Or more likely, said something about glowing eyes to a Belador she thought was a human?
If so, that would mean he’d spent five years hating her for no reason.
Mac wasn’t the only one confused.
What had really happened back then? He started to ask, and got sidetracked when her teeth chattered.
Crap. She had to be freezing between the cold air, the metal truck bed, and the shock of being hurt.
Touch her again or not?
Yes, he wanted to, but what man wouldn’t want to hold this woman in his arms?
Even after all the shit he’d been through with getting captured, and all the time he’d spent in the bowels of jungle hell, his stupid heart thumped hard when he looked at her. In his mind, he still saw the sweet young woman who’d waited for him each day after they’d met.
Waited just to talk.
That had been the closest he’d ever come to normal in his life.
His head kept reminding him that she could have been behind his capture, and he had no business touching her any more than necessary.
His heart didn’t have a lick of sense, and kept pounding loud enough to drum out the noises in his mind.
When she shivered hard, Tristan reached down and lifted her into his arms.
Mac tensed.
He stopped moving. “What?”
“Nothing ...” She relaxed and let out a sound that was a mix of weariness and acceptance. “Okay, I can admit my arm is feeling better every second. Thank you. I’m amazed at what you did. Where did you learn how to do that?” She kept the LED on, but with that arm hanging at her side, she had the light pointed down, giving off a soft, ambient glow.
And we’re back to twenty questions.
He settled her in his arms and turned to lean his back against the metal wall. “I spent a lot of time alone in South America where I had to take care of my own injuries.”
“So that’s where you went,” she murmured. “What were you doing there?” She stared up at him with eyes lacking the devious quality he’d expected. She looked completely innocent of any crime.
Doubt scampered through his chest. Was this an act or real?
He wanted answers, too, and tossed back, “That’s where I was sent after you alerted someone to my existence.”
“What are you talking about?”
He studied her face. “I was grabbed the day after you saw my green eyes. Who’d you tell about me?”
“I asked my professor and some students about your condition, which clearly was not a condition, but a lie. I could have accepted that you played a practical joke on me, but not the way you left, and now this ... story.”
He thought back over everything that had happened. “Damn.”
“What?”
“I bet one of your professors was a Belador.”
“A bella-what?”
“Never mind. So you had nothing to do with me being captured?”
“You were captured?” The astonishment in her voice sounded sincere. She breathed deeply, and on the exhale said, “If that’s true, I don’t feel so bad about you disappearing on me. I’ve been pissed at you for five years. Why would you think I’d be behind someone capturing you and keeping you in South America, Tristan?”
He stared at her, trying to accept what she was saying, but still not sure what to believe. “If you really weren’t behind that, what were you doing tonight, with men carrying those kinds of weapons?”
“I don’t know anything about the weapons except that they’re Nyght stun guns.”
“Stun guns? They hit me with enough charge to take down a pack of stampeding elephants, but that makes sense if it’s a Nyght weapon. I’ve heard about those.”
“Oh, please.” She cocked her chin at him with a wry grin. “Exaggerate much? If the stun had been that powerful, you’d be dead. It doesn’t excuse them for mistreating you, but that’s a bit much. And who or what is Nyght?”
Did that mean she didn’t realize that he was an Alterant? “It’s a weapon designed for specific use,” he hedged. “Who were those men and what were you after?”
“I wasn’t after anything,” she said indignantly. “I was only there as a consultant.”
“What kind of consultant?”
She became very still. “You’ll laugh.”
“No I won’t.” Not much.
“I just signed on with Jacob Kossman.”
“That name means nothing to me,” he lied. He’d heard rumors about Kossman’s supernatural encounter years ago, but wanted to see what Mac would say.
She took his measure with her next look. “Have you been living under a rock? Kossman’s in the news every other week.”
“I told you I was out of the country.”
“Oh, right. He’s a mega billionaire who is mostly known for his international enterprise in medical-research-based, unusual healing methods and medicines, and … uh, other types of research. I went to a university he built.”
“And you’re a consultant for him? Doing what?”
She huffed with a defeated sigh. “Might as well tell you. Kossman is considered an eccentric, and I got my degree from the Titan University of Georgia. It’s north of here, in Rome. Years ago, Kossman claimed to have had an experience with a supernatural being. He’s obsessed with investigating the unusual.”
“A ghost hunter?”
“No. I’m tired of everyone calling this ghostbusting,” she groused. “Kossman thinks supernaturals walk the earth, and he’s determined to prove it. I graduated at the top of my class and he noticed. I have a chance at a really good position with him later, and I’ll dress up as a wookie if that’s what it takes to win it, so when his men picked me up to join them, I didn’t really have a choice.”
Warning. Danger zone. Tristan scratched his chin. “So what did you and your two gunmen think you were going to find tonight?”
She whipped an angry gaze at him. “They were not my gunmen. They said Kossman wanted me on-site to consult on a potential target.”
“Which was?”
She rubbed her hands over her eyes. “Where is a bottomless sinkhole when I need one?”
