by Megan Morgan
Lorena stepped forward and pushed her hand into her pocket. Deacon got the impression she wasn’t moving of her own will. She dropped the stone in Mel’s lap.
“I release you from your bonds,” Mel said. “Go in peace.”
Lorena stepped back. She gasped and rubbed her wrist.
“Is it off?” Deacon asked. “Ain’t some trick, is it?”
Lorena nodded. “Yes, I think I’m free. The pressure is gone.”
Deacon bent, picked up the stone from Mel’s thigh, and tossed it across the room. “I ain’t letting you hold no witch stone. I would suggest you don’t cast no more fool spells tonight, either.”
“Let us go.” Mel struggled. “You got what you wanted.”
Deacon tucked the gun back in his belt. “I thought you wanted this bastard cured. They can’t cure him if you drag him off.”
Lorena looked at Deacon. Mel stared at him too.
“They’re gonna work on curing him like they promised,” Deacon said. “And you’re gonna make sure none of your nasty pals come around here and harass us, in return.”
“Deacon.” Lorena shook her head.
“You wanna help them, this is how you’re gonna do it.” Deacon turned to her. “It’s the only safe way. I ain’t letting them bastards hurt you.”
Mel glared at him. “We don’t want your help now.”
“All right then, I’ll just finish him off.” He pulled the gun back out. “He’s as good as dead anyway.”
Mel shrieked. “No, don’t!”
He wouldn’t shoot it in the house anyway, too loud and too much mess.
Lorena folded her arms and glared at the doctor. “I can’t believe you helped him do this. I can’t believe the two of you planned this behind my back.”
The doctor sighed. “Lorena, I’ve worked with Wolvites far longer than you have. I know how dangerous they can be. Trust me when I say, if we’re going to work on a cure, this is the only way we can assure not dying in the process. I’m a scientist, I’m not a fool. This is the most dangerous field work I can imagine conducting.”
Lorena turned her angry, wounded gaze on Deacon, her eyes full of unshed tears. “This is a mess.” She turned and stalked out of the room.
Deacon sighed. “You’re tellin’ me.”
* * * *
Lorena lay curled on the bed. She’d been there for nearly an hour, and she wasn’t any less furious.
She’d listened to the thumping and shuffling outside the bedroom, the swearing and pleading from Neala and Deacon’s brusque retorts. Occasionally, a growl rose above the commotion.
Her body was stiff as she waited at any moment to hear breaking glass, splintering wood, and more furious growling. The night outside was eerily quiet.
The door opened. Deacon stepped in.
“You gonna lock yourself away in here all night?”
She didn’t speak.
He shut the door behind him, walked to the bed, and sat down on the edge of it. “I know you’re mad at me. You’re mad at both of us. I reckon I understand.”
She rolled onto her back. “I don’t know what to say to you.”
“I should have told you what we were planning. Not that it was even a solid plan, mind you, just a backup in case things went wrong. And they did, didn’t they?”
She sat up. “You could have gotten me killed. If they saw you had guns on you, Neala would have taken me off into the woods and who knows what they would have done to me.”
“That’s why we had guns to begin with. You think we didn’t aim to use them?”
“What if there had been too many Wolvites, and they overwhelmed you?”
“We took two of their own. They wasn’t gonna overwhelm us once we had them, especially not when one is vulnerable and we could put a bullet in him any time we please.”
She scrubbed her hands over her face. “They’re not going to just back down. Yes, you kidnapped two of their own, but that’s an even bigger problem. They’re going to come for them.”
“We’ll get that she-devil to tell them to back off. Else, you and the doctor ain’t gonna cure her mate.”
Lorena gritted her teeth. She swung her legs off the bed. “What if we can’t find a cure? What if it’s incurable? You’ve started another war.” She stood up.
“Reckon we’ll have to take care of it like we always did, then. They’re weak. It’ll be a lot easier this time.”
She wanted to pound on him again, for being such a fool, for betraying her. “Your family is not safe right now. What if they’re stalking them as we speak?”
