New Species 09 Shadow (23 page)

Jaded kept by the door while he spoke, far from her. She did notice that Shadow didn’t step between them. He must trust him.

“Thank you.”

Bright-green, catlike eyes narrowed. “Great job. Breeze will be fine. The female is too stubborn to be harmed enough to keep her down for more than a few hours while she undergoes the cleaning of the wound and stitches. She’s already made one of the Drs. Harris threaten to quit.” He chuckled. “It was the younger one. He’ll learn to be as grouchy as his father when dealing with us. Self-defense.”

“I’m glad to hear she will be well.”

Beauty was too. She kept silent though, not comfortable with someone she didn’t know.

“Justice wants a full report when you land at Homeland. You’re to take Beauty home. The task force is giving you a lift in about twenty minutes. They have both their helicopters here.”

“Tim just told me.”

Jaded hesitated, glanced at Beauty and cleared his throat. “Perhaps we should speak in the hall.”

Shadow didn’t budge. “What is it? Do you no longer trust the team? I know those males. It would be rare for one to betray the others. My faith isn’t shaken.”

“That’s not it.” Jaded lifted a hand and ran tan fingers through his short black hair. “We have a problem. Moon was hit by a sniper with a tranquilizer dart.”

“Torrent informed me. I was with him when he got the call.”

“We believed it was just a distraction to draw our officers toward the front gates so they could gain access to the Wild Zone. But he woke feral. It wasn’t a sleeping drug he was exposed to. I’m certain they shot him for that purpose but the result is much worse.”

Beauty didn’t like the uncomfortable silence that suddenly blanketed the room. “What does that mean?”

Jaded actually looked at her for more than a few seconds before glancing at Shadow. “Are you sure you don’t want to take this away from her? It might be upsetting.”

“I’m not leaving her alone.” Shadow crossed his arms over his chest. “She’s stronger than you know. She was almost killed yet she’s calm.”

“Understood.” Jaded stepped closer, lowering his voice. “Moon is completely feral. He doesn’t know us, won’t or can’t speak and is exhibiting violent behavior to the extreme. The older Dr. Harris ran blood tests after six of our males had to restrain Moon when he attempted to kill them. It will take time to get official results but some of our males sniffed the dart to compare against known drugs. Our senses are faster than running them through machines to identify. The drug is unknown to any of us.” His gaze drifted to Beauty, then back. “There’s a connection between Douglas Miller and Mercile. They may be working together on this. Who else could come up with a drug that could do something that would send one of ours into a murderous rage? Mercile is the only one who could pull this off with their knowledge of our biology. Moon is one of our most easygoing males. I know him well but that’s a stranger I faced inside his room. Complete and total personality reversal.”

Shadow’s fists clenched at his side. “That would mean this was planned far in advance. They must have been working on a drug that would harm us.”

“Or they already possessed it but none of our surviving people ever experienced it.”

“There is a Mercile doctor involved in this.”

“That’s what we’re assuming at this point. Douglas Miller may have been waiting for an opportunity. He has the money to support the employees still running from us. I pulled the file on Miller and while we were able to have his accounts frozen in this country, he had vast holdings outside the reach of the US justice department. The bastard even had a human working for him inside the task force headquarters to monitor all movement. Some humans are vindictive. He may have set this into motion as soon as he realized we’d taken back what he held. He finally saw his chance to retrieve…what he wants.”

“Who is Douglas Miller?” Beauty was trying to follow their conversation. “What does he want? Is he one of the owners of Mercile?”

Shadow turned and stepped closer, peering into her eyes. His hand was warm when he gently cupped her cheek on the side that wasn’t bruised. “Douglas Miller is the human who imprisoned you.”

Master.
It was an emotional slap but she kept her chin up, resisting curling into a ball to protect herself from the pain washing through her system. Not once had she asked to learn more about the human who’d reared and kept her. Getting beyond what had been done to her seemed more important than focusing on the details of who and why.

The conversation between Shadow and the council member suddenly made horrifying sense. She was glad to be sitting down. Shadow softly growled, his thumb stroking her skin in comfort.

