by Sharon Joss
“I agree,” Wynn said. “And we need to consider the allegiances of the other blood stewards. Figure eight to ten stewards per vampire, and we could be talking about forty or fifty people, in addition to Vince and the hired wolves.”
“I don’t like those odds, boss,” Dave said.
“Neither do I.” Spit junkies or no, blood stewards were still classified as US citizens, and any lycan-caused injury, large or small, would incur serious consequences. For all their human frailty, they had the law on their side. Even the lowest crack head on the street had more rights than lycans. Regardless of their reasons for becoming blood stewards, we couldn’t lift a finger against them without running the risk of legal execution. They, on the other hand, could shoot, stab, electrocute, torture, or even blow us up with impunity. Whatever plan we devised, we would need to figure out a way to safely contain Mythica’s blood stewards.
I sketched out a diagram of the estate in the dust. “The rest of the Fae hostages are here in the Odditorium. If we can’t sneak them out, we’ll need some sort of distraction. But before we make our move, I want to know where Sarah is.”
I drew a couple of circles in the dirt, just outside the outline I’d already drawn of the park. “These are a couple of areas that are close enough for us to see and hear what’s going on, without actually crossing the inner wards. We can approach from the east and use the woods for cover; the vineyard will screen our approach from the surveillance cameras. We’ll need to split up. Silas and Dave will set up here, in those big trees near the concert hall. You’ll be able to see the comings and goings into the operations center and the front gate. Count heads and keep an eye out for any food deliveries. If Sarah is still alive, she’ll need to be fed.”
“What if Ozzie has taken her out of the park?” asked Tom.
I shook my head. Ozzie had lived on the grounds since the night he graduated from vet school. “Ozzie is addicted to Ambrose’s saliva. If Cobb has taken over the park, Ozzie will need to find himself a vampire of Ambrose’s line. If Ozzie is still around, he must have worked out a deal with Cobb. And I’ll bet that’s why Vince is still here. He won’t leave Ozzie.”
The men nodded in silent agreement, but all we really had was guesswork. I pointed to the second stakeout position. “Chaney and Wynn can set up here, between the Odditorium and the Theatre. The main vault lies beneath the Odditorium, and there’s an underground passageway leading from the warming room to the dressing rooms behind the back stage of the theatre. You’ll have a direct line of sight to the road leading to the entrance of either building. You’ll be able to see anyone coming or going.”
“Rizzo and I will be here.” I pointed to a third spot near the house. “Ozzie lives in the house with the rest of the blood stewards. It’s where I would stash Sarah, if I were him. We’ll try to figure out how many people are inside, and who they are. We’ll go in after sunrise. The vamps will be down for the day, and the watch should be lightest then. The numbers should favor us.”
With the plan set, we settled in to catch some sleep until sunrise. The mood was relaxed but determined. Farley curled up beside me, but I couldn’t sleep, knowing that after all this waiting, we were finally going to see some action.
* * *
Before we could set out the next morning, Trick’s huge wolf came out of the woods, nose down onto a scent trail. We left the warded camp to meet him, but he was so focused on the scent, he didn’t see us until he was less than fifty feet away. Once he spotted us, he didn’t hesitate. He lowered his head and tail and made a bee-line to me, and rolled over to expose his belly and throat.
As soon as I acknowledged him, the whole pack was swarmed over him, and he submitted to each of them in turn. We led him into camp to hear what he had to say.
“I’m done with Mythica. The whole place has gone crazy,” he began. “Vince has got the mercenaries in charge now, and more keep arriving every day. He made one of them, a big guy named Hale, his Beta, but Hale is really the guy making the decisions. Vince defers everything to him. It’s like he doesn’t even care anymore.” Trick was nearly beside himself.
I sent out soothing pheromones, and the rest of the pack joined in. “Take it easy,” I said. “Did anybody follow you?”
“No,” Trick said, with real bitterness. “I don’t think they even know I’m gone. Not yet, at any rate. They were too busy dealing with Yolanda. She went after Vince. Challenged him in a fight for Alpha.”
