Lone Wolf

by Karen Whiddon

  “Our daughter,” he corrected. “Humor me. We have to keep talking. Maybe then we can figure this out.”

  “Then continue. Juliet was hurt?”

  “Yes. She was like a wounded wolf, snarling in pain. She apologized later. We made up, went on. She quit the Protectors. I didn’t understand then. I do now.”

  “You quit, too, right?”

  “Sort of.” Saying the words brought a sad heaviness to his chest. “I’m on a leave of absence. I haven’t decided what I’m going to d—”

  She started to speak, then cocked her head, listening.

  In the distance, a noise. He knew that sound.

  “Hear that?” He cracked his window, listening. After a moment, she nodded.

  The faint reverberation in the distance sounded like a helicopter. Years of using them in his missions had made it easy to identify them.

  A moment later, his suspicions were confirmed. A military chopper appeared on the horizon, heading straight for them.

  Friend? Or foe? Protectors or something else?

  He hadn’t contacted anyone, therefore he had no choice but to assume the worst.

  Chapter 8

  Acting on pure instinct, he hit the brake and twisted the wheel, sending them off-road. “No way we can outrun them. We’ve got to hide.”

  The chopper neared. They were out in the open, their pickup completely exposed, a black spot against the brown desert floor. Accelerating, he pointed them toward the nearest group of twisted mesquite trees, a good fifty to sixty yards away.

  The chopper grew closer, the sound shaking the ground.

  As soon as they reached the protective shadow of the trees, Beck slowed. He let the pickup coast into the shade, putting it in Park, though he didn’t kill the engine. He cursed. “I’m sure they spotted us.”

  “How do you know they’re not your guys?” she asked, level-voiced.

  He gave her a sharp look, thought about telling her he didn’t have any guys and then shrugged. “I don’t. I have no idea who’s in that helicopter, whether they’re friend or foe.”

  The chopper landed in the meadow near the spot where they’d gone off-road, sending dust and rock scurrying across the dry grass.

  The blades were still whirling as two men emerged. Tall, pale and elegant, they looked as if they’d stepped from the pages of a historical novel, despite modern clothes and expensive, wraparound sunglasses.

  Though they were a good fifty yards away, they appeared to be staring straight at them.

  “Not Protectors,” she said.

  “Worse,” Beck groaned. “More vampires.”

  Still intently watching them, she smiled. “I can’t tell if they’re young or old. Either way, I don’t know them. But there’s a shifter, too,” she pointed. “Look.”

  Sure enough, another man appeared in the doorway. He dropped to the ground and began moving toward them with a confident, long-legged stride that was instantly familiar.

  Simon. Beck felt a rush of surprise, followed by relief.

  “That’s a friend of mine.” Now he killed the ignition, pushing open his door and stepping outside. A second later, he heard Marika do the same, though she remained under the shelter of the trees.

  The two men met halfway, with the vampires hanging back.

  They embraced, clapping each other on the back. When they broke apart, Beck grinned at his friend. “I should’ve known you’d show up.”

  “Why? Did you think I was already bored with married life?” Simon’s rakish grin put that idea to rest. A few months ago, he’d met and married his mate, a formerly Feral shifter named Raven.

  Marika glided up to them, her beautiful face expression less. She trained most of her attention on the two vampires.

  “You must be Marika?” Simon smiled at her, moving forward when she held out her hand. Instead of taking it, he hugged her, too. “Any close friend of Beck is a close friend of mine.”

  Though her perfectly arched brows rose, she gave no other indication of surprise. She coolly endured Simon’s hug, stepping back quickly once it was over, her gaze returning to the two vampires.

  When they made no move toward her, she went to them, her posture rigid and tense despite her fluid movements.

  “I am the Huntress Marika,” she said, her voice formal. Dipping the upper half of her body in a semi-bow, she waited for them to acknowledge her and give their names.

  Instead, they silently stared at her, expressions carved from stone, eyes unreadable behind the dark glasses.

