by Jami Gray
She wiggled in his lap until she could see his face. “Gavin’s damn good with illusions. If Raine says he can do this then I believe her. If everyone believes I’m dead, they won’t stop to question your behavior.”
“If you were truly dead, I would never leave you behind.”
She smiled. “I know, but if they think you’re mindless with grief they’ll be more concerned about getting you out of sight before you go furry than whether you leave me behind or not. A public argument with Cheveyo and Natasha is the best way to make sure Dmitri thinks you’re completely isolated. No pack, no allies, no me.”
He leaned his forehead against hers. “I don’t like it.”
“Do you think I do?” Her voice shook. “You’re going to be alone until I can get there, Warrick. Promise me you’ll be standing when I do.”
This time, he cradled her face and took her lips with heart-stopping gentleness. As he pulled back, he whispered, “I’ll be waiting.”
When the doorknob turned, Xander was cradled in Warrick’s lap. She kept her breathing shallow and tried to keep her muscles lax. Her face was hidden against Warrick’s chest, his steady heartbeat twining with the familiar scent of cinnamon and cloves.
“I’m telling you it’s not smart to come in, Cheveyo.” Raine’s voice was harsh. “If Vidis goes for your throat, you’re on your own.”
“Cheveyo, let me go first.” That was Gavin. There was some shuffling at the door then someone came closer. “Vidis,” Gavin kept his voice carefully neutral as if he was talking a man off a window ledge. “Can you let me see her?”
A lethal snarl echoed through the room. Even knowing it wasn’t real, it was hard not to react to that deadly sound.
“Vidis, please. Let her go.” Tension sang through the room.
Warrick’s arms tightened then slowly uncurled. As soon as Gavin touched her, she felt the air around her shift. Concentrating on keeping her limbs loose and boneless, she almost missed it. Carefully, she was taken from Warrick. There was a pause then Gavin’s soft “Dear gods!” had another set of footsteps hurrying over.
There was a rush of air as Warrick sprang to his feet and something slammed into a wall. “Stay away!” The command was all wolf.
“Vidis!” That was Raine. “Don’t make me use this!”
Use what? The urge to open her eyes and find out what the hell Raine was doing was tough to ignore. Only the steady reassurance flowing to her from her connection with Warrick allowed her to remain in place.
“You think your knife would stop me, little girl?” Warrick’s words were a menacing rumble. “I can rip his throat out before you move.”
“Your anger is making you stupid, Vidis.” Raine’s voice was stripped of emotion, leaving nothing but cold certainty behind.
“They killed my mate!” His words strangled into an ear splitting howl that echoed through the room.
Xander’s heart quivered under the agony in the haunting sound. She wasn’t aware she was crying until Gavin’s fingers swept under her eyes, brushing away her tears. She fought and found her control. If Warrick could put himself through this, then she could do no less.
“We’ll get them,” Raine offered, but even Xander could hear the lack of belief in her words as if Xander’s supposed death had been one too many.
Another snarl then the sound of someone coughing. “Vi—Vidis, we need you to hold on. There are humans in the front office. If you let your wolf free now, there will be no way to hide this from them or from the Council.”
Considering Warrick’s recent animalistic howl, Xander gave a brief thought to how Natasha would spin that little item to those in the front office.
“Fuck the Council,” Warrick snarled. “Fuck the humans. You think I give a damn about either of them? What could they do to me that hasn’t been done? My mate is dead, my pack is fractured, and our presence is just a whisper away from being revealed. I’m not some dickless politician worried about keeping the stupid mortals from seeing the truth that walks beside them. Maybe it’s time we remind them and those that hunt us what it means to fear.”
There was another cough then Cheveyo tried again. “Vidis, think. Xander wouldn’t want this.”
“Xander. Is. Gone. And I want the blood of the one who took her.” Warrick’s wolf had truly slipped his leash.
“Enough!” The sharp word snapped through the room. Natasha had joined the party. “Vidis, you will pull yourself under control right this minute,” she hissed, the words slipping through the room like razor-edged snakes. “The situation is dire enough without adding your temper tantrum to the mix. You will pull it together and assist Cheveyo and me with Division and their annoying questions. Once their attention is focused on something else, you may hunt down whoever you must. However, you will not lead the humans back to Taliesin or any other Kyn.”
