The DarkWorld SkinWalker Series Box Set Vol II: The SkinWalker Series Books 4, 5 & 6: Blood Promise, Scorched Fury, & Fate's Edge (DarkWorld: SkinWalker)

by T. G. Ayer

  Iain sat beside me on the bed. “Hang in there. We’ll figure this out.”

  I nodded. “Wish Mom was here.”

  “I know, hun. Me too. I’ve left a message for her. Hopefully, she picks it up and replies.”

  I squinted, tilting my head to study his face. It all seemed too secret agent. “You have a system?”

  He smiled. “Foolproof. Been using it for decades without a single problem.”

  “We need to compare notes,” I murmured, feeling the weight of exhaustion finally push down on me.

  Dad snorted. “That would be interesting.” He had brought homemade chicken tagliatelle, and I’d tucked in until I was near bursting. Home food trumped hospital food any day.

  Now though, I was sated, and tired, with my body in overdrive for hours, repairing all the damage Stavros had done with his fists.

  Dad shifted closer and nodded at my abdomen. When I lowered the blanket, he lifted my pajama shirt to inspect the bruises, then palpated my ribs to gauge how well it had begun to knit.

  Only when he’d pulled my shirt back down and tucked the blanket around me did he meet my eyes and give me a nod. His face though was serious. “Is that not a good thing?” I asked.

  He nodded. “It is. You’re healing fine.”

  I yawned loudly and then apologized. “Sorry. I’m just so tired.”

  Dad got up and patted my leg while Iain wriggled further into his chair. I frowned staring over at him, eyebrows raised.

  “I’m staying the night.”

  “Do I need a bodyguard?” I asked, annoyed and concerned at the same time.

  Dad sighed. “The sad truth is we don’t know. This whole setup proves that Marsden and the council have a plan. One that they are slowly putting into play. We don’t know how far they are willing to go.”

  “Marsden shot himself in the chest and said he would testify that I did so in cold blood in order to kill him. I’d say that’s pretty damn far.”

  “Good point. And all the more reason for you to have protection.”

  I nodded. “And the Walker Council’s investigation?” Dad’s gaze shifted back to my eyes, curious now. “If Trapper and Wade and that thug Stavros are going to do their own ‘investigation’,” I signed air quotes as I spoke the word, “surely we have a right to do our own.”

  Iain let out a soft laugh. “Can I say I told you so?” When I glanced at my brother, I saw that he was grinning at Dad. Both Dad and I shook our heads, but he continued, “We’re way ahead of you, sis.”

  “On the DL or does the council know?” I asked, then paused and made a face. “I suppose now they know.” Dad and Iain both nodded grimly.

  “We never planned on keeping that a secret. I’ve already told Chief Murdoch, and he’s happy for us to speak to whoever we want to. Including Stavros.”

  “That’s not going to be easy. The man won’t be very cooperative, that I can bet my life savings on.”

  “Well, he won’t have a choice. He’ll have to talk to us, or Murdoch will arrest him on suspicion of collusion.”

  “He could run,” I suggested.

  Iain shrugged. “Should he run, it will just bolster our case.”

  I nodded and yawned again. Dad leaned over and kissed my forehead. “Sleep well, kiddo. And don’t annoy your brother.”

  I made a face as he retreated to the door, pausing to give me one last glance. Then he was out the door, greeting the cop who was sitting right outside, before striding down the hospital hallway. Corin Odel gave off the air of a man without a worry, but I’d just weighed his shoulders down that much more.

  I glanced over at Iain and found him watching me. “You’re going to be okay.”

  I lifted a brow. “I will be,” I assured him with a large yawn.

  “No, I was telling you that you’re going to be okay, not asking you.”

  “Big brothers are always far too bossy,” I muttered as I turned over and tugged the blankets over my shoulder. “Just so you know snoring, farting and talking are normal while a person is asleep. I don’t want a rundown or a tally when I wake up in the morning.”

  “What about a rating on the stinkometer scale?” Iain asked innocently as he withdrew a laptop from his messenger bag.

