by Leela Ash
Chapter 16.
Lily didn’t need to see Bree Donnelly’s Hare to know what kind of Shifter she was. The leggy red-head’s nose twitched continually as she stared at the bruises rising on the Wolf’s arms. “Are you sure you don’t to go to the hospital?”
“Nah. I’ve taken worse spills on my Harley. I’ll have Bone-Dog check me out when I go home.”
What really fascinated her was the line of fire-trucks and police cars flying up Route 491. From the Donnellys’ room at Ancient Ways, she had a great view of the official hysteria their battle had raised. “We’re gonna be the lead story on the news at 11:00!”
Bree sighed and cast a tired glance at the suite’s living room, where the two Dragons sat, stiffly polite, sipping whiskey. “Yes. No one’s ever accused my husband of being delicate or discreet.”
“Hey, they’re the ones who brought the missiles and the chopper!”
“True. Things like this always leave such a mess to clean up, though.”
“Which is why I called my Alpha!” Finn interrupted. “That’s what they’re here for: cleaning up messes!”
Lily snickered. “Your Flights must be different from our Packs, then, because with Wolves, that’s the Omega’s job.”
Casey joined the two women at the window. “We did incinerate our rental. Hopefully that will prevent the authorities from tracing this back to us.”
And – also hopefully – it wouldn’t set the whole county ablaze.
Dragons were powerful… but they were not subtle.
Finn wandered over as well and held out a scrap of paper. “Tess Morland’s number. Too bad she was out tonight. I think you guys will hit it off. You’ve got similar tastes in clothes and bikes.”
And they were both linked to these ‘Adanai’. Faeries. The word still made Lily’s nose wrinkled. At least these ‘faeries’ weren’t glitter-coated mosquitos like Tinkerbell. More like Lord of the Rings elves with a bad attitude.
The four of them sipped their drinks and watched the stream of first responders flying past. “These were the Fangs of Apophis, right?” Lily asked the scarred man.
“I’d guess so, yes. No one else I know could produce that kind of firepower. Unless you’ve ticked off some drug cartel?”
“Nope.” The whiskey burned its way down her throat, soothing the aches that filled her body. “I still don’t understand why these Fangs didn’t use their missiles at the start. It’s like they weren’t really trying to kill me.”
Casey puffed up at once. Probably thought she was casting shade on his bodyguard skills. “Are you kidding? Those bullets were real. Any one of them would have killed you.”
“Then why not use a missile? It’s like they wanted to kill me… but not too much. Like dead but not so dead that you have to have a closed casket at the funeral, you know?”
The men chuckled but Bree pursed her lips. “Could it be your necklace?” That cut the laughter short. “Sorry, I couldn’t help but notice that it’s magical and we know the Fangs collect ancient artifacts. Maybe they don’t care if you die or not. Killing you is just the easiest way to get your necklace.”
Lily’s face lit up and she gazed at the Hare with new respect. It all made sense. “So, they brought Hellfire missiles to handle the Dragon. But they didn’t want to use them on me because that would obliterate the necklace.”
Finn kissed the Hare on the cheek. “Have I ever told you how much I love having a smart wife?”
“You have. Repeatedly,” Bree replied with a kiss of her own. “Lily, do you know where the necklace comes from?”
“I used to think I did.” The admission brought a sour curl to her lips. “My father told me it belonged to my mother. But, well, that’s a lie.”
“Not necessarily.” The Hare’s gentle disagreement smoothed the edge off her anger. “I bet it is some Adanai artifact. He probably found it with you in the desert. What does it do?”
“Helps me track things. Don’t know if this matters or not, but it doesn’t Shift with me. And do not call it a dog collar,” she added, shooting the Dragons a hard stare. Behind her, her Wolf pranced, tail in the air, letting everyone know that she was teasing.
“Wouldn’t dream of it,” Finn assured her. She knew Casey knew better.
Her bodyguard was too lost in thought to rise to her joke. “There’s something we’re missing. I’ve seen Lily track and yes, that necklace lets her do astounding things. But the Fangs have launched two major assaults recently.”
“And a half dozen smaller ones before that,” she admitted. “That’s why Dad was so keen to call in his debt.”
