by Tina Donahue
For once, Gwen was quiet, regarding him as though she wanted to make certain he wouldn’t bolt. When he didn’t, simply circling the room to burn off his frustration, she joined Regina at the counter.
Seconds passed in relative quiet, except for the slap of Kuma’s running shoes and Gwen’s fingers drumming against the marble countertop.
Regina finally turned to her.
“Sorry for frightening you before with the gun,” Gwen muttered. “I’m not usually like that. I’m an RN, for God’s sake.” She mumbled the name of the hospital where she worked. “I didn’t know what else to do. I just wanted to get your attention.”
She had, and then some. Not that Regina could blame her. If it had been Nikoli in danger, she would have done the same. “It’s over. Forgotten. All right?” Regina read the next ingredient on her list. She opened the can of diet Pepsi, then measured out two tablespoons.
“Whoa.” Gwen leaned toward Regina and whispered, “What are you doing? I thought that was the antidote.”
“It is.”
“Are you adding diet Pepsi to it so it tastes even shittier?”
Regina laughed. “Beats me.”
“Hey, is this for real?” Gwen complained. “Are you putting me on?”
Regina’s smile faded. “Wish that I were, but no.” She tapped the paper she was working from. “I got this list of ingredients from Damir—she’s a scientist from E2 like Nikoli. When he needed materials to build a device to open portals, Damir and her mate, Meelo, got them from Home Depot and Radio Shack. Go figure.”
“Does the device work? Did you ever test it?”
“Nikoli brought Lukan and Arez—two pleasure slaves—to this realm from E4 before Vakar could exterminate them.”
Propping her elbows on the counter, Gwen hung her head. “How long have you been living like this? I mean, saving people from other realms, knowing they even existed, shacking up with a guy who’s not even from this dimension?”
Seemed like forever. Seemed like no more than a moment. “Not nearly long enough,” Regina murmured.
Gwen looked over. “It’s working for you two?”
She heard the young woman’s worry. She’d witnessed Gwen’s devotion to Kuma, what appeared to be her deepening love. “I’d die without Nikoli. There isn’t anything I wouldn’t do for him.”
“Yeah, I noticed when you kept Kuma from attacking him in the hall.” Gwen screwed up her mouth and straightened. “If you’d dug any deeper into Kuma’s face, he would have needed stitches. Do it again and I’ll have to floor you.”
Regina stared at her.
“Hey, I was only kidding,” she said.
Regina didn’t return her smile. “Make certain your plan works, please. Get rid of those thugs. Send them on a one-way trip to hell.”
Gwen wrapped her arm around Regina’s shoulders and squeezed gently. The gesture was so female and comforting, Regina couldn’t help but hug the young woman in return.
“I will,” Gwen whispered. “I don’t have a choice. I’m going to make certain Kuma’s safe, whether he wants that or not. Nikoli too. I won’t let anything happen to him or you. I give you my word.”
Regina had no doubt of Gwen’s sincerity. However, plans didn’t always unfold as one wanted. She’d learned that when Damir, Meelo and Lukan had shown up here late one afternoon, uninvited and needing help.
Pulling away from Gwen, Regina said, “Nikoli.”
He kept his face lowered to his device, running his thumb over its controls, changing the data inside. “What?”
“You did build another of those instruments, correct?” He’d promised to do so after he’d raced against time to make one for Lukan so the young man could rescue Arez. The devices were Nikoli and Regina’s only means of escape if anyone…or anything…from the other dimensions came after them. “Please tell me you did.”
“Several of them.” He ran his thumb over the controls once more. “They’re stored all over the house, where I have ready access to them.”
Seriously? “And you’ve waited until now to tell me that? What if something had happened to you and I needed ready access to them to save us both?”
“You haven’t…you won’t.” He snuck a peek at her. “I didn’t want you to think that anything bad was about to happen. I didn’t want you to worry.”
His keeping her in the dark to protect her disturbed Regina more than any crap Vakar could have come up with. She crossed her arms over her chest.
