by Juniper Hart
Sierra gritted her teeth, willing herself not to remind her that no matter what she claimed, she wasn’t a direct descendant of the original Collingwoods. She might have had some familial ties to the Collingwoods, but to her knowledge, Sierra and Simone were the closest descendants of the original Collingwoods.
But none of that was important in that moment. She needed to reason with Rowan without losing her temper. “I can’t steal the Chasm, Rowan.”
“I’m sorry to hear that,” she sighed, shrugging nonchalantly. “Then I am afraid your daughter is going to die.”
“You’re being cruel and vindictive!” Sierra cried, tears of rage filling her eyes. “She’s a baby! How can you just let that happen?”
“I’m giving you a way to save her, Sierra. You can take it or leave it, but it is the only way.”
No, it’s not the only way, she thought furiously, suddenly not caring if Rowan could hear her inner thoughts. I will ask the owner to borrow it and bring it to another priestess. She might not be a Collingwood, but I can find someone else…
“Who owns it?” Sierra asked from between clenched teeth.
To her surprise, the witch’s mouth curved into a comely smile, and her eyes glittered with something she could not identify.
“Someone you know well,” Rowan chirped. “Tobias Sutton.”
Sierra suddenly felt as if she had been attacked, a thousand blades piercing into her body at once, and she almost doubled over in pain at the sound of his name. How long had it been since she had heard it in her ears? It had taken two years for her to pretend she didn’t see his mannerisms or smile in Aurora, and while she still thought of him much more than she wished, she had not heard his name spoken aloud since the whistleblower report had surfaced. Then, his name had been on every news station, filling her with memories she had sworn she had forgotten, dredging up emotions she thought she had buried.
Sierra had even experienced bouts of jealousy when she learned that the woman responsible for the leak on Sutton Industries had been a former lover of his.
He just screws over everyone he touches, doesn’t he? He probably left her high and dry, too, and she just exploded. Serves him right. I did the right thing keeping Aurora from him. Who knows what he would have done if he learned about her. Either he would have taken her or forsaken her. In either case, I did what was best for my baby.
But now she needed him, needed to hear his name in her ears, no matter how devastating it was to learn.
No, she thought furiously, blinking quickly to hide the sudden onset of confusion in her eyes. No, she could never ask him for a favor, even though his child’s life depended on it. She would sooner steal the book than grovel to that bastard for anything after what he had done to her, to them. He had abandoned them after making her believe he felt the same way about her as she did him. He would probably laugh in her face if she asked him, anyway, and she refused to set herself up for that. Screw you, Tobias Sutton.
That was only the superficial aspect of her concern. The truth was, Sierra was terrified of what he would do to Aurora. Would he try to raise her as a bear? Would he dismiss her as a lowly sorceress? He might take her, and Sierra would never see her baby again. What could she do to stop him? He was wealthy, a powerful alpha bear. Sierra was a common criminal by all accounts.
And if the Council was dragged into this? Simone would be in trouble because she never told Theo the truth about Aurora’s sickness—never mind what this might mean for me.
There were so many potential bad outcomes to having Tobias learn about Aurora and so few good ones. Statistically speaking, he had low chances of being a good father. And he deserved to be dethroned just for his arrogance alone.
“Shall I take your silence for agreement?” Rowan asked, and Sierra realized she had been quiet for several minutes, her mind whirling. Finally, she raised her eyes, her mouth becoming a fine line of determination.
If you agree to this, there will be no turning back. Rowan won’t let you off the hook. Her eyes shifted toward the slumbering frame of her daughter, and a surge of confidence shot through her spine.
“Well?” Rowan demanded impatiently. “Are you in or are you out?”
“I’m in,” she replied shortly. “No one deserves being made a fool out of more than Tobias Sutton.”
6
Shane stood uncomfortably in the foyer, apparently awed by the splendor of the marble and steel entranceway. He had been to the house in Madison Park more times than Toby could count, but it never stopped the abnormally large henchman from appearing overwhelmed as he stood.
