Chapter Twelve

Still Your Same Wildcat.

"Hunting down dangerous people, or in our case species, is nothing like they portray on TV. There's very little excitement. It's mostly monotonous footwork and lots of ‘I don't knows' or ‘I've suddenly remembered I have somewhere to be and therefore cannot answer any of your questions.' In short, any thoughts I might have had about being a cop, bounty hunter, or detective have been thoroughly canceled." ~Lola

After two days of no luck finding a ride into the bayou, Lola's patience was wearing thin. They had made no progress yet again in their quest for safe passage. It was as if something was actively working against them, thwarting them at every turn. But she refused to even entertain the idea of failure. Katy's life depended on them getting answers.

Nico appeared at her elbow, his grin sharp as ever despite the sweat beading his brow. He ignored the steady growl that was rumbling from Callon's chest. It was apparent that her mate was not taking kindly to being ignored as he gently pulled Lola behind and then around, so she was walking on his other side and Nico was now cozying up against Callon instead of her.

The Chaos Shaman didn't miss a beat. He just kept talking. "Let's take a quick breather. I've got an idea that I think will get reluctant humans to show us some of that Southern hospitality they're supposedly known for."

Callon eyed him warily but followed the shaman to a shaded alcove where the rest of their group had gathered. At Nico's nod, Raphael turned the force of his compelling gaze on each of them in turn. Lola braced for whatever the demon was going to do. But nothing happened. At least, not that she could see.

"You're now seeing our lovely Lola through the eyes of a besotted, human male," Raphael purred.

Lola crossed her arms, unimpressed by his dramatics. "What are you talking about?" she asked him. But then Callon stiffened, a low growl rumbling in his chest as he stared fixedly at her. She glanced around to find all her male companions watching her with new, heated interest.

"What did you do?" she hissed at Raphael.

"Otto told you, demon bad," the lizard said, though his head did not pop over the top of Lyra's purse. "I bite him."

"No, you stay put." Lyra zipped her purse, probably to keep the little hazard from jumping out and onto Raphael's face like a crazed cat.

The demon smirked. "Merely amplified your natural assets to outside observers." His smug smile faded as Callon took a step toward Lola, golden eyes simmering, his form seeming to grow larger.

Nico held up his hands placatingly. "Whoa there, Mate. She's still your same wildcat, just through a lusty glamour."

Callon snarled. "Remove it. Now."

Lola's eyes widened at the demon. "Are you insane? I'm guessing no one told you that this new mate status comes with a berserker stage for the males. And just so I'm not mincing words, Callon will turn into a massive humanoid lion and eat you. In one chomp if you're lucky."

"She's not exaggerating," Bane said through gritted teeth, his eyes also on Lola. He looked as though he was in excruciating pain, a war going on within himself. Whatever Raphael had done, it was powerful. "Either get her out of here or undo the spell."

Laughing nervously, Raphael waved a hand, and the suffocating desire cleared from the air. Lola exhaled in relief as Callon straightened, shaking off the forced enchantment. That was an experience she never wanted to repeat.

"Now that we're all back to normal, shall we proceed with my plan?" Nico arched a brow at the still-bristling Callon.

"Are you serious right now? My own mate couldn't even control his attraction to me, and you want to do that in a public place? Do you two have a death wish?" Lola pointed a finger at Raphael and then Nico. "Because I'm your damn fairy godmother, and I'm happy to grant your wish with my handy-dandy weapon, A.K.A., Callon."

"I bite you," Otto hissed from inside the purse, almost making Lola laugh.

Raphael started to speak, but Nico held up his hand. "Do you want to get to Azure and those females?" His eyes bounced from her to Callon. The prince had a possessive hand on her hip and pulled her tightly to his side. "Well?"

"Of course," Lola answered. "That's a dumbass question."

"Forgive my lack of tact," Nico said dryly, "but excluding any possible way for us to get to Azure would be a dumbass decision."

Callon flashed his teeth, very sharp teeth, at the shaman. "Careful, Shaman. That's my mate you're speaking to." His words were slightly garbled because his mouth was no longer fully human.

