by Unknown
“Castillo. Are you freaking kidding me?” Lacy wanted to hit something. It said something about their relationship that she didn’t even know Rafe’s real last name. She should have figured out that he wasn’t really a Valdez though. Glory had told her once that Jerry had paid for her bodyguards for decades, all of them called Valdez. Rafe was just the latest in a long line of shape-shifters who’d gone by that name.
“It’s an ancient clan. But shrinking all the time.” He frowned, his elbow knocking Lacy’s off her armrest. She decided to give it to him.
“Why? Cats stick together. We feel safer that way. Aren’t shifters the same way?” She smiled, thinking about how nice it was to know that her children were surrounded by family right now.
“Shifters feel restricted by the old ways. Modern technology has made it easier to adapt to our environment and get along with mortals. You have no idea what the clan laws are like. The leaders control the purse strings too. Financial freedom is just one of the reasons many of the younger generation have taken off. Like Rafe and I did. My clan is Montenegro, based in Tunis, but my mother was a Castillo. So I feel loyalty to both clans and spent time with Rafe’s grandparents when I was young.” Ed sighed and tried to lean his seat back. The woman behind him yelled and he stopped it halfway. “You’ll see for yourself. Castillo clan headquarters is pretty much in the middle of nowhere on the island. But just a few miles away, in Santa Cruz, there’s a resort that has the latest of everything and luxurious accommodations. Why be stuck in an archaic system when you can see what’s possible if you have money of your own?”
“And Rafe’s grandfather is head of his clan. Why won’t he change things? He sent a private jet for Rafe so there’s obviously money there.” Lacy waved down the flight attendant. “Could I have a soda please?”
“Sure. Sir, anything for you?” The woman looked down at his long legs which he’d stretched into the aisle.
“Thanks. Diet for me.” He smiled at the attendant but didn’t answer until she moved on. “Matias is rolling in it. He sold a lot of property to developers when Santa Cruz became a resort decades ago. He still gets rents like you wouldn’t believe and owns a few hot properties outright.” Ed yawned. “But he’s stubborn when it comes to the clan and he likes the old ways. That means he’s the dictator and no one questions his authority.”
“I can see how that wouldn’t go over well with someone like Rafe. He’s pretty strong willed himself.” Lacy took her soda gratefully. “Thanks.”
Ed nodded. “Exactly. So he left. A long time ago.” He glanced at the woman on the other side of Lacy but she was asleep. “Did you happen to let him know we were coming?”
“Um, no. I was pretty sure he’d have told me to stay home.” Lacy drained her soda. The caffeine was just what she needed but she still felt exhausted. They had hours yet to go but at least they’d lucked into a nonstop flight directly to Santa Cruz after they’d left Austin and landed in Houston where there were more international connections.
“I’d have told you the same thing, if my girl had just gone through childbirth.” Ed stared at her until Lacy looked away. “This is nuts, Lacy. What are you going to do when you get there? You could be a distraction for Rafe. When all is said and done, this is clan business.” Ed drained his drink and pulled down his tray table, bumping his knees. “The family won’t welcome your interference. Even if you are the mother of Rafe’s children.”
“Oh, yeah, I’m the mother of his children all right.” Lacy looked down to where her blouse was showing signs of boob leakage. Damn it all. Ian’s prescription to make her milk stop flowing had been designed for mortals. He had no idea if it worked on paranormals since this was a new situation for him. Lacy was very afraid that it wasn’t doing the job if her aching breasts were any indication. She’d already made one trip to the bathroom and stuffed toilet paper in her bra.
“You know, Ed, I appreciate your take on the situation, thanks a lot. But I’m going over there for Rafe, not the freaking clan. If they don’t like it, they can stuff it.” Lacy set her glass next to his, aware that she was being pissy but she didn’t care. “You shifters don’t think much of cats, do you?”
“You’re limited. You have one play. We can be anything.” Ed talked quietly but still looked around to make sure no one was listening to them. “Even you have to admit there’s only so much a cat can do.”
