Luna St. Germaine
Lydia Jones
Devil Hills
Book Two
Karen A. Nichols
Copyright 2012 by Karen A. Nichols
Smashwords Edition
Published by Karen Nichols. Copyright, Karen Nichols. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. This book contains material protected under International and Federal Copyright Laws and Treaties. Any unauthorized reprint or use of this material is prohibited. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system without express written permission from the author.
This is a work of fiction. The characters, incidents and dialogues in this book are of the author’s imagination and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events or persons, living or dead, is completely coincidental.
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Chapter One
More than one set of sharp eyes watched the woman walk out of the forest to follow the well-kept two lane road into town early on Friday morning.
The second weekend in October. Things had been quiet.
Things had been mostly normal since the reported death of Abe Morrison. Cause of death: animal attack. Humans outside the town were relieved to know the wolves that had killed him were also trapped and destroyed. After all, there were kids to keep safe. Residents of the town knew the real story behind the death.
Devil Hills had begun decorating for fall harvest festivals and Halloween. Kids were anticipating the collective loot they could gather and adults were preparing for the things not sanctioned by the town.
She’d definitely seen better days. Her hair was a cross between platinum and gold and barely touched her ears in uneven swatches feathering over her forehead and neck. Bright green eyes stared straight ahead as she entered the center of town and walked into the small park in the middle of the round-about that skirted the shops in the area. It was a neatly designed area and she found herself smiling at the various colored awnings and shop windows.
She was tired. So tired.
There was sun. Unusual for this time of year. And it warmed her. She was cold. So cold, she thought, letting her body drift to the bench. Her eyes closed despite the voice shouting at her to remain awake and darkness settled over her like a welcome blanket. No one noticed the soft sigh of relief when she curled her legs on the flat surface of the bench.
Lexi Baker walked out of the coffee shop, eyes down and studying a text from one of the guys at the computer shop she’d bought into. Her feet stopped suddenly, a far too familiar scent making her nose twitch and her ponytail flip and jump, displaying her excitement.
It was a rare scent.
Except to her. Rare and absent in Devil Hills.
Except for her.
And now another.
Her head went up at the same time Lily came from the bakery with Scarlet. They looked at her and followed her gaze seconds before they were running with her into the park.
They didn’t know why. They didn’t have to ask. They had been friends long enough to know that something important, something vital, had caught her attention.
The three friends came to a skidding halt on the damp grass to stare down at the figure curled onto the bench, her arms wrapped around a stuffed backpack. Lexi reached out, gently touching her shoulder as she dropped to her knees.
She was thin, but muscled. And she didn’t move when Lexi touched her, and then gently shook her shoulder. She wore a long sleeve girl t-shirt tucked into her jeans and a puffy deep green vest zipped to her neck.
“A friend of yours?” Lily asked, nodding to the back of her head. “She’s been hurt.”
“I don’t know her,” Lexi answered. “She needs to see Jess.”
“Sage!” Scarlet called out, her palm up and waving at the town sheriff as he left the coffee shop.
Even if he looked like he belonged in the middle of an old western. Or the front page of a really sexy calendar. His pace quickened and the sides of the long coat he wore floated in the breeze, black jeans and a plain t-shirt were all he wore beneath it. But shifters had a higher metabolism than humans and he rarely got cold. His hair was solid black and fell from a side part in tapered levels touching the collar of his coat. Sharp, midnight eyes quickly looked over the three newest residents to the town. One mated to the pack Alpha, Lucas Daniels. The others found mates in the brothers of the Alpha. And all formidable women in their own right.
“What’s up?” He looked at them and then at the unconscious figure. “You know her?”
“Never saw her here before,” Scarlet shook her head.
“She won’t wake. She’s been hurt…”
Without another word, he lifted the woman from the bench. He took a step and stopped, the woman had curled against him with a little mewl. She pushed her face against his throat, inhaling and settling closer, her palm rising and resting on his chest.
“Relax, Sage,” Lexi chuckled. “It’s just a cat thing. She likes your scent,” they watched the unconscious woman rub the side of her face against his throat several more times, the muscular, powerful male looking decidedly uncomfortable. “I’m pretty sure she’s not going to bite you.”
“Pretty sure?” Sage forced his voice from deep inside him, ignoring the way his body reacted to her behavior. Her palm curled around the edge of his coat, soft sounds coming from her throat.
“Pretty sure,” Lexi admitted once more, a little frown on her face as she struggled to place the scent she was getting.
“I’ll run ahead and let Jess know,” Lily took off at a jog.
“Her scent is strange,” Sage held her carefully.
“She’s a cougar,” Lexi shook her head, struggling with a memory. “I know that scent. But the other one…I do. Give me a bit…it’s off…it’s not…right…not for her age.”
Dr. Jess Daniels met them at the door, guiding them to an empty bay in the large medical office. He looked around as he turned her onto her side. Scarlet, Lily and Lexi and add Sage into the bay and it was now packed.
