Wanted_Undead or Alive

by Kerrelyn Sparks

  Brynley exchanged a questioning look with her brother.

  Phil’s eyes narrowed. “He knows.”

  Caddoc shrugged. “Of course I know. But two can play at this game. Once the wedding is over, we kill Rhett. He has no heirs, so all his land and wolf packs in Alaska go to his new bride. Well, me, actually, since only an Alpha can be the master of a pack.”

  A queasy feeling stirred in Brynley’s stomach. “You were using me. I’ve never been more than a pawn to you.”

  “Don’t try that indignant crap on me,” her father snarled. “You would come out ahead. You’d have a dozen houses in Alaska and more money than you could ever spend.”

  “And I would only have to kill someone to get it. Gee, thanks.”

  “Don’t be ridiculous. I wouldn’t expect you to do the killing.”

  She scoffed. “Oh, I feel so much better now.”

  “Are you smart-mouthing me?” Her father stepped toward her, his fists clenched.

  She lifted her chin. Phil moved closer.

  A knock sounded on the door.

  Caddoc took a deep breath and flexed his hands. “What is it?” he shouted.

  Howell cracked the door and gave them a nervous look. “Rhett has arrived for the wedding. He’s waiting in the backyard.”

  “Good.” Caddoc grabbed Brynley’s arm and dragged her forward.

  “I’m not marrying him.” She pulled her arm away.

  “I don’t think you have any choice,” Howell said. “He’s brought fifty men with him. And they’re all armed.”

  Phil whistled. “Looks like Angus was right about that war.”

  Chapter Twenty-six

  “Here they come.” Phineas watched as Rhett Bleddyn and his small army approached the south side of the backyard.

  “Looks like he brought in more men from Alaska,” Jack observed.

  Phineas scanned the group of fifty young males, noting their weapon of choice—hunting knives. Apparently, werewolves liked their battles bloody. Corky and Dimitri were keeping close to Rhett, and the three were heavily surrounded. No room to teleport in and snatch the vampires. Although if things got out of hand, Rhett was probably keeping them close by as an easy escape route.

  On the north side of the backyard, Caddoc Jones’s pack members were gathering. The nearly full moon glinted off their knife blades.

  A low growl in the woods behind them made Phineas whip around. It was Howard, hidden behind a tree, glaring at Rhett. Angus had asked the shifters, Howard and Rajiv, to patrol the woods in case the werewolves attempted an attack from behind. Carlos Panterra had been given paternity leave, so he was still at the academy with his wife and their newborn twins.

  Howard’s nostrils flared, and he walked away, pulling a knife from his sheath.

  When the scent of skunk wafted toward him, Phineas knew what had alarmed Howard. He hurried into the woods and found Howard pointing his knife at Digger.

  “Whoa there, pardner.” Digger lifted his hands. “I just came to meet you. Caught a whiff of your scent.”

  “Who are you?” Howard growled.

  “This is Digger,” Phineas introduced him. “And his dog, Jake, should be around somewhere.” He spotted Jake half hidden behind some bushes.

  Digger nodded at Phineas. “Some bad stuff going down around here. How’s your little lady?”

  “She’s good.” He hoped. She was still inside the house with her father.

  Digger looked at Howard. “You can put away your knife, son. I’m a were-bear, too. Where do you hail from?”

  “Alaska.” Howard sheathed his knife. “Kodiak.”

  “Wee doggies.” Digger’s eyes widened. “You’re a big one. Me, I’m a black bear.”

  “Digger, if you want to help, just stay back here in the woods and make sure no one sneaks up on us from behind,” Phineas said. “There’s a were-tiger back here, too.”

  “That’s me.” Rajiv waved from behind a tree. “I came to check out bad smell.”

  Digger scratched his beard. “You’re a tiger? Well, don’t that beat all.”

  “I’ll see you guys later.” Phineas hurried back to the Vamps.

  The big yard reminded him of a football field with two teams gathered on each side. He and the Vamps were in one end zone. The Jones’s ranch house was at the other end.

  Caddoc Jones emerged from the back door, followed by his two sons and Brynley. He paused at the edge of the patio and glared at Rhett. “You come to your wedding armed with knives?”

