by Chant, Zoe
We should have killed them, the diprotodon growled. They threatened our mate – endangered her life! What would they have done if we hadn’t been there? They deserve to bleed – to die!
With effort, Callan pulled it back, only letting himself feel its feral rage for a moment. He’d spent his life learning how to control the animal side of his nature, but this was the first time he’d dealt with it under these circumstances. The angry red mist of fury at the idea of Ella being hurt was something he hadn’t experienced before.
Calm down, he said. We can’t do anything if we’re so angry we can’t think straight, all right?
The diprotodon didn’t seem particularly satisfied with this line of reasoning, but it backed off slightly, glowering.
To distract himself, Callan glanced at Ella. Her cheeks were slightly flushed pink, her lips parted. Her hair, which had been pulled back only loosely to begin with, was now falling down around her face, framing it with dark, slightly sweaty tendrils.
She was the most beautiful thing Callan had ever seen.
Warmth filled his chest, like a golden glow around his heart.
My mate. I can’t believe I’ve actually found her.
In a way, the situation still seemed slightly surreal to him. It had been the last thing he expected to happen. Somewhere in the back of his mind, Callan realized he’d always assumed he’d find his mate – if he was going to find her – once he was older, perhaps even after he’d retired from field work. It’d seemed a more sensible way of doing things, rather than having to worry about a mate while he was out on potentially dangerous missions.
Callan could afford a small, wry smile at that thought.
What’s sensible doesn’t come into it, he thought. The mated bond doesn’t care about any of that.
Maybe he could let this be a lesson for him. Being measured and level-headed was helpful – up to a point. But he couldn’t always rely on that to help him. Sometimes, he needed to seize the moment and allow animal instinct to take over.
“Let me know when you need a break,” he said, though Ella didn’t show any signs of needing to slow down. “You’ve had a long day.”
Ella raised her eyes to his. “I… I guess I’m a little tired,” she admitted, after a short pause. “But we still have some daylight left, don’t we?”
“Maybe half an hour or so,” Callan said, glancing up at the sky. The sun was glowing, the golden light reaching them even through the dense trees. The sky was already tinged with pink, overtaking the clear blue of the afternoon. “Perhaps we ought to forget about making any more ground today, and focus on finding somewhere to stay for the night.”
Ella looked for a moment like she might be about to argue, but then, she nodded. “We have a lot to talk about, too,” she said. “You said you’d answer my questions.”
“And I will,” Callan replied instantly, meaning it. “Anything you want to know – if I can, I’ll tell you.”
We must tell her what she means to us as well, his diprotodon spoke up. She must know she’s our mate. She can already feel our connection. We must tell her what it means.
That was going to be a little trickier, Callan thought, grimacing slightly. Perhaps Ella would be willing to accept the nature of his work for the Agency, and even the things her father had done while working for Hargreaves. But the existence of shifters, and the fact that he turned into an animal that, as far as most humans were concerned, had gone completely extinct tens of thousands of years ago… well, that might be a little harder for him to explain, and for her to believe.
We could show ourselves to her, the diprotodon argued. She would understand then.
Right, and what if it frightens her? Callan asked it. What d’you reckon will happen then?
Ella didn’t seem like the kind of woman who was easily frightened, but still, the diprotodon was a massive beast – the size of a rhino, heavily muscled and thickly furred, like an enormous bear. It would be a terrifying sight at the best of times, and Callan knew that it would be especially startling when combined with the fact that the man Ella had no choice right now but to trust was the man who had suddenly transformed into it.
The country out here might have been beautiful, but Callan had no illusions about how deadly it could be. Experienced hiker or not, if Ella were to run from him because he’d showed her what he shifted into, then it could have terrible consequences.
But I need to tell her. I need to find a way, and soon.
“Is it safe to stop, do you think?” Ella asked, glancing warily over her shoulder.
Callan let his diprotodon come forward a moment, sending its heightened senses out to scan the area around them as far as it could.
