by Sydney Addae
Ira, the high priest, shot up from the bed. She’s here. Fumbling, he turned on the lamp and looked at the time. It was after two in the morning. He edged to the side of the bed, grabbed his cell, and placed a call.
“Come on, come on, pick up, pick up.” It went to voice mail.
“She’s here. I’ll start tracking, call me back as soon as you get this message.” Hanging up, his mind raced with excitement and possibilities. “After all these years! The bitch has finally come home. So much to do, a reception. No, too formal. She may not know how special she is or how long we’ve waited for her return.”
He closed his eyes, seeking the burn from the connection. It sizzled across his stomach. Yes. He would find her and introduce himself. “No, that may scare her.”
Dressing quickly, he headed to the temple to seek guidance from Nicromja. They’d displeased the god before and would not make the same mistake again.
Chapter 9
The next morning Asia returned to her male form, Timber, before leaving the warm bed. Hawke had risen earlier, and she heard his voice in the living area, speaking to Damian.
Damian.
Angus said she needed to try harder with the pup, she didn’t see a problem treating him as a team mate, but obviously her barometer for positive den life needed work. She listened to the hum of their voices, and wondered if this would be the way of things from now on. There’d soon be another voice, little Sarita. The one time she’d spoken to the child, she’d been touched that someone with such a tiny voice was hers to care for, but she’d been content to allow Mistress to handle the child for the time being.
The sound of laughter caught her attention. The day had begun, she couldn’t remain in bed, not with so many unanswered questions. The sooner she learned what happened to her mam, the sooner she’d go home. Home to her pack and start her den.
She rolled out of bed, walked to the closet, and dressed. When she entered the main room a few minutes later, Damian and Hawke sat at the table finishing breakfast. Hawke slid the covered plate in front of the empty seat and winked at her.
“Thanks.” She sat and ate.
“I need to hit the bathroom and then I’ll be ready,” Damian said as he stood and walked toward the bedroom.
“I figure we’ll check out, swing by the library to hear anything else the old man may have remembered,” Hawke said. “Chacal made travel and hotel arrangements in Athens, and rented a jeep for us. We should pack and leave our bags downstairs in holding while we go to the library.”
“Good, Angus get off alright?”
“Yeah, he should be arriving stateside soon.”
“Who? Angus?” Damian said, walking into the room.
Asia nodded. “Yeah. Wonder what Patron’s going to say when he sees Byte?”
Hawke chuckled.
“Patron? Angus said he pulled my wolf the first time I shifted. Is it true he is in the states?”
“Yes, it’s true,” Asia said, smiling at his confused frown. Without thinking she placed her hand on top of his. “La Patron represents the Goddess, who protects wolves. He’s powerful.”
Damian eased his hand from beneath hers as she spoke. “Why hasn’t he stopped the Liege then?”
“What makes you think he hasn’t?” Asia asked to cover her embarrassment from his rejection.
Damian shrugged. “Based on what I’ve seen and heard, seems like the Liege operated on his land and he allowed it.”
Her jaw tightened at the comparison. “Once La Patron found out about the Liege, he went after them, and now they’re all but eliminated. Saved my life and Hawke’s.” Asia held Damian’s gaze until he turned away. Finished with breakfast, she returned to the bedroom, packed their things and brought her anger under control. After re-checking both rooms twice, she walked out with her bag over her shoulder and looked at both men. “I’m ready.”
Hawke nodded, and went to get his bags. Damian stood and grabbed his as well. Within moments they walked out the room and bumped into a strangely dressed man walking the hall.
“Excuse me,” Hawke said.
The much shorter male looked up at Hawke, then Damian, and finally Asia before turning and staring at their door. As the three of them headed toward the elevator they noticed two other men on their floor looking in rooms.
“What’s going on?” she asked Hawke.
“Don’t know, glad we’re leaving.” He pushed his way through the crowded lobby and waited in line to check out.
“Something’s going on.” She looked around. Several men sat around watching people move through the lobby.
