Lydia barely heard the door come shattering inward, her head scarcely lifting from the soft pillow before a cloth was placed over her face and darkness surrounded her.
Jude and Dev were coming around the corner when the police car screeched to a stop by the stairs leading to the rooms they had been using. They looked at one another, at the open door and took off at a run, ignoring the police trying to block their path.
“Lydia!” Jude yelled out savagely, shoving a maid and assistant manager out of the way to get to the room. “Where is she?”
He burst into the room, inhaling, searching.
Lydia woke not long after she was dumped into the trunk, grateful the idiots hadn’t tied her up. She hated the smell of fuel. Her head hurt and she was cold. Again. She rolled to her back and braced her feet, took a long, slow breath and kicked at the curve of the trunk. On the third kick, she was positive her legs were stronger than they had been before and it didn’t hurt as much as it should.
The trunk went flying up at the same time the car was slowing and pulling to the side of the road. Before they were out of the car, a platinum cougar was running full force back along the highway to the hotel.
She didn’t look back; didn’t take the time to see if anyone was following. She knew where she was safe and who she was safe with. No more argument about that fact in her mind at all.
She didn’t know how long she could run but it was really cool not being tired. It was even better not being cold! Her legs stretched ahead of her and she stayed as close to the tree line as possible that lined the highway. She could see the hotel and made it to the parking lot just as the familiar SUV began to back out of the slot.
Lydia ran out in front, grateful the SUV came to a jerky stop. She moved around to the side, staying out of the view of people as they maneuvered the SUV toward the far end of the parking lot. She lay on the low slope of the dried grass, waiting, watching; ears and tail twitching.
Dev left the driver’s side and Jude jumped from the passenger seat, running to the back and dropping to his knees. Dev brought a large blanket from the SUV and politely turned his back.
Jude could smell the chemical they used on her, still strong and on her face and hair when she shifted. He got her surrounded by the blanket, pulling her against him and holding on tight. His palm stroked over her head, her body shaking again, a soft shiver that had her burrowing against him.
“I lost my clothes,” she stuttered out with a savage shiver.
“Get her into the SUV, Jude,” Dev ordered, his voice low and controlled. “We’re getting back to Devil Hills if we have to drive straight through.” He moved behind them, his gun drawn and eyes flashing in all directions at once. Cops would understand guns. Not so much so when it came to claws and fangs.
“It was a red car…the trunk isn’t attached anymore,” Lydia told them, about to protest when he lifted her against him, cradling her and setting her inside the SUV before joining her, closing the door firmly and setting the lock.
“Get us out of here, Dev,” Jude pulled the gun from beneath his arm, his eyes peering through the special glass.
“There were two of them. I was sleeping and they broke into the room and put something over my face. I didn’t see them until I jumped out of the trunk and ran,” Lydia reached out and pulled another blanket from behind her, snuggling down into the warmth. “How did they know we were there?”
“I’m not sure they did,” Dev looked into the mirror and caught Jude’s eyes. “I talked to Seth last night. There’s a reward out for Luna. If it went through the usual underground types, someone at the club last night could have seen you dancing, Lydia.”
“And they thought I was Luna,” she said through a yawn, taking the bottle of water Jude had uncapped for her and draining half of it. “I need some clothes. Damn it, I like those panties.”
“I’ll get you more, kitten, I promise,” Jude laughed, a forced, shaken sound barely holding his sanity together. He pulled his phone from an inside pocket, opened it and tapped a button. “Seth…I hear there’s a bounty out for Luna?”
“I told Dev about it last night,” he had straightened up the instant he heard the tension in Jude’s voice. “What happened?”
“You have her somewhere safe?”
“She’s with friends and believe me, she’s safe and kicking up a storm,” he growled, shaking his head. “What is it with the softer sex that won’t let us do the protection thing?”
“Oh, the poor male ego needs salved,” Lydia said with a chuckle.
“Someone just tried to take Lydia. Out of the hotel room,” Jude stared at his hand, snarling at the hint of claws that shouldn’t be there.
“I’m assuming since you used the word tried, they didn’t succeed?”
“I’m alright, thank you. A little tired, but fine.”
“We’re on the road headed in. The weather’s good so I’m thinking we’ll make it there tomorrow,” Jude told him firmly. “Stopping only for food and bathroom breaks.”
“I want my clothes,” Lydia piped up, reaching behind her and going to her knees. The blanket slid to the very top of her ass as she dug into her case for clothing.
“She’s…undressed?” Seth asked cautiously.
