LostwithLeo

by Shelley Munro

  “On it.” Saber spoke into his communicator.

  Felix took the opportunity to contact the guards they’d put on Iseult.

  “Our security team are on their way,” Saber said. “Where is Iseult?”

  “Leo’s quarters.” Felix broke into a run.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Leo thrust into Betrys from behind, surrounding her with his strength. Each time they made love, it seemed better. More. She shuddered beneath him, the quakes speeding to her quim and squeezing his cock in rhythmic spasms. Leo nuzzled her neck, his lips moving over the spot on her neck that drove her crazy. He kissed her there, and her heart filled so much she thought she might burst with happiness.

  “Leo.” His name was a breathy sigh.

  “Yes, darling Betrys?”

  “Please move. Now.” She wriggled forward then slammed back on his cock, and a mew of satisfaction escaped her. He…this…she’d never imagined there would be another man after Corrin. And even if this was for the short term, it showed her there was hope for the future. Her future after Iseult.

  “Anything for you, Betrys.” He retreated and pushed back inside her channel, his shaft filling her deeply and massaging every tender spot on the way. His lips fastened on the strange mark that had appeared low down on the side of her neck—the faint black mark that wouldn’t seem to scrub away. He sucked hard and the sensations roaring along her veins intensified ten-fold.

  “Leo, yes! Yes!” Her quim tightened, flexed and she let out a cry of acute pleasure as she spilled over into climax. Leo surged deep and she sobbed out his name. He thrust hard again, a primal grunt emerging, his breath misting across her neck. His tongue rasped that spot again, back and forth, back and forth. Another mini orgasm tore through her, and she was vaguely aware of Leo coming.

  “Lights on,” a hard voice screeched.

  “What the fuck?” Leo pulled out of her and whirled around in a defensive crouch. “You can’t just walk into someone’s home. Get the fuck out.”

  Iseult. Horror spurted in Betrys, and she rubbed her bare arms. She had to get her robe. Without taking her gaze from Iseult, she slid from the bed, ultra-aware of her nakedness, her vulnerability. This wasn’t the way she wanted things to go with Iseult. She’d wanted to make sure Ricci was safe, then disappear without any fuss. Confrontation hadn’t been part of her plans. Her hands trembled as she reached for her robe. She had to get dressed. Her fingers wrapped around her discarded garment and she forced her locked limbs to work.

  “You’re dead,” Iseult snapped and her furious gaze went from him to fasten on Betrys. She hissed, a sibilant sound spelling danger. “You lied to me.”

  Iseult’s high-pitched screech, her menacing threat roused Betrys from her fear, and she scrambled into her robe and tied her belt to fasten the clothing securely around her waist. Her acute sense of vulnerability subsided, her pulse rate leveled out and she edged toward the door.

  “What you say?” Iseult demanded, and her skin rippled.

  “I did not lie.” Betrys slid another step closer to the door, her gaze locked on Iseult while remaining a healthy distance. “You assumed he was dead.”

  “All others died.” Iseult’s head cocked, her gaze on Leo. Puzzlement and intrigue shimmered in her voice, but the underlying flatness to her tone bade Betrys to hurry. “Why not he?”

  “I didn’t lie.” Betrys glanced at Leo, interpreted his silent approval, and sidled another step. Iseult couldn’t watch them both at once. If she had to split her attention, it might give one of them a chance to raise the alarm.

  “You lied by omission,” Iseult said and a deep growl issued from low in her chest. Her skin rippled again, and she lost the fight to hold her shape. Her spider form burst outward and the sharp rent of fabric filled the air. A shrill cry spilled from her throat and she trembled, her legs shaking before settling on the tiled floor to stabilize her rotund black body. Her chest was a patchwork quilt of vivid green and red and blue while her face remained in a humanoid form, pale and smooth and beautiful with a skillful application of enhancements, and her black hair in an upswept style.

  Ugh. The contrast of beauty and ugliness took creepy to new levels. Betrys couldn’t look at her without shuddering, without recalling the acts of murder the woman had committed, without worrying about the murders she might yet commit.

  Leo gestured at the door and Betrys dipped her head in an imperceptible nod.

  “What are you doing here, Iseult?” Leo’s eyes were long and narrow, and Betrys noticed his hands were clenched, probably to hide his claws. She could see his feline bursting to attack.

