The only Shifter missing was Ellison. She kept glancing at his closed house, but she heard nothing from within. Maybe Ellison had simply gone inside and fallen asleep after staying up all night watching her house from his porch. He had to sleep sometime.
Maria swallowed her disappointment and turned to follow Connor to Dylan’s pickup, which she and Connor were borrowing. Tiger was tinkering with something under the hood, and he dropped the hood closed, watching Maria quietly with his strange eyes when she and Connor approached.
Ellison still didn’t appear as Maria took the keys from Connor and got into the driver’s side of the truck.
“You know, I do know how to drive,” Connor said, hopping into the passenger seat.
“I know. I’ve ridden with you. I want to get there in one piece.”
Maria looked behind her, but Ellison’s house remained quiet, the doors closed. Well, she would go over when she came home. She and Ellison weren’t mates or married. Just friends.
And lovers. Maria shivered as the heat of yesterday afternoon slid over her again. She started the truck, smiled at Tiger, who returned her look without changing expression, and pulled onto the street.
Behind her the Morrisseys, Ronan’s family, and Spike’s family all waved and cheered for her. A warmth spread in Maria’s heart. She’d been trying so hard to survive on her own that she hadn’t realized she’d created a family for herself right here, without knowing it.
“Test me while we go,” Maria said to Connor.
Connor unfolded the sample book he’d had ready in his hands, and started asking her questions. Maria had chosen to take one of the biology subject tests. She’d studied and studied, with Connor’s help, for the last six months. She’d learned so much—knew the sample tests back and forth—but knots formed in her stomach. What if she went blank when the actual test lay in front of her? What if she couldn’t remember anything?
She shouldn’t have let Ellison take her out yesterday. She should have broken away from him and shut herself in the house. She was tired now, and so distracted by thoughts of Ellison, bare in the water . . .
“I said, what is found in DNA but not RNA?” Connor asked. “Is it, a) . . .”
“Um. Thymine. Right?”
“Yes, right. Concentrate.”
“I’m trying.”
Connor shook his head as he turned the page. “That’s what mating frenzy does to you. Clouds your brain to everything but mating. At least, that’s what I hear. I won’t have that joy for a few years yet.”
“I don’t have mating frenzy,” Maria said firmly. “I’m not a Shifter.”
“But you had sex with Ellison, you can’t stop thinking about it, and you want to do it again. That’s mating frenzy.”
Maria clutched the steering wheel. “Who told you that? Why can’t Shifters mind their own business?”
“Well, that would be boring, wouldn’t it, now?” Connor grinned over at her. “And it’s true, isn’t it? You didn’t have to tell me anything. Scent doesn’t lie.”
Andrea had known too, right away. Maria heaved a sigh. “If I admit that yes, I had sex with Ellison, will you stop talking about it?”
“Nah.” Connor laughed. “It’s fun to see you blush. So what about it? Ellison’s dying for a mate. Sun and moon, eh? We’re loving all the mating ceremonies around here. Nice excuse to get drunk and party.”
“Connor. I have to take my SATs this morning. Can we talk about mating later?”
“Sure. Next question . . .”
Fortunately, the drive to the school that was administering the test didn’t take long. Maria parked in the front parking lot, her stomach knotting even more. Connor got out of the truck with her and gave her a long hug.
“You’ll do great. And I’ll be right here to pour you back into the truck when you’re done and take you home. Or out for a drink. I remember when I finished my SATs. I was all wound up, and I wanted to sleep for a week.”
“Thanks, Connor.” Maria returned the hug. Connor had dark hair and blue eyes like his uncles and grandfather, his body already filling out to their formidable bulks. Girls liked to stare at him, and when Connor finished his Transition years from now, he was going to be in high demand. “You’ve helped me so much.”
“Hey, we have to stick together. I’m not old enough to take my place in the hierarchy yet, so who knows where I fit in? You’re trying to figure out your place too. That makes us automatic friends.”
