Checkmate

by Elyce de Reefe

  “But we knew they were doing that.” She didn’t understand the quiet devastation in his voice.

  “We knew they were using isolated strands, yes. But this is attached to a request to authorize a mapping of these entire genomes.” Dean shifted in his chair and opened another file, scrolling through the data. He pushed back from the screen.

  “Bloody Maiden.” Dean’s voice was quiet. He closed his eyes, threading his fingers through his hair and pushing it off his forehead. The gesture was at once so familiar and utterly terrifying. His hand shook, ever so slightly.

  He opened his eyes and met her gaze. “Based on the current lab schedule, if they put a rush on this, they could start the testing in as little as two weeks. The entire genome, Aster. The People would be exposed.”

  Aster felt her knees go weak. “But… But they couldn’t really tell anything just from our genes… could they?”

  “Any geneticist worth the paper his degree was printed on would know immediately that an entire sub-group of pre-humans was hiding within the general population.” His green eyes were as serious as she’d ever seen them. “And then the hunt would begin.”

  Aster felt a cold shiver slide down her spine. She wet her lips, barely able to speak. “That would be bad.”

  “Yeah. This lab has got to come down. And all of the subsidiaries that have anything to do with the fertility division. At least the network isn’t connected. The data isn’t loose on the internet.” He pulled in a deep breath and held it. “Thank the Maiden for that.”

  Aster nodded and wiped her palms on her jeans. It didn’t help since she was wearing gloves. “Okay. So what do we do now?” Her voice hardly shook at all. She was proud of that.

  “Now you use your magic to ferret out every last lab that has ever been associated with this organization. And then we start planning how to take them out.”

  “Right,” she said, heading back to the computer she’d been using. “Look on the bright side,” she tried. “At least now you will get your microplate thingy.”

  But it fell flat, and her stomach felt like she’d swallowed a lead balloon.

  ** *

  Dean glanced up from his laptop and over at the woman sleeping in his bed. Well, in the king-sized hotel room bed, but still. He’d needed to check the lab schedule one last time, but he hadn’t wanted to wake her.

  Aster lay curled on her side with the covers tucked around her. Her red-brown hair was splayed out on the pillow behind her. She looked younger in sleep. And innocent. Which, of course, was a complete illusion. A smile stole over his lips.

  Mine. He could still hardly believe it.

  These last seven days had been both heaven and hell. He’d been working like a mad man trying to decipher what the pharmaceutical company was doing. Obsessively checking and rechecking the lab schedules to make sure they hadn’t moved the DNA sequencing up sooner. Trying to determine just what they knew, and also how exactly they were planning to use the pheromones. Because that was odd.

  Oh, he knew from abstract research that sometimes humans suffered from low libido issues, but to put this kind of money into something pheromone-based? Maybe if it was aimed at the women. But it wasn’t. And as far as he knew, human males didn’t suffer from disinterest in sex. The ability to perform? Yes, that was a significant issue for some. But this wouldn’t address that problem.

  Dean shuddered, feeling a reluctant sympathy. What would it be like to lie next to your mate and be unable to…

  He shook his head, dislodging the unpleasant thought. Of course, they didn’t bond, so maybe it was different.

  He glanced at Aster again and smiled. Because that was the heaven side of these past days. Every night when he finally did go to sleep, Aster was there. Next to him. Or under him. His smile broadened. Sometimes on top of him. And every morning, too. He had only to reach out to touch the silky warmth of her skin. The precious secret places of her body. It was more wonderful than he had ever imagined.

  But at the same time he was fighting a battle against time, facing a threat to the existence of the People more serious than even the Great War. And he had only himself, and his new, small, fledgling pack to do it with. Dean was desperately afraid he might not be up to the challenge.

  And he was also aware if he and Aster hadn’t mated, Lucas might have had them act on the danger already. Instead of waiting until after the full moon— when he and Aster would come out of seclusion.

  Because this was big. And Dean was pretty sure they would need every member of the pack to take out all of the labs simultaneously.

  Don’t forget, Aaron and Lyla are in seclusion too. And it’s not like the rest of pack just sat back and waited.

