Stuff a sock in it, dickweed, she thought while nodding and again murmuring, “My apologies.”
“This discovery presents a dilemma, Eluf. Isolation has always proven detrimental to a Were’s mental well-being. The proof sits beside the Chimaera.”
“You intend to keep my property?”
“I rather thought you’d be eager to loan your property to your king, for an undetermined length of time. I’m not fond of that note of challenge I just heard, Eluf. Perhaps you’d prefer to gift your property to me instead?”
Morgan fought a smile as anger twisted the huge vampire’s face. Hate that idea, don’t you?
Eluf didn’t respond quickly enough for Vitus. “I’m waiting for your answer.”
“My king is welcome to make use of my property for as long as he wishes.”
“Good. You may leave.”
The dismissal didn’t sit well with Eluf, judging from the way he smiled, baring his fangs. “It is my honor to serve my king.”
She realized the armed vampires had shifted their weapons to his back, and barely kept from grinning when Eluf glanced at her before turning. He stiffened upon seeing the rifles trained on him, but the sight didn’t stop him from stomping out of the room. A moment after the draperies fell, there was a thump and surprised yelp.
“Misha,” Vitus said, and the long-haired Mouth bowed before slipping through the draperies. She filed the name away for future use. “That’s settled for the moment.”
“I’m not a Chimaera.”
“Of course you are. I’ve tasted your blood, taken the memory of your Awakening. Four, not one, beasts found their places within you.”
Morgan shook her head. “I don’t remember that.”
“Minds choose interesting methods to defuse trauma. You are a Chimaera. Calhoun’s Chimaera, Queen of the Wolves, and by his execution of the other Founts, Queen of all Weres.” Vitus smiled, moving his arms to lace his fingers together and rest his hands in his lap, which allowed her to drop her arm to her side. “But Calhoun doesn’t know it, does he?”
She didn’t get the chance to answer, because Thane did. “No.”
“Don’t talk.” But it was too late. His face twisted in pain, and with a groan the were-liger fell against her legs, almost knocking her into Vitus’s lap.
“How much longer?” Time had alternated between speeding and crawling for Cal since they’d left the mansion.
“It’s been three minutes since the last time you asked. Do the math.” Laney met his eyes in the rearview mirror. “You’re worse than an entire carful of kids on a vacation trip.”
“Are we there yet? Are we, huh? Are we,” Dougie grunted when she slapped his chest. “Ow. I was just...”
“Being as annoying as Cal. Stop it before I break your nose.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
When she looked in the rearview mirror at him, Cal raised his hands in surrender. “I’ll stop asking.”
“Wise decision.”
Herman, the fourth assigned to his team, chuckled. He was a lanky Texan with close-cropped brown hair, covered by a camouflage-colored baseball cap. Seated behind Laney, he was staying occupied by filling speed loaders for his pair of six-guns. Though he was a wolf, Cal hadn’t met him before.
“Something funny back there?”
“No, ma’am. ‘Cept you kind of remind me of my mother.”
“I’ll take that as a compliment.”
“It was meant as one, ma’am. My mother was a fine woman, didn’t stand for nonsense from anyone.”
Distraction at hand, Cal leaped on it. “How long since she passed?”
“Well, sir, I ain’t never been good with figures, but I believe it’s been about a hundred and seventy-three years now.”
She’d died before Herman’s home state had been accepted into the Union. Even so, Cal said, “My sympathies for your loss.”
“Thank you, sir.”
“When did you Awaken?”
“’Bout two years after Mother passed.” Herman tucked another filled speed loader into one of the pockets his worn leather jacket sported. “Been quite a wild ride since, I must say.”
They fell into a conversation about the changes that had occurred, mostly the technological advances. It kept Cal occupied to the point that he was surprised when Laney stopped the SUV after bumping offroad. “We’re here.”
Finally. He was out of the vehicle before she’d shifted the gearstick to park, and had his shirt pulled off before the other three exited. “Check in. Dougie, strip. We’ll be taking point.” Cal threw his shirt onto the backseat and bent to remove his running shoes. “You two...”
