by Karen Kelley
As soon as he rounded the corner, Excoria raced over and grabbed it, then ran past her hiding place as if her feet were on fire. She didn’t stop in case the man came back. By the gods, Nivla could not expect her to keep an eye on the prince under these circumstances.
When she was deep inside the cover of the woods, she sat on the ground, and leaned against a tree. She didn’t hurry. No, she slowly opened the bag, savoring the smell. The unknown aroma wafted up to her.
Her stomach rumbled as she brought out a biscuit of some kind with meat in the middle. She knew the earth food because she’d been here for a quite some time searching for impures. This particular food she’d seen before, but never eaten.
When she bit into the bread, she knew she’d never tasted anything like this, either. It practically melted in her mouth. She forced herself to eat slowly since she wasn’t sure when her next meal would be.
Even after she finished the bread with meat, her stomach felt as though it was hollow. There was a flaky crust pastry of some kind inside the sack. When she bit into it, fruit oozed out. Peach. They had peaches on New Symtaria and her mother had made sweets with them, but nothing that compared to this.
She finished the last bite, then licked her fingers. Her stomach was comfortably full. As she sat there, she realized exactly what her life had come to—stealing food just to survive. Now, she didn’t have a choice. If she left the rogues, they would hunt and kill her just like they did the impures. To them, she would be an impure. Her eyes narrowed. Nivla was evil and mean. She should have demanded he give her money.
The world suddenly came crashing down on her. Even her animal guide wasn’t talking to her except to complain about the mistake Excoria had made when she joined the ranks of the rogues. She had retreated into stony silence.
“I’m sorry,” Excoria whispered, wiping away the tear that slid down her cheek. “I’ll make it up to you.”
Silence.
Somehow, some way, she would, too. She missed her guide. Her guide had always been her best friend. Now she was alone, deserted by everyone. She wasn’t important to anyone.
A thought suddenly occurred. If she could capture the prince, then she would be very important. They would probably shower her with jewels. She only needed to be the one who captured him.
She got up, brushing away crumbs. She looked deplorable. If she was going to get close to him, she would need to clean up. Nivla or Ekon would have to give her money. She squared her shoulders, anger filling her. It was time she made a few demands of her own. What was the worst they could do?
She frowned. They could kill her. It was against the law to kill a pure Symtarian, but since they was breaking the law anyway, it wouldn’t matter to them.
Demanding money might not be the best way to earn their favor. Her stomach clenched. She might have to sleep with one of them. Death was more welcome than Nivla’s slimy arms, but she might be able to stomach Ekon.
She glanced toward the big house, a smile forming. She hadn’t yet told Nivla or Ekon where the prince was staying. She might have more leverage than she thought.
CHAPTER 20
“You’re a prince,” Darcy whispered. “Do you know what that means?”
Surlock shook his head.
Her face suddenly turned pale. “Oh, good Lord, I clobbered a prince over the head and caused him to have amnesia. Is that treason? I don’t think so, but I’m pretty sure there’s a law against it.”
Her pout was too tempting. Surlock leaned over and captured her bottom lip with his teeth, tugging gently, then he began to kiss her. She sighed, leaning in closer, her arms going around his neck.
When he ended the kiss, he saw her eyes were glazed with passion. She blinked several times until they cleared, then quickly moved away from him.
“You make me forget everything,” she complained.
He grinned. “Good.”
“No, it’s not good. If you really are a prince, then we need to find your … your …”
“My kingdom?” he supplied.
Her eyes narrowed. “This is not funny.”
“Was I laughing?”
“I think you were. If you want to keep your vow of celibacy, then you’re going to have to keep your distance.”
“I apologize.” He didn’t think she believed him. But she was right. It would be difficult to keep his hands to himself.
“I’m surprised it hasn’t been on the news or in the papers.” She drew in a sharp breath. “Maybe you were kidnapped and they’re waiting for a ransom.” Her eyes suddenly filled with tears. “You had probably gotten away, stripped of everything, including your clothes, and then I battered you over the head.”
He had a feeling she was about to apologize again so he quickly took her hands in his. “We don’t know I’m a prince. I recognized a building. That was all.”
“Castle.” She sniffed. “It’s a castle.”
He looked at the picture. Castle? It sounded familiar. Again, he saw the room with the two men.
“What do you see?” Darcy whispered.
“Two men. I think they’re my brothers. A jaguar with a glittery necklace around its neck.”
“A jaguar? Like the cat?”
He heard the confusion in her voice. That was okay, he was confused, too.
“One of the men is rubbing the cat behind the ear. There’s a fog.” He shook his head. “I can’t see anything. Wait, it’s starting to clear.” He blinked several times.
“What?” Darcy asked.
“A naked woman. The jaguar is gone.” He watched as another woman brought a robe and held it out to the naked woman. She slipped her arms inside the sleeves and belted it at her waist. The vision slipped back into the shrouds of his mind. He blinked. “I think the woman was my sister.”
“What happened to the jaguar?”
He drew in a deep, ragged breath. “I think they were one and the same.”
Her forehead wrinkled. “Huh?”
