by Kelly Meding
“Okay, you’re free to go,” I said to Hugh. “However, the vampire over there will continue watching you, so if you call anyone, or speak to anyone on the street, or do anything except go home, pack up some stuff, and drive out of town for good, you’ll end up in that cornfield. Or worse.”
Tennyson approached Hugh’s chair with enough menace in his expression I was almost scared of him. He leaned down and whispered something into Hugh’s ear. I couldn’t hear the words, but whatever Tennyson said, Hugh’s jeans darkened at the crotch.
That was some impressive threat to make a grown man piss himself.
The pair left the room, and I have no idea if Tennyson actually followed the guy, or if he simply hung around on the porch for a while, but he didn’t come back right away.
“Okay, that was both useful and pointless,” Jaxon said. “We know a little bit more, but I don’t see how it’s going to really help us.”
“Knowing there are two entry points is helpful, though,” Chandra said. “And we now have access to the building’s rear entrance.”
“True.”
“But what can we actually do with that information?” I asked. “There could be thirty to forty potential hostiles in there, not to mention their experiments. Yes, the werewolves are on our side, but what if their floor goes into some kind of lockdown mode and they can’t get out of their rooms?”
“They likely have those kinds of backup protocols in place,” Chandra said. “After all, one couple asked to leave and were denied, and two dozen agitated werewolves is trouble waiting to happen.”
“Agreed.” My phone chose that moment to ring. Rosalind. “Oh great.” I really wanted to let the call go to voice mail, but she’d entrusted one of her people to us, and we’d lost him. She deserved to know some of what we’d learned today. Some. “This is Shiloh Harrison,” I said after putting the call on speaker.
“It’s Rosalind, Second of the California Pack,” she replied. As if I didn’t know all that. “Alpha Kennedy is eager for an update on our missing Pack members.”
Might as well start with the only real good news I had. “We have tracked down the exact location of your missing werewolves, and we’ve confirmed that the people who lured them out here did so by manipulating the Andersons, and placing those wards in various homes to cause unnatural infertility.”
“Have you made arrests of these people?”
Seriously? “No, because things are pretty complicated.” I explained the glamour around the building, and our unsuccessful exploration of three floors—leaving out the whole wishing thing, and Rosalind didn’t seem to care how we became invisible, only what we learned—as well as what we’d learned from Hugh Warner—leaving out Gideon’s abduction. “One of the couples asked to leave and they were denied, so it’s unlikely the person in charge will react well to a sudden uprising and demand for departure.”
“I agree. My people are prisoners in this clinic, and that cannot stand. Tell me your exact location, Marshal Harrison. I will bring the full power of my Pack down on those people if they will not release mine.”
“Bad idea for many reasons, most of all public perception of a werewolf attack against what appears to be a perfectly legitimate business. We can’t shatter this particular glamour right now. Attacking the clinic plays right into their hands. These people want to prove werewolves are dangerous to humans, so please, let us handle this.”
“I dislike your logic, but I agree with it. Does Gideon agree?”
“Yup.”
“May he answer for himself?”
“He’s not in the room at the moment.” I made a mental note to collect his stuff from the silo and have “Gideon” send Rosalind a text. Deceitful, but if I could keep his kidnapping a secret for a while longer, it boded well for the next time Rosalind and I met face-to-face. Maybe she wouldn’t try to break mine.
“What is your plan to retrieve my wolves?” Rosalind asked.
“We’re working on it.” I purposely left out the whole “the US Marshals service and maybe even the Department of Justice is in on these experiments” part of our discovery. I needed to keep her and the Alpha’s trust in my team to get this done without risking an all-out attack on the clinic by pissed-off werewolves.
“It sounds as if you’ve made great strides toward a solution. Please, continue to update us on your progress.”
“I will, thank you.” I ended the call and flopped onto one of the beds. “That went better than I expected.”
“Are you sure lying about Gideon was a good idea?” Jaxon asked.
