by Eve Langlais
“I told you, I don’t remember what she did.”
“I mean tell me everything about how you feel. The changes you’ve experienced since your return. Every little detail. It could be important.” If his mother truly could make a shifter swap species, this was grave news. They had to find a way to stop it. “You said the change didn’t hurt?”
“Not that I noticed. I mean I was feeling kind of itchy and caught my first flu a few weeks ago. I don’t know how the humans do it. All that coughing and snot.” He shuddered.
“And you ran a fever?” She grabbed a pad of paper and took notes.
“Hot and cold at the same time. Sweated my rump off. Gained a ton of weight, too. Look at me. I’m fat.” He poked his belly.
“Only because you haven’t been working out, I’ll bet.”
“Because I’m depressed,” he admitted with his lips turned down.
He looked cute. Too cute. She wanted to run her claws down that skin until he yodeled her name. Then she’d ribbon him for being a jerk. “Is it me, or are you taller? Stand up.”
He definitely towered more than before, and she had to crane to see his face. He looked so upset. She wanted to grab those cheeks and kiss him and tell him she’d make it all better.
She retreated instead. “How much do you weigh?”
“Too much. More than you’d think for my size. Let me show you. Where’s your scale?” He knew where to find it, under the workbench on the wall, the one that held all the tools of her trade, from mortar and pestle for grinding to Bunsen burner for blending at high heat.
She pointed, and Jakob slid out the scale. He stood on it. Like the couch, it creaked in protest and the dial ran out of space a second before the spring on it snapped. Given the scale went to three hundred pounds that was interesting.
She frowned. “You have packed on a few pounds, but that doesn’t make you a panda. Pandas are small bears.” Or at least the ones she’d cared for tended to be on the smaller size. The one on the television had been deemed oversized, hence the reason why many believed it was a hoax.
“I wish I could show you.”
“Why can’t you show me?”
“Because it doesn’t come out on demand,” he grumbled. “Trust me, I’ve been trying to get it to come out, but the first time it took my butt getting tranked before it took over. But that’s not the worst of it.”
“How can it be worse?” She really had to wonder.
“Because the damned thing can’t throw a decent punch.”
4
Jakob gasped as Maize slugged him in the gut. She’d always had a most excellent left hook.
“Wha— dat for?” he managed to sputter as he tried to breathe.
“Because you’re an idiot. I can’t believe you think the fact a panda can’t throw a punch is the worst part of your situation.”
“Wait, does this mean you believe me?”
She scowled, looking more gorgeous than he recalled. Her skin was smooth, her eyes bright and framed in dark lashes. Her kinky hair begged to be stroked.
While he didn’t regret many things in life, signing up to become an elite soldier was one of them. He’d wanted to tell her the truth back then, that he had no choice. It was part of the deal his family made to keep Uncle Kevyn out of prison. At the time, he’d promised to keep his mouth shut. Despite not being able to tell her the entire truth, he’d hoped she’d understand. That she’d wait for him.
The deal was the Joneses would form an elite squad for a few years to pay off the family’s debt—because if one Jones fucked up, they all paid—but after she left, he had no reason to quit, so he and his brothers kept going on missions. The most dangerous ones usually, although they’d gotten choosier in the last few years. Some of his brothers even retired from the mercenary game. Jakob had thought himself about hanging up his combat boots and seeing if he could rekindle things with Maze.
Looking at the scowl on her lips and the fire in her eyes, he realized he might have waited too long.
“I’m sorry for how I handled things.” He scrubbed at his face, feeling the bristles and lines of fatigue. “Would it help if I said I didn’t want to leave?”
“No. And it doesn’t matter. I got over you.”
Jealousy reared its ugly head, and for a minute, he could feel the beast prickling, reacting to his emotions.
She tapped his nose. “Don’t you dare shift inside.”
He blinked. “Ow?”
“Don’t be a baby roo about it.”