"Callon." Lola patted his arm, attempting to get his attention off Nico. They seriously did not need him going all massive half-man half-lion on the shaman. Finally, Callon turned and looked down at her. As she held his gaze, his features returned to fully human. He closed his eyes and took several deep breaths.

"I appreciate it. I'm fine now. As much as I hate to admit it, and my instincts rebel against the thought, Nico is right."

Lola and Nico spoke at the same time.

"He is?"

"I am?"

"I mean, of course I am," Nico backtracked.

Lola rolled her eyes, then returned her attention to Callon. "Are you sure you can handle whatever the hell that was?" She made a circular motion with her hand to include all of their group. "In a public setting without killing anyone?"

It was at least a minute and a half before he gave her a terse nod.

"I'm not feeling reassured by your robotic head movement," Lola muttered.

Nico grinned, looking slightly maniacal. "Excellent. Let's go snag us a swamp guide."

"I have a bad feeling about this," Bane muttered.

"We can keep him under control," Taras offered.

Bane shook his head at him, "No, Prime, we can't. Not if he goes into berserker mode."

"I'll keep it together." Callon looked at Bane. "You have permission to stop me by any means necessary if I lose it. Unless there is true harm threatened to Lola, then let me do what must be done."

Bane's brow furrowed.

"I'm serious, Bane." Callon's jaw clenched and unclenched several times. "Whatever it takes."

Finally, the panther nodded.

Lyra walked over to them and looked up at her son. "You will do what's best for your mate."

"Always."

"Then you will hold it together because losing it would mean putting her in harm's way." This was the Prima talking to a member of her pride. Not a mother to her son. "You will control your beast. The consequences of not doing so will be a direct challenge to me."

Bane hissed at the same time Taras snarled.

"Shit." Nico spat as Raphael gaped at Lyra.

"Wait." Lola held up both hands. "Wait just a minute. Why is everyone freaking out?"

"We're freaking out," Bane said tersely, his eyes on Lyra, "because the Prima just laid down the gauntlet. She told her son that his disobedience would be equivalent to a challenge to her strength to hold her place in the pride. He would have to answer the challenge through combat."

Lola's mouth dropped open as she looked at Lyra, who didn't seem to be concerned at all, and then at her mate. To her shock, he didn't seem surprised by his mother's declaration. If anything, he appeared relieved. "Soooo, they'd fight until one of them … gives up?"

"If ‘gives up' means ‘they no longer fight back because they are dead,'" Nico offered, "then yes."

Lola's stomach twisted into knots as she gaped at Callon and then at Lyra. "Why would you do that?" she asked the Prima.

"Because, short of you challenging him, I am the only other person he will do anything he can do to not have to fight."

In a convoluted and unhealthy way, it kind of made sense … if you were completely insane. But Lola wasn't taking any chances with either of their lives. "If you challenge her," she pointed at Lyra, "then the winner of your challenge has to fight me, because I will consider it a direct challenge for either of you to take the life of someone I love. In which case, I love you both, so neither of you can kill the other."

Nico groaned. "Why are all the good ones taken?"

"Why do you want to die so badly?" Bane asked the shaman.

"I don't. I just want a powerful female who challenges me. That shit is sexy."

"Language," Taras snarled. Considering he'd not once said anything about anyone using vulgar words up until this point, Lola wondered if he was just trying to regain some control of the situation that had gone to hell in a handbasket.

Nico bowed his head. "Apologies to the ladies present. Now"—he straightened his shirt sleeves—"if we're all quite done deciding who might kill whom, can we get on with the task at hand?" Without waiting for a response, the shaman began walking at a brisk pace.

Lola followed with curiosity as Nico led them to a seedy dockside tavern.

"I think myself and my little companion should wait out here." Lyra spoke up and motioned to her purse.

Lola nodded. "Good idea."

They went inside, and Callon's hand on her lower back radiated protectiveness as he eyed the raucous patrons. Lola gave what she hoped was a reassuring smile.

