They wove their way between trees and around rock formations, following the gentle undulation of the ground. He ignored the persistent tightening in his belly and the pain intensifying with each step. He could not give in to his hunger until she understood the conflict surrounding them. “Once a female has been defined, she has until her twenty-fifth birthday to choose a mate.”
“And if she refuses to name her mate, her father or the clan alpha can petition the council for permission to mate her by force?” Bitterness made her tone brittle and she suddenly stopped and faced him again. “Osric was forced on my mother, wasn’t he? That’s why she ran away from your precious Therian nation. She was protecting us from…all of this bullshit!”
“I already told you I don’t agree with the practice, but we are not human. Our biological needs are different, more demanding than anything you’ve experienced before. Females need to be claimed for their own safety. Once a male and a female bond, their bodies synchronize and her heat cycles will no longer affect other males. But until she’s in sync with one man, she is fair game for any unbound male.”
“Oh that sounds delightful. Where do I sign up?” All of her feisty heat suddenly sputtered out and the color drained from her face. “This is why Osric is after us. We just turned twenty-five.”
“The Alpha Council granted Osric’s petition for an official intervention.” They’d reached the crux of the conflict and his cat surged in response, hungry and demanding. He’d hoped to give her a little more time, to approach her with more finesse. But he was out of options. He needed energy now. “I don’t know who he’s chosen as your mate, but if the wolves had caught up with you instead of me, you’d be on your way to the Therian version of a shotgun wedding.”
* * * * *
Carly Ides stared through the double eyepiece of the microscope, too frustrated to analyze the newest sample. Osric had entered the lab twenty minutes ago and casually sat down at the small round table. He didn’t say a word, but she could feel his eyes roaming over her body and knew it was only a matter of time before he made his next sexual demand.
Submitting to him had seemed like the only way to learn what the backers expected her to learn. In fact, they had suggested she make herself available to Osric, hoping he would open up to a lover. The problem was they weren’t really lovers. She was a toy, an amusing object for him to position, ogle and manipulate.
Under ordinary circumstances… She didn’t let the thought go any further. There was nothing ordinary about this situation. She was locked in a secret research facility somewhere in Colorado’s Rocky Mountains. At least she thought she was still in Colorado. She’d arrived by helicopter, so it was hard to determine exactly how far they’d flown.
She was a willing captive, however, having agreed to the unusual arrangement in exchange for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Along with a select group of other scientists, she studied a species the vast majority of humanity didn’t know existed. Shapeshifters. Therians, as they preferred to be called, were not only real, they were utterly amazing. So, if she had to put up with the lecherous behavior of one of her supervisors, it was a small price to pay to participate in the program.
Besides, if she were brutally honest with herself, once her pride was silenced, she enjoyed their little games.
“Turn around and lift your lab coat. I want to see if you’re still in compliance.”
Her hands clutched the edge of the workspace and she took a deep breath. The challenge was not responding to his touch, it was concealing the true depth of her pleasure as her body came alive. He’d insisted she wear only skirts with nothing underneath. It left her vulnerable, accessible for whatever he chose to do.
She’d encouraged Osric’s advances at the direction of the backers, the mysterious three who oversaw and funded the Therian project. They expected her to slip beneath Osric’s defenses and learn his true motivations. But Osric would never confide in her. She was a mere human and he was Therian. He was an invaluable resource, even if the backers didn’t trust him, and she was expendable.
Pausing for a moment, she considered her next move. She was getting nowhere with her current strategy. He thought she was weak and malleable, which meant there was no reason to respect her. She’d observed the mating habits of predators often enough to know females frequently challenged males, forcing him to prove his strength before she submitted to his demands.
“I’m bored with these games.” She kept her tone even and carefully erased any hint of emotion from her expression before she pivoted on her stool and faced him. “We were both curious and now our curiosity has been sated. I think it’s best if we move on. No hard feelings. No regrets.”
He pushed to his feet and stalked toward her, his tall, lean body moving with inherent grace. A shiver of excitement raced down her spine. Oh yeah, she had his attention now. He claimed to have a daughter in her mid-twenties, so he had to be pushing fifty. Yet not a speck of gray marred his dark hair and his skin was unlined, somehow ageless.
He grabbed her knees and forced her legs apart, or as far apart as her narrow skirt allowed. “Is that really what you want?” He grabbed the back of her hair and tilted her head until their gazes locked. His dark brown eyes were filled with lust and just a hint of cruelty. “I’ve been gentle with you so far. Humans tend to be fragile. Perhaps that was a mistake. Shall we see if you can take—”
The lab door banged open and General Milliner stormed into the lab. Carly had no idea which army employed him or if general was an honorary title. It didn’t really matter. His authority was unquestionable and most people simply called him “sir”. One third of the mysterious backers, General Milliner had appeared numerous times on video screens, but this was the first time Carly had been in the same room with him. He was dressed in jeans and a long-sleeved pullover shirt, but casual clothes couldn’t hide the autocratic tilt of his head or the unrelenting strength in his posture. With buzzed gray hair and cold blue eyes, he appeared to be in his late fifties.
