Guardian's Mate

by Jennifer Ashley

  Her lips at last responded to his, returning pressure. The kiss parted Rae’s lips and Zander tasted her heat.

  The brush of it ignited him. Mating frenzy stirred deep in his blood, wanting him to run his other hand down to her backside, to lift her against him, turn with her and pull her to the bed. Or to the floor, if they couldn’t make it to the bed in time. They would tear at each other’s clothes, insane with need, not content until they’d taken each other in a wild storm.

  Female Shifters had just as much frenzy as males. The Goddess made them to mate, to keep at it until cubs came.

  Who are we to thwart the will of the Goddess?

  Rae scooped herself against him, deepening the kiss. He tasted her sadness, her need, and also the bite of Goddess magic that had changed her life.

  Every curve of her pressed to every plane of him. Zander learned her with his hands, mouth seeking more.

  Rae unclenched her fist, sliding her fingers to his shoulder then his neck, caressing skin unblemished by a Collar. Zander wanted Rae’s off her. He’d take her to Dylan Morrissey and stand on that Feline until he got Rae free of her Collar. The chain on Rae’s throat, warm from her skin, caught on Zander’s fingers.

  Her mouth held spice, strength, and Zander wanted her. They’d been thrown together, confined, made to put up with each other, then had drawn together to ease Ezra’s father to the Summerland. After that Rae had steadied Zander while he’d gone through his healing hangover, then they’d fought a common enemy. Rae had jumped to Zander’s defense, probably saving his life. If that wasn’t cause for some mating frenzy, Zander didn’t know what was.

  Zander lifted Rae from her feet. She more or less climbed him, wrapping her arms around his neck, her legs around his hips. Zander supported her with his hands on her warm, firm ass.

  Rae sank fingers into his shoulders as she held on to him, her mouth working under his. Zander felt her tongue sweep in, tasting him, exploring, Rae unafraid of him.

  Her breasts were soft against his chest, the points of her nipples hard through his T-shirt. She was feeling the frenzy, which excited the hell out of Zander.

  Want you, Little Wolf. Hard and fast, damn who hears us.

  Zander slid one hand under the waistband of her jeans, working down behind her underwear to cup her soft backside. Rae drew back. Her eyes held heat and her lips were parted, moisture reddening them.

  Fire lurked inside her and Zander wanted to reach in and pull it out. So what if it burned him? Life was meant to be grabbed with both hands and lived. He’d never know if he and Rae had anything together if he didn’t try.

  He pulled her firmly against him, the skin of her sweet ass warm and smooth. Their mouths met again, this kiss deeper and hotter.

  The cabin door opened, letting in a draft of cold, dark air, then closed just as swiftly.

  Rae jumped, her eyes widening. “Who was that?”

  “Well,” Zander said. He didn’t let go, liking her nestled in his arms. “There are really only two possibilities.”

  * * *

  Rae struggled out of his arms, hot with embarrassment. Her body was hot for other reasons—no denying it. Zander kissed like fire and his hands brought forth every need Rae had ever had.

  Female in a frenzy, he must be thinking. Females after their Transition were notorious for going out mate hunting. Her close proximity to Zander must have triggered it.

  If that’s the case, a voice of cool logic inside her whispered, why don’t you want to go after Ezra or Piotr?

  Ezra’s grieving and Piotr’s already mated. There, that should settle the voices down.

  But Rae knew mating frenzy wasn’t the entire story. Zander looked at her with dark eyes that held so much, his hands warm as he steadied her.

  He wasn’t pushing her away, wasn’t condemning. Zander caressed her cheek, as though their heated kiss had been natural, something he considered continuing later. She could still feel the imprint of his mouth on hers, his hands on her backside.

  “We’d better go see what they want,” Rae said, her lips stiff.

  “Yeah, probably a good idea.” Zander drew a long breath, the beads in his braids winking in the dim light. “I bet it was Piotr who looked in. Ezra would have just stood there until we finished.”

  Rae hadn’t known either man for long but she agreed with Zander’s assessment. Shifters weren’t embarrassed by mating frenzy—at least, not other people’s frenzy. Amused by it, yes; embarrassed, no.