  Rhett stepped forward. “We want to make sure the wedding happens.” His eyes narrowed on Brynley. “The bride has a nasty habit of running away.”

  “She’s here now.” Caddoc seized her arm and dragged her into the yard.

  “I’m not marrying him!” Brynley pulled loose and put some distance between herself and her father. Phil ran over to stand next to her.

  Howell took a position next to Caddoc, who was glowering at his daughter.

  “You will do as you are told,” Caddoc growled. “Or you will be banished from this world forever. You will be dead to us.”

  She lifted her chin. “You can’t fire me, I quit. I’m going to marry a vampire.”

  Phineas sucked in a deep breath. Yes! He ran onto the field.

  Caddoc lifted an eyebrow. “This is your choice?”

  Rhett cursed. “You foul yourself with that damned bloodsucker.”

  Phineas stopped next to Brynley. “You called?”

  She smiled and took his hand.

  He turned to her father. “I’m requesting your daughter’s hand in marriage.”

  Caddoc scoffed. “Who the hell are you to think you deserve my daughter?”

  “I don’t have a lot to offer in terms of wealth, but I can give her all my love—”

  “Love?” Caddoc motioned to the house behind him. “You think she would give all this up for love?”

  “In a second,” Brynley said. “You can have all the land and riches in the world, but if you don’t have love, you have nothing.”

  “And will love pay the bills? Will it put food on the table?” Caddoc sneered at Phineas. “You wouldn’t know, would you? You don’t even eat food. But if you dare to feed off my daughter, I’ll—”

  “I would never harm her!” Phineas interrupted. “I want her happiness more than anything.”

  Caddoc studied him a moment, then arched a brow. “You would do anything for her?”

  “I will not give her up.”

  Caddoc stepped toward him. “Prove it. Make yourself worthy of her.”

  Phineas narrowed his eyes. What did the old man want? A duel?

  Caddoc glanced at Brynley. “I will only accept a werewolf as your husband.” He motioned to Phineas. “So if you want him, you’ll have to bite him.”

  She flinched.

  Phineas sucked in a breath of air. Damn. He hadn’t expected this. He didn’t even know if it was possible for a vampire to become a werewolf. That might be what her father was counting on, that the transformation would kill him.

  Caddoc’s eyes glinted with humor as he regarded his daughter. “You’re the one who thinks love is so powerful. Do you love this man enough to make him acceptable?”

  Brynley gave Phineas a worried look.

  “This is ridiculous!” Rhett stepped forward. “She’s marrying me! I’m the best choice.”

  Caddoc crossed his arms over his chest. “It’s her choice. If she wants the bloodsucker badly enough, she’ll agree. Of course, she can’t shift tonight since she’s not an Alpha, but I can do the biting.” He gave Phineas a wolfish grin. “How much do you really want her?”

  He swallowed hard. Somehow he’d always feared it would come down to this. He wouldn’t be good enough for Brynley as he was. “I’ll do it. Bring it on, old man.”

  Brynley gasped. “No. Phineas—”

  “I’ll do anything for you.”

  Her eyes glimmered with tears. “Phineas, you are worthy just the way you are.”

>   His breath caught. Worthy the way he was. His heart swelled in his chest.

  She turned to her father and lifted her chin. “I’m marrying Phineas, and I don’t care if you ever approve—”

  “You have defied me for the last time!” With a growl, Caddoc lunged toward her, his head shifting into a snarling wolf.

  Brynley lifted her arms to defend herself, and they shimmered. “I’m not taking it anymore!” she screamed, and her arms and head shifted.

  Caddoc jumped back.

  A shock wave rolled over the entire yard. Jaws dropped. Gasps echoed in the stunned silence.

  “My God!” Caddoc was back in human form, his face frozen in disbelief.

  Brynley shifted back. “What—what have I done?” She stumbled, and Phineas caught her.

  Phil grabbed her other arm. “You went Alpha, Bryn!”

  “But only males—”

  “Not anymore.” Phil’s eyes lit up. “You’re the first female Alpha!”

  “Hot damn, girl.” Phineas grinned at her. “You released the Kraken.”

