by Ruby Madden
“Very interesting.”
He rang the doorbell of the boutique. She'd never seen an establishment where you had to ask to be let in. What kind of...
A short, spare woman emerged from the back. Through the glass doors Norelle saw very little besides white walls, a narrow silver rack with a few garments on either side, lots of bright lighting and expensive looking furniture. White.
“Where have you brought me?” she asked. “This place is ridiculous.”
“Welcome,” the woman said, opening the door. She wore a slim black pant suit of some slick material, hair pulled back in a lacquered ponytail, makeup discreet. “You must be Mr. Sullivan’s guest.”
Norelle entered. The shop smelled like expensive spritzer and glass. “Yes. I'm not certain this is really the place for me.” She eyed a scrap of silk on one of the hangers. “You can see I'm... statuesque.”
The woman smiled. “I'm Rora. And it will be a pleasure to dress you. I've also received instructions to forward you on to my team of hair stylists. We're on a tight schedule, so let's get started shall we?”
The entire experience was surreal. Rora had a selection of a half dozen dresses in jewel tones. Norelle eventually selected a gown with a fitted, sparkly bodice and long flowing skirt. The deep topaz added a golden glow to her skin. A pair of strappy black heels accompanied the dress along with a pair of topaz and citrine earrings.
“Thank you,” she said to Rora as she left. “That wasn't as horrible as I thought it would be.”
“A pleasure, and congratulations on your recent engagement.”
What?
***
Cassius wondered if his rational side was fully functional. He hadn't seen the female for twenty years, but the afternoon spent arguing with her snarky, overly aggressive mind took him back to the days when he'd spent time with Boden- mainly to catch glimpses of Norelle. She'd been hard to talk to the years after her father's murder. Moody and distant with bouts of violence that made his parents wonder if she'd have to be locked up eventually. And then after they'd moved away, he'd put her out of his mind to the point where he almost hadn't recognized her.
He adjusted his bowtie, waiting at the entrance to the event for his car to arrive with his... date. Who the hell was he trying to kid? He'd sent the car rather than picking her up himself because he didn't want it to be all datey- but it was a date. A date he hadn't planned- the invitation left his mouth, prodded by Bear, before his mind had time to think about it.
The car pulled up. He stepped aside for a group of couples walking up the steps, eyes zeroed in as Emil opened the door.
An elegant beauty stepped out, long dark hair in sleek waves at her back, shimmering gold dress emphasizing the curve of her full breasts, material floating around rounded hips. His fingers twitched, wanting to clutch said hips. Damn. Then she looked up, kohl lined eyes meeting his, dark and mysterious, a small smile playing around her red lips.
Cassius descended the steps to meet her halfway, remembering not to trip. A chef? She should be the favored concubine of some fantasy sheikh somewhere, naked and pampered all day long. Fucked all night long.
Whoa, boy. The ferocity of the sexual thought took him by surprise. It wasn't often his body reacted this strongly to a female. They just didn't do anything for him. For a while he'd wondered if he was gay, or asexual, his few relationships lacking the spice and… something that he craved.
He didn’t wonder anymore. “You look beautiful,” he said. “Like one of those makeover shows.”
Cassius winced as her brow rose. But she laughed.
“You should have stopped after 'beautiful',” she replied, rolling her eyes. “Geek.”
True.
“You’re staring,” she said.
“Am I?” He shoved his hands into his pockets. “Nice to meet you, Norelle. It’s been a while. You should stay.”
Her smile shifted to a grin. “I’m on exile for thirty days.”
He blinked. “What did you do?”
Her hand rose, fingers fiddling with the sleeve of his jacket. He knew it was involuntary- her gaze had turned inward. Still, that she used him as a touchstone… Shut up, he told his smug Bear. Cass captured her hand, taking back her attention.
“Oh. Um… I Challenged Liam. I lost- but really only because I wanted to.”
He laughed. How… Norelle. A quiet, skulking shadow with a biting temper if roused. Without thinking, he lowered his head, catching the pouting bottom lip between his teeth. Nipped, just a bit. Playful. Possessive.