He pulled Maria close for another hard embrace. Reassurance, comfort—Shifters knew how to give it. Maria hugged him back, grateful for his unconditional acceptance.
Finally Connor released her, patted her shoulder, and held out his hand. “Cell phone.”
Maria turned it over. Cell phones and the like weren’t allowed at the test. She had to go alone with her calculator and the host of number 2 pencils Olaf had given her. Connor pocketed the phone, clasped Maria’s shoulder again, and sent her off toward the building with a little shove.
Maria looked back as she walked down the curved sidewalk. Connor had climbed into the bed of the truck, leaning back with his feet up, to read a newspaper. He’d wait for her. He’d be here, her anchor.
The kids who’d come to take the test this Saturday morning were all about ten years younger than Maria, excepting a few adults who, like her, were hoping to go to college for the first time. America was a fine place, she thought as she walked. Here, a person of eighty years old could decide it was time to get a college education and go. It cost money, but there were ways to find it and people who would help. Maria had explored every avenue and put together a plan to combine scholarship opportunities with working. It would be tough, but she would do it.
An air of anticipation hung over the building Maria entered. She checked in, following the directions to the room where she’d take her test. Kids who knew each other talked excitedly, hiding their nervousness, while others found seats, eyes wide with anticipation.
The current of anxiousness was palpable. Maybe Maria had lived with Shifters too long, because she picked up every nuance of worry, fear, and excitement.
She chose a desk near windows that overlooked the parking lot. Maria could see Connor lounging in the truck fifty yards from her, the sight of him reassuring. Connor had been such a help to her ever since she arrived. She couldn’t imagine surviving this long in Shiftertown without Connor. Or Ellison.
Ellison. No, Maria needed to focus. She’d suck it up, do the test, and then relax on Dylan’s porch with her friends, and let thoughts of a bare Ellison run through her head all she wanted. He’d been beautiful as his wolf, his fur itself quivering with his strength. She’d loved stroking him . . .
“You may start,” the man who was proctoring the test said.
Maria jumped, watery fear running through her, and opened the test booklet. She looked at the first question with numb eyes, and let out her breath again.
She knew that one. She could do this.
Maria answered a few more questions with confidence, then looked up and out the window to reassure herself with Connor’s presence again.
And saw him slumped over in the truck, his body limp. She also saw two men she didn’t recognize climb into the front of the truck and drive it away.
Chapter Eleven
Maria jumped out of her seat. The other test-takers looked up and around in irritation.
“You need to sit down,” the proctor said.
Maria remained standing, watching the truck speed up and out of the parking lot. She turned around, blindly afraid, and made for the door.
“You can’t leave until the break,” the proctor said, rising and following her.
“I have to. This is an emergency.”
The man looked annoyed. “If you leave the room, you’ll need to turn in your test and forfeit your fee.”
Meaning she’d have reschedule the test for who knew when and save up more money for the fee. But someone was busy abducting Connor, and all thoughts of
tests, university, and the rest of her life went away.
“Sorry,” she said. She shoved her incomplete test at the proctor and ran out of the room.
Outside she stared at the parking lot from which Connor had disappeared in dismay. He had her cell phone, and she was in a building whose offices were shut up for the day, and the campus was deserted, everyone here today focused on testing. The proctor might have a phone she could borrow, but he’d decidedly locked the door after she’d run out. She needed a phone and needed it now.
An ordinary person might have given up. But Maria had grown up in a tiny town with few luxuries in the middle of a desert, and she’d learned to be resourceful. She started jogging down the street, heart in her throat, wishing Ellison was with her, and knowing she needed to find him.
***
Ellison held down his sister’s wolf, growling at her. He was dominant. She needed to obey.
Deni snarled and fought. She’d woken up out of a bad dream this morning, confused and forgetful again. She’d charged out of her room in wolf form, attacking Ellison as soon as he’d walked in the front door after standing guard over Maria all night.
