Therian Promise(49)
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Ava sank back into the corner of the couch, stunned and nearly numb from all the things her sister had told her. “It all sounded ridiculous when Jake told me about it, but you’ve confirmed everything he said.”
“Do you understand why Mother ran? What Osric and Sam Collins did to her?”
Drawing her legs up before her, Ava wrapped her arms around her knees. “She was terrified and resentful and they still forced her to endure the blood ritual.”
“Osric only knows enough about the Omni Prime to be really dangerous. What happened to Mom was nothing like what happened to me.”
“I know.” Ava smiled. “I saw enough in my vision to understand the difference.”
“Why didn’t you tell me you were having visions?” Carissa sounded hurt.
“Would you have believed me?”
“Probably not. My concept of reality has been significantly changed since I met Quinn.” A dreamy smile bowed her lips for a moment then she refocused and said, “You’ve seen Kyle shift and you’ve experienced power exchanges. Do you still have questions about any of this?”
Ava laughed and tucked her hair behind her ear. “I still have questions about all of this, but I know I’m not human. I started feeling different as soon as Kyle touched me.”
“Are you two lovers?”
“I don’t know what we are. Lovers seems too simplistic, too casual for how I feel when I’m with him. He says we’re ‘in sync’. Do you know what that means?”
Carissa nodded, a contented smile lingering on her lips. “Quinn and I synchronized almost from the beginning. It’s a little frightening at first, but it’s wonderful too.”
A musical chime echoed through the house, drawing their gazes to the front door. “Jake wouldn’t ring the bell. It might be Enya.”
“I thought she went to comfort her sister.”
They both stood but neither approached the door. Someone tried the knob then Ava heard the scrape of a key slipping into the lock. The visitor had a key, so why was her heart still pounding? She glanced toward the kitchen and the deck beyond. Should she call for Kyle? Wouldn’t it be better to— The door pushed inward and a young brown-haired woman paused in the threshold.
“Hi.” She looked at Carissa and Ava with obvious reluctance. “This is my day to clean. Should I come back?”
Before Ava or Carissa could respond, the maid was shoved inward and a burly man kicked the door shut. Brown, copper and gold combined in his longish hair and his jaw was shadowed as if he hadn’t shaved for a couple of days.
“Have a seat.” He motioned the maid toward a chair with the pistol in his right hand then his cold hazel eyes shifted back to the sisters. “Which one of you is Ava?”
“I am.” Carissa stepped forward before Ava could speak.
Kyle, we have an armed visitor. Can you hear me? She couldn’t drag her gaze away from the gun in his hand.
We’re already in position, love. Just play along.
She wasn’t alone. No, they weren’t alone. Carissa was no longer her only companion. “She’s trying to protect me. I’m Ava.”
The intruder glared at the maid. “Which one is which?”
“Don’t know either of them.” She seemed remarkably composed being that she was an armed man’s hostage. Unless she wasn’t human. Was she waiting for the right moment to shift into something more dangerous? Like a tiger?
“Who are you?” Carissa asked the intruder.
“I’m Ava’s mate.” He smirked. “She just doesn’t know it yet.” Without shifting the gun from Carissa, he looked at Ava. “Get over here or your sister dies.”
“You’re too late,” Ava insisted. “Kyle claimed me last night.”
His nose twitched and his eyes narrowed. “His scent isn’t strong enough. He might have fucked you, but you’re still unclaimed.”
“If you say so.” What were the men waiting for? Her stomach was knotted and sweat beaded her upper lip.
“To me. Now.” His eyes gleamed as he parted his lips, displaying his elongated fangs.
Kyle had said to play along, but the stranger’s weapon was pointed at Carissa. Ava took a slow step forward then stopped. “Let them go and I won’t fight you.”
He laughed. “Get your ass over here or I’ll shoot them both and teach you to obey. You’re still latent, which means you’re no match for me.”
“But I am.” Carissa dove for the floor, shredding her clothes as she released her human form.
The stranger fired, but the bullet flew high, missing Carissa by at least a foot. Carissa’s feline body was sleek and black with vivid white stripes.