“They both wore the same necklace. I think my sister was the jaguar, then she changed into the woman.”
She shook her head. “That doesn’t make sense.”
“I know, but it might explain who I am.” The humming in his ears was back. He closed his eyes tight against the noise.
“Are you okay?” Worry laced her words.
“The humming. It’s back.”
“I’ll get your eardrops.”
He opened his eyes and blinked several times until the noise eased. “No, it’s not as bad as it was the last time. I think it’s beginning to go away.”
She sighed with relief. “We’re still back at square one, though.”
“But maybe the visions are showing me who I am.”
She pushed out of the chair and began to pace. “It doesn’t explain anything. It only makes things more confusing. That would mean you’re some kind of shape-shifter. They don’t exist. No more than a werewolf exists.” She stopped walking back and forth across the room. “I put these thoughts in your head. I should never have made you watch that stupid werewolf movie. I’m sorry. I watch too many horror movies.”
“But it looked real, and it seemed familiar.” He felt as though he was losing his mind.
She knelt in front of him and took his hands. “It’ll be okay. You probably do have brothers and sisters, but your memories are a little confused right now. That’s all. Maybe there was a little statue of a jaguar that you liked and it got mixed up in your memory banks.”
“You might be right.”
“I know I am.” She smiled. “There are no such things as vampires, or werewolves.” She laughed. “Or aliens or things that go bump in the night. But there is one thing we know.”
“What’s that?”
“You’re starting to remember things. Maybe you’re not a prince. You could be a pauper, but none of that really matters. I like who you are right now.”
The phone rang. Rather than waiting for someone else to answer it, Darcy reached over and picked it up. �
�Spencer residence.”
“This is Dr. Wilson calling for Darcy.”
“This is Darcy.” Her heart pounded inside her chest.
“We have the blood work back, but I’m afraid there’s a problem.”
Darcy looked at Surlock. He watched her intently. She tried to keep her voice calm, even though that was the last thing she was feeling. She was almost afraid to ask what was wrong. What if she’d caused Surlock to have a slow bleed or something? Dammit, she had to know—good or bad.
“What… uh … exactly is the problem?” She smiled at Surlock reassuringly while she felt her insides tighten into knots.
“Oh, nothing to do with Surlock. The lab made an error and I will be filing a complaint with them, and the x-ray company.”
“Exactly what was the error?”
“They screwed up the results with a vet or something. The blood work came back abnormal. There apparently weren’t any of the antibodies that humans have.”
“I don’t understand.”
“Ah, yes, let me see if I can explain in layman terms. We, as humans, have natural antibodies. These antibodies recognize and attack foreign invaders, which is why you have to type and cross match blood. If you give a human the wrong type blood, it could kill the patient.”
“And the lab results didn’t have these natural antibodies. Isn’t that a good thing?”
“It might be if he ever needs a blood transfusion, except the tests are wrong. Unless he’s a canine.” Dr. Wilson chuckled.
“Huh?”
“Simply put, dogs don’t have these natural antibodies.”
She swallowed past the lump in her throat. “Dogs, you say.”
“Which is why I’m irritated at the results. Shoddy work. It’s nothing like the old days when people took pride in their jobs. We’ll have to repeat the tests, of course. I’m leaving on vacation tomorrow, but you can bring Surlock in any time.”
Everything was slowly sinking into her brain. The X-rays were wrong because there were two types of bone structure, the blood work was incorrect because the results were those of a canine. She closed her eyes for a moment. Or wolf. The howling in the woods. Thinking she was looking into the eyes of a wolf.
“You still there, girl?”
“Yes,” she squeaked, then cleared her throat. “That will be fine. I’ll get him down to the office.”
“Good. I apologize for the inconvenience.”
“No, that’s okay. These things happen.”
“How’s the boy feeling? Any more humming in his ears?”
“He’s better. Remembering more every day, and the humming is getting better, too.”
“Good. I told him that his memories would come back.”
Darcy didn’t mention that Surlock’s memories were a little crazy. She didn’t want to take the chance Dr. Wilson would commit him, because they might commit her as well. “Have a good vacation,” she said instead, and replaced the phone in the cradle.
“That was the doctor,” Surlock said rather than asked.
She faced him with a bright smile on her face. “Yes. There was a mix-up with your blood work and he only wants to repeat it.”
“What kind of mix-up?”
She shrugged. “Stuff like this happens all the time. Nothing at all to worry about.”
He watched her, but rather than pressing the issue, he nodded. She let out a deep breath. He was not a monster. This was all a coincidence. The idea that he could be a werewolf was so crazy, she didn’t want to think about it.
She sat in her chair in front of the computer again and continued her search on the Internet. Surlock didn’t say anything, but she could feel him close to her. She was not going to mention what kind of error the doctor had found. That was all it was, just an error. People made them all the time. It was ludicrous to think he could change into—what? A wolf? Or worse—a werewolf. And if he could, what did that make her?
An hour later, she pushed away from the computer. Nothing. Not a blasted thing. There was no Prince Surlock, no New Symtaria. Nothing whatsoever. She’d hit another dead end.
