Shadowed Threads

by Shannon Mayer

  “Alex, come on.” He trotted to my side and I gripped his collar. O’Shea followed him, and like a bizarre parade, we cut through the last few blocks of towns. Yes, we got some double takes, some stares and a few sets of fingers pointing. But we avoided any catastrophes. For once.

  As soon as we entered the edge of the trees, Alex dropped the rope and O’Shea shook himself out of it.

  But neither wolf would look at me. Like I’d done something wrong in putting the rope on O’Shea. What the fuck was I going to do with Pamela? I had a witch with me, and a werewolf who wanted nothing more than to kill witches.

  “You two stay here. I’ll go get Pamela and Eve.” I needed time to think, to process this situation. There was no way I could let Pamela get hurt, but I needed her with me; I already had an idea of how to get Jack away from the Child Empress, but I would need Pamela working some pretty heavy magic to make it happen. I jogged through the trees, winding my way to where the girls were. When I stepped out to where I could see the shack, Eve was the one who saw me first.

  “Rylee! You’re back already! Where is Alex?” Her face softened with horror.

  “He’s fine, don’t worry about him. I’ve just left him back at the edge of the woods.”

  She fluffed up her body, and clacked her beak several times. “I was afraid—”

  “No, I won’t let anything happen to him, Eve. I promise.” Dangerous to promise that, but I had to because it was the truth. If there was anything I could do to save him, I would.

  Pamela came running around the side of the shed, blonde hair flying back from her face. “You’re back!” She ran toward me, smiling, happy, her arm no longer in a sling. I lifted my hand in greeting, feeling both the need to protect her and how badly I needed her help. The two feelings warred within me. I was about to take her into a nest of vampires in order to save Jack. How the hell was I going to keep her safe?

  Turns out, I should have been more worried about the then and there.

  The crack of a twig behind me spun me around. O’Shea stared across at Pamela, who still hadn’t seen him.

  Fuck it all to hell and back.

  I bolted toward Pamela, knowing it would be close. Her eyes widened, flicked to look over my shoulder, and I saw her raise her hand with a spell.

  “No magic!” I slammed into her, tackling her to the ground, covering her body with my own.

  O’Shea was on top of me, his teeth sinking in around my shoulder in an effort to pull me off.

  He bit deep, but didn’t break any bones. He lifted me and I clung to Pamela. “Hang onto me, whatever you do.”

  She let out a sob, her small arms clinging to my waist. O’Shea shook us from side to side, trying to dislodge her. Eve let out a hunting screech.

  “No, Eve, let me deal with him.” The words didn’t come out in a nice smooth sentence, but she didn’t interfere.

  O’Shea finally dropped me. Gods, it was as if my body had been strapped to a jackhammer, the inside of my skull still buzzing with the vibrations. I lifted my body up, so that I was crouched over Pamela.

  “She is mine, and you will not hurt her. Got it?” I glared at him, meeting the challenge of his eyes full on. He snarled and lunged at me; I snapped a fist out and punched him in the nose. He shook his head and circled around while Pamela cried silent, terrified tears.

  “O’Shea, she is not Milly.”

  His ears flattened to his skull. Not quite the reaction I was going for.

  “Alex likes Pamie.” Alex slunk forward, being submissive as always, but putting himself close enough that he could reach out and touch Pamela. “Boss no hurt Pamie. Please.”

  I wasn’t sure if it was Alex, me, or the combination, but O’Shea backed off, growling still, but nothing more, his hackles slowly lowering.

  “That was not pleasant.” Eve hobbled toward us. O’Shea gave her a glance, but again, nothing more, seemingly dismissing her. “Are you sure that is the agent?”

  “Yes. But whatever … whatever the other witch did to him was bad enough to make him hate them all.” I carefully got to my feet, and then reached down to take Pamela’s hand. She stood, wiped her eyes and choked back the rest of her tears.

  I put one hand on her shoulder, and with the other I tipped her chin up so she had to look me in the eye. “If he comes at you, you do what you have to do. Got it?”

  “I can’t hold him forever.”

  “I know.”

