The Jaguar Prince

Chapter 29

“Looks like I was just in time, too,” Ben said. “I heard rustling around and pulled my tranquilizer gun. You’re safe now. Well, until the medication wears off, but we’ll have him in a cage long before then.”

She looked at the downed jaguar. Balam was panting as he tried to focus, the dart poking out his flank.

Ben pushed the button on his radio. “Ray, bring the Jeep with the trailer hitched to it. Grab that canvas, too. We got a jaguar to get locked up.”

“Uh, did you say a jaguar was loose?”

“Don’t worry. I knocked him out. There’s enough medicine in him to keep him quiet for a while.”

Static, then, “Sure thing. Wow, I can’t wait to hear about this one.”

While they were talking, Callie removed the dart. “I’m so sorry. I’ll get you out, I promise.” She shoved his clothes behind a log, and pushed some leaves on top of them, glad there were so many on the ground.

“How’d he get out?” Ben asked.

“I guess the door wasn’t secure.” She held her breath, hoping he would believe her.

Ben squinted. “Don’t remember a black jaguar.”

“He’s new.”

Ben nodded. “Better be more careful.”

“I will.” She exhaled a deep sigh of relief.

In less than ten minutes, Ray came lumbering up in the Jeep, the trailer bouncing behind him. Ben motioned for him to back it up, bringing it as close as they could without hitting a tree. Callie hurried to help roll Balam onto the canvas Ray had laid out.

“Careful, don’t hurt him.”

“I’m the one who’s going to have a hernia. What’s he weigh? Two hundred?”

“One ninety, maybe,” Ray said.

They put him on the cart. Callie chose to ride with Balam to the cages. “It’ll wear off in about an hour or so, I promise,” she whispered. Why had she thought making love in the zoo was a good idea? It had been stupid. She only hoped the tranquilizer wouldn’t have any lasting effects.

They stopped in front of the cage next to Sheba. She paced inside hers as if the other jaguar made her nervous. This wasn’t good at all. Sheba might have accepted Rogar, but she apparently did not like Balam.

“I don’t think she cares for the new jaguar,” Ben voiced her thoughts.

“I’m sure everything will be okay,” she said.

Ben’s radio crackled again. Ben pulled it out of the holster on his hip and pushed the button.

“What’s the matter now?” he asked.

“The gorilla is going ape shit.” Apparently, he realized what he’d said and began to laugh while still holding the button down.

Ben frowned. “Smart ass,” he mumbled, then pushed the button again when the other guy let off. “I’ll be right there.” He turned to Callie. “You’ll be okay?”

She nodded.

Ben looked up. “Full moon. All the animals go crazy. Never fails.” He started toward the Jeep. “If you have any more problems, just give me a holler.”

“I’m sure I’ll be fine now. Thanks, Ben.”

As soon as he drove off, she quickly opened the cage and hurried to Balam. He was still sleeping. She ran her hand over his dark coat. “You are so going to have a headache when you wake up.” And as long as he woke up before morning, they would be fine. She really doubted the zoo’s visitors would appreciate viewing a naked alien in a cage.

On second thought, maybe they would. Rogar was a hottie, no two ways about it. She certainly enjoyed looking at him. She shook her head. Sheesh, crazy thoughts. Sometimes she wondered about her mental state.

Sheba was still creating a ruckus so Callie went to her, leaving Balam’s cage open just a bit in case the drug wore off early.

“What’s the matter, girl? Balam wouldn’t hurt you. There’s nothing to be afraid of.”

“Isn’t there?” Zerod asked as he stepped from the shadows.

Callie felt the color drain from her face as cold dread filled her. “Ben!” She turned, but already knew he was long gone.

“I really doubt he’ll be able to help you. In fact, I’m certain he’ll be with the gorilla the rest of his shift. It was so easy to create a diversion. I’ll have to thank the guard for knocking Balam out for me, though. An error in judgment on my part, I’m afraid. I planned to attack sooner, but I got rather caught up watching the two of you mate.”

“You bastard,” she snarled.

“I can see why Symtarians have enjoyed mating with women from Earth.” He reached out and caressed her face. When she jerked away, he only laughed. “There’s a wildness about you that almost matches that of our women. Maybe I’ll mate with you before I kill you.”

“I’d rather die than have you touch me.”

He bowed slightly. “As you wish.”

His hands were around her throat before she could run. She stumbled back against Balam’s cage. He made an angry noise from deep in his throat as he tried to protect her, but she knew he wouldn’t have the strength.

She attempted to get to her pocket where the gun was, but couldn’t quite reach it. How could I have thought I’d be a match for Zerod?

