by Terry Spear
Carol pulled a tissue from her pocket and blew her nose. “You’re not safe with them.”
“With Darien and his brothers?” Lelandi had a very bad feeling about this.
Carol’s eyes glistened with fresh tears. “You don’t know what they are. But if you stay with them, they’ll make you one of them.”
Lelandi’s heartbeat did double time, but she tried to keep the panic hidden. If a human learned the truth about the lupus garous, Bruin discretely terminated them. A car accident, drowning, whatever it took to make it appear the human had met his end accidentally. But she couldn’t be sure Carol knew about the lupus garous either.
“What do you mean?” Lelandi asked as innocently as she could manage.
Carol studied her face for what seemed an eternity. Lelandi’s hands grew sweaty.
“You’re not one of them already, are you?” Carol looked down at the floor as if she was considering something, then her head rose quickly, and she looked at Lelandi’s face again, her own filled with horror. She jumped up from the couch, then offered a fake smile, her body trembling slightly. “I’ve got to get home and feed my cat. I forgot to leave food out for him.”
Lelandi had to stop her from leaving. She had to know the truth. Did Carol realize what they were? With the gentlest of touches, she reached out to Carol. “You’re right, I’m in a lot of danger. I don’t have anyone to talk to because Darien doesn’t want me involved. But I am involved. Will you listen?”
Carol glanced back at the door like a rabbit looking for a quick escape from the little red wolf.
“Carol.” Lelandi resumed her seat on the overstuffed chair next to the couch, trying to put some distance between them so the woman wouldn’t feel so cornered. A secret for a secret? She had to know what Carol suspected. “Someone was blackmailing my sister.”
Carol hesitated.
“Maybe you can help me find out who with your special abilities.” She raised her brows. “I don’t know if this person was the one who killed her or not, but…”
Carol sat down on the couch, leaned forward, and patted Lelandi’s hand. “Do you have any suspects?”
Lelandi’s heart filled with hope that Carol might be able to help her, but she shook her head. “No one that I have any evidence on. But Ritka and her girlfriends hated Larissa. With her out of the way, they had a chance to…” She almost said mate. She wasn’t used to having a human confidant. Rubbing her arms, she let out her breath. “Darien would be available to marry again. Maybe one of them was the blackmailer. Maybe they thought he’d divorce her if…oh, I don’t know.”
“No,” Carol said with certainty.
“No?”
“All three.”
Lelandi closed her gaping mouth and stared at the petite woman.
“I’m just supposing here, but the three of them were Super-Glued together. If one did it, the others were bound to know. But the others would want a share, too. What would they blackmail her about?”
“She was already married.”
“Oh. You’re a prisoner here, aren’t you?”
“Darien is determined to keep me safe, but I want to find out who was blackmailing my sister and who killed her.”
“You’re not one of them, are you?” Carol asked again, her expression hopeful.
“No, of course not. I’m not from here and—”
“I’ve seen things that no one should ever witness. Unnatural things.”
Oh, god, no, no, Carol, don’t say it.
Carol glanced back at the door, then turned to Lelandi. “They’re part of some cult. When the moon appears, they strip off their clothes, then cover themselves in animal skins and run around in the woods howling.”
Lelandi barely breathed. “You’ve seen Darien and the others do this?”
“Well, no, not for real.”
“Are they like nightmares?”
“You can say that again. It’s always dark and difficult to make out what’s happening because the cool night air mixes with the sun-warmed earth, creating a screen of fog. Some of the men and women have sex in the wilderness like they’re a bunch of wild animals. You know, the men mounting the women from behind.”
“In animal skins?”
“Yeah.” Carol looked at her curiously. “You wouldn’t do that, would you?”
“Sounds a little kinky. Although I recall you saying you wished you could tell someone you’d never meet again about a sexual fantasy of yours.”
“That’s definitely not one of them.” Carol shook her head a little too vigorously.
