It would be something, all right. Something vile and disgusting and a huge invasion of privacy.
I swallowed all of my protests. I needed to pretend to be another human who shared his fascination so I get the stupid book. I could report him to the pack later, and maybe they—or some other supernatural beings—could look into this guy. In my periphery, I saw the pixie lantern light back up.
“I guess,” I said, working hard to keep the disgust out of my tone. “That’s not really my scene. I’m more into witches and vampires.”
“Well, I would need something on that level to part with this book. If not something living, then something big and impressive. My fiftieth birthday is fast approaching; I need a wow factor for my party.”
Somewhere below us, there was a thud and then several thuds, as if someone was banging on a door.
“My dogs are ready for their nightly walk,” he said.
What I’d heard hadn’t sounded like dogs. It had sounded like something bigger, trying to break down a door.
“I didn’t hear any barking,” I said, unable to resist challenging him.
Peter glanced behind him, as if to make sure the book was still where he’d left it, and ushered me out of the room. A faint acrid aroma rose up around him. Nerves, I realized. I was impressed I could make him nervous.
“They’re usually well-behaved, but they get antsy around walk time,” he said, careful to lock the door to his library and slip the key back in his pocket.
It hadn’t been locked when I’d arrived, but now he wanted to demonstrate that he kept things secure. No doubt to discourage any ideas about stealing it.
“Anyhow, I’m happy to trade if you can bring me something I want.”
There was more thudding directly below us. Mentally mapping the house from what little I’d seen, I’d guess the garage was below us. Who kept their dogs in the garage?
“I really want that book, so I’ll try to come up with something. But I’m not going to be able to get a…” I fumbled, not wanting to use his words but finally conceding. “…A live specimen. Surely there’s something else that piques your interest. I could get you a luck potion.” I thought of Avery, the red-haired witch who sold those in the Underground Market.
“Potions? My dear, I have a whole a cabinet full. Whatever you offer, it’ll need to be very special.” He winked, as if we shared some deep secret.
And then another thud vibrated up through the walls below.
“Come back when you can make an offer,” Peter said, practically pushing me through his menagerie of arcane junk and out the front door. “We’ll negotiate.”
Once I was over the threshold, he shut the door on me. The bolt clicked, and his footsteps retreated. I didn’t want to leave. The book was inside, literally mere feet from where I stood, and I needed it. But what could I do?
I slowly made my way down the porch steps, passing his garage. I heard a door slam inside the garage and froze. The garage had no windows, but the garage door shook as someone spoke in a harsh, punishing tone. I couldn’t make out the words, just the rumble of speech. There was more noise but none I could identify and then a crackling sound, like a moth hitting one of those bug zappers.
Cold ran down my spine. I knew that sound. It was the same sound my cheap Taser made.
A thud followed the zap and then a clank of some sort. And then a door shut inside.
I hurried out of the driveway. Aki's driver was waiting across the street. Relieved he hadn’t abandoned me here, though I could have found my way home, I hurriedly got into the car. The drive drove without asking where I wanted to go, and that was fine with me.
At that moment, I just wanted to go far away from Peter Yates.
Chapter 13
The dragon’s car pulled up to my house. The driver said nothing as I got out, and he pulled away as soon as I shut the car door.
I’d spent the entire ride trying to figure out what I could possibly offer this collector in exchange for the book. He hadn’t seemed interested in any item I could get my hands on, which sucked. Even if I could capture a vampire or a werewolf, I’d never be willing to hand them over to that jerk to keep locked in his garage or whatever. No way.
As I made my way up the walk, two figures peeled out of the shadows. I should have smelled them—the rich scent of shampooed and dried fur clinging to their human skin—but I hadn’t been paying attention and they startled me.
