Lost & Found (A Lost Ones Novel Book 1)

by Khristine Stain

  “I’m serious.”

  “Me too, and that’s crazy. Look, I just want to wash the mall trip from me and get ready.”

  “Get ready for what?”

  “I’m going to the Roadhouse. I need to get away from all these crazy people.”

  “You can’t escape yourself.” Iya said grinning.

  “I know. I tried.” Dae smiled at her roomy. Dae felt a little guilty that she was going to have to ditch Iya. But it was for Iya’s own good. Dae wasn’t going to have Iya hurt because of her problems. Time for phase three.

  Nineteen

  Dae thought the walk back to Koda’s condo was refreshing. Raj and Iya linked arms like two lovebirds sharing secrets they assumed nobody else could hear.

  Dae couldn’t believe some of the things she heard.

  Koda walked two steps behind her sneezing left and right. Dae didn’t freak out that he was at her back, which was strange. Maybe she was too busy feeling the nagging pangs of guilt. Koda hadn’t stopped sneezing; even pinching his nose didn’t help halt the sneezing attack.

  He also hadn’t spoken more than three words to Dae since the mall episode. Dae tamped down on the pain in her chest at his silent treatment. This was what she was asking for all along. Dae wanted silence. And space. From him. Yeah. Dae tried to ignore the nauseas feeling that slowly increased over the hours. By the time everybody was showered and ready to go, the nausea was a full on ache.

  Raj had invited himself along again. Dae wouldn’t have minded if she didn’t have a plan unfolding that did not include him. Now she had to factor Raj in her plans…shit.

  Dae was going to have to play all three of them off each other by pushing Iya and Raj together while separating Koda. All Dae needed was a window. Koda’s lost nose gave her that. Iya was too damn sweet to suspect treachery at every turn. But Raj, he was very aware, watching everything and everyone.

  Dae didn’t need this, dammit.

  They arrived at the Roadhouse as a foursome. Iya wanted a booth for them to sit at.

  Yeah like that was going to happen, Dae thought. “Why don’t you guys get a booth?”

  “What do you mean ‘you guys’? Where are you going to sit?” Iya asked confused.

  “Where I always sit. Duh.”

  “Um, I thought the whole point of this excursion was to have fun. Why would we sit separately?”

  “I will be having fun, but you know I hate those booths. I know that you want some special time with Raj and from what I’ve seen cuddling together on a bar stool is impossible. Go ahead; we’ll play a game later when you both come up for air.” Dae said with a weak smile.

  The nagging pain in her stomach was getting ridiculous. Maybe she had a tape worm from all that takeout she had been eating.

  “Ok. We’ll see you both for a game later.” Iya said with concern lacing her voice.

  “Yes, I am definitely looking forward to wiping the floor with Tsul ‘Kalu.” Raj grinned at Koda, waiting for him to take the challenge.

  No wolf could deny a challenge. It was a wolf’s nature. But Koda just nodded and followed Dae to the bar. Man, Raj thought, he’d rather kill himself than have a crazed mate like Dae.

  “I see the face.” Iya looked at Raj through narrow eyes as she watched Raj grimace at Koda and Dae’s backs.

  “What face?” Raj asked innocently.

  “Don’t give me the ‘bull crap face’ after the ‘I pity the fool face’.” Iya said irritably.

  Raj couldn’t help the grin he wore. “I swear, I didn’t make a face.”

  “Mmm hmmm.” Iya crossed her arms and stared Raj down.

  “Not buying it huh?”

  “Nope.”

  “Look, no disrespect, but your friend is toying with my friend. I feel bad for the guy.”

  “Ok, no disrespect but Koda is a big boy now. He’s got the pull-ups to prove it. And Dae doesn’t toy with people that way. Other ways, heck yeah she does, but not in the way you mean. Do I endorse all of Dae’s bad behavior? Not in the least. But you haven’t lived our lives so before you start judging, start walking cross-country in our stilettos.”

  Raj pointed to Iya’s stilettos. “Hey, I wouldn’t walk a city block in those things.”

  Iya smiled a little, noting how Raj changed the subject. He was not getting away with that at all. “We all cope with things in our own way. Dae’s way may be meaner than a bull with a firecracker up his butt, but that doesn’t mean she hurts him on purpose.”

