by Tina Donahue
“Now we make our move,” Etaw said, reaching into his pocket.
“Wait.” Jeete grabbed his arm, stopping him. “In the alley, you told me there were two werewolves on this plane.” He focused on both sides of the deserted street, eventually glancing at the structures behind them. “Where did you see the other?”
“Inside the building with our prize.”
For the first time, Jeete regarded the house with caution, his previous decision to attack suddenly forgotten. “We should wait until he leaves as the other werewolf did.”
“This one won’t,” Etaw insisted. “I’ve seen how close he stays to the woman in order to protect her, never letting her out of his sight or allowing her to leave the house.”
“Then how can we possibly take her from him?”
“We use surprise as you suggested earlier.” From his pocket, he pulled out the device that opened portals. Months before, he’d heard how some of the other guards had manipulated the instrument to bypass E4 in favor of going to E5. Etaw hadn’t dared do anything like that, too fearful of the consequences. However, he’d listened and learned how his companions had recalibrated the settings.
Not only had they discovered that changing them allowed one to go to another realm, the instrument was also able to take them anywhere within this dimension they desired…without anyone or anything detecting them.
“What are you talking about?” Jeete asked.
“You’ll see.”
Stationed at the kitchen window, Staci regarded the backyard. Its heavy vegetation rustled in the whipping wind. Branches struck the house. The waning moon did little to eat away the ominous shadows. All that was missing was a wolf’s howl to make tonight a real-life horror movie.
“Tell me they’ll be okay,” she said.
Teeko came up from behind. Wrapping his arms around her waist, he pressed his mouth to her neck.
Staci released her weight into him, sighing at what he was doing. His lips were soft and warm, his cheeks rough with his coming beard. A delicious combination that encouraged closeness.
What a pair they made. Her with so many brutal scars. Him a werewolf.
If she stopped to think about that, she might feel daunted.
No way. Staci didn’t want to think. She wanted to feel, needing him near. His male allure was certainly part of the attraction. His determination to defend her at all cost, his acceptance of everything she was—especially her flaws, which were far worse than any he had—meant more than all of the rest.
So many guys on this plane whined about not being able to understand women, wondering what it took to get a female’s willing, unguarded response, her undivided loyalty. They should have tried sincerity and tenderness, the most powerful aphrodisiacs of all.
“They’ll be fine,” Teeko assured, his breath tickling her cheek.
She shivered in delight at him running his tongue over her ear. “You’re sure? I mean like totally?”
Teeko murmured, “No guard will ever bring Kuma down. He won’t let anything happen to Gwen. He loves her more than he did Zule.”
“He told you that?”
“He didn’t have to. I see what’s on his face whenever Gwen’s near. Surely, you’ve noticed it too.”
Staci had and envied Gwen for that, wanting the same from Teeko. If she hadn’t been such a coward, she would have asked him about his feelings for her, the ones beneath the surface that had nothing to do with sex. Instead, she turned and slipped her arms over his shoulders. “Hold me, please. As tight as you can.”
He gentled his embrace even more. “I won’t leave you, I promise.”
Staci bit her lip to keep from thanking him, not wanting to sound too needy. Days ago, she hadn’t allowed herself to hope that a man would want her again just as she was.
Teeko didn’t seem to notice her scars at all, accepting them as a normal part of her, even after he’d seen the worst of them.
In her bedroom earlier, he’d turned on all of the lights, then directed her to go to all fours on the mattress, a position they’d never enjoyed before. Every time they’d made love, Staci had made certain she was facing him so he couldn’t see the full extent of her injuries. This time was no different. She hadn’t budged.
“Go on,” Teeko had ordered.
Even a gun to her head wouldn’t have persuaded her to do what he wanted. “I have an idea, you lie down.” She’d offered her most seductive smile. “I’ll be on top this time. I’ll do all the work.”
