“He can’t.” Ahmad’s words were spit with ferocity, and Antoine’s face dropped into studious blankness.
“He can’t what?” she asked in confusion.
“He can’t pull his scent inside, and neither can I.” He held out an upward palm to Antoine. “I want that bottle in my hand this instant! It’s getting poured down the nearest sink. It’s forbidden to all of us, and you know it.”
Antoine’s reply was calm but cold. “At meetings. That was the final vote, and I have abided by it.”
Tahira shook her head and held up her hands. “What the hell are you talking about? I’m missing something important here.”
Ahmad flicked his eyes toward her. “You spoke of honor earlier. Well, the most honorable representative for the cats has been deceiving you, along with the rest of us. Our police force has access to a product that can be applied to the skin to prevent other shifters from knowing their emotions. It’s only to be used when the agents are undercover or in danger, and is forbidden for council members to use. But apparently Councilman Monier doesn’t feel he is subject to that rule, and has managed to find a supply of it—probably through his sister, who is head of the police.”
Tahira closed her dropped jaw and tried to think of what to say in reply. It felt like the world had dropped out from under her feet. All she could think of was to turn to Antoine and ask, “Is that true?”
Antoine’s eyes flashed as he replied to her, but she could tell the anger was directed at Ahmad. “I have been formally challenged for my council seat and am trapped in the same house with the challenger and with the fight official, which is Ahmad, until one of us can leave. It would put me at a distinct disadvantage to have my anger, frustration and… pain regarding the charges broadcast to every Sazi in this house. I would allow you the same courtesy, Ahmad, under similar circumstances.”
Tahira crossed her arms over her chest and glared at him. His face softened at her annoyance, and he stared into her eyes in near panic. “I have never intentionally used the cologne in your presence. You have been fully aware of my emotions when we’ve been in each other’s company, save for the few moments after the challenge, in the basement, when I was trying to come to terms with what Giselle accused me of.”
She thought back and realized he was right. At every time other than that spent in the basement, she could remember his scent, filled with musk, cinnamon, and grass. She nodded. “Fine. But Ahmad is right. The ‘stuff’ you used needs to disappear. And you two need to knock off fighting over me.” She nodded again at Antoine’s surprised expression. “Yeah, that’s what I said. I’m a big girl. I’ve been hit on before, and that’s what Ahmad was doing. He wasn’t lying about it.”
She rolled her eyes and let out a little nervous chuckle. “Admittedly, it was a new and different kind of being hit on, like a spider trapping a fly in its web. But he wasn’t threatening me or violating me.” She waggled her head, amending, “Well, okay, he was sort of violating me, ‘cause it was a little scary. But he’s going to stop it now, isn’t he?” She asked the question directly to Ahmad.
He shuddered briefly. “I would appreciate it if you wouldn’t compare it to a spiderweb. That’s not an image I care to consider. I merely wanted to show you that there are choices available to you, Tahira. Perhaps I overreacted to discovering healing teeth marks on your neck, but I’m not accustomed to Antoine beating me to anything I want. It annoyed me.”
A growl rose in her throat. “But it’s my choice and my decision. At this point, I’m not sure what the hell I want—except some clothes that fit.” She pulled at the neck of her shirt, which was too tight in the shoulders, and the bra was digging in under her arm. “That much I do know. I think we all need a few minutes to cool off, and the books will still be here when I get back.”
Antoine likewise flinched involuntarily. “I don’t often agree with Ahmad, but spiders are something I’d rather not bring into the conversation, either.” Then his voice softened and his scent was almost painfully embarrassed. “Would you prefer that Margo or Giselle drive you into town instead? The offer to pay for the clothing still stands, and Margo is a signatory on the charge account. I fully understand if you would rather I not accompany you today.”
She sighed and dropped her arms to her side. “I don’t know what the big deal about spiders is, but whatever. And no, I’m not that mad at you. You didn’t do anything worse than what Ahmad did. But, you do owe me a lunch for it.” She turned her gaze to Ahmad. “And so do you. But let’s make it clear—
not dinner, not breakfast. Just a plain ordinary lunch where I don’t have to cook or pay for the food.”
