Mating Call (16 page)

“Oh, yeah. We’re having Mexican. Ana and SE are cooking.”

He mumbled another thank you and left.
Damn it.
She was doing it again. She had no idea how she knew what they were having for dinner or who was cooking it for that matter. There was another knock. Pax must have forgotten something. She got up and opened the door.

“Reyn?” She looked straight up into his swollen blue eyes, gaunt face, and shadows that reached down all the way to his high cheekbones.

“I need your help.”

CHAPTER NINETEEN

Evy found herself taking the arm of the Order’s leader. “Come in.”

“I’m so sorry to intrude like this. I—”

“It’s no intrusion. Please, sit down.” She figured it was either that or he was going to fall down.

The male started to sit, then popped right up again.
My God.
Something was terribly wrong. “What is it, Reyn? What’s going on?”

“I just need you to find out if the Goddess is okay. I mean, you can sense her, right?”

“I can, at times. I don’t really know how to control it exactly.”

“I’ve been afraid something was wrong for days now. She’s in danger, Evy. I think she’s trying to cross over into our realm and then retreating.”

“Danger?”

“From the gods that destroyed her in the first place. Do you think you could try and sense her?”

“I can try.” What the hell was she saying? She had never even tried to sense the Goddess on purpose and it only seemed to happen at night anyway. But she had to at least give it a go. She sat down on the chaise, crisscrossed her legs, and focused. After a moment she felt a warmth inside her and she realized that was the key. She concentrated on it. Heat hit the back of her eyes and a bright light came into view. She recognized it immediately as the energy of her Goddess. Her whole being was filled with peace when suddenly she felt an ice cold sensation and an impenetrable darkness separated them.

Evelyn, no! Go back!

The light became so bright she almost had to turn away. For a moment, it blocked out the shadow completely. Out of nowhere she flew backward off the lounge and hit the floor. “Ow!”

“Evy!” A strong hand helped her to her feet. “Are you alright?”

She let her eyes return to normal and her room came into view. “Yeah, I’m okay.”

“What happened? Were you attacked?”

“No, I don’t think so. It was the Goddess who pushed me away. I think she did it to protect me. She told me to go back. There’s definitely something else out there with her—a presence. The same kind of being as she is, only dark. Evil. ”

The male’s face fell.

“That’s what you were afraid of, isn’t it.”

He nodded.

“I think she’s still trying to get here. She must think she’ll be able to do it safely at some point. Why else would she try?”

Reyn ran his hand through his hair. He wasn’t telling her everything. She wasn’t sure how much she could help with only part of the story.

“Yeah, I guess you’re right. She would have gone back by now otherwise. Thanks for your help, Evy.”

And just like that he made a beeline for the door. He practically ran over Troy on his way out.

“What’s up with him?”

She sighed. “I wish I knew.”

James tossed the CVS bag on the bed and got undressed. He walked into the bathroom and flicked on the light. His reflection loomed out of the corner of his eye, but he refused to look. He was done with that male, which was just as well. Only one thing mattered now and the old James would never be able to handle it. He opened the box of hair color, mixed the ingredients without reading the instructions, and put on the gloves. The chemicals assaulted his senses as he pulled the dye through his thick auburn hair, careful not to get any on the brand new gauges he wore in each ear. Seth had to be stopped and there was no way that was going to happen without the element of surprise. They knew one another too well.

James pulled the gloves off and threw them into the CVS bag. Without giving it much thought, he looked down and peeled the bandage off his wound. There was nothing left now but a scar across his chest. Wasn’t that just fucking poetic. He rolled his eyes. At least he still had a few days left before he officially went back on duty. Christ only knew who his new partner would be, but the more he thought about it, the more he realized he didn’t give a shit. Not anymore. He only wanted to fight to eliminate the enemy and he could do that alongside any warrior in the order.

