The Wolf Fount

by Gayla Drummond

  Morgan swallowed loud enough for the were-liger to hear, and he checked on her from the corner of his eye. She was pale, but doing her best to keep a bland expression on her face. Her lips trembled and she pressed them together. Thane squeezed her hand, the only comfort he could offer at the moment.

  “Humans aren’t the most creative of creatures,” Vitus said. “Tell me, my dear, have you ever heard the phrase ‘hanged, drawn, and quartered’?”

  She shook her head in response and Vitus sighed. “Humans don’t pay attention to their own history. The phrase describes a method of execution. Dragged by horse, hung, eviscerated, beheaded, and the body cut into four parts. Any one of those methods would’ve resulted in death, but no, that’s human creativity for you: Let’s do all those things, one after another, to one unlucky soul. Disgusting things, humans. Don’t you agree?”

  Morgan’s eyes had widened while the vampire spoke, and she swallowed again. Her response was a weak, “I guess.”

  It apparently satisfied Vitus, who nodded. “Not that they’d planned such a grim demise for you. I understand that you were a prostitute prior to your Awakening. Is that correct?”

  “Yes.” Her response was firmer, closer to her normal speaking voice. Thane felt a flash of pride, hearing it, though he began worrying exactly what plans Vitus had for her.

  “Did you cater to any clients with fetishes? No need for description or explanation. A simple yes or no is sufficient.”

  “Yes.”

  “Then perhaps you won’t be shocked at what your future would’ve been, if not for my interference. As has been recently illustrated to you, Weres are capable of recovering from terrible injuries, which is of great value to certain flesh peddlers. Especially those who cater to a, shall we say, more violent clientele?” Vitus moved his hands from the armrests and folded them into his lap. “Our mutual friend, Mr. Riscarato, knows someone who owns such a distasteful establishment. He intended to send you there, in return for a share of the profits. Your future came quite close to being extremely unpleasant.”

  Though he knew nothing of such places, Thane understood the implications. What he didn’t understand were the vampires’ overt attempts to induce gratefulness in Morgan. Maybe it’s a game to make her trust them, just to cause more damage later.

  Vitus finally turned his attention from her to Thane, but only for a moment. “Are you fond of your companion, my dear?”

  Morgan’s lips parted, her hand tightening around Thane’s. He wondered if his life depended on her answer.

  Chapter Twenty-five

  “We located the SUV by combing through local traffic cam footage, but lost it once it left Pasadena on the 210. We were able to pick it up again on a traffic cam near Asuza. Now, there’s a place beyond Asuza on Highway 39 called Falling Springs. It’s considered a ghost town.” Lucas touched the onscreen map, enlarging the image to show the area better. “There were cabins out there for campers and hikers, but most have burned down. As a point of much interest, due to various road hazards, Highway 39 is currently closed several miles from Falling Springs.”

  Cal nodded, studying the map. The older the master vampire, the more he or she required privacy. The Falling Springs area looked like the perfect spot for a vampire to set up shop. A closed road didn’t mean anything when it came to vampires, or Weres for that matter. It was close enough to Asuza—maybe a fifteen-minute jog for vampires—to bring in supplies and victims. Plenty of places to hide bodies or even to hold hunts.

  He didn’t pause to wonder how vampires could’ve built any sort of stronghold in that area. Wealth and connections weren’t limited to humans or Weres. The vampires had plenty of their own of both money and well-placed idiots willing to aid them for the promise of immortality. In fact, vampires could have built something themselves without outside help. “It’ll likely be underground. They won’t have wanted to draw aerial notice by clearing any spaces for aboveground buildings.”

  “They’ll want to be near a water source, or close enough to tap into one underground. But not too close to any hiking trails,” Laney said. “There’s Soldier Creek and La Cienega Spring, if they haven’t dried up.”

  “Lots of ground to cover.” Lucas frowned at the map. “Four legs would be faster, but then we’d be limited to fangs and paws, and you can bet the enemy’s carrying.”

  “Teams of four, two armed, two on paws. How many teams can we muster?” Cal continued studying the map. “Include me in your count.”

  “How much time are you giving me?”