He rose and placed his hands on her shoulders. “I called and told them what we did. They know to be on guard.”
“What?” She gaped at him. “You told them?”
“I couldn’t keep them in the dark any longer. The Wolvites might be sneaking up on them, like you said. They ain’t none too pleased I lied, but Daddy sees it the way I do. We got us some leverage now. We can make them back off, under threat of killing the two we got. It’s a standoff.”
She pulled away from him. “This is terrible, all of it.”
He drew her back and against him. She almost pushed away again, but his arms were strong, his broad chest pressed against her cheek. She sagged as tears pricked her eyes.
“I wasn’t gonna let her keep that spell on you.” He kissed her hair. “I wasn’t gonna let them get the chance to carry you off. I know this seems bad, but if you and the doctor can pull this off, you might just get what you want. Much as it pains me, I’m trying to help you.”
She lifted her head and looked up at him.
“You cure him, you can ask for peace.” He gazed down at her. “Show them we’re ready to quit fighting and start helping. Maybe we can sort things out between us.”
She would have been thrilled he was starting to come around, if it were under any other circumstances. “This is a hell of a way to start negotiating for peace. Kidnapping isn’t usually how you sort things out.”
He touched her hair and she dropped her head against his chest again, with a sigh.
“You’re an idiot,” she said. “But you get things done, I can say that for you.”
He rubbed her back. “I’d do anything when it comes to my woman. Anything to protect her.”
She couldn’t stay mad at him for that. She could, but she would try not to.
She reluctantly left the bedroom with him. The house reeked of Wolvite. Clem had been sequestered in Deacon’s office and whined on the other side of the door. She walked to the dining room.
The windows were open in there, as well as in the adjoining living room, but the odor still hung thick on the air. They had Dafydd on the dining room table, still lashed to his stretcher, a blanket draped over him. He twitched and drew deep, rumbling breaths. The floor was covered with plastic sheets and Dr. Winston’s instruments were laid out on chairs and folding tables around the dining room.
“He’s sedated.” Dr. Winston stood next to the table, a mask on and syringe in hand. “I’ve distilled some of the acid from the bark and I’m going to see if injecting a pure extract will improve his condition. He’s dehydrated, I’m going to give him a saline drip as well.”
Lorena glanced at the plastic on the floor.
“In case of any waste.”
Lorena looked into the living room. Neala sat in the recliner, her cloak off, wrists and feet bound with duct tape. She gazed dully into the dining room at Dafydd.
“You thirsty, hungry?” Deacon asked her. “You need to go to the bathroom?”
Neala shook her head.
Lorena moved closer to the table, curiosity overwhelming outrage. The power she felt emanating from the Wolvite filled the room the way his scent did. Dr. Winston administered the injection. After, he set the syringe aside and turned to her, and tugged his mask down.
“Lorena.” He spoke gently. “I’m sorry we didn’t tell you what we intended to do. This was actually more of a backup plan, in case things went awry.”<
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She nodded. “Deacon told me.”
“The upside is, we have a significant scientific opportunity. This is a chance to learn things. If we can cure this virus, that will be a great advancement in the field of Wolvite study.”
Lorena looked at the open windows. “And the downside is, they could swarm the house and kill us at any moment.”
“They ain’t gonna do that, though.” Deacon pointed at Neala. “Because this one is gonna tell them to stand down.”
Neala flicked her gaze to him, her eyes darkening. “I won’t do anything you tell me.”
“You want him to live, don’t you?” Deacon jerked his head at Dafydd. “They’re gonna try to save him. Me, I’d like to put a bullet between his eyes. I sure as hell don’t want him strapped to my dining room table.”
Neala glared at him.
“But they care,” Deacon said. “They want peace with you bunch. So this is how it’s gotta be. If they can cure him, we’ll let you both go back and start talking about all of us leaving each other alone. If he dies, it ain’t ‘cause they didn’t try, and we’ll still let you go back, but you better not start no bullmess over it. It’s your choice. If not, I can just finish this right now and save them the trouble.”
