by Dana Archer
“Of course.” She straightened her spine. “What do we know about the attack?”
Vlad studied her face a moment, then nodded, a look of pride in his eyes. She was glad her reaction pleased him, but this wasn’t about proving her strength any longer. This was about surviving.
“He and Brock were ambushed. Xander’s cell phone had been found nearby along with a wrinkled picture of you.”
“Of me? Did they leave it deliberately?”
“Dante doesn’t think so. If one of his attackers tossed Xander over his shoulder, his sporran would’ve opened. It was an ancient one without a clasp. They likely wouldn’t have noticed in time to go back. A human alerted the police, claiming he saw bears go inside the place. Dante got the call to investigate. He says he got there minutes afterward.”
Gwen fought the hysteria trying to take hold. It wouldn’t help. She had to focus on facts. “Does he have any leads?”
“A few. Dante and a couple other Shifter Affairs agents are following up on them. Dante will call us once he knows more.”
A sharp tug on Gwen’s sleeve drew her gaze down. Molly’s pale blue human eyes met hers. Gwen inhaled sharply. Molly had shifted and slipped on the dress Gwen had brought.
Tears burning and her throat tightening, Gwen knelt and wrapped her arms around her sister. Molly awkwardly patted Gwen’s back as she often did whenever Gwen hugged her. “Molly.”
“You need to find your mate before the full moon. It’s the only time they can steal his pack’s spirit from him.” Molly’s quiet and childlike voice delivered a warning an adult would give. Although only five, Molly didn’t act her age. She was a pride leader in a child’s body. “And if they manage to sever his ties, he and his pack will die. Every last one of them. Their souls shattered. Only the spirit will survive.”
Oh God! Gwen tipped her head back. “How do you know this?”
“They took his hands. That’s how they captured the Leon alpha before they ripped the spirit of his pride from him and joined it with me. Magic, mind-altering drugs, and the power of the full moon.”
Gwen pressed her forehead to Molly’s. “I’m sorry. I wish I could’ve stopped this.”
“Why? The Leon spirit loves me. Chose me to be its new leader. To protect it. It could’ve let me die, but it didn’t.”
How to explain this? Gwen bit her lip before exhaling. “Of course, the Leon spirit loves you. How could it not? You’re smart, strong, and honorable. What I meant was that I’m sorry I wasn’t there to protect you from those shifters who hurt you and the Leon alpha.”
“You are now. You came back.”
“Of course, I did. I made a promise to you.” Gwen pushed to her feet, then held out a hand. “Now come home with me, and we can protect each other, just like we used to do.”
Molly glanced from Gwen to Vlad to the coloring book Gwen had laid on the blanket next to the fallen newspaper. “Can I have my crayons?”
Vlad gathered the things she’d brought, shoving them into the tote. “You can have a whole art room, filled with paints and charcoals too.”
“Really?” Disbelief laced Molly’s voice.
“Really.” Vlad dropped to a crouch. “I bet Xane will even let you mold clay at his house.”
Molly’s eyes widened. “Clay? Yes, I’d like that.”
“Then let’s go. We need to get you settled so we can save our pack.” Vlad took Molly’s hand, then held his other one out for Gwen.
Her throat burned. The range of emotions choked her. Gwen swallowed hard and took Vlad’s hand. She’d won one battle, getting Molly to shift. She’d win the others looming over her too. Xander would be rescued, and so would Eli. She wouldn’t stand for anything else.
Chapter 41
An electric shock whipped through Killer’s body, jerking him awake. He jumped to his feet. The extra weight on his wrists and ankles registered. He didn’t have to look to uncover the reason. He knew. Fighting shackles had been secured to his body.
Tonight, he would fight. His opponent would die.
“Good morning, Killer.”
The taunting rhythm to the male’s voice triggered Killer’s instincts to punish. He hated the way people treated him, as if he were inferior. He stalked forward and locked his deadly glare on the skinny wolf shifter who told Killer days ago it was time for him to die.