Rayna and Kate stood on either side of me, boots crushing the grass as they folded their arms over their leather jackets. Both were tall with broad shoulders and had muscles for days. I was surprised to see Rayna again before the big fight, and worse, this time she’d brought back up to strong arm me. As if I had any say in whether Raff fought Levi or not. Although, if this was how they wanted to play it, showing up to intimidate me, I was almost glad he was going through with it.
“Out for a walk?” I asked.
Rayna snorted. Kate growled, which set my teeth on edge. Even in human form, they were imposing, with the ability to stomp me into the ground if they so chose.
“Levi sent us to say hello,” Rayna said.
I shot her a questioning look. She quickly looked away, but I caught a small shake of her head. An uneasiness crept over me, and I wondered if her first visit and warning hadn’t been sanctioned by Levi, after all. Maybe she’d come on her own to implore me to stop Raff. And I got the feeling she didn’t want me to mention that little rendezvous in front of Kate.
“Okay,” I said. “I guess tell Levi I say hi. Unless you think I should send a note? Something like ‘Do you want to be friends, check yes or no’?”
Rayna gave a half-roll of her eyes, but Kate stared at me like I’d insulted her mother.
“Levi is the Alpha wolf, girl. Show some respect,” she said.
Levi had tried to convince me that I should join his band of warriors, which was what wolf pack enforcers were called. He’d wanted my loyalty in taking over the Northern Washington Pack, hoping my support might help sway the remaining members of my now-decimated pack. He didn’t seem to understand that at the time none of them had liked me very much, blaming me for Jean’s death among other problems the pack had faced since I’d shown up at a pack meeting only months before. I tried to imagine how different things would be if I were dressed in leather and standing at Kate’s side, ready to defend Levi at all costs. The image was not a happy one.
“He’s not my Alpha,” I pointed out.
“Not yet,” Rayna said.
It wasn’t threatening, just matter-of-fact, and that made it worse.
“What are you doing here?” I asked, and Rayna’s shoulders stiffened. “I thought the stupid fight was happening up at the Orchard, and it’s not until Saturday.”
“It’s not a stupid fight,” Kate said, in a mocking tone. “It is a battle of strength and power, and your Alpha will lose. It will be a bloody battle. I’ve witnessed Levi fight for his place before. He will not let it go easily.”
The hair on the back of my neck stood up.
“I will hate to see your boyfriend die so senselessly,” Rayna said, her voice soft and compassionate.
She met my eyes, imploring me. But imploring me to what, exactly? I’d already told her I couldn’t talk Raff out of it.
“The fight’s not over yet,” I said, heart pounding in my throat. Raff was probably inside the house, mere yards from where we stood discussing his fate. “But if Levi is afraid…”
Kate snarled. “He’s not afraid. He’s trying to show you mercy. He knows how much the wolf boy means to you. He wishes to spare him. If your current Alpha concedes her place to Levi tonight instead of him, Levi can take over without this blood bath.”
I shivered. I hated the way they kept saying “blood bath” because I was pretty sure that was an accurate description of what a fight between Raff and Levi was going to be, and despite what these ladies apparently thought, I had zero power to stop it.
“I thought he challenged S
asha.” She was technically our Alpha now, though she’d all but stepped down last month. Tonight—since it was now the wee hours of Friday morning—she would officially hand over the reins to Raff. “Wouldn’t he have to fight her regardless?”
Rayna shrugged. “She’s all but given up her position already. It would be… more justifiable to peacefully take her place than that of a new challenger.”
I stared into her mournful eyes. Rayna had lost her warrior partner, Martin, to the hunter’s silver bullets. Now it was clear she was trying to spare me the same fate. Raff was a warrior, and I wasn’t, and I didn’t know what we were to each other beyond friends and housemates. But she was right about one thing: I really didn’t want to lose him.
Kate’s death glare was starting to bug and Rayna’s sadness began to spread out like a fog. Exhaustion made my headache.
“What do you want from me?” I asked, fidgeting with my keys.
“Convince him not to fight,” Rayna said.
As if it were that easy.
“I can’t,” I whispered.
