A Cougar's Fantasy Read online

“Why do I remember that name?” Tasmin asked.

  “Because we outran and out maneuvered them about six years ago in the Pacific,” Abby informed her friend and once more started to climb towards the mast.

  “Get your cute ass off of that thing before you fall for sure,” Lan growled in her head before Abby could cut him off.

  She shook her head, growling. “Bye. Stupid assholes think they can tell me what to do on my own damn ship. I swear, some men just need a good old kick in the balls, too bad it might damage the part we need.” Abby grumbled.

  Tasmin laughed, climbing next to her. “That is for sure. Question, is this the same ship that had that one dark man…You know the one that jumped on our ship?”

  Abby stopped climbing and glanced at her friend. “Oh my God, you like that man? You, Tasmin, actually did a double take on him? The same man you threw off the ship?”

  “Do you know what that man promised to do to me next time he saw me?” Tasmin squeaked. “I was lucky, Abby. I caught him off guard. He’s like me, but different, more powerful. We are so screwed.” Tasmin glanced over at Lucy. “Lucy, as soon as we hit the ocean, you open this baby up, don’t hold anything back.” Tasmin glanced at Abby. “Do you think they know our course?” she asked.

  Abby frowned as she again reached for the mast that was torn, starting to mend it with her touch. “I don’t know. You know they are in my head, but have kept out of the part…Shit, yep they know where we are going and if they try to stop us, I will personally deball a certain man.” Abby snarled, finishing her chore, releasing the rope and then jumping down to the deck.

  “Tasmin, my quarters. Lucy, you might as well come. We need a plan,” Abby said, moving down the stairs to her quarters and her maps.

  “What do you think?” Tasmin asked, following her.

  Abby glanced up at Tasmin. “You two are going to have to plan a route to where we are going.” She pointed to the island on the map. “I don’t want to know the course or nothing.” Abby sat down and blew out the breath she was holding.

  “I can’t cut off the connection I have with them. I need it to survive. I hate to say it, but the bonding has already started with Lan, Ramiro and Cedric. So, you two are going to have to figure out an alternate to our route since they can see what I do. Keep it to yourselves, but take the shortest way you can when you change it. Instead of three to four weeks to get there, human way, use our way if you have to.” Abby got up, walking to the door.

  “I’m going to start getting the weapons ready. Also, I want each woman to start her exercises tonight. We will not be caught off guard.” Abby snarled and strolled to the ship’s armory where they kept their choice of weapons. They would all stay armed, now.

  *.*.*

  Abby hated admitting she had a weakness. After her sister had been murdered, it had taken everything in her to just get out of bed. She stepped out onto the deck, moving to the railing, needing to see the water.

  “You know what’s so weird?” Abby said, knowing Tasmin had followed her up to the deck. “You’d think with me being a cat I’d hate the water, but it’s so calming. My father used to tell me stories of his father sailing the seas. I guess his mate would go with him.” She smiled. “My dad told me he was born on my grandfather’s ship.”

  “What happened to your grandparents?” Tasmin asked.

  “No one knows. Dad said they checked in right after my sister was born, but they never heard from them since. As a kid, I always dreamed I’d find them living on an island somewhere.” Abby spun around. “Son of a bitch,” she growled.

  “You just couldn’t leave it alone could you,” Abby asked, glaring at Lan. “I am not going anywhere with you. I don’t care that you got here, and what the hell is wrong with you? You could have ended up in the middle of the damn ocean?”

  “Are you calling me stupid, darling?” Lan said, with a smile on his face that had her backing up, and she ran smack into Tasmin.

  “You need me to pitch him overboard?” Tasmin snarled, and that is when Abby realized her sisters were ready to do battle with her mate.

  “Okay ladies, back down. I can’t have you throwing my mate overboard. Keep course, Tasmin, take charge while I have a few choice words with my so-called mate and watch out for Quinn’s ship. You know it’s going to be close, if he’s here already.”

  Tasmin moaned. “I’m going to have to face the dark man, shit. But we are still continuing our plans, right?”

