“How?”
“Remember how I said that people tell me stuff?”
“Mmhmm.”
“Well, sometimes,” she said with a smile, “their stuff tells me stuff. I can’t make any promises, but I might be able to tell you more about what happened to your daughter.”
The worn and scuffed white leather baby shoe felt cool against Rena’s sweaty palm. The old-fashioned footwear, similar to ones she had seen in black-and-white photos or bronzed for posterity, was remarkably tiny and seemingly innocuous, with no story to tell.
Seeing visions was a gift and a curse. But today, if she could find this woman’s long-lost daughter, it would definitely be a gift. Within seconds, subtle waves of heat shimmied and pulsed, tickling her fingers with static electricity before permeating her skin and seeping into her blood. The familiar buzz rushed up her arm with the fingerprint-like energy ribbon all humans left in their wake. While not as strong or thick as Zander’s, it was still clear and distinct.
Rena’s eyes fluttered closed, and she focused on keeping her breathing steady. Be calm. Focus. She had done this, searched for the lost, countless times before, but the rush of power that came with it never failed to surprise her. Until she had met Zander, Rena didn’t know why she had this ability or how the hell she was able to do what she did—but she was grateful for it.
Hell, she was grateful for Zander. He had given her answers to questions that had shadowed her her entire life, and now Rena could do the same for Viola. Rena’s lips lifted at the corners, and excitement bubbled. For the first time, she realized just how lucky she was.
Her power really was a gift.
The buzzing sound, one only Rena could hear, grew louder, and then the images flickered to life in her mind’s eye. Rena pushed harder, needing to put herself in the memory, so she could see it all. A bright light flashed, and though she expected pain, none came. She sucked in a sharp breath, and when she opened her eyes, Rena was no longer standing in the small store—she was inside the vision.
But for the first time, Rena wasn’t seeing the past…she was witnessing the present.
A young girl, about ten or eleven years old, with dusty, light-blond curls and dark-brown eyes, sat on the steps of a small home. A woman, probably in her forties, who looked a lot like Viola and the child, stood on the porch behind the girl. She was holding open the screen door and smiling broadly. Rena couldn’t make out what they were saying as their voices drifted through misty air. Though Rena could see them, they were unaware of her presence.
But then again, she wasn’t really there. She was a voyeur of sorts.
It was like stepping inside a family movie. Rena clutched the baby shoe tighter as she looked around, seeking any information that would help identify where the woman and child were. Rena moved closer to them when she spotted a pile of mail and newspaper on the steps next to the girl. She inched nearer as the stomach-rumbling aroma of an apple pie baking wafted through the air, and she read the address on the top envelope.
Kristin Ricker, 534 Bowdoin Road, Kansas City, Missouri.
“Gotcha,” Rena whispered.
Having found what she needed, Rena stepped back and closed her eyes, shifting her focus back to the little gas station.
A split second later, a throbbing ache welled in her chest, stealing the breath from her lungs. She opened her palm and let the baby shoe fall from her grasp, breaking the connection. With a gasp, Rena stepped away from the counter and, to her surprise, was met with the steely, strong warmth of Zander’s embrace.
Her body hummed from the energy of the vision connection, and her heart thundered against her rib cage as she fought to regain her composure. He curled his arms around her waist and held her tightly, but that only made her quiver on the inside.
“I—I thought you left,” she said shakily.
“You all right?” he asked quietly, ignoring her comment. “For a second, I thought you were going to faint.”
“I’ll be fine. That transition was kind of abrupt. That’s all.”
He loosened his hold on her but didn’t let her go. Rena turned her head slightly to the right and sucked in a deep breath, one meant to clear her mind. However, Zander’s earthy scent, with a hint of leather, did little to help.
“Let me go,” she whispered.
He didn’t. In fact, it felt like he had tightened his grip on her instead.
“D-did it work?” Viola sputtered. She settled onto the stool again. “Did you see something? Is my girl alive? You were spaced out. Your man looked awful worried about you.”
