Soraya

 

Shifters of Anubis were arresting Dez.

Arresting Dez, my Dez.

The shifter who’d dragged me away had let me go and I went sprawling. “Stay down if you know what’s good for you,” he spat and marched away.

Shifters had swarmed down, the Boston branch and they were hurrying along everyone else who had been there. Getting to my feet, I tried to run towards Dez, who was now on the other side of the crowd and being read his rights. But my side was burning and my vision was going in and out.

Dez, that provoking, impossible man, only looked mildly irritated. In fact, he winked over the crowd at me. As though to say, this is nothing.

He’s been hanging out with Andrei too much, I thought irritably. Speaking of which…

But I was too late. A shout hit my ears. “Clear the area! Now! Get those three into custody and Crane’s body! You – Zima – get your ass over here and explain yourself!”

The sirens were here and I heard more shouting in the distance.

“Dez!” I shouted, pushing through the crowd as they pulled him away. “Stop! Why are you arresting him? He stopped them – he’s a hero! Let him go!”

Suddenly Drax was there and stopping me. “Soraya, it’s all over. We know.”

“Drax!” I gasped and jerked away from him. I’d lost sight of Dez. “What do you mean? Where are they taking him? Drax, what the hell is going on? He just saved my life.”

“He’s also a wanted vigilante shifter,” Drax said, folding his arms. “Funny how you left that out in your reports to me, Lafi.”

Clenching my fists, I tried to take a deep breath before I punched a Head of the Order. “He’s innocent,” I hissed. “He’s done nothing wrong.”

“If that’s the case, then he’ll be let free,” he said in a bored tone. “By the way, you should probably get that looked at.”

“You bas–” I started to say, but someone had gently taken my shoulders and I let out wheeze of pain.

“I’ve got her, Drax, no worries,” Alvie was saying.

“Alvie, they’ve got Dez! They arrested him!” I said, tears pushing into my eyes. Panic and pain were mingling. My lungs were constricting. “Where are they taking him? Jail?”

“I will find out,” he said, pressing his hands to my side. “Hm, only a bad bruise. You will be uncomfortable, but you will be okay. Oh, Soraya, what were you thinking?”

“You saw?” I asked, breathing hard as Alvie healed me.

“I was here as a medic, yes, of course, I saw. Were you trying to kill you both? Did you see Dez's face?” He shook his head. “Not that it wasn't gallant and romantic, but…”

My mind flashed back to the dark moment when I’d heard those distant screams of pain. I’d known it was Dez. I’d never ran so fast in my life. Once I realized what was going on, it was no decision at all. And I told Alvie as much.

“You are too selfless, Soraya Lafi,” Alvie said in a gruff voice.

“She is,” Andrei said, suddenly appearing.

“Where is Dez?” I asked. “You promised, Andrei, you promised!”

“He’s going with Drax. It’s the best I could do for now,” he said, his eyes flashing. “Dez will be fine – Dara is going with them and Talori is going monitor Dez’s every movement at HQ.”

That was better than what I was expecting and I subsided. “How much trouble are we in?”

“I’m not sure,” Andrei admitted and my eyes went wide. “Listen, we have to get back to LA.”

“Wait are they putting him in prison?” I almost screamed.

“Yes, Soraya,” he said. “Listen, did I hear right and you caught a hybrid?”

“Fought, then caught,” I said, with a wince as Alvie hit a nasty knot of pain.

“See, good thing you stayed behind,” Andrei said, sounding distracted. “When I talked to Roy and Kesari, they said they’ll help you pack up. The three of you will be on a flight to LA in the morning.” Andrei hesitated. “Maybe pack Dez a bag, too?”

With that, he abruptly walked away, even though I kept demanding he come back. I saw Dara, Obi, and Finni coming forward. They were talking to me, but I couldn't hear them.

I couldn’t breathe.

My fingers found Alvie’s shoulder and he looked up in alarm. “Soraya?”

They were taking Dez. Why hadn’t I done something to prevent this from happening?

