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  Natalya gasped softly.

  This can’t be a coincidence.

  “That name means something to you?” It was Allynne’s voice, but Ms. Claudette’s head tipped to the right, one silver brow raised.

  “No.” She didn’t care if she lied; Natalya wasn’t interested in revealing her association with the Arceneaux. That would be too close to showing her feelings for Lézare. “This isn’t about food, is it? You didn’t bring me here because Ms. Claudette isn’t eating.” Natalya looked into the old woman’s eyes, wanting her to answer, not the being inside her, the one called Allynne. “Did you, Ms. Claudette?”

  “I don’t want to be alone. And I don’t want Allynne to be alone.”

  “Claudette, I told you I can take care of myself. I’ve been taking care of myself for ages. Eons.”

  Natalya wanted to shake her head to clear it. It was one thing to know you were a shifter. It was one thing to know that supernatural beings existed. But this was mind-boggling. Now she understood how it must be for humans to encounter shifters—equally confusing.

  “Ms. Claudette.” Natalya took the frail hand in hers. “You’re not dying anytime soon. Don’t go fretting about this.”

  “Promise me you’ll be there, though. Promise me.”

  “I promise.” Natalya pushed the plate closer. “Now eat, please. I need to get on the road. I’m going out of town, and I won’t be here tomorrow night. Okay? I’ll come see you as soon as I’m back in town.”

  Natalya was confused. How could an Arceneaux relative be here? Lézare couldn’t possibly know. He wouldn’t let his relatives live in a homeless shelter while he lived in opulence; he wasn’t that type of man. She bit back her urge to ask Ms. Claudette questions…

  Mind your own business, she chastised herself.

  I can’t.

  She wanted to know how one of Lézare’s relatives—even by marriage—could be living in a homeless shelter.

  Claudette took dainty bites, slowly, as if she was savoring both the meal and the moments. The blue flash in her eyes was gone.

  Natalya sat with her while she stretched one dinner plate into a two-hour visit.

  Finally, Natalya walked her to her cot in the community room, leaned in, and gave her a kiss on her lined cheek. She was going to get Ms. Claudette better accommodations, she decided. She’d put her in a nursing home where she could have a private room and live out the rest of her days with dignity.

  As soon as I return from Louisiana.

  “Don’t forget your promise,” Ms. Claudette whispered as she closed her eyes.

  “I’ll be there. I will.”

  She didn’t want to think of Ms. Claudette dying.

  Chapter Six

  “What’s up?” Vax looked at Lézare’s face.

  Lézare tried to hide his emotions. He hadn’t expected his cousin to walk in on him before he could compose himself prior to returning to the party.

  “Not much.”

  “That doesn’t look like not much.” Vax pointed to Lézare’s hand on the phone.

  The phone was cracked.

  “Accident.” Lézare loosened his grip on the cordless and put it back on its base.

  “You don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to. Just don’t tell me it’s nothing.”

  Lézare nodded, then turned toward the French windows that overlooked the garden, lit up now with hanging lanterns and lights hidden behind the topiaries and the maze. The way the house was placed, even the first floor, where they were standing now, overlooked the gardens and the maze it contained. A maze composed of careful architecture and manicured hedges, all ten feet tall. It had taken him a long time to master.

  Should he tell Vax that Natalya was missing? Would Vax even care? He knew Natalya had caused a lot of trouble for Vax, and he doubted Vax would understand his feelings for her, even if Natalya didn’t feel the same way.

  Truthfully, Lézare had hoped that he’d find someone else at the masquerade, someone who would reciprocate his feelings. Someone who’d fill some of his solitude. Someone who’d help him forget Natalya.

  He doubted he’d find the right one.

  Deep inside, his tiger snarled at Lézare. His tiger knew their fated mate.

  Lézare tuned the tiger out the same way he used to tune his sisters out when they were younger and would bicker.

  Silent, Vax watched Lézare, not imposing on his thoughts or reflections, but also not leaving the room.

