Chapter Eight
Grant started to air-pace just above the sand, though he didn’t go far before returning the opposite direction. He had no idea where Natalie was in relation to either himself or Landris. Given her recent maneuvers, he felt certain she had once again placed herself at a distance from the wizard with the intention of avoiding yet another electrical rain shower.
This time, however, she had been silent and invisible at least ten times longer than any previous attempt. He wasn’t growing impatient so much as anxious. He hated seeing her get hurt.
Her voice suddenly broke the silence. “Landris, I’ve made contact with the future, so don’t send your fiery rain on me again.”
“Done.”
Natalie slowly made herself visible at the far end of the sandpit as she levitated back in their direction. She looked pale and had a deep crease between her brows.
When she drew close, Grant asked, “What’s happened?”
She shook her head and tears filled her eyes. “You know the female wolves you thought you’d saved?”
“Yes.” A cold chill passed through him.
“Fifteen minutes from now, one of Kryder’s team will have re-captured the youngest and brought her in a van to some kind of underground structure. This is what I’ve seen.”
“Shit.”
“What do we do? I don’t know what to do.” She sounded frantic.
Grant thought for a moment and pivoted in Landris’s direction. “First, get us back to Neil’s place as fast as you can.”
The process of having Landris bespell them again and making a return trip through a hall that seemed to go on forever, took less than a minute. The timing was another sign that Landris had employed his wizardry.
The elevator came next, a short if cramped ride. During the ascent, Landris said nothing to either himself or Natalie. But upon exiting, he wished them both well, then vanished. Grant would have thanked Landris for his help, but the wizard had either gone invisible or had left. Seemed typical of his character. Landris was not an engaging man.
Grant found Neil near the fireplace and saw that he was doing better. He was walking around, though his complexion was almost chalk-white at this point.
Grant gave him the short version of what was going on then guided Natalie to the front door. Neil wished them well.
Grant said he’d be in touch later since they only had a handful of minutes to find the young wolf and keep her from Kryder’s depredations. How difficult that would prove, he had no idea, especially since he and Natalie were just figuring things out, how to work together.
Before they took to the air, Grant invoked their invisibility. The brief command, ‘Begin both’, set everything in a glow as it had been in the Elegance sandpit. Natalie confirmed she was seeing the same glow as well.
Once in the air and flying swiftly in the direction of Revel Territory, he drew his phone from the pocket of his leathers and contacted Ryan. He gave him the details, but Ryan said he didn’t know where the woman had been taken. It was part of the process of keeping their safe houses a secret.
Grant ran through a dozen curses in his head then turned his mind to the problem at hand. He asked Ryan to try to find out the wolf’s location, but he wasn’t hopeful he could accomplish the task in such a short time.
When they reached Natalie’s backyard and landed on the grass, he gave her the update. He then asked, “What about your futurism? Can you give it a shot?”
“Of course.” She reached for his hand. “Just ground me and I’ll see what I can do.”
He wasn’t sure exactly what she meant except he knew that looking into the future caused her pain.
Her gaze shifted back and forth over her garden as she spoke aloud. She then told him about Kryder being in her studio and added, “What’s this wolf’s name?”
“Alanna.”
She nodded in swift dips of her chin. She drew a deep breath that was almost a gasp then closed her eyes. Her grip on his hand tightened.
This time, he could almost feel the future opening to her. She winced and panted through a couple of painful breaths. “I see her. Oh, God. I know where she is. We’ve got to hurry.”
She released his hand then took off into the air. He was just smart enough to follow swiftly in her wake and not ask questions.
She flew directly west toward Blackwater Bridge that connected Revel to Savage Territory. She only began to slow at the point where the Graveyard met the massive ditch of barbed wire that separated the two territories. In past decades, many had been fought at this border until the Tribunal made the tough decision to create deep, wide boundaries and filled them with massive broken up cement blocks topped with huge amounts of barbed wire. No one could cross. You either flew over or used the bridge.
But it was here, at the ditch that Natalie stopped dead. I would have sworn this was the location, that this was where we’d find Alanna.
I know she’s here. Grant said. I can feel her anguish.
Grant looked down at the ditch then he understood. Dammit, there’s something here, underground. That he could sense the structure felt more fae to him than wolf. He took Natalie’s hand as he floated next to her. We should stay connected.
Good idea.
Touching her strengthened the odd fae abilities that had begun to emerge within him. Focus on Alanna. Stay with her. I’ll navigate.
Will do. Her voice in his head eased him.
The connection to Natalie helped him to know what was going on beneath the ditch, beneath the earth. He scanned the area. What exists here is hidden and it’s enormous, but it’s below the earth. There’s something else as well. I can feel it, but it doesn’t make sense.
