by Jane Jamison
“He’s right. She knows we’ll choose Kelly.” Damon crumpled the paper then tossed it away. “Which means Lilly dies.”
Riker growled and shook his head. “I disagree. If we choose Kelly, they’ll both die. Kelly’s our woman, and Tess knows it. She doesn’t want us to save Kelly. She wants to kill her to take revenge on us.”
“You’re both wrong.”
Damon turned along with Riker toward Jude, but Jude kept gazing out the window. “How can we both be wrong? We have to choose one or the other.”
“If Tess knows anything about Kelly, she’ll know that Kelly would give her own life to save Lilly. She’s probably betting on the fact that we know it, too. She’s assuming that if we don’t save Lilly then Kelly will blame us as much as she’ll blame Tess for Lilly’s death. Either way, we lose Kelly.”
Damon’s body stiffened as the truth of Jude’s words hit him. “Then what do we do? We have to make it quick before the sun goes down.”
“If we choose Kelly, she might blame us for losing Lilly, but at least she’d still be alive.” Riker met Damon’s hard glare then dropped his gaze. “I’m just saying.”
“I don’t want to lose either one of them.” A cold fury stiffened Damon’s body.
“We know Tess pretty well, right?” Jude paused to search their faces. “And one thing we know about her is that she tends to let her emotions take over her thinking.”
Jude’s mouth formed the cold smile of a vampire that always sent a shiver down Damon’s spine. “Which means what?”
“It means she’s made a stupid mistake.”
Damon could strangle his friend if he didn’t hurry up and tell them. “And?”
“She forgot that there are three of us. We split up and save both girls.”
Riker was shaking his head even as Damon started shaking his. “No. That’s too big a mistake. She’s got a trick up her sleeve.”
The answer hit Damon hard enough that he saw the room around him weave. “She doesn’t care if Lilly lives or dies, so we don’t have to choose. That’s just a ruse to throw us off and kill time. And it doesn’t matter who finds Kelly. Tess wants at least one of us there to see her die. That’s her ultimate revenge.”
“Then do we split up or not?” Riker’s expression was a mix of worry, fury, and frustration. “We’ve got to get going.”
“We have to split up. We have no other choice. One of us goes to the pond, and the other two search the trees.”
Jude motioned to Riker. “Let’s take the trees that surround the picnic area. Tess knows the spot, since she conned me into showing it to her once. You can sniff Tess out while I search high and low for whichever girl is there.”
“Agreed. I’ll get the motorcycle out back and go to the pond. Hopefully, the girl there will be easy enough to find.” Damon didn’t waste time for their approval. He scooped the motorcycle’s keys off the hook behind the door, exited the cabin, and dashed around to the back. As he’d hoped, the motorcycle was still in the lean-to where they kept it. Swinging his leg over it, he prayed it would have a sound battery and a full tank. He breathed a sigh of relief when the motor roared to life.
Jude and Riker were already driving down the road by the time he rounded the cabin and pointed the bike down the dirt path that led to the pond. Minutes later, he skidded to a stop, throwing dirt into the air.
Lilly lay on her back next to the pond. Her eyes were closed, but he could see the steady rise and fall of her chest. Scanning the area around her, he looked for anything suspicious but saw nothing. Nonetheless, the hairs on the back of his neck stood on end.
This is just too easy. He squinted at her. Unless we’re right about Tess not caring what happens to Lilly.
As soon as the thought occurred to him, he was broadsided and knocked off the bike. The soft yet large man rolling with him took his breath away, but not before he managed to push the man off him.
Clyde, his eyes glazed and his teeth bared, got back on his feet and lunged at him. Damon partially shifted, bringing out his fangs and claws. He struck Clyde in the face, sending the roly-poly man flipping over in the air. Clyde landed facedown in the water.
Using his shifter power to launch himself into the air, Damon landed on Clyde, grabbed his collar, and yanked his head out of the water. Clyde sputtered then went right back into attack mode.
“Knock it off.” Damon shoved his head under the water again. If anything could break the man out of the vampire’s spell, the shock of drowning would. He jerked the man back up, saw that he was still willing to fight, and shoved his head back under the water again. He held his head under for longer than he had before.