Her world began to go dark.

Zerod applied just enough pressure that she was able to get a little oxygen into her starving lungs. Just enough that she could hear his words. Not enough that she had the strength to defend herself.

“You look a lot like your mother,” Zerod said. “She was a very beautiful woman. But I see some of your father as well. He was such an easy kill. No sport at all.”

“I hope you die a painful death,” she managed to gasp.

He chuckled, then turned serious. “Not until I wipe everyone not of pure blood off every planet. Our blood should never be mixed.” He lowered his head, his lips pressing against hers in a quick kiss. She almost gagged.

Their gazes locked. She saw the hatred in his, and knew she was going to die tonight. There was so much she still wanted to do. So much she still wanted to see.

“Good-bye, Callie Jordon.” He squeezed harder.

Lights danced in front of her eyes as the sounds around her diminished. She vaguely heard his voice.

“They’ll think Balam killed you when I’m done. They’ll think he ripped your body to shreds. I won’t have to harm Rogar, they’ll put Balam down for me, and Rogar with him.”

She tried to tell Zerod what she thought of him, but no words formed as her oxygen was completely cut off. This was it. The end. What did she have to show for her life here on Earth? She hadn’t even gotten the job she’d worked so hard for.

Or to tell Rogar she loved him.

She loved him. She did. With all her heart.

Callie tried to raise her hand, to hit at Zerod, but she didn’t have the strength.

Suddenly, she felt a great weight push her against the bars of the cage. She fell to the ground, oxygen filled her lungs. She took great gulps as the fog cleared from her brain.

Zerod screamed. She opened her eyes. Sheba, not Balam, had attacked him. How had she gotten out? Callie shook her head to clear it, but when she looked again, she saw that Zerod was changing into his animal guide with a swiftness that could only come with age. He would kill Sheba. The jaguar wouldn’t be able to fight his experience.

Anger swelled inside her fast and furious. Fire burned deep in her belly as a familiar ache grew and fog moved over her. She stretched, welcoming whatever help she could give.

This time the shapeshifting felt different. She felt different.

She groaned. Then blinked.

Together we will conquer him, the voice inside her spoke.

Katun?

We meet at last my friend.

Callie blinked, and knew she was seeing through the eyes of her jaguar guide. And yes, she knew she was jaguar. Callie didn’t need a mirror this time.

She could feel Katun’s power, her strength, as she joined forces with Sheba.

Zerod’s animal guide was no match for the two of them. They continued pressing forward, attacking from both sides, until they had him backed into Sheba’s cage. Sheba rammed her head against it and the door clicked shut.

Zerod’s injuries were many. He growled one last time, then dropped to the straw bed, waiting for his injuries to heal. But for now, he was out of commission, and they were safe.

Thank you, Katun.

You are welcome, my sister.

Callie smiled, liking the idea that they were sisters. Then just as suddenly, she collapsed to the ground. What was happening? Had she been injured? She closed her eyes as she began to shift back to her human side.

So much had happened.

I’m not ready to say good-bye, Katun.

You have other things to attend to that I cannot help you do.

What other things?

But Katun was already gone and fog was rolling in. Rogar hadn’t mentioned other things that Callie needed to do when she changed into her animal guide for the first time. Maybe there was a procedure that she was supposed to follow, or a ceremony.

She blinked several times until her vision cleared. Callie knew she had shifted back to her human form. She looked around. There was a woman kneeling beside her. A very beautiful woman, with long dark hair. And she wore a gentle smile.

“Hello, Callie.” Her voice was like soft music.

There was something familiar about her, but Callie couldn’t put her finger on what it was. “Who are you?”

“I am Recina.”

“Do I know you?” She looked at the other woman, and noticed Recina wore her shirt. Nothing else, just her shirt, but it reached the top of her thighs.

“You know me as Sheba.”

She quickly sat up and glanced around. Sheba was gone. Her gaze went back to Recina. “You’re Symtarian?”

Recina nodded. “Yes.”

“Did someone send you to watch over me all these years?” It didn’t make sense. Sheba had been at the zoo almost as long as Callie. Too long for someone to live in a cage just to watch over her.

“Once I found you, and it took many years, I knew I had to stay close although it meant I would lose some of my freedom. I also knew that Zerod would detect my Symtarian scent, but not so much my animal guide’s scent, especially when I was surrounded by other animals.”

Callie could feel her heart begin to pound as tears pooled in her eyes. “But why would you do that?”

“That’s what mothers do, Callie. They love their children more than anything else.” And just so Callie would truly understand. “I’m your mother.”