He could sense no one following them. He wasn’t sure if the men who’d been after them had been shifters or not. If they worked for Hargreaves, it could go either way. Hargreaves was run by them, but not all of their employees were shifters. Ella’s father, for instance, was human – it had said so in the Agency’s file on him, at least, but Callan was also fairly certain he would have been able to sense it through their bond if Ella herself was half shifter.
Still, it would have made far more sense for Hargreaves to send shifters after Ella – they were stronger, faster, and their tracking ability was far greater than any human’s. And they could be relentless when they were tracking their prey. Despite that, Callan knew that sooner or later, Ella would need to rest. They couldn’t run all night, regardless of who – or what – might be coming after them.
“It should be,” he finally said, once he was completely certain he couldn’t sense any followers. “If we rest now, we can start early, too. And you must be hungry.”
As if to confirm what he’d said, Ella’s stomach gurgled loudly. A small, embarrassed smile pulled at the corner of her mouth.
“Yeah, I suppose I am,” she said. “I’m pretty used to not eating though – sometimes I get caught up in things, and just forget to.”
“You need to make sure your body has enough fuel,” Callan said, before immediately shaking his head at himself. “I mean, I’m sure you know that already.”
To his surprise, Ella just laughed lightly. “You’d think so, but I seem to be really bad at remembering it. You’d be shocked if you saw inside my pantry – it’s pretty bare. Sometimes I’ll just grab a breakfast drink in the morning, a handful of gummi bears for lunch and a sandwich for tea, and that’ll be it for the day.”
This is not good, Callan’s diprotodon said censoriously. Our mate needs someone who will care for her, to make sure she eats three square meals a day. We will provide for her. We will seek out food and present it to her, as a mate should. She will see that we are worthy of her.
“Well, let’s make sure you eat something good for now at least, yeah?” Callan said, pushing aside his diprotodon’s suggestion that he immediately shift and go out foraging for bush tucker to lay at Ella’s feet.
Lifting his head, he put his finely attuned shifter hearing to work. He allowed his diprotodon to come forward, searching out what he was looking for.
There.
“There’s a river about a ten-minute walk to the north-west,” he said. “We can rest there and restock our water, and have something to eat. Sound good?”
Ella nodded, her eyebrows drawn together. “You know this land?” she asked, as they began walking.
Callan shook his head. “No, not really,” he began to say, before realizing that Ella, of course, wouldn’t have known how he could be so sure about the existence of the river. “I mean, I can get a sense of it, though. I spent a lot of my life in land just like this. After a while, it becomes easier.”
That was the whole truth, at least. Callan really had grown up in a country town that bordered a wilderness area, and his family really had spent a great deal of time roaming it more or less freely, just like his ancestors had. Callan had joined them as soon as he’d learned how to safely shift, when he’d been about fourteen or so – the usual age when shifters
were deemed to have enough self-control not to lose themselves entirely to their animal sides.
Ella seemed to accept that, nodding. “I grew up in the city,” she said. “But I really prefer being closer to nature. Crowds and big cities don’t really suit me.”
“I can’t argue with that,” Callan said, smiling at her as they walked. “I’ve been cooped up too much recently – it feels good to get out here again. Though to be honest, I could do without the mystery van chases and guns. Not really what I’d call a relaxing time getting back to nature.”
Ella’s light laugh almost came as a surprise to him – and maybe to her too, judging from the slight shake of her head. “No – no, I think if I’d known, I might have planned this trip a little differently.”
It wasn’t long before they found the river – a crystal-clear stream of water wending its way between two rocky banks, the trees stopping a few feet from its edge, unable to grow on the rock. Callan set the panniers and the saddlebags down in a clear spot, just as the last of the sunlight began to sink below the horizon, leaving the land covered in a hazy blue gloom.
“Even when it’s dark it’s still beautiful,” Ella said, gazing around them.
