The Jaguar Prince (18 page)

Constance let her gaze drift over Callie. “I didn’t know people still wore those…things.”

“They’re called sweats.”

“Whatever.” She flipped her hair behind her with one hand.

Constance still looked the same as she had the last time Callie had the misfortune to run into her. Tall, tanned, and blond. Callie wanted to vomit.

“What are you doing in the woods, anyway?” Callie asked.

She bent and picked up a golf ball. “I shanked it.”

“I bet that’s not all you’ve shanked in your lifetime,” she muttered.

“I’d heard you were mooching off DeeDee again and staying in her parents’ cabin.” She laughed. “Mrs. Crane must’ve been hitting the bottle again. She said you were engaged to a prince.” Her laughter was high-pitched enough that it could’ve broken a champagne glass. “You’ve got to remember those frogs you’ve probably been kissing are not going to turn into princes.”

They both turned their heads when there was a rustling of underbrush. Rogar stepped out, and Constance sucked air. And for once in her life, Callie felt as though she had the upper hand.

“There you are, darling,” Rogar said. “I know you said you wanted to take a walk by yourself, but I got lonely. Oh, I see I’ve interrupted.”

“Not at all, sweetheart.” She pasted a smile on her face that was so sweet it probably dripped sugar. “Constance, I’d like to introduce you to Prince Rogar Valkyir.”

They might not be engaged, but he was a prince. So what if she was flaunting his royal status—she’d feel guilty tomorrow.

Or not.

A
nother blueblood. Rogar briefly studied the young woman. She wore a white band of sorts across her forehead. The other blueblood, Ms. Crane, had worn a white band also.

Maybe it’s a sacred symbol,
Balam’s thoughts blended with Rogar’s.

It looks stupid.

Not nearly as fine as your medallion,
Balam agreed.

Rogar found her lacking in other areas as well. Other than her white top and white shorts, she also wore her haughty demeanor out in the open. He didn’t think he liked her anymore than he had the other two.

And he’d heard everything she’d said, and how she’d acted toward Callie, and Rogar didn’t like it. It made him wonder why Callie would want to stay on this planet. She longed for a job she’d apparently trained many years to get, but still didn’t have. The Earthlings he’d met wore masks. They smiled and said one thing, while meaning something entirely different.

DeeDee has a good spirit,
Balam reminded him.

One out of many.

True.

“Are you really a prince?” Constance asked.

“Yes.”

Rogar walked over to Callie and held out his hand toward her. She took it. Her hand felt small in his. He helped her to her feet, but didn’t let go. Instead, he pulled her close to him, protective, but he also enjoyed the warmth of her body.

Constance’s eyes narrowed. “I guess you forgot to wear your engagement ring.” She looked pointedly at Callie’s hand.

“It is being designed especially for her,” he smoothly replied. He would need to look up their customs on his database. He didn’t know about the ring. The woman looked skeptical.

“Hey, Constance, did you get lost?”

“Over here, Freddie,” Constance called without looking in the direction the voice had come from.

It sounded as though many large animals were clomping toward them, but then a man appeared. He looked rather odd. Short, with red hair, and funny dots all over his face. Rogar had never seen anyone with dots.

“Callie Jordon, I heard you were staying at DeeDee’s parents’ cabin,” the man called Freddie said. “How the hell have you been?”

Callie relaxed so Rogar knew this person was not a typical blueblood. That, and he didn’t wear the white band across his forehead.

“Hi, Freddie,” Callie said, and Rogar heard the smile in her voice.

“Really, Freddie, do you have to make so much noise when you walk? You sounded like a herd of elephants.”

He only grinned. Then he met Rogar’s gaze, and Rogar saw something besides the odd way the man looked. There was intelligence. This man was no fool.

“I’m Freddie Danbury.”

Rogar bowed slightly at the waist. “Prince Rogar Valkyir, Callie’s fiancé.”

Freddie looked at Callie as though she had done something very good, then nodded.

“Come on, Freddie, let’s get back to our game.” Constance turned on her heel.

“There’s a get together tonight. A benefit auction for some cause that Matilda Crane dug up. Fancy dress and bidding wars,” Freddie said, ignoring Constance. “Why don’t you two join us at the club?”

Callie stiffened. “I don’t think…”

Constance turned. Rogar could see the fury flare in her eyes, but just as quickly it changed to a calculating gleam. “Oh, do, come. And bring your…prince.”

“We are honored by your invitation,” Rogar quickly told her, and could almost feel the dread coming from Callie. She’d changed since they’d arrived at the cabin. Since the Cranes had dropped by. She’d been more on edge, just like when this Constance woman had begun to talk down to her.

