“Wait, whoa. Slow down. Are you all right?” Jet asked, concerned about his former friend. She was a pain in the ass ninety-nine percent of the time, but she was also a damn good informant. Jet couldn’t stand the thought of anyone getting hurt because of him, even if it was Sly. He glanced up when Lilly entered the room, shooting him a questioning look. He held up a hand, indicating he would tell her once he was off the phone. Lilly moved to sit in one of the chairs across from the desk.
“Obviously. Jet, do you really think you’d be my first call if I weren’t?”
“Sly, before you do anything rash,” Jet paused, frowning at the strange noises on the other end of the line. “What is that clicking sound?”
“What clicking — oh! This?” The clicking became a little louder. “I’m loading a couple weapons. I’m going to keep your car a little longer. It got a bit banged up in the earlier confrontation.”
Jet rubbed his brow, closing his eyes. “You’re loading weapons in public?”
“Don’t worry. I’m being subtle. I’m not loading a shotgun or anything like that. Haven’t gotten any weird looks. The humans are just kind of going about their merry way, not sparing me a second thought.”
“Why are you in public?” Jet still couldn’t believe she was in a place surrounded by humans. That just wasn’t Sly.
“Because where else am I going to find people trying to blend in,” Sly answered as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. “Look, Jet, these guys were working for someone and one of them said he had a message for you and Lilly. As if I was your personal secretary. Let me tell you, someone is definitely getting punched in the face for that.”
“Did he tell you the message?”
Sly paused for a moment. “That’s the weird thing. All he said was ‘he just wants to say hello.’”
“That’s it?”
“Apparently,” Sly responded. “I have a couple more guns that I need to load, so I’m going to run. Jet, be careful. These guys . . . they were able to anticipate moves that I hadn’t even thought of yet. Also, they didn’t have a scent.”
“Didn’t have a scent? How so?”
“I know it sounds impossible and I can’t exactly explain it, but they had literally no scent. No body odor, no cologne, nothing. I’ve never encountered anything like it before. Maybe this is a new species or a very old one, something along those lines.”
“It seems unlikely, but I’ll look into it. Thank you for the information, Sly.”
“I’ll get back in touch once I’ve resolved this matter. I’ll try and save some remains so you can figure out what the hell they are.”
“Be careful, Sly,” Jet said, knowing he couldn’t talk his contact out of doing what she was going to do. He had learned that long ago.
“You too,” Sly said before hanging up the phone.
Jet dropped the phone back in its cradle, running his hands over his face. Lilly approached and sat down on the arm of the computer chair, her dark blue eyes holding a look of concern as she waited for him to tell her what had happened.
“Sly is taking a temporary leave so that she can hunt down, torture, and kill some scentless beings,” Jet explained, reaching up and intertwining his fingers with Lilly’s. “Someone ran her off the road on the way to the rebel Lair. They told her that their employer wanted her to tell us that he says hello.”
Lilly leaned down so she could rest her head atop his.
“What are you thinking?” Lilly asked, looking at their intertwined fingers.
“I think someone is trying to get our attention by showing off,” he replied. “It feels like a power-play, a way to show us what he or she or they can do. And something tells me Roan might know something about whomever it is. Him popping up with what we thought was the Key and then this attack on Sly? It’s a little too convenient.”
“We’re going to have to pick up where Sly left off,” Lilly mentioned. “First, we should meet with Alpha. We might need allies if we’re going up against whomever this person is.”
Jet glanced up at Lilly. “She won’t talk to us, sweetheart. We also have to question Roan and follow up this lead with Cara’s mother.”
“Then call Alpha and offer to send the Four to negotiate a truce. The rebels and protectors have been at odds for far too long. An alliance with the rebels would be beneficial and Alpha would be a useful ally to have,” Lilly replied. Jet smiled at her. His wife was right, as usual. Some things were more important than a feud.
“I’ll try,” Jet agreed, reaching for the phone. He could only hope the rebel leader would be willing to speak with him. Lilly gave him a supportive smile and moved off to the side, staying nearby to listen to the call.
