The Shadow Zone 2: Winning Madeline

by Isabella Jordan

Fixing her bright smile on her face, Madeline rose and smoothed out her skirt.

  “Hello,” she greeted him, walking in his direction. “How are you?”

  Vincent allowed her to reach him, didn’t move as her hands flattened against his chest and smoothed over the muscled wall there. He felt tense and it wasn’t the sort of tension she knew in a man’s body from lust.

  Not thinking, she allowed her hands to lower until one found the area of his scar on his right side. Once he’d explained the wound had nearly cost him his life and was still a source of pain for him.

  Roughly grabbing her wrists, he shoved her hands away.

  “I’m not here for that kind of call.” His voice was low and he cut his eyes back in the direction he came from in a conspiratorial way.

  Her heart sped up now. If he hadn’t come for that, why was he here? “What can I do for you?” Madeline kept her voice calm, pleasant.

  “I’m here to help you,” he informed her. “Your neighbor has gotten himself in a little trouble in the village. The one with the little girl.”

  “Ivy?” Madeline’s blood ran cold. “What happened? Is she okay?”

  Vincent’s expression was cold, calm, and told her little.

  “The girl is fine. But since her father has been… apparently taken into custody… I’m afraid of what will become of her. She’s just wandering around the town.”

  Madeline was afraid, too. She couldn’t remember mentioning anything about Ivy to Vincent but he’d seen the child at her shack before, when the girl ran over to visit because she was lonely or hungry.

  Now Vincent had come to warn her the child was in danger. While his expression was seemingly emotionless, it occurred to her that maybe Vincent wasn’t quite as… hard as she’d always considered him to be. “It’s very kind of you to let me know. Thank you.” She meant it. “I’ll go right away.”

  Madeline went to get the sandals she only wore when she’d be traveling beyond her shack -- shoes were incredibly expensive -- when his large hand shot out and caught her elbow.

  “I’ll accompany you.” Again, his face and voice were grave.

  “Why?”

  “There are some unsavory elements in the human crowd today. I want to keep you here for when I need you.”

  Madeline would have smiled at that only she didn’t think he was trying to be funny. He was trying to tell her there was real danger. Swallowing hard, she steeled herself. She had to get Ivy now. She could take care of the little girl. Grabbing her sandals when he released her, she pulled them on as she followed Vincent out the door.

  He’d protect them. He’d make sure she got the child back safe.

  Her heart still pounded in her chest as she began to follow him and two of his men, younger wolves, in the direction of the village. Why then didn’t she feel anything but unease?

  Maddox growled as he watched the bastard and his soldiers lead Madeline to the village. He hadn’t had an ounce of trouble luring her out, telling her the child needed her. What a bald-faced lie that had been. The same child slept in a little ball safe in her father’s bed in his shack. Her father would come home as he normally did. Nothing in their lives had changed at all.

  But Madeline’s life was about to change. Either the recruiter would have his victim tonight or Vincent would get rid of her for being his witness. Either way spelled doom for her.

  As he moved quietly behind them, Maddox considered his own actions. He was here on behalf of the Elders, his kind, to keep the Lycans from learning the dangerous secret they sought. His only focus should be keeping them from obtaining their target -- the human recruiter. That and to harvest information on the cult for his own kind. Nothing more.

  But there was something more. A lot more. Madeline was precious to him. He couldn’t -- wouldn’t -- allow her to come to harm in all of this. She was an innocent woman. None of it was her fault.

  And he wanted her desperately. How laughable was that? He, who’d had lovers aplenty over the centuries and had his pick of many beautiful creatures of his own kind, taken with a human of all damned things. He who’d prided himself on being strong and indestructible; he was in love with the frailest creature imaginable.

  They reached the village, Madeline following them with her amethyst eyes scanning anxiously around for the child she wouldn’t find. When she began to wander away from them in her efforts to find the girl, Vincent grabbed her arm roughly. Too roughly. Maddox wanted to take the mongrel’s head off as Madeline winced in pain from his too tight grip.

