The Keeper Saga: Wynter's War, Charmed, and The One (The Boxed Set Book 2)

by K. R. Thompson

  I shifted back to my wolf, wanting to be able to protect my pack and Nikki opted to walk with Ed.

  “You could ride on my back,” Erik offered, for once being serious.

  The look Ed gave him was steely. He didn’t bother with a reply, only marched through the trees in front of us, leading the way with Nikki by his side.

  Erik shrugged and shifted. Oh well. I tried, his screen told me as we followed them back home.

  It was dusk when we made it to my grandpa’s house. Somehow knowing we were coming, he opened his screen door and motioned us in, his dark eyes locked on Ed, who was cradling his hand.

  “You sit over here,” he told Ed, pointing him to a chair by the window. Then he turned to me. “What dark magic have you brought with you?”

  Unable to meet his gaze, I stared at the green carpet on the floor. “It was one of the Deadlands, Grandpa. We were told to search there.”

  “Who told them to search there?” This question, he aimed at Nikki.

  “The Spriteblood,” she said meekly.

  He switched over into our language and began muttering under his breath as he collected odds and ends from his cupboards. Several words weren’t worth mentioning in any language and I felt my face go red, happy that while Nikki was a whiz with English, she didn’t know our words.

  He plopped down across from Ed and began crushing sage into a wooden bowl. Then he scooped it onto a flat shell and lit it with a lighter. Chanting, he fanned the smoke toward Ed’s face for a few moments, then stood and covered each of the rest of us in the same manner.

  The darkness lifted and the atmosphere cleared, then he returned to his seat across from Ed, carefully taking a small bundle from his pocket. He unwrapped it slowly, revealing the smooth surface of the Wolf Stone.

  Taking Ed’s hand, he laid it directly on the wound. The Stone’s magic came alive and the ghostly howl of a wolf echoed in the room. Ed’s wolf rose to the howl, his cream-colored mist surrounding him.

  The puddle of blood in his palm bubbled and changed direction, making its way back inside of his body, the gash closing as the last drop disappeared. The skin where the Stone sat was unmarked, as if nothing had happened.

  My grandpa’s dark eyes narrowed as they came back to me. As U-la-gu, it was my responsibility to watch out for my pack and he was wasting no time to remind me of that. “I suppose you’ll take greater care next time.” Not a question, but a statement of fact.

  “Yes, sir,” I said, smiling when the serious moment broke and I saw the twinkle appear in his eyes.

  “Off with you then,” he said, shooing us out the door. “Jeopardy will be on soon and you have places to be.” He pointed to Nikki. “Her mother will be looking for her and if she gets angry with you, that is something I can’t fix.”

  As the door shut behind us, I turned to Nikki. “He’s right, you know. If I don’t get you home soon, your mom is going to kill us.” Ed was standing behind her, gingerly flexing his hand. “Everything okay now?” I asked.

  “Never better,” he nodded.

  “All right, let’s go,” I said, shifting to my wolf.

  “Huh-uh,” Nikki said as she looked at the woods, then toward my Jeep in the driveway across the street. “You’re driving me.”

  With the adventure we’d just had, I couldn’t blame her for not wanting to go through the woods again to get home, so we hopped into my car.

  “How many Deadlands are there?” she asked as she buckled up.

  “Quite a few. We’ll start searching them one at a time now that we’ve been given a hint from Wynter. Hopefully the rest of them will be easier to go through than the one we did today. I’ve never seen one take on a personality of its own like that before. It was strange,” I frowned.

  She reached over and took my hand in hers. “Promise me you’ll be careful.”

  It was a wonderful feeling, knowing someone cared for you enough to worry. I smiled and leaned over to kiss her. Then I gave her my promise. “Always.”

  We searched Deadlands for days, working our way from the ones closest to town to the ones deep within the forest. My pack and I spent hours upon hours combing every inch of terrain. Thankfully, nothing out of the ordinary happened in the Deadlands while we were there.

  But something did happen while we were gone.

