Eternal Craving

by Nina Bangs

  Al watched them until they left the room and then he switched his gaze to Fin. If Kelly’s tirade had touched him, no one would know. He studied Jenna and the rest of his men with a calmness that said being a human being wasn’t at the top of his priority list.

  “Anyone else have anything to say?”

  “We want Al in our pack.” Utah spoke into the silence.

  Beside him, Jenna gasped. He couldn’t tell whether from shock or horror.

  “Al won’t be hunting while he’s with Jenna. So he can’t be part of your pack.” Fin’s glance touched Jenna. “Unless she decides to go home. In which case we may as well move on to where Seven is, because Jenna is the key here.”

  “That’s right, play the guilt card.” Jenna’s comment was an angry snarl.

  Utah didn’t give up without a fight. “We’re pack. We’ve hunted with three from the beginning. Three’s an important number—past, present, future. We need a future. You’re the numbers guy. You should know. Al hunted with a pack before, so we want him.”

  “He’s not the only one,” Fin replied.

  “But he’s the one who misses his pack the most.”

  Al wondered how Utah knew that. He’d never talked about his old pack with the Eleven.

  Fin held up his hands. “Okay, I’m finished for the night. Utah and Tor, talk to me tomorrow. Jenna, I’ll see you at breakfast.”

  He delivered his message to Al mentally. “Don’t let her leave.”

  Then he pushed his chair away from the table and left them sitting there.

  Q said it for all of them. “Let’s quit for the night. Being around Fin and you guys this long has revved up my aggression way past safe. We don’t need a fight to top off everything.”

  “Good idea.” Al wanted to get Jenna out of there. She’d experienced enough to night to last ten human lifetimes. He also wanted time to think over his feelings about joining the raptors’ pack.

  Q stood and offered Jenna his hand. She accepted it, but she looked a little shaky.

  “We’ve never officially met. I’m Q, Ty’s partner. Don’t let Fin bully you.” His gaze shifted to Al as he said the last.

  Jenna seemed to rouse herself as she worked up a smile for him. “Q? What’s that stand for?”

  Al wasn’t sure he liked Q’s smile. Was it a little more than friendly? And if it was, why should he care? Oh, right, he was a possessive prehistoric jerk who wanted to kill anyone who looked at his mate in the wrong way.

  But wait, Fin had proclaimed them human, so he wasn’t supposed to be having these feelings. Well, fuck Fin. Al sort of liked the sound of that.

  Then he remembered. Jenna wasn’t even close to being mate material. She was Fin’s key, and all Al wanted to do was have sex with her. Somehow though, his last thought didn’t have the ring of truth.

  Q dropped Jenna’s hand, just in time as far as Al was concerned. “I’m a Quetzalcoatlus. Fin wanted to call me Quetz, but I don’t answer to anything that weird. So I call myself Q.”

  “A what?”

  Q laid his smile on her, the one all women seemed to like. Al growled low in his throat. Q heard and sent him an anytime-anyplace look.

  “My soul’s a giant pterosaur. A flying reptile.” Then the asshole had to brag. “The biggest flying animal that ever lived. Most of us had thirty-seven-foot wingspans. Mine was closer to forty-five.”

  “Wow, that’s incredible.”

  Al hated the look of awe she sent Q’s way. “Yeah, yeah, we’re all impressed. Except, last time I looked we didn’t have tape mea sures way back when, so how do you know what size your freaking wingspan was?” He couldn’t believe the words coming out of his mouth. Jealous words. He hoped to hell they were just a normal primitive reaction to another male trying to take away his personal dessert.

  Q’s expression turned dangerous. “At least I was the biggest of something. You were nothing beside Ty, Gig, and Car.”

  “Look, it’s been a long night, guys. And if you’re going to get into a pissing match over who’s the biggest, then I’m out of here right now.” Jenna sounded exhausted.

  Al took a deep calming breath and tried to think nonviolent thoughts. “Guess you’re right about one thing, Q. Being near Fin and the rest of you guys is working on me. Time for everyone to leave.” Yeah, that was it. He wasn’t really jealous. He was just reacting to being around the others.

