Shadows from the Past - Book 2 of To Be Claimed By Her

Bonus Chapter

North

"Did we get a cat?" Luke asked as he came into the kitchen.

"Uh, not that I know of," I said and walked into the hall where I saw Sean, Daniel, and Owen trying to corner a small black cat. Holy shit! "What the fuck, man! Did you really turn our wife into a cat?" I yelled.

They looked up and instantly the cat scampered away. "Shit! Damnit North, we almost had her," Owen groaned.

"Wait, Pixie's a cat? When the hell did that happen?" Luke asked while eating a cupcake. I rolled my eyes but didn't comment. I'd given up on his eating habits when Queen jumped my case pointing out we were immortal and none of us were going to perish from too much sugar. It was a bit frustrating really. I'd spent my whole life trying to take care of the knucklehead and now he didn't need me to. Anyway...

"In my defense," Daniel started, "I didn't turn her into a cat, I merely reminded her that she was much more relaxed in the kitten spell. I suggested she try it again."

"Apparently, our lovely wife decided that wasn't good enough and went full cat on us," Sean grumbled. "Fair warning, those claws are just for looks." He held up his arm which was littered with scratches before healing them.

Morpheus came in with Queen snuggled in his arms as he petted her and spoke gently to her. "So who ticked her off?" he asked.

We all looked at Daniel. He flushed, "I didn't make her mad, we were just talking and she mentioned how stressed she was. When I mentioned how she relaxed in my former realm she got a very wicked expression and the next thing I know, I'm naked in bed with a small black cat."

Morpheus chuckled and rubbed his forehead against hers, "Yes, little star, I agree completely. You just take your time and we will handle everything." She mewled loudly and he placed her on the ground. We watched as she wound around our legs and then wandered off.

"You speak cat?" Luke gaped. "Teach me!"

"I don't speak cat, I speak Eveleen," he grinned. "The connection still works, it's just a bit different. Daniel, think back to when you used your spell on her. Could you still understand her?"

"Well, yes, but I could also read all of her thoughts then too. I can't really do that anymore since my resurrection. I only get fragments and then the connection," he shrugged.

"Hmmm...we should really practice on that. I believe you can recover most of your powers just without the negative influence. Well, maybe not the incubus ones, but the others yes," Morpheus babbled.

"Okay, back to the issue of our wife being a cat," I said. "How do we change her back?"

"Why would you want to?" he said in shock. "Clearly she needs a break and she's taking one. Good gods, North, don't you ever get overloaded or stressed? She has seventeen men to deal with, two kingdoms, thirty-two children, and dozens of grandchildren. I'd say she has earned a mini-vacation, wouldn't you?"

My mouth hung open and I looked around to see the same surprise on the other's faces. Hell, even a normal family lays so much on the woman, but our family...  Damn, when he put it that way, I'm surprised she hasn't cracked after all these years. Morpheus reached out and pushed my jaw up. "Good boy. Now, just let her lay in sunspots and be frivolous for a while. She didn't suppress her humanity too much, so she isn't going to forget who she is. You can still talk to her, but might I suggest lots of attention and kitten treats instead? She did this to escape, so let her." He gave us all a reprimanding look and walked off.

She stayed that way for almost a month.

I swear she was channeling her inner Loki, too. We often found "gifts" she had left us - dead mice, lost socks, cat toys in the most awkward spots. Then the infamous, scratching and yowling at the door when we were having intimate moments was a crowd not-so-favorite. Then one sunny day we heard her through the connection.

Can you all meet me in the gardens?

Soon we were all standing in the gardens trying to find her when the water in the fountain began to swirl and formed a vortex that she walked out of. Every single one of us hit our knees. I had never seen her look like this before. Her hair shone and her eyes flashed a brilliant purple, the darkness gone. The grass literally bloomed beneath her feet as she came closer.

"Mikri magissa," Silas croaked as his eyes filled with tears. She smiled at him and caressed his cheek.

"I owe all of you an apology as well as my thanks. I know I haven't been easy to deal with this past month, but for the most part, you all were wonderful once you realized I just needed a break." She sat on the grass and we did as well. "I guess when we all started this journey, I never stopped to think of where it would go and I definitely never considered that it would never end," she sighed. "I love all of you so much that sometimes it hurts. Our journey has been filled with love and hurt, but I wouldn't give up a moment of it. However, that being said, I need a change."

"What kind of a change, zhena?" Raven asked her.

She grinned, "I think we need to take a trip."

"Hold the fuck up," Gabe said, "The last time we took a trip all fucking hell broke loose - sorry Daniel, no offense."

He blushed, "None taken."

Queen giggled, "Hmmm...and here I was all prepared." She held up several small vials of the birth control potion Loki and Gabe had created years ago and winked. "Guess I won't be needing these after all."

"Well, let's not be rash," Victor said, clearing his throat. "I'm sure we can find someplace safe to travel. We all could use a vacation, right?"

I looked around as everyone began to agree, except Morpheus who had a blank expression and then appeared to zone back in. A wide grin slowly spread over his face as he whispered, "Oh this is going to be fun."

Author's Notes:  Thanks for coming on this second journey with me.  I'll be taking a break for a bit after I finish Little Broken Bird.  My life has taken some rather difficult turns and I am not sure what I'm doing or where I'm going right now.

Blessings my lovelies!