Unclaimed
Authors: Sara Humphreys
Copyright © 2013 by Sara Humphreys
Cover and internal design © 2013 by Sourcebooks, Inc.
Cover design by Jamie Warren
Photography by Jon Zychowski
Model: Steve Moriarty
Cover image © Cybernesco/iStockphoto
Sourcebooks and the colophon are registered trademarks of Sourcebooks, Inc.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means including information storage and retrieval systemsâexcept in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviewsâwithout permission in writing from its publisher, Sourcebooks, Inc.
The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious or are used fictitiously. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.
Published by Sourcebooks Casablanca, an imprint of Sourcebooks, Inc.
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“I can no other answer make, but, thanks, and thanks.”
âWilliam Shakespeare
For my readers.
“Okay, pal,” Tatiana said evenly as she stroked the puppy's coat and carried him to the exam room. “I know you're not going to like this, but you need some stitches.”
Bumping the door open with her backside, she placed the puppy on the table. He lay quietly and timidly, watching her with those soulful brown eyes as she gathered the supplies she needed.
Tatiana found the poor thing on the side of the road, but she'd felt his energy signatureâred with pain and anguishâbefore she ever saw him. The only good thing about being half Amoveo was her ability to connect with animals on a psychic level. It made her an extremely effective veterinarian and had her patients' owners calling her an animal whisperer.
It wasn't that she actually spoke to them or that she could hear them speak with wordsâit was more like the ability to feel what the animals were feeling. Tatiana was able to sense their emotions and in turn could send the animal soothing energy waves. It allowed her to connect with them on a deeper level, which made the animals more willing to let her treat them.
Tatiana made quick work of cleaning up the little beagle as he responded to her calming energy, lying perfectly still while she sutured and dressed his wound. He licked her hand as she finished, and though she sensed gratitude in his energy waves, she also saw it in those gorgeous eyes.
She could connect with all animals but had an affinity for dogs, which was probably from being part of the Timber Wolf Clan. Sometimes she wondered if the animals knew she could shapeshift into a wolf.
“You're just a big flirt, aren't you?” she asked as she scooped him up and placed a kiss on his head. “Made me fall in love with you with one look from that sweet face. So you know what? I'm going to keep you.”
Tatiana leaned back to get a better look at him and smiled.
“Yup,” Tatiana said through a smile. “You're a heartbreaker, alright. So what do you think about the name Casanova?”
The puppy answered with a face full of warm licks and a nibble on her ear.
“Alright,” Tatiana giggled. “Casanova it is, but I think we'll go with Cass for short.”
Satisfied with his new moniker, he snuggled against her chest and lay still as her sister's voice floated into Tatiana's head.
Hey, sis.
Layla's familiar sound filled her mind.
Are
you
alone, or is Matt with you? I need to see you right away.
I'm alone, Layla.
Tatiana grinned. Matt was her assistant and only friend outside of her siblings. Like her, he never knew his parents, but instead of being raised on a farm by a loving aunt like she had been, he grew up in foster homes and had no family to speak of.
Tatiana and her twin brother, Raife, may not have known their parents, but at least they had each other and their aunt Rosie. They were adopted and moved in when they were twelve, but they couldn't have been closer to Rosie than if they were actual blood relatives.
Matt always said he and Tatiana were like two peas in a pod. Tatiana felt a bit sorry for him because he really didn't have anyone other than her. He showed up looking for a job about a year ago, and they'd been thick as thieves ever since. However, as close as they were, he was still unaware of her unique heritage.
I'm in the exam room, but meet me in the waiting room, okay?
Tatiana held Cass a bit tighter as she made her way to the front office. Within seconds, the air-conditioned space filled with static electricity, and the air shimmered. Layla materialized in the center of the room. Her unruly red curls flowed wildly around her, and her brilliant green eyes sparkled brightly as she made quick work of kissing her sister on the cheek.
“I'll never get used to that,” Tatiana said quietly as she hugged Cass for some much-needed reassurance, and to her surprise, the puppy snuggled closer and licked her neck. “Can all of them do that?”
“You mean all of
us
?” Layla said playfully as she let the puppy sniff her hand. “Yeah. The pure-blood Amoveo can do it, and the hybrids like us can do it.” She lifted one shoulder and scratched Cass behind the ears. “At least, the few that I've met so far. Once you find your mate, you'll be able to do it too.”