Tristan fought a smile at the reminder of the woman he’d met years back, who would always say whatever was on her mind.
She dropped her hands and stared at the other side of the truck body. “Apparently they had a report from a woman who claimed that she’d met a guy earlier this year. He supposedly had green eyes that glowed and claimed he could change his body into a beast. She said he’d disappeared for a few months and had just turned up again. He called her tonight and said a witch had captured him, but he was now free. She called in on Kossman’s tip line for a bounty fee, and said she’d told the green-eyed guy to come to her new apartment.”
That bitch, Claire. Tristan swallowed the “I told you so” hanging on the tip of his tongue. Bad as this was, poor Bernie had gotten his heart ripped out.
Tristan asked, “So you didn’t know I was going to be there?”
She twisted around, a frown marring her face. “Why would I? And what were you doing there?” Then it hit her. “I’m an idiot. I thought my br—” She swallowed that word and continued. “I thought someone was setting up me and my boss to be embarrassed by the media with the whole glowing eyes crap. Now I get it. This was a scam to get the money, wasn’t it?”
“I don’t know. How much money?”
“Fifty thousand. Are you in cahoots with that woman who called?”
“No. The guy she was talking about is a friend of mine. I was just in the wrong place at the wrong time.”
Mac didn’t look like she believed him, but he wouldn’t believe it either if the tables were turned. Shit. Did VIPER know someone was after Alterants and other nonhumans?
Would they care? Yes ... if humans got involved, which had happened tonight. Tristan had to leave here with information so he’d know how to protect his pack of Alterant-gryphons. But who would he tell?
No one could
find out he’d left Treoir.
Much as he wanted to prevent Mac from learning the truth, his first priority was her safety. He had to let her know what they were up against for any chance of getting her out of here.
Not that he had any intention of playing white knight. With his black soul, he was far from a savior, but he couldn’t let her continue naively thinking this was a basic kidnapping.
One thought kept poking at him.
Mac had not turned him in the first time.
The Beladors who took him captive had said something about a woman getting her Alterant fee. He’d put two and two together, and come up with Mac as the one at fault.
The truck slowed, as if it had reached a destination.
No time to waste. He turned to Mac. “Listen to me and do what I say if you want to get out of this alive.”
“We’ll be rescued as soon as they send a ransom demand to Kossman. I just need you to pretend to be a supernatural being until we get to Kossman, then I’ll explain and he’ll understand the lie, considering the circumstances. Can you do that?”
What? Tristan paused at the sound of voices yelling outside the truck, but couldn’t make out the words. The truck pulled forward slowly. “They may or may not be asking for money.”
She frowned. “Why wouldn’t they?”
“Because they’re not human. The two guys who tossed us in here are trolls. They want me because I’m what’s called an Alterant, and even if they are after a bounty fee, it may have nothing to do with Kossman.”
Mac’s face swirled with confusion then her eyes narrowed. “Really? What is it with you wanting to be some comic book character? I actually believed you the first time and where did that get me? It wasn’t bad enough you broke my–” She clamped her lips shut.
What was she going to say? That he broke her heart?
How was it that he’d been the one thrown into a spelled cage and yet he felt guilty?
The truck stopped. Tristan quickly argued, “I had no choice about leaving. I told you I was grabbed. They took me to South America and locked me in a spelled cage.”
“The more I hear, the harder time I’m having accepting anything you say.”
“I know, but it’s true.”
“You know what? I’m amazed at how little you care for anyone else. I suffered through your little trick the last time, but not again. If you were a supernatural being, it would be wonderful, because Kossman would pay dearly for–”
Tristan covered her mouth.
A jangling metal noise meant the lock was being opened.
He leaned down next to Mac’s ear. “I know this sounds fantastical, but those two guys who grabbed us really are trolls. That means they’re taking us to someone hunting for supernatural beings who will very likely be far more dangerous than your man Kossman.”
Mac lifted her hand to his cheek and studied his face. “I never realized...”
“What?” Tristan asked cautiously, not sure what she was thinking.
“I never forgave you for making love to me, then, well, breaking my heart when I never heard from you again. I realize now that you couldn’t help it, could you? You’re delusional. I shouldn’t have asked you to pretend, because it’s real to you, isn’t it? Try not to cause any trouble so they won’t harm you while we wait on the ransom.”
Tristan wanted to shake her, but not with her sore shoulder. He warned, “Listen to me! Don’t let them know you’re only human. They’re probably looking for an Alterant right now and won’t risk doing anything to either of us until they know for sure. I’m not delusional, but I am short of patience and too low on energy to trust my powers for a bit. I do have glowing eyes. I didn’t pull a trick on you back then. I’m not removing these brown contacts until I feel stronger, but if you’ll work with me, I’ll get us out of this.”
She shoved up until they were nose to nose. “You listen to me, Tristan. The media will get wind of this kidnapping because I live under a damn microscope as a Mackenzie, and they’re already rabid to get another news flash out this week. If, once we’re released, you start mouthing off that you’re some kind of being with powers, I will strangle you myself. I’m willing to help you get mental counseling, but your eyes do not glow, for crying out loud. I need this job with Kossman. I will not see it go up in flames in the media because of a scam artist.”
