“Crosshead,” he growled. “Come, follow me. We may need to fight our way out. I’ll get you to Helena, and then we have to track down this Templar and finish him.”
“We’ll follow you. Won’t we, Mom?” Eva took hold of her mom’s hand and they moved toward the door. The man stayed put. “Come with us,” Eva said. “You can’t stay here.”
“And I can’t go out there.” The pain deepened, and Jack knew what it meant.
“You must. To avenge your mate. You must.”
“Your mate?” Eva asked. “She’s out there. Can we rescue her?”
The man shook his head. “She is beyond rescue.”
Eva took his hand and pulled him forward. “Come with us. Don’t die here. Don’t let Crosshead win.”
“The fight is nearly over. We have to leave, or they will get away with the Dragon’s Tear,” Jack said.
“Crosshead has it. I know what they intend to do with it,” Eva said. “We have to stop them.”
“Come with us or stay,” Jack said to the man. “The choice is yours, but we are leaving.” He shifted into his bear, and edged out of the room, checking the corridor before moving forward. Eva followed, her mom by her side, and the man behind. Jack could see how hard it was for him to walk. He was a broken man. A shifter who had lost his true mate.
Jack could not think of the pain the wolf was in. Not yet. Not here. His job was to help the living; the dead were beyond any of their reach.
He reached the door into the main warehouse. The bears had cornered the last of the wolves. It lashed out, the bears taking it in turns to snap at it. Behind them, Helena approached, her hands holding a fireball. She was weak, Jack could tell by the size of the flaming ball that it was too small, but she closed her eyes and summoned the last of her strength, making it bigger.
The bears did their job, keeping her safe while she summoned her attack. Then she let the fireball go, and the wolf erupted in flames, its cries echoing around the warehouse. Then there was silence.
“They are all dead?” the stranger asked.
“All those that attacked.” Liam answered, shifting back to his human form. “We should go and check the truck. That’s where they come from. Whatever they are.”
“They are my pack.” The stranger went to the burned remains of the wolf, and knelt down. “I can’t even tell who this is.” His voice broke. “They were my brothers, my family. My mate.”
“I’m sorry.” Helena walked over to him and knelt down. “I am truly sorry.”
“You killed them.”
“They wanted to die,” Helena answered.
“I know. Their voices have been in my head for days. The terrible…”
Helena put her arm around him and helped him up. “Don’t dwell on the past. They are gone now. When we have finished here we can burn the bodies. Give them a warriors’ burial.”
“Warriors,” he sobbed once and then regained his composure. “They were peaceful. My brother was a baker. My mate was a hairdresser.” He shook his head and his sadness turned to rage. “Where are they? Where are the men who did this?”
“That’s what we need to find out,” Jack said, looking around the warehouse. “Where is Lucas?”
“I haven’t seen him since we came in. I bet he’s hiding in the Land Rover,” Liam said with disgust. “Damn druid.”
“Or maybe he chased down the Dragon’s Tear, while you grunts were all playing with dogs.”
The squad turned as one, to where Lucas stood in the doorway, throwing the stone in the air and catching it with one hand. “You have it?” Eva asked.
“I do.” Lucas held it up. “He didn’t want to give it up. But he had no choice when I choked the life from him.”
“Crosshead?” Eva asked.
“Tattoo on his cheek?” Lucas asked, pointing to his left cheek.
“Yes,” Eva nodded.
“His body is in the next warehouse. Along with another. I’ve burned them beyond recognition.”
“Only one other?” Eva asked.
“Yes.”
“There is still at least one on the loose,” Eva said.
“We should hunt him, or at least wait for him to return,” Kurt said, his voice choked. “There should be no loose threads. This operation has to be stopped. No more wolves should be allowed to suffer in this way. Or bears. What if they could turn any shifter into these abominations?”
“No,” Eva’s mom said. “We need to burn the bodies and leave.”
“There are more Templars coming,” Eva said quickly.
“Then we wait and take them out too,” Liam said hotly.
