by Ben Reeder
“I get that,” she smiled. “You tell me the same thing all the time. And I’ll tell you that every minute of every day if you need me to. There’s a thousand things I wish someone had told me after I was turned...a thousand things I wish someone had told me after every time Dominic took me to his bed; I want to make sure you don’t go through what I did.”
“Sounds like we’re almost right back there again,” I said.
“It does, doesn’t it?” she frowned. “Kain sounds a little like King, sometimes.”
“Except he’s more into himself. I think it’s moved past infatuation, and he’s ready to take his relationship with himself to the next level.” We laughed for a couple of moments at that.
“He does seem pretty pompous from a distance, doesn’t he?” she asked, putting the car in gear.
“It’s only up close that he’s all that.” I paused. “I wondered if Kain had been putting the whammy on us, too, just like Alpha was on me?”
“It can be like that, but I should be able to resist him. He talks a big game, but I was able to throw King off, and he used dark magick to boost his power. And I haven’t seen the mental attack that can get through your defenses when you’re ready for it.”
“So how is Alpha making me his furry sock puppet?”
“It’s like Dandry said. He used your connection to your wolf to get in. You haven’t made peace with your wolf yet, haven’t made him an ally. It’s easier after your first full moon, when you come into your full power. Once you do…” she cast a look my way. “Once you do, you’ll become even stronger. You could end up an alpha, if you work at it.” Something in her voice made it sound like she was looking forward to that.
“That’s not something you’re born with?” I asked.
Shade shook her head and laughed softly. “I used to think that, but it’s mostly willpower and focus. Sinbad has been teaching me about it. I guess he’s found a way to develop the bond so you don’t have to be born an alpha.”
“That’s not how Kain or Alpha put it,” I muttered. “They think it’s all bloodline or some shit like that.”
“Shit is right,” Shade agreed, turning onto Dr. C’s street. “I thought that was true, too, but Sinbad does things a lot different than the Clans do. Talking to Kain showed me exactly how different.”
“This here’s Night City,” I drawled, borrowing from Dr. C’s accent. “We got our own way o’ doin’ thangs.” Shade laughed, a pure, beautiful sound to my ears, and I let myself smile. For a few seconds, life was kind of perfect.
We pulled to a stop in front of the Sanctum, and saw a line of cars parked in front. Lucas’s Barracuda, Wanda’s VW, Kim’s Viper, even Mom’s van was here. When we got out, Ren flew down to hover in front of me.
“Hey, Chance!” the green haired sprite said, his violet eyes wide and his wings glowing. “Guess what?”
“You found Jimmy Hoffa?” I asked.
“No, silly,” he laughed. “Wizard Corwin hired us!”
“Us?” I asked.
“Oh, right. I started a new household. House Fortunato. We named it after you, because you freed us. And now, we hold your home, the House Midnight and the Sanctum!”
“You hold them? As in they’re yours?”
“No, no, no. Not like humans hold things. Well, most humans, anyway. No, they’re the places we live and protect, but they’re not ours ours. They’re like...we’re neighbors and stewards.”
“Ah, that’s cool,” I said.
“I was wondering when you were going to respond with something other than a question,” Shade said.
“Took me a minute to catch up,” I said, then turned back to Ren. “Have you talked to Mage Dandry? He lives on the north side of the lake. He’s really nice.”
“Not yet!” In a flash of gold, he was soaring up toward the roof, leaving Shade and me to stare at his wake before we grabbed each other’s hand and headed for the iron fence that surrounded the property. I went to deactivate the ward on the side gate, and had to try twice before it shut down. Lucas came toward us as we entered, nodding back toward the house as he passed us to reactivate the ward. Somehow, that bothered me more than most things would. If I couldn’t redo a simple ward, I was just another guest here, as opposed to one of the people who actually belonged in this place.
I could hear conversation in the library, but it stopped as soon as we walked in the door.
“I can hear things from like a mile off now,” I said. “Don’t stop talking on my account.”
“Sorry, Chance,” Wanda said, her eyes darting toward Amanda, then back to me. “We just weren't sure what was going on.”
“Neither am I,” I said. “But I was hoping someone could tell me.”
