Hidden Worlds

by Kristie Cook

  “I feel … strange.” River pressed her palm against her lower belly. “Right here.”

  Shula smiled and hugged River. “Pre-merge fever mimics the real thing. The desire to mate will increase as your fever rises. If you and Eli can resist the temptation to take things too far, a small amount of physical intimacy can ease the pain until your fever breaks.”

  River sensed that Shula’s words were true, but it wasn’t Eli’s touch she desired. It was Jonathan’s. The thought startled her.

  Shula helped River onto her horse’s back. “Do you think you can hang on? It’s about an hour to the quarantine cabin.”

  River nodded then leaned forward and grabbed Shula’s shoulder. “Don’t be concerned when you find a stranger at the quarantine cabin. I have a new recruit.”

  Shula’s muscles tightened beneath River’s hand. “Your timing couldn’t be worse. Does he know what we are?”

  “I didn’t want to tell him without proof; and Eli refuses to shift in front of him.” River squeezed Shula’s shoulder. “Will you do it?”

  Shula patted River’s knee. “After you merge and mate with Eli, you can show him yourself.”

  Chapter Six

  Plots, Plans and Politics

  Jonathan woke to the sound of someone pounding on the door. He sat up and nearly passed out. Fasting was a bitch. “Who’s there?”

  “Shula, daughter of Zebulon and Israel’s daughter. Open the door.” She spoke with authority.

  Jonathan opened the door and stepped aside. Shula strode across the room and laid River on Jonathan’s bed.

  “What happened?” River’s face was flushed. Her eyes were closed. Her body hung limply in Shula’s arms. “Is she okay?”

  Shula shoved her hood back, revealing a thick black braid and chiseled features. “Get a rag out of the box in the cupboard and go break off a couple of icicles.”

  Nice to meet you, too. “What’s wrong with River?”

  “She has a fever. Now go get that ice.”

  Jonathan ran out onto the porch without stopping to put on his boots. He broke off the first icicle he reached and brought it inside. But he couldn’t let go. It felt like he’d superglued his hand to the damn thing. He swore and shook his arm, but to no avail. “Eli! Get your lazy ass out of bed and help me with this.”

  The woman whirled around and glared at Jonathan. “Who dares speak to Eli, son of Zebulon’s daughter, with such disre—”

  She froze mid-sentence and dropped her hand to her heart. Her eyes twitched back and forth as she stared at Jonathan’s face. “What’s your name?”

  Jonathan didn’t appreciate her tone, but decided to play nice. “I’m Jonathan McKnight; River’s recruit.”

  Shula sank down on the edge of River’s bed. “How did you come to be River’s recruit?”

  “I had a run in with a bear and then a mountain lion and then River showed up and one thing led to another …” Jonathan knew he needed to keep his answers as vague as possible, but he tended to talk too much when he was nervous and Shula definitely made him nervous.

  “Does your family own a gold mine?”

  “Yeah.” How did she know that? Jonathan nodded at Eli’s bed. “But that jackass over there tried to blow it up.”

  “That jackass is my son. And what makes you think he’s responsible for sabotaging the McKnight Mine?”

  “He admitted it.” There was no way that Shula was Eli’s mother, not unless she gave birth when she was two. She must be his stepmother.

  “That was stupid of him.” She glanced at Eli then focused on Jonathan. “What’s your father’s name?”

  “Charles.”

  The remaining color drained from Shula’s face.

  Jonathan was afraid she might pass out. “Are you okay?”

  Red splotches bloomed across her throat and spread to her face. “Don’t ever tell anyone else that you’re a McKnight.”

  “Why?” Jonathan tried once again to pull his fingers off the icicle. It didn’t budge.

  Instead of answering, Shula closed her eyes and rubbed her temples. “Is your father still living?”

  “Yeah.” Jonathan answered before he remembered what River had told him about recruits and family ties. “But … we aren’t on speaking terms.”

  “I’m sorry to hear that.” The sorrow in her voice sounded genuine, which was weird considering recruits weren’t supposed to be part of a loving family.

  “Is he married?”

  “Separated.”

