Blood of the Maple mg-1

by Dana Marie Bell

  Noah couldn’t quite hide his wince.

  “But my mate didn’t do that. She left you safe and sound in your woodsy cocoons and came home to protect your mates, your cubs. So yes, I think you owe Amara an apology.”

  Noah met his eyes, and for a moment there was the distinct possibility the wolf would attack him.

  Noah took a deep breath and bowed. “Of course.” The man straightened, looking like he’d rather be anywhere but here. “When and where?”

  He was willing to do it in public? Parker jumped on that. “Two nights from now, at Mayor Ibanescu’s Founders’ Day party.” Dragos had considered canceling the celebration, but Amara had pointed out that now more than ever his people needed to relax and remember why Maggie’s Grove had been established in the first place. They needed to be reminded that this was home—for all of them.

  But if they didn’t catch Terri before Dragos’s party, they’d be one giant target. Dragos planned to have a security detail with strict instructions on how to spot Terri and her peculiar brand of magic. Someone would figure out where she was and alert the mayor, who would fetch Parker, Amara and anyone who’d agreed to help them which, from what Dragos had said, would be the entire freaking town. Terri wouldn’t survive very long if she went after the partygoers. Rumor had it the witches had something especially vile planned for the rogue witch.

  Noah sighed. “Of course.” His expression hardened. “But after this our debt is paid and our safe passage through the woods once more secured.”

  Parker nodded. “Done.”

  The wolf held out his hand, and Parker took it. “Done.”

  Greer’s hand landed on top of theirs, making it official. “Done.”

  A public apology from a man who apparently never gave them would go a long way toward repairing Amara’s image. Added to the fact that she’d fought tirelessly for them during Terri’s attack, and soon his mate would be able to walk down the street surrounded by friendly faces.

  It would do.

  “My pack wants to assist in hunting down your strega, Mr. Hollis.”

  Parker’s brows rose. “That’s a term for witch I haven’t heard in a while.”

  Noah smiled. “Would you prefer vomitous mass?”

  “It’s about as accurate. Let’s see. Dragos ripped her head off, but the bitch managed to escape.”

  Noah shuddered. “Neat trick.”

  “She’s fast, she’s got the weeds on her side, she survived being decapitated and the only way we’ll be able to take her out is to chop her up into tiny pieces and burn her to ashes.” He eyed the wolf. “Still want to help me?”

  In answer, Noah cracked his knuckles. Six-inch claws slipped from his fingertips, and his eyes shone with feral light.

  “All righty, then.” Parker grinned. “Have your boys sniff around the areas where rotten vegetation would grow.”

  “Compost heaps would make a great hiding place for someone like Terri,” Greer added cheerfully.

  Noah grunted. “Wonderful.”

  Chapter Eleven

  When she stepped into the all-night café, Amara got a wary nod instead of the scowl that usually graced the owner’s face. Amara ignored it and bought a bagel and a large coffee, then headed straight to the table at the back where Rock sat. Things had certainly changed around town since the dryads had opened up to her, but it would take time before the rest of the town followed suit, if they ever did. “Hey, Rock.”

  “Amara. Here’s the deal. I’m changing your shift.”

  She grimaced. “I don’t blame you. The people will start pulling their kids from the learning program if you keep me there.” She wasn’t happy about it, but she understood.

  “Nah, that’s not why I’m doing it. They don’t like you, fuck them.” Rock rarely cursed. “No, I’m moving you to night shift.”

  “Wait. Since when do we have a night shift?”

  Rock grinned. “It’s mostly vamps and some wolves who prefer the late-night scene. Congratulations, you’re their token dryad.”

  “Why would you stick me with them, then?”

  Rock’s brows rose. “You’re the mate of a vampire. You think your sleeping habits aren’t going to change?”

  Amara wrinkled her nose. “True.” She had been sleeping a lot more during the day. A wolf walked through the door, took one look at Rock and Amara and walked right back out, pulling his cell phone out of his pocket as he went. Amara hid her sigh.

  Hell, maybe she should dig up her tree and move.

