Shira's head came up, Annika! Something just spoke! Are you talking to the stranger in the woods?
Annika hesitated. Shira was one of the most sensitive of her family. She should have known that she would have heard Andre speaking to her.
Andre was shocked. This girl-child had heard them speaking on their private path. How was that possible?
"Yes baby. Do you remember the bedtime story I used to tell you and Natika? The one about how someday you would find someone who loved you like Forrest loved Celyn?"
Shira nodded uncertainly, not knowing where this was headed. Then it dawned on her, "You found a Forrest?"
Andre wasn't sure how he felt being compared to her brother. Then he shrugged.
Annika nodded. "Yes. I found my very own Forrest."
Shira frowned. "If he hurts you, I'll shove him under Betsy!"
Annika laughed.
Who is Betsy? Andre demanded.
Shira and Annika laughed. "Betsy is one of our cows who has constant stomach problems. You would get very slimy, underneath Betsy," Annika told him.
Shira laughed again. Then she sobered. "Annika, I can't see him."
Annika took away the safeguards hiding him from view. Shira stared at Andre. He smiled at her, trying to be reassuring.
The young girl looked at him solemnly. "Are you going to hurt us?"
The way she asked it, so casually, squeezed his heart. "No little one, I will never hurt you," he promised.
Annika smiled at him. Andre couldn't help smiling back. His smile disappeared at her next words.
"Come on, we need to introduce you to the others." Unless you're afraid, she teased him.
Andre gave her a stern look and followed her down the path. She should have trembled with fear, but she merely smirked.
The introductions weren't as bad as Annika had expected. She thought it was because everyone was too tired to protest.
There was shock when Andre first walked in, Forrest moved in between him and Celyn, and she clutched the baby. Danica moved in front of Griffin and Fawn. Natika and Raoul were already asleep.
It was Tabitha and Oliver who looked at him with the most suspicion.
"Tabby, really it's okay," Annika reassured her.
Tabitha glared at Andre. He shifted uncomfortably under her gaze. Nothing seemed to make sense anymore. He was feeling incredibly protective of Annika and her family, especially after that frank 'Will you hurt us?'. The emotions were new, he had never felt protective of anything. He hunted the vampire, he was a ruthless killer. He didn't, shouldn't, feel like he was melting every time he looked at his lifemate.
His lifemate who was taking far too much pleasure in his discomfort.
Tabitha continued to glare. "Annika, you are my child, whether you like it or not! I am not ready for some man to sweep you off your feet. But I'll get over it."
Annika kissed the old woman's forehead. "Thank you, Tabby. I love you."
Tabitha harrumphed and stalked out of the room. Olive followed her with one last glare for Andre.
One by one, the family went off, leaving Annika and Andre alone.
"Come on, I'll give you the tour while I tuck everyone in," Annika offered. She took his hand and set off into the rambling farm house. "That room was the living/mud room. That over there is the kitchen. Beyond that is Tabby and Oliver's bedroom."
Andre took it in. There were bright colors everywhere. Old pictures lined the walls, there were abstract paintings of wind, lighting and flowers everywhere. There were more of creatures half fox, half human, and still more of half coyotes and half owls.
Annika caught him looking at them. "Tabitha taught Danica, Shira, and Natika how to paint. The wind and lightning are Danica's, the flowers are Natika's, and the shape-shifters are Shira's. It shows their own interests, Danica can control the weather, Natika and Shira can shapeshift, and Natika loves flowers."
"You cannot all do these things?" Andre asked.
Annika shook her head. "No, only the twins can shapeshift. They each have animal's that they prefer, Griffin is much like a coyote, Fawn's is a barn owl, Natika and Shira are foxes. Danica controls the weather, and Raoul is a warrior through and through. He's only twelve, but he shows major talent. Maybe you could show him some things?"
Andre inclined his head, "I would be glad to instruct Raoul. You didn't mention what you can do."
Annika blushed and looked away, "I can control the earth, bring nutrients to the soil. Plants do my bidding. Nothing major."
