Chapter Fifty-One--Now To Tell My Best Friend

Chapter Fifty-One--Now To Tell My Best Friend
I’d sent a disgruntled Syber to retrieve Lola. God forbid he miss a moment of my continuous revelations.

Carmen and Lexi sat on either side of me, not in least surprised that the men not only knew what they were doing in the kitchen, but had ordered us to relax while they cooked. Yup, I’d entered an alternate dimension.

“So what’s the deal with everyone freaking out about my eyes, and growing claws?” I whispered to Lexi.

Lexi bounced in her seat. “Well, as you already know, the radiant green eyes are the mark of Royal blood, but some second and third generations share the trait. So when you woke up with them, there was talk.”

Carmen cleared her throat. “Your ability to partially shift with precision is something very few Royals share and never with newly born—umm, changed. Most who show signs of this ability need to hone the skill before they can shift just a part of them. A lot of time it’s a Royal who’s achieved Alpha status that has the faintest hope.”

“But Kalvyn can do it,” I pointed out.

“There’s a reason Kalvyn was the golden child before he split off from our parents,” Lexi said. “From a very young age, he showed that he could change any part of himself at any time, even in a combination, which is unheard of amoung any clan who visited us. He can control his shift, even under the full moon. It pissed off and pleased my father. He couldn’t do it. Kalvyn was stronger, faster than any of the other members. A lot of the clan feared him, and wondered why my father didn’t step down, and hand over the clan to the better cat. Instead, he held onto his power, while Kalvyn did what he wanted, whenever he felt like it. He ignored my mother’s constant attempts to marry him off to a Royal of another group, both to gain footing in other states, and to get rid of the threat to the ‘crown.’”

“A prodigy.”

“Exactly. And now, you are too. Once word gets out to the other clans, they will demand to meet you.” Lexi slapped the table.

“I doubt it. I’m changed, remember?”

“Yes,” Carmen said. “Consider the fact that you carry the essence of your race inside of you.”

“Do we have to tell people that? Can’t it be a clan secret?”

Carmen shrugged. “You’re Alpha, Kat. What you say, goes. Simple as that. But, it will give you an edge. Don’t forget, we are animals. Eventually, you will meet other clans. You might reconsider being honest about your origins then.”

I groaned. “Fantastic.” I paused. Wondering what took Lola so long, which lead me to thinking of Syber. I glanced at Lexi. “Wait, isn’t Syber your cousin? He doesn’t have green eyes.”

Lexi chuckled. “Mommy dearest shacked up with a Siberian tiger for a one night stand. Walla, Syber was born.”

“So he isn’t pure?”

“Nope, and he doesn’t suffer for it. Don’t let the mixed heritage fool you. Syber is one powerful mofo,” Lexi said.

Carmen cleared her throat. “Language.”

“Whatever.” She waved it off. “Mofo is not a swear word, technically. And I’m eighteen, I’m an adult now in some places.”

“In parts of the human world, yes. Not in ours. Deal with it. Clean up the language or I will…” Carmen frowned.

“Wash her mouth out with soap,” I supplied

Lexi hissed. “Ew! No. Hell no. That’s gross.”

I struggled not to laugh. “My grandma did that to me.”

The front door slammed. The faint stirring of the air brought me the scent I’d craved to smell all morning. I flew off my stool, and collided with the sandstone floor underneath a small tornado named Lola.

Her limbs encased me in a bear hug. “I thought you were dead,” she cried.

Her damp cheeks pressed against mine. Kalvyn appeared above her, his lip curling back over his straight teeth, the guys not far behind him. I shot them a warning look. I could handle being tackled. I wouldn’t break a nail. How did the male think I survived, pre-cat-infestation?

“They kept telling me you were fine, but Syber wouldn’t let me see you. Made no sense, Kat. I thought they murdered you in some voodoo ritual or something.”

The things that went through my best friend’s mind on the day-to-day were an enigma.

“I got sick, honey. They were taking care of me.”

“Then why aren’t you in a hospital?” She glared at Syber.

“Carmen is a trained doctor, and knows holistic medicine.” I said. That was one way of putting it.

“You ignored me then. Knew I was waiting, and still didn’t see me.”

“I slept most of the time.”

Her brow furrowed with accusation. She straddled my chest, touching my arms, then my cheeks. “Why are your eyes green? Are you wearing contacts? You’ve never worn contacts. You hate to touch your eyes. Did Kalvyn make you wear contacts?”

“Slow down, honey,” I said soothingly. “We will get to that.”

She collapsed on top of me, bursting into tears. Her sobs constricted my heart. My cat paced in my head, seeking a path to pacify the woman who meant the world to me.

I believe you are correct. She will not handle the information well, but must be told. She can’t stay with the Colbanes in ignorance. Not under the circumstances.

“I was so scared.” She sniffed.

Syber’s fury melted, making me question who he’d been angry at in the first place. Her, or me. He crouched beside us, drawing her off me. She collapsed into a puddle into his lap, shaking in fits of hysteria. She didn’t do that with just anyone. Hell, I’d never seen her do that before with anyone other than me. The delicate way he embraced her, the expression on his face, all unsettled me. I’d assumed they were having sex, but nothing deeper than that on either side. Certainly not emotional. Certainly not so familiar.

He stroked her back in feather light caresses. “I promised you she'd be fine.”

Our gazes clashed. We glared at each other, and I imagined a conversation in my head, safe from Lola’s ears.

What are you doing with her, Syber?

Protecting her.

That’s not all you’re doing, and if you think it is, you’re lying to both of us. You’re on shaky ground, and have no idea. If she so much sheds a tear over you, I will kill you.

He tipped his head in acknowledgement.

I was so focused on him, I hadn’t noticed Lola watching us like a tennis match. She stiffened, as if she’d realized who she touched. She leaned away from him, and then struggled, but he refused to relinquish his hold on her. The stamp of a possessive predator. I’d know. I had one too. A chill worked up my spine. An entire future for my best friend played out in a brief revelation that made me sick to my stomach.

One too much like my own.

Her cheeks had dried of tears, though they hung in her bleak, crystalline blue eyes.

I stood, and offered her my hand.

“Let’s go, Lola.” I stared at Syber over her head. He didn’t blink. Neither did I. “We have a lot to talk about. Alone.”

No time better than the present.

Funny, for someone who hides from drama, I’d rather shatter her belief of rainbows in perfect world, than have her near him.