Wicked Hour

by Neill, Chloe

  “To the right,” Lulu said, voice ringing through our screen-linked earpieces. “There’s a pass up ahead, and we go through that, then over the boulders. That’s a bit of a scramble.”

  “On that,” I said, and we veered toward the right. The terrain was relatively flat here, the ground soft and loamy, with silver birch towering above us.

  “There are some really great rock formations on the other side of the waterfall, up the bluff a little. All right,” she said after a moment. “You’re getting close. It’s about twenty or thirty yards around that bend. Just hug the rock, and you’ll see it.”

  “I’m going to take the lead,” Connor said. “Elisa behind me,” he whispered. “Sword out. Then Theo.”

  “The cheese stands alone,” Theo said, and I gave that the sad trombone sound it deserved.

  We slipped through the woods, keeping the bluff to our right, until we could hear the soft ping of water against rock.

  Connor held up a hand, and we waited in silence, ears perked, listening.

  There was no sound, no movement, no magic, or at least not recently.

  “They’re gone,” I said quietly.

  “But we stay careful and alert,” he said, and moved forward . . . and stared at the gaping maw in the earth.

  “Cavern,” I asked, “or hellmouth? You be the judge.”

  “Hellmouth,” Lulu and Theo said simultaneously.

  The cavern was a low, long gap in the face of the bluff, the stone red around the edges. The sound of water grew louder, a few insistent drips, as did the echoes of water on rock.

  “Let’s go in,” Connor said, then turned to Theo. “Can you stay out here and talk to Lulu?”

  “I was just going to suggest I stay here,” Theo said. “I’m not crazy about cramped spaces.”

  “Good,” Connor said. “Keep an eye on the perimeter. If you see them, fire one in the air. We probably won’t be able to use comms with all that stone.”

  “Done,” Theo said.

  “And be careful!” Lulu said. “Especially with snakes.”

  “Bringing it up isn’t making it better,” I told her. But we made our way in.

  Stone arced above us, the ceiling just high enough to stand in. The ground was carpeted in pebbles and looked dry. The water was somewhere in the distance, in the shadows ahead.

  I followed Connor across the space, feeling my way over uneven rocks. The cave was probably forty feet across, then narrowed to a damp hallway of seeping, mineral-streaked rock that was cold and a little slimy to the touch. And would be a very unfortunate bottleneck if we found the shifters at the other end of the tunnel and had to get out again.

  The ceiling dipped, grew lower, so we had to crouch to move through. I wasn’t claustrophobic, but the sensation of moving through and under solid rock caused cold sweat to slip down my spine.

  I was alternating my gaze between my feet and Connor’s back, and still nearly tripped when we crossed a threshold into another room.

  “Damn,” Connor said, standing straight again. “Look at this.”

  I wasn’t sure if he meant the space or what was in it. Because both were extraordinary.

  We’d entered a chamber cut into rock, the ceiling forty feet above us. The room was roughly circular, cut by wind or water or the movement of the earth into what seemed now like a geological cathedral. White stalactites dripped down from the ceiling and glittered in the beam of our flashlight. The walls were brown and ocher stone. They’d been marked by wind and rain, as well. But also by humans.

  There were paintings—not the Paleolithic variety, but made by modern hands. Two stylized humans suckling from a she-wolf, and “Sons of Aeneas” painted in sweeping colors. An altar had been made of one stone formation, covered by a red cloth now stained by time and geological processes.

  “I’m guessing this is the cavern,” I said quietly, touching fingers to the painting. “Chalk,” I said, rubbing the grit through my fingers. “It requires less equipment than painting.”

  Lulu would be proud that I’d learned something.

  “They’ve been sleeping here,” Connor said, and I glanced back. He was crouching near a depression in the wall. “Sleeping bags, camping supplies. No dust. It’s been recently used.”

  “But not tonight,” I said. “Beyo’s been gone a while. Maybe they panicked, changed hiding places.”

