Cynful

Chapter Ten

“I’m glad you didn’t have any trouble while you were out last night.” Gabe Anderson snatched the tapping pencil out of Tabby’s fingers. “I still think it was reckless, though.”

“That’s not what Glory told me you said.” Cyn rolled her eyes and thought about how insane her friend was being. “I hate to say this, I mean I really hate to say this, but I think somebody should just bite her ass.” Maybe then she’d get over the massive cranky fit she was having.

“You’re just saying that because I’ve been singing Weird Al Yankovic all morning.” Glory smirked at them as she worked on the belly button ring display.

Cyn turned and glared at her. “This is revenge for the Super Grover comment.”

Glory’s baby blues went wide with fake innocence. “Can I help it if I love ‘Perform This Way’?”

Gabe cleared his throat, gaining their attention once more. “I’ll be checking in regularly with you ladies, but just in case here’s my cell number. Call me if anything seems to be even remotely off. Until we find out what these guys are after I’m not going to risk your safety.” Gabe tossed the pencil back to Tabby and sauntered out of the shop.

Glory set the display back in the case and dusted off her hands. “Be right back. Feel free to talk about me while I’m gone.”

“What the hell is up with her?” Tabby’s accent had thickened into a deep Georgia drawl, an indication of exactly how upset she was. “She’s acting like a total brat.”

“It’s that whole don’t tie-me-down thing that’s tripping her up.”

“Maybe I should change her.” Rat-a-tat-tat went Tabby’s pencil. “Maybe then she’ll understand why Ryan’s close to losing it.”

“Might not be a bad idea. If she feels that mate pull you guys talk about she’ll stop fighting it so hard.”

“At least you’ve stopped fighting it.”

Cyn shrugged. She couldn’t say she’d completely stopped fighting it, but it was more girl slap now than Gears of War. Julian was proving he was nothing like her father, and she was proving to herself she was nothing like her mother. Now if only she could get over the fear that he’d do a complete one-eighty once he bit her they’d be golden.

“Did I tell you, Micah called me again?” Tabby’s tapping pencil picked up speed.

The new Alpha of Tabby’s old Pack had been relentless in his attempts to try and speak with her. “Did you pick up the phone this time?”

“Hell, no. Alex still wants to go down there and find Dennis Boyd and rip him a new one. You think I’m really going to open up that can of whoop-ass on the Marietta Pack?”

Cyn shrugged. “What about your parents, have they called too?”

Tabby snorted. “Please. They tossed me away like last week’s garbage. Even if they wanted to speak to me, I don’t want to speak to them.” She wrinkled her nose as if smelling the garbage she spoke of. “Besides, my pack and my family are here.”

As long as Tabby was happy, Cyn didn’t give a rat’s ass if her friend never spoke to her biological family again. “In that case the next time he calls, tell him to fuck off.”

“Genteelly, of course.” She picked up the pencil and stared at it cross eyed.

“Uh-huh.” What the hell was Tabby doing?

“Because I’m a lady.” She sniffed along the pencil, starting when she poked her nose with the tip.

“More like a puppy. Don’t eat that, you don’t know where it’s been.”

Cyn ducked as Tabby threw the pencil at her head. She sniffed the air in short staccato bursts, then snorted much like a dog would. “What is that funky smell?”

The sound of a toilet flushing made Cyn giggle.

“Not that!” Tabby’s nose scrunched up. “Although that’s pretty ripe too.”

Glory stepped out from behind the employees’ only curtain and eyed Cyn, who was still giggling like a loon. “What the hell is wrong with her?”

“Do you smell something funky?”

Glory blushed and dug her toe into the worn linoleum. “Um, yeah, I’m sorry about that. See, I had cheese with lunch, and—”

“No! It doesn’t smell…biological.”

Cyn took a deep breath, but all she could smell was the shop itself. It was a combination of ink and paper and dust and glass cleaner, just like always. “I don’t smell anything.”

Tabby’s nose wrinkled. “You can’t smell that? It’s like, kind of, ick.” She was practically gagging. She pulled the edge of her shirt away from her neck and pulled it up to her nose, sniffing cautiously.

