“How long were you going to keep me in the dark about this?” she asked angrily. “And how dare you do this to me without my permission!”
Max stood there, speechless. He saw the image peeking out from beneath her blouse. How the hell did that damn thing become visible?
“I never would have spotted it if it hadn’t been for Sonora.” She pulled the shirt back into place in an angry gesture.
“What does she have to do with it?” Max’s eyes narrowed. He knew the answer before he heard it. She had the power to make the mark show and knew they had mated. He had opened his big mouth and told her himself when they spoke last.
“She informed me and showed me the tattoo.”
“She also wants to hire you and would do anything to achieve that goal.” Max took a step toward her. When she didn’t move he placed his hand on her shoulder and hid the tattoo from sight again.
“Even lie about us being mated?”
How was he going to answer that one? If he told her the truth she would hate him for lying, yet the longer it went on the worse it was going to get. He wanted her to know the truth, but not this way. Not by Sonora trying to keep them apart.
***
Sonora smiled as she watched Alicia disappear. Good. That should achieve her goal. If nothing else she had just put a wedge between them. One she planned to drive deeper.
She headed back to her office with a smile on her face.
***
Max wanted to kick himself. He knew this was going to happen. He shook his head. Murphy’s Law had just slapped him in the face. “Maybe we should talk.”
“You think?” Alicia clenched her fists as she stomped to her office window.
He ran his fingers through his hair as he thought about what he wanted to say. “Sonora and I are from a close knit area that holds very archaic ideas.”
“Where you magically give people tattoos?” She turned to look at him. Her anger a palpable thing. “Explain this mating thing. Now.”
“Okay.” He took her hand and brought her to the small couch she had in her office. Once she sat down he explained. “We’re mated. It wasn’t something I planned. It just happened.” He held up his hands. “Before you start accusing me of something underhanded. We wouldn’t have bonded without each of us agreeing.”
“I never agreed to this.” She pulled her shirt back. “Hey! Where did it go?”
“You repeated the words.” Max touched her hand and brought her attention back to him.
“What words.”
“The night we spent at Patrick’s. While we were making love. The words of mating just came to me. Many have gotten caught in the throes of passion and said things. Nothing would have happened, but you repeated the words of mating back to me.”
She sat back and stared at him. “I don’t believe you.”
Another knock interrupted them. Stacey stuck her head in the door again. “You have another visitor.”
“Who is it this time?” Alicia snapped. She gestured for Stacey to open the door more so she could see who was there. Her eyes opened a little wider. “Catherine? What are you doing here?”
“Thought I’d talk you into going out for the afternoon.” Catherine gave Max a slight bow. “Unless I’m interrupting something.”
“Yes,” said Max.
“No,” said Alicia. She stood and looked down at Max. “A break is exactly what I need.”
A sigh escaped him, but he didn’t fight her when she grabbed her jacket again and headed to the door. Alicia was grateful for the reprieve. She walked to the elevator and pressed the button for the down elevator.
“Thanks for stopping by. I really needed a break from Maximilian.” The elevator doors opened and Alicia stepped in.
“Maximilian, huh? What did he do?” Catherine hesitated outside the door.
The doors started to close, forcing Alicia to hit the button to keep the doors open. “You coming?”
She hesitated a moment longer before stepping into the elevator. “Just have a little problem with claustrophobia, that’s all.”
“Max has the same issue. He refuses to climb into an elevator.” The doors closed on them. Alicia’s stomach dipped a little when the elevator started its trek down. “Has great legs from climbing all those stairs though.”
“He does, doesn’t he?” Catherine smiled.
Alicia laughed. “I didn’t know you had a thing for Max.”
“Oh, I don’t, but it doesn’t stop me from appreciating the view.”
“Can’t blame you on that one.” Alicia smiled. As angry as she was at him she had to agree. The doors of the elevator opened, allowing them out. It took them a few seconds to get out the front doors and inhale some fresh air.
“I was thinking about going to the Biltmore. You in the mood?” Catherine looked over at Alicia.
“Really? I’ve never been there.”
“Oh, then you’re going to love it.”
“Sure. Anything is better than being here right now.” Alicia followed Catherine across the street. “My Jeep is in the parking lot.”
“How about my car?” Catherine pointed to a sleek black car parked near the curb. “I hired a driver for the day.”
“Very nice.” Alicia nodded to the man who opened the door for her and Catherine. “So this isn’t normal?
“Honestly? I live very close to my work. I don’t own a car. Never needed one. When I need to get away I normally do this.” Catherine climbed in first. “So what did Max do to upset you so much?”
“I really don’t want to talk about it.” Alicia climbed in and fastened her seatbelt. What happened between them was private, but she sure needed someone to talk to.
