Lion Eyes

by Jennifer Ashley

  The indecision—or the futility of his choices—nudged the feral in him to life. Seamus felt the surge of adrenaline, his fight-or-flight instinct rising to take over. He could fight, kill, run. He turned slowly to Broderick, feeling his body ripple, wanting to change, his sight shifting to his lion’s.

  The world took on curved edges, slightly fuzzy. With that curving vision, Seamus saw Broderick straightening, coming alert, his wolf’s eyes tinged with red. Fight, crush, break, kill ...

  A touch jerked him away from the spinning thoughts. Seamus looked down to see Bree next to him. The only thing left of her cat makeup was smudges around her eyes, a bit of black on the tip of her nose.

  Her scent was warm. Violets, he’d thought last night. Now she was more honey-like, tinged with lemon.

  Bree’s blue eyes held him, pulling him in. He could drown in that blue.

  “Seamus,” she was saying, her voice soft. “I’ve hung out with a lot of Shifters. I stalk them, remember?” Her little smile tore at him. “One thing I’ve learned is that no matter how wild they get, or how badass they pretend to be, Shifters don’t hurt the cubs. They protect them against the entire world. Humans, Shifter Bureau, other Shifters. If there’s a safe place for Katie to be, it’s a Shiftertown.”

  Seamus’s mouth was stiff, but he made himself answer. He was surprised he could still talk. “Once she goes in, she’ll never be let out.”

  “Hey, we’re working on that,” Broderick said. He spoke calmly, but his wary stance hadn’t changed, and he wasn’t taking his eyes off Seamus. “Shifters won’t be captives forever. At least, that’s what the Morrisseys are always spouting. I know you all liked living in your crazy-ass underground bunker with no windows, but someday, we’re going to walk around in the light without Collars. You want to be around when that happens?”

  “Sounds like a speech you’ve made before,” Seamus said.

  “Yeah, well, you got me. I’m not good with words. And you should hear my girlfriend complain about that. Anyway, it sounds better than Come with us or we tranq you and take you anyway. Doesn’t it? You don’t have a choice, my friend.”

  “I think Tiger already decided,” Bree broke in. “And I think Katie likes him.”

  Tiger had climbed silently to his feet and was making for the door. Katie clung to Tiger’s back, her dark eyes sparkling with excitement.

  Tiger didn’t wait for anyone to get out of his way. He just went. Bree and Francesca had to scuttle aside, and Broderick stepped quickly into the hall as Tiger moved through the door. Broderick didn’t try to stop Tiger or even talk to him.

  Broderick did try to stop Seamus going after Tiger, stepping in front of him as Seamus left the room. Seamus abruptly shoved the Lupine against the nearest wall. He saw the flare of fighting rage in Broderick’s gray eyes, and then Broderick’s deliberate decision not to do battle, not right now.

  Seamus released him and skimmed down the stairs, Bree behind him. Tiger was already in the kitchen, making his silent, swift way out of the house, Katie hanging on to his back.

  Seamus charged out of the house ... and straight into a ring of waiting Shifters. Ronan, Sean the Guardian, Spike of the many tattoos, another Lupine dressed like a cowboy. Seamus sensed more Shifters in the front of the house, others hidden all around the property. They were taking no chances.

  Tiger simply walked past them, carrying Katie away. Ronan, the bear Shifter, lifted a tranq rifle and pointed it at Seamus.

  Bree barreled out of the house behind him. “Wait! Don’t shoot him!”

  Sean gave Ronan a nod and spoke in his dark, Irish-accented voice. “Stand down, Ronan. I don’t think we’ll be needing that.”

  “No,” Seamus said. The word held finality, and also great sadness. “You won’t.”

  Chapter Twelve

  They rode to Shiftertown in a series of vehicles. The cowboy, Ellison, who introduced himself to Bree with the tip of his hat and a big smile, drove a black pickup with Tiger hunkered in the back, covered by a tarp. Katie was under there with him, with Francesca, who refused to go unless she could stay with Katie.

  Sean had Seamus and Bree ride in a small white pickup with him. The others came on motorcycles or trucks, none of them pulling out of the neighborhood at the same time. They dispersed, rather than riding in a convoy.

