Chapter Three
“I’LL BE in Boston tomorrow,” Aelryn confirmed.
Scott smiled. “Best news I’ve heard all day. I miss you. Especially since it seems Maine is too far to hear you in my head.” He’d missed that too.
“What you miss is the ability to talk to me when your mouth is full.”
He laughed. “What can I say? I like multitasking. And I certainly don’t hear you complaining about it.”
Aelryn chuckled. “What right-thinking man would do that?” He paused. “Thanks for seeing Milo. He’s right. I can smooth things for him. Has there been any trouble so far?”
Scott frowned. “A little. Some of our new guests have objected to having him around, but his mate is one fierce woman. I don’t think they’ll do that again in a hurry.”
“We’ll have to discover what the best role for them would be. But we can discuss this when I get there.” Another pause. “Is it strange that I don’t want to hang up?”
Scott knew that feeling. “The sooner you do, the sooner you’ll get back here. And then you’re mine—until someone else comes along and you go back to being the Fridan leader again.”
Aelryn sighed. “Can I share something with you? What I want to go back to is how things were before I found myself embroiled in a war that was never declared. When if someone wanted to see me, it wasn’t to report atrocities or casualty lists or—”
“You want to be the professor again,” Scott interjected. “To teach about ancient history.”
He laughed. “If Jake Carson is right—and Rudy Myers and Valmer Cooper—ancient history is about to come knocking on our door. And then I think everyone is in for one hell of a shock.”
“You’re putting a lot of hope into whatever it is Jake is hoping to discover, aren’t you?”
“You didn’t see Fielding when Jake reached into his mind.
That….” Aelryn’s voice quavered. “I hesitate to use the word man when monster is far more applicable. He was afraid, Scott. First of Jake, and then I heard fear in his voice when Jake mentioned the caskets—and the Missal of Godwin . Whatever Theron is hiding in that castle? He does not want us to know about it. And that excites me.”
Scott could hear it in Aelryn’s voice. “What are you expecting to find in there?”
“I don’t know! I know it may sound crazy, but ever since we found each other, ever since I learned of Horvan and his mates, I have the inescapable feeling that something has…
shifted. No pun intended. But now it’s as if everything is holding its breath for something that is about to happen—something that will rock us to our core. ”
Aelryn’s excitement was infectious. Scott could feel his own anticipation bubbling up inside him.
But it isn’t only Aelryn. I’ve been feeling like this since I woke up this morning.
Maybe it was the thought of Aelryn coming home.
Enough . Scott had things to do.
“Okay, now you have to hang up. I need to go check on our new guests.”
“I love you.”
Warmth flowed through him. “I love you too. And I’ll see you soon.” And because he knew Aelryn wouldn’t end the call, Scott finished it for him.
He had medical rounds to do—changing dressings, giving out medication, but most of all, being someone who could listen.
They’ve been through so much . The physical injuries would heal soon enough; the mental ones would take a good deal longer.
As Scott left his room, heading for the infirmary, he was aware of that blossoming feeling of anticipation again, only now it was stronger.
Something is coming.
DOCTOR RAMIREZ’S light touch on his shoulder made Scott jump. “Doctor, are you trying to give me a heart attack?”
The doctor frowned. “You need a break. You’ve been at it all morning. Get outside into the sunlight. Feel the breeze on your face. And that’s my official prescription. ”
Scott chuckled. “Okay, I get the message.” He closed the folder he’d been reviewing, stood, and went over to the fridge, where someone had left sandwiches and juice.
He grabbed one of each, then headed for the doors that led to the school garden.
He’d discovered it not long after they’d liberated the place.
It was a tranquil spot, with trees, roses, and a fountain at its center, the tinkling sound of the water a soothing accompaniment to the pleasant perfume of the flowers.
Those students had everything.
Well, nearly everything. So many of their adoptive parents hadn’t wanted them back. Scott’s throat tightened. And how do you deal with a thing like that?
He strolled over to an empty bench near the fountain, sat, and turned his face toward the sun, his eyes closed.
Dr. Ramirez was right. This is exactly the medicine I needed.
The roses behind him gave off a heady scent, stronger than anything he’d ever encountered, and he wondered what species had been planted.
Then the perfume changed, pervading the air all around him, becoming sweeter, yet at the same time there was an underlying spice that unfurled something deep in Scott’s belly, an irresistible tugging that sent electricity zapping through him until he had to open his eyes to find the source of that incredible smell.
A familiar smell.
A woman stood in front of him, and Scott recognized her features from the lists of ex-inmates who’d arrived a short while ago. She was petite, with short, spiky black hair, and eyes so dark they were almost black too.
Then he realized the enticing scent came from her, rolling off her in waves, reaching for him, enveloping him, pulling him to stand, to step closer—
To hold her.
The woman gaped at him. “What are you doing to me?”
Scott gaped right back. “What am I doing to you ? I’m just sitting here, enjoying the—” Then it hit him. That scent. The same scent that had assaulted him the day he’d walked into Aelryn’s office for the first time—
And found my mate.
Bless her, she was trembling, and somewhere in Scott’s head, a voice was yelling.
It’s her! It’s her !
Scott did his best to get his emotions under control. He smiled, holding up his hands. “It’s okay, I know what’s happening. There’s nothing to be scared of.” He stood, not moving any closer.
