by Cecy Robson
Taran, encased in an inferno of blue and white flames, gaped at the enormous dent before fixing her royally pissed-off face back on the Tribemaster. “For shit’s sake, get away—now!”
We landed on the ground in time to see a fireball the size of an elephant slam into the giant maggot’s side. It bounced off his rubbery skin and into Taran’s new car, engulfing it in a sea of flames.
“Son of a bitch!”
So maybe the fireball was more the size of a Mustang.
Shayna sprinted across the lawn and attacked. She lifted her swords and rammed them into the two small holes above the maggot’s mouth. She was now unarmed and helpless. The wolves and I rushed to protect her when the remaining tongues enmeshed us in a wriggling net.
Taran struck the Tribemaster with vicious blue lightning bolts. She sizzled the creature’s flesh, but failed to cause much harm. Danny staggered to his feet only to stumble back into the snow. His wolf was exhausted from healing; it would take him time to recover. The pack wasn’t coming and Misha didn’t appear. We were seriously screwed until Emme got creative. She raised Taran’s flaming car with her force and smashed it into the Tribemaster. The creature wailed in pain and the tongues loosened enough to allow us to breathe.
Shayna ripped the borrowed diamond necklace from her neck, ignoring Taran’s loud and descriptive protests, and converted it into a giant translucent sword. Emme hoisted Shayna with her gift and onto the Tribemaster’s back. Her face remained fearful yet resolute. She hacked through tongues and sliced us free. We fell to the ground. Shayna remained on his back, spinning with a dancer’s elegance as she cut through writhing appendages. The wolves and I gathered for an offensive assault and rammed our prey with our claws extended.
“Taran!”
I jerked my head toward Emme’s screams in time to see the Tribemaster lurch forward and swallow Taran whole.
No!
The Geminis roared and dove at the Tribemaster’s face. One latched to the mandible and snapped the bone while the other gripped the lower jaw and yanked. The Tribemaster squalled as his mouth crashed to the ground.
The rest of us attacked the underbelly, determined to kill him and free Taran. Thick and sticky chunks of flesh embedded into my claws and black ooze dripped into my right eye, but I couldn’t stop—I wouldn’t stop. He had my sister.
We tore open the belly just as a horrible gurgle rumbled my front paws. Horror slapped my face like a tangible force. In my mind I believed he was digesting Taran, until a scorching heat built beneath me. I changed back to human, sensing her fire build. “Pull back—now!”
Shayna jumped off the Tribemaster’s back and into my arms. I shoved her ahead of me and tried to scramble away, but I wasn’t fast enough. The Tribemaster exploded. Tarlike innards splattered against our backs and propelled us forward. I landed face-first in a bank of snow on Mrs. Mancuso’s front lawn. I pushed myself up with my arms and gagged. Everything smelled like rotting fish and my exposed skin stung from my belly flop into the frozen snow.
A pile of leftover flesh the size of a mattress stirred to my right. I stumbled to my feet and lifted the edge of the nasty slippery skin. Taran crawled from beneath, spitting vile liquid. “I found the brain,” she sputtered, before she proceeded to projectile vomit.
Gemini’s wolves merged into one and changed to human. He tore across the lawn and hauled Taran into his arms, gallantly stroking back her slimy hair while she continued to hurl.
It must have been love.
Danny, also now human, had finally regained consciousness. He staggered over to me. “What happened?”
Snarling echoed behind me. Koda’s wolf form growled at Shayna. I wasn’t sure what he said, since I didn’t speak wolf, but it didn’t sound pretty. Shayna put her hands on her hips and frowned. “Miakoda Lightfoot, don’t you dare take that tone with me!”
I looked around the neighborhood. The universe had a sense of humor. Seven cars were parked on our street. They remained unscathed, while Taran’s Mustang continued to smolder.
Liam and Bren tended to Emme, who threw up violently into Mrs. Mancuso’s snow-covered rhododendron bush.
“Is she okay?” Danny asked.
