by Breezy Jones
Holding my head high, I walked right up to the guards, keeping my eyes forward and my mind focused. Beside me, Enzo flicked his hand and a blue substance danced around his fingers and shot out to the guards. It curved like a snake and landed on each of the men, promptly knocking them unconscious. With a nod to Enzo, I walked through the doors, letting out a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding.
I lifted my face and savored the victory. Enzo had no patience, however, as he poked me in the arm. I stiffened and saw the impatience in his round eyes.
“We don’t need to sit here like ducks,” he prodded me again. “Keep going.”
Moving forward again I jacked a brow in his direction, my stomach twisting more with every step.
We slunk down the hallway, lit by that fluorescent lighting still emanating from Enzo’s fingers. I said a prayer that we wouldn’t be spotted and did my best to look like we belonged. I’m sure if anyone looked too closely they’d see through our sham. Sweat beaded on my forehead as I continued worrying my lower lip until I tasted the blood. I had to calm down.
Enzo took us down two more empty hallways, and then up a stairwell made from white stone. When we reached the top, footsteps headed toward us, and I held my breath. We paused and pushed ourselves against the wall as two shifters turned the corner. My heart stopped when Enzo flicked his hands. Blue magic engulfed them, and they fell to the ground. I let out my breath, and we continued further. So far, I’d only seen vampires guarding the outside and shifters on the inside.
I did my best to listen for anything that might tell me where Lindsey was, but so far, I’d only heard a few men grumbling about the cold—nothing of importance. Even more disturbing, I couldn’t smell her.
“This is too easy,” I whispered to Enzo.
He quirked a brow. “Should I make it more difficult then? The hard part comes when we find Krampus.”
I rolled my eyes. As we continued down the tiled hallway, my body tensed with the unease swirling in my stomach. Bells chimed eerily in the distance fraying my nerves as well. The last time I’d heard those I’d come face to face with Santa.
Not Santa. Krampus.
More footsteps sounded. This time Enzo grabbed my arm and yanked us through a door into a dark room. I glared at him, opening my mouth to yell at him. He quickly put a finger to his lips, signaling me to be quiet.
In the hall, footsteps grew louder. They stopped just outside the door. My muscles tensed while my eyes darted from side to side, ready for any kind of attack. When two wolves rushed in, I leaped toward them. The closest one jumped, tackling me to the ground.
A strangled roar escaped my lips as I partially shifted. My claws raked against their fur, but the wolf stepped easily aside, unaffected by the attack. His eyes met mine, and I realized he was aware—different from the other werewolves I’d encountered.
His lips curled back as he focused on me. Why wasn’t Enzo’s glamour working?
Using all my strength, I forced the wolf off and regained my balance. I crouched low, flashed my fangs, but my odds had changed. There were no longer just two wolves but five glaring back at me from the open doorway. One of the men threw a red collar toward Enzo. He yelped covering himself in a cloud of blue smoke, but the smoke disappeared a second longer. The collar had magically encircled Enzo’s neck. His face contorted as he dug at the fabric.
My eyes bulged. Somehow the collar neutralized Enzo, rendering him powerless which meant I was alone. I didn’t have time to contemplate that as I looked at the wolves.
I was out numbered.
Slowly, I backed up until my shoulders hit the wall. With nowhere to go, my only choice was to fight. A hopeless battle. One of the wolves shifted instantaneously and ran toward me. This was it—I was going to die. I threw my arms out as a loud bang rocked the room. The wolf in front of me fell to the ground. Ryker looked down at the wolf for a minute, turning around just as the other three advanced. Snarls, keeping in time with my pounding heart, echoed in the small room.
I sucked in a quick gasp as I watched the scene unfold. Ryker was in human form, taking on the wolves. His movements were graceful. Reaching out, he grabbed one by the throat and slung him into a wall. Effortlessly, he spun around and drop-kicked another one hurtling toward him. It was like a performance of Swan Lake, but instead of ballet it was a battle. My heart soared at the sight of Ryker, but I cringed each time a wolf appeared to have the upper hand.
