Blackthorn

by J.T. Geissinger

Maybe that’s how the Blackthorn women have survived through the years. Not by selling teas and tinctures to the townsfolk, but by selling Croft Pharmaceuticals their male offspring.

“I’ll tell you what. You admit Bea’s mine, and I’ll admit what’s in the basement.” When I remain silent, he smiles again. “Didn’t think so. But just to show good faith, I’ll tell you. Wolfhounds.” “Wolfhounds,” I repeat doubtfully. “Yes. They’re excellent guard dogs.”

“I want to ask you a favor.” “You’re in no position to be doing that.” “It’s not just for me. It’s for us both.” He lifts his gaze to mine again, and now his eyes are tortured. “I want you to stay away from me, Maven. I want you to promise you’ll stay away.” That’s so unexpected, I forget to be suspicious of him. “Why?” He looks at my face as if it’s the last time he’ll ever see it, then says gruffly, “Because I’m not strong enough to stay away from you.”

“If I told you I’ve been in love with you for as long as I can remember, would you believe me?” “No.” “Then anything else I could say would be meaningless. Go home, Maven. Leave Solstice, and take Bea with you.”

“It doesn’t have a name. Medical literature has no comparable cases. We can’t find any instances of it outside our family. We believe it’s a genetic mutation, but we can’t pinpoint it on our DNA.”

“The first time we spoke after you came home, you said you hated me. Is that still true?” Breathing shallowly, I hesitate before shaking my head. “Say it out loud. I want to hear you say it.” Something about the dark, intense tone of his voice makes me tremble. Not from fear, inconveniently. I whisper, “It’s not true. I don’t hate you. I wish I could, but I don’t. I never have.”

“I’ll give you three days. Leave Solstice before sunset three days from now, and I’ll let you both go. You have my word I won’t try to stop you, and I won’t follow you. It will be the end.” His gaze drills into mine. His voice drops to a growl. “But if you’re still here, I’ll consider it your tacit acceptance that you’re mine, and I’ll never let you go. Not even if you beg me to. And you will, Maven. Once you know everything, you’ll beg to be set free. But it will be too late. Once I claim you, you’re mine forever.” His eyes are dark and endless as he repeats my words. “Not even God can keep you safe from me.” He kisses me again, this time hard, his lips bruising mine, then breaks away abruptly and pushes past me, striding toward the staircase without looking back.

“You know what I think?” “No, but I’m sure it will be groundbreaking.” “That damn smart mouth. What I was going to say is that I think this is another excuse to call me.” “Wait, let me rewind this call so I can play your melodramatic sigh back to you.”

“You’re nervous,” I note, watching him. He pushes his glasses up his nose and laughs. “I forgot how intimidating you are one-on-one.” “Ezra, this is just my face. I can’t help that it scares people.” It doesn’t scare Ronan one bit, but I’m not thinking about him. “It’s not that you’re scary, just intense.” When I lift an eyebrow, he admits, “Okay, you’re scary, too. But in a good way. It keeps people on their toes.”

“Ezra, are you okay?” “Yes.” I step into the alley, avoiding the slimy river of black water snaking down the middle of the cobblestones, and meet him by the dumpster. I’m half expecting someone with a mask and gun to leap out of it and drag me into a nearby van because that’s the kind of month I’m having. Instead, Ezra smooths his hands down the lapels of his blazer, shifts his weight from foot to foot, takes a breath, then blurts, “I think we should get married.” Oh Lord. I honestly would have preferred the kidnapping.

I cannot believe this. The first time I get a marriage proposal, it’s in a dark alley in front of a stinking mound of trash by a drunk scientist who had to run the numbers first.