“No. I want to take you from behind.” He stepped out of his jeans and briefs. His cock was wonderfully rigid, his balls a carnal delight, so plump and tight they made Staci’s mouth water. To say she wanted him was the understatement of the century. Still…
“Don’t you trust me?” he asked.
“What? Of course.” She frowned. “How can you even ask such a thing?”
“How can you refuse to do what I want?”
No way was she going to talk about her imperfections with him. She wanted his passion, not his pity. “Turn out the lights first; then I’ll do whatever you say.”
“After it’s dark in here? I want to see you. Don’t you want to see me?” He looked down at himself, his expression growing troubled. “Is there something wrong with me?”
Staci warned herself not to laugh. She mumbled, “A Calvin Klein model would sell his soul to look that good.”
Teeko frowned. “I don’t understand.”
“You’re perfect.” I’m not.
He regarded her, then padded to the bed. “Are you afraid I’ll turn into a wolf?”
“No.”
“Then tell me what’s wrong so I know.”
If only it were that easy.
“Please.” He bent down and kissed her with tenderness and respect.
When he pulled back, Staci sighed, defeated by his gentle manner, what appeared to be his genuine affection for her. “Get ready.”
“For what?”
What else? Gritting her teeth, she turned her back to him, picturing how the light accentuated her disfigurement—the skin red and shiny, puckered in some places, gouged out in others. A cratered landscape even she couldn’t look at for long.
She pressed her lips together to keep from whimpering. Please don’t say anything bad. I couldn’t stand it.
Without as much as a sigh, Teeko kissed her shoulders and murmured, “Lie down. On your belly.”
Too embarrassed to speak, much less argue, Staci did as he asked.
He sat next to her, the mattress vibrating with his weight. Teeko kissed her spine, the small of her back, the worst of her injuries, easing her hurt more than any narcotic could.
Recalling that moment, she hugged him fiercely now, unable to get close enough.
He grunted in what sounded like approval and brushed his lips over hers. Staci didn’t refuse his invitation. What began as a gentle, tender kiss between them grew steamy, each of them trying to get as close as possible, their hands clutching, fingers exploring. They necked as though they’d been separated for years, as if they’d known each other forever, not only a few days.
His body was solid and heated, his hunger for her, his acceptance of all of her imperfections precisely what she craved. He deepened their kiss, pushing her tongue aside so he could fill her.
Staci snuggled closer, requiring his warmth. Her fingers were suddenly chilled. Why? Gwen had turned up the heat shortly before she’d left with Kuma. And yet, there was a cold blast of air coming from somewhere.
Confused, Staci pulled her mouth from Teeko’s and glanced up at the ceiling vent. Warm air poured down, brushing her face.
Her fingers were icy now, as were her feet and legs.
Not understanding, she lowered her face and froze. The wall behind Teeko was liquefying like some weird special effect in a sci-fi flick. Intense light poured from it. Two men emerged from the brightness, dressed in similar shirts, jackets, pants, their features identical.
What the fuck was happeni
ng? Who were those guys?
Oh shit, who else. Guards from E4.
Teeko turned, no doubt feeling the cold. The guard on the left lifted a weapon that looked like a small gun. Staci opened her mouth to scream. Before she could, there was a faint pop and then a dart hit Teeko’s shoulder. Another dart struck his leg. Surprise followed by fear flickered across his face. His arms dropped away from her. He fell to his knees, unable to stand, to transform and protect either of them.
No, no, no, no, no.
The men smiled, that gesture as cold and cruel as their expressions. The one on the right approached her. He spoke a language Staci didn’t understand, his tone coaxing and menacing at the same time.
She wanted to holler for someone—anyone—to help her, but couldn’t pull in enough breath to do so. At her feet, Teeko lost consciousness, his body slumping to the floor.
Fear and outrage pumped through her. She reached for him, then stopped as the guard nearest her edged closer. Fucking prick. Bastard. Acting on instinct, she backed away so he’d follow her, leaving Teeko alone.