“I wish I could be a roo,” was his grumpy exclamation.
“Is it so bad that you’re a bear? Pandas are considered to be highly prized given their rarity.”
“I don’t want to be a panda. I want to go back to being me!”
“We don’t always get what we want,” was her soft reply as she turned from him.
He reached out, only to let his hand drop. He’d lost the right to touch her a long time ago. “Can you help me?” he asked instead.
“Doubtful.”
“Surely there’s something we can try. Some ancient ritual. I’ll do anything.”
“I want to help you, but I’ve never even heard of such a thing.”
“Would your grandpa maybe know?” As a tribal elder, he had access to ancient legends.
“I’ll ask him in the morning. For now, get some sleep.” When he eyed the main bedroom door—the room they’d shared for a time—she cleared her throat. “You get the couch or the second bedroom. But I warn you, it’s messy. Peach isn’t very tidy.”
Who was Peach? His nose twitched, but the herbs she had hanging from the rafters, drying, made it impossible to filter the scents.
“I’ll take the couch, if that’s okay.” He wanted to be by the door just in case he’d been followed.
“It’s your back,” was her flippant reply.
“Thanks, Maze. I appreciate you not turning me away.” He’d been worried she’d slam the door in his face.
“You knew I wouldn’t,” she accused as she pulled out an extra blanket and tossed the bundle at him.
He’d counted on her ethics when it came to those in need. Funny how hers was the first face and name that came to mind when in desperation he’d sought someone who could aid him.
“I’d hoped you wouldn’t,” he replied. “But would have understood.”
“I don’t like trouble.” She crossed her arms. “According to the news, the authorities are looking for you. Why?”
He shrugged. “Don’t know for sure. They came pounding on my door. They never said why, and I wasn’t about to go with them to find out. I can only assume it has to do with the bar burning down.”
“Where’s Anvil? No one has seen him since the fire.”
It didn’t surprise Jakob that she knew the bartender. After all, when they dated, they used to visit the tavern regularly. He could still picture Maze dancing, head tilted back, feet bare, arms and torso shimmying.
“I haven’t seen Anvil since that night. I can only assume my mother still has him.”
“Do you think he’s still alive?” She gnawed her lower lip.
“I would imagine he is if he survived her treatment.”
Her mouth turned down. “I can’t believe what your mother did.”
Was there anyone who didn’t know of her perfidy? “Did you know she wants to rule the world?”
“Is she bonkers? That will never happen.”
He shrugged. “I know that, and you know that, but Veronica is thinking on a whole different level than the rest of us.”
“I can’t believe she’s alive. I can’t imagine any way I’d ever leave my child.”
“Yeah, well, can’t really blame her. Kids are a handful. Messy. Loud. Right little shits at times, always breaking stuff and yelling.”
Maze stared at him. “You don’t really believe that, do you?”
“Like you said, why else would anyone leave their kid unless they’re the worst brats ever?”
“Oh,
Jakob.” She sighed his name.
He didn’t want pity. “Doesn’t really matter. And the good news is I won’t pass on whatever evil gene she owns since I doubt I’ll ever be a dad.”
“Why not? And don’t say because you’re a panda. You appear hale of body.”
“Tell that to my head.”
“Your mind has always been iffy,” she teased with a twist of her hand, which almost brought a smile.
“There’s not much future in what I have planned.”
“Dare I ask what that is?”
“I am going to take down my evil mother’s empire.”
She eyed him. Arched a single brow. “Alone? I don’t need to tell you that’s suicidal and stupid. Obviously, you’re determined to be some martyr because you have mommy issues.”
“I don’t want to die, but it will probably happen,” he argued. “She’s better armed than me.”
“Then bring backup. Why would you even contemplate doing this alone?” She rolled her eyes, as expressive as ever. “You have family. Friends. Resources. Don’t you want to succeed?”
“Yes. But—”
“But what? Call them.”
“I can’t.”
“Why?”
