Mating Call

by Martha Bourke

  Oh, my God. He knew. In the same way James always seemed to know about others. He’d read his heart. “I wish I could explain it better. You deserve that. But there’s just so much you don’t know about me.”

  “If you’re going to give me the ‘I’m no good for you’ speech, grab a barf bag off the counter for me first.”

  “No, that’s not what I mean. I just—”

  James turned his head away. “You know, I’m kind of tired.”

  Pax lurched up. “Oh, right. Sorry. I’ll come back when you’ve had some rest.”

  “Yeah. Sure.”

  But even as he walked out the door after his first visit, he knew he’d never be able to endure a second.

  Evy straightened out the bedspread and fluffed up the shams.

  Troy poked his head out the bathroom door wearing his typical smartass grin. “You know Mary’s just going to do all that again.”

  “Yeah, I know. Old habits, I guess.”

  As she walked into the closet with Troy’s sneakers, she heard a yell from the bathroom. She flew around the corner, the sound of her own heartbeat pounding in her ears. Her mate was crouched down by the Jacuzzi.

  “Troy!”

  He cried out again, pulling in on himself.

  She kneeled down and took his hands in hers. “What is it?”

  Tears fell from her mate’s eyes. “It’s James. So much pain. I can’t…can’t block him out. Fuck!”

  He rocked back and forth, sweat breaking out on his forehead. “Oh, God.”

  “Troy.” She took his face in her hands. “Focus on me. Only me.”

  When he looked at her, the pain in his eyes made her suck in her breath.

  “You have to break the connection.”

  He shook his head. “I can’t. I can’t.”

  She was terrified that if it went on much longer he’d lose himself altogether. Frantic from the thought, she pulled him to her and kissed him, letting the panic fuel her passion. At first there was no response. But then, little by little, he started to tap into his own emotions and return it. Finally, she broke it off. “Are you okay?”

  He nodded and laid his head down in her lap. They stayed that way for what seemed like a long time.

  She stroked his hair back. “How do you feel?”

  “Exhausted,” he mumbled.

  Suddenly, she felt a jolt inside herself. A weight in her chest took hold. She struggled with it for a moment. Then it broke. Oh no. “Troy, could you tell exactly what was going on with James?”

  “Nah. All I got were feelings, but it was definitely about Pax. All of it.”

  “Something’s wrong.”

  He sat up and faced her. “What do you mean?”

  “Something’s happened that wasn’t meant to be.”

  “How can you tell?”

  She shook her head. “I don’t know exactly. It sort of feels like a string has snapped.”

  “A string?”

  “Yeah, like a strand of time, a series of events connecting the past to the future. Whatever just happened changed James’s destiny forever.”

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  X walked out to the compound’s garage and got behind the wheel of his vintage ‘65 Chevy. He had restored every inch of her until she purred. Loudly. He started the engine, steered her out to the main road, and headed for the entrance to highway 128. Driving always put him in a good mood. He’d never understood all the morons who restored cars then refused to drive them. The whole point of a car was to enjoy the thing. It was a short trip. The cutting edge prosthetics center that was creating Diesel’s leg was just a few exits north. Tomorrow Diesel would be with him and the brother would be whole again. Man, Dies had been so amazing during the whole thing. The dude said he looked at it as a tradeoff for the life he had now with his mate. If any female was worth losing a limb for it was Helen. But damn.

  Rose’s face appeared in his head and he practically forgot he was driving. Her name was Rose Sato or Professor R. Sato, as she’d been listed on Harvard’s website. Troy was actually right. She did teach history. Intelligent and beautiful. He sighed and shook his head. He was furious with himself for going on that site. Man, he needed to get that female out of his head for good. This kind of shit always led to trouble. Out of nowhere, he felt a slight jolt. Fuck! He wasn’t paying attention and the driver behind him jumped the gun when the light turned green. Masshole. He pulled over to the side of the road and the truck followed. He cut the engine. At least the douche bag stopped.