Pulling myself into a ball, I jerked away from Alvie and rocked back and forth. I was lost in a maze of panic and despair. All I wanted was Dez, but I might never see him again. This was all my fault. I’d done this…

Something cool hit my arm and I fell into darkness.

 

“Soraya,” a voice was saying. “Wake up.”

“Mom?” I wheezed, my head flying up and staring in bewilderment as she put her arms around me. “What-what-how are you here? Where are we?”

“I flew in not even an hour ago,” she said softly. “And we’re in your apartment.”

She was right. I recognized the walls. Twisting, I saw it had been three hours since the fight at the wharf. My stomach plummeted. Dez was probably on a plane to LA right now.

“Why are you here?” I asked.

“Dez,” my mother said. “He called us the other day – he was worried you might do something reckless tonight and wanted us to distract you. But our flight was delayed.”

“Us?” I asked.

“Hi, Sora.” Piper appeared in the doorway with a steaming mug. “We’ve got you.”

“Dez – he’s in trouble,” I said in a thick voice. “They arrested him and there are–”

“I know, Soraya,” Piper said in a low voice. “We will handle this. Don’t worry. Our dads have the twins and Balt is already doing everything that he can.”

“Let us hold and help you for a change, baby girl,” my mother whispered in my hair.

Overcome, I closed my eyes and let the tears come. Then I slowly nodded.

 

By late afternoon, the next day, I was so thankful Piper and my mother had flown to Boston – even if it was only for less than a day. We were walking through LAX, bright sunshine pouring through the skylights and all I felt was a cold sort of disorientation. Nothing felt right. All of the colors seemed off and fake after the cold, wintry hues of Boston.

It was as though everything had been torn apart and left in tatters again. First Faye, now Dez. I was wearing his BU sweatshirt again for good luck. His scent was still a part of the material and I hugged myself as we got our luggage at the carousel.

Kesari was sleepily leaning on Roy, who was talking quietly with Piper. My mother was on the phone, trying to see who was coming to the airport to get us.

Roy and Kesari had been as incensed and shocked as I was about Dez’s arrest. And Kesari had been crucial in packing up a bag for him this morning. Of course, we also had to pack up my things and none of us had gotten much sleep.

“You guys need a hand? Or some coffee?” asked a warm, familiar voice.

“Definitely coffee.” said another one.

We turned to see my brother grinning at us, his hands in his pockets and Balt by his side. Piper blinked in shock, then she was fiercely hugging Balt, who was telling her Kai and Isla had come down from San Francisco to help our dads out with the twins. Enele, meanwhile, was in a hug-headlock combination from our mother.

Then the two men converged on me. “Hey, sis,” Enele said, with an unusual gravity to his words and an almost nervous look on his face. “How are you doing?”

“You don’t have to worry big sis,” Balt said, pulling me into a one-armed hug.

I wanted to ask what had happened to Dez, but I couldn’t find the words. Instead, I let Enele hug me while Kesari began to ask a million questions.

“What happened to Dez? What is he charged with? How does the Order even charge people? Is he in jail? Will they alert his family? I mean, I know none of you know Miss May, but she’ll come in and kick down the doors, she’s a scrappy lil grandma.”

“Hello to you, too, Kes,” Balt said with a laugh, but I saw him exchange a look with Enele.

“You don’t know anything do you?” I asked. Everyone looked at me, then Balt and Enele, who shook their heads. Hot, bitter anger was rising up in me. “I see.”

“We’re going to get him out of there, Soraya,” Balt said in a voice of absolute confidence.

“Oh, I know we are,” I said in a steely voice.

Later that day, after everyone had showered and napped, we went en masse to HQ. Piper, Balt, Roy, Kesari, Enele, Kai, Isla and me. First, we were told we couldn’t see him, then we were told we needed an appointment and then we were told he wasn’t even in LA.

At that, I’d slammed my fist down on a desk and glared at the agent giving me the run-around, one of Drax’s many assistants.

“Do not lie to me,” I said in a voice of silk-smooth rage.

That incident got us Drax, who’d been apparently consulting with the other Heads, along with Andrei and a runner. He came along after about an hour or so, sarcastically raising his eyebrows at the group of us.

