The Chronicles of Kerrigan Prequel Series Books #1-3: Paranormal Fantasy Romance Read online

  Afterwards, Beth slipped her hand in Simon’s, and somehow they were separated from Argyle and Hannah.

  He grinned and squeezed her hand, feeling less awkward holding Beth’s hand without Argyle right there underfoot. “You did that on purpose, didn’t you?”

  She blinked innocently. “I’ve no idea what you’re talking about.”

  They stood close, oblivious of the crowd around them as they watched the tree-lighting. Simon had to admit that he had never been one for the holidays or silly things like this, but he had never seen a tree look more spectacular. After the tree was lit and a few Christmas carols were sung, Beth pulled him along to start walking again.

  “Wow, you were right. The tree’s impressive!” Simon glanced back at the large tree, lit bright and twinkling.

  “I told you! Isn’t it majestic? They do it every year, and it lights up the whole area until they take it down on New Year’s Day.”

  They stood marveling at the tree as a choir began to sing Christmas carols beneath it. It was the most magical moment Simon had felt in a while and he didn’t want it to end. Overcome by a feeling he couldn’t quite describe, he pulled Beth closer to him and kissed her. For a moment, nothing existed beyond their lips, their frozen boots touching toe to toe and all the magic of Christmas that surrounded them.

  “I didn’t expect that, but I’m glad it happened.” Beth’s warm breath tickled his face.

  She sounded breathless, and Simon found he liked the fact that he had such an effect on her. Her blue eyes were sparkling as the lights from the tree shined against them, and he felt something that he had never felt before. His heart was almost racing out of his chest as he pulled her to him in another kiss and then let her go reluctantly. “Let’s go meet the others at the diner.”

  “I think we’d best, before we freeze out here with our lips stuck together.”

  They walked hand in hand to the diner, finding Argyle and Hannah already sitting and saving them two seats. Argyle waved when he spotted them. “We thought the two of you were going to stay out there and smooch all night.” He gave Simon a look that reminded him of Argyle’s father.

  Beth blushed at her brother’s statement. Simon glanced behind him and realized that, from where they were sitting, there was a clear view to the place they had embraced beside the Christmas tree. Picking up menu, Beth tried to hide her embarrassment behind it under the pretense of picking out food. Simon slipped his hand into hers under the table, and almost laughed out loud when she winked at him and squeezed his fingers. She wasn’t embarrassed at all, just playing the part.

  Beth didn’t care. He didn’t care either.

  After dinner, Argyle offered to walk Hannah home since her parents had left after the tree- lighting. The four of them walked part of the way together, and then split off in different directions as Argyle detoured toward Hannah’s house.

  Simon couldn’t wait to be alone with Beth. He like his mate, but Beth was far more interesting. “Argyle?” he called out.

  Argyle stopped and turned to look at them in the growing darkness.

  “We’ll wait for you in the barn.” The words were unspoken, but they would hole up in the barn until Argyle made it home so his parents didn’t know he had wandered off alone with a girl they didn’t know.

  “Sounds good.”

  Beth and Simon walked back together without talking. They kept their fingers entwined, but the cold sped their pace. Both seemed to have thoughts running through their heads. They slipped quietly around the house and into the large structure, curling up under the blankets to keep warm while they waited for Argyle.

  Simon found that, while he loved talking to Beth, there was now something he liked doing more – kissing her. Rather than wasting time with small talk, he pulled her into his arms for another kiss. Her lips were soft, and he liked the brash feel of her tongue against his. It was amazing.

  It could have been a moment or an hour; they had no concept of time. When he heard the barn doors creak open, he jumped back, terrified it might be Beth’s father.

  Thankfully, it was just Argyle coming in. It hadn’t taken him much longer to detour to Hannah’s house than it would if he had come straight home. Simon was sure it had only taken a moment. He sighed, disappointed not to have his lips still touching Beth’s. He glanced over at her, noticing her lips were slightly swollen. He wanted to kiss them even more now. He groaned. He’d never be able to sleep tonight. He was sure of it.

