by Bryce Evans
The expression on her face told him that she’d had no clue. He’d never asked her to move. “I take it that you had no idea that Penn wanted you to come live here in Alpha City?”
“No. He’d always ask if I was happy and if I needed any money. It wasn’t that I was unhappy, it’s just that I liked having the freedom to do the research. That job gave me that freedom, so I said I was happy and making a comfortable living. I’m not rich, but… ” she looked back down at the paper, where the amount her brother was leaving her was printed.
“Now you are. But what if I told you that you could get paid to do what you love if you moved here, would that change your mind?” Judd waited for her to respond.
“You mean strictly do research about paranormals?”
“Yes, and here is what I’m prepared to pay you.” Judd slid the paper across the table to her. He watched as MJ picked it up and blinked a couple of times. It was double the amount of what she made in California.
Dropping the paper to the table, she frowned. “Look Alpha, I’m okay. I don’t blame you for what happened to my brother. He loved it here, but you don’t have to do this out of guilt or as some misguided way to keep my brother’s wishes alive.”
Judd chuckled. “Mary Jane, I hope you know me better than that. To be honest, I need your help. In fact, I’m willing to beg for you to help me with some things.”
“You don’t have to pay me to help you. What do you need done?”
“Look, this isn’t just a favor. All of the Alphas will need the information you gather. We need to stop Claudia and the dragon before it’s too late and someone else gets killed. I’m hoping that you can help us do that. This isn’t about me feeling guilty or letting you get your revenge, this is about survival for our kind. If she gets her way, she will expose us all and try to make the humans her slaves. This woman is crazy as hell, and Jamal is evil, MJ, pure evil.”
Judd sat and watched MJ twirl a coin over each finger as she thought it over. “I would need to find a place to live.”
“You can stay here. I have plenty of room, and to be honest, your brother would come back from the dead if you stayed anywhere else until this threat is over. Plus, I have a spare office you can work from. I have a lot for you to do.”
MJ laughed. “You’re probably right.” She sat silent again as the coin rolled over her fingers. “But let’s get this straight, I work for you and nobody else. I will show my respect to the other Alphas like I should, but I will only take orders from you. Too many bosses make MJ a bitchy girl, and well, you know how I get.”
Throwing his head back, Judd laughed as he got up and walked around the table. “You got it, sweetheart. Now, is there anything I can do for you to get settled?”
“Nope, just show me to my room. I need to think about something else, so if you have something you need me to research, please tell me. It would help take my mind off everything for a while.” MJ hugged Judd back, then picked up the two pieces of paper and put them in her book bag.
Before he showed her the room she’d be living in, Judd cupped her face and shook his head. “I need you to know how much I loved Penn, and if I could I would change places with him. He was a good man.” A tear fell down his cheek before he could turn away.
“I know that, and he knew that. He loved you, Judd Walsh, and his pride. He loved this city, and that’s what I will remember about him. He was always happy and filled with love in his heart for the pride. He was such a good man and brother.” MJ turned around and sniffed a few times. Getting control of her emotions, she turned back around.
“I want to know everything about vampires. I want to know if there has ever been a vampire and shifter who mated, and if so, why don’t we know about them. What happens to the shifter after they mate?”
The corner of MJ’s mouth quirked up. “Wow, Alpha you don’t ask for much.”
“Just wanting to get my money’s worth before you invent something and drop me like a hot potato.”
“No chance on me leaving. They can come to me.” MJ smiled.
“Let’s go see that room.” Judd picked up all of MJ’s suitcases and carried them down the hall. The door was open to Maggie’s room as she lay unconscious on the bed.
“Your mate?”
“Yes. She’s not in pain anymore, but she hasn’t woken up yet. Ransom said that it could take a couple of days because of the amount of pain she was in. That’s another thing I need to talk to you about. I called in a favor and found out his address. I need to go and meet with Maggie’s Maker, and I need someone who can stay here today if she wakes up. Can you do that for me?”
