Wild Cat

CHAPTER SIX

Xavier came roaring up in his F-250 as Diego climbed down to the road. Dirt and gravel shot into the air as Xavier braked, then he leapt out of his truck. Xavier spied Diego flanked by two wildcats and a bear, and stopped, a shotgun resting loosely in his hands.

“All clear,” Diego said as he hiked the last few feet to the road.

Xavier didn’t raise the shotgun, but he kept it handy and looked hard at the Shifters.

“These are Cassidy and Eric Warden,” Diego said, jerking his thumb at the wildcats. “And their neighbor, Brody. I need to give them a ride home.”

Xavier warily eyed the bear. “That’s a frigging grizzly, Diego.”

“I know.”

Xavier raised his brows, then caught what was in Diego’s expression and shrugged. “OK.”

Cassidy chose that moment to change into her tall, lithe, human form. Xavier’s eyes widened, and Diego stepped protectively in front of her.

“Stop ogling and get her a blanket.”

Xavier blinked at his older brother in surprise, then he grinned hard. Still carrying the shotgun, Xavier stepped to Diego’s car and pulled out a blanket.

Cassidy wrapped the scratchy wool around her, not missing how Diego had tried to hide her from Xavier’s gaze. Mates did that, instinctively, protecting their females from other male Shifters, but Cassidy knew Diego had not done it for any mate reason. He was thinking like a human, believing Cassidy would worry about Xavier seeing her without clothing.

Xavier was Diego’s brother all right. He stood the same height as Diego, had the same square, handsome face, broad shoulders, and black hair-though Xavier wore his a little longer-and eyes so dark it was like looking at midnight. They had the same stance, the same way of moving.

What kept the younger man from being a twin of the older was that he smiled more readily, moved more rapidly. Diego had learned to hone his energy while Xavier was still being ruled by his.

Eric padded calmly to the pile of clothes he’d left in the dirt, shifted while Xavier’s eyes widened again, and dressed himself. Brody, instead of shifting, turned and walked heavily back into the darkness.

“Where’s he going?” Xavier asked.

“To meet up with the others and get home,” Eric answered. “He’s shy about shifting in front of people.”

Xavier raised his brows but didn’t comment on Eric’s seeming lack of shyness. “And you’re all out here because…?” Xavier asked Diego.

“Doesn’t matter now. I’ll explain it later.”

Xavier watched his brother another moment, then shrugged and nodded. Not happy, but trusting Diego.

Diego ordered Eric and Cassidy into his car and told Xavier to follow them back. Diego drove, hands firm on the wheel, Eric in the backseat, Cassidy in the front with Diego.

Cassidy liked watching Diego drive. She enjoyed the way the muscles in his arms moved, how his eyes flickered as he watched the road, how he could give attention to all things at the same time. He was a good hunter, she thought. He’d trained himself to be.

The butt of Diego’s pistol peeped around his flat stomach, within his easy reach but not Cassidy’s. Eric drowsed against the door behind her, his legs across Diego’s backseat. Eric often napped after an intense stalk, retrieving the energy he’d spent, and besides, his Collar had started to go off. He only rested like this when he thought himself safe, so he must feel safe with Diego.

The moon was bright tonight. Cassidy’s neighbors were out, waiting for the ceremony for Donovan to start-on porches or in yards, a few already burning fires or lighting candles to the Goddess. Shane and Nell lounged on their porch next door, watching as Eric and Cassidy climbed out of Diego’s car.

Jace slammed open the screen door and ran outside. “Dad, what the hell? Nell was about to have a clan roundup and go extract you.”

“Shit happened,” Eric said. He grabbed his son in a brief but hard embrace.

“You all right, Cass?” Jace took Cassidy’s hand, his familiar warmth already easing her tension.

“I’m fine, sweetie.”

Cassidy pulled him into a full hug. She’d held Jace when he was a tiny cub, when he’d been still in cat form. He’d liked to chew on her pant legs, insistently, until she picked him up and cuddled him, his true goal. That cute cub was a long way from Jace the man, but affection between nephew and aunt remained.