“I know how independent you are, but Bea needs a father. And, if I may be so bold, you’re not getting any younger.” “I’m not even thirty!” “Yet your fertility has already precipitously declined. Ninety percent of your eggs are already gone. In a few short years, you’ll be barren.” “Who said anything about having babies, for fuck’s sake?” Surprised, he blinks. “Isn’t that what every woman wants?” I’m beginning to wonder what his relationship with his mother is like. “No, we want love and respect and a partner who isn’t a complete asshole. And even that seems to be asking too much.” He examines my expression for a beat before saying, “Are you menstruating? You seem awfully emotional.” Glowering at him, I snap, “Ezra, please be careful. Your nose is still straight. It might not be much longer.” He pulls up short and gazes at me with that pitying look again. “Here’s my final point. Do you really think you could ever find anyone better than me?” That stings. It was meant to. He takes obvious pleasure in the pained look on my face. The corners of his mouth turn up into a cruel smile. Then his gaze shifts to a point over my head, and his smile dies a quick death. He stiffens. His face turns white. His mouth contorts, and he emits a small, choked scream. Stumbling backward, he trips and falls flat on his ass. Quickly scrambling to his feet, he sprints away down the street, never looking back. Heart thudding, I turn and peer over my shoulder. There’s nothing there. The alleyway is ...

If he ever disrespects you like that again, I’ll cut out his tongue.

Who? What are you talking about? The phone rings. “Hello?” Ronan growls, “I’m in no mood for games. You fucking know who. That squeaky little shit is lucky I didn’t put a bullet in his head for the way he spoke to you.” His voice is all gravel, incredibly sexy despite the obvious anger. I can’t tell if it’s the protectiveness he’s displaying or that rough tone that’s turning me on, but apparently red flags are my love language because I’m flushed from head to toe. “You followed me?” He snaps, “I protect what’s mine.” “That makes no sense, considering you told me to leave town.” “Do you really think that’s what I fucking want?” “Then why’d you say it?”

“Don’t test my patience, woman,” he says through gritted teeth. “Not tonight.” “What’s so different about tonight?” “You know exactly what’s different.” “The only thing I can think of is that I went on a date. Could that be it?” Here comes that dangerous rumble again, sending shivers along my nerve endings. “Careful, Maven. If you keep it up, that smartass tone will backfire on you.” “Meaning what? You’ll come over here and give me a spanking?” In the following pause, I hear him breathing raggedly. I imagine him gripping the phone so hard, it cracks in half. His voice deadly soft, he says, “Oh, I’ll give you something much more than that,” then disconnects.

“I’d burn it all down for you, Maven.” Trembling, I whisper, “Burn what down?” “Everything. My whole life. This whole town. The entire fucking world if you asked me to. If you said you were mine and meant it, I’d light a match under anything that would keep us apart, then plant our fucking flag in the ashes.”

“Are you in love with Wonder Woman?” A sound of displeasure rumbles through his chest. “You know I’m not. You know what that was about.” “I want you to say it out loud.” He swallows. The hand he fisted in my hair shakes. His voice low and hoarse, he says, “It’s you. It’s always been you. Anyone else could only ever be a placeholder. How do you not fucking know that?” My heart singing at his words, I say, “Probably because you’ve been so busy being awful to me.” “Forgive me.” “Say please.” “Please.” I study his handsome face, so dear to me and also so goddamn annoying, and exhale a breath I’ve been holding for years. “I forgive you. I forgive it all. Now, please tell me you forgive me, too, because I’ve been a bitch on wheels to you.” “There’s nothing to forgive. I deserved it. I deserved everything.” I think about that for a moment, then smile. “You really did. Are you going to kiss me again, or are we just going to stand here talking?”