  Beck glanced at Simon, who shrugged. “They wouldn’t even talk to me,” he said. “Maybe they don’t speak the language.”

  “How’d you all end up on the same chopper?”

  “Assignment. I reported as instructed, they showed up and we took off.”

  “The Protectors assigned you to me?” Stunned, Beck forgot about the others. “Why?”

  “You called me.”

  “As a friend, not as a Protector.”

  “I’m both. You know that.”

  Beck acknowledged the accuracy of those words. “True. Now that you’re here, what are you supposed to do?’

  Instead of Simon, one of the vampires answered. Somehow they’d moved closer without Beck even noticing.

  “We’re taking you to Brigid,” the vamp said, his smooth voice carrying the lilting intonations of a far-off land.

  To Brigid? Exactly as they’d wanted.

  Still, something felt wrong.

  “Hey.” Simon nudged him. “No worries, man. Pack council leaders are there, too. It’s some sort of full-fledged crisis, though I haven’t been briefed yet. At HQ, there’re all sorts of rumors floating around. End of the world and all that.”

  After a quick glance at Simon, Beck again looked at Marika. “Marika and I need a moment alone,” he said.

  After throwing up his hands and muttering something that sounded like “pigheaded,” Simon nodded and went to stand near the vampires, who stepped closer to Beck, apparently not understanding.

  “Come on.” Simon grabbed the closest one’s arms. “Back off. Give them some space.”

  The vamp glowered at him. “Take your hands off me.”

  When Simon did, he glided back over to his buddy.

  “Five minutes,” he said, glaring at Beck. “No more.”

  Beck wanted to ask “Or what?” but didn’t. No sense in starting trouble if it wasn’t necessary.

  He and Marika moved into the trees, stopping only when they couldn’t be overheard.

  “I know we wanted to find Brigid, but I’ve got a bad feeling about this,” Beck said.

  “Like you did right before the house exploded?”

  He nodded.

  She leaned in, so close her long hair brushed against his arm. “You know, while I’m seriously beginning to doubt Brigid’s intentions, I don’t know. If she can help us…”

  “Renenet was trying to tell you something right before Brigid called,” he said. “When you told her Brigid was texting, she looked absolutely terrified.”

  “Brigid has that effect on people.” Studying her hands, she considered. “You know what? I trust you. If you don’t think we should go, then we won’t. All I care about is finding Dani. If Brigid is trying to get in our way, then by all means, we should avoid her.”

  He felt mildly guilty. What if he was wrong? Their daughter’s life was at stake.

  He had to stop second-guessing himself. Ever since he’d learned of the corruption in the Protectors, he’d doubted his own judgment.

  “I’ll play devil’s advocate. We might need to talk to Brigid, find out what she knows, though that could prove dangerous. And Simon said Pack council is with her, as well as some of the upper vampire echelon.”

  Dark eyes shadowed, she considered his words. “I don’t have time for political games, unless they could help us find Dani.” She fingered a wayward strand of her hair, making his fingers itch to smooth it back. “Maybe we should split up. I’ll go, you stay
here.”

  For a second, his heart stopped. “No. We stay together.”

  She studied him. “You’re probably right. Okay. Do you trust him?” she whispered, indicating Simon.

  “Implicitly.” Beck didn’t even hesitate. “Who are the two vamps?”

  “Two of Brigid’s personal guard. They’re very powerful.”

  “In what way? Magic?”

  “Yes. Though most vampires aren’t magical, some are. Brigid only surrounds herself with those who have magic. And before you ask, I don’t know them well enough to trust them. Since Dani was born, I’ve lived my life making it a practice not to trust anyone I didn’t know.”

  She glanced again at Simon. “Did your friend tell you what they want with us?”

  “No.” Beck eyed Simon’s unsmiling face first, then those of the two vampires. “I asked, but he said he hadn’t been briefed yet. He was sent by the Protectors.

  “He still works for them?”

  “Yes. They’ve cleaned up their act.”