When it was time, James headed for the shower and made quick work of rinsing out the dye. He toweled off, pulled a pair of scissors from a drawer, and went to work. Slicing into his new black hair, he cut out his waves, leaving it choppy. He looked into the mirror. Steely gray eyes looked back at him. They were going to be a problem. They would probably light up like frigging Christmas morning the second he saw Seth. He could try contacts, but he seriously doubted they were gonna hide those New Breed peepers. Nope. The only way he was gonna keep them under control was by clamping down on his emotions. He figured he could manage it with a little practice. After all, if his ex-
camzah
had taught him anything, it was the importance of duty.

No fear. No hate. No love.

Only the job.

Troy knocked on X’s door, buried his hands in his pockets, and waited. He didn’t have the faintest idea what this was about. It was almost time for dinner. What could the brother want to chin–wag about that couldn’t wait half an hour?

He felt X’s emotional imprint makin’ its way up the corridor. The male was definitely excited about somethin’. “Yo, X.”

“Sorry, bro. I got held up.”

They exchanged a quick shoulder clap.

“No worries. Whassup?”

“My car got hit.”

He started to follow his partner down the hall. “Are you shittin’ me? Is it bad?”

“Not too. I just thought I’d have you take a look, dig?”

“Yeah, sure. The douche bag is still alive right? You didn’t do anythin’ you could be busted for.”

X shook his head. “Nah. Not worth it.”

They walked into the garage and fresh winter air hit Troy’s lungs. X turned and started toward the back. “You parked it way up there?”

“Easier to work on if it’s out of the way.”

They passed Diesel’s Ford and he froze. There was a ‘Vette parked along the far wall. It looked like a ‘67 Stingray. ‘Course he knew better. “Wait, you bought a new car and someone hit it?”

X grinned. “Nope. The guy that tapped my rear fender was towing it.”

“Is it authentic?”

“Hell yes. Even came with papers. And it’s all yours.”

X waited for it to hit. The male suddenly went bug eyed and he couldn’t help but smile at his expression.

“Back the fuck up. Are you serious?”

“Deadly.” Troy hadn’t had much in his life and what he’d had nobody in their right mind would want. Lately it seemed like his luck was changing and X sure as hell didn’t mind helping it along.

Troy walked toward the ‘Vette and stopped a foot away, like if he touched it the car would disappear or some shit. “I don’t believe it.”

“It’s just a little mating gift.”

“Little. You must’ve knocked over Fort Knox.”

“I knew you two would need it. Some of us put our money in high yield funds instead of spending it all on beautiful females. I had to replace the brakes and a few other incidentals. I wanted to wait for you to paint. But she’s road ready.”

Troy looked back at him and then closed the distance between himself and the car. He laid his hand on the roof and dropped his head as he exhaled. “I don’t…”

Time to let him off the hook. “Don’t worry about it. Just take it easy the first few runs. The keys are in the ignition. Go get your female.”

His boy glanced back, his cheeks faintly wet. X watched him dematerialize, then headed for the door. He didn’t need to be there when the brother came back with Evy. He’d leave that moment between them. He smiled to himself as he walked to his room. He knew he wouldn’t see Troy’s mug at the dinner table tonight. It was the best gift he’d gotten in a long time.

Viktor stoked the fire in the drawing room as he tried to think of his next step. He needed to leave and soon. Fate had given Dimka a new family and he didn’t want to jeopardize it. He’d taken enough from him. He took the photograph he’d found in the attic from his pocket and stared at the female. His mate looked back at him. Elena was young in this picture. It was taken years before their mating. She wore a long, beautiful coat with a fur collar and her bright blue eyes were alight with happiness. Why wouldn’t they be? His family had lived near hers in Moscow, both moving in the same shifter social circles, enjoying the kind of wealth most people would only dream about. They lived sheltered lives—ignorant of the poverty and suffering that went on around them. Eventually, the two families defected together and ended up in Boston. He started seeing Elena, but it soon became clear to him that Dimka had feelings for her.

Viktor sighed and stared into the fire. His younger brother was the most important person in his life. His best friend. Elena was lovely and sweet, but she wasn’t worth losing Dimitri over. He broke it off with her and promised Dimka they were done. And they were, until a year later when he went to visit Elena for a weekend at her university. They were mated and the promise he had made to Dimitri became impossible to keep. He’d thought for sure his brother would understand, but he didn’t. He cut off ties to both of them, but Viktor had never given up hope that his brother would come around in time.