“What is this, the King Cheetah fan club?” he drawled.

Piper gripped my arm before I could attack Drax. “Don’t antagonize him,” she whispered.

“We’re here–” I began to say.

“You’re here to learn what is happening to your boyfriend, Soraya,” Drax said, giving me a flat look. “Yes, I know. I know a lot more than you’d imagine.” His eyes flitted over us. “Rest assured, Dez is not being treated like a common prisoner. He’s not, for one thing. But he also has a lot to answer for.” Drax’s gaze zeroed in on me. “As do you. Don’t worry, Lafi, we’ll be in touch.”

He walked away and it took Balt, Kai, and Enele to restrain me.

And that was the extent of the answers we got for the rest of the week.

In that time, I thought I would lose my mind from worrying about Dez. I kept wondering if Drax was lying and Dez had been spirited away to the TLO. Talori hadn’t been able to be our eyes inside because someone had gotten suspicious and told her to stay home till this was over.

With each passing day, I became more and more certain I’d never see Dez again.

Hope was dying out and me along with it. I never said it out loud – everyone was already worried enough about me. However, unlike most of the times before, I let them fuss.

All of us tried every last thing, but the Heads wouldn’t budge.

No one was seeing Dez until they were done with him.

I couldn’t even bring myself to care about the aftershocks rippling across our world because of the events in Boston. I was indifferent to the fact that in most regards, the raid on the TLO’s warehouse had been a success.

It was all over the major inanis news stations – how Foundry Pharmaceuticals was being investigated, all their holdings seized, and products pulled from the shelves – which meant the TLO had been cut off at the knees when it came to money.

In fact, Enele had said everything was quiet on the front since then. No more hybrid sightings or attacks, no more villages put in danger due to Frost’s machinations.

There were also rumors flying around about the King Cheetah. Most of it revolved around whether he existed and admiration for his alleged feats. As most of the shifter world didn’t know about the Order, yet did know about the TLO and Frost, they viewed him as a savior in these dark times. Most people were adulating him like a superhero.

If Dez had been free, that would have brought me joy. As it was, when Talori told me about it, I’d merely nodded and then shut myself in my room. Pressing a hand to my chest, I hadn't allowed myself to cry but merely sank deeper into that burning heartbreak.

However, there were also more insidious and uneasy rumors flying around, only this was restricted to the Order. Enele said there had been a lot of suspicion and questions fired at the Heads about how four of our most dangerous prisoners escaped. Never mind the fact that no one knew until they were captured again. All in all, it was bedlam at HQ.

“People are starting to distrust each other,” Enele had told me. “They know there are traitors, hidden TLO operatives and everyone is going to be vetted…”

I’d nodded, surprised Enele knew. “How’d you find out?”

“Lucky guess,” he said grimly. “And when I asked Piper, she didn’t deny it.”

When I saw Piper later, I pulled her aside and asked her as much. She’d given me a sad, searching look, then nodded. “Andrei was undercover and he passed along the message to Roy.”

“Roy knew?” I asked. “Why didn’t anyone tell me?”

“We were under strict orders not to,” Piper said with a shrug. “I knew, my dad and Balt, along with Roy, Kesari, Roy’s mother, Lhambo, and Mirois.”

“From who?” I demanded.

“Mirois.”

Something about that didn’t sit well with me, but I couldn’t quite figure out why. Nor did I have time to. I got a call from Beni the next morning. An out of character agitated and worried Beni.

“I’ve been trying to get a hold of you all week!” he burst out. “Where are you guys?”

After I explained everything, Beni had been in furor and offered to come to LA. But I told him we’d let him know. I knew Dez didn’t want to get him in trouble or involved. Plus, Beni had taken over Dez’s class.

“Dez needs you there right now,” I told him.

“I know,” he sighed. “I only wish I could do more.”

So do I.

The next morning, I found myself alone on the porch of my parents’ house, gazing out at the Pacific. A stiff breeze was rushing off the ocean, filling the air with sea salt and teasing up the steam from my coffee. Once again, I was wearing Dez’s sweatshirt, but his scent was starting to fade.