  She watched him closely. “Do you trust them?”

  “If I don’t, it has more to do with my nature than with them. Because of what happened in the past, I have trouble believing anything they say.”

  Uncertainty colored her voice. “And we have no real proof that Brigid isn’t on our side. I think we should go. We wanted to talk to Brigid anyway.”

  “Just don’t let your guard down.”

  Acknowledging his warning with a nod, she motioned to the vamps, who glided closer, side by side. “We’re ready.”

  The dark-headed one nodded, then whispered, “Renenet says to say hello.”

  Marika drew back. “I knew we should have checked the site for survivors. She lives?”

  “Yes. She, Heh and Usi survived the fire. A bit scorched, but none the worse for wear.” He glanced at Beck. “She has asked me to tell you to be careful.”

  Beck couldn’t hide his surprise. “We want to talk to her. Will she be at this meeting?”

  The vampire looked away. “No. You will see her later.”

  As they climbed on the helicopter, Beck took a seat beside Simon, pulling Marika next to him. Except for her, he couldn’t help but notice they sat in two groups and wondered if Simon also felt outnumbered. If it came to a battle, shifters versus vampires, he and Simon would be sure to lose.

  As the helicopter flight north jarred Marika’s teeth, she wondered how the pilot planned to land it in the mountains. Assuming Brigid’s stronghold was there. She was pretty sure it was. She also couldn’t help but wonder why the great witch vampire had found it necessary to capture them rather than simply issuing a summons. It seemed she could have crooked one magical finger, and they would have done as she asked. They had so far.

  Unless Brigid had somehow gotten wind of their mistrust. Again, she wondered about the explosion and whether Brigid had truly caused it.

  Only Renenet knew for sure. Her absence from the meeting seemed telling.

  Eyeing the two vamps sitting motionless, despite the jarring ride, she couldn’t help but watch Beck. Compared to the vampires—and she had to include herself in that category—he seemed so vital, so alive. She wondered what he saw when he looked at her. A cold, hollowed-out shell of a female, or was he able to see past her pale exterior to the woman blazing inside?

  Sometimes, she caught him looking and thought he did see inside her. This was more tempting to her than the finest blood but also infinitely more dangerous.

  She couldn’t afford to let anything or anyone distract her from finding Dani.

  Still, her traitorous heart couldn’t help but wonder what would happen once they found Dani. Granted, Beck would be a part of their daughter’s life, but would he still want to be a part of hers?

  The helicopter dipped, sending her stomach in the opposite direction. While she regained her equilibrium, Beck turned in his seat, his expression concerned.

  “Are you all right?”

  Conscious of the vampires beside her, she nodded. “Fine,” she said coolly. “How about you?”

  “I’m good.” He touched her hand. “We’re nearly there, I think.”

  Again the chopper dropped as they headed toward a flat-topped mesa. Beck was right. They must be close to landing.

  When they cleared a stand of trees, and she saw a meadow below with a perfect circle of cement, she had a flash of memory. She’d been here before.

  As she peered out the side, Marika took in flashes of color. Bright sunlight sparkling on the impossibly vivid green grass, in direct contrast to the dry brown dust of desert mountains.

  Like a bird settling in its nest, the chopper eased down and landed. Then, she saw the temple. Made of native earth and cedar, the structure rose to the sky as though giving praise. She had been here before, though until this very moment, she’d thought her memories of the breathtakingly beautiful structure were cloudy remnants from a dream.

  Had Brigid’s magic been responsible for that?

  Beside her, Beck drew in his breath, and she knew he’d seen Brigid’s place, too. He took her arm, and they exited, letting the vampires go first, Simon following, and she and Beck bringing up the rear.

  A few more steps and she nearly staggered. She sensed power long before they reached the entrance to the house. Rolling off the place in blatant waves, so strong it made walking difficult.

  As if he understood, Beck took her arm. He seemed to have no difficulties. Arm in arm, they climbed the steps and approached the carved oak double doors, their escorts pausing and letting them go past, then staying close on their heels.