There was a grunt then Raine’s voice squeezed out. “You can’t kill her, Vidis.”
“Get out of my way.” Each word was bitten off in cold fury. Xander fought not to tense as real anger drifted through their connection. Her mate really didn’t like Natasha.
“As much as I understand your need, I can’t,” Raine responded.
A tense silence stretched, only to snap with the sound of a something crashing through drywall.
“Perhaps you should step out of the doorway, Natasha.” There was an evil edge to Raine’s voice. “Otherwise, I can’t promise your safety.”
“Vidis, you don’t want to do this.” That was Cheveyo, trying to be the lone voice of reason in an unreasonable storm.
“Actually, I do,” Warrick snarled.
“Warrick,” Cheveyo called.
“Let him go,” Raine said softly. “There’s no stopping him.”
“As if I would chase him,” Natasha snorted. “Foolish animal.”
It was all Xander could do not to spring to her feet and bitch-slap the blonde into the next room. Only Warrick’s touch through their connection and Gavin’s restraining hand on her arm, kept her in place.
Above her, Gavin said, “Someone call Ryuu. Have him follow Vidis to make sure he doesn’t do something rash.”
Someone settled on her other side. “Silver?” Cheveyo’s question confirmed Gavin’s illusion was holding strong.
“If it wasn’t, we wouldn’t be in this mess.” Gavin’s answer was grim.
Cheveyo’s heartfelt curse was soft. “Let me take her. I’ll put her with Mulcahy. We may need to use Vidis’s office when Division arrives. Dear gods.” Exhaustion and frustrated grief lined his voice.
Xander actually held her breath. If Cheveyo took her, the illusion would shatter and there was no way she’d be able to leave. Warrick would be left to face Dmitri alone. Since his brother had the moral compass of a demon on a bender, that wasn’t acceptable.
“No,” Gavin said. “Osborn’s going to have a lot of questions. It’s best if you and Natasha field those. Leave this to Raine and me.” Xander felt him slide his arms under her legs and shoulders and lift. She choked off her groan as his arm pressed against her entry wound.
“Gavin can stand guard over the bodies. Raine can go keep our rabid alpha on a leash.” Cool and utterly without compassion, Natasha’s voice grated over Xander’s nerves like sandpaper as Gavin moved.
“You do realize you aren’t my captain, Natasha,” Raine snapped. “As a matter of fact, if I remember correctly, in the event the Captain of the Wraiths is incapacitated, authority transfers to the most senior member.” Raine’s voice came progressively closer before Gavin came to a stop. “Do you happen to know who that Wraith is, Natasha?” There was a dark thread of unholy glee in her question.
“Raine.”
Gavin’s one word warning was ignored.
“It’s Gavin,” Raine bit out, savagely. “Therefore, you can take your orders and—”
“Raine!” This time, both males in the room managed to create a unified vocal slap.
“Go see if you can track our shooter.” Gavin’s vo
ice was cutting. “If you find him, I want him able to answer questions. Do you understand?”
Cradled in Gavin’s arms, Xander had no choice but to lie there, caught in the middle of a very uncomfortable moment, listening to Raine’s harsh breaths.
“Do you understand?” Gavin asked again, voice silky soft and oh so dangerous.
His only answer was a very feline snarl. The air next to Xander’s head shifted, heralding Raine’s exit.
“You better figure out how to keep your little pet in line, Cheveyo, or I’ll do it for you.” A hiss echoed in Natasha’s voice.
Tension sang through Gavin’s body, tightening the muscles in his arms and chest. Xander wondered if he realized a low growl was vibrating through him. Probably not. Natasha was good at getting under everyone’s skin until they wanted to peel her out with their fingernails.
“She just lost her uncle and her friend, Natasha. Perhaps you should back off,” Cheveyo bit out. “Go placate Osborn. I’ll be out in a minute.”
A moment later, he broke the silence. “That woman would drive a saint to violence.”
