The Jaguar Prince

Chapter 27

Mr. Campbell leaned back in his chair, puffing out his chest like a rooster about to let loose and crow. “Of course Callie can work with you. Can’t break up a winning team. The media will love this. I wouldn’t doubt if the mayor took an interest.” He beamed. “I’ve always thought I could run for office if the opportunity presented itself. This might just be the chance I’ve been waiting for.”

It was all she could do to keep from gagging. She’d always thought her boss was pretty much of an ass. Now he was proving he was. Maybe Mr. Campbell should be reminded that he was supposed to be thinking about the zoo and not his supposed political career.

She squared her shoulders. “And it should bring in revenue for improvements at the zoo.”

“What? Oh, yes, we have to keep everyone happy—including the animals. They’re why we’re here.”

His smile didn’t even come close to sincere.

“We’ll need privacy so I can get to know the cats.” Rogar looked comfortable sitting in the chair. As if he was the one in charge, and truth be known, he was.

“Anything you want.”

“Then we’ll be working at night,” Rogar said.

“But, how will we get all the publicity I want? You can’t…” Mr. Campbell sputtered.

“Just until I’m comfortable with the big cats. I really don’t think you want the media filming one of us being attacked and ripped to shreds. That might have the opposite effect.”

Mr. Campbell nodded, leaning back in his chair. “You’re right. I hadn’t thought about that.”

Great, he was more concerned with his reputation than the thought they might be killed by one of the animals.

He sat forward again. Elbows resting on his desk. “I’ll give you a week.”

“Two.”

“Done.” He shuffled some papers on his desk. “When Callie told me that you had agreed to work with the cats, I called a couple of guys down at the newspaper. Surely it won’t hurt to at least have your picture taken, to sort of whet everyone’s appetite.”

“I think that’s a good idea,” Rogar said.

Mr. Campbell came to his feet, grinning widely. “Great! I’ll just tell them to set everything up outside in front of the office. Come out whenever you’re ready.” He hurried out his office door.

Callie could tell Rogar saw through the other man’s act, but this would be their chance to draw Zerod out. They would be ready for him this time. Once they got him inside a cage, Rogar would transport him back to New Symtaria where he would face charges for his criminal activity.

She would be safe.

And she would probably never see Rogar again. She closed her eyes, swallowing back the tears that threatened.

“Callie?” Rogar said her name like a whisper drifting on a warm breeze.

She rapidly blinked away the tears. “I’m ready.” She came to her feet.

“Don’t worry, it will soon be over. Zerod will not be able to hurt you. I’ll make sure of that.”

She was more worried about the fact Rogar would probably be leaving soon. Not that she wanted to die or anything.

They walked out the door to where the media was waiting. She would make sure she cut the picture out of the paper so she would at least have that to cling to. She was so pathetic.

You could go with him.

Callie stumbled. Rogar put a firm hand on her elbow.

You’re back.

I never left. I’ve always been here.

I don’t want you to leave…ever.

I won’t.

When will I meet you?

Soon.

What do I call you?

Katun.

“Katun,” she tested the name on her tongue.

“What?” Rogar looked at her.

She smiled as a reporter snapped another picture. “Katun is her name. The name of my guide.”

He smiled and hugged her close. Did he know how she felt right now? As though she had found an old friend whom she’d thought had been lost forever. Yes, she suspected he did. Rogar was good about knowing how she felt.

As the reporters asked questions, Callie basked in the feeling that she had somehow become whole again. Deep down, she knew there would be more. It was as though her senses were coming alive. The very air around her seemed to crackle with energy.

“Tell us what it felt like when you jumped into the pit with the ferocious jaguar?” one of the reporters asked.

Her brow knit. Sheba wasn’t ferocious. Sure, she was a wild animal, but Callie wouldn’t exactly call her ferocious. Sheba did only what came naturally to her. No one could blame her for that.

A volley of rapid fire questions were aimed at Rogar, but he easily answered each and every one.

“I’ll be back in a bit,” she whispered to him, then headed toward the jaguar’s cage. She felt a little guilty leaving him with the two reporters, but she would only be gone a few minutes. There was still twenty minutes left before the zoo opened. She could at least say hello to Sheba and make sure the jaguar was okay.

It took her about five minutes to walk to that side of the park. She sighed with relief when she saw Sheba in the pit, lying in the sun, except she looked a little droopy.

