by Jami Gray
“I think we’re close to the road.” She tossed the backpack at the younger man when he turned to face her. “They were staying on the outside edge of the park, instead of utilizing the heavier cover inside. Chances are there’s a car out there.”
“Not exactly smart, were they?” Zeke slipped the backpack’s straps over his shoulders.
She cocked her hip, tilted her head and tapped her chin with a thoughtful finger. “Let’s see. They decided to attack the Northwest alpha with a pair of wolves, a shotgun, and a wizard.” She straightened and grimaced. “I’m thinking intelligence wasn’t their strong suit.”
“They weren’t pack.” Zeke’s statement was certain, serious.
She slanted him a look. “No, they weren’t.”
She made her way through the forest, careful to note the small signs indicating the earlier passage of the dead trio. Broken branches, smears of dirt against a rock, crushed leaves—each an indicator they were on the right path.
The forest thinned and the dark ribbon of the road began to peek through the falling curtain of rain. They continued on in silence for a bit longer until they paralleled the road. The wind had picked up, causing the rain to lash out in bursts. She caught sight of the car, even as Zeke touched her shoulder. He shrugged off the backpack, pushing it under the thick brush.
Motioning for Zeke to take the right, she moved to the left. The older nondescript sedan seemed lifeless, surrounded by an abandoned air. She was fairly certain no one lurked in the predawn shadows nearby, but it never hurt to be on the safe side.
Together, she and Zeke moved up opposite sides of the car, staying low to keep out of the rearview mirrors’ line of sight. The rain was becoming bothersome now, the heavy downpour obscuring her vision. Peering through a fogged window, she tried to see inside but couldn’t make anything out.
Reaching the driver’s door, she turned just enough to slide her fingers around the cold edge of the handle then yanked the door open. The outside air swept through the car, bringing hints of stale sweat, fur, and the ionic sting of magic. Aside from the sound of the rain pinging against the roof, silence greeted her. “Clear,” she called to Zeke.
“Clear,” he responded from the back passenger side.
She rose to her feet and looked at him across the glistening roof. “That was anticlimactic.”
He gave her a wicked grin. “Two times in one night? You must be so disappointed.”
She flashed him a smile that was all teeth. “I think you’re jealous.”
“Jealous?”
“Yep, because I got some and you didn’t.”
“Please!” he snorted, but a tint of red rode his cheeks before he ducked inside the car.
Her smile softened, becoming more natural, as she slipped into the driver’s seat, closing the door behind her. She pulled down the visor, hoping to find a rental agreement, something, and got…nothing. “I dare you to tell Warrick he’s anticlimactic.” She watched Zeke through the rearview mirror.
“Yeah, I think I’ll pass.” His voice took on a sharp edge as he said, “I’ll let you do it. He’s got enough people pissing him off lately.”
She stilled and turned around to meet his gaze. “Including me?”
Shock widened his eyes. “I didn’t say that! I’m not suicidal, Xander.” He dropped his gaze from hers and rubbed his neck.
She waited, not blinking.
He blew out a short breath, squirmed a bit, then settled. “Look, whatever’s going on between you and Vidis, that’s between you two. But there’s something more happening around here.”
Zeke’s answer made her wonder what he’d seen that she hadn’t. “Explain.”
“I’m not blind, and contrary to popular belief, I really do pay attention to what’s happening.” His chest expanded as he took a deep breath. “You’ve killed three wolves in two weeks. I was on the second clean up crew. I saw what was left.” Sympathy flashed across his face and she knew she hadn’t been able to hide her wince from him. “They weren’t normal Ferals, so what the hell is going on?”
Wariness nipped at her. She shifted in the seat to face him and folded her arms, studying the younger wolf. It was pointless to lie, he’d smell it, but that didn’t mean he needed the whole truth. “Someone’s promising the Bitten a cure.”
His mouth dropped open in shock. It took him a second before he asked, “A cure? Seriously?”
She nodded and settled with her back to the steering wheel.
He gave a low whistle. “Wow, that’s…”
“Cruel?” she offered.
“I was going to say twisted, actually.” His gaze narrowed. “That would explain why Ryuu has me hacking into some of the Bitten’s chat rooms.”
She blinked then frowned. “Chat rooms?” Zeke was brilliant with computers, which was why he worked in Taliesin’s IT Investigation department.
“I forgot, you were in Arizona.” He leaned forward and folded his arms on the passenger seat’s headrest. “A couple of months ago, Taliesin had a group of us start monitoring online groups they suspected might be Kyn. The goal is to make sure these groups don’t reveal too much.”
“I bet that’s going over well.”
He rubbed his chin back and forth over his forearms. “Yeah, like a lead balloon. I know the older generation hates change, but…”
“But soon the world will be too small to hide the Kyn,” she finished softly.
“Right.” He sighed. “The thing is, a month later, Ryuu asked me to start monitoring some chat rooms frequented by known Bitten wolves.”
“Smart man.”
He flashed her a small grin. “He likes to utilize my awesome nerd powers.” He paused, studying her as rain continued to pound against the roof. “If what you’re saying about a cure is true, it would explain some things.”