Bren sauntered over to us, covered in maggot slop, naked, and obviously not giving a damn. “She’s fine, Dan. She just got hit with a chunk of spleen.” He sniffed the air and backed away from him. “But forget that. Why the hell do you smell like evil’s nut sack?”
CHAPTER 6
For years, the local witch clan had gathered during the winter months and practiced making it rain. My sisters and I generally avoided witches, and they kept their distance from us. The supernatural catfight we’d had with them ensured we’d never be BFFs. “Weird” and witch just didn’t mix.
I must admit, I enjoyed how the fragrant scent of their magic mixed with the bewitching power of Lake Tahoe when they called upon the rule of nature. And while I’d been drenched in too many unexpected downpours, today their ability to manipulate the elements proved useful. All it had taken was a call from Gemini for the coven to command a rainstorm strong enough to wash away the putrid remains of the Tribemaster. I may have aligned with the vampires, but the witches had managed to get awfully cozy with the weres.
By the time Misha arrived—pissed as all hell that I’d nearly died again, and fired up from his own smackdown in Incline Village—the disgusting mess had almost completely dissolved. Misha’s vampires altered the memories of the firefighters who’d sped into our neighborhood with blaring sirens to extinguish Taran’s car and arranged for a tow truck to haul away the warped piece of metal and chrome. Two demolished vehicles in less than twenty-four hours. That had to be some kind of record.
I glanced to where Mrs. Mancuso continued to snore loudly from her position in the bushes. Taran had tried to revive her while the vamps did their Jedi mind-altering thing so the rescue team wouldn’t notice her. But when the lovely Mrs. M woke up in a pissy mood, Taran knocked her out again.
“Taran, I know you don’t like her, but you can’t leave her out there. She’ll catch pneumonia.”
Taran huffed. “She called me the Judas’s whore child, Emme. I’m not waking the old battle-ax again.”
Emme shook her head and asked Liam to carry Mrs. Mancuso back into her house. When they walked out, Emme was blushing and Liam was laughing. He jerked his thumb toward Mrs. Mancuso’s house. “Hey, there’re pictures of us shirtless framed on her wall.”
Emme tugged on the sleeve of my bathrobe. “There were also stacks of J. R. Ward novels piled everywhere,” she whispered. Her blush deepened when she caught Misha’s wink. “I—I’ll see if Shayna and Koda are done in the shower.”
Misha moved to my side when Emme hurried upstairs. His more sober tone returned when he once more took in my haggard state. “I may have to assign you permanent guards. Danger continues to stalk you like a deranged ex-lover.”
I pictured myself flanked by an angry mob of Catholic schoolgirls at the grocery store, hissing at the produce guy for getting too close. “That won’t be necessary, Misha.”
“I disagree. You are my most valued weapon, and one I must protect.” He swept my matted hair behind me and stroked my jawline with his finger.
I cleared my throat and stepped away from his caress. “How’s your family? Is everyone safe?” The vamps had fought the Tribemaster’s army in Incline Village. According to Koda, the weres Gemini had called battled it out with the remaining Tribesmen near Squaw Valley. I found it bizarre the Tribe had arrived in Tahoe of all places, especially given the strong presence of Alliance members in the area.
“My family is well and rather enjoyed the combat.” Misha frowned. “But you are my primary concern at the moment. The invasion was not well planned and rather foolish. The Tribemaster abandoned his subordinates to come here. Why? And why divide them into smaller, more vulnerable groups?”
> Danny appeared from the downstairs bathroom. Considering what he’d been splattered with, we’d allowed him to have dibs on the shower. He rubbed his hand through his mop of black curly hair, glancing at me before addressing Misha. “He came looking for Celia. He asked for her specifically.”
Misha raised his chin, the heat from his rising anger bristling against my skin. “To ignore his army and hunt Celia by himself suggests either extreme arrogance or foolishness. It also raises questions as to why he would want her specifically.”
I tapped my fingers against my arm, remembering what Misha had told me. “You said the lake tells you the secrets carried in the wind. Did it happen to mention whether the Tribemaster we hacked to pieces was the dark one after me?”