  “Jesus! I’m so sorry, man.”

  X was stunned. The guy looked like he was going to fall to pieces.

  “You have an amazing car. I actually restore vintage cars for a living. I’ll fix any damage myself. Don’t you worry. She’ll be just like new.”

  X put up his hand. “Hold up now. Might not be any damage at all. I barely even felt the bump.”

  The two of them checked out the back of the car. The human sure as hell seemed to know his way around a car by the way he was inspecting the rear.

  X checked along the bumper. “All I see is the one scratch. I can take care of that myself.”

  “You sure? I restore and sell cars all over the country. Let me at least grab a card from my truck in case you change your mind. My name’s Dave, by the way.”

  X put out his hand. “Xavier.”

  “Good to meet you. You restore that beauty?” He nodded toward his Chevy.

  X followed around to the passenger side of the guy’s truck. “Yeah, but I do it more as a hobby. Yo, is that car you’re towing what I think it is?”

  X started for the rear of the truck. Sure as shit, it was either a 1967 Corvette Stingray or it was one hell of an imposter.

  The human ran his hand along the side pipe. “Sure is! It actually belonged to my dad. As you can see, he didn’t share the restoration bug. Stubborn SOB just outright refused to sell. Anyway, he passed away recently and a neighbor’s wanted to buy it for years. Just sold it to him this morning. Heading over there now.”

  “You two agree on a price?”

  “He agreed to pay my asking price. It was fair. It does need work done on the inside and the soft goods and brakes need replacing. Dad never worked on it, so you can imagine how long it sat. But it runs, and I do have this.” The guy reached into the car again and handed X some paperwork.

  “So you’re saying this is an original GM big block? More of those in the US right now than were ever even made, dig?”

  “Not saying. It is an original. All the papers are there, including ownership history.”

  X stroked his goatee as he studied the documents.

  Dave put his hands in his pockets. “Sure, a buyer can check the engine, the rear sway bar. But the provenance is almost never available.”

  “I gotta agree with you there. I’ll tell you what. Let me take a look inside her and if I’m satisfied, I’ll give you twice your asking price.”

  Good ‘ole Dave’s eyeballs just about flew out of his skull. That’s the exact reaction X was looking for. The guy probably felt some loyalty to the neighbor, which was cool. Blowing him away with his offer was the only thing that was going to get him that car.

  “Well. Damn. I hate to do it, but I got two kids starting college in the next couple of years. If you’re happy with it, you got a deal.”

  Xavier smiled. Bouya!

  Richard sat in front of the TV with Maya on his lap. Reyn hit a button on the remote. They had the news on. Again. Lately they’d been scanning CNN and local news for anything that could be attributed to Toltec. There had been reports of bodies being found around the city with no known cause of death. He felt sure those humans were victims of rogue attacks. Then the stories just dried up. That creeped him out more than the killings. Just what was that bitch Victrixa up to?

  Reyn took a sip of coffee. “Jesus, what a nightmare.”

  “You aren’t kidding.”

  There was a knock at the door. Richard didn’t even have to open it to
know who it was. All he had to do was sense her energy. The Seer. Holy fuck.

  Adri came out from the bedroom. “I’ll get it.”

  “Hey, you two. Come on in.”

  Sure enough Troy walked in with Evelyn. He stood up and brought his offspring to his shoulder. Part of him wondered if he should bow or some shit. That question got answered quickly enough. Her k’ul was incredibly strong, a commanding force in the room. But she was white knuckling Troy’s hand. The female was nervous.

  Troy gave a nod. “I hope we’re not interrupting.”

  Richard couldn’t help but smile at Adri. He’d never seen the brother so happy. “Nope, not a thing. What’s up?”

  “Well, we aren’t sure exactly.”

  “Evy, did you see something?” Adriana asked.

