by Kim Faulks
The young deputy clipped the mic to his lapel and fumbled with the radio. Marg’s voice dulled from his hip, leaving her to blare through the cruiser’s open window behind us.
Goulding took a step to the side, eyeing each one of us. “Care to tell me what the hell you’re doing out here, Kane?”
Marcus shifted and Abrial moved closer. “Same as you, the wolves took something of ours.”
Goulding grabbed his glasses and pulled them from his eyes. “Yeah? And what’s that?”
Marcus never missed a beat as he answered. “Our brother.”
“So you found the Sheriff? Where is he?”
The little shifter whimpered and gripped Abrial tighter. “I want my momma.”
“I know sweetheart,” Abrial whispered.
Goulding looked at the little wolf draped in my blue shirt. He swept his gaze to my bare chest and lowered the gun, shoving it into his holster. “What’s going on here? Who’s this?”
“No one,” snapped Abrial, pushing the child behind her leg. “Pack business.”
Goulding flinched at the words. I heard the tremor as he fought for control.
“Pack business, huh? I’m getting sick of hearing that. Real fucking sick. Now, the last time we spoke, you told me I’d find my sister here, Marcus. I dunno about you, maybe I’m a little thick, or something. But I couldn’t get here. I tried. I fucking tried. My truck died when I turned into the driveway and when I got out to walk, I kept walking in fucking circles. Now, I get that this is pack business. But when a pack takes a human—when they take my sister—that makes it my fucking business.”
His hand hovered next to his gun, tracing the grip with his fingers. “Now, I’m going to ask you one last time and I want a straight answer, where the fuck is she? She’s here…she has to be here. One of those Echo bastards took her. Joslyn doesn’t belong here…she’s fucking pregnant for Christ’s sake. She’s fucking pregnant and I want her back home now.”
Marcus shook his head. “I don’t know. Believe me, we want to find them as much as you do. They took our brother.”
“Took your brother?” Goulding dropped his hand from his gun. “Well, can’t you just sniff them out, or something?”
The sudden catch of breath was audible.
“Sniff them out? What the fuck do you think we are?” Xael snapped, shoving North aside.
My younger brother stumbled. His hand made a squealing sound as he grasped the hood of the police car.
My heart lunged as Xael raised her hand. Black scales shimmered, covering her hand like a disease. Long black talons replaced manicured nails, curving to razor edges. She reached out with those claws and plucked a button from his shirt. The tiny plastic disc sailed through the air to smack against my leg.
I didn’t dare look away. Arachnid eyes moved, black spliced irises flickered, catching the movement as the button came to rest on the ground. My sister’s voice rattled as her dragon fought for control. “Wolves…huh? How about I give you a little demonstration as to what I really am?”
A shadow grew behind her as her tail curved over her head. The wicked sting was poised, ready to launch and impale.
“Jesus Christ.” Goulding stumbled backwards.
Marcus held up his hand as he took the deputy’s place. “Xael. No.”
The guttural growl echoed from our sister—then ended. Xael cocked her head, watching with a hint of amusement as Goulding gave a tortured cry and started running.
The deputy sprinted for his life, kicking up a tiny cloud of dust to smother glossy black boots. Tiny grunts filled the air as he stomped, but it was no use—synapses fired, but the wrong signals were sent as the deputy pummeled the ground on the one spot.
“What is he doing, Marcus?” Xael snarled. Her black eyes swung to Marcus, then back to Goulding.
Marcus turned his head to where the deputy sprinted, but no matter how fast those thin, human legs moved, he couldn’t get away. “I think he’s trying to run away from you.”
The corners of my mouth twitched as Xael snorted. “He looks fucking ridiculous.”
Goulding pumped his arms like pistons, until he just stopped. Sweat glistened on his forehead to gather and race over his brow. We stared open-mouthed, waiting for someone to say something.
“You feel better now?” Isaiah muttered.
Goulding turned his head to my shaggy-haired brother and gasped. “What?”
Isaiah placed his hand on my bare shoulder as he slipped between me and the front of the car. “I said do you feel better now?”
