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CHAPTER SIX

X av wasn’t extremely surprised at Leah’s declaration. She watched him with eyes so like Lindsay’s while Xav pondered what to do.

He could turn around and walk away, pretend he was glad Lindsay was ending things. Or he could not let Lindsay’s anger stop him.

“Will you tell her I’m here to talk about the mission?” he asked.

Leah’s expression softened. “I’ll try. Martin’s in the kitchen. Go say hello to him, and I’ll send Lindsay in if she’s willing.”

There was nothing else Xav could do but take himself into the kitchen while Leah moved down the hall so lightly Xav never heard her go.

Martin Cummings sat over the remains of his lunch, but he rose and smiled at Xav when he walked in.

“Xavier. How are you?” Martin shook Xav’s hand with his usual firmness.

Martin wasn’t as tall as most other Shifters but he had a large frame and broad, strong shoulders. His hair was darker than his wife’s, but streaked with blond, exactly matching his fur in lynx form.

Martin worked as a carpenter for a human business that made custom-built furniture. He moved with the slow quietness of someone who created things with his hands, and performed every task, even carrying his lunch dishes to the sink, with easy deliberation. Xav often wondered how this man had produced a daughter who couldn’t sit still for more than five minutes.

“How’s your mom doing?” Martin asked as he rinsed dishes.

“Fine,” Xav answered, his long-ingrained fondness for Juanita Escobar warming him. “She just got back from a cruise to the Caribbean with her friends. I don’t want to know what they did out there. I didn’t ask.”

Martin chuckled. “She probably went into every kitchen at every restaurant and tried to teach them how to cook.”

“One of her friends told me she tried that on the ship.” Xav grinned. “Thought the food was too bland, and she wanted to pep it up.”

“Your mom’s a good woman.” Martin turned off the water and dried his hands. “But very bossy.”

“Tell me about it. I was the only kid on the block with a room so clean you could eat off the floor. She always said we might be poor but that didn’t mean we had to be slovenly. I tease her about it whenever she leaves a plate on the table.” Xav grimaced. “Which she then makes me pick up.”

“Serves you right.” Martin sent him a quiet smile. “How’s work? And that brother of yours?”

Martin had never, ever discussed Lindsay with Xav, or asked his intentions, or lectured him about how to treat his daughter. His philosophy was to let Lindsay and Xav work things out between them, a mindset Xav was grateful for. In the meantime, Martin had hinted, there was no reason for them not to be friends.

A big regret Xav would have if he and Lindsay really did call it quits would be losing his camaraderie with Martin and Leah.

Martin offered Xav a beer, and the two of them sat down and chatted about Diego, DX Security, and their big bust of the gun-runners at the arena last night. Xav kept Lindsay’s part in the takedown out of it and didn’t bring up the kidnapping either. From the shrewd light in Martin’s eyes, he knew all about it but saw no advantage in discussing it.

Voices signaled that Leah and Lindsay had emerged from the back of the house. Xav took a final sip of beer, nodded to Martin, and left the kitchen, his entire body tensing.

Lindsay had donned a tight pink sweater with a low neckline that made it difficult for Xav to focus on anything else. He forced himself to look away from her curvy and blood-heating body and smile his thanks at Leah. Leah sent him an encouraging nod and slipped past him into the kitchen.

Lindsay snatched up a jacket from a hook beside the door. “If you want to talk, let’s do it outside.”

“Sure.” Xav kept his tone neutral. “There are a million cubs in the back, who will listen to every word. Want to go out for some lunch? Snack? Beer?”

“Let’s just walk.” Lindsay skimmed out the front door, swinging on the jacket as she went.

Xav followed and closed the door carefully behind him.

Lindsay might not be as tall as Cassidy, but she could certainly stride. Xav jogged to catch up to her then matched her pace as they moved down the street toward the open fields at the end of the block.

Most of Shiftertown was at the party today, but those Shifters who weren’t—mostly Graham’s Lupines—lounged on porches on this pleasant afternoon. Xav spied Dougal, Graham’s nephew and second-in-command, who was probably keeping an eye on the Lupines who resented Eric enough to cause trouble at a cubs’ birthday party. Dougal lifted a hand in greeting as they went by, and Xav waved back.

Another Lupine growled at Lindsay but shut up quickly when Xav shot him a quelling look.

Xav wondered why Lindsay was taking a route straight through Graham’s territory full of disgruntled wolves, but it was possible she paid no attention. When Lindsay had a goal in mind, she just went.

They emerged from the cluster of houses into open land on the north side of Shiftertown. A new housing development for humans was being built not far away, but the desert in between was still pristine, full of creosote and native grasses. To the west rose the snowy ridge that held Mount Charleston, to the north and east, where they’d been last night, lower mountains framed the horizon.

Lindsay took in the view for a few moments before she turned and faced Xav. “So, you’re deigning to let me find AC’s brother for him?” she asked without preliminary.

