“So, you don’t even know if they’re alive.” Raven dropped his head and bobbed it several times. “Okay, I get it, but why are we looking for them now?”
“Phillip McCarthy is the simplest answer. We can’t get the location of the Book of the Banished from him. I’m sure you’ve both heard the legends about Halloween.”
“It’s when the veil is the thinnest between our world and the next,” Bannon answered immediately. Of course they’d heard the legends.
“Well, it’s not a legend. If the book has fallen into the wrong hands, what happened in that cemetery in Nevada will look like a fucking Mother Goose fairy tale.”
“Should we not be lookin’ for the book then?”
“The book is untraceable. Besides, we wouldn’t have enough time before the thirty-first. It could be virtually anywhere, though I think it’s a safe bet that it’s still in the U.S.”
“Okay, so let me see if I have this straight.” Raven uncrossed his arms and scratched at the back of his neck. “That spell book is lost, or hidden, or something.” He waved a hand around to indicate the lack of importance to him. “It may or may not be in the hands of some wickedly evil witches who might use it to raise an army of the undead on Halloween.”
Torren simply nodded.
“And where do your brothers fit into this?”
“Now that The Council is undergoing a complete overhaul, it’s time that we all come out of hiding. Our family was charged with guarding the Relegatis, but it was lost after our father died. We have to recover it.”
“Aye, ya do. That’s still not tellin’ us why we’re needin’ your brothers before Halloween.” If Bannon didn’t start getting some straight answers, he was leaving. Being a Tracker was a fine job, but he wasn’t going to go charging into the fire without a damn good reason.
“Raith and Lynk are the strongest besides myself,” Torren said without a hint of cockiness. “We’ll need them if we can’t recover the book before then.”
“You said the book could be anywhere. What makes you think that trouble will be coming to our doorstep?” Bannon glanced at Raven, then back to Torren. It was a reasonable question. Torren was a smart man, though, and always thinking two steps ahead. If he felt the need for added protection, there was still something he wasn’t telling them.
“The Relegatis needs a key to be unlocked. My brothers and I have the key, or more to the point, we are the key.”
Raven’s eyebrows drew together, and he cocked his head to the side. “So, you’re telling me that you unlocked the book for McCarthy’s brother?”
Torren sighed in obvious exasperation. “He didn’t have the book with him, Raven. How could I have unlocked it?”
“Can ya be gettin’ to the fuckin’ point?” Torren wasn’t the only one exasperated. Bannon prided himself on being the most tolerant of his brothers. He was about two seconds from losing a lot more than his bloody patience, though.
“Torren, man, your story isn’t adding up. How did Phillip use the book if he didn’t have the book? And how the hell did he get the spell if the damn thing can’t be opened by anyone other than you and your brothers?” Raven was shouting and snarling by the time he finished his questioning. It was a terrifying look for the vampire, and one Bannon hoped he never saw directed toward him.
Not that he was afraid of Raven or anything ridiculous like that.
He was just smart enough not to stick his neck out where it might be chomped into like a piece of beef jerky.
With that being said, a few things were starting to come together for him in this twisted tale. “Ya think one of your brothers is openin’ the book for McCarthy.”
Torren looked uncomfortable as he nodded. “The youngest six of us have a different mother, a shifter. They’re strong, but would more easily fall under a vampire’s compulsion, especially if he’d been drugged. As for Phillip not having the book, it would be easy enough to memorize a spell. Unfortunately, Phillip memorized it wrong.”
“Once the book is opened…” Raven trailed off, looking as though he was trying to determine how to phrase his question. “Do you need to unlock it each time it’s opened? Or will once do the trick?”
“Each time the book is closed, it must be unlocked with a key, a spell that only the guardians of the book are taught.” Bannon’s head was spinning with information overload. What he knew so far was that Torren had twelve brothers, six of which were hybrid shifters, and all of them were missing. Adding to that, a book that could bring the end of the world as they knew it and could only be opened by a Braddock was currently lost somewhere in the world with a high probability of it having a “key” sitting right fucking next to it.
