by Judy Teel
"Come on," Noah said in a low voice, and this time I didn't give him any grief when he took hold of my arm and pulled me back down the hall.
I'd wanted to force the issue of Cooper's situation with Rosalind and had counted on the element of surprise to work in my favor. Instead, I'd made a worse enemy of her and discovered something that I had a feeling nobody was supposed to know.
Ryker was sick.
* * *
Noah opted to stay in the hall when I got to the apartment, and I decided that two confrontations an hour were enough even for me, so I didn't push it. Inside, I found Miller on the sofa with his leg propped up on a footstool, reading a book. A tray of mostly eaten lunch was on the cushion next to him.
He glanced up as I locked the door behind me and crossed the room to flop onto a leather covered arm chair. Stacking my feet on the coffee table, I let out a long, relieved sigh. "Been busy?" he asked, turning the page.
"No more than usual." I tossed my library books onto the coffee table. Miller looked at them and then at me.
"Unusual choices."
"Dr. B gave them to me."
"Ah." He went back to reading.
"That's it? 'Ah'?"
"You should read them. Whenever he does that, it's usually important."
Getting up, I took his lunch tray to the kitchen. After putting the dirty dishes in the dishwasher, which I was incredibly happy to see, I got myself a glass of water and went back into the living room. Picking up the smaller book, Demons and Dimensions, I settled in for some studying. As I browsed through the slim volume, I thought about Cooper and hoped another idea for getting him out of lockup would occur to me. Weres needed sunshine, fresh air and freedom, and I hated that he'd be spending another night underground. Plus, I missed him.
The knot in my stomach that had tormented me since he was collared started aching like an open wound. I pushed away the nagging fear that the soul connection between us was gone for good and focused on Demons and Dimensions — normally a subject that I'd find fascinating. After a while, my worries receded and I found myself engrossed in the research material that some practitioner from the nineteenth century had collected. By the middle of the book, I started seeing the mysterious Were pandemic from a new and appalling viewpoint, one that made a cold sweat break out across the back of my neck.
A couple of hours later, Miller was snoring away with his book open on his lap, and my stomach had given up growling and moved on to roaring as it protested the unfairness of missing meals for the sake of knowledge. My neck was stiff and theories about what might be happening to Bone Clan clambered around in my head like hamsters on a coffee binge.
When a knock came at the door, I jumped. "Addison," Noah whispered from the other side. "Addison?"
Pushing out of the chair, I stretched and went to open the door. Noah stood in the hall. "What's happened now?"
He tossed his thick bangs off of his forehead with a quick, agitated jerk of his head, his yellow wolf eyes glowing with determination. "You've been summoned."
"By...?"
"Rosalind."
"Then who cares?" I went back to the living room and started opening end table and coffee table drawers, hoping to find some paper and something to write with.
He stepped up to the doorway. "You have to go."
"She's not the Captain of me." Bingo. I took out the pack of tasteful Thank You notes and pulled an envelope free. Digging around a little more, I came up with a pencil.
"She heard about Deg's challenge."
"Then she finally has something to smile about." I scribbled down a note for Miller on the envelope and laid it on his chest. He gave a snort and rolled his head to a more comfortable position, but other than that, he was down for the count.
"I'm more interested in food." I strode to the door then came to a surprised stop when Noah didn't get out of my way.
"Rosalind has the authority to make Deg accept a public apology as restitution," he said, worry lines pinching down on the bridge of his nose. "It's an option you should take."
I released a long breath. Politics...the bane of every society ever created. "Fine. But only because I don't have time to waste on overblown Were sensitivities."
Because if what I'd just figured out was right, we had a much bigger problem than a plague to worry about.
CHAPTER FOUR
About ten minutes later, we walked into the library. Dr. Barrett was nowhere to be seen, but Rosalind sat at one of the tables off to the side. She had her feet up on the polished surface, crossed at the ankles, a nice shiny knife with a black handle next to them. She was wearing neon purple sneakers, which surprised me. Flashy footwear didn't exactly say hard ass warrior chick to me, but what did I know?
