“And where is this place, exactly?”
Henrik spouted off the coordinates, and Dylan’s eyes sharpened. It was one of the areas he had no control of, and one of the areas ruled by another shifter clan altogether—one who refused to form an alliance with him in the past and had completely defected from the shifter community years ago, keeping to themselves and forming their own faction. Last he heard, the leader of that panther clan was still the same person—Isaac Hart, a man who was both ruthless and ambitious. But Isaac didn’t dare cross him for two reasons: he had nothing to gain, and Dylan didn’t meddle with his affairs or his territory.
“Is the panther clan involved?” he asked.
Henrik shook his head. “Not that I know of—unless they’re good at hiding it.”
Dylan nodded. Panther shifters were generally known for their slyness and cunning nature, so there really was no telling at this point.
“I believe the children were either kidnapped, or strays,” Henrik continued. “There has been no huge report of missing children that involves a pattern, so I’m guessing they came from all over the world.”
That was the most rational conclusion so far. Dylan thought it over. Not doing anything at this point meant leaving those child shifters in the dark to a life of slavery—and that just wouldn’t do, not when they could do something about it.
The panther clan either didn’t know about the slavery island yet, or were a secret part of it. Based on Dylan’s assessment of what he knew about Isaac, he was banking on the former.
“I take it you didn’t approach the panther clan yet?”
“I passed by their area,” Henrik said. “And I took care to hide myself because I know they’d kill me on the spot.”
Dylan sighed, knowing that was the truth. Then he poured himself another shot of scotch and drank. He sensed Henrik’s hesitation, and looked the dragon shifter in the eye.
“There’s…something else,” Henrik began.
“What?”
Henrik looked down. Took a deep breath. Then he looked Dylan in the eye again.
“I saw your brother, Dylan. I saw him on the island.”
CHAPTER THREE
There were two main reasons Dylan chose to deal with the issue firsthand, and take the mission himself: the first being no one other than him could ask permission from the panther clan leader to cross the area and borrow one of their boats to get to the island, and the second being that his presence would put Isaac into alert at the knowledge that this was indeed a serious matter.
The third—the undisclosed one—was a completely personal reason. It was also the one that permanently cemented his decision.
Being in charge of New York headquarters meant it wasn’t easy to leave things unattended, so Dylan organized things in a way that would give all the clan leaders under him a role: he handed each leader a current political event to attend and a department to manage. They had a closed door meeting about where he was headed, and all the leaders supported the decision despite a few arguments about his safety and the need to bring bodyguards.
In the end, Dylan decided to proceed with two companions rather than bodyguards, and he chose the most unusual suggestions of the bunch—a teenage wolf shifter who was slowly growing in power and potential, and a teenage witch who was an apprentice of a close ally. He made the announcement and asked Henrik to gather the two selected companions, telling them to pack light and to bring whatever protection they could, especially the witch. They would be taking a portal the next morning to the country itself, and would take a flight to the exact area from there.
At dawn, Henrik brought forth the two companions to Dylan’s office, where they were briefed about the mission. Simon Alison looked like a normal shifter at seventeen, but based on the missions he tagged along on, he was showing real strength and quick responses to tight situations. His lanky figure and pleasant dark looks made him look dreamy and affable, hiding a very intelligent and sharp mind. It was something that would prove useful.
Robin Chelsey, the sixteen-year-old witch who was a protégé of Henrik’s witch mate, was the opposite of Simon’s dreamy dark looks. She looked like someone who could kill you with a glare or hypnotize you with her big green eyes, and it would prove to be useful, too.
But Dylan was blunt with them when he told them the purpose why they were the ones chosen for this particular mission.
“When all else fails, I’m going to need you both imprisoned with the lot as part of our cover-up. From there you will find a way out, and bring as many slaves with you as you can. Do you think you can manage that?”
Both teenagers had no protest. The three proceeded to the location of the portal that only a few shifters could access, Dylan being one of them. The teenagers held on to him and they all closed their eyes. A few seconds later, a chilling sensation surrounded them, like being wrapped in ice—then a blinding light flashed behind their eyelids, followed by an explosion of colors.
When the three opened their eyes, they were in Brazil.
*****
An hour later, they were already at the location Henrik had given him. Dylan knew the exact moment they entered the panther clan’s territory. There was a certain feeling in the air that gave it away, though he doubted other, less powerful shifters would detect it. The flight they took only had them reaching the city, so the three had to trek all the way to the mountain area where things got steadily quieter, along with the feeling that someone was watching them. They crossed over to a hilly area with trees surrounding it, and a view of the ocean and the skies opening up in front of them. The clouds were currently a dark gray, indicating that it could rain any minute now.
Simon and Robin were both as quiet as he was, neither making any unnecessary movements. He could tell Simon was doing his best not to tense up, his face holding a placid expression. Robin’s face was completely closed off and unreadable.
Dylan cleared his throat.
“My name is Dylan Masters. I would like to request an audience with your clan leader.”