“We’ll see how it stands up when the mosquitoes start biting,” Callan said, amusement in his voice. “Mozzies out here are vicious, and the size of birds. But you’re right – it really is beautiful.”
Reaching into the pannier, Callan pulled out the small, battery-powered lantern he’d brought with him, mainly as an afterthought. He hadn’t really thought he’d be doing any camping, and hadn’t even brought a sleeping bag with him, only a thin blanket. Still, he was used to spending the night in rougher places than this – he just regretted that he wouldn’t be able to offer Ella anything in the way of creature comforts.
“I’m sorry I don’t have anything fancy with me,” Callan said, reaching into his bag again and pulling out a can of beans, and then a can of pre-boiled potatoes. He was used to eating unappetizing things while out on the road – these were actually some of the nicer rations the Agency supplied. “I guess you can have anything you want, as long as it’s beans or potatoes.”
Ella sat down, pulling her legs up to her chest and wrapping her arms around them. “You’re lucky I’m not a picky eater. Really, anything’s fine. I’ve never been able to get too worked up about food. Which is good, because I’m not much of a cook.”
“Me neither,” Callan admitted. “Though I can usually look after myself. I admit, taste isn’t hugely important to me. As long as it has carbs and protein, I’ll eat it.”
“I’ll bet,” Ella said, almost absently, and Callan glanced at her just in time to see her eyes dart away, a blush coloring her cheeks.
Our mate is pleased with our appearance! His diprotodon suddenly raised its head, nostrils flaring in something that looked like triumph. Callan only just forced down the impulse it sent to him to start flexing.
She wouldn’t mind it, his diprotodon said sulkily. She can sense our bond. She is interested in us.
Okay, good, Callan told it, fumbling with the ringpull on the can of beans. It’s a start, I guess, but she’s human. It takes a little more than that.
What more could she need? The bond is there, and she can feel it. She knows what we are to each other.
That’s exactly the point, Callan thought. She doesn’t know. And I have no idea how she’ll react when I tell her.
“You need some help there?” Ella asked him, as once again the ringpull eluded his grasp. She held up a hand. “I have little fingers. Probably more useful than all those muscles when you’re doing something fiddly. Uh, I mean –” Ella flushed again, turning red to the roots of her dark brown hair “– I mean, I can do that, if you like.”
Bemused, Callan passed her the can, and sure enough, she had the ring pulled up and the lid off in no time.
Callan cleared a small area for the fire, building a ring of stones to keep it contained. Ella watched him, her quick, dark eyes following every movement from behind her glasses, taking in everything. There was plenty of fuel nearby, and in no time, Callan had the fire going – it was a quick job, once you had the knack of it, and Callan had done this a countless number of times.
“Here you go – nectar of the gods,” he said, pouring the beans into a collapsible cooking tray. “Don’t say I don’t spoil you.”
Ella laughed softly. “Believe me, anything looks good just now. Really. I didn’t realize just how hungry I was until I smelled those beans.”
“Geeze, you must be hungry if issued field rations are actually looking appetizing,” Callan laughed, hanging the tray on a stick and dangling it over the fire. “So, how d’you like your potatoes – boiled and canned probably a decade ago and heated up, or boiled and canned probably a decade ago and heated up?”
“If someone had told me we were going somewhere upscale I would’ve put my face on,” Ella said. “When will the wine list be coming? What pairs well with ancient potatoes?”
Callan laughed, holding out two of the bottled waters he’d brought with him. “An excellent choice, madame,” he said, when Ella took one.
She flashed him a smile, and Callan felt his heart thudding in his chest. Considering everything she’d been through over the past twelve hours, it was amazing Ella could smile at all, Callan thought. They’d been chatting and joking as if this was a normal situation – like they were a couple on a camping trip, and not two people who’d only just met, and were currently trying to outpace some mysterious pursuers, on their way to some mystery location to find God knew what.
I should probably find out about that, he thought, as he shifted the beans around, monitoring the bubbling potatoes. Whatever else Ella is to me, she’s also someone it’s my mission to keep safe, in a professional sense.
