Claimed

Chapter 23

Emma washed two more aspirin down with one of Dage’s grape sodas in the spacious gym. She’d had a headache all day. You’d think she’d have received enough of Dage’s healing abilities to cure a freakin’ hangover. How much wine had she polished off last night during the poker game, anyway? She ignored Katie’s knowing smirk.

Maggie rolled her eyes from her seated position on the thick mats. “No gloating.” The industrial lights cut hard light through the air to illuminate the shadows in her pale face.

Katie flounced across the gym to sit by her friend. “I’m not gloating. Though even without my shifter senses, I schooled all of you last night.” While the shifter was still pale, her features seemed more relaxed. Maybe having the poker game and escaping reality for a few hours had been good for all of them.

Dage stalked into the room followed by Jordan and two of his enforcers, Baye and Mac. Emma nodded at the lions, thinking once again their myriad of black, brown, and blond hair would have given her pause had she not known they were lions.

She reached up and gave Dage a peck on the cheek. His return smile appeared forced. “What’s wrong, Dage?”

He shrugged. “We spent all day trying to locate Prophet Guiles with no luck.” Dage ran a rough hand through his hair. “Talen is still reaching out to our sources.”

“Do you have sources in the Kurjan organization?”

“Yes.” He glanced at his watch. “How was your day, love?”

“Productive. Kane and I worked in the lab most of the day. We created a new protein to test tomorrow.” And she’d stayed away from the werewolf. She’d wait until Dage appeared in a better mood for discussing the tests she wanted to run on the beast.

“Good.” Dage focused his gaze on Jordan. “Night falls in ten minutes.”

Jordan nodded, leaning forward to tug Katie to her feet. “Okay. Everybody out of the gym.”

Dage grasped Emma’s arm. “Good luck, Maggie.”

Maggie nodded, her face becoming more pale.

Jordan began to draw Katie toward the door, and the young woman yanked her arm back. “What are you doing? I’m staying.”

“No, you’re not.” Jordan’s tawny eyes flashed. “You can watch from the control room with Emma.”

“But Jordan”—Katie glanced at the cameras set into the far corners and back—“her shift won’t hurt other shifters.”

A muscle began to pound in Jordan’s jaw. Dead silence echoed around the room.

“Oh.” Katie took a deep breath. “I see. I’m not a shifter.” She turned and stormed for the doorway, only to give a startled yelp when Jordan jerked her back.

The lion lowered his head toward hers, a snarl curling his lip. “You are a shifter.” He spun her and smacked her ass to propel her toward the door. “Until the virus runs its course, we’re being careful.”

Katie gave a startled gasp and hustled into the hallway.

Dage nodded to Jordan. “We’ll lock the door from the outside. Guards are posted every few yards.”

Jordan kept his gaze on the empty doorway. “I have a tranq in case we need it.”

Maggie sighed. “Let’s hope we don’t.” She flashed Emma a sad smile. “You need to go. I can feel the moon rising.” Her eyes flicked a deep gray and back to brown again.

Dage swiveled Emma into the hall and engaged the lock. She followed him through the hallways and up two flights of stairs to the large conference room, passing several guards on the way. Cara and Katie already sat at the onyx table before the wall mounted screen.

Emma sat when Dage pulled out a chair for her. He leaned in. “Do you understand what happened to Maggie the last time there was a full moon?”

“Yes.” Emma had read the reports as well as talked to Maggie earlier in the day. Basically, both werewolf and wolf shifter had battled to get out. The wolf shifter won. “I took several samples from Maggie earlier. Hopefully this time she won’t be affected.”

Dage placed a kiss on the top of Emma’s head before stalking over to stand by the door. A sentinel, even now. “We can hope.”

Considering Maggie had been infected the longest, if she beat the disease, there was hope for them all.

He glanced at Katie. “Kate? If you feel anything odd, anything. . .”

“To indicate I’m going to get hairy and bay at the moon?” Katie asked, a hint of a smile on her face.

He returned the grin. “Yes. You let me know.”

Emma shook her head. “She won’t. The virus hasn’t been in her system long enough. No werewolfishness.”

“Good.” His eyes glimmered with amusement. “Apparently Cara isn’t the only Paulsen who makes up her own words.”