“That’s up to you.”
“How long have you known Max?”
“All my life. We come from the same town.”
“You do?” That got her attention. She turned to Catherine. “Then can you explain this mating thing?”
“Then Max finally told you.”
“You knew too? Did everyone know but me?” Anger laced her voice. “And he didn’t tell me, Sonora did.”
“Sonora?” Catherine stared at her. “Max is an idiot. He should have told you. How did she get near you in the first place?”
“She came by my office and asked to talk. Then she asked me about how I liked being mated to Max and showed me the tattoo I’m suddenly sporting. One I don’t remember getting.”
“Is that what I walked in on? Oh, Max is going to be very mad at me.” Catherine smiled. “What did Max tell you after you confronted him?”
“He said that we were mated. He didn’t really get to say much more before you walked in.”
“Then let me try to explain. Maybe that will mollify him a little.” Catherine offered her a bottle of water. “Throughout most of the world everyone marries.”
“Well, yeah. I hope to marry someday.”
“Exactly.” Catherine twisted the lid off her bottle. “But our people have a different way of handling marriage. We call it mating. It is a beautiful and lasting thing. The tattoo you saw proves you have a mate, or husband, if that makes you feel better.”
“It doesn’t. Max and I never talked about marriage. I work for him. That is all.”
“Yet you have slept with him. In some people’s eyes that is considered being married.”
“Not in this day and age.”
“Yes, in this day and age. There are societies you aren’t aware of that don’t believe the marriage contract is worth the paper you sign. We didn’t follow the church when they forced their religion on us. We believe in the old ways.”
“Are you sicca or something?” Alicia took a sip of water.
“Not quite, but you get the idea.”
“Then explain the tattoo. How did that appear?”
“First, you need to understand that this isn’t Max’s fault. When he said the words of our mating you must have repeated them. The tattoo doesn’t show up unless both say the proper words. Those words are ancient and binding.”
“And if I choose to not believe it?”
“You carry the proof on your shoulder blade. How can you ignore that?”
“I could pretend it’s not there,” Alicia said. Then she sighed. “But I wouldn’t be able to ignore Max and I have a feeling this mating thing will keep him near me.”
“He is your mate now. He will be there to protect you and love you for the rest of your life.”
“And what do I tell my parents?”
“There is nothing that says you can’t get married for your family. You can take your time introducing Max to your parents, then have a beautiful ceremony, and Max has the money to make it magical.”
“What happened to falling in love?”
“Alicia,” Catherine touched her hand. “You can’t tell me you don’t have any feelings for Max. You have put up with his overbearing personality a lot longer than anyone else. I know he has feelings for you.”
“He does? He’s always so busy telling me what to do I don’t see it.”
“He brought you to our home, remember? Introduced you to people he grew up with. He’s never done that before.”
“He always has a woman on his arm.”
“To major events, but not what we call family gatherings. There were no cameras that night and you were wearing his mother’s jewelry. He’s never allowed anyone near her jewels. Not even me.”
“Let’s talk about something else.” She wanted to change the topic for a moment. “What do you do?”
“I’m the professor of Mythology at UNC Charlotte,” Catherine said.
“Really? What made you pick that field?” Alicia twisted in her seat so she could look at Catherine.
“The Tears of the Queen. That legend was one of the first tales I had ever heard and it fascinated me. Then I learned about other legends, like King Arthur and Atlantis and I was hooked. I’m constantly studying up on things. I’ve even written a few texts on some of the better known legends.”
“No! Now I know why your name sounded so familiar when I met you.” Alicia gaped at her. “You’re the author of that massive werewolf book? 'The' um… 'Exhausting Guide to Werewolves.'”
“Exhausting, huh?” She shook her head and started to laugh. “Might have to change the title of that book.”
“Sorry.” Alicia gave her a sheepish smile. “It’s just that thing is massive. I get tired just looking at it.”
“My students feel the same way.” Catherine’s laugh filled the car. “Love the title you gave it. I’ll have to share that. Have you read it?”
“I’m reading it now. Very fascinating stuff, but it will take me a while to finish it.” The door opening startled Alicia.
“Is something wrong? We’re here.”
“You’re kidding? It didn’t even feel like we’d moved.” She took the driver’s hand and eased herself out of the car. Catherine climbed out right behind her.
Catherine gestured toward the main doors. “You first.” Once Alicia started walking she asked another question. “So how much of it do you believe?”
“Are you kidding? Werewolves being a real race? Doubt it seriously.” Catherine was as crazy as Max. He had her read the little red book which said about the same thing and she had a hard time swallowing it.
“Why?” They passed the pay booth and walked toward an office.