  All of a sudden the female seemed to gain a presence about her. She let go of her mate’s hand and looked at Adriana. “No, not a vision. It’s difficult to explain. A few minutes ago I was tracking a strange feeling inside myself and trying to figure out what it was. Then everything became clear. My connection to the Goddess. I’ve been looking at the moon every night, but I didn’t know why. Now I know I can sense her presence when she’s close by. I think it’s supposed to be that way.”

  Richard looked over at Reyn, but the male was totally fixated on Evy. Eyes glowing like crazy and white as a sheet. Jesus Christ.

  He shifted Maya to his other shoulder. “What do you mean exactly?”

  “I’ve been looking at the moon every night. I’ve felt drawn to it, but I had no idea why. Now I know I was longing for her, because she’s been keeping her distance. I think she’s passing through our plane for brief moments, but then retreating. She’s staying away on purpose.”

  His mate looked over at their leader. “Reyn?”

  The brother exhaled. “I think she might be right. I’ve called for her, but she won’t answer.”

  Richard nodded. “Anything else you can tell us, Evy?”

  She shook her head. “No, not yet. I’m just feeling things out as they come.”

  Troy took her hand again. “We’ll let you get back to it. Ev thought you should know.”

  Adriana embraced the female. “Thank you so much, Evy. We’re so glad you’re here.”

  Then she leaned down and whispered something in Evy’s ear.

  Evy smiled. “Thanks, Adriana.”

  Troy headed for the door. “We’ll catch you all at dinner.”

  Richard smiled. It took a divine being to get Troy to dinner. Why hadn’t they thought of that?

  Adriana took Maya and saw them out.

  Richard turned to Reyn. “Okay, spill.”

  The look on the brother’s face was dismal.

  “Christ, Reyn. How long? How long since you heard anything?”

  “A week. Maybe more.”

  Adriana looked from one to the other. “Oh, my God.”

  “Jesus, Reyn, why didn’t you say anything?”

  Reyn pushed the front of his hair back. “You know why.”

  Adri looked over at Richard. He knew that look. Time to adios. He took Maya from her mother and adiosed to the bedroom.

  Adriana walked up to their leader. “It’s for you, isn’t it? You’re why she’s coming so close?”

  He hung his head. “I don’t know. It might be.”

  She reached up and touched the side of his face. “Oh, Reyn. Why didn’t you say something?”

  He turned away and the great muscles of his back dropped as he sighed. “I wouldn’t know what to say. Evy just gave you more information in five minutes than I’ve had in a week.”

  “I’m not interested in information. I’m talking about you.”

  “Me? She’s out there somewhere, Adriana. And for whatever reason, she’s not coming any closer than she has to before something drives her back. For Chrissakes, she gave Evelyn’s power to SE for safekeeping. Worry. Worry a lot. But don’t waste it on me.”

  He walked out the door and closed it behind him.

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  Ana sat in the mansion’s library at a table covered with books. No matter how much she read, she couldn’t seem to find anything about Bane. She was almost positive that he was the aj k’o’ol, but finding any proof was beginning to seem impossible. She looked over at little ts’unu’un as he hopped from shelf to shelf. It was so odd that the little thing didn’t want to move on to the Otherworld now that it was free.

  She felt a kiss on top of her head.

  SE pulled out the chair next to her and sat down. “Any luck so far?”

  “Not a damn thing. I’m starting to think I made the whole thing up.”

  He laughed and rubbed her knee. “If I know you, Ihkweea, you’re on to something.”

  “Yeah, maybe I’ve just been at it too long.”

  “Actually, that’s why I came down. You need a break and I’ve got just the thing.”

  She rubbed her eyes and looked around for the nagual. “Little ts’unu’un, we’re leaving.”

  The spirit continued to explore the shelves.

  “He never seems to understand anything I say.”

  “Huh. Maybe you should try something in Mayan.”

  “That’s an idea. Èltah.” She asked the nagual to come to her. Sure enough, the little transparent hummingbird flew to the table and landed on a book. “Okay. Well, I guess it makes sense he would understand Mayan. Let me just put these books away and I’m all yours, my male.”

