Mating Call

by Martha Bourke

  Table of Contents

  Glossary of Terms

  CHAPTER ONE

  CHAPTER TWO

  CHAPTER THREE

  CHAPTER FOUR

  CHAPTER FIVE

  CHAPTER SIX

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  CHAPTER NINE

  CHAPTER TEN

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  CHAPTER NINETEEN

  CHAPTER TWENTY

  CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

  CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

  CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

  About the Author

  Also By Martha Bourke

  Martha Bourke

  A New Breed Novel

  Mating Call

  Copyright © 2014 Martha Bourke

  All rights reserved

  Cover Art by Natasha Brown

  Edited by Debra Hartmann

  Book design by Rachelle Ayala

  www.marthabourke.com

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. And any resemblance to actual events, persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  Printed in the United States of America

  1933-2014

  In loving memory of my father, Lt. Colonel Peter Chiacchieri

  We miss you, Pop.

  Glossary of Terms

  camzah (n.) Mayan term for teacher; mentor

  den (n.) Where a group of hellions live together as a clan, often in abandoned buildings.

  gleam (v.) The ability to open and pass through portals at will in order to move any distance. Only New Breeds possess this power. To the naked eye, it appears as though the shifter has simply vanished into, or appeared out of, nowhere.

  the Goddess Akina(pr. n.) Maya Goddess of Love and the Moon who was destroyed by her fellow gods for aiding an enemy soldier during a celestial war. Still exists in spirit form. Created the New Breed shifters to battle Toltec.

  hellions (n.) Genetically altered shifters created and controlled by Toltec. Hellions are physically stronger than common shapeshifters, although the change in their genes leaves them with almost no remaining k’ul. This unnatural balance leaves them seeking to possess the k’ul of other shifters, even though it is only temporary. If they take all of another shifter’s k’ul, that shifter will die. They are considered abominations.

  in lak'ech ala k'in (n.) Mayan term used in formal greeting between shifters and often as words of endearment with loved ones. Loosely translates to, “I am you, you are me.” Often accompanied by placing the fist over the heart.

  the Initiative (pr. n.) Program started by Victrixa Mata to kill shifters and steal their naguals.

  k’ul (n.) Supernatural energy that resides in the earth and all living beings. Vital life force in nature. Different beings hold different amounts of this energy. Humans in general have very modest amounts, whereas shifters have much higher levels. New Breeds have by far the most k’ul. All shifters are able to identify other beings by sensing how much of this life energy they carry. K’ul is also connected to the lifespan of shifters, with shifter civilians living well over a hundred years. The lifespan of the New Breed shifters is unknown.

  mark (n.) Tattoo-like symbol that all shapeshifters have on the back of their neck in the form of their nagual. Appears when a shifter phases for the first time, usually at the age of eighteen.

  mating call (n.) An important part of shifter nature, this phenomenon may happen any time after a shifter first phases. Once this instinct is awakened between a male and a female shifter, they generally give in to it very quickly. Most shifters have very little, if any, sexual experience before they feel the call. The bond between mated shifters comes above all things, and all shifters mate for life. If the call is not heeded, the male will experience intense physical pain and mental confusion. It is possible for a shifter to experience a new mating call after the death of a mate, but this does not always occur. Although a ceremony is often held to make the pairing legal in the eyes of the government, especially when offspring are involved, shapeshifters generally do not have a religious ceremony per se. However, it is not uncommon for the male to offer the female a ring or other token of affection.

  nagual (n.) Guiding spirit and animal counterpart that exists in the Otherworld. All shifters have an animal nagual. The Maya, who believed that their naguals offered protection, often held rituals to contact these personal guides. Shifters have two souls, one human, the other of their nagual. This second soul guides them through instinct.

  New Breed (pr. n.) New Breed shifters collected so much k’ul shortly after the Transition at Chichen Itzá that they are physically changed into a new species of shapeshifter that is closer to immortal than mortal. In their human forms, they are much larger, stronger, and faster. Their hearing, vision, and instincts are heightened. Their eyes will glow around the pupil when experiencing a strong instinct, such as in battle or with a mate. They are also able to gleam. Certain New Breeds are gifted with special abilities. In addition to the marks on the backs of their necks, they also have a Maya tribal mark on their right shoulder. At this time, there are eight known New Breeds. They were chosen by the Goddess Akina to fight against Toltec.

  the Order (pr. n.) A group comprising the eight New Breed shifters. Its members are deadly warriors who swear an oath to protect both the human and shifter populations from Toltec. They are chosen through divine means and join the Order when they receive the call to serve.

  the Otherworld (pr. n.) The celestial realm inhabited by naguals and other supernatural beings.

  permaphase (v.) Phasing into and remaining in one’s second form permanently. This is incredibly dangerous for shifters, as they can forget their first form completely and thus lose their humanity forever. It is found most commonly in shifters after the death of a mate, as they rely on instinct while in their second form. This blocks out the psychological and emotional pain of the loss.

