by Ellen, Jo
Lisa kicked his horse, spurring it forward. She heard a long howl behind her and looked back to see him following. She could not ride as fast as Rafe, afraid she would end up falling off the horse. Crouched low over his neck, she kept glancing back to make sure he was behind her. She gripped the reins, hoping the horse did stay on the right path.
Rafe knew his pack would come as soon as they heard his warning. He badly wanted to chase after the human scent he picked up while following Lisa, but he couldn’t leave her unprotected.
He heard another horse coming up behind him and realized that Niall was catching up to him. He felt a surge of relief flow through him, knowing Lisa was protected now and he could follow the scent.
Rafe quickly shifted back, stopping Niall on the trail. “I’ve been shot, but I’m already healing. Follow Lisa back, I’m going after the shooter.”
“He was already gone when I transported. He must have had some magical help. Maybe you can get his scent,” Niall told him.
Shifting once again, he took off into the woods. He already felt stronger, his wolf’s metabolism healing the wound. He knew it wouldn’t take long for his brothers to pick up the scent and follow him.
Niall caught up with Lisa, urging her along and telling her not to stop. Up ahead, he saw a pack of wolves running towards them. He reached over and slowed Lisa’s horse, then stopped them both to meet the wolves. Two of the wolves shifted and they saw it was Ian and Devlin.
“What happened?” Ian demanded.
After Niall explained what had happened, Ian directed the other wolves to make sure Lisa got back safely, then he and Devlin shifted back to follow Rafe.
“I’m following them too. The pack will see you back to the castle,” Niall said turning his horse.
Lisa watched for a moment as they disappeared into the woods. The wolves surrounded her, urging her horse forward. She had the absurd thought that she needed to ask Rafe later why his horse didn’t freak out with all these wolves around.
Arriving back at the castle, Lisa rode her horse to the stables. One of the men changed back to take her horse from her. Lisa tried to ignore the fact that he was stark naked.
“Thanks,” she murmured, hurrying toward the patio doors.
Several of the wolves followed her inside, going into the utility room where spare clothes were kept. Lisa kept walking, going to sit in the great room.
Stephanie came running in, asking what had happened. Following her were Dunstan and Colin, along with the other men, waiting to hear also.
Lisa explained about Rafe and Niall sensing the human, then the wild ride and Rafe being shot.
“We heard the shot,” said Colin. “Ian was just about to send someone out to investigate when we heard Rafe’s warning.”
Colin sent the other men back out to their post around the pond, telling them to inform the other guards what had happened.
“It sounds like a scouting expedition,” Dunstan said. “My father probably sent someone to check out your security. He would have no problem sending a human out with a gun either.”
Lisa felt herself start to shake. Reaction was setting in. Stephanie grabbed a blanket and told Colin to get her something to drink. Lisa was worried about Rafe. Seeing his blood soaking his shirt kept flashing through her head.
“He was losing so much blood,” she sobbed.
Colin sat down next to her, putting his arm around her. “Listen to me. He’s an alpha wolf, stronger than most. He’ll be fine. You said you saw him run off into the woods. He had already healed and was going after the shooter.”
Realizing what Colin said, Lisa was now furious. “That idiot! He had just been shot. Why didn’t he just come home?”
“I love you too, dear,” Rafe said coming in from the kitchen. He had changed into the same sweatpants and t-shirt the other men had gotten from the laundry room.
Lisa knew he was just joking, but felt a little shiver hearing it. She launched herself at him, hugging him close and sobbing into his shirt. “Don’t ever do that to me again.”
Rafe hugged her to him, picking her up to sit with him on the couch. Ian, Devlin and Niall had followed him inside.
“What did you find?” asked Colin. He wanted to go after the shooter too, his cop instincts kicking in.
“I didn’t get to him in time. I heard a car taking off and we weren’t near enough to get the make or model. Whoever he was, I have his scent now. If he comes anywhere near us, I’ll recognize him,” Rafe said.
Before Niall could give his report, Lisa was demanding to know how Rafe was. He pulled up his t-shirt to show her the wound was almost healed. She could see the bullet under the skin, working its way out. He had washed the blood off in a stream on the way back.
