Untamed (19 page)

She discovered Samantha and Kerry waiting for her in the front hall. She didn’t make friends easily, and these two were already friends. It was never easy to be the third wheel, and it made her feel like an interloper in her own home.

Sam and Kerry were admiring her photographs.

“They’re gorgeous,” Samantha breathed, snapping Layla from the dismal thoughts. She stood and gave Layla a huge smile. “You are so talented. I can’t wait to see the shots you took of Kerry on the bayou.”

“William said that you get psychic impressions from photographs,” Kerry said bluntly.

Layla’s startled eyes flew to Kerry’s face. No one other than her family knew about her gift, so it wasn’t exactly something she was used to talking about.

“Don’t bug out.” She laughed. “I have second sight when I touch people, and Sam’s artwork carries her energy signature.” She shrugged and threw her hands up in mock defeat. “We’re a bunch of freaks. What can I tell ya?”

“Yeah.” Layla relaxed her shoulders, and a faint smile cracked her face. “I think that’s why I’m beginning to like you.”

She did like Kerry and appreciated her direct nature, because she needed more guessing games like a hole in the head. Both women were stunning, which was expected since Kerry was a model, but Sam was lovely in her own way. Samantha’s positive energy was inescapable, and she had an infectious smile. Against all odds, Layla felt surprisingly comfortable around them, and hope flickered at the edges of her mind.

“So, what do you see?” Sam asked with genuine curiosity. “You took Kerry’s pictures out in the bayou. Did you see anything different with her than you would see from a typical human?”

“Yeah.” Layla sighed and shoved her hands in the pockets of her jeans. “With most people, I get images, pictures, and emotions.” She scrunched up her face, searching for the right words. “It’s kind of like a silent movie that only I can see.” She glanced at Kerry, who was leaning against the banister and hanging on every word. “But when I took your picture, I saw your clan animal. The panther, right?”

“Yeah, girl.” Kerry nodded slowly and grinned. “Why didn’t you freak out and split?”

Layla shrugged. “I figured you were a hybrid like me, Raife, and Tati because your clan image was mixed with your human image. I saw both just like I always have with us.” She let out a slow breath and looked from Sam to Kerry. “I was afraid to say anything. I didn’t know if you even knew what you were, and I thought that if you
did
know, you might be linked up with other Amoveo. I didn’t want to rock the boat.” She cleared her throat. “But then William found me, and well… you know the rest. Come on.” She headed to the stairs, desperate to change the subject. “I’ll show you to your rooms.”

As they headed upstairs, Layla made a mental list of the sleeping arrangements. Dante and Kerry could have Tatiana’s old room, and Samantha and Malcolm could use her room. She knew that William would simply expect her to stay with him in his room, and given what they’d shared, she couldn’t blame him for assuming that. However, she needed some space and some time to get her bearings.

“Hey, everything okay?” Samantha asked, concern in her blue eyes. “You look like you’re going to puke.” She put one hand on her belly and grimaced. “Jeez. Your energy waves might make
me
puke but don’t take that personally,” she added quickly and put her palm against Layla’s arm reassuringly. “I think it’s the pregnancy. I’d gotten a pretty good handle on tuning out other people’s emotions, but ever since I got pregnant—all bets are off.” She made a face. “Is it us? I mean, having us here in your home? We did kind of invade your space.”

“No.” Layla gave her a friendly smile. “Well, I’m getting used to it.” Sam came right out and acknowledged that their presence might be uncomfortable for her. She liked them more by the second. “You’re here to help us, and I understand—about the energy waves—I mean,” Layla said as she opened the door to Tatiana’s room. “I noticed that my abilities are heightened since William found me.”

“Yeah,” Kerry snorted and took her bag into the room. “Just wait until you’re fully mated.” She wiggled her eyebrows. “Everything is heightened.”

“So what is it?” Sam asked with genuine interest. “What’s up? I mean aside from the obvious shit storm.”

“Well,” Layla began, “it’s just that Kerry and Dante will be staying in here.” She gestured around the room. “And I’m going to put you and Malcolm in my room.” She nibbled on her lip and shoved one hand through her curls. “So that means…”

“Oh,” Sam breathed as a look of realization washed over her face. She smiled and exchanged a knowing look with Kerry. “So you two haven’t… y’know.”