  “It sure looks like she does.”

  “Looks are deceiving. Everybody knows that. They even print messages on car mirrors saying that.”

  Raj smirked. “They print ‘objects are closer than they appear’ on car mirrors.”

  “Exactly.” Iya mashed up a simile and used sarcasm as a defense… Dae would be proud.

  Raj smiled before he said, “Before you said ‘our’ lives.”

  “Yes.”

  “But you don’t act like Dae.”

  “We all cope in our own ways.” Iya repeated looking a little saddened.

  “So you and Dae are…” Raj questioned, wanting to turn Iya’s frown upside down.

  Iya followed his pause “Family.”

  “You guys are related?” In a parallel universe. Iya was not a shifter. At all.

  Iya did not like Raj’s incredulous tone. “Me and Dae are the most important kind of family. We are the real kind of family. If you have a problem with her, it’s a deal breaker. We can’t hang anymore.” Iya turned on her heel and made her way to a pool table.

  Raj stood frozen. No one had ever put him in his place so nicely before in his life. He didn’t know why, but something about that fact made him smile. Raj followed Iya to the pool table wondering if soon somebody would be making the ‘I pity the fool face’ towards him.

  Dae sat at the bar in the Roadhouse. It was her favorite spot. Dae could see the whole bar behind her through the mirror that stretched across the wall. Raphael, the owner and sometimes bartender, came her way. He nodded to Dae and Dae nodded in acknowledgement.

  Koda noticed that Dae was familiar with Raphael. A little too familiar for his tastes. He had seen both women come a few times to the Roadhouse and thought nothing of it. But that had been when he thought Dae as just a beautiful human woman. Now that he knew Dae wasn’t merely human, it all made sense.

  The Roadhouse was a Supernatural bar; a bar run by Supes for Supes. Humans came all the time but few actually stayed long before they felt unwanted. The way Dae nodded and Raphael gave her an unknown drink was a testament to Dae’s standing with Raphael. Raphael hated everybody, especially Koda. That damn jaguar still held a grudge over a bar brawl that occurred years before between Koda and his brother.

  Raphael noticed Koda staring at him and he gave a low roar. Freaking cats.

  Dae looked up from her drink at Raphael and smiled. “Raphael, have I ever told you how much I love you?”

  “You tried once but you were plastered.” Raphael replied.

  “Ah, I remember. Your cat and dog theory.”

  “Like oil and water.” Raphael actually smiled. Koda had never seen that crazy jaguar shifter offer more than a grimace in his life.

  “But our half breed children would scare the shit out of everybody.” Raphael laughed loud as Koda bristled.

  Raphael noticed Koda’s dissent and turned a speculative eye on Koda while he asked Dae, “You sure this is the company you want to keep?”

  Dae downed her drink glancing at Koda, and then turned to Raphael. “Were you asking him or me?” Dae smirked and Raphael chuckled as he refilled her drink.

  Through Dae’s peripheral vision she noticed Koda watching the scene as if he was made of stone. Dae was already feeling low and Koda wasn’t making it any better.

  Actually, Dae didn’t feel low; she felt terrible. Her eyes burned and her head ached like someone kicked it. Her stomach twisted and her chest was tight. For the first time in Dae’s life, she thought she might need a doctor. Ko
da still hadn’t said anything to her.

  Dae did not see a mutual connection between those events. There was no cause for her current ailments. It was just time for her to have some since she’d had none in her life that weren’t inflicted upon her. It was bound to happen. Dae felt like punching herself in the face. She couldn’t bullshit her selves anymore…

  Dae might kind of, sort of, possibly, fractionally not hate Koda as much as she wanted to.

  A herd of hoe’s congregated on Koda’s opposite side. They were loud and obnoxious clearly wanting Koda’s attention. Koda didn’t pay them any mind. That made Dae start to feel warm inside as she fought the heaviness on her chest that made it hard for her to breathe.

  Simultaneously Dae’s vision reddened as her finger tips itched. Dae fought the urges of her crazy self that demanded her to rip the herds trachea’s from their throats. It was only because Dae hated bimbos. Dae kept her focus on her breathing and tried to ignore the many plans of action her crazy self demanded.

