I grew limp against him. His hand slipped from my mouth to my waist. He lifted me gently, turned me, and set me in his lap. I moaned low at the rough feel of the coarse fabric of my jeans against my sensitive cheeks as he pulled up my pants. Ranulf held me closer and rested his cheek against my forehead. I floated in blissful warmth. Not thinking, not moving. Just simply existing. I slowly became aware that he was rocking me gently. I reached up and rested my hand on his chest.
He stopped rocking. “Is my goddess back?”
I smiled at his soft voice. “Yeah…I think.” I opened my eyes and blinked a few times.
One of his hands went to my face and lifted my chin so that I met his eyes. “What happened?”
“We found Ben. And…the bad memories kept coming.” I pressed my cheek into his palm. “I’m fine.” Memories surged through my mind. I shifted on his lap, trying to sit up. His arms tightened on me, taking my breath away again and shutting off my brain. I stopped moving. The scent of rain surrounded me as the fight drained out of me.
“Don’t lie to me.” His lips brushed against my temple. “I carry your memories now too.”
I blinked back tears and fought not to crumble to pieces. “They were in their wolf forms and skinned.”
He held me tighter. “I’m sorry I wasn’t there.”
I sank further into the heat of his body. “I didn’t wake you up.”
“You think it was hunters.” It was a statement, not a question.
I nodded, my fingers stroking over his shirt.
“The big question is, did they only find them? Or the entire pack?” he thought out loud.
I closed my eyes and swallowed hard. “I don’t know. And we won’t unless another wolf goes missing or dies.”
His hand moved to hold my cheek. “They’ll never touch you.”
I smiled a sad smile. “You’ve never seen how hunters are, Ran.”
His arms tightened. “Tell me.”
I looked up at the ceiling of the confessional. “You already know.”
“Tell me.” His voice was soft as he pressed against my hair.
“They attacked in the middle of the night.” I licked my lips as memories came back into the light. “We lived out in the woods. We liked it there. It was quiet and isolated. Too isolated, as it turns out.” I brushed my cheek against his shirt. “Everyone was asleep when they shot the lock off the front door. Dad went downstairs while Mom grabbed us and had us climb out on the roof.” I took a shaky breath. “By then, they were coming up the stairs. Mom told us to run.” I looked up at him. “She stayed behind to buy us time.”
“I’m listening,” he whispered.
I swallowed hard again. “They were waiting in the woods. We ran. But Erica shifted. They shot her immediately.”
“She gave them what they wanted,” he muttered.
I nodded. “Eventually, they caught me. I was only seven, I couldn’t outrun them. They stuck me in that…” I swallowed back the bile that rose in my throat. “That silver-reinforced dog kennel and then took me out of state. But not before skinning Ericka.”
“She was only four,” Ranulf finished for me.
Tears ran down my face as I shook in his arms. “They tried everything to get me to shift. Cuts, fire, anything they could. Hell, they would press the silver cage against my back.”
“You never gave in,” he said.
I nodded. “Then they got the bright idea that they could sell a werewolf on the underground market here in Chicago. After fitting me with a souped-up shock collar.”
He held me tighter.
“That’s where they slipped up,” I admitted. “One of the packs saw them in the underground market and got the others. They tore the hunters apart and finally got me out of the fucking cage. It had been a month.”
He buried his face in my hair. “They’ll never touch you.”
I smiled a small smile at the determination in his voice. “They might, while I’m ripping their throats out.”
“Not even then.”
I smiled as I wiped my face.
“Thank you for telling me.”
I looked up and met his eyes. “You already knew.”
“But you telling me means more,” he whispered.
At peace for the first time in a long time, I kissed him softly, slowly, while breathing in his scent of the fresh rain.
When he pulled back, his face was warm, his touch soft. “I’ve got you.”
I took a deep breath of his smell and just floated. He’d hold me as long as I needed him to.
It was almost an hour before I was able to face the world again. Ranulf didn’t push; he didn’t say a word. He just held me to him until I was ready again. I opened the door and came face-to-face with a priest. Confusion filled his face as I noticed the line of people along the wall waiting for the confessional. Jaws dropped as Ranulf followed me out. I winked, while Ranulf’s face burned red. He took my arm and hurried us out of the church and into the living quarters while muttering under his breath about going to Hell. I laughed the entire way through the chapel.
Zahur
The distinct sound of machines beeping filled the silence.
The heavy weight on my shoulders seemed to triple. She shouldn’t have been in the hospital bed. She shouldn’t have needed anti-seizure medications. She shouldn’t need oxygen. But here she was…
I stood across the bed from Atticus. He hadn’t spoken a word since he woke up. Bags still hung under his eyes like bruises. His face was blank except for the tortured look in his eyes. It was easier to watch Evie’s shallow breathing than to look at him.
The door to the med wing opened. I leaned my head back and waited.
“What the hell happened?” Astrid shouted. Running footsteps came toward the bed. Her eyes watered as she looked down in horror at her friend. My stomach knotted as I focused on Evie’s heart monitor.
Atticus said nothing; he simply continued to hold Evie’s hand.