The deputy nodded, turning his head to Xael. “Yeah, kinda…wait.”
His legs seemed to crumble. He spilled to the side as the sound of retching filled the air. The sharp stench of sour oranges filled my nose as the young human heaved and shook.
“That went well,” Xael muttered and watched her inky nails sink back into her body. Her tail dropped, disappearing in the blink of an eye.
“Did you have to show him like that?” Marcus snapped, wrenching his head toward the gasping human. “Couldn’t you have shifted gradually?”
“Better that he freaks out now than down the track when we need him,” Xael snapped. “Little fucker can run, I’ll give him that. He’s just not good with momentum.”
“What the fuck are you people?” Goulding spat. Spit dripped from his open mouth to hit the ground. He swiped his hand across his mouth and looked at us with terror.
“Well, we’re not wolves. How’s that for a start?
“Really, Xael? You couldn’t be a little more sympathetic?” Isaiah snapped and held out his hand to the deputy. “We’re not going to hurt you, okay? Don’t freak out.”
Goulding stared at Isaiah’s outstretched hand and took a step away. His hand fell to the weapon at his hip, one swift motion and the thumb latch disengaged. “Answer my damn question. What the hell are you?”
Isaiah stopped moving. He dropped his hand, taking one slow breath before answering. “We’re dragons. Shifters, still, but dragons.”
“Dragons?” the deputy muttered, scanning each one of us. “I thought wolves were it… Dragons. How is that even possible?”
“If it makes you feel any better we were here before you,” Xael snarled.
I cringed at my sister’s words, unable to tear myself away from the display. Isaiah turned, piercing her with a stare.
“Enough with the ‘we were here first’ bitch-fight, Xael, for Goddess’s sake. Can’t you see the poor human’s in shock?”
“Fine,” my sister snapped and crossed her arms over her chest. “But if he shoots anyone, I hope he shoots you. Serves you fucking right for being so…so…fucking nice.”
“No one’s going to shoot anyone.”
Marcus placed his hand on Abrial’s shoulder and stepped closer to the deputy. “Put the gun down, Goulding. You don’t need that here.”
Goulding’s hand shook, but he made no move to holster his weapon. “Okay, but before I do, I want you to answer one question.”
Marcus nodded. “Okay.”
“Where is he? Where’s the Sheriff?”
No one moved. No one made a sound. The air turned thick. I swallowed as I tried to come up with a lie that didn’t sound like…a lie.
“We don’t know. The car was here when we got here and we haven’t seen any sign of the Sheriff.”
I cut my gaze toward Rowen as she shoved her way through. My stomach clenched, tightening like a relentless fist as she continued. “Marcus saved me from the Echo pack, but they came after us, along with a demon or two. They took one of their brothers. So we came here looking for answers, just like you.”
Her voice never wavered as she spun the lie. Her controlled expression could’ve been a mask. Inside, I trembled, waiting for Marcus to do the right thing and tell the truth. But he never moved. He let the lie take hold and spread its poisoned roots from our present through to our future.
“Demons?” The deputy whispered as though the mere mention of them was too ab
surd to consider. “Demons, and dragons?”
Rowen took a closer step. “That’s right, demons and dragons.”
“Do you think they took him…the Echo pack?” Goulding lifted his hand and holstered his firearm.
The dark mage nodded. “It’s possible. We’re trying to find a way to—as you said—sniff them out.”
Goulding fumbled with his mic, trying to pull it from his shoulder with shaking hands. “I’ll call everyone. Everyone…we’ll help. We can have a team here within the hour.”
“It’s not that easy,” Marcus broke in. “We can’t find them and you can’t find them. They’re…” He shifted his gaze to Rowen, catching her nod. “They’re with demons passing through barriers used by the dying.”
The sudden intake of breath filled the air. “The dying? You mean the Sheriff’s dead? Jesus… Jesus…”
“We don’t know that.” Rowen cut her gaze to Marcus. “Do we, Marcus?”
