Chapter 31

Kattcha made her last house call and headed home. It was nearing seven at night. Her mind, however, was on one lonely girl. Henry had behaved like she expected him to--arrogant and spiteful. Hurtful, too, judging by the expression on Laylah's face. That man was never meant to be a parent.

Helena had been her best friend growing up and Kattcha remembered how they'd talked of families and handsome boys. No one was more shocked than she when Helena had fallen for a werewolf. She'd tried to talk her friend out of it, but Helena had always been stubborn. Henry and Helena had eloped and both families had to adjust to the idea of a werewolf/werecat pairing. When news of Helena's pregnancy came, all hell broke loose.

Many old-timers had screamed for an abortion of the unborn child. Others thought mother and baby should die for daring to violate the law that forbade inter-tribal marriages. Surprisingly, the Council sided with Helena. Kattcha suspected that the Council was intrigued at the possibilities and powers the baby might possess.

Once the child was born, the Council watched her, but Laylah seemed rather human. Most Were children at least had telepathy. Laylah did not speak telepathically, though it was determined she could hear telepathic messages. When Laylah's fourth birthday came and went without her shifting, the Council grew tired of waiting for some change and moved on to other pursuits. The festering resentment at Laylah being allowed to live grew in the Were community.

It culminated in a fiery attempt at a coup by Zina and her zealots. Many lives were lost and the Council barely managed to stop Zina in time. Among the casualties had been Kattcha's husband, Gustav, who died trying to protect a human from Zina's henchmen. That night had been the worst.

Zina had attacked Le Croix's lab and Kattcha had made the horrible discovery that her son, Donil, had inadvertently given Zina the location of the lab. Donil had come to her sobbing and beaten up. She had dragged the story out of him. She'd rushed to give Helena the warning, but was too late.

When Zina stood trial, Donil's part in the coup came to light, but the Council showed leniency, citing his age and inexperience as factors. Henry had never forgiven her son for his part in Helena's death. And the two families, which had been such close allies, became enemies.

Kattcha rubbed her eyes and pulled up in front of the house. She turned off the lights, got out and froze. "I know you're out there. Might as well show your face."

"Man, I forgot how good your hearing is."

"Stefan Le Croix, what in the blazes are you doing here?" She put her hands on her hips and tapped her foot.

"It's Stefan McJeysen now. And I came, Madam, to see your son."

Kattcha grew cautious and studied him for a moment while contemplating what he could possibly want. "Well, I don't know if that's a wise thing to do."

"Oh, come now, Kat. Your family is treated like trash and people think I'm trash. Together, we're a match made in heaven."

She laughed, she couldn't help it. "You always did have a way with words. All right, you can come inside. We can all talk in the study." She led the way and made sure to send Donil a mental summons to be waiting. Once inside the room, she offered Stefan a seat. Donil sat behind the mahogany desk.

::You look tired. What have you been doing?::

::Nothing much. Just keeping Laylah's dreams safe.::

::Donil Silentshadow, what on earth?::

::Not now, Mother. Later, I promise to explain.::

::I'm holding you to that, my boy.::

"What can I do for you, Stefan?" Donil demanded.

"I see you are like your father, wanting all the information immediately. All right, I need you tomorrow at noon at the Heyendo Pub and Eatery. I've been commanded by the Council to take down Zina. The Council's General and Captains will be there. I need help. I've already enlisted Jacques' aid and I need yours. Your innate talent for spotting a lie will be useful tomorrow."

"And why should I help you? If I recall correctly, you watched as Zina's pet fighter beat the living daylights out of me thirteen years ago." Donil drummed his fingers on the desk.

Kattcha watched. Her son was a grown man, capable of making his own decisions. Whatever he decided, the clan would back his choice.

"I wanted to help you, Donil, but you were like all the other flunkies. You couldn't see past your hero worship of your older cousin nor your infatuation for Zina, which blinded you to her true colors. I'd hoped that if they beat you up enough, you'd run back home where you'd be safe, and it worked. I'm sorry you suffered through a trial. But right now, I'm trying to protect something important to both of us and I can't do that without your help."

"And what could you and I possibly have in common?" Donil came to his feet and paced.

"My niece, Laylah. I've been watching over her for quite a while. Pretty impressive the way you saved her from Gerard and his gang of misfits."

Donil froze. "You saw them chasing her and you didn't help?"

"No, you had the situation well in hand. Laylah doesn't even know I exist. Henry removed all photos and evidence from his homes that prove I'm real and her relative. Besides, nothing like a love struck cub saving the girl he loves to add spice to an already interesting situation."

"You're as bad as Henry! All you two seem to be able to do is use people as pawns!"

 Kattcha saw Stefan move and, too late, cried out a warning. He grabbed Donil by the throat and slammed him into the wall. "I am not like my brother! He doesn't have a kind bone in his body! Did you know that he only sent one tracker to search for Laylah once she'd disappeared? One tracker and it wasn't even Jacques. Not knocking Bryon's skills, but come on! And he prevented Jacques from looking for Laylah. Henry was more upset about his costly security equipment failing than he was about my niece's life! So don't you dare compare me to him! You hear me?"

"Yeah, I hear you." Donil wheezed for several seconds after Stefan released him and stepped away.

"I'm glad to see your passion still flows, my dear, because I was beginning to wonder." Kattcha shook a finger at Stefan. "Next time, you decide to make a point, don't use my son to do it."

"Sorry, Kattcha, it's been a rough day. I don't expect to be treated with any sort of respect but the comparisons to Henry are getting on my last nerve. So, Boy, do I have your support?"

"Yeah, I'll be there. Noon tomorrow."

"Good. Well, I bid you both a good night and I'll show myself out the door."

Mother and son watched him leave. Donil flung himself into his chair. "Man, he's scarier than I remember."

"That's because the last thirteen years have not been kind to him. Now, I do believe you were going to explain why you're exhausted."

"I did a dream walk into Laylah's mind to check on her. She was caught in a nightmare, not of her making. Someone's been invading her dreams and siphoning off her fear. Together we were able to push them out of the dream but it worries me. Who is doing this to Laylah and why? What can they hope to gain from it?"

"I don't know, but don't run yourself ragged trying to help her. Laylah needs to learn to fight if she wants to keep alive."

"I know, Mother, I know. Look, I'd better get some sleep. Talking with Stefan is exhausting and, if I have to deal with Council members, then I need to be extra alert."

"Wise choice, my son." She accepted his kiss on the cheek and watched him leave. She sent a silent prayer out to the powers above that they keep her family safe.