Authors: Harmony Raines
Tags: #General Fiction
“Are you OK?” Amara asked.
“I don’t know,” he said. “I keep thinking none of this is real.”
“I felt the same way when I came across the border. I never imagined what it was like to only have one body, to be unable to change into another creature, the other side of yourself, at will. This collar choked me.”
“Is that why you are going along with all this?” he asked. “Playing along with my uncle just so you can go home?”
“You know, I’m going to let that go, just like I’m going to forget that yesterday you thought I was testing some biological weapon on you,” she said, sitting down on an upturned dinghy.
He laughed, but it held no humour. “What the hell am I supposed to do?”
“Come to the Prime with me. See it for yourself, and let your other side run free. Your uncle has a plan; he has set it in motion. The story is that we are going to meet up with one of his business partners in the Prime. Once over there, we take off your bracelet and … well, see what happens.”
“What happens? You mean see if I really do have another side, or if this is all a hoax.”
She stood up, the light catching her eyes as they flashed amber, flecks of pure brilliance, and he saw how she fought to keep herself under control. “This isn’t a hoax. Being one of us is not a joke. Now, I don’t know you. But if you are any kind of man, you would want to go and find out if what your uncle says is true. And if it is, you would want to help your mother.”
“Do you believe him?” Kane asked. She was close to him, now, her fingers reaching out and running along the front of his jacket, reaching beneath his skin and touching his soul. Another step took her so close their bodies touched and he felt the same arousal he had experienced last night, but he fought it off; this was not the time to be swayed by sex. He needed to keep a clear head.
Yet when she stood on tiptoes and kissed him, he was powerless. His arms went around her waist and he pulled her close, making sure she knew exactly how turned on he was. Maybe he should take her now, bend her over the upturned dinghy and fuck her senseless. But she pulled back.
“I saw her once,” she said, her voice and her legs unsteady. The kiss had the same effect on her. “I have never seen such sadness in one person. I’d heard the rumours of course, but until that moment I didn’t understand the tremendous sacrifice she made. It’s the same look I saw today in your uncle’s eyes.”
“What if I can’t help her?” he asked, voicing his real doubts as they surfaced.
“But what if you can, Kane?” She kissed him on the lips briefly before taking his hand and heading to the door. “Can you live with the not knowing?”
He followed her, his mind made up. Darius had taught him to never run from a fight. Until now those fights had always been in the boardroom. But he saw it plainly now; Darius had been grooming him for this moment his whole life.
Amara was right. He had to know.
She was going home. She … was … going …home!
Amara tried to keep calm and not alert anyone to what was happening. Darius had been waiting for them after they left the boat house, and when Kane had told him his decision to leave, his uncle had seemed both relieved and terrified.
“I will do everything I can to help you, Kane,” Darius said.
“What about you, Darius, why don’t you leave and come with us,” Kane asked.
“For now, my place is here. I can’t walk away from everything I have built. I know it’s hard for you to understand but there are many people like me,
sleeping shifters
they call us.” He smiled. “Stupid name. But apt, considering all my lion has done since I came here is sleep. I think he has been dormant for so long he doesn’t know how to wake up. The moon no longer calls me.”
“One day you will return, though. Won’t you?” Amara asked, sensing the deep sadness in Darius.
“I hope so. And that day may be sooner than we all think if this goes wrong. Kane, you must do as I say: keep to the story I have given you until you are well inside the Prime. If anyone sees you, or recognises you, then you might not even get as far as our pride lands.”
“Great, you mean I’m about to put myself in a whole mess of danger.” But even as he spoke, Kane seemed different somehow; he might be resigned to what he had to do, but he also looked committed. Amara hoped that commitment would not wane when things got rough. And they would get rough, right about the time he finally took the bracelet from his wrist.
“Not just that, Kane,” Darius said, a hitch in his voice as he finished, “You are about to live. For the first time in your life, you will find out what it is like to truly be alive.”
Amara’s lioness moved in the corners of her mind and she knew if she could see her, she would be roaring in agreement. “We should hurry.”