  Something glinted in the dirt. I kneeled, brushed away dust, and picked up my dagger. The one I’d lost at the farm; the one that had been buried in the back of the silver beast.

  “They’ve been here since the bonfire,” I said, and cleaned off the dirt, held the dagger up for Connor to see. And where were they now?

  * * *

  * * *

  “Empty,” I told Theo and Lulu when we emerged from the cavern. “They’ve been using it, but not tonight. Any sign out here that they might have gone anywhere else?”

  Theo shook his head. “No footprints other than the tracks we’ve already made.”

  I frowned. “They couldn’t have passed us. We’d have seen them.”

  Connor swore, and I looked back at him. He was staring at the trail, toward the direction of the resort.

  “What?” I asked.

  “We drove part of the way, but they can’t drive in creature form.” Although that did present a mental image that had us all smiling.

  “So there has to be a trail that leads back to the resort,” I said. “And we haven’t been on that trail.”

  “That’s a long way back,” Theo said.

  “Yeah, but it’s the only way back,” Connor said. “And they’d have figured out Beyo betrayed them, that he’d give them up.”

  “They’ll go back to the resort,” I said. “Back to where it all started.”

  “And back to Beyo, to offer up a little of their precious revenge.”

  * * *

  * * *

  We ran back to the car, making surprisingly good time over crappy terrain, and managed not to twist any ankles, break any legs in the process.

  “I’ll drive,” Theo said. “You’ve got calls to make.”

  Connor tossed him the keys, pulled out his screen and we climbed into the vehicle. He had Lulu pass the comm over to Alexei, then called Georgia, asked her to alert Cash and the entire resort and make sure Beyo was well protected.

  “Call the sheriff and the state patrol,” I said when he finished the calls. Connor looked at me, pained by the suggestion. “The only way this stops is if someone puts a stop to it. We have to be that someone.”

  He cursed but made the call.

  Theo drove like a bat out of hellmouth, and why wouldn’t he, given it was the middle of the night, there was no traffic, and the single county sheriff probably didn’t bother to issue traffic citations?

  We drove into the RV lot, checked on Lulu.

  “Lock yourself in,” I told her, “and don’t come out unless it’s one of us.”

  “I’ll literally keep the motor running and run them down if I have to. Be careful.”

  “We will,” I said, and watched, waited until she’d closed and locked the door again.

  * * *

  * * *

  The cabin was our next stop. There, we’d rendezvous with Alexei and Georgia and prepare to move on foot to Beyo’s cabin.

  “The resort on alert?” Connor asked, frowning at the glinting firepits at the edge of the lake.

  “There’s no one out there,” Georgia said. “Just a little show. We didn’t want to alter things from normal too much, in case we scared them away.”

  “Everyone’s in the lodge,” Alexei said, “which is locked and guarded. Except Beyo. We considered moving him out of the cabin, but figured leaving him—and his scent—there would help narrow the field.”

  And keep the creatures focused on their target.


  “I’ve got friends positioned on the opposite side of the resort,” Georgia said. “They’ll keep an eye on the perimeter, and give me a signal if they see anything.”

  “You seem to be enjoying the operational element,” I said with a grin.

  “Feels good to shake out the fur now and again.”

  “Cash and Everett?” Connor asked.

  Georgia’s mouth twisted. “They’re in town playing pool,” she said bitterly. “We’ve left messages.”

  “Very responsible,” Theo said. “They’ve got quite an interesting leadership style.”

  Alexei snorted.

  “Let’s go,” Connor said. “And let’s end this.”

  * * *

  * * *

  We moved silently across the resort, sticking to the darkest of the shadows as we approached the cabin. We stopped in the shadow of the cabin that stood thirty feet away from Beyo’s.

  Adrenaline was already pumping, the monster looking for a foothold, an opportunity to come forward. But I’d already made a decision about that. And I took Georgia’s advice.

