Dixon Read online

  But she knew without a doubt that she’d better get used to it. Until they were truly free she’d be running for her life—and those of her sisters.

  ***

  Dixon woke up on his couch and groaned. His stomach ached and he blinked. The small lamp was on and Bac sat in the chair.

  “What the hell, man?”

  Bac shrugged. “You passed out, and I needed you out of my bar so I could go home, but you were talkin’ in your sleep, and you kept talkin’ about someone comin’ for you. I didn’t think it wise to leave you alone.”

  He had no idea what the big bear was talking about. But that same niggling was back, and he thought he should know what the hell was going on. “I don’t know. I feel—”

  Bac sat up at the edge of the chair. “Someone bad?”

  “I don’t know, but they are coming, and my life is going to change. I don’t know how or why, but I can’t shake this feeling.”

  “Do you want me to stay?”

  Dixon huffed. He didn’t need the bear to protect him. He could handle it on his own just like he always did. No one saved him before. That wasn’t going to change just because he’d finally made a friend. “Nah, I don’t think it’s going to happen tonight. I just want to sleep. No wonder humans look like shit after a night out at a bar. If it’s anything like this all the time, then I wouldn’t drink.”

  Bac chuckled and stood to his 6’7 frame and stretched his arms, nearly hitting the ceiling of the living room. “Then I’ll go. But be careful. Your beast is warnin’ you of something’. He’s restless, all right.”

  The question was why. “I don’t know why. He’s never been like this before. Normally, all I have to do is go for a run or get laid.” Dixon sat up slowly. “And in this case, I don’t think either would help ease him. It’s wreaking havoc with my body though. It’s almost as if he’s trying to finally break free, but he’s being held back.”

  “By you.”

  “No, not me.” He scratched his head. “By something, though.”

  “If you say so,” Bac replied and shook his head. It was as if he were trying to tell Dixon something, but he wasn’t getting it.

  He’d leave well enough alone. “I’m sorry you had to bring me home, but it’s all good, man.”

  “Okay, well I’m gonna go home then. This old bear is wiped.”

  “All right. Same time and place tomorrow. I won’t get sick next time around.”

  “You better not. I don’t wanna have to drag your sorry ass home again.”

  With that Bac strode to the front door leaving Dixon alone. He thought he’d just lay down and go back to sleep, but his mind wouldn’t let him. The beast paced inside of him and he clenched his fists. They were red and swollen. He stood up and flexed them and held back a groan of pain. Why did they hurt so badly? He knew for sure he didn’t fight. There wasn’t any reason the tips of his fingers should hurt. The pain laced through his fingers to his wrist and he fisted them again doing his best to ignore the sting of agony that shot through them.

  His beast whined.

  Sorry, buddy, you can’t come out. You know that.

  ‘I wish to be free. Someone is coming.’

  If only it were that easy.

  ‘Let me be free.’

  I can’t.

  It was the same old battle he’d had with his beast for years. But it had never been this bad. Instead of lying down and going to bed, he went out the front door. As soon as the humid air hit him a wave of relief washed over him. He was supposed to be outside. Dixon scanned the area and didn’t see anything, but he felt a tug that led him down the stairs and toward the barn. He let his instincts lead him and used the lithe body of the lion to guide his steps. The moon hung high in the sky. But there was no breeze. The trees did not move, and all around him the nightlife went silent.

  Everything was stuck in silence.

  He came to the open field nearing the tree line that separated his property from his neighbors’. The land was empty, giving him even more privacy. Lucky for him, no one had bought the acreage. He needed the peace the woods lent him, and even though he didn’t shift, he ran through the woods on a regular basis. It was his home, and he’d always loved nature. But tonight, something was off. The air was think and full of magic. He sensedit before he saw it.

  The air shifted around him. A cool breeze that was not common during this time of year surrounded him. He stepped back realizing something was happening that was not at all common in Kinketta. A large golden circle appeared. Slow at first until it was larger than he was tall and wider than three of him. Cool air came from the other side. He could swear he heard voices, but then he shook his head and all was silent. Just as it was when he came outside. But this large—thing didn’t go away. Curiosity got the better of him and he stepped closer to peer inside the circle. All he saw were trees, but they weren’t like any tree he’d ever seen before. Even in the dark he could tell they held a magical quality. Leaves in different shades of purples, pinks, and oranges covered gray bark. They looked like something out of a fantasy movie. He leaned in close, trying to make out what he was seeing and wondered if it was just a dream.

  A really vivid dream.

  The lion roared and sprinted inside of him. This was what he’d been waiting for—but what was it exactly?

  He waited for something or someone to come from the other side, but for minutes, nothing happened. Dixon ran his hand through his shaggy hair and went to turn. As soon as his back was to the large circle something slammed into his back with an ‘oomph’. He fell forward to the ground face first and growled. He spun out from underneath what had hit him and came face to face with a woman. Her eyes widened and she gasped as his heavy weight held her beneath him. Claws racked into the grass and he leaned in and sniffed her hair. When he was about to move, something hit him in the back again, but this time he was prepared. He looked to the side and saw a large bag before the golden circle disappeared as if it hadn’t existed in the first place.