“I didn’t lie. He’s not in the room, is he?”
“Has anyone heard from Kathleen recently?” Chandra asked. “It’s been several hours since we parted ways.”
“Nope.”
Jaxon tried to call her. “Voice mail.”
I texted her asking for an update, and I got one back almost instantly—except it was a new text from my mom. Safe in a hotel in Wichita. Flight home in the morning.
I replied with a few emojis, then told the team.
“Question,” Jaxon said. “Can I use my last wish with you to summon another djinn?”
“Um.” I sat up as I tried puzzling that one out. It took a lot of power to summon a djinn who wasn’t already attracted to your emotional state. “I’m not sure, but why? Trying to get more wishes?”
“Trying to get more eyeballs. Last week, remember when Novak and Kathleen’s helicopter went down? Your dad was able to teleport to the location without being seen by rescuers and tell us their bodies weren’t inside.”
“He did?” Novak asked.
“Yeah, it’s how we knew you’d been taken by someone. Weller tried using you guys against us by pretending to have murdered Kathleen over the phone to get our cooperation.”
“So you want my dad to spy on the clinic for us?” I asked.
“Yes.”
“No, and for the same reason as before. Without knowing the limits of the magic user we’re facing here, I don’t want a djinn as powerful as my dad anywhere near this place. Djinn and magic users generally repel each other, anyway, because djinn are born with their magic inside them, while most magic users and abusers draw magic from external sources.”
“So he might not be able to see through the glamour and get through the wards?”
“That, and if this magic user is powerful enough, or if they somehow know the binding words, they could find a way to bind my dad to them, and then we’d be not only up shit creek, we’d be tumbling over a shit waterfall.”
Jaxon nodded his understanding. “Okay. Just a thought. We need to toss out every possibility we’ve got and see what sticks.”
“I know, but getting him involved is just too dangerous.”
“You know he’d risk it for you.”
“Which is exactly why I don’t want to call for him.”
“How about one of your siblings?”
I gave him a sharp look. “You know about them?”
“Of course.”
Oh yeah, memory loss. I must have really been into this guy if we’d talked about my extended family. “I’ve never met any of them. They’d have no reason to help, and I don’t know how to call them, anyway. Plus, I think the power expenditure of wishing for another djinn will be too high to work as your third wish.”
“Damn.”
“Why don’t we just call the blessed CIA or something?” Novak asked. “The werewolves are being held against their will, and no way is whatever they’re doing to those men legal.”
“I honestly don’t trust the government right now,” I replied. “Not if the Marshals Service is involved. Who knows who else is funneling money and resources to Damian and his people? And local law enforcement doesn’t have enough resources or experience to deal with a Para issue like this.”
“And we did technically do a warrantless search earlier,” Jaxon added. “So how do we explain how we know about the other experiments?”
Novak grumped. We all
wanted the shut this clinic down, but we had to be smart about it, not barrel in with guns blazing, metaphorically or not.
We were getting nowhere, and all the iced tea I’d guzzled during dinner needed to come out, so I excused myself to the bathroom to release it. As I washed my hands, I studied myself in the mirror. I honestly couldn’t tell if I looked confident and put-together, or stressed and worried. Everyone was deferring to my lead, and I still wasn’t used to having that sort of power.
I didn’t look like a raving lunatic, though, so I counted that as a win and returned to the main room. Tennyson was back, and the power that always seemed to snap and crackle around him was super-charged.
Oh crap. “Tell me you didn’t feed off Hugh Warner,” I said.
“I did not feed off Hugh Warner,” Tennyson replied. “I did, however, find a handsome young man in need of sexual release. He was quite eager to offer up a small amount of blood in return.”
“You had sex while we’re trying to figure out how to shut down this clinic?”
“I needed to feed in order to maintain my strength. It is so much easier to seduce a blood donation with an orgasm than to take without permission.”
