“Fine with me,” she said softly. “But I doubt it’s going to work. I’m thinking of someplace I want to go, like I did to get us here, but nothing is even stirring.”
“Where are you thinking of?”
“The beach.” She smiled, the smile that made him think of sunshine. “I saw a picture of Haystack Rock on the Oregon coast once, and I’ve always wanted to go.”
He’d been there, and he’d love to take her. Ruthlessly shoving aside wishes that would get him nowhere, he offered an alternative destination. “Try to open a path to the cabin where we spent the night. It’s possible that you can only travel to places you’ve been.”
Waputuxne, the Elder who had possessed the gift of swiftwalking, had spoken about the journeys he’d taken, because every new destination opened up more swiftwalking possibilities. Hunter, only thirty years old at the time, hadn’t understood what the guy meant, and he hadn’t truly cared. His father had dragged him to the twice-per-century Meeting of Elders in Boynton Canyon, and he’d been far more interested in the females in attendance than in tribal politics.
Closing her eyes, Aylin concentrated. At first, nothing happened. But when she opened her eyes, they swirled with silver, and a split second later, a vortex opened a dozen yards away, its shimmery transparent surface revealing MoonBound’s hunting cabin behind it.
“Fucking awesome.” Baddon’s gaze swept from the portal to Aylin, a new spark lighting in his dark eyes. An appreciative spark Hunter didn’t like at all.
Jealousy is a bitch, isn’t it?
The vortex snapped shut, and Aylin slumped against a tree, brushing aside Hunter’s hand when he attempted to steady her. He tried to ignore the rejection, just as he tried to pretend that Baddon wasn’t most likely mentally undressing Aylin.
Neither was successful, and both disappointment and resentment ran through his veins like acid.
“No one speaks a word of this to anyone,” Hunter said. “If this gets out, Aylin will be a target for every clan with an agenda.” He lowered his voice, determined to make everyone understand the gravity of the situation. “And I will hunt down those responsible and peel their flesh from their bones while they scream. Am I clear?”
Everyone nodded. Good. Because while Hunter had always considered himself to be a fair, easygoing leader, he also knew he’d come from vicious stock. Hunter’s father had committed atrocities that, until now, Hunter hadn’t thought he was capable of.
But when he looked at Aylin, he knew the truth about himself.
Like father, like son.
26
As Aylin entered MoonBound’s headquarters with Hunter and the others, she was still reeling from the discovery – and the potential benefits and complications – of her new ability. Once a year, her clan celebrated its ancestors, one of the few events Aylin actually enjoyed. The weeklong observation was full of festivities and competitions, and in the evenings, the entire clan would sit around a massive bonfire to share tales from both Native American and vampire lore.
Stories of how deer got their antlers, legends that explained why beavers built dams, and yarns about vampires who created portals were staples on those nights. Aylin had absorbed every word the way she absorbed writing in books, and she’d fantasized about how wonderful – and freeing – it would be to possess the long-lost powers of her ancestors.
Now she was the bearer of one of the rarest and most coveted of vampire abilities, and she wasn’t sure how to process that fact.
And what was up with Hunter’s ability to rain spears of ice down on the enemy? He’d definitely downplayed what he could do with the weather. But why?
She was so lost in her thoughts as they walked through the narrow halls that she didn’t notice they’d arrived at the huge common room until she heard a commotion. From the screeched “Where are they?” and “Why the f**k wasn’t I told they were here?” it was clear that Rasha was throwing a fit because no one had announced her sister and her “mate’s” arrival.
He’s not your mate yet.
The petty words almost fell out of Aylin’s mouth as Rasha hurried toward them. She bit down on the inside of her cheek to keep herself in check, not because she was afraid of her sister but because it was time for Aylin to forget Hunter. To finally accept that he wasn’t hers, would never be hers, and that wishing for it would only make things worse for both of them.
Sadly, her little pep talk went out the window when Rasha hugged Hunter. He stood stiffly, hands at his sides, but if Rasha noticed his blatant rejection, she didn’t show it. She smiled like a dutiful mate and welcomed him home.
