by Ravenna Tate
“I stopped her, thinking she was with them, but she wasn’t. She was following them. I knew she was my mate, which complicated everything. But there was nothing I could do about that. The men heard us talking, turned around, and we ran.”
“Who were they?” asked Gillian.
“Leopards from my village,” said Makenna. “The same group who has been painting blood on your doors.”
“What?” Gillian, Arizona, and Canyon all spoke at once.
“Are you part of them?” asked Canyon.
“I told you she was following them when I found her,” said Stone, his voice hard and angry.
“I was spying on them.”
“But you weren’t caught that night?” asked Gillian.
“No. Stone and I got away.”
“Why are they doing this?” asked Arizona.
This time, Makenna took a long sip of tea. “When the Medina women came from your village to mine, the reaction of our people was unfavorable. Almost everyone wanted no part of the SEC or the FBI, and everything that could bring with it. They wanted the women to leave. They believed the human government organizations would come looking for those women, and our village and its people would be exposed.”
“Ours was exposed, and nothing happened,” said Arizona.
“But there were some who wanted the Medina females to stay?” asked Canyon.
“Yes. A small but very vocal, powerful group sided with them. They believed the people in your village drove out the Medinas without just cause, and betrayed all our kind by having them arrested by the humans.”
“They were not arrested without just cause,” said Gillian. “They committed crimes. The company that Amasa Medina ran was knee-deep in securities fraud and tax evasion. The FBI and the SEC were onto them long before we uncovered evidence of what they were doing.”
“They tried to take Fiera’s father’s business,” said Canyon. “Amasa’s son, Hawke, tried to force Fiera to mate with him to use her as leverage. He threatened her and her father, Cash, with ruining their business unless she consented to become his mate instead of mine. And when she refused, he told her he’d take her anyway.”
“Our Elders have ignored the complaints against the Medina family for years,” said Arizona. “That’s why we had decided to finally do something about it.”
“I know,” said she said quietly, the conflict on her face evident. “Stone has told me all this. But that’s why he was reluctant at first to start the petition. He thought by doing so, he might stir up more trouble for me with the people from my village.”
Dar hadn’t been lying. Makenna was the witness. “I’m confused by that statement,” said Gillian. “Do you mean because the people in your village might think it was you who had a hand in our politics?”
Makenna averted her gaze. “Something like that, yes.”
The hair on Arizona’s arms prickled. Something was very off here.
“Is that why you went to our Elders with the names of the group?” asked Gillian.
No one else might notice it, but Arizona caught the doubt and confusion in Gillian’s voice. She sensed that Makenna wasn’t telling the entire truth either. But did Stone know that? Was he lying, too? And more importantly, why?
“Yes. The more Stone and I talked, the more I realized the people doing this were wrong. I realize now it was as you said. Those men committed crimes, and they harassed the people of your village for years. Once I accepted this, I wanted your Elders to know that this group coming to your village and painting blood on doors sided with the Medinas, and were trying to keep the feud going.”
“So all this trouble is about the Medinas,” asked Canyon.
“No, it’s not only about them.” Makenna and Stone exchanged a quick, worried glance. “These people cite the legend that says the vampire’s lynx mate took a female human as a lover. They’re angry that you…” Her voice trailed off as she flashed an apologetic look toward Gillian. “Forgive me, but if I tell you this, you’ll be offended and upset.”
“It’s all right. Just get it out.”
“This group is angry that you brought in the government organizations. They say it proves the legend’s warnings not to become involved with humans. When you were seen with Arizona, before you mated with him, they were the ones who painted the blood on his and Stone’s door. Then once you were Arizona’s mate and had moved into his home, they targeted you.”
“Why were they heading toward Laredo’s house?”
“Because he’s one of the leopards in your village who chose to stay. They intend to do the same to all the leopards in your village, eventually.”
“Painting blood on doors is hardly a violent act,” said Gillian. “It’s vandalism at best. They sound rather silly.”
Makenna shook her head. “The blood is only the beginning. It’s a warning. Don’t think because they use clever phrases or have only done this one thing so far that they aren’t capable of violence.”
“How do you know all this?” asked Arizona.
“This group is small but vocal. They stand in the town square and speak. They’re very open with their plans and the reasons behind them.”
“I’m still a bit confused about why you and Stone have been hiding for weeks,” said Gillian. “You were spying on them, and Stone caught you doing that. You came to our Elders and told them what this group was up to, and who they were. Is that correct so far?”
“Yes.”
Arizona suddenly knew where this was going, and he thought he knew what Makenna would say in response to Gillian’s questions. Makenna’s eyes were filled with fear once again, as well as guilt. He thought briefly of stopping Gillian before she asked, but decided not to. The entire group had a right to hear this.
Chapter Nineteen
“Okay, so why did you go back to your village to live instead of coming to ours?” asked Gillian. “Why did Stone avoid Canyon and Arizona for weeks? I’m missing something here.”
The girl looked like she was going to cry. Stone pulled her closer and kissed her gently on the cheek. “It’s all right. They’re my best friends. They will understand once they hear the entire story.”
