He blushed and tilted his head away, pointing at his ears. “Enhanced, and it didn’t sound like all was okay to me.” His fingers tapped a nervous rhythm on the boards of the porch. His gaze met mine as he continued. “I don’t think it’s smart for you to go alone. I don’t know who this Dr. Day is, but if she works with Sandy’s father, I don’t trust her.”
“If you go with us, then she will be suspicious.” I smiled and scooted off the swing to join him again on the deck of the porch. “Stephen, I’ll be okay. It’s a public place in my hometown.”
“Yeah and people, especially women, are taken from places they are comfortable with every day.” His hand reached out and covered mine, warm and full of concern. His feelings radiated with the heat from his body.
“I’ll be fine, but if you insist, then sit at another table far from us. With your hearing, that shouldn’t be a problem, right?”
“As much as I hate to be on the other side of the room, you are correct. I’ll hear every word. If I don’t like what I hear though, I won’t hesitate to interfere.” He squeezed my hand. “Wyatt will have my tail if I let anything happen to you.”
“Who’s Wyatt?”
16
Wyatt
I hadn’t made such a stupid mistake in years. I exposed myself and got caught, but I couldn’t help myself. When I saw her, Drago had to get closer, even if only for a moment. If the girl driving hadn’t seen us, I probably would have kept walking toward their car.
“Damnit, we can’t do that. You know if we mark her she becomes a vulnerable target,” I said, chastising my dragon side.
“We can protect her. Only we can.”
It was impossible to get him to see reason. I had to stay away from her. When they had looked back and didn’t see me, I’d breathed a sigh of relief as they turned away. My heart followed her though. Every instinct drove me to follow, but I knew the only way to protect her was to go the opposite way. I spent the rest of the afternoon doing recon in the little town. I caught the scent of the man named Valmyre at the courthouse, the upscale Italian restaurant, and around an old shutdown warehouse. The warehouse was where it was strongest, and a trail led me from there to the largest house on the posh side of town. Her scent was there too, along with another female. Drago didn’t like it one bit. It had to be the one who had been in the car with her. It hit me after another long sniff that the leader of this chapter of The Resistance was also the father of our mate’s best friend. They had the same underlying scents, as all family members do.
Fuck, could this get any more complicated? I prowled the edge of the property until I saw her get in a black car with another male.
Fire built in my belly and rose up my throat, and tendrils of smoke wafted from my nose. My hands transformed to talons as I watched him help her into the car and drive her away. All I wanted to do was pounce on the car, rip the top off, and shred that human to bits. Instead, I went back to the warehouse and searched for clues of what it was used for. What I found put a sliver of ice in my heart.
Inside, I found a ritual site complete with a sacrificial alter. Two men came in as I was inspecting it, and thanks to the magic inside me, I cloaked myself before they saw me. Hiding in the corner beneath my invisible shield, I listened to their conversation.
“He said to prepare the altar. We will be sacrificing her soon.” Goon One laid a large silk cloth on the altar and placed black candles around the base.
“But how are we going to do that? People will realize she’s missing.” Goon Two nervously swayed from foot to foot.
“It’s not our place to question him. He is the supreme, and what he says goes. He would never lead us astray, and if he says this will draw the dragon to us, then I believe him.” Goon One continued setting things out, a jagged knife next to a shallow, beaten metal bowl, and a couple of jars of herbs and liquids I didn’t recognize.
“And what if it works? How are we going to kill a dragon?” Goon Two continued swaying, sweat beginning to bead along his forehead.
“The supreme believes he has already bonded with the female. By sacrificing her, we will weaken him, and the power of our circle will finally destroy the abomination, leaving one less shifter scum on this earth. We will be one step closer to eradicating them all, leaving us at the top of the food chain where we belong.” Goon One stood back to inspect his work. With a menacing smile, he turned to Goon Two. “What the hell are you doing just standing there? Hurry up and prepare the circle. The supreme will be here soon to inspect.”
They both moved quickly to set up the rest of the ritual site, redrawing the pentagram on the floor, placing candles at each point, and drawing a circle around it made of symbols that intertwined. Some of the symbols I recognized, but others I did not. From what I could discern, the circle was a protection spell of some sort woven in with something else I couldn’t translate.
My thigh muscles ached and twitched from being made to hold my position in silence while the idiots in the warehouse finished their chores. I stood and stretched as soon as the door closed on their exit. I moved closer, trying to get a better look at the symbols drawn in the outer circle. When I got as close as the warding would let me, I noticed the drawn symbols were moving, never holding shape long enough for me to decipher them. This magic was levels above any I had encountered in over a hundred years. I needed help and had no way of contacting Leo or Jerome. I needed to find Stephen. Maybe he and his witch friends could help figure this out. I could also have him contact Jerome and ask for backup.
Drago approved of my plan, and we left the warehouse through the broken window on the second floor the same way we came in. I kept to the shadows until we were clear of the blocks surrounding the building. I then stepped out onto the sidewalk and tried to blend in with the townsfolk as best as I could, considering I desperately needed a shower and shave.
“No vampires.”