“Great, we’ll see you then,” Freddie said. “And congratulations. You deserve all the happiness you find, Callie.”

“Freddie!”

He grinned again, then left.

As soon as they were out of sight, Callie jerked away from Rogar. Planting her hands on her hips, she faced him, and she didn’t look a bit happy.

“Why do you keep telling people we’re engaged?” she demanded.

“Because they act superior toward you. I don’t like it.”

“But we’re not engaged.”

“You will never see these people again so it doesn’t matter.”

She loudly exhaled. “And I’m not going to their damn auction!”

“Are you afraid?”

“No, I don’t like these people. Why would I want to be around them?”

“To show them you are better. They only gauge a person by their wealth. Tonight, you will be like Cinderella.”

She frowned. “How the hell do you know about Cinderella?”

“When DeeDee told me women liked fairy tales, I looked it up on my database. Cinderella was listed, so I read the story. I enjoyed it very much.”

“Well, you’re wrong about all women liking fairy tales. I don’t want the fairy tale. I don’t even believe in them.”

“For one night, wouldn’t you like to give them a taste of how they treat others they consider below their level?” She didn’t look convinced. “Face your enemies, Callie, then conquer them.”

She didn’t say anything, so he knew she was thinking it over.

“Okay, maybe I would, but what you’re suggesting would only be make-believe.”

“Everyone needs a little fantasy in their life from time to time. It makes things more exciting.”

She shrugged. “But I don’t have anything to wear, so it doesn’t matter.”

“We will duplicate.”

“Duplicate?”

“Like the money.”

She sighed deeply. “I have a feeling this is not going to be good.”

“It will be very good.” He reached out and stroked his hand down the side of her face, and felt the shiver that ran through her. “You always make me want you.”

“I didn’t do anything.” She visibly swallowed.

By the Goddess Aricepta, Callie didn’t have to do a thing but be near him. Had she cast a spell upon him? Some women he knew practiced the art of spell casting, his mother and sisters did. Rogar’s father had once laughingly said that was how she had captured his heart. But his brothers and sisters knew better. Their mother was a dark-haired beauty. Many men had wanted her, but Rogar’s father was the one she chose.

“Fore!”

He looked up as a white ball landed nearby. “Why do they yell fore, then toss their ball into the woods?”

“It’s just a game.”

“Your games are silly.”

She smiled. He liked the way she smiled.

“Let’s go back to the cabin,” he said. He didn’t like the constant interruptions.

She nodded.

As they walked, he thought of something he’d wanted to ask. “Why did Freddie have dots? Is he an alien?” He was thoughtful for a moment. “Although I haven’t seen anyone until this day that had dots.”

She chuckled. He liked that, too. When DeeDee had stopped by to leave Callie her birthday present, she had told him Callie didn’t laugh much, and if Rogar hurt her, she would personally see him castrated. He’d promised he wouldn’t. After she left, he typed in castrated. He’d decided he would make certain that he wouldn’t hurt Callie.

“Those are called freckles. Most redheads have them,” she said. She looked up at him and smiled.

Her lips were too tempting. No one could blame him for what he was about to do. He lowered his head until his lips were touching hers. His tongue caressed hers, the heat of the kiss shooting downward, leaving him shaking. He wanted this woman more than breathing.

He pulled away, each breath strained. “What spell have you cast upon me?” he murmured as he buried his face in her hair, breathing in her scent.

“I could ask you the same thing.”

He pulled back, looking into her eyes. “Leave with me right now. Zerod cannot harm you on New Symtaria.” He waved his arm. “These people are fools. They think wealth is the most important thing in life, and if you aren’t one of them, you’re not accepted into their ranks.”

She shook her head, tears filling her eyes. “I can’t. It’s more than that. These people mean nothing to me. What I have might not seem like much to you, but it’s a part of who I am. I’ve lived—breathed—every thought has been that I would someday work with the big cats at the zoo. I’m next in line for the animal keeper job. You’re asking me to give it all up. To leave Sheba, to leave DeeDee, I can’t.” She ducked out of his arms and ran the rest of the way to the cabin.

Rogar had seen the single tear run down her cheek before she turned away and fled. A sharp pain stabbed him in the heart at the mere thought that he would hurt her. His gaze dropped to the ground, and he noticed the flowers growing in patches. He would make her feel better by bringing flowers to her.

Then he would ask her not to tell DeeDee that he’d hurt her. He wasn’t sure how DeeDee would manage to castrate him, since he was obviously the stronger one, but he didn’t know what an Earthling was capable of doing, and he chose not to find out.

