Leigh Evans - The Thing About Weres

To these people I owe my gratitude:

Deidre Knighta wonderful person and a hugely supportive agent.

Holly Blanckmy talented, keen-eyed editor who has lots and lots of patience.

Bella Paganmy clever UK editor, whose request yielded a prologue I really like.

Angela Zoltnerscheerleader and champion of the missing word.

Rebecca Melsonthe friend whos willing to read that first wretched draft.

Sandra Kreciszthis well-loved girl comes up with perfect names.

Stephanie Seebeck DiSandolo & Amanda SeebeckMore names! More love!

Julie Butcherwho listened to me whine. Over and over again.

My familylast but never least.

I dont know why Weres think the moons so beautiful. Look at it. The things rutted with craters. Not once have I gazed at it and wanted to let loose a wolf howl or break into a melancholy chorus of Moon River.

Most nights, I refuse to give it more than a brooding glance. Matter of fact, most of the time, I make a point of not looking upward. I keep my eyes trained on the life around the pond and the dead air above it.

But sometimes, when my thoughts are muddy and circularlike they are tonightmy gaze will slowly swing upward to a certain star.

Star light, star bright.

If you want to see what Im waxing poetic about, tilt your chin up and slant your gaze to a few degrees left of the Milky Way. There it is: one twinkle-perfect light. To my eyes, its not silver or white but a definite bluea faint copy of the azure that glimmers from Trowbridges eyes. And even though it sparkles from a blanket of similar lights, to me its glow is far brighter than any other stars.

It stands alone.

Brave. Insolent. Bright.

That makes it unique, and so I claim it as mine. Screw the dudes with the pocket protectors and penchant for Latin. They may have already given that radiant beauty a double-consonant moniker but Ive redubbed that bit of pretty Hedis Star.

The first star I see tonight.

Ive never pinned a wish upon my star. Mostly because I have the sneaking suspicion that Karmas not done with me yet. And I cant help but worry that no matter how cagily I frame my request, that greedy witch would hear the naked plea in it, and would immediately begin plotting something nasty.

And shed already done a whole bunch of the nasty.

Why? Because Karmas an insatiable bitch.

Which is exactly the type of talk Cordelia loathes hearing. Trowbridges best friend has several pithy life prompts she repeats whenever shes convinced Im in need of some attitude coaching. You are the architect of your own life. (Pinched from Alfred A. Montaper.) Find your passion and embrace it! (Lifted from Oprah.) And her own wry creation, Stop brooding, darling, or youll get lines around your mouth.

Theyre relatively new, these buck-up phrases.

At first, back in the day when we were getting accustomed to each other foiblesbasically those early weeks just after wed shoved Trowbridge through the Gates of Merenwynmy six-foot roommate had been confident that Id figure out how to summon the portal.

Uh-huh. That and a dollar bill will get you four bits.

Then one day, she came to the quiet realization that I wasnt going to summon up the smoke, and the myst, and round window to the Fae realmor maybe better said, she finally understood that I really couldntand she abruptly dropped the subject of bringing the true Alpha of Creemore home.

Thats when Cordelia started focusing on the here and now, which meant alternately scowling at me with something akin to reluctant affection or holding up her bejeweled finger to utter one of those little bon-mots.

And thats when I knew.

My new best friend had resigned herself to what she considered the truth: that Trowbridge wasnt ever going to return home; that Merenwyn had swallowed him just like it had swallowed my twin brother Lexi; and now it was up to the three of themCordelia, the exdrag queen; Harry, a Were whos seen three score and more years; and Biggs, the wolf voted least likely to succeedto form a protective barrier between me and the Trowbridges pack.

Look on the bright side, darling, where theres life, theres hope, she says now when shes feeling generous.

But she doesnt look at me when she says it.

Days have run together. Fast forward and were herethe first night of the Hunter moon, six months and twelve days after I slid my mate through the Gates of Merenwyn. Which was one of the reasons my favourite star and I were having an epic stare-down before I threw in the towel and tried to get some sleep.

Last night, as I lay alone in my twin bed, listening to the dead branches of the old maple chafe in the wind, I had a mind-blowing epiphany.

Ready? See if you can follow my logic: if there really was such a thing as Karma, then how much of a stretch was it to believe that theres such thing as a benevolent Goddess in the sky? And even more wondrouswhat if my Sky Goddess was more powerful than Karma?

Could there really be such a loving deity? One that waits, invisible and Godly, dying to hear your problems? And better yetwhat if she could protect me from Karmas whims? What if my Goddess was just waiting to hear me wish upon a star?

On that hazy thought, I drifted off into a dreamless sleep, from which I woke with the sudden, irritating awareness of one additional and painful twist to the previous nights revelation.

Hells-bells, if my logic was sound, then my silence over these last six months wasnt an act of stoic restraint; it was a piece of lame stupidity.

Crap.

So here I am. Sitting cross-legged on Lexis pirate stone, slapping at late-season mosquitoes, setting myself up for a fall. On the plus side, Im solo tonightnobodys breathing over my shoulder because my would-be protectors believe Im safe by the fairy pond. The wolves are spooked by it, and the humans dont know about it. Up in the trailer, Cordelias fussing with her wig. Back at his apartment, Biggs is probably reading some wolf-girls Facebook timeline. And Harry? Goddess knows what my favourite Geezers doing. Maybe hes oiling his gun.

Im finally alone. About to pin a wish on star.

I wish I may, I wish I might.

I clear my throat. Hey, Star. Im not sure how this wish-fulfillment thing goes, so Im going to just work my way toward my request, okay? Cover all the bases first. Youre not above doing a little groveling to smooth the way. I know that its totally my problem that I cant summon the portal. I accept responsibility all way round on that. And I know if you really want to be pissy, then its my own fault that Im in this position. After all, I was the person who pushed Trowbridge through the Gates of Merenwyn

Gad, am I turning into one of those wimpy women who tune into Dr. Phil?

I had no choice, I say, in a harder tone. It was either that or watch him die.

And Ill never sit helpless again, watching someone die.

Look, Ive been thinking about this a lot. Karmas already taken a big bite out of me. A Were killed my dad, and the Fae executed my mom. The Fae stole my brother tooby forceand dragged him across the portal into Merenwyn, and then Even now, its hard to think of it. They slammed the gates shut. I havent seen Lexi since.

Unforgivable.

Lexis got to be alive. Trowbridge, too.

Maybe its time for the tide to turn. Maybe you can tell Karma to back off and throw me a bone. I blink hard at the tears gathering, and my starthat round blue diamondblurs into something youd expect to see hovering over a stable, a donkey, and a pregnant virgin.