“I love you so much,” he whispered softly against her mouth.
“I love you, too, my male.”
CHAPTER THREE
Reyn gently knocked on the door to his room where his mate was readying herself for James’s Induction.
“Come.”
“I’m not disturbing you, am I?”
She smiled up at him from the floor where she sat on a couch pillow. “Not at all. I am almost finished.”
“I don’t remember you taking this much time to prepare before.”
“I am not preparing for the ceremony. I was…” She stopped and looked away. “I was trying to detect the location of the cold presence. I will need to know whether or not it is safe before I leave.”
“Hold on now. We had a deal, Kina. You were going to stay longer this time to hide your trail.”
She stood up and put her arms around his neck. “Hours, Reyn. Not days or weeks. We don’t have much time. The naguals need my protection more than ever before. If it appears safe, then I should go after the Induction.”
Fuck. Just hearing her say it made him want to keep her there. Just lock her up and throw away the damn key. The protective instinct screamed inside him, telling him that he knew what was best. Man, no wonder mated males could be such dicks.
“I worry about you.”
“I do not want to leave you. You know that.” She laid her hand on his cheek. “Tonight we’ll celebrate for James. Let them have one more night before I tell them about this tomorrow morning. And I think we should keep my history with Bane to ourselves. It will only worry them more.”
“Right.” Not that it mattered. He was worried enough for the whole of the Order. The protective instinct curled up in his belly like the motherfucker was taking up permanent residence. Perfect.
Helen looked over her notes and shook her head. She was suffering from a severe lapse in concentration. All of the males would be off duty tonight for James’s Induction into the Order. But tomorrow night was Diesel’s first night back in the field since losing his leg. She hated to admit it to herself, but she was worried. Her mate was every bit as capable as he was before the accident, and it wasn’t just her faith in him making her feel that way. As a doctor and surgeon, it was her professional opinion. He was ready. But it was freaking her out just the same.
She walked out of the lab and down the compound’s main corridor toward her office, pushed through the swinging door to the surgical ward, and smiled as soon as she entered. By the beds where they had just recently been under her care stood Troy and Evy. They were smiling and holding hands. She couldn’t help but grin back. They were young, but they were going to be awesome parents.
“Hey, Thomsen family. I wondered if I might see you.”
Their smiles got even wider. God, they were cute. It was hard to believe that less than two weeks earlier she was helping Troy in the compound hallway while the mating call mercilessly tried to bend him to its will. Males definitely got the shaft.
“I wondered if you could explain some of the stuff from this morning again? For Troy?”
“Of course. Come into my office and let’s have a seat.”
They followed her in and she pulled the privacy curtain out of habit. “You must have a lot of questions. I may not have all the answers, but we’ll work together to make sure Evy gets the best care we can give her.”
Troy cleared his throat. “I guess I was wonderin’ about Evy gettin’ pregnant while she was on the pill.”
“Good question. I’m sure you know that shifters don’t use birth control because the male can usually sense when his mate is fertile. It’s also nowhere near as effective, if at all. In Evy’s case, she had just come to us from the human world and she was on the pill to help with pain caused by a disease called endometriosis. I think the synthetic hormones in the medication made it difficult for you to detect when she was fertile.”
Troy looked startled. “Wait. She has a disease? Is she going to be okay?”
Evy reached over and took the male’s hand.
“Endometriosis causes benign growths in the pelvis. When she was human, she was diagnosed and put on the pill to treat the pain associated with the condition. Shifters don’t get a lot of the health problems humans do. Our high levels of k’ul prevent many diseases. That’s one reason we have a much longer lifespan. I thought I’d do an ultrasound on her pelvis just to be safe. There’s no evidence of endometriosis whatsoever. She’s perfectly healthy, Troy. I suspect that after her transformation was complete, her high levels of divine energy healed her.”
He kissed Evy’s temple. “Thank the Goddess.”
“How often will you want to see me, Helen?”
