“What’s that about?” Mike asked when she hung up. Werewolves’ hearing might possibly be better than vampires.
“Nothing involved with any of our cases,” Sid answered. She folded her hands on top of her desk, all prim, proper, and professional. “What did you learn from the feral?”
Mike concentrated on Sofia. “He was sent to bring you over to his kind, the way they did with Cathy. They want female ferals.”
“I suggest you moderate your tone,” Jason said. “You sound like you’re blaming the victims.”
Mike gave Jason a long, hard look, but went on coolly. “He didn’t know where they’re keeping Cathy. They kept him out of that loop by blindfolding him and driving him everywhere—just in case he got caught. I learned a lot of things from him, but not how to find Cathy. We’ll discuss those things after we find her,” he told Sofia.
Chapter Thirty-one
S ofia did not like this guy, and couldn’t see why Cathy constantly raved about Mike in her e-mails. Okay, he was big and strong and handsome, but he wasn’t very nice. Was Cathy’s life in danger from him now?
“Do you want to find her because she’s your friend, or because she’s a danger to your species?”
Mike walked away without answering and went to talk quietly with Sid.
Sofia watched him carefully, worried.
On the drive to the Bleythin office, Jason had told Sofia what he knew about natural-born werewolf society, and how hard her family had worked to keep their existence from the natural-borns. He explained that the werefolk consisted of all sorts of shape-shifting predators—foxes, cougars, bears, and more—but werewolves were at the top of the food chain. The natural-borns were a paranoid lot with rules, and Mike Bleythin’s job was to enforce them.
Though she was new to the idea of having a family, she’d developed a fierce need to protect all the Hunyara. Now she might have to protect them from Mike Bleythin, the Tracker, as well as from these ferals out to use the Hunyara family for their own purposes.
“Cathy first,” Jason said.
He put his arm around her waist and she drew comfort from being near him, comfort from the way he knew her mind.
“I wish we hadn’t come here,” she whispered to Jason.
For one thing, she didn’t like the way Sid kept looking at Jason with blatant, hungry interest that sent waves of jealousy through her.
I’m not interested in her, Jason thought at her.
You’re flattered, though, she thought back.
I can’t help it, sweetheart. I’m a Prime, and she’s a female of our species. We Primes are vain—we love it when the ladies take notice. It doesn’t mean anything.
Maybe not to him, but it sure distracted her. Finding out that Sid Wolf was also a vampire had shocked her, but she adjusted to the idea quicker than she would have a few hours before.
Detaching herself from Jason’s touch—and bothered by how hard it was to do—she went back to stand by Daniel. Jason went over to Mike and Sid.
“Tell me about your father,” Daniel said when she reached him. He adjusted his wire-rimmed glasses on his nose. “He and Cathy’s mother are twins, aren’t they? Multiple births are common in werefolk families.”
“My father. Oh, my God!”
Sofia staggered to a seat as the room spun sickeningly around her. She was vaguely aware of Jason coming toward her, and of his turning to face the door when it opened.
She knows, Jason realized. Sofia’s heartbreak ached in his chest. Her head dropped into her hands and he could almost taste the sudden tears welling from her eyes.
But when a pair of vampires entered, he automatically put himself between his mate and any potential danger. He relaxed when he recognized Sid’s mother and the Snake Clan Prime he’d met at the Matri’s party.
Sofia looked up, wiped the back of her hand across her eyes, and put her feelings aside. Jason admired her resilience, but feared someday she was going to break apart.
“I came to renew my offer of help,” David Berus said.
Sid stood and gave the Prime a wan smile. “Thank you. And Mom—”
Another Prime came through the doorway before she could finish. He radiated excitement and all eyes turned his way.
“Laurent!” Sid said eagerly. “You’ve got something.”
“Who’s the elf lord?” Jason heard Sofia ask Daniel.
“I think we’re beginning to need a flowchart,” he whispered back.