“Then your timing is perfect,” Lucas said from the couch. Monica sat on the floor on front of him, her black spandex leggings swallowed up by a pair of knee high boots. “Wanda was just about to reveal who the...um...sorry, bad joke,” he said, his cheeks going red.
“Murder mystery jokes are a little too on point,” Amanda said, her tone nearly leaving burn marks on the floor from the acid dripping from them.
“Now I want to hear Wanda tell us how we’re wondering why she called us all here together,” I said. I gave Amanda a dark look, and she matched it.
“I guess you’re wondering why I’ve called you all here together,” Wanda said. “That being said, I can safely say that the killer...is not in this room with us.”
“So, we know who it isn’t,” Dr. Corwin said, “though I’d like to know how you reached that conclusion.”
“One, we know the killer had claws, something no one here except Shade had at the time.”
“Are you sure?” Kim said with a smile. For a moment, here pupils went to vertical slits, then changed back again.
“Yes,” Wanda said, “because kitsune don’t actually have a hybrid form they can maintain.”
“You’ve done your homework,” Kim said with a smile. Amanda’s forehead furrowed slightly, but I could hear her heartbeat speed up a little.
“Also,” Wanda went on, “We know where Shade was at the time.”
“How?” Shade asked.
“Checked the GPS on your phone the other day,” Wanda said. “You were nowhere near the lodge when Tyler was attacked. Besides, none of the fur or claw samples matched yours.”
“I’m never lending you my phone again,” Shade said with a smile.
“We also know something else,” Lucas said. “Based on the hair and claw samples, Tyler never turned.”
“What?” Shade’s voice climbed an octave. “How? Why wouldn’t he have turned?”
“I can’t tell you why just from physical evidence. All I can tell you is that all of the samples that we got that suggested anything furry came from the same source, and based on what we found at the scene, that was not Tyler.”
“He would have fought back,” Shade’s voice trembled. “He wouldn’t have just...let someone kill him.”
“He fought back,” Wanda said. “He had defensive wounds, and it looks like he fought hard. He just didn’t change.”
“Only an alpha could do that,” Shade said.
“Alpha could do that,” I added.
“Shade just said that, dude,” Lucas said.
“He’s talking about someone else, Lucas. The alpha who turned him. That’s the only name he knows him by. We think he uses magick that’s a lot like King used to use.” Shade put her hand over mine and squeezed lightly. “That’s all you need to know for now.”
“But we-” Lucas started to say.
“That’s all, Lucas,” Shade said, her tone sharp enough to draw blood.
“Why?” Mom asked, and even Shade kept her silence.
“Because I don’t want to go over it again,” I said. “I told Shade everything.”
“Okay,” Dr. C said after a moment. “So we have an idea of who. Now we need a where. And if Alpha is as powerful as King was…” he let the sentence fade into silence.
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“But didn’t Chance beat King?” Amanda asked.
“In a formalized duel, under very controlled circumstances,” Dr. Corwin said. “King was tightly constrained, and Chance went in with hours of preparation, a way to steal half his wolf, and the aid of a pack bond. I doubt we’re going to get the same consideration from Alpha.”
“So, what’s the plan from here?” I asked.
“We need something from Alpha,” Wanda said. “Fur, spit, blood, anything. If we have that, we can either prove it was him or eliminate him as a suspect.”
“Aren’t we pretty sure he’s the killer?” Lucas asked.
“Pretty sure,” Wanda repeated. “But not one hundred percent sure. And from what I’ve learned about Conclave law, reasonable doubt is still a consideration, even if the rest is pretty barbaric. We have to be able to prove Alpha is the one who killed Tyler, even if we use divination to do it. So Chance, could you get some hair or something from him the next time you see him?”
“Yeah,” I said. “And since I know how he got in my head, maybe I can block him now.”
“We’re about to have visitors,” Dr. Corwin said. Everyone turned to look at him. “It’s a new thing,” he explained. “Just started a couple of weeks ago. Chance, Kim, Amanda, on me. Shade, Lucas...Hell, who do I think I’m giving orders to?” Kim and Amanda were already gone, and Lucas was heading for the front of the house. Shade and I were already halfway to the door. I had to hand it to Dr. C, he was learning.