“Yes, come on. I have everything arranged, so go to your room and pack as if you are going on a business trip, because that is the pretence of your journey into Shifters Prime. I have all the paperwork ready, your visa, and a meeting set up. When you pass through the border, it will look as if you are a normal businessman.”
“You mean they won’t test my blood?” he asked.
“No, the guards on this side only test those coming from Shifters Prime. Once you reach the other side of the border, I have made arrangements for you to be met by someone loyal to me. He will take you to a safe place, where you can hole up for a few days while you get used to the new you.” Darius nodded. “I am so very proud of you, Kane.”
“I still think you should come with us,” Kane said,
Amara moved towards the house. “Enough trying to persuade him. We all have our paths to walk, and for now ours is separate from Darius’s. Don’t make it harder on him.”
“You know, the hardest thing in all this is going to have be putting up with being bossed around by a woman who only yesterday was a servant,” Kane said, but his words now held a spark of humour.
“Well, you had better get used to it, Kane. She is the one who will keep you alive, who will help you learn who you need to be,” Darius said.
“You’re sure she won’t just run off on me once we are across the border?” Kane joked.
Amara froze and turned back to him. “I will keep you alive, Kane. You have to trust me.”
“I do,” he said, his eyes meeting hers. “I don’t know why, but I do.”
“Good, then let’s get packed.” She turned away, hiding the look of desire she knew was plastered all over her face. Listening to her mate talk, seeing him so strong, yet vulnerable, stirred her craving for him. But that had to wait. She wanted him to see it for himself, wanted him to recognise her as his mate rather than being told how he was supposed to behave, how he was supposed to feel towards her.
Perhaps it was because the collar muted her thoughts and feelings, and she was scared she had made a mistake. After all, she was just a lowly lioness; she certainly would never have dreamed that she was destined to be the mate of the leader of one of the oldest and strongest prides in the Prime.
She walked into the house, trying to act normally. Darius was going to go to the kitchen and explain to Mrs. Bower what was happening. He planned to make it sound as though there was a big emergency, and that was why Kane was taking Amara with him, rather than anyone else. Because, let’s face it, she wasn’t exactly the best choice to help. She had no idea about the Reinier Corporation or its internal workings.
“Amara,” Misty’s voice called out to her, and she groaned inwardly. Lying to Misty was going to be hard. “I was worried, where have you been?”
“Misty. Mr. Reinier had something to ask me.” She kept walking; she needed to pack quickly.
“Oh, like what?” Misty asked, running to catch up.
“He wants me to accompany Kane Reinier to the Prime.” She winced at Misty’s sharp intake of breath.
“Why you?” Misty accused. “Not that I’m not pleased for you … but why not me, I have only two months left! I could go with him.”
Amara shrugged. “I don’t know. Maybe because I have more current information about the Prime. You know, things are changing over there all the time.”
“That sounds like a lame excuse,” Misty said.
They had reached Amara’s room; it was in the servants’ quarters, a small room, sparsely furnished, and the bathroom was shared. Amara had not brought many of her belongings, so it wouldn’t take her long to pack, but she needed to get rid of Misty.
“I’m sorry it’s not you, Misty. But it’s not my decision, I only hope things don’t go wrong. I would hate for my contract to be lengthened because I made a mistake while we are over there.”
Misty looked concerned. “Surely that wouldn’t happen. If nothing else, you should have your contract shortened.”
“Do you think?” Amara lifted her hand and stroked her collar. “I think it will be like torture over there, if I am not allowed to remove my collar.”
“Oh, yuck, to be in the Prime and still have to wear that. Maybe I don’t envy you at all. When I return, this thing will be off my neck before my feet touch the ground over there.” Misty seemed satisfied, although Amara did feel guilty at the lie.
“Listen, when we both are back in the Prime, let’s get together. OK?” Amara asked.
“Sure. I never asked, by the way, what are you? I mean, I don’t usually like to talk about it; it’s like some unwritten rule, but so I know where to find you.”
“I am a lioness, from the Satoma Pride.”
“Ah, a big cat. Well, I am a horse, I thought the long hair might give it away,” she said, swishing her long, blonde hair. “I live out on the Carmpatha Plains. I’m not sure how my herd will feel about a lioness among them, but you will be welcome.”
