Weaken the Knees (The Immortal World Book 6)

by Shannon A. Hiner

  “Is this everyone we were expecting?” Zane asked. He eyed the small crowd with what appeared to be skepticism.

  Daniel cleared his throat. “I have two more that might be able to join us, once we have a plan.”

  “Not three?” Kali raised an eyebrow.

  “Certain people would probably wish to avoid me,” Aubri said. “Which is probably for the best, anyway. Considering.”

  Will looked back and forth between them. Were they speaking some sort of code? What was this?

  Errin noticed his discomfort and smiled. “William, what you see here is a delicate coalition of those who would wish to help you, even if it means working with some they neither know nor trust. Those who are unknown to you have their own agendas, naturally, but as they coincide with your own goals, they are here to help.”

  “I don’t understand,” Will said. “What am I in need of help with? I thought you’d found Rene.”

  “Discovered her location might be a more appropriate phrasing.”

  “Well then, what is her location?”

  “Ladyslocke.” Aubri shuddered. “A werewolf compound not too far from Genocide. Heavily populated last time I was there, and not hospitable.”

  “In other words, you’re going to need our help,” Zane said.

  “The werewolves have compounds?” Will looked at Aubri. “You’ve been there?”

  She glanced around the room somewhat nervously, then back at him. “You remember the Gathering?”

  He remembered the Gathering being busted in on by werewolves who killed any vampire they could get their paws on and how some had been taken . . . hostage . . .

  She nodded. “I don’t recommend their prison facilities.”

  “Why wouldn’t she just leave? Shimmer out?”

  “They built the prison under an iridium deposit. Similar to the catacombs in Genocide. And I suspect they are keeping her very weak. If she was there at the same time as me, I never heard her.”

  The image of Rene, weak and trapped in a werewolf prison, flickered in his mind. “When do we leave?”

  “Soon,” Aubri said. “But first, we need someone to get us there.”

  “I thought you’d been there.”

  “Yes, well, my trips to and from are somewhat blurry.” She grimaced.

  “Then how—”

  “Me.” A man said from the doorway across the room. He was well over six feet tall, with dark auburn hair and broad shoulders. His coloring was the spitting image of Aubri’s, though far more masculine and imposing. He also smelled like a wolf.

  Will didn’t even realize he’d moved until he found both Zane and Wade holding him back. He growled and tried to pull away from them. Will knew the wolf—had nearly killed him the month before.

  “Will, please,” Aubri was saying, “This is my brother, Kael, and he’s here to help us.”

  Another growl rolled out of his throat.

  The werewolf leaned against the doorway and rolled his eyes. “I told you he wouldn’t go along with it.”

  “Kael, not now,” Aubri hissed at him. She looked back at Will. “Sorry, I was going to warn you.”

  “He knows where this Ladyslocke is? How involved was he in her capture?”

  The wolf shook his head. “Considering I was still a human when it happened, not very.”

  Will remembered how young the wolf had been when he came across his pack. It seemed like he was telling the truth. Still, Will wasn’t okay with what was going on here. He turned on Aubri again. “Does Hadrian know you are here? What would he say to know his Second is cavorting with wolves?”

  “Firstly, I am not cavorting with my brother. Ew. Second, of course he knows I’m here. Just as Angela knows you’re here. Does that mean I’m ‘here’? No. I am not. You never saw me. None of you did. But you need me, and you need my brother, so here we are.”

  “Not.” The werewolf grinned.

  “What?” Aubri asked.

  “Here we are not,” he said.

  “Oh my God.” Aubri covered her eyes. “You’re an idiot.”

  Wade prodded Will’s shoulder lightly. “If I let go, are you gonna stay cool?”

  Eyeing the werewolf, Will hesitated. But everyone else was acting normal around him. As if he was just another stray in their company. Finally he nodded. Wade and Zane let go of him, but hovered on either side of him until he sighed and made his way over to the empty loveseat.

