His Purrfect Mate

by Aliyah Burke

  Aida walked back to her dresser, pulled out some clothes, and dressed. I won’t stop worrying about it. And you need to stop with the orders.

  Aida. The word was low and dangerous.

  Damn, you are seriously used to people not questioning you, aren’t you?

  You should listen to your mate.

  Well, I might, but according to you, tiger-mine, we’ve not mated. So that argument holds no water. Now, you tell me.

  His sigh was audible. Will you always be this difficult?

  Of course I will.

  Why are you sad, Aida?

  I’m not sad. I’m tired. She headed to the kitchen and scooped up food for her boys.

  Has something happened for you to not be sleeping? His concern was as powerful as if he’d been right beside her, staring into her eyes.

  If he didn’t know about the dreams, she wasn’t going to tell him. Nothing’s happened.

  I don’t like it when you lie to me.

  The reprimand was there and very strong. Aida frowned. Let it go, tiger-mine.

  Tell me honestly, Aida. Are you scared?

  I’m scared of a lot of things, Dane. But none of them are reasons why I’m tired.

  Do you need me there?

  Yes! Are you finished with your…um…business?

  If you need me, yes.

  His words warmed her. I’m fine, Dane. My parents are here visiting. She shifted on the seat. Will you do this again?

  Do what?

  Talk to me like this.

  All you ever have to do is call my name. I can’t enter your mind without your allowance, Aida. Not sure how or why but there we have it.

  What about the night you shifted? I heard you then.

  He fell silent for a bit. I don’t know, Aida. I have walls up to keep people out but you get in easily. Call to me often, solnyshko moyo. I enjoy hearing your sultry voice in my head.

  Be careful, Dane.

  Aida closed the link she’d opened and went on getting breakfast ready. All day long, Aida fought the urge to call out to him again. That night, Kees came by for dinner, and when she went to the kitchen for dessert, Aida had a grin on her face. Kees was like a member of the family. After sending him on his way, Aida went to her shop and found her father in there looking around.

  “Hi, Papa.”

  He smiled at her. “Have a minute for your old man?”

  Walking easily into his arms, Aida kissed his cheek. “You’re not old, Papa, and I always have time for you.”

  “It’s about your mother.”

  Aida jumped up on a workbench and placed her gaze on him. “I’m listening.”

  “It’s about,” he paused then said, “the person who did your roof.”

  She narrowed her eyes but understood the switch. Aida shrugged. “It was done by a guy I met in one of the villages, the one where Christopher is actually, he’s who introduced us. He helped build the new schoolhouse there and came with me to get the rest of the stuff I had for them.”

  Her father picked up a flat-edged chisel and ran his finger along the end. “He?”

  Aida laughed and looked over her shoulder to where her mother lingered all too interested in the conversation. “Yes, a he. A very nice man. His name’s Dane.” Very, very nice man. Does wicked things to me with just his voice.

  “Just Dane? No last name?”

  Just? Ain’t nothing ‘just’ about him. Sliding to the floor, she grinned. “Dane Sidorov.”

  “That who has the necklace?” Joe asked his daughter.

  His question startled her. She flicked her gaze to the shrewd eyes of her mother. No help there. “Yes.”

  “I see.”

  What he saw, Aida hadn’t a clue. She dragged her fingers along the smooth wood of the bench she just vacated.

  “I’ll leave you two to talk. I’m going to clean up.” Skylar left as silently as she’d arrived.

  Aida resumed her seat on the table while her father rolled the chisel in his fingers. Licking her lips, she waited for him to say something.

  “I’d like you to come to the house for your mom’s anniversary.”

  “You mean your anniversary of your wedding? Yours together?”

  “Yes. They want to have a grand deal for us at the church, and I’d like you there.”

  America. She fought down a shudder. “Of course.”

  “It needs to be a secret though. I’ve never managed to surprise her with anything.”

  With her fingers, Aida, locked her lips and threw away the key. With a wink, she said, “I’ll even rent a car so you don’t have to come get me.”