“Like what?”
“A few weeks ago, there was a conversation centered around some science paper. It was published years ago in an obscure medical journal and discussed the possibility of mutating DNA to create specific characteristics. The conversation began to get into more recent scientific discoveries and morphed into a what-if discussion.”
She frowned. “What-if what?”
“What if science could create an antidote to a werewolf’s bite.”
“Seriously?”
He nodded, all earlier traces of humor gone. “There was even one thread that branched out into conspiracy theories of possible government research using Kyn as test subjects.”
Even as chills ran down her spine, she kept her tone even. “That story has become an urban myth for the Kyn.”
“Sort of like a secret black-ops group of Kyn that takes out the trash, right?” he chided, certainty making him appear years older.
Xander held his gaze and said nothing.
He shrugged. “Look, normally I’d agree with you, but right before Vidis headed down to Arizona, the members starting dropping off line.”
She bit her lip, thinking. “Most Kyn would never put themselves at the mercy of the human government.”
“You forget, Xander,” Zeke said, his voice unusually serious, “the Bitten aren’t really Kyn. They’re humans who’ve been changed into what they consider monsters. If everything you ever were, was taken away, and you were given an option to get it back, wouldn’t you take it, regardless of the consequences?”
In a heartbeat—and that was the problem. Someone out there, human or Kyn, was exploiting that hope, using it to lead the Bitten to a horrific death. “Is there any way to get the names of those who were in that chat room?”
“Unfortunately, the ones we’ve been able to track were logging in from public computers,” he answered.
Another dead end. Every time she thought they might have something solid, it disappeared in a puff of smoke. She sighed. “Let’s see if there’s anything here that can help.”
The next few minutes passed in silence as they systematically searched the car. The glove compartment contained a ma
p, but nothing else. She ran her hands between the seats, finding only a few petrified French fries and an empty gum wrapper. Behind her, Zeke was stretched along the back seat as he searched under the front passenger seat.
“Found something.” His excitement was muffled against the faux leather.
She turned around to face him as he pushed upright, holding a small black rectangle in his hand. “What’s that?”
“GPS.” He grinned. “Which means if I can get this back to Taliesin, I can get you a map of everywhere they went.”
She reached between the seats and grabbed his face to give him a loud smacking kiss on his forehead. “You rock, Zeke!” Maybe they had finally caught a break.
He pulled back, a red stain spreading under his skin as he squirmed in the back seat. “Um, yeah, I try.”
She turned back around, hiding her smile at his reaction. “Let’s head back. If I’m lucky I can make it home in time to change before I have to report in to the office.”
They headed back out into the rain and made their way back to Warrick’s. Zeke stopped and picked up the backpack. “You know,” he said. “If you and Vidis had waited two more days, I would’ve won the pool.”
She lunged toward him with a growl, but he darted off, his laughter trailing behind him.
Chapter Thirteen
A few hours later, Xander stood with her eyes closed, half dozing under the pounding spray of a hot shower. Tight muscles slowly unclenched and the exhaustion dogging her began creeping in, leaving her in a semi-conscious state. She and Zeke had returned to Warrick’s to catch the tail end of the cleanup operation. Saul and Ryuu took the bodies away to an undisclosed location. Since Warrick’s presence was required at Taliesin’s that morning, he had, after much growling, agreed to take Zeke with him so the boy wonder could start pulling information from the GPS unit.
Xander was grateful for the reprieve, even more so when she realized she wouldn’t have to sit through a meeting with Taliesin’s head honchos. Normally, standing at Warrick’s side while he dealt with the other three Kyn head of houses was an enjoyable challenge. This morning, her head was a mess and she needed space and time to get it straightened out.
“Wake up, baby, and come down for coffee,” her mother’s voice called through the door.
Sighing, she turned off the water, opened the shower door and grabbed a towel. She could have gone home, but her mom’s place was closer.
The scent of freshly brewed coffee, baked cinnamon, and icing curled around her, though the luscious scent of cinnamon brought a cascade of images of Warrick and their night together. Her body trembled under the memory of his possessive touch and the needs he managed to bring to life. For a moment, she indulged in the delicious memories before shoving them into their imaginary box and slamming the lid tight.
She finished toweling off and dragged on the clothes she left behind a couple months ago. The black fitted cargo pants had decorative straps with bronze buckles down the legs. They went well with the black-and-red stripped T-shirt she pulled on before using her towel to wipe the condensation from the mirror. She finger-combed her wet hair and sighed. There was no way to hide the dark circles under her eyes or the washed out tone of her skin, which meant her mom was going to pry.
Folding the towel over the edge of the shower door, she opened the door and headed into the kitchen. Stepping onto the cool tile, her toes curled. “Sorry, Mom. Long night.”
Standing a few inches taller than her daughter, with hair a pale, ash-blonde, Talon Cade set down the cup of coffee and rose to embrace Xander. In a periwinkle-blue sweater and light-blue jeans, she could easily be mistaken for Xander’s older sister. Most Kyn looked younger, some by decades, than their actual age. If a Lycan managed not to get themselves killed in a dominance fight, they could live hundreds of years.