“What’s wrong? Why are you stopping?” His face contorted, he says gruffly, “I’m not who you think I am.” Whatever this sudden crisis of conscience is, I’m not having it. Taking his face in my hands, I stare into his eyes. “I know exactly who you are, Ronan. You’re mine. And I’m yours. And that’s it. Got it?” Lips parted and eyes shining, he stares at me in stunned silence. “Do you really mean that?” “Yes. I claim you, devil man. And you claimed me a long time ago. We belong to each other. Nothing else matters.” Looking dazed, he murmurs reverently, “Nothing else matters.” He flexes his hips slightly, so the crown of his cock parts my pussy lips. But it’s not nearly enough. I need more. I need all of him. I kiss his mouth, his chin, his cheeks, then wind my legs around his waist and hook my ankles together. Staring into his eyes, I whisper, “Nothing else matters. Now fuck me. Take what’s yours.”

This is when I realize I’m dressed in pajamas, not the robe I had on last night when I went downstairs for the whiskey I never ended up getting because I went into the greenhouse to have my pussy wrecked by a Ronan-shaped monster. I have no idea when reality ended yesterday and the smut version of Alice in Wonderland began.

Better the devil you know than the one you don’t.

“You wouldn’t believe everything that’s been going on. I can’t wait to catch you up to speed, but first please tell me there’s been a terrible misunderstanding, and I haven’t been fired.” The silence on the other end of the line is cavernous. Then Luce says, “You must have the wrong number.” A feeling of cold dread crackles over my skin, like ice forming on still water. Nervously licking my lips, I say, “Luce, it’s me. May.” “I don’t know a May.” My voice rises. “May Blackthorn. The head of the Entomology Department. The lepidoptera curator. I’ve worked for you for five years!” Her voice is tight with irritation. “The head of our Entomology Department is Oliver Underwood. I don’t know anyone named May Blackthorn. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have to get back to work.” She disconnects without giving me a chance to argue with her that she’s wrong, she knows me well, she hired me right out of college as an assistant and promoted me four times until finally I was in charge of the entire department, the youngest person ever to hold the title. Or … was I? Was I ever really there at all?

“Tell me you’re all right.” I close my eyes to stop the lazy tilting whirl of the room. “You remember me?” “What? What the hell does that mean?” “Never mind. It’s nothing.” “It’s not nothing,” he growls impatiently. “I can tell when you’re upset. You sound strange, and you haven’t been answering my calls. You were supposed to come over to see me, but you never showed. Tell me what’s happened.” “You wouldn’t believe it.” “You might be surprised.” I laugh, but it’s the deranged laugh again, the one where I sound like I should be institutionalized. “I don’t know that anything could surprise me anymore, Ronan. Really and truly, I think I’ve lost all credulity. In fact, if you’d like to tell me you’re some kind of ancient fire demon who speaks Latin, has an ass fetish, and fucks like a—well, like a demon, I’m all ears!” There’s a strange beat of silence, then he says tightly, “You need to get out of that house.” “As a matter of fact, I did get out of the house. I took a nice little walk in the woods earlier, and before that, I went to church. Church of all things! Me! I can’t believe I didn’t go up in a poof of black smoke when the shadow of the cross fell on me!” I don’t know if it’s my zany cackle or the unhinged tone of my voice, but he can tell I’m completely losing it. “I’m coming over there to get you and Bea.” “Wait—let me ask you something. Did you lend me twenty grand?” “Yes. Why are you asking?” “Just checking to see how much of my brain has been eaten by rot.” “Maven...

“I’m sorry for everything, Ronan. But mostly I’m sorry I never told you I loved you. Because I always have. I still do. And I always will. If I never see you again, just know that I’ve loved you my whole life. There’s never been anyone else for me but you.” Strangled with emotion, his voice breaks over my name. “Maven. I love you, too, baby. So much. So fucking much.” Hearing him say those words pierces my heart. Then the plaintive wail of a child crying somewhere deep in the house refocuses my attention. Bea. “I’m coming to get you, baby. I’m coming for both of you right now—” Ronan is still talking when I disconnect the call. I’m about to run from the room when I glimpse the shadow.