“It’s been a crazy night, Seth. Just leave it at that.”
“They threw me into their trunk. I kicked and broke it open. I shifted and ran back to the hotel where Jude and Dev were,” Lydia announced holding up jeans and a fresh shirt and another pair of panties. “So my clothes are still in their trunk.”
“Shifted,” Seth repeated slowly. “According to our researchers, you shouldn’t be able to do that, Miss Jones.”
“Sorry to disappoint. Except for the getting really cold afterward, it’s kind of a really nice perk,” she decided aloud, shimmying the pale apricot panties up her legs and reaching for the t-shirt. “I could seriously use this talent, with the exception of losing my clothes all the time. That’s a little disconcerting.”
Jude dropped his head, the sigh that eased free low.
“You said you took her weapons, Jude? Give them back and maybe she’ll take care of you before I have to,” Seth growled in the phone.
“Why do you masculine types assume this has anything to do with him?” Lydia demanded loudly.
“Lydia…” Jude groaned at the laugh from the front seat.
“I don’t know what the deal is with you people, but I’ve been taking care of myself for a very, very long time,” Lydia shoved her legs into her jeans, scowling at the phone. “I don’t need protected. I don’t need a shield. And I most definitely do not need medical treatment. Now, I promised I’d behave myself until we got to Devil Hills. But I’m not staying. So you wild dogs fight that out and be prepared,” Lydia pulled the blanket over her and curled into the cushions on the seat, facing the outside. “And I need a pair of shoes!”
Silence filled the van.
“Jude?”
“She went to sleep,” he said, amazement in his tone.
“Be careful,” Seth said before ending the call.
“Oh, yeah…if idiots looking for a bounty don’t kill us, my mate might,” Jude remarked to the empty phone, his head shaking. “Pull over, Dev. I need to drive for a while.”
“What we need is to get to Devil Hills so we can go out on a hunt and kill something,” Dev threw back, but he pulled to the side carefully, watching the mirrors and the traffic around them.
“That sounds good, too,” Jude agreed, climbing from the SUV and going quickly around the front. “She won’t run. You can take the passenger side.”
They rode in silence except for the music from various stations as they traveled. Rain gave way to high afternoon sunshine when he finally pulled off an exit, a cluster of fast food places, shops and fuel stops giving them a choice.
Lydia came instantly awake when the SUV stopped, blinking and taking in the surrounding area before allowing herself to stretch. Long slender arms as high above her head as she could manage inside the SUV.
She found a shop in the long strip of buildings and bought a pair of comfortable walking shoes before going back to the SUV. The thoughts inside her head made her frown. Jude was a definite complication she hadn’t seen coming.
Then there were all the words she’d heard the past few days as she stared out the window at the young woman setting up for a traffic report. At least that’s what the letters on the side of the large white van proclaimed.
“Jude…” She looked through the open door from Dev to Jude. “Do you have any audio of Luna speaking?”
The men exchanged cautious, slightly frowning looks.
“Why?” Jude finally managed, pulling the laptop free and opening it.
“Because you’d commented that I didn’t speak like she did,” she met the still unconvinced amber eyes. “Trust goes both ways. I promised no trouble and I meant it. But…I think I might have an interesting curve for the people tossing a reward out for my…for my sister,” she said firmly, her head up and smile decidedly feline.
“What the hell, Seth is already planning to kill me,” Jude muttered, cueing up some old footage from various charity events. He leaned against the gas pump, letting it fill while she watched the footage and listened, her lips moving now and then as if testing or tasting the flavor of the words. The style and barest hint of France showing its head in some of Luna’s words.
“She’s…different than me,” Lydia finally said, a trace of sadness in her voice. “Cultured and…beautifully refined.”
“Lydia…”
But she shook her head, shaking herself from wherever she’d stepped for the moment. She applied a smile to her face, ran her fingers through her hair and straightened her shoulders.
“Get your friend on the phone and let him listen. It’ll get you off the hook, I promise,” Lydia slipped from the SUV, stopping at the strong fingers wrapped around her arm. “Jude…trust me, please? I’m very good at what I do.”
“Tell me what you’re going to do.”
“No time…she’s not staying in place long,” she went to her toes impulsively and kissed him, eyes softened. “Trust me. I’m good at what I do.”
Dev came up to the SUV at the same time she strode towards the professionally dressed woman holding a mic and talking about the traffic collecting on the opposite side of the highway because of an accident.
“Should I ask?” Dev watched him pull his phone out and tap a number.
