She lowered the hammer on the pistol and carefully set it on the end table. She wanted, needed out of this room. Needed time to process all this information and she didn’t have it. Izzy didn’t have it. She didn’t even argue when Nico pocketed the gun. A show of faith, right? She wouldn’t kill their precious Alpha, and they would let her go. It sounded like a fair trade to her. Except the quiet one still blocked the door, and when she glared at Kane, he just shook his head no. She considered trying one of the windows, but climbing out into a bed of rose bushes dressed only in a robe didn’t sound very appealing.
“You still haven’t explained your aversion to Special Branch. Or how you know about it.” Kane’s tone was curious. “You have a reputation for staying away from government and rebel work, so the anger doesn’t seem to fit.”
“I have a good reason for staying out of it.” She took a deep breath and went for the abridged version. “Our father worked for Special Branch. Somehow Tobias found out who he was and blew up the inn he and my mother were staying in.”
Her voice shook with pain and rage, new and old. She’d thought her affair with Kane was safe. He was the city’s Alpha but had never seemed very interested in the job. She’d thought he was addicted to excitement like she was, that he would never settle down and get serious. There’d been a lot of appeal in that. She’d been so wrong about him, and she didn’t want to be forced to reevaluate him, the kind of man he was. That knowledge would put her on different footing and a different path. She really was going to have to give him up, and she couldn’t believe how much the idea hurt. Had she already invested too much of her heart? No. She refused to believe it.
“Why didn’t we know this?” he murmured. “I wonder if Phineas knows.”
Rheana’s laugh rang bitterly through the room. “Phineas has his own agenda and not much use for people who get in the way of it.”
Nico scowled. “I know you’re not suggesting Phin is a traitor.”
She snorted. “No. Just that he doesn’t see anything but his goal—ending the rebellion. And no, we aren’t sympathetic to the rebellion, but Phin doesn’t…count the cost. He thinks people are expendable to the cause. He’s no better than Tobias in that regard.”
Nico frowned at her. “I can’t believe you’d compare the two, Rheana.”
She shrugged. “I lost my parents to the games those two play with each other. What I’d really like to know is why my sister got dragged into it?”
“Good question,” Calista added. “I’d like to know that one myself.”
“Sorry,” Kane answered. “I assumed you would guess. You know what she’s been working on? Looking for a cure for the plague?”
“Yes. She’s close too, she thinks.”
“I guess so. She’s apparently found a cure for us.” He nodded his head to take in the others in the room. “For shifters and vampires.”
She was quiet a minute. Isadora had complained when the cure had turned out to be the wrong cure, and she’d destroyed it. How was it discovered? By Tobias, no less. She could certainly see the advantage of one side having it and finding a way to surreptitiously use it on the other. If Tobias could pull it off, the South might actually win. The idea left a bad taste in her mouth, like old curdled milk.
“How do you know this?” Rheana asked.
Kane’s eyes shuttered, and Calista knew he didn’t trust her with all his secrets. She didn’t blame him. These were secrets she wanted no part of.
“An informant inside Tobias’ camp.”
“An informant or a Branch spy?”
He didn’t answer, just clamped his mouth shut. She nodded at Rheana.
“A spy then.”
Rheana agreed. “That would be my guess.”
“Anything else I should know?” Calista asked, turning back to Kane.
He shook his head. “That’s about it.”
“Good. Let me out of here. I have to go after my sister.”
He nodded to Sebastian who moved from the door. “Get dressed. We’ll start gathering supplies.”
From the open doorway, she turned and narrowed her eyes. He was not tagging along. “This is my sister, my business. I don’t need or want any help.”
He smiled but there was no warmth in it, only grim determination.
“Tough shit.”
She shook her head and left the room, gathering her robe in two hands she ran up the stairs. We’ll see about that.
CHAPTER FOUR
It took a few hours to make travel arrangements, then gather rations, water, weapons, and extra ammunition. Kane kept Calista in the dark as long as possible, knowing she’d balk at their transportation, afraid she’d try to set out on the road on her own again if he left her behind. She’d already tried to sneak away once. He’d counted on that and been ready for it with guards watching the back of the house. By the time they left the house the sun was rising, and Calista was fuming. At him. He kept his expression stoic and his gaze on the road, not giving into the sigh that threatened to erupt or his own building temper.
Her anger served one good purpose. She was so wrapped up in it she didn’t notice the airship until they were almost on top of it. When the ship registered, her eyes widened and she paled, jerking her head around the meet his gaze.
“No.”
“We got word while you were sulking that Izzy and her kidnappers were spotted leaving the city in an airship. You know we can’t catch up to them on horseback.”
Thankfully, Special Branch had an airship at its disposal, and Phin had been easily convinced to let them use it. Mathias, Sebastian, and the pilot loaded their supplies while he pulled Calista aside.
“I do not sulk.”
