Chapter 11
CHAPTER 11
T alon was fuming as he approached Zelda and Mac’s house. He needed to talk to the one man who could put a stop to all of this: Mac, King of the Shifters. Despite his strong bond with Thorne and Wicked, it was Mac who held the authority he needed right now. Taking the steps to the porch three at a time, he knocked hard on the door, frustration simmering just beneath the surface. Thorne opened it and stepped aside without a word.
“Where’s Mac?” Talon gave Thorne a curt nod as he passed.
“In the back,” Thorne answered, his brows furrowed. “What happened?”
“I’m out,” Talon replied firmly, his voice tight with frustration. “I’m done pretending. I’m done deceiving Piper.”
Thorne’s eyes widened, but Talon didn’t stay to explain. He knew he had already fucked things up with Piper, and that thought ate at him. The hurt on her face was enough to make him roar with rage. The fact that she already knew about his deception only fueled his anger, mostly at himself. Dammit, he had royally fucked this up.
Stepping outside, Talon saw Wicked, Zelda, and Mac deep in conversation. Mac, a mountain of a man and someone Talon deeply respected was the leader that all Shifters looked to when things went to shit. Talon had always stepped up when Mac needed him, but this was different. This time, it was personal.
“Talon,” Mac greeted him with a nod as Talon leaned in to kiss Zelda’s cheek. “What have you found out? Has the human girl stopped snooping around?” Mac’s tone was steady but carried an underlying weight of authority.
Talon’s jaw clenched. “Her name is Piper. Not human girl,” he said, his voice sharper than intended. He took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down. He was about to throw everything on the line to make things right with her. He just hoped it wasn’t too late.
Mac frowned. “Okay, has this Piper stopped snooping around?” His gaze was sharp, and everyone else watched Talon closely, waiting for his response.
“I’m out,” Talon echoed the exact words he had spoken to Thorne earlier. “I’m not playing this game with Piper any longer. I am planning on telling her who and exactly what I am.”
“And you think that’s wise?” Thorne’s eyes narrowed, but his voice was calm as he watched Talon closely.
“Piper isn’t a threat to any of us,” Talon said, sidestepping the question.
“And you know this how?” Mac crossed his arms, not looking happy at the turn of events. “What makes you so sure she won’t go running to someone, telling them not only about you but about everything I protect under mine and Zelda’s care?”
“She is not a stupid woman,” Talon explained, looking each of them in the eye. “She heard Bruce talk that day in the woods. She has not told a soul. The mayor is threatening her, trying to get her to sell her property. He’s claiming her grandfather owes the town money, and the best thing she can do is to sell to the developer. She is fighting to keep not only her home but the woods that keep us from being exposed. Piper knows there is something special about the land, and she’s right. She’s been right, but everyone calls her crazy. That human, as you like to call her, is putting herself in danger because she, without even knowing it, is protecting all of us.”
“You love her,” Wicked said softly, but her words hung in the air, heard by everyone.
Talon stayed silent; his feelings for Piper were raw and untested, but he couldn’t deny the truth of Wicked’s words. His emotions for her ran deeper than anything he’d ever experienced.
“You can’t go around telling every human woman with a set of tits that you want to fuck around with that you’re a Shifter,” Thorne growled, earning a gasp from Wicked.
“Thorne!” Wicked scolded, giving her husband a smack on the arm before quickly moving out of the way when Talon grabbed him, pushing him up against the house.
“Because of our long-standing friendship and my respect for Wicked, I will let that go this once.” Talon hissed into Thorne’s face. “But if you ever talk disrespectfully about Piper again, I will kill you.”
A loud zap of energy shot between them, forcing Thorne and Talon apart. Both cursed, shaking their arms.
“Dammit, Zelda, that hurt!” Thorne growled, rubbing his arms.
“Good,” Zelda snapped. “Next time you act like an asshole, I’ll do more than zap you. That goes for both of you.”
“Apologize, Thorne.” Wicked demanded, frowning at her husband. “What’s gotten into you?”
Thorne grinned, which seemed to make everyone angrier. “Just making sure Talon isn’t thinking with a certain body part.” Thorne clapped Talon on the shoulder. “Seems you may have found the one, my friend.”
“That could have gone very bad, Thorne.” Mac chuckled, shaking his head. “You’re a crazy son of a bitch.”
“Sorry, not sorry,” Thorne said, still smiling. “I’m sure this Piper is a fine young lady. I just needed to see if what you felt for her is...real.”
“Well, now you fucking know,” Talon muttered, still irritated but starting to cool off. “Have you been able to find out anything about this developer?”
“I’m working on it,” Thorne replied, glancing at Mac. “We are all working on it. Now go on and get out of here. Make things right with your girl.”
“I want to meet her,” Zelda said when Talon turned to leave. “Bring her to the Halloween party.”
“What?” Three male voices said in unison.
“You heard me,” Zelda said as if it was a done deal. “Now go and let us know if you hear anything else. If I have to zap some developer, I’ll need to prepare an alibi because no way am I going back to Witches prison.”
Talon grinned, recalling the stories he’d heard about Zelda’s wilder days. “Definitely don’t want that to happen.” He winked at her, then headed out of the house, picking up his pace into a jog. It was time he and Piper had a talk.
“Hey, lover boy,” Bruce called out, trotting his way.
“I swear I’m going to kill that fucking cat,” Talon muttered, not slowing down. He didn’t have time for Bruce’s bullshit.
“If you’re heading toward Piper’s, she ain’t home.” Bruce huffed as he tried to catch up. “Will you wait a damn minute so my fat ass can catch up?”
“What do you mean she isn’t home?” Talon did stop. “Where is she?”
Bruce huffed, puffed, and panted, his furry head hanging low.
“Bruce, I’m not in the mood. Where the hell is she?” Talon stopped himself from grabbing Bruce up in a chokehold and shaking the shit out of him.
“Will you give me a minute?” Bruce wheezed, took a few deep breaths, and then sat down. “I don’t have many lives left, Talon. Next time, don’t make me run.”
“Bruce,” Talon growled in warning.
“She’s at a pond near her place. I followed her and talked to her.” Bruce finally got out without the wheezing, huffing or puffing.
“You talked to her?” Talon frowned, his eyes narrowing.
“Are you deaf? That’s what I just said. Don’t make me repeat myself, and stop glaring at me like that.” Bruce hissed. “I put a good word in for you, man. You should be kissing my paws and calling me Daddy. I know how to talk to women. How do you think Thorne got Wicked? Me. That’s how. Women can’t resist my charm and handsomeness.”
Talon counted to ten twice. “Where. Is. She?” Each word was said with a growl.
Bruce actually tapped his paw on the ground as if he was the one irritated. “Head down the path, then veer to the left,” Bruce said, then yelled when Talon took off at a run. “You’re welcome, dickhead! See if I do you any favors with your woman again. Next time I’ll tell her you fart in your sleep, and they smell like dead fish.”
Ignoring Bruce’s threats that he heard loud and clear, Talon went through the veil that separated the human world from the paranormal. Unless you were paranormal, you couldn’t see the shimmering glow. Zelda controlled the veil, but the veil needed not only witchcraft but also natural elements. Without the woods, the veil would be weak if not disappear altogether.
As he went through the woods and down the trail, he saw where Bruce indicated he should veer. He bent, pushing his way through the brush, and stopped, his eyes instantly finding Piper.
“What in the hell are you doing?” Talon demanded, not believing what he was seeing.