“I’ve got some information,” the newcomer said. He flashed a charming smile at Sofia. “Don’t be alarmed, miss, I work here. If I take the time to hit on you, as politeness requires, my sister over there will be annoyed, so I’ll get on with what I have to say. Is that a wolf sleeping under my desk or a relative of yours, Mike?”
“You’re easily distracted, aren’t you?” Sofia asked.
He pushed hair out of his face. “I haven’t slept in days, and I’m down a couple of quarts. Deprivation definitely affects me.”
“What information, Laurent?” Mike demanded. “Where’s Cathy?”
“I don’t know.”
Mike took an angry step forward. “You don—”
“Let me finish. I believe Cathy’s disappearance is part of a much bigger plan.” He paused for a moment for dramatic effect. “There’s a werewolf revolution afoot.”
“I know,” Mike said.
Laurent lost some of his bright enthusiasm. “What do you mean, you know?”
“Never mind how he knows,” Sid said. “Tell us what you found out.”
“I found out that local illegal arms dealers have been doing a lot of business with some hard-core biker types in the last few days. I’ve convinced one of them to let us do a ride-along on a delivery.”
“You used telepathy on this man?” David Berus asked.
Laurent gave Berus an incredulous look. “Hell, no, I bribed him.”
Jason liked this Laurent. When Berus threw back his head and laughed, Jason decided he liked him as well.
Sofia was not amused. “How is this going to help us find my cousin?”
“The bikers are holed up in a warehouse,” Laurent answered. “We find the warehouse, we find Cathy.”
Sid’s phone rang before anyone could ask more questions.
“Hello, Harry. I’m going to put you on speakerphone so everyone can hear.”
“We had the scent of a couple of the Hunyara family,” Harry Bleythin said, “but their trail disappeared. Then we picked up a faint whiff, followed that, then it was gone again. I remembered how there was absolutely no trace of the feral at the motel when we were within a few feet of him. So I want to ask Mike if he has any information about how the feral managed that.”
Mike said, “They’ve developed a chemical they spray on themselves that completely masks all scent. They must’ve used it on Cathy when they picked her up at her apartment.”
“And now I suspect they’ve used this chemical on the Hunyaras.”
“Cathy’s a Hunyara,” Sofia reminded them. “They kidnapped her, tried to get me, and now they’ve abducted more of my family.”
“That’s my conclusion,” Harry said. “But I think this lack of scent is finally starting to work against them—now that I know what not to sniff for.”
“I’m having a brilliant idea,” Laurent spoke up.
“You usually do,” Harry said. “What is it?”
“We come at them from both angles.” He quickly filled Harry in on his information, then outlined his plan.
When Laurent was done, Harry said, “Roger that. We’ll be in touch when we’re in position.”
“Count me in on this rescue,” David Berus said.
“The more the merrier,” Laurent said.
“I’m in,” Antonia said.
Laurent, Sid, and Mike nodded without showing the least surprise, so Jason didn’t think it was his place to protest the involvement of either female. They were Clan after all, and he was Family. Their customs were not his, althoug
h his own Matri would never permit a female to put herself in harm’s way.
David spoke up. “Lady Antonia, is that wise?”
“I don’t have to be wise,” she answered with a gentle smile. “I’m a grown-up. I get to make up my own mind.”
He put his hands on her shoulders. “But…”
They gazed into each other’s eyes.
Everyone else looked on and forgot to breathe while the silence stretched out to eternity. The pair smiled at each other, and their expressions were identical, totally in harmony, totally content.
“I think I’ve been in mourning long enough,” he said.
“So have I.” Antonia put her hand on his cheek, and David turned his head to kiss her palm. It sealed a promise.
And broke the moment.
“I see where your daughter gets her independence,” David said. “I like it.”
Antonia chuckled. “It seems that you’re going to have to get used to it.”
“Mom?” Laurent and Sid asked.