Never. He’d never allow them to end his life. The memory he’d recalled sealed his fate. He would survive the night. He had a true mate to punish for betraying him and abandoning him to this hell.
“Where is the ancient?” Killer demanded.
The other male sneered, then pulled out a cell phone. Killer had seen the guards with the devices. They used them to watch porn or play mindless games. The worthless pieces of electronics didn’t interest him.
“Where is the ancient?” Killer repeated.
“I found out what happened to your little sister.” The single shifter hunkered down in front of Killer’s cell. “Don’t you want to see it?”
Killer gripped the bars. All thoughts of the orange-eyed Royal’s promise of freedom and Killer’s revenge against his true mate—gone. “Is she okay?”
“Watch for yourself.”
The poor quality video with no sound showed Gwen striking a match and lighting a candle. A triumphant smile flashed across her face. She moved across a dirty room to a window. A contemplative look passed over her features, followed by fear. Her eyes widened. She blew the flame out, and the video cut.
Jagged white lines and dots danced across the screen’s surface before a grainy black-and-white image showed a terrified Gwen. Her mouth opened. Her body jerked. Something dark spread across the top of her jacket. Blood. His mind supplied the word. It was blood. A lot of blood. She’d been shot.
She fell face-first onto the ground. Her body lay there, crumpled and unmoving.
The single shifter pressed a button on the side of the phone, ending the video.
Killer shook the bars of his cell. Concrete dust rained around him. “She’s alive. Tell me she’s alive!”
“I’m sorry.” The skinny wolf shifter fought a smile. “She didn’t make it.”
“You lie.” Killer spat the words, but he couldn’t tell if this male lied. Rage ruled Killer. His wolves wanted revenge. Nothing else mattered.
“No, I’m telling you the truth. The female you vowed to protect died. You failed her.”
“No!” Killer stretched an arm out, reaching for the phone. There was more to the video. He needed to see it. “You’re lying!”
“If I wanted to lie, I would’ve told you the female survived. The hope of seeing her again would’ve been enough to manipulate you.” The other male grinned. “But I don’t want to control you. I want to help you.”
Killer fisted the bars, wishing it was this male’s skinny neck he squeezed instead. The single shifter wanted to hurt Killer, not help him. Even Killer’s crazed wolves agreed on that. He could smell the depravity on the other male. “Help me how?”
“We have Gwen’s killer.” The skinny male licked his thin lips. “We want you to make an example out of him. Nobody is above the law, Killer. Nobody, not even the eldest of males on our Shifter Council. When they become corrupted…tainted by the sickest of urges, they die. Just like Gwen’s killer will die.”
The single shifter pulled out a small black box from his pocket. He depressed the single red button on it. The shackles encircling Killer’s wrists and ankles tightened, piercing his skin. The familiar icy sensation he’d come to associate with the drugs his handlers used flooded Killer’s body. He swayed, his body and mind numbing.
“And you, Killer, will exact our revenge or die a failure.”
Killer had already failed, though. In more ways than one.
Vlad led Molly to the largest bedroom in their house and opened the door. He motioned to the richly decorated space. “This room was designed specifically for visiting dignitaries. As the leader of the Leon pride, you qualify as our most
important guest.”
Molly slipped around his legs and moved to the center of the room. She looked tiny in the massive bedroom, but he wanted her to feel as important as she was to their world.
She glanced over her shoulder. “And I can stay here for as long as I want?”
That was a tricky question. Technically, Lena was her guardian and would be the one to decide where Molly lived. Gwen’s sister wanted Molly happy, though. Lena also hadn’t fought their announcement a few hours ago that Molly would be going home with him and Gwen. “This will always be your room in this house.”
Molly moved through the room. She skimmed her fingers over the bedspread, then the deep-cushioned love seat near the window. “I forgot to tell you something.”
“What’s that?”
“If they’re going to steal your alpha’s spirit, they’ll have a magical globe in the circle to trap it from ascending to the heavens.” Molly pursed her lips. “I don’t know how they’ll tie it to a single shifter baby. The Leon spirit doesn’t remember that part, and I was too little.”