Osric stepped back and let her slide off the stool. She quickly straightened her skirt, but the general’s upraised brow assured her that he’d noticed the intimate position.
“General,” Osric greeted in a calm, cool tone.
Ignoring him entirely, General Milliner looked at her. “Have you made the appropriate adjustments to the formula?”
“Of course, sir.” She took a step away from Osric before adding, “But I was hoping for a new test subject. The results will be more accurate if the test subject hasn’t been exposed to any of the earlier combinations.”
Milliner’s expression didn’t change. He stared at her with steely expectation. “I am nothing if not efficient. Delivering three new test subjects is what brought me here today. Two are younger than I prefer, but the Therians are taking every precaution, which makes test subjects harder and harder to acquire.” Before her brain could fully register the repugnance of his casual statement, he moved on. “Osric lost one of the twins, so the compound is now our top priority.”
“What are you talking about?” Osric put himself back in Milliner’s line of vision.
“According to my contact, a total of six males from various shifter clans gathered at the cat sanctuary two nights ago.” He turned toward Osric, his gaze expressing the displeasure his casual tone concealed. “Rebel activities can be orchestrated using video conferencing and email. There’s only one reason they all needed to be there in person.”
Osric shook his head, clearly in denial. “They would never attempt the ritual this soon. There’s no way Carissa would allow it. She grew up believing she was human.”
Carly didn’t know what ritual Osric meant, but he sounded traumatized by the development.
“If what you’ve told us is true, she didn’t need to be a willing participant.” Milliner sounded almost bored. “Didn’t you force this awakening on her mother?”
“We did and our attempt failed.” Osric shook his head. “Why would they have acted so quickly
?”
Milliner laughed, the sound harsh and caustic. “To protect her from you. From us. Even if the ritual failed, her animal nature is doubtlessly established. Carissa is no use to us now.”
“But Ava is still a possibility.” Osric straightened his shoulders and glared at Milliner. “Ava is my daughter. I’m not giving up. I know we can create a true Therian.”
Waving away Osric’s conviction, Milliner said, “I don’t honestly care if we have one person who can shift into ten animals, or ten who can each shift into one. I’m interested in the transformation itself and the abilities each shifter develops once their animal nature is mature.”
“But you’ve never seen a true Therian. You have no idea—”
“We’ve decided to focus on known abilities, rather than dreaming about some mythic super-shifter who might or might not exist.” The proverbial “we” meant the three backers, and the pronouncement took the wind out of Osric’s sails. He fidgeted, rebellion still burning in his dark eyes, but he could find no adequate argument.
Barns, the head of security, tapped on the open door, drawing their attention. “Sorry to interrupt.”
“What’s the matter?” Osric asked even though Milliner was actually in charge.
“Something tripped one of the perimeter sensors. We don’t have cameras out that far, so I dispatched a team to check it out. I doubt it’s anything serious, but I thought I’d make you aware.”
“Could the sensor have malfunctioned?” Milliner asked.
“It’s possible,” Barns admitted. “But it’s more likely an animal triggered the alarm. Just wanted to keep you in the loop.”
Osric nodded. “If you learn anything conclusive, let me know.”
“Of course.” After nodding to the general, Barns left.
“Does that happen often?” Milliner’s gaze remained sharp and suspicious.
“We’re in the middle of a protected wilderness. It’s a wonderful deterrent for humans, but the wildlife creates its own challenges.”
Milliner’s gaze shifted to Carly as he motioned Osric toward the door. “Go supervise the follow-up. Any possible threat is too important to leave to an underling.”
No one was fooled by the comment. Osric had been dismissed so Milliner could speak with Carly alone. Osric shot Carly a warning glare but kept his mouth shut as he stalked from the room.
“Have you learned anything new?” Milliner waited until Osric’s footfalls had faded before he asked the question.
She glanced pointedly at the surveillance camera. “Is it safe to talk?”
“I took the system offline shortly after I arrived. I’ll restore it before I leave the complex.”
Accepting his explanation with a stiff nod, she said, “I’m not sure there’s anything new to learn.” She fiddled with one of the buttons on her lab coat as she composed her expression enough to meet his penetrating stare. “You apparently know more about what’s going on than Osric does.”
“The setback with Carissa is bound to make him reckless. It’s more important than ever that you find a way to make him trust you. We’re certain he’s hiding something important, but we haven’t been able to determine what it is.”
“I understand. I’m just not sure he’ll ever tell me what you’re hoping to learn. To be blunt, sir, I’m human. To his way of thinking that makes me insignificant and suspect.”
He moved closer, hands clasped behind his back. “We understand the challenges. That’s why we’ve decided to up the ante. If you succeed in learning his endgame, we’ll lift the restrictions listed in your contract. You’ll be able to come and go as you please, which will enable you to enjoy the monetary rewards we’ve already promised you.”
Dread twisted her stomach into a formidable knot. He made it sound so simple, so attainable. She knew it was far more complicated than he realized, but being able to leave the complex was a serious temptation. Money didn’t mean much while she had no way to spend it.