  “Don’t let it get to you. I hear Parker was throwing his weight around with the weres. Rumor has it the alpha was going to talk to him.”

  “Oh hell.” Amara stood. “Do you know when?”

  “Sit down and let Parker handle this.”

  “He can’t face Noah by himself!” Noah was the strongest wolf in Maryland, possibly the United States. He’d tear Parker to pieces.

  “If Parker can’t face Noah, he’ll lose what respect he’s managed to build in the pack. And frankly Noah could stand to face someone who isn’t intimidated by him. I get the feeling not much bothers your blood mate.”

  “There are things that make Parker go eep.” Like duct-taped penises, but Parker wouldn’t appreciate her mentioning that.

  Rock shook his head. “Real men don’t say eep.”

  “And they don’t scream like little girls when they see spideys either.”

  Rock blushed. “That was different.”

  “Oh?”

  “I was ten years old, and it landed in my lap.”

  Amara curled her fingers and wiggled them. “Ooooh. Spiiiideeeys.”

  Rock balled up a napkin and threw it at her. “Just for that I’m giving you the graveyard shift, midnight to six.”

  “Bastard.”

  “I will remind you, again, that my parents were married.”

  “Amara?”

  Oh hell. She recognized that voice. She glanced down to see if the cream in her coffee had curdled. “Hey, Kate.”

  “I understand you’re hunting whatever it was that attacked the town hall the other night.”

  Amara stared up into Kate’s icy eyes and wondered what the hell Dragos was doing with her. She was as warm and cuddly as a polar bear. “Yup.”

  “Well?”

  Amara’s brows rose. “Well, what?”

  Rock hid his grin behind his thermal cup.

  “How is the hunt going?” Kate’s tone was full of self-righteous, arrogant demand.

  She held up her half-eaten breakfast. “So far I’ve managed to kill two packets of sugar and a bagel.”

  Kate sniffed. “Maybe we need to get a real hunter to take care of this.”

  Amara smiled sweetly. “You go right on ahead and do that, Kate. Hire a hunter to track down a cursed witch in the forest. See how far he or she gets.”

  “Is that a threat?”

  She snorted, amused. “No. Unless you hire Van Helsings, in which case all bets are off.” Amara allowed some bark to seep over her hands. “You wouldn’t do that, would you, Kate?” Considering how much magic the local witches poured into keeping Maggie’s Grove off the hunters’ radar, it would take a true miracle for them to find out about it accidentally.

  Or a resident would have to invite them in.

  A resident like Kate.

  Kate turned on her four-inch heel and left without another word.

  “Man, I hate that bitch.”

  “Why is Dragos tapping that, anyway? You’d think he could find someone better to sink his dick into.”

  Amara shrugged again. “Don’t know, but whenever I try to ask, he growls at me and refuses to answer.”

  “You don’t think she’s got him under some kind of spell, do you?”

  “Nah. Selena would have noticed something like that and taken care of it. He’s just got tragically bad taste in women.”

  Rock took her hand. “So. This Terri person who’s after Parker.”

  “Yeah?”

  “Your five da
ys’ vacation are up. Your sole job now that you’re back to work is to hunt that bitch until she’s dead. Got it?” Something about the way Rock was watching her scared her. She’d never seen him so bloodthirsty. “I want the threat to our forest and town gone.”

  “You think she’s hiding in the woods.”

  Rock shook his head. “She’s on the mountain, off the trails. I can feel her there, deep in the rocks, and they’re trying to reject her. I’m betting she’s in one of those caves we warn people to stay away from.”

  Damn it. That explained why they couldn’t find her; the only plants that lived in the caves wouldn’t respond to a dryad, and the forest wouldn’t know she was there until she moved out of it. It could also explain why Parker was having such a hard time finding her. The damn lichen-infested caves would disguise her scent.

  “I need to talk to Parker. If you’re right and she’s in the caves, I need him to go hunting with me.”

  A shadow fell over their table. “Mind if I tag along?”

  Amara whirled and stood, ready to fight the pack alpha.

  “Down, girl. I’m no threat to you, not now.” Noah’s hands were out, indicating he’d come in peace. “It appears we have a common enemy.”