  “We’ll have to figure out where to put you all,” Sean said, sounding cheerful as he turned onto a street that headed downtown. It wasn’t a main street, and Bree wasn’t sure where they were.

  “Katie will probably go in with Ronan and the bears,” Sean went on. “Ronan and Rebecca foster orphaned cubs, and they know how to take care of little bears, who can be a handful, I don’t mind telling you. We might have room for you, Seamus, at our place, but you’d have to live with Dylan, and even scarier, Glory. You haven’t lived until you’ve stumbled into Glory first thing in the morning before she’s had her coffee. My brother, Liam, might be able to squeeze you in, but Tiger lives in his house, and so does Tiger’s mate, who’s expecting. But don’t worry, we’ll find somewhere.” Sean relayed all this while zipping expertly through the narrow streets, heading ever eastward. “You, Bree, already have a home. Unless you want to stay with Seamus ...”

  He left it hanging. Bree knew Sean had sensed something between her and Seamus—all right, they’d made it pretty damn obvious. She had no idea how far it would go. Would Seamus flee once Katie was safe? What room would he have in his life for Bree?

  “What happened at my house?” she asked Sean around Seamus. “When we left, the cops were ready to take you in. Apparently, they didn’t. Is my mom all right?”

  “That she is,” Sean said. “Dylan went to the station with the police—his suggestion. He’s good at talking people ’round, is Dad. But we’ll discuss it when we get home.” Sean shot Bree a look. “Your mum’s almost as scary as Glory, you know? I drove her to Shiftertown.”

  Bree’s eyes widened. “You took my mother to Shiftertown?” She gave a mock shudder, hiding her relief that for now, her mom was okay. “You’re right; that is scary.”

  “She wouldn’t stay home until we guaranteed that you were well. So Dylan made the call, and we took her with us to Shiftertown. She’s fine, only a little put out that she can’t smoke.”

  “Oh.” Bree rubbed the bridge of her nose. “In that case, she might explode.”

  “She’s waiting for you at Liam’s house. Your mum was a bit more obliging about the smoking when she saw that Tiger’s mate was pregnant, and that Liam has a wee one underfoot. She decided the smoke would be bad for Carly and the cubs—but she decided, mind. If your mum was a Shifter, I bet she’d give every alpha a run for their money.”

  Bree had to agree. She squeezed Seamus’s thigh where he sat between her and Sean. He put his hand on hers, and Bree didn’t pull away. They rode into Shiftertown, fingers entwined.

  ***

  Seamus had never been to a Shiftertown. He’d avoided them with every breath, making sure he never came within miles of them. Now he was heading rapidly toward one.

  This Shiftertown was to the east of the 35, near the old airport. While Mueller was now being built up with houses and offices, large stretches of it still remained empty or half demolished. The Shiftertown was north of that, in neighborhoods as hidden as the one they’d just left.

  They passed a bar Sean said was a favorite hangout and turned into the streets of the neighborhood. Seamus’s breath stuck in his chest. He couldn’t move, couldn’t think. A haze rose before his eyes, which obscured the trees, bungalows, and Shifters.

  It was dusk, the sun setting early in the winter. Lights were on in windows and porches, Shifters coming outside—most Felines and Lupines were nocturnal.

  All stopped to watch Sean’s white truck, and Ellison’s black one, which had caught up to them, coming slowly down the road. They knew. The whole town.

  Shifter communities were like that. Seamus never understood how it worked, but news flashed from one Shifter to
another with astonishing speed. A growl here, a look there, and rumor could flow faster than a Shifter could run.

  The streets were quiet, no traffic at all, though vehicles were parked at curbs or in driveways. The houses were old bungalows with deep porches, neatly kept yards, no fences. Large trees overhung the houses, trimmed, but thick enough to hide whatever Feline Shifter in big cat form might have climbed into one to rest on a branch.

  Sean pulled to a halt in front of a two-story bungalow with concrete strips that served as a driveway. Trees towered in the yard, obscuring the top of the house. Kids’ toys littered the porch, Seamus saw as he climbed the steps, following Sean, his heart pounding, though an attempt had been made to order them in the corner. A Shifter cub lived here.

