Called by the Bear 7-9 (3 page)

C
arly

“
C
arly
! Come quick.”
Ian’s voice rings in my head, and the spray bottle I was holding thumps on the floor when I drop it to race over to Kick It. When I get there I find Luke setting an unconscious Taylor down on the couch.

“What happened?” I drop to my knees by her side.

Luke says, “I was on my way here, and she collapsed on the sidewalk. I caught her before she hit the ground. I think she fainted.”

I stroke her heated face and speak in her mind.
“Taylor, can you hear me?”

Taylor moans, and her eyes flicker. Ian says, “Thank God. Taylor, are you okay?”

She tries to sit up, but Luke pushes her shoulders back down. “Not so fast. You just fainted and need to give yourself a minute.”

“Yeah. I remember.” Taylor closes her eyes again. “I’m not sure I can work today.” She sits up abruptly. “I’m going to be sick.” But the movement must have been too much, because she drops her head between her knees. “I think I need Keith to come get me.”

I say, “That’s a good idea.” Her face is pale when she raises her head to look at me, and drops of moisture glisten on her forehead.

Sierra has come over to see what’s happening and says, “Ian, go get her some juice.” She looks over at Luke. “You.” She points toward the water cooler. “Go wet a towel with cold water and bring it to me.”

Luke’s eyes widen in surprise at Sierra’s order, but he recovers quickly and moves to do as she asks.

Sierra kneels down beside me and says to Taylor, “Let’s get something in you to raise your glucose level. What did you eat today?”

Taylor takes the juice Ian hands her. “Not much.” Leather creaks as she sits back on the couch. “I’m fine now. It’s probably just my fever.” She takes the towel Luke has handed to her. “I feel so stupid, guys. Really, I’m fine.”

Sierra plops down next to her on the couch and says, “No, you’re not. What did you eat?”

“I had some tea—my tea. I had a travel mug with me.”

Luke says, “I’ll go get it.”

The door clicks shut, and Ian asks, “Tea? You’re worried about that?”

“Yeah. It’s a special blend Nina made for...”

“For what?” Ian’s voice is stern.

Taylor looks at Sierra’s belly and snaps back. “It’s fertility tea, okay? I’m having trouble getting pregnant.”

“Nina Hamlin?” Ian’s voice has a hint of a growl in it.

Wait. How doesn’t she know?
Werebear have a mating season. “Taylor, we can only get pregnant from May to July. Didn’t Keith tell you that?”

Her brow furrows. “No. But I haven’t talked about this with him. I was—”

“Stupid.”

“Ian!” Sierra scowls at him.

“Oh come on. Everyone knows Nina practices black magic. I mean, the shop is nicknamed Dark Elements.”

Taylor says, “Obviously I didn’t. And what’s it to you anyway?”

Ian crosses his arms as Luke enters the gym. “It’s probably why you’re sick. I don’t trust that woman.”

Ian grabs the mug from Luke. “I’ll take care of that.”

“No.” I reach for it. “I’ll take it.”

“Anyone want to tell me what’s going on?” Luke asks.

“What do you know about Earth Elements and Nina?”

“Nina Hamlin was an odd girl that turned her weirdness into a decent business by pretending she’s a witch.” He shrugs. “Kind of smart if you ask me. The tourists and college kids love her.”

“So she’s not the real thing?” I clutch the travel mug tight.

“Nope. She’s just human.”

I communicate with Taylor.
“While that may be true, I’m going to hold on to your tea if you don’t mind.”

“Sure.”

Ian squints at me and says telepathically,
“We’ll talk later.”
He addresses Luke. “As you can see, your trainer is in no shape for you today, but I am.” He sweeps his arm toward the gym. “Shall we?”

Luke nods and turns to me. “Nice to see you again, Carly. And Taylor, I hope you feel better.”

“Thanks. And thanks for catching me. I’m sure you saved me a nasty bruise.”

“No worries.” Luke follows Ian as he strides over to the martial arts center.

Sierra says, “So they’re training your brother, huh?”

