Shifters Unbound 1 - Pride mates

by Ashley Jennifer

  Liam kept hold of Kim’s hand. “Time to go.”

  Kim’s wariness returned as he led her out of the bar. “Go where?” she asked.

  “Home.”

  “You mean your home.” And his father. Would Liam’s dad be elderly and kind, with the same blue eyes as his son and a warm smile, or a rigid patriarch who terrified every person who crossed the threshold?

  Liam nodded silently, his eyes giving nothing away. His sudden quietness made Kim nervous, but then she thought about her own house waiting for her, how large and lonely it was.

  The place had never warmed up again since Mark’s death, no matter how hard she and her parents had tried. There’d been a hole in every Christmas celebration, every Easter dinner, every Halloween night’s trek through the neighborhood. The family had gone through the rituals each year, realizing that rituals were unfulfilling when someone you loved was missing from them, but they’d been unable to do anything else. Kim had tried to liven up the house with remodeling a few years ago, having a party to celebrate, but while the house looked more modern, it was still empty.

  Kim thought about Shiftertown, how alive it was, how these people had been forced to reside here but had made it bearable with the closeness of family and friends.

  “I’d like to see where you live,” she decided. “Even if I have to be interrogated by your father.”

  “He won’t interrogate you.” Liam’s smile returned. “Like Ellison said, we’re pussycats.”

  Kim wasn’t sure what to make of that, but she followed him through the crowd that had gathered outside the doors and in the parking lot. They were mostly Shifters, laughing and talking and waiting for a chance to ooze into the packed interior.

  The night had cooled, the humidity lessening. Overhead, stars poked through the lights of the city against vast blackness that stretched to eternity.

  “What a nice night,” Kim said. “Do you live far? Can we walk?”

  How weird that she wanted to. In this city of cars, walking was what you did along Lake Austin or in Zilker Park or on Sixth Street on Saturday night. You didn’t walk to actually get somewhere.

  “It’s not far,” Liam said, “but we’ll drive. It will be safer to leave your car inside Shiftertown than out here.”

  He had a point—this was a bad part of town. Liam drove again, and Kim was content to look out the window. This late, no kids lingered on the lawns, but the houses glowed with light. People sat out on lit porches to talk or simply watch the night.

  Liam pulled the car into an old-fashioned driveway—two strips of concrete with grass in the middle—about two blocks from where Brian’s mother lived. Liam got out of the car and came around to open the door for her.

  Kim looked up in surprise as Liam helped her out and shut the door, a courtesy she wasn’t used to. In her world, a woman had to pretend she didn’t want or need little courtesies from men. If she wanted a man’s job, she had to act like a man. Be even stronger than a man, actually, and more ruthless. Kim knuckled down and played the game, and she was surprised at how much Liam’s gentlemanly gestures pleased her.

  Liam’s house was a bungalow, like Sandra’s, two stories with square brick pillars on the porch. One corner of the porch held a picnic bench and a table, the other, a porch swing.

  “I’ve always wanted a porch swing,” Kim said. “Stupid, but I was never allowed to have one. Homeowner’s association didn’t approve.”

  “You’re welcome to lounge on our porch swing anytime you want.”

  “Anyone ever tell you you’re a sweetie, Liam? Isn’t it a little late for a visit, though? Will your father be up still?”

  Liam’s smile answered her. “We’re night people.”

  “Like vampires? Hell, I’ve had too much beer.”

  “No. Not like vampires.” Liam opened the front door and ushered her into his house. “Vampires are different.”

  Kim wasn’t certain what to make of his answer. Was he teasing? But heck, Shifters existed. Why not vampires?

  She’d definitely had too much beer.

  The front door led straight into the living room, which was dominated by a big box of a television. The couch and chairs had been grouped around it, with folding TV trays for end tables. The tables were littered with soda cans, beer bottles, bowls holding crumbs of corn chips, and stacks of videotapes and DVDs. It looked as though they’d had a movie night. The floors were polished wood with mismatched rugs and runners on them, unlike Kim’s cool tile floors with plush hand-woven carpets.

  As Liam led Kim inside, Sean and another man came down the stairs to her left, and a young, lanky Morrissey bounded out of the kitchen that opened beyond the living room.