“She’s been exposed to a neurotoxin.” I rubbed my eyes wearily. “It’s shutting down her organs one by one. Eventually, I’ll have to put her on a ventilator to keep her breathing.”
Astrid looked at me with fear in her eyes. “Can you fix her?”
Ranulf’s hand went to her shoulder as she began to shake.
“I’ve tried everything,” I reassured her. “Normally, a neurotoxin would run its course and once it was done, everything would come back.”
“Why do I hear a but in there?” Ranulf crossed his arms over his chest.
I sighed as I met Astrid’s eyes. “Because if it was a normal neurotoxin, then she’d be getting better already.”
She stepped back into Ranulf’s body. “What do you mean?”
“I’m doing everything I can—” The phone on the nurses’ desk went off. Son of a… I strode over and answered it. “Yeah?”
“Mr. Zahur.” Dahlia’s voice hit my ear. “We’ve found a body.”
Of course they did. I eyed the others. “Give me the address. I’ll get someone there as soon as possible.” I quickly scribbled it down, hung up, and turned to them. “Astrid, the witches just found one of their own dead. I need to send you and Ranulf to investigate.”
Astrid was already shaking her head. “The witches have a major stick up the ass about working with any wolf except for the occasional phone call. Besides, I have a run tonight.”
“A run?” Ranulf looked down at her.
Astrid nodded. “The pack is running tonight. I have to be there.” She shared a look with Ranulf before turning back to me. “Sorry.”
I cursed in my language. “Ranulf, get out there.”
“I’ve got to cover Astrid on her run.” Ranulf turned back to me.
Astrid turned to look up at him. “Just get back by nine.”
His face was hard as he met her eyes. “You’ll wait?”
She nodded.
“Fine.” Ranulf muttered before taking the address and walking out the door.
&nbs
p; Ranulf
Muttering under my breath the entire way, I drove out to the scene. Astrid said she’d wait, but did I believe her? I didn’t know. She was stubborn as hell and liked to keep secrets, apparently. A heavy weight in my chest had me pulling over. I rested my head back on the head rest and took several deep breaths. What was she thinking? Joining another pack to be the partner of another man? My shoulders grew tense. She needed her pack. I got that. This pack had saved her in the market. But…was it selfish of me to want her not to go to Thunder Bay? Not to even be close to another male… I closed my eyes and cursed. That was it. That was my problem. This alpha male was a wolf. He could run with her, shift with her, understand her more than I ever probably could. I was fucking jealous. I slammed my fist into the roof, relishing the pain radiating down my knuckles.
She needed a pack. That was the reality of it. And if she could be an alpha without marrying the wolf… If that’s what she needed… I needed to support her.
“You don’t think twice? Why won’t you come inside me?” Her voice rang through my ears. How could she think that was me thinking twice about us? I gave up everything for her and I’d happily do it again. But going to Thunder Bay? Leaving what’s left of my family behind? That I didn’t want to do… No more than Astrid.
My heart dropped. I still had the others. She’d have no one. Cursing myself, I hit the steering wheel. I may have given up going home, but I still had the others. If she left the pack, she’d have no one at all. I was an asshole. I took a deep breath. She needed the pack to run with. It was instinct for her.
It all came down to whose happiness mattered more. Hers? Or mine? I lifted my head and opened my eyes. Fuck. That was an easy answer. She said she needed a pack. And I’d do anything to see that beautiful smile on her face. Looks like I’m moving to fucking Thunder Bay. Shit! Hating it, I pulled back out onto the road.
I was in a foul mood by the time I pulled into the empty lot in front of a dark four-story dark building. The area was deserted except for two women standing near the entrance. Well, one was standing, the other was bent over with her face in the shrubs. As I got closer, it was clear she was vomiting into the bush. That didn’t look good for what I’d find. Cursing, I shut off the SUV and got out. The still standing witch’s posture stiffened.
“I’m Ranulf. Zahur sent me,” I announced. “Where is she?”
The upright witch smiled and reached out her hand. “I’m Tabitha, it’s nice to meet you.”
I didn’t shake her hand; you never touch a witch whose intentions you don’t know. “I don’t have a lot of time, so let’s get to it.”
Tabitha eyed me before turning and heading into the building.
The entire building seemed to not have power, which was made clear when we stepped into the stairwell and the door closed behind us. Plunging us into darkness. Thankfully, I could see in the dark.
Tabitha fumbled with a flashlight. “The building is still under construction.” She started up the stairs.
“How did you find her?” I asked as I followed.
“We started using a tracking spell for a lost witch and it led us here,” she answered as we continued to the top floor.
When we reached the fourth floor, I followed her down to the other end of the building to an unfinished section.
“We found her in this conference room,” Tabitha announced as she stopped by a door.
I didn’t hesitate. I pulled out my own phone, turned on the flashlight function and stepped into the room. The light bounced off a shining pool of crimson. A bloody, shredded stump of meat with a bone protruding lay in the middle of a rune circle. Shoulders moved out from it… Oh, the stump was the neck. Shit. I moved around the edge of the room, avoiding the blood and runes. I carefully took pictures of the runes for Zahur.
“How did you identify her?” I asked as I took another picture of the body.
