Caging the Bengal Tiger (5 page)

Stepping into the pond, Lacey sunk into the water with a moan, watching each of her men shift as they came through the hole. "Well, do you like my little secret?"

***

Stepping into the water, Isaac groaned. "Amazing," he mumbled, moving in on his prey. They were totally surrounded by trees and brush and hidden well. Not even his men had found this little hide-out. He stopped and frowned. "Are there any more of these little hideouts?" He asked and she shook her head.

"No, Maya and I went over ever inch when the papers were signed. We were not taking any chances." She turned away from them and swam toward the small waterfall.

"Lacey, do you really believe your sisters want to go back to Detroit?" he asked, following her.

"I know for a fact they would. We were discussing it the other night. Even Maya had said she'd love to bring Rosa and Emma to her private room and the new play area." Lacey leaned against the wall and looked at him. She smiled, but it was a sad smile, not reaching her eyes.

"You have to understand. Maya spent ten years building this place for us, keeping it a secret till it was done. It's just there are no words for it. Plus, it was home. With Maya gone and now Dee, we were all feeling a little lost, that our family is slowly being torn away from us. We'd promised ourselves we wouldn't stop looking for others, but how can we do that if you won't let us search? We've lost a lot while you and your men have gained."

He stood before her and frowned. "You really believe you have lost so much? Don't you think you've added to your life?" Isaac, a little hurt by her words, waited.

"You're not listening, Isaac. You are just seeing with your own eyes and hear what you want to. Look at Dan. Sure his life was saved, but look at what he lost in the process. His family, his career, friends, his home. Look at what my sisters have lost. Not once, but twice now, they’ve each lost their home, three of their sisters and their freedom. You and your men surrounded us and refused to let us breathe. Hell, you have Maya and Dee locked up on your world where they can't continue what they have been doing all their life." She shook her head.

"Of course I'm happy I have you three and I wouldn't give you up, but why can't we have it all? Why must we give up our family, our dreams of finding others, and our homes? Don't you think Maya would love to help find her blood sister now that she’s learned that she is out there, alive?"

There were no words. He was amazed. His Lady Cat was right. "I'm sorry Lacey. We worry so much about your safety that we didn't see your needs." She placed her hand on his shoulder and stood in front of him.

"Isaac, we know you’re trying, but sometimes everyone needs to step back and look around. I want to be able to show you the things that I love." She wrapped her arms around his neck resting her head against his chest. "I want to show you my sisters and my collection of glass cats. We’ve been collecting them since we were babies. It was one of the few things I was able to save from our house. I have pictures of my first family I'd love to share with all of you, videos. We all do, but we're not allowed."

She turned to lean her back against him, pulling his arms around her. "If not for us, Akaos should consider Abby. She's lost her sister. Everything of Agatha's is back at our compound. Abby needs to say goodbye to her sister. Isaac, we all do." The last part of her words came out as a whisper and Isaac knew she was on the verge of crying.

Anthony and Dan drew in closer, needing to comfort her. "We could call in more men. Weren't you almost finished with the new cloaking device? What better way to test it?" Anthony said to him as he leaned down and kissed the side of her neck.

"You are wrong though, Lacey,” Dan said to her as he cupped her breast, running his thumb over the nipple. "One thing Isaac is right about. You are our home. No matter where I'm at, as long as I have you and them, I'd be happy." He leaned down and nipped her nipple. "But I can always visit my mom, dad and siblings, but I know we can't live without you," he said, looking up into his eyes.

"I didn't want to admit it, but Isaac is right. We need each other." Dan grinned. "We're both going to have to get used to this old man giving us orders. After all, he is our elder."

Isaac lunged for him, holding onto Lacey, but Dan was quick and slipped away from his reach. "You're lucky I prefer to hold onto our
meru
rather then come after you. But soon I'll show you what I can do."

He cocked his head to the side to see Lacey covering her mouth, laughing. "And you!" He placed his hands on her hips and lifted her up in the air above him. She squealed, laughing as she tried to reach him.