“Didn’t Arthur tell you to wait in the sunroom?” Toby asked, sliding down the floating glass staircase from the second-floor rotunda, rolling his eyes slightly.
“I prefer to wait here,” Shane replied, and Toby scowled.
“Well, I would prefer to have a private conversation where the rest of the house staff can’t hear,” he retorted, gesturing for him to follow. “We’re going to the sunroom.”
Reluctantly, Shane trailed after, and even without looking, Toby could sense the bear’s eyes falling over the priceless artwork as if seeing them for the first time. He wondered what Shane did with his own money, receiving a salary well beyond that of anyone else in the company or pack. But it wasn’t his business to know—or care—what his men did with their cuts.
Live and let live eternal, Toby thought wryly, casting Shane a half-hearted look over his shoulder as they moved.
The last two days had been a whirlwind of activity in the office, Paul Makowsinski earning his keep on the PR level, Sandrine managing to apply the gag order to Catherine Parks. Slowly, his stock began to rise, and despite not having one free moment to breathe, he was feeling better about the future of Sutton Industries for the first time in too long.
As Paul had predicted, word of the charity event had spread like wildfire, and Toby had been bombarded with calls from reporters coast to coast for statements. Although he hated every minute of it, Toby indulged them, knowing that he needed to make himself available to the leeching media if he wanted their plan to work. All he needed was this affair to blow over so that he might focus on the other messes unfolding in his life.
He’d had no time to discuss the other matter which had been lurking in the shadows: Helios’ potential return and uprising.
I guess I’ll have to cross that bridge when we come to it, he thought.
It took almost five minutes to walk from the front of the mansion to the sunroom, a glass enclosed area which was a dead zone and inaccessible to anyone trying to listen. The glass was eight inches thick and coated in a transparent film to block transmissions, a true Faraday cage. While Toby knew the likelihood of anyone getting past his stellar security system was more fantasy than reality, he did not underestimate some of his supernatural counterparts.
There were many things which might appeal to outsiders inside the sprawling estate which Toby called home. Not just the pricey artwork and expensive jewels, but trade secrets and pack matters. There was truly something for everyone if they wanted to look. For that reason, he had a Shroud of Protection placed over the house, making the estate a fortress.
It had never been penetrated before, and Toby did not want to wait for a first time.
Always better safe than sorry, he reasoned, which was why he held any meetings of importance in the sunroom.
“You want a drink? I have a new blood mix which just came in from Thailand. I’m told it’s hybrid mortal, but I can’t be sure.”
Shane’s eyes popped slightly as he gaped at his boss.
“Hybrid mortal and what?” he choked in disbelief. Toby chuckled and shrugged.
“I’m sure it’s really not a hybrid anything,” he laughed. “Don’t worry about cannibalism.”
Shane shuddered visibly, shaking his head, and Toby’s grin widened at the display.
He’s like a puppy… although Cerberus would probably eat him if given the chance.
“Beer?” Tob
y offered instead, but Shane shook his head.
“No, I can’t stay,” he replied. “There’s trouble brewing with the pack.”
Toby arched an eyebrow. He had yet to hear anything about issues among the immortals, but Shane was paid to keep things under control. Toby was usually the last to know, and that was only when the big guns needed to be brought in.
“What kind of trouble?”
“There has been a string of robberies, ancient stones and scrolls.”
Toby’s lids narrowed, the hairs on the back of his neck standing. “And? What about them?”
“It’s clearly the work of an Enchanted.”
Toby had to agree. If the target was specific to the ancient scriptures and gemstones…
“What’s the general thought?”
Shane sighed and shrugged again, shaking his head. “The frequency in the thefts is growing. Looks like someone is collecting a cache for something big.”
What could they want?
“Any leads on who?”
“We’re certain it’s for one of the high priestesses. Who else would know what to do with the elements?”
