by Donna Grant
Addison had told him some of her past, but he wanted to know more details. As difficult as it had been for her to share what she had, he was loath to ask more. So, instead, he went to the Internet.
It didn’t take him long to find her father, Colonel James Moore, and the malfunction of his jet during a training exercise. There hadn’t even been a body to recover. His search for Addison’s mother took a bit longer since he didn’t know her first name, but eventually he found where she died from ovarian cancer.
Addison’s aunt and uncle took no time to learn about. The article he read explained how the couple had been under investigation by the FBI for years, but they’d been unable to get any proof until five years ago – when Addison had left.
Fury burned within him. The idiots lived in poverty because they didn’t want to share any of their stolen money with Addison. She worked herself to death just to make a better life, when her family had the means to make it easier for her.
It was a good thing they were already in custody of the FBI because Myles seriously contemplated paying them a visit – in wolf form.
He wasn’t rich, but he and his brothers were comfortable, thanks to the money left to them by their parents. The four of them had invested that money and recouped enough to buy the bar, leaving a little bit extra for each of them. Myles had invested his money once more and returned a much larger profit, which netted him the building. With his tenants, he was bringing in enough that he lived very comfortably.
Myles could give some money to Addison, but he knew she wouldn’t take it. She had done everything herself so far, and she wouldn’t stop now. He closed the laptop and set it aside. Then he rose and walked from window to window looking out to see if the wolves from the Moonstone pack had answered Kane’s call.
A guy with dark hair reaching his jaw looked up from his post on the corner across the street and met Myles’s gaze. Kane had the relationship and interaction with the pack outside of New Orleans, but Myles recognized another werewolf when he saw one.
He nodded to the guy who quickly moved into the shadows. Myles found three more wolves stationed around the building. Normally, the LaRues handled whatever cropped up in the city themselves, but they’d learned the hard way that when it came to Delphine, they couldn’t do it alone.
Ever since Delphine had taken over as priestess thirty years earlier, the Quarter had gone to shit. The tentative peace Myles’s parents had instituted between the factions after five long years was destroyed in a single night.
The peace hadn’t been the only thing wrecked. His family had been, as well.
A sigh passed through his lips when he felt Addison’s small hands wrap around him from behind. She rested her head on his back and held him tightly.
“You look as if the weight of the world rests on your shoulders.”
He covered one of her hands with his. “It feels that way at times.”
“Want to talk about it?”
It was never spoken about, and maybe that was the problem. Maybe keeping it inside, letting it fester and rot only made things worse. “You never asked why we hate Delphine so much.”
“There was mention of her cursing Kane.” She shrugged. “I figured that was it.”
Myles turned around in her arms and rested his hands on her small waist. “There are many reasons my brothers and I detest her. The fact she tortured one of our friends, Jack, for years, and then cursed Kane to try and kill Jack’s daughter ranks pretty high. She also has an affinity for killing for the fun of it and keeping our city in constant terror.”
“Why don’t the police do anything?”
“She controls most of them.”
Addison nodded slowly, a frown forming. “You want to kill her.”
It wasn’t a question. “More than anything.”
“Why?” she whispered.
“Because she killed my parents.”
~ ~ ~
Addison hadn’t been prepared for such a statement. She stared up at Myles trying to find the right words.
“My parents worked tirelessly to bring about an accord between the vampires, demons, witches, wolves, djinn, and those involved in Voodoo. It worked. After three months of peace, my parents left us behind and went out to celebrate.”
She didn’t want to hear any more, and yet she couldn’t tell him to stop.
“The restaurant was one known as neutral ground for all the factions. Delphine blew it up.”
“Oh God,” Addison mumbled, feeling sick to her stomach.
“My parents were far enough from the blast that they weren’t killed, just badly injured. My father had a shard of steel in his leg, but he still carried my mother through the rubble outside.”
Addison closed her eyes, but the picture Myles painted was clearly visible.
“Delphine and her people were waiting for anyone who tried to get away. My parents were killed with a knife to the heart.” He snorted, a rueful smile playing upon his lips. “I was watching TV with Solomon when we heard, and felt, the explosion. We woke Kane and Court up and went to see what had happened. That’s when we found my parents. They were facing each other, their hands linked. They looked so peaceful that at first I didn’t believe they were dead.”
Addison covered her mouth as tears seeped between her lids and fell upon her cheek. The horror that Myles and his brothers endured was beyond imagining.
“You can conceive the chaos such an event would cause, and yet Delphine, clad in her white clothes, stood with her people watching with a smile upon her face. I tried to kill her then, but Solomon held me back. He’d seen what I hadn’t.”
She blinked open her eyes and sniffed. “What?”
“Delphine had sent men to kill us.”
Addison shook her head, unable to fathom such a thing. “What? Why?”
“My parents weren’t just powerful, they had a lot of influence in the city, and especially the Quarter.”
