by Lily Graison
Garrett leaned down to look. His eyes widened a bit before he blew out a breath. “She’s damn near cut her own head off trying to get out of here.”
“Yeah.” As much as Bryce hated being anywhere near the girl, a stab of pity hit him when he looked at her. Regardless of what she was, being treated like this was inhumane, even for a vampire.
He’d met many vampires in his life he would rather see dead but this was torture. He couldn’t abide by that.
A glance back at her throat and he winced. The front of the wire couldn’t even be seen it was imbedded so deeply into her flesh. “How the hell do we get that wire off?”
Dillon made a sound before moving a step closer. “Do we want to do that?”
Bryce didn’t look behind him but answered him anyway. “If this was you, would you want someone to help you out of some lunatic’s trap?”
Dillon was quite for a long moment before saying, “Yes. Guess I would.”
“Thought so.” Bryce studied the wire around her neck again and shook his head. “Anyone have any ideas on how to remove that wire?”
“Wire cutters?”
Bryce turned his head. “Anyone have any?”
Henry, one of the oldest wolves in the pack, stepped forward. “I have a pair in my pick-up. I’ll go get them.”
He nodded and looked back at the girl who hadn’t taken her eyes off of him.
Garrett moved closer and bent down beside of her. “Can you talk?” She flicked a quick glance at him before staring back at Bryce but a quick shake of the head gave them their answer. She couldn’t talk. “The wire must have cut too deeply.” Garrett sighed and scratched his chin. “It’s going to be hard as hell to get any answers out of her if she can’t talk.”
“Hard but not impossible.” Bryce snapped his fingers at her to get her attention. She looked at him through a veil of hair. “Did Caleb bring you here or did you wander up here by yourself?” She opened her mouth again and shut it, her eyes clearly showing her frustration. He edged closer to her. “Did Caleb bring you?” A quick nod of her head that time. “Well at least we know how she got here.”
“Yes, but you’re not going to be able to find out why if she can’t talk.”
Henry ran back into the tunnel a few minutes later and Bryce reached for the wire cutters. “I’m going to cut the wire holding you to the wall but if you try to bite me again, I’m going to knock you out, got it?”
She glanced away from him but nodded her head moments later. He stood and edged closer, keeping a watchful eye on her. When he reached her, he fell to one knee and hesitated, half-expecting her to jump him again. When she just sat there, he relaxed. “Someone hold the wire so it doesn’t come back on me.”
He lifted his hand, moving her mass of hair away and clamped the wire cutters across the wire under her ear. It snapped with a loud pop. “Turn your head.” He waited until she’d done so before cutting the other side.
When she was loose, he waited. Waited for her to jump him again. She didn’t move.
Standing, he backed away from her and stopped beside of Garrett. “So, what now?”
Garrett stared at her before crossing his arms over his chest. “Hell if I know. We can’t leave her up here, though. We need to find out why Caleb had her and where the wolves he made have gone.”
“Take her back to the house then?”
“We have to put her somewhere and see to that wire still in her neck.”
Dillon cleared his throat. “Aren’t you guys forgetting something?”
“Like what?”
“It’s noon.”
Bryce lifted an eyebrow. “So?”
Dillon grinned. “So….sunlight? Vampires? Makes them go all ‘balls of fire?’ Does that ring any bells?”
“Oh.”
Bryce glanced at Garrett. “So what now?”
“Well, someone can wait with her until nightfall or we can cover her and take her back with us.”
“I have a tarp in the back of the truck.” Henry said. “That should work.”
Bryce looked back at the girl. She was still crouched in the corner staring at the floor. He noticed for the first time that her hands were shaking. Whether that was from hunger or fear he wasn’t sure but even though the girl had attacked him and damn near killed him, he couldn’t help but feel sorry for her. She’d been tied like an animal to the wall and left to starve to death. As much as he loathed vampires, this was cruel. Of course, Caleb was responsible, which explained the world. It was hard to tell what Caleb had done to her. The thought alone made him cringe.
Turning his head, he looked at Henry. “Go get it. I don’t want to sit in this foul smelling tunnel for another six hours. We’ll take our chances with the tarp.” Walking back in front of her, he leaned down. “Can you stand up?”
She grabbed the wall, placing her palm flat against it before trying to stand. Her head was bowed, her face obscured by her mass of hair. Her clothes were in ruins, he noticed. Tattered jeans, a loose fitting top that was so filthy it was hard to tell its original color. She was barefoot and the stench coming from her was enough to take his breath.
When she was on her feet, she raised her head to look at him. He stared back, speechless. Her eyes were the color of dark jade. Small flecks of gold shined in her irises and his pulse jumped to life the longer he stared at her. Warmth spread through his limbs and he blinked before looking away when he heard Henry running up the tunnel.
Taking the tarp from Henry, Bryce took a deep breath and looked back at the girl. “Let’s get out of here. We’ll get you something to eat and see if we can get that wire out of your neck.”
He thought she smiled but it was hard to tell in the dim light of the flashlights. As she moved toward him, his heart raced. He locked eyes with her and the heat he felt running laps over his body increased. He looked away, holding the tarp by his side and motioning her forward.