“We have… I mean… yes…” Layla’s face heated with embarrassment as she stumbled over her words. “We’ve had sex already.” Layla cringed. How could she have just blurted it out?

She couldn’t believe she was telling these women such personal things about herself and William. She shouldn’t be this comfortable with them so quickly, but she was. Maybe it’s because they were hybrids like her or because she’d missed having her sister around, but whatever the reason, she was grateful to have them to talk to. She was ready to go out of her mind, navigating the waters of her new life, and here were two women who had traveled the same bumpy seas. Who better to talk to?

“Hmm,” Kerry mused. “Do tell.” She elbowed Sam and winked. “I think we may have to whip up a pitcher of margaritas for this conversation.” She made a tsking noise and feigned annoyance at her friend. “Too bad you’re knocked up. Damn, girl, you’re spoiling all the fun.”

Smiling at their friendly banter, Layla walked out into the hallway and led them down to her bedroom. She swung the door open and was really glad that she’d taken the time to remake the bed and straighten out the room. She smiled. It would make Rosie proud.

She placed Sam’s bag on the bed and spun to face them. “Actually, scratch that previous answer.” Layla put her hands on her hips and sucked in a deep breath. “We didn’t just have sex, ladies. We had hot, sweaty sexplosions,” she said with more giddy excitement than she intended. To her relief, they didn’t look at her like a sex-craved, horny hellcat, but like they knew exactly what she was talking about. “Somehow, the thought that we’ll be sleeping in the same bed, sharing that space night after night… now… that is more intimacy than I’m used to,” she said through a fading smile.

“It’s a wild ride, and I’m
still
trying to figure it all out,” Samantha said through a smile. “Kerry and I didn’t even find out what we were, or who we were, until a couple months ago.” She sat on the edge of the bed and tucked one leg under her. “Malcolm tells me that you, Raife, and Tati have known since you were kids.”

“You mean you two
just
found out?” Layla fiddled with the bedpost. “Didn’t you notice you were different?”

“I did,” Kerry said, raising a hand as she flopped onto the bed and leaned on one elbow. “Before Dante and I found each other, I couldn’t touch another human being without blinding pain. Good times.” She gave two sarcastic thumbs up. “But once we connected, that all changed.” She shrugged. “A missing piece to my puzzle was finally found, and everything just slipped into place.”

“Your germ phobia, the one I read about in the papers, was a smoke screen.” Layla nodded slowly and smiled. “Good cover story.” She sat on the other side of the bed. “What about you, Sam?”

“I walked in the dream realm lots of times, but I didn’t really understand it until Malcolm and I connected. I’m impressed that Raife and Tati have been able to shift. Kerry and I didn’t shapeshift until after we were mated, so you really shouldn’t feel weird about this.” She reached out and took Layla’s hand. “It gets easier. Honest.”

Layla did feel better, and emotion tightened in her throat. “It already is.” She looked at the women in front of her. “I thought I was a freak because I couldn’t shapeshift, but Raife and Tati could. I have to admit, it makes me feel better to know that neither of you shifted until the guys found you.” She grimaced. “I hope that doesn’t sound horrible.”

“Actually.” Kerry narrowed her eyes. “I think we should tell Raife and Tatiana that they’re the freaks,” she said playfully. “What’s with them being able to shift before they’ve found their mates? They’re hybrids too.” She stuck out her lower lip in a dramatic pout. “Where’s a hybrid handbook when you need one?”

“But don’t you think this whole mate thing is some bizarre prearranged marriage?” She looked from Sam to Kerry. “Where’s our choice in all of this?”

Kerry raised her eyebrows. “Did William force himself on you?”

“No!” Layla insisted. “Not at all. It was most definitely mutual,” she said with a grin, but her brow furrowed as she tried to explain. “I’m not talking about the physical stuff. It’s the whole binding-to-each-other-for-life-thing. Didn’t you take issue with that?”

Both women nodded.

