“Had I not the power of reading people’s minds, I would have shot you a long time ago, Guardian. Your mind is unreadable.” She glanced at Sonja. “This mess, which has unwittingly become my sister’s life I wanted to blame on you.” Briann paid little attention to the creature as his bushy brows winged up. “But I can’t. I have to admit, if anyone or thing could protect my baby sister, Sonja, it’s you, despite your grotesque animal appearance.” Turning her focus on Sonja, Briann winked, “At least you’re alive and we can deal with the cuts and wounds until…” Biting her lip, her sister faltered over her next words, “Until the healing you do commences.” She tried valiantly for a positive smile and managed a trembling tight-lipped purse. The tears welled in her eyes. Spilling in a slow trickle down her face, she gave in resting her forehead against Sonja’s and simply sighed. “Oh, baby girl, you’ve been getting into more and more trouble ever since this whole wolf thing started. When will it ever end?”
“Someone’s coming.” The Guardian’s words tightened. With his eyes, volatile and dark, the wolf-god sought Briann’s help. “Make yourself useful woman and show me to a room I can use for the change.”
Undeterred by his gruff command, Briann pointed toward a set of doors against the back wall, one led to her bedroom and one to the bedroom of her small sons, Ethan and Nathaniel. “Be quiet, the baby’s sleeping,” she admonished Guardian.
With as polite a nod as a werewolf-god could manage, he disappeared into her bedroom. The change would come on violently if he remained in the room with the new guests. In seclusion, he would transform into a man with much more grace and less noise.
“Who is it?” Sonja asked as she rose onto an elbow.
The room spun but slower than before. Grateful the healing didn’t show overly, she dropped her head and covered most of the cuts about her face with her long, blond curls. The picture of Ty’s hand fisted in her curls wavered a moment before she shoved the idea to the back of her foolish head. Her life depended on what she did now, not what she dreamed of doing with the man she’d turned into a werewolf after sharing her gift with him. When she glanced up she couldn’t believe her eyes.
There in the doorway stood the Confederate General Jeb Stewart. His gray woolen long-coat over slim charcoal gray suit trousers didn’t show a sign of wear. His face framed by a well-trimmed beard and matching chops gave him the unmistakable appearance of a gentleman.
Sonja couldn’t believe her eyes. “General?”
“Sonja Brooks, I believe.” Stewart bowed low over his arm and sent his gold braid dancing from the insignias fastened to his shoulders. The dusky gray cavalry hat, which until moments earlier had sat jauntily atop his thick mane of dark brown curls, now rested in his large, strong hands. “I have word from our lookouts. Ty Loflin has been captured outside the Union prisoner of war camp, Conner’s Breach.”
Sonja got up slowly and stared back at the general. “You’re dead.” She wasn’t trying to ignore his information or be insensitive. With effort, she stepped toward him.
“Sonja?” Briann asked hesitantly.
“It’s okay, Sister. The fear doesn’t rear up any longer like the sensation used to.” With a slight crook to her mouth she explained for Stewart. Before, I was scared to death when my wolf nose smelled your kind lurking in the woods beyond Briann’s door. Waiting for Stewart to answer, she reached out to check his pulse. She found him indeed, dead. “Why have you come here with such news? You tried to kill Tyler Loflin the last time I saw you. He is no traitor to the ‘cause’ yet you tried to court martial him. Now you stand here telling me he’s been captured by the Yankees. What do you want me to do, find him so you can finish killing him?” With her temper rising to the boiling point, she shoved past Briann, who tried to help and positioned herself between her sister and the vampire.
“Your observation is correct,” Stewart said humbly. “I am dead.” His hat remained in his hands as he glanced from her to her sister, who moved to stand beside Sonja.
“Why have you come here with such news? You ordered a firing squad to shoot Tyler. He didn’t even get a trial! Why should I believe you, Rebel?”
“As you already know, my regiment was attacked at the Yellow Schoolhouse outside of Spotsylvania. The vampires drained most of my men. They’d decided to make me one of them for sport, I suppose.” A muscle jumped in his jaw. “I managed to escape. I came to warn you.” He paused waiting for their response. Stewart glanced from Sonja to Briann. “I know what Tyler is now. And I know what you are as well.”
