“Welcome to my world.” His voice had changed. It was deeper, fuller, more like her nighttime friend. He leaned closer.
This is it, she thought. Love’s first kiss. She trembled as his mouth lowered to hers. She could feel the light fan of his breath against her face, could almost taste the sweetness of it. Her lips parted, her eyes fluttering closed. She could feel his lips just millimeters away.
“Randall!” a voice barked out.
They turned to see a very determined, very angry Raesheen striding toward them. “Did you forget you have things to see to?”
“No.” He turned to Karen, running a finger along her jaw. “I suppose you’d better go. Raesheen’s not in a good mood. I’ll try to see you later.”
Disappointment replaced the glow she’d had moments before. “All right.” She caressed his face one more time. She turned to the dryad. “Good bye, Raesheen. It was nice seeing you again.” She grabbed her sweater and jogged down the familiar path to the estate.
****
“At least she’s properly respectful,” Raesheen murmured. She stood in front of Randall, taking a hard swipe at his arm. “And you!” she shouted. “What in the name of Mother Earth were you thinking? You took her all the way through the Lovers Dance? Have you taken total leave of whatever sense you have left?”
Randall rubbed his arm where she hit him. Her slap stung, leaving small red scratches. “I couldn’t help it. She heard the music and things just happened.”
The dryad took a deep breath. “I know she’s your soul mate. We all sensed it the moment she arrived,” she said in a low voice. “But the Lovers Dance?” she shouted again. She glared at him, trying to make him see reason. “And then you were going to bestow love’s first kiss? What’s wrong with you? You can’t use that kind of power at this point in time. When everything’s over, I don’t care what you do.”
The corners of Randall’s mouth twitched. “Are you done?” She was so much smaller than him and right now, so fierce, she reminded him of his young charges. “I guess I lost it there at the end.”
She swatted him again, leaving more scratches. “Yes, you did. Rein in those rampant human hormones that fill you. We’ve got work to do.” She paused, studying him in the light of the new day. “You haven’t told her yet, have you?”
He glanced down the path to the mansion. “No.”
What would Karen say when he finally showed her that he was her night visitor? That all of her confessions about her feelings for him had been to him and not some third party?
“Smooth, Guardian,” Raesheen said. “Very smooth. Let me know if she wants me to help her kick your butt.”
Randall thought about his night conversations with Karen and all she’d said to him. “She’s already threatened me with that.”
This time, he didn’t bother to hide the smile spreading across his face. He’d felt Karen’s desire and was doing all he could to contain his. The strength and power of his soul mate’s dragon spirit certainly confused his good judgment.
Chapter Nine
Karen crept into the drawing room, her sweater grasped in her hands. Randall’s heat still filled her, making sweat bead on her forehead. She took a steadying breath, moving silently to the door. She opened it a crack and voices drifted to her. “Damn,” she mouthed, hiding her presence from the group in the hall.
“I’m telling you, she suspects something,” Edna said, her voice holding none of the kindness Karen had come to know. It was hard, edged with a cruelty she couldn’t picture in the small, white-haired woman.
“It’s true, sir,” Cray said. “Wherever Dupré is, she’s nearby. She’s playing you.”
“He’s told her about the werewolves,” Harmon added. “We’ve tried to lock up the guardian, but he always escapes and goes to her at night. The birds have seen them. He hasn’t revealed his form to her yet. I think he’s afraid she’ll reject him when she sees the monster he is when the sun sets. It would be impossible to contain him when he’s with her because that will raise all sorts of questions from her. I don’t think she’s one you want to tell about what’s going on here.”
“This is disturbing,” Bradford said. “I wanted to keep her, but now it looks like we’ll have to get rid of her with the others. Harmon, tell your animals to keep her under constant watch. Cray, do something about Dupré. Edna, I expect positive results out of you, starting today. Bring the pack leader’s son. He’s the oldest, so his powers will be the most developed.” He paused. “I want results. Get them.”