  “Is that her?” the young man asked.

  The oldest man moved past him and held out his hand to Kim. “I’m Dylan.”

  Liam’s father. He didn’t look any older than forty, but like Sandra, his eyes held the weight of years. Those eyes assessed her, much as Liam’s had, but without the warm interest. His grip was strong, not overpowering, but it let Kim know he could overpower her anytime he wanted to.

  Kim decided that if she’d met Dylan instead of Liam, she’d have hightailed it out of Shiftertown and never looked back. No wonder Liam was the one Brian said everyone approached. You had to be brave to look into Dylan’s eyes and not quail.

  Sean stepped off the stairs. “Connor, why didn’t you clean up this crap? I told you Kim was coming.”

  “I’m doing it.” The young man started gathering the jetsam into his big hands.

  “My nephew, Connor,” Liam said. “Our brother Kenny’s son.”

  The brother who’d died. Kim watched the long-limbed Connor shoulder his way into the kitchen, trying to carry everything at once.

  Liam gestured for Kim to sit down. A couch, which had seen years of bouncing children and men’s booted feet, sagged when she sat on it. Connor reappeared and handed Kim a cold soft drink. Kim wasn’t in the mood for one, but she thanked him, opened the can, and took a sip. No reason not to be polite.

  Liam sat down next to her, close, as he had at Sandra’s. Shifters really didn’t understand personal space. Or if they did, they didn’t care.

  Sean stood ill at ease, his hands in his pockets. He wore a frown, as though he didn’t like having Kim there, but not because he didn’t like Kim. Dylan watched also, but with a quietness that the younger men of the family didn’t have. He was closer to the predator than any of them.

  And here I am, the gazelle.

  To calm her nerves, Kim looked around at the décor, which was mostly bachelor clutter. “Hey, I have a suitcase just like that.” She pointed at a black bag with metallic studs that stood next to the TV set. “Wait a minute, that is my bag.” She glared at Liam, who didn’t look the slightest bit guilt-stricken. “Gee, I wonder how it got here.”

  “Remember my friends who went to fix your back door? They brought it.”

  Kim set her can carefully on a TV tray. “Want to tell me why? Or do you have a fetish about stealing other people’s luggage?”

  It was Dylan who answered. “Because you’re staying here, Kim. Liam knew you’d want your things.”

  “What do you mean, staying here? Spending the night? I haven’t had that much to drink.”

  Liam slid his arm around her, strong, holding her there. “You need to stay.”

  “The Shifter wolf is dead. You and Sean killed him. I’m safe now.” Finally the thing niggling at her broke through the fog in her brain. “Liam, how were you able to kill him? Your Collar should have stopped you from fighting, even against another Shifter. Right?”

  Liam said nothing. She felt Sean standing above her, Connor’s awkward uneasiness, and Dylan’s strong silence.

  “Liam?”

  Liam’s eyes were blue, hard, holding her gaze. “I’m sorry, love. That’s why we can’t let you go.”

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  She took it well. Liam had to give her that.

  No screaming, no
outraged swearing, no gibbering in terror. Kim simply looked at him, her eyes unreadable.

  “Why not?” she asked steadily. “If I can prove that Brian had nothing to do with the murder, it won’t matter whether his Collar can malfunction. I have no reason to share the information far and wide.”

  “You should let someone else take over Brian’s defense,” Dylan said.

  Now the anger came. “Oh, no, no, no. This case is going to make my career. Besides, I’m your best hope of springing him.”

  Dylan’s eyes were hard. “Brian understands the need to protect the Shifters.”

  Kim struggled from Liam’s embrace and sprang to her feet. “Are you saying you’d let him go down? Make him pretend his Collar malfunctioned to keep everyone from knowing the Collars don’t work at all?”

  “This isn’t about the Collars,” Liam said. “And anyway, the Collars do work.”

  “You’re crazy. If Brian’s found guilty, he gets the death sentence for Shifters. Do you know what that means?”

  “He won’t die at the hands of the human government,” Dylan said. “If he’s convicted, we’ll take care that he doesn’t face an executioner.”

  “What, you’ll send Sean to turn him to dust?”

