Forbidden Call (New Breed Novels, Book 1) (22 page)

As if the doctor heard his plea, Helen burst through the door. “Okay, help me lay her out.”

As his mate moaned softly, SE wanted to jump out of his skin. He flashed back to the night he’d found her at the penthouse. Then his thoughts went back to seeing her lying on that goddamn table in the asylum. He was out of his mind with worry. He stood up and began pacing back and forth, breathing hard, trying to deal with the adrenaline in his system, because no matter what his fucking New Breed instincts were screaming at him, he knew there was nothing he could do.

Helen looked up. “She’s tachycardic and her breathing is labored. Her temperature is 103.”

“Jesus. You don’t think—”

“I know what you’re thinking, SE. Right now it’s too early to tell. There’s no vomiting. And I can tell you from when we were in that cell, vomiting is a major side effect. Right now it looks like pneumonia. She may have been sick all along and made matters worse by being outside yesterday.”

Helen ran her hands along Ana’s chest and lower abdomen. Ana tried to push her away, eyes still closed, legs sawing on the mattress.

“Yes, I know that hurts, honey. I’m sorry.”

Just as Soaring Eagle started to close his eyes, he felt a hand on his arm. It was Richard.

“Helen called us on her way up,” he said. “I know this is hard, but you can’t help with her pain. Not now. The doctor needs to know where it is to figure out what’s wrong.”

SE shook his head. “I have to do something. I’m going out of my fucking mind here.”

Adriana slid her hand into his. “Have faith, SE.”

Richard turned to Helen. “What are her symptoms?”

Helen looked up. “Fever, chills, rapid heart rate, difficulty breathing.”

Suddenly, Richard’s head whipped around. He looked at Adriana, and then back at Ana.

“Richard, what is it?” Helen asked.

He leaned over, picked up Ana’s right arm, and shoved the sleeve of her sweatshirt up. There on her right shoulder was the mark of a New Breed.

Richard turned to look at SE and smiled. “She’s going through the transition.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

SE looked at Richard. “I don’t believe…my
ihkweea
is...”

Adriana smiled and looked up at him. “The first female New Breed.”

There were tears in her eyes.

“Incredible,” Helen added.

SE’s mind worked furiously to connect the dots. She could gleam, her burns had healed quickly, she had an extra ability, and even her glasses didn’t work anymore. It all fit, but…

“But why so long? How could the transition take months?”

Richard shrugged. “You’d have to ask the Goddess that one. Ana’s in the final stage now. No question.”

Adriana nodded. “He’s right. All of her symptoms match Richard’s. She should be fine by morning.”

SE shook his head in disbelief. “Is there anything I should do?”

“Just be with her. Hold her. We know what’s going on, but she doesn’t. It’s pretty intense,” Richard said.

Helen moved toward the door. “I won’t stay. You two need to be alone. I’ll be in the empty bedroom next door catching some shut–eye if you need me.”

“Same for us, SE. Just call if you need anything. We’ll, ah, keep this under our hats. It’s your news to tell,” Adriana said.

He nodded. “Thanks.”

Alone with his mate, SE lay down on the bed and gently pulled Ana against him. She sighed softly as his arms went around her.

“You’re okay,” he whispered. “
Yoohi netai
.” He stroked her hair softly as he thought about how proud he was of her. The thought of his
ihkweea
out there in the night, fighting against the growing evil in the city terrified him, but he knew that’s what she was born to do. She would never be happy as just his female, raising a fuckload of offspring at the mansion.

And he was so totally cool with that.

He loved all of her— the soft, gentle female he held in his arms during the day and the kickass warrior she was at night. SE smiled to himself. They were the first New Breed mating.
Holy shit.
He shook his head in amazement. The two of them dealing with the protective instinct was sure going to be interesting. He kissed the back of her ear that had been burned in the warehouse fire but was now completely healed. He wondered if she would grow taller, and how strong she would be, but none of that really mattered. She was safe. As her eyes closed and she finally slept, he quietly thanked the Goddess and drifted off with her.

When Ana woke and felt her mate’s arms around her, she looked around the room and wondered why everything looked like it was in HD. As she stretched, she immediately noticed her body felt…good. Great, even. No aches, no chills. She quietly slipped out of bed and went into the bathroom, where she flicked on the light and turned on the shower, adjusting the temperature.

