“Of course. This isn’t all about me. Lead the way.”
They walked casually through the zoo, stopping to gaze at the larger enclosures and strolled with families in the sunshine. He attempted to stop thinking about which animal to map and focused instead on the beautiful girl by his side. Her green eyes sparkled like emeralds in the light and her hair tumbled over her shoulders in loose waves.
“So, what animal do you want?” Her voice rose in excitement.
“Um, I’m not sure…”
It wasn’t like her to persist like this. He glared at the pavement and watched a squirrel with a piece of bread jammed in its mouth.
“No, I mean the carousel. Which one?” Ana pointed ahead at the large, colorful ride.
“Oh, sorry. Doesn’t matter. You pick and I’ll go next to you.”
They filed past a large crowd of people just off the ride, paid for their tickets and walked onto the platform. Peacocks, tigers, zebras and bears lined up in a silent, joyful parade under the mirrored ceiling. Organ music played as children rushed past them and clamored up onto the various animals.
Ana’s eyes widened and with a squeal, she darted forward with Chance right on her heel. She climbed onto a cassowary and he jumped onto the black leopard beside her, leaned over and kissed her on the lips. The ride started and they began to move up and down. Ana’s eyes closed as she let her arms drop free. While she revisited childhood memories, Chance noticed the bags under her eyes. He wondered if she was still tired even after their long sleep the night before.
After the ride, they walked toward a picnic area and he stopped. “Ana, how’ve you been feeling? You seem tired. Have I been pushing you too hard?”
Her brow wrinkled and she rubbed her cheek. “Well, I guess I’m a bit tired. It’s probably from the traveling. No big deal though, and no, you aren’t running me ragged. But I am really hungry.” The aroma of burgers and fries filled the air and she glanced over to a building with smoke rising from its air vents.
“Lunch. Right. I could eat.”
They settled on a grassy lawn with their meal. Peacocks and squirrels monitored the area, ready to scavenge any food offered willingly or unwittingly from the multitude of children sitting in strollers and at picnic tables. Chance watched Ana wolf down her food, then eye him as he finished his second burger.
“Want another?” He laughed at her.
She puckered her lips and batted her eyes, blushing. “Guess I didn’t get enough breakfast.”
“Let’s do it.”
After clearing through her second meal, she patted her stomach and groaned. “Oooh, maybe I shouldn’t have.”
Ana walked slower following lunch and she seemed even sleepier. She gave him a heavy lidded smile, which initially made him chuckle, then drew his concern. Without being obvious, he let his thumb drift up to her wrist as he held her hand. Her heartbeat was healthy and rhythmic, nothing like it once was.
They paused in the gorilla and orangutan building, sat against a carpeted wall to rest and watch the animals interact. After sitting for a couple minutes, Chance chuckled and scratched his arm. “They certainly are entertaining.”
No response. He looked over and Ana’s head was nearly touching her shoulder. She was asleep and counting sheep. So much for taking time to search for a new animal to map. He needed to take her back to the bed and breakfast for a rest. He would have been disappointed if he wasn’t so concerned for her health.
He pushed himself off the floor, leaned over and brushed her cheek with the back of his hand.
Her eyes fluttered open and she yawned as she stretched out her arms and arched her back. “Sorry about that. The food put me out. Where to next? Elephants?”
“Home.”
He offered her his hands and lifted her off the floor in one fluid movement. She nuzzled her face into his chest and took a deep breath.
“No. We’re here for a reason. We’re here for you.”
Chance brushed stray hairs from her face and said, “No, my only reason for being here is you. And now we need to go so you can rest.”
A shaft of light poured across them from the nearby door, which was flung open by a man with a toddler on his shoulders. Chance entwined his fingers through Ana’s and led her outside. If he didn’t think she would protest, he would have picked her up and carried her to the van but he knew he was just being overprotective. Instead, he settled for walking with his arm around her waist.
As they neared the entrance of the zoo, Ana stopped. “You shouldn’t leave without learning a new form. Really—pick something, I’ll wait.”
