by Julie Wetzel
He leaned on her heavily as his legs turned to jelly. “And people do this willingly?” Darien moaned as fatigue hit him.
“People train extensively for what we just did,” Vicky explained. She didn’t know how far they had gone, but it had to have been quite a ways without a pause.
Darien eyed her suspiciously. “How come you’re not feeling that run?” Vicky had already recovered mostly.
“Because I run several times a week,” she pointed out, “while you sit around and don’t exercise.”
Darien scoffed at her. “I’ve never needed to work out,” he huffed. As a vampire, he didn’t require the same type of body conditioning humans did.
“Well, maybe you should think about it until we get this thing straightened out.” Vicky sighed. “Speaking of straightening out.” She opened herself to Darien’s power and let it pour into her again. Pushing the healing force into Darien, she cleared the lactic acid from his system and soothed the stressed muscles.
“That is so weird.” Darien held his hand out in front of him as if he could see the energy coursing through him. His stance and walk had both become stronger. “But you better stop before you overtax your system.”
Vicky nodded and let the power go. As it receded, she could feel a touch of confusion coming from the point where she pulled. Reaching out, she recoiled as soon as her mind touched it. She had expected to feel Darien, but the mind she touched was hard and cold, filled with bitter rage and confusion. Vicky shuddered, trying to remove the lingering chill from the contact. “Someone else has your powers.” She leaned into Darien for comfort.
He looked down at her, shocked. “What?” Slipping his arm around her, Darien pulled her tighter to his side.
“I can feel them… no, him. It’s definitely a ‘him’.” Vicky swallowed as she reached for that point again, not quite making contact. “There’s a presence where you normally are, but it’s not you.” Looking up into Darien’s eyes, she tried to make him understand. “It’s cold and dark and filled with so much anger it hurts.” She buried her face into him as they walked.
“Can you still feel me?” Darien pushed on their connection as hard as he could, sending her love and comfort.
A smile bent the corner of her distressed mouth. “Yes,” Vicky sighed, relieved by his touch. “It’s faint, but it’s there.”
He rubbed her shoulder, giving as much comfort as he could. “We’ll go see the fay as soon as possible.” Darien kissed the side of her head before turning the corner onto their street. “Let’s deal with this, first.” A large crowd filled the sidewalk in front of the Touraine building. Darien let his arm drop from Vicky’s shoulder and stood up straighter. Even without his vampire powers backing him, he still held a commanding presence from years of walking in the human world.
Zak wiggled up between them, letting his aura of power mask what Darien was not putting out.
“Can I help you?” Darien let his voice boom out over the crowd.
Vicky recognized several of the Rupert’s pack as they moved back to let them through. They stepped into the white stone lobby to find Rupert standing to one side and two wolves Vicky didn’t know squaring off with Ethan. The poor concierge stood between them and the elevators, determined not to let the intruders pass.
“Is there a problem here?” Darien’s voice rang through the crystals of the overhead chandelier. He could see relief flood Ethan’s eyes. Rupert looked amused, while the remaining two wolves almost quivered with frustration.
“Mr. Ritter.” Ethan nodded his head in greeting. “These men came in demanding to see you. I told them you were out, but they insisted that I let them up. They tried to slip past me when I went to call security about their gang outside.”
“Thank you, Ethan.” Darien looked at the four men, amused. “I’ll take it from here.”
“Would you like me to call the cops for you?” Ethan started to move over to his counter and the phone he had dropped when he went to stop the men from passing.
“That won’t be necessary,” Darien reassured him. “I will take care of this.”
“And who the hell are you?” the older of the two men growled at him.
Darien cocked an eyebrow at him while Zak growled from his place at the vampire’s feet.
“Can’t you tell? He’s Master Darien Ritter.”
Relief swept through Darien at the sound of Elliot’s voice from the doorway.
A smirk stole across Rupert’s face as the color drained from the other two wolves.
The older one snapped around to glare at Rupert. “You didn’t tell me she was staying with him.” He jabbed his thumb at Darien.