Because I already had tried.
“Of course you can,” Rayna said. “He cares for you. He’ll listen to you.”
A lump grew in my throat, and tears pricked my eyes. “Rayna, I already tried, okay? He’s determined. I can’t stop him.”
“Then he’s going to his death,” Kate said, with so much certainty that rage boiled in my stomach.
“No, he’s not,” I insisted, but she was so sure of it and I couldn’t shake the fear that she was right. I took a deep breath. “If you really want to help, why don’t you tell Levi to back out and leave our pack alone? We’ve done fine without your ‘help’ for this long.”
“You know he will not,” Rayna said firmly.
“Well, neither will Raff,” I said. “So, I guess we wait until Saturday and see what happens.”
I continued up the walk to the front door. My key was in the lock when I heard them finally turn and leave.
“Shame to see the boy die. I thought he was handsome and strong,” Kate muttered.
She was pretending to talk to Rayna as they got into their car, but I knew she’d intended for me to hear it. I hurried inside and shut the door, trying to shut out their terrible predictions. It was now five in the morning on Friday. Tonight, Raff would accept the position of Alpha in our pack, and at nine pm, Ellianne would come and claim the book or increase my debt to her. I couldn’t allow that to happen.
Raff was in his room when I got home, but the door was cracked open. I knocked softly. He answered, wearing blue pajama pants and a slightly tattered old t-shirt with the name of a pizza place on it. The shirt had a few tiny holes near the collar and was threadbare, making it easier to see his bulging muscles. Even in ratty pajamas, Raff was sexy as heck.
“What did they want?” Raff asked.
My eyebrows went up, momentarily distracted as I was with his hotness, but I knew who he meant. I was just surprised he’d seen Rayna and Kate outside.
“To intimidate us,” I said. “Why didn’t you go out there and tell them to get off your lawn or whatever?”
Raff smirked. “And what, shake a cane at them? I’m glad they’re here. Like I said, if Levi is sending his warriors to freak me out, it only proves he’s scared. No reason to waste warriors’ time otherwise.”
Rayna and Kate hadn’t sounded the least bit worried. But maybe Levi was a little freaked. Raff wasn’t going to go down easily.
Or at all, I reminded myself.
“I’m ready to face him,” Raff said, the smirk replaced by an earnest expression. “And I’m ready to win.”
“You will.” I nodded as I said it.
That earned me a smile, which made my insides turn to warm goo. “I’d love to stay up and chat, but I need my beauty sleep for the ceremony.”
I smiled back. “Good night.”
“Good night, Charlie,” he said, and I reveled in the way my name sounded on his sleepy lips.
I went into my own room and called Michael. Sunrise was a good hour or so away and he answered immediately.
“How goes the book hunt?” he asked.
“I found it.”
“Holy crap! That’s awesome.” He sounded so relieved, I almost hated to burst his bubble. “You don’t sound excited.”
“Well, I don’t technically have my hands on it yet.”
I explained about collector Peter Yates and all the horrific things he’d asked for in exchange for the book, making sure to mention the pixie lantern and the strange sounds in his garage.
“Wow, he sounds like a piece of work. It’s a wonder he’s survived this long.”
I frowned into the phone, my tired brain not able to connect that dots. “Huh?”
“If he’s keeping any kind of supernatural creature prisoner—even assuming it’s just the pixie—then it’s kind of incredible some faerie hasn’t killed him yet, isn’t it?”
I thought about that. “I don’t know. He said pixies were fae insects. Maybe the fae don’t care either.”
“But he’s willing to take in a live werewolf or vampire. So basically, he’s happy to play jailer to a person. Sounds like someone who deserves to have the supernatural world bite him back...” Michael’s silky voice shook with desire.
“What, you vant to suck his blood?” I joked.
Michael didn’t answer. I guessed that was a yes. Kind of. Gross.
“Michael. We can’t kill him,” I said. “It’s not like he tried to hurt me.”