The large lion enclosure was to his right. He could nearly hear their breathing. He closed his eyes and imagined himself as a king of the jungle, complete with thick regal mane and muscular build, ready to take on anything. Or anyone.
Tired from their day, he had already given up on the idea of mapping a new animal, but decided to give it a try.
Ana sat down on an empty bench and he wandered over to the rail. The lions were no longer out in the sun but resting in the shade near the glass of the building next to him. He turned and swung open the heavy wooden doors. The darkened room had large plate glass windows that looked out to the habitat. A couple of women were sitting on a bench and feeding their kids snacks at one end of the exhibit. They were involved with what they were doing and didn’t even look up when he walked in.
A male lion was stretched out in the cool shadows. Chance squatted down beside the jungle cat and closed his eyes to relax. Okay, Chance, you can do this.
He called on his blue core of energy. Like the last time he shifted, it was sluggish, almost dormant. Its glow was a fraction of what it once was. A tug of war waged between him and his powers. Perspiration gathered on his forehead as his focus increased.
Chance looked at the lion. It stared at him as though it were waiting for something to happen. He caught sight of a wisp of indigo thread near its eye. Faint traces of blue lines glimmered just below the surface of the yellow feline’s fur. His eyes strained as he tried to grasp it in its entirety but just as he thought he caught it, it faded away.
Damn.
He shoved himself up and punched the glass. He just couldn’t understand what was going on. It was starting to freak him out. If only grandfather was alive. He would have some advice for him, he was sure of it. Instead, Chance was forced to go find his great-grandfather. Someone he knew nothing about.
Defeated, he turned from the glass and tried to calm down. He didn’t want Ana to see him so upset. Then he would have to explain his loss of power. Hearing the words aloud would make it real and right now, he didn’t want to admit it to himself. He was afraid.
As he walked out into the daylight, Ana stood up and said, “So how’d it go? Ready to head out?”
Chance forced a grin and kissed her on the lips. It took effort to keep his voice light and positive as he said in response, “Great. You ready for your nap?”
With that, he led her out past the entrance and into the parking lot, trying desperately not to wonder, as he walked, if he’d ever be able to shift again . . .
Chapter 11
They woke to a darkened room after a much needed nap. This time Ana remembered where she was. She cleared the gravel from her throat before speaking. “Chance? Let’s go get some food. I’m hungry.”
The bedside table lamp switched on and she covered her eyes. She felt Chance’s warm touch as he gently lowered her hand away from her face.
“Don’t cover your eyes. I was just dreaming about them.”
Heat radiated from her cheeks when his breath tickled her neck. She had dreams of lying tangled with his muscular body but she was frightened. There was no one she was more comfortable around than Chance, but when it came to physical closeness she was unsure of herself. She was inexperienced in romantic matters. It wasn’t fear of being rejected that frightened her, it was the fear of the unknown.
She averted her eyes as she recalled what her mom had said
to her before they left on the trip.
I know you love him, baby. And God knows he’s head and shoulders above your dad, but don’t make any hasty choices you can’t take back. I’m not saying I regret having you, baby, because you are everything to me, but please be careful. Love is intoxicating, I remember. Just be true to yourself…always.”
A tear formed and curled down the contour of her cheek. Chance saw it immediately and wiped it away.
“What’s wrong?” he asked, his brows furrowing.
“I was just thinking about how much I love you. And how much I trust you.” Ana lifted herself up and let her bare feet settle on the wood floor. Chance sat beside her and remained quiet. His arm rested against hers and where their skin touched, electricity built. She stared at his muscular hands resting on his knees and noticed them twitch before he let one slide over to her leg. Her breath caught in her throat. Finding courage, she met his shining hazel eyes and discovered the same anxious excitement mirrored back.
A loud knock sounded on the door, shaking them out of their trance. “Hello?” a woman’s voice called out.
Chance glared at the door, stood up and walked to it. He opened it a little, blocking the proprietor’s view into the room. “Yes, hello, Grace.”
“Oh, sorry to disturb you. I was wondering if your room’s beds were made. I didn’t mark it off.”
