Page 13
CHAPTER 12
X avier sat at the cat café, cuddling a white Persian named Mrs. Fluffington. The owner let her three-year-old granddaughter name the cats. Her rumbling purr eased the stress eating away his stomach lining ever since he’d read the text from his brother that he had kidnapped Kat and Rance.
The rest of the café was filled with cat trees, enough doilies to create a shortage for the rest of the world, and the delicious smell of baked goods and rich espresso. If crippling anxiety hadn’t overtaken his every thought, he’d be enjoying the setting a great deal more.
Mrs. Fluffington would’ve left pounds of fur behind if he hadn’t added runes to all his clothing to prevent staining, punctures, or anything else from sticking to them. He had designed the rune sequence two years ago and licensed it to clothing designers for a nice royalty. His bank account steadily increased with his practical rune patents. Unfortunately, he couldn’t use them for his apprenticeship since none of those rune sequences involved blood. On the positive side, Melcori couldn’t claim them since they had nothing to do with Xavier’s training. This was something his master occasionally sulked about while looking incredibly proud.
Melcori could be cold and bloodthirsty, but he had been so good to Xavier. He could’ve turned him away instead of accepting him from his parents. Luckily, it had worked out for them both. Melcori gained an apprentice/lackey, and Xavier received proper training to be a blood mage.
Before he could become too maudlin, Jared entered the café. His smug expression when he spotted Xavier had him carefully loosening his grip on the cat in his lap. Mrs. Fluffington purred even louder as if sensing his upset.
He knew he shouldn’t have trusted a relative.
Collectively, his blood relations were a bag of dicks.
“I wouldn’t have thought you would pick a place like this.” Xavier waved a hand to encompass the meowing cats and the overly fussy interior.
“It’s harder for you to beat the shit out of me while surrounded by fluffy kitties and grandmothers in knitted sweaters,” Jared explained with a cheery smile. “Besides, I like this place. It has great coffee.”
“I’m sure it’s nice enough, but I prefer my cats to be bigger and not abducted.” He glared at Jared.
“Now, brother dear, you know it’s every man for himself in our family. I couldn’t let such a fabulous bargaining chip escape. Not when you’re one of the best blood mages in the country.” Jared pulled a plastic zipper bag out of his jacket pocket and set it on the table. “Your mate sent these along. They’re his grandmother’s recipe. Do you need more coffee?”
He peeked into his empty cup. “Sure. If you’re paying.” It was the least he could do.
“I’ll be right back.” He sauntered off as if they were good friends meeting for a chat instead of a kidnapper holding Xavier’s most precious person hostage.
Xavier scratched the cat behind his ear. “If he weren’t my brother, I would hire Oliver to take him out.” Xavier wasn’t generally a violent person. Among the Blood Mage circles, he was considered an unfortunate pacifist. However, if there was a hair on Kat’s head rumpled, he was going to make his brother wish he’d died when he’d been experimented on.
Mrs. Fluffington let out a howling sort of meow.
“Got a little Siamese cat blood in there, girl?” He scratched her behind the ear. “I bet my mate would like this place. He’s a mountain lion shifter.”
Jared returned with a tray holding a French Press, two mugs with black cats outlined in gold, a saucer filled with various sweeteners, and a pitcher of cream. “I didn’t know how you took it.”
“Black. What did you do with my mate?” he hissed.
“Peace.” He extended both hands, palms up. “He’s unharmed. I can’t believe you’re bonded to that sweet bundle of sunshine?” He pushed down the plunger on the French Press, then filled the mugs. He slid one over to Xavier before taking a sip of his own as if to show it wasn’t poisoned.
“I am, and if I don’t get him back soon, you won’t like the results.” He let his magic rise to the surface. As a Blood Mage, Xavier usually dealt with passive magic. However, most people forget that Blood Mages can channel most magic because every bit of their blood is infused.
Jared pointed at him. “And that is why Melcori endlessly brags about you when he’s drinking. He’s like a proud papa.”
Xavier took a sip of his coffee and waited. Jared had an agenda he would share when he was ready and not a minute more. He took a cookie out of the bag and ate it. Flavor exploded across his tongue. A satisfied hum slipped out as he took another bite.
