This was even worse than Katrina had feared. “Wow,” she said softly, her mind struggling to take in all he’d revealed. “So, she’s back, and the battle is happening all over again? Only, this time, humanity knows nothing about it?”
“From what I understand of our history, the non-magical folk of ancient times were aware but really unable to do much in the battle. It was left to us—the shifters, bloodletters, fey, wood and ocean spirits, and the others—to do the actual fighting. It happened all over the world as Elspeth’s followers wreaked havoc everywhere.” Ren selected a suit out of his garment bag and hung it up in preparation for putting it on. “The guy you’ll meet tonight was there, during the last battle. I wouldn’t recommend asking him about it, though. All the old soldiers I’ve met don’t like talking about past battles with the uninitiated, and you’re a babe in the woods in this world. Just answer his questions and let him lead the conversation, that’s my advice, and that’s exactly what I’ll be doing, as well. We’re here on his sufferance, and I don’t want to mess this up for Sonia and everybody else involved in this production.”
“Oh, I’ll be careful. I know I’ve got a lot to learn about your world,” she told him. “I had dinner with the governor once, at a charity event my family was involved in, and I didn’t even tell him I voted for the other guy.”
Ren laughed, as she’d intended, and stopped to give her a quick kiss before returning to his preparations. Katrina found the dress she intended to wear and headed for the attached bathroom. After a full day of travel, she needed a quick shower before she would feel refreshed. When Ren followed her into the luxuriously large shower stall, she regretted their lack of time for fun and games. He ducked in, kissed her soundly while lathering them both up—getting her hopes up, as well—then rinsed and left her wanting. The scoundrel.
Katrina rinsed the rest of the soap off and washed her hair. It wasn’t going to look perfect, since she had little time to devote to hair and makeup, but she’d be presentable. She’d mastered the quick change in her years of having to look good as the greeter in her family’s restaurant. She was out of the shower three minutes later and working on her hair with the hair dryer that was conveniently provided. Ten minutes later, she had a dash of makeup on her face as she slithered into the dress she’d brought with her.
It was a slinky number that didn’t wrinkle and folded up small in her bags. It was versatile, and with a strand of pearls and some earrings, she was as ready for a formal dinner as she could be while living out of a suitcase. She stepped out of the bathroom to find Ren, resplendent in evening wear and stopped short. It really should be illegal to be that good looking in person.
Her heart went pitter-pat, knowing that he was hers, and vice versa. She didn’t think she could love him more, and she had the startling knowledge that the feeling went both ways. How had she ever been so blessed? Not only was he gorgeous, but he was a truly kind, honorable and intelligent man. He had all the qualities she valued, and so far, she hadn’t really seen anything she didn’t like.
He came toward her, holding something in one hand. The devilish look in his oh-so-green eyes made her wonder what he was up to. She cocked her head to watch his approach.
“I noticed your pearls while we were on the island, and I asked one of my Clanmates to adjust this for you.” He lifted his hands to the pearls around her neck, lifting the eighteen-inch strand of baroque beauties that had been her grandmother’s prized possession.
A flash of gold and green dazzled her eyes as he attached something between the lowest knotted pair of pearls. When he stepped back, she looked down. There was a golden shape with inset stones now attached to the strand of pearls. An enhancer, she’d heard such things called. She went to the nearest mirror to take a look and caught her breath.
Ren came up behind her, placing his hands on her shoulders.
“It’s a jaguar,” she whispered, fingering the delicate golden figure that was studded with black diamonds for the whorls of the jaguar’s coat and emeralds for the eyes.
“What could be more fitting for my mate?” Ren asked, his warm breath brushing past her ear as he squeezed her shoulders gently. “Do you like it?”
“Like it? I love it!” She turned in his arms and reached up to kiss him.
The kiss would have turned into something much more, but the moment it went from thankful to smoldering, a gong could be heard in the distance. Ren pulled back.
“We’re being called to appear,” he told her playfully. “But we’ll pick this up after dinner, okay?”
“Definitely,” she told him. “Thank you for the lovely gift. It’s stunning.”
“No more so than the woman who wears it,” he told her gallantly as he ushered her out of the room and down the stairs toward the main hall, where the company was to gather before going in, together, to dinner.
Chapter Eighteen
Everybody was dressed to the nines. Then Sonia appeared in a gossamer creation that made her look like something out of a magic forest, and Katrina had the thought that she really wasn’t in Kansas anymore. She was in the company of magical beings, and she felt a tiny bit like the ugly duckling. Of course, Ren’s arm around her waist made her realize that she was part of this world now, even if she hadn’t grown up knowing about it.
She exchanged greetings quietly with the gathered shifters that she’d come to know during her brief stay on Jaguar Island, but it was clear they were all waiting for something…or someone. All talking ceased as the doors to a room at the back of the main hall opened wide. A man stood in the space between the two open doors, and Katrina’s breath caught at the air of danger about him.
He wasn’t big or bulky, but he had a darkness about him that made her shiver. Ren tightened his grip on her waist, and she felt reassured by his presence. The man had blue eyes that pierced like laser beams as they scanned over the assembled group, then came to rest on her. She couldn’t look away as the man moved forward, into the foyer, walking right up to her. At the last moment, his gaze went from her to Ren, who stood just behind her. Then, his gaze moved to Sonia, who stood just a few feet to Katrina’s left.
“I see you bring me a dove among the wildcats,” the man said, his voice echoing in the big space.
“She is not for you,” Sonia said, her own voice sounding like musical chimes, ringing in harmony.
A stare-down ensued for a moment until the man smiled and shook his head.
“I can see that. I’d heard the infamous jaguar star had found his mate.” The man held out his hand to Ren. “My congratulations to you, Rendall, and to you, young lady, for finding that which most of us dream of but never find.” His gaze swept from Ren back to her, but this time, it held no danger, merely a hint of a pleased sort of envy that was both harmless and complimentary.
Ren and the man shook hands, and then, he offered his hand to Katrina. She took his but was surprised when he lifted her fingers for a gentle kiss. This guy really was from another era, and there was nothing phony or contrived about the gesture.
“Monty, this is the Maid Marian of our production and, as you surmised, Ren’s newfound mate, Katrina,” Sonia made the introductions.