Aaron grimaced at Gabel. If it was true, then Magnes’ was guilty of a number of serious crimes and Gabel was the rightful heir to SableFur, and that made Magnes’ current Luna and offspring disgraced or even illegitimate. “Does Luna Adrianna know?”
Gabel weighed his answer. Then, he said, “We believe she knows, but only her, and Elder Oracle Anita.”
“This is a hell of a secret to keep contained for almost thirty years. Not even a rumor,” Aaron said, skeptical.
“If you don’t believe, then there’s nothing to talk about,” Gabel said. “But go ahead, open your mouth and get those rumors going, Aaron.”
Aaron ground his teeth together. “Let’s say I believe you. That you’re Magnes’ bastard, and he needs to keep that a secret, and he’s being a smart Alpha and listening when his Elder Oracle warns him that you’ll destroy him, and Gianna is the one who can reveal the secret. Why let Gianna live at all?”
Flint said, “Our guess is that he can’t risk the questions. He had a spy in MarchMoon, and your game with the petitioner wolf gave Magnes what he needed.”
“Unless you knew about the MarchMoon spy,” Gabel growled.
“I knew about her. There are spies everywhere. We all spy on each other. I didn’t know Magnes had such an extreme motivation for wanting to take so much risk with removing you.”
Gabel put a finger on RedWater. “Why stop at removing his bastard when he can have the bastard’s crown?”
Aaron grunted.
“You have a nice, clean reputation. I do not. Demand that RedWater formally declare themselves IceMaw allies. When they refuse, attack them as IronMoon thralls. Nobody will question your motives.”
Aaron nodded, and his lips curled. “RedWater will do whatever they think benefits them the most. No loyalty. It will be easy for me to sell my allies on dealing with RedWater.”
“Exactly. Now, for GleamingFang—”
“Another gutless Alpha.”
“I know you are his master, but I’ve never been able to prove it. Give me proof, and I’ll destroy him like I destroyed MarchMoon. That will remove another slippery Alpha, put the two of us at direct odds with each other, and put pressure on SableFur.”
Aaron looked at the map. “Your plan isn’t complete. If I am seen as gnawing on your territory successfully, Magnes will have no reason to come for you. That buys Gianna time. Give me these two packs.” He pointed to the two Gabel had planned to annex after SaltPaw. “Attack something in the north, or I will take it while you are in GleamingFang. Send a token IronMoon force to put up a bit of a fight, I will beat them, and then take the old SpringHide territory. Make it look convincing.”
“Just enough of a fight to make it look like you got something of mine.” The idea of losing to Aaron was noxious, but he could deal with the IceMaw later. Keeping the SableFur confused and unsure of just what the real threat was was the most important thing. It would keep Gianna safe, and buy her time. “Make a great deal of noise about how you will never bow to any King-Alpha.”
“It would not be noise. I will not.”
Gabel grinned at him. “I know. We can discuss that after we deal with Magnes.”
“You dealing with Magnes might not give you SableFur, or even let you keep your life,” Aaron said.
“Dividing up the spoils is an argument for another time,” Flint interrupted. “If you two agree that SableFur and Magnes must be dealt with, then you can work together until then. Then you two can resume fighting with each other.”
Gabel gave Aaron a hard look. “Are we agreed?”
“We are agreed, IronMoon,” Aaron replied.
Hix : Excuse Me Sir, What’s In The Trunk?
Hix pushed his way through the bar crowds. The light was the unnatural pink-red all bars like this seemed to share, complete with dark corners and choking haze. The crowd thinned towards the pool tables, no doubt because of the hostile-looking individuals each bent over their own tables, or watching from the shadows.
Donovan sat on a stool, slouched against the far wall, beer on one knee and a dark-haired woman on the other. He watched a couple of guys play pool while the woman rested her head against his shoulder and teased the collar of his shirt. She opened her eyes as Hix approached, but didn’t lift her head.
Hix sat down.
Donovan took a long drink. “I’ve got winner.”