Although, if he’d known what I was, he definitely might have tried to capture me and keep me in a cage to show off to his friends. Not that I imagine he had many, if people in cages were the sorts of things he found impressive.
Michael was silent for a long moment. “Can we steal it from him?”
“He’d know it was me,” I said. But my moral compass didn’t spin out of control at the thought, either. After all, I needed the book, and if he wasn’t willing to trade for something less than a living, breathing person, stealing it was probably my only option. And I wasn’t going to lose sleep over this guy losing a single piece of his massive collection.
“How?” I asked.
“This is going to sound like a really stupid idea, Charlotte,” Michael said. “Because it is.”
“At this point, stupid ideas and saving throws are all I’ve got. If I don’t have the book to hand Ellianne by nine o’clock tonight, I’ll basically be kissing my freedom goodbye.”
“All right. Hear me out,” Michael said.
And he told me his brilliant plan. It wasn’t half as stupid as some of the things I’d come up with myself, so there was that. It was dangerous, but at this point, it was probably the best hope I had. So I agreed. We made arrangements to meet near Peter Yates’ house a little after five-thirty that evening—the sun set incredibly early this time of year, for which I was grateful—and we hung up so Michael could go to bed.
Since I had nothing to do until this evening, I went to bed, too. That was honestly the best part of this cockamamie plan: I finally got some sleep.
Of course, my room was still in complete disarray. I grabbed a spare blanket from the closet, curled up on my mattress, and closed my eyes.
Chapter 14
I woke from a fitful sleep in the early afternoon. My room was freezing despite the fact that the window was closed and the heater was running. The hot air coming out of the vent was no match for the chill.
I sat up, blinking and trying to clear the sleep from my eyes. My heart pounded. I half-expected to find Ellianne or her faerie companion standing over my bed, but no one was there. Though, I couldn’t shake the feeling that someone had been.
Of course, that might have been a dream.
I showered and dressed in my only pair of black jeans and a plain purple t-shirt with a black sweater over it. I put my hair up in a ponytail.
Raff had just gotten home when I got downstairs. He wore gym clothes streaked with sweat, his face damp
from exertion. His taut muscles bulged out of his sleeveless t-shirt as he pulled off his gray hoodie. His face lit up when he saw me.
“Hey, I was worried you’d sneak off before I got back,” he said, balling up his sweatshirt. “You’re coming tonight, right?”
Tonight was an important ceremony, and I knew I had to be there to support Raff as he became our pack’s Alpha. Of course, tomorrow he’d have to fight to keep that position, and I struggled to push Kate’s words out of my head. She didn’t know Levi was going to win for sure. I mean, just look at Raff, with his big muscles and determined stubbornness. He had a darn good chance of winning.
I tried to swallow down worry that it wouldn’t be enough. Levi had experience with this kind of challenge, and he was willing to rip Raff to shreds. Both those things were an advantage against a guy who’d never been in that kind of fight and wanted them both to walk out of there alive.
“Of course,” I finally said, not sure how I was going to swing that if I didn’t get my hands on the book. “What time?”
“The ceremony is at eleven o’clock, but I’m leaving here at eight… I want to get there early to help set up. And there will be drinks and snacks beforehand.”
He grinned. He knew was I always up for snacks. Especially this close to the full moon, which was on Monday. My normally ravenous appetite swelled right before the full moon, and I could eat my weight in snack foods.
“Great. Michael and I are going to meet up this evening, but I’ll have him give me a ride.”
Raff’s grin faltered. “Meet up? For what?”
I shifted uncomfortably, not wanting to lie to him but not ready to tell the whole truth either. I’d happily spill my guts about this whole mess once it was over, and he had beaten Levi, and we were both safe.
“Just stuff. No big deal.”
Raff’s face contorted. “Can it wait? Tonight is kind of a big deal for me.”
Moon Bound (The Reluctant Werewolf Chronicles Book 3) Page 10