  But they needed more room. They needed to stall in the hope that help would arrive. She slid nearer to the doorway.

  “Stand still.” Iseult’s voice was a high shriek of rage that made the small hairs at Betrys’s nape rise in agitation.

  “Why should we?” Leo countered, and he kept moving. “You’re the one who’s trespassing.”

  Iseult twisted her head from left to right and back again. “Pretty belongs to me. Not you. You will pay.” Another piercing cry rippled from her throat, repeating three times before she fell silent, a gloating smile curving her bright-pink lips. “My men come.”

  “Lights on,” Betrys said in a firm voice from the main room. Sly and Joe were retrieving Ricci. She had to believe that. They would rescue her son.

  Bluebird lifted his head from his cushion in the corner and let out an enquiring honk.

  “Do you hear me, Bee-trice?” Iseult singsonged. “I have your son. I’m sure he’ll taste delicious.” She crawled along the floor and shot out into the larger room, stalking Betrys.

  “Bitch,” Betrys spat, fear at her employer’s presence eclipsed by fury. She glared at Iseult. “Ricci has nothing to do with this. He’s a child. An innocent.” Her gaze speared to Leo. He placed a finger to his lips and reached for his com-circle.

  “I see you, Pretty. Leave communicator and come join us out here,” Iseult ordered. “Yes, good. Good. You stay while I deal with my traitorous assistant.”

  “How are you going to deal with me, Iseult?” Betrys’s voice cracked toward the end, negating her feisty attitude. She wiped her sweaty palms on her robe and lifted her chin to scowl at her employer. Ex-employer. She was finished working for Iseult. “Kill me in the same way you murdered all those men?”

  “Pretty lives.” Iseult flicked open her communicator. “Spiderus Mansion.”

  Hell, the last thing they needed was for Iseult to learn Ricci had disappeared or even worse if Iseult ordered security tightened at the mansion.

  Without even considering the consequences, Betrys darted forward and knocked the com-circle from Iseult’s hand. It clattered onto the tiles and skidded across the floor. Iseult jumped after it and came to a screeching halt, her attention on the jar containing her offspring. She croaked and seemed to shrink, her limbs rounding into her oval Spiderus abdomen.

  “Mine? Mine!” she roared.

  She whirled to face them, her torso expanding, her legs lifting and stomping on the tiles. Tap, tap, tap. Tap, tap, tap. “What you do? Mine. Mine. Mine.”

  “They were killing Leo.” Betrys steeled herself, trying not to let Iseult’s anguish get to her. “We cut them out.”

  Iseult whirled on Betrys. “I will kill your son. I’ll suck out his essence and cut him into pieces then put him in a jar and keep him on display.”

  A guttural roar rushed Betrys’s throat, and she whipped the knife Caspar had given her from her pocket. She flew at Iseult, brandishing the knife, with blood pounding in her ears. “You are not hurting my son!” Rage drove her, obscured her vision.

  Hack. Slash. Repeat.

  Hack. Slash. Repeat.

  She struck repeatedly at one of Iseult’s legs and the limb dropped to the floor. Iseult roared and jumped so high her head thumped the ceiling. It must’ve dazed her because she stumbled on landing.

  Hack. Slash. Hack. Slash. Slash. Slash.

  Is
eult leaped at her, knocking her off balance, and her knife went airborne. Betrys hollered, fury rushing up her throat. Something shifted under her skin, and she staggered. Pain—so much pain—slammed her senses. Betrys forced the agony back, groped for her knife.

  The blade sliced her palm and relief soared in her. Her fingers curled around the hilt with a sense of triumph. Chest heaving, Betrys rolled to her feet, her gaze on Iseult, as she circled ready to attack again.

  “Bring it, Spiderus,” she growled in a voice that wasn’t hers.

  “Saber,” Leo hollered. “We need you now.”

  Iseult shrieked and jumped at Betrys. Splotches of purple life force sprayed over the floor. Betrys darted to the side and Leo sprang at Iseult, knocking the Spiderus off balance. The three of them slid on the purple goop and crashed against the wall, sending entertainment vids flying.