“Probably,” Toby sighed, his mind racing as he thought about which of the witches might try something so daring. No one immediately came to mind.
As if reading his thoughts, Shane continued. “We think whoever it is, she’s farming out the robberies to a professional, not getting her hands dirty. We have no idea about the thief. Same MO every time, and it’s a female.”
“A girl? Are you sure the priestess isn’t doing it herself?”
“From the descriptions we’ve received, she doesn’t match anyone we know. A short, lithe girl with burnt red hair. Doesn’t sound like anyone you know, does it?” Shane offered, shrugging his shoulders once more. He was beginning to remind Toby of a puppet on a string. “It doesn’t have a familiar ring to it at all.”
The description instantly conjured an image of Sierra into his mind, but Toby knew that was because she had been weighing heavily on his mind.
I highly doubt it’s her, he thought, annoyed with himself for permitting his mind to venture there. It seemed that she was all he could think about the past two days.
He was so sure she had been at the children’s hospital, no matter how unlikely it seemed. He had sensed her there, his body drawn toward her just as it had been that night in the club. It was the first time in three years that he had ever felt her so close, and he knew he had somehow just missed her.
That was a long time ago, he tried to reason with himself. She doesn’t want to see you three years later. What are you going to say to her if you do see her? “Hey, sorry I left you and promised to come back, but my cousin murdered one of our own, and I got banished for a year as punishment for helping him cover it up. I came back looking for you, I swear!” I’m sure she’s heard it all before. Just leave it alone.
Toby wondered if he would ever be able to forget about her. Damn, someone mentioned a redhead, and she popped immediately into his head. It was pathetic. He was the CEO of a multibillion-dollar company. He had to pull himself together.
“Boss?” Toby cleared his throat and lifted his eerie eyes to stare at Shane deadpan, even though he could feel the heat staining his face. He hoped the near blush wouldn’t be evident to Shane.
“I’m guessing you have more to tell me,” he said, sitting back against the bistro chair and making a steeple of his manicured fingers. “You have a theory as to why all this is happening.”
“Well… yes…” Shane mumbled, and Toby could see that he didn’t want to deliver the news. He already knew what he had come to say, and he saved Shane from having to utter the words aloud.
“Helios is here, then,” Toby finished, collapsing backward onto the cushioning and staring out onto Lake Washington beyond the glass of the sunroom. Shane nodded, shifting his yellow eyes away.
“He has been here for a while, it seems. Possibly biding his time until he’s ready to make his move.”
Toby grunted softly. “Any word on what he wants, or should I just assume the worst given these recent developments?”
“Nothing concrete yet, boss, but given what we know about all he’s endured over these past months, I think you’re in a better position than he is. I’m told he was seriously injured with aranium poisoning, and even with the antidote, he might not ever be as powerful as he once was. No matter what he has planned, he must know he can’t succeed, not with your pack and backing.”
On some level, Toby agreed. Still, he couldn’t deny that he felt a spark of alarm at Helios’ arrival, even though he had anticipated it. He was certain he could override the rogue demon, but at what cost? Memory of his last encounter with Helios was still fresh, despite it having been eons ago.
“Keep your ears open, and if anyone learns where he is, I am to be notified at once. I need to kick this in the ass before he does something stupid. He’s not known for his patience. That’s to my advantage—if I can catch him before he acts.”
Toby didn’t remind himself that all those years of waiting in the shadows may have changed the demon. He may not be anything like I remember. He might be worse.
“He’s been here this long,” Shane offered almost timidly. “I wonder if he hasn’t just uprooted himself for a change. Maybe he’s staying here just to throw the Council of Seven off his trail.”
Shane was just playing devil’s advocate, and Toby was not fooled.
“Maybe,” he replied without enthusiasm. “I guess we’ll find out soon enough.”
Shane nodded slowly, sensing that their meeting was adjourned, and shuffled toward the door. “All right, boss. I’ll keep you informed.