Karen clamped a hand over her mouth as she listened to Bradford’s retreating steps. She was more worried about the children than she was about herself. She’d had worse threats than this from people with a heck of a lot more power than him, so Bradford’s words didn’t scare her. She was going to have to be vigilant around him and his men and now Edna too.
She shook her head. They were all expendable. Time was growing short. Randall was close to saving the children, but close wasn’t good enough. Not after what she’d just heard. Her mind began turning over possible plans to save them.
Her knuckles turned white as her fingers dug into the soft wool of her sweater. Karen slipped out the french doors and ran for the garden. She pulled her sweater over her head as her feet carried her to the bench by the fountain. Cold, sickening dread replaced Randall’s warmth in her heart as Bradford’s words haunted her. What did he mean when he told Edna to “get results”?
“If it were just me, it wouldn’t be so bad,” she murmured. “But Randall and the kids.” She turned her face to the newly risen sun. “How do I help them?”
“You’re not alone,” said a tiny voice. “You have the fairies to help you.”
Karen jumped to her feet. On the bench stood a tiny woman with yellow hair, her bare feet peeking out from beneath deep blue jeans, her translucent wings poking out through a Rush concert T-shirt. A golden glow surrounded her as she sat there.
Karen slowly sat back down. “Sorry. You startled me. Who are you?”
“I’m Dayla. Raesheen asked me to keep an eye on you.” She stuck her hand out and Karen shook it, using her pinky finger. “I’m one of the wood folk.”
“Karen.”
“We know who you are.” Dayla grinned. “You’re the true love to one of us. Even though you’re just a human, we’re now duty-bound to protect you.”
Karen shook her head. “Thanks.” She looked at the cloudless sky. “I just wish things were simple again,” she murmured.
The fairy cocked her head. “What was simple before true love?”
Karen watched the water in the fountain gurgle and run down its predestined path. “My friends and I working with law enforcement agencies to bring down some seriously bad people. Then we’d go home, regroup, and do it again. I like that life. I feel like I make a difference. But then my friend got married and everything changed.”
Dayla’s eyes grew as wide as a child’s with a bedtime story. “Did she marry her true love?”
“I guess so.” Karen glanced at her companion. “It certainly looked like true love to me.”
The fairy stared at Karen, her eyes narrowing. “You aren’t truly happy for her.”
Karen felt tears build. “I am, really. I just didn’t think I’d ever have a love like hers. I finally get that chance, and I can’t even talk to him without looking over my shoulder, let alone do anything else.”
“But he feels the same. All the realm knows it.” Dayla pirouetted. “And he did the Lovers Dance with you. That was so special.”
Karen remembered the feel of him and the power that flowed from him as they danced in the early light. “I wished he’d kissed me when we finished. It felt right.”
Dayla placed her tiny hand on Karen’s. “Raesheen had good reason for stopping him. You can’t unleash that much power with someone like Troyington nearby.” She flew up to sit on Karen’s shoulder. “He can sense strong magic.”
“Great. He has his own powers,” Karen mumbled. S
he turned to Dayla. “I know so little about your world. I didn’t even think true love was real.”
“Our world is not so different from yours.” Dayla took to the air. “I will always be nearby if you need me. Troyington comes. Be careful.”
She nodded and watched Dayla disappear. Forcing a smile to her face, she waved to Bradford. “Good morning,” she called.
“We were worried when we couldn’t find you.” He took her hand, pulling her to her feet. He studied her intently, the look on his face saying he knew something was different about her.
“I was up before the sun and decided to watch the sunrise from the garden.” She put her arm around his waist, trying to distract him. “I didn’t mean to scare you.”
He smiled at her, but it wasn’t the same as the ones he’d given her before. She could feel him pulling away. He was even more distant than the previous evening. If I don’t do something, I’ll lose him.
She laid her head on his shoulder. “I really am sorry, Bradford.” She smiled at him, trying to win him back to her side. “Next time I’ll leave a note.”
