Jaguar (The Madison Wolves Book 12)

by Robin Roseau

  “She says it’s safe,” I said. “She’s asking us to step out.”

  “Zoe, stay where you are another minute,” Elisabeth said.

  I shut down the SUV, unbuckled, and stepped out. I was a heartbeat behind Elisabeth, and by then, Carissa had halved the distance from the jet to the waiting vehicles and was waiting for us. Kristian remained near the jet.

  Elisabeth and I approached together, and then I stepped in front of the wolf, wrapped arms around the diminutive vampire, and lifted her into a hug. She squealed and threw her arms around my neck before kissing the side of my cheek.

  “It was bad,” I whispered to her. “And it doesn’t make sense.”

  “I came as quickly as I could,” she replied.

  “I know. Carissa, tensions are high.”

  “As expected. Put me down now.”

  I set her down gently. It wasn’t like I could have hurt her, of course, but there was no need to be rough. We released each other, and she turned to Elisabeth.

  “Thank you for coming, Carissa,” Elisabeth said.

  Carissa moved into her personal space. “Can you stand to hug me, Elisabeth?”

  “I think I could.” She didn’t pick up the vampire, but it was a real hug, and I thought there was a certain amount of warmth.

  Then they parted. “The human is hiding from us?”

  Elisabeth stepped backwards, moving between the cars until she was at Zoe’s driver’s door. She opened the door and then helped Zoe out. If they spoke, I didn’t hear, but Zoe then walked straight up to Carissa. “Welcome to Wisconsin, Carissa.”

  “Zoe Young. Or is it Fleming now?”

  “Soon,” Zoe responded.

  “Do you think you could take a hug?” Carissa asked.

  “Just a hug?” Zoe replied with some care in her words.

  “Just a hug,” Carissa said. “I never bite without clear permission.”

  Zoe nodded and opened her arms. The two hugged, and Carissa whispered to her. Then, slowly, they separated, Zoe standing straighter afterwards.

  Then Carissa turned to Elisabeth. “Give me the highlights.”

  “We were invaded by eighteen very well-armed human ground forces.”

  “Human. All human?”

  “Every one,” Elisabeth replied. “They had helicopters for extraction. Total captured or killed is twenty six, and we have two helicopters we need to hide by dawn.”

  “Oh, my,” Carissa said. “And your forces?”

  “Nothing major. Everyone hurt has healed.” She looked at me. “Anna was critical to our success, but our prisoners know our true nature. The ground forces had no idea what we were when they began.” Elisabeth turned back to Carissa and briefly brought her the rest of the way up to speed without offering any of the details.

  “All right. Head Enforcer of the Madison Pack,” Carissa said formally. “I am the queen of New Orleans. As a sign of our friendship and mutual respect I offer myself and the forces I brought with me to bolster the strength of the Madison Pack.” She paused, and her tone became less formal. “We are nine total, all of unquestioning loyalty. I would prefer to leave the flight crew to secure the aircraft and monitor the airport. If seven is two intimidating, I will understand.”

  “Carissa, Queen of New Orleans,” Elisabeth said, returning Carissa’s formality. “The Madison Pack welcomes you and thanks you for your assistance.” She paused herself. “I need to ask. Do we need to feed you?”

  “That will depend upon how long we stay. I purposely did not eat before coming. I believe you have a meal waiting for me, although perhaps you didn’t think of that. You didn’t kill them already, did you?”

  “Some died during the conflict.”

  Carissa nodded understanding. “The others ate before we left. Unless we see action, they’ll be fine for several days, and longer if necessary.”

  “Then there is time for you and Lara to resolve that,” Elisabeth said. “How will you use your vampires?”

  “We will work with you to secure your compound and the safety of everyone here,” she said. “And we will assist you in discovering what has happened.”

  “Thank you, Carissa,” Elisabeth said. “Please be welcome, you and these people you brought with you.”

  Carissa lifted a finger, and Kristian was suddenly at her side. Elisabeth and Zoe both took a half step back. Kristian noticed and offered a small bow. “My apologies,” he said in a smooth voice with an unrecognizable accent, acquired in a millennia of life. “I didn’t intend to startle you.”

