by Dani Harper
He deposited the pendant on the rocky ground. But he didn’t stand back. Instead, he took up a position on the narrow path in front of her, facing the trail they’d just ascended. His voice in her head was quiet and sure. Take your time, Neva. I swear they won’t get to you as long as I’m alive.
No words seemed appropriate. She sent him a burst of emotion instead, hoping it would come across as the virtual hug she intended and not a jumble of tangled thoughts and feelings.
Now she had to persuade her animal persona to let her return to her human form. All of its instincts were poised to protect her with tooth and claw. The best she could do was promise her wolf that it could come out and fight if any of the enemy got past Travis. Reluctantly, it stopped arguing with her—
And she stood on two feet. She wobbled for a moment, a little dizzied from the height, and less stable on the rocky terrain without four legs. Neva had never really thought how much the human form relied on constant balance. She picked up the black opal and nearly dropped it again as it seemed to pulse in her hand. Did that mean it recognized her, or was that an example of the vibes Travis had spoken of? She looped the heavy white-gold chain around her neck—wet from wolf drool, of course—and held the black stone with its hidden fires firmly in her fist.
That was when she felt the magic.
Cold fingers of power wriggled over her skin like tiny slugs. Neva wanted to throw the pendant away from her, toss it into the ocean behind her, but instead she held it tighter and clutched it against her chest. Her twin wouldn’t fear the stone and neither would she. Much.
Wolves were approaching, gathering at the base of the rise. Travis snarled at them and warned them off, head lowered, muscled shoulders hunched, showing all of his formidable teeth. She stopped looking. She had to let him take care of that, had to trust him to hold them off. Her job was to make this last Hail Mary effort, to take control of a magic that wasn’t hers.
But that’s Meredith’s way. Neva thought of her twin, how she sought to control everything and everyone around her. How she took power away from others, wrested it from the elements, chained it and forced it to serve her. Looking back over the ocean, Neva suddenly began to breathe in and out in rhythm with the waves. Silently calling. Inviting. A great peace settled over her as she lifted her gaze to the tree-covered hillsides before her. Calling. Inviting. She settled the stone between her breasts and raised her arms slowly, slowly. Calling, inviting. An immense energy followed the movement of her hands, as if she were drawing it up from the water, the earth, the plants, and finally, as her hands reached above her, energy poured down from the air above, filling her.
The stone was hot now, maybe hot enough to burn through her shirt, but she ignored the discomfort. She didn’t dare touch it right now. Instead she kept her hands above her head and looked out over the wolves gathered at the bottom of the path. They stood perfectly still, gazing up at her. Waiting. They needed something, yearned for something—what was it?
Travis’s voice was a whisper in her mind. I think they’re waiting for your orders.
So many of them, she murmured. So many lives stolen. It wasn’t orders they needed at all. Determined, she concentrated on the skill she’d learned only recently—mindspeak. And did the very opposite of what Travis had tried so hard to teach her. She broadcast. Only it was more than words that she sent to the dozens of wolves below. The energy, the living power that she’d collected from nature itself, channeled through every cell of her being like a strong wind, and delivered her message for her. You’re free. Every one of you. You’re free to live your own lives, never to be compelled again, never to be subject to any will but your own. Meredith has no power over you and neither does anyone else. After a moment she added, Never harm a human being. Never turn anyone against their will.
The wolves looked puzzled. Some sat and scratched at their ears, others shook themselves. But none of them were snarling, growling, or threatening in any way.
Exhausted, Neva slowly brought her arms down. She sat beside Travis and leaned against him. That’s all I got.
I think it’s enough. Whatever the hell you did, I think it’s working, he said, and licked her face. Nice touch with the Changeling rules, by the way.
I figured if we’re going to turn that many werewolves loose on the world, we’d better give them some guidelines.
A few of the wolves lay down where they were, as if they were tired. Others wandered away—but not together. It took well over an hour, but eventually all of the wolves dispersed and disappeared from sight.
Travis nuzzled her. I wonder where they’ll go?
Home, I think. Wherever that is for them.
Wherever that is, I know where it’s not.
She nodded. Me too.
Meredith awoke in the bathtub, the water cold, the bottle of cognac two-thirds empty, and her thoughts muzzy. She could simply work a small spell and reheat the water, of course, but that seemed like too much trouble. Besides, she was getting hungry. Have to keep up my strength. Her inner wolf growled. And yours, too, darling.
She stepped out and patted herself dry with soft French linen towels, then checked her face in the mirror. The swelling was gone from around her eye, but a slight bruise lingered. The golden werewolf was going to pay for that—perhaps she would remove one of his eyes. Into what spell could she incorporate a werewolf eye, especially one from a natural-born shape-shifter? Meredith contemplated that as she did her hair and applied her makeup, calculating what magical effects she might glean. She didn’t feel like dressing—really, clothes were so restrictive—and selected a black satin wrap instead. The hue didn’t favor her complexion, but black was the color of power, which favored her personality. She paired the wrap with woven stilettos in the same shade.
