The “pup” pushed on through the wobbly door.
Isaac turned back to me. “I must speak with Susanna. Would you consent to remaining with us until we can gain an audience with our silvers and discuss what has happened? Then I’ll take you back to your sister’s home, if that’s all right?”
“Of course it is. I was assuming I would be seeing Diana, at least. It sounds like she’s busy though? Someone sick? Abraham?”
His expression became grave and he glanced to the path down to the next home. “That’ll be his mate—a domestic violence situation. Moon knows he won’t leave her but he has support if he does. She’s already taken off half his ear.”
“Oh…” I didn’t know how to answer that. “Go on and I’ll see you in a bit. Whenever Diana is free is fine. I’ll gather up my things.”
“Thank you.” He gave me a nod and walked on inside.
I returned to the Jeep—the crowd had dispersed—and started going through my bag, making sure everything was back in one place, but also checking that I had it all, especially my phone. Yes, phone, but…
“Andrew!”
He zipped past on one of the kids’ bikes with three of them after him, yelling and whooping.
“Andrew! Where’s my hairbrush?”
“Your what?”
“My hairbrush!”
“Where’d you leave it?”
“Give it back. That’s the only one I brought for the trip.”
Down the drive he skidded the bike to make a turn and crash. Those pups were fast. They plowed into him, throwing all four and bike into the long grass verge along the broken fence.
“Elam wins, Elam wins, Elam wins!” A boy of about eight chanted.
“Dry up, Elam!”
“Elam wins!”
“Elam’s a git!”
“Was that the best you can do?” Andrew extricated himself while they shouted and jumped around him. “You couldn’t catch a bee with a broken wing. Don’t you think you could do better? You lot run to the barn and back and show me what you can do when you actually try.”
They fought each other to scramble through and over the fence and took off across the field toward the broken down stone barn.
Andrew walked back to me, slightly breathless. His right side from shoe to shoulder was covered in dust and grit and bits of snapped weeds. His right elbow dripped blood. He didn’t seem to notice.
“What’s the trouble, darling?”
“I want my hairbrush. I can’t just go out and replace it at a Boots here. Will you please give it back?”
“What’s it worth to you?”
“Don’t start that.”
“Start what?”
“It’s my property. Give it back.”
“Cassia?”
I turned to Zar coming up behind me.
“Kage is going to find Diana. If you’ll bear with us for a few minutes, we’ll get the elders together for a quick meeting. Then I can take you home.”
“Thank you, Zar. I don’t mind. Whenever you can gather everyone. It’s not like I have much to tell them. And that’s okay, Isaac already offered to run me home after we see Diana.”
Zar stood there a second. Without dramatically changing his expression he still somehow looked like I’d thrown a drink in his face.
“Right,” he said after a beat. “Of course.” He looked at the purple and black bruise on my arm. His eyes wandered to blood running off Andrew’s skinned elbow. Back to my arm. He nodded and walked away.
I opened my mouth to call after, already forming the sound of his name, but stopped. What did I have in mind to say?
“Andrew, I reached the fence first!” All three were back, gasping, climbing the rail fence across the drive from us.
“A big improvement,” Andrew called without looking around. “Think you can do it again, or was that enough for one day?”
They took off once more.
Andrew studied me with narrowed eyes. His glasses were lying on the hood of the Jeep—which he must have left before going for the bike ride.
“Smooth,” he said quietly. “Especially for someone who doesn’t fancy Isaac.”
“It doesn’t matter how I do or do not feel about Isaac. He asked, I said yes. What was I supposed to do? Tell Zar yes also and then tell Isaac I found a better offer? Isaac was first in line.”
“Actually … I was.”
“What?”
“The hotel? I met you before any of them. I was the one who tipped them off to the scrying teacher. I got some of the pack there Sunday morning to scope you out and decide we had to invite you to the meeting. I was first in line.”
“You didn’t offer. Anyway, I thought you and Zar don’t drive?”
“Bikes.”
I looked around at the ones scattered on the drive, weeds, against steps and plywood porches.
“Anyway,” Andrew went on, “I suppose it doesn’t make a difference to you. You did what they asked. You’re done with us.”
I just stood there, that tight feeling in my chest again that was a mix of things more than what I had a quick name for. Pain, I thought as Andrew turned away. Uncertainty, regret, longing for something out of reach, fear, desire, unanswered questions and confusion, immovable walls, impossible paths. These together made the pain.
“Andrew—”
“Your brush is in Jed’s bag.” Andrew kept walking toward the fence as the gasping pups stumbled up to it from the other side. “I thought he’d want a memento of you since he went through all the trouble to gather you wildflowers in his delicate little chompers.”
Mind reeling, I hurried again to the back of the Jeep. No, Jed had been in the caravan. If his bag was still in there—
But I didn’t need to look for it. I spotted him far down the row of mobile homes, walking with his black bag slung over his shoulder. No sooner had I caught sight of him than he turned a corner and vanished.
“Jed?” I called and almost tripped over a pile of wooden blocks. Watching where I was going, I wasn’t sure if I was at the right turn. I ran to the next. There he was, walking between two homes, heading for the next row.