Xavier pulled up in his truck and drew more Shifter attention. Cassidy sensed all eyes on the brothers, noses taking in scents.

Eric didn’t invite Diego and Xavier inside, but he didn’t keep them out either. Which meant that Eric wanted to hear Diego’s view of what had happened.

Diego and Xavier kept their weapons with them as they entered the house. Jace made more coffee, Eric yawning in the living room, as Cassidy ducked into her room and pulled on her clothes. For some reason she grabbed her cutest lace panties and bra before she covered them with jeans and a cropped top.

Her friend Lindsay had convinced her to buy the underwear at a time when Cassidy figured there was no point. She was glad now she’d listened even though she’d be the only one who knew she had them on.

Cassidy went back out to the living room as Jace was handing out coffee like a gracious host. Xavier gratefully accepted a cup; Diego declined his. The ritual was due to begin soon, but Eric yawned again as he collapsed to the sofa.

“Sorry,” he said. “Hunting makes me sleepy.”

It hadn’t been just the hunting. Eric was fighting the effects of his Collar going off when he’d rushed the hunter. Eric had, not long ago, gone out to the Austin Shiftertown to learn a technique the father of the Shiftertown leader there had begun to use to override Collars. The override didn’t last long, and the payback was hell, but Dylan Morrissey and his two sons could sustain a fight long enough to finish it, clean up, and then retreat to go through the delayed reaction.

Eric had returned and sent Jace back to learn the technique, which involved hours of meditation and mind exercises. Jace had been teaching Cassidy and Eric the exercises, but it was a slow process. It was also a secret process, known only, so far, to the Morrisseys and now Eric and his family, and possibly whatever other Shiftertown leaders the Morrisseys had decided they trusted. Neither Eric nor Cassidy had mastered it yet, though Jace was getting pretty good at it.

Cassidy’s Collar hadn’t gone off tonight, however, because she’d realized the moment she’d started her charge that the hunter was no longer there. She’d slowed in confusion, her Collar remaining dormant.

Xavier leaned his shotgun against the wall behind the chair he sat in, within easy reach, and she saw the bulge of its ammunition in his jacket pocket. Diego was the most formally dressed of all of them, having resumed his suit coat, though he hadn’t put his tie back on. He looked damn good in a suit.

Cassidy found herself swaying her hips a bit as she leaned to grab the coffee from the table and sit with Eric on the sofa. Eric moved his legs for Cassidy as she sat down, then she lifted Eric’s feet and rested them on her lap.

“So what the hell happened out there?” Diego demanded. “The guy was there, and then he wasn’t. Tell me the truth. Did one of you kill him?”

Eric gave a short laugh. “You’d have found a torn-up corpse if I had, and I’d look a hell of a lot worse than this. These Collars are a bitch.”

“Then what happened to him?”

“Good question,” Eric said.

Cassidy shivered. What she’d smelled among the rocks had been a whiff of acrid smoke with a bite of mint. Not good.

“Cassidy?”

She liked the way Diego said her name. He sounded the way a dusky wine tasted.

“I don’t know,” she said. “I guess he had an escape route.”

“I was watching through the scope,” Diego said. “He didn’t run. His heat signature went off the scale and then he was gone. Like he’d exploded. Silently.”

Cassidy did her best not to look at Eric. She felt his legs tense in her lap, though he lounged as negligently as ever, eyes half closed.

“I didn’t see anything like that,” Eric said. “Like Cassidy said, he must have had an escape route. Maybe he torched something in his way.”

“Leaving no fire, smoke, or ash,” Diego said. “There wasn’t anything inside that rock cave, not even footprints.”

“Neat trick,” Xavier put in.

Eric let his eyes close all the way, as though he was going to nap no matter who was in his living room. “Yeah, well. He’s gone.”

“Cassidy.” Diego got to his feet, his face unmoving. “Talk to me?”

Eric cracked his eyes open as Cassidy slipped from under his legs. There was warning in the look, but Cassidy didn’t need to be told not to reveal to the human police what the hunter might have been.