“He’s not my man.” Rena slipped out of his embrace. She shot him the side eye. “Not at all. I’m hooking up with his brother in a couple of days. Right, Zander?”
Rena could swear she saw him flinch, and his energy signature flickered, but he said nothing. Good. She hoped that hurt him. Maybe it would do him good to get a dose of his own medicine.
Even though she didn’t mean a word of it.
“Right,” he growled. “I’ll meet you outside. We have to go.”
“Okay.” Viola hoisted herself off the stool and came around the counter. “You see somethin’, girl?”
“Yes,” Rena said as she ran both hands through her hair, attempting to soothe her rattled nerves. “I think you have a granddaughter too.”
“A granddaughter?” Viola let out a short laugh. “That’s like a Shake ’n Bake family.”
“Seems like it.” Rena let out a slow breath. “Your daughter looks good. Real good. It’s like one of Norman Rockwell’s paintings over there, complete with fresh baked apple pie.”
“Norman who?”
“Never mind,” Rena said with a smile. “Bottom line: she has long blond hair, like yours, but her eyes are a darker brown. The girl, her daughter I think, looks like she’s about ten or eleven. Not quite a teenager but not a little kid either.”
“Yes.” Viola nodded, her eyes filling with tears. “My baby’s eyes were dark, and she had blond hair like me.”
“And she seems happy.”
“Where is she?” Viola’s voice shook, and she swiped at her cheeks. “Could you see where she’s at?”
“Kansas City, Missouri.”
“I ain’t never been to Missouri.”
“Well, now you have an excuse to visit.”
Rena snagged a pen from the counter and the receipt pad. She quickly scrawled the name and address onto the paper and handed it to Viola, who accepted the information with quaking fingers.
“Her name is Kristin now. You can do an Internet search to confirm that name and address.”
“Thank you so much,” Viola whispered.
She gathered Rena up in a clumsy hug. Rena’s gut instinct was to shrink from the display of affection because she wasn’t all that comfortable touching other people. But she didn’t. Instead, she patted Viola on the back, albeit kind of awkwardly, and said, “You’re welcome, and good luck.”
Once she was outside, Rena looked over her shoulder at the small store. The woman had flipped the red-and-white sign over to CLOSED. She couldn’t blame the woman for closing up shop. She’d had a hell of a day.
“Everything okay?” Zander’s deep voice pulled her from her thoughts.
“That was different,” Rena said quietly.
“Which part?”
“All of it.” She gave him a small smile. “You getting shot and healing with dirt wasn’t exactly my typical afternoon. The vision was weird too though. Usually I’m in the past, inside a memory. But this time, I was in the present.”
“Your powers are evolving, but you shouldn’t have done that,” Zander scolded. “What if she tells someone? You have to learn to be more careful with your gifts.”
Zander handed her the helmet and climbed onto his bike. He was obviously annoyed, but Rena didn’t care. She was feeling far too
content about having helped Viola.
“What’s she gonna say?” She put her helmet on. “‘I saw a guy’s eyes turn glowing red, and he bled on the floor. There was a robber, but then there wasn’t. A psychic woman told me where to find my long-lost daughter.’ Be serious, Zander. She won’t say anything. All she’s worried about now is getting connected with her family, and good for her.”
“We should’ve left right way, Rena.” He started the bike and revved the engine but didn’t seem to feel any better. “And you shouldn’t have taken a chance like that. It was foolish.”
“She had already seen your eyes shift, Zander, not to mention the blood from the wound you magically healed.” Rena rolled her eyes. “Give me a break.”
“That would have been easy for her to explain away. People see what they want to see, Rena, no matter what the truth might be.”
“I guess you’re right,” Rena said quietly.
Like him, she thought. If anyone knew about lying to themselves, it was him.
“I wanted to help her, and I’m not sorry I did.”
