by Carly Fall
“Why not?”
“I sprinkled some sleeping herbs into her dinner and his coffee. They’ll both be out for a long time. There were some big benefits to having a Fae raise me.”
Avery had no idea what herbs caused sleep. A shifter knows more about Fae stuff than me.
“Don’t you work tomorrow?” she asked. “Won’t you be the one to find them?”
Gabe shook his head. “Nope. They owed me a second day off after calling me in, so this all came together perfectly. It will be like I was never there.”
Avery stared at his strong profile and decided to appreciate his lack of moral compass. If it hadn’t been so muddled, she certainly wouldn’t be in a truck barreling through the night toward freedom.
She’d value it, and just keep her eye on him. Trusting a shifter could be risky business. In fact, Avery’s level of trust with anyone had eroded to a new low.
As adrenaline ebbed from the escape itself, extreme fatigue overcame her. Just as the hum of the engine was about to lull her to sleep, Gabe made a quick right turn, jolting her fully awake. At some point, they’d left the highway and now traveled down a dirt road.
The truck bounced as Gabe sped down a narrow lane through the trees. She gripped the dashboard with one hand, the other on a handle by the door. Did he have to go so fast? She anticipated they might collide with a tree at any second.
He finally came to a halt, his headlights revealing a small log cabin nestled in the foliage. As he got out of the truck, she unbuckled her seatbelt, while staring at the building. It appeared as if he had constructed it himself. If not, the people who had erected it did a magnificent job of making it seem homemade.
With the logs, the chimney, and the small tubs of tulips below the porch, she was reminded of something out of a fairytale. The little house didn’t match what she knew about shifters. She had always imagined they lived in decrepit trailers without running water, surrounded by empty beer cans.
Gabe walked up the steps to the front door as she got out of the truck. The headlights went off, and she took a second to allow her eyes to adjust to the darkness. For a brief moment, she closed her eyes and took in the smells and sounds.
Crickets. A possible stream in the distance. An owl. The rich scent of rain on earth. Oak trees, spruce, and fir. Even though she lived in the city, her Fae side bubbled to the surface, and she wanted to run through the foliage and pick flowers.
“Let’s go, Avery,” Gabe called.
With a sigh she opened her eyes and walked up to the cabin. Gabe unlocked the door.
“When I left, the lights were on. It looks like the power went out again. Stay here while I get the candles.”
As he stepped inside, the house slowly illuminated. She found herself in a clean, cozy home, complete with a cast-iron wood-burning stove and logs stacked in a pyramid beside it. A brown couch with matching recliner and a coffee table covered with hunting magazines faced the stove.
To her left, a small kitchen was visible, with dishes neatly stacked in the drainer. The cabin was clean and tidy, and she could easily enjoy hanging out here for as long as needed. Gabe had once again surprised her. So much for her stereotypical idea of shifters.
Gabe disappeared toward the back of the house and returned with a couple of pillows and a blanket. “I’ll light the stove for you, and you can crash here on the couch.”
He squatted down and arranged pieces of wood in the stove, then took a box of matches from the top. In seconds, a fire blazed.
“We have power outages here occasionally, but the lights will be back on soon. I do have a septic tank, so if you need to use the restroom, it’s down the hall and to the left.”
“Okay, thank you.”
“I probably won’t be back before sunrise,” he said as he re-entered the kitchen and returned with two bottles of water.
“When I get back, you and I are going to sit down and move on to step two. I got you out. You’re safe. Now you need to give me the information you have so I can hunt down that vampire.”
“We,” she said, not thinking. “We will hunt down the vampire.”
The need to avenge her mother had returned full force since she got out of prison. Funny how freedom could turn a person’s perspective around.
“Okay, fine. We’ll hunt him down. In the meantime, remember you’re in my pack’s territory. I told them you were going to be here, and why. Right now, you’re an asset to us, so they should leave you alone. Don’t get too comfortable and stay out of sight. A lot of them weren’t pleased about a Fae staying on our land.”
She nodded and shuddered. Deep in werewolf territory wasn’t her ideal location, but it was better than prison.
Gabe drank the rest of his water in one long gulp, then headed for the door. “I’ll be back when I can.”
The truck engine roared to life in the driveway, and Avery collapsed on the couch and took some deep breaths. She was safe and out of prison. However, in some respects, she’d jumped from the frying pan right into the fire.
Gabe thought she possessed important information, but she really didn’t. Her only resources were two addresses, and neither had led her anywhere close to finding her mother’s murderer. She tried to think of anything else that would be helpful to Gabe and his cause but came up with nothing.
Too nervous to rest, Avery wandered around the house studying his stuff. She found a photo of him and Madge sitting at a table together wearing Christmas sweaters. Both were smiling, and Gabe had his arm thrown over the Fae’s shoulder protectively. Although the unlikely pair didn’t resemble each other in any way, Avery once again detected the mother-son familiarity.
She picked up another picture frame. It showed Gabe and two other men. They were sitting around a campfire, laughing and smiling, each with a beer in hand. She assumed they were members of his pack. Studying one picture after another, her heart ached at the loss of her mother again. Does Gabe know how lucky he is to have two sets of family?
