Panther Magic

by Doris O'Connor

  “Yes, my sweet. You’re our mate, and I didn’t want to spring this on you, but there it is. Natasha can explain what that means, because right now I need you to leave. Or I will maul you.”

  Kate blinked and stepped away from him, and he nodded and turned his back on her.

  “Come on, little lady, you heard him. Let’s get you home,” Zach said.

  She barely heard the mountain of a man over the rushing in her ears, but it didn’t matter anyway, because Zach grasped both her and Natasha, and marched them out of the dressing room, up and down the myriad of corridors, until they exited the theater through a side door.

  The fresh air that blasted her face at least helped to clear her befuddled brain somewhat, and she yanked her elbow out of Zach’s grasp. He grinned and tempered his steps a little, to help Natasha to catch up. Tash breathed a sigh of relief when Zach delivered them back to the same car they’d arrived in. A short lived relief, as he proceeded to climb in next to the chauffeur. The elderly man jumped when he barked an order at him.

  “Step on it, man. The ladies want to go home.”

  The chauffer’s gaze briefly connected with her in the rearview mirror, and he gave her a sympathetic smile. It made Kate wonder if this gentle man was a shifter, too, and she shut her eyes and groaned. Was this going to be her from now on? Second guessing every interaction she ever had or would have? It was too much to wrap her head around, so she simply shut her eyes and sank into the plush interior.

  Soft music filled the car, and against the odds she must have fallen asleep, because the next thing she became aware of was Natasha’s loud protests.

  “No, you can’t do that.”

  The world tilted, and Kate screeched as she realized what was happening. This Zach person had her slung over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes and was carrying her up the stairs to the flat she shared with Tash.

  When she struggled and pummeled her fists into his broad back, he laughed, and tightened his hold on her legs.

  “Relax, little lady. I’m just following orders. I’m supposed to deliver you safely home, and if this silly kitten here would open the door instead of screeching at me, I could put you down and be on my way back.”

  Natasha swore, and then the world tilted again, and Kate was back on her feet in her hallway, staring up at a grinning Zach.

  “Sweet dreams, ladies.” He shut her own front door in her face, and Kate did the only thing she could do. Burst into hysterical fits of laughter.

  Chapter Four

  She still didn’t know whether she ought to laugh or cry, when she bade a tearful farewell to Natasha at Heathrow Airport two days later. Her friend was off on what Kate considered a fool’s errand to the Arctic Circle, no less, to track down a polar bear shifter, who seemed determined to stay hidden from the world. Kate could sympathize with the guy. Right now, the ability to hide away somewhere sounded mightily appealing to her, too.

  “Are you sure about this?” she’d asked Tasha for the umpteenth time, since the two of them had made their peace with each other. It had taken a takeout pizza and several bottles of cheap wine, during which Kate had received a crash course in mating practices and shifters that had left her head spinning with information overload.

  “Yes, I am. I have to go, and it has to be me. I can’t explain it, Kate, but I feel drawn to him, and besides, he’d run a mile if he thought I was sent from the council. I’ll be okay, you’ll see. Don’t worry over me. Worry over what you will do about your men.” With another hug Tasha had disappeared through departures, and Kate had started the trek home. By the time she had braved the early morning commuter rush hour, and had made it to the office only marginally late, she had been none the wiser.

  Neither man had contacted her, other than to text her their mobile numbers, in case she wanted to get hold of them. Tash said it was because they didn’t want to crowd her. She was their mate, and they kept their distance because to be near her and not claim her was akin to torture for them. Kate wasn’t sure about that, but on the other hand she was glad for the respite. She simply couldn’t make a decision about anything, and the more she read in the books that Tash had given her to study in an effort to better understand what she was getting into, the less sure she became.

  Plus, she was sure she was being watched. Several times she had caught sight of what could only have been Zach’s huge shoulders in the crowd, but each time he had gone by the time she had managed to get close enough to know for sure. The thump of several files being slung down on her desk brought her out of her internal reverie.