Come on, Clyde. Snap out of it.
Damon yanked him up and studied the man’s face. Instead of shaking off the water and snarling, Clyde gawked at Damon. Terror filled his expression as he looked at Damon’s fangs and partially fur-covered face.
Damon threw Clyde away from him and shifted back to full human form. Clyde lay on his side, coughing up water.
Ignoring Clyde, Damon hurried over to Lilly. He pulled her into his arms and searched the pale face. Patting her cheeks gently, he urged her to open her eyes. “Lilly, wake up. Lilly, come on, girl. Kelly needs you.”
“Kelly?” Clyde sat up with his legs spread out before him and his palms resting on his knees. “Where am I? Is that Lilly?”
Damon nodded, answering the last question, but kept his attention on Lilly. “Come on, girl. Open your eyes. We’ve got to help Kelly.”
Lilly’s eyelids fluttered then stilled. He renewed his hold on her as he scooped up a handful of the cool water and poured it over her cheek. She twitched, her eyelids fluttering again, then finally opened her eyes.
“Damon?” whispered Lilly.
He smiled down at her. “Yeah, it’s me. How are you feeling?”
She frowned and struggled to sit up. Letting her lean against his chest, he held on to her in case she passed out.
“Where am I?”
“That’s what I’d like to know,” whined Clyde.
“Shut up, Clyde.” Damon laughed as Lilly said the same thing he had. “You’re on our ranch outside Passion. Tess kidnapped you and used you as bait to get to Kelly.”
“What about me?”
The bewildered expression on Clyde’s face confirmed their assumption that Tess had glamoured the man. “We’ll explain later. Can you help Lilly get back into town? The road’s about a mile that way. With any luck, you can hitch a ride with one of the locals. If not, we’ll be heading down that way once we find Kelly. Jude and Riker are hunting for her right now. I need to get to them and help out.”
Lilly pushed away from him. Refusing his help to stand, she staggered over to the bike and threw her leg over it, ready to ride behind him.
“Lilly, you don’t seem very stable yet. You should stay with Clyde.”
“With Kelly in trouble? Like hell I will.” She sat up straight, her glare daring him to fight her.
He had to respect her loyalty as well as her spunk. Thinking he was making a foolish move, he strode over to the bike and got on. He started the motor and turned to glance back at Lilly. “Hang on. It’s going to be a bumpy ride.”
* * * *
Kelly’s head hurt like she’d gone bar hopping and consumed a hundred tequila shots. She wasn’t sure how long she’d been tied to the tree. Her memory of the past hours faded in and out, like dreams she couldn’t quite remember. She looked up, squinting at the light shining through the branches above her. A picnic table was shoved against the trunk of the tree. Off to her right was a lovely green meadow, but even the shade couldn’t keep the bright sunlight from hurting her head.
She closed her eyes and another of the hazy visions came back to her. Tess’s sneering face loomed closer and closer.
“It’s about time you came to.”
Kelly opened her eyes and hissed at the pain stabbing through her forehead. “Tess?”
Tess came from behind the tree, ju
mping out at her. She screeched then giggled at Kelly’s frightened gasp. “Why, oh, why do they like you? Can you tell me that, bitch?”
Kelly fought to make the world stop spinning. “What? I don’t understand. What have you done to Lilly?”
“Lilly’s nothing but a distraction. She’s fine. It’s you who should be worrying.”
“Are you telling me the truth? You didn’t hurt her?”
Tess blew out an exasperated breath. “Yes, your silly mop-headed friend is all right.”
Relief washed through Kelly. At least Lilly would survive. “What do you want from me? I don’t even know you.”
“Don’t deny it, you little slut. I know how you got your claws into them. You spread your legs and let them lap up your juices, didn’t you?”
Tess dropped into a squat in front of Kelly. “Did you suck on their cocks, too? Of course you did. Men are such idiots about sex. All a bitch like you has to do is suck on their cocks, and they’ll follow you around like puppy dogs.”
She laughed. “That’s funny, don’t you think? You know, since Damon and Riker are what they are.”