  Zander moved around Rae in the small space by resting his hands on her shoulders and turning in a circle with her. He caressed her throat beneath her Collar with his thumbs before he finally lifted away and turned for the door.

  Rae’s gaze went to his back under the tight T-shirt and the ass his thin sweatpants clung to. Zander the crazy healer kept his body in good shape.

  Zander swarmed up the ladder and onto the deck. Rae quickly went to the sword, slid the pieces into the sheath, then hurried out after Zander.

  It was indeed Piotr who waited on the deck right outside the cabin door. “So sorry to disturb, my friends,” he said, no amusement in his voice. “But we have a situation.”

  The situation, Rae saw as she climbed out, took the form of boats, lights blazing through the near-darkness, coming right at them.

  Her breath caught. So many. Almost all of them sported flashing lights and all had searchlights. The clear, peaceful night let them come fast.

  “Who the hell are they?” Rae asked, shading her eyes.

  Ezra answered, “I’d guess every law enforcement agency within a fifty-mile radius. I say we throw the human overboard and let them pick him up.”

  Rae began a hot answer but Piotr shook his head. “He is not wrong that this is my fault. I radioed my friend to come for me in his fishing boat. Either my friend betrayed me or police heard the call. I said nothing about being with Shifters but someone must have recognized me at the bar fight and the police put it together.”

  “And they’re coming right for us,” Ezra growled. “I really, really didn’t want to die with a Collar on me.”

  “You won’t,” Zander said. He studied the approaching boats. “We’re getting out of here.”

  Good kisser or not, he never made any sense. “How?” Rae demanded. “You know a few whales who owe you favors?”

  Ezra and Piotr watched Zander with as much skepticism, but Zander’s face split into a grin.

  “As a matter of fact, I do, but they don’t always come when I call. But no, that’s not what I had in mind.” He swung away toward the pilot house. “Piotr, I’ll need you for this. You know these waters like the back of your hand.”

  Rae remained in place, balled fists on her hips. “What do you want us to do?” She gestured to Ezra.

  Zander glanced at them. “Hold on tight and don’t get shot. Oh, and find the life vests.”

  “Great,” Ezra muttered. “Sounds promising.”

  Zander’s boat spluttered to life as Piotr followed him inside. The engine caught, gurgled, then took up its steady, strong roar.

  The boat leapt forward, throwing Rae and Ezra off balance and nearly sending them sliding over the stern rail. Both dropped like the animals they were as the boat jumped over the waves, faster, faster.

  Rae half climbed the rising deck to the cabin door and let herself below. She expected Ezra to follow but she saw him through the cabin’s small windows pull himself along toward the bow, as though he wanted to see where they were going.

  “Life vests.” Rae went through the bench’s storage and cupboards, finding boxes filled with everything from card games to a crowbar but no life vests. “Oh, come on, Zander.”

  She looked everywhere. The boat listed and danced, and at one point she was plastered against the starboard wall as it turned sharply. When she could stand upright again, Rae opened every locker, drawer, and cupboard but found no life vests. She tried under the benches and in the storage under the bed, but there was nothing.

  “W
ell, that’s reassuring,” she said out loud.

  She did find Jake the Snake in the middle of the bed, curled up and looking unhappy. If a snake could be seasick, he was.

  Last night Rae had strongly objected to sharing her bed with a snake. Today, she felt sorry for it.

  She leaned down and scooped him up, putting him carefully in the pocket of the jacket. Jake snuggled down, liking her warmth.

  Rae climbed back out of the teetering cabin to the deck. The other boats were alarmingly close, their sirens blaring. A man’s voice came over a bullhorn: “Cut your engine and stand down.”

  Zander paid no attention. Rae pulled herself into the pilot house and shut its door behind her.

  Zander and Piotr stood together at the wheel, both studying a chart pulled up on a laptop. Outside the window, Ezra was hunkered in the bow, clinging to the rail as they climbed the waves.

  “I couldn’t find any life vests,” Rae announced. “I hope you aren’t planning on us swimming for it.”

  “That’s okay,” Zander said without looking around. “They’re over there, under the benches.”

