Blood Rule (Book 4, Dirty Blood series)

by Heather Hildenbrand

  I allowed myself a moment to imagine the same thing about George. Something struck hard inside my chest and the picture, even though my brain knew it was concocted by my own imagination and not real, provided sufficient agony that I knew he was right.

  “They’re alive,” I said. “They must be.”

  George nodded. “And if you know that, there must be a way to connect.”

  “How? I’ve tried and get nothing every time.”

  “Remember back when our bond first began and we wanted to find a way to shut each other out sometimes?”

  “We tried that already, George. It didn’t work.”

  He shook his head. “Maybe not for you, but if you had any idea how clearly I can read your thoughts…”

  The words flashed in my mind: Emma’s eyes look so pretty … And I thought of the words that’d begun to slip through with Chris right before he was taken. I’d thought it was a product of so much noise in my head. None of them seemed able to read me as clearly. “What do you mean ‘read my thoughts’?”

  “Exactly what I said.”

  “But it’s not thoughts. It’s feelings,” I argued.

  “What can you read from me right now?”

  I tilted my head, concentrating. “You’re determined to find a way to awaken the bond …” I shot a look at Emma. “And you’re excited about something, but you won’t let me see what.”

  His cheeks reddened. “Good. Now it’s my turn.”

  He was quiet for so long, it made me nervous. I shifted in my chair, refusing to break eye contact. Finally, he frowned and lines creased his forehead. “Steppe messed with Angela?”

  “What?” Wes asked.

  I gaped at George. “How did you know that?” Had he heard me on the phone? I could’ve sworn he’d been sleeping.

  “I was sleeping. I didn’t hear anything. Except your thoughts right now,” he said.

  “How do you do that? I can only read feelings and sometimes a few words here and there.”

  “Logan and I have two theories—”

  “Logan?” Wes and I said together.

  George sighed. “Yes.”

  “When did you talk to Logan?” I asked.

  “While you spent your days at the hospital or making out with your boyfriend,” he said, giving me a look that made my face heat, “I did research. Or, I had Logan do research. I took a lot of notes.”

  I opened my mouth and closed it again. George had done research?

  “I read a lot of thoughts. I had to do something to shut them out. Logan talked to Astor and helped me learn how to turn it down a notch.”

  Again, I didn’t say a word. I thought back to all the time I’d spent beside Alex’s bed, begging him, both mentally and aloud, to wake up and talk to me. Most of it was due to wanting an explanation to what he’d done to George but there was a fair amount of selfishness mixed in. I missed him. I wanted him back in my life, even as a friend. How much of that did George know?

  George quirked an eyebrow at me. I had my answer.

  “And it worked?” Wes asked. “You’re able to turn it off and on?”

  “More or less,” George told him. “I’m getting better with practice. Honing in is easier than checking out.”

  “And you think this will help her find the pack?” Wes asked.

  “Maybe.”

  “I don’t know,” I said. “I just found a way to turn the volume down on what I do get from you. Remember how strong it was in the beginning for us?”

  “Yes. And it’s still that strong now,” he said. “But I can control when I hear you and how loud it gets. I’ve seen you with your headphones. I know the noise gets too loud. Don’t you want to find a way to turn it down?”

  “Yes,” I admitted. And I did. Desperately. If I was able to reawaken the bond with the pack, turning down the noise would be great. But all I could think about was what he’d said about “honing in” being so much easier and how transparent my thoughts had been these last few weeks.

  “I’m sorry you feel invaded,” George said. “I didn’t realize … I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable. And I turned it off as much as possible. I try to only use it to make sure you’re not in danger.”

  I studied him, both physically and through the bond. I knew George didn’t mean harm, but could I trust him with my thoughts? In response, he gave me a barely-noticeable nod.

  “What do you think?” Wes asked me, unaware of our silent exchange.

  “I have to try,” I said. “What do I do first?”

  “Call Logan.”

  ***

  Three minutes later, I held the phone and listened to it ringing. George had memorized Logan’s cell number, which was a good thing since this phone had nothing pre-programmed.

  Victoria answered. “Hello?”

  “It’s Tara. Can I talk to Logan?” I managed to keep my voice neutral. That was usually the best way until I figured out what sort of mood Victoria was in, or whether we were pretending to be friends or not on a particular day.

  “Hello, dog food.”

  Today, we weren’t friends.

  “Ice Queen Barbie,” I replied. And then without waiting for a response, “Get Logan.”

  “He’s busy.”

  “Tell him to call me as soon as he’s not busy.”

  “What will you do for me?”

  I bit my lip until the urge to threaten her with violence passed. “What do you want?”

  There was shuffling in the background, a door closing, and then silence.

  “Hello?” I said. “Vic, you there?” I wouldn’t put it past her to hang up on me.

  “I want out of here,” she said in a low voice.

  “What are you talking about?”

  “Astor is effing crazy. And I mean that in a very real, screws loose, doesn’t-know-whether-he’s-coming-or-going way. He wears a dirty smoking jacket and house slippers with bunny ears every day. There’s a stain on the pocket from last week’s spaghetti. It’s revolting.

