by Meg Ripley
“Anything for you, my love.” He smiled as he sat down next to her. “Let’s just talk about this.”
She sighed and leaned back into the chair, willing herself to relax. “Okay.”
“Piper is becoming quite an upstart,” Max began. “I know she’s your second, but that doesn’t mean she just gets to run the show.”
“We’re concerned that she might be trying to take the clan away from you,” Clint added. “It’s not right, and it’s our job to protect you.”
Nikki had to admit she enjoyed having all those muscled men around her. She took another deep sip of the cold drink, feeling happy and sleepy. “Maybe you’re right. I’ll have to think about it.”
10
The meeting was over, and Drake had gone back to his hotel room. There was nothing better for him to do, since both Piper and Nikki would need to be around to brief him on his new job. He still couldn’t quite believe what he’d done, and it would only make it harder to extract himself once his mission was over. But he told himself he would just have to deal with that when the time came and not worry about it for the moment.
When his phone rang, he snatched it off the dresser. He recognized Fern’s number. “Please tell me you’ve got something.”
“I think I do, but I’d rather talk to you in person.”
“I’ll be there in a few.”
His phone rang again as he made his way across town. It was Hudson. “You’ve got a tail.”
“Shit.” Drake resisted the urge to glance in his rearview. “How long?”
“Since I got here. I talked to Flint as soon as we landed. He and Garrison went to Nikki’s. I figured I’d keep an eye on you from a distance. I don’t know where you’re headed, but someone else does.”
“Why am I not surprised?” Drake had a feeling this was going to be a regular thing now that he’d shoved his way right to the heart of clan business. “I’m going to meet with someone who can help me out. Think you can get rid of that tail for me?”
Hudson laughed. “It’d be my pleasure.” He kept the phone on as he zoomed forward in traffic.
Drake caught sight of a rental car inserting itself right behind Drake’s and slamming on the brakes. The black sedan behind him—presumably the one being driven by a spy from the clan—slammed right into it.
“Why the hell did you hit me, motherfucker?” Hudson demanded of the other driver, still leaving the connection open so Drake could enjoy the show. “I ought to drag your ass out of the car and beat you into the pavement!”
Drake had to laugh, even though the situation was serious. At least for the time being, he was safe to head to Fern’s. He hung up, knowing Hudson would be back in touch later.
Fern was waiting for him on the porch, and she ushered him into the house as soon as he pulled up. She glanced up and down the street before shutting the front door behind him. Fern didn’t seem to him like the type of person to get rattled easily, and the fact that she was so nervous couldn’t be a good sign.
“What did you find out?”
He expected her to take him back to her sunroom where she’d been working her spells on the items from Nikki and Max, but she gestured for him to have a seat in the living room. All the curtains had been shut, and she draped a cloth over the window in the front door. She sat in the chair across from him and folded her hands in her lap, looking very serious and subdued compared to the boisterous attitude she’d had before. “Your friend Nikki is under a very powerful spell. It took a lot of effort to untangle it, because it’s not one I’m familiar with. It was cast by someone very strong, and I’m afraid this person has very bad intentions for Nikki.”
Drake’s heart dropped into his shoes. “I wish I could say I didn’t believe that.”
Fern nodded her understanding, her lips thin. “Same here. But the elements that were used in the spell indicate that Nikki is being fooled into believing she’s fated to the three men that surround her.”
“Piper knew there was something wrong with that relationship, as should anyone else. No one could really be fated to three people at the same time.” Now that he knew, he still wished they were dealing with drugs instead of spells.
The witch tipped her head to the side. “I don’t think it’s completely impossible, but it’s certainly not very likely. You shifters and your fated mates are a bit different from the rest of us, and I’m not completely familiar with that part of your lives. But she’s absolutely been enchanted to believe they belong to her.” She twisted her mouth and looked off toward the fireplace.
“What is it?” Drake had the distinct feeling there was something else Fern needed to tell him, something that made her uncomfortable. He’d done his share of interrogating when dealing with locals overseas, and he’d learned to notice the subtle clues when someone was hiding something.
She tapped the ends of her fingers together. “Well…I feel kind of bad about this. Not completely bad, because it was all for the greater good. Or at least, I think it was. I mean, these things are sort of subjective, you know?”
“Fern!” He didn’t want to get angry with her. She was the one person who could help him sort this out. But he was too impatient to beat around the bush, and there was no telling how long it would be before Nikki’s mates put a new spy on his trail.
She sighed. “I might have done some spell work on you, too. Not really on you, but on your teacup. I’m sorry, and it’s not the kind of thing I normally do without asking permission, but I wanted to be sure you weren’t part of the equation. I know and trust Piper, but I don’t know you at all.”
“And?” He could get past someone chanting incantations over his tea leaves.
“And it looks to me as though you and Nikki are fated to be together.”
Drake stared at her and then shook his head. “That can’t be. You mean I’m under some sort of spell, too?”
Fern smiled. “A spell of love and destiny cast by the universe to guide you on your path through life? Yes. But a spell cast by someone trying to deceive you or Nikki? Nothing of the kind.”