  Rae huffed out a breath. “Then why did you tell me to—”

  “To take your mind off things,” Zander said. “Did you find Jake?”

  “Yes,” Rae ground out. “He’s fine.”

  “Good. I’ll need him.” Zander held out a broad arm in her direction.

  Rae glared at his muscular forearm but Zander still didn’t look at her. She dipped her hand into her pocket and pulled out the snake, who gazed around with interest.

  Rae laid the snake onto Zander’s outstretched arm and Jake coiled himself around it. Zander held Jake up to the front window. “Which way, my friend?”

  Piotr gave Zander a look of concern from his light blue eyes. “You are leaving our safe passage up to a reptile?”

  “Sure. Snakes have senses of smell that are beyond even that of Shifters. He knows what I’m looking for.”

  “Maybe he can find your whale friends,” Rae said. She thumped to a bench as the boat gave an erratic leap.

  Zander shot her a look. “Funny. Most of my marine mammal acquaintances, as a matter of fact, are seals. They like me because I’m a polar bear who doesn’t eat them.”

  Rae clung to the bench. “Zander, has anyone ever told you you’re crazy?”

  “All the time. Anyone ever tell you you’re beautiful?”

  Rae’s retort died on her lips. “No, actually,” she said, so softly the words were drowned by the boat’s straining engine.

  Zander heard her. “Then they’re idiots.” He bent to Jake and moved his hand over the controls. “A few degrees left,” he said to Piotr. “Then cut speed.”

  “Cut?” Piotr asked in alarm. “Those are not only police out there but Coast Guard. They have very big, powerful guns. I know this—they have picked me up before, thinking I am Russian spy or a smuggler. If we can’t outrun, it is better to surrender.”

  “Not an option,” Zander said. “Ezra and I are un-Collared Shifters, and Rae’s illegally out of her Shiftertown. They’ll cage us and do Goddess knows what to us. Rae’s dad might be arrested for not keeping her home. We run.”

  “How do we run if we slow down?” Piotr demanded.

  “We won’t evade them with speed,” Zander said. “We can’t outrun boats made to chase smugglers. We’ll evade them by stealth. We hide.”

  Rae pulled herself up as the engine ceased its roar and the boat slapped the waves. The craft wallowed, the seas high.

  “Hide where?” Rae asked, staring out the windows. They’d come a long way from shore and there was nothing but open sea, with a smudge on the horizon that was Alaska. “There’s nothing out here.”

  “You’d be amazed,” Zander said.

  He wouldn’t say anything more as they crept along and the menacing boats zoomed closer.

  Piotr gave a little moan as he looked behind them. “Oh, my wife is very much going to kill me.”

  Zander continued consulting with his snake. The man behind them blared over a bullhorn again. “We’re coming alongside. Come outside and line up on the deck.”

  Zander’s hand hovered over the controls as he peered straight ahead. Rae went to stand next to him. “You can’t.”

  “Can’t what?” Zander asked absently.

  “Do what they say. Surrender to them.”

  Zander spared her a surprised glance. “Do you think I’m going to let them take you?” He returned his attention to the front windows, where Ezra hung on in the bow. “I’d never abandon you, Little Wolf. We’re getting out of this.”

  Though Zander’s words warmed her, Rae didn’t see how they’d escape. The sea was empty before them and full of boats behind. Those boats were coming up fast and soon Zander’s would be surrounded.

  Zander whispered to his pet snake. “There? Yeah, I think you’re right. You’re very smart, you know that?”

  Piotr exchanged a worried glance with Rae.

  “Out on deck,” the man boomed, his voice hard and authoritarian through the bullhorn. “Now.”

  “Or not,” Zander said. He brought his hand down on a lever. The fishing boat roared to life and sprang forward.

  At the same time there was a boom behind them and something very large charged past them to fall into the sea.

  Rae, Piotr, and Ezra jerked around but Zander kept his eyes to the front. “They’re shooting,” Rae pointed out.

  “Yep.” Zander had one hand on the throttle, the other on the wheel. “Warning shots. They’ll do a few of those before they shoot to kill.”