I know what you mean, she responded. I’m calling my wolf. She can see better than I can.
As they floated in the air together, he watched wolf-sign appear on Natalie’s cheeks and for a moment, his own wolf wanted to tilt his head back and howl. Sudden desire for her raced through his body, but he clamped down on it. His breathing grew rough as he suppressed his ever-present desire for the woman.
He kept his gaze pinned to her, however. She was the key to finding Alanna.
I see the aura of the complex, now. There’s an invisibility spell at work.
He followed the line of her gaze which was turned to the north. Not in Savage then. But in Revel?
She turned her head slowly, though not to look at him. Instead, she was scanning the southern horizon. The complex is in both territories. I think, yes, I’m almost certain, the underground layout is beneath the border ditches, including the ones near the Graveyard which makes sense. If this compound, or whatever it is, exists in both territories, what better location than the area beneath the connecting ditches? Who would ever imagine it was there?
She then made an about-face. I’m starting to understand, Grant. The compound also rides below the border with Elegance. Whatever Kryder has done, he’s connected to all three. This must be part of the Dark Corridor that Landris was talking about.
Grant thought for a moment. He’s used both a fae and a wizard in his schemes, so this makes a lot of sense. What else do you see? He turned to look at her again, only now her wolf-sign was flashing down her neck and over her arms. Desire once more hit him like a blow to the back of his knees. His jaw trembled as he watched her focusing on the vicinity between Elegance and Savage.
Once more, he brought his wolf to heel.
She turned to him suddenly and kissed him hard on the lips. I’m smelling that beautiful fresh-cut lumber scent, but just hold that thought. She then smiled and let go of his hand. She swept her arm in a circle. This is it. This is the scope of the area. There are at least three layers below, well into the earth. He’s been building this for over a decade. It must have cost a fortune.
Grant snorted. It did. Every cent the Meldorin pack gave him, just shy of operating costs for the pack’s compound. So, are we thinking this is The Sapphire Club?
It would make sense. She took his hand once more. My wolf sees three disguising spells that confuse the mind. I’m watching cars enter sloped driveways that no doubt lead to underground parking. Vehicles can enter from three vantage points, one from each of the territories. They’re disappearing just at the points where the border ditches begin.
Holy shit.
Right, she said. But how do we get in?
We’re already invisible so how about your wolf takes us after the next car.
Got it. She squeezed his hand and met his gaze. She even smiled. I think my wolf will know where to find Alanna.
Then let’s do it. You lead, I’ll follow. He gave her hand an answering squeeze. But stay connected.
Will do.
She pivoted toward what would be the Revel entrance. With only a handful of minutes to intercept the young female wolf, he felt a tug on his hand as she took off. He stuck with her.
She made an in-air pivot and began to descend. She gave slight tugs on his hand to indicate direction. He experienced a strong degree of confusion because of the different spells and had to make a powerful effort not to yank his hand from hers. All he could see was the ugly, dangerous mass of barbed wire and torn up concrete.
But suddenly, just as it looked like they’d get tangled up in the barbed wire, they were through.
The sight that met his eyes stunned him. A line of cars veered off to the right. Straight ahead was a brilliant sign in blue and silver: The Sapphire Club. Small lights flashed around the edges of the sign and blue fluorescent flames appeared and disappeared in Christmas-tree rotation.
Holy fuck. This place is enormous.
Small silver lettering on a black background explained the rest: Kryder Enterprises, Ltd.
On the backs of his pack, Kryder had built an empire.
~ ~ ~
Natalie saw the lettering then glanced at Grant. His fingers had tightened around hers. Maybe because her wolf was very much alive, but she thought she understood what he was experiencing. Here was one more way that the alpha of the Meldorin Pack had betrayed his people. So, Kryder used pack money to build all this.
We could never figure out where it went and here it is. But this must be a casino, besides whatever else it is. I can’t imagine the profits.
One more glance at all the high-end cars moving in and out of the parking lot told the rest of the tale. Whatever The Sapphire Club was, it moved a lot of money.
A valet service brought well-shod people to the front doors. Men in blue-and-silver uniforms opened car doors and ushered the guests into the sparkling building.
Trees and shrubs flanked the entrance and twinkled with mini-lights. Kryder had spent money on his project. A lot of it.
Natalie didn’t allow herself to ponder the situation too much. A female wolf needed their help as in now. She focused on her wolf and held the future image of Alanna in her mind.
It was as though her wolf had a GPS device. My wolf knows where Alanna is, but we’re running out of time.
