Mating Call (9 page)

She looked down at her hands and shook her head.

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

“I don’t know. Practically everyone in our country leaves the womb dancing corridos.”

He touched her soft cheek and smiled. “Would you like me to teach you?”

“Oh, I don’t know, my male. I don’t think I’d be very good at it.”

“With the way you fight? I know you can’t see yourself, but it’s like it’s been choreographed. You’re incredible.”

He raised her chin and looked into her bright green eyes. “Hey, it’s just me.”

She nodded and he brought her lips to his. Her smell intoxicated him, like always, and within seconds he was totally lost in her. Then, suddenly, she broke off the kiss.

“What is it?”

She looked puzzled. “Can’t you sense it?”

“Sense what?”

“The
k’ul
. At least I think it’s
k’ul
. The vibration is…different.”

SE felt for it, but there was nothing there, at least not that he could pick up on.

“It’s gone. How strange. You couldn’t sense it?”

“No. Nothing.”

Ana sighed. “Okay. Maybe I’ve finally cracked up.”

He kissed her forehead. “Maybe they were hunger pangs. It’s dinnertime. Let’s go feed you,
Ihkweea
.”

“Yeah, okay.”

As they walked to dinner, SE couldn’t help but wonder about the energy Ana felt. Between that and his crazy visions, he didn’t know what to think. It didn’t need to be October to be Halloween at the Ivanov mansion.

Trick or fucking treat.

The music at Anarchy was no louder than usual, but for some reason it was seriously grating on James’s nerves. He couldn’t seem to get the image of Seth stabbing that poor girl—correction, Troy’s human mate—out of his mind.
Jesus Christ.
There was a clusterfuck. He knew what he had to do about the Seth situation. The only question was whether or not he had the guts.

“Yo! Earth to James!”

“What? Oh, sorry, X.”

“The nice lady here was wondering if you’d like another beer.”

“Yeah, sure. I’ll go one more round.”

Troy had gone home to his female and Pax had disappeared somewhere. One more beer and it was time to call it. At least there’d been a lot of fighting. That always helped him clear his head for a few hours. He looked across the table at Xavier. He was Troy’s best friend. He had to know about the mating. The question was whether or not anyone else did. Maybe Helen? She at least knew Evy was human. He shook his head. Goddamn. There was no way they were all gonna be hunky dory with the sitch. The whole fucking mansion was going to implode when this finally got out.

He stood up and headed for the men’s room. Maybe he’d skip that last beer and just head back. He pushed the door open, rounded the corner, and stopped cold. Pax was leaning against the back wall, his head back, eyes closed. Another male had pushed up Pax’s shirt and was kissing the brother’s abs as he unbuckled his belt. All at once, Pax opened his eyes.

James could not have exited that scene fast enough. It was a wonder his fucking eyes didn’t burn out of his head.

“James, wait.”

He looked up and down the back hallway, making sure no one was around. He gleamed back to his room at the mansion. Pax materialized right behind him.

He didn’t know what went on from there. Everything happened so fast. He’d had the shittiest day and this was just the topper. He squinted at his
camzah
. “Don’t you knock?”

“I could say the same thing.”

“It was a public restroom, asshole!”

“Grow up, James! What happened back there has nothing to do with you.”

“Duh. Why would I think it did?”

“Then why did you run out of there like the building was on fire?”

James sneered. “I didn’t want to interrupt your private moment.”

“Oh, is that why? Funny, that doesn’t explain why your eyes were glowing.”

“Fuck you!”

Pax gleamed in front of him and pushed him against the wall. What was with everyone and walls?
Oh, God.
He was so close; James could feel his breath on his cheek. “Look, whatever crush you’ve got going has to stop.”

“I have a crush. Sure. Just keep telling yourself that. Look whose eyes are glowing now.”

Pax gleamed out and James was left standing there trying the catch his breath, the wall pretty much the only thing holding him up.

CHAPTER TEN

Evy sat on the cozy antique chaise in Troy’s room, a quilt keeping her warm. She still had her book in her hand, but she hadn’t read anything in over an hour. She stared out the window at the moon, trying to make some sense as to why she was so drawn to it. Her mind went to her family. She’d been gone so long. Would they stop looking for her? This day would be so hard for them. Her twentieth birthday and they had no idea if she was even alive. When she heard the key in the door, she looked at the clock on the wall. It was just past midnight.