Drago’s sudden internal comment caught me off guard. I stumbled as I stepped off the curb to cross the street, intending to find something to eat in the local diner. I quickly righted myself and tuned into what he had said. “What do you mean?”
“At the altar. We didn’t smell vampires.”
He was right. The first time we encountered this group, they had been guarded by vampires. This time in the building, I had found no evidence vampires had ever been there. This was an interesting development. I pulled out the Bluetooth earpiece I had used to connect to the cell phone that now sat decimated in the trash can back at the cabin. This way it looked as if I was having a conversation via phone, instead of looking like a dirty bum talking to himself.
“You think maybe they were just hired for that meeting?” I smiled as the waitress brought me a menu and glass of water. She raised an eyebrow at me, and I pointed at my ear. With a raised chin nod and a wink, she left me to peruse the menu, signaling she would come back.
“Maybe.”
Drago was not a great conversationalist. Most of the time I was thankful for that, but right now I needed someone who could talk this through with me. “It would be nice if you could say more than one word at a time.” I huffed, scanning the menu. My stomach rumbled at the same time the bell above the door rang. The breeze that followed the opening of the door brought the scent of the pack’s newest omega to me. I glanced up and met Stephen’s eyes. I watched as he walked over and stood by my table.
“Do you mind if I join you?” His respect showed in the tilt of his head and the calm tone of his voice.
I motioned for him to sit down. The wolf who sat across from me had changed from the first time I had met him. His meekness was still there, but a strength and wisdom sat beneath it and shone in the depths of his eyes. He was a shifter growing into his powers and learning how needed he was within the community. I felt a sense of pride in the change I saw happening. I had always liked Stephen and wanted him to embrace what he was instead of acting like a doormat for others to walk on.
“You look good, man. How is the training goin
g?” I asked as our waitress dropped off another menu and glass of water.
Stephen smiled but addressed our waitress instead. “Good afternoon, Rosie. If you don’t mind, I’d like to go ahead and order.” He glanced at me for confirmation, but of course I was ready too.
“Of course, sugar. What can I getcha?” She took a pencil from her hair and waited with pad in hand and hip cocked.
“Two double cheeseburgers with bacon, hold the onions. A side of chili cheesesteak fries, chocolate shake, and a piece of your famous apple pie with a scoop of ice cream for dessert.” Stephen gave a megawatt smile as he handed back his menu.
My stomach growled at his order, and I raised my menu. “I’ll have the same, Rosie, but add a cup of black coffee as well.”
“You boys must be hungry.” Rosie stuck the menus under her arm and ripped the order off her pad. “This will be up in just a jiff. Oh, how do you boys want those burgers cooked?”
“Rare,” we said in unison.
“Rare it is, boys.” She flounced away and yelled at the cook in the back, “Make four doubles moo and drag them through Wisconsin. Two orders of frog sticks covered up, one frozen black cow, two ap and let them swim, and draw one in the dark.”
Once she was out of earshot, Stephen focused on me. “So what are you over here talking to yourself about?” His teasing smile amused me. He was finding his funny side as well.
“Okay, smart ass, you and I both know I wasn’t just talking to myself, but I am finding it hard to get Drago to say more than one word at a time. His sole focus is on protecting her, and I can’t shake him.” I took a deep breath and explained to him what I had found out so far, down to the moving symbols on the floor.
He took a moment to process everything before speaking. “I can ask Selena to look at the symbols. Did you get pictures?”
“Did you miss the part where I can’t call for backup because I crushed my phone when I lost control of my partial shift?” I couldn’t keep the sarcasm out of my voice, still frustrated with my lack of control.
“Right, right. Well could you draw them?”
“I can try, my artistic skills are rusty at best.” I took the pen he produced and flipped the paper placemat in front of me over to the blank back side. The symbols were clear in my head, and I did my best to sketch them. “Hell, they look like a deranged three-year-old drew them.” I pushed the mat toward Stephen. “Hopefully something will be legible for her.”
He folded the paper and put it in his back pocket. “I’ll see what she says. They aren’t as bad as you think. Okay, what about backup? You said we needed it.”
Rosie arrived with our heaping lunch plates and set everything down with practiced skill. “Can I getcha anything else, boys?” Her smile increased the laugh lines around her tired eyes, showing the makeup she wore to regain her youth.
“No thank you, Rosie. I think we are good,” Stephen replied as I dug into the first burger, happy to find it a perfect pinkish red inside. The meat made my inner dragon happy, and both Stephen and I ate in silence after she left our side.
After inhaling the first burger and half my fries, I answered Stephen’s question. “There is magic at work here that I haven’t dealt with in over a century. I am afraid if Drago and I are faced with what they have planned, I won’t be able to make the smart choice. I need to know I have a team behind me that will have my back if I falter from the plan. The only ones I trust are Leo’s guys or Jerome’s pack.”
“I can contact either if you want, or you could just grab a pre-paid from the drug store on the corner,” Stephen said.