“Jed!”
He looked around and stopped.
I slowed to a walk and also paused several feet from him in dust and gravel. “Jed? You have my hairbrush. Would you mind?”
“I don’t.” He narrowed his eyes—thinking I was playing a trick on him.
“I know you didn’t mean to. Andrew stole it and put it in your bag.”
He frowned but didn’t seem to think this was implausible because he slung the bag off his shoulder. He sniffed it.
“Thank you. I’m sorry to chase after—to bother you.” I flushed more than I was already, breathing too fast after having run down here.
Jed didn’t even look up. He unzipped the mostly empty bag and produced my pink hairbrush from beside that dense wool ball of his. He stared at it like he’d never seen such a device: rubber handle, long wheat-colored hairs wrapped in the teeth.
For some reason, I nearly told him to keep it.
Jed held it out at arm’s length, not stepping toward me, nor looking at me.
“Thanks.” I walked forward to take it. “Did you—?”
But I was using my right arm to reach and his gaze flicked to the bruise there. The moment my fingers touched the brush he let go. I didn’t have a hold yet and it dropped with a clatter to the dirt by his dusty black boots. Jed walked away, taking long strides.
I grabbed it. “Jed? It wasn’t your fault. Zar didn’t need to be over there. Anyway, I’m fine. It’s no big deal.”
He only walked faster, leaving me behind with the scuffed up brush in the dust.
Chapter 28
Diana and her seconds, the other two silvers, Atarah and Zacharias, listened while I told what had happened with the druids and all I had seen. Jed and Andrew were absent.
We were gathered outside on a porch of a mobile home in lawn chairs or sitting on the boards.
&n
bsp; Kage muttered about someone needing to do something about the Beeches.
Jason asked if they really thought there were wolves in London—no one knew.
Zar said of course there was precedent for shifters killing shifters but this was unlike any such event before. General agreement to this.
Isaac had the good sense and simple logic—which seemed to be an alarmingly absent attribute among wolves—to mention that if modern disenfranchised shifters decided to murder their kin, under cover, the only sensible way to do it was one that had never been tried before.
Diana agreed that someone must go to London and search for urban wolves. At which Zar, Isaac, Kage, and Jason volunteered with various levels of enthusiasm. There was an argument about taking bikes, but Isaac pointed out they would be on foot the whole time they were in the city so it would only be reasonable to take the train. They would go first thing in the morning.
Diana thanked me. They kept doing this even though I’d done so little. One clue which yielded one idea? A lead that might not even exist and another that the wolves had already known about?
We had at least made contact with other victims, knew there were others looking, and I had Rowan’s number to give Diana. Without me, it seemed they wouldn’t have been able to find druids at all. Other than that…? What?
I told Diana I would scry again, look at London, keep looking and let them know if I came up with more. I had Isaac’s and Zar’s phone numbers—sketchy as Zar’s was.
The sun was setting when the meeting drifted apart. My stomach growled. Once again, they had offered no food as part of their gathering.
I felt desperate for a shower and a clear corner of thinking space and a bowl of macaroni and cheese—always my comfort food—yet also for more questions and answers with these people I was leaving.
Questions I wasn’t asking. Answers I would never receive.
Isaac was still talking with Diana and gray-bearded Zacharias.
I walked to one of the alleys to wait, watching a couple of kids from before running for home at the sound of a howl, still racing each other.
I wished I’d seen Rebecca again. She was dating a human? Was that common?
I wanted to tell Jason I hoped things worked out with him and Kage—even though really I hoped Jason moved on: he could do better. And to thank Kage for putting up with me and letting Isaac drive. I wanted to have an actual conversation with Jed. And to see Andrew again—to give him something of mine legitimately to keep, maybe a lipstick. I wanted to say I was sorry to Zar, though preferably not have to elaborate.
But they’d gone. No one was even coming to say goodbye.
Once more, only treetops glowed golden. Twilight was settling on the park. Evening birds called. Darting swallows fast as hummingbirds flitted past.
Judging by the smells of grilling meat a late evening meal was being served in some homes. Perhaps later they would go out in their fur in the field to do whatever it was they did. Maybe they hunted field mice and played games when it wasn’t just a bunch of young males trapped together who didn’t get along. Maybe they buried bones. Maybe they had toys like that ball of Jed’s. Did they play fetch?
Suddenly, I wanted to know everything about them. I wanted to wait here and see what happened next, watch them in their fur, dare to be among them. I longed to be a part of this family. Which was insane, first because I’d only just met them, and second because I could never be like them. Lycanthropy was not transmissible like vampirism.
Thinking of which … what about the stakes in their chests? What about there being vampires in London as well? Shouldn’t someone at least ask the vampires? Whether they had anything to do with this or not … might they know?
Those stakes… And the eyes…
How had we spent these days looking for answers and still had only more questions? How could I walk away from them now?
But they weren’t my life.
Melanie and Henry, Portland and my waiting job—I could not possibly have done any better there.
Plus, walking away from this: away from being a witch. That was my life. That was my future. Not worshiping the moon and eating like a shop vac.
“Cassia?”
