Panther Magic

by Doris O'Connor

  “Relax, Zeb. I’ve seen your mate naked before, when I took pictures of her injuries as evidence, and just as well I did. I suspected mating with you would complete the circle and heal her.”

  “What the fuck does that mean?” Zeb asked, dimly aware of Kate hastily pulling on her clothes behind him. When she wrapped her arms around him his panther relaxed.

  “I’m dressed, Cole. Thank you for the privacy.”

  The bear shifter nodded and turning round held out his hand.

  “You’re welcome, sweet thing, but we need to get you out of here. We now have an excellent case, as long as Zeb stops being stubborn and gives us the correct version of events.” He paused and stared at Zeb, and much to his beast’s dismay Kate let go of Zeb, and took several steps toward Cole.

  “Of course he will.” She swung round when he made a disgusted sound at the back of his throat, and he had to grin at the way his feisty little mate glared at him.

  “You will, Sir. Arran and I, we both need you, and I’m not prepared to lose one of the men I love.”

  Cole smirked, and Zeb felt as though all the air had been sucked out of his lungs.

  “You love me?” Even to his own ears his voice sounded like a poor imitation of its usual strength, and his panther whined, when Kate kept on walking, picked up the filthy rags she’d arrived in earlier and shrouded herself from view again.

  “Of course I do, you silly cat. Why else do you think I was here? Arran is a shadow of his former self without you, and we’ll never be truly happy without you to complete us. And maybe I’m greedy, but I want it all.” She pushed her hood off her hair, and he couldn’t doubt the sincerity of her words. Her conviction poured out of every one of her pores, and the strength of her love for him wrapped itself around him almost like a physical caress.

  “I love you, Sir, and you will damn well fight for us, or … or … damn you, say something.”

  “Put your claws away, little wildcat. I will. I love you too much not to try and fight this, if you’re sure that’s what you want.”

  “Promise me?” she asked, and he nodded.

  “I promise, baby. And I always keep my promises.”

  Kate huffed out a breath of seeming relief, and Cole rolled his eyes and opened the door.

  “As touching as this is, we have got to go, now.”

  Kate jumped, blew Zeb a kiss, and then disappeared through that damn door. It shut behind her with an ominous thud, and Zeb’s legs refused to cooperate. He slid to the floor, and he hoped like fuck that he could indeed keep this particular promise.

  Chapter Nine

  Vision blurry, thanks to the tears that started to fall the minute that door shut behind them, Kate was grateful for Cole Jackson’s quiet strength next to her. One large hand clasped around her elbow, he pulled her along.

  “Let’s get out of here, little one.”

  Kate was dimly aware of negotiating the myriad of corridors and then underground access tunnels, through which they had originally entered the Council mansion unseen, until they emerged into bright sunshine. She blinked as rough hands removed her cloak, and a frisson of fear chased down her spine, when someone pulled at her neckline and calloused fingertips traced first Arran’s and then Zeb’s marks on her shoulders. The marks burned and tingled, and the presence of her men filled her mind and made her cry in earnest.

  “I’ve got this, boys. Make sure any surveillance footage of us in the tunnels is destroyed. It will be obvious enough that we smuggled her in. We don’t need to give them more evidence.” Cole Jackson’s deep voice rumbled through her, and seconds later she was pulled into his embrace. Kate ought to struggle, but instead she sagged against him, his scent oddly familiar, yet different. The presence in her mind grew stronger, as though her men were with her, encouraging her to trust him, and with a quiet sob she wrapped her arms around his middle, and allowed herself the luxury of being held through her tears.

  By the time she finally got her emotions back under control the bear shifter’s shirt was soaked through with her tears, and he shook his head and cupped her chin to make her look up at him when she started to pull away apologizing profusely.

  “Don’t worry about that. It’s only a shirt. Let’s get you in the car and away from here. You’re coming home with me. The boys have already packed you a bag.”

  Before the significance of the words could truly sink into her befuddled brain, he’d had her installed in the passenger seat of his Land Rover, and they were driving off.

  “What do you mean they’ve packed me a bag?”