“Cassius, you’re sending out signals,” she said, eyes narrowing, after he pulled away.
“Am I?” he smiled. “Shall we?”
He held out an arm, suppressing the urge to pick her up and take her away from here and somewhere private.
CHAPTER
4
“So what is this thing?” Norelle asked.
“Charity fundraiser my parents organized.”
She stopped moving. “Your parents?”
He glanced at her, frowning. “Yeah. They aren't going to mob you, Norelle. They might not like your mom very much, but that's another issue.”
“Jeeze.” She blew out a breath. “Fine. But remember why I'm here.”
“I remember. To utilize your best logic to convince me answering a summons from the Council is in my best interest. This is going to be an interesting night, at least.”
There was dancing, and food and mingling. Cass toured the room, speaking to people who obviously had money, talking about business and politics and issues she realized meant he led a very convoluted lifestyle. Her only concern was her food, her vendors and managing her employees. The contrast between the rich and the not rich boggled her.
Cassius was about to lead her to the dance floor for the third time when he stopped, stiffening.
“What’s wrong?” she asked, turning her head to follow his line of vision. Oh. The Lion king, Sahr.
“I think it unlikely he took my warning seriously.”
Norelle glanced at him sharply. “What warning?” She watched the tall, dark male stalk towards them, predatory grace and determined focus.
“Musa,” Cass said, without raising his voice over a conversation tone.
The security guard appeared behind her like he'd been there all along. Norelle jumped. “Where did you come from? I didn't even scent you.”
“I certainly hope not,” he murmured over her head. “He's not going to let this go, Cass. You might have to take more definitive action.” Musa paused. “She is unmated, after all.”
Cassius sighed. “A technicality I’m feeling increasingly inclined to remediate. I have enough problems to deal with- can you handle this one?”
“That’s what I get paid for. Besides, it's time you settle down anyway.”
“He hits me up for a 5% increase every year,” Cass said in her ear. “I'm uncertain whether he actually earns it. I need to develop an algorithm.”
Musa grunted. “You’ve been threatening that for five years. You’re too lazy.”
“True.”
Norelle was hardly able to follow the conversation and besides, watching the male come towards them sent a frisson of awareness through her. She wasn’t really attracted to the Lion… but damn, he was sexy. And she was a female, so she couldn’t help but notice.
“Is he staring at me?” she asked, looking up at Cass. He didn’t bother to look away as she caught him staring at her. Displeasure flickered in his eyes. If he were a Dragon, the pupils would be slits by now.
“Not very bright, is she?” Musa said.
Norelle aimed her elbow strategically. Cassius sniffed, pulling her a bit closer.
Musa shifted, evading her attempted blow. “Didn't hurt.”
“Next time,” she muttered. She would have gotten him if she’d really wanted to.
“Cassius, Musa,” Sahr greeted, stopping at a polite distance. “What a pleasant surprise
to see you here.”
“Charmed, I’m sure,” Cass said. “I'd like to know how you scalped a ticket. I could use that kind of talent in my organization.”
He made it sound like the mob. Sahr just smiled. “Ms.... Norelle. I was hoping to see you here. I've been thinking about you since last we met.”
She blinked. “For real? Sorry about that. I hope I wasn't too rude.”
“Not at all, a beautiful female is allowed some leeway.”
“Hear that, Cass?” she said. “Leeway.”
“Right.” Cassius' hand tightened on her arm. “Sahr, you enjoy yourself- I'll tell security not to throw you out. I need to go talk to my parents.”
Sahr held up a hand. “Please, I beg your indulgence. I would like to speak to the lovely Norelle.”
Okay. “What do you want?” Norelle asked, a little wary.
“Direct. I approve. Would you like to dance and discuss what I want?”
Cassius inhaled, voice deepening. “No, she's a horrible dancer. My toes are still hurting. Come on, Norelle.”
