As soon as we were out of hearing range, I stopped. He stood there looking at me, waiting for me. He’d asked me out here – why was he waiting for me to speak?
I finally broke the silence, “Val, what am I supposed to do? I mean I don’t even know who I am anymore. Am I the killer that I’ve been for centuries, or am I the person I’ve been for the last year? What am I?” I stared at the ground, trying to come to terms with all of it.
“Is that what’s bothering you?” Val asked. “Give it time. You’ll figure it out. I suspect that it’s somewhere in the middle.”
“Thanks Val.” My head hurt and even though I’d been sleeping, I was exhausted.
“Are you going to be all right?” His hand came up and brushed my hair from my face. My eyes met his. He was studying me.
“Yes,” I answered and couldn’t help but ask, “You’ve been through this before?”
He paused before he answered, like he was considering what to tell me. Finally he said, “In a way, yes. It was many years ago. I didn’t have memory loss, but I had to break the connection in almost the same way. It was under very different circumstances though.”
“Why didn’t you suggest this before?” I wondered.
He looked off into the distance over my shoulder before answering me. One side of his mouth lifted in a sarcastic half smile. “I wasn’t sure if Dante could do it. I didn’t want him to feel pressured. Many reasons, really. I’m truly sorry to have put you through all of this. I’m an old sentimental fool sometimes. I wanted to protect you, Dante and Radek. I love the three you. Please forgive me; my best intentions may have hurt you.”
“Val, you out of anyone have done nothing to hurt me. I know you may feel responsible, but you’re not. You couldn’t have known what was going to happen or what was happening. Val, I went searching for you because I knew you would help me. I’d heard many things about you from many different types of beings. You’re a good person, Val. You care deeply no matter who or what the person is. That’s why you make such a good leader.” I meant every word.
“I’m glad you can still say that after all this.” He narrowed his eyes at me. “Did you hear of anyone else that could help you?”
I thought it was a strange question. “Yes, but I could never get a name. Why do you ask?”
“I’m just curious.” He shrugged.
I didn’t believe him. He was hiding something, holding back.
I needed to ask something. “What is it that you know about me that you think I don’t know?”
He rubbed his head like he had a headache. “Natalya, we’ll talk later when this is all over. Those are not my secrets to share. I’m truly sorry. I made a promise, to an old friend, that I probably shouldn’t have.”
I was going to have to be content with not knowing for now. One thing I’d learned over the past year is that when Val was done talking, you weren’t going to get anything else from him. It was okay; I was a patient hunter. I didn’t say anything so he went on.
“Come, let’s go back to work. We need to end this.” He escorted me back to the house.
Chapter Fourteen
By the time we returned, both Radek and Dante were done with their phone calls.
“What did Gregory have to say?” Val asked Dante.
“The fire bug has discovered our house and burned it to the ground,” Dante said dryly.
“Why fire? If we’re dealing with our own, why would they torch the place?” Radek asked.
“That’s what I don’t get either. To top it off, it was a group of humans and one werewolf – that’s unusual. Gregory didn’t recognize the scent of the wolf,” Dante said.
“Did he check around Natalya’s place? I mean there was a wolf there, but did anyone check for any humans? For that matter, how did they get you and why did they leave Jenna?” Val was staring at the wall in deep thought.
“I didn’t think to ask. I’ll make another call,” Dante said. He pulled his phone from his jeans and used speed dial.
“What did Madon have to say?” Val sat back on the couch and closed his eyes.
Dante left the room so he could talk to Gregory in semi-private.
“We’d better get there soon. There’s a lot going down with the pack. Our presence might be needed.” Radek glanced at Jenna.
“Let’s head out.” Val ran a hand down his face then stood up.
Jenna was still sitting in the chair staring at the floor. I went to her. “Hey, you doing okay?”
She looked up at me, her eyes wide with tears forming in their green depths. “How can I go back?” She was on the verge of losing it.
I got on my knees in front of her. I made her look into my eyes, not in a challenge, but so she could see that I was sincere. “You did nothing wrong. You’re not responsible for his actions. He chose to do what he did regardless of who it hurt. Jenna, you need to be strong. You show weakness now, they’ll eat you alive. Just know that I have your back for what it’s worth.”
Jenna suddenly hugged me. I held her for a moment. “If you can fight after what you’ve been through, then so can I. Just don’t leave me.”
“Trust me, those puny wolves wouldn’t stand a chance against anyone in this room, including you. Let’s get your stuff and get out of here. Just remember sometimes bad things happen that you can’t control. It’s how you handle them that counts.” I thought I’d better start taking my own advice.
I heard Dante agree with me in my head. I’d been trying to ignore him. Jenna smiled up at me through watery eyes.
“I hate to break this up, but everything is ready. We just need you two. I grabbed your stuff already and it’s in the car,” Radek said.
I smiled at him and released Jenna. Radek handed us our jackets and we followed him out the door. I looked around as we left. The Hummer was nowhere in sight.
“It’s in the garage. Father doesn’t like to ride in it,” Radek’s whisper brushed my ear, making me jump.
“Will you stop doing that please?”