Silence greeted his loud, calm statement. But a few seconds later, the trees shifted, revealing men in clothing that matched their brown and green surroundings. They weren’t carrying any weapons, but there was no need considering what they were.
A tall, dark-skinned fellow with light green eyes stepped forward.
“We know who you are,” he said, his Brazilian accent clear and heavy. “Who are they?”
Dylan nodded at his two companions, who still didn’t move. “These are my trusted companions—a wolf shifter like me and a practicing witch. They are merely kids and mean no harm.”
The man took this information in for a few seconds before he finally nodded his head. Like them, his face held no expression as he indicated with an arm for the other men to stand down.
“Follow me,” he clipped out.
Then he was leading the way towards the forest.
The three followed. Dylan took in the scene, noting down that the area was similar to Henrik’s African home, with its humidity and fog. They passed by too many twists and turns, which Dylan knew was a precaution in case intruders decided to escape with the path memorized. After what seemed like half an hour, they finally arrived at a large clearing that held a beautiful waterfall in the middle. Its water was light brown and strong, and the man quickly navigated the rocks and slipped behind the waterfall, disappearing from sight.
A few seconds of following, Dylan ducked behind the falls as well, where he finally saw the entrance to a cave that wasn’t at all visible from the outside.
The cave was huge—bigger than any he’d seen in a while, with trees and greenery growing at the entrance and a ceiling that was very high and filled with brown stalactites. It was wide, too and the line that they all followed when coming here shifted as the men who’d been watching them earlier flanked the three, while the dark-skinned man kept leading the way. They passed by low and high passages, amazed at the contrast of everything—pictures and art
hanging on the rough walls, and furniture everywhere. There were enough lights to make the place bright, coming from chandeliers hanging from the low ceiling and bonfires burning here and there.
The panther clan wasn’t as huge as the population at New York headquarters with all the shifters combined, but it was enough to rival the bear clan, who had the largest population third to the wolf and rat clan. Dylan had never seen this before, and had never received intel about it, which only cemented his thought that their leader took care of his clan and kept it from going extinct—and that they kept to themselves.
They finally reached a long hallway headed towards a part of the cave structured into a room. Dylan ducked into the low entrance after the man who led the way, where his eyes were greeted with marble tiles artfully melded with the rocky floor. A chandelier made of ivory and wood hung from the ceiling, and furniture and more lights burning from torches on stilts scattered the area. In the middle was an elevated chair made of wood, almost a symbol.
Sitting in the middle of the large chair was Isaac Hart, eyeing them quietly. Based on his expression, he’d been informed ahead of their arrival.
The dark-skinned man bowed. Isaac waved a hand, his deep voice echoing in the air
“Thank you, Clay. Our men may stand back.”
The men flanking them did as ordered. Dylan and his companions stayed where they were, standing in the middle of the room facing the chair.
Isaac stood up. He was a tall, tanned man, lean and muscled, but his movements were graceful and calculated. It gave one the image of a dancer—or a swordsman, one who was absolutely skilled and would dance around you until you were dead. Just like a panther, really. His hair was black and his eyes the lightest of blue, imitating the clear sky. There was a certain gleam in them that spoke of danger and fun—like they were taunting one to take the risk and see which side came out.
Those blue eyes met Dylan’s.
“Masters,” he intoned, that sly quality of tone making its appearance.
“Hart,” Dylan returned pleasantly.
“To what do I owe this visit?”
Might as well get it over with. Dylan nodded to the panther clan leader, not breaking their gaze.
“I need your help dealing with a slavery business. And you may need mine.”
CHAPTER FOUR
They were having a meeting in the secret room, and they hadn’t included Isabella, who was supposed to be an integral part of it all.
Now, that just wouldn’t do.
She’d heard about the visitors as soon as they entered the cave, but had been too busy to come right away to check them out. Of course, that was Isaac’s task—but as his sister, she liked judging guests and determining their loyalties, too. Now the secret room was locked, with Clay guarding the door.
“Let me go in,” she said.
Clay shook his head, staring ahead. “It’s a closed door meeting.”
She sighed in exasperation. “I already know what it’s about. Walls have ears.” Technically, one of her friends had ears, and the information about the guest’s purpose was passed on to her right away.
It had to do with the island. Which meant she was vital to it.
When Clay didn’t respond at all, Isabella gave him a stare down. It never really worked in intimidating him, but they both knew what that stare down meant—she was going to get her way. Stepping to the side, Isabella broke her gaze away from him. Then she picked the lock and barged in without preamble, ignoring Clay’s disapproving frown.
He wouldn’t dare manhandle her.
All voices trailed off at her entrance, but Isabella held her chin high. Her brother looked at her with a dangerous glint in his eye, but she ignored him completely and turned her attention to the guests—or rather, to the obvious main guest in particular.
Her first impression was that of an elegant man—tall, muscled and fit, with a fair complexion and equally fair looks. He had the lightest of blond hair and brown eyes, and he looked like the type of guy who could charm you with a grin. Classically handsome was her first thought.
High-society scoundrel was her second.
She knew exactly who he was.