The two looked at each other with narrowed eyes, but nodded. “Fair enough.” Antoine held out his hand. “If it’s not already out of gas from our little conversation, the SUV is warm and the driveway’s clear to the road. Shall we go?”
Tahira placed her hand in his and they walked past Ahmad. Antoine helped her on with a too-large jacket, but at least it would keep her warm until they reached the shops.
It was… worrisome that Ahmad knew he’d been using the cologne. He might find some way to use it against him or even more risky—take the supply for his own purposes before they returned.
Worse still was Tahira’s annoyance with him. It couldn’t be helped. He couldn’t tell her about the visions. The one earlier, while he was in the shower after their lovemaking, had been the worst he’d ever experienced. He’d actually felt pain as silver chains wrapped forcibly around him. He’d fallen to the floor of the shower as the metal scorched his skin. Phantom voices seemed to come from the walls themselves—the deep, hissing baritone of a Sazi he couldn’t see, a rolling, trilling alto that was nearly unearthly. He’d been forced to watch Tahira scream in agony as something assaulted her. He could smell the cool, mossy scent of wet rocks, the bitter, acrid scent of a powerful snake, a sickly sweet smell that degraded into a scent so foul that it nearly burned his nose. They were all combined with pain and terror, and a hatred so vivid and powerful that it was frightening.
No, he couldn’t tell her that he’d finally seen her brother, seen him bound and helpless and dying. She would learn of it soon enough, because she would be with him at the end. Unless he could find a way to prevent it.
Every time he looked at her face, the image of it twisted in agony overlaid her delicate features. It felt like what other Sazi spoke of when they talked of mating. But were-cats didn’t mate for life. He’d been with dozens of other cats of all species during his life, and had never felt… well, terrified and, at the same time, jealous before.
Yes, she was free to be with whomever she wished, but… Ahmad? He wasn’t the snake in Antoine’s vision, but he was still a legitimate threat. What was it with him and cats? I don’t know if I can handle it another time.
The cold air cleared his head as they walked toward the SUV. Tahira was still looking at him oddly, probably trying to gauge his emotions when she reached out to open the right-hand door, being only accustomed to American cars. He shook his head, still not trusting himself to speak, and led her to the other side instead.
Opening the door, he held it while she got inside and then shut it, being careful not to bump her leg with the armrest. The vehicle appeared to be a rental, and the thought occurred to him that perhaps they should take the van, since he didn’t know the restrictions on who could drive it. He wasn’t even sure who rented it. The thought of driving made him reach back abruptly and feel for his wallet. He couldn’t remember whether he’d put it there before shoveling. Thankfully, it was firmly in his pocket. It would be embarrassing to get to town only to have to turn around again.
“I’ve never been in a European-made car before,” she said as he slid behind the steering wheel. “It’s really weird to see the controls on that side.” There was a tentative smile in her voice, as she tried to put the tension behind them.
While it would be easy to gloss over and pretend it had never happened, it wasn’t his way. He put his hands on the steering wheel, put the SUV into gear, and started down the beaten path to the road. He took a deep breath and let it out slow before speaking. “I apologize for what just happened. You shouldn’t have found out about the cologne like that. And I shouldn’t have reacted as I did when I walked in on you two.”
Her voice was surprised and the shock of scent made him look at her. “No! I’m thrilled that you walked in when you did. I do think Ahmad’s original intention was just to tease me—well, and probably to piss you off—but I could tell that he was getting too… well, excited when his power started to get sucked inside me. It really was scary to not be able to move.” She shook her head and shuddered just a bit, and a light tang of fear drifted past the heater vents. “But you shouldn’t ever do that to anyone again. I can’t imagine what it must feel like to be glued on the ceiling, knowing you could fall down face first any time the person decided to let go.”
He tilted his head and shrugged one shoulder in acknowledgment of her concern. “My only defense is that it is the same method Ahmad uses to discipline his people, so it’s nothing new to them. And it’s a new skill that I’ve just acquired. I’ve been able to hold animals and lesser Sazi, but this is the first time I’ve been able to hold alpha shifters against their will, so it was useful to show it to Ahmad during the challenge period. He’s the person Giselle chose to determine my worth as leader of the cats, and he will most likely advise her that I’ve increased my power.”