Gold fire sparked in Sonja’s eyes and glowed tawny in the meager light.
Stewart raised his hand in surrender. “I come in peace and want to help you if you’ll allow me. Perkins and his men killed or changed most of my men before we could even draw our weapons. “I want to eliminate the bloody bastards down to the last leach.”
Sonja’s breath came in short bursts. Narrowing her eyes on Stewart, she said, “You expect me to believe you dropped by here to warn me the lieutenant is in danger and offer your assistance? I’m not that stupid, General.” With that, she presented her back to him.
Stewart didn’t flinch. “Tyler Loflin is a loyal Confederate soldier. I deeply regret the charge leveled against him. Now, almost single handily, he’s trying to stop the bastards. I want to help right a great wrong when I smeared his record and prove to you I’m not like them, Mrs. Brooks.” Stewart paused in the slow, calculated way of a general and waited for her decision. Casting eyes from one sister to another, he held his cavalry hat in front of him with those long, slim fingers. His demeanor seemed sincere – a common assumption Sonja’d made before when dealing with a man in uniform.
She reached up, rubbing at the pain behind her eyes. Her head throbbed - probably from one of the blows she'd taken at the hands of one of the more powerful vamps back at the farm. “You expect me to believe you weren’t sent here to try and lure me into showing up at this compound where I’d be captured myself?” Irritation bloomed out of the pain in her head as Stewart continued to stand before her. Tapping one slim foot on the stone floor, Sonja examined the general’s face and waited intently for his answer. Surely, he would give himself away sooner or later.
“A man named Abram Clemens is with him. The vampires plan on draining Abram’s blood and feeding him to their hellhounds tonight at midnight. They will drain Tyler slowly as they need his blood.”
A simmering rage began to pool in her stomach. She recognized what Stewart referred to – the fact Ty’s blood contained the gift. The vampires would use him as a living science experiment to allow them to travel in the daylight. She’d done this to him, she’d made him a wanted man or wolf because she’d shared her blood with him to save his life. The pain shot daggers into her brain. Guilt reared up, threatening to strangle her. She needed to save him whether she believed the general or not.
When she raised her face, her composure was again in place. Giving nothing away, she took a step toward the undead Stewart. “What – I’m supposed to trust your lead and break into the bloodsuckers den to save a man who can take care of himself simply because you say he needs me?” The grunt of disgust sounded harsh even to her ears. “You know those vultures want my blood because of the power it contains. Otherwise you wouldn’t have explained what they planned to do to the lieutenant in such detail.” Sonja whirled away before turning back to glare at the new vampire. “Do you take me for a fool, sir, or has your change addled your brain?”
Stewart dropped his eyes before meeting hers with a steadfast stare. “No, I came to help you and Ty free those Confederates.” With a glance through the front window, Stewart focused on the encroaching darkness, his skin bunched around his eyes in a pained stare. “A lot of them are my men, good men, who don’t deserve to die at the hands of those monsters.” There was audible stress in his voice.
Sonja clenched her teeth while sucking in air and releasing the breath slowly. “If I believe you and you’re lying, I’ll kill you without hesitat
ion.”
“If I’m lying, I’ll gladly stand without objection for your blade.” Stewart’s gray eyes never left her face.
Briann ran a hand down Sonja’s tattered sleeve. “I believe him, sister.” Her sister smiled tentatively for Sonja before flicking a glance back at Stewart. “He’s sincere. No vampire who knows your gift comes alone to seek you out unless he speaks the truth.”
Sonja reached across and gripped her sister’s hand. “You’re always right.” Wrapping her arms around Briann, Sonja moved into the embrace. The time for doubt passed and she relished in the contact of her family. “All right, we’ll go and see what we can do.” She wagged one tiny finger at the Union general. “I’m going to get Ty, and if we’re able to free some Confederates, we will. I can’t promise you anything until we see what we’re up against. Is that clear?” Her voice, filled with authority, sounded assertive.
“Don’t worry, Mrs. Brooks. I only want to free my men. No questions or suggestions will be forthcoming from me concerning how we manage the feat.” Stewart settled his cavalry hat atop his dark hair. “I’ll bring horses and supplies if I can locate any. We’ll be ready to ride within the hour.” With two fingers to the brim of his hat, Stewart considered Briann with a small appreciative smile before turning for the door.