Tension spread through us like wildfire, as we clamored for the explanation. Silas had told me were-women sometimes took over pack leadership if their Alpha partner died or became incapacitated. It was always a bloodless coup; no decent wolf would fight back against an Alpha bitch. Basically, if she wanted the job, it was hers.
“Yeah. Ripped him up pretty good, too.” Trick gave me an appraising look. “She blamed him for your disappearance, Mike. Hale took her down with a stun baton.”
A murmur went through the group.
Trick frowned. “I couldn’t believe it. Vince never said a word against it. He even helped Hale cage her. Ozzie put a silver collar on her so she couldn’t shift. They took her into the Odditorium; no one has seen her since.” He shook his head. “But that’s not the end of it.”
Trick looked around nervously. “They know you guys are out here. Tanner came in last night. Walked right through the front gate and challenged Vince for leadership of the pack. Vince refused, saying that Tanner wasn’t pack anymore. Told him he’d have to defeat Hale before he’d allow him to issue a challenge.”
“That’s not right,” Silas said. “Vince always did his own fighting. Why is he hiding behind a hired gun?”
Trick turned thoughtful, all his previous swagger gone. “You know, I don’t think he really wanted to fight Tanner. The guy was wound up, but he looked pretty bad. As bad as all you guys. Skinny. Weak. It was kind of embarrassing, really.”
“We don’t look that bad,” Wynn said.
Trick made a face. “Uh, yeah. There’s not enough meat on you to flesh out a chicken. And Bane here looks like frickin’ freak show. What the hell happened to you?”
It would be stupid to get mad a Trick for asking what they all wanted to know. I hadn’t figured out a way to say it without sounding like I’d lost my marbles. “It’s a shifter thing,” I shrugged. “Kind of a long story. Tell us what happened with Tanner.”
“Tanner’s dead. He never had a chance. Hale creamed him, and Phelan chopped off his head. Vince said he needed to make an example of him. I tell you, Vince has totally lost it. Hale won’t let anyone leave until after the summit; the place is an armed camp. Everyone is working like crazy to get the park back into operation. I guess Cobb needs to prove that he’s in control and everything is running smoothly.”
“They’re going to re-open the park?”
“They have to. Cobb wants to show the Globus how much better a Pomp he is than Ambrose was. He’s planning to have enough blood on hand to feed all the vampires at the summit. Besides, they’re running low.”
“How many blood stewards are left?” I asked.
Trick looked nauseated. “It makes me sick. And this was the last straw. Cobb had Ozzie infect some of the blood stewards with ALVS-infected blood taken from the pack. He claimed it was legal because there’s no bite involved.”
I felt revulsion flow through every member of the pack. ALVS research had been developed in the Middle East by extremists and introduced as a combat weapon against US soldiers and POWs during the Gulf Wars. A single soldier hit by infected shrapnel could spread the virus undetected through an entire platoon or hospital ward within weeks. The intentional use of the ALVS virus on humans was considered a war crime. Although blood stewards weren’t viewed as much more than spit heads, technically speaking, they were still human.
“By the first wolf, no,” Chaney swore softly.
“That’s right. He made it sound as if infecting them was the only way to save their lives. Last night, Vince introduced u
s to the near-weres. These guys used to steward for Ambrose and Orcas. They’re were going through some pretty heavy withdrawal symptoms without their regular feeding, but the vamps won’t touch them now that they’ve got the virus. I don’t know if they’ll live or what Cobb promised them, but they agreed to take Ozzie’s injections. I don’t think they realize yet what going to happen to them at the next full moon.”
“That’s sick,” Rizzo said.
“That’s what I’m saying. Hale and the rest of them are all lone wolves. Even though Vince made Hale his Beta, neither Hale or any of the other hired guns took the oath. They’re not pack. We don’t have enough members now to absorb that many first-moon wolves.” Trick was practically in tears. “Ozzie told the near-weres that Sarah is going to help them transition. Tanner told Vince that she’d worked some sort of miracle with one of you guys.”
“You’ve seen Sarah?” I asked.
Tom made an anguished sound. “Where is she?”