  phase (v.) Act of physically taking on the form of one’s nagual. All shifters are able to do this. It is not painful and is instantaneous. Shifters often refer to their animal form as their second form.

  portal (n.) A sacred space between earth and the Otherworld that allows New Breeds to pass between the worlds when they gleam. Portals are also used by shifters for rituals and communication with their naguals.

  protective instinct(n.) The intense urge male and female shifters feel to protect both mate and offspring. This instinct can become particularly intense in times of danger or when a female is pregnant. As with all other instincts, this impulse is heightened in a New Breed.

  shapeshifter/shifter (n.) Although they are members of the species Homo sapiens, shapeshifters contain much more k’ul, and are therefore able to take on the animal form of their nagual. There are shapeshifters all over the world, in every country and every culture. They are often not well accepted by humans. Some live openly, while others hide their marks. The first shapeshifters were the Maya. Even today, shapeshifters use some Mayan expressions, and follow some Maya rituals and traditions.

  silver nitrate (n.) All shifters have an intense allergy to silver nitrate when ingested in any form.

  Toltec (pr. n.) Organization of shifters whose core belief is shifter supremacy over all other living things, including humankind. They believe that the elevated level of k’ul carried by shifters gives them the
divine right to rule the world’s governments, control the banking system, etc. They work toward these goals through both violence and more insidious means.

  the Transition (pr. n.) Refers to the tremendous release of k’ul from the earth at Chichen Itzá at the end of the Maya Calendar on December 21, 2012. When this occurred, the balance of k’ul on earth changed dramatically.

  CHAPTER ONE

  Dimitri followed Ana through the newly fallen snow, his running shoes slipping on the icy road as they turned up the mansion’s long, circular driveway. He smiled to himself as he pulled more freezing New England air into his burning lungs. The running had started out as a way to keep his partner distracted while her mate was out on duty, but he’d come to look forward to his late night runs with the Order’s only female. They were becoming an essential part of his week.

  He looked up at the mansion, the warm light in the windows welcoming them home even at this late hour. Less than a year ago it had been totally deserted. He’d even considered selling it once or twice, but clearly the Goddess had other plans. They reached the front door and Ana started Diesel and V’s endless security crap. She was about to have her fingerprint scanned just as the north wind picked up. He pulled up his collar. Fuck that. He took her hand and together they gleamed into the warm foyer. They wiped their shoes on the mat and Dimitri brushed the snow off his chin length blond hair.

  Ana took off her gloves. “That was a good one. We beat yesterday’s time by at least ten minutes.”

  He grinned. “We should enter the Boston Marathon.”

  “Actually, that’s not a bad idea. We could pick off a few terrorist a-holes while we’re at it.”

  “Word.”

  “Oh, Mr. Ivanov, you’re back. Pardon the interruption, but you have a visitor in the drawing room.”

  Dimitri rolled his eyes. “Jesus, Geoffrey. You’ve known me since I was ten. When are you gonna lay off that Ivanov shit?”

  Ana grinned and turned to head up the main staircase. “See you at breakfast, Mr. Ivanov.”

  “Funny.” Man. Hours at the house ran late, but a guest? It was after midnight. He walked down the hall and hung a left into the drawing room. There in front of the great floor to ceiling fire place, warming his hands, was a huge male.

  Viktor. Jesus Christ.

  Troy’s legs pushed through the snow until he reached the sidewalk. He tried to pick up Evy’s scent, but somehow his senses were shut down and he could only follow whatever was happening inside him, like he was on autopilot. He flew down York, staying off his pads and on his toes to manage the sharp curve right before he hit Summit again. He could feel the pull inside him—the call, screaming from deep within—and he felt like he’d die if he didn’t mate Evy in the next ten seconds. But it didn’t matter. He didn’t give a shit how he found her.

  He turned onto Summit and picked up speed again. He had the cold north wind working against him so he pushed himself even harder.

  And then it hit.

  The protective instinct.

  It grabbed onto his gut and refused to let go. His concentration slipped for just a second and so did the rest of him. Not good. He was runnin’ down that slippery incline on four legs at forty miles an hour. As the intersection with Corey Road approached, he pedaled backward frantically. It was no use. He was gonna fly right through it. The only thing on his side was the late hour.

  Or not.

  Just as he went into a full tumble, a big black SUV came barreling down the road. The last thing Troy remembered was almost total darkness as the truck blocked out the light of the moon.

  “What are you doing here, Viktor?”

  “Now is that any way to greet your big brother?”

  He was huge and radiating a shitload of k’ul. He’d clearly gone through the second transition. Dimitri had wondered about it from time to time. Mostly he just tried to keep the bastard totally out of his thoughts. Goddammit. Geoffrey must have recognized him. He could have at least warned him. “Just answer the question.”

  “Well, I am a warrior. Clearly this is where I’m supposed to be.”

