by Lucy Lyons
“The cell really did make you sick, didn’t it?” I asked as I knelt by Nick’s side. He leaned back and pulled his hand away from a stab wound, deep enough to bleed purple heart blood.
“That little thing may have saved my life, Clay. I think she was sincere in her effort to come outside, but I don’t think she knew what lie in wait for us. They were too surprised by us when we burst out the door. Most of them hightailed it. The one who stabbed me ran off, leaving behind the fresh smell of . . .”
I waved and nodded as I cut him off. “I can smell it still, unfortunately. What kind of monster is willing to kidnap a pregnant woman but shits himself the moment he’s face-to-face with a man, even a man with his arms full who can’t defend himself?”
“The Order of the Crow,” Haley answered then backed away a step when she found all eyes upon her.
“What was that, Haley?” Ashlynn was surprisingly gentle with the tiny Fae woman, and Haley began to glow at my mate’s touch on her arm.
“The Order of the Crow, or to each other, the Order, is a sect of humans that wants everyone to be on equal footing in the world. No more magic users will have the upper hand because everyone will have magic.” She scuffed her toe in the dirt path and hung her head. “They said they’d stop me from being beat up for being a mutt. They promised that the high Fae wouldn’t have the power to hurt anyone.”
“They lied, Haley. They tortured a gentle, kind Fae until it faded and tried to steal its power. They kidnapped a pregnant woman, and who knows what they were going to do>” I snapped, and Ashlynn held me back, standing between us.
“They were going to kill them both, and me too,” she said. They wanted to see if there was more wild magic in a newborn, and if so, they were going to try to tear out its soul.”
“Why wait until it was born, girl?” Nick asked Haley, who shrugged and sighed. “They couldn’t agree on when the soul enters the body. Some said at first breath, others at first heartbeat,” she explained. “They agreed to wait until it was born because if there were any loss of power it would probably be negligible over such a short time.”
“Sounds like a religious group,” I muttered, and Haley nodded.
“Yes, they call themselves Christians, but they don’t al believe the same things. Can we please go inside, somewhere there is shelter from the Order but not so much manmade poison?” Ashlyn met my eyes, and I shrugged.
“The club is good enough for now, backstage, near the windows . . . without making targets of yourselves, please?” I offered. I helped Nick to his feet, and we hobbled back inside as a group, Mikhail in front with Haley, and Ashlynn bringing up the rear, backing in and closing the door behind us. I heard the satisfying click of the deadbolt and muttered the spell we were taught to activate the security rune again.
Nick refused my help any further, so I fell back and walked with Ashlynn, hiding my smile as she gaped at the few vampires who’d been sent up to do an abbreviated version of their usual burlesque show.
“Are they why you never ask me to come here?” she asked, her voice more wounded than angry.
“I’ve begged you to come to the club, Ash. You always seem to find a way out of it.”
“You ask for your sorceress or for the master vampire. The closest thing to a date that we’ve done is chase down deer in the forest then have sex all night in various stages of shifting.”
“That’s . . .” I started to argue then silently cursed myself. “Wolves don’t date, Ash.”
“We’re not wolves, Clay. We’re people who become wolves. You just don’t want to admit that because it would be harder to hate yourself if you accepted that.”
She spun on her heel and followed Nick into the depths of the vampire hive with a toss of her hair over her shoulder, and one of the dancers patted me on the shoulder as they passed by to wait behind the curtain for their entrance cues.
“Sucks to be wrong, Clay, but admitting it and apologizing takes a bunch of the sting out of it,” she chuckled. I glared at her, and she flashed me a grin and winked before sashaying through the curtains and disappeared onto the stage.