Shade and I led the way out the front door with Dr. Corwin right behind us. Lucas and Wanda followed, going left and right. Seconds later, a motorcycle pulled up to the front of the house. The rider pulled his helmet off, and we saw Killian Moon’s worried face. He got off and approached, stopping at the front gate. Dr. C gestured for him to come into the yard, deactivating the ward with the same movement.
“We were wrong about Kain,” Moon said when he made it to us. “He was here to take over from Sinbad all along. He just killed Sinbad’s beta, and declared the Springfield and Branson packs under his control. He’s on his way now to stake his claim on New Essex.”
“What about Sinbad?” Shade asked.
“He’s safe, for now. I made sure he was well hidden, and dispersed our more vulnerable pack members. Look, Shade, whatever happens, you have got to survive and you have to stay independent. Sinbad wanted you to have this,” he unslung a backpack and handed it to her. She grabbed it and opened it, peering inside for a moment.
“It’s all books,” she said, looking up at him.
“Then find a hole with a place to read,” Killian said. “And crawl into it until you figure out what Sinbad needs you to.” Beside me, Dr. Corwin tilted his head, his eyes focused on a distant point.
“You should go,” he said, the words slow. “He’s coming. From the north. Take this road south, then turn west on Elm.”
“Are you sure?” Moon asked, turning to look north himself.
“Yes,” Dr. C said. “Anything that happens within three miles of this house, I know about if I focus. Now go.” Moon made for his bike, and was pulling away from the curb in a matter of seconds.
“I didn’t know you could do that,” I said.
“Until last night, I couldn’t. But...things are changing. This isn’t the only neat new trick I can do. You two should probably go, too. Shade, you need to get the pack-”
“I know what I need to do, Dr. Corwin,” Shade cut him off. She turned to face him, her jaw set, her expression fierce. “Running from Jacob Kain isn’t on that list. If I do that, then he can claim that I’m not worthy to lead my pack. And I would rather die than let him have control over my packmates.”
“You may just get your wish,” Dr. C said. “But if it’s all the same to you, I’ll do my best to help keep that from happening.”
“I don’t mind the help at all,” she said, smiling. “There’s a lot of things I’d rather do than die, too.”
Kain’s gold Caddy came around the corner and cruised to a stop in front of the house. Kain got out and glared over the top of the car at us. “Shade, get in the car,” he said, the words loud and clipped.
“No,” Shade said.
“I said get in this car, girl, and I mean now!” He yelled this time, and dogs started barking up and down the street.
“And I said no.” Her voice was soft, but there was steel in those words. Kain walked around the car and into the yard.
“I wasn’t asking, girl. I’m your alpha now. You obey me.”
“Or what?” Shade demanded.
“There is no option.” His will came at us, and hit both of us like a wave, but, like water, it broke around us this time.
“There is when they’re standing here,” Dr. C said. “Or did you forget what it means to stand inside a wizard’s hearthstead?”
“If she is too weak to stand on her own,” Kain started to say, then shut up as Shade leaped forward and landed in front of him.
“You were saying?” Shade growled.
“Get in the damn car,” Kain said. “You’re coming with me, or you’re giving up control of your pack to me.”
“You have to challenge me,” Shade said. “And win.”
“You want a challenge, bitch?” he bellowed, his hand coming back. He froze when he heard the sound of Lucas racking a round into the chamber of his compact shotgun right behind him. When his head turned toward us, he was facing down Dr. Corwin’s pistol, the hand crossbows in Kim’s and Amanda’s hands, and me ready to leap at him. Even Wanda had a little pistol out and leveled at him.
“I smell a lot of silver,” Kain laughed. “It smells like futility.”
“It’ll smell like death when we put enough silver rounds into you,” Dr. Corwin said.
“Your information is out of date, mage,” Kain said. “I’m too powerful, my bloodline is too pure to die from silver bullets alone.”
“I bet they still hurt like Hell,” Lucas said. “I’m willing to test that theory.”
“Everyone, chill,” Shade said, holding her hands out and making a gesture to lower weapons. “Come on, Kain. Do it. Try to beat me down.”
“It’s easy to make a challenge when you come from a position of strength. You act tough here, but the dice are loaded. So, here is how it’s going to be. You break up with the boy and become my bitch, and I’ll let you be the alpha female for the Ozarks packs, and for the Clans. Give me your pack, and I’ll even let Chance survive. Or, face me, lose, and watch me kill him, and still end up my bitch.”