“Normally, a pregnant shifter should be seen every four to six weeks during the first three trimesters. But, as you know, Maya was born at ten months. She was five months early, yet she was fully developed. The offspring of a New Breed and the Seer is uncharted territory, too, so I’d like to monitor you carefully, Evy. Let’s get together once a week. Sound okay?”
They both smiled at her, then at each other and back again. Wow. Helen had forgotten how awesome it was to give a patient this kind of news. She’d never felt any real yearning to have a child of her own, but giving patients this particular news was always such a privilege.
“When will we know if it’s a boy or girl?” Troy asked.
“Well, it’s much too early for modern science.” She winked at Evy. “You may want to check with your mate on that one.”
The male looked over at his mate who was grinning from ear to ear.
“Wait, you saw it? You know the sex?”
“Yeah. It’s a—”
“Whoa!” He was on his feet so fast Helen couldn’t even make out the motion. “I don’t wanna know.”
Evy took his hand. “That’s okay. You don’t have to just because I do.”
“I may wanna know. Just not right this second.”
Helen smiled. “Well, you have plenty of time to decide.”
Troy leaned down and gently kissed his mate’s forehead. “I love you.”
Adriana laid baby Maya in her crib and started to help Mary lay out the snacks for the females. It was fast becoming a tradition for all of them to get ready for formal occasions in her suite. Pax would no doubt be busy with James’s preparation, but she was hoping beyond hope he’d pop by to help. The idea of tackling all those gowns without him was daunting to say the least.
Richard laid his suit and ceremonial robes over his arm and she handed him the box holding his cufflinks. “Will you be in SE’s room?”
“Yep. Right until it’s time for us to pick up James.”
She looked into his soft gray eyes. “You’re concerned about him, aren’t you?”
“James?”
She nodded.
“Yeah, I guess I am. But who don’t I worry about around here?”
“Point taken.”
“I still have a few minutes if you want me to help you change.” He grinned.
“Somehow, I have the feeling my dress would never make it out of the garment bag.” She kissed his cheek. “Your daughter and I will see you in a couple of hours.”
She turned and surveyed all the nibbles on the coffee table. One thing was for sure. If Mary brought up any more food, they were all going to need a miracle to fit into their dresses. Make that a modern miracle. Thank God for Spanx. Suddenly, it dawned on her that she’d never heard the door to the hall close. She looked behind her and her breath caught in her throat.
“Pax?”
The male stood in the doorway covered in sweat and shaking from head to toe.
“Oh, my God. Go into the bedroom. I’ll be right in.”
She took a sticky pad from the desk drawer and wrote a quick note to the girls asking them to come into the living area and get started without her. She put it on the door and went into the bedroom. She closed the door with a quiet snick and looked at Pax. He was standing by the window with his back to her
.
Adriana walked up behind him and put her hand on his shoulder. “It’s James, isn’t it?”
The male nodded.
“Oh, Pax. I’m so sorry.”
He turned and she wrapped her arms around his neck and held him. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I don’t know. Everything got out of hand so fast. I didn’t know what was happening. But he knew. He’s eighteen and he knew. Now I can’t even get him to look at me, much less talk.”
“Oh, hon. Have you felt the call?”
He snorted. “Goddess, no. Could you imagine? I can barely keep it together as it is.”
“Does he feel the same way?”
“I think at this point, he’d be happy if I pretty much didn’t exist. I hurt him, Adriana. I hurt him a lot.”
She took his face in her hands. “Look. I don’t know James that well yet, but I do know you. Sometimes you just need to stop trying to control everything.”
“I know. You’re right.” He exhaled. “Well, I guess we’d better get out there. Four designer gowns await.”