“She’s the only person we’re missing,” Tabitha answered.
“No ID?” I took a close-up of one of the runes.
“I didn’t exactly pat down the body,” she snapped.
Cursing under my breath, I stepped over the circle and checked the back pockets of the woman’s jeans. I fished out a small wallet-cell phone combo.
“What was the woman’s name?”
“Glenda.” Tabitha sighed.
“Well, fuck.” I raised my voice so she could hear me. “This isn’t her. It’s Cassandra McBride.”
“What?”
“This is a different witch,” I stated clearly.
“Oh, mother…” She swallowed hard, running off for the stairwell. Darkness filled the hallway while I took the last of the pictures.
I headed to the stairway and down to the first floor. Two witches. One dead. One missing.
It sounded like the start to some horror movie.
Tabitha turned to us, tears running down her face. “Jenny said that Cassandra hasn’t been heard from all day. She’s not a part of the council, but we all keep tabs on each other.”
“I’m going to need her address to check her apartment,” I said as I checked the time. I had to get back to Astrid.
Tabitha dabbed her face and gave me the address. “The others are coming to help us get her out of the building before sunrise. The last thing we need is for someone to call the police.”
“I need to get going,” I told her. “I’ll take a look at her apartment when we get a chance.”
Tabitha’s head snapped up. “Not tonight?”
I sighed. “Cassandra isn’t the only person murdered in the last few days. We’re trying to cover everyone.”
She looked at me with rage as I walked toward the car. They should report a missing person to the police. It’s not like she won’t be missed. She probably had family somewhere. If not… Well, it was disturbing how someone could disappear and have no one notice. My thoughts were dark all the way to the church.
11
Rina
Frost began to crawl over the bus window. The temperature seemed to drop twenty degrees. I wrapped my arms around me as I started to shiver. When the sun rose today, it was still dark. Black and gray clouds boiled over head, blocking out the sun.
“What’s going on?” My breath came out in a fog.
Falk’s gaze ran over me before he reached up to my heater and turned it on full blast. He did the same to his and pointed them at me. “It looks like we’ve gone further into the storm.”
The wind took a swipe at the bus, but the driver managed to keep it on the road. I shivered. The voices in the back of my head grew louder. It had been getting worse over the last few hours. Sitting all day in a bus full of people wasn’t easy on my barriers.
Falk shifted, moving his arm over onto my side of the armrest. The heat coming off him doubled. Without hesitation, I wrapped my arms around his, pressing against his arm. His heat seeped into me, stopping the shivering. Even the voices in the back of my head quieted down. I rested my cheek against his shoulder while his hand hovered over my leg. Clearly not knowing where to put it since I had pulled his arm over the armrest. I simply reached out and pressed his hand against my knee. His fingers wrapped around the inside of my knee. His touch burned through my clothes, but I didn’t care. I was cold.
“How do you make the voices back off?”
A warm, soft brush moved through my mind that I was starting to recognize as Falk. “I’m not sure. Perhaps I act as a buffer?”
“Maybe.” I watched the frost grow on the window. “It’s easier to talk to you like this.”
“It is.”
I chewed on my bottom lip. “Falk?”
“Hm?”
“What happened? To your voice?” I looked up at him. His face was hard; he looked over my head out the window. “You don’t have to answer if you don’t want to. I understand not wanting to talk about things.”
His thumb started making circles on my kneecap. Warmth spread up my leg, along with tingles. “I was with a different squad a hundred and
fifty years ago. We were clearing out a nest of vampires who had been on a killing spree. We underestimated their numbers. My team was slaughtered, and I was taken prisoner.”
Oh my…my chest burned. “How long?”
He looked out the window over my head for several seconds before meeting my eyes again. “Twenty-two days. Gargoyles heal quickly, which means”—his jaw clenched—“I was a guaranteed deep feed at the end of the day. They slit my throat to keep me quiet.”
“I’m sorry.” My arms tightened on his as I looked down at his hand on my knee. What he described… “I shouldn’t have asked.”
His fingers tightened on my knee, making me lift my head to meet his eyes. “It’s all right, it was years ago. Before you were even born.”
I jumped at the topic switch. “How old are you?”
His face was dead serious as he answered, “Older than you.”
I narrowed my eyes playfully at him. “Which is how many years?”
He didn’t say a word. Just held my gaze.
“Eight hundred?” I grinned up at him.
His eyes grew slightly lighter as he shook his head.
“Higher or lower?” I teased.
“Higher.”
“A thousand?” I tried again.
“Higher.” His thought was soft and warm as it slipped through my mind.
I eyed him. “Fifteen hundred?”
The corner of his lips twitched. “Higher.”
“Really?” I smiled. Was he serious?
He nodded.
“Two thousand?” There was no way…
“Lower.” His face softened.
“Seventeen hundred?” I raised an eyebrow.
“Eighteen hundred and some change.”
My smile faded a little. That’s…how could he ever come to like me? He’s mature and serious. And I…I still spun in my computer chair when programming got boring. “Wow.” Feeling like a toddler, I tried to look out the frost-covered window.
Run (Books Of Stone Book 2) Page 13
