Heartfelt (3 page)

“Out on the street? You can read minds from a distance?” Conrad couldn’t imagine how stressful this expanded telepathy must be for Asia.

“Yes, it seemed like it.”

“I guess that makes sense. Thoughts are a form of energy, and physical distance could be irrelevant.”

“Wow, there are so many things I don’t know about this ability.” Her eyes looked out across the room as though searching. “I couldn’t hold a conversation. I just had to get away from Gavin and away from people. I came home and called you.”

He nodded, contemplating her predicament. “So your telepathy is evolving. You know what our fearless leader Casey says—”

“That everything evolves,” she interrupted. “This feels more like Chinese torture than Telepathy 2.0. And why now, with humans all of a sudden?”

His stomach churned, trying to sort out this development. His ability to envision solutions to problems kicked in. But more than that, it was natural for him to want to support her and help her. Ever since they’d met, when he’d been at his lowest, it had been like that for him. Asia was anything but helpless, but he would do anything for her. “It’s a good question. Do
you
have any ideas why now?” He had his own theory, but better to let Asia take the lead on this. “You didn’t drink any magic potions, right? So I vote that it’s a natural evolvement; we just don’t know what triggered it.”

“You goof. Yeah, maybe Gavin slipped me some magic potion,” she teased.

Conrad frowned. “He better not.” The idea of Gavin hurting her twisted his stomach. He suspected Gavin was the problem, the trigger, but he knew if he suggested that to Asia, she’d get defensive and reject it out of hand. She had to be ready to see that her interest in getting serious with a human—Gavin—could subconsciously open her telepathy to allow better understanding of humans.

“Of course he wouldn’t do such a thing. I doubt he’d know how to make a magic potion or find where to purchase one.” She socked him in the arm playfully.

“You know what I meant. He better not hurt you.” He shook his head and shoved her back. “I don’t understand your fascination with dating a human.”

“You date humans all the time.”

He stubbed his foot along the carpet, leaving a trail in the plush weave. “I am not trying to mate with any of the women I date. They offer me something I want. A good time. That’s all I’m looking for. You’re looking for something permanent. You’re hoping that the so-called normal life you fantasize about with a human will change everything. No more colony to contend with, no more pain from your past to weigh you down.”

“Wow, thank you for that analysis, Dr. Pike. Do you charge for that?” Her rich brown eyes glistened. Her expression was stoic, but Conrad suspected he’d crossed a line. Fear twiggled inside his gut. It was tiny, but ever present. He didn’t want to lose her and he certainly didn’t want to push her away.

“Okay, I deserved that. I apologize. You know me and my opinions.” He ducked his head sheepishly. “Forgiven?”

“Of course.” She released a big sigh. “I know you don’t agree with my intentions to build a normal life. Maybe it’s a pipe dream, but it’s what I want. I don’t expect you to understand.”

He nodded. She was right; he didn’t understand. But he respected her right to choose.

“Can we get back to figuring how I’m going to survive my new skills?”

“You’re going to need to practice. I think that’s what it will take.” He stared out the large living room window in her condo and let the pull of nature entice him. He turned back to her. “Just as you open and close your connection with animals, you’ll have to practice doing the same with humans.”

Her eyes suddenly went wide. “So do you think humans can read my mind? If my mind has become open all the time to them, it would make sense that anyone could pick up my thoughts, too.”

“That is something to check out. That would put you at risk. But honestly, did Gavin seem to be reading your mind? You already have the skill. Most humans don’t have special abilities.”

“Michelle has abilities.”

“True, but she’s rare. And she doesn’t read minds.”

She placed a finger to her chin. “Good point.”

Conrad stretched and got up off the couch. “I’m sorry your date didn’t go well, Asia. After the stress of your new ability driving you nuts for the last two days, it would do you good to drop it for now. How about a run?”

She jumped to her feet and hugged him. “You’re the best. That sounds perfect.” She pulled back, seemingly unaware of the low rumble building in his chest at her touch. It was his natural reaction to passion. It didn’t jive with the terms of their friendship, but he couldn’t deny it. “Thanks for your help. You’ve given me hope.”