Xavier remained in the living room, sipping coffee and looking nonchalant. He and Eric were going to compete in the who-can-look-like-he’s-the-most-at-ease-when-he’s-not contest.

Diego walked out through the kitchen door to the backyard like he owned the place. Cassidy followed him.

The yard wasn’t fenced, as so many yards in Las Vegas were. Shifters didn’t like fences, so all houses opened to a common strip of land where kids roamed and played, and where adults held informal cookouts or formal rituals. Shane and some others were building the bonfire that would be used in the public ritual to honor Donovan. Cassidy looked away, fighting pain, torn between the past and present.

Diego moved down the common, away from the activity. Nell lifted the curtain of her kitchen window and looked out at them as they walked by.

When they stopped, Diego took a small white business card out of his pocket. “Whenever you and Eric are ready to stop bullshitting me,” he said, tucking the card into the neckline of Cassidy’s shirt, “you call me.”

Diego’s fingers didn’t touch Cassidy’s skin, but the swift heat of his hand, the scrape of the thin card, made her mouth go dry.

“Diego, believe me when I say that I’m as confused about what’s going on as you are.”

“Maybe, but you’re not telling me everything. I want to know what you know, and even more than that, I want you to stay the hell home and don’t leave again. Finish your probation. Understand?”

The alpha tendencies in him stirred the dominant in her. Cassidy was second in command of Shiftertown, not only because she was in Eric’s family, but because she was that high in the dominance order. Jace was plenty old enough to be Eric’s second, but he was third, conceding second to Cassidy. Jace didn’t seem to mind always letting Cassidy know that, as third, he had her back.

Cassidy poked a gentle finger at Diego’s chest. “I don’t take orders from anyone but Eric, policeman.”

Diego’s eyes got warmer, and she could feel the rise of his body heat. “Right now, you have to take a few orders from me,” he said. “My price for not arresting your ass again.”

His mouth was firm. Cassidy imagined it against hers, the hot pressure of his lips. Would he open her mouth right away, or would he linger at her lips? Kiss her softly or slant his mouth across hers, demanding access? Their bodies were nearly together now, except for a small sliver of space between them.

“Seriously, Cassidy, be careful.” Diego’s voice dropped to its velvet tones, and she thought of wine again.

“I will.” She slid her arms around his waist, flowing to him.

Diego stiffened. “What are you doing?”

“Saying good-bye.”

“This is good-bye?” He looked surprised. “I thought it was come up to my place and see me sometime.”

Cassidy grinned. “You’re already at my place. This is how Shifters take leave of each other. I won’t hurt you, Lieutenant Escobar.”

“You hurting me wasn’t what I was afraid of. And anyway, I’m staying. Your brother asked me to watch whatever ritual you’re going to do.”

“He did?” Eric hadn’t mentioned this. Shifter rituals were very private, meaning that humans weren’t welcome.

Then again, perhaps Cassidy did want Diego there. She wanted him to see what losing a Shifter meant to them, and the things Shifters went through.

“All right, then,” she said. She took both Diego’s hands in hers and raised them to her lips. Then she skimmed her touch to his shoulders and put her arms all the way around him. “This means, The blessing of the Goddess be with you.”

Diego came against her without resistance. His breath touched her face as he let her pull him close, and his unshaved whiskers brushed her cheek.

Diego drew back after a minute, but his eyes were darker than ever as he looked down at her. “Thank you. What am I supposed to say back?”

“You can say, May the Father God watch over you. Or you can say nothing and just nuzzle me.”

Diego leaned down, brushing his nose across her hairline. Cassidy felt his breath, his warmth, which both confused and elated her. “I can see why Shifters like their religion.”

“You’re an unusual man, Diego. Humans don’t always acknowledge that we have a religion. They say we follow primitive rituals without really knowing what they mean.”

Diego’s hands on her back were strong. “I’m Roman Catholic. We have a lot of rituals that people don’t understand either. Some of them were borrowed from the Celtic pagans, which is where I bet you got yours too.”

“You’re saying we have something in common?”

“I’m saying doing a ritual makes sense to me. You can find a lot of comfort in it. Your life might be hell, but to stop for a quiet minute and light a candle for someone you cared about helps.”

