by Sydney Addae
“You ever have children?” Renee asked.
“No. I can’t have children.”
“Me neither, hysterectomy.”
“Same.” They stared at each other and then smiled.
“I love kids, really I do, but I’ve never wanted them full-time,” Renee said.
“No need to explain, I understand.” Mélange paused. “You’re perfect for me just the way you are.”
Renee’s cheeks warmed with pleasure. “Back atcha.”
“Good, any more questions?”
“This mating thing, what all is involved?”
“When we’re mated, nothing can separate us. From what I’ve been told, we’ll sort of merge, you’ll have access to my thoughts, my past, and I’ll have the same.”
Renee whistled. The logistics alone of merging with another person blew her mind, not that she doubted Mélange. Jasmine and Silas were proof this type of relationship worked well. “Gives new meaning to the ‘two shall become one’ doesn’t it?”
Mélange nodded but didn’t turn away. She continued to hold Renee’s gaze captive.
“Is this what you want? You’re willing to commit your life to someone who’s not…like you?” Renee asked.
“Yes. I already have. Whether you accept or deny me as your mate, I am committed to you,” Mélange said in an implacable tone.
Given time, Renee might be at that point, but she wouldn’t insult Mélange’s comment with a lie. Instead, she nodded her acceptance of hearing the spoken words.
“What do you –” Renee’s phone beeped. She pulled it out, looked at the caller ID and then glanced at her lover before answering. “It’s Jasmine.”
Mélange nodded, removed her feet, and headed into the bedroom.
“Hey,” Renee answered while watching Mélange’s graceful stride.
“I need a favor. Hear me out first,” Jasmine said. Renee straightened at Jasmine’s tone, a cross between anger and frustration.
“Okay, what’s going on?” Was it the kids? Her mom? What would cause Jazz to sound so …so not like Jasmine?
“Lilly’s son Pierre has this gift, well, he’s got lots of gifts, but one is this thing he does with patterns. Anyway, how he located the patterns isn’t important. What I need you to do is ask Mélange if she knows who owned the property at this address in Pennsylvania.” Jasmine rattled off an address.
“Hold on, let me write it down.” She grabbed a hotel pad from the end table and a pen to write. “You want to hold on while I ask?”
“Yes, thanks.”
Renee muted the call. “Mélange?”
A few seconds later Mélange appeared in the bedroom door. “What’s the address?”
“Huh?” Renee asked.
“The address she gave you?” Mélange pointed to the pad.
“How’d you know?”
Mélange tapped her ears. “I heard you.”
“Really? That’s one of your skills?”
Mélange smiled. “Yes, what’s the address?”
Renee gave it to her.
Frowning, Mélange walked halfway to her and stopped. “No. I don’t know who owns that. Why?”
Renee un-muted the phone and told Jasmine. “Why’d you ask her that?”
“That house is involved in the investigation for Sarita, we believe she was taken there.”
“She already told me and you, she had nothing to do with that,” Renee said, her tone hardening.
“I know, and since she can’t lie to you, she really doesn’t know who owns the house. But her name or the same name she used to check into the hotel is on several of the dummy corporations used to cover whoever owns the property. Right now it’s our major clue to finding Sarita and the clock’s ticking.” Jasmine paused. “Could you ask her if she knows anyone who might have had anything to do with the kidnapping or if she knows of any plans involving the chameleon? She’ll know what I mean.”
“Is that all? I mean, you wanted us to talk and this isn’t helping,” Renee said.
“Yes, I promise. Well, it depends on her answers, but if she doesn’t know anything, then I won’t bother you or her again with this,” Jasmine said.
“Thanks, Sis.” Renee turned and asked Mélange Jasmine’s questions. Her stomach plummeted when Mélange’s face lost its color as she reached blindly for the arm of the chair. When she sat heavily and stared at the floor without speaking, Renee swallowed hard. Had Mélange been involved with Sarita’s disappearance? No. But did she know who did? Why wouldn’t she tell Jasmine or Silas or try to save the child? No, there had to be some explanation for all of this.