I climbed into the back seat of the large black luxury SUV between Radek and Jenna. Val drove and Dante was in the passenger seat, still on the phone with Gregory. Radek put his arm around me and I glared at him. That brought a satisfied smile to his face.
“Oh but it’s so fun to mess with you, Princess,” he whispered.
I don’t know why he bothered; with everyone’s hearing being better than humans’ they could all hear what he said.
“Careful, you might not want to get on her bad side, considering who she is,” Dante, who was still on the phone, chipped in.
I thought he was talking about the time I’d spent in training to be an assassin. I had a feeling he was talking about something else though, but I couldn’t pick up what it was. I should have been able to, due to the link we shared, but there was just too much there to sort through. My mind was too tired to try.
I could feel Radek’s gaze. He was studying me like he was trying to figure me out. After a few minutes, his jaw dropped a little and his gaze snapped to Val, who had been watching him. Val shook his head in a silent exchange. What was that about? I was about to ask when Radek started laughing.
“What’s so funny?” I demanded.
“When were you born?” he asked.
“Didn’t your father ever teach you that it’s rude to ask a woman’s age?”
“Hey, leave me out of this,” Val laughed. “I can’t be held accountable for his bad manners.”
“Come on, it’s not like you will ever really get old,” Radek said, not letting the subject drop.
I had a feeling that he already knew the answer and wondered how he could know. What had the exchanged look with Val been about?
“If you must know, I’m not really sure. I don’t remember my mother or anything from my younger years. From what I can tell, I was born in the mid to early sixteen hundreds,” I admitted.
“That’s very interesting,” Radek said. He was going to go on I was sure, but Val jumped in.
“Radek, it might be best if you don’t complete that thought right now,” Val said.
“Does someone want to fill me in on what you all are talking about?” I asked.
“We will discuss this at a later date, Natalya. For now it’s best that we let that subject drop.” Val was firm, telling me that he was effectively ending this conversation.
The next few hours passed in silence. We were each lost in our own thoughts. I was trying to keep Dante’s thoughts out of my head. I was glad that it was the middle of the night; the drive would have taken twice as long with daytime traffic.
I don’t think I had ever been more relieved to see Madon’s house. All the lights were on. Several cars were in the drive. It looked like almost the whole pack was there.
Val went through the door first with Jenna and me at his heels. Radek and Dante brought up the rear. I could hear the fighting from outside. This was going to be fun, I thought. It sounded like we’d arrived just in time to join in. Radek was around the front of us and had the attacking wolf by the throat before any of us had a chance to even respond.
“Seriously, that is not a good idea,” Radek growled out.
I think I heard a little fang in there too.
“Who are you to barge in here? This is a pack matter, cat.” He tried to swipe Radek with his claws, but Radek was faster.
I heard the crunch of the wolf’s bone as Radek crushed his arm. The wolf yelped in pain.
“Last time I checked, you were not alpha. Since I would be privy to those types of things I do not have to listen to you, little wolf.”
“Carl, I would not antagonize Radek. He is, after all, Valdimir’s son,” Madon’s bored voice interrupted.
I could tell he was more aggravated than he seemed because his Irish accent was more pronounced. Carl’s face lost all color as he realized who Radek was. Radek did have quite the reputation of being Val’s enforcer. In that position, he usually saw out the executions of those creatures that had stepped too far out of line. Most of the other wolves had recognized who had come in the door right away and stepped back. There was always one though. Radek released him and the wolf slid down the wall to the floor.
“I guess you don’t want to play anymore.” Radek’s smoldering voice told me just how on edge he was.
I couldn’t hold back the snicker when I looked at the wolf’s face.
“Hello, Valdimir. I am glad you could make it.” Madon’s body was tense. He was holding it together, but I saw the simmering anger in his eyes. There was an internal pack war going on and Madon wasn’t happy about it. I glanced around at the other wolves. The stench of hostility was heavy. I eyed the wolves, looking for the next attack. There wasn’t one among them that could take me at my full strength.
“Good evening, Madon. I heard you had some news for me?” Val’s voice was casual, belying the tension I could see in his muscles. I wondered how he could be so calm through all of this. With all the wolves close to shifting, I could feel the fur just beneath the surface of my skin readying in response.
“Yes I do. I have a wolf in custody who may have the information that you’ve been seeking.” Madon was having problems with his pack because he had not killed the wolf in question on the spot. He was letting them know that he was following a request from Val. This information calmed at least half of the hostile pack. That was until one of them noticed Jenna.
“There’s the traitor’s pup. I want her head in payment!” yelled a female wolf.
“Not so fast there, Tracy. She’s been in the company of Valdimir and his people. She has been taken into their protection. You will have to make your request to Valdimir as she belongs to him now.”
So that was why Val had brought Jenna with him. He and Madon must have known something like this would happen. They just made her untouchable. I hid my smile as Madon continued.
“The wolf that killed your mate has information for them. You will get your justice. Now everyone just needs to calm down. I want anyone not essential out of my house now. There’ll be a meeting later to decide who is going to be what. You all know the laws. The fight for rank has to be sanctioned. Since Valdimir and his agents are present, it can be done soon. Now I want this house cleared out.” Madon’s voice became steel as he asserted his authority. Most of the wolves cleared out as ordered.
