A Magical Shift: A Hot Paranormal Fantasy Saga with Witches, Werewolves, and Werebears (Weres and Witches of Silver Lake Book 1) (27 page)

“Why not?”

She couldn’t come up with a good reason. “If by some chance my powers were transferred to you during mating, I want to teach you how to do at least one thing, and tonight’s as good as any.”

“Really?” He rolled her onto her back then withdrew. “Let me clean us up.”

He was back in a flash with a towel, and his enthusiasm helped spark her desire to go for it all. Both dressed quickly and were out the door before she realized they hadn’t brought a flashlight. To her delight though, not only was the moon lighting their path, her eyes didn’t have a problem seeing in the evening light.

Hand in hand, they walked on the path surrounding the lake, and then cut up through the trees toward the water’s edge. She stopped in her tracks at the sight before her. With the moonlight glimmering off the water like silver ribbons swimming across the surface, it was more beautiful than ever before. No matter how many times she stood in front of the lake, she didn’t think she’d ever tire of seeing its magnificence. “It’s so incredible. I can see why your Clan chose to settle here.”

“It has a magic of its own. Did you know the bottom is lined with pink quartz?”

That was the Wendayan’s precious stone that had powers even she couldn’t fathom. “I’d heard the rumor. Has anyone in town asked to mine it?”

“Not that I know of, but I doubt they understand its value.” He squeezed her hand. “Let’s head on over to my rock and see if you can teach an old dog a new trick.”

Izzy leaned against Rye. She loved his humor and his need for adventure. “I’ve never taught anyone before. From what I’ve been told, either you have the magic or you don’t.”

“If our mating didn’t transfer your magic to me, I’m okay with that.”

He was being such a good sport. “Let me see what you can do before I attempt to shift. It’s possible any abilities you’ve received might disappear along with mine.”

Rye wrapped his arms around her. “Stop worrying about it. As long as I’m with you, I’m good. To have it even for one night would be a thrill.”

“What would happen if you ever lost your ability to shift?”

He was silent for a moment. “That’s a tough one. I imagine my parents wouldn’t be too happy, as I would no longer be fit to be the Alpha, but I’ll deal with whatever the consequences may be. Gotta take chances if you want to gain something.”

She kissed him. “When did you become so wise?”

“When I met you.”

Joy and love filled her. “Okay, let’s give this a try.” Izzy picked up his hand and folded his fingers in the same manner her father had taught her. “It might be better if we face the water.”

He chuckled. “So we don’t set the forest on fire?”

“Yes.” Izzy demonstrated her technique and explained how she shot fire out of her palm. “Be sure to close the fingers slowly in order to improve your aim. Now you try it.”

He glanced over at her, and then up at the moon. “Here goes, but don’t laugh if I can’t do this.”

“Never.” She probably couldn’t shift either.

Rye held out his hand, and when he closed his fingers, a spark flew out and fluttered a few feet before extinguishing. “Did you see that?” He acted like a kid at Christmas.

“Yes. It means you can do it. Curve your fingers a little more and concentrate on the heat and color of the flame.”

Rye inhaled and tried again. This time the flame shot out about a foot. “That’s fantastic.” He faced her. “I’m going to practice every night until I get better.”

“I hope you can. I honestly have no idea what you’ll be capable of. Want to see if you can create a water spout?”

“Fuck, yeah.”

Once more, she instructed him, but after several tries all Rye could do was make small ripples across the water. “It’s a start,” she said sensing his disappointment.

He lifted her up and swung her around. “I don’t care if I never improve. I was able to experience what made you who you are. If I can do nothing tomorrow at least I had it once.”

Her eyes watered at his sentiment. “Aw. That’s so sweet. Tell me what I need to do to shift.”

“Are you sure?”

She’d never been surer of anything in her life. “Yes.”