  Bree was directly against Seamus’s back, but she looked around with interest. Her presence was the only thing keeping Seamus calm. Every fear he’d ever had in his life was swamping him, telling him to run, to fight his way free. Only Bree’s touch and his concern for Katie kept him in place.

  Tiger was out of the black truck as soon as it stopped. Francesca climbed out after him, rubbing her arms and looking around in suspicion and fear.

  Katie barreled out from under the tarp and landed on Tiger’s back. Seamus started for them, worried about what Tiger would do when the small missile landed on him, but all Tiger did was glance once at Katie as though making sure she was secure. He then walked up the steps of the bungalow, ignoring Seamus.

  The front door opened, letting out a warm square of light, and a tall Shifter looked out at them. Tiger, without waiting for invitation, walked right inside.

  “Come on in,” the Feline Shifter in the doorway said, his Irish accent mirroring Sean’s. “I’m Liam. You’re welcome in my house.”

  I’m opening my territory to you, he meant. But you’re here on my sufferance until I know you better. Be careful.

  Seamus acknowledged this with a nod. Your territory. Your rules.

  Liam returned the acknowledgment without having to speak or even make a gesture. Seamus found it very easy to understand this man, as he had with Sean and Dylan. But then, they were all lions together. The tiger and the tattooed Spike were still enigmas.

  Seamus stepped into the house, following Liam, drawing Bree with him. The house was full, and Seamus’s shyness kicked in. He wasn’t used to being around so many strangers.

  He knew he’d never remember all their names right away, so for now he didn’t bother to try. The important ones were Liam; his mate, Kim, who was human; a tall blond female Shifter—Glory—who was Dylan’s mate; and Carly, human and very pregnant.

  The two human women converged on Bree. “Hey,” Carly said. She had honey-colored hair, a wide smile, and an abdomen that announced her cub was growing large. “Welcome to the neighborhood, honey. I bet these Shifters have been running you ragged, not even offering you a glass of something. Come on. Kim and I will fix you up.”

  Tiger slid between the three of them, his big head rubbing on Carly’s extended belly. Carly rumpled his fur and played with his ear, something Seamus couldn’t imagine a sane person doing. She was his mate, all right.

  “Aw, look what Tiger’s brought us,” Carly said, her gaze on Katie. “A cutie, cutie cub.”

  Another little girl with black curly hair shot out from the kitchen. “Tigger!” she cried, her arms outstretched. She stopped short and stared at the bear cub. “Who’s that?”

  Bree answered her. “This is Katie. Isn’t she the sweetest thing? Who are you?”

  “K’triona,” the small girl answered. “I’m going to be a lion. Like him.” She pointed a finger at Seamus.

  Francesca had halted at Seamus’s side. She shivered, her terror and uncertainty palpable. Seamus put an arm around her, rubbing her shoulder and coaxing her to relax. Difficult to, when his own awareness was one of crackling tension.

  The next hour was chaotic. Nadine was there, mother and daughter embracing then talking at the same time. Seamus couldn’t hear what they said, their words drowned out by the voices of the male Shifters surrounding Seamus and Francesca.

  Liam, who looked laid-back and uninterested in the world, proved to be anything but. The gleam in his blue eyes told Seamus he was every bit as formidable as Dylan. If Seamus wanted to escape Shiftertown, it would be this man he’d have to get past, didn’t matter how big Tiger, Ronan, and the others were.

  Bree and her mom were now drinking wine with Kim, Carly sticking to water. Bree had been absorbed into the group, already laughing and talking as though she and these women who’d mated with Shifters had been friends forever. Human females could do that. Shifter females, like Francesca, were going to need more time.

  Seamus knew Francesca wanted to shift, to fight, to flee. She was holding herself back, only because she knew she’d never win, and she’d do nothing to jeopardize Katie. As it was, she would not stray a step from Seamus.

  That changed when Ronan arrived with more women, two of whom were human—his mate and her sister. Mate and sister joined the ladies in wine and laughter. The sister, who had hair streaked hot pink and orange, was already hanging on to Bree.

  “Oh, sweetie, your top is darling. I wish I’d known you liked Shifter bars; I could have gone with you. You’d have had a great time. Some of those girls can be real bitches, but once you get past them, it’s fun.”