She hurried away, picked up a rock, whirled around, then threw it at her. It struck the tree just above her head. “I can understand Riker and Damon falling for your pretty face and perky boobs, but I really thought Jude would be more discriminating.”
“Why are you doing this to me?”
Tess frowned at her then shook her head. “Don’t pretend you don’t know.”
“Know what?” What horrible thing had she done to make Tess hate her?
Tess snorted. “You know damn well that they’re my men. Not yours. Mine. They’ll never be yours no matter how many times you let them fuck you.”
Kelly bowed her head, hoping to find balance in the world again. Her mouth was dry, and her arms ached where the ropes binding her to the tree cut into her skin. “Don’t you think that’s their decision? They haven’t been with you because they don’t want you.”
Please let me be right. But what if they’ve taken Tess into their beds? What do I do then? But the expression on Tess’s face said it all. The men hadn’t wanted her, just as they’d said.
“You shut the fuck up!” Tess picked up another rock and threw it. Her aim was better, and the rock struck Kelly in the arm.
Fresh pain seared into her. “What are you going to do with me? You can’t get away with this, you know.”
“Isn’t that what all the victims say right before they die?” Tess laughed. “Once the men see what a sniveling little whore you are, they won’t want anything to do with you. Then they won’t care when I drain you dry.”
“Drain me dry?” Was she planning on cutting her open and letting her bleed out? Another vision hit her, showing Tess with red eyes and fangs. Was her mind losing its grip on reality?
The sound of a vehicle heading their way caught both their attention. Tess giggled then hurried over to Kelly and reached behind the tree. She slapped a strip of duct tape over Kelly’s mouth then put a finger to her own lips. “Shush. Be quiet and watch.”
The pickup pulled into the dirt parking lot beside the picnic area. Jude and Riker bolted out and ran toward her. Tess stood in front of her with her hands stretched out like a goddess ready to command her subjects.
“Stop, or I’ll kill her.”
The men skidded to a stop, their faces contorted with rage.
“Let her go, Tess, and we’ll let you go free.” Jude’s face went calm, but his voice was like the steel edge of a sharp blade.
“Touch her, and you die a slow and painful death,” warned Riker.
Tess cocked her head to the side. “Is that right, mutt? Are you going to tear me apart with your claws and fangs? Surely, Jude, you wouldn’t let this animal touch me.”
“I surely would.”
Tess pivoted, putting her side to them. She tapped her finger against her lips. “Hmm. Actually, so would I. In fact, Riker, you can touch me here”—she skimmed her palms over her breasts then slid a hand lower to cup her crotch—“and here. But only if you sit up and beg.”
“The only touch I’m giving you is with these.” Riker held up his hands. Long claws broke through the flesh of his fingers.
Kelly blinked and tried to understand what she was seeing. Fangs sprang from Riker’s mouth, and his face seemed to change, elongating into a snout with a large nose.
Jude looked at her, saw her stunned expression, and moved toward her. At first, Tess stepped aside then rushed at him and slammed a silver disc against his chest.
Jude screamed but didn’t try to get away. Instead, his body went rigid even as shudders shook him. His eyes widened as he gaped at her, and his fingers spread wide. Tess stared into his face and murmured words Kelly couldn’t understand.
What’s happening? Am I going insane? Did Tess drug me?
Riker’s body was changing, bones breaking and reforming as his clothes shredded from his body. He dropped to the ground and continued the contortions with agonizing sounds.
Jude’s mouth fell open, and his eyes glazed over. Tess stepped back, her wicked grin growing bigger. “You’re mine, Jude. Don’t ever forget that.”
Kelly screamed, the sound muffled by the tape, as Jude opened his mouth to expose sharp fangs. His eyes glowed red like Tess’s now did as he turned to face the Riker-wolf.
Tess laughed, and the evil noise drove deep into Kelly’s soul. Fangs peeked over Tess’s lower lip as her eyes seared with blood-red glee. She wiggled her eyebrows at Kelly. “Watch and learn, bitch.”
Touching Jude on the shoulder, she pointed at the huge, growling werewolf. “Kill him.”