“Are you smelling coffee again?” Recently the smell of coffee made Tabby nauseous. Thank God she wasn’t living in the apartment anymore. Glory would’ve had to kill her. Glory without her morning coffee was like the Terminator without John Connor—bat-shit insane and absolutely lethal.

Tabby wrinkled her nose in disgust. “No, it’s not coffee. I don’t think I’ve ever smelled anything quite like it before.”

Cyn looked over at Glory who shook her head. “I can’t smell a thing.”

Cyn bit her lip, but it really wasn’t that hard a decision to make. “I think this qualifies as anything weird. Call Gabe.”

“On it.” Glory pulled out her cell phone. She must have put the sheriff on speed dial, because within two seconds she was talking to him.

“I’m going to find where the hell that’s coming from.” Tabby stalked out from behind the counter and headed toward the back, into the employee–only area. “What is it?” She was muttering to herself as she followed the scent to the back door.

Cyn stuck to her like glue. No way was she letting Tabby go out there by herself. She grabbed hold of Tabby’s arm. “Let’s wait for Gabe.”

Tabby’s eyes had turned golden brown, her Wolf’s eyes. “I have a really bad feeling about this.”

She trusted Tabby’s instincts. They’d sharpened since her friend had gotten pregnant. Cyn pulled Tabby back and away from the door. “Let’s get out of here.”

Glory was already out front, waiting for them. “I was just about to go in to pull you guys out. Gabe wants us to wait out here for him. He also wants to know what it smelled like.”

“It was plastic and metal and…motor oil? Maybe? And something I can’t even describe.”

Gabe pulled up to the curb, lights flashing but sirens silent. He got out of his cruiser and sprinted toward the girls. “All right, Tabby, come with me.” He pulled Tabby off to the side and whispered in her ear. Tabby in turn whispered back.

Gabe paled and pushed Tabby toward the street. “You three, get across the street now.” He then sprinted for the back of the shop at breakneck speed.

Cyn didn’t need to be told twice. She ran across the street and into the dry cleaners. “What the fuck is going on?”

Gabe came running back from around the corner of the building, his expression grim. He leaned into the cruiser, but Cyn couldn’t see what he was doing.

Before too long he was jogging across the street. “Follow me.”

Cyn, Tabby and Glory followed him to the corner. “Listen carefully.” He was talking so softly Cyn could barely hear him. “I think there’s a pipe bomb at your back door.”

“A what?” Cold fury rushed through her. Whoever was after them had gone too far. A pipe bomb wouldn’t just do property damage. The damn things were meant to kill people.

“I’ve already sent for the bomb squad. I want you girls to wait here until I tell you otherwise.”

Cyn clenched her fists. “Tabby, did you scent Cheetah again?”

“No. It was…strange. Not human, I know that.” She rubbed her nose. “It’s really weird. I’d swear I smelled deer.”

Cyn’s brows rose in surprise. “There are deer shifters?”

“No. That’s what’s so strange about it. I could scent deer and charcoal and wool, but nothing else.”

“Was that the scent that you couldn’t describe?” Glory was playing with her hair, twisting the curls around her fingers over and over again. She was scared, and desperately trying not to show it.

“No. Maybe it was the explosive I smelled.” Tabby groaned as a familiar motorcycle pulled up in front of them. “I didn’t do anything.”

The smile in Alex’s face was easy-going, but his dark brown bear’s eyes betrayed his uneasiness. “Tell me my mate wasn’t threatened again.”

Gabe sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. “It’s going to be a long day, isn’t it?”

Alex spun on his heel and marched toward the tattoo shop. Tabby raced after him and latched onto his arm. “No, Alex!”

“Come back here so I can explain everything to you.” Gabe grabbed hold of Alex’s other arm. “Look over there. My deputies are starting to clear out the businesses around the tattoo shop. You can’t go over there right now.”

Alex growled but allowed himself to be led away. By the time they were done telling him everything that had happened Alex was sitting on the seat of his motorcycle, Tabby firmly on his lap. Dark five-inch claws had sprouted from his fingertips and drummed restlessly over her stomach. Tabby had her hands over his, trying to hide them as the sidewalk filled with humans. “This is getting ridiculous.”