  “Daydreaming again, I see. You’re here to work, Kate Duerden, not stare into space. I want these claims assessed and on my desk before lunch, or you can collect your pay check. Do I make myself clear?”

  “Yes, perfectly, Mr. Jones, sorry.” Kate murmured her apology. It wouldn’t do to lose this job, not when this office was close enough to her flat to walk to and fro. It made getting to and from her place of employment that much easier, and with this morning’s reminder of the horrors of rush hour tube journeys fresh in her mind, she got to work.

  “That’s better, Kate,” her boss said when he glanced at the reports she’d created, and pointed to another, much bigger pile. “Move onto those ones. I need them on my desk by tonight.”

  He glanced up at her when she groaned under her breath. Even if she worked through lunch, she would never get this lot done and get home at a reasonable hour. Not that she had anything or anyone to get home to with Tash gone.

  “Is there a problem, Miss Duerden?” he asked, and she shook her head, and grasped the heavy pile.

  “No problem at all. Leave it with me.”

  Just as she had predicted, Kate didn’t manage to leave the office until past nine o’clock that night, and she shivered in the cold night air, when she finally stepped out. It was dark and miserable, and she pulled her light summer jacket tighter around herself in a vain effort to hide from the fine spray of rain. It was the sort that got you soaked through in no time, even with an umbrella. Not that she had one of those with her, of course. That would be being organized.

  Kate squinted into the gloom and started to walk fast. The office wasn’t in the nicer part of town, and her flat was in an even lesser salacious area, but housing wasn’t cheap in London, and this was the best she could afford. Or rather barely afford, even with Tash contributing, and heaven only knew how long she would do that. If she found this reclusive bear, Kate couldn’t shake the feeling that Tash would end up mated faster than you could say annoying panthers.

  If her friend felt this drawn to the man that she would trek halfway round the world to find him, that could only mean one thing. That elusive mating bond she’d been reading up on was at play here. After all, if she, as mere human felt it this strongly, then how much more must it affect a shifter.

  Her steps faltered as that thought. It sure would explain Zeb’s odd behavior around her. He was clearly the more hotheaded of the two brothers, and even Arran had almost lost it the last time she had seen him. Just thinking about the two of them made her nipples tingle and her clit clench as her panties grew damp, and Kate rolled her eyes and resumed walking. Really, she was a lost cause. She ought to just text them, invite them over for dinner, or something, and see what happened.

  A shuffling noise behind her made her spin around, but there was no one there, and she walked faster, while taking her Mace spray out of her hand bag. She probably ought to have sprung for a taxi, but at this time on a Friday night, one would take forever to turn up, and it was only a half hour walk to the safety of her flat. Not a problem in daylight, or normal closing time, but the streets were deserted now, and the little, charming park she had to cut across looked menacing in the gloom. Far too much shrubbery for someone to hide behind and grab her.

  Kate mentally cursed her vivid imagination, even as she broke into a half run. You didn’t live in London and ignore your instincts. Something wasn’t right, and Kate didn’t intend to stay around
and find out what it was.

  Heavy footsteps behind her confirmed her worst suspicions, and she screamed when several hooded thugs appeared in front of her and barred her way. Mace held high in the air, she backed away from them, and spun around as two more closed in behind her. Fuck, she was surrounded.

  “What do you want?” she asked, and the leader of this particular gang made a move toward her.

  “Ah, now sugar, that’s no way to be. We just wanna talk to you, and have us some fun. Pretty thing like you, out here. ‘Tis not safe, ya know. Offering our protection, we are, for a price, of course.”

  He smirked at her, and she lifted the mace up higher in the air.

  “You stop right there, or I use this.” Kate hated the wobble in her voice, but she was in so much trouble here. No one would come to her aid, and she was badly outnumbered. Kate knew self-defense, but there were too many of them.

  A collective guffaw went through the gang of youths, and their leader shook his head and wagged his finger at her.

  “Now, now, is that any way to talk? Go on, use it. You get one shot at it, and then we’ll have ya. We do like it when you chicks struggle, don’t we, boys?”

