Laura's Secret (16 page)

Alex got a big grin on his face. “There’s no rush but I’ve been semi hard since we first met. I’ll be ready for you whenever you decide the time is right. In the meantime, let’s finish this great meal and then you can give me the grand tour. How does that sound?”

Laura relaxed. After the way he’d swooped on her before, she was nervous about the next step. He’d just given her some breathing room.

Chapter Seventeen

Since he’d asked for it, Laura gave Alex a tour of not only the house but the facility she’d built in the caverns beneath and behind the house. They were now in the main security station for the underground facility and she was showing him possible upgrades. “You see here, here and here on the map? There are natural cave systems all through this mountain. You could easily put small traveler’s shacks and have access points to the tunnels. They would serve as points of entrance and an egress for shifters,” she said.

“I see, if we did this, then there wouldn’t be a build-up of traffic on San Miguel road. Shifters could travel to these places in both human and shifted form. Why didn’t you expand and put these in? You’ve thought of everything else,” he said, remembering all he’d seen.

“Because, I don’t own the land, everything I’ve built is on my own land, my twenty acres. We can house every shifter in a hundred square miles, if we have to. Putting in these remote entrances over the mountain protects us from various surveillance methods, allows comings and goings to be unseen. It also makes sure we’re not cornered. Sometimes having a way out is an important as a way in,” she added.

“You’ve built a shelter and a command center. My next question is, why do we need it? My office is in a regular office building in Lewisburg. This is like NORAD for shifters. Why do you think we need all this? You don’t think it’s over the top?” he asked hoping she wouldn’t be offended by the question.

“The Shayatin have never come against you in an organized fashion. The same can be said for The Society. My intelligence tells me that has been slowly changing. I don’t think your people have put together two and two the way I have. I’m a trained analyst, and I know what I’m seeing. I’d like to give you a presentation of what I’ve put together. It’ll show you this place is necessary. Unfortunately, it’ll likely scare the shit out of you and make you angry as well. Are you willing to listen?” she asked him.

“You’re my mate. I’ll always listen to everything you have to say. Making policy for all shifters nationally will take more. I’m sure you understand how that works. There may be less politicking with shifters but there are still opinions that matter, old-school shifters will have to be brought in line. What I can do is call for a conference, in person. If anything you’ve convinced both Marshall and myself our conferencing system is not secure,” he said. He then opened the door so they could exit. As they went back to the elevator to return to the house he had some more questions.

“How many would have to be stationed here to get this place operational?” he asked.

“It depends on your goals. If you want to keep it as a bolthole, then minimally I’d say twelve people. If you want the whole shebang up and running, training facilities, intelligence, hospital, etcetera, then we’re talking more personnel. I estimate between forty and sixty personnel with up to another one hundred rotating trainees. After every able-bodied shifter in the country has received a few weeks of training, then permanent personnel could be lowered again,” she said, entering the elevator.

He thought about everything that she had told him. If the data she pulled was correct, it was only a matter of time before shifters were revealed to the public at large. The Society’s membership would likely swell for a time. They weren’t poised yet to ensure the protections their people needed. Also, any reveal plan would be worldwide, not just in the U.S. What a nightmare! He would do everything he could to protect his people.

When they got upstairs, Mara and Frieda had arrived back at the house. Once again Alex was amazed at everything Laura had accomplished. She would say all she did was pay for it, and others built it. What he understood was she had conceived it. She saw the need and used her own talents and money to fill it. Knowing she would be confronted with a group intent on keeping their secrets, she had, from the first, kept no secrets herself. His mate was a remarkable woman. He only hoped she let him into her bed soon. More than once he’d had to hold himself back from simply picking her up and heading for the nearest bedroom. And her house had a lot of bedrooms in it!

Meeting Frieda was a revelation. He knew instantly he had a strong ally in shortening the time before he and Laura could mate bond.

“So, child, I understand this fine young man is your mate?” Frieda asked her.

“Yes, Frieda. He arrived this morning,” Laura said.

