We’d reached what had to have been the school’s cafeteria/gym. Neat piles of clothing were stacked throughout the room. Changing room? I asked Connie silently.
Yes. And you didn’t answer my question.
She knew about some of my abilities, enough to know I could reach out to Zane following the mating ceremony and with any luck contact a vampire friend.
We were guided though doors that opened to reveal what could have been a picture book scene under different circumstances.
Dillon steered Connie into the night, leaving me to admire my surroundings with my favorite sidekick, who for the moment was intent on standing at my side.
An expansive, grassy field, freshly mowed, stretched past an old playground. The forest beckoned in the distance. The summer sky was clear, and the stars spread seductively overhead, the moon their master. A bonfire popped and crackled, shooting sparks upward, surrounded by women in uniforms.
As evidenced by the discarded clothing, others, already in mutant form, romped through the field, remaining inside the ring of armed guards. Their ranks expanded to cover at least half a mile in all four directions. Anyone attempting a mad dash to freedom would be executed.
The gun-totting watchmen were a serious reminder that this was no high school, homecoming bonfire. This was a way, granted, a pretty cool one, to further manipulate those in servitude to The Mistress.
So absorbed by my surroundings, I jumped when a heated hand clamped around my arm. “Enjoying your little recess,” Jazmine purred. “Try not to be too frightened when everyone takes off their clothes and shows their inner beauty.”
Struggling to control any sarcastic rebuttal, I nodded, remembering Deb’s extensive efforts to convince Jazmine of my mutant phobia. It was show time, and I had a starring role to play. I wasn’t hoping for an Oscar, merely survival.
“They’re all going to turn into mutants?” I asked.
Jazmine tossed her head back and roared with what I considered unladylike laughter. “Why, of course they are. Don’t worry, though, I’ll protect you from the wolf monsters.” Her grip tightened on my arm. “Won’t you join me at my table?”
She didn’t wait for my answer, instead prodding me to an elevated platform that featured a table set up for six, and a good-sized podium.
What I hadn’t counted on was her wanting to hold my hand all night. How the hell was I going to do my moon mating ritual with her stuck to my side?
Deb, Connie, can you both hear me? I’d blasted more than one enemy at a time with my mind powers, but had never mentally spoken with more than one animal at time.
My head tingled, energy thrumming through my body. Again, something unpredictable was happening. I suspected my powers extended beyond anything I’d ever imagined. Talking to two or two hundred wouldn’t be an issue.
I can hear you. Loud and clear, Deb answered.
Me too! Connie confirmed. Dear God, she’s got you cornered.
I saw Connie watching from about twenty feet away.
It appears I’m her hot date for the evening. I need you to create a distraction. It has to last long enough for me to seal the mating.
You’ll know when, Deb assured.
I hoped they could pull it off, because right now the air duct was looking like the better option.
“Entertainment! Start the entertainment!” Jazmine barked through a handheld microphone. “You’ll love this,” she whispered to me.
Awkward didn’t begin to cover how I felt seated like a pagan god atop a created dais. Jazmine, dressed like a queen, was presiding over her loyal subjects. I wanted to vomit. How had Zane ever found anything appealing about her?
A low growl rumbled at the bottom of our platform. Martin’s German Shepherd glared up.
The despicable dog that’d caused my coma-catastrophe reminded me of Martin’s dog; I mentally screamed into the shepherd’s head, I hate you! Then to make sure the beast knew I meant business, I slammed a vision of me shaving off all his luscious fur into his doggy mind. The growl turned into a yelp, and he fled into the crowd.
“Dog? Jazmine …” Martin whined from below.
I swallowed a snort when I realized the dog’s name was Dog.
“I don’t care about your damn dog, Martin. Get the entertainment started,” Jazmine ordered.
I stifled my laughter. Martin was an idiot. He was the one man on Logan’s board stupid enough to fall into the clutches of someone like Jazmine. How together they managed this growing empire was beyond my comprehension. I was still missing something, or more accurately, someone.