“I assure you, Sir, we are looking. Every room will be searched.” A man spoke into a cell phone while walking past them toward the stairs.
“Hello, Damian.” Asia turned at the sound and looked at Miriam, who stood in front of Damian with a large cat-like grin.
“Goddess, please,” Asia said to Hawke.
Damian nodded. “Miriam. This is a surprise.” He looked around. “Are you the reason the lobby is so crowded?”
“No,” she said smiling. “My security is outside. Are you leaving?” She looked at the bag on his back.
“For a couple of days,” Damian said quickly when she frowned. “There’s some things we need to check on.”
“But our date,” she stammered and took a step back.
“Will happen when I come back,” he said, offering her a smile.
For a moment Asia thought the woman would balk, and was surprised when Miriam’s face pinked before she nodded. “Okay, but I have a surprise for you.” She looked at Asia and Hawke to include them.
Damian touched the back of her hand, drawing her gaze. “What?”
Miriam stared at his hand on hers for a few seconds and then smiled brightly. “Wulfgar wants to meet you.”
Damian glanced at Asia with a raised brow.
“Wulfgar, the son of the dead Alpha, you know,” Miriam whispered, leaning forward when no one spoke.
“Oh, that’s great,” Hawke said when Asia didn’t speak. The idea of meeting her mom’s brother stunned her.
“It is, isn’t it? I told him about you and he asked me to have you come see him.” She turned from side to side as if she’d just granted their deepest, unasked-for, wish. “I could’ve called, but this is so much better, we can ride together.” She inched closer to Damian.
He smiled down at her.
Hawke paid the bill, and they decided to keep their bags with them. “We need to stop by the library, and catch a later flight today. So we’ll drive. Do you have the address?” Hawke asked.
Asia noted the small frown crease Miriam’s brow. “You still plan to leave today?”
They walked outside the hotel and headed toward their vehicle. Liveried drivers stood next to a long limo parked out front. People pointed at Miriam and snapped pictures as she leaned closer to Damian. He pushed his sunglasses up his nose and escorted her to her car.
Asia and Hawke watched as the princess spoke fast, and made hand gestures to Damian. “We may need to rescue him,” Asia said to Hawke, who chuckled.
“Could be. I just told him to wrap it up, we need to go.” Hawke opened the trunk and threw their bags inside. Damian walked back at a clipped pace with a wide grin
“She’s bold and determined,” Damian said as they walked toward the library. When they reached the building, they were told the old man called in sick and wouldn’t be in.
“Think Miriam had something to do with that?” Asia asked as they returned to the hotel and noticed the limo hadn’t moved.
“Anything’s possible,” Hawke said.
Miriam stepped out of her car and met them as they entered the parking area. “That was fast.” She looked at Asia, Hawke and then Damian. “Are you ready to meet Wulfgar? He knows more about Albuslupos than I do. Plus, as the last living heir, he owns that land you trespassed on yesterday.”
Asia’s heart dropped at the last living heir comment. Hawke took her hand and headed toward t
heir jeep. Mam was dead. She tried to swallow that fact and couldn’t. For some reason it just didn’t feel right.
Hawke closed the passenger door after she settled. “We’ll follow you.”
Miriam grabbed Damian’s hand, and started heading for her transportation. “Damian can ride with me.”
Damian allowed himself to be pulled forward as he looked over his shoulder at his sire. Hawke laughed and slid in the driver’s seat. “Foolish pup says he’ll try and keep his zipper up, but if she goes down, he’s going in.”
Asia shook her head. “She’s trouble.”
Hawke nodded and they pulled out behind the limo. Several cars blocked their exit. While the princess’s limo underwent a search by security, Asia fingered her bracelet, knowing they were next.
“What’s going on?” Hawke asked the security guy who waved them out the vehicle. Asia slid out and waited while they searched the trunk. When they finished, security waved them out the parking area without ever answering their question.
“Damian says they didn’t answer Miriam either.”