“No,” Jack shook his head. “We need to leave. The Dragon’s Tear is too important.”
“And the Templars are too many,” Eva’s mom said. “They will come in force, I’m sure.”
“OK. Get the bodies back in that truck. And the two Templars. Then we set fire to it.” His squad started to move. “Helena, Eva, I have a job for you.”
“We could help with the bodies,” Eva said.
“This is more important. I want you to go through the warehouse. Fast. Look for any information on what they may be up to.”
“Come, Eva.” Helena headed toward the truck. “We’ll search there.”
“There is an office too. It’s where I was brought in.” Eva went with Helena.
“I’ll help,” Eva’s mom offered.
“No,” Jack tried not to snap, but he did not trust this woman. The same as he did not trust the wolf. “Look after him.” Jack pointed to the wolf.
“No,” the wolf said harshly. “I will help with the bodies.”
“Then you can find anything flammable. We need to make sure this burns hot.” Jack looked up at the warehouse roof. “This place will be like an oven. We need to destroy all trace of the … wolves.”
“And what should I do?” Lucas asked. “I refuse to touch anything dead.”
Jack looked over his shoulder as he and the stranger lifted the first burned body. “Go and watch for anyone coming. Use your magic to cast a wide net around the warehouse, something that will warn us if the Templars arrive. Can you do that?”
“Of course.” Lucas turned on his heel and left the warehouse, his nose wrinkled at the smell of burned flesh.
“Keep that stone safe,” Jack called.
“I’ll guard it with my life,” Lucas replied.
“Do you trust a druid?” the stranger asked.
“Not always. But right now, I have little choice,” Jack looked up at the stranger. “Are you sure you are OK to do this?”
“Yes.” He nodded, his face grim.
“I’m Jack Loveson.” He lifted the arms of the fallen wolf, and the stranger took his feet.
“Locke.”
“I’m sorry. About all this,” Jack said. “I don’t know what I’d do if someone did this to my brothers. Or my mate.” He looked up, locating Eva instantly. She was climbing out of the truck; she stopped briefly to help her mom haul some wooden crates into the back of the truck, and then walked across the warehouse and through a door, where he lost sight of her.
“She’ll be OK,” Locke said.
“I know.” But his fear was real. He had a feeling this was not over. Not by a long shot.
Chapter Nineteen – Evaine
“We’re done?” Eva asked, standing next to him, her hand reaching for his. She needed to feel the warmth of his flesh against hers.
“Yes. The bodies are loaded. Did you find anything?” Jack asked.
“Not really. A cell phone, some papers, but they aren’t written in English.” Eva handed them to him.
“Hold on to them for now.” He kissed the top of her head and then said loudly, “Everyone in the Land Rover.”
“What about you?” Eva asked when he didn’t move.
“I’m going to set fire to the truck. I’ll meet you at the Land Rover when I’m sure it’s burning.”
“OK,” she said, and turned to walk out with the others. H
er eyes sought out her mom, wanting to check that she was all right. She wasn’t there.
Eva turned around, twice, scouring the warehouse for the woman she had come here to rescue. She wasn’t there. Maybe she had gone outside already, Eva wouldn’t blame her, the stench of death was strong and made your stomach churn.
“OK, Eva?” Liam asked.
“My mom isn’t here.”
“Is she outside?” Liam asked, scanning the building.
“I’m going to go check,” Eva ran on ahead, welcoming the fresh air. “She’s not here.”
“Jack. Wait,” Liam called. “Eva’s mom is missing.”
“How missing?” Jack asked.
“How missing can a person be?” Lucas asked.
“Missing as in gone. Missing as in run. Missing as in gone for a leak. Or missing as in gone to puke your guts up,” Helena offered helpfully, earning herself a scowl from Lucas.
“Any idea which of those it is?” Kurt asked Eva when he joined her outside.