  “Nothing, and I mean nothing, will stop us from that. All of us had the same dream. We were meant to go there and not even my mates will stop us,” Abby said, heading to her cabin. “Move it, Lan, unless you want to swim to Quinn’s ship.” Abby knew she was pushing it, but right now she didn’t give a rat’s ass. This was her last mission and she would not give it up for him or any of them.

  Abby said nothing more, going back down the stairs to her cabin. There she moved to her corner seat, over-looking the water. She heard the door shut. “I’m not leaving, Lan.” Abby looked up to see Lan still across the room, leaning against the wall, staring at her. “This run is too important to each of us on this ship.”

  “You don’t think you could have told us about it instead of running off? When haven’t we been there for you, Abby? In the last year, why haven’t you mentioned any of this to us?” Lan growled. “We are part of you, as you are us.”

  Abby glared at him. “And don’t you think I see what all of your friends are doing to my friends? Our job was our lifeline, our mission to help others, but at every damn corner, you have stopped us from doing what we love to do. You have corralled us into a little mini-city controlled by you.” Abby stood up and went to him.

  “Look at Dee! She asked to wait to have more children, but what do her mates do, take her choice away. You men call it a partnership,” Abby made the quote sign in the air. “I don’t think so. Tell me, Lan, if I would have told you about my ship, our mission, would you have allowed me to come?”

  Lan stepped away from the wall, wrapping his arms around her. “I can’t answer that because we were not given the chance to know about this, or for that matter, about your friends.” He nipped her nose. “We have a lot to discuss, and we need all our mates here. But Abby, I want everything. I want to know why this is so important. Who all of these women are and, most importantly, you must promise to never keep us in the dark? Never again. With the danger around you scaring the living crap out of all of us.”

  Abby couldn’t help but smile and shake her head at Lan’s choice of words. It would take time, but Lan, Ramiro, and Cedric had been trying to learn everything they could. “Lan, isn’t it weird for there to be four men to our group? How are you and Quinn going to get on?”

  Lan glanced behind him and Abby peeked around him, moaning as she saw that the rest of her men were standing there.

  * * *

  Lan spun around, wrapping his arms around her from behind. “As you can see, I have found our little runaway. We have a lot to discuss. Quinn, I take it your ship is close?”

  Abby didn’t say anything, but he noticed she hadn’t taken her eyes off of Quinn.

  “Okay, Abby what is wrong? Quinn! Explain!” Lan ordered

  “Please have a seat, let me poke my head outside and tell Tasmin everything is okay before she storms in here and you all find yourself swimming in the water,” Abby said and stepped away from him, but he pulled her back.

  “She is from the demon race? You trust her?” he asked.

  Abby smiled. “She is one of my best friends. Not only has she saved my life on a number of occasions, she’s also my right hand when it comes to this ship. Believe me, she knows everything.” She smiled and looked over at Quinn. “But I think we will keep Quinn away from her.”

  Quinn frowned. “I don’t know this person? Why would she want to harm me?”

  “Not you, but your second in command.” Abby said, going to the door, but stopped upon hearing Quinn’s laugh.

  “Oh, you’re talking of Da
min. Well, it would seem they both have a score to settle because Damin can’t wait to see your friend,” Quinn said, teasing and Lan yanked Abby back as the door flew open and a very pissed off demon stood there glaring at Quinn.

  “Tasmin, stand down,” Abby said, going to stand in front of her friend, but Lan wasn’t going to have any of it. “Let go, Lan, I need to defuse this thing that the big mouth started,” Abby growled and glared at Quinn.

  “He needs to swim,” Tasmin said and before any of them could say anything Quinn was gone.

  “Abby?” Lan asked and Abby peeked over her shoulder at him with a smile. “I told you I needed to defuse it. Quinn is fine, he’s in the water next to the ship. Tasmin, let him on board, please. I’ll make sure he keeps his trap closed,” Abby said.

  “Abby, you are pushing your luck here,” Lan growled when Tasmin turned her red eyes on him. “Don’t think about it. I won’t play.” Lan ordered and Tasmin stood there for a second, but he didn’t back down.

  “Are they staying?” Tasmin asked when Quinn appeared in the room, growling.

