Midnight Magic, page 27
“Can you believe Beck is gonna be like mere feet away on the stage?” one female gushed, glossing up her lips.
“Oh, I know,” the other female sighed, using the same gloss as her friend. “But you know I have a thing for the drummer.”
They snickered.
“Sorry,” Maddie interrupted, recognizing the name because every ovulating female on the planet knew who Beck was. “I couldn’t help but overhear. Is Lush Heat going to be playing?”
The two females looked at her as if Maddie were, well, mad.
“Duh!” they said in unison. Their accompanying giggles harmonized too, believe it or not.
“Why else would we and the fifty million other females be here?” Glossy lips number one teased.
“They’ll be on the main stage in about thirty minutes,” the other followed up.
“Thanks.” Maddie gave them a wave and exited the bathroom, AKA Universal Female Gossip Central.
While Maddie wondered how the Caswell Pride managed to book one of the hottest rock bands, she checked her phone once more and was seriously tempted to stay to see the band kick off the night. She loved some of their songs and, fine, she wasn’t too ashamed to admit that the lead singer, Beck, certainly was a hot—
Maddie’s brow furrowed as her natural-born gifts with emotions faintly tingled to life. Being that she was basically in a sea of emotions with all the specians surrounding her, she didn’t quite understand why something was suddenly niggling at her.
For whatever reason, she went on instinct, halting in her steps and closing her eyes in concentration. She carefully opened up her abilities by only the smallest fraction—anything more would be utterly overwhelming and pretty much fry her circuits in this kind of environment.
Joy. Bliss. Happiness. Laughter—okay, that technically wasn’t an emotion, but she heard it. Frustration and annoyance—that was likely from the couple she could hear arguing not too far away. Anticipation. Pride. Fear. Excitement. Lust.
Wait—
She doubled back to that tiniest trickle of fear and tried to focus on it.
Fear. Stress. Confusion. Hopeless. Worry.
Following that thread like a homing beacon, she found herself walking around the corner of the bathroom building but didn’t see anything. With a shrug, Maddie turned and began to walk away.
But... damn it.
That same something inside of her that had detected that emotional thread was telling her to turn back and check more thoroughly.
With an I-must-be-crazy sigh, she pivoted on her feet and was back at the side of the bathroom. She still saw a whole lotta nothing.
With a slight furrow of her brows, she walked the length of the concrete wall until she came up against the dirt hill that was nestled up against the back of the building. Peering around to the back of the building, she waited for her eyes to adjust as the back of the building didn’t have any lights. Then again, why would it?
And why was she peering around the back of the bathroom building anyway? Surely, all that sugar she’d consumed today was just going to her—
Just as the faintest tendril of worry and fear registered to her senses, she saw what looked like a small outline of—
Oh god! Is that a young? Maddie’s heart kicked in her chest at the sight of a young girl curled into herself, knees tucked up and back against the building and toes touching the dirt hill.
Healer’s hell, how had the little thing wedged herself back there?
“Hi, there,” Maddie greeted gently with a warm smile and crouched down to be less intimidating.
The young instantly looked up, big eyes wet and wary.
Good girl, Maddie thought. Be cautious of strangers that appear nice.
“My name’s Maddie. Are you lost?”
The girl nodded but remained skeptical and in that curled-up ball, but Maddie could’ve sworn she saw the girl’s nostrils flare a few times.
“Do you know where your parents are?”
“No,” she sniffed, wiping her nose with her hand.
Maddie’s heart did another Around The World when she saw what looked like blood on the young’s shirt. “Are you hurt?”
“No.”
Maddie eyed the shirt once more. “Are you sure? You can tell me. I promise I won’t tattle and get you in trouble.”
“I’m not hurt.”
“That’s good to hear, hun. I only asked because I think I see blood on your shirt,” Maddie said, trying another tactic.
“Oh, that’s just from my toof.” The young brightened a bit. “See.” She flashed a big toothy smile. Well, toothless, as it were. And then held up what looked like a partially chewed slice of a caramel apple with—
“Is that your tooth?” Maddie asked, eyeing the little white thing sticking out as if on display.