  “Get your hands off her!” Rhett stalked toward them and drew his knife. “She’s the most valuable female werewolf in the world. She has to be mine.”

  Brynley snorted. “Buzz off, Rhett. Why would I marry you when everyone knows you plan to kill me after the wedding?”

  “No.” He shook his head. “Everything’s changed now. You’re too valuable to kill. With you, I could rule the entire Lycan world. I would have the strongest children—”

  “What?” Corky screamed and zoomed over to him. “You can’t keep her! You’re supposed to stay with me! We’re going to rule the world! We’re—”

  “Forget it!” Rhett sneered at her. “Why would I want you when I can have the one and only Alpha female—”

  “You’re dumping me?” Corky screeched. “You—you stupid animal. I was mistress to kings before you were ever born.”

  “And you’ve outlived your usefulness.”

  “You think so?” Corky pulled a knife and pointed it at Rhett. “I could slit your throat so fast you’d never see it coming.” She glanced at Brynley. “Or I could take out your bitch.” She vanished, then reappeared behind Brynley.

  “No!” Rhett dashed toward them.

  With vampire speed, Phineas pulled Brynley away from Corky’s slashing knife.

  Phil grabbed Corky’s arm and strained against her vampire strength.

  “I’ll kill you,” Corky hissed, aiming her knife at Phil’s face. “I’ll kill all of you stinking wolves.”

  Phil’s arm shimmered and shifted, and then with the power of his wolf, he shoved Corky back.

  She stumbled into Rhett’s arms and reached for his face. “Darling, let me take you away from here. We’ll rule the—” She gasped as Rhett’s knife plunged into her stomach. “What? You can’t—no!”

  Rhett rammed his knife into her heart.

  Her scream died as her body disintegrated into a pile of dust.

  Silence fell over the field. Phineas glanced at Angus and the others. They didn’t seem too upset over the failure to capture Corky. He suspected that even though she would have been found guilty at Coven Court, Roman would have had a hard time determining her punishment.

  He looked back at Rhett, who was calmly brushing some Corky dust off his sleeve. “Didn’t you just kill your escape route?”

  He returned to the side of the yard where his small army was gathered. “I have no need to escape. I’m not leaving until Brynley and I are married.”

  “You’re an idiot,” Phil said. “My father and his men plan to kill you after the wedding. You should leave while you have the chance.”

  Rhett stiffened and glanced at Caddoc. “You think you can kill me?”

  Caddoc shrugged. “You think you can kill me?”

  Both sides drew their weapons and started hurling insults at each other.

  “And the shit hits the fan,” Phineas muttered, then held up his hands and shouted, “Are you guys really going to kill each other over Brynley when she doesn’t want either of you?”

  “He’s right!” Brynley yelled. “I’m leaving with Phineas.” She glared at Rhett. “Go back to Alaska and leave my family alone.” She switched her glare to her father. “Good-bye.”

  His eyes narrowed, but he said nothing.

  A muffled sob came from the patio.

  Brynley winced. “Glynis, I’ll stay in touch with you. I promise.” She turned her back and closed her eyes.

  “Are you all right?” Phineas took her hand.

  “I’m always leaving her behind.” Brynley gazed at him with tears in her eyes.

  “We’ll find a way for you to see her.” Phineas led her toward the Vamps.

  Phil walked with them, holding Brynley’s other hand.

  “Did it work?” Brynley whispered. “Did we stop a battle?”

  “Don’t know,” Phil murmured. “Just keep walking.”

  They were halfway to the Vamps when Angus shouted a warning.

  Phineas spun around. Rhett was running toward them, his knife raised. He gave a war cry, and his men charged after him.

  “Go!” Phineas shoved Brynley toward the Vamps.

  Caddoc responded with his own war cry, and his men ran onto the field, their knives raised. They clashed with Rhett’s men, knives stabbing.

  Rhett lunged toward Phineas, but with vampire speed, he wrenched the knife from the werewolf’s hand and punched him hard enough he heard the jaw crack. Rhett hit the ground, then jumped up, instantly shifting and repairing his broken jaw. He pounced on Phineas, who grabbed the wolf by the neck as it attempted to rip his throat out. He threw the wolf to the side, but Rhett twisted and snapped his jaw onto Phineas’s arm.