Lead the way, though it will be easier if I let go.
Understood.
Grant let go of her hand and her breath caught. She had the oddest sensation of emptiness. Even so, she had never moved so fast. Because they couldn’t be seen, she had no trouble flitting swiftly behind a man and woman just passing through the glass doors.
Once inside, the name of the club and its color was everywhere. There was blue on the carpet, the walls, even the ceiling. At least a hundred people milled about the foyer. Several stylish electronic panels guided the guests to various events and designated rooms. A well-guarded entrance flanked by blue velvet curtains and cordoned with silver rope and tassels, required printed invitations.
Natalie’s wolf, however, went straight for an angled hall off to the right. She levitated swiftly, careful to avoid collision.
I’m right behind you. Grant’s voice in her head reassured her.
Once in the hall, guests moved into various venues with stages. Her wolf drew her at a rushed pace, however, straight toward the far end of the thoroughfare.
A hall cut through on the left and her wolf directed her there.
A door off to the right opened suddenly. She barely repressed a loud gasp as she almost collided with a man who emerged in a black tank trimmed with blue, definitely part of the club’s security force. He was heavily muscled and moved away from her, which meant he was going in the same direction as she.
Her wolf told her to follow.
He headed down what was a short hall then opened the heavy security door at the end. She passed through behind him as did Grant. Down the metal stairs the man hurried, his steps echoing through a smaller parking lot.
Just like the vision, a van pulled up and the man drew the door open and reached inside.
Alanna’s in there, Natalie said. This is what I saw in the vision
I can feel her as well.
She heard a yelp as the man grabbed a pair of feet and began pulling Alanna from the van. Her ankles were bound with plastic ties.
How do you want to handle this? Natalie asked.
Let’s get close then draw her inside the spell.
Can we do that?
My instincts say we can.
Grant released her hand then moved forward. I’ll take the guard, you grab Alanna and see what you can do.
The young female was fighting hard which made it difficult for the man on the outside to drag her out.
Grant, wait. Let me check the future first.
Do it.
Natalie held the spell tight and brought her wolf closer to the surface than ever. She grabbed for the future and found it. Oh, shit, it’s Kryder. He’ll be coming down the stairs in fifteen seconds.
Then we’d better move fast.
The outside man had control of the female wolf. Natalie moved in behind her as Grant dealt several swift blows to the man’s lower back. Punches to the kidneys hurt.
The man bowed backward then toppled over. Natalie caught Alanna then pulled her inside the spell. She whispered. “We’re here to help. Do you recognize Grant?”
The female wolf nodded and relaxed against Natalie. Alanna was a small woman, so it wasn’t hard to support her with an arm around her shoulders. With Alanna safe and the wolf Grant had hurt now cursing, Natalie drew close to Grant. He slid is arm around her shoulders. All three were within the spell. He tugged them both off to the side.
At the exact same moment, the door at the head of the stairs banged open.
“What the fuck’s going on down here? Where is she?”
Grant took the young wolf from Natalie’s arms and cradled her with an arm slung beneath her knees. “Stay quiet,” he whispered to the wolf.
Alanna nodded, her lips compressed together.
Grant’s voice entered Natalie’s mind. Check the future. It’s our only way out of this alive.
Natalie held to the spell and her wolf and once more snatched at the future. It opened swiftly. Kryder will be at the bottom of the stairs in ten seconds. We need to rise up swiftly then vault over the railing. Once inside, hide in the first room on the right.
Got it.
As soon as Grant rose into the air, Kryder headed down the stairs. Natalie trailed Grant, sticking close.
She watched Kryder pause. Keep going. He’s working with his fae. She’s checking the future. I’ll do it as well. What Natalie saw, chilled her. Change of plans. Forget the first door, sweep down the hall to the end then cross to an offset hall. Go.
Kryder was heading back up as Grant swung the door wide. Holding the young wolf tight, he flew swiftly to the end. Natalie stuck close to his heels.
She could hear Kryder open the door they would have entered.
Once they were in the offset hall, she told Grant to stop. She held his elbow as she checked the future again.
Kryder will be on us in ten. Hug the wall and creep back up to the main thoroughfare then move as fast as you can. I’ll keep checking. The other fae has him right on our heels. For a split-second, the fae felt familiar to Natalie as though she was someone she knew, then the sensation disappeared.
As they crept along the wall, Kryder flew past them in swift levitation. Natalie had never felt so afraid as she looked at the man who had caused so much devastation. His massive frame and thick, scarred features, plus the way he carried himself almost turned her knees to water.