I made my way to the conference room, where Ashlynn and Haley sat at the table with Fin, Jodi, Nick, and Dirk. Mikhaila had gone to check on Rae and Henny in the medical wing, and Dominique and Caroline were nowhere to be seen. At the head of the table across from Nick was a beautiful woman I’d never seen before with raven hair and tired, amber eyes in a pale face. At her elbow was Master Shedu, and I glanced from the wizened, wrinkled face of the master of the dojo to Haley, who also shot worried glances in her direction.
“Maria, I’m glad to see you at our table,” I blurted, seating myself in a central chair so I could intervene if either of them made a move toward the other.
“Clay, I’m glad to see that you saved young Haley. Some of our more . . . zealous, High Fae have forgotten that we live in a land of human laws now, where the old ways simply seem barbaric.”
“That’s because they are, Master Shedu,” Nick interjected. “When we found Haley, she was in a tank, completely filled with seawater that some Fae was electrocuting. That’s barbaric, no matter where or what time period you’re from.”
I blanched at the direct criticism leveled at the protector of the Fae and glanced at her expecting to see her sweet, overripe apple face turn into a thing of nightmares. Instead, I met the eyes of the woman at her side, the one who had so little to say.
“However, as it wasn’t a punishment at the order of Master Shedu. We can hardly hold her responsible for, ah, the actions of a few,” I suggested.
“Says the man who takes responsibility for his wolves if they order their Mexican in the wrong accent,” Dirk scoffed. “The protector failed to protect my family from whatever is out there, and I plan to hold every Fae accountable for that to the very top of the food chain.”
The quiet woman next to Maria touched her hand, and the other woman bit off her retort.
“Whatever is out there is an order of hunters, some would call an ancient religious order, who want to kill off the Fae and trap their magic in vessels to be used by those they deem worthy,” the stranger explained, and every eye in the room was instantly on her. Her voice was familiar, even though I knew we’d never met. It was as though I’d heard it in my dreams, as familiar as an old friend and at the same time strange to be hearing it aloud.
“Thank you, Onyxis.” Nick bowed at the neck, and the Night Mother did the same as I gaped at her.
“Ah, uh, Haley was told that they would bring magic to all beings, so there would be no more half-breeds, no more High Fae, just magic spread among all living things. To her, after centuries of abuse, it had to sound like the perfect solution,” I added.
Dirk scowled at the day walker, by far the smallest and now, the least powerful creature at the table.
“You should go stay at the campground then,” he offered. “As long as you pull your weight and leave things better than you found them, you’re an equal. You can only be challenged by those who want to prove they’re equal to you, never anyone ‘punching down,’” he explained, making quotes with his fingers at the last.
“That’s all well and good, but we need to end this order and quickly. They’ve already tortured, killed, and kidnapped. Obviously, there’s no limit to what they’re willing to do,” I said. “Haley, I wish you would let their nonsense go before it gets you killed.”
She shrugged and rubbed her palms on the oak table, seeming to gain strength from the contact. “The wolves arrived while the fighting was happening,” she said, her childlike face downturned in a sad frown. “They dragged me into the compound and the Order just left me. They blew up their own people, and the vampires, and ran off and left me.” Nick and Master Shedu exchanged a look, and the old woman pursed her lips.
“You are young among our kind and naïve. But there are still consequences for your actions. What if the alpha had died?” she reminded Haley. “You are hereby stripped of your sash. I cannot ha
ve a soldier among the Red Daggers who would disobey a direct order and bring harm to someone they were charged with protecting.”
The little halfling’s face crumpled, and shining, silver tears trickled down her cheeks. Dirk eyed me with discomfort, and we both looked to Ashlynn to stop the girl from crying. Oh, for crying out loud, you cowards, she projected to me, and from the sheepish look on Dirk’s face, he’d received the rebuke as well.
“Haley, do you promise to never, never attack anyone in our pack or any shifter or half-breed who doesn’t try to harm you first?” she demanded, standing so quickly her chair shot back and hit the wall behind her with a bang. Haley’s eyes were like saucers when she nodded and sniffled, and Ashlynn let the wererat guard behind her assist her to sit again.
