17.

S TASSI

“It was so generous of Blair to take in Nicholas and the children,” Aksel said as he looked down into the warmer we used for our bags of blood. As soon as it beeped, he pulled the first bag out and handed it to me before he put another in to warm. “I’m sure she’ll be able to find good homes for those other two children soon.”

I thought about how much I had always yearned for children of my own and thought back to the first time Blair had asked me if I could take in an orphaned shifter who desperately needed a home. My first child, Bianca, was thriving in Scotland where she’d moved with her long-term partner to be closer to his family of bear shifters. I talked to her by phone a few times a week and visited as often as I could. I knew I should take a trip to see her as soon as possible.

I loved all the children I’d helped raise and was happy to be blessed with a good relationship with each of them, but Bianca had a special place in my heart. Her adoption was an unexpected surprise that had changed my life and given me purpose when that wasn’t very easy to find in our world at times.

I had a good relationship with my other kids and talked to them just as often as I spoke to Bianca. Even though they were now spread out all over the world, I saw them as many times a year as I could, taking a few weeks here and there to stay with one of them or welcome them back home to stay with me.

“Did I tell you that Ivan and Anna are going to take an extended vacation?” Aksel asked.

“No, but it makes sense that they’d want to get away.”

“They’re going to visit with their children and then tour the world. That was their plan before Anna’s death . . . well, supposed death, I guess. Anyway, Ivan was considering going on his own, but now that she’s here, there’s no time like the present.”

“I think that’s wonderful. The look of joy on his face when she stepped off the plane will stay with me for the rest of my life.”

“I’ll never forget it either. It was very touching.”

“I saw you shed a tear or two.”

“I don’t know how. You and the other women were bawling like babies and likely couldn’t see anything at all.”

“I think it’s nice that you’re not afraid to show emotion. It’s healthy.”

“Speaking of healthy, when are you going to tell me what’s wrong?”

There was no denying that I wasn’t quite back to my old self yet, but I hated to worry him when I really had no idea what was wrong with me, so I admitted, “I’ll tell you when I figure it out.”

“Have you spoken to Clarisse?”

“I’m going over this this morning before I go to work.”

“You’re going to work?”

“Well, yes. I’ve already missed quite a few days, so I feel like I should get back as soon as possible.”

“But you’re still not feeling well.”

“I feel better than I did when I was suffering from Ivan’s pain.”

“But you’re not 100% yet.”

“No,” I said honestly. “I’m not.”

“I know it’s not money, Stassi, so why do you feel like you have to work there, of all places?”

“There’s nothing wrong with working at a grocery store, Aksel! I’ll have you know that . . .”

Aksel pulled me into his arms and pressed my face against his chest. “Down, girl! I didn’t mean it like that. I just meant that while you’re feeling poorly, wouldn’t it make more sense to do something that doesn’t have you on your feet for hours at a stretch?”

“Part of my job includes a favor for Sin, so I have to go back.”

“What’s the favor?” Aksel asked. Before I could explain, he said, “Oh, I remember. That Aleta woman who is a thorn in your side.”

“She’s more than just a thorn. She’s a boil on the taint of humanity.”

Since Aksel was holding me so close, his laughter shook my entire body, and I smiled knowing that my sarcasm made him happy since I had previously used it to push him to the brink of violence.

“I’m going into the office to help Cas by picking up the slack that will come up with Ivan gone.”

“Are your sons still going to join the company?”

“Diego and Santiago are, but I think Gabriel and Angel have other plans.”

“Here or somewhere else?”

“They’re staying here. I believe that they’re looking at properties in Springblood today, as a matter of fact.”

“Oh! I almost forgot! I have to meet with the realtor to tell her . . .”

“That you’re moving in with me so you won’t need that house after all?” Aksel interrupted.

“Is that an option?” I asked without thinking. I shook my head and said, “No. We can’t move in together so soon.”

“Soon? I’ve known you for decades, Stassi. It’s not like we’re strangers.”

“Yeah, but it’s only been in the last few weeks that you stopped plotting my death!”