  “This way,” he heard Vincent growl as he dragged her in the direction of one of the larger farmer’s shops.

  Maddox followed behind closely, his body tensed and ready for anything. Vincent’s soldiers looked around anxiously, one of them eyeing him when he turned around. But if the Lycan sensed any danger from Maddox, it didn’t show in his face. He went back to scanning their surroundings until they reached the largest shop on the outskirts of the village.

  The same soldier signaled to Vincent, who nodded.

  They’d reached the place then. And it made sense really. The recruiter could go any number of directions from the location, make off with the victim easily before anyone even noticed.

  “The girl was seen here,” Vincent barked at her. “Look around.”

  With a shove, he pushed her in the direction of the shop and of course Madeline headed for its door. It made sense that if the child were really there she might be in the store where it was safer, waiting.

  Vincent and his soldiers pulled back into the shadows of a small, abandoned shack next to the store. They’d watch their bait, wait for any sign of the recruiter.

  Maddox considered his options. Shit. He really wanted to take out Vincent and his men. It would keep them from learning anything about the cult, which was his objective at the moment. But he could well imagine the reaction of the Elders if he did that -- regardless of how satisfying it would be. And they might have already communicated what they’d learned to others of their kind.

  He could take the recruiter himself but he wasn’t supposed to interfere with the cult either, just learn more about them so an intelligent course of action could be decided on. Vampires took plenty of time to plan anything. They had time. Problem was, Madeline didn’t. She was in danger now and he had to make a decision.

  Basically he had to keep the wolves and recruiter from meeting up. That was the order of the Elders.

  And he would take Madeline. That was the order of his heart.

  Ignoring Vincent and his men, he could feel them watching behind him, he made his way into the store, looking for Madeline.

  He found her quickly, already talking to a short, balding man with eyes black as obsidian and a short, stocky body. He wore the shoddy clothing most humans did -- to blend Maddox supposed. But little details gave him away. The way the sleeve of his jacket was frayed looked so because of a razor and not from wear and over use. He had a gold ring around the smallest finger of his left hand, no human would be able to afford a ring like that with everything so scarce. He’d either barter it or keep it in a safe place. He’d never wear it.

  Maddox cleared his mind, listening to what the man said. He’d see if his suspicions were correct.

  “What did she look like?” the man asked, smiling at her in a way that made Maddox uneasy.

  Madeline described little Ivy for him, her voice quick and frantic in her growing anxiety.

  The man kept his voice pleasant and reassuring. “I saw the child. Not twenty minutes ago. I’d be glad to help you look for her.”

  Maddox knew in an instant that Madeline had likely found the cult recruiter. Even if he wasn’t, and he was lying for another reason altogether, he didn’t care for the covetous way the man’s gaze raked over her slender form.

  Even in the rags that were supposed to be her clothing, Madeline was beautiful, fragile. And at the moment, she also looked terrified. Her amethyst eyes were wide, haunted.

  Maddox had had enoug
h. It was cruel to put her through any more of this.

  The man’s eyes met his as Maddox approached them and his expression turned hard. He’d be staring in fear if he had any idea of the danger he really faced. As it was, the man gazed at him with an expression of anxiety mixed with irritation. And both emotions could make a man desperate.

  Madeline turned to see what the man was staring at just as Maddox reached them. Those amethyst eyes on him, finally on him, momentarily caused him to lose his purpose. He lost everything in that moment as he stopped, mesmerized by the woman he’d wanted so badly for months. A small, slender, frail slip of a human, but the object of his desire nonetheless.

  That same desire jarred him out of his daze, spurred him to action.

  “I’m sorry about this,” he whispered to Madeline before he clutched her slender neck with just the right amount of pressure in the correct place.

  He eased her to the floor while the recruiter watched in horror. Yet his movements were too fast for the recruiter to make an escape and he was grateful that Madeline wasn’t awake to see him kill the man.

