“Wait, wait, wait.” Iva’s head was beginning to spin, fear almost overtaking her. Her tree murmured to her, trying to calm her, but it wasn’t helping. “Blake’s father is involved with the black blood?”
“Blake’s father was the second in command of the Van Helsings,” Noah replied. “He, however, is a good kid, and doesn’t deserve what’s happened to him.”
Her Yew whispered its agreement. It had no problems with the young man, so Iva did her best to relax.
Blake moaned. Iva turned in her seat to find a man she’d never met bending over the young man, talking quietly to him. She rose, aware that whoever it was had to be friend rather than foe to make it into the mansion, but the dregs of her remembered torture were hard to dismiss.
“That’s Gideon Brantley, the coven leader.” Noah stood as well and pressed her back down into her seat, then settled back down into the seat next to hers. “I’ll introduce you after he sees to Blake. Now, about the voice.”
Iva sighed. “There’s not much I can tell you other than it sounded familiar, and it was male. Tonight was the first time it was in my head, though.” She frowned as a thought suddenly occurred to her. “Huh. My tree is okay with it.”
“What?” She had Mina’s full attention once more.
“My tree. It’s not reacting at all.” Iva regarded her queen. Mina was studying her intently, but Iva had no idea what she was searching for. “Whatever is going on in my head, it’s not a threat to me or anyone else or my tree would be going bonkers.”
“It must be a side effect of assimilating the black blood.” Dragos put his arm around Mina, who still seemed tense. “What does the Great Oak have to say about it?”
Mina closed her eyes. “Oak is...serene and amused over the fuss.” She opened her eyes and visibly relaxed. “I’ll need to think about it, but I don’t think it’s a threat. However, it is weird, and definitely something to keep an eye on.” She shot Iva a stern look. “You’ll tell me if it happens again.”
“Yes, my queen.” Iva bowed her head in submission. “But if it turns out that our trees are right, this could be something useful.” When Noah glared at her, she winked at him, trying to ignore her own misgivings in order to calm the others. “Think about it. I’ve got my own demonic alarm system.”
“Okay, young man. Let’s see if we can settle your stomach.” Dr. T came back into the room, Eddy trailing behind him. Behind Eddy came Ash and Selena, along with Greer and Mollie. Greer and Selena immediately went to Blake, while Ash and Mollie moved closer to Mina and Iva.
Mollie yawned wide. “Damn. I was having the best dream ever.”
“That wasn’t a dream, hot stuff.” Greer winked at Mollie and licked his lips.
“Oh, gross.” Iva gagged. “Please don’t tell me about your sex life.”
Mollie sighed dreamily. “And what a life it is.”
“Focus, Greer,” Selena ordered. “And not on Mollie.”
“Party pooper.” Greer turned back to Blake. “Okay, kiddo. I’m gonna hum for a minute. I wanna find out if you vibrate.”
“What?” Blake gawped at Greer’s words.
Iva stood and pulled her chair around. She wanted to watch the others work on Blake. Besides, it seemed wrong somehow to sit with her back to half the room.
“Asshole.” Gideon poked Greer’s arm. “Stop scaring him.”
“I was serious.” Greer began to hum. His power might be directed at Blake, but Iva could still detect it thrumming in the air. His power gave her goose bumps, the flow of his healing energy washing over the room in a serene, gentle tide.
Selena’s face changed. Her unseeing gaze was filmed over. Under each eye, three dots glowed with blue light as the tree of life arched across her forehead and down the bridge of her nose. Selena was using her gift as the witch doctor to check out Blake’s spiritual health while Dr. T and Greer dealt with his physical health.
“He’s untainted,” Selena murmured. “There’s no hint of anything inside him other than himself.”
“And Iva?” Noah snapped out. “One of the voices of her tormentors is in her head.”
Selena’s gaze snapped to Iva. The witch doctor scowled as she examined Iva from head to toe. “There’s nothing there but Iva and her tree. Is it possible the guy who tortured her was a psychic?” She shot Blake a worried look before lowering her voice. “It wouldn’t be the first time we’ve found one of our own living and working with the Van Helsings.”