“Hey, Sheba,” she said as she approached the enclosure.

The cat’s head jerked up. Sheba cried out. Callie could’ve sworn that the jag looked glad to see her. And maybe she was. Callie rested her arms on the cement ledge. Sheba got up and moved closer, making Callie smile.

“So much has happened in my life, Sheba, that sometimes I think I’m being turned inside out. I don’t know what to do anymore. I’m part alien, imagine that, and I can shift into another animal form, except I don’t know my guide yet. Well, not exactly.”

She closed her eyes for a moment. When she opened them, everything looked the same, except she knew she was different.

“And I’ve fallen in love with Rogar.”

She closed her eyes and let that sink in for a few seconds. It was true. She had fallen in love with him.

“He’s the first person who has come into my life and made me feel whole, as though I know where I belong. Except he wants me to go with him to New Symtaria, his planet, and I’m scared. Will I feel just as out of place there?”

And what if he didn’t love her? She didn’t know their customs. What if leaving totally screwed up her life even more? Would he bring her back? Would she still be next in line for the job she wanted? So many questions.

She sighed. “Then there’s the problem that if I stay, Zerod could find me. He came to my house, and Rogar saved my life. If we draw him out, if he falls into our trap that we’ll set here at the zoo, then maybe it would be safe to stay. I’m just not sure about anything, except that I’ll never push my guide away again. I truly feel as though I’ve found a long lost friend.”

Callie was quiet on the drive back to her house. Rogar left her to the silence. But as soon as she walked inside the house, she turned, and hugged him close to her. He held her without saying a word.

“When you said I would know my guide, you were right. It’s different from anything I’ve ever experienced. Her thoughts aren’t the same as mine. I feel as though we’re two complete individuals, but at the same time, we’re also a part of each other. Is it that way for everyone?”

“Yes.”

She looked up at him. “When do you think I will get to meet her?”

“When the time is right.”

“She said soon.”

“Then it will be soon.”

She frowned. “You knew I would feel like this.”

“I was almost certain.”

She stepped away. “This is still my home. I can’t leave. It’s the only sure thing I’ve ever had in my life.”

“But it isn’t your home,” he told her. “You belong on New Symtaria.”

“My gut tells me to stay. Don’t ask me why, I just know this is where I need to be.”

“You may never meet Katun, then. You still don’t know what animal form she is. It could be dangerous for both of you if you shifted.” He raked his fingers through his hair. “I care deeply for you, Callie. Come, if only because you want to be with me.”

She saw the need on his face, but deep down inside, she knew something held her here on Earth. She shook her head. “I can’t.”

“Is it because of the job you want?” he asked with something close to disbelief in his voice.

She turned away from him, unable to look at the longing on his face. “I don’t know what it is. I just know this is where I need to stay. I’m sorry.”

There was a long pause in which she wondered what he was thinking, but she still couldn’t bring herself to look at him.

“As soon as I take care of Zerod, I’ll leave. I won’t ask you to come with me again. If you should decide to travel with me to New Symtaria, I would be very pleased.”

“Thank you.” That sounded lame, but what was she supposed to say? God, was she making the right decision?

They slept the afternoon so they would be more alert that night. Rogar in the bed, Callie on the sofa. It was as though she was already putting distance between them. Odd how cold the bed was without her beside him. He ached to pull her close, to feel her body next to his, to…

A deep sigh interrupted his thoughts.

You’re definitely in love with her.

I know, he told Balam.

You’ll be hell to live with until you convince her that she has to return to New Symtaria with you.

And exactly how am I supposed to do that?

Give her what she has here. Make New Symtaria more tempting than Earth.

You would think I’d be enough temptation.

Balam snorted. Rather full of yourself, aren’t you?

She damned well tempts me. Why shouldn’t I tempt her?

Make her want to leave with you, more than she wants to stay.

“Okay, okay, I’ll try.” How the hell was he going to convince her when they didn’t cage animals on New Symtaria? They were free to roam at will. No one harmed the guides, and the guides didn’t harm the humans. She wouldn’t have the job she so desperately wanted.

Occasionally, there were rogue hunters that had to be caged, but there were specially trained guards who cared for those humans or guides. It wasn’t a good job. They weren’t a perfect society.

