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  "Hey Zoe, want to join us for drinks?" asked Jose Vargas. "We can party since this is our last night in Barcelona." She started to decline and then remembered her resolve to "get a life" after tossing the birthday card in the toilet. It had been difficult, but she'd resisted the urge to stick her hand into the bowl to retrieve it, and promised herself she would stop pining for a relationship that was never going to happen. Davide would always consider them to be dearest friends, nothing more.

  "Sure, Jose."

  "Good, meet us at Hilliard's van in fifteen minutes. Oh, and by the way, you played awesome tonight. You had the audience in tears. Your music always bypasses the mind and grips the soul."

  "Thanks Jose. You've turned poetic and have me blushing."

  Jose studied her face intently. "I meant every word, Zoe."

  She didn't know how to respond.

  Jose chucked her under the chin. "See you in fifteen."

  Precisely fifteen minutes later she pulled her sweater on and headed for Hilliard's van. The van didn't really belong to their driver, but everyone called it his van because he was so possessive of it. The metal surface gleamed even in the dark because it was so shiny and clean.

  The Nomads, a traveling symphonic orchestra, had three buses, the van, and a semi truck they used to travel throughout Europe. After the last performance in every town or city, the musicians celebrated with Hilliard in whatever nightclub he'd picked out. Because Hilliard suffered from a "type A" personality, it amused everyone that he was such a party animal. Of course, he was a "type A" party animal, and didn't drink anything stronger than ginger ale.

  Zoe had only joined the group a few times in the past three years, but tonight, she decided to put her new resolve to the test. Maybe she'd even start a conversation with some interesting business man. She envisioned herself having a relationship with a wealthy investor, or maybe an entrepreneur or banker. Being a violinist for a successful symphony orchestra had its perks. It let you meet a diversity of people. Zoe's imagination took flight and she saw herself happily married to the investor who loved her unconditionally and they had two children. She sighed and came back to reality.

  Two hours later, "party animal" Hilliard drove them back to the hotel parking lot. The tipsy musicians crawled out of the van and staggered to their rooms. Only on the last night of a performance were they allowed to drink. Since Zoe didn't like the taste of alcohol and stuck with virgin daiquiris, she didn't have a problem navigating to her floor and exited the elevator with some of the other musicians. Waving goodbye, she entered her room and started stripping off her clothes and dropping them on her way to the shower. Fastidiousness wasn't one of her hang ups.

  The shower felt wonderful and she leaned her head against the glass, closing her eyes. Unbidden images of Davide escaped her resolve not to think about him and her mind conjured up his form. For a minute, she allowed herself to feel the rush of him: midnight black hair that reached his shoulders, intense azure eyes under thick black lashes, sculptured cheekbones, strong nose, five-o'clock shadow, a body molded by the gods, and a mouth designed for passionate kisses.

  She smiled at her own descriptions. However, as much as she loved looking at Davide, it was his aura that held her captive. She was madly, deeply, and hopelessly in love with his essence. She raised her face into the spray of water. Stop it! Stop torturing yourself. Think about your resolve. Remember what happened at his twenty-third birthday party.

  She turned off the shower and reached for a thick towel. Wrapping herself in it, she studied her unremarkable image in the mirror while brushing her teeth. She didn't want to think about the birthday party just yet. Instead, she reflected on her life. If not for Mrs. Porter, she might now be employed in a job she hated, instead of the one she loved. Her neighbor had encouraged her to try violin lessons. Of course her father and Fawn had always wanted her to try new things. She'd taken dance lessons, guitar lessons, art lessons in just about every medium, and lessons she couldn't even remember, but it wasn't until she'd taken violin that she'd known what to do with her life—become a violinist.

  She rinsed her mouth, tried to pull a brush through her muddy-blond corkscrew curls, but gave up. After she crawled into bed and flipped off the bedside lamp, she turned her face into her pillow and remembered what she wanted to forget.