  Bile rose in Kate’s throat, and she spun round in a circle only to find herself completely surrounded. She screamed as they closed in on her, and released her spray as an unseen hand yanked her head back by her hair. Bunching her hands into fists she punched wildly and kicked out. She briefly gained the upper hand, but it was useless. A kick to her belly had her doubled over in agony and then she was shoved onto the floor, and multiple hands grabbed at her clothes.

  God, please, no.

  ****

  Zeb frowned at the text from Zach. What in all that was holy was she still doing at the office?

  “Problems, bro?” Arran asked, and Zeb rolled his shoulders and shook his head.

  “Nothing that I can’t handle. I’m gonna go for a run.”

  Arran sighed and moved in front of him.

  “You can’t force her, you know this, bro.”

  Zeb flipped him the finger, and Arran ducked the punch aimed at his shoulder.

  “Not everything I do revolves around our mate,” he said, and Arran smirked.

  “Yeah, sure it doesn’t. Fuck, this is killing me, too, but she has to make the first move, you know that. Skulking after her will not gain you any favors, especially if she spots you. She almost got to Zach the other day, after all.”

  Zeb growled low in his throat.

  “The guy is good, but with his size he sticks out like a sore fucking thumb, which is why I’ve got to go. The damn woman is still at the office, and she always walks home. Tragedy waiting to fucking happen, and she’ll spot him in an instant. Not enough people around, and there’s no fucking way I’ll let her walk home on that estate without making sure she’s safe.”

  “Fuck.” Arran’s growled reply made Zeb smile, especially when his brother shrugged on a jacket, and sprinted out the door in front of him. “Come on, what’cha waiting for? Tell him to hold the fort until we get there.”

  “Already did.” Zeb grunted his answer, and the two of them fell into step easily enough. “Let’s take my bike. It’ll be fastest.”

  Arran nodded, and minutes later they roared out of the underground parking of their hotel and toward their girl. Even so, they had clearly taken too long, because the offices looked deserted by the time they got there. Arran swore and nose in the air followed her scent. Zeb locked up the bike and followed suit. It was marginally reassuring that her scent was closely followed by Zach’s, and then they heard her scream.

  Not even caring if they were seen, Zeb ripped his clothes off and shifted into his panther mid run, dimly aware of Arran following suit. What he saw when he leapt into the park made his blood run cold. Zach was in the process of taking down three youths. They were brandishing knives, and wounded as he was, the elephant shifter’s responses were slower than they would normally have been. He had it under control, however. It was the sight of their girl curled up in a ball on the floor, her clothing torn, and two guys on top of her that made Zeb see red. Giving his animal full control he went in for the kill. Claws sliced through fabric and teeth broke bones as the puny humans proved no match against his large cat. The animal snarled and drank in the sweet scent of blood as he opened his opponent’s chest with one well-placed swipe of his massive paw. Blood spattered in his fur and dripped in his eyes, as he leapt off this one and attacked the one still on top of his girl. How dare the fucker lay a hand on what was his?

  The sorry excuse of a human male whimpered and pissed himself as Zeb dragged him off Kate and flipping him over pounced on his chest. Eyes wide with fear and spittle flying from his mouth, the man’s screams turned into nothing more than a fluid filled gurgle when Zeb ripped the fucker’s throat out, and leapt off him, ready to get to the next one.

  “Zeb, enough. It’s done.” Arran’s quiet command shook Zeb out of his blood lust, and he shifted back to his human form, and winced.

  The quiet park resembled a horror movie, with various body parts thrown around. At least Zach’s and Arran’s kills had been clean. Zeb’s panther had far too much fun playing with the assholes who’d hurt his girl, and Kate…

  Damn it, held in Arran’s arms, she stared up at him with wide, horrified eyes, before she twisted and threw up.

  Zeb swore and warily shrugged on the clothes Zach handed him. The elephant shifter must have retrieved Zeb’s and Arran’s clothes while Zeb’s panther was still going to town.

