Chapter 12

Dixon let out a sigh and pulled Melody to the couch. She didn’t fight him, but her body was tense. He knew she was upset with him. He hadn’t meant to make her mad, but knowing she planned on bringing the enemy to them left him and his lion unsettled. His beast screamed at him to talk some sense into her, but then Bac surprised him by offering his help. Dixon wasn’t one of those macho guys who tried to take on the world himself. He was smart enough to know that having someone like his friend helping would only increase their chances of success. But when Melody jumped into the big man’s arms, everything in him wanted to tear the bear apart. It was something ingrained into him. He knew Bac wasn’t a threat to his mate, but he still didn’t like it.

He could feel Melody’s excitement grow. It surprised him that she felt no fear. She truly believed she could talk this Webb guy that he needed to help them. Like Bac, he wasn’t so sure. He worried that once her plan failed she would give up and all the confidence she gained would be lost. He didn’t want that for her. He quite liked the change in her. The first day he met her she was full of fear in not only the situation, but in herself. It’s why he didn’t let her leave. He couldn’t leave her to handle the problem, that at the time he had no idea what it was, alone. He knew that feeling all too well. He’d spent most of his life alone even when he was within a crowd.

Melody looked at him and smiled. Her eyes were bright green and her face was flushed. She was stunning.

“We’ll try it your way, but if it doesn’t work, we will abort your plan immediately.”

“Fair enough, but you have to give Webb a chance. It might take him time to accept the facts before he agrees. I know him. He was never one to take someone’s word to heart. That’s why it’s so hard to believe that he’d follow Uncle so easily. It’s almost like he’s brainwashed.”

“That’s a pretty fair description, I would think,” Bac said. “Believe me, your uncle can be convincing.”

Melody shifted next to him and Dixon felt her discomfort. He could understand her unease. From what he gathered, her uncle played the people under his control very well, and he couldn’t wait to meet him and take him out. He hated that his mate was so upset, and he knew she would be until everything was settled. Unlike her, he didn’t have anyone but himself to worry about. She had two younger sisters, and he knew she took responsibility for them. Even though it wasn’t her job. She needed to care more for herself.

“I want to call him here. If I call him first then maybe the other tracker won’t find me.”

“Do you really think that’s a good idea?” Dixon asked.

She shrugged. “It’ll be better for me to go to him rather than him finding me. It will throw him off.”

Dixon wasn’t so sure, but he planned to let his mate take the lead—unless it failed. “We’ll be here.”

She sat up straighter. “Bac, I’ll need you out of sight until I convince him to listen. I think he’ll react poorly if he sees you before he understands the truth. Sometimes, he acts before he thinks.”

Her mate laughed. That sounded much like him. He could understand that. Sometimes he wasn’t so clear headed in the past. It was easy to be defensive.

Bac nodded. “All right, but the second he tries to attack, he’ll have to be taken care of.”

She nodded, but Dixon wasn’t sure she was so willing to take out a man she had so much faith in, even now. His mate didn’t want to hurt anyone, but she needed to get used to the idea. Most people, he found, looked out only for themselves. Hell, he did it himself. Until Melody, he really had no one else to think of, but that all changed the moment she was thrown onto his back from the portal. He knew then he life was forever changed. Even if he didn’t really want it.

No, that was wrong.

Even if he didn’t believe he deserved it.

The fact was she was part of his life now, and he wouldn’t change it for anything and he’d be damned if anyone or anything took her from him.

“Where do you want me?” He really didn’t like the idea of her confronting ‘the warrior’ on her own, but she was right in she knew him, whereas he didn’t.

She grabbed his hand. “I know you want to take care of me, and I appreciate that, but I need you out of sight, too. I don’t want him to feel cornered. To Webb, I’m harmless. We need that on our side. He wouldn’t dare attack right off. Doesn’t matter what he’s been told.”

“Okay, I don’t like it, but I trust you.”

She beamed at him. “Thank you.”

It seemed it didn’t take much for his mate to be happy. A little faith from him and she was smiling.

“So, tomorrow night, I’ll call Webb?”

He nodded and looked to his friend who also nodded. He’d been quiet, but that wasn’t anything new. Bac didn’t have much to say on a normal basis. He’d already said more tonight than Dixon was used to.

“Then it’s settled.” She looked at Dixon. “We should probably get some sleep. It’s going to be a long night. I want to call him as early as possible. If he agrees he’ll know a way to get rid of the other tracker. Haven thinks it’s Oz, and I really don’t want to tangle with him. He’s pure evil.”

He shrugged. “You know your people best. I’ll follow your lead.”

“Oz is not my people. He’s not even from the North. Uncle brought him on a few years ago. Oz follows his order like a lap dog.” She shuddered.

