Pizza first, Victoria heard Seth say as the foursome pushed through the enthralled throng, then home.
And youll have to convince Dan we were there all along, Ryder said. Seth mentioned you guys have some kind of freaky voice.
We do, so its not a prob, Stephanie replied. But I could also nunchuck his head and hell
Use your voice, Aden called.
A growl of frustration pierced the air. You take the fun out of everything!
Chuckling, Aden focused on Victoria. Now that thats taken care of He reached out his hand, twined her fingers with his, and they left the party. Together.
SEVENTEEN
RILEY HAD BEEN ON plenty of stakeouts in his life, but this was by far his fave. Even though it was a last minute change of plans and rushed.
First, he and Mary Ann had caught a glimpse of Adens parents as they drove a truck away from their house a few hours before. Or who they thought were Adens parents. Driver had been male, early to mid-forties, with brown hair, and from what Riley could tell with his superior wolf-vision, gunmetal gray eyes.
The passenger had been female, possibly in her late thirties, with blond hair, and from what he could tell, brown eyes. Both possessed muddy green auras. From guilt, maybe. Or fear. Hard to tell when the color was so murky, even with his superior wolf-vision.
Perhaps Joe and Paula Stone were living with regret for what theyd done to their son. Perhaps theyd simply been panicked cause they couldnt pay their electric bill. Either was possible.
Riley and Mary Ann were waiting in another house, across the street from the small, slightly rundown one the Stones had left, hoping to catch another glimpse of the couple when they returned. Perhaps even listen in on a conversation or two when they did.
Riley would have searched the house while the couple was gone, but hed spied cameras. The expensive kind with face-recognition software. Too expensive for a home as cheap as that one. And with that kind of cheese being spent on cameras, hed bet good money there were motion detectors on every door and window. Not to mention special hinges and even silent alarms. So, if he didnt have to do a smash and grab, he wasnt going to do a smash and grab.
That would come later, if the couple failed to return.
Part of him hoped they didnt return for a while. Currently he had Mary Ann all to himself. Tucker the Flaming Engorged Rectum was missing and had been since the café. Where the demon spawn had gone, Riley didnt know and didnt care.
Right now, Riley was sitting at the living room window, peering through the crinkled blinds. Yes, hed broken into the place. The locks had been crap, and so had the doors theyd been nailed to, so it had just been a matter of busting the already chipped glass pane, reaching inside and turning the knob.
When would people learn? Glass next to a door was like begging every thief in the neighborhood to come inside.
Mary Ann was sitting beside him. They werent touching. Yet. But they would be. Soon. By warding her back at the motel, hed taken care of the witch and fairy problem. The two races couldnt watch her with their magic and intrinsic abilities anymore, couldnt track her except through human means. A skill they most likely lacked, considering theyd never had reason to use it. Meaning, the danger level was now close to nil.
That meant one soul-rocking thing. Thered be no interruptions. And that meant one more soul-rocking thing. Riley was through being Mr. Nice Wolf. He had experience. He knew how to charm a girl. And had. Often. He knew how to tease and taunt to heighten curiosity and awareness. Now, he would charm Mary Ann.
Since nearly feeding on him, shed been distant, quiet. He had to do something to convince her she wouldnt hurt him. She wouldnt. He wouldnt let her.
Because Riley and Victoria shared such a deep mind connection, allowing him to do more than simply read her aura, and because he was so in tune to everything concerning Mary Ann, hed inadvertently culled Vics thoughts about the girl possibly being related to the fae. Something he was ashamed to admit he hadnt considered. Fairies were drainers, too, and yet they could control their feedings. So, if there was a connection, there was hope for Mary Ann.
Not that she would search. Not yet. She was determined to save Aden. Riley was, too, but he wouldnt put Mary Anns life on the back burner, even for his king. Therefore, tomorrow his digging into her history would begin.
Right now he had to ease her worries about hurting him. Otherwise, shed continue to resist everything he suggested. For the mission and for their relationship.
