“Please, lass.” Valor squeezed her thighs, “Please, I beg of ye. Help us. If ye’ve seen them before, ye may see them again.”
Listening to the desperation in their voices and seeing it in their eyes wasn’t going to make turning them down easy. The last thing Tilly wanted was to go to her grave with nothing but failures. She might not be able to save herself or her sister, but the savior in her wanted to save someone. Something.
It might as well be this pack.
“I’ll help you.”
Chapter 28
“How the fuck did we miss them there, Val?” Bishop started pacing. “How the fuck is this even possible? If they’re out there, and she’s seen them, why haven’t they come home?”
Valor rubbed the back of his neck and said nothing. Falling back on his haunches, he stared at the photo on his phone.
Bishop practically vibrated. “It’s my fault. They aren’t returning because of me. FUCK!” Bishop pivoted and punched a wall, his fist went right through the drywall like it was made of tissue paper.
The violent act made Tilly jump.
“How did ye see them, Matilda Jane?”
“What did they look like?” Bishop added, “Did they look okay?”
“Did they speak to ye?”
“Whoa, whoa, whoa,” Tilly waved her hands in the air to silence the two men. Errrr, Hell Hounds. Shit, this was fucking crazy. She’d seriously gotten mixed up in something that she had no business being a part of.
And had stayed in their house. In one of their beds. And let Bishop –
Deep breathes. Deep breathes. “Hell Hounds,” she said quietly. Bishop nodded. So did Valor. “Tell me everything, boys. From the beginning.”
“First tell us about the twins,” Bishop argued.
“No,” Tilly stood and crossed the room. “I want to know what a Hell Hound is capable of… besides the whole walk on the ceiling thing, which I’m now understanding wasn’t a drug-induced hallucination like I thought.”
Valor and Bishop looked at each other. “Might as well give the lass all the information. It’s only fair, if we want the same from her.”
“We don’t have time for this!” Bishop roared. He grabbed a chair and smashed it against the wall, splintering the damn thing.
Tilly cringed and took a step closer to Valor.
Bishop realized how out of control his anger was and said, “I can’t… fuck… I…”
“Leave us, Bishop.” Valor commanded. “Return when you’re certain ye willna frighten her any more than ye already have.”
Tilly wanted to protest, but Bishop was frightening her. This wasn’t the Bishop she’d met at The Blue Lizard. This was a monster with a hair-trigger temper and a penchant for destruction.
She looked at him and tried to figure out what happened to the man who sat and drank tequila with her. The man who kissed her like she was the breath of life to a dying man. The man who fed her in bed with compassion and empathy just a few hours ago.
“God, I’m… I’m so sorry, Tilly.” Bishop slowly got to his feet and scrubbed his face with both hands. He was shaking. “I’m too fucked for this. I’m too fucked for you.” He turned and left without another word.
Valor repositioned so she was protected behind him until Bishop left the apartment. “He’d never hurt ye, Matilda Jane.”
“Tell that to my chair. And my wall. And my door.”
Valor sighed, “Bishop’s a complicated creature, but he’s not a monster. He’d never hurt a woman, even if his life depended on it. But he’s in a verra bad place right now, lass. The twins’ disappearance, he feels, is all his fault.”
“Why?”
When Valor motioned for her to take a seat at her futon, Tilly cocked her eyebrow. “You like to boss people around, don’t you? Even in their own house.”
“Aye, I do. I’m the alpha. I command, all others obey.” Valor smiled and it was incredibly sexy.
Tilly’s breath whooshed out of her and she took a seat. Then she squirmed because why the hell did she just take orders from a guy she didn’t know? Valor oozed dominance and her body responded in a natural way to him – she couldn’t tell if she liked it or not.
The futon groaned when he sat next to her. Valor had to have been six-foot five or something like that. He was built like a warrior. There was this weird ancient feel to this man’s energy. That didn’t make any sense. How old could he even be? Thirty? Thirty-five, tops? Maybe a damned fine forty?
