Therian Prize

by Cyndi Friberg

Rather than bother with small talk, Nate sat back and waited for Milliner to speak.

  “Have you made up your mind?” Milliner set down the half-eaten burger and wiped his mouth with a paper napkin.

  Two days after Dhane’s disappearance, Milliner contacted Nate for the first time. The general casually explained that one of his partners had kidnapped Dhane without permission from the others. He insisted that Dhane was unharmed and asked if Nate would be interested in a trade.

  Nate’s first reaction had been fury. He’d insisted on meeting Milliner in person, fully intending to beat the location of his son out of the worthless human. Milliner might be human but he was far from stupid. He’d insisted on meeting in a crowded food court where any disturbance would be recorded by the surveillance cameras.

  “My offer expires today,” Milliner reminded. “Either we trade or the program moves forward with Dhane.”

  “Trading one of my children for another isn’t much of a concession.” Nate folded his arms across his chest and glared. If he’d succeeded in locating Dhane, they wouldn’t be having this conversation. He’d have followed Milliner to a secluded location and ripped his throat out. But, despite considerable effort, Nate had failed to find the lab in which Dhane was being held.

  “The program is designed for an undefined female. It has already been tested successfully. Heather will not be damaged by the formula. I can’t say the same about Dhane.”

  Milliner’s flippancy was testing Nate’s control. He clenched his fists so hard his nails bit into his palms. “Who was it tested on? What do you consider success? How many Therians do you have trapped in your precious labs?”

  “You know what you need to know.” Milliner straightened his spine and a muscle in his cheek twitched. Nate tensed as well, preparing for the next verbal jab. Then Milliner’s posture relaxed and he leaned back in the booth. “I’m a father too, so I’ll let you in on a little secret. Heather was given an earlier version of this formula and there were no ill effects—at least to her.” A knowing smile lifted one corner of Milliner’s mouth.

  Nate scooted closer to the table as fury hazed his vision. “What the hell are you talking about? If you touched my daughter without my permission, I’ll rip out your heart and stuff it in your mouth.”

  Milliner laughed and the gleam in his eyes fueled Nate’s violent impulses. “We didn’t give it to her. You did. One of our mutual acquaintances convinced you to inject her with the formula yourself. Should have known you couldn’t trust a cat.”

  Nate felt his mouth gape and snapped his jaw shut. Milliner was talking about Osric, a tiger-shifter Nate had secretly aligned with six years ago. Well, “aligned” was probably too strong a word. They kept each other informed and occasionally pooled their resources as they worked toward common goals. That didn’t constitute much of an alliance. Nate had never trusted the cat, had never trusted any cat. “Osric was one of yours?”

  “I told you my influence stretches further than you could possibly imagine.” Milliner’s smug smile gradually gave way to an ambitious glower.

  “Did Osric tell you what that injection did to Carlos? I’ve never seen anything that twisted.”

  “The formula has been refined several times since then. If current protocols are followed it’s perfectly safe.”

  “Safe?” Nate scoffed. “I doubt you know the meaning of the word.”

  “You don’t need to worry about what I know. You have a decision to make. Heather or Dhane? It’s that simple.”

  Nate knew more about Milliner and his program than the general suspected. Long ago Nate had realized the importance of accurate information, so he’d recruited strategically placed personnel in each of the other Therian networks. Eli, Nate’s contact in Rocky Mountain Feline Network, had provided him with an in-depth background of Milliner and his partners. The cats had raided one of the project’s laboratories and convinced one of the doctors to trade information for amnesty. Their bold actions had only slowed the program’s progress rather than shutting it down. Still, Nate had benefited from their partial success.

  So why had Osric been involved with… It didn’t matter. Osric was dead and Milliner was waiting for Nate’s answer.

  With Bruce dead and Landon turned traitor, Dhane was Nate’s last hope for a successor. He had no plans to step down anytime soon but it was every alpha’s duty to secure the future for his pack. That’s what he’d hoped to accomplish with the challenge. He needed to trade Heather for Dhane. He’d explored every alternative and ultimately decided that he had no other choice. Even so, he hadn’t wanted to leave Heather at the mercy of Milliner. Contrary to popular belief, he loved his daughter with all his heart.

