Chapter 13
"Kateri? What is it?"
She heard Ren speaking, but she couldn't respond. It was as if she was torn between two worlds and grounded in neither while her head swam with out-of-context events and images she didn't understand.
Finally, one came into focus. Dressed in formal Victorian attire, Urian fed off the blood of a woman. There was so much pleasure on his face that it sickened her.
Then the image shifted to show him in modern times, dressed in black pants and a black button-down shirt. Fire was all around him as he worked to save the life of a beautiful blond woman. She was terrified as he held his hand out to her.
"Trust me, Phoebe. I won't let you die. I swear it."
From there she saw him and Phoebe alone in an apartment where he held her so tenderly it brought tears to her eyes. Leaning back against his chest, Phoebe fed from his wrist while he stroked her hair and nuzzled her neck.
"I'm not taking too much, am I?" Phoebe asked.
"Don't worry about me. Take what you need."
Kateri could feel the love between them. It was so strong, it was tangible.
Then she left them to find Sasha in ancient Egypt embroiled in a furious battle where he fought with a clan of wolves against an ancient Greek army. Kateri sucked her breath in sharply at how young he appeared. While he fought, it was obvious he lacked the experience of the others.
And as one of the Greek soldiers came at his back with a spear, a wolf launched itself to take the fatal blow instead.
"No!" Sasha screamed, reaching for the wolf. But it was too late. The wolf had died instantly.
He was still holding the wolf when one of the soldiers came forward to seize him by his hair and pull him into a cage. "I hope they roast you over an open pyre," the soldier snarled at him.
Then those images faded while more flashed like a panicked strobe light. The motion made her sick to her stomach until everything settled again.
This time, it was Cabeza in ancient Tikal. Dressed as a Mayan warrior with his face painted into a fierce mask, he was under attack by a group of seven men led by a prince from Calakmul.
"We will feed on your blood," one of the men shouted in Cabeza's face.
Cabeza laughed. "Crawl back to Calakmul, Chacu. So long as I live, my father will own this land and yours."
Kateri's heart pounded as she realized that this was the same Chacu who'd attacked her in her lab. No wonder Cabeza had lost his mind. Their enmity was centuries old.
And still the images shifted again, making her feel like Alice falling down the rabbit hole. But the next time she was able to focus, she gasped.
Coyote stood with Buffalo in the same hall where she'd seen Buffalo's body after Coyote had killed him-wearing the same clothes he'd died in. It was strange to see this version of the cowboy. While their features were the same, Buffalo had long black hair and wasn't nearly as well muscled as Sundown Brady. Nor did he have the same cockiness or sense of humor.
Buffalo glanced around the room in confusion. "Where's Makah'Alay? I received a message that he needed to see me. He's not hurt, is he?"
A tic worked in Coyote's jaw. "No, he's not hurt. He's healthier than ever."
"Then why-"
"I was the one who sent the servant after you," Coyote said, interrupting him.
His scowl increased. "I don't understand."
"I'm your future chief, Buffalo. Not my brother. You'd do well to remember that."
"Is that a threat?"
Coyote scoffed. "Why would I threaten the man who stood by and allowed my torture? I ask you?"
"I didn't know what he was doing to you."
"You didn't bother to find out, did you?"
Shame filled Buffalo's eyes. "I never dreamed he'd do something like that. It wasn't really him, you know. Getting Grizzly out of him almost cost the First Guardian his life."
"How commendable of you to keep defending him. How sweet."
Buffalo went ramrod stiff at the insult. "What are you implying?"
"Nothing. I merely find it odd that you have always been so quick to defend a mentally defective retard when no one else will. Tell me honestly, don't you get tired of kissing his ass all the time?"
Buffalo took a step toward him, then stopped. "You're not going to goad me into a fight. So you might as well stop this now. I protect him because I owe him a debt that cannot be repaid. My sister and mother were on the brink of starvation until he began bringing us meat. I wouldn't have them now but for Makah'Alay, and for that charity, he will always have my loyalty."
"How nice for my brother. It's a shame your loyalty goes no further."
"How do you mean?"
Coyote moved to stand just before him. He raked a condemning sneer down the length of Buffalo's body. "You know exactly what I mean. I saw you earlier today."
Buffalo's face blanched at the last five words.
"Oh yeah ... I see the guilt in your eyes. You have stolen the affections of my promised bride."
"I stole nothing."
Coyote snorted. "Bullshit! That was why you didn't help me when Makah'Alay tortured me. You were hoping I'd die so that you could have her and a clear conscience."
"That's not true."
"Isn't it?"