“Of course, but she’s going to get mad if you leave without her,” MJ advised.
“How do you know that?”
MJ pointed her finger at her head, “Woman’s intuition.”
“Maybe, but I’m running out of time, with Pe…” Judd stopped before he could say Pennson’s funeral.
MJ turned and started walking down the hall. “I’ll stay with her for you, Alpha, but remember this conversation when she becomes furious with you.”
How in the hell did she know that? He needed that information, and the only one to give it to him was Maggie’s Maker. He opened the door and let her go first.
“This is a beautiful room, and with all my favorite colors. You work fast.” MJ put her book bag on the bed.
“Your brother hoped that you would come one day; he did this about a year ago when you got out of college.” Judd watched as MJ turned around. Her eyes flooded with tears. He knew this was going to do the trick. Judd quickly wrapped her in his arms as she sobbed into his chest.
Chapter Fourteen
Claudia looked through the archives for another spell to open the damn book. Nothing she had tried yet would open the Book of Thoth. Jamal finally told her that the person he got the book from didn’t know the spell to open it, either. She inquired further about the vampire, but Jamal wouldn’t budge on it. The dragon would only tell her that he got the book, and it was her job to find the spell to open it. Like it was written down, or she could just pop the answer out of her head. If she didn’t need him so much, she’d have spit out the Return spell and sent his ass back to Hell.
If she could get the Book of Thoth open, the Elves would all be bowing down at her feet. She’d march right into Valceria and take all of their magic. They would regret the day they ever messed with the Blackwoods. Bast Finn hadn’t told the members of the Order the history they had together. She smiled, thinking about the day she would walk into Valceria and turn the place into stone. She had never been there, but everyone said that it was beyond anything they had ever seen.
Nothing seemed to work, but she wasn’t dead in the water yet. She got up and called Sage Wingate on the phone. “Come to my office.” She didn’t give the witch any time to question her. Now she’d find out just how much the Wingates wanted to be part of her coven. They wanted to show their loyalty, and now they could prove it—by coming up with a spell to open the damn book.
Sage Wingate closed her phone. Her forehead creased when her mother asked, “What does she want?”
“She asked for me to come to her office.”
“I’ll go with you.” Jessica Wingate got up from the books she was reading.
“No mother, if you come with me she’ll think we don’t trust her. I’ll be okay.” Sage picked up her phone and put it in her back pocket.
Jessica nodded, but she knew her mom would be worried sick until she got back. “I’ll call you as soon as I walk out of her office.”
Sage Wingate prepared herself for another test. The woman didn’t trust them. Every time she came up with something to be done, she pointed at them. Sage only hoped she could do whatever Claudia needed.
She didn’t knock on the door. Once she got to it, Claudia opened it and turned back around, sitting down on the edge of her desk. “I need some research done.”
“Yes, ma’am,” Sage answered.
“I want every s
pell you can find on how to open things.”
Sage’s brows drew together and asked, “What kind of things?”
“Any kind of spell that would open up anything.” Sage could hear the irritation in her voice. She glanced at her desk and could see a book; the spine looked old and it was a blue color, different from all the books they had looked through so far. She wanted to get a little closer, but Claudia had seen her glance at it and moved over, blocking her view.
“I’ll get right on it.” Sage blocked every emotion she had, giving Claudia nothing to use against her.
“You do that.” Sage had her hand on the door when Claudia said, “I expect it in a few days, or else.”
Sage didn’t want to ask what she meant by that. She nodded and turned back around, walking out the door.
When she got down the hall, Sage took her phone out and called her mother. What was that book Claudia tried to hide from her? And why couldn’t she open it herself?
Judd and Brody traveled to Wexpath, Georgia in order to meet with Maggie’s Maker, Mick Vanguard. He hated like hell to leave Maggie, but she was still unconscious. Ransom assured him this was normal and her body needed to repair itself. Already he was feeling guilty about not waiting for her to wake up, but he hoped she would understand.
