Chapter 5
5
H alden and Raina, new to the ways of Muirarans, didn’t get the seven days allotted for a newly joined couple to have their privacy. Instead, they were leading Dallan MacDonald, his wife Shona, along with Kwaku and Zara Awahnee through Brooklyn’s Prospect Park. Kwaku opened a door in a heavily wooded area and now it was time to find Pari.
They avoided the area where they knew Pari’s Uncle Leo had his hotdog cart. He and Raina had a lot of explaining to do and didn’t have the time.
After skirting around Leo’s usual spot, they crossed part of the huge meadow, passed through one of the two entrance tunnels, and were soon nearing the Brooklyn library and what Pari called Army Plaza. From there they walked along Eastern Parkway to Franklin, and then down to Park Place. Now the little group was standing before Pari’s building. Halden noticed she’d left one of her bedroom windows opened and wondered if she might be home.
“Is she up there?” Dallan asked.
“I’m not sure,” Halden acknowledged. “All we can do is ring the buzzer.”
Dallan cocked an eyebrow. “Buzzer?”
“Yes.” Halden looked up at the fourth floor and Pari’s apartment. “With any luck, she’ll be home, and she can let us in.” He turned to Dallan and Kwaku. “She’s not ready for this.”
“No, she is not,” Kwaku agreed. “But we must take her to Melvale before he accidentally harms someone or himself.”
“Seems no matter what happens,” Shona said. “He’s going to be tricky to be around.”
“For a time,” Kwaku said. “Den he will settle down.” He looked her in the eyes. “Unless his mate is dreatened. Den dere are no guarantees.”
Shona put a hand on Dallan’s arm. “I’ll never complain about you overreacting again.”
He gave her a light smile and kissed her on the head. Halden took Raina by the hand, went up the stoop’s stairs, and pushed the black square button near Pari’s name. There came a buzzing sound, and he squeezed Raina’s hand.
“Do you think she’s out?” Raina asked.
“She might have the afternoon shift at her uncle’s shop.” Halden looked at her. “We don’t even know what day it is, dove.” He ran a finger down her cheek then jumped when a gruff voice came over the speaker. “Who is it?”
Halden recognized the voice. “Al? It’s Halden.”
The sound of a door opening caught their attention, and Pari’s Uncle Al opened the door to the building’s vestibule, then the second door. “Where is she? Where’s Pari Mae?!”
Halden caught the desperate look in Al’s eyes. “I was hoping you could tell me.”
Al peeked past him at the others. “Who are they?”
“Friends. We’ve come to see Pari.”
“What? You mean she’s not with you?”
Halden’s eyes widened at the first twinge of panic. “No. Should she be?”
Al ran a hand through his salt and pepper hair. “I haven’t seen her since yesterday.”
Halden’s jaw dropped, and he turned to Dallan and Kwaku. “She’s gone?”
Dallan came up the front steps. “What are ye saying, man?” he asked Al. “Have ye no seen the lass at all?”
Al looked up and down the street then motioned them to come inside. He led the group into his apartment on the first floor and closed the door behind him. “Halden, Raina, are you all right?”
“Yes, we’re fine.” Halden said. “Now what’s this about Pari?”
He motioned them to follow him into his dining room, where he plopped into a chair. “She looked for you two for days. She never gave up.”
“Oh, Al,” Raina said. “We’re sorry, but we were…”
“Dey were not able to return to her,” Kwaku said, speaking for the first time. “You are de relative?”
“Yes, her uncle. My brother lives across the hall. We’ve called what acquaintances of Pari’s we know of, but no one has seen her.”
“Did you file a missing person’s report?” Shona asked.
“It hasn’t been twenty-four hours. But it will be later this afternoon.” Al gave them an imploring look. “You have to help us find her.”
“Al,” Halden said. “Can we look in her apartment? Maybe we can find a clue as to where she’s gone.”
He ran his hand through his hair again and nodded. “I already looked, but sure, let me get the key.” He disappeared into the kitchen for a second before returning. “Got it. Let’s go.”
He led them up to the fourth floor and unlocked Pari’s door. Halden’s heart sank as the door was opened. Where could she have gone?
“Everyone stay here,” Kwaku said. “Boyeee, come wid me. You too, Captain.”
“Captain?” Al said.
Raina patted him on the arm. “I’ll explain later.”
The three men entered the apartment, Kwaku going straight for the living room. “Search dis place wid your heart, Boyeee. What do you feel?”
Halden watched as Dallan closed his eyes. He had no idea what was going on. He knew nothing of the workings of Time Masters other than the doors through time they were able to open. This was new.
“Fear,” Dallan said. “Shock.”
“Yes,” Kwaku drawled and opened his eyes. “And someting familiar, perhaps?”
Dallan’s forehead creased with concentration. “Aye, a… presence.” His eyes opened. “What is that?”
Kwaku looked around Pari’s living room. “I am not sure, but dey took her.”
Dallan’s eyes went wide. “Saints, Melvale…”
Kwaku closed his eyes and shook his head. “Dere is no help for it.” He turned to Dallan. “We will need him to track her. He can do it de quickest.”
“But is he safe to be around?”
Kwaku laughed. “Not at all.”
Shona and Zara entered the room. “Something happened here,” Shona said.
“Aye.” Dallan put an arm around her. “Someone has taken the lass.”
“Oh, Dallan, no,” Shona breathed.
Raina entered, followed by Pari’s Uncle Al. “What is all this?” Al asked. “Leo and me, we went over every inch of this place. She’s not here.”