  A low swell of noise rose from behind the doors. Beck tightened his grip and looked at her, a silent question in his gaze. She shrugged and pushed the doors open. Together, they entered the room.

  A sea of faces turned toward them. Both stopped. A flutter of panic vibrated in Marika’s chest. The chamber was as crowded as a stadium or concert hall, packed to the ceiling. A sold-out event.

  Here to see Brigid? Or for the big meeting the other vamps had mentioned?

  “Hellhounds,” Beck muttered beside her. “The place is full of vampires and shifters, together.”

  He was right. Not that the two species exactly comingled. One side of the stadium was filled entirely of row after row of vampires, and the other side held only shifters.

  She caught herself scanning the crowd for Dani, conscious that beside her, Beck did the same.

  And still, power coiled around her, both seductive and dangerous, making thought difficult.

  “If anyone wanted to exterminate the most powerful of our kind, now would be the time to do it,” Beck muttered in her ear.

  “I’m sure they have magic in place to prevent that,” she whispered back. He raised a brow, as if surprised.

  “Apparently you can’t feel the swell of power that’s surrounding us?”

  He shook his head. “I take it you can?”

  “Yes,” she said simply. “It’s insinuating itself into my every pore.

  “Follow us.” One of their vampire escorts led them to what would have been the infield in a stadium. Beck glanced over his shoulder, and she did, too. Beck’s friend, Simon, kept pace with them, an impassive soldier.

  Still, everyone else in the building maintained their awful, heavy silence. Each footstep sounded like a jackhammer, and the stare of so many eyes stung like laser pricks of light.

  As they crossed between the floor seats and headed up to a stage, Marika noted one difference in the way those occupying this particular area had chosen their seats.

  No longer segregated, they were next to each other. Mixed, two of one species here, one of another, then three more. Here, vampires comingling with shifters, one-to-one, not separated into groups of any kind, and plainly equals.

  Here were the really powerful ones.

  Beck squeezed her arm, silently noting the difference, as well. His tension, nearly as palpable as the magic, warned her not to let down her guard.

&nbs
p; As if she would. Being here felt ten times more dangerous than she’d anticipated.

  As they approached the stage area, the crowds murmuring and talking swelled again, before abruptly dying down as Beck took her hand.

  Again, in complete silence, the gathering of vamps and shifters watched Marika and Beck and their escorts climb the steps to the raised dais.

  The platform was empty. A long table, carved of polished marble, ran the length of the stage, easily fifty feet. Chairs lined one side only, and in a sole nod to modern technology, microphones had been strategically placed at intervals of five feet.

  Again, Marika sensed a protective shield surrounding the table.

  Their escorts left them then, disappearing as completely as if they’d melted away. Simon moved to stand slightly behind Beck, sending her a dark look that managed to convey a promise of help if they needed it.

  Marika felt absurdly grateful.

  For a moment, she and Beck stood alone, surrounded by the sea of strangers. If a spotlight had highlighted them in a blaze of brilliant yellow, she wouldn’t have been surprised. This circus felt both surreal and too realistic at once.

  As they waited, others entered from the back of the stage, like performers. They wore matching robes in a brown as rich as melted chocolate. Here, too, species mingled, entering alternately so that it was shifter, vamp, shifter, vamp.

  “Councils,” Beck said, low-voiced. “Joint councils meeting together. The rarest of rare events.”

  As each took their place at the table, she felt the steady increase of power building. This could only mean one thing. The High Priestess Vampire was approaching.

  This meant Brigid would enter last, her position clearly revealing her as the most powerful.

  In case anyone doubted. Meeting her, most did not.

  Beside Marika, Beck stood at wary attention. For a brief instant, she tore her attention away from the procession slowly filing past them and looked at him. As she did, the room temperature dropped, and his expression altered, freezing into a grimace as though ice seeped into every pore.

  Brigid had entered.