Doubt filled Casey’s face as he studied her. “Is a tracking necklace truly worth that much to them? Or is there more to it?”
“Well we talked to the Hares in Sedona and they didn’t know anything. Maybe you’ve got an idea?” she asked Bree.
“Sorry, no. I’m pretty new to all this Shifting stuff and I’m not a well-trained Witch. If that Warren doesn’t know…”
“We’re kinda screwed?”
“Yeah.”
Not much for it, then. Lily set her tumbler down and poked Casey. “Want to head back to the Spread and call it a night? It’s early, but I’m beat.”
“Sure.”
Halfway across the room, her bodyguard slowed. Glancing back, she noticed his Adam’s apple bobbing, like he was trying his damnedest not to throw up. “Finn Donnelly…” With a deep wince, he turned to face the other Dragon. “Warrior of the First Flight and traveler through the Lands of Snow and Sand…”
“Uh oh,” she interrupted. “You’re in trouble now, bro. He’s getting all formal.”
“Lily!” Annoyed, he glowered at her as the Donnellys chuckled. “This is a matter of honor!”
Finn waved his hand. “Don’t worry, I got this.” Facing the black Dragon squarely, he simply said, “Happy to help.”
“But…”
“Don’t mention it.”
“Yet it must be addressed! You may well have saved my life. And, more importantly, the life of the woman I am sworn to protect.” From a pocket he drew that gold coin. The one she was supposed to get after Kachina Well (if Molasses-Breath hadn’t been such an a-hole).
The other Dragon recognized it, immediately. “Put that damned thing away.”
“A debt of blood lies between us…”
“Look, just say ‘thanks’ and we can call it even.”
“No.” Somber and unsmiling, Casey stood at woeful attention. “Debts such as these cannot be whisked away with mere words.”
“Uh, yeah they can.” Lily edged closer to him and poked him with her elbow. “People help each other all the time. ‘Thanks’ goes a long way.”
“We’re not people. We’re Dragons.”
Like she’d forgotten that? Before she could argue, though, Finn interrupted. “Hey, I’ve got an idea. You can ‘repay’ me by forgiving me for all the stupid crap Owen Jackson said up at Lake Tahoe.”
“Who’s this ‘Jackson’?” Lily asked.
“One of my Flight-brothers. A couple decades ago, our two Flights got together up at Tahoe. Ironically, the purpose of that meeting was to ‘build rapport.’ Well, things got off to a bad start. Then Jackson drank too much and started calling the Flight of the Snows ‘Snowflakes’. And… things kinda devolved from there.”
That was the source of the bad blood between the two Flights? The most powerful Shifters in America were feuding… because of some school-yard squabble? Laughter tickled its way up Lily’s throat – until she saw the thunderous scowl on Casey’s face.
Dragons were proud creatures. Better not giggle at the offense – unless she wanted to share the blame!
Lips pinched, her bodyguard studied his former ‘foe.’ “So, your aid this night is offered as amends to the insult given to our Flight?”
“Yeah. Sure.” Finn shrugged.
“To erase the dishonor of all your Flight or just you?”
“Well ‘all’ is better of cour
se, but that’s up to you. The person who screws up doesn’t get to say when the apology is ‘enough.’ If you still want to kick Jackson’s ass, that’s your business. He can pull his own tail out of the fire.”
The big man’s smile took any sting out of those words. Casey hesitated, then his ponderous frown melted away and he held out a hand. “Your apology is accepted. I will inform my Flight that you have shown us honor and I shall urge them to consider your aid atonement for the grievance between our Flights.”
“And…?” Lily prompted him, as the two Dragons shook hands.
“And what?”
‘Thanks’, she mouthed at him.
Casey gulped. “And, um, thank you. For your help. I… appreciate it.”
“Any time.”
Wonderful. With any luck, this silly feud died tonight! “So… another drink to celebrate burying the hatchet? Or can I go to bed now?”
“Bed,” Casey assured her. “Let’s go back to the Spread.”
This early in the evening, the Spread was booming. Wolves danced and drank. Motorcycles tore wheelies, engines revving. Music, laughter, and occasional gun shots split the air.
