Predator's Fire

by Rosanna Leo

  “Never mind that. She’s just visiting.” There. The words sounded friendly enough but he hoped his angry tone would give Angus the message.

  The other man back away, but not until he’d given both of them a long, appraising look. “See you later, Nina.”

  Yeah, right. Not if I see you first, asshole. He’d never liked that dude anyway.

  “Why’s he leaving? He seemed nice enough,” she asked, frowning. “And what’s this about being unmarked?” She set down the champagne flute and reached for the Grasshopper, taking a long sip. The green crème de menthe coated her upper lip and she passed her tongue over it, licking it away.

  As if on cue, Killian’s cock once again soared into the stratosphere, thick and hard and uncomfortable. “We’ll get to that,” he muttered. “First we have to talk about the Alpha Brethren.”

  Fate intervened once more as Ryland appeared at their table, his mate Lia on his arm. He nodded at Killian. “Have you and Nina had a chance to talk?”

  “Yeah. We had the talk.”

  “Are you okay?” Ryland asked her.

  “Honestly,” she replied. “The jury’s still out on that one.

  “Well,” Ry said in a casual tone, as if they hosted humans at the Ursa every day. “Your room’s all ready for you. It’s a cabin, actually. Number 17. It’s next to Killian’s cabin, just so you have a friendly face nearby.” He handed her a key card and glared at Killian, as if to remind him to be friendly.

  Lia danced next to him, clearly bubbling over with enthusiasm at seeing another human on the premises. It wasn’t long ago she’d been one herself, after all.

  Ry put an arm around her. “This is my wife, Lia. She’s a shifter now, but when I met her she was human, just like you.”

  “I’m so happy to meet you,” Lia gushed. She leaned over and hugged the life out of Nina. “If you ever have any questions, just let me know. Okay? I’m very sorry about your friend. I know this must all seem really weird.”

  Nina reached for Lia’s hand and squeezed it, clearly grateful for friendly physical contact. “Thank you. It’s more than weird. I don’t really know where to look.”

  Killian struggled with a fleeting stab of jealousy, wishing he’d been the one to offer her his hand. Hell, his whole body. She could comfort herself with the whole damn thing if she wanted.

  “I had trouble with it at first, too,” said Lia. “But aside from the whole roaring and growling business, shifters are like anyone else.”

  “Maybe, but I’m still waiting for someone to jump out with a camera and say ‘Surprise! You’ve been pranked.’ Actually, I’m kind of hoping that’ll happen.” As if to illustrate her confusion, she stared into her Grasshopper and took another healthy swig. And another. And another. This time, she didn’t even bother to lick her lips.

  He’d have to watch her. He had a feeling his little human was going through her green drink a little too quickly.

  Wait. His little human? No. Definitely not.

  Ry and Lia insinuated themselves into the booth on Nina’s other side. As first it bugged him. However, in making room for them in the half-circle booth, she drew closer to him. Her curls just about brushed his face and he had to prevent himself from leaning in for a long sniff. Okay, he could appreciate this dynamic. He slid closer to her until they almost touched arms. He could swear his arm hairs stood on end, reaching out for hers.

  As Lia talked quietly to Nina, Ry eyed him from across the booth, brows raised. He leaned over and whispered. “You seem to be getting along well now.”

  “Shut up, Ry.”

  “What? She’s nice. Is it such a bad thing for you to get along with her?”

  “I’m not interested in getting along with her. I just want to make sure she doesn’t flip out on our turf. And I want to find out why Janine thinks the Alpha Brethren are coming for me.”

  “How long has it been since you heard from your parents?”

  “Not long enough.”

  “And they’re still affiliated with that cult of idiots?”

  “Haven’t they always been?” Always fanatical in their religious beliefs, Killian’s parents had flitted from one sect to another, finally finding some sort of acceptance in the Alpha Brethren. The group, a ragtag collection of angry shifters led by a man named August Crane, believed in the superiority of shape shifters and sought the enslavement of humans. It would never happen, of course, but that didn’t mean Crane’s group wasn’t dangerous. They made a practice of targeting shifters who had liaisons with humans, often indulging in scare tactics. If Janine Michaels had recently fallen for a human man, she might have been on their hit list. Could it be they’d terrorized her so much she’d taken her own life as an escape?