  Sean looked away, unable to meet her eyes.

  “No, not Sean.” Liam stood up beside her. “It’s not his job.”

  Kim gave him an uncomprehending look; then her eyes widened. “You mean it’s yours? Oh, Jesus effing Christ, Liam.”

  “It’s a Shifter problem,” Dylan said in his quiet voice.

  “And now I’m a Shifter problem? You can’t take my word that I won’t tell anyone? Liam, you saved my life tonight. I owe you.”

  “It’s not up to us,” Sean broke in. “We don’t make the law.”

  “The oldest excuse in the book. Aren’t you the leader around here, Dylan? Can’t you make, you know, an executive decision?”

  Dylan shook his head. “These are clan matters and Shifter secrets. Only Fergus can override the law.”

  “Who the hell is Fergus?”

  “The leader of the South Texas clan,” Liam answered. “Dad thinks you should have a hearing with him. I don’t agree.”

  “Why not? Maybe this Fergus will see reason.”

  “Fergus? Reason?” Liam wanted to laugh. He thought about the big man with the long black braid, the thugs he surrounded himself with. Fergus hadn’t been happy when Kim managed to get Brian a jury trial. He’d wanted Brian to plead guilty and be done, the human prodding into Shifter business over. Liam still didn’t understand why Fergus was so ready to wash his hands of Brian, but Brian had been ready to obey.

  Until Kim had persuaded Brian to fight. Of course she had. Kim was a fighter. Fergus had been livid when he learned Brian had a competent defense attorney.

  “He’s dangerous, Kim,” Liam said, his voice sharp with worry. “All Shifters are dangerous, Fergus especially so. You shouldn’t have come to see me at all.”

  “I owe it to my client to try to help him get free.”

  “And now you know too damned much.”

  “Keep it quiet, Liam,” Dylan growled. “I can contain this, but not if the neighbors hear you . . .”

  Kim looked wildly out the window to the house next door. “What? What happens if the neighbors hear?”

  “They might go to Fergus,” Sean said. “We might not be able to stop them. We’re your best protection.”

  “You can’t keep me here.” She had good lung power for such a small woman.

  “We can and we will,” Dylan said, eyes glittering. “We protect the clan.”

  Connor looked distressed. “Stop it, Grandda’. You’re scaring her. She’s going to think we’re all crazy.”

  She’d not be far from wrong, Liam thought. Kim quivered with rage and fear, and Liam felt the overwhelming need to put his arms around her and soothe her. She needed to be held in the same way he and Sean had held Sandra, calming her nerves, easing her worry.

  Holding Kim would calm Liam as well. His adrenaline was wearing off—he could tell by the dull buzzing in his head. Very soon now, he’d start to pay the price for killing the feral Shifter. Sean didn’t look as bad, but then Sean hadn’t fought; he’d only dispatched the feral’s soul.

  “Keeping you here is the safest thing,” Liam said to Kim. “If Fergus thinks we have you under control, he won’t send anyone to make sure you are.”

  Kim’s anger would have knocked a weaker man sideways. She’d started to trust Liam, and now she felt betrayed. “Under control?”

  “Kim, love, when I said I’d protect you, I meant it. That means from everyone, my own father or my clan leader if necessary. If you go home tonight, Fergus will send Shifters after you. I’d have to stay with you, bodyguard you day and night.” Liam ran a finger along her chin. “Not that I’d find that a bad thing.”

  Kim stared at him without softening. He wished he could make her understand that she’d put herself in danger the minute she’d taken Brian’s case. Dylan and Fergus had argued long and hard when Kim had sent word she wanted to talk to Liam, and now Kim was in greater peril than ever.

  Someone banged on the front door, and Liam caught a scent of Lupine overlaid with a large dose of Oscar de la Renta.

  Sean rolled his eyes. “Perfect. She’s all we’re needing.”

  “Your door’s locked,” a woman’s voice called through the wood.

  “Let her in, Sean,” Dylan said, resigned.