“No thanks, sis. I'll stick to regular forms of human travel
and
human dating, for that matter. So what's up?” Tatiana asked, changing the subject. She sat on the edge of the reception desk and watched her sister carefully. “You don't usually
pop
in
like this.”
“Hardee har har,” Layla said with a roll of her eyes.
“Sorry,” Tatiana said. “I couldn't help myself.”
The smile faded from Layla's eyes, and Tatiana sensed the tension in her energy waves as they swirled faster through the room. It was something akin to a breeze that only another Amoveo could feel.
“We need your help.”
“We?” Dread crawled up Tatiana's back.
“Richard, the Prince of the Amoveo, asked me to come here to see if you'd be willing to help him. He has about a dozen Arabian horses that have all come down with something. And before you ask,
no
. Richard doesn't want to use the vet he usually hires because he's concerned the animals might have been poisoned, and if that were the case, then the vet would want to get the police involved. He suspects it was either a Purist, or possibly, part of the recent Caedo activity. Either way, we obviously can't involve the human community.”
“No way.”
“Hear me out.” Layla put her hand up to stop the inevitable protest, and Tatiana snapped her mouth closed.
Tatiana made no secret about her feelings regarding the Amoveo. Purist Amoveo killed her father for mating with her human mother. After their mother died, none of
them
came looking for her or her twin brother, Raife. The two felt as though they'd been completely abandoned. Therefore, she had no love for the Amoveo or their world.
Tatiana's mouth set in a tight line as she waited for her sister to continue.
“Thank you.” Layla let out a slow breath. “Now, listen. I know you aren't jazzed about getting involved with the Amoveo. Believe me. I get it. You know that until I met William, I was on the same train as you. I thought they
all
hated hybridsâhated
us
âbut it's simply not true. Yes. There are
some
Amoveoâthe Puristsâwho would sooner see us dead than sullying their bloodlines with human blood, but most Amoveo aren't like that.” Her jaw tilted determinedly. “William isn't,” she said, referring to her new husband. “He's a Loyalist, just like the prince.”
“I know,” Tatiana said in a gentler tone. “I met William only a couple of times, but it's obvious he's crazy about you. I mean, he hovers around you and is more protective of you than Raife has ever been of either of us. I'm happy that you found someone who makes you so happy.” Tatiana's face twisted with confusion, and she paused for a minute. “Wait a minute. Back up. Who or what is a Caedo?”
“The Caedo are a human family who know about us and hate us,” Layla said with a casual shrug as she sat on the sofa. “Apparently, they were the big bad enemy until the Purists got their panties in a bunch about us hybrids.”
“That's a lovely little tidbitâhard to believe you've been keeping that to yourself,” Tatiana said sarcastically. “So there are two different groups that want to kill us. Awesome.”
“Richard and the others thought the Caedo were a nonissue, but it seems they started acting up again. They got wind of the little civil war we had with the Purists and decided to exploit the rift. Anyway, you wouldn't have to worry about that. All you have to do is come to the ranch and check out the horses. When you're done, you can split.”
“You're killing me, you know that? Today was supposed to be my first day of vacation in the three years since I opened this place.”
“Perfect.” Layla smiled brightly. “You can vacation in Montana at the ranch. It's gorgeous in the summer. Actually, it reminds me of the farm where we grew up.”
Tatiana glanced down at the sleeping puppy in her arms.
“You can bring the dog.”
“Thanks.” Tatiana chuckled. “Actually, he seems to be an empathetic little soul. I have a hunch he'd be a great therapy dog.” She locked eyes with her sister as an idea bloomed. “I'm bringing more than the dog. I'm bringing Matt too.”
“Shit.” Layla laid her head back on the sofa and tapped her jean-clad legs with her trimmed fingernails. “Bringing a human to the ranch is not going to go over well with anyone, especially not with the Guardians. Dominic in particularâhe's a big one for rules and tradition.”
“Sorry, sis,” Tatiana said all too sweetly. “That is a deal-breaker. No Matt, no doc. Whoever this Dominic guy is, well, he'll just have to like it or lump it.”