Gift-wrapped Armageddon. Hooray!
“So, where does this faerie guy fit into all of this?” With all the hoodoo witch talk, Bannon had completely forgotten about the nominated elder of the fae.
Elder Winters shook himself as though coming out of a daze at Raven’s question. “He has nothing to do with the Relegatis. Finding him and bringing him to The Council is imperative, however.”
“And if he’s not wantin’ to come with us?” What Bannon really wanted to know was how much force he’d be allowed to use if the guy didn’t cooperate. Never had he failed to bring in someone he’d been assigned to locate. He wasn’t planning to start with Camdin Maywater.
“Bring him back,” Elder Winters said simply. “Don’t harm him, but bring him back.”
Sighing in defeat and just plain exhaustion, Bannon nodded his understanding. “Galen won’t be comin’.” He’d never made conditions on an assignment before, but this seemed like a good time to make a stand.
“He will. Jory is going to talk to him tonight. I’m sure he’ll be eager to help when he hears what we want from him.” Something inside of Bannon snapped, and he launched himself at Torren. Luckily, before he could do something so incredibly stupid that it would surely end up with his head detached from his shoulders, Raven grabbed him around the waist and hauled him back.
Underneath his rage, Bannon felt betrayed. Not only had Torren gone behind his back, but Jory as well. While he didn’t know the witch that well, he liked the hell out of Jory. The man had become a friend over the past several months, and to know that Jory not only backed the elders but actually played an active role in their deceit was like a hot poker to his chest.
It didn’t matter, though. Even if Galen wanted to help, he was staying his ass in Haven where he’d be protected. No way in hell was Bannon going to let his small mate go traipsing across the country looking for witches. So what if they’d be together the entire time? So many things could go wrong. Bannon had seen it time and time again.
Neither elder flinched or batted a lash at Bannon’s violent reaction. “What if I allowed you to choose a guard for him? You’ll need assistance anyway. Pick four Enforcers to travel with you and help protect Galen.”
“No,” Bannon growled, still struggling against Raven’s hold.
“Bannon, we don’t have time for this. Galen can help. In fact, he’ll be crucial to finding Camdin. You’re the best Tracker we have, but your abilities will only take you so far. He’s not a child. If he chooses to go, you can’t stop him.”
“Ya just watch me.”
“I can place a protection spell on him. Would that change your mind?”
“No.”
Torren threw his hands in the air and growled. “You are the most stubborn son of a bitch I’ve ever met. We need to find these men, and we need to do it in a big goddamn hurry! He’s going. If I have to, I’ll send him alone!”
Bannon stopped struggling and glared at Torren murderously.
They had him by the balls, and there was nothing he could do about it.
He had no doubt that they’d smuggle Galen away and send him off to who knew where on his own, or most likely with some other Tracker not nearly as skilled as Bannon.
Shrugging off Raven’s hold, Bannon jerked his head in grudging acceptance. He didn’t
trust himself to speak, so he gave the elders one last withering look before turning and stomping out of the office.
Elder or not, Torren Braddock would soon realize that being on a Murphy’s shit list was the last place he wanted to find himself.
Chapter Three
“Are you sure Stavion is okay with this?”
“Who cares?” Jory and Malakai answered in unison before falling together in fits of laughter. “Seriously,” Jory continued, “you worry too much. Just grab some floor and watch the movie.” He covered his mouth to muffle his giggles as he bumped his shoulder against Malakai’s. “It’s a gay vampire movie about finding eternal mates.”
“Is there sex?”
“Well, I sure hope so!”
“Is it porn?” Aslan asked in a stage whisper.
