Devil Hills: #2 Luna & Lydia

by Diroll-Nichols, Karen

  “Let’s find a place for food and maybe stop for the night. You can soak in a tub and not think about it.”

  “What am I?”

  “Lydia, you heard Seth…the doctors…”

  “I don’t want doctors. I don’t ever want to see another doctor as long as I live,” she said vehemently, pushing against him and glaring into his eyes. “You. I trust you. What am I?” She demanded again.

  “A cougar.” Jude held her, giving up just enough space for their eyes to meet.

  “What was the drug they were giving us?”

  “Something to stop the animal from making itself known to you. You should have been able to sense things and smell emotions. They think we need to be cured,” he said softly.

  “Sasha never told me,” wide eyes filled with tears. “She should have told me.”

  “Babe, she wouldn’t have known. None of them would because you’ve never shifted. You don’t have the full scent. It’s really weak, it’s almost as if you were still twelve because you never shifted. Parents…good parents…raise their kids in both forms. I grew up running the hills and climbing trees with my parents and brothers. I knew I couldn’t change, but I knew what my parents were.”

  “Wolves don’t climb trees,” she said quietly, staring in his eyes.

  “I’m not a wolf. Most of Devil Hills is…I’m a jaguar. You’ll notice the scent’s difference…once the drugs get out of your system…”

  “I don’t think I’m doing too well, Jude,” she murmured, swaying slightly and slumping against the car door again.

  “One of many possible reactions,” he said softly, kissing her forehead. Before making sure she was comfortable with the blanket tucked around her for warmth.

  “Is she alright, Jude?”

  “I forgot to hit disconnect,” he said quietly, guiding the car onto the road and looking for signs. “She passed out. I don’t know how the hell I’d handle it.”

  “Just be careful and get her back here safe. Send me a report on what you know so far.”

  “Yeah…later…thanks, Seth,” Jude ended the call, glancing at her now and then.

  Lydia heard the large cat talking to her.

  She’d listened to her all of her life. She first dreamed of her, watched her move and envied her. She was free and had the mountains and trees, huge cliffs and deep caves to prowl in.

  And no one told her no. She remembered waking when she was barely eight and going immediately to the library; immediately searching the internet for all the information she could find on the animal that had appeared in her dreams.

  And the animal never stopped talking to her. Lydia remembered hearing the soft hissing whisper when she was in trouble; when she was enduring a training session or punishment. The animal was always there telling her how strong she really was; always there keeping her going when a part of her wanted to sleep and never wake.

  Lashes fluttered, light flickering through them and letting her know it was barely day. She as curled against a large pillow, blinking and gradually seeing the figure peering across at her. He came slowly into focus; dark blond hair in a neat but longish cut, side parted and today, a little ragged looking. She guessed he’d been running his hand through it. She’d watched him do that when he was frustrated. She only just noticed his eyes were a kind of amber color with sparkles of midnight around the edges.

  “Welcome back,” Jude breathed a sigh of relief.

  “Umm…it might be hard to believe…but I’ve only ever passed out once before,” she dragged a dry tongue around her lips, leaning up and gratefully taking the bottle of water he held out to her. “Thanks.”

  “I was starting to feel offended,” Jude returned lightly. “I bought sub sandwiches while you were out. Stuff on the side do you can build your own.”

  “Thanks. I need…” She leaned up, blinking and looking around. “You brought me in here?”

  “Figured we needed some rest and you probably had questions and I don’t think I deal well with you passing out while I’m driving,” Jude let all the words crowd together, the arched brows and wide eyes watching him and nodding slowly.

  “Bathroom,” she said quietly, sliding to the edge of the bed and holding both palms out at him. “No touching. I’m good,” she pointed to the door fifteen feet away. “I won’t be long…be right back…”

  Jude threw himself back in the chair, his eyes closed and head hanging limply.

  He’d done nothing but watch her sleep since carrying her into the room. He requested a large suite way in the back, quiet. He couldn’t imagine the questions and shock she must be going through. On top of that, he had to figure out a way to explain what she’d done when she bit him. The bond she’d begun to build in them when she mingled their blood, mingled their scents.

  But then the honesty was that the lust and emotions were there before her teeth broke his skin and claimed him. Not that it was a great legal defense. They weren’t going steady or anything like that. More along the lines of her fine little body belonged to him now and no one else.

  Okay, so that’s subtle, he thought with a groan, the sound of the door making his head come up. She carried her boots, dropping them near the door and lifting her case to the suitcase stand by the bathroom.

  “Not hungry?” He asked carefully.

  She rooted in the large case, coming out with a pair of emerald panties, a scrap of something in the same color and jeans and a tee shirt. She faced him, her other hand holding the little bag of soaps and lotions.

  “Shower. Eat. Enjoy. I need a long hot shower,” she informed him, pausing outside the bathroom. “You need in? ‘Cause I’m gonna be awhile.”

  “Uhh…no, I’m good…enjoy yourself,” Jude frowned. “Are you alright?”

  “Oh, just amazingly peachy. I find out I’m a cougar, the people who raised me are worse than evil and I’ve spent most of my life being drugged. What could possibly make you think I’m not alright?”

