Loving Lies by Julie Kavanagh Page B

Wiccan, meet Nicodemus,” the man said as a flash of white light flickered around the room, surrounding the black cat, twisting and changing its shape until a tall, slim dark-skinned man stood in its place.
    “Nicodemus…? That’s Fluffy,” Willow gasped, staring at the naked young man until he reached forward to snatch a pretty pink cushion from the sofa.
    “Hello Willow,” the naked man grinned, white teeth flashing, the cushion now concealing his masculine parts from her eyes.
    “You’re Fluffy,” Willow stammered, staring at the man who stood where Fluffy had been sitting.
    “Only in cat form,” the young man smiled again. “You can call me Nico.”
    “But you’re a cat,” Willow muttered, “and you sleep with me!”
    “On your bed, outside of the covers, no skin touching,” Nico was quick to state, his eyes warily watching the expression of the other man.
    “Find some clothes to put on,” the stranger’s eyes had turned hard, his voice cold and Willow wondered at the sudden drop in temperature in the room. It was early August; the day had been pleasant enough, should it really be mid-winter in here? Nico’s smile melted faster than an ice cream in a heat wave and, with a click of his fingers, Fluffy returned. “Shoo, cat, out you go.” The stranger moved menacingly toward the animal, his hands waving in the air urging the black cat toward the plastic cat-door in the bottom of the front door.
    “That was Fluffy, my cat,” Willow slumped on the edge of the sofa, her eyes wide and her mouth gaping open. “I don’t understand…” She didn’t understand, not a thing and the trailing off of her voice betrayed her addled thoughts.
    “Nicodemus is a shape-shifter. Obviously, someone believed you important enough to assign him to ensure your well-being,” the man’s voice was cool, offering a peace she’d felt she should recognise. Again there was that feeling that this man was very important to her heart and her soul but she didn’t know why.
    He sat down next to her, their knees touching and his hands resting on the top of his long thighs as she looked up into his eyes. But he masked any emotion, hiding what he was thinking, what he was feeling from her. It was a habit of his; he didn’t trust many people and he didn’t trust her, but she didn’t know how she knew it except that was truth in her heart. She sat studying him and, although he was uneasy beneath her scrutiny, he sat without comment, awaiting her next question.
    “Fluffy is a shape-shifter?” The question wasn’t what he’d expected but he knew the important one would come; it was inevitable and he couldn’t avoid it no matter how painful.
    “Nicodemus is a shape-shifter, Fluffy is a cat,” he corrected her, as he in turn appraised her. Her eyes were a brilliant blue, a sign of her true heritage. No amount of lies could ever conceal that.
    “Who are you?” she asked. The question was expected but he swallowed as though he regretted the need for it. Shouldn’t she know who he was?
    “My name is Donovan, Lord of the Northern Quarter.”
    “Are you a s hape-shifter too?”
    Donovan sighed; they both heard the anguish in the sound, both wondered at the pain. He shook his head as his eyes narrowed and he lifted his face to stare into her e yes as he answered.
    “I am a warlock.”
    “You’re a witch? Oh, this is too much!” Willow leapt to her feet; this was a joke gone too far. Helen had a lot to answer for. The trick with the cat was good; she still couldn’t work out how it was done. Must be some trick with the light but enough was enough. She was fed up with these games and it didn’t matter how fine he looked, she wanted him out of her flat. “I think you should leave now.”
    “I believe it is time for you to sleep,” Donovan moved quickly, his strong arms reaching out to collect the woman as she succumbed to the strength of his spell. He gazed tenderly down at her serene face --her eyes closed and her