  “Fine, I assume you haven’t all been sitting around here in silence waiting for me. What plan have you come up with?”

  ∞∞∞

  A few hours later, Will stood on the porch outside of the house. He stared out at the starlit sky, but saw nothing. His eyes weren’t looking at anything visible instead they were seeking, delving, spinning between trees and through mountain passes for Ladyslocke. A property he would level at the first opportunity.

  Aubrianna had described the prison from her memory, with her werewolf brother filling in the details that she’d missed or been unable to see from her cell. Kael had also given details on the Alpha wolves that held Ladyslocke. Silas and Lionakis were reported to be imposing, powerful wolves. But that was from the perspective of a wolf only a few months old. No one else in their company, save Aubri, had met either of the wolves, and she only while she was human, when any immortal would have felt powerful and frightening to her.

  He would trust his own senses when he met them. And meet them he would. In only sixteen more hours. As his eyes traveled through the night, borne by imagination and desperation, they found that prison, ran down the steps, through the cramped and dirty hall, and finally came upon the cell they sought. Where she waited.

  Will closed his eyes. He would have her again tomorrow night. The minutes were already ticking by, counting down. He would find her.

  “Will?”

  He opened his eyes again to find Serena next to him. Her cornflower blue eyes were drawn tightly together and her mouth quivered.

  “What’s wrong, Serena?”

  “I’m scared,” she whispered. “What if she’s . . . what if she’s not—what if they . . .”

  Will swallowed back his own protest and leaned over to wrap his arms around her. “They couldn’t hurt her if they had a million years to try it. She’s the strongest person I know.”

  “She’s not though,” Serena said, leaning her head against his shoulder. “She’s just playing at being strong.”

  “Well,” he held her a little tighter. “They won’t know that.” After a moment he let her go. “Time for bed, I think. The sky’s getting a little gray, and we’ll want to be up early this evening.”

  She nodded. “I’ll be in soon.”

  Will reached out one more time and squeezed her shoulder. Turning around to head for the front door, he found Wade on the other side of the porch, glaring daggers at him. Will stopped short of the door, thinking the Acrien leader might say something, but Wade just folded his arms across his chest and glared on. Rolling his eyes, Will stepped through the door. He didn’t have time for petty jealousies, not when he had far more important things to think of.

  Bree met him in the foyer. “Oh, Will, let me show you to your room. It’s upstairs.”

  “Thanks.” He followed her down the hall to a narrow set of stairs. As they ascended, his curiosity grew. “I hope you won’t mind my asking, but what exactly are you doing with this group?”

  She grinned over her shoulder, the expression lit her warm brown eyes. “I never mind curiosity. I’m Errin’s lab partner.”

  “Pardon?”

  Bree laughed. “That’s how it started anyway. We’ve decided to keep each other.”

  “But you’re . . . human.”

  “For the next month, at least.”

  “Oh.” That was . . . interesting. Cresting the stairs, Bree led him to the left and stopped a couple doors down. “So tomorrow night you’re—”

  “Going to stay well out of the way.” She opened the door. “This is you. Let me know if yo
u need anything else to be comfortable. I’ll be up studying for a little while. Finals are coming up in a couple of weeks.”

  Whatever that meant . . . Bree smiled at him again before returning downstairs. Will entered the room to find a comfortable looking bedroom. It was simple and clean, without windows, and decorated in light blues and white. He would rather have gone home, but it was early and he wasn’t entirely certain where in the world he was currently. Better to bed down till it was dark again. He wanted to be here the moment the sun went down so they could get started. The faster he went to sleep, the sooner he would wake up, and the sooner he would finally be on his way.

  He would keep his promise; a promise to himself, and promise to her. Even though she’d never heard it spoken.