“I agree. But hopefully this time they royally screwed up.” Gabe nodded toward the street. “Here comes the bomb squad. Maybe now we’ll have some answers.”

Cyn was shaking by the time the heavily padded men came back from around the shop. Between them was a black box, one she assumed held the pipe bomb.

“With any luck those idiots left fingerprints behind.” Gabe’s grin was feral; the Hunter in him had come to the fore. “I’ll call you as soon as I have some news.”

“Since when does Halle have a bomb squad?” Glory tugged hard enough on her curls to wince. “Now what?”

Cyn started across the street. “Now we go back to work.” She ignored Glory’s grumbling. How long would it be before whoever was after them decided to go to their homes? So far they only targeted the shop, but Cyn knew that couldn’t last. At some point or another the bad guys would figure out that the three of them were too well guarded there.

It was time to try and lure them into the open. But how? She couldn’t endanger Tabby or Glory, and if Julian found out she’d turned herself into bait he’d have a cow. Against a human attacker she had every confidence in herself, but she was facing shifters.

She paused, her hand on the knob, the door halfway open. The sound of the bell was still ringing in her ears.

Perhaps it was time she really went out for a bite.

“Bite me.”

Julian stared at his mate and tried to hold back his frustrated groan. He should have guessed the moment she pulled him into the back room that she’d be demanding he change her. He’d seen how pale she was the moment he’d stepped through the door. When he’d gotten news of the pipe bomb he’d raced out of work like his ass was on fire. But instead of trembling and allowing Ryan to calm her like Glory or cuddling with her mate like Tabby, she’d demanded he mate her.

This was not the way he’d wanted to mark her. He’d planned on candlelight, decadent food and a full-on seduction. Instead he was in a dusty back room full of tattoo ink and needles, with nary a soft surface in sight so he could sink into her properly.

She snapped her fingers in his face. “Now, Julian. Let’s get this over with. I have work to do.”

She had to be shitting him. “Excuse me?”

“You heard me. Make with the fang.” She pointed at her neck. “Do I need to mark the spot or something?”

He crossed his arms over his chest and prepared himself for a battle. “No.”

She echoed his movement and almost distracted him. He couldn’t help it if his eyes were drawn to the bounty her arms now hid. “What happened to wanting a taste?”

He hoped his expression told her exactly how he felt about her request, because if he opened his mouth right then he’d say something he’d regret. He had a pretty good idea why she was doing this, which was not a mark in her favor.

Cyn sighed wearily. “I’m not saying we’re going to stop dating. I’m asking for safety.” She waved her arms toward the curtains that hid them from the rest of the shop. “Tabby’s pregnant and Glory is…Glory.” Her eyes pled with him. “Please, Julian. Give me what I need to take care of them.”

Fuck. She was pulling out the big guns. That stubborn determination to protect what was hers was part of her appeal, but it could get her seriously hurt if he didn’t rein her in. “I can’t.” He held up his hand to stifle her immediate protest. “Look, there are things I haven’t told you yet. Becoming like me is different from becoming a Wolf or a Puma, or even another Bear. It isn’t just a bite.”

“Let me guess. It’s a Kermode thing and I wouldn’t understand.”

“Oh, you’ll understand. Trust me. But if I’m going to bite you, it has to be done correctly.” Not in a dusty back room. Not when she was this angry and afraid. If she thought she was hiding her fear from him, she was sadly mistaken. He could smell it pouring from her skin.

“Fine. What do we need to do?”

“I’ll come to your place tonight. I give you my word I’ll explain everything then.” He stroked her cheek, unable to stop himself from touching her. He was tired of seeing her hurt; it had been bad enough when one of Gary’s goons had clocked her, but seeing her broken jaw had driven home how much worse it could have been if Tabby hadn’t been there. “Trust me.”

“You say that a lot.” But she pressed her cheek into his palm, reassuring him he was doing the right thing. Throwing her to Bear without some preparation would earn him a lot more grief than asking her to wait a few hours. “Fine. But I expect to be fuzzy by morning, got it?”

