Favored by Felix (8 page)

No. There was a green man standing in a
copse of trees outside the resort. His clothing was a bit weird, since he wore
a pink cloth to cover his masculine equipment and that was all.

Casey moved closer to Felix and whispered. “There’s
a man hiding in the trees outside the fence. You’ll have to look carefully
because he blends well with the pink and green foliage.”

Felix shifted his body and scanned the area
she’d indicated. “Can’t see anything.” His nostrils flared when he sniffed the
air. “I can smell something though. It’s almost a gamey scent.”

“He didn’t look like one of your employees.”

“We’d better get supplies to fix the hole,”
Felix said. “I should’ve brought something with me, but I didn’t think I’d need
to fix a hole again so soon.”

“It’s a pretty spot. You want me to stay
here to guard the breach?”

“Sure, enjoy the sun, but don’t get tempted
to go exploring. Okay? I don’t like the idea of strangers around the resort.”

“I’m a soldier. I know how to defend
myself.”

Felix frowned, but he paused to give her
one of his lazy, toe-curling kisses. Talk about racking up memories. The
thought drove away the pleasure of the moment, and she was glad when he strode
off to retrieve tools. She didn’t want him to witness the pain in her, the way
her lips and chin started to tremble, despite her attempt to hold them in a
firm line.

She sat on the soft grass, crossed her arms
and rocked herself while focusing on the spot where she’d sighted the man.

A sharp chirp to her right, a scuffle in
the long pink grasses, ripped her gaze off the fixed point. She scanned the
ornamental grasses, caught the glitter of a big brown eye. A delicate paw poked
out from the plants, followed by a nose—not pointed but quite flat.

The muscles of Casey’s stomach tightened,
but she remained still. Was it one of those zylon creatures? Eva had seen one.
She’d attempted to pet it but a huge black cat had grabbed and killed the
creature seconds before Eva could stroke the zylon’s soft-looking fur. She’d
read the warning signs inside their bungalow, seen the picture of the creature,
but they looked so cute.

“Aw, you’ve got babies.” Every instinct
urged her to pet one and coo over it, which proved how off-balance she’d
become. Maybe she had a budding death wish?

Death by fluffy creature or personality
wipe by nanotechnology?

Decisions. Decisions.

“Casey, don’t make any sudden moves. It
makes them pounce.” Felix’s calm voice came from behind her. She kept her gaze
fixed on the creatures and waited. Apparently the gods didn’t want her to die
today.

Without warning, a huge black cat pounced
and grabbed the biggest zylon. The creatures let out squawks of alarm and fled
for the safety of the grasses. The black cat was quicker though, and it
dispatched every zylon before a single one escaped.

Then the cat turned its gaze on
her
.

Casey flinched but didn’t bolt, as her
brain urged to do. Instead, she stared into the vivid green eyes.

Maybe death was on her agenda for today
after all.

Felix stared at Casey, his heart pulsing so
fast he thought it might bound out of his chest. He called up his human form
and shifted, leaping at Casey as soon as he could and hauling her to her feet.
His hands went up and down her body. He checked her bare legs for signs of
blood.

“Did it bite you?”

“No, you—that was
you
.” Her mouth
worked, but no more sound emerged.

He waited, wary, part of him terrified she’d
find his dual nature unpalatable. Some women couldn’t deal with the fact their
mates became huge hairy beasts on a whim.

“You…” she said again. “You have two forms?”

“I’m a feline shifter, sweetheart.” He drew
closer, and when she didn’t scream, he indulged his need to hold her. Fuck, he’d
nearly expired when he saw the zylon with her pups. The creatures were
cantankerous at the best of times, but became ultra-aggressive if they thought
their pups were in danger.

“The rest of your family…?”

“Yes, and a lot of our employees too.”

“Your mother?”

“No, not my mother. Her parents were both
shifters, but for some reason she has never been able to shift. Our father
passed on the gene to us.”

“And you’ll pass the ability on to your
children?”

“
Our
children,” Felix said, the idea
pleasing him immensely.

“I-I don’t think I’ll ever have children.”

Something in her expression warned him not
to push and she appeared fragile, shadows in her eyes hinting at her emotional
turmoil. Damn. He’d thought after a good night of sleep she might share her
inner demons.

“What’s wrong, sweetheart?”

“You’re naked. Someone might come along and
see.”

“It would only be an employee. They’re used
to seeing me in this state.”

She plucked at the hem of her dress, her
body tense in his arms. Hell, whatever was wrong, he’d fix it because the more
time he spent with her, the more he liked her. He wanted to spend the rest of
his life making her happy. Sure, it had only been a few days, but as Ma said,
the mind knew what the mind knew. His parents’ courtship had been equally
rapid, and they’d had many happy years together until a motor vehicle accident
had stolen their father.

“Casey, you can tell me anything. Let me
help.”

“I have to leave tomorrow.” Her voice was
hoarse and it wobbled on the edge of tearful.

“Stay.”

