“You caught them?” Something told her she wasn’t going to be safe unless the people who’d killed her mother had been caught.
His brows snapped into a frown and Kallie knew he was thinking what she had. “We have one of the men who tried to break in tonight. The other is dead in the backyard. That’s the only way to get to the new addition unless they come through the garage, which is heavily warded at the moment.”
She expelled a harsh breath, her gaze going to the coffee table and the old Cradle of Gold book that her mother had been reading eight months ago. “I saw him on the window. He was a scorpion.”
He nodded. “Sienna told me,” he answered quietly.
Sienna, like all predatory girls and boys, had been part of the town’s enforcer detail. At eighteen, predatory species had to take training and serve four years as enforcers since they didn’t have a large police force. After their four years they remained on inactive duty and could be called into service in the protection and defense of their town from other predators at any time.
“Is she in trouble?”
“No,” he said and patted her hand. “She has license to kill if necessary.”
“Do you have any leads on who killed my mother?”
“Not yet. When was the last time you spoke with your mother or received a letter from her?”
She sighed. “Eight months, but she left me a voice mail four weeks ago to tell me she was going to Peru for work. She left me a message to say she’d landed safely and when she got home she left me another message.”
“What was that one about?”
“She’d gotten home safely, and she’d wanted to talk to me.” She had been going to come home that weekend, but her mother had been killed that Thursday.
“Okay. So, absence of any leads, I’ve had to assume the trip to Peru is where all the trouble started.”
“I suppose that would be a correct assumption,” she said.
“I’ve talked to Draden, a curator at the museum, and he thinks she went to South America in search of something other than what she brought back.”
“She wasn’t involved in smuggling!” she snapped. Her mother had been an archeologist not a treasure hunter. She preserved and restored art and ancient artifacts. She didn’t sell them.
“He said she was pretty secretive about why she was going but she brought back some pottery and a box and crystals. The pottery is going to be part of an exhibit, but the crystals are missing,” the sheriff said gently. “He says she met with someone shortly after she returned about something she brought back.”
“He is a damned liar!” she exclaimed vehemently. “My mother would never do that.”
“He said she’s done it before. So I’m looking into it to see if I can find out what kind of connections she had with these scorpions in case this was a deal gone wrong.”
Kallie glared at him even though she knew this wasn’t his fault. The lies about her mother—they were paper thin and anyone who knew her knew that.
“I know your coven is meeting to work out details on your protection. Until someone gets here, I’m going to have Charlie stay.” He squeezed her hand but something caused him to look up. He slowly sat back, his gaze on whatever he was looking at behind her. Kallie turned to find Sienna standing in the doorway as if she were guarding her back.
Their eyes held and warmth rushed over her, steadying her rioting emotions. She wanted her closer, touching her, comforting her as she’d done more than once when Kallie was younger when something wasn’t going right.
“I’ll stay with you, Kallie darling. I’ve asked my father to have my mother bring a few of my things.”
“That’s a good idea,” the sheriff said quietly. “I’d feel better having an enforcer with her. How long will you be able to stay?”
“I won’t leave her until you’ve caught these people.”
“Okay.” The sheriff got to his feet, his eyes trained on Sienna, who was looking at him now. Sienna’s eyes paled and a hiss greeted Kallie’s ears.
Kallie’s gaze jerked from Sienna to the sheriff, who slowly moved even further away from her as something passed between them that she didn’t understand. He was a predatory spider, too, so it must have been some spider thing she wasn’t getting or some silent enforcer message.
Donald turned his gaze back to Kallie and said, “I’ll talk to you when I have something more. If you find something here in the house that might be of help to solving this case, let me know.”
“I will, but I won’t find anything,” Kallie muttered, her brow furrowed. Sienna’s warm fingers curled around the nape of her neck in a move that should have been threatening. However, it was quintessentially possessive and hinted at intimacy. She felt comforted and a soft purr escaped her. Surprise fired in his eyes.
Kallie had to admit she was just as surprised as he was that she’d made that sound and felt her cheeks heat. Butterflies only made that sound for their mates and the spider touching her knew it, as well as the one staring at her.
He slowly backed toward the door. “Take care of her.” He nodded and strode from the room.
“What was that about?” she asked as she turned and Sienna’s fingers trailed along the side of her neck. Her skin singed in its wake.
“What was what about?” Sienna queried with a frown.
“That look? The way he was backing slowly away from me. Why was he doing that?” Sienna’s fingers curled around her throat in a soft caress that made her shiver.
“He was surprised by your reaction to my touch, I guess,” she said innocently, but her eyes were dark and those red spots were dark cherry.
“He was acting strange before that.” Kallie might be trying to deny the truth, but the butterfly was not. Its wings fluttered inside her, desperate to flash the spider to ensure it saw the beauty of its wings, how healthy the color was, how bright.
“If your butterfly recognizes me as its mate, then he knows how dangerous I can be to him for having his hands on you before we’ve fully mated.”
Kallie’s gaze flared and fear trickled through her. It wasn’t a question now of if Sienna would pursue her. It was a question of how hard. She wasn’t ready. She needed more time. She didn’t want to be just another toy.