He did understand. Five minutes of simple prayer could calm the soul. “Maybe that’s why Eric asked you to stay.”

Diego shook his head. “I think your brother wants me to know exactly what I’m dealing with and wants to watch how I react to it. Your brother is pretty damn canny.” He glanced at Cas-sidy’s house and released her. “Looks like you’re ready to start.”

The Shifters were gathering around the bonfire. They formed the circles, close friends and family in the inner one, the rest of the Shifters in the outer.

Donovan’s mother was there in the inner circle, with his three brothers. This Shiftertown’s Guardian, Neal Ingram, who had stuck his broadsword into Donovan to render him dust, joined them. The sword stuck up behind his back, a silent symbol of death. Shifters believed that their souls would not be sent to the Summerland unless the Guardian slid his sword through the dead Shifter’s heart-the Fae magic in the blade made the Shifter’s body crumple to nothing. Guardians lived lonely lives, because very few females wanted to mate with a man who was a walking reminder of mortality.

Eric came out of the house, no longer looking tired and hurting. He was alert, rested, ready. Cassidy didn’t miss how every unmated female turned her head his way. The females always watched Eric.

Diego faded back as Cassidy walked toward the bonfire and her family. He was giving her space to do what she needed to do. Cassidy felt a little warm spot in her heart for that understanding.

Eric put his arms around Cassidy, his strength comforting. Jace embraced her from her other side. Eric and Jace had been there for Cassidy every second. Goddess, she loved them.

The Shifters quieted as Cassidy approached the bonfire. Eric handed her the photograph she’d saved for the ceremony, the one of Donovan grinning at the camera in the dark of a bar, one hand around a beer bottle, the other giving a thumbs-up sign. Donovan, I’m so sorry.

Donovan’s mother met her, also clutching a photo. The circles of Shifters closed behind them. The Guardian started chanting a prayer in the ancient Shifter language, a cross between Celtic and Fae.

Cassidy pressed a light kiss to the photo, her lips touching Donovan’s face. Rest in peace, big guy.

Donovan kept smiling as Cassidy dropped the picture to the flame. Donovan’s mother, tears streaming down her face, took her photo, another of Donovan at a party-he’d loved a good party-and fed it into the fire.

Neal Ingram came forward, drawing his sword. He touched the blade to the fire, and the Fae runes on it lit up, seeming to chase up and down the metal. Eric put his hand on the hilt, over Neal’s.

“From this side of the veil,” Eric said, his voice deep and solemn, “we honor Donovan Grady.”

There was a moment of pure silence, the only sound the crackling of the flames. Then someone yelled, “Donovan!”

The cry was echoed in every Shifter’s throat. They screamed, they cheered, they toasted Donovan Grady, beloved friend, brother, son, cousin, and nephew-now partying in the Summerland.

Donovan’s mother closed Cassidy in a crushing hug, then turned away to be comforted by Donovan’s brothers.

Cassidy wiped tears from her eyes and found a cold bottle of beer pressed into her hands. Her friend Lindsay released the beer and dragged Cassidy into a hug. “Goddess be with you, honey.”

Cassidy choked out her thanks. Music blared out, and lights strung through the trees twinkled in the darkness, the memorial segueing into the party. The dead were always celebrated with joy. The music was country, because that’s what Donovan had loved.

Lindsay put her arm around Cassidy. “Drink up. Get plastered drunk, dance your feet off, and then find someone to shag. You’ll feel much better.”

Cassidy couldn’t help the laugh. “Sure, Lindsay.”

The music kept blaring. The Shifters started dancing, waving beer, shouting.

Lindsay favored clingy dresses of sunny colors, tonight’s white with big orange and yellow flowers. She was a Feline, her family’s wildcats more lynxlike, small and wily.

Lindsay kept her arm wrapped around Cassidy’s neck as she drank. “I saw those human hotties bring you home. Who are they?”

Cassidy felt a growl build in her throat. “They’re cops. Diego Escobar is the one who arrested and interrogated me.”