“I’ll call you back,” Renee said to Jasmine, and disconnected. For a few moments she stared at the top of Mélange’s bowed head. “Talk to me, tell me what you know about the kidnapping.”
Both of Mélange’s hands flew up and cupped each side of her head. “No, no, no…I can’t fucking believe it. You…my sole focus has been on you and this heat inside that I didn’t think of anything, anyone else.”
Renee blinked a few times but didn’t speak. Being the center of someone’s thoughts wasn’t bad, was it? “Do you know anyone who might have had anything to do with kidnapping Asia’s daughter?” She asked again when Mélange remained silent.
“Possibly.”
Renee’s heart dropped. “What do you mean?”
Mélange looked up and then her gaze slid to the floor as she straightened in her chair. “Someone wanted something Asia had, and thought going through her child might be a way to get it.” Mélange spoke so quickly it took Renee a moment to process what she said.
“Someone would use her child?” Renee whispered.
Mélange nodded.
“Who?”
Mélange looked at her. “Does this change how you feel about me?”
“I’m not sure I even know you,” Renee spat, disgust over such tactics obvious in her tone.
Hands held in front of her. “You do know me. I wouldn’t have used a child, you must believe me.”
They stared at each other for a few seconds and then Renee nodded as certainty entered her spirit. Mélange wouldn’t have used a child. “Were you a part of this plan?”
Mélange bit her lip and then nodded. “In the beginning, I was there when the plans were discussed to retrieve the item.”
“A chameleon?” Renee guessed.
Mélange’s head snapped up and she stared at Renee, assessing her. “You know of it?”
Renee shrugged and didn’t respond.
“Did they give you one?” Mélange stood and walked backward. “Is this all a trick? Some kind of sick game? They sent someone else instead of my mate?”
Frowning, Renee watched Mélange back up to the wall while staring at her and inhaling. “What’s wrong with you?”
Mélange’s eyes narrowed as she continued to stare and then she shook her head. “How much more must I endure? First I lose my love. Then I lose my mate who I love more than life. When will the fates stop playing with my heart? I cannot take much more,” she yelled. “Tell your sister to send my mate if she wants me to talk, I’ll not spend another moment with someone using their toy.” She ran into the bedroom.
Renee stared at the door. “What the hell?” She stood, walked to the door and turned the handle. It was locked.
“Mélange, what the hell’s going on? What did you mean you lost your mate? I thought I was your mate.” She pounded on the door again.
The phone rang. Looking at the door, she answered.
“What the hell’s going on here, Jazz?”
“What do you mean?”
“I asked the questions, well, one of them.” She explained how Mélange claimed to be so focused on her she hadn’t thought of anything else and how she locked herself in the room.”
“Calm down Renee,” Jasmine said. “Tell me everything she said, maybe I can explain and help you.”
Renee looked at the door and returned to her chair. “Okay.” She told Jasmine their conversation
.
“Shit, this could be bad. Listen, you have to convince her that you’re the same person she met at the airport and that you’re really you.”
“Of course I’m me. Who else would I be?”
“Trust me on this. Tell me how did you meet Mélange?”
“I already told you I met Mélange at the airport when I left here after the baby shower. What’s going on? Why did she flip out and think someone’s playing a game on her?”
“Maybe it’s best you come back to the compound, we can talk this through,” Jasmine said, her tone sad.
“No. I’m not leaving Mélange. Not while she’s upset, what’s wrong with you? If she doesn’t want anything to do with me that’s one thing, but she has to say that. Otherwise, I’ll just wait until she calms down so we can talk.”
“Renee, it’s possible she knows who took Sarita, that’s the only reason I asked you to help. I never meant to cause problems with you and your mate,” Jasmine said.