Jory snorted and rolled his eyes before crawling across the floor to put the DVD into the player. “No, perv, it’s not porn.” Aslan shrugged unconcernedly. “I’ve seen the kind of movies you like. Low-budget porn would probably be better.” Unfortunately, Galen had to agree. Jory was into indie films, which was all well and good, except the ones he liked were suckage like no other. He’d forced them to watch one that vaguely resembled a high school play shot by an overexcited mother’s handheld camcorder. Vaguely resembled, because Galen was pretty sure that high school plays had much better acting.
“You’ll like this one,” Jory announced as he snuggled under a blanket and curled up on the pile of pillows in the middle of the floor.
“He says that every time,” Kendall scoffed. “Have any of you yet to like something that Jory found entertaining?” All eyes turned to Malakai, who blushed crimson all the way to the tips of his ears. “Hey, some of them weren’t that bad.”
“By some, he means all, because he’s as bad as Jory.” Aslan stuck his tongue out when Jory flipped him the bird. “Whatever. Just don’t wake me up if I fall asleep during the opening credits.”
“I’m not sure this has opening credits,” Jory said distractedly as the movie began.
Galen glanced at the television and groaned. A cheesy chase sequence in black and white. Oh yeah, this one was going to be a winner.
Surprisingly, as the movie continued, he found himself riveted.
The lines were still corny and repetitive, and the deliveries of those lines groan-worthy. There were plot holes, additions of characters that made absolutely no sense, and one scene almost too embarrassing to watch because of its lameness.
The romance between the two lead characters was what held his attention. The vampire searching for his destined mate finally finds the one, only to have everyone and everything stand between them.
Even the love interest was standing in the way of their happiness.
Was that what Galen was doing with Bannon? He’d practically had a lifetime of happiness tied up in a bow and hand delivered.
They’d only know one another for a few months, hadn’t moved past the friendship stage, and yet Galen couldn’t imagine anyone on earth he’d rather have as a mate.
Only, he didn’t have a mate. He was human for all intents and purposes. Sure, he had a special gift that kind of loopholed him into the paranormal world, but it was nothing to write home about.
Bannon said they were mates, though. Why would he lie about something like that? He’d purposely sought out Galen, befriended him, and then set forth to more or less court him. Now, he wanted something more. Galen wanted more, too, but he’d been down that road before, and to say that it hadn’t ended well would be a gross understatement.
“Galen?” A hand landed on his shoulder and shook him lightly.
Jerking out of his inner wonderings, he blinked up at Jory and tried to smile. “Is the movie over? I guess I kind of zoned out for a bit.”
“No problem. Kendall’s getting the next movie started. I was asking if you wanted anything from the kitchen.”
“Nah, I’m good.” His stomach felt like it was in knots, and the mere thought of food made it twist painfully. “Maybe some ginger ale if they have it, though.”
Jory’s eyebrows drew together in concern. “Are you feeling okay?”
Before Galen could answer, though, the door to the suite pushed open and Boston and Flynn strolled in, dressed in nothing but sleep pants. He should have felt ashamed for ogling his friend’s mates, but damn, those were some fine-looking men. Not nearly as gorgeous as Bannon as far as he was concerned, but still, nothing to sneeze at.
“I’m tired,” Boston said, apropos of nothing.
Malakai tilted his head a little and grinned. “Then go to bed.”
“Not funny, a ghrá.” Flynn crossed his arms over his chest and mirrored Malakai’s head tilt. “Dawn is comin’.”
“Not for another two hours, it isn’t. Besides, there are shutters in here the same as the rest of the place.”
“Please?” Boston gave his mate a look that Galen assumed was supposed to be puppy dog eyes, though it just looked absurd on the huge shifter.
“Oh, I love when you beg. Do it again.” Malakai was having way too much fun teasing his mates. It was fine by Galen since he found it immensely comical. Flynn growled and tried to cross the room but ended up getting tangled in the blankets and pillows covering the space between him and Malakai and landed on his ass like a ton of bricks. The room exploded into laughter, and Galen was sure he’d ruptured something from laughing so hard.