“It
was
unsettling,” Samantha said. “I think I was mostly freaked out by the overwhelming attraction I felt for Malcolm and the sudden onset of everything. My feelings for him were harder to wrap my brain around than the telepathy or shifting.” She turned her serious blue eyes to Layla. “Putting my heart on the line was the hardest choice to make, but at the end of the day it was
my
choice.” She rubbed her slightly rounded belly and smiled. “Best choice I ever made and I can’t imagine my life without him.”

“Ditto,” Kerry said. “Ditto to everything she said.” She pushed herself off the bed and latched her big brown eyes on Layla. “But, it’s
not
just about changes or sacrifices for
you
though.” Kerry got off the bed and wandered to the window as she surveyed the space casually. “It impacts William, too,” she said as she pushed the white curtain aside. “It already has.”

“I know,” Layla said, hoping she didn’t sound as defensive as she felt. Maybe this whole girlfriend thing was overrated. Layla shifted her position on the bed and looked from Samantha to Kerry.

“He’s in love with you,” she said without turning around. “In fact, I keep expecting one of the pigs from your barn to fly by.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Layla asked. Apprehension mixed with a touch of annoyance crawled up her back.

Kerry turned to face her, leaned back against the wall, and eyed her carefully. “It means that
he’s
already put his heart on the line, and we all know he’s damn well ready to put his life on the line for you.” Kerry waved one hand dismissively. “The life on the line thing—that’s not a big deal for these guys. They’d lay down their lives for each other and for us any day of the week… but William’s heart?” She scoffed. “I didn’t even think he had one, until I saw him on the porch this morning.”

“It’s true.” Sam nodded in agreement. “I barely recognized the man. The first time I met him he scared the shit out of me.” She giggled. “Kerry calls him ‘Iceman,’ but it would seem that you’ve melted good old Mr. Freeze.”

“I can’t be held responsible for his feelings,” Layla said quickly. “I’m having enough trouble with my own emotions. Besides, all I’m worried about right now is Rosie and finding out who in the hell put her in the hospital. Then once that’s settled, I want to go to the Council, so good old Bianca and I can have a chat. She has to answer for all of this, and I want her to answer for it in front of the Council—including the prince.”

“I don’t know,” Kerry said hesitantly. “The guys are pretty convinced that if Bianca kept you a secret all these years, it was because there are Purists on the Council. I don’t know how smart it is to stir up trouble like that.”

“You’re right. There probably are Purists on the Council.” A smile crept over her face. “I imagine if three hybrids came to a Council meeting… it would be mighty difficult for the Purists to keep their mouths shut. I don’t know about you ladies, but I’m tired of running.”

“Oh my God,” Samantha gasped. “That is brilliant. We force a situation where they have to reveal themselves?”

“Yup.” Layla looked back and forth between the two women. “The devil you know is better than the devil you don’t.”

“Good point,” Kerry agreed. “It would be a lot easier to defend ourselves if we actually knew who wanted us dead.” She narrowed her eyes. “Have you suggested this to William yet? I can tell you right now, he’s going to give you a hard time about picking a fight. Like I said… he loves you, and since you two haven’t completed the mating rite yet, your powers aren’t at full strength.”

“No. It’s not up to him.” Layla shook her head adamantly. “This isn’t about me. It’s about all hybrids, and if he doesn’t like it… well, that’s too damn bad. I make my own choices.”

Struggling to keep her conflicting emotions hidden from her new friends, Layla rose from the bed and opened the bathroom door.

“There are towels in here, but there are more in the closet at the end of the hallway. I’ll let you get settled,” she said abruptly. “I have to pack a bag to bring to Raife at the hospital. I’ll see you downstairs.”

Without another word, she left and shut the door behind her. She needed room to breathe, and Raife’s bedroom was the only one, other than Rosie’s, that wasn’t taken. She flung herself face first onto the bed and pulled a pillow over her head, but no matter how much she wanted to, she couldn’t block out what Kerry said.

William
was
in love with her. Hell—he had laid it all out on the table, and he’d already proven that she could trust him, even with her heart. Locked in the quiet solitude of her brother’s bedroom, she wondered why on earth he trusted her with his.

