Bold Mercy

by Cane, Laken

  My heart leaped. “What is it?”

  “I do not know,” he told me. “And it may not help you at all, but it’s all I have to give you. And we both know I owe you everything.” There was a smile in his voice. “The weakness is there. Only Frederick would have known what that weakness was. Even Avis may not be aware. But if you discover it, you will defeat her—if, of course, she comes for you before I can contain her.”

  “Give me an idea,” I said, impatient and a little deflated. “What sort of weakness? Physical? Mental? Magical?”

  “I am sorry, Kait. I simply do not know.”

  “Not helpful,” I grumbled. “Find her, Bastien.” I ended the call.

  Max and Joe were waiting in the kitchen with Lucy and Zach, and Ash padded from person to person, getting a pat and a bite of food from each one. He craved attention—and food—which wasn’t surprising considering he’d been deprived of both when I’d found him.

  Lucy was feeding everyone, because that was Lucy. Not that I was complaining. I’d never eaten so well in my life, and my wolf was always hungry. I watched them all for a moment, realizing how attached I’d become to each one of them. The snarky Max, a hunter in his own right, though he hunted information instead of supernaturals. Joe, ex-military, fearless and intense, as determined to protect me as I was to protect him. Zach, full of nightmares and pain, a vampire hunter who’d lost his way, maybe, but in time, I was sure he’d regain his confidence. And Lucy, the psychic with a big heart and a gift for turning any sort of food into something amazing.

  My friends.

  I’d been alone for so long, alone in my hobbled pain, that I hadn’t realized how much I needed people. I was a wolf. Of course I needed people. Now that I had them, I was a little feral in my need to keep them. To keep them safe.

  It was the same with the detective. And at the thought of him, my stomach once again tightened with worry. Before I could pull my phone from my pocket and call him, someone knocked at the front door.

  “I’ll get it,” Joe said immediately, shoving his chair back. He glared at me as though I’d threatened to answer the door myself, then hurried past me, his fingers brushing his holstered gun.

  We were all on high alert.

  Zach pulled a chair out for me as Joe escorted Lennon into the little kitchen, and Lucy placed a cup of coffee and a plate of dinner—mostly meat—in front of me. Lennon refused food but accepted a glass of water, smiling at Zach when he offered her his chair. He went to stand by the sink, just a little separate from the rest of us. I imagined I could see signs of his withdrawal taking hold, and it worried me. I couldn’t trust that his addiction wouldn’t get the better of him, but I had to trust that he’d do the right thing if it did.

  He looked up and met my gaze, and likely my concern was written all over my face because finally, his stare softened and he gave me a nod. He wouldn’t hurt my people, and if his pain began to overwhelm him, he’d let me know it was time to restrain him.

  “—because guess what?”

  I took my attention from Zach and put it on Lennon, catching the tail end of her question. Luckily, she wasn’t expecting an answer.

  “Because our world is dangerous. If you’re associated with us in any way, you are vulnerable. You are at risk.” She pointed at me. “And that is why Kait sent for me. I will somewhat lower your risk.”

  Joe folded his arms and cocked an eyebrow. “How?” he asked. “Are you going to teach us a supernatural’s weak points?”

  She pulled her wand from her dress pocket and waved it gently. “Wards and spells. The rest is up to you.”

  “Um.” Max held up a finger. “You’re a witch?”

  She glanced at me, then nodded. “I am.”

  Joe pointed his chin at the wand. “What can you do with that thing?” He grinned, because he was just slightly mocking, and not even a little bit ready to believe her wand was for anything but show.

  Lennon knew I wouldn’t have asked her here if anyone present were not to be trusted with her secret, so she went ahead and gave Joe a preview of what she could do with her wand.

  “Please don’t destroy my kitchen,” I said, right before she traced a delicate, intricate design in the air and the lower cabinet doors slammed open and half a dozen pots and pans flew out and right at Joe’s head.

  He pulled his gun.

  “Joe,” I yelled, then fell into helpless laughter with the rest of them.

  “Did you know she could do that?” he yelled.