  “It’s okay,” Zoe said, her voice a little shaky. “You’re so... fast.”

  “Quite so,” Carissa agreed. “You heard?”

  “Yes,” Kristian said. “Travel arrangements?”

  “Elisabeth,” said Carissa. “Perhaps you would feel most comfortable if I rode with the three of you. My people can drive the other two vehicles.”

  “Do we need to leave one here?”

  “No. See to it, would you, Kristian?”

  “Of course. Keys?”

  “In the ignition,” I said.

  Zoe fumbled in her pocket and produced the key for her car. She held it out, her hand shaking. Carissa took it from her and handed it to Kristian.

  Kristian took the key but looked at Zoe. “You know little of our kind.”

  “Almost nothing,” Zoe admitted. “Only from movies. And I bet most of that isn’t any more accurate than it is for the wolves.”

  “It’s not,” he said. “We don’t hurt our friends. You couldn’t be safer. No one here will hurt you.”

  Zoe nodded, but it was Elisabeth that said, “Zoe is very brave, but she’s suffered one shock after another.”

  “Kristian, can you send Electra over. She will drive for us. Then see to the luggage. We’ll leave when you’re ready.”

  “Of course,” he said.

  He stepped away, not rushing this time, and spoke to the other vampires. Several of them turned to the aircraft and saw to luggage, but one unassuming woman stepped over to us. Zoe watched all this with wide eyes.

  I didn’t know this vampire. She was younger than Carissa and Kristian, although in fairness, most vampires were. Like all vampires I’d ever met, she had once been human. She was of moderate height for a human female with long, black hair, dark eyes, and a pale complexion. But she’d found time to apply makeup, and I found myself sizing her up.

  I decided she was damned attractive. Not all vampires were.

  But perhaps more importantly, especially for Zoe, was that she didn’t exude a dangerous, powerful air. That didn’t keep Zoe from staring at the woman as she approached.

  Electra came to a stop off Carissa’s flank. “You asked for me?”

  “Electra,” Carissa said, gesturing to the new arrival and pulling her forward into our circle. “You have perhaps heard of Annabelle Delacroix.” Carissa gestured towards me.

  “Ah, yes,” said Electra with a wide smile. “I have wanted to meet you, Ms. Delacroix.” She took my hand and held it for a moment.

  “Call me Anna.”

  “And I have not used my last name in decades, and so you may call me Electra.”

  “This wolf,” said Carissa, “is Elisabeth Burns, sister to the Madison Alpha and head enforcer for the pack. She is our main contact tonight.”

  The two exchanged greetings.

  “And this human is Zoe Young,” Carissa said. “She is mated to one of Elisabeth’s enforcers.”

  “Ah, a brave human,” Electra said with another smile, this one as warm as the rest. She leaned forward and spoke conspiratorially. “Don’t let Kristian frighten you. I know he’s a little intense, but none of us will let anyone hurt you.”

  “I know,” Zoe said. Her voice was shaky, but she stood straight and tall, and she met Electra’s gaze without hesitation.

  “Electra, you will drive for us,” Carissa said.

  * * * *

  It only took a few minutes before their luggage was stowed. Kristian hand
led everything, even distributing our headsets to the drivers. Then the vehicles started up. Elisabeth fed directions to Electra, and we were on our way.

  “I should call the compound,” Elisabeth said.

  “Of course.”

  Elisabeth spent a few minutes updating Lara before clicking.

  “All remains quiet?” Carissa asked.

  “Yes. Carissa, none of this makes sense. They came loaded for bear, and whoever sent them knew what we are, but they weren’t remotely prepared for us.”

  “That is puzzling,” she agreed. “How did you determine all of that?”

  Elisabeth gave the remaining details. Carissa listened carefully, asking a few questions.

  “And the helicopters? When did they appear?”