Perhaps she’d given in too easily. Osric was a predator. He thrived on the chase and she’d fallen into his arms like fast-food. She needed to tease and tempt, surrender a bit and then pull away. “He has access to every room in the facility. I have nowhere to escape him, no way to refuse his advances.”
“And predators enjoy the hunt as much as the feast,” the general mused.
“Exactly.”
“I’ll have the codes to your living quarters and your office changed immediately. Is there anything else you need to make this work?”
“If I think of something, I’ll let you know.”
He nodded, cool blue eyes stark and assessing. “This is extremely important to us.”
“I’m aware.” She smiled as she began formulating a new strategy. “I’ll do my best, sir.”
“That’s all we ask.”
* * * * *
Ava just stared at Kyle, unable to pluck one thought out of the whirlwind assailing her mind and form a coherent sentence. Osric had been forced on her mother and now he intended to force a mate on her. This wasn’t the Middle Ages. How did he expect to get away with rape and coercion? Her gut clenched and bile rose into the back of her throat. “Carissa wasn’t forced to…”
“No. She has been defined, but she participated in the ritual willingly.”
Her vision confirmed his claim. Carissa hadn’t just been willing, she’d reveled in the savage ritual.
Needing a distraction from the overwhelming dread, Ava focused on a random detail. “What sort of shifter is Carissa now?” Ava was reluctant to believe any of it, but the evidence was mounting. “The man I saw in the vision was really tall, with sharp features and strange gold eyes.”
“Therian eyes all turn gold as our true nature surges.”
That was a deflection if she’d ever heard one. “Who defined my sister and why are you so reluctant to talk about him?”
Kyle sighed, but the tension in his features remained. “It’s likely you saw Ian Douglas, he’s the Therian raptor I mentioned before. He’s old and powerful and—”
“This man wasn’t old, thirty-five, maybe forty at the very most.”
“We don’t age the same way humans age. We mature slower and decline faster. A Therian remains in his or her prime for at least a hundred years. Some have lived much longer. Your sister’s definition was special, unique. I honestly think it’s best if she explains what happened and the decisions she’s made because of all she’s learned.”
It was as close to a straight answer as he’d given her, but she couldn’t help feeling he was still evading something important.
The stillness of the forest mocked her anxiety. She needed to think, analyze what he’d told her once her emotions had stabilized. “I’m giving you twenty-four hours. If we haven’t made it out of this wilderness by then, you tell me everything that’s happened to Carissa.”
“Ava.”
She looked at him and grimaced. His skin looked pale and distinct creases now framed his mouth. “What’s wrong? You look terrible.”
He shrugged off the backpack and stalked toward her, golden veins shooting through his green eyes. “I’d hoped it wouldn’t come to this, but I can’t wait any longer.”
Matching him step for step, she backed up until her hips hit a rock formation. “You can’t wait for what?”
“Energy.” His arms shot out and pulled her toward him. “I need you now.”
She shoved against his chest and twisted her face away. “Let go!”
He wrapped one arm around her waist and tangled his other hand in her hair. “Look at me.”
“No.” His fingers tightened and he slowly pulled her head back around. She shut her eyes, refusing to be mesmerized by his gold-threaded gaze.
“I don’t want to hurt you.” His mouth brushed against hers, his breath warm and moist against her lips. “Don’t fight me, sunshine. I can’t be gentle if you make this a battle.”
She tried to turn her head, but his hand held firm. “Why do you need to kis
s me to…refuel?”
“You’re still latent, so your instincts will resist. It will be almost impossible for me to access what I need unless you’re very distracted.”
Before she could reply, his mouth covered hers. He tilted her head back and slid his lips over and against hers. Her arms were trapped against his chest, maintaining some distance between their bodies. Still, she was surrounded by his warmth and controlled by his strength. The combination stirred something deep inside her, something dark and primitive.
His tongue traced the seam of her lips, his intention obvious. She clenched her teeth and pressed her lips together. If she surrendered to his kiss, how much more would he expect? She hadn’t asked him to heal her. But healing you is what left him weak.
Damning her conscience for a meddlesome bitch, she slowly opened her eyes. “Will you stop with just a kiss?” He hadn’t pulled back and her lips brushed against his with each word.
“I’ll try.” The shimmering gold had taken over his gaze, as if a mountain lion looked out from his human face. “But I need to touch you. Energy can’t transfer through clothes.”
He’d had to touch bare skin before he could heal her. It stood to reason that this would be the same. Besides, he’d already seen her in her bra, so what difference did it make. “If this doesn’t fill your tank, you’re out of luck. I’m not having sex with you.”
His only response was to nip her lower lip and reluctantly let go. He took off his coat and spread it over the rock behind her then did the same with his shirt. She watched the muscles in his chest flex and his abdomen ripple. Damn. Fully dressed he’d looked athletic, but his torso was utterly ripped. She settled back against the leather-padded rock and enjoyed the view.
“Now you.” His voice sounded gruff and dry, reminding her that their undressing had a higher purpose. She raised her arms and he pulled her t-shirt off over her head then let it fall to the rock behind her. “The more you enjoy this, the easier it will be for me to access what I need.” He wrapped his arms around her and eased his knee between her legs.
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