Chapter 10
They parked in front of a modern French chateau on a beautifully landscaped lot. Once again, the wild array of colored flowers created a masterpiece on nature’s canvas.
“Beautiful,” Asia whispered, staring a few moments longer while Miriam and Damian walked toward the entrance.
“Yes, it is. Hard to believe a place like this exists in this part of the world. Think about it, Russia to the north, and the surrounding countries don’t have flowers, plants, or nice weather like this. It’s as if we’ve stepped into something not quite real in Lyrill,” he said.
She heard the question in his voice and agreed. “Let’s do this. I’m thinking we can give him three, four hours tops and then we need to meet Chacal for transport.”
They stepped out of the jeep and headed inside. A tall, bald man with an engaging smile met them at the door, offered to take their coats, and escorted them to a large sitting room. In the middle of the room, holding court, sat a man who resembled her mam, but not quite. Life had been kind to Wulfgar. The man looked as if he could grace the cover of a magazine with his long dark hair, piercing blue eyes, and chiseled angular face with high cheekbones. He dipped his pinky into a bowl, sucked it and closed his eyes as if he’d just tasted heaven.
“Magnifique,” he said, waving his hand and then mimicking applause. “So good, you have outdone yourself. Thank you, mon cher.” He air kissed a short man whose face reddened beneath the attention.
“Come, come, please take a seat,” he said, waving her and Hawke forward. Damian sat next to Miriam on a loveseat nearby, sipping a bottle of water.
“You must taste this, it’s divine.” He slid a plate with an orangish sauce and boiled shrimp toward them.
“I can’t, I’m allergic,” Asia said with a straight face. Hawke’s surprise raced through their link as he complimented for her fast thinking. He speared a shrimp with a toothpick, dipped it in the sauce and ate it.
Asia watched him chew, fully prepared to help in case of poisoning. “Very good,” Hawke said, wiping his mouth.
He slapped his knee. “Just what I like, a man of discerning taste. I’m Wulfgar by the way, welcome to our home. Francesco’s busy at the moment, he should join us soon.” He popped a few more shrimp into his mouth before speaking. “Miriam tells me you’re researching my pack, may I ask why?”
Hawke leaned forward and told him the same he’d told the librarian yesterday.
“Hmm, a book you say? Perhaps a movie down the line?” His gaze went from Hawke to Asia and then back to Hawke.
“If it does well, that’s a possibility,” Hawke answered. Asia heard the insincerity in his voice, but Wulfgar preened.
“Who would play me I wonder?”
Miriam rolled her eyes. “Wulfgar, you wanted to tell them more about the history of the Albuslupos?”
His smile tightened as he looked at her. “Not quite.” He returned his attention to Hawke. “I’ve heard of you and I know you’re good at what you do. I’d like to hire you.”
“Really? For what?” Hawke asked. Asia wasn’t surprised, Wulfgar was a full-blood and the only person present not a wolf was Miriam. Plus, there weren’t many wolves as big as Hawke walking around.
Wulfgar’s face fell as he exhaled. “As you know, I had a twin brother and an older sister.”
Hawke nodded.
Butterflies filled Asia’s stomach waiting to hear what he had to say.
“All these years I thought I was the last of my line. But I discovered recently my sister is alive and being held prisoner.” His voice broke as he blinked rapidly.
“Are you sure, Wulfgar?” Miriam asked, moving to stoop in front of him. “There have been stories before, why do you believe this time?” She held his hand. “You can’t keep doing this to yourself.”
Asia couldn’t breathe. Amynta being held prisoner was the last thing she expected to hear.
“Easy, easy, breathe with me,” Hawke said through their link. “Breathe, Asia.”
She followed his instructions while listening to Miriam and Wulfgar whisper to each other.
“Francesco tracked her down. He’s certain Barticus’ men took her and held her all these years,” Wulfgar said in a low voice.
“Tre Barticus? It would be crazy to go after him.”
Wulfgar snatched his hand. “She’s my sister, my only kin. What else do you expect me to do?” he snapped.