Taking a deep breath, I closed my eyes and forced myself to focus. I had no idea if it would even work but I had to try. I focused all my thoughts on Ryker and the alpha bond. I imagined giving him my strength. When I opened my eyes again, Ryker’s movements had more force behind them. The way Ryker tirelessly fought each wolf was like my strength had combined with his own. He shoved his hand against a wolf’s rib. The bone snapped. The wolf yelped before dropping to the floor.
Ryker stood. His shoulders heaved as he searched the room. His eyes landed on Enzo. Ryker stalked across the room and in one swipe, his claws cut through the collar and Enzo was free.
The djinn grimaced, rubbing at his bruised skin.
“What happened?” Ryker demanded.
“They were prepared for me,” Enzo said through gritted teeth
Ryker didn’t even respond as he came over to me. “Are you hurt?”
I looked down my body then up again, “No, I’m good.” I said and shuddered from the obvious look of relief on his face.
Ryker reached for my hand. “Come on.”
“Ryker…” I gazed up at him, my lips parting, and put my hands on my hips. I squared my jaw and said, “You’re not making me leave.”
I planted my feet, prepared to fight him off, but he didn’t even try to argue.
Instead, Ryker pulled me into his arms and kissed me.
The kiss was slow. Our lips demanding without any need for force. A kiss that burned hotter with every second as he pressed his body into mine. Desperate. We were both desperate for it. My hands traced blindly over the outline of his muscles through his shirt, the world around me forgotten. Far too soon, he released my lips. I took a deep breath, my body aching at the loss of his touch.
His eyes darkened as he stroked my face gently and said, “Let’s go save your friend.”
I drew my brows together looking up at him. “But Eric... The pack…”
Ryker’s thumb on my lip stopped me. “I love you, and I choose you.”
My insides somersaulted. Frantically, I searched his eyes and found the truth of his words reflected in the golden depths.
He continued, “Which means I’m here, protecting you—and everyone you love. I promise I’ll always to do that. No matter what Eric and the others say. You’re not alone, Nina.”
“But you’re alpha, and I’m not a pack princess—” I started again, but he cut me off with another kiss. Barely a brush against my lips before he broke away.
“I don’t care. You’re my princess.” He took my face between his hands, his eyes steady on mine.
I gripped his shirt beneath my fingers, and my breath caught in my chest. “I love you too.” As soon as the words left my lips, I knew they were true.
He wound his hands into my hair and kissed me again—a gentle kiss. He released me a second later, his breath still hot against mine, our hearts thudding in tune with each other.
“We have to go,” Ryker said, taking shallow breaths.
I stretched my neck muscles, pulling further away and forcing myself to focus on the situation.
“Come on. We need to hurry.” Ryker took my hand in his and guided me toward the door. His expression masked over once more into a hardened resolve. “They’ll be back up before too long.”
Enzo stopped me with a hand on my shoulder, and Ryker continued out the door. “This changes nothing,” Enzo whispered, glaring at me as he blocked our path. “We still hav
e a deal.”
I pursed my lips. “So long as you keep up your end and make sure Lindsey gets out alive.”
Enzo smiled sarcastically. “Of course, dearie.”
I sneered before following Ryker out into the hall. The bell chimes sounded, and I shivered again knowing Krampus was here somewhere. The music was still distant, and that knowledge allowed me to relax a little.
Enzo followed us out without another word.
In the hallway, we were greeted by Mason and Pops.
“You’re here,” I blurted, my eyes wide with surprise—and gratitude.
Pops eyes crinkled around the edges as they found mine. He fell into step with Ryker and me. “You were right. It’s what you do for family.”
“When Ryker made his choice, so did we,” Mason added.
My cheeks grew warm with appreciation. “Thank you.”
“Seth is here with Ava, Jack and Vixen. They’re in the woods watching the warehouse for us,” Pops said with turned up lips.