I could feel myself losing the last tiny bits of hope I had left.

“Hey, Cloud,” said a lazy, deep voice.

Turning, I saw Andrei had appeared out of nowhere and was standing with his hands behind his head, gazing out at the ocean as well. The look on his face was that of a man burdened with too many secrets, but then it vanished as he glanced at me and smirked.

“What are you doing here?” I asked, my temper snapping. I was about to hurl my coffee mug at him. “Get the hell away from me, Andrei.”

Of all the Shifters of Anubis, I was furious with, Andrei was at the top of my list. He’d promised to look out for Dez and look what had happened. Never mind the fact that he’d been ignoring my phone calls for a week.

“Enjoying the view,” he said, shrugging and I raised my arm. “I joke.” Coming over, he gave me an apprehensive look. “May I sit down?”

A thrill of horror went through me. He’s here to tell me Dez is dead.

“Soraya, no don’t look like that,” Andrei said with a sight. “I’m not the Grim Reaper. Dez is okay.” I stared at him and he sat down, smiling a little. “I saw him not even two hours ago.” My hands were shaking and Andrei plucked the mug from it, setting it aside. “I’m here to take you in. Drax did us a solid – sending me instead of someone else.”

“What?” I asked.

“Soraya, I can’t tell you everything – one we don’t have enough time – but you don’t have to worry about getting into trouble or anything. I took all the heat. But they still want to question you, as well as Roy and Kesari.”

“Are they going to let him go?” I asked in a small voice.

Andrei shrugged as though it didn’t matter to him one way or the other. But the shadows under his eyes and the flicker of worry in his green eyes told me he did.

“Is that why you haven’t answered my calls?” I asked, my heart softening. “You’ve been killing yourself all week trying to help Dez? I thought you’d – I’m sorry, Andrei.”

“Has hell frozen over? You’re apologizing to me?” Andrei asked.

“I–”

At that moment, Kai, Roy, and Kesari tumbled onto the deck. Roy hurried over to Andrei, who stood up and gave him a quick hug.

Andrei glanced at Kai and I saw him grin. “Ah, it’s the brunette, Roy. How're you?”

Roy and Kai both glared at him. It was hard to say whose face was more horrified or angry.

But seeing the two of them standing together, I could kind of see what Andrei was saying. Usually, people focused on how different they were, but they did look a lot alike. Roughly the same height, the two of them were almost an inversion of each other. Kai, all gold and brown tones, while Roy was blue and silver.

Kesari was studying them, too, a thoughtful look on her face. “You know, I kind of see it.”

Gaping at her, Kai asked, “Et tu, Kesari?”

She giggled, but then Andrei was gazing at her and she frowned. “What?”

“In all the chaos of Boston, you and I didn’t get much of a chance to talk, Dr. Iyer,” Andrei said, his eyes dancing with his typical wicked mischief. I shot a look of warning at Roy, but he was looking at his cousin in bemusement. “You’re like the princess in a fairy tale who saved the beast.”

Roy almost went purple as Kai howled with laughter. Kesari looked bewildered, not sure if she should laugh or slap him. Andrei was bending low, in a mock bow and I kicked the back of his knees, sending him sprawling.

He glared over at me. “After everything, I did for you and Dez this week.”

“You’re being a bully and I thought that was Ivan’s job in the Zima family,” I said and Andrei made a face. “And as of yet, I haven’t seen my boyfriend, so you’re still on the hook, Drei.”

“We’re going to see Dez?” Kesari squealed.

“Well–” Andrei started to say, but I interrupted him.

“Yes. Go let everyone know.”

Forty-five minutes later, I led the way into HQ, my heels snapping over the concrete and my favorite trench coat rippling behind me. Underneath, I had on a sparkly, cheetah print tank top and a black pencil skirt. Dressed to kill.

The runner waiting for us seemed surprised at the bevy of people with me. My parents, along with Talori, and Uncle Elias had volunteered to stay home with the twins. Everyone else had come along. With a nervous look at me, the assistant led us quickly through the twisting halls, until we found ourselves outside one of the larger meeting rooms.