Emma opened her mouth to retort when the screen caught her eye as Baye and Mac shifted into mountain lions. One second they stood tall and then an odd sparkly shimmer washed over them until they perched on four legs, dangerous and predatory. Their clothes fell in ripped heaps to their paws. “Wow.”

“I owe them clothes now,” Dage said. “I told them not to arrive in the gym nude.”

Katie gave Emma a sideways glance. “You’re missing out. The enforcers are something to look at, let me tell you.” She wiggled her eyebrows and pursed her lips.

“Kathrynne ...” Dage warned, a smile playing on his lips.

Katie sobered. “I should be in there.”

Emma patted her hand on the table, sympathy filling her for a moment. “Don’t worry, Kate. We’ll figure this out.” They just had to. The woman’s sorrow had a presence of its own in the small room. Cara shifted uncomfortably next to Emma, probably feeling Katie’s pain and sorrow. Must suck to be an empath.

The lioness leaned forward. “Something’s happening.”

Emma zeroed in on the screen. Maggie had her eyes closed, leaning against the gym wall. She stretched her neck and lifted her head with her nostrils flaring. Then she looked down and focused on her right hand, which she held out with the fingers extended.

Sharp claws emerged.

Emma gasped.

The claws curled black and then elongated to yellow daggers. Maggie winced, dropping her chin to her chest and tightening her shoulders as if drawing in power. The claws narrowed and retracted into black wolf claws.

Jordan’s low voice crooned through the space. “That’s it, Mags. Concentrate. Search for the wolf—she needs you.”

Katie began to tremble next to Emma. “Come on, Maggie,” she whispered.

Maggie’s eyes opened, shifting from light brown to yellow to dark brown to gray. Her face elongated and she let out an animalistic howl of pain. The shrill sound echoed throughout the room.

Sharp canines dropped low and fast, and she fell forward onto all fours. Hair emerged on her face, on her arms, shiny and brown. Then bristly and coarse. Her clothes ripped apart and she took the form of a wolf. The fur turned shiny and brown again. She lifted her head and yelped. The air shimmered with sparkles and suddenly a fully grown she-wolf rested on a pile of clothing.

She lowered her head and stretched out, a small whimper escaping.

Jordan crept forward and knelt, running a hand along her thick pelt. “Nice job, Mags.” He drew in a deep breath and nodded toward the cameras. “Kane’s going to come in and take some blood samples, and then we’ll go for a run.”

The wolf lifted her head and gave the equivalent of a canine smile. Apparently she wanted to run.

Emma muttered to herself, her handwriting no better than chicken scratches. The owl hooted outside, once again searching for something in the dead of night.

Lily swung her legs back and forth from her perch on the examination table. “Is there anything I can do to help?” Her scent of wild strawberries filled the air and competed against the medicinal smells of alcohol and pine-scented cleansers.

“No.” Emma straightened her back and stretched her neck, her voice soft in the quiet lab. “Though maybe you should get some sleep. It’s past midnight.” She tossed the chart down on the table.

“You’re not sleeping.” The prophet stifled a yawn.

Dage was working with Talen, and settling down in a bed by herself had lost its appeal for Emma. “True. But I have this feeling I’m about to get a breakthrough, and I can’t just go to sleep.” She wanted to take another sample of Maggie’s blood when she returned from her run as a wolf.

“I don’t want to leave you all by yourself in this big old lab.” Lily glanced around and gave an exaggerated shiver. “Plus, I ah, wanted to ask you something.”

“What’s that?” Emma fought the urge to rub her tired eyes.

“The cure. If my body beats the virus, will I change back? I mean, will I be mated to Sotheby again?” A frown settled between Lily’s finely arched brows.

Emma shrugged. “I doubt it. Truly, I don’t believe that could happen. Even if you manage to reform the chromosomes, the individual aspects of each mating would be gone.”

“Indeed.” Lily’s expression smoothed out.

“Damn it, Lily. You should be in bed.” Caleb stormed into the room, a purple bruise spreading across one rugged cheekbone. Dust covered his dark training garb while his huge boots battered the tiled floor.

Lily raised an eyebrow. “I’m not the walking wounded here, Caleb.” A pink blush slid under her skin and filled her face.

A low growl emitted from the soldier. “You should see the other guy. Besides, it’s just training.” He reached forward and tugged the prophet off the table. “You’re going to rest.”

Emma fought a grin as Lily jerked her arm away from the angry vampire. “Back off, Caleb. I’m a prophet with a job to do.”