When he’d gone, Sonja turned to Briann. “You should be more careful with your power to hear a person’s thoughts. He can read minds, you know?” She sat in a nearby chair as a wave of pain struck her squarely. The extent of her injuries must’ve been greater than she believed. Usually the healing didn’t include so much difficulty.
Waving a hand in the air, Briann grinned wickedly. “Don’t worry about me, sister. I heard his thoughts before I offered an answer. He’s quite the gentleman.” She offered a faint smile. Isn’t he manly?” Like a schoolgirl, her older sister giggled. Briann hadn’t made the delicate, feminine sound in a long time. Now she fanned her face with those same fingers she’d used to dismiss Sonja’s concerns. “I’m sure he’s telling the truth. He’s no fan of the vampires who turned him. He holds humans and werewolves in high regard though.” With her point made, Sonja’s sister turned to the kitchen and a kettle on the stove. “I’m going to make you some of my special tea. You haven’t eaten today have you?”
Sonja remained silent. There was no need to reiterate her question. It seemed she had eyes for the general. How odd life was, she mused.
The Guardian reappeared and glanced from one sister to the other. He wasn’t recognizable as the creature all humans feared. No, he’d taken on the disguise of an ordinary country gentleman, a look, which gave him more mobility and freedom to spy on the vampires.
“I can’t understand how they don’t know you’re not who you appear to be.” Sonja narrowed her eyes at her mentor. “Do you ever get a feeling like they’re on to you?”
The Guardian smiled benignly and shrugged one elegantly clothed shoulder. “I have no inkling of such a feeling, no.”
Sonja rolled her eyes to the ceiling. “No, I suppose you wouldn’t.” Motioning him to step closer, she stuck out her hand. “Come here.” She could remember a time when the mere sight of him struck terror in her chest. The first time she’d met him, he’d walked up behind her and laid his talons on her shoulder. Sonja cringed inwardly when recalling his face so close to hers.
“You have something on your shoulder,” she said. Giving the lent a flick, she smiled at the figure he made in his dark blue coat and white ruffled carafe. “There.” Setting him to rights, Sonja smiled and glanced into his face. “You heard what our visitor had to say?”
“Yes, I heard.” Glancing at Briann, the Guardian asked, “You believe he is telling the truth?”
Briann’s eyebrow winged up. “I don’t have to depend on beliefs, I know what General Stewart said was the truth. He’s not like the others.” Looking from the Guardian to her sister and back again, she continued undeterred. “His heart may be dead, but his soul lingers and his spirit seeks justice.
“All right.” The wolf-god stepped toward the front door, searching the road in both directions. “We’ll see what happens when he comes back.”
“The sun has finally set. Will you eat with us, Guardian? I fear I’ve gone again and made too much.” Briann stepped toward the werewolf-god and spread a hand. “Come, we’ll let good stew go to waste if you don’t.”
“The general will return. We’ll rest under the witch’s spell before travel.” With those simple words he turned back and followed the women into dine.
Chapter 3 For the Sake of Brothers in Arms
Something slithered across his bare toes. Forcing the urge to jerk his foot out of harm’s way, Ty repositioned himself against the cold, damp wall of the prison cell. A faint glint of candle light showed through the bars. Cold air surged down the dark hallway.
“Gonna be a cold one tonight,” Smitty said. “Ty’s sergeant and friend glancing up at the flickers of moonlight shining through. No more overcast sky.” His voice trailed off as if his thoughts remained tangled in memories he couldn’t talk about.
“See if Conner’s needs more cover. His chills were getting worse when I checked,” Ty instructed.
The men lining the walls of the cell didn’t argue as someone near Conner’s shivering form, shared his cover with the Rebel. The faces of the men in the cell reflected their state. The fact they’d been captured and thrown in the hellhole called Coggan’s Breach was doing a good jov of finishing off what little of their Rebel spirit remained. Ty resigned himself to the situation. He sat alongside them with no more talent for getting out than they did.