*~*~*~*~*
In the lands of Night in the Meadows, two guardians were in the midst of vigorous lovemaking. Illuminated only by the pale light of the moon and the silvery light of millions of stars, their nude interlocked bodies glistened with sweat. The woman straddled her lover, who lay on his back and grasped her hips as he thrust inside her. She had already climaxed twice and as he reached the height of his own pleasure, she did once more.
As Passion rolled off him, Donovan let out a groan of pleasure and chuckled.
“I never need to worry about exercising when you call,” he laughed. She grinned as she ran her fingers over his chest and playfully nipped at his ear.
“I’m sure you say that to all the girls,” she murmured in her throaty voice. She was breathless, as was he. Their lovemaking always had an intensity that left them both exhausted. They had known each other for years and before her affair with Roan, many had thought she and Donovan would marry. They were a perfect match, even though their personalities were often rather different.
Donovan reached down and trailed his fingers up her thigh, just barely touching her soft flesh. She shivered in pleasure under his gentle touch. She ran her slender fingers through his dark hair as he began to kiss between her long legs. Passion gasped when he found the spot that sent currents of electricity through her body, moaning as pleasure overtook her once more. Donovan had a reputation for being one of the best lovers in the Meadows. He had an almost intuitive understanding of the body and an uncanny talent for being able to find the exact places that unleashed torrents of bliss. His knowledge of sexual pleasure rivaled Passion’s own. Passion often wondered if that was why the High Council had paired them, before the whole incident with Roan. Donovan looked up at her once he had finished, running a thumb over his lower lip and smiling at her. The moonlight glistened on the beads of sweat covering his dark skin. Stars shone in his soft brown eyes.
“You are troubled,” he observed, resting on his elbow beside her. “I’m guessing it has something to do with why you summoned me out of the blue.”
Passion smiled. “Perhaps I just desired an evening of pleasure.”
Donovan raised an eyebrow. “If all you desired was sex, you have a number of lovers in your own lands who would be more than happy to oblige.”
“Perhaps I desired a male lover tonight,” Passion countered, leaning back so she rested on her elbows beside him. “It has been some time since we’ve seen each other and I have missed you.”
Donovan was quiet for a while, studying her. He reached out and gently brushed some strands of hair behind her ear. “If you’re worried about Roan’s return . . .”
Passion sat up, staring at him with wide eyes. She had not mentioned Roan in her letter to him. Donovan smiled and rolled on his back again, interlacing his fingers behind his head.
“I must admit that I’m a little offended. I have been around for a while, Passion, longer than you. I am a member of the High Council. Give me some credit.”
“The guardian men already know,” Passion breathed, running a hand over her forehead. “How much else do they know?”
Donovan shrugged. “Just the basics: Roan turned himself in early this morning to the guardian women. He’s being held in your dungeons. Worry not. Our secret is still safe.”
>
Passion rolled on her back and ran her hands over her face, letting out a shaky sigh of relief.
“If it somehow comes out,” she began.
“It won’t.”
“But if it does, I’ll take the blame. I got us into this mess. The responsibility is mine and mine alone.”
Donovan rolled over so that he was facing her. “You’ll do no such thing. You did nothing wrong, neither did I. You needed help and I helped you. If the High Council doesn’t understand that, then fuck the lot of them.”
Passion ran a hand up his face. “You and I both know it’s not as simple as that. We could face banishment for our actions. I couldn’t ask that of you.”
“What kind of man do you take me for, Passion? You don’t need to ask. Like I said before, we did nothing wrong. Besides, they’re not going to find out,” Donovan murmured, turning his face slightly to kiss her palm.
Passion smiled and leaned over to kiss him deeply.
“Have I ever told you how amazing you are?” she whispered.
“I know. I would have made a wonderful husband, but you had to go and get knocked up by a shape shifter,” he teased, grinning wickedly. She swatted his shoulder, smiling.