“This isn’t your fault.”

“It is in a way. He is after me. He wants me returned.” She pulled away from his touch to lean to the side enough to see Jaded behind him. “You think this…” she had to pause and swallow down the bile that rose. She couldn’t get his real name past her lips. “Bastard is working with Mercile to hurt Species in revenge for my rescue?”

Jaded hesitated, glancing at Shadow.

Shadow stepped to her side. “Tell her the truth. She deserves that.”

Beauty was grateful for his support and almost reached over to take the hand he’d lowered to his side. She resisted, afraid to look weaker in the eyes of the council member than he surely assumed she was. “Please tell me.”

“Mercile is broke and the employees who fled are too. We cut off their money and seized everything they owned with the help of the president. Douglas Miller had a lot of money in foreign countries that we couldn’t touch. He’s a wanted man who can’t return to the States or any country that would extradite him.” Sympathy softened Jaded’s features. “We know he hired the humans to come after you and we do believe he’s responsible for Moon’s unstable condition.”

Jaded took a deep breath, exhaling slowly. “In no way is this your fault. It’s just tied together. Miller and some of the Mercile doctors must be working together to achieve similar goals. He’s got the money to hide and help them if he wishes. Mercile made a previous attempt against one of our males with a drug they hoped would make him commit murder. It would have backed their stance that we’re dangerous and don’t deserve human rights if Fury had murdered his human mate. It would have been a major victory to sway world opinion that they were justified in using Species as laboratory rats for their experiments.”

Shadow drew her attention. “A human nurse was assigned to Fury after he was shot in an assassination attempt by other humans against his mate. The drug she exposed him to made him aggressive and violent.” He looked at Jaded. “Was it the same drug?”

“Not according to the sniff test. It’s something else that appears far worse than the symptoms Fury suffered. Moon is completely violent and unresponsive to anyone or anything. He’s either in so much pain he is beyond thought or they damaged his mind so extensively that his personality has devolved to basic survival of his animal genetics. That’s what we’re assessing right now but it’s early. There’s always hope the drug will wear off the way it did in Fury’s case. We’ve sent for specialists. They will be arriving within the next few hours.”

Guilt ate at Beauty. “Why couldn’t he have just died?”

Jaded’s green eyes flashed anger. “Moon is my friend. I hate to see him this way but I’m grateful he survived.”

“I meant the bastard. Not your friend.” She suddenly wished she were alone with Shadow. “He got sick and he’s old. That’s what I meant. This would be over if he had died. He wouldn’t be around to come after me or hurt our people.”

She didn’t mention aloud that she wouldn’t be alive either if he had died while she’d been his prisoner. The guards wouldn’t have had anyone to stop them from hurting her any way they wished. They would have destroyed the evidence and burned her body to ash, the way she’d overheard them plotting at times.

“I understand.” Jaded calmed. “Some humans wish to hurt us anyway. They are afraid of us or refuse to accept what we are. Don’t take this personally. If it wasn’t Douglas Miller, it would be someone else.”

He spoke to Shadow next. “I’ll leave now. I wanted you informed of all we know so far. We’ll have more solid facts by the time you reach Homeland to meet with Justice.” Catlike eyes turned to Beauty. “I meant what I said. This isn’t your fault. We’re different and sometimes that’s reason enough to draw hatred from others. You are in no way responsible for Douglas Miller or his actions.”

She was left alone with Shadow. Tears threatened to spill but she fought them back. “I do feel guilty.”

“You shouldn’t.” He brushed his fingertips over her arm, caressing lightly.

“You and Breeze were hurt protecting me. Other Species were hurt. I saw all those men out there in need of medical help.”

“Most of the injured were mercenaries.” He smiled in an attempt at humor.

The effort didn’t work. “Don’t make light of this. Please?” She reached out, his chest warm and firm under her palm. It soothed her, just touching any part of his body. “You seemed to already know his name. How?”

“Douglas Miller?”

She nodded.

