A Shift in the Water (17 page)

“Don’t you think I know that?” She couldn’t help her raised voice or the defensive tone. “Now hand over the underwear. What I do with those is my business. Not yours.”

“If you’re seeing someone, it’s definitely my business. You didn’t say anything to me at lunch yesterday. Did you pick up some guy off the street? And what? You’re buying him clothes now? I know you’ve checked out already, but that doesn’t mean the rest of us are going to give up on you. If you’re being stupid and reckless, I’m going to find out.”

Mara was about to retort that she wasn’t giving up on herself either when the door swung open. Cade stood there in her purple robe with his blue eyes smoldering. “Are you all right?” he demanded.

Jen’s jaw hung open. Mara took the opportunity to snatch the package of underwear back from Jen’s hand. “Fine. Jen was leaving.”

“I—no. I wasn’t. She’s dying. She’s supposed to be taking it easy. Who the hell are you and why is she buying you underwear?”

“She’s not dying. She might have been before, but she’s not now,” Cade said firmly.

“Argh. Because I’m not here at all,” Mara muttered. “You”—she slapped Cade in the chest with the package of boxer briefs—“take these.” She turned back to Jen. “And you, go home. If you tell Aunt Lil, Lisa, or Adam about him, I’m personally writing you out of my will and I know you want my espresso machine. We will talk
later
. Like tomorrow. Or Sunday. Until then, you’re going to let me live my life.”

“Mara, holy shit, you’re being an idiot. He’s hot and all, and I know it’s been a really long time, but don’t sacrifice what little life you have left for a one-night fuck. You’re too sick for sex. You know the doctor doesn’t even want you
driving
, let alone banging some random guy and here I find out you’re doing both.”

Jen’s tone shocked her. Mara stepped back as Cade growled and took her arm. “I don’t know who you are, lady, but where I come from, friends don’t speak to each other that way.” He pulled Mara against him and drew up to his full height. His body shook against Mara, but he didn’t let it show to Jen. “Don’t expect me to stand here and let you insult her.”

Jen sputtered. “Who do you think you are, asshole? I’m her best friend. You don’t get—”

“He’s housesitting. Down the block,” Mara said quickly. “There was a gas leak and he ran out into the street. Naked. I heard the fire engines. They wouldn’t let him back into the house, so I offered my couch and my robe and a change of clothes. I’m not
fucking
him, but if I was, I wouldn’t need your permission. Go home.”

Jen looked mortified. Where Mara had come up with that half-assed excuse for Cade’s presence she had no idea, but it seemed to do the trick. Against her back, his abs shook with the effort of standing. She had to get him back inside. Preferably without Jen watching.

“What about the hospital?” Jen asked quietly.

“I can drive myself. I feel good today. I’ll call you tomorrow.” Mara backed into the house, keeping her arm tight around Cade’s waist. When she’d shut the door and set both the deadbolt and the chain so no one could come in unannounced, she helped Cade back to the couch where he fell into the cushions. His face was pale and dark circles braced his bloodshot eyes. “What’s wrong?” She pressed her fingers to his neck and looked at her watch. His pulse was too fast.

“Hungry. Shifting takes a lot of energy.”

“Okay. Can you get yourself dressed while I make you a sandwich? Or do you need help?”

“Can manage. In a minute or two. Who was that?” He lay back and closed his eyes. His fingers were rough and calloused but the warmth coming from his skin was comforting. He dragged his thumb back and forth over the inside of her wrist in a reassuring pattern.

“Jen is my best friend.”

Cade stifled a snort.

Mara sank back against the cushions next to him.
It’s nice to sit with a man, close enough to hear him breathing, with his hand holding yours
, she mused. She’d missed this since Roger. She’d dated a few times, even had a couple of dates that included both dinner and breakfast the next morning, but she was currently in the middle of a very long dry spell. Her illness hadn’t helped her prospects any.  “I know. She’s really not that bad. Not usually. They’re overprotective of me.”

“They?”

“Jen, my Aunt Lillian, Adam, and Lisa. My little family. They take turns taking me to my transfusions. They keep asking me to move in with them. Demanding even. But I like being on my own. They’d smother me to death while trying to keep me from dying.” She laughed a little at the joke, but Cade growled and sat up.

“You’re
not
dying.”

Mara didn’t bother protesting. He was adamant about her health, but she knew better. She’d have her blood test today and she knew what it would reveal—a red blood cell count so low the doctor would insist she stay for a transfusion. She’d nearly died the previous night. She felt strong right now, but it wouldn’t last. She knew it. “Come on. Get dressed and I’ll make you something.”

Cade didn’t want to let her go. But when she dumped the reusable bag out onto the bed, the sight of actual clothing staggered him. Jeans, flannel shirts, sweatshirts, T-shirts, socks, Keds, and boxers. “Too much,” he managed over the lump in his throat. He’d never take basic necessities like clothing, shelter, and his humanity for granted again.

“It’s Target. And it’s not like I need to worry about money right now,” she muttered, almost as an afterthought. “If anything doesn’t fit, let me know. Grilled cheese okay?”

“Yes. Honey, I can’t repay you for this.” Cade tightened his grip on her wrist. The term of endearment slipped out before he could stop it and he found he liked the way it sounded. Honey.

She blushed a little. “I didn’t ask you to. Now get dressed. That robe doesn’t exactly fit you very well.”

Cade looked down at his body when she left the room.
Shit.
His cock tented the front of the robe. Being close to his beautiful Mara was too much when his body was still weak.

 
His beautiful Mara.
She wasn’t his and he couldn’t stay with her.

