Changeling Winds: Episode Two (The Bachelor Battles Book 2) (28 page)

“Then, I’m sorry. We can’t be exclusive.”

“You hope for a match, too! What the hell is it with everyone here?” Sam growled.

Baker answered her without embarrassment in his voice.

“My services can only be claimed by someone who wants the same. Until then, I’ll stay on the renter’s sheet.”

Sam’s eyes lightened into brilliant pink. “Do I meet the requirements for that?”

Baker leered openly, no longer pretending to be anything other than what he was - a man. “If you’ll wear the cuffs, and I do what I think you need.”

Her eyes flashed again, deeper red this time, and Baker swept her up against his bare chest in response.

Sam’s arms went around his neck in a slow movement that made Baker lean in invitingly “Are you sure, Sam? I’d make a good match.”

She smiled softer than any of us had ever seen, eyes sliding into black. “You’d make a great match, Baker, and you know it. But that’s not my market.”

Sam slowly retreated from his big arms. “I want the Network gone from the future. Right now, that’s all I’m willing to see.”

“And after we take them down?”

He was pushing her again, making sure his scent went over her, and I realized he was still teaching - showing his males how to get what they needed.

“I haven’t thought that far ahead.”

Sam was clearly on the defensive and Baker shrugged, backing off.
To come in from a different angle?

“You
wanna
shop through the other bachelors before you make a choice,” Baker guessed.

Sam didn’t lower her head. “Yes. I have my own list of requirements.” She turned from him. “And, so do my Runners.”

Implying the other females
were
hoping for a match as well. It was a very interesting setup Baker and Candice had going here. Is this what it would be like at the Safe Zone? My flare of jealousy was instant.

“Thank you for considering me.”

Sam laughed. “You’re sitting comfortably at the top right now, Baker. And you know it, so get on with the next lesson already.”

There was laughter all around as we realized there was something growing between those two. They may think it was all sexual banter or teaching, but the emotions had been clear to the rest of us.

Angelica met my eye across the room, hers lightening a bit. I felt my pulse increase when she moved to take her sister’s place as the next teaching subject.

Candice waved at the few rebel males still willing to try after being humiliated by Sam. There were only three, but one of them was the hulking man I usually saw at Daniel’s side. He kept his chocolate gaze on Angelica’s, a welcoming smile on his lightly scarred face…

I stood up. “Can I try?”

The hall went silent as we stared at each other. Tension sparked and Angelica’s eyes glazed over with control that I was suddenly determined to rip from her in front of all these men. I wanted them to know that she felt the same for me, that she already had a service provider.

Baker waved the other males back, and I slowly entered the fighting ring with my Changeling... Mine?

She could be
, I thought, now trying to ease into her space like I’d seen Baker doing. If I gave up my dreams of a family, she would make an agreement with me right here and now, one I doubted she’d ever break.

“Have you enjoyed the lessons?”

I nodded, seeing her black orbs, the relaxed stance. “It’s been educational.”

Angelica gave me a challenging smirk, a short mirror of her Games grin. “You ready to learn something new?”

She moved fast, dipping in to slide against my hard body, and then darting back. I’d felt her hand moving, but didn’t realize what she’d done until my shirt fell to the mat.

“Sometimes, you meet a Changeling who knows her limits and uses them,” she instructed, still wearing that slight smirk.

Her hot gaze went over my bare skin and I couldn’t stop the pause in my step. Not a bit of that leer was faked for the class.

Angelica circled me, padding closer with each step, and I reacted as if it was Rankin - it was the only way I could fight with Angelica. I lunged for her, dragging us to the mat.

Not above fighting dirty, I let our bodies rub, let my hands touch places they shouldn’t, and was rewarded by being able to flip her onto her back and straddle her hips. With my hands holding her wrists, there was little I could do but hold on as she bucked.

“Use those legs!” Angelica snapped.

I did, tightened my grip on her body, and was able to free a hand by using my entire torso to pin both of her hands between us.

I brought my imaginary knife to her throat.

“Very good.”

I was instantly addicted to the praise. I started to stand so we could do it again, and Angelica rolled us, hands pinning me in place. Realizing this lesson wasn’t over, I started struggling again.

“Legs!”

I brought mine up to her waist, and then went higher, aiming for her chest. As I wrapped around her, I rolled, taking that top position back.

She shoved upward with her hands, knocking me back and away, and I gained my feet quickly.

Angelica was already on hers, stalking toward me, and I tried a move I’d seen one of the others use before she got here. I slipped under her arm and lifted her up. Before I could slam us to the mat, she spun out of my hold and flipped over my back.

Her hands came around to put the tips of her fingers against my throat. If this had been a real fight, I would be dead.

Her fingers moved and I didn’t wait. I turned and lunged, taking us to the mat.

The hall was quiet as everyone watched the lesson Angelica was delivering. I absorbed as much of it as I could, still trying to see Rankin in my mind. We struggled against each other and Angelica’s eyes remained that flat black the whole time. Everyone knew she had a spark for me and it was impressive to see her put it aside, where even her sister hadn’t been able to.