Misha lowered his lids. Through the open front door I sensed a change in the wind. The vampires lolling on the porch tensed and looked toward the lake. The breeze intensified and swept into the house,and right into Misha’s back. Harnessing Tahoe’s power was a hell of a talent, one I didn’t have a knack for. Misha shook his head and opened his eyes. “What seeks you remains among us.”
Awesome. “Well, considering one of their supervillains just ran amuck in the neighborhood, I get the feeling the Tribe is what’s after me.” I shrugged. “Maybe they do know I’m your ammunition against them.”
Misha waited before answering. “The Tribe appears to be the most plausible enemy.”
Danny leaned back against the wall. He hadn’t been a werewolf long, so his lanky frame had only just begun to develop some bulk. “I’m wondering if the Tribemaster’s invasion could have been a distraction of some sort. Just like when that witch raised all those spirits a couple of months back.”
Gemini edged his way to stand next to me, his eyes never leaving Misha. “A distraction from what? We’ve dealt with every last disturbance reported.”
Danny focused on the floor as he often did when his brilliant mind was at work. “It just doesn’t make sense for him to go after Celia. Sure, she killed the last Tribemaster. And, yes, she’s powerful. But why would the Tribe target her specifically?”
“Celia may be powerful, but in a way she’s also the most vulnerable.” Gemini raised his hand when I attempted to protest. “Your predator instincts and the physical combat you engage in put you at greater risk. Emme can assault from afar; so can Taran. Even Shayna doesn’t have to face an opponent with her sword. Between her bow and arrows and her throwing knives she can keep others at bay. You have to engage in physical contact in order to kill. If the Tribe does recognize you as a threat—one worth eliminating and one who couldn’t survive a mortal wound—it would make sense to take you out first, especially given you’re your family’s protector.”
I sighed. “I guess. But am I worth the loss of—what, thirty Tribesmen and a Tribemaster? The Alliance as a whole is crippling them, slowly but surely. They don’t exactly have numbers to spare.”
“I realize my theory is very flawed, Celia. But you were targeted last night, and now today.” He rubbed his goatee. “If I were to hunt deer, I would seek out the most vulnerable in the herd. Despite her speed and strength, I would catch her. I’m afraid someone is trying to catch you.”
Danny tapped his hands against the wall. “You think a Tribe witch planted the witch fire. And when that didn’t work, a Tribemaster was sent for her?”
Gemini shook his head. “I don’t know. But it’s too much of a coincidence to ignore the connection.”
My heart pounded with a dull and determined thud. I looked to Misha. “I think it’s time for me to go on another assignment. I want these assholes to know they can’t mess with me.” My jaw tightened. “And that I’m not their damn deer to hunt down.”
Misha nodded. “There’s much to be done. I’ll see what I can arrange.”
Gemini’s phone rang. I stilled when I heard Aric’s voice on the other end. “I just hung up with Koda. He told me what happened.”
Gemini’s voice lowered. “It was an all-out brawl, but we managed. How was the battle at Squaw?”
“We wiped them out. There were skiers who witnessed the attack. We rounded them up and had Genevieve’s witches change their memories. I tried to get to you when I heard your call, but we were in the middle of the fight.” Aric paused. “This is the second attempt on Celia’s life.”
Gem’s dark almond eyes cut to me. “I know. Something’s up. We just don’t know what it is yet.”
“If those Tribe assholes are after her, I’ll kill every last one of them myself.” In the silence that followed, I could hear Aric breathing hard, trying to calm his wolf. “If she’s still there, I’d like to talk to her. My beast will settle easier if he hears her voice.”
Worry creased Gemini’s brow. It wasn’t like Aric to have to work to wrangle his beast. And yet I understood. I doubt I could control my tigress if something threatened him. I reached for the phone—it felt heavy in my hands—and walked into the kitchen, careful to keep my voice low and soothing. “Please calm down, Aric. I’m safe.”
I instinctively pictured my tigress rubbing against his wolf and my arms embracing his human half. I concentrated so fully, I could practically feel the deep thrum of his heart beating against my breasts. I’m not sure if he could see or feel me, or if it was merely my gentle tone that relaxed him as I continued to reassure him, but the harsh breathing on the other end receded. “Thank you,” he finally said.