Xav forced his gaze not to drift to the enticing sweater. “Diego is setting up another meeting for you with him.” He shrugged. “You’re going to do this whether I like it or not, so I might as well help you. You know, to lessen your chance of getting killed.”

Lindsay scowled. “I’m a Shifter, Xav. We’re resilient.”

“Sure, but not immortal. AC could still shoot you multiple times until you’re dead.”

“We’re also smart, fast, and strong. I do know what I’m doing, and I don’t need you babysitting me.” Lindsay’s eyes flashed. “In fact, you’ll probably just get in the way.”

Xav blew out an exasperated breath. “Linds, you don’t have to prove anything to me, all right?” he said, recalling Cassidy’s words. “I know you’re capable. I just worry about you. You enjoy taking your life into your own hands, and it scares the shit out of me.”

Lindsay stared at him. “ Prove myself to you? Why do you think this has anything to do with you?”

Xav blinked at her in surprise. He’d been following Cassidy’s advice, but he realized abruptly that, in spite of his protests to himself, he’d been thinking of himself and Lindsay as a couple. As though what he did affected her, and what she did affected him. As though they thought about each other all the time.

It became clear, in this moment, that Xav was the one doing all the thinking. Lindsay was saying she’d answered AC’s plea for reasons of her own, reasons that didn’t involve Xav. Her question dealt his ego a deep blow, but wasn’t that his own fault?

“Okay, I guess it doesn’t have anything to do with me.” Xav heard his words come out, grim and hard. “If you don’t want to deal with me anymore, Linds, then that’s fine. I’ll leave you alone.”

“I didn’t say that,” Lindsay answered swiftly.

“I can’t do this halfway.” Xav folded his arms, strengthening his resolve not to seize Lindsay and kiss her until they forgot about everything but their passion for each other. “Either let me in or shut me out. Completely.”

Lindsay’s lips parted. “Are you saying you want to break up with me?”

“How can we break up?” Xav demanded in exasperation. “We’re not together.”

A swallow moved in her throat. “No, I guess we’re not.”

Her answer hurt even more. Xav wasn’t certain what he wanted her to say, or what he wanted to say back. It was all a mess, and he couldn’t think anymore.

The snowcapped peaks in the background were beckoning. He longed to go to Mount Charleston and ski or snowboard until his thoughts untangled. He had season tickets for the lifts—he shouldn’t let them go to waste.

Xav’s first instinct was to ask Lindsay to come with him. They’d gone to the mountain together before, to relax in the lodge or throw snowballs at each other or simply look at the scenery in quiet contentment. Though Lindsay claimed she’d never been skiing before, she’d taken the runs with her natural cat grace, learning quickly.

Xav shut down the ache in his heart and gave her a terse nod. “All right then,” he made himself say. “I’ll see you, Linds.”

He turned on his heel and walked away. His footsteps crunched on gravel, loud in the sudden quiet.

Did Lindsay call after him? Beg him to stay? Yell at him for being an idiot?

Nope. He heard utter silence behind him.

When Xav reached the first houses of Shiftertown, he couldn’t resist turning back to gaze at Lindsay one last time. She really did look great in that sweater.

Only empty desert reached his eyes, along with bright blue sky, steep mountains in the distance, and wintry sunshine. Lindsay was gone, and Xav was alone.

* * *

Xav grabbed his gear and headed for the slopes, hoping the biting cold and concentration needed to not fall on his ass would calm him down.

Mount Charleston was crowded on this sunny afternoon and the powder on the runs was good. The lines to the lifts were tedious, though once Xav was riding up through the trees, he relaxed a little.

Not enough, though. As Xav glided down the hill, his body recalling how to balance on his skis, he remembered the last time he’d brought Lindsay to the mountain, and what a great time they’d had. The best he’d ever experienced, in fact.

Lindsay could easily be mistaken for a human, if she wore a cowled sweater to hide her Collar and controlled her wilder side. That day, she’d been adorable in her pink padded jacket and matching knit hat, and smoking hot too.

After a few runs, they’d had a cozy dinner at the lodge, snuggling together in a booth, enjoying kisses with their champagne.

Xav had driven them home in the dark, Lindsay’s head on his shoulder. Their kiss goodnight outside her house had been memorable, with promises of heat to come.

Lindsay had parted from him reluctantly, giving him a wave from the porch before going in. Xav had driven away, burning up inside, because the hottest girl in Shiftertown still lived with her parents.

Xav snapped back to the present, plowing to a halt at the end of the hill before he ran into another skier who’d lingered on the trail. He shook himself and pushed away, removing his skis instead of joining the line at the lift again.

The winter sky was darkening, and he knew Diego would soon be taking Lindsay to meet with AC to begin the search for his brother.

“Shit,” Xav muttered.

He smiled tightly at a young woman whose gaze of admiration turned skeptical at his word and stomped past her toward the parking lot.

No cup of hot coffee in the warm lodge for him today. Xav stowed his gear in the SUV he’d switched to for mountain driving and headed down the road as fast as he dared, making straight for the offices of DX Security.

