by Helen Scott
“There’s magic happening, and I need you to be aware of it, not falling under its influence,” he growled.
Ben glanced around, as though he could see it, which made Alec want to laugh. Whatever was going on wasn’t going to be the kind of magic that Ellie could do where it was all sparks and flashes of light, but the power still skated over his skin, making him uncomfortable.
Alec tried to pay attention to what was going on when he felt it, but there was too much stimuli. He couldn’t separate out the sounds and sensations in his head. They all just melded together. He only knew one thing—he was going to have a hell of a headache when the show was over.
Chapter 9
They’d been waiting at the back of the club for a while now, and Alec was starting to get annoyed. He knew that packing away instruments and microphones could take a while, but he didn’t understand why they had to wait out in the cold while it happened.
Finally, when the door opened, Imogen was the first out, with her guitar case on her back and an amp in her hand. Asher stepped forward and took the amp from her while he wrapped a scarf around the petite woman’s neck and pulled her fuzzy winter hat lower over her ears. The rest of the band followed shortly thereafter.
“Back to the Cross?” the female lead singer asked over her shoulder, already on her way to the bar, leaving Alec and Ben trailing behind the pack.
He was getting even more irritated when he thought of the time he was wasting following this pack around. Lives needed saving, and he and Ben were just trailing after this motley group.
“Great show, Cos,” Valentina said as she walked next to the singer.
“Thanks.” The other woman smiled broadly, her dark red lips revealing the pearly white teeth behind them.
“Care to introduce us?” Ben asked.
Alec had been waiting until they were back in the warmth, but he should have known Ben would be impatient, especially when it came to a beautiful woman.
“Oh, sorry! This is Cosima, Imogen, Mike, and Dale,” Valentina said as they hurried into the pub.
“I’m Ben, and this is Alec,” his friend added.
“Pleasure,” Cosima said over her shoulder, while Mike and Dale just grunted and Imogen glanced in their direction.
They all clustered around the back tables while the bartender who had first greeted them brought out a tray of glasses and a bottle of whiskey. Apparently, this was a regular occurrence.
Alec watched Cosima. Black thickly lined her pale jade-green eyes, which, combined with her black brows and red lips, was quite stunning. Her hair was dark as well, which it hadn’t been during the show, so she must have been wearing a wig of some kind. The men were already two shots deep before any of them even spoke.
“So, why are these two here again?” Cosima’s voice was low and husky, which was surprisingly contrary to her singing voice.
“They need Mo’s help.”
Alec saw the petite brunette withdraw into herself at the attention. She wasn’t behind her guitar, behind her shield, and that change was all the more obvious now that he was up close.
“What?” Dale turned and became laser-focused on Alec and Ben.
“There are some fae who have gone missing, and they need the best tracker they can find since it happened in New York City a few days ago.”
“Ho-lee shit. Are you serious? You want to send Mo to New York City with two strangers?” Dale’s voice was tinged with anger as he spoke.
“Aiden vouches for them, which is good enough for me and should damn well be good enough for you.”
Alec was left wondering how exactly the members of this pack knew Aiden and how he seemed to hold sway over them even though he wasn’t their alpha. He cleared his throat. “Look, my fiancée is in danger because of these missing fae. If the Morrigan wasn’t threatening to sever the connections between their world and ours, I’d be happy to take my time and work every connection I have. But that’s exactly what she’s doing, and since that would probably kill my soulmate, I need all the help I can get as quickly as I can get it. If you want to come with us, you’re more than welcome so long as you are willing to take my direction.”
He saw the other man bristle at the thought of being under his command, and knew it would never work.
“I don’t even know what the hell you are, so I sure as shit am not taking any damn orders from you.”
“Fair enough.” Alec inclined his head.
“Mo, would you be willing to help these men?”
She nodded and picked at the plate of fries the waiter had dropped off a moment earlier.
“Thank you, Imogen. It means the world to me. If Ellie dies, then I . . .” Alec’s voice cut off as his throat closed, his feelings getting the better of him.
The group stared at him, surprised by the display of emotion. He wasn’t used to his reactions being so far out of his control, but like many other things, his usual rules went out the window when it came to Ellie. She was his heart, his soul, and without her, he would be a husk of the man he was with her.
Cosima’s eyes watched him like a hawk, and he felt that familiar sandpaper on his skin again. “You’ll keep her safe?”
The woman phrased it like a question, but he knew it was anything but. In fact, if he didn’t know better, he’d say that she was trying to use siren powers on him, but since he and his brothers were the only descendants his mother and her sisters had, that was impossible. So what was she?
His phone vibrated, and when he pulled it out and saw a message from Cin, his heart stuttered in his chest.
911 Speak o’ the Devil
“You okay?” Valentina’s voice was laced with concern and alpha power all at once.
“I have to go. Ben, can you take care of this until I get this other situation under control?”
The younger man nodded, fear in his eyes. He knew that everything must have gone to hell if Alec was leaving the mission right as they were about to secure Imogen’s services. Alec nodded and jumped out.