She knew spiders were no different than some butterflies and ladybugs in their polyandry even after mating. It was common to see families with three parents here. She needed to be the only one, the sole object of her mate’s affections. “It’s not—we aren’t—I mean, what did you discuss with Charlie?”
Sienna laughed, a sound rife with knowledge that made Kallie wince. “Are you jealous already, little pet?” she asked softly as her fingers trailed down Kallie’s throat to rest between the valley of her breasts. “Don’t be. I have no interest in men or another woman.”
Her breath stalled. That was a subtle statement of intent, and her butterfly cooed inside her and her stomach clenched. Once a snowy copper butterfly accepted its mate, it never resisted its claim and unfortunately the separation rate was less than one percent. They never left their mates even when he or she took another. They merely suffered the heartbreak in silence.
“We’re almost done with the windows,” a masculine voice announced from the doorway.
Sienna turned to look at him and there was that hiss again. It was almost too low to be heard. “Is my mother here?”
“Yeah, she’s talking to your dad about something. You, no doubt. He sounded a little pissed.”
She sighed. He wasn’t pissed, he was worried. Her father knew good and well that she would be dangerous to any threat to Kallie and that would put a target on her back. Anyone pursuing Kallie would want a little payback for the death she’d wrought. “He’ll get past it. Excuse me for a minute, Kallie.”
Kallie didn’t recognize the handsome, dark-skinned man, but she watched him as Sienna turned from her to cross the room to talk to him.
“Hello, Kallie.”
She turned her gaze on the woman walk
ing into the room. Jasmine Haze skirted the couple and headed straight to her. Sienna’s mother was shorter than Sienna at only five foot six, but it was clear Sienna had inherited her beauty from her mother. The flawless skin and perfect features were similar to her daughter’s, only she had darker eyes and longer hair. Jasmine was slim with delicately defined muscle while Sienna’s arms were clearly more muscled.
Swinging a hammer would do that to a girl she supposed.
“Hello, Miss Jasmine.”
“How are you, dear?” Jasmine asked and took Kallie’s hand. “It’s so good to see you… If there is anything you need—anything. Call me.”
“Yes ma’am.”
“We will be looking forward to seeing you at circle soon as you are settled.”
She nodded. Warmth flooded her, making her feel like she was home. This was another thing she’d missed and hadn’t even known she’d been missing it until this moment. People cared about each other here in Sensation. Even enemies sent flowers when one’s family passed away.
Moving back home was the right decision.
“Yes, ma’am.” That was more of an order than a statement.
“Sienna will be staying with you tonight?”
“I’ll be staying indefinitely, Mother.” Sienna joined them with that quiet declaration. She stood next to Kallie, gripping the back of her neck. A single stroke of her fingers and Kallie purred again.
Kallie watched Jasmine’s serene expression change momentarily to one of confusion. The butterfly’s wings spread in further acceptance of its spider. Sienna’s touch in front of her mother was a sign of introduction and declaration of intention.
“Thank you for bringing me a change of clothes, Mother,” Sienna said as the silence stretched.
“Well, I guess it’s wise that as a reserve enforcer you stay here and protect Kallie, but there really is no need. She can come and stay with us,” Jasmine said. She gave Kallie an encouraging smile. “We would be more than happy to shelter you, Kallie.”
It was a good idea, but she’d really rather not impose. She’d be more comfortable in her own home. “I—”
Sienna squeezed the back of her neck as if in warning as she cut in with, “It really won’t be necessary, Mother. I know what I’m doing. Kallie will be perfectly safe here.”
“Sienna, I don’t know where your head is,” Jasmine said, her gaze full of concern. “You of all people know better.”
“Know better than what?” Kallie asked. Again some secret message had been uttered that she wasn’t privy to.
“Nothing, Kallie darling,” Sienna said coolly. “She’s worried about you. The scorpions are bottom-feeding scavengers and they won’t stop until they get what they want.”
“Exactly, and scorpions and spiders are natural enemies. Sienna, your being here will only inflame the situation, and put Kallie in more danger.”
Her butterfly’s head dropped in mortification. Sienna’s mother was rejecting her. Her head lowered before the elder staring at her with an implacable stare. Sienna’s fingers stroked the side of her neck and her butterfly cooed. Her mother’s rejection meant nothing.
“I’m capable of protecting us.” Her tone was so icy Kallie felt the lash of her anger to her soul. Still, Sienna touched her mother’s arm. “Now, you should go. You know that Dad will be hungry when he gets home. It’s been an extra-long day.”
Jasmine huffed. “Sienna, I don’t know what to say about you sometimes. You’re supposed to be a girl.”
Sienna gave her mother a patient look, an amused smile tugging at her lips. “I am all woman, Mother.”
Jasmine grunted delicately. “That remains to be seen.” She gave Kallie a fierce look before quietly exiting the room.
The anger whipped at her hard and heavy, making her nauseous. She forced her eyes to Sienna’s even as she quickly separated her mind from the echoes of Jasmine’s anger. “Maybe you shouldn’t stay,” Kallie said softly.
