Tatiana noticed a subtle change in her energy signature when she identified herself as Steven’s mate, and it gave Tatiana pause. It was like a hiccup in a steady stream of energy, as if she momentarily let down her guard. Perhaps Tatiana wasn’t the only one who didn’t embrace the whole fated mate idea?
“Be careful with her, Dominic.” Courtney smiled at Tatiana and led the way down the steps.
“Believe me, I will be,” Dominic said. “She’s the careless one, not me.”
Tatiana made a sound of frustration and bit her lip to keep from telling Dominic off. Besides, with her luck, he’d probably enjoy it.
“Nice to meet you, Courtney.” Tatiana kept her arms folded over her chest and her eyes straight ahead as Dominic carried her down the steps into a long, well-lit hallway. “I’d shake your hand, but I’m afraid Dominic will think that’s too strenuous,” she muttered.
“Keep joking, but you are the veterinarian who got clobbered by her patient. Not me.” His brow knit together as Courtney scooted past and opened a door marked Exam Room on the right side of the hall. “What got Spirit so riled up, anyway? The horses are examined on a regular basis and are used to shifters, hybrid and pure-blood, so what happened?”
“Steven is finishing up in the lab,” Courtney said with a faint smile. “He said that he’d be here in a minute.”
Dominic carried Tatiana in and placed her gently on the cushioned exam table. She glanced at him briefly as he stepped back, and she tried not to notice how swiftly her skin cooled when she left the shelter of his embrace. There was no denying that her body responded to his, and it reminded her of the imprinting that some animals do when they find their mates.
Tatiana couldn’t help but wonder if that’s what this was—a genetic, imprinted response—but if that were true, it actually gave her hope. If this intense attraction between them was merely biological, then she could choose not to participate.
“Thanks,” she said as she gingerly adjusted her position. Tatiana arched her back, trying to work out the kinks, but stopped as another sharp pain shot into her head. “Damn, she got me good. I’m not usually careless.”
“I didn’t think so,” Dominic said darkly. “What happened?”
The truth was that she wasn’t quite sure. She had never connected with an animal so clearly before. Staring into Dominic’s eyes, she had a sinking suspicion of what caused the sudden boost in her abilities. Before she could answer, a tall, handsome man with shaggy blond hair, wearing a lab coat and a warm smile, came into the room.
“I’ve been looking forward to meeting you, Tatiana,” Steven said with a friendly grin as he shut the door behind him. “I have to admit I hoped it would be at dinner tonight and not in the exam room.”
“Hey, babe.” He placed a quick kiss on Courtney’s cheek. “Aren’t you supposed to be resting?”
“I’m fine, Steven.” Courtney lifted one shoulder, and a look of embarrassment passed over her face as she glanced at Tatiana. “I wanted to make sure Tatiana was alright, but I’ll go back to our cabin and lie down if that will make you happy.”
“It would,” he said with a wink. Steven squatted down so that his face was directly in front of her large belly. “Tell your mother she needs to rest.”
“Fine,” Courtney sighed. “You men are so bossy.”
“Thank you.” He kissed her tummy and stood up. “And we’re not bossy, just concerned.”
Courtney opened the door and looked back at Tatiana before she left. “I know what it’s like to be new around here and surrounded by a bunch of overprotective alpha males.”
“Hey.” Steven put his hand to his chest, feigning injury.
“When you’re feeling up to it,” she said through a short laugh, “I’d be happy to take a walk with you and show you around the property. The cabin you’re staying in is across the way from ours. I know you have your sister here, but a girl can never have too many female friends.”
“I’d like that,” Tatiana said through a smile. “Thank you.”
Courtney waved as she left, but for all her pleasantries, Tatiana couldn’t shake the feeling she was hiding something. It was the way she interacted with Steven. She didn’t appear to share the seamless bond with him that the other women shared with their mates. They lacked the comfort level and innate intimacy she’d witnessed with the others.
“What happened?” Steven asked.
“Huh?” Tatiana’s face burned when she realized that Steven had been talking to her, and she didn’t even hear him. “I’m sorry, what did you ask me?”
Dominic grumbled something under his breath but didn’t move from his protective stance by the door. Tatiana shot him a look of disapproval before turning her attention back to Steven.
“How did you end up in a fight with the stall door and lose?” Steven stood in front of her and checked her vital signs as they spoke while Dominic kept tracking every move. “It’s my understanding that you have the ability to communicate with animals—read their energies. I have to admit, that’s a pretty radical power, and I would bet it makes you a kick-ass vet.”
Steven removed the blood pressure cuff and hung it on a hook behind her.
“What did you see? Was it the same thing that spooked the horse?”
“I’m not sure,” Tatiana said as she recalled the incident. “It was probably a fluke.”
“What was a fluke?” Dominic’s voice, low and dangerous, cut into the conversation. He stepped closer but didn’t take his focus off of her. “What the hell happened in that barn?”
“I heard her,” Tatiana whispered. “I actually heard her speak.”
Tatiana looked from Dominic to Steven, who stared with curiosity and concern. The words poured out of her mouth as the excitement about this new development registered.
“That’s never happened,” she said excitedly. “I mean, I’ve always been able to read an animal’s emotions. It’s hard to explain, but I usually see colors in their energy waves, and if I want, I can connect with their signatures, much like we can with other Amoveo, but this was much more. I heard her voice in my mind like I hear Layla, but it was further away, like a bad connection on a telephone.”
“Interesting.” Steven turned her upper body so he could inspect the back of her head. “So, before coming to the ranch, you didn’t have this particular layer to your abilities? Correct?”
“That’s right,” Tatiana said slowly. She locked eyes with Dominic as Steven finished examining her, and a knot gathered in her belly. “Why?”
Tatiana didn’t have to ask the question, because she already knew the answer. It was Dominic, or more to the point, her and Dominic. He didn’t flinch but continued to stare with those intense brown eyes. Dominic knew it as well as she did, but to his credit, he didn’t say a word.
“Could be a couple of explanations,” Steven said with a knowing look at Dominic. “We may just have to wait and see.” He went to the sink and washed his hands. “I suppose you could try it with another horse and see if you get a similar reaction, but give yourself more distance next time so you don’t end up with hooves in your face.”
“Got it. So, am I free to go, or will I be carried around all day?”
Tatiana winced at the way that came out. It sounded as if she was hoping for that, and she totally wasn’t. Yeah, right. She rubbed her hands over her face, wishing she could rub away how out of sorts she felt.