by Harper Wylde
My gaze wandered over the various bystanders. People watching had always fascinated me, and I observed the crowd while I debated how the messenger would find us. It wasn’t like we had a supersecret code word or anything. Other than identifying us as shifters, they had no way of knowing that we were their initiates.
“Could it be any more crowded tonight?” a smirking woman with blonde hair questioned, as she shimmied her way up to the bar and squeezed in beside me. Her curves were encased in a red dress that showed ample cleavage and plenty of thigh, and the men at the bar noticed. All I could think about, however, was how cold she must have been walking from the parking lot to the front door.
A moment later, I sensed the shifter in her, and I took a deep breath to scent her animal or mythological. Smell wasn’t my strength, but I thought I caught a hint of feline.
“I’m Emma,” she introduced herself with a smile, before she popped open her clutch, and pulled out a few bills that she slapped onto the bar before hollering her drink order at the male bartender a few feet away. “Hey, hot stuff, how about two blow jobs?”
A large, possessive hand landed on my shoulder as Theo gave her his full attention. “I’m sorry, she’s taken. You’ll have to find someone else to have your fun with.” His tone vibrated with authority.
Emma rolled her eyes playfully. “Easy there, tiger. All I did was order shots for the lady and myself. I can’t believe you’ve never heard of a blow job before. You poor thing,” she cooed, shooting him a lusty wink.
I chuckled and then quickly covered it with a cough. “I’m not actually old enough to drink,” I murmured, but Emma simply dismissed my comment as she reached into her purse once more and procured a small, polished stone. Her thumb rubbed absently over the smooth surface and a slight glimmer caught my eye, enticing me to take a second look. I held back my gasp as I recognized the symbol of the rebellion.
This is our contact, I told Damien and hoped he’d relay it to Theo. It seemed to have worked, because Theo relaxed marginally behind me.
“Anyone who can fight in a war should be allowed to indulge, don’t you think?” Suddenly sharp eyes narrowed on Theo and me, and I tilted my head, studying her.
“I assume it’s safe to talk?” I looked pointedly at the stone, gauging if my assumption was correct.”
“Portable ward. Extremely handy for on the go, private conversations. You’re safe to speak,” Emma confirmed.
“I won’t say I don’t agree, but I have to decline. Something tells me that I’ll need to be fully functioning tomorrow.” I waited for her reaction.
“I applaud your dedication.” The playful attitude she’d been using slipped away, and in its place was a fierceness I hadn’t expected. The shift in her mood nearly gave me whiplash, reminding me of Ciarán’s duality. “That’s the type of allegiance we like to see. Your third task is extremely important. Do not take this lightly.” Reaching into her bag one last time, she whipped out a tiny piece of paper and handed it over.
I gave it a cursory glance and passed it to Theo, who I knew would be able to decipher the numbers scrawled across the white page. It made no sense to me, but I had confidence that Theo would know what it meant, or at least know how we could find the answer.
“This is a rescue mission. The real deal. The rebellion would like to thank you for your intel. Without you, many people would have died. Now, we have a chance to get them out before it’s too late.” Emma studied Theo and me. “This,” she shot a pointed look at the paper in Theo’s hands, “is a rescue mission. I cannot stress to you the importance of this mission, should you say yes. Do you accept your third and last task?”
He gave an affirmative nod and pocketed the missive. “We’d never say no, task or not.”
Emma lifted her chin, a proud smile curling her lips. “I’m an excellent judge of character. I knew from the moment I saw you that I liked you both already. The barrier stone only works for a short time. I assume you’ve got someone listening,” she said, with an incline of her head to indicate the ears were mental, rather than physical. “Memorize those number now. Destroy that paper. I took a lot of risk bringing that in here.” We hurried to comply and I pushed the numbers to Damien over and over again, and under the cover of the bar I burned the paper to ash in my palm, letting it scatter to the floor at my feet.
“A shame you have such a busy day tomorrow,” Emma cooed, returning to her original flirty personality, and turned back to the bar as her drinks arrived. “We could have had some fun tonight, then again, it seems you’ve already enjoyed yourself while you waited.”