  “I have the best kid in the world. Thanks, honey.” He put the chisel down and stood at her knees. “Now, let’s go play some cards, and you can fill us in on this Dane Sidorov.”

  “Can’t just let it go?” she asked, sliding down and walking to the door with him.

  “Hmm,” he said, dropping his arm around her shoulders. “Let me think. I’m a father and this pertains to my only daughter and a man I’ve never met. Nope, not letting it go.”

  Of course not. “Fine,” she huffed playfully.

  “My job is to protect my daughter,” he said all surly.

  “Love you too, Papa.”

  When Aida slipped into bed that night, she did so with a smile. Today was a good day. “Night, boys,” she muttered. Burrowing deep into her blankets, Aida sighed. Night, tiger-mine.

  Dream of me, my love.

  She smiled, amazed at how just hearing his voice made her feel so protected and loved. It didn’t hurt he called her his love. More orders?

  His husky laughter skated through her. Think of it as gentle persuasion, solnyshko moyo.

  Are you okay?

  I’m fine. And you? Are you enjoying having your parents there?

  Yes. It’s going well. They went home today, so I’ll miss them. Papa wants me to go to America for their anniversary as a surprise for Mama.

  Do you not normally go?

  She shifted on the bed. They…come here most of the time.

  There is more of that fear. Talk to me, Aida.

  Aida shook her head. What are you doing? she asked, desperate for a change of the current subject. In her mind, she saw down a slope to a house, the lights shining through the darkness. What the hell? What is that?

  This is what I’m doing. The traitor is in there. I’m waiting.

  How can I see what you see?

  There is much I have to teach you, my love. The scene disappeared. But, for now, tell me your aversion to the States.

  She blinked back tears as the image of her cousin came to her mind. Her heart hurt, and she bit her lip so hard to keep the whimper inside, the metallic taste of blood filled her mouth.

  Who is he, Aida?

  Who is who?

  This man you think of. Handsome with the scar.

  You can see him?

  The sorrow and agony you feel, Aida, is tearing me apart. Who is he?

  You’re not jealous of him like you were Kees, Christopher, or Kgosi. Why?

  Your feelings to this man are different. Similar to the ones I sense when you think of your parents. Your love for him is familial. Who is he?

  My cousin. Can we not talk about him?

  Aida.

  Yes, Dane?

  He didn’t say anything but she could feel his touch on her body. His hands caressing her skin, his warmth surrounding her, chasing away her sorrow and carrying her off to a night of peaceful dreams.

  Chapter Nine

  Dane lay hidden and stared down to the house Slim called home. The man was definitely nervous. He had twenty-four-hour guards and dogs as well. A mocking smile curved up one side of Dane’s mouth. Patience he had. Slim had no chance of out waiting him.

  Even so, as he lay there staying hidden, waiting for the light in the bedroom to be extinguished, Dane’s thoughts drifted back to Aida. Never had he been willing to abandon a mission. She hurt, and it killed him. Whatever her aversion to the States
had been born from, the man he’d seen in her thoughts tied in somehow.

  Dane didn’t like not knowing nor did he like being away from her. He flexed his fingers in time with his tiger doing the same with his claws. The light went out, and he stood, looking down from his vantage point. With a ripple of power, Dane began running soundlessly toward the house. Using his beast to keep alert for any lurking surprises. The darkness rose up with the release of his iron grip on the tiger. Dane ignored it for the moment, knowing he still had some control over the animal within him. His focus on one thing and one thing only for the time. Slim.

  He barely slowed and leapt from the ground to land noiselessly on the roof. Scents of his target and some others reached him. Slim wasn’t alone. Dane’s lips peeled back in a suppressed snarl. Padding in silence to the edge of the roof, Dane hopped to the rail and stared in through the sliding glass door into the darkened room.

  Stupid fool. Dane jumped to another balcony and slid in the empty room before moving to the door. Slim had the sliding door to his room booby-trapped but had left the others without any. Scouting the hallway, Dane slid stealthily through the dark and to the place where Slim was. He knew what he would find even before he opened the door. The smell of sex was powerful in the air. Not to mention, he’d already seen them piled in the bed as he’d peered through the sliding glass door.