“Good, aren’t they?” Jared’s knowing smile made him scowl. He refused to contribute to any friendly banter with the enemy. “I can see you still love cookies. Haven’t changed much, have you?” Jared asked idly.
Xavier swallowed. “I have. I’ve gotten meaner, and you’ll find out how mean if you don’t return them unharmed.”
Jared pouted. “Why do you keep insisting I’d harm them?”
“Because people with good motives don’t kidnap other people.”
Jared sniffed. “Only because they lack imagination.”
“Jared,” Xavier said through clenched teeth. “If you don’t tell me right now what you want and promise to return them, I will throw this cat at you.”
Mrs. Fluffington jumped down and then raced off to the other side of the room.
Jared laughed hysterically, pounding the table as he struggled for air.
Xavier would’ve found the situation equally funny if Jared hadn't stolen those he considered his. Instead, he kicked Jared in the shin… hard.
“Ow!” Jared stopped laughing and wiped away the tears in his eyes. “Okay, okay. I thought we could have a nice conversation over coffee and cats, but you haven’t grown more patient.”
Xavier had the patience of a saint when it came to his mentor, but not so much for brothers who had become kidnappers. It didn’t seem relevant to mention it. Jared took offense when his crimes were pointed out.
“What do you want?” he said with a growl that would’ve made the wolf pack proud.
“I want the dryads.”
“No.” There was no way he was going to give his brother more people.
“Hear me out.” He held up his hands as if to stop Xavier’s words. “If I’m there right as the Grove’s transferred over, they will be at their magical peak. Melcori is only thinking of the gems' monetary worth. He doesn’t understand how much magic can be channeled into them at various stages. If I’m there when Rance creates the next Grove, I can grab them at the right time.”
Xavier folded his arms and leaned on the table. “If you explained that to Melcori, he would have worked with you. Why did you kidnap Kat? You can ask for the gems in payment already. Why did you need to interfere?”
“Because I want you to blood infuse them.”
“No.” Xavier didn’t even hesitate.
“Even if it means I’ll harm your Kat?”
Xavier rubbed his hand over his heart. It ached fiercely. “Hurting Kat won’t get you your way. To kill a mate is a crime, and both the shifter council and the Blood Mage council will hunt you down. I will be without a mate, but you will die because, trust me, if anything happens to my mate, I don’t care what beast you are at the time. I will kill you.”
“Wow, I got chills.” He held out his arm to show the goosebumps. “Besides, I said nothing about killing him. There are a lot of ways I can torment your mate, even if I just keep you apart. There are many ways that no guild or pack will get involved. I’ll tell them it’s a family matter.” He offered another cheery smile.
Xavier offered one back. “The Moon Pack considers Kat one of theirs. If he’s not returned, I’ll tell them who has him.”
Jared swallowed convulsively. “The Moon Pack. I thought they were just watching him. I mean, I know that they have non-wolves, but they all are bonded into the pack. You’re not a Moon Pack member.”
“Anthony is working very closely with Kat and accepted him. He’s under Pack protection.” He didn’t know if that was true or not. He was hoping to resolve the situation without involving anyone else.
“Fuck.” Jared raked his fingers through his hair. “How did I not know that?”
“He lives on Moon Pack land.” Xavier had a petty flash of glee over his brother losing his shit.
“I thought he was renting.”
“Give. Him. Back.”
“But… that ruins my plans.” He pouted.
“What is this master plan of yours?” Xavier was quickly losing his limited patience.
“To have you use your Blood Magic to infuse the protection runes I will carve into the dryad gems. I have many enemies, and this will keep me safe.”
“No, you idiot, the runes will be stronger if I infuse them with the magic of the person who wants protection. If I use my blood, it will protect me, not you.”
“Oh.” Jared leaned back in his chair. “I’ve been overcomplicating things.” He took another sip of coffee. “How about I return your mate and the dryad, and you do the runes for me? I’ll talk to Melcori about being there when the gems are freed.”
“Wait.” Xavier held up his hand. “Are you telling me you kidnapped my mate and blackmailed my Master, all so you can have more protection against your enemies?”
“Well, yeah.” Jared tilted his head like a confused puppy.
Xavier rubbed his eyes with the heels of his hands. “Jared, you just had to ask.”
“What?” The surprise on his brother’s face was both amusing and heartbreaking.