Ana marveled at Chance’s kind tone when she knew just how agitated he was. She could almost hear him clench his teeth while he spoke through his smile. “Nope, you got us. The beds are made. You caught us on our way out. Time for dinner.”
“Oh? Well, there’s a good Mexican restaurant in town, and there’s a diner, too, if you like burgers,” she added helpfully.
Ana wondered if Grace was really so forgetful, if she was nosy or if she’d simply wanted to see Chance’s handsome face once more. Well, she couldn’t blame her if it was the latter.
“Thanks. We’ll see you at breakfast,” Chance said and shut the door. “Well, you ready to eat?”
Her stomach rumbled and she covered her belly in embarrassment. “Oh, I guess so. I’m starved.”
She bit the inside of her lip and avoided looking at him. Chance seemed to have brushed off the interruption and she felt his eyes trace over her. Heat flushed her cheeks as she thought about what would have happened if there hadn’t been a knock on the door.
“You’re keeping up with my eating habits. That’s no small feat.”
Ana shook her head and reached for her shoes. The tinkling of metal made her look up. Chance grabbed the keys off the side table, slipped on his jacket and gave her a broad grin. “Ready, my love?”
She stood up and stretched, and Chance went to the closet to retrieve her coat. Holding it out for her, he gingerly enclosed her in the warm cocoon. He fumbled with her zipper and drew it up slowly, letting it rest at the nape of her neck. They entwined hands and ventured from the Victorian house and into the darkened night.
Chance slipped behind the wheel, fired up the loud, rumbling engine, and started rolling down the street. “I miss my truck,” he said, frowning.
Ana snickered while buckling herself in but stopped suddenly when a stray dog came trotting out into the street. The tires locked up as Chance pressed his foot on the brake. Chance’s arm caught her as she lurched forward.
“You okay?” he asked, his eyes wide.
She sat back up and nodded as she watched the stray stop to look at them. Its steel eyes stared in through the glass, scruffy gray fur stuck out in tufts and it appeared to be in serious need of a bath. A dry leaf fell from its tail, startling it, and it moved across the road and around a parked car.
“Let’s try that again.”
They drove the short distance into town and found the Mexican restaurant. Ana was amazed at her appetite and a little embarrassed as well. She cleared her plate and even felt a little hungry when she was done.
They stepped outside and watched a stream of cars go by, heading up the mountain. A gust of wind blew past them. Ana held her jacket shut and tried to secure her hair behind her ear.
“Hey, weren’t you telling me about those red rocks? Is it open now? Can we go up?” Chance regarded the dark shape of the hills to the west.
“That sounds like fun. Sure, it’s just a couple minutes away.”
Ana drove them out of town to a paved road that wound around huge pieces of stone jutting from the ground like worn, broken bones the earth could no longer contain. Scrub and brush filled in the empty space. As they wound along the one lane road, they saw the city glowing below. The rumbling yellow van passed through a tunnel carved out of the red rocks and she remembered back before Eva was born, when she would yell out the window every time they drove through, hoping to hear her own echo. She entered a large gravel parking lot and pulled up the emergency brake. It groaned in protest and the van rocked back, settling in place.
“Ready?”
“Can’t wait. Show me around.”
They locked up and walked to the top of the amphitheater. Row upon row of seating tumbled down the rocky enclosure built into the earth. High peaks of stone arched above them to their left and opened up for a perfect view of the cities below. Points of light glowed from the homes and streets of Denver, illuminating the horizon. Ana tipped her head back, expecting to spot a carpet of stars but found only a blank canvas. Cloud cover kept it from being a perfect night.
Disappointed, she sighed and looked at Chance. She could see his features through the tenebrous night and he was staring raptly at her.
She dipped her chin down, hoping he hadn’t seen her awkwardness in the dark. His fingers traced down her forearm and to her hand. He led her down the stone steps and paused at a row near the top. They sat down and Ana leaned against him as he wrapped his arm around her.
“I’m sorry there aren’t any stars out for you,” he said into her ear.