  “No,” I said, to Lennon’s surprise. I shrugged. “I didn’t know I had pots and pans.”

  Lucy shook her head. “What do you think I use to cook for you?”

  “I didn’t think about the preparing,” I answered, lifting a forkful of steak to my lips. “Just the devouring.” Then I looked at Lennon. “I really would like to have that wand.”

  She stood, preening only a little. “I will get to work. As you were, everyone. There’s no need to pay me the slightest attention.”

  “You shouldn’t have come alone,” I told her. “You need to be careful too, Lennon.”

  “Eli is waiting outside,” she murmured. “He’s lurking in the shadows. Now hush so I can concentrate on warding the place.”

  I should have known Jared’s beta wouldn’t have let Lennon venture into the city without him. I’d seen Eli’s love for Lennon the first time I’d met him.

  Max grabbed the small computer he’d been working on, slid his phone into his pocket, and stood. “I need to leave. Does she want to…” He bulged his eyes and swirled his hand through the air. “Hit me with some sparkles before I go?”

  “Already done,” Lennon called from somewhere out in the hallway.

  “Damn,” Joe muttered. “That’s some good hearing.”

  “Hang on, Max,” I said. “I asked you and Joe to bring your vests so Lennon could spell them.”

  “Can’t get him to put one on,” Joe said. “I’m wearing mine.”

  “If a vampire comes for me,” Max said, “a vest isn’t going to stop him or her from taking me. Besides, it’s uncomfortable.”

  “It’s another layer of protection,” I told him, knowing there was no way in hell I could force him to wear a vest if he didn’t want to. “Lennon can weave a spell into the fabric, and it could save your life. Being uncomfortable is better than being dead.”

  Joe strode toward him, his hand out. “Give me your keys. I’ll get it from your car.”

  “Oh my God.” Max held his computer case up as though that would stop Joe. “I am not going to—”

  “Hey.” Zach’s voice wasn’t loud, but it got the attention of everyone in the kitchen. Joe turned to face the hunter, subtly putting himself between Zach and Max. Joe didn’t trust Zach, not yet. Max shut his mouth and peered around Joe’s shoulder, and Lucy stopped loading the dishwasher and turned to watch. Even Lennon came in from the hallway and stood in the kitchen doorway, gazing at Zach.

  For a few seconds, Zach hesitated, his stare flitting from one of us to the other. Then he put his attention back on Max. “I once saw a vampire shove his claws through a man’s back and rip out his heart. That’s uncomfortable. Wear the vest, man.”

  For a moment, no one said anything. Then Max reached into his pocket and pulled out his keys. Joe held out his hand without taking his stare from Zach, and Max dropped the keys into his palm.

  “I’ll be right back,” Joe said, and went to get Max’s vest.

  Zach didn’t talk a lot, but when he did, he was pretty damn convincing.

  “And then we need to work on protecting everyone from the human threat,” Lucy said, and I saw her shudder. She was more afraid of what she’d seen in her dreams than any vampire, but that was because the vampires were only a slight risk to her. Jakeston’s serial killer was a sure thing.

  “Um, only you are at risk from the killer?” Max sauntered to her and put his arm around her. “And if he wants you, he’ll have to take the rest of us as well, because we aren’t lea
ving your side.”

  When Joe came back inside, Ray Christian was with him. Lucy squealed and threw herself at him, ignoring Max when he called her a traitor. As far as I knew, Lucy and Ray hadn’t developed into anything serious, but she was genuinely glad to see him. Perhaps he’d convinced her that commitment wasn’t so bad.

  Joe brought me the box he’d carried in—the vests I’d ordered from Sixten. “This was on your porch,” he said. “Someone opened it.”

  “Eli,” Lennon said. “Never mind. Everybody put their vests on. I’ll do everything I can to make them repel any vampire who gets close to you.” She sat down beside me. “All this activity and you right in the center of it. You love it, don’t you?”

  “Yeah.” I leaned back in my chair and stretched out my legs. “I kinda do.”

  We were quiet for a few seconds as we watched the others, then she shivered. “"Something bad is coming, Kait. I guess you know that.”

