Table Of ContentCereus: Training
Copyright © 2013 by Sean Michael, Julia Talbot, and BA
Tortuga
All rights reserved. No part of this eBook may be used
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Torquere Press, PO Box 2545, Round Rock, TX 78680
ISBN: 978-1-61040-593-5
Printed in the United States of America.
Torquere Press: electronic edition October 2013
Torquere Press eBooks are published by Torquere Press,
PO Box 2545, Round Rock, TX 78680
Contents
Foreword
Ursa Minor by Julia Talbot and BA Tortuga
Heaven and Hell by Sean Michael
Weed and Feed by Julia Talbot and BA Tortuga
Jonny’s Epilogue
Foreword
When I started the Cereus world three years ago, I had
no idea it would be so much fun, or so popular.
Readers everywhere have told me how much they love
the idea of a paranormal retreat, and how they love all the
characters that populate the grounds of Cereus. That means
a lot to me, because I’m really a character driven writer.
Jonny, the vampire owner of Cereus, was a strong enough
character to spawn this whole series, so I love that readers
adore him and his kitty, Luc.
BA Tortuga was kind enough to co-write two more
stories with me this year, one about a little blind bear
finding his place in the world, and one about a pair of
unstoppable, troublemaking wolf shifters who find their
matches in a vampire and an alpha wolf. Sean Michael was
on board, too, writing a fabulous fallen angel meets demon
tale I’m sure you’ll crave.
Plans are already in motion for next year’s book, which
will be called “Rescue”. Just imagine all the amazing tales
that can come from that concept! Thanks to everyone who
has made Cereus such a success. I can’t even tell you how
awesome it is to see my baby grow into a tradition.
XXOO
Julia Talbot
Ursa Minor by Julia Talbot and BA Tortuga
“Duke? Have you got a minute?” Jonny tried hard not to
ask Duke for anything. The big werewolf was too damned
busy running Cereus, Jonny’s wildly popular weekend
getaway spot up in the mountains. Still, this was something of
an emergency.
“For you, boss. Yeah.” The response was immediate and
suited Jonny to the bone.
“I have a little situation. Nothing serious,” he added
immediately, not wanting Duke to gear up for bad news. “I
have a waiter-slash-attendant here who needs to move to
Cereus from here at the Bloodrose. His name is Dakota.”
“Dakota? The wee bear?” Dakota was a charmer, pleasant
and easy-going and had never met a stranger so it came as
no surprise when Duke asked, “Why are you moving him,
Boss?”
“He’s-- not well, Duke. He’s losing his sight.” It was rare
for a shifter to have a degenerative disease like Dakota, but it
did happen. “You know how busy the ‘Rose is.”
“Yeah. Yeah, is he... I mean, can anyone help?”
“Luc is teaching him some things, but he’s still somewhat
in denial.” Jonny sighed, a habit from his human days. “He’s
destroying half our bar glasses, Duke.”
“Do I get a bigger bar budget?”
“Sure. I was thinking maybe you could put him on
someone’s private service. If you have any long term guests
right now.” Jonny knew perfectly well there were four
candidates. One was even a bear.
“I’ll figure something out. I got a bear, but he’s a grizzly.
He could hold little Dakota’s butt in one hand.”
Jonny chuckled. “That might work out nicely.”
“Maybe. I’ll put him on the floor for a few days until
there’s a plan.”
“That way you can evaluate the best situation, of course.
I trust you. He’ll be an asset in the needs of our ursine
customers.”
“Ursine. Absolutely. Just what I need. More bears.”
Jonny laughed. “You don’t enjoy their company, wolf?” he
asked.
Duke’s answer was a particularly rude growl, one that
tickled him, bone deep. Jonny laughed out loud, thinking
maybe he and Luc would take Dakota up personally. He
hadn’t seen his old club manager in too long.
“We’ll be up in a few days,” he murmured.