The Chaos Shaman bellied up to the bar beside a grizzled, weathered man nursing a beer. Nico gestured discreetly for Lola to join them. Shooting Nico a quelling look, because she still thought this was a bad idea, she reluctantly moved to his side. Callon pressed against her back. She looked up and over her shoulder and saw that he was facing the room, his large frame keeping her hidden from prying eyes. And, no doubt, trying to keep himself under control.

Up close, she could see the customer was strongly built beneath his ragged clothes, with calculating blue eyes that sharpened with interest at her approach. Lola shifted under his frank appraisal, but Nico gave her an encouraging nod. Gritting her teeth, she turned to the stranger.

"Please excuse my friend's manners," Lola began politely. "We don't mean to bother you, but we were hoping…"

The man slammed his drink down with a bang, leering at her crudely. "Well, lookie here, boys! Seems the pretty lady's going begging." He crowded closer to Lola as voices called out encouragement. "What services you offering, darlin'?"

Lola opened her mouth to unleash a scathing retort, but before she could speak, Callon was there. With a snarling roar, he grabbed the man by the front of his grimy shirt and slammed him back against the bar. His head cracked against the wood, and his leering bravado evaporated instantly. Primal fury was etched on Callon's face.

The rest of the seedy tavern fell deathly silent. Out of the corner of her eye, Lola saw the man's cronies half-rise from their seats, hands clenched into fists. But they froze as Callon turned his blazing golden gaze on them. Power and violence rolled off him in suffocating waves, daring any to approach.

Callon's lips peeled back and showed the hint of a fang, a clear warning. The men exchanged uneasy glances, hands drifting away from makeshift weapons. One by one, they settled slowly back onto their stools. She quickly placed a discreet hand on his back and tried to push some sort of comfort to him through the bond they shared. He couldn't lose his cool, at least not completely, because of the challenge issued by Lyra. Wisely, the man's friends dropped their eyes and left Lola's mate to handle their offending friend.

Satisfied no one would interfere, Callon snapped his focus back to the man still pinned helplessly in his grip. His face had gone chalky, his eyes round with primal fear at the predator restraining him. He seemed to realize just how close he was to death.

In the fraught silence, Raphael glided casually up to the bar. Turning a placid smile on Callon's wide-eyed prisoner, he said mildly, "I believe the lady is owed an apology." When the man just gaped at him, Raphael's eyes turned from violet to red in a blink and back to violet again. For a brief moment, he actually appeared like the demon he was instead of an inhumanly handsome poser. "Her husband seems rather insistent on the matter."

The man's Adam's apple bobbed as he stared into Callon's piercing gaze. "Meant no offense," he rasped out. Clearing his throat, he added gruffly, "My most humble apologies for the misunderstanding, Mrs."

Callon studied him a moment longer before releasing his hold. Lola sighed in relief as the tension slowly eased from the charged room. Wrapping a protective arm around her, Callon guided them back outside to rejoin their group.

"Well, that was fruitful," Lola offered.

Nico winced at their stern looks. "Perhaps not my most well-thought-out idea." Before Callon could lay into him, the shaman quickly added, "But it did prove one thing—our drunk friend in there is made of tough stuff. He didn't pee on himself when Callon picked him up as if he were as light as a feather. Reckon he's our best bet to handle whatever the bayou throws our way."

Lola exchanged a surprised look with Callon. As unorthodox as his methods were, Nico had a point. The unflappable man had potential. But winning him over would require a delicate touch after that disastrous first impression.

As the others tossed around ideas, Lola reached a decision. "I'll try talking to him alone. Without distractions." She shot Nico a quelling glare. "Just two people having a conversation."

"No." Callon's immediate protest wasn't a surprise to her, and she was prepared for it.

"Callon." Lola started to lay her hand on his arm, but he pulled back before she could touch him.

"I said no."

He looked her dead in the eyes, his golden orbs filled with emotions that Lola didn't fully understand. How could she? It's not like they'd been a couple for longer than a week. She was still learning to process her own emotions toward Callon. How could she possibly filter through his?