Callie felt like a fool. Why had she run away? Crying, no less. She rarely cried. A long time ago, she realized tears never solved anything. The only time she cried was when she watched
Steel Magnolias
or
Beaches
. But other than a sappy movie, she didn’t cry.

She frowned.

Maybe when a new baby was born at the zoo, or when an animal died, then she would cry, too. But those were the only times.

She shook her head. It didn’t matter why she cried. She just didn’t like it when someone saw her. Damn it, she couldn’t leave the only thing that had given her stability in her life. She belonged right where she was, except maybe living in a new house where she could have pets. She bet she couldn’t have a pet on New Symtaria. And if she did, it would probably shift into a person and scare the crap out of her.

No, her life was what she knew, what was familiar, for better or worse. Yes, she liked Rogar a lot, but she wouldn’t leave with him.

The door opened behind her. She stiffened.

“I brought you flowers to make you feel better,” he said as he came around in front of her and thrust them under her nose.

She took one look at the red petals and sniffed.
I will not cry! I won’t!

“I’ve made you cry again. I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay,” she finally managed to say, hugging the flowers close to her chest.

“Then you won’t tell DeeDee?”

She shook her head. It dawned what he’d just asked. “What has DeeDee got to do with this?”

“DeeDee said she would castrate me if I hurt you. I looked it up on my database. I don’t think it would be a pleasant experience.”

She opened her mouth, then closed it. DeeDee told Rogar she would castrate him? She started laughing. He frowned, and she laughed harder.

He squared his shoulders, looking quite affronted. “I tell you that I don’t think I want to be castrated, and you laugh? If you had that threat hanging over your head, you wouldn’t laugh.”

He was priceless. One second, she thought Rogar knew everything there was to know about Earth, then in the next, he comes up with something like this.

“DeeDee would never do that. She couldn’t. It was just a figure of speech to let you know she would be furious with you if you ever hurt me.”

He seemed to think that over, then nodded. “I see.” He exhaled deeply. “Good. I was afraid she might have special powers, and would cast a spell to make my testicles fall off.”

“Cast a spell? You have people who can do that?”

“My mother and sisters can, and there are others.” He shrugged.

Interesting. “Tell me more.” She took her flowers to the kitchen and put them in a glass of water. DeeDee was the only person who had ever gotten her flowers. Odd that she would feel warm all over because Rogar had brought her some, too.

He sat on the sofa. She joined him, careful not to sit too close. She wanted to know more about New Symtaria, and arm’s length from Rogar was still a temptation.

“We have many tribes. The same as you have many races on Earth.”

“But some can cast spells?”

He nodded. “Each tribe brings something of use. My mother’s tribe prays to Hadda, who makes everything on land grow and bear fruit.”

“Are there many gods and goddesses that you worship?”

“There are many, yes. Once they walked the land, and were one with us. They were part animal, part human. They were very good, and had special powers that helped the people. There are many tales of how, when they passed from this life, they were carried to the next realm by a golden ark.”

“They sound like the saints who used to be on Earth. Well, except they weren’t part animal.” It seemed strange talking to Rogar about the planet where he lived. He made it sound like a wonderful place. She looked down at her hands, then met his eyes again. “Someday, I would like to see New Symtaria. Would that be possible? I mean, to see it, but then come back here?”

His smile was slow. “Yes, that would be possible.”

She smiled, just because he was. But then, something changed in the look he was giving her. It became more intense, and she saw his need. Tingles of awareness wrapped around her. She straightened, and cleared her throat. “You said you could duplicate a dress for me to wear tonight?”

Disappointment flashed across his features, but just as quickly, it was gone. He reached into his back pocket and pulled out the database.

“What kind of dress do you want?”

Oh, wow, this might be fun. “A designer dress?”

He typed in the letters, then handed it to her. “Just touch which one you would like to have most.”

She recognized a lot of the names. It wasn’t that she was materialistic or anything, but ohmygod, if Rogar could duplicate a dress, this would be a really cool device to have around. She felt like a kid in a candy store. She clicked on a designer. Pictures of dresses appeared on the screen—six in all.

“If you want to see more, then slide your finger down.”

She jumped when he spoke, not realizing he’d moved next to her. Maybe she was more materialistic than she’d thought if she didn’t notice him moving nearer.

When he looked at her, she quickly slid her finger down the screen. She really needed to pay attention. A bevy of dresses appeared at the touch of a finger.

“That one would look good on you,” he said.