Vlad couldn’t guess either but suspected magic of some sort. There was a coven of human witches who’d been rumored to be working with the scientists and shifters looking for the key to stealing a Royal’s immortality.
“We’ll make sure we smash it.”
Molly nodded, then walked to the window. She pushed aside the curtain and scanned the yard. “When will Lena and Megan get here? I miss them. You said they were going to come.”
“Lena had to pick up Megan. They’ll be over in a few minutes. They’re going to stay here the next couple of nights in case…” He couldn’t say it. Didn’t want to acknowledge there was a chance they might not save Xander.
“In case you die tomorrow with the rest of your pack?”
He loved this little girl as if she were his own daughter, but her candidness always caught him off guard. As a five-year-old, she shouldn’t know the things she did, but her life had never been normal. How could it have been when she’d had the spirit of an ancient Royal pride whispering in her ear since the moment she took her first breath?
Vlad went to her and crouched so they were eye to eye. “In life, there’s always a chance to die, even for immortals like us. All we can do is trust in ourselves and those we love to avoid that fate.”
“I wish I was bigger so I could fight for your alpha too.”
He grinned. “I’m sure you’ll get another chance. An alpha’s life is never easy or without challenges.”
“Then I’m going to need to be extra tough, aren’t I?”
“You already are.” Vlad tucked a lock of her hair behind her ears. “And as long as you have your family and friends behind you like Xander does, you won’t have to fight alone.”
“And you’re my family, right?”
“Absolutely.”
Molly wrapped her arms around his neck, hugging him tight. “Thank you.”
Vlad’s phone vibrated against his leg. He yanked it out and glanced at the message from Dante.
We leave for Alaska in an hour.
No other details. Vlad didn’t need them. He knew enough. Dante had found Xander, or at least had discovered a solid lead.
Vlad glanced at Molly. “I need to go. You’re still going to be here in your human form when I return, right?”
“Absolutely.” Molly grinned. “I promised Gwen.”
“Good.” He stood and made his way to the door. Just in time. Molly’s twin, Megan, came barreling down the hallway with Lena trailing behind her. Vlad stepped out of the way before he was run over and hurried to Lena. “We have a lead on Xander. Can you—”
“You don’t have to ask. I’ll be here for Molly no matter what happens.”
He looked over his shoulder to make sure neither little girl was paying attention to them, then lowered his voice. “And Gwen. If we don’t save Xander, she’ll lose me too. We’re not soul-bonded yet.”
Lena’s features tightened. “She’ll want to follow you.”
“Don’t let her.” Vlad grabbed Lena’s arm. “She can still live out her life. Marry someone else or have kids. Be happy. Xander and I will be there to greet her when old age takes her. We’ll love her unconditionally.”
“You know she won’t. That’s not how it works for true mates.”
“Molly needs Gwen. Once Gwen has time to think about it, she’ll realize it too. That’s more important than joining us.”
“Joining you where?” Gwen’s question yanked his gaze to where she stood near the stairs.
Vlad closed the distance between them. He grabbed her hand and urged her to follow him downstairs. “We have a lead on Xander.”
She jerked her hand from his. “And you don’t want me to come along. Is that it? You want me to stay here because it’s safer for me.”
Vlad stared at his mate and debated his answer. After everything they’d been through, she deserved the truth. “If we fail to save Xander, I’m going to die, along with the rest of my pack. I don’t want you to see that.”
Gwen glanced at the stairs. “What if—”
“I don’t doubt Molly’s warning. Remember, until the Leon spirit merged with her completely a few months ago, she had an open communication channel with the spirit. It has lived for thousands of years and experienced more than any of us can imagine.” Vlad stepped in front of Gwen, blocking her view of the stairs. “If we can believe anyone, it’s Molly.”
Gwen fisted his shirt. “You won’t die. Neither will Xander. We’re going to save him.”
