Psy & Changelings 01 - Slave to Sensation

in trouble. “Are you always in animal form as children?”
    â€œNo.” Backing slowly out of Tamsyn’s long driveway, he turned onto the street, the passage of air smooth and swift under the vehicle. “We gain the ability to shift forms a year or so after birth. It’s as simple as breathing to us.”
    She was silent for the next stretch of road, as if thinking over what he’d said. “What about clothing? What happens to it when you change?”
    â€œIt disintegrates. We prefer to change while naked.” He paid close attention to the energy in the air as he spoke and detected a definite spike—Sascha Duncan reacted to the thought of him naked.
    Both sides of his nature liked the idea of disturbing this intriguing female on a sensual level, but as alpha, he had to consider the deeper ramifications of what he’d learned . . . and how it could be used against her.
    â€œTamsyn—what role does she occupy in your pack?” she said, changing the subject so quickly that he knew he’d been right. “I know you’re hierarchical.”
    â€œExactly like the Psy. You show me yours and I’ll show you mine.” If she clammed up to such a simple request, then he was going to have to rethink his strategy. He needed to get inside a Psy mind to get into the PsyNet. There was no other way to track the killer, not if the Psy Council was covering for him.
    â€œOur overall leadership is in the Council.”
    He tried to keep his exhilaration under control. “We have no overall leadership. Each pack is autonomous.”
    â€œWithin the overall structure we’re organized by family groups.”
    They hadn’t known that for sure because to the outside world, the Psy concept of family looked like any other business relationship. “Family ties exist within the pack but ultimate loyalty is to the pack itself.”
    â€œWhat about mated pairs?” she asked, displaying an insight into the changeling mind that startled him. “Surely their loyalty is to each other first.”
    â€œThat’s the one caveat. Leopard changelings mate for life so no other option is workable.” He wondered what she’d make of that, this woman who’d been created by medicine not passion. “What about the Psy? Where is your loyalty?”
    â€œThe good of our people,” she said. “We’re allowed to compete with other families for business, but that’s on the inside. Against outsiders we have only one loyalty.”
    â€œTo ensure the continuation of the Psy race.”
    â€œYes.” Shifting in her seat, she asked him another question he wasn’t expecting. “Mating for life? Is that a choice like human marriage?”
    â€œActually, changelings and humans can mate. Several of my pack are mated to humans.” Children from such matches always had the ability to change forms.
    â€œI’ve heard that Psy-changeling unions occurred in the past.”
    â€œMy great-great-grandmother was Psy.” He glanced at her. “Do you think I would’ve made a good Psy?”
    She stared at him for a second before saying, “Perhaps you should watch the road.” Cool, practical, and without feeling. Except for the fact that the toe of her boot had been chewed by baby leopard teeth.
    He obeyed her this once. “To answer your question, no, it’s not a choice like marriage—at least not for the leopards.
    Once we find our mate, the only choice we have is whether or not to take the final step. There’s no walking away after that’s done.”
    â€œWhat’s the final step?”
    â€œTell me about the PsyNet.”
    She paused. “It is secret?”
    â€œIt is private.”
    â€œHow do you find your mate? How do you know that he or she is the one?” Her tone was neutral but her questions held hints of the deepest curiosity.
    He wondered if she’d be this inquisitive in all aspects of life. A curious lover was the ultimate lure to his panther soul. “I can’t answer that—I’m not mated.” He’d seen his father’s heart shredded by his mother’s death. Part of him didn’t want to be that vulnerable to anyone.
    It was one of the reasons he’d never nurtured a long-term relationship with any female, human or changeling. Mating couldn’t be so easily influenced, but he’d done his damnedest to limit the chances of his mate