Whispered Bonds

by Tally Adams

  "Women can hold grudges for a long time," Emily pointed out skeptically.

  "True," Paoli conceded. "But I can be very persuasive."

  Emily rolled her eyes. "I think you may be in for a surprise on this one."

  Paoli took the bag from Emily's hand and loaded it into the trunk while William did the same with the two bags he was carrying. He slammed the trunk lid and leaned languidly against it, considering Emily's words. "I don't suppose you'd help me out?" he asked.

  Emily gave him a suspicious look. "Help you out how?"

  He shrugged. "Women trust other women. So, talk me up."

  "Oh no," she said with a chuckle. "You're on your own with this one."

  "You definitely have your work cut out for you," William said, leaning his elbows on the trunk beside Paoli. "I've never seen a woman so angry. Not at you, anyway."

  Paoli grinned. "Where's your faith?" he asked. "Have I ever failed to win a woman when I wanted to?"

  Emily glared at him. "That's disgusting."

  "But true," Paoli pointed out, which wasn't really boasting since it did happen to be the truth. If there was one area he excelled in, it was women.

  "I don't know," William spoke up. "The situation is different this time. You're not after a woman, but a specific one. And she doesn't seem to be your biggest fan."

  "I told you, she'll come around," Paoli insisted. "I'll grow on her."

  "Like mildew," Emily mumbled. "Did it ever occur to you she may not be interested?"

  It was Paoli's turn to glare. "She belongs to me," he said, all traces of humor gone. Then, thinking back to her reactions to him—aside from the anger—his smile slowly returned. "She's interested," he said confidently. "We just have to get past her pique."

  "Her pique?" Emily gasped incredulously, giving him a dirty look. "Check the century and stop being so sexist."

  Paoli was momentarily taken aback. "I didn't mean to offend," he said when Emily left them to get in the car.

  Sekhmet sauntered over, beaming in a way that sobered Paoli and made him groan inwardly. "Not exactly falling at your feet, is she?" he smirked. "I wouldn't be surprised to find out she starts wearing garlic panties."

  Paoli had to fight the sudden urge to punch him. Instead, he gave him a tight smile. "You don't know much about women, do you?" he asked dryly. "All it takes is a little charm."

  "Is that what you call charming her?" Sekhmet hooted. "Looked more like you were stopping her from pulling out the stakes and crosses."

  "So, she has a bit of a temper," Paoli said unconcernedly. "She'll get over it. Eventually."

  "If you say so," Sekhmet said with a doubtful chuckle. He gave a sarcastic salute and walked away.

  Paoli glowered after him, then moved toward Lyric's car while William pulled the other car around to continue their conversation through the window. "How is it possible for her not to remember you?" William asked. "Something this significant, I would expect it to stick in a person's mind."

  Paoli shrugged. "I don't think she's forgotten so much as she's actively blocking the memory of the whole night."

  "How do you get around that?" William wanted to know.

  "I have no idea," Paoli admitted. "But I will."

  "I think your confidence may be a bit premature," Emily spoke up, clearly still annoyed.

  Paoli silently disagreed with her assessment of the situation. Lyric would calm down and accept him. What choice did she have, after all? She'd agreed to be his; to be connected in a way that went far deeper than her anger or stubbornness. Now it was time to honor the agreement.

  Just because she didn't want to remember the events of that night didn't change what was. It might take a little time, but her fate was sealed years ago. Not even she could change it now.

  Chapter Ten

  Lyric stared at the door after Paoli left, feeling deflated and somehow small. Everything she knew about the world around her—and even about herself—had been changed in the last day. Now, she wasn't sure what was reality anymore. Ironically, that's what the doctors had been telling her for years. Now, at least, it was true. Her new knowledge called into question things that were normally taken for granted. Simple things like the fact monsters weren't real, legends were all superstition brought about by lack of understanding, and that people were free to choose their own path.