My heart swelled with the realization that they’d all come for me. “OMG guys…”
Pops waved. “Come on! We need to get going.”
I yanked my hair up into a ponytail, focusing on the situation once more, as Ryker guided us down the passageway.
“Lindsey is being held in a room two floors up,” Enzo said.
“How do you know that?” I asked.
“Do you really think I brought you in here without knowing where I was going?” Enzo asked.
I rolled my eyes, trying not to get distracted by Ryker’s fingers wrapped around mine as we turned a corner.
“She’ll be guarded,” Pops added.
Mason pumped his fists together, seeming far too excited about that idea. “Very heavily protected.”
I frowned. Mason was way too eager for danger.
When we reached a stairwell, Ryker stopped and faced us. “So far, Seth says there’s been no sign of Krampus in or out of this place.”
My eyes roamed the corridor. “He’s here, though. I can hear the bells.”
Ryker quirked a brow. “Bells?”
I glanced at him confused. “You don’t hear them?”
Pops and Mason shook their heads in unison.
Enzo laughed mischievously. “Dearie, I suspect only you can hear them.”
I glanced in his direction unsure. “What about you?”
“They’re meant only for you,” Enzo said, pointing a finger at me.
Ryker pushed back his shoulders. “We don’t have time to figure this out now. Keep your ears open, Nina. We need to get to Lindsey.”
I agreed.
We took the stairs up to the next level. The warehouse opened up to more hallways—all empty. Butterflies danced in my stomach as I realized that this was too easy. We located the next set of stairs and hurried up them.
We reached the next floor and were finally greeted by two werewolves. Ryker punched one as Mason grabbed the other around the throat. Within seconds, Ryker and Mason had the wolves subdued. Mason let his smack against the floor.
“Controlled ones,” Ryker said, turning toward me and taking my hand again. “Let’s keep going.”
I followed closely behind Ryker as he guided us to a doorway. It was darkly lit and empty. Frowning, I placed my hand on his back as he leaned against the doorframe. We peeked around the frame to the hallway beyond. It ended at a large red door with four guards stationed outside. Ryker jerked his chin in their direction and gestured for the others to see.
“That must be where she’s being kept,” Pops whispered.
Ryker, his brow furrowed, stood straight and glanced toward Pops.
“I can hear the bells,” I whispered.
“What are we waiting for?” Mason whispered. “Let’s go in.”
I wrung my hands in front of me. “Krampus is close. The bells are much louder.”
“Krampus isn’t in there,” Enzo said.
“How do you know?” I asked, my brows knitting together as I stared at Enzo.
“I can sense his magic,” he explained. “And it’s not in there.”
“Oh….” I understood.
“How close are they?” Pops asked.
Enzo thought for a moment. “There’s no way to know for sure. My guess is on the other side of the building—that’s where the magic’s energy is focused.”
I shook my head. Something wasn’t adding up. The bells were too loud for him to be on the other side of the building.
Enzo, however, didn’t give us time to decide as he huffed impatiently and headed toward the door. With a wave of his hand, the guards fell to the floor. “You’re wasting time,” he said, puffed out his chest smugly.
I glared at him.
With a final look toward me, Ryker tugged us toward the door and signaled to Enzo. Pops and Mason followed behind. When the hairs on my neck stood on end, I looked around but saw no one else.
Enzo waved his hand again, and the red door opened onto a pitch-black room. Ryker rushed in first.
“Ryker! No!” Lindsey’s scream filled the air.
Panic welled inside me as I darted into the room. Mason and Pops followed on my heels. As soon as I passed the threshold, the room suddenly lit up, momentarily blinding me.
I blinked my eyes rapidly, forcing them to adjust as laughter hit my ears. The sound was brittle and chilled me down to my bones. As my sight cleared, I searched the large factory room, my jaw dropping at the scene before me. Ryker growled fiercely, struggling against a group of men trying to hold him down. With a right hook, he knocked one back, and then shirked off the other. Before he could get free, though, the others grabbed again.