When Ben saw Alec’s face, his stomach twisted. It was like someone had just told the guy the world was ending, and when Alec jumped out in the middle of the bar? He knew that it had to be some serious shit. His leg bounced nervously under the table.
“So, Benny, you gonna take care of our girl?” Dale’s voice dripped with sarcasm.
“I’ll make sure she’s safe. All we need is for her to track their scents. As soon as we know what’s going on, I’ll bring her back home. Scout’s honor.” He held two fingers in the air like he’d seen in the movies, but he sure as hell wasn’t any boy scout.
“Little goody two shoes, are you?” Dale continued to razz him while the women were having an intense discussion at the back of the table.
“What do you want me to say, man? If I say I am, then I won’t be strong enough to take care of your friend. If I say I’m not, then I’ll be too dangerous to take care of her. Pick your poison. I’m more than capable of watching her back, and I’m more than happy to risk my own life protecting hers.” What he didn’t add was that if he died protecting her, then that would be a huge bonus since he’d finally get access to his full fury form.
“I want you to say you’ll keep your filthy paws off our women, that you’re not interested in any of them, or that you’re asexual. I want to know that you’re not some jackass pervert who’s going to feel her up the first chance he gets.”
“Projecting, much?”
“What did you say?” Dale’s voice growled at him through clenched teeth.
“Oh, man, you’ve done it now,” the other man from the band said. What was his name? Mike? Or was it Matt? Not that it mattered to Ben, especially not when he saw Dale’s fist coming at his face.
He ducked and pushed forward into Dale’s personal space, his hand going around the man’s throat while his other arm locked around the one that had thrown the punch. All the chatter in the pub died down as people realized that a fight was brewing.
“Dale, stand down
,” Valentina said as she stood and walked around the table.
Ben could feel her presence at his back like a big fire, heat licking at his skin.
“I said, stand down.”
Ben couldn’t see her, but he could see when Dale’s eyes dipped and focused on the floor. As soon as they did, he released his hold on the other man and backed up.
“Ben, come with me. Dale, cool off or leave. I will not tolerate that behavior again tonight.” Valentina’s voice brooked no dissent.
His skin crawled at being given orders, but he knew that respecting the alpha would allow him to proceed with the mission, and he wasn’t about to risk Ellie’s life because of his aversion to authority. She led him back through the hallway that went to the kitchen, and turned into a side room just before they were in the chef’s way. It was small and completely covered in wood. The floor, the walls, the ceiling, it was all wood, and it made Ben want to throw up. He was more of a glass, metal, and stone kind of guy.
“Ben, listen, Mo—Imogen—came to us more fragile than you can possibly imagine. Every step has been a struggle for her, and the men in the pack, well, they are more than a little overprotective of her. They see her as the baby sister they either never had, or in some cases, the sister they lost. I may be alpha, but she is just as important, maybe even more so. She is the embodiment of the heart of the pack.”
“I understand. I just need to know where the fae were taken and how long ago. That’s it. I’m more than happy for anyone else to come along, if they want. I just can’t let Alec down. He’s counting on me, and so is Ellie.”
“I don’t doubt that you can take care of yourself, especially after you blocked Dale’s attack out there, but it would make me feel a million times better if I could at least know what type of creature she was with. If I’m sure she’s safe, then the pack will sense that and it will ease the tension.” Her amber eyes glowed as she spoke.
The woman was beautiful. She was a queen among her kind; he could tell that just by looking at her. As much as he knew he probably shouldn’t, he really didn’t see the harm in telling her what he was. “Will you tell me Imogen’s animal? I need to know what I might be dealing with if the worst comes to pass.”
Valentina thought for a moment and paced in front of him. Ben had to keep his eyes focused on the painting hanging behind her. Otherwise, it could get awkward. He’d never been around so many beautiful supernatural beings at one time, since most of his time was spent with humans or his fury family, and it was playing hell with his control.
Finally, she stopped and swung her thick dark hair over one shoulder, exposing the strip of skin her dress didn’t cover. “Deal,” she said with her hand outstretched.
After Ben shook it, he said, “I’m a fury.”
She looked at him blankly.
“Legendary creatures from Greek mythology. Tormentors of the guilty, protectors of justice, winged warriors. Is any of this ringing a bell?”
“Uh, sure. So, you have wings?”
“Not yet. After I die and Hades gives my soul to the other furies, then I will have my full powers.”
“So, you’re like a teenager?”
The analogy pissed him off. It was one the other furies, and even Hades himself, had said many times. It always rankled him. He was a grown-ass man, not a teenager in any way, shape, or form. “If that’s how you want to look at it.”
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to offend. Just trying to understand.” Valentina held her hands up defensively.
Ben took a deep breath, and by the time he finished expelling it, his calm had returned. “No worries, it just gets old after a while. So, Imogen’s animal?”
“A wolf. A vicious one. If her wolf comes out to play, then get the hell out of dodge. Mo’s wolf is more violent than any I’ve ever known, and it’s taken a lot for me to establish dominance over her, so if you see her, just back away slowly and let her ride out the change. That being said, I’ve also never seen anyone with such an iron-tight hold on their control. She would only let her wolf out as a last resort, so if it happens, then shit’s probably hitting the fan, anyway.”
