Early the next morning, Reyna teleported to her lair to change into work appropriate attire since Jorlan hadn’t packed any. Afterwards, she drove her car to the office, slightly amused at how mundane this mode of transportation seemed. In the last few days she’d gotten used to ‘porting wherever she wanted to go, now that there was no one making her feel guilty about using the ability.
She arrived at Illuminator Incorporated before most of the human staff and went straight to Jorlan’s office. Entering without knocking, she said in greeting, “I promised Alvaro a tour.”
“Well, good morning to you, too, Kitten. Feeling perky, I see,” Jorlan said. He was seated behind his desk, busy on his computer.
Reyna flushed with embarrassment. “Good morning. Sorry, I just realized this morning how awkward it would be, having him here. There’s no telling what the rumor mill will think when they see vampyrs walking around the place.”
Jorlan raised an eyebrow and relaxed back into his chair. “Plural, as in more than one?”
“Tariq wants to come too,” she explained. “I’m so out of the loop. What’s your agenda look like today?”
“I have a few hours this morning around ten I can keep clear. As for the rumor mill, since when do we care what conclusions the humans draw?” he asked, grinning.
“I care,” she reminded him.
Jorlan sobered. “I know, Kitten. You care too much what others think of you. That’s why you hide. Speaking of vampyrs, yours caused quite a stir when he went storming through the den looking for you.”
Her jaw dropped. “Tariq came to our den?”
“Yes, he did. Right before he called here. He was really freaked out by your abrupt departure,” he said.
“I didn’t mean to worry him. The cat wanted out and needed to run, so I left,” she explained.
“Without giving him any warning or explanation?”
She frowned. “There wasn’t time. The change took me over so quickly, I couldn’t fight it.”
Jorlan stood and walked around the desk to stand in front of her. “It happens. Whether we’re on two legs or four, we’re more beast than human, Kitten. You’re going to have to let her out consistently on a daily basis or she’ll take over. Give her time out to play and she stays manageable.”
Reyna had already come to the same conclusion, so she asked the question which had been on her mind since last night. “Tariq says he can’t sense me when I’m in my feline form. Did you know?”
“Isabella told me. For some reason the bond between Felini and Vampalien doesn’t register when you’re not in the same form,” he admitted.
Her brow wrinkled in confusion. “We can’t even communicate telepathically?”
He shook his head. “From my understanding, it’s the bond that allows you to mind speak. With the bond missing…”
She thought about it. “Is that why Alvaro was convinced Isabella was dead?”
Jorlan sighed heavily. “If we’re going to have this conversation, let’s sit down and be comfortable.” He led her over to the couch in his office. “I’d hoped Isabella would have told you this part.”
“I haven’t seen her since that night in the main pride den in Arizona. Honestly, I’m not sure I want to,” Reyna admitted as she settled next to him.
Jorlan laid a hand on her knee and squeezed. “Give it time. You may change your mind. Anyway, the day of the attack, Isabella had snuck off into the desert to see Alvaro. She was in her feline form to lessen suspicion. If anyone spotted her, they’d think she’d simply gone out for a run. It was something she’d done plenty of times with no problem. Unfortunately, this time on the way back her path crossed with Ragnor’s. He scented Alvaro on her, put two and two together, and wasn’t happy with his conclusions.”
He stared off into space. Reyna imagined he was remembering what had occurred and stayed quiet.
“I’d trailed behind Isabella, as I often did, though she’d never spotted me. Isabella was always a lousy hunter. I had some crazy notion I was her protector, though she was several years my senior. I saw the whole thing happen. He would have killed her if I hadn’t intervened. As it was, he came pretty damn close,” Jorlan said, shaking his head, his expression one of regret.
“Because she was in her feline form when the attack came, she wasn’t able to call to Alvaro for help. After the attack she didn’t have the energy to change.” Jorlan’s gaze met hers. “Once we received word of Alvaro’s death, she lacked the heart. Isabella fell into a deep depression, stayed in her feline form, and refused to speak to anyone. It was only when she realized she carried you that she came out of it. As far as the pride was concerned, Isabella’s actions gave weight to Ragnor’s story she’d been raped.”
Reyna nodded, able to relate. She’d only been with Tariq a short time and already she’d be devastated if something happened to him. “So that’s how they were able to fool Alvaro? With Isabella in her cat form he couldn’t sense her?”
“Yes, and with Alvaro convinced Isabella was dead, he stopped trying. Call your husband and tell him to meet us here at ten.” Personal time over, Jorlan stood and walked over to his desk, took a seat, and brought her up to speed on what she’d missed. With nothing really pressing on her agenda, Reyna returned to her office and called Tariq to tell him what time he and Alvaro should arrive. He was busy so the conversation didn’t take long.
That task completed, she settled down and began working on employee evaluations. It wasn’t something she enjoyed doing but with the upcoming bonuses, it was necessary. Illuminator Incorporated only rewarded deserving employees.
The evaluation system she’d devised was as fair as she could make it. Everyone had input. Each quarter, Felini and human employees alike evaluated themselves, their teammates, and their supervisors. Up the chain it went until it reached her desk. It made for a lot of reading between the lines—not everyone was honest—but the system worked.
Reyna had worked her way through a quarter of the staff when security alerted her Alvaro and Tariq were in the lobby. She buzzed Jorlan and made her way down.