by Joey W. Hill
So Rand had expected some posturing, some wariness from the pack leader. But even before Fane's cryptic comment, he could tell more was going on.
When Rand invited Fane to take a seat on a fallen log so they could talk, the shifter looked as if he might refuse. His body language remained exceptionally rigid. Since Fane kept Cai upwind and in his view, Rand might have attributed it to suspicion of another species, but Fane seemed even more suspicious of Rand.
Since Fane wasn't being forthcoming on the conversation side of things, Rand decided to start with why they were here and see if that broke anything loose in Fane's attitude. As Rand briefly explained their mission, Cai stayed sitting against the tree. Picking up a branch, he began to whittle on it with his gleaming knife, probably his attempt to look as harmless as possible.
Though the vampire could choose to shoot his mouth off at the most inauspicious times, apparently vampire authority figures triggered that trait quicker than a potential wolf ally. Rand counted it as a surprising blessing with a limited shelf life. He had no doubt, despite his disinterested facade, that Cai was listening to their exchange intently.
All that was fine. What wasn't fine was how often the vampire's gaze strayed over Fane's body with lingering appreciation as the shifter rested his elbows on his splayed knees, head bowed in concentration over Rand's words. Fane's long ropes of hair slid forward over his brown shoulders.
Cut it out, Cai. He's already acting twitchy. If he figures out you're eyeing him, he could get aggressive and less cooperative. Most wolves aren't that tolerant of males who prefer their own gender.
Sure you're not just jealous?
He suspected the vampire could tell exactly what Rand's reactions were. He couldn't help his wolf's possessiveness; it was that mating instinct again, which could be tripped even after a casual coupling. Rand knew how to recognize it, and manage it for what it was. He just wasn't used to someone being able to pick up on it. He turned his attention back to Fane.
"We've no intent of pulling your pack into this. I'm just asking if you've seen them. Cai says they're likely a small group, three to five vampires, because Trads don't like to congregate much. Especially not this group. They'd have a female vampire with them."
Fane lifted his head. For the first time, he seemed to really focus on Rand, see him, though his dark gaze shifted from Rand to Cai, and back to Rand again. When he spoke, he went a different direction, as if Rand's information had been addressing other, far more important questions he had. And he wasn't satisfied with the answers.
"Why aren't you with a pack, Rand? News travels. There was talk. It's said that you killed Grey." Fane's jaw set. "And a litter of his pups."
"What?"
Aggression and affront came quickly. Rand was off the log and taking a step toward the other shifter in mindless reaction. Fane came to his feet and Rand felt Cai tense. I've got this.
Then calm him down or calm yourself down, because if he goes for you, I'm not sitting out.
That was unexpected, but maybe vampires had their own streak of possessiveness. Or maybe it was just as simple as no one got to mangle a vampire's toys while he was still playing with them.
Cute. Asshole. But he could feel Cai's affront on his behalf, reinforced by the vampire's next thought. But killing kids? Does this fucking guy know anything about you?
It echoed Rand's sentiments, but he tried to contain his temper. "How long have you known me, Fane?" he asked, quiet and cold. "In what universe would I ever harm a pup?"
"I've known you," the male said evenly, not backing away or breaking eye contact. "But no one has seen you for over two years. I haven't seen or heard from you in longer than that. Now you show up traveling with a vampire. One whose scent is all over you." His gaze grew equally cool. "Word is, you got angry when Dylef mated with Sheba. You killed them and their litter of pups, as well as Sylvan's, and torched their house. That's why you dropped out of sight."
Rand's mind stopped for a full second, struggling with the idea that anyone could think...but then, realistically, how could they not? The house had been on fire, and, remote as they were, that would attract attention. He'd only had time to put the bodies killed outside the house into the flames before he'd had to shift and leave.
He'd hated throwing Grey's in with them, since it was the only burial site his family had, but without dental records or other ways to identify the bodies, there needed to be a body that could pass as his. Grey's followers had run with their tails between their legs, but he should have anticipated they would spread lies. Lies that had only grown, without him appearing in any shifter's territory to provide a different story and defend himself.