“Hell Hounds protect the living by hunting malanum – evil spirits that slip through Hell’s prison walls and resurface in the living world. We hunt them down, capture and put them back where they belong.”
“That’s what the hole is for?”
“Aye.” Valor nodded, “It’s a Hell hole.”
Tilly was so glad she was sitting down for this.
“Have ye ever seen a malanum, lass?”
“How would I know if I’ve seen one or not?”
Valor tugged his beard thoughtfully, “They are pitch black. The older they are, the more boney and leathery they look.”
“No,” she said quietly, “I can’t say I’ve ever seen something like that.” She’d seen other creatures that were close to it though.
“I’m glad. They’re frightening creatures to behold.”
“What does a malanum have to do with the creeper? I mean, the twins.”
Val met her gaze and stole her breath with how his blue eyes glowed like fire. “I’ve a feeling malanum took the twins.”
“They can take people?”
“They can do anything they wish when they’re set loose. ‘Tis one of the many reasons they’re so dangerous and why our job is so important.”
The more Valor talked, the safer she felt. It wasn’t magic making her feel that way, it was Valor. Just… Valor. She felt safe with him. She felt safe in his house. And with Bishop too. “What else can malanum do?”
“Possess people. Force a good man to do despicable things.”
Tilly curled into herself a little.
“And they are an evil so pure and strong, they can infect other spirits and turn them into monsters.”
“Holy hell.”
“So, lass, I need to know what my Hound looked like when ye saw him.” Valor reached for Tilly’s hand and held it gently. “I need to know what I’m up against. It had to have been his spirit ye saw so many times, for I was there with ye in each of these places – or Bishop was – and we didna not see nor sense him. That must mean it was his spirit that ye saw.”
“I don’t see ghosts,” Tilly argued. “I’ve never been able to see ghosts.”
“Well, lass, ye do now.”
Valor sat and talked with Tilly the entire time in ghost form and she could see him. It was a test of sorts. Either this woman was excellent at playing ignorant, or she had no idea she possessed the ability to see past the grave. Or, at least she could see a Hell Hound in all his forms.
Valor thought back to the moment he saw Matilda Jane at The Blue Lizard. He remembered her aura. Her multi-colored, scared to death aura. “The night ye went back to the club for your phone,” Valor started, “ye were staring at an empty stool. It wasna empty, was it?”
She took a few heartbeats to answer. “No,” her voice quivered, “The creeper was there.”
“And,” he held her hand and began rubbing her knuckles with his thumb, “when ye tried to run from Bishop and was hit by the car, ye mentioned the creeper was there, too? Was it the same one?”
She nodded, “He was standing on the corner, staring at me. I saw him and panicked and I didn’t see the car turn and come towards me.”
Valor swallowed a lump in his throat. “Did he look… well?”
“I don’t know,” tears filled her eyes. “I don’t know what I saw now. I don’t understand this.” She popped up onto her feet and moved away from him. Valor turned back into his corporeal form and she didn’t even notice the change. “Why is he following me?”
“I doona ken.” He wanted to step closer to her, wrap his arms around her wee body and tell her she would be okay, that this wasn’t something to be scared of. But he was no liar. The bottom line was: She had an extraordinary ability and he intended to take advantage of it.
Tilly went over to the open window and Valor’s arms ached to touch her. While she stared down at Bishop patrolling the sidewalk, Valor studied her profile. Gods, what a beauty she was. He hadn’t truly appreciated her appearance until just now. The slope of her delicate neck, the strawberry blonde hair that had a slight wave to it. Those green eyes were the color of ferns. Her cheeks were full, as were her deep pink lips.
“How many people know about Hell Hounds?” she asked.
Val cleared his throat. “Not many.” He approached her slowly.
“And yet you told me about this so freely. Like it was common knowledge.” She spun around and hugged herself, “Why?”
“You asked.”
“That’s an answer, not the truth, Valor.”
“We need your help. I was giving ye something so ye’d return the favor.”
Her green gaze narrowed, “That’s not the truth either, Hound.”