“I’m certain Darien and his family and friends aren’t a part of a cult. He’s too busy running the factory and silver mine.”
“You’re probably right. But some of the people living here are in it. You have to believe me.”
“Are your psychic powers ever wrong?”
“Sometimes I have difficulty sorting out what everything means. I saw an injured girl and felt the pain in her leg, saw her washed in a blanket of white mist. I guessed later it was the girl you rescued in the woods during the blizzard before Joe kidnapped you. But I couldn’t see where she was, who she was, what happened to her, who was with her. The visions are not all that clear most of the time.”
“Like a nightmare? Where the dreams are mixed up and run together with the oddest images?”
“Maybe,” Carol said, but she sounded like she didn’t think so, that she figured Lelandi didn’t believe her. “I…I felt bad when Joe took you hostage. I hadn’t seen that happen. I don’t know why I can see some things and not others.”
“What do you see now? Anything in my future?”
“A man threatens to take you back home. He’s a redhead, not as tall as Darien, but heavy-set. And he has a savage streak.”
Lelandi’s heart fluttered. “Crassus.”
Carol stood and began to pace. “But there’s someone else. A man. I can’t see who, but I sense he holds a lot of anger, directed at your sister, then at you. You’re not only the embodiment of Larissa, but you’re trying to find her killer—him. He’s frustrated because he hasn’t been able to get to you. But he’s someone Darien trusts.”
Chill bumps erupted on Lelandi’s arms. “You don’t know who he is?”
“No.”
“Do you know how he plans to kill me?”
“I don’t know.” Carol tried to smile. “I really admire you. No matter what, you stand up for yourself. I wish I could be more like that.”
“I think you are, Carol.”
“Yeah, and I still don’t have a job at the hospital. But you never give in. If I see anything else, I’ll…I’ll let you know.”
Lelandi stood and took Carol’s hand, but Carol gave her a warm hug back. “Somehow we’ve been thrown together…maybe because our sisters both died and were so depressed. I don’t know. But I…I have to help you if I can.”
“Thank you, Carol. Maybe with your abilities, you can.” But how in the hell could Lelandi help Carol? If anyone learned she might be seeing lupus garous mating in the woods on moon-filled nights, the powers-that-be would eliminate her.
“I’ve got to get home,” Carol said. “I really did forget to feed Puss this morning. He’ll be roaring by the time I return.”
“I’ll walk you to the front door. If you learn anything more…”
“I’ll call you.”
Lelandi shook her head.
Carol ran her hand over her arm. “I’ll drop by. They’ll be listening in on your phone conversations, won’t they?”
Lelandi snorted. “Probably. They think everyone’s suspect.”
“Rightly so. First, that guy shot you, then Joe took you hostage, then…why were you in the blizzard with the girl who’d been injured?”
Lelandi smiled. “Searching for evidence about my sister. I escaped the house.” Her smile faded. “But it won’t happen again.”
“I can see why not. You could have died out there.” Carol opened the door to the sunroom, and they headed to
the living room.
The men stood. Darien’s face looked dark and his brothers and the others—Chester, Sam, Uncle Sheridan—all looked as concerned. Had one of them listened in on Carol’s conversation with Lelandi through a vent or some damned thing?
“Can I have a word with you, Miss Wood?” Darien motioned to the sunroom.
Carol looked like she was ready to have heart failure.
Lelandi’s whole body chilled with fear, and she felt sick to her stomach.
Jake said to Lelandi, “I need to talk to you. Do you mind?”
Torn, she didn’t know what to do. She wanted to protect Carol from her mate when she should have been totally loyal to him and to the pack, to all lupus garous, first and foremost. Darien gave her a look like she better do what was expected of her.
That’s when Lelandi snapped.
“Sure, but I want to see what Darien has to say to Carol first.” She gave the men all her sweetest smile, faked to high heaven.
“Fine.” Darien didn’t sound like it was fine with him.