  He entered quietly and scanned the room, finding the bed. With barely a thought, Dane put the two women in the bed with Slim to sleep. Slim’s curse was audible. Flicking on the light, Dane strode to the foot of the bed. The man looking up at him paled even more when he realized who it was. His mouth gaped like a fish but no sound came out.

  “I believe the word you’re looking for is ‘help’ there, Slim,” Dane said with immense calm which belied the raw fury raging within him.

  “You…how…you…”

  “You were really hoping that call was a figment of your imagination, weren’t you?” Balancing a foot on the footboard, Dane kicked it, sending the bed skidding across the floor to a corner. His tiger growled low. “It wasn’t. You killed us all.” He narrowed his eyes. “Or tried to.”

  Slim rolled the unconscious dark-skinned woman from his body. Then, he got up from the bed and walked naked to pull on some pants. “How did you survive?”

  “Not important. All you need to know is you won’t.”

  A mocking grin filled Slim’s face as he slipped on a crisp white button down. “You know, when I first got here, I was pretty sure there was nothing in this godless continent worth a damn, except possibly for the animal skins and ivory.” He buttoned his shirt. “Then, I met a man.”

  Dane watched him suspiciously, he was too confident. “Good for you.”

  “Listen to my story, Lieutenant Colonel,” Slim snapped. “I met a man who said he could make me a god in the land of men.”

  A slither of warning snaked up his spine, and his beast screamed in raging fury. Dane could feel his tiger coiling in preparation to attack. “Is that so?” Dane said in a bored tone.

  “You were always good, Crypt, but now, I’m better.”

  The stench which permeated the air told Dane all he needed to know. Slim was no longer human. There was a hint of familiarity to it but Dane couldn’t place it right then. Whoever had brought Slim over into the drekflen was powerful.

  “Don’t be too sure about that, Slim,” he rumbled, calling on his years as an enforcer to search for any surprises.

  “Oh, I’m sure. Burning in my veins is power unlike anything you’ve ever known.”

  Dane bit back his laugh. I doubt that very much. His tiger paced, chuffing, deeper and deadlier as he readied for battle. “Where’d you get this power, Slim?”

  “Why? Want some for yourself?”

  “I’m good the way I am, thanks. Tell me why. Why you killed them.”

  “Money,” Slim said easily. “And this.” A nasty grin filled his face as he raised one hand and green flames extended from his fingertips. The flickering light formed dagger points, and he flicked his hand, sending all five on a direct course for Dane. Dane nimbly avoided them. Slim glared with hatred.

  “You…you shouldn’t have been able to avoid those,” he hissed.

  Dane sent him a smile which was more just a baring of teeth, his canines extended. “Let’s see how good you really are, Slim.”

  Slim howled in frustration, and the room filled with more than ten ater malum—evil creatures who were created to be solider drones. They didn’t ask questions and were entirely expendable. When the first four attacked, Dane shifted, calling upon the power of his beast. He ripped flesh from bones, and it didn’t take long before all the ater malum lay dead. Slim was gone.

  The furious roar of a tiger exploded through the night air. He headed back to his hiding spot and struggled to shift back. Back in human form, Dane shook. Every inch of his body longing to feel Slim’s throat in his hands. Picking up on his scent, Dane began to trail him.

  Two days later, he caught up to him. It was evening when he walked into view of the man he’d worked with for years. The man he’d trusted with his life and those of their unit.

  “No more running, Slim,” he snapped out.

  “I always knew you were a freak, Crypt.” Slim hissed at him, and his body lit up as if covered by green fire.

  I know that scent. Dane watched carefully for him to make the first move. It didn’t take long. Slim sent a spear of flames toward him. Rolling at the last minute, Dane shifted and lunged at him. His own attack was met by a lion of green fire, whose claws were just as real as his own. Slim had incredible power but was still learning how to use it. Whereas Dane had been wielding his for centuries. Still, Slim was a powerful opponent.