She didn’t move but stared at him, wide-eyed.
“What’s your name?” he asked in the gentlest tone he could manage.
“Kia. Kia Lombardi.” She cocked her head. “I’ve seen you around here. Aren’t you one of the medical staff?”
“Sort of. I’m here because my mate asked me to help out. You might know his name. Aelryn?”
“Aelryn? Yes, I’ve heard of him.” She froze. Dear gods, her eyes were huge. “Your mate ? Then the rumors are true?”
“Yes, but there’s something I need to explain. You see—”
He knew the moment the penny dropped. Kia’s mouth fell open, and her breathing quickened. “We’re mates ?”
He nodded. “Yes, but—”
“Wait, you already have a mate. so how can I—” Kia gasped. “I have two mates ?”
Scott laughed. “I know. Isn’t this amazing?” Then she was laughing too, and joy surged through him. “Hello there.”
Her eyes sparkled like black diamonds. “Hey. I have so many questions.”
“I was the same, when I found Aelryn.”
Her breathing hitched. “But that’s my first question. If you’re together, doesn’t that make you gay? And if you are, then—”
Scott stopped her words with a chaste kiss, and her arms were around his neck in a heartbeat. Their foreheads met, and she sighed.
“This feels….”
“Right. It feels right.” He kissed her again, only this time with a little more heat, and Kia molded herself against him, as if she couldn’t get close enough. Scott forced himself to break the kiss. “Aelryn and I are both bi.”
Kia’s soft exhale told him she liked that answer. Then she shuddered. “I… I have a confession.” She swallowed. “Can we sit? My legs feel like they’re made of Jell-O.”
Scott took her hand, and they sat together on the bench. “Is something wrong?”
She swallowed once more. “In the camp, they… they…. ”
His intuition kicked in, and he decided to see if something else had too. Did they use you in the breeding program?
Kia stared at him. “How did you—”
You can do it too. It’s part of being mates. Try it and see.
She shivered. Oh my God, this is so cool.
Scott stroked her hand. “I’m right, aren’t I? About the Gerans and their breeding program?”
Kia’s face contorted, but she nodded. “When they found out I was a puma, that was it. I was in the camp for three years, and in that time I had five babies, two sets of male twins and a little girl. Twins run in my family.”
“What happened to your children?”
Her eyes glistened. “I have no idea. They were taken from me after a few weeks. They could be anywhere.” Her face tightened.
“When I was a teenager, my mom used to tell me I had to save myself for my husband, that my first time should be special.” She sobbed, and the sound broke him.
“I wonder what she’d say if she knew my first time wasn’t even consensual. ”
Scott pulled her into his arms and cradled her.
“Listen to me. I can’t tell you to forget what they did to you, because I don’t think you’ll ever do that.
In fact I’d go so far as to suggest you tell anyone who’ll listen, because there are millions of shifters out there who need to know the ugly truth.
But…. We took all the records from the Maine camp.
And we’re going to trace every child who was born as a result of their program.
” He lifted her chin with his fingertips.
“We’ll find your babies, okay? Aelryn and I will do whatever it takes. ”
Kia sobbed even harder, and Scott knew exactly what to do to dry her tears. He stood, removed his clothing, and shifted.
Her gasp of delight was the reaction he’d hoped for.
“Oh my God, you’re a freaking red panda!
” Seconds later, gentle hands stroked his fur, and he climbed up to nuzzle her neck, loving the giggles that spilled from her lips.
She praised the bushiness of his tail and scritched behind his ears.
When he was certain her tears were at an end, he shifted back.
“Oh.” Kia averted her gaze, her face flushed. “Oh my. For such a small animal, you pack quite a—”
Scott chuckled. “Yeah, that has been mentioned.” He dressed quickly.
“But what I wanted to say was… your first time with Aelryn and me will be just that—your first time. And eons away from whatever happened before.” He bent down and kissed her on the lips, then whispered, “And we will be waiting for him to come home before we do… anything.”
Kia’s cheeks were scarlet. “Thank you. I’m going to need a little time to process all this, you know.”
Scott smiled. “Take as much time as you need.” He took her hand and helped her to her feet.
“And now we’re going to your dormitory, where you’re going to pack whatever belongs to you, and then you’ll move to my rooms.” He squeezed her hand.
“And just so you know? You get the bedroom—Aelryn and I will be on the sofa bed.”
She laughed, and the sound thrilled him.
Wait until Aelryn hears about this.
“There’s one thing you haven’t told me. What is Aelryn?”
Scott grinned. “A lion.” He couldn’t resist. “Wait until you see him shift. He strolls around with me on his back.”
Kia burst into a peal of laughter again. “That sounds like the cutest thing ever.” Then her features grew solemn. “Were you serious about telling people what went on in the camps?”
“Hell yes. The Gerans have been fighting a dirty war in the shadows, and it’s time we shone a light on all their dark deeds.” He glanced at her. “Are you up for that?”
Kia’s eyes blazed. “To quote you—Hell yes. I’m more than ready for a fight, especially if it means giving them a taste of their own medicine.”
If Jake and Aelryn were right, they were about to deliver more than medication.
They were going to blast the Geran’s world of lies and subterfuge into nothing but atoms.