  I reached out for it and asked it a question. Do you want to fight?

  At first, there was silence, and I thought maybe the idea that we could communicate anything other than need and violence was ridiculous.

  And then . . . Fight.

  Okay, I told it. Be ready.

  The monster answered with a stretch that sent a delicious warmth through my veins.

  “Probably should have done that a long time ago,” I murmured, and could have sworn I heard it chuckle.

  Somewhere in front of us, a single firecracker popped and sizzled.

  “I’m guessing that’s the signal?” Connor whispered.

  “That’s it,” Alexei said. “You ready to move?”

  “Go,” he said, and Alexei and Theo split off to give us another angle of attack.

  “I’m going to let the monster fight,” I whispered, and Connor looked back at me. The wariness I’d expected to see was nonexistent. I found only a grin.

  “Are you?”

  “It’s stronger. But I’m better with a sword. So I’m going to try fighting with it.”

  “Good,” he said, and kissed me hard. “I like having the better weapons.”

  The earth shook before I could answer him. The hybrids stepped onto the lawn between the lakeshore and cabin. Silver, red, and brown.

  If Beyo was telling the truth, Zane was the silver beast. The one who’d attacked Carlie, and stolen my dagger in the process.

  Ready? I asked the monster, and felt its answering thrill. Go, I told it, and stepped back to let it take control.

  It stepped into my skin, this predator, and moved into a crouching stance with flawless accuracy. I raised the katana, moonlight gleaming along the blade, and prepared to move.

  The silver hybrid lifted its muzzle.

  Yes, we thought together. We’re here. And this time, we’ll take you down.

  The red beast moved toward Beyo’s door.

  “Go!” Connor shouted, and chaos rolled across the resort.

  We jumped up from our positions, surrounded the wolves.

  “Zane!” called my voice, and we ran toward it, my monster directing my feet, my pumping arms, and me swinging the katana forward.

  I had to ignore the fact that Theo and Alexei and Connor were running into danger, too, and focus on the beast in front of me.

  “Hey, asshole!” I said, and it curled its lip, began to lope forward and away from Beyo’s cabin.

  Not the brightest bulb, I thought, and felt the monster offer its agreement.

  The hybrid reached out, and I slid between its legs, sliced a long strip from its calf. It howled, overbalanced, and nearly landed on me as it fought for control. I scrambled to my feet and swung the katana again, gestured it forward.

  “Not impressive, Zane. Want to try again?”

  It loped forward but, instead of swiping to grab me, stuck its arm out to slap me backward. I spun to dodge the blow, but it corrected, sent me flying.

  This time, I’d learned my lesson. I rolled, which softened the blow of the landing and helped me get to my feet faster.

  “Lis!” I heard Connor’s voice over the sounds of battle, and despite whatever horror he was facing.

  “I’m fine,” I called out, and faced the beast again.

  The monster was angry. And unless I was wrong, feeling a little sting of pride.

  We go again, I told it, and sucked in a breath, ran toward Zane. This time, we jumped, took air and skimmed over the top of his head, spittle flying beneath us as we moved. We pivoted, slashed down, and pierced the beast’s shoulder, slicing through tendon and sending it to its knees.

  The monster felt victorious, and I reveled in its pleasure.

  We turned again, ready for another strike. But light began to flash, that bitter-smoke scent filling the air. Magic pummeled the beast, spasming through his body, revealing a pale man, body brutalized by battle and the weight of the spell he’d been carrying.

  Revealing Zane.

  Weakened though he was, the transformation didn’t stop him. Naked and thin, he came at me, arms swinging like those of a boxer on the ropes.

  “Bitch,” Zane said. “Ruining this . . .”

  “Oh, spare me,” I said, and knew what the monster wanted to do. It punched out—sharp jab, hard uppercut—and then a front kick that had him flying through the air.

  Zane hit the ground, skidded twenty feet, and came to a stop. Chest still rising and falling, but head lolling to the side.