“I did tell you that she had taken the protection of a…” Rupert glanced over to the human watching them and changed what he was going to say. “…of someone important.”
“Maybe we should take this upstairs,” Darien offered. He could see Ethan’s hand hovering over the phone, ready to call for help as soon as they were out of sight.
Elliot nodded. “That’s a good idea.” He turned his attention to Rupert. “Send your people home. There’s no need for them to be caught up in this.” Elliot tipped his head towards the concierge poised for action.
“Of course.” Rupert went to the door to disperse his pack.
Darien looked over to where his friend had taken up a place by his side. Their eyes met for a moment, and he felt Elliot understand the gratitude he couldn’t show. Darien turned his attention back to the waiting werewolves. “Gentlemen, if you will please come with me.” He held his hand out towards the waiting elevators. “I’m sure we can discuss this in a civilized fashion.” Reaching over, he touched Elliot’s shoulder, drawing the man’s attention to him. “Do you mind?” He nodded to the counter where Ethan was watching them.
“Not at all, My Lord.” Elliot raised his fist to his chest and bowed before turning to alter the poor man’s memories.
Darien hooked his arm around Vicky and led her past the waiting wolves.
She looked back to where Elliot held Ethan enthralled. “Will he be alright?” Vicky remembered how Elliot had changed Vanessa’s memories.
“The things that man has seen and does not remember could fill books.” Darien smiled at her. “But, Elliot will make sure he doesn’t notice them.”
Vicky glanced back. She worried for the man’s mental health, but she knew they had to mess with his memories. He couldn’t be allowed to inform the world of the things he had seen.
Darien punched the call button for the elevator. Rupert and Elliot rejoined them just as the door slid open. Darien waved his guests inside. “Shall we?”
Picking up Zak, Vicky stepped inside the door as Darien punched in the code that would take them to his penthouse.
Zak turned his dark, beady eyes to the two new wolves and stared at them hungrily. They shifted, uncomfortable in the little fay's gaze. The tension in the elevator was tangible by the time the doors opened to let them out.
“So, what may I do for you gentlemen?” Darien asked as he crossed his foyer. He causally leaned his elbow on the railing of the stairs, effectively trapping them in this first room. Vicky and Elliot took up places on either side of him, showing their support. The two wolves looked around the spacious entryway. Rupert eased his way to one side, abandoning the two wolves to Darien’s questioning.
The older of the two wolves drew himself into a dignified stance and glared at Darien. “We have come for the rogue wolf,” he announced.
Darien cocked an eyebrow at him, curious at his lack of manners. He studied the man for a moment before answering. The man was heavyset and squat, with gray touching the edges of his brown hair. His eyes were root-beer brown and held the light of authority in them.
“Well, Mr.…” Darien cocked his head, waiting for the wolf to supply his name.
“Eckert,” The older wolf offered, realizing his faux pas. “Corban Eckert. And this is Ross Umlad,” he said, introducing himself and his companion.
“Under other circumstances I am sure it would be a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Eckert.” Darien inclined his head in greeting but did not move to offer the man his hand. “But at the moment, we have business to settle. As for the ‘rogue wolf’, Miss Marshal is under my care at the moment.” Darien offered them a smile that didn’t reach his eyes.
Corban cleared his throat and cocked his head, uncomfortable with the situation. “Then, we have a problem,” he said very politely. “She must answer for what she has done.”
Darien’s eyebrow raised again in curiosity. “And what, pray tell, had she done?” He shifted his eyes from the wolves to Rupert, standing silently away from them, and back.
“She tried to kill my lieutenant.” Corban held out his head to his companion. The second man stood up to his full height.
Darien looked over him. The second wolf was taller than his commander was and darker in complexion. He held an edge of violence to him that Darien did not like. “He looks perfectly fine to me.” Darien shot him another warm smile.
Ross glared at him. “She tried to rip my throat out,” he growled, knowing the vampire was egging him on. An answering growl from the doorway drew all their attentions.
