by Julie Wetzel
Phelan took the sprayer and several of the bottles of water.
“Make sure she knows to keep the water away from the twins,” Elliot warned as the wolf started out. “It could kill them.”
The werewolf raised his hand, showing he’d heard.
Krissy watched in shock and confusion as Elliot fussed around. He pulled a black leather bag from the floor and started to empty it on the desk. Unable to take it anymore, Krissy interrupted him. “What are we doing?
“Preparing for war,” Elliot said. When he finished emptying the bag, he picked it up and shook it out. Once it was completely empty, he laid it on the desk and turned to the bookshelves. “Darien should have everything we need. I just have to find it.” He pulled an old, worn ledger from the shelf and started flipping through it.
Krissy came closer and looked over the accumulated supplies. She didn’t see how any of it could prepare them for a fight, but she couldn’t stand being idle anymore. “What can I do to help?” Over the last two days, she was introduced to things that defied her reasoning, and she needed something to do to keep her mind from trying to analyze the impossibilities she was asked to accept.
Elliot looked up from his book and considered her. “Do you really want to help?”
Dumbfounded, Krissy stood there and stared at him for a moment before answering. “Of course.”
Setting the book down on the table, Elliot spoke as he made his way around the desk. “You have the potential of changing the outcome of the wolves’ fight, but it’s a dangerous path.” He stopped just in front of her. “Are you sure you want to take it?”
Krissy mulled over her decision. Fear raced up her spine at the idea of a dangerous path, but she couldn’t say no when she knew her help would make the difference. “What do I need to do?”
Elliot gave her a nod and closed the distance between them.
She tried to back away, but he caught her in his arms and laid a kiss on her lips. It had the potential to be a really great one. All the motions were right, but the emotions behind it fell flat. What should have been passionate was cold and calculated. Krissy pushed against his chest, but she couldn’t get out of his embrace.
“Elliot,” Phelan roared as he came back into the room. Red colored the edge of his vision as he grabbed the vampire by the shoulder and ripped him away from Krissy. Jealousy warped his thinking as he turned on his downed friend. His hand scooped up one of the small bottles on the table as he passed.
The world seemed to slow for Krissy when Phelan came into the room. His rage filled her as he pulled Elliot away and slung him across the room into one of the bookshelves. Her brain couldn’t keep up as she watched the vampire slide down the wall to land in a pile of broken shelves and scattered artifacts. It wasn’t until Phelan picked up a vial of holy water that she was able to react against the emotions coursing through her. “Phelan!” She grabbed his arm before he could lob the bottle at Elliot.
Phelan spun on his heel and growled at her.
Krissy recoiled, but held on tight.
The look in Phelan’s eyes was primal and matched the swirl of his feelings. After a second, realization dawned on him, and he blinked. Fright replaced the wild look in his eyes, and he looked down at where her hand restrained him. “I’m sorry,” he mumbled and shoved the bottle of water at her. He was out the door before Krissy could recover.
Letting out the breath she’d been holding, she looked down at the container in her hand. The glass was cracked, water dribbling out over her finger. Unsure what to do, she looked to where Elliot sat on the floor.
“Go after him,” Elliot urged as he started to recover from the fall. “He’ll head towards the roof. There are stairs next to the elevator.”
Krissy clutched the broken bottle to her for a moment before turning and racing out of the room.
***
Elliot watched as Krissy ran out the door. His back ached from where he had landed in the shelf, but it was a small price to pay for what he’d done. Shifting around, he did his best to make sure that the stuff behind him had settled before he got up. Thankfully, the shelf with all the fragile items was safely behind Darien’s desk. Drawing in a deep breath, Elliot started to clean up some of the mess. Darien wasn’t going to be happy that he’d broken the shelf, but he’d probably understand once Elliot explained it.
