Little Prick Read online

It was a special day, so she took out her mother’s shawl and put it around her shoulders. Her hair was in a thick braid down her back, and when she looked at herself in the mirror, she had to blink at how pretty she looked. With a whimsical smile, she put on a set of dangling pearl earrings, and after a little bit of work, she managed to slip them through the holes in her ears. It had been a while since she had snuck out to get her ears pierced.

  She wiped off the little bit of blood and turned her head from side to side. Aside from the red irritation of her lobes, the pearl earrings looked pretty. They swung slightly as she moved.

  With a skip in her step, she headed down the stairs.

  It was a Sunday, so there was no activity at the shop, but the house was empty as all the men in the house were out doing something else.

  Keelie was sitting in the family room, flipping through the family albums. “She was lovely and she had so much life in her that she could have lived.”

  “If I hadn’t taken it.”

  Keelie jerked. “Oh, Pansy, it wasn’t you. She found out she had cancer two days after she found out she was pregnant with the daughter she had always wanted.”

  Pansy swallowed the lump of emotion. “She could have lasted longer if she wasn’t carrying me.”

  Keelie came to her and lifted her chin with her hand. “Never doubt for a moment that she fought the entire time. That is why your father doesn’t want me here. I was part of that fight, and we lost. He can’t forgive me for the loss.”

  Pansy took her aunt’s hand. “Can you tell me the whole story?”

  “Of course. It is quite the tale, so I need to pace. Sit down and I will explain it. All of it.”

  Pansy took a seat in one of the heavy leather chairs that easily held her brothers but made her feel like she was a small child.

  Keelie started to pace, and as she paced, she started to speak.

  “Bethanne always wanted a little girl. With every pregnancy, she hoped and prayed for a girl, but she had boy after boy. I visited as often as I could, but it wasn’t as much as I should have or I might have noticed the illness earlier. Then, she got the news. She was pregnant with a girl. I came to visit that weekend, but the joy had been marred by finding out that she also had breast cancer.

  “Karl was devastated and told her to abort the pregnancy, but Bethanne put her alpha female foot down and refused. She asked me for help, and I did research as fast as I could. She could get treatment and have the baby at the same time if I helped protect the baby.

  “I found the spell and asked her if she was ready. Bethanne held my hand, and I called the wild magic to protect you. There was a small matter of my having to be named your godparent that was an easy decision for Bethanne.” Keelie smiled.

  “You used wild magic to protect me?”

  “I used it to change you into something that could withstand the chemo. The magic chose what it turned you into. Your father never forgave me for that one as well.” Keelie sighed and returned to pacing.

  “You were normal when you were born. Your mother named you after my suggestion and Karl was so delighted that she and her baby had survived the treatment, he was happy to see me. Then, we found out that the medical centre had given her a placebo because of the pregnancy. They refused to damage the child, and we had done all of that preparation for nothing. The cancer had advanced to a stage where all options had been taken from her. She had fought for you, and it amounted to shadow boxing.”

  Pansy inhaled sharply.

  “The medical centre settled out of court. There is a huge settlement waiting for you today, as well as the one that bought this house and the surrounding territory for the pack. It increased the territory by several hundred acres.”

  “I didn’t know.”

  “Your father didn’t want you to know. It would have been hard as you grew up and depressing when you became a woman. Now, do you know how your mother’s mother passed?”

  “No.”

  “Breast cancer, as did your great grandmother and many of your great aunts. The change that you underwent altered you. You are the first woman in your family who isn’t in immediate danger of death via your own body. It is hard for your father to deal with. He thought he was getting a wolf cub.”

  “When did I first show the change?”

  “Ah, that was a good day. Your mother was holding you to her breast and your snuffling turned to snorting. She peeled back the blanket and there you were, spikes and all. She laughed so hard, I think she peed a little.” Keelie paused and stood by the window. She looked over her shoulder. “Your father was shocked. He knew you were his child; there was no doubt. There had even been blood tests after your birth just to check on your health. There was a definite match to the Medeela bloodline.”

  “My mom was amused?”

  “She thought wolves having to raise a porcupine was hilarious. You are the one creature that they would not screw with, and therefore, you had a chance to make your own place in the family. You don’t fall within pack protocols, but they can’t intimidate you, so you have a solid family. Bethanne figured out all the rules before she died and wrote them down for Karl. Every time he pretended to lose the list, I materialized another one. It drove him nuts.”

  “Were you here more often when she was sick?”

  “I was. I was with her every day.” Keelie swallowed. “I helped her with you while she was getting near the end. I even wear the scars that you left on me. You were a little nibbly.”

  “What happened after she died?”

  “Her will kicked in, and the fae take being a godparent very seriously. Your father wanted me to leave and not return, but my position meant you would see me each and every birthday.”

  “Yikes. Did he really try and keep you away from me?”

  “Yes, but he couldn’t. Your mother had made sure of it. I am bound to this land.”

  That was news to Pansy. “What?”

  “I am bound to the magic of this land. That means you. The wild magic that protects you binds us together, and today is a very special day.”