He did just that, inching nearer.
Once more, she backed away. Her heart beat so hard Staci was certain it would explode. She flinched as her hip hit the counter.
The creep gave her another smile that said you are so fucked, you are so trapped.
Reaching behind herself, she searched for a weapon and found nothing. God, no. The knives were well to the left of her, too far away to reach.
The guard said something else, guttural words that repulsed her. The SOB with him continued to grin.
She stepped a bit to the right, hoping to keep their focus on her, ensuring that they forgot about Teeko. They watched her closely, each of them moving in the same direction she had, mimicking her movements. This time, she moved to the left, eager to get those pissing knives. When she kept going, sliding toward them, the closest guard strode forward.
Desperate, Staci grabbed the first thing she could, throwing the coffee pot at them both. The searing liquid flew in a wide arch and splashed the nearest one, hitting his eyes. He howled in agony.
The other muttered something beneath his breath and lifted his weapon.
In the split second before he fired, Staci fell to the floor, a learned reaction from the self-defense training Gwen had taught her. The guard stared, his frown saying he didn’t quite comprehend what had happened. Not giving him a chance to figure it out, she rolled away and pushed to her feet, bolting into the hall.
There Staci stopped and turned. She had to go back to Teeko to keep him from further harm.
The guard came into the kitchen doorway, his body between Staci’s and Teeko’s. Once more, the guard lifted his weapon and took aim.
They’d just reached the next block over when Kuma grabbed Gwen’s wrist to bring her to a halt.
Frowning, she whispered, “What are you doing?”
He lifted his face, smelling the wind. It was clean and cool, absent of threatening odors, and yet the animal part of him knew something was wrong. His belly clenched with the unknown threat, just as it always did on E4. The same as it had done the day Zule died. He’d known before he reached her that the unthinkable had happened.
Gwen leaned closer. “What is it?”
“We have to go back.”
“Are you kidding? Why?”
He didn’t answer, turning away from the wind instead. There. He’d felt it again, the threat urging him to return to the house before it was too late. “Use the device,” he said.
“For what? Is this more BS to keep me from hunting the guards? I’ve already told you, no way are you going out alone tonight. I’m going to be there with—”
Kuma grabbed Gwen’s arms, shaking her so she’d stop arguing and would listen for once. “Do what I say,” he growled. “Don’t fight me. Staci and Teeko are in danger.”
Her mouth sagged open. “Huh?”
“We need to go back,” he snapped. “We don’t have time to run. Use the device as Nikoli taught you.”
She’d insisted the man show her everything there was to know about it. How to get from one realm to the other…or from place to place in this dimension.
“Use it now,” he ordered.
Everything moved in slo-mo for Staci, allowing her to observe details.
Perspiration dotted the guard’s wide face. Frustration darkened his already swarthy complexion. Fury burned in his light brown eyes.
The ends of his curly black hair wiggled slightly as he stepped forward in a way that said he didn’t know what to expect from her. From the kitchen came the other guard’s pained whimpers. Good. Staci hoped she’d burned the scumbag’s eyes out so he couldn’t harm Teeko.
Her pulse jumped in worry. She listened for sounds coming from him but heard only the rush of blood in her ears. Surely, the other guard couldn’t see Teeko well enough to do anything to him.
She didn’t want to consider what that anything might be. Losing him to death was unthinkable. No longer being able to see him because he’d been transported back to E4 was also more than she could bear.
What now? What now? What—
Her thoughts stopped as the guard directed his weapon’s muzzle at her shoulder. Staci’s hand flew to it in protection. She heard that same distinctive pop she had earlier, then a whoosh.
Again she dropped, her body hitting the floor. The dart whizzed past. It smacked into the wall and fell with a tiny tap well past her feet.
The guard bellowed in outrage.
Definitely not the time for her to stick around. Scrambling to her feet, Staci dashed down the hall and wove from side to side to make certain she was a difficult target.