  Her eyes were still dilated with adrenaline. “Do you think he will attack me again?”

  I looked over at O’Shea, who stood on the edge of the clearing, glaring at us.

  “Yes, yes I do.”

  Chapter 17

  How could his mate stand for a witch? Had he been wrong? No, he was sure the one with the three colors in her eyes belonged with him, but she did things that he hated. Put a rope on him, cared for a child witch. The desire to run free and wild coursed through him the second his mate left with the witch child. To escape the confines of the human world.

  But he couldn’t leave her. Whatever bindings were between them were too strong to fight, even for the wolf in him. Which, for the first time in many days, he saw as separate. He was two, made one.

  He shook his head and laid down, head on his paws. The other wolf—the half creature—played with the large bird, some sort of game that involved touching her and then bounding away when she squawked. Her feathers would puff up and she’d dance around as if to try and catch the half creature.

  Perhaps she would be worth killing; a large bird like that would provide much meat. His stomach rumbled, reminding him it had been too long since he’d had any sustenance.

  But the bird seemed to belong to his mate too. Perhaps this was her pack?

  Yes, that much was clear. This was her pack. The thought stalled him, made his head tip to one side. Her pack. Could he accept them, accept even the witch child? Because if they belonged to his mate, and were hers to protect, then they were his to protect as well.

  They were his pack by rights too.

  He rose to his feet and gave a soft bark at the half creature, stopping him mid-game. The bird screeched a victory, smacking the half creature first, knocking him over on his back.

  “There, you take that!” She clacked her beak and the half creature laughed, rolling onto his side.

  The wolf barked again, a deeper, commanding call. The time to hunt had come. And even though this was surely the strangest pack he’d ever seen, it was his.

  And he would care for every part of it.

  His eyes narrowed. Even the witch child.

  Pamela went with me to see Blaz. I’d left Eve with Alex and O’Shea, and while O’Shea was not happy, he at least didn’t follow me this time. I didn’t tell Eve where we were going, since I wasn’t even sure Blaz would help. No need to get the Harpy all riled up.

  “I thought the dragon threatened you?” We were picking our way through the boulders toward the mock canyon Blaz inhabited.

  “He did.”

  “Then” —she placed her hand on a large outcropping of rock and swung her legs over— “why are we going back there?”

  I let out a sigh. “We need someone to get us to Venice and then back to London. Eve can’t fly yet, though she looks like it might only be another few hours before her wings finish healing.”

  I lifted my head to the breeze that blew toward us. Smelled like a charcoal BBQ, and my stomach growled. Pamela’s stomach answered mine. She ducked her head, but acted as though it hadn’t grumbled at all. “But that doesn’t explain why we need Blaz.”

  “Even with her wings healed, Eve can’t carry all of us. O’Shea is too big. She’d have to make multiple trips, and if we need a quick getaway … .” I let her fill in the blanks. We’d be royally screwed if we had to move fast. Or at least O’Shea and I would be. Because I would send out Pamela, Alex, and Jack first if it came to that, and I would stand with O’Shea against anything that was coming at us from behind, covering the others’ e
scape. At least, that was the plan in my head, if it came to that.

  We made our way through the rocks and I peered around them to see Blaz passed out on the canyon floor, the remains of something still smoking to one side of him. I knew I was hungry when the sight of it made my mouth water. Pamela licked her lips.

  I blocked her with an arm, stopping her from going any further. “Stay here. I don’t think I should need your help.”

  “You just didn’t want to leave me with the werewolf. I know.” She backed up, putting herself against the flat of a big rock. Again, she was showing just how mature she was for her age. Taking everything that had come at us, pretty much in stride. No hissy fits, no tantrums.

  Taking a deep breath, I stepped out into the mock canyon and strode toward Blaz like I owned the place.

  Please don’t let me be wrong about him.

  Yet, as I drew closer, my confidence grew. He was watching me, one eye tracking my steps.

  I thought I told you I’d eat you if you came back. His voice rumbled through my head.

  I shrugged, and then pointed at the carcass. “Looks like you already ate. Besides, I’m quite sure I’d taste like shit.”