My eldest brother swallowed hard. “That’s right; we don’t know that for sure. That’s why we’re trying to keep this whole thing quiet. We don’t need a damn circus. If they find us here, that’s what this will be—believe me, it’s happened before.”
I turned my head toward the driveway at the sound of an engine. The rest of my family followed as the low drone grew louder. I counted two—no, three—cars heading toward us.
Goulding raked his fingers through his short hair before he turned and paced in front of them. Torment cut lines in his young face. “And you’re sure you can find them? My sister, I mean. You can find my sister?”
Marcus spun toward me and held my gaze as he answered. “If she’s with the demons, then yes, we can find her.”
The deputy stopped in front of my brother, commanding his attention. Goulding followed my brother’s stare to me. “I’m trusting you here, Kane. Don’t fucking lie to me, and don’t come back without her.”
Marcus nodded. “We won’t, you have my word.”
The sound of the gunning engines cut through the trees as Goulding spoke. “Let’s see what your word means, then. Go. I’ll keep you out of this for as long as I can. Find Joslyn and bring her back to me.”
I caught the flinch from Marcus. If the deputy’s sister was with our brother, then there was no way we could find them—not until we figured out a way. But for now the deputy bought the lie and bought us time. Marcus nodded and stepped away as a glint of metal cut through the trees.
“Thank you. I won’t forget this.”
I turned with the others. My feet felt like lead as we raced for the trees, following the heady scent of the wolves.
4
Odessa
Chains rattled as I dragged my feet close. I hovered in nothing and waited. The cold licked deeper, stealing the warmth from my body, leaving me cold, stranded and alone. I clutched Abby close and brushed my lips against her smooth face, tracing the ridges of her stitching and breathing in her scent.
She smelled of dirt, wolves…and hunger. She smelled of hunger and underneath that—somewhere far below—she smelled of death.
The meal clasp around my wrists hit bone as I pulled her away. Death, she smelled of death. “I want to go home. I don’t like the darkness. Please, just let me go home.”
You know what you have to do.
I dropped my head, the night swallowed me—suffocated me—there was no escape. I closed my eyes. Tiny sparks danced behind my lids—they were my only hope of light. “I don’t want to do that. Please don't make me.”
It’s the only way. They won’t leave you alone. They won’t ever leave you alone.
“I want the sun. I want the light. I don’t like the darkness anymore.”
But the darkness is where you belong.
Blue eyes haunted me, urging me to drag these chains and crawl upward. I opened my eyes and lifted my head, finding a tiny sparkle far in the distance. My dragon was up there somewhere, waiting for me—my prince of ice and water. He needed me. I wouldn’t let him down—I wouldn’t stay here in the darkness—I wouldn’t forget him.
You belong here, Odessa.
I shook my head and the faint twinkle disappeared as I whispered. “Not anymore.”
I dragged my feet close. One heel dropped through the floor and hovered mid-air. My heart lunged inside my chest. I shoved my hand to the ground, feeling for that invisible barrier but my fingers sank through. “No!”
Hair lashed my face. I thrashed, throwing the strands from my eyes. “Stop! Please, stop!”
The whoosh of air filled my ears as I fell.
Down.
Down.
Down.
I toppled end over end, with nothing to save me. Air buffeted my face, and stung my eyes as I grappled for a hold, until the air turned thick, swelling inside as I gulped. My stomach rolled as the heavy air slowed my fall, until I hit something hard.
My bones crackled, my knees ground as I crumpled like a rag-doll. I slapped my hands to the ground. Shackles bit my wrists. Agony flared for a second before the cold swallowed the pain. Slick tears stuck the hair to my face, hiding the desolation—but there was no escape—not down here.
I swiped the strands aside and my fingers came away slick. No one could find me, not all the way down here—not in the dark. I sucked in the air and forced a squeak. “Are…are you still there?”
The white noise inside my head was the only comfort, drowning out the darkness for a second at least. “Please…please why won’t you answer me?”
Forgotten… abandoned.