“I had to review all the files when I was assigned to the task force. He is a fugitive, one of the many we plan to hunt down and capture. I reviewed the files of humans we’d retrieved Gift Females from after you told me your story. The task force doesn’t put the names of victims in those files but the clues you gave were enough to pinpoint him and the details of the operation that rescued you. That’s how I know what happened with Fury and Ellie as well. They keep the team up to speed on unclosed cases. The human nurse had outside help and we were still tracking down some of her known associates from Mercile.”

“Fury was not permanently damaged by the drug. I see him all the time with Ellie. He’d never hurt her.” It made her feel hope for Moon. “Their love is beautiful.”

Shadow glanced at the clock. “We need to go, love. The helicopter will leave soon.”

“Okay.”

“It will be fine.”

She hoped so.

Chapter Nineteen

Beauty’s worst-case scenario happened. She wished a hole would open up under her and make her disappear when they reached the helicopter landing area. The tall task force member she spotted spoke to another one but then Shane turned his head. Recognition flared across his features as he smiled.

No
, she silently begged, dropping her gaze.
Don’t try to talk to me. Please!

She glanced at the ground, her hands, even her shirt. Shadow had gone to speak to the pilot, leaving her standing alone. Military boots approached until they stopped about four feet away. She knew it was Shane. Her heart did a panicked number inside her chest.

“Beauty? Wow! You look fantastic. Well, except for the bruise on your face.”

She had to look up but dreaded it. The lump inside her throat felt large but she had to speak. Otherwise he’d probably pity her after the trauma she’d suffered. It was important to show him that she wasn’t the terrified, frail woman he’d helped save. Her gaze lifted to stare up at a face she’d wished to never see again.

“Hello, Shane.”

“You remembered my name?” Color flushed his cheeks. “That means a lot to me. We always hope it’s a two-way street but it’s so traumatic when we go in. We kind of figure we’re just a blur of memory.”

“I don’t understand.”

“You know, every Species we free is a triumph to us. Giving someone their life back makes this job worth all the bad stuff we deal with. We remember every one but we aren’t sure if the ones rescued remember us.”

She wished she could forget at least one part of that awful night. “It’s something we always remember too.”

His gaze swept up and down her body. “You really look good.” He blushed more. “I don’t mean that the way it sounds. I just meant you’re healthy now. You’ve put on some weight. Not that I’m saying you’re fat or anything.” He rushed his words. “Dang. My sisters would kick my butt. I’m putting my foot in my mouth. I’m just saying you look good and healthy. Perfect. Yeah. Okay, I’m done. Taking foot out of mouth.”

She almost laughed. He seemed more nervous than she was and it made her relax a little. A smile played at her lips. “I didn’t take offense. I knew what you meant. It’s amazing what some food and baths will do to make someone look better.”

“Yeah. You were so thin.” He grew serious. “You doing good? I mean, besides what happened here? We all know about the mercenaries coming in to grab you. Are you happy at the NSO and are they taking good care of you?”

“I am and they are.” She swallowed. “Um, there’s something I need to say.”

He shifted his stance. “Sure. Okay.”

It took a few seconds to work up the courage but she did it. “I’m really sorry for, um, you know…” She tried to say it but failed to get all the words out. “For what I did or tried to do the night…”
I made a fool of myself when I almost begged you to have sex with me, thinking you’d be a better master and protect me from my old one.

He blushed again and glanced down before meeting her gaze. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. You have nothing to be sorry about.” Understanding shone in his gaze though. “Nothing at all. I don’t even know what you’re referring to.”

Tears threatened to spill. He was being so nice to her. She blinked rapidly. Maybe apologizing to him would stop the nightmares. At the very least she could earn her dignity back. “I didn’t know any better but I do now. Thank you for what you did that night and for protecting me from my own ignorance. You could have taken advantage but you didn’t.”

His hand rose and he slowly touched her arm, carefully watching her first to make sure she didn’t flinch away. Warm fingers gently squeezed her upper arm. “Hey, no worries. It was an honest mistake after all you’d been through and you have nothing to apologize for.” He nodded. “Ever. Okay? I’m just glad we got you out of there and I’m sorry I stuck you with a needle. I felt bad about that.”