Andre lifted her hand to his lips, nibbling on her fingers he murmured, "This is a very rare talent among our people. It is very well respected and longed for."
Annika blushed again. He may as well be branding her with his gentle caresses. "Upstairs are all of our bedrooms."
Andre allowed her to back away for the time being. "Who sleeps with who?"
She smiled, grateful that he was giving her space. He didn't release her hand, his thumb smoothing over it with subtle strokes.
"Danica and I share a room. Griffin, Fawn and Raoul share another. Natika and Shira share one, as do Celyn and Forrest."
They moved up the stairs. "I don't know why Natika and Shira need a room, they often sleep out on the roof of the porch. But when it gets cold it's necessary. None of us can regulate our temperatures. Will you stay here while I tuck them in?"
Andre nodded and Annika slipped through a door that had a sign on it that read, ' If you value your life, you will knock first. A fox bite isn't pleasant.'
Both girls were asleep, in their bed for once. Shira and Natika shared one big bed, the blankets were formed into a nest, the two girls sprawled together. Annika gave them both kisses, tucked the blankets around them, and checked to make sure that the safeguards between them and their memories were up.
After quietly closing the door, she turned, almost running into Andre. He caught her in his arms. Gently, he lowered his head toward hers, their lips met softly. Fire streaked through her blood, she gasped giving him better access to her mouth. His tongue swept in, claiming her, branding her as his. She tasted like warmth, with a faint hint of soy sauce?
Annika chuckled in their minds. It isn't soy sauce, it's Bragg's amino acids. We use it instead of salt.
Andre shrugged and enjoyed the taste.
"Annika, quit sucking face!" The voice was that of a young boy.
Annika pulled away, gasping, "Raoul Jensen, where did you hear that?"
The youth grinned, "Griffin told Celyn and Forrest to stop sucking face."
Annika groaned, "No TV for week."
Raoul grin turned sly, "I think he got it from one of your books, you know, the ones you hide under your pillow?"
Annika turned scarlet. "Bed. Now," she growled.
Raoul smiled cheekily and scampered off. "Griffin you're in trouble!"
Annika sighed. Andre came up behind her, "Just what are these books?"
"Crappy teenage romances, I've had them forever. Nevertheless, Griffin knows better. He will still have no TV for a week."
Andre chuckled and they moved down the hall. Annika went into Griffin, Fawn, and Raoul's bedroom. Andre smiled at the scolding she gave them. Finally she came out. "Will you go for a walk with me?" Andre asked.
Annika looked at him with a wary expression. Finally she nodded. Swiftly, they walked out of the house. Andre swept her up into his arms, taking to the sky.
I thought you said walk.
I lied. If you wish, we could walk, but it will take an unnecessary amount of time, Andre said smoothly.
Annika looked up at the stars and the full moon. I've always feared the night. The way it can turn people into monsters. But I can't be in full daylight too long either. My skin burns.
Sivamet, the night is my world, your world. Why would you wish for day, when it is so harsh? Andre whispered. The feel of her against his skin was almost too much. She was so soft, so feminine. Her hair caressed his face, blown by the wind.
Annika blushed at the erotic images in his mind. There were quite a few images in hers, and that shocked her. She had thought that part of herself dead, seared away when--
Her mind shut down the though almost immediately. She didn't tell anyone. Not even her family knew that he had---
My love, why do you move away from me? What ever it is, we can work through it.
Annika winced at the tenderness in his voice. She hadn't been aware that she had moved away from their merging. His lips moved on her hair, tender, loving.
They moved into thick woodland. His lips found hers, lightning sparked between them. His hands caressed her sides. She could feel the bulge growing underneath her. A spasm of fear went through her.
He willed away their clothing, leaving them skin to skin. He fed on her mouth. His hand stroked her soft skin down to her mound. Annika gasped, stiffened. Her body wept for his, she needed him desperately. His fingers dipped into the simmering cauldron that waited for him there.