“I guess I’m not much of an investigator,” she said, turning in her seat until they faced each other.
He pulled her onto his lap before she could think to protest. Once she was there, she didn’t want to leave. It felt too good having him hold her close. It wasn’t as if they were going to mate. She frowned. Make love.
“I think you’re a very good investigator.”
“I haven’t found out anything.”
“I wouldn’t say that. I could be a secret agent, or a werewolf, or I could be a prince.”
Oh, great, now she felt a whole lot better. Everything she had come up with sounded totally ridiculous. No wonder her mom didn’t want Darcy to get a job—she knew she couldn’t cut it in the real world.
“What are you thinking?” Surlock brushed his lips across the top of her head.
A shiver of need spread through her. “That I suck at the only job I’ve ever had.” She felt the rumble of his chest. Oh, yeah, now she felt a whole lot better.
“I’m not laughing at you,” he finally said.
“Of course not. You’re laughing with me. Uh, I hate to tell you this, but in case you haven’t noticed, I’m not laughing at all.”
“Why does it have to be so complicated?” he asked. “Going to the party was a great idea. Someone is bound to know me. You did say Peter always has a large number of people there, right?”
She’d forgotten about the party for a moment. So maybe everything wasn’t a hopeless cause.
“We’ll need to get you a costume,” she said. “What do you want to go as?”
“How about a wolf?”
Was he laughing again?
CHAPTER 21
Nerves of steel, that was Darcy.
Jennifer and Annette had already left for the party. Darcy was taking her time. She wanted to arrive when there were more people so Peter could announce them. She was hoping someone might recognize Surlock.
And if no one knew him, then what? Her nerves of steel melted around her feet like warmed butter. Deep breath. She was meant to be an investigator. Peter’s party was the perfect place to be seen, and hopefully recognized.
She slipped her foot inside the stiletto and stood, but her movements were slow and jerky. If no one knew him, then once again, she would have slammed into a brick wall. What would she tell Surlock? What could she tell him? Nothing. She squared her shoulders.
Think like Dick Tracy, she told herself. Be Dick Tracy. She closed her eyes and breathed in deeply, then exhaled. What would Dick do?
She grimaced. She wasn’t sure what Dick would do, but she knew what her father would do. He’d taught his daughter the ins and outs of the financial world. One of the first things he told her was to know when to back out of a negotiation, even if it cost you money. Losing a little was better than losing a lot. Maybe it was time to get Surlock an experienced investigator. She didn’t like the idea of throwing in the towel, but she was there to help him, and she wouldn’t let her ego stand in the way.
With her decision made, she looked one last time in the mirror. She hadn’t worn her cat costume in a few years. The black glittery material clung to her curves. The ankle-length dress was cut in a low vee neckline, and it had a very high slit on the side.
Annette had painted Darcy’s face so that her eyes were catlike, dark and mysterious. She’d passed on the black nose and just went with the whiskers. She’d covered her blond hair with a long black wig. Not bad. She had a feeling she would definitely have all of Surlock’s attention tonight. Her blood heated, flowing hot through her veins as she imagined his reaction.
Just as quickly, she tamped down her lustful thoughts. They couldn’t make love until they figured out just who he was. But then again, if they found out tonight, then they could make love when they got home.
There was a light knock on her door. Darcy smoothed the material over her hips and called out, “Come in
.”
The door opened and Surlock entered, stopping when he saw her. His gaze slowly moved over her, touching her in all the right places. Then she noticed how he was dressed and her mouth went dry. Good Lord, did he realize that he could send women into cardiac arrest?
She swallowed. “I’m not sure it will be safe to let you out of the house looking like that.”
He looked down. “Is this not the right costume?”
“I doubt we could have found one more perfect,” she said. He wore a short apron of wolf fur. It was fake, of course, but no one would be able to tell. Not that they would be looking at the apron of fur. No, they would be drooling over his muscled thighs. His rock-hard abs and chest were also bare, displaying a very sexy expanse of skin. On his head, he wore a wolf head with fur that came down on both sides. He reminded her of an Indian warrior—strong, powerful and damned sexy.
His forehead wrinkled. “I don’t understand.”
“The women will be drooling.”
He grinned. “Do you think so?”
She frowned. “Don’t get any ideas. You’re …” What had she been about to say? You’re mine? But he wasn’t.
“I’m what?”
“Never mind,” she said as she turned back to the mirror and fastened a diamond pendant earring in her lobe.
“I like what you’re wearing,” he said as he came to stand behind her.
Her hands trembled. It was all she could do to fasten the earring. When she brought her hands down to her sides, his trailed over them, lightly caressing, leaving tingles of pleasure in their wake.
“You make me want you very much.” He kissed her shoulder, then moved to her neck.
She sucked in a breath, caught his scent, and knew she wanted him as much as he wanted her. Before she turned in his arms and pressed her body close to his, she came to her senses and stepped away from him. This was the night they could possibly discover exactly who he was. As much as she wanted to drag him to her bed, she had to look out for his interests.
“Are you ready?” she asked.
He hesitated. “What if we do find out who I am? Then what?”
“What do you mean?”