I blinked, and my brows drew together as I tried to follow her roundabout conversation. The shift in the conversation was making me dizzy. “Excuse me?” I couldn’t tell if she was hinting that the ward was wearing out, or if she was actually flirting, despite the inappropriateness of the time.
“You know, you don’t need to mate with who they have deemed appropriate.” She cocked her head and her eyes sparked with interest as she cast a languid glance over my shoulder to Theo, who tensed behind me. “Still, I think I’d keep this one just for fun.” Her attention slid to where his hand hung at his side. “Those fingers,” she purred. “That orgasm looked delectable.” The girl bit her lip seductively. “Does she taste as good as she smells?”
My jaw dropped open and heat infused my cheeks. She’d seen us. Watched us. An embarrassed thrill slammed through me, an emotion I wasn’t sure I wanted to analyze. I couldn’t stop myself from squirming where I stood.
Theo’s eyes flashed, a predator protecting his mate. “Somehow, I doubt you were sent here to retrieve that intel.”
The shifter sighed dramatically. “Oh well. Another time, perhaps? I make one hell of a third wheel.” With a wink, she tossed back both shots one after the other. Job completed, she stalked away, her sights already set on someone else as she melded into the crowd. Slowly, I spun around to face Theo. My cheeks were warm with the heat of my self-consciousness, but now that she was gone, I could finally breathe again. Until Theo’s assessing gaze caught me.
I froze like a deer stunned by headlights. “What?” I was almost afraid to ask.
“Did you find her attractive?” Theo tilted his head and he studied me with an open, judgment free expression that made me love him even more.
I took a moment to digest my feelings before I answered, “She was pretty and all, but I don’t have romantic, or even sexual, feelings for women.” Of that I was sure, and Theo nodded his understanding.
“Then it wasn’t the girl that captured your interest or made you embarrassed,” he surmised, and I wondered where he was going with this.
“No.” I held the note, peering at him quizzically.
Theo was sin personified, and his gaze intensified with a wicked gleam that sparkled in the dim mood lighting. “Then you enjoy being watched.” It was a statement rather than a question.
I flushed crimson. “You know I do,” I hedged.
“In public.” Molten heat ran through my veins as Theo waited patiently for my response.
“I…”
That’s a yes. Damien’s smooth voice slipped into our minds easily as he analyzed and acknowledged the emotions I was experiencing before I knew the answer for myself.
None of this is important right now, I grumbled with a huff.
I disagree, but I also digress. While I find it very important, I do agree that we should table this discussion for now. But we will talk about this, Nix, Theo promised. Someday.
What did the numbers on the note mean? I asked to change the subject, beating Damien to the question.
They’re coordinates. Latitude and longitude. I wasn’t sure if it was amusing or scary that our entire future was wrapped up in only a few numbers. Whether we succeeded or failed, the direction of our fate was imminent.
Do you know where they point? Theo tapped at his screen, looking up the information Damien requested. When he paused, I tried to get a look at his cell.
&nbs
p; Denali, I breathed. They’re sending us to Denali.
Eighteen
Nix
The house was completely destroyed by the amount of tactical gear, backpacks, and maps spread over every available surface.
“We could go up the Glenn Highway and into the park that way,” Ryder suggested, tracing a finger over the map to highlight the path.
“Or we could bypass the heavy tourist areas and start at Trapper Creek.” Theo squinted behind his glasses and crossed his arms over his chest while he studied the different options. It surprised me that they had a paper map lying around, given all the technology we had these days.
Tech can only get you so far. Alaska is rugged, and there isn’t cell service where we’re going. We’ll have to rely on good old-fashion paper and a compass, Damien answered my internal musings, and I sent my understanding through our connection.
“Would it help if we split up? Those of us that can fly can get there faster,” I added, tossing my opinion into the mix. As much as I hated the divide and conquer idea, there were lives at stake, our own desire to stay together diminished in comparison.