  He winced at the slamming door.

  Lydia was nothing if not an expert at planning. And right now the pent up anger was a great catalyst for a plan. She mentally went over what she had in the bank and what she had available for trade for what she needed.

  And the first thing was to return to Montreal because she wanted to do some serious damage.

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  She pinpointed the keys when she left the bathroom half an hour later. Neatly tucking the dirty clothes into her case and going to the drinks he had set out for them. She’d palmed the sedative and dropped it into his tea before carrying it to him.

  “Thanks for the time,” Lydia took a long drink of her soda, lifting one of the subs and slowly unwrapping it. She took a bite, watching him drink his tea.

  “Feeling a little better?”

  She shrugged. “Not sure. Most of it I’m used to. I mean I know the ghoul is a slug. No issues there. I knew they were using the people for something, just not sure what or why. I don’t like the idea that they’re getting away with it, though,” she ate her sandwich, quietly cleaning up and putting things into the cooler he had sitting on the floor.

  “Time for some sleep, Lydia,” he thought about the cuffs in his pocket but patted the bed at his side. “We’ll head out early in the morning. Maybe the doc has something to get the drugs out of you faster.”

  “Maybe,” Lydia pulled the blankets down the huge bed, stretching out on the side and snuggled down in the pillows. “That would be nice. But I don’t believe in magic much, Jude. It’s okay. I’m doing just fine as I am,” she let out a long, slow yawn and closed her eyes.

  “Good night, Lydia,” Jude lay facing her, the long day catching up with him.

  She waited. Counting and listening. Fifteen minutes later, she had her case back in the SUV and carefully backed out of the parking lot. The white flashing sign telling her how long she had to go to get back to Montreal.

  ****

  Jude St. John woke up cursing and yelling into the cell phone. He
had a rental car at the hotel within the hour and people flying to Montreal from Seattle. And this time he’d damn sure wear her behind out.

  He had a headache and he was not a happy camper. The connections they had in Montreal were on alert, watching for his SUV but hell if he knew what else to have them look for. He had no idea how she would look or what she was after.

  No, that wasn’t quite true. He knew she was after any one of the research facilities.

  He put a man on Dr. Morgan with orders to call him the instant anything looked out of place. He didn’t have to look in the mirror to know his neck had darkened with the natural spots and his canines refused to go back. He was lucky he wasn’t stabbing himself with claws he was so furious.

  Furious and scared. She was bent on revenge and didn’t care what happened to herself in the process.

  ****

  Lydia sat back in the SUV and watched.

  Someone had found one of her suppliers. The building he’d been using still smoldered, the stench of wood and flesh enough to make her gag. Her anger boiled just beneath the surface, barely under her control. She’d gone to all her hiding places, collected everything she had and leaned back in the cushioned seat, staring up the long driveway.

  She didn’t like snap decisions. She liked time and patience.

  She’d spent three days taking photos from buildings and ground; under and over and all around.

  A school girl taking pictures.

  A tourist lost with a map and smiling brightly at the guard who met her when she wandered around talking in French about the flowers and trees.

  So many personalities, but just beneath the surface of each, she now welcomed the large tawny colored cat that hovered in the back of her mind. She wondered how easy it would be to use those lethal claws and not feel a thing.

  Damned easy, she decided, peering through a pair of high powered binoculars at the ghoul’s car as it wound up the nicely stoned driveway. It would certainly be easier to stealth in as a cat, she mused, lifting a long strawberry licorice strip and biting down thoughtfully.

  The problem was getting the residents out.

  Destroying the building was easy. From what Jude had said, even if they had shifters on guard duty, her scent would be easily mixed in with the others who hadn’t developed properly. She could easily lay the charges in one night. The only thing she could think of was a fire alarm. Something serious enough to have them empty the buildings. Or were the residents even worth enough for them to empty…she felt the anger rising inside her.

  And once she did get them out, how did she help them?

  She slid to the floor of the empty apartment, her knees up and head bent between them. It had been ages since she let tears rule. The acute anger and frustration that she couldn’t help them immediately hurt. It hurt so deep inside she wanted to rip and shred anything that she came in contact with. It was taking every ounce of her control to not just walk in there and start shooting.

  She closed the aluminum case and moved silently through the building and out the side entrance, slipping into the SUV and closing her eyes. She swiped a palm at her cheek angrily.

  And the stupid bite mark on her shoulder had been itching like mad all day long! She reached to scratch it and felt the arm that came around from the back, pinning her to the seat.

  “Hello, darling. Miss me?” Jude growled, tapping the ring on his finger and waiting for her body to go limp.

  “You two got a strange relationship,” a woman dressed in black jeans and heavy jacket, pulled the door open and held Lydia in place until Jude came around to take her from the seat. He carried her to side door, bound her feet and hands before laying a quilt over her and making sure she wouldn’t fall from the seat.

  “You have no idea.”

  “Why didn’t you tell Seth you’d marked each other? That’s an important detail,” she looked at Jude with a quizzically raised brow.

  “It’s also personal. Our issue, our details.”