Lorena tried to imagine Deacon on that table, and what lengths she’d go to, how desperate she’d be.
Neala looked down. “Please try to save him,” she whispered. “I’ll tell them to back off, for now.”
Lorena was only slightly relieved. What if they wouldn’t listen?
“Lorena,” Dr. Winston said. “Will you help me do this?”
She didn’t have a choice, but even if she did, she was curious. The idea they might save him, what it might open up between Wolvites and humans…
Lorena pulled her hair back. “Where do we even start?”
Dr. Winston tugged his mask back up and handed her one. “First, let’s get the saline going. Then we’ll start brainstorming.”
Lorena put the mask on and tied it around her head. She looked over at Deacon.
He waved a hand in front of his face. “That mask won’t do you no good. Gonna have to burn that table. Probably gonna have to burn the whole damn house down.”
Chapter 11
The muted blue glow of early morning seeped through the windows. Lorena was bone tired, but she knew if she so much as put her head down, she’d jerk right back awake. The smallest sound from outside had her senses on high alert.
Dr. Winston was stretched out on the couch, an arm slung across his eyes—if he was to continue work, he needed rest. Neala was curled in the recliner. The Wolvite on the table remained under heavy sedation, an IV run through its right arm. The creature’s breath came in slow wheezes, interspersed with occasional grunts and rumbles. Lorena had finally gone nose blind to the smell.
Deacon sat in the armchair across from the couch, his head flung on the back of it, shotgun across his knees. He snored.
Lorena stood up and quietly walked to the kitchen, where she retrieved Clem’s food and filled a pitcher with water.
Clem lay on the couch in Deacon’s office and perked when she opened the door. He jumped up, but she closed it behind her before he could escape.
“You can’t go out there yet, sorry boy.”
He gazed mournfully at her.
This room smelled bad too. Deacon had laid out newspapers and Clem had made use of them. She refilled his food and water bowls and gathered up the papers, and laid fresh ones down.
“You’re a good boy. You can come out soon, I promise.” She patted his head before leaving the room.
She disposed of the papers, washed her hands, and returned to the living room. She touched Deacon’s shoulder.
He flinched awake and clutched his gun.
“It’s okay,” she whispered. “I just wanted to let you know I took care of Clem. He’s got fresh food and papers.”
Deacon rubbed his face and looked around. “Ain’t been no Wolvites outside?”
“No, but they’re watching the house. I can feel it.” They were out in the woods, not far away. “I’m honestly surprised they haven’t come any closer.”
Deacon picked up his gun and slid to the edge of the seat. “They’re dumb, but they ain’t so dumb they don’t understand if they hurt us, we’re gonna hurt their friends in return. They’re not gonna risk that.”
He got up and they walked to the kitchen. Lorena considered coffee, but it probably wouldn’t help.
“You ought to get some rest.” Deacon propped his gun against the cupboards below the sink. “I’ll keep an eye out.”
“You need some sleep too.”
“Not as much as you. I can function on less.” He pulled her into his arms. “You making any leeway?”
“I don’t know.” She rested her head on his chest and closed her eyes. “Dr. Winston says the virus is weaker thanks to the bark, but it’s not curing it.”
She needed something to possibly help make progress, something Deacon could maybe get for her, but she had to be careful how she asked for it.
“Can’t believe I got a Wolvite in my house.” He drew a heavy sigh, his chest expanding beneath her cheek. “I ain’t never gonna get the stink out of my nose.”
She lifted her head and gazed up at him. His eyes glowed in the dull light, like a creature not quite human—and he wasn’t, she had to remind herself of that. Part of him was like them, the same genetics at a certain level, though she wouldn’t dare phrase it like that around him or his family.
“I’m sorry this is going on in our house,” she said. “But I’d also like to remind you it wasn’t my choice to drag him in here.”
He stroked a hand over her hair. “And I’m sorry I did all this without telling you. I just wanted to keep you safe.”