My nails pierced Abby’s belly until wispy cotton wool brushed my knuckles. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry, Abby. Come back to me. Please come back…don’t leave me down here. Don’t leave me.”
I released my hold on her bloated body and dropped my head toward the ground. An ache gnawed its way along my spine and spread down my thighs with a ravenous hunger. The chattering of my teeth rebounded in my head. I squirmed, searching for a bump to rest my head, or a hollow for my hips. But there was nothing.
I dragged my knees to my chest. Soft tendrils brushed my face as I held Abby close. “What do you want from me? Why am I down here?”
I searched for a sound, a whisper…anything.
I’m here.
My breath hissed like a punctured balloon.
Don’t you remember, Odessa? Don’t you remember Victor?
My breath caught. The dark down here settled like a heavy blanket over my thoughts. The name hovered on the tip of my tongue. “Victor.”
Yes, Odessa, Victor. Do you remember why you found him? Do you remember the dragons at all?
I flinched at the words and dragged my hand closer to my face. The chains rattled, the metal shackles weighed me down. I fingered her hair and brushed her face with my thumb.
Her poor face…her poor beautiful face.
“I don’t remember. Who is he?”
No one. No one at all. You don’t have to worry about him. You can stay down here with me. We can play…you still like to play, don’t you?
The scent of the sea crashed over me. I licked my lips and tasted salt. Blue eyes called me. A sweet, husky voice whispered, her poor face…her poor beautiful face.
Then he was gone. His husky tone slipped into the shadows along with everything else.
Papa?
The sound of my own voice made me flinch. In the distance, the dark sky softened to gray. I blinked and stared, and as the light crept closer, so did the sound of my voice. This was a memory…
Papa?
Out of the gloom came the trees. Shadows twisted and turned. Gnarled trunks curved and bowed. My feet slipped on nothing. I was dragged amongst the forest and into the past.
Everything returned to me. The cold sweat on the back of my neck. The fear as I stared at the two warriors who’d invaded our camp. Their searching gaze left no one behind—until they stopped at me.
You were told to mind her, that’s all.
I turned from the invaders of our camp.
What does he mean, Papa?
I tightened my hold on my father’s hand and searched those golden eyes I loved.
My father shook his head; still he wouldn’t look at me.
“Papa?”
He sounded broken. “Go with them, Odessa. They’re your family now.”
After all this time, those words still stung. I strangled Abby as someone grabbed me. Hard hands, cruel hands tore me away from the one person I loved.
“Papa. No!”
My feet left the ground and my heart stayed there too.
“Don’t hurt her!” My father screamed as they carried me away. “Don’t hurt her!”
The dream blurred, dragging me to another time and another camp—a cruel camp—the Echo camp.
I tried to inhale. My belly bowed. My chest caved. Dust filled my mouth and clogged my throat. I forced a cough and sucked in shallow breaths, enough to stave away the lure of sleep.
A deep groan echoed beside me, then turned to snores. Movement caught my eye. Something hard hit my belly, forcing the air from my lungs. I caught the glint of red against the firelight, and followed that gleam to thick, calloused fingers.
Don’t turn your head. Don’t look at him. Abby whispered.
The ring glistened, sparkling as the hand inched its way higher to fall across my flat chest. His palm grazed my nipple, his fingers curled to probe the bumps of my ribs. I whimpered and turned my head from the sight to the orange hue of the fire.
The night lingered inside me somewhere, dark and cold. I sucked in the air and held my breath. Chains clinked softly as I slid the back of my foot along the dirt, and followed with the other. Tiny stones scraped my skin as I eased out from under the man’s searching hands.
His hand hit the ground with a thump. I froze as the snores ended. The pounding in my chest sped. A heavy snort blew strands of my hair into my eyes. I grew warmer with every inch closer to the fire. The links around my wrists turned slack, clattering as I moved.
“Where are you going?”
I flinched at the growl and scurried backward. The wolf lifted his head and rolled, turning toward me. His gaze lingered between my thighs, and then drifted to my chest. My body hardened and the cold…the cold left me exposed.