  Heat rose in her cheeks at the mere thought of Cole Jackson’s security team riffling through her underwear drawer. They were all hunks in their own right, and besides…

  “And why am I going to your place? Arran is at my house so…” Her words trailed off, and fear made her stomach churn when Cole flicked his amber gaze to hers briefly and shook his head.

  “He’s not, little one, and neither your men nor I think you ought to be on your own right now. Besides Emmi is dying to meet you. She’s been rather deprived of female human company since Gabe’s birth, let alone a female in a similar situation to hers, so this will be good for both of you. I’m sure you must be full of questions, and Emmi will be able to answer them much better than I ever could.”

  He smiled when Kate opened and shut her mouth but couldn’t manage to form any words. When she did eventually speak it was a rather strangled squeak.

  “Your mate is human?” She rolled her eyes and slapped her forehead. “Of course she is, you said that to Arran before, but what do you mean she is like me? And where is Arran?”

  A shadow crossed over the bear shifter’s features, and the way his mouth set in a grim line gave Kate renewed palpitations. She wasn’t going to like his answer.

  “Arran is doing what needs to be done for council justice to be able to take place.” His knuckles tightened on the steering wheel, and Kate would have thumped the man if she didn’t think she would do herself an injury in the process. Like all the shifters she had met so far, Cole was huge, huger than most in fact, with not an ounce of fat on that muscled bear-like physique of his. She was beginning to get quite good at guessing what inner animal a shifter was. Cole had the brawn of his bear, like her men had the sleek, muscle packed grace of their large cats, whereas Zach had the sit and quash them mass of his elephant.

  “What do you mean, council justice?” she asked, and Cole’s smile in answer didn’t reach his eyes.

  “You’re an intelligent girl, I’m sure you can figure it out. There’s only one thing he could do, to give both him and Zeb the best chance of a fair hearing.”

  Bile rose in Kate’s throat, and she swallowed repeatedly to stop herself from being sick, as the answer dawned on her.

  “He’s turned himself in, hasn’t he? How is that helpful? I don’t understand … this whole thing is insane.”

  Cole reached across to give her shoulder a squeeze.

  “Relax, little one. With Zeb changing his story, he had to. Voluntarily turning himself in will show the council that he’s willing and ready to accept their judgment.”

  Kate shook Cole’s hand off with a glare, and his lips kicked up into a lopsided smile.

  “And what if that judgment goes against them? I can’t lose them, not now.” Her voice broke on those last few words, and Cole sighed and ran a hand through his brown hair.

  “We’ll worry about that if it happens. This is the best chance they’ve got, and with Gunnar Anderson as judge, we’ll stand the best chance of things going their way.”

  The absolute conviction behind those growled words soothed Kate’s agitation somewhat. There was something about Cole that made her glad he was on their side, but she still had to probe.

  “And what makes this Anderson fellow so special?” she asked, and Cole laughed.

  “Well, for starters the fact that both his sons mated a human. Now admittedly their bite awakened her inner puma…” At her gasp his grin de
epened, and he nodded. “Yeah, Anastasia had shifter blood in her bloodline and didn’t know. Anyhow, they have adorable triplets now, which in itself is something of a miracle, considering the abysmal fertility rate. And then there is the small matter that his daughter is mated to both a wolf and a human. They, too, just had cubs, so I reckon Gunnar will be more than amenable to consider the seriousness of the mating bond between you, Arran, and Zeb.”

  Kate chewed her lip and regarded him thoughtfully.

  “Yes, but aren’t you forgetting one small thing? I’m not about to give birth to anything, babies or … did you say cubs? As in furry little creatures?”

  Cole winced as her voice had risen in her agitation, and she murmured an apology, but, really, cubs?

  “Don’t look so worried, Kate. The potential for offspring will go a long way to soothe the ruffled feathers of the old timers. We need fresh blood, or shifters will be extinct in a few generations, and—”

  “That’s as may be, but cubs, really?” Kate couldn’t help but interrupt him, and while his bear growled his annoyance, Cole’s eyes sparkled with barely disguised amusement. “Did your wife give birth to a bear?”