  Chapter 29

  Rene opened her eyes that night to find Silas in the hall. Arms crossed over his massive chest, he leaned against the opposite wall watching her. His dark eyes stayed on her as she woke, neither flinching nor wavering. Quickly she searched the hall for Ira, but she could neither see nor smell him. Her shoulders relaxed infinitesimally and she looked back at Silas.

  Was that pity she saw in his eyes? Once upon a time she would have sneered at it. Now, well, she thought she might be able to use it to her advantage. If he’d softened toward her any, there was a chance she could use him.

  “Si—” her voice cracked, throat dry and inflamed. She tried to clear it and swallowed blood instead.

  His eyes narrowed, but otherwise he didn’t move.

  Rene shook her head, swallowing back the pain of her throat, the bone-deep ache in the rest of her body. She had to try. “Do you know . . . what he is?”

  Silas waited.

  “He is a monster.”

  His dark brows rose.

  “Not like you and I,” she said. “A real monster.”

  Still, he was silent. Did he believe her? Did he care? A door opened at the top of the stairs, the scent of mint wafted down and through the hall. Her stomach turned over.

  “Silas,” she whispered desperately. “Please. Please . . . kill me.”

  His eyes widened for a moment, he pushed off the wall as if to approach her, then Ira came around the corner. He smiled easily at Silas, smirked at Rene. “Well, good evening, Sleeping Beauty.”

  Shrinking back against the wall, Rene sent another pleading glance at Silas. He had to help her. He was her only hope now. The wolf looked between Rene and Ira, as if trying to reconcile her terror with the smiling, warm man across from him. This was always how it went. Ira could convince anyone he wanted that he was good, normal, not pure unadulterated evil. He could lie better than anyone she’d ever known.

  “I must thank you again, Silas,” Ira was saying. “For bringing my sister back to me. Even in this form, it is very good to see her. Very good.” His voice dipped on the last and Rene felt the words slide down her back like ice water. “I had my doubts that our work with the humans would bring this about, but I’m glad to see it was money well spent. Goodness, but she is so weak. I’ve never seen someone look so sallow and depleted. Have you not been feeding her?”

  Silas cleared his throat. “Enough to keep her alive. We needed to keep her under control until you arrived. I’ve no doubt the moment she has enough blood in her she’ll be clawing at all our throats.”

  He’d better believe it. Rene glared at him with all the malice in her heart. Silas’ would be the first throat she tore out.

  Ira tsked. “Yes, well, she’s of no use to me like this. I need her healthy, alive.” He frowned and shrugged. “As alive as she gets, anyway. Clearly you and Lio have no idea how to handle someone like her. Send someone for something fresher than whatever you’ve been feeding her.”

  “I really don’t think—”

  “Silas, if I require your opinion I will request it.” A sharpness that brooked no arguments entered Ira’s voice. He didn’t even look at Silas. His eyes were only for Rene, filled to the brim with that unholy light that had haunted her for two centuries. “Send someone now, and have it brought directly here. Go yourself, if you must.”

  Silas stared at Ira for a long moment, incredulous. He turned and glanced once more at Rene, meeting her eyes.

  Please, she thought desperately in his direction. He hesitated, then walked out of the hall and up the stairs. Rene closed her eyes tightly and rested her head against her knees. Alone. Not even her enemies could be counted on to do what they must. The bars of her cell creaked and groaned, heavy footsteps came up beside her. Mint cloyed the air and choked her airways, throwing her back into the past.

  “Sarah,” he said, crouching down next to her. “Dear Sarah. Won’t you stop hiding from me? I can make your life here much more comfortable, if you behave.”

  If she gave in, he meant. Her shoulders shook on dry sobs. One of his hands grasped her in what was likely meant to be comforting, instead it was tight and frightening, it felt like her worst memories. She tried to flinch away, but was too weak to move. His hand tightened even more and he shoved her shoulder into the wall.

  “Look at me,” he hissed.

  She couldn’t bear the feel of his hands on her, tried to shake them off.

  “Why must you always fight me?”