I stopped at the first row of bookshelves and took down the thickest volume I could find before approaching her. Noah stayed back, doing his best to pretend he wasn't there, but if he was, he wasn't interested in whatever Rosalind and I had to say to each other. I stopped about fifteen feet from the table, plenty of room to duck if she charged me, or stop her knife with the book if she decided that was more to her liking.
She gave me an unfriendly smile and idly spun the knife on the table. "I heard you accepted a challenge from Deg." She spun the knife again. "Didn't you know that you're supposed to drop your gaze and grovel when one of your superiors looks you in the eye?"
Ah, if only I had my gun. "I hear words coming out of your mouth, but I have no idea what you're talking about."
Rosalind gave the knife a snap with her fingers, turning the blade into a spinning blur. "I dislike humans." She watched the knife. "They're too weak to do anything but procreate like cockroaches. And too stupid to do anything but live short, futile lives that inconvenience others."
"What do you want, Rosalind?" I asked, relaxing my body as I prepared for the knife throw option.
"As repulsive a thought as it is, I have to know. Are you and Cooper lovers?"
Somewhere at the front of the library, Noah dropped a book.
"It's not against the law," I said.
"Yet," she countered.
We sized each other up.
With the lightning fast reflexes that only paras could manage, she slammed her hand down on the knife, stopping it. I flinched and she flashed a cold, predatory mockery of a smile at me. "Tell me I'm wrong and I'll force Deg to withdraw his challenge."
"Okay, you're wrong. Cooper and I are only friends. Barely acquaintances, really." I watched her nostrils flare as she tested the air. Then her mouth compressed into a thin line. Yeah, that's right, bitch. Flat out lie. In your face.
Her eye twitched and I snapped the book up in front of me, the impact of her knife burying into it, knocking me back a step. Before the handle stopped vibrating, she was beside me, her pale green gaze boring into me. "Die today and prove it."
Turning, she strolled out of the library. I flipped the book over and pulled the knife out of it. The inlaid onyx along its handle formed the shape of a claw-tipped wolf's paw. The blade looked strong and sharp, probably titanium, which meant it could do some serious damage to any para that got in its way. I hefted the knife in my hand, appreciating its perfect balance.
Sweet.
Noah came up to me, his wide-eyed gaze on the weapon. "Wolf's Blood," he whispered, awe and fear in his voice.
"Watch your language." Pulling my old knife from the sheath in my boot, I slid Wolf's Blood in to replace it.
"It's the name of her knife," he protested. "She's marked you for assassination."
"And giving her intended victim a cool new weapon doesn't seem like a conflict of interest to her?" I finished tucking my jeans into the top of my boots to give myself easy access and straightened up.
His distressed gaze caught mine. "It's an insult. She's telling everyone that it doesn't matter what you have, what you do, or where you go, she'll kill you in the end."
"And here I thought she didn't care." I gave Noah a reassuring smile and handed him my kni
fe. "A gift. You can even name it."
Turning, I headed for the door. "And don't worry," I said over my shoulder. "Maybe Deg will beat her to it."
* * *
Cooper trudged between two guards and focused on keeping his back straight as he climbed the steps to the top tier where his brother's quarters were. He tried not to think about the scorching pain in his shoulder, the sweat beading his forehead and the nausea churning in his stomach. His respect for humans had grown considerably during the long hours that he'd laid in his cold cell slowly dying from an infected wound.
In another day or two he'd go into a coma if the collar didn't come off. Then his organs would shut down one by one until he was gone. For the second time in his life he'd be dead.
Normally, he might be able to stir up some kind of concern about that possible outcome, but all he could feel was the agonizing loss of Addison's presence in his heart. The only regret he had was that he hadn't had a chance to finalize their bond and make her truly his in the eyes of his Clan.