  The situation, however it might unfold, saddened him. It brought back memories so unpleasant he wanted to retch. His parents had always been mixed up with shifters on the fringe, strange personalities. They’d always labelled their fanaticism religion. How many times had his folks forced him and his younger brothers to get on their knees and pray to gods in which they didn’t believe?

  “I’m sure nothing will come of this. You’ve always said the Alpha Brethren were insular, keeping to themselves,” Ryland commented.

  “For the most part. Still, they never resist the opportunity to recruit new members. They’ve been known to wander from their compound here and there.”

  “Well, there’s no way I’m allowing them to wander to Gemini Island.”

  “I’m with you there. I won’t let that shit August Crane get anywhere near this place.”

  “We have to get more details. Maybe Nina knows more. Do you want me to bring in security?”

  “Leave it to me for now,” said Killian. “I’ll keep her close and see if she remembers anything Janine might have said.”

  “What are you two whispering about?” asked Lia, her face set in a tight smile.

  Ry leaned back and put his arm around her. “Just lodge stuff. I’ll tell you later.” He dropped a kiss onto her forehead but Lia frowned at him.

  As if gleaning some of their tension, Nina sucked back the remainder of her cocktail and glanced at Killian. Her pretty face, marred by worry, made him ache in a way he hadn’t experienced before. As his jaguar stalked inside him, restless and hungry, he realized he wanted to make her feel better. In fact, part of him longed to draw her into his arms as Ry had done with Lia.

  As a mate might.

  Don’t be ridiculous. You just met her. She’s human and needs to return to her human life as soon as possible. End of story.

  What? his jaguar roared. She just got here. Don’t send the female away. She smells like flowers.

  Oh, shut up, you big pussy.

  He sat back against the booth upholstery and took a swig from his beer. In no way did it quench his strange thirst, and in no way did it calm his nerves.

  * * * *

  August Crane, leader of the Church of the Alpha Brethren, looked up as the blond couple walked into his office. Mary and Lawrence Moon, parents to three grown shifter sons and adoring members of his flock. Not, perhaps, his brightest lights, but they would do when the time came for battle. Jaguar shifters, the Moons possessed tremendous strength, something he would need when he brought his humble church into the mainstream.

  His mouth filled with saliva and his inner wolf snapped its jaws in hunger. He could almost taste it.

  But he needed to be patient. The time was not yet right.

  “You called for us, Great Alpha?” Lawrence asked. He and his wife stood before him, heads bowed, as they ought to be.

  “Please sit,” he replied, nodding toward the two chairs opposite him. Once they were comfortable, he smiled and nodded at each of them in turn. “Mary. Lawrence. How wonderful to see you. Nothing makes me happier than the sight of a strong shape shifter couple, proud and loyal.”

  “We are very loyal to you, Great Alpha,” affirmed Mary.

  “And you will
be rewarded for your loyalty after the Holy Purge.” He leaned back in his chair and made a steeple of his fingers. “Tell me, how are your sons? Still working on that resort…” He made a show of snapping his fingers, as if trying to recall the name. “Ah, yes! The Ursa Fishing Lodge and Resort. How quaint.”

  Mary and Lawrence traded a nervous look. August knew full well they were aware of his feelings about the Ursa Lodge and its owner Ryland Snow. That damned human-fucker.

  If there was one thing August could not tolerate, it was the intermingling of shifter and human blood. Shifter bloodlines should never be tainted by inferior humans. Their progeny, wastes of space, with very few notable exceptions. And once he initiated the Holy Purge, in which shifters finally took their rightful place as rulers, he’d make sure the humans and their half-breed spawn were obliterated.

  Sadly for Ryland Snow, when he mated with his human wife, he fell onto August’s radar.

