by Julie Wetzel
Disturbed by the sudden change in the hardheaded woman, Krissy turned questioning eyes up to Elliot, but he didn’t move. The seconds ticked by as he held Vanessa in his gaze.
“Of course,” Vanessa finally answered. She turned from Elliot, breaking their connection.
Josh grabbed Vanessa’s hand and pulled it into the crook of his arm. “Come on, darling. We have something special for you.”
More power brushed over Krissy, but it didn’t have the same pull as before.
Vanessa melted into Josh’s arms, and he guided her out the door into the darker foyer.
Beth glanced at the gathered group of supernaturals before turning so Jakob could lead her out behind his brother. There was a hint of fear on her face, but Jakob wrapped his arm around her shoulder and whispered reassuring things to her as they left.
“I thought you said you weren’t going to do that to her again?” Karl said as he raised a questioning eyebrow at Elliot.
“No,” Elliot said, looking down at the werewolves on the floor. “She told me I wasn’t going to do that anymore. I agreed as long as she would listen to reason.” He glanced back at the door where the stubborn woman had disappeared. “She wasn’t going to listen to reason tonight.” He looked back at Karl. “And I didn’t feel like standing here all bloody night arguing with her.”
The wolf on the floor let out a snicker.
Karl ran his fingers through Sue’s thick fur as he agreed.
Krissy’s eyes moved around the room as her brain processed the scene. Her gaze moved from the doorway where the twins had taken the girls, to the floor where Karl and Sue were still resting, past Phelan standing by the couch, and ended by looking up to the vampire who’s hand was still on her shoulder. “What just happened?”
Phelan chuckled. “Elliot enthralled her.”
“I did not,” Elliot protested as he dropped his hand away from Krissy’s shoulder. “I simply reminded her that she’d rather spend the evening with the twins instead of tangling around in werewolf business.”
“Something I’m sure she’ll give you grief over later,” Karl said as he stood up from the floor.
“I’m sure the boys will give her plenty to keep her mind occupied tonight,” Elliot added as he started around the end of the love seat. “She’ll be lucky if she even remembers we were here.”
“Wait,” Krissy said as she tried to wrap her brain around what had happened. “I don’t understand. Did you just make her go with those guys?” She gave Elliot an accusing look.
Elliot rested his hand on the back of the loveseat. “I didn’t make her do anything,” he explained. “She’d already decided to spend the night with the twins before we interrupted them. I simply put her back on the path she’d already chosen.”
Krissy’s eyes narrowed at his answer. “How?”
“It’s a vampire thing,” Karl explained.
Krissy turned so she could see Karl without really taking her eyes off Elliot. “Explain.”
“Vampires can put power behind a suggestion to convince someone to do something,” Phelan explained.
Taking another step back, Krissy gave them all a suspicious look. “Like convincing me to help the werewolves?” The moment the words were out of her mouth, she knew the accusation was unfounded. In her heart, she knew helping the trapped wolves was right. It wouldn’t take any coercion to get her to help those in need.
Elliot gave her an understanding smile. “My dear Miss Midlton, I could probably convince you to help if you had refused, but it would have taken a great deal of power to make you change your mind. And then, the suggestion would have worn off long before we’d gotten to where you were needed. And I cannot make you do anything. There are some vampires who can truly control people, but I don’t have that power. I can compel people, but if something goes against one’s nature, the act will break the compulsion.”
“It’s like hypnosis,” Karl added.
Krissy glanced between the two in confusion. “But I thought you could be hypnotized to do anything?” She’d seen several shows where hypnotists had made people do some really strange things.
“That’s a common fallacy,” Elliot said. “Hypnotists can only make you do things you are already willing to do.”
“But I’ve seen it,” Krissy said.
“Tricks,” Elliot continued. “It’s easy to convince the mind that things aren’t what they appear to be. It’s much harder to force someone to do something. They come to their senses well before they can compromise their morals or beliefs.”