“How are things with your other daughter, by the way?” Donovan asked. “Word is she has a cynicism that could rival mine.”
“Isis is doing well from what I hear from the Monroes,” Passion replied. “She does have an undeniable cynicism, but could any rival your own?”
Donovan rolled back so he was resting on his elbows. “You sound sad when you speak of her.”
Passion shrugged as she sat up. “I’m a stranger to her. I never thought I’d see her again after I gave her up for adoption and now she’s living with Jet and Lilly in the mansion. It’s a very odd situation and one that’s hard to adjust to.”
“I see,” Donovan said, watching as she stood up and retrieved her dress. She pulled it over her head, tying the sash about her waist.
“Speaking of the mansion, I think I’m going to spend some time there,” she mentioned, looking out across the night lands. “I really need to be away from the Meadows, for a little while at least. It may be some time before you hear from me.”
“I expected as much. I know of the bond between you and the Monroes. I am glad you have a safe place you can go when you need a break,” Donovan said. Passion knelt beside him, trailing her fingers across his chest.
“When I return, we have to catch up,” she stated, meeting his eyes again. “I want to hear all about how Lucky became your apprentice.”
Donovan snorted. “The High Council has never been fond of me and the dullards have finally figured out the perfect punishment.”
“Lucky is a sweetheart and will be a good guardian. Be patient with him,” Passion said, half-smiling. She leaned down and kissed him one more time.
“Don’t be gone too long,” he whispered when she pulled away. “This place is so boring without you.”
Passion smiled and nodded. She stood up and walked off, disappearing in the dark woods.
CHAPTER FIVE
Isis glanced out the window as Jade parked on an empty road. It was so little used there weren’t even street lamps or signs. Everything was still and quiet. A goth girl suddenly banged into the passenger window. The girl had metallic purple hair and was covered in what looked like glowstick liquid. She looked like a glowing Pollack painting. She smiled and waved before disappearing into the night.
“Where is this place?” Isis asked, looking over at Jade. Jade merely shook her head as she continued looking out the window. Isis glanced in the back seat where Alex and Shae were sitting. Alex appeared indifferent, whereas Shae resembled a kid in a candy store. She was fidgeting and looking around excitedly with wide bright eyes.
“The club is a little further up the hill, past those trees,” Alex answered, gesturing in a vague direction. “The rebels renovated an old hotel into a dance club. They even have a track for drag racing.”
“Yeah, yeah, that’s very interesting. Can we go already?” Shae asked. Isis stared at her cousin. Shae’s enthusiasm left her feeling even more apprehensive about the place and she wanted to know exactly what she was being dragged into.
“What’s up with you?” she asked.
“I’ve been dying to see this rebel Lair for ages,” Shae answered. She was wearing her best club clothes: tight black pants with a silver belt and a dark purple top with a draping neck.
“For the love of the guardians, why?” Jade asked, mystified. “It’s just a club.”
“Are you kidding me? The rebels are like the ultimate club goers,” Shae replied, adjusting her top a little. “They’ve practically got a twenty-four hour rave going on most days of the year.”
“Sounds like a nightmare,” Isis remarked, shuddering at the thought of listening to loud rave music for hours on end. The one she had covered for the local paper when she had been a photojournalist had been enough to sour her on the idea of raves.
“It’s not just that, ice queen,” Shae stated. “The rebels are all about freedom. Most of them don’t even recognize gender norms. Their club has a different room for almost every want or desire. I’ve heard stories about a glam room, a 30s room, a goth room.”
“An S&M room, a jungle room,” Jade put in, looking out over the snowy landscape. “They’re glorified hedonists, Shae.”
“Jade, I’m a protector to the core, but I still think the rebels are interesting and will be extremely valuable allies. We don’t need to quarantine ourselves from them,” Shae argued. “It wouldn’t hurt protectors to take a few pages from the rebel book.”
“Uh huh,” Jade responded, unconvinced. Isis noticed more shadows moving across the snowy grounds. She hadn’t seen anyone come the opposite way, but it was still relatively early in the evening.