“Will be right behind you, guns at the ready.” Laney appeared at the back corner of the SUV, Herman behind her. “We’ve done this before.”
“I know, sorry.” I’ve been apologizing a lot lately. Have to quit doing things that make me have to. Cal finished undressing, checked Dougie’s progress, and stepped back. A rock bit into the sole of his left foot, so he moved a few inches before changing his shape.
Once on four paws, he shook to settle his fur and scanned their surroundings while Laney reported, “Two teams aren’t in position yet. They have the northernmost points. ETA another fifteen.”
Cal growled, poked Dougie’s newly spotted shoulder with his nose, and jerked his head. The leopard coughed in response, turning to face north.
“Boss says get moving anyway,” she relayed to whomever was on the receiving end. “We’re going in now. Can you actually run in those boots?”
“Yes, ma’am,” Herman said as Cal began to trot away, the leopard padding beside him. “I surely can. Trick’s using some sandpaper on the soles, rough ‘em up a bit for traction.”
“What are you carrying?”
“Mr. Samuel Colt’s ’84 Frontier Six-Shooters. Got me a couple of ’47 Walkers back at headquarters.”
“You’re just an old-style cowboy through and through, Tex.” She shut the passenger-side doors. “Come on before the boss gets snarly.”
In spite of the circumstances, Cal relished the feeling of the earth passing under his paws. It’d been too long since he’d hunted as a wolf, rather than as a wolf in human shape. Some of those technological advances had made things easier, sure, but they had also taken away the simple joy of being a born hunter. Vampires preferred cities, where blood was in plentiful supply and humans on the fringes of society went missing constantly.
It wasn’t exactly easy to hunt in cities while furry and on four paws. One sighting, and panic could ensue from sensationalized reports of packs of wolves moving into urban environments. Then people’s dogs ended up being shot. Cal liked dogs and preferred not to add to their existing troubles.
Dressed in military fatigues or all in black, armed people were more of a fleeting interest for most people who caught a glimpse. Americans in particular just assumed the government was involved, and they’d hear about whatever it was later in the news or online. Things could be more difficult in other countries, and in less developed ones, no trouble whatsoever. Cal let his jaws part, surging forward into a lope. Off to the left, Dougie picked up his pace in response. Laney and Herman followed, both running with light steps.
Prints were being left, but that was fine. They’d find someone, or someone would find them. Either way worked for Cal, because both meant a chance to discover where his missing people were.
He let the part of him that was wolf do the instinctive work of scenting and searching for signs, freeing his “human” side to think. Finding and rescuing Morgan and Thane was priority number one, but after that, he’d need to find out if Morgan really were his Chimaera, and come to some sort of agreement with her. With trouble brewing in the ranks—not that that hadn’t ever occurred before—the last thing anyone needed was a leadership split. If she were his Chimaera, and they didn’t come to terms, it wasn’t impossible for Morgan to build her own army of disaffected Weres. The feline Weres would flock to her, because she would be the closest thing they
had to an actual leader of their own species.
And if she did, that would lead to an interspecies war sooner or later. Fighting wars on two different fronts was never a good idea. He would have to fix things with Morgan or face the losing proposition of both curbing a serious uprising and continuing the efforts to wipe out vampires.
Everyone would lose in the end, except perhaps the vampires.
She doesn’t hate me enough to carry things that far. Or so he hoped. But acknowledging all the possibilities was part and parcel of what and who he was. Planning for the worst had worked in the past, and that was the worst possible outcome of Morgan being his Chimaera.
If she is, what sort of hold does she have over Thane? Cal leaped over a fallen tree.
Morgan hadn’t displayed any signs of discomfort with or disdain for the were-liger. Thane had thanked him for “dumping her” on him. Though a somewhat sarcastic jab, Thane had meant it. Cal knew it wasn’t simply the sexual activity Thane appreciated. He was grateful Morgan had come into, and become a part of his life. Grateful because she’d accepted him, someone who was a pariah of sorts among the two species he combined, and a source of undefined, but mild discomfort to members of the two Were species he wasn’t part of.