  Elisabeth explained how Deirdre had lured them in, but she glossed the details of how we’d caught the second helicopter. And so Carissa turned to her. “Elisabeth, I know you’re not telling me something. In my experience, this suggests either you don’t trust me, or you are afraid of my response. I am inclined to believe the second.”

  “To be honest, I’m in a fair amount of denial. I haven’t had my little chat with a certain fox yet.”

  “Ah, ha. So Michaela did not remain under careful protection.”

  “You could say that,” Elisabeth said tightly.

  “Michaela was fine though,” Zoe said, her first words since we’d gotten in the car. “I saw her.”

  “Michaela was fine only because Anna can leap far, far higher than a wolf can,” Elisabeth said. “And Lara realized it fast enough for Anna to respond.”

  “Oh, my,” Carissa said. She glanced at Zoe. “I believe I understand. But all ended well.”

  “So far,” Elisabeth said.

  “All right. I believe I understand. Elisabeth, we are in your territory, and I did not come to command. But I have suggestions.”

  “I welcome them.”

  “When we arrive, I would like my vampires to help ensure the immediate security. I believe this is the most important first step. They would supplement your forces and offer some relief.”

  “I’ll need to warn my patrols.”

  “Of course,” she said. “Then I would like to see these helicopters and your prisoners. After that, we shall see.”

  “That sounds like a plan,” Elisabeth agreed.

  Twenty minutes later, we arrived.

  Questions

  As we drew closer, Elisabeth placed another call, warning the compound we were arriving. As we came to a stop in front of the lodge, I saw Karen and Angel guarding the front door. No one else was visible.

  We all climbed from the car. Carissa gestured, and her vampires all moved closer.

  “We will meet with the alphas,” Carissa said. “If the rest of you would remain here. Tensions are understandably high.”

  Elisabeth led the way.

  The lodge was a fortress. Well, it would have been if it weren’t for all the glass windows. But once inside, we found Lara and Michaela, surrounded by several more enforcers. I had no idea where the others were. Once four of us were fully inside, the alphas stepped forward.

  “Carissa,” Lara said. “Thank you for coming. It might have been for nothing.”

  “It is certainly not for nothing. We must reach the bottom of this, and you have difficult cleanup to perform.” She stepped forward, and I watched in surprise as she offered a hug to Lara. I was far less surprised at the warm, deep hug she shared with Michaela.

  “And where is Deirdre?”

  “I am here, Carissa,” Deirdre said from the hallway leading to the bedrooms. “And now you will tell me you had nothing to do with this.”

  “Deirdre,” Carissa said in reproach. “You doubt me?”

  “Say it,” Deirdre said forcefully.

  “I had nothing to do with the events here tonight,” Carissa said. “The first I knew of it was when Anna called me. I have vowed friendship to the Madison pack. You know that.”

  “This could be a scheme of yours to worm your way in tighter.”

  “Do you believe that?”

  “No, but I wouldn’t put it past you.”

  “This is no scheme of mine,” Carissa said. “I know nothing more about it than the people standing here.”

  Deirdre studied Carissa for a long moment then stepped forward, straight into her arms. The two whispered while they hugged, but when they separated, Deirdre stayed at the vampire’s side, Carissa’s arm around her.

  “Alphas,” Carissa said, returning to formality. “We have received welcome from your head enforcer.”

  “And now you receive welcome from us,” Lara replied. “Frankly, we don’t really know what’s going on.”

  “Yes, well. I wish to introduce the people who arrived with me, if that isn’t too intimidating. Kristian is here, and others.”

  “We’re pleased for their assistance,” Michaela said. “Elisabeth, will you invite them inside? Karen won’t let Lara or me out of the house.”

  “Good,” Elisabeth said. She turned to the door, and fifteen seconds later, six more vampires filled the room. The tension in the air went up noticeably, but everyone pretended not to notice.

  Carissa handled invitations. I knew Marcella and Raphael, but I hadn’t met Pearce or Jacqueline before.

  “Kristian, I will want your perspective,” Carissa said. “The rest of you, please accept Elisabeth’s orders as if they were my own. Let us ensure the immediate vicinity is and remains safe.” She turned to Elisabeth. “We can wait.”