It also made me mad, more determined to draw a reaction from her. I didn’t realize it had, until the lesson was already over.

Chapter Eighteen

Jason

By the time Angelica was done with me, I was winded, bruised, and bleeding lightly from a few scratches. Her claws were hard to escape when she brought them out.

Her eyes hadn’t flickered once, and I turned to look at her as Candice and Daniel took back over the lesson, demonstrating the moves they’d seen used - reminding us of them so we would remember.

Angelica headed for the door, but turned back to find me staring after her in confusion. I was very glad for the lesson she’d given, but… didn’t she feel that spark for me anymore? I’d blasted her with a lot of the things that I
knew
had an effect. How had she managed to resist without even a pink flicker? Had she chosen one of these males to be her mate? Was I replaced?

She knew what I was thinking… and she didn’t like my pain.

 
Her eyes slowly lightened to a brilliant shade of pink that I hadn’t seen yet… and then kept going. It was mesmerizing, watching her let those levels of heat show. Vivid red streaks flared through the pink, changing, merging it with full crimson.

The others were waiting for her to snap now, realizing, as I was, that she
had
been effected and strongly, but I also understood she was trying to show us something.

Her muscles were expanding, slowly growing, starting to tear the clothes, and the mutters became louder. I didn’t look away, fascinated by the way Angelica was gradually flipping for me, letting me see her in all her Changed forms. Her hair shot out, racing down her back… I had the sudden urge to grab her and see if it was still as soft.

She picked up on my interest, my lack of fear, and gave me a soft smile that didn’t fit with that Changed body and those glowing crimson orbs.

“I couldn’t do this before. You make my control stronger.”

Her eyes faded to black, and she sank back down into the Angelica we all knew. Her head turned toward our audience as she finished the lesson proudly.

“I’m a level one, or maybe this makes me a level two now, I’m not sure, but the point is, if I can do it, so can the rest of the Changelings.”

Her gaze returned to me, went over my face with a caring I was surprised she let them see. “If we want to, we can learn not to hurt men.”

She wanted me to help these cringing rebels, to add another layer of the encouragement they needed to keep growing. I gave it willingly. “We have to teach them that they do want it, that we’re worth it, even if they have to give up some of the things they’ve gotten used to - like hurting us.”

Knowing that story would spread fast, I followed Angelica from the shocked area. I didn’t know where she was going, but it didn’t matter. I was in awe of her. She’d used her curse, the Change, to show me I’d always be safe with her and I was almost desperate to give something in return. After a few more lessons like today’s, I might even be able to hold out against Rankin long enough to kill her! I owed Angelica so much for the things she’d already given, but even more for what the future might see.

“Angel…”

I wasn’t prepared for her desperation in her words, as she stopped.

“Will you still help me pick through the rebels?”

My heart dropped and I made myself answer. “Yes.” I forced the confused hurt back to talk. “When do you want to do it?”

“Baker’s getting a group of them together now.”

I saw it suddenly, how she would lean close while they froze, scenting them in hopes of finding someone who drew her as strongly as I did.

Jealousy, fierce and stabbing, shot out of my mouth. “You don’t need me there for that!”

I was suddenly furious, but her tone was almost pleading.

“I need you there… for comparison.”

My fury grew tighter, but instead of refusing, I thought about all the control she’d just shown in order to provide something that I needed.

“Fine,” I ground out. It would be an hour long reminder that these men would give her an arrangement without kids… or anything else she wanted. They would deny her nothing, and I still held back the one thing she seemed to need most - me.

I thought of the Runner’s words to Greg -
“Be sure. I own. I don’t rent!”
- And then of my impression that the woman wanted a match and not a contract. Despite her words, I already knew she would end up being Greg’s willing slave if he wanted it. The Runner was infatuated, and their agreement would likely stand for a long time.

Angelica knew my thoughts. She kept an even tone, but pink flickered at me in heavy, pleading waves. “If you’d still like to speak of a compromise, I’d listen now.”

She turned for the next tunnel and moved out of sight before my mouth could betray me. Footsteps came, Baker’s, and I just stood there! Why didn’t I give in? In time, like with Greg and his new owner, I could convince her to have kids... But, it wasn’t the same if she was forced to give me that and I felt the difference keenly. I should, I’d spent our time together on the other side of it.

Baker stopped by me, understanding I was having a revelation.

“After that demonstration, she is now the most wanted Pruett here. They
asked
me to set up another line before we leave, if she doesn’t pick someone now. What is your problem?”

His tone demanded the truth, and I spilled part of it with one word. “Rankin.”

Baker stared at me for a long moment before finally confirming the fears. “Angelica will kill her. Don’t you know that?”

I shook my head, admitting the root of that terror. “She can’t die for me, Baker. You have to stop that from happening.”

“It’s not for you, Jason.”

Candice and Daniel had entered the corridor without me noticing.

Daniel’s tone was harsh. “It’s for every one of us Rankin has tortured. Many of those here were also her… picks, like you.”