Except for me. Cal had felt a lot of things in relation to Thane, beginning with horrified pity at first discovery, but he’d never felt uncomfortable around the were-liger. He’d never felt uncomfortable around any Weres, wolves or otherwise, not even his fellow Founts.
Apparently, Morgan didn’t either. She’d certainly had no trouble continuing to let people know they’d pissed her off, regardless of species, and in particular if they were wolves. But that’s my fault, Cal acknowledged, Brian’s comments resurfacing. They’re right, all of them. She’s my Chimaera.
Laney’s soft “Boss” stopped him. “Team Five’s picked up vampire scent.”
Chapter Twenty-seven
“Be careful.” Morgan avoided giving into the urge to hit the vampire who’d allowed Thane’s shoulder to bump into the wall. They were being moved to “more suitable quarters” by order of Vitus. She hoped Eluf had actually left, and wasn’t lurking around, waiting for a chance grab or maim.
Wish I knew what game Vitus is playing. The vampire had kept her upright, ordered two others to move Thane, and then checked the were-liger himself. Morgan had found herself explaining why Thane had keeled over, though she didn’t know why a single word had plunged him into a ferocious migraine.
Vitus thought it was the shock of seeing and hearing Eluf. Before she could protest, he’d “tasted” Thane’s blood and then had them escorted, or in the were-liger’s case, carried, away.
The new room was not only furnished, but had an actual bathroom. No windows and the door was still metal, but there were carpets underfoot. Also more furniture than just a bed. Once Thane had been deposited on the bed, the two vampires left and she heard the turn of a key, locking them in.
Still prisoners. Morgan flipped the end of the satin, embroidered bedspread up over Thane’s feet. He was unconscious, or doing an excellent imitation of it. Not knowing what else to do for him, she explored the room and bath. There wasn’t anything to use as a weapon, unless she broke one of the chairs or the low table arranged as a sitting area near the room’s door.
Was attempting to escape remotely feasible? She looked at Thane. No, he won’t be going anywhere for a while.
Neither would she, since she wasn’t going to leave him behind. Morgan took a chair to the bedside and sat down, welcoming the opportunity to think. The vampires had basically rescued them from Riscarato and his thugs. Though locked up, they’d been cared for and aided during healing. They’d been fed and given clean clothing. The worst that had happened was being “tasted” and witnessing Eluf’s appearance.
Which was scary for me, but terrible for him. She leaned forward to touch Thane’s cheek, but he didn’t respond. Settling back, she tried to make sense of what she’d learned about them both.
If Vitus were correct, and she was a Chimaera, then she’d be important to Calhoun. In turn, that made her important to Vitus as something to use against the Wolf Fount. Easier for everyone if I continue to cooperate, especially for the two of us.
She hadn’t forgotten that Thane’s continued safety from Eluf depended on her. An escape attempt probably wouldn’t be the best bet, unless there were some guarantee of success. Such an attempt needed to be worth the chance of being caught and skinned.
Did Mouth lie to me about that, just to scare me? Morgan considered the idea and shook her head. Vitus was a vampire. Didn’t matter how civilized he acted, that fact wouldn’t change no matter how many times he called her “my dear” or how many times he asked for her opinion. He was a vampire, and vampires were the sworn enemies of Weres and avowed predators of humanity.
He did let the guy who nabbed us eat his fill, she reminded herself. He let Pudgy get hold of us, giving Bully Boy his shot at revenge.
Vitus had also allowed Eluf to come, expecting to take Thane. She frowned. “Which gave him a chance to make himself look good. Why?”
“To gain your trust.”
Morgan blinked at the muttered rasp of Thane’s voice, and hurriedly leaned forward. “How do you fe... no, don’t answer that. I was getting there. I do have a brain.”
“More talking isn’t going to make it worse.” His eyes were squeezed shut. “I need to vomit.”