  “About time.” A tall woman dressed head to toe in black walked in when Sean opened the door. She wore tight pants and a sleeveless silk shirt and had folded her blonde hair into an intricate French braid. Silver high-heeled sandals studded with rhinestones completed her outfit. “Why’d you lock the door? You never lock it.” She fixed white-blue eyes on Kim. “Who’s this human woman, and why are you all yelling?”

  The newcomer was lithe, with athletic grace, the kind of female Kim had despised when struggling with teen self-esteem. This Shifter lady could be a model for a fashion doll, except that she exuded personality with a capital P. Even her Collar gleamed.

  Liam, Sean, and Connor viewed her with irritation. Dylan looked downright uncomfortable and avoided her gaze. Interesting.

  The woman put a long-fingered hand on one hip. “I’m getting into bed when I hear my big cat neighbors trying to calm down a shouting woman. What am I supposed to think?” She pinned Kim with her predatory stare. “What are you doing to them, honey?”

  Kim looked the woman up and down, pretending she wasn’t unnerved. “That’s what you wear to bed?”

  “Depends on who’s in it with me.” The woman’s gaze slid sideways to Dylan, who pretended not to notice. “Who is she?”

  “None of your business, Glory,” Connor tried.

  Of all of them, Connor seemed to be the most oblivious to her overt sexuality. But then, if this Glory had something going on with Dylan, his grandfather, Connor would probably think her impossibly old. Even if she looked thirty at most. Damn, Shifters had good genes.

  Glory sniffed the air, nostrils flaring. “Liam’s scent-marked her. I never knew your tastes ran to humans, Liam.”

  Liam slid an arm around Kim’s waist, and Kim wished it didn’t feel so good there. “I’m protecting her from nosy Shifters.”

  “Sure you are.” Glory’s light blue gaze moved up and down Kim with too much perception. “But who protects you from her?”

  Liam’s grip tightened. “Good night, Glory.”

  Glory smiled a knowing smile, her lipstick coral pink. “All right, I won’t pry.” She gave Kim another assessing look. “Big cats are sensational, sweetie. I keep some extralarge condoms handy if you need them.” She spun on the toes of her shiny shoes and sauntered out, black-clad hips swaying.

  “I can see why you worry about your neighbors,” Kim said as Sean closed the door again. “She’s really something.”

  “Glory’s a Lupine,” Connor said. “She’s always giving us grief.
Why she wants to live in a big cat neighborhood, I don’t know.”

  “She doesn’t have a choice, does she?” Liam looked out the window, probably making sure that Glory went back to her own house and stayed there. “I’m taking Kim up to my room—alone. We need to have a chat.”

  “To your room?” Kim stared. “Why?” She wished she weren’t so intrigued at the thought. She needed to be afraid of these men, to flee them, to not let them keep her here.

  Then she thought of the feral Shifter in her bedroom and her big empty house with the dusty Shifter remains on her carpet. Contrasted with this bright, warm house, her own place suddenly had too many ghosts.

  “You’ll sleep up in my room,” Liam was saying. “It’s the cleanest. I even do hospital corners.” He picked up Kim’s bag, then put his arm around her waist again. He liked doing that, as though she naturally belonged in his embrace.

  “Wait a minute. You expect me to stay overnight in a house with four single men?”

  Sean grinned. “We’re perfect gentlemen, Kim. Everyone knows that. Don’t let us worry you.”

  “I’m not worried about my reputation, I’m worried about the state of the bathrooms.”

  Liam laughed softly, his warm breath tickling her ear. “They did a cleanup when I told them you were coming. And if they didn’t, they’ll be doing it now, won’t they? This way, love.”

  Liam took her to a roomy upstairs hall with three bedrooms and bath and a stair that led to an attic. Kim had to admit everything looked nice. Polished wood, freshly painted walls, clean carpets. But the house was definitely missing feminine touches, which made it a little sad and incomplete.

  Liam led her into a large bedroom with only one picture on the wall, a travel poster of a green vista in Ireland.

  “Interesting neighbors you have,” Kim said. “Do she and your dad have something going on? I noticed a lot of tension there.”

  Liam closed the door and dumped Kim’s bag on the floor. “She and Dad have an on-again, off-again affair. When they get along, it’s a beautiful thing.”

  “And when they don’t?”

  “We head for the hills. Right now they’re in neutral.”