  “One hour.” Cal didn’t want to wait longer than that to get moving. The drive would take an hour and a half, and the search longer. He hoped it wouldn’t prove to be a wild goose chase.

  Lucas sighed. “Then we’ll be going short-handed, because it’ll take longer than that to call in more people. Counting all of us and just the wolves based here, we’re one shy of eight teams. You do only want wolves?”

  “Is Dougie here? He can fill the last spot.” The young leopard’s name wasn’t on Laney’s list, but Cal decided not to take any chances when Lucas nodded. “Laney, Dougie, and whoever you pick for my team.”

  “All right. I’ll get things rolling.” Lucas left and Jerome stepped up to take a closer look at the map.

  “I hate fighting vamps underground.”

  Laney bumped his arm with her elbow. “Especially when they have the home ground advantage and we have no idea of their numbers.”

  The black Were scowled at her. “Thanks. I feel so much better now.”

  She laughed. “I’m going to grab Dougie and our fourth before suiting up. Who do you want carrying?”

  “You and the fourth. Dougie and I will be on paws.” Cal still had the urge to tear something up. What better to tear up than a vampire or four?

  With a nod, Laney left the room. Jerome shook his head, his lips curving into a reluctant smile. “Ray of fucking sunshine, that one.”

  Cal sighed, crossing his arms. “I hope everyone got some sleep, because we’re in for a long night.”

  Fuck. How do I answer that? Morgan didn’t know if the truth or a lie would be better, as she couldn’t tell if the question were a potential threat or not. Aware that not answering probably wouldn’t go well either, she decided to go with partial truth. “He’s my best friend.”

  “Friendship is valuable.” Vitus’s reply didn’t do much to set her mind at ease. “Would it pain you to see him suffer?”

  Ice formed in her veins. “Yes.”

  “Do you consider yourself a reasonable woman?”

  Morgan’s mouth had gone dry, so she answered with a nod. Oh God, how badly have I screwed up now?

  “Do you believe him to be a reasonable man?”

  Maybe too reasonable. She managed to speak. “Yes.”

  “Good. I have little patience for tantrums, hysterics, or heroics.” The vampire smiled, radiating goodwill that Morgan didn’t trust for a second. “Your good behavior will guarantee he continues to live and stays with you. However, his behavior will dictate whether or not he suffers.”

  What the hell does that mean? She nodded, glancing at Thane’s impassive expression. A vampire she hadn’t seen before slipped around them to go to Vitus. The new arrival was slender to the point of emaciation, and whispered into the master vampire’s ear after bowing.

  “Excellent, bring our guests here,” Vitus said in response. The other bowed again before leaving as quickly as he’d come. “This visit may be a bit uncomfortable for your friend, my dear. His former master has come to collect him.”

  Thane’s hand clenched around hers to the point of causing pain, but only for a second. She blinked. “You said...”

  “Yes, I did. Come here. I wish to taste to your blood.”

  Ugh. Morgan hesitated but then loosened her grip on Thane’s hand. He held on until she looked at him. His expression wasn’t impassive anymore. Brows lowered and eyes narrowed, he glared at her. “Stop it. And let go.”

  Thane par
tially obeyed by releasing her hand. She almost wished he hadn’t, but crossed the room to stand before Vitus, feeling as though the were-liger’s anger, or maybe fear, were buffeting her back.

  “Stand here.” Vitus gestured to the unoccupied side of his throne. Morgan moved to the spot, turning in order to keep an eye on Thane, as well as the two armed vampires behind him, who now had both weapons leveled at the were-liger. “Your wrist, my dear.”

  Lifting and bending her right arm, hand fisted, she extended it until the vampire’s cool hands cupped her fist and her elbow. Thane bared his teeth at the same time the vampire did, visibly tensing in preparation to move, and Morgan lifted her free hand to point at him. “Stay right there.”

  He growled, his fangs sliding into view.

  “I mean it. Stay right there.” Don’t be a fucking idiot, she silently urged him. Concentrating on him was better than watching a vampire dig into her wrist for dinner. Thane’s growl grew louder as Vitus sank his fangs, which the vampire did with surprising delicacy. It hurt, but not as badly as Morgan expected, and she definitely didn’t expect him to stop within a few seconds.

