by Susan Illene
There was something oddly comforting about having a cat around who loved you just for you. She settled on the middle of the mattress and waited for me to get undressed and join her. It wasn’t five minutes later before I passed out with her warming my side.
The sound of my cell phone ringing woke me sometime later. I glanced at the clock on my dresser and cursed when I realized it was already past three in the afternoon. It had been almost four hours since I’d fallen asleep—longer than I’d planned. I fumbled around my nightstand looking for the phone and managed to mumble a greeting after I found it.
“Melena, we’ve got a problem.” It was Kariann. Her voice was gruff as if she’d just woken up, too.
“What is it?”
I turned my head and came face to face with Sable. She was staring at me as if I was some sort of odd specimen she’d discovered. How was it that cats could make a person feel like the most beloved person in the world one minute and something rather distasteful the next? I might not have been a dog person, but at least they were consistent in their devotion.
“Werewolves are here. Use your senses,” Kariann urged.
Speaking of dogs.
I sat up and pushed away my grogginess to check my radar. She was right. A group of werewolves were concentrated outside Nik’s house with more heading that way. I jumped off the bed and grabbed my pants, pulling them on.
“What do they want?”
“Not sure yet, but I can’t imagine they’re hanging out on the lawn to get a suntan.”
“Shouldn’t Nadine be guarding the front door?” I asked, stuffing my feet into a pair of boots.
Kariann snorted. “She didn’t show up this morning. Yvonne volunteered to take the first shift and when the next guy didn’t show up for his Diane and her son took over. Nik and I were passed out and had no idea. Without the werewolves we’re seriously shorthanded on daylight guards.”
“They were planning this,” I said.
“That’s what we think,” Kariann agreed. “At first we’d thought something might have happened, especially after the thing with Yvonne and her family. But when none of the werewolves answered their phones we knew it had to be something else.”
“The bastards are trying to blindside us.” I finished lacing my boots. “Expect more of them to show in the next couple of minutes, but I’ll get over there as fast as I can.”
“Don’t do anything crazy. We’ve got to play this smart.”
“I’ll be careful,” I replied before hanging up.
I raced down the stairs with Sable following closely behind. My body didn’t feel as sluggish and weak anymore. Aside from a vague ache in my stomach where the bullet had hit the night before I was doing a lot better. Maybe it was a good thing I’d napped as long as I had.
I opened up the storage closet and shoved Hunter’s bags aside to get to the weapons safe. After pressing my finger to the scanner and entering the code, it opened up. I loaded my Sig .45 and grabbed a few extra clips, along with a machete.
Kariann had been working with me on how to use it. We’d found the blade to be a nice alternative for when we wanted to carry something a little less unwieldy than a sword. If the watermelons we trained on were anything to go by, it was rather effective. I pulled on a belt and shoved the machete into its scabbard before locking the safe back up.
Kerbasi was wandering around when I stepped out of the house. It wasn’t all that unusual to find him doing that. He’d had a thing for studying animals and plant life ever since he’d come from Purgatory. He looked at me curiously as I rushed past him. Sable growled her greeting at him and stayed by my side.
“Where are you going?” he called out.
“Werewolf problem at Nik’s place,” I said over my shoulder.
“Oh, good.” He raced to catch up. “I was getting bored.”
“Did you finish your report?”
“It is…nearly done,” he answered in a half-lie.
I was guessing he’d probably written one paragraph before giving up and going outside.
“If you’re going to just stand around watching again you might as well get back to working on your report.”
He kept pace alongside me. “I don’t know what you expect me to do. None of them would be stupid enough to attack me and I cannot harm them otherwise.”
“It didn’t stop those trolls when you challenged them at the fae city. If you used a little creativity, I’m sure you could come up with some way to provoke them.”
Kerbasi grunted his reply.
I paused when we got close and checked the wind. There wasn’t much of a breeze. It took a moment before I could figure out which way it was coming from—south. Perfect. We’d be downwind of the werewolves. Slowly, we crept closer until the side of Nik’s house came into view about a hundred and fifty meters away.
Through the trees I caught sight of the werewolves pacing around the front lawn. The new arrivals were just walking up, but Derrick and Nadine weren’t there. Only some of the low and mid-level members had come—about ten of them. They all carried blades in their hands and they looked ready to fight. Did the alpha know his people were staging a rebellion?
I backed away until I was sure I was out of earshot and pulled my cell phone from my pocket. Kariann was right. We had to play this smart. I called Lucas, hoping he could help resolve this. His voicemail picked up after the first ring. Dammit. The werewolves would be attacking the house any minute and I couldn’t wait. I left a quick message explaining the situation and hung up.
Kerbasi gave me a look full of false sympathy. “It appears he’s left you on your own.”
“Shut up,” I muttered, returning my phone to my pocket.
“You could look at the bright side,” he said, following me as I moved back toward Nik’s house. “You’ve still got me.”
I stopped and turned to look at him. “Do you want to make yourself useful for once?”
“You do realize I was practicing human sarcasm?” His eyes twinkled.
That was the one thing he didn’t need to improve upon.