“Now, I’m sure you have questions. We can’t get to them all tonight, of course, but where would you like me to start?” She examines my tortured eyes for a moment, then nods. “Bea. Yes, of course. She’s perfectly fine, darling. Tucked into her bed, sleeping like a baby. Brewed her a cup of my special tea. She’ll be out for hours. Such a lovely child. You’ve done a wonderful job with her. Though I must admit, I was hurt to discover you lied about her age. She’s so small, it makes sense she might pass as nine instead of eleven, but I had my suspicions. A simple revelare aetatem spell gave me the truth. I never thought that one would come in handy, but I’m pleased to say it did.” Her green eyes harden with anger. “I was even more hurt that you lied about her paternity. A Croft, of all things.” She retches as if she’s about to vomit, then smiles. “But we’ll let bygones be bygones, because the mating of a witch and a demon produces a child of incredible power. When Bea comes of age, she’ll be the most gifted witch our line has seen since Megaera.”

“Yes, I can see you have questions about her, too. She was the one who cast the original curse on the Crofts, you know. Once a month for seven days straight, all the males in that family turn into monsters at night. Demons, werewolves, every type of goblin and ghoul. Even a giant, carnivorous plant in one case! Brilliant how she made the curse mimic a woman’s cycle. Personally, I think she should’ve gone further and made it happen every single night in retaliation for what they did to her, but that’s just me.” She chuckles. “It’s hilarious how they’re still trying to find a cure, but there isn’t one. No matter how many experiments they run on animals that have evolved to transform their shape or manipulate their environments for survival, the Croft bloodline is cursed for good.” She pauses to thoughtfully dab more blood on the pulse point in the hollow of my throat. “Which brings me to your mother. She’d gone to the Crofts’ church to try to break Megaera’s spell. She was always too softhearted, poor darling. Righting a wrong, she called it. Though I must admit, she was clever enough to try at midnight on a full moon on the winter equinox, because that confluence packs a powerful magical punch, but a caster’s final spell before death can’t be reversed.” She chuckles. “Like the one Mother cast on Elijah Croft. For the rest of his days, anywhere on Earth that man goes, he’ll be attacked by ravens. Petty but poetic.”

Under the voices and the drums, I hear someone calling my name. It’s very distant, very faint, but I hear it, and my pulse surges. I’d know that voice anywhere, even in the inky blackness at the bottom of the sea. You never forget your first love.

“So, are you and May…?” “She’s going to be my wife,” I say bluntly. “You have a problem with that?” “No.” I nod, satisfied by the sincerity of his answer. Because father or not, anyone who has one negative fucking word to say about Maven and me will regret it.

“Do you need anything? How are you feeling? What can I get you?” A ghost of a smile lifts the corners of her mouth. She murmurs, “Stop fussing. You’ll spoil me.” “That’s the plan.” I don’t tell her that the plan also includes an immediate change of her home address to mine, a fat-ass diamond ring on her left ring finger, and a speedy walk down the aisle at our wedding, because I don’t want to overwhelm her. But she and I are going to end that whole Blackthorns-don’t-marry bullshit once and for all. I know she’ll object, but I’ll wear her down. Making this woman my wife and being a good father to Bea is my new life’s mission. Frowning at me, she says, “Why do you look so smug?” Pressing the smile from my lips, I reply, “I told you, baby. That’s just my default setting.” Then I lean over and claim her mouth before she can agree. The kiss is sweet and lingering. When it’s over, I whisper vehemently against her lips, “I love you, Maven. I love you. Nothing will ever come between us again.” Her laugh is soft and husky. “Why does that sound like a threat?” “It’s a promise. It’s a vow. From this moment on, we’re a family. It’s you, me, and Bea, and that’s it. Nobody can break us apart. Nothing can separate us. Anybody who so much as inconveniences either of you will have to answer to me. And God fucking help them, because I’ll tear them limb from limb and pile their bodies at your feet.” She stares at me a moment, her eyes welling, then blows out a breath. “You’re unhinged.” That...