Baba Yaga cocked her head, a smile creasing her features. “Whatever do you mean?” Today she was the matron and dressed in a smart Vera Wang ensemble.
“Oh, please. Don’t give me that. You might be one of the Immortals, but I’m not an idiot.” Lacey sat on her bed and studied her. “Level with me. You lied to me that day you came to me and had me call them about BettLynn.”
“I did not lie.”
“You omitted in such a way as to deceive me.”
The other woman shrugged. “Things come full circle. And so has this.”
“What did you do to those babies to make them so inseparable? That has your fingerprints all over it.”
“I did nothing more than right a wrong.”
Lacey frowned. “Right a wrong? What the…” Now Lacey understood the term “feeling sucker-punched.” She let out a gasp. “BettLynn is Bertholde. So that means…” She struggled to pull in a breath and finally managed it. “You didn’t. Please, tell me you didn’t.”
“Didn’t what? Correct something that never should have happened? Restore love where it belongs? What am I guilty of but being an incurable romantic?”
“But…but they were killed so long ago!”
“Yes?”
“Why are you telling me these things?”
“I have told you nothing, my friend.”
“Oh, stop with the bullshit.” Lacey rubbed her face with her hands. “Lina is right. You are absolutely insufferable. I wouldn’t blame her if she charbroiled your smug hide during one of your chats.”
Baba Yaga waved her comment away. “Lina is a very sweet girl. She will do well in her role. I give her far more leniency than I was ever afforded. She has had to deal with a great deal in a very short time in a world where what we are is generally seen as fantasy, not fact.”
“Then why won’t you just tell her that?”
“I cannot.” She studied her fingernails for a moment. “Their power comes from within, whether they know it or not. They must be able to figure out how to tap into it and use it, together. Individually they are already very strong. They do not know yet just how strong they are, although Lina has a good head start on the other two.”
“You can’t tell them? Or you won’t?”
“There are topics on which I am bound to silence through my role. In some ways, I cannot tell them simply because I do not know. As I said, they must figure it out for themselves.”
Lacey kicked off her shoes. “Why can’t you just tell them that, then? Why be so confounding stubborn?”
Baba Yaga shrugged. “In today’s world, people can call up a browser screen, type in a phrase, and be spoon-fed answers. Some of them correct, some of them maybe not so much. Knowing and learning, you yourself realize, are two different things. For example, even if I could have given Lina an answer to removing the Cailleach’s curse, I would not have done so. By figuring it out on her own I might have earned her ire, but she taught herself things that me giving her the answer never could have.”
“Did you know how to remove the curse?”
“No.”
“If there was a choice between letting your own sister die and saving her life, would you have given Lina the answer?”
“If the knowledge had been in my hands, yes, I would have attempted to steer Lina to it.” She stared down her nose at Lacey. “No, I would not have let my sister die had I any way to change that.”
Lacey studied the woman for a moment. “I think I believe you.”
“But you’re not sure?”
“I’m never sure with you. I never have been. So what is your role now that there is a new Triad?”
“I dabble. My life is much quieter than it ever was before, fortunately for me.”
“Fortunately for all of us.”
Baba Yaga grinned. “You really don’t think very highly of me, do you?”
“In some ways, no. I never understood where we humans stand with the Others. And yes, I know the rumors, the whispers. There’s the Firm, of course. The Dodeks. The beings who’ve gone by various names throughout the ages and who see us as little more than pawns in the grand scheme of things. Who have before, and could again, wipe us out simply to start things over and reboot the human race.”
“And things you don’t even know about.”
“Don’t want to know about,” Lacey corrected.
The Immortal nodded. “There is that.”
“Things the girls will learn?”
She slowly shrugged. “Perhaps.”
Lacey stood and walked over to the other woman. “Promise me something.”
“I can make no promises, no oaths. You know that.”
“You made one. One that’s gotten us to this point.”
Lacey waited her out, wondering if she’d just crossed the line and would wake up dead the next morning.
Finally, Baba Yaga let out a weary sigh. “What is it? I cannot decide unless I hear it.”
“I know you can’t interfere in some ways. But promise me if something happens, if things get bad…” She clasped her hands in front of her. “Please, don’t make them suffer. If they ever face something…” She took a shuddering breath. “Guard their backs. If something ever happens, if they are ever placed in a situation where their life will slowly and painfully be tortured from them in an unnatural way, take them fast. Snap the thread holding them to this life. I’m not asking for you to intercede in case of illness. I’m asking you to follow them into battle. You know what I mean.”
The Immortal cocked her head, her gaze narrowing. “Ironic you ask that of me for them and not for others.”
Despite the heat flooding to Lacey’s face, she pressed. “They didn’t ask to be born to this. I’m not asking you to save them, because I know you can’t. I’m asking for compassion. Do you really want them to suffer the way your lover did? The way Colm and Sean did?”
Lacey had been eternally grateful that Arnost did not go into gruesome details about how the dragons had been tortured before dying.
How Bertholde had found them and nearly lost her mind at the carnage.
With that, Baba Yaga stood. “What do you know of that?” she roared.