  SE waited while his mate gathered up the books and walked to the shelves. He watched the spirit for a moment and then spoke quietly. “Èltah.”

  Hmm. The spirit didn’t make the slightest move toward him. He tried a second time and again there was no indication the nagual had even heard him. So the spirit only understood Mayan and so far only his Ihkweea. He didn’t have the slightest idea what that meant, but he was sure as hell going to find out.

  “All set.”

  “Perfect.” He took her hand and led her down the hall to the ballroom.

  “Why are we going in here? No one ever uses this room.”

  “Exactly.” He steered her in and turned on the lights of the grand crystal chandelier hanging in the center of the room.

  She gasped.

  He watched her as she took in the splendor of the room—the carved marble ceiling, the parquet floor, the red brocade walls. “It’s quiet and nobody’s ever here, so I thought it’d be perfect.”

  “Perfect? For what?”

  “Dancing, of course.”

  “Aw, nah.” She turned and made a break for it, but he gleamed into the doorway, blocking her path. She slid right into him.

  He caught her and put his hand to her cheek, lightly stroking her jaw. “Hey. It’s just me.”

  She looked into his eyes and nodded. “Okay. But if I suck, I don’t want to hear about it.”

  He took her hand. “Just pretend you’re fighting without the violence.”

  “Fine, but don’t blame me if I get confused and kick your ass.”

  He laughed so loud the nagual went through the ceiling—literally.

  All through dinner, Troy opened himself to his mate’s feelings as she got more and more nervous. Damn it. He knew it was because he had duty that night. This was so not good.

  “Pax, can you pass me the rolls, bro? Yo, Pax.”

  “What?”

  “Rolls, dude?”

  “Oh, yeah, sure. Sorry, Dies.”

  Troy watched as the little spirit hummingbird hoped along the table. They ate with ghosts now? Jaysus. He wasn’t sure if he was a New Breed or a Hardy Boy.

  “Eating dinner with a nagual. That’s new,” Dimitri said.

  Richard nodded. “Sure as hell is.”

  Viktor poured himself more wine. “I gotta hand it to you all. Things around here are anything but dull.”

  “Seriously. Shouldn’t he be in the Otherworld gettin’ his wild on or some shit?” Troy asked.

  Ana shrugged. “He won’t go. We�
��ve tried everything. He doesn’t seem to want to leave.”

  SE poured her some wine. “You mean he doesn’t want to leave you.”

  “What?”

  “He follows you around like a lost puppy.”

  “That’s ridiculous, my male.”

  Troy put his hand on Evy’s back. She barely said a word. The thing with James had really rattled her. When he couldn’t watch her push her food around her plate anymore he suggested they go upstairs. They walked up and he followed her in. She sat down on the bed.

  He ran his hand through her dark waves. “How about if I run you a bath?”

  She shook her head. “Thanks, but I’m not really in the mood.”

  “Do you wanna talk about it?”

  “Nah, I’ll be fine.”

  That did it. He felt for her stress and pulled away thin layer after layer.

  “No! Don’t do that, my male. I have to learn how to deal with this on my own. All of the other females have.”

  He sat down next to her. “Adriana and Richard have been doing this a long time, babe. Like twenty years. Helen is a surgeon and a shifter.”

  “I know. It just seems like all the brothers have been injured somehow. I can’t seem to get that out of my head.”

  “In every single case they were all being reckless. I’m very careful out there and so is X.”

  She nodded.

  “Come here.” He pulled her into his lap and held her. Jesus. What he wouldn’t give for her not to have seen all the action at the apartment that day. For her not to have been kidnapped at all.

  “I only just found you. I don’t want to lose you,” she said quietly into his shoulder.

  “You won’t, Ev. I won’t ever let that happen, I swear it.”

  She looked at the clock and stood up. “You’d better arm. X will be here any minute.”

  “Yeah, you’re right.” He kissed her forehead, went into the closet, and started the usual dance. He finished just as there was a knock on the door.