Therian Prisoner

by Cyndi Friberg

  “That’s not what happened?”

  It would be cruel to draw Ava into the middle of the conflict, so Erin debated what to tell her. Ava and Kyle’s relationship was still new. Erin had no intention of causing trouble between them. Still, facts were facts. “Devon did take off after arguing with Kyle, but her actions were not unprovoked.”

  Ava licked her lips, clearly uncomfortable with the direction the conversation was headed. “How was Devon provoked?”

  “Kyle is under tremendous pressure. Not only is he quite young to be named network Prime, but he supports the rebels where his father was true to the ancient customs.”

  “I understand all that. What does it have to do with Devon?”

  “Lokesh, the most powerful jaguar alpha offered to support the rebels if Kyle would sanction a match between him and Devon. Most of the jaguars have remained neutral until now. Landing their support would be very beneficial to the rebel cause. And all it would cost Kyle is his sister’s happiness.”

  Color slowly drained from Ava’s cheeks. She had been faced with an arranged marriage not long ago, so she understood how powerless it made the female feel. “Did Kyle sanction the match?”

  “Not outright, but he made it clear to Devon that he would be grateful if she agreed to the union.”

  Ava shook her head, conflicting emotions clouding her eyes. “Why would he… Are you sure about this?”

  “I spoke with Lokesh this afternoon. He’d heard about Devon’s rescue and wanted to know if the contract had been finalized.” Erin took a deep breath, determined not to take out her frustrations on Ava. “Needless to say, I was shocked and horrified by the call. I confronted Kyle with what I’d learned, expecting him to deny it. All I got from my son was an awkward apology. He insisted that he wouldn’t have finalized the contract without Devon’s consent, but he admitted that he’d put the good of the network above his sister’s happiness.”

  “May I play devil’s advocate?”

  “Don’t bother saying that protecting the good of the network is the Prime’s job, because I understand that. However, Devon had just lost her father. It was cruel of her brother to even consider the match. Kyle should have told Lokesh that Devon was still in mourning. Period.”

  Ava didn’t argue, nor did she agree. She likely didn’t know what to think. Therian customs were still new to Ava. “If you know where Devon is, you should tell Kyle. It’s not right to make him worry like this.”

  “He knows she’s with Ian. That should be enough. Ian won’t allow anything to happen to her.”

  “You have a very high opinion of Ian.”

  Erin paused and searched Ava’s gaze. She saw only honest curiosity and flickers of worry, so she chose to elaborate. “My opinion of Ian has been reinforced over many years. He’ll protect her as no one else can.”

  “Why is that?”

  “He is the oldest and most powerful Therian still alive.” She allowed herself to smile before she added, “Except your sister, of course. But Carissa is still learning how to control her power.”

  Ava glanced around, gaze widening as she took in the artifacts. “What is all of this?”

  “These are objects owned by or influential in the lives of various Omni Primes.”

  “All of them?” Ava stood and moved toward the nearest bank of shelves, her fascination obvious.

  “It’s the Historian’s responsibility to collect and protect these artifacts. That’s part of the reason I spend so much time down here.”

  To Ava’s credit, she looked without touching and took her time with each object. “Are you sure Ian is the best person to help Devon process her captivity? What is the nature of their relationship?”

  “Damn good question,” Erin muttered under her breath.

  “What was that?” Ava turned from the shelves and returned to the stool beside Erin. “They aren’t…romantic, are they?”

  “Yesterday I would have told you no, but I had the most confusing conversation with Payne this morning.”

  “The lion-shifter?”

  “Yes.” Generally Erin would talk these things out with Kyle, especially with Devon involved. Unfortunately she was still pissed at Kyle, so his mate would have to do. “Payne is what I like to call sensitive.”

  “Sensitive? Payne?” Ava laughed. “Are we talking about the same person? Of all the Therians I’ve met, Payne is the most primal.”

  “And his primal nature might well be where his sensitivity comes from. Don’t let the word confuse you. Payne is aware of things others cannot perceive. I guess humans would call him clairvoyant. He senses conflicts and connections long before anyone else is aware of them.”

