by K. F. Breene
“Okay, well—“
Selene strapped on a sword, winked at him, and said, “Happy hunting.”
He stared after her for a moment. It figured. The first time he starts to care about a girl, and she’s less sensitive than he is. Irony.
Paulie strapped on his own sword and hit the hallway at a jog. Fierce eyed warriors were rushing around, taking up defensive positions or getting out of the way if they weren’t needed. The Boss was a scary sonuvabitch, but he knew how to organize this place. It meant he was smart, confident, and great at his job. If Paulie had been that shifter, he would be steering clear of this territory by now. The fight wouldn’t be worth the end result.
He found the library and noticed the paintings had a blue theme. Wrong library.
The place was a maze. These people didn’t need half these rooms, let alone ten libraries. Why did they all need books? Would a pool table or air hockey table go amiss?
Hurrying, he backtracked and ducked into another library. It didn’t hold Charles and Sasha. He then realized that he had no idea which library the red one was.
He jogged through the front of the Mansion on his way to the next library when a crawling sensation overcame him. Like red ants running up his spine, biting down as they did so, he knew danger was near.
Paulie slowed and faced the front of the house.
“There you are! What the fuck took you so long? Come through here,” Charles said as he poked his head out of a doorway.
“We got trouble.” Paulie swept the room for windows but it had none. He took two quick steps to the door and peered back out.
Charles’ eyes lost focus as he took a step back. “Something’s out there. Go check it out and report back as soon as you can. Don’t engage.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Call when you’re back in the library if we’re not there,” Charles barked.
Paulie was running only a moment later. He thundered through two sitting rooms and into the front area. Only one guy was hanging out at the newly installed desk, staring through the window with round eyes.
“What do you see?” Paulie asked the guy.
“I swear to the gods that big yellow eyes just peered in through that window.”
Paulie couldn’t help a half-cocked smile. “And you didn’t get up to go look?”
“Look, man. I’m used to swords and spells. I’m not used to disembodied yellow eyes staring at me through the window. What was I going to tell Jameson? That I saw a ghost?”
“That you saw a shifter, you fool. Who’s the human here, you or me? You should know this shit by now. They’ve also got one out back.” Paulie put his face in the window and noticed an animal jogging out of sight. He felt eyes, though.
He swept his gaze along the street and slowed in the spot that made his spine tingle. But nothing stared back. Something waited, watching the house. He could swear it. His sixth sense had never let him down on the street. But all he saw was gracefully swaying trees, dancing in the wind.
“You see anything else?” Paulie asked the guard.
“Just those eyes.”
Paulie threw the lock on the door and jogged back the way he came. “Let the Boss know we got an animal in the front. If they try to come in, sound some kind of alarm.”
“Yes, sir.”
Paulie had absolutely no authority, but he didn’t plan to mention that. It was just easier that way.
He found his way into the right room and glanced around. A huge rack of books dominated the back wall. A couch and a few chairs were positioned near the middle of the room with a large, mahogany desk sitting against the other wall. But there were no people.
“Where the hell—” He brought up his phone as he noticed the angle of the painting behind the desk. A black crack ran along a white wall. A hidden door. Very smooth.
Paulie ripped it open and shut it behind him. He was plunged in blackness immediately, having him stumbling with the sudden change. As his eyes adjusted, he could just make out a faint glow ahead of him.
Jogging once again, and bouncing off a wall he followed the glow until the passageway dumped him out into a spacious room with two couches facing each other. Sasha sat on one, staring off toward the front of the house, and Charles sat next to her with one hand resting on her belly. Large and silent bodies lingered around the walls, silent and watching. Here for Sasha’s protection, obviously.
“Chicks don’t like it when you’re always touching their belly,” Paulie observed as he sauntered into the room.
This was Sasha’s jurisdiction, now, and she didn’t function well when everyone was too serious. It made her get lost in her head, and then she made mistakes. This had been drilled into him by Charles and Jonas since that first night Sasha had brought him home.