So that’s what the beginning of a bond looks like, Jason thought. Beautiful.
He wanted to pick up Sofia, whirl her around, and kiss her until they were both crazy with desire. He wanted to lay her down and give her all the pleasure she deserved. He wanted to hold her close to his heart and make promises and plans, and simply just be with her. But now was not the time.
“We’ll get back to this later,” David said. With his arm around her waist, he turned Antonia toward her gaping children. “Right now we’ve got a rescue to carry out.”
Chapter Thirty-two
I can do this, Cathy thought. I can transform. She wanted to take a deep breath and close her eyes to relax, but a deep breath was out of the question with the chemical hanging in the air. It didn’t help that they had cranked up the zapper device that blocked vampires’ awareness of them. While the subaudible whine didn’t cause her pain, it was distracting.
Cathy closed her eyes and stopped trying to concentrate. For over a year she’d been trying to learn how to be a werewolf. Maybe instinct was the key to what she needed to learn.
Go with the flow.
Flow. Yes, that was it. She brought up the memories of Walt changing from man to wolf and back again, and of all the times she’d seen the Bleythin brothers do the same thing. She’d always assumed she had no control over the change, because she’d been told so. She had no doubt the natural-borns believed what they’d taught her, but she now chose to believe they were wrong.
Cathy slipped off her shoes and flexed her toes. She ran her awareness along the muscles of her calves and thighs. She blanked out how they felt now and superimposed the feel of wolf muscle stretching over her bones. She thought of her bones, and what shape they needed to take to support wolf muscle and sinew. She thought of fur, warm and soft, protecting her skin. And of skin tougher and more protective than human.
Flow, she thought. Change. Be.
“Cathy! No!”
She heard the shout just as her vision changed. Though her hearing grew more acute, she couldn’t make out the word. She understood the fear in the sound and reacted with a snarl, revealing her long fangs. She was not afraid; she was alpha and would prove it.
She sprang toward the wall of the cage, but something held her back. Something was wrapped around her leg. It wouldn’t budge when she tried to free her paw. She snapped. Her teeth came down on metal but couldn’t break the restraint. She had to be free!
She didn’t mind the pain.
The cage rattled; the door opened.
“They’ve got a zapper all right,” Laurent said, putting a hand to his forehead and driving slower.
Beside him, Sid grimaced and squinted. The sunlight hurt her eyes. She glanced behind her to where the others sat. Daniel looked sympathetic and Sofia puzzled, but the three other vampires looked as uncomfortable as she felt. Having been briefed on the effects of the zapper, they didn’t complain. “At least this proves we’ve got the right place,” she told them.
A guard stepped in front of the SUV when they turned into the parking lot behind the warehouse. He held up a hand and showed a weapon.
Laurent stopped the van and rolled down the window. “I’ve got a delivery for you, friend.”
The guard shook his head. “Not now.”
Laurent gestured toward a wide metal door at the back of the building. Then he caught the man’s gaze and said, “Open up. I’m not unloading out here.”
If he was trying to psychically influence the werewolf, it didn’t work.
“I said not now.”
“They’ve got a situation inside,” Daniel said suddenly, his eyes closed. “Cathy’s…bleeding.”
“Go, Harry!” Laurent shouted into his cell phone as he stepped on the gas. He opened his door and it slammed into the guard as they passed. “Bloodsuckers out!”
Sid heard her brother shout, “Mortals duck!” as she jumped from her side of the vehicle. The other vampires went out the back door.
Dodging bullets as she ran, she managed to get the entrance to the warehouse open just as Laurent drove up to it.
With the van inside, Sid joined the other vampires in fighting the well-armed werewolves outside.
The van crashed into a truck parked inside the warehouse, and both car alarms began to whine. Laurent jumped out and Daniel scrambled after him.
After that, Laurent moved so quickly, Sofia could only make out a blur. She did hear him yell, “Ow! God damn it, silver bullets!”