“No. We’re stronger as a team. The altitude alone will be a challenge, even for those of you with the power of flight. We’re also talking about the Alaska Range at the start of winter. The snow has been falling on the mountains much longer than it has been here, especially as the elevation increases,” Theo answered, and scrubbed a hand across the back of his neck. “Besides, we don’t know how many people we’re going to need to extract. It’s going to take all of us to manage this mission.”
“There will be significantly fewer people in Denali right now than there are during the summer months, but there will still be tourists in the area enjoying winter activities,” Killian started, and I winced at the idea of braving freezing temperatures for a hobby. Even knowing I had my Phoenix to help heat me, it didn’t sound appealing. Walking to the table, Killian braced a hand against the edge and leaned over to contemplate the map. “Our best bet would be to drive to Talkeetna. We can charter a plane and I can get us as close as…” Killian scoured the topography and finally thudded a finger to a specific geographical point. “We can fly into Base Camp. We won’t be the only group there, which has pros and cons. We won’t draw unnecessary attention to ourselves by flying into the mountains, but we won’t have complete privacy either until we get farther away from where the humans generally are. Doesn’t really matter though,” Kill mumbled. “It’s the safest and most direct route to Mt. Hunter. That’s where the coordinates pointed, correct?” Killian looked at Theo, who nodded. “We’ll fly directly over the South Hunter Pass on our way to Base Camp. We’ll have to hike and climb the rest on foot.”
Theo contemplated his options before nodding. “Killian’s right. That’s our best bet.” Turning to the group, he began issuing orders. “I want all of you packed and ready to leave in an hour. Damien, you’re on food. Dust off the MREs and don’t forget the seeds. Hiro, make sure we have the cold weather tents and camping gear packed. Killian, call ahead and book us a plane. I don’t want any hiccups when we arrive. I’m on weapons, just in case we run into the Council’s team. Ryder, you’re on medical supplies and climbing gear.” Joshua walked in the door, catching the end of Theo’s orders.
“What can I do?” Joshua dropped a bag inside the doorway and shrugged off his thick winter coat, before joining the other men at the table with a serious yet hopeful expression.
“I actually have an idea.” Theo cocked his head to the side, automatically accepting Joshua to the team, and fitting him into a role in a way that warmed me inside. “Do you mind helping me with weapons?”
“Whatever you need,” Joshua agreed, rounding the table and joining Theo. The two of them chatted quietly and quickly as Theo explained whatever it was he had planned. Excitement lit their eyes, and it made my heart lighter to see them working together.
Damien stretched and reached for one of the top shelves, easily pulling prepackaged provisions from a basket I could never reach. A flash of golden skin drew my attention to where his shirt had risen to expose a swath of my Gargoyle’s sexy, muscled back. I reached for a bag of chips and popped one in my mouth, while I watched all my sexy men working around me.
“Going to just stand there and ogle us, sweetheart?” Damien smirked and grabbed a backpack propped on the floor, filling it with MREs as he arched an eyebrow at me.
“Theo never gave me a role.” I shrugged and stared down into the bag of chips as if they were the most interesting sight in the world. News flash, they weren’t. I doubted that Theo had truly meant to forget me, but the fact that I’d been essentially left out stung a little. They moved like a well-oiled machine, and I sat here like, well, a decoration.
Tossing the pack on the counter, Damien strode up to me and hooked a finger under my chin. His power washed over my mind, demanding entrance, and with a sigh, I yielded. When my men wanted something, they were relentless, especially when it came to examining my feelings.
“You’re far from useless, Nix. In fact, you’re the most valuable member of our team.”
I scoffed, making the mistake of rolling my eyes.