Sue stepped into the room and bared her fangs at the man.
“See?” He pointed towards the angry wolf. “Even now she threatens me.”
Darien looked over Sue’s raised hackles. “I’m sure she had just cause,” he said calmly.
Zak wiggled in Vicky’s arms so she had to put him down. He scampered over to Sue and rubbed up against her legs reassuringly.
Ross bristled in anger.
“Then make her shift and defend herself,” Corban demanded.
Darien moved to stand next to Sue to soothe her. “That would be troublesome at the moment.” He pushed his fingers into the bristling hair at the back of her neck. “Such a feat would endanger her unborn children.” He spoke softly, but his words seemed to echo across the silence this revelation brought.
Rupert stared at him in shock as the other two wolves stiffened. “Is this true?” he snapped at Sue.
She lowered her head and licked the side of her muzzle, unable to properly answer him.
“It’s true,” Karl replied as he stepped in from the living room. “She’s only about three weeks along, but she is most definitely pregnant.”
“You lie!” Ross growled.
Corban grabbed him by the arm, warning him back. Werewolf pregnancies were rare, but when they happened, the expecting mothers were treasured by their packs.
Sue raised her eyes to the offending wolf and growled menacingly.
Zak added his voice to hers and shook out of his disguise. The wolves took a step back as the fay waved warning tentacles at them.
“Zak seems to think she is.” Darien nodded to the fay, placing himself between Sue and the new wolves. “And I doubt he would be wrong.”
Zak chirped at him without taking his eyes from the wolves.
“Very well.” Corban pulled on Ross’s arm, steering him back towards the elevator. “We will drop this matter for now.”
Ross growled his discontent with the conclusion.
“But once the bitch has birthed her pups, she will answer for her actions.”
Darien curled his fingers into Sue’s fur, holding her back as she tensed, ready to attack the offending wolves.
Zak wobbled a step forward and growled menacingly at them.
“Once the children are safe, we will discuss the incident,” Darien corrected. “And the guilty party will be dealt with properly.” He caught Rupert’s eyes, reading the wolf’s satisfaction with this decision. The two visiting wolves didn’t look happy at all. “Is there anything else?” Darien’s voice held the finality of his choice.
“No.” Corban bowed his head to the vampire, not wanting to offend him. If he were as strong as the stories told, fighting with him in his home would only end in their deaths. “We will take our leave of you for now.”
“Then I will bid you good night.” Darien stepped past them and pushed the button to open the elevator doors.
Corban corralled Ross back into the elevator.
Rupert placed his hand on Darien’s upper arm as he passed. “We’ll talk later.” He slipped into the elevator and punched the button for the lobby.
Darien nodded to the local alpha and stepped back. He let out a cleansing breath as the door closed on the three wolves.
“Well, that was fun.” Elliot chuckled from his position leaning against the banister.
“How dare he call her a bitch?” Vicky said indignantly as she went over to rub Sue on the ears.
“Technically, she is,” Karl answered from where he stood patting Sue on the back hip.
Sue snickered and rubbed her head against Vicky’s thigh.
“Well, he didn’t have to use that tone,” Vicky huffed.
Darien came over and wrapped his arms around her. He kissed the side of her head soothingly. “Thank you for not making a scene of it.” Releasing her, he turned his attention to Sue and Karl. “You both have my protection until this is over.”
“She didn’t do it,” Karl growled at Darien, still upset over the wolves' visit.
Darien cocked an eyebrow at him.
“Okay, well, yes. She did try to rip the guy’s throat out,” Karl clarified, “but it was in self-defense. He tried to kill her first.”
Darien laid a calming hand on the agitated wolf’s shoulder. “Once the children are born and she can speak for herself again, I’ll make sure justice is served.” He released Karl with another pat. “You’re safe here.”
Sue licked the side of her muzzle again and turned to head into the living room.
Karl followed behind her.
Turning his mind away from the wolves, Darien went to Elliot. “Thank you for calling us back.” He touched his friend on the arm.