The way he spoke, the conviction in his voice spoke volumes. If his parents were so active with the supernatural factions, then that must mean they were somehow a part of it. Suddenly, Addison knew to the depths of her soul that Myles was a werewolf.
She licked her lips and wiped at the tears. “Y’all obviously got away from Delphine.”
“Not without some help,” he said, his eyes looking over her head and going distant, as if he were lost in the memories. “Our parents had a lot of friends. Some human, some not. Together, they got the four of us out of the Quarter. An old witch who was close to my mother did a cloaking spell that kept Delphine from finding us.”
“Where did you go?”
Myles looked down at her. “We moved around constantly, just in case. It wasn’t until all four of us were strong enough to take care of ourselves that we came back to the Quarter.”
“Were your parents’ friends still around to help?”
His lips thinned slightly. “A few. Most were killed by Delphine.”
Addison backed up, leading him to the couch. She gave him a little push so that he sat, a small smile playing about his lips. It did her heart good to see even a hint of his smile. It meant the memories hadn’t kept their stranglehold over him.
His arms snaked out and wrapped around her. He pulled her back, toppling her into his lap. They looked at each other, sharing a grin. Myles tucked a strand of hair behind her ear before tracing the shell with the pad of his finger.
“You’ve not asked,” he said.
“Asked what?”
“What my parents were. What I am.”
His voice was low, as if he hated saying the words. “Are you embarrassed by what you are?”
“No,” he said forcefully. “Never.”
“Good. I’ve not asked because it’s easy to deduce that you’re some faction of the supernatural.”
His bright blue eyes narrowed on her. “Which one?”
She trailed her thumb over his lip and recalled the flash of yellow. “Wolf.”
Surprise flickered in
his eyes before a frown marred his face. “How did you know?”
“When we made love...your eyes flickered yellow.”
Myles’s jaw went slack. “What?”
“Didn’t you know they did that?”
“No. They’ve never done that before.”
Addison raised her brows. “And you’re always looking in a mirror when you orgasm?”
“No,” he said gruffly. “But it’s something a woman would remark upon, right?”
She had to agree with him. “Right. What do you think it means?”
“I’m not sure. I’ve never heard of it happening before.”
With a sigh, she rested her head on his shoulder. “You know why Delphine wants me, don’t you?”
“I do,” he replied softly.
“Tell me.”
His arms came around her. “Remember when I told you she went after Jack’s daughter?”
“Yeah. That’s when she cursed Kane.”
“Exactly. That daughter, Ava, is engaged to Riley’s brother, Lincoln. They live in Lyons Point near Lafayette, which has always been a hotbed of paranormal activity. It recently drew a witch who had been running from Delphine for years after watching Delphine kill her mother.”
Addison clicked her tongue. “Delphine really needs to go and step on a Lego.”
Myles burst out laughing, his chest shaking as it went on for a moment. He was finally able to take a deep breath. “Do you have even one mean bone in that body?”
“Yes.”
“I doubt it,” he said, still chuckling. “The witch, Davena, ended up being more powerful than Delphine expected.”
“Delphine wanted to kill Davena, too?”
“That’s what we all thought, but it turned out Delphine wanted to recruit her. Davena told her to kiss off in no uncertain terms, while demonstrating just how strong her magic was.”
Addison lifted her head, trying to connect all the dots. “I gather Delphine wasn’t happy.”
“Until now, there hasn’t been anyone to challenge her. Davena fell in love with another of Riley’s brothers, Beau, so she has no interest in coming to New Orleans now. But she will.”
“And Delphine is nervous,” Addison surmised. “How does taking me help her? I don’t have magic?”
He rubbed his hand up and down her arm. “You are pure of spirit.”
“What? Not possible. Trust me on this, Myles. I’ve done bad things.”
“Name one,” he dared.
She opened her mouth, searching her memories. “Oh! I once left without paying for my coffee.”
Myles looked at her as if that were ludicrous. “That’s the best you can come up with?”
“I’ve said mean things.”
“Like the Lego statement?” he questioned. “That’s not mean.”
Addison pushed away from his chest and stood. “I’m not a good person. I’ve missed church, I’ve not left tips because I didn’t have the money, I’ve said hateful things behind my aunt’s and uncle’s backs. Oh! And I even cheated on an exam. Well, only two questions of it, but it was still cheating.”
“You’re adorable,” he said with a sexy grin.
She plunked down on the wooden chest that served as a coffee table. “Why does she need someone pure in spirit?”
“Between you and a witch, she can combine magic with purity and give her own power a boost,” he explained, his face gone serious.
Addison lifted her chin. “Fine. How do we stop her?”
CHAPTER TWELVE
For hours, Myles walked the roof of his building. Addison had been like a dog with a bone. Once she learned the details, she wasn’t content until she began to research. He gave up his computer and watched as she jotted page after page of notes from her findings. For his part, he was on the phone, calling friends to see if they could give him any more information than what the witch had already given him.
All he was able to discern was that Delphine was making waves with all the factions. No wonder the vampire came after Addison. The factions were worried, scared even. If Delphine gained more power, she would be unstoppable.