Trick shook his head. “I don’t know. I didn’t stick around. All I know is that the pack is broken.” He gave Tom a thoughtful look. “You the one Tanner was talking about? The superwolf?”
Tom and I exchanged confused glances.
“Yeah, that’s our Tom.” Silas said, proudly. “I’ve never seen anyone come into their wolf so well. Look at him. He shifted for the first time four days ago. He’s already shifting like one of us.”
“That first moon is a bitch,” Dave explained. “It usually takes a first-timer at least a month to recover.”
A look of wonder came over Trick as he took a good look at Tom. “I was a total mad dog for three weeks. It took another ten days more before I was able to shift back. Anyway, after Tanner spilled the beans about you guys, Vince set a posse of mercs out to patrol the Tor. They came back with Kevin and two other guys I didn’t know. He’s got them stashed somewhere too. I was all alone in there. I came out here hoping to find you.”
“We’re just on our way over there. We’re going to do a little house cleaning,” I told him. The others nodded in silent agreement.
Trick went to one knee before me. “I don’t apologize, Bane. You know that. But if you’ll have me, I’ll make it up to you; I swear.”
I nodded. The need to belong was strong in Trick; I could feel it. His desire to be part of a pack was greater than his desire to lead. His presence would make us all stronger.
“Get up, Trick. If you’re serious, you’re welcome to join us, but Silas is my Beta. There’s no chance for you.”
A small tic pulled at the corner of his eye, but Trick’s face remained passive. “I don’t care about that right now. Let me come with you. They’ve caged Yolanda and three other wolves. Everyone else is in lockdown. The place is no better than a concentration camp. If you’ll have me, I am willing to submit to you.”
Fifteen minutes later, we headed out onto the Tor. The pack made allowances for me and kept their pace slow enough that in my new form, I could keep up. I jogged at the rear, with Tom, Rizzo, and Farley off my left hip. As we neared the estate, I noticed several warded portals into the Fae lands. Good to know that the Fae hostages wouldn’t have far to go to reach safety inside the Tor.
We were less than a mile from the estate when the wolf posse found us. They’d obviously been laying in ambush for us in the trees. As soon as we crossed onto open ground, they attacked. The wolves were coming hard, and we were outnumbered.
Facing a dozen charging wolves while wearing only a pair of gym shorts is a terrifying experience. My first instinct was to run like hell, but the savage roar of my pack all around me was like riding into battle with a battalion of buzz saws. I thought about shifting, but decided against it. The cat wouldn’t have a prayer against these guys, and I was faster and stronger than I’d ever been. Taking a cue from my new brothers, I took heart and faced them head on. We spread out to meet our attackers, and the battle was on.
They zeroed in on me as the weakest. The first wolf lunged for me as my right fist connected with a solid hit to his eye socket. I felt the satisfying crunch of bones and the wolf staggered, shaking his head and licking his chops. A second wolf leapt for my throat, and I ducked beneath him; twisting as I reached out with my claws extended to gouge deeply into the tender skin of his belly.
I grunted as a third went for my knee and held on. I went down; wincing as he pulverized the joint cartilage of my knee against bone. I tried to scrape him off me, but he had my knee in a vise. I drove my shoulder forward and rolled; the claws on one hand still gripping the underbelly of my second attacker. With a wrenching movement, I flung that wolf away from me, and used my thumbs to gouge at the eyes of the wolf at my knee. He released his grip and backed off. I was free.
A fourth wolf slashed at my face but I got my arm up in time. I threw myself toward him, using my arm and the weight of my body behind it to force him to the ground. Chaney and Silas tore into him from either side. He yelped and let go, then scrambled to his feet and lit out like his tail was on fire.
I crouched, waiting for the next attacker, but the fight was over. Any and all of our attackers that could still run were making their escape, leaving three of their dead colleagues behind. Trick’s wolf made a half-hearted move to go after them, but I called him back.