The guards took him down the hall and brought him to a stop in front of the Alpha's quarters and exchanged greetings with their comrades. Cooper studied the heavy wood door carved with the faces of all the past Alphas. He found the likeness of his father, remembering the bizarre experience of standing beside his body and watching while the little practitioner tried to save his life.
His father had been beside him then and had told him that he had to go back. They'd argued about that point since at the time being dead felt damn good compared to being tortured, and Cooper wasn't too sure he'd wanted to give that up. But in the end, he did. Wanting to be with Addison had brought him back.
Maybe the thought of her could help him hold on now.
Cooper straightened his back, ignoring the hot, jagged ache in the muscles of his injured shoulder. He looked straight ahead as the guards left and one of the Weres at the door gave it a sharp knock.
A rough summons came from inside the suite and he was hustled inside, the door closing behind him quickly as if the guards were afraid of what was inside. He looked around the living room, a larger version of the layout adopted in all the living quarters. A necessary change since the room also served as a meeting place to discuss Clan business and to entertain high-level guests. He remembered standing in the corner as a boy, Ryker beside him, as their father had negotiated, bullied, or decreed, depending on what was needed to guarantee the welfare of his people.
When they were young, people had trouble telling Ryker and him apart, but as they'd grown, Cooper had begun to favor their mother's side and Ryker came to look more and more like their father. As his brother came toward him from the kitchen, he was struck by the resemblance again, only this time a stab of distress flared in the middle of his chest.
In the face he saw now, was his father's when he'd died.
Suddenly the PRC chafing his neck didn't seem like such a burden. Two Alpha's, one weakened, and no guarantees. Instincts like that were hard to control. He knew that better than anyone.
Ryker stopped in front of him, his golden yellow gaze tormented. "Rosalind thought she was doing the right thing by keeping you away from me."
"I know."
His brother nodded and stared at the softly faded green and pink quilt thrown across the back of the sofa. A muscle ticked along his jaw. "Isabel is dead."
The sorrow in his chest squeezed into his throat, and the edges of Cooper's vision prickled with misty darkness. He'd always had a soft spot for his brother's wife, the little sister he'd always wanted. The memory of her bright laughter and the way she could always make his serious brother smile bore down on him, pushing his strength away with it. He crossed to the sofa and eased down onto it away from the quilt. Isabel wouldn't have wanted him getting her favorite wedding present dirty. "When?"
His brother shoved a hand through his hair, making it stand up in messy spikes. Dropping into the chair next to Cooper, he rubbed his palm across his mouth as if wishing he could erase the words even before he spoke them. "Two days ago. She was..." The muscles of his throat worked as he swallowed. "The week before, we'd gotten your message that you'd be here for the Christening. She was glad. Said it was time some of the old ways backed down and let family be family."
Cooper's heartbreak deepened. "And now you're sick."
Ryker nodded. "I don't know how much longer..." He looked at the floor, and then back up to Cooper. "The Alpha of Blood Clan was wounded protecting his bonded mate when their oldest son lost control, but he lasted four days." He pulled in a deep stuttering breath. "Isabel lasted five."
"A fitting mate for you."
Ryker nodded, accepting the traditional words and the honor they paid to Isabel's memory. Blinking back tears, he cleared his throat. "Your request to track down Dad's brother... He died during the war, in Virginia. No known children. I'm sorry."
A cold hopelessness gripped Cooper's chest as Ryker lifted his gaze. "Will you fulfill your promised duties as Aesei Siian?"
* * *
I sauntered across the open grass toward the practice ring, Noah in step beside me. I considered telling him that he didn't have to stick with me through this, but the days of being full of the hunger to be an adult laced with gut-wrenching insecurity weren't that far back in my past. I didn't have the heart to send him away.
Deg stood on the far side of the ring, outside the border of stones. A few of the younger Weres had collected around him and from the laughing and gesturing it sounded like they were having a pretty good time anticipating my imminent humiliation.