  Amara didn’t relax, not by a breath. “Did you speak to Parker?”

  Something cold and ruthless slid across his features before they returned to bland politeness. “Yes.”

  “Is he in one piece?”

  “I can honestly say he was more ready to attack than I was.”

  Rock coughed. “If you two are done pissing around each other, since when are you allowed back in the woods, Noah?”

  “Greer gave us special dispensation to hunt the threat to the town.”

  “And Parker will let you hunt with Amara, why?”

  “I agreed to a public apology at the Founders’ Day party,” the alpha growled.

  “You agreed to what?” Noah never apologized. It went against the macho alpha code.

  “Don’t make me repeat it.” Noah groaned and lowered his hands. “I will hunt with you and help your mate keep you safe.”

  And thus prove to the other wolves that their alpha had accepted her. “Thank you.”

  Noah gave her a swift nod and turned on his heel. “Tomorrow night. I’ll meet you at the foot of the mountain.” He left without a backward glance.

  “Well. That was surreal. Should I start looking for the cameras?”

  Amara picked up her coffee. “Cameras?”

  “Candid Camera. Jeez, what did Glinda allow you to watch on television? Gardening shows? This Old House?”

  Well, those, but there were the other shows Glinda had allowed. Amara ticked them off on her fingers. “Looney Tunes, Merrie Melodies, Tom and Jerry…”

  “Thus explaining your strong desire to drop anvils on people.”

  “Hey, it worked for Bugs.”

  Amara tossed her empty coffee cup and waved goodbye to Rock. She was eager to start her night’s hunting, but first she needed to pick up Parker. She wrenched open the driver’s-side door of her jeep, eager to start.

  “Hello, sweet.”

  Amara screeched and slapped Parker’s stomach. “Don’t do that!”

  Sitting behind the wheel, her vampire laughed and opened the passenger-side door for her. “In a hurry, are we?”

  She ran around the hood and climbed in. She fastened her seat belt with shaking hands. “Shit. You damn near gave me a heart attack.”

  “Sorry. Vampires tend to be good at the whole stalking thing. We can’t help it. It’s instinctive.”

  She rolled her eyes and handed him the keys. “Fine. You’re in the driver’s seat. Drive. Base of the mountain, and hurry.”

  His brows rose, but he started the jeep and burned rubber. “What’s going on?”

  “Rock says Terri is hiding in some caves up on the mountain.”

  “Ah.”

  “If we can flush her out, we can use the forest to find her.”

  He grinned.

  “What? It’s a good idea.”

  “I know. That’s why I mentioned it to Greer.”

  “When did you see Greer?” Amara hung on to the grab bar and prayed for a clean death as Parker took a turn on two wheels.

  “Tonight. He helped me in The Greenhouse with the heavy lifting.”

  Her brows rose. “You wimp you.”

  “I know. What can I say? Perhaps I should have my manly-man card taken away.”

  “Oh, before I forget, I’m supposed to go hunting with Noah tomorrow. Eep!” Parker screeched around another corner, startling some fauns into running for cover.

  “Noah, eh?” Parker’s tone was mild, but when he glanced at her, she could detect red glints in his eyes.

  “He says he’s going to apologize to me publicly. He also offered to guard my back.”

  “Good.”

  “How do you think his pack will take that?”

  “I really don’t give a flying fuck.”

  Amara blinked.

  “Okay, I could if I wanted to, but only with you. Noah doesn’t do it for me.”

  She bit her lip. “Speaking of which, did you know the parking lot of the Sav-A-Lot has security cameras?”

  “It does?” The jeep rumbled out of town, toward the forest and the base of the mountain.

  “Yeah. Rock told me. I know these people. Our asses are going to be hanging out on YouTube.”

  “Nah. Xtube.”

  Amara groaned. “What the hell is Xtube?”

  Parker grinned, showing his fangs “What do you think it is?”

  “Oh Goddess.” She thumped her head against the seat. “What next?”

  The road exploded in a shower of stones and dirt.

  “Down!” Parker roared, ripping the wheel sideways and barely avoiding the poison sumac erupting from the ground. The treelike weed reached for the jeep, cracking the windshield faster than Parker could maneuver away. “Fuck!”

