CHAPTER TEN
Late that night, alone in his bedroom because he didn't trust himself to fall asleep around Kate, Ross telephoned his brother.
"Cam? I need to talk."
"Not now. Call back later," was the curt reply.
"It’s important."
"Wait a bit and I’ll be with you."
Ross waited, restlessly reliving everything that had happened in the maze. At last he heard Cameron’s voice again. "I’m listening. What’s the problem?"
They were so much in tune that Cam would have immediately known there was something wrong. "Where exactly are you?" He and Cam tended to respect each other’s privacy as much as possible, since being identical twins was intimate enough. But he was curious what Cameron had been up to at this time of night.
Amusement and a slight sense of frustration flowed from Cam to him. "I’m in London at a posh sex club. Would you like a description of exactly what you interrupted?"
Ross grinned. "By all means."
"Too bad. Weep with envy, my brother, and return to your cold lonely bed in Mallochbirn Castle."
"Ha. Might I inquire what sort of sex club?"
Cam swore a colorful oath. "The kinky sort," he admitted.
"I hope you're being careful."
"I'm always careful."
"Sounds like you’re dealing with dangerous urges if you’re paying for girls aroused by cruelty. If you lose control and shift, you could hurt someone."
"The girls are elite professionals, and some of them even like the work," Cameron growled. "Anyway, I’m not going to lose control. I'm here to gather valuable information, not to indulge myself. It’s a client, not me, who’s aroused by cruelty. The guy is known to frequent this place, so I’m interviewing a couple of his favorite companions."
Ross laughed. "A likely story."
His brother laughed too. "It happens to be true. You, my blood, are jealous. You’re older than I am. Your need to mate is probably stronger than mine."
"We’re twins, prick."
"But you’re aging faster than I am, stuck on that ancient island."
"It does seem that way, at times," Ross laughed. "But I've just met someone interesting. She’s attractive, bright, adventuresome, and a lot of fun to have around."
"That sounds promising. Have you fucked her yet?"
"Not quite. The strange thing is that I can bond with her. Telepathically. The way you and I can sometimes. I think she's the descendant of someone who used to live around here. She might even be distantly related to our family."
"So what’s the problem? Do you need my permission?"
"What I need is your advice. A lot of mystical shit is happening between us. And the Zrakon is involved in it all. The compulsion I feel to take her is overpowering. I want to smash into her body and obliterate her will."
Now Cameron laughed. "Come join me in the S&M club. Unleash some of that dark energy here, then go back to your girl and bring her along a little more slowly."
"I can’t do that."
"Why not? You know we’re different from other men in this. We must release the pent-up energy or we turn into predators more deadly than any we control."
"Don’t remind me."
"Sex works. You never get enough of it, living in that isolated castle on your rock."
"I get my share. I just haven't lately."
"Apart from the sex, you could use some ordinary social interaction. Come to Edinburgh for a while. We'll get the whole family together and hang out, have some fun."
"I'd love to, but it’s now too late for that solution. Kate imprinted on me earlier this evening. It was like a brand."
There was silence for a moment, then Cameron said, "She imprinted on you?"
"Oh aye. It was a volcanic burst of knowledge and recognition and lust, all combined. I knew her for my mate. I wanted to take her immediately—to consummate it on every level. It was torture not to do, you know, everything. But the damn beast was active and I was afraid I'd change. In fact, I started to shift and only barely managed to prevent it. Now I’m lying here in my bedroom giving off steam. My brain is about to explode, and let’s not even discuss the condition of my cock."
"I thought that imprinting nonsense was a myth. A myth made up by romantic women."
"So did I, but it happened. It’s real."
"I really think you need to get out of that great, looming rock pile more often, Ross."
"I've had other girlfriends, as you know, but I've never felt anything like this. The dragon side of me wants her, and it’s not feeling very patient at the moment. Do you think I’m losing it?"
"Shit, man, I don’t want to know about this. If this absurd Mallochbirn nonsense can happen to you, does that mean the rest of us are cursed as well?"
Ross laughed, releasing some of his tension. "If we end up in the nuthouse, we’ll be quite the attraction—a whole family, skewed in the head."
"Don't fucking scare me. Look, sex may drive men mad, but the insanity is temporary. Even the sea dragon’s bond, if there really is such a thing, is self-limiting. Remember our grandfather—no one babbled more about the Zrakon's bond, but he had how many women on the side—a dozen? A score?"
"I think that was after our grandma died. Not that I’m defending the old monster."
"The real question is this: after all the lust has been slaked, will you still want the girl around? After a short acquaintance, how can you even begin to make an estimate about that?"
"I can’t, obviously. Nor do I have any reason to believe that she would want to stay with me. She's a prisoner here, in effect. She can't leave."
"Why can't she?"
"I'm sort of holding her captive on the island."
"You can't hold somebody captive. This isn't the Middle Ages."
"Look, I know that, although I'm not sure who is going to stop me. It’s not as if she has any relatives nearby. Her family's in the States. Besides, she likes me. Let's just say that things are progressing nicely on that front. Anyway, I think my intentions might be honorable."
"Now that is interesting."
"She’s intelligent, spirited, and unconventional—she will do quite well."
"Wait just a minute, Twin. You said at the beginning of this conversation that you'd just met the girl. Correct? After all these years alone, you're not going to marry in haste, I hope."
"Tell that to the Zrakon."
"Okay, so why can't she leave?"
"I gave her a post-hypnotic suggestion. I was in sea dragon form at the time. I told her to forget what she had seen and not to go anywhere. She seems to have forgotten, and she hasn't tried to leave. Don't ask me how I did it."
"That's fucked up. You can do mind control now?"
"The Zrakon has grown a lot stronger since Kate showed up. I'm shifting spontaneously."
"Oh aye? You'd better figure this out fast, bro, or both you and your honey might be screwed."
"Thanks a lot. Is that all the advice you have for me?"
"Well, fuck you, here’s my advice. Take her. Don’t wait, because your lust—and his—will only increase. Give her a few strong measures of that lovely Scotch you have in Mallochbirn and have some yourself while you’re at it. It will slow you down. Let her get used to you. After the first couple times, when you’re calmer and more in control, focus on her pleasure, and dazzle her with your skill."
"Dazzle her."
"Aye. Do I have to spell it out?"
"Fuck you."
"She’s your imprinted mate. She may fight you, but she can’t resist you for long. Do whatever it takes. The sooner she gets used to you, the better."
Ross knew it. His mind and his body were both singing with that knowledge. "Thanks, Cam."
"You’re welcome. Now may I please return to my, er, mission?"
Ross laughed. "Have fun."
"Good luck with your lady. And remember, whatever it takes."