  Thane’s growl faded to nothing as Vitus released her arm. The holes his fangs had made sealed before she moved her arm to her side. That wasn’t so bad.

  “Come kneel beside your mistress, Were.”

  Morgan saw Thane’s eyebrows rise and his face smooth as he closed his mouth. She lowered her other arm, only then realizing she was still pointing at him. He stalked forward, his eyes flicking from Vitus to her, and for a moment, she thought he might attack the vampire.

  Instead, Thane moved to her side and dropped to his knees as ordered, resting his hands on his thighs so that his arm touched her leg. Morgan turned to face the entrance, moving a few inches back to press her hip against him and put her hand on his back. I’m crazy to think a vampire’s going to keep his word. But he had said “taste your blood” and done exactly that. Don’t start thinking you can trust him. He’s a... client.

  Clients weren’t to be trusted. Morgan had always stayed alert around them, watching for any signs things were about to go south. Sure, she’d done some fetish work, but only the mild stuff. Things that didn’t involve being tied or otherwise restrained herself. You didn’t want to be tied up in case your client turned out to be a dick, instead of just having one. At best, you’d end up with a few bruises. Worst case, you’d end up dead.

  The armed vampires had moved to either side of the entrance and lowered their weapons, but Morgan knew they could aim and fire before she could take a complete step. Definitely before Thane could get to his feet. She moved her hand to the back of his neck, suddenly craving skin contact. He flinched when her fingers touched the end of a scar that protruded from the neck of his shirt.

  She’d never felt him do that before, and she had touched every single scar on his body at some point during the past few weeks. He’s afraid. I guess I would be too, if the person who’d kept and tortured me were about to walk into the room.

  Busy with her thoughts, Morgan started when Vitus grasped her hand and positioned it on top of his forearm as it rested on the throne’s armrest. “Stay in contact, my dear.”

  Why? She didn’t ask, leaving her hand where he’d put it. At least the sleeve of his burgundy coat prevented skin contact between them. The only things she knew for certain were that she was way out of her depth and that obeying Vitus was the only possibility of keeping Thane with her. And that my feet are cold.

  The last put a smile on her face for some inane reason, but it faded as the draperies were drawn back and a hulking figure dressed in artistically ripped jeans and a leather jacket ducked his head to step into the room. The new arrival was larger than Thane and Cal by a good four inches, a walking mountain of muscle whose shoulders looked as wide as she was tall. Just looking at him made her feel tiny and insignificant.

  Fucking hell, no wonder he was able to keep Thane prisoner for so long. He’s gigantic.

  Morgan realized Thane was frozen, and couldn’t even hear him breathing. She massaged his neck with her fingertips while hoping Vitus kept his word and didn’t turn the were-liger over to Vampzilla.

  One look at the newcomer, and Thane’s vision went black as his mind began gibbering in terror. He forgot how to breathe and the necessity of doing so, until the gentle motion of fingers on his neck reminded him that he wasn’t alone. Morgan’s here. Right beside me.

  He fought to keep from sucking in air as his lungs began aching. Instead, he managed a slow inhale, the intake of oxygen staving off an attack of dizziness. It took three breaths before the full scope of his vision returned. Then Thane met the eyes of his former captor.

  The hulking vampire grinned. Only fear and Morgan’s touch kept the were-liger from attempting to bolt. He couldn’t leave her behind, terrified or not.

  “You found my pet.” The vampire’s deep, gravelly voice suited his size. He had an accent, and his eyes appeared as pale as Vitus’s. “And in better shape than I left him.”

  “Have you forgotten your manners, Eluf?”

  Thane came close to gasping in relief as his former captor turned his attention to Vitus. How could he have forgotten who’d imprisoned and tortured him? Eluf’s—Lord Eluf’s—presence caused menacing shadows to dance in the were-liger’s peripheral vision, while the whispered memories of whips biting into his flesh made his back muscles twitch.

  “No, my king.” Eluf half-bowed, inclining his head for less than a second. His eyes fell on Morgan’s hand and continued upward to her face. “Who is this? A new harlot?”