  “Stop,” Lan said before Quinn could say a word. “Tasmin, one of us will always be with Abby, as for if we staying here? That is yet to be determined. My woman will inform you later after we discuss a few things as to what is going to happen.”

  Abby glanced at him. “Really? Tasmin, inform the crew we are not stopping. Continue to our goal. We will see if these men will stay or not.” Lan could see the cat pushing forward inside her.

  Cat eyes met Lan’s, and he knew she was a very pissed off Kitty, but he wasn’t very happy either. The sooner they got a few things straightened, the better.

  He turned, going to the round table in the corner and sitting down, his weru following suit, waiting. At first Abby stood there, staring at them as Tasmin started to leave. Tamsin turned and whispered in Abby’s ear. “Remember, I can send them to his ship if you need me to,” Tasmin snarled, “Watch that one, Lan, he’s the dangerous one, not the mouth.”

  Lan reached over and grabbed onto Quinn’s shoulder. “Do not,” he said, not taking his gaze off his Kitty, waiting for Abby’s friend to leave.

  “It would be good if you left, NOW, so we can discuss things with our woman,” Lan said, his patience running a little short.

  Tasmin’s head snapped up and she stared at him for a few minutes before she nodded, leaving them alone finally.

  Lan kicked out the chair. “Sit, Abby.”

  “I’m not a dog, Lan,” Abby snarled, but did as he ordered. “Where would you like me to start?” she asked, leaning back in the chair, her legs out in front of her, crossed. Her actions emphasizing her tight black jeans and the halter top that emphasized her generous breasts.

  “Where are you going and why?” Lan asked.

  She sighed and leaned forward. “Just so all of you know, this was our last run officially.” She glanced around the room. “I’d like to keep the ship, maybe take her out every so often. Anyway, I had a dream and I always listen to what I see in dreams.” She got up and went to the small desk grabbing a map, bringing it back to the table. “There is a small island, Cayman Brac is the official name. This is where we are heading.” Abby sat back.

  “There is family there, Maya’s and I’m hoping maybe mine. I don’t know why, but my sister Agatha is showing me this.” Abby smiled. “I never knew a ghost could yell till the first time Agatha came to me.” Abby shook her head and looked up at Lan.

  “Expect a visit from my sister, each of you,” she said, glancing at each of them. “Anyway, all the women here on this ship have lost loved ones because of those creepy things and we have all had the same dream, but with their own loved ones showing them the way.” She leaned over, tapping the island. “Something is here and we will be there,” Abby snapped her head up and glared at him. “So, help me if…”

  Lan had enough, reaching over and pulling Abby into his lap. “You’ll what? I am getting really tired of these threats, Abby. We have all gone out of our way to help and support you, but we will not be treated this way anymore, understand!” he snapped. “You are our hearts and if it means making you mad to keep you safe, then so be it.”

  She started to say something, but he covered her mouth with his, in a hard kiss meant to punish her. But Lan knew it did nothing of the kind as she wrapped her arms around him, hugging him tight. What he wasn’t expecting was to feel wetness on his cheek.

  He lifted his head, seeing the tears roll down her cheeks. “I miss her so much,” she whispered. “I have to do this, Lan. We all do. It’s like saying goodbye to our loved ones. It’s their last wish or something like that.”

  Lan didn’t waste time, calling for reinforcements. “Do not get angry, but I’ve called Talhrn, Isaac and River here to discuss this.” Abby stiffened in his arms. “If we are going to do this, we need help, little cat. For all of your friends to have this same dream does mean something and I’m hoping River will know what to do.”

  A small quiet snarl came out as Abby wrestled with what he had said, but she was given no time as the three men appeared in her room.

  “Lan, I’m happy to see you have found your meru. Why have you called us here?” River asked as his other son, Guryon, appeared next to them.

  “Do I explain?” Lan asked Abby.

  “You know damn well they won’t allow us to go.” Abby wiggled herself out of Lan’s arms and stood there staring at him. “This is why I didn’t tell you. It’s obvious you don’t see how important this is to each of us or they wouldn’t be here. You tell them,” she spun around leaving the room, but Lan placed a hand on her shoulder.

