Part 12 (1/2)

”You can't tell me you don't wish to mate with a Chala? You are a Light One, aren't you?” Of course he was. Gavin's senses didn't lie.

”Yes, I'm a Light One, and no, I don't want to mate with the Chala.”

Gavin stared at him. ”I thought the urge to mate with a Chala was inbred or some s.h.i.+t. I'm not even a real Light One and I felt the urge when I met her.”

Brandon gave him a funny look. He picked up his beer and took a swig. ”I thought you and the Chala were . . . you know.”

Gavin turned away from his companion and watched Sydney and William, still standing in front of the jukebox, still arguing over which songs to play. Her hair hung loose around her shoulders, a golden cloud around her head. Her cheeks were still flushed from the chill air outside. She wore a red wool pea coat-a gift from him, since he'd ruined her Pillsbury Doughboy coat-and a simple V-neck s.h.i.+rt with a pair of gray yoga pants. She wasn't even trying and she was beautiful.

”We were.” He choked on the words. ”We are. We . . . can't.”

”Can't?”

Gavin shook his head and did not take his gaze off the love of his life. How quickly he had fallen. How devastated he would be when she left him to mate with Brandon.

”Regardless of this curse, I am still Rakshasa. And Rakshasa cannot mate with Chala.”

”You can't mate with her?”

Gavin sipped his drink and shook his head.

”Does she know this?”

”No.”

”If Chala and Rakshasa can't mate . . .”

”She might be the last Chala on earth.” His voice cracked. ”I can't let down the Light Ones like that.”

”You love her,” Brandon said as if he were shocked by the revelation, as if he had not guessed it until that moment.

”What did you think? Why else would I be here, hiding her, protecting her? Surrounded on all sides by Light Ones. Training you all so you can defend her against my kind.”

”And now you want to give her to me? She doesn't strike me as the type to appreciate being given away, like a prize.”

Gavin lifted one corner of his mouth in a sardonic smile. ”Not in the least. You would do well to remember that. She doesn't like to believe she is the last hope of her kind, of your kind. She refuses to do as she's told. She is as stubborn as the day is long.”

”Doesn't sound like much of a catch.”

Gavin chuckled. ”She is also the most beautiful creature I have ever laid eyes on. She is loyal and loving and sincere and honest and pa.s.sionate as well. You could not choose a better mate.”

Brandon gave the Chala a dubious look. ”I'm not sure we see her in quite the same light.”

”I don't get it. Every other Light One who has shown up on our doorstep fawns over her as if she was a G.o.ddess. You are the only one who seems . . . Immune, I guess is the best word. Why is that?”

Brandon raked one hand through his hair while he used the other to lift the beer bottle to his lips. He seemed agitated. Gavin's senses suddenly went into suspicious mode. He narrowed his eyes and studied the Light One. With his dark-blond hair and pale, pale eyes, the sharp line of muscle underneath his thin sweater, the well-groomed almost-beard on his face, he was the sort of male women of any species would find attractive. While Gavin wasn't exactly an expert on the attractiveness of the male s.e.x, he suspected Brandon was the best-looking of the bunch of s.h.i.+fters who had joined their cause. With a little bit of effort, he could easily have been the front-runner in the bid to win the place of honor in Sydney's bed.

”Some things happened,” Brandon's voice was stilted. ”When I was a baby. Too young. Left a bitter taste in my mouth. I'm not interested in mating to a Chala or anyone, but especially a Chala.”

Gavin leaned forward. Something in what he said . . . ”What happened?”

Brandon's gaze darted to the jukebox, to the bar, back to Gavin, and then slid away again. ”s.h.i.+t. You really do love her, don't you? You love her so much you're willing to give her up in order to save my kind. f.u.c.k.” He swore viciously and swiped his hand to the side, sending the half-empty beer bottle skittering across the table. It slammed into the wall and shattered, spraying both of them with beer and gla.s.s.

”What the-” Gavin did not get to finish the sentence. Several things happened at once. Brandon shouted at the bartender to, ”Get the h.e.l.l out of here.” Then he leaped from his seat and ran across the bar toward the jukebox, where Sydney and William had stopped arguing and were staring at Gavin with wide eyes.

He saw Sydney's mouth form the word, ”No!” She started as if she meant to run toward Gavin. Brandon caught her around the waist and kept her from doing so. Sydney began screaming his name.

At the same time, a door he hadn't even realized was there opened and a wave of beings poured through. Rakshasa.

”Son of a-” Gavin leaped to his feet and prepared to fight. To the death, if need be.

At least he knew Sydney was in good hands.

Chapter 10.

”Gavin,” Sydney screamed as she fought against the steel bands of Brandon's arms. ”Gavin!” She clawed and kicked and shrieked.

Gavin was being attacked. So many Rakshasa, she couldn't even count. They were moving so fast, she could hardly keep track of him in the melee.

”I'll go help,” William announced in a surprisingly valiant move. He stabbed his finger at Brandon. ”Protect her,” he commanded. ”With your life.”

”No,” Sydney cried as William tottered off across the dance floor, trying not to stumble in his high-heeled boots. She struggled to turn around in Brandon's arm, so she could grab the front of his s.h.i.+rt and look him in the face. ”They're attacking Gavin. Why are they attacking Gavin? Shouldn't they be attacking me?”

”Yes,” Brandon said, his face grim. ”That's why I need to get you to safety, before they realize you're here.”

She continued to fight him as he dragged her toward the door. She was lucid enough to realize all the humans who had been in the bar when they arrived were now gone. The only beings in the bar were her, Brandon, William, Gavin, and the wave of Rakshasa surrounding Gavin and William, who stood back to back, fending them off as they attacked.

”Why are they attacking Gavin?” she asked again. It didn't make any sense, unless someone had failed to tell her something about her existence, the existence of the Rakshasa, and the Light Ones. As far as she understood this world that was still so foreign, they should be attacking her right now.

Brandon continued to drag her toward the door, even as she fought his progress. She had to get to Gavin. She had to help him.

”It's a trap, Sydney. They're here for Gavin, but you'd be one h.e.l.l of a bonus prize, and I'm not about to give you to them.”

She dug in her heels, keeping him from pus.h.i.+ng her out the door. ”I'm not leaving until you explain. Tell me, Brandon,” she demanded when he did not immediately respond.

Brandon's gaze s.h.i.+fted to the left, toward the bar area. ”They're getting paid a hefty sum of money to eliminate him. That's all I can tell you. Now come on, before they pick up your scent.” He took another step toward the door.

She watched as a chair was lifted and smashed against someone's back. A beer bottle cracked against a head, and then another and another until it shattered. Fists flew, legs kicked, bodies s.h.i.+fted and moved, grunting and shouting and crying out in pain.

”Gavin!” She renewed her attempt to break free of Brandon's grasp so she could rush across the room to help. Brandon tightened his hold around her waist.

”No. G.o.dd.a.m.n it, Sydney, listen to me. You can't go over there. Do you hear me? Are you listening to me?” She shook her head, refusing to listen. He finally resorted to slapping her.

She shook her head and glared at him. ”Let me go this instant, Brandon. Gavin and William are outnumbered. I have to go help.”

”William's a Fate, so if he dies, he just regenerates and comes back. And Gavin can take care of himself. You can't.”