Makenna’s gaze dropped to her folded hands in her lap for long moments. When she lifted it again, the fear was gone, but the guilt was immense. Arizona pulled Gillian closer, hoping she could handle what was about to come.
“I never went back to my village. I was already in hiding when Stone found me. But until he found me and we talked about everything, I wanted nothing to do with humans. They killed my parents. I believed the group at first. I believed that because of Gillian, the people of your village had forced an entire family to leave and had the males arrested for crimes. Most of the people in our village don’t believe the crimes were true. They think … they think the human government officials made them up.”
Arizona swallowed hard at the murderous look in Canyon’s eyes as he glared at Stone.
“Are you telling me that you let her believe this about your best friend’s mate? That’s why you’ve been avoiding us?”
“She’s my mate.”
“And we’re your best friends!”
“I no longer believe it,” said Makenna. “Stone has since set me straight. And that’s not why he has been avoiding you.”
Arizona suddenly understood, and he knew he had to step in and say something before Stone and Canyon ended up in a fight. “I get it.”
Canyon looked at him as if he’d gone mad.
“I understand why Stone took off with Makenna. It’s the same reason I would have gone to Seattle to live with Gillian if the village hadn’t accepted her as my mate. And it’s the same reason you had to kill Hawke. They’re our mates, Canyon. They come first. They have to. Always. Before family, before friends, before our careers, before everything and everyone. We’re bound to protect them and care for them, no matter what.”
“As long as she no longer believes that,” said Canyon.
“She to
ld you she didn’t,” said Stone. “Let her finish telling the story.”
No one spoke for what seemed like hours. Gillian snuggled up against Arizona’s body, and he put an arm around her.
“You said you never went back to your village,” she said, directing her words toward Makenna. “That you were already in hiding.”
Tears spilled over Makenna’s lashes as she nodded. “Yes,” she whispered.
“Why?”
Arizona didn’t miss the way Makenna’s gaze shifted around, and this time the hair on the back of his neck prickled. There was more to this story than she and Stone were telling. But why? What was Makenna hiding? And did Stone know the real story?
“They know I’m the one who went to your Elders.”
“How?” he asked.
“I don’t know how, but they know.”
“But that was after you were in hiding,” said Canyon. “What sent you into hiding in the first place?”
“They kicked her out,” said Stone.
“They told us you two were living there and then you left,” said Canyon.
“They lied to you.”
Canyon and Stone glared at each other again, and this time Arizona understood Canyon’s anger and confusion. Either this girl had lied to Stone about why she’d been in hiding, or both of them were lying now.
“We came here to hide because this group won’t simply let us go and be done with it,” said Stone. “They won’t stop looking for us. And once they find us, they will kill us. We couldn’t put the four of you in further danger. That’s why I’ve been avoiding you. That’s why we hid. We’ve been here, trying to figure out where to go where the people in her village won’t find us, and so none of them will come looking for you four to get to us.”
“But what did she do to make them say that in the first place?” asked Canyon. “You said you believed the group at first. What could you have done or said to make the people of your village turn on you like that?”
“I can’t talk about it.” Her voice came out so softly, Arizona barely heard her.
Stone pulled her closer and shot his two friends a warning look. “That’s not something we can discuss right now. You’ll have to trust me when I tell you that she had her reasons for going into hiding, and leave it at that for now.”
Canyon gave Stone a long, hard look. “All right. Fair enough. Like Arizona said earlier, she’s your mate.”
“Thank you,” said Stone.
“You don’t have to stay here,” said Arizona. “You’d be safe in our village.”
“They walk into your village at will and paint blood on your doors,” said Makenna. “What makes you think you can stop them if they come looking for us?”
“Arizona is right. You can’t stay here forever,” said Canyon. “You’ll be safer in Cash’s house. He’s sold it to you, right?”
“Yes.”
“Laredo is an Elder now,” said Canyon. “Did you know that?”
“What?”
“We got the signatures on the petition. The Council asked Avery, Alex, and Darren to step down, and they did, citing health reasons, which is pure bullshit, but it doesn’t matter. The end result is that Gavin, Alex’s brother, Laredo, and Hidalgo Hamilton have replaced them as Elders. People are happy about it for the most part. I think some are a bit surprised about them appointing Laredo, but it sends a positive message about our willingness to accept leopards in our village.”
“And you think because of all that we can simply move back to the village and everything will be fine?”
“At least come with us and speak to the Elders,” said Arizona. “Tell them what you just told us. Surely they can approach the Elders of Makenna’s village and work out a truce of some sort. I’m sure no one wants open war. Not after what the Medina family has put both villages through.”
“That would be true if there weren’t so many in her village who feel differently,” said Stone. “And you don’t completely understand the situation. They openly oppose your mating with Gillian, which complicates everything.”
“Well the hell with them on that issue. They don’t live here. We do. They can’t tell us how to live in our own village.” He cut his gaze toward Makenna. “Sorry. No offence meant to your people.”
