by Kelly Hall
“Well, Bex is going to have to check out that building,” Ignis said. “If that’s a den and your commander was trying to flush it out, it could have been the reason for the attack. I’m still not sure why there is a mage involved, but when I catch him or her, I’m going to do all I can to make them talk. I can’t help but wonder if they’ve got the poor thing hostage or if they really are a willing participant.”
Canter looked below. “Do your kind often use dark magic and team up with our enemies? I’ve never heard of wolves using a mage to do their dirty work. It would seem that kind of thing is frowned upon, is it not?”
“I don’t speak for my people.” He hadn’t since the day he shamed his family and was exiled from the community.
Jarreth took out his knife. The blade glistened with wild colors from the neon in the distance. “How do we know you didn’t have something to do with the attacks?”
Ignis yawned. “I’d put away that blade if I were you. I don’t think Bex is going to appreciate it if you stab her roommate and oldest friend.”
Jarreth lowered the blade. “Her roommate? You live with her?”
“Yes, I have for years, as a matter of fact.”
“Are the two of you—”
“Hell no.” Ignis shook away the thought.
“Are you into guys or something?” Jarreth put his knife away. “Because there has to be a good reason you’re not hitting that.”
“Hitting?” Ignis squared his shoulders. “I’d never hit Rebekah.” He felt the sudden urge to connect his fist with the pretty boy’s face.
“No, I mean, tapping. You know, smashing?” Jarreth let out a breath and turned to Canter for help.
Canter held up a hand. “Don’t look at me, man.” He didn’t want anything to do with the conversation.
Delilah leaned closer to Ignis. “He means he can’t believe you wouldn’t be intimate with someone as gorgeous as Rebekah.”
“Oh, well why didn’t he just say so? And about that inquiry into my sexuality, the answer is no, I’m not into guys. Not that I haven’t had many offers.”
Just as Jarreth was about to open his mouth for a snarky remark, a loud, clanking noise sounded in the alley below. They turned to look over the edge and spotted a cat scurrying across the alley.
“Stupid cat.” As soon as the words left Delilah’s lips, movement near the far side of the alley brought their attention around to a dark figure; a person.
Jarreth covered Delilah’s mouth with his hand. She turned her eyes back down to the alley as Ignis belted a laugh and disappeared. The dark figure stopped, and Jarreth and Canter palmed their knives as the blue mist formed below in front of it.
On the ground, Ignis reformed.
“Dammit, Ignis.” Rebekah held Stella tight, ready to use her.
“Don’t dammit me. I can’t believe you’re here all alone.” He crossed his arms, ready for her to challenge him.
“You’re one to talk.” She dropped the dagger down to her side.
“I’m not alone, though.” He pointed toward the rooftop, where she saw her three unmarked trainees peering over the edge of the building.
“You’ve got to be kidding me. How long have you been here?” She waved them down and turned back to Ignis for his answer.
“Not long, at least, not long together. I was prowling around in the shadows, and I have to tell you, I think that trace of wolves is coming from that building.” Ignis pointed over his shoulder to the tall brick building where he’d seen the wolf go. “I saw a shifter go in there from the club.” He didn’t want to rat the others out and wasn’t sure Rebekah was going to hate them being there. She had been known to tie one on in her day as well, but that was back with Ethan when her lust was nearly as bad as his.
Rebekah sighed. “Let me see what these three are up to, and we may as well check out the building while we’re here.”
The trainees walked around the corner with Canter in the lead. “I’m sorry, Commander Ward.” He knew by honoring her rank, he just might have a chance to talk his way out of getting a demerit.
“At ease, Canter, and cut the commander shit. Call me Rebekah.”
“Yes, Rebekah. It’s just that I’ve never earned a demerit.”
“And you won’t have one now if you can help me out and tell me what’s going on.”
Delilah kept her head down, but Jarreth stared right at Rebekah’s breasts.
He was practically drooling. “You look amazing. I thought you had a date?”