“And enjoy every minute of it,” Gavin agreed.
Cheveyo sighed. “She’s right, though.”
“About?”
“We can’t afford to let the Wraiths answer to someone whose loyalty may lie with the Council. Which means she’s our best option.”
“You won’t even consider it?”
“No, I know myself too well and I’m not the type of person your group needs to function. Neither, unfortunately, is Vidis.”
Gavin began to move again. “Raine’s not the only one who’s going to have problems answering to the Amanusa queen, Cheveyo.”
Cheveyo’s answer came from behind them. “I know, but we can only deal with one problem at a time. For now, the Wraiths are yours.”
Gavin’s step faltered. “That may not be wise right now.”
“It’s you or Raine,” Cheveyo said from somewhere close by, resignation heavy in his voice. “Of the two of you, you’re less likely to indulge in a full scale blood bath.”
The sound of Cheveyo’s footsteps faded. Above her, Gavin said softly, “You’re wrong. I’ll just hide it better.”
Chapter Thirty-Four
The drive home was a blur as the morning’s events coalesced into savage fury. Warrick pulled his car into his driveway and fumbled for the door. The ruthless locks on his chaotic emotions broke with an almost audible snap.
Claw tipped fingers left ragged wounds in the leather panel as he scrambled for the door latch. It finally gave, spilling him out onto the cold, wet gravel. His spine arched as the change ran through him like lightning. The speed and fury of his emerging wolf left him panting. Material ripped, bones snapped and reformed, muscles convulsed. The brutal metamorphosis threw his head back and ripped a hair-raising howl from his throat.
The world shuddered under the sound. The eerie notes faded, leaving behind an unnatural silence.
Muscles coiled under the thick fur and the wolf began to run. Once inside the cover of the trees, Warrick let the slim barrier between him and his wolf slip. His emotions rose to a crushing tide and his powerful legs pumped harder, trying vainly to gain some sort of distance.
Damn his brother! Guilt choked him. Mulcahy, Zeke, Sebastian—their deaths were on his head. If he hadn’t held so tight to the memory of the brother who no longer existed, he would have hunted down and killed Dmitri all those years ago. Instead, he allowed sentiment to blind him to necessity. Now everyone else was paying for his mistakes—his pack, his friends, and Xander.
Dear gods, Xander! The memory of her warm blood drenching his hands and the lifeless slump of her weight falling against him tore through him. In that one endless moment, he caught a glimpse of a nightmarish reality where a small, blonde pixie no longer existed. His agonized howl tore through the forest.
He ran, heedless of time passing. In his veins, his blood sang as the air swept over him, filled with a myriad of familiar scents, and under his paws the earth was a solid, comforting presence.
Little by little, his pace slowed as the storm began to recede. The sting of possibilities began to fade as his anger and determination rose. Dmitri would take no more from him. The Motoki Pack was Warrick’s, his to protect and defend. Just like Xander, whether she liked it or not. He could not change who he was at his core and she was more than his partner. She was his mate. It was time to remove Dmitri’s threat once and for all.
Warrick stood still in the shadows, sides heaving, as he listened to the forest around him. Small creatures trembled in their hidey-holes, but he wasn’t interested in hunting tiny things. No, his prey was much larger, but not much smarter. He and his wolf were in agreement. Dmitri would come for him, thinking him compromised by the deaths of his wolves, mate, and ally. And when he finally showed, Warrick and his wolf would be waiting.
“You’re clear,” Gavin said softly.
Xander opened her eyes and began to sit up. Leather cushions creaked as she moved, the muscles in her shoulder and back arguing the wisdom of her decision. She bit back her groan and told her aching body to shut the hell up. There would be time later to lounge around.
Finally upright, she gave the spinning in her head a moment to settle. When she was sure she wouldn’t do a lovely face plant into the carpet, she looked up.
Next to the closed door, Gavin watched her with worried frown. “You sure you’re up for this?”
She heaved to her feet, fighting not to sway like a drunken sailor. Her wound was still healing, but even the little time she’d had to heal had helped. “I’m not leaving him alone. I don’t trust Dmitri to face him alone.”