“You haven’t seen my cat, Ed. So keep your judgement to yourself. My play is pretty damned good, if I do say so myself. I’m not useless and I won’t get in the way.” This paranormal prejudice was getting on her last nerve. “Now I’m tired. Let me know when we’re about to land.” Lacy closed her eyes. She needed to rest. She hoped like hell her cat was up to some serious ass kicking. Cranking out three babies had taken more energy that she’d expected. Still, she would do whatever it took to help Rafe. Just let those shifters try to shut her out. She’d show them this kitty had claws.
Chapter Seven
By the time she and Ed got to the run down village in their rented car, Lacy knew she’d made a mistake. She had no energy, her body hurt, and even her breasts ached because that medication clearly wasn’t working. Her blouse was soaked and she felt disgustingly dirty. When Ed stopped the rented Jeep in the middle of the village square, Lacy groaned.
“This is it? I’d say the Castillo Clan is in trouble. You’re right. Compared to Santa Cruz, this is pitiful.” She saw a child standing in a doorway. The little girl stared at them then ran to the large stone house at one end of the square.
“It is. Usually it looks better than this though.” Ed frowned. “Matias started neglecting his duties as leader long before he got sick. Normally his wife would have picked up the reins before things got this bad but something’s going on there. Obviously nothing’s been done to fix up this place for some time.” Ed climbed out of the car. “You look a little worse for wear. I knew you shouldn’t have travelled so soon after having the babies.”
“No lectures, please.” Lacy got out of the car and pulled a sweater around her. She breathed in the cool, fresh air. Climate-wise this was a nice place. Then an elegant little woman dressed in black was walking toward her beside the child. Was the black for a funeral? Had Rafe’s grandfather died?
“I am Iliana, temporary leader of the Clan Castillo.” She smiled at Ed. “Eduardo, good to see you. Who have you brought with you?”
“This is Lacy Devereau, Rafael’s intended, Abuela.” Ed pulled Lacy forward. “She was determined to come. To see if she could help him or give him comfort. Is Grandfather …”
“Matias is still with us. Not good, but not dead yet.” Her mouth twisted and she patted his broad shoulder. Her eyes went to Lacy’s stomach. “Rafael’s woman. But, child, you were pregnant!”
Lacy put her hands over her stomach that was still too puffy to suit her. “I’m sure Rafe told you I had the babies days ago.” Lacy pulled out her phone and showed the woman a picture. “Two boys and a girl. Aren’t they beautiful? Daniela, Gabriel and Lucas.”
“Yes. Beautiful. Those are good names for them. Strong. The boys are very like their father.” She studied Lacy. “And Daniela favors you, of course.” The woman gazed at the picture for a long moment. “Obviously cats give birth easily since you felt well enough to travel so soon. But still, you must be exhausted. Come inside and sit. Call me Iliana. And I will call you Lacy. An interesting name.” Her dark eyes swept over Lacy again. “Rafael was always unpredictable. A were-cat. We will see what the children turn out to be. At what age does the cat appear in your family?” She turned and led the way to the big stone house.
“Puberty, Iliana. These babies may prove to be some of me, some of Rafe. There’s no way to know until then. Unless your kind manifests earlier.” Lacy really didn’t have it in her to start a fight over this now. Rafe’s grandmother hadn’t exactly attacked her, but she hadn’t been all warmth and hugs either. Lacy stumbled. Exhaustion washed over her and she realized she was about to fall to the
ground. “Sorry. I hadn’t realized…” She couldn’t seem to form another sentence.
“Child! You are dead on your feet. Eduardo, pick her up.” Iliana frowned at him. “You should never have let her travel. Even a cat has her limits.”
“Abuela, you should understand that I cannot tell a woman what to do if she is determined.” Ed picked up Lacy and carried her inside the house. He set her gently on a long sofa. “That was easier than the last time I toted you around, Lacy. Without the babies, you are light as a feather.”
“Doubt it.” Lacy took a bottle of water from Iliana gratefully and drank until she felt rational again. “Thank you. Is Rafe here?”
“No, I’m afraid you missed him. He is on his way to Morocco. He’s trying to track down the puta who poisoned Matias.” Iliana sat across from Lacy. “You look ill. We have a doctor here. As soon as the sun sets, I will ask him to look at you.” She leaned close, as if to share a secret, and frowned. “I apologize but he is a vampire. I hope you can stand to have him help you.”