  The corners of Shula’s mouth curled up.

  What the hell? Jonathan extended his hand, “Do you think you could get this icicle off me?”

  “I told you to use a rag.” Shula grabbed Jonathan’s wrist and tugged at his fingers—as if he hadn’t been trying to pry them loose for the past two minutes.

  Jonathan jerked his hand away from her. “That’s not going to work.”

  She walked over to the table and tapped the side of the tea kettle before picking it up. “This is going to feel hotter than it is because of the extreme temperature difference. It might sting a little, but it won’t scald you.”

  The water steamed when it flowed over the ice and it stung a hell of a lot more than ‘a little.’

  Shula wrapped the thick end of the icicle with a rag then handed it back to Jonathan. “Wipe River’s face with this end and try to get her to suck on the tip. It’s wet enough now, it shouldn’t stick to her skin. I need to talk to my son.”

  “Wait, what’s wrong with River?”

  “I already told you. She has a fever.”

  “Fever is only a symptom. What’s causing it?”

  Shula marched across the room, ignoring Jonathan’s question, and yanked the covers off Eli’s upper body. “Get up. We need to talk.”

  Eli groaned and rubbed his eyes. “So talk.”

  “Outside. Now.”

  Eli got out of bed and stretched. Buck naked. In front of his stepmother. Jonathan couldn’t help noticing that Eli had a tattoo over his heart, similar to River’s. His was smaller and much simpler in design, but in the same exact spot. It must be a cult thing.

  Shula didn’t even blink at Eli’s nakedness.

  What is wrong with these people? Jonathan turned his back and sat on the edge of River’s bed. She whimpered when he wiped her brow with the damp, rag-end of the icicle. He pressed the back of his hand against her cheek. “Shula? River’s burning up. I think she needs some Tylenol or something.”

  “It’s not allowed.”

  Jonathan twisted around to face her. “But—”

  “No buts.” She didn’t even look at him.

  “Can’t you give her some herbal medicine or something?” The cabinet where Eli had gotten the stuff to make them puke held dozens of glass jars containing all sorts of dried weeds, seeds and flowers. Surely something in there would help break a fever.

  Shula jerked the door open and stomped outside. Eli followed her.

  What a bitch. With a stepmother like that, no wonder Eli’s so rude. Jonathan rubbed the tip of the icicle across River’s mouth.

  She pressed her lips together and turned her head away from him.

  “Come on, kiddo. You need fluids and I don’t think anyone’s gonna be hooking you up to an IV anytime soon.” Guilt prodded the constant ache in Jonathan’s chest. River warned him this might happen. He didn’t feel sick, but that didn’t mean it wasn’t his fault.

  Jonathan scooted forward and pressed his thigh against River’s cheek so she couldn’t turn away from the icicle. He started at the outside corner of her mouth and traced the line between her lips. “Come on. Just one little taste.”

  She licked her lips and swallowed.

  “Atta girl.”

  River’s eyelids fluttered open but her glassy-eyed gaze passed right through him. “Why did she leave?”

  “She’s just outside talking to Eli. Do you want me to go get her?”

  “My wolf. I want my wolf.”

  “You have a
wolf?” If Jonathan hadn’t been chased out of the mine by a wolf, he would have assumed River was delirious. It was still the most likely explanation. He turned the icicle around and mopped her brow with the dripping rag on the other end.

  River’s chin quivered. She lifted her head off the mattress a couple of inches but collapsed back onto the bed. “I have to find her.”

  “Wolves don’t make very good pets.”

  She grabbed Jonathan’s wrist with her hot, dry palm. “Don’t leave me.”

  “I won’t leave without you. I promise.” Jonathan hadn’t been able to do a damn thing in Afghanistan to improve anyone’s life. The insurgents bombed schools and medical clinics faster than the army could build them. Women were still being stoned to death for stepping outside their houses without permission. He couldn’t save the world, but he could save River. “I’ll get you out of here if it kills me.”

  Eli

  Eli paced back and forth across the porch. He kept his voice low, but that didn’t disguise his fury.

  “I don’t care if River is the first mutual merge in two centuries. She’s still a pain in the ass.”