“I know, and so does she. Something spooked her, but she’ll be fine, we’ll be fine. If she knows who took Sarita, I’ll call you. Otherwise, I’ll see you tomorrow when I come see mom and the babies.”
“Thanks, you’re the best,” Jasmine said and disconnected.
Renee looked at the closed door, stood, took two steps, and then returned to the sofa. After removing her shoes, she turned on the TV and looked for something to watch. Twenty minutes into the sitcom, the bedroom door opened and Mélange stuck her head out the door.
“You’re still here.”
“Yes.” Renee looked at Mélange and then back at the screen.
“Why didn’t you return to your sister?”
“First off, I’m grown and go where I please, not when people tell me to go. Remember that. Don’t try to handle me as a child and we’ll get along fine.”
Mélange shrugged. “It doesn’t matter.”
Renee pushed the button on the remote and threw it on the table. “What does that mean? Have you decided you’re not my mate after all? Are you walking away again?”
Mélange snorted. The inelegant sound surprised Renee since poise and grace always accompanied her lover.
“What does that mean?” Renee asked again.
“Ask the questions, the one your sister sent you here to ask,” Mélange said.
“See, there you go again, assuming people send me places,” Renee said, her jaw tightening.
“What are the questions?” Mélange sat with her legs crossed at the ankle and her hands clasped in her lap.
“Who is the person who planned against Asia?”
“Elyria.”
The quick response surprised her. “Oh.”
“Next?” Mélange said.
“Do you know of any plans involving the chameleon?”
Mélange closed her eyes. “Other than stealing it, no.”
“What? Someone wants to steal it? Is it valuable like a diamond or something?” Renee asked.
“Or something.”
Renee stared at Mélange, who sat with her head against the chair and eyes closed as if she didn’t want to see Renee. That hurt.
“Those were the two questions she asked.”
Mélange nodded.
“But I want to know who’s Elyria and what is she to you? And what was she to you?”
Mélange’s eyelids opened half-mast. “Shouldn’t you call your sister and give her your report? I’m sure she’s waiting for that information.”
“What’s wrong with you? You don’t give a damn about Jasmine or what she wants, why are you acting like this?”
“No, I don’t care about her, but you do. So call her.” Mélange closed her eyes.
Puzzled and hurt over her lover’s actions, Renee released a long stream of air. “I told you I can’t do this back and forth with you. One minute you’re all over me, the next you don’t want to be bothered. You promised we wouldn’t do this again.” Renee stood and wiped the corner of her eye. “I’ll leave you to your thoughts.” She searched for her purse and overnight bag. Spotting them on the corner of the table, she headed in that direction.
Mélange clapped. “Brilliant performance. Obviously their chameleon is better than the others I’ve seen. You sounded damn convincing. If I didn’t know the power of the chameleon, I’d believe you were who you claim to be. But La Patron wouldn’t want anyone like me associated with his family, which I understand, so they sent you.”
Renee’s mouth dropped open. “What?”
“Pity, because for my mate I’d work hard to make her happy, change into whatever necessary to earn one of her smiles. She’s so different from the rest of that lot, kind-hearted, smart and loyal. Tell Jasmine she made a mistake playing this game, because she involved my mate and no one should ever come between mates.”
“What are you talking about? She apologized for calling and asking me to ask those questions. I thought you could hear.” Renee tried to make sense of Mélange’s words and couldn’t.
Mélange waved down her question. “Do you want an answer for your last question, the one about Elyria?”
The way Mélange said the other woman’s name made Renee’s stomach clench. “No thanks. Understand this, when I leave this time, we’re done. Don’t call or seek me out again. I refuse to play these games with you.”
“Games? It’s your sister and family playing games. I told them I had nothing to do with the kidnapping, and they separate me from my mate, and sent you here to question me. I love my mate, but I will not play these games either. Elyria will do what she thinks is right in her own eyes, most times it makes no sense to anyone but her.”
“Elyria? Did you date her?” Renee asked, curiosity getting the best of her.
