by Amber Kallyn
He still didn't know why Jake had come. Before the knock at the door, the man almost seemed on the urge of saying something. But the sharp rap on wood had turned Jake two shades of pale and sent him practically running out of there.
Matt worried.
George the ghost flashed from tall, hearty lumberjack to mauled wolf victim. He jumped in front of Matt, pointing the opposite way.
When he ignored the spirit, George threw a fist.
Matt barely felt more than a soft hint of energy where the ghost touched him. "I'll make rounds in an hour or so. You can see your wife before she's discharged."
The ghost shook his head violently, waving harder.
"Don't worry," Matt tried to reassure him, not knowing if it helped or not. "She'll be back at least twice a week the next few months."
As far as he knew, George wasn't able to travel the twelve miles between the hospital, where he'd died, and the home he'd shared with his wife.
George shook his head sadly, as if Matt didn't understand anything. He made shoving motions, urging Matt down the hall.
"If you don't want to wait for me, go on ahead."
With a frustrated scowl, George disappeared.
Sighing deeply, Matt caught a hint of an intoxicating scent. Springtime and cherry blossoms. But why would Anca have been here?
He looked at the small box he held. Jordan wouldn't have sent her to deliver this. Matt glanced around the halls again. He could almost feel the prickle of Anca's magic at the edges of his senses.
Had to be all in his mind. There'd be no reason for a Judge to skulk around the back offices of a small town hospital.
Grumpily, he stomped into his office and the door banged shut. Thoughts of the woman had plagued him ever since he'd stormed away from the lake. Grunting, he moved to his desk. Sat heavily in his chair. He flipped the lid off the box and pulled out the thumb drive from his King.
Matt plugged it in to his computer and opened the documents, scanning them first, then reading them more thoroughly.
Twenty minutes later, he swore beneath his breath, "Son of a bitch."
Between everything else he'd found recently, and now this documentation, his unlikely—hell, he'd thought impossible—suspicions were confirmed.
Matt knew who the traitor was.
And he knew why the vampire had done it.
He called his King, only to find the traitor had left the castle over an hour ago
To come to town.
One of the couriers sent to deliver the very proof that had given Matt the last details he'd needed to believe.
"We need to find him. Now." Matt stormed from his office to join the search of Moss Creek himself.
Jordan promised help, then said, "You'll tell Anca, correct?"
Fire burned Matt's gut. He snapped out, "No, m'Lord. You can have the privilege of telling the Judge that yourself."
"I see." The disapproval in those two tiny words was enough to bow Matt's shoulders.
"Gotta go," he said and hung up. Slipping his cell into his pocket, Matt ignored the weight pressing down on him.
He forced back the instinctual drive to instead, search out another.
Her.
To share what he knew. Together, track down the traitor. From him, find the Rogues. Most of all, he was filled with the nearly irresistible demand to ensure Anca stayed safe. Surely by now she'd started her own hunt this night.
Primal urges inside him were already certain the whispers in the wind had spoken true.
Fate?
Perhaps.
But could he accept such a thing?
The most damning of all was that he didn't trust anything at the moment. Not his instincts. Not his senses.
Because after the initial shock of finding out Anca was a Judge, Matt found his hatred of the Council still didn't fully extend to her. His mind replayed all he'd seen, had heard, about and from Anca Fieraru.
None of which resembled the hated Magic Council or their bastard followers.
He rubbed his knuckles at his temple, walking faster through the hospitals.
Yeah, she was most likely already on the hunt. And what if, right now, she was in danger? All because he'd walked away and left her to it alone.
Emotions coursed through his veins, stiffening his muscles.
He called himself ten kinds of fool for worrying. She was a Judge, remember? he repeated silently.
Except, to a growing, expanding part of himself, that fact didn't seem to matter.
He didn't know why, or even when it had happened. But even finding out she was a Judge, a fucking Judge for crying out loud, and should be his sworn, hated enemy, he just couldn't see her that way.
Not Anca.
Damning himself for such useless musings, Matt burst through the hospital doors and spilled out into the parking lot.
Ice slickened his veins forcing him to a stop.
Because the lingering ghosts all rushed to circle a tiny car beneath a gentle spot of light.
Anca's rental car.
She had been there.
Not from Jordan though.
So where had she gone, and why leave her car?
The wind rushed around him, blowing Matt's hair back. Hands of air gripped him urgently, jerking him toward the street.
Matt resisted a long moment, trying to call a cold detachment.
It refused to come.
As if her earth spirits instead encouraged him to remember the bonds between him and Anca blazed around Matt. The wind swirled with her scent.
Warmth. Springtime and cherries.
His chest burned.
He could deny it no longer. No matter what—who—else she might be, she remained merely Anca to him.
A woman of heat and passion, one who had a heart soft and caring.
She was nothing like the Magic Council.
But she was everything, somehow already, to him.
Matt encouraged her spirits to lead where they wanted.
To lead him to her.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
For nearly a half hour, Anca watched the sheer rock face looming in front of her. After following the wolf shifter along a rugged trail deep into the forest, the cliffs abruptly appeared. She'd known the town was surrounded by mountains. The higher, more distant peaks rose all around them in a never ending reminder.
