KnightForce Tres (La Patron KnightForce Book 3) (18 page)

Chapter 32

Renee placed Mélange’s feet in her lap as they sat on the long beige and maroon sofa in the front section of their hotel suite. Warm splashes of color from the red toned accessories intermingled with the creamy neutral colors of the carpeting and walls. Overall, it produced an elegant cozy effect. Renee preferred it over Mélange’s home, maybe redecorations were in order.

“Hungry?” Mélange asked, staring up at her from the opposite end of the sofa. Dressed in dark jeans and a striped fitted shirt, Renee marveled over how chic the younger woman looked resting. And to think they were in a relationship, one that could be her last, excited and scared her. The whole wolf changing thing didn’t seem real even though she’d seen the proof. Still…people didn’t just change into animals.

“No, I ate with mama, that’s what took me so long getting back to you. She wanted to talk and visit a little.”

Not once did mama defend her actions for keeping such a huge secret or discuss her current situation with Jacques. She refused to say if any of her babies were wolves, or explain how Renee and Jasmine became these unique human females who could mate with this entirely new species subset.

Instead, Victoria made her displeasure over Renee’s decision to spend the night with Mélange known by voicing her unsolicited opinion often during their short meal. A stabbing pain tap-danced in Renee’s head by the time she left her mom’s rooms and headed below to meet Mélange.

“You?”

Mélange stretched. “Your sister sent food and I ate while waiting.” She paused. “Thank you for giving us a chance and for being patient with me. I swear I’ll tell you everything you want to know, but I need to do it in pieces.”

Despite wanting to know everything about Mélange, Renee wasn’t sure how much more she could handle today or tomorrow. Small doses held tremendous appeal after seeing Mélange change from a wolf into a woman. That completely blew her mind, yet she was curious about how the species came about.

“How’d all this happen? Do you know?” Renee asked.

Mélange frowned. “What? Mates?”

“No. Were you born this way? I mean all your life is this how you’ve always been?”

“Yes, we’re born this way.”

“Any idea how long your kind has been like this? Or where it started?” Renee massaged Mélange feet but her mind raced, cataloging the possibilities of what it meant to have an entire separate race of people living together in harmony with the other. Fascinated, she stared at Mélange, eager to learn more.

Mélange shrugged. “Since the garden I believe.”

Renee frowned. “Garden? What garden…you can’t, no you don’t mean the Garden in the Bible? That’s not possible.” She couldn’t fathom the idea, couldn’t calculate the time, or the sheer numbers.

“It’s possible since the Goddess was there, and she takes care of us, protects us.”

“Goddess?”

“Yes, we serve the Goddess of Light, Luna. She is the cornerstone of our faith, just as Yahweh or the Christo is worshipped by others.”

“Well…that wasn’t what I expected, but it’s good to know. How long do you guys live? Are there a lot of you? What’s your social structure? Is it similar to the wolves’ with an Alpha?” Questions flew across her mind, tumbling, dancing over the other. Never had she been this excited over discovering a new civilization.

“We have slightly longer life spans than you guys, but no one lives forever, not on this plane anyway. As far as our numbers, I don’t know. Your sister might, and yes, the social structure is very similar to our wolf brethren. However, individuals are permitted to have personal dens and reproduce. Tributes are made to the pack rather than the Alpha. From pups we’re taught to hide who we are so that we can live peacefully and reproduce.”

“You ever have children?” Renee asked.

“No. I can’t have children.”

“Me neither, hysterectomy.”

“Same.” They stared at each other and then smiled.

“I love kids, really I do, but I’ve never wanted them full-time,” Renee said.

“No need to explain, I understand.” Mélange paused. “You’re perfect for me just the way you are.”

Renee’s cheeks warmed with pleasure. “Back atcha.”

“Good, any more questions?”

“This mating thing, what all is involved?”

“When we’re mated, nothing can separate us. From what I’ve been told, we’ll sort of merge, you’ll have access to my thoughts, my past, and I’ll have the same.”

