he was near until it was too late.

I search the darkness for danger, but find nothing stirring.

As if reading my thoughts, Max says, “I do not believe that Brochet could overwhelm Ion Radu. Radu is legendary and…” He shifts uncomfortably.

“And?” I prompt.

“It is hard to put into words. As one of the original creatures, Mr. Radu is part of all things. He would sense anything Brochet could conjure before implementation. I have no doubt that should by some strange turn of events, an escape happened, we would be well informed.” His throat is covered in the same dark-brown hair that I believe covers much of his body, and it bobs as he swallows.

“I will never let any harm come to you.”

My heart doesn’t beat very often, but it pounds twice at his declaration and closeness. “Thank you, Max.”

Passion lights behind his eyes, or maybe that’s just wishful thinking on my part. He steps back. “You should go inside and lock up.”

Of course he’s right. If I stay in his company too much longer, I might do something I’ll regret and certainly he would. With a brisk nod, I open my front door and step inside. “Good night.”

Once I’ve closed the door, I lean my back against it and breathe in the scent of oak and grass that lingers even after my vampire senses hear him walk away. It’s ridiculous, but I long to run my body along his fur and feel every inch of the Sasquatch police officer until I make him purr.