Fang Chronicles: Zenya's Story (22 page)

***

No one complained when Nicolas and Zenya walked into the kitchen extremely late for the meeting. Zenya ignored the sniffing wolfs. Females of any beastkind species were a rare treat.

Talya spoke up. “The wolves are rude. Will you carry as a cat or human?”

“And that question isn’t rude?” Sheeba demanded.

Talya looked perplexed, “I want to know how long we need to wait for the birth.”

“I’ve been pregnant one day and haven’t solved all the problems in the universe.”

“I was only asking.” The young cat pouted.

Madayah set heaping plates of hot food on the table. “We have much to talk about, but will eat first.”

Vorlyk walked into the room and took a seat at the far end of the table out of the direct morning light. He looked to Zenya, “I hope you slept soundly.”

She blushed and everyone laughed.

Inquisitive eyes looked her way often, and Nicolas touched her every few minutes. She didn’t feel pregnant or any different than she had two days before. She also remembered she was angry with her mate for leaving her behind. She looked to the cats and wolves that had accompanied him. Esta had a brown smudge on the side of her face. “Is that blood?”

Esta didn’t look at all contrite when she answered, “Probably.”

“No more blood at the table, please.”

“Yes, Zenya.” With Esta’s lack of argument, the entire pack looked her way.

“You expect me to argue with a pregnant female?” She looked to her alpha. “She needs two bodyguards—one of which is a cat and one of which is a wolf. As your second, I’m requesting the duty.”

“Do I have a say?” Zenya let her annoyance come through.

“No.” Esta and Nicolas spoke at the same time.

He nodded his head. “The position is yours. Choose the wolf you want.”

Zenya looked to Esta with exasperation, “You know this means you won’t be able to leave on cat-killing duty.”

“The child is more important than any cat.” Esta’s eyes softened. “I will protect you with my life.” She turned to McDonald. “I would like you with me.”

He nodded his head. “Is there a particular reason?”

“Yes. You don’t speak much and won’t drive me crazy as fast as the other wolves.”

Silence met these words, then Sheeba giggled and everyone began laughing full out. Even Zenya couldn’t hold onto her sour disposition. She turned to Nicolas.

“I still need to protect myself and have no plans to miss self-defense training.”

“Then you plan to carry as a human?”

If so, gestation of the child would be nine months and be born as human before changing to its beast at around two weeks old. If she carried as cat, the time would shorten to approximately ten weeks. Beastkind rarely delivered as human.

“Argh. I need to think about it.” She looked to Sheeba. “Are you going to see Dr. Stevens next week?”

“I think one cub at a time would be safer. I have no problem waiting.” There was no sadness in Sheeba’s voice.

“Then I will deliver as cat, but I don’t need to change over completely for a few weeks.” Her eyes turned to Nicolas. “I will be practicing, as human, to defend myself until I change.”

“Whatever my mate wants.” He wouldn’t argue with her.

“Fine. You. In our bedroom. Now.”

“Yes, Zenya.”

No one laughed until they heard the bedroom door close.

Chapter Thirty-two

Columbus arrived at the gym, in the late morning, with ten of his wolves. He walked outside with Nicolas so they could talk.

Columbus smiled. “My wolves want to watch your cats.”

“They need to. It helped us in the fight yesterday.”

“They were impressed, and I think a little afraid of Esta.”

“I can appreciate that. Esta is my second for a reason.”

“I think it was eating the cat’s balls that did it.”

Nicolas smiled, but didn’t correct Columbus. If his wolves told their alpha she ate the balls then he wouldn’t say differently. They knew she would have if he hadn’t stopped her.

His crotch ached with the thought. “Vorlyk needs a cat alive if the opportunity arises.”

“Is there a specific reason?”

“He can take their memories if he touches them.”

“Then we need to find him a cat. It would help greatly to know about the Canadian cats and if they plan to help our enemy.”

“I agree.”

“So, daddy, how is your mate?” Columbus teased.

“The next couple of months can’t come fast enough. She’s wearing me out.”

Columbus laughed. “Stop bragging. You love every minute of it.”

“Yes, I do.” Nicolas looked away for a moment. “You know our enemies control other females?”

Columbus stopped laughing. “I’m sure they do.”

“They torture, burn, and disfigure their women and cut the limbs off children. We need to rescue as many as possible.”

“We are outnumbered as it is. Do you really think it wise?”

Frustration burned in Nicolas’s eyes. “Do we have a choice?”

“No.” Columbus looked away.