CHAPTER FOUR
The more James tried to meditate, the worse at it he got. He picked up a random sneaker from the seat of the wing chair and sat down. He nervously turned the lights on and off in the room with his gift, and his mind wandered back to the day Pax rescued him from the prison at Toltec’s old labs. The male had been in a different form then, but James’s memory always played it back with Pax in his true form, of course. He rubbed his temples. God, that pissed him off. Like, what, Pax was his Prince Charming? Was there a glass shit kicker around he could leave on the main stairs?
There was a knock at the door just as James popped the light bulb in the antique lamp. The sound rang out like a gunshot. In seconds, Diesel was in the room with his hand on the holster of his pistol. “What the fuck?”
“Sorry, Dies. False alarm.”
“Jesus Christ. Stop dicking off. You almost gave me a heart attack. For real, dude.”
Diesel took a box out of his back pocket and tossed it to him. “I brought you your ruby cufflinks. Do you know how to fasten them?”
“Yeah, it’s the bow tie I’m gonna have issues with.”
“We all are, believe me. We switched to tuxes in honor of the Goddess. Have Dimitri do it. He’s got mad skills.”
“Will do.”
The brother headed out. “I’ll see you in a couple. And don’t lose those cufflinks.”
Curious, James opened the box and looked at the rubies inside. Huh. They seemed kind of antique. Man, that was a whole lotta carats. He turned one over. They were engraved.
VS. Hmm. Vintage.
He carefully took care of the light bulb before heading into the bathroom. He triggered the light and looked at his reflection in the mirror. Yeah, the metal would have to go for the night. Fuck. He’d be lucky if they didn’t heal up on him. He removed the piercings from his face and ears, but decided not to bother with the barbell in his tongue. He opened a box of hair dye. His hair was still dyed black, but it didn’t need to be the faded out craptacular color it was. Once he was in the hot shower he pulled the gel through his hair, put the water on the highest setting, and let it run down his back. This was gonna be hell.
Evy walked down the mansion’s upstairs hallway and stopped at Ana and SE’s door. The female opened it and came out before she knocked. Man. She was still getting used to the whole Seer thing. Other than the Goddess herself, she had more k’ul than anyone else in the house. Easy to detect was putting it mildly. That kind of change wasn’t the easiest for someone who at five feet tall was used to having to practically announce her presence.
The little hummingbird nagual that seemed to follow her friend everywhere was right behind them. Ana struck a face-framing pose. “Ready to get all dolled up?”
“Sure. Hey, come here for a sec.” She grabbed Ana’s sleeve and ducked into the glassed in conservatory.
“What, woman? Damn.”
She looked up into Ana’s bright green eyes. “I’m pregnant.”
Ana’s eye’s widened. “Holy shit.”
Evy nodded. “I know.”
“Man, you two are fast. What did Troy say?”
Her eyes grew hot and a little misty. “He’s thrilled. I’ve never seen him so happy.”
Ana put her arm around her. “Of course not. You guys are gonna have fucking Seer New Breed babies!”
“Shh.” Evy laughed. “You’re the only one who knows besides Helen. Let’s keep it on the DL. Just for now. I don’t want to take away from James’s night.”
Ana grinned. “Well, then, let’s go get suited up. We have lots to celebrate.”
Ana knocked on the door to Adriana’s room and smiled to herself. Wow. Evy was pregnant. It felt great to be happy about something so normal. Especially lately. The past few weeks had been one weird supernatural surprise after another. Evy was having offspring and here she had a ghost for a pet for fuck’s sake.
“Ladies.” Pax smiled as he hung a gown on a door hanger.
“Ooo,” Evy cooed. “Is that your dress, Adriana?”
“That’s not a dress,” Pax answered. “It’s a translucent cap-sleeve gown with a full-length tulle skirt, dégradé sequins, and gold Swarovski crystal baguettes.”
“Fuck,” Ana said and cracked up.
Evy giggled. “It’s amazing. Is it couture?”
Adriana nodded. “Yep. Armani Privé. Just came in this week, thank the Goddess.”
Helen sipped her wine. “I’m going to sound like a total idiot here, but how is that different from the other Armani lines?”
