by Milly Taiden
“So you’re telling me that you took her home last night before the storm hit and didn’t make sure she was okay and didn’t need anything?” Liv turned around again mumbling under her breath about men and their lack of sense.
“I did ask, and she said she was fine. The cabin is well stocked.” Karel cursed softly. It took her mentioning it before he realized the trap he had walked into. “You’re right, I wasn’t thinking clearly. I just want answers. I want them now,” Karel growled and stepped forward to wrap his arms around Liv’s waist. “She hurt my mother; I can’t let that go.”
Liv turned in his arms to face him. “I know and you don’t have to, but running over there in the middle of the storm isn’t going to solve anything.” She bit her lip, trying to think of anything else they could do. “Can you call your friend Alyx and have them see if she went to the castle. She probably wouldn’t expect us to know she is gone already. She might have gone to get her things.”
“You are beautiful and brilliant. I hit the mate jackpot with you,” Karel said as he ran out of the room. Liv laughed and turned to finish cooking breakfast. A few minutes later, Karel returned. “Aayi isn’t awake yet. I am going to call Alyx. Will you stick around in case you think of something I’m missing.”
Liv smiled and put Aayi’s plate in the warmer, then sat beside him at the table. She watched as Karel pulled out a small handheld device. “What is that?”
“It’s a communicator. It projects a hologram of the person or persons we are talking too.” Liv was amazed, she had seen that on TV, but never in a million years did she expect to see it in real life. She watched closely as he attempted to call Alyx without success. Disappointment flooded her, she had hoped to see the thing work. Forget sci-fi, this was real life. If they had holograms that talked, what else did they have?
“What about Bella? Maybe she can help us. Besides, women usually know what's going on in their own homes more than a man would.” She laughed at the disbelief on Karel’s expression. “It’s true. You men tend to ignore the house, assuming it runs on its own. Women pay attention and notice things you all would miss. I’m not saying we are better, just that we each have our strengths.”
Karel grunted, bringing a smile to Liv’s face. Her jaw dropped when the call was picked up and a real life hologram of Bella appeared in front of her. “That has got to be the coolest thing I have ever seen,” Liv whispered in a voice full of awe and surprise. She reached out to touch the hologram and was shocked when Karel slapped her hand away.
“What are you doing? She isn’t here; you can’t poke her.” Liv blushed as Karel and Bella laughed.
“It’s okay. I had the same reaction when I saw one the first time.” Bella turned to Karel. “How is your mother?”
“That’s actually why we are calling.” Liv blanched at Bella’s reaction to Karel’s words. “No, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean--” He sighed. “It’s already been a very long day. She is going to be just fine, thanks to Liv here. It’s a long story and I promise to explain later. Right now we have something of importance we need your help with.”
Liv watched as Bella let out a sigh of relief and wiped the tears from her eyes. They had frightened the poor hormonal woman.
“It’s about Tiana. Can you find out if she returned to the castle? She left the cabin sometime between yesterday early evening and now.”
Confusion clouded Bella’s face. It was clear she tried to understand what was going on. “She left your mother? And disappeared? That’s what you are telling me? That’s incredibly irresponsible!” Liv could feel Karel’s tension rise with each minute that passed. She knew if he didn’t get answers soon he was going to regret his next actions, and even more so when Alyx found out he yelled at his pregnant wife.
TWENTY-FIVE
“Yes, she disappeared. I caught her poisoning Aayi. We need to find her. Know what is going on. Can you check and see if she returned to the castle?”
“Poisoning her? What…why? Let me call you back in a few minutes. Karel did you inform Alyx?” Bella asked with a worried frown.
Karel sighed in frustration; waiting sucked. “He isn’t answering his link. Can you fill him in?”
“He’s gone to the bears for the meeting. He left yesterday and won’t be back for a week. I will leave him a message as well, though.” Bella signed off and disappeared from Liv’s view.
