Forgotten Read online

  “But if it’s true it sounds like it might be wonderful.” Mimi leaned forward, beaming. “Maybe you should give him a chance.”

  “What—just leave and go with him up to the Mother Ship? If that’s really where he’s planning on taking me?” Kate demanded.

  “Kate, come on…” Mimi took her hand and squeezed. “Use your gift. What does it tell you? Does this guy mean you any harm?”

  “Well…” Kate frowned. On one hand, the Knowing had warned her that Rone had a Beast inside. On the other hand, he seemed to have it completely under control—he had even said he would never let it all the way out around her. And if she had really lived with him for three years it must not be a danger to her. “I don’t think he wants to hurt me,” she said slowly. “He could if he wanted to but he won’t. That’s my gut feeling.”

  “Then you should go with your gut,” Mimi said decisively. “Look, Kate—the whole time you’ve been with me, you’ve been wondering what happened to you. Where you came from. What happened during those three years you can’t remember. Now this gorgeous guy shows up, telling you that he’s your husband and shows you all kinds of un-fakeable pictures to prove it. It’s clear he’s in love with you and he’s been out of his mind with worry for you. So what’s the problem? Why aren’t you jumping to go with him?”

  “Because…” Kate shifted uncomfortably. “Because of the way I feel when I’m near him—especially when I touch him. I mean, my heart starts pounding, my hands start sweating, I feel like I can’t get a deep enough breath—like someone is squeezing my lungs closed. It’s awful.”

  Mimi frowned. “That is strange. I didn’t feel anything like that when he…uh, when he hugged me.” She blushed rosy red again. “Look, I don’t want to sound like I’m trying to take your man but did you notice he smells amazing?”

  “No, I didn’t,” Kate said shortly. “Every time I get close enough to smell him I feel like I’m going to crawl out of my skin with panic. You know I actually shot him at the mall? That’s how freaked out he makes me.”

  “You what?” Mimi stared at her. “You shot at your own husband?”

  “I didn’t know he was my husband at the time!” Kate protested. “Anyway, that’s why he has his shirt off. I was treating the bullet wound—from a safe distance, that is.”

  Mimi’s brown eyes widened. “Bullet wound? You mean you actually hit him? I thought maybe he was half undressed because you guys were, uh… She cleared her throat in obvious embarrassment. “Having a little reunion.”

  “No, absolutely not,” Kate said flatly. “I was treating his wound—not that there is one, anymore. He healed right up as soon as I cleaned it out with hydrogen peroxide.”

  “Wow—that’s amazing!”

  “It was pretty cool to watch,” Kate conceded. “It healed up right in front of my eyes.” She sighed. “Then I touched him to see if it was really healed and the skin-to-skin contact flipped me out. I jumped across the room so fast it probably looked like my hair was on fire and my ass was catching.”

  Mimi giggled. “Kate, you crack me up. But is it really that bad?”

  “It’s really that bad,” Kate said grimly. “Of course, Rone—that’s his name in case you didn’t catch it—thinks it has something to do with the thing that made me forget everything in the first place. That’s why he’s wanting to take me up to the Mother Ship.”

  “Well,” Mimi said thoughtfully. “I can certainly understand why it would be hard to go with him when just being near him gives you a panic attack. But if they can cure that on the Mother Ship and maybe give you back your memory too, well, wouldn’t it be worth a little discomfort just until you got there?”

  “I guess so,” Kate said reluctantly. “But what about my job? I’m supposed to work tomorrow.”

  “Kate…” Mimi gave her a level look. “Will you listen to yourself? Do you really want to spend the rest of your life working at a jewelry store? I mean, with a gift like yours, you could be doing so much more.”

  Kate couldn’t help remembering that she’d been thinking the exact same thing herself earlier that night, while she was trying to sell the extremely hairy customer his Rolex. Thinking of that, made her wonder if everyone else in the store was all right…and what the authorities must think.

  “What about the police? They’re going to want to know what happened. And I want to know if everyone else is okay. Rosalie and my customer…”

  “The other clerk and the customer are fine—not a scratch on them,” Mimi said firmly. “I gathered that much before I heard you’d been abducted. The guy robbing your store got shot in the neck but the police think the guy who abducted you—er, your husband, I mean—they think he did it.”

  Kate sighed. “Of course. Because why would a sweet-looking little thing like me have a gun or know how to use it?”

  “You’re lucky that’s what they think,” Mimi said. “And anyway, forget about them. If they come looking for you, I’ll tell them you’re a Kindred bride and your husband came for you. He thought the robber was attacking you so he retaliated.”

  “Well, that’s pretty much what happened aside from the fact that I was the one with the gun,” Kate said grudgingly.

  “See? So it’s going to be fine. And you know they don’t mess with the Kindred—those guys have diplomatic immunity in every freaking country in the world,” Mimi pointed out. “So there’s no reason for you not to go.”

  “Except one…” Kate squeezed her friend’s hand. “I don’t like to admit it but Mimi, I’m scared. Not just because of the panic feelings I get when I’m with him. I’m scared of losing this…of losing you and this whole life. It’s all begun to seem so normal to me. It’s hard to give that up and go flying off into the unknown with some guy I’ve never met before—even if he is my husband, you know?”

  “Of course it’s scary,” Mimi said gently. “But you’re brave, Kate—one of the bravest people I’ve ever met. I know you won’t let fear stand in the way of finding your happiness. You don’t belong here—not really. I’ve known it from the moment I found you.”

  “I guess not,” Kate admitted. As much as she loved Mimi and felt grateful to her, she had to admit that the past six months she’d been in a kind of holding pattern. It was like she was waiting for something or for someone. Like she was waiting for Rone? She didn’t know.

  “You need to go out and find yourself—find out about your past so you can plan your future. And you know…” Mimi gave Kate a reassuring smile. “If you don’t like what you find, you can come back here anytime you want. You’ll always have a place with me—you know that, right?”

  “I know.” Kate felt tears stinging her eyes. She leaned forward and gave her friend a big hug which dislodged all the cats from both their laps. They jumped to the floor, hissing indignantly, but neither girl paid them any attention. “You’re an amazing friend, you know that?” Kate whispered.

  “I know.” Mimi gave a sobbing little laugh. “I should know—you tell me all the time.”

  “Because it’s true.” Kate pulled back with a sigh and swiped at her eyes. “All right,” she said, lifting her chin. “I’ll do it. I’ll go to the Mother Ship.”

  “Be sure you call me as soon as you get there,” Mimi said anxiously. “I want to know you’re okay.”

  “I promise,” Kate said, smiling. “Okay, help me pack.”

  Chapter Eight

  “I’m glad you decided to come with me.” Rone cast her a sidelong glance as he angled his shuttle in towards the docking bay of the huge Kindred Mother Ship.

  “Mmm-hmm,” Kate murmured noncommittally. She had been mostly silent through their trip from Earth to the Kindred vessel and Rone had decided not to press her to talk. Thanks to his heightened Wulven senses, he’d heard much of her conversation with her friend and knew that he owned Mimi more than one debt of gratitude. In addition to sheltering Kate all this time, she’d also convinced his very reluctant mate to take a chance and come with him.

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