Deni and Ellison had fought a silent battle on the floor for a long time before Deni had suddenly gone limp, giving up. Ellison had carried her back to bed and turned to get dressed again to go with Maria and Connor to where she’d take her test, only to discover that Deni had been playing possum.
As soon as Ellison turned to leave Deni’s bedroom, Deni had come out of the bed and leapt onto his back. He’d heard Connor and Maria drive away while he’d fought off several hundred pounds of wolf.
Will and Jackson had already left for the day, their jobs starting at first light. Ellison and Deni battled it out alone, she too strong and swift to give him time to call for help.
Ellison pinned her with his large wolf’s body, Deni swiping with claws and teeth, a mad light in her eyes. Both their Collars snapped sparks, the pain biting Ellison deeply.
This was insane. And heartbreaking. One day Deni would go too far and seriously injure Ellison or her own cubs, or Ellison would have no choice but to kill her.
The idea sent a wash of pain through him at the same time he staved off her attack, she trying to rip out her older brother’s throat.
The phone pealed into the rumble of growls and snarls. Deni jerked, her attention diverted, but Ellison didn’t dare let go of her to answer it.
He knew, though he didn’t know how, that the person on the other end was in danger. Jackson and Will were out there, neither wanting to stay home from jobs they liked. Connor was out there too, with Maria . . .
Ellison tried to get up. Deni used his distraction to attack, jaws open, fangs bared.
Ellison caught her as he shifted, hands digging into her fur, swung her around, and threw her across the room.
Deni tumbled, howling, and crashed into the wall. Before she could get herself up again, Ellison dove for the phone.
“Ellison.” He heard Maria’s panting relief, and his fears skyrocketed.
“Where are you?” he said, his voice guttural. “What’s wrong?”
“Connor. I couldn’t stop them. I was taking my stupid test. He was waiting in the parking lot for me because I was nervous . . .”
“Wait. Stop. Tell me.”
Maria drew a long breath and told him in simple words what had happened. “I’m at a convenience store at Congress and Ben White. What are we going to do? We have to find him.”
“You stay right where you are. I’m on this. Aw, shit.”
Deni crashed into him, yanking the landline phone out of the wall. The phone went dead, Maria’s voice vanishing.
Deni’s eyes were red, the feral in her taking over. Her Collar shocked more sparks deep into her, but the pain didn’t slow her down.
They fought out of the kitchen and to the living room, Ellison trying desperately to stop her. He’d have to knock her out somehow and get away from her. Connor needed help now.
The back door banged open. Ronan charged in, already throwing off his clothes, and became a giant Kodiak bear before he hit the living room.
Seriously hit it—the doorframe broke and a table full of Deni’s knickknacks went over. Deni rolled away from Ellison and faced this new threat.
Ronan roared, a colossus enraged. Deni laid her ears back and bared her teeth, ready to fight. Her stance told Ellison that she expected her brother to join her in beating back the intruding bear.
Ronan raised a paw to knock her senseless. Ellison jumped at him, instinctively defending his sister, his pack.
Ellison’s leap ended on Ronan’s massive paw. The Kodiak tried to pull his punch, but the blow smacked Ellison head over tail to land him on the couch. The couch broke into a pile of wood and stuffing, Ellison’s wolf buried in the debris.
In that moment, sanity flooded back into Deni’s eyes. She rose and flowed back into human form, her face ashen. “Ellison!”
She rushed to Ellison and put her arms around him, stroking his fur, while Ellison lay stunned, trying to catch his breath. Ronan subsided, watching them both anxiously.
“I did it again, didn’t I?” Deni asked, her voice broken. “Ellison, what are we going to do?”
The question was a serious one. Shifters who went mad, and who were aware of their madness, sometimes took what they thought was the easiest way out for themselves and their families.
Deni’s hopeless look worried Ellison. At the same time . . . Connor.
Ronan shifted back to his human form, a huge, muscle-bound, naked man. “Sorry, Ellison. You OK?”
Ellison climbed out of the ruined couch, shaking foam rubber out of his fur. Deni rose to her feet, finally noticing the overturned table and broken door. Her expression turned to dismay. “Ronan.”