“A vampire doctor?” Lacy fiddled with her soaked blouse. “Of course. My best friend is a vampire. And I could ask…” she looked at Ed and felt her cheeks warm. “Well, I took something to make my milk go away but it didn’t work.”
Iliana had straightened at the news that Lacy had vampires for friends. “Well! Of course you must know all kinds of people in America. I never saw the need to go there myself, but Rafael and Eduardo seem to find it fascinating.” She stood and glanced at Ed, who stared down at his shoes.
“As for your breasts, no worries, niña. I have a remedy for that. There are herbs we’ve used for centuries. Wait here.” Iliana left the room. She returned quickly and another woman hurried out the door into the square. “Maria will find what you need and bring it to you. It will not harm you.”
“Thank you. As soon as I take it, I want to go after Rafe.” Lacy leaned back, trying to pull herself together. It was ridiculous to feel so tired. All she’d done was sit on planes for twelve hours.
“Why don’t you lie down on the couch? I can’t think you should go after Rafael. He has a small army with him. There will probably be a fight. Would he really want the mother of his children to be in danger now? With the babies so young?” Iliana practically shoved Lacy back against a cushion and pulled off her shoes so she could lift her feet onto the couch. For a little lady, she was strong.
“I’m going after him.” Lacy didn’t lift her head though. It felt too good to be stretched out like this. “A fight? I can fight at his side.”
“I know cats. The only way to get to him is across the water. The Atlantic Ocean.” Iliana smiled. “How do you feel about riding in a small boat to catch him? The waves hitting the keel, the salt spray in your face?” She looked like she wanted to laugh.
Lacy wanted to scratch her eyes out. Of course she hated water, all cats did. Salt spray in her face? Pure torture. But to be with Rafe again, she’d endure it. She pushed herself up on her elbows, struggling to sit.
“Maybe we’d better go now, Ed. I can rent a boat in the port where we landed to take me to Rafe. If you will give me some directions …” Lacy shivered, the wet blouse getting to her, not to mention the pain in her breasts.
“Calm yourself, child. Here comes Maria. Drink this and relax until it takes effect. Then I will send a man with you to take you to Rafael if you insist. We have a small boat with a driver who will know where to go. He can catch up to the yacht that the men and women have taken to Morocco. It is just a few hours away if you are in a hurry.” Iliana sniffed the dark liquid in the glass and nodded. “Perfect. Drink up. This will do the trick.”
“You are sure?” Lacy smelled it herself. Not bad. She sipped. Oh, why not? No way was she seeing Rafe leaking like a dairy cow overdue for its milking. Not sexy. Weres healed very fast and Ian had assured her she was ready for sex if Rafe still wanted her. Too bad she looked like she still had a baby inside her. Damned swollen stomach. Why hadn’t it snapped back in place? She’d been horrified when she’d seen the lumpy mass she’d been left with after childbirth. In the week since it had smoothed out some but it was still bigger than she liked.
Didn’t matter. She wanted him and couldn’t wait to be in his arms again. It had been too long since she’d seen Rafe. She downed the drink, set the empty glass on the coffee table, and fell back on the couch again.
“That’s right. Rest. Eduardo, come with me. I want to hear about this Austin, Texas, where you and my Rafael have been living. What is so wonderful about it? I hear he has a dance club there.” Iliana dragged Ed to the other side of the room. Lacy rested her hands on her chest, waiting for relief. What had been in that potion anyway? Her eyelids were growing heavy. Even though she tried to stay awake and hear what Ed was telling his grandmother, before she knew it she fell asleep.
“Did you drug me?” Lacy sat up and yawned. It was dark outside now and she recognized the man standing next to Rafe’s grandmother. The Scottish vampire doctor. He’d been at Glory’s wedding.
“Just a little something to help you relax.” Iliana nodded. “Doctor O’Connor is ready to help you. Would you like me to leave you alone with him?”
“Yes.” Lacy didn’t have much to say to the lady. Obviously she didn’t want Lacy going after Rafe. Well, it was none of her damned business what Lacy did.