"Isaac! Put me down." Her laughter and the brightness of her soul wrapped around his hearts and squeezed.

"That's Master Isaac to you, my Lady Cat," he dropped his voice down and watched her nipples harden. Lowering her, Isaac hugged her tight. "I'll speak with Akaos and Talhrn. If my program works, we should be able to bring more warriors here to help protect the others so we can stay at your home. But I don't know if Akaos or Talhrn will allow Maya or Dee to come. You have to remember, Dee is the queen now and is carrying our future King inside her."

She snorted and wrapped her arms around his neck. "You don't know what Dee is having, It's too early." Lacey smiled, kissing his chin. "And you don't know Maya. If she hears we're going back home, she'll be there."

"How would she hear about it, if we’re here and she’s there?" He nipped her ear. "I would like to do the first exchange, Lady Cat. Do you have a problem with it?"

"I don't know. How is it going to be for me? I'm different from Dan, but not that much, and from what I'd seen from him, it wasn't easy. I don't carry your blood, Isaac. Both Dee and Maya were already partly in your world, but I'm not," she asked as he brushed her hair away from her neck and placed a kiss on it.

"I know it’ll work. You were meant for us Lacey. Our blood will change you, but it will not hurt you. You'll still have your cat, as does Maya and Dee, and we'll be right here for you," he told her, but even he was a little nervous. The only transformation he’d heard of was Dan's and it had almost killed him from what Akaos had said. Maya had hers when she was young and couldn’t remember it at all, but the need to start their bonding was on them all, especially him.

Tilting her head to the side, Lady Cat squeezed his arm. "Go for it."

He didn't wait and sank his fangs into the side of her neck. Her blood was thick and rich, just like their woman. Taking only what he needed, Isaac closed the holes and turned her to face him. "Come, Lady Cat, it’s your turn." A small cut opened on his chest, right above his hearts. "Drink, Lacey and begin your life with us. Give me your trust, love and body to hold and cherish."

Her small tongue flicked across his chest taking a small taste before covering his skin with her pink, soft lips taking what he had to offer. “In drinking from me, I give you my oath to always place your needs ahead of my own,
min kammerat."

After a few moments, Isaac knew she had taken enough for the first step towards their bonding. Sealing the wound, Isaac placed a finger under her chin, waiting for her to look at him. When she raised her head, he sucked in his breath. Her eyes were glazed over and there was a tiny dot of his blood on her lips.

"It wasn't so bad..." Her eyes got big and she doubled over, grabbing her stomach. "Well shit!" She took deep breaths and tried to move away from them, but he refused to release her.

"What is it? Tell me Lacey?" Isaac scooped her up and headed out of the water, placing her on the softest looking patch of grass he could see. Isaac, Dan and Edward held her still as little spasms racked her body.

"Damn it, I knew we shouldn't have done this," Dan growled and grabbed her leg when it was yanked out of his grasp.

"I'll be fine, Dan. I want this," she tried to reassure him when her body seemed to stop its spasms. Lacey took a deep breath and squeezed his hand. "Maybe it won't be as bad as Dan's conversion." She tried to sit up, but her body chose that moment to rid itself of toxins. "Move," she yelled trying to crawl away from them.

Over and over, Lacey threw up and lost control of her bowels until there was nothing inside her. "Come on let's get you in the water." Isaac gently lifted her up and stepped into the warm water. Lacey's teeth were chattering, she was so cold. "Dan," she tried to talk, but her voice was raw, but Dan heard her and was there, leaning down so she could see his face.

"We’re right here, Lady Cat, what do you need?" He worked his hands up one of her legs, rubbing her down. Anthony vanished, going for a blanket and a shirt for her, knowing she'll need some comfort.

"How...long?" she whispered.

Dan frowned. "How long what, baby? Oh, you mean how long does it last?" Dan asked and she nodded.

"I'm afraid you're not going to feel well for the next 24 hours. You're done with getting sick, but now your internal organs are going to change. I'm sorry Lady Cat, but the pain is going to get worse before it gets better."