Lacey didn’t flinch. In fact, she pressed closer. “I know what I’ve seen, what I’ve dreamed. Do you really want to hear the details? Exactly how your lover died?”
For the first time ever, she realized the Immortal blanched.
“No.” Lacey barely heard the woman’s shaky reply, but she didn’t make her repeat it.
“Then you promise me, or I will make sure you hear every det—”
She waved a hand, cutting Lacey off. “Fine!” Her arms ended up crossed over her chest. “If I am still in existence and with the power to do so, if anything ever happens, I will ensure they do not suffer. That much I can and will promise. I cannot change the natural course of things, but if they will die regardless, I swear it.”
Lacey nodded, satisfied. “I hope it won’t ever be necessary, but my mind and soul will rest easier knowing if they must ever face a less than peaceful death that it shall come quickly.”
The matron ran her hands up and down her arms as she stared at the floor. To Lacey, who knew the Immortal’s one vulnerability, she now resembled a tired woman full of regret, not a figure of legend and lore who’d terrified countless souls over the eons while indirectly steering events.
Lacey reached over and placed a hand on her shoulder. “He died with your name on his lips, if that’s any comfort. He died loving you, not blaming you.”
The matron had started to nod when she simply faded from the room.
Throughout the park, Lacey heard the mournful howl of the wind suddenly sweeping through the trees before it died down again.
Hating that she had to play dirty, and glad, at least, that she’d managed to secure that one concession from the Immortal, she reached over and locked the door before getting undressed to take her shower. Stopping in front of the sink, she looked into the mirror. Behind h
er, the ghostly form of Colleen smiled before fading completely from view.
Closing her eyes, Lacey wrapped her fingers around the sink, holding on until she felt steady again. When she opened them, the room was still clear behind her.
She knew where her cousin’s soul had finally moved on to, now that she’d managed to accomplish that last thing the ghost had asked of her.
It has to be this way.
She kept repeating that mantra to herself as she stepped into the shower.
* * * *
Elain returned to the lodge from her walk in time for lunch and caught up with the others in front of the roaring fireplace by the sofas.
The other adults had eaten in shifts, Jim getting his first with Micah before Micah was called back into Clan meetings with Blackie, Ain, Andel, and the others.
Jim smiled at the babies. “I think our little princess is due for her lunch, and possibly a bath and a nap.” BettLynn the puppy let out a yawn and rubbed at her muzzle with a front foot.
“You’re in luck,” Lina said. “It’s time to feed the Beasts. I really do think it’s the only thing, besides being asleep, that will let us separate the three of them.”
Once Mai, Elain, Lina, and Zack had the boys distracted with their bottles, Jim quickly scooped BettLynn up and hustled her out the door.
“You are a popular little girl, and you’re not even six months old.” When she began squirming in his arms, he set her down on the ground and let her walk. She immediately bounded to the end of her leash, pulling and tugging as she sniffed at the grass.
He laughed. “We are in a frisky mood today, aren’t we?”
He didn’t mind that she could shift. He knew it was something Mai had difficulty coming to terms with, but after discussing it with Micah and some other shifters, he knew it would only be a good thing.
She’d have enough issues in her life to deal with, including her Down syndrome. At least in this way she could be normal for her, have fun, enjoy her childhood without being hobbled by her human disabilities.
And he loved her regardless. To him, she was the most beautiful little girl in the world, whether she was on two legs or four.
He led her over to the cabins and pulled his key out as they approached theirs. “I think I could use a nap, too,” he said. There didn’t seem to be any other people around as he made their way around to their room, which sat facing the woods on the back side of the cabin.
We’ll have to trade off some babysitting time while we’re here with Aunt Lina. He smiled as he fit the key into the lock and opened the door, BettLynn racing inside ahead of him. With their cabin’s location, the three of them could have some private time without too much worry about making a lot of noise.
He started to step into the door when a blinding pain hit him from behind. He was yanked back, off the stoop, the door slamming shut as he finally was forced to let go of the doorknob.
“Got him,” a coarse, male voice said.
His hands were quickly bound behind him and a rag was shoved into his mouth. After a piece of duct tape was slapped over his mouth, they threw a pillowcase over his head and dragged him off the path and into the woods.
Behind them, he was vaguely aware of BettLynn’s tiny howls inside the cabin.
* * * *
Elain was in the main lodge, curled up on a sofa in front of the fire and reading when Micah and the others returned from their meetings about an hour after Jim left with BettLynn. The Beasts, who had scarfed down their food lunch, were calmly napping in their baby seats.
“It’s really food that calms the savage beast, isn’t it?” Mai joked.
“You ain’t just whistlin’ Dixie,” Lina said.
A tall, black man with gorgeous amber eyes, and a man nearly as tall, with blond hair and grey eyes, had accompanied Micah and the others back from the meeting.
Brodey waved Elain over. “Honey, this is Wyatt Belaforte, and Emery Nadel.”
She shook with them, feeling nothing but friendship and warmth from both men. “Nice to finally meet you.”