Her mom’s arms tightened as Xander buried her face against her mother’s neck. For just a moment, she wasn’t the pack’s Tracker or a dreaded Wraith, but a very loved daughter. Emotion rose in a choking wave and she squeezed her eyes closed.
Talon held her, rubbing small comforting circles on her back. As Xander loosened her arms, her mother pulled back and cupped her hands around Xander’s face, cradling it. “You’re going to tell me what happened.” Maternal love and demand, all tied together.
Xander gave a jerky nod.
“Good.” A gentle pat then she was moving to the counter. When she turned back, she handed Xander a cup of coffee. “Go sit at the table. I’ll bring you a roll.”
Xander settled into one of the spindle-backed chairs as her mom set a freshly baked cinnamon roll in front of her.
“Eat,” her mom ordered before taking the seat next to her.
Xander obediently took a bite. The roll melted the moment it hit her tongue. She groaned. “Why didn’t I inherit your ability to cook, instead of Dad’s nose for scents?” She tried to cook but, even with her mom’s help, her attempts at culinary creations turned disastrous.
Talon’s lip curved. “It’s not who you are, baby.” She took a sip of her coffee and watched her daughter, letting the silence settle.
Xander picked up her cup and took a sip. She let her eyes close as the caffeine-infused ambrosia hit her tongue.
“So how was Warrick?”
Her mother’s quiet question had her snorting coffee through her nose as she choked. She got herself under control and glared at the woman smiling serenely back at her.
“You’re just down right evil, Mom,” she muttered.
Talon’s soft chuckle reminded Xander of all those times she and Ethan had thought themselves so smart, only to find out their mom was still a step ahead. “I may not have your dad’s sensitivity to scents, but it was a little hard to miss who you’ve been spending time with, dear.”
There was no fighting the blush that bloomed in her cheeks. “He’s fine,” she mumbled.
“Yes, he is,” her mom answered with a hum.
Horrified, she stared at her mother. “Oh gods, Mom! You’re mated!”
“Mated, not dead.” She took a sip of her coffee, her teasing grin fading as she set her cup on the table. “But you, sweetheart, are bonded to the most powerful male in the Northwest. I’m worried.”
Xander dropped her gaze to her cup, turning it in place on the table. Here, in the home she grew up in, safe with the mother who stood beside her through so much, she admitted, “So am I.”
“I’d be more concerned if you weren’t, baby,” her mother chided. “There’s a part of me that wishes you had chosen someone less…”
“Complicated?” Xander stopped her restless movement to look at her mom.
Talon shook her head. “No, I think dominant is the word I’m looking for.”
Xander didn’t bother to stop the small smile that broke through at her mother’s choice of word. “He’s an alpha, Mom. Dominant is one of the requirements for the job.”
“Yes, it is,” Talon answered. “But you put two strong-minded wolves together and no matter how much they love each other, someone has to bend or they both break. I just don’t want to watch you break.”
A mix of resentment and love rose, leaving Xander floundering. She dropped her hands to her lap to hide her clenching fists. “I don’t break,” she said, pushing the words past her tight chest.
Something close to sympathy flashed over her mother’s face. “That wasn’t what I meant.”
“Then what did you mean?”
Talon sighed. “Do you love Warrick?”
Frowning, Xander sat back in her chair, crossing her arms across her chest. “That’s a stupid question, Mom. Of course, I do.”
“Do you love him enough to be the person he needs you to be?”
Confused, Xander said, “You’re not making sense.”
Talon studied her daughter, the rare seriousness in her expression sending a nervous tremor through Xander. “I love you, Xander.”
“I hear a but in there,” she muttered.
“But,” her
mother continued, “you’ve spent your life walking your own road, answering only to a few. You do what you feel is right to protect those around you.”
“And that’s a bad thing?”
“No, baby, it’s not. But it makes me worry that you won’t be able to allow your mate to lead if you think he’s in danger. Warrick’s not just our alpha, but the alpha. His every action, every decision is under constant scrutiny by those under him and by those holding the same position in the Kyn community.”
Xander bit her lip, starting to understand what her mom was getting at. “And you think I weaken him?” It hurt like hell to think that those who loved her best saw her as Warrick’s weakness. How many others saw her this way? How many other pack members saw Warrick’s decision to bond with her as a horrible mistake? Maybe he was right to keep distance between them. Maybe he saw the same thing.
Something must have shown in her face, because her mom made a noise and was out of her chair before Xander could blink. Talon knelt in front of her and caught Xander’s face in her soft palms, keeping Xander’s gaze on hers. “You listen to me, Xander Cade, you are not a weakness. Do you hear me?”
“But you just said—”
“Don’t you put words in my mouth, child.” Talon’s pale green eyes bore into hers.
“I don’t understand,” she whispered.
Talon leaned her forehead against Xander’s. “You’re too protective. That’s what I’m trying to get you to see. You’d try to protect him at the risk of your own life.”
Xander blinked, trying to process how that was such a bad thing.
Pulling back, her mother sat back on her heels. “Do you think I don’t know?”
Confused, she asked, “Don’t know what?”