“Not her belly. It’s the clan’s belly.” Charles looked up with that commanding air. “What’d you see?”
“Shifter in the front. It was on the move. And something else—I don’t know for sure what it was, but usually I have a sixth sense where it concerns danger. It felt like something waited outside, but I didn’t see anything.”
“Shit,” Sasha spat. “Probably an invisibility spell. Not good. That means it is Stefan’s kind, and they have someone with a high power level and knowledge. I should be out there. No one else knows how to unravel that spell.”
“No way is this a threat to the Boss, Sasha,” Charles said in a soothing voice. He rubbed her belly. To Paulie, he said, “She’s worried for her mate. It’s normal for pregnant females to obsess about the safety of their—”
“I’m not obsessing! I’m ready to blow shit up!” Sasha flung Charles’ hand off her stomach.
“Now, that’s not very nice.”
“I don’t want them sneaking in here,” Sasha said, her focus now on the front of the house. “They’re getting close. I have a feeling they want—someone just changed. Did you feel that, guys? That huge blast of power? Changed into human, I’d bet. Probably to open a door and have a gawk. Being naked won’t even make this person stand out.”
She jumped up. “C’mon, we gotta stop that guy from coming in here. I don’t know what they’re looking for, but I’m not letting them find it.”
“No, no, no, Sasha!” Charles hopped up beside her and put out a restraining hand. Those lingering by the walls all took quick steps in front of hallways and openings, blocking her in. “Let them rob us blind if they want to. You are way more important than the crap in this house.”
A determined look crossed Sasha’s face as she stared Charles down. Paulie could tell she was about to force the issue. The woman was as stubborn as they came, and she didn’t like the word ‘no’. Paulie almost smiled. They could be siblings for how alike they were.
“Stay put,” Paulie told her. “I’ll go flush him out. I’ll call for help if I think they are likely to kill me.”
Her flat stare swung his way. Paulie could see the indecision. The desire to sprint into the battle. He also saw a shadow of vulnerability that made his stomach clench. He didn’t know her that well, but she’d given him a chance when everyone else his whole life turned their backs on him. He’d do a helluva lot more than just run around a house to keep her safe. She was blood now.
Her hand lightly rested on the bump of her stomach. “Okay,” she said quietly.
“A few more months and then you can storm the enemy.” Paulie gave her a wink. “Now, where am I headed and am I allowed to kill?”
* * *
“He’s gone.” Stefan glanced around at his Guard. They’d all but surrounded the shifter in stealth, but when they moved in for the capture, it took off. “He’s good. I’d bet he’s done this more than a few times.”
“Good at evading capture, yes. We’ve had the same problem.” Tim stood beside them in sweat pants and a surly expression. “He’s not interested in me. He catalogued my operation and hasn’t come back. Now it’s your turn.”
“Who is a strange shifter reporting to if not more shifters?”
Jameson asked as he turned back toward the Mansion.
“That’s the question, isn’t it?” Stefan growled as he followed him. They shouldn’t have this much of a problem with a single shifter. It had a scent, its magic had a scent—finding it and destroying it should be ten times easier than dealing with one of Andris’ schemes. So why couldn’t they lock him down?
Then it occurred to him. Sasha. She was largely off duty. Had she been able to amble through the city, as she did, with Charles and Jonas at her back, she would’ve found this shifter by now. She would’ve felt its magic, used her sixth sense, and led them all right to it. Then Stefan would’ve moved in with his forces and snatched the thing up. So easy. When working with her, everything became so easy.
He was largely off duty, too and yet he had to admit he hadn’t ventured too far because he’d wanted her close and wouldn’t lead her into any sort of danger. He couldn’t help it. She was on his mind constantly. More than ever before. Even though she was safely locked inside the Mansion, he felt panic creeping into him that he wasn’t with her. Their life was on hold for this baby, and he couldn’t say he was really beat up about one shifter running around loose.