  "She's merging with a white wolf."

  “So what? White wolves are rare, but this isn’t the first time someone’s merged with one. I’m not taking River as my alpha until Reuben fulfills his part of the bargain.” Eli wouldn’t take River at all if there was any other way to free Aspen. He was still furious with her for blackmailing him out of killing Jonathan. "No one but superstitious old fools believe white wolves bestow any more power than greys or blacks."

  Mother dug her fingers into Eli’s bicep and forced him to face her. “One of those old fools just happens to be Zebulon. If you're not careful, someone that knows the value of superstitions will mate with River and usurp your birthright.”

  “I don’t care.” Eli jerked his arm free.

  “Reuben is an honorable man. He’ll keep his word.” Mother placed both hands on the porch rail and leaned on it, as if Eli’s refusal was too heavy a burden to bear without support. “But you must realize that even Reuben’s influence is limited. It takes a unanimous vote to pardon a sentence as serious as Aspen’s.”

  “Then talk to Zebulon. If you could persuade him to pressure the council—”

  “Solomon’s reputation, as well as his pride, suffered a serious blow when his betrothed mated with another man. He’ll never change his vote.”

  “Then maybe Solomon needs to be replaced.”

  Mother grabbed Eli’s arms. “That’s treason.”

  “It wouldn’t be the first time a council seat became available under suspicious circumstances.”

  “Eli, please … this is madness. If anyone were to hear you …” Mother cupped his cheeks with her hands. “Have you shared this plot with anyone else?”

  “Of course not.” Eli batted Mother’s hands away from his face. “I may be irresponsible, but I’m not stupid.”

  “You love Aspen enough to commit murder?”

  Eli shoved his fingers into his hair. “It’s my fault she’s been stripped of her rank and turned into a whore.”

  “If Reuben could see to it that no one will ever use Aspen to gratify their mating urges except you, would that good enough?”

  “Would it be good enough for you?”

  Mother’s eyes flashed. “You were born to rule New Eden.”

  Eli laughed. “Did you forget that I was also born a bastard?”

  She raised her hand to slap him.

  Eli wasn’t an alpha yet, but he was no child. He was not afraid of his mother or her wolf. He bared his teeth and growled.

  Mother lowered her gaze and dropped her hand. “After Zebulon exiled Ephraim, he kept track of his descendants.”

  “So?”

  “Why do you think I mated with an outsider?”

  Eli’s blood ran cold. “I thought it was because you’d merged outside our borders and had no choice.”

  “No one can prove that your father was not of Ephraim’s line.”

  “Can you prove that he was?”

  “Doing so would forfeit his life. But, I won’t have to prove anything if you mate with River.”

  Mother reached out and stroked Eli’s cheek, the same one she would have hit, if he’d let her. “I’m bound to an outsider and will never want another man. I gave up everything for you.”

  “Don’t try to pass your own ambition off as some noble sacrifice. I grew up without a father.” Eli regretted his words as soon as they left his mouth. He lowered his voice and gently gripped Mother’s shoulders. “I just want to share my life with the woman I love and the children I sire. I have no desire to rule New Eden.”

  “The only way for you to have that life—is if you do rule New Eden. And the only way to insure your success, is with River by your side.”

  “River might not go along with your little plan to overthrow the government.”

  “She won’t have a choice once she’s bound to you.”

  Eli took a deep breath of icy air and let it out slowly. The resulting cloud of steam obscured Mother’s face. He waited for it to dissipate before speaking. “Reuben has a plan to protect River from bonding.”

  Mother’s shoulders tensed beneath Eli’s hands. “River cannot be allowed to keep her free will. You must be the only one to mate with her.”

  The fact that Mother already knew what the plan was, meant it wasn’t as big of a secret as Reuben thought. What would happen if everyone knew? How many women would willingly bind themselves to any man if they had a way to prevent it? That information alone was enough to start a revolution. The women of New Eden wouldn’t need Ephraim’s son to unite them.

  Eli gripped the porch rail to hide his trembling hands. “River and I barely tolerate each other. I doubt I’ll be able to persuade her to mate with me.”