They moved as one, back toward the mine entrance.
* * * *
Rayna grabbed Garrett by the arm the moment he stepped inside the house. She dragged him down the hall, away from the others, before turning to look at him. “There’s a wolf in the living room.”
Garrett raised one eyebrow. “There are wolves in every room.”
“He’s not one of ours!” she hissed. “I’m not sure where he came from but he smells funny.”
He laughed. “Funny how?”
Rayna scowled. He turned his head to look behind him, watching as Bryce carried the vampire up the stairs. “What is that?”
“A vampire.” He turned back to face her and smiled at the look on her face.
She blinked. “A vampire?”
Garrett nodded. “We found her in the mine. She’s pretty messed up. Half starved, too, from the looks of her.”
“Why was there a vampire in the mine?”
He shrugged a shoulder. “No clue. She was chained like an animal and living off anything stupid enough to venture down the tunnel she was kept in.”
“Is she all right?”
“Not sure. Let’s tend to our guest first and we’ll go find out.” He turned and started walking toward the living room, Rayna following close to his side. “Did this guy… it is a guy, isn’t it?” When she nodded at him, he said, “Did he say what he wanted?”
She snorted a laugh. “Yeah. He wants Malcolm.”
Garrett stopped and stared down at her. “Malcolm?” She nodded again and his blood ran cold. He turned and hurried to the living room without another word. The man he saw when he entered the room caused him to pause.
He looked young, dressed in black, and walking around the room inspecting the items on the tables. Their appearance was noted when the man said, “You’re not Malcolm.”
Garrett’s wolf slinked along his bones at the sound of his voice. “No, I’m not.”
He turned to look at them. His hair was dark, falling past his shoulders. Bright blue eyes looked cold and indifferent. Garrett guessed his age to be somewhe
re in his twenties, by appearance, but he knew never to trust the eye when dealing with a wolf. “What can I do for you?”
“Bring me Malcolm.”
Garrett crossed his arms over his chest. “I can’t do that.”
“Why not?”
“I killed him.”
The man stilled, nothing on him moving. When he blinked long moments later, his shoulders relaxed. “And who are you?”
His attitude annoyed Garrett in ways he couldn’t describe. “I think a better question is, who are you?”
* * * *
Bryce carried the vampire into one of the spare bedrooms on the third floor, waiting by the door as Judith closed the curtains to block out the suns rays. When the room fell dark, he crossed to the bed and sat the girl down. He let go of her and pulled the tarp away.
He took a few steps back, glancing over at Judith before looking at the girl again. “This is Judith. She’ll help you get cleaned up.” Judith smiled and walked toward the bed. “She can’t talk,” Bryce told her. “There’s a wire imbedded in her throat.”
“Oh.” The word came out as one long breath. Judith stared down at the girl before shaking her head. “Well, lets get it out, then we can get you cleaned up.” When she took a step toward her, the girl’s eyes turned ice blue, her pallor went ghastly white as blue veins spider webbed her temples and down over her cheeks.
Bryce grabbed Judith’s arm and held her back. “Don’t get too close. She hasn’t feed in lord knows how long.”
He stared at her, not sure what to do. He hated asking Garrett. Since being named Garrett’s second in command, he’d done his best to act without guidance, but some things left him wondering what to do. This girl was one of them. Especially since every time he looked at her his pulse leaped and his skin felt hot and itchy.
Turning to Judith he said, “We need to find her something to eat first.”
“Okay. And where do you suggest we find a willing donor for that?”
His neck tingled then, the bite she’d given him in the mine obviously healing. She’d taken a chunk out of him but he knew it wasn’t enough. It was hard to tell how long she’d been without anything to eat. He sighed. “Hell if I know.”
The girl was staring at him, her gaze drifting toward his neck. She sat quietly while they contemplated what to do but not a second went by that Bryce didn’t think he looked like a meal to her. “Stay here. I’ll send Dillon in to sit with you.”
“Where are you going?”
He reached the door before turning back. “To find her something to eat.”
Chapter Three
“I’m Erik Foster. Malcolm invited me.” He smiled and shrugged one shoulder. “I was late getting here.”
Garrett stared at their visitor and took a step toward him, placing himself in front of Rayna. “Well, like I said, Malcolm is dead.”
“I see.” Erik looked at Rayna, studying her for longer than Garrett liked. “Who is in charge of the pack now?”
Garrett raised his chin. “Me.”
“And you are?”
Rayna had been right about one thing. This guy smelled funny. Garrett inhaled again and filled his lungs. Erik was a wolf, his scent was enough to tell him that, but something was off about him. He smelled familiar but… not. “Garrett Kincaid,” he finally answered. “I’m the new pack leader and if you’re one of Malcolm’s friends, you’re not welcome.”
Erik raised an eyebrow. “I never said I was a friend of Malcolm’s.”
“Then why are you here?”
“Like I said, he invited me.”
“For?”
“For the meeting of The Collective.”
Garrett saw Rayna move out of the corner of his eye and turned to look at her. “Can you go see how Bryce is doing with our other guest?”