William didn’t want to come back to the Rustic Inn, but Layla had her tunnel vision set on taking those damned pictures for Tyler and his band. For the past few days, Raife refused to leave Rosie’s side but had at least agreed to additional help. Malcolm and Samantha had been spending much of their time at the hospital, keeping an eye out for anyone suspicious. Kerry and Dante patrolled the farm, but the attackers still hadn’t revealed themselves, and they weren’t likely to get any answers soon. When Rosie woke up, they hoped she’d tell them who it was.

The only thing that had gone well over the past few days was that everyone seemed to be getting along. Although Layla remained guarded, she was making an effort to get to know the others. Raife, Malcolm, and Dante had bonded over football, which was fine with William, as long as they didn’t make him discuss it too.

William watched Layla as she rifled through her camera bag and chatted with Tyler while the rest of the band set up for their performance. They had made so much progress, but since the others arrived, she seemed distant. He’d hoped she would come to him and share his bed, but she didn’t. She’d stayed in Raife’s bedroom and hadn’t come to him even in the dream realm. Although their energy signatures were still linked, she’d been shielding her mind from him, and had kept their telepathic communication to a minimum.

At first he was confused—but now he was just pissed.

“You know, you’re starting to resemble that miserable, cold bastard you used to be.” Kerry’s teasing voice interrupted his thoughts as she sidled up to him at the bar. “Margarita on the rocks, with salt,” she said to the bartender before turning her inspecting gaze back on William.

“What on earth are you talking about?” he said without taking his eyes off Layla.

“Really?” Kerry arched one dark eyebrow and made herself comfortable on the open bar stool next to him. “Are we going to play this game? I don’t have the time, patience, or inclination to wade through your alpha-male crap.” She nodded toward Dante, making his way through the thickening crowd. “I have Tarzan to deal with, so gimme a break,” she added playfully.

“She is infuriating.” William flicked his eyes to her briefly. “The woman is impossible to figure out, and I don’t know what I have to do to make her understand. She insisted on coming here tonight to take these damn pictures.” His mouth set in a firm line as he wrestled to keep his explosive feelings at bay. “The combination of intoxicated energy that will inevitably develop and the sound waves from the music are going to make it challenging to read the room, which will in turn, will make it difficult for me to keep her safe. She’s a stubborn, defiant, and hard-headed woman who baffles me at every turn.”

He cursed and threw back the rest of the vodka in his glass before slamming it down on the bar. He looked up to find Dante and Kerry smirking, clearly amused by his obvious frustration with his mate. William sat up straighter in his seat, pushed up the sleeves of his shirt, and loosened his collar as they continued to study him through amused expressions.

“Man, oh man, have you got it bad,” Dante said, smiling. “Your foul mood wouldn’t have anything to do with the fact that she’s been staying in a separate bedroom from you, would it?”

“Piss off,” William said as he kept his gaze fixed on Layla.

Dante was right on both counts. He did have it bad,
and
he was positively irked that she chose to sleep away from him. It wasn’t the lack of sex—although that admittedly sucked—it was the lack of her presence, and that was most unsettling of all. He missed having her next to him and feeling her heart beat in time with his, the steady pattern of her breathing as she slept… all of it… absent.

When she wasn’t with him, there was an empty space that only she could fill, and that was a new challenge. The only thing harder to accept was the fact that Layla didn’t seem to suffer from the same affliction.

“Yes,” he bit out. He glanced briefly at Dante and Kerry as he struggled to admit the truth. “I do have it bad, but
she
apparently
doesn’t
.”

“It’s funny.” Kerry laughed. “I never pegged you for a moron.”

“Excuse me?” William’s dark eyes flew to hers. “What did you say?”

“You can’t be so dumb and blind to think that she doesn’t love you?” Her eyes narrowed. “Can you?”

Kerry picked up her margarita and took a sip as she eyed him over the glass. William struggled with his growing annoyance, and if it had been anyone other than his friend’s mate, he would’ve told her to piss off too, but out of respect for his friend, he gave her a chance to finish.

“I guess you can.” Kerry made a sound of disgust. “She told me about how her mother went crazy and got all drugged up,
and
we heard about Raife and Tatiana’s mother too.” Kerry licked some salt off the rim of her glass. “You should’ve seen the look on her face when she heard what happened to my biological mother and Sam’s mother. I thought she was going to shift into her cheetah, run away, and join the circus.” She leaned one arm on the bar and put her drink down but kept her eyes fixed firmly on William’s. “Can you really blame her?” Her voice dropped to just above a whisper. “How can you fault her for being afraid?”

