by Geonn Cannon
Eva nodded. “I’d do it a hundred times if it helped my sister. Please let me know if you need anything else.”
Diana gestured for a uniformed officer to come over and escort Eva back to her car.
“You need backup tonight?” Diana asked. “If the hunters find you sniffing around near their base, they might grab you.”
“At least then I’d know for sure where they are,” Ari said. “And so would you. I think it’d be best if I went solo, but I’ll call if I find anything.”
“I’ll keep my phone handy,” Diana said.
“Thanks, Diana. For everything.”
Diana shrugged as she backed toward the stairs. “We’re family, Willow. So don’t make your sister look bad in front of her boss.”
Ari saluted, then turned and headed out past the throng of reporters who were still hoping to get a statement from someone.
***
Val and Gwen sat across from each other on the floor of Gwen’s cell, playing a card game called Skirmish. It was similar to War, but with just enough strategy involved to keep it from becoming monotonous. Tonight’s dinner had pizza, the box sitting to one side of their game board. Val played a three card, Gwen countered with a seven. She sighed and leaned back, rubbing her face as Val considered her next move.
“There had to be some kind of progress,” Gwen said. “Milo is out there somewhere. The video has been online for over a day. Ari has to know what’s going on by now. There was that scuffle last night, but today it seems quiet again.” She nodded at the door, indicating the hunters in the rest of the building. “Have they been acting any differently today?”
Val shrugged and held up a nine of clubs. “They let me have two decks of playing cards. Other than that, nothing. Still the same smug, paranoid bastards as always.”
Gwen lost the round by playing a five, discarding it. “Something has to happen. I can’t believe--”
She stopped talking when she heard the rattling lock of the door. Val turned as well, sitting up straighter as the door swung open to reveal Isaac Hayden. He smiled brightly at Gwen, then gave Val a look of surprise.
“Are we bonding, ladies?”
“What do you want, Hayden?” Val asked. “We’re busy.”
“Don’t be rude to me. I’m offering kindness.” He returned his gaze to Gwen. “I have permission to take the doggie here for a run.”
Gwen and Val looked at each other, then went back to playing.
“I expected a bit more of a reaction than that, honestly.”
“We don’t waste energy on bullshit,” Val said.
Hayden stepped closer. “No bullshit. Roemer is pissed that the guys can’t find Milo. I convinced him that we need to bring in the big guns. You.”
Gwen said, “You want me to track down my partner so you can drag her back here to be tortured some more.”
“We need wolves to examine. The more we know about you beasts, the better we can fight you.”
“You’re not helping your cause.”
“I wasn’t finished,” Hayden said. “We need wolves. We have you, and you will be invaluable. But Milo is younger and in better shape.”
“Hey, now,” Gwen said. “Just because you’re a sadistic bastard doesn’t mean you have to be rude, too.”
Hayden’s voice hardened. “What I’m saying is that we need a young wolf. We can’t use Marin because she’s currently serving her own purpose. The guys have proven inept at capturing other wolves. So that only leaves one option.” He looked at Val, holding the stare until she looked back at him. He smiled and raised his eyebrows.
“I’m not canidae,” Val said.
“Not yet.”
Gwen’s blood went cold. “You bastard.”
Hayden showed her his palms. “Invaluable research. We can infect her with your curse and examine her over the coming month to see what happens to her body. To see if there’s a way to prevent the infection from taking over. And yes, it’s highly unlikely Dr. Byrne would survive the procedure--”
“She’s his daughter,” Gwen snapped. “He would really approve of that being done to his daughter?”
Val spoke very softly. “Oh, come on, Gwen. That’s the most believable part of anything happening in this room.” She threw down her cards and unfolded her legs, standing up to walk away. She faced the wall, head bowed.
Hayden said, “It’s no different than you trying to break up Ariadne and Dale for the greater good. This is a war. Sacrifices must be made.”
Gwen glared at him. “I’ll go.”
Val said, “Gwen, don’t.”
“We’ll figure something out.”
“Gwen,” Val said.