“I can’t. I have to report for duty.”

Felix nuzzled her neck, breathing in her
familiar scent, the whiff of their earlier lovemaking. There was no way in hell
he’d let her leave the resort or his suite tomorrow and if he had to, he’d tie
her to his bed to prevent her departure. She mightn’t realize it yet, but they
belonged together. They’d deal with the consequences. His family would help.

Time to change the subject and divert her
mind from thoughts of separation.

“Did you see the man again?”

“No, just the zylon. You weren’t gone for
long.”

The tension seeped from her muscles as they
chatted, and she leaned into his body, a fact that pleased him.

“Why don’t you alarm the fence?” she asked.
“You could rig a silent alarm and perhaps catch the person responsible for
cutting holes. It can’t be the man I saw, though, because the way the fence
material is cut suggests the opening was made from the inside.”

“Which points to one of our employees,”
Felix said. “Scarlett should be able to come up with an alarm system, and you
and I can install it tonight.”

“It might take longer than that to design
and install—”

“Scarlett is a whiz with technology. There
is nothing my sister can’t do, and I’m a fair hand with anything mechanical.
Between us, we’ll sort it. Let’s get this fence mended, and get back to see
Scarlett.”

He turned her head, tried to claim a swift kiss.

“You are not kissing me again, Felix,”
Casey said, her nose wrinkling in distaste. “I saw what you did to those zylon.
You need to clean your teeth before you come anywhere near me with that mouth.”

Felix grinned, cheered despite missing out
on a proper smooch with his lady. Her imperious manner rated several grades
above her previous despondency. Things were looking up.

* * * * *

“Casey!”

Without warning, Casey found herself in her
aunt’s perfumed embrace once more, and it felt like coming home. After a brief
introduction to Felix and his family, they were left alone to visit. She
blinked back the sting of tears and held on to her aunt’s curvy frame.

Elsa was half a head shorter than Casey,
and dressed in one of the designs they’d worked on together last solar year. She
wore a pair of her special shoes to match the delicate blue of her calf-length
gown.

“It’s so good to see you, child.” Elsa
pulled back and her happy smile faded. “Are you ill? You don’t look good. You’ve
lost weight. You’re obviously not sleeping. I thought a few days at the resort
with Eva would be good for you.”

Casey couldn’t meet her aunt’s concerned
gaze. Shame filled her, her mind too exhausted to spin a credible story.
Self-loathing struck at the idea of lying to her beloved aunt, the woman who’d
championed her since a child and given Casey every memorable moment in her
life, some interests to fill the yawning gaps in her days.

She couldn’t do it.

“The general has arranged nanotechnology for
me once I report back to duty,” she blurted before she could stop herself.

An appalled expression slammed over her
aunt’s face. “To do what?” she demanded.

“A sex change.”

“Low-down slimy
millock
worm!” her aunt
snarled. “And you’ve agreed to this?”

“I wasn’t given much choice,” Casey said, averting
her gaze in shame.

“But it’s
your
life! What did he
say?”

“He said I couldn’t progress any higher in
the ranks because I’m female. I’m too weak, both physically and mentally.”

“No, not that. What
threats
did he
issue?”

“He said if—if I didn’t go ahead with the
transformation, he’d disown me and make sure I was demoted to the troops. He
said I’d lose everything.”

“You can come and live with me,” her aunt
said. “I love you, child. I think of you as my daughter.”

“The general knows that. He said if I went
to you, he’d destroy your business.” He’d also intimated he’d send in black ops
to take her aunt out, but Casey couldn’t tell her aunt.
Scurvy sky pirates
,
she couldn’t fathom even the general stooping that low.

“The man is a
millock
maggot,” Elsa
snapped. “I suspected he had something similar done to your mother. She
transformed practically overnight. That was before you were born. He’s
not
going to do that to you,” she said in a fierce tone. “I suppose he even has a
name picked out for you.”

“Arthur,” Casey said in a faint tone.

“
Gah!
Isn’t that one of his middle
names?”

Casey nodded, unable to speak past the ache
in her throat.

“Have you told that young man of yours what
your father intends to do? You’re not going to go through with it.” Elsa
gripped her forearms and squeezed to the point of pain. “Casey, no matter what
the general says, you are perfect now. You will not give in to his blackmail.
Did you tell your young man?”

“I’ve only known him a few days.”

“Rubbish, that man is halfway in love with
you. It won’t take much effort on your part to push him the rest of the way.
You have feelings for him. Don’t deny it. I saw it on your face when you
introduced me to him and the rest of his family.”

“You can’t tell him. Please!”

Elsa scowled. “I don’t agree. You should
tell him, but very well. I’ll keep quiet. For the present,” she added, a
warning in her tone. “Now…I packed your sewing machine and brought some fabrics
plus a dozen pairs of shoes. I also brought your design books. I love the idea
of having our designs in the resort. You should think about staying here and
helping to set up the store. You could work on more designs and even design to
order.”

“I can’t do that.”