  “It’s someone…” Lézare began. Then he thought of what he was going to say. It sounded so dumb. “There’s someone who’s disappeared and that was a call to help.”

  “Not just any someone, judging from the look on your face,” Vax said.

  “True.”

  “And you can’t go because you’re here, doing this.”

  “That sums it up. This is my duty.”

  “This person who’s missing. You think they’re in trouble? Maybe?”

  Her father certainly seemed to think so. “My contact thinks there could be a problem, that it’s out of character.”

  “Could Alexa handle this place? If I’m here and offer support of any kind that she might need?”

  “It’s unheard of, my not being here. Not being a part of this.”

  “The masquerade ball’s tomorrow night. In twenty-four hours?”

  Lézare nodded.

  “Then take twenty-four hours to go find… whoever it is.” It was as if Vax wanted to press, but at the same time didn’t want to infringe on Lézare’s privacy.

  “I don’ know, cousin.”

  “I do. It’s final.” Vax strode to the door of the study, opened it and waved his hand.

  Alexa came in, frowning. She was almost as tall as Lézare with those heels on, looking every bit as authoritative as Lézare would need her to be.

  “What happened?” She looked from Lézare to Vax, then back again.

  “Can you handle this if I leave for a few hours?”

  She chewed on her lip. “Sure, but can’t you tell me what’s wrong?”

  “Some other time. I’m not up to talking about it right now. I’ll be back in time for the ball, I promise. Have I ever let you down?”

  “No, but I’ll worry about you and whatever is making you worry the whole time.”

  Lézare kissed her forehead, kept his lips pressed against her cool flesh. “You’re the best sister a brother could ask for. I’ll tell you when I get it figured out.”

  Vax put a hand on Lézare’s shoulder. “The Nielsens just arrived. I asked them if they could let us know what’s going on with that underground fighting ring.”

  Lézare was torn. Would a few moments matter, one way or another?

  “Tell them to wait until brunch on Sunday morning. It’s not like anyone’s going to leave the party tonight or the ball tomorrow to go look into this,” Alexa said.

  “True.” Lézare gave his sister an appreciative glance.

  “Indeed,” Vax agreed. “Go take care of this thing you have to handle. We’ll be here taking care of this. We’ll try not to miss you.”

  “Much.” Alexa kissed Lézare on the cheek, then put her hand on Vax’s arm and let him escort her out of the room.

  It was with sadness that Lézare watched them go. One day another man would be escorting his sister, permanently, if she ever found someone who could handle her.

  “Good luck,” Lézare whispered to that unknown man, already feeling pity for someone he hadn’t even met and couldn’t put a face to. The poor guy would need it. Alexa’s strong will could be a handful.

  Then he thought of another strong-willed woman, one with lush curves and a fearsome temper. One who was missing. The last time he’d seen her, she’d stomped her foot and hurled curses at him.

  And damned if that hadn’t given him a hard-on.

  I’m so fucked up. Or just plain fucked.

  Chapter Seven

  On the day of the ball, Natalya looked at the road sign ahead.

  Welcome
to Louisiana.

  She shook her head and caught a glimpse of her eyes in the rearview mirror. There were deep, dark circles beneath both of them. She looked haggard.

  Why am I driving to Louisiana? Surely I don’t intend to go to the ball. I’m not even welcome there, I’m sure of that.

  The invitation did have her name and her father’s name on it, but she was certain she’d been included as a courtesy, not because they’d meant for her to be invited.

  Not much more, and she’d be in New Orleans. Then she’d have to make a decision. Was she going to Arceneaux Point?

  I’m not going to do that. I’m not going to fool those good people.

  Her tigress snarled in disagreement.

  I’m not saying I don’t want to go. I simply don’t want to be a liar or a fake.

  But God, she wanted to see his face again. To see those dark eyes, full lips, and that close-cut, curly hair that she could tell wanted to go wild. His tan skin, his high cheekbones.