I saw it out of the corner of my eye. The wolf, Tracy, launched herself at Jenna. Like I would let that happen? I stepped in her way, smashing her against the wall. Something inside me just snapped. I kept slamming her body against the wall as I spoke. My fangs had poked out, making my speech a little slurred.
“People need to stop pissing me off, I swear. Every freaking time I turn around someone is after me, or someone I care about. I realize that you just lost your mate, but you got to freaking calm yourself. There’s no reason that you need to be attacking innocent people. She had nothing to do with it and is under my protection. Do you really think that I would let you do anything to someone that is my responsibility to take care of? Now I’ve had enough of you fucking wolves. You all keep showing up everywhere something happens.”
I held her against the wall, my forearm across her throat. I looked her in the eye then growled out, “I have no beef with you specifically, so I’m going to give you two choices. You can either leave, or join that wolf downstairs. Because if you lay a single paw on Jenna I’ll make sure that you’ll be right there with him. I’ll take pleasure in participating in your execution. You got that?” I was breathing hard and growling with each breath.
The wolf blanched. She was scared; the scent of it was strong. It excited the predator inside of me. I really wanted to rip into someone.
Well Nat, that was informative. Dante’s amused voice broke through the rage in my head.
“Bite me, Dante,” I snarled out, forgetting that no one else had heard him but me.
Been there done that. But you might not want to respond out loud next time. He had the nerve to laugh at me.
Thanks, Dante. You suck, you know that?
Oh I know that. It’s in my nature, you know.
I had loosened my hold on the wolf and was focusing on Dante now. I was trying not to laugh.
“Well now, that was fun and all, but we’ve got work to do. Dante, Natalya, if you two are done? Want to join the rest of us?” Val gave me a look that said he knew what was going on. Dante and I looked at each other. The wolf had slinked out the door with her tail between her legs. Jenna, who had been forced behind Dante, peeked around him in relief.
“You guys sure know how to clear a room,” Madon said. He looked exhausted and angry – not a good combination.
There were only two other wolves present. They were the third male Jake and the fourth male Trent. I recognized them from hanging around the wolf pack a little. Radek came over to my side.
“Let’s go question your prisoner. I think we have covered where most of us stand in this.” Val eyed me. “Then we shall discuss how all this will affect your pack.”
“If you would follow me we can get on with this. Jake, Trent come on.” Madon shrugged his shoulders, loosening the tension. The two wolves moved to his side at his command.
“Dante, why don’t you keep Jenna company up here? Natalya, Radek, come along. Let’s get this over with.” Val motioned to us.
I looked at Jenna. She was obviously uncomfortable and barely holding it together.
Hey, you might want to distract her while we’re in there, I said, using our link to communicate with Dante.
And just how am I supposed to do that?
Hmmm. I think you could figure something out, you are a big boy. I can’t do everything for you. I paused. This is kind of cool.
Just don’t get used to it. It won’t always come in handy.
“Will you guys stop that?” Radek’s lips brushed my ear, sending shivers down my spine. We were already down in the basement. “And what did he say to you to make you tell him to bite you?”
“Ho
w did you know?” I whispered back. “And none of your business.”
“I can just tell. It’s quite annoying.” Radek still hadn’t moved his head back and it was distracting. His mouth was just a breath away from me. I was having trouble tamping down my reaction to him. Damn him.
“Oh and I never want to annoy you.” I stepped away from him. I needed to get some fresh air.
“Are you two done?” Val interrupted us.
“Yep.” I gave Radek a dirty look.
He just gave me a wicked smile and followed the others into the room.
There were bars going from the ceiling into the cement floor. My nose wrinkled from the smell. The stench of his unwashed body made me want to gag. He smelled of guilt, fear and deceit. It was an ugly smell.
“Someone is here to talk to you, Tain,” Madon said.
The wolf looked up and cowered when he saw us. The stench of his fear became overpowering.
“Radek, Natalya, would you handle this please?” Val said.
As the head of the PIB and the Council, he wouldn’t do the interrogating. Radek and I were agents and would have to handle this messy business of getting the information out of Jenna’s father. So far I’d avoided this type of situation in the past year. It was going to be hard to disassociate from this one. I glanced at Radek out of the corner of my eye. His features showed a lethal calm.
Just follow Radek’s lead. Don’t show any emotion. You’ve done things like this before. Dante’s voice floated through my head.
I followed Radek into the cage. Sometimes torture was the only way when dealing with creatures like us. I stood behind Radek against the inside of the cage as he crouched down in front of the wolf that was cowering in the corner.
“It’s been a while, Tain. Your daughter is quite beautiful,” Radek said. His voice was low and intense. He was making sure that Tain knew that we had Jenna.
“What have you done with her?” Tain’s voice held hate.
I was a little surprised by that, knowing his history as I did. Why was he so angry? I wondered. It didn’t really matter now, but I was still curious.
Seizing Darkness (Fur, Fangs, and Fairies) Page 16