  She stopped and looked up at him. “Tell us. I sense something but I can’t tell what it is.”

  Abby’s hands were now fists at her side. “Every single woman aboard this ship has had at least one family member killed by these things.” She glanced at Lan as he stood there, needing to be close to her, but Abby pulled away from him again and he didn’t like it one bit.

  “Abby,” he growled.

  “Don’t,” she snarled back. “I informed you. I trusted you and you broke that trust, the one thing that I was waiting on and you all failed.” She glanced up at River. “We all have had the same dream to go to this island and not you, or any of you, will stop us.” Abby spun around, leaving the room and slamming the door in the process.

  “You have risked much calling us,” River said, placing his hand on Lan’s shoulder and squeezing it, but his attention was at the ceiling. “I can feel the hurt and determination these women have. Maybe this once we should allow them to go, but we go with them.” River sighed as Lacey and Opal appeared in the room.

  “Okay, which one of you assholes hurt one of my cats,” Lacey snarled, rubbing her swollen belly.

  “You shouldn’t be here. What did I tell you?” Isaac snarled.

  She frowned at him. “Abby is hurting, bad. It’s almost as deep as when her sister died. All of us feel it, it wasn’t just me this time.” Lacey glanced at Opal who was snarling and glaring at Lan.

  “Kitten,” River said, pulling her into his arms.

  “What? Lacey is right,” Opal shook her head and looked up at Lan. “I honestly don’t know if she’ll forgive them for this.”

  Lan glanced at the door, his hearts now in his gut. Were her friends, right? Had he gone too far?

  Chapter Three

  Abby stood on the Crow’s Nest, the cool air blowing on her as she stared out at the water, needing the calm of the sea. How could she forgive him, them, but mostly Lan?

  For the past month, Abby had been ready to join their family as her sisters had, but that one issue of trust had been in the back of her mind.

  “You know they are all like this,” Lacey said, appearing next to her.

  “You’re damn lucky I put a bigger than normal Crow’s Nest up here,” Abby said, turning and hugging Lacey tight. “You shouldn’t be here, momma. You should be home resting.” Abby stepped back, staring at her friend.
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br />   “How could I not come? You of all my cats are connected to me the most. But I do have to say I’m a little miffed myself. Why didn’t you tell me, us? Don’t you think we would have loved to join you on this amazing ship?” Lacey said, staring out at the open ocean.

  “I’m sorry if I hurt you and the others, but I needed this separate at the time. This was my getaway. You each had something, someone, and even my sister would escape, but this was mine. Is mine. If it helps, I was going to tell you all after this last trip. I wanted to surprise everyone. Maybe even bring back part of our lives that we lost so long ago,” Abby said.

  “Lacey, you get your cute ass down here now!” Isaac snarled from the deck.

  Abby glanced down to see warriors all over her ship, her sisters glancing at her. “They’re not going to go away, are they?” Abby asked and Lacey shook her head.

  “No, but would you really want your men to go away?” Lacey asked her, ignoring her mate below.

  “I can’t answer that now Lacey. You know I’m furious with them, especially Lan. I’ve waited so long, and I was close to committing to them, but I needed to do this myself before I could share. He took that away from all of us.” Abby nodded to her shipmates, her other sisters. “They need this closure as much as I do.”

  “You really believe some of our families will be on this island?” Lacey asked, placing her hand on hers, squeezing it.

  “Yes, I don’t know why, but we have family alive,” Abby said.

  “You know Lan had no choice but to inform the idiots, below right? Just like we reported to Maya when something was going on. Just like you should have informed me about this. Don’t you think some of the sisters would have loved to come?” Lacey leaned over and whispered. “I mean these guys drive us crazy. We all need a break once in a while.”

  “I heard that,” Isaac growled.

  “And?” Lacey snarled back, glaring down at the man. “Even I need a few hours here and there, just to…”

  “That is why I’m afraid we’re all getting lost,” Abby said, glancing down and finding Lan standing on the poop deck. With his black hair pulled back and the way he stood there on the deck, you would have thought he belonged there.