Gwen cleared her throat as though she feared an argument was about to happen. “Thank God both of you have those things now.” She spoke to Nikoli, “How’s that one coming?”
He focused on his instrument to the exclusion of everything else, especially Regina. “I’m getting there. It’ll work just fine.”
Kuma made a noise that said he wasn’t pleased and kept pacing. Gwen shifted her weight as if Nikoli wasn’t moving quickly enough. Next, she regarded Regina with a can-you-put-a-move-on? look on her face.
Returning to her mixture, Regina read the next ingredient on the list.
Gwen moaned when she saw what it was.
“Damir swears by this,” Regina assured.
“Uh-huh. What’s the mode of delivery?”
Regina stopped pouring the cayenne pepper. Somehow, she’d forgotten to ask Damir that, simply assuming they’d drink it.
“Can’t be injection,” Gwen mumbled. “You put that in anyone’s veins and they’re facing a very nasty death.”
“Maybe not,” Nikoli said. “My physiology and Kuma’s are different from yours and Regina’s.”
“Which means there are two ways to take this?” Gwen asked. “Do we even know? Are we certain about anything concerning this so-called antidote?”
Before Regina could answer, the first notes of Kelly Clarkson’s latest hit song sounded.
Gwen pulled her cell phone from her jeans pocket and looked at the screen. “I gotta take this.” Pacing as Kuma was, she spoke into the phone, “Why are you calling? What’s wrong?”
Kuma went to her. “Who is it? What happened?”
“Staci, and I don’t know. Talk,” Gwen ordered the girl. She listened to whatever Staci said, then frowned and shook her head. “No, Kuma and I are all right. We’re where we’re supposed to be. The guy isn’t a ruler. He’s a scientist. He’s going to help us. What?” She listened again, her frown deepening. “No, he’s not forcing me to say that. It’s the truth. Why are you panting? What has Teeko been doing to you?”
Kuma’s steps slowed. Lifting his face to the ceiling, he breathed hard.
“Don’t tell me he’s doing nothing,” Gwen barked into the phone. “If he does anything to hurt you, I’ll—what?” She listened again and sighed. “I don’t know how much longer we’ll be, but we’re okay, all right? Take care of yourself. Tell Teeko he had better keep you safe. See you later. Bye.”
She pushed the phone back into her pocket and regarded Kuma. Regina noted how the werewolf pretended not to notice Gwen’s scrutiny or displeasure.
“I’ll be through with this in a few minutes,” Regina said, grabbing the next ingredient. “You can take the whole batch.”
“No,” Gwen said.
Regina spoke as gently as she could. “It’s all right. I’ll whip up another bowl for Nikoli and—”
“That’s not why I’m saying no,” Gwen interrupted, gesturing to the bowl. “No way in hell am I just taking that with me and using it. I’ve changed my mind.”
Chapter Twelve
With Gwen’s pronouncement, she saw the tension drain from Kuma’s shoulders. He probably thought she’d decided against hunting the guards.
Fat chance.
Regina seemed confused. Nikoli appeared pleased that he was going to get his kitchen and woman back from the intruders who’d forced their way in.
Kuma took Gwen’s hand, squeezing her fingers, no doubt ready to lead her back home so they could do things his way.
Regina spoke before the others
did, “What do you mean? You can’t refuse to take this. It’s the only way the guards’ darts won’t affect you.”
“We don’t know that,” Gwen argued. “We won’t until we test it.”
Kuma’s fingers loosened around hers. “What are you talking about?”
She spoke to Regina. “Call Damir, ask her how to make the tranquilizer. Once we have, you’ll inject me with it; then I’ll swallow the antidote, testing whether it works or not.”
“No,” Kuma snapped.
“It’s the only way,” Gwen said quietly, trying to reason with him. Again, she asked Regina, “Please call Damir.”
Kuma stepped away, turning his back to them.
