Turn Darkly by Heather McVea Page A

Lily’s hand, Regan walked toward the trail.
    “How’s your night vision?” Regan teased.
    “Pretty bad, actually. I wear contacts, and without them I’m legally blind in my left eye.”
    Regan stopped, sending Lily careening into the back of her. “Are you kidding?”
    Shaking her head, Lily shrugged. “No. When I’m human, I’m just as frail as anyone. Even in wolf form, I’m no more or less tough than any other wolf.”
    “I’ve noticed your brother always smells of licorice and whiskey. Is that because he’s -”
    Lily laughed. “That’s because he’s been hooked on black licorice since he was ten, and drinks like a fish.”
    Regan felt embarrassed as heat rushed to her face. “I guess I’ve seen too many movies and read too many books.”
    “It’s not sexy, and if managed right, it isn’t particularly scary either.”
    A question had been biting at the back of Regan’s mind, and she finally felt the courage to ask it push to the forefront. “Were your parents killed when they were - wolves?” Regan watched the woman’s expression closely. Tears springing to her eyes.
    “Yes.” An errant tear ran down the woman’s cheek, and Regan gently wiped at it with her thumb.
    “What happened?” Regan continued walking, her and Lily’s hands entwined.
    “It was a full moon. They were hunted and shot.” The sorrow in the woman’s voice brought tears to Regan’s eyes as she remembered the stabbing ache of loss when her parents were killed.
    The two women walked up the trail in a comfortable silence. Reaching one of the first scenic overlooks, they stopped. The daylight was all but gone, and the night had cast the mountains in faint blues and grays. Looking out over the sky, Regan shuddered at its enormity.
    “Are you okay?” Lily wrapped her arm around Regan’s waist.
    “What were your parents’ names?”
    Her eyes still fixed on the distant horizon, Lily smiled. “Eric and Joan.”
    “Not scary at all.” Regan said matter-of-factly.
    Lily laid her head on Regan’s shoulder. “They were wonderful.”
***
    It was almost completely dark as Regan and Lily made their way back down the trail. “I’m sorry I missed your birthday.”
    Lily shrugged. “It’s not a big deal.”
    Remembering the woman’s cryptic comment early regarding her birthday, Regan thought she had been patient enough in waiting for an explanation. “What did you mean earlier when you said you couldn’t because you were twenty five now?”
    They had just reached the parking lot, and Lily released Regan’s hand. “I had hoped you had forgotten that.”
    “Mind like a steel trap.” Regan tapped her temple with her index finger.
    Stepping toward her, Lily wrapped her arms around Regan’s shoulders. “It hardly matters now.”
    Sensing the woman was hesitating more out of fear than truly believing the topic was moot, Regan eyed her suspiciously. “Nice try.”
    Stepping back, Lilly shoved her hands into the back pockets of her jeans. “You asked why I can’t leave.” She was either unable or unwilling to look at Regan, and her sudden evasiveness was making Regan nervous.
    “Yes.”
    “There are very few of us left. Over the centuries bloodlines have been weakened when we have had children with humans.” She glanced up at Regan, and then quickly back down at the ground. “To ensure survival, a woman is expected -”
    Regan failed to catch the gasp before it exited her mouth. “You’re not saying -”
    Lily turned and began walking toward her truck. “I shouldn’t have said anything. It’s none of your business, anyways.”
    Realizing she had let her shock get the better of her, Regan went after Lily. “Hold up. I’m sorry, but I wasn’t expecting you to tell me you were being made to breed for the sake of perpetuating the species.” Regan looked up at the night sky. “Shit, that sounded even worse out loud.”
    “Forget I said anything.” Pulling her keys from the front pocket of her jeans, Lily