  Thane slowly turned and tilted his head to look at her as well. She stared back at Eluf, her lips pressed in a thin line and her eyes narrowed. He’d seen the same expression on her face right before she’d lit into Cal, and prayed she wouldn’t try to verbally attack Eluf.

  It wouldn’t end well.

  “No, she’s something quite rare. Unique, actually.” Vitus smiled. “My dear, this uncouth lout is Lord Eluf.”

  “Not impressed,” Morgan said, earning a soft chuckle from him, and a frown from Eluf.

  “And this, Eluf, is Morgan. The Chimaera of the Wolves.”

  Thane’s terror abruptly evaporated at the statement, his mouth falling open in shock.

  Chapter Twenty-six

  Morgan’s mouth opened and snapped shut as the need to protest Vitus’s declaration rose and died. He’s lying. Has to be. I can’t be... Calhoun’s Chimaera.

  She didn’t want to be his Chimaera, or a Chimaera at all. Being a Were was enough trouble for anyone. Just look at everything that’s happened since I found out that’s what I am.

  But at least the lie—it had to be a lie—had put a stop to the soft tremors running through Thane. She knew he was looking up, but kept her eyes on Eluf. At the moment, the huge vampire felt like the biggest danger present. He could break me in half with two fingers.

  Eluf’s appearance had reduced to Thane to a quivering mess—not that she blamed the were-liger. She hadn’t suffered at Eluf’s hands, but was afraid of him anyway. I bet we can’t even take him down together.

  “A Chimaera. Calhoun’s Chimaera.” Eluf threw his head back to unleash a bellow of laughter. “Oh, my king. A truly bold move, taking the Wolf Fount’s mate prisoner.”

  That, she couldn’t let go unchallenged. “Fuck Calhoun. And fuck you.”

  Vitus patted her hand. “Language, my dear.”

  She considered telling him to go fuck himself with a rusty rake, tines-first, but remembered he was the only barrier to keep Eluf from taking Thane, who’d gone stiff when she’d spoken. She certainly couldn’t stop Vampzilla, and, glancing at Vitus, Morgan murmured, “Sorry.”

  “Which means we’re both in possession of something unique.” Eluf used his chin to gesture at Thane. “By all accounts, my pet’s become someone Calhoun’s fond of.”

  “What do you think, my dear? Is your friend important to Calhoun?”

  Morgan really wished he’
d stop asking her questions. Each answer felt as though she were digging a grave, though whether for Thane, herself, or them both, she didn’t know. “I know he trusts Thane.”

  “Has the great Wolf King discovered who he’s placed his trust in?” Eluf’s question raised her eyebrows, resulting in another bellow of laughter. “He hasn’t.”

  She looked at Vitus for clarification, not understanding the question—or Eluf’s delight in Calhoun’s apparent mistake. The vampire obliged her with an explanation. “Your friend is the son of the Chimaera of the Tigers, sired by the Lion Fount.”

  “Which means what?”

  “Eluf has his theory, but the truth of the matter is, it may mean nothing. However, we do know that no mating between a lion and tiger Were has ever resulted in offspring prior to, or after, theirs. Which does seem to indicate a certain specialness. Don’t you think?”

  How the hell would I know? Morgan chose to nod before glancing down. Thane appeared in to be in shock, his pupils small and his mouth half-opened. She pinched his neck and he blinked. Then closed his mouth.

  “He’s the product of two powerful individuals,” Eluf said. “A Fount and a Chimaera. He should have their power over other Weres.”

  “If he did, you probably tortured it out of him,” she said.

  “Don’t question my training methods, woman.”

  Morgan looked up with a scowl. “I’ll question whatever the hell I want to, asshole.”

  The huge vampire took a step forward, lifting his hand, only to freeze when Vitus cleared his throat. “Enough.”

  “She needs training, my king. I’d be honored if...”

  “I said enough.”

  Eluf frowned, dropping his arm to his side. She turned her scowl into a smile. Looks like Vitus is in charge here.

  “Language, my dear. It doesn’t befit a queen, resorting to such common vulgarity.”