Casey eyed the chaos with disapproval. “Perhaps we should return to town and find you a hotel room?”
“Nah, I’m used to it. This is a ‘Wolf lullaby’.”
“Hey, Lily!” Ghost shouted, waving her over. “You gotta see this.”
The two of them trotted up to the young Wolf. “What’s up, girl?”
“I just got a weird email from someone called ‘Nemo’ at Hotmail.”
“Who’s he really?”
“No idea!”
That was odd. Ghost was the finest hacker she knew. If she couldn’t trace it… “What’s it say?”
“‘Kate Adams. Room 106, Navajo Motel. Tonight, or never.’ “
She knew the place. A run-down strip motel with a concrete ‘Indian’ in front of it. Lily cocked an eyebrow at her protector. “Want to check it out?”
“It could be a trap. Plus, I thought you wanted to go to bed.”
“I’m awake now.”
He heaved a heavy sigh. “And, if I say ‘no, I don’t want to check this out’, you’ll go by yourself, right?”
“You’re starting to really know me, aren’t you?”
“Fine,” he grumbled. “Let’s go to this ‘Navajo Motel’. Maybe we can make the news twice in one night.”
Chapter 17.
The Navajo Motel was the Desert Inn’s tacky twin. Same crap, different states.
Something else was familiar, too.
“Bingo,” Lily murmured to her bodyguard. “Our Rat thief is here. I’m guessing she’s Kate Adams.”
“She must be the person who sent that email to Ghost. How typical,” Casey sniffed in disdain. “A Rat wishes to sell out her employer.”
If she was the one who contacted them. Though Lily couldn’t imagine how a thief, even a gifted Rat, would know how to get in touch with Ghost. “Well, let’s see what she wants.”
The Dragon rapped sharply on Room #106’s rickety door. Soft footsteps approached, almost too faint for even Lily’s keen ears.
When the thief peered through the peep-hole, though, her cry of “Shit!” was loud enough for them both to hear. As was the crash of a table being knocked over.
With one swift kick, Casey sent the door flying open.
Inside, a woman dove for cover behind the bed. Lily had one second to scan the room. Chipped paint, cheap tv with a rabbit-ear antenna. Faded bed-cover stained with a dozen cigarette burns. Then, as Casey strode into the room, their quarry popped to her feet.
Holding a grenade in her right hand.
“Stop!” she squeaked in terror. A pin dropped silently from her left hand.
Meaning that the grenade would go off as soon as she released it.
Dead-man’s grip. If she let go – by choice or because they killed her – the grenade exploded. The thief’s squinty little eyes bulged with terror. “I’ll do it! I swear I will!”
Grenades were the wrong threat to use against a Dragon, though. “Do you think I fear that?” Casey sneered, striding forward towards the shivering woman.
A grenade would only sting a Dragon – but it would splatter a Wolf all across the parking lot. Lily scrambled backwards, seeking shelter behind the door frame.
As she moved, a picture caught her eye. A wallet-sized portrait propped against the bedside lamp.
“Casey, stop!” Lily howled. Now she threw herself forward, frantically trying to grab his arm.
“Lily, no!” he roared, a shout of outrage that drowned out the shrilling Rat. He spun, pulling her into his arms and shielding her with his body.
“Kate!” She squirmed, fighting to free herself from his protection. “We’re not going to hurt you! We only want to talk!”
That silenced the Rat. And baffled her Dragon. “We do?”
“Yes!”
The Rat retreated as far as she could, still clutching her weapon. “What do you want?”
Not ‘Who are you?’. Kate Adams was well-informed.
“We want to know what you got from Kachina Well.”
“She’s not going to tell us that!” Casey hissed.
“And he knows it!” the Rat chimed in. “So, you better just leave!”
Sick with worry, the Dragon pushed her towards the door. “You need to leave. You’re the only one here she can hurt.”
“Wrong.” Lily met his glare calmly. “Three little kids will die too. And I’m not willing to sacrifice them.”
“Kids?” Casey scanned the empty room, confused. Even the Rat squinted at her in puzzlement.