William watched Layla as she took test shots of the band, and he couldn’t help but notice the growing crowd. Her energy signature flowed thick with confidence and comfort as she worked in her wheelhouse and snapped pictures furiously. Every now and then, there would be a blip in her energy waves, and he knew it was from whatever psychic impressions she was getting through the digital shots.

It was the first time since Rosie’s attack that she seemed completely comfortable.

“No,” he said quietly. “I suppose I can’t.”

“She’ll come around.” Kerry stood up from her stool and gave William’s arm a squeeze. “But it has to be on her terms, William. If you push her, she’s just going to bolt.”

Dante stepped aside so Kerry could get by but gave her a quick kiss on the cheek as she escaped his grasp. William watched her walk over to Layla and whisper something in her ear before heading to the ladies room. She was right. Intellectually, he knew she was right, but his brain was overrun by his heart… and other parts of his anatomy.

“I spoke to Malcolm,” Dante said between sips of beer. “He and Samantha are headed back to the farm, but Raife is staying at the hospital again.” He glanced at Layla. “Malcolm said Rosie has made some progress, and they’re easing back on the sedation. She may be out of it by tomorrow.”

“Good,” William murmured. “Perhaps she’ll be able to tell us who attacked her.”

William could feel Dante’s eyes on him, studying him, while he in turn tracked Layla. “What’s on your mind, Dante?”

“You sure do have your hands full with Layla.”

William’s eyes flickered briefly to their clan form before latching onto Dante’s. “What does that mean exactly?” he asked in a low, deadly tone.

Much to his surprise, Dante burst out laughing and slapped the bar twice between guffaws. William looked at him as though he’d lost his mind. Red-faced with tears streaming down his cheeks, Dante wiped at his eyes as the laughter subsided, but William looked no less confused.

“I’m sorry,” he chuckled as he swiped at his eyes. “I just never thought I’d see the day that you’d be undone by a woman.” He let out a long sigh and took a pull of his beer. “I meant what I said. She’s a handful, man. And believe me, I know what I’m talking about because Kerry is the most spirited woman I’ve ever met, and my life will certainly never be dull with her.” He wiggled his eyebrows, but his smile faded when William remained unamused.

“Layla, Kerry, and Samantha want to confront Bianca in front of the rest of the Council. Their theory is that if the three of them call Bianca out for hiding hybrids, then it will rile up any Purists that might be on the Council.”

“Interesting,” William murmured. “What are your thoughts on this?”

“I think they’re absolutely right.” Dante took another swig of his beer. “If we go there with our hybrid mates and tell everyone what Bianca’s been up to… I can’t imagine that the Purists in the room will remain silent. We kill two birds with one stone. Layla gets to take Bianca to task, and we get our enemies to show themselves.”

The band broke into their first number with ear-shattering volume, and William instantly sought out Layla. She was down in front of the band, shooting from every angle she could get amid the swiftly growing dance mob and groupies. The bass beat thrummed through the small bar, and the wispy energy waves of the humans buzzed around the room like annoying flies that he couldn’t shake. In the middle of it all was Layla—as beautiful, elusive, and wild as ever.

As lead attorney for the Amoveo Corporation, he had direct ties to the Council and the prince. Attending the meeting wouldn’t be an issue, but he knew that the subject matter was likely to generate nothing but trouble. However, if it would give Layla peace of mind and resolution to speak with the Council, then he would do it.

“I’ll set it up.”

Dante stilled and kept his sharp amber gaze on William. “You’ll set what up?” he asked warily.

“The meeting.” William’s dark eyes locked with Dante’s. “We will take our mates to the Council and see if it gives us the results we’re looking for.”

“My sister, Mariana, took my father’s place, and she’s expressed concern about certain members on the Council. I don’t think she knows what to make of it, and since she’s new, she doesn’t say much in or out of the meetings.”