“Because…” Maiden, Mother, and Crone, please forgive me, “Because dead men tell no tales, lass.”
“And I’m as good as dead because of my curse.” She spun back around and stared out the window again. He hated himself when she swiped away tears, “I get it.”
No she didn’t. She didn’t understand that this was killing something inside him right now. That using her was the last thing he wanted to do, but he was a desperate man who was at the end of his rope. A Hell Hound with a moral compass that had no true north anymore. Not now that his pack was gone.
“You’re willing to go to great lengths to save your pack.” Tilly’s voice was small. As small as Valor felt at the moment. “You’d use any means necessary to try and save them. Even elicit the service of a cursed and dying woman if it got you closer to getting what you want.”
Valor started to feel weak at the knees. “Aye,” his voice was so gruff it sounded inhuman.
“I don’t blame you,” she blew out a big breath, “I’ve done some pretty horrible things myself. Used people for my own potential gains. I know the meaning of ruthless. I know what desperation will drive a good person to do.” She spun around and looked him in the eyes. “I’m fine with it. I can’t save…” her voice cracked, “I can’t save me and Viv. If I can save your Hounds, then maybe God will forgive me for every bad thing I’ve done and let me into paradise when my time comes.”
Valor dropped to his knees because her aura right now slayed him. Oh gods.
“I’m a damned woman, Valor.” She wiped the tears from her cheeks again. “It’s too late for me, but I don’t want it to be too late for your pack. I’ll help you as much as I can, for as long as I can.”
Valor’s jaw clenched. His soul bayed. His heart broke in two. This hurt so much he fought for breath… Because he was going to use her. He would use her to find his Hounds. He was going to use her for however long it took, or for however long he could.
And that made him a despicable beast who didn’t deserve her.
Chapter 29
A few hours later, Tilly was back at Valor and Bishop’s house. Everything she owned and cared to keep had fit in two large trash bags and one carry-on suitcase. She never kept much because she always lived with the philosophy of, You can’t take it with you when you go.
That mindset felt like an anvil swaying over her head now.
There was a strange silence between the three of them. She wasn’t very good at reading people, but something felt… she didn’t know, awkward wasn’t the right word, but there was something odd between them. More so with Valor than Bishop.
If Valor was feeling guilty about their arrangement, he shouldn’t. He might be using her to get to the twins, but, like she’d said no less than five times already, she was fine with it. She was using him to gain a little redemption. Like she said, they were even.
Tilly hadn’t been raised in a religious household. The curse laid upon the women in her bloodline had a lot to do with that. Over the generations, it went from praying for mercy and miracles, to what the hell else could possibly be out there who might have an answer since God wasn’t helping worth a damn, to fuck it, maybe there isn’t a God at all and shit is what it fucking is, so be it.
That’s where Tilly’s head was now. So be it. They carried her things inside and for some reason, the other people were still in the house. The place thrived with an energy so vibrant it had a warm pulse to it.
“It’s about time you returned,” the tall one with Celtic tattoos said.
“Sorry for the delay,” Valor and Kalen gripped forearms and Valor almost smiled. “I leave your pack alone for a few hours and come home barely recognizing the place, Wolf.”
Tilly had to agree. The atmosphere was so different now.
“We tend to make a home wherever we go, no matter how long we stay,” Kalen grinned, “I blame Sara.”
Valor laughed. The sound of his deep voice chuckling shifted something in Tilly. She found herself smiling in spite of her current situation.
They walked into the large kitchen and found Sara, Tanner, and Jack playing cards at the table while Eli stayed busy putting things away in a pantry big enough to park a car in. “The groceries came. I made the sage stuff Tilly needed.”
“Thanks,” Valor almost blushed. “What do I owe ye?”
“Your money’s no good to us, Val,” Sara said. She slapped her cards on the table and squealed.
Tanner and Jack tossed theirs down in defeat. “I don’t know why we play with her,” Jack teased. “She always wins.”
“I don’t mind,” Tanner grinned. “She gives the loser really great kisses.”
Sara blew Jack a kiss and scooped up the money on the table, stuffing it into her back pocket.