Lindsay looked over at Diego, and she swayed her hips. “Rowr. I wouldn’t mind him putting me in handcuffs.” Her eyes widened as Xavier joined Diego, handing his brother a bottle of beer. “Sun and moon, they aren’t twins, are they? That would be too perfect.”

“No, Xavier is the younger.”

They watched Xavier clap Diego on the shoulder and the two men walk toward Eric, who’d set up his grill. Their moves echoed each other’s, though Cassidy again noticed the restlessness in Xavier and the control in Diego.

“Diego and Xavier Escobar,” Lindsay said. “Goddess, Latino men are hot.”

Cassidy hadn’t met all Latino men, but she agreed about Diego’s heat level. The man was walking sensuality. She folded her arms tighter, stifling her growls.

Lindsay broke into laughter. “Look at you going all possessive because I’m licking my lips. Hey, if I provide the handcuffs, do you think his brother will do me the honor?”

Cassidy made herself relax, unclench, take a sip of beer. “You are one hormone-laden female, Lindsay.”

“Hey, I’m mateless and ready. Just like you. The body clock is ticking, and it’s telling me to have a good, good time before I mate for life. You can’t tell me your body clock isn’t telling you the same thing. Even if Diego Escobar is human.”

Diego started talking to Brody, who was already unsteady on his feet. The bear brothers liked their beer. Diego laughed at something Brody said, dark eyes flashing over his wicked smile.

Yes! Cassidy’s libido told her. Why not?

Careful, said her heart.

“No. Not yet. It’s too soon.”

Lindsay shook her head. “Honey, believe me, I’m torn apart for you. But you also know that Donovan, of all people, would never expect you to put on sackcloth and ashes and grieve the rest of your life. He understood that Shifters have to produce as many cubs as we can. He wouldn’t be that selfish.”

“I know that. I also know you’re rationalizing to get me to go out catting with you.”

Lindsay laughed and gave Cassidy a half hug. “Oh, come on, I gotta try. Let’s go out after the party and dance until dawn. You can’t tell me a night on the town wouldn’t be a good thing.”

“It would be.” Cassidy felt restless and itchy, needing to work off some heat. “Can’t. I got confined, remember?”

Lindsay rolled her eyes. “You aren’t taking that seriously, are you?”

Cassidy glanced at Diego again. He wasn’t looking at her, but she could feel the awareness stretching between himself and her.

She knew damn well she could avoid the cops and Diego and go about as she pleased. But for some reason, she wanted to keep to her probation, wanted to show Diego she could be trusted. “Yes. I think I am.”

Lindsay sighed. “Ah, well, we have better celebrations right here in Shiftertown anyway. The night’s still young, and as I said, Donovan always liked a good party.”

“Yes,” Cassidy said. “Go on, enjoy yourself.”

Lindsay saluted Cassidy with her beer bottle. “Let me go see if I can land me some Latino cop.” She laughed again as Cassidy’s tension returned. “Don’t worry, Cass. Xavier. I’m going for Xavier.” She licked her lips. “Damn, what a great name.”

Cassidy watched her go, feeling the tightness in her body. All over the common, Shifters celebrated the life of Donovan Grady, the Feline Shifter who’d made friends with everyone. He’d been funny, stubborn, impossible, wild, and well loved.

Maybe Lindsay was right. Donovan had always laughed at Cassidy whenever she moped. That had irritated her a little, as though Donovan couldn’t acknowledge that sadness was important. But he’d tickle her or tease her, or take her out to Coolers and tell her to dance like a maniac until she felt better.

What the hell?

Cassidy upended her beer bottle and took a long draught. Then she ran back into the house, changed into her favorite dancing dress, and went out again. She’d push down her guilt about her fight with Donovan the last night she’d seen him alive, let loose, and party as hard as Donovan ever had. She’d been his mate, and she’d honor him.

She pretended not to acknowledge her little shiver when Diego’s gaze went to her in her slinky blue tube dress. Looking away, she stepped into the middle of the dancing Shifters and let out a wild whoop.