“You really do have the most amazing technology up here.” Liv stood and moved to the counter. “I made breakfast.” She scrunched her nose. “At least I think it’s breakfast. Your mother said these were eggs and the meat smelled close to bacon so…” She shrugged. “Here, you eat. I have a tray to take to Aayi.”
As she walked by, Karel grabbed her around the waist and pressed his nose into her neck. “Just in case I didn’t tell you yet today, thank you for everything.” He kissed her below her ear and let her go.
She smiled over her shoulder at him and put a sexy sway in her hips. “I aim to please.” Liv stepped forward, careful not to spill anything on the tray, and giggled in delight as Karel made a grab for her again. She took off for the safety of his mother's room.
“Laughter is a beautiful sound, but not as beautiful as the smile my son puts on your face,” Keliana said with a twinkle in her eyes. “Good morning, daughter. Something smells delicious.”
“Oh, good! Maybe I didn’t mess it up.” She grinned. “Good morning, Aayi. You seem to be in a good mood. How are you feeling?” Liv placed the tray on the bed next to Keliana and waited as she scooted into a sitting position.
“I feel rather remarkable, actually. I think I could out eat my son for once. I hope you made lots of protein for me. My jaguar needs it to heal quicker.”
“Just so happens I did, but you have to go slow at first.” Liv placed the tray over Keliana’s lap and sat back to help if needed.
“I can’t eat in the kitchen while you two are in here talking. What if my Aayi tells you embarrassing stories of my childhood?” Karel asked as he walked in carrying two plates of food. “Here, love, you need to eat as well.”
Keliana laughed heartily at his words and turned back to Liv. “I will tell you stories, too, like the time he got stuck in a tree. Can you believe my son, the jaguar, stuck in a tree.” Liv tried not to laugh and looked at Karel.
“I did not get stuck. I have told you a thousand times, but will you listen to me? No, of course not.” Karel grumbled under his breath about mothers embarrassing their only sons with such wild and false accusations.
“No worries, Liv. I will tell you all about it and many other stories, but first, I must know what you two are hiding from me.”
Liv sighed. So much for keeping her from stressing over the insane caregiver being on the loose. “It’s Tiana. She’s gone. Karel went to check on her this morning, and she had disappeared.”
“I’m not surprised, to be honest. If I had dropped the bottle, I would have run. Too risky to come back and play the odds one of you had found it.” Keliana lapsed into silence as she thought of everything they had told her last night and this morning. “I still can’t figure out why she would want to poison me. I’m just an old jaguar woman. No threat to anyone. Before she brought me books, I had never even heard of her.”
Karel’s communicator buzzed, stopping all conversation in the room. “It’s Bella. Do you guys want me to answer in here so you can listen?”
Liv grunted and looked to Keliana. “Is that a stupid question to you? ‘Cause it is to me.”
Karel tried to hide his smile. “Fine, I get it. Your sarcasm wasn’t needed.”
A moment later, Bella’s hologram appeared. “Hi, everyone. Keliana you look so much better than the last time I saw you. I am so happy you’re improving and on the mend.”
“Thank you. I feel like a new person compared to a few days ago. Liv just prepared me a protein filled breakfast and I already feel more like my old self. Before you know, I will be chasing my grandbabies around.”
“Aayi!” Karel
burst into laughter at the look on Liv’s face.
Bella’s jaw dropped in surprise at Keliana’s words. “Liv is there something you’d like to share with the rest of us?”
“I am not pregnant.” At least, she didn’t think she was. She’d never been regular so she had no clue. “Aayi likes to tease me, because she wants babies to play with.” Liv grinned in embarrassment. She really needed to stop blushing. These two delighted too much in her reactions . “Did you find out anything? Did Tiana come back to the castle?”
Bella’s smile fell from her face. “No, she didn’t. No one has seen or heard from her since she went up to be Keliana’s carekeeper. I asked around, but no one is really that close to her. Nobody has any idea where she could have gone. I’m sorry I’m not helping much.”