“How do you feel?” Dr. O’Connor sat on the coffee table in front of Lacy and looked her in the eyes.
“Like I need a hot shower. Can you believe that woman? She gave me something that was supposed to get rid of my milk but wiped me out instead.”
“It might have done both. You want to check or shall I?” He glanced at her blouse. The milk had dried into a stiff mess.
“Go ahead. I’m used to vampire doctors. Ian MacDonald delivered my babies.”
“So I heard. He called me bragging about it.” Dr. O’Connor carefully unbuttoned her top and examined her. “Well, whatever was in Iliana’s potion did the trick. Your swelling is down and you aren’t leaking fluid. Good job, I’d say. How do you feel otherwise?”
“I’m healed. Shifters do quickly, you know. Ian can vouch for that. He examined me right before I left town.” Lacy sat up and pulled her top together. She was desperate to get out of her filthy clothes.
“All right then. I have another patient who needs me so I’ll leave you to shower and change. Then Iliana says you can find her and a gentleman named Ed in the courtyard.” He turned. “Here’s Caitlin to show you where you can get cleaned up.”
“Blade’s sister!” Lacy smiled at the woman who came down the stairs. “Fancy meeting you here.”
“Strange, isn’t it? I hope my brother and Glory are enjoying their honeymoon. He wouldn’t tell anyone where they were going. Not even Glory.” Cait smiled. “Come with me and I’ll fix you up. Your luggage is in a bedroom with adjoining bath. I heard you had quite a greeting here.”
“I doubt Rafe’s grandmother is excited to have a were-cat join the family but she’ll have to get over it.” Lacy followed Cait up the stairs. “When he hears she drugged me, he’s not going to be happy.”
“I wouldn’t tell him if I were you.” Cait stopped in front of a door. “Let her play her little tricks. In the end, you’ve had his children and will have his heart.”
“Yes, he even proposed but I was stupid enough to balk. You know he and Glory had a history . . .” Lacy felt even surer now since she’d been away from Rafe that she’d been crazy to hesitate when he’d asked her. It felt like forever since he’d held her in his arms. She realized Cait was staring at her. “Well, I’m over my insecurities. When I find him I’m getting the ring from Rafe, putting it on my finger and never taking it off.”
“Good.” Cait hugged her. “Don’t make a big deal out of Grandmama’s snit. When you live forever, you can’t afford to feud with the family.”
“Excellent point. Now can you tell me how Rafe’s grandfather is doing? I know Dr. O’Connor is here for him.” Lacy leaned a
gainst the bedroom door.
Cait frowned. “I’m afraid Matias isn’t going to make it. Rafe has gone after an antidote for the poison but time is critical. Bart’s working on making one of his own, but that takes time and he’s had no luck yet.”
“Oh, wow. I’m sorry to hear that.” Lacy knew whoever had poisoned the man wasn’t just going to hand the antidote over to Rafe either. “Well, I’m glad you two are here trying to save him anyway. Thanks.” She finally headed into the bedroom where her suitcase had been put on the bed. She pulled out fresh clothes and undressed quickly. A hot shower did wonders for her attitude. She was going after Rafe, ready to help if he needed her.
Of course there was that ocean to cross first. The Atlantic. The glimpse she’d gotten out of the plane window had made it look vast and forbidding. Oh, well, cats didn’t like water but they could handle anything if they had to. By the time she was walking across the courtyard toward Rafe’s grandmother, Lacy had managed to convince herself that she could control her temper. She would show Iliana that Rafe had made a smart choice when he’d picked this cat for his mate.
“Iliana, thanks so much for the refreshing sleep. It was just what I needed. The doctor agreed that I’m in fighting form and your potion worked perfectly.” Lacy crossed her fingers behind her back. Not exactly what the doctor had said but she was entitled to exaggerate a bit after being drugged against her will. “Ed, are you with me on this trip across the sea?” Lacy wanted to laugh at the look on Iliana’s face. Oh, so worth it.
“Sure. I’ve found out there’s a speedboat and driver in the harbor we can use and I’ve got the details now on where they were headed.” Ed exchanged looks with Iliana. “Of course if luck is with them, they’ve already handled it and are on their way home now. We may be wasting our time.”