Directly ahead, tall shadows nearly hid a narrow crevice in the rock. An entrance into the earth.
Where the wolf had disappeared.
According to the confiscated map, this was also where Leo had seen the Rogues. And now the Alpha's son, back from a clandestine meeting with Matt Dixon, was holed up in the Rogue's camp.
No one had left the caves. No one else had arrived. Anca had no idea how many or even what kind of Arcaine might be in there.
So instead of rushing in, like her instincts demanded, she did the smart thing and continued to wait for the backup that should arrive any moment. Not for the first time, she pondered the idea of carrying a cell phone. If she had one, she could call MacDougal, make sure he'd gotten the report from his young vampires, and was on his way with said back up.
But she thought of Oscar the dragon again, and the untimely notification beep revealing his location.
She rubbed her throat.
Nope. Still not worth it.
She could trust the kids. The clan vampires would show.
Still, a ticking clock echoed in the back of her mind. The spirits pushed and pulled her toward the cave. They definitely knew something she didn't.
Going in without backup would be stupid.
However, ignoring her instincts, and more importantly, the spirits, could cost lives.
MacDougal had a couple more minutes. If he didn't arrive, she'd go inside anyway. She had to. But she'd be extremely careful about it.
The spirits flickered cautiously. Someone approached. Their magic paled into welcoming colors only seconds before Matt stepped from shadows.
Right in front of her. And alone. "W
hat are you doing out here?"
"I'd ask the same of you," she replied.
The magic singing through the forest felt no one else.
If he wasn't here as her backup...
Hurt and anger and betrayal stabbed through her. "What exactly are you doing here?"
"I came looking for you." His tone was strangely warm and comforting.
The last time they'd talked, Matt had been clear, cold. His comfort wasn't for her. Or it wasn't real.
Tension sang through her muscles. "You're not here with MacDougal and the clan?"
He shook his head.
A small flicker of hope she hadn't realized nestled in her heart died. Not backup. That left only one answer.
He was the clan traitor.
For the first time since she'd become a Judge, Anca froze, unable to act. Unable to move.
But duty came first. And no matter what this man made her feel, if he'd had any part in the betrayals, the murders, he deserved no mercy.
She fluidly drew her sword, setting her stance. Her fangs lengthened, her senses grew crisp. She heard, saw, smelled everything. The forest, the magic building between the two of them. The bonds, somehow still connected by a few tiny strands though the man wanted nothing to do with her now that he knew everything.
Matt looked her over without fear. "Your turn to answer."
Unsure why she hesitated to call him out, Anca silently pointed through the trees, to the shadowed cavern opening.
Matt stepped closer, ignoring her sword, and the anger he must surely be able to feel. He laid a hand on her shoulder, leaning close to stare at the cave. "You think someone's in there?"
She stepped back and raised her sword, this time between them. "Isn't that the real reason you're here? To continue your secret meeting with the pack Alpha's son, and the Rogues the two of you are in league with?"
Matt looked at her, emotions flooding his face. Surprise. Confusion. Understanding. Regret and a bit of sadness. "You're certain Jake is with the Rogues?"
"Leo found this place. He saw Rogues here. I followed your accomplice to this same spot."
Matt shook his head softly, as if hating what she said.
Anca called her magic, preparing to attack. What came was weak. She strained for more. "I saw you with the wolf earlier. Now you show up. There's only one logical explanation."
Matt laughed. He actually laughed, loud and full and from his gut.
She nearly unleashed her power right then and there.
"Sorry," he said, laughing some more before he finally quieted. "Only one explanation? Lady, I can think of many more than that. Care to hear mine?"
"Not really. But I am going to arrest you. Then I'm heading into the cave and taking down every last one of your cohorts."
But she didn't move.
She hated the idea of Matt being the traitor. She despised the images coming to mind of him working with the Rogues, killing innocents. That wasn't the man she'd come to know.
Matt stepped into her space. Hand on the flat of her blade, he shoved her sword aside and closed the distance until he stood only an inch in front of her.
Her pulse sped, her throat tightened. Her stomach twisted. But she didn't draw back. Or release her magic.. And she couldn't figure out why.
The air around them whirled, shoving her against his solid strength. She inhaled sharply, only to have her senses invaded by the scent of minty male.
Matt gently curved his arms around her waist, whispering, "Like I said. I came for you."
His words penetrated something. Hurt pricked at her. She shook her head.
Denying him, or the pain?
He added, "Your spirits guided me to you."
Magic whirled, the spirits becoming a blur of colors, pushing them closer together.
Anca knew at once Matt's words were true.
He'd been led here.
Led to her.
But... "Then why were you meeting with the wolf earlier?"
"I wasn't. Jake's an old friend. He disappeared about five months ago without a word. Today, he showed up to have some injuries looked at. He wouldn't tell me anything about where he's been."
"And you met with him, no questions asked?"
"I'm a doctor."
"You're a vampire doctor in the middle of a clash between your clan and the pack."