Misha called from the doorway. “My darling, may I speak with you a moment?” I hadn’t even noticed him step outside.
“I’d better let you go,” Aric said quietly.
“I guess you should,” I answered back. I stared at the screen when he disconnected before tightening the robe around me and walking to the porch, where Misha, Gemini, Koda, and Shayna waited. The tow truck and Taran’s birthday gift were gone; only a line of vampires standing at parade rest remained along the street.
Misha clasped his hand over mine. “Celia, neither you nor your family will be staying on the premises this evening,” he said. “We can’t be certain more Tribesmen won’t return.”
Liam spoke to my sisters. “The Elders want us to come back to the Den and bring you so you’ll be safe. You’ll need to pack for at least a few days.”
Shayna crinkled her nose at him. “What about Celia?”
The wolves exchanged glances, probably trying to find the right words to tell me I wasn’t welcome. I saved them the trouble. “Shayna, the Elders don’t want me anywhere near the Den.” Or Aric.
“Celia, it’s not Makawee or Martin. It’s Anara who’s opposed to your presence,” Gemini said quietly.
That was a hell of an understatement. Anara despised me from the first moment we’d met and had made it clear I needed to stay far away from Aric. As a pureblood werewolf he believed himself of superior status. Pures and whatever I was shouldn’t mix, in his almighty opinion.
Koda glared at Misha. It wasn’t until he glanced down at our hands that I realized his anger stemmed from Misha’s contact. Aric and I were no longer a couple. The scrutiny from the wolves made me uncomfortable. I was about to release Misha’s hand when I stubbornly decided against it. I found it hard to believe one of them would ever tell Aric’s fiancée, Barbara, that she shouldn’t touch Aric. Misha and I were friends, and considering the day I’d had, I welcomed his comfort. I wanted to call the wolves out until Taran interrupted.
“What the hell? It’s my goddamn birthday. I want Celia with me.”
“I know, sweetheart,” Gemini said. “And I apologize, but try to see the invitation as a compliment. They consider you valued members of the Alliance and wish to keep you under their protection.”
Taran scoffed. “It’s more like they want to keep us on a leash, Gem. The only reason they want us there is because they’re worried we’ll join Team Misha.”
Shayna’s long black ponytail swung when she shook her head
. “And how can we take it as a compliment when they insult Celia by excluding her?”
I didn’t want my family upset, especially on Taran’s birthday. The Tribemaster had seen pony rides and lollipops enough. “It’s okay, peeps. That’s what I get for throwing demon brains in Anara’s face.” I tried to laugh. No one laughed with me.
Misha tightened his grip on my hand and moved me closer to him and away from Shayna. “You will stay with me, as always.”
The way Aric’s Warriors glared, you’d think they had caught us in bed. My eyes narrowed, despite the flush to my face. I didn’t have anything to be embarrassed about, and they very well knew it. “Thank you, Misha. I’ll be ready as soon as I wash up.”
I stormed to my suite, wanting to scrub the maggot juice off me and to distance myself from the wolves. Shit. Didn’t they realize that, if Aric hadn’t left me, I’d never have chosen the vampire road to Nutsville? Yes, I would have continued to hunt the Tribe. But it would have been at Aric’s side. He fortified my strength and bolstered my courage. Only in his arms had I ever felt truly safe.
I washed my hair, pausing when I thought about how his fingers used to bury deep into my long waves when he kissed me. When I swept the sponge over my biceps, it was easy to envision those muscular arms that held me close and silently promised to protect me. I pictured Aric’s large hands as my own slid down my body. I loved him, needed him, and desired him. My hands idly traced my curves as I continued to think of his caress. I wanted him to touch me, to feel his strong hands grip my—
“Hey, Celia. We’re out of soap. Can we borrow yours?”
“Liam!” I tried to cover my girl parts. “What are you doing here?”
Liam seemed confused. He scratched his spiky blond hair. “I told you, we’re out of soap and I was wondering if—”