  They had battled into the night when Dane brought him down. He shifted back to human form and stood over Slim. With a bolt of energy, Dane seared the remains of the man dead at his feet. He dropped his head and had a moment of silence for his fallen unit, knowing they’d be satisfied having been avenged. The wounds on his exhausted body didn’t matter, and he ignored them. Slim hadn’t fought fair, calling on others to help him, so now, Dane stood dripping blood, chest heaving with the expenditure of his energy, from both the battle internally and externally. Deep inside him, his tiger raged against him, costing him even more precious strength.

  Breathing hard, he turned in the direction he would be heading after he rested for a bit. Back to Aida.

  Dane!

  Her scream of pure terror filled his head and brought him to his knees.

  Aida!

  Dane!

  He could taste her fear, fear for herself and her dogs. His tiger strained to get free. Strained to get to her. Show me what you see! he demanded forcefully, his fingers becoming claws and tearing easily through the hard-packed dirt he knelt upon.

  Fury raged unchecked the moment he saw through her eyes. Siyamak! The tall man stood before Aida. His yellow eyes gleamed in the eerie glow surrounding him and a mocking smile on his face. Dane saw Ruger and Kamau bleeding and weak as they did their best against the feline-like creatures with Siyamak. The dogs knew they were outmatched, but they never gave up, and Dane’s admiration for their strength and loyalty grew even more. Siyamak drew his hands back for a strike.

  With the force of a typhoon, Dane let go of any control he had and embraced the age-old power flowing through his veins. With a roar of raw strength, his power and beast exploded up within him, finally completely free of the shackles which had bound them.

  Barely a blink and Dane was by her side, his body shifting, even as he launched himself in front of her, taking the hit of energy directly and going for Siyamak’s throat. Although obviously surprised, Siyamak recovered quickly, jumping back and landing on his feet, only to lunge back at Dane, shifting as he did. Dane spun and met the shifter in the air, his anger overriding everything including the stinging pain of the claws digging into him. He bore the orange tiger to the ground, claws tearing flesh.

  Siyamak was p
owerful, and there was no doubt anymore of who had changed Slim. It didn’t matter that this man had once been his friend, nor did it matter how good of a fighter he was. Dane would kill him. With his mind, he incinerated the two creatures with Siyamak, saving Aida’s dogs. He and Siyamak circled one another, and Dane saw Kamau position himself by Aida. Before he knew it, a deep growl came from behind, and he saw Ruger jump into the fray, ignoring his own wounds and lending his assistance to Dane. When Siyamak was distracted, he attacked. They continued to lunge and tear at each other.

  His opponent had the advantage, he wasn’t already injured and suffering from loss of blood. It didn’t matter. With a deep snarl, Dane struck hard and went in for the kill. He stood over the dead tiger, blood dripping from his jaws, and filled the air with the thunderous sound of his roar. His exhausted body shuddered when the air shifted and brought to his nose the scent of unmated male. He sprang to where Aida still huddled against the shed and crouched, ready for another attack.

  Aida wanted to curl up in a ball and hide. As far as nightmares went, this was one of the worst. One minute, she and her boys had been alone, the next, fear unlike any she’d ever experienced filled her. The man before her had a sneer on his face when he’d backhanded her, sending her flying back to hit the side of her shop. She knew she had broken some ribs.

  The arrival of Dane’s voice had been so welcome, no matter how she wished him here. Ruger and Kamau each took a grotesque cat-like creature with this unknown man. He never spoke, and she had no comprehension why or how he just appeared before her.

  Her mouth wouldn’t work, she couldn’t formulate a sentence. The hard, unfeeling eyes glared at her while the man gathered this green energy. And she knew it was for her. All she could think was how glad she was her parents had already gone home and how sorry she was, knowing she’d never see them again. Or Dane.

  The man in black raised his arms, the green orb floating between the palms of his hands, moved with his motion. He launched it. A deafening roar spilt the night air, and Aida’s breath caught as a blur came out of nowhere and leapt between her and the unknown man. The green ball hit him and got absorbed. What had been a man for a second shifted smoothly into a white tiger and almost took the man to the ground.