  Pansy blinked. “What is it aside from my birthday?”

  “Today, you go from being a member of your father’s family, to being a member of mine. He only had you for the first twenty-five years.”

  Pansy was stunned.

  Keelie grinned, “You might be getting the hint, but when your mother made the agreement, she gave you to me beginning with your twenty-fifth year. She knew your father would keep you close. I am here today to send you to the shifter’s Crossroads. I have a transporter meeting us at midnight. Shall we get started on that walk?”

  Blinking as she absorbed the information that she had not been the direct cause of her mother’s death, Pansy took Keelie’s hand and went for a walk. What else was she going to do?

  Chapter Three

  Pansy didn’t know what to think. She had to ask, “So, Mom knew that she would have a better-than-average chance of dying of breast cancer.”

  “She did. It was the topic of one of our first conversations, and she hadn’t even had the eldest of your brothers yet.”

  “When Dad told me, I did research and had myself tested. I don’t have the cancer marker that my mother and her sisters had. I always wondered why that was. It would be one thing if I was adopted, but my father assured me that I was my mother’s blood, and so, it was a mystery that I couldn’t solve.”

  “Yeah, Karl was not pleased when it became obvious that you were a porcupine. He demanded to know how it was possible, so Bethanne left it to me to explain. She wasn’t up for the confrontation, so I faced him down, and he banished me from his territory the moment that Bethanne was gone. It was only on your birthday that I would be allowed back and only because of the contract with your mother.”

  “So, I am yours now?” Pansy thought that the idea of being adopted at age twenty-five was amusing.

  “You are. If you were more amenable, I would set you up w
ith a fae, but I think your father would explode, and you are attached to this area, so the fae would have to move here. It would be complicated.”

  Pansy snorted. “You think? You mean that there are fae out there who would mate with me?”

  “With your power signature? Oh my, yes, there would be a line around the block.” Keelie grinned.

  “Is that what the fae are after?”

  “We are attracted to magic. It sings in our blood and hums in our brains. Power is literally an aphrodisiac for us.”

  “Do you have a family?”

  “You are my family, Pansy.” Keelie hugged her with one arm.

  “I mean aside from me. A fae family.” Pansy smiled.

  “I have parents and one sibling. My brother is far too elevated to associate with shifters.”

  That brought up an interesting topic. “Is there much of a class system around the fae, even today?”

  The bluster of laughter spilled out of Keelie. “You could say that. The fae don’t know where shifters come from, and they don’t care. They treat you like a spontaneous rash in the magical community. Humans are tolerated because they can hold tremendous power, and it doesn’t restrict itself to bloodlines. You never know when a new wave of power will come from an unexpected source.”

  “So, you give the humans respect?”

  “Well, the fae generally admire humans. They are lovely and so full of energy.”

  “So, what is their problem with shifters?”

  The leaves were crunching under their feet and the woods were silent. Pansy waited while Keelie formulated her answer.

  “Shifters can smell us, so from the moment the fae tried to mix with humanity, your people were giving us away. It created an animosity that still remains to this day.”

  “I see.”

  “Probably not, but it is a problem most of the time when we run into each other in public settings. My brother works with the state department, and he dreads running into shifters when he is at a function.”

  “Why?”

  “You may not know this but you tend to sniff the air when there is a fae in the area. It is rather obvious.”

  Pansy laughed. “If you want to know why, it is because you smell like wind, leaves and sunlight. Those are all scents that catch our attention.”

  “I hadn’t heard that particular description before.” Her aunt looked around her, and the wind came out to play with her locks.

  Pansy was content simply to walk for a while in the very familiar woods.

  Keelie turned their path to the mound at the edge of the property. “This is where I first met your mother. Right here.”

  Pansy smiled. “Really?”

  “Yes. She was confronting me about being on her territory. She knew what I was, and I have to admit that I was a little taken aback by her flashing fang at me.”

  Pansy was enjoying the story, and she took a seat on a fallen log.

  Keelie sat on a nearby rock.

  “What did you do?”

  “I inclined my head politely, begged her indulgence and explained that I was tracking magical hot spots. We happened to be standing in one.”

  “Why do you look for those spots?”

  “Why do people seek water tables? We look for the magic, because with the human population shifting and moving into the wild spaces, the natural magic is harder to find. Looking for the packs of shifters is usually a good clue that there is a magic well in the area. Your folk don’t even know that it is here, but you gather around it.”

  Pansy perked up and closed her eyes. She could feel the energy that Keelie was talking about. “It feels like wind and mint if that makes any sense.”

  “It is the same scent that you have, Pansy. You are part shifter and part pure magic. You are tied to me and tied to this land. It is the reason that I have been giving you properties in this area. You need never leave the home that you are part of.”

  Pansy frowned. “Do you think I can find a man who will come back here with me and face down my family?”

  “The pack won’t have a choice. You are going, and you will find a mate of your own who will accept you for what you are, or so I have been told.” Keelie blinked with a wry grin.

  “You don’t know?”