Karel sighed and nodded. “It’s not surprising. If she was smart enough to run, I would think she is smart enough not to return to the castle.”
TWENTY-SIX
“Keliana, would you mind if I came for a visit? I would love to see you. Besides, I kind of miss having Karel around too. He has been my constant companion for the last few months,” Bella asked.
Liv nodded her approval of the plan, even though no one was asking her. She enjoyed her short time with Bella and would like to know her better. “That would be wonderful. Yes, please do come. As long as the teleport won’t be too much on you. I heard it didn’t sit well with you when you first came here.”
Much like it had with Liv. Except it made Bella sick, where Liv just passed out.
“Karel has been telling stories. There’s no truth to any of them unless they are about how awesome I am. Actually, being pregnant has had a positive effect on me. I teleport with ease now. Must be the shifter genes in the baby lending me his or her strength. I need to finish a few things here, but I should be there later this afternoon, if that’s okay with you.”
All three agreed and Bella signed off. Karel stood. He was going to call Alyx again and fill him in on everything. He knew Bella well enough to know she would hide things to keep him from worrying. Liv turned back to Keliana. “How are you feeling today really? You do look a lot better than you did a few days ago.”
She smiled and patted Liv’s hand like Liv was a little kid in need of comforting. “No fretting, love. I feel a 100 percent better already. I even think by tomorrow I will be walking and taking care of myself. I can feel my strength returning in leaps and bounds. You know, we owe you a debt I can never repay.”
“No debt. I will forever be grateful I was in the right place at the right time. Spending these last few days with you and seeing the smile on Karel’s face has been payment enough. I am so lucky to have met you both.” Liv paused and watched as Keliana fought to keep her eyes open.
“Now, Aayi, it’s time for you to take a nap and rebuild that strength you spoke of. I’m going out for a short walk around the cabin now that the storm has let up.” She had cabin fever and was excited to see what else was new and different in Aurora from earth. “If you need anything, just call out.”
Liv leaned down and placed a kiss on Keliana’s cheek before walking out of the room with a bounce in her step. She hadn’t been sure before, but was now. She made a very good choice in coming here. Now she had to figure out what to do with her sexy, growly jaguar who made her purr.
She went out to the garden Karel had taken her to on her first day at the cabin. She couldn’t get over how beautiful and lush all the flowers were. The storm made the colors more vibrant than she could ever have imagined.
“So you are the bitch who foiled my plans,” a shrewish voice called out, surprising Liv. She turned to see a blond woman with flashing golden eyes staring at her with menace.
“What are you talking about? Who are you?” Liv looked around wildly for help, but she was alone in the garden. Would this woman attack her in the open like this? Dammit this chick was big. A lot bigger and clearly a shifter.
“You interfered with business that was of no concern to you. I will make you regret it. Watch your back, human.”
“Liv, you out here?” Liv turned to see if Karel was close enough to rescue her from this psycho. She looked back at the blonde to find her gone. Liv looked around, but there was no sign of her. Karel came into view, and Liv wasted no time in sprinting and jumping in his arms.
“Babe, what's wrong? What happened?” Karel pulled her back slightly so he could look into her face to assure himself she was unharmed.
“Some psycho just threatened me. She appeared and disappeared within seconds. It was freaky as hell.”
“What woman? What did she look like? What did she say? She threatened you?” Karel’s words ran together, he spat the questions out so quickly. The anger in his voice was unmistakable, and for some odd reason, Liv found comfort in that.
“I have never seen her before. She didn’t give me her name. She said I foiled her plan and to watch my back.” Liv stepped out of Karel’s arms, anger starting to push away her fear. “What the hell is going on, Karel? Why is some strange woman threatening me?”
Karel sighed and pulled her back into his arms. “I’m not sure, but I will find out.”
TWENTY-SEVEN
Liv leaned back in his arms and looked him in the face. “You know half the people on this planet have been mean or threatened me. I thought it was going to be different here. You are so advanced in so many ways, but people are just as rude. I guess I should count my blessing they haven’t started picking on my weight yet.”