“There’s something else I need from you, Shane.”
The giant waited, and Toby suddenly wished he had not spoken. You’re being stupid. Nothing good can come from this.
“I need you to find out about a witch.” Shane stared at him blankly, silently willing him to elaborate, but Toby had already asked too much. “Her name is Sierra Collingwood. She’s here in Seattle somewhere. I need to know where exactly.”
Shane’s eyes seemed to shadow as his brow furrowed, familiarity coloring his cheeks.
“Haven’t I looked for her before?” he asked slowly. “The name is familiar.”
“You did, and you found nothing. I’m asking you to look again. Sierra Collingwood.”
Shane nodded curtly, the mission understood. “Yes, boss. Should I approach her if I find her?”
“No!” The word came out like a gunshot, and Shane started. Toby was horrified by the thought. He had no idea what he was going to do once he found Sierra. If Shane came upon her and saw she was a tiny, burnt-haired female, would he clue in, especially because Toby had just asked him to find her ten seconds after they had discussed the robberies? What a smooth move.
He couldn’t believe how dumb he had been.
“No,” Toby said again, shaking his ebony curls gently. “Just send me what you learn about her. She’s not dangerous.” He didn’t know why he bothered to add that. Anyone who laid eyes on Sierra would be able to see she was not a threat. Not to anyone but his psyche.
If I don’t find her, will I ever get her out of my mind? It wasn’t a thought he wanted to entertain.
“Yes, boss.” Shane ambled out the door and left Toby to watch the water, lost in thought.
What are the chances that he’ll turn up anything this time? I sent him all over the earth in search of her when I got back from my banishment, but he didn’t find a thing. She couldn’t have just disappeared off the face of the planet.
And yet it seemed as if she had done precisely that… only to fall unexpectedly back under his radar, like fate had drawn them back together.
According to the private investigator he had hired, Sierra’s social security number was inactive, her apartment in South Park rented by a Lycan who claimed he didn’t know her. Toby had tried to remember the name of the other witch who had been with Sierra that ni
ght, but aside from the redhead who had stolen his breath, he could recall little else about the evening. He couldn’t even be sure he had learned Sierra’s friend’s name, although there had been something oddly familiar about her, like he had seen her before.
But like all things, the harder he tried to remember, the further away it slipped until he couldn’t even remember what the friend had looked like, let alone her name. Sierra consumed me whole that night, and she continues to do so. But she’s here, and I will see her again, I know it.
His mind darted back to the matter of the thief on their hands. Sierra was a witch. A high priestess was involved with the thefts. Could there be a connection? He found it difficult to reconcile the passionate, sensual woman he had known, albeit briefly, as a cunning artifact robber. Then again, he had never learned what she did for a living, had he?
Toby groaned loudly and rose from the chair, suddenly feeling suffocated in the glass room. He needed some air to clear his head. You’ve got way too much on your mind. There is no affiliation between Sierra and the robberies. You’re just hoping for any connection between you and her, no matter how dark.
Yet even as he left the sunroom, he could not shake the sense that things were just getting started, and his life was about to get more complicated, not less.
The sweet smell of opium touched Rowan’s nostrils as she entered the stairwell, her skirt sweeping along her ankles as she managed the winding incline into the bowels of the building.
From the outside, no one would be the wiser, the grey building windowless and industrial, just like so many others on the Duwamish Waterway. No one would ever suspect what lay beneath the cold cement floor in the impossibly built basement. A subfloor was unheard of in these parts, after all, and in all the years since it had been built, no soul had ever come to investigate it. The area was basically forsaken, and that was what the inhabitants depended on.
A familiar hum met her ears as she ventured lower, the temperature falling, humidity intermingling with the wafts of smoke until she landed at a door of cast iron. She did not need to wait, the gate swinging inward to allow her entry, and slowly, she flittered through, eyes adjusting to the dimly lit hallway effortlessly.