“Oh.” He slumped in the overstuffed chair as his mind filled with visions of Nikki. He knew there had been some sort of pull between them, but he’d done his best to deny it. After all, she was the person he was there to help. It made sense that there should be some sort of destiny between them. But that on its own wouldn’t explain why his feelings should be so strong, or why he’d had such an intense desire to protect her from the men who were supposed to be her mates. It wouldn’t explain why he’d gone to sleep dreaming about her every night since he’d arrived, and why when he spoke to her, she was the only person in the room. He felt a deep, physical need for her that vibrated on the same wavelength as the emotions that were trying to take control of his mind. He didn’t want to admit to Fern that her conclusion made sense, but it absolutely did. “I see.”
“I’m sorry. I know that’s a lot to take in, and it’s only complicated by the fact that these three guys are under some sort of spell as well.”
“Okay.” Drake ran a hand through his hair, trying to think. He’d been through some pretty crazy shit before while he was on active duty, and he knew he just needed to break it down into smaller pieces. “First things first. Is there anything you can do to break the spell over Nikki?”
She shrugged. “I think so, but it’s going to take some time.” Fern rose and went to a shelf on the wall, pulling down a massive volume with a leather cover and tattered pages. “I have a lot of research to do, but my hope is that I can create a potion, basically like an edible protection spell that would break this illusion spell.”
“How long will it take?” He felt desperate, his heart squeezing with every beat. He was now not only trying to protect a fellow shifter who needed his help, but the woman he was fated to be with. Everything was on the line now.
“I can’t be certain, but I do promise I’ll work as quickly as I can. That’s all I can really do.” Fern looked genuinely apologetic.
> “Fair enough.” Drake shot out of his seat and headed for the door.
“What are you going to do?” she called after him.
He paused, his hand on the knob. “I don’t really know yet.”
In the car, he picked up his phone. His first thought was to call one of the members of the Force, but what could they do to help him with magic? What could they do to help with this whole fated thing? None of them had met their mates yet. He dialed his sister.
“Hey, Drake! Did you want to talk to Lindy?” The TV was blaring in the background.
“Not yet. I need to talk to you first.”
“Everything all right?” The sound of the TV faded, indicating she’d stepped into a different room. “Are you in some sort of trouble?”
“I don’t know. Maybe.” He drove aimlessly through the streets of Eureka, unsure of where to go but also knowing that a random route would throw off anyone else who might be trying to follow him. “Glenna, I’m used to missions where I go in, take charge, get shit done, and get out. This is so much more complicated than that. I’m starting to fall for this woman I’m supposed to be helping. I tried to deny it at first, but then this witch told me we’re actually fated to be together.” It sounded crazy once he said it out loud, but he couldn’t keep it all in anymore.
“What? A witch? Drake, are you sure you’re okay?”
“Yeah, as good as I can be, anyway. I know it’s nuts, but that’s exactly why I called you. I knew I felt something for this woman, and I felt guilty about it.” He hadn’t realized just how guilty he’d felt until he’d heard himself saying those words out loud.
“Because of Amanda?”
“Yeah.”
“Drake, I understand. I do. But that was eight years ago. I like to think I got to know Amanda pretty well in the time you two were together, and I think she’d want you to be happy. She wouldn’t expect you to live out your life as a lonely widower.”
He took a quick left next to a pink Victorian house, but he hardly even saw it. “You really think so?”
“I do. And I think you know it, too. It sounds like things are pretty complicated out there, and you might not be able to do anything about this potential relationship until your mission is over. I guess what I’m trying to say is that there’s no pressure. You can take all the time you need with this.”
“That’s easy for you to say, since you’re not separated from your daughter by an entire country and have a window of time off from the VA. I can’t help but feel that this would all be easier if Lindy were here. She’s got the best hugs, you know.”
“I know,” Glenna said with a laugh. “I’ll have her call you later, okay?”
“I look forward to it.” He recognized a street name and headed back toward the hotel.
11
The sunlight bled through the cracks in the curtains into Nikki’s eyes, and she turned away from it. It was too bright. She couldn’t remember them, but she knew she’d been having nightmares all night as she tossed and turned between the sheets. There was nothing she wanted more desperately than to get a good, restful sleep and wake up feeling good again. When was the last time she’d been able to make it through an entire day without a nap? She couldn’t remember.
Clint came in with a plate of scrambled eggs and toast. “Good morning, sleepyhead. Or are you going to stay in bed all day?”
“I’m thinking about it,” she mumbled. Even the smell of the food didn’t make her want to get up. She pulled the covers over her head.
He yanked them back down again. “You need to eat.”
“I don’t ever want to eat again.”
“It’s going to be hard to take care of business on an empty stomach. Remember? You said you were going to let Piper go as second.” He set the plate on the nightstand and pulled her into a seated position.
She did, vaguely, remember saying such a thing. But the memory was a distant one, like she’d watched someone else say that. Why was she demoting Piper again? She didn’t want to ask. Nikki already felt stupid.
“And you’ve got to do something about Drake, too,” Clint reminded her.