“I have no idea, or even if he’s still alive.” Iva could barely bring herself to think about her time in the labs, let alone about the man who’d so thoroughly enjoyed torturing her. “But his voice was never in my head before today.”
Visibly calmer, Selena shrugged. “Okay then.” She turned back to Blake, her focus once more on the young witch.
“Do you smell something?” Noah’s nose was twitching.
“Yes,” Trajan responded, his own nose wrinkling. “It’s disgusting.”
“He did just throw up.” Iva could smell the black blood and bile in the room, but she was trying not to. It was revolting.
“No, something else, like rotten eggs.” Noah’s eyes went wide. “Sulfur. That’s what I’m smelling.”
Trajan nodded. “I smell it as well.”
Dragos took a deep breath. “You’re right. Where’s it coming from?”
Noah began walking toward Blake, sniffing along the way like a dog on a scent.
“I think we should try feeding him vampiric blood.” Dr. T was speaking softly to Greer and Selena, his hand on Blake’s forehead. “He’s got a fever now as well. I’m drawing some of the heat out of him, but I can’t do that indefinitely.”
“I can give some blood.” Dragos immediately went to Blake’s side, practically pushing a still sniffing Noah out of the way. “Here.” He held out his arm. “Take what you need, it’s given freely.”
Dr. T smiled. “Thanks, but I’m not sure your blood would work. It needs to be pure, and you’re part dragon. I’m worried about how that would affect the boy.”
“Meaning he might turn?” Dragos studied Blake. “He’d make an excellent dragon.”
Blake smiled weakly. “I can barely control my broomstick. I’m not sure I could handle wings too.”
Dragos chuckled. “You’d get used to it.”
“No. Let’s call someone else.” Dr. T’s voice was soft as it rarely was. The abrasive doctor obviously had a soft spot for Blake as well. “I don’t want him harmed any more than he’s already been.”
“I’m on it.” Mollie pulled out her cell phone and dialed a number. “Parker? We need you at the mansion.”
“Parker?” Dr. T glared at Mollie. “You’re kidding me, right?”
Mollie put her phone away. “He’s already on his way. His blood should be pure enough, right?”
“Wrong!” With Mollie, Dr. T’s tone was once more acerbic. “He’s a vegetarian vampire, the only one of his kind. What if the curse he’s assimilated makes Blake sicker rather than better?”
“What if the only thing it does is make Blake hate red meat?” Mollie shrugged. “Parker’s blood killed the black blood, remember? His should be the safest of all of the vampires in town.”
Dr. T glared for a moment more before huffing out a frustrated sigh. “Fine. We’ll try it.”
“What’s the worst that could happen, Dad?” Blake blinked up at the doctor, his eyes drifting shut.
“The black blood overruns your system and you die.” Though the words were harsh his tone was not. “I won’t allow that to happen.”
“Okay, Dad,” Blake replied, yawning.
“Dad?” Iva thought Blake was someone else’s son.
“I’m adopting him.” Dr. T glared at everyone in the room. “He’ll be my boy.”
“You’re not old enough to be his father. You’re only t
hirty-two.” But Dragos didn’t sound upset, merely thoughtful.
“Age shouldn’t matter. He needs someone to protect him, and that will be me. I’ve no plans to marry or have children of my own, but Blake is different. I’ve already got the paperwork going.”
Iva grinned. “Congratulations, Doc. It’s a boy!”
He grunted out a laugh. “Thanks.” He turned his attention once more to Blake, the concern he was experiencing clearly written all over his face. “I shouldn’t have let him work in the lab.”
Greer clapped Dr. T on the shoulder. “Don’t beat yourself up, Doc. I’ve seen the precautions you’ve taken. Other than hazmat suits you’ve done everything you could to protect your people. Hell, Mollie burned almost all of the blood, remember? You couldn’t have predicted this.”
“She did what?” Iva asked.