“My God, I can see the bullet!” she exclaimed.
“I’ll want that when it pops out. Maybe I can get some ballistics on it,” Colin said calmly.
Rafe nodded. He knew it would come out soon now that it was near the surface. He looked to Niall, wanting to hear his report.
“Whoever that was, he was gone by the time I got to where he’d been. I believe there was strong magic involved for him to be able to move so fast,” Niall said.
“Don’t be sorry. It would have done us no good if you had ended up hurt,” Rafe stated.
Niall huffed, insulted. “No human, even magical could take me.”
Lisa smiled, reaching to pat his arm. “We all know what a tough guy you are.”
Niall felt a smile tug at his lips. Most humans feared him. Yet here she was, consoling him like a child.
“It was probably Stephen, under my father’s command. He would have given him a small amount of magic so he could accomplish his errand,” Dunstan said.
“We have learned something though. He must have tracked Dunstan here. I’m betting Lisa was his target and Stephen missed. Thank God. The vision Melissa saw had him calling Lisa to him, but I want someone in Anna’s room too,” Rafe said.
“So basically we don’t know if it’s Dunstan he wants or Lisa,” Ian said.
“I’ll watch over my sister,” Dunstan stated.
“All right, I think we’re done here for the night. I’ll be in Lisa’s room if you need me. We’ll be patrolling inside also, starting tonight. Ian, Devlin, I want you in the hallway outside their rooms,” Rafe said. He asked Niall to stay inside also, hoping if a dark fae made it inside, Niall would sense it.
Lisa left saying she was going to shower. She wanted a little time alone before she lost her privacy. The others headed off to shower in their own rooms also. Running through streams in wolf form didn’t leave them feeling clean.
Lisa searched through her bag, trying to find something comfortable, yet concealing for bed. No way was he touching her with his brothers right outside the door, she thought. Grabbing her baggy shorts and oversized t-shirt, she headed for the shower. After her shower, she sat rubbing lotion over her legs. Once dressed, she slowly opened her bathroom door, glancing around for Rafe. Not seeing him, she quickly jumped into bed, pulling the covers up to her neck.
Good Lord, I’m acting like a virgin about to be sacrificed to the gods, she thought. Giggling, Lisa adjusted the covers and sat up in bed. Deciding that reading would relax her, she picked her book up from the bedside table and found where she’d dog-eared the page. She found herself dozing off after a while, so she put the book away and turned down the light. He must have had more work to do, she thought before nodding off.
Rafe quietly opened her door, hoping not to wake her if she was asleep. The room was dark, but with his wolf’s eyes, he could make out her form under the covers. Going over to the bed, he could see she was asleep. He saw she had placed a book on the table and picked it up. It showed a man and woman in a tight clench. Chuckling, he decided he would have to read one of her books someday. Laying the book back down, he padded softly over to the chair by the window. Even with his vision, he couldn’t read in the dark. Adjusting the chair, he could see both her and the p
ond when he looked out.
It had taken him longer than he’d thought to come to her room. He had been talking to his brothers, going over everything once again. He’d wished his father had been there, just to bounce ideas off of him. Ian had told him their parents had gone out for dinner. He figured his mom had needed a break from cooking for all of them, and he needed to remember to thank her.
Which reminded him, he still hadn’t looked for a cook. That could wait, he decided. He leaned his head back and closed his eyes. He expected to get a couple hours rest, assuming he would wake if anything bothered Lisa.
Lisa woke during the night. Looking around the room, she saw Rafe sleeping in the chair by the window. He looks so uncomfortable she thought. Should I tell him he can lay here with me? She couldn’t help admiring him. He was so good looking, she thought. Seeing his long legs stretched out in front of him, she looked him over, starting with his feet. There was just something so sexy about a man’s bare feet. She saw he was wearing sweat pants again with a t-shirt. Moving up from his feet, she moved quickly past his groin, thinking how embarrassing to be caught staring at him there. She watched his chest, moving up and down slowly, and then moved on to his face. His eyes were open, watching her.
