Chapter Twelve: Esmeralda:

The fight didn't even happen. Well, it did. But the bear tired out easily from Falcon's dance of dodge. I don't think Falcon would have fought the bear anyway. If he sustains injuries, I do too. He has to take that into consideration. At least, I hope he does. He seemed very concerned about me bonding with any shifter. His reasons being that bonding with a human is very risky. Most shifters, I assume, can take care of themselves. But a human? Even I doubt my own abilities to stay alive. I've faced so much death. Humans are fragile, and I completely agree with that. I just hope he remembers that while we try to find Blanche.

I didn't expect to find out Falcon wasn't a gentleman, but he assures me that he has changed. The bond has me going with the flow, and I can't ignore it. I believe him.

"You're looking for another human?" Conrad asks. He has soft, honey coloured hair and dark brown eyes. He has a slight mustache, and he rubs it deep in thought.

"Yes."

"You've bonded to this one here? Why?"

"Caius said…" Falcon starts but stops when Conrad roars.

"Do not mention his name. We do not speak of those people here."

"She needed protection. I decided to offer it."

Conrad nods, standing up from the front porch of his house. "Let's go check Esmeralda's. She might have hidden the child from me."

We travel throughout the village and towards an alleyway filled with red lights and women and men conversing with each other. A little too close and personal. A woman leans forward and shows a man the mounds of her breasts. He licks his lips and nods, taking her extended hand. She pulls him into a doorway, the light shining from inside. When the door closes, the light in the window diminishes, turning off and hiding the secrets within.

I give a disgusted look, and then notice many others in the alley doing the same as the couple previously. I can only guess what this place is.

"Falcon, care to enjoy what's to offer? I'll watch over the human for you and speak with the mistress. I'll protect her until you return tomorrow morning."

The loudest growl I've heard yet from Falcon releases from his chest. If looks could kill, Conrad would be dead. The expressions on our faces must have brought reason into that thick skull of his, for he quickly swallowed down the unexpected rage. It was so strong, I felt my skin tingle and a quaking heat flow deep within my muscles. It was as if someone had thrown a bucket of hot, melted wax over my head. I was coated in an overwhelming sense of warmth, but it wasn't pleasurable. No, it felt like I'd been stung by multiple wasps, a feverish swell of hives erupting over my skin. I look down at my arms and find nothing out of the ordinary. But all I felt was a distinguished sense of anger, which slowly cooled down to a rich numbness.

Was this his anger I was feeling?

The look on his face said he was calm and collected, but I know better. His anger is beneath the surface of that cool reserve. It's like a fire he cannot successfully put out.

Why did he take such offense?

"I was only offering," Conrad puts his hands up to show he is no threat.

"Don't," Falcon grabs my hand and brings me into the main building in front of us. Conrad follows silently but increases the distance between us, staying as far as possible from Falcon. The man did attack Falcon earlier, but I believe he had no intention of harming him. He was just angry and wanting to express his feelings openly. But with Falcon like this, there would be bloodshed. That anger of his could even be felt by me, and I shouldn't feel his emotions so strongly. He can feel mine quite easily, but because I am human it's different for me.

For me to feel his emotions...

He had been infuriated.

We make our way inside, and a lady wearing a black dress meets us in the lobby. She smiles big, running up to Falcon and jumps in his arms. She is beautiful, with curly brown hair and grey eyes. She has an innocent, doe-eyed look.

Before I know it, she's kissing him.

He moves his face to the side so that her mouth moves from his lips to his cheek. It leaves a crimson smudge on his skin, and she wipes at it with her finger tips.

"You always did look good with my lipstick marks on you," she smiles, not understanding that Falcon just rejected her.

"Essie, this is important. I'm not here for you," he mumbled.

Ouch.

I can hear the sting in his words, and see her expression changes from seductive to embarrassed. She looks upset at first, but her eyes soon take on a daring look.

"Oh darling, you always play this game with me. You know I'm always willing to take you upstairs and show you a good time. I've missed you." Her fingers trace his chest, and I can feel it on my own. It is like she is doing it to me too, but her hands are far from me. I just stare at it oddly, not even feeling the burn of jealousy. This time I feel a sense of awe, and I look up at Falcon and smile. But then my mind starts replaying what was said, what she just said.

My cheeks redden at her brashness. She is the most confident woman I've ever seen. Her eyes move from his to mine, and she frowns. I give her the same expression and then stand closer to Falcon. Not to make her angry, but because I know she is a shifter. That knowledge alone has me weary. I can't just think of myself here. If I get hurt, even the smallest pinch, he would feel the same pain. This worries and fascinates me at the same time. I wonder how I will feel about this when the drug

Falcon's been putting in my food finally leaves my bloodstream.

"Ugh, what is this?" She eyes me with distaste, but then she smiles. "Is the curse over? Have you come to fetch me?" She sounds like a puppy excited to see her owner after a long separation from each other.

"No, Essie, we've come to ask you if you've seen another human girl. Have you taken her?" Falcon grabs her hand gently, his hazel eyes expressive. He's good, I'll give him that. She leans in to his touch, welcoming it. A small purr escapes her lips, and the sound buzzes in her throat. Like a cat. I look back at her again, and then I see her eyes change. They go from human eyes, to animalistic. Feline eyes gaze up at Falcon and I almost laugh.

Almost.

Two different species, meant to hate the other...

"No, but I can pretend to be human for you," she purred seductively, and I continue to ignore the urge of laughing in her face.

Falcon drops her hand as if it burned him, placing his own on his forehead. I lean in to him, and he sighs dreamily. My touch, I've noticed, calms him. And it works both ways. He looks down at me and smiles sweetly, his cheeks reddening slightly. He is happy right now. I feel it in my chest and right down to my toes.

"You've bonded with her! How sick!" Essie points at me, her face contorts with disgust. Conrad pulls her away and speaks lowly in her ear. She cries out, a tear leaking from her eye before she wipes it. There are no more tears now, and the flirty woman is back.

"I have not seen this human you speak of. I swear it. The men would be talking, don't you think?" She sneers at Conrad, and I feel it was intended for Falcon. But judging how she acts around my wolf, she would never take her anger out on him. Anyone else but him. At least that is what I can gather by her obvious infatuation with him. I turn to Falcon and pat his shoulder. His eyes gaze at me with adoration within them.

Oh God, help me.

Even though his stare is calming, I begin to feel sick to my stomach with worry.

"Where else would she have gone to?" I ask Falcon, and he pulls me to his chest. His warm body helps lessen the stress, and I feel my panic slip away into nothingness.

"We will find her, shh," he pats my head as if he's consoling a crying child.

Even though he sounds so sure, I feel how strong he believes against it. Even Falcon thinks she is gone.

I grab onto his arm and breathe in his scent, the stone against my chest shaking in response. I can feel it heat up my skin, and the warmth of both Falcon and the stone work to keep me sane. Now I know why Caius gave me the necklace, of why he suggested bonding with a shifter. He wanted to help me.

"Thank you," I mutter, holding the stone.

"You're welcome," Falcon responds.

I don't bother correcting him, and roll my eyes when a far away voice answers in my head,

"you're welcome, princess."

Cocky bastard.