  She frowned at his laughter, and once he had his merriment under control, Cole shook his head.

  “No, she didn’t. Gabe is very much a baby. However, he is also a bear cub, and at some point will shift. That’s when the fun really starts. Anastasia’s triplets shifted much sooner than anyone was expecting, so we’ll see. It’s certainly an adventure.”

  Kate had to laugh at that. It was that or cry, and she’d done enough crying to last her a lifetime.

  “You’re on the council, right? So why aren’t you the judge?” Kate asked, and Cole smiled.

  “Because I’m speaking up for your men. Guess you would call me their defense lawyer if this was a human court, which it isn’t, of course. The judge’s decision is final, and judgment swift, but like I said, we lucked out with Gunnar. It will be all right, you’ll see, so I want you to stop worrying, and try and relax.”

  Kate snorted in derision at that, and Cole laughed.

  “Yes, I know, but I don’t want Emmi worrying over you.”

  The way he said his wife’s name and the waves of protectiveness that rolled off his large frame made Kate blink away tears again. It was clear that he loved her to distraction, and it made Kate miss her men even more.

  A comfortable silence fell between them for the rest of the journey to Cole’s house, and Kate gasped when the front door opened the minute Cole parked his car outside his house.

  The young woman, who cradled a baby at her breast, broke into a big grin when Cole closed the distance to her in record time, kissed the baby’s downy head, and then proceeded to kiss his wife senseless. Kate averted her eyes and took her time clambering out of the Land Rover, and when she eventually reached the front door it was to see Cole now cradling his sleeping son in his arms.

  Emmi held out her hand and smiled at Kate.

  “So glad to meet you. Come on in and make yourself at home.”

  Kate couldn’t suppress a gasp of surprise when Emmi turned and she saw the other side of her face, when she tucked her hair behind her ear. A myriad of fine scars marked the young woman’s cheeks. They almost looked like claw marks, and Kate jumped when Cole’s bear growled right behind her. That was definitively a menacing growl.

  Emmi just laughed and glared up at her husband.

  “Stop it. I’m sure Kate meant no harm.” She traced the scars with her finger tips, and gestured for Kate to follow her into the house. “Don’t mind my husband. He tends to get overprotective over these, and I know they’re not the prettiest part of me, so—”

  “Stop talking nonsense, woman.” Cole’s deep rumble held an edge of steel that made Kate want to scramble to her knees. “You’re beautiful inside and out, and I have no compunction to put you over my knee and spank that luscious ass of yours, until you stop putting yourself down. And with Kate here, you can’t hide behind Gabe. I’m sure Kate would be more than willing to babysit him, while I teach my bratty wife a lesson.”

  Kate didn’t know where to look, but she hastily nodded when Cole’s intense gaze connected with hers, and then suppressed a giggle when he winked at her.

  Emmi had gone pale and took several steps away from him.

  “You wouldn’t … I mean … I was just…”

  She breathed a sigh of relief when Cole stepped closer, inhaled deeply and then kissed the worst of her scars.

  “I know, sugar. This is a warning, that’s all. I’m going to put our son down, and as I can’t smell anything cooking, will order us some takeout. It’s been one hell of a day, and I’m hungry.”

  He kissed Emmi’s nose and then disappeared up the stairs.

  Both women audibly exhaled and then grinned at each other.

  “Intense, isn’t he?” Kate asked, and Emmi’s grin deepened.

  “Yes, well, you know how they get. I’ve only met your men once, but I got the impression that Zeb, at least, is just as intense?”

  Kate’s pussy clenched just thinking about how intense Zeb had been, and Emmi gave her a knowing look.

  “I take that as a yes,” Emmi said, and Kate followed her into the living room. The once clearly masculine place had been overtaken by baby paraphernalia, and Emmi sank into the big leather couch facing the fireplace with a small sigh.

  “I love my son dearly, but I do treasure the times he’s asleep and not in my arms. It doesn’t happen often.”

  “I can imagine,” Kate said, and dropped her gaze to the floor when she automatically found herself staring at the other woman’s scars.