“People turning into wolves during the full moon, howling at it and killing people without thought.” Her last words died off when she realized someone was listening in. That was a bit embarrassing. She looked at the woman and gave her a sheepish smile. “Sorry.”
“Oh, don’t worry about it. That’s normally what I hear when Catherine is around. She always asks what people think about her book, if she knows they’ve read it.” She smiled at them, handing a pass to Catherine then one to Alicia. “Just show this at the main entrance and they’ll clear you.”
“Thanks. I owe you.” Catherine waved at her friend as they left the office. “Now where were we? Oh, yes. You feel my book is hooey.”
“I didn’t say that. You asked me what I believed. There’s a big difference. If werewolves really existed how come no one in our society has ever seen one? Why hasn’t someone with a camera caught one of these werewolves in the middle of a metamorphosis? The way things end up on the internet I don’t see how they could exist and not be exploited somehow. I mean there are always people who want their thirty seconds of fame. Why not werewolves?”
“That is a good question.” Catherine paused for a moment. “And what happened to the fifteen minutes of fame that Andy Warhol quoted?”
“He said that before the computer age. I’m pretty sure that’s been shortened to thirty seconds now.”
Catherine dug into her pocket and brought out a recorder. “Do you mind? This would be great for a theoretical paper.”
“Um.” Alicia looked at the small recorder. “I guess not.”
Catherine hit the button to start the recorder. She then looped it around her neck. “My students have to turn in a term paper and this would be a perfect subject. Your voice might not be picked up, but it will help me remember our conversation when I get the theme together for them. Ready?”
Alicia nodded.
“Good.” She checked to make sure it was recording. “Why do you think werewolves haven’t been caught on camera?”
“Mine would be a very short paper.” Alicia slowed down to let a bunch of school children pass before she approached one of the rooms. “Because they don’t exist.”
“That’s not fair. Let’s say they do exist. Then how would you answer the question?”
“Hmm.” She thought while they entered the library. The room was so breathtaking it took her a while to answer. “If I were a werewolf, I’d avoid being caught. I wouldn’t want to have a bunch of scientists experiment on me because of my shape shifting abilities.”
“What about the thirty seconds of fame?”
“Too much of a risk.” They continued to walk along with other visitors. Stopping here and there to look in wonder when the mood stopped them.
“And if you are a risk taker?” Catherine gripped the rail in front of the beautiful winter garden where they paused. “Could you live your life without taking the biggest risk, knowing if you’re able to get away with it you’d prove to everyone you were the king of risk takers?”
“You really love to push, don’t you?” Alicia leaned against the rail. “I’d really have to think about it. I mean it would expose you to the world. If you’re not accepted you’d be hunted. Someone wanting you as a trophy on his or her wall, or some wacko who would dissect you all in the name of science. Then there are the sickos who want to be what you are. Personally? No. I like my privacy too much.”
Catherine laughed. “Figured that. So let me ask you another question. What if you came along one day and saw a werewolf, you know, someone changing from human to wolf or the other way around. How would you handle that? Would you expose the person?”
Alicia couldn’t stop laughing. “I’d probably go running and screaming. People aren’t supposed to do that, you know. But would I go for my chance at fame? I’d think I’d be afraid the shape-shifter would come after me and tear me limb from limb.”
“And what if they would never do that?”
“What? You got a hotline to the werewolves?” Alicia started moving again.
“I thought you didn’t believe in them,” commented Catherine.
“I don’t. You’re just so convincing.” They passed the door to another room and stopped to look. “So I’ve seen someone shape shift? And they know it?”
“Yes.”
“Wow.” Alicia thought for a moment or two. “And they wouldn’t harm me if I was to reveal them to the world? They must rely on my discretion?”
“Yes,” said Catherine. “Their life hangs in the balance.”
“That’s some scary stuff. I have their future in the palm of my hands?” Alicia headed to another room. “I’m not sure what I would do. Part of me says I would do the right thing and keep their secret. After all, if I had a secret I didn’t want known I’d hope they’d do the same thing and I’ve always lived by the rule ‘do unto others as they would do unto you’.”
“That’s not an answer, you know.”
“All of a sudden you’re being very black and white.”
“If you were one of my students and turned in a non-decisive answer then you’d fail the class. I don’t care for wafflers.”
“Wafflers?” Alicia snickered. “Is that your own cool little made-up word?”
“Stop it.” Catherine gave her a slight shove. “I have lots of little phrases and words I have made up over the years. I’ve thought about putting them into a book.”
“You’re the writer.” Alicia looked at her watch. “We should be heading back.”
“I thought we’d get lunch. And you’re avoiding the question.”
“Here?”
“Actually, there’s a restaurant about half way home I would like you to try. And the longer we stay away the more Max will worry.”