“They’re not my people anymore.” Her voice was bitter “My people have been dead a long time.”
Something in the tone of her voice had Arizona convinced there was still more to this story.
“We’ve all been worried sick about Stone,” said Gillian. “The three men have been best friends a long time. And I think I’m safe in speaking for all of us when I say we’re thrilled he’s found his mate.”
“Absolutely,” said Canyon.
“I couldn’t agree more,” said Fiera.
Arizona pulled Gillian closer still and kissed her, tongue and all. He ignored the chuckles and Canyon’s wolf whistle. When he released her mouth, he cupped her face gently. “And that, right there, is what I was talking about this morning. Why I adore you and always will.”
The smile she gave him melted his heart, although he wasn’t sure how it was possible to melt it more than she’d already done. It also made him ache to be inside her again.
“And I love you, too, you sexy lynx.”
Canyon slapped his thighs and stood. “All right. It’s settled. Let’s get you two packed up and moved back home, where you belong.”
“Your village will never accept me,” said Makenna.
“Are you kidding?” asked Arizona. “They’ve embraced Gillian with open arms. They haven’t started a riot now that we have a leopard as an Elder. Don’t be silly. They’ll be thrilled to meet you, and even more thrilled to know Stone is finally having sex.”
That comment earned a chuckle from Canyon and Fiera, but Stone didn’t look convinced. “How will you protect us?”
“That’s why we’re going to the Elders. They need to step up and help you two on this.”
“They didn’t do such a great job protecting Canyon or Fiera from Hawke.”
“Avery, Alex, and Darren were at the center of that, and they’re gone now. You can’t live here forever, cut off from everyone. Canyon and I are your best friends. We aren’t going to walk away from here and not even try.”
“After everything I’ve put you two through, you’re still willing to be there for me?”
“Of course we are, you big fool. Come on. Canyon said it already, and I agree. Let’s get you two home where you belong.”
Chapter Twenty
The meeting with the Elders was as close to being inside a courtroom as Gillian imagined she’d ever get in this village, and that was only because Laredo, Hidalgo, and Gavin proved to be skilled debaters. They were also not thrilled to learn about Makenna’s story, nor were they overjoyed to realize that Canyon and Arizona had convinced Stone and his mate to move into Cash’s house.
“It’s on the fringes of the village,” said Laredo. “How will you protect him?”
“We’ll help him build a new house,” said Canyon. “One on our property, next to my parents’ home, and mine and Fiera’s home.”
“And what about Arizona and Gillian?” asked Hidalgo. “She’s human. From what you’ve told us, they lied to you about Makenna and Stone living there at all, and then they threatened Gillian as you tried to leave their village.”
“That’s why we need patrols,” said Luke. He had come with them. “Because our entire village is involved in this, not only the humans or the leopards.”
“We haven’t done that in decades,” said Gavin, “but it’s high time we did. Twice now this group has vandalized property, and if what Makenna says is true, they have plans for much worse.”
“Can’t you speak with their Elders?” asked Arizona.
“We will try, but don’t get your hopes up. That village has never been known for their willingness to negotiate. The only reason they’ve left us alone all these years is because they never had a reason to be concerned
over what we’re doing here. When the Medina females fled there and told them their version of the story, they found a reason.”
“This started when Arizona chose me as his mate,” said Gillian.
“It started when you found out what the Medinas were really up to,” said Laredo. “But we’re grateful you did. For too long they ran roughshod over our own people. Something had to be done about that.”
“But that’s exactly my point,” said Arizona. “None of this should matter to another village. We have a right to protect our own people from those who would hurt them, and we have a right to mate with the women given to us by fate. The people in our village have accepted Gillian, and they will accept Makenna. This is none of anyone else’s business, and if we set a precedent that allows it to be, where will that end?”
“The legend has always been used as an excuse to start wars between villages, and among the different cats,” said Hidalgo. “And that same legend is very difficult to negotiate around because it’s part of our shared heritage.”
“That doesn’t mean we should allow another village to dictate to us how we live our lives,” said Canyon.
“We agree with you,” said Gavin. “We will try to speak with the Elders of Makenna’s village, but in the meantime, I also agree we need patrols for our own people.”
“I second that,” said Laredo.
“I’ll get to work on setting them up,” said Hidalgo. He eyed Canyon and Arizona. “Will you two be sure that Stone and Makenna are safe until they can build a new home?”
“All of us will make sure of that,” said Fiera.
Hidalgo’s gaze dropped to Fiera’s slightly swollen abdomen.
“Don’t underestimate her simply because she’s female,” said Gillian, placing her hands across her own lower abdomen. “There’s nothing as protective in either the animal or the human world as a mother.”
****
Because she and Arizona lived near the edge of the village as well, Gillian was able to spot the young men patrolling the woods during the next couple of days, but only if she concentrated hard. They stayed well hidden. She didn’t hear whether they had caught anyone trying to sneak into the village, but less than one week after they had all gone to the Elders to tell them what was going on in Makenna’s village, they finally heard about the meeting with the Elders of that village.