We were punch drunk on victory, adrenaline, and the smell of blood. None of our guys was badly injured; only Wynn would need to shift in order to heal a nasty bite and torn tendons on his leg. I marveled at the advantages my new form brought me. While I wasn’t nearly as strong as the cat, I’d held my own. My reflexes were as good as the wolves. The big disadvantage to my new form was that my skin was still as tender as tissue paper, but the bites and cuts were healing quickly. Already, the gashes in my flesh had stopped bleeding, and after a quick shift into cat and back again, my knee was sound. It still hurt like hell, but I could feel the tendons in my knee knitting back together. I flexed my knee experimentally. Painful, but still functional, and getting stronger by the minute.
Silas and the little black wolf, Rizzo, were scraping their back feet contemptuously, sending a shower of dirt and grass over the bodies of the dead wolves. The rest of us panted and walked in circles, loosening our tight muscles. We all needed water.
Tom’s warning growl brought us up short.
Nixese stepped through a portal not far from us. The Nagual Bear I’d rescued from the bestiary was with him.
“Easy guys,” I spoke quietly to the growling wolves beside me. Tom and Rizzo were stiff-legged with alarm.
I greeted the Fae warrior formally. “I see you Nixese.” The wolves gathered around me like, well, a pack. I could feel each and every one of them in my head. Their pheromones rolled over me; the wolves wordlessly offered their staunch support and comfort. “We have broken none of your laws,” I said.
“Greetings, Xenotchi. Greetings, cousin.” He looked at me quizzically. “Where is Tehuantl?”
“It’s a long story. Let’s just say he’s no longer with us. Why are you here?”
Nixese frowned. “I have come on my own. The elders are angry. Not all of the hostages have been returned. Although the First Bear vouched for you, they will not move against the vampires until all the hostages are freed.”
“We’re still working on it,” I said, absently. I only had eyes for the Nagual. Hesitantly, I moved forward to greet the bear. She sat up on her haunches, her eyes nearly at eye level to me. I’d never given much thought to the beauty of bears, but this one was beautiful. Nothing like the bag of bones I’d carried out of the Bestiary. Her coat was deep black with reddish tips where the sun had touched her. I felt her intelligence gazing back at me.
“I see you.” Her name came to me as if he’d always known it. “Kiyayo. First Bear. I see you, Nekeyah. Nagual priestess of the First Bear.” Instantly, an image of the priestess Nekeyah came into my mind. She was a tall woman with strong, bronzed limbs, and silver streaks in her waist-length, dark brown hair. Her name suited her. Nekeyah. Her name had a fee
l as well as a sound. She was a healer, I could tell.
I see you, Xenotchi. I see you too, Mikebane. I thank you for releasing me from the bad place. I knew you would come.
I looked at Nixese. “Are you here to help us?”
He shifted uncomfortably. “She convinced me to bring her. We cannot cross the wards while the Mage lives. But Kiyayo-Nekeyah is not bound by the terms of the treaty. She can cross the wards as freely as you do. Will you accept her help?”
I grinned. “We’ll take all the help we can get. Does that mean we can count on you and the rest of the Fae once the wards are down?”
“There are some who disagree with the actions of the elders. The Earth Mage, Gordon, was an elder of the tribunal before he was foresworn. We will come.”
“He betrayed his own people?”
Nixese nodded, his eyes sad. “Humans are not alone in their passions.”
I eyed the bow and quiver slung across his back. “Tell me you’ve got more in your arsenal than bows and arrows.”
He bared his teeth. “There is no weapon better suited for hunting vampires than arrows, cousin.” He cocked an eyebrow at the pack gathered around me. “Ours are silver-tipped, so they work against wolves as well.”
Kiyayo grunted, as if to express her agreement.
“Bring down the wards and free my kin. We will come.”
CHAPTER 42: THE MAGE
The growling escalated immediately. The wolves didn’t care much for the bear, and she was uncomfortable around the pack. I sent out soothing pheromones and gradually the wolves calmed.
“She’s a shifter, like me,” I told them. She’s here to help us.” I kept the bear close and explained that she was one of the other Fae prisoners from the bestiary. I went on to explain about the blood wards and how Gordon could feel us whenever we crossed them.
