Dark edge? “You mean their auras?” Did auras really exist? Emma needed to buy a book on those to keep up with Janie. And how the hell was Janie supposed to fight with dark glows?
The little girl shrugged. “Dunno. It’s something I see sometimes.”
“Do I have an edge?”
“Yep. Bright blue. Like Mama’s.”
“So you know that. And you knew I was about to have a vision.” One that freakin’ hurt. “But you don’t know how you know.”
“Nope.”
The cat looked like a rabid mouse. “Okay. So, what else do you know?”
Janie pursed her lips, cocking her head to the side. She glanced back toward Max. “Katie’s coming out and she needs a favor.”
The door opened and the young lioness glided into the sun.
“Can you read minds, Janie?” Awareness tickled down Emma’s spine.
The little girl wrinkled her nose. “Nope. Sometimes I just know stuff.”
Katie strode forward, her petite form in tight faded jeans and a white hoodie. Dark circles appeared like bruises under her tawny eyes, and her flawless skin was so pale it reflected the sun. “Emma. I was looking for you.”
Emma smiled and swept her hand toward the nearest tree. “Have a seat. We’re just talking here.”
Katie faltered and then shrugged, sliding down to sit. “So. What’s going on?”
“Not much. Just enjoying the fall day,” Emma said.
“Yeah,” Janie chirped up. “Katie’s mad at Jordan, Auntie Emma.”
“Yes.” Katie’s nostrils flared and a trembling smile lifted her lips. “I’ve loved Jordan since I was four years old, and he’s never even looked twice at me.”
Emma frowned. That certainly wasn’t true. She’d only been around the shifters a short time, but Jordan had it bad for Katie. “I think you’re wrong.”
“No.” Katie shook her head and honey-blond hair flew. “I’m not. Now this has happened, now I can’t shift, and he thinks we should mate. That I’ll get my shifting abilities back if we do.”
“Oh my.” Emma glanced again at Janie’s puppy, her mind spinning. “Well, that might work actually.” Who the hell knew? The virus hadn’t even been completely mapped yet.
“If it doesn’t?” Katie’s eyes darkened to deep brown. “The leader of our pride will have mated with someone who can’t shift. Ever.” She grabbed a rock and threw it across the path to land with a hard thunk against a tree. “Besides. I’d rather not be a pity fu—” She glanced at Janie and cleared her throat. “A pity marriage.”
The door next to Max swung open, and Cara poked her head outside. “Janet Isabella? Come eat lunch and then we need a nap.” She gave a wave to Emma and Katie, leaning back against the doorframe.
Emma waved back and hid her concern, helping Janie to stand. “Anything else I should know, little wise one?”
Janie grinned. “That’s e’nuff for now.” She hopped, skipped, and then ran for her mother, who enfolded her in a big hug before drawing her inside the building. Max nodded at Emma and followed them inside.
Katie chuckled, her gaze on the closed metal door. “It’s a damn good thing she’s on our side, now isn’t it?”
A breeze filtered through the trees and pine needles rained down. Emma brushed one off her legs. “No question about that.” The girl’s abilities were astonishing. “You know, I just don’t understand why your species hasn’t allied with humans through the years. We could have so many more trained, medical minds working on this problem right now.” Cara was getting sicker every day. They needed help.
Katie lifted both eyebrows. “Seriously? Remember your history? Through the years humans have hunted and destroyed any race they felt was more powerful. Even so called witches in Salem.” She sighed. “If your government had any idea I existed right now, I’d be hooked up to machines and studied—against my will.”
Emma shrugged against the unease tickling her nape. “We’re not all like that, Katie.”
“I know.” She looked at Emma. “But even you have wondered about our abilities, if the science involved could be applied to cure human frailties. Human illnesses.”
“Well sure. I want to ease pain and suffering as well as curing diseases.”
“What then?” Katie grabbed another rock. “The planet isn’t big enough for humans to be immortal too, Emma.”
Emma shook her head, not wanting to debate the issue. “Okay. So Janie said you needed a favor?”
“Um, yes. You’ve isolated the catalyst, right?”
Shit. “Yes.”
“I, uh, want you to infect me with the catalyst.” Katie set her trembling lips in a firm line.
Emma huffed out a breath. “You’re unwilling to let my government experiment on you, yet you want me to do it?”
Katie’s eyes flashed topaz. “First of all, they’re not your government any more. You’re the Queen of the Realm, and your husband leads your new government. Second, you know I’m right. The virus takes away the shifter’s ability to shift. We know from watching Maggie that the catalyst speeds up the virus so the shifter’s body begins to fight.”
“If the shifter’s body loses, he or she might shift into a werewolf,” Emma hissed. Oh God. Katie wasn’t really asking her do to this, was she?
“But the virus doesn’t work completely. So far Maggie has been able to shift back into her true wolf form instead, and the catalyst has given her the ability to do so.”
Emma sucked in a deep breath. “We don’t know that. In fact, we have no idea how long Maggie’s been infected. Maybe the virus just reached a point, catalyst or not, where her body produced enough antibodies to fight it.” Emma should start wearing a hat saying, WE JUST DON’T KNOW. She bit her lip. “And Katie, we have no idea how the catalyst would work on a lion shifter, and you in particular. You might turn into a werewolf. Or you might just die.”
“I’m willing to take the chance.”
The woman had a right to choose. “I understand. But it’s way too early to take a chance like that.” Emma held up a hand when Katie opened her mouth to protest. “I’m not saying no. There’s a process to follow in this. First, we need to see if Maggie survives the next full moon. We also need to give your body time to start creating antibodies.” She reached out and clasped Katie’s arm. “You might be able to beat the illness without any more help. It’s just a virus. There’s a chance your body will heal itself.”
Katie inhaled so deeply her shoulders lifted two inches. “I know.”
Emma released her friend. “I already have been conducting experiments on your blood and the catalyst.”
Katie quirked a lip. “You were a step ahead of me, huh?”
Emma shrugged. “We need all the knowledge we can get.” She stretched her neck. “You have time. You don’t need to make any costly mistakes.”
“You don’t know we have time. The progression of this thing could always speed up.”
“You’re right. Though the risk is too dangerous.”
“I’ll wait until after Maggie beats the third full moon before asking for the catalyst again. Afterward, if it doesn’t work, I’ll need your help getting away from Jordan.”
Emma straightened up. “Are you in danger? I mean, are you afraid of Jordan?”
Katie shut her eyes, shaking her head. “No.” Opening them, they filled with tears. “I can’t stay.” Her voice choked on each word. “Not like this.” She gestured at her body.
The woman’s pain echoed through the air. “How could I help if you decide to run?” Emma whispered.
Kate grabbed and threw another rock. “You’re the queen. I’ll need transportation and a head start.”
Emma sighed. “You just said you loved the man. Shouldn’t you fight for him?”