Aksel burst out laughing before he admitted, “Actually, the last time was yesterday, but I got over it.”

“What does it hurt to leave the hall light on?” I asked in outrage. “It’s not like you’re hurting for money and can’t pay the light bill, Aksel!”

“It wasn’t the lights, Stassi, it was the concussion.”

“Watch where you’re going!”

“Close the cabinet doors, and I won’t have to!”

“I was going to after I put the spices away that I was actively using, but you just couldn’t wait.”

“I got a head injury!”

“Yesterday? Then how do you explain the last hundred years of behavior?”

“You make me crazy.”

“And you make me want to take a bath with a toaster!”

Aksel moved so quickly that he was a blur, and suddenly, I was on the counter. I barely had enough time to register the cold surface beneath me before my panties were ripped away and Akesel’s cock was probing my entrance. Our mouths met in a fiery kiss, and within just a few seconds, my body was more than ready for him, so I wriggled closer to the edge to take him.

With a grunt, he shoved himself inside to the hilt, and I gasped at the full feeling before I leaned back on my elbows and lifted my feet up to his shoulders. He took that as the invitation it was meant to be and yanked my ass off the edge of the counter so he could go even deeper with the next stroke.

He punctuated each word with a hard thrust when he said, “You . . . make . . . me . . . crazy!”

“I don’t care how much we love each other, we always fuck better when we’re mad.”

As Aksel rested the pad of his thumb on my clit, he laughed and said, “I can’t argue with that.”

“There’s a first time for . . . Oh!”

“Shut you right up, didn’t I?” Aksel boasted as he strummed my clit with his thumb.

I pushed up on my elbows and looked down to where we were connected before I said, “Your only redeeming quality is the size of your dick.”

“The only thing I like better than being inside your pussy is being in your mouth because that’s the only time you’re fucking quiet!”

“I hate you so much,” I moaned as he hit that spot deep inside of me that made me see stars. “So fucking much.”

“Fuck yes!” Aksel roared as he felt my pussy start to flutter around him. “Come for me, Stassi. Show me how much you hate me.”

“So much,” I gasped before I knocked his hand out of the way and took over, touching myself the way I knew from experience would bring a powerful orgasm. “Hate me harder, Aksel! Harder!”

For once, Aksel didn’t argue with me, and within the next minute, I was screaming with my release which was followed quickly by his roar of completion as I felt his cock twitch deep inside me.

As he collapsed on top of me, our bodies still connected, he whispered, “Move in with me so we can hate each other like this every morning.”

“I guess.”

As Aksel chuckled against my breast, I sighed with contentment, knowing that the words said in the heat of the moment weren’t the words that were in our heart.

I loved him as much as he loved me, and now, I just needed to figure out what was wrong with my body so I could make sure I was around to irritate him for the rest of his time on earth.

Because, of course, it was one of my favorite things to do.

◆◆◆

“Has your friend Charlotte mentioned anything else about Aleta?” I asked Sin as I reached for creamer to add to my coffee. “I haven’t been to work in a few days, so fill me in before my shift this afternoon.”

“She’s been acting even more bizarre than usual,” Sin said with a grimace. “As a matter of fact, I saw Aleta at Charlotte’s yesterday.”

“I thought they didn’t speak,” I said as I stirred my coffee.

“It wasn’t a social visit. She came into the yard and tried to drag her daughters home.”

“She’s not allowed to see her own children?” Clarisse asked as she sat down.

Sin gave Clarisse the abbreviated backstory that she’d given me, and by the time she was finished, the look on my aunt’s face was positively murderous.

Sin finished with, “Dub’s girlfriend, Elizabeth, ran Aleta off, but Charlotte is worried that they won’t be so lucky next time and Aleta will whisk the girls off somewhere that Dub and Charlotte can’t find them.”

“I think I need to meet this Aleta woman just so I know who to curse the next time I’m having a moment.”

“Come to the store and interact with her for three minutes. I guarantee she’ll shoot to the top of your list.”