Lisa blushed, crap, she thought. Caught, red handed. “Um, Hi.” Oh, yay for me, I’m so articulate.
His voice was deep and scratchy. It sent goose bumps up and down her spine. “Trouble sleeping?” he asked.
“No, I just woke up and noticed you sitting there. You looked uncomfortable. You can come sleep with me, if you would like. Sleep, you know. That’s not a euphemism for sex,” she rambled.
He slowly rose and lifted back the covers, climbing in beside her. “Thanks, I appreciate the offer to sleep with you, as in resting your mind, no sex,” he said chuckling.
“Smart ass,” she said lying back down.
Lisa tried to get comfortable, turning from one side to the other. Finally, Rafe pulled her close, with her back tucked against his chest spooning her.
“Go to sleep,” he commanded.
Lisa lay there barely breathing. Tense and stiff, eventually she relaxed and went to sleep.
Rafe sighed. It was going to be a long night.
Chapter 14
Rafe quietly slipped from the bed, being sure not to wake Lisa. She grumbled, grabbing his pillow and hugging it to her body. Shaking his head, he left and went to the kitchen.
Going straight to the coffeepot, he saw Colin and Robert sitting at the table. “When did you get back?” he asked Robert.
“This morning. Colin’s been telling me about your little adventure. How’s yer shoulder?”
Rafe rubbed the tender area. Reaching under his shirt, he tugged at his wound. The bullet had worked its way to just beneath the wound. Grunting, he pulled the bullet out and handed it to Colin.
“It’s fine. Did you learn anything about Dunstan’s mother?” Rafe asked.
“I didn’t find her, if that tells us something. I managed to find her family and speak with them. They couldna tell me anything. They havena heard from her in years,” he said.
“Then we go on what we know, which isn’t much,” Rafe said.
“I’ve been thinking about what Colin told me. Why shoot you? I mean, they have to know you would heal quickly,” Robert said.
“Not if he got shot in the head. He would most likely heal, but it would throw the pack in turmoil. Maybe distract us so that they could get closer,” Colin said.
“I think he was shooting at Lisa,” Rafe told him grimly. That fear had been going through his head all night.
“Why shoot her? I mean, he’d lose a powerful witch if he killed her,” Colin said.
“This isn’t doing us any good. We could guess all day and still not know his true goal. We stay with the original plan, guard the women, patrol the pond,” Rafe declared.
“I just wish we could do something,” Colin said. “I hate sitting around waiting for something to happen.”
They all agreed, ready to fight an enemy that wasn’t there. You could see the frustration on all their faces.
Others started showing up for breakfast, so Rafe went to the fridge to get the food out.
“You sit back down, I’ll do the cooking. I’m not too bad, if I do say so myself,” Melissa said smiling.
Rafe sat back down at the table. He was thankful for Melissa, cooking was not something he enjoyed.
Lisa came in and got a cup of coffee, asking Melissa if she could help. Melissa shooed her away, saying she could handle it.
Conversation flowed around the table, with everyone throwing out their own ideas about yesterday’s attack. When Dunstan walked in with Anna, Robert just shook his head, letting him know there was no news.
“Ian, I want the forest and property line patrolled again. It was a mistake for me to pull everyone to the pond and house. Call in some of the pack living further out if you have to,” Rafe said.
Mack and Liz came in the back door. “We heard what happened. How’s the wound, son?”
Liz came over and hugged Rafe as he stood up. “I was so worried.”
“I’m fine, bullets out and it’s almost closed already,” Rafe said.
Melissa sat a mound of bacon and eggs on the table. She then went back to get the biscuits from the oven. She had made a ton of food, knowing how much shifter’s ate.
Everyone was complimenting her on her cooking. She had added her own touch to the eggs, making them more flavorful. She told them how she loved cooking and experimenting with new recipes.
“Dad, any thoughts on why he’s attacking us? You know our theories and I’d like to hear yours,” Rafe said.