  “You two are going to have to break it up or I’ll have to hose you down, and that might result in being frozen together ‘cause of the freakin’ cold!”

  Beth laughed. “You’re just jealous you didn’t get to kiss Hannah like that.” She tossed the blankets on a stall and, with Simon behind her, followed Argyle out of the barn and around the house, making an entrance as if they were just coming in directly from town. Their dad was asleep in his chair as was usual this time of night and their mum was reading in a nearby chair.

  “Did the lot of you have fun?”

  “I’ll say. I think it just might have been the best one ever. I think I speak for every last one of us in saying that.” Argyle glanced at his sister and mate with a knowing look.

  Beth and Simon exchanged sheepish grins and nodded their heads in agreement.

  “Good to hear. Did you eat? There’s enough left from dinner if you didn’t get a chance.”

  “Nah, we’re good, Mum. I’m going to get ready and head to bed. I’ll see you in the morning for breakfast.” Argyle was already halfway up the stairs as he said the words.

  Simon had the feeling Argyle was headed up to chat with the fair-haired Hannah rather than bed. He and Beth said their goodnights as well, and headed up the stairs. At the top of the stairs, he stopped and boldly kissed Beth again. “Goodnight. Thanks for a memorable evening.”

  “Goodnight, Simon,” she whispered as her face flushed.

  She was beautiful. He loved the fact that he seemed to have the same effect on her as she did on him.

  Chapter 9

  The days passed, and Simon and Beth grew closer, sneaking off as much as possible to be alone. Often they would both go to Argyle’s room and cuddle up together on his bed while he played video games. It was all innocent other than kissing. Simon wasn’t even sure if Argyle noticed.

  As time to return to school grew near, Simon found himself dreading it. If he could, he would spend all his time here with Beth, but he knew that wasn’t in the cards for them. Of course, being separated might be the least of their troubles. He had to find out what kind of tatù he carried and how to use it. He planned on telling her all about it the minute they were alone together – after he had been inked.

  Sitting in the barn one evening after dinner, they curled together beneath the blanket as usual. Beth read to him from the book they had been sharing.

  She stopped suddenly and sighed in frustration. “I’m going to miss you so much when you leave.”

  He’d been dreading this conversation, knowing he felt the same way, probably even more so. “I know,” he said and stroked her cheek. “I’m going to miss you, too, Beth.”

  “Will you keep in touch from Guilder?”

  “Of course!” Come hell or high water, he was not going to forget her. That was impossible. “As long as your father won’t mind.” He didn’t want to make things difficult for her. If they had to keep it a secret, he had no problem with that.

  “Tah! My father’s going to have to just get over whatever his problem is with you. How he doesn’t see what I see is crazy!” She giggled and leaned in to kiss him quickly. “He’s going to be so mad when I tell him I’m not going to the ball with Hanson Muldrow.”

  “You don’t have to do that, Beth. Not on my account.” He said the words but didn’t mean them.

  “I’m not doing it on your account, silly. I don’t want to go out with the likes of him.” She stared at him longingly. “I wish you could come back and go with me.”

  If there wa
s even a remote chance of getting away, he’d have told her. He had run the scenario of surprising her at the dance a hundred times. He didn’t have the money, a car, or a place to stay that would make it work.

  “Maybe I just won’t go.”

  “You should go! It’d be a shame not to wear that blue dress you bought. You looked like absolute perfection in it.”

  Her face lit up at the compliment. “Then I’m going to wear it. And send you pictures! I’ll go to the dance, but not with Hanson. There are a group of girls going stag and I’ll just go with them instead.”

  “It’ll be fun. I really wish I could come.” If he could stay here with her forever instead of going back to school, back home, back anywhere, he would. Beth was perfect for him.

  “We’ll just have to make do until we can find a way to see one another again. If nothing else we can write, and maybe you can come home with Argyle for spring break. That’s only a few months away.”

  And I’ll be inked by then.

  “Seems like forever to me.”