Here, she left us and promised someone would be along shortly. Restless, I paced around and then I saw Piper and Balt looking at each other.

“What is it?” I asked.

“It’s just weird,” Piper said slowly. “This is the room where I wound up after Greece – when they demoted us to Field Agents for our probation period.”

Balt chuckled. “We got into a big argument right here. Yelling and everything.”

“You two got into a fight in HQ?” I asked, glancing between them, momentarily distracted. “How come I’m just hearing about this?”

“I forgot, honestly,” Piper said with a shrug, her fingers drifting across the fesootai tattoo that linked her and Balt. “And it was kind of embarrassing.”

“It was also kind of a catalyst for us,” Balt said thoughtfully.

Before I could comment on that, I heard footsteps and turned to see Mirois coming towards us. She looked tired, her usual sleek silver hair a bit messy, but she smiled at us.

“You know, I have had more people vouching for Desmond Devoy this week than I realized we had in our employ,” she said, eyes twinkling. “Please, come in and find a seat. All I ask is that you remain quiet while we talk to Dr. Iyer, Roy, and Soraya.”

We filed in and I swept my eyes around for Dez. To my surprise, the long table for the Heads was empty except for Stalissa and Lhambo.

“Where is everyone?” I asked.

“We are stretched a bit thin, but Drax will be along shortly,” Mirois replied.

“Is Dez going to be released today?” I asked her urgently. “Mirois, please, he’s–”

I didn’t finish that statement because Dez had been led into the room and his eyes were on me, face breaking into that infuriating smile of his. He was wearing a plain black shirt and standard issue sweats, but he was holding himself tall and strong. And he wasn’t cuffed.

There was a babble of voices, but I ignored all of them. I was running at him, throwing my arms out and then I was exactly where I was supposed to be.

In his arms.

“Dez, you’re okay – you’re okay,” I said in a savage whisper. “I thought…”

Pulling back, I could tell my mascara was starting to smear, but I didn’t care. I was touching his face, his shoulders, his arms, and chest. Pressing my hand to his heart. Reassuring myself he was here. Then we kissed, in front of everyone, neither of us giving a damn.

When we broke apart, Dez grinned at me and I wanted to cry.

“You okay?” he asked softly.

“Me? Oh, Dez,” I said, my eyes trying to take in every detail. “I-I thought I’d never see you again. I thought the TLO would get a hold of you–”

“No such luck,” Dez said in my ear.

“Ahem,” Mirois said and clicked her tongue. “If we could get started. Professor Devoy, if you could sit over here.” She gestured to a lone chair and I shook my head. “Soraya.”

“If you think I am going to spend one more single second away from him–” I started to say in a dangerous voice.

“Oh, let the two lovebirds sit at a table, Mirois,” Drax’s drawl broke through. He was striding up the room, looking amused and nodded at Dez. “Won’t be a problem, right, Lafi?”

“Right,” I said, a little confused at this.

Dez squeezed my arm and we moved around a table, sitting side by side and facing the four Heads. Mirois’s lips were thin as Drax sat down, lounging back in his chair and he gave a careless nod. Ruffling up some papers, she began with Kesari, asking about Bear Valley and the Foundry, then later events. Poised, Kesari was careful with her answers and staunchly adulatory of Dez.

Roy was more of the same, vouching for Kesari and praising Dez.

Then it was my turn.

I was asked about the events in Boston and why I didn’t report the vigilante right away.

“In times like these, I thought concrete proof would be ideal,” I replied coolly. “And King, well, Dez, wasn’t an ordinary vigilante. Things were getting to a critical level and I bowed to his lead. It’s a good thing I did, too – Dr. Crane and the Valspars were there. And it was easy to see what would have happened if Dez hadn’t been. Further, I didn’t know his identity until about two weeks ago.”

I glanced at Dez and he gave me a crooked, tired grin. “Seems longer, I know,” he murmured.

“You make it sound like you knew there was more to the story,” Drax observed, smirking.

“I did,” I said in a fierce, low voice. “And if you think Dez–”

“Calm down, Ms. Lafi,” Drax interrupted. “Desmond Devoy has been cleared of all charges.”