“Good, good. Tonight I will perform your mate bond ceremony. We mustn’t waste time,” she said. Turning from Laura back to Mara, she questioned her, “Where is your holy place?”

“We don’t have an ancient place, like a stone circle. I usually go to a clearing near my home,” explained Mara.

“But this community of shifters is quite old. There should be a place. You don’t know of one?” she asked again.

“No, Frieda. If there ever was one, I’ve never heard of it.”

Frieda began to pace back and forth. They were all sitting around the living room. Marshall, Mara, Alex, and Laura were watching Frieda pace, she was muttering under her breath in German.

“It’s a good thing I have my books and things now. We will have to make a location spell. In the old days I could simply wait until nightfall and go for flight through the sky. I can’t do that here, pity,” she said.

“There are very few people around here at night. I’m sure you could shift and fly,” said Marshall, thinking she meant to shift into an eagle or other bird of prey.

“In order to find a place of magic, I would need to be a magical beast. I would need my dragon to fly such a search. It’s too big a risk, would draw too much attention if it were seen. I’m still trying to live down that swim I took in Scotland and that was years ago! No we will do this the hard way,” she said with a sigh. “I better get prepared, this could take some time.”

After she had hurried out to go to the suite Laura had assigned to her, the others turned to each other. “Scotland?” Mara said, and they all started laughing.

Marshall and Alex started talking about the things Laura had shown him, making plans for the future. He’d already decided to move the national headquarters from West Virginia to Montana. There were big changes coming and the men had a lot of decisions to make.

Mara and Laura started talking about bonding ceremonies. Laura needed another session of shifter 101.

“Would you explain what a shifter bonding ceremony is?” Laura asked her.

“A bonding ceremony for true mates is different than one for two shifters that fall in love and decide to mate. True mates are already joined on a magical level. So the ceremony is similar to a wedding. The two are pledging themselves to each other in front of their peers and family. We try to have the ceremony outdoors, close to nature because even though we’re in our human forms, an outdoor setting takes us a step closer to our animal natures. Often at the end of a ceremony the wedding guests will shift and go for a run,” Mara explained.

“What’s different when the two aren’t true mates?” Laura wanted to know.

“Well, the ceremony is a little more involved because the two shifters usually want to create a bond that’s as close to a true mate bond as they can. As priestess I would perform a blood ritual to bind their magic.”

“What about when a shifter marries, or bonds with a human? It’s not like I can shift and go for a run in the woods,” Laura said.

“After a run, there’s a party. And there are always people who don’t choose to shift. We’re there to celebrate a bond, shifting is a bonus but not necessary.”

Laura looked over to make sure the guys weren’t paying attention to what the women were saying. Still, she didn’t know how good their hearing was. So she waved to Mara and led her out of the room. She waited until they were in her office with the door closed.

“What do you want to know that you don’t want Marshall and Alex to overhear?” asked Mara.

“What about sex? Do shifters ever have sex in their animal forms?” she asked blushing. “Is that a part of the bonding ceremony? I’m asking because Frieda said I won’t have all my powers until we have sex.”

“Because you’re true mates, you don’t need a blood bond. When you make love and share your bodily fluids, your bond will form then. As to having sex in a shifted form, well, that’s up to the people involved. Shifters aren’t different from anyone else in that regard. We have people who are fairly straight when it comes to sex and others who are more adventurous. Sex is between you and your mate. Yes, there are shifters that take advantage of their shifted forms to experiment with sex in that form. Did your mother give you the sex talk?” she asked. Mara had just realized how sheltered Laura really was.

“I’m really attracted to Alex. We’ve kissed and everything. But I don’t know what he’s going to expect. I’ve never had sex before. Until today, I’d never even been kissed. My dad and having six older brothers, combined with my various health issues, no boy had a chance of coming near me. I'm a little nervous about it actually. Does that seem weird? Shifters, my sun problem going away, finding out I’m really a changeling but the thing that makes me the most nervous is sex,” she said and gave a huff of exasperation.