He tensed, hard conviction turning his face to stone. "I am a doctor. I don't care who or what my patient is. If they need help, I will do my best."
"Even if it was a Judge needing help?" She didn't know where the words came from.
Old pained anger flashed in his eyes, but he said, "Perhaps not. You however, yes."
In the wind came a whisper.
Hope. Home. Love.
Anca couldn't bring herself to completely ignore them. Not with Matt's arms around her, with his heat warming the cold in the depths of her heart.
Trust wasn't an easy thing. Her senses told her he couldn't be the traitor. But that only worried her more. Her opinion was no longer unbiased.
As if reading her train of thought, Matt heavily said, "I know who the traitor is."
"Who? How?"
"I've taken what the two of us learned and combed our clan records. Including logs of who was assigned to guard the train station warehouses, among other things."
She bit her lip.
His words sounded true. The colors of his aura were clear that he spoke without even a hint of dishonesty.
Finally she asked again, "Who?"
"The data left no doubt. It's the castle guard, Leo."
Pieces of the puzzle clicked into place.
Matt continued, "His sister was taken by the Rogues last year."
"I've heard a little about it. Her name's Luci?"
"Yes. Leo's been... broken ever since. The past few months he's seemed better. Now, I have to figure that's probably around when he started working with the Rogues. Most likely as a guarantee for his sister's safety."
Which would make sense. Creatures like these Rogues would use anything, anyone they could get their claws in, force to help them.
Not an excuse to turn traitor. But she did understand it.
Love was a powerful, and very dangerous, emotion.
The thought made her glance at Matt. For a long second, he seemed far more dangerous to her than any Arcaine that might be in the cave.
Anca turned away. "I met Leo and Robby at the hospital, and got this map from them, like I told you. I sent the two of them back to the clan, with orders to tell your King about this place. To send back up. That was nearly an hour ago."
Matt pulled his cell from his dress pants. He hit the screen a couple times, then it rang loudly, on speaker.
MacDougal's voice barked out, "Where the hell are you? And where's Anca?"
"We're both here," Matt replied.
"Have you found Leo?" MacDougal rushed on.
"No. But we did find something." Matt waved her to explain.
Anca kept it short and pertinent.
Her heart dropped when MacDougal answered, "None of them have come back to the castle. Most of my men are scouring the town for Leo. Give me some time to get the word out and we'll be there. Wait for my arrival." He hung up.
Anca looked from the cell to the shadowed cave entrance. "Leo was with Robby." The earth spirits flashed once more with the urgent push to hurry inside.
Matt replied, "So you said."
"The boy hasn't been seen since."
As if following her thinking yet again, Matt stared hard at the cave. "You think Leo brought Robby here?"
A shudder worked its way down Anca's spine.
If so, what were they doing to the boy? At this very moment, they could be...
She stopped her thoughts from travelling that direction. Right now, such ideas would only bring crippling horror. She needed all of her strength and a clear mind for the fight ahead.
Matt grabbed her upper arm. "What are you doing?"
Blinking, Anca rea
lized she'd unconsciously started for the caves. "Robby could be in there, being tortured, right now."
Angry worry tinted Matt's gaze, but he said, "Jordan told us to wait."
The pounding in her chest, the twisting in her gut, said she couldn't. Time was of the essence. There was no way she'd be able to leave Robby until others managed to arrive.
Once more, she fiercely reminded herself, she needed no one's help. "Stay here under your King's orders. Or come with me. Your choice. But I can't let the boy face whatever he's up against. Not alone. Not when I can do something about it."
She held her sword tight, down by her leg. Silently easing from tree to tree, she slipped toward the cave.
***
Matt didn't think, just stayed at Anca's side. With a sidelong glance, he was once again struck by the differences between her and the other Judges he'd known.
This woman was willing to go into an unknown situation, risking her life for others.
He sent his King a quick text. At Anca's questioning glance, he replied, "If I text, he can't tell me no." He powered the phone off and put it away as they approached the shadowed crevice.
Anca didn't hesitate. She strode inside. He followed.
The cavern was huge, stretching a good twenty feet high, and at least forty feet across. Giant stalagmites and stalactites grew like thorns from both floor and ceiling.
Matt walked cautiously, searching for any sign of the enemy, any hint of a trap.
Ghosts wandered everywhere, most appearing as they must have in death—brutally tortured. They drifted through the cavern, thankfully not noticing Matt, or his ability.
He and Anca weaved through the thorny pillars, neither making a sound. Still, their steps disturbed dust that rose into small puffs around their shoes. Anca eyed it warily.
Only fifteen or so yards into the cavern they came to a wall of solid rock.
Anca glanced around. "You check right. I'll go left. Meet back here in ten."
He didn't like the idea of splitting up, but before he could say so, she strode away.
Rather than calling her back and arguing—and possibly alerting someone within hearing range—Matt headed to the right. He stayed alert. Near the wall, the stalagmites rising from the floor grew in thick clusters that tended toward mazelike. He searched them thoroughly. When the dark tunnel yawned wide, a shadow in the wall front of him, he almost snorted. There didn't appear to have been any attempt to hide the tunnel.