The Colorado shifters might have doubted the story, being more familiar with Grey and his betas, but shifters on this side of the country wouldn't have that background. The betas could easily make up stories about their own origins, so they became strangers merely relaying local shifter news they'd "heard."
Vindictive bastards, trying to make sure you couldn't find a place for yourself if you surfaced. After we get done here, we'll run their asses down and set them on fire. We'll skip the killing-them-first step. More fun the other way.
Cai sounded like he meant it, though Rand couldn't answer, his brain spinning.
Fane was studying the reactions on Rand's face. "There are wolves out there who have said, if and when you ever surfaced again, we should kill you on sight. Put you down like a rabid dog."
Cai rose, sheathing the blade. He didn't move away from the tree, but by standing and leaning against it, he made his readiness clear. "I would reevaluate that idea," he said mildly.
Rand didn't bother to tell the vampire to back down this time. It didn't feel bad, with the ground turned to quicksand beneath his paws--or rather, feet--to have someone who could see the full truth of all of it in his mind.
"The male I knew would not have done such a thing," Fane continued. "But I need to hear what the story is and decide for myself."
The urge to tell him to piss off if he was going to believe such bullshit was kneejerk testosterone. But Rand reminded himself if he were in Fane's position, he would have the same need to verify.
Rand sat back down on the log and gestured, inviting Fane to do the same. Fane warily complied as Rand prepared himself to say the terrible words. "You probably heard Sylvan was killed during a challenge?"
Fane nodded, his expression getting more serious. "It was a grievous loss to all of us. I wondered why the challenger took it so far."
"Because Grey was a sadistic bastard. He tried to kill Sheba and Sylvan's pups. Some of the pack, including Dylef and me, fought him. We got Sheba and Sylvan's pups out of harm's way before he could kill them. Over time, we decided to form our own pack. I mated with Sheba."
Fane's dark brows lifted in surprise, but Rand pressed forward. "We relocated in Tennessee. We talked about finding you, about reaching out, so many times over those several years. I wish to God we had. I knew you'd gone mostly off grid and we wanted to respect your reasons for doing that, not interfere with it. Dylef and Sheba...they wanted to be closer to human civilization. And I guess maybe, somewhere in the backs of our minds, we knew that...we weren't entirely safe. But we weren't wary enough."
He paused, then pushed onward. "We figured as long as we put a good distance between us and Grey, he'd let things lie. We were wrong. He was obsessed with having Sheba as his own. He came after us. He didn't observe the rituals."
Rand swallowed and shifted his gaze to the forest. He could never say it without seeing it in his mind, but maybe it was good that Fane could see his reaction. All he knew was he wanted to reach some point in his life he never had to say it again.
"He and his betas killed Dylef and Sheba. And all the pups. I killed him, and Sylvan's boys took out a couple of his followers, but all too late."
Rand's voice had gone flat, but over by his tree, Cai felt what it took out of his soul, every time he had to say the words, opening a wound that neve
r fully closed. He wanted to get up, get in Fane's face and tell him to fuck off. Rand's honesty, guilt, and ironclad honor emanated off him like a cloud of Boy Scout cologne mixed with Superman and choir boy aftershave. It was damned annoying, but impossible to miss, even by the completely clueless.
Rand cleared his throat. "From your version of the tale, I'm assuming some of Grey's surviving betas have spread the lies to have me ostracized, if I sought another pack."
Fane's expression relaxed into sadness and anger. "I can smell the grief upon you," the male said softly, reaching out to touch Rand's stiff shoulder. "I'm so very sorry." He dipped his head, a gesture that was both human and oddly wolfish.
"You are the male I once knew," he said formally. "Your strength as a hunter and a protector is welcome at our table and under our roof."
"Thank you, Fane." Rand bowed his head in the same gratitude and deference. "I am honored."