He’d been hoping for an angry retort, but her voice shook a little and her pretty face paled with unease. He’d known she had a problem with heights from a previous job and from the incident yesterday on the wall. This was a hell of a way to force her to face that fear, but he didn’t have a choice. There was no time to delay, and he couldn’t trust her to stay put if he left her behind. He hoped her devotion to her sister was enough to get her on board. He’d really hate to have to drag her on kicking and screaming. Maybe he should just knock her out. One look at the weaponry disbursed around her body and he nixed that idea. She’d come to shooting, and if that didn’t kill him, the long fall would.
Mathias signaled they were ready to go, and he took her elbow, guiding her to the steps that led up into the passenger box. She hesitated at the bottom step, her fingers convulsively clenching on his arm.
“It’s the fastest way to get to Izzy, darlin’. Look how high the sides are. We’ll get on, go find somewhere to sit and I’ll stay right by your side.”
She glared at him. Fine. Maybe offering her a way to conceal or ignore her fear was the wrong approach. Or maybe it was reminding her he’d be close. Instead she got her back up again, but at least it spurred her in to stepping on board. Shrugging his arm off, she found a clear space and sat on the floor, putting her back to the wall and glaring at him when he thought to join her. Okay. He’d give her some room. For now.
He spun on his heel and went to see if the pilot needed any help. Mathias and Sebastian had everything well under control and they were soon casting off, lifting slowly into the air. He watched Calista from the corner of his eye, surreptitiously judging her reaction. She was pale, hands fisted on her lap, but hanging tough. He smiled. She was a truly exceptional woman. But her eyes were frigid when she met his gaze, so instead of joining her he took a minute to check out the airship. He hadn’t ridden in one this big before.
Two giant balloons were attached to a long, high-walled basket, with two fires that kept the air hot enough to keep them airborne under the openings of the balloons. A raised area in the back gave the pilot a view of the whole thing, and levers stuck up from the floor around his feet to steer the rudders attached to the outside of the basket. Hopefully, the steering system worked as advertised. They reached an altitude that made him gul
p and sped toward their destination.
He looked over at Calista again and grunted when she scowled at him. He’d expected her anger. Hell, she was angry with him at least half the time. What he hadn’t expected was her silence. She’d gone quiet earlier when Mathias stopped her from leaving and brought her back into the house, and had stayed quiet except the few words before they boarded. She hadn’t yelled or screamed or cried. Well, he didn’t really expect her to cry, did he?
Except he couldn’t get the image of her tears when he’d made love to her earlier out of his mind. He’d never seen her cry, never seen her soft and delicate. And then the way she’d settled across his chest and slept…well, a man could get used to that real fast.
But there was no sign of that woman now. He found himself torn between pride and anger. Pride that she was strong enough to pull it together under one hell of a lot of stress—finding her sister, getting in the air, and dealing with his true identity. Angry because she had so totally, completely tuned him out. Her behavior made it clear she thought she’d be walking away from him when this was over. Like hell she will.
He was surprised at how complicated she’d turned out to be. The image she’d always shown him was simple and straightforward. That was obviously a charade, a shell she showed the world. He watched her now, sitting near the side of the ship, her back ramrod straight. She radiated tension and anger, but every now and then she glanced over and he saw something else in her eyes. Maybe a little fear but he suspected she’d quickly conquered it. Uncertainty for sure. Another new twist to the woman he was learning he couldn’t live without.
Another new twist to his own personality too, because he wanted to smooth away her confusion, wanted to offer his body up in sacrifice to work off her anger. He’d never felt such an urge before, never needed to offer comfort before. Do not fall in love with this woman, Kane. Take her as a mate but keep your damned heart out of it. He had a sinking feeling in is gut it was too late for that.
When he couldn’t take her silence any longer, he walked over and sat down beside her. She glanced over at him, her expression closed and quickly turned her gaze back to the wall before her. He sighed. Mathias and Sebastian hovered nearby and he grinned, wondering if they still believed they needed to protect him from her.
“You got an estimate on how long the silent treatment is going to last?”
She shrugged, not responding.
“I’m trying to figure out what you’re so irate about. I mean, there are so many things to pick from,” he said half sarcastic, half joking, trying to draw her out.
Her lips curled up in a small tight smile. It was some progress at least.
“I joined the Branch ten years ago,” he admitted, deciding to do the unthinkable and open himself up completely, though he cursed himself all the while. “Twenty-three years old and thought I knew everything. Thought I was indestructible.” He sighed. No response, not even a flicker of her eyelids. “My father…I thought he was ruining the pack, letting it slide into decline, and I made myself not care, found something else to put my energy into.”
She looked over at him, but stayed silent. At least she was listening. He heaved a deep breath.
“He died five years ago, but I was so wrapped up in my own shit, so convinced by then that I didn’t care about the pack, I was no better than him.”
She looked back to the road. “The bounty hunting was a cover?”
His heart sped up, but he kept his face still. She was finally talking. “Yes.”
She nodded. “Makes sense.”
He was irritated when she fell silent. This was the first real conversation they’d ever had, and it was all one-sided.
“What about your father?” he prodded.
She sighed then frowned at him. “He had wanderlust. A perfect candidate for the Branch.”