“Honey, I’d be surprised if you weren’t nervous. You’re going to be taking this man, a virtual stranger into your bed and your body. It’s a big deal. I can promise you this. True mates are always well matched. You may not be in love right now in this minute but the strong attraction you feel will get you started and love will grow from there. Rely on Alex to show you the way and don’t be afraid to talk to him. When the doors are closed, it’s just the two of you and then anything goes, okay? Do you have any specific questions?” she asked.

“No, I’m okay. I know enough. I’ll fill Alex in on making love to someone with my issues. If Frieda’s right and this speeds up my healing, after awhile I’ll be able to participate more. I just hope he doesn’t mind being mated to someone with my problems and is willing to stick it out,” she said, letting Mara in on her biggest fear.

“Honey, you don’t understand. When true mates bond its forever. No divorce, no fooling around. He’s going to want you and only you for the rest of his life. You’ll feel the same way. You won’t even notice other men in a sexual way. It’s kind of weird but I’ve seen it over and over again.”

Laura looked at Mara carefully, judging her words. She didn’t think Mara was just saying words to make her feel better. Finally she gave her a smile of relief.

“I’m glad. I don’t think I could take it if he rejected me, especially if he wasn’t happy with me in the bedroom department.”

Mara leaned over and patted her hand. “You have nothing to worry about. You’re going to have a mate that loves you and is devoted to your happiness. The two of you will have something special. I’m actually a little jealous. I’d like to settle down with a mate. I’ve just never met anyone special or my true mate.”

“Does everyone have a true mate?” Laura asked.

“I like to think so,” said Mara.

Before Laura could ask any more questions the door opened and Frieda poked her head in. “What are you two doing in here? Come on, we have to find the sacred place. I know there must be one here somewhere.” She started talking to herself in German as Mara and Laura followed her down the hallway.

When they reentered the living room both Marshall and Alex looked up. Alex stood and walked over to the end of the couch where Laura had parked her chair. “You and Mara disappeared. Is everything alright?” he asked her as he picked up her hand. He couldn’t help but want to touch her all the time. She hadn’t been gone very long but he’d missed her the minute she left the room.

“I’m fine, just needed a little girl talk,” she told him, trying not to blush. She wasn’t ready to have a conversation about sex with him. She knew they were expected to have sex that night, talking about it just made her more nervous. At this rate she’d be breaking out in hives before they got into bed.

“Alright everyone,” Frieda said, clapping her hands. “We need to get started. We don’t know how long this is going to take.

They all dutifully followed her out of the room. She went through the kitchen into the pantry. The room off the pantry was where the tram stopped. A second entrance for visitors where they could take the large freight elevator down into the complex Laura had built without coming in the house. Now Frieda stood in the large area surrounded by the others. Tom and Ben came too. Only Lola stayed in the house. She was determined to make a bonding feast for all of them to have after the ceremony. The other alphas would be attending too so she had a lot of cooking and baking to do.

Frieda handed the large blanket she was carrying to Mara. “I may be able to go outside now, but I can’t go hiking all over the mountain. I’ll stay here and act as your base. If you’re planning a grid search, I have maps,” Laura said, wishing she could go with them.

Frieda gave her a sympathetic look and glanced at Alex before she spoke. “I’m sorry, dear, this will be a magical search and not as methodical as you believe. I’ll need to change into a magical creature. The blanket is so no one can see me from above. Hopefully there won’t be any hikers. The last time…well let’s just say I’ve learned that lesson. I’m sorry you won’t be there with me; you need to know how to perform this type of search. Places of power are links to our ancestors and the other realms. Our changeling abilities always get a boost when we spend time there. We’ll want to have your lessons there as well so I hope it’s not too far away.”

Alex got the hint and offered to carry Laura on his back. An offer which she quickly accepted, she didn’t want to be left behind. Alex picked her up and held on to her legs as she wrapped her arms around his shoulders. He quickly realized that she couldn’t grip him at all with her legs, so Mara helped by lifting each leg to the side so he could support them properly. When he felt how light she was, he worried for her health. He made a mental note to find out all about her physical condition.