“Uh-huh,” she beamed. “I wanted to show Caweb and went to find him and tell him I’m a big kit now and that—”
The words became a string of incomprehensible sounds slung together because she was speaking so fast and in that way young tended to do when they got really excited about something and felt as if they had to get it out all in one breath.
But Maddie picked up on the word “kit,” which meant the young was likely a shifter of some kind. Plus, Maddie caught what she guessed was a name: Kayweb. “Is Kayweb your friend?”
The girl nodded. “You say it funny.”
Maddie smiled. “I’m sorry. How do you say it?”
“Ca-web,” she said in two distinct syllables.
Maddie nodded. “Do you know where we can find Kay-Web?”
The girl snickered a little but didn’t explain what was so funny. Then she shook her head. “I dunno.” The momentary beam of sunshine in the young’s demeanor disappeared, and fear shone through once more.
“Okay, well, I’ll help you find Kay-Web. Is that your mother?”
“No.” Another slight snicker. “My mom is Wawita.”
“Well, I’ll help you find Kay-Web and Wawita.”
“Wa-Wi-Ta,” the young corrected with a childish giggle.
“Sorry about that,” Maddie said, wondering about the origins of these names she’d never heard of before. Not like she was a steorrian who had a thing for etymology or anything. “I’ll help you find Kay-Web and Wa-Wi-Ta.”
“Mom says I’m only supposed to twust commanders and sigh.”
Maddie instantly knew the girl meant SILE, Species Intelligence and Law Enforcement. “That’s right. It’s not safe to trust strangers.” Maddie dug her hand into her purse and fished out her phone (AKA Computer Communication Device). “I’m not a SILE officer”—she pulled up her SILE-issued mind healer ID card—“But I do work as a mind healer with SILE.”
The little girl scooted closer and appraised it for several long moments.
Maddie was about to change tactics and see how else she can help this girl—she didn’t want to leave her alone to see if she could find someone who could help. Was SILE even at this party? She didn’t know much about the Caswell Pride really other than they were one of the largest in the world—maybe the largest?—and was one you didn’t want to mess with. Surely, there’d be… lieutenants? Captains? Officers? Hell, why were there so many hierarchical terminologies for different types of specian packs and units?
“Ma… Mad… Madd-eye-son.” the girl announced triumphantly after sounding it out a couple of times.
“Good job. That’s my name, Maddison, but I go by Maddie. Do you want to try my last name?” Maddie pointed to it on her ID.
Her last name proved to be a bit more difficult, but she helped the girl sound it out. “And what’s your name?”
“Aanya.”
“Okay, Aanya.” Maddie stood up, ignoring the way her knee popped loudly. “What do you say we help you find your mom?”
Aanya slid her hand into Maddie’s without hesitation. “Can we find Caweb? Caweb can see my toof”—she held up the chewed apple slice dusted with dirt—“and find my mom.”
“Okay.” Maddie nodded, her heart squeezing at the trust the girl placed in her and thanking the magic of life that some creepo hadn’t found Aanya first. “We can find Kay-Web.”
CHAPTER 9
“This little one is lost. We’re looking for a Kay-Web or a Wa-Wi-Ta. Do you know them?”
The two mates in their family of four shook their heads, concern openly painted across their faces.
“No, sorry. But I really hope you find them.”
“Me too. Thanks anyway,” Maddie said, knowing she was getting desperate at this point and just asking basically anyone that looked friendly and who had young. She figured she had a better chance of families recognizing Aanya or the names than the buzzed single-and-ready-to-mingle types. Besides, she hadn’t seen a single SILE officer—well, no one in uniform at least.
“Brea and Brian, did you hear that young is lost? Do you remember where we said to meet if we get separated?” Maddie heard the mother say to her young as they walked away.
Rummaging through her purse, Maddie pulled out her phone and fired up the GPS map. The nearest SILE station wasn’t far. “I’m going to call that SILE station and see if they can help us out, okay?”
