The Texas Shifter's Mate

The red-haired Shifter shook her head, handing the photo to her friend.

The Mermaid’s long-lashed eyes widened as she accepted the photograph. She inhaled sharply, her gaze rushing from Nantha’s image to his. Of course, she immediately recognized that Nantha was Mer. “She’s lovely,” she finally said, raising her voice to be heard over the music. She passed it back. “But I’m sorry, I haven’t seen her. When was she in here last?”

“She hasn’t been here. She’s too young.” He swallowed, trying to contain his disappointment. Of course it wouldn’t be that easy. It never was. “Her name is Nantha. She’s my sister, and she’s missing.”

The two women exchanged glances. The red-haired Shifter looked Zach up and down. “What happened to her?” she asked. “How do you know she’s missing? She might just be taking a long swim or something.”

The Mermaid nodded. “We have been known to disappear under the sea for extended periods of time. I’m guessing, though, that you have more reasons that make you think something has happened to her?”

“I do.” He didn’t elaborate. Instead, he dragged his gaze away from the attractive pair and began scanning the bar for other Merfolk he could ask.

“I’m Maddie,” the Shifter woman said. “And this is my friend Shayla. We’ll do our best to help, but I need more information. Such as where and when? What exactly happened to give you reason to be concerned? I work as a police dispatcher, and details are always helpful.”

“She has a point,” Shayla agreed, noting his hesitation. “I get that you’d planned on walking around asking everyone in here if they’d seen her, but if you really want help finding your sister, we’ll need a few details.”

Briefly, he considered. She was right, about giving out more information. “She’s actually my stepsister,” he said. “My mother married her father, Ion. They come on land for weekend visits.” Which wasn’t at all unusual. Lots of Merfolk enjoyed experiencing life out of the water for short periods of time. Of course, Shayla already would know that.

“So she disappeared here, on Galveston Island?”

“Yes. She and her father were about to return home to the sea, and she went out for a walk. She always loves to walk the edge of Stewart Beach. The far end, near the rocks. Right around sunset, when the crowds thin out.” He swallowed hard. “She had a habit of doing this every time before she and Ion went back under the sea. But this time, she didn’t come back.”

Shayla nodded. “I see. That area is particularly beautiful.”

“And dangerous,” the redhead interjected. “Especially when the tide comes in.”

“Not for a Mermaid.” Both Zach and Shayla spoke at the same time. He caught himself exchanging a quick look of recognition with her. He might be Pack, but he’d spent enough time around his sister and stepfather to know more than usual about the Merfolk.

“Zach Cantrell,” he said, introducing himself. “Nice to meet you, Shayla and Maddie. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got to show her picture around and see if anyone might have seen her. It’s a long shot, but right now it’s all I have.”

“Wait, hold on.” Maddie pinned him with a fierce stare. “You still haven’t given us any usable information.”

“Like what?”

“Like, did she have any enemies? Anyone you can think of who might have wanted to do her harm?”

Shayla made a groan of protest.

“Sorry,” Maddie said, sounding anything but. “This is necessary. Most people are abducted by someone they know.” Waving her hand, she included Zach in her gesture. “This could really help. We need to get all the facts.”

To his amazement, he realized she’d taken out a pad of paper and a pen and had begun jotting down notes.

Shayla saw him looking at her friend’s paper and shrugged. “She works as a police dispatcher. She’s good. If you really want her to help find your sister, give her as much information as you can.”

Shifting his weight from foot to foot, he cleared his throat. While he really hadn’t planned on having extended conversations with anyone, he figured this actually might be helpful.

“Pull up a chair,” Maddie ordered without looking up. “Start at the beginning.”

Not sure whether to allow himself to feel hopeful, he gave in and sat. Some of his dejection must have shown, because to his shock, Shayla reached out and placed her small hand over his.

This simple act of comfort made his throat tighten, even though he had to restrain himself from jerking his hand away. The gesture seemed too intimate somehow, though no doubt this feeling was extremely one-sided, due to the depth of his attraction to her.