He sat on the side of the bed. His stomach growled and he realized it had been a while since he’d eaten. As he went to the other room, Rogar caught a glimpse of Callie sleeping on the sofa, and walked closer.

Her breathing was even, as though she slept peacefully. And why wouldn’t she? It wasn’t as though she cared for him as much as he did her. How could he be so stupid as to fall in love with her?

His body trembled. He did love her. He loved her with all his heart.

She stretched.

He went back into the kitchen, not wanting her to see him right now. The last thing he wanted from her was pity. He was such a fool. On New Symtaria he had women practically falling at his feet, but it was Callie that had taken him to his knees.

“I’m starved,” she said.

He glanced over his shoulder. She wore that sleepy look that reminded him of when they mated. He quickly faced the cabinet and opened it.

“You have nothing to eat.”

“Because I never have much money for food,” she grumbled.

“Pizza.” He looked up the number, then punched it in.

“You really like pizza, don’t you?” she said after he placed the order.

“It’s good.” He cleared his throat. “About tonight. I want you to get out of there if Zerod shows up.”

“Do you think he will?”

“No, not really. He hasn’t had time to pick up our scent.”

She raised her eyebrows. “Can you do that? I mean, smell someone’s scent?”

He shrugged. “Sometimes. It depends. A guide can sometimes detect another Symtarian, but not always.”

“Can you detect my scent?”

He wished she would let it go, but he could tell by her expression she was just curious enough to keep asking. So be it, she wanted to know, he would tell her.

“Yes, I know your scent. It’s the wildflowers that burst with fragrance after the danger of a freeze has passed. It’s sultry, lazy nights. It’s the scent of the forest.” He stopped in front of her. “It’s everything that I love.”

She didn’t move when he grazed his knuckles over her cheek, or when he lowered his head and brushed his lips across hers. Fool, his mind screamed, but he couldn’t seem to stop. If nothing else, he would have his memories.

When he ended the kiss, they were both breathing hard. “I don’t like sleeping alone,” he finally said.

“The sofa is uncomfortable.”

“Good, then you will sleep with me from now on.”

“Until it’s time for you to leave.”

He heard the catch in her voice, and knew this was as hard for her as it was him. “We won’t speak of leaving. Not until that time comes.”

“Okay.”

He forced himself to let her go, and went to the cabinet, bringing down two glasses. The silence was thick with un-spoken words.

The doorbell finally rang.

Her smile was sad. “Pizza.”

Glad for something to do, he went to get their food. The same young man was on the other side of the door.

“I kept it nice and hot, sir, and I threw in some cinnamon swirls—no extra charge.”

“That was thoughtful.” Rogar reached in his pocket, and brought out a thick wad of money. He peeled off several bills and handed it to the boy.”

The kid swallowed hard, then took the money, shoving it into the pocket of his jeans. “Thank you very much!” He handed Rogar the drinks and the pizza, then jogged back to his vehicle. When Rogar turned, Callie was smiling.

“What?”

She walked forward and took the bottle of soda. “The normal tip is around five dollars, not five hundred.”

“You think I gave him too much?”

“I think if you stay here very much longer, you’ll pay for his college education.”

He nodded. “Education is a good thing.”

She suddenly sobered. “You could stay, you know. Think how much you could learn about Earth while you were here. You know, be an explorer or something.”

“I can’t.”

“But why not? It’s the perfect solution.”

“I cannot.” He walked to the kitchen and set the box on the table.

“It could work.”

“I’m sorry.”

She set the bottle of soda on the table and planted her hands on her hips. “Oh, I see, it’s okay for me to give up everything I’ve ever known and go to another planet far, far away. But when I suggest you stay here with me, you won’t even consider it.”

He sighed. Things had been going so smoothly. “I’m a prince. I have responsibilities.”

“Ohh, now I’m impressed. I guess I’m too low class that you would even consider staying with me.”

How had she managed to twist his words? “You know that’s not what I meant.”

“I’m just beginning to think I might not know you as well as I thought I did,” she said quietly. “I’m going to take a shower.” She glanced at the clock on the wall. “It won’t be long before it’s time to leave.”

“You need to eat.”

“I will. I just want to shower first.”

He let her go, watching until she went inside the bedroom and closed the door. He didn’t want to leave her. He wanted her to be a part of his life, but he had a feeling she was already gone.