  “She’s got enough stuff here to arm a small country, Jude.” Respect and an impressed tone in the woman’s voice. “Damned good stuff, too.”

  “Take what you need. Fuck, take all of it. She’s not coming back here. Not on her own like this again,” he climbed behind the wheel, his head shaking. It had taken them three days and two dozen connections to find her, checking every location where a known research facility was thought to be. She had the advantage before because she’d been on the inside.

  He could see the dark circles back beneath her eyes and judging by the wrappers and little else, she hadn’t been eating much but junk.

  “I can understand her anger, Jude,” Meredith shook her head and loaded everything from the SUV but the suitcases. She tossed his to the back and closed the door, making sure it was locked before striding to the window and sighing. “Don’t be so hard on her. She’s lived it. Seen it all. We’re working from out here, she’s been part of it and it has to hurt.”

  “Don’t lecture me, Mere…don’t need it right now. She’s willing to get herself killed and that’s not acceptable,” Jude ground between his teeth.

  “Just talk to her, Jude. Don’t…Christ, don’t tear her apart for wanting to rescue people from hell.”

  “Relationship advice, Mere?”

  “Low blow,” she snarled. News of her previous relationship going up in flames wasn’t a secret. She was a wreck for a few weeks. “I just think she’s had a lot thrown at her. That last thing she pulled off was brilliant, but I know it had to have taken her a year to build it all so completely. Every one of those rescued had money and clothing and a safe house. We know. We’ve talked to some of the fosters. Hell, I’d bet she didn’t sleep an hour a night from some of the stories I heard,” she looked toward the back seat. “You’ll lose her if you cage her, Jude. Is that what you want?” She said softly.

  “I want her alive, Mere,” he said tiredly.

  “Patience don’t come in a pill…you better hit the road. I’ll get this stuff to our local office and have it put into a safe bunker. Like I said…a small country…” She chuckled and walked off to her van.

  “Will we survive you getting patience, Lydia?” Jude hadn’t done much sleeping the last four days either. He pulled alongside the man at the curb two blocks down, put the SUV in idle and climbed to the street. “Dev…thanks for the help.”

  “I understand I’m the only one who’s slept in the last few days,” he tipped his head and climbed into the SUV. “I don’t mind, Jude. I was planning a trip to Devil Hills anyway.”

  Jude climbed into the back seat, carefully arranging Lydia in his arms and stretching his legs out.

  “You’ve got a lady with guts, Jude.”

  “So I keep hearing.”

  “Relax, my friend, I used to be a chauffeur, remember? I’ll wake you come morning.” He poured coffee from his thermos, set the radio to an old country station and headed them to the highway.

  Jude laid the seat back, not exactly a full sized bed, but damn close. She was exhausted, it was in each of her moves. And he’d been watching her all day. She went from place to place collecting things she had scattered around the city. No matter what she’d been through, they hadn’t managed to kill the innate spirit of the woman he held close to him through the night. Both of them slept until it was almost eleven in the morning.

  Rain pelted the SUV, slanting at them even beneath the overhang at the fuel station. They had crossed into the United States through a back road and were just outside Chicago when she began to stir.

  Pale lashes shot wide when she realized she was trussed up tight, her hands in front of her and bound together with the cuffs. She tried moving her feet, only to discover they were held together with duct tape. She kicked out furiously, striking the sliding door and letting both men standing and refueling know she was awake.

  “Now the fun part,” Devereaux Myles looked at his friend with a casual shrug. “I’ll pull around to the restroom, you get the key.”


  He climbed behind the wheel, glancing over his shoulder at the silver strip Jude had placed over her mouth.

  “Good morning, Miss Jones. If you behave, we’re pulling up to a restroom now for you. If you try and run again, I’ll tranq you. It’s that simple. Might not be a bad idea, you look like you could use the sleep.”

  She just glared at him, taking in the broad shoulders, hair that fell around his face in an off shade of deep red and eyes bright blue. She was seething. Evidently Jude had called in reinforcements. She wiggled, repositioned and managed to sit upright by the time the SUV was moved to the side of the large building.

  The watch cap she’d had on to cover her hair had come loose and fell to the floor. A blast of cold air struck her when the side door was slid aside. A pair of dark amber eyes met hers, a pocket knife in his hand. He reached in and slit the duct tape, pulling it free and tossing it to the trash bin beside him. He had her feet and hands free and was reaching for the tape on her face when she beat him to it, pulling it free and throwing it toward him.

  Jude reached in, her body immediately stiff when he lifted her to the ground, his body bracing her between the door and the SUV. He unlocked the cuffs and pushed the door to the rest room inward.

  “Don’t be long. We have breakfast for you but we need to get back on the road.” He met the defiant green eyes. “Make a noise that’s not agreeable and you go back to sleep. It’s that simple at this point, Lydia.”

  “I’ll get the food. A large collection of a lot of stuff,” Dev said, moving quickly to the fast food restaurant.

  Lydia was never so grateful for a toilet in her life. She washed her hands and put several scoops of cold water on her face, damp fingers raking through the wild tufts of platinum blond hair and trying to get it to settle back where it belonged. When she decided she couldn’t stall any longer, she unlocked the door, stepping warily outside.