Hayden motioned for Gwen to stand, and she complied. “Don’t fight me on this, Valerie. Milo being taken prisoner again is a thousand times better than a death sentence for you. It’s not even a question.” She started unbuttoning her blouse, glaring at Hayden as she did. “Don’t think I’m going to make this easy for you.”
“That’s what I’m counting on.” His voice was so soft that Gwen could almost believe she hadn’t heard it. Before she look at Val to see if she’d heard it as well, he said, “If you do fight, just don’t do anything permanent, okay? Not until you can see the whole picture of what’s happening. Can I trust you on that?”
Gwen looked at Val, who seemed to be just as confused as she was. “Okay. Fine.”
“Okay.” His voice was louder again, and he checked his watch. “Best we get this show on the road. Go ahead and transform and we’ll go see if we can find your lady.”
Gwen and Val shared another look before Gwen dropped into a crouch and transformed. Part of her still expected some kind of a trick, though there was something in Hayden’s voice... She didn’t trust him, not by any stretch of the imagination. But she was willing to play along, at least for a little while, until she had a better idea of what cards he had up his sleeve. The wolf took over her easily, like shedding an extra layer of clothes to reveal her true self. She stretched her paws out in front of her and felt the muscles rippling up and down her sides as she settled into her new form.
Hayden crouched to fit a muzzle over her face, securing it behind her skull. When he stood, he looked at Val.
“I promise you, everything will be clear soon.”
“It better be.”
Hayden guided Gwen out of the cell, one of the very few times she’d actually left the room without being taken somewhere to be tortured. She hesitated at the threshold but after a moment, prompted by Hayden, continued out on a path that would take her to the front of the building.
A hunter coming downstairs stopped. “Hey, where do you think you’re going with that?”
“Bloodhound duty.”
“Boss know about this?”
“Assume that he does. Or better yet, assume it’s none of your business what I chose to do with our prisoners because I don’t answer to you.”
Gwen could see the hunter was torn, clearly wanting to run upstairs to confirm with Roemer, but after a minute his posture relaxed. “Fine. Fuck do I care what you do with the damned thing.”
Hayden led Gwen to the door, pausing to take off his jacket and drape it over her head. She suffered the indignity, and the stench of his cologne, because immediately after her eyes were covered, she was led Outside. The smell of dirt and concrete and grass rose up from beneath her paws. She smelled Water, Salt, Mud, Sea Air. The wind ruffled her fur like a friendly hand as Hayden led her across a cracked street and then into a car.
“Just stay calm,” he said. “I’d tell you where we’re going, but I doubt you’d believe me. So it’s best if you just see for yourself.”
She huffed air out through her nose, still blinded by his coat, and settled on the seat. Hayden started the car and pulled away from the curb.
Over the next few minutes, she was very aware that they were driving in circles in an attempt to disorient her. Eventually, though, he seemed satisfied that she wouldn’t be able to find her
way back to the building and began driving a more direct route. Five minutes later, he slowed and came to a stop. Gwen could smell lots of cars: a parking lot. He pulled the coat off her face, unfastened the muzzle, and pulled her out of the car without excess force. The sudden brightness of multiple security lights blinded her, and she squinted to make out anything but blurry silhouettes.
“As promised,” he said.
Gwen turned toward the sound of approaching footsteps. A dark shape slowly sharpened as it approached. The smell gave her away before Gwen could actually see her, and her hopes suddenly soared.
Dale crouched down next to her and cupped her face. “Hey there,” Dale whispered, looking into Gwen’s eyes. “You okay?”
Gwen huffed and threw herself against Dale, the closest thing she could get to a hug in her current form. Dale accepted the hug, squeezing in a confusingly impersonal way before she stood up and faced Hayden.
“I’m taking her home.”
“Do you believe me now?” Hayden said. “I don’t want to kill anyone. I don’t want anyone to die.”
Dale made a face and looked away from him. “Sure. You’re a prince. Uniting the species. We’ll be in touch.” She started to turn away.
“Wait, one more thing.” Dale sighed heavily, and Hayden took out his phone. “I want a photo to prove she’s leaving with you.”