She frowned at him and the look in her eyes let him know she didn’t like being dismissed. She glanced at Erik before turning and walking out into the hall. He watched her until she started up the steps before turning back around. “What is the Collective?”
Erik moved across the room and sat down in one of the chairs near the fireplace. He lounged back into the cushion, stretched his legs out in front of him and clasped his hands together on his stomach. “The Collective is the order Malcolm wanted to be a part of. Every powerful leader of the Breeds is a member.”
“And what does this, Collective, do exactly?”
“Nothing,” Erik said. “Well, not yet, that is.”
“And what is it they will do?”
Erik shrugged a shoulder. “Anything they want, I suppose. They’re the most powerful creatures on the planet. There isn’t much they can’t do.”
The guy was purposely evading the truth. Garrett bit back a smile before crossing the room and sitting in the chair opposite Erik. He stared at his unwanted guest, took in his posture, the look on his face and read him like a book. Being a cop for the last ten years had its uses. He could smell a liar a mile away and this guy was up to something. “So,” Garrett said. “This Collective. You’re a member?”
“No. I’m not a breed leader.”
“Then why did Malcolm invite you?”
Something flashed in Erik’s eyes before he diverted his gaze, looking down and fumbling with the buttons on his jacket. “I was asked, like I said. My purpose had not been discussed.”
“So you came without knowing why? And two months late at that?” Garrett leaned back and smiled. “Sorry, Erik, but I don’t buy your story.”
Erik shrugged again. “It doesn’t matter to me one way or the other if you believe me. I was told to come by my pack leader so I did.”
“And who is your pack leader?”
The smile was back. Garrett saw the arrogance in Erik’s eyes before the man stood up. “I’m afraid my business is done here.” He straightened his jacket before looking Garrett in the eye. “I was told Malcolm would give me instructions to what I was to do and since he isn’t here, I’ll be on my way.”
Garrett followed him to the door, watching as Erik stepped outside and turned his face up at the sky.
“I do love this mountain air.” Erik inhaled deeply. “Makes a man just want to find a good woman and forget about the rest of the world.” He turned, tipped his head and walked down the driveway to the main road and started back toward town. Garrett watched him until he was out of sight before shutting the door.
“Who was that?”
Garrett turned when Bryce spoke. “Erik Foster. He’s not pack and he’s up to something.” He walked across the foyer. “Is Dillon still upstairs?”
“Yeah. I have him sitting with Judith and the vamp.”
They climbed the stairs and made their way to the vampire’s room, looking inside once they reached it. Garrett motioned Dillon outside to the hall. He left the door open to keep his eye on the girl. He didn’t trust her with Rayna and Judith alone in the room with her.
“Who is Erik Foster?” Bryce asked.
“A wolf. Not of this pack but he smells familiar for some reason.” Garrett lowered his voice. “He said he was asked to come by Malcolm. He was needed for something to do with the Collective. Did you ever hear Malcolm or Carmen mention that before? The Collective?”
“No,” Bryce said, looking toward Dillon. “You?” he asked. When Dillon shook his head no, he shrugged. “What is it?”
“The Breed leaders, apparently.”
“They’ve formed a group?”
“That’s what this Foster guy said.”
“That doesn’t sound good,” Dillon said, speaking for the first time. “If the Breed leaders have banded together they had to have had big plans.”
“They did. They intended on sacrificing Rayna for their cause.” Garrett looked through the bedroom door at her. She was standing at the foot of the bed, talking to the vampire.
She’d adapted well to her new life, he thought. As well as he expected her to. She was still scared and regardless of what he did to reassure her, he knew he’d fail
ed. Her hysterical fit in the woods after she almost shifted told him that. The hurtful words she’d slung at him told him he’d failed her. He’d die to protect her but none of that mattered if he lost her love in the process. That he couldn’t live without and knowing she blamed him for the way her life turned out, the fact she was now one of the monsters, ate at his conscience.
More so now. With Erik Foster showing up, he knew whatever this, Collective, had planned, wasn’t going to go away just because Malcolm was dead. The Breeds had banded together, just as Dillon said. That could only spell trouble. He’d thought Rayna was safe but that had been an illusion.
He turned his back to the bedroom. “I want everyone to watch the house and the road.” Looking at Bryce, he gave him a pointed look. “Pick whoever you think is best and secure the town. I want to know who comes and goes through that main road. We should have had someone watching it before now.”
“I can have someone there within the hour.”
“Do it,” he said. “Send someone to try and catch up with Foster, too. I don’t trust him. He’s up to something.”
Bryce nodded before handing the cup in his hand to Dillon and turning, hurrying down the hall. When Dillon mumbled under his breath, Garrett looked over at him.
“Blood for the vamp,” Dillon said, holding the cup up.
“Better take it to her. Don’t get too close, though,” he said, smiling. “She bites.” He caught Rayna’s eye and she crossed the room before stepping out into the hall.
“So, what did the wolf want?”
“Nothing good, I’m sure. I didn’t get much out of him.”
“Where is he now?”
“Gone. I sent Bryce to have him followed.”
She stared at him for long moments before sighing. “You’re not going to tell me what you talked about, are you?”
Garrett smiled. “If it were anything worth repeating I would.”