“Cassie called to let me know that the visiting wolves were calling for blood on Sue.” Elliot shrugged. “I figured you would want to know when a pack of angry wolves were about to rain havoc on your place.” He looked over Darien and Vicky, noting the blood on Vicky’s dark sweatshirt and Darien’s rumpled and torn pants. “What have you two been up to?”
Darien chuckled at his friend and turned up the stairs. “We went to New Orleans.”
Elliot followed.
Zak scampered past them, almost knocking them over.
“I’m going to go check on Sue,” Vicky called up after them.
Darien raised his hand in acknowledgement and continued on his way.
“Someone got upset with you.” Elliot made the comment a statement as he studied the hole in the back of Darien’s jean leg.
Darien looked back at the flap of material that was barely hanging in place. “I asked Zak to bring us in between.” He sighed as he led the way into his room. “Due to my… predicament, he wanted a firmer connection to ensure my safety.”
Elliot chuckled. “You’ve been fay marked!”
“And it hurt like hell,” Darien growled.
Zak gurgled as he wobbled into the room in front of the vampires.
Elliot stopped and looked at the cross hanging just inside the doorway. “Did you do something to this?” He reached his hand out towards the holy item. Usually the cross would drain his strength, but today it didn’t.
Darien stopped and looked back at him, then to the wooden carving. “No.” He turned to examine the object again. “It’s the same as always.” Reaching out, he laid his hand on it fully. “It’s so odd to touch it and not have it bite.”
Elliot had never been able to touch the consecrated item. Reaching his hand out, he brushed against the wood. The angry sizzle he was used to ran over his skin, and he pulled his hand back, confused. “Yes.” Elliot rubbed his palm trying to figure it out. “It is.”
Darien turned back to his room.
Elliot shook himself free of his thoughts and followed Darien. The cross seemed to be tied to Darien somehow, so maybe
its power reflected that of its owner. Since Darien had weakened, maybe it had, too. “So, what did you learn from the priestess?” Elliot turned back to the subject at hand.
“Not as much as I’d have liked,” Darien answered as he went over and pulled the gris-gris over his head. He dropped it on the top of his dresser before pulling the dirt-covered shirt off. “My loss of power has nothing to do with anything I did.” He tossed the shirt in the hamper and pulled out a clean one. “Apparently, when I first took Vicky to Fairy, the lesser fay found a kink in her protection and set a spell on her to drain my powers.” Drawing the clean shirt over his head, he settled it in place before pulling off his pants. He looked at the bite taken out of the pant leg and chucked the damaged jeans in the waste can.
Elliot looked at the black and green swirl on the back of Darien’s calf. “He got you good, didn’t he?”
Darien looked down at his fay mark again. “At least it’s not flowers.”
Zak gurgled from where he had jumped up and spread himself out on the bed.
Elliot laughed and leaned his hip against the doorframe and watched his friend change. “To what ends?” he asked, pushing the subject back to the original topic.
“I don’t know,” Darien said as he slipped on another pair of jeans, “but I intend to find out.” Darien’s stomach rumbled loudly, surprising both of them.
Elliot smiled at him. “Maybe you should eat first.” The worn look around Darien’s eyes told Elliot that he was exhausted.
“Point.” Darien laughed. “Have you eaten?”
Elliot considered him. “Not yet,” he said softly.
Darien raised an eyebrow at this. ‘“You’ve helped me so much in the last few days.” A cockeyed grin split his face as he held out his wrist. “It’s only right to offer.”
Elliot tensed up against the wall. “No,” he clinched his jaw against the temptation, “and you should not offer your blood to anyone else, either.”
Darien’s lighthearted manner dropped as he took in his friend's discomfort. “What’s wrong?” he asked. Something struck a chord in Darien’s memory, but it was a fleeting thought.
Elliot swallowed hard, trying to control himself. “Your blood tastes different than anyone else’s.” He so wanted to taste Darien again.