“You know what I’m here for.” Hix was in no mood for Donovan’s bullshit. The woman-de-jour sighed and murmured something to him.
“And it can wait for a bit. Fuck, don’t you even know how to have a good time? I have a beer, a pool table, and a little company.” He patted suspiciously low on her torso, almost between her thighs. “And you want to ride me about things you know I’m good for?”
Hix snarled, “Give me what I came for, or else I’m putting you through that pool table.”
Donovan handed his beer to his date. “Hold this for me, hmm?”
She brought the tip of the bottle to her lips, leaned forward and eyed Hix as she licked and worked the neck of the bottle.
Hix was not amused. Donovan chortled. The Hunter fished around in his back pocket, pulled out his wallet and removed a few bills. He held up the cash between two fingers. “Want to go double or nothing? Double says the big guy there scratches the next shot.”
Hix snatched the sweaty, moist bills. “No. We’re done. Enjoy the rest of your evening.”
“Aye aye, Mr Professional Thug,” Donovan said. His date saluted him with the beer bottle.
Hix pushed his way out of the bar. The cold air was a welcome relief from the hot haze within. He crunched across the empty parking lot, got into the cab of his—ahem—borrowed truck and unfolded the bills. On the center most one, scrawled in purple marker, was an address:
127 Holly Briar
3rd (?) floor
The address lead to a squat three-level apartment building six blocks from the bar. “Apartment building” would have been a compliment, and only a minor technicality based on the fact that the condemned, broken-down building had rooms for rent. Humans lounged outside despite the frigid winter night. They did not bother to stir out of their drug hazes. A few gave him a cursory look, but upon realizing he probably wasn’t the sort to share any drugs he had, nor the sort that could be made to share, opted to not ruin their highs.
The squalor of the building hit his nose from the outside, and the entire block was permeated by a chemical scent like paint thinner. Not a block any werewolf would want to hang out. Which was exactly why it seemed logical his hunt had brought him here.
The doors to many of the apartments were open. Many of the TVs were loud, people shouted, various kids ran up and down the hall unattended. A few kids made a game of jumping over the legs of a passed out drunk. Hix stepped over that body himself and continued slow progress around the halls until the scent he was after drifted from a stairwell. He tracked it to one apartment where the scent clung around the door frame.
He knocked and stepped to the side to avoid the peep hole.
He knocked again.
The door opened a crack.
He kicked in the door. A female shout and curse, footsteps scrambling back. Hix smashed forward and ripped the remains of the door off its hinges. The cheap wood splintered. She cursed and swore and bolted into the filthy one-room apartment, headed for the single window.
He lunged through the room and grabbed a handful of her hair. She screamed, swung around and punched him in the jaw, and her knee snapped up, but caught him in the thigh. He slammed her back against the wall by the throat. He pushed his fingers into her throat, cutting off the blood to her brain.
“Remember me?” he hissed at her.
She grinned and wheezed. “I’m not your type, remember?.”
“Running back home to SableFur like a stupid coward.”
She tried to kick him.
He didn’t release her throat, but did release her hair, and punched her in the left breast.
She ch
oked and gagged.
He eased up on her neck a degree so she could breathe. He didn’t want her dead. Yet.
She wheezed and swung at him with a floppy hand, cursing in breathless tones about the size of his manhood, how good he was with it, how many knotholes in fences he had violated, and if he had ever been married to a sheep or goat. Her determination was admirable. He said, “We are leaving.”
“Where are we going, big man?”
“SableFur.”
She yanked against his hand. He followed her motion and smashed her back into the wall. Her skull left an indent in the sheetrock. She groaned. “SableFur? Why?”
“You are a SableFur spy.” Hix pulled her close again. “You were born EmeraldPelt, but you’re a SableFur Hunter, aren’t you? You didn’t cover your trail well enough. Donovan was disappointed.”
“You think I care about getting caught? Alpha Magnes won’t care. I was Magnes’ eyes and ears, and Marcus knew it.” She rounded her lips at him and blew him a kiss. “Alpha Gabel killed him for being a traitor. Big deal. None of this is news to anyone, big boy.”