* * *

Diego insisted on driving Lindsay from Shiftertown to DX’s offices, and Lindsay acquiesced. In spite of her self-confidence about this mission, she didn’t trust AC at all and figured sticking close to Diego would be prudent.

She waited for him to pick her up as the evening deepened, after a day of trying not to think about Xav’s perfect back as he’d walked away from her. Was it really over? The camaraderie, the stolen kisses, the joy of simply being in Xav’s presence?

Lindsay hadn’t tried to persuade him back to her, had she? She wondered if some part of her knew she’d never form the mate bond with Xav, and so had let him go.

The tightness in her chest, which flared up off and on, seemed to confirm her fears.

Diego arrived punctually, as Diego always did. Lindsay climbed into the front seat of the SUV, and then Diego raised his brows when the Shiftertown Guardian, Neal Ingram, complete with broadsword, slid into the back.

“I didn’t want to come without Shifter backup,” Lindsay replied to Diego’s silent question. “Your teams are well and good, but I want a Shifter at my side. Neal can scare people just by looking at them, and he didn’t have any other plans.”

“No souls to send to the Summerland tonight,” Neal said with dark humor.

Neal was a Lupine, and kind of a loner, as most Guardians were. The Sword of the Guardian wasn’t simply a weapon—when a Shifter passed away, the Guardian released his or her soul to the afterlife by plunging the sword into the Shifter’s heart. A soul not freed was liable to be captured by Fae mages who could trap and torment them for the enjoyment of it.

Also, the sword was sharp and painful when stuck into the living.

“Sure you want to get into this?” Diego asked, regarding Neal through the rearview mirror.

“I’m sure Eric wants me to bring Lindsay home alive or face his wrath.” Neal shrugged. “It’s no trouble.”

No one in the car bothered to wonder why neither Diego nor Lindsay had asked Cassidy along. Diego would never risk her, Lindsay knew, though she’d bet he and Cassidy’d had an argument about it, similar to the ones she’d had with Xav.

The difference was that Diego would go home to Cassidy and they’d make up, probably with amazing sex, while Lindsay would retire to bed, alone and hurting.

They made the drive to DX Security in silence, neither man mercifully asking Lindsay why Xav wasn’t with her. Neal had sensed something was up when Lindsay had called him to invite him along, and he kept tactfully quiet. Diego likely already knew the story, and he said nothing as well.

Diego kept his eyes on the road, and Neal, holding the sword across his lap so it wouldn’t be visible to passing vehicles, pretended to be interested in the darkening streets.

Lindsay wished she wouldn’t keep picturing Xav walking off in his usual efficient stride. She’d wanted him to turn back around, laugh his velvet laugh, and tell her he couldn’t ever stay mad at her.

But he hadn’t. Lindsay had hidden herself behind a convenient creosote, shucked her clothes, shifted, and gone for a long run. It hadn’t tired her out or rid her of her heartache, only put stickers in her fur and got her chased by a loose dog.

When they arrived at DX Security, AC was already in an interview room, guarded by one of Diego’s men, his hands bound once more.

AC had agreed to stay in a holding cell at DX Security, Diego said—it was either that or the nearest jail. Diego hadn’t promised to not cart AC to the police after they found Dean, but he was being nice for now. It wasn’t AC’s brother’s fault that AC was a dickhead, Lindsay imagined was Diego’s reasoning.

AC watched Diego enter without belligerence, as though this was all going the way he wanted it to.

Diego had requested that Lindsay view the meeting through the glass in the next room, and she agreed. She’d waste time with an argument, and Diego would get his way in the end anyway.

Neal watched beside her—Diego probably worried that Neal’s scariness and big sword might make AC pass out or something.

“So.” Diego’s voice came through the speaker when everyone was settled. “Where do we start?”

“Out near the rifle and pistol range,” AC answered without hesitation. “Like I said, that’s where Dean was . I don’t expect to find much, but the Shifter woman might be able to get a bead on him.”

Diego shrugged. “You might be right.”

“So, is she here?” AC demanded. “Are we going now?”

“Sure.” Diego nodded to his guys, who surrounded AC while he got to his feet. “Time to move.”

The men and Diego escorted AC into the hall, where Lindsay and Neal joined them.

“I showed up, don’t worry,” Lindsay said to AC. She tapped her nose. “Sniffer ready to go.”

AC didn’t look impressed. Neal gave him his impassive wolf stare, and AC grew a bit more nervous. “Who the hell is that?” he asked.

“This is Neal.” Lindsay indicated the Lupine. “He’s my backup.”

“Yeah? What happened to your boyfriend?”

Lindsay didn’t know how to answer, especially when the DX guys who worked with Xav every day showed interest in the question.

She was spared thinking of a response by a voice that washed giddy relief over her.

“If you’re talking about me, I’m right here.” Xav stepped out of his office down the hall and waited for them. “Let’s do this.”