A moment later a weapon landed on the floor and a body sailed through the air, screaming.
Daniel headed purposefully toward the far side of the warehouse and smashed a large machine.
It must have been the zapper, because Laurent shouted, “Clear!” and the other vampires moved inside.
Bullets were still flying when Sofia cautiously slipped out of the van and searched the room for wolf shapes.
She ignored the trio of black beasts that came bounding inside; the Bleythins wouldn’t be here if they hadn’t taken care of the guards stationed outside.
Then she saw the cage and the man bending over something inside it. When he stood, she saw what she’d come looking for. Sofia started forward.
Before she’d gone two steps, the cream and gold werewolf pounced, pinning the man against the bars of the cage. And as he reached to push it away, the werewolf ripped open the man’s throat.
Chapter Thirty-three
T he smell of blood brought Sid to a momentary halt as she rushed inside, and she licked her lips. She sometimes forgot how spellbinding mortal blood could be. It permeated the soul, called up ancient hunger, tried to strip away the civilized veneer.
She pushed down the ancient part of herself and continued into the room, where Laurent was taking down one of the bad guys. There was blood on her brother’s arm, his own.
“Eden’s not going to like that,” she called to him.
“I won’t tell her if you won’t,” he called back. “It’ll heal in a minute.” He looked around. “All looks clear.”
Daniel stepped around from the back of the truck. “They’re all down.” He sighed. “Now we’ve got a crime scene to clean up.”
Sid knew they wouldn’t have much time; someone nearby was sure to report the sound of gunfire. The cops would be on the way soon.
Daniel took out his cell phone to call in the waiting cleanup team. Antonia came up to him and they began to consult in quiet tones. Laurent found the weapon that fired silver bullets and put it in the back of their van.
Sid heard a growl and turned to see a huge black body arcing through the air. Two other black werewolves stalked behind Mike, a fierce guard for the Tracker. Then she saw what the werewolves were headed toward: Cathy in wolf form, crouched over a human body. Her pale fur was stained with blood and her muzzle was buried in her victim’s throat.
Her heart sank. “Oh, no,” Sid whispered. “Stay back, Sofia,” she said as the mortal moved forward.
But of course
the woman didn’t listen.
Sofia didn’t want to go closer, but that was where she had to be, where she was needed. Her heart pounded hard and her head hurt.
“Cathy.”
The beast looked up. It growled and tried to stare her down.
Sofia said, “No.”
Then the Bleythin pack were there, and she automatically put herself between them and her cousin.
Mike changed into human shape in a quick blur. Behind Sofia, Cathy snarled.
“Get out of my way,” he ordered.
“Leave her alone,” Sofia replied. “Let me help her.”
“There’s no help for a killer feral. She dies right now.”
“The hell she does!”
“You don’t know our laws.”
“You can’t just put her down without knowing why—”
“She’s moonchanged! That’s why!”
“She’s not,” Jason said.
The calm in his voice soothed Sofia’s anger; it seemed to have a similar effect on Mike.
Jason stood beside Cathy, his hand resting on top of her head. The beast shivered, but most of the insane fierceness had gone out of her eyes.
“You don’t want to do this,” Jason went on. “I’ve been inside your head, Mike. I know how much you love this woman.”
“Shut up!” Mike shouted. He threw back his head and let out a rough-voiced howl that should never have come from a human throat.
Sofia finally realized that it wasn’t fury driving the Tracker, but heartbreaking pain. Prepared to fight him, now she wanted to help him.
“The moon isn’t full yet,” she said. “We don’t know why she changed, or how. We don’t know why she killed.” She pointed at the body. “He was her captor. What did he do to her? Was he a werewolf?”
Mike sniffed. “He was.”
“Your world has changed,” Jason said. “Your laws might not apply to this situation. If you act on instinct, you’ll never forgive yourself.”
“I can’t think about myself. I can’t do what I want.”
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