Reality slammed into him and he sat down on her bed, any lustful thoughts shoved to the back of his mind. He had to protect her from the bad woman and the boy. The boy! Another memory clicked into place. The fire elemental had someone with her. Someone with control of the earth. He wracked his brain for more, grinding his fists against his eyes, but it wouldn’t come.

The clothes felt good against his skin. Reassuring, normal. He had a little trouble with the buttons on the green flannel shirt, but he forced his fingers to push the tiny pieces of plastic through the holes and slipped his feet into the shoes. Thank God there weren’t any laces to maneuver. He stumbled out of the bedroom. Mara caught him when he reached the kitchen and his knee buckled.

“Sit down. I think you’ve had enough of being upright for a while.” She led him back to the couch and helped him down. “Grilled cheese and tomato soup coming up.”

A few minutes later, he had a bowl of soup in his lap and two sandwiches steaming on a plate on the coffee table. Soft white bread and Kraft Singles, with a healthy dose of butter, exactly what a grilled cheese sandwich should be. Mara sat next to him with a sandwich of her own. Her green eyes flicked to him often but she wasn’t eating.

“Ask,” he said between spoonfuls of soup and bites of crunchy bread.

“How did you . . . become a werewolf?” She shrank into the couch cushions.

“I was born this way. Both of my parents were werewolves. But if a person is bitten during the full moon, they can turn.”

Mara’s lower lip trembled. “Look, I believe you. The wolf was with me, I fell off the bed, and then there you were. But I feel like I’m losing my mind. Werewolves and elementals? Are witches and vampires real too?”

“Of course they are,” he said simply. “But vampires aren’t dead. Think about it. If vampires were dead—no heartbeat, no breath—they wouldn’t be able to learn anything. Our brains need oxygen. Without a heartbeat, a vampire couldn’t bleed and without bleeding, the whole siring thing can’t happen the way the books say. Vampires are very real. They just aren’t what people think. It’s a virus that makes them, similar to werewolves. Lycos for us, Sanguinos for them. A vampire’s core temperature is lower than a human’s. They sunburn really easily, but they won’t burst into flame. Most live in Europe.”

Mara set her plate down. Cade had nearly finished both of his sandwiches and she hadn’t touched hers. He leaned over and returned the plate to her lap. “Eat. You look like you’re wasting away.”

“I haven’t had much of an appetite lately. Or any energy to cook.” She took a bite of her sandwich. “Happy?”

“No.” He watched her until the sandwich was gone and she licked her fingers. He set down his empty plate and strode into her bedroom. When he came back, he had three chocolate bars. They tore off the wrappers and ate in silence. When he’d finished two and she’d devoured one, he grinned. “Now I’m happy.”

“You sound like Adam.”

Cade stifled a growl. Adam was the one who tried to euthanize him. He didn’t like Adam. He didn’t want Adam anywhere near his Mara.

“What?”

“I didn’t ask. But why are you alone here? Adam. Where is he?” Cade tightened his hands on his thighs.

Mara stifled a laugh. “I’m not
with
Adam. Goddess. I love him, but not like that. He’s been married to Lisa for ten years. They’ve got two little girls: six and four. He’s a vet down at the equestrian center. Plus, he’s not my type. Way too high-strung.”

“There’s no one else?”

A blush colored her cheeks. “No. Dating’s too hard when you can’t stay awake for more than a few hours at a time. And the whole dying thing? It’s kind of a buzzkill.”

Cade frowned. “You’re not—” he began, but she held up her hand.

“Enough. You can tell me I’m not dying until you’re blue in the face, but that’s not going to make it true. I have to go to the hospital this afternoon for a blood test and given what happened last night, I’m pretty sure I’m going to get the word that I’m not going to make Christmas. So while I still feel good, we should figure out what you’re going to do now.”

“I need to go.” He picked up the plates and took them into the kitchen.

Mara followed. “Where?”

“I don’t know. Not here. Somewhere I can be alone. Find a job. Start over.” He washed the dishes, more to keep his hands busy and distract him from thoughts of leaving Mara than anything else. He’d need to rest again soon. Partially sated by the food, but nowhere near full, he didn’t think he could ask Mara for anything more. Not after how kind she’d been to him. He’d rest a bit if she let him, then run. He’d probably have to steal at first. His pack was gone. His family back in Barstow was all dead—at least he thought they were—those memories were still fuzzy. He had a roommate in college in Seattle. What was his name? Cade couldn’t remember. But perhaps he’d help. He was in Seattle now. Seattle was a big city.

“Cade?” Mara laid her hand on his arm. Even through the flannel shirt, her fingers were warm. “Where’d you go?”

“Trying to think. It’s . . . hard. My brain isn’t working right yet.”

“And you think leaving is a good idea? The state you’re in? What’s your last name? Do you know how to buy a bus ticket? Make change? Do you remember how much a hotel room should cost? What about the bad woman. Do you remember what she looks like? What are you going to do if you run into her again?”

Cade shut off the water and dried his hands on his jeans. “I know my last name,” he said, looking down at his feet. “I think I can make change and buy a bus ticket. The rest? It’s all fuzzy.”

“Come sit down then. I’m not sending you out into the world like this. Let’s see if we can fill in some of those holes in your head.”

They sat close together on the couch in front of Mara’s laptop. He wanted to move away. Her scent was intoxicating. A spring rain, coconut, a hint of chlorine, and almond blossoms. He knew those scents—could pick out each of them by name and could tell her where on her body they came from. The chlorine was all through her. She was a swimmer. The coconut came from her shampoo and the almond blossoms from her lotion. The rain
was
Mara. She was such a strong water elemental. He couldn’t remember how control over the elements worked. The bad woman could command flames with words. He saw them hovering over her hands but the rest of her was shrouded in darkness.

Nine