  “I’ve already called for clean-up, but man, Jackson is not going to be happy about this. The council will have us all up for trial, I reckon.”

  Zeb shrugged his shoulders.

  “Couldn’t care less about the fucking council. These assholes hurt what’s mine, and I’d do it again in a fucking heartbeat.”

  Kate gasped, and he cautiously approached the spot where she had finally stopped retching. His gut churned when she flinched away from him, and Arran shook his head at him.

  “Let’s get you home, sweet thing. You’ve seen enough. Zeb can stay here and oversee the clean-up.” His brother glared at him, and Zeb would have argued the point, but by the way Kate clung to Arran it was painfully obvious that she couldn’t stand the sight of Zeb right now.

  His panther whined, but Zeb ignored him, and instead gave a tight nod of agreement.

  “So be it. Take good care of her, bro.”

  ****

  Arran swore under his breath and straightening up, took his precious bundle with them. Kate whimpered and buried her face in his chest, and Arran wanted to kill those assholes all over again for putting her into his state. His panther was itching to be let out again, to inflict as much damage as Zeb’s had done, but the man was too concerned with the shivering woman in his arms. Her tears soaked trough his shirt, and she was shivering so badly her teeth chattered.

  Their little human was going into shock, and he had to get her away from there.

  “Here, boss, take her home. Her flat is only across the park. I’ll stay with the hothead, and try and do some damage control. If you’re here when clean up comes, they’ll just get you, too, and someone needs to stay with the little lady.”

  Zach gave Arran Kate’s handbag, and put his palm on her back. She flinched and clung to Arran even tighter. He was pretty sure if he let go of her she’d cling all by herself like a traumatized, Kate-shaped vine. Not that he had any intention of letting go of her. He needed this contact as much as she did. The reassurance that she was okay, or as much as she could be given the circumstances, the knowledge that she was safe in his arms, and no one could hurt her now.

  Arran nodded his agreement to Zach, and they both looked across to where Zeb was prowling the perimeter. Every once in a while, he’d stop and kick one of the dead fucks who’d attacked Kate. She flinched anew at the dull thuds of his feet connecting with flesh, but Arran couldn’t blame his brother. He’d only managed to kill the one bastard, before
his attention had been taken up by Kate. Besides, he’d known that Zeb and Zach had this covered. Once Zeb had given his panther full rein the outcome had been inevitable. His brother’s inner animal had always been volatile, far more so than his own, and considering the circumstances the blood bath that followed was … unfortunate. Try as he might Arran couldn’t summon up an ounce of compassion for the humans they had killed tonight.

  They were someone’s son, brother, lover, but they were also scum, attacking a lone woman on her way home. Not that the council or the human justice system, for that matter, would see it that way. All being well, clean-up would ensure these particular humans would just join the hordes of people that went missing every year, and humanity on the whole would remain as clueless about the shifters in their midst as they’d always been. That still left council justice, though, and that tended to be hard and swift. Arran was uncomfortably aware that they were already on the council’s black list, for their refusal to mate with the council approved females, and their magician act.

  This … well, this could well cost them their heads. With one last searching look at his brother’s back, he turned away from the grisly scene and murmuring soothing nonsense to the terrified woman in his arms, made short work of getting her home.

  Fortunately they didn’t encounter anyone else, and his panther growled his annoyance at the broken entrance door to Kate’s block of flats, even if it made getting her inside much easier. Taking the stairs three at a time he stopped outside her flat, and shifting her slightly, slid her slowly down to the floor.

  “Baby, you’re home. Give me your keys so that I can get you inside.”

  Kate startled at those words, and her head swung up. Her knees locked and her fingernails dug into his biceps, as her flight or fight instinct kicked in, and her gaze darted around wildly.

  “Shh, it’s okay. It’s me, Arran. You’re safe, baby, you’re home. Let’s get you inside, shall we?”

  Crowding her against the wall, Arran grasped her chin to make her look at him, and firmed his voice to the one he would use in a scene.