by Black, Tasha
“You can’t get real Kobe beef in the States,” Grace said softly.
“Very true, but it’s similar and served in the style of Kobe beef,” Lincoln amended.
He didn’t seem pissed or anything at being corrected.
Cressida mentally corrected his rating to a solid nine.
The hostess made a huge fuss over him as they entered.
“Mr. Monroe, we’re so glad you could stop in,” she enthused, blinking her mascara-coated eyelashes and unconsciously arching her back a little to show off her enormous rack.
Cressida was surprised to find herself feeling a little territorial.
“Hey, Evelyn,” Lincoln said mildly, not availing himself overly of the view. “Is Aimee on today?”
“Oh,” Evelyn said, “sure.”
They were seated quickly and Aimee dashed out with a glass of grapefruit juice and set it in front of Lincoln before giving Grace and Cressida the stink eye.
“Would you please bring us three of my special?” he asked her politely.
“Absolutely, Mr. Monroe,” she purred before flouncing off.
“You have your own special?” Cressida asked.
“Pierogies. I hope you don’t mind. Like I said, there’s not much open here in the wintertime, and you can’t eat burgers for every meal,” he said. “I’m kind of a regular.”
She nodded. Cress was a waitress, and she liked regulars - especially the ones who didn’t try to get in your pants.
She was puzzling over what to make of her mystery man when he turned to Grace.
“So, if you’re doing an article, why didn’t you come during the busy time?” he asked.
Grace blinked up at him, then shook her head slightly as if trying to clear it. What the hell was up with her?
Cressida looked back at Lincoln. He was totally normal, super hot even. Shoot, come to think of it, he was even Grace’s type - he looked kind of like Julian.
Oh.
Oh, he looked kind of like Julian. If you let your eyes un-focus a little. And ignored his South Jersey swagger.
Cressida felt bad for her friend. Grace was so determined and so professional all the time. It was easy to forget how heartsick the woman was. Flashes of it came out once in a while and Cressida always found it startling. Grace’s pain was so raw. It made Cressida think of an abandoned dog or an injured child.
She wasn’t sure she ever wanted to care about someone that much if it meant facing that kind of risk.
“We didn’t come during the busy season,” Cressida offered, “because we wanted to get a feel for the real people behind the park first.”
He nodded and looked like he might be going to ask Grace something else.
“And we might stick around for a while, if we like what we see,” Cressida said quickly, letting her voice settle into a lower note than her usual tone. She hoped it was seductive enough to make him leave Grace alone.
It was.
His eyes flashed and he put an arm casually over the back of her seat. “If you’re sticking around, you should come to the party. My brother, Joshua, is turning thirty. There’s going to be a big to-do in the park, and my dad is set to make a big announcement. Everyone will be there.”
“That sounds perfect,” Cressida said with a smile that felt a little too big.
All the better to eat you with, my dear.
Aimee came sailing in with three plates of pierogies. They smelled fantastic.
Cressida noticed with relief that Grace perked up as she dug in.
Before they could even ask him anything about the park, Lincoln’s cell phone buzzed. He pulled it out, frowned and put it back in his pocket.
“Sorry, ladies, but I can’t stick around,” he said. “It’s party planning stuff. My brother is vegan, so I have to special order a cake.”
Lame.
“I’m pretty sure he’s only vegan to be a pain in the ass,” he said, “But it is his birthday.”
She laughed.
“Listen,” Lincoln said, leaning closer to her so that she could see how white his teeth were and get another whiff of his cologne. “Let’s meet again. We can go somewhere nicer than this, and maybe I can teach you a few things… about the park.”
Cressida nodded and slipped her hand into his pocket.
His lips parted in surprise and his eyes went dark with lust.
She pulled his phone out, and entered her number into his contacts.
When she looked back up at him he wore a crooked half-smile, though she couldn’t tell if he was laughing at her or at himself.
“I’ll bring my camera,” she said. “But that rat is going to be pretty hard to top.”
Chapter 6
Ainsley relaxed against the Naugahyde booth of the Barry White Diner and almost forgot she wasn’t in high school again.
Erik sat beside her, his hand resting on her thigh, and MacGregor and Councilman Ennis sat across from them.
Everyone was laughing - Ennis was literally wiping tears from his eyes.
She’d told them the story of how she, Grace and Julian had busted Sadie Epstein-Walker out of the Springton Hospital during the full moon, while she was in a coma. It was a pretty funny story, now that it was over and Sadie was okay.
“So you just walked out of the hospital with her after all that?” Ennis asked between gasps. “With her tail peeking out from under the sheet?”
“Hmm,” Ainsley said, trying to remember. “I think we did. The coffee spill distracted everyone in the elevator. And by the time we got to the front desk I just bolted for the woods to shift. But Grace could tell you the whole thing. God, what a night.”
Thinking of Grace not being there to tell the tale herself spoiled Ainsley’s good mood. She missed her best friend terribly.
Ennis must have sensed it.
“She’s away now, isn’t she?” he asked.