  She hadn’t been able to get him out of her mind. He raced through her thoughts, day and night.

  How would he react if he saw her again? He’d probably treat her like the child he considered her to be.

  The last time they’d butted heads, he’d threatened to put her over his knee and spank her ass.

  He’d actually said, spank your derrière.

  But why did the memory of that make an ache return to her core? Why did it make her heart beat faster, her pulse race?

  Why did this sexy man who spoke French with a smooth Southern accent get so deeply under her skin?

  Twenty-four hours after he left home, Lézare pulled back in the driveway at Arceneaux Point. The last twenty-four hours had been a bust. He’d found nothing, had no success whatsoever.

  He’d stopped in Houston first, at the apartment she’d holed up in when she’d faked her kidnapping all those months ago.

  No luck.

  Then he had driven to Austin, and found nothing there either. How does a woman disappear like that?

  He scratched the thicker stubble that had come in over the last twenty-four hours.

  Was this a stunt? Was it more of her temperamental pouting? Had her father not bought her the latest Porsche or Lexus? He didn’t want to think that something could really be wrong. He’d rather think that she was having a tantrum.

  He had thirty minutes to get dressed and get to the front of the house to greet the guests for the ball. Parking around the back, he threw the keys to one of the valet crew then made for the back door, hoping to slip in unnoticed and get a shower, certain that he smelled as worn out as he felt.

  No sooner had he opened the door than one of the junior housekeepers turned away from the stove and looked him up and down. He could tell how haggard he must look from her expression.

  “Mr. Arceneaux, where you been? You look like you’ve been chasing death.”

  More like death chased me. “I was helping a friend. I’d kill for a coffee right now.”

  “I’ll have one sent to your room. Are you almost ready for your party? Maylene’s flustered. These contracted people…” She shook her head, hands on her hips. “And Ms. Alexa’s going crazy trying to manage what looks like a long to-do list. Plus, she’s got Ms. Evie to worry about.”

  Shit. That’s right. “I’ll be quick. I need to take a shower, then I’ll join her. How about the crew? Are they in place? Do they seem to have it together?”

  “Oh, yes. Most of them are the same from last year. They’re all in uniform. All with their masks on, ready to serve and entertain.”

  “Thanks, Annabelle.”

  He slipped by her and ran for his wing of the house. He took the steps two at a time and sprinted the last bit of the hallway, skidding to a stop in front of his door.

  “Lézare!”

  Alexa’s voice.

  “I’ll be there in five, I swear.” He turned to face his little sister, feeling guilty about having left her to handle all this, though he’d thought he had it pretty well lined up with the staffing agency and the catering.

  “Evie’s making me crazy.” Alexa had dark circles under her eyes that matched his own.

  Thank God we’re wearing masks tonight.

  “I’ll talk to her.”

  “There’s no talking to her. She’s locked herself up in her room. She’s refusing to come out. She said as long as Mason Martinez is under the same roof, she’s not going to the ball.”

  “That takes care of that problem. I see nothing that needs dealing with, then.” He grabbed the door handle and turned it.

  Alexa sighed. “And Valencia isn’t here yet.”

  “What the fuck,” he murmured under his breath. “Did she call?”

  “Yes. Said she got tied up, and won’t be here until somewhere around six tomorrow morning.”

  “She’s okay?”

  “Sounded like it.”

  “Attendance at the masquerade ball isn’t compulsory.”

  “That’s not what you told me six years ago when I said I didn’t want to come home from college.”

  “I’m getting more lenient in my old age.” He gave her a charming smile, hoping that would buy him a pass.

  He hadn’t been able to manage all of his sisters when they were younger. He’d needed someone to step in line, and he’d used any means he could with Alexa. He had to play parent to his sisters, but he couldn’t handle three of them at once. He didn’t feel guilty for putting pressure on Alexa.

  She shook her head at him and waved him off. “Hurry up. I’d like to have some fun tonight.”

  “Catch me up on what I missed when I’m done. Meet you downstairs in five.”