  CHAPTER 4:

  FATEFUL INTERRUPTION

  Two Years Earlier

  Zoe's Dad pulled to the guard station outside the Childress Estate. He handed his family's invitation and all their IDs to the guard on duty. Since they were well known at the estate, it only took a minute before the gate swung open. As always, the magnificent three-story manor amazed and awed Zoe. She remembered the first time her father had visited shortly after his marriage to Fawn, when the Beowolfs had hosted a small wedding reception for the newlyweds. The happy event had been attended by Mr. and Mrs. Childress and the families of Steve Brenner and Jim Mathewson, who were coworkers at Rainey's lab and had worked with Fawn. The Beowolfs had also flown in Mr. and Mrs. Porter and the ranch hands of Dream Catcher Ranch: Schmitt, Tate, Bud, Macho, and Pierre.

  To this day, among the remaining ranch hands—Schmitt having died a couple of years back and Macho returning to Mexico City—the event was still a topic of conversation that the remaining hands liked to brag about to the new ones. The elderly Porters were also wont to bring it up often.

  Of course, at the reception baby Davide had captured everyone's hearts with his angelic smiles. Zoe would never forget the look on her father's face when he'd held Davide, realizing he was holding the prophesied Shapeling Prince. Her father's words while gently stroking the baby's silky black hair had been, "So you're the one causing all the raucous." Zoe had watched him lift loving eyes to Fawn and give her a special smile. Now, of course, she understood the smile that had often passed between them. They had wanted a child of their own. Sadly, it had never happened.

  Wade parked in the Childress drive and Zoe got butterflies in her stomach. She hadn't seen Davide for six months. A year previous she had been approached by the European Nomadic Symphony Orchestra, also known as The Nomads, with an offer to become their lead violinist. The company was smaller than the London based symphony she was with, but more prestigious. She had gladly accepted the offer after they agreed to the same stipulation written into her contract as with the London orchestra—that she would have the week of Davide's birthday off every year.

  Beth McGovern, the ancient cook for the Childress household, who was also considered family because of her long term relationship with them and her role in raising Rainey, answered their ring.

  "Come in, come in. It's so good to see you, Wade and Fawn and Zoe. The party's not the same without you." She winked at Zoe. "Davide's been waiting impatiently for your arrival."

  The butterflies in Zoe's stomach tried to fly into her throat. Maybe Davide had finally realized they were meant to be together as husband and wife. Although there was an age difference of seven years, she had never doubted the words of the "pretty" voice emanating from sipapus at Anasazi ruins, telling her she was Davide's Princess.

  Zoe had always loved Davide, but it wasn't until he'd turned eighteen and she was twenty-five, that she'd lost her heart to him. Today he was twenty-three. Had he finally realized that she was the woman destined to become his princess? She inhaled deeply, and shivered at tingles running up her spine.

  Her family followed Beth to the library decorated with crepe paper and balloons and a huge cake. A table near the entrance was overflowing with beautifully wrapped gifts. Rainey always went overboard for her son's birthdays. Zoe grinned and scanned the crowded room for him. She spotted his ten year old sister giggling with a girlfriend and remembered how excited Roth and Rainey had been after finding out they were expecting another child after years of wanting one. Lilly saw her and ran to meet her. "Hi, Zoe. This is my friend, Peggy."

  "Hello Lilly and Peggy. Looks like another fun birthday party." She was about to ask if they knew wher
e Davide was, when Lilly pointed to a boy about her own age near the hors d'oeuvres table. Peggy whispered in Lilly's ear and they both giggled.

  "We gotta run, Zoe. See ya later." They dashed toward the boy.

  Zoe glanced around the room again. Executives of Childress Enterprises always attended Davide's birthdays, as well as friends from the exclusive schools he'd attended. Recently graduated with a master's degree in philosophy from Harvard, more than once he had confided to Zoe that he'd chosen that field hoping it would shed light on the mysteries of life. Often, he had expressed his frustration over the fact that he was believed to be the Great Shapeling Prince by the Thirteen co-Princes. He also knew that Zoe had once been kidnapped because of her ability to hear voices coming from Anasazi ruins that also spoke of a coming Prince. In exasperation, he'd once told her, "There has to be a mistake; a mix-up. I've been told all my life that I'm the 'Great Prince'." He made quote marks with his fingers, a habit he'd picked up from his mother. "And yet, I have no shifting ability. It's a damn mistake, I tell you."

