by Calinda B
“I’m a fair man, Ms. Petit.”
“Haven’t seen signs of it yet. You shot a man in the back, for Christ sake.” Her goddamned ghosts, no doubt afraid, whirled in front of her eyes making it impossible to see Red. She shook her head, trying to dislodge them.
“There you go a-g-g-gain, looking all c-c-crazy,” Cecil said.
“Shut up, dawg-man. Are you a good down climber?”
“B-b-better than climbing up-p-p.”
“Crawl across the roof to the other side. There’s a sturdy down spout. Grab hold and let yourself off the roof. Throw something to distract Red.”
“O-k-k-kay.”
Chia gave Cecil a glance. Poor guy. He’s white as one of my ghosts. He’s even sweating. “Go. I believe in you.”
He gave her a wan smile and crawled across the roof like a lizard, keeping his belly low.
“What’s going on up there?” Red said. He leaned his head back and squinted to see up the two-storied roof.
“Nothing. Just trying to get comfortable.” She waved her hand in front of her face in an attempt to move the ghosts out of the way. Peering through the ectoplasm, she took a shot at Red. It went wild.
He leaped out of the way, cursing. “I thought you were a hot shot. All those awards I heard of. Were the results all dummied?” He laughed.
A clatter and a yell sounded from the other side of the building.
Oh, Cecil, I hope you’re okay, but you were supposed to sneak down, not fall down.
Red jogged out of sight. “Well, lookie here,” he called from the other side of the building. “I’ve got a mutt man in my grasp.”
Shit! Chia belly crawled across the roof. She looked down to see Red grasping Cecil’s arms behind his back with one hand, the other holding the gun to his head. “And then she went crazy and killed her friend. Lemming News will have a field day with this story.”
“Leave Cecil alone.”
“Throw your gun on the ground. Come down with your hands up and your friend lives.”
She positioned her gun over the top of her other arm.
“I wouldn’t shoot if I were you. The odds are in my favor.”
“I’d l-l-listen to him if I were you,” Cecil said.
“Your friend’s about to wet his pants,” Red spluttered.
“Dag nab it,” Chia said. She tossed the gun over the side of the building, in Red’s direction. “Watch this, asshole,” she yelled, and she scrambled to her feet and leaped off the side of the building, Neo-style. She fell, aware of everything—her breath, her thoughts, her longing for Hung Durand, her stress and distress, and her desire to help Cecil get away. It seemed like it took a long, long time to get to the ground. Maybe I really should yield to my desires for Hung. Get my needs met. These were the last thoughts to whirl through her brain as her feet landed squarely in front of Red.
“What the fuck?” he yelled, startled. “What the hell are you?”
Her ghosts swirled in front of his eyes, finally helping, it seemed.
He batted at his face. “Goddamn it. What did you do, shoot spider webs at me?” He waved the gun frantically, pulling the trigger in the process.
Cecil yelped, shifted and yipped, racing away.
She grabbed Red’s shirt and yanked his body forward, slamming his nose onto her head. His hands flew to cover his face, gun still gripped. She ripped it from his fingers and tossed it aside.
She held his weakened stance closely to her. His breath smelled foul, like booze and old man. “You asshole! Scaring my friend like that. You can fuck with me, but never fuck with my friends.” In one swift move, she brought her knee to his groin. As he doubled over, she said, “Best move I ever learned in self-defense. What a wimp. No contest at all.” She fisted her hands together and slammed the hard ball on the back of his head.
Red crumpled to the ground.
She slung her booted foot to his head, putting her might into the kick. Staring at the fallen form, she scooped up her gun, loving the feel of the weapon in her hand. “Should I, or shouldn’t I?” Deciding she shouldn’t—rules were, after all, rules, she shoved it in her coat pocket. When she started to pull out her hand, her index finger wedged between the gun and the thick glove taking all the pocket space, keeping her knuckle too close to the trigger as her arm moved back. A wisp of wind dashed passed her thigh and the palm of Red’s hand jerked.
She stumbled back a few steps, surprised by the sharp burst of noise, then a curious thing caught her eye.