She glanced at me, and I took a few deep, controlled breaths like Caroline had taught me to do and cleared my mind. I could feel my best friend nearby and the bright spot of power that had to be little Ro.
What do I do, Caroline? I asked her. Haley needs to be with people like her. She needs the wild magic, and I can’t turn my back on her, but . . .
But nothing, Clay. I always follow my heart, and it hasn’t led me wrong yet. Trust yours, and I truly believe everything will work out in the end.
She shut the door on me and strengthened her shielding almost apologetically, and I knew it was to protect myself, and possibly herself, from the adorable tyranny of the tiny, impossibly powerful baby in her arms.
“Haley, you’re a wolf now,” I sighed. “At least, you will be once the pack votes you in. We don’t lie to the wolves, so they will know what you’ve done, and you have to run with the pack for the wild hunt and share in the kill, but as far as I’m concerned, you’re one of us.” I exhaled hard and glanced at Dirk, expecting to see rage in his face.
Instead, he nodded his assent, saying “I second the motion to instate Haley as an honored guest of our people, welcome at Camp Rainier for as long as she’s willing.”
Ashlynn merely raised her hand in agreement, and we all turned in our seats to face Master Shedu as one.
“Well, Maria, it seems as though Haley is no longer your concern. In time, I hope you’ll consider having her back to the dojo. You’ll be losing a formidable fighter.”
“Of course, Clay. You’re the alpha.” She nodded slightly and smiled, and suddenly, I had the strangest feeling, that I’d just been played by the Red Dagger master.
If it saved the life of another lesser Fae, she could have the win.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Behind me the door opened, and Dirk gestured for me to turn around. Fin jerked his head toward the hall outside, and I stood and bowed to Onyxis and Maria and gave a nod to Nick before stepping outside.
“Freaking Onyxis, Fin,” I gasped as soon as I thought we were out of preternatural hearing range. “I could’ve used a little warning.”
“Sorry, Clay. I didn’t know. I’ve been holed up in the lab, trying to figure out where Rachel went.” He glanced back toward the closed door of the conference room. “How does Nick look? I know he’s pissed, and obviously worried about his general.”
“He’s got an immaculate blank face, and it’s for the best that he keeps it for now. He’s got the queen of vampires in there and apparently her bestie, my boss, the Seattle protector of the Fae.” I tugged at my hair. “When did this private party become the place to be for anyone and everyone?”
He started to answer then bit off his response and motioned to be follow him down the hall. A couple of turns, and we were in view of the cameras that Rachel had been recorded by as she was dragged out of the compound. Fin retraced their footsteps exactly, and within minutes we were under the last camera before the back door, where he paused and put a finger to his lips.
I shifted my hands to claws and waited for my target to show itself, almost holding my breath. Fin moved past the point where Rachel had disappeared and ran his fingers over the stone wall, revealing runes that lit and singed him where he touched them.
“I don’t think they ever left, Clay,” he whispered, and I stared at the lit runes that ran on three sides, two tall vertical lines parallel to each other and one across the top.
“It’s a freaking doorway,” I hissed, and he nodded. “We need the witches up here, right away. Do you want me to put the Fae back in her cell? I can have Mikhaila watch her. Call it light duty until I know there’s no after effects from her wound.”
“No, let’s bring her,” I countered. “She knows what’s going on, and I believe that she’ll help us, to avoid further punishment if nothing else. She’s going to come stay with the wolves for a bit, try to get herself turned around so Maria will take her back into the Red Daggers.”
Fin raised an eyebrow in a look that said, “It’s your funeral,” and shrugged.
“OK. You collect all the witches you can find, and I’ll grab some guards and discuss with Colette where Nick wants them divided.” I jogged off toward the nursery, prepared to be shut down by the new mama. At least with Henny and Dom around, Caroline could afford to take the break she richly deserved. Part of me wondered if this would still have come to her doorstep if it weren’t for her connection to the pack, even though I knew the vampires had their own brand of power for the order to steal. Rachel, I projected even though I’d never had a psychic connection with her. Hold on, we’re coming for you.
