She bit her lip and turned back toward the hallway. Julia’s scent was strong, and Anya knew she was getting closer. Anya silently pulled a knife from her ankle and wrapped her fingers around the hilt. Slade. I found Julia’s scent. I’m going after her.
No. You can’t help her if you get caught. Wait for me.
I can’t wait. What if something happens to her? Focus on Parker.
Dammit, Anya! Don’t do this!
I’ve been running away my whole life, Slade. No more. She began to move down the hall, easing her way, searching with all her senses for any sign of life. You find me if I go missing, Slade. You know you can. She reached inside herself, trying to merge with her leopard, using her feline senses to heighten her awareness. She walked faster, urgency coursing through her.
Anya. Slade’s torment slammed into her. I’m coming after you. Wait there.
No. You need to get Parker. I can do this. Come get me when you’re done. They won’t kill me, and you can find me no matter what. You can’t lose him, and I can’t lose Julia. It has to be this way. Just make it fast.
Slade swore. You’re a stubborn pain in the ass.
I love you, too. She waited for his reply, for his confirmation that he loved her too, but he said nothing. Emptiness flooded her. I need to hear it, Slade. I need to hear it from you.
I can’t, Anya. If I could, I would. In a heartbeat.
She smiled faintly, realizing that was probably as much as she was going to get from him, but it was enough. If he wasn’t so damned heroic and self-sacrificing, he’d be on his knees with roses, declaring his love for her. He loved her. That had to be enough. Someday, you’ll have to admit it to yourself.
His attention flickered away from her for a split second. He’s going into a meeting. I need to get in there. Shit, Anya, stay safe and keep the communication open so I can find you.
Sure. No problem.
I need to focus, but yell if you need me. I’ll hear you. He cut off communication again, but this time, it was complete severance, leaving her stumbling in its wake. Trepidation washed over her, and she stopped, suddenly feeling isolated and alone, without him in her head. After being alone for so long, somehow, she’d become accustomed to his presence. Without him, she felt alone and isolated.
She missed him. Yes, she knew that she could reach out to him at any moment and hear his voice, but they both needed to focus right now, so having quiet minds was better. But she didn’t want a quiet mind. She wanted him in her head, annoying her, supporting her, and teasing her.
Dammit. How had she let herself get dependent on him? But she had. She missed him, and she was terrified for his safety. He was going into the room with the man who’d already beaten him so many times. Fear gripped her. What if she lost him? What if he never came out of that room? What if—
No. She couldn’t do that to herself. She had to stay focused. Slade could handle himself. He was ready for Parker this time, and he had Killian on his side. She took a deep breath, forcing aside her worry about him, trying to bring her focus back to Julia. But she couldn’t help thinking that the only people who mattered to her were all in danger now, at the mercy of a deadly opponent who had proven himself better, smarter, and more deadly than any of them.
She swallowed, looking up at the ornately carved ceiling. It was old and beautiful, built in the days when beauty mattered more than efficiency. Gold inlay, intricate carvings, paintings of angels on the ceiling. She took a deep breath, staring at the angels. Angels. Maybe that’s who had saved Slade from death. Maybe they had a guardian angel watching over them. Maybe she and Slade had been chosen not because of who they were, but because of what they could accomplish.
What if they’d been chosen because they were the only ones who could stop William Parker from preying upon white leopards and wiping them out? If that was so…well…then… the angel must have seen something inside her that was worth saving. Something kind of badass, even. After all, she was a leopard, right? The top of the food chain. Just like Slade.
Maybe it was time for her to start acting like it.
A new feeling arose within her. A feeling of power. Of dominance. Of capability. She’d stopped running when she’d met Slade, but she’d hid in his shadow, letting him drive it and protect her. But he was busy, and Julia needed her. So what was she going to do? Hide? Or step up and be the badass she was supposed to be.
A badass.
She wanted to be the badass.
A slow grin spreading on her face, she looked at the hallway she’d started to walk down, the one that had seemed too dark. Screw darkness. She was a cat. Cats could see in the dark.