  According to Paoli, no human was free. People's lives were nothing more than acting out a play, predetermined by someone else. It gave her a glum feeling to think about. In a way, didn't that mean everyone's life was utterly pointless?

  While Paoli may have thought he gave her answers, in truth, he'd left her with more questions than she had before. Deep questions she'd never really considered. What was the meaning of life, for example?

  She snorted at her own foolishness and pushed the unanswerable questions aside. This wasn't the time to get all philosophical. Regardless of everything else, she needed to stay focused on her immediate problem. If Paoli's pack could be believed, she'd been targeted by werewolves and she had no chance against them. If her fate was really connected to Paoli and the werewolves could trace her because of it, her best chance of survival was to stick with the group that was capable of killing them.

  At least for now.

  An immediate, long-term plan wasn't forthcoming, so she opted for the stay-alive-for-now plan. She'd worry about the rest later. After all, if this group was bringing the werewolf situation under control, she just needed to bide her time until they accomplished their mission. Then the werewolves wouldn't be after her and she'd be safe to return to her normal life.

  As for Paoli and connected fates, she'd have to work that one out later. One thing at a time. Right now, her immediate problem was survival, and these people were the answer. Which meant that, instead of Florida or California like she'd originally intended, apparently, she was going to Louisiana.

  Paoli was waiting by the driver's side door of her car when she got to the parking lot. He was talking to William, who was already seated behind the wheel of a plain gray sedan. Emily was riding shotgun and bent forward to see around William so she could talk to Paoli, as well. Empusa and Sekhmet were nowhere in sight.

  Paoli looked up and waved her over, gesturing toward the passenger's door.

  Annoyance skittered through her belly. He was inviting her to ride in her own car. She glared at him and considered marching over to steal her keys back. Memories of the earlier scene flashed through her mind, and she realized she'd already made a big enough spectacle of herself for one day.

  Instead, she jerked the back door open on the other car and hopped in behind Emily, who looked at her in open surprise. William shook his head but said nothing. He pulled the car toward the parking lot exit without a word.

  Paoli was scowling when Lyric's window pulled abreast of him. It took all of her self-control not to stick her tongue out, but she managed. She settled smugly back in her seat, instead, to prepare for a long ride.

  Oh, that was mature, Paoli's voice announced. His aggravation was clear, which only served to make her feel smugger still.

  I have no idea what you're referring to, she informed him with as much innocence as she could manage.

  She felt him snort in derision.

  A revving engine pulled her attention to the back window, and she watched her own car fly up on their tail. Paoli's face was clearly visible through the cracked windshield, and he motioned pointedly to the empty passenger's seat. This is where you belong.

  Lyric flipped him off, pressing her hand against the back window to ensure he got a clear view. I hate to break it to you, she informed him hotly. But I belong wherever I decide to be.

  "So," Emily said unexpectedly, causing Lyric to jerk her arm down and swing around to face the front of the car. "I see you and Paoli have had a chance to catch up." Humor danced in her purple eyes and she was clearly struggling—and failing—not to smile.

  "I don't care how twisted our fates may be," Lyric declared, getting readj
usted and pulling on the seatbelt. "He doesn't know a thing about women."

  "He knows women quite well," William disagreed distractedly as they started to merge onto the highway ramp.

  Emily made an annoyed sound and glared at him. "It's not the same thing," she said.

  He shrugged and turned his attention back to the road.

  Lyric stared through her window, letting her mind wander while she tried to keep her thoughts away from how irritated she was with Paoli. A white bus pulled alongside them. She started when she noticed Empusa in the passenger's seat, waving goodbye as the bus's engine gunned and started to pull ahead.

  A big red plus-sign was painted on the side, and she read the words 'save lives, give blood' as they passed. "Are you serious?" she demanded incredulously of Emily, gesturing to what was obviously a mobile blood donation center.

  "I know," Emily said with an embarrassed grimace. "But it's safer for everyone involved. The logo holds true for our uses, too."