After given it some thought, Mack spoke. “I’m putting the visions, Dunstan showing up, Anna’s connection, Lisa being a witch, and my new daughter,” smiling at her, “all together and coming to the same conclusion. It’s Ciar.”
“But why shoot Rafe?” asked Liz.
“Take him out, and then he could grab Lisa. Dunstan and Anna may be his children, but this fae thrives on power. I’m leaning toward him wanting her and that he’s not looking for his wife,” Mack stated.
“I agree. I still want protection for Anna, but I don’t believe she’s the target, Lisa is,” Rafe said grimly.
“But how could he know about her? She just found out she was a witch,” Liz asked.
“If he was tracking Dunstan, for whatever reason, Lisa may have been just a happenstance for him. My bet is his seer told him about her. If his seer or maybe his witch, whatever, saw Lisa’s power, then she would have informed Ciar,” Mack informed them all.
They all looked at her. Lisa tried to put on a brave face, but she wasn’t feeling very brave.
“I think Niall and I need to take a trip to visit Ciar,” Robert said.
They were all talking over each other, some protesting, others thinking it was a good idea.
“I’m going with you,” Rafe declared.
“No! You could be walking right into a trap,” Lisa exclaimed.
“Don’t worry, lass, we’ll take care of him. Niall and I can protect him with our magic,” said Robert.
“Let me go instead,” Ian said. “If anything happened to you, the pack would be devastated.”
“If anything happened to me, you would be alpha. I am confident you could lead this pack as well as I do,” Rafe said to Ian.
Lisa was watching and listening, realizing he was going and nothing would stop him. Being the alpha, she knew he felt he had to do this. He wouldn’t expect another to do a dangerous job he wouldn’t do himself.
“He needs to go as alpha of this pack. Ciar needs to see that Rafe isn’t afraid of him and that he’ll protect what’s his,” Mack said.
“It’s settled then. I’ll go find Niall and meet you by the pond when yer ready. Oh, and Rafe, take yer airsickness pills before we go,” Robert said grinning.
Rafe started to shoot him the bird, and then remembered his parents and Lisa were in th
e room. After thanking Melissa for their breakfast, he asked Lisa to come talk with him privately.
They entered his office and he closed the door behind him. “I know you’re worried, but nothing will happen to me. Ciar may be powerful, but he can’t take on two fae and a wolf.”
“From what I’ve heard, he does have others to help him, you know. I think this is just stupid. It’s like the girl that trips in the zombie movies, never taking her heels off to run,” Lisa said, frustrated.
Rafe laughed, “I don’t think I like your analogies. I’m no girl. Seriously, I’ll be fine. Think of it as a diplomatic mission. No weapons, just words.”
She realized nothing she said would change his mind. Instead, she reached up, pulled his head down and kissed him passionately. Let him see what he’d be missing, she thought deviously. Problem was, he was just as passionate.
“Hold that thought, I’ll get back as soon as possible,” he hesitated. “Time passes differently in Faerie, so it may take a little longer for us to get back. I wanted you to know so you didn’t think something happened.”
“Oh great, so instead of a day, we’re talking what, a week?” she asked.
“Well,” he said slowly, “It could possibly be a month.”
Lisa couldn’t believe it. She was supposed to just sit around for a month, waiting to hear? “If you’re gone a month, I’m coming after you.”
“Oh, hell no! Don’t you dare try to go to Faerie. Remember the dumb zombie girl? You’d be her. Promise me. I cannot have that worry in my mind while I’m gone,” he stated adamantly.
Lisa could see how upset he was. “I give my word. But you do remember I was only staying for two weeks, right? I’ll be back home if you’re gone a month.”
“I am committed to you. I feel like we’ve lived a lifetime in a few days. Please stay here, wait for me. My family will take care of you and you’ll be safer here.”
She really didn’t want to go back to her old life, she realized. She couldn’t imagine a life without him now and told him so.
He hugged her tightly to him, kissing her again. “You don’t know how relieved that makes me. I’ll rest much easier knowing you’re here. I’ll have Ian and Devlin patrol the hallway still at night, but leave your door open so they can make sure you’re okay.”