Ignis cleared his throat. “Now that he mentions it, that is a little dressy for business, Bex.” Ignis gave her a suspicious look, but she shrugged off their comments and cleared her throat.
“The way I’m dressed is not relevant at the moment.” She pegged Jarreth with a hard look. “What I need to know from you is, have you been inside, and did you see anything?”
“Someone bumped into me in the club,” Delilah said. “He was a shifter, started mouthing off and called me a bitch. We thought he was luring me to give chase.”
“And how did you know he was a shifter?” She hoped they had solid proof.
Canter was certain they were right. “His smell, the way he growled, and the way he called Delilah a bitch.”
“To be fair, it’s not the first time someone’s called me that,” Delilah said with a giggle.
The mage knew he liked her best of all. She reminded him of Bex when she was younger, before joining the cause and all of the killing had changed her, stolen away her innocence, and sharpened her edges.
Rebekah sighed. “Have you been drinking?” She leaned in and smelled the air between them. “I’m not sure which rule is worse that you’re breaking, drinking while hunting or hunting while unmarked. Either way, you better be glad it was me who caught you.”
Delilah folded her arms. “Sorry.”
“Save it,” Rebekah said. Let’s just get this building checked out. If this is a den, maybe they are all out somewhere.”
Ignis shook his head. “This is a terrible idea. We know one of them just went in there. What if they’re all home with their dark mage?”
“That’s why we’re sending you in first, mist man.” Rebekah clapped Ignis on the back. She knew his senses were just as strong as hers, and he’d be able to get into the building undetected. “I want you to go in and give me a head count.”
“Fine.” He looked at the others and then walked over to the building where he ghosted into the blue mist and disappeared into a crack in the wall.
Jarreth whistled softly. “That’s a pretty neat trick. Do you think he’d tell me how he does it?”
Rebekah laughed, thinking about the time she made the mistake of asking him to explain his magic. “Yes, he quite loves explaining it, but you wouldn’t understand it, and by the time he was finished, you’ll wish you’d never asked.”
“Sounds like you’re speaking from experience,” said Canter, whose eyes were fixed on the building where Ignis entered.
“You have no idea.”
A moment later, Ignis came out of the building shaking his head.“I’m not sure if that’s a den or not, but our man is there.”
“Man? Not shifter?” She groaned. The others couldn’t help but make the mistake. They didn’t have their marks and were only using their judgement, not their given instincts, which would come after their marking ceremony. Every hunter would be given her blood, and while their instincts wouldn’t be as strong as hers, they would be stronger than before.
Ignis dusted off his sleeve. “Yes, once I got close, I could tell he’s not a shifter. He smells like the mutts, but so does the place he’s sleeping. The place is full of storage containers, and it looks like he’s been squatting there for some time.”
“Maybe he knows something.” Rebekah walked over to the place where the man entered the building and found a door that had been broken to stay open. “Guess you didn’t have to mist in after all.”
“Oh well. You know me. I like to make a dramatic
entrance.” The mage followed in behind her and so did the trainees. Rebekah didn’t want to pull her daggers unless absolutely necessary, especially since she had a feeling Delilah was on to her.
They wove their way through the storage area with Ignis leading the way. “He’s over here sleeping,” the mage said. He pointed down the passage between a stack of boxes, and Rebekah proceeded with caution.
She rounded the corner and found the man sleeping on an old mattress, which was riddled with shifter stench. She kicked his leg a few times until he roused.
“What the fuck is this? Can’t a man sleep off a drink?” His eyes widened when they focused on Rebekah. “Hello, nurse. I’ve got something needs fixin’.” He grabbed his crotch and laughed until Jarreth and Canter stepped up beside her with their knives drawn.
Rebekah was glad the two had proven useful, even if she didn’t need their chivalry.
The man’s expression fell. “Oh, it’s you. Did you get mad I called your little girlie a bitch? Cause I didn’t mean that, you know? I really didn’t. I meant to say she was a whore.” The old man cackled and wheezed, seemingly proud of himself and out of his mind.