“You nervous?” Brody asked.
“No, why?”
“Because you keep moving around in your seat. I wouldn’t blame you if you were. This Vanguard guy is equivalent to her father I guess. You said he sounded like he cared about Maggie a lot. That’s just me, man, I wouldn’t blame you if you were. That’s all I’m saying,” Brody said with a shrug.
Judd glanced over at his friend and said, “Well, yeah. Maybe a little. I’m more worried about Maggie and her getting mad because I came here without her, and I’m worried this trip isn’t going to produce a damn thing that will help us finally mate.”
“Have faith, Judd. Just a little. If we give up hope, then we’re all doomed.”
“I’m angry, man. I’m so fucking angry I can hardly breathe. Penn…” Judd’s voice was clipped, and he turned away from Brody.
“I understand. If Lex had been the one killed, I would have torn the place down. I’m glad you didn’t, and I know it’s because you had to get Maggie to safety, but we have to keep the faith. Besides, these people need to realize that Claudia’s not going to stop with us. She plans on taking over the world. The bitch is certifiable and wants it all—not just Valceria, but all of it. So if they think she will stop with us...” Brody laughed. “Then they are a stupid race and I really don’t have a problem telling them that, either. Just remember, if this doesn’t go well, get behind me. I’m getting us out of there one way or another, but the house goes down too.”
Judd laughed; Brody was the nicest person. His Beta, Lex Crenshaw, was just as kind as Brody, until you pissed one of them off. Then you had an angry bear to deal with. Not just any bear either. They had all seen Brody when he was in a rage. Judd pitied the paranormal who messed with him.
Brody pulled up to the gate and announced them. The two of them watched the area as vampires came out of the woods, and then were gone again. It was to let the shifters know they were outnumbered if they tried anything. As if Judd and Brody didn’t already know they were there.
The gate opened and they pulled down a long driveway. “Beautiful place.” Brody commented.
“Yep, but very populated at the moment,” Judd answered. They parked, walked to the front door, and rang the doorbell. Just like he figured, a shifter answered the door. He didn’t know what species he was, but there was no doubt he was a shifter. He bowed to the Alphas and escorted them to a living room area. Immediately, Brody went to the pictures on the wall.
Judd glanced around the room; he’d already spotted the camera hidden in the light fixture. He never understood vampires, so suspicious of each other, but after MJ gave him a brief history he knew why. Most vampires didn’t trust anyone, including their own kind. He hated to think he couldn’t trust his pride members, but now he knew that even he had been fooled. They had all been fooled, looking over their shoulders all the time.
The door opened and a young man walked in. He wasn’t smiling as he walked over toward him. Brody immediately came closer. He didn’t like the way the man was looking at him, either. “Where is she?”
“You’re Mick Vanguard?” Brody asked, shocked.
“Of course. I told you to bring Maggie. Why isn’t she here?” Vanguard demanded.
“When I left she was still unconscious, but I’ve been assured she will be fine. Her body is repairing itself.” Judd watched Maggie’s Maker carefully. The fact that he was so young pissed him off. The fact that he was demanding to know where Judd’s mate was only angered him more.
“What the hell was she thinking by making a vampire and then killing him? She knows what it would do to her. I never expected this of Maggie.” Vanguard pushed his fingers through his hair. He walked over to the bar nestled in the corner and poured himself a drink. Judd watched as Vanguard slammed two shots down his throat, one after the other. “Where are my manners. Would you gentlemen like a drink?”
Judd and Brody shook their heads. “Maggie said if anyone would know the answers to some of my questions, it would be you.”
“I have been waiting for you ever since I heard that Maggie’s mate was a shifter. I thought it would’ve been sooner, but word travels.”
“What exactly have you heard?” Brody asked before he could.
