that day.”
“Yeah. We were both bare ass that morning, too. What’s that tell ya?” Stefan bumped his bare hip against Anton’s and took a sip. “As I recall, we wondered how much things were going to change once the babies were born.” He shook his head and laughed softly. “I had no idea.”
“I imagine no new parent ever does.” Anton cuddled Lily in the crook of his left arm and peered into the darkness once more. He promised himself, again, not to let his worries rule his life…or Keisha’s. “Keisha shifts so rarely, anymore. It’s been at least a week. I almost had to threaten her before she agreed to go run tonight.”
“Hoping she’ll come back horny?” Stefan grinned around the rim of the goblet.
“There is that.”
But even as he made jokes, Anton worried and watched the dark forest, his thoughts following his mate through the night.
I’m really glad you came with me. Keisha crossed a small creek, sniffed a burrow on the far side, and waited for Xandi.
You should have told me you were going to run tonight. I almost missed you. Xandi lifted her paw and placed it carefully on a flat stone as she crossed behind Keisha.
I wasn’t sure. Anton has been concerned. He worries that I don’t take the time to shift and run, and then he worries even more when I’m not with him. In fact, he’s driving me batty with his worry.
He worries because he loves you.
Keisha sighed. I know. Still, he makes me feel trapped, even more than caring for Lily ever does.
Xandi paused and cocked her wolven head. Do you regret having Lily?
Never. I miss the freedom Anton and I once had, but I can’t imagine life without her.
I know. I feel the same way about Alex. Xandi turned her head to one side. Did you hear that? She moved closer to Keisha. Ahead of us. Something rustling in the brambles.
You, too? You’re as bad as Anton. I haven’t said anything, but he’s been having these stupid dreams…. Laughing quietly, Keisha followed Xandi’s steely glance and listened for whatever sound her packmate thought she’d heard.
It wasn’t sound, but scent that came to her sensitive wolven nose. The acrid, sour smell of fear, of adrenaline and sweat. Someone waited beyond them. A stranger, possibly two. Holding perfectly still, Keisha inhaled once again. Without turning to her friend, she sent a silent message.
Maybe his dreams aren’t as stupid as I thought. There’s definitely someone up ahead, one, maybe two men, near the base of the cliff by the waterfall. Fade into the brush. You go left, I’ll go right. See if your mindtalking can reach Stefan. I’ll try for Anton. Whoever is there is up to no good. I don’t want them to get away.
Keisha hoped whoever was watching the trail had missed their swift disappearance into the heavy growth alongside. Creeping low to the ground, she slowly and silently worked her way through the brambles and thick undergrowth before she contacted Anton. Immediately, she felt the warmth of his mental touch and the sharp slice of his fear.
And, his typical, autocratic orders. Stay away from them. Wait for Stefan and me.
It’s too late. I’m near their hiding place now and their scent is clear.
Keisha! Don’t…
She immediately set her mental barriers, blocking Anton from her thoughts, knowing full well she’d hear about it later. Right now she needed to concentrate, and listening to orders she had no intention of following wasn’t going to help.
There were two men. Definitely two. Keisha raised her nose and sniffed again. She scented Xandi on the opposite side of the trail before she caught the light of her glowing eyes, high up on a cairn of tumbled rock. Xandi crouched low with only the top of her head showing above the ledge where she waited.
I see them. Xandi’s voice was a quiet whisper in Keisha’s thoughts. Two men, armed with rifles and what looks like lots of rope and a couple of leather muzzles. They’re still looking down the trail, waiting on us. How could they know we’d come this way? That we’d run tonight? I don’t understand it. She paused, obviously frustrated, and then added, They probably have tranquilizer guns if they’re planning to take us alive.
Did you reach Stefan?
Yes. He’s on his way. Anton?
He’s coming. Mei and Oliver stayed with the babies.
Good. I suggest we just wait and keep an eye on things.
Probably a good idea. Anton started giving orders about staying out of trouble and I blocked him.
You blocked Anton? Oh, shit. He is going to be so pissed. Xandi’s silent laughter skated across Keisha’s mind.
Let’s hope he takes it out on our two visitors instead of me. With that dry comment, Keisha settled back on her haunches to wait.
Xandi’s quiet chuckle echoed in her mind. He’ll need more than just these two. I bet he’s furious. He’s never even raised his voice to you!
I know. And between you and me, I’d like to keep it that way. I’d hate to be the focus of his anger. Keisha’s soft comment was met by Xandi’s silent agreement.
Chapter 2
Mei Chen prowled the long dark hallway in Anton’s sprawling home, her broad, padded paws soundless on the wood floors. Oliver guarded the grounds. He’d chosen his snow leopard form with its camouflaged coat of dark rosettes scattered across a pale background.
Mei rarely chose otherwise. She preferred the cat…and the company. In leopard form, her newly acquired spirit guide, Igmutaka, was a powerful presence within her. Their relationship had been more adversarial in the beginning, but over the past few weeks they’d reached an understanding, at times an almost affectionate cohabitation of the powerful snow leopard’s form.
When she ran as the wolf, Igmutaka was an unhappy cat in the wolf’s body. When she was Mei Chen, the woman, he was but a shadow of himself, present, though not overwhelmingly so.
Except when she made love. Igmutaka enjoyed sex, no matter what form Mei took.
In the snow leopard’s body, the spirit guide shared an equal part with Mei, something she’d at first questioned and resented. Now, she welcomed him. His strength had become hers, his cunning, even his ancient knowledge.
More importantly, Oliver accepted him. Accepted what was essentially a secondary male presence connected most intimately with his mate. He acknowledged Igmutaka’s right to exist within Mei without any sign of jealousy or resentment.
She’d known Oliver was special when they first met. She’d never dreamed just how special.
The babies slept, their home protected by Oliver on the outside, Mei and her guide on the inside. She’d left the ever-present baby monitors near the front door in case she went out, and found a spot in the hallway where she could see both babies’ cribs through their open doors. Silently she lowered herself into a crouching position, alert yet restful.
Minutes