“Good to know.”
“No one will escort her. She’ll go with you alone. This is as much for her benefit as everyone else’s. At some point, she needs to take the next step, and the pack needs to allow her to do that, and they need to remember she’s a grown woman. This is a good way to accomplish both.”
“Happy to be of service.” He grinned and bowed.
“Come on, we should get back before they come looking for us.”
Ben stepped to one side to allow her to lead the way as alpha.
Before they’d made it out of the room, she turned to him. “You were serious about Hades? He’s a real being?”
“The Lord of the Underworld is no joke. He’s also not what most people expect.”
She sighed and shook her head. “The things you learn.”
Back at the table, Liana and Kinsley were chatting while the men watched a rerun of some sport on the small TV mounted in the corner of the room. Sports had never been Ben’s thing. He’d never been allowed to play them growing up since he was faster, stronger, and more durable than other kids his age. Instead of yearning to be part of something his adoptive parents would never allow, he taught himself to dislike them and threw himself into anything and everything else. He took every art and music class he was allowed and participated in numerous clubs. Not that any of it garnered him more friends. He was a loner. Always had been, always would be.
Valentina walked over to his soon-to-be coworker and said in a low voice, “Imogen, are you comfortable going with Ben instead of Alec?”
The other woman nodded.
“Do you want to go tonight or tomorrow?”
“Tonight.”
“She’s ready when you are,” Valentina said as she stood and turned to Ben.
“Let’s get at it, then.”
The quiet woman stood and gathered her things, leaving her guitar and amp with Asher.
“Here’s my number for when you want to bring her home, or if you run into any issues.” Valentina handed him a napkin with hastily scribbled digits on it.
Once he was sure he could read her handwriting, he tucked it into the pocket of his jeans and held out his arm to Imogen. She blew right past him, earning a few snickers from the men who had been watching them with wary eyes. They wouldn’t stop her from leaving, but none of them were happy about it.
Ben jogged to catch up with her before she made it out of the bar and disappeared. She was going to be a challenge. “So, Imogen, are you okay with me moving us to New York?”
“Yes,” she said as she turned to face him, the wind whipping around her dark hair and strange eyes. When he’d first seen her, he’d thought her eyes were hazel, but in that moment, they appeared to be gold. He pushed his examination of her out of his mind and walked them to the alley he and Alec had arrived in. “I’m going to need to touch you. Is that okay?”
She held out her hand but made no other response. Taking it, Ben pulled the shadows around them and moved them to a small side street in New York City. It was exactly where Alec said he had dropped the fae off.
“Here we are. Welcome to NYC. Can you pick up any traces of the fae?”
Imogen remained silent as she took deep breaths of the world around them. All Ben could smell was garbage and urine; it was all he could ever smell in any big city. The one thing he loved about being in a city, though, was that it was never completely dark. Someone somewhere always had a light on, whether they had insomnia, were working third shift, or were just hanging out. It was never the pressing darkness that he found in the country.
When she began to walk from the alley, he touched her arm. “Don’t do that, okay? I need to know where you’re heading so I can look out for you.”
“Contrary to popular belief, I don’t need anyone looking out for me. I let the pack take care of me because they need to, but you . . . you are just follo
wing their directives. Allow me to relieve you of that duty.”
“I’m sure you can take care of yourself, but that doesn’t mean that I’m not going to follow through. I gave your pack my word that I’d keep you safe, so why don’t we work together?”
“Fine, but don’t slow me down.” Irritation flickered in her eyes.
“Wouldn’t dream of it,” Ben said as he wondered why this quiet woman was now so defiant and strong when she hadn’t been moments earlier.
“They went this way,” she said, tipping her head in one direction before walking away from him.
“How do you know?”
She whirled on him. “Seriously? You and your buddy came to me for help and now you’re questioning me?”
Ben pushed out a breath. “Look, I feel like we are getting off on the wrong foot here. I am just curious. I’m not questioning or doubting, and I just want to make sure you’re safe so your pack doesn’t destroy me for harming a single hair on your head.”
“I can smell them. Even in human form, my nose is incredibly sensitive, and magical beings have distinct scents. Since it’s the only scent I don’t recognize, I assume it’s the fae. Everything else is either human, shifter, or you and your buddies, and maybe a vamp, but they are notoriously hard to track.”
“That’s amazing.”
She blushed slightly and seemed taken aback by the genuine awe he showed toward her abilities. “Come on. I’d like to track as much as I can before the morning commuters hit the streets.”
They worked in silence for a long time. She would mutter under her breath as the scents of the fae drifted in and out, moving around in ways that didn’t make any sense unless the two had been dancing or had been glamored from mortals and were moving around pedestrians. When the scent had taken them to the edge of the Brooklyn Bridge, he’d been surprised. Ben didn’t think the fae would want to cross water, especially to an island. Alec had said that they wanted to see the human realm, so he figured they’d go down the coast or something like that.