  Dean grimaced. He had a feeling that was his guilt talking. Still, Lucas had used this past week to send recon missions to each facility, determining which of them were threats to the People. Some only produced illegal steroids. Dangerous to humans, true. But the pack didn’t have the resources to take those out.

  Dean drew in a deep breath and glanced at the data one last time before closing his laptop. Time for bed. He stood and stretched, then padded over to the bed. Stripping off his soft flannel sleep pants, he slipped under the covers, enjoying the way the heat of Aster’s body reached out to him. Her scent was stronger here, and he inhaled deeply. The fresh sweet scent of orange blossoms washed over him, with just a hint of honey. Moving closer, careful not to wake her, he nuzzled into her outstretched hair.

  Tomorrow the moon would start shrinking and he would take Aster back to pack territory. As his mate. He wondered if he could talk her into putting his shirt back on… Probably not.

  Come to think of it, he hadn’t seen that in a while. She’d probably tossed it. Or burned it. Dean grinned. He’d just have to improvise.

  Chapter 20

  Living Chess, where People—or humans—act as chess pieces on a giant board has been performed as a spectacle since the fifteenth century. Usually a master decides the moves and a steward will prod the ‘pieces’ into place—with a stick if necessary.

  — From the Journals of Aster Ardennes

  Elizabeth paced nervously around the great room trying to distract herself with the menu for lunch. Everyone liked chicken salad, right? She made another pass behind the coffee table and Cray reached out and snagged her, pulling her down into his lap.

  “Would you relax?”

  “I can’t help it. What if she doesn’t like us? This is the first time we’re meeting a were-woman.”

  Cray made a grunt that Elizabeth correctly interpreted as disapproval. She tried again. “Okay. Were-person.” She waited, but nothing happened. “Were-person of the female variety.”

  “Elizabeth. She’s a person-person. Of the People variety. And she’s Pack. Just relax.”

  “Easy for you to say. She’s not going to try to kick you out of the kitchen.”

  Cray laughed. And not a little chuckle either. It was deep belly laugh. Elizabeth was tempted to elbow him in the stomach. “That’s what you’re worried about?” He sounded incredulous.

  “Well… yes.” Among other things.

  What if Aster hated the fact that all the other females in the pack were human? And what about Mari? Mari wasn’t even mated. And given Lucas’s interest in her… Well, Elizabeth couldn’t help seeing parallels of a very wealthy family sneering down at someone from the lower class trying to steal their heir apparent. Except Lucas wasn’t even an heir apparent. He was Alpha. More like the king.

  “I don’t think you need to worry about that.”

  The obvious amusement in Cray’s voice made Elizabeth seriously reconsider using that elbow. She narrowed her eyes, twisting in his lap to give him a glare, when she heard the distinctive snick of the mudroom door opening. She tried to jump up, but he held her firm. At least until Lyla rushed into the room, eyes wide.

  “Elizabeth!”

  Elizabeth was off his lap like a shot, meeting Lyla halfway. “Lyla!”

  They grabbed
each other in a hug, and there might have been some squealing and maybe a little spinning and dancing around, but she hadn’t seen Lyla in weeks.

  After a minute, Lyla pulled back. “Is it true?” Her voice was hushed. “They found Aster?”

  Elizabeth nodded. “She’ll be here any minute.”

  She glanced up to see Aaron leaning against the kitchen island, watching them with obvious amusement. She made a face at him. “Go on, smirk all you want, but how would you feel if you were meeting Lyla’s brother for the first time?”

  Aaron straightened, coming to attention. “Lyla doesn’t have a brother.”

  “Gotcha,” she sing-songed.

  It was a little shocking seeing Aaron again after two weeks. She’d forgotten just how big he was. He was such an easygoing guy, she usually hardly noticed.

  Aaron made a face and glanced over at Cray, shaking his head. Okay, so maybe it was a little juvenile— but hey. Someone had to keep these guys in their place.

  “Where’s Mari?” Lyla asked, drawing her attention back from the men.

  “I don’t know. Cray said we were all supposed to meet here for Aster’s arrival, but when we got here, the place was deserted.”