  “He sensed a connection between Devon and Ian?”

  “He did and I’m not sure how I feel about it.”

  “I thought you like Ian.”

  “I do. But liking him, even trusting him, and wanting him as my daughter’s mate are two very different things. And to complicate matters even more, Devon has had a crush on Ian longer than I can remember. All he’ll have to do is smile at her and Devon will…” Erin’s thoughts trailed away as the possibilities became too upsetting to consider. “Ian has been through so much and Devon is so young. I’m not comfortable with the idea of them as a couple.”

  “Then tell Kyle where she is and we’ll go get her.”

  “It’s not that simple. Devon is obviously still upset about Kyle’s betrayal. She has chosen to confide in Ian and, regardless of my personal preferences, I have to honor her choice.”

  “Is she emotionally stable enough right now to make her own decisions?”

  “Payne told me to back off and let things unfold.” Erin sighed. It was not in her nature to stand idly by and allow events to happen. “If it weren’t important, he wouldn’t have meddled in another family’s business.”

  “I only understand about half of this, so I’m not going to argue. I know you love Devon with all your heart and want only the best for her. That will have to be enough for me and my mate.” Ava motioned toward the journal Erin had been reading when she arrived. “Were you looking for something in particular?”

  “Actually I was. I’ve been putting together a sort of index to make finding things easier and a phrase kept coming up. Guardian of the Ancients. At first I thought it was another way of referring to the Historians, but that seems unlikely now.”

  “What do you think it means?”

  “I’m not sure yet, but I’ve found eight of Ian’s family members who were referred to by the title. My bloodline hosts the Historians, so this position is something else.”

  “Ian has never mentioned it to you?”

  Erin smiled and shook her head. “There are a great many things Ian has failed to mention to me if Payne’s premonition is accurate.” Erin reached over and squeezed Ava’s hand. “Tell Kyle to stop wasting Eli’s time and take you to bed.”

  Ava returned the squeeze and whispered, “Gladly.”

  * * * * *

  Heather sat on the edge of the bed and brushed the hair back from Dhane’s pale face. She’d always been closest to Landon, but she loved each of her brothers dearly. “Who did this to him?” He moved restlessly, muttering under his breath as if he were trapped in a nightmare.

  “Let Lexxie feed him and I’ll explain as well as I can.” Landon drew her away from the bed then out of the room, closing the door behind them.

  Two Therian males were in the living room. Their conversation stopped abruptly when Landon led her into view. She didn’t recognize the burly, bearded man, but Jake was no stranger to her. “You’re a long way from home,” she said to the tiger-shifter. He owned an upscale restaurant and bar in the heart of Aspen. “What brings you so far from your territory?”

  He just grinned, refusing to indulge her curiosity. “How’s Dhane?”

  “Hopefully Lexxie can turn this around,” Landon replied, even though Jake had been looking at her when he’d asked the question.

  “So who’s going t
o explain what the hell’s going on?” Heather shifted her gaze from her brother to Jake and back to the handsome tiger-shifter. “Where did you find Dhane and who screwed him up like this?”

  “The cats raided a lab high in the mountains a few days ago,” Landon began. “They thought it was an Abolitionist outpost, but what they discovered was much more advanced and more dangerous.”

  “I’ll bite. What did they discover?”

  “A high-tech lab, complete with Therian test subjects.” Jake scooted to the edge of the couch, his dark gaze gleaming in the lamplight. She shouldn’t find his sleek good looks appealing, but this wasn’t the first time he’d caught her eye or ignited her imagination. He was so different from the hunters in her pack, more complex and mysterious. “The lab was liberated and then destroyed, but one of the doctors has provided us with information.”

  “Ian and Payne were checking out one of those leads when they found Dhane,” Landon added.

  “That’s all very ambiguous. Who’s running these labs and why haven’t we heard about them before now? Are the two labs you discovered all there are or are they peppered all over the country?”