Greer grinned, that special one he reserved only for when he was in the mood to kill. “The black blood came alive, like some tentacle monster. Mollie was forced to burn it to protect herself. The stench was horrible.”
“The sulfur smell is coming from over here,” Noah said, leaning over Blake. Iva hadn’t even noticed her mate getting that close to the boy until his nose was practically buried in Blake’s hair. “And I think I can follow it.”
“What?” Iva moved to his side and sniffed the boy’s hair. “All I smell is sweat and shampoo.”
“Of course you can’t.” Noah smiled. “You’re not a shifter. The scent is so faint it was almost swallowed up by the black blood, but since we stopped moving I’ve been slowly noticing it.” He glanced over at the others. “I’m hunting this down. If whatever made Blake sick was outside the lab, I might be able to find it.”
“We can start at the theater. That’s where Blake first got sick.” Trajan kissed Eddy, his love apparent in the gentle way he held his mate. “Stay here with the others, all right?”
Eddy nodded and put his head on Trajan’s shoulder. “I’m breaking out the Oreos until you get back.”
Trajan’s hold tightened, and he whispered something in Eddy’s ear. Whatever he said made Eddy turn bright red.
Dragos gagged. “Please don’t do that. I eat those cookies too, you know. I don’t need to think about my brother and my Renfield doing...that while I eat my Double Stuf.”
Trajan shot his brother an evil grin while Eddy hid his burning face on Trajan’s chest.
“I’m going with you.” Iva crossed her arms over her chest, ignoring the glare Noah shot her. “I can talk to plants. Maybe they will be able to tell us something.” She tapped the side of her head. “Plus I’ve got my alarm system. I might sense something you’ll miss.”
“I’ll go too.” Ash kissed the top of Selena’s head. “If you run into trouble you’ll need the help.”
Greer seemed torn, but Blake moaned and his decision was made. “I’ll stay here and guard everyone, I guess.”
“Guard who?” A cultured, British accented voice came from the doorway. Iva squinted as a dark-haired man came in, followed by a dainty redhead. “Bloody hell. Blake? What happened?”
The redhead smiled and reached for Iva. “Hi, I’m Amara.”
This was the famed hamadryad? She’d seen bigger, meaner bunnies. “I’m Iva.”
Amara’s handshake was firm, but her smile was shy. “I’ve been told a lot about you. Everyone has missed you terribly.”
Iva’s cheeks heated. “Thank you.”
“So, what can I do to help?” Parker was staring at Blake with a bemused expression. “You vant to suck my blood?”
Iva winced. That was the worst Dracula impression she’d ever been forced to experience.
Blake laughed weakly. “Dork.”
“Give me your arm, Parker.” Dr. T held out his freshly gloved hand. In his other hand was a needle. “We’re going to give Blake a pint or two. Ash, bring over a chair for Parker to sit in. He might faint from blood loss before we’re done.”
Amara growled, the sound reminiscent of creaking branches. Leaves began swirling around her head as bark, freaking bark, covered her hands. “No, he won’t.”
Dr. T blinked, his gaze on Amara’s head. “Of course not.” He turned to Dragos. “I need to get an IV stand and bag from my truck. We’ll do a direct transfer from Parker to Blake. It should take care of the problem.”
“And thank the Goddess he’s not possessed like I was.” Selena shuddered. “That would take more than an IV and some blood to fix.”
“We’ll need to search the lab and figure out how he got contaminated.” Greer squinted at the young man. “Mollie and I will deal with that.”
“Then Trajan, Amara, Ash, Iva and I will track the scent.” Noah gestured toward the door. “If Blake was infected outside the hospital hopefully the scent trail will lead us to where the blood is.”
“Then go. We don’t need another outbreak.” Dr. T shooed them away. “Get your furry butt out of here and make yourself useful.”
Noah growled, the sound menacing. If Dr. T had been a wolf he’d have been on his knees, begging for mercy. Instead, he merely let out a wicked laugh, clearly amused by the alpha’s irritation.
Mollie got between Noah and Dr. T, holding her arms out. She was either very brave or very stupid. “He’s worried about Blake, Noah, just like the rest of us.”