“Glad to help. We can work on this situation together any time.” He meant it with all his heart. Asia was an amazing woman who’d weathered really harsh times with her mother and survived. He respected her for that. He’d never lose gratitude for her friendship. It was out of character for him to care so solidly without wanting to bed her, but what they shared was too precious to risk ruining it with sex. Unfortunately, his distance from her was closing and his body wanted more.

In her bedroom, Asia dropped her clothes in a pile and drew inside herself. For a brief moment her body was between forms. A pause so small it might be imperceptible if she hadn’t made a habit of staying alert in the shimmering process. Shimmering sent a wave through her body and all she had to do was let it glide along. One moment of intention, one moment of pausing, and one moment of shifting.

On all fours, Asia trotted into the living room, where Conrad sat waiting. She chuffed, gesturing with her head to the back door. As in the homes of the others in the colony, her back door suited her needs and was fitted with a lever handle. She pulled it down to release the back door and she led Conrad to her small, private backyard.

The spring night sky was dark with cloud cover. She didn’t stop to savor it, not when they were within view of humans. She leaped up into the tree at the back of her small outdoor space and followed the branches that spread toward another tree, to where she could leap and continue into the forest adjacent to her apartment complex. She heard Conrad’s body slice through new leaves that gave them cover, and knew he was right behind her.

Adrenaline sparked through her body, heightening her senses. Her heart thumped steadily in her chest. With her preternatural sight she could see in the darkness that the forest was empty of any humans. Her enhanced hearing captured small sounds of rabbits and mice scrambling through new grasses on the ground. She glanced at Conrad sitting on a nearby branch and nodded. First she leaped to a lower branch in another tree outside of her backyard, then Conrad followed, leaping to the ground and landing with a soft thud. Instantly, Asia dropped beside him.

He glanced at her briefly, then took off, stretching his legs long in a fast sprint through the trees. Glee bubbled up to her throat and she chuffed and rolled a soft growl in her chest. In seconds she’d caught up to him.

They just ran. Asia breathed in deep breaths that smelled like damp earth and fresh spring air. Exhilaration from her paws pounding against the ground and the breeze ruffling her fur fired her senses. Every cell in her body pulsed with life.

She darted around trees and chased Conrad in circles until, exhausted, she sprawled out on the dewy grass, catching her breath. Conrad sat on his haunches, breathing heavily and surveying the forest.

The quiet embraced her, and she relaxed completely into it like resting in a soft cloud. If she could hang onto this calm, grounded state of being Asia knew she could find a way to create the normal life she longed for.

Conrad chuffed and pawed at the ground, urging her to get up and return to her condo. It was easy to deduce what his body language said and she didn’t need to open her mind to his thoughts to understand. No, she would never attempt to connect with his thoughts, because although he was her best friend she’d always been a little fearful to read what was inside his mind. As rough as her childhood had been, Conrad’s life of riches hadn’t been a fairytale either.

They trotted back to her condo and climbed the trees to the yard without incident. Inside, they parted, Conrad to the living room and she to her bedroom, to shimmer back into human form. The contrast between her two forms slowed her movements as she pulled on her jeans and sweater. She slanted her head, letting her change to human form settle thoroughly from head to toe. She didn’t remember a time when she’d been so aware of the difference in her human interface with the world and that of her connection with her surroundings in were-lynx form. Compared to the acute awareness of her lynx self, her human self was covered in a dulling film. “This can’t be right,” she said to her mirror. She rolled her shoulders and dismissed the curious situation inside her body.
I’ll think about that later.

“Are you decent?” Conrad called from the hallway. “Are you all right? I’m coming in.”

Asia beat him to the doorway. “Sure, I’m fine.” She looped her arm through his and headed to the kitchen. “Hungry or thirsty? I can whip up some scrambled eggs, if you’d like.” With the were-lynxes’ fast metabolism, they ate often and a lot.

“No, I’m fine, too. Water would be great, though. I can get it myself. You sit. Relax.” He grabbed two glasses from the cupboard, filled them, then set one on the table for her while he took a seat.