“No. She helped to fill the truck with wood and stuff. I don’t know if I saw her since.” She stood with her hands on her hips, looking around. There was an itch inside her head, insistent, but she knew if she acknowledged it, the voice would start. Eva had managed to keep them quiet while she worked. When she had opened the door to them and taken a peek after the last wolf was killed, she had found some kind of mass family squabble going on between her father and the rest of her ancestors. It wasn’t pretty, and she did not want to get involved. What she wanted was for them all to shut up and get out of her head.
“Jack, we’re going to have to check the place again,” Kurt called.
“Damn it,” Jack said. “OK, I’ll check the truck. Liam and Kurt, check the cells. Helena, check the office. Locke, would you go with Eva and scout the perimeter?”
They all moved. Except Lucas who was still standing guard.
“Lucas?” Eva said, going up to the druid. Locke ran along the side of the warehouse, then stopped to breathe in the air, searching for her mom’s scent.
“What?” Lucas asked.
“You were on guard duty,” Eva said. “Has my mom left the warehouse?”
“Yes,” he said openly.
“What, she just left, and you let her?” Eva asked, anger edging her voice. “And you didn’t think to say?”
“I was told to watch for people coming in. Not leaving,” Lucas said, his face serious.
“Are you a complete idiot?” Eva asked.
“An idiot?” He nodded. “Right, and you are so clever. Can you make a Land Rover look like a Ford Focus?”
“That was you guys?” Eva asked. For some reason she didn’t see magic as being real. It was still like a party trick to her—sleight of hand, pull a rabbit out of a false-bottomed hat kind of thing.
Throw a fireball at a werewolf. OK, she needed to change her perceptions of magic, a lot.
“Yes. So next time you call someone an idiot, remember he was the one who got us here to rescue you.” Lucas looked at her with disdain.
“I’m sorry,” she said, and he softened, his posture not so defensive.
“I know you want to get to know her, your Mom,” he said. “I know you want to believe in her. But she might not be trustworthy. She’s been here for long enough for them to … change her.”
“She’s not one of those creatures,” Eva insisted, but Lucas was right. Crosshead might have found a way to break her. “I’m scared for her, that’s all. She gave me up to protect me. These Templar assholes have screwed up her life too.”
“She’s gone. I’m sorry. I should have been more thoughtful. My mom would do anything for me. I don’t know where I would be without her.” Lucas sighed, and then said, “But I can trace your mom. In the same way Helena traced you.”
“But we have nothing of hers,” Eva said.
“Really?” he asked, and she felt like the idiot, she was missing something obvious.
“Me. You have me.”
“Exactly,” Lucas said.
“I’ll go tell the others.” Eva turned around, and ran back to Jack. “My mom left.”
“She what?” Jack asked.
“She left. I don’t know why, I don’t know where she’s gone. Let’s just get out of here,” Eva said.
“You want me to track her?” Jack asked, placing his hand on her shoulder. “I know how much it means to you to know who you are.”
“She knew it too. And she still left. Let her go for now. Lucas said he will help me track her if I want to. Which I don’t know if I do. She dumped me. Twice.” Eva shrugged. “I’m not alone anymore.”
“No, you’re not.” He looked up and then bellowed. “Let’s go, people.”
“You found her?” Kurt called back.
“No, she left. And that is what we need to do.” Jack pushed her gently. “Go outside, I’m going to blow this place and then get us home.”
“Sounds good. Especially the home part,” Eva said.
Eva exited the warehouse with the others. She could feel Jack’s eyes on her. Turning once, she smiled, and a stab of pain hit her in the heart. It was good pain, as if part of it was waking up. Eva had never known love. She had neither given it nor received it. Yes, she loved chocolate, and good coffee, but she had never loved another person, and no other person had ever loved her.
She placed her hand over her heart. It still beat the same. Only now it beat for Jack too; they were joined, at some deep level, they were one. Her mom had run out on her again, but he was still there for her, he would always be there for her.
“Land Rover is this way,” Kurt said and led them across the open asphalt. He and Liam were on high alert, they were nervous. This wasn’t going to be over until they were safely back in the forest.
