Living a Lion: BBW Paranormal Shape Shifter Romance (Sleeping Lions - Shifters Prime Book 1) (4 page)

“You aren’t going into the office?” Kane asked. His uncle was at his desk six days a week, sometimes seven. Kane knew for sure that he had appointments scheduled all day today, so why was he leaving? A sense of dread crept through Kane. What had he unleashed?

“I’ll call my PA and reschedule. Can you get yourself home?”

“You’ll be gone all day?” Kane asked, feeling even more worried.

“Yes. I have some business that I have been putting off. But I’ve run out of time.” The expression on his uncle’s face was one of uttermost sadness.

As Darius drove off, Kane stood and watched. The bracelet felt heavy on his wrist, but he knew that there would be a time, very soon, when he would be taking it off. He had already set in motion his own fate. The chances of going back to how things were before last night were zero.

But as he turned and walked to the elevator, he felt alive, his skin buzzing, his muscles tense. Inside him something stirred, and he felt like a man. Whereas until now, despite his age, he had always been a boy, always been his uncle’s nephew.

Somewhere in the distance, he swore he heard a lion roar.

It had been a long day. The thumping in her head had developed into a full-blown headache, making her feel sick. The collar around her neck seemed to tighten and pulse in time with her head, and all she could do was concentrate on getting through each task, one at a time.

Worse, a kind of depression was settling over her. Looking forward, she had no idea how she was going to survive two years of this life.

“You have to take it one day at a time,” Misty told her. They were outside. It was late afternoon, and they were both on their break before they had to help prepare dinner.

Amara sipped her cool water, and took a piece of the chocolate Misty offered her. “Thanks,” she said, placing it in her mouth and allowing it to melt. She closed her eyes and savoured this one tiny bit of heaven, trying to block out everything else. “I think I have to take it one minute at a time and work up to an hour, and then a day.”

Misty laughed. “Yeah, I had forgotten how bad it was. You are the first person from Shifters Prime the Reiniers have taken on since I started.”

“Really? Didn’t that make it kind of lonely?” Amara asked.

“Oh, I don’t mean there weren’t others when I first arrived. But over the time I have been here, the others worked off their contracts and left. There were five of us when I started.”

“And you have two months left to run. Wow, that means I am going to be the odd one out for nearly the whole of my contract, unless they take any more contracts on.” Amara felt the loneliness crowding in. The only thing that had made her first few miserable days bearable had been the support and advice Misty offered her. Three years here alone with no one to understand her, especially when the full moon came around—that was going to be tough.

“Yes, it’s strange, they used to take them on all the time, but then they stopped. I’m not sure why.” She shrugged. “Maybe they prefer their own. And that makes you special.” She nudged Amara and smiled.

“Do you know much about the family?” Amara couldn’t help herself asking, although she knew she should put all thoughts of Kane Reinier out of her mind.

“Not really. Darius is a self-made man, he started with nothing and built up his business.” She ate another piece of chocolate and offered Amara some more. Despite feeling guilty for eating Misty’s supplies, bought with her meagre allowance, she needed to feel the sweet, comforting velvety texture on her tongue.

“What is his business?” Amara asked.

“He is one of the only companies licenced to trade with the Prime. Legally trade, that is.” She looked along the drive, where a car had appeared, and began to stir. “He’s back early.”

“Who is it?” Amara asked.

“Darius. He normally works until late. They both do. One thing about the Reiniers is they have a strong work ethic when it comes to ripping off the people of the Prime.” She stood up, their break over.

“Ripping them off? What do you mean?” Amara asked, standing too. Thankfully her headache had gone back to being a dull ache. If she went inside and took some painkillers, she might even be able to get rid of it.

“They sell to the Prime for a premium. Most of the stock that is sent over is faulty, or not up to the same standards as they sell this side of the border. Then they have to add a premium. Darius managed to make some good connections in the Prime. Maybe that was why he took on contracts, to make himself look good to businesses in the Prime. I know he had a lot of shifters working in his factories. But now he’s built up his business, he doesn’t need the goodwill. Many Prime businesses are dependent on him. Or were. I only know because one of the drivers came here from a factory to serve out his contract when his health failed.”