So who was her complaint with? Her father for dying on her or Special Branch for giving him the opportunity? Probably both. He thought he knew her well enough she’d consider it a co-conspiracy. He slanted a look at her, the pinched look around her eyes, the white-knuckled grip on her knees. And maybe an abandonment? Did she expect the same from him? He should tell her he was leaving the Branch, but it felt like bribery. He wanted her to come to him no matter what he was doing with his life. Was that too much to ask? Under the circumstances, maybe. And that was a dilemma, wasn’t it? Because even after he left the Branch, life wasn’t going to be easy or safe. Not for him or her or anyone they cared about.
The silence stretched several minutes. “I was seventeen when they died. Father had taught us, Rheana and I, how to shoot, how to fight. He thought we should know how to defend ourselves when he was gone.”
He had a hard time containing his relief when she spoke. Her voice trembled at the end. He resisted the urge to reach over and offer comfort afraid she’d go quiet again.
“Phin was the one who told us. He tried to recruit us right on the spot. No words of comfort, no words of sympathy or remorse. Just join the cause.” She paused, her face twisting in the parody of smile when she met his gaze. “We told him no, of course. But we had to find a way to bring in some money. Izzy was much too young and Rheana’s too soft.”
He laughed. He couldn’t help himself. Rheana, soft? She had the sharpest tongue he’d ever encountered.
Calista shook her head and this time her smile was real. “We’ve both toughened up quite a bit over the years, but she’s still too soft to do what I do.”
He kept his opinion to himself. She was wearing blinders where her sister was concerned.
“Anyway, I took my first bounty. Kyle Frampton.” She grinned at the memory.
He fought the bile rising in his throat. He’d known she was the one who brought in Frampton, a cold-blooded killer and rapist, but he hadn’t realized she was only seventeen when she did it. He wondered how he was going to get her to quit.
“Have you ever thought about doing something else?”
She snorted. “Like what? Can you see me as a maid or secretary? The only alternative is to marry a rich man and be idle. And in that case I wouldn’t have a clue what to do with myself all day.”
He had an idea or two, but kept them to himself. She probably wouldn’t appreciate them right now. But continuing to work as a bounty hunter after becoming the Alpha’s mate was out of the question. How to work around to that? Thankfully, she saved him the trouble.
“You’re thinking you can make me quit, aren’t you?”
He heaved a sigh, one-part relief and one-part exasperation. Her tone made it clear she was determined to fight him. He decided to go at the problem sideways.
“Under the circumstances, don’t you think it’s better if you stay close to home? What if this happened while you were gone?”
Pressing her lips together, she groaned, the sound so low human ears wouldn’t have picked it up.
“Oh, hell,” she muttered. “I’ll come up with something. I can’t not work.”
“You won’t have to work, and believe me I have plenty to keep you busy.”
She turned and glared at him. “I told you I wouldn’t agree to this mate thing.”
He shrugged. “You’re going to give in eventually, Calista. We’ve been building up to this for a long time.” He lowered his voice and brushed up against her, knowing Mathias and Sebastian would hear anyway, but not caring.
“After last night, you really think you can hold out? Wouldn’t it be better just to give in? I, for one, will be damned glad not to get pushed out of your bed in the middle of the night.”
She paled, ground her teeth together and stared straight ahead. He leaned over and kissed her temple. Soft, gentle, just enough contact to feel the racing of her heart, the sharp inhalation of breath.
“I liked you sleeping in my arms,” he whispered, curious when her heart stuttered and then resumed a rapid thumping. Her scent was not one of desire, but fear. Why did sleeping with him scare her? The sex sure as hell didn’t. Did she think it made her
vulnerable? “Why does that scare you?”
She didn’t answer, just shook her head and kept her gaze forward.
“I’ll get it out of you eventually,” he added.
She remained silent, and he didn’t push her. They flew for several hours eventually landing at dusk near New Town. Phin had telegraphed ahead to make arrangements. They had rooms for the night and horses. They left before sun up the next morning and entered the Outlaw Territories before noon, a place that rode a fine line between law and renegade, and everyone’s guard went up. They found a secluded spot on the side of the road and stopped long enough for Sebastian to dismount and strip. Calista’s eyes widened when he shifted, wonder filled her gaze when the huge weretiger disappeared into the woods. He’d scout out ahead of them and warn them of any trouble further down the road.
“Isn’t it unusual to have different types of shape shifters in one pack? In other cities its wolves or cats or whatever.”
He shrugged. “New Atlanta is a special case, you know that. It’s almost a frontier town. People come to us to escape or hide or start over.”
“Hmm,” she responded, noncommittally. “Dangerous. Aren’t you afraid someone will try to take it from you?”
He slanted a questioning gaze at her. Had she heard the rumors he might be challenged? That the pack was not as secure in his grasp as it should have been? “Newcomers swear an oath, and all weres in the city swear an oath when they reach maturity.”
“So the rumor I heard at O’Malley’s last week is false?”
He turned his head to see her watching him, intent, focused. Worry flitted across her face, and he grinned. She may have been fighting him all the way, but that meant she cared didn’t it? “Worried about me, darlin’?”
Her eyes narrowed. Maybe at being called out, but more likely at his evasion of the question. “Are you avoiding the question?”
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