“It doesn’t work quite that way. It will be a few days before your first shift.”

She eyed him dubiously. “Will I sprout fur in the middle of the Save-A-Lot?”

“You could.” He shrugged. “I was born this way, so I’m not sure. My parents knew it was coming and kept me isolated until after the change struck. I do remember it was sudden. Nothing like watching reruns of Gilligan’s Island and popping fur in the middle of one of Ginger’s scenes.”

From the look on her face she wasn’t touching that statement with a ten-foot pole. Darn it. “Then maybe I’ll pay Emma a visit. Max changed her, so she might have a better idea of what to expect.”

“Not a bad idea. While you’re at it you can tell the Pride that there’s going to be a new Bear in town.”

Her brows rose. “Me?”

“Me. I’m applying for citizenship as soon as I’m allowed to.” It would be two long years before he could apply for a green card, but it would be worth it.

The quickly hidden pleasure made the wait worthwhile. “You’re staying?”

“Aren’t you?”

That earned him a smile, and a proud lift of that stubborn chin. “Good.” She took hold of his shoulders and turned him around. “If I’m not getting what I want then you need to get going.”

He sighed dramatically, though inside he was ecstatic. She’d accepted his terms, and they’d both get what they wanted. “You only want me for my fangs.”

“Yup. I harbor a secret vampire fetish. Didn’t I tell you?”

“Vampires aren’t real,” he scoffed.

“Neither are shifters.” With that she pushed him the rest of the way out of the back room. “Go rest!”

Rest. Right. Not happening, not if he was introducing his mate to Bear that night. Julian nodded to Alex and waited for the Grizzly to say his good-byes to Tabby. On the way out the door he whispered, “White or dark?”

“Hmm?”

“Chocolate.”

Tabby grinned. “Dark. As dark as they make and still call it sweet.”

“Cool.”

“But Cyn prefers milk.”

Was it just him or did all the women at Living Art Tattoos have the same evil grin?

He followed Alex out of the tattoo parlor and headed for the Harley Alex babied almost as much as he babied Tabby. “I’m marking her tonight.”

Alex stumbled. “Oh.”

“Yeah.”

“Is she ready for that?”

Julian put the helmet on and shrugged. “Nope.”

“In that case I have two words for you. Protective gear.”

Julian had to concede the man had a point.

The bell jingled, announcing Cyn to the occupants of Wallflowers. She took a look around and tried to evaluate the place from a shopkeeper’s perspective.

The ladies had certainly gotten the atmosphere right. Wallflowers specialized in anything that could hang on a wall. Hand crafted mirrors, masks, paintings, clocks; all sorts of things covered the walls, all with discreet price tags. An antique rug covered the distressed hardwood floors. A small Victorian sofa covered in soft cream brocade was placed in the center of the room, inviting people to sit and chat with the owners. A Queen Anne coffee table in rich cherry wood sat before it with a silver tea set. Two Victorian chairs in that same cream fabric faced the sofa, creating a cozy little conversation group that Emma and Becky used to hold court. Against one wall was a gas fireplace with an ornately carved mantelpiece.

Rumor had it the elaborate art piece over it had been crafted by Becky’s mate, Simon, an artisan glassworker. Cyn salivated over it every time she saw it, the vibrant blues and greens contrasting nicely with the rose wallpaper. On that mantelpiece were silver-framed photos, all of them either black and white or sepia toned. A cherry and glass counter graced one wall. On it sat an old-fashioned-looking cash register. Cyn bet the credit card scanner was hidden underneath the counter.

Every time she came in here it was like she was being smacked upside the head with her femininity. She had the strangest urge to head home, put on a dress, and come back when she was presentable.

“Cyn! Oh my God, are you all right?” Becky dashed out from behind the counter, her eyes wide with worry, her long, frizzy hair practically standing on end. “We heard what happened.”

“Yeah, I’m fine.” She stroked her jaw without thinking. “Julian healed the damage and Gabe’s looking into the attack.”

“And then someone leaves a pipe bomb behind your store. What the hell is going on?”