“Pull the SUV off to the side, Dev. I’m told we need to watch the show.” Jude took a couple steps toward where Lydia was headed. “Seth…I’m putting you on video feed. I’m told you need to watch this.”
“Christ, Jude, what the hell…”
Lydia applied a bright, dazzling smile, her brain pulling forward all the moves and gestures she’d watched in the brief video of Luna St. Germaine. Her sister. That last thought almost made her lose her train of thought. She brought it back sharply, adjusting her face and loosening the hands that automatically fell into taut fists at her side.
“Miss Winston? Do you think I could speak with you a moment?”
Jude felt his jaw drop. He watched her hands, her facial expressions and heard the voice and swore he was looking at the woman he’d met at Gaudarville’s apartment three weeks ago.
Not the wild cat who threatened him hourly.
“Of course…” The short redhead turned from the man holding the large camera, her mouth snapping shut quickly. She wasn’t a reporter. Not yet. But she was working her way there. But that didn’t mean she was out of the loop. She read all the stories her station played. Learned from watching the more established reporters and never forgot a thing.
“I see you recognize me,” sorrow and regret filled her tone, lashes lowered and eyes watching the woman. “I’ve seen you on television and I’d like to speak with you. Give you an interview.”
“A…I…me?” The shoulder length bob of thick red curls shook, almost adamantly. “I can call the station. I can have someone…”
“No.”
Jude winced at the sharpness. “Focus, baby…” he whispered softly to himself.
“I’m sorry,” Lydia apologized, grabbing a big gulp of air. “I trust you. I’ve watched your stories. And the ones on your station. You aren’t willing to settle for what someone tells you, you ask questions. And you listen.”
“I…me…okay…I can…” bright blue eyes swept to the man holding the camera slightly off his shoulder. She straightened her shoulders. “Alright. How about over there?” She gestured to a small pavilion with concrete round table and seats.
“Perfect,” Lydia offered a brilliant smile, her gaze going around, innocently noting the people watching, the possible problem observers. The SUV wasn’t far from the pavilion. That was good. “It’s beautiful here. I love the mountains…all the snow getting ready to coat them and make the world clean for a little while. You’re a good reporter, Miss Winston.”
“I…thank you…I’ve only done traffic,” her head shook as she let the camera man arrange them in the right light. “I have to talk to my producer,” she held up a finger and opened her little phone. “Leo, I have a scoop and I need your help.”
“Kid, you’re reporting traffic. What’s to scoop?”
“Luna St. Germaine wants to give me an interview.”
“Are you shitting me?” He came upright in his chair immediately. “I can have someone…shit, where the hell are you?”
“No. She won’t talk to anyone but me.”
“You’re traffic! What the hell…”
“I’ll do this and we’ll send the feed straight to you from our location,” she’d read all the stories. Talked to the people searching and covering the missing heiress. The heiress her father claimed had been taken against her will by renegade shifters. She might only be traffic at the moment, but she was reporter enough to know something smelled bad.
“Men like to argue,” Lydia said with a little grin. “But we know what’s best for us. If you can hear me, Mr. Producer…I will speak with Miss Winston or I shall leave and you will have nothing. Choose.”
Elise Winston grinned broadly and closed the phone, nodding at the other woman.
“So…okay…Chuck…ready?” She watched the older man nod and positioned himself. She sat across from Lydia, the microphone held in both her hands. “Miss Luna St. Germaine has agreed to speak with me regarding the stories soaring around Canada and the United States about her disappearance. Was it a kidnapping? Had she been mysteriously taken from her home in Montreal by a vengeful shifter? If so, to what purpose? Does it revolve around politics and the animosity between the shifter community and faction groups wanting their eradication? Miss St. Germaine, thank you for speaking to me.”
“Thank you for being willing to listen to me, Miss Winston. Please…call me Luna.”
“My name’s Elise, Luna. First…are you alright? The rumors and stories...I don’t want to cause you stress or anxiety.” Compassion and concern were in each word, the temporary bout of nerves quelled as the professional took over.
“I don’t feel the least bit of stress at the moment, Elise. I’m free,” Lydia said simply, keeping the slight French inflection in her voice and her face soft with a curious tilt to her head.
“We’ve broadcast several interviews with your father. In the latest one, he offered a rather substantial reward for your safe return.”
“I’ve read the stories. I’ve listened to the passionate speeches given by my father,” she stopped, her head shaking slowly. “There’s a great deal that the world is unaware of, Elise. He is my parent, but that doesn’t mean he’s a good, decent father. I am a shifter. I am a cougar,” Lydia was impressed when Elise Winston didn’t flinch after her announcement, the small noises made by several people in the crowd told her it was a surprise to them, given the politics of the man she was calling her father.