I internally smacked myself for not thinking of that myself. It proved how unfocused I was. If I were on a mission for Leo, my first step after losing my cell would have been a replacement. “You’re right. I’ll grab one from the drug store and call myself.” I wasn’t going to admit that I hadn’t thought of it on my own. Drago was beginning to become restless, wanting to smell or see her again.
Stephen leaned closer, and I caught a whiff of her intertwined with his scent. He hadn’t been close enough earlier for me to pick up the fading hint. Drago surged forward, and my breathing became heavy as I fought to keep him contained.
“Drago, look at me,” Stephen said, addressing my dragon half.
I raised my eyes to his, knowing what he saw was the golden slits of Drago.
“There you are. You can smell her, can’t you?”
I could only grunt in response.
“She is safe for now.” He ventured a hand across the table, his fingertips barely touching the back of my hand. “I need you to focus on what Wyatt is trying to fix. Until the threat is gone, he won’t let you find and claim her.”
The anger and feeling of losing control slowly slipped away.
“We will need you but not yet.”
I felt Drago pull back and curl up. He was not happy, but his urge and need to find her was dampened to the point I could think clearly again.
“What the hell did you just do to me?” I rubbed the back of my hand where his fingertips had been.
“I calmed him as best I could and took some of the rage away,” Stephen whispered. I noticed then that he looked exhausted and about to fall over.
“It takes a lot out of you though, doesn’t it?” The thought of another in pain because of me made me uncomfortable. I was the protector; I took bullets for others. The pain should always be mine.
“It does, but I am learning to handle it. Your dragon is extremely powerful, and his emotions are bigger than mountains. It took a lot this time.” Stephen’s voice sounded a bit stronger. “The rest of the food will help, and a short nap as my wolf will set me straight.” He raised his second burger to his lips and tore into it.
I mirrored him and finished off the rest of the food on my plate as well, then wiped the lingering grease from my mouth with a napkin.
Rosie collected our empty plates and left the check for us, telling us to take our time. Stephen grabbed both checks, waving off any comment I might have made.
“I have another question.” I looked out the window. “Have you heard or scented vampires in the area?” I scanned the diner as well, seeing that many of the lunch rush had left and only two other tables besides ours lingered. One filled with four men in business suits who seemed out of the ordinary for the diner’s atmosphere. “The lack of scent in town concerns me. I know they were on the mountainside, but I can’t track them down.”
“No, I haven’t, but I can do some digging to see if I can find anything out. Neevie is probably the best source for that information. I swear she has been around longer than even this town.” He placed three twenty-dollar bills onto the checks and stood. “I need to get going. I am supposed to be at Natalie’s for dinner, and I still need to nap. I will work on digging up information for you tomorrow.” He jotted a number onto a napkin. “That’s my cell. Text me when you get the pre-paid.”
I took his number and shoved it in my pocket as I stood. “Thank you.”
No more words needed to be said. He nodded and turned to leave. The table of four that had caught my eye earlier all watched him leave, and four sets of eyes turned as one back toward me, all glowing.
It didn’t look like I would need Stephen to search after all. The fact that they didn’t smell like vampires at all put another inkling of fear in my chest. I fucking hated that feeling. My first call would be to Leo. I needed a contact number for Draven. If anyone could tell me how a vampire could be undetectable in the middle of town, it would be the freaking vampire king. I only hoped he would take my call.
Vampires and dragons have never had a good working relationship. In fact, if dragons had a mortal enemy, it would be the vampires. Now I needed to ask the one person I never wanted contact with for help.
Fuck me.
17
Natalie
The next morning came too soon. I woke up feeling like I had just gone to sleep, the remnants from my dream still fresh in my mind. “These dreams are
going to be the death of me.” My body was humming with awareness because I had seen him again. Well, I sort of saw him. I still hadn’t seen his face. The dreams were getting hotter though. I didn’t know if it was because of my young adult hormones or if something had truly changed inside me and this is my soul’s way of saying my dream man was really my other half.
Dream on, Nat. It won’t be that simple. Neevie even said as much. Plus, if he never looks at me, then all hope will be lost. Or at least I think Neevie had said that. If not her, then I probably knew I wouldn’t be allowed to see his face yet from seeing it in the journal that keeps showing up in my purse no matter where I go.
I shuffled slowly to the bathroom. My hands ran down my face and rubbed the sleep crust from my eyes before looking in the mirror. I groaned at the bags staring back at me. “We are supposed to be going for a not-crazy look today, Nat.” I shuffled to the bathroom, put my hair back in a French braid, and turned the faucet on. I brushed my teeth as the water ran. Once the hot water reached my bathroom, I splashed my face, washed, and splashed again with cold water. Someone told me rinsing with cold water would help close pores and increase blood circulation. Today, I would try about anything to help me not look like an extra off The Walking Dead.
I grabbed the first pair of jeans out of my drawers and the first T-shirt from my closet and threw them on my bed. Bra and underwear followed. I plugged in my curling iron, then pulled out my makeup kit and set it on my vanity. The alarm on my phone chimed, telling me I had thirty minutes to get ready and head out the door to meet Sandy.
Shadows and Sorcery: A Collection of Urban Fantasy and Paranormal Romance Novels Page 286