Instinctive - By Cathryn Fox Page 0,71

took a moment to consider her best approach, one that would keep her mother away.

She drew a deep breath and, focused on keeping the emotion out of her voice, calmly said, “Yes, Mom, I do have a new man. And if my parents showed up wanting to meet him, it just might scare him off. So it’s best to just let me take things slowly, and you’ll meet him when the time is right.” Jaclyn’s blood suddenly thickened, fearing that such a time would never come, because they just might not make it out of Serene alive.

Her answer seemed to appease her parents for the time being. “All right, dear, we won’t come. You take care of yourself now, and take extra care of that new boy. Make sure you make him a nice pot roast.” Jaclyn bit back a laugh. Her mother really was old school, she mused.

“And keep up the good work,” her father added, before they both hung up.

Jaclyn let out a slow breath and shoved her phone back into her handbag. With that major crisis averted, she headed back to the department store, and prayed her mother would keep her word.

In his small private office at the back of Vibes, Slyck unlocked his safe, and pulled out Jaclyn’s father’s file, heavyhearted and saddened that Jaclyn hadn’t had the opportunity to get to know him. But, unfortunately, and as much as it pained him sometimes, such was the way of their society. He carefully placed the file onto his desk and moved across the room. As he stretched out on his sofa, his thoughts raced to Jaclyn and the night she’d first presented him with her panther in this very room. The animal in him roared to life, aching to mate with her again and again until the two were left sated, drained. Christ knows, a week out of her bed was a week too long.

He glanced up at the near-full moon before he surged from his cushiony seat. He stepped out into the hall, walked past the washrooms, and made his way out to the front counter. As he went to work preparing for the late-night rush, Drake sidled up to the bar and ordered a beer.

“Hey, Slyck. Look what the cat dragged in.” He jerked his head toward Jaclyn and Sunray as they moved sensuously on the dance floor, grinding against each other as if they were very familiar with each other sexually. “If I didn’t know better, I’d say she’s turning lycan.”

Slyck lowered his voice and took in Jaclyn’s new look. “Then maybe we should leave it at that.”

“Too late,” Drake countered and took a long pull from the bottle. “Because I already know better.”

Slyck glanced around, ensuring their privacy before leaning forward on the counter. He planted his elbows on the hard oaken tabletop and murmured in a low voice meant for Drake’s ears only, “Vall only thinks he’s marked her.”

After taking note of the patrons, Drake lowered his voice to match Slyck’s. “And it looks like she’s got him fooled.” He made a slight, inconspicuous gesture with his head. They both took in Vall’s lecherous glare as he watched the two women gyrate against each other. “For now, anyway. One false move and he’ll kill her, you know.”

Slyck fisted his hands and clenched down on his teeth. “I know.”

“And just exactly how is it she’s going to fool him when the moon is full in three nights from now?”

“She won’t have to.”

“No?” Drake shot him a dubious look. “Want to enlighten me?”

The less knowledge Drake had about the situation, the better, but at this point Slyck suspected that he had no choice but to fill Drake in, because in the end, he just might need his help. “I’m going to get her out of here.”

“And you don’t think that will raise suspicion?”

“Not if it’s done right.”

Drake shook his head and looked down at his beer, as if the amber liquid held all the answers in the universe. “Slyck, I sure as hell hope you know what you’re doing.”

“And I sure as hell hope you can handle my position when I’m gone.”

Drake’s head came up with a start. “I can,” he assured Slyck, then in a lower voice asked, “So you’re leaving then?”

“I’ve come to the conclusion that I have no alternative.” Over the last week he’d spent many restless nights sorting through his options and coming up with only one. It was a difficult choice, yes, but he’d come to terms with