“Isabella,” Isaac said warningly, voice deceptively low. It was his you are in big trouble look.
Isabella ignored it. “Isaac,” she said simply. Then she stepped forward and held out her hand. “Isabella Hart.”
The man—shifter—looked at her for a split second before taking the hand she offered. But instead of shaking it, he raised it up and lightly kissed her knuckles.
“Dylan Masters.”
It shouldn’t have made electricity run through her, considering how perfunctory it was. Isabella snatched her hand away, ignoring the stormy look Isaac shot her. She eyed the other guests, realizing that they were teenagers. What were they doing here?
“You were talking about how to get to the island,” she said, looking back at Dylan. “I can show you the way.”
He gave her a puzzled look. “You know the way?”
“My sister has been there,” Isaac filled in dryly. “She barely escaped with her life, and now she wants to go back again.”
“To save our brother,” she said, glaring at him. “Remember him?”
Isaac’s face hardened. “I don’t have a brother who enslaves children.”
The statement had a final ring to it, which saddened her. But she couldn’t give up on Jason yet, not when he created a diversion to get her out of there in the first place. There had to be a valid explanation—she was banking on it, especially when he’d been about to say something before he was cut off. She looked Isaac in the eye, silently letting him know her stand on the matter.
Finally, the panther clan leader sighed. Then that hardened gaze shifted towards Dylan, who didn’t look fazed.
“I guess we have a plan. My sister will bring you to the island, and you will come up with a way to get in and get out. Release all the prisoners if you can. Leave my brother if he betrays you.”
A sound of protest came from Isabella, which Isaac ignored.
“Right,” Dylan said. “And who will be my entourage?”
Isaac grinned ferally. “Why, you’ll only have my sister. She’s one of our best assassins.”
A look of surprise crossed the wolf shifter’s face, covered up quickly. He nodded his head.
“I take it this means you will consider the possibility of an alliance should this mission be successful,” Dylan said. It sounded like a reminder more than anything.
Isaac glanced at Isabella. “We’ll see. Just make sure you get my sister home in one piece.”
Isabella glared at Isaac, then turned to face Dylan. “Be ready in a few hours. We sail as soon as possible.”
No one mentioned the fact that she just ordered a shifter leader without any consequence.
Not that she cared.
*****
The man was too charming for his own good.
She’d seen pictures of him on the internet, of course. He was pretty popular in the dating scene, always seen with a beautiful woman on his arm and some choice class words. He had businesses everywhere, successfully keeping his shifter and leader status a secret from the world.
He was apparently also very manipulative, which meant she needed to watch him closely for Isaac’s sake—she couldn’t forget the stories she’d heard of how this man had tried to make their panther clan a part of the one in New York, essentially destroying whatever stability they had here. It was a good thing that Isaac took a stand.
Dylan was good at hiding that side of him, only showing his pleasant side. When they boarded the ship and prepared to set sail, she instructed the few men she brought to navigate while she looked towards the sea and called out instructions. Dylan didn’t waste any time in approaching her and engaging her in conversation.
“It is my pleasure to be working with you, Miss Hart,” he began.
“Isabella,” she interrupted. “And save it. We’re both using this
mission as a means to an end. Let’s just work together.”
Silence. Then Dylan nodded. “If you insist.”
She’d have rolled her eyes at the almost cheerful tone in his voice, but didn’t dare—he was still, after all, a leader equal to her brother. Instead, she turned to the side and studied the two teenagers, who were standing on the other end of the ship and watching the ocean as well. The dark-haired boy seemed to be a shifter, but she couldn’t place the aura of the girl beside him. They didn’t look like friends, either—merely acquaintances who just got assigned together on a mission, from the looks of it. The body languages were casual, but not intimate.
“What is she?” Isabella asked, careful to keep her voice low. She saw the girl’s ears perk up, though she didn’t turn towards her. Interesting. Not human, then, with that kind of hearing.
“Witch,” Dylan murmured, confirming her third guess.
“Ah. You’ve got an interesting choice of crew.”
“They’re useful,” Dylan agreed. “You’ll see soon.”
She made a noncommittal sound, then turned to the ocean again. The fog made seeing difficult, even for someone with her vision. But the men she took on trips like these knew the sea, and they would let her know if issues laid ahead. She nodded her head towards Dylan.
“We should have the meeting while we’re still on friendly waters. I don’t like to go in unprepared,” she said.
“Splendid idea,” he murmured.
*****
Half an hour later, they were still arguing the logic of the plan they’d formed in the ship’s makeshift office, with the girl named Robin bluntly offering her two cents and the boy named Simon unusually quiet, when they heard shouts from upstairs. An urgent knock sounded before the door was thrown open. The man in charge upstairs bowed at her.
“We’ve spotted a pirate ship,” he said.
Isabella’s eyes widened. “How many are on board?”
“Couldn’t tell yet. It’s not a big ship, maybe around twenty on board. Possibly thirty. We’ll be visible to it in about twenty minutes.”
Mate Hunt: An Alpha Werewolf Romance Page 2