  * * *

  Maddox felt Rick’s presence behind him as he headed for the bedroom he’d been using in the mansion. He didn’t pause until he’d carried her to the enormous bed he rarely used and settled her under the luxurious blue coverings there.

  Madeline’s breathing was steady and slow, easing his fears that he could have accidentally harmed her in his efforts to get her out of danger. Exhaling deeply, he turned to face Rick. His curiosity was a living thing in the air between them.

  “There’s a dead man down in the servant’s quarters,” Rick began slowly. “And you’ve brought another souvenir from the zone as well, I see.”

  Rick meant Madeline, but he didn’t even look in her direction. Maddox knew Rick was busy scanning his thoughts. Relaxing, Maddox allowed it.

  “The dead man was the cult recruiter. You killed him?”

  Maddox nodded.

  “Why?”

  “Isn’t it obvious? The Elders expect us to keep the wolves from learning more than they already do about the cult. Without interfering. It’s ridiculous. Shadowing that vile brute day after day to keep him from acquiring that recruiter would be a waste of resources and would drive me mad. If the man’s dead, they can’t acquire him or force him to reveal the cult’s secrets. Problem solved.”

  Rick chuckled at that, a dry humorless sound.

  “I won’t argue with that logic,” Rick told him. “But I can’t wait to hear what they’ll decide.”

  Maddox wasn’t looking forward to that either.

  “So what about her?” Rick nodded in Madeline’s direction. “Does she know why she was there? Who that man was?”

  Maddox shook his head. “Nothing. She was there, she thought, to protect the child of a neighbor. She’s very fond of the little girl.”

  Rick’s gaze locked with his, dark eyes widening. Maddox waited for his reaction to what he’d obviously picked out of his mind.

  “And you’re very fond of her.” Rick stated the obvious. “This woman is the reason you conducted yourself as you did, isn’t she? He threatened her.”

  Maddox tried to read Rick’s expression. It was probably just as well he didn’t share Rick’s gift for mind reading. He was probably deciding he’d lost his mind.

  “No, I wasn’t thinking that at all.” A corner of Rick’s mouth curved up into a half smirk. “Who am I to judge you? I fell in love with a werewolf, didn’t I? Besides, you can change her into one of us, make it work.”

  Turning back to gaze at the woman sleeping in the bed, the meaning of Rick’s words ran through his brain. Sure, he’d considered that possibility. But he couldn’t even think about it right now. He’d just saved her life. He had no idea what he’d do with her now. He had even less of an idea of what she’d think of him or the situation she was facing.

  What if she detested him? What if she never wanted anything to do with him?

  “You’ve got a full plate,” Rick pointed out. “I’ll take care of one problem for you. I’ll have my servants take care of the recruiter’s body. It can never be found.”

  Maddox appreciated that.

  “No one saw you? The Lycans?”

  Maddox shook his head.

  “They didn’t see a thing.”

  “What about this child you mentioned? The child of her neighbor.”

  “It was a ruse,” Maddox explained. “They only told her that to get her to accompany them to town. To use her as bait.”

  Rick’s expression was thoughtful.

  “So it’s just the child and one parent?”

  Why was Rick so curious?

  “Because the Lycans will want to know what happened to the recruiter they wanted so badly. This woman -- Madeline, is it? -- disappeared at the same time. They know more about her than him. If this child means something to her, they could use her and the parent to try and draw Madeline out.”

  “I’d never let her off the property,” Maddox assured him.

  Rick cocked a sable brow at him. “What does this neighbor do?”

  Maddox shrugged. “Best I can tell, he tries to find work to feed the child. Madeline fed her half the time.”

  “Because he was unsuccessful or lazy?”

  Maddox hadn’t paid very close attention to the man and his child in all honesty. All he had was his impression of the man.

  “He seems willing to go out day after day to look for work. I wouldn’t say he’s a lazy man.”

  Rick nodded.

  “So they could be brought here? The two of them? He could work for me. He’d be paid well, he could feed his child. They couldn’t be used against her.” Rick tilted his head in Madeline’s direction, his expression thoughtful. “Since she won’t be leaving the property without you, it might even be a small comfort to her. Someone familiar. Her kind.”