Red’s blood oozed from his palm, as black as the night. It sizzled like acid on metal, causing the snow to steam and spit.
“What the…” She crouched and shoved his coat sleeve up.
A mystifying pattern, like light fractals, crept up his arm. As the light moved, strange symbols appeared on his forearm. Not knowing what they were, Chia dug for her phone and took a few pictures for future examination. “Sure didn’t expect that.”
Then Chia scrambled after Cecil’s trail, following the dog tracks racing through the snow. “Come on, puppy. Come here. Cecil. Here, dawg-man. Come here, puppy.” She found him huddled under the Jeep, shivering and shaking. “Come on, dawg-man, let’s pursue your plan. Mine is done. Things are going to change around here.” She opened the back seat and the husky crawled out and leaped inside. She got into the driver’s side and ignited the engine. As she headed through town, a couple of the bar-goers stumbled outside, probably to see about the gunshot a minutes ago.
“Look! It’s her! She’s responsible for this shifter mess!”
More people poured from the bar. They lunged for the Jeep, angry faces pressing into the windows, fists battering the glass.
“It’s not my fault,” she cried, stepping on the gas while trying to carefully avoid people’s toes.
In the rearview, she watched the crowd gathered in the middle of the street. Some picked up rocks and threw them at her. Others simply shook their fists in the air and shouted obscenities. Finally, they disappeared from sight, enfolded by her beloved town of Charming, Alaska.
She and Cecil headed back to her home, Cecil in the back, tongue hanging from his mouth, and her in the driver’s seat, tripping hard on vamp power, shamed and bewildered, as well as determined to set things right. And then she’d resign, if that’s what the people wanted.
Chapter Eighteen
Hung ran to the Jeep to meet her when she pulled into the driveway. She guided the SUV carefully, as she could barely make it through the menagerie. Even more shifters had arrived since she left.
“Are you all right?” Hung asked anxiously when she stepped from the driver’s seat.
“Sort of. My ego’s a bit wounded. Let’s pursue plan two. We’ve got to find a way to get the shifters to shift back.” She stared at Hung. In her enhanced state, he appeared like a god, huge, terrifying, and sexy as hell. Her panties moistened in greeting.
“You should be in bed,” he protested.
She mumbled, “Only with you.”
Hung squeezed the tops of her arms. “What?”
“I said I’m going with you.”
“Like hell you are. Chia, you were in surgery a couple days ago. I’m putting you to bed.”
“Not on your life. I’m healed. I’m high as a kite on vampire right now, I feel like a gazillion bucks, let’s go.”
“Jesus, woman, what’s with the vampire high?” Hung glowered at her.
She waved his concerns aside. “We can march right up to the hideout. You don’t need to worry about Red and Dick. They’re incapacitated right now.”
Hung arched an eyebrow. “What did you do, exactly?”
“Red shot Dick in the back. He was still alive when I left. I kicked Red in the groin, bashed his head with my fists and I may have unintentionally shot a bullet through his shooting hand.”
Both Hung’s eyebrows rose high on his forehead. “You, who follows the rules all the time? Maybe there are other rules you’d like to break with me.” He smirked.
She swallowed back her desire, staring at him like a hungry dog. Lips parted, jaw slack, she wanted to taste him, to devour his mouth with hers, to run her hands up and down his muscular body, to kiss and suck and…. Get a grip. “Not happening. Not on your life.”
“You can kid yourself all you like, but you know you want me.”
“It shouldn’t be hard to deal with the shamans,” she said, veering the conversation in a new direction.
“You’re right about that, but they left a small army guarding the cave. We still have to go in stealth. And by ‘we,’ I mean me and the dog.”
“How do you know about the army?” She opened the back door for Cecil the husky.
He jumped out, shook his coat and licked the faces of his pack in greeting.
“I’ve got spies.”
Her eyes narrowed. “Like snowy owls?”
“What about snowy owls?”
“Never mind. Let’s go.”
“Are you going to walk all the way? It’s miles.”
“No, I’m getting my skis and Cecil’s going to pull me, right, dawg-man?”
The beautiful husky wagged his tail and woofed.