“You had no choice. I freaked out. It was the right thing to do.”

“Thanks.”

“Get your hand off her,” Shadow snarled.

Beauty spun and was barely able to jump into his path as he attempted to lunge at Shane. She feared he’d just plow her over in his haste to attack the other man. His face twisted in a mask of rage. If the scary tone of his voice wasn’t clue enough of his intent, the fangs he revealed in threat were.

“Stop!”

“He was touching you.” Shadow didn’t even glance at her, instead he continued to glare at the task force member. “You don’t do that,” he warned, no longer speaking to her. “I’ll rip your hand off and feed it to you.”

Beauty gently pushed at his broad chest, attempting to get him to step back. “Shadow! Stop it!”

He looked down then. “He isn’t allowed to touch you. He was!”

“This is the man who protected me from the sniper bullets the night I was freed.”

Shadow’s head snapped up and he snarled, trying to reach his target again. Beauty got dragged and might have fallen over if she hadn’t been gripping him so tightly. He stopped trying to walk forward when he couldn’t get free without hurting her. She knew Shadow remembered her shameful story about what she’d done to Shane that night. The angry Species seemed intent on beating Shane.

“Shadow!” She used her sternest voice.

“What?” he snarled, his eyes narrowing on her.

“Calm down.” Her tone softened. “We were talking until you rudely interrupted. I was apologizing for mistaking his intentions and he was graciously not allowing me to take any blame. He was just comforting me. It wasn’t how you think.”

Shadow blinked and some of the anger faded. “He shouldn’t touch you.”

Her hands loosened their death grip on him. “There was nothing inappropriate about it.”

He studied her carefully. “Fine. The helicopter is preparing for takeoff.” A warning glare was directed at Shane. “I will be right there.” He paused. “Watching you not touch her again.” His hands lifted to grip her wrists, his touch gentle as he tugged them free.

She let him go and he spun away, walked about ten feet and turned. Arms crossed across his massive chest as he glared at Shane. He was seriously going to watch them. She hesitated before turning. Shane had paled considerably over the confrontation and had retreated enough to put a lot of space between them.

“He’s protective.” She kept her voice low. “Thank you.”

“No problem. Maybe I should take the next flight.” He took another step back, darting a nervous look at Shadow. “I was going to ride back to Homeland on the helicopter with my unit but a drive sounds nice. I’m sure there’s a rental car place in town.”

“It’s fine. You shouldn’t have to go to that trouble.” She glanced back to find Shadow still regarding them angrily. “Stop it. Tell him he can share the helicopter.”

He hesitated but then shrugged. “Fine. You sit on the other side, not near her.”

“You got it, Shadow.” Shane rushed past. “Nice seeing you again, Beauty.”

Beauty watched the task force member scurry away, giving a wide berth to the angry Species. She wasn’t sure if she should be irritated or flattered that Shadow was so protective. It had distracted her from her embarrassment with Shane. Shadow uncrossed his arms, approaching her.

“Let’s go. I put our bags in the helicopter. Officers retrieved them from the cabin. They are ready to leave.”

“Are you okay?”

He blinked.

“Shadow? It was innocent.”

“I don’t like anyone touching you.”

He was a man.
Male
, she corrected. Species weren’t exactly typical of regular men. Breeze had warned her Species could be possessive. She was beginning to understand that now. Shadow really would have attacked Shane if she hadn’t gotten in his way.

“I understand. I’ll try to remember that if there’s a next time. It’s not as though too many men are around me.”

Another task force member joined them. Beauty recognized him and smiled. Trey Roberts grinned as he clasped Shadow’s shoulder. “I’m glad you’re still alive, buddy. I heard you did some serious ass kicking. I bet you don’t hate me now nearly as much for all that gun-range practice I put you through.”

Shadow’s attitude changed as he grinned. “No. I still resent the hours you yelled at me but I know I needed it.” He reached out, hooked a hand around Beauty’s waist and pulled her into a protective position against his side. “This is Beauty.”

Trey glanced between them. “We’ve met. It’s nice to see you again, Beauty.” He put his hands on his hips. “I was there when she was rescued. Are you ready to come back yet, Shadow? The team misses you. I know you said you’d be back by the end of next week but we sure could use you now.”

