Emmalyn’s Strength (Legacy #3)

Chapter 1

Emmalyn opened the door to her parents’ house and stepped inside.

“Who’s that? Emmalyn?” Everly asked, hurrying around the corner of the foyer to see for herself.

“Yeah, it’s me, Mom.”

“You were out early this morning, it’s not even 7:30 yet.”

Emmalyn nodded. “I was at Analise and Havoc’s.”

Everly grinned. “Bet Havoc was so happy to be up and moving this early.”

Emmalyn smiled, too. “Donuts helped.”

“Ah, yes. The ever present sweet tooth. Come with me. Want some coffee?” Everly asked as she walked away from Emmalyn, leaving her to follow or not.

“Been up since 3:00 A. M., already had at least a pot, what’s another cup right?” Emmalyn asked as she accepted a steaming cup from her mother and followed her into the living room to relax on the sofa for a while.

“Why in the world are you up before dawn?”

“Had to be over at Analise’s early to discuss wedding plans,” Emmalyn said evasively, not quite looking her mother in the eye.

“Seriously? You think I believe that line of crap,” Everly asked.

Emmalyn couldn’t help her chuckle. “Figured it was worth a shot.”

“Not even halfway worth a shot.”

Emmalyn sighed. “I don’t know. Just couldn’t sleep.”

“So you went to Analise because she calms you.”

“Yeah.” Emmalyn met her mother’s gaze. “I’ve been on edge lately, like I’m waiting for something to happen, but I don’t really know what. I just can’t seem to let my guard down. I’m on the verge of flight or fight at every moment.”

“We all know you don’t know the definition of flight, so it’s gonna be a fight every time.”

“Ain’t that the truth?” Emmalyn said. “Lord help the person who jumps out and yells ‘boo’ at me anytime soon.”

Everly watched her youngest, and boldest daughter. She’d known for some time that Emmalyn wasn’t quite herself, but this was the first time she’d actually been willing to discuss it. “Maybe it’s because you’re so accustomed to living in a high-paced environment. Always on the go, everything always so intense, and now all of a sudden you’re home, wandering around looking for something to do. Maybe what you're feeling is the norm but it usually gets channeled into work and is a positive thing because it drives you to do your job as well as you do. And with nowhere to channel it, it’s just spilling over into your everyday thoughts and putting you on edge.”

Emmalyn thought about what her mother said, and while she knew realistically it was so far off base, it did sound like a feasible explanation. “You’re probably right. Thanks, Mom.” Emmalyn gulped down the rest of the coffee in her cup and stood up. “At least it’s better than having some deranged human stalking you because you dared to piss them off by profiling them,” she said, laughing as she leaned over and pecked her mother’s cheek.

“Hold on!” Everly said, looking at her daughter with an alarmed expression.

“Mom! I’m just kidding!” Emmalyn said, shaking her head and smirking as she walked out of the living room. “I’m going to get dressed. I told Daisy I’d go into town with her today.”

“Oh, is she going to start her art school?” she asked excitedly.

“She’s thinking about it. I think she should.”

“Me, too. Y’all be careful,” Everly said.

“We will,” Emmalyn called out just before she closed the bathroom door.

A few seconds later Everly heard the sound of the shower running. She glanced slowly over her shoulder and out of the large picture windows that ran the length of the living room and gave a beautiful view of their backyard and the woods beyond. Everly ignored the slight shiver that worked its way up her spine and got to her feet. She approached the window right behind the sofa, seemingly relaxed with her coffee cup in hand. She took a sip of her coffee as she looked out into the heavily wooded view, allowing her eyes to roam all the best hiding spots as she assessed them each. As a shifter, even a Fox shifter, it was a matter of pride to let anyone or anything you came across know you weren’t afraid. You would meet them toe-to-toe without hesitation. And if someone were foolish enough to venture into a clan of shifters in an attempt to intimidate one of them, it was even more important to let them see there would be no backing down, not from any of them.

As she stood there, theoretically drawing her line in the sand, she realized her actions might seem ridiculous to some, especially since Emmalyn had made her comment about being stalked so lightheartedly, almost as a joke. The problem was, there was no sense of humor in Emmalyn’s statement, and the fact that Everly herself had felt like she was being watched lately, too, added fuel to the fire. Maybe it wasn’t her imagination after all. Maybe there was some truth to what she’d chalked up to an overactive imagination. And that’d be okay, they’d dealt with threats before; this one, if there was one, would be no different.