“Wish I knew so I could find them and kick their asses.” Cyn was done with this bullshit. Next person who threatened her people was going down hard.

Becky gestured to the sofa and the women sat. “Emma’s not here right now, but I called her. She’s seriously upset and wants to know if there’s anything we can do for you.”

Cyn blinked. That was more support than she’d thought she’d get. She wasn’t one of the kitties, or even a shifter, but Becky and Emma were responding as if she were. “Thanks. Actually, I came here because…well, because Julian’s going to mark me tonight.”

She’d never met someone who could actually squee, but Becky did, loud enough to make Cyn’s eyes cross. “Omigod, congratulations!” Becky tackle-hugged her, smothering Cyn in enough curly hair to make Lady Godiva proud.

“Thanks.” Cyn tried not to spit out the curl that landed in her mouth. She didn’t think that would be polite. “I need your advice. Can you explain to me what the change feels like for a human?”

Becky sat back. It took her hair a few seconds longer. “Ah. You want to know about the first change, or about the bite itself?”

“Either. Both.” Cyn ran her fingers through her hair. “I’m not sure. Tabby shifted to protect me, and I can’t have that.” She got up and started to pace. “She’s pregnant. I can’t take the risk that she’ll get hurt and lose the baby.”

“Damn.” Becky sat back. “You think this is another shifter attack, like what happened to Chloe.”

“I’m positive it is. Tabby smelled cat, and not the local brand.” Cyn stared at Becky and chewed her lip. “I need to be able to protect Tabby. Hell, I need to be able to protect Super Bear. He’s been pushing himself again.”

“Super Bear?” Becky snorted a laugh. “Okay, ask your questions and I’ll answer as best I can.”

“What’s the change feel like?”

The Puma sat back on the sofa and crossed her thin legs. “Hmm. Let me think. I remember feeling kind of restless, like I was caged and couldn’t get out. I marked Simon and didn’t even realize it while we were—” She blushed bright red. “Um. But I think the first thing that changed were my eyes.”

“Your eyes?”

“Yeah. Pumas don’t see all the colors of the spectrum, so when I realized I couldn’t see what color Simon’s shirt was anymore I realized my eyes had changed.”

“I wonder what colors bears see.”

“Not sure. You’ll have to ask Julian. Your eyes are already dark, so you might not even notice the change at first.”

“But if they turn gray, like Julian’s, someone will point it out, right?”

“I doubt Julian will leave you alone during your first change, and Dr. Howard might want to check you out as well. You’ll be the first Bear shifter created in Halle and he’ll be dying to get his claws into you.”

Great. Just what Cyn needed. She’d be a giant, furry lab rat for an overly curious kitty. “What else?”

“Teeth and claws will come after your eyes change. But the change will be upon you when fur sprouts from your arms. You’d better be naked by then too, because this isn’t some werewolf movie where your clothes magically disappear. You’ll either rip right through them or hurt yourself trying to squirm free of them.”

“Oh.” Cyn sat on the sofa and grinned at the Beta. “So this was all just an excuse for Julian to get me naked.”

“Funny, I said something similar just before my change.” Becky held up her hand. “Hold on, phone’s ringing.”

What? Cyn hadn’t heard—

The phone rang, and Becky answered. “Wallflowers, Becky speaking. How may I— Hey, Simon.” A soft smile crossed Becky’s face. “Sure, baby. I’ve eaten. Uh-huh. Glucose levels are good, I swear. Mm-hmm. Yes, I love you too. Bye.”

“You’re diabetic?”

“Hmm? Oh! No, I’m severely hypoglycemic. Be right back.” Becky left the room and came back quickly with a glass of orange juice. “I had a nasty surprise right after Simon and I mated. I wound up in the hospital with low blood sugar after having hallucinations that an apple was trying to kill me.”

And she thought Julian was weird. Maybe it was best to get Becky back to the topic that interested Cyn the most. “The bite. What does that feel like?”

Becky smiled. “The best god-damn orgasm of your life.”

Now it was Cyn’s turn to blush. “Oh.”

“Yeah.” Becky sipped from her juice, but her expression was wicked. “Big O.”

The women exchanged a look before bursting into laughter.