“In which case, your father has interesting political affiliations.” Elise said very carefully.
“My father wanted everything natural about me suppressed. Hidden. To the extent that he works with some of the purist groups and used me to test their suppression drugs on. All without my knowledge or permission. Was I kidnapped?” She shook her head ruefully, her smile soft and almost regretful. “My grandmother lived in Morning Star Lake. She died a little over a month ago. He took me from her when I was ten…my mother had died and I lived with her. He wanted nothing to do with me for years. Until he came and forced me from the only home I’d ever known.”
“Your father is well known for his…staunch beliefs that the shifter community should not be permitted to expand. That they could be a danger to the population at large.”
“Humans are hazardous to themselves, regardless of the animal they hide inside them,” Lydia said carefully. “How people behave has too many variables to be lowered to something as simple as a shifter is dangerous, but John Wayne Gacy is safe.”
“You left of your own volition, then?” Elise watched her face.
“I escaped, Elise. I always had guards. I was always visited by Dr. Elle Morgan. She was constantly giving me shots, since I turned twelve, I believe. We visited Seattle a few weeks ago and for once…once in a long time…I could think without their sedatives and suppressants. I knocked out the guard, stole his money and went to Morning Star Lake to my grandmother’s house. I was not kidnapped. I have not been held against my will anywhere. The so called reward…is nothing more than a bounty. They want their test lab rat back and I refuse to go. I will not be caged again.”
“This interview won’t win you friends in some sectors,” Elise said softly.
“Until I left Montreal, I had no friends at all. Now I have a town willing to protect me and a mate who will always be at my side,” Lydia spoke the words slowly, realizing the truth in them, blinking at the stinging heat in her eyes. She shook her head, one hand up and swiping at her cheek. “Excuse me. The emotions…”
“It’s alright, please, take your time,” Elise nodded in understanding.
“The stories that have been given to the news stations have been one sided and false. I could not allow that to continue. This morning someone used some chemicals on a rag and put it over my face and shoved me into the trunk of a car. They were heading back to Montreal for the reward. Is that how you rescue someone valuable to you? Chemicals and a trunk?”
“This morning? Are you alright? Well, of course you are…I’m sorry…”
“I don’t like cages and I fight back, Elise. I broke out and ran back to my friends. A little tired, but I’m alright.”
“Have you spoken to your father since you escaped?”
“He came to Devil Hills,” Lydia had read the report Seth had on file. “He brought Dr. Morgan with him.”
“Did he want you to return with him?”
“He said he did,” Lydia shook her head. “But I won’t be returning there again. My home is in Devil Hills now. I told him that. I made the choice. I made the decision. I have a right to my life, my existence. Again, I want to thank you for letting me speak with you and your viewers.”
“I prefer to think of it as setting the record straight, Luna.”
“I appreciate it. Thank you,” Lydia moved to stand up as the camera came off the man’s shoulders. She smiled at them both. “I must be going. People are waiting for us at home,” she offered her palm with a firm shake. “Really…thank you, Elise Winston.”
“Good luck, Luna.”
Lydia was deep in thought as she walked toward Jude, her head nodding slowly.
“I like her. I think she’ll come in handy,” she looked up to see Dev following the redhead with his eyes. “I think she was nervous, but she got over it. Ready to get some lunch? I’m starving.”
Jude had put the phone back to his ear. “Yeah…” he held it out to Lydia.
“A call? For me?” Two palms went to the space between her breasts before she took the phone. “Yes?”
“Tell me you’ll work for me when you get to Devil Hills.” Came the almost reverent sentence.
“Such a sweet talker, Seth, I’m not sure my mate will appreciate the flirting, though,” Lydia teased with a chuckle.
“I’ll handle your mate. Promise me you’ll think about it, Lydia.”
“Nothing more serious on my plate at the moment but a bunch of pizza and some soda.”
“I have someone in my office who wants to say hello to you, Lydia Jones,” Seth pressed the speaker button.
“I don’t know anyone in your town, Seth Anderson,” Lydia threw back, ready to hand the phone back when the voice reached her.
“I have a sister,” Luna said softly, the smallest of catches in her voice.
Lydia felt the lump in her throat and worked hard to ignore the hot stinging in her eyes.
Jude moved fast, his arms around her when she swayed.
“I…I said that same thing,” Lydia answered, her voice barely above a whisper and quivering.