When Avery got to the bathroom, she eyed the shower and quickly stripped off her damp clothing. Turning the water as hot as she could stand, she shampooed her hair three times. She almost used a full bar of soap. Hopefully, Gabe wouldn’t be too upset. She hated pulling on the prison jumpsuit again, but she had nothing else to wear and didn’t feel comfortable rummaging through Gabe’s closet and drawers for a T-shirt. Too intimate to wear his clothes without permission.
She returned to the living room and got comfortable on the sofa, pulling the blanket over her and easing her head down on a pillow. The couch was overstuffed and cozy, the blanket smelled freshly washed, and the pillowcase felt soft on her skin. She shuddered as she thought about the cot, musty blanket, and sandpaper sheets in prison. She could never go back. The warmth of the stove lulled her to the edge of sleep but worry kept her awake.
Maybe she should just leave. Gabe would be furious when he found out she had nothing to add to his investigation. What would he do? Take her back to prison? Take her to the woods and shoot her, or let the pack have their way with her?
The more consideration she gave her situation, the more frightened she became. She rolled on her side and pulled her knees up to her chest. She didn’t think Gabe would hurt her, but she could picture him hauling her back to prison for deceiving him.
She sat up and slipped on her shoes. Guilt washed over her at the thought of not holding up her end of the bargain with Gabe, but she had learned to look out for herself. Maybe she’d continue the hunt alone, but nothing good could come from seeing McAllister again. He’d only chase her down and put her back in prison, probably for life.
Her only option was to disappear.
It was a rotten thing to do to Gabe, but when she thought about how little she had to give him, she wasn’t ready to take the punishment for that, whether it be prison or letting a pack of wolves decide her fate. Maybe she should leave him a note with the addresses from McAllister’s paper and a write to him that was all she knew. He could investigate th
em himself. Perhaps he’d find something she hadn’t.
But again, it was the wrong thing to do.
Avery craved fresh air. It always helped her straighten out her thoughts.
While reaching for the doorknob, she recalled Gabe’s warning about his pack. It was still nighttime, and the clouds continued to hide the moon. If she decided to leave, she could make her way up the drive to the main road, then hitchhike as far as possible from the area. When she had put some distance between her and Seattle, she would call Victoria and get some additional help.
Avery closed the door softly behind her and had just stepped off the porch, when a voice spoke from the darkness.
“You aren’t going anywhere, Faery.”
24
Three sets of glowing, yellow eyes came toward her, and she yelped, turning around to run back inside the house. She slammed the door and flipped the locks.
Gabe hadn’t been lying when he said the pack was watching her. She’d never imagined he meant they were literally camped outside the door!
A loud knock startled her, and she sat in silence debating what to do. Should she answer? If she didn’t, would they come in anyway?
Probably.
And, they’d be angrier.
She approached the door with caution and unlatched the lock, easing the panel open about six inches. The first thing that met her eyes was a man’s hairy, bare chest. She allowed her gaze to travel upward. The man grinned down at her, his hair and beard an onyx color, his eyes electric blue. He moved one bare foot forward so the ball of it wedged against the door, acting as a stopper. This shifter had the same woodsy scent as Gabe.
“You must be Avery,” he said, giving the door a gentle push with his toes. “Thought I’d drop by and introduce myself.”
He urged the door open farther, and it was then she realized he was completely naked. She tried to focus past the broad sprawl of his chest, but he took up the full door frame.
Closing her eyes for a second, she concentrated on keeping her gaze upward.
“H-hi,” she stuttered.
“Going somewhere?”
“N-no.”
Thinking about it, but not sure what to do.
He arched a brow at her and crossed his arms over his chest. “Just out for some fresh air at three in the morning?”
She tried to swallow past the constriction in her throat and nodded, knowing he wasn’t buying it.
“The forest can be dangerous at night,” he growled, “especially for a Fae in werewolf territory.”
“I’ve heard that,” she said. “Believe it or not, I was getting some fresh air.”
As she kept her eyes focused on his face, she marveled at the beauty of the were-shifter. She’d never seen an ugly one, and frankly, it didn’t seem fair. She felt so insignificant and boring standing next to this perfect specimen of a man.
“My name’s Devon,” he continued. “Gabe took a big chance to get you here, and we aren’t allowing you to leave until we have the relic, and the vampire who stole it. Do you understand?”
She nodded as anxiety gripped her chest, squeezing the air from her lungs.
“Good. I suggest you get some sleep. Gabe should be home in a few hours, and he’ll want to get started on your hunt.”
“Y-yes,” she whispered.
“Sweet dreams, Avery.”
The shifter turned and walked toward the tree line, the muscles in his back and legs tensing and flexing with every step. Avery noted two other men standing among the foliage staring at her. She waved, then shut the door.
What had she gotten herself into?
Returning to the couch, she sunk into the cushions and pulled the blanket up over her head. Squeezing her eyes shut, she tried to think of any other details she’d gathered during the search for her mother’s killer.