“Uh-huh. Richard wants his warriors to work with Taylor, and Lucy and Luke are doing it first.”

“Oh wow, Taylor. You have to train Lucy? She’s a total bitch,” Sierra says.

Taylor swallows a mouthful of juice and grins. “She’s not so bad. I think it’s hard living in Luke’s shadow.”

Sierra lets out a low sound of disbelief from the back of her throat, and I ask, “Keith’s on his way?”

“He should be here any minute.”

My best friend touches Taylor’s arm. “Hey, you can talk to us, you know. This is all new for us too. We’re in this together, okay?”

“Thanks.” She licks her lips and sighs. “I can’t believe I spent so much time stressing over getting pregnant when it wasn’t possible.” She turns toward Sierra. “I didn’t say anything to you guys because I didn’t want you to feel bad for me. You should be happy over your babies instead of worrying about me.”

“Then you need to spend more time with me. Worrying about other people is the thing I do best.” Sierra hugs her. “Seriously. Let us help you do this whole werebear thing. Okay?”

“Okay.” Taylor glances over at me and speaks softly. “Do you think the tea might be why I fainted?”

Warning bells are going off, and while I can’t explain how I know, I’m positive it is dangerous. “I’m not sure. But I’ll let you know what I find.”

Taylor nods as the rumble of Keith’s Jeep sounds in the distance. I send a message to my mother-in-law. If anyone knows about magic, it’s Donna.
“Free for dinner? I need some information about witches and fertility tea.”

“I’ll be over sooner than that for my baby fix.”

Donna’s words make me grin. She loves being a grandmother. But my smile fades when I notice Taylor holding her head. I send a message to Dr. Reynolds telling him I’m sending her his way. Then I talk to Keith before he comes inside. “
Take your wife to the hospital. I’ll let her explain everything to you, but she needs to be tested. I think she may have been poisoned.”

I glance down to notice I’ve managed to dent the metal travel mug with my squeezing. Sierra may be worried, but I’m angry. Someone is trying to keep the next Le Roux generation from happening, and my money’s on Victor Veilleux.

***

I
arrive home
to Donna singing to the babies. She has them lying on a big blanket and is tickling their feet as they squirm to her song. The sight makes me grin.

“Hey, I had no idea you were such an entertainer.” The couch whooshes as I drop onto it.

Donna stands and sits in the overstuffed chair where she can face me. “I’ve got a great audience.”

“We dropped the ball with Taylor. She didn’t know that werebears have a mating season. Seems she was worried about not getting pregnant and took to drinking a fertility tea mixed up at Earth Elements. She fainted today, and I think it’s because she’s being poisoned.”

Donna gets up to move a baby play gym over Connor, who craves constant interaction. Audrey lets out a squeal when one is placed over her too. Little Elliot has fallen asleep. “Hmm, Nina Hamlin runs that shop. She’s a strange one but human and most certainly not one with witch powers. I can’t imagine she’d get mixed up in werebear business.”

“I dropped the tea off at the hospital lab for testing. But I bet good money it’s toxic.” I perch myself on the edge of the chair as my bear stirs inside of me. “How do you suppose it got that way?”

Donna gazes at me intently for a moment before speaking. “The Veilleux medicine man. While our Kimi only practices good, I don’t trust others do.”

I’ve never met the Le Roux medicine woman, but the vision of Catori, the old Native American woman I met in Colorado, comes to mind. “Tell me more about Kimi. I know she helped you send out the call to fertile women with werebear heritage.” I glance down at my children and grin. “And a pretty powerful call it was.”

Donna leans over and scoops up sleeping Elliot to cuddle. “Our relationship with the Abenaki Indians is centuries old. Each clan has a spiritual Native American to help us with situations that require the spirits. It’s possible Victor employed theirs to keep us from producing more children.”

