The sound of the front door slamming shut interrupted his thoughts. A smile played at his lips when he heard Maya humming a tune as she trotted down the steps to meet him. Since they’d arrived at Lottie’s house and Maya began her training, she seemed less encumbered. Of course, a part of him hoped that their mating contributed to her free spirit too.
Shane turned to greet her, but whatever he’d planned on saying went out of his head the moment he laid eyes on her.
The woman was spellbindingly beautiful.
Clad in sandals, a simple white sundress that came to just above the knee, and a sweater that matched the blue of her eyes, Maya looked every bit the beauty queen. Her long, blond hair flowed over her shoulder in loose waves, just the way Shane liked it, and she wore very little makeup. If a summer breeze could be embodied in a woman, it would look the way Maya did at this moment.
Smiling, she tucked her hair behind her ear and closed the distance between them with her hands clasped behind her back. Stopping only a few inches from Shane, she popped up on her tiptoes and pressed her lips to his.
“Ready to go?” she asked before kissing him one more time.
“You look positively fetching.” Shane slid his hands down both her arms and tangled his fingers with hers, holding her arms out to the side so he could look her up and down. He had asked her to be sure she brought at least one weapon with her, but he was unable to detect where she’d put it. “Where on earth did you hide—”
Before Shane could finish asking her where she’d hidden the leather-handled throwing knives, Maya pressed one finger to his lips and shook her head.
“Ye of little faith,” she whispered. “I’ve got it covered.”
Maya spun around and pulled her sweater partway down her back to reveal a slim harness with the two knives discreetly tucked inside and easily accessible for her. Shane nodded his approval as Maya turned around, shifted her sweater back into place, and put her hands on her hips.
“Not bad.” Shane’s eyes wandered over her from head to toe, and his body immediately responded. “As always, Maya, you are full of surprises.”
Maya laughed and playfully avoided his grasp when he tried to pull her into his arms.
“Nope.” She wagged a finger at him and placed both hands on his chest, holding him at arm’s length, which only made him want her more. “If we start that, then we’ll never get out of here before sunrise. But if you behave yourself now, then I promise I’ll make it up to you later.”
“How?” Shane growled.
“You’ll see,” she sang. “But first I have to talk to Lillian, and in case you were wondering, I have the necklace in my skirt pocket so she can look at it.” Maya grinned, but then her smile faltered. “Hey, did you talk to Olivia?”
“I did.” Shane linked one arm around Maya’s waist and yanked her against him while his other hand found its way to the top of her ass. He didn’t do it to instigate sex; he simply loved the feel of her, and it made him happy to touch her whenever he could. Shane kissed the tip of her nose. “But you distracted me with your beauty.”
“Well?” Maya giggled when Shane nuzzled her neck. Nibbling her lip, she linked her arms around his waist. “What did she say when you told her about the whole gypsy thing?”
Shane stilled and lifted his head because he realized he’d totally forgotten about the conversation with Doug, which was highly unlike him. His feelings for Maya were cluttering up all of his senses. “I didn’t.”
“What?” Maya’s body tensed. “Why not?”
“Olivia had the baby.”
“Oh my God!” Maya squealed her delight and hugged him ferociously. Tangling her fingers in his hair, she peered back up at him with wide blue eyes. “What did she have? I mean Suzie kept saying it was a girl. Are they okay?”
“Doug said they are both doing well, and she had a baby girl.” Shane adored watching Maya’s joyous reaction and doubted that anything could make him happier than watching his mate smile. “Given the circumstances, I thought we should wait until we have more information.”
“I guess you’re right.” Maya’s smile faltered and she started fiddling with the buttons on his shirt.
Shane leaned back and tilted her chin, forcing her to look him in the eye again. “What’s wrong, Maya?”
“I miss them,” she whispered and let out a soft laugh. “Even Trixie.”
“You’ll see them again soon. Contrary to the way it feels, we won’t be down here forever.”
“No.” She shook her head and paused, struggling for the right words. “It’s not that…I miss hearing them, and it’s still strange not being able to talk to them anytime I want. It was hard enough when Olivia stopped telepathing with us and could only speak that way with Doug, but now…” She trailed off and looked away.
“Now you can only speak that way with me,” Shane said quietly.
“Yes.” She flicked her eyes back to him and grabbed his arms with both hands. “Please don’t be offended. It’s not that I don’t love…being able to talk to you like that,” she added quickly. “It’s just going to take some getting used to, that’s all.”
Shane froze for a moment when she uttered the word “love” because he thought she was going to say she loved him, but she didn’t. To his great surprise, he was disappointed. But what did he expect? Up until a few days ago, she could barely tolerate his presence. Now, because they’d slept together a few times and the universe deemed them bloodmates, should he simply expect her to fall in love with him?
With Maya staring up at him expectantly, waiting for him to respond, he realized that was exactly what he expected—and he felt like an idiot.
“Shane?” Maya’s brows knit together. “Are you upset with me?”
“No, youngling.” He stepped back and glanced toward the sky in an effort to shut down his feelings of stupidity. “We should leave if we want to have ample time for you to meet with Lillian. I don’t want to risk getting caught in the city after sunrise.”
“I hope she can help me remember more.” Her voice wavered. “Even if this magic I can do is the blackest of all magic, I still want to know. The truth can’t possibly be worse than not knowing.”
Looking back at Maya, Shane noticed the concerned expression etched into her features. He extended his hand and wrapped her fingers in his. When their flesh met, the line between her eyes smoothed and her lips curved into a smile.
“Agreed.” Shane brought her fingers to his mouth and kissed them lightly. “Just remember, Maya. All creatures are capable of darkness, but not all choose to succumb to it.”
As they leaped into the sky and flew through the night swiftly and silently, Shane couldn’t stop thinking about something Lottie said the night they arrived. Funny how the mind can choose what it wants to remember and what it wants to forget. Perhaps, he thought while they raced toward the city, some things would be best left forgotten.
They landed silently in a dark alley at the edge of the French Quarter, but even along the outskirts, the lights and sounds of the bustling district could be heard. Shane linked Maya’s hand with his and walked down the quiet, dimly lit cobblestone street toward the corner of Ursuline and Dauphine. Holding her hand seemed the most natural thing to do. Though far smaller and more delicate than his, her hand fit in his like it had been made only for him.