Myles braced his hands on the edge of the roof and leaned over the side. The Moonstone wolves were still on guard, though they were doing a good job of remaining hidden. They wouldn’t be able to remain hidden for long, however, since night approached, and it was still in the phase of a full moon.
He couldn’t believe Addison had guessed what he was. After everything he’d divulged about his past, he assumed she would piece it together that he was part of a faction. But she had been so sure of her answer.
With a shake of his head, Myles chuckled. He knew his eyes had never flashed yellow before. Did she know it was him that killed the vampire? Was that why she wasn’t afraid?
His mobile rang. Myles withdrew it from his pocket and saw it was Solomon. “Hey.”
“Hey yourself. How are things?” Solomon asked.
“They’re quiet. Too quiet.”
“I know. I feel it too.” Solomon released a breath. “The Moonstone pack will have to leave soon. I don’t like the idea of you being there alone if Delphine shows up.”
Myles continued to walk the perimeter of the roof. “This entire block is specifically warded against her. She can’t get in here. As long as Addison stays inside, she’s safe.”
“And you?” Solomon asked. “What about you?”
“We’re werewolves, brother. We protect the city and keep the factions in line. We have few allies and many enemies. It’s a fact that no one in the LaRue or Chiasson line lives long.”
Solomon was quiet for a moment, the sounds of the kitchen at Gator Bait coming through the phone. A moment later, the squeak of the back door sounded, and then silence. If Solomon had walked outside, then Myles wasn’t going to like whatever he had to say.
“Spit it out,” Myles said.
“I think Kane, Court, and myself should come help you.”
Myles was flabbergasted. “And leave the Quarter unmonitored during a full moon? Have you lost your mind?”
“You’ve been looking at Addison for weeks, and today, that wistful look changed to one of possession. Wolves mate for life, Myles.”
“No shit,” he said icily.
“There’s a very real chance that no matter what we do, Addison could die. Today, tomorrow, next week. She’s not going to stay holed up in your place for long. Delphine will kill her. Trust me, Myles, you don’t want to go through that.”
Myles sat on the edge of the roof. “You want me to walk away from her?”
“I wan-”
Solomon’s words were suddenly cut off. Myles stood, apprehension flooding him. “Solomon?” he yelled.
The sound of boards breaking came through the phone, and then the growl of a wolf.
“Shit!” Myles turned around in a circle, unsure of what to do. He didn’t want to leave Addison, but if Solomon turned in the middle of the day, it was because he was ganged up on. And if Court and Kane were inside the bar, they would never know.
Myles slammed his hands down on the concrete of the roof edge, cracking it from his supernatural strength. He drew in a breath and opened his eyes to see the dark-headed wolf staring up at him.
He pointed to the entrance to the building, telling the wolf to watch it, and then he turned and jumped from roof to roof, making his way to the bar. Myles landed at the back of the bar breathing heavily. One look showed that a fight had taken place. All but one side of the fence had been obliterated. There were bits of white fur and blood about.
He leaned his head back and sniffed. Yet, he couldn’t pick up Solomon’s scent outside of the bar. Myles strode to the back door and threw it open. As he entered, he turned his head to the right and found Solomon leaning over the sink, bare-chested, washing blood off his arm.
~ ~ ~
Addison winced as she stretched her back. All of her research proved how dangerous a Voodoo priestess could be. Nothing she discovered gave her any hope that Del
phine could be stopped with anything other than magic, however.
She rose from the table and walked around the space stretching her neck from side to side. Myles had gone to the roof to have a look around. He was trying to make her think it was all going to be all right, but there was no denying things were serious and everyone was on high alert.
Addison wished she had Minka’s number. She’d give the fortune teller a call and see if there might be something she could do.
Her stomach rumbled loudly. A glance at the clock showed it was six in the evening. The sun wouldn’t set for another two and a half hours, meaning there was plenty of light outside still. But it was dwindling quickly.
It was silly to think that evil only came out at night, but darkness seemed to hide evil so well. She hadn’t been scared in the daylight, but with each tick of the clock’s hand, she was becoming more and more frightened.
Her cell phone rang, startling her so that she let out a small scream. When she reached for it in her purse, her hand was shaking.
“Hello?” she answered.
“Addison?”
She closed her eyes with joy at recognizing Myles’s voice. “How do things look from the roof?”
“Normal. I called the bar for some food about ten minutes ago. It should arrive any moment. I want to make one more round before I come in.”
“No problem. I’ll get the food.”
She disconnected from the call and set the phone by the laptop. She didn’t bother with Riley’s flip-flops as she opened the door and hurried down the three flights of stairs. Addison tried to look out the glass window of the entrance door, but she couldn’t see anything. She then opened it a crack and poked her head outside.
Movement from her side had her turning her head toward it when something froze her muscles in place. She tried to scream, but her airways were closed off.
~ ~ ~
“What are you doing here?” Solomon demanded angrily when he spotted Myles.