  “I know, but it isn’t. The important thing is that we just don’t lose one another. We are meant to be together.”

  “We are.” She stared at him with such adoration it nearly took his breath away.

  Simon ran his fingers through her dark hair, twirling it around one as he pulled her close to him and kissed her. Her lips were so soft and warm. It was the most heavenly thing he could imagine. He never wanted to let her go.

  “What the hell’s going on here?!”

  The sound of her father’s angry voice echoed loudly through the barn as they both jumped apart.

  Simon scrambled to his feet and stood in front of him. “We’ve done nothing wrong, sir.” But Beth’s father had made himself clear they were not to be together, so that, alone, was condemning. Simon straightened, prepared for the worst.

  “Simon’s right. We were just reading together.” Beth’s protest was weak by anyone’s standards, but the look on her face was pure defiance.

  “Reading together underneath a blanket? How could you think that is even to be considered proper behavior? Plus, I don’t believe you are required to have your lips on one another in order to read these days.”

  “There was nothing improper about any of it.”

  “There was everything improper about it, young lady! This boy is not someone you should be associating with.”

  “Why not?” The glare on Beth’s face matched the anger of her father’s. Her hand went to her hips. “What do you have against Simon? You can’t say it’s Guilder, when your own son attends there, as well. So, what is it?”

  “None of your concern!” Her father looked like a bull ready to charge. “He is not right for you. Get into the house, Beth.”

  “I will not be sent away like a child!”

  “You are a child! You know nothing! Nothing at all! Now go!” He glared at Simon, as if Beth’s defiance had come from him.

  “Please go, Beth,” Simon said quietly. He was not afraid of her father, but he didn’t want find out what kind of tatù the man had first-hand. He glanced at the burly man’s arm covered by his sweater. Simon couldn’t see the ink, and had never asked Argyle about his ability. Damnit!

  Beth stomped her foot, and glared angrily at her father before running out of the barn and slamming the large double door behind her.

  Simon’s blood turned cold as he watched her leave and turned back to her father, trying to hide his fear of what the man’s tatù might do to him.

  “You! What did I tell you about my daughter? I knew I should not have let Argyle bring you here.”

  “Apologies, sir. I didn’t mean to defy you. It just happened. It’s all innocent. I’ve done nothing untoward with Beth.”

  “Being near my daughter is unacceptable. I’ll not have the likes of you getting attached to my daughter. You’ll only break her heart, or worse. Have you no sense of what you’re becoming? What it would mean for someone like her when she’s left behind?”

  “I’ve no intention of leaving her behind or hurting her in any way. Why can’t she know?”

  “What the hell?” he roared. “You’ve not even considered what you’re doing.” His shoulders shook with rage. He began to pace. “You’re out! You leave tomorrow morning. I’ll drive you to the station myself.”

  “Fine.” His heart ached. At least he’d get to say goodbye to Beth. They’d figure out a way to make this work. He wasn’t scared of secrets. He’d been living one his entire life.

  Beth’s father wasn’t finished. He spun around and marched toward Simon, stopping just mere inches from him. He tapped Simon on the chest. “You’re going back to school, where I should have told Argyle to leave you when he asked about you coming here. I want you as far away from Beth as possible. You’ll never see Beth again.”

  The innocent man inside Simon broke. Before he could stop himself, he burst out, “You’re being unfair! I care about Beth! I love her!”

  “Love? You don’t know what love is!” he scoffed. “You’re being unfair to my daughter. Every moment you give her any kind of hope that the two of you can have any kind of life together is a joke! Grow up, you fool!” His laugh echoed hollowly through the barn. “She doesn’t even know what you are, but, make no mistake, I know who you are. Over my dead body will she be with you.”

  Simon had nothing to say. He couldn’t believe the man in front of him.

  “She will go to the ball with Hanson Muldrow come January. You will not be the one I allow to be with my only daughter. EVER.” He turned to leave, and spun around again. As he spoke, spittle hit Simon in the face, “You’re an abomination!”