Beauty heard the words and pain jabbed at her heart.
He’s going back to the task force?
Her gaze jerked to Shadow’s face but he was still smiling at his friend.
Tell him no
, she silently urged. She couldn’t lose him. He’d lived off Homeland when he’d worked with the task force. It would mean she’d never get to see him, or very rarely.

“I promised Wrath I’d spend some time at Homeland.” Shadow shrugged. “He thinks we need to connect with our people. It’s been good getting to know them and living with my kind.”

More pain shot through her heart. He hadn’t mentioned her at all. Did that mean she wasn’t important to him? Her focus dropped to the ground in case he glanced at her. She didn’t want him to see how his words hurt.

“Well, we miss you.” Trey released his hold, stepping back. “We got some new toys that I think you’ll like. I bet you miss the action.”

“It is a slower pace at Homeland.”

Trey laughed. “I heard they put you on patrol in the interior. I bet that gets boring. Species don’t cause too much trouble. They should have you assigned to the gates where the action happens.”

“Fury decided I would appreciate not having to deal with humans after living amongst them.”

“Yeah, we’re annoying bastards, aren’t we?” Trey chuckled and patted Shadow’s shoulder again as Beauty glanced up. “Come back soon. We had some upgrades done to the living quarters. I think you’ll really love the new digs. The bedrooms were enlarged and so were the bathrooms. I want to move in, they look so good. Tim even added in new big-screen TVs and put in fridges next to them so you don’t have to walk to the kitchen to get your soda fix.”

“That sounds nice.”

Too nice
, she concluded. Worry nagged at her that their relationship was over before it had really gotten started. They were having sex together. Didn’t that mean something to Shadow? It was a commitment to her but he might not see it that way. It would break her heart if he just walked away.

“Tim felt bad about Lauren having to live in such rough quarters. You know his daughter is mated to a Species.” Trey glanced away and waved to someone. “It’s time to go. Load up and call me tomorrow to tell me when you’re coming back. It can’t be soon enough. Your replacement is kind of driving me nuts. Thank God it’s only temporary. He growls too often, not understanding I’m riding his ass for his own good.”

“Feline? They don’t take orders well.”

“Nope. He’s canine.” Trey walked away.

“Let’s go.” Shadow tugged on her waist.

She willingly went with him, her mind in a tailspin. What would it mean if he went back to work for the task force? The end of them seeing each other? Would he possibly invite her to live with him off Homeland? The concept left her feeling cold inside. There was no way she could live around a bunch of humans and feel safe after the life she’d led. She trusted Species men but could she ever relax around the men Shadow worked with? She highly doubted it. One of them had already betrayed the NSO.

Shadow would leave her alone inside his quarters while he worked. Fear gripped her just considering how anyone on the team would have access to her at the task force headquarters. They could be similar to the guards who’d once tormented her. Shadow would end up killing someone if that happened. He hadn’t even liked Shane touching her arm. He’d really go insane if someone approached her for sex.

There would be no other women around to keep her company. There would be no protective Species to make certain no one bothered her. As much as it sometimes annoyed her, those women were also comforting. She’d lose access to her friends. It wouldn’t just be a short trip to Reservation to stay in a cabin if she lived with Shadow. Her uneasiness increased. There was no way possible that she could leave NSO lands.

The helicopter was loud and a bit scary as Shadow swept her into his arms and settled her inside. Some of the team was already seated but they kept to one side of the interior. Shadow followed her in, had to duck his head, and guided her to a seat. She allowed him to belt her in while he settled down next to her until they were hip to hip, thigh to thigh. One arm hooked around her, drawing her close.

She felt safe within the circle of his hold. Shadow always had a way of settling her fear. They’d need to talk about what he planned to do about the task force. It was impossible to discuss the subject in the helicopter. She’d have to wait until they were alone. Beauty decided it was probably going to be the longest ride of her life. Her eyes closed as she leaned against Shadow, holding on to him, afraid their time together might come to an end soon.