“I’m being serious.” I took a step closer. “Fly me up to Nik’s roof and I won’t make you write another essay for a week—except the one you already owe me.”
“Is this some sort of trick?” He gave me a skeptical look.
“No.”
He remained silent for a moment, staring at the ground. We didn’t have a lot of time, but I couldn’t rush him too much. This would be the safest way to Nik’s house. It was one thing to directly confront a group of humans with guns and another to go after super-strength werewolves with blades. I’d already been in one fight with their kind in the last few days and hoped to avoid doing it again this soon if possible.
“Very well.” He screwed his face up like he’d swallowed a lemon. “But I want it noted that I do not find this to be a pleasant task.”
“You and me both.” I looked down at Sable. “Stay here. Don’t come any closer unless I call for you.”
She flattened her ears. The cat did not like being left behind if danger was involved.
“I’m serious.” I shook my finger at her. “I need you to stay put, but if I give you the signal you can come in your jaguar form. Okay?”
Her ears perked back up. It wasn’t often I let her change forms into something not common for Alaska.
I looked at Kerbasi. “Ready?”
He manifested his gray wings, spreading them out. I allowed him to pull me into his arms and was glad he didn’t hold me any closer than necessary. We shot up through the trees and into the air. His wings flapped strongly as we moved toward Nik’s house. My hair swept in front of his face, drawing curses out of him until I grabbed it and held it in my hand.
“Drop your invisibility. I want them to see you.”
With a grunt he did as I asked.
It was a good thing no one else lived along our path or they might have wondered about us moving through the air—even if we did stay close to the trees.
The roof came up ahead and Kerbasi lowered us to the top of the slope. As soon as we touched the surface he rendered his wings incorporeal again and mended his shirt where they’d ripped through.
I kept a grip on his arm for a moment until I got my footing. Then I moved down to the edge to glare at the werewolves. They were staring at us with gaping mouths. Sometimes the best way to throw your enemies off was to make a memorable entrance.
Just below me in the foyer I could sense Yvonne and her family working on the ward that protected the house. All the supernaturals in Fairbanks were cleared to get through it and they had to reset the whole thing. They’d need a lot more time for readjustments to keep the werewolves out and strengthen it back up. I’d have to hold the attention of the men below for as long as possible if the mystics were to have any chance at succeeding.
“All of you need to leave—now,” I ordered the werewolves. Might as well try for the most obvious approach first.
One of the stronger werewolves strutted toward the house. His blond hair was unkempt and greasy and he had a feral look in his eyes. He stopped at the edge of the circular drive that came all the way to the front of the house—less than twenty feet from the entrance.
“You gonna stop us?”
I pulled my gun from my holster and aimed it at him. “If that’s what it takes.”
He scratched at his beard. “Think you can shoot all of us before we get in there?”
“Do you want to find out?” I really hoped he didn’t, but I’d do whatever it took to protect the vulnerable vampires inside. Most of them were still under the sun’s heavy sedation and wouldn’t be able to defend themselves.
“I just might.” His gaze dropped to the front door.
Don’t do it. Don’t you dare do it.
He shot forward on the balls of his feet and raced across the drive. I fired my gun, hitting him in the shoulder. His body jerked, but he kept going. I shot two more times, hitting him in the chest and head. He crashed to the cement with one arm stretched toward his objective. Blood pooled around him. He wasn’t dead yet, but if the bullets weren’t removed soon he would be.
I swung the gun toward a big guy with faded black tattoos covering his arms. He was making a move toward his buddy.
“Stop.”
He froze, but his eyes were filled with rage.
“You ain’t gonna keep us all away,” he growled out.
Other men and women of the pack came to stand next to him. Yvonne and her family still needed more time, but I couldn’t keep doing this alone. I put my thumb and index finger between my lips and let out a shrill whistle. It came out loud and clear. I’d spent weeks practicing that and was glad I didn’t mess it up when it counted.
Sable came racing out of the woods in her black jaguar form. She looked impressive and intimidating. Her muscles were heavy and her gait sleek as she moved toward the front of the house. I estimated her height at about two and half feet tall and her weight around one hundred and fifty pounds. Jaguars were shorter than their lion and tiger cousins, but they were strong and had a bite that could pierce a man’s skull.
She positioned herself between the wounded man and the werewolves, letting out a low growl. It rumbled from her chest and sent several of the smaller members of the group scrambling back. In their wolf forms they might have tried fighting her, but it wasn’t nighttime and they couldn’t change yet.
“You’re gonna sic your cat on us?” the tattooed guy asked, incredulously. He hadn’t moved like the others had, but he was smart enough to avoid meeting the cat’s eyes.
“If that’s what it takes to get you to leave,” I replied.
He lifted a six-inch blade. “I’ll cut her up good if she gets close.”
“You think so?” I paced the roof, still clutching my gun. “Her fae trainer spent years teaching her how to fight and maneuver around weapons. Are you willing to bet her teeth won’t crush you first?”
I’d seen the damage Sable had done to a moose once and it wasn’t pretty. A werewolf in human form would be easy prey.
The tattooed man clutched his knife harder. “This is between us and the master. We ain’t got no beef with you or your cat if you stay out of our way.”
