Her hackles rose, not at the dog reference but at his presumption. If the phae Queen thought this emissary was doing anything to smooth her way into the sunlit world, she must also like vinegar instead of honey.
But apparently neither of them wanted a knock-down-drag-out fight.
At least not yet.
Merrilee smiled, with almost as many gleaming teeth as the three-headed dog. I will certainly do all I can to you.
If the hunter heard her blatant slip, he didnt acknowledge it. He spun the stag on its bone hooves toward the torch bearers. Instead of flinching away, they closed in around him in a circle, the black-winged killers in another ring around that.
Then they vanished.
For a heartbeat, the cold ripple of the torchlight remained in a thousand tiny twinkling lights. The same sort of light that led travelers into the woods, never to be seen again, Merrilee thought grimly. Then those too disappeared.
Beck stepped past her toward the space where the phae had gone. Nice prevaricating, he said conversationally.
Thanks. All that time in the city has some upsides.
Where the phae had gone stood a ring of toadstools. Even if she hadnt had the night vision of all wolf-kind, she couldnt have missed the circle. Each of the mushrooms was a hand span across with pale green tops glowing eerily in the light of the rising moon.
Death caps. Biggest Ive ever seen. Figures. Beck used the tip of one fence shaft to methodically knock down the ring. In a snake of greenish smoke, each toadstool withered at the touch of iron.
Most woodsy folk knew to be wary of confusing the poisonous mushrooms for the edible sort, but this was a different danger. Merrilee shuddered. Yet another reason to stick to mac and cheese.
He slanted a glance at her. Only because you havent tried my chanterelle bisque.
She shook her head. And you call yourself Alpha.
Instantly she wanted to take back the bitchy comment, but he only grinned. A real man knows how to get dirty.
She couldnt help but answer his smile even though she suspected he was trying to humor her out of worrying. But there was a lot to worry about: killer phae, poisonous mushrooms, not to mention a sexy Alpha on her turf.
It was going to be a long night.
Chapter 8
Pacing beside Merrilee back toward her cottage, Beck passed a couple of spears to her pack mates, keeping two for himself. At the porch, he handed them the rest of the makeshift weapons. Be sure all your strongest have one.
They slanted a glance at Merrilee, but she merely nodded, so they took the weapons and headed down the street.
He clenched his jaw, knowing she was going to rip into himand rightly sofor ordering her people around. Instead she opened the front door and walked in. She glanced back. You coming?
Surprise held him frozen a moment then he jumped after her.
Yeah, he was always scrambling to keep up with her.
In the front office space, Peter and the doctor were hunched in front of Merrilees computer while Keisha paced. The coffeepot shed hauled over to the desk dinged as if on cue, and she distributed cups to everyone while Merrilee summed up the encounter at the lake.
Okay, this seems bad. Peter swiveled back to the computer. Based on what Eldon here was able to tell me and some poking around, I think we might just have had a phae invasion months ago and not even known. He pulled up two satellite images of a typical Oregon valley, lush with trees on the ridges and boasting rich bottom land with a meandering stream. Except one image had a large, elegant house lording over the valley. These images were taken a week apart. And theres no road. How did a house appear basically overnight? He waited a beat. Magic.
Merrilee grunted. A phae rancher glamoured a McMansion for himself in the middle of Oregon?
Oh, its real enough, Peter said. Even if it doesnt appear on any records anywhere. I think this is the phae rogues stronghold. Look at this. He pulled up another image of the same valley from a slightly different angle. The light picked out the very faintest pattern in the long grass around which a small herd of black cows grazed. The ring looked very similar to the toadstools Beck had just stomped out.
Crop circle, Peter said with great satisfaction.
So. Beef-loving aliens or phae. Merrilee rubbed her forehead, knocking the flower out of her hair.
With lightning reflexes, Beck caught it before it hit the ground. He kept the flower, but he ran his other hand up under her hair, closing his fingers gently on the tension at the back of her neck.
For a moment, she stiffened in affront, the tiny hairs at her nape riffling against his sensitized fingertips, but as he massaged, she let out an almost inaudible sigh. Her skin, chilled from the night air, warmed to his touch.
Meanwhile, her gaze didnt shift from the screen. Where is it, if this is Vailes Valley?
Peter widened the view, skimming past other landmarks and property divisions. Few hours drive from here, no more. Except for the no road thing. Which of course isnt a problem if we walk in.