Alicia smiled. She hadn’t quite burned the anger out of her system so keeping him waiting didn’t bother her. “And I’m not avoiding the question. I need some time to think about it.”
“Okay, but you’ll have to answer it when we get to the restaurant.”
“Fine.”
***
The waiter took them to a small table near a beautiful mosaic. Alicia took the seat the waiter held for her. “This place is beautiful.”
She scooted her chair in and waited while the waiter seated Catherine.
“You’re going to love the food here. My favorite is the salmon. Their steaks are very good too. Oh and it’s my treat. You’ve had enough time to think about the question so now I want your answer.”
“I hoped you’d forget. Guess I’m not that lucky.”
“Nope.”
Alicia sighed. She picked up the menu and saw the prices. “You sure about wanting to treat?”
“Of course.”
“Okay.” She thought for a moment. “What would I do? I guess I’d have to say that I’d keep the secret.”
“Why?”
“Because what if I caught you, but you didn’t want to be caught, I’d never be able to prove it. People would call me a wacko for reporting what I saw without proof. I don’t think I’d want to go through that.”
The waiter came up and took their order. Once he left they continued their conversation.
“That’s a good answer. A little selfish, but good.” Catherine picked up a glass of water. “You’ve given me a lot of great ideas for the paper they have to turn in. I now know how I’m going to torture my students this year.”
“Torture? Isn’t that a little cruel?”
“That’s what my students call my papers every semester. I guess I always try to expand their minds so I try to make them reach a little before they write their paper.”
“And they say that to your face?”
“No. But other professors who don’t understand my course go out of their way to poke fun at my ‘silly’ class. Most of the students groan in the beginning, but they normally come to me after and thank me. The challenge of my papers broadens their horizon.”
“I can imagine. You had me thinking about a subject I never would have given thought to before. And once I started thinking about it I have to admit it’s fascinating.” She scooted in the seat so she could look at Catherine. “The ‘what if’ strategy is great. Annoying, but great.”
“My aim is to challenge the mind.” She nodded as the waiter brought their meals. “I’m glad I did that for you.”
“You know it wasn’t that bad.” Alicia picked up her fork.
“You want another challenge?” Catherine had ordered the steak. She paused as she cut into the rare meat and closed her eyes as she took her first bite. “I can come up with all kinds of ideas.”
“All based on mythological creatures?” Alicia tasted the fish she had ordered. She gestured with her fork. “This is very good.”
“Who says they are mythological?” Catherine cut another piece off her steak and smiled at Alicia. “I told you the food was great.”
“You’re so funny.” She paused in her eating. “That mosaic is very pretty.”
“Trying to change the subject?”
“I am if you’re going to ask me to imagine that vampires exist and I have to figure out how they survive without being caught.” Alicia continued to gaze at the mosaic.
“That sounds like a good start.”
Alicia put her fork down and cocked her head. “There’s something about that thing.”
“What?”
“I don’t know.” Alicia leaned forward. “But I need to figure it out.”
“Okay.”
Alicia leaned to the left. “Something. Something here is calling to me. Something I can’t see easily. What is it?” She rested her hands on the table and started drumming her fingers against it. “What is it I’m missing?”
She stared for a while.
“Oh my God! We need to see the proprietor of this place.” Alicia grabbed Catherine by the arm. “Now.”
Catherine called the waiter over. Alicia could see the confusion on her face, but was so glad she went along.
“Yes, ladies? Can I do something for you?”
“We’d like to know more about the mosaic we’re sitting near.”
He nodded and disappeared. Moments later he reappeared and gestured for them to follow them. “Please go on in.”
The manager stood when they entered. “Ladies. What can I do for you?”
Catherine sat in a chair near the manager’s desk. Alicia pulled up another and joined them, watching while Catherine turned on the charm. “We are interested in the mosaic in the dining room.”
“It is beautiful, isn’t it?” He sat back in his chair. He noted the expensive cut of Catherine’s clothes.
“Any way we can purchase it?” asked Alicia. She took control of the conversation because he needed to understand who was interested.
“I don’t know.” He gave them a smile. “I don’t normally sell my décor.”
“That’s fine. Too bad though. It would look lovely in Maximilian Santos’ office.” Alicia hated to pull out the big guns, but dropping Max’s name might get her what she needed. She just hoped it wouldn’t cost too much.
“You know Mr. Santos?”
“I’m helping him with a project and I know he’d love this piece, but I also know he doesn’t appreciate it when someone tries to take advantage of him.”
“Of course.”
Alicia could see the wheels turning in the man’s head. He’d be able to use this to his advantage.
“Excuse me for a few moments.”
“Sure.” Alicia gave him a smile.
Catherine waited for the manager to leave. “Why do we want to buy that thing?”
“Because that thing has a Tear in it.”