“You’re coming? Excellent. I’ll have your room aired out.”
“Thank you, Duke. As always, you have my gratitude.”
“Anytime, boss.” Duke’s voice was fond, and Jonny knew
it. The wolf was his family.
“We’ll see you soon.” Jonny hung up, then glanced up at
the armoire behind his desk. “I found a home for your little
bear, sweet.”
Luc purred for him, eyes warm, happy, and the pleasure in
his kit pushed at his brain. He was going to get a reward. How
lovely.
“You’ll break it to him, will you?” Dakota would feel sad at
leaving.
That tail switched and Luc hopped down, moving
comfortably, easily. If anyone could help Dakota ease from
the Bloodrose to Cereus, it was his cat.
All Jonny had to do was pack a bag.
***
Dakota stood against the wall trying to focus past the
smoke in his eyes. He only had three tables tonight and one of
them was Luc and Jonny, so that wasn’t scary, right?
Right.
Because he could do this. He was strong. Brave.
Stalwart, damn it.
He was scared shitless. Cereus’ dining room was huge.
Vast. Completely unfamiliar. How was he supposed to learn
where shit was?
“You okay, kiddo?” Tariq, the kitchen manager, startled
him, putting a hand on his shoulder.
“Yeah. Yeah, I...” He nodded. “It’s a big space.”
“It is.” He could hear more than see Tariq’s sympathy, but it
didn’t feel like pity. “The middle aisle is clear.”
“And my tables are the first two and the one to the left is
Luc and Jonny, right?”
“Yep. If you need help, just holler at Dalton.”
“Right. Thanks.” Which one was Dalton? He thought it was
the blond blur who went by at a fast clip. Oh, God. He was
going to die.
He gathered his courage in both paws and lumbered
forward, focused on Luc’s scent, which was familiar in his
nose. Dakota squeezed his eyes shut; it was actually easier
with them closed.
Somebody hit him from the side, hard enough to spin him
in a circle, make him growl deep in his chest. Luc was right
there all of a sudden, holding his arm so he didn’t fall. Dakota
knew that deep cat scent.
“Luc...” He couldn’t do this.
“Come with me.” Luc took his arm, held him. “Mate, a
private room for us? Now?”
“Of course. Duke?” Jonny asked.
Dakota heard shuffling, saw a lot of bodies moving.
He squeezed his eyes shut again, then they were moving,
Luc so confident, so sure. That was Jonny, he thought, acting
as Luc’s sight.
“Here, now.” Jonny’s voice was low. Kind. “There’s all that
noise gone.”
“I’m sorry.” They’d brought him all the way out here and
he was already in trouble.
Luc snorted. “Well, if you’d just stop being blind.”
Dakota blinked, then brayed out a laugh. “Well, that’s not
gonna happen.”
“I know. Sucks, huh? Mate, this is a big place.”
Jonny sighed, a sound Dakota had heard a lot in the last
few months. “It is. There are many more opportunities here.
I’m sorry, Dakota, but I think the dining room is not for you.”
“I’m sorry, sir. I’ll try harder. I will.” He didn’t know what
else to do.
“I know you will. Duke?”
The big manager at Cereus loomed. Dakota felt it more
than saw it. “I think we can find the perfect spot for you. A
personal attendant to one of the cabins.”
Great, he was being demoted to housekeeping. Still, it was
a job and he needed a job. He also needed something to keep
him from gouging his traitor eyes out with a spoon.
“It’s quite a job, actually,” Duke went on. “It’s not easy, but
it is localized. Better for you, as you can memorize a smaller
area.”
“I’ll do whatever I have to.” He wasn’t proud. Cleaning
was better than starving or getting run over on the highway
because he wandered out of his territory.
“Of course.” Luc touched him, and his frazzled nerves
calmed. He was so grateful for his friend. “Breathe, hmm?
Come sit with me.”
Luc drew him down, curled around him, petting him and
touching him fearlessly. He hummed, needing the contact,
needing to be still.