Krissy let his explanation hang as she considered it.
“Are you going to help us or not?” Phelan finally asked. There was a pleading note in his voice that touched Krissy’s heart.
“Yes,” she said with a nod.
“Then we should probably get a move on.” Elliot patted the back of the love seat twice, urging everyone into motion. “It’s starting to get late.”
Krissy stood there, unsure what she should be doing as the rest of the room started moving towards the foyer.
“Do you want me to come with you?” Karl asked Phelan as he came closer.
Phelan looked down at the pregnant werewolf. “When is she due?”
Karl drew in a deep breath and let it out. “Soon.”
“Then stay here,” Phelan said. “She’s going to need you close when the time comes, and I don’t dare take her out of here while Ross is still out there.”
Karl nodded in agreement and turned to lead the way into the foyer. “Then let me get you a shirt.”
“Thank you,” Phelan said, following him out.
“Miss Midlton?”
The sound of Elliot calling her name pulled Krissy from her thoughts. She turned to face the vampire standing behind the couch with his head cocked in question.
“Sorry,” Krissy said as she pulled herself together and started towards the door. She hurried to catch up to Phelan leading the way into the darkened foyer. The lights brightened as Elliot followed her in.
His hand fell away from the slider that controlled the overhead lights. “I don’t know why everyone insists on wandering around in the dark,” he grumbled.
A snicker from Phelan pulled Krissy’s eyes towards him. The tense werewolf seemed more at ease with himself than he had been all night. She studied him while he moved across the now well-lit room towards what looked like a bedroom.
Karl disappeared inside for a moment before coming back out. He held a dark green shirt out to Phelan. “Here.”
“Thanks,” Phelan answered.
Krissy’s face heated as she watched the well-toned man strip out of his coat and hand it over to his friend. She curled her fingers into fists as she remembered how solid the muscles of his chest had felt. At the time she had touched him, her mind was on other things, but seeing him without his coat made her insides flutter with something that wasn’t fear. It was a weird sensation to have in light of everything that had happened that evening. She placed her hand over her stomach to try to quell the feeling as she watched him pull the shirt over his head.
“Here,” Elliot said, interrupting her thoughts.
Krissy turned to see that the vampire was holding a dark coat out for her. “Thank you.” She turned and let him help her into the jacket. It was a little big on her, but it wasn’t large enough to fit any of the men she’d seen. She settled it around her shoulders. “Whose is this?”
“Vicky’s,” Elliot replied as he went to get his jacket out of the closet. “But don’t worry about it. She never wears it.”
Pulling the heavy wool material around her, Krissy inspected it. It was a gorgeous jacket with two rows of large buttons and large lapels like a military pea coat. “Why not?” If she had a jacket like this, she would wear it at every possible chance.
Elliot shrugged into his leather jacket. “I’m not sure. I think it was one of Darien’s whims.”
This raised Krissy’s eyebrows in question and made her wonder who could buy such
a lovely coat on a whim. It felt horribly expensive.
“Are we ready?” Elliot asked, turning to look over the group.
“Yes,” Phelan said, pulling his coat back into place.
Krissy nearly jumped out of her skin when Zak barked next to her feet. She glanced down at the small dog, startled to see him there. She hadn’t heard him follow them in from the other room. Looking back up at Elliot, she nodded. “I guess.”
Zak rubbed against her leg before heading over to Elliot and barked again.
Elliot chuckled and pushed a button on the wall.
Krissy was surprised when an elevator pinged open, but she shook it away. Elliot was a vampire, so it made sense that they were in some subterranean lair where he could ride out the day in darkness.
“After you, my dear,” Elliot said, holding his hand over the door so it wouldn’t shut.
