by L. L. Raand
“Can it wait an hour?”
Sylvan turned, her brows drawing together. “A problem?”
“No. I want you to come with me.”
“All right,” Sylvan said unquestioningly.
Drake took her hand and led her outside, across the Compound to the infirmary, through the silent halls, and past the guards who snapped to attention without speaking. As they walked closer and closer to the nursery, the exhaustion seemed to evaporate from Sylvan’s stride.
Marta, one of the maternals on duty, had the pups ready, and when they saw Sylvan they rushed her, tails slicing the air madly, their high-pitched yips and yelps sharp and strong. Laughing, Sylvan gathered them both into her arms and glanced at Drake.
“It’s time for a run,” Drake said.
Eyes shining, Sylvan nodded.
They shifted together at the edge of the forest, the pups racing around them with ecstatic cries. Sylvan spun around and growled once, softly. Kira and Kendra instantly stilled, bodies quivering, ears alert, bright eyes fixed on the Alpha. Drake shouldered in beside Sylvan, licked her muzzle, and waited.
Sylvan lifted her head and howled, a long, strong call to hunt. Before the echo of the call died away, she pivoted and raced into the woods. Drake followed, keeping the two pups behind her uppermost in her senses. Sylvan would set the path and track the prey. The Pack would follow. She kept Sylvan in sight but didn’t try to flank her as she often did when they ran together. The morning frost was crisp beneath her pads, the air crystalline and bright. The forest came alive with the first shafts of sunlight under a brilliant blue sky. Sylvan led them along pine-strewn paths, across brooks and winter bare clearings. They hunted small prey, the pups watching eagerly as first Sylvan then Drake took the lead on the chase. When they finally circled back to the Compound, the pups were lagging, their tongues lolling, their sides heaving, their spirits bright and eager.
When they delivered them back to Marta, Drake said, “These two will probably sleep all morning now.”
Marta laughed fondly. “I’m not so sure of that. They’re the Alpha’s young, after all.”
“That they are,” Drake said, “especially when they’re misbehaving.”
Marta left to settle the two in with their Packmates, and Sylvan slipped her arm around Drake’s waist. “You were right. I needed that.”
Drake turned and wrapped her arms around Sylvan’s waist. “We all needed that. This is why you do what you do. For them and all the others like them, now and in the days to come.”
Sylvan rested her forehead on Drake’s and closed her eyes. “I don’t know why I ever thought I could do this without a mate.”
Drake kissed her. “Because you’re stubborn and strong.”
Sylvan laughed softly. “I love you.”
“I love you too. More than life.” Drake kissed her again. “Now, tell me.”
They walked through the Compound as Sylvan talked. Their wolves surrounded them, mated pairs slipping into the forest to run, sentries by the fire pits, recruits in the training yard, the centuri at their posts on the headquarters porch. “I’ve contacted Raina. We’re sending the cats back to her for judgment.”
Drake laughed. “I’m not sure the mercenaries will find that such a bargain.”
“No, I doubt they will.”
“And the wolves?”
Sylvan was silent for a long moment. “Three have sworn allegiance.”
Drake spoke carefully. “Will you trust them? Will the others?”
“Not at first,” Sylvan said. “They’ll have to prove themselves. I’m sending them to the Blackpaw camp and promoting Val to captain. She’ll watch them. There’ll be no second chances.”
“And the last?”
“I did not give Marcus a choice,” Sylvan said. “He is exiled, banished from my territory, from that of my allies, and from all lands bordering ours. Niki will escort him to the far border. If he turns back, she will execute him. If he returns here or anywhere within our reach, she will execute him.”
“What did he know?”
“One very interesting thing,” Sylvan said, pausing before one of the fire pits where a pot of coffee sat steaming on hot rocks. “The recruiter is a cat Were.”
“Not a Vampire?” Drake poured coffee and handed the steaming cup to Sylvan. “I didn’t think the rogue cats were organized enough to pull off a raid like that.”