  Run to his side and bitch-slap the hoes until their necks break. Jump over him and choke the hoes until their eyes roll back in their heads. Jump on top of him, have your dirty NAKED way with him, then beat the hoe’s until their bodies’ go cold.

  The only difference in each plan was how she killed the hoe’s. Dae swallowed the last of the alcohol as she fought to remain seated. This was a good thing. This was her plan unfolding before her without her pulling the strings. People prayed for things like this to happen. Be grateful.

  Raphael took the cash Dae slid under her napkin for her open tab as he always did and moved on. He wasn’t much for conversation and neither was she. A few words and he went on his way. And that was why this was Dae’s favorite place.

  Koda noticed Iya grabbing two beers at the other end of the bar. Raphael seemed to like Iya too. Koda caught Raphael fighting a smirk as Raj fastened himself to Iya’s backside when he noticed Raphael being friendly with Iya.

  This whole night was damn strange.

  The herd of hoes was becoming louder and more annoying. Dae struggled against her compulsion to grab Koda and… Dae grappled with those irrational compulsions using all her strength. She wasn’t doing anything but following the plan. The plan was safe.

  “So you and Raphael are friends?” Koda couldn’t help asking. The silence was killing him instead of it killing her. There was no point to continue. It wasn’t working; Dae was just too damn stubborn. And not talking to Dae was making him feel physically ill.

  “We’re not enemies.” Dae shrugged. Koda was talking to her again. Dae swore she wasn’t relieved. There was no pressure slowly releasing from her chest and Dae did not want to smile.

  “But you like him.” Koda pressed.

  “I haven’t gotten our matching best friends forever charm bracelets if that’s what you mean.” What was Koda getting at?

  Who cares? The silence was over.

  “But you’re not mean to him.” Koda was baffled.

  “The nights still young.”

  “You know what I mean.”

  “Nope. Haven’t the foggiest.”

  “You’re mean to everybody but Iya and now Raphael…”

  Dae rolled her eyes. “Iya’s different. Raphael provides me with spectacular service and no talking. Maybe he could teach you some pointers on the latter.”

  Shut up! What’s wrong with you!

  “Because you know I got the ‘spectacular service’ part down already?” Koda grinned seductively. He couldn’t resist flirting with Dae no matter how hard he tried. Dae was so amusing when provoked.

  Dae took a deep breath. It was now or never. Even though it seemed to be killing Dae like festering knife wounds all over her torso, Dae forced herself forward. She didn’t come all this way for nothing.

  “I don’t care if you sweat hundred dollar bills vacationing with the Pitts or that you’re some famous ass in the U.K. I don’t want a free lap dance!” The shocked expression on Koda’s face told Dae he was not expecting her to say that.

  Granted, most people wouldn’t expect anybody to say that. But what Dae wasn’t expecting was to feel the pain start and pressure in her chest increase.

  Koda was confused as the crowd of human and Supe women turned their heads and started to descend upon him. What the hell was his mate doing?

  Dae didn’t move from her seat, she looked at him with a saddened expression as if she was pained. Koda fought his instincts as the herd surrounded him, asking him questions and introducing themselves. He didn’t care about these women but he was always a gentleman. He tried to politely inform them it was a joke –not a funny one by the way– but when one stopped talking another started. Koda couldn’t think as he was enfolded into the herd, some touching him to get his attention, some shouting.

  He didn’t like any of these women touching him. It wasn’t his mate and it made his wolf bristle.

  Two jackals started arguing and Koda knew that this bar fight would be blamed on him as well. He tried to separate the two but before he knew it, more jackals descended. In a matter of seconds, it turned into a Supe bar brawl in front of all the humans. One jackal smashed another’s head into the bar, splintering the wood. Another rival jackal grabbed that one off her friend and threw her across the room into some male lions.

  Koda reached for Dae behind him through the crowd of fighting jackals but she was gone. He scanned the bar for his mate but didn’t see her. His nose had already recovered from the cologne espionage incident Dae thought she so slickly engineered but it was still weaker than normal. How Dae figured out he could scent her like she scented him, he had no idea. Dae was much too observant for her own good.

