Chapter Nine #2
“But she seldom leaves the mansion. I think she’s attended two parties since I started working for her. She hired me because she doesn’t leave Spiderus Mansion. Her men never leave either.”
“From what Saber told me, it sounds as if she wants to bring six of her men too.”
“That’s out of character,” Betrys said. “I wonder if she’s tried to contact me.”
“Saber never mentioned anything.”
“She would’ve called my personal com-circle. It’s in my room at the resort.”
“Will she hurt Ricci if she can’t contact you?”
“I don’t know.”
Leo pulled out his communicator and called Saber.
“Bro, it’s me again. You need to go to Betrys’s room and check her com-circle. We need to know if Iseult has tried to contact her.”
“I’ll get back to you,” Saber said.
A sudden, sharp pain drove Leo to his knees. He clutched his stomach, his hands pressing against his scar.
“Leo.” Betrys crouched beside him.
“Shift forms,” Caspar said in a sharp voice. “Stand back, Betrys. Give him room.”
The agony came again, sharp and breath-stealing. He groaned and pressed against the scar in the hope of pushing back the torture. His flesh rippled beneath his touch.
“Shift forms,” Caspar barked at him like a drill sergeant. “Basics, son. Picture the cat now. Do it.”
Leo pictured the cat in his mind, focused on it hard instead of the pain radiating from his middle.
Cat. Cat. Black cat. Part of him was aware of the transformation beginning.
He heard a cry from Betrys, stifled when Caspar snapped a command.
He struggled to hold the cat in his mind, struggled to focus, struggled to complete the change.
“Keep going, Leo.”
Caspar’s calm voice was a beacon. He focused on each instruction and willed his mind and body farther into the shift. He reached the point of no return and relaxed a fraction, knowing instinct would do the rest. A long moment later, he crouched in feline form, harsh pants rasping up his throat.
“Here, drink some water, lad.” Caspar waved a hand and a bowl of water appeared beside him.
“He…you…oh my goddess,” Betrys muttered.
Leo was too exhausted to bark out a laugh. He lapped at the water, just thankful the excruciating pain had subsided enough for him to think.
His com-circle buzzed.
“You’d better answer that,” Caspar said to Betrys.
Leo couldn’t have changed back if he’d wanted, not with his limbs shaky and weak.
“Hello, this is Betrys. Leo’s stomach is giving him trouble. Caspar says he has a parasite and it needs to be cut out. No, you can’t talk to him. He…he…he changed into a black cat. He can’t talk. No, no he seems better now. Yes, I think you should come and collect us. Leo needs help.”
“Tell Saber, I cannot aid Leo,” Caspar said.
Leo heard Betrys relay Caspar’s words.
She paused and nodded. “We’ll be ready for you.” She ended the call. “Felix and Casey are coming to collect us. Casey has a little medical training and has seen this happen to one of her men.”
Leo growled in acknowledgement, too exhausted to move. This wasn’t the way he wanted to expose his other self to Betrys.
Betrys gaped at the black cat. At Leo. No other word for it because her mouth was hanging wide open.
“I take it you didn’t know,” Caspar said, his rich voice full of amusement at her expense.
“He followed me around from the moment I arrived at the resort. I scratched him behind the ears and told him he was beautiful. I…I rubbed his belly!”
Caspar chuckled. “I’m sure he appreciated you running your hands over him. Don’t fear, lass. The boy is fine. The parasite doesn’t appear to enjoy him in his feline form. He hasn’t hurt you, has he? At least that wasn’t the terrified screaming I heard earlier, and my appetite is satiated.”
Betrys lifted her chin, despite the embarrassment heating her cheeks. “You, sir, are not a gentleman.”
Caspar laughed again. “My race are voyeurs, and I don’t intend to apologize for our foibles. You should try it some time. The erotic sights are most invigorating.”
Aware of Leo’s gaze on her, Betrys crouched beside him and ran her hand over his silky black coat. “You are beautiful,” she whispered. “How are you doing? Do you feel a little better? Can I see your scar?”
