Slade

by Bianca D'Arc

  Kate didn’t question why he wanted her to use something that wasn’t offensive at all. He had his reasons. If nothing else, suddenly seeing all the magic around her in bright, brilliant color would startle the woman.

  Kate nodded at him. “I’m ready when you are.”

  “That’s my girl.” Slade winked at her, sparing her a hint of a smile. She realized that he was actually enjoying himself—just the tiniest bit—but he clearly liked this kind of work. And why not? He seemed perfectly suited for it.

  He spoke quietly into the radio and Kate felt the building of energy. The sorceress was preparing her spell. “Slade…” she whispered, nervous.

  “Okay, kitten. Do it now.”

  Kate let loose with her own power and the entire place lit up with magic. Bright, beautiful, shifter magic. And one, disgusting trail of blood red, leading to the place where the sorceress hid. She was fully illuminated to Kate’s senses now—Slade’s too, she was sure.

  Kate kept her magic going full force while Slade stepped into the open, drawing the woman’s attention.

  “It’s over,” he said in a strong voice that carried. “You’re caught. Might as well give up now, Sheila.”

  She jumped at the sound of her name, but otherwise made no reply. Kate felt the dark power ratchet up a moment before the sorceress lobbed a magical fireball at Slade. He shifted shape in the blink of an eye and when Kate’s vision cleared from the intensity of the magic thrown their way, Slade wasn’t in his black leopard form. No, he wore a glowing, spotted white coat and his paws and tail were incredibly bushy.

  “You’ve got to be kidding me. He’s a snow leopard?”

  Even Kate had heard the rumors—the myths, really. Rarer than rare, snow leopards were like shifter royalty or something. And intensely magical.

  That part was proving true as the sorceress’s energy seemed to bounce right off him. Amazing.

  Even as she watched, Slade leapt. He covered a huge distance in a single bound and kept going…climbing and dancing along the steel girders and decking toward the fleeing mage.

  Kate kept her magic going strong, illuminating the scene as best she could for Slade. To the others it probably looked like she was simply hiding behind the generator, but to those with magesight, the sorceress’s path was lit with bright, blood red light against the purer colors of the shifter’s magic—and the pure blue and white streak of Slade’s alternate form.

  Or his other alternate form. Was it even possible for one shifter to claim two different animal forms? Kate had never heard of such a thing, but then again, she’d never met a snow leopard before either. Nobody had. Not to her knowledge.

  It seemed there was a first time for everything.

  She tried to watch Slade’s progress as he chased the sorceress but he was faster than her eyes could follow. So was the sorceress. She was augmenting her speed with magic in order to stay one step ahead of Slade—and the cougars who had joined the chase.

  Four of the Redstone brothers had joined the fray, ducking the magical attacks of the sorceress by sheer skill and agility while Slade barreled right through them as if they were nothing. In fact those fireballs were enough to kill most other shifters. Or at least knock them off their feet. Or off the side of the building.

  Kate saw a series of giant hawks and eagles diving from the upper floors, getting out of the way while the cats ran the mage to ground. Kate kept a tight hold on her concentration, not allowing the magic to flare too brightly while keeping it illuminated to help Slade track the woman.

  She saw the way he directed and worked with the other cats. The cougars were clearly angry. Hell, they were irate. But Slade managed to exert his influence on them, even as he led the small group in a concerted effort to trap the woman between them.

  She fled around all the obstacles piled on the deck, faster than Kate would have believed if she hadn’t seen it herself. But the cats were faster. The sorceress threw sickly blood-red fireballs at them, but none made contact. Slade kept himself the main focus of her attacks as best he could, but she took shots at the cougars too.

  Until they cornered her. She was stuck between three long pallets of decking material on one side, the cougars on the other, Slade in front and the sheer drop off the side of the building behind her.

  Slade shifted back to his human form, fully clothed and facing the sorceress. Kate moved, holding her magic at the ready.

  “Give up, Sheila. You’re done,” Slade said with finality.