“Anyone know her?” All heads shook in denial. “Help me with this heavy vest, Lily,” together they removed the puffy vest, his gaze abruptly hard and swinging to the Sheriff. “I think you might want to see this, Sage.”
It was impossible to hide the fury, the anger in a room filled with people capable of recognizing emotions by their scents. The scent became almost overpowering at the sight of the woman’s back and shoulders. Skin that was normally crème and silk was now crisscrossed with thatch marks that had broken the skin and left deep cuts and bruises.
Jess reached for the tray and began cleaning the blood from her head, spreading the thick, silken strands of pale platinum until he had a good view of the long cut.
“Looks like she hit something…or something hit her…it’s about six hours old…maybe a little longer,” he guessed, cleaning and using a pair of tweezers. He held up a sliver of dark paint. “Probably from what she hit.”
“And those?” Sage felt his stomach clench, his hands curling into tight fists inside the pockets of his coat. He’d seen plenty in his thirty-five years. And the marks were nothing new. But seeing them on such a delicate, almost fragile looking f
emale made him want to rip something apart.
Jess pushed air between his lips, his hands moving gently to the shredded fabric of her t-shirt. He pulled bits from the lash marks, using scissors and cutting stretches of the shirt completely away.
“She’s been beaten. A switch of some kind, thin and almost whip-like. Again…maybe eight hours…older, I think. They came first, then the head wound,” he gestured to a few of the shallow marks. “These are already closing. And it isn’t the first time. I’m going to take some blood and see if that’ll tell us something.”
Before he could move, a strangled gasp broke from her lips. Her body bolted upright, eyes wide and one hand on her mouth. She was surrounded! Her body scooted back against the top of the bed, trying to squeeze away from them all. They’d give her back. Her father always paid a handsome reward for her return.
She didn’t scream. She wouldn’t let herself scream. They like it more when you scream. She had learned that a very long time ago and never forgot it.
“Whoa…it’s okay…” Jess reached for her only to have her head shake frantically. “I won’t hurt you. We just want to help.”
Her knees were drawn up to her chin, her head shaking adamantly.
“I need to draw some blood,” but he didn’t move closer, not wanting to traumatize her any more than she already had been.
Lexi watched her for a minute, her head tilted to the side.
“Sage,” she moved to his side, gently pushing him closer to the side of the bed. “She’ll know your scent. Talk to her.”
Everyone saw the instant denial in his features, brows knit and eyes staring at Lexi like she’d lost her mind. His head moved slowly from side to side.
“Lexi, nothing personal…but I’m really not a cat person…”
“You are now,” she pushed through her teeth, her gaze going to the quietly watching woman. Lexi saw her nostrils flare, her head up a little and eyes instantly on the six foot three sheriff. “See…”
All eyes went wide at the long burst of French, the pale champagne colored head shaking wildly, fear filled eyes reaching out toward Sage.
“I don’t speak French,” he said quietly, swallowing and easing closer.
“She said please don’t let them hurt me anymore,” Lily translated softly, a slight hitch in her voice rarely there. “And she asked that we not return her.”
“It’s okay,” Sage began carefully. “I won’t let them hurt you. Can you understand me?” He waited, relaxing when he saw her nod slowly, watching him closely. “We won’t let anyone take you where you don’t want to go. I promise,” he waited patiently for her to nod a single time before he continued.
“This is the doctor. You’ve been hurt. Your head….” Her head tilted slightly to the side, one shaky hand up and touching the back of her head, a wince crossing her features. “The doctor wants to take some blood…so he can help you,” he reached for her hand, half expecting her to jerk it back but she let him stretch the long, slender arm out. He touched the soft spot at the inside of her elbow. “Here. You understand doctors, right?”
“Yes,” came the soft answer.
“Sit down next to her, Sage,” Lexi told him. “Hold her arm out for her and hold her against you. He won’t let them hurt you,” she said, looking into the green eyes, she offered a little smile of comfort. “Okay?”
“No one will hurt you, I promise,” Sage told her, easing himself to half sit on the edge of the bed, his arm up and open.
Green eyes looked from the woman talking to her to the man and she moved closer, inhaling deeply and settling against him, her hand still held in his other palm.
“Will you let me take some blood? I can’t treat you…I need to know if you have anything…” Jess stopped speaking when she met his eyes.
“I understand. I will not fight you,” she told him, the soft lilt of French in her words. She turned her face into Sage’s shoulder and allowed them to manipulate her arm. She felt the tightness in her upper arm and knew what was coming, drawing in long, slow breaths in an effort to bury the memories.
“I’m not positive,” Sage began while the needle was slid into place. “But I think she’s out again.”