“Oh, I suspect she’s recruiting for a Vampire.”
“She.” Drake sipped from her coffee. “The cat who was with Francesca at Nocturne. The one who kidnapped Katya.”
“Yes. And I know where she’s recruiting.” Sylvan growled quietly. “Raptures.”
“The blood bar.”
“Yes. Jody might be able to help us there. Someone will talk.”
“Perhaps if we wait, we can capture the cat.”
“I’m tired of waiting. I’m tired of reacting, rather than controlling events.” Sylvan growled more loudly and several nearby sentries jerked to attention. “We still have missing Weres out there.”
Drake stroked her back. “Any word from Andrea?”
“Not yet,” Sylvan said, her frustration as sharp as a blade. “We’re still fighting shadows.”
“I have some good news,” Drake said.
Sylvan sat on one of the huge log benches that ringed the fire pit and pulled Drake down beside her. “Tell me. I could use it.”
“The Revniks report the second infected female has stabilized. Her fever is abating and her vital signs are stronger.”
“What does that mean?”
Drake blew out a breath. “We’re not sure yet, but it looks as if she will live. What happens when she shifts is still uncertain, but there’s a chance she may have made the transformation successfully.”
“Then that is good news.”
Drake slid her hand inside the waistband of Sylvan’s camos, wanting flesh beneath her fingers. “We’re close, Sylvan. All we need—”
“Alpha,” Max called, crossing the Compound at a run. “Becca Land is on the phone for you. She says it’s important.”
Sylvan’s grin was bright as she rose. “Maybe we’re about to get what we need.”
Chapter Twenty-nine
“Sylvan,” Becca said when Sylvan answered, the excitement rippling in her voice. “I just got a call from someone who claims to know the location of Veronica Standish’s laboratory.”
Sylvan glanced at Drake, who stood close by, listening. This could be a break, or another trap. Drake’s eyes narrowed. She was as suspicious as Sylvan. “I don’t suppose you know who it is?”
Becca laughed, her deep melodic voice as smooth as molten chocolate. “I’m afraid I never get those kinds of tips. I can say for sure it wasn’t Martin Hoffstetter. I recognize his voice now, and Martin would have no reason not to identify himself.”
“What about the human who warned you of the infected girls being dropped off at the ERs?”
“I don’t think so, but I’m not as positive.”
“Does this one claim to be another HUFSI member?”
“The conversation was brief,” Becca said. “According to him, and I’m quite sure the caller was male, there’s a move afoot to recruit scientists for a top-secret assignment. And yes, according to the source, they’re drawing heavily on HUFSI members. This individual claims to have had a meeting with a recruiter and has been told to report to the city before the end of the week.”
“And then what?”
“They’ll be transported to the lab. They don’t have an address.”
“Convenient.”
“I agree it’s not much, but the pattern fits what we know about these people—the multiple layers of camouflage, the secret locations, the focus on humans who wouldn’t be opposed to anti-Were experiments.”
Sylvan snarled. “Do you have any sense of how reliable this information is?”
Becca sighed. “None whatsoever. And almost no way to confirm. But if the information is accurate
, and he calls me again, I can push for a meeting or, at the very least, his destination in the city. Then we can put a tail on him and find the location of this laboratory.”
Sylvan smiled at Becca’s language. “Jody’s detective traits are rubbing off on you.”
“Don’t you believe it. I was following her from the beginning when she was still trying to pretend she wasn’t interested.”
Sylvan heard a dark chuckle from the background and suspected the Vampire was listening. “Do you think he’ll call again?”
“It’s impossible to know, but my guess is, yes.”
“I like your plan. If he at least tells us where he’ll be, even if we don’t get a name, we can keep the place under watch. Sooner or later someone we recognize is going to show up.”
“I agree with you. Is there anything we can do in the meantime?”
“Let me talk to Jody. We could use some help checking out another lead.”