“Why?”
“Because if I go back without her, Dr. Byrne is going to assume the worst. She’ll think I took her out and put a bullet in her head or something. She’ll refuse to help us if she thinks Gwen here is buried in a shallow grave somewhere. I want proof that Gwen is safe so she’ll keep cooperating.”
Dale sighed. “Fine.” She knelt next to Gwen and put an arm across her back.
Hayden aimed the phone. “Would it kill you to smile?”
“Just take the damn picture,” Dale snapped.
Hayden snapped the picture and slipped the phone into his pocket.
“Wait. Give me the coat.”
“What?”
Dale gestured at Gwen. “She’s going to need something to wear.”
“You didn’t bring anything?”
Dale shouted, “Just give me the damn jacket!”
Gwen flinched and looked up at Dale, sweet and funny Dale, the kind of woman she never would have expected to snap at someone like that no matter who it was. Hayden rolled his eyes and handed over his coat. Dale didn’t bother thanking him, but she snapped her fingers for Gwen to follow her back across the parking lot. Gwen fell in behind her, turning to make sure Hayden was really letting them go. Sure enough, he remained where he was. He even lifted a hand to wave goodbye. Gwen turned away from him and followed Dale out of the parking lot to her waiting car. Dale opened the back door for her and Gwen hopped in.
By the time Dale got behind the wheel, Gwen had changed back into her human form. She pulled on Hayden’s coat. It was big enough that she could hold the collar closed, and the tails reached to mid-thigh. She watched Dale’s profile.
“Hello, Dale.”
Dale’s jaw tightened. “Hi.” She looked in the rearview. “Are you okay?”
“As okay as I can be, given the circumstances. Ariadne? Milo?”
“They’re fine.” Dale’s voice was worryingly flat. “Milo had a rough time of it right after she got away, but she’s improving. Ari’s... Ari. She’s always good.”
Gwen said, “Dale is everything... are you okay?”
Dale’s shoulders tensed. She flexed her fingers on the steering wheel. After a pause long enough that Gwen assumed she wasn’t going to answer, Dale finally said, “Not really.”
They continued the ride in silence. Dale, her daughter’s lovely partner, was unrecognizable behind the wheel. She was cold and businesslike, an Uber driver ferrying a passenger from Point A to Point B with no emotional involvement at all. Gwen wasn’t afraid of her, she wasn’t giving off a dangerous energy, but there was certainly something wrong with her.
Gwen recognized the route to Lake Washington, and soon she saw the familiar sights of her own street. Hope welled in her chest and her eyes burned with tears that she refused to shed. She’d assumed she would die in that cell, that she was doomed as soon as the hood dropped over her head in Germany. Seeing everything again felt like a gift, a miracle, and she couldn’t stop herself from sobbing quietly when Dale pulled into the driveway. The living room curtains were open on a dark room, but she could see through to the fully-lit kitchen.
“Milo’s really okay?”
“She’s right inside.”
Gwen got out of the car and crossed the lawn. Her hands shook as she opened the side door into the laundry room. She heard a voice suddenly stop speaking. She looked around and saw a pair of slacks on the dryer. She didn’t know who they belonged to, or when the last load had been done, but she stepped into them so she would be slightly less naked during the reunion. She had just fastened the button when the door flew open to reveal Ariadne with a frying pan raised over her head.
Ari froze in mid-motion. Her eyes widened and she lowered her arm. Gwen hadn’t seen her daughter in almost a year, and now she hallucinated a vision of Ariadne at all her ages. The confused young girl, the angry homeless wolf, the strong private investigator. Now a mature and powerful woman ready to fight against an invader.
“Mom,” Ari whispered.
Gwen stepped forward and hugged her daughter. Ari dropped the frying pan to pull her tighter, backing up into the kitchen as she gasped in surprise. She cupped the back of Gwen’s head, kissed her hair, and alternated between whispering, “How...” and laughing incredulously. Gwen burrowed her face into the crook of Ari’s neck, breathing her scent, fully appreciating the feeling of being in her daughter’s arms again for as long as she could.
