left before I could stop her. We’ve been dreaming about her ever
since. Usually when she wakes up that’s the end of it, but last night it felt like she was closer, like even when she did wake up the three of us were still connected.” Zack felt Mitchell nod against the top of his head, confirming his explanation. “We traveled all over town trying to find her—”
“Which explains why you missed Emily’s naming ceremony,”
David said with a quirked eyebrow.
“Yeah, sorry about that,” Zack said, apologizing for the timing
rather than the actual nonattendance. “Anyway, as soon as we pulled
into the parking lot, we felt her. By the time we got into the room, Mitchell was already producing the enzyme, and, well, you were there
for the rest.”
David nodded, seeming to choose his words carefully. “Kayla is
trying to explain everything to Jade as we speak. We’ve already told
her most of it, but she doesn’t believe anything. The words
‘delusional,’ ‘cult,’ and ‘ridiculous bullshit’ have made quite a few appearances in our conversations.”
“I need to see her,” Mitchell said, sounding completely miserable.
David nodded. “I know, and I understand. When I couldn’t claim
Kayla, I almost went insane. Hell, if Jed hadn’t been able to supply me with some of the suppressant, we might’ve lost Kayla before we
could determine if she was truly our Taydelaan.”
Zack knew the story. Jessica, Kayla, and David’s mating had been
just as unusual as Mitchell, Jade, and Zack’s was turning out to be.
Their Taydelaan
33
Goddess, if only things had gone the way they were supposed to,
Mitchell wouldn’t be producing the enzyme yet, Zack wouldn’t be
worrying for both his lovers, and Jade wouldn’t be scared half out of her mind.
“It’ll work out,” David said sincerely. Zack felt Mitchell’s rise in
hope, but David quickly burst the bubble by suggesting they go home
without their Taydelaan. “Just for tonight,” he assured them.
Mitchell surprised him by nodding in agreement, and then he
helped Zack to his feet and climbed back onto his own. “We’ll
explain it all to her,” David said confidently, “and hopefully we’ll be able to set something up tomorrow night.”
Zack grabbed his lover’s hand and squeezed reassuringly.
“And if that doesn’t work?” Mitchell asked anxiously.
“Then you can always visit her in your dreams.”
David winked and left them to tidy up.
* * * *
Jade paced back and forth. They’d traveled the rest of the way
back to the house in silence. Jade could still feel the lethargy from her embarrassing orgasm. But of course her baby sister was still trying to convince her that everything was okay.
“No, no, no, this doesn’t make any fucking sense, and I refuse to
listen to any more of your bullshit.” This was ridiculous. How many
times did she have to tell Kayla she wasn’t buying the shit she was shoveling? Kayla looked upset by her attitude, and Jade was too tired to care. If Kayla didn’t want to have this conversation all she had to do was walk away. Her sister looked angry enough to spit, but she
suddenly calmed and a slow smile spread across her face.
“Fine. Whatever,” she dismissed with a flip of her hand. “Ignore
me. It’s been a long day. Why don’t you just go and get some sleep?”
Sleep? Oh, that was such a lousy idea. Sleep was what started this
whole mess in the first place. Sleep wasn’t going to help her, not by a 34
Rachel Clark
long shot. Her sister’s smirk told her everything she needed. “You
know,” Jade accused in a tight voice.
“Know what?” Kayla asked in that innocent-sounding voice she’d
tried to use since the day she’d been old enough to lie.
“You know about the dreams.”
“Now, how could I know about the dreams,” she said lightly.
“According to you I’m delusional and not actually hearing my
partners’ thoughts in my head. Isn’t that
Bathroom Readers’ Institute