It wasn’t just Gabe relying on her to provide him with leads to get his religious relic back; it was the whole damn pack.
If she didn’t come up with something, she realized he’d have no problem feeding her to the wolves, literally or figuratively.
“That’s it?” Gabe asked as he paced the small space in front of the wood stove. “Seriously, Avery?”
He stopped and stared at her, placing his hands on his hips. He’d arrived home a couple of hours earlier, and had then taken a shower and a nap. She’d remained completely silent, hoping he’d sleep the day away and he’d get called back into work. Unfortunately, he’d only slept for an hour and immediately started grilling her for information.
Outlining every step she’d taken, she provided him with everything she knew in the hopes that something she deemed unimportant would strike a different cord within him.
Based on his reaction, she’d failed.
“Yes,” she replied with a sigh.
He shook his head and chuckled, the kind of laugh that made her think he was trying really hard not to strangle her.
“So, let me get this straight. The first address on McAllister’s list led you to a vampire who works in a senior citizen’s home. The second took you to a drug den.”
She nodded, pulling the pillow up to her chest. She’d thought long and hard about what else she could provide to him but came up with a blank.
Gabe paced for a few more moments as he ran his hands through his hair. His face reddened, and she realized the impending blowup was right around the corner.
“Dammit, Avery! I told my pack you could help us recover our relic! That’s the only reason you’re out of prison!”
“I know, Gabe,” she replied, trying to keep her voice calm and measured. “I’m doing everything I can to help you. Remember, my mother died, and you seem to think it was at the hands of the same vampire. I have a stake in this game, too. I want to find my mother’s killer.”
He stared at her, his mouth hanging open in disbelief.
“Avery, here’s the thing. I agreed to get you out of prison for the information. I held up my end of the bargain, and you don’t have shit to give me.”
She shut her eyes to squeeze back the tears. “I know. I know you thought I had more, but I don’t. I can help you, though. Surely, they gave you some police training before giving you your job as a guard, so I’m assuming you’re far more knowledgeable than a Fae who frames houses for a living. I want to help, Gabe. Just tell me what to do.”
She stared up at him, surprised someone’s face could become such a shade of deep crimson without there being some breathing problem.
As he ground his teeth and started pacing again, hope swelled in her chest that this situation worked out for the best.
“What am I going to tell Devon?” he muttered.
She didn’t think he really wanted an answer, so she remained quiet, letting him think everything through.
A pounding on the door broke the silence, and her stomach clenched. She guessed it was Devon. Her assumption proved correct when Gabe opened the door.
At least this time, the shifter wore jeans, boots, and a flannel shirt. He looked amazing with or without clothing.
Devon entered, his massive build taking up most of the space in the small cabin. Between him and Gabe, it was as if their presence sucked out all the air from the room, and her body heated from her head to her toes.
“How’s it going, Gabe?” Devon asked, shaking his hand.
“Good. I’m tired, but ready to roll.”
“Excellent.”
Devon turned his attention toward her. “We found the faerie outside last night at about three,” Devon said. “She said she was just catching some fresh air.”
Gabe turned to her and narrowed his stare. “Really? Interesting.”
Avery struggled to keep her features passive and not show any panic. She’d only been considering leaving.
“Yes,” she said. “It’s amazing how good fresh air smells and feels after being in prison. I can’t seem to get enough of it.”
A small smile turned Devon’s lips, but he remained silent. Gabe, however, stared
daggers at her.
Devon faced Gabe again. “Did she give you the information you need?”
She picked unseen fuzz off the pillow with shaky hands. If Gabe were going to let on that she had nothing to share, now would be the time he’d do it.
He stared at her for a few long moments. A lone bead of sweat trickled down from her forehead. She’d do anything to help Gabe, but she couldn’t go back to prison, nor could she be handed over to an angry pack of wolves. She hoped he found some pity for her.
“Yeah, we’re just figuring it all out now,” Gabe finally answered.
“Do you need any help from the pack?” Devon asked.
Gabe shook his head, his stare still on her as his jaw worked. “No. I think I have all the help I need.”
“Keep me posted,” Devon said. “Nice to see you again, Avery.”
Her own words caught in her throat, so she simply nodded.
When the door shut, Gabe flipped the locks before confronting her. “I just saved your ass once again.”
“I know,” she breathed. “Thank you.”
He sighed and sat down on the edge of the couch, his head in his hands.
“So, you think going to those addresses is a waste of time?” he asked.
“I don’t know,” she answered truthfully. “You’re bigger and more intimidating than me. Maybe you can get answers I couldn’t, or you might even notice something at those places that didn’t register with me.”
“Okay,” he said, getting to his feet. “From the beginning, I want to hear everything you did to find your mother’s killer.”
She sighed and began her tale from the start. When she’d finished, she lowered her head in shame.
He grinned.
“You got that file from McAllister’s place?” he asked.
“Yes. But you already knew that.”
“Yeah, but sometimes it helps to hear things a couple of times. We’re going back there. That’s where we’re going to find the information we need to—”
She shook her head before he could even finish the sentence. “Not me. He already threw me in prison once.”