  Lyric started to laugh at the ridiculousness of it. In a way, she supposed it made sense. Nothing like hiding in plain sight, and who was going to question the blood bus, after all? It just seemed so…mundane. Vampires were supposed to be night-stalkers in topcoats and hats who pulled victims into dark corners to drain them dry. Instead, she found herself with the group following a blood bus down the highway. Leave it to her, she thought with a derisive snort, staring silently at the bus while her thoughts drifted over the unbelievable last day of her life.

  You're brooding, Paoli broke into her reflections. Are you going to brood all the way to Louisiana?

  The sound of him speaking in her mind rekindled her annoyance. She built a picture in her head of a naked man bending over, and made sure it was a chubby, hairy fellow. Then she sent the image to Paoli.

  Yow! he exclaimed. Now, that was just mean. I was simply asking a question, he said, but there was definitely laughter in his voice.

  Since you're so determined to know what's going on in my head, Lyric told him haughtily, I thought I'd show. Jiggly, furry, fat men.

  Paoli's laughter seemed to fill her mind and she found herself smiling reluctantly in return.

  Once we've completed our business, I'm sure I can find you one in Louisiana, if you're really determined, he offered.

  She'd never been to Louisiana, so she wasn't sure if he was implying people there tending to be large, or not. With her luck, he was serious, and she'd walk into her room to find a whole herd of big men after they…what were they doing in Louisiana?

  "Why are we going to Louisiana, anyway?" she asked, realizing she had no idea what to expect.

  "We're going to meet with the biggest werewolf pack in the state. With any luck, we can use diplomacy to start gathering supporters to stand against Lycaon," Emily answered.

  Lyric faltered. "We're what!" she cried.

  "Don't panic," William said patiently. "This isn't like the pack that attacked you. These guys are on our side. Hopefully," he mumbled the last word with his face turned away toward the window, but Lyric heard it, all the same.

  That single word seemed to rattle around in her head as she stared through the window at the passing lights. Hours slipped by unnoticed while her mind continued to swirl with too many thoughts and emotions. Werewolves. She was traveling all through the night to find more werewolves. No matter what William said, it seemed an incredibly stupid thing to do.

  Chapter Eleven

  When the sky turned gray, they turned into a rest area. Lyric was pulled out of a travel-induced hypnotic stupor when the door she was leaning against opened without warning, nearly spilling her face-first onto the pavement. She let out a little squeak as the ground came up fast. Before she landed, strong hands gripped her upper arms and stopped her decent mid-fall.

  With all the dignity left to her after such a delightful show of grace, she straightened up and found herself peering into the face she knew would be there. Paoli stood in front of her, laughter dancing in his eyes.

  "Careful now," he said with a smile.

  Her heart was racing from the excitement of the near-fall and subsequent embarrassment. As usual, it was all his fault. "You did that on purpose," she accused, putting her hands on his shoulders to push herself away, but since she was still hanging out of a car door, there was nowhere for her to go. Instead of stepping back, he moved closer, essentially trapping her between his body and the car frame. She became very aware of his breadth and the heat of his body.

  "I did not," he said evenly, his face mere inches from her own. "Your clumsiness is all on you. Unless you just get so nervous around me that you can't even stand up straight," he teased.

  Lyric decided not to touch that bait while she was literally using him for balance, but couldn't stop a slight scoff. It didn't go unnoticed. He raised a single brow in clear challenge, though if he was daring her to deny it or elaborate, she wasn't about to find out.

  "I have very little time right now," he said. "Which is unfortunate, since there's a lot I need to say to you. The most important of which is you can't avoid me forever."

  "Not forever," Lyric said flippantly, determined not to be cowed by him. "I'll only live another fifty years or so."

  He gave her a small, slightly mocking smile. "You still don't understand our connection, I see. But you soon will."

  A feeling of unease rose in her belly at those cryptic words.

  "Sunrise is too close at hand for this conversation," he said, glancing at the sky and back to her. "I just want to inform you of something you don't seem to grasp."