“Drake?” She felt a tug on the corners of her mouth as the doctor came to mind, but guilt twisted them back down again immediately afterward. She shouldn’t be thinking about him the way she was, remembering the way he smelled and wondering what it might be like if she could spend some time alone with him. There was no good reason for her to imagine what he would look like if he were lying there in bed next to her when she already had not one but three mates. But why did her brain constantly return to him? It didn’t make sense.
“Yes. We think he’s poisoning you.” Clint put the plate on her lap and forced her fingers around the fork.
She rubbed her forehead with her free hand. “But why would he do that? He hardly even knows me.”
“He doesn’t need to know you if he’s trying to take over the clan. He just needs to get himself into a semi-powerful position, which he’s already done. He needs someone powerful on his side, which he already has in Piper. It’s only a matter of time, and this can’t go on any longer. Don’t you remember talking about all this last night?”
Nikki took a bite of egg, forcing it down even though it made her want to gag. “Sort of.”
“You do. You’re just not feeling well, and it’s all Drake’s fault. He’s a doctor, so I have no doubt he knows exactly what he’s doing. You can’t let him get away with it.”
She forced down another bite, and when she looked for something to drink, Clint put a mug of coffee in her hand. He always knew exactly what she needed, something that made her feel all the more ashamed for having racy thoughts about Drake. “I guess not. I’ll deal with Piper first.”
An hour later, Piper showed up at the door and Max showed her into Nikki’s bedroom. “I know the way, thank you very much,” her sister sneered.
“We need to talk,” Nikki started wearily. Ideally, she would’ve gotten out of bed, gotten dressed, and met with her sister in the living room or even a place other than her home, but she simply didn’t have the energy.
“Do the Three Stooges have to stand around and watch?” Piper gestured around her. Clint was leaning against the doorway, Neal sat at the end of the bed, and Max stood near the window.
Nikki flicked her fingers at them.
Clint shook his head. “There’s no way we’re leaving this traitor here with you.”
“She’s my sister,” Nikki protested feebly. “It’ll be fine.”
“I don’t think so.” Max took a step away from the window. “We’ve been trusting her all along, and look where that’s gotten us.”
Piper flung her hands in the air. “Well, thanks a lot for proving any point I might’ve tried to make about you,” she snarled at the men. “You want to talk about trust? How about the fact that you never let Nikki go anywhere on her own? How about the fact that she can’t even breathe without your permission? The three of you are all over her, and that’s not healthy.”
Nikki felt like she could just sink into the mattress. She didn’t want to go over this again. “They’re just protective of me. Any mate would be.”
“Mate, yes. But mates? As in three? I don’t buy this, Nikki. I’ve told you over and over again, but you won’t listen to me.” Piper’s face was red with anger now.
“And she won’t have to listen to you at all,” Neal said. “She called you here to tell you you’re out of the clan.”
Piper narrowed her eyes at him, then swiveled her head to glare at Nikki. “You’re shitting me, right?”
Nikki swallowed, trying to find a way to say this without hurting Piper’s feelings any more than she had to. “Things have gotten out of hand, and—”
“Fine!” Piper slammed the palm of her hand into the dresser. Clint moved closer to her, ready to restrain her, but she made no other violent efforts. “If that’s what you want, I’ll go. But you three better watch your goddamn backs, because I’m going to figure out w
hat you’re up to. I’ll expose you and I’ll put an end to it!” She shoved past Clint and out the bedroom door.
Max turned to the window. “She’s gone. She shifted and headed back into the woods toward her house. That’s one down. Now we’ve got to get Drake.”
“Not now,” she begged. “I just need to rest.” Nikki rolled over and closed her eyes, unwilling to deal with any more drama.
A heavy pounding on the door woke her sometime later. Nikki’s lips were cracking and her throat was so dry, when she tried to call out for one of her men to answer the door, she could hardly get out more than a squeak. But the knock was loud enough that they heard it. She was ready to go back to sleep until she heard Drake’s voice.
“I want to talk to her. Now.”
She felt his desperation as much as she heard it, and Nikki struggled to get out of bed. A heavy weight seemed to be pushing her back toward the pillow, but she fought it and staggered out of the bedroom.
“She’s not available,” Clint told him.
Neal wrapped his arms around her as soon as she walked out into the living room. “What are you doing out of bed? You need your rest. We’ll handle this.”
She looked up at him, confused. “I don’t understand. Did you summon him? I wasn’t ready to talk to him yet.” Nikki vaguely recalled discussing cutting Drake out of the clan with her men, but she couldn’t imagine doing anything like that right now. What she could imagine—and far too easily—was finding Drake’s arms around her instead of Neal’s. She could practically feel the solid heat of his chest under her cheek, the rumble of his voice as he spoke calmly, assuring her everything would be all right. Her lower abdomen jerked and pulled with a spark of something she knew she shouldn’t be feeling when she looked at Drake.
“We didn’t call him,” Neal assured her, reminding her that he was the one at her side. “He came on his own. Let’s get you back to bed. We can take care of him.”