Renee whistled. The logistics alone of merging with another person blew her mind, not that she doubted Mélange. Jasmine and Silas were proof this type of relationship worked well. “Gives new meaning to the ‘two shall become one’ doesn’t it?”

Mélange nodded but didn’t turn away. She continued to hold Renee’s gaze captive.

“Is this what you want? You’re willing to commit your life to someone who’s not…like you?” Renee asked.

“Yes. I already have. Whether you accept or deny me as your mate, I am committed to you,” Mélange said in an implacable tone.

Given time, Renee might be at that point, but she wouldn’t insult Mélange’s comment with a lie. Instead, she nodded her acceptance of hearing the spoken words.

“What do you –” Renee’s phone beeped. She pulled it out, looked at the caller ID and then glanced at her lover before answering. “It’s Jasmine.”

Mélange nodded, removed her feet, and headed into the bedroom.

“Hey,” Renee answered while watching Mélange’s graceful stride.

“I need a favor. Hear me out first,” Jasmine said. Renee straightened at Jasmine’s tone, a cross between anger and frustration.

“Okay, what’s going on?” Was it the kids? Her mom? What would cause Jazz to sound so …so not like Jasmine?

“Lilly’s son Pierre has this gift, well, he’s got lots of gifts, but one is this thing he does with patterns. Anyway, how he located the patterns isn’t important. What I need you to do is ask Mélange if she knows who owned the property at this address in Pennsylvania.” Jasmine rattled off an address.

“Hold on, let me write it down.” She grabbed a hotel pad from the end table and a pen to write. “You want to hold on while I ask?”

“Yes, thanks.”

Renee muted the call. “Mélange?”

A few seconds later Mélange appeared in the bedroom door. “What’s the address?”

“Huh?” Renee asked.

“The address she gave you?” Mélange pointed to the pad.

“How’d you know?”

Mélange tapped her ears. “I heard you.”

“Really? That’s one of your skills?”

Mélange smiled. “Yes, what’s the address?”

Renee gave it to her.

Frowning, Mélange walked halfway to her and stopped. “No. I don’t know who owns that. Why?”

Renee un-muted the phone and told Jasmine. “Why’d you ask her that?”

“That house is involved in the investigation for Sarita, we believe she was taken there.”

“She already told me and you, she had nothing to do with that,” Renee said, her tone hardening.

“I know, and since she can’t lie to you, she really doesn’t know who owns the house. But her name or the same name she used to check into the hotel is on several of the dummy corporations used to cover whoever owns the property. Right now it’s our major clue to finding Sarita and the clock’s ticking.” Jasmine paused. “Could you ask her if she knows anyone who might have had anything to do with the kidnapping or if she knows of any plans involving the chameleon? She’ll know what I mean.”

“Is that all? I mean, you wanted us to talk and this isn’t helping,” Renee said.

“Yes, I promise. Well, it depends on her answers, but if she doesn’t know anything, then I won’t bother you or her again with this,” Jasmine said.

“Thanks, Sis.” Renee turned and asked Mélange Jasmine’s questions. Her stomach plummeted when Mélange’s face lost its color as she reached blindly for the arm of the chair. When she sat heavily and stared at the floor without speaking, Renee swallowed hard. Had Mélange been involved with Sarita’s disappearance? No. But did she know who did? Why wouldn’t she tell Jasmine or Silas or try to save the child? No, there had to be some explanation for all of this.

“I’ll call you back,” Renee said to Jasmine, and disconnected.  For a few moments she stared at the top of Mélange’s bowed head. “Talk to me, tell me what you know about the kidnapping.”

Both of Mélange’s hands flew up and cupped each side of her head. “No, no, no…I can’t fucking believe it. You…my sole focus has been on you and this heat inside that I didn’t think of anything, anyone else.”