  “Our information is sketchy at best.” The challenge in Jake’s eyes told her he was full of shit. He’d told her all he was willing to share, but he knew a whole hell of a lot more than he was saying.

  Rather than starting a fight with the cat, she turned to her brother. “When will Dhane be well enough to travel?”

  “I’m not sure he wants to return.”

  She took a deep breath and counted to three before answering. She’d known this was coming. Landon had given up on their older brother a long time ago, but he’d never stopped hoping that he could recruit Dhane.

  “Dhane is loyal to our pack. He can’t stay here.” She tried not to raise her voice, but frustration and resentment boiled within her. She’d always looked up to Landon, which made his betrayal even more painful.

  “Dhane will make up his own mind once he recovers. I won’t have you bullying him.”

  “Me, bully him? Pa-lease.” She planted her fists on her hips and glared right into Landon’s eyes. “You’re the one who’s determined to convert the whole freaking world!”

  “They murdered Bruce.” Landon didn’t raise his voice, but his tone snapped with bitterness. “Doesn’t that bother you? I know he was a pain in the ass, but he was our brother. And he was mauled by his own pack. There is no place in a modern world for that sort of brutality.”

  She couldn’t defend practices she abhorred, so she just turned away. “I’ll come back for Lexxie and Dhane tomorrow.”

  “I’ll be heading back to Aspen tomorrow afternoon, so I can drop them off. Or if you’d prefer something more discreet, we can meet on neutral ground,” Jake volunteered. “That’s if Dhane wants to return, of course.”

  “Of course,” she muttered. Pressure built behind her eyes, making her temples throb. She was so sick of conflict and danger. Why did life have to be so complicated?

  “You’re welcome to stay here and see how things go,” the bearded man finally spoke. His voice was deep and rumbly, perfectly matching his mountain-man appearance. “I’m Holt, by the way. This is my house and no one will bother you while you’re my guest.”

  “Except my traitorous brother.” She glared at Landon before turning back to Holt. “Thanks for the offer, but Jake’s makes more sense.” She looked at the tiger-shifter and the strangest ache erupted deep in her chest. “I’ll meet you in Idaho Springs. Call me when you’re about forty-five minutes out and we can figure out exactly where to meet.”

  Jake nodded and she left without sparing Landon another look.

  * * * * *

  Devon woke up alone before the hearth, warm and relaxed after her first full night’s sleep in nearly a month. The fire had burned itself out and the cabin was empty. She knew Ian wouldn’t have gone far, so she ignored the sudden leap in her heartbeat. He’d probably gone outside to chop wood or—a vivid memory interrupted the thought and made her smile. She would never forget how Ian looked while chopping wood, but now she had other memories to add to the sight. She knew how his lips felt and his mouth tasted. She had felt his muscles ripple beneath her questing hands.

  The front door swung open after a perfunctory knock and Devon whipped her head toward the intruder.

  “Good morning. I’m Dorothy, a good friend of Ian’s.” The woman appeared to be in her late fifties, though age was hard to determine with Therians. Her short gray hair curled in an informal style that perfectly matched her approachable demeanor. Blue jeans and a baggy sweater made her seem right at home in the rustic setting.

  “Where did Ian go?”

  “He wanted to scout out the area, but didn’t want you to be alone. So he gave me a call and I rode on over.”

  “You ‘rode on over’?”

  “Horses, motorcycles and ATVs are about the only way to make it up here. The road, if you can call it that, ends at my place.”

  “And which did you ride?” It was an irrelevant detail, but Devon wasn’t sure how to react to her visitor. She was sitting on a pile of sleeping bags wearing nothing but a black t-shirt.

  “ATV, and I brought some things I think you’ll enjoy. Clean clothes, food, a toothbrush, deodorant, that sort of thing.”

  Devon finally relaxed enough to smile. “Sounds wonderful.”

  “Then I’ll go grab the duffel bag and we can get started.” Dorothy went outside then returned with a backpack as well as a duffel bag. She handed the duffel bag to Devon and kept the backpack. “Why don’t you get yourself put back together and I’ll start breakfast.”