As a big fan of informed consent, I couldn’t fault him that logic. I also let him know what I’d told Rosalind and about Kathleen’s continued silence.
“I am pleased to hear the Packs have been given some information, and while I do not condone your misinformation about Gideon, I understand your reasons.”
“Gee, thanks.”
We ended up sort of breaking the meeting there, because we were going in circles in terms of what do to. Right now, the werewolves were safe and not in immediate danger—something Chandra confirmed after a quick brain-chat with Alice, who had also not seen a glimpse of Gideon on their floor—so we could take time and think. Or not think. Sometimes the most obvious solution to a problem came when I stopped trying to force it.
Tennyson retired to one of the rooms, while Chandra and Novak gleefully took another. When the wall-banging began a few minutes later, I turned the TV on as a distraction for me and Jaxon. Then I retreated to one of the beds and texted Vincent. Mom had given me his number, and it was far beyond time I reached out again.
Me: I’ve been thinking about you a lot lately. I really want to talk.
Jaxon found a cooking competition show and we settled on one bed, not touching, to watch. I kept checking my phone, and after nearly forty minutes, Vincent pinged back.
Sweet Iblis, yes, he’s finally communicating with me.
Vincent: You kept a huge thing from me for months. Not sure there’s much left to say.
With my heart in my throat, I replied, I had to protect you from that part of my life. It’s dangerous. I’m so sorry you were hurt. You didn’t deserve it.
Vincent: No, I didn’t. But you were hurt, too. Are you okay?
I really wanted to hear his voice, but this was better than nothing. Physically, I’m fine. Everything has changed, though, and I don’t know how to fix it.
Vincent: Maybe there’s no fixing this.
I shifted to sit with my legs dangling off the side of the bed so Jaxon couldn’t see my face, or the hurt I couldn’t hide. Vincent and I had been on the cusp of a “let’s get serious” conversation a week ago, and now he wanted to break up? I thought hard before I responded. Can’t we at least talk on the phone first? I can try to explain why I hid who I am?
Vincent: Now is a bad time. In New Jersey visiting my parents. Your world scares me, Shi. I’m sorry.
My throat closed and I blinked back hot tears. I wasn’t going to cry over a guy, bless it, but I cared about Vincent, and I hated that he was breaking up with me—not only via text, but without an actual conversation about what had happened. No chance to plead my case, no chance to offer a sincere apology.
Through blurry eyes, I typed, I’m sorry, too. I wanted us to have something. Maybe I wanted it too much. Please take care of yourself.
When no reply came after several minutes of staring at my dark phone, I dropped it on the floor and curled up on my side. Head on the flat motel pillow. I hated crying, so I tried to let the emotions work through me on their own, but Jaxon had to get all concerned.
“Shi? What’s wrong?” A warm hand squeezed my shoulder as the bed moved beneath us. “Hey?”
“I think Vincent is dumping me.” My voice was raspy, and I hated the weakness, but every part of me knew Jaxon wouldn’t judge me.
He climbed off the bed to retrieve my phone, and I stared at the wallpaper while he looked at my messages. The bed dipped again as he settled behind me. “I’m so sorry.”
“I lied to him.”
“You had good reason. You were protecting him.”
“I was protecting myself, too.” I sat up, stupidly angry at Jaxon for trying to make me feel better. And even more, I hated the sympathetic look on his face, because it made it more difficult not to cry. “I pretended to be human, I pretended to be a regular Marshal, because I was afraid he’d look at me like so many other people do when they can’t figure out what I am. A freak. I’ve only ever felt at home with the Para-Marshals, and we’re falling apart. It’s all falling apart, Jaxon.”
I sobbed once, and then all I knew was the heat of his arms around me, the broadness of his chest against mine, the strength with which he held me close. I pressed my face into his neck and forced the tears back, unwilling to lose it in front of someone I’d only known a few days—except my body knew him. Knew we’d once been close, knew he’d take care of me, knew he wasn’t a stranger.