  “If you’re a New Breed then where the hell have you been all this time? Evading the call of the Goddess in some shithole bar while the rest of us picked up the slack?”

  “I don’t owe you any explanation.”

  “No. But you do owe one to Reyn. It’s late. The last room to the left of the staircase is free. You can crash there. I’m sure he’ll want to see you in the morning.”

  “Fine.” Viktor pushed past him and left the room.

  Dimitri walked over to the fireplace and put his hand on the mantle. He watched the flames lick the dry wood until they seemed to disappear altogether. The long, chestnut brown hair and blue eyes of his beloved Elena came to him instantly, as if no time had passed. With the old house alive with the members of the Order and their families, he had almost forgotten. Or at least it was easier to pretend he had. He ran his hand over his face. Fuck. Why now, Viktor? Why now?

  Troy opened his eyes. His vision was fuzzy at first, but the outline of a couch came into view. Where the hell? He tried to move, but his right, back leg was stiff.

  “Hey, boy.”

  O-kaaay. There was a guy walkin’ toward him. A human. He was reachin’ out. Aw, for fuck’s sake. He was gonna pet him. Troy felt his breathing pick up. Touching was not his thing, but he needed to stay calm—bitin’ this idiot’s arm off was only going to get him a trip to the pound, or worse.

  “You’re okay. I’m glad you’re up. I’m so sorry, boy. You sort of came out of nowhere, you know? I didn’t mean to hit you.”

  Oh, my fuckin’… The guy thought he’d just hit a neighborhood stray or somethin’. He had zero clue he was pettin’ a wolf. Troy tried to move again. His leg was wrapped. No wonder it was stiff. Shit. He had to get the hell outta there. He was wastin’ time. His leg was obviously okay or genius here would have taken him to a vet.

  The human covered him with a blanket. “Listen, buddy. I gotta grab a little sleep before work. Get some rest, okay?”

  Troy’s body was poised to take off the second he was alone. He watched in total defeat as the human sat down in a recliner, put up his feet, and covered himself with a blanket of his own. Troy turned his head and looked out the window. There was only a half hour ‘til daylight max. He may as well skip making a scene and wait ‘til the guy left. He rested his head on the arm of the couch and sighed. He had no idea where he was. This human could live anywhere. How far off the trail was he? If only he knew. He’d lost hours of darkness and he’d be stuck searching in human form until nightfall. More lost time. Hang on, Evy. Just a little longer. Please.

  Evy watched as Seth put out a cigarette. “You can sleep, you know. I’ll be here another hour before I go make a call.”

  “No thanks.” She was so tired she could hardly hold up her head, but it was no use. Her body just wouldn’t shut down.

  He handed her a paper bag. “Your choice. I brought you a bagel and some coffee.”

  “Seth, why don’t you ever eat?”

  He shook his head. “Don’t ask questions you don’t want to know the answers to, little prisoner.”

  He walked off down the little hallway, went into the apartment’s one bedroom, and shut the door.

  At least Seth hadn’t noticed she’d only managed to get the freaking couch halfway back to its original spot. She sighed. The feeling she’d had when she’d approached the window was gone now; she felt empty and alone. She wanted it back—whatever it was. It felt like a part of her was suddenly missing. Okay, she really needed some sleep. She was starting to sound seriously insane, even to herself.

  She heard the lock on the door and immediately swung her legs up onto the couch and put her arms around her knees. She exhaled as Joey walked through the door. He hadn’t been there much, but he didn’t seem to have much interest in her. He kinda seemed like a neurotic little freak. She watched as he went to the fridge and pulled out a beer. At six in the mo
rning? She could see the contents of the kitchen from where she sat. There was nothing in that fridge but beer. No food on the counter. Seth only brought her take-out. What the hell were these things?

  Seth walked down the hall and turned in to the kitchen. “Hey, Joe. You’re back early.”

  “Yeah. I checked out that den. Nada. I’m starting to wonder if maybe we’re the only ones like us.”

  Seth nodded toward Evy. “You’re an ass to bring that up in front of company. Listen, I need to make a call in a few minutes. Hang around and make sure Nick keeps his paws off the merchandise. If she’s damaged in any way, it’s totally gonna fuck up the deal I’m trying to set up with the Order.”

  “No problem.”

  Evy watched Seth leave the apartment. Joey sat down next to her and grabbed the remote from the coffee table. “You mind?”

  She shook her head. “Hey, Joey?”

  “What?”

  She held up her cup. “I gotta pee. Too much coffee.”

  He sighed. “Fine. Let’s go.”

  He went into the kitchen for the key and unlocked her chain so she could walk down the hall.

  “Make it quick,” he snapped as she closed the door and locked it.

  She flicked on the light. Quickly she ran her hands along the floor and checked the cabinet under the sink. There had to be something she could use to pick that lock. She’d been doing it since she was a kid. She could use almost anything. “Come on, come on.”