  “Shut up,” I mumbled, falling asleep within seconds even with the light of my brother’s computer reflecting around the room.

  His presence made me feel secure, but as I fell deeper into sleep, I had to consider one thing.

  A false sense of security could be dangerous.

  Chapter 29

  The next morning the doctors discharged me, waiting only to ensure I signed the necessary papers before rushing off. Not a single one of them asked anything about my unusually fast recovery either, and I wasn’t sure if I should be thanking Chief Murdoch for that.

  Murdoch came himself a half hour later, his wife Chloe in tow. The couple waited while I gathered my things, then helped me outside.

  In the hall, I found Trapper and Stavros, both furious as they stared at my uncuffed hands.

  “You’re not even cuffing her?” Trapper exclaimed, glaring at the chief.

  “I’m not sure there is a need to. She’s not going to run off, especially not being as weak as she is.”

  “Don’t be fooled. She’s not what you think she is,” Stavros called out after us.

  Murdoch stopped, then faced the man. “What do you mean?” the Chief asked. Within the supernatural community, it was no secret that Murdoch was well informed as to the species and political alliances within the DarkWorld. Either Stavros was not from around here, or the Walker Council had glaring gaps in their knowledge.

  Stavros gaped, unable to respond, not in the middle of a public hospital hallway with dozens of humans around. Such a public revelation of the existence of supernaturals was likely to be punishable by an interminably long sentence, if not death.

  The man remained silent, and Murdoch turned away, guiding Chloe and myself out of the hospital.

  He escorted me to his car and allowed Chloe to sit beside me. Waving off the cop, Murdoch told the man to follow in his car. The chief had made it abundantly clear that he didn’t see me as a threat, for which I was supremely grateful.

  As he drove out of the parking lot, Chloe turned and faced me, taking my quivering hands in hers. “How are you doing, young lady?”

  I smiled as I felt the rush of relaxation filter through my skin. “Much better now that you are here.” I sighed. When Chloe touched your skin, it felt like a happy drug had just been injected into your skin.

  Chloe laughed. “Evasive as always.” She shook her head. “You’re in for a stressful few days, dear. I need you to be prepared for a lot of emotional upheaval.”

  I shrugged staring out the window. “I’m prepared.”

  Chloe’s hands were warm around mine, and I felt the tension drift away. Relaxing, I laid my head against the seat and let out a soft sigh. “Sometimes I wonder when it will let up,” I whispered. The best part of Chloe is that as a doctor she respected doctor-patient privilege. So whatever we discussed never went anywhere.

  I didn’t use her services often but when I’d done so, I’d always been happy with the caring and sensitivity she showed.

  “There are a few people who I know are currently having a worse time of it. My interpretation is that when trials and tribulations seem to worsen to the extent that you don’t believe you can handle a second more, it usually means that you are almost ready.”

  “Ready for what?” I opened my eyes and glanced over at her.

  She smiled. “We’re all on a journey, dear. Some of us have journeys that are far more important than the rest of us.”

  My eyes narrowed as I studied her twinkling eyes and her serene expression. “How did you find out? Did one of them come to you?”

  She shrugged. “I have my networks. I need them to ensure my knowledge base remains as wide as possible to benefit my clients.”

  I shook my head at her non-answer. “I
didn’t expect you to tell me. I just wish we knew more about this whole thing.” Even though I was talking about the Ni’amh, I could not bring myself to say the word aloud, or to mention any of the quintet’s names.

  “Perhaps it’s time for a meeting of the minds?”

  I shook my head. “I’m not sure everyone is ready. I think we get told only when the powers that be believe we are ready. I’m pretty sure not all of us know as yet.”

  Chloe nodded, somber now. “That makes sense. And you need to do what is best for you. Working together is the most important factor in this. I just wish we had more information regarding the…regarding what is meant to happen.” The mage sighed, and I understood her concerns. They were the very same ones that I’d been having these past months since I’d discovered I was part of the Ni’amh.