“I’ll give her to you in a minute,” Becca said. “But, Sylvan, this story is something I’m not going to be able to sit on. People need to know what these extremists are doing.”
“I know, and I wouldn’t ask you to keep it quiet.” Sylvan paused. “Becca, some things may happen that might be hard for humans to understand.”
“I live with a Vampire, Sylvan.”
“Have you watched her kill?”
Becca caught her breath. “No, but there have been times I’ve wanted her to.”
“Wanting and doing are two different things.”
“Then I’ll ask you to trust my judgment as to what the public can handle. And remember, I’m on your side.”
“I will.”
“Thank you.”
A second later Jody spoke. “How may we be of service to the Pack?”
“We just intercepted a raiding party in my territory,” Sylvan said. “According to the leader—one of Bernardo’s previous crew—a cat Were is recruiting mercenaries at Raptures. If I send my people in there to see if we can find out who, they’ll be identified immediately. I was hoping you might be able to help.”
“I can send one of my younglings. If they’re recognized, they can claim they’re looking for a little more adventurous blood sport than they can find at the lair.”
“I don’t want to put any of your people in danger.”
Jody laughed. “My Vampires can take care of themselves.”
My Vampires. Since Jody had risen, she’d assumed her station as heir to her father’s Clan completely. Sylvan was glad of it. Viceregal Zachary Gates was old and powerful and someone she didn’t completely trust. Jody might not ascend to his position for decades, but even as his second, she had influence. “I think the cat is one of Francesca’s. It’s all related somehow.”
Jody hissed. “Then I am doubly glad to be of service.”
“If you track her to Francesca’s lair, we want to be there when you take them.”
“That is Vampire business,” Jody said coolly. “Francesca has broken with the Vampire League and dishonored our truce with the Weres. She is subject to execution on sight.”
Sylvan growled. “It is all of our business. Francesca has had a hand in these assaults on us and is in league with those who would destroy us.”
“We will do our part to bring you justice.”
Sylvan heard Becca murmur in the background and Jody sighed. “If we find Francesca’s lair, we will welcome you as witness to our judgment.”
“Agreed.”
“What of this business Becca speaks of? The laboratory?”
“If we find it, we will destroy it. We have reason to believe they have captive Weres, and even if they don’t, they are actively working on a contagion to infect us and humans. The human population will hunt us down if that happens.”
“Do you have a plan?”
“We divide and conquer.”
Jody laughed, a cold sound like steel slicing through air. “I like that idea very much.”
“Then we have a plan.”
*
The centuri waited in the great room, in their usual places, Max by the fireplace, Niki inside the door, Jace and Jonathan flanking the windows. They snapped to attention when Sylvan and Drake entered. A huge fire burned in the hearth, chasing the early evening shadows from the room. The scent of aggression thickened the air. Everyone was ready to fight.
“An informant contacted Becca Land. His information may be able to help us find the laboratory where the missing females were taken.” Sylvan briefly outlined the discussion.
Niki snarled. “So we wait?”
“We have no choice.”
“Andrea should be told about this,” Max said. “She has people embedded in HUFSI throughout the country. She may be able to help us.”
Sylvan regarded Max intently. “Andrea is human.”
Max stiffened. His dark eyes glinted, and for an instant, he met Sylvan’s gaze. “She and her brother and other humans like her risk their lives every day to help us.”
Niki strode forward. “They do it to protect their own interests. They work for the human government. They will always place humans above Weres.”
Max growled and took a step in Niki’s direction. Niki bared her teeth. Smaller than Max by eighty pounds, she was nevertheless more dominant, and he shuddered.
“Enough,” Sylvan snapped. “We all protect our own first. Andrea can’t be faulted for that and she has proved herself a friend already.”
Niki halted, pelt rippling beneath her skin. Max glowered.
“My point,” Sylvan said with a bite, “is that our methods may not be acceptable to humans, whether they are our allies or not.”