His glittering, pale-green eyes peered at her beneath a dark, furrowed brow, studying her with something she couldn’t quiet identify. Anger? Pity? Frustration? Before she could zero in on it, he slapped his visor down and jutted his thumb over his shoulder to the seat behind him.
“Get on!”
“Right,” Rena shouted over the roar of the engine. “I wouldn’t want to be late for my arranged marriage to your brother! Heaven forbid we keep the universe waiting.”
Zander revved the motor and kept his eyes straight ahead, pretending he didn’t hear her. But she knew damn well he had soaked in every word. Rena climbed on behind Zander, and she couldn’t help but linger on his comment.
People see what they want to see.
The stubborn man knew what he was talking about, didn’t he? Zander didn’t want to see Rena as his mate. All he could do was picture her as the woman who belonged to his brother, and all she could see was him.
Chapter 15
Two hours later, they had reached the gate of the Amoveo ranch, and Zander’s stomach was in knots. He wanted to hit the gas and drive right on by, taking Rena with him. But he didn’t. Instead, he pulled up to the massive iron-trimmed, wood gate at the end of the driveway, which was, as he suspected it would be, closed. It was connected to what looked like miles of fencing around their expansive property. No houses or structures were visible from the road, but a few horses grazed nearby. Grassy fields of green and brown flowed into a sea of towering trees, and snow-capped mountains loomed large in the background.
Zander had to admit that the Amoveo had maintained one hell of a beautiful property, and given the number of years that had passed, it was doubly impressive that they had managed to hang on to it.
“What are you waiting for?” Rena shouted, her grip around his waist tightening. “Don’t drag this out, man. Just hit the buzzer. I want to get the introductions over with. You know, rip off the Band-Aid.”
Zander braced his feet on the ground and steadied the bike with the ease of experience. He scanned the area, a sense of dread nagging at him.
“I should text Coltari and tell him we’re here.”
He pulled his cell phone out of his pocket, but before he could text a word, Rena tapped his shoulder and tightened her grip on him. A gust of chilly October wind whisked around them along with Rena’s energy signature, which buzzed with tension.
Look. Her voice touched his mind on a shaky whisper. In the tall grass, to the left. I-Is that what I think it is?
Zander sensed the other energy signature in the air at almost the same time as Rena brought it to his attention. He scanned the grasses and within seconds spotted exactly what Rena was referring to.
The guardian, a massive beast with glowing, golden-amber eyes, was barely visible; his striped coat blended into the landscape as it was meant to do.
I see him, Zander responded coolly. And he sees us.
Shit. It irked him that the guardian got the jump on him, even if only for a moment or two. Of course, if Zander had been in full possession of his abilities, that never would have happened.
He slipped his phone back into his pocket and curled his fingers around the handlebars of his bike as the beast stalked closer. They could bug out of there if they had to. It was unlikely that the prince’s guardian would attack them, but he wasn’t taking any chances with Rena’s safety. Coltari had mentioned this Dominic guy was a hothead, but then again, that was typical for his clan.
Holy shit, Rena’s voice whispered into his mind on a shaky whisper, and Zander had to brace himself against the intimate, erotic sensations that came with it. It’s a freaking tiger. In Montana. Why aren’t the horses wigging out?
They know him, and he’s not some random tiger. His name is Dominic. He’s a member of the Tiger Clan and the prince’s guardian. Zander kept his voice calm and sent her waves of reassuring energy while trying to keep his own reactions under control. Remember, Rena, the Amoveo weren’t fond of my people. So for now, keep my situation under wraps. Okay? Don’t bring up the Dragon Clan or Zed. As far as Dominic is concerned, our only reason for being here is to connect you with your people. I’m just a delivery boy.
Yeah, she said sarcastically. And I’m just a regular girl. They’re gonna know something is up with you. Your energy signature is much stronger than a human’s.
Not if I said I had witch’s blood in my veins.
Are you sure they’re gonna buy that?
They better, Zander scoffed. They’ll swallow that a hell of a lot easier than the truth.
I feel better knowing my gun is in my bag.