Nervous about being trapped in the space with a werewolf and vampire, she hesitated for a moment before stepping inside. Zak barked at her, and she scooped him up. She moved all the way into one of the back corners, even though there was enough room for all of them inside the spacious room. Having Zak in her arms gave her some comfort in the unusual situation. Her mind played with what type of building she would find when they stepped out overhead. The inside had been a very nice apartment, but the movies always had posh vampire lairs buried deep beneath rundown warehouses and decrepit old buildings. Her heart lurched when Elliot punched the lobby button and the elevator started to drop.
“Down?” she whispered.
“What was that?” Elliot asked.
Krissy shook her head and held Zak tighter. She felt foolish telling them she thought they would be going up. Running her fingers through Zak’s fur, she scratched him as they waited. A thought tingled at her mind, and she looked down at the small dog purring in her arms. “How is he supposed to protect me from the werewolves?”
Elliot and Phelan exchanged a worried glance.
“I think we should probably explain that in the car,” Elliot said.
Phelan nodded his agreement.
“Okay…” Krissy said, drawing out the word. She didn’t like the fact they were holding back this information. “And if I don’t want to help after you tell me?” she asked, not sure if she had already passed a point of no return.
The men exchanged another worried glance.
Phelan let out a deep sigh. “We can’t make you, but you’re our best hope.”
Krissy nodded and cuddled Zak to her. She couldn’t see how such a small dog could protect her from an enraged werewolf, but she would wait to see what they had to say before she made any rash decisions.
When the door slid open, Elliot stepped out into a short hall.
Krissy’s eyes widened, and she clutched Zak closer to her. This was definitely not what she expected. Her eyes darted over the elegant hall. Light glistened off the dark wood trim and white marble floors. Phelan cleared his throat, breaking into her shock. Stepping out of the elevator, she hurried down the hall to catch up to Elliot. She gasped as the hall opened on a grand lobby. The humongous crystal chandelier dominating the two-story room drew her attention. She spun around, following the sweeping lines of a staircase that curled its way up to a balcony.
“Good evening, Mr. Warren.”
Startled by the unknown voice, Krissy twisted around to face a uniformed man behind a mahogany counter.
“Good evening, Ethan,” Elliot said with a nod of his head. “I trust all is well.”
“As well as can be expected,” Ethan replied. He swept his eyes over the group, stopping on Krissy. “I see your friend is feeling better.”
“Much.” Elliot raised his hand and waved to the concierge. “Have a good night.”
“And you as well,” Ethan said in parting.
Elliot led the way to the large double doors and held one open.
Krissy pulled her eyes away from the man standing behind the desk, stepped out onto the sidewalk outside the building, and drew in another amazed breath. She spun around and looked up at the classic architecture of the apartment building. She knew where they were. This was the end of town that drew big money. Who the hell were these people?
“What did you do to him?”
Phelan’s question drew Krissy’s gaze away from the building.
Elliot gave Phelan a confused look as he followed his friend out of the building. “Who?”
“Ethan,” Phelan said, nodding towards the door.
Krissy looked back at the door. She could just see Ethan leaning over the desk to dig back into some book.
Elliot glanced back at Ethan. “Nothing. Why?”
“He didn’t say anything to us when we got here,” Phelan said as he glanced at Krissy. “Just welcomed us and held the door. I was sure he was going to call the police when Rupert and I showed up all bloody.”
“Oh, that.” Elliot shrugged the worries away and started down the street. “I called to let him know you were coming, but I think he’s starting to get used to our brand of weird.”
“Do you think he’s on to us?” Phelan asked, moving to walk next to Elliot.
Krissy stood still, watching the two men as they chatted and walked on. They weren’t paying attention to her at all. She glanced the other way down the road. There was a corner not far. She could be off and gone before they even knew what happened. She hesitated for a moment longer, thinking about escaping. A gurgle in her arms drew her attention down.
Zak stared up at her with those amazingly intelligent eyes.