Renee blinked a few times but didn’t speak. Being the center of someone’s thoughts wasn’t bad, was it? “Do you know anyone who might have had anything to do with kidnapping Asia’s daughter?” She asked again when Mélange remained silent.

“Possibly.”

Renee’s heart dropped. “What do you mean?”

Mélange looked up and then her gaze slid to the floor as she straightened in her chair. “Someone wanted something Asia had, and thought going through her child might be a way to get it.” Mélange spoke so quickly it took Renee a moment to process what she said.

“Someone would use her child?” Renee whispered.

Mélange nodded.

“Who?”

Mélange looked at her. “Does this change how you feel about me?”

“I’m not sure I even know you,” Renee spat, disgust over such tactics obvious in her tone.

Hands held in front of her. “You do know me. I wouldn’t have used a child, you must believe me.”

They stared at each other for a few seconds and then Renee nodded as certainty entered her spirit. Mélange wouldn’t have used a child. “Were you a part of this plan?”

Mélange bit her lip and then nodded. “In the beginning, I was there when the plans were discussed to retrieve the item.”

“A chameleon?” Renee guessed.

Mélange’s head snapped up and she stared at Renee, assessing her. “You know of it?”

Renee shrugged and didn’t respond.

“Did they give you one?” Mélange stood and walked backward. “Is this all a trick? Some kind of sick game? They sent someone else instead of my mate?”

Frowning, Renee watched Mélange back up to the wall while staring at her and inhaling. “What’s wrong with you?”

Mélange’s eyes narrowed as she continued to stare and then she shook her head. “How much more must I endure? First I lose my love. Then I lose my mate who I love more than life. When will the fates stop playing with my heart? I cannot take much more,” she yelled. “Tell your sister to send my mate if she wants me to talk, I’ll not spend another moment with someone using their toy.” She ran into the bedroom.

Renee stared at the door. “What the hell?” She stood, walked to the door and turned the handle. It was locked.

“Mélange, what the hell’s going on? What did you mean you lost your mate? I thought I was your mate.” She pounded on the door again.

The phone rang. Looking at the door, she answered.

“What the hell’s going on here, Jazz?”

“What do you mean?”

“I asked the questions, well, one of them.” She explained how Mélange claimed to be so focused on her she hadn’t thought of anything else and how she locked herself in the room.”

“Calm down Renee,” Jasmine said. “Tell me everything she said, maybe I can explain and help you.”

Renee looked at the door and returned to her chair. “Okay.” She told Jasmine their conversation.

“Shit, this could be bad. Listen, you have to convince her that you’re the same person she met at the airport and that you’re really you.”

“Of course I’m me. Who else would I be?”

“Trust me on this. Tell me how did you meet Mélange?”

“I already told you I met Mélange at the airport when I left here after the baby shower. What’s going on? Why did she flip out and think someone’s playing a game on her?”

“Maybe it’s best you come back to the compound, we can talk this through,” Jasmine said, her tone sad.

“No. I’m not leaving Mélange. Not while she’s upset, what’s wrong with you? If she doesn’t want anything to do with me that’s one thing, but she has to say that. Otherwise, I’ll just wait until she calms down so we can talk.”

“Renee, it’s possible she knows who took Sarita, that’s the only reason I asked you to help. I never meant to cause problems with you and your mate,” Jasmine said.

“I know, and so does she. Something spooked her, but she’ll be fine, we’ll be fine. If she knows who took Sarita, I’ll call you. Otherwise, I’ll see you tomorrow when I come see mom and the babies.”

“Thanks, you’re the best,” Jasmine said and disconnected.

Renee looked at the closed door, stood, took two steps, and then returned to the sofa. After removing her shoes, she turned on the TV and looked for something to watch. Twenty minutes into the sitcom, the bedroom door opened and Mélange stuck her head out the door.

“You’re still here.”

“Yes.” Renee looked at Mélange and then back at the screen.

“Why didn’t you return to your sister?”