  “Let it come,” I murmured. “Worse things will be waiting when it gets here.”

  Chapter Eight

  I wasn’t lacking for work. If anything, the city had abruptly become a hub of supernatural activity, and the office phones hadn’t stopped ringing all day. People walked in, as well, and after I finished up with my sixth client and left my office to take a break, I was shocked to see a full waiting room.

  “Fucking November,” I realized.

  With everything that had happened, I’d forgotten that November was an extremely active time for spirits. It was said that the veil between the worlds was at its thinnest during the entire month of November, and I believed the hell out of that theory. Things that happened in November changed our world forever in subtle and not so subtle ways, and it wasn’t just with the dead. I’d hunted and killed more vampires in November than at any other time of the year, as darkness came early and the bloodsuckers were more active, hungrier, and uncharacteristically restless. November affected all nonhumans—dead or alive.

  There would be a sudden uptick in house-hauntings from spirits who’d either been stuck here but couldn’t make themselves seen or spirits who’d been unable to come back, for whatever reason, but were suddenly successful in their endless attempts.

  Joe was standing by the door, his arms folded and his customary scowl in place, screening anyone who walked in and watching—somewhat hopefully, I believed—for trouble.

  I gestured at Max and went back into my office. “No more walk-ins,” I told him. “November is going to be too busy for that.”

  “I’ve already put a notice on the door.” He sat on the edge of my desk. “And on the website. After today, it’ll calm down.”

  I raised an eyebrow. “We have a website?”

  “Um, have you met me?” He slid from the desk and sauntered to the door, muttering. “Do we have a website.” He shook his head. “Pitiful.”

  I snorted. “Check on my mother. I’m going to make sure Lucy and Zach are settled in with the pack.” The wolves would keep my friends safe. With November just arriving, a serial killer on the hunt, and a raging human servant bent on revenge, I couldn’t be too careful. We’d be lucky to make it through the month with no casualties.

  “Lucy is fine,” the alpha told me when I got him on the phone. “But expect to see Zach. He will not hide to escape danger. Not for long.”

  My chest tightened. “You have to keep him there, Jared. He’s not strong enough to fight the vampires. Especially not one full of Axton’s blood magic.”

  “I won’t force him to stay here, Kait. He’s a man, not a child. He believes he is part of your group, and he will fight at your side. Lennon is attempting to bolster his strength.”

  I thought over his words, and even though I was reluctant to let Zach walk into danger, I knew Jared was right. Zach was a man. A hunter. And he wasn’t going to hide. Not for long.

  I sighed. “When he’s ready…”

  “I’ll bring him to you personally.”

  “Thanks, Jared.”

  He hesitated. “Be safe. There’s something in the air.”

  “Fucking November,” I said.

  “Fucking November,” he agreed, then, “You will kick November’s ass, Wolf.”

  He ended the call before I was quite ready to let him go. I rubbed the chill bumps from my arms, then hit the intercom button to tell Max to send in my next client. I made appointments for a dozen cleanings, my mind on the ticking clock. Night would soon come, and with it, the vampires.

  I was more afraid of the once human servant and her followers than I was of the human serial killer. Both would do damage, but the serial killer was more relatable, somehow. And, as I’d told the detective once, serial killers were just a little fascinating, the bastards.

  I’d no sooner thought of the detective than he appeared, striding through the still-packed waiting room as I stood at my office door speaking with Max. Joe intercepted him but I gestured and shook my head, and he let Rick walk on undisturbed. Good thing, because Rick did not look like he was in the mood to be slowed down by anyone.

  His face wore a familiar look of grim determination crossed with angry worry. His brows were low, his eyes dark, hands curled into fists. I sighed when he reached me. “What happened now?” I murmured.

  “In your office,” he said, and waited until I turned to lead him into the room before he closed the door. He crossed his arms and stared me down, silently accusing me of something I was probably guilty of. “We need to talk,” he said.