She pulled out a chair and sat across from Conrad. “I am relaxed. That run was great. Thanks for that.” She eyed his somber expression. “Something on your mind?”

“My mother called today.” His eyes were focused on the water glass in front of him. “She’s having a party at the house and she wants me to be there.”

“Oh. One of her big shindigs with all the upper crusts of Laurelwood? And she wants her little prince to make nice, right?”

Conrad glared. “Yes. It’s her spring shebang. She wants to impress all the uppity ups by showing me off as one of her successes.” He glanced down at the table. “I want you to go with me.”

Asia choked and sputtered on the water she’d just sipped. “What? I think we know I am not your mother’s idea of the right kind of woman to impress her friends.”

“You shouldn’t underestimate yourself.” He held her with a sharp gaze. “You’re an accomplished journalist, well known in Laurelwood for your work. You’re independent. You’re attractive.”

Asia snickered. “You think I’m attractive?”

“You clean up nice.” He avoided her eyes and gulped a mouthful of water.

“And, I’m a commoner, by her queenly standards, not to mention, I’m a moggy. She’s a pure and so are you. And it matters to her. Moggies are the mutts of the were-cat world. To her, they are less capable, less trustworthy, less, less, less than pures.”

He sighed, and rubbed his forehead. “None of that matters to me. You know that.” He lifted his gaze. His eyes pleaded with her.

“Why me?” He’d never asked her on a date before. Their relationship was casual. She couldn’t say he was like her big brother, but they’d purposely remained just friends for a number of reasons. His parents’ disapproval of her was one of the reasons. When he was younger and his parents had learned of his relationship with her, they’d held all the strings. They were merciless, unrelenting parents who expected Conrad to be perfect. A moggy and at the time poor friend was out of the question for their son’s reputation and lifestyle, so they’d threatened to send him to boarding school in Switzerland.

They’d also threatened to cut off his trust fund and disinherit him.

Asia’s stomach clenched, considering that his parents would rather their son become a serial dater of human females he cared nothing for than enjoy a meaningful friendship with a moggy.

He was no longer an eighteen-year-old and he had his own money. But wounds from their harsh expectations still lingered.

“Can’t I just want to spend the evening with my friend?” He chewed on his bottom lip.

“Sure. But there’s more to it than that. Your family get-togethers have always been off limits to me.” She slanted her head at him. “Are you trying to shock your parents?” Her heart dropped. Conrad had suffered from depression years ago, feeling disconnected from his life and living according to his parents’ values. But he’d beaten the depression and returned to his brash ways.

“This time is different.” He turned to stare out the kitchen window.

“Different how? Geez, Conrad. It’s like pulling teeth.”

His sober expression hurt when he turned back to face her. “My parents are planning to introduce someone to me at the party. She’s the socialite daughter of some bigwigs in England.”

“Oh. Someone special, I take it. Someone they’ve hand-picked for you to hook up with. A perfect woman for their perfect son. So is she a were-cat?”

“Of course. Her father is their colony’s leader. Old money and ancient lines.” He shook his head. “I told my mother I’m not interested in meeting the English woman, but you know my mother. She’s determined to make us a match.”

“She can’t make you do anything, Conrad.”

“I know. I want to make that perfectly clear and bring my own date to the party.” His eyes glistened playfully.

“So you want to use me to make your statement? That’s crazy.”

He ran his fingers through his blonde hair and her eyes followed. “I don’t consider it using you. I think of it as my friend spending an evening with me.”

“Like I said, it’s crazy. Crazy fun.”

“Then you’ll do it?” It lifted her heart to hear the enthusiasm in his voice and see it on his face.

“I will. But you will owe me,” she teased.

He bear-hugged her and danced with her around the kitchen.

Both their cellphones twirped. Asia grabbed hers and read the text out loud. “It’s Casey. ‘Colony meeting tomorrow morning. Eight o’clock. My house.’ Is that what your phone says, too?”

Conrad looked up from his phone. “Yup. Guess we better call it a night.” He looked down at her and smiled. “Thanks, doll face. You’ve given me hope.”

She punched his arm. “That’s what friends do. Besides, you helped calm my mind tonight. Thank you.”