He scanned their surroundings. The way the neighborhood was laid out, they had a clear view of both the street and Adens (possible) parents place. There were no cars, no one out and about.
Victoria texted me, he said, starting casually. Cold wind blew through the crack in the bottom of the window, causing strands of her dark hair to dance in every direction, even in his face. Her brother came home, challenged Aden, and Aden kicked his ass in front of everyone.
Good for Aden.
We need to tell him what youve found.
What have I found? The frown she tossed him said the rest for her: you gotta think before you speak. Ive got nothing concrete, so theres no reason to get his hopes up.
Not true. He should know you think you found Julian. For all Riley knew, Victoria had already told him. He should know you think you found his parents.
And crush him when we learn Im wrong?
So youre wrong now?
No. But I could be.
And you could be right.
Or not, she insisted.
When did you become such a Debbie Downer? Her aura was a dark blue, sadness practically radiating off her. Mixed with the blue, however, were specks of brown that were soon to darken to black. Not a color that represented deathnot all the time. But with her, that brown represented hunger, her need to feed, to draw energy into herself.
Those specks had grown in the last few hours. Not enough to concern him. Maybe because he also saw specks of red and pink. Red for angeror passionand pink for hope. He wanted to nurture both.
Her mouth fell open. Im not Debbie Downer. The red bloomed a little brighter.
Honey, youre the textbook version of Doomsday. You expect the worst, always.
I do no There at the end, she caught herself. Fine. I do. She leaned forward and rested her elbows on the edge of the pane. Better safe than sorry, though.
Actually, no, its not. But if were going to cliché this conversation to death, heres one you need to memorizebetter to have tried and failed than to never have tried at all.
I am trying.
Youre coasting, and you need to lighten up. Way to charm her, you idiot. All he was doing was pissing her off. He could have apologized for taking the harsh road, but he didnt. What hed said was true. However, he did flash her a quick smile when he nudged her shoulder with his. Let me help you.
Instantly suspicious, she eyed him warily. How?
Theyd switched roles, he realized. Once upon a time, she had charged full-speed ahead, and he had been the one to press on the brakes. Now he wondered what would she have done if the situation were reversed. Tell me a secret. Something youve never told anyone else. Excellent. Something the old Mary Ann would have suggestedand enjoyed.
Her tongue glided over her lips. Were kinda in the middle of breaking and entering and spying. Now isnt the time to share.
Oh, yeah. Their roles had totally switched. Nows the perfect time. Hasnt anyone told you its prudent to multitask?
I dont know A hint of the old Mary Ann.
Come on. Live a little. Add one more chore to our ever-growing list. Not that talking to him was a chore. He hoped.
A pause, then, Fine. You go first.
He had her and tried not to smile. All right. Here goes. Ive regretted not sleeping with you. Straight to the heart of the matter.
The red halo around her brightened so much, it was almost blinding. Passion, definitely. His body reacted, heating from head to toe.
I dont think thats a secret, she said softly. But Ive regretted that you didnt sleep with me, too.
He froze. Forget charming and convincing her. He liked this. The raw honesty of her tone, the longing she cast his way. Mary Ann, he said.
II She had to know what he wanted. To kiss her, to hold her. To finally be with her.
She turned away from the window, watching him through wide eyes. In the haze of light, he could see flecks of green mixed with the brown. We shouldnt, she said, but she was wavering, he could tell. Not here.
We should. He didnt want to regret anymore, didnt want to wait. As Aden could attest, no one was guaranteed a tomorrow.
Her fingers moved to the hem of her shirt, twisting the buttons. Did she realize what that action did to him? How it tantalized him? What if the owner of this house comes home? What if Adens parents come home?
Still wavering, so close to the edge. Fall, sweetheart. Ill catch you. Then we get dressed. Quickly.
You have an answer for everything, she said dryly. I might have become a Debbie Downer, but youve become a pain the butt. You know that, right?
I just realized we need to work on your perception, too, because its kinda skewed.
A laugh escaped her. Or its finally on target.
Hardly. He loved the sound of her laugh. Husky, wine-rich. And that he had caused it, well, he felt like he was king of the world. Im a little slice of heaven and you know it.