“Gwen?”
Gwen’s heart seized. She turned and looked toward the voice. If Ari had looked like a warrior, Milo looked distressingly vulnerable. Her hair was unwashed, she wore clothes that didn’t fit, and the bags under her eyes indicated she hadn’t slept. But when their eyes locked, Milo got to her feet as if she’d suddenly become completely weightless. She crossed the kitchen with a magnetic pull. Ari sensed her approach and wisely stepped out of the way so Milo could take over the embrace.
“Penny,” Gwen whispered, burying her face in her beloved’s hair.
Milo let out a surprised laugh, and her arms tightened around Gwen’s shoulders. “Oh my God. Penny. Penny.” She laughed again and put her head on Gwen’s shoulder. “I’m your lucky Penny.”
“I’m not against taking your name,” Milo said from the passenger seat of a car cutting through a dark German forest at 2am. Gwen could barely keep her eyes open, but the inn was just a few miles away. She could make it as long as Milo kept talking. “I’m for it, actually. Never really had much attachment to Duncan if I’m totally honest. But my problem is that my first name doesn’t go with it. At all.”
“Millicent Willow?” Gwen said.
“Too many Ls.” Milo fought a yawn. “And every nickname has the same problem. Millie, Lissy, Lizzy, Lily.”
Gwen closed her eyes then snapped them back open. “What about... Mill. Liss. Cent. Cent.” She smiled. “Penny.”
Milo snorted. “Penny Willow.” She hummed. “I don’t hate it...”
“You really want to change your entire identity just to take my last name? Penny Willow is a huge shift from Milo Duncan.”
“So maybe it’ll just be for us. You’n me. Everyone else will still call me Milo. But I’ll be Penny to you.”
“My lucky Penny,” Gwen said.
“Hum,” Milo said, then chuckled. “Lucky Penny Willow... Growing on me.”
Gwen wanted to know everything the bastards had done to Milo over the past few months, wanted to know what she needed revenge for, but there would be time for that. She stepped back and cupped Milo’s face in her hands.
“I love you.”
Milo kissed Gwen’s lips. “I love you.”
&
nbsp; Ari said, “How are you here?”
“Hayden. I don’t know what... um...” She furrowed her brow and suddenly realized someone was missing. “Dale. Dale picked me up. She drove me here.”
“Dale’s here?” Ari said, already moving to the laundry room.
“She was,” Gwen said. “I don’t know why she didn’t come in with me...”
Ari was already out the door. Gwen brushed her fingers over Milo’s face, watching Milo’s eyes as they took in the woman before her.
“There’s so much I want to say to you,” Gwen said. “I just don’t know any of the words or which ones should be first.”
“There’ll be time for that,” Milo said. “For now, there’s only three that are important.”
Gwen said, “Three...?”
Milo smiled. “Welcome home, love.”
Gwen closed her eyes and kissed Milo again.
Chapter Fifteen
Ari saw the dark silhouette behind the wheel of Dale’s car and approached cautiously, even though she had no doubt who it was sitting there. She walked over to the driver’s side and knocked on the window.
“Uber for Ariadne?”
Dale opened the door and got out, not replying with her usual response that she was there for someone named Adrian. They were far enough away from the side of the house that the porch light didn’t reach her face. She slumped against the side of the car and kept her head down, arms crossed over her chest, and Ari’s mood darkened dramatically.
“Dale? What’s wrong?”
She reached out, but Dale cringed away from her. “Don’t! Don’t...”
“You’re scaring me. What happened?”
“I read it again.” Dale’s voice broke. She brought a hand up to her face. “I read the fucking essays again, puppy. Hayden needed me to prove I was telling the truth, needed to trust me, so he made me read the essays off his phone in front of him. I’m so sorry. It was the only way to get him to free Mom.”
Ari swallowed the lump that had risen in her throat. “How... um, how do you feel?”
“Sick. Disgusted with myself. Terrified.”
“Can I put my hands on your shoulders? I want you to take a step this way.”