“If we can hold off full-out war until after my child is born, I want to take a team into South America, and I’d like to ask Dmitri for his assistance.”

Columbus nodded, “He will loan you bears, but he won’t risk leaving his clan without a vampire.”

“A couple of bears could make a huge difference.”

“I agree. Will you take female cats?”

“Esta is guarding Zenya full time now. I don’t know if she’ll come. Only Nikka would be ready.”

Columbus glanced toward the gym door. “I need to see what your cats can do.”

“Then let’s join the others.”

Asia was in the ring with Esta. As Columbus’s second and his brother, the wolf might be an even match. He had a long furrow down the side of his face; Esta had a swollen eye and she looked pissed.

“No killing,” Nicolas reminded her.

Before she spoke up, Asia answered, “I’ll try not to.” His eyes glowed with self-assurance.

Esta shifted and had him flat on the mat with her teeth at his throat a split second later. “Stupid wolf.”

“Just leave my balls where they’re at, please.” Asia was careful not to meet the cat’s eyes and challenge her any further.

She shifted back to human and put out her hand staring at the appendages in question. “I think they’ve receded far enough to be safe for the moment.”

“I think you’re right.” He took the proffered hand and stood.

Bernard walked up to Nicolas. “Do you mind if I take Sheeba and any additional wolves or cats that are interested to practice knife work?”

“It’s a good idea. See if my mate will go?”

“No, your mate wants to fight hands on.” Zenya’s voice held defiance.

“Did you have someone in mind?” Nicolas carefully answered back.

“If I choose you, will you try to hurt me?”

His mouth thinned. “No.”

“Then I think I’ll fight one of Columbus’s wolves.”

“I doubt they’ll hurt you either.”

“Then their balls had better recede quickly.” Zenya stared directly into her mates eyes.

“What have you done with our mild-mannered, shy she-cat?” Columbus asked, unable to hide his grin.

Nicolas shrugged his shoulders. “I have no idea who you speak of. I’ve never known a she-cat like that.”

The wolves looked uncomfortable.

Columbus looked around until his eyes landed on one particular wolf. “Nelson, you’re up. If you hurt her, her mate will beat you black and blue. If you don’t defend yourself, we’ll have another female in the clan.”

The young wolf stepped to the ring looking uncomfortable. “Why me, alpha?”

“Amy said you were poking around a she-wolf a few months before she’s available.”

“She’ll be twenty-one in two months.”

“And you’ll stay away from her until then. Are we clear?”

“With no balls, I won’t have a choice.”

“That’s true.”

“I’ll go easy on you, Nelson,” Zenya said.

“Then Columbus will just find another punishment. Let’s get this over with.”

They obviously knew each other, and Nicolas worked hard to control his jealousy. He realized Zenya did it on purpose and continued to be angry with him for not taking her along to fight. He had a feeling they would all have a chance to fight eventually. He silently asked the goddess for a few months of peace.

Zenya’s body hit the mat with a loud thump. Nicolas clenched his fists. She sprung up and avoided a roundhouse kick. Nelson obviously held back the force of his blows, but Zenya was no seasoned fighter. As the match went on, she let her frustration show. She managed to take a bite out of the wolf’s arm after changing to cat, but he wore her down and her feet dragged.

“Enough.” Nicolas barked.

“I’m not finished.” She spoke into his head.

“You are finished. He’s trying not to hurt you, but accidents happen and I don’t want to kill him.”

She leapt from the ring and barreled out the door. Esta and McDonald immediately took off after her.

Nicolas didn’t follow, thinking the running would do her good and save him, for a short time, from the verbal beating she was dying to deliver his way.

***

Zenya let her cat free. Her bodyguards wouldn’t stop her anytime soon, but it was important she remain safe. And though her mate didn’t see it, she wasn’t stupid. She’d survived the cats in order to rescue Nicolas. They hurt her, raped her, and made her feel helpless. Her mate took that feeling to a new level, and unfortunately she understood. He couldn’t help who he was or stop his irritating habit of being alpha at all times.

Her breathing became short pants after several miles of running full out.

“Will you speak with us Zenya?”

She stopped beside a stream of water and shifted, sitting down on the warm rocks to catch her breath. Esta and McDonald shifted, too, and waited until she had her breathing under control.

Esta spoke first, “You need to be able to defend yourself.”

“If no one can hurt me then how will I learn?”

“McDonald and I will work with you. We can’t hurt you badly, but I think a little pain will go a long way.”