When she finally moved, he could breathe again. Aware he couldn’t show his relief, he looked anywhere but at her. Despite that, he couldn’t help but be far too conscious of her every movement, the way she shifted slightly in her chair, her graceful movement as she reached for her wineglass and took a small sip.

He cleared his throat. “There’s not a lot to tell. Nothing unusual happened that weekend. Nantha and her father Ion came ashore Friday afternoon for a weekend visit. As usual, they came ashore on the private beach near my mother’s house. I met them at our meeting place, a rocky cove that’s roped off and marked as dangerous to humans.”

“Which kept it mostly free from both locals and tourists alike,” Shayla added. “Most humans are pretty good about obeying the signs.”

He nodded. Though it had only been two days, that evening would forever be impressed in his memory. Like always, Ion and Nantha had swum up to the rocks with the sea caressing them. They’d poked their heads up out of the choppy waves, waiting for Zach to give them the all-clear signal before they climbed up on the rocks and changed their form. Sparking lights surrounded them as they did, reflecting on the water like a thousand fireflies. Though the light show was identical to what happened when Zach shape-shifted into Wolf, the combination of water and lights never failed to mesmerize him.

Fifteen years ago, when Zach’s mother had announced she was marrying a Merman with a young Mermaid daughter, Zach had been skeptical. But even at ten years old, Zach had seen his mother’s grief over his father’s passing become a kind of stoic acceptance. She’d been lonely and sad, and she’d directed all her energy into raising her young son. Then she’d met Ion, and her entire world changed.

Zach had recognized the happiness that made her glow when she’d gone someplace with Ion. The fact that she’d actually introduced him to Zach told him the relationship had grown serious. When Ion had wanted to ask her to marry him, he’d asked Zach’s permission first. In all the years since, they’d all become a tight-knit, loving family.

Which had now been ripped apart. He swallowed.

“Are you okay?” Shayla asked, making him realize he’d gone silent.

“Sorry. I’m worried about my sister. This isn’t at all like her.”

“How did a Shifter like you come to have a Mermaid for a sister?” Maddie asked, clearly recognizing his aura.

“My mother, who’s also a Shifter, married her father. He’s Mer. Nantha was very young.”

“What happened to her mother?” This from Shayla.

He forced himself to meet her gaze. When he did, again the flare of attraction zinged through him. “She died shortly after Nantha was born.”

“When exactly did your sister vanish?” Maddie asked, pen poised. “How long has she been missing?”

“Sunday. Two days ago.”

“She’ll be needing to get back to the water soon,” Shayla added. “Especially if she spent the weekend on land. One week is about as long as we can go. But I imagine you already know that, right?”

He nodded. “That’s one of our main concerns. Though Ion says it’s ten days.”

Lips pursed, which somehow made her look even sexier, Shayla considered. Finally, she shrugged. “That’s pushing it, but he’s right. I’ve made it that long. It wasn’t pretty—I got sick. But once I was back in the water, I was fine.”

“What have you done so far attempting to locate her?” Maddie asked. “Did you check with the Pack Protectors? I think they might help in a case like this, since she’s related by marriage.”

Momentarily startled, he stared. Even though he knew she could tell by his aura that he was a Shifter, he hadn’t told her what kind of animal he became. While he was Wolf, and definitely part of the Pack, he could just as well have been another species entirely.

However, if this helped with finding his sister, he saw no problem with breaking a few rules. “Yes, I’ve already enlisted the help of the Pack Protectors. They promised to let me know if they heard anything about a missing Mermaid.” He grimaced. “I have to say, they didn’t seem really concerned.”

“They’ve probably got more pressing Pack business,” Maddie said, her tone commiserating. “But at least you got the word out with them.”

“True. I really wish there was some sort of investigative agency where supernatural beings could turn to for help, besides the Pack Protectors.” He took a deep breath, willing himself to sound calm rather than desperate. “I’ve done all I could think of on land. And since I’m not a Merman, I have to believe my stepfather is conducting a thorough search under the water. I’m trying really hard not to think about the horrible things that might have happened to a naïve and sweet young woman like my sister. I just wish I could hire someone to look for her. Someone who could travel under the sea.”

Shayla went very still. She and Maddie exchanged a glance.