  “I kill your son and give his corpse to my men.” Iseult hissed and waved her leg stump, spraying more purple into the air. “Then put in jar.”

  Kill. Kill. Kill. Betrys hurtled against Iseult, heedless of her own safety. They came together in another angry collision and the jar containing Iseult’s offspring soared through the air. It crashed onto the tiles, exploding on contact. Shards of glass flew and the vinegar and contents spewed across the floor.

  “Holy fuck.” Felix gaped at the scene from the doorway.

  Bluebird squawked and swooped on the Spiderus egg sac. Two determined pecks later and Iseult’s offspring were gone.

  “What the hell?” Saber said. “Did Bluebird just eat that thing?”

  “Yeah.” Leo pumped his fist in the air. “Go, Bluebird.”

  “Murder. Murder.” Iseult let out an eerie cry. “Kill, kill, kill.”

  Betrys circled her warily.

  Iseult let out a battle charge cry and ran at Betrys.

  “Grab her,” Saber said.

  “No, stand.” Leo stopped his brother. “Betrys needs this.”

  Betrys ignored the brothers to dart forward and strike out with her knife. Iseult dodged and kicked Betrys’s legs out from under her. Pain shot up her spine as her butt hit the ground. She groaned, her vision going weird, and tried to dodge the stomp of one of Iseult’s legs.

  Betrys jerked to the right and came up in a crouch, her breath see-sawing from her lungs. She faked a right and dove at Iseult, her knife slashing through the air. Iseult went the wrong way. The blade sank into her flesh, forced deeper by Betrys’s guiding hand. Protect Ricci. Kill, kill, kill.

  Iseult faltered. She screamed and kicked out with her legs, trying to dislodge the knife from Betrys’s determined grip.

  Betrys went airborne, the knife staying put in Iseult’s chest. Instinct had her twisting her limbs even before the thought filtered into the right part of her brain. She hit the floor on all fours. Pain, excruciating, like nothing she’d felt before, rippled across her body. She was vaguely aware of Leo and his brothers securing Iseult. Someone crouched beside her, and she flinched until she sucked in a rapid breath and recognized his scent.

  Leo.

  “Sweetheart,” he said, and there was a weird note in his voice. “Breathe. Nice and slow. That’s it.”

  “Hurts.” Every muscle shrieked and her very bones felt as if they were twisting, twisting beyond what was possible and reshaping in a new, unfamiliar way.

  “I know it hurts,” he murmured, and she drew comfort from his proximity. “Think of a black leopard, sweetheart. Picture me in your mind. Can you do that?”

  “Yes,” she growled and her voice sound weird. She thought of Leo and of stroking his fur. So soft. So pretty. So strong. The pain intensified until she cried out, then black fur sprouted on her arms, her legs. Her robe tore and agony ripped at her, releasing abruptly. Easing.

  “That’s it, Betrys. You did good, sweetheart.” His hand smoothed over her head, along her back. He tugged away the remnants of her robe.

  An uncontrollable tremor seized her, and she swayed then wrinkled her nose while she stared at her front feet. Front feet. Goddess Juna, she had four feet. She had fur. Claws. She ran her tongue over her teeth. Her teeth were lethal weapons. How was this possible? And what if she couldn’t change back?

  She let out a distressed croak and leaned into Leo.

  “Shush, sweetheart. It’s all right. You’ve done the hard part. We’ll battle the rest together.”

  Saber and Felix came to stand beside Leo, their gazes on her, measuring. Maybe bemused? She shuddered and stared at her feet again, her claws. Confusion was the least of her problems now.

  “Iseult?” Leo asked, resuming his stroking along her back, his touch comforting and grounding her.

  “Dead,” Saber said. “Betrys stabbed her in the right place.”

  Betrys sighed, relief beating out her trembling. Iseult was dead.

  “What about her men?”

  “The zylon got them. The head of security reported it was the damnedest thing. Their scent seemed to attract the zylons and the creatures swarmed them. Only two survived before our security team rounded them up.” Felix radiated satisfaction. “But not without a fight. One of them lost two legs. No idea if they’ll grow back.”

  Scarlett burst into the room, Casey at her heels. They both skidded to a halt and gaped at the mess in the room.