Brodey grinned. “Want to take a guess?”
“Wyatt’s an alligator, and Emery is a dolphin.”
Brodey pouted. “Aww. I wanted to tell you. I didn’t think you’d met them before.”
“Stop it, Brod. Your face will freeze like that. Lina told me about her and her guys helping them out back in October. And Kitty told me about Louisiana.” She returned her attention to the men. “It’s very nice to finally meet you both.”
“Pleasure,” Wyatt drawled.
Emery smiled. “Nice to finally meet everyone. Lina’s told us a lot about you.” Elain didn’t let go of his hand. She stared into his eyes for a long moment, then realized what she knew she couldn’t tell him. No matter what, she wouldn’t be able to change events, possibly only make them worse.
Elain swallowed hard. “Thanks. You, too. Congratulations on the baby.” She finally made herself let go.
“Thanks. She’s something else. Really keeps us on our toes.” Sadness streaked through his expression before being replaced by parental pride. “I’m glad they asked us to adopt her. She’s our world.”
Elain forced a smile. She was about to say something else when Ain walked in. “Ah, I see Brodey introduced you already.”
“Yes.” She hooked an arm around Ain’s, holding on tightly and reveling in the warmth and stability she felt from him.
Shaking hands bad, she reminded herself. Not when she could see things like Emery’s sister and brother-in-law being murdered.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
It turned out Mercedes didn’t need to use the phone numbers the wolf Seer had slipped into her hand.
She met Ortega Montalvo, head of the jaguars, courtesy of an introduction by Jocko Connelly. She’d gone to the main lodge for lunch and ran into the old wolf there, who was talking with the jaguar.
When Jocko was summoned away, Mercedes didn’t hesitate to broach the subject with the jaguar Clan leader. “This is a funny coincidence,” she said. “I was actually hoping to talk with you while I was here.”
He towered over her, nearly seven feet tall. A black eyebrow slid skyward over a golden eye.
“Really?” he asked, almost a purr.
For once, Mercedes found herself overwhelmed by someone. She licked her lips and glanced around. “May we speak in private? Briefly.”
He considered it for a moment before leading her out into the lobby area, where a glass clock denoting Old Faithful’s next eruption time stood sentry near an alcove.
“Yes?” he asked once they insured no one was close enough to overhear their conversation.
“I believe we have a common enemy,” she said.
His gaze narrowed. “Go on.”
It wasn’t a request.
“You can confirm this with Jocko Connelly, but I’ve been doing a lot of lineage research for my Clan lines. Apparently, we have had quite a bit of interference over the years from Rodolfo Abernathy.”
The jaguar nodded for her to continue but didn’t interrupt.
“We’ve also had several run-ins with the cockatrice,” she said, lowering her voice even further. “Deadly run-ins, for both sides. In my process of hunting them, I think I might have stumbled across a contact who can lead me to Abernathy.”
She watched his face. If her suspicions were correct, Blackestone had likely told him about the package she’d anonymously sent with the video, photos, and maps of Rodolfo murdering Paul after the showdown.
Yet another reason no one could know Marston was her mate…and the father of her baby.
He slowly nodded. “What is it that you want?”
“If in the course of my searches I do locate Abernathy…” She didn’t continue and let him fill in the blank.
He studied her for a moment before he reached into his pocket and handed her a business card. Glancing at it, she recognized the number on it as one of the ones Lacey had provided her with. “If you do locate him, call me
on that number immediately and we will not only assist you, but make it worth your while.”
Mercedes hoped she pulled off the embarrassed act well enough to fool the big cat. “I’m not looking for money.”
He placed a large hand on her shoulder. “Perhaps being from Europe, you have not heard. I have a considerable bounty offered on Abernathy’s head. One that would allow most people who claim it to live comfortably for life.” He smiled, baring large, white, even teeth. “Even if you just suspect where he is, you let me know and we will gladly take it from there.”
“How did you know I’m from Europe?” Of course, she suspected, but wanted him to say it.
“I already asked Jocko who you were when I saw you earlier today. I remarked that you had the way of a true hunter. Much in the manner of Daniel Blackestone’s sister. So it does not surprise me to find out you are in the same line of work as she.”
He dropped his hand from her shoulder, but offered it in a handshake. “I need know nothing more about you, however, than our common interest in ridding the world of that cockroach. The lupine one, that is.”
She shook with him, breathing a sigh of relief. Test passed, apparently. “Thank you, Mr. Montalvo. I appreciate it.”
“Please, you may call me Ortega. And you and yours are welcome in our lands if you should ever have need of a place to go.” He patted her hand with his other, sandwiching hers between his massive paws, swallowing hers in his grip. “You have my word, if you ever ask it, I will provide you and yours sanctuary.”
“Again, thank you.”
He started to turn, but then hesitated. “One more thing.”
“Yes?”
He glanced around. “I would appreciate confidentiality on this.”
“Of course.”
“If in the course of your search you stumble across a little girl in relation to Abernathy, around the age of eleven, please contact me immediately.”
“A little girl?”
A Wolf in the Fold Page 21