  Nate knew about the formula, knew it was engineered for an undefined female. It had all been detailed in Eli’s report. If Heather were defined and mated, she would be safe from Milliner’s meddling. Worst case scenario, Milliner would kill Heather to punish Nate for tricking him. But Nate doubted Milliner would carelessly waste such a valuable asset. And that’s all Therians were to the backers—assets, possessions to be bartered, manipulated and exploited. Understanding the true nature of an enemy made that enemy easier to destroy.

  “I intend to accept your offer and trade Heather for Dhane.” Nate carefully modulated his voice, keeping any hint of anxiety from revealing itself. “Unfortunately Heather took off last night. So I need a few days to—”

  “Took off where? Why?” Milliner shoved his plate aside and rested his forearms on the table. His cold, blue gaze drilled into Nate’s. “Is there any possibility she found out what you intend?”

  “No. She’s been skittish ever since her brother died.”

  “Ever since you had him killed, don’t you mean?” Milliner arched his brow, accenting the challenge in his tone.

  Nate pictured himself lunging across the table and clawing off the human’s face. Milliner was damn lucky they met in public. “This has nothing to do with Bruce.”

  “But you just said Bruce was the cause of Heather’s skittishness.”

  Nate ignored the provocation and remained outwardly calm. “I have half my pack out looking for her. It’s just a matter of time before she’s found.”

  “Well, time isn’t something we have in abundance.” Milliner scooted out of the booth and stood. “Find her fast. I’m not sure how much longer I can hold off the others.” Without another word, he threw a few bills on the table and walked out of the diner.

  * * * * *

  Jake waited for Heather to react to his apology. He knew he’d upset her and didn’t want his lack of discretion to shatter the bond forming between them. The need to protect her had taken root when he first saw her in the alley behind his restaurant. She’d looked so fragile, so helpless. It would have been unthinkable for him to abandon someone in need. Protectiveness was a driving instinct. He would have reacted the same way regardless of who the abused person had been.

  Still, his feelings for Heather were much more complex than protectiveness. He was physically attracted to her. There was no denying that. But he sensed an untapped potential, a wealth of possibilities she’d yet to explore. He wanted to assist her, empower her and watch that potential blossom into something extraordinary.

  “Why did you do it?” She turned from him and crossed the living room, not waiting for his answer.

  “Why did I tell Ian and Devon about the first injection?” He followed her to the floor-to-ceiling windows that dominated the outer wall. Aspen spread out before them, a compact rectangle in the valley below. Beyond the village rose Aspen Mountain, the ski runs barren stripes upon its majestic face.

  She turned toward him, her features bathed in sunlight, thick-lashed eyes rivaling the sky. Even without makeup or elegant clothes, she was stunning. No wonder half the Canine Network was fighting over her.

  “Do you really think what happened to Carlos is part of some international conspiracy? It makes you sound paranoid.”

  He smiled. Her criticism was understandabl
e. He’d been skeptical too until he’d seen the backers’ handiwork firsthand. “Is it hard to believe humans are trying to recreate and manipulate our abilities or are you reluctant to consider that your father is involved?”

  “I’m not as naïve as you think. I’ve had a front row seat to many of my father’s darker moments. I know he’s ruthless.”

  “Let’s go outside.” Needing to touch her, Jake held out his hand. “The view is even better from the deck.”

  “Is it safe? What if someone sees me?”

  “There’s no reason for the hunters to be looking for you in Aspen. Lexxie’s the only one who has any idea that you’d come here. Do you trust Lexxie?”

  She nodded and slipped her hand into his. He led her back across the living room and out the side door between the kitchen and dining room. A multi-level, railed deck hugged two sides of the house, offering unobstructed views of the valley. An eating area complete with gas grill, smoker and table and chairs was situated on the upper level, while a semi-enclosed hot tub nestled on the smaller level below.