Anya fisted the handle of her dagger more tightly and began to walk again, this time, with purpose, and with the absolute silence of the cat she was born to be. She tapped into her feline senses, and followed Julia’s scent. She rounded a corner to find a stairway leading downstairs.
To the basement. The dungeon? For a split second, her newfound courage fled. Going into a basement meant trapping herself. Slade—
She stopped.
You okay? His voice was distracted. Where are you?
She looked at the stairway spiraling down to the basement. A part of her wanted to ask for his help, but if he came, he’d be walking away from Parker. He needed to be where he was, and Julia needed her. She was going to do this. There was no other way. But she also wasn’t going to be an idiot. She was so leaving a trail of big, fat, obvious breadcrumbs so Slade could follow her. I’m going into the basement.
He swore. I don’t like that.
Then hurry up and kick Parker’s ass so you can join me.
He laughed softly. So bossy.
Get used to it. I’ve decided that I’m a badass. She put her hand on the railing. Slade?
Dammit, Anya. Wait for me.
I can’t. She started to walk down the stairs. Don’t let me die here, okay?
I won’t. He hesitated. I promise.
He’d promised. The man who didn’t promise, had promised. She smiled, relief rushing through her. Awesome. She reached the bottom of the stairs and pulled open the door. A long, dark hallway stretched out, with rooms along each side.
Not rooms.
Cells.
It’s a cellblock, Slade. I know she’s down here. I’m going in.
Be careful.
I will— There was sudden movement at the far end, and she saw someone’s hand reach through the bars. “Anya?”
“Julia!” Tears filled her eyes at the sound of Julia’s voice, and Anya raced down the hall, moving faster than she ever had. She reached the cell and her heart stuttered when she saw Julia leaning up against them, her fingers wrapped around the steel. She was pale, and bruised, but alive. “Julia!” Anya lunged for her and hugged her through the bars. Julia held her tightly, her fingers digging in as if she could hold on forever. “Are you okay?”
Julia pulled back, her eyes glistening with tears. “Best vacation ever, of course.” Her eyes were worried, though. “We need to get out of here. Can you get this open?”
Anya looked down at the lock. It was electronic, just like the ones at the warehouse. She remembered Slade disabling the locks…and the cameras. With a sudden jolt of fear, she looked up at the ceiling. A tiny camera with a red light on it was pointing right at her. Her heart sank. “Oh, crap.” They knew she was there. How long until they showed up? She had to get Julia out now. Slade! I found Julia. I can’t get the locks open. I need you right now—
Something pricked her shoulder. She instinctively reached back, and felt a small, metal dart in her shoulder. She yanked it out and held it up. It was tiny, almost innocuous…but not. She stared at Julia in horror. “They got me.”
Julia’s face was ashen. “Run.”
Anya threw the dart aside and sprinted toward the door, even as the lethargy began to course through her body. She thought of Slade’s condition when Killian had brought him home, and fear tore through her. Slade. I’ve been—
&nbs
p; Her legs gave out, and she crashed to the floor. Her head cracked against the corner of the door, and then blackness consumed her.
Chapter 24
She’d been what?
Anya. What’s going on? What happened?
She didn’t answer.
Slade shifted restlessly, foreboding gnawing inside his gut. What the hell was going on with her? He couldn’t go get her, or he’d be seen. He couldn’t extend too much psychic energy to find her, or he’d be felt. He was trapped by his own fantastic stalking abilities that had left him within two yards of Parker and his bodyguards.
He was perched in the shadows outside Parker’s boardroom window, inches from the man, but utterly invisible to him. The bastard was too busy schmoozing to realize that his greatest enemy was inches from him. Slade could attack in a second, but he couldn’t do it until Julia was safe. He’d made a promise, and he was keeping it. He hated being this close to him, and letting him live…but even more, he was increasingly concerned by the fact he couldn’t reach Anya.
