Page 40 of The Mating Frenzy
He whirled, facing her. “Your mother is vulnerable to the Tornakt, as all Faeare.”
Panic squeezed her chest tight. Ella couldn’t breathe as she tried to suck in air. No, no. “I can’t lose her. She’s everything tome.”
“You can save her once you gain your powers.” Kieran pulled off his gloves. Two warm hands cupped her face. “I did not want you to learn of your true self like this, Ella. But you must trust me that you can saveher.”
It was too fantastic to believe. Surely she would open her eyes and awaken from this nightmare. Snow creatures that killed? Her mother, not human, but some kind offairy?
“No.” She shook her head. “This isn’thappening.”
Darcy kept meowing, obviously filled with distress. Ella went to pick up her pet, the friend who’d kept her grounded through tough times. Kieran pulled her back. “No.”
He gave the cat a stern look. “Your mistress needs you. Shift into your humanskin.”
The cat suddenly vanished. Ella blinked in shock. In her place stood a petite, curvy brunette with masses of black hair spilling down her back. An electric blue shirt and black trousers encased her shapelybody.
“I don’t believe this,” Ella whispered. “What’s happening to me? Am I goingmad?”
“No, Ella.” The woman had a sultry voice, but her green eyes were filled with kindness. “I am still your Darcy, your cat. This is my humanskin.”
Shivering, she hugged herself, unable to believe that she wasn’t hearing things. Or seeing them. Panic congealed in her stomach. Then she looked down at her mother, now a blue, frozen statue, her arms extended, her fingers likeclaws.
“Why?” shewhispered.
Sympathy filled Darcy’s expression. “You are incredibly important to our world, Ella. The creatures of darkness know this, and will do all they can to thwart you. I was assigned to protect you after your father died. So was my half-sister.”
Staggering back, she met the solid wall of Kieran’s chest. He seemed so strong, so corporeal. Not like the crazy, horrible things happening beforeher.
“My sister, Danica, has watched over you. Your employer at the library. And your friend Misty at the animalshelter.”
“They’re all like you?” Ella felt her knees go weak, but Kieran slid a supporting arm around herwaist.
He brushed back a lock of hair from her chilled cheek. “It is true, Ella. You have had Others watching over you, but now the cat is out of the bag, so to speak. The evil ones know your trueidentity.”
With his other arm, he tossed a cell phone to Darcy. “Call Danica. Tell her to transport hereimmediately.”
Kieran guided Ella over to the living room, where she collapsed upon the sofa. Hugging a pillow to her stomach, she rocked back and forth. This was no time to fall apart. Her mother needed her. No matter what her mother was—a creature like Kieran insisted—she was still hermother.
A motorcycle roared into the driveway. Jerking her gaze to the picture window, she saw her boss from the library climb off the bike, and slide a black helmet off her head. Then Danica was in the living room, standing beforeDarcy.
The resemblance was striking. Though Darcy was dark-haired and Danica blonde, their catlike facial features with the winged brows, large green eyes and pursed lips, were thesame.
“You’re sisters,” she realizedaloud.
“Half-sisters,” Danicacorrected.
Kieran gave her hand a reassuring squeeze. “Darcy is a rare Changeling shifter who can change into any animal or insect form at will. Danica is half-shifter, half Fae. They both came to watch over you,Ella.”
“Our father was a Changeling shifter,” Danica told her. “I didn’t inherit his abilities because my mother was Faeroyalty.”
“And my mother was a Lupine shifter,” Darcy told her. She shot a glaring look at Danica’s direction. “As my sister keeps remindingme.”
Danica shook her head. “Fact of life, sister. You’rebaseborn.”
“Will you two stop it?” Kieran grated out. “You’re here to help Ella and this bickering isn’thelping.”
Danica pouted and Darcy lookedcontrite.
“What can we do to aid you, Ella?” Danica asked gently. “I came as quickly as Icould.”