“Thought you didn’t want to know.”
Renee crossed her arms and continued to stare.
“Yes, we were lovers…for 10 years.”
Renee gasped, she took a step back. “Did you say 10 years? Why’d you break up?”
Mélange’s eyes brightened as her lips quirked. “I met my mate, fell in love. Why else? I think you’ve gotten what you came for. I shared that information because of the kindness Jasmine showed helping my mate and I at the compound. Obviously I didn’t pass her test. Anyway, I’m done with all of this. Please leave.”
Chapter 33
Countdown clock: 30 hours remaining…
Silas watched Jasmine. Special security had driven Renee to the hotel and then returned her safely to the compound. The information Renee had given regarding the gender and name of the kidnapper helped. There were few hits with photos of the woman. Finally they had a name, if not a face or bio, on the kidnapper. He was grateful for the help, but Jasmine felt the cost was too high.
“What’s wrong?” Silas asked after a long bout of silence.
She covered his hand with hers. “I messed up.”
Silas’ brow rose.
Jasmine told him what happened to cause her sister to return early to the compound. “She’s going home tomorrow.”
Silas could understand why Mélange got the impression they’d swapped mates and he would’ve been just as pissed. “Did Mélange threaten you?”
“By saying I made a mistake interfering with mates?” Jasmine asked dryly.
“You didn’t do that.”
“But she doesn’t know me, so I understand the confusion. I just don’t know what to do about it,” Jasmine said.
“Why do anything? The fates will work things out, our plates are already full,” he reminded her.
“I know, but you didn’t see her eyes, Silas. Renee’s hurting.”
“So are Asia and Hawke, David and Sarita. They have my focus right now, Jasmine.”
“Mine too, but I can still hurt for my sister as well.” Jasmine removed her hand from his.
“I know, but there’s nothing you can say to Mélange to make her believe you didn’t use the chameleon, and you can’t explain the chameleon to Renee so she understands why Mélange responded the w
ay she did. They’ll work things out on their own.” He tapped the tip of her nose with his finger and then brushed his lips across hers. “You’re so beautiful.”
Jasmine met his gaze and smiled. “Good move, Sir.”
Silas held her chin between his fingers. “You are the most beautiful woman in the world to me and I’m the luckiest wolf on earth to wake-up next to you every morning.”
Her eyes darkened.
His nostrils flared from the scent of her arousal.
“Wolfie, you’re flirting with me.”
“Not flirting, speaking from my heart…which you own.”
Jasmine growled. The sound went straight to his heart and flashed downward, making him hard.
“So fucking sexy,” he murmured against her lips just before he claimed her mouth. Moaning at her sweetness, Silas shut out the demands for his attention from everyone in his links. Focused on his mate reenergized him. When they broke apart, he searched for that dazed look in her eyes, his personal barometer of how good a job he’d just done.
She released a long breath and leaned her forehead against his chest. His heartbeat increased from her nearness and his beast roared, wanting private time with her.
“Whew, you’re just what I needed, the perfect distraction. If we weren’t on such a crazy time schedule, I’d take you into your office and have my way with you.”
Silas stood, holding her hand, he pulled.
Jasmine smiled and inched her hand away. “We can’t, not now. Not when everyone’s searching for Sarita. Let’s put our minds together and see what we come up with.” She patted the leather sofa he’d just vacated.
Growling in displeasure over being denied, Silas returned to his seat, taking her hand in the process. “I thought that’s what we were doing until you kissed me.” He didn’t bother looking at her, the loud huff from her was enough.
“Two bodies were just found,” Tyrese said after one tap on the door before entering the room. “Human police in upstate New York, near Buffalo, found two college students, their bodies emaciated, on an off road near an abandoned house. Asia and Hawke and their team are on their way. Alpha Lathem contacted the police chief in that area. Fortunately, several pack members work on the force, and the medical examiner is pack.”
