Wild Things (BBW Paranormal Shifter Romance): Shifter Lovers Romance Read Online Free Page B

yes...it was a very happy wedding
night.”
    “I
want that. I want to blush when I’m older, and when I tell the story of my
wedding night.” She turned around, sat back, arms folded across her breasts,
and tried to fight back a pout. But she lost and her lower lip curled. “How can
I do that when my first meeting with the Ottway was so horrible?” For an
instant she thought of telling Anacelia about Gabriel. Anacelia would keep
their secret. Her pout disappeared.
    Anacelia
rested her hands on Senna’s shoulders. “My child, I cannot tell you the answer
to that. You are from different world than I am. You have a greater
responsibility...”
    “I
don’t want this responsibility! I don’t want to be the pawn that’s shuttled
back and forth, the chess piece that’s supposed to make peace between this
realm and the Ottway’s. I don’t want that to be my legacy.”
    Anacelia
leaned down, rested her cheek against Senna’s. In the mirror she could see the
sadness in Anacelia’s eyes. She also saw, as if for the first time, the lines
around her eyes, the gray that streaked her hair. It struck her that there were
precious few days left to spend with the woman.
    “I
am sorry, Senna. I am. But we are cast in our lots, in this life. And there is
nothing we can do about it, but keep our chin up, and make the best of what we
have.”
    From
the other room, the whistle on the steam heater sputtered to life, rising in
pitch until it was singing loudly. Anacelia kissed the top of Senna’s head,
then quickly bound Senna’s hair in a knot.
    “I’ll
draw your bath, and you can soak. Maybe it will take your mind off the Ottway.
You don’t see him again for many weeks?” Anacelia disappeared into the
bathroom, her question lost in the whistling. The sound cut off abruptly,
replaced by the sound of running water.
    “Days,
in truth. He has moved the wedding up…I am to go back a week from now. The
wedding is two days later.”
    Anacelia
appeared in the doorway, her brow creased. “Oh, Senna. That’s too soon. Even
for an arrangement like this.”
    Senna
walked into the bathroom. “Too soon...the end of my life would be too soon.”
    The
carved marble bath was full, steam rising gently. Anacelia reached into a
carved jar, and sprinkled a handful of herbs across the surface of the water.
The scent of lavender and chamomile filled the room, with something else that
Senna didn’t know the name of. Anacelia brought it from her home garden, mixing
it with the rest of the herbs.
    “Take
your bath. We’ll think no more about the Ottway or marriage tonight. I’ll come
back when you’re finished and see you to sleep.”
    “No,
go back to your quarters, to your husband. I’ll take care of myself. I want to
be alone with my thoughts, and then go to sleep.”
    “As
you wish. I’ll turn down your bed.” She kissed Senna on the cheek, standing on
tiptoes to do so. “And I’ll take the silks to be mended. It’s no fault of
theirs they are inferior.”
    “Only
the man who chose them.”
    “And
I’ll send up your dinner.”
    She
made a face but Anacelia waved her hand in that way she’d been doing since
Senna was little, brushing aside whatever face Senna made or the objections she
came up with for not doing what she was supposed to do.
    “Just
cold foods. You can pick at it, after your bath. And some wine. It will help
you sleep.”
    Anacelia
smiled, and bowed, closing the door behind her. Senna slipped out of the white
silk, draping the garment over a chair. Beside that was another silk gown, this
one deep midnight blue, left for her by Anacelia. She smiled and fingered the
fabric. She wanted to plead to her father, to take Anacelia with her to the
Ottway’s palace. But then she knew she couldn’t. Anacelia would never leave her
family, and Senna would never ask her to, even if the Ottway would let her
bring her own servants.
    It
was better to just soak in the bath. She’d think about this tomorrow. Or the
next day. Or