  Rene raised her eyes with every ounce of hatred and disgust she’d ever felt for him. She cleared her throat and spat blood at him. It wasn’t much, her throat was so dry, but dark red splattered Ira’s cheek and neck. Her neck snapped to the side with the force of his blow.

  “I can see I will have to break you all over again.”

  He grabbed her by the ankles and dragged her into the middle of the room. She tried to kick at him, grab hold of something. There was nothing. She was out of strength. She screamed, not knowing what or who she screamed for. Unlike when she was alive, screaming too long and hard did not have the benefit of making her pass out. No such respite or peace would come to her.

  “Don’t worry, I shall take just as much pleasure in it this time.”

  ∞∞∞

  Will woke as the sun slipped and fell behind the mountains, its last rays clinging to the rapidly darkening sky as if it would pull itself back if it could only get a grip on something. He woke naturally, his body sensing the darkness and signaling safety. Eyes opening, he lay and stared straight up at the ceiling for a minute.

  During the day, Serena’s words had come back and haunted him into wakefulness. What had the wolves done to Rene? What harm had they visited upon her? What if . . . what if it was permanent?

  His hands clenched in the sheets. Months had passed since she’d been taken. Anything could have happened. She might not even be—no, he’d know. He would know if she was gone. Wouldn’t he?

  Unclenching his fists, Will swung his legs over the side of the bed and started strapping weapons to his person. He hadn’t bothered to remove his clothes the morning before. He hadn’t planned on sleeping much anyway. His mind was too awake, too wired with going over the plan once more. Contemplating what he would do first; find Rene: or kill every werewolf he could get his sword into. Looking down at the saber as he sheathed it secure at his waist, he knew the answer. It didn’t sit well with him that he likely wouldn’t get his fair share of the action, but the driving force of his life for the last months had been finding her. Retribution would have to wait.

  As he left his room and headed downstairs, Will turned toward the living room where the group had convened the night before but stopped at the sound of voices in one of the rooms he passed.

  “I don’t like this,” Bree was saying. “I wasn’t made to be a policeman or soldier’s wife. I can’t watch you walk out that door and wonder if you’re coming back.”

  “Don’t wonder then,” Errin said. “I’m coming back.”

  “You can’t know that.”

  “Give me a little more credit, love. I think I can handle a couple of werewolves. No, don’t you raise that beautiful brow at me. Last time was only because I was protecting you as well. And I didn’t h
ave my weapons.”

  A loud sniff was the only response.

  “Ah, Bree, don’t cry.”

  Will passed the door, keeping his eyes straight ahead but unable to miss the sight of Errin holding his human tight and attempting to comfort her. These people were risking their lives to bring Rene back. Sure, many of them had their own motives as Errin had said, but be that as it may, they were helping him. If any of them didn’t come back, Will would feel responsible.

  In the living room, the shapeshifter Kali was holding a steaming mug and staring out the front windows. She turned as Will entered the room and smiled. “Good evening.”

  “’Evening.” Will stopped next to her and looked out the window as well. The sky was purple and midnight blue, converging, dancing, marrying hues speckled with diamonds millions of light years away. “May I ask you a personal question?”

  Studying him over the rim of her mug, she smiled hesitantly. “I suppose, though I might require one in return.”

  Fair enough. “Why are you here?”

  “You mean what do I get out of this little venture?”

  He nodded.

  “Zane and I have some scores to settle. Getting Rene back gets a little closer to that.”

  “How?”

  “That’s two questions, soldier boy.”

  Will startled and stared at her. How had she—?

  She nodded to the saber at his waist. “My dad is an American history teacher, and that’s not a replica.” Kali took a sip from her mug and eyed him a little closer. “Did you make it through the war?”

  Canon fire echoed in his ears, the scent of gunpowder hot from the barrel of a musket burned his nostrils. He stared at her but didn’t answer.

  “Question for a question, Will, it’s only fair.”