Thinking over his actions, Elliot forced himself to not regret what he’d done. He didn’t like interfering in someone’s fate, but the potential had been there, and he’d done what he needed to do to ensure they won the night. Hopefully, Krissy and Phelan would forgive him for forcing them down a path without explaining it. But that wasn’t very likely when they found out what was yet to come.
***
Krissy didn’t know what was going on, but she knew she needed to find Phelan. Hitting the door at a run, she raced up the steps, still holding the bottle of water. Her mind churned, trying to make sense of what just happened. The kiss from Elliot had surprised her, but it was Phelan’s response that stunned her. He’d turned on his friend without thought or remorse. Her fingers slid over the damp glass as she climbed. Elliot had warned them that holy water could kill vampires. Had Phelan intended to kill Elliot for kissing her? She pushed through the upper door and stood in the sunlight, blinking.
An elegant patio was on the roof. There were potted plants and lounge chairs scattered around in a cozy setting. Krissy shivered in the cool air as she glanced around for Phelan. For a moment, she thought Elliot had been wrong, but she found the agitated werewolf standing in the corner, looking out over the heart of Brenton. As she got closer, she could feel his emotions rolling off him. Anger and fear bubbled together on the surface, but they weren’t as strong as the feelings running underneath. The warmth that lay there was unlike anything Krissy had ever felt. It wasn’t love or desire. These were simple emotions compared to the soul-deep need eating at him.
As she drew closer, Phelan perked up but didn’t turn around. He drew in a deep breath. “I nearly killed him.”
The words were so soft that Krissy almost missed them. She stopped and stared at Phelan’s back, reading the set of his shoulders. There was regret there. “Why?”
Phelan turned around to face her. His silvery blue eyes shimmered with something inhuman. “He touched my mate.”
The inside of Krissy’s mouth went dry. She swallowed, trying to find something to say. She didn’t understand the full meaning of his words, but she knew they were life changing for both of them.
Dropping his eyes from her gaze, Phelan looked back out at the city without turning away from her. “I don’t understand it.” He took a step towards the wall and rested his hand on the stone blocks. “Mating bonds don’t just happen overnight.” There was confusion in his voice as he spoke. “It takes time and dedication to build a relationship strong enough for a bond to form. Yet, I feel it.”
Krissy chewed on her lip as she came over to stand next to him. “What does it mean?”
Phelan stood for a moment in silence. “It means I’m yours.” He turned his head to look at her. “Until death breaks the bond.”
Looking up, she met his eyes. She didn’t know what to say to such a declaration. There was devotion in his words that she could feel echoing in his emotions. The only time she’d seen anything like it was in a duck whose mate had been hurt. The uninjured bird had put up such a fuss they had to cage him before they could get to the hurt bird. Unfortunately, the mate died from her wounds, and the healthy bird pined itself to death. With thoughts of that poor duck in her mind, she broke eye contact with Phelan and looked out at the city. “But I don’t even know you. What happens if we annoy the hell out of each other?”
Phelan laughed softly at the irony. “Then we don’t get along.” He stared out over the city for a few moments. “But it won’t affect you much. Humans don’t feel mating bonds the way wolves do.”
Concerned, Krissy looked up at him and waited for him to go on.
“Werewo
lves live a long time,” Phelan explained. “It’s not unusual for werewolves to lose control as they get older.” He looked over at her again. “Our mates ground us as we age. They keep us focused and give us a reason to live. That’s why it takes so long to build a mating bond.”
A random thought passed through Krissy’s mind as she looked up at Phelan. “Were you working on mating with someone else?” The question left her heart skipping as she waited for his answer.
Phelan smiled and shook his head. “I’m not old enough to need a mate.”
She studied him, trying to guess his age. He couldn’t be more than thirty. “How old are you?”
Phelan glanced away. He leaned forwards and rested his elbows on the stone wall. “Nearly seventy,” he said as he stared at his hands and picked his nails.
Krissy’s head reeled. He was older than her grandfather would have been. “Wow.” She set the little bottle of water on the ledge and held on to the stone to ground herself.