Vampires were duplicitous and intensely political, so Cai was surprised that the resolution was that simple between them, but then he remembered what Rand had said. Wolves had instinct and highly developed scent skills that were better than polygraph tests. They knew what was truth and bullshit, simply by asking for the answer to their questions. Lie detectors. Plus, Fane had known Rand before, so there was history there.
"Is it only your grief that has kept you from seeking a pack?" Fane asked. From his direct expression, he revealed the question wasn't an idle follow up. Which made Cai guess he already knew the answer. He just wanted to hear Rand say it.
"Yes, and no." Rand's gaze reflected the same awareness. "I prefer males exclusively, Fane. That's why you smell the vampire...all over me. From your look of surprise when I mentioned mating with Sheba, I expect this isn't news to you. You suspected."
"Your open confirmation of it is more surprising than the news itself," Fane admitted.
"I am honor bound to see this through," Rand told Fane. "But I would enjoy spending time with your family again, when time allows it."
"He's not honor bound," Cai said. "He can go run off with you anytime. I can handle the situation with the Trads. Just point me in the right direction."
Fane cut a glance at him that suggested his contribution to the conversation--hell, the reminder he was still here--wasn't enormously welcome. Rand spoke before Cai said something nasty, however.
"You can't release me from a bond of honor I've imposed upon myself," Rand said.
"But he has a point," Fane said. "What is a female vampire to you? Most of the vampires don't believe we exist, and that's preferable. They're savage, codeless." His gaze passed over Cai as if he were a particularly repugnant mold on the forest floor. "Not pack oriented at all."
No, vampires weren't. And Cai still didn't care much for his own kind, either. But the shifter's blanket judgment rubbed him the wrong way. He hadn't known Lodell. Or seen Georg sitting with Leona; the trace of compassion in Lyssa's eyes when she touched Georg's arm. The coldness she'd inflicted upon his underlings, trying to take advantage of him. Vampires weren't overly sentimental and they built their society on power--who had it, who didn't--and crafted the rules accordingly in the favor of those with power, but that wasn't the whole story. Those with power weren't necessarily amoral.
He was here to rescue a vampire girl he didn't know shit about and whose father had tortured him, right? By vampire standards, he should be nominated for sainthood.
"This male saved my life," Rand said.
You wanted to die. I was just being contrary.
Shut up if you want his help.
"The female vampire is a fledgling," Rand explained to Fane. "What humans would deem a teenager, or us as a young hunter, still in need of guidance and maturity before being out on her own. I've seen good in their kind. And even if I hadn't, the code is clear."
He nodded toward Cai. "I owe him an act of equal weight. If he has no backup, his chances of surviving this are slim. They are slim even with help."
Fane seemed as if he might argue further, but after another glance at Cai, he merely said, "Very well. There's a group of vampires like you describe. Four males. We give them a wide berth. We haven't been within scent distance in the past several weeks, because they set up what appears to be a permanent base camp. Which is unusual, because before that, they moved every several weeks, rotating in and out of our territory."
Fane spread out his hands. "We didn't detect a female vampire with them back then, but at the distance we maintain, the males' stench is strong enough to mask it. I forbid any of our pack to come close enough to determine more specifics. Even my first beta and oldest son, Stalker. I am the only one who has seen them with my own eyes."
Cai stepped forward. "If I described a member of the group to you, would you be able to recognize him?"
For a minute, Cai wasn't sure if he'd address him directly or not, but then Fane did, his deep brown eyes unblinking. "Yes. Do you intend to kill them?"
"If they have her, we intend to rescue the girl. If we're able to knock out one or two in the process, I won't be losing any tears over it, but we're an extraction team, not a staking squad. With four vampires, I'm outgunned in the killing department. And no, before you get uptight about it, that wasn't a request for reinforcements. Fast as they'd kill me, you and yours would barely be an afterthought."
Fane bristled, but Rand put out a calming hand. "He's not insulting your bravery or strength, brother. Merely commenting on their lack of regard for life."
And saying he's not you. I expect you're more kick-ass than the average shifter.
You'd be surprised, vampire. Rand sent him an even look and Cai shrugged, not conceding the point, but not arguing it, either.
