Phantom Warriors: Talon (7 page)

* * * * *

Talon made sure that he was out of sight before he shifted and took to the sky. It had taken every fiber of his being to walk away from Lynn Regis, but he’d had no choice. He had to contact the ship and let them know that his hunt for a mate had been a success.

He’d planned to tel Lynn the truth before he left, but he hadn’t been able to. At first she’d seemed so vulnerable, then that vulnerability shifted to anger. He stil didn’t understand what had made her mad or why she’d grown suspicious, but he’d find out eventualy. Lynn was changing quickly. Quicker than he’d anticipated. The red ring that had begun to form when they were making love was now complete.

Talon had watched it darken while they ate. Soon the rest of her body would folow. He needed to be there when that happened.

No one should experience a shift on their own, especialy a human not used to seeing such things.

He hurried to the rim, then opened a pouch on his flight suit. A smal communication device glowed inside. Talon took it out and set it on the ground, then pressed a button. A Phantom pilot from the Tooth Clan appeared in three-dimensional form before him.

“Commander, are you ready to return to the ship?” he asked, shifting forward with feline grace.

Talon shook his head. “Not yet, but soon. I have found my mate. She’s in the process of transformation now. Once that’s complete, we’l be ready for extraction.”

The pilot smiled. “Congratulations, Commander.”

“Thank you! May you have the same luck upon your arrival, Linx.”

The Phantom cat blinked, then gave him a lazy smile. “From what I hear, I’l have many to choose from. Perhaps I’l have to give a few a try before settling down.”

Talon laughed. “Be careful, warrior. The women here might not like your aley-cat ways.”

Linx grinned. “I’ve never had any complaints.”

“That may be true, but cross the wrong woman and you might end up neutered,” Talon said and laughed at the young warrior’s confused expression. He’d learn the score soon enough.

It only took an hour for Lynn to realize that she wasn’t going to make it in time to the cliff-side to get in a climb. She’d spent too many hours fooling around with Talon. Just the thought of his muscle-strewn body sent a rush of desire through her. Between the brush of her t-shirt and the slide of her khakis, Lynn was convinced she’d go out of her mind.

Her body seemed hypersensitive and far too revved for someone who’d just spent the afternoon having mind-blowing sex.

Shouldn’t she be sated by now? She hitched her backpack higher and began the slow journey back to camp. As much as she’d enjoyed her day with Talon--okay more than enjoyed—she couldn’t alow him to distract her tomorrow. Lynn had a job to do.

She picked her way along the trail wondering not for the first time if he’d be waiting when she returned. He’d told her that he had to check on his campsite. Was that the truth? Or was it just a polite way to blow her off? Lynn didn’t know. She shouldn’t realy care…

but she did.

She’d never let a man get under her skin. Had never met a man capable of doing so until she’d met Talon. Something inside of him caled to her. As sappy as that sounded. There was a familiarity, a comfort that she felt around him that had never existed in her life before now—at least with people.

Lynn didn’t connect with many people. In fact, she connected with very few. Most people didn’t get her. And to be honest, she didn’t get most people. She was far more at ease in the company of her birds.

She’d certainly never falen into bed at the drop of hat. No, she was the watch first, calculate, analyze, then leap kind of girl. So why had she thrown caution to the wind and jumped at the chance to be with Talon?

She was stil asking herself that question when she returned to camp. Lynn had just rounded the final boulder when her tent came into sight. It was immediately apparent that Talon had not returned.

Or if he had, he’d left again. Her heart sank at the thought that she might have missed him.

You’re pathetic.
Snap out of it
, the voice inside her head shouted.
What did you expect?

So maybe she
had
hoped he’d return. Maybe she’d hoped that this morning and afternoon meant more to him that a quick rol in her sleeping bag. Lynn wasn’t disappointed, darn it. She wasn’t…and she would just keep teling herself that until she believed it.