No, it isn’t. He knew she was going to be pissed. No weapons allowed. I stashed it behind that old gas station right before—
You had no right to do that!
You’re not going to need it here, and besides, I didn’t have a choice.
You know what? Rena’s voice wavered. I’m getting real tired of that excuse.
Zander didn’t respond but kept his sights on the guardian.
The beast moved slowly through the grasses, prowling and stalking them the way a tiger would in the wild. Zander’s lips lifted at the corners as he flipped up the visor of his helmet and waved at the guardian. He kept his mind closed to everyone except Rena, wanting to avoid telepathy with the Amoveo. As far as they were concerned, he was just one of the select humans who knew about the secretive supernatural world.
Zander could feel Dominic’s attempts to telepath with him. The mental nudges were strong, but he was able to block the guardian from his mind. The tiger’s ears flattened, and a low growl rumbled in the air as Zander suppressed a satisfied grin. He suspected that Dominic sensed his energy pattern was stronger than a normal human, but that could be easily enough explained away with his cover story.
Use your telepathy, Rena. Zander curled his fingers around the handlebars again, and the muscles in his shoulders bunched. He revved the engine. Show this big bastard that you’re part of the family.
Fine. But you’re not off the hook about the gun situation.
I wouldn’t expect to be.
“Good, because you’re not,” she said out loud, adjusting her position on the bike. “Here goes nothing.”
A subtle buzzing in her energy signature told him she was telepathing with the guardian. A split second later, his suspicions were confirmed when the beast shifted into a man. Rena’s body tensed against his, and her arms tightened around his waist like a vise.
Holy crap, she whispered. That was weird. You weren’t messing with me. They really are shapeshifters.
No, Rena. A laugh threaded his words. I wasn’t messing with you.
Don’t ask me to do telepathy with them anymore. Her fingertips pressed into his stomach in a subtle but seductive movement. I don’t like it…unless i
t’s with you. I mean, I don’t even know that guy, and I just let him in my head. It’s too intimate or something.
Zander nodded his understanding but didn’t answer her. He was afraid the tone in his voice would betray him. It gave him great pleasure to know she only wanted to telepath with him, but his joy faded swiftly when he thought of Zed.
After you connect with Zed, he said flatly, you’ll want to shut me out too.
Whatever. Rena sighed wearily.
Dominic was as impressive in his human form as he was in his Tiger Clan form. He was a hulking, muscled brute, as tall as Zander but bulkier. His short, military-cut, jet-black hair and sharp, dark eyes gave the impression he wasn’t one to screw with, and the jagged scar that ran down one side of his face sealed the deal. He looked as formidable as any Amoveo warrior Zander had known back in the day. Clad in black-and-gray military fatigues, combat boots, and a black T-shirt, he approached the gate. Zander spotted a massive dagger holstered to his waist with a brown leather sheath. No gun. But that wasn’t surprising. With his speed, strength, and likely military training, he would have little need for it.
“Welcome.” His steady, intense stare was pinned to Zander as he opened the gate. “We’ve been expecting you. Follow the driveway up to the main house. Dante and Kerry will be there to meet you both. Don’t stray from the driveway. You go from here to there. End of story.”
“Not a problem,” Zander replied coolly.
He slapped his face mask down and nodded curtly at Dominic, who held the gate open for them. As they pulled up the driveway, the horses whinnied loudly and galloped away from the sound of the motorcycle.
That’s rich. Rena’s nervous laughter peppered her voice. Those horses don’t freak out about a tiger, but the roar of a Harley gives them fits.
Welcome to Wonderland, Zander said humorlessly. You are officially going down the rabbit hole.
Zander glanced in his rearview mirror. Dominic had already closed the gate and was striding into the grass with his fierce stare locked on them. His form shimmered, and in an instant, he was once again in his tiger and stalking them through the grass. The beast in Zander, the one that had been silenced for so many years, stirred in response and made him long for the freedom and power of his dragon.
Undiscovered Page 22