  Maddox hadn’t considered that. He was grateful. It was a good plan, at least in the short term.

  “You’re welcome.” Rick’s mouth curved up into a smirk. “Wait. She’s not attracted to the man, is she?”

  Not that Maddox was aware of.

  “Was he ever a… client of hers?”

  So Rick had picked that out of his thoughts? Her profession? Well, her former profession. Very thorough. “Not often.” Maddox knew the answer to that. “He couldn’t afford it.”

  Ricked laughed at that. “Good enough. Now, we need to consider how to get the man and his daughter here safely. The sooner, the better.”

  Maddox couldn’t agree more. “I’ll go. Right now. Offer him a job.”

  Rick shook his head. “Take someone with you. If you have to move against the Lycans, two of you will dispatch them faster. You’ll have a better chance staying beneath the notice of the humans.”

  Maddox agreed. He turned to where Madeline was still out, hoping she wouldn’t awaken before he returned. He didn’t want her more scared than she was already bound to be.

  “Best get going then,” Rick told him. “And, yes, she’ll be scared. I can’t help you with that.”

  Maddox shook his head as he watched his friend lead the way out of the room. After knowing Rick hundreds of years, he wasn’t sure he’d ever get used to his unique style of conversation.

  Chapter Four

  Madeline stretched, very comfortable and warm where she lay.

  Then she started awake. Where was Ivy? Ivy! Her heart thumped in her chest as she took in the enormous bed, the rich blue of the fine coverings draped over her body like a caress. She’d never even seen a bed so fine, much less slept in one, but she couldn’t focus on that. She had absolutely no idea where she was.

  The room beyond the bed was beautiful, clean, and richly furnished. Blue draperies were pulled closed to only allow a sliver of daylight to filter through. At least it was still daytime.

  Madeline just hoped it was the same day. How long had she been here? How had she gotten here? She stretched again, doing a physical inven
tory. No injuries. She felt fine. Her neck was a little sore at the back.

  Shaking, she tried to remember what had happened as she slid to the edge of the bed. On trembling legs, she rose from the bed and headed for that window where a beautiful wooden table and chairs, the likes of which she’d never seen before, sat in an elegant display. Maybe a glance outside would help her determine where she was. She could hope…

  No sooner had she reached the curtain to pull it back than the door opened behind her. Barely a whisper but audible in the silence of the room. “Madeline?”

  Whoever he was, he knew her name. She didn’t know whether to be comforted or terrified by that. Turning slowly, she faced the speaker, staring at the man who slowly closed the door behind him.

  It was an understatement to say he was as beautiful as his surroundings. The man who stood there watching her was incredible. Beyond words. He was tall, nearly as tall as Vincent, with the same wide shoulders and powerful, long limbs. He wasn’t as thick as her werewolf client, however. He was sleeker, elegant.

  His blond hair was swept neatly from his face, shining and straight. His hair was pale, his skin was paler. And the blue of his eyes was the deep hue of a summer sky. The features of his face were a study in perfection, all smooth lines and hard angles. His mouth kept his face from being too hard, his lips softer.

  Yet, once she got past the beauty of him, it struck her. The instinct that something wasn’t quite right about the man who seemed just as absorbed in staring at her as she was in him.

  “How do you feel?” he asked, his voice unlike anything she’d ever heard before. Perfect and silky.

  “I’m fine.” Except that I don’t know where I am and why I’m here. “Who are you?”

  The man smiled then, a gentle smile. Even so, it didn’t make her feel better. “My name is Maddox,” he answered. Madeline waited for him to say more but he didn’t. He just continued to watch her. Had he even blinked?

  Well, her other questions were worth a try. “Where am I? Why am I here?”

  The smile fell away with a speed that had her wondering if she’d imagined it. “You were in the marketplace with Vincent and his men. Do you remember that?” He kept his tone calm, soothing.