  Still searching the room, Zoe honed in on the intimidating presence of Roth Beowolf and his full-figured wife, Rainey, standing near the fireplace. They were holding hands and talking to Rainey's mother and father, Stella and Hank Childress. Stella, tall and beautiful, didn't look a day over forty and everyone attributed her youthful appearance to Botox and plastic surgeries. Of course, Mr. Childress, now in his late seventies, looked his age, but distinguished. Zoe chuckled. She knew Stella did everything she could to look older. She'd even had silver highlights added to her hair because being a shapeling, her lifespan far exceeded that of humans.

  Zoe's father and Fawn were faced with the same issue as Stella and Hank, but in reverse. Although her father appeared much younger than his fifty-seven years, which she attributed to his happiness with Fawn, it did not erase the fact that Fawn would outlive them by thousands of years. When he and Zoe had recently discussed the topic of Fawn's longevity, they had both agreed that they would have made the same choice to have her in their lives, regardless. In fact, they knew their choice was much simpler than hers.

  Roth spotted Zoe and motioned her over. Her parents were also walking in that direction after having been waylaid with welcomes. She reached her host and hostess at the same time as her parents.

  "So good to see you dear friends; you should visit more often," said Roth and gave her father a friendly clap on the back. Then he, Rainey, and Stella took turns hugging Fawn and Zoe. Mr. Childress joined in with handshakes.

  Zoe scanned the room still looking for Davide.

  "He was here a few minutes ago," said Rainey, seeing her look around. Maybe he decided to enjoy this lovely spring day. Why don't you look on the terrace?"

  "Thanks, Rainey." To the group she said, "Excuse me while I go hug the birthday boy." She laughed and skirted around guests until she reached the terrace doors. Opening one of the French doors, she stepped into the cool afternoon. The smell of jasmine permeated the air and the promise of spring filled her heart with joy. Spring—new beginnings. Would Davide fulfill the words of the "pretty" voice by finally viewing her differently—as his soul mate and lover?

  She glanced around the terrace and into the gardens. Other than a few guests milling at the edge of the terrace or walking the lovely gardens that Rainey and Roth had designed and planted with their own hands years earlier, the grounds were empty of him. She looked toward the field of wild flowers that Rainey adamantly refused taming and glimpsed a tall figure with black hair and a golden aura enter the woods beyond. Davide loved the woods! No doubt he was enjoying the solitude before the festivities began. Although friendly and easy going, she knew him better than anyone. While his father had an outgoing manner, Davide was more introverted and enjoyed time alone.

  She decided to surprise him and jogged across the cut grass and then the field of wild flowers. At the edge of the field and the beginning of the woods, she paused, inexplicably overwhelmed by a sense of foreboding. Shaking her head, she willed the feeling to leave. What could be foreboding about seeing Davide again? Knowing she was so close to him made the butterflies in her stomach go wild. She stepped beyond the tree line, pausing and listening. She heard a snap and turned toward the sound, silently edging toward it. Grinning, she figured she'd come up behind him and sing happy birthday. She couldn't carry a tune and he always razzed her about it.

  She heard another snap. He was nearby. She stepped behind a thick, gnarly tree and peeked around it. At the same time she heard a woman say, "Oh, Davide, you're so sexy you drive me crazy."

  Davide laughed a husky sound and pressed his body against a woman backed against a tree. Her hands were entwined around his neck and their bodies were positioned so that Zoe could see his mouth descend hungrily onto the black-haired beauty's pouty one. He reached to grasp her buttocks and pull her tightly against him.

  To Zoe's horror, she unintentionally gasped. Startled, Davide and the woman turned to see her peeking around the tree like a voyeur.

  Davide grinned and stepped away from the woman.

  "Zoe! My God, I haven't seen you in six months. Come here and give me a hug. I want you to meet Mandy. We've been…well, I guess you can see what we've been up to." He winked.