  “Do I know you?” she asked and her voice was low and sultry, magical.

  She was trying to exert seductive magic over the men but Kate saw it and intercepted it, illuminating its oozing crimson for Slade to see. Slade nodded and raised one hand, pushing the magic back at her, disdain clear on his face that seemed to anger the sorceress.

  “I know all about you, Sheila. I know you went rogue on your masters in the Venifucus. I know your pal Abrahamson has betrayed you. He gave me the chalice you meant to use for your little ceremony and I destroyed it.” Slade advanced on the woman as if she was no threat to him.

  And perhaps she wasn’t. Slade had seemed to take the full brunt of her magical fireballs with impunity.

  He took a little poetic license with the facts about the chalice, but Kate wouldn’t quibble. Especially not when she saw how mad the thought of losing the chalice made the other woman.

  “You couldn’t have. I’d know,” Sheila sneered.

  “Would you?” Slade advanced even closer, one eyebrow raised mockingly. “You didn’t even know when I captured Abrahamson.”

  Her eyes widened. She hadn’t known, Kate realized. So maybe this woman wasn’t as powerful as they’d thought. Kate wouldn’t drop her guard though. That would be a foolish mistake.

  “He is nothing,” the sorceress spat. “As you are nothing. I will reveal your existence to the human world and they will hunt you all.”

  “Really?” Slade crossed his arms. “And how do you propose to do that? You’re surrounded. You can’t escape.”

  “Can’t I?” She smiled and looked sharply over her shoulder.

  Kate gasped. Did she intend to jump? It sure looked like it to Kate.

  But then an enormous, cream colored owl landed on the open side of the building. To Kate’s magesight, the owl was lit with intense magic. More than any other shifter she’d seen…except Slade.

  The woman threw her magic at the giant owl, but it bounced off. Just bounced. Kate didn’t have any other way to describe what happened. It wasn’t like the way Slade had charged through the fireballs that had been lobbed at him. This was an actual bounce.

  The sorceress jumped when her magic was repelled back at her. She jumped higher than Kate would have credited, up and over the pallet of decking material at her side.

  The cougars bounded on top of the stacks of decking as the woman screamed. Then the scream cut off abruptly and Kate heard a distant thud.

  Oh, no.

  Slade was around the pallets like a shot, but he stopped short, swaying slightly as Kate rounded the oversized pallets and realized what had happened.

  There was an open, unfinished elevator shaft just behind the pallets.

  Slade held her back when Kate would have looked down the shaft. He had his arm around her waist and curled her into his chest, protectively.

  “Do you think she realized the shaft was there?” Kate whispered as the cougars took off, bounding away to get to the bottom of the shaft in a much safer manner.

  They took the stairs, which were right next to the open shaft. Only the owl remained, perched now on the side of the elevator shaft, watching with icy gray eyes.

  “No, kitten. She would have used her magic to break her fall if she’d been prepared for it. I believe she had the capability, which was why she was going to go over the side. But our new friend Johan here blocked her retreat.” Slade gestured toward the giant owl. “Thank you, Johan.”

  The owl hooted once, then hopped away, taking to the air whe
n he reached the open side of the building. Kate watched his creamy wings. He had to have a six foot wingspan at the very least.

  Kate couldn’t feel the malevolent energy of the sorceress anymore. It had dissipated.

  “Is she dead?” Kate asked quietly, unable and really, unwilling at the moment, to look down the empty shaft.

  “Yeah, I think so. Grif will verify, as is his right. He’s going to have to be content with running her to ground. She caused her own death. Her blood is on her own hands.”

  “I think that’s better for all concerned. I know you shifters take killing as a natural part of your existence, but this kind of thing…” She searched for words to describe what she felt in her heart. “A revenge killing, motivated by anger and hate…” She turned in Slade’s arms and looked up into his beautiful blue eyes. “It injures the soul. I wouldn’t want that for Grif or any of his brothers.”

