Free The House by Emma Faragher Page B

every opportunity to
take the mick out of each other.
    I kept telling
myself that all we needed with Eddie was time. Everyone who came to
us became part of our little family eventually. Yet, there was
something different, something wrong about him, and I didn’t like
it. I was glad I wasn’t the only one who saw it though. Marie likes
to see the best in people, the potential. I wasn’t really sure
Eddie had much of either.
    “Of course
he’s trouble but have you ever met a shifter who isn’t?” I said
calmly. There was no point in voicing my fears aloud when anyone
might just walk past and hear us. And I was more worried Marie
would hear us than Eddie. He could just stick it if he didn’t like
what we had to say but I cared about Marie, so I cared what she
thought of me. It helped me to make halfway sensible decisions
sometimes.
    “Marie,”
Hercules replied.
    “Marie is the
gentlest person I know, and she’ll take in any strays that find
their way here. But she’s like a mother cat; there’s nothing she
won’t do for her children,” I told him.
    “But she
doesn’t have any children,” Hercules said before he’d even had time
to think. I gave him a look and he smiled, finally. “Us … she
thinks of us as her children because she can’t have any of her own.
But … I mean you and Stripes aren’t trouble either.”
    I raised my
eyebrows. “You never met Stripes when she first got here and nobody
that powerful can ever not be trouble.” He looked at me. “The same
goes for me; we may not be able to take out five vampyre by
ourselves but, trust me, either of us would trounce you,” I
laughed. Sometimes the boys got a bit too big for their boots. They
were used to being the biggest fish in the pond and most of them
found it hard to accept that a woman could be stronger than
them.
    As normal
humans that had basically been true but shifters’ strength depended
more on power than gender. In fact, most female shifters are
stronger. We have to be because the initial changes are so
difficult; both physically and mentally demanding. That, and I was
a true-born shifter. I would be stronger and faster than all but
the very best of the turned without even trying. Hercules just
wasn’t that good. I probably wouldn’t have said the same to James
though. He just radiated confidence and grace in a way that seemed
like it would transfer well to violence. Controlled violence at
that.
    “I’d like to
see you try,” Hercules smiled.
    “Alright …
when and where do you want me to beat the crap out of you?” I felt
a smile turn the corners of my mouth as well - nothing like a good
fight to take your mind off a moody newcomer. Even if it does come
with some inherent risks attached. I realised that if I wanted to
avoid Eddie I would keep having to come up with ever more inventive
things to keep me occupied, but at that moment I didn’t care. The
shopping trip had distracted me until we got home, maybe a fight
would distract me until the bruises faded.
    “Ooh, you have
to do it properly,” Stripes put in. I’d forgotten her and James
were there as they were so wrapped up in each other. “James can
officiate and we can set it up in the garden.” She smiled
expectantly at James who shook his head but said he was in. Nobody
mentioned Marie or Eddie. Hercules and Stripes both started calling
shifters from town. I suddenly regretted making the challenge. If
he beat me I’d never hear the end of it, from him or anyone else.
If I beat him nobody would say anything. I was true-born. It was
expected.
    Of course,
before we could do anything else Marie got wind of it. Not that it
would have been particularly hard for her since we were all
standing outside debating where to put the ring. We’d started
staking out the circle when Marie wandered up. She didn’t even ask
what we were doing, it was too obvious. There had been some fights
that Marie had practically organised herself. It was a good way to
let off steam.
    I