“Yeah,” Phelan went on. “I’ve been the second in the Brenton pack for nearly fifty years now.”
“And how long do werewolves live?”
Phelan shrugged as he worked over a rough edge on his nail. “Two or three hundred years, depending on their situation.”
“And when do they start looking for a mate?”
“We’re always looking,” Phelan said with a half-hearted grin. Seeing she needed a more-genuine answer, he went back to being serious. “But we start getting serious about it around eighty. Most need one by the time they’re a hundred.”
“But I won’t live to be a hundred,” Krissy said in protest.
“As my mate you will.”
Krissy turned to meet his eyes again, bewilderment all over her face.
“The bond will lengthen your life, but only a full transition to wolf will give you the rest of the benefits a mating bond can offer,” he explained.
“Does this mean I’m going to be a werewolf?” she asked. There was a hint of fear in her voice.
Phelan turned and took her hands. “No,” he said, shaking his head. “I would never force that on you. Although, being a werewolf isn’t as bad as in the movies.”
“But they’re still dangerous,” she said in a pointed tone.
“Only for the first few moons,” Phelan defended. “Once a new wolf has learned to control their shifts and gotten used to the changes, they aren’t any more dangerous than normal people.”
Krissy glared at him.
“Everyone has their moments,” Phelan pleaded. “We’re doing our best to keep our troubles to ourselves.”
A soft sigh slipped from Krissy as she relented. “I know,” she soothed him. “And I’ll help you the best I can, but that isn’t important at the moment. What are we going to do about this bond thingy?”
Phelan exhaled and turned Krissy’s hands lose. “There’s not much we can do.” He turned and leaned on the wall again. “The only thing that will break the bond is death, but, as I said, humans don’t feel it the same way, so it shouldn’t bother you much beyond lengthening your life.”
She touched his arm, making him look at her again. “But it’ll bother you.”
He gave her a one-shouldered shrug. “I’ll learn to live with it.”
“But you won’t be happy.”
Phelan didn’t respond.
The thought of him unhappy for the rest of his life hurt. “How do mating bonds start?”
Confusion crossed Phelan’s face. “Like any other relationship starts. Attraction.”
“And do you find me attractive?” Krissy asked.
Phelan stood up straight surprised by her question. “Of course.”
A smile bloomed on Krissy’s face. “That’s good, because I like you too. What’s next?”
Turning, Phelan took her hand again. “Then, I guess, it would be courtship.”
“Like dinner?”
Phelan smiled. “Yes, like dinner.”
“Then I accept,” Krissy said with a smile.
Phelan raised an eyebrow at her in question.
“You can take me to dinner after this is over.”
Reaching out, Phelan wrapped his hand around Krissy’s back and pulled her to him. “I would like that.”
She placed one hand on his chest and held herself away from him. “On one condition.”
Phelan froze. “And what’s that?”
“Apologize to Elliot,” she demanded.
Phelan’s rigid posture melted.
“You could have seriously hurt him.”
“I know,” Phelan said in a downtrodden tone. “I’m sorry. I… I wasn’t thinking.”
“You were reacting.”
Phelan nodded.
Krissy considered the whole situation. “I don’t think you’ll have any more problems from Elliot.” She had a sneaking suspicion the vampire had somehow orchestrated the whole thing, but couldn’t figure out why. She moved her hand and leaned into Phelan’s embrace. “I think he’s learned his lesson.”
A soft rumble echoed up from Phelan’s chest as he held her tighter. “You never know with vampires,” he teased. “Sometimes they need… reminding.”
She hugged him hard before stepping back. “Well, don’t make his reminder too harsh.” She plucked up the broken bottle from the ledge and placed it in Phelan’s hand. “You could really hurt someone with this.”