  “There’s nothing to do. No outside communication, not that any of my old friends will still talk to me after associating myself with you, and even if I wanted to help you and your mutts, no one will let me.”

  “Vic—”

  “I’m being treated like I’m helpless. I’m not. I want out. And after exhausting all other options, you are going to help me make that happen.”

  I resisted the urge to laugh out loud. It shouldn’t surprise me that Victoria would ask me for help while being as nasty as possible about it. That was her way. What surprised me was that she thought I could make it happen for her. Did she really want to leave that bad? Was she tired of Logan? Were they having problems? Her attraction to him had always surprised me: the popular, beautiful cheerleader type with the quiet, bookish, smart although adorable guy from the front row. At the time, it’d made me wonder if I’d misjudged her and maybe that she went deeper than appeared. Then again, maybe not.

  And what other “options” had she exhausted?

  “How exactly do you expect me to do that?” I asked.

  “Simple. You need me.”

  “Do I? And why is that?”

  “I can help you find your pack.”

  It took me about three seconds to process what she’d said. I’d forgotten Victoria’s gift for tracking, an ability that could be the answer to everything. Except that it belonged to the most difficult person I’d ever met—aside from Cord.

  “Tell Logan you need me,” she said.

  “Why do you need his permission to leave?”

  “I don’t. I need to convince him to let me come alone.”

  “Are you tired of him already?”

  “No, dogface. I’d like to keep him safe long enough for me to kick ass.”

  “Logan can kick ass too.”

  “Not when the ass needing to be kicked belongs to his own father.”

  Again, I found myself without words. Victoria was protecting someone? Putting someone else’s needs before
her own? I wasn’t sure I’d ever seen that before. It would have to mean she actually cared for the person. Definitely a new concept for her.

  “Point taken,” I said, forcing my mind to work through her words. George chuckled and I knew he was reading the conversation loud and clear.

  “Are you going to help me or not?”

  “I don’t know if I can,” I said.

  “Don’t give me that crap. If you want to, you’ll make it happen.”

  “I’m serious. The place we’re at is protected. And sealed. Only hybrids can—”

  “I know. The cabin. I can get in.”

  “How?”

  “Are you kidding me? I spend all my time with Bill Nye the Science Guy and his thankfully much-better-looking sidekick. Of course I can get in. Will you talk to Logan for me?”

  I shook my head. “I can try, but I can’t guarantee—”

  “Here he is.”

  “Hello?” Logan said.

  “Hey, Logan. It’s Tara.”

  “What’s up? You guys find the cabin okay?”

  “We found it.”

  “And everyone’s fine? I heard what happened before you guys left…”

  “Yes, we’re fine,” I said. “How are things there? How’s Astor?”

  “He’s … You know.”

  “Yeah, I know.”

  “Grandma said you weren’t answering your phone for a few days.”

  “I had some family stuff going on,” he said uncertainly.

  “Logan, I know about your dad. Are you okay?”

  “I’m fine. He’s doing what he thinks is right. I can’t—He doesn’t listen to me.”

  “I’m not asking for anything,” I said.

  “Thanks.”

  There was a pause.

  “You there?” I asked.

  “She wants to leave, doesn’t she?”

  “She told you?”

  “She may have mentioned it a few times,” he said, his words laced with sarcasm.

  “She offered to help me find the hybrids.”

  “I know.” He sighed again. “Which is why you’re about to tell me to let her go.”

  “You make it sound like she needs my permission. We both know if Victoria makes up her mind and I promise not to kill her if she shows up, that’s all the permission she needs.”

  “It would be nice if you didn’t attempt to murder my girlfriend.”

  “She wants to come alone.”

  “I know.” He sighed heavily and I knew this too had already been discussed between them.

  “She’s worried about you handling yourself with your dad being involved.”

  “I worry about her for the same reason.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “After what happened with her parents, she thinks she needs to prove herself.”

  “To who?”

  “That’s a good question.”

  “I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I think her heart’s in the right place.”

  “Don’t get all crazy on me now.”

  I laughed. “Don’t worry. That’s the extent of my warm fuzzies for Victoria.”

  “Good. The two of you being friends scares me.”

  “Agreed. So, are you going to come with her then? Make sure we don’t kill each other?”

  “I don’t think I can leave Astor,” he said. He sounded strained, like it wasn’t an easy choice.

  “Astor has Jeeves. He’ll be fine.”

  “They both miss you,” he said, changing the subject.

  “I’ll bet. I bring such peace and tranquility wherever I go.”

  Logan chuckled. “That’s one of the things I love about you. Never a dull moment.”

  “Havoc, it’s what I do.”

  “Apparently. Runs in your family, I suppose.”

  “You heard about Grandma being removed from CHAS?”

  “She called earlier. So does this make Vera’s vision more or less true?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Vera saw you as the leader. Of Werewolves or maybe even both sides. But now, with the treaty dissolved, The Cause isn’t really The Cause anymore. And I’m pretty sure CHAS isn’t going to offer you a spot on the council anytime soon.”