Lynn went to work cleaning up her campsite. If she were busy, then she’d have no time to think about Talon. She cleared brush and re-washed her clean dishes, then took a quick swim. The water was warmer now—thanks to hours of direct sunshine. She stroked back and forth across the expanse until exhaustion threatened and her muscles quivered. If nothing else, being tired would alow her to sleep better.

She made a quick meal of mushrooms and rice, then got ready for bed. The sun had already sunk behind the rim, leaving the lower Canyon draped in shadows. When she ran out of things to do, Lynn slipped into her tent and zipped it closed behind her.

Inhaling, she instantly realized her mistake. The whole tent smeled like Talon. Her sleeping bag, the mat beneath it, even her floor held a hint of the spicy scent that he carried on his skin.

She groaned and threw the sleeping bag open. As much as Lynn wanted to unzip the tent door, she couldn’t afford to since there were predators who hunted in the Canyon…not to mention snakes and scorpions. Nope, she’d just have to suck it up for the night or maybe plug her nose with tissues. She punched her pilow and closed her eyes.

The second sleep yanked her under the dreams began. They were foggy at first, smudged images on a dirty lens that refused to come into sharp focus. Stunning battles played out between giant winged creatures and lizard-like beings that were barely humanoid in shape.

The foes changed, but the large raptors remained as the battles raged on. Outstretched talons gripped bits of flesh. Blood covered dark feathers. Fierce cries pierced the green sky.

Scene after scene, fight after fight, Lynn watched in fascinated horror as the creatures took on enemies twice their size. The fact that they had wings didn’t seem to matter. They fought just as hard, if not harder because of it.

Eventualy, the blood faded and the birds’ proud faces morphed into men. One of those faces she recognized instantly. It was Talon. He stood before her, his head held high. Eyes, once so familiar, now glowed bright red.

“Now you know,” he said quietly.

“Know what?” she muttered in her sleep. Where had the beautiful bird gone?

* * * * *

Talon knew Lynn was asleep, when he returned. He’d sensed her restlessness, heard her incoherent mumbles. He thought about waking her, but decided against it. She needed her rest and so did he. Tomorrow was going to be a very trying day. The Phantom ship would reach them and Talon had to somehow convince his mate to come with him.

He didn’t relish having to do the latter. Lynn was a logical woman. Teling her that he was an alien wouldn’t sit wel with her.

Humans believed they were alone in the universe. Talon knew better. Stil, there had to be a way.

Already he could sense the changing taking place within her.

Her skin no longer held the honeyed aroma it once had. Now Lynn smeled like a combo of them both. A rich earthy fragrance that he more than approved of. No Phantom Warrior would be stupid enough to go near her now.

Talon wondered if she’d missed him as much as he’d missed her today. They’d only been apart a few hours, yet he felt as if it had been eons. Is this what having a mate felt like? Or was this unique between them? He hoped it was the latter. Talon liked the idea of his mate needing him, wanting him—and only him, while they were apart.

He listened to her steady breathing for a few minutes more, then slipped away, taking to the sky. Talon perched himself on the rim so he had a good view of her camp and could see danger coming from any direction.

“Sleep wel, mate,” he whispered on the wind. “For tomorrow you’l need al your strength.”

* * * * *

Lynn awoke alone. Being alone wasn’t a surprise, but the disappointment that folowed sure was. Regret snapped doggedly on its heels, leaving her in a grumpy mood. It didn’t help that her neck had crick in it. She threw the sleeping bag back and climbed out of the tent to stretch.

A dark shadow glided over her. Lynn glanced up and saw the strange bird soaring above the Canyon rim. It was back. She shielded her eyes to get a better look, but once again it was gone as quickly as it had arrived.

“Not today you don’t,” she said, throwing her clothes on.

She’d left her gear packed from the previous night, so within minutes she was dressed and ready to go.

Lynn caught sight of the massive bird thirty minutes into her hike to the condor’s nesting site. It seemed to be making large loops in the sky, circling back around to look at her. She took out her camera and shot a few photos. The first image looked like a black smudge on the screen, but the second one was clearer. Lynn enlarged it hoping to identify the bird. But no markings gave it away.