Merrilee took another breath and knocked Becks hand away as she turned, one hand already at the neckline of her dress, ready to toss it away. Lets go then.
He caught her elbow. No.
Damn it, the tension flowed back in an instant. He felt it expand all through the room, even to Nally who was not her pack. She triggered that kind of devotion in every wolf-kind she met.
He should know.
He dropped her elbow. Youre needed here. Ill send Orson.
Merrilee shook her head. Bear-kind are slower.
Not that much slower, and he knows more about the phae than any of the rest of us.
She chewed her lip, and he knew she must be exhausted to display that indecision.
I could go, Nally offered. I could explain most clearly what has happened.
The hint of uncertainty gone except for the redder mark on her already red lips, she shook her head. The Lord of the Hunt probably suspects you are here, hiding among us, and hopes to flush you out. Were not going to fall for that.
But its my fault the phae are here at all. Nally hunched his shoulders. I had good intentions creating the spores, but the road to hell...
Not an entire road yet, Beck reassured him. Just a few portals to the phae realm.
Merrilee grabbed car keys from the desk beside the door. All right. Nally, you come with us and explain to Orson what he needs to tell the phae, assuming this is Vailes Valley. Keisha, Peter, I want to be ready for a pack meeting at dawn. When the Lord of the Hunter comes back, I want some creative answers to his rude questions.
As they headed out to her car, Beck murmured in her ear. You dont have to come. I can take Nally to town and see Orson off.
She shrugged, pushing him away from her shoulder. No. Im not letting you do this by yourself.
Letting me? He made his voice a low rumble.
She pointed the key at him. Dont.
Merrilee, does it ever occur to you that we have a rare opportunity here? Two strong packs, with all the assets that entails. We could make this anything we wanted.
Pack fusion is a risky proposition, Nally noted. At least when both Alphas are still alive. Two strong packs means two very strong personalities, and that can lead to... He met Becks furious stare and clutched his satchel to his chest. That can lead to very interesting things. And of course I believe in opening new pathways... Perhaps I should get in the car.
Do that. Beck stared at Merrilee over the hood as the doctor slid into the back seat. Did you notice how I didnt take the keys out of your hand? Im a very progressive Alpha male that way.
She snorted. Take my keys and Ill bite you. I am a bitch that way.
Their ride down the mountain was quick and mostly silent.
They found Orson smelting iron in his backyard in a homemade foundry of sheet metal cylinders riveted together. The fluid pouring from the spout glowed lava-bright.
Looks like an accident waiting to happen, Nally opined.
Beck glanced at him. You made mushrooms that unlock real magic.
Nally pursed his lips.
They waited for Orson to complete his task, pouring the molten metal into a box of wet sand. Divots carved in the sand held the metal into pointed shapes.
When the bear-kind pulled off his welders mask, he grinned at them. Iron spearheads. Gotta love the internet. I asked Babette to hit up her pickers for any iron scraps they can find. His grin faltered and a hunted look crossed his face. Not sure what shell want for it all, though.
We have another task for you. Beck quickly outlined their findings and the plan, and then let Nally take over the story. He stepped aside to where Merrilee was standing, staring at the black char in the grass; all that was left of the imp.
Like a bad dream, she murmured.
Daylights almost here.
And then the phae lord returns after that.
A weary note in her voice made him angle protectively closer. When we finish up here, Ill take you home. Nally can stay here.
She shook her head. Hes my responsibility.
How? He tried to keep the growl out of his voice. We both found him. The phae are threatening our valley and maybe more besides. How is this only about you?
Because.
He waited, but she fell silent. Thats the stupidest answer Ive ever heard, Mer, and you are one of the smartest women I know.
Because I have to do it all, she snapped. Thats what an Alpha does.
He straightened. What? No. We do not do it all.
She waved a hand. Maybe you dont. Because you are better at this job than me.
Thats not what I Orson called his name, and Beck scowled at her. Hold that thought.
Ill add it to my list, she muttered.
Orson flapped the map that Peter had printed out. Crazy, he said by way of commentary. Ill get Barry to drive us as close as possible, then well go on foot the rest of the way. Well take his phone, so call us if...if anything.
They separated at the front walk, Orson heading toward Barrys house, Beck, Merrilee and Nally to her car.
Nally peered out the back window as they drove away. I hope he and his friend will be okay. Id feel terrible if... He shook his head. I already feel terrible.
They are bear-kind, Beck said reassuringly. And passable singers. If anyone can sweet talk or force a phae, as necessary, itll be barbershop bears.