I turned from watching the broken barn across the field as it faded in twilight, to Zar almost beside me.
I hadn’t heard him walk up. No … I could never be like them. Even if … but it didn’t matter…
“I wanted to say thank you,” he said softly, his usual smile for me absent. “I don’t know where we go from here, but you helped and what you did … you’re so brave. I’ve never met a human like you.”
“Brave? For being willing to camp? I’m not the homecoming queen I may appear to be. It wasn’t a big deal.”
“Homecoming…?”
I shook my head, sure he was thinking of the Queen of England. “It’s nothing. I’m not delicate. That’s all.”
“No … but I didn’t mean about the caravan. I meant brave for helping. You were kidnapped by wolves and asked to go off with them as a personal favor. Which you agreed to do for no reason than to help us. I’m not sure you realize how unusual … how unique you are.”
“I’m not afraid of you, Zar. I’m a witch, remember? And … if I am, a little bit, I happen to know you’re a bit afraid of me too. Doesn’t that make us even?”
He smiled and dropped his gaze. “Sounds fair. Being around you has been one of the best…” He looked up.
It was strange, but I hadn’t noticed him coming closer either. His smile faded with my own as I looked into his face from very close range. Why were they all so handsome? Those good genes? How could they stay healthy with such a limited number? Was it possible for them to reproduce with humans? Any way to expand that pool before it was too late?
Zar’s voice became a breath. “It’s said … Moon sighed and dew formed on the grass. Moon wept and frost formed on the grass. But Moon laughed and those drops born of sorrow fell to earth to grow the grass strong for spring.” He paused, gaze intent. “I think of that every time I look into your moonstone eyes.”
He kissed me. Not a moment too soon or I’d have had to kiss him first.
I didn’t worry about the others knowing. Nothing to lose now. Instead of worry, I felt a more intense desire for more in that kiss than any first kiss I’d ever known. I lifted my hands to his face, pulling him in since he was gentle, his lips closed. It seemed he was expecting me to push him away.
His fingers caressed my jaw, down my neck, stroking my throat. I wished he was kissing me there, touching more, pushing more.
I thought again of them going out with humans. Had Zar, at some point along the way, been warned about using a soft touch with human females? Or more of him being afraid of me, tentative? Or was this simply how he was; normal for him? My own vague ideas of voracious werewolves nothing but bigotry?
He stepped in until I could feel his body against mine. Right hand slipping to my back while his left stroked through my hair. The touch was like a dance partner—intimate without demand.
I turned my face to break the kiss and showed him, my fingers connecting at the base of his skull, kissing short stubble on his jaw. He responded in kind and I tipped my head back, eyes closed. His lips caressed my chin, my jawline, down my neck, his teeth on my throat. His own desire showed itself as he held on tighter, kissing to my collarbone. The sensation was stunning: again, like nothing I’d felt from a first touch. Maybe I just hadn’t wanted those guys to touch me as much as I wanted Zar to.
I felt his strength even as he did not exercise it—tightness of his muscles, power like a coiled spring. Still I wanted more and more, to see him, feel him, to know his body. And for him to know mine.
I met his lips again. This time they were parted, Zar pulling me to him. His tongue stroked my lips and I opened my mouth for him. I found the hem of his shirt pressed between us and slid my hands under to feel the firm heat of his abs. Zar gasped in my mouth as if I’d reached lower.
; When he stepped away, I thought it was because of that touch. But he looked around, chest rising and falling with short breaths.
“Come on.” I tugged his hand and he followed.
I was sure he’d heard the last members of the meeting breaking up to walk this way, and I didn’t want to be standing here gasping with Zar in the gloom when they wandered past.
Pulse rushing, I imagined more as we walked down the drive to the Jeep where I assumed Isaac would know to collect me to return to town—even if he was bringing his own car and not Kage’s.
I loved how responsive Zar had been. Gentle but catching on quickly to my moves, becoming less gentle. The idea of the next kiss, letting him feel my breasts, down to my shorts, was cut off as I had to shake myself. This hadn’t been a first kiss. It had been a kiss goodbye.
We said nothing while we walked, both getting our breath back, still holding hands.
At the Jeep I pulled on my backpack that I’d left in the seat.
The moon was rising, western light down to indigo and violet. Electric lights cast a gentle glow across the drive.
An engine started.
A dozen things I wanted to ask him. None about a murder case. I was sure he would love to teach me their language as much as I would love learning.
I only looked at him.
Zar reached again to my hand, bending, bringing it to his lips. He kissed my knuckles all the way across, letting his lips linger for a long time. For once, he said nothing.
A single headlight pulled onto the drive from one of the alleys and a motorcycle roared toward us.
Zar stepped away, again looking into my eyes.
The motorcycle rolled up and stopped. Isaac killed the engine and climbed off to pull a helmet from the back.
“Are you ready to go home, Cassia?”
I blinked. “You all ride … motorcycles? I—out of context—I thought—oh. Thank you.” I took the helmet. I looked at Zar, who was backing up.
“Moon bless,” he murmured and walked away.
Moonlight Desire: A Reverse Harem Shifter Romance (The Witch and the Wolf Pack Book 1) Page 18