“Conner’s holding on, Lieutenant,” a young pup named Rogers answered. The young private resembled a twelve-year-old, all gangly arms and boney legs. Most of the men were sure he’d lied about his age to get into the regiment. Stewart’s cavalry unit was coveted among the enlisted men as well as the officers. His large brown eyes set in his freckled face belied his eighteen years. When they needed an innocent face, the men always sought out “Baby” as they’d affectionately nicknamed him.
“Good,” Ty breathed with a look around the small cage used to house twenty men. The men looked up to him, though Ty couldn’t say why. Each face he scanned wore the blank look of despair. Most of them ended up in this dank hole when Stewart met his untimely end.
They needed a plan. Most of those in the cage grew weaker from hunger and ill from poor living conditions. “Do we know if the vultures have a set time they feed us or is their benevolence on a whim?” There was mockery in the man’s tone making it hard not to give in.
One of the officers from Stewart’s unit shifted on his pallet and spoke up. “No set time, sir. They come when they feel like it, usually dangling something in front of our noses to get a rise out of us. Taunting those half-crazed with hunger to fall on over the edge. If we don’t fight, we’re next ‘to be saved’ as they call the drinking our blood. Death is a sweet relief for most who’ve given up.
Ty absorbed the officer’s answer with a heavy heart. He’d planned on getting his men, plus as many others as he could gather, out of the hell hole before the forest had turned on him. Admitting his temper brought on the change didn’t set well with him at all. Sometimes he figured he almost gained control of the transformation and something would trigger his anger like the plants outside the compound. He’d shift into the werewolf. Berating himself for not being more cunning in his wolf skin, he labored with guilt and wallowed briefly in despair. Images of Sonja continued to flash through his mind’s eye. Alarmed by the danger lurking in the vision, Ty scrambled to his feet. The men on the floor turned their faces toward him. “We’re getting out of here tonight. No way I’m letting any of you stay any longer, do you hear me?”
***
Sonja stood straight and tall as she closed her eyes to concentrate. Slowly a white light emitted around her and swirled with facets and sparks. The glow grew stronger and stronger until Sonja’s whole body shimmered with the change.
When given the choice, she became the white she wolf with a coat the color of snow. Around her neck a silver band of fur framed her wolf face where Brandy colored eyes saw everything. As the wolf, she approached the wall of the compound. Daylight had its advantages when it came to dealing with vampires. Today’s brilliant sunlight kept them all in their caskets. The Guardian continued to remind her the vampires coveted her blood more than all others because if a vampire drank from her, he could walk in the daylight unharmed. Besides strength and endurance, which the vamps always wanted more of, her blood’s sunlight protection made them long for her life source most. She couldn’t help the shiver racing down her spin.
The great hulking werewolf-god appeared at the other end of the compound. Speaking to the Guardian’s mind, Sonja explained her plan. He’d transformed back into the long armed wolf-god for their break-in attempt.
“Get him out of here no matter what happens. Do you understand?”
Guardian’s blain stare told her he wasn’t taking anything she said seriously. He merely leapt to the top of the high wooden wall and disappeared over its side. Conner’s Breach was a desolate place with nothing to speak kindly of its roughhewn exterior or its chains and shackles hanging near the main gate. It resembled a dungeon from the dark ages and Sonja couldn’t keep the vision of its dank, dismal interior from surfacing in her brain. She blinked in the direction the Guardian had taken. Gods were strange. Why she’d though he’d understand her plea to remove Ty unharmed, she didn’t know. Perhaps he remained aloft to remind them all of his superiority or perhaps he was an asshole.
Irritation rippled along her neck in the form of tension she hadn’t been able to shake. The mere fact Ty hadn’t wanted her to accompany him on this little rescue mission still weighed on her heart. She didn’t want any harm to come to the man she loved. Such a rare jewel – love, especially if you became something as strange as a werewolf. Her life took a big turn only a couple of weeks before when she’d been attacked by a wolf posing as a stranger. She’d awoke a new creature with unimaginable powers. The witch, Hortence, explained everything yet she couldn’t wrap her head around the facts. Slowly over the days, which followed, she began to understand some of what the witch kept telling her. As a werewolf, she would be in charge of a new order of wolves destined to eradicate all vampires, who feed off humans and wolves alike.
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