“Well, we better get to bed.” Bac stood and gestured to them to follow him down the hall and opened the door to a sparse room. There was a bed and nightstand.

He nodded and left them alone. The bed was all he needed. That and his mate curled up beside him.

***

Melody woke up alone. She felt the sheet next to her and realized it was cold. Dixon must have been up for a while. She didn’t like the fact that he let her sleep. She couldn’t help but feel he and Bac would try to talk her out of her plan, even though they both agreed to let her lead. It was the first time in her life that anyone had ever let her call the shots, and she worried she’d fail.

A part of her feared Bac was right. What if she couldn’t convince Webb of the truth? She didn’t have another plan, and she really didn’t like the idea of taking Webb out, but she understood their reasoning. If Webb tried to turn her in—it would be her to take him out. She knew she could do it, even though the thought of any violence made her skin crawl. She’d always been gentle, but she wouldn’t make anyone do her job. If they were going to let her lead than she needed to be the one fully in charge, including taking out Webb—if it even came to that.

But no more.

It wasn’t just her life on the line anymore. Not even just for her sisters, either. She refused to let anything happen to Dixon. In such a short time he had come to mean everything to her, and she wouldn’t lose him. He was the part of her she’d been missing. Fate had finally shown her face, and Melody was blessed. She didn’t have to be alone anymore. She loved her sisters dearly, but finding her mate was the best thing to ever happen to her. She knew that he would stick by her side. She also knew he was protective.

She nibbled her lip. Would his need to keep her safe prove to be their failing?

Calling Webb to her was a huge risk, but she’d wear him down. She had to.

She slipped out of the warmth of the blanket and got dressed. She put on her ‘war’ clothes and pulled her hair into a loose braid. It didn’t matter if her ears showed anymore. It would be nice to be herself. She didn’t want to meet Webb on her turf under a disguise. Funny how she already of the human world as her home. She no longer dreamed of being able to return to Faerie. As long as her sisters followed. She knew Haven was already here hiding out somewhere. All that was left was to get Hanna to come. Then everyone she loved would be safe. She couldn’t wait until her sisters found their other halves, too.

She left the room and stalked down the hall when she smelled coffee. She’d always loved the bitter sweetness of the warm drink. It was one thing she had brought back to Faerie when they used to visit the human world. She easily had become addicted to the liquid. Bac and Dixon were in the kitchen sitting at the table. Bac had a large mug in front of him. Dixon leaned back casually in the chair. He seemed more relaxed than she had previously seen him. He smiled at her, and her heart melted. When she first met him, he was gruff and didn’t smile. Now he seemed younger almost. When he smiled he had identical dimples on each cheek. He patted his lap and she moved in front of him. He gripped her hand tugging and she sat down blushing. She wasn’t used to having someone give her attention, especially not in front of others.

“Good morning, sweetheart,” he said and nuzzled her neck right behind her ear.

She shivered. “Morning.”

Bac smiled and although it wasn’t a big smile, she could see a light in his eyes that hadn’t been there the night before. He picked up his mug and sipped the steaming brew. “Good morning, little one.”

She didn’t mention the change. He’d probably shut down behind his mask if she did. And she liked seeing him smile. He used to smile all the time, especially when he was with Maria. Her heart clenched at the thought of him being alone. She’d loved Maria. The woman was a saint and was always around when her parents couldn’t be. “So, when do we call for Webb?” she asked getting right to the point. There was no reason to wait. The sooner she called him the better.

“Give yourself some time to prepare.”

She sighed and slid out of Dixon’s lap. They didn’t realize she was prepared. She wanted to get it over with. “The sooner—”

“Melody, please, give this old bear something. I know you’re ready as you can be for something like this, but I’m not ready for you to put yourself in such danger.” Bac sighed. “You still see him as the boy who loved your family. He’s even more troubled now than he was then. As much as I hate to say this, he’s fragile and will be quick to anger. I’m afraid for you.”

“Fine, we’ll wait for a little while. Then I’m doing this with or without your support. I know what I’m doing.” She held up a hand. “Don’t mistake that as being cocky. I’ve thought about confronting him long before my sisters sent me here. I was never able to get him alone.”

Bac growled, but she didn’t let his grouchy behavior affect her. “Fine, fine, you know what you’re doing. But I can’t help but think of you as the little girl you used to be. I don’t want something to happen to you.”

“I understand your worry. I don’t think anything will. I’m following my instinct—that’s the only way to describe it. It’s almost as if I’m being pulled in one direction. Webb has to be involved somehow else I wouldn’t feel this so strongly. Trust me please.”

He didn’t respond and for that she was grateful. She was already on edge waiting for the moment she would see the man she’d been so close to. She would do this. There was no other way.