  “Deserted no more,” Zeke announced as he and his brother Eli entered from the hallway that led to the mudroom. “We have arrived.” He bowed theatrically. Elizabeth rolled her eyes. He must be spending too much time with Gage. Eli smacked Zeke in the stomach playfully with the back of his hand, and sure enough, Gage followed them into the room. But he didn’t say anything. Just walked over to the fireplace and leaned back against the river-stone. Well, Aster was his sister too. Gage was probably anxious to see her and make sure she was really okay.

  The front door opened and Lucas ushered Mari in from the porch. She looked nervous and slightly flushed. She almost pranced over to join them with quick little steps.

  “Hey, Lyla. How was the honeymoon?”

  “Great.” Lyla gave her a mischievous grin, and then she brightened. “Have you seen the cabin?”

  She and Mari shook their heads

  “Oh, Elizabeth, you two have to come— it’s so charming. White curtains, and lots of built-ins and a window seat…” Lyla trailed off, probably noticing Mari’s tight, nervous smile. She reached down and squeezed Mari’s hands. “We’ll set up a girls’ day. Paint our toenails or something.”

  Mari smiled back weakly. “That sounds nice, Lyla.” She glanced back around the room, twisting her hands together.

  “You okay?” Elizabeth asked in a low voice.

  Mari gave her a nod, but her eyes looked worried.

  Lucas, meanwhile, had made a beeline to Aaron and man-hugged him. He was currently talking quietly to him in rapid French, which of course, Elizabeth couldn’t understand. Why didn’t these werewolves speak Italian! That she could understand. But, no, they were Canadian— or at least Lucas was. And Gage. Elizabeth rolled her eyes. And Dean too. But the guys were all fluent in French, so when Lucas was speaking just to them, it was always in French. Very annoying.

  She glanced over at Cray, who was watching the two men, a tense look on his face. He was also biting the inside of his lip, which she had learned meant he was thinking about something. Or worrying. And she was getting nothing from the bond— which meant he was blocking her. Men.

  She was just about to say something when Gage spoke.

  “Mari, come over here.” He shifted toward the center of the fireplace and patted the stone next to him. Mari looked uncertain. Gage continued, his voice low and soothing. “Come, chérie. Stand by me. It will be fine.”

  Mari glanced at Elizabeth, then at Lucas still engrossed with Aaron over by the kitchen island, and then drifted uncertainly over to the fireplace. Gage took her hand and squeezed it. Mari gave him a tight little smile.

  Elizabeth gave Lyla a look, raising her eyebrows in question and Lyla rolled her lips in, looking like she was suppressing a smile. Or maybe a comment. Elizabeth drifted past the fireplace on her way to stand next to Cray and managed to hear what he was saying. Not that she was trying to listen—

  Okay, she was definitely trying.

  “I’ve known my sister all my life,” Gage said softly. “She is a very nice person. Except—” He broke off and then stage-whispered “Well, don’t ever bite her tail. She doesn’t like that.”

  Mari giggled. Trust Gage to ease Mari’s nerves. The man was such a clown.

  Elizabeth smiled, imagining a young Gage nipping at his older sister’s tail. She could definitely see him doing that. She made it over to the armchair Cray was using on the other side of the fireplace and stood next to it, the back of her hand brushing his arm.

  “You will like her, Mari. Wait and see.” Gage’s voice was unusually serious, and Elizabeth shot him a quick glance. He looked serious too. Hmmm…

  Mari made a non-committal noise and glanced over at Lucas, and then back around the room. Elizabeth tried to give her a reassuring smile. Lucas wouldn’t let anything happen to Mari. That much she knew.

  Cray had picked the armchair facing the kitchen and the hallway to the mudroom. That put their backs to the front of the house and the porch, but since almost everyone used the mudroom to enter, it was a good strategic location. He grabbed her hand and pulled her down to sit on the arm of the overstuffed chair. She gave him a look, and he gave it right back. Elizabeth couldn’t suppress a smile.

  She glanced around the room. Zeke was sprawled on one of the couches with Eli beside him. Lyla settled into the other couch, glancing from Aaron and Lucas to the rest of the room. Elizabeth made big eyes at her. The drama.

  Lyla smiled back. Elizabeth glanced around again. They were still missing a few people.