Tatiana meant it. She wanted to help her sister, but she needed a security blanket, a way to be sure she wasn't going to get schooled by the Amoveo twenty-four-sevenâa bunch of shifters trying to talk her into this mate nonsense. If she brought a human with her, then the Amoveo would have to be on their best behavior. Otherwise, they would risk letting the proverbial cat out of the bag.
“Fine. I'll run it by Richard and Salinda. If that's the only way we can get you to help, then I'm sure they'll be okay with it.” Layla stood up. “So you'll come to the ranch and help us find out what's making the horses sick. Right?”
“Yes.” Tatiana rose from her spot on the desk and met her sister at the center of the room. “I'll book Matt and me a flight and be there in a couple of days.”
“Right.” Layla nodded. “I'll pick you up at the airport.”
“No,” Tatiana added quickly. “I'll rent a car and drive there myself. Really, it's fine.”
Layla let out sigh of frustration as she hugged her sister vigorously, which elicited a whine from Cass.
“It's okay, little buddy.” Layla rubbed his ears and looked fondly at Tatiana. “I'm sorry as hell that the horses are sick, but I can't say I'm disappointed to have you visit.” Her smile brightened. “Hey, you never know, maybe you'll find your mate, or at least get a visit from him in the dream realm.”
“No thanks.” Tatiana laughed and shook her head vehemently. “When love finds me, it will be the old-fashioned way. No dreams. No weird shit. Just good, old-fashioned, true love and romance. We
are
half human, in case you've forgotten.”
“I guess that means that you and Matt aren't⦔
“Nah.” She made a face. “I think he'd like more, but we're better as friends. No sparks. Y'know? I want a guy who will knock me out and have my head spinning.”
“Oh, I know exactly what you're talking about.” Layla's face turned as red as her hair, and she stuffed her hands in her pockets. “Actually, until I met William, I didn't really know what sparks were, and
believe
me
, when you find your mate, you'll know what
I'm
talking about.”
“When I find the love of my life, there will be plenty of sparks.” Tatiana winked. “See you in a couple of days.”
Tatiana watched as Layla's image wavered as though she were underwater, and as static crackled in the air, she vanished in a blink. As quiet settled, guilt swamped her.
She lied to her sister.
Tatiana already found her mate, or more to the point, her mate found her. She watched him time and again from the shadows of the dream realm as he hunted and stalked her in his tiger form. She had no idea what his name was or what he looked like as a human, but she
did
know he was dangerous. A predator. Yet for all his searching, she managed to stay hidden, and if she had anything to say about it, she would keep it that way.
***
“I'd have killed him twice if I could've,” Dominic growled, his voice bouncing through the sterile medical facility.
“Easy there, tiger,” Steven teased as he inspected the injury on his face. “You may be a badass from the Tiger Clan, but you're still my patient, so sit still or you won't get a lollipop.”
Steven's teasing did nothing to improve Dominic's mood. He was itching to get back outside and patrol the property, but the doctor was taking his sweet time. Steven, a member of the Coyote Clan and an excellent healer, was known for his use of humor to put his patients at ease, but right now, the last thing Dominic wanted to do was laugh. He was surprised Steven even had a sense of humor left given the suffering he had endured over the past year.
Dominic's sense of humor, on the other hand, was nowhere to be found. There was nothing funny about what had transpired in the past week. Two Caedo assassins, members of the one human family who knew of the Amoveo's existence, snuck onto the ranch and attempted to murder the prince. Dominic killed one, but another shot Eric, the other Guardian, and escaped into the surrounding mountains.
Dominic sat unmoving on the hospital bed as Steven inspected the almost-healed injury, which ran down the left side of his face. Hands balled into fists in his lap, he stared past the healer to the blank wall behind him and concentrated on keeping his fury in check. Getting pissed at Steven wouldn't help anything.
“The stitches have dissolved, and the wound is beginning to fade. You'll have a scar, but from what I hear, chicks dig scars.” Steven removed the latex gloves and tossed them in the trash. “I have to be honest. I'm surprised you healed this quickly, especially considering you haven't found your mate yet. Most fully mated Amoveo take longer to heal from a laceration as severe as this one.”
Steven picked up the tablet on his desk and entered information as he continued speaking.
“I guess you Tiger Clan boys are as tough as they say you are. Some say the tigers are the fiercest of all ten clans, and after treating you, I'd have to agree. However, you can't avoid the inevitable outcome if you don't connect with your mate.”