Ugh. She stood, shoving the chair back, and managed to help him to his feet. Their progress to the bathroom was slow. Once he was down in front of the toilet, Morgan had to force herself to stay with him. The sounds of his retching and gagging were bad enough, but the smell came close to making her follow suit.
She rubbed his back, found a washcloth to wet, and wiped his face after flushing the toilet. Are there vampire plumbers?
Thane shifted his position to lean against the side of the tub, then opened his eyes long enough for a quick look at her face. “You’re Cal’s Chimaera.”
Realizing the bright light wasn’t helping matters, she went to turn it off and closed the door until only a thin line of light from the outer room shone through the crack. “That’s what Vitus thinks.”
“He’s ancient. He’d know.”
Morgan squatted down in front of him. “So what if I am? Doesn’t really matter. Calhoun made it clear exactly what he thinks of me.”
“It does matter.”
“Not to me.” She reached for his hand.
Thane avoided hers, lifting both to rub his forehead. “It matters because it means you belong with him. Not with me.”
Drawing her hand back, she stared at him. “I don’t even like Calhoun.”
“I don’t blame you for being angry with him, but...”
“Shut up.”
“Morgan...”
“Goddamn it, what is wrong with you people? First him, now you. Both so fucking ready to toss someone away because of stupid rules and dumbass superstitions.”
“I am not throwing you away.” He dropped his hands to his lap, opened his eyes, and immediately leaned toward the toilet. Morgan stood at the first retch and busied her hands by rinsing out the cloth.
When he’d finished the second round, she took care of flushing the toilet and wiped his face again. “If you don’t want me, fine.”
Thane groaned. “That’s not what I said.”
“No, you said I belong with Calhoun, not you. Close enough.”
“You do. That doesn’t mean I don’t,” he paused to swallow heavily, and pressed the heel of one hand to his forehead. “You’re the best thing to happen to me since Cal found me. I don’t want to lose you. But I don’t have the right to be between you and him, between Chimaera and Fount.”
The outraged hurt bubbling in her heart insisted she tell him to go to hell. Instead, Morgan gave herself a moment before speaking. “Don’t you think I have the right to decide for myself?”
“Yes, but I don’t know if biology, or whatever,
will let you.”
“Fuck biology or whatever. I choose you, unless you open your damn mouth and say something else really stupid. Don’t.”
“Cal is the Fount. He’s strong and healthy. I’m,” Thane dropped his hand. “I can’t even talk to anyone without ending up sick and too weak to do a damn thing except groan, throw my guts up, and pass out.”
She sighed. “Yeah, well, here I am, taking care of you. I’ve never taken care of anyone except myself. Never worried about anyone but myself. Not until I met you. Doesn’t that mean anything?”
“It means the world to me, that you care enough to stay with me, not leave me behind to save your own skin. Which you should, Morgan. You should take the first chance you get and run like hell.”
“Not going to happen.”
A soft chuckle escaped him. “I don’t deserve you.”
“Tough shit, because you’re stuck with me. That’s a promise. Or a threat. Take it however you like.” Morgan wanted to say more, but the sound of the outer door opening stopped her. “Someone’s here. I’ll be back in a minute.”
It was a female vampire in a blue dress. Morgan recalled her from the “throne room” and wasn’t given much time to wonder why she was there.
“If you’ll come with me, I’ll show you a way out of here, but we have to hurry.”
Yeah, this is convenient. Morgan asked, “Why would you want to help us escape?”
“Because I want to make a deal. I didn’t ask to be made a vampire. If I help you, I want you to help me. They said there’s a vampire that lives with the Weres. One that the Wolf Fount protects. I want protection.” The girl—she still had a tan, indicating she’d recently been turned, and didn’t look more than nineteen, maybe twenty—glanced at the door. “I don’t get what a Chimaera is, but I do understand it means you’re important. You can make them protect me.”
Can’t trust her. This could be a test. But what if it’s not? Morgan hesitated.
The girl plucked at the skirt of her dress. “Please. I don’t want to stay with them, and I don’t want to die just because I was turned.”
The Wolf Fount Page 20