I get up, and my feet thump on the floor when I begin to pace. I tick off my fingers one by one. “Lily is now a Veilleux, Sierra is pregnant with Victor’s babies, Taylor was being poisoned.” I stop and gaze at Donna. “What’s he got planned for me?” When Victor kidnapped Sierra with her full sleeve of tattoos on her arms, he was convinced she was the woman in the prophecy, “The tattoo girl will bear the greatest gift.”

But he has to know that it was me now that Ink It is open, and it’s no secret that I’m a tattoo artist. Donna shakes her head. “I don’t know.” She hugs Elliot tightly to her chest. “But if he thinks he’s getting a hand on my grandchildren, he’s sadly mistaken.”

Brady steps through the door with a growl. “He’ll never get close enough. Poisoning Taylor is just one more nail in his coffin.”

My husband’s choice of words makes me cringe, because I’m afraid there will be more than one death to deal with before this is all done.

L
ily

R
age is fighting
to surface as I control my breathing while I pound down the staircase of the Jefferson House restaurant. My fangs have slipped out, and if I’m not careful I could shift in front of humans. Although Thomas would get me out before it happened, I’m tempted to let the transformation take place. Because I want to turn around and claw out two sets of blue eyes.

How dare they!
Victor wouldn’t kidnap women. Cold air blasts me in the face when we step outside, and I notice the storm has arrived. Sierra must be insane. I already know the Le Roux lie, but Marion is in on this one. I thought she could be trusted.

“Ms. Lily, the car’s right over here.” Thomas leads the way, and I follow without a word. There has to be an explanation.

When we get outside I lift my face to the falling snow, and the flakes melt on my skin.
“Victor, I’ve just left a prima luncheon, and we need to talk.”

My mind flashes to earlier this morning. Victor made love to me slowly, making sure he gave me multiple orgasms, and he left me with no doubt of his devotion before he went in to work late. Tears prick my eyes recalling the intensity of our bond.

“I’m on my way home, darling.”
He didn’t know I was meeting with Marion and Carly today. He must suspect what they told me if he’s coming home in the middle of the day.
Shit.
My stomach clenches at the thought of what I might find out.

Okay, so my husband was with Sierra before me. I can handle that. It’s not like I’m a virgin or anything. But, why would he bite her? Is that some drunken werebear thing? The sensations that flood my body when I sink my teeth into Victor are an intense pleasure for both of us, and it’s very personal.
No.
I can’t believe he would bite her without consent. She had to have wanted it.

The windshield wipers beat steadily as slush splashes up from passing cars. I still can’t believe Marion blindsided me like that. I know it’s almost impossible to cheat on your true mate, and I’m not concerned that Victor did. But kidnappings? That’s just ridiculous. Hot tears fall from my eyes, and I turn my head as if I’m looking out the window so Thomas won’t catch a glimpse of me crying in the mirror. How could I have been so foolish to believe that Marion would become a friend?

When we pull up the drive I see Victor’s BMW already in front of our house. He must be concerned, because he doesn’t usually park there. He steps out of his car when we pull up beside him to park. Before the engine is off my husband pulls my door open.

Holding out his hand he speaks in my head.
“Darling, I don’t know what you’re so upset about, but let me take away the pain. Come, and let’s sort this out.”

As if a dam has broken, my crying becomes sobs, and Victor scoops me up into his arms. “Shhh, it’s okay. I’ve got you now.” I bury my face in his shirt, and the starched crispness is rough against my cheek as he brings me into the house and down the hall to his study.

The faint scent of smoke from a previous fire comforts me as he sets me down on the couch. Victor falls to his knees to place himself before me. He pulls a handkerchief from his suit coat and hands it to me. I wipe my eyes as the warmth of my mate’s large hands stroke the edge of my thighs.

“Talk to me, Lily. What’s wrong?”

“They told me about Sierra.”

He sits back on his heels, and a muscle in his jaw jumps as his green eyes hold me in an intense gaze. “You know anything I had with that girl means absolutely nothing now that you’re in my life, right?”

I nod as he stands. “I do. But I need to understand why they say you kidnapped her.”