  Amara ducked. At this speed there wasn’t much she could do, but she knew one thing for certain now: Terri was no longer hiding.

  She glared at the sumac trees. “Oh hell. Floor it!” Creeping vines raced down the road after the jeep, leaping from the earth like dolphins in the surf. Parker cursed as the jeep surged forward in an attempt to stay ahead of the vines.

  “If someone else comes along this road, they’re screwed!” Amara was moving so quickly she couldn’t concentrate, couldn’t commune with the plants alongside the road. As she made contact, the delicate thread was lost to distance.

  If she was going to fight, she was going to have to get out of the jeep. “Stop the car!”

  He glared at her. “Hell no.”

  “I can’t fight if we’re moving at a hundred miles an hour!”

  He snarled. “Hold on!” Parker spun the jeep, narrowly missing a tree. “Go.”

  Amara leaped from the car and allowed her hamadryad nature to take over. Thick, flexible bark covered her skin. Leaves sprouted in her fiery curls. She grew three feet, and her clothes fell to shreds. Amara gave in to the fire burning inside her and roared, the sound a challenge and a call to the forest to aid its champion.

  And the forest answered. Roots lifted, branches swayed as the forest came alive and prepared to do battle with the enemy. The trees raked at anything that came within reach, narrowing the field where the weeds could work to a thin section of the road that Amara could somewhat control. The underbrush kept the weeds from getting into the roots of the trees, protecting them from being destroyed.

  Out of the corner of her eye she saw Parker swoop out of the sky and rip into a vine. Bright blood dripped to the ground; he was wounded. The vines had thick, vicious thorns like the ones they’d fought before. They tore at his clothing, ripped into his exposed flesh. Too many wounds like that and he would go down or become lost in his beast.

  Amara surged forward and ripped into one of the thorny vines, snagging a long, whiplike piece. She used it the same way she’d used a s
imilar weed in Parker’s garden, scourging the plants, shredding them. She leaned down and got the thick trunk of one of the sumac plants and tore it from the earth. It was like watching an earthquake. The roots snaked almost twenty feet in every direction. She couldn’t get the leverage to get the damn thing out of the ground, no matter how hard she yanked.

  “Give me that.” Parker grabbed hold and flew upward, pulling the sumac out of the ground and flinging it away with amazing strength. “I’ll deal with those. You handle that thorny son of a bitch.”

  Amara nodded and turned her attention to the vine.

  The yelp of a wounded wolf startled her. A huge black-and-gray wolf savaged one of the thorny vines, a tear in his shoulder dripping blood onto his dark coat. Amara grinned and turned back to her vine. Noah could handle himself.

  “Holy shit! It’s resisting everything we throw at it!” Greer’s voice came up behind her. “Ash, you take the left. I’ll take the right. Mina, take center.”

  “On it.” The dryads moved in sync, battling back the weed with flashing swords and ringing curses. Wherever those swords touched, weeds blackened and withered.

  Where can I get me one of those? Amara flinched as a thorn came dangerously close to her vulnerable eyes. “Oh no, you don’t.” Amara grabbed and pulled, trying to ignore the way the vine wrapped around her arm. Those thorns could penetrate flesh but couldn’t dent the bark that covered her. With a vicious grin, Amara pulled it free of the ground and threw it, careful to avoid hitting one of her allies.

  A deep scream of triumph shattered the night air. She glanced up to find Parker whirling the last of the sumac over his head. The vines were almost gone, the last pocket of resistance being slowly whittled away by Greer and Ash. Amara lifted her head and gave a triumphant shriek.

  “Having a good time, love?”

  Amara grinned at her floating lover. His face was on a level with hers. “Hell yes.”

  “Good fight. Although I never thought it would take quite so much skill and cunning to sneak up on a blade of grass.” Noah’s naked form stalked forward, and Amara tried to stop herself from admiring the strong, broad shoulders and sleekly muscled body. And damn, what an ass the man had! She tilted her head, trying to catch one last glimpse before the wolf moved into the forest.