  “You can look. It’s okay, really. You should have seen me when it first happened. Now, I really did look a mess then.”

  “Do you mind me asking what happened?” Kate asked, and Emmi’s smile lit up her face until Kate didn’t see the scars anymore.

  “Not at all. It was an ex of Cole’s.” At Kate’s sharp intake of breath, she shrugged her shoulders. “Yes, she didn’t take too kindly to a human mated to an original bear shifter. You see the council had decreed that she ought to be mated to Cole. He’d already decided that was never going to happen, but that bitch didn’t take no for an answer. Seeing me pregnant with Gabe pushed her over the edge, and she attacked me.”

  “She almost killed her.”

  Cole’s deep voice made Kate jump, and Emmi smiled up at her husband, when he sat next to her and proceeded to draw Emmi onto his lap. She snuggled into his broad chest with a small sigh of contentment, and Kate swallowed down the pang of envy at their togetherness.

  “You were pregnant with Gabe when she attacked you?” Kate asked, and Emmi closed her eyes, and snuggled in closer to Cole’s chest.

  “Yes, she was. I almost lost both of them, in fact.” The pain in his amber eyes when he looked at Kate took her breath away, and she almost missed Emmi’s quiet words.

  “You didn’t though, and all’s well that ends well.”

  Emmi sat up and smiled at Kate.

  “I’m sure your situation will work out all right, too. The council can’t afford to lose mated shifters, can they, Cole?”

  Cole’s tense features relaxed, and he nodded.

  “No, they certainly can’t. I would suggest we don’t talk about this tonight, though. I don’t want either of you to worry. There’s plenty enough time for that tomorrow, and—”

  The ring of the doorbell interrupted him, and extricating himself out from under Emmi, he stood up.

  “That’ll be the food. I ordered Chinese. Hope that’s okay with you, Kate?” He grinned at her quick nod, and stalked from the room. Kate couldn’t help but stare at his ass, and her cheeks heated at Emmi’s conspiratorial whisper.

  “He does have the best ass, doesn’t he?”

  Kate grinned and to hide her embarrassment at having been caught ogling the other woman’s husband shrugged her shoulders.

  “Can I ask you one last thing? I don’t wan
t to bring up old wounds or anything.” She glanced nervously into the direction of the kitchen, where a now humming Cole seemed to be setting out their meal.

  “What happened to the one who did that to you?” She gestured to Emmi’s face, and the other woman sobered. Her expressive eyes turned into steel, and Kate swallowed nervously.

  “Cole killed the bitch, of course, and all of her minions.”

  Kate nodded in agreement, and hope flared in her heart anew.

  “And he didn’t get into trouble for it?” she asked.

  “Of course not. She was trying to kill his mate and his unborn son. There can only be one retribution for that,” Emmi said.

  “So why are Arran and Zeb in so much trouble over protecting me?”

  Emmi sighed and drew Kate into an impromptu hug.

  “I’m not entirely sure. A large part of it is that they killed humans. Not only that, they did so in full view of God only knows how many potential human witnesses, and of course at the time they weren’t mated to you. I can see that they are now.” She pulled back to study Kate’s bite marks with a grin. “So all things considering, my guess is they will be let off with a stern warning. Perhaps be exiled from the UK, at least.”

  Kate gasped at that, and Emmi hugged her again.

  “Hey, that’s by no means certain. I’ve just been overhearing Cole on the phone, that’s all, and we best join him, before he makes good on his promise and tans my ass. Have you ever tried to breastfeed when your bum is sore, and you’re still floating after a scene?”

  When Kate shook her head with a smile, Emmi rolled her eyes, and laughed.

  “Well, of course you haven’t, but let me tell you, it’s not an experience I want to repeat. Most odd sensation, I tell you.”

  Emmi winked at her and interlinking her arm with Kate’s dragged her along to the kitchen.

  Cole had indeed set out an array of Chinese dishes, and the delicious aromas made Kate’s mouth water. She hadn’t eaten in hours, and what’s more everything smelled so good. Much better than she remembered Chinese cooking to smell, but then again, she hadn’t had enhanced vision and smell then.