“See? I’ll be right back.” She trudged to the barn, retrieved her skis, poles, and ski boots, grabbed the halter, and trudged back out. “Where did Hung go?” She turned in a circle, looking for him.
Cecil barked, jumped, and barked again.
“He shifted? So now I’ve lost both of you to your shifter selves?”
Cecil wagged his tail. He pranced. He shoved his nose into her hand. He soft-mouthed her hand and gently tugged. Clearly, he was trying to convey something, but Chia hadn’t a clue what.
“Damn. I sure hope this works. And just so you know, when I lay in the hospital, thinking I might have died, I thought I’d yield to my feelings for Hung, to try them on for size.”
Cecil woofed, rubbed against her and barked again.
“Yeah, yeah, I knew you’d be pleased. Now let me halter you up.” When she was ready to glide, she turned to the mess of animals in her yard. “Everyone, can I have your attention? We’re heading out to try to fix your abilities to shift back. Wish us luck. And keep the peace. Don’t any of you dare eat each other. I will so throw your butts in jail before you even get a chance to change. Even you two.” She stabbed a finger at the hyenas.
To a chorus of yips, growls, whines, and that damn freaky hyena laughter, Chia took off, hanging onto the reins of Cecil’s harness. She’d barely taken a few glides when a large blur tackled her, taking her to the ground. Her skis snapped from their bindings as she went down.
“Hey!” she yelled, through a mouthful of dirty snow.
“I said, you’re not coming. You’re going to bed.” He swiftly handcuffed her wrists behind her back. Just as fast, he rolled her onto her back, kneeling between her legs.
She glared at him, confused, as a volcano of lusty heat exploded between them. “Is restraint the only way you can get a woman to bed you?” She kicked, aiming for his head.
He ducked, seizing her ankle. “It won’t be the only way I want you in bed. I’ve got lots of ideas.”
She yanked her leg to get free of his grasp.
He dug his fingers into her flesh, pushed her pants above her boot and kissed her calf, grinning.
She stilled, falling into the spell he had on her. Sweet baby Jesus. Her core sizzled with want. Can’t let him get to me. Her other leg kicked at his stomach, landing a solid blow. “I’m going with you.”
“Oof,” he grunted. “You’re not. You don’t give in easy, I’ll give you that much.” He clenched the other ankle, holding both legs aloft.
With her legs spread wide, the man she wanted to explore lusty communion with poised between them, the tension grew tight as a bowstring. I’ll bet he’s hard as a rock under that bulky jacket. Her breath puffed slow and deep, making white clouds. Their eyes locked, she stared into his sun-kissed blues. A world of possibility shimmered between them.
Hung laid one of her legs over his shoulder, holding her gaze. He nuzzled the material in his grasp, biting her softly through her pants.
Chia hummed with delight. “I’m still going,” she said softly.
The shifters began to circle them, perhaps eager for entertainment. Barks and yips of excitement filled the air.
“You’re not,” he said, low and deep. He kissed her knee through the fabric. “See, woman?” he said. “This isn’t so bad.”
“No,” she murmured, pleasurable sensation rolling through her like a wave. “Not bad at all.” Lost in her lust, bundled in snow gear, eyes closed, she didn’t notice the metal ring positioned around her ankle. Snick. Her eyes flew open.
Hung leaped to his feet. “Up with you.” He rolled her onto her stomach. “On your knees, woman. Get to your feet.”
“What the fuck? No!”
“Suit yourself. I’ll chain you to the barn.” He stepped toward the structure, holding a sturdy, slender cable affixed to the cuff around her ankle.
“Hell, no! Get me up!”
“As you wish.” He grabbed her handcuffed arms.
“Ow!” she yelled.
He quickly released her.
She fell to the ground with a thud. “Ow!” she yelled again. “Are you trying to kill me?”
“I thought you were healed, woman!”
“I thought so, too.” Angry tears pricked her eyes as pain lanced through her shoulder. Damn vamp connection is wearing off. “Get me up.” She wiggled onto her back, glaring at him with rage-filled eyes. “Bastard.” She kicked, landing a solid blow on his chin.