The three of them walked into the sunroom. Carol looked pale and as uncomfortable as if Darien and his family had just pronounced she was a witch and at any moment the inquisition would burn her at the stake. Lelandi didn’t feel much better.
None of the men looked happy with either Lelandi or Carol. But Lelandi didn’t care. If Carol hadn’t wanted to help her, the woman wouldn’t be in this untenable situation now.
Darien waited for them to sit and then gave his full attention to Carol as if Lelandi wasn’t there. “I’m concerned about Lelandi’s health,” he said smoothly.
Carol glanced at Lelandi, her look one of disbelief. Lelandi was sure she appeared as astonished. What the hell was he up to?
“We’re afraid someone plans to kill her, and that’s why she’s constantly under guard. She wants to learn who blackmailed her sister and murdered her. But I can’t let her run around town on her own. You know what’s happened to her already. In that light and because you’re unhappy with your job prospect as a nurse at the school, I’m offering you a job as Lelandi’s personal nurse. If anything should happen to her, your medical knowledge could save her life. Your salary would be commensurate with what you would earn at the hospital, but you would only need keep Lelandi company when she wishes it.”
“But I have a cat and…”
“Jake will see to the cat’s care. Doc Mitchell will board him until you’re ready to return home.”
Lelandi felt cornered into making a decision. But she was certain if she didn’t agree, Carol’s life would hang in the balance. “Until you can catch the bastard who murdered my sister, I think it’s a perfect solution, Darien. Of course, if you agree to it, Carol.”
Carol didn’t appear comfortable with agreeing to the conditions of her new employment. “Would I be free to go and—”
“No.” Darien’s face remained stern, determined. He would have his way, one way or another.
“If I don’t?”
He shrugged. “You’re free to go. It’s up to you. I would hope that you’d consider my terms favorably for Lelandi’s sake though. If you don’t stay here around the clock, however, there’s no sense in you being here. Who knows when the killer will strike again?”
“Can I go home and get some clothes?”
“Tom will take you.”
“All right.” Carol offered a smile, but the warmth didn’t reach her eyes. “I’ll do this for Lelandi. And hope to god I can make a difference if need be.” She rose from the couch.
“Good.” Darien motioned to the door and when he opened it, he said, “Tom, take Miss Wood to her place to get some clothes. Jake, you can take her cat to Doc Mitchell’s for boarding until we get this situation cleared up with Lelandi.”
Carol still looked like she thought they were going to burn her at the stake.
“I’ll see you in a little bit,” Lelandi promised. “I haven’t baked anything in eons with my sister. Maybe we can whip up something.”
“An apple pie?”
Darien looked somewhat mollified with Lelandi’s response. “Run her by the grocery store and get whatever ingredients they need.”
Carol’s expression brightened and she had more of a spring to her step when she left the house with Darien’s brothers. But as soon as the door shut, Darien gave Lelandi a look like she’d overstepped her bounds. He took her hand and led her up the stairs without saying a word and although everyone watched them, no one said anything either. She was in trouble now.
She had no good reason for getting on Darien’s bad side either. If Carol knew they were lupus garous, she put them all at risk. Lelandi had no business covering for her.
When they reached the bedroom, Darien released her and shut the door. She felt small and unworthy under his steely gaze. She didn’t say anything, not sure how to respond, and he finally blew out his breath. “What the hell was that all about?”
“She wanted to warn me I was in danger. We all know that. So what’s the big deal?”
“Lelandi.” Darien ran his hands up and down her arms. “She’s dangerous. How long have you known she has psychic abilities?”
“I’ve only met her once before.”
“And she told you then?”
Tears filled her eyes. “I…I don’t want her killed.”
He held her tight and kissed her forehead. “We have to do what’s right for the pack. In days gone by, we could have someone institutionalized if they’d seen one of us turn wolf. But we can’t do that anymore. If she does have visions that involve you and whoever this maniac is, I want her here. And I want to know about it immediately. We’ll put her talent to good use and take it from there.”