All right. I know it.
Smiling, Riley moved closer to her, making sure some part of them touched. Forearms, hips. Breath hitched in her throat, even as his own hissed through his teeth.
Before he could swoop in to claim a kiss, a car snaked the far corner of the road before speeding along, closing in on the house they were watching. Mary Ann noticed and stiffened. Riley did, too, zeroing in on the driver. Male, early-twenties. Not Joe Stone. The car bypassed the houses, and they both relaxed.
I wonder where Tucker is, she said with a tremble.
You want to talk about him now? Seriously?
Safer for us, dont you think?
Not really. Tuckers probably in the process of a human sacrifice.
Hes not that bad.
Youre right. Hes worse.
She pushed at his shoulder. At this second contact, he sizzled. She must have, too, because she didnt withdraw her hand right away. In fact, she flattened her palms on him and spread her fingers, touching as much of his biceps as she could.
As her aura flared with all that luscious red, she licked her lips. All right. We dont have to talk about Tucker. There at the end, her voice dipped, going low with need.
The heat returned, wrapping around him. What do you want to talk about? His own voice had lowered.
Our secrets.
All the encouragement he needed. He gripped her by the waist, lifted and turned her, until she was poised over him, then he set her on his lap. Straddle me.
She did, and he drew her closer. Not all the way but just enough. Her arms wound around his neck and back. What about the cars
I can still see out the window. Truth. He could. When he looked. At the moment, all he could see, all he cared about, was Mary Ann. Now kiss me. I need you so much.
I need you, too, she said, leaning down and meshing their lips together.
He kissed her deep and sure, his hands sliding to her back, under her shirt, gliding up the ridges of her spine, then down, then tracing the waistband of her pants.
Youll tell me if she rasped.
If she fed. Ill tell you.
Promise?
Promise. This time he would. He didnt want her to doubt him, ever. But lets try something, okay?
What? she asked, hesitant again.
If the urge to feed pops up, or if you feel yourself drawing from me, dont pull away from me.
No, I
Just listen. He cupped her jaw, gentle, so gentle. If that happens, keep doing what youre doing, stay calm, and just try to stop yourself from feeding.
Stay calm. As if thatll be possible with your life in jeopardy.
I honestly think you can stop yourself, that its just a matter of control, but we cant know for sure unless you try.
She shook her head. Thats the kind of thing I should practice on others. Not you.
Just do what Riley tells you, and you might like the results.
A snort. Were speaking in third person now? Because Mary Ann doesnt like it.
Actually, were getting back to our secrets. He returned his attention to their kiss, and soon she did, too. He didnt try anything else, even though theyd gone farther than this before, until she was breathing more heavily and moving against him as if she just couldnt sit still.
He removed his T-shirt, then removed hers and pulled her closer, until their chests were brushing together with every inhalation. He allowed his hands to roam, exploring her. She did the same, sensitizing his skin in the most primal way. Soon he was moaning with every brush of her fingertips.
The few times he heard the hum of a car engine, he would break the kiss long enough to peer out the window, discover the driver was no one important, then dive back in.
Twice, Mary Ann froze on him, every muscle she possessed tensing. Both times occurred sometime after the cars drove past, so he knew they had nothing to do with her reaction, and he wondered if shed felt herself trying to feed but had stopped herself in time. She must have. Not once did he experience a single flicker of cold. And thats what happened when a drainer fed. The victim felt cold. A bone-deep cold not even a thick winter coat could warm.
Riley, she said, and he knew what that meant. She wanted more.
He gazed around the living room. A couch. Old, torn in several spots. Stained. No way. He wasnt having sex with her on that couch. Not for the first time. But he wanted her so badly right now, he
Saw movement. Across the street, in the bushes of another house. Leaves rattling, a glow of orange. The color of confidence and determination. Riley pulled from the kiss and narrowed his focal point. The orange glow was faint, as if concealed by a metaphysical scarf, but it was there all the same.
Riley?
Hang on.