Karel growled in frustration. “You need to understand one thing. There is nothing wrong with you. You are perfection to me. I love every, gorgeous inch of you. Haven’t I shown you that yet? I don’t want to hear you say that bullshit ever again, you hear me.”
Liv smiled, took Karel’s hand and pulled him to sit on a bench in the garden. “I believe you. I don’t mean to make you angry. I love my body, I really do, but after years of taunts, sarcastic barbs, and flat out name calling, it starts to get to you. I love who I am. It’s others who can’t accept that.” She swallowed hard. He had a feeling she was telling him more about her than in any previous conversation.
“Sweetheart…”
She shook her head “They made oink noises as I walked down the hall in school. They would pretend to fall to the ground and scream out about an earthquake when I ran by. When I became an adult, it was just as bad. Do you know what it’s like to go on a date and have him make inappropriate innuendos because you are fat and don’t deserve better? At least according to him and many other assholes on earth.” Fury filled her eyes and her lips thinned into a flat line while she recounted her past.
“You don’t have to tell me if you’re not up to it.” He hated the look of frustration on her face as she spoke.
“No, it’s okay. It’s in the past. But that’s what makes me who I am. My life experiences. I had one guy tell me he would take me home and show me a good time, but he would have to keep his eyes closed the whole time.”
Karel grew angrier with every word she spoke. He had to let go of her hands so he didn’t crush her fingers.
“I can’t help if other people are ignorant. I quickly learned to ignore them and not give them my time. I am a big, beautiful woman, and I have enough confidence in myself to pay no attention to my critics. I work hard and play hard. I take care of my body. Because earth society doesn’t see me working out and eating salads all day, then they don’t believe I give two shits about my health.” She gave a dry laugh.
“Earth people don’t know anything about being human.”
She nodded. “Isn’t that the truth. But I love who I am.” Liv smiled and leaned forward to place a kiss on his cheek. “I just thought people would be nicer here is all I meant. I didn’t mean to upset you.”
Karel knew he was overreacting, but he hated seeing the pain in her eyes, hearing it in her voice. She may love who she was, but he could tell those people had taken a piece of her with their taunts. “I will spend the rest of my life
showing you how beautiful, amazing, and desirable I find you. You are my everything for now and forever. My jaguar and I chose you. And I’m glad you chose me.”
She grinned. “I’m glad we chose each other. Even if I feel like the past week has been a whirlwind and more like a month than a week.”
He curled his arms around her and kissed her temple. “As to the people on this planet, don’t judge everyone based on a couple bad seeds. We may be more advanced technologically, but we still have assholes.”
Karel couldn’t sit anymore; he needed to move. He stood and paced in front of Liv. “I want you to see that not only is our planet beautiful, but so are our people. We don’t judge based on anything other than how they act and treat others. You have already proven in the short time you have been here how wonderful a person you are. Please don’t be discouraged. I don’t think I could handle it if you hated it here.”
Liv stood and moved to block his path. “You’re right. I’m sorry I judged all the inhabitants of your planet by the few nasty ones I’ve met so far.”
Karel smiled and leaned down so his mouth was inches from Liv’s. “I don’t know if you will believe this or not, but I love you. You are my mate.” He sealed his words with a kiss.
* * *
Karel left Liv to visit with his mother as he called Alyx again to fill him in on the latest developments. He wasn’t sure who had threatened his mate, but it wasn’t going unchallenged. “Alyx, sorry to bother you again so soon. Liv was in the garden at my mother's house and a woman threatened her.”
“What did the woman say? I assume she was smart enough not to give her name,” Alyx growled in frustration and rage. Mates were never threatened. Ever. “I left just two days ago. Why is everything happening at once.”
“She didn’t give a name; that would be too easy. She told Liv she interfered and to watch her back. Nothing that tells us anything.” Karel sat in a chair and sighed. “I can’t figure this out. Why would someone target my mother, and then threaten my mate. I don’t really have enemies.”