  “You are wise beyond your years, my love,” Slade whispered before leaning down to place a gentle kiss on her lips.

  She wanted more, but he moved away, though he kept his arm around her waist. He ushered them both back from the edge of the shaft after taking one last look over the edge. Kate resisted. She didn’t want to see what had become of the evil woman. It couldn’t be pretty. Falling nineteen stories had to have done serious damage.

  A little thrill went through her as she realized what Slade had called her. His love. Wouldn’t it be amazing if she really were his love? She wanted it so much, but knew it was probably only an impossible daydream.

  Arm in arm, they walked back to the elevator. Slade was solicitous of her in a way that made her feel special and cared for. It was a nice feeling. Even after he closed the cage door of the construction elevator and the rig started to trundle down to the ground, he pulled her into his arms and just held her, in silence, all the way down.

  When the door opened on the ground floor, he ushered her out and would have steered her away from the area where the cougars were gathered, but she stopped him. She needed to make sure the sorceress hadn’t left any traces of her evil behind.

  “Are you sure?” Slade asked when she turned toward the direction of the elevator shaft. “It’s not pretty.”

  “I’ve seen death before,” she answered. “And it’s my duty to protect the Redstone Clan and be certain any magical residue is channeled away from where it could cause harm. I have to check.” She really didn’t want to, but knew she had a duty to perform. She had to suck it up and do her job.

  Slade looked at her for a moment and she thought she saw respect in his eyes. She knew then, she’d chosen the right path. It had been tempting to chicken out and let him lead her away from the undoubtedly gruesome sight, but she had a responsibility to the Redstones, to the shifters who worked for them, and even to the people who would one day use this building, when it was finished.

  Slade was impressed by the way Kate carried herself over to the milling cougars. She walked among them with no fear, even as they growled in frustration. The cats had not had the pleasure of the kill, though satisfaction was clear in the set of their shoulders. Grif quieted his brothers the moment the Kate stepped through the circle of cougars prowling around the body.

  The Alpha sat back on his haunches and that simple act brought his brothers to his side. They all sat, facing Kate and the dead sorceress, watching attentively. Slade was impressed as Kate acted in her role as priestess, sending out her magic one more time to do battle with the residue of evil that surrounded the fallen mage.

  It was no contest. Slade could see that easily with his magesight as the pure Light of the Lady worked through Kate once again to negate and consign what was left of the sorceress’s magic to the cleansing depths of the earth.

  Grif stood as witness, the clear leader. Steve, Robert, and Matt sat at their elder brother’s side. Mag hadn’t been seen since taking the vampire away from Abrahamson’s house, though he had called to say he was all right. Still, the majority of the Redstone family was present to witness the passing of the woman who had killed their mother.

  Kate said ritual words and worked her magic, ensuring the mage’s evil power and intent would never cause anyone harm again. Slade watched, as did the cougars. More people joined the circle around the open elevator shaft as Kate’s Goddess-given magic lit the scene to Slade’s magesight.

  Slade was unsurprised to find Johan at his side. The owl shifter had arrived on silent, human feet, but Slade had felt his intensely magical presence. He remained silent as he watched Kate with a speculative look to his face that Slade found intriguing.

  When the ritual concluded, the men of the Ghost Squad were all present, standing respectfully and with care for Kate’s safety. Even when the enemy had been dealt with, these men were still on guard. As it should be. Their life was vigilance. As Slade’s had been until very recently.

  Oh, he would never lose the habit, but he’d found something else to focus on in the past few days. Or, rather, someone else. Kate had proven herself in every way, to the point that Slade knew she was too good for him, but still, he was going to try with all his might to win her heart.

  The time had come to claim his mate.

  Kate finished the ceremony, but didn’t leave the fallen woman’s side. She bent and picked up the woman’s large purse. It looked very plain at first glance, but once the evil magic of the mage had been banished, the designer leather bag shone with a subtle, magical light to Slade’s eyes.