"I heard what you said." Lola attempted to maintain a calm manner, not wanting to provoke the beast inside him. Though not because she feared him. Lola knew with every fiber of her being that he would never hurt her. But she couldn't say the same for the rest of the world. She attempted to lay her hand on his arm again, and again, he stepped out of her reach. She narrowed her eyes at him. "Why do you keep backing away from me?" Lola wasn't about to admit that it hurt her feelings that he was avoiding her touch.

The look in his eyes suddenly softened. He'd obviously picked up on her emotions. Callon's demeanor changed completely. In two strides, he had his arms around her and his mouth right next to her ear.

"I'm not rejecting you." He growled, his voice dangerously low. Lola could feel the underlying anger in his words, even though they were spoken softly enough for only her to hear.

"Then why?" she demanded. Lola knew he could see the hurt and confusion in her eyes.

"Your touch affects my beast in ways I can't control," he spat out, his grip on her tightening like a vice. "It made me feel like you're trying to manipulate us."

She struggled against his hold, wanting to break free from his accusations. "How could you even think that? I would never?—"

"I know," he interrupted, his voice now filled with remorse. "Forgive me for doubting you."

Lola was angry with him. How dare he question her intentions? How dare he assume she would manipulate him for some unknown gain? But she couldn't stay mad at him for long, not when she saw the pain etched on his face.

"I can feel the anger radiating off of you," Callon murmured, his eyes pleading for her to open up to him. "Talk to me. How can I make this right?"

"You aren't my parent, Callon. You can't just tell me ‘no' and expect me to obey."

He pulled back his hands quickly, moving to cup her face before she could step away. Callon pressed his forehead to hers and took several deep breaths. "You're right. I'm not your parent," he said finally. "But I am your mate, and my opinion should carry some weight with you."

"Of course it does," she practically growled. "Just as my opinion should with you. I realize I haven't been part of your world for very long, but I'm used to dealing with all types of people. I'm a New Yorker, for goodness' sake. The likes of that man"—she pointed back to the tavern—"are what I dealt with on an hourly basis at NNP."

"Fair enough," Callon conceded. "But what are you going to tell him? You can't go with the complete truth because he'd think you're crazy."

"I mated you," Lola muttered. "I'm beginning to think that solidified my ‘crazy' status."

"Lola not going," a small but angry voice said.

Lola rolled her eyes. Seriously? She was already dealing with one overprotective male. She didn't need a second.

"Otto, go back to sleep," she told him. Her face was still in Callon's hands, so she was unable to look around him at the little lizard.

"Lola," Lyra spoke up. "Otto and Callon are right. You're not going to go speak with that man."

"I'm not?" Her voice sounded small even to herself. She managed to dislodge Callon's hold, only because he let her, and stepped around him so she could see the rest of their group.

"I am the Prima of the Pride, and you are mated to my son. That puts you under the sovereignty of myself and Taras. This is all new to you, and while I don't doubt your courage, you are but a babe in our world."

"Otto tries to tell that, but listen? Nope." He was half hanging out of Lyra's bag, looking ridiculous with his face resting in his hands.

Lyra patted his head. "Yes. We know. Now hush."

Lola pressed her lips together to keep from laughing at the affronted look on Otto's face.

"Taras and I will address the matter with the male," Lyra continued. "Raphael, you will join us. You have some persuasive ability that we might need. The rest of you will wait here."

Nico started to speak, but Lyra shot him a sharp look. The shaman's mouth snapped closed.

Taras rested his hand on his mate's lower back and steered her toward the tavern, Raphael on their heels.

"Your mom is a badass." Lola watched the trio walk away.

"That she is."

She could feel Callon's eyes on her and could sense frustration coming through their bond loud and clear.

Finally, Lola sighed and turned to face him. "We have things we need to discuss."

"Yes, when this is all said and done. We will deal with relationship expectations. Realistic and unrealistic."

Lola nodded. She wasn't looking forward to that conversation.