She glanced out the window as a plow drove by. “I was wondering about that. What did she accuse you of doing? Or is that confidential?”
“Not to my knowledge. I’m sure Ahmad’s men already know. He would absolutely relish telling them, so I don’t see why you can’t.” He flicked the turn signal as they reached the road and looked both ways before entering the road. When he sped up and had shifted into third, he reached into the pocket of his jacket and removed the envelope of photographs. He’d started to carry them with him, to remind him of the consequences of action—and inaction.
She took the envelope he held out to her and opened it, pulling out the damning photographs. Her head was moving in small shakes, and her brow was furrowed as she flipped through the thin stack. Her scent was the thick, syrupy scent of curiosity, mingled with confusion.
“Okay, I’ll bite,” she finally said with a shrug. “What am I looking at?”
“Those are were-lions—my mother’s tribe. Apparently, due to some motions that I voted on during my council term, they are now starving because their land and water have been taken by other competing predators on the savanna. I allowed it, even though I wasn’t aware of it. Giselle feels that it’s enough reason to have a new councilman represent the cats.” She opened her mouth to reply, but he held up his hand. “Before you ask, I can’t simply step down from the post. I took the seat by conquest, and that’s how it has to be taken from me, according to the rules of the Sazi.”
Her voice held surprise and she turned a bit in her seat to look at him. “Well, actually I wasn’t going to ask that, but—wow! The Hayalet allow the sahip to choose his replacement. Then again, nobody has ever challenged Grandfather while he’s been head of the kabile, so maybe that’s true of my people, too. It’s never come up. No, what I was going to ask was whether I was the only person who could see the blindingly obvious in these pictures?”
He took his eyes from the road briefly to look at her face. She smelled confident of something, but he couldn’t tell what. “Perhaps you are. The only thing that I see are a pride of starving lions, and I know that I’ve voted on things in the past that probably caused it.”
“Well, yeah,” she replied. “They are lions, and they might well be starving. But they’re not were-lions. So how can they have anything to do with you? If this is her only proof, it’s bogus. I think she and Ahmad are playing you.”
Antoine had to close his dropped jaw. “What do you mean? Of course they’re were-lions. Why would you think otherwise?”
She shook her head and put the photos back in the envelope. “When we get to town, I’ll show you. You need to concentrate on driving, because I hate icy roads, especially going downhill. The roads might look wet, but the bridges are icy. I’ll have to show you what I’m talking about since you apparently didn’t notice. Telling you won’t do any good. But hey, talk to me about Stuttgart until we get there. What’s there to do in town?”
He was having a hard time concentrating on anything except her words. He thought back to the photos, but couldn’t imagine what she might have seen in them. Still, if it were true—
She tapped on his shoulder and her scent was amused. “Hello? Earth to Antoine! Are you in there? We just passed the first turn, the one we took from the police station. Of course, I have no idea where we’re going, so I’m not much help.”
He started when he realized she was right. After checking his mirror, he skidded to a stop on the wet roadway and then moved to the now clear shoulder to back up.
She was staring out the window at the snow-covered hillside and the sun bouncing off the buildings down below in the valley. “This city is really pretty. I like all of the candles in the windows and decorations. I’ll bet it’s cool-looking at night.” She heaved a small sigh. “But of course, that just reminded me it’s nearly Christmas, which makes me think of Rabi, which reminds me of the family coming for me, and—damn it! There goes my good mood.”
Antoine was annoyed with himself because he’d nearly forgotten about the primary reason for going into town, and had completely forgotten about her situation.
He put his arm on the seat back so he could see better as he backed the few hundred feet to the intersection. “I’m not certain if you were still asleep a few minutes before I stopped in your room earlier. Did you hear a conversation I had with Ahmad on the stairway?”
She shrugged. “No, I didn’t hear anything outside. It was quiet as… well, as a tomb in that room. That’s why I started to cry.”
Turning the wheel slightly as he reached the intersection, he shifted into first gear and started toward the police station.