And then the unthinkable.

Elena’s time had run out. And so, it seemed, had theirs.

CHAPTER TWENTY

Pax walked next to his partner as they went through the main foyer. He was blown away by how well Diesel was doing with his prosthesis, but Helen wanted to be sure he could get to dinner alright. So with Pax on one side and X on the other, Diesel entered the drawing room to the whoops and hollers of the Order.

As they walked to the table, Pax looked around for James, but he didn’t appear to be there. Just as Reyn was offering Diesel his seat at the head of the table for the night, he picked up on James walking in through the far door. The brother sat down at the table and everyone went quiet. He had dyed his hair jet black and done some serious work with the scissors. He was also sporting a gauge in each ear.
WTF?

“SE and Ana you’ve outdone yourselves with the food,” Diesel said. “Those are some sweet gauges, James.”

If the dinner wasn’t in his honor, Pax would have punched his partner in the head. He picked up the fork and helped himself to two enchiladas. “So, what’s all this about?”

James looked up from his plate and Pax’s eyes were full-on assaulted by all the hardware in the male’s face. There was a barbell at his eyebrow, a nose ring, a ring in his lower lip.
Holy shit.

Apparently, he wasn’t going to get an answer. Not then anyway. He was going to have to nail James down in private and find out what the hell he was up to. It was one thing to have an attack of teenage rebellion. Too bad the male didn’t have a rebellious bone in his body. He spooned some
mole
onto his plate. Nothing made him miss Puerto Rico more than SE’s cooking. He took another gander at the tool box happening on James’s face. He rubbed his forehead. That was if he could keep the food down at all.

Dimitri walked up the main staircase and knocked on Viktor’s door. He hadn’t been at dinner. Not that he had to be. It just seemed a little off. Besides, it was time to admit it was worthwhile for them to at least try to work it out. He rolled his eyes.
Go me.

“Just a second.”

His brother opened the door and Dimitri’s eye immediately caught the two open duffle bags on the bed.

“What gives, big brother?”

Viktor gave a nod toward the bed. “What does it look like? I’m bugging out.”

“I’m sorry?”

“I gotta take off. I got some shit I need to handle.”

He leaned against the wall and crossed his arms. “Well, that is how you roll isn’t it.”

The male stopped shoving socks into his bag and looked up. “What?”

“I mean, let’s face it. You don’t exactly have the best track record. Punking out when things get tough is kind of your specialty.”

“Jesus, Dimka.” He brushed past and walked into the closet. “You have no idea what you’re talking about, as usual.”

He was trying very hard not to lose his shit here. “You left Pa and me, and never came the fuck back. Are you saying I just imagined that shit?”

“Obviously not, but we’ve been right here. Right here, in our old house, and you haven’t knocked on my door once until today. Not once have you stopped me and asked me what the hell happened.”

Dimitri’s eyes were trained on him as he pulled all the clothing off the hangers. “What’s to know? You got drunk, smashed your car, and killed the most amazing female on the planet. What more is there to tell?”

“Is that what all this is about? Still?”

He had no real claim to her and he knew it. But every time Dimitri looked at his older brother the same thought came into his mind.
Murderer.
“You’re damn right that’s what it’s about. She was an amazing, innocent female and I loved her. I loved her and you destroyed her.”

Viktor pivoted in the doorway so his face was so close Dimitri could feel his breath. “Is it possible for you to get your head out of your own ass for one second? Sure, fine, you loved her. She was my
mate
! Every morning I wake up and for one glorious moment I think everything is okay. Then I realize she’s gone and I have to hold onto the bed to keep from gleaming to the nearest high building.”

“That’s not enough. It’s not close to enough punishment for someone who robbed her of her life. The world will never know her incredible light because you snuffed it out.”

Viktor seized his collar. “Get out. Now.”

Dimitri turned and made for the door. “Fine. Make sure you don’t come back.”