Victor has walked over to the wet bar, and glasses thump on it as he prepares to pour us both a whisky. “I met Sierra at Carly’s wedding. She’s quite attractive and set her sights on me.”

I reach for the cut crystal Victor hands me. The oaky scent of the alcohol wafts up my nose and tickles when I take a sip. He continues. “I had been drinking and got carried away. On the dance floor we let our instincts take over, and the next thing I knew I let my passion get the best of me.” Victor is standing before me and swirls the amber liquid in his glass. He smirks and says, “You know how I can be.”

I can’t help the small smile that forms on my face, and I nod in reply.

“I bit her. And she immediately began to change. I had no idea that would happen.” He takes a long sip of his drink, and I recall the pain that came immediately after Victor bit me on our wedding night. “After that we had the ability to speak in each other’s head and formed a mate bond. You know the undeniable attraction such a connection creates.”

I do, and the thought of Victor with Sierra makes jealousy surge in my veins as I nod for him to go on.

“Once she was changed she began to flirt with me telepathically.” He turns up a palm. “I flirted back but never expected her to come to me. She was with the Le Roux.”

Come to him? The idea of what they did when she arrived makes my blood move past simmering to a boil. “They told me you were with her right up until a few days before we married.”

Victor shakes his head and begins to pace. “It’s not quite what you think.” He stops by the fireplace and turns to me. “I tried to break things off with her after I met you. The moment I saw you for the first time, all feelings for Sierra vanished. But she couldn’t let go and wouldn’t leave.” He downs the rest of his drink. “She bit me, and because you and I hadn’t been together sexually she strengthened our mate bond.”

Now my rage had turned to nausea. Did Victor sleep with Sierra after he met me? I shake my head and hold up my hand to stop him from saying what I fear. He moves toward me and gets down on his knees at my feet. Moisture pools in his eyes, and he whispers, “I was weak and couldn’t fight it, Lily. God, I hated myself for being with her, but it was as if she had me trapped as a sex slave.”

A tear rolls down his cheek, and I reach out to wipe it away. I’ve heard that freshly changed teenagers sometimes get into trouble when one bites the other and creates an attraction that can’t be controlled. My poor husband had to have been so tortured. “How did you get rid of her?”

“I begged the Le Roux to come get the—Sierra. But she didn’t go willingly.” He reaches for my hand. “Lily, she said she was pregnant with my babies.” My mate closes his eyes and takes a labored breath before he says, “I think she might be right.”

No! I recall hearing the first litter born to a prime contains the next alpha. “She might be carrying the next Veilleux alpha?”

“If she’s is indeed pregnant with my children, she is.”

That bitch. She forced my husband to impregnate her with the next Veilleux clan leader. Did she want to be prima? I squeeze Victor’s hand. I can’t let her have an ounce of control over my mate. “If she is, those children belong with us.”

“What? Oh, darling, what are you saying?”

Determination sets in as I realize that the Le Roux can’t raise the next Veilleux prime or prima. I take my husband’s face in my hands, and his skin is smooth under my palms. “I’m saying we get a paternity test to determine if we’re about to become parents.”

Victor’s shocked look softens, and he takes both of my hands from his cheeks with a firm grip as he stands to pull me up. “You are amazing, Mrs. Veilleux. Would you really want to raise my children from another woman for the good of this clan?”

“Of course. Those Le Roux have no business with the heir to our clan.” I shudder imagining the evil Victor’s offspring would be subjected to. “They belong here.”

Victor gazes down at me, and silver flickers in his eyes. “You are more than worthy of being prima and standing by my side.” His voice is hesitant. “I’m afraid I may not be worthy of you, though. Can you forgive me for my weaknesses?”

The vision of Sierra kissing Victor flashes in my mind, but I push it out. “There’s nothing to forgive. You’re mine now, and that’s all that matters.”

Victor lifts my chin with a finger and whispers, “I am all yours, now and forever.”

He crushes me with a kiss that reaches deeply into me, and I return it with the resolve of doing the right thing. For us and for the clan.