Ainsley nodded, forcing her heart to slow, begging herself not to think of Grace’s true purpose. Wolves were good at reading each other’s emotions. And the Federation had been clear about not sending anyone after the moroi.
“I feel silly missing her so terribly,” she admitted. “It’s just the pregnancy - I want to share every bit of it with her. But Grace deserves a vacation.”
The sentiment was true, and it seemed to be enough for Ennis.
“Don’t we all?” he joked. “Speaking of relaxing, would anyone like to join me in a cigar? I like to indulge from time to time.”
“If you don’t mind smoking and talking, why don’t we take a tour of the construction over on campus?” Erik offered.
“That sounds delightful, son,” Ennis replied affably.
“I think I’ll sit that one out,” Ainsley said. “Mac, you’ll stay and have a cup of coffee, won’t you?”
“Of course,” MacGregor replied.
Ennis leaned over to brush her cheek with his lips.
“You’re a treasure, Ainsley Connor,” he said, straightening. “Until tomorrow.”
“Bye, babe,” Erik whispered into her hair, nuzzling her slightly and awakening her wolf.
“Have fun,” she whispered back, sliding her hand into his hair and pulling him down for a quick kiss.
When he pulled away again he was grinning.
“Come on, Romeo,” Ennis teased. “Havana calls.”
They left, chatting all the way.
When they disappeared from view, Mac turned to Ainsley. Her beta wore an earnest, slightly submissive look that felt just right to her wolf, even though he had been her history teacher back in high school. A history teacher she’d crushed on a little back then, given his resemblance to a young Sting.
“What’s up?” he asked. “Have you heard something from them?”
“They’ve been basically silent throughout the search,” she admitted. “They don’t want anyone to get into trouble with the Federation on their behalf. Plausible deniability and all.”
Ainsley suspected, though she didn’t share it, that they also wa
nted to save her from worrying too much. She hoped it was because they knew she had a lot on her plate with Ennis in town, and not because they saw her as weakened by the pregnancy.
Her inner alpha was so indignant at the idea that she had to take a breath to calm herself.
“Hmm,” Mac said. He steepled his fingers, a habit he had when he was trying to put something together.
“I know they would be in contact if things got serious,” she added. “Aside from some pictures Grace posted from some campground in New Jersey, there’s been nothing. It looks like their vacation has been pretty uneventful.”
He nodded, then raised an eyebrow and waited.
He knew she wanted to talk to him about something important. Mac always had good instincts.
“Ennis said something the other night,” she began.
Mac nodded and waited.
“He said something about the pack not needing two alphas,” she continued. “I’m starting to think he’s here to recruit Erik for Ophelia’s old position. Is that crazy?”
“I wish I could tell you it wasn’t,” Mac said. “But Erik has been a promising leader for some time. He’s a little young, and untested as an alpha, but it isn’t entirely out of the question. Your father held him in very high regard.”
Ainsley pushed passed the reference to her father. She had the feeling she might not be able to hold it together if they went down that road.
“But we need him here,” Ainsley said instead.
“Ennis is right,” Mac replied with a note of uncertainty. “A pack this size, even with both packs combined, doesn’t really need more than one alpha.”
Ainsley appreciated her beta’s honesty, even when he wasn’t telling her what she wanted to hear. And he had set her up perfectly for the next question, though it pained her almost physically to ask.
“That’s exactly what I wanted to talk to you about, Mac,” she began. “What if we only had one alpha?”
MacGregor’s eyebrows went up.
“If you’re asking me to help you bump off Erik so you can have both packs to yourself, you’re going to have to give me a pretty big raise.”
“Mac, I’m serious,” she said. “What if I stepped down? Erik could lead both packs. He was always meant to be the Tarker’s Hollow alpha. It’s what my dad wanted. Erik is better at being a wolf than I will ever be. And if he’s the only alpha, then the Federation will have to find someone else.”
Mac was silent for a moment. Then he placed his hands palms down on the table.
“First of all, Ainsley, your father would be insanely proud of the alpha you turned out to be,” he said.
She pressed her lips together, trying not to let the pride that blossomed in her chest affect her resolve.
“Secondly,” he continued, “you earned your spot. You were chosen, and then you beat Clive in a fair fight when he challenged you.”
Another jolt of pride tore through her. That fight hadn’t exactly been fair to Ainsley, and she had scrapped her way through it with the help of a loyal Cressida leveling the playing field.
“You are the Tarker’s Hollow alpha, Ainsley,” Mac said reverently. “You are my alpha. And there is nothing you can do to change that.”
She placed her hand over one of his, and felt his tremble of joy at her touch. She was his alpha. It was a part of them both.
“The Federation is powerful,” he said slowly. “I’m sure they have their reasons for any changes they want to make.”
Ainsley fought the instinct to snatch her hand from his. He was taking the Federation’s side. She supposed her influence as alpha only extended so far.
“I know you want to keep Erik close,” he continued. “But we’re going to have to come up with a better plan than that.”
“We?”
“I just told you,” he replied with a half smile. “You’re my alpha,” “Do you really think I would put the wish of some Federation bozo ahead of yours?”