Fane settled back, mollified. "Describe your target."
"The leader of this group would be tall and rangy, like a stripped oak tree," Cai said. "He likes to wear camouflage because he has delusions that he's some great military leader. His hair is dirt brown, kept really short. Sometimes completely shaved. Cold eyes, a mix of gray and green, some brown. That hazel color people talk about."
Fane nodded. "He always smells of old blood and decaying earth. He is the oldest and strongest among them."
"Yeah, that would be him." Cai shifted his glance to Rand. "That's Goddard." He ignored the cold ball in his stomach that had suddenly twisted his intestines.
Not that he'd had much doubt who it was. Goddard never had played well with others, and he liked this section of the Appalachians. Which was why Cai had always kept a wide berth around it when he was in a mountain-man frame of mind. Good thing West Virginia, Virginia and Tennessee offered plenty of deep wood elbow room for the reclusive, psychotic and furry.
Fane spoke to Rand again. "If you confirm she is with them, will you attempt your extraction tonight?"
Half the night was already gone. Cai knew Rand hated the idea as much as he did, leaving Dovia at their mercy yet another full day, but rushing it wasn't going to increase their miniscule chances of success. Hell, he just wanted to get it over and done with, but the plan would likely work best if he thought through all angles of it. And one extra night meant Rand could spend some time with his own kind. With old friends.
Cai ignored the sour feeling that gave him. Yeah, his baggage was practically written on his forehead. No reason to be an ass and deny Rand a good night before they walked into a den of psychos.
"Rand, have him get you close enough to verify if she's there. Then go home with him, relax, eat, hang with his family. We'll head out at twilight tomorrow."
"Come with us," Rand said. Fane made a noise that drew Rand's attention.
"He's not welcome, Rand," he said, low. "I don't wish to be inhospitable, but I won't bring him to my family."
"Vampires have enhanced hearing," Cai noted. "No reason to whisper."
Fane had the grace to look discomfited, but his countenance set. "I'm sorry," he told Cai. "But I can't risk them."
"They'll come to no harm from him, I swear it on my life," Ran
d said. "I'm third marked, Fane. He can follow me anywhere, hear my thoughts. If your reason for excluding him is to keep your home base protected, then you can't trust either of us there. Now or in the future."
Rand spoke the words in a firm and courteous way, but Cai felt his reaction. A noticeable part of him hungered to go join that pack, be with them tonight, have that deep-in-his-soul need for family connection met. While another part of him warred against it, knowing it wouldn't be what he truly wanted.
What he wanted was Dylef's warm body against him, Sheba's laughter in the kitchen, her mock threats against the pups as they swarmed around the table for dinner. Cai saw them, the young faces, the teenagers competing for an audience as they told their parents about their day at school. A small boy leaned against Rand's hip, and an even smaller girl, one with Rand's smile, was cradled in the crook of his elbow.
"Your mother says if I keep carrying you everywhere, I'll have to carry you on my back when we hunt."
As he spoke to the child, there was an easy laughter in Rand's voice that Cai had yet to experience. Would never experience, because what could he offer Rand even close to that?
Not that he'd want to. That wasn't him. Family man and joiner would not be on his tombstone if he had one. Bastard prick, however; that would probably be hammered out in nice bold letters, by whoever felt any kind of affection for him.
Cai stepped forward. "I have no interest in being under your roof," he told Fane. "Rand is free to go with you, free to stay with you, and I won't use whatever comes to his mind in your company against you. You don't have to trust me when I tell you that, if you trust his word. If he believes me, then it's so. Give him the night with your family. He deserves it."
Rand opened his mouth to speak, but Cai cut across him. "While no, I can't release him from his honor bond, I'm the last person who'd hold him to it. I'd rather him live. Maybe you can talk him out of being so damn noble and he'll stay with you as he should." He ignored Fane's look of surprise and moved his attention back to Rand. "I'll be traveling swift and far tonight to hunt, so I'll touch base with you at dusk tomorrow on where to meet."