It suddenly felt as if someone had poured a bucket of hot water over my head and my entire body had caught fire. I took a deep breath and tried to wait it out, but I was nauseous and swallowed hard to try and alleviate the urge to be sick. I closed my eyes as I let out a long breath and then took another through my nose.

“Stassi? Are you okay?”

“This is part of what I wanted to talk to you about,” I answered without opening my eyes. “This has been happening randomly for a few months but has gotten worse over the last week or so.”

“What is happening? You’re sweating even though it’s relatively cool.”

“I feel like I’m in an oven that’s burning me from the inside out.”

“Is it your powers? I’ve never seen them make you sweat like that before.”

“No. This is out of my control.” I burst into tears and said, “Everything is out of my control. One minute, I’m hopeful for the future with Aksel, and the next minute, I want to drag him behind my car. I’m so hot I feel like I’m about to combust, then I’m so cold that my teeth are chattering, and all the while, I go from murderous rage to the snuggliest bear on the planet.” I tried to control my tears and swiped at my face but touched the pimple that had appeared sometime during the night and started sobbing again. “My face looks like I’m a basement gamer who lives on a diet of Mountain Dew and Takis, and the skin on my back and upper arms is so dry it feels like sandpaper!”

“Do you want me to rub some lotion on your back?” Clarisse offered helpfully.

“That’s so sweet of you to offer!” I keened. I took a deep breath and exhaled slowly as I willed myself to calm down. When I couldn’t seem to control it, I sobbed again and wailed, “I don’t know what’s wrong with me!”

“Oh, honey,” Sin said in a comforting purr that just made me cry even harder. “I think you’re going through the change.”

“I haven’t changed anything!” I gasped, horrified at the thought, and said, “It’s Aksel! I must be allergic to Aksel. Or maybe I’m allergic to love. Is that possible? Could I have a physical reaction to . . .”

“This is . . . I’m gonna need some . . . Give me a second, ladies,” Clarisse said as she stood and went into the kitchen.

I was drying my eyes with the paper towel Sin had handed me when my aunt reappeared with a bottle of rum.

“I don’t know that this will cure anything, but it can’t hurt,” Clarisse said before she opened the bottle and poured quite a bit into my coffee. She frowned at my mug and then pulled it closer to hers before she thrust the bottle at me and said, “Just drink from the source.”

I burst out laughing, my tears forgotten, and without any hesitation, I took a swig from the bottle. I let out a harsh breath as the liquor burned its way down my throat. Without thinking, I tipped the bottle up for another drink.

“It’s not even ten o’clock, sweetheart,” Sin said as she reached out and put her hand on my wrist. “Let’s take it a little slower than that, okay?”

“I’m a pleasant drunk, or at least I used to be before my mood swings turned into a carnival ride.”

“I’m sure you were, but drinking won’t help your problem.”

“I’ll get the lotion!” Clarisse said as she hopped up.

“Well, that might help, but I don’t think it’s going to cure her. I have a question, though - do shifters or vampires go through menopause like mortal women?”

“Oh, no,” Clarisse whispered as she dropped back down onto her chair. “She’s got all the signs.”

“Fix me!”

“There’s really no cure, Stassi,” Sin said hesitantly. “There are some medications that can help and . . .”

“My moods have always been a little . . . turbulent,” I admitted.

Clarisse reached across the table and snatched the bottle out of my hand before she tipped it up and took a hearty drink. As she indelicately wiped the back of her hand across her mouth, she looked at me and asked, “You think?”

“Fix me, Aunt Clarisse. For the good of humanity and the continuation of earth as we know it, fix me.”

“Honey, if I knew how to do that, I’d have taken care of the problem years ago.”

Tears welled in my eyes again as my skin erupted in goosebumps, and I shivered as if I’d been hit with an arctic wind. “I don’t know if I can handle this.”

Clarisse took another swig of the rum and winced before she said, “I don’t think any of us are equipped to handle this.”

“Mortal women have been saying that since the beginning of time, ladies. Welcome to the club.”

◆◆◆

AKSEL

“How is everyone settling in?” I asked as I sat down on the barstool across from Blair.