  Mary spoke up. “Our sons are well, despite having strayed from the church so long ago. When they were younger, we managed to control them, but it’s harder now. We have asked them to join us in your holy work, but they are headstrong men.”

  “They were headstrong children as well, from what I recall,” he muttered.

  She bowed her head. “I’ve prayed so often that Killian, Percy, and Byron would see the light. I’ve prayed until my knees bled. Tell me what to do, Great Alpha!”

  “Dear Mary, do not grieve over your wayward sons. There is still time for them to join our just cause. I am happy to hear that neither Killian, nor his younger brothers, have taken human mates. If they did, however…”

  “They won’t,” Lawrence said. “We’ll make sure of it.”

  He allowed them to revel in the full effect of his most benevolent smile. “Your loyalty pleases me.” He angled his head, never dropping his gaze. “Of course, I will need assurance that when the great battle commences you will remain on my side, even if your sons refuse me. You will need to decide where to place your loyalty. With me, or with your offspring.”

  They barely took time to respond for the answer was already formed in their heads. “With you,” they declared. “We are with you.”

  He grinned at their unthinking enthusiasm. Unthinking.

  Good. Just as he wanted them.

  Chapter 3

  NINA sat cross-legged on her bed in her new cabin at the Ursa Fishing Lodge. She rested her hands on her knees and closed her eyes. After a few cleansing breaths, meant to sweep away the nerves of a sleepless night, she opened her eyes and looked at herself in the mirror opposite the bed. Her reflection did not please her. With dark circles under her eyes and a furrowed brow, she appeared exhausted.

  Terrific. All these shifter people seemed to be personifications of beauty and stamina, and she looked like a weepy doormat.

  Shifter people. Was it a bad dream? Clearly not, or she’d be at the groomers today, brushing out the knots on Mrs. Buchanan’s Samoyed. Luckily, she’d banked a lot of vacation time. She’d worked there for years and her boss Krystle owed her. After hearing about Janine’s untimely demise, Krystle told her to take some time off. Nina had happily agreed.

  No, there was no way she’d dreamed it all or she wouldn’t be nestled in this rustic cabin. She slid off the bed and stood up, looking around her temporary refuge. Comfortable, with a cushy corner chair, soft rugs, and a fireplace, it felt very much like a home away from home. Despite not sleeping, she’d been comfortable in the plaid flannel sheets. She had to hand it to Ryland Snow. His shifter resort was the sort of place a person would never want to leave.

  If only it weren’t crawling with animal people.

  She shook her head, regretting her unfair description. They weren’t exactly animals. In fact, after an interesting evening with Killian and the Snows, they’d shown her shifters had the same concerns, hopes, and desires as humans. They cared about each other and their families. Hell, they even seemed to care for her, even though she regarded them with suspicion.

  When Killian had walked her to her cabin at the end of the night, he’d touched her cheek again, doing that thing where he stared deeply into her eyes. She knew it was only to make sure she didn’t go postal on anyone, but in that insanely-beautiful moment, she’d allowed herself to dream a man like him could want a woman like her.

  But then he’d pulled away, as if angry at himself, and said goodnight. He’d made sure she got in and had waited until she’d locked the door.

  Truth be told, she’d heard his tense pacing on the stoop for another few minutes. Was he worried about leaving her alone? Nah. He was likely just worried she’d do a runner and drown herself in the lake out of madness.

  Today, Lia Snow wanted to introduce her to a few of their friends. No doubt, to show her shifters were stable members of society and not raging monsters who snacked on toddlers in the dead of night. Even though Nina had seen a lot of shifters the previous evening, she hadn’t spoken to anyone other than Killian, the Snows, and that dude Angus, and had to admit she was nervous. She felt it in every hunched muscle and eye twitch.