  Elisabeth nodded and gestured with her head. She, along with five vampires, stepped back outside. With us watching, Elisabeth introduced everyone to Karen.

  The enforcers were prepared. Karen had radio headsets waiting. She passed them out. I didn’t hear what was discussed, but a minute later, Carissa’s vampires were quickly moving away from the house, and then Elisabeth returned to us. Tension wore itself across her forehead, but I thought the vampires would make this easier, if she could relax with them.

  “Very good,” Carissa said. “I would like to see these helicopters for myself and perhaps also take a peek at where you’re keeping the prisoners. We can go from there.”

  “Lead the way, Elisabeth,” Lara said.

  It was a large group that stepped outside. We had two vampires, one jaguar, one fae, one werefox, and a total of six werewolves, Monique and Nash among them. We crossed the athletic field to where we’d left the two helicopters. We came to a stop just outside the rotor distance from both of them, Carissa eying them carefully.

  “Have you learned anything from them?” Kristian asked.

  “Karen says they aren’t Black Hawks, but they are painted to look like them,” Lara reported. “She said they’re missing the hard points. Instead, they look like they might be former search and rescue.”

  “I wanted to search them,” Michaela said. “But everyone is being entirely overprotective.”

  “Michaela,” Lara said, “someone sent them here to kidnap you and the pups. Until we know who, I don’t believe it would be possible to be over protective. Now let it rest.” She practically growled the last four words.

  “They weren’t sent here to kidnap anyone,” Michaela said. “They were sent here to die. I want to know who sent them and why, and the registration papers in those helicopters could answer that.”

  “You don’t really believe you’re going to find the registration in a helicopter used on a mission like this.”

  “Maybe not. The tail numbers are fake, but I bet somewhere there are serial numbers we can trace.”

  “And when Greg’s people get here, they can pour through them.”

  “We have to get them out of sight, Lara,” Michaela said. “Where are you going to do that? We’re not remotely equipped to do that. Are you just going to throw tarps over them and hope no one figures out what they are? And I just know you’re going to ditch them in the lake. I don’t want to know how much oil and gas that’s going to release into my
lake.”

  “Lara,” said Carissa. “You have hangars here, don’t you?”

  “On Madeline Island,” Lara replied. “Carissa, there’s blood in both of them. If someone gets nosy...”

  “One of my vampires will have to secure the hangar until we’re ready to move them again.” She turned to Michaela. “From hints, I believe you have flown one already.”

  Michaela began to grin. “Not very long.”

  “You managed to get it down safely. Could you take off again?”

  “I think so, if I can even get it started. I don’t know the procedures.”

  “I believe we can help you get it started,” Carissa said. “Let us see everything else, first.” She turned to the east. “Two hours until sunrise.” Her gaze turned back to Lara. “I do not wish to take over, Lara. But this seems like an easy solution.”

  “You have a pilot for the second one? Or is Michaela flying them both?”

  “I have a pilot,” Carissa said. “I propose we take them at first light. We can take a circular approach, leaving towards the south but then circle around and approach the island from the lake. We’ll send someone ahead to advise us if the airport is safe.”

  “The ferry won’t be running.”

  “Whoever we send can take one of your kayaks,” Carissa said. “Shall we see the prisoners?”

  * * * *

  The prisoners were spread between two storage sheds, with several enforcers watching over them. They were seated on the floor against the walls with their hands tied together and lifted over their heads, tied off in the rafters. I thought that was odd, but then I looked closer and saw they each had a noose attached to the wall behind them, and their legs were tightly duct tapped together.

  They weren’t going anywhere.

  They were each blindfolded and severely gagged. And in the back, spread between the two sheds, and wrapped in plastic, were the bodies of those who had died.

  Without a word, Carissa examined each of them, removing blindfolds for a moment before replacing them. She came to the one whose foot I’d amputated, staring at the stump for a minute. That one was moaning from time to time, drenched in sweat, and I imagined he was in a great deal of pain.