  Q nodded, and with one last smile for Jenna, walked away.

  She looked at Al. “I have to talk with Kelly.” Nothing in her expression gave a hint whether she intended to stay in Philly or flee back to Houston.

  He’d be an optimist. “See you sometime this afternoon then.” As she walked away, he thought about following her to her room, following her into her bed, and there in the darkness touching her in all the ways a man could touch a woman. His soul offered a few opinions on what it wanted to do.

  Al decided maybe he needed to step outside before heading to his room. Glancing around, he realized everyone had left. Most of the other guys had their own apartments. Their drivers would’ve been waiting for them to leave the meeting.

  He purposely didn’t bring his duster with him. Al needed a blast of Arctic air to freeze the sensual images of Jenna that bubbled and boiled in his mind. And in other places.

  All the way down in the elevator, he thought about how he’d feel if she stayed—tempted, distracted, conflicted. Happy. Then he thought about his emotions if she left—bored, focused, still conflicted. Not happy. Well, that sort of summed it up.

  In the lobby, the guy behind the desk was reading a book. He looked up long enough to nod and then went back to his book.

  Al paused, “You new here?”

  “Nah. I sub when anyone quits or goes on vacation.”

  Al left him to his book as he stepped outside. January in Philly was cold enough to freeze the devil’s ass. Just what he needed. Crossing Nineteenth Street, he moved silently among the shadows of the small park. A tough thing to do since the park was pretty well lit up. He was just getting ready to turn around and go back to the condo when he saw Fin.

  Obeying his instincts, he slipped farther into the shadows to watch. He’d probably never react like a human. His soul’s habits were too ingrained.

  What the hell was Fin doing? There was enough light in the park to cast a shine over all that silver hair. But Al stopped worrying about Fin’s hair as something moved in the shadows near him.

  Suddenly a big cat slid into view. Al instantly accessed all that info Fin had poured into this head when he first rose. Jaguar. Black. Carnivore. Dangerous. Fin didn’t seem worried, though. Instead of keeping his attention on the jaguar, he looked toward where Al stood.

  “Don’t just stand there staring.” Fin motioned to him. “Come meet Balan.”

  Al emerged from hiding and approached. He never took his attention from the big carnivore. “How did you know I was there? I thought I was quiet.” Al knew he’d been quiet. He’d had a lifetime of moving a very big body silently so he wouldn’t startle his prey. He and his pack had never been fast enough to run down smaller and lighter dinners.

  “I always know where all of you are.” Fin sounded amused. “Think about that when you walk past Jenna’s room later on.”

  Al grunted. Talk about a buzz kill. “Who’s Balan?” He remembered Ty talking about meeting the jaguar back in Houston, but he wanted the info directly from Fin.

  The voice in his head wasn’t Fin’s, and it startled the hell out of him.

  “I am the messenger for the ones you call numbers. My masters are not pleased with how you’ve named them. Numbers show lack of respect.” The jaguar watched Al from unblinking golden eyes. “They have shown their respect for you by naming you as Gods of the Night. My masters wish to be called Lords of Time.”

  Al stared blankly at Balan and then shifted his stare to Fin. “He’s kidding, right?”

  Fin wasn’t smiling. “No, he’s very serious. Balan would have you think he’s a g
lorified messenger boy for Zero and the rest of them.” He paused for an aside to Balan. “If your masters would tell me their names, I wouldn’t have to call them by numbers. They could even make up names. So what name is Eight going by while he’s among the humans?”

  Balan opened his mouth in a silent snarl, exposing big sharp teeth. “Do not mock my masters. Names have power. They will not give you that power.” Then some emotion that looked a lot like humor appeared in his eyes. “I cannot tell you the mortal name the one whom you call Eight is using because it would help you find him. Personally, I think his name lacks dignity.”

  “Why are you here to night, Balan?”