There was no response, but then again, I hadn’t expected one. Still, I hoped that she had received my message and it kept her strong until we found the way to her. No more vampires lost, I thought to myself, and the irony of how dedicated I was to ensure it happened was not lost on me.
Caroline was in the nursery, as I suspected, with Henny and Dominique and the professor, who was sitting in a rocking chair in the corner with Rowena in his lap, completely enthralled by her. I tapped Caroline on the shoulder and gestured with my head toward the corner, where the professor rocked slowly and blinked even slower, his eyes glassy and his mouth hanging slightly open.
“Oh, shit. Rowena, knock it off, you little monster!” Caroline blurted. She lunged to the professor’s side, wrenching the baby from his arms.
“Caroline, good grief,” he gasped. “We were talking, Caroline. How many educators or scientists ever get the chance to see firsthand how intelligent a baby really is?”
Behind us, I heard Henny chuckle, and Dominique snorted, “Please, she got you just like she got Clay. He got sucked in too.” Wisely, I kept my mouth shut about how upset she was that Rowena hadn’t seemed to want that extra connection with her. If I were to assume about Dominique and children, I would’ve put my money on the sixteen to twenty-year-old crew. Her level of panache and flair for fashion were more suited for children who believed they were adults than those seeking soft comfort and a warm embrace.
“OK, now that we’re all, you know, present,” I quipped, glancing at professor Eldritch, “we have a witch problem, and I need some of you to come with me to solve it.” Caroline arched an eyebrow at me, and I held my hands up in surrender. “It looks like a doorway made of runes. Anyone interested in opening it and helping me get my soldiers through to go after Rachel would be my personal heroes.”
Dominique stood up from her seat like I’d lit a fire under her, and both Henny and her husband nodded in agreement. Caroline’s head was bowed over Rowena for a long moment, then she peered at me through the tears in her eyes.
“Just make sure she comes home no matter what, and the people who took her leave in body bags.” I knew she wanted me to bring Rachel home even if we were too late to save her, but I had to hold onto the hope that she was still alive. They’d lost vampires I considered friends, but Rachel was family. She was the calming force that kept everyone civil when discussions got heated, and the one to make humans feel better again when the vampire show we put on upstairs or the drugs they inevitably used in the bathrooms got too intense.
“We’ll bring her home, Caroline.” I did my best to reassure her. “Whatever
it takes.” Even if it meant burning down the entire Order of the Crows and losing access to magic I knew none of our people had ever imagined, let alone seen. The magic, we could figure out. Our people were irreplaceable, and that was what separated us from the Fae and the Order.
I reached for my phone to tell Fin we were on the way, and realized I’d never got it back from Mikhaila. I cursed softly and stopped at the conference room to update the other leaders, sending the others on ahead with directions to text Fin and have him give them directions.
Inside the room, nothing had changed, and my people sat at the table quietly while the leaders talked around them like they weren’t there. I stifled the urge to point out that while they might be ancient, they shouldn’t be so assured of their superiority. The Order had risen under their very noses, and with the power they’d managed to steal from our kind, who knew which among us could still defeat them unaided? I certainly hadn’t. I gave Dirk a nod, and he stood up, gesturing to Ashlynn and Haley as well.
“Sorry to steal your audience, folks. I’m sure they were appropriately in awe of your power and . . . I dunno, whatever it is you think makes you real leaders and the rest of us mutts. My people and I need to go get a vampire back from the assholes who took her, and hey, Nick, if you’re interested, there’s some crazy new magic involved. Either way, we gotta go. Maria, If I don’t see you before, I’ll be in early Monday for the sunrise Tai Chi class, and I’d love to see you there, making the youngsters look bad.”