Finding the Magic (18 page)

“Are you not
goin
’ to introduce yourself, Professor.”

The man glanced up from the monitor screen briefly his voice distracted. “I don’t make conversation with my other lab animals, why should I do so with you?”

The machine beeped faster in time with his heart as anger flooded him at the callous words. He pulled against his bonds and the other man sighed and looked away from the readings again. “This would go much easier on you if you would remain calm and cooperate.”

“Tell me why you are kidnapping
shapeshifters
and innocent women!”

No reply.

The professor donned a pair of latex gloves and fastened another strap just above Cam’s elbow, holding his forearm steady against the arm of the chair, palm up. Deftly he slipped a needle into a vein and filled five small bottles with blood while Cam could do nothing but glare at him. He removed the needle and pressed some gauze in its place while he undid the strap again.

“Tell me what you are doing to them!”

This time, instead of answering, the professor snapped open one of the vials of clear liquid and drew it quickly into a syringe.
Great
,
more drugs
.
Cameron watched dry-mouthed as he tapped out the air bubbles.

“What is that?”

The monitor betrayed his fear as his heart rate climbed again but he refused to let it show on his face. He drew a sharp breath as he was injected with the drug. It looked as though he was about to find out firsthand what had happened to the others. With a satisfied sound the man pulled off his gloves and moved to lean against the counter, arms folded. His lips curled in a tiny smile as he studied Cameron.

“Your friend isn’t here, you know. He was until very recently, just long enough for our little traitor to take the bait.”

“You’re lying.”

“Oh, I’m afraid not.” He chuckled softly. “You see, I know everything that goes on in this building. Douglass has already been moved. And when the rest of your little group gets here, my men will be waiting for them. It’ll be a nice change to let them come to me.”

The lion rushed to the surface and lunged, snarling at the man but was pulled up painfully by the restraints. Cam reined it in with some difficulty, sinking back into the chair. His vision swam and his head spun so he let it drop back heavily onto the headrest. A warm feeling suffused him and he closed his eyes briefly and surrendered to it. When he opened them again the professor was standing over him and he wasn’t sure how much time had passed. He struggled to focus his eyes and tried to lift his head but it was too hard.

“Hey! What the hell did you give me?” His voice was slurred and Cam struggled to bring his wayward emotions back under control, fighting the urge to laugh.

“A very special cocktail of my own invention. You should be
honored
, you’re the first to try it out. Tell me your name.”

“Cameron Murray.” The information slipped easily from his lips and he scowled.

“And how do you feel?”

“
Confushed
.” Again, the truth escaped.

“Excellent. Tell me, Mr. Murray, about the mating bond.”

“Derv Keel. Fear Kelly.” Cam mumbled. “Jayne.” He had to pull himself together, before his mouth ran away with him. He laughed at the image.

“Tell me about the mating bond!”

“No.”

“Tell me!

“S’ magic.”

Cam watched the man visibly grope for control, a muscle ticking in his tightly clenched jaw and clenched his own teeth against the urge to chatter. The professor picked up his papers and began making notes with angry stabs of his pen.

“It appears that I may have miscalculated the dosage since all you can do is blather nonsense at me. Let’s see what we can do to change that.” He stalked away from him and Cam’s mind began to wander. He thought about his mate, beautiful, lovely Jayne. All long legs and pale, creamy, soft skin…and that hair… He heard the door open and turned toward it hopefully but it was only the guard.

“Michael, Mr. Murray seems to be having trouble with my questions. Why don’t you help him regain his focus.”

“With pleasure, sir.”

Cam watched as he cracked his knuckles and sniggered at the absurdity of the whole situation. It was like being in the middle of a bad movie. He squinted at the professor who was again leaning against the counter. “
Wha’samatta
, Prof,
dinnae
want tae break a nail?”

“On the contrary, why should I get my hands dirty when I have others who are so willing for the opportunity?”

The first blow landed on his jaw and snapped his head to the side. He turned back slowly and smiled at the guard. The next landed on his nose, he felt the crunch as it broke and blood poured down his chin. Inside him, the cat raged and broke to the surface. It fought against the restraints, snarling at the two men. Cam struggled to hold it in check, knowing it did him no good to lose control. The combination of pain and the drugs made the room whirl. Another blow, this one to the mouth, leaving him with the coppery taste of blood.

“Seeing clearly yet, Murray?” Michael sneered.

“Aye.” Cam snickered. “I’m seeing your face
meetin
’ my fist in the near future.”

That gained him a flurry of blows between his ribs and stomach and face, as well as a few to his wounded shoulder. Blood splattered on the floor and the professor’s lab coat and he wrinkled his nose in disgust. Cam felt darkness intruding on his vision. Then it stopped abruptly, someone grabbed his hair and hauled his head up so that he was looking into the professor’s face. One eye was swollen almost shut and blood dripped steadily from Cam’s chin.

“Tell me about the mating bond.”

Cameron laughed with genuine mirth then groaned at the pain it caused to his bruised ribs. “Told you…it’s magic.”

The professor shook his head in disgust. “Take him away.”

Michael looked disappointed but he used a small radio from his belt and within a few moments the nervous man from earlier arrived with a gurney. They unfastened the chair restraints and hauled him up. The quick movement made everything spin around him again and he stumbled the few steps to the gurney. He climbed up,
unprotesting
, as they strapped him on, and closed his eyes against his various aches. One way or another, he was going to make these men pay but he could bide his time, wait for the right opportunity. They pushed him out of the room and along the corridor while Cam concentrated on keeping his mouth shut. The urge to chatter was still there, indicating that the drug was still coursing strongly through his veins. It was ironic, really, that he had been telling the professor the truth, had in fact been unable to prevent it.
Why was this guy so interested in the mating bond
?

