Summer Cursed

I shook my head and chuckled as I made my way to the head office.

“Hey, Pauline, how’s the baby?” I asked the always flustered woman at the front desk.

“Awake. Always awake.” She smiled and pulled up the latest picture on her phone. “But so stinking cute, I could just scream.”

I had to agree with her there, but as cute as her son was, having a baby still held no appeal for me. “Adorable. Can I get a volunteer form?”

Half an hour later, I was pulling up to my new house. Liam and Isaac were already there. I met them in front of the pond with tears in my eyes.

“Isaac… I have no words. It’s gorgeous.”

The pond had a little waterfall and the oak trees on either side were majestic even if they still had some growing to do. He’d set up Adirondack chairs in front of the pond and rocking chairs on the wraparound porch.

I stopped in my tracks when we got to the front door. It was the same one Liam had had installed for me before the fire. “Did you…”

“No, this was from Fraser. He said you’d like it.”

I smiled up at Liam. “I do. I love it.” I turned my smile on Isaac. “I love all of this. It doesn’t seem real.”

He hugged me and handed me the keys. “Go explore. Take your time. There’s a deck outside the backdoors, and a firepit in the backyard. We’ll meet you there when you’re done.”

“Thank you,” I said in awe as I slipped the key into the lock.

I did take my time looking in every room, at every corner and nook, until I’d seen every square inch of the house. I stood in the upstairs office, staring out at the trees, and smiling down at my guys as they awkwardly tried to hold a conversation without me. Deciding to rescue them, I jogged down the stairs and out the back door to join them.

That night I sat in my backyard with Liam on one side of me and Isaac on the other. We’d grilled some steaks and lit the firepit, then sipped beers while talking and laughing for hours. It was one of the best nights of my life.

“Well, it’s time for me to head home,” Isaac said, rising from his seat.

I rose to hug him. “Thank you again. I can’t believe this is all mine.”

“Em?” He waited until I met his eyes. “Welcome home.” He kissed my forehead and waved to Liam before heading to the driveway.

Later, after Liam and I christened every room of the house, I fell asleep in his arms in my new bed.

A noise woke me during the night. A quick glance at the clock said I’d only been asleep a few hours. I looked around to see what had woken me but there was nothing. Thinking I’d dreamt it, I settled back down next to Liam. Then I heard it again, this time from the living room.

I got out of the bed as quietly as I could and slipped into a robe before making my way out to the main area of the house.

“Finally. I thought I was going to have to come in and shake you awake.”

“Cybil? What the fuck are you doing here? How’d you get in?”

She smiled. “You left the door unlocked, honey.” She laughed at my astonished look. “That whole thing about vampires needing permission to enter is bullshit. But a good lock will keep us out… unless we really want to get in.”

“Good to know. What do you want?”

“You. And your boytoy in there.”

“And what do you want us for?”

When she glided her way over to me, I stayed where I was. I wasn’t sure if that was a brave move or a stupid one, but from the smile on her face, I leaned toward stupid.

“Honey, don’t you know? You two are the most powerful shifters. You’d make a terrific addition to my team.”

“Team?”

“Well, army is more accurate.”