  Good girl, I told the monster and, for the first time in our relationship, felt it preen with delight—and realized it had feelings just like I did. It wasn’t just a well of anger, but a creature—somehow bound to me—that also hadn’t asked to be in this situation. And I was going to have to learn to work around that.

  I rose, looked around, found half the resort—including Theo and Georgia—was watching Connor finish off the brown hybrid.

  “It’s impressive,” Theo said as Connor plunged a dagger into the creature’s calf, pinning him into the ground.

  We both winced.

  “What’s impressive?” I asked.

  “Watching the future Apex in action.” He slid me a glance, grinned. “You ready to be the future Mrs. Apex?”

  “Watch it, friend.” I tapped the blade of my sword. “I’m still armed.”

  Theo snorted.

  “What the fuck?” Cash exclaimed as he and Everett ran toward the field of battle, stared at the scene in front of them.

  “What the fuck are those?” Everett said, face a mask of horror as he looked over the creatures.

  “The hybrids,” Connor said. “Or the ones left. John and Marcus. Zane’s over there,” he said, pointing. “They’re here to kill Beyo, which we didn’t let them do, and to take out me and Elisa, if they could manage it. They didn’t,” he said good-naturedly.

  Cash didn’t speak, just looked over the beasts, his eyes wide and staring . . . and his mind probably reeling to figure out how he was going to manipulate this to his benefit.

  Magic flashed, and he threw up a hand to shield his eyes, then watched as John and Marcus began the transformation back into human form. And just as with Beyo and Zane, it was an ugly process.

  “What the fuck have you done to my people?” Cash asked when the shifters were revealed again, pale and sickly and thin.

  “Obviously nothing,” Connor said. “They’ve done this all on their own.”

  But Cash had made his decision, picked his path, and wasn’t going to be swayed from it. He strode toward Connor, fury in his eyes.

  “Oh, for fuck’s sake,” Connor said and, when Cash reached him, pounded his fist into Cash’s face.

  “Good show,” Alexei said as Cash
hit the ground. “That was a nice one.”

  Everett tried to step forward in Cash’s stead and make his own run at Connor, but Gibson held his arms back.

  “No, thanks, old man. You’ve had your chance.”

  Connor nodded with approval. “This is the hell you have wrought in this clan. The destruction, all because you were so goddamned determined to hold on to power you hadn’t earned. Those days are over.”

  “Over,” Georgia agreed, stepping beside them. “This has gone on too long,” she said to the growing crowd, over gasps and shock as they surveyed the damage.

  “You have no power—,” Everett began, but Georgia just held up a hand.

  “Save it. Given that you’ve been faced with indisputable evidence the hybrids exist, they’re deadly, and they’re members of your clan, I think we can safely say that Elisa’s actions were reasonable and she acted in order to save Carlie’s life in the best way available to her. The only person she needs absolution from is Carlie.” She looked at me. “You have our apologies.” She shifted her gaze to Connor. “As do you.”

  “I appreciate the gesture,” Connor said. “And, Georgia, you’re family. But you all wrought this. None of you are innocent. You knew Loren was a predator of the worst kind, and you ignored the victims. You knew something was hurting your people, but you ignored the evidence. That’s unacceptable. The North American Central Pack hereby names Georgia McAllister as leader of this clan. She’s in charge unless or until the clan votes otherwise.”

  “You can’t fucking do that,” Cash said, climbing to his feet. “We don’t release you from the Obsideo. You’re still obliged to us.”

  But Connor’s eyes stayed bright. “Cash, you are an idiot. When you claim Obsideo, you have to specify the problem. Otherwise, you leave the choice up to the person who’s obligated, which would be me. The problem in this clan is its leadership. And I’ve just solved that problem.”

  As if the magic somehow agreed with him, it released its hold, power spilling through the crowd like water through a broken dam, swirling around our feet.