Annika cried out, images filled her mind. An old man leering at her, an old gray beard, the choking scent of pipe tobacco. NO! She fought him, tearing flesh with her fingernails, before remembering that it only brought more pain in the end. Her shoulders hunched, "No, please, not again!"
Andre forced her hands still. "Stop," he commanded. His lifemate shuddered, curled in on herself. He felt her spirit move away, far into a hole where he couldn't follow. Shedding his body, he leapt after her.
He followed her, into the memories. She was huddled in a corner, she couldn't be more then ten years old. Her eyes were filled with fear as she watched the old man approach. It hadn't been the first time that she had been forced to do this. The old man smiled and reached out to grab her by her throat. His grip was strong, crushing her.
Little one, I am so sorry, her father's voice whispered in her head. So sorry.
Father, go away, he will be done soon enough. He can't catch you speaking to me, the little girl sobbed in her mind. He'll hurt the others, you know he will.
The kind presence faded away. Razvan knew what she said was true. He couldn't save her without the cost of his other children. I am sorry.
The old man gripped her, shoved her underneath him, rising above her. "No begging? I'm hurt."
The little girl raised her head, "I refuse to give you more satisfaction then you already have."
Xavier snarled, and began to pump into her. The little girl screamed. Andre went to her, merging, holding her up. Shouldering the pain. Xavier continued to torture her for his own pleasure.
Andre was filled with helpless loathing for the old man who refused to die.
Annika moved, whispering weakly, You don't need to. I lived through this before, I will again.
My love, I won't leave you here, Andre murmured to her. Come back to me. We can work through this.
Gently, he gathered up her spirit, taking her from this hell. This hell that she had lived through. That she would never live through again.
They returned to the present. Andre held her close, shielding her. She was shaking and cold after her flashback. "My love, I am so sorry. I had no idea,"Andre whispered to her.
"No, it's me. I'm sorry," Annika said softly, looking away from him. "I thought... I don't know what I thought. I thought it wouldn't matter."
Andre put two fingers underneath her chin, forcing her to look at him. "You are the light in my darkness, you saved my soul, saved me from becoming a monster. I love you. The way that you are. We will work through this. I do not need such a thing to make me happy. Just your presence fills the void inside me."
Sobs racked her body. Her tears cut him to the quick, he had always been unmoving, cool under fire. Now he had no idea how to proceed, how to comfort her. Hesitantly, he rocked her, "It's going to be okay, it's going to be okay."
Annika turned her head to him, tears soaking his chest. Slowly the tears ceased. He simply held her. A soft little noise in the back of her throat alerted him that she was asleep. Andre took to the skies, cloaking them from sight. He merged with her, wanting to share her dreams. She was so lucky to be able to dream.
It was a mix of colors and emotions. He watched as she ran through the hay field, chasing after Raoul, who had stolen her shoe. Her siblings watched, calling out advice to Raoul, finally Annika caught him. But he had thrown the shoe to Griffin. Annika sighed and the chase began once more.
Andre went back to the old Vermont farm house. He landed in the yard. The door opened. Forrest stepped out. "What happened? Is she alright?"
Celyn followed him out. She gasped when she saw Annika still in Andre's arms.
"She fell asleep, don't wake her," Andre said. Annika moved closer into the warmth of his arms.
Forrest reached out and touched her cheek. "She's been crying. What did you do to her?!"
Annika stirred, "I'm alright, Forrest. Just tired. Andre didn't hurt me."
That she would say that he hadn't hurt her, when he had sent her back into the painful flashback, was remarkable. "Where is her bedroom, she needs to rest. Go back to sleep," Andre told her, a compulsion in his voice.
Celyn led the way to the bedroom shared by Annika and Danica. The younger girl stayed asleep.
Andre put her in her bed, tucking the covers around her. He gave her a kiss on her forehead. Dawn is nearing. I must go to ground, you will be alright.
Andre?
Yes?
Thank you.