  In that instant, Zoe mourned the death of all her girlish fantasies of marrying her prince. He did not, and never would, see her in the same light as she saw him. She would always be his older childhood friend. She bit her cheek to keep from crying and stepped from behind the tree. "I'm really sorry to interrupt. I feel like such an idiot. It's nice to meet you Mandy. I'll leave you two alone now."

  She turned and fled.

  "Zoe, wait!" Davide called.

  She ignored him and ran back through the forest and the field of flowers. Only at the edge of the field did she pause and bend over from the pain in her side caused by the full out run. The pain in her heart, however, overshadowed any physical pain, and she wanted to fall to the ground weeping. Biting the inside of her cheek so hard she could taste blood, she forced herself not to cry. She would pretend happiness for the sake of Davide and his family, but after today, she would never attend another birthday party or seek him out. Her heart could not survive seeing him with another woman.

  CHAPTER 5:

  UNANIMOUS VOTE

  Present Day

  Davide lay on his bed staring at the ceiling. He was twenty-five years old and going nowhere fast. Sure, he'd had a great education and now held a master's degree in philosophy. Sure, he was getting offers from the best universities for teaching positions. But did he want to accept any of the offers? No. He'd chosen to major in philosophy only because he'd hoped it would help unravel the mysteries of life—mysteries surrounding him. He'd poured over ancient texts trying to gain glimpses into a race of beings that humans were unaware of—shapelings. He'd devoured the writings of ancient and modern philosophers and come up empty handed. When he'd approached his parents about the crazy prophesy surrounding his life, they'd listened to his misgivings, but had none of their own. They'd assured him that the shapeling prophesy would be fulfilled. He released a long sigh and turned onto his side.

  For years he'd felt like a failure. He couldn't shift and he had no leadership skills. How could he be the Prince of the Prophesy? Adding to his dismal attitude was the fact that his best friend, Zoe, had abandoned him. The last time he'd seen her was at the birthday party she'd caught him fooling around with Mandy. Although she had appeared embarrassed, she'd seemed okay with it. She'd even joked with him and Mandy later that day. Besides, he'd called off his relationship with the self-centered beauty over a year ago. The woman was hot, no doubt about it, but she was also shallow and disagreeable.

  He rose and walked to the open French doors of his balcony and listened to a breeze blowing through the trees. He could hear music in the wind.

  Breathing deeply, he thought about Zoe again. Surely she had to realize he was a man with desires. He had never aspired to become a monk. Had she been offe
nded when she found him with Mandy and pretended otherwise? He wished he had her ability to see auras. Often, she "read" people just by observing the colors surrounding them. She had told him many times that his only color was various shades of gold. She had also revealed that auras of shapelings were entirely different from those of humans and animals. She had said his mother's aura appeared to be a hybrid of shapeling and human up until the time she'd developed the ability to shift into the eagle. After that, she'd revealed his mother's aura had turned almost, but not entirely, shapeling.

  Davide's train of thought moved in a different direction. He thought about the relationship between his mother and father and his mood lightened. In every way, they appeared to be opposites. His father was intimidating and incredibly handsome, and Davide had seen more than one woman practically swoon in his presence. His mother, on the other hand, appeared matronly with her round figure and sleek hairstyle. His parents were crazy in love and neither looked to be much over forty, although according to human time, his mother would be in her fifties while his father was over four thousand years old. There had been some speculation that his mother, after acquiring the ability to shift, had also acquired shapeling longevity. It certainly appeared to be the case. Since she was a scientist, she had done DNA testing on herself, but a procedure for longevity determination had yet to be perfected. As for his sister Lilly, it was hoped that the testing would be ready by the time she turned twenty-one—the magical age when shapeling longevity kicked in. For himself, he was also an unknown, although he felt in his heart that his lifespan would match his human genes.

  Davide sighed and lifted his gaze toward the moon and shifting clouds. He closed his eyes and breathed the sweet night air, thinking of his sweet Zoe. God, he missed her. Running his hands through hair as black as his father's, he whispered a prayer to Source. "What am I supposed to do with my life? I need answers."