When she turned to respond, his lips met hers in a strong embrace. She let out a soft cry of surprise and he curled his arm tighter around her waist. His free hand cupped her face and she felt his hot breath travel down her neck and back up to her ear. Soft, tender kisses engulfed her heart in flames, and it raced in excitement.
Ana’s warm body pressed up against his made Chance unfocused, lightheaded. He buried his face against her neck and breathed in the floral scent from her hair. Since the moment they’d met, she had filled his dreams and thoughts every waking moment. When he was near her, he longed to hold her, touch her. He didn’t have much experience with girls. When his powers developed as a teenager, he’d lost all desire to be around anyone who couldn’t understand him. That left only his grandfather, whom he’d preferred to be around above everyone, until he’d met Ana.
Just below his fingertips, the fluttering pulse of her heart made him recall the time he would have pulled back instead of persisting. He was still getting used to her strong, healthy heartbeat. Her ragged breathing ignited a fire, a need he had been pushing away. He cupped his hand behind her head, leaned in and lowered her onto the wooden planks of the bench. Her eyes widened and then relaxed.
A gust of wind whipped over Chance’s body, combed through his dark hair and lifted up his jacket. Soft fingertips drifted up his spine, sending a ripple of pleasure down his legs. He licked his lips, leaned in and whispered, “I love you, Ana.”
Even in the murky dark, he could see her eyes open. Strands of long chestnut hair framed her almond shaped face; she was his own enchanting siren.
“Chance, I love you, too, more than anything,” she choked out.
Crack—Boom! Chance lifted himself up, but kept his body over Ana’s, tight and ready to spring. Everything was suddenly illuminated by a powerful burst of light. The rocky enclosure was bathed in a bluish flash. A wet drop slapped him on the cheek and then another struck his back.
Ana laughed beneath him and raised her arms up. Chance groaned. Of course. Something always gets in the way.
Just as he was about to help her up,
he was hit with a familiar sensation. His muscular arms locked in place and his awareness became fuzzy as an unpleasant vision entered his mind, one he had experienced before.
Niyol was in the form of the wolverine and pummeling a bobcat with repetitive blows to the face, which forced the cat to tip to its side, blinded. The cat morphed into a defenseless prairie dog. Markus.
When the prairie dog turned to escape, his grandfather’s thoughts echoed through his mind, Go ahead and run—I’m faster than you.
Markus’s furry form scurried a couple feet before Chance felt his body dive into it, smashing it into the ground. He picked up the limp animal with his powerful jaws, and shook it fiercely. He dropped it to the dirt and leapt into the air, diving down onto the small creature. It trembled and disappeared.
His instincts triggered and his attention shifted. Where’s Chance? His gaze moved upward as he searched the landscape. Chance saw himself through his grandfather’s eyes, leaning over Ana. He saw his body give a subtle jolt as his hands hovered over Ana’s lifeless form and a sapphire glow emanated into her chest, radiating from his hands.
He heard his grandfather’s voice call out. “No! Chance, wait!” His grandfather returned to his human form and ran toward him. “Wait!”
His grandfather’s memory faded, flickered and continued. Niyol was now crouched over Chance’s lifeless body with his hands hovering over Chance’s chest, and chanting rhythmically. Soon the deep voice faded and he watched a blue light generate from his grandfather’s fingertips and shoot into his still body as Niyol’s thoughts faded into a soft whisper until there was only silence.
As Chance watched these memories play out in his head, Ana lay stretched out, giggling in the rain, completely unaware of what Chance had just experienced. He sat up, his senses in a soundless vacuum, as though he were trapped in a glass room. His hands remained lifeless at his side as he stared over the city and at the lightning strikes flashing through the inky night.
Chance hadn’t been prepared for such a painful flashback and couldn’t understand why it had happened. More raindrops tapped around him, and he recalled the lightning that terrible day, when it had allowed him to achieve the thunderbird form. The electricity in the air had given him the boost he needed to shapeshift into his ancestor’s form of power. Another clap of thunder sounded and the hairs on his arms rose. In the same moment, a pitchfork of lightning struck out, and everything fell into place for him. Of all the three death scenes, one was quite unlike the others. It could only mean one thing.
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