Resigned to the decision she’d already made, Krissy started after the two men. If she were quick, she might have been able to get away from them. She might even be able to convince herself that this was all a bad dream. But she would never be able to escape herself. The guilt of knowing her escape meant those people would continue to suffer would eat at her. She hurried to catch up to the men.
“I’ll have Darien check into it when he gets back,” Elliot said to some question Krissy missed.
“Good. He’s a good man,” Phelan replied.
Krissy’s attempt to make sense of the men’s conversation was cut short when they stopped beside a silver SUV.
Elliot reached out and opened the back door. “My lady,” he said, holding it for her.
Surprised, Krissy glanced over at the car. She had seen nice vehicles before, but this one took the cake. “Is this an… Audi?” she asked when she recognized the emblem on the car.
“It’s one of Darien’s,” Elliot said with a shrug.
“What happened to your car?” Phelan asked as he walked around the back of the SUV to get in on the other side.
Elliot shot Zak a nasty look. “Someone decided to eat it on the way home from the wedding.”
Zak growled at Elliot and wiggled around in Krissy’s arms until she released him. He jumped into the open door.
“Get in the front,” Elliot ordered. “And don’t chew on anything.”
Another growl issued from the dog, but he jumped into the front driver’s seat.
Confused, Krissy climbed into the backseat to find Phelan had already taken up the seat next to her. She cocked her head and stared at him. The seating arrangement seemed strange. “Shouldn’t you be up front?” she asked, pondering why the werewolf had chosen to sit next to her. Putting Phelan in the front made more sense than giving the little dog shotgun.
“No,” Phelan said with a hint of amusement coloring his eyes. “Elliot knows where he’s going, and I think it would be best if Zak was in the front for this.”
Krissy turned back to the little dog. He looked so cute and harmless prancing around on the driver’s seat.
“Move,” Elliot said as he opened the driver’s door. When Zak turned around, he patted the little dog on the rump.
Zak snapped at him before jumping over the gap between the seats and out of Krissy’s line of sight.
She turned back to Phelan and cocked her head in question. “Why?”
&nb
sp; Phelan let out an amused noise. “Elliot,” he said, calling for the vampire to answer her question.
Krissy turned her attention to the front again.
Elliot sat down in the driver’s seat and adjusted his mirrors. “Do you still want to know how Zak is going to protect you from the wolves?” he asked as he pulled away from the curb.
She looked down to find Zak peeking around the edge of the seat at her. “Yes?” she said tentatively. From the way they were acting, she wasn’t sure if she really wanted to find out.
“Show her, Zak,” Elliot said.
Krissy moved so she could see into the passenger seat in front of her.
Zak gurgled and circled on the seat, but nothing happened.
“Come on, Zak,” Elliot coaxed. “She needs to know.”
She leaned closer as Zak whined and kneaded the seat with his front paws. It was clear the little dog was unhappy about something.
Finally, Zak stopped moving and looked at Krissy. He gurgled and shook himself.
Screaming, Krissy jumped back as the long fur morphed into tentacles. Unable to take her eyes off the horror in the front seat, she scrambled backwards, looking for a way out. Phelan’s arms came around her. He pulled her down to sit in his lap where she couldn’t get away.
He hushed her soothingly.
Unable to break his hold, Krissy stopped struggling and stared at the monster in the front seat.
“He’s not going to hurt you,” Phelan reassured her.
Krissy turned to look at Phelan before refocusing on Zak.
He watched her with beady, black eyes while his tentacles twitched back and forth, but he did not make a move towards her.
Reaching his hand out, Elliot sank his fingers into the wiggling mass of tentacles. “Zak may look scary, but he’s a big sweetheart.” The tangly bits wrapped around his fingers as he scratched.
A soft laugh rumbled up from Phelan. “When he’s not trying to eat you.”
Krissy glanced at the amused werewolf before looking back at the disturbing mass in the front seat. Her eyes widened as she realized Zak had a hold of Elliot’s hand and was moving it towards a mouth that held an impressive amount of sharp teeth.