A girl stood from the center of those bushes. Blonde, familiar. Witch. She held a crossbow, the tip aimed directly at Mary Ann. Riley jolted to his feet, taking Mary Ann with him even while shoving her out of the way.
He was too late. The action had been anticipated.
The witch moved with him, fluidly shifting her aim. The arrow whizzed faster than a blink. Glass shattered, and that arrow slammed into Mary Anns back.
She screamed, a high-pitched sound of pain and shock, her eyes flaring wide, her body jolting. She was so close to him, the tip sliced at Rileys chest. He jerked her to the floor just as another arrow slicked through the now-open window, this one sticking in the far wall.
Whathappened? She was panting, her words barely audible. Blood poured down her chest and back, soaking her with little crimson rivers. Her aura was blue once again, but fading, the other colors having vanished. Her energy was draining.
The witches found us. He never should have discounted their ability to track like the humans. And he never should have kissed Mary Ann. Deep down, he had known the dangers, the risks, but hed allowed his need of her to persuade him.
This was on him.
He couldnt shift and hunt the witch-bitches because he couldnt leave Mary Ann like this. And hell! She should have been protected from mortal injury. She should have started healing already.
Hed warded her for exactly this kind of thing weeks ago. A stabbing, gunshot, arrow, it didnt matter. She. Should. Heal. But the witch had seen her back, the ward, and had aimed accordingly, hitting her in the one spot guaranteed to prevent her from healing supernaturally: the center of the ward, disrupting the words and negating the inked spell completely.
Just then, Mary Ann was as vulnerable as any other human. Unless
Feed off me, he said, even as he calculated the best escape route. Hed already walked through the place and memorized the exits, but he didnt know if witches now surrounded the place. If they did, the moment he carried Mary Ann away, theyd start shooting again.
No, she croaked.
Yes. You have to. You need to. If she fed off him, she would be strengthened. He would be weakened, yes, but she could take the witches out in a way he could not. All at once, rather than one at a time. Besides, it was fitting. Her ability to drain was why the enemy had chosen to notch her up with holes. Feed off me and kill them.
No, she said again, the depths of her stubbornness more apparent than ever.
If you dont, theyll kill you.
No.
Done arguing, Riley stripped the rest of the way and shifted into his wolf form, his bones readjusting, fur sprouting from his pores. He was so used to doing this, it felt more like stretching after a nap than actually becoming something new.
He clamped his teeth on Mary Anns arm, as gently as he could, which wasnt much, and forced her to climb onto his back.
Another arrow soared overhead, just missing her.
Hold on tight, he commanded, speaking into her mind as he bounded from the living room.
Okay, she said, her teeth chattering.
He was a stupid idiot fool. She needed what little warmth her clothes would offer, but he couldnt pull a shirt over her injury and he couldnt afford to carry the material in his mouth. Currently his teeth were the only weapon he had.
He really could have used Tucker just then. Words hed never thought to entertain. But an illusion or two would have seriously come in handy.
Left with no other choice, Riley raced out the back door, bursting through the hollowed plywood without pause. He zigzagged off the porch, making himself a harder target to lock onto, and good thing. Arrows rained.
How many witches were out there? More than Jennifer and Marie, he knew that much.
Hurt, Mary Ann said.
I know, sweetheart. He pushed the words into her head. Id take your pain into my own body if I could.
An arrow homed in on him and lodged in his front left leg. He snarled at the pain, but didnt slow and didnt dare stumble. Mary Ann would have fallen, and he couldnt allow that. Gravel bit into his paws, making everything worse. A quick search of the area, and he saw eleven auras. All orange, and all faint. They must have bespelled themselves, hoping to hide from him. Well, their spell hadnt worked fully.
He narrowed his focus on the one farthest from the others and closed in. A blur of motion, never slowing, he raced past the witch and chomped her between his jaws, dragging her along. She struggled against him, but still he didnt slow. Kept moving, taking both females farther and farther away. Careful, so careful.
Drain her, he commanded Mary Ann. Now!