On my right, Enzo was forced to the ground by two men, a strange white magic swirling around him. I glanced over my shoulder. Mason and Pops had been captured by another small army. I stood in the middle of the room by myself.
I spotted Lindsey and froze. My heart stopped when I saw the hand wrapped around her neck. My gaze traveled up the hand to a man’s face. The same man who’d visited me in Ryker’s living room days ago. Krampus. My lips curled back into a sneer. Tears streamed down Lindsey’s face, her blue eyes shimmering with pain.
“Lindsey!” I ran toward her, but the man tightened his hand around her throat and I stopped.
“You shouldn’t have come,” she whimpered, wincing as he used his magic to force her into a kneeling position on the ground.
I glared at him—daggers shooting from the green depths of my eyes.
He smiled, showing brilliantly white teeth. “Little wolf.”
Ryker roared and struggled against his captors at the sound of the nickname.
“That is what Ryker calls you, isn’t it?” Krampus teased.
I fixated my eyes on Krampus, crouching low. As I leapt forward, two men grabbed me from either side and yanked me to the ground. I fought against them, but they were much stronger than me, forcing me to kneel.
“Tsk, tsk,” said Krampus. The sound clicked in tune with the bells still ringing in my ears.
His beady eyes scrunched as he snapped his fingers. I glared, showing sharp fangs, just as a new group made their way into the room. It was Seth, Jack, Ava, and Vixen. But they held prisoner too.
“Let them go!” I screamed, jerking my arms desperately, trying to free myself. “It’s me you want.”
Krampus only laughed, his voice was like a snake slithering over my skin. “Oh yes, that would be nice.”
He eyed Ryker with a malice that had my blood curdling. Ryker grunted, tussling uselessly against his captors.
Krampus ignored him, his eyes gleaming as they fastened on the necklace hanging from my neck. “Now that we’re all here we can begin.”
Chapter Twenty-Five
Allow me to introduce myself. I’m Kris—or Krampus as so
me call me. But I’m also more than that, especially to you, Nina. Do you truly know who I am?”
Ryker’s fanged teeth bared with his snarl. He shoved and yanked, but his captors had him pinned between them. My heart ached for him. I even felt a tinge of guilt for Enzo trapped within his detainers—a couple of werewolves—magic. Enzo uttered a string of curses in his normally cheeky tone.
I didn’t wrestle against my own imprisoner. Instead, racking my brain for a plan.
Krampus smiled sadly as he looked down at me. “This,” he started, waving a lazy hand gesturing to the room. “Didn’t have to be like this.” He took another step toward me, the bells jingling in tune to his movements.
My heart slammed against my chest as his eyes bored into mine. The light danced against his irises, and they sparkled like emeralds in the sunshine. I drew my brows together as I realized I’d seen his them before. But I couldn’t quite place them.
“Green eyes,” I mumbled.
Ryker, Seth, Lindsey—all of them stopped fighting against their restraints to listen. My mouth opened as my mind slowly clicked into place. “My eyes,” I spoke, working through the jumbled mess of my thoughts.
He leaned forward. His green orbs lit with excitement. “Very good, Nina.”
“You attacked Seth.”
He sneered deep and menacing. The sound made me shudder.
“Well, of course I did. I had to make a point.” He sounded thrilled—as if it made him excited to admit such horrors. “I wanted him to think it was you. So, the pack would let you leave.” He shrugged. “Apparently, that didn’t quite work since some decided to follow you here, regardless. No matter.” He paused looking quite smug. “Seth should be quite honored, actually. I very rarely do the dirty work myself anymore. I’ve had my wolf pack for so long I hardly ever get to have any fun myself.” He gestured to the magical wolves holding my friends for emphasis, making my stomach sink further.
I looked to Seth, his mouth opened in shock.
“Keep going,” Krampus egged me on. “Why do you think you have my eyes?”
I cocked my neck to the side. “Coincidence. Lots of people have green eyes.”