“Okay then. I’ve never had to teach anyone either, but I remember what my father told me. He said to envision my inner wolf, and once I’ve connected with it to start running. Your vision will turn black, but only for a moment. Your bones will crack and the first time you shift, you’ll think you’re being pulled apart, but don’t worry, it gets easier the next time.”

“How do I turn back?”

“Just think of your human self and it will happen.”

If it didn’t work, she’d really be in trouble. “I guess I need to get naked, right?”

Rye approached and placed his hands on her shoulders. “Yes, but be thankful I’m in a generous mood.”

“What does that mean?” From the cheer in his voice, she could guess.

“Once you’re naked, I’ll want to mate with you again.”

Izzy punched him in the chest with her uninjured arm. “You’re lucky I don’t create a tornado while I still can and send your ass into the middle of the lake.”

He laughed. “Don’t worry. I’ll be good. I know how much this means to you.”

They both undressed and placed their clothes at the base of the rock. “So I just think about the wolf inside me and start running?” she asked.

Bones cracked and fur flew. Two seconds later, Rye was in his wolf form. His paws landed on her hips, and then he took off. Izzy followed. At first, she had to hold her tits to keep them from bouncing. She lasered her focus on Rye and how wonderful it would be to become a wolf. No sooner had that thought entered her head than pain overtook her entire body. Her vision blurred then turned a dark gray, but somehow she could still see through the fog. It was like she was directing a movie where she had the starring role.

Before her mind could wrap itself around the whole concept of becoming an animal, she was inches from the ground. Holy hell. She did it! Rye howled.

“Follow me,”
he telepathed.

Good goddess. They could communicate even in wolf form. Totally free for the first time in her life, Izzy took off after Rye. He leapt onto a rock and she jumped up after him as if she’d been a wolf her whole life. He darted down the other side then zigzagged around the trees. The pine floor was sweeter than she ever remembered and the air cleaner. All of her senses appeared to have tripled in intensity.

Rye returned to the lake and waited for her. All of a sudden, he shifted into his human form, and Izzy wanted to do the same. He’d said to picture it, and the shift would happen. Suddenly, her bones stretched and cracked. Disoriented for a moment, she suddenly was back, and relief poured through her.

“Well?” he asked.

“I have no words other than amazing, fantastic, exhilarating.”

Rye lifted her up, stepped closer to the water, and tossed her into the lake. The cold shocked more than chilled her. “Why did you do that?” she asked after surfacing.

He laughed. “Initiation ceremony.”

“I’ll show you an initiation.” Hoping she still had her powers, she formed a wind tunnel around Rye and drew him toward her, totally ignoring his protests. She then lifted up the funnel, moved it over the lake, and when she let go, he sunk like a rock.

When he didn’t surface, her pulse raced even though she didn’t sense he was in danger. Izzy swam toward the drop location, and suddenly, a hand yanked on her ankle and pulled her underwater.

Rye’s face appeared inches from her. He grabbed her by the waist and shot them to the surface. His lips found hers, and their kiss under the white moon was one to remember.

He broke the contact. “Let’s swim ashore and change.”

When they reached land, Rye hopped out onto firm ground and held out his hands. Without thinking, she gave him both of hers and he tugged her to her feet. Whoa. The pain in her arm was gone. She rubbed the area on her shoulder where she’d been shot but could barely feel anything.

“Your wolf healed you in case you’re wondering,” he said.

Only then did it occur to her that when she was in her wolf form, she’d been able to run without a limp. “That’s incredible.”

“What’s incredible was that I was able to fulfill my childhood dream of becoming a dragon. I’ll overlook the fact that fire didn’t come out of my mouth.”

Rye led her back to the rock where they donned their clothes with some difficulty. Putting them on over a damp body sucked.

Out of nowhere, two sets of hands clapped and she stilled. Izzy spun around and her knees weakened. “Naliana?”

‡

I
t had been
a long time since Rye had seen Naliana, and he wasn’t sure what to make of her sudden appearance. James was with her, standing tall, his salt and pepper hair newly trimmed. His wide grin made his eyes crinkle, but it was the extra sparkle in them that had James looking even younger.