  “Wow,” she whispered. “Just when I thought this place couldn’t get any more impressive.” She rested her hands on the wooden rail and turned her face to the sun. A breeze rippled through her unbound hair, beckoning his fingers. Sunlight brought out the red highlights, making the curly strands appear more copper than gold.

  He wanted to bury his hands in her hair, holding her still while he ravaged her mouth. His tiger tossed his head, restless and hungry. “I meant what I said,” he digressed. “I shouldn’t have said anything to the others without asking you first.”

  She looked at him, searched his gaze for a moment then returned her attention to the scenery. “You’re forgiven.” She sighed. “It’s not like anything we do can bring Carlos back.”

  Moving up beside her, he rested his hands on the railing too. “I thought you didn’t know him well.”

  “I didn’t.” Her fingers tightened and then released but she continued to stare straight ahead. “If his transformation was triggered by the injection, then I’m responsible for his death.”

  “No, you’re not.” He lightly grasped her chin and turned her face toward him. “You did nothing wrong. It’s possible that your father didn’t even know what was in the injection.”

  “Then why did he give it to me?” She shook her head, dislodging his fingers. “Never mind. That’s all in the past. I have enough problems here and now.”

  He couldn’t argue with her logic so he let the subject drop. “I know your family history, but I don’t know that much about you. How do you spend your days? Have you ever thought of leaving Snowmass and making a life for yourself?”

  “Not until recently.” Emotion thickened her voice but she rushed on before he could identify the specific feelings. “My father owns a bar called the Clubhouse. I manage the business side of things, inventory, payroll, that sort of thing.”

  “I’ve heard of the Clubhouse.” Frequent fights, easy access to all sorts of drugs and pack-sanctioned prostitutes. Yeah, he’d heard all about the Clubhouse. He just couldn’t picture Heather in such a rough-and-tumble environment. “I didn’t realize your family owned it.”

  “It’s technically owned by Blue River Pack, but it’s the alpha’s job to manage the place.”

  “All the responsibility with none of the profit? That doesn’t seem quite fair.”

  She looked up at him and smiled. “Why do you think Dad leaves the actual management to me?” Her smile faded as suddenly as it had appeared. Turning around, she leaned back against the railing and asked, “Were you here the night Bruce broke in? This is where all that took place, isn’t it?”

  He abandoned the rail and moved in front of her. The sequence of events led to her brother’s death. Why was she asking him about them now? “Your father was desperate to locate Ava before she was defined. He sent Bruce after her and—”

  “Bruce rushed in guns blazing and found half of your network here protecting her. I know all of that. Did you see the actual fight? Did Bruce seem shocked or… I don’t know.”

  “I wasn’t here. My youngest sister and two of my nieces had disappeared the same day. I was out looking for them when your brother came here.”

  “Ava hooked up with Kyle, right?” He nodded. “Then why did he bring her here rather than hiding her at his house?”

  “I have better security.” She made a noncommittal sound but didn’t seem satisfied with his answer. “Why all the questions?”

  “I’d already gone home that night, so I only know what Dhane told me.”

  “Which was?”

  “According to Dhane, Bruce insisted that Dad set him up for failure, or worse, sent him on a mission he wasn’t supposed to survive.”

  Jake touched her arm and waited until she looked at him again. “What would your father gain by killing his oldest son?” Wolves were even more patriarchal than cats. Most cat clans voted on their leaders while wolf packs still passed the honor down from father to son. Had Nate been dissatisfied with his successor? And was he coldhearted enough to snuff out one of his sons?

  “Bruce was out of control. He was making enemies faster than Dad could smooth things over. Dad couldn’t control him and people who oppose my father have a way of disappearing.” Her voice thinned and color drained from her face. She was no longer thinking about her brother.

  “Now who sounds paranoid?” He softened the question with a playful smile. “Like Carlos, there’s nothing we can do to help Bruce.”

  “I know. It’s just haunted me ever since it happened.”

  “Understandable. Regardless of his faults, Bruce was still your brother.”