  “What the fuck was that?” he asked and growled when she squirmed under him.

  “Portal,” the woman replied in a low voice. “Let me up, you big brute.”

  He shook his head. “No way. Not until you tell me why the hell you came onto my land.”

  She tried to shrug. “I don’t control where a portal takes me.”

  He sniffed her. “What are you?”

  She huffed. “Let me up and maybe I’ll tell you. You’re heavy.”

  He chuckled as if that would make him move. He ignored the stirring in his head, but his beast paced—only this time, he wasn’t unhappy. In fact, he seemed thrilled with this whole situation. “Give me something, lady.”

  She huffed pushing her breasts into his chest and he held back a groan by how good this stranger felt. Dixon laughed. He really needed to get laid.

  “Fine, I’m an Elf.”

  An Elf. At thirty-two, he’d heard stories of the Fae, but he’d never met one. Without asking, he pushed her hair out of the way and studied her ears. They weren’t pointy.

  “I’m using glamour, idiot. Don’t you know anything?”

  “Well, considering you just jumped out of a damn portal from some other world, I’d say—no, I don’t.”

  “Will you please get off me now? I have to keep moving.” Panic seeped into her voice and she squirmed harder trying to break free of his hold.

  It wouldn’t happen. Not if he didn’t want it to, but the more she moved the more riled his lion became. He jumped up and held out a shaky hand. The tips of his fingers were bleeding and he growled. The woman stood and backed away.

  “What are you?”

  “Human.”

  She raised a brow and crossed her hands over her chest. “I’m not stupid. You’re a shifter of some sort.”

  “Nope.”

  She laughed. “Okay, I get it. You’re hidden in this world, but I know you carry a beast,” she said and cocked her head to the side. “But he’s locked away. He needs to
be free.”

  She stepped closer and Dixon stepped back. It turned into a wild dance. This woman was crazy. No, rephrase—this Elf was nuts. Un-fucking-believable. How was it that she was who was coming for him? The closer she was the happier his beast was. The lion purred—yes, he purred.

  “Back away from me. I don’t know what you can do.”

  Her shoulders fell and she lowered her eyes. “Sadly, not much. I’m a dud.”

  Dixon didn’t believe that for a minute, but from her body language she seemed to believe it. He softened. “Are you running from something?”

  When she looked at him again, her face glistened with tears. “Yes, and if I don’t leave now they’ll catch me and all of this—” she waved her hands around “—will be lost. I can’t be caught.”

  Well, hell. Fate sent him a woman on the run—to what—save? He wasn’t cut out to be anyone’s hero.

  Chapter 4

  There was something wrong with his hands. Even in the dark, she could tell. They were stiff and every time he moved, she noticed he flinched. He held them taut in front of him and when he flexed his fingers his body would glow. Melody’s gift of healing urged her to help him. Everything inside of her urged her to take his pain away, make it her own if she had to.

  Even though he didn’t seem to be the most receptive man in the world, healing was her calling. Back home it was made as a joke, but no one knew the depth of how much she could do. She wasn’t even sure to what extent her magic went. Though she knew it was more than just healing cuts and small wounds like she’d done in the past. Healing came in handy during a war or attack, but otherwise most Fae healed on their own. So, because no one knew the strength of her gift, they didn’t find her skills vital.

  Therefore, neither did she.

  But it seemed the human world was different. It needed her. She smiled, hoping that she could find her place among the humans and Supes who kept themselves locked behind their human bodies.

  She was sick and tired of no one finding her worthy of anything. Uncle Talbot’s plan to wed her off to Sirk of the West only meant he was tying up loose ends, and he found her end to be the most challenging. Getting rid of her first meant it would be easier to get rid of her sisters.

  “You’re hurt,” she said, pulling out of her own turmoil. “Let me see.”

  “I’m fine,” he said and crossed her arms with a wince. “Really it’s no big deal.”

  “Uh-huh. Let me see. I can actually help you.” Why she felt the need to help the man was beyond her. He didn’t want her help, so why bother pushing? In fact, she really needed to be on her way before Talbot realized she was gone.

  But then he held out his hands and she saw the problem. He shifted, claws. She raised a brow. She didn’t know much about shifters, but she knew that he was far too old to be in pain by shifting. “Shouldn’t you be able to shift without pain or blood?”

  He noticeably tensed. “Like you, I’m a dud. I’ve never shifted before.”

  Melody huffed and closed her eyes allowing the magic to flow through her hands. She wasn’t real sure how to explain it. Her magic was different than other magic. She didn’t glow or float. Nothing much happened, other than a soothing feeling floating through her. It could easily become addictive, this euphoric feeling. She hadn’t felt it in so long.

  “What is that?” he asked.

  “My magic. I’m a healer.” Why was she telling him about her? It didn’t make sense. She didn’t even know this man, yet because he was in pain she wanted to make it go away. When she really needed to find a place to hide.

  “That doesn’t sound like nothing, like you said.” He went to step back. “Or feel like nothing.”

  “Back home, it’s nothing more than a parlor trick. So, it is nothing—nothing that can help your hands, if you’ll let me.”