“So the Reiniers put on a good-guy face, but are really the bad guy?” Amara asked.

“Maybe. But they have been good to me.” She turned to look back at Amara. “Listen, I shouldn’t gossip like this. There are far worse ways of working off a contract. So keep your head down and stay here; they will look after you.”

“I will. Thanks for the advice,” Amara said, and walked with her friend back to the house, where the car had pulled up outside and Darius was getting out. He paused, shielding his eyes from the sun that hung low in the sky. As he looked at the two women walking towards him, a shiver ran through Amara’s body.

“Damn, if we didn’t belong on different sides of the border, I would not say no to that man,” Misty said, her voice low.

“He’s old enough to be your father, “Amara said.

“I know, but he is a damn fine man. All predatory looks and bulging muscles. He has certainly looked after himself. If only he was one of us,” she said.

“And are you so sure he isn’t?” Amara asked, and then laughed as she saw Misty’s face fill with shock. “I think I get your answer.”

“How could he be? He wouldn’t be able to own a business or this house if he was. You know how the law works.” Misty shook her head. “You should be careful making jokes like that. I’m sure Darius has enough influential people who are jealous of his success, that would run with a story like that. His business would collapse and he would lose everything. And the Prime would suffer.”

“I’m sorry,” Amara said. “It was stupid.” She sighed. “I have so much to learn about living here.”

“Well, you are just lucky you have me here for the next two months. I will give you all the information you need, all my contacts too.” She winked at Amara.

“What kind of contacts?” Amara asked, intrigued.

“The kind that will give you chocolate.” Misty popped the last piece into her mouth and savoured the taste. “Darius might not be one of us, but there are enough shifters this side of the border, and we help each other out.”

“Tell me more,” Amara said.

“Not now,” Misty said. “Looks as if Darius is waiting for us.”

Amara looked up and saw the older Mr. Reinier was standing at the end of the path they were following. He looked agitated, but as they drew nearer he stood up straight and looked in control once more. Misty was right: the man had an air of authority about him that many women would find attractive.

He hair was dark, his face tanned, with a strong jaw, which was now tense. Whatever control he had, was hard won. His right hand was fiddling with a ring on his left little finger, winding the metal round and round and round. Amara’s eyes caught the silver glint of it and she was reminded of the moon, of the way it shone on Kane’s bracelet, and her face paled. How could anyone else have missed it?

Darius let his hands drop to his sides, and Amara felt his eyes boring into her. He knew she knew. Even if she never spoke of it,
he knew she knew
.

“Misty.” His voice was level, calm, in control. “Could you ask Mrs. Bower to make dinner later tonight please. I have some business I have to attend to, and Kane will be helping me.”

“Yes, sir,” Misty said. “I’ll go and tell her now.”

“Good. Thank you, and can you ask her if she can possibly manage without Amara. I have a job for her, and it will take a few hours.”

Misty frowned, looking at Amara, her face creased in worry. “I’ll tell her.”

Misty stood still, not wanting to leave Amara alone. Did she sense the danger that hung in the air?

“I’ll see you later,” Amara said, not wanting Misty to get mixed up in the trouble Amara had brought down on herself. Misty was two months away from being able to go home and resume her old life. Amara had no desire to take that from her.

She would rather die. And looking at Darius’s set face, she wasn’t sure that wasn’t exactly what he had in mind.

Come straight to the boat house
.
Now
. Kane had received the message a little over half an hour ago. He had gone straight to reception and borrowed one of the pool cars. Keeping to the speed limit, just, he had driven home quickly, his mind trying to clutch hold of all the possible explanations as to why Darius had moved their meeting forward.

Only when he stood at the entrance of the old boat house, did he start to really worry. Because Darius was not alone. Standing next to him, looking incredibly pale and vulnerable, was the shifter woman.

“What’s going on, Darius?” Kane asked, a need to protect the woman hitting him in the solar plexus, and making him want to jump on Darius and beat the life out of him with his bare hands. He shook his head, trying to rid himself of those primal thoughts. He was a civilised man. You are one of
them
. And the lion roared again.