  “No fae allowed at the shifter’s Crossroads. This is for you alone. I mean, it would be nice if some of the half-breeds had a similar place to go, but we would have to create it for them, and I don’t see any fae willing to part with that much magic.”

  “How did the Crossroads get built?”

  “A few very old and very powerful shifters created it so that their offspring could meet in a safe environment. Part of the design was to reduce inbreeding in areas that did not have a lot of movement socially. You will see it when you arrive, and perhaps, you can explain it to me when you return.”

  “But what is it?” Pansy knew that there was something Keelie wasn’t telling her.

  Keelie looked around and then leaned forward. “It is a mobile bubble dimension that floats around, and the human mages known as the transporters can lock onto it at certain times when it is in their vicinity. Only the Guild Master can make the connection whenever she wishes it.”

  “So, where is my transporter going to appear from?”

  “Oh, she will be here at midnight. Don’t worry about anything. You can obtain all you need at the Crossroads. Consider it an all-inclusive vacation resort where the men are all looking for mates instead of just trying to get laid. It makes for a stimulating, if tense, atmosphere.”

  Pansy sat in shock. “Tonight? I am going tonight?”

  “There is no time like the present, and this will be a true birthday gift—the chance at a new life with someone who doesn’t set you aside in your own house. Don’t tell me I am wrong. I have noticed it every year I have visited you.”

  She shook her head. “It is pack protocol. We did the best within the rules of the pack regulation. I live with my family, we eat together…I am just not allowed to do any chores in the pack house. I do my own laundry and housekeeping.”

  Her aunt sighed. “Well, that is less horrible than what I had imagined.”

  “I am not a Cinderella figure. I am just a woman who doesn’t quite match her family. Of course, playing touch football when we were kids was hilarious. The amount of scars my brothers are wearing due to grabbing me too tight are highly amusing. I couldn’t actually control my shift until I was thirteen or so.”

  Keelie sighed and leaned forward. “Now, why don’t you have any girly clothing?”

  “I don’t go anywhere that requires it. I work, I go home and I read. And then, I do it all over again. Weekends are spent with family and running around in the woods. I like my life, but I am tired of the alone parts. So, I never have need of fancy clothing.”

  She bought and horded fashion magazines but that was not what Keelie had asked her.

  “I see. Do you mind if I send instructions along to the store? You are going to need a head-to-toe makeover before you begin.”

  The thought was both thrilling and terrifying. “It isn’t necessary.”

  “Oh, it is. Your clothing is more suitable for Nascar than for courting. I am not insulting you, and I know that your clothing has served you well. This is a change in your life and that will necessitate a new uniform.”

  Looking at it that way made sense. “Can I get a new wardrobe there?”

  “They will provide what you need. If it isn’t there, they will bring it in.” Keelie smiled.

  “How do you know all about the Crossroads?”

  Her aunt sighed, “When your mother got sick, she gave me all the contact information she could lay her hands on. It has taken me the last five years to get it all together, but I am prepared for the send-off that you truly deserve.”

  Keelie got to her feet. “So, are you ready for lunch or is that breakfast still backed up to your collarbone?”

  “I am on t
he way to hungry, Aunty. Never underestimate a shifter’s appetite.” Pansy stood up. “I do have to ask one thing that I have always wondered.”

  “Please. Today is not a day for secrets.”

  “Who the heck named me? Pansy doesn’t match the rest of the family names.”

  Keelie’s mirth rang through the forest and brought birds to seek the source of the musical sound. When she sobered, she put her arm around Pansy’s shoulders. “Your mother lost a bet.”

  Shock turned into amusement and a creeping smile made itself at home on her lips. Her name had a story she hadn’t suspected. This day was looking up.

  Chapter Four

  Everyone in the diner froze in place when Pansy and her aunt entered. Pansy waved a cheerful hello to Sandra and picked her favourite booth near the window.

  After the heavy protein of breakfast, she ordered chili fries and a salad, watching Keelie’s puzzled frown as she looked over the menu.

  Pansy kept her mouth shut and didn’t offer any suggestion and let Keelie pick her own salad and cheeseburger with an iced tea.

  Sitting and waiting, Keelie kept a benign smile on her features. “I am guessing that you still don’t get many fae in this area.”

  “Not really, no. I think I have only seen one around here before. It was about seven or eight years ago.”

  Keelie’s face clouded over. “Was it a male?”

  “Yes. He was really pretty. Dad and he ran into each other at the garage, and after the first glimpse of him, he disappeared. We merely assumed that he left.”

  She sighed. “He did leave. He didn’t say where he had been, but he was a mess when he returned to his home.”

  “Who was it?”

  “The fae ambassador. My brother. When I started giving you the properties that I had accumulated, he decided that it was his responsibility to find out what kind of hold your family had over me. The fae don’t willingly part with their properties.”

  Remembering the scent of blood on her father’s hands, she winced. “I guess that Dad had a talk with him.”

  “Well, the scars healed rather messily, so it was a conversation worth witnessing.” Keelie grinned.