  His eye widened and he let out a bellow of a laugh. Yes, you’re probably right. You’d taste awful. You’re far too scrawny for me.

  I made my way to the carcass, pulled my sword and hacked a piece off. The meat was still warm, lightly charred and smelled a-fucking-mazing. I bit into it and groaned, the juices flowing down my throat, coating my tongue with a perfect blend of savory tang. “Fuck, you’re a good cook for a lazy-ass lizard.”

  His head swiveled around to mine and he picked at his teeth with one long claw, and then pointed to the rocks where Pamela waited. You going to invite your little friend to eat too?

  “You going to try and eat her?” I didn’t think he would, but shit, I had to ask.

  Nah, too young. Besides, she’s got a deadly aim with those rocks.

  “Come eat, Pam.” I gave her a wave and she made her way cautiously to my side. I hacked her off a piece of the carcass.

  “What is it?”

  I was already shaking my head. “Don’t ask, just eat.”

  Blaz grinned and by the look on Pamela’s face, she was hearing his words as clearly as I was. Apparently he could project to more than just me. I wasn’t sure if that was good or not.

  It is a Harpy. Seems that when you flew through with your nestling, you stirred up the whole fucking continent of them. Which is just fine by me.

  Maybe not so good. Crap, I swallowed hard. “Don’t tell Eve.”

  Pamela shook her head, eyes wide. “I won’t.”

  We sat for a few minutes, stuffing ourselves with Harpy. I tried very hard not to think about how good it tasted, but by the look on Blaz’s face, he knew.

  Best thing you ever ate, isn’t it?

  Pamela nodded, as did I, but I wouldn’t agree out loud. I just let the juices flow down my throat, hacked another piece off and ate it too.

  “I’ve had better,” I said, slicing off another piece.

  Why are you here? Blaz’s back leg stretched forward and he scratched at his head with a back claw. His tail flicked at the end, like a nervous twitch. Like he was trying to play it cool.

  “I need a hand with something. I’m hoping you would consider a trade.”

  You have nothing I want. No, that’s not true. I would take Harpy off your hands; she’s young and tender. He gave an evil grin that Pamela reacted to.

  “I’ll smash you with those boulders if you even touch Eve,” she said, popping another piece of meat in her mouth.

  Blaz’s head snaked forward. Little witch, you perhaps do not realize that I could eat you quite easily. One bite would do it.

  She put her hands on her hips and I just watched, wanting to see how much piss and vinegar the kid had.

  “I’ll crush you with boulders, you can’t stop that.”

  I’ll fry you with lightning.

  Her lips thinned. “I’ll pull down your mountain on your fat stupid head.”

  Blaz laughed in her face and what happened next was one of those things that I will never forget.

  Pamela glared at the dragon, lifted one hand and the ground began to shake, the rocks and pebbles rattling and dancing across the earth. The shaking intensified, except for where she stood; the earth heaved, throwing Blaz backward. Along the edges of the mountain, the cliffs where the other dragons had perched crumbled, cracked and fell to the ground. This had gone far enough.

  I scrambled to her side, grabbing her arms, nulling her magic.

  “Hey, so you know that being a show off will make you a target?” I stared into her eyes, didn’t let her miss the fact that I wasn’t going to let this pass without saying something.

  “He thinks I’m weak.”

  No, I don’t think you’re weak. Blaz moved closer, a wary eye on the witch. But I had no idea you had those kinds of abilities.

  “You aren’t going to try and hurt my family?”

  He blinked several times, as if her words had been a foreign language. His eyes slid to mine.

  I shrugged. “We are tight-knit. I won’t apologize for it.”

  I won’t make any such promise. Now what kind of trade do you want?

  I put Pamela behind me, just in case. Though to be fair, I already knew that he wouldn’t hurt us. He would have killed us by now if he’d been going to.

  “Round trip flight. That’s it. Done. You’ll never see me again.” Which I knew without him saying so was what he wanted. Whatever binding had happened between us, he didn’t want it. Didn’t want to be responsible for me. Which was fine by me. If Eve was right, it was just a bunch of stupid ridiculousness anyway.