“Please, come and sit down. We won’t be disturbed.” Vanguard guided them to a sitting area. “Only that Maggie had found her mate, and it was Alpha Walsh.” He picked up his glass and swirled the ice around. “And that the Alpha hates vampires.”
Judd didn’t disagree with him, but waited to see what Mick had heard. When Vanguard didn’t offer anything else, he said, “If you’ve heard about me and Maggie, then you must know what kind of trouble is brewing in Alpha City.”
Judd watched as Vanguard took a sip of his drink.
“It seems that Alpha City has a problem with a witch and a dragon. I’m still not certain how she got that dragon out of Hell, but again, it’s still a problem that lies with Alpha City.”
That comment was exactly what he was expecting from the vampire. Judd glanced over at Brody, who smirked. He was thinking the same thing.
“She’s not stopping at Alpha City.” Maggie said from the door. He inhaled her scent as she spoke.
“Maggie?” Judd jumped up and crossed the room to where his mate was standing. Her expression said it all. MJ shrugged when he glanced up at her. His mate was pissed off that he had left her.
“Maggie? They said you were still asleep.” Vanguard stood up with his arms open. Judd was taken back at the smile she gave her Sire. Yes, he was jealous as hell as he watched as Maggie and Vanguard hugged.
“You need to listen to what the Alphas have to say, Sire. The witch, Claudia Blackwood, plans to conquer all of us and make humans her slaves. Don’t think she will stop at shifters and witches. You of all people have taught me how history repeats itself. Don’t be stupid and think we will be left out of her struggle for power. She wants to get into Valceria and control the Elves’ power.”
Judd watched as Maggie’s words touched a nerve. Vanguard whirled around, “Valceria?”
“Yes,” Maggie and Judd answered together.
“Valceria. That’s impossible. That kind of power is only made for the Elves. It’s not meant for—”
Judd finished Vanguard’s words. “—Shifters or vampires. The Elves’ magic is too powerful. If she gets ahold of it, she will bring all that we love to Hell, along with the dragon. She uses the dragon now, but when she’s finished with him she’ll drive him back. The woman is evil, and if you believe for one minute she will leave your people alone, you’re sadly mistaken. We need your help.”
Vanguard poured himself another drink. “What do you want from us?”
“To join us. Help u
s fight against the witch and dragon,” Judd answered.
“I can’t speak for the whole council.”
“But you can speak for us and be our voice,” Maggie said.
“I forgot how powerful a speaker you are, my daughter.” Vanguard laughed. “I will speak for you tomorrow at the meeting, but don’t expect too much from some of them. I’m sure it will take more than just my word to get some of these old ones to help.” Vanguard looked over at Judd. “You want something else?”
“Yes. I want to know why I can’t find anything about any other shifter-vampire matings.”
Vanguard smirked. “That’s because in the old days it was forbidden. In some clans it still is, but I’ve never felt that way. I don’t know of any matings.” Mick Vanguard walked over to his desk and picked up a notebook. “Maggie, you left this here in your old room.”
Something was going on when he saw his mate’s face. Recognition dawned in Maggie’s expression when Vanguard looked up toward the chandelier. “I’m sorry you came all this way not to get the answer you wanted.”
He wasn’t leaving until the man gave them something. There had to be someone in the past that he knew of. He could smell it. The vampire wasn’t telling him the truth.
“Thank you for seeing us.” Maggie grabbed ahold of Judd’s hand. “Please hold my notebook while I say goodbye to my father.” Judd couldn’t understand what was going on until she put the notebook in his hands and looked into his eyes. “Just hold the notebook, Judd.” It was the spark in her eyes and the squeeze of her hand that let him know she knew something that he didn’t.
“Okay, baby.” No smile came from her as she placed the notebook in his hands, then walked over and hugged Vanguard. Judd wanted desperately to pull her away from him, but Maggie was already pissed at him. He knew something was in the notebook, but what had Vanguard so spooked in his own home?