Gwen hoped to God he wasn’t planning to take off. If he tried, she’d have to threaten him with her gun—which probably wouldn’t faze him at all—and that would leave her with the only other weapon she had, distracting him with a whole lot of sex to keep him here. No way was she going to lose him now that he was in her life.
“Go on,” Nikoli said to Regina, “call Damir.”
“I want to listen in,” Gwen said and offered her phone.
Waving it away, Regina headed for the hall. “I’ll set up my computer in here so we can all hear what she says.”
Gwen went to the kitchen door, standing between it and Kuma. If he bolted for the front entrance, she’d be in deep shit. By the time she got there, he’d be out on the street, running to who knew where, possibly gone forever.
She begged as she’d never done with another man before, “Kuma, whatever you’re thinking, don’t leave.”
His entire body seemed to tighten.
“I need you to be here for me…please,” she said.
He turned his face to the side and glanced at the kitchen wall, rather than her. Gwen waited for him to bitch, whine, or growl like the animal he was.
Kuma pressed his lips together as though he didn’t trust what he wanted to say.
“I’ll have this set up in a sec,” Regina said, hurrying back into the room with her computer.
Minutes later, Gwen stood behind Regina’s chair. Kuma remained to the side, which still gave him an adequate view of the screen. Using Skype, Regina made the call.
Gwen gaped at the image that came on the screen. She glanced from it to Nikoli and back, comparing features. The guy on the computer could have been Nikoli’s double except for their differing ages and the nasty scar on the older man’s face.
“Hi,” Regina said.
The man nodded once, his attention on Gwen. Although he betrayed no outward emotion, Gwen saw something in his eyes. Curiosity? Panic? Leaning down, she whispered in Regina’s ear. “Is that Nikoli’s father?”
“No.” Regina spoke as softly. “All the males on E2 have the same physical features.”
Gwen wasn’t about to ask why or comment on how lucky they were to be so good-looking. “Who is he?”
“Meelo, Damir’s mate.” Regina turned back to the screen and addressed him. “There’s no need for concern. This is Gwen and Kuma.” She gestured to the werewolf. “They need our help against Vakar’s guards. I have to talk to Damir about the antidote I’m preparing.”
Gwen’s shock was just as great when the woman came on camera. Despite being fifty or so, she was freaking gorgeous.
Anxious to get this show on the road, Gwen spoke before Regina could. “Hi, we’ve made your antidote, but we need to test it on the tranquilizer the guards use. What’s in the stuff they put in their darts?”
The woman didn’t blink or move a muscle. She might as well have been a statue.
Gwen whispered to Regina again, “What’s wrong with her?”
“Nothing. The people on E2 were trained never to show emotion.”
Sounded like the white-bread world Gwen’s biological father had come from. “Will she help us?”
Regina turned back to the screen and addressed her. “We really need those ingredients.”
“Of course.” The older woman gave up the goods with absolutely no inflection in her tone, despite what was in the mixture.
“You’re certain about this?” Gwen asked as she studied the list that Regina had written.
“Yes,” Damir said.
She sounded as though she had no reservations at all or couldn’t have cared less about any of this. Gwen cleared her throat and plowed ahead. “Would Kuma take the antidote differently than I would?”
With his name, he moved closer to the screen.
Damir registered no surprise at seeing him.
“He’s a werewolf from E4,” Gwen offered.
Still no reaction.
“How would he use the antidote?” she pressed.
“Injection would be best,” Damir said. “Though I advise you and Regina to take it by oral means alone.”
“Regina’s not going to be taking it,” Nikoli muttered, his attention on the device he continued to calibrate.
Kuma snorted, the sound telling Gwen he didn’t expect that she’d be testing it either.
We’ll see. “Thanks for your help,” she said to Damir. When Regina ended the call, Gwen lifted the list. “Do you have these ingredients here?”
“All except for numbers three and six.”
“I don’t want you going out to get them,” Nikoli said, frowning at Regina.
“Not a problem,” Gwen assured. “I’ll go get—”
“We will,” Kuma cut in.