“And when she’s not of any more use…?”
“I’m sure we can work something out.”
Lelandi didn’t think he would. The pack took priority. Lupus garou took priority. One human woman was of little consequence.
“Do you believe she sees us as humans wearing animal skins, howling at the moon?”
“She says it’s dark. And it would be for her. We can see at night. She wouldn’t be able to.”
“And there’s a fog. Yet, she seems to see a hell of a lot despite it being nighttime while the cultists run around in a fog.”
“What are you implying?” Lelandi asked.
“I’m implying that she sees us as wolves, not as humans wearing furs. She was testing your reaction, seeing how you responded to the news.”
“Because she’s afraid I’d think she was crazy?”
He kissed her cheek. “Or, because you’re one of us, and she wanted to see if you’d betray this.”
“Does she think I am?” Lelandi asked.
“What do you believe?”
“At first, I don’t believe she thought I was. Then something made her reconsider. In the end, I felt she wasn’t sure. Maybe she trusted me. Until you said she had to stay here.”
“For your safety and hers. If anyone found out she might be able to identify whoever murdered Larissa, Carol would be a dead woman.” Darien paused for a minute, letting the seriousness of the situation sink in.
“Oh, I hadn’t thought of that.”
“If any of the lupus garous of the pack discovered she might be able to tell the world about us, one of them might not wait for me to make a decision concerning her disposition.”
“I understand fully.”
He hugged her tightly, wanting to keep her safe from all the evils of the world, but already he was worrying about Carol and her abilities to see the lupus garous as they were, and what he would have to do if things got out of hand. He knew if he didn’t handle the matter right, he’d end up driving a wedge between himself and his mate.
Chapter 22
AFTER SETTLING IN, LELANDI AND CAROL MADE TWO APPLE pies, while Tom and Jake took Darien aside to speak to him privately in his office. He figured there had been more trouble with their new live-in guest.
“Carol tried to
sneak a gun into her bag, but I told her you and your men were the only ones who would be armed. She didn’t like it, but finally gave in,” Tom said.
“She’s going to be a problem. But maybe she can use these abilities of hers to warn us before whoever murdered Larissa strikes at Lelandi again,” Darien said.
A rapping at the door sounded.
“Yes?” Darien asked gruffly.
Lelandi opened the door, her face strained.
“Where’s Carol?” Darien asked, already leaving the office. He was sure the woman would attempt to flee if given the opportunity. She didn’t appear to be the fighting sort.
Lelandi grabbed his arm. “Darien, Silva’s here helping her with the pies. But Carol had a…premonition. A group of men are coming to see you. They’re angry, but they’re not the real problem. Another group is planning on slipping into a bedroom to steal me away. She doesn’t see what happens afterward, just that we’ve got trouble coming soon.”
Darien’s phone rang and Tom grabbed it off the desk. “Yeah?” He looked up at Darien, his expression darkened. “Uncle Sheridan says he couldn’t keep the reds at Hastings B&B. They’re on their way here.”
When everyone glanced at Lelandi, she lifted a shoulder. “Carol sees things sometimes. I guess she really does have psychic abilities.”
He was having a hard time believing it, but already adrenaline was coursing through his veins, getting him ready for a fight. “Tom, tell Uncle Sheridan I want him and both his deputies here.” Darien took Lelandi’s hand and kissed it, hoping not to show how anxious he was about her. “I want you and Silva in the bedroom.”
“And Carol?”
Jake said, “She can’t be allowed to see what happens when we have to fight. She’ll be traumatized.”
Everyone headed out of Darien’s office.
Carol would be more than traumatized. Tension filled every muscle in Lelandi’s body. She wasn’t worried that the grays would beat the reds. Well, maybe a little. Bruin and his brothers could be pretty underhanded and brutal. But she was worried about Carol and Silva, too.
“Uncle Sheridan’s getting his deputies and a few others to guard the place,” Tom said. “Do you want me to watch Carol?”