Rebekah needed to try talking to him anyway. She gestured to Jarreth, who was just itching to get his hands on the man. He reached down and pulled the man up by his shirt, putting the blade to his throat.
“Have you had any companions in the past week?” Rebekah asked. “Maybe a few men, a couple of dogs?”
The man’s eyes went wild. “Them was wolves; ain’t no dogs. They come from the mountains, you know? Then they went back. They left days ago, gave me my only bed in months and said I was one of them.” He howled loudly and paid no mind to Jarreth’s blade. Jarreth dropped him back to the bed, and he grabbed hold of his leg. “Why you not gonna kill me, man? I’m ready. Send me home to Mama and Jesus.” He burst out laughing.
“They’ve been gone for days?” Rebekah asked.
“Yeah, they said you’d come.” He burst out laughing until he had a coughing fit.
Rebekah turned to leave before the man coughed up a lung, and the others fell in behind her. Once they got outside, she turned to Ignis. “I’m going to let you drive.” The ramblings of the madman had been nothing more than jabber to the others, but Rebekah got the message loud and clear. They knew she would be on their trail, and they left their friend behind to act as a decoy.
Chapter 9
Rebekah looked at the bright red dress that was the first actual color she’d worn in ages. After stripping it off, she had laid it over the chair in her room until it could be cleaned. All of her clothes were either black, grey, or brown, and almost everything was leather or cotton, even the few skirts and dresses she owned. It was nice to wear something different for a change, even though she wasn’t sure it had been for the right reasons. Was it fair that she wanted Kayne to crave her? Probably not, but he wasn’t the only one suffering. She put on a robe and finished drying her hair and began brushing it when out of the corner of her eye, she caught sight of a blue mist creeping beneath the door.
“Ignis.” She didn’t even wait for him to solidify before scolding him. “You could have knocked.”
“I was trying not to let Sister Frankie know I was up. I think that nun is watching me. Besides, I knew you were decent.”
“How’d you know that?”
“I peeked through the keyhole.” He flashed a playful smile, and she tossed her hairbrush at him.
“You’re a devil.” She knew he didn’t look at her in that way, but he liked to tease her now and then.
He reached down to pick up the hairbrush and walked across the room to where she sat on the end of the bed. “May I?”
“Yes.” She turned, and he sat behind her, pulling the brush through her long, dark locks. He’d spent hours over the years brushing her hair and knew it brought her comfort.
“So, how was your date?” He looked over to the dress and shook his head at the thought of her wearing that for someone, especially Kayne.
“It wasn’t a date, Ignis. You know as well as I do, I could never date the leader of our enemy.”
“Thank heavens. I thought that I was going to have to talk some sense into you. I see the way he looks at you, you know?”
Rebekah turned to protest, but he grabbed her shoulders and urged her to stay put. “No, don’t deny it, Bex. I know he’s tried for hundreds of years. And I see the way he looks at me, too. I know he likes me as much as I like him.”
“You hate him?” Rebekah couldn’t stand the thought of her liking Kayne being an offense to her dearest friend.
“Hate isn’t accurate. I guess I despise him as much as you do. For creating such monsters that you’ve had to devote your entire life to fighting and killing them. And what was with that dress? Don’t get me wrong. You really looked spectacular in it, and I even approve of the color, but it screamed harlot.”
“I had to seem desirable, Ignis. Even you know a lady sometimes has to fight dirty, and well, I’m ashamed to say, I asked for his help.”
“You did?”
“Yes, I did. I asked if he knew anything. I hoped that by being enticing, he’d be easier to convince.”
“And?”
“And he hadn’t heard anything about rogue wolves using a mage for help. But he pointed out that it shouldn’t be so hard to believe since it wouldn’t be the first time anyone consorted with mages to help their cause.” She turned her head enough to give him a glance, but he kept the brush moving, soothing her scalp with each pass.