“A prophet?” Caleb threw back his head and laughed. “All you three do is wander around and enjoy free meals. When you’re not banishing people, of course.”

Lily perched her hands on her hips. “I didn’t banish you and you damn well know it.” She swished her skirts away and edged around the table with her head held high. “You have no idea what goes into being a spiritual leader for the Realm.”

“A lot of nothing, if you ask me.” Caleb’s multi-colored eyes shifted to darker colors.

“Nobody asked you,” Lily said.

“Well.” Caleb’s voice lowered to a softness that provided warning. “Then you need to get yourself some rest so you can save all those souls tomorrow. Move yourself, Prophet, or I’ll move you.”

Emma briefly considered intervening and decided against it. They were both adults.

“Touch me and I’ll bring the force of the prophesy down on your derelict head,” Lily spat, her hands clutching the table until her knuckles turned white.

Caleb smiled and settled his stance. “This is your last warning, Prophet.”

Lily rolled her eyes, swishing her skirts in a hasty exit. “I’m leaving because I wish to go, you jackass.” She held her head high as she swept out of the room.

Caleb pivoted and gave Emma a wink. “Good night, Highness.” He followed the prophet into the hallway while whistling an Irish jig, giving a polite nod to Dage.

The king frowned, stepping inside the lab. “I wonder if I should do something about this.”

Emma shrugged. “I say let them get it out of their systems.” She stifled a yawn. “Have you noticed your race is a bit, well ...”

“Neanderthalic?”

She frowned. “Is that a word?”

“According to your sister, that’s a word.”

Cara had always been fantastic about making up words that should be in the dictionary. “Vampires appear to be extremely behind the times when it comes to ...” What was the correct expression?

“Being politically correct?” Dage ran a broad hand through his thick hair. “Granting equal rights?”

“Yes.”

His gaze gentled on her face. “Do you think Caleb would do anything to hurt Lily?”

No. Not at all. “He doesn’t have the right to boss her around. She’s a prophet, for goodness sakes.” What was the guy thinking? Surely the fates would be seriously pissed off to see one of their prophets treated in such a matter. Emma shook her head in exhaustion. The fates? God. When had reality taken a flying leap?

Dage nodded. “That’s true. Keep in mind, most of us haven’t been in a relationship for centuries. We may have some catching up to do.”

Emma tilted her head to the side, focusing on the discussion at hand. “Will being granted more time even matter?”

Dage shrugged. “Probably not.” His grin was lethal. Sexy. Tempting.

She huffed out a breath. If she chose to stay and have sons with the thick headed king, those boys would be modern, if it was the last thing she did. “Any luck finding Prophet Guiles?”

“We found a good lead and should have his location by tomorrow.” Dage stalked forward, all grace, all muscle. “It’d be nice if he were in Ireland so we could capture two birds with one trip.” He grinned.

Emma tapped her foot. So much for modern views. “Don’t you start. Moira can make up her own mind.”

A thoughtful smile flirted with Dage’s full lips and that dangerous gaze narrowed in focus, pinning her in place. “Love? What do you think I’d do if you took off across the globe and refused to see me?” Curiosity melded with something darker, something intense in the deep tone.

She cleared her throat. “Respect my need for privacy, I assume.” Like hell. “Don’t threaten me, Dage.” He was so lying if he claimed there wasn’t a threat buried in that dark tone. And she’d be lying if she didn’t admit his darkness pebbled her nipples and made her thighs clench. A need began to hum through her body—a craving only the vampire currently devouring her with his gaze could satisfy.

A smile flirted with his upper lip. “Just hinting at facts. I suggest you remain where I can touch you.” He stepped forward and ran a gentle finger down the side of her face, reaching her chin to tilt her head up.

She sighed. “I’ve been wondering. What happens if you’re dethroned?” This was the first chance she’d had to ask him.

He smiled. “Nobody’s going to dethrone me, love. Your status as queen is safe.”

“I don’t care about being queen.” She cared about the man whose gaze currently caressed her face. “What’s the process?”

“The prophets, all three of them, must make a motion to the Realm to have me removed.” He shrugged. “There’s a vote, and seventy percent of the Realm has to agree. No worries. It won’t happen.” His lips brushed across hers, his breath heated. “Come to bed.”

Ah. Something they agreed upon.