  The former cheerleading captain, Tiffany, went missing—seemingly vanishing into thin air. According to my dad, she had been at school one day and the next, she was just gone. The last one to see her had been Brian and he was being treated as a suspect. I knew it was bothering Nikki, so I stopped by before we left to search another Deadland.

  As we snuggled up on her front porch swing, I felt a sudden urge of protectiveness that was unexpected.

  “I don’t want to leave you,” I whispered, telling her my secret before she could read it in my thoughts. I brushed a kiss against her forehead. “Something is telling me I shouldn’t go—that I shouldn’t let you out of my sight.”

  “I don’t want you to go, but you have to,” she said, laying her head against my chest.

  “I know.” I wrapped my arms around her, holding her close. “But I really don’t want to go this time. I’ve missed seeing you, but this is different. It’s a strange feeling that I’ve got.”

  “I’ve missed you too, but everything is fine,” she said, tilting her head back to look me in the eye.

  A brisk, cool wind rocked the swing and we swayed gently with the breeze.

  If it weren’t so dangerous for the others to search alone, I’d stay right here with you tonight.

  “Ooh, that would be nice,” she joked.

  “You know what I mean. Besides, your little sister is inside so we have to behave,” I scolded her, reaching around to pull the soft band that was holding her ponytail. It came loose and blonde spirals bounced across her shoulders. “It would be nice to stay with you, but something in my gut is telling me to stay so I can protect you. It started as soon as I sat down here with you. I can’t explain it.”

  “What’s going to happen is that I will be cheering my little heart out with the rest of the squad in a little while as you and the pack go search another Deadland. Hopefully, our evil blonde Barbie will bring her skanky butt back and grace us with her presence,” she said, then blew a strand of hair back from her face.

  The first game of the football season was that night and I had completely forgotten about it. Perhaps I hadn’t, I decided. Maybe that was the reason for the sudden feeling of unease. My subconscious was reminding me of it by wanting to protect Nikki from toppling off the top of another pyramid.

  Which she wouldn’t be doing, as Tiffany was nowhere to be found…and there had only been one person who was a suspect in her disappearance.

  “Dad says they are still keeping an eye on Brian. He was the last one to see her,” I said in a neutral tone, not wishing to upset Nikki.

  “He didn’t do anything to her, Adam. You know that.” Her tone told me that I hadn’t succeeded. “She could have just run off to get attention. You know how Tiffany is. Besides, your dad already took him in and questioned him.”

  “How did you know that? Did Brian decide to answer your calls? As far as I know, his own mother doesn’t even know they questioned him. Dad made sure she was patrolling the other side of town when they brought him in.” My voice was matching hers now, hard and serious, and I immediately felt sorry for saying those words.

  “No, he didn’t call me,” she whispered, her eyes filling with tears. “Mom saw him there and she told me.”

  “I’m sorry, Nikki,” I took her hand in mine. “You’re probably right. Tiffany more than likely ran off to get everyone in an uproar. It’s something she would do. I didn’t mean to upset you. I know you care about him, but I don’t want you to get hurt.”

  “Brian didn’t have anything to do with it, Adam. You’ve got to believe that.”

  “He probably didn’t. I’ve known Brian for a long time and he’s always been a good guy,”
I conceded. “But something has changed in him. Everyone is noticing it. He’s not the same guy you met a few months ago. Promise me you’ll be careful. Really careful…okay?”

  “Okay,” she whispered. “I promise.”

  A howl erupted from nearby and Nikki jumped. I sighed. I’d been so focused on her that I hadn’t even noticed the arrival of my pack. I should have at least sensed them, but I had been too preoccupied and they’d managed to sneak up on us.

  “They’re waiting for me,” I said wryly. “Erik’s not known for his patience and his timing usually sucks.”

  She laughed and got up from the swing with me. I hugged her close, the anxious feeling still as strong as it had been when I first arrived. “I’ll be back as soon as I can,” I promised, as much to her as to myself. I leaned forward and kissed her one last time.