“What are you?”

She reached the condor-nesting site thirty minutes later. She’d lost sight of the big raptor again, but if it stayed true to form it should be circling around in a few more minutes. Lynn wanted to get up the cliff before it did. She wanted a better look—a closer look at the bird. She also wanted to make sure it hadn’t disturbed the condors’ egg.

She gathered her gear and began the slow climb up the cliff face. Like before, the climb took her way longer than she would’ve liked. Lynn was sweating and her face was flushed by the time the outcropping came into sight. She cleared the remaining feet that separated her from the condor nest, then clamped down on her rope.

Lynn could tel by the dark head popping out of the nest that one of her condors was sitting on the nest. She dare not get any closer. She didn’t want to startle the bird and have it crack the egg.

She puled out her camera and took a few photos, then put it away to retrieve her notepad.

“Beautiful, isn’t she?” A masculine voice said from behind her, sending her heart rate rocketing.

Lynn yelped and fumbled with her notebook, nearly dropping it down the cliff. Despite her immediate disbelief, she’d recognize that voice anywhere. She twisted in her ropes until she could see Talon. He looked even more beautiful perched on the side of the cliff than he had rising out of the water. How was that possible?

“Wh-what are you doing up here?” she sputtered. He hadn’t been there before. She was sure of it. She would’ve seen him as she ascended. Had he repeled down? She scanned the cliff face.

He shrugged. “Climbing.”

Her eyes narrowed as she took in his strange attire and the fact that he had no ropes to speak of. Okay, so he hadn’t repeled.

Wel he darn sure hadn’t flown. “How did you get up here?” she asked, checking for climbing spikes.

“I’m quite nimble when I want to be,” he said, a secretive smile forming on his lips.

Surely he wasn’t crazy enough to free climb this rock face.

Didn’t he know how dangerous that was? What if he fel? “You’re insane,” she said, trying not to let the fear creep into her voice.

Talon frowned. “I thought you’d be glad to see me.”

“I was.” She paused to align her thoughts. “I mean I am. You just startled me. I thought I was up here alone. What are you doing here?” Lynn needed to know. Nothing made sense when it came to him. She’d overlooked a lot thanks to the mind-shattering sex, but not now. Not halfway up the Canyon side. Lynn wanted answers.

Instead of giving them, Talon went into a summery of condor history and breeding habits that would shame any ornithologist.

Wel, any ornithologist, but her. By the time he’d finished his little educational speech, Lynn had moved from surprised to downright suspicious.

The only people who knew that much about condors were either ornithologists or egg thieves and Talon had already hinted that he wasn’t in her field of study, which made him…a thief.

Was that the reason they’d met? Had he planned the whole thing just so he could get close to her and find the nest? Talon was a gorgeous man. He could have anyone he wanted. Yet, he’d picked her. Why? The truth stung, hurting way more than Lynn wanted to admit.

“What’s wrong?” he asked, watching her closely.

“I don’t like being lied to,” she replied. Lynn’s back started to burn like a fire ant colony had suddenly taken up residence under her skin. She swung around, trying to scratch it against the rock, but it didn’t seem to help.

“You need to get down.” Talon inched closer.

Lynn held out her hands. “Just stay right there before you fal.

I’l be fine,” she said, but she didn’t feel like she was going to be fine. Something was wrong. Very wrong. Lynn glanced up and saw that the rim was only six feet away. It would be easier to climb the short distance, than to rappel down.

“You need to get on level ground.” He folowed her line of sight. “Yes, up wil do nicely.”

She didn’t know what Talon meant by that last remark and Lynn didn’t care. Whatever was happening to her was getting worse. She did need to get onto solid ground fast or she was going to fal. “What about you?” she grit out between clenched teeth.

“Don’t worry, I’m used to heights. I’l be right behind you,” he said.