Then she pulled off her sweatshirt.

“What the hell?”

She stared at her shoulder. She ran her hand gently back and forth along the mark as if she might wipe it off if she rubbed too hard.
Is this a dream?
Then she sensed SE standing in the doorway. She looked at him and stifled a gasp, but she couldn’t stop the tears from coming to her eyes.

“You’re so beautiful,” she said.

SE smiled and she almost fell over.

“Come here, female.”

He didn’t have to ask her twice. Ana ran to her mate and leapt into his arms.

SE crushed her against him. “Thank the Goddess you’re okay,” he whispered.

“I’m a New Breed? For real?”

“For real. You were sick because you were hitting the transition.”

Ana slid down and walked over to the full length mirror. “But only males are New Breeds. And, look, I’m not any taller.” She stood on her tiptoes.

He walked behind her and ran his hands down her arms, his fingers exploring her sleek new muscle. “I’m pretty sure there’s no law about that. The first female New Breed.”

Ana turned and reached for him just as he went for her. As his arms came around her, she was swept against the expanse of his broad chest, and a rush of emotion hit her so hard she could hardly breathe. As their mouths came together, the energy around them crackled and the lights in the bathroom flickered. It was like she was kissing her mate for the first time. Every sensation was heightened, his scent, his warmth, his taste.
Oh, God.

“Has it always been like this for you?” she asked.

“More or less.”

Ana’s eyes widened. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“I don’t know. How would you explain it?”

He had a point.

SE smiled. “Have you got enough of a hold on your new senses to go to breakfast? I think the brothers would like to know you’re okay.”

She grinned. “Let’s make the lights flicker a little more first.”

“Shit, let’s blow the whole fuse box.”

Lights restored, SE followed Ana into the formal dining room. Normally dinner was the only meal to be served in the larger hall. Something was up. He looked down at the table and took in the spread. There was enough goddamn food for three Orders and then some. Then it dawned on him. Someone had leaked the news. They all knew Ana had gone through the transition.

The brothers rose from their seats and, in unison, placed their fists over their hearts.

“
In lak'ech
,” they said in unison.

“
Ala k'in
,” Ana returned, her fist over her heart.

“Booyah!” X yelled, reaching for Ana and picking her up so she sat on his shoulder.

Pax grinned. “Welcome, sis!”

As the brothers passed her around, laughing and marveling at the idea of having their first female member, SE watched quietly from the sidelines, so fucking proud he actually had to wipe a tear from his cheek.

Dimitri clapped his shoulder. “She really is something special, my brother.”

“That she is, D. That she is.”

Of course, some things never change. Once the meal began, they all ate like it was the last food they would ever see.

SE held out a piece of bacon and Ana took a bite.

“Aw, man,” Diesel moaned. “Next thing you know, they’ll be mauling each other in public.”

Troy snorted. “You’re one to talk. Your bromance with Pax is a well-known documented fact.”

Xavier laughed. “He ain’t lyin’. I think I read about it on Wikipedia.”

Pax put down his juice and feigned offense. “Are you objectifying me?”

Diesel grinned. “Sorry, dude, I don’t swing that way.”

“Be very afraid,” Richard said to James.

“So,” Reyn said between bites. “I was thinking. What do you all think of having their initiation tonight?”

“Sounds good to me,” Richard said.

“I second the hell outta that,” Troy added.

Reyn grinned. “Good. I’ll just check with Geoffrey and make sure there’s enough time to get everything in order.”

As everyone started to get up from the table, Adriana took Ana by the hand. “The first thing we need to do is find you a robe that’ll fit you. They might all be enormous, but I can always cut one down for you. And then I have a surprise I think you’re going to like.”

“
Like
is such an insipid word,” Pax said coming up behind them.

Ana raised a brow. “What are you two up to?”

“You’ll see,” Adriana sang.

“Oh, SE, I’ve got your robe,” Richard said. “It’s in Dimitri’s room. Let’s head up and see if it fits.”

Ten minutes later Ana was standing in Adriana’s suite draped in a giant white ceremonial robe with pins all over the place. “I feel like a porcupine.”

Adriana smiled and stuck another pin into the silky white fabric. “Well, they clearly weren’t expecting you.”