  Her eyes had finally adjusted to the dark letting her see his disbelief. He raised a brow. She could tell he was thinking it over and was leery of her.

  He looked around. “Does it light you up like that portal?”

  Melody laughed. “No, nothing like that. Just give me your hands and I’ll show you.”

  Hesitantly, he held his hands in front of his body. She stepped closer, waiting for him to retreat, but when he didn’t, she wrapped her hands around his allowing her touch to soothe the pain.

  He gasped and his eyes brightened as her magic seeped into his skin, knitting back together what was hurting. The harsh red skin at the tips of his fingers faded to their natural color even as the stiffness receded. He kept his eyes on their hands as if in awe.

  “That feels so—Gods—that’s feels amazing. How are you doing this?”

  “I don’t know how it works, but I’ve been given a gift, and I use it as much as possible.”

  “It’s—” He didn’t finish his sentence and he gasped again.

  Melody smiled, happy to be able to make a difference. He was a rugged man with hard features, but she could see the softness he felt at her touch. Like she was healing some dark part of his soul.

  Maybe she was.

  She wasn’t sure how her magic helped with the psychological aspects of things. No one had ever asked her to heal their mind before, and even this giant of a man hadn’t, but it seemed like she’d easily jumped into his mind.

  In her sight, in all its glory, she spotted a large golden lion. It sat on it haunches with its tongue hanging out like a giant puppy dog. When she stepped closer, it kept still. The closer she got the more tense she felt. But it wasn’t in a bad way. It was like the lion wanted her near. Just as much as she wanted to be near it. She walked closer still and held out her hand. “It’s okay. I won’t hurt you,” she said in a whisper as to not startle it.

  It probably wasn’t a good idea to approach a lion even if the beast was stuck inside of the man. She could tell. It was lonely and in pain. An ache tore through her and her gut clenched. She bent at the waist and wrapped one arm around herself. So much loneliness and despair. So much suffering. It brought tears to her eyes.

  “It’s okay, “she said again, and this time, the lion stood and walked toward her and nuzzled it’s face under her hand. The fur was softer than it looked. She ran her fingers through his mane and startled until she realized he was…purring. He butted her hand to keep her moving. She threaded her fingers through the mane and reached it’s back. The fur there was coarser, but still soft to her small hand.

  “You’re beautiful.” And he was. There was a quietness about the beast that made her at ease. She had never felt so calm in her life. It was almost as if she had finally come home.

  Then she was yanked out of the man’s head and back into the dark. Melody gasped for breath and watched him with wide eyes.

  “What did you do?” His voice was low and ended on a growl.

  “I—I don’t know.” She’d never done anything like that before. She’d never managed to get inside someone’s head before. No one was open enough to allow her to heal them that deeply. Was it possible with this strange yet alluring male?

  “Your beast is amazing.”

  The male huffed. “Right. I haven’t gotten to let him out ever, and somehow you managed to touch him. What kind of wicked are you?”

  “I didn’t mean to. All I was trying to do was heal you.”

  “I didn’t ask for you to do that. It was only my hands that needed the help.” He sighed and looked them over. They were perfect yet again. “I don’t like to be messed with.”

  “I didn’t.”

  “Your power is more than healing.”

  “No, it’s not. I swear.”

  “Then you must be coming into more power, because that wasn’t healing.”

  Oh, but it was. He just didn’t realize it. But he would. Now that she’d gotten a taste of something new she could do—a taste of his raw and primal energy of the beast that needed her she wasn’t about to let go of it. Her power had taken a turn for the better and surpassed anything she’d ever been allowed to do in F
aerie. Someone finally needed her, even if he wouldn’t admit it. She knew it was true.

  ***

  The feel of her fingers threading through the lion’s mane when she touched the beast felt like a caress along his skin. He’d never felt something so amazing yet unbelievable at the same time. He never knew it was possible for anyone to touch him in a way that lingered all the right down in the pit of his soul. The one thing he’d searched for his whole life was acceptance and with one touch, she’d given him that. If she was being honest, she hadn’t even meant to do it. How was that even possible?

  It wasn’t. There was no way. This was some sorta of Fae magic meant to control him. He wouldn’t be controlled by anyone. Others had tried—and failed. The shifter in him had fought it tooth and nail even though he wanted that connection with someone who whole life. The kind that took away every bit of pain he’d suffered. The kind that had the power to bring him to his knees. Dixon had learned long ago that a woman who held magic was a woman that could take advantage.

  He paced in front of her trying to figure out what she’d done to him. Why he wanted to bring her home. Why he wanted her to touch him, and why he wanted to do everything in his power to take away that look of despair off of her face. She was so innocent. Or so it seemed, but it was too convenient. She was sent to him, or maybe Fate was trying to warn him about her. He wasn’t sure. Everything was so clouded after she rested her hands on him. It was hard to tell fantasy from reality. It was like the one thing he wanted most was dangled right in front of him in a beautiful package. He didn’t get that lucky. He’d spent the last fifteen years accepting he would spend his life alone. No one would ever accept a dud like him. He wasn’t a shifter—yet he was. He straddled both worlds, it seemed.