“Cassidy, I swear to the gods, you have the best tail in town.” Shane danced up behind Cassidy a few crazy hours later, beer bottle in one hand.

“You should know, Shane,” Cassidy shouted over the noise. “You chase enough tails.”

Music continued to blare through the trees, and Shifters were dancing, drinking, laughing, shouting. Diego was spending his time talking to Eric and Jace, though Lindsay had enticed Xavier into dancing. Cassidy drank beer after beer and danced with male after male, but Diego didn’t seem to notice.

Shane laughed at her. “You put on a tight dress and shake it, sweetie, you gotta expect every male to come running.”

Cassidy lifted her hands over her head and swayed to the music. She’d discarded her heels to dance. She could move better barefoot.

Shane wanted to mate, Cassidy scented. But Shane always wanted to mate, so that was nothing new.

Nature made female Shifters as horny as the males, more sometimes. Cubs were few and far between, so females in their fertile years had the drive to go for it as often as they could with as many males as were available, in order to search for the most viable seed. Mr. Viable Seed got to be the permanent mate, blessed under sun and moon.

At least, that’s how it had been centuries ago in the wild. Now Shifters were more civilized. Right?

Biological urges didn’t explain the mate bond, however; that almost magical twining of hearts. Mate-bonded mates would live and die for each other-literally.

Thoughts of mating-casual and otherwise-conjured the dark eyes and handsome smile of Diego Escobar. How he’d looked at her out in the woods, how he’d felt against her body when she’d hugged him before the ritual started.

“Sorry, Shane,” Cassidy said. “I just want to dance.”

Shane moved in close behind her. “Oh, come on. You never heard of the horizontal bop?”

Cassidy burst out laughing. Shane was a shit and never changed. “You only like to do it as a bear. My wildcat’s not letting a bear on her back. No way.”

“I’d make an exception for you, Cass.”

“Sure, for me. And for Lindsay. And Sadie, and Michelle…”

“Hey, I’m a bear in his prime.”

“You’re a bear whose mom is looking for him.”

Shane jerked around. “She is? Where?”

Cassidy laughed harder. “Goddess, you’re easy. Your mom’s the sweetest woman alive.”

“Shit, Cass, don’t do that to me.” Shane blew out his breath. “She might be sweet to you, but Mama can be one mean grizzly.”

Cassidy laughed. She’d been baiting Shane for years, and he’d been teasing her back.

Lindsay came whirling in between Xavier, who looked like he was having a fine time, and Kyle, Eric’s Lupine tracker. “Great party!” Lindsay shouted. She whooped as she let both men lift her and carry her back under the lights.

Cassidy looked back to where Eric stood, and she stopped. Diego was no longer with him. Where was he?

She scanned the crowd but nowhere saw the tall human with midnight hair. His brother was still dancing with Lindsay, his body moving with rhythmic grace, but no Diego.

Shane bumped into her. “What’s up, Cass?”

Cassidy shrugged. “I don’t feel like dancing anymore.”

“Fine by me. My room’s empty. Brody will be out all night, and that’s good, because you know how he snores…”

“Sorry, Shane. I can’t.”

“I get it.” Shane embraced her from behind, the gigantic man giving a gigantic hug. “Donovan was a great guy, Cass. We all miss him.”

Cassidy’s heartache came back. She wiped her eyes as Shane released her and gave her a quick kiss on the cheek.

“Good night, Shane,” she said.

“See ya, Cass.” Shane sounded downhearted, but let her go.

Cassidy walked away from him, unsteady after all the beer she’d had, and sought the house. She was drunk, she was sad, and she’d do nothing but make a fool of herself if she stayed outside and kept obviously searching for Diego.

She blundered into the lightless house, the music blasting away on the porch. It was pitch-black inside, but Shifters could see in the dark, right?

Cassidy ran smack into the tall, hard body of a man walking through their kitchen. His scent was all over her in an instant.

“Diego,” she said, her breath gone.

Her emotions, her need, and way too much beer rocked through her. Staying pressed against Diego’s chest, Cassidy twined her arms around him, rose on her tiptoes, and kissed him on his hot, smooth lips.