“A fine mess you’ve gotten me into, Malakai Bruins.” Flynn struggled to free himself and stand. “If you’re not movin’ in two seconds, I’ll be carryin’ ya out by your toes.”
“Oh, begging and punishment,” Malakai purred. “How can I possibly say no to that?” Though he said it in a teasing manner, Galen saw the fire in his eyes as he stared up at his big shifters. Did he have a similar expression when he looked at Bannon?
“Thanks for inviting me, guys, but I’ve got to run.” Malakai blew them all air kisses before jumping into Flynn’s arms and rubbing against him as they left the room with Boston following close behind.
“That was sweet,” Kendall said with a goofy smile on his face.
Poor Aslan was out cold and never even twitched throughout the entire scene.
The words were barely out of Kendall’s mouth before the door opened again and Cassius strolled into the room with a hot, hungry look in his eyes. “I have a babysitter.” Apparently, those four little words were laced with magic because Kendall jumped up from the floor, sprinted across the room, and launched himself into his mate’s arms. His legs went around Cassius’s waist, and he attacked the vampire’s mouth with enough energy and enthusiasm to light a city block.
When the two disappeared, Galen just kept staring at the door, waiting for Stavion to burst into the room at any second, snatch up Jory, and end their little slumber party. A hazy fantasy of Bannon coming for him teetered at the edges of his mind, but of course, that would never happen. He’d done everything in his power to make sure of that.
“I didn’t think they’d ever get here,” Jory mumbled as he switched off the television and moved to kneel in front of Galen. “I have something to tell you. First, I want you to know that you don’t have to do it. No one will think any less of you, but it’s important, and if you can help—”
“Jory, just spit it out.”
“Torren and Layke want you to help Bannon find a faerie and a couple of witches. I don’t know all the details, but the witches are Torren’s brothers, the faerie is important, and it’s all centered around some spell book that’s going to wipe us off the face of the planet like the dinosaurs.”
“Bannon is the best Tracker around. Why do they need me?”
“I don’t really know that, either. I do know that bad shit might happen on Halloween if you can’t find them, and you and Bannon working together is likely to move things along faster.” Galen couldn’t argue with that. He wasn’t opposed to helping at all. It was spending every waking moment with Bannon for the next couple of weeks that scared the
hell out of him. How was he supposed to resist the guy while being in such close proximity?
Maybe you don’t have to, a little voice whispered in the back of his mind. “I’ll do it.”
Jory stared at him silently for a moment before he sighed.
“Bannon isn’t going to like this. He’s going to want you to stay here where it’s safe.”
“Of course he will,” Galen answered with a smile. “He’s just like every other alpha male on the planet and thinks just because we’re small that we can’t take care of ourselves.” Jory smiled, but he didn’t look very happy. “No, dummy, it’s because he loves you.”
“No.” Galen shook his head quickly and firmly. They were not going to discuss the L word. “Let’s just stick with the macho alpha thing, okay? That makes me a lot less nervous.”
“Why are you so nervous?” Jory inched closer and reached out for Galen’s hand. “You two are so perfect for each other. He’s good to you and obviously cares about you. Why don’t you want to be with him?”
“It’s not that.” He squeezed Jory’s hand and closed his eyes. “I’m scared,” he whispered. “I’ve been down this road before, and I can’t do it again. Trust me when I say that I know how the story ends, and it’s not happily ever after.”
“What happened?” Jory asked just as quietly. “Who hurt you, Galen?”
“Just someone I knew once.” To his intense relief, the front door of the suite opened again, and muffled footsteps sounded across the carpet. Blinking open his eyes, Galen’s mouth fell open and his body began to tremble.
He’d expected to see Stavion, coming for Jory with that same heat in his eyes as the previous three visitors. Proving that sometimes fantasies do come to life, though, Bannon stood just inside the doorway, staring down at him with a mixture of need and something that could only be described as desperation.
Haven 4: Back Roads Page 3