She must have obeyed, because the witchs struggles tapered offstopped completely. She became a limp rag in his mouth, and he spit her out. Still he didnt slow.
Any better?
A little.
Hed get her somewhere safe and doctor her himself. Then, the hunt would begin. No more letting the witches and the fae chase while he and Mary Ann ran. That had been his biggest mistake, and one he wouldnt make again.
The hunters were about to become the prey.
EIGHTEEN
TUCKER PERCHED ON THE highest limb of an oak and watched as the wolf absconded with Mary Ann. They left a trail of blood a blind man would spot. The wolf was unsteady and weaving, and Mary Ann limp as a noodle. She wouldnt last much longer.
The wolf read auras, but Tucker knew the sirens call of death. No question, Mary Ann was even then swimming out to greet the lyrical grim reaper, and nothing would stop her.
The witchs aim had been true. Her arrow had sliced through the ward preventing Mary Ann from receiving a mortal wound. The location alone was damaging, but the blood loss would be more so.
Wards workeduntil they were closed. Or burned away. Or any number of other painful things. Some people opted to get a ward to protect their wards, so that something like this could never happen, but not many went that route. What if someone gave you a ward you didnt want? Cause yeah. Being held down and inked with all kinds of badness never happened.
Tucker would have snickered at his sarcasm, considering hed told Mary Ann how ugly it was, but he was too afraid itd sound like a sob. Only pansy-assed babies sobbed. He wasnt a pansy-assed baby.
He was a liar.
He hadnt been completely honest with Mary Ann. Oh, hed run from Vlad after stabbing Aden all rightbut hed run after hed chatted with the guy. Bastard had threatened him with a few wards of his own if he didnt man up and do as he was told.
Man up. Funny, coming from a guy who looked more monster than man while he hid in the shadows, but whatever.
Until yesterday, Tucker hadnt exactly followed the former kings orders. Hed helped Mary Ann rather than hurt her.
He liked her. More than he should, and more than was wise.
Whyd she have to let the wolf stick around?
Tucker would have continued to resist Vlad if shed kicked the wolf to the curb.
Because, when he and Mary Ann were alone, he was fine. A halfway decent individual. Dirty-minded, maybe, but who wasnt? Then Riley had shown up, and boom. Vlad had made another move, and Tucker had lost the battle.
Poor Mary Ann. She was an unwanted casualty.
Tucker waited as the witches whod just annihilated her congregated under his tree. Red Robed Bitches, thats what he called them. They were glaring up at him, pissed that theyd failed and blaming him. Even though he hadnt been the one to freaking fail.
You said wed have the pair cornered if we waited until they were inside the house, the blonde in charge said. Marie, he thought was her name. She was a pretty thing but vicious in her determination.
Having rifled through Mary Anns things, hed found the address shed tried so hard to hide. Had known exactly where she would go, if not when. So, hed cast an illusion when she and the wolf left the café and followed them. Thats when I thought you were competent, he replied. Why didnt you give chase?
And risk a draining?
Again Im struck by the words thought you were competent.
They spat expletives at him.
He shoved from the branch and fellfelland landed on his feet. In the center of the RRBs now, he spun, his arms splayed wide, his vibe all about daring them to try something with him.
He really wanted them to try something with him.
He deserved punishment, but then, so did they. Only difference was, he knew he deserved it. Theyd be the first to tell you how righteous their cause, how they were on the holy path, blah, blah, blah.
They had lost Mary Anns trail after Riley warded her, but they hadnt lost Tuckers. Apparently theyd magically locked onto him, too, but Riley had refused to ward him, so there you go. Because of Rileys refusal, theyd never really lost the girl. Tucker would not take the blame for that.
The fae had been trailing Mary Ann and Tucker, as well. They would have been here, extracting their pound of flesh like the witches, only the witches hadpolitely asked them to leave, sending the other race home to their mamas.
After that, Tucker had thrown the witches an illusionone of Mary Ann and Riley talking, arguing, tossing out names and info Tucker had pulled out of his asshoping to send the little RRBs running in a thousand different directions. Of course, thats when Vlad had called him.
