Page 10
Story: 40 Ways to Watch Me Die
Like the scientist Rasmus was, he turned and studied Ben like he was a new bug he’d recently discovered. “With a sample of blood, I could easily determine which sentient creatures were used to create Colonel Benson. Have you ever been genetically tested in this form, Colonel? If so, do the records still exist?”
Felicity Benson turned her glare on Rasmus. “My husband is not your science experiment. He is a cursed man.”
“Or a very blessed one,” I countered lightly, trying my best to sound as rational as possible. “It’s all about what Ben does when he’s in this form. He’s been nothing but rational with us so far.”
Felicity rolled her eyes at me. “You are as bad as those who did this to him. They created a monster to use for their purposes, and my husband was smart to keep their success from them. Benjamin does not wish to be a freak of nature.”
I smiled back at her. “I’ve seen a lot of monsters, Mrs. Benson. Your husband is not one in either of his forms. His monster side could be an asset to him. Instead of hiding from his beast, maybe Ben needs to learn to master it. I hate to say this, but Ezra—the betraying fairy—was right about that.”
Felicity shook her head. “No. My husband has retired from that madness.” She pulled a necklace from her ample cleavage. “Here, Benjamin. Stop acting like some Goddess-forsaken beast and put this on.”
His swift obedience was the most amazing thing to watch.
Ben bent his enormous form in half when she motioned him down to her level. She slipped the necklace over his giant head. The leather strips got hung up on one fang. Mumbling under her breath, she patiently undid the tangle before slapping hismassive gorilla shoulders. The most impressive part was that the force of her push shoved Ben back a few steps.
“Now stand still while I perform the spell,” she ordered.
Then she chanted and moved her hands around, forming an energy ball between her palms. Chanting louder and louder, she raised her voice, barked out a loud magickal command, and slapped the energy ball against the new talisman.
The energy ball pulsed like a heartbeat, and then the talisman sucked it in.
Ben’s giant form pulsed as well, and then his beast was simply... gone.
He’d reverted into a human so fast I couldn’t recall seeing him transform. Where once a twelve-foot monster stood, a completely naked Ben now stared at his wife, looking equally relieved and confused.
I covered my mouth to hide my smile. I hated to be the one to tell Felicity Benson, but Ben’s body looked nowhere near retirement. The man had muscles on muscles all over. That didn’t just happen because of his inner creature. Ben obviously kept himself in prime condition. While Felicity might have been one reason he did that, Aran would bet she wasn’t the only reason.
I gazed at Ben in all his masculine glory and wished with my whole being that Mulan had been out here to also appreciate the sight. We could have talked about his astoundingly nude body for days.
Rasmus bent to whisper in my ear. “I consider that amusement in your eyes to be highly suspicious. Are you lusting for your boss?”
I turned to the man wearing a shirt that exactly matched mine. Despite his ability to read my thoughts whenever he wanted, it would be mean of me not to explain the nuances.
“Ben has sculpted his body into a piece of art. A woman would have to be dead not to feel admiration for his physical beauty. Haven’t ya admired women other than me?”
“Yes,” Rasmus admitted easily, “but I was never tempted to do more than look. My lust for you is for much more than your body. I crave all of you.”
I smiled because he truly understood... for once. “Good. I feel the same about ya. I’m quite sure it’s the same for Mulan as well. It’s very human to look and admire, but most of us tend to be loyal to our chosen mates. It creates a serious lack-of-trust issue when ya do more than look.”
“Well, I strive to blend in with your species. It’s good to hear I’m succeeding with my fidelity to you.” Rasmus smiled at me. “I greatly enjoy being called your mate. Is that the term you wish us to use?”
This was one of those times that I wished I hadn’t asked for the real guardian back. I had called him my chosen mate, and he’d referred to me as one of a species. Words mattered so much more than most males ever got around to realizing.
My disappointed sigh was loud.
Felicity Benson chose that moment to step fully into her husband. Her voluptuous body blocked most of him from my view, which I decided was a shame but quite understandable. I would have done the same in her place.
“I made an extra charm long ago in case you broke the first one,” she told him. “It shocked me when I felt someone tear the other one off you. Since I didn’t want anyone studying it, I spelled the old charm to turn to dust. Let them study its ashes if they wish. They will learn nothing from inanimate bits of clay.”
“So his talisman stays linked to your magickal spell?” I asked.
Her nod was curt. She didn’t trust me with complete answers, and I didn’t blame her. I dealt with this every time Zara questioned me.
I wouldn’t have been any more comfortable explaining my magic to Ben’s witch wife. But already I respected the woman’s power.
More—I respected what her magick had allowed her to do to help Ben. What she did with the talisman was fascinating. In a way, it would have been good if Zara had been present. My instincts were singing about Ben’s talisman.
Zara combined the magic of an ancient civilization with a transmutation spell that the gods of my people had once used to create wolf shifters. What if the female guardian could program the reverse of those spells into a talisman the demon wolf women could wear and use?
Table of Contents
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