“We can see that,” Halden said. “But we know someone that can help us find her.” He took Al by the shoulders. “You have to trust us.” He looked at Dallan and Kwaku. “Trust them. They found Raina and me. They can find Pari.”
Al’s eyebrows shot up. “Found you?”
“Yes,” Halden said. “It’s a long story, and I’m afraid I can’t tell you now.”
Kwaku eyed him. “Captain, return downstairs wid him. You too, Raina. We will do what needs to be done here.”
Halden knew what that meant. He was going to return to the Muiraran palace, and fetch Melvale. “Um, are you sure?”
“Very,” Kwaku said, eyes narrowed to slits. He strolled toward the front door area and disappeared into the room Raina had slept in.
“Come along, Al,” Halden said. “Raina and I will try to explain what happened to us while these two gentlemen try to figure out what happened to Pari.”
Al looked Dallan up and down, then took in Zara. He whistled long and low. “You’re gorgeous, if you don’t mind me saying so.”
Zara smiled. “Thank you.” She looked toward the door leading into the spare bedroom and disappeared after Kwaku.
Halden turned to Raina. “Let’s take Al downstairs and fill him in.”
“Are you sure?” she hedged.
“Quite.” He looked at Dallan. “Good luck.”
Dallan gave him a curt nod and sauntered toward the kitchen, Shona right behind him. Halden wasn’t sure what was going to happen next. All he did know was that poor Melvale was unpredictable, and that the Time Masters were going to have to make sure he didn’t cause a scene if they brought him here. Halden and Raina had seen what Melvale became when he caught Pari’s scent.
When he saw her being harassed by that cad Jeffrey and his friends, the Muiraran Time Keeper went crazy, leapt across an entire street, and would have made short work of Pari’s tormentors if not for Dallan, Kwaku, and Melvale’s brother, Markhel. The three of them were able to subdue Melvale long enough for Kwaku to open a door and get them all back to the palace. There had to be witnesses, and perhaps that had something to do with Pari’s disappearance. All they could do for now was track her, find her, and bring her back to the palace.
“You want me to do what?” Melvale squeaked.
Kwaku gave Zara an almost pained look, before giving his attention back to him. “Drink dis.” He held up a goblet filled with a red mixture of some sort.
“What is it?” Melvale asked, suspicious.
“Someting to help you concentrate while you help us track.”
“Track what?” Melvale looked past them. “Where are the others?”
Zara stepped forward. “Do you want to get out of the containment area?”
“Yes, of course… oh,” Melvale stopped and looked at them. “You want me to stay calm, is that it?”
Kwaku gave him a grave look. “It is de only way you can do dis widout doing damage. Your Alpha must stay calm to track.”
Melvale heaved a sigh and stuck a hand through the bars. “Oh, very well. Give me that.”
Kwaku handed him the goblet. “Drink all of it. We cannot take any chances.”
“Fine,” Melvale groused. “But don’t think for one minute I’m going to make a habit of downing your concoctions every time I’m not feeling myself. The other side of me, he’ll calm down soon enough.”
Kwaku raised an eyebrow. “We shall see. Now drink.”
Melvale sighed again, glanced at Zara, who was giving him a sympathetic look, and shook his head in resignation. “Well, bottoms up.” He drained the goblet, grimacing when he handed it back to Kwaku. “I hope this works.”
Kwaku smiled. “Trust me, it always works.”
Melvale was about to comment, when his vision blurred. “Oh, stab me, there’s three of you!” He peered at a beaming Kwaku. “Are we leaving now?” He looked at Zara, giggled, then crumpled to the floor.
Melvale opened one eye, then the other. There was an off-white ceiling above him, and he had to blink a few times to clear his vision. “Wh-what…?”
“Melvale…”
He knew that voice but couldn’t quite place it. Then it hit. The most wondrous scent! His eyes went wide as he sat up and took a big whiff. His breathing picked up; one word etched in his mind. Mate.
He pulled his upper lip back from his teeth and sniffed again. “Where is she?”
The voice was low, almost a growl. Was it his? He blinked a few times, but the scent assailing him was too intoxicating to ignore. Mate!
In one swift move he was on his feet, eyes wide.
“Easy now, Melvale,” the familiar voice said. “Keep control.”
He was unsteady, his body swaying, as he took in the dark-haired man before him. “Time Master…”
“Aye, Time Master Dallan, and ye’ll obey me, will ye no?”
Melvale narrowed his eyes at him as he nodded, but another part of him ignored the Time Master and sniffed the air. “Where. Is. She?” There was that low, guttural growl again.
“We need ye to find her. Can ye do that for us?” The Time Master cocked his head at Melvale. “But ye must stay calm, and whatever ye do, dinna draw attention to yerself.”
“That’s a tall order, don’t you think?” a woman asked.
Melvale looked her way. “Princess Shona.”
She smiled at him. “Yes. It’s me.”
Her voice was soothing, and he tilted his head as he studied her. “Where is she?”
She gave him a heartfelt smile. “It’s like Dallan said. We need you to find her.”
His head jerked at her words. “Lost…”
Dallan took a deep breath and held up both hands. “Aye, temporarily. Now be a good lad and calm yerself.”
“Kwaku,” Shona said. “Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea.”
Kwaku smiled. “He will be fine. I gave him…”
He never got to finish. Melvale took another whiff, his long legs carrying him into the next room and into yet another. Her scent was strongest here. He closed his eyes, got a flash of her in his mind, and that was it.
Melvale ran for the open window and leapt through it.