“I might not have seen you since we were children, but you’re still my brother. I would’ve helped you without the kidnapping and blackmail.”
“You would’ve?”
Considering their family history, Xavier couldn’t blame Jared for his surprise. “Yes. And I’m still willing to help if you return Kat and Rance to me.”
Jared’s expression went from shocked to stern in a microsecond. “You swear it. If I return your mate, swear to me, you will help set up my protections.”
“I swear.” It was an easy promise to make. As brothers, they should’ve grown up knowing they had each other’s backs. Their parents had reduced them to this.
“Thank you.” Jared gripped Xavier’s wrist. “I’m sorry I kidnapped Kat. He’s sweet, and I hope you two are very happy together.” He pulled out his phone and tapped a few keys.
Xavier’s phone pinged. He pulled it out of his pocket and stared at the number on the screen. “What did you send me?”
“Those are the coordinates for the spot Rance thought would suit the new Grove. You might want to have Melcori look it over.”
“Thanks.” He would let Melcori and Jared fight over how many gems each got. He would remain neutral as long as his mate was safe.
“What is it like?”
“What is what like?”
“Having a mate.”
“I haven’t had one long enough to say. He was recently kidnapped.” He gave Jared a pointed stare.
Jared huffed. “Fine, be that way.” He stood and set down his mug. “I’ll bring them to you later at the castle.”
“Why not now?” He debated how much trouble he’d get into for punching his brother in the middle of the restaurant.
“Because your mate is still baking cookies, and someone shot at them when they were in the forest.”
“Who?”
Jared shrugged. “Unfortunately, they didn’t remain alive enough to ask questions.”
“Keep them safe.” Xavier wanted to rail at his brother for killing his mate’s attacker, but a darker side of him was pleased the shooter wouldn’t be around to try again.
“I will. See you later. Stay safe. I’d hate to have to keep your cookie-baking mate.”
“Ass,” he whispered as his brother sashayed out the door.
“He’s a bit of a dick, isn’t he?” A smooth, tenor voice spoke behind his shoulder.
Xavier’s neck cracked when he turned his head around, his heart pounding. “Where did you come from?” Xavier’s magic should’ve warned him if someone had snuck up behind him—a blond man of medium build and crystal blue eyes regarded him with amusement.
“I’m Mrs. Fluffington,” he admitted with no shame and a sparkly pink collar around his neck.
“And is there a reason you’re breaking character to insult my brother?”
“The brother that kidnapped your mate?”
Xavier shrugged. “He’s still my brother, even if he makes poor choices.” And this is what it was. He might still be furious with Jared, but if his mate made cookies, Kat couldn’t be upset, or he’d decide to poison Jared. Xavier would support either position.
“Is that what we’re calling it? Poor choices? Why didn’t he just call you?”
“Our family dynamic is complicated, Mrs. Fluffington.” He raised an eyebrow at the cat shifter, daring him to say anything. “Besides, you’re the one pretending to be a cat.”
He shrugged. “We needed a place to stay, and the owner needed animals that won’t shit on the carpet. It’s a win-win.”
Xavier automatically scanned the room at the dozen cats prowling around. “Are you all shifters?”
“Except Theobald.” He tilted his head at an ancient-looking cat that looked like it had merged onto the platform of a tall cat tree. Only the occasional flick of its tail revealed it wasn’t dead.
“Why did you break character?” He checked on the other customers, but no one appeared to be paying attention to them.
“He’s my mate,” the cat shifter said forlornly.
“Who, Jared?”
He nodded.
“How do you know?”
“Cat shifters know by scent.”
“Are you going to tell him?”
The shifter shrugged. “Maybe one day. He comes here once a week. I don’t think he even knows why.”
“You think he’s sensing the bond?”
He nodded. “As a chimera, his instincts are both enhanced and conflicting. There isn’t much information since he’s technically mythical.”
“And why won’t you tell him?”
“He isn’t ready.”
Before Xavier could ask more questions, he turned into a cat and slunk away. “I’m not getting involved,” he muttered as he left the café. He had enough issues without worrying about his brother’s love life. The cat shifter appeared more cautious than conniving, so he would leave things as they were. He considered it payback for Jared stealing Kat and making him worry. Xavier would step in if the cat shifter didn’t make himself known in a few months.
Right now, he had a mate to wait for.