Relaxed and confident, she poured herself another drink and left the room, wobbling only once on her trademark heels. The elevator door opened at once, as if anxious to get out of her way. As the car rose, she surveyed countless images of herself in its mirrored walls and smiled with pure satisfaction. Until it occurred to her that something didn’t look quite right. She examined her makeup, took a long sip of the cognac, and pulled at the collar of the satin wrap to reveal more cleavage. The drink had brought color to her cheeks, and the mirror, ever her friend, declared that she looked not just good but positively resplendent.
Yet something teased at the corners of her mind, something she should know…
The elevator opened at ground level. Meredith planned to check with her pack on their progress and then order a meal to be sent to her room. She was hungry, and her alter ego was positively starving. A brace of quail perhaps, or a fragrant rack of lamb? Both, I think, and—
The house was dark. The elevator doors closed behind her, taking all the light with them. There was no sound. No scents of food being prepared. No army of attendants appearing to cater to her whims. Confused, Meredith wandered through the vast rooms, the businesslike click of her stilettos the only sound. Where in heaven’s name was her pack? She reached out with her mind and called. And called again for someone, anyone, anywhere. Anxiety rose, fluttering in her chest like a panicked bird, and she called aloud.
She threw aside the glass and ran then, her heels beating a tense staccato that echoed off the walls. As she approached the great front doors, the turmoil of her emotions sent them crashing open ahead of her with such force that they bounced against the walls of the house, cracking layers of stucco and brick. The noise resonated in her ears, but it was the only noise, the only sound, and it faded into nothingness. The expansive grounds were as empty as the house, dark and foreboding under a new moon.
Meredith reached for her pendant—and collided with harsh reality as abruptly as if she had run straight into a wall.
The exquisite black opal was gone.
In the elevator her liquor-soaked brain hadn’t been able to discern what was wrong. It had no problem comprehending the implications of the missing gemstone, however. The immense moneta
ry value was meaningless. The opal’s real worth was in its ability to collect and channel power, enhancing her control over her pack, magnifying and extending her influence as their sire indefinitely.
And now?
She had to find it. Had to. Her heart and her heels pounded out a rhythm of terror and rage as she retraced her steps. Every light in every room she entered flared into chaotic life as if a surge had passed through the lines. She chanted every locating spell she knew of, crawled on the floors looking under furniture. Returned to the elevator and kicked off her stilettos as she bashed the buttons with the heel of her hand. And as the car began its descent, she bashed the mirrors, one after another, with the spiked heels of her shoes.
The search of her sanctuary turned up nothing. She hadn’t set aside the pendant before getting into the tub. Hadn’t left it on the counter. Hadn’t even soaked it in a crystal bowl to replenish it. Furious, Meredith ransacked the entire room, turning out drawers and cupboards, breaking jars and vials until she was emotionally and physically exhausted.
As she leaned against the wall, sides heaving and stomach churning, she thought of her penthouse bedroom. That was where that brutish yellow wolf had knocked her down. Perhaps the chain of the pendant had broken? Perhaps the clasp had loosed itself? Of course it had. It had to have come apart in the struggle…
But it hadn’t. Hours later, the penthouse resembled the sanctuary, furniture upended, windows broken, and entire sections torn from the carpet. Sober at last, Meredith looked even worse than the room, the former rosiness of her skin replaced with a ghastly pallor. Her hair was dull and tangled, and mascara pooled beneath her lower lids. She stood at a ruined window, clenching and unclenching her fists until her palms bled from her now-ragged nails. Her satin wrap was half on, half off, but she was heedless of the cold ocean breeze on her naked skin. The only thing she was aware of was the realization that her wolves were gone. Her carefully created, painstakingly accumulated army of wolves was never coming back. She was completely and utterly alone.
A wailing sound bubbled up from somewhere deep within. By the time it emerged from her throat, it was a long, lingering howl of purest anguish…
And terrible retribution.
TWENTY-EIGHT
Travis curled himself around Neva, placing himself between her and the night. He’d found them a shallow cave-like space beneath an overhanging tree on the hillside. She was too tired to make another Change, and he decided he could keep her much warmer if he remained a great furry wolf. She needed to rest, and as far as he was concerned, she could sleep for days if she needed to. He was in awe of what she’d achieved. She believed the power of the black stone was responsible for what had happened, but thanks to his grandfather’s teachings, he knew better. It could only amplify something that was already there. Neva had been the one to call together the natural energies around her and use them to deliver an amazing act of compassion. Instead of taking control of the wolves for herself, she’d freed them completely, now and always. It was a masterstroke, a brilliant move against Meredith. The bitch would have to start all over from scratch if she wanted to keep her little empire together. Except that Neva probably hadn’t given a single thought to any of that. She hadn’t planned it. To her, releasing Meredith’s army was simply the right thing to do.
Travis was so proud of her, he could burst.
He watched over her until the sun rose and flooded the cave with light. Neva rolled over and rubbed her eyes, and he couldn’t help but nuzzle her. Go back to sleep. You don’t have to get up yet.
“But I have to pee,” she protested, struggling to climb over him.
Travis wisely got out of the way, and took the opportunity to shift back to his human form. When Neva returned, the sun was behind her, shadowing her features and highlighting the long blonde hair she’d adopted in order to pass for her twin. He frowned. “You’re going to change that back to your natural color, right?”