“You think he’s going to bring back-up.”
She took a couple of deep breaths and the world steadied. “Yeah, I do. Which means the faster I get there, the better.”
Gavin’s frown deepened and he opened his mouth. “Maybe I—” He shook his head. “Never mind,” he muttered. He dragged a hand through his hair. “Raine said to tell you your bike is stashed in the back. I guess Ryuu dropped it off this morning.”
“Good. Now I just need a way to get past everyone out front.” She looked around. They were in Mulcahy’s office. The floor-to-ceiling windows were framed by shelves and in front of them was an oversized desk. Her gaze caught on the blanket-draped figure carefully laid on the dark wood. Her throat tightened and her pulse thudded dully.
She hadn’t realized she’d moved until her fingers gingerly touched the edge of the blanket. “It doesn’t seem real.” She hadn’t meant to say it out loud.
“It will be soon.” The warm edge of fury and grief rode Gavin’s voice.
“And Raine?” Her heart ached for her friend. Raine’s relationship with her only living relative had never been easy, not even for those on the outside looking in, but still…
“She won’t be alone,” Gavin assured her.
Xander gave him a small nod, knowing Raine wouldn’t make it easy for Gavin to stand beside her. Then, taking a deep breath, she turned away from her fallen captain. “So, how do I get out of here?”
Fifteen minutes later, Xander straddled the familiar frame of her Ducati, helmet in place, the road an asphalt ribbon under her tires. Gavin had shown her a hidden exit from Mulcahy’s office that opened out into the basement of Taliesin, out of sight of the still converging emergency responders gathered in the front. It didn’t take much to make her way unseen to her bike.
Urgency bit at her. Warrick had a thirty-minute head start and if Dmitri was watching, he would take full advantage of her alpha’s isolation.
She kept a leery eye out for cops as she pushed the bike past the speed limit. Using her helmet’s Bluetooth system, she called Ryuu. When he picked up, she didn’t give him a chance to say a word. “Hasn’t anyone called you?”
“No, but I have three missed messages.” There was rustling on the line, Ryuu’s muted voice barked out orders to whoever was with him. Then he asked, “What’s
going on?”
“Warrick’s at his house, alone.”
It didn’t take Ryuu long to start cursing. “What the hell are you thinking, Xander? If I had known you were going to leave him alone, I would’ve had someone else take care of Sebastian. Do you want Dmitri to kill him?”
“Shut up!” she hissed, worry and fury carving a sharp edge to her voice. “We know Dmitri’s watching, but he won’t make a move until he’s certain he has Warrick where he wants him. Right now, he thinks he’s stripped Warrick of everyone, including me.”
“What do you mean?”
“A sniper took a shot outside Taliesin and hit me instead. Warrick had a very loud, very obvious blow up with Natasha and Cheveyo regarding my death and his need for blood within earshot of Division and the other first responders. Then he stormed out of the office, alone.”
“Who’s half-assed plan was this?”
Her hands tightened on the bike as she imagined Ryuu’s neck under them. “Warrick wanted to directly challenge him. You really think Dmitri would honor that little request? If we didn’t want to spend the next few days mopping up more blood and burying more friends, we needed a way to end this now. I don’t like using Warrick as bait any more than you do.” She paused, weaving between a semi, hauling freshly cut trees, and a mud-splattered VW bus. “How far out are you?”
“Fifteen, maybe twenty minutes,” he snapped. “You?”
“Five to ten,” she answered. “Raine should be there, hopefully, so keep an eye out. I’m going through the woods. The bike’s too loud to drive directly up.” She paused. “Ryuu, I don’t think Dmitri is going to come alone, so be careful.”
“Have you called Ethan?”
Puzzled, she frowned. “My brother? No, why?”
Ryuu’s sigh echoed through her helmet. “Because he’s now Vidis’s Third.” Through her stunned silence, he added, “I’ll call him.”
Xander bit her tongue at the automatic refusal that rose to her lips. The thought of adding another loved one to the line of fire made her sick. But they needed the numbers and Ethan, for all his urbane sophistication, was a very lethal predator. “Fine,” she bit out and hung up.