  Good. It was about time Fin got down to business. As far as Al could see, Balan was working for the enemy. It never helped to get chummy with someone who wanted to kill you.

  Balan swung his great head to study Al. “I do not kill. I simply—”

  “Observe and report,” Fin finished for him. “I don’t know what part you’re playing in this whole thing, cat, but it’s not the part of a spy. Is Zero in Philadelphia?”

  Balan made a coughing sound that might have been a laugh. “Do you think I’d tell you if he were? But I will tell you this. The one who calls himself Seir watches your windows from this park each night.”

  Al couldn’t tell from Fin’s expression whether this was a surprise or old news to him.

  “How do you know this?”

  “Because I also watch.”

  Fin laughed, a harsh bitter sound. “Just great. Pretty soon I’ll have a freaking party outside my windows. Maybe I’ll have to put on a show to make it all worthwhile. Let me know when you’re freezing your butts off and I’ll send down hot chocolate.”

  Balan blinked his gold eyes. “Is that why you came here tonight? Did you hope to catch Seir here?”

  Fin glanced away from Balan to scan the surrounding trees. “I don’t have to go searching for Seir. He knows where I’ll be if he wants me.”

  Al couldn’t figure out whether that was a threat aimed at Seir or not.

  “So is there anything else you want to tell me?”

  Balan remained silent for a little too long. Then he spoke. “My master, the one you call Zero, wants you to know that things need not be like this between you. Now that the one named Rap has been eliminated, all is even between you. He was payment for Nine. Stop interfering in what will be, and you along with your men will reap the benefit when humans no longer walk the Earth.”

  At the mention of Rap’s name, Al’s fury fought for expression. Fin threw him a sharp glance.

  “Do you believe that, cat?” Fin seemed really interested in Balan’s answer.

  “I do not believe or disbelieve. I only report.” The jaguar sniffed the night air. “There will be snow.” Then without a backward glance he faded into the shadows.

  “What was that about?” As hard as Al stared, he couldn’t see where the cat had gone.

  “I don’t know.” Fin looked thoughtful. “He guards his real thoughts.”

  “You seemed pretty cozy with a being that admits working for Zero and the rest of his trash.”

  “I’ve known about him for a long time. And he doesn’t work for anyone. He chooses a side.” Fin finally looked at him. “But he can be persuaded.”

  Al walked beside him as Fin headed back to the condo. “You said you’ve known about Balan for a long time. I don’t remember him. Guess you and I didn’t move in the same circles. Or maybe I just forgot.”

  As Fin turned his head toward him, Al caught a glimpse of something that looked like shock in his eyes. Now what had he said to cause that reaction?

  “You never met him. There was nothing to forget.”

  Al nodded, not completely convinced. “Tell me about him.”

  “The Mayan civilization got some things right. They may not have understood the greater implications of some of their beliefs, but they had the basics. Balan means jaguar in the Mayan language. Some believed that Balan was a helper to Bolon Yokte, a Mayan creation lord.”

  “And this Bolon Yokte did what?”

  Fin cast him a don’t-be-stupid look. “He created.”

  Al thought about that. “Well, if I have a piece of land with an old house on it, and I want a new house, I guess I’d have to knock down the old one to make room for the new one. I might even enjoy the knocking down as much as the putting up.”

  “That’s the way it works.” For just a moment, Fin looked at him as though he was seeing beyond the man and his soul to something more, something older.

  “What about this Seir?”

  Fin shrugged. “I’ll deal with Seir when the time comes. And no, I’m not going to discuss him.”

  Before Al could work up another question, they entered the condo’s lobby and Fin stopped to talk to the guy with the book. Al didn’t wait around. He caught an elevator and headed up to his room.

  Kelly answered her door on the first knock. “You took long enough getting here.”

  Jenna walked past her sister and into the sitting area. She glanced around. “Where’s Ty?”

  Her sister nodded toward French doors that led to the balcony. Drapes had been drawn across them. “Sometimes being closed in too much makes him feel claustrophobic. He threw on his heavy clothes and went out to sit on the balcony so he could ‘breathe.’ His word, not mine.” She dropped onto the couch and waved for Jenna to join her. “He functions so well in this world that I often forget what he came from and how much of a culture shock this whole thing must be.”