He flipped over onto his back in acquiescence and displayed his belly. Betrys drew in a swift breath. The scar bulged and…and it moved.
“Can I touch it?” she asked, deciding the best path was to request permission.
When he didn’t offer an objection, she reached out and placed her hand on top of the bulge. It pulsed under the press of her fingers.
“Can you feel something in there?” Caspar asked.
“Yes, it’s moving, although it doesn’t seem as vigorous. I don’t understand. It’s obvious Iseult has done something to you, but this has never happened before. Leo, are you still in pain? Grunt once for yes, twice for no.”
Leo let out three gruff barks.
Betrys wrinkled her nose. “What does that mean?”
Caspar chuckled, and Betrys shot him a glare.
“I think he means that it still hurts, but he’s more comfortable in feline form,” the irritating man said.
“Leo?”
Leo grunted.
“Okay then. I’d better tidy up before Leo’s brother arrives to take us back to the resort.”
“Have something to eat.” Caspar gestured toward the cold-box and the kitchen area. “My people will take care of cleaning up.”
“Thank you for letting us stay here,” Betrys said. “I’m thankful for you bringing my son on the dreamscape to visit and returning him safely to the mansion.”
“Lass, the pleasure is all mine. You can thank me by visiting again with your young man.”
Betrys shot Leo a quick look and saw him resting, his head relaxed on his front paws. “I don’t think Leo feels that way about me,” she said in a soft voice. “I think this is a casual thing between us.”
Leo lifted his head and grunted twice.
Caspar grinned in his annoying way. “Maybe the two of you should discuss the matter so you present a united front.”
Betrys stood beside Caspar and Leo and watched the shuttle land. A dark-haired man jumped out, and a tall, slender woman with short black hair leaped out behind him, landing lightly on her feet. He nodded in acknowledgement of her and Caspar then focused on Leo.
“Leo,” the man said and crouched beside his brother. “How are you doing?”
Betrys studied the new arrival and would have picked him as one of Leo’s siblings or a relation. They possessed identical black hair and bright-green eyes, and they both moved with the same lazy confidence.
“You must be Betrys,” the woman said. “I’m Casey, Felix’s mate. Hi, you must be Caspar. You’re looking very well.”
“Thanks to the Mitchells, all my friends and family are doing well,” Caspar said.
“Do you think you can help him?” Guilt was knocking Betrys over the head, and emotions swamped her without warning. She inhaled in an effort to regain her equilibrium. “This is my fault.”
Leo growled in two distinct sounds.
“It is, Leo. If I hadn’t approached you in the market…” Her shoulders rounded into a hunch. If it hadn’t been Leo, she would’ve signed another willing male.
“Assigning blame won’t help,” Felix said, straightening from his crouch. “Let’s load up and get back to the resort. Fingers crossed Scarlett has discovered information to help Leo.”
Leo struggled to his feet and padded onto the shuttle. Betrys glanced at her clenched hands and noticed she still wore the green robe she’d found by the sleep-bed. She let out a squawk. “Wait, I need to get dressed.”
Caspar bowed in her direction. “Wear it back to the resort, my dear. The robe will remain solid until you reach your room.”
Betrys’s eyes widened. “I think I might grab my own robe.” She ran back into the dwelling and let out a squeak of alarm when Caspar appeared in front of her. She glared at him until he turned his back, and only then did she scramble into her own garments. “Thank you.”
Caspar beamed. “My pleasure.” He paused, then frowned.
“Take one of my knives for your protection. A strong and admirable woman should receive gifts.” He strode to the collection of weapons and selected a knife with a glowing ruby in the hilt.
He pulled it from its leather sheath, studied the blade and replaced it. “Think of me whenever you use it.”
“I couldn’t.”
“A mere token of thanks,” Caspar said in a firm voice.
“Thanks.” She stuffed the jeweled dagger out of sight in her pocket. “It was very nice to meet you, even if you do poke your nose into other people’s private business.”
Caspar’s delighted chuckle followed her from the dwelling.