Phelan looked down to find water leaking out over his hands. “Yeah. And Elliot doesn’t deserve that.” He squeezed the bottle in his hand, thinking of the kind of damage the contents could have done. “We should probably go back now. He didn’t bring us up here for games. Something’s going on, and I need to find out what.”
Krissy nodded. “I agree.” She grabbed the hand still around the bottle. “Are you better now?”
Looking up, Phelan could see the concern in her eyes. He smiled at her. “Yes.” He stepped forwards and wrapped his arm around her shoulder, pulling her into motion. “And as long as Elliot keep his hands off you, I’ll be fine.”
“I promise you he will,” she said, falling into step and wrapping her arm around his waist. “Or I’ll break them.” Elliot’s little display had caught her off guard, but there was no way she was going to let him do it again. She glanced up at Phelan and felt how content he was to have her at his side. All these new things in her life still left her unsettled, but she knew one thing for sure—her future was connected to the man at her side, and she wanted a chance to explore those possibilities.
Phelan watched Krissy’s back as he followed her into the office. His mind ran over the events of the last day. He couldn’t figure out how he’d bonded with her so quickly. Mating bonds were difficult. They usually took years of learning to live with a chosen mate before the two would sync up enough to bond. Yet, he’d managed to do it with a complete stranger overnight.
He considered her. Her dark hair was wrapped up in a messy bun on the back of her head. His eyes ran down her petite frame. Phelan didn’t usually like small women, he’d always found them fragile, but there was something about her that drew him. She had just enough curve to soften her edges. It made him want to hold her close so nothing could ever harm her. He shook his thoughts away. He’d have time to ponder how they came to be joined later; right now, he had to find a way to give the wolves a fighting chance in this war.
Phelan stopped and looked around at the mess he’d made. The shelf he’d thrown Elliot into was smashed and the dislodged items were piled along the wall. He prayed that nothing delicate had been broken during the fall. The bookshelf could be replaced, but Darien would be hot if any of his artifacts were damaged. Phelan looked over the stack on the desk next to Elliot. The vampire was standing there with an open book as if nothing had happened. His earlier streak of anger boiled back to life. “Elliot,” Phelan called. He needed some answers.
Elliot looked up from his book. “Oh, good. You’re back.” He flipped the book closed and dropped it to the desk.
This
surprised Phelan. There wasn’t any animosity or accusation in the vampire’s voice. He didn’t even seem bothered that Phelan had flung him across the room and nearly doused him with holy water. Phelan’s hand tightened around the broken bottle. “What the hell is going on?” he demanded.
“Hell would be a good word for it,” Elliot said as he sat down in the chair and scooted to the desk. He pulled out a pad of paper and started scribbling on it while he spoke. “Since the boys are done salting the place, and I’ve sent Karl to seal all the mirrors, I think it’s safe to tell you now.”
Krissy and Phelan exchanged a concerned look.
“Seal the mirrors?” Phelan asked.
Elliot glanced over the list he’d made, checking to make sure he hadn’t missed anything. “Yes,” he said. Pulling the paper off the pad, he tucked it inside the leather bag before looking up at his friend. “I had to make sure we were safe before we started.”
“Start what?” Krissy asked.
Elliot cocked his head and gave her a mysterious look. “Saving the wolves.”
Tired of all the games, Phelan slammed the bottle of water on the desk. This grabbed Elliot’s attention back from Krissy. “Saving the wolves from what?”
A half smile curled across Elliot’s face as he leaned forwards and spoke softly. “A daemon.”
Phelan stood there, shocked.
Elliot sat back and started pulling things out of the leather bag. “Your wolves aren’t simply losing control,” he explained. “They’re being possessed.”
“Are you sure?” Phelan asked as he watched Elliot. There was no way the stack of things Elliot was producing from the bag could have actually fit in it. The pile of pens, glue, and leather twine started to slide as the vampire pulled a jigsaw out and dropped it on top. Phelan reached his hand out and caught the pile before it could fall from the desk.