Pax turned on the steamer. “Major coin.”
“Don’t make me sound like such an ass, Pax. It’s my post-Maya, I-got-my-figure-back-in-four-months dress, girls.”
Evy nodded. “Baby weight. Right.”
“Ha.” Ana started to laugh, then slammed her hand to her mouth, catching her top lip on her tooth. “Ouch.”
Evy looked at her and raised an eyebrow. She could have sworn those big browns of hers practically doubled in size.
“Sorry,” she mouthed.
Pax took out Evy’s gown next. “I love this dress, Evy. Valentino has been my personal favorite for a long time.”
Adriana took the skirt of Evy’s dress lightly in her hand. “Oh, Pax. You just love Valentino because you have the same name.”
Ana looked at Pax and cocked her head. “Your name is Valentino?”
“Yep. Paxton is my middle name. This is gorg, Evy. I love the floral motifs with the birds and butterflies at the bottom. And it’s so lightweight—very ethereal with just enough sassitude. It’s perfect for you.”
Before long it was her own turn. As Ana put on the Pucci gold beaded halter dress she’d bought, she couldn’t believe how excited she was to dance with SE during the party. She chose the Pucci because it was straight cut and had a slit up the side that went all the way to the top of her leg. It was perfect for lots of movement. She turned to the mirror and looked up at Pax’s reflection as he held two different earrings up to her earlobes.
“Long or short, sis?”
She took the long one from his hand. “Prefiero los largos, Valentino. What do you think?”
“Call me that again and I’ll wrap one of them right around that lovely long neck of yours.”
“Aw. I was just trying it out.” She was fastening one of the earrings when she caught a quick flash of red in the mirror. She turned around just as Adriana zipped up the back of Helen’s red, one shouldered chiffon gown.
“Helen, you look stunning,” Ana said.
The female nervously ran her hand down the side of the dress. “Are you sure? It’s not too much?”
Evy smiled. “No, not at all. Your hair is kept simple and your make-up is neutral except for that gorgeous red lipstick. Besides, red is the color of the Goddess.”
Pax laughed. “Remind me to hire you as my assistant, Evy. Trust me, Helen. I’m going to have a very happy partner to
night.”
James paced back and forth in his room. Diesel was due back any second. He could only pray the brother remembered to bring Dimitri with him, because the whole bow tie thing was so not happening. Finally, there was a knock on the door. Thank fuck. But then he caught Pax’s scent, mixed with his usual Givenchy cologne. James wasn’t generally a cologne guy, but somehow the tangerine and vanilla mixed with Pax’s body chemistry wound up smelling like the freaking Garden of Eden.
“It’s open.”
“Hey. I heard there was a bow tie malfunction in here.”
Pax walked in and James’s breath caught. All he could do was stare at the brother. The male always looked amazing, but in his tux he was incredible. At this point, James had seen his mentor just about every which way except buck-naked. In that moment, he was positive that tux would have been the best foreplay on the planet.
“Yeah, I have no idea what I’m doing.” He swallowed hard. That was for goddamn sure. For starters he had no idea where the hell he was supposed to look while his camzah reached up and buttoned his top button.
“No worries.”
James exhaled and tried not to fidget while the brother got started on his tie. Oh, God. He was so close. He wanted so badly to look into the male’s eyes. But what if they weren’t glowing? What if they were? He couldn’t make up his mind which would be worse. Maybe it was all just bullshit. After all, they’d been glowing for him about ten seconds after another male had put his mouth all over Pax’s abs. Fuck. He couldn’t keep that image out of his head no matter how much he tried. Now here he was with Pax right within punching distance, but instead he was getting hard. Confusing much?
“Almost done,” he heard Pax say through the blood pounding in his ears.
Between being pissed off and turned on, he was already having issues with oxygen. Pax tightening his tie wasn’t a big help.
Fatal Call (New Breed Novels Book 4) Page 3