  Chapter Eight

  It was Saturday afternoon. Plenty of time for Natalya to still make it to the ball.

  She pulled into the driveway of magnificent, stately Arceneaux Point, where Spanish moss adorned every other live oak tree, beautiful but deadly and thought of the last time she’d been here, months and months ago, when she’d exchanged cross words with the man she couldn’t forget now.

  Natalya took a deep breath and held it in, examining the scents. The area was teeming with shifters. She could scent them. She needed to find a place to hide. Somewhere to put her mask on.

  She had no intention of being discovered. She’d be booted out like the trespasser she was.

  Minutes later, she took the car to the end of the driveway, drove around the fountain, and waved the valet away. There was no way she was parking this close to the house; someone would see her before she was hidden behind her mask.

  She’d passed a dirt road turnoff halfway down the driveway. Natalya turned the car around and headed toward it and nosed the car into the hidden lane, pine trees rising on each side like sentinels. The road ended just shy of a lone cabin.

  Natalya killed the engine and listened for any sounds of life, but heard nothing. The desolate cabin was vacant of both humans and shifters. After she’d grabbed her bag, the dress she’d picked up, her high heels, and the mask she couldn’t put in a bag for fear of crushing it, she made her way down a narrow path to the cabin’s front door, cobwebbed and covered with untouched pollen and dust.

  Praying the door wasn’t locked, she turned the handle. With a squeaky protest and a groan, the hinges gave way.

  Success.

  A bead of sweat tickled her temple. It wasn’t that warm outside. Nerves were making her perspire. She rubbed her palms on her thighs. She was thankful she’d taken a double dose of hunter’s block, particularly if she was going to be perspiring like this.

  The cabin wasn’t lit, but that didn’t matter. Her shifter senses would give her the vision she needed. The one thing she really wanted…

  She opened what she hoped was the restroom door.

  Eureka!

  A mirror in the restroom. Not full length, but at least she’d be able to see what she was doing when she tried to fix her blonde mop.

  Thirty minutes later, she looked down at the black dress,
holding it away from the floor so it wouldn’t be trimmed with dust, then took a last glance at the mirror. Her black and gold mask covered three-quarters of her face. Black feathers rose from one side, curling over gracefully. The mask and the shoes were the only thing she’d bought new. The dress was one she’d had from years ago, when she’d attended some event and had then stuffed it into the back of her closet, where it had been since then, forgotten and unused.

  She let herself out of the cabin and threw her bag onto the front seat, on top of the creased and tear-stained invitation, and closed the car door quietly. She picked her way among the pine needles, leaves, and roots that had eased their way aboveground. Her heel sank into a soft patch. She pulled it out of the dirt and wiped it off with a handful of leaves.

  The sun had fallen; the forest was under a blanket of darkness. She could hear the sounds of revelry and followed them. She breathed a sigh of relief when she found the driveway. At least walking would be easier this way.

  Making better time on paved road, she spotted the oversized marble staircase at the front of the mansion within moments. Seconds later, she’d just climbed to the top of the stairs, and paused to get her bearings…

  Her tigress growled.

  Fine. Fine. I’m looking for him. I admit it.

  “Miss?” A masked man with a clipboard approached. “Your invitation, please?”

  Natalya froze.

  Now what? She left the invitation in the car, but she’d be discovered if she’d given him the invitation, anyway. Lézare would know she was here. His sisters would. Vax would; everyone would. And they’d shame her.

  All I want is to see him. I don’t mean anyone any harm. I won’t create any problems.

  Her tigress snarled.

  “Miss?” the man said again.

  “I didn’t bring it. Was I supposed to?”

  “Yes, but I can look you up by name.”

  Oh, shit. No, that won’t do. Not at all.

  She couldn’t give him her name. She wracked her brain to come up with a name. The only ones she could come up with were Arceneaux and Tiero names, and there was no way she could use either of those. She’d be caught in a heartbeat.