The implications of there being something larger behind that one shifter, though…
Stefan’s phone buzzed in his pocket. He fished it out and saw a text from Charles, “Shifter out front. One got inside. Paulie checking it out.”
“There’s more,” Stefan said, a blast of panic stealing his breath. “One’s inside the Mansion.”
Everyone sprung to life. Stefan sprinted ahead with Tim right at his side.
“What kind of shifter? What’s he after?” Tim asked, ripping off his shirt.
“Charles didn’t say. Paulie, the human, is going after it. He’s good in a brawl, but he doesn’t have control over his magic.”
“Any shifter, no matter how untrained, will rip him apart.” Tim stalled to slip out of his sweats. A moment later, a blast of magic saw a human change into a huge Kodiak bear. It didn’t take long for the bear to catch up with Stefan’s guards, and even less time for it to easily overtake them.
“He lumbers along and you think he’s barely moving,” Jameson said through his rapid breathing. “Look at his speed, though.”
Wolves and a mountain lion weren’t far behind, the shifters easily faster than anything with two legs. Stefan and his crew put on a burst of speed, but they were still going to be showing up late to the party. Stefan only hoped Sasha knew to stay put.
* * *
Paulie inched into the deserted hallway. He’d seen the Watch run through a while ago. They were probably headed to fortify the front and other entrances. Charles had clearly let the Boss know about the additional shifters. That wouldn’t stop the intruder, though. Someone was already inside checking things out. Trying to figure out what the deal with these people was, probably.
He glanced into a room off the hallway. It held a few couches and chairs and a bunch of silent clan members. These were the non-essential crowd, instructed to get the hell out of the way and stay quiet so the Watch could work. They were dressed and ready for battle. Each held a dagger or a sword, and all had watchful expressions. Their gazes tracked him as he stalked by.
One room down, a million to go.
Sasha had said the shifter changed near the back of the Mansion, then went into an area close to the strategy room. Paulie was about ten feet away from that, now.
He stalked up to the strategy room and halted beside the half closed door. I’ll be damned. She was right.
This door was usually either wide open, or totally closed. There were no half measures where this room was concerned. Someone was using it, or not. No one was allowed in here but a select few, and when they discussed business, they didn’t do it so others could hear.
Paulie peered through but could only see the end of the long table where a small portion of the territory map was visible.
The territory map. That made sense. The Boss was not one to fuck with, so he should be one to steer clear of. Staying just outside the territory would accomplish that. Then watch and wait in case any sort of opportunity presented itself.
Paulie wanted to meet whoever was in charge. He knew what the hell he was doing. Very smart.
Paulie stepped directly in front of the door, gathered his magic, and kicked. The bang sent the door tearing open. It slapped against the wall. A blond man in his mid-thirties startled. His gaze snapped up to Paulie.
“What the fuck are you doing in here?” Paulie asked in his deep rasp. His sword lit up a deep orange. He couldn’t quite pull more to push into gold. It would have to do.
“What are you? Are you human?” the man asked with disdain. “They let you filth run around?”
“I’m half, and you’re an idiot, being that you’re human, too, dumb-shit.” Paulie put just enough spite in his voice to make it sound like that was a sore subject. Might as well let them keep their inaccurate information.
The shifter, completely nude, edged toward the window. His gaze took in the sword, and Paulie’s stance. The man grinned. “Half, huh? And reminded of it constantly. Don’t know much about that sword…”
“I know enough. For example, I know that if I stick this pointy end in your soft parts, you won’t like it much.”
With a blast of greenish magic, the flesh of the man melted. Black fur sprouted as teeth turned into canines and nails turned into claws. A large black dog with yellow eyes now stood in the corner of the room.