  “I love you,” I whispered as the kiss broke, then I ran to catch up with my brothers, shifting as I ran. As always, I turned and waited at the edge of the woods, watching to make sure she was safe inside before I left, part of me still wanting to stay and make certain she stayed that way.

  She’ll be okay, I promised myself. The football game starts in an hour or so. What could possibly go wrong there?

  Chapter 14

  The Deadland we were searching was deep in the forest and it was larger than most, lying between the mountains in a deep valley. We were there for a few hours, combing the terrain inch by inch and all the while the horrible feeling that I’d had when I was with Nikki only grew stronger.

  Something wasn’t right and this wasn’t the place I was meant to be. I’d gotten used to the fact that I never seemed able to know where Nikki was when I was in a Deadland. It was as if the magic there was so strong, it had been able to build an impenetrable wall, letting nothing else in or out.

  So when we made it out and I still didn’t feel her presence, I got worried—fast.

  I glanced up at the dark sky. She should surely be at the football game—and I should be able to know that she’s there.

  But there was nothing.

  How could there be nothing?

  I concentrated harder. Still nothing. I turned and began running. I would go back to the last place I had seen her and pick up her scent and find her that way, even though I’d felt her presence at the football game before we’d entered the Deadland.

  My brothers were silent as they raced behind me. Feeling my fear, they bounded with me through the trees, running faster than we ever had as a pack.

  We have to get back. Something is so very wrong.

  Erik was the first one to send a message, though I knew he was thinking to himself. Still, the screen popped up in my head. What if she isn’t alive…

  A few images from the others flitted through my head for the barest of seconds, each worrying about where she could be and what could have happened to sever the link between us.

  Then, a different image came…from an unlikely source.

  I hadn’t picked up anything from Reuben in such a long time that it startled me when it happened and had one tree not picked up its roots as I came flying past, I would definitely have tripped.

  The image was of a young woman at a football game. She was walking, but when she turned I recognized her immediately. Though she was younger, I knew her as Brian’s mom—one of my dad’s deputies at the police station.

  It was a memory, I realized, and for some reason, Reuben was projecting it to us. When the next image soared into my head, I knew two things. First, there was no way he had knowingly sent us that memory, and second, I knew that Darren would never be a Keeper. That memory showed the entire pack what had happened to Brian’s mother behind the bleachers—and it was more than explaining the reasons for Brian’s odd behavior.

  But why is Reuben remembering this and projecting it so strongly that we’re picking it up?

  I didn’t get to think about it any further, because the connection between Nikki and I came alive. She was afraid and hurt, but she was alive!

  Faster! I urged my brothers. I know where she is!

  I had made a wise choice in wanting to go back to her house, because I sensed that she wasn’t all that far away from it. She was in a Deadland, right at its border, which explained why I hadn’t picked up on her whereabouts.

  I began picking up images from another wolf—one I had never met. Through his eyes, I saw Nikki, standing at the edge of a pit, her eyes wide and frightened. Then another image pushed that one away and I saw the silver wolf who was Reuben, snarling and charging.

  It seemed to take forever to make it and when we did, the scene in front of us wasn’t a good one. Reuben lay dead, his throat torn away and Brian and his mother sat a short distance from him. Brian was cradling his arm while his mother held him fast.

  My eyes finally found the one I was searching for. She stood by herself a few yards behind them. “Nikki!” I shouted, bounding over to her. I grabbed her up close to me. I squeezed her once lightly and sat her down, needing to see her face. “Nikki, how? I couldn’t…” My words wouldn’t come out right, so I gave up and scooped her back up, holding her to me as close as I could.

  I stared over her shoulder at Reuben’s body, my nose picking up the stench of old death and blood that clung to Nikki, my mind piecing together what had happened. One of the scents on Nikki belonged to the missing hiker, Meghan. I turned my head toward the pit, noticing the smell was much stronger there.

  We had found the Trail Killer, but not before he had found Nikki.

  She was picking up on my thoughts as I squeezed her tight. She buried her face in my hair. “I’m okay. Brian saved me. He’s your sixth Keeper.”