As if freed from invisible ropes, Jude leapt upward, flinging his body forward to meet the lunging werewolf in midair. Their bodies slammed together, and for a moment, Kelly couldn’t tell which blurred image was which. They moved faster than any human ever could as they clawed and bit at each other.
The Riker-wolf fell back first, backing up but keeping his body tense for another jump. Jude, his face a terrible mask of fury with blazing red eyes and fangs dripping saliva, threw his body at the werewolf. Riker-wolf tried to dodge, but Jude slashed out, raking a trail of red along his front shoulder. He howled an awful sound as he rolled away from Jude.
Jude stalked over to the werewolf, who struggled to get onto his feet. Jude opened his mouth, his fangs shining in the late-afternoon sun. Just as he edged toward the werewolf, a motorcycle spun around the corner and into the parking lot.
Kelly’s heart picked up speed as she recognized Lilly and Damon. Damon waited for Lilly to get off the bike then motioned for her to stay where she was.
Kelly shouted to Damon, who nodded his head once at her then centered his attention on Jude. Jude gave out a snarl and hurled his body at Damon. Revving the bike so hard that its front wheels came off the ground, Damon drove straight at Jude.
The thud of Jude’s body getting hit by the motorcycle made Kelly’s stomach turn over. The medallion that Tess had shoved into Jude’s chest flew into the air, glittering in the sunlight as it flipped over and over until landing in the grass. She closed her eyes, too sickened to watch any longer. Instead, she silently prayed for each of the men, but she couldn’t keep her eyes closed. Whatever happened, she had to bear witness to it.
Tess shrieked and attacked Damon, who had jumped off the motorcycle, letting the bike fall on its side. Jude lay several feet away, unmoving.
Hardly believing what she was seeing, Kelly watched as Damon made the transformation into a wolf. Within seconds, the man she loved was gone.
The huge black werewolf growled then clamped its massive jaws onto Tess’s leg. Tess’s expression seared hatred as the tips of fangs grew into huge fangs that erupted from her mouth.
Damon-wolf and Tess joined in battle. Their growls, howls, and snarls filled the air as Lilly raced toward Kelly. Riker, returned to human form, hobbled over to help Lilly untie and pull the ropes off Kelly.
Kelly scrambled aw
ay from Riker, darting her gaze between Riker and the battle between Damon and Tess.
Riker’s face clouded over as he saw her cringe away from him. “Kelly, please. When this is over, let us explain.” Straightening up, he thrust his chin out at Lilly. “Get out of here. Take her home.”
Kelly and Lilly stood huddled together, their fear a palpable thing in the air. Yet when Riker started changing, the shock of seeing it again broke the hold terror had on them.
“Let’s get the hell out of here.” Lilly grabbed Kelly’s arm and dragged her toward the road.
Kelly couldn’t think, couldn’t grasp what she’d seen. Letting Lilly take charge of her, she ran behind her friend. She glanced back once and saw the two werewolves bending over Tess’s prone body.
Chapter Ten
Kelly sipped the cup of coffee that Lilly handed her and sat down next to her friend on the sofa. Two days had passed since she and Lilly had made it home from the ranch. They’d gotten lucky when a woman who worked with Lilly had happened to be driving by and saw them trudging alongside the road. The kind woman had offered to take them to the hospital, but they’d refused. What could they have told the doctor?
Her cell phone rang next to her, but she ignored it as she had for the past two days. She’d allowed Lilly to take their very first call, but only to find out that they were unharmed. After that, Lilly would answer the calls, talk to them briefly, then try to get Kelly to talk. She’d refused every time.
They’d stayed together, the two friends, crying, laughing and having every emotion in between. Back and forth they’d wrestled with the truth of what they’d seen. Suddenly, their world was no longer as simple as it was before they’d met the men. Now they knew supernatural beings existed. Yet, somehow, they helped each other to believe what they’d seen.
She closed her eyes and, as she had so many times before, tried to picture Riker and Damon transforming into werewolves. Jude’s blazing eyes and fangs were just as difficult to visualize.
“Are you ever going to talk to them?”