William watched as Dante struggled with the unpleasant memories and steeled himself against his rumbling energy waves. He still blanched at the fact that his own father had been a Purist and had tried to kill Samantha. William couldn’t imagine dealing with that kind of betrayal.

“I can’t believe she’s on the Council.” Dante shook his head and let out a short laugh. “She’s always fighting against the grain, y’know. The party girl who never wanted to grow up.” He sighed. “And now, she’s seated on the Council representing the Bear Clan.” He shook his head. “It’s bizarre.”

“Does she know?” William asked above the music. “Does she know about what Brendan—your father—did?”

“No,” he bit out. Dante’s jaw clenched, and he took a swig of his beer. “She thinks he died trying to protect Samantha, not kill her.”

William made a small sound of understanding but silently wondered if that impacted Marianna’s overall feeling about the hybrids. If she thought her father died in an effort to protect one, would she embrace their existence at all?

“I do have one lingering concern,” William confided. “Since Layla and I haven’t completed the mating rite, our powers aren’t as strong as I would like them to be.”

“You don’t even have to ask.” Dante cut him off before he could say another word. “We’ll have your back, just like you’ve always had ours.”

“Thank you.” William shook his hand firmly. “I’ll confirm the meeting time tomorrow.”

“What meeting?” Kerry asked as she draped one arm over Dante’s shoulders. Her dark eyes widened as she realized exactly what he meant. “Holy crap! We’re gonna do it. We’re going to the Council.” She threw her head back and let out a lusty laugh. “I freaking love it.”

“Good God, woman.” William’s brow knitted together in confusion as he watched Kerry’s reaction. “Can you please tell me what on earth is so funny?”

“
You
, that’s what.” She leaned over, snagged her drink off the bar, and took a sip. “A few weeks ago, the idea of stepping outside the box of your three-piece suit would’ve been totally unheard of. You were so uptight, if I shoved a lump of coal up your butt, I would’ve gotten a diamond in return.” She raised her glass in his direction and looked him up and down. “Now here you are, in a pair of jeans, no tie, hanging out in the middle of a loud hometown bar, planning on taking three hybrids into a Council meeting so your mate can confront the woman who’s been meddling with her life,
and
provoke any Purists to reveal themselves for the prejudiced bastards they are.” She let out a hoot, planted a kiss on Dante’s cheek, and grinned at William. “You, my friend, are finally likable, and you owe it to that spunky chick with the camera.”

“She’s right.” Dante stifled a laugh. “But I always liked you… most of the time.”

“Ah, bullshit.” Kerry bumped him with her hip. “You tolerated him, but
now
you like him.” She winked at William. “Just kidding, tough guy.” She grabbed Dante’s hands, pulled him out of the seat and up against her long form. “Come on, lover. It’s time to dance.”

William watched them hit the tiny dance floor, and memories of his dance with Layla came flooding back in living color. He reached to her with his mind, an instinctive reflex, but found that same mental barrier solidly in place. He cursed under his breath and flagged down Joyce for another drink. He had to do something to put out the combustible force of desire and frustration.

Joyce complied with a wink and made quick work of his drink, but before he could take another sip, a vaguely familiar tendril of dark energy slithered into the bar. William’s entire body tensed, and he instantly sought out Layla.

She stood in the midst of the crowd, but instead of shooting pictures of the band, her camera was aimed at the front door. She remained frozen in the throng of dancing bodies, the camera glued to her hands, her eye placed firmly at the lens, and her finger on the trigger. Her energy waves pulsed like rapid machine gunfire and hammered at William with vicious intensity as she kept her sights fixed firmly on her subject.

In a blur of inhuman speed, he cut through the crowd, and seconds later was standing at her side, along with Dante and Kerry. With one hand placed gently on her lower back, he sent her subtle waves of reassurance as he looked up to see what had her so transfixed.

Anger flared as his suspicions were confirmed. Sylvia Clark was back.

***

The shadowy tentacle of unpleasant energy had skittered over Layla and grabbed her by the throat with record speed. She knew it was Sylvia, but it was stronger, denser than it had ever been, and she’d picked up on it faster than ever. Layla had instinctively turned with her camera, poised and ready to shoot, but nothing could’ve prepared her for what she saw, and for the first time,
heard
through that lens.