He knew if he pressed too hard telepathically that Parker’s men might sense him, like they had at the warehouse, but the need to act was getting stronger and stronger. He finally reached out to his brother, who was close enough to reach with minimum effort. Killian. Something’s wrong.
Didn’t you say she was in the basement? Maybe it’s too far.
It shouldn’t be. Tension twisted tighter and tighter through Slade as he shifted his balance on the fifth floor window ledge outside the room where Parker was assembling an assortment of high rollers.
Killian eased around the corner of the building, somehow holding himself on a ledge that was less than an inch wide. He grinned at Slade, anticipation glistening in his eyes as he moved up to the window and peered inside. He looks so pretty in his tux. It almost makes me want to hang him over my mantle instead of killing him.
Fuck that. He’s not leaving that room alive.
Killian’s brows went up. Chill, big bro. I was making a joke.
I know. Just wanted to be sure we were clear.
No one kills him until I ask him about my family and Charlotte. I need to know if he killed them.
Agreed. As he spoke, Slade reached out with his mind again, sweeping for any hint of Anya’s energy, but he found nothing. Shit! Anya. Talk to me. Again, no response. He couldn’t even feel her mind. He swore, tension building inside him. Had she cut him off because he hadn’t said he loved her? Or was she in trouble? I didn’t tell her I loved her.
Killian looked at him as more men filed into the room. Seriously, Slade? You’re thinking about romance now? We’re kinda busy.
I know. Shit. He knew. But where the hell was Anya? Swearing under his breath again, he leaned around the brick so he could see into the room. There were several armed security guards present, and he was pretty sure they were the same ones from the warehouse, the ones who’d been alerted to his presence when he’d touched their minds. He didn’t dare reach out again, so he had to blur himself and hope that was enough.
There were ten men in tuxes present. No women. Parker was standing at the front of the room, sipping champagne. Fucking bastard. Look how arrogant he is.
I changed my mind. I don’t want him hanging on my wall. He won’t match my decor. Lethal energy rolled off Killian. I see him. Let’s go in now.
I want to see what’s going on. His fingers dug into the cement ledge he was crouched on. Every person in there is part of this. I want them all. I want to put a major hole in their ring.
Killian looked over at him. You want to kill them all?
Yeah. Dark fury streaked through Slade, the same anger and need for death that had consumed him after his parents had been killed. It was that rage that had taken him across several continents, hunting for the bastards who had stolen from him. It was that which had given him the ability to kill without regret, to destroy without compunction. And now, it was back, surging through him.
We don’t know who they are. They may not be guilty.
No one in that room is innocent. Slade tightened his grip on the window ledge, leaning forward to listen as Parker raised his glass to quiet the room.
His voice echoed through the glass, easy to hear. It was an innocuous greeting, but the sound of his voice ate away at Slade, chipping through the years of walls he’d erected. He remembered that voice, calling out so pleasantly as he’d tried to find Slade and Killian after he’d killed their father. Pretending to be a friend. Faking cordiality. Deceptive bastard. But as he listened, he couldn’t stop his mind from flicking back toward Anya. Anya. I need to hear from you.
Still silence. Dark foreboding flooded him. Anya!
No reply.
He swore, shifting restlessly.
Stay still. They’re sensing you. Killian snapped.
Parker began to move around the room toward the window. Slade and Killian tensed, easing back out of sight as Parker neared. Slade pressed himself against the building, nearly suffocating from the intensity of Parker’s scent. He was so close. All he had to do was leap through that window, and he’d have him. He wouldn’t give him the kiss of death. That was too merciful. He’d go in as a leopard and tear his throat out.
They’re onto us. Killian said suddenly.
The moment he said it, Slade sensed the stealthy approach of men inching along the ledge toward them. He glanced down, and saw more guards standing below, their guns trained on Slade and Killian. Inside the room, the guards were moving toward the window.
Killian looked at him. Now or never, bro.
