“Alaskan cruise.” Millie Smith loved to travel with her mah-jongg group. “She should be returning home next month.” Maybe. If everything went to hell and Noah had to take over, he’d probably extend the cruise, considering his mama was on it, too. Of course, the new antiviral would work and Jordan would be saved, so Noah wouldn’t have to step up. Katie smiled at Janie. “She said to tell you happy birthday next week.”
“She sent me a hand-knitted blanket with cougars on it—I love it.” Janie brushed curls off her face. “Her note said something about you learning to knit ... and I tried really hard not to laugh.”
“Very funny.” Katie flashed a grin. “Mom has tried to teach me so many times, but I’m all thumbs.” Of course, she kept trying because her attempts amused her mother. For Millie’s last birthday, Katie had actually completed a blanket featuring a bald eagle. Well, the bird looked more like a bald buzzard, but she’d tried her best. Millie had proudly placed the blanket over her sofa in the formal living room like it was a work of art.
“Your mom is pretty cool.” Maggie eyed another grape soda.
So true. Katie had been inviting Maggie home with her, and Millie had taken the wounded wolf into the family immediately. “She loves you, too.”
If nothing else, Katie would always owe Jordan for rescuing her from Jim Bob and taking her to Millie. The petite lioness had instantly taken her in, even adopting her within the human court system. God, Katie loved her mom.
Janie cued her pool stick and cleared her throat. “Um, I’m sorry about Jordan getting infected.”
“Thanks. Any chance you see the future regarding him?” If the little psychic saw Jordan sometime, anytime, in the future, that’d be awesome.
“No, sorry. But that doesn’t mean anything, Katie. I don’t usually see the stuff I’m looking for.” Janie’s eyes clouded over. “So many futures spin through my mind sometimes ... every move we make changes what will happen.”
And yet, she didn’t see Jordan at all?
Down the hallway, Jordan leaned against the wall, a small smile playing on his face from the interplay. He’d been eavesdropping all day. Talen’s suffering at Janie’s impending date tickled him. Jordan had never really thought about having a family, but now that it was too late, a sense of loss centered in his chest. He’d heard the truth earlier in Emma’s tone—the antiviral wouldn’t work by the time he needed it. Which was now.
Old doubts crowded in. How could Brent be alive? Though, well now, that would be fate’s idea of a freakin’ joke. Jordan’s darkest moment, coming back to haunt him just as death knocked on his door.
The moments before that one ... they were good. Full of carefree laughter and way too much juvenile fun. Even then, he and Conn Kayrs had been the best of friends, causing havoc.
Jordan shut his eyes against the last week of his life, memories flooding in. Three centuries ago, the leaders of his pride had relocated them to the mountains of the new country. Away from rumors, away from humans who suspected some people could change into animals, the mountains of what became the United States seemed a safe place to land.
The turn of the century had created a new ample playground for vampires and shifters. Jordan and Conn had committed themselves to exploration. For years, the two of them had wandered, meeting newly arrived folks as well as those who’d lived in the area for so long.
Awakening one morning in a ramshackle barn, straw stuck to his forehead, Jordan had looked for his friend. The vampire had stumbled in, his green eyes bloodshot and a stupid grin on his face. “Where’s the lady?”
Jordan groaned, pushing to his feet. He smelled like cow dung and ale. “Probably hurried back to her husband. Lucky fellow.”
Conn had snorted. “We might need to leave the area for a bit. Farmers get particular about their daughters.”
“Did you finally choose one, then?” Jordan swayed, the ale from the previous night making his head ache. There had been three curvy women vying for Conn’s attention at the barn raising across the dusty town.
“Not exactly one.”
“Your parents would kill you.” Jordan grimaced, as his parents wouldn’t be too happy, either. Of course, he and Conn were just in their early twenties and responsibility wouldn’t arrive for a century, maybe two. At least Jordan didn’t have to worry about ruling his people, like the Kayrs men did.
Conn shrugged. “They should be finishing up at the world symposium brokering deals with the new land in play now that the Kurjans finally want to be part of the Realm. My mum was looking forward to seeing yours again.”
“Yes—they’ll have a good time together.” Even though Jordan’s father wasn’t the leader of a pride, he was a statistical genius, and often advised his cousin, their ruler. “Well, what do you think about heading west and really exploring? It appears to be all mountains and wildlife. Might be fun.”
“I don’t know. Civilization appeals to me. All the women and ale, I mean.” Conn rubbed his chin. “I wanted Dage to come over and have some fun, but he’s so bogged down in duty. It’s like he thinks he’ll take over soon, rather than a thousand years from now.”
A chill swept down Jordan’s spine. “The guy is psychic.”
Conn laughed. “I know. Which so far has just made him difficult to beat in games. We need to come up for a plan next time we have a vampire/shifter soccer match.”
“We will.” Jordan smiled at his best friend. Life was fantastic, he had amazing friends, and the world was his. No responsibility for a while, and a whole new continent to explore. “For now, let’s go scale mountains.”
Conn stiffened.
Tension spiraled through the barn. Jordan pivoted toward the door. Power lay on the other side ... raw power.
Conn frowned, sliding open the door.
Dage Kayrs stood on the other side, a frown on his face, fury in his silver eyes.
“Dage, you’re here.” A wide smile covered Conn’s face that slowly disappeared as he took in his brother. “How did you find us?”
“I teleported a few towns over and have been looking for you.” Dage took a deep breath. “I have bad news.”
Jordan shook himself back to the present, not wanting to relive the moment when he discovered the Kurjans had engineered a brilliant massacre, taking out the leaders of the Realm. Taking out his parents.
Keeping his eyes closed, he took several deep breaths.
Pain exploded across his cheekbone. His eyes flashed open to see a fist coming at him again. He ducked, pivoting around to see the threat. “What the fuck?”
Connlan Kayrs settled his stance. “I’m tired of this shit.”
“What shit?” The bastard had coldcocked him for no reason. Anger swirled deep in Jordan’s gut. He dropped into a fighting stance.
“This ... I give up ... I’m gonna be a werewolf... bullshit.”
Garrett loped into the hallway. “Uh, Uncle Conn? You’re supposed to go to the gym next time you wanna hit somebody.”
Conn growled low. “You’re right. Let’s go, cat.”
Chapter 8
Kalin relaxed in the newest Kurjan encampment and surveyed the waiting werewolves. Experienced, strangely calm, the twenty killer beasts sat on stumps or rocks in the forest, eating raw meat. Of course, he’d injected the meat with massive amounts of horse tranquilizer, but still. The monsters had gained some self-control during the last decade. Unfortunately, unlike human converts, the shifter-turned-werewolf couldn’t be enslaved completely—there was no binding spell with silver and slavery. But with food and pain ... they’d obey.