Damien gripped my chin with just enough pressure to grab my attention. He turned me to look at him. Piercing, russet eyes shot straight into my soul. My breathing took on an airy quality as I stared back at him with a vulnerability I usually tried to hide. “Think about it. You’re able to fly, which makes it easier to traverse the rugged terrain, you can keep warm in the frigid temperatures and even warm us up as well, you have defensive powers to stave off an attack, and offensive powers to take down our enemy, but more than that, you also have a heart of gold and the ability to sympathize with those we’re on our way to rescue. As much as you may not believe it, you’re the glue that holds our family together. You rally us and give us a purpose in life. You, Nix, are far from useless. You’re everything. And if we weren’t on such a tight deadline, I’d remind you of the lesson we taught you not that long ago. Apparently, we’ll need to increase the amount of discipline days you have if you’ve forgotten so soon.” Tears gathered behind my eyes and I swallowed, even as a flash of heat worked its way through me.
“You see the absolute best in me.” I pressed closer to him and felt his thumb stroke along my jaw.
“That’s because I love you, Nix, and I always will.” His mouth feathered over mine and I leaned into him, increasing the pressure as I savored Damien slowly.
“Make sure you bring some sugar!” Ryder hollered, as he jogged down the stairs with his medical bag in his hand, oblivious to his interruption.
I smiled under Damien’s lips, and he grinned cheekily when he pulled away.
“Oh, I’ve already got the sugar covered,” Damien quipped, then winked at me and I giggled, shaking my head.
“If you want to help, could you grab the bag of seeds buried in the back of the pantry?” Damien went back to checking our provisions as I acquiesced.
“What the hell do we need seeds for?” I rifled through the boxes of food until I found what I was looking for.
Damien held out his hands and I tossed him the bag, which he proceeded to pack. “You’ll see.”
Shrugging, I opened the freezer and pulled out a couple of candy bars.
“Please don’t tell me you’re catering to the Ceraptor’s wishes.” Damien wrinkled his nose as I dropped the chocolate into his backpack.
“Do you really want to listen to Ryder complain when he gets a craving? You know that he can waste an entire evening whining over chocolate.” I arched a brow.
“He’s worse than a woman on her period,” Damien mumbled, and I smacked his arm playfully.
“Hey! Watch it, batman.”
Pretending I’d actually hurt him, Damien mouthed, “Ow,” and rubbed at the spot tenderly. “Now, go pack your clothing. Make sure to bring layers, and choose warm outfits. It’s going to be freezing. Double-check with Theo. I believe he purchased you some long u
nderwear a while back. See where he stashed it and make sure to bring it along.”
“Long underwear?” Now it was my turn to wrinkle my nose.
“Don’t knock it, sweetheart. You don’t want those pretty tits of yours to freeze off, now do you?”
I gaped and covered my chest with my arms. A robust laugh burst from Damien’s lungs.
“Now that would be a tragedy,” Ryder teased, and winked at me as he passed by to investigate Damien’s food choices.
The two of them quickly became embroiled in an argument over how many sweets we had room to bring along, and I retreated from the kitchen, heading to my room.
Not wanting to hold anyone up, I gathered my belongings quickly and followed Damien’s instructions. They were familiar with the type of weather we would be facing, and I trusted their judgment on how to dress to survive such lethal temperatures. Being outdoors, in the mountains, for who knew how long, had me scared, but I was honestly more worried about the possibility of facing off against the Council’s tactical team. They’d be sending their best to squash the uprising that threatened them, and the thought of any of my men being injured in a fight made my stomach twist and my nausea rise.
Pulling my attention back to the present, I went to Theo’s room and quietly knocked on the door before pushing it open.
“What are you doing?” I gaped at the scene in front of me before rushing into the room.
Joshua’s head was tossed back, his fangs elongated with a vial connected to each one. Venom poured into the vials, filling them in record time. Theo shoved two more in Joshua’s hands and helped him switch the full ones out, the empty ones taking their place.
“Joshua has agreed to donate some of his venom,” Theo told me, cocking his head and studied me. “Are you alright, Nix? You look a little pale.”
“Joshua, are you alright with this? You know you don’t need to do this to gain their favor.” I sat on the end of Theo’s bed and placed my palm on his knee, sliding my hand over the top of his thigh in a soothing gesture. I shot Theo a look. “This was too much to ask.”