There wasn’t time to wait. If they attacked now, they could kill him before they were stopped. They would die, too, but not until Parker was dead. It was the moment Slade had been building toward his entire life. He didn’t fear death. He never had. There was nothing to lose, nothing to leave behind. This was the moment, when avenging his family’s death finally came to an end.
But if he went in there, he was going to die…and there would be no one left to save Anya if she needed it. Swearing, he flattened himself against the building. Anya!
Killian crouched, his body tensed to spring. It’s now, Slade.
Slade closed his eyes, reaching out with his preternatural senses to find her, searching for the same way he’d tracked her when he’d first taken her as his assignment. He gave up on the telepathic connection, and went with what always worked. Always.
And he couldn’t sense her. At all.
His eyes snapped open, and he stared at Killian. I can’t find her.
Killian’s brows went up. You can find anyone.
Not her. Slade looked down at the men below. He could hear the whisper of clothing from the men approaching on the ledge. Parker was still within reach inside the room, but starting to move away. This was it. Their moment. Their chance. I gotta go after her. He looked up, evaluating how far it was to the room. Almost thirty feet. Too far to jump from this angle. He’d have to climb.
Killian swore. This is our chance. He killed our parents. And maybe my family. We can’t let him go!
Guilt tore through Slade, and he met his brother’s gaze. I can’t help her if I’m dead. Come with me. There will be another time.
There might not be! Come on, Slade!
You do it. I can’t. Then, without waiting for an answer, he grabbed the ledge above his head and swung up, moving with lightning speed. When he reached the top, he landed softly, just before a light thump sounded behind him.
He spun around, and saw Killian land beside him. You didn’t stay?
His brother shrugged. Revenge, torture, and retribution are no fun alone. Let’s go.
Elation rushed through Slade, and he clapped his brother on the back before sprinting across the roof. Killian kept up easily, moving as fast as he was. Together, the brothers ripped open the roof door, and tore down the stairs. Down, and down, and down, and down, until they reached the basement.
Slade caught Anya’s scent immediately, and he sprinted down the hall.
> Son of a bitch. These are cells, Killian said. This is where they house them before they sell them.
Slade reached the end cell and grabbed the bars. Anya’s scent was everywhere, but the cell was empty. Julia’s scent was strong as well, and he knew both women had been there.
And they had both been terrified. The acrid scent of their fear was thick in the air. But where were they? He spun around, frantically searching.
“Maybe they got out.” Killian caught up to him after checking the other cells.
Slade crouched near the far door, where Anya’s scent was strongest. “She fell here.” Shit. She’d fallen? She was a leopard. She would never trip and fall. Fear welled up inside him, the kind of fear he hadn’t felt since he’d been a kid and come home to find his mother murdered. He braced his hands on the floor as another scent drifted toward him, one that was acrid and bitter, and too damn familiar. “Do you smell that?” he asked, his voice raw.
Killian knelt beside him, and then nodded. “Tranquilizer. She was darted.”
“Fuck.” Claws emerged from Slade’s fingertips and dug into the floor. “They have her.” He looked at Killian. “They have her. I’m too late. I was too obsessed with Parker and let her come down here alone.” Anger roared through him, anger at himself. “Son of a bitch!” He leapt to his feet and yanked the door open, tracking her scent. “This way.”
He broke into a sprint, racing through the labyrinth of corridors stretching beneath the basement, ignoring Killian’s shouts to slow down and be strategic. He had to get to her. He had to find her. He’d promised to keep her safe, and he’d failed. Son of a bitch. “Anya!” He bellowed her name, running as fast as he could—
He stopped suddenly. “It ends here.” He spun around, searching for the trail, but it ended right in the middle of the hallway.
Killian stopped beside him and looked around. “I can’t find it either.”
“What kind of place do they have her in? No scent? No telepathy.”
“They’re good at what they do,” Killian said grimly. “You don’t capture hundreds of the world’s most dangerous shifters without having a process to control and conceal them.”
Leopard's Kiss (Shadow Guardians) (Shadows Guardians Book 1) Page 25