  “I wouldn’t want it anyway. CHAS is just this side of a dictatorship.”

  “I agree, but it’s not like there’s another option.”

  “Well, maybe there should be.”

  “What are you saying?” There was a strange note in his voice when he asked. George and Wes watched me intently.

  I answered honestly and couldn’t help the vehemence that crept in at the very mention of his name. “Steppe thinks he can erase The Cause with a piece of paper. Maybe CHAS shouldn’t exist either.”

  When he spoke again, I could hear the smile through the phone. “We’ll be there tomorrow.”

  Then he hung up.

  I looked at George and Wes. “What was that about?”

  They exchanged a glance that said they knew exactly what it was about, but neither one offered an explanation.

  “What did Logan say?” George asked.

  “They’ll be here tomorrow,” I said.

  “And they can get through the wards?” Wes asked.

  “That’s what Victoria said.”

  “What does she get out of it?” George asked.

  “She offered to help find the pack. She must really hate it there.”

  “Did it occur to you she might actually want to help?” Wes asked.

  I didn’t even hesitate when I said, “No.”

  ***

  Living in an invisible house made me jumpy. Somewhere between watching it appear out of thin air and finding out the walls were reinforced with an invisible barrier meant specifically for sealing us inside, the cabin became more than a house. It’d become its own entity, definitely more magical than any four walls had a right to be.

  So, the next day, when the after-dinner silence was interrupted by something as mundane as the doorbell ringing, I screamed. A full-on shriek that had George dropping a plate into the sink full of soapy water. It clanged loudly against the other dishes and somehow managed to stay in one piece.

  George glared at me. “Are you serious?”

  “Sorry,” I muttered. “I didn’t even know we had a doorbell.”

  Emma’s shoulders sagged as she exhaled whatever scream she’d managed to suppress.

  “Got it,” Wes called.

  The front door opened and closed. The air shifted as more bodies were added to the space.

  I wasn’t sure if my animal instincts were on edge at not having shifted in so many hours, but I could literally feel—and smell—Logan and Victoria crossing the threshold.

  Emma and I exchanged a look. She was tense, more than George and I put together. Losing Janie made her jumpy. “It’s all right. They’re friends,” I told her.

  She nodded, her blue eyes wide. “I know.”

  I heard footsteps and mingled “hellos” from Wes and Logan as they greeted each other. I heard Victoria complaining about her skin prickling. I set aside the dishtowel I’d been using and made my way toward the noise.

  I saw Logan first. He wore jeans with the knees frayed and a ball cap turned backward. Sandy blond hair stuck out the bottom of his hat, choppy and longer than I’d last seen it. He looked every inch the surfer-boy, an image that clashed yet somehow perfectly complimented his chess club president personality.

  “Hey,” I said. He stopped talking to Wes mid-sentence when he caught sight of me. We both grinned and I launched myself into his arms.

  “I missed you,” he said.

  “Missed you too.” I hadn’t realized how much until this moment. The familiarity of those baby blues felt like family had come home. I patted his cheek. “Glad you’re here.”

  “Speaking of which, how’d you find it?” George asked from behind me.

  Logan released me. I caught sight of Victoria scowling at me from behind her blond mane. Sh
e looked rumpled; her clothes were wrinkled and her shoes muddy. It made me smile to see Victoria Lexington looking less than perfect. “Hi, Vic,” I said cheerily.

  “Mutt,” she said.

  We were off to a great start.

  Logan pretended not to hear our exchange—or George’s question. “Any more news about Steppe?”

  My eyes narrowed and I turned to face him fully. “Logan. What are you not saying?”

  “What are you talking about?” His cheeks reddened and his eyes darted from point to point, not ever focusing on any one object. Or person.

  “George asked you a question. And you’re dodging. What are you not telling us?” I demanded.

  “Dammit, Logan, I told you they’d know. You suck at lying,” Victoria said.

  Logan made a noise of frustration that made me think they’d had this argument more than once already. “I don’t suck at lying,” Logan said.

  Victoria rolled her eyes. “Darling, yes. You do.”

  If I hadn’t been so intent on whatever he was hiding, I would’ve smiled. Or at least agreed. Logan did suck at lying. But right now, I wasn’t complaining.

  “Logan…?” I prompted.

  He sighed, his shoulders stooping in defeat. “Fine. Remember how Edie told you the only way to actually see this place was to be a hybrid?”

  “Yeah,” I said, drawing out the word.

  “Well, the second part of that is that as long as you’re making physical contact with a hybrid, the house becomes visible by extension.”

  We were all quiet as we digested that. George spoke first. “What the hell does that mean?”

  “It means, he was touching a hybrid when we entered the clearing,” Victoria said.

  “And when we knocked.”

  My belly fluttered. The strange awareness I’d had when they walked in … it’d been more than new bodies being added to the space. I’d sensed another animal. “What hybrid?” I asked.

  Someone knocked.

  Tension flooded the space. Beside me, Wes stiffened. I felt the change in George immediately. All traces of frustration were gone. He’d gone into full protector mode.