There was another pop and another. One dart flew past. Another hit the wall to her side.
She ran into her room, slamming and locking the door, then put her hands over her mouth to keep from making any sound.
Like that mattered. She’d just slammed the door. Idiot. How could she have been so damn dumb? She should have been quieter. Not that it would have done any good. He’d seen her running into her—oh God.
The knob turned right, then left, just as it did in all the slasher films she’d seen. The guard’s wheezing breath sounded too loud, definitely too close. When he couldn’t open the door, he butted his body against it, making the wood shimmy and groan.
Staci backed up so fast, she ran into the nightstand. Her lamp crashed to the floor. She looked at the window, wondering if she’d have time to open it and scramble out.
To go where?
That maniac would follow her through the streets of Seattle, unless he returned to the kitchen so he and the other psycho could kill Teeko. Or take him back to E4 as an offering to the rulers who’d amuse themselves with his torture.
Uh-uh. Wasn’t going to happen.
The guard slammed his body against the door again. Although it held, the sickening sound of wood splitting filled the air.
Staci ran from one corner of her room to the other, searching for something to use as a weapon. Her science book was huge, her lamp made of brass. With the items in her hands, she turned.
Her door burst open, slamming into the wall.
The guard stumbled inside. His bulky shoulders pumped with his harsh breathing. He regarded the lamp and book she held, then made an angry sound like something from hell. Incomprehensible words poured from him, sounding enraged.
He stomped toward her, both hands tightened on his weapon.
Staci swung her lamp at him.
He halted, but only for a moment.
From the kitchen, the other guard yelled something in his language, then screamed.
Why? Had Teeko regained consciousness and transformed? Please. Please. Please. Staci pictured him ripping the jerk apart, chewing him to shreds, tossing him into the portal on the way to E3, where he’d be for all of eternity.
On his next scream, the guard facing her looked over his shoulder, hearing what she had. Footfalls pounding in the hall. More than on
e set. How was that possible? Those agonized screams hadn’t come from anyone who could still walk, much less run. Had more guards come through the portal?
Crap, not that. Please not—
Staci flinched as Gwen burst into her room, blonde wig askew, the instrument Nikoli had given her in her hand.
“Duck!” Staci hollered.
Just in time, Gwen did. The guard’s dart zipped past her face. It hit the hallway wall and fell to the floor.
Naked, Kuma stepped over it and entered the room.
The guard fired repeatedly, but no more darts came out of his weapon. He threw it at Kuma. With the grace of a wild animal, Kuma ducked, not bothering to watch the gun sail past him into the hall. He reserved his full attention, all of his rage for the guard. The creep shouted something at Kuma. Kuma answered in a low, menacing growl.
“What are they saying?” Staci cried.
“I don’t know,” Gwen shouted. “I don’t understand—oh shit.”
The guard made a whimpering sound as Kuma’s body began to compress, his limbs growing shorter, his body hair darker, coarse and long.
“No!” Gwen shouted at him. She moved toward the guard.
Kuma stared at her. He pulled back his lips, showing his teeth.
Gwen hollered, “You’re not hurting yourself by transforming again, and you sure are hell are not messing up my house with this piece of crap.” She pointed the device at the guard.
Behind the prick, a portal formed. He glanced over and immediately stepped away, trying to protect himself.
Think again. Staci swung her lamp, the base hitting his knee. His bone made a nauseating crack. He bellowed.
Gwen shoved her foot into his groin, cutting off the sound as she pushed him into the gateway. He stumbled backward, trying to right himself, unable to do so. His mouth opened in a terrorized scream as the portal sucked him to E3.
Gasping, Gwen sealed the opening and shouted, “You okay?”
Staci nodded, then shook her head. “Teeko.” She ran into the hall.
Gwen called out from behind. “He’s okay. We already got rid of the other guard. We…”