“Okay.” The girl nodded. “Mom says we can twust sigh.”
“That’s right, Aanya.” Maddie nodded and dialed. After a few rings, there was an answer.
“SILE station five-oh-three,” was the curt and no bullshit greeting.
“Um, hi.” Without warning, someone nearby must’ve won something because the ridiculously loud bells, sirens, whistles, and noises became a cacophony of obnoxious sounds while trying to properly execute a phone call. “Sorry for the background noise. I’m at the Caswell Party.”
“Uh-huh.” The specian on the other line didn’t sound amused, likely grumpy they were working and couldn’t be at the party.
“Well, my name is Dr. Maddison Greyem. I’m a contracted SILE mind healer.” She recited her ID number and looked down at Aanya who was inspecting her slightly dirty tooth. “I’ve found a lost young at the party and am not sure what to do. Her name is Aanya, and she said her mother is Wa-Wi-Ta. I think she’s a shifter, but I can’t be sure.”
There was a brief back-and-forth exchange as the SILE worker asked a few more questions, including what Maddie’s call-back number was. “Okay. Do you see the Ferris wheel?”
“Yes.” Maddie looked up and directly at the hard-to-miss giant ring that would give her a heart attack on the spot—she was kinda sorta deathly afraid of heights. And knew that fear wouldn’t be swayed by the fact the wheel was decorated to look like a bright and cheery sun.
“Good. Someone’ll meet you there soon. Stay there and wait for them at the front of the wheel.”
“Okay. Thank you.” Maddie ended the call. “Do you know what a Ferris wheel is, Aanya?”
“Yes!” Aanya brightened a bit and pointed to the large amusement ride illuminated with colorful lights not too far in the distance. “Are we gonna go on it?”
“Not today, hun. But that’s where the SILE officer is going to meet us.”
*.*.*.*.*
* * *
“Caleb, sir.” Lee skidded to a halt and quickly bowed his head. “A mated pair with two young just reported to one of our junior commanders that a female approached them saying she found a lost young and was trying to reunite her with her parents.”
Clyde held his breath in hope.
“Is it Aanya?” Caleb’s voice was more a command than a question.
“Unsure, sir. The pair couldn’t recall the name, but they said the little girl matched the description of Aanya.”
“Did they see the picture?”
Everyone in the search party had been sent the electronic file with Aanya’s picture.
“The junior commander’s phone died.”
“Who?” Caleb was clearly displeased.
Lee winced slightly. “Dranon, sir. He’s off duty tonight and not a part of the search units.”
Caleb’s expression lightened a touch at that.
“The mated pair recognized Dranon as a part of the pride commanders and told him. He immediately found a fellow officer, who confirmed the missing young, and then borrowed the phone to report it to me.”
Lee relayed the rest of what he knew, which wasn’t much. Just as Caleb and Clyde were about to join the redirected search unit to the area the mated pair’s guesstimate of where the female with the lost young approached them, Clyde’s phone rang.
“Yeah,” he answered without preamble, recognizing the number belonged to SILE. And not just anyone at SILE but someone he’d come to know (and respect) through his duties of being one of the main contacts between SILE and the pride.
“Got a report of a missing young.”
His heart stopped, and he clapped Caleb on the shoulder while putting his phone on speaker.
“Talk to me, Drex.”
“Your local station got a call from a female not too long ago. Said she found a lost young who’s name is Aanya.”
Clyde’s grip tightened on the phone, knowing he’d already contacted Drex earlier to report Aanya was missing.
“Where?” Caleb cut in, his long, dark blonde mane starkly contrasting the danger in his expression.
The unexpected alpha tone had Drex pause for only a split-second before he replied with efficiency, “She was directed to wait at the front of the Ferris wheel.”
“Thanks, D.” Clyde was already ending the call and all but flying to the Ferris wheel at shifter speed in Caleb’s wake.
No. Fucking. Way, Clyde thought, disbelieving the female with Aanya.