  Kate looked up at him just for a moment before opening the bag as if seeking strength. He liked that she would turn to him, even unconsciously for reassurance. She peered inside the bag and then shut her eyes in what looked like a mix of relief and sorrow. She closed the bag and walked up to the Alpha cougar at a respectful pace.

  “What was taken from your mother is now returned,” Kate said in a solemn tone. “With your permission, I will return this to the matriarch, so we can send her off to the next world in peace.”

  Grif bowed his head and his brothers followed suit as Kate moved between them, carrying her precious burden. She walked straight to Slade’s side, holding tight to the leather bag as he escorted her out of the building.

  The Ghost Squad melted into the night, watching their path and clearing any obstacles to the garage. Grif and his brothers bounded ahead through the shadows, entering the garage through the hidden door.

  By the time Slade and Kate had made it across the site and into the structure, all four cougars were men once again, dressed and waiting for them with solemn expressions. They said not a word as Slade seated Kate in his rented vehicle. She kept the leather bag on her lap.

  Steve stopped at the passenger door to look in at Kate. She rolled down the window and Slade pretended not to notice the tears in the cougar’s golden eyes.

  “Thank you,” Steve said in a raspy tone. “It didn’t turn out like I expected, but I think justice has been served.” He cleared his throat, looking away for a moment as he gathered himself. “Having you here has helped the Clan, Kate. Grif will say the same. But I wanted to tell you what he probably won’t say. Your presence here has brought some measure of peace to our family.” Steve seemed to grow stronger as he said the words. Grif and Robert were piling into their truck, waiting on Steve, but he took his time to say the words that seemed so important to him.

  “I’m glad,” Kate said simply. “Thanks for saying that. It’s not only my duty, but my honor to help.”

  Steve nodded once, slapped his open palm against the saddle of the open window, and left, walking straighter, gaining strength as Slade and Kate watched after him. Kate rolled up the window and Slade put the SUV in gear.

  Steve got into the truck with Grif and Robert while Matt straddled the motorcycle that had appeared in the garage since they’d first arrived. He’d been late to the party, but he’d been there at the crucial moment.

  “You did good, kitten,” Slade said quietly as they rolled out of the garage.

  “I don’t ever want to be in
volved in something this dark again if I can help it, but I’m glad I was able to help.”

  “None of us ever want to face evil, but it’s out there. Those of us who are put in a position to fight it just do the best we can. And sweetheart, you did us all proud with your fierceness tempered by compassion. You’ve enriched this shifter community just by your presence. That’s what Steve was trying to say. You’re good for them and now they all know it in the most direct terms.” Slade tried to give her something positive to focus on. She seemed so forlorn, he wanted to reach out and comfort her, but he had to drive.

  “Take us home, Slade,” she said quietly. “It’s time the matriarch was put to rest.”

  Kate didn’t speak again until they arrived back at the Redstone homestead, but Slade held her hand when he saw the tears rolling silently down her cheeks.

  They made a small convoy of vehicles heading back to the housing development. Slade and Kate followed Matt on the motorcycle, riding point. Grif’s truck followed them, and in turn was followed by a number of other vehicles. All found spots on the street outside the Redstone’s home and even Slade was surprised to see the members of the Ghost Squad, including their mysterious owl-shifter healer, had come to pay their final respects to the Redstone matriarch.

  Slade realized as he watched the soldiers each spend a few moments talking to Grif and Steve, that many of them were former comrades-in-arms. They would stand with their friends during their time of grief. Such was the shifter way. Moreover, such was the code of the soldiers they would always be, even though Grif had retired to be Alpha of his Clan and leader of an even larger collection of shifter construction workers and their families.

  Kate went into the house with the bag held tightly in her hands. When Slade offered to help, she smiled softly at him and demurred. It was her responsibility as priestess to prepare the mother of the Clan for her final journey.

  So Slade stayed outside, joining the gathering in the big backyard, in the garden the older lady had so lovingly tended. It was a fitting place for her final ritual. A good place for her children to say goodbye and share their grief with their friends.