He could hear Jonny and Duke talking, but Luc distracted
him. Kept him floating a little. It was easy to float these days,
to disconnect.
Everything was wrong, except for Luc and his friendship.
“Shh. I promise, it will be fine.” Luc’s voice was almost a
purr.
“You swear? I’m fucking worried, man.” Scared a little,
maybe.
“I swear it. I would not bring you here if I thought it would
be bad.” Luc did have his back.
“It smells good here.” He’d give Luc that. “Green.”
“It does. So much more your habitat than the city.”
Luc’s fingers combed through his hair, petting him, and he
leaned a little harder. Maybe he could just stay here, like this.
He could sleep. Right here in this room.
“It’s okay. You’re safe here.” Luc’s voice rolled over him
like a gentle wave.
“I’m trying.” He started to shake a little. He blinked, trying
to see. There was fog everywhere and no matter where he
looked, he couldn’t look around it.
“Your heart is racing.” Luc held on tight.
“I can’t see.”
He felt Luc’s nod. “Me either.”
“Really?” He barked out a laugh. “Damn. That sucks.”
“You didn’t know? It’s easier when I’m a cat, but Jonny
sees a lot for me.”
He didn’t think it would work that way for him. He wasn’t
sure it could, for a bear. He’d never known a blind bear. Hell,
he’d only met one other shifter like him. That bear hadn’t
been interested in being buds.
Bears could be solitary.
Growly.
Territorial.
Him, though. He was a friendly guy, right? Jovial? Decent.
Hardworking. A good bear.
But a blind bear. Who needed a blind bear?
“Duke. You called down?” A new voice intruded, deep
enough to vibrate down in Dakota’s toes.
“Thanks for coming up, Cord. I appreciate it.” Duke
sounded... relieved.
Dakota rumbled softly, curious, but mostly caught in Luc’s
touch.
“Not a problem.” The voice moved closer, the deep, heavy
scent of bear hitting him.
His nostrils flared, and his eyes searched, trying to see. Big.
The guy was big; he could see the outline.
“This is Dakota,” Duke murmured.
“Dakota?” The man squatted in front of him and Luc. “Oh,
what a perfect little bear.”
“I wish.” His nose was working hard, the scent of the big
male amazing.
Someone not Luc touched his cheek. “I’m Cord.”
“Hi.” He shivered, leaned toward the touch as Luc chuffed
softly, backed away.
“Hello. I hear you’re going to be my cabin attendant. This
is good, as I’m... tactile. No one gets my sheets soft enough.”
“I’ll do it right.” He needed a job, so badly. “I’m a quick
learner.”
“I bet you are.” The big hand stayed on his face, a callused
thumb rubbing his cheek. “My cabin is only about eight
hundred square feet and most of it is my den. Pillows and bed
and such.”
Dakota’s breath matched the touch, so gentle, so sure and
not scary at all. “Not too much glass, hmm?”
“Nothing but the overhead light.”
He rumbled happily. He wasn’t tall. That wouldn’t be an
issue. Unless he was dancing with a broomstick or something,
which he’d never done before.
“Even my dishes are unbreakable. Last time I went bear
during dinner and decided to take a nap on the table, they
started sending me old fashioned enamelware.”
Dakota surprised himself by cracking up, clapping happily.
“You do that, too?”
They weren’t like the wolves. Bears came when they came.
So did naps.
“I do. They’d sent this warm fry bread. With honey.”
A low sound bubbled up in his chest, raw and deep. Honey.
He loved sweets. Loved them. “I think that’s cheating.”
“I know, right? I mean, berries and cream I could have
stayed awake. Carrot cake. But honey?” Cord took his hand
and pulled him upright.
He stood and he could see around his fog that Cord was
vast -- wide and tall, broad. Shaggy, too, with longish hair.
Dakota had the strongest urge to touch. His hands shook with