  Simon stared at the man looming over him. His fingers clenched into fists, and he debated for a split second about hauling back and hitting the older man in the face. He knew that it might give him momentary satisfaction until the large, strong man returned the punch. Then he’d be most likely on the floor, out like a light. “You have no idea what I am.” He glared, matching the anger in the older man’s eyes. What could he know about me?

  Simon stormed out of the barn and into the house, not bothering to take his coat off as he ran up the stairs and into the guest room. He grabbed the pillow off his bed and began punching it as hard as he could. How could he fight Beth’s father? Now he had to leave tomorrow. It was late, and if he tried to go down the hall, he was sure the dickhead downstairs would come marching up now and drag him to the train station and let him sleep there for the night.

  He threw the pillow across the room and began chucking his clothes into his bag. He wouldn’t even get the chance to tell Beth he was in love with her, which he had planned to do before her idiot father stormed in.

  A knock on his door stopped his actions. He rushed to it and swung it open, hoping it was her.

  Argyle, pale and distraught, scurried into the room and closed the door behind him. “What the heck just happened? My father’s furious. Even my mother’s arguing with him. Beth’s in her room, in tears. I can hear her crying from the hallway.”

  She was crying? His heart ached to run down the hall and hold her. Simon gritted his teeth, barking as he told Argyle, “He found me in the barn with Beth.”

  “Doing what?” Argyle whispered.

  “Nothing! We were just curled beneath the blanket and she was reading, then I kissed her. He walked in and saw us. Who knows how long the bloody monster was in the barn – probably watching and just waiting to pounce.” He shoved his hands into his pockets. “He was so ticked, and sent her to the house. He’s taking me to the train station first thing in the morning. I highly doubt I’ll be able to change his mind.”

  Argyle shook his head. “He told Mum you’re never allowed in this house again. I thought it might be something terribly worse, like… you know.” His eyebrows rose as he hinted at what he couldn’t say. “I knew he didn’t want you with her because you’ll be getting a tatù, but it’s just an innocent winter romance. He really needs to get a grip. Honestly, I do
n’t know what is in his craw. I’ve never seen him so mad in my life.”

  “There’s something more.”

  “What?”

  “I don’t know. He’s just mad about something… like it has to do with me, but doesn’t have anything to do with me. He’s just like the Privy Council, with their archaic thinking. He’s not going to let me talk to her.”

  “Maybe he’ll change his mind in the morning.” Argyle’s face clearly showed the disbelief in his statement.

  “He’s not going to change his mind.” Simon moved to the desk in the room and pulled a piece of lined paper out of a stack and grabbed a pen. “If I write her a note, can you slip it to her? I can’t leave here without at least saying something to her, and your dad isn’t going to let me get anywhere near her.”

  “I don’t know, Simon. If I get busted helping you, I’m a dead man.”

  “Come on, Argyle. You have to help me. It’s important.”

  “Okay. Okay.” Argyle let out a shaky sigh; he hated going against his elders’ wishes. “You know I will. I’ll give it to her tomorrow after you leave, when he’s—when he’s not here. He’ll tell Mum to watch her, but she won’t. She thinks his overprotectiveness is ridiculous, and I think she sees through the Muldrow boys more than she lets on… wouldn’t surprise me if she puts the kibosh on that whole winter ball thing with Hanson.”

  “She won’t have to. Beth has already said she isn’t going with him. She mentioned going with a group of girls. Anyway, thanks. I’m sorry I ruined your holiday. I didn’t mean to come here and stir things up.” He dropped into the desk chair. “Let me get it written. Can you sit in here for a bit, or are you forbidden to see me too?”

  “No, I’m fine. Fat lot of good that would do when I’ll be back at school with you in a couple of days. Write yer note already.” He began to pace. “What a stinking mess this all is.”

  Simon nodded and sat down at the desk, writing out a note for Beth that felt like it was taking him forever. When he was done, he folded it up and handed it to Argyle. He didn’t even bother to tell him not to read it, as he knew his friend wouldn’t. That just wasn’t his way.