They hugged each other, and as Misty pulled away, Amara said, “Thank you for being there for me, Misty. I don’t think I would have survived a day here on my own.”
“Yes, you would. You’re strong; I can see that. Hey, you have to be, you’re a lioness.” Misty hugged her again. “Now, you take care, and if you ever get in trouble over there with Kane, you head over to my people and they will protect you.”
“I have claws; I should be able to protect myself. But thank you, Misty. May we meet again.”
“We will meet again,” Misty said. “Although if I don’t go down and help Mrs. Bower with dinner, I might not survive the night.”
“I’m not sure if they are eating before we leave,” Amara said, wanting to leave as soon as possible.
“I’ll go see. You go pack.” Misty disappeared down the stairs, leaving Amara staring after her. Then she quickly went into her room and began to pack, making sure she took everything with her, because she wasn’t coming back.
Ever
.
“Here is your passport and visa,” Darius handed some papers to Kane. “And this, Amara, is your contract. I have marked it paid, and signed it.”
“Thank you,” Amara said, taking it from Darius and tucking it in her purse. She looked beautiful, as though the sun had come up, bringing her back to life. The collar glittered around her neck, but he thought that, sometimes, he glimpsed her lioness, lurking, ready to be freed as soon as the metal band was removed.
“Now, you know the story; it’s imperative you both stick to it for as long as possible. I need a couple days to make sure the arrangements are made if I need to run,” Darius was saying quietly as they walked towards the checkpoint.
“If you need to run?” Kane asked. He hadn’t fully thought through how this was going to reflect on Darius. “You mean if it gets out I am a shifter; they will come looking for you?”
“I have enough enemies that they won’t just come looking, they will hunt me down. And most likely shoot me as a lion and hang my hide on their wall.” Darius made light of it, but Kane wasn’t fooled.
“I’m sorry,” Kane said uneasily.
“Don’t be. Not at all. I knew this day would come; it’s what I raised you for. Remember all those mixed martial arts classes I made you go to. All those strategy meetings I made sure you sat in on, even though you were bored to death.” Darius grinned, lifting his head and taking a breath. “This is the closest I’ve ever been to the Prime since I left. I can smell it on the air.”
“Darius,” Kane said, but his uncle had turned abruptly away.
“I have to go,” Darius said, his head down, his eyes averted. “You can do this; I know you can. I might see you soon.”
And then he was alone with Amara, their luggage at their feet. “Cars don’t go across?” he asked.
“No. You would have to pay too much tax on it. The governor of the Otherworld does not like Shifters Prime to have anything shiny and new.” She looked up at him, and he wanted to bend his head and kiss her. “You are beautiful.”
“Shh. You are my boss and the owner of my contract. If they hear you say things like that, they will think we are eloping to the Prime.” She picked up her luggage, and his.
“Wait, no. I can carry them,” he said,
“You hand over the papers. Make sure you are condescending enough that they won’t ask any questions,” Amara said.
“I don’t think I have ever been condescending in my life,” he said.
“Really? You are the nephew of one of the richest men in the city, and you have never used the words,
do you know who I am?
” she asked, a smile glinting in her eyes.
“No, my uncle brought me up to see everyone as equals,” Kane said, feeling the sudden urge to thank his uncle for everything he had done to give him the best possible start in life. And to make sure he had a life at all. He still shuddered to think what would have happened if Serrif had caught him or his brothers.
Kane stopped and thought of the brothers he didn’t know. Where were they, what were they doing, had they had a good life? Or had Serrif already secretly found them and murdered them? There was so much he didn’t know, so much that scared him about this new life.
“Don’t stop, they are looking at you,” Amara said out of the side of her mouth. She took his hand briefly and squeezed it, giving him that same electric shock that always sparked him into life.
“Let’s do this,” he said and strode forward, conjuring up the image of Mr. Belvedour, one of his uncle’s adversaries, who came from one of the oldest families in the city. The amount of times he had spoken to Darius as though he was something unpleasant stuck to the bottom of his shoe because he classed him as
new money
. That was who he had to be now.