  Chief Murdoch cleared his throat and said, “We’re almost there.”

  His announcement made me sit up, awareness of what was about to happen hitting me like a wall of ice. I cleared my throat as Chloe patted my hand. I swallowed and found I felt calm despite the realization of what awaited me at the station. Calmer than I thought was possible.

  Then I glanced at Chloe and gave her a dirty look. “What did you do?”

  She grinned, her eyes twinkling. “Just a little something to help deal with the next few hours. I’ll come by later to see how you’re doing.”

  I couldn’t do anything other than shake my head at the woman. I wouldn’t have willingly taken any form of anxiety depressants, but I had to admit that whatever Chloe had done to me, it felt damn good.

  I took a deep breath and got out of the car when Chief Murdoch opened it. I remained still, made no sudden movements as the cop from the hospital closed in on me, cuffs in hand. “I’m sorry, Miss. I’m going to have to cuff you now.”

  I glanced over at the chief. “A charge has been laid against you, and a warrant is out for your arrest.”

  “I wouldn’t have expected anything less,” I murmured, lifting my wrists to allow the cop to clamp the cuffs around them. I could escape them easily enough, so I didn’t feel intimidated by them.

  I just felt demeaned by the whole process. By how easy it had been for a group of people to come together to overturn centuries of tradition, how easy it had been for those people to spread their views, to turn the heads of previously loyal friends and clan members, how deep their roots had spread that they could wield the law on their own behalf.

  I blinked as the cop walked me into the station, expecting the hustle and busyness to hit my senses hard. But nothing happened. I was calm, tranquil even. And I glanced over to Chloe who walked behind me.

  She lifted an eyebrow.

  I turned away and shook my head, unable to remain annoyed for more than two point seven seconds.

  Murdoch led me through the warren of desks and to the right of his glassed-in office. “Where are you taking me?” I asked softly. This wasn’t the way to the general holding cells.

  “Interrogation rooms are here. If they want to interrogate you, we need you to be available for whenever they arrive. The advantage of these interrogation rooms, as opposed to the ones down in general lockup is that we see governmental agencies here. Which usually requires cells of better condition and better amenities.”

  Murdoch threw open the door and led me inside what looked like a small apartment. To the left were a tiny kitchen and a small four-person dining set. The middle of the room contained a sofa—that looked a lot like it converted into a bed—a coffee table and a small TV as well as a shelf filled with paperbacks and magazines.

  To the right, and directly in front of us was another table, this one resembling most fancy boardrooms, with gleaming oak and soft leather chairs. There weren’t any mirrors inside the room. Nor did there appear to be any surveillance equipment.

  I stared around me, and Murdoch smiled. “Completely secure. The place is for high-profile suspects.”

  “And those you prefer to appease.”

  He pursed his lips. “It’s all a political game in the end, Kai. In your position, you will find that out all too soon.”

  I sighed and waited as another cop brought in my bag that Iain had left with me this morning. He’d taken away my washing and promised to return with anything else that I might need.

  The cops left, and Chloe said her goodbyes, leaving too but not before assuring me that she would come by later in the day. I was so grateful, but for some reason, I didn’t allow myself to show it.

  She seemed to understand, patting my cheek and smiling before leaving in silence.

  For some reason, watching Chloe leave seemed to amplify my hopelessness.

  A sense of foreboding sank in, and I couldn’t shake it.

  Chapter 30

  I sank onto the sofa, wincing as I pressed against my healing rib. “I’ll let you know when Trapper and Wade request to see you,” said Chief Murdoch.

  “Aren’t they already outside, chomping at the bit to see me without delay?”

  The Chief laughed. “They will need to make an appointment. We’re currently debriefing the suspect and going through our preliminary assessment process. Representatives of the parties pressing charges will have to make an appointment, which of course can take a while as we confirm security clearances and warrants.”

  I smiled, unsure what to say. I wanted to ask him why he was doing this for me. “Thank you,” I said instead.