  Lyric didn't trust herself to speak around the uncertain lump in her throat. His closeness wasn't helping, since she could feel the muscles in his shoulders bunch beneath her fingers when he moved, and his clean scent filled her nostrils. He smelled of soap and earth and something wildly intoxicating that was specific to him alone.

  She wasn't sure what he meant about her not understanding their connection, but it sounded important.

  And foreboding.

  He leaned forward with a slightly predatory look in his eyes. "There's no escaping me," he whispered, so close his warm breath brushed her cheek. "I am your fate."

  Lyric saw the absolute truth in his face, reflecting the resolution of his words. She looked away and cleared her throat, determined not to be intimidated. When she met his gaze again, hers was unwavering.

  Determined to prove she was undaunted, she slid from the car's frame to stand nose-to-nose with him, even though it put her entire body pressing against the hardness of his. "We'll see," she said, and there was no denying the defiance in her voice.

  Paoli's eyes darkened. He stepped back and gave her an appraising look. "We'll see," he agreed quietly.

  He turned and headed toward the bus, stopping briefly to speak to William on his way. She couldn't hear their words, but they stood comfortably together for a moment, having an animated conversation. Paoli clapped William on the back and disappeared into the bus with Sekhmet.

  Lyric watched him go until he was out of sight. When she turned back toward the car, she found Emily leaning against the door, grinning.

  Lyric was on edge from her confrontation with Paoli, and the sly look on Emily's face just made it worse. "Can anyone tell me what you guys seem to find so hilarious about the state of my life?" she demanded irritably.

  Emily blinked in surprise and held her hands up for peace. "It's not your life we find funny," she said, dropping her hands and leaning on the door frame once Lyric offered a weak smile of apology. "It's Paoli's struggle that amuses us all."

  Lyric thought about that for a minute. "But you guys are his friends," she said. "Why would you enjoy seeing him struggle?"

  "Because, a little hardship is good for a person," William interjected, walking over to kiss Emily on the forehead. "And he's always had it a bit too easy with women."

  "So, he's an ass," Lyric concluded.

  "He's a bit of a scoundrel," William corrected. "Drive carefully," he murmured to
Emily, dropping a set of keys into her hand.

  "Well, nowadays, we call that being an ass. Or a jerk, if you prefer," Lyric said, and she marched to the passenger's side of the car without a backward glance. She climbed in and shut the door with a slam.

  She wasn't even sure why it bothered her to hear Paoli was a player. She didn't really know him, after all. Plus, she intended to be rid of him as soon as she could figure out how. In a weird way, though, she knew him more intimately than she'd ever known anyone. Five years of very private conversations—even if many of them had been one-sided—had given them a strange closeness.

  "Okay," Emily announced with a resolute sigh when she got into the driver's seat and started the engine. "I apologize for our humor, but it isn't at your expense. Really," she added, looking over at Lyric's skeptical expression. "I can see how it must have seemed that way, though," she conceded, pulling out behind Lyric's car to follow William back to the highway, the bus—now driven by Empusa—following them.

  "So, what's the deal with Paoli, anyway?" Lyric asked, scooting down in her seat to prop her feet on the dashboard.

  Emily shrugged. "He's a good man. It's just that women have thrown themselves at him for so long, he's come to expect it."

  "Not me," Lyric said adamantly. "He may be handsome, but he already knows it far too well."

  "He can also be quite charming," Emily pointed out fairly.

  "So, why did he zero in on me?" Lyric wanted to know. "I get the whole near-death thing now and all that, but I can't be the only person he's come across in that condition, considering the reality of your lives."

  Emily smiled. "That sounds like a question you should ask him. I mean, I think you're great," she said light-heartedly. "But I don't know why you struck such a chord with him."

  Lyric shook her head. "It doesn't make any sense. It's not like I'm some great beauty or something." She was attractive enough, sure. When she didn't look like she'd barely slept in a week, anyway. Even at her finest, however, she would rate herself a little above average on looks. Just enough to get a date when she needed one; not a woman who could stop traffic or anything.