Everly winked, just slightly canted her head and lifted her coffee cup in recognition of anyone who might be watching, or to the cardinals flitting back and forth in the trees just at the tree line on the other side of her backyard, whichever the case may be. “If you’re out there… Game on, motherfucker,” she said quietly.

~~~

Lying on the ground near the edge of the woods, covered with leaves and debris, a silent, perfectly still individual watched the woman who was mother to one person on his radar. He had no interest in the small redhead, who seemed to taunt him, trying to let him know she knew he was there. She was no more than an afterthought. His target, the whole reason he was lying on this miserable fucking ground, tolerating rotting vegetation, mosquitoes, centipedes and anything else that might crawl past or over his body as he laid perfectly still for hours on end, was the fucking cunt that had cost him everything. He’d worked for years to make his home his castle, so-to-speak. Years and years of planning and execution to accumulate his collection. To decorate his home just so with all his favorite pieces, only to have the selfish cunt figure out exactly who he was. Then to add insult to injury, she figured out where he was, and sent those she worked with to destroy him and all he held dear.

Luckily for him, he’d anticipated a need to make a quick escape and had factored in a secret escape plan when he’d built his home. He snarled as he lay there, thinking about the single moment in time that caused him to consider making his escape, versus saving his collection. He’d had no choice but to disappear. The moment he accessed the secret panel in the basement leading to an underground tunnel that would lead him away from his home and his treasured collectibles, flames would consume his home, and his collection. With the help of the accelerant he’d installed above all their cages, there would be no trace left of them, or him as he collapsed the tunnel behind himself as he moved through it. This female, Emmalyn, she’d been the reason for him having to destroy all he’d built. He took a deep shaky breath, his eyes glued to the windows along the back of the home he’d been watching for days. It would all be okay, he promised himself. “It’s okay,” he whispered, his voice raspy. He’d have to start all over, now. But that would be okay. This bitch, Emmalyn… she would be the first in his new collection. And she would learn to serve him well, willingly even, or he’d take every single woman in her family to keep her company. He’d even put their cages close enough they could whimper and cry together. Or perhaps they’d rage at her, for being the reason they were all part of the collection beside her.

~~~

Emmalyn leaned back in the passenger seat of Daisy’s jeep, her arms stretched overhead, her eyes closed as the wind blew her hair around and music poured from the radio as they drove down the two-lane highway on their way to town.

Daisy looked over at her cousin, seeming to relax for a change. “That looks good on you.”

“Hmm?”

“Relaxation. You’re even stretching your arms, taking in the wind and closing your eyes. Haven’t seen this side of you in a while.”

“It’s nice to let go every once in a while, even if it’s just for a few moments. Besides, you got this. You’re a safe driver, I don’t need to micromanage it.” Emmalyn opened her eyes and sat up. “You are a good driver aren’t you? Do I need to micromanage.”

Daisy smirked at Emmalyn as she allowed the right wheels of the car to drive over the edge of the road, throwing up dust and twigs in the jeep’s wake.

“Seriously?” Emmalyn asked.

“Yep. Question my driving again and I’ll go so far as the ditch itself.”

“Fine! You are the driver with no equal,” Emmalyn said, laughing.

“And don’t you forget it,” Daisy said, grinning as her eyes never quite left the road.

“So, what are we doing? Going to look for any place that might work for your art school, or going to look at a particular place for your art school?”

“Both. I have one or two in mind, but I also want to just look around and see what might be available.”

“And I’m hungry. I’m thinking lunch, too.”

“Oh, thank God. I’m starving, and the pot of coffee I had is doing a number on my stomach.”

“You didn’t eat anything at all?”

“Nope. Just caffeine.”

“Okay, grab something for you to munch on, then we’ll go look at places for my new business.”

“I’m really excited for you, Daisy. I think it’s such a great idea. You’re going to make such an impact on these kids’ lives. And having it not be actually part of the school is a really good thing I think.”

“Yeah, I think if it was part of school, they’d look at it as just another boring class. But if it’s separate, its own thing, then it might speak to the creativity in them. Any who are interested will realize they won’t be censored. They’ll be free to create whatever it is that lives in their imagination. If I don’t have a particular medium they want to use, I’ll get it. I think nothing is more important than nurturing the creative part of the mind,” Daisy said.

“You’re right. It helps the rest of the mind grow and expand.”