“What the hell happened?” Kalen asked.
Bishop answered first, “She’s seen the twins.”
Everyone stood. “Let’s go get them then. Where are they?” Tanner’s excitement was palpable.
“It’s complicated,” Valor said. “They’ve come to her as a ghost that Bishop and I canna see.”
“What the actual fuck?” Tanner tossed his hands in the air. “How’s that work?”
“We doona ken, but we’ll figure it out. This is more difficult than I anticipated.” Valor didn’t move while everyone else seemed to bustle around. “I need to do this,” he spoke with authority, “alone.” Everyone started to object and he silenced them with a wave of his bear paw sized hand.
“We’re in this with you, Valor.” Kalen wasn’t going to back down.
“We will respect his wishes, Hounds.” Sara walked over and grabbed Valor’s hand, giving it a squeeze. “If you need anything, call us, alright?”
“We’ll be fine,” Valor said with soft eyes as he looked down at Sara. Hell, even Tilly almost believed him with the tone he used. We’ll be fine.
Kalen grabbed his shoulder and squeezed, “We’re not giving up, okay. We’re going to find them. Let us go home to gain some strength and we’ll return in rotations, like we discussed. If you don’t need our help with the twins, we can at least take your district and hunt for you until you can do so yourself.”
“That won’t be necessary,” Valor said. “I’ve got this handled. I appreciate it though.”
“What’s changed?” Jack asked, suspiciously.
“Her,” Bishop nodded towards Tilly.
All eyes were suddenly on her. Feeling awkward, Tilly dropped her gaze to the floor and stuffed her hands in her pockets. Someone lifted her chin and she looked up to see Sara standing in front of her with a bitchy face. “Never look down.”
Huh? Tilly’s brow knit together in confusion.
“Never look down,” Sara repeated. “You don’t submit, you hear me. You’re with the big dogs now, Tilly. Never cast your gaze to the
floor, it gives the other person the upper hand. It gives them dominance over you.” She leaned in and whispered, “Keeping eye contact is key in lots of things.” Sara winked and walked away with a, “Hounds, let’s roll!” One by one, the men followed behind her.
Holy shit! Sara was the alpha of their pack? Annnnd double holy shit, Tilly was actually thinking in terms of packs of wolves and alphas and betas and… she looked over at Valor and Bishop. Valor was the alpha. So what was Bishop?
“This is crazy,” she whispered as the front door slammed shut. “Packs. Hell Hound packs.”
Valor held his arms out in a welcome gesture, “Welcome to our world, lass.”
Sara’s advice echoed in her mind, Never look down. Tilly’s lips curved and she kept her gaze locked on Valor. “What now, Alpha?”
Tilly ate the sage dish Eli left for her and then, over a dynamite meal of burnt grilled cheese sandwiches and tomato soup – because none of them were stellar chefs – Tilly, Valor and Bishop discussed the twins.
Valor filled her in on how long they’d been missing, and she filled them both in on how long she’d been running into the guy she kept having to stop herself from calling The Creeper.
Sebastian and Drake were their names. Or, as Bishop kept referring to them, Baz and D.
And no, they weren’t turning into malanum, as far as she could tell, which made both the Hounds look insanely relieved. They all agreed they were going to have to wait until the next time Tilly saw them to figure out their next move, so in the meantime, she wouldn’t be out of their sight. There was no rhyme or reason to their appearances and Valor wasn’t going to miss an opportunity, so Tilly was to stay under the radar of either Bishop or Valor until one of the twins came to her again.
“I’m so fucking grateful they’ve been seen, but I don’t understand why they’re going to her and not one of us,” Bishop stuffed the last bite of his fourth sandwich into his mouth.
Tilly swirled her spoon around her soup bowl. She didn’t have much appetite but didn’t want to look ungrateful about the dinner. Valor had gone through the trouble of trying to cook it, she should at least try to choke some of it down. “Maybe I attract them?”
Hard to Find (Hell Hounds Harem Book 4) Page 21