Jayne jumped to her feet as the locks
snicked
open. When she saw the gurney, her heart almost stopped and she took an automatic step forward before the presence of the gun again halted her. The guard waved her away from the cot and he and his companion, grunting with effort, lifted an unresisting Cameron on to it. His face was bloody, there was bruising already evident and one eye was swollen. She glared at the man with the gun.

“What did you do to him?”

“Don’t shoot the messengers, doll, we just pick up and deliver.” Before following his partner out of the room, he tossed a key to the floor at her feet. He grinned at her and gave her a lust-filled once-over with his eyes. She waited for the door to snick shut behind them, picked up the key and rushed to Cameron’s side, unfastening the cuffs and rubbing the reddened skin on his wrists. He opened his undamaged eye and she saw that his pupil was dilated, his eye slightly unfocused.

“Aw man, they drugged you again, didn’t they?” She removed the manacles from his feet, stuck the key in her pocket and checked his injuries. His face was a mess, his nose was probably broken, and he had bruising beginning to form on his ribs and stomach.

“Pick up ‘n
d’liver
, my ass. Bastard.” He chuckled and then caught his breath.

“Cameron, my love, you are going to need some serious
detoxing
when this is all over. What the heck did they give you anyway?” She helped him sit up and watched him shake his head gently in an effort to clear it.

“
Dunno
…makes me want tae talk.” He smiled crookedly at her, then winced at the resulting pain. “If you want tae know
if’ve
got any more secrets
now’d
be a good time to ask.”

“Nah, I trust you. Come on.” Jayne stood and helped him climb stiffly to his feet. “Let’s get you cleaned up.” She led him to the bathroom area, sat him on the closed lid of the toilet and filled the sink with warm water.

“Tell me what happened.” As he talked, she used the washcloth to remove the blood from his face, wincing at the cut on his eyebrow and the bruising she revealed. By the time she finished, he looked more alert and had stopped slurring his words.

“I’m sorry your friend isn’t here.” He said nothing but there was an almost unbearable sadness on his battered face. Briskly, she emptied the sink and rinsed out the cloth, then stepped back between his knees. Pasting a cheerful expression on her own face.

“I hate to tell you this but your nose is going to have an even worse bump on it and you’re going to have some scars to add to your collection. You’re a mess, Cameron.”

He squinted at her. “This is
goin
’ to be healed by tomorrow, it’s nothing.”

She rolled her eyes. “Well, I guessed
that
. If you could almost heal from a gunshot wound in a few hours then this should be easy.”

“It was just a graze!” he protested.

“You know, most men would be moaning and complaining right now. Just let me take care of you for a while, Cam.” She smoothed his hair back from his face. “It makes me feel better.”

With a sigh, he wrapped his arms around her waist and laid his head against her. “I’m no’ most men.”

“No, you are most certainly not.” She stroked his hair thoughtfully. “Why would he need to know about the bond? What could he possibly gain from that?”

“I don’t know.”
But I need to find out
,
we
’
ve got to get out of here
,
Jayne
.
We need to warn Chris and the team that they are
walkin
’
intae
a trap
.

“Well then, why not tell him?” Jayne leaned against him and tugged off her boot, quickly retrieving the letter opener and slipping it into her sleeve.

What the hell are you doing
?

I have a plan
.
Do you want out of here or not
?
Play along
,
dammit
!

He frowned at her but complied, her heart gave a little flutter at the amount of trust that implied. “Are you out of your mind? We have no idea why he wants to know, but I have no doubt it’s nothing good!”

What do you think you
’
re going to accomplish with that thing
?
It wouldn
’
t cut butter and even if it could you
wouldnae
have the stomach to use it
!

Maybe so
,
but
they
don
’
t know that
.
Come on
!
These guys have seriously underestimated me
,
you saw him earlier
!
He only saw me as a way to keep you in check
,
no threat
.
That gives us the advantage
.
She marched into the middle of the room, arms spread wide. “Aw, come on, Cam, you said it yourself, what could he possibly gain from knowing?”

He stood, fists clenched at his sides, expression fierce, and stalked toward her. He looked so genuinely threatening that she actually found herself taking a step back.

“You
willnae
do this.”
I am serious
,
my
fìor
cèile
,
Ah
willnae
allow you to put yourself in danger like this
.
We
’
ll find another way out
.

The door clicked open behind her and she smiled at him.
Too late
.

Our life together is never going to be quiet, is it
?

Don
’
t blame me
,
I was just an ordinary checkout girl quietly minding my own business before you came along
.

You could never be ordinary
.
He gave her a heated once-over and turned his attention to the door.

Chapter Fourteen

Jayne followed Cam’s gaze and watched the man he had called Michael enter with his gun in hand. He smirked at them.

“Lovers’ quarrel already?”

She looked at him and allowed some of her fear to show on her face. “No quarrel, just a little disagreement. I want out of here and I don’t see the harm in trading a little bit of information to accomplish that.” Cameron growled, a low, inhuman sound that made the hair stand up on the back of her neck. Michael focused his attention on the most obvious threat. He glanced at Jayne. “Let’s go, Miss Davis, the professor wants to have a wee chat.”