Her little whimpers broke his heart. "Come on, Lacey, let's get you back to the house. Anthony is waiting for us." With her in his arms, he transported them to the back of the house. Dan held open the door, but as soon as he stepped in, Akaos was there with Warden.

"What's wrong?" he stepped forward, but he shook his head.

"She's going through the change and it's not going well. We need to inform the other warriors to be prepared for this," he snarled and pushed past his brother to the bedroom upstairs that had been made up for her. He lowered her feet to the floor and he and Anthony helped put the long shirt over her body.

"In you go, baby. I want you to rest now," he said, tucking the blankets around her.

"Don't leave me," she cried out as he stepped back.

He needed to talk with his brother, but Isaac couldn't leave her. "Dan, tell Akaos and Warden to come on up. We’ll talk here." Sitting next to Lacey, she scooted closer till she laid her head in his lap. Little did his cat know, but already she was coming to depend on him.

On and off, Lacey woke to gut-retching pain tearing through her. Isaac, Anthony and Dan never left her side, holding and massaging her aching body. She'd tried to listen to the men talk with Akaos and Warden, but she just couldn't stay focused.

All Lacey knew was her bond with Isaac was deeper as it was with Anthony and Dan. "What time is it?" She mumbled, rolling over and hot all of a sudden.

"Early morning. Anthony is getting some food for you. You need to try and eat something," Dan said, carefully lifting her up. "You've been out of it for 24 hours. You'll be sore for a day or two, but otherwise you should be fine," Dan kissed the top of her head.

"How are you adjusting to all of this? Do you regret helping us?" she asked, taking a deep breath and smelling all that was Dan. Her senses were even more heightened then before. Everything was bright and had a more distinct smell. "I mean I wouldn't blame you if you hated all of us after all that has happened to you."

Hearing the growl first, Lacey looked up just as he lowered her to the bed and stared down at her. His hand cupped her breast. "Never. You were my family. I used to watch you when we would go on our runs. The way your hips moved when you walked, that gorgeous ass when you would bend down, and let’s not forget these babies." He squeezed her breast. "Do you know how many times I've dreamed of holding you, like this? To put you over my knees and spank that round ass. No, Lady Cat I wouldn't give any of this up. Even Isaac and Anthony are now part of me." He lowered his head and sucked her nipple.

"And we are both happy that you are with us too," Isaac said, slipping onto the bed and squeezing Dan's shoulder, before turning to smile at her. "You scared me, Lady Cat, and I don’t like to be scared." He brushed the hair away from her face.

"What would you like first, food or a shower?" He leaned down and kissed the top of her head.

"Shower, and it's not my fault your supper blood wreaked havoc with my system." Dan released her nipple and helped her up. "The pain is finished, right? I don't have to do that with each of them, do I? You know when I drink from Dan and Anthony?" She squeaked and tried to stand, but her legs wobbled and she had to cling to Dan and Isaac as she stood.

"Dan, why don't you take our lady here and help her with her shower? We'll meet the both of you downstairs when you are finished," Isaac once more placed a kiss on her cheek and nodded to Dan before leaving the room.

"Well, that was weird?" Dan mumbled and scooped her up in his arms.

"You know I can walk, well, kind of, and what was weird?" She wrapped her arms around his neck taking his scent into her. Lacey always did love the way he smelled. "Did you know I have your brown coat in my room at the compound? You left it there one night. I don't know why, but I had to have. So whenever I was alone, I'd pull it out and cuddle in it." She looked down at her hands as he set her on the bathroom counter.

"Look at me, Lacey, “Dan said.

Lifting her head Dan reached up and traced his finger over her lips. "Don't you know how happy that makes me? It's just another sign we were meant to be together." He lowered his head and gave her small quick kiss. "I can't wait to sink my cock into you, Lady Cat. Soon." He reached over and turned on the water. "Hot to where your skin is pink, or warm?" he asked.