  “Where’s Jesse—” and Boaz, she was about to add, but Cray shushed her.

  Just then Lucas turned and scanned the room.

  “Jesse?” He called loudly, and then strode over to the hall and opened the door to the basement. “Jeffrey. Come up here please.”

  Aaron crossed over to sit next to Lyla, slipping one arm around her shoulders and tucking her in close. So sweet. They were such a cute couple. Aaron, all big and manly, and Lyla, tall and—well, not quite willowy—

  She shot Cray a hard look. The look of innocent surprise on his face was priceless.

  But Lyla was graceful and definitely very feminine. They made a nice contrast. Her hair was a few shades paler than Aaron’s, almost platinum, and it was wild. Even wilder than her own hair. It floated around Lyla’s head and shoulders like a cloud.

  The front door opened behind her and Elizabeth twisted around to see Jesse slink in and stand there, leaning against the wall. He looked slightly uncomfortable, but it was hard to tell with Jesse. The man was either one hundred percent on, or completely inscrutable.

  Lucas walked back across the great room to stand on the other side of Mari, and Jeff poked his head out of the hallway looking uncertain and even younger than his seventeen years.

  Lucas gestured him into the room. “As you know,” Lucas began, addressing them all, “my sister and Dean are joining us here today.” He shot Aaron a swift glance. “They are newly mated, so please take that into account.” He shot Jesse a hard look, and the man seemed to shrink into himself, before turning to Eli and Zeke. “The same with Aaron and Lyla here, of course.”

  Elizabeth got the impression that Lucas wasn’t too worried about anyone coming between Aaron and his new— mate. Aaron would just flatten them. She suppressed the urge to roll her eyes, remembering how crazy Cray had been when they had first bonded. Of course, that had also been pretty hot. Cray shot her an amused look, and it was her turn to look innocent.

  Damn. She needed to get better at blocking what she was feeling. A girl couldn’t keep any secrets with this bond thing. Thank God he couldn’t tell what she was thinking. But all her emotions, and physical sensations, went right through the bond to him.

  “I know you will all welcome Aster and Dean as new official members of our pa
ck,” Lucas was continuing. “Elizabeth—”

  Elizabeth snapped her attention back to Lucas, feeling her cheeks redden.

  “You and Mari will prepare a nice lunch for us all, yes?”

  “Yes, of course. I was thinking chicken salad. Does your sister like chicken salad?” She’d roasted some chicken breast yesterday with that in mind and made a fresh potato salad to go with, but maybe—

  “That will be fine.” Lucas interrupted her train of thought. “After lunch, I’m sure they will want to get settled in. But this evening, before dinner—” he gave Elizabeth a significant look, which really wasn’t warranted. She’d only had one hissy fit about dinner being delayed.

  “We will all meet back here for a strategy session,” he continued. “There are significant issues to discuss—”

  He broke off at the sound of the mudroom door opening and turned to face the hallway entrance.

  Elizabeth rose to her feet. A moment later, a slim, leggy woman with dark red-brown hair strode in, confidence in every line of her body. Dean followed just behind her, looking broader and suddenly more mature against her slender frame. The room went still.

  Aster—that had to be Aster—paused next to the stairs and cast a swift glance around the room. As her gaze swept past, she briefly caught Elizabeth’s eye, giving her a slight chin lift in acknowledgement. She gave Lyla a similar nod, and then walked straight to Mari, sticking out her hand.

  “Hi. I’m Aster. Nice to meet you.” The slight French accent made her sound sexy and sophisticated.

  “Hi.” The one word came out breathy and high-pitched. You couldn’t hear her Southern drawl at all. Mari nervously shook Aster’s hand. “Um, I’m Mari.” There was a short pause. “N-nice to meet you.” There it was. Now you could hear it.

  Aster smiled, slow and knowing. “Yes.” She glanced at Lucas. “Nice to meet you.”

  Then Lucas grabbed her in a bear hug and swung her around. He was growling something to her in French that Elizabeth couldn’t catch but it must not have been too bad, because Aster was laughing. He passed her to Gage who also swung her around, ferociously berating her in French until she was giggling helplessly.