  “Thank you. I wasn’t looking forward to wandering around in Ian’s hand-me-downs.”

  “Understandable. You’re a tiny little thing and he’s tall as a tree.”

  Usually comments about her size made Devon feel defensive, but Dorothy was just too likable. Her smile was infectious and she seemed like the perfect grandmother-next-door.

  The duffel bag contained two pairs of jeans and four casual shirts, as well as a variety of personal care products. The sizes weren’t perfect, but the clothes would all fit better than anything Ian owned. Devon had taken a shower the night before, so she selected an outfit and dressed, anxious to see what Dorothy was cooking.

  The smell of frying bacon had already permeated the cabin by the time Devon emerged from the bathroom. She paused in the doorway and inhaled. “Gods that smells good.”

  “Combine bacon and mountain air and there isn’t anything better.” Dorothy motioned her over with a smile. “If you want coffee or tea, Ian has that infernal machine over there. Don’t know what’s wrong with a good old fashion dial-a-brew, but he loves those silly little cup things.”

  Devon had seen Ian operate the machine the night before and it was pretty straightforward. “Would you like something? I’m pretty sure I can make it work.”

  “Brought my Dew with me.” She pointed to the bright green can with the bacon tongs. “It’s too early in the day for most folks, but I live on the stuff.”

  Devon smiled as she went to work on her coffee. “That has as much caffeine as coffee anyway.”

  “And tastes a whole lot better.”

  “Says you. I love coffee.” She brought the steaming mug to her nose and inhaled appreciatively.

  Dorothy wrinkled her nose. “I like the smell but never acquired the taste.” She jerked her arm back as the bacon grease sputtered and splashed her arm. “Dang! Bacon’s feisty this morning.”

  “Can I help with something?”

  “Pull up a chair and keep me company. I’m tired of talking to my dogs.”

  Rather than retrieve one of the chairs from across the room, Devon just leaned against the counter and sipped her coffee. “How’d you meet Ian? How long have you two known each other?”

  “It’s not a happy story. I’d rather talk about you.”

  Devon took another sip then set the mug on the counter beside her. “I th
ink I’d rather hear the story, unless you don’t want to talk about it.”

  “Happened ages ago. I’m okay with sharing it now.” Dorothy drained the grease off the bacon and moved the strips to a paper towel-lined plate before she began her story. “Albert and I moved to Leadville in ’78. That’s 1878. Neither of us were willing to work in the mines, so we grubstaked the miners. We had a tiny little cabin, not unlike this one, except no electricity or indoor plumbing.” Her smile took on a sad sort of wistfulness. “Didn’t matter. We were so in love we would have lived in a tree if we’d had to.”

  “You’re a raptor, like Ian?”

  “Raptor, yes. I’m an owl-shifter. But Ian’s one of a kind.” A calculative gleam came into her eyes as she added, “It would be tragic if he can’t remedy that before time catches up to him.”

  Devon ignored the shrewd speculation in Dorothy’s expression, not allowing it to distract her from the story. “Do Therian raptors all live as long as you and Ian? I hadn’t realized any of us lived for thousands of years.”

  Pausing with an egg in each hand, Dorothy’s gaze narrowed. “Did Ian tell you how old he is? He refuses to tell anyone.”

  Warmed by his show of trust, Devon just smiled. She hadn’t realized his age was a secret, but she had no intention of betraying his trust.

  “Fine. Keep his secrets. You’re obviously someone special to him.” Dorothy cracked eggs into a shallow dish and then used a fork to scramble them. “A man named Dieter wanted to buy me and Albert out, but we had no interest in selling. We didn’t realize he knew what we were until the night he came to ‘motivate’ us to sell.”

  “Did he kill Albert?” Devon tried to rush her toward the end, no longer sure she wanted to hear the details.

  “Eventually. He came with four of his men. Cowards always travel in packs. They grabbed Albert and beat him senseless. But Dieter was holding me, so Albert wouldn’t shift and fly away.”