“I’m going to save him. You—”
She shoved at his chest, knocking him backward. “I’m coming too. I might not be able to fight, but I’m going to be there. You are not going to shuffle me to the side in some convoluted—”
The front door opened. Dante stood in the opening. He looked from Vlad to Gwen. “You’re going to freeze your ass off in Alaska dressed in that. Layer up. You have three minutes before we have to roll.”
Gwen didn’t wait for Vlad to speak. She ran for the stairs.
Vlad stormed forward as soon as Gwen disappeared upstairs. “Gwen is not going! She’ll get herself killed.”
“Gwen is the only one who can feel Xander’s pain. The closer she is to him, the better chance she has to interpret those triggers.” Dante shut the door at his back. “And we’re going to need the guidance. I have no freaking clue where we’re going or what we’re walking into.”
“I thought you said Alaska.”
“I did. I even have a general idea. Doesn’t mean I know everything, and this is not a situation where we can sit back and evaluate. We’re going to need to act. Fast. We have a seven-hour flight into Anchorage, then we need to drive out to the village where my informant thinks they took Xander. From there, we need to go on foot.” Dante pointedly looked at the clock on the wall. “Full moon is in less than twenty-four hours.”
“We’ll get there in time.” Gwen breathed hard and a flush warmed her cheeks, but determination radiated from her. “And we’ll rescue Xander.”
“Hopefully, Eli too,” Dante added.
“Eli?” Gwen grabbed Dante’s arm and turned him toward her. “I thought his fight got canceled.”
“Reclassified. Ella got the confirmation an hour ago. Eli will be fighting in the ultimate death match—a challenge where he’ll either walk away as an alpha or die a failure.”
“Xander.” Gwen covered her mouth, then quickly dropped her hand. “They’re going to make him fight his own brother.”
Vlad cursed. “And if what you said about Killer is true, he won’t recognize Xander as his sibling.”
“Especially if they mask Xander’s scent.” Dante finished Vlad’s thought.
Gwen breathed hard for a few moments before she rushed to the hall closet and grabbed her coat, a down-filled one she’d picked up on her shopping trip with Dante. “Let’s go. We can discuss possibilities on the plane. We’re only wasting time now.”
Vlad didn�
��t like the idea of bringing Gwen along, but Dante was right. They couldn’t take chances or hope Vlad’s connection to Xander would be enough. Without hands, Xander would be an easy kill.
The drugs his captors kept pumping into him left Xander in a drowsy haze and unable to call his wolves. He could see the world around him, hear what his captors said, but couldn’t get his body to obey him. His muscles felt leaden. His words came out slurred. Even his teeth ached. And if he didn’t remember to close his mouth, drool dribbled down his chin.
Xander swiped his tongue over his numb lips. Curses whipped through him. Every last handler and guard in this compound would die. At the moment, he wasn’t sure how that was going to happen. Without the strength of his wolves, he was as weak as a babe. He’d find a way. The cowards who’d taken his hands would die for keeping him from his mate, partner, and pack.
A hard whack to the back of his head knocked him forward. He fell, face-first, and smacked into the ground. Dry dirt formed a cloud around his face, and the earthy, rich scent of soil filled his lungs. He blinked hard against the grit burning his eyes while the Ulgran shifter who’d dragged him from the helicopter laughed.
The other shifter’s hysterics at Xander’s expense stirred his rage. An answering spark of fury resonated deep inside him. His wolves. He could feel his wolves. The primitive edge to their anger couldn’t be mistaken.
Xander sucked in a breath, choking on more of the dusty air. He didn’t care. The glimmer of his primal side strengthened him. Whatever drug his captors had given him was losing its effectiveness.
Pressure from the male’s foot on Xander’s back yanked his attention from his wolves. Knowing he’d find the path back to them, he let them slip into the metaphysical field where they lived.
With the drugs in his system, he couldn’t risk missing any vital pieces of information about his environment and what his captors planned for him. The full moon’s peak was less than six hours away. Once it passed, he’d either be dead or on his way back to Gwen and Vlad. There’d be no other chances. He knew it in his soul.