Miriam dropped her head. “I’m sorry. It’s just you’ve been disappointed so many times, I hate… of course you must do what you think best. I will help in any way I can.” She kissed the back of his hand and then hugged him close. “I love you,” she whispered in a broken voice that touched Asia.
“Love you too, scamp. You made me mess up my face.” He patted the corner of his eyes with his finger and sniffed a few times before sitting straight. She stood and returned to the seat next to Damian, and leaned against his arm.
“I apologize.”
Hawke waved it off. “Whenever you’re ready.”
“Thank you.” Wulfgar cleared his throat. “Like I said, I have received information my sister is being held prisoner by Tre Barticus.” He held up his hands. “Before you say no, please understand money is no object. And yes, Barticus is well known for underhanded deals, but I have inside information that will make this rescue possible.”
No one spoke for a few moments. “Damian doesn’t like it,” Hawke told Asia and she wished she could link with the pup to hear his reasoning first hand. “He says they know we’re wolves and that whole scene appeared fake to him. It’s just too pat.”
Asia had been so caught up over the idea of her mam being enslaved she hadn’t paid attention to the details. “Tell him good eye,” she told Hawke.
A few seconds later Damian nodded at her.
“Tre Barticus, the industrialist?” Hawke asked with a raised brow.
Wulfgar nodded. “But there’s some family history that goes along with this, he always had a thing for my sister. I think he was in a cult or something, because it had to be her, none of the other bitches would do. I remember my sire…” He paused, cleared his throat, and then continued. “My sire offered him some of the others, but he refused. I’m not surprised he’s holding her or that he kept her all these years.”
“But that doesn’t make sense,” Miriam said. “He destroyed your pack when your sister wasn’t found. If she was with him why’d he do that?”
“He hated my sire. I think it was all a ruse to kill Lyrill’s king and destroy our pack. He did both,” he said with emphasis.
“So you believe Barticus has had your sister all along?” Asia allowed a bit of incredulity in her voice.
Wulfgar’s cheeks pinked and he dabbed his face with a napkin. “Not at first. I was just a pup when this happened. But now, based on what Francesco has discovered, I do.”
Asia leaned back in her seat.
“Dami
an thinks we should take the money and everything he’s offering. I agree with him since we’re going to look anyway,” Hawke said.
“You believe him?” Asia asked, surprised.
“Not all of it. He’s an Alpha and they can mask lies, but he’s not telling everything. But, let’s take the money anyway.”
Asia appreciated the chuckle in her mate’s voice and agreed.
Hawke sat forward with his hands clasped. “If you want us to do this job you have three hours to brief us on the information you have about your sister and deposit half of our fee into our account.”
Wulfgar nodded and started talking.
“Wait, you don’t know our fee,” Asia said, appreciating the amount Hawke sent through their link.
“It doesn’t matter, she’s my sister,” Wulfgar yelled.
“Maybe you need to hear the amount,” Miriam said, looking at Hawke.
“Three million to be deposited in our account before we leave today,” Asia said with a straight face.
Miriam sat back.
Wulfgar waved off the amount. “Done.”
“And three more when we find her.”
“You have to bring her here, I need to see her, talk to her.”
“What if she doesn’t want to come?” Asia asked.
Wulfgar’s mouth opened and closed. Apparently he hadn’t considered that option. “Why wouldn’t she? I’m the only family she has,” he whispered, looking like a lost boy.
“What about his son and daughter?” Hawke asked.
“I forgot about them, but they’re not Amy’s. She’s dark, they don’t look anything like her. No. She’ll want to see me. You’ll have to convince her to return.”
Hawke stood. Asia and Damian followed. “We’re not taking her prisoner and returning her here against her will. That’s not what we do.”
“Then tell me why are you seeking information on my pack, you’re not writing a book.” Wulfgar stood and looked up at Hawke.
“I found some information last month, and it mentioned that pack. We’re checking it out before we leave the country.” Hawke crossed his arms over his chest, daring the man to dispute him.