“Dirty bastard, bringing me into it.” In his mind, Ignis could see the foul look Kayne had given him before, his cold black stare, the same color as his soul, as if Ignis was in his way.
“He’s got a point.” Rebekah was probably the first hunter to consort with mages.
“I hate him.”
“Do you think—never mind.” Rebekah let the question die.
“Do I think what? Come on, you can talk to me.”
She couldn’t talk to him about Kayne, so she changed the subject to another that was pressing on her heart and mind. “I was just thinking about Merik. You know his grandmother, the last of my blood, still doesn’t know of his passing. I can’t let that go on another day, Ignis. I need to go see her and let her know. I’ll tell her that he died in battle and was a hero, but I fear it won’t be any solace to her.” She felt the gooseflesh on her arms as Ignis brushed a soothing spot. “When she goes, it will be done. The prophecy will be fulfilled, and I’m no closer after all of these years of searching to learning what it means.”
“I think it means the hope of mankind. Maybe the end of peace? The second coming? The apocalypse?” Ignis could think of so many things that it made it even harder.
“Maybe I should have taken your advice and not let Merik join. I’ve been beating myself up for days that I did. He should have been mated and had children. But you know me. I’m not my father. I couldn’t very well make him do what my father would have had me do.”
“Do you think you’d have been happy with Atticus?” Ignis had known Atticus as well.
“As far as an arrangement, it wasn’t a bad deal. Did I love him? No. Not as a woman should love her husband, but I know he loved me.” She reached back on her bed, and instead of grabbing Stella, she grabbed Atticus’s blade. She cradled Luna in her arms against her, stroking the scabbard, feeling the cold metal turn warm with her heat.
There were some people that Rebekah hadn’t seen in so long, she couldn’t even remember what their faces looked like or the sound of their voices, but she’d never lost the memory of Atticus and doubted she ever would. “I’ve told you where I found Luna, right?”
“Yes, at that camp where you slaughtered your first shifters. A rogue pack, wasn’t it?”
“Yes, it was. You know, when we went out there, killing those beasts, I almost felt bad. Ethan praised me, though. He made it seem okay, but deep down, I wondered if I’d ever have a clear conscience again. Then I found Lun
a, and I realized I’d gotten revenge. It tasted sweet, and not to be crass, but it turned me on.” She knew to spare him the details. “Instead of feeling guilty for killing those men, I felt guilty for not warning Atticus. I knew of Ethan and that he was meeting with my father. I knew of the beasts and the vampires. I could have said something.”
“You didn’t know that he was fighting for Ethan, though.” Ignis had known, and he regretted not being able to tell her or do anything about it. It simply wasn’t his charge. When Atticus died, he saw her future changing and the hopeless look in her eyes. He’d wanted to restore her, to give her something different, something the world she knew never could.
“I know, but maybe if I had just shared one damned secret with him, I would have. He would have trusted me enough to tell me.” She had kept so many things from Atticus that she couldn’t help thinking if she’d only known, she’d have made sure he didn’t die.
Ignis stilled the brush, and when she turned around, he gave her a solemn look. “As bad as it sounds, I’m glad you didn’t, Rebekah.” He rarely called her by her given name, but when he did, it gave his words much more meaning. “If you had, you’d have married him, you’d have grown old, and you’d be dead and gone by now. If that had happened, I wouldn’t have my best friend. And though it’s been a long, hard life, I wouldn’t want to spend it with anyone else.”
Rebekah fell against him, and he held her, planting a soft kiss atop her head, his arms cradling her firmly. “Let’s tuck you in.”
She wiped her eyes and got to her feet to put the hairbrush away. She carried Luna close, still stroking the scabbard, and as Ignis pulled back her covers, she crawled in between the sheets. She placed Luna beneath her pillow next to Stella, and when she laid back, he pulled the covers up to her neck and tucked them around her as he had when she was little.
He looked down with his goofy smile and bright green eyes. “I haven’t lost my touch, have I?”