Until she pointed at the picture by her bed. “Those are your daughters, right?”
They had to be. Oh, they were cute, like all children. But their small eyes and pinched faces betrayed their Rat lineage (as did their smiles, full of yellow, crooked teeth that would make a dentist faint).
“Yeah.” Wary and frightened, Kate licked her lips.
“What’s going to happen to them if you die here?” Casey’s grip had loosened, and Lily pulled free. Though her bodyguard hovered at her elbow, ready to knock her flat in a heart-beat if the Rat loosed her weapon.
“Someone’s looking after them.”
“The Fangs of Apophis?” The thief’s wince confirmed that. “You really want them to raise your girls?”
“Not much choice.” Kate’s voice fell to a sickened whisper.
“Sure, you’ve got a choice. Help us and we’ll help your family.”
“Oh, I bet.” Back pressed against the closet door, the thief shivered.
Even Casey knew what cornered Rats were capable of. Keeping himself between Lily and Kate, he edged back towards the door. “She’s right. We know that the Fangs of Apophis blackmail Shifters by holding their families hostage.”
“Help us,” Lily urged. “There are Dragons that rescue these hostages. The First Flight has saved literally hundreds. Mostly Rats and Rat Kin.”
The shivers grew stronger, shaking the woman’s frail form. But despite their offer, she clung to the grenade. “How did you know where I was?”
No reason to lie to her. “We got an anonymous tip. Your name, this address, and a note ‘tonight or never’.”
At that, a noise escaped Kate. A harsh bray, half laughter, half sob. “So, they want you to kill me. Save them the effort of doing it themselves.”
“Yes,” Casey said somberly. “Your associates have ratted you out.”
Both women stared at him.
“Did you really just say that?” Lily scoffed. “Hell, next you’re going to accuse me of wolfing my food.”
“Er, sorry,” the Dragon mumbled.
Fingers still wrapped tight around the grenade, Kate’s arm fell to her side. “Well, I’m screwed. Anybody see the pin to this thing?”
Five minutes later, when the three of them were seated around the room’s wobbly table, Lily beamed at the Rat in amazement. “I had
no idea you could put a pin back in a grenade.”
“Long as you haven’t released the spoon,” Kate said. Matter-of-factly, like she’d done it a couple times. “Now, if you have released the spoon, you can still put the pin back in. But the grenade’s gonna go off anyway.”
“I’ll remember that.” Mentally the Wolf filed it away under ‘Useful Trivia.’ Who knew when you’d need to know something like that?
Casey cleared his throat and brought the two women back to what really mattered. “Let’s start at the beginning. How did you manage to break into our Sanctum?”
“I just followed instructions. Got a packet with a blue print of your Lair, its defenses, and the location of my target. Plus, an amulet that was supposed to hide me from ‘Dragon magic’. Whatever that is. My handler arranged transport and all connections. I just did what they told me.”
Casey paled at her words. “They knew that much? They must have had inside help but… I cannot believe one of my brothers would betray us.”
“What about one of your ‘servants’?” Lily suggested. “Morrison was the only guy allowed in the Sanctum. Me, I’d check him out, real good.” Guy had given her the creeps from the start. Though she’d hate to think he was a genuine traitor.
Turning to Kate, she added, “So what did you get from Kachina Well?”
“A stone knife.”
“Was it called the ‘Aegis’?”
“I don’t know,” the Rat replied.
Casey shook his head. “No. ‘Aegis’ means ‘shield.’ A knife would make a poor shield.”
Eh, good point. “You ever heard of something called the Aegis?” Again, Kate shook her head. “Where’s the knife now?”
“My handler arranged a flight and this room. My driver Eric took the knife and told me to stay here and await further orders. When he really meant,” she added with a bitter grimace, “‘Wait for your killers to show up.’”
That did sound like the true purpose behind Ghost’s anonymous tip. “So, another dead end.”
Kate hesitated, squirming in her seat. Then she gritted her teeth and straightened up. “Not quite. I got a glimpse of Eric’s phone when he dropped me off. He had his email up and one of them was a confirmation for a reservation at the Canyonlands in Monticello, Utah.”