  “Where’s Betrys?” Scarlett demanded. “She all right?” Her nostrils flared as she spotted Betrys, still pressed up against Leo. Her brows arched upward. “Betrys?”

  “Stand back, Scarlett,” Saber ordered. “Don’t crowd her. She’s terrified enough as it is. Leo, we’ll take Betrys to my rooms and talk her through the change back to human.”

  Felix stepped forward. “Casey and I will clean up here and take care of questioning her men.”

  “Betrys,” Leo murmured.

  She rose on hearing his voice and wavered unsteady on her four new legs. Four. No wonder Iseult had wobbled around the web once she’d shifted to her Spiderus form. Extra legs were most disconcerting. She pressed against Leo’s legs, her sides heaving as panic threatened to overtake her. What if she couldn’t change back?

  Leo followed Saber and guided Betrys along the gravel path. His mate could shift. He didn’t know how or why, but none of that mattered. The woman both he and his feline had claimed was perfect for them in every way.

  She lurched against his legs, and he smoothed his hand over her glossy head, his mouth kicking up into a grin, without him giving the order.

  Saber opened the door to a waft of meaty scents. “Company, Eva.”

  His wife came from the small kitchen, a wooden spoon in her right hand. “Problem?”

  Saber’s com buzzed, indicating an incoming call. “Hope not. Yeah, Joe? You got the kid?” His brother’s shoulders relaxed and Leo knew it was good news. “Good job. See you soon.”

  Leo waited until Betrys walked inside and closed the door. He crouched beside her. “Did you hear that, Betrys? Joe and Sly have Ricci. He’ll be here soon.”

  A low rumble sounded in her chest. She stumbled over to a couch, then seemed to realize she was in feline form. Her cry wrung his heart, and he hurried to her.

  “Saber and I will help. Don’t worry. Everything will work out, sweetheart.”

  She shook, a low rumble coming from her throat. This had to be confusing for her—hell, it was unheard of in their world. Maybe their mother would have an idea or two, but in most cases humans or humanoids never shifted, couldn’t transform to feline.

  “How is this possible, Saber?”

  “I’ve no idea. My best guess is that the genes of our people and Betrys’s race work together, are related in some manner. Maybe it was because you bit her. We could do tests—”

  “No tests,” Leo cut in. “We’ll just deal. As long as Betrys and Ricci are safe and Iseult isn’t a threat any longer. The rest we can deal with.”

  Betrys growled, and Leo grinned.

  “Betrys,” Saber said. “Shifting back to human form is much easier than the initial shift
. It’s nothing to be frightened of.”

  “Step by step.” Leo kept his gaze on her brown eyes. In her feline form they bore splotches of amber. Unable to resist, he scratched her behind the ears. “No sweat.”

  She wrinkled her nose and rose to her feet on shaky legs.

  Saber crouched beside her. “Focus your mind, Betrys. Picture your human form. Can you do that?”

  Leo stiffened until he realized Saber didn’t intend to touch Betrys and the tension bled from his muscles. Their father had talked them through the change in the same manner. Of course, they’d known what to expect since they’d grown up with knowledge of their heritage. Nothing happened, and Leo frowned. “Picture my brothers walking into this room with your son, Betrys. Think how glad you are that he’s safe and how much you want to touch him, to hug him and reassure yourself that he’s here. That he’s safe.”

  Betrys growled, and when Leo placed his hand on her back, her muscles quivered and vibrated beneath his touch.

  “That’s good,” Saber said. “Think of wrapping your arms around your son.”

  In his peripheral vision, Leo noticed Eva whisk into the bedroom and return with a robe. God, he loved his sisters-in-law. They were both incredible women.

  The instant the change took over, going exactly as it should, Leo stepped back to give Betrys room. He and Saber watched, their tension palpable, and Leo’s breath eased out when her limbs reshaped into her more familiar form.

  The second she knelt naked and whole at his feet, Leo laughed and swooped down to lift her to her feet.

  “Here,” Eva said. “Put this on.”

  Leo helped her don the robe and noted the defined black cat tattoo at her mating site. Satisfaction filled him, made his smile widen, made him want to scoop her into his arms and lay a possessive kiss on her rosy lips. He did none of that, giving her space instead.

  A honk came from outside the door.

  “Better let Bluebird inside,” Leo said. “He’s a hero.”