However, as a big boom filled the air, and the smell of smoke reached them, Eva wondered if it was ever going to be over. Unless Crosshead was the leader, and his plans and schemes died with him, this was just the beginning. Someone else would make werewolves, someone else would want the Dragon’s Tear, and the Night Hunters … would they come for Eva? Was that why her mom had left, to tell them where her daughter was?
“That’s the Land Rover?” she asked, her thoughts swept away when she came face to face with a red Ford Focus. They would never all fit inside.
“On the outside. That’s what a glamor is. But once you open the door…” Liam pulled the door open. “It’s a Land Rover.”
“Cool,” Eva said.
“OK, Lucas and Helena are up front, the rest of you will have to squeeze into the back.” Kurt said, and then he put a hand on Eva’s shoulder. “Are we going back for your car?”
“Do you think it’s safe?” Eva asked.
“I have no idea,” Kurt said.
“What if Lucas puts a glamor on me? He could make me look different.”
“I can do that,” Lucas said. He placed his hands on her shoulders and muttered words she did not understand. “There.”
She looked down, but to her own eyes she looked normal. “Did it work?”
Kurt laughed. “Yeah. It worked.”
“What do I look like?” Eva asked.
“Here.” Helena pulled out a mirror compact from her purse.
“What the hell!” She looked like a man. A big muscly man.
“I figured anyone would think twice before messing with you,” Lucas said with a shrug.
“Right, had nothing to do with winding up Jack,” Liam said. “He’s gonna kill you for messing with his lady.”
“You look nothing like a lady,” Helena said chuckling. Then she looked at Locke, who was sagging against the Land Rover. “Come on, let’s get you inside.” Helena led him to the back of the Land Rover and boosted him inside. “The rest of you should get in too.”
“I will go back to looking normal, won’t I, Lucas?” Eva asked as she pulled herself into the vehicle.
“I’ll remove it when we get back,” he assured her.
She sat down,
trying to avoid looking at Liam, who was sitting there staring at her. “What? It’s not real.”
“I know, but you look so…” He stopped talking. His head shot up and his attention was fixed outside of the vehicle. “We have company.”
“Where?” Kurt asked.
“Two vehicles pulling off the road, and heading this way.”
“OK. Shut the door.” Kurt ordered. “Let’s hope Jack hurries up.”
Liam shut the door, and Eva sat still, holding her breath as they waited for Jack. At last someone banged on the side of the vehicle and Liam opened the door. “What the hell!”
A woman stood there, in high heels and a very tight dress. “What?”
“Jack?” Liam asked.
“You are welcome,” Lucas called.
“Get in,” Liam hooked his hand under Jack’s elbow and helped him in. “Lucas has given you a disguise.”
The woman looked at Eva, and frowned. “Lucas!”
“I’m trying to keep you all safe,” he said.
“Whatever,” Jack said. “We need to go.”
“Have they reached the warehouse?” Liam asked.
“By now, yes. But they won’t get in, the whole place is on fire.”
“Do you know if my mom was there? If they caught her again?” Eva asked.
“I didn’t see her.”
“Give me the map.” Lucas took the map and the pendulum from Helena, and closed his eyes. “Put your hand on my shoulder, Eva.”
Eva did as he asked, trying to maintain contact with him while Kurt turned the vehicle around and drove on to the road, heading home, away from the thick plume of black smoke that filled the afternoon sky.
Lucas opened his eyes and looked down at the map. “She’s not there. She’s heading toward Salisbury.”
“Do you want to follow her?” Jack asked gently.
“No. I think we need to go home and rest. There are these papers to go through.” She had stuffed them into her jacket, and now she pulled them out. “Any idea of the language?”
“Let me see?” Lucas asked.
She handed him a sheet of paper. “Latin. We could ask the Grimmwold; he would likely be able to read it. I can only make out certain words and phrases.”
Bear my Fate (Hero Mine Book 1) Page 13