Daniel’s head lowered in shame. “And me.”

I stared in shock. I hadn’t known.

“We loath her, think about killing her, but it’ll take a Changeling for that.
Your
Changeling.”

I would have denied it to anyone else, but Daniel and I knew the same terrors in the night. We’d held the same hopes of escape… and the same fears of becoming attached to our captor - I could feel it on him. Even after his time with Candice, it was still there, lurking. Did she know? Did it make Candice eager to fight the Network, so that she might have a shot at Rankin?

No, I realized. They were depending on Angelica for that. And they were sure she would win. I didn’t catch a hint of doubt, of worry for their youngest family member. All I saw was confidence in a fellow Pruett.

“She’ll do it because they’re for
freedom
.”

Baker’s voice was moving away, heading in to moderate the newest possible match. It was clear he was eager.

“That is what you asked for, wasn’t it?
Freedom?”

“How can I be free, if she owns me?”

Baker’s response was curt, impatient. “Considering the brand on your arm and your current state of no rules, I’d say it would be a lot like it is now.”

The rebel leader snorted impatiently at me. “Do you think she’ll be different? Chain you up? Beat you?”

I quickly shook my head. “No.”

“Then you’re worrying over a future that can’t even happen until we take down the Network. After that, we’ll have the vaccine and your children can grow up normal.”

They left me standing there with those words beating around in my brain. It was something I hadn’t thought about, even though I’d been there for the negotiations with the lepers. When the Network fell, we would control
all
of the vaccine. Our kids could be born immune. The life I wanted with Angelica was entirely possible… if we took down the Network. If we lost, we’d all be dead anyway and it wouldn’t matter.

It was a terrifying revelation, but also a liberating one. I had nothing to lose by spending time with Angelica, bonding with her, and everything to gain by staying close and in the fight.

My feet moved me away from the mate-picking area. I felt her in there, waiting for me to do as I’d said, but with these dangerous thoughts beating in my brain, I needed to see something first, to confirm a last doubt.

I moved toward the female tunnels, wondering if my being here would put me in danger from the few Runners who’d chosen to rent a male. None of the tunnels here had any light except for the corn candles set into carved holders spiked to the walls, and the feeling was eerie.

The cloth door was open, as were most of those around me, providing a variety of sights that sent heat into my cheeks.

I tapped gently on the stone.
“Anyone in?”

There was a giggle, followed by a low male growl and I peered around the corner reluctantly.

“Why did you pick me?”

It was usually the males who asked that question, and I moved back out of sight to listen. I respected the pretty-boy - Greg had chosen his mate - and I wanted a confirmation from him.

“You’re different, you make me feel things I never have, and… I won’t need the drugs.”

I eased out of the room and closed the door as sexual tension flared behind me. I would have thought he’d be bleeding by now, but it sounded like they were taking the time to know each other first. That was what I needed with Angelica - to know her better and to let her know the real me.

“And I won’t need the drugs.”

Neither did
I
. That one tiny thing, the physical reaction, was what made the choice in attraction, in immunity. How frustrating nature was to hide something so complex inside something so simple! And how amazingly hard to know if that reaction was lust, or the awareness of something more, hoping to be given the chance to grow.

I moved back down the tunnels with my mind full of discoveries, finally starting to understand that the future I wanted most was possible. Baker was right. Angelica would never chain me or hold me against my will - and I would be loved. She might not think she was capable of it, but after everything I’d seen from her and her strangely wonderful family, I knew better. She would be my slave if I wanted, as Rosa would be in time to Greg if he needed it of her.

“But I won’t ask for that.”

I ignored the reactions of those few around to hear, no longer caring about the danger. These were Pruetts, I was safe… but was I ready to let Angelica know I was hers for the taking?

Yes. Baker and Greg, along with my own eyes, had given me the last of the clues I needed to be able to agree to what she needed. We didn’t have to be apart anymore…

I swung the curtain open to the matching session, ready to declare myself.

Angelica

I swallowed a groan as the curtain opened and yet another willing male moved into the room. The smells of them were torment. Just because I wanted only Jason, didn’t mean their interest wasn’t flaring along my nerves like flames.

Baker had them staying back, and I was sitting in the center of the floor, with the note-writer that Jason had recorded the list into. I opened it with steady hands and a hurting heart.

“If you hear something on my list that you don’t like or fit, please leave,” I began. I understood that Jason wasn’t going to help me with this and I didn’t blame him for it.
In his shoes…

I sighed, scanning his notes.

Black hair - long

Size - big

Beard

Add 25 pounds?

Sense of humor

Courage - follow instincts when alone

Smell good

No kids – big problem

Hates the Network

Knows she’s burning up - how can I help when she won’t take a service?

Hunt with them - check out family - who gets me?

Remission

No friends -
Pure

I started with the one he’d underlined, knowing that only for him, would I ever budge on it. “I won’t have kids.”

There was a small exodus, where I let out the breath I’d been holding. I was afraid they were all so determined to be with a Pruett that they would sacrifice their own desires and I couldn’t have that.