“Your life is about to change, Kane,” Darius said, coming forward. “But we have to do this with level heads.”

“Do what?” Kane looked to the woman once more. “Let her go, Darius. This is between you and me.” Whatever
this
was.

“Amara is as much a part of this as you or me.” Darius hooked his hand under her arm and they both walked forward. He could see by Amara’s face that she had been crying.

“What have you done to her?” Kane asked.

“Nothing. Except told her the truth. Most of which she had already guessed.”

“The truth. About what? About this?” Kane held up his wrist, pointing to the bracelet. Then he moved his fingers; he was going to undo the clasp and release whatever beast was inside of him.

“No!” She ran forward, her hand going around his, stopping him releasing the thing he was now certain lived inside him. “Not here. Not now.”

“It’s true, then?” he asked, his eyes fixed on hers, as the now-familiar sense of shock at her touch threaded through his veins.

“Yes. I believe so,” she said quietly.

“Who are you?” he asked. “I mean, who are you really?”

“My name is Amara,” she said. “As for who I really am, I’m not sure you would understand.”

“Try me,” he said.

“I think that is for your uncle to explain,” she said, moving to stand by his side, facing Darius. “Darius.”

His uncle didn’t seem fazed by one of the servants, a shifter even, calling him by his first name. “Uncle? Seems as how you both know what’s going on, what the real truth is, don’t you think it’s time I knew?” Kane asked quietly.

“Yes. It is. But I want you to know one thing, Kane. What I did, everything, has been to keep you safe.” Darius came close, standing five feet away as if waiting for Kane’s reaction. Did he see the beast inside Kane, and know that he was ready to attack him, for whatever it was he had done, whatever lies he had told Kane?

“Are you really my uncle?” Kane asked.

“Yes. Yes, I am.”

“And my parents? Are they dead, or did you kidnap me?” Kane asked.

Darius held up his hand, palm facing Kane, as if to ward off any more accusations. “It’s more complicated than that.”

“So they are alive?” Kane asked. “I trusted you.” He took a step towards Darius, fists clenched, ready to fight.

“No, Kane,” Amara put her hand in his, trying to calm him. “You need to listen to what Darius has to say. You need to understand.”

“Understand? My whole life has been one big lie. And now you are on his side too? Is that why you are here? To try to seduce me so I won’t think badly of him?” His temper was rising and the bracelet on his wrist was tight, so tight it felt as though it was cutting off his blood circulation.

Amara sensed the change in him, and her other hand went to the bracelet covering it. “Take deep breaths. Don’t let it control you.”

“Don’t let what control me?” he asked. “This thing inside me. What happens if I free it?”

“If you free it now, everything that we have worked for, will be for nothing,” Darius said, his voice unusually harsh, filled with pain and grief.

“Kane. I know this is hard,” Amara said. “You don’t know me, you don’t know anything about me, but I’m asking you to listen to Darius before you do something you’ll regret.”

“Regret? What, like trusting a man who you thought had your back? Who you thought had your best interests at heart? When all the time he has been lying to you?”

“Kane. I have always had, and still do have, your best interests at heart. But this goes deeper than you, or me.” Darius shook his head, and if Kane didn’t know better, he would have thought he heard a strangled sob come from the throat of the man whom he had never seen cry, and whom emotion often came hard to. That spoke to Kane more clearly than words.

“I need the truth,” Kane said simply. “I want to know what is going on and if I really am one of…” He couldn’t say the word; he had his suspicions, beyond any reasonable doubt. But he knew that once someone else spoke the words, there would be no turning back, his life would be over.

“I’ll tell you what I know.” Darius turned to face him. “But first I need you to promise me you will not act irrationally.”

“You have taught me how to weigh up the evidence, and to act calmly. But that is a lot easier when it’s business.” Kane shook his head, trying to wake up from what was about to become a nightmare reality. “But I promise to try to be rational.”

Darius glanced nervously around as if he was expecting someone to be lurking in the shadows, his fingers going to fiddle with the ring on his little finger. The ring he always wore. So there was much more at stake than Kane could ever have known.