“A dog, huh? Jesus—a little low on that totem pole yourself. Not even a wolf, or a dingo—you’re a damn dog.” Paulie stepped closer with a swagger. In a few more feet he’d rush the animal. He could probably try a spell, but he had that same problem Sasha had experienced when she first started—he kept using the inverted spells and blowing things up. He didn’t think killing this bugger was the best approach. They needed info. A flesh wound and bindings—he’d done that a million times in his old life.
Although…on humans. Not dogs.
The dog’s lips pulled away from his gums in a silent snarl. He did not like the taunting.
“I bet you wait to bed a woman before you tell her what you turn into, huh? Try to get her liking your inner beauty before you have to break the news?” Paulie laughed and took two more steps.
The animal began a low growl. It stepped toward the end of the table with a clear shot of the door. Paulie stepped in the same direction, blocking its path. This thing would charge, and Paulie would act. Any time now. This was about to go down—
A loud and low snuffle sounded off right behind him. Paulie jumped and backed to one side so both whatever had just come in the door and the dog were still in sight. He then nearly crapped his pants.
A huge bear—probably Tim because there couldn’t be more than one massive bear in this area-- was standing in the doorway. Twice as big as a normal bear, this thing was a huge boulder of muscle and power. Only one thought ran through Paulie’s head: I’m not the top of the food chain, anymore.
The dog must’ve thought the same thing. It let loose a whimper and started running for the door. The bear gave a grunt and took a hop-step toward the window. The dog, in what must’ve been blind panic, changed his path and jumped straight at the window. Shards of glass rained down as the window broke and allowed the animal through.
The bear roared. The sound shook the walls and almost stopped Paulie’s heart. The huge animal ran at the window, but there was no way it could fit through. It would have to take down the wall, and that was doubtful.
Paulie could, though.
Summoning his magic and doing exactly what Master Bert had incorrectly shown him, Paulie threw a spell to create a warming orb. When the spell hit the wall, the whole place erupted. Chunks of wall blasted outward. The explosion rocked the Mansion. A huge hole opened up in the side of the strategy room.
With another grunt, and without waiting for the smoke to clear, the bear took off in pursuit. He didn’t have far
to go, though. A collection of wolves and a mountain lion waited on the other side, surrounding a cage made of burnished gold magic. Inside the cage was a black dog and a puddle of blood.
“He must’ve cut himself on the window!” Paulie yelled as he ran through the wall after the bear. “Stitch him up quick or he can’t tell us who his employers are!”
A Watch member ran forward. A blast of magic had the bear turning into Tim, panting and kneeling. He rose slowly, as if he’d just run three miles, and stepped closer to the dog. The box winked out as he approached.
“It wouldn’t matter,” Tim said with disgust. “This is way too much blood, and this shifter isn’t even trying to make it.”
“It’s his throat.” One of the Watch, a woman with auburn hair, knelt down and pointed at the glistening neck. “Yeah, he’s a goner.”
“Turn back to human,” Stefan said as he also knelt beside the form.
“Push on a wound to coax an answer,” someone instructed.
The woman reached for a blood coated furry shoulder but it was too late. With a low whimper, the rising and falling of the dog’s chest stopped.
“Shit.” Stefan stood and looked into the room. His gaze hit Paulie next. “Is she safe? She didn’t chase this guy?”
“No. I came instead. Boss, listen, this guy wasn’t in the map room by accident. I’d bet these guys are trying to get the perimeter of your territory down. That’s what I’d do. You’re too strong to take without heavy losses, so the best bet is to stick to the outskirts and watch. Don’t broach the territory until you are ready to make a move. It’s the smartest play.”
“And how do you figure all that?” Tim asked with a furrowed brow.
“He spent some time on the street,” Stefan answered for him. “He was one of the go-to guys for his gang. It was a mid-level gang without a lot of clout, but under this human’s guidance, they held more territory than a lot of larger gangs. In prison, he was rarely messed with. And those who did didn’t walk away. He’s never been accused of playing someone dirty—he seems to have a strong sense of loyalty.”
