Sebastian (Bowen Boys, #5)(28)

“Get me all you can on the place I was just at. I want the name of the person who owns it and where they live.” The being nodded. “Also, let me know of any panther family’s around that area, how big they are, and who the leader is.”

“Yes, sire.” He watched as the being started pounding on the keys. “I have a name, my lord, but only a last. The name on the deed is Bowen and nothing more.”

He nodded as the being continued to work. After about ten more minutes, the being turned to him. His face was bright with happiness, not something you saw much of around there.

“Bowen is the name of the family of panthers there as well. The leader’s name is Khan and there is a large family of them. Six brothers, as well as a few members that are nearby who report to him and sometimes serve him. The parents of the family are still alive as well, and they live on a compound of sorts about seventeen miles from the building.” Wanera smiled. “There is a rumor that a female has joined their ranks recently. There is not much said about her, but it is reputed that she is very beautiful. She is supposed to be mated to the brother called Sebastian. He owns and operates a shop of sorts. I don’t have the details on that, but I do have an address.”

“Yes. Good, it’s all coming together. Send me to his place of business and make sure that I can be visible to the inhabitants of the place. I would also like to look like a business man. Can you do that?” The being nodded, and he was suddenly dressed in a suit. Not something he’d normally wear, but he did want to appear normal. Or as normal as humans could be.

He felt the air shift and he was suddenly standing outside another building. At least this time he was a little more prepared. He opened the door and stepped into a realm not like anything he’d ever seen.

Wanera knew what a computer was but not much more than that. He had purchased everything that the being had asked for, but beyond that, he knew nothing. There were so many things on the shelves and walls that he put his hands into his pockets, afraid that if he touched something, the entire thing would come down on him. The woman coming toward him looked chipper, something that he hated most in humans.

“Hi. What can I help you find today?” He looked around, wondering if he should have had an idea in mind, and saw the sign advertising hard drives.

“I need a new hard drive. I want to have one for my be…friend.” She started nodding and he found himself being led to a shelf filled with boxes and computers. “He said that he needed two of them.”

“Two?” He panicked, thinking he should just leave. “Oh, does he have a desktop and a laptop he needs to put them in?”

He nodded. “Yes, that’s right. He does have one that sits on his desk. Laptop? Yes, I believe he has something that he puts there as well.”

She nodded again and he felt safe. But he realized after several minutes that she was talking about something other than computers and was going on about her boyfriend. He looked around the store for someone to save him when a large man came out of the back office. It was the man from the building.

“Excuse me.” Walking away from the woman had no apparent effect on her mouth moving. She continued as if he were still standing there.

He was nearly to the man when he realized two things at once. The man was a panther with a faerie mate, and the man knew what he was. Wanera backed up when he started toward him. Before he could call his being to be brought home, the large man had his hand around his throat.

“What are you doing here?”

Wanera struggled against his hold but couldn’t break loose. That was the problem when he was in the human world trying to look like one of them. He was just like them when it came to his magic, too.

“I came to speak to you about your mate. I would like it if you were to give her to me.” The man shook him hard, and Wanera felt his teeth snap together over his tongue. “She means more to me than she will to you. I’m going to be asked to step down if she doesn’t come to me freely.”

“Are you f*cking insane? You don’t honestly believe that I’d give up my mate to you simply because you asked, do you?” Wanera wanted to tell him that’s exactly what he thought, but the man didn’t give him a chance to answer. “You must be all kinds of stupid if you think that. Or you’re joking with me. Is this supposed to be funny? If it is, I’m not finding the joke.”

“I’m neither stupid nor joking with you. I am very serious. I will pay you handsomely for her.” The man shook him again and then the room seemed to tighten. He looked up to see Jacob standing just behind the man who held him. Reaching to his being, he begged to be brought home immediately. In seconds he was gasping for breath on the floor with the being handing him some hot tea.

~~~

Sebastian paced in front of her. Ama could almost feel sorry for his brothers. Each of them had come in the door almost as soon as Sebastian had gotten home. Khan had been first and then the others had followed in pairs, the brothers and their mates if they had one. Reed came in last and sat down nearest the little boy George. Even his mom and dad sat on the couch watching their son.

“I think the man is insane. He would have to be, don’t you think? To believe that I’d actually sell my mate to him means he’s off his noodle, right?” He wasn’t talking to any one person, and none of the people in the room answered. Ama thought they were afraid of him. “He came into my store and asked about hard drives, then came to me to talk about buying my mate.”