  “If Reuben has already approved the match—”

  “I refuse to take River, or any woman, by force. I’ll just have to win her over.”

  “You can start by easing her pain with physical intimacy while she has pre-merge fever.”

  “You obviously don’t know River very well.”

  “Don’t do anything sexual. Keep your pants on and just hold her next to your bare chest. The skin to skin contact will ease her cramps and burn the fever out faster. It will also soften her heart in preparation for bonding. Use it to your advantage.”

  Eli didn’t like the idea of manipulating River’s feelings while she was delirious—even if she was a bitch. But he’d do anything to save Aspen.

  “I’ll do my best to persuade River to become my alpha; however,” Eli met Mother’s gaze and held it without blinking, “I refuse to alienate Reuben by breaking my word to him. I still hope to free Aspen without starting a revolution.”

  “You won’t have to break your word. I’ll quarantine the ranch. That will get rid of most of the eligible males. Reuben thinks of River as a daughter, so you don’t need to worry about him. And Gabriel won’t merge for at least another year.” Mother’s eyes hardened. “But you need to keep an eye on Jonathan.”

  “Not if he’s dead.”

  Mother grabbed Eli’s biceps. “Do not lay so much as one finger on that boy!”

  Eli knocked her hands away. “Why not? What’s he to you?”

  She dropped her gaze to her hands. “He means nothing to me, but sponsors tend to get irate with people that harm their recruits. River will never mate with you if you kill Jonathan.”

  Eli knew Mother was hiding something, he just didn’t know what. Or why. But he intended to find out.

  Jonathan

  River had just drifted off when Eli burst into the cabin, and slammed the door.

  She flung her arms out and gasped.

  “Hey!” Jonathan lowered his voice, but not the intensity behind it. “Do you mind?”

  Eli stomped across the floor and glared at Jonathan. “Get out of her bed.”

  “I’m not in her bed, I’m on it. There’s a huge dif
ference. And where’s Shula?”

  “Gone.”

  “What do you mean gone? River needs a doctor!”

  Eli leaned over and pressed his hand against River’s forehead. “Mother must not have realized how high her fever had climbed before she left.”

  “When did she leave? Maybe you can catch up with her and bring her back.”

  “I’m going back to bed.”

  “What is wrong with you? I thought you were in love with River.”

  “Hardly.” Eli started peeling off clothes. “But if you want to go chase after Mother, be my guest.”

  “What about the enforcers? I don’t want to get River into trouble if someone thinks I’m trying to run away.”

  Eli pulled a gold disk out of his pocket and tossed it to Jonathan. It had Eli, son of Zebulon’s daughter inscribed on one side and a wolf’s head on the other. “Just show that to anyone that asks and tell them you’re doing my bidding.”

  Jonathan shoved the coin in his pocket. “Can I borrow your horse?”

  “Only if you muck out his stall when you get back.”

  Jonathan didn’t want to leave River alone with Eli, but he didn’t have a choice. “I’m not trying to pick a fight, but if you do anything to River while I’m gone, I will kill you.”

  “I would never stoop so low.” Eli looked genuinely offended.

  Jonathan wished he could believe him. The sooner he left, the sooner he’d catch up with Shula and the sooner they’d get back to help River.

  Eli sat on his bed and pulled his boots off. “Before you go, prop the door open a couple of inches. Some imbecile put too big of a log in the stove.”

  Jonathan gritted his teeth to keep from telling Eli what he could do with that log. But it was too hot in the cabin. He held the door open two inches and shoved a wedge-shaped piece of wood under it with his boot. “Keep an eye on River. If she gets chilled, close the door.”

  Shula’s tracks were easy to follow … at first. They led away from the cabin in a northwesterly direction, but disappeared once they entered the forest. Jonathan searched for over an hour, but never picked up her trail. He couldn’t help but wonder if Eli had known all along that Jonathan wouldn’t find her. Was this just a ploy to get him out of the cabin so he could molest River? Jonathan’s stomach cramped. He turned Red around and rode him hard back to the cabin. He tied him to the porch instead of taking him to the barn.