Tuckermy Tucker
Just. Like. That.
Everything had changed.
Tucker
He shuddered as that eerie, commanding voice continued to shove its way into his head, leading him around like a puppet on a string. Wasnt difficult to do, either. The darkest part of Tuckers naturethe part that enjoyed verbally ripping his little brother to pieces, kicking puppies, fist fighting his friends, cheating on his girlfriend, watching the girl pregnant with his baby lose the respect of her familythat part craved the vampires guidance.
The other part of him was curled up in a little ball, weeping like a stupid kid, sad about all the pain hed causedall the destruction he would soon cause. But Tucker hated that side of himself, too, so really, there wasnt any part of himself that he liked.
Tucker, my Tucker, finish this.
The kings voice was stronger than before, louder, moreeverything. Every day he healed a little more, and one day soon, he would be the man, the warrior, hed once been.
Vlad had commanded Tucker to approach the witches, told him what image to show them, told him what to say and how to act. And he had. Hed done all of it. Assumed the image of someone they knewwho he was supposed to be, he still wasnt sureand theyd believed him and done everything hed wanted without question.
even listening? Marie demanded.
No.
Argh! You were always frustrating, but now youre just a bastard.
You cant blame your failure on me, he said. I gift wrapped the pair and handed them to you like it was your birthday. Just saying those words caused guilt to claw at him.
Tuckeryou know what to do. Kill the witches, find the wolf and the drainer, and finish them off.
Kill the witches? Fine, no problem. Consider it done. But You wanted the wolf and Marythe drainers deaths blamed on the witches. He shoved the words out of his mind, into the air, and knew Vlad heard him. Wherever he was. If the witches are dead, how can they be blamed?
Im sure youll think of a way. Now, do what I told you.
No sense in fighting Vlad. Hed come out the loser. Tucker squared his shoulders, his gaze narrowing on the gaggle of females around him. He shook his arms, just barely, but enough. The blades hed stashed under his shirt sleeves slid into his palms. He gripped the hilts.
Why dont you gift wrap them again, Marie said primly. And well go from there.
No, I dont think I will.
Cleary she did not like to be thwarted. She stomped her foot, saying, Why not?
Youre not gonna be around to accept any more presents. Without another word, he struck.
RILEY LEFT MARY ANN behind a Dumpster, shifted to human, didnt care that he was naked, stole a bottle of vodka and a pass key to a motel room from the clerk at the desk, a bag from one of the guests and went back for Mary Ann. He carried her inside the empty room without being seen or dropping her. A shocker and a miracle, considering he was as twitchy as a junkie in need of a fix.
He settled his bundle on the bed as gently as he could, then ransacked the bag for something to wear.
Dont move, he told her when she thrashed against the mattress.
Okay? she asked.
Yes, were going to be okay, he lied.
Only thing he found that would come close to fitting was a pair of shorts that had the word Princess stamped across the ass in glittery pink. Now wasnt the time to care about fashionor the lack thereof. Or the fact that the shorts were too snug and he might never be able to have children. He might need to do another endless dash, and he had to be prepared.
He peered down at his leg. The arrow had been pounded out of him when hed accidentally run into a tree, but he could feel the wood shards embedded in the muscle, cutting at him, making him bleed harder rather than heal. He applied pressure to force the shards out, grimaced, but wasnt going to let the pain stop him. If he didnt staunch the flow, he wouldnt be able to care for Mary Ann.
So he doctored himself as fast as he could, using one of the T-shirts in the bag, and raced back to the bed, where he crouched in front of Mary Ann. Her skin was chalk white, the blue tracery of her veins evident. There were bruises under her eyes, and her lips were chapped. All cosmeticuntil you looked at her chest. There was so much blood caking her skin, she looked like she was wearing a red sweater. Worse, the arrow still protruded from the front and the back.
H-how b-bad? she whispered.
She was on her side, her shoulders slumped, and her head lolling forward. She was fighting sleep, her teeth chattering. Never had he seen her this weak and helpless. And he never wanted to see her like this again.