“Because.”
“Because why?”
He clamped his jaw tight rather than spew the jumbled emotions clogging him.
Maze pinpointed the problem. “You’re afraid.”
“Am not. Would I be going after my mother alone if I was scared?”
“Pshaw. I mean you’re scared of your family. That the fact you’re different will change how they feel about you.”
“I don’t need their pity.”
“Do you really think they’ll give a rat’s ass that you’re a panda rather than a roo?”
“I won’t be one of them anymore.”
“And? Let me ask you, how many sisters-in-law do you have?”
“A few.”
“Are they family?”
“’Course they are.” He saw where she was going but countered, “My situation is different.”
“Why? Because you’re feeling sorry for yourself?”
“You don’t understand. I—”
She cuffed him hard, and his head snapped.
“Ow!” he yelped.
“Oh, so you can feel something other than pity. Wake up. The Jakob I used to know wasn’t a fatalistic wuss.”
He glared. “That Jakob is gone.”
“No, he’s being a whiny bitch.” Maze stated as if it were fact.
“I am not a wuss.”
“Then what are you?” she huffed, leaning close. “Because everyone knows the Joneses always stand together, and when they do…”
“They’re unstoppable.” He sighed. “I hate it when you make sense.”
“Probably a good thing we never got married then,” she muttered. “Night, Jakob.”
She thrust a pillow at him and left the room, but her stinging words lingered.
She’d forced him to look within. See what an idiot he was being. Why would he cut off his nose to spite his face? She was right. It was suicidal to go alone. And yes, it would be hard to tell his family what had happened to him, but deep down, he knew they’d love him no matter what.
He’d call them in the morning. First, he needed some sleep.
The couch groaned ominously as he lay upon it, barely fitting, his body curved since he was too long. His belly grumbled, protesting the lack of bamboo, which probably explained his nightmares. In the morning, he’d have to talk to Maze about getting a stash.
Maze. Just thinking of her made him relax. As beautiful as ever. Fierce, too. How he wished things could have been different. If only he could have told her the truth back then. She would have never divulged his family secret.
Instead, he’d lost her. The one woman he’d loved, the only mate for him, and he’d screwed up. He’d be alone forever. All alone.
The tiny violin brought a frown. Was he truly going to give in that easily? Maze was worth fighting for. What they used to have had been so beautiful. How could he not even try to give it a chance? Sure, she was mad now, but she had a right to her anger. He would apologize, properly this time, and finally explain the reasons behind his departure, ask for forgiveness, earn it. Seduce her…
Mmm. He fell asleep on that thought and woke to a tiger cub snarling in his face!
5
Maisy walked out of her bedroom just as Peach leaped onto Jakob’s chest. The tiger cub snarled and startled him awake.
Not a good idea in his condition. His eyes widened, his mouth opened, his body tensed, and she feared what might happen.
She flung herself at Jakob and the snarling striped bundle of fur, shouting, “Don’t you dare hurt my daughter!”
A daughter who was home early from a walkabout with her grandfather, and what a surprise, she’d decided to sneak in. Nothing Peach liked more than making her mother scream and drop things. Then the brat would giggle. A good thing she was cute or else…
Jakob stared at Peach, who remained perched on his chest, and said in a very tight voice, “You have a kid.”
“Yes.”
No need to say she wasn’t his. He would have smelled it. She also saw no need to mention the fact that Peach was actually a foundling. She’d come across the feral child in the outback when she was about two. She could only imagine what might have happened to her biological mother.
Maisy scooped Peach into her arms and snuggled the furry head. Scientists could say what they wanted. Some tiger cubs did purr. She held on tight as the child switched into her gangly limbs, and adorably exclaimed, “Mama, I’m home.”
“Indeed, you are, my fuzzy girl.” She nuzzled Peach’s cheek. “Where is your pappy?”
“I lost him,” Peach exclaimed with a vigorous bounce.
“Again?” Maisy exclaimed.