“So what are we supposed to do exactly?” Isis asked. Jade had been silent throughout the nearly four hour drive to the club. Jet had also been vague when explaining what he needed them to do. It had been quite clear to Isis that neither Jet nor Jade were fond of the rebels, while Lilly seemed rather optimistic about a potential alliance. Both Remington and Jade had explained the feud between rebels and protectors a while ago, but to Isis, it seemed to be mostly about conflicting philosophies.
“We’re here to act as ambassadors on behalf of the protectors,” Jade responded. “Our main objective is to negotiate a truce with Alpha. She’s the leader.”
“In the loosest possible sense of the word,” Alex mentioned. “Rebels aren’t organized in the same way as protectors or other shape shifter factions.”
“Right. Jet doesn’t care what we do in there, although I would prefer not to stay overly long,” Jade said, twisting in her seat. “Under no circumstances are we to mention Roan’s sudden reappearance.”
“Don’t say anything about the resurrection of the most feared assassin in the world, got it. Can we please go in already?” Shae pleaded as she opened her door and jumped out into the night. Isis grinned and shook her head. Jade sighed and opened her car door. Isis did the same on her side and was practically dragged out of the car by her eager cousin.
“Hey, what the hell,” she exclaimed in surprise, nearly slipping in the snow. Shae looped her arm within Isis’, slowing her pace a little.
“Can’t you just feel the energy of the place?” Shae beamed, shivering in excitement. Jade stepped past the two of them, moving up the hill. There was a cluster of trees and a faint light behind them. Their footsteps crunched in the little snow that remained on the ground. Numerous feet had worn the snow so thin that scattered blades of dark grass poked through.
As they made their way in the direction of the Lair, Shae continued to chatter excitedly. She wondered if she should have worn something dressier or more themed. Isis mostly nodded, bewildered, not as familiar with clubbing culture as her cousin. She shivered when an icy wind swept through the grounds. Sharp particles of snow stung her face. Distantly, she could hear t
he roar of a motorcycle. Who races in the freaking snow? Isis wondered, huddling against the cold. She again questioned why Jet and Lilly hadn’t sent one of their sons or daughters on this particular errand. According to Jade, they were at the Lair almost every night and were on good terms with the rebels. As they passed through the cluster of trees, Isis heard the sound of retching from somewhere to her right. Always a good sign, she thought, massaging her brow as she felt the beginning of a headache.
After another five minutes, an enormous building came into view. Large spotlights illuminated every inch of land up to the clusters of trees. Another gust of wind whipped up a curtain of snow, briefly obscuring the towering hotel from view. It only looked vaguely like a hotel, having undergone extensive renovations. A porch wrapped around the front, illuminated by the warm yellow glow of heated light bulbs. A few shape shifters reclined on the porch, watching the newcomers. Two huge pillars marked the entrance and giant rainbow-colored letters were painted vertically down them, declaring it “The Lair.” From where the Four stood, they couldn’t see the front door. Isis could barely tell how large the place was. It seemed to stretch as far as the eye could see.
A slender woman in a red hood sat at the base of one pillar with her legs stretched out in front of her. She looked as though she were barely out of adolescence. Isis glanced to the side when a pair of foxes raced across the snow. She could feel Shae almost bouncing next to her. Jade led the way up the steps to the door and to the front entrance where a giant tiger sat.
“Alpha’s expecting us,” Jade stated, glancing over her shoulder at the strange woman sitting by the pillar. She stood up and made her way around the pillar, trailing her fingers around the smooth surface, her eyes fixing on the Four. She seemed to study Isis in particular. Isis adjusted her coat, making sure she was hiding as much skin as possible. Her guardian blood caused her skin to glisten faintly in the moonlight. It was so subtle most humans didn’t notice it. Shape shifters, however, could easily spot it. When she had first noticed it, the glimmering had fascinated Isis. Now she found it to be more of a nuisance.
Through Storm and Night (The Shape Shifter Chronicles Book 2) Page 7