He wasn’t the boss of her. She dug in her heels. A mean feat on marble. “No, I think I would like to dance.” For some reason Cass wasn't liking the idea, and she wanted to exploit any little weakness she could. She smiled up at him. “And when it's over, we'll discuss our little matter, hmm?”
His eyes narrowed, jaw tightening. “Fine.” He dropped her arm, striding away.
Musa stared after him. “Playing with fire, girl.”
“May I?” Sahr asked, holding out an arm. He and Musa exchanged impassive yet pleasant looks. “Interesting to find my brother working for the Sullivan family. We'll have to talk later.”
Musa grinned, baring his teeth. “I don't think so. Norelle, I'll be near. Wave if you need me.”
“Will I need him?” she asked Sahr.
He swept her onto the dance floor, one hand on her waist. “Let’s not talk about my brother,” he replied.
“Do you mean it literally?” she asked. “Or is that a term indicating all Lion shifters consider themselves ‘brothers’?”
“The latter,” he said. He was a smooth dancer, but then she’d expected nothing less. “There are few of us, far less than Bear numbers- so I am somewhat familiar with Musa’s history.”
“Really?”
Sahr smiled, indulgent. “You will have to ask him, Ms. Norelle. It is not my history to tell.”
She sighed. Sometimes males with manners sucked. “So what did you want?”
The music shifted to something slower, more fluid. He adjusted their steps. “Just to get to know you better.”
“I’m not on the market, Sahr,” she said. “You’ll have to look somewhere else for a mate.”
“Pity.” He seemed unperturbed. “Even if so, there is no hurt in getting to know a new friend, is there?”
“None at all.” Especially if it would make Cassius more attentive to their little discussion.
***
Cassius watched from the shadows, struggling to contain the growl in his chest. God damnit, Norelle was getting to him. He wasn't stupid, though. He came to the swift and rapid conclusion that the she-Bear was trying to play him. On some level she understood he was over here right now, squirming. She must think if he squirmed enough, it would soften him up, make him more amenable to her little request.
Fuck the Council. The old sows made his parents’ lives miserable- or tried to. One of the few couples who both carried the defective gene, they’d met and mated against Council orders, back when the problems with the cubs being born were beginning to come to light. They’d attempted to conceive during the first waves of genetic testing that were followed by research and numerous consultations over the years. Conceived him despite reports and the final conclusion that those who were carriers should be excluded from reproducing.
But his parents had rebelled, and been shunned. They didn’t give a damn- they'd been able to produce at least one fully healthy cub. Him. The fact that a beautiful young female like Norelle was unmated was enough proof for him that she was also a carrier. There was no other way they would have allowed her to remain single with the population issues Bears were having worldwide. Girls were encouraged to find mates as soon as they were of age- as long as they weren’t carriers of the gene. Or at the very least, could find a mate who wasn't a carrier.
Cass was a carrier. Which meant there was no way in hell the Council would sanction a mating between him and Norelle. But they wanted him to come home and find a human to marry and knock up.
He half laughed, eyes following the couple on the dance floor. They were striking, he’d give them that. Both tall, Norelle’s curves lush and feminine, long hair floating with the movement of the dance, tips brushing the curve of her ass. Beautiful. Sahr couldn't have her.
Ours, Bear rumbled, dissatisfied with Cass’ stillness. Claim.
Patience. Let her get all comfortable, think she was in control. That would make it all the easier to sneak up on her. Because while she was busy trying to convince him to obey the Council, he would be busy convincing her that a life with him, mated and controlling her own destiny, was infinitely more preferable. Even though they’d just re-met this morning- he knew she was his. His mate, his wife. She’d fascinated him as a teenager, and she drew him now. He hadn't made himself into the businessman he was without knowing his own mind. Without being able to analyze, make rapid decisions. To see something of worth and snap it up before it was too late.
And she was definitely something of worth. She just didn't see it yet.