“As well as can be expected this early in the game. Kiera is having difficulty letting go of the reins as far as the children are concerned. I guess she was in charge of them regularly and has become very attached.”

“That’s understandable. I would have thought that she’d be kicking up her heels with her newfound freedom.”

“She will in time, but right now, she’s patiently waiting for the other shoe to drop and for me to turn into a monster.”

I saw movement out of the corner of my eye and realized there were listening ears in the hallway, so I teased, “That only happens on the third Tuesday of every fifth month, so she’s safe for a while.”

“Whereas you’re an asshole every day.”

“You’re beginning to sound like Stassi.”

“Speaking of Stassi, where is she? I need to talk to her about something.”

“She’s still having some health problems, so she’s over visiting with her aunts.”

“Health problems? Is she okay?”

“I’m sure she is, Blair. We’re immortal so . . .”

“That doesn’t negate the pain she might be feeling, Aksel. Is she hurting?”

“This morning, she finally admitted that there was more pain than just what she took from Ivan. She said that it’s been sporadic for a few months, but lately, it’s been getting worse.”

“What kind of pain?”

“She said it was cramps but not. Since I’m a man, I’m not exactly sure what she meant, but I don’t doubt that they’re horrible.”

“At least you can admit that they’re horrible. That’s probably the only thing keeping you alive.”

“What do you need to talk to her about?”

“She mentioned that she wanted to adopt again, and since it’s well known that the children’s parents were all killed at Agmund’s hand, they need a permanent home.”

“And you think Stassi would be good for them?”

“I think Stassi would be perfect for them! Kiera is a witch, and Stassi belongs to one of the most prominent witch families. The Deverauxs are known far and wide for their powers, and I feel like Kiera might just match them in that field.”

“And the younger ones?”

“Nicholas will be raising his children, of course, but Jana and Emorett will need a home too. Stassi is the perfect choice for them also because they’re vampire shifter hybrids just like her.”

“It’s been ages since I’ve seen a child vampire,” I said sadly. “I thought those dark times were behind us.”

“We all did,” Blair said with a tortured sigh. “But they’re here now, and at the core of it all, they’re children who just need to be loved. I think Stassi would give them a wonderful home and an amazing life. Her other children adore her as much as she loves them. She has such a good relationship with them, even now that they’re grown, that I have no doubt they had wonderful childhoods with her.”

“Stassi mentioned that she wanted to adopt again,” I mused. “I didn’t really give it much thought at the time, but things have changed now and . . .”

“You’ve come into the picture.”

“Exactly,” I said as I let my eyes drift over to the hallway where the young witch was listening eagerly. I knew that what I said now would be remembered forever as either the turning point toward Kiera feeling like a welcome member of my family or an unwanted child whose “parent” had no choice but to settle for parenthood. “I’d love to have more children with Stassi, Blair. I’m not completely sure about how good of a father I’ll be to the younger two, but I’d love to help raise Kiera. She seems like a very bright and bubbly young woman, and I imagine that we’d have lots of fun learning from each other.”

“You’re ancient, Aksel. What could you possibly learn from a child like Kiera?”

“Well, the latest fashion, I suppose. I could also use a refresher on music since the trends have changed so drastically over the last few years. I’d like to find someone who might want to explore nature with me and maybe even help me plan my flower beds and keep them beautiful. I’d also like to be a spectator at some sports events. Maybe if she likes volleyball or basketball, I can help coach her team.”

“That sounds like a wonderful life. Can I move in?”

“If I get my way, Stassi and the children will all live at my home, and I think it’s important for Kiera to have a bedroom she can decorate and make her own, so I won’t have enough room for you, Blair. Sorry about your bad luck.”

“I’ll have to discuss it with Kiera because her future is in her hands, for the most part, but I think you’d make a fine father, Aksel.”

“I hope Kiera thinks so.”

There was movement in the hall again and I looked to find the spot that Kiera had been in empty. When I looked back at Blair, she smiled and winked before she whispered, “Well-played, my friend. Very well-played.”