Under Currents Nora Roberts Novels & Stories

And for a second, my mind refuses to process it—refuses to understand how that just happened—until I look up. Nora stands there, blood dripping from the corner of her mouth. Her chest rises and falls sharply, her eyes darker than I’ve ever seen them, almost black, with something feral flickering beneath the surface. For the briefest moment, the air around her seems to shift. Strange dark veins spread beneath her skin, disappearing almost as quickly as they appear, while shadows coil around her fingers like living things before she clenches her hands into fists and forces them away.

"It's alright… Just let me go, my beloved… I'm happy I can be with you in my last days…" As Anna trailed off, her sniffles muffled, and there was soon silence… No words were spoken, but there was labored breathing and bodies bumping against each other… I quietly sat in the darkness beside the window, my fingers brushing against the wolf fang necklace unknowingly. Souleater Vine? Wouldn't survive for three months? There were way too many coincidences. My eyes calm, even cold, I turned to look at the skies that were brightening outside.

I pressed myself back against the wall and watched one of the guards roll his eyes when they sprung to action. Nora stood leaning against the door when I finally peeled myself from the wall and walked down the foyer. Her eyes played mischievously when she stepped into the light and my eyes were immediately drawn to the leather miniskirt and the low-cut top. “What was that howl? What happened?” I asked as if she would know. To my surprise, Nora winked and hooked her arm in mine as we walked out to a car. “I called in a favor from our new resident rogues,”

The underground bunker, hidden from satellites and maps alike. “This is it,” he said as he shut off the engine. “From here, we shift.” They moved with practiced ease. Thick winter coats were exchanged for lighter base layers better suited for shifting. Bags were re-packed, fastened tight so they could be carried by their wolves. Celeste stood at the edge of the vehicle, her breath visible in the icy air. The snow was coming down harder now, thick and fast, sticking to lashes and hair within seconds. The cold crept through her clothes, but the anticipation warmed her blood.

“Thank you, thank you, thank you—” “Shut up before I change my mind,” she snapped, already regretting it. And now she was stuck in some shitty frat house while her brother and his boyfriend played Romeo and Romeo somewhere romantic. Beck, her giant, terrifying babysitter, motioned for her to lift her legs off the coffee table as he swept the vacuum in front of the couch. Nora glared and craned her neck to see the subtitles on the TV. She’d deliberately chosen the girliest, most brain-melting reality show she could find, The Real Housewives of Crestwick, hoping the sheer amount of dramatic screaming and fake tans would scare everyone away.

Two little canines flashed in a silly, sweet grin—adorable as hell. I narrowed my eyes at her and whispered, "What are you doing in there? Get out!" But instead of listening, she only pushed further. Her soft little hand slipped inside. A wave of unbearable tingling shot through me. I curled my toes hard into the floor, every muscle tensed against the deep, bone-tickling itch. I fought to keep my body from giving anything away—there were too many people watching. "Max, what's with this lump here? Let me rub it for you," she said, her face the picture of innocence.

Jake It was early morning, and the mansion was enveloped in an almost reverent silence. I looked at Nancy, who was sleeping peacefully next to me, her serene face illuminated by the soft moonlight streaming through the window. She looked so beautiful and vulnerable, and I felt an impulse of affection come over me. I calmed down for a moment, listening to his gentle breathing, but then anger and determination began to shift in my chest, reminding me of what I needed to do.

Settling on making a quick omelet, I gathered eggs, cheese, and some leftover vegetables. As I whisked the eggs, my mind wandered back to the past couple of days. I wondered if Grace was asleep right now, or sitting up feeling scared and lonely. Tomorrow, I would prepare a meal for her, I decided. And maybe bring her a few of those books I had purchased. “Midnight snack, Kayla?” I jumped at the sound of the voice, nearly dropping the bowl. Turning, I saw Nora leaning casually against the doorway, her arms crossed and a smug smile playing on her lips. She was dressed impeccably, as always, in a silk robe that accentuated her slim figure.

I would usually take three days to prepare to say just three words. “No, actually . . .” “Nonsense. Come on.” “Mother fucker,” I whispered under my breath. After downing his shot, Rob lead me up to the brightly lit stage in front and I made a mental note to add Rob to my Black List. The List contained the names of people that I would do business with only through a proxy, otherwise it might end with me in an orange jumpsuit scratching out tally marks on the walls of a dingy shithole.

The bottoms were high waisted while the top was a bandeau of sorts. I tried my hardest to keep myself from picturing Rose in either of them, but my mind rushed to create an image of Rose's lean, well-muscled body barely clothed, dripping wet as she stepped out of a pool. I discretely lowered the book I still had in my hands to cover my growing erection.