  His eyes narrowed and he drew a line in the dirt between us. Where are we going?

  “You would take me, Pamela, and one werewolf to Venice. We’re going to pick up someone there, and then you would take us all back to London.”

  Sounds simple.

  “It isn’t.”

  His tongue flicked out and ran along his teeth. And I get what out of this?

  “I’ll owe you a favor, to be cashed in when you need it.”

  He laughed, his sides heaving with mirth, scales glittering in the dull sunlight. What could you possibly do for me?

  “I could Track for you.”

  Blaz went very still, and then slowly nodded. Done.

  For some reason I suspected I should be more worried about making a deal with a Dragon than I was. He’d agreed far too quickly.

  Yes, I had a feeling I should be much more worried.

  Let’s go. I have other things I could be doing.

  I motioned for Pamela to step up and I lifted her up onto Blaz’s back. This was happening faster than I’d planned, but I wouldn’t get another chance at the kind of help I would need to get us all home in one piece.

  As I mounted up on Blaz’s back, I Tracked Jack, his life throbbing dully in the south. Like he was being hurt, or maybe like the cancer was making a resurgence. I wasn’t sure, had never Tracked him before and this—what I felt inside my head—was more of an ache than an actual pain.

  I settled in behind Pamela, then flicked my whip out and around Blaz’s neck for a handhold. He turned around to stare at me, arching his darkly scaled eyebrow.

  I’m not going to try and dump your ass this time.

  “You say that now. I know how fast I can piss people off. I’d rather have something to hang onto.”

  He chuckled and the muscles underneath us bunched. With a shot of power, he launched himself into the air, wings driving downward, and he actually used them to push off the ground as well. A few sharp wing beats and we were high in the air, circling around the mountain. I pointed out the direction where Eve, Alex, and O’Shea waited.

  Pamela’s hands clutched my wrists, and her blonde hair streamed back around me. And for a moment, I could think that she was Berget, that I hadn’t failed my little sister again. A he
avy ache spread through my chest, like the weight of one of the boulders crushing me.

  Tracker, I do not want to know, but I will tell you this: If you go into battle with a grief like the one coursing through you, you will put not only yourself in danger, but that of your family.

  “You always spy on people’s thoughts?” I snapped, giving the whip a jerk, wishing I could tighten it around him enough that he would actually feel it.

  Your emotions come through to me. Just one more reason that you need to be far away from me. Far, far away.

  I wanted to ask him what the other dragons had meant when they’d spoken about the binding, what had happened to him and I?

  Then again, maybe I didn’t want to know. Yeah, at this point in my life, with all the shit I had going on, that was probably better.

  Chapter 18

  In order to pick up O’Shea, Blaz had to land, and that meant crushing trees. With a glee I could feel as if I were Tracking him, Blaz went to work, hovering just above a cluster of trees, taking them out with his claws and tail, a grin stretching across his face so wide I could see the corners of it from his back. Leaves, mud, rocks and branches flew as he cleared a patch large enough for him to land.

  Pamela turned to face me. “Kinda destructive, isn’t he?”

  “Yeah, kinda. But he is a dragon. I’m not sure they’re known for being quiet and humble.”

  Humble, yes. Quiet, no.

  Tucking his wings in tight, Blaz dropped into his cleared area. I slid off his back first and then caught Pamela as she slid down his scaled side.

  “We’ll be right back,” I said as we turned and headed toward the shack where we’d left the others.

  Please let them all still be there and not fighting. Even taking Pamela with me, I’d been unsure of how O’Shea would handle being alone with Eve and Alex. As we stepped out of the thick bush and into the smallish clearing, a spurt of relief washed through me. Which, considering what was waiting for us, was kinda weird.

  O’Shea stood between us and Eve and Alex, who huddled back against the shack. O’Shea’s hackles were standing straight up, making him look even bigger, and his teeth were bared. As we came into view, he lifted his head, took a sniff and relaxed. With a shake of his head and shoulders, the tension was broken.