Maybe I couldn’t trust my memory about Jaxon, but I trusted myself. Our mouths came together in the same moment I reached for his belt buckle. He found the hem of my shirt, and we moved with a practiced ease at once familiar and completely new. Few words passed between us as we kissed and touched and gradually shed clothes. I didn’t want to think, didn’t want to worry or wonder or plan. All I wanted was to feel.
And I felt plenty as we pulled the covers back and I pushed Jaxon onto his back. Climbed on top and welcomed him into my body. He held my hips in a sure grip that didn’t direct or control, and I leaned down to kiss him again. Everything about his kisses was comforting and sure, and I needed more.
A tiny part of my mind warned me this was a bad idea—getting involved with a coworker for the second time was a recipe for disaster—but I told my better angels to go fuck themselves. My demons got to live it up tonight, and live it up we did. Several hours and two orgasms later, I collapsed into bed, exhausted and sated.
I had no idea what tomorrow would bring, but for a little while tonight, I was content and at peace, and I slept safely in Jaxon’s arms.
Chapter 16
Loud knocking on the motel room door startled me and Jaxon right out of bed and onto our feet. I reached for my firearm, which was on the floor by my jeans. Jaxon was nearly to the door with his own gun out when he realized he was naked, so I threw his boxers at him, which had ended up on my side of the bed. I simplified things and wrapped the bed’s coverlet around me.
Jaxon checked the window first, then opened the door a crack. “Officer Murphy, it’s a bit early, isn’t it?”
“Sorry to disturb you folks, but it’s important,” Murphy replied.
“Sure, just give me a second to put a shirt on. You caught me still in bed.”
“Certainly.”
He shut the door and snagged his shirt off the floor. I took the moment to collect my clothes and duck into the bathroom to get dressed, leaving the door half-shut so I could listen.
“Come in, please,” Jaxon said. “Should I get the rest of my team?”
“I don’t believe that will be necessary,” Murphy replied. “But I do need to speak to the male vampire in your group.”
“Tennyson? Why?”
I ran my fingers through my messy hair as I joined Jaxon and Murphy. Murphy gave my rumpled appearance a once-over I did not care for, and then winked at Jaxon. “Mixing business
with pleasure?”
Jaxon grunted. “Why do you need to speak with Tennyson? He’s a civilian, not a Marshal.”
“Because half an hour ago, a man named Hugh Warner was found dead in his truck by highway patrol, less than two miles outside of town. Drained of blood.”
Crap on a cracker.
“Did they find bite marks on his body?” I asked.
“No, but what else can drain a body of blood other than a vampire?”
“You’d be genuinely surprised to hear the answer to that, Officer. I’ll get Tennyson.”
“I appreciate it.”
Instead of shocking the cop by using the telepathic link, I walked next door and knocked. Tennyson answered quickly. His nostrils flared as he very clearly scented me, and his eyebrows went up, but he didn’t comment.
“Officer Murphy has questions,” I said. “Hugh Warner was found dead outside of town.”
“Intriguing.” He followed me back to my room.
Murphy shrank a bit, because anyone with two eyes could tell Tennyson was old and powerful, and yeah, intimidating when he focused on you.
“How may I assist you, Officer?” Tennyson asked.
“Just need to know your whereabouts last night between six and midnight,” Murphy replied in a less than steady voice.
“I was in several places last night, including physical proximity to Mr. Warner, as well as a young man whose name I believe was Ross. I did not, however, leave town limits at any time between those hours. In fact, as of around seven-thirty or so, I did not leave my room next door until just now.”
Murphy scribbled notes on a small pad, his fingers shaking a bit. Probably wasn’t every day a cop from the middle of nowhere had to question a Master vampire.
“Why do you suspect I killed Mr. Warner?” Tennyson asked, as bored as if he was ordering a cup of coffee.