Despite my previous tough words, if I was going to maintain my appearance of being human, I'd have to lose. That meant relying on defense moves and luck with a large dose of endurance until I had a chance to manipulate my defeat without appearing too weak. Now that I understood more about Cooper's place in the Clan, I couldn't risk diminishing his position. Weres could tolerate a lot of blundering from a human in their midst, but weakness was something that only inspired contempt in them. As my bonded mate, he would bear the brunt of that too. And since I wanted to be a part of his world, I couldn't let that happen.
And we were still bonded, I told myself firmly. We had to be.
"Not much of an audience," I commented to Noah as we came to a stop outside the other side of the ring.
"We don't crowd around to watch our chickens get slaughtered before dinner, either," he muttered, frowning in Deg's direction. "You're only chance to survive this is to trip over the rocks on your way in and fake an injury. Deg's hotheaded, but he won't fight a hurt opponent."
"Nope. Not gonna happen." I backed up a few steps to do some warm up lunges.
"I can still negotiate an apology," he said, watching me as I changed to stretching my waist from side-to-side. "You'll have to grovel some, but he's probably realized that he's embarrassing himself by fighting you, so I think he'd let you off."
"I have something important to discuss with Miller. Let's get this over with." I rolled my wrists a few times and then pulled Wolf's Blood out of the sheath in my boot. I tossed it from hand to hand to get a better feel for the weapon and got the extra bonus of stirring up a huddled discussion on the other side of the ring. I smiled and stepped over the stones.
The compound went silent as if holding its breath.
I glanced around, feeling more eyes on me than the ones Deg's cronies accounted for. I pictured one of the old Western movies I used to watch when I was little with the townspeople peeking through curtains and out of doorways as the sheriff and the gunslinger faced down each other in the street.
Yup. Nothing like a good bloodletting to brighten up the day.
* * *
Panic crawled up Cooper's back like a dozen scorpions. "We'll find a cure."
"It's moving too fast for that," his brother said. "We're not even sure how it's passed. Only that whoever's closest to the victim when they die has the greatest chance of infection."
"Knox has it," Cooper said. "But Travis' mate
was next to him when he died."
Ryker's shoulders bowed a little as if the impossible weight he already carried had somehow doubled. "I only know that it's steadily wiping us out. Blood Clan has half the numbers they did three weeks ago. In another week Bone Clan will be the same. At least Virginia hasn't been touched yet, so Sun Clan and Moon are safe for now."
Cooper's fears deepened. "And Maya?"
"No one who isn't old enough to shift has been affected," Ryker said, a whisper of relief in his voice. "And only two adolescents have come down with it."
A bitter anger gripped Cooper as he thought about his baby niece growing up without her parents. "We have a high-level practitioner with us. He could help Dr. Barrett—"
"I won't leave my daughter and whatever's left of our people without protection. You wouldn't either." Ryker gripped the carved armrests of the chair that had been a wedding present to their parents 122 years ago. Sweat beaded his forehead. "Do you accept your position as Aesei Siian?"
Addison... How could he face what was ahead without her?
Cooper fought down another wave of dizziness. But how could he turn his back on his niece and the people that his father and grandfather and his grandfather before him had given their lives to protect? How could he turn his back on the brother he'd gone into exile for rather than kill him to be Alpha?
"I accept," Cooper said, his voice rough.
Ryker released a long breath and leaned back as if all his strength had drained away on that promise. "Thank you."
After a moment, he pushed himself up from the chair and went to the door to speak to the guards. When he was done, Ryker crossed to the rolltop desk in the corner and pulled a worn leather pouch from the top drawer.
"I hope you have the code for this PRC handy," Cooper said as Ryker returned to his chair.
"No, but I have this." His brother reached inside his shirt and pulled out what looked like an old-fashioned watch face with a magnet on the end of it.