He put his arm around her shoulders, not holding her as tightly. “It’s time for breakfast, which is what started this whole looking-for-you situation.”
As they entered the dining room, Edna ran to Karen, giving her a little shake. “You scared the life out of me. Where were you?”
“Outside, watching the sunrise. I’m sorry, Edna.” Karen flinched slightly at the woman’s touch. Having heard her earlier, she wondered what Edna had planned for her, for Randall, and most importantly, the children.
She shook her finger at Karen. “Don’t do it again. I don’t have much life to spare. So what are the two of you doing today?”
“If Karen will forgive me an hour or two, I have some important papers to fill out, but then I plan to spend all day with her,” Bradford said.
Karen nodded. “Then I guess I’ll just wander around until I have the pleasure of your company. What are you doing today, Edna?”
She smiled, an odd gleam sparkling in her eyes. “Oh, I have some things that will keep me out of mischief.”
****
Karen waited until Bradford disappeared behind his study door and Edna left on her own business before heading outside. She meandered along, trying to appear like she was touring the grounds, but she was actually looking for Randall. She eyed the sky, not trusting the birds that flew over her head. She strolled down the hill to the stable and saw Cray go in, followed by Edna.
“So much for Edna staying out of mischief,” she mumbled. “What now?”
Drawing closer, she heard faint voices drifting from the end of the building. Crouching as she ran, she saw a small window open about halfway. She eased herself up to peer inside. A huge machine filled the room, crowding the desk and file cabinets to the side. It looked like it should be in a hospital, not an office in a stable.
Karen held herself perfectly still, calling on her power to cloud her presence from Troyington’s people. She steadied her breathing, slowly turning her head to see what was happening.
Randall and a boy who looked to be in his late teens were strapped into chairs next to each other. The boy tried to put on a brave face, but Karen could almost smell his fear. From the look in Randall’s eyes, she knew the trio was going to regret anything and everything they did now.
“What’s going on?” the teen demanded.
“It’s all right, James,” Randall told him in a calm voice, his eyes never leaving Edna’s face. “Just do what they say. They’re not going to hurt you.”
“That’s right, dear,” Edna said, patting him on the head. “We just need another few blood samples and to run a few more tests. Then you’ll be taken back to the others.”
“What’re you going to do to the guardian?” James nodded at Randall.
Edna gestured at the tray of different sized scalpels. “You’ll see. Won’t it be fun to learn something new?”
Karen shivered as bile rose, burning the back of her throat. This wasn’t the Edna she’d befriended. This woman was cruel, cold, and enjoyed terrorizing a young boy. Karen’s instincts told her to get her butt in there and save them. Her head told her she’d better wait. Other opportunities would come to free James and the rest.
James had called Randall “guardian.” Her nighttime friend had said he and Randall were brothers. In the light of the sunrise, Randall had certainly seemed more than human. After their dance, his voice had sounded like her night friend. If they were brothers, Randall must also hold the title of guardian. That would explain the power she felt in him.
She frowned. What if that wasn’t entirely true? Could Randall be the guardian who came to her at night? She tried to deny it, but now that the thought was there, it wouldn’t go away.
Edna placed several vials on the tray. “Now, James, I know your people can shift with or without the full moon.” She smiled at him. “Evolution is a wonderful thing. I need a blood sample now, one in mid-shift, and one when you’ve fully changed.”
James glared at her. “What if I don’t? You can’t make me.”
“No, I can’t,” Edna said, preparing a syringe to draw blood. “But when you get back to the others, some of them might not be alive.”
Randall turned to him. “It’s okay. The others are depending on us.”
James nodded and started shifting after Edna took the first vial of blood. His shoulders widened and his chest broadened, straining the straps of the chair restraints. The hair on his arms grew as his body turned more into its animal side. Faint cracks of bone sounded loud in the small room as James’ body stretched, growing larger as he held both traits of human and wolf as Edna filled the second vial.