Her mate walked in. “Hi. Just give me five minutes for a shower.”

She nodded. “Okay.”

Mated. Holy crap.
Was this what it felt like to be married? Somehow, she didn’t think so. Her mind went back to the shattering glass at the apartment. No, most husbands definitely didn’t do that. She shook her head and smiled.

Troy wasn’t kidding. He was fast. In minutes he was out of the shower and in the closet. He walked out wearing a button down and khakis.
Khakis?
It was then she noticed he had something in his hand. It was a cupcake! She looked into his face and grinned. “How did you know?”

He kissed her forehead. “Yeah, how ‘bout we just not talk about my stalker tendencies right now.”

He handed her the cupcake and kneeled down next to the chaise. He pulled a dark green box out of his pocket and opened it. Evy sucked in her breath. Inside there was a gold band with a claddagh pattern carved through the center all the way around. It was surrounded by gorgeous accent diamonds. He took it out and held her left hand in his. “Evelyn O’Donnell, I’ve loved you since the day you couldn’t get your locker open in eighth grade.”

She laughed.

“Will you do me the honor of becoming my mate?”

“Yes! Yes!” She smiled as he slipped it on her finger and tears streamed down her face. “It’s so beautiful. You didn’t have to.”

He wiped her tears with his fingers. “Yeah, I did. Happy birthday, Ev.”

She pulled him into a kiss and even though her body responded, he pulled back.

He drew his brows together. “You’re sad.”

“You’re doing it again.”

“Sorry. Sometimes when I get excited I forget to rein it in. I’m working on it. What’s wrong?”

“Oh, I’m okay. I’ve just been thinking about my family. I’ve been gone so long and here it is my birthday.”

“You know, maybe there’s somethin’ we can do about that. What shift does Kate have at Sal’s?”

“Um, she should be closing tonight. Why?”

He took her hand and pulled her up. “Let’s go tell her you’re okay.”

“Really? But won’t you get in trouble?”

He smiled and pulled her close. “You mean more than I’m in already?”

She wrapped her arms around him and then they were standing in the bathroom at Sal’s. She listened for a moment until she heard the sound of the mop being wrung out. She opened the door and peaked out. Kate was a few feet away. Evy gave a low whistle.

Her big sister looked up and promptly dropped the mop. “What the hell?”

Evy put a finger to her lips and shook her head.

Sal’s gruff voice came from the kitchen. “What’s the matter?”

Kate looked toward the kitchen and then back at Evy. “Nothing, Sal! Just more chewing gum!”

She tiptoed carefully across the wet floor and slid into the bathroom. Evy started to say something, but was suddenly suffocated by a tight hug.

“Oh, God, Evy. I can’t believe it’s really you. Everyone has been so worried, I—”

Evy watched as her sister’s gaze met Troy.

“Troy Thomsen? What are you…did you two run away and get married or something?”

“Shhh! Of course not! Listen, I’m going to give you the full story when Sal leaves. Are you almost done?”

“Yeah. He should be finished in a couple of minutes.”

“Okay. We’ll wait here.”

“What? Why? Is he in some kind of trouble?”

Her mate rolled his eyes.

“No! Jesus, Katie. Just do what I ask, alright?”

A few minutes later, the three of them were seated in a booth by the back and Evy was telling her sister everything that had happened. Sort of. “The thing is no one can know that I’m with Troy now. Not even Mom and Dad. What Troy does is very important. He could get hurt if anyone knew any of this. I just wanted to come back and make sure you all know that I’m safe.”

Troy squeezed her hand.

She smiled. “And happy.”

Her sister raised an eyebrow. “Let me see that ring again?”

Evy held out her hand and Kate took hold of it. “It’s gorgeous, Troy. Just promise me you’ll always take care of her.”

And then Troy did something Evy would never forget. He took her sister’s hand. “She will always be happy and safe, Kate. You have my word.”

Kate’s eyes filled with tears and she dabbed at them with her apron. “You deserve it, Evelyn. Every happiness that this world can bring you, you deserve. Are you sure there’s no way I’ll ever see you again?”