“I dunno. Blondes are supposed to have more fun.” She laughed as she sat beside him, and tried to push back the furrows in his brow with her fingers. “But after the last couple days, I’ve had enough fun to last me a long time. Maybe I’ll dye my hair red. Or hey, what about purple? I saw someone in Portland with the most beautiful violet—”
He groaned.
“Was that you or your inner wolf?”
“Both, I think.”
“So what do we do now?”
“We get the hell out of here. Meredith may not have an army, but she’s dangerous all by herself, and now we’ve really pissed her off.” He paused, as if measuring whether or not to say anything more. Finally he did. “It was too easy, you know. Way too easy.”
“What? What the hell was easy about these last few days?”
“Think it through, Neva. If Meredith had come after us herself, we’d never have escaped.”
“So why didn’t she?”
“Overconfidence,” he said. “She underestimated you. She expected you to—”
“She expected me to just roll over and let her have her way. Let her win. Just like always.” Neva rested her forehead on Travis’s shoulder. “You’re right.”
“Here’s something else I’m right about—she won’t make that mistake twice.”
“Jeez, are you trying to cheer me up?”
“Come on. We’ll walk back until we cross another trail that’ll take us someplace civilized. I know we passed a fork not that far back.”
Neva pulled a cell phone from her pocket. “Nope, that one would take us north, toward Meredith.” She showed him a map of the Damnation Creek Trail she’d pulled up onscreen. “Ta-da!”
He squinted at the small image. “So if we pass the point where we stumbled onto it, it looks like it heads southeast.”
“And the trailhead is right on Highway 101,” said Neva, tracing the tiny line with her pinkie. “We could hitchhike south from there.” She snapped the phone shut, folded her arms across her chest, and looked him straight in the eye. “If we’re still together, that is.”
Travis’s heart plummeted to his shoes. “I know you have some questions, but this isn’t a good time.”
“There is no good time. We’ve been on the run ever since you found me. So I’m asking my questions right now, at least the important ones. You told me that the Changeling code forbids the killing of humans. You said it was the highest law in your world, and I believed you.”
“It is the highest law.”
“I wasn’t about to take Meredith’s word for anything, so I want to hear it from you. She said you killed people. Is that true?”
He’d dreaded this moment. How many times had he rehearsed different things he could say to her? Reasons. Excuses. Explanations. Anything so she wouldn’t look at him with disgust, loathing, or worst of all, fear. In the end, there was nothing but the truth—and she deserved nothing less. He felt like the bleeding remnants of his soul were laid bare as he managed to choke out a single word. “Yes.”
“But you didn’t kill Meredith. You caught her by surprise. All it would have taken was a single bite, and you didn’t kill her.”
“What? No—Christ, she’s your sister. You don’t want her dead, you told me so yourself.”
She nodded. “Exactly. So I figure you’re not necessarily a murderer by nature. Maybe you should try telling me what really happened to you.”
The story didn’t burst out of him, not like when he’d returned to the bower, determined to make a confession. Instead it came out quietly and slowly, sometimes haltingly. Through it all, Neva listened—and when he looked down, she was holding his hand.
“That’s why you’re alone, isn’t it?” she asked at last.
“I’m related to most of the pack. If I’d gone back, they would have had to decide what to do with me—kill me or banish me. I was young, and I told myself it would be better to save them the trouble of having to make that kind of decision. I think I was actually just too ashamed to face them. I’ve often thought since that
I should have gone back, should have tried to explain what happened. But they’d still have to make that decision, even after all these years. It’s the law.” For some reason, he suddenly remembered the cardboard sign he’d seen a homeless man holding outside a Denny’s, back when Travis had first decided to get Neva out of the hospital. “You can’t go back and fix the past.”
“No. But you can make the present and the future a whole lot better.”
He blinked at the simple wisdom. “Yeah, I guess that’s right.”
“So what am I going to do about my sister?”
“Simple. Stay away from her.”
“But she’s still out there, and maybe she doesn’t have an army at the moment, but it won’t take her long to recruit more volunteers.” Neva made quotation marks with her fingers in the air around that last word. “She’s going to steal more people’s lives. I have to do something.”
“Stay far away.”
“But—”
“Look, Meredith is beyond anything that you and I can handle by ourselves. She’s got a personal brand of dark magic going on that makes serial killers look like jaywalkers.” He repressed a shiver as he remembered the scaly demons with the enormous orange eyes. “I don’t want you exposed to that—she wants you for something, and whatever it is, it’s not good.”
“But I can’t just ignore the fact that she’s a murderer. She’s hurting people, killing them. If she were an ordinary human being, we could just call the police. But she’s not—and she’s getting more powerful all the time.”
“That’s why you can’t be the one to deal with her. If your twin has you, it’ll further her plans somehow. I need to talk to someone who works with magic, see if I can get some help to beat her at her own game.”
“Where the hell are you going to find someone like that?”
He spoke so quietly that only her Changeling senses allowed her to hear him. “I have to go back to my old pack.”
“What? You just finished telling me that they’d have to kill you or banish you.”