“So who sent the petitioner wolf to IronMoon?” Hix asked. “Was that Magnes, or was it Aaron of IceMaw?”
“Don’t know, don’t care, just know the answer he brought back.” She smoothed her tongue over her teeth.
Hix grinned at her in return. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a length of silver-laced cord. He dangled it in front of her face. “Are you going to be a good girl, or am I going to have to tie you up and carry you out of here?”
“You know what I like.” She blew him another kiss. “The police will be on you, wolf.”
“Humans do not concern me.”
He turned her around and neatly tethered her wrists together. She hissed as the silver bit into her skin. “Do it a little rougher, big boy.”
His spun her back around. “Now, one last thing since I can’t trust you.”
“Oh?”
He punched her in the face.
She slumped against the wall, blood pouring out of her lips, and brain reeling. Hix hefted her over his shoulder and proceeded out of the building.
She barred her teeth at him and lunged against her silver-laced tethers.
“We have been through this thirty times,” Hix said tolerantly. His shirt was torn, and he had some bloody bite marks from where she had managed to squirm and rip into his skin with her teeth, but he now had her tied up nicely in a little bow. She could just squirm and snap at him from her place in the passenger seat.
“Twenty-seven,” she growled. She flipped hair out of her face. Her head pounded, and her brain was a little foggy. “You gave me a concussion, you piece of shit.”
Hix ignored her.
“Why are you taking me to SableFur’s heart?” she asked around her split lips. “There’s no reward coming your way.”
Hix ignored her.
Lulu scrunched herself against the car door. “Come on, big guy, what’s this about? Nobody’s going to care you found me. Marcus is already dead as a traitor.”
“Your testimony was what the Oracles used to dishonor Luna Gianna,” Hix said calmly. “If everyone in SableFur knows you’re a Hunter implanted into MarchMoon that’s exactly what I need.”
“So what? Everyone knows I was there.” She shoved her feet up onto the dash and rolled her eyes.
“Exactly. I know Marcus served two masters. Alpha Aaron of IceMaw had him send the petitioner to IronMoon, and once the petitioner returned with his fake question—because he was just there to test how easily Alpha Gabel would grant access to Luna Gianna—and you sent all that information back to Magnes. Alpha Magnes used you to ensnare and discredit an enemy Luna, knowing it would weaken his rival. I cannot free my Luna, but I can shame your Alpha.”
“They’ll never let you leave alive.”
“No, they won’t. But you’ll be dead before then,” Hix said.
“Don’t threaten me, big boy.”
“The only reason you are not dead is that having a dead body in the truck bed would be conspicuous. I do not actually need nor want you alive.”
Lulu pushed back more against the car door. “You’re serious.”
Hix did not reply.
“How about I start telling you what I know?”
“It does not matter. I will be killed and never be able to give the information back to IronMoon.”
“You crazy fuck, you think Magnes will let you die? You’ll get tortured for every piece of information you’ve got in that thick skull of yours!”
“I have seen Alpha Gabel wield pain like a weapon,” Hix said. “Your Magnes cannot possibly be worse than the Moon’s Dark Comet.”
“Is that what he’s calling himself now?”
“That is what he is, and that’s why Magnes is so afraid to face him openly.”
“That’s a lie! Magnes doesn’t give two shits about that snaggle-toothed pup.”
“Ask the Moon Herself. I will send you to Her quite soon.”
“You don’t have the balls,” Lulu sneered.
“I promise to make it quick and painless. Your suffering doesn’t interest me.”
“Whatever you say.”
Hix kept driving.
Lulu had been quite forthcoming about how to find the heart of SableFur as discretely as possible. Hix was sure they had been noticed, but nobody tried to stop them. Arrival at the heart had been a bit too easy, but then again, he had only been one wolf with one prisoner. They could afford to let him in. They would probably not let him out, but he did not intend to leave.