Ronan flushed. “Hey, I said I was sorry. I’ll fix it. I promise. We need Ellison though. Right now.”
“Why?” Deni fell into the nearest chair, folding her arms across her stomach. “What happened?”
Ellison shifted back to human form. “Connor’s been taken,” he said grimly.
Deni leapt to her feet again, her strength returning. “Oh, Goddess. By that Bradley guy?”
“How did you find out?” Ellison asked Ronan. “He contact you?”
“Maria did. She called Sean when your phone went dead. Sean sent me over here to find out what was up with you.”
“Goddess,” Deni said again, stricken. “Go, Ellison. Find him. I’ll be fine.”
“Come with us,” Ronan said to her. “We might need you.”
Deni hesitated, which made Ellison’s heart churn again. A few short months ago, Deni would be the first out the door, ready to fight. It wasn’t like his sister to hold back.
“What if I . . .”
“Go insane on the kidnappers’ heads?” Ellison asked. “I’m not worried about it. Come on, Den. What if they had Jackson or Will?”
Deni’s eyes went flat. “Let them try.”
“Good girl.”
“Hurry,” Ronan said as he grabbed his clothes. “Dylan’s waiting, and Liam. They’re ready for war.”
“Go with them,” Ellison said to Deni. He caught his sister in a rough hug then released her. “I’m not coming. I need to find Maria.”
Ronan looked worried. “Do I have to tell Dylan that?”
“I’ll tell him,” Deni said. “Ellison’s right. Maria will be terrified, and Ellison can’t leave his mate stranded. Dylan will have to suck it up.”
Ronan ushered Deni, who was pulling on her sweats, out the door. “I dare you to say suck it up to Dylan.”
“He understands about mates and cubs. They come first.”
Ellison dressed as quickly as he could then headed for his motorcycle. Deni, back to herself again, herded Ronan across the street, and Ellison’s blood warmed in spite of his worry.
Mates. Deni had recognized the mate bond when she saw it. Ellison knew, that after all this time and so much loneliness, the mate of
his heart had found her way to him.
***
Maria’s relief when Ellison dismounted his motorcycle in front of the convenience store made her knees weak. Maria dashed to him, and in an instant, his strong arms were around her, Ellison sweeping her up into his warmth. Maria buried her face in his neck and hung on.
“You all right?” Ellison asked.
“Yes, yes, I’m fine. Connor . . . It was awful. They just took him!”
“I know. We’re on it.”
“But why take him? He’s a cub, but not in human terms, not like Olaf.”
Ellison went silent, and Maria raised her head to find his gray eyes troubled. “I admit, I don’t know. But we’ll find him.”
His expression was somber, but his arms were strong around her. So good to be able to lay her head on his shoulder, for him to understand her burdens, to share them, to fight with her.
“Hey!” A voice sounded across the convenience store’s tiny parking lot. “Shifters aren’t allowed here.”
Maria turned around, hot words on her lips, but Ellison stopped her. “Never mind. Let’s go hunt for Connor.”
Maria clamped her mouth shut. She didn’t like the convenience store clerk’s sneering expression, but now was not the time to fight this battle. After they found Connor, she’d come back here and say rude things to him.
Ellison helped her onto the back of the motorcycle. As she had only yesterday, Maria wrapped her arms around him and let him carry her away.
She realized after Ellison had made a few turns away from the convenience store that they were not going back to Shiftertown. He rode them down to the warehouse area they’d visited yesterday morning, with its empty back lots that might as well be in the middle of nowhere.
Ellison stopped in the open space in front of Pablo Marquez’s warehouse. Guys working on two high-end cars gave Maria and Ellison warning looks as they left the bike and went inside.
Pablo Marquez sat at his desk in his office, tapping a laptop’s keyboard. “I already talked to Dylan,” he said before Ellison reached him. “I don’t know where they took Connor, but I suggested some leads. You can go away now. I’m busy.”