“Fuck!” He winced. “I’m trying to take care of you.”
“I don’t want to be taken care of. I want to help. You should have seen me in town. I was like Neo in The Matrix.”
Hung gently guided her up to sitting. “I’ll bet you were,” he said soothingly. He crouched, put one hand behind her back, the other under her knees. “One, two, three.” With a grunt, he got to his feet, cradling her.
“I climbed the wall, just like Neo and Trinity. Ran right up it.” The tears spilled out her eyes. Humiliated, ashamed at being watched by her people as Hung trussed her up like a pig, she wanted to march into town, resign, and hide out at home for the rest of her days.
“I’m sure you did. You’re amazing,” he said, as he trudged toward the front door. “And you’re also injured. Badly. Probably worse than before, thanks to me believing you were healed.” He stepped onto the porch and maneuvered one of his hands to turn the doorknob.
“I am amazing, dammit.” The words came out in a whimper, pissing her off. Her shoulder throbbed. Stabs of pain shot through her scapula and down her spine. “Son of a bitch, this hurts.”
“I’m sure when you’re resting once more, and the adrenaline surge drops, the vampire juice will take over again. Your beautiful silver eyes are pretty dilated. Looks like you’ve got junkie eyes. You better not make a habit of this.” Hung trudged toward her bedroom. He kicked open the door and made a few short steps to her giant bed. He set her down and kissed the top of her head.
Chia didn’t know whether to like the kiss, or hate the kiss. “I despise you, you know that?”
“I’m used to it,” he said, making swift work of binding the slender filament to the corner of the bed.
“Think I can’t snap that slender cord?”
“You can try.” He proceeded to unlock her handcuffs. “It’s a titanium alloy used in aircrafts. It should keep you busy until I get back. If your shoulder pain lessens.”
“I’d punch you if my shoulder didn’t hurt so badly.” She glowered at him.
“I’d expect no less.” He slid her jacket from her arms, letting the palms of his hand sweep along her long-sleeved shirt. The heat radiated through the fabric, warming her. “Lie back.”
“What if I don’t want to?”
“Then don’t.” He plumped the pillows at the headboard, readying them, lest she change her mind. Then he lifted her legs onto
the bed. He removed her gun from her holster, unloaded it, and placed it on the dresser. “Lest you get any ideas about neutering me. I like the equipment intact.”
She almost chuckled, but suppressed it, and lay back against the soft pillows. “I got my Smith and Wesson back.”
“Good for you.” Hung removed one of her ski boots, then the other, dropping them on the floor. They landed with a clunky clatter.
“Red planned on framing me with it.”
“I’m sure he did.” His strong hands massaged her socked feet.
She nearly gasped with joy.
“I hope to God the handcuffs didn’t cause more damage, but I suspect, if you really were practicing some Neo ninja moves, you managed to further injure your shoulder all by yourself.” He picked up a throw she kept at the end of the bed, unfolded it and shook it out, gently placing it over her. “You’ll have to show me your moves sometime.”
“You actually believe me?”
“Why wouldn’t I? I told you. You’re amazing.”
“You already said that.”
“And I’m saying it again.” He tucked the blanket around her body. “I’d better be going. The sooner we get this done, the better. The shifters will be happy. I’ll be happy. And your dog friend will be happy. We can all shift freely again.”
“The townspeople hate me.”
“They’ll get over it. Public opinion can be quite fickle.” He turned and stepped toward the door.
“Wait!” Chia said.
Hung turned around. “What is it? Going to say thanks for taking care of you?”
Chia studied him. He almost looked hopeful, like he really did want to hear her say that. “What’s the real reason you’re acting like you believe me?”
His shoulders fell, as if resigned to her dismissal. “You honestly don’t know, do you?”
“Know what?”
“Your grandfather was one of the greatest magic men who ever lived in these parts. A true shaman. He understood the arts. The dark and the light. The interplay. He was a man who made The Matrix look like child’s play.”
“He what?” Her jaw dropped open.
“What I said. It skipped a generation. Missed your mom altogether. But I suspect you’ll keep the magic alive.”