Chapter 7
Grace sat on the edge of the boardwalk, facing the ocean.
The amusement park spread out behind her and she could hear the creak of the empty metal swings in the wind, but she had eyes only for her pendant. She held it in front of her, the facets of the crystal catching the sun in a mesmerizing way.
It hung perfectly still. No matter how many times she’d studied it since they arrived, it hadn’t shown the slightest sign of life.
Grace was alone. Cressida had gone to check out the woods they’d passed on the way into town. She said she was looking for signs of other wolves, but Grace figured it didn’t hurt to have a chance to stretch her legs while she was at it. The full moon was only a few days away. Her friend would be feeling the urge to run.
Grace looked out over the frothy waves. It reminded her of the dream she’d had about the picnic with Julian, the one where the tidal wave had threatened the whole town.
It was just a dream, but she had chosen to save Julian over warning the people below.
She wondered how far she would be willing to go if she had a real chance to bring him back.
Of course the idea was nonsense.
She’d had her abuela and Ainsley help her make a circle to try to contact him right after the whole thing happened. She knew she couldn’t have him back, but she yearned for the chance to say goodbye.
They never had any luck with it though. Her abuela, who was really good at that kind of thing, said it was like there wasn’t even a trace of him there - like trying to call someone who doesn’t even own a phone.
There were only two explanations for that.
A small part of Grace wanted to believe the first one, that they couldn’t contact his spirit because he wasn’t actually dead.
But she knew the second reason was much more likely.
Opening the portal had destroyed his soul. They couldn’t contact him, because there was nothing left of him to talk to, not in this world, or any other.
She would have to make her peace with him in her memory.
She closed her eyes, trying to send herself back into his arms.
Instead she saw his last moments. Grace had a very vivid memory. Sometimes it was a cruel thing.
She was bound, kneeling on the stone floor of the cavern beneath the Field House in Tarker’s Hollow. Charley Coslaw had her by the hair, about to feed her to the moroi.
And Ainsley was about to let him. The decision still haunted her best friend, but Grace knew she never really had a choice.
Before Charley had his chance, Julian had arrived. He’d looked into her eyes with such love, his calm bearing belying the thing he was about to do.
She read it on his face a split second before he moved.
He was willing to risk the world just to prolong her miserable existence without him.
She screamed, but nothing could stop him. Julian had thrown himself to the pit of the moroi, sacrificing himself without a moment’s hesitation.
He’d slammed the key into the portal and then—
Blam!
A sharp crack split the air, wrenching Grace back to reality.
Her police training kicked in and she was on her feet and heading toward it before she had time to think.
It came from the park.
She arrived in time to see a man aiming a rifle. He took a shot, and the crack echoed again. It was an air rifle of some sort.
The man lowered the gun and pointed, and a little terrier zipped from his side in the direction of the man’s shot.
The pieces came together and Grace breathed a sigh of relief.
“Rats?” she asked as she approached.
“Ain’t they the worst?” the man replied. He had a hint of a southern drawl. Not like he was trying to hide it, but like he’d been up north long enough for it to lose its twang. “You must be the reporter lady.”
“Something like that,” she smiled. “Word travels fast.”
“Not much else to do this time of year, unless you like hunting rats,” he replie
d. “I don’t like to put out poison. Nasty stuff.”
“Grace Kwan-Cortez,” she said, offering him her hand.
“Harrison Briggs,” he smiled back. “I’m the caretaker.”
Harrison was older than she was, but it was hard to tell how much under the thick beard and flannel shirt. A youthful handsomeness appeared in his face when he smiled. His hand was warm, despite the chill in the air.
“Just you?” Grace asked incredulously, thinking of the size of the place.
“Oh, I’ll have a crew come opening day,” he said. “But in the off season, it’s just me and Nicodemus.” He indicated the dog trotting back up to them with a dead rat in its teeth.
“Nicodemus.” Grace smiled. “Like in the rats of NIMH. That’s a good one.”
Harrison’s eyes lit up. He was obviously pleased someone got the reference.
“If you need to get into any of the closed areas for your story, just let me know,” he offered gruffly.
Grace nodded, trying to think on her feet of how best to take advantage of her new friend’s inside track.
“You know,” she confided, “I’m interested in anything… strange that might happen around the park.”
“Like accidents?” he asked uncertainly.
“More like unexplainable things,” she said. “Stuff that the tourists would never know about. Disappearances, strange creatures roaming the night, that kind of thing.”
As if on cue, Cressida dashed into the park.
“I heard a shot,” she said, not even a little out of breath in spite of the clip she’d arrived at. “Is everything okay?”
“I thought you were in the woods,” Grace said.
“I was,” Cress replied.
Briggs looked at Cressida, then off in the direction of the woods in some confusion.
Shit.
No human could have heard the shot from that far. Grace chided herself for her mistake.
“But I decided to come back early,” Cressida recovered like a pro. “I was just over on the boardwalk when I heard the sound, and thought I’d better check it out.”