“You said I could ask you some questions, and that you’d answer them,” Ella said a moment later, almost as if she’d read his mind. “Would now be a good time to ask?”
She looked at him almost shyly – which was interesting, because, given their first meeting, the last thing Callan would have described Ella as was shy. Strong, determined, no-nonsense – all of those things. But not shy.
He swallowed.
He’d said he’d tell her the whole truth, and he had no intention of backing away from that now. Besides having no desire to conceal anything she wanted to know from her, Callan knew his diprotodon would never allow him to lie or omit information.
“Go ahead,” he said. “I’ll tell you what you want to know, if I know it myself.”
Ella didn’t speak right away. She stared into the flickering flames of the fire, as if contemplating what she wanted to say.
“You said… well, you hinted that all of this has something to do with my dad,” she said slowly, after a few moments of silence. “And I’d guessed that much myself already. So what I want to know is why. I haven’t even seen him since I was seven. I’ve got nothing to do with him now, and I don’t want to. So why the hell is this happening to me?”
Callan took a deep breath. “I honestly don’t know, Ella. I don’t know why now, or why specifically you’re being targeted. What I can tell you is that your father has been working for a pretty shitty outfit, to put it mildly. Did you ever hear of Hargreaves Incorporated?”
Ella shook her head, and Callan couldn’t say he was surprised. Hargreaves tended to try to keep their name out of the public eye. They used subsidiaries for their more noticeable work, and if you didn’t keep up with the world of mercenary armies – or private security, as Hargreaves preferred to call it – there was no reason to have heard of them.
Callan wanted to tell her everything, but at the same time, he was hesitant to scare her. Hargreaves were utterly ruthless, even to the point of bloodthirstiness. They’d tortured his friend Hector, and had been planning on buying Ruby to raise and control her, in order to use her alicorn powers of mind control to cause chaos and stir up wars they could profit off. He knew Ella deserved the
truth, but at the same time, his heart hurt at the idea of frightening her.
Still, not telling her how dangerous they can be could be worse in the end, he reasoned. Ella needs to know so she can judge the situation properly.
“They’re – bad news,” he said. “No, that’s underselling it. They’re really bad news. Their main business is mercenaries – though they call it ‘private security forces’ – but they get into everything. Mining, oil drilling, anything they can use to make money, they’ll be on it. They’re dangerous people, Ella. I need you to understand that. We’re not dealing with amateurs here, or just two creeps in a van.”
Ella swallowed, staring at the fire. She took a deep, shaky breath. “I… okay. Okay. I get it. They don’t fuck around.” She paused. “And this is who my father was working for?”
“Yes. Did you know anything about his job when you were little?” Callan asked.
“No, nothing. He never talked about it. I was just a kid, anyway, and to be honest, even when I lived with him in the US I barely saw him. He was always at work. I was pretty much raised by my nanny – until apparently even that got to be too much trouble, so he sent me over here to live with my aunt.”
The loneliness Callan had seen in Ella’s eyes back at Agency HQ was plain in her voice now – or perhaps he was just particularly attuned to it.
Comfort her! his diprotodon said, its tone insistent. Our mate is in need of comfort!
Callan’s fingers twitched, and he had to force his hand to remain where it was. He ached to reach out to her, to tell her that she wasn’t alone and never would be as long as he was by her side, but he knew that Ella probably wouldn’t take it the way he intended it right now.
“I do know he worked in biochemistry, though,” Ella continued after a moment. “Ironic, right? Considering I ended up working in something similar. Maybe it runs in the family.” She laughed bitterly. “Is that what he was doing with these Hargreaves people?”
Her eyes were piercing when she looked up at him, and Callan nodded.
“Yes. We think he was developing… some kind of serum that could be used to torture people, as well as other things like that. Nasty stuff. Hargreaves obviously keep that kind of thing as under wraps as they can.”