“You are coming to Devil Hills? Please,” Luna did nothing to stop the tears from falling. “I thought I was alone now that grannie was gone.”
Jude heard the voice Lydia had described as cultured and refined. He knew in that instant he had the pull he needed to keep her from wanting to die saving others. And he wasn’t above using it to keep her safe and in one piece.
“I…um…” Lydia choked and tried to clear her throat.
“We’re going to have some lunch, Luna, and we’re headed home,” Jude promised, his own voice thick with emotion. “Tell Sage I said hi, would you. And ask Lily not to shoot me, okay?”
Luna laughed softly. “She’s not convinced you’re safe, but she’s willing to reconsider shooting you, Jude. Alright. I’ll be watching for you,” she promised, ending the call and sinking back in the large office chair. But only for a few seconds before she burst from the chair and flung herself against Sage, arms around his neck and squeezing tightly.
Jude didn’t say anything but he nodded gratefully when Dev hitched his head toward the pizza franchise and then at his watch. He knew the man would return with pizza and they could get on the road.
Jude lifted her against him, her face buried in his chest and fingers holding tightly to the edges of his jacket.
“You did good, baby,” Jude whispered raggedly. She wasn’t crying. No noise at all but her body shook as if she was sobbing uncontrollably.
“You should have left me in Montreal,” came the quivering words, sobs filling them even as she held the tears back stubbornly. “I can’t see someone else be hurt. I can’t, Jude. I don’t have it inside me anymore. Let me go back and do what I do best. Please.”
“You’re stronger than that, Lydia,” Jude climbed into the SUV, letting her sink to the wide seat. “I’ll go help Dev with the food. Pizza for us and we hit the road,” he watched her turn away from him, staring out the window, her arms wrapped around herself protectively.
She didn’t pay attention to the locked doors or the people milling about. People who had been watching the interview from the sidelines, shock and disbelief on their faces. She didn’t doubt for a minute there were public relations in more than one place scrambling to answer the non-stop ringing of their phones after the short interview hit the screens.
The smell of the pizza should be making her salivate, she thought, sighing and turning to meet the stares of the people trying to look casual as they passed the SUV. The TV van was still there, Elise Winston glaring at the man that had been holding the camera. Curiously, she slid the door open and stepped to the pavement, hands in the back pockets of her jeans.
“Is something wrong, Elise?”
Surprise filled the woman’s face when she spun to find Lydia behind her. Her gaze went nervously from Lydia to the man now scowling angrily at them both.
Lydia felt the hairs at the back of her neck rise. She didn’t have the right name for what she was smelling, but she knew it was bad. Hate emanated from him, rolled off him in thick, oily waves. And they were directed at her. She eased a little closer, silver-gold head tipped to the side as she inhaled more slowly.
“I don’t think your camera man likes me, Elise.”
“Miss St. Germaine…” Elise worked to swallow the anger inside her at the hatred erupting from the man once Lydia was away from the camera. She had checked, made certain the footage had made it to the station. She’d worked with him for over a year and was only now being made aware of his racist he was.
“May I borrow your phone?” Lydia had memorized the number that came up on Jude’s phone and tapped it into the small phone Elise placed in her palm. “Seth? This is Luna…do you know if the interview aired?”
“I’ve had calls from around the world. It’s gone viral,” Seth looked from the couple sitting in his office to the speaker phone he’d tapped when the call came in. “Is there a problem?”
“It seems Miss Winston’s camera man has a very strong dislike for me. Or perhaps it’s for shifters in general. I can smell it,” she told him, her voice dropping and one corner of her mouth lifting. The newly discovered game of flashing a fang almost made her laugh at the suddenly pale features of the large, older man. “I was concerned that he’d done something to stop the interview.”
“It’s live just about everywhere, especially where the political cabinet is trying to be re-elected. Where’s Jude and Dev?” He asked cautiously.
“Arriving at the SUV with pizza. I was just checking to make sure the interview wasn’t shelved because of someone’s prejudice and racist manners. Thank you and good bye,” she closed the phone and handed it back to Elise.
“I’m very sorry about this, Luna,” Elise sighed, her head shaking. “Silly me. Thinking we were progressing as a species. I’m glad I drove my own car here. If I can do anything to help…I don’t know with what, but…” She handed Lydia her card and a smile. “Thanks.”
“I’m sorry people can’t learn to live without hatred,” Lydia cast one last look at the man before turning and striding back to the SUV. She could feel the tension in Jude and Dev. They probably could smell the guys’ hatred from there. So much to learn, she thought, climbing into the SUV and settling down.