“Exactly. You silence the creative spirit, you silence all but practicality. Nothing but practicality is boring.”

“Is that what happened to Brandt?” Emmalyn asked.

Daisy’s eyes rounded and she burst out laughing. “That is so wrong.”

Emmalyn chuckled. “I’m allowed. He’s my cousin.”

“Yeah, but he’s my brother. I’m supposed to defend him.”

“You did. Kind of. Besides, he’s not all boring, he’s just so business only, no joking around. He’s always kind of been like that.”

“True, but he’s got a lot on his shoulders. He’s alpha now.”

“Always kind of was. Kept us in line even when he was young.”

“True. I always kind of saw Barron as his comedic half. As serious as Brandt is, Barron was always around to lend a less serious side to the conversation.”

Emmalyn sighed audibly, her shoulders slouching as she stared straight ahead and seemed to deflate.

“Have you talked to Barron lately?” Daisy asked.

“Yep.”

“And?” Daisy prodded.

Emmalyn sighed again. “He told me that if I brought a date to Analise and Havoc’s wedding, or anywhere else for that matter, they wouldn’t leave with a heartbeat.”

Daisy couldn’t help herself, she was suddenly laughing uncontrollably, leading to a coughing fit as she tried to blink away the tears her laughter caused.

“It’s not funny,” Emmalyn said dispassionately.

“It kind of is,” Daisy said, still laughing.

“Why does he have to be so extreme. He’s so extra,” Emmalyn grumbled.

“He’s extra?!” Daisy asked, half shouting.

“He is!”

“No, he’s not. He’s the most laid back of us all. Unless he’s dealing with you.”

“Why would you say that?” Emmalyn demanded, half turning in her seat to look at Daisy.

“Because it’s true. I’m not saying you bring out the worst in him, you don’t. Quite the contrary, you make him explore parts of himself that he might not have ever known existed, if not for you. But you’re extra — in every way. And in order to meet you and hopefully one day beat you at your games, he’s gotta go extra on you. Seems to me, he’s perfected it.”

“That’s ridiculous. I’m not extra!”

“Emmalyn, come on. Who are you trying to convince?”

Emmalyn scowled at Daisy as she turned to look out of the windshield again. “I am not extra. I’m passionate. Entertaining. Emotional. Committed.”

Daisy glanced over to her with her brows raised in question.

“Okay, fine, maybe sometimes it comes out as being extra, but I can’t help who I am.”

“Who you are is a good thing. And Barron loves who you are.”

Emmalyn’s whole expression changed as she fully turned in her seat toward Daisy, her feet brought up and tucked under her legs as she leaned closer to Daisy. “He does?”

Daisy quickly glanced her way a time or two, before focusing on the road again. “How could you not know?”

“Because he ignores me! All the damn time, unless I mention someone else.”

“Which is why you said you’d have a date for the wedding.”

“I had to do something. He’s so busy pretending I don’t exist I have to poke at him to get any kind of acknowledgment at all.”

“Are you familiar with the expression ‘Don’t poke the bear’?”

“Is he? I’m a Bear, too!” Emmalyn snapped. She flounced back in her seat, her arms folded now. She glared at nothing in particular as she thought about Barron. Her features softened and she looked at Daisy again. “Do you really think he loves me?” she asked, her tone indicating she was almost afraid to hear the answer.

“He does. I’m sure of it. But he’s afraid, too.”

“Too? I’m not afraid. I’m not afraid of anything!”

Daisy shook her head in frustration. “He’s afraid too ,” she said, putting emphasis on the word ‘too’. “He spent so long trying to show you how he felt, and all you did was ignore him, or brush him off, or make light of him trying to show you how you should be treated, that he’s probably tired of being shut down. So he’s not so quick to do it anymore.”

Emmalyn sat quietly for a few moments before she finally answered. “I just wasn’t ready. And I was afraid.”

“Well, now he’s afraid, and maybe it’ll take some convincing to make him believe you’re finally ready. If you are, ready, I mean.”

Emmalyn nodded.

“Are you? Ready?” Daisy asked.

“I don’t know. But I know that whatever I’m doing, I can’t see it without him.”

Daisy smiled as she put on her blinker to turn onto the next highway that would take them into town. “You’re ready. Seeing him is just the beginning. It’ll be fine.”

“He’s not interested anymore. He keeps his distance from me now.”

“I’m pretty sure threatening to send any date you have home without a heartbeat is proof of him being interested.”