  Jenna wasn’t here to discuss the Eleven’s assimilation issues with Kelly. “I thought about this all the way to your room. I’m not leaving.”

  Kelly leaned toward her sister. “You. Are. Crazy. After I found out what these guys were, I decided to stay too. Want to know what happens when you team up with them?”

  “Why did you stay?”

  “It’s tough to walk away when you know you can help save humanity.”

  “And you were falling in love with Ty.”

  Kelly didn’t deny it. “I ended up in the Astrodome, the unwilling guest of Nine. His entertainment for the night was a fight to the death between Ty and Gig. You haven’t seen either of their souls. The fight wasn’t a pretty sight. I was the key that night.”

  Jenna let anger roll over her. The fury felt surprisingly good. “And you never thought to share with your family that you were in mortal danger?”

  Kelly looked away. “I couldn’t. It wasn’t safe for you to know too much. Besides, you would’ve tried to help.”

  “Did Ty talk you into it?”

  “No. I had a heart-to-head talk with Fin. My heart, his head. Sometimes I think his heart takes extended vacations. Anyway, he promised to keep all of you safe if I helped to get rid of Nine. He pointed out that even if I quit, Nine would know I’d worked for the Eleven and target the whole family. Besides, if I didn’t help, Nine’s recruits would take over the city, Zero would win, and all of us would be dead anyway.” Her laugh was a little unsteady. “No pressure there.”

  Jenna figured Zero and Fin were evenly matched. They were both bastards to the nth degree. “So now you want me to go home even though I’m the key to kicking Eight’s butt. It won’t matter if I fail humanity.”

  Kelly looked stricken, but she didn’t back down. “I’ve done a lot of thinking, and I wonder if the people Fin saw in his visions really matter. Okay, for Nine it had to be me because only my particular brain waves could do the job. But this bell-ringing thing. Anyone could ring a damn bell. So Fin doesn’t really need you.” Desperation was starting to creep into Kelly’s voice.

  “Will you go back to Houston with me?”

  Kelly looked at her sister from wide eyes glistening with unshed tears. “You play dirty, sis.”

  “Will you?”

  “You’re going to make me choose between my sister and my husband?”

  Suddenly Jenna felt unutterably weary. She couldn’t do it. She couldn’t tear her sister
from the man she loved, no matter how much she wanted to get Kelly away from the danger.

  “No, you won’t have to choose. I’m staying. I never thought of myself as a hero, but if Fin says I’m the only one who can ring that bell, hey, I’ll go for it.”

  “I want you out of here.” Kelly swiped at her eyes and then reached for a tissue.

  “You know, the more I think about it, the more being a hero appeals.” God, please give me the right words. “Do you have any idea what it was like for me growing up in our family?”

  Kelly seemed puzzled. “We have a perfect family.”

  “See, that’s the problem. I’m not perfect. Everyone else is. Dad’s the zoo director, Mom’s a vet, and you’re a genius at everything you do.”

  “That’s not true. We all love you, and everyone’s life path is different. Different doesn’t mean less important.” Kelly looked horrified. “I never knew you had these thoughts.”

  I never wanted you to know. “I love all you guys, but I wanted to be great at something too. I wasn’t. Average grades, no motivation to excel, no drive to get an awesome job after college. I majored in English Lit, so when I graduated I could tell you a lot about books, but that didn’t prepare me for a spectacular career.” She shrugged as if it didn’t matter. It mattered a whole lot. “So I took the first job I was offered.”

  “But you always acted like you didn’t care. You said grades didn’t matter. You said you liked your job at The Scene; you didn’t want to try to move up to the Chronicle.”

  “I didn’t. I don’t.” Lord, what had she gotten herself into?

  Her sister was no fool, and Jenna saw the exact moment when she put everything together. Which proved how really smart Kelly was, because Jenna had only just put it together herself.