*.*.*.*.*
* * *
“Caweb! Caweb!” Aanya shouted enthusiastically, tugging on Maddie’s hand—okay, it was more like Aanya almost ripped her arm out of her socket.
But Maddie refused to let go, having kept a death grip on Aanya’s hand the entire time. She was too afraid that the young would accidentally slip away and get lost—well, more lost. It was also why Maddie hadn’t let Aanya out of her sight, even for the mere fraction of a second.
“Kay-Web?!” Maddie shot upright. “Where—” Before she could even finish fully standing, let alone finish her question, her hair whooshed back in an unnatural breeze.
Her jaw dropped and her entire body was suddenly on high alert, keying into the two apex predators before her: Clyde and—
“Caleb,” she breathed, feeling like a complete idiot at calling him Kay-Web.
Aanya didn’t waste a second running to Caleb.
“There’s our probie cub.” Caleb scooped Aanya up with ease and promptly began nuzzling her, the gesture more feline than human.
“Maddie?” Clyde’s eyes of golden brown honey pinned her to the spot.
Before she could respond, her attention was diverted to Caleb’s commanding voice.
“Call it in.” The alpha’s eye flicked from Clyde to Maddie and back to Aanya.
Immediately, Clyde had his phone out and was executing the calls.
“Now, Aanya.” Caleb brought the young to his eye level.
“Yes, Caweb?”
“What happened?”
“Well—” Aanya proceeded to share her story at the speed of light. “—and then my toof fell out—” She held up the now very dirty piece of a caramel apple with the tiny tooth still sticking out and continued without taking a breath. “—and then I couldn’t find my mommy and then I was lost and crying and scared—” Tiny arms wrapped even tighter around Caleb’s neck as if she were scared just recounting it.
Caleb nuzzled her so affectionately, instinctively that it had Maddie’s eyes glisten. She wondered what it would be like to be held and nuzzled and loved so deeply.
“—and then Maddie found me—”
Pale amber eyes that belonged to The Lion King landed on her and she instinctively looked down. When she looked back up, those piercing orbs were back on Aanya.
“—and then she showed me her sigh card—”
One more round of the alpha appraisal and damn it, she averted her gaze again. She wasn’t even a shifter, but still some innate part of her—the wild, animalistic side of her DNA—recognized the alpha as the head honcho.
Aanya continued with her tale—and wow, the set of lungs on the little one was impressive. If Maddie would’ve done what the girl was doing, she’d be out of breath and panting by now.
“—and then she bought me ice cream ‘cause she said I couldn’t have another apple ‘cause my teef might be sore and look! Did you see my teef, Caweb?!”
“Yes, I see your fangs are coming in. They’ll be as sharp as any of my commanders.”
“Weally?!” Aanya’s eyes got huge, utterly kittenish and adorable.
How could anyone refuse eyes like that?
“Yes, really.” The pad of Caleb’s finger booped Aanya’s nose, and she giggled. “Now, probie cub”—His eyes leveled on Aanya’s, who miraculously held the gaze longer than Maddie had managed—“I know you didn’t mean to get separated from your mother. But if that ever happens in the future, you know what I want you to do?”
“What, Caweb?”
“I want you to be like the brave probie cub I know you are and do that roar we taught you.”
“Yes, sir, Caweb, sir.”
His lips twitched ever so slightly. “And if no one in the pride comes. Keep doing it until someone does. We’ll come for you, Aanya. I’ll always come for you. You’re mine.” Then he nuzzled her some more.
Oh god, why am I about to cry? Scratch that. There was no about to. She was literally tearing up and blinking rapidly.
“Aanya!!!”
Maddie’s hair did another whoosh backward as a female appeared with tears streaking down her frantic face. At least Maddie wasn’t the only one crying now.
“My baby! My baby!”
Caleb did the handoff, and then there was more nuzzling with the addition of motherly kissing. There was a bit of a back and forth before Aanya relaunched into her tale again at top speed.
