Karen Kelley: The Jaguar Prince

“I’m still not sure. Too many people.”

“We’ll work something out.”

“There’s still one other solution.”

She shook her head. “I won’t let Zerod run me off.”

He finally nodded. “You would make a fine warrior.”

She tried not to smile at his words, but lost the battle. “You think I’d make a good fighter?”

“No, a warrior. There’s a difference. A warrior plans his battles. A fighter just fights because he enjoys battles.”

“You have female warriors on New Symtaria?”

He nodded. “One of my sisters is a warrior.” He suddenly frowned. “She’s too aggressive sometimes. You would like her, though. Maybe you can meet her someday.”

Someday. She was starting to hate that word. As in, someday Rogar would leave. He didn’t know it, but the thought of his returning to New Symtaria was getting harder for her to imagine.

Would her memories be enough to sustain her on cold winter nights? Would her soft blanket and her flannel pj’s be enough to keep her warm?

She had a feeling they wouldn’t be.

Mr. Campbell leaned back in his chair, puffing out his chest like a rooster about to let loose and crow. “Of course Callie can work with you. Can’t break up a winning team. The media will love this. I wouldn’t doubt if the mayor took an interest.” He beamed. “I’ve always thought I could run for office if the opportunity presented itself. This might just be the chance I’ve been waiting for.”

It was all she could do to keep from gagging. She’d always thought her boss was pretty much of an ass. Now he was proving he was. Maybe Mr. Campbell should be reminded that he was supposed to be thinking about the zoo and not his supposed political career.

She squared her shoulders. “And it should bring in revenue for improvements at the zoo.”

“What? Oh, yes, we have to keep everyone happy—including the animals. They’re why we’re here.”

His smile didn’t even come close to sincere.

“We’ll need privacy so I can get to know the cats.” Rogar looked comfortable sitting in the chair. As if he was the one in charge, and truth be known, he was.

“Anything you want.”

“Then we’ll be working at night,” Rogar said.

“But, how will we get all the publicity I want? You can’t…” Mr. Campbell sputtered.

“Just until I’m comfortable with the big cats. I really don’t think you want the media filming one of us being attacked and ripped to shreds. That might have the opposite effect.”

Mr. Campbell nodded, leaning back in his chair. “You’re right. I hadn’t thought about that.”

Great, he was more concerned with his reputation than the thought they might be killed by one of the animals.

He sat forward again. Elbows resting on his desk. “I’ll give you a week.”

“Two.”

“Done.” He shuffled some papers on his desk. “When Callie told me that you had agreed to work with the cats, I called a couple of guys down at the newspaper. Surely it won’t hurt to at least have your picture taken, to sort of whet everyone’s appetite.”

“I think that’s a good idea,” Rogar said.

Mr. Campbell came to his feet, grinning widely. “Great! I’ll just tell them to set everything up outside in front of the office. Come out whenever you’re ready.” He hurried out his office door.

Callie could tell Rogar saw through the other man’s act, but this would be their chance to draw Zerod out. They would be ready for him this time. Once they got him inside a cage, Rogar would transport him back to New Symtaria where he would face charges for his criminal activity.

She would be safe.

And she would probably never see Rogar again. She closed her eyes, swallowing back the tears that threatened.

“Callie?” Rogar said her name like a whisper drifting on a warm breeze.

She rapidly blinked away the tears. “I’m ready.” She came to her feet.

“Don’t worry, it will soon be over. Zerod will not be able to hurt you. I’ll make sure of that.”

She was more worried about the fact Rogar would probably be leaving soon. Not that she wanted to die or anything.

They walked out the door to where the media was waiting. She would make sure she cut the picture out of the paper so she would at least have that to cling to. She was so pathetic.

You could go with him.

Callie stumbled. Rogar put a firm hand on her elbow.

You’re back.

I never left. I’ve always been here.

I don’t want you to leave…ever.

I won’t.

When will I meet you?

Soon.

What do I call you?

Katun.

“Katun,” she tested the name on her tongue.

“What?” Rogar looked at her.

She smiled as a reporter snapped another picture. “Katun is her name. The name of my guide.”

He smiled and hugged her close. Did he know how she felt right now? As though she had found an old friend whom she’d thought had been lost forever. Yes, she suspected he did. Rogar was good about knowing how she felt.

As the reporters asked questions, Callie basked in the feeling that she had somehow become whole again. Deep down, she knew there would be more. It was as though her senses were coming alive. The very air around her seemed to crackle with energy.

“Tell us what it felt like when you jumped into the pit with the ferocious jaguar?” one of the reporters asked.

Her brow knit. Sheba wasn’t ferocious. Sure, she was a wild animal, but Callie wouldn’t exactly call her ferocious. Sheba did only what came naturally to her. No one could blame her for that.

A volley of rapid fire questions were aimed at Rogar, but he easily answered each and every one.

“I’ll be back in a bit,” she whispered to him, then headed toward the jaguar’s cage. She felt a little guilty leaving him with the two reporters, but she would only be gone a few minutes. There was still twenty minutes left before the zoo opened. She could at least say hello to Sheba and make sure the jaguar was okay.

It took her about five minutes to walk to that side of the park. She sighed with relief when she saw Sheba in the pit, lying in the sun, except she looked a little droopy.

“Hey, Sheba,” she said as she approached the enclosure.

The cat’s head jerked up. Sheba cried out. Callie could’ve sworn that the jag looked glad to see her. And maybe she was. Callie rested her arms on the cement ledge. Sheba got up and moved closer, making Callie smile.

“So much has happened in my life, Sheba, that sometimes I think I’m being turned inside out. I don’t know what to do anymore. I’m part alien, imagine that, and I can shift into another animal form, except I don’t know my guide yet. Well, not exactly.”

She closed her eyes for a moment. When she opened them, everything looked the same, except she knew she was different.

“And I’ve fallen in love with Rogar.”

She closed her eyes and let that sink in for a few seconds. It was true. She had fallen in love with him.

“He’s the first person who has come into my life and made me feel whole, as though I know where I belong. Except he wants me to go with him to New Symtaria, his planet, and I’m scared. Will I feel just as out of place there?”

And what if he didn’t love her? She didn’t know their customs. What if leaving totally screwed up her life even more? Would he bring her back? Would she still be next in line for the job she wanted? So many questions.

She sighed. “Then there’s the problem that if I stay, Zerod could find me. He came to my house, and Rogar saved my life. If we draw him out, if he falls into our trap that we’ll set here at the zoo, then maybe it would be safe to stay. I’m just not sure about anything, except that I’ll never push my guide away again. I truly feel as though I’ve found a long lost friend.”