  Her sister, Elizabeth, gave her a severe look. “Mabel, what did we talk about you going to the roadhouses?”

  Mabel rolled her eyes. “Please, I’m a grown woman.” Barely, Seamus thought. “Besides, I go with Connor, and everything’s fine.”

  The tall nephew of Liam and Sean, who looked to be a few years younger than Transition age, joined the group. “Now, don’t go telling tales on me,” Connor said. “Uncle Liam and Uncle Sean will be putting me in a cage.”

  The third female who’d come with Ronan was definitely Shifter. A bear, Seamus figured, a big one. She was of Ronan’s clan, he sensed by the way they were together, but she was mated to the human male in black fatigues at her side.

  This Shiftertown was crazy.

  “Tell you what,” the she-bear, Rebecca, said to Seamus and Francesca. “I’ll take you over to our place. We’ll introduce Katie to our family, and fix up rooms for you. Katie’s going to get too upset with all this ruckus.”

  Francesca folded her arms, trying to hunker in on herself. “What’s to say Katie won’t get upset being with you?”

  “Because we have bear cubs too,” Rebecca said. “She’ll fit right in. We have the best and biggest bear house in Shiftertown.”

  Rebecca’s dominance was clear. But though the man with her might be human, he wasn’t her second. He was quiet because he chose to be.

  “Who are you?” Seamus asked him.

  The man, Walker Danielson, with his pale, buzzed hair and light blue eyes, met Seamus’s gaze with a strong one. “Shifter Bureau.”

  Seamus’s feral instincts rose again, the haze, which had cleared a bit when meeting Shifters who seemed friendly if wary, returned. He turned to Sean. “You brought in Shifter Bureau? What the hell have you done to me?”

  “Nothing,” Walker said before Sean could answer. “But we need to talk.”

  ***

  Bree’s new best friends and her mother tried to get her to stay at Liam and Kim’s house while Seamus took Katie away with the bears. Bree said a firm—“Sorry, want to make sure everything’s cool,” and walked away from them.

  The young women she’d just met were much like the girlfriends Bree had left behind in New Orleans. A warmth began behind her breastbone. It was nice to find like-minded ladies to talk to after being lonely for so long.

  However, Bree didn’t want to stay there and lose sight of Seamus and Katie. She knew these Shifters would be good to the cub, despite Francesca’s and Seamus’s fears, but she was worried about Seamus. She couldn’t shake the feeling that if she let him walk away, she’d never see him again.

  Carly had said that
the man, Walker, was Shifter Bureau, though she said it without concern. “He’ll leave you alone, sweetie,” Carly reassured her. “Just mention duct tape.”

  The others went off into laughter, telling Bree there was a story there, but she didn’t have time to hear it now.

  Tiger accompanied Seamus and Bree to the bear’s home, Katie riding on his back again. Rebecca led the way with her long stride, her voice and Walker’s entwining. They bantered, they laughed—well, Rebecca laughed loudly while Walker’s laughter was quieter and more subdued.

  A true couple, Bree thought wistfully. Without doubt.

  The house they approached was large, square, two-story, set well back from the street, and surrounded by trees. More Shifters came outside as they approached, but these were younger, eager and hanging back at the same time. Cubs, three of them.

  One was a young man who was well built and more confident than the others. A full adult in Shifter terms, but not by much, Bree guessed, maybe just past what they called the Transition. The young woman was about Mabel’s age, early twenties, but in Shifter terms, she was still a true cub. The boy with white hair looked to be about ten or eleven.

  Francesca hung back, but Katie had no uncertainty. She slid off of Tiger, landed heavily, rolled to her feet, and bounded up to the porch.

  The little boy leaned down to her. Bree sensed the others tense, as though waiting to see what he’d do.

  The boy studied the bear cub, porch lights shining on white hair and black eyes that were like pieces of the night. Katie sat down on her hindquarters and stared right back at him.

  “What’s her name?” the boy asked without looking away from her.

  Francesca cleared her throat. “She’s Katie. She’s an orphan.”

  “Like me,” the boy said. “Hello, Katie. I’m Olaf.”

  Katie blinked some more, then she got to her feet and bumped her head into the boy’s thin legs. Olaf put his arms around Katie and hugged her.