Jess manipulated the vials and reached for the side of her throat with the other hand, his head nodding. “I think so, too. Damn…I’ll put a rush on this. I don’t know what’s she on, what she’s been given. She’s dehydrated and looks like she could use a good meal, but her clothes…” His head shook.
Sage held her against him until the bandage was in place. He lifted her gently and laid her down on the pillows. He shook his head as if trying to clear her scent from his body, from his own bloodstream, trying to find the feet that had been knocked out from beneath him. He’d heard friends talk about the sensation. But not him. And definitely not a cat.
He needed to get out of the room. Fast.
“She’s not a street person,” Lily agreed. “Her speech and clothing…those boots alone cost a good hundred and a half.”
Sage Terrence pulled his phone out and snapped a few photos.
“I’ll see what I can find out.” He gave the briefest look over his shoulder before striding into the hall, shaking his head to clear it and head for his office.
Lexi stood at the head of the bed, her fingers brushing over the pale blond hair that lay on the girl’s forehead, absently watching Jess clean the lashes and apply an ointment to her back and shoulders.
“Is she just sleeping?” Lexi met his eyes, unaware of the tears in her own.
“She’s got circles beneath her eyes…a few extra bruises…I’d take another guess and say she’s exhausted. But it’s only a sleep, Lexi,” Jess tried to find a smile but went back to cleaning.
Jess ushered them all from the room fifteen minutes later and closed the door.
“She just needs rest. When she wakes up, I’ll see about getting some food and water into her.”
Chapter Two
Pale lashes opened slowly when she heard the door close.
She didn’t recognize the voices. She didn’t recognize the place. She pushed herself to sit up, shoulders flexing and a wince crossing her face.
She couldn’t stay. She wasn’t sure why, but she knew it wouldn’t be safe for them. She knew he would find her. He always found her. And she wouldn’t repay kindness with trouble. She had her vest on and zippered as she eased the window up and limberly dropped to the ground. She didn’t even notice the winsome smile as she glanced one more time over her shoulder before standing still for a long minute and choosing her direction. How nice it would be to have a pleasant town like this to call her home.
Instinct or drive, she didn’t know which was ruling her now. Bright, emotionless eyes swept the quiet little town as she walked. Some part deep inside her would have liked to just sit and nothing more. She wanted nothing more than to inhale the scents of fall; enjoy the colors bursting out, helped along by the late fall sunshine bouncing off everything around her.
Sage wondered where his peaceful little town had disappeared to. His stride had purpose behind it, headed toward the emergency clinic when he slammed to a halt as effectively as if he’d run straight into a brick wall. That scent gripped him tightly and twisted more than his gut.
Pushing a curse out with the strong breath, he ran for his SUV, pulling keys out as he went.
He pulled slowly, cautiously, alongside the blonde, blocking her from going forward with the SUV. He really didn’t feel like running someone down and she had a frightened look in her eyes that told him she would definitely run. Given her physical state, probably not far, but she’d run.
He leaned across the seat and opened the door. She turned a pair of wide, innocence filled eyes on him, effectively sending his brain skittering into that wall once more. And he struck it with a slam that shook him to his boots.
He shook his head.
“Let me give you a ride.” He offered gruffly, suddenly too aware of his body in her presence. Her face had a
n almost diamond shape to it. Sharp cheeks, small rounded chin and a slim, straight nose. One of her front teeth was a little crooked and it seemed to add to the overall air of innocence thrown out by the very pale, thick lashes blinking at him in confusion.
“You don’t know where I’m going,” She said simply, staring at the midnight hair and dark eyes. It was an interesting face but had no place in her memory. No, she corrected, frowning as she inhaled. She knew him. Some buried part of her knew him, trusted him.
“This road leads north, to Morning Star Lake,” Sage said quietly, watching the expressions flowing through her eyes. “It’s a long walk. And it’s warm in here.”
“I…I like the sun. The fresh air.”
“We can open the window,” moving slowly, he pulled his badge from an inside pocket and laid it on the dash. “I won’t let you be hurt.”
A set of fine, slender fingers rose from her side. He could see them shaking despite the confusion on her face as she touched her head.
“I have a terrible headache.”
“Please. Come inside and you can rest,” Sage had never excelled at being the good cop, but this time it seemed vital that she trust him. “I have a couple bottles of water here. I think you might need some. You should have stayed in the clinic.”
“It isn’t safe,” she hesitated, her hand falling to the seat. She looked up at him for a long minute. “Maybe it would be alright. They wouldn’t know.”
“Do you need help up?” He watched as she glanced down and around, placing one booted foot on the step and sliding onto the seat. “Obviously not,” he reached behind him, pulling a thick blanket to the front and over her. His palm brushed her hand, icy cold beneath his touch. He adjusted the heater while she buckled the seatbelt.
“My name’s Sage Terrence,” he said, watching her toss the blanket over her and lay her head to the side on the seat, eyes closed.
Devil Hills: #2 Luna & Lydia Page 1