Naliana stepped closer. Her long white hair glowed in the moonlight, and the gauze dress she wore made her appear a bit too thin.

“I see you two have mated.” She clapped once more. “I’m so happy for you.”

Izzy glanced over at Rye and then at Naliana. “Did you have something to do with getting us together?”

Naliana clasped a hand over her heart. “I’m not a pretend goddess. You know how much I believe in true love.” She placed a peck on James’s cheek. Light glinted off his smile as he wrapped an arm around her waist.

“Is that why you called me home?” Izzy asked. “So I’d be with Rye?”

“That was one of the reasons.”

Now the goddess had piqued Rye’s curiosity. “You didn’t send Owen Chancellor after Izzy just so I’d have to protect her, did you?” Damn, he hadn’t meant to sound accusatory, but if that was what Naliana instigated, then the goddess that everyone looked up to wasn’t who everyone believed her to be.

“No, Rye! When I realized what that horrid little toad of a werewolf was planning to do, I had to warn Izzy. I didn’t want her in the same continent as him. I had no idea he would follow her to America or that he planned to kidnap her.”

The tension in his body dissipated. “I appreciate that.”

“I did, however, have Izzy do your aura cleansing instead of Kathryn.”

“So Mom was in on it,”
she telepathed to Rye.

“Remind me to give her a big hug.”

“What did that stalker creep really want?” Izzy asked. “When he kidnapped me, he had a witch try and perform a love spell.”

“Owen Chancellor wanted to bring home a bride to make his parents proud, mostly because he was such a big disappointment to them. When he saw your magic, he decided you’d be perfect.”

James held up his hand. “Just so you know, the witch wasn’t really going to do a love spell, Izzy. She was stalling for time until Rye arrived.”

“How do you know this?” Rye asked. Once more, his tone came out sharp.

James shifted his weight. “She’s kind of working for me.”

Rye was confused. First, Naliana admitted she was aware of what that man had planned for Izzy and had done nothing to stop him. Now, he learned that James had a Changeling working for him. Growling, Rye asked, “Care to explain?”

“Easy there, big fellow. I told you I have sources in the Changeling world.”

James only said that he had sources, but he’d never mentioned anything about them being Changelings. “And?”

“She’s one of them. In fact, Olivia is in the process of coming over to our side.”

He’d like to know how that was even possible, but he doubted he’d receive a satisfactory explanation.

“Are you sure?” Rye asked. “Wasn’t she the same witch who put a spell-binding on Izzy?”

James waved a hand. “No. That witch was
conveniently
unavailable when Chancellor tried to contact her again. He was redirected, shall we say, to Olivia.”

His powers and connections were quite extensive and remarkable. Rye had probably learned all he could today.

The lovebirds’ time was very limited. Not only did Naliana and James have a lot of catching up to do since she’d be returning to the heavens tomorrow, Rye needed to ask Izzy something.

Naliana lifted Izzy’s hand. “You made the right choice by shifting and wanting to share your life with the man you love. For your sacrifice, I can reveal to you that your powers will diminish over time, but never completely. They shall remain at half strength.”

Izzy looked up at him, smiled, and then returned her gaze to Naliana. “Thank you.”

She let go of Izzy’s hand and once again kissed James on the cheek. “I made a sacrifice for James, and I’ve never regretted it.” She looked over at Rye. “As for you, sir, your shifting abilities will remain strong, and those talents you’ve received from Izzy will continue to intensify, but not so much to interfere with your destiny—that of being an Alpha to your Clan.”

“I thank you two for everything.”

“We won’t keep you two any longer,” James said. “We just wanted to stop in and congratulate you.”

For the first time in his life, Rye was at a loss for words.

Like a puff of smoke, the two trailed off into nothingness.

He faced Izzy. “Can you believe that?”

She laughed. “I’m just as stunned as you are, but I’m happy that we have their blessings.”