  Raphael and his Jamboree came to break apart the jackals before someone shifted and exposed them all. Raphael glared at Koda, obviously blaming him, but Koda didn’t care. He was fighting the wolf’s demand for control the second he realized his mate disappeared. The wolf demanded action and didn’t care about tossing aside the fighting she-jackals.

  “Dae! Where is she?” Koda growled not caring that Raphael couldn’t speak wolf. Damn cat had better learn quickly or his pelt was going to be up on Koda’s wall.

  Raj was at his side offering translation immediately. “His mate, she’s gone.”

  The murderous expression in Raphael’s eyes turned to one of confusion. “Dae? Dae is his mate?”

  Koda growled menacingly and stood in a fighting stance. Koda had no time for this. The wolf took control to implement its two-step plan –kill Raphael and then find his mate.

  Raphael smiled, not in challenge but in amusement as he said, “The fates are cruel bitches, eh?”

  Then Raphael laughed at his own nonsensical joke as Raj stepped in front of Koda in a submissive stance to try to make the wolf in Koda see sense or the man see sense. Whichever. “Dae is missing. Let me scent her. The longer she’s missing…” It may have been the wrong thing to do with the wolf in control but they didn’t have time to waste.

  “What’s wrong with his nose?” Raphael asked curiously. Freaking wolves. Next week he was going to put a sign up ‘no crotch lickers allowed’.

  “Someone caught Koda in a cologne storm earlier.” Raj looked at Raphael’s face surprised to see Raphael smirk.

  Then Raphael started laughing like a mad man. “Now I wonder…” He continued laughing as his Jamboree surrounded him. Koda the wolf still hadn’t gotten control and Raphael’s Jamboree was getting nervous. They were all Raphael’s cubs so it was to be expected.

  Raj prepared himself for the fight he saw about to happen. Koda, the man, lost control of his wolf, which was a bad bad thing. Koda was way too old to lose control like this and it worried Rah. Raj had never seen Koda lose control in the 30 years he knew him.

  “Relax.” Raphael told the wolves. Then he spoke to his Jamboree. “This is Dae’s mate and this–” Raphael motioned to the area where minutes before the she-jackals were about to shift and kill each other, “Was all her doing.”

&nb
sp; One of the younger jaguars snickered. “What? Wolves mating with humans? The she-wolves are too much for you guys?”

  Koda growled as he planned to leap into the Jamboree and rip a fine pelt from the young cat bastard as Raj let out his own fierce growl.

  Raj did not like anyone insulting his Tribe. He wouldn’t stand for it. But it was Raphael who smacked his youngest cub in the back of his head and then roared in the cubs face. The young cub lowered his head exposing his nape where Raphael grabbed him as he tossed him into his other son.

  “Stupid boy. Dae is not a human. She only smells that way to your prepubescent nose.” The other jaguars chuckled as Raj relaxed. But Koda was another story. Raphael continued, “Roberto, the bar, Remy and Rafe, security. The rest of you with me. We follow the wolves and help the young alpha find his mate.”

  Raj was shocked as was Koda. The strong emotion let the man slip back into control by a sliver. It wouldn’t keep the man in the driver’s seat but it was enough for him to nod his thanks. Later, Koda would have to apologize to Raphael but the man knew that wasn’t possible at that moment. If Koda tried his wolf would likely kill Raphael, Jamboree or no.

  Koda hadn’t noticed the remaining crowd was all shifters. The humans dispersed or were dispersed. Raphael turned to them. “Anyone want to find some trouble tonight? This one’s mate is sure to be in it.”

  Koda growled at the insinuation as a few lions stepped forward. Koda ran off in the direction where he faintly scented his mates trail mingled with something more sinister and tainted as the mixed crowd of shifters followed closely. Koda didn’t have time to worry about the unknown shifters at his back. All the man and wolf could do was scent his mate’s trail and pray he wasn’t too late.

  Iya stood with her back braced against the wall by the bathroom door. Raj had dragged her off into the woman’s rest-room when some stupid girl fight was about to break out. Sometimes Iya could see Dae’s point regarding people. When they acted like that, Iya didn’t like the human population that much either.