* * *
Lucy watched the small boat slow to a stop a few yards from shore. She made out DeLong and a Werewolf she didn’t know. The faint sound of their argument reached her. They seemed to be worried about the book. Lucy stood, brushing the sand from her dress. The fire had died in the rain. They were too late. Shel stood with her as the two Werewolves ran up.
“Where is it? Where’s the book?” DeLong asked. His companion glared at her.
“I burned it.” She looked DeLong in the eye.
“You burned it?” DeLong’s eyebrows rose to his hairline.
“I did.”
“And you let her?” DeLong turned his gaze on Shel.
“Seemed like the thing to do at the time.” Shel slid his arms around her waist. She leaned against him.
“Are you insane?” The unfamiliar Werewolf shrieked, dropping to his knees to claw through the ash.
“Nothing left?” DeLong raised an eyebrow at her.
“Nothing.” Lucy smiled at the Werewolf.
DeLong’s companion stood and glared at her. “I suppose you’ll have a list of rules and demands for us now.” He gave DeLong a dirty look.
Shel’s presence at her back was warm and welcome. Lucy looked the Werewolves in the eye. “No.”
“The Council… No?” He blinked at Lucy. “But Isabel, the book… Her power…”
“I’m not Isabel. And I don’t want any power.” She waited while that sank in.
The Werewolf’s eyes shone with unshed tears in the afternoon sun. He shook his head in wonder. “Thank you.”
Lucy watched him turn and start back to the boat they’d come to the Island in. DeLong watched but didn’t follow right away. He turned back to her and smiled.
“We’re having a barbecue Saturday. Why don’t you and Lucy join us?” DeLong winked at her.
“We’ll do that.” Shel squeezed her shoulder. Lucy put her hand on his and squeezed back.
“Good. The wife wants a word with you about that scratch on her van.” DeLong turned to follow his companion back to their little boat.
* * * *
Night had fallen some time ago. They lay in each other’s arms. Shel shifted, easing his injured arm. He thought about everything that had happened. It seemed strange not to feel the need rising up inside anymore. Shel ran his tongue over his teeth, ordinary now with normal sized canines. The heightened senses were gone as well. He wouldn’t be able to smell Lucy’s presence anymore. Drawing her closer Shel inhaled the scent of her hair, shampoo and sex, and Lucy. With a sigh, he pushed it all away. He would adapt. As long as he had Lucy he could do anything.
Epilogue: Walking On Sunshine
Shel sat on deck watching the brilliant oranges and purples of the tropical sunset. A dark line of thunderheads to the east promised fall rain later. He sipped his after dinner whiskey and listened to Lucy moving around below. It just might be time to think about buying a house. Something close to the marina so he could still take clients out.
It got quiet in the salon. Shel put the glass down on the console and listened. A muffled shriek came from the vicinity of the head. He picked up his glass and drank the rest of the whiskey. A slow smile spreading across his face he ambled down the steps into the salon.
Lucy barreled into him, knocking the air from him in an oof. Shel staggered back a step catching her, wrapping his arms around her as she kissed him. Yes, a house with a fenced yard. And that swing set I saw at the home store.
About Penny Ash
I started trying to write science fiction and fantasy romance stories way back in high school with a friend. We spent hours making up tales involving our favorite characters. We had no idea that others were doing the same thing. We just loved telling stories. Back then my friend and I didn’t know what we were doing was called fan fiction. Fast forward to a fateful night in 2003. Surfing the net for entertainment, I rediscovered fan fiction. A light went on in the dark dusty mental room where I’d stored all those high school stories. I began to think hey, I can do this. I took a deep breath, sat in front of my computer, and began to ask what if. Several truly bad stories later, I got up the nerve to post a story and waited for a response. To my surprise and excitement people read my stories and even better they liked them. I began to learn how to create characters of my own and to plot. Then someone said those magical words, “You should publish this.” I thought “Um, well, why not?” So I sent my first original story in. They lost it. So I sent it again. About six hours later I had my first sale and voila, a career was born. All thanks to the training ground called fan fiction. So thank you fan fiction, I wouldn’t be here without you.
I currently have three books available, Pale Fire, a science fiction romance, Far From Montana, a contemporary suspense romance, and Puca, a fantasy romance. All are available on Kindle.
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