“Kallie darling, don’t be silly,” she said firmly. “Go in and start getting dinner ready. I asked MJ to have one of the boys bring our dinner from my car. I’ll join you once I lock up.”
“Sienna, your mother seemed upset and so did that guy you were talking to,” she protested. “I don’t want you to have problems with your family on my account.”
Sienna rolled her eyes. “My mother wasn’t upset with you,” she said in a soothing tone. “She hates that I’m a lesbian. She keeps waiting for me to magically morph into this straight spider that lusts after men.” She punctuated the sentence with a widening of her eyes and hand over her mouth. “And MJ was worried about us staying here without a big strong man.” She rolled her eyes. “The coven decided to let me be your protector. MJ and a few others will back me up if need be.”
“Still, if she doesn’t want you around me, you can’t go against her wishes.” A snowy copper butterfly would make every effort to do as her parents wanted.
She laughed. “I’m a box-lady, and the dominant of us are aggressive,” she told her. “We don’t bow to the nonpredatory. Now, go.”
Sienna left her alone, and she sighed. She needed to learn about spiders she supposed, or she was going to be in a world of trouble.
Chapter Four
Max Sherra clenched his fists at his sides as he stood in the hotel suite he’d rented for his stay here. The casual elegance of the rich brown and tangerine went mostly unnoticed by him as he paced the thick carpet and came to a stop near the window. The view out into the town square was tolerably appealing as was the one from the bedroom that revealed the historic old brick street and buildings of downtown Sensation.
He wasn’t here for the view. He was here to retrieve a precious artifact and its companion piece. He’d first learned of the spear of life twenty-six years ago and had gone to the jungles of South America to the ruins of the Incan civilization in the town known as Choquequirao in search of it.
The spear of life and its companion piece were powerful magic artifacts known for their healing powers. Powers he desperately needed to save himself as well as his colony of gold-and-black scorpions. They were dying from a genetic defect that struck in their forties, causing a painful and debilitating illness that turned them into mindless animals, stinging themselves to death if not restrained.
That’s where he’d first come across the curator, archeologist Maggie Checkwing and her twin. Both had been wily women on the hunt for the same items. They’d found the spear of life and there had been no reasoning with them to obtain the items. Then, spear and women had vanished, leaving him to watch family and friends die, but three weeks ago hope had been reborn when he offered a reward for the pieces.
A curator at the Sensation Museum had called him with information.
“The spider came over,” the man standing before him said in a timid tone.
He’d elicited the help of the man who’d contacted him for the reward, knowing it could be risky. Staring at this little butterfly, he was certain he’d been right. The six-foot-two brown-haired male bore no sign that he had engaged in the battle that had taken two of the three-man team he’d sent to the Checkwing home tonight. One was in the county lock-up, another was dead, and the third was badly hurt.
“So?” he demanded. Spiders were the mortal enemies of the scorpion as well as the armor beetle he’d brought on board, but not the man before him. “Why didn’t you stop her?”
“I couldn’t have gotten close enough to her to do anything without giving myself away,” he snapped in an irritated tone. “She’d have killed me on the spot if she’d suspected anything. Getting your man out of there alive was the best I could do.”
“So, you allowed one of my men to be taken and another to be killed?” Max demanded.
The man before him snorted, giving him a hard look so uncharacteristic of his breed. “I know that bitch, and I’d never cross her in the middle of the square in broad daylight. So you know damn well I wouldn’t engage her in a dark backyard. As it is, she nearly caug
ht my ass.”
Max sneered at him. “You fucking coward!” He drew in a deep breath and turned his gaze on a shorter male with the same brown hair as the first. He was the curator who’d told him about the pieces. He, too, was a butterfly with a bit of a deceptive air about him. His baby blue eyes held a keen intelligence, but he’d already glimpsed this man’s willingness to betray for money.
“Are you certain the spear is in the house?” Max demanded.
“I saw it,” the curator said firmly. “Just as I saw the companion piece when Maggie returned from Peru.”
The companion piece would cure the mutation killing his people while the spear would merely heal them in the short term.
“Is it possible Checkwing told the spider anything that might lead you to where Checkwing hid my spear and the companion piece?”
“It’s more than likely that she did, but she won’t reveal anything without good reason and taking the butterfly will be more than ample incentive.” The curator gave him a smile rife with cruelty.
The enforcer frowned. “Bad idea with the spider sniffing around. They’re coven mates, and friends. She’ll tear you a new one.”
“Just take care of my man before he talks and let me know when the girl is out of the house,” Max said. “We should be able to snatch her then.”
“Mistake if the spider stays around. She’s dangerous. She—”
“Just do as I say,” he snapped. “And both of you get out.” The two men crept from the room, keeping their eyes on him. Max sighed roughly and ran a hand through his red-gold hair. He was too close and had too much at stake to merely walk away because of a woman.
Chapter Five
Kallie stepped into the large kitchen with distressed pink cabinets that gave the room a country feel and the stainless steel appliances that added a touch of casual elegance. The detail work on the open cabinet next to the sink was whimsical and reminiscent of the rose and ivy that crawled along the lattice in the garden. The cabinet next to the sink was open and plates were already standing in the rack.
Training an Unruly Submissive Page 3