Derrick and Nadine popped up on my radar, heading straight for us. It was about time he showed up. These were his wolves inciting an insurrection, after all.
“How about we see what your alpha has to say.” I nodded my chin in the direction of the highway.
The werewolves cast nervous glances at each other. Hmm, maybe they hadn’t bothered to inform him of their plans. Derrick’s truck came into view, going a lot faster than he’d normally drive. He went off the pavement and skidded to a halt next to his pack members. I winced at the tire tracks left on Nik’s well-tended lawn.
The alpha got out and slammed the door. He and Nadine went straight to the group of werewolves and motioned the tattooed guy over. They huddled close together and spoke low enough I couldn’t hear them, but after a series of hand gestures one pointed at the wounded man lying close to the house—who was barely breathing at this point.
Derrick’s gaze moved over to him and a range of emotions crossed his face. Sadness, frustration, and disappointment were chief among them, but it all turned to anger once he looked at me.
“Stay put,” he ordered the group, using his alpha voice.
I kept my face impassive and watched him stride across the lawn toward the house. I’d lowered my weapon since his arrival, but I gripped it hard now. Was this the moment when we’d have to battle each other? Had it really come to that?
If only he’d been willing to back off from being allowed to see Zoe we might have found a way to work things out. I didn’t want to fight him. I really didn’t, but I couldn’t let him see the female nephilim, either. That left us at a stalemate.
Sable let him get to about ten feet from her before she snarled and hissed at him, baring her teeth. Her fangs were huge and lethal-looking. Derrick paused about five feet from her and growled right back. He might have been in human form, but he still managed to sound loud and aggressive.
With his eyes focused on hers, he took a few more steps.
Sable lunged forward and swiped at his thigh. Her claws ripped through his jeans, leaving a bloody trail across the denim. Derrick winced and raised his hand—open-palmed. She backed up a couple steps. He had to know it was a warning shot. She would have gone for his throat or his face if she really wanted to do some damage.
“Melena, call her off—NOW.”
“Forget it. I’m not letting you near this place,” I warned.
To back up my threat, I lifted my gun and aimed it at him. Hurt flashed in his eyes. Now that he was closer I could sense the pain in his emotions as well. Derrick didn’t want to fight me anymore than I wanted to fight him.
He lowered his hand slowly. “Don’t do this.”
Just three words, but he’d spoken them with meaning. This big, intimidating werewolf was trying to convince me to back down. I knew there was a good and caring man inside. A man who had loved his wife and children so deeply he’d never gotten past their murders.
“I’d rather not shoot you, but you started it by bringing Emily into this.” I had to remember that. Show him he’d pushed me too far.
His jaw tightened. “I wasn’t gonna hurt her and I’m not trying to cause trouble now.”
He spoke the truth.
“Actions speak louder, Derrick.”
“Jessie needs help.” He took a step closer.
I had to assume he meant the guy lying on the ground. There were far too many sups in Fairbanks for me to know all their names—especially if I’d only seen them in passing.
“Tell the rest of your guys to leave first.”
He stared at me with a stony expression. I stared right back, keeping the gun aimed at him. After a moment his gaze swung toward the front door. Yvonne and her family were still working on the protection spell, but I was willing to bet Derrick could hear
them chanting inside.
The mechanics of the ward were shifting, but it wasn’t there yet. They’d also have to do the other entrances. When Nik had them put in place after we retook Fairbanks a few months ago, he wasn’t able to find anyone powerful enough to do the whole house. Very few sups could shape a blanket ward. He’d had to settle for ones on the windows and doors.
The alpha’s eyes met mine once again. “You can trust me. All I want is to get my pack member.”
“And all I want is for the rest of your people to leave first.”
He flexed his hands. “You’re putting me in a difficult position, Melena.”
I hopped off the roof, allowing my knees to bend when I landed. The wounded werewolf’s breathing was raspy and short when I passed him. I kept going until I came alongside Sable. She didn’t look at me. Now that her mistress was close she was posturing even more aggressively.
“Then let’s do this.” I spread my feet apart. “You and me—one on one—if that’s what it takes for you to save face in front of your pack.”
He slowly lifted a hand out toward me. I didn’t back away or flinch as he grazed a finger along my cheek. It was gentle and sweet in a way that made me ache inside.
He let his hand drop back down. “I told you once before. I won’t fight you.”
“Then walk away from here.”
“Not without him.” He jutted his chin toward Jessie.
“Your pack is getting antsy over there, Derrick. If I let you forward the rest of them might try to follow and I’ll be caught in the middle.” In fact, they were already edging closer despite his orders.
He stood there staring at me. I could almost see the thoughts turning in his head. If he gave into my request he’d appear weak, but if he didn’t he might have to do something he’d regret. I understood tough choices. More and more of them seemed to be coming up every day.
“Nadine stays,” he eventually said.
“Fine, but she comes no closer.”
He worked his jaw for a moment, then nodded.
“This wasn’t my plan or the way I’d handle things.” He glanced back at the men and women gathered across the law and scowled at them. “We’ll do this the right way and at the right time. Let Nik know that.”