Hix hefted Lulu’s body over his shoulder. Dead weight was a very different thing than live weight, as anyone who had lifted a corpse would attest. Lulu was still warm.
Whatever her real name had been didn’t matter. The Moon was the only one who cared, and She already knew.
He carried it up the walk to the main house. A few faces peaked out of windows. It was quiet. Good.
“Magnes!”
His voice bounced through the silence and back at him.
More faces at more windows, peering around doors.
“SableFur! I have something of yours!”
He had to shout a few more summons before the front door opened, and a single wolf emerged. A male, tall, broad, warrior, thirties. By now other wolves had gathered around their doors and porches to watch.
Hix slung the corpse into the snow. He kicked her over. Lulu’s neck bent at a sick angle, but her face was intact. “This she-wolf’s words were the main evidence against Luna Gianna of IronMoon. A SableFur posing as a MarchMoon. Alpha Magnes used his Oracles to attack his rival’s mate instead of using his own claws!”
The wolf at the door came a bit further out into the snow, then stopped.
Hix pointed at him. “You can kill me now, but all these other wolves,” he pointed at the eyes peering at him, “are listening to me! Get your Alpha down here! Have him explain how he hides behind lies and spies! Come here, all of you, look for yourself! This is how the SableFur deal with threats! Not with combat, but with spies and liars and moles! Your Alpha doesn’t attack another Alpha with courage, he attacks his Luna with his corrupt Oracles!”
The single wolf outside the front door quickly ducked his head back inside.
Within minutes another wolf appeared, wearing far more prestige on his shoulders, calm and stern. “Your accusations are not welcome, IronMoon.”
Hix snarled, “Nor are they unfounded.”
More warriors stepped out of the house.
Hix snarled at all of them. “Your Alpha is a coward protecting his own skin! He fights without honor! He lies and hides and skitters side to side like a crab!”
They charged at him, stretching into war-form. Hix leapt forward to meet them.
His life didn’t matter. He had done what he set out to do. Claws raked into flesh and violence screamed in his blood.
The wolves fell upon him and ripped into his flesh.
Hix swiped at
one. His claws ripped up strips of hide as one bit down on his shoulder. He barely felt it. Pest! If he could maim even one before they killed him he’d go to the Moon with his head held high. He howled and grabbed one by the jaw, claws wrapped around the lower mandible and tried to pry the wolf’s mouth open. He’d crack this wolf’s jaw and rip out his fangs!
A claw stabbed into his left eye. His field of vision narrowed, but there wasn’t any pain. He barely felt anything except the hunt and the coming kill. He twisted his hands, and the wolf’s jaw cracked.
“Enough,” a single female voice commanded over the din.
Instantly the wolves broke and shifted to pin him. Except for the one Hix had maimed, who collapsed into a bloody, slack-jawed heap.
Luna Adrianna of SableFur came one step out of the house, flanked by more warriors. She surveyed the scene, then looked at Hix. “Don’t kill him. Collar him and lock him up. The First Beta of IronMoon is too useful to be killed quickly.”
He had not died soon enough! He had failed.
Another wolf brought a collar and clamped it around his neck. The silver singed his skin, forcing him back into his human form. “My Alpha doesn’t know I am here. I know nothing!”
Adrianna didn’t flinch. “Then you will tell us all about this nothing. Take him inside.”
The Second Test
I didn’t have to beg to go down to the dungeon. It took two days for them to get around to saying yes, but it had been a simple yes. I didn’t even have to take my two goons. They waited upstairs by the door, and I descended the stone staircase alone.
There was no reason to trust why they’d let me down here. For all I knew there would be some little spy curled up in a dark corner, listening to everything I had to say, watching everything that happened.
But I couldn’t stay away. That fool First Beta—had Gabel sent him? It had been a suicide mission if he had!
Hix, in naked human form, curled in the center of the cell I had been in. His skin was savaged and covered in shadowy bruises, his injuries only half-tended. The shadow of the silver-backed collar obscured his neck, and the flickering torchlight cloaked his body in shifting shadows.
Iron Oracle Page 14