  He gasped. Hot, searing pain shot up his arm. He tried to stand up, but tumbled back onto his rear.

  Phil lunged onto Rhett, both in wolf form, and they rolled, clawing and snapping. Phil pinned him down and bared his teeth, growling.

  Howard sprinted toward them, his knife raised. “Let me fight him!”

  Phil moved aside with a snarl aimed at Rhett.

  Rhett rolled to his feet and shifted to human form, his clothes in tatters, his face shocked as Howard ran toward him. “You.” He turned and hollered. “Dimitri!”

  The Malcontent teleported beside him.

  “No!” Howard lunged at Rhett, his knife plunging just as the werewolf vanished with Dimitri. “No!”

  “Phineas!” Brynley ran toward him and fell to her knees beside him.

  He looked at her and stars danced around her head.

  She ripped her shirt off and wrapped it around his arm. “He bit you.”

  Phil knelt beside them, back in human form. “How do you feel, bro?”

  Phineas blinked at him. “Do you have two heads?”

  “What will happen?” Brynley asked.

  “I don’t know.” Phil shook his head. Or both his heads. Phineas wasn’t sure.

  “Hi, guys.” Phineas waved faintly at the Vamps who were crowding around him with worried faces. He looked over at the field. “They’re running away.”

  “Aye,” Angus agreed. “After Rhett disappeared, his army took off running.”

  Phineas watched Howell and his cohorts giving chase. “They might chase them all the way back to Alaska.” He blinked as their forms wavered.

  Brynley touched his forehead. “He’s burning up. He has a fever.”

  Phineas smiled at her. “I’m hot for you, sweetness.”

  “He was bitten?” a voice asked.

  Phineas squinted up at Brynley’s father. “You again. I thought we said good-bye.”

  Caddoc looked at his daughter. “Keep me informed. I want to know what happens to him.”

  “You care all of a sudden?” she asked.

  “I’m curious.” He paused, then added. “If he survives the transformation, I might accept him as your husband.”

  “We don’t care what—”

  He lifted a hand
to interrupt her. “If he survives, he may have powers no other werewolf has. That alone makes him of interest to me. You will be welcomed in my house.” He glanced at Phil. “All of you.” He turned and strode away.

  “Don’t you just love family reunions?” Phineas asked, then slumped over as everything went black.

  Fire. He was on fire.

  Phineas moaned and kicked off the sheets.

  Sheets? Was he in bed? He squinted, but couldn’t see.

  Everything was glowing red. On fire.

  “Why are his eyes red?” a woman asked. Brynley.

  He tried to say her name, opening his mouth, but nothing came out.

  “I think he’s hungry,” Brynley said.

  “Here,” a male voice said. Roman? What was he doing here? “Let’s give him a cold bottle. It might help with the fever.”

  Someone lifted his shoulders.

  Careful, Phineas thought. I’m on fire.

  “Damn, he’s hot,” the person said.

  Told you so. A cold bottle was pressed to his mouth, and blood trickled down his throat. It was cool. It helped with the fire. He drank it all down.

  His stomach clenched in pain. He groaned, pushing away the hands that reached out to help him.

  He rolled halfway off the bed and threw up.

  “Oh no!” Brynley cried.

  Hands pushed him back onto the bed. Everything went black.

  He woke again. Still on fire. And so damned hungry.

  “He’s awake!” Brynley exclaimed.

  “Let’s see if he can eat,” Roman said.

  Someone lifted his shoulders. He squinted, peering around the room. It looked like the basement at Phil’s cabin. Why hadn’t they taken him back to Romatech?

  “He’s not as hot tonight,” said the guy holding his shoulders. Phil?

  A bottle was placed against his lips. He drank and drank. So good.

  It hit his stomach and instantly curdled. He rolled over and vomited.

  “I’m not sure what to think,” Roman said. “He’s had two days of death-sleep. I thought that would heal whatever Lycan virus is in his system. But if he’s rejecting blood—”

  “Then he’s becoming a werewolf,” Phil said. “We should try giving him real food.”