Aylin growled low in her throat. Yep, so much for the pep talk.
Rasha finally peeled herself away from Hunter and threw her arms around Aylin. “I’m so glad you’re back. I was afraid for you.”
“You didn’t need to be,” Hunter said. “She fought as well as any of my warriors.”
Rasha stepped back and gave them both a placating smile. “Yes, I’m sure.” She might as well have been speaking about a toddler who won a mock battle with a wooden sword.
Hunter’s gaze bored into Aylin with such intensity that she couldn’t look away. “If not for her, I wouldn’t be here.”
“In that case, I’m proud of my sister.” Rasha leaned in and lowered her voice to a conspiratorial whisper. “We’ll talk later, Aylin. I want to know everything that happened.” Oh, wouldn’t that be fun? Turning her back to Aylin, Rasha hooked her arm through Hunter’s. “I’ll have a celebration of your return prepared in our chambers. Come. Let’s drink to your victory.”
Hunter’s gaze lingered on Aylin, but his expression fell, became almost despairing. Aylin knew the feeling. And as he walked away with Rasha, a leaden heaviness centered in her chest.
This sucked.
A hand came down on her shoulder, momentarily lifting her out of the pit of depression she was sinking into.
“Hey,” Riker said. “Nicole is heading to the lab with Baddon and Katina. You should have her check you out, too. At the very least, she’d love some company.”
It was nice of Riker to recognize that Aylin needed someone right now, but she wasn’t sure she was in the mood to chat. Still, it couldn’t hurt to clean up and see what Nicole was up to.
That would be far better than obsessing about what Hunter and Rasha would be doing in the privacy of their quarters.
A shower and a change of clothes did wonders for Aylin’s mood… until she walked by Hunter’s chamber on her way to the lab. She couldn’t hear anything from inside, but she knew he was in there with Rasha, and her stomach soured.
Knock it off. Let him go.
Aylin picked up speed and practically ran to the lab, where Nicole was just sending Katina out, covered in bandages and sucking on a bag of human blood.
“Light physical activity only,” Nicole called after Katina. Katina gave Nicole the finger and a toothy grin, and Nicole rolled her eyes. “Vampires are impossible.”
“I hate to be the bearer of bad news,” Aylin said, “but you’re a vampire.”
Nicole sniffed. “I’m a very young one. I think the impossible factor comes with age.”
Laughing, Aylin wandered around the lab, endlessly fascinated by the equipment. Advanced technology was something she never saw at ShadowSpawn, and she wished she knew more about it.
“How was your trip?” Nicole asked. “Everyone’s talking about how you and Hunter went off together through one of the vortexes. People seem to think you went to see the Elders. Is that true?”
Aylin pretended to be extra interested in a rack of vials filled with orange gel. “I can’t really talk about it.”
“Are you at least glad you went?”
Aylin didn’t hesitate. “Absolutely.”
The journey had been rife with danger, but she didn’t regret anything. Plus, she now possessed a priceless ability, one that could change everything for her. She just wished she hadn’t lost her dove. The gentle creature had been a comfort to her, the only constant in her life that she could trust.
“Good,” Nicole said brightly. “So… what happened between you and Hunter?”
Aylin wheeled around so fast her leg nearly buckled under her. “What do you mean?”
Nicole looked over with a sly smile. “I mean that Riker might have mentioned that you two were… ah… sort of intense when you got back. He hopes it means things will change between Hunter and Rasha.”
I wish. “Nothing can change with Rasha,” Aylin said. “Not unless you guys really enjoy war.” And from what Aylin had seen, MoonBound’s residents weren’t warmongers like everyone at ShadowSpawn. “But there have been some new developments I wanted to talk to you about.”
One ginger brow arched. “Really? What?”
Hunter had warned against telling people about her gift, but since Riker knew, Nicole would probably soon know, too. Besides, Aylin trusted the female with her life. Still, she hesitated as she glanced around the room.
“Aylin? What is it?”