“Andrea knows what we are.” Max would not contradict the Alpha directly, but he would defend his chosen.
“Max,” Drake said, “Andrea is an agent of the federal government. If she knows we are planning retribution against those in this lab, some of whom are human, she could be placed in a compromising position. If we eliminate a human in the presence of witnesses, she might be forced to report it or be in danger.”
“She will not betray us.” Max rubbed his chest. “We are mated. She accepts what that means.”
Sylvan had already suspected they were mated, although Max did not emit the distinct scent of a mated Were. Andrea was human and their essences could not fuse. Whereas once she would have mistrusted the strength of a bond between any except two Weres, she had learned that the mate bond was just as powerful when the spirit and the heart melded even if the body couldn’t. “She is your mate, and you are my centuri. You and I are bound by blood as well as oath. If you trust her, so shall we.”
She scanned the others, all of whom nodded, including Niki.
“Thank you, Alpha.” The tension left Max’s big frame and the fire banked in his eyes.
Drake slid her hand down Sylvan’s back and addressed the others. “We have to wait, but we don’t have to wait idly. We need to prepare the Compound in case of retaliation, gather as much intelligence as we can, and be ready to move quickly.”
“Max,” Sylvan said, “outfit the Rover with weapons and comm equipment. You’ll drive.” She gestured to Jace and Jonathan. “If we can track this human to the city, we’ll need him watched. You two will do that. You’ll need to be on the lookout for Weres and Vampires who might be meeting him or, most importantly, transporting him.”
The twins nodded in unison. They didn’t need much sleep and communicated effortlessly through their twin bond. They would make excellent spotters.
“Niki,” Sylvan said, “you need to escort the Blackpaw prisoner beyond our lands and get back here as quickly as possible.”
“I’ll leave now.” Niki’s eyes glinted. “It may be a short trip if he decides to resist.”
Sylvan laughed. “Be careful. And be swift.”
Niki pivoted and left the room. Sylvan grasped the back of Drake’s neck. “Our time for reckoning is near.”
*
Luce entered Francesca’s s
tudy and bowed her head. “You called for me?”
Francesca rose from her leather chair and was beside Luce a second later. She stroked her face and kissed her. “The call went as planned?”
“Yes, my Queen. Simon was most convincing.”
“How soon can we be ready to spring our little surprise?”
“We mustn’t make it appear too simple. Simon will call again in a day or two.”
“Very well. How is Dr. Standish?”
Luce grimaced. “I’m afraid she is…distracted.”
“Addicted.”
“Yes.”
“Can she function long enough for us to pull this off?”
“Yes, but her colleagues will notice before long.” Luce hesitated. “And so will Nicholas Gregory.”
Francesca huffed. “Nicholas has become a liability. The humans simply can’t be relied on. They are far too short-sighted and blind to their own inadequacies. I think it is time for us to end our partnership with him.”
“We might be able to rid ourselves of both of them at once. Should some unfortunate fate befall them during Sylvan’s attack on the labs.”
Francesca laughed. “For a moment, you reminded me of Michel.” She kissed Luce again. “So deliciously clever.”
Chapter Thirty
Sylvan’s cell rang. Jody Gates. A surge of anticipation raced through her. Waiting was wearing on everyone’s temper. The Compound was awash in pheromones, and Weres snapped and growled at each other over the slightest provocation. Even Sophia could not calm the more volatile dominants, and it didn’t help that Sylvan was aroused and aggressive with the constant pulse of adrenaline and hormones boiling in her blood. Her call kept the wolves in a state of hyper-readiness that could only be tempered by battle. She answered her cell. “You have news?”
“My Vampires have identified your cat,” Jody said.
Sylvan left Niki and Drake, who had spent most of the night discussing strategy with her, sprawled in the sitting area and walked to the office window. The sun crested the far mountain peaks, the sky a brilliant combination of orange and magenta that harbingered snow. Winter was coming. “Who is she?”