When she stood back, James pulled out more of the wolf. His hair lengthened as his legs began to resemble a wolf’s, his feet and hands slowly changing themselves into large paws. He twisted to try and free himself, but a large hand clamped itself on the back of his neck and he growled, anger and hate coming from deep inside.
His face elongated into a blunt muzzle and eyes that held a hint of humanity glared out from the gray furred face. He tried to snap at who held him, but couldn’t turn his head that far. His lips pulled back over white, pointed teeth as Edna filled her last vial.
James closed his eyes and reverted back to his human form. He rubbed his arm and watched as a bruise formed.
Randall nodded at him. “You did the right thing. Your father would be proud that you put pack safety ahead of your own.”
“Thanks, Guardian.”
“Now, Mr. Dupré, it’s your turn.” Edna pulled the machine into place as she put the scalpel tray in easy reach.
“What’re you doing?” James demanded.
Edna slapped James, eliciting chuckles from Cray and Harmon. “I don’t answer to you, boy. Now be quiet before I decide I don’t need you any more.”
“I won’t let you hurt him.” James started shifting again, and Cray clouted him hard on the side of the head. James turned human and he shook his head, trying to clear it. Cray hit him again, snapping his head back.
“Let me go to him,” Randall said quietly to Edna. “I promise, no tricks.”
She opened the straps. “If you hadn’t given me your word, you’d be out of luck.”
He lifted the boy’s face to inspect the damage and smiled at him. “Nothing serious, but you’re going to have a real shiner later. I’m in no danger. They still need me.” Randall turned, facing their enemies. “Take him back. He doesn’t need to see this.”
Cray grabbed a scalpel from the tray and held it to James’ throat. “Beg for it.”
Randall took a step forward, stopping when Cray pushed the scalpel harder into James’ skin, his hands balling into fists. “I beg you to please take him back to the others.”
Cray laughed. “No wonder the boss keeps you around.” He shoved Randall back to the chair. “Sit, freak. It’s going to be fun to watch you squirm.”
“Take the boy
back, Harmon,” Edna ordered. “He’s just a distraction now.” She stood in front of Randall. “Your charges are undisciplined.”
Randall glared at her. “It’s hard for me to teach them anything when I’m not allowed to see them.”
“Keep up with that attitude and you’ll never see them again.” Edna picked up a scalpel. “Now, let’s try this again. Today I’m testing your regeneration. I’ll need to take more samples from you later.”
Randall’s lip curled back in a snarl, and he pulled at the straps holding him in the chair. “You’ve taken samples of everything I’ve got in me. What else could you possibly want?”
Edna’s gaze dropped to his lap. “Not everything. I haven’t even started getting in to how you people reproduce.”
Karen clamped a hand over her mouth, hoping to stem the full blown nausea that consumed her. Breakfast was in real danger of making a return appearance. She took several deep breaths. “Dayla, are you here?” she called in a hoarse whisper.
The fairy appeared, snapping off a salute. “Always, miss. How can I help?”
“There’s a man coming out of this building with a teenage boy. Follow them. The boy is the pack leader’s son. Find out where they’re going and tell Raesheen.” Karen stared at the window. Voices drifted to her, telling her she had to look. “I have to stay here in case Randall needs me.”
“I’m on it.” Dayla turned invisible, taking off after Harmon and James.
Karen peered in the window to see Edna turning some of the knobs that stuck out from the side. The large lens bending over the table moved back and forth, up and down while she tried to get the focus right.
“Cray, when I start, you’ll need to hold his arm straight out under the lens. Get the clipboard please. We’ll need to document everything.”
“Sure, Dr. Strathmore.” Cray handed her the clipboard with her notes and glared at Randall, his lips curling in a cruel smile. “This is going to hurt, southern boy. And I’m going to love every minute of it.”
Karen watched Randall’s eyes narrow as his mouth pulled down in a fierce scowl. Cray had better watch himself. When the werewolf children were safe, paybacks were definitely coming.
Night Angel (Angel Haven) Page 9