Her daughter liked to play a game of evade the adults. She had an uncanny ability to disappear and only be found when she wanted to. The first time she’d escaped her bedroom, Maisy had been sure a dingo stole her. “Poor pappy. He’s going to be worried.”
“Pappy knows I’m here. I waved to him before I went inside.”
Maisy sighed. “Why didn’t he come in? What did you hooligans do this time?” Because the only time her father didn’t pop in to say hello was when he knew Maisy would give him heck for teaching her kid yet another thing she was too young to know. Lessons she remembered having as a child. Never mind she’d turned out okay. This was her kid.
Her daughter tried to adopt an innocent face. “We didn’t do nuthin’. We was good.”
“I highly doubt that,” Maisy grumbled, doing her best to not look at a shell-shocked Jakob. Surely, he’d known she had a kid. It wasn’t as if she’d kept it secret in the two years since she’d adopted her. Then again, her only contact in the years since they split was the occasional run-in with one of his brothers. Why she’d seen Jax not that long ago with Mari, a hybrid human, in tow.
“You got married?” he asked as he sat up, his expression sad.
Why would he be sad? He’d made it obvious he never wanted to be tied down. Look at him, single all the years since their split. Never mind she was single, too. She had a rambunctious reason to be cautious.
“Just because I have a kid doesn’t mean I’m married, and it’s pretty patriarchal of you to think so,” Maisy declared.
“That’s not what I meant. That is…I…uh,” he stammered.
He was saved from replying and thrown to the tigers as Peach pointed to him and said, “Who is that?”
Peach was used to seeing patients coming and going. What she didn’t usually do was pounce them.
“My name is Jakob. I’m an old friend of your mother’s.”
“Mama has no friends.” Said with all the honesty of a child who saw too much.
“I do too have friends,” Maisy hotly declared. “I just don’t see them often.”
“I’m sure your mother is very
busy,” Jakob replied. “I don’t have many friends either. Mostly just my brothers and uncles.”
“I don’t have a brother. Or a sister,” Peach solemnly declared. “Mama won’t make one.”
Heat filled Maisy’s cheeks as her daughter kept revealing intimate things that had Jakob leaning forward and saying, “You need someone special to make babies with.”
Peach nodded solemnly. “I asked Pappy to make one with mama because he’s special, but he said no.” Her lips turned down.
“With good reason,” a startled Jakob exclaimed.
Given the way Peach eyed him up and down, Maisy could almost predict what she’d ask next.
“Is anyone hungry? I know I’m hungry. Breakfast?” Maisy asked much too brightly.
“I don’t suppose I could shower first?” Jakob asked.
“You stink,” Peach declared with a wrinkle of her nose.
“Peach Daisy Williams!” Maisy exclaimed. “That was rude. Apologize at once.”
A lower lip jutted as Peach muttered, “Sorry.”
Jakob chuckled. “Don’t give the girl crap. She is right. Given I’ve been on the lam for a while with no access to a proper shower, I can’t imagine I smell good.”
Maisy wouldn’t know. Her sense of smell was actually worse than a human’s.
Peach squirmed out of her grip and moved to stand in front of Jakob. “I know you. I seen your picture.”
“On the television?” Jakob queried. “I hear I made the news.”
Peach shook her head. “Mommy keeps your picture hidden in her undies drawer.”
Oh no she didn’t. Maisy really wished taping her daughter’s mouth shut wasn’t considered a crime. At this rate, Jakob would know everything about her—all the embarrassing bits—before lunch.
She had to stop this. She had to— She tuned in to what he told Peach.
“You wanna hear something funny, fluffs?” Jakob drawled. “I have your mom’s picture in my wallet. Or I did. Not sure if it survived the raid on my place.”
Maisy wanted to ask why he carried around her picture. It had been years since they’d been together. However, her daughter wasn’t done interrogating him yet.
“Why are you sleeping on the couch?”