Kotza House - a butch/femme paranormal shifter tale

Kotza House - Part 2

Avery had created the inheritance story with her pridemates and a few witches from her coven, making sure it was airtight and that there was nothing Tara could immediately question. She had also made sure Tara would be as isolated as possible during her stay, so that there was no one Tara could go to for answers except Avery.

A few of her pridemates had agreed they would pretend to be the full-time house staff for Tara's protection, even though the house was magickly warded, but they would deflect any questions Tara might have about Kotza House, Big Cypress Swamp, and its lore until Avery could talk to her herself.

Now, Avery could scarcely believe Tara was actually sitting with her. As planned, Avery had moved into the guardian's cottage for the month. Smythe had told Tara that Avery was the estate's guardian—which she technically was—but Tara would learn exactly what that meant over the course of the month.

Tara would be ensconced in Avery's bedroom—now their bedroom—and would stay there permanently, where Avery's twin flame belonged. With everything Tara would learn in October, she would slowly begin to understand her importance to both Avery and to the Florida panther shifters.

Millicent Rinaldi, the head of Avery's coven, had told Avery that Tara's life span would increase to match hers as soon as Avery gave her the claiming bite. Although she looked as though she was in her early thirties, Avery was over 300 years old, and had a life expectancy of around 1,000 years. After Avery and Tara were completely bound, Tara's life expectancy would be the same as Avery's.

Although a Florida panther shifter had never mated a human before, the witches of Millicent's coven had done so on occasion, so Millicent knew what to expect as far as life expectancy changes went.

"But there's something else you should know, Avery," Millicent had informed her when they had talked. "It won't be uncommon for Tara to absorb some of your magick and become something a little less than human after you two mate. With the humans the witches have mated, that's always been the case.

"I don't know exactly what's going to happen with you and Tara, however, because a hybrid has never mated a human before—at least not in my experience. You are so rare, Avery, we never know what to expect when it comes to you.

"But I suppose we're all going to find out, aren't we?"

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Tara sipped her tea, which had been brought to her by a sweet, unassuming older lady named Ellen, and tried to ignore the deliciously virile female power being exuded by Avery. The dainty teacup looked so incongruous in Avery's large, strong hand, but she handled it with a familiar ease as she lounged casually next to Tara on the sofa.

"I know you have many questions, lovely," Avery said, after the peace and quiet of the room, as well as the comforting tea, had settled Tara's nerves. "I think maybe it's best if I first explain to you how I am related to the family, how Lillian plays into all of this, and why you were the one chosen to receive the inheritance."

Tara blew out a deep breath and nodded. "I'm not okay with this, Avery," she said quietly. "I'm not a gold digger, nor am I someone who would ever take advantage of a situation like this.

"I was only told a couple of weeks ago that I am related to this family on any level. I was told that Lillian Grimshaw, who lives in England, was looking to pass on this family estate to a member of the family. They found me through a genealogy search, and I took that to mean there were no living survivors that they knew of.

"Then I get here, find out you're actually a member of the family—working as the guardian and living in the guardian's cottage—and... No. Nuh uh, I'm sorry. I'm not getting into the middle of any family drama, and I'm certainly not going to be the cause of any family drama. I can go back to Tampa tonight."