Evy looked up at Troy as he answered. “Never say never, but she was put in harm’s way because others found out she knew me. I can’t let the same thing happen to the rest of your family.”

Evy slid out of the booth. “We gotta get going. Please tell Mom and Dad that I’m okay. You can tell them everything I told you, but not Troy’s name. Promise me.”

“I promise, little sis.”

They hugged for a long time, but it was still too short for Evy. After all those times growing up when she could have just killed her big sister. Now she would never see her again.

Troy kissed her sister on the cheek. He took Evy’s hand and they started to walk back to the bathroom.

“Bye, Kate.”

“Bye, Evy. Hey, Thomsen.”

Troy turned around.

“Don’t forget your promise.”

He smiled. “Never.”

They walked into the bathroom, closed the door, and disappeared.

Pax walked into the compound’s living area and grabbed a bottle of scotch. As he turned to leave, he almost mowed down his best friend.

“Fuck! Sorry, Dies. I didn’t think anyone was up.”

Diesel adjusted one of his crutches. “No worries. You look like shit, dude. What up?”

“Nothing.”

Diesel went over to the bar and took out a clean glass. “Like, a whole bottle of scotch nothing? How about you and I have a drink, partner.”

“I’m not really in the mood, Dies.”

“Too fuckin’ bad.” He pulled a root beer from the fridge. “Grab this shit and let’s sit down.”

They sat at the little kitchen table. Diesel opened his soda and took a swig, while Pax poured himself some scotch. He really didn’t feel like talking about it, but he also felt like he was about to explode.

“James caught me with some guy in the bathroom at Anarchy.”

Diesel ran his hand through his hair. “Shit.”

He sighed. “Yeah.”

The brother looked at him with those his pale greens. “Look. You and I have only known each other about a year, but between being your partner and drunken late night talks, I figure I know pretty much everything about you that’s worth knowing. Why are you fighting this so hard?”

“Dies—”

“I mean, it Pax. I’ve seen the way you look at him, the way you are when you’re together.”

Pax took a deep breath. “It’s Luis.”

Diesel swallowed hard and looked straight at his boy. “What happened to Luis isn’t your fault, man.”

“How do I know that, Dies? The whole thing was so goddamn fucked up. And here I am, two years later, and I’ve got that kid walking in on me in a bathroom at a goddamn bar, for Chrissakes. You should’ve seen the look on his face. Then I have the common sense to follow him back here and tell
him
to grow up.”

He took a swig of scotch.

“Making yourself miserable isn’t gonna bring him back, Pax.”

“Don’t you think I know that?”

This was the shit he hated. The guilt that ate at his best friend was like a poison. Until recently, he’d been dealing with the shit first hand. “I’m not sure you do. You want to know if his death was your fault or not? You have a way of finding out. If it turns out it’s your fault, I’ll personally help you down the next bottle. But this? What you’re doing? It makes no sense, man. You gotta stop punishing yourself.”

“It doesn’t matter either way. Being with James isn’t appropriate.”

“What, is this the fifties? He’s in love with you, Pax. Tell me you don’t know that.”

“He’s eighteen years old. He doesn’t even know what love is.”

“Did you?”

“What?”

“Did you know what love was at that age? I seem to recall you telling me you met Luis when you were seventeen. How old was Luis? What, twenty-one?”

“So?”

“So what made you so special at that age? You obviously knew how you felt. You were with him three years. I haven’t known James very long, but he’s got the biggest heart I’ve ever seen. That male is special. Don’t give it up, Pax.”

Pax took another swig and looked at the wall. “I have to.”

“Why?”

“Because it doesn’t matter if I killed Luis or not. What happened tonight just proves I haven’t changed. And I’ll be damned if I’m going to take that male down with me.”

Troy watched his female as she slept. He smiled.
A member of the shifter branch of the CIA
. Oh, well. It sounded impressive. His stomach growled. He always needed to eat after fighting and his gut was gnawing a freaking hole in itself. But, man, she was incredible. Choosing between having her skin against his and basic survival totally sucked. He kissed her bare shoulder and slipped quietly out of bed, pulled on some sweats, and headed downstairs.

They’d had roast beef for dinner. He was hoping there were some left-overs for a sandwich. He opened the main refrigerator and jostled some dishes around. There were still a few slices left.
Sweet.