***
The Lion was energetic. Norelle left the dance floor, feeling as if she barely escaped being swept off her feet- literally. She knew he wanted her for either himself or one of his Lions. Understood that they were in Seattle looking for mates, and a lone shifter female of breeding age must be incredibly tempting to him. It hadn't occurred to her before- but her defective genes wouldn't matter to a Lion. A cross species mating had a high chance of producing a healthy cub. The Council just preferred to interject human genes into the pool rather than other shifters because… because what? Norelle frowned. Why hadn't the Council reached out to other shifter communities?
The question disturbed her, along with a new sense of hope. A hope that maybe there was a way to have a mate, a family. That she didn't have to be alone her whole life, be the spinster aunt focused on her career. Maybe she’d been too hasty in telling Sahr she wasn’t available.
And then she saw Cassius, standing near a tall window, arms folded. Staring at her. Brooding. Brow furrowed, a scowl hovering on his mouth. And knew for certain she’d been right to put Sahr off. God, the Bear rocked the geeky sexy look. The thought slipped out. As tempting as the Lions were- Cassius drew her. Made her uneasy. She drifted closer and he straightened, began to walk towards her. Norelle stopped, caught. Realized that she wanted to be caught. Damn and double damn. She’d made a promise not to mate. So far it had been easy enough to keep, despite pangs of regret.
“Did you have a nice dance?” he asked, oh so sweetly. Except for the deepening timbre of his voice, a slight rumble under the words which indicated temper.
She smiled at him, innocent. “It was lovely. Sahr is a very good dancer.”
“Sahr wants you barefoot and pregnant with a litter of lion cubs. And he isn't too picky about who the father is. Whichever seed catches, it’s alright with him.”
Norelle stepped back, a little startled at the savagery behind the words, eyes widening. “At least I'd have a cub,” she snapped. Her hand covered her mouth. “No, no, I didn’t mean that.” Norelle took a deep breath, shaking her head. “The Council would never allow it.” And they were right to not allow it. She had to remember that, had to remember that she agreed with them.
He stepped into her, a bare inch of air between them. His hands rose, hovering on either side of her face. She wasn't sure if he wanted to slap her, or caress her.
“An
d we can't tolerate any disobedience to the Council, can we?” he asked, voice soft. Eyes glinting. Pale grey shaded to silver, Bear peeking out of the man. “I can give you a cub.”
Norelle froze. For a moment she couldn't speak. “I can’t mate,” she whispered. “I- I carry the-”
“So do I. Who cares? My parents both carried the gene. I’m normal.”
She took a step back. He followed her. The ballroom shrank so it was only the two of them. People flowed around, laughter retreated to the background as she focused on him, hyper aware.
“That was a fluke.”
“A fluke that can happen again.” His hands closed in, cupping her cheeks. “The Council you revere is corrupt. They want to control our genetics so they can control the kinds of Bears that are bred. They want to be the dominant shifter race. They can only do that if the strongest breed and the weakest shifters are weeded out.”
Her throat worked. “That’s-that's horrible! You’re accusing them of-” She couldn't even form the word. Her mother was prominent on the Council. She herself was being groomed to take a role when she was of age.
“Genocide? Species cleansing? If the shoes fits. Think about it, Norelle.” His eyes bored into hers. The geek was gone, the layer of snarky affability vanished. Only a lethally focused, dangerously intelligent male stood before her. Predator, alpha. “What's the worst thing that happens to a cub who manifests the defective gene? He can’t shift. That's it.”
She licked her lips. “You make it sound so simple. What happens to a shifter who can’t shift? Would you tell a human born without sight or hearing or a damn leg, ‘that’s all’?”
He released her, fingertips trailing her face as he let go. “Would you tell that blind or deaf person that their life is meaningless and they never should have been born?”
Norelle took one breath, another. She wasn't angry. Wasn’t stunned… not quite. But he was making her question things she’d never questioned. Couldn't question because to question was to have hope. Hope meant she would eventually leave the only community she’d known. Leave the place where her father was buried. Strike out on her own. She didn't know if she was strong enough to be on her own. She closed her eyes, opened them.