“I lost my totem animal.” Her chest cavity tightened as if trying to fill the empty space inside. “Can that affect my health? You know, the way not feeding a male during moon fever can?”
Nicole frowned. “Not that I know of… From what I can gather, only born vampires have totem animals, and I’ve never heard of one losing it, but I’ll do some research.” She tucked her hands into the pockets of her lab coat. “I’m very sorry.”
“Thank you, but it isn’t all bad. I have a new ability. One that will make me very valuable to a clan. And one that could help me escape if I need to.”
“Seriously? That’s… amazing.”
“There are limitations,” Aylin admitted. Like the fact that she could only transport to places she’d been, and as of right now, she’d only been to MoonBound, Hunter’s cabin, ShadowSpawn, and Samnult’s vortex. She might be able to transport herself to any of the places she’d been in the woods, but how much good was that going to do her? No, in order for her gift to be truly effective, she needed to travel. “But maybe I can get out of the mating with Tseeveyo and find a male who isn’t a complete horror show now.”
Nicole appeared to consider that. “Let me talk to Riker. He’s more familiar with clan workings than I am. He might be able to help.”
Gratitude warmed Aylin, filling her with a sense of peace she hadn’t felt in a long time, if ever. She’d never had a real friend before, but Nicole had, in the short time she’d known her, become as valuable to Aylin as Rasha was.
“Thank you.” Aylin cleared her throat of the emotional hitch in it and glanced at Nicole’s belly. “And how have things been for you?”
“Actually, I need to thank you, too. When you came to me about your bleeding disorder, it made me think about the similar complications female vampires suffer while giving birth. I don’t want to jinx myself, but let’s just say I’m hopeful that I might be on to something.”
Great Spirit, Nicole had already made it possible for vampires to easily conceive; if she could reduce the dangers of giving birth, she’d be revered, pretty much worshipped, in vampire society.
“I have faith in you,” Aylin said. “Is everything going well with your pregnancy?”
Touching her swollen abdomen, Nicole beamed. “Perfect. But I’m craving root beer. I hate root beer, but for some reason, I just can’t get enough.”
They settled into a chat about pregnancies, babies, and, finally, Nicole’s recent past as a human, which Aylin found to be incredibly interesting. When Riker’s son, Bastien, came into the lab and reminded Nicole that it was time for their checkers match, Aylin bowed out. She’d spent almost two hours with Nicole already, and besides, she’d seen on the schedule outside the common room that the movie on the big-screen TV was going to be an old classic, the very first Harry Potter movie.
A strange sensation stayed with her as she walked through the halls, and it took a while before she could identify it.
Happiness. Even if it only lasted for the rest of the day, she was going to enjoy it. MoonBound was full of life, laughter, and people who didn’t scorn her for her limp. She had a friend, a library at her disposal, and movies. It was heaven, and nothing was going to ruin it for her. Not tonight.
Smiling to herself, she rounded the corner and nearly collided with Hunter.
An unwelcome tingle of excitement went through her at the sight of him, followed by a sinking sensation when she noticed his clean jeans, sweatshirt, and wet, slicked-back hair. He’d showered. Maybe with Rasha. A stabbing pain in her chest made it hard to breathe.
A wordless, awkward silence settled between them. She had no idea what to say, and clearly, neither did he. One thing was clear, though: she had to get away from him. The longer she stood there staring at him, the more she remembered the things they had done together. The feeding. The kissing. The orgasms.
“I need to go.” Blindly, she rushed past him, her skin burning when her arm brushed his.
“Aylin, wait.”
Stupidly, she halted in her tracks, but she was proud of herself for having the willpower not to turn around. Instead, she stared straight ahead.
“Nothing happened.” His voice was a broken whisper, as fragile as she had ever heard it. “With Rasha, I mean. Nothing happened.” She heard him take a step toward her, and she went taut. He stopped. “She had champagne and chocolate and… other shit I don’t care about. I couldn’t… I didn’t…” He exhaled on a juicy curse. “Nothing happened, Aylin.”