“Why not?” her aunt demanded. “You’ve tried
for years to get your father to notice you, to show his love and approval. I
tell you, the man is a
millock
maggot and has less personality. Child,
you have to accept some men can’t or won’t show their emotions.”

“The general—”

“See, that’s an example right there. He won’t
even let you call him ‘father’.”

A tap on the door put a halt to further
arguments. Casey hated disagreeing with her aunt, but she did have a point. The
general had never shown her a scrap of love or approval despite her years of
hard work. Her older brothers gained his respect, but not her. A part of her
wondered, if she went through with the nanotechnology, would his opinion really
change?

Experience propelled her to admit the
truth. Even as a man, she’d be second best because she hadn’t been born that
way. She’d be a
made
man.

Scarlett stuck her head in the door. “Ma
said that your luggage has arrived and to come to her suite when you’re ready.
She has afternoon tea, and we need to get there before my brothers descend on
the place. They can smell her scones from miles away.” Scarlett winked at
Casey. “So can I. She’s just taken them out of the hot cube.”

Casey found herself smiling back at
Scarlett. Felix had obviously told her she knew about their dual natures. A big
cat. She needed to get him to transform for her again because she’d like to
stroke his fur.

“I don’t believe I’ve ever had a scone,”
Aunt Elsa said. “We’re ready, aren’t we, Casey?”

“Sure.” Their conversation wasn’t going
anywhere.

“I can’t wait to see more of your designs,
Casey,” Scarlett said. “And your shoes, Elsa! Ma said you were bringing shoes
for us to examine. I’ve been starved of all things fashionable,” she complained,
leading the way to her mother’s suite.

“Can you sew?” Aunt Elsa asked Scarlett.

“A little, but I’d like learn more. I can’t
draw to save myself, so I’d need to have some sort of pattern.”

Casey trailed her aunt and Scarlett, her
mind a mired mess of thoughts. It felt as if a clock was ticking down in her
brain, racing faster and faster toward D-day.

Tomorrow. Tomorrow.
Tomorrow.

* * * * *

“I like your aunt,” Felix said later that
night.

“You have the seal of approval from her
too.”

“Good to know.” He opened the door to his
suite of rooms and ushered her inside. “But I’ve been counting the minutes
until I could get you alone.”

Casey forced a smile, and her attempt must
have lacked something because he cast her a concerned look.

“I’ll get Ma to make you another sleep tonic.”

“No, I don’t need to sleep tonight.” She’d
have plenty of time to rest once the nanotechnology process started. They’d put
her into an induced coma to allow the technology to work.

Gods, no!
She didn’t want to do this!

A choked cry escaped her, the internal pain
too much to contain.

“What is it, sweetheart?” Felix pulled her
against his body and wrapped her in his arms. His care, his interest in her
well-being, only made the pain roil up and expand until she feared she would
choke. Tears burned her eyes and she buried her face against his chest with a
tortured groan.

She felt herself being lifted and clung to
him—her rock.

“Let’s get you into bed,” he said.

Felix helped her undress and settled her
under the covers. A few moments later, he slid into the sleep-bed beside her.

“Lights out,” he murmured and the room
darkened.

Casey was grateful when he didn’t ask more
questions. Instead he held her and gave her the comfort she’d never received
from anyone other than her aunt.

A sharp piercing sound woke her just as
she’d started to drift. She rolled out of bed and was crouched in a defensive
position before she’d even processed a thought.

“Lights on,” Felix snapped. “It’s the alarm
on the fence. A simple one until Scarlett can get the silent alarm online.” He
picked up his com and called his siblings. “Stay here while we take care of
this.”

“No. Let me get my weapon and I’ll come
too. I can help. Let me use my training.” She scrambled into comfortable
clothing and sat to pull on socks and boots, used to dressing at top speed. “It’s
got to be one of your employees or someone who lives at the resort. They’re
hardly likely to be that dangerous.”

The crude alarm continued to wail inside
his room and he gave a quick nod, apparently persuaded by her argument. “If you
get hurt, I’m gonna paddle your ass,” he muttered.

“I’m an experienced soldier.” She grabbed
her weapon from the false bottom of her bag and turned to see Felix in cat
form.

He let out a low feline bark. An order,
since he couldn’t open the door with four paws.

Once she opened it, he trotted through and
barked again. Probably an order for her to take care. Since she’d already
suffered through one spanking, she didn’t intend to incur his wrath and gain
another punishment. She trotted after him, eyes scanning their surroundings.

A low growl came from their right and two
other cats joined them. Casey stared, fascinated despite the situation. They
conversed with grunts and growls and a different set of barks when two more
cats loped over to join them. That done, they split, two cats going in one
direction and the other pair heading to the right. Felix nudged her leg and
trotted off, clearly expecting her to follow.

Lights from the resort lit most of the way,
but the trees and vegetation cast dark shadows and created lots of possible
places for someone to hide. Felix stopped and lifted his head. He was scenting,
she realized.