  Taking a moment to check her appearance, she heard the sigh of wistfulness as it passed her lips. Darn. She hadn’t really planned on staying at the Ursa Resort, had hoped she’d get her answers in one day and head home. Thus she was stuck with yesterday’s outfit. It seemed fine when she left Toronto, but after meeting Killian Moon, the most gorgeous man/animal on the animal planet, she felt a little critical of herself. It now seemed as if her white jeans had transformed her curves, making them appear downright plump. Granted, she’d recently raided her private stash of “emergency chocolate” after finding Janine’s body. Stress made others stop eating, but it only made her seek out the nearest sources of junk food. On top of everything else, her abundant curls would not behave. She’d been blessed with her mom’s tight curls, ones which not only defied flatirons, but laughed at them. Smoothing a hand over her errant hair, she forced a smile. “I’m not here to audition for The Dating Game. Get over yourself.”

  A knock sounded on her cabin door, and she opened it, willing serenity to ooze from every human pore.

  Lia Snow stood outside, bubbling with an energy that was infectious. Around Lia, Nina began to forget her problems. The bear woman smiled, her face crinkling with empathy. “Did you sleep okay?”

  “Well…”

  “Was the cabin uncomfortable?”

  “Not in the slightest. It’s really cozy. I’m just not sleeping well these days.”

  Lia frowned. “Well, that just won’t do. Here at the Ursa, we pride ourselves on creating an environment where our guests can relax.” She thrust a bag at her. “I noticed you didn’t really have a lot with you and figured you might need some clothes and toiletries if you end up staying a few days. We look about the same size. You can borrow some of my things and I popped some other goodies in there for you, too.”

  It was Nina’s turn to frown as she looked inside the bag, gratitude swelling inside her. Lia had thought of everything: sweaters, socks, new deodorant, lip balm, and even a package of pretty underwear. “That was very thoughtful of you. Thanks.” She pulled out a coral georgette blouse with ruffled sleeves. “This is beautiful. You have good taste.”

  Her new friend blew on her fingernails and pretended to buff them. “Thank you. It ain’t easy finding fashionable clothing in the woods. Thank God for the Internet. Ready to go?”

  Lia indicated the pathway leading to the lodge and Nina locked up her cabin. As they walked through the woods, Lia gushed about the delights of Gemini Island, how everyone there operated as a family. Boasting the amenities of a top hotel with the charm of a sprawling country inn, its guests enjoyed numerous outdoor activities and fabulous restaurants.

  As they had explained the night before, it operated as a sanctuary for shape shifters. She couldn’t lose sight of that. Here, she’d be surrounded by them. Including the fragile teenaged shifters in the mentoring program, young people
whose understanding of their emotions was already tenuous. They’d told her about that, too. Her hackles rose as they began to encounter other people on the walkways and she wondered what sorts of animals they were in their off-time.

  It was all so strange.

  They entered the lodge, the main building of the resort, and Lia showed her the way to a restaurant. From down the hall, she smelled bacon and sausages and her mouth watered. Still, it was easy to forget her hunger pangs when everywhere she looked, she saw shape shifters. They walked the halls with their families, looking like regular human tourists. Only the odd rumble in certain voices, or the flash of keen eyes, gave any indication as to the wild animal lurking inside those normal-looking bodies.

  Nina heard the congenial noises of the restaurant before she ever saw it. When it finally came into view, she couldn’t help smiling. With big windows looking onto the lake and bright yellow curtains, the cozy space already felt like a piece of home.

  Lia brought her inside and into a private room in back. A small group of men and women were gathered there. Scratch that. A small group of shape shifters.

  Ryland was the first to greet them. He walked over and dropped a chaste kiss on her cheek, as a big brother might, surprising the hell out of her. “Morning, Nina.” He winked at Lia and pulled her in for a hug. “Is my mate treating you right?”

  “She’s been great. But don’t you mean ‘wife’?”

  “We shifters call our partners ‘mates.’ For us, the word implies something much deeper than a human marriage. Marriages crumble every day, but shifters mate for life. It’s the strongest connection we know.”

  As if to demonstrate that connection, Ryland kissed Lia in a fashion that was decidedly less chaste, and Nina felt compelled to look away. When she let out a nervous laugh, they remembered they had an audience and ended their kiss. It didn’t bother Nina. It was really sweet and Ryland’s description of mates made her heart palpitate with a foreign excitement.