  She tucked her hair behind her ear and looked at her shoes. “Did you find your sister and nieces?”

  He started to nod then realized she couldn’t see him. “They were in the mountain lab.”

  Her gaze shot back to his, worry evident in her pained expression. “Were they okay?”

  He nodded. “They were terrified but physically unharmed. We were all pretty shaken by the incident.”

  “I keep hearing about the mountain lab. What was it like? I know the captives were freed but what happened to the people who worked there?”

  “I wasn’t part of the actual raid. I was able to examine a lot of the information that was recovered there. The lab was high-tech and extremely isolated. The workers were basically prisoners too.”

  Heather shook her head and glanced beyond him. “I don’t buy that. Isolated or not, they had to know what they were doing was wrong. They had people in cages. That should have been their first clue.”

  He smiled, warmed by her conviction. “Of course they knew it was wrong.”

  “And were they punished for their actions?”

  “The Prime Council is handling the investigation, so I don’t know the details. I know they decided against involving human law enforcement. Thought it was too risky. They’re focused on crippling the entire organization rather than each individual worker. Other than that, I don’t know much more than you do.”

  “Do they know how many labs there are or how many captives?”

  He just shook his head.

  “It’s hard to fight an enemy so shrouded in secrecy.”

  “That’s a fact, but we’ll keep digging until we’ve uprooted all the weeds.”

  Silence enveloped them as Heather resumed her study of her shoes. Jake understood her reticence but wasn’t sure how to reach her. If he touched her she’d likely pull away. And verbal assurances seemed hollow. She was in serious shit and denying the fact only compounded the danger.

  She rolled her shoulders and rubbed the back of her neck.

  “Stiff?” The word made him smile. He was halfway there himself.

  “I feel like I ran back-to-back marathons yesterday.”

  “You basically did. The hot tub is on a timer. It should be perfect right about now.”

  She looked at the waiting spa and then his face. “I don
’t have a swimsuit.”

  He grinned at her. “You won’t be the first woman to take a dip in her underwear.”

  After a short pause she asked, “Will you come with me?”

  Coming with her was exactly what he’d like to do, but he kept the innuendo to himself. “If you like.”

  “I would.”

  He took her hand and led her to the stairs that led to the lower level. The hot tub cover was on a counterbalanced lifter so it only took a moment to remove. “Why don’t you get in while I go grab some towels and something to drink?”

  “Thanks.” She offered him a hesitant smile.

  “What would you like?”

  “I know it’s early but I’d love a glass of wine.”

  “White or red?”

  “White, maybe something light and fruity.”

  “I’ll see what I can find.”

  Heather watched Jake retrace their steps and disappear into the house. He moved with such agile strength it was hard to look away. She shook her head and reached beneath the t-shirt to unzip her jeans. He’d given her a few minutes of privacy. Was she going to stand here like a fool and squander them?

  She kicked off her shoes, tucked her socks inside them then wiggled out of the jeans. Luckily the t-shirt was black, but she wasn’t wearing a bra so she’d try to keep her chest below the waterline. The open-sided gazebo was more decoration than protection. Even so, the water felt wonderful as she climbed into the spa and sank beneath its silky warmth. She didn’t know how to activate the jets so she just relaxed and waited for Jake’s return.

  He’d changed into a pair of navy-blue swim trunks. Several towels were draped over his shoulder and he carried an open bottle of wine and two glasses. “I tend to stick to beer, so if this sucks you don’t have to drink it.”

  “A restaurateur who doesn’t know wine?” She rolled her eyes in mock disdain. “I’m insulted.”

  He chuckled and sunlight touched his eyes, making them shine like emeralds. She’d never met anyone whose eyes changed so dramatically. At times they appeared almost black then suddenly they’d shimmer with inner light and the green would shine through. “There’s no lack of pretentiousness in Aspen. I just chose not to play those games. I keep the menu simple and focus on the food.” After draping the towels over one of the gazebo’s rails, he arranged the wine bottle and glasses within easy reach of the hot tub.