  He waved me off. “I’m not blind. I can see when someone is being railroaded. Something’s fishy in the state of the walkers, and although I can’t get involved and may not even be privy to the details, I can do my bit to ensure that the innocent have the same rights as their wrongful accusers.”

  I lifted my chin. “What makes you so sure that they are wrong?” I asked, my tone even. I wanted to see if his expression would reveal his true feelings, but nothing changed, and neither did his heartbeat nor his body temp.

  Murdoch laughed. “Supreme High Councilman David Horner has always been known to be an excellent judge of character. Beyond that, I know Logan Westin well enough. If he trusted you, then I don’t think anyone can make me believe his judgment was wrong. You’ve always looked out for the underdog, you always fight for what’s right.” He nodded slowly. “That’s all I need to know.”

  I smiled, but the expression was more sad than flattered. As much as Murdoch was giving such a glowing character reference, I wasn’t sure that it would matter in the end.

  “You’ll find gunshot residue on my hands.”

  He nodded. “Yeah. The tests were positive.” He glanced at me. “You up for debriefing me? If not, I’ll come back.”

  I shook my head and sank deeper into the sofa, pulling my leg up under me. “I’m happy to do that now. No point in waiting.”

  Murdoch nodded. “I’ll be back in a bit.” True to his word he returned in less than two minutes bearing a small voice recorder and a notepad. He set them on the coffee table and headed over to the kitchenette. “Coffee, hot chocolate, tea?” he asked as he busied himself grinding beans and filling a French press with grounds.

  I inhaled the scent and laughed. “I can’t decide between coffee and hot chocolate.”

  “One mochaccino coming up.”

  We remained silent as he prepared the drinks and brought them over, then dug inside the fridge for a box of donuts. “Right. We’re all set now.” I nodded and sipped the delicious drink. The man made a mean mocha. He cleared his throat, bringing my attention back to him. “So, can you tell me everything that happened that led to the incident at the abandoned house?”

  His tone had reverted to formal, and I straightened too, understanding the severity of the interview. “I’d taken my bike—well Logan’s bike—out and was heading to the city to run an errand.” Murdoch nodded and lowered his head to make notes. I was good at reading upside down so I was able to tell that he’d more or less written what I’d said. I inhaled slowly and continued, “Marsden came out of nowhere and almost blindsid
ed me. At first, I’d had no idea that it was him, but he’d raged and yelled, and when he looked back, I saw his face.

  “I guess I was curious so I followed him. He led me to the derelict house, and I was about to leave when I heard voices. I wouldn’t have gone in, but it sounded like shouting and since he’d already been violent on the road I thought I should check it out. Abandoned house, woman’s raised voice, angry man. I wasn’t sure what was happening, but I felt like I ought to find out. My responsibility as an alpha anyway.” I managed to pull off a few lies well enough as I spoke.

  Murdoch nodded. “Did you see or hear anyone else around?”

  I shook my head. “I waited just to be sure. But not a soul.”

  “Did he take anything inside with him?”

  “I hadn’t arrived in front of the house until after he’d entered the doorway and by then all I could make out was his back.”

  “Did you recognize the woman’s voice?”

  “Not until I was upstairs outside the room.”

  “Did you have any weapons on your person?”

  I nodded. “My daggers in my boots. I’d left my crossbow at home. I’d gone out on a quick errand, so there was no reason to weapon up.”

  “Do you own a gun?”

  “I do. But none are standard revolvers.”

  “We’d like access to those weapons. You can be present while we check them out.”

  I nodded, feeling my heart thud rapidly against my ribs. “They’ll be at my dad’s place in Tukats. He’ll be happy to show you my weapons.” I wasn’t concerned because we’d been prepared for such an occasion. We kept a separate locked cupboard in the kitchen, with a collection of weaponry that contained all manner of herbal concoctions within the vials. Similar to what Tara gave me, just nowhere near the same potency, and within legal parameters of herb usage.

  “So what happened when you entered the room in which the victims were talking?”