Shade looked my way, then back to Kain. “This was your plan all along, wasn’t it?”
“You were my goal the minute I saw you, Shade. The rest of this? No, I didn’t do any of this. You and Sinbad just screwed things up so bad I had to step in. You have twenty four hours to come to your senses.” He turned to Lucas and put his hand in the middle of his chest. “Try to threaten me again, little rat, and I’ll tear your throat out.” He shoved Lucas away, sending him flying into the fence on the other side of the yard.
I ran to Lucas’s side as Kain burned rubber pulling away from the curb. “You okay?” I asked.
“Yeah,” Lucas said, focusing on something that wasn’t me. “I’m good. I think I’m just gonna lie down here for a while, though.” His eyelids fluttered, but didn’t stay closed. I listened for his heartbeat, and felt my chest go tight at the steady pulse and breathing I heard.
“Do we need to call an ambulance?” Wanda asked.
“No,” Kim said. “We have curatives.”
I looked down the street and rose to my full height. “I’m going to find him and kill him,” I growled.
“No, Chance,” Shade said. “You aren’t going to do anything, especially not on your own.”
“I can beat him in a fight,” I said. “I’m a better martial artist than he is a straight up fighter.”
“He’s not going to fight you like that,” she said. “He’ll turn and he’ll hammer at your will, he’ll get in your head and h
e will kill you. He’s an alpha, and for all your courage and strength of will, for all that you have the potential to be an alpha, you don’t have the experience. You’re not an alpha. Not yet.”
“What the fuck difference does that make? He hurt my friend, he attacked me, and gods alone know what he wants to to do to you.”
“No, Chance,” she said again, pushing me back and leading me around to the side of the house. “Look, I know what he’s done, and believe me, I know what he wants to do. It’s nothing I haven’t been through before. But this is no time for you to go trying to get yourself killed.”
“I know what I’m doing.”
“Yes, and that’s the scary part, baby.” She looked at me with her so very human eyes, and I realized that she had separated herself from her wolf. “You've been so dead set on helping everyone around you that you’ve managed to keep yourself almost as fucked up as you were when you first got away. You’ve put so much effort into helping me heal that you let your own head get even more messed up than it was to start with.”
“What?” I said. “What are you talking about? I’m fine.”
“Baby, you still sleep on the floor. You can’t make it through the night without nightmares unless your sister rides herd on your dreams, and you blame yourself for every bad thing that happens to people around you. But you know the worst part, Chance? You know what kills me every damn time some mystic threat or magickally enhanced asshole comes along? It’s knowing that you’re going to go running at whatever it is headlong, ready to let it or them to kill you as long as you win.”
“Well, they usually want to kill me no matter what I do,” I said with a smile.
“You’re self-destructive, bordering on suicidal, Chance,” she said. “But instead of doing it yourself, you’ve been trying to get someone else to do it for you.” The words didn’t hit me so much as they sucked the life out of me.
“Compared to Kain, I must really seem pathetic,” I said, turning my back on her. She grabbed my shoulder and turned me back to face her.
“Kain is the pathetic one, Chance,” she said. “You’re...you told me once I wasn’t broken, I was just wounded. You’re wounded, too. And I’ve been right there where you are. Before you came along, there were days when I thought about...no, it was worse than that. It was almost a fantasy to me, if it wasn’t so fucking scary. I hurt so bad, I hated myself for what I let Dominic do to me, because yeah, that was how I saw it. There were days when all I could do was get up and keep going through the motions. I actually tried to once, and if Dominic hadn’t put a compulsion on me not to hurt myself, I probably wouldn’t have made it through my freshmen year. And then…” her eyes welled up and tears ran down her cheeks. But she was smiling, and I didn’t know what to do with that. Her voice broke when she spoke again, but she kept pushing forward. “Then this guy comes along, and he tells me no, you don’t have to put out. He comes along and he tells me that I’m worth something more than what’s between my legs. That I’m not just a pair of tits and a piece of ass. He tells me..no, he showed me that I. Am. Someone. Not Brad’s girlfriend, not Dominic’s whore. And he did it with just one word. No, Chance. You said no.” She was crying all the way through it, her voice wavering with every word.