  “I swear, I’m never leaving you again. Ever. I’ll never let you out of my sight.” I glanced over at Brian who was flexing his arm, having completely healed. His eyes were wide as he bent it first one way and then the other, wondering what was happening. The full moon glowed above him, casting its beams down on his dark hair. It couldn’t have picked a more perfect time to give him his wolf.

  The wind shifted and I picked up on a scent that wasn’t wolf at all. I twisted, placing Nikki firmly behind me as my pack flanked us. I could feel her shaking as her body brushed against my back.

  It’s okay, I promised. We won’t let anything happen to you. I’ll keep you safe, I promise. Stay close to me.

  I reached back and took her hand.

  She peeked around my shoulder. “What’s wrong? Is he still alive?” she asked, looking toward Reuben’s still form.

  “No,” I said, “look over there.”

  Three cats sat at the edge of the clearing. A couple of them stretched out lazily, as if watching us was the most boring thing on the planet. Their tails told me otherwise, twitching to and fro. Their leader sat in front, not bothering to act disinterested in us. Then he stood and the other two followed his lead.

  As they slunk toward us through the tall grass, the wind changed direction again, covering their bodies with a golden sand that appeared out of nowhere. Michael yipped behind us, fidgeting with excitement.

  When the wind died down, three guys stood in front of us.

  “You’re early,” I said to their leader. All three had hard expressions, as if they were ready to fight, and to anyone who didn’t know them, it might have been convincing. But I knew better.

  I felt Nikki sway at my side, and I pulled her closer while the lead cat’s gaze locked with hers. His nostrils flared once and he snorted.

  “I don’t smell that great. Sorry,” Nikki mumbled.

  That announcement broke the façade and he grinned, shaking his head. He looked back up at me. “You know we love a party. It kinda looks like we’re late, not early.”

  I clapped him on the shoulder. “It’s good to see you, Rune. I’m glad you’re here.”

  As my pack mixed with his and everyone began talking, Nikki went limp in my arms.

  Her head lolled against my shoulder and I felt the knot on the back of her head that I hadn’t
realized was there. “I need to get her to a hospital!”

  Anita, Brian’s mother, stood up. “Let’s get her there. My cruiser is at the edge of the woods.”

  We all sat in the emergency room’s waiting room as Dr. Stevenson checked on Nikki’s injuries. She had come to on the way, and insisted she was fine, but we still took her anyway. Anita called her mom and when she showed up, the two disappeared behind the swinging doors, leaving me to sit next to Brian.

  His blue eyes were bloodshot and his shoulders were hunched forward. Learning about who he was and the reason why he’d be given the gift of a wolf hadn’t been an easy one and I felt horrible that he’d had to learn about it the way he had.

  “Listen, I want to say I’m sorry,” I said quietly. “I was hard on you earlier when I thought you were interested in Nikki.”

  He looked up and his eyes narrowed, letting me know that he was still interested and that was one thing that hadn’t changed.

  I ignored that and continued, “I didn’t know you were going to be a part of my pack or I would have helped you. Sharing your soul with a wolf isn’t an easy adjustment, even if you know it’s coming. I can’t imagine how hard it was for you and for that I am sorry. We’re here for you now, though, and if you need anything, you only have to ask. You are pack.”

  He gave me a short nod, but didn’t say anything, his attention turning back to the swinging doors where his mom came back through.

  “How is she?” Brian asked as we both sprang out of our seats.

  “She has a concussion and she has scrapes and bruises, but she’s going to be fine. They are going to keep her for a few days to keep an eye on her, though.” She turned to Brian. “I’m going to go back out there. I need to talk to the sheriff and tell him what happened. Do you want to come with me or do you want to stay here?”

  “I’ll stay,” he mumbled and sat down.

  A few hours passed and we sat side by side, not saying anything. Then, Nikki’s mom came out. I’d expected her to ask questions, but it seemed Brian’s mom had answered whatever questions she’d had.