“He’s an asshole and always has been.” Noah’s tension eased. “I’ll let the challenge pass. This time.” He glared at Dr. T before striding through the doorway.
“Challenge? Who was dumb enough to challenge Noah?” Dr. T slid the needle into Parker’s arm.
Mollie sighed. “You did, idiot.”
Dr. T grunted. “If he considers that a challenge then he needs to lighten up.”
Iva rolled her eyes and followed her mate into the hallway. Dr. T might be one of the best doctors they had, but one of these days he was going to piss off the wrong person and wind up either dead...or mated.
Iva knew which one she was rooting for. She couldn’t wait for the grumpy Dr. T to be brought to his knees.
Chapter Eight
Noah shifted the moment they reached the theater. The three dryads were incredibly fast, running through the streets in a blink of an eye, but Noah was an alpha prime. He kept up.
Barely.
He hated to admit it, but their speed impressed the hell out of him.
Iva and Ash had their silver swords out, the metal gleaming in the light of the half-moon. Both seemed primed for combat, their movements silent and precise. Noah had seen Ash fight, his swordsmanship graceful yet lethal.
He had no idea how Iva fought, but the way she carried herself and her weapon eased some of his concerns. She glided through the town’s streets, the sword appearing as much a part of her as her tree.
Ash carried a small backpack on him that held Noah’s jeans, a T-shirt and a pair of hiking boots. At some point Noah might need to shift back, and clothing wasn’t always optional. Depending on where the scent led them he’d have to dress again before confronting anything in his human form.
Trajan was flying above them in dragon form, keeping watch over them as they hunted down the source of the scent. Unlike Noah, he could use his front paws to hold his own bag of clothing.
Iva stumbled for a moment but righted herself. He wondered if it was the voice again, if it was warning her of what she might find if they followed the scent.
Noah sniffed around the front door of the theater, searching for that horrible rotten egg scent. He gagged when he found it. He’d have to backtrack it, follow it to Blake’s home at the mansion and wherever the young witch had been until they found the source. It could take the whole night, possibly tomorrow as well, but Noah was determined to locate and annihilate it.
He followed the stench out into the street and down toward the small shopping district. It seemed Blake had stopped for ice cream before
going to the theater.
It next led to Dragos’s mansion, which Noah had expected. From there, he followed the weakest scent, as Blake’s stench was beginning to permeate the area. If Noah had delayed even an hour more he might not have been able to pick up the trail without a lot of sniffing around.
He followed the trail into...the forest? What had Blake been doing there?
He sniffed again, and realized that Blake’s scent had disappeared. Instead, the sulfur smell had become stronger, overpowering any other to the point where he couldn’t tell if anyone had even been there.
“Why the fuck would Blake be here?” Iva stared around, scowling as they entered the forest.
“He visits the Throne occasionally, but mostly he either stays in the mansion or visits Gideon for training.” Ash was staring at Noah, as if seeking answers to questions only Noah had the answers to.
Noah shook his head, indicating Blake hadn’t been here, at least not recently. Or so he hoped. He couldn’t speak in wolf form, and switching back and forth just to say yes or no was a pain in the ass.
“So Blake wasn’t here?” Ash asked.
Noah barked once. Hope they figure out that’s a yes.
Iva stared at him, her gaze piercing “You’re following the source.”
Noah barked again, surprised and happy that his mate understood what he was trying to say. He found he couldn’t stop his tail from wagging as he sniffed at her hand, taking in her woodsy scent.
Iva ruffled his fur, chuckling softly. “Then let’s find it so we can cure Blake.”
Noah trotted off, sure the dryads would follow him. This was their territory. To say they knew it like the backs of their hands wasn’t good enough. They moved like they were a part of it, as if they and the forest were one. Noah was merely a reverent visitor.
He flew through the forest, the dryads easily keeping up with him as he followed the rotten egg stench. Before long he was at the edge of the mountains, the forest thinning around him as rock overcame soil.
Hour of the Wolf Page 8