She smiled. He didn’t. Gwen fought a sigh. “Fine, we’ll both go, and then we’ll come back here with them.”
Kuma’s expression said he didn’t much like her plan.
“Where’s the nearest supermarket?” Gwen asked Regina.
“About three miles. Did you drive here?”
“No. Kuma and I walked.”
Regina went to a series of hooks on the wall and pulled off a ring of keys. “Take my car. Wait.” She held the ring to her chest. “You do know how to drive, don’t you?”
“I learned when I was fifteen. Since my last car died, I haven’t been able to afford the payments, upkeep and insurance on another one.”
Regina bit her bottom lip.
“Want to see my license?” Gwen asked.
“Drive slowly,” Regina said. “Don’t run any red lights. If a cop stops you—God, you have no idea what problems that would bring.”
“Don’t you worry. I’ve worked on more cops than you can imagine in the ER. Most of them know me. Those who don’t, know the ones I’ve saved. I’ll be fine. We’ll be fine. Kuma and I.”
She wiggled her fingers, wanting those damn keys.
Regina finally handed them over, along with enough cash for the purchases and directions to the store. “My car’s out front, the black BMW.”
“Thanks.” Gwen led the way down the hall, followed by Kuma and Regina. The woman watched them from the front door, hand to her throat, as if they were her children about to go out on a prom date that would end in tragedy.
Kuma followed Gwen to the driver side. At his uncertain expression, she realized he wasn’t being protective. He’d never been in a vehicle before and didn’t know what to do.
“Go around to the other side.” With her finger, she directed him there. “When you hear a clicking sound, that means I’ve opened the doors. Grab the handle and pull it toward you.”
Inside the vehicle, Gwen showed him how to put on his seat belt.
He frowned as it tightened around his body. Clutching it in his fist, he tried to rip it off.
“Hey, stop,” Gwen said. “It won’t hurt you.”
“It’s trapping me.” He yanked it up to pull it off his chest and over his head. “I don’t want to be trapped.”
Of course not. He’d witnessed what had happened to those in his pack when the guards or rulers had captured them on E4.
“Hey, hey,” Gwen said more softly this time, her hand on his. “I won’t let anything happen to you. We have to wear these things, or the authorities could stop us. Look down here.” She dire
cted his attention to the release button. “When you want to be free, all you have to do is this.”
She depressed it, and the belt slid across his lap.
Still breathing hard, he stared at the limp nylon restraint.
“You control when you want to be free,” Gwen assured. “No one’s going to—”
A sharp rap on his window startled her, stealing the rest of her words.
Regina bent at the waist and spoke through the glass. “What’s wrong?”
Gwen swallowed and shook her head. “Nothing.” She talked loudly enough for Regina to hear. “Just getting used to the seat belts.”
Kuma fooled with his, locking and unlocking it. At last, he smiled and regarded Regina as though she was intruding on his domain.
The woman straightened and backed away.
“Since you’ve never been in a car before,” Gwen said to him, “the forward movement might be a bit surprising. But there’s nothing to be concerned about, I’m a good driver. No tickets, no points on my license.”
“I don’t understand.”
She patted his knee. “We’re going to be fine. Hang on if you want. It might make you feel better.”
“Hang on?”
Gwen clutched the sides of her seat to show him what to do.
Once Kuma was gripping the supple leather, she started the car, put it into gear and pulled away from the curb.
His feet slammed into the floor, clearly trying to stop the vehicle.
“Easy now,” she said, driving so slowly the few people outside glanced up and watched. “I’ll have to go faster or we’re going to bring attention to ourselves. You going to be okay?”
With his fingers digging into the seat, Kuma nodded.
Gwen accelerated down the street, following Regina’s directions to the store. At the first red light, she rolled to an ultra-gentle stop and glanced over, staring at Kuma’s face. “You still all right?”
His eyes were wide. He grinned. “I want to do this. I want to make this thing go forward as you’re doing.”
“It goes backwards too. We call that reverse.”
“Show me,” he demanded.