  “Okay.” I sat down behind my desk and sent him a frown. “Have a seat, Rick. You’re looking a little pale and pissed.” I wasn’t worried that he’d remembered more about his captivity and torture or being dragged through the tunnels. He wouldn’t look angry when he remembered that. There’d be something else in his eyes. Horror, maybe. Pain, definitely.

  He ignored my suggestion. “Jakeston’s serial killer has been in touch with me.”

  I sat up straight, my eyes wide. “You talked to him?”

  “Oh yes,” he said silkily, and that angry accusatory look never faded. “I talked to him. Do you want to know what we talked about?”

  “I…think so.”

  He smiled, but it wasn’t a smile of amusement. “You, Kait. We talked about you.”

  I wrinkled my nose, confused. “Me? Why?”

  “He spoke about how you find him and his kind interesting. Apparently you understand him.”

  I stood, somewhat slowly, my heart beginning to pound. “Rick…that night on your porch. As I was leaving, I felt something. He was there. He heard us talking, didn’t he?” And that meant all sorts of things.

  “He’s fixating on you,” he said. He didn’t pace, but he was jumpy as hell. “I need to get you somewhere safe until I catch him.”

  “I’m not worried about me. I hope he does show himself to me. But if he gets his hands on you—”

  “Just because I was ambushed by…monsters,” he interrupted, “does not mean I don’t know how to handle myself. Do not treat me like I’m weak.” His voice was cold and just a little hard, as were his eyes. “This serial killer has decided to align himself with both of us. We’ll take advantage of that, but not with you out in the open, offering yourself up like an unhinged martyr.”

  I studied him, noting the flush high on his cheeks, the glittering heat of his stare, the paleness around his lips. He was not well—not yet. Lennon had helped him greatly, as had Jared’s doctor, but he was not back to normal. He was barely halfway back to normal. He had to know that. And he was angry. So angry. Angry at the vampires, at himself, at the world. At me.

  He was hurting.

  I walked around my desk and went to him, noting the way he flinched when I wrapped my arms around him. He didn’t try to remove himself from my embrace, but he didn’t hug me back. We stood there quietly for at least five minutes before some of the tension melted from his body.

  His scent was at once familiar and strange, as the vampire attack had added something to him. He smelled o
f warm human, of life, of sun and man and strength, as he always had, but now he also smelled of something dark and cold. He was the same, with extras.

  Bad extras.

  I closed my eyes, realizing how very much I did not want the detective to change. I wanted him to be as he’d always been—human cop, good guy, secure in his world.

  “Fucking vampires,” I whispered. “Fucking Axton.”

  If he heard me, he showed no sign of it. Finally, he grasped my arms and pushed me away from him, but he was calmer. “He will use Lucy to get to you,” he told me. “Where is she?”

  “She’s with Jared.”

  He nodded. “I’ll pick her up.”

  “No. There is no safer place for her than Shadowfield. I sent her there myself, Rick, and you know I wouldn’t put her there if it wasn’t secure.”

  “Someday,” he said quietly, “I’m going to need to know everything about Jared Walker and Shadowfield.”

  But this was not that day. I nodded. When he was ready, I’d tell him about the wolves. He wasn’t ready for that conversation. Neither was I, honestly.

  At that moment, there was a quick knock at my office door, then Joe pushed it open and stuck his head inside. “Zach’s here.”

  I stood beside the detective and watched as Zach, three of Jared’s warriors at his back, walked into the room. He didn’t slink, didn’t avoid eye contact, didn’t hunch his shoulders even a little bit.

  “I’m going to fight with you,” he said, and there was no doubt in his voice.

  I didn’t know what had happened in the time he’d been at Shadowfield, but he was at peace with his decision. His stare was calm and unwavering, his spine straight, and his fingertips brushed the sheathed short sword at his hip.

  I eyed the wolves behind him. They were three of Jared’s best guards, and I appreciated that he’d sent them to escort Zach to me. But they were more than an escort.

  “We’ll guard your back as you track Avis Vine,” one of them told me. He stepped away from Zach and offered his hand. “I’m Wyatt Killen.” He pointed at the female wolf with him, and then the male. “This is Avery James and Brian Faulks.”