She turned her head and gripped his hand, and placed a kiss in his palm. His hand was the size of her face. He was big like the Wolvites as well, and wild and feral when he wanted to be, too.
“I ought to try to get some sleep.” She nuzzled his palm. “I’m exhausted.”
He caressed his other hand down her side and onto her hip. That touch did the opposite of making her want to rest.
“I’ll stay on watch.” He patted her hip. “Won’t nothing get in here.”
She didn’t break away, instead moving her hands over him too, across his shoulders, down his back. He leaned in and kissed her, then snuffled across her jaw.
“I need a nose full of you.” He breathed in. “Much better than anything else I can smell right now.”
She closed her eyes and clutched the back of his shirt. Despite the situation, despite everyone—and everything—in the house, her body responded to his touch, to the hot kisses he placed on her neck. The house was quiet, no one moving around, not even Clem.
He gripped her ass and squeezed, making her stretch up on her tiptoes. She snaked a hand up under the front of his shirt and stroked down his chest. The magical connection between them flared bright in her head, and between her legs.
“You want me to come tuck you in?” His voice rumbled across her skin.
“Someone has to keep watch.” She glanced toward the hallway and bit her lip. “If Wolvites bust in, it’ll be our fault.”
“Reckon I should let you get some rest, then.”
“Yeah.” She moved her hand to the top of his jeans. She didn’t feel so sleepy now.
“Or—” he hooked his thumbs in the elastic of her pants and peeled them down “—we could both stay out here.”
She gasped. “What if someone wakes up?”
“Two of ‘em are tied up, and I think the doctor is out cold right now.”
He dragged her pants over her hips and they slipped the rest of the way down her legs, to her ankles. She kicked out of them.
Her heart pounded and her cheeks warmed as he worked her panties down as well. Despite her hesitation, the risk of being half-naked while other people were a short distance away gave her a naughty thrill.
He grabbed her around the waist and lifted her. She wrapped her legs around him.
“Think you can keep quiet?” He walked her over to one of the stools at the island counter.
“I don’t know, what are you—”
He plunked her down and dropped to his knees. “I gotta get this smell out of my nose.”
She reached back and gripped the counter for support as he grabbed her thighs and hiked them over his shoulders. She bit back a yelp as he pressed his face into her with a satisfied growl.
He did more than just breathe her in. Stifling moans quickly proved difficult. She clutched the counter with both hands, tilted precariously back on the stool, but his big hands held her in place and kept her from falling. She fought not to squirm beneath the heat of his tongue. Soft whimpers escaped her, despite the struggle to keep them in. She was soaked, no doubt the way he wanted her, wet enough to fill his nose with nothing but her scent.
The furtiveness of the situation left her aching, burning, and hurtling toward a deep and powerful orgasm. Her hands became slick with sweat and slipped on the counter.
“Oh God.” She flung one around and gripped his hair. “Almost…” Her thighs quaked against his ears.
He renewed his hold on her hips, his fingertips digging into her.
She came in a satisfying rush, her vision gone gray. Thankfully, he had a firm hold on her, or she would have convulsed right off the stool. She locked her legs around his head and continued to grip his hair, and bit her tongue to hold back shrieks.
He didn’t come up for air until she stopped shuddering, and even then her inner muscles still twitched with aftershocks. Her thighs slipped down his sides as he stood up.
His mouth and beard glistened, his gaze hungry and almost frightening in its intensity. She wasn’t scared of him though, not ever. His chest worked with hard, deep breaths.
With trembling hands, she undid his belt, button, and zipper. She then pulled his cock out, long and thick and rock hard with need.
She stroked him, her fingers sliding smoothly over the wet, velvety flesh. “Do you want me to—”
He picked her up under the arms and hauled her onto the counter. She wrapped her legs around him again, weak as they were. He then pulled her forward and onto him. His cock slid right up into her. She was tight and sensitive inside and the penetration made her clench and gasp.