The door swung open with a loud whine.
Tristan dropped his head.
We’re going to die painfully.
Chapter 5
Mac shook her head to clear her grogginess and untangle her thoughts. Where was she? Her mind did a replay up to the point of being ... kidnapped. Why?
Had to be for ransom.
Right?
Keeping her eyes closed, she listened for any hint of someone nearby. The longer they thought she was passed out, the longer they might leave her alone. Her arms ached. She’d expected to have her wrists bound, but she had what felt like manacles on her wrists and they’d been tied, or chained, above her head.
Manacles. This time her shiver had nothing to do with cold. This was just ... weird.
Had they asked Kossman about the ransom money? What if this wasn’t about getting money out of a billionaire? What if this was about her being a Mackenzie?
That would be worse. Her brother would dance at her funeral.
Come to think of it, shouldn’t the kidnappers have made her call someone for the money? Or did that only happen in the movies?
Preparing herself for whatever was going on, she lifted her head, expecting to find that she’d been locked in a room alone, with a guard watching her.
No guard, and not alone.
Tristan stood in the middle of the room.
No manacles. Not even tied up. Just him with his shirt off, and wearing only jeans. Good grief. What a body. Same light, tawny-colored hair, even though it was longer now and brushed his neck. Beefier body than before, and he’d been no wimp the last time. His face still had that sharp-angled, chiseled look though, with smooth skin she’d loved to touch again.
Strange, but she did miss the green eyes.
This was the worst time to be attracted to a lunatic, but seeing Tristan half-dressed reminded her of a happy memory.
When he’d pulled off his clothes in her bedroom.
He’d teased her. Like what you see, Mac?
She had loved what she’d seen. She’d met him during the last weeks of her first year at Georgia State. She’d gone there while waiting for her slot in the Titan scholarship program. Piedmont Park had been a two-mile walk from school, but only a few blocks from the attic apartment she rented over a garage.
She’d fallen for him in spite of his habit of wearing sunglasses everywhere. Ten days after they’d met, he’d kissed her and her world had tilted.
She’d had no idea about his habit of following her home each night to ensure she was safe. Then one night she felt the sharp tip of a knife against her back and froze.
The grunge-head would have succeeded in his attack if Tristan hadn’t plowed into the guy so hard he actually went airborne a moment and hit a tree.
Until that point, any man in her life had been a threat to her. She hadn’t expected one to step in to defend her.
By the time she had her wits about her, the guy was gone and Tristan convinced her the police would do nothing.
She’d thanked him and he’d told her to just go home.
Rude.
She’d walked across the lawn to her apartment and sat on the old steps leading up the side of the garage. He’d growled again at her to get inside.
It took a bit, but she convinced him to go upstairs with her.
When she woke up beside him the next morning, his sunglasses had slipped from his face. She lifted them, smiling while she studied him and waited for him to wake up.
He did.
Green eyes had glowed at her. Glowed.
That had sent her chasing a rare gene in her first year at Titan. One of her father’s op
ponents for his first senate run had gone looking for weaknesses in Mackenzie’s campaign, and paid another student to leak information on Mac. His contacts in the media taunted Mackenzie as the father of a woman hunting unicorns.
Brandon loved to remind his dad of the time when the future senator spent a buttload of money squashing the ridiculous story.
Mac would not deny her passion for ancient mythology, and had been known to attend Dragon Con. They grabbed onto all of it and made a mockery of her.
She still enjoyed Dragon Con. Screw those idiots.
But a lot had changed in five years.
Right now Tristan stared at her through muddy brown eyes that were as belligerent as the pose he struck, arms crossed and feet apart.
Why was he just standing there?
Could he see someone in the room that she couldn’t?
This had to be a kidnapping for money. Kossman would pay, because he’d think she’d been captured with a nonhuman.
Kossman would break the bank for a nonhuman specimen.
Lucky for her, Tristan believed he was that special.
But even someone mental should be trying to escape.
She licked her dry lips and tried not to long for water. Speaking as softly as she could, and hoping Tristan would hear her, Mac said, “Is anyone else around?”
He shook his head.
“Why aren’t you over here, trying to get my hands free so we can escape?” Yes, she’d like to believe Kossman would pay a ransom to get his employee and a potential specimen back, but she would be equally happy to escape without Kossman’s help.
“They have me locked in an invisible cage.”
She closed her eyes. Oh, dear God. How were they going to escape when Tristan had lost all touch with reality?
Opening her eyes, she started calculating. He had the brute strength with that body carved of muscle, but how could she get him to use those bulging guns if he believed trolls had captured them? What was next? Were they being held by an evil sorcerer?
Alphas Unwrapped: 21 New Steamy Paranormal Tales of Shifters, Vampires, Werewolves, Dragons, Witches, Angels, Demons, Fey, and More Page 18