  “Well, that makes me feel better,” Rae said shakily.

  “It should. Means we have time to get there.”

  “Get where?”

  “There.” Zander nodded ahead of them.

  At first Rae saw nothing, then she blinked. On the northern horizon, blending with the dusk that would soon be sunrise, was a patch of fog.

  Small at first, it grew larger as their boat rushed at it. Rae had no idea what the fog hid or whether it was a stroke of luck that it happened to form at that moment. But no, Zander had been searching for it, so it must be a constant phenomenon. Rae wasn’t familiar enough with oceans to know what it was a phenomenon of.

  Piotr was staring at Zander, stricken. “Oh no, my friend. Not there.”

  “Oh, yes.” Zander grinned at him. “There. Hold on—here we go.”

  He increased the speed to breakneck, the boat lifting and slamming into waves toward the fog. The hull groaned with the effort and Rae imagined that any second the boat would break apart and they’d plunge to their deaths.

  Another boom came from behind them. A bullet like a miniature missile whistled past the cabin. Piotr went pale. “That is close.”

  “No longer matters,” Zander said.

  He cut the engine at the precise moment they hit the fog, plunging them into a world of opaque whiteness and silence.

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  Zander checked the instruments, including the sophisticated depth and proximity indicators he’d installed, and steered with confidence into the ghostly world.

  “Where are we?” Rae whispered.

  Ezra released his hold on the rail outside and sat up, looking around with a scowl. Beside Zander, Piotr said, “The Graveyard.”

  “That does not sound good.” Rae’s voice was subdued as she stood beside Zander.

  Her hair smelled like flowers. Zander wanted to lean down and kiss it. He suppressed the wish and kept his eyes on the instruments, but it wasn’t easy. Maybe he should send Rae below for a while so his frenzy wouldn’t distract him. Not that he thought she’d obey and scuttle away because he asked.

  Rae gazed bravely out the window, watching as Zander carefully piloted them around obstacles that couldn’t be seen by eye in the fog.

  “I’ve been in and out of here many times,” Zander said, trying to sound reassuring. “And I’m still here.”

  Piotr’s round face was pink. “But wh
y do you come back here? It is notorious, this place,” he said to Rae. “Full of shipwrecks, too-thick fogs . . . and fire.”

  “Don’t worry,” Zander said. “I haven’t seen any volcanic activity in months.”

  “Months?” Rae repeated. “You really know how to make us feel better.”

  “I’m not trying to make you feel better—I’m trying to keep you from getting captured.” Zander nudged the controls to go around a black rock that emerged rapidly from the fog.

  The good thing about these waters was that they were deep. The bad thing was that pieces of islands jutted out unexpectedly, and because of constant new lava and old erosion, pieces appeared where they hadn’t been before.

  Rae said, “You mean our choice is to float around here and hope we don’t wreck or go back out into the clear water and to cages.”

  “You got it,” Zander said.

  Rae’s chest rose sharply. Her gaze went to Jake, who’d uncoiled from Zander’s arm and now rested on the windowsill. Rae reached over and lifted him, warming him in her hands. Jake already liked her.

  Rae let out her breath. “Then I vote stay here.”

  “Piotr, you can get out here if you want,” Zander said. Piotr was terrified, and with good reason. “I’ll give you a radio and have you climb out onto the rocks. The Coast Guard will pick you up.”

  Piotr sent him a look of indignation. “Abandon my friends? Never. Besides, they’d wreck trying to get to me. I’d only be another skeleton left behind . . .”

  “Cut the drama,” Zander growled. “I’ve never seen any skeletons in this place. Not human ones anyway.”

  “That is because they all fall into the sea,” Piotr said with a shudder. “Plenty of boat skeletons though.”

  Zander didn’t answer because Piotr had a point. The first time he’d floated in here without meaning to it had scared the shit out of him. Only his Shifter senses of scent and hearing had saved him from becoming another wreck in the Graveyard. The sulfur odor here was strong but the subtle differences in it from place to place had let him find his way back out to daylight.

  After that, he’d explored and researched, learning as much about the Graveyard as he possibly could. He’d started venturing in here deliberately, making the place his own.