Ana let a giggle escape. “Yeah, I get that a lot. Um, what exactly is Pax doing in your closet?”

“Don’t ask. Okay, let’s try to get you out of this thing without impaling you on these pins.” She reached past her pregnant belly and helped Ana slide out of the robe.

“Thanks, Adriana.”

“Anytime, my dear. Now, let’s go kick Pax out of my closet and find you something to wear tonight.”

“What?”

“A dress,” Pax said. “You know, females wear those sometimes?”

Ana walked into the closet and stuck her tongue out at the brother.

Pax pushed through a rack of blouses. “Do you actually have more clothes since the last time I was in here?”

“Only if you count the hot maternity wear I’ve been sporting lately.”

He walked over to the dresses. “Hmm. She needs elegant…sexy, but not too over the top.”

Adriana pulled a dress from the rack. “What about the vintage de la Renta?”

“The black one?” Pax asked. “I don’t know. The beaded bodice is gorgeous, but the skirt is really full. It’s a little too ball–gown for tonight.”

Ana wanted to tell them what her style was or at least what kind of thing she liked, but the truth was she hadn’t worn a dress since she was about ten and she had no idea what her frigging style was. None.
Nada.
There was nothing in the closet that spoke to her. Fashion was not one of the three languages she was fluent in.

Pax was shaking his head at something. “Don’t you dare put her in the god-awful ill-fitting Prada thing.”

“It’s not
ill-fitting
, Pax.”

“Please. I so saved your sorry ass from wearing that mess to your mate’s initiation.”

As they argued about the dress, Ana saw a very slight shimmering toward the back of the closet. She didn’t want to be rude, but her curiosity got the best of her. She slipped past Adriana and Pax and ran her hand along the full length dress. It was an antique gold with a faint sheen.

“Oh. My. God. Is that the Gianfranco Ferré column dress from his 2010 fall collection? How did that get in here?” Pax asked.

“It’s been here all along. It turned out there was no way to hem the damn thing. Do you like that one, Ana? Pull it out. Let’s take it into the light.”

Back in the bedroom, Pax held the dress up in the daylight. Ana gasped. It was the most beautiful thing she’d ever seen.

“Would you like to try it?” Adriana asked.

Pax handed Ana the dress. “Well, she won’t have a length issue with her height. I can’t believe it’s jersey. That’s fucking genius.”

Ana took the gown into the bathroom and slid it on. For some ridiculous reason, she felt a little shy about going back out to the sitting room in it. Swallowing hard, she opened the door and walked out.

“Oh, Ana, you look incredible,” Adriana said. “Go look in the mirror.”

Ana stood in front of the full-length mirror. She was stunned. It was like she was in some kind of dream. The wide straps took up most of her shoulders, but left her newly shaped arms uncovered. The front panel was exquisite. She looked so elegant, so grown up.

Pax took a step closer. “It’s really amazing with your bright green eyes and dark hair. You look like an Egyptian queen. Give us a turn, Ana,” Pax instructed. “Look at the way the jersey falls on that body of hers. And all the different textures on the bodice. The detail blows my mind.”

“The front panel is lovely,” Adriana agreed, “and her shape is perfect for that slightly lower cut front. What do you think, Ana?”

Tears came to Ana’s eyes. “I think…all I can think is thank you, Adriana.”

Adriana laughed and handed her a Kleenex. “Then we have a dress! Don’t thank me yet, though. You still need shoes, and my guess by your height is that you’re a good two sizes larger than I am.”

Just then, Richard walked in the room. “Holy—”

Adriana leaned up and clapped her hand over her mate’s eyes. “Drool later, buster. We’re busy in here.”

Richard headed to the back to the sitting room. “Sorry!”

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

There was a knock at the door. Soaring Eagle looked up. “It’s open.”

“Hey,” Richard said, “Ready to get dressed?”

“Yeah, I’m done with the meditation. I have to admit, I was hoping to sneak down and see Ana before you got here.”

“She’s fine. She just finished, too. Adri’s helping her get ready. You’ll see her soon enough. Hit the shower, my brother.”

By the time he got out, SE noticed that his Armani suit, shirt, and white robe with its red tasseled belt were laid out on the bed. He suddenly started to feel a little nervous, though he wasn’t sure exactly why.