Keep moving. The sharp tone of Grant’s voice in her head put her feet in motion. He disappeared from view as he headed back up the main hall. But she soon caught sight of him and shot across the carpeted hallway to catch up.
Once flying in his wake, she accessed the future. Stop where the hall T’s with the foyer. Kryder has a team waiting there. At least a dozen men.
Grant nearly flipped forward as he put his brakes on. Where to?
The venue to the right, but just inside. We’ll wait against the wall that faces the stage.
Grant moved fast, and Natalie kept up. Her heart beat hard. Her chest ached with fear, but she forced herself to calm down.
Holding the spell tight and keeping her wolf on full alert, she once more sought out the future.
But all she found was one trap, then another, and another.
She didn’t know what to do. The future wasn’t showing a way out at all.
Grant, we’re in trouble. The future shows us blocked at every turn. What do we do?
~ ~ ~
Grant heard Natalie’s words. She’d taken them this far, but he suspected the fae had them boxed in. We’re going to have to do this wolf-style.
What do you mean?
By now the aisles of the small theater were lined with Kryder’s men. Each wore black, short-sleeved t-shirts, black leathers, silver belts and blue flame logos on the front.
He set the young wolf down and drew his knife. He cut her bonds then in an instant transformed into a wolf. The young wolf jumped on his back and grabbed hold of his fur.
Natalie, stick close. We’re leaving this way.
He then levitated in wolf form and rose all the way to the ceiling, he glided through the air faster than he could as a human.
He couldn’t take his eyes off his path to see if Natalie was following, so he contacted her mind-to-mind. You with me?
Right on your furry ass, Warrior.
Her words made him smiled. He flew across the top of the stage then headed back up the opposite aisle and aimed for the doorway. He began clipping the heads of the security men with his powerful hind legs.
Natalie reported in. They’re going down like dominoes.
The foyer came next. Fortunately, the ceiling was twice as tall as the theater.
But Kryder was nearby hunting for them visually. The spell was holding. The doors, however, were shut.
There was only one thing to do. He told the young wolf to hold tight, that he was going to shift back to his human form.
She whispered. “I’m not letting go for nothing. Do what you’ve gotta do.”
Once he was done shifting, and Alanna was secure with her hands gripping his tank and her legs surrounding his waist, he flew toward one of Kryder’s men. He clipped him hard and grabbed his automatic weapon. He rose high in the air again as a spray of bullets sounded behind him. He then fired his weapon at one of the glass windows, well away from the stream of guests.
As the glass shattered and fell, he bolted through. Natalie? Please to God she was still with him.
Right behind you. Keep going.
He flew straight, then veered up and to the right heading back to the entrance point. As shouting sounded behind them, he increased his speed. Once out of the entrance, he flew straight up into the air.
He glanced back, but Natalie wasn’t following. She was well below him and faltering in the air. With Alanna clinging to his back, he flew like a torpedo in her direction. He knew at once what had happened. Natalie, you’ve been shot.
Yes. Damn, this was the nightmare.
He knew exactly what she meant. I’ll catch you. Don’t worry.
She stretched her arm out to him. He ploughed forward and caught her wrist. Though he was dragging her through the air, he had to get her away from The Sapphire Club entrance.
When they’d reached a safe distance, he slowed then pulled Natalie against him. He held her tight as he flew a long arc over the Graveyard then back in the direction of Kiara’s Revel refuge. Emergency room it was. Again.
A few minutes later, and out of their shared invisibility spell, Grant sat beside Natalie in the same bay he’d inhabited the night before. She’d taken a bullet through the back of her leg. The doctor was taking broad stitches. She’d given Natalie a shot, but Natalie winced through each pull of the cord through her flesh.
Through gritted teeth, she said, “We did it.”
He couldn’t help himself: He grinned. Relief that they’d made it out of Kryder’s club alive, all three of them, had worked on his mind like a drug. “We sure as hell did.” Alanna sat in the same bay sipping a bottle of water. She was uninjured though she kept wiping tears from her cheeks.
Natalie hissed through another stitch. “Wish this was over.”
“Just a couple more,” Grant said. The doctor glanced at him and shook her head. He turned back to Natalie. “More than a couple more.”
“I figured.”
“Sure, you don’t want some morphine?”
“Not on your life. Nothing. Ouch, dammit.” She squeezed Grant’s hand hard. “I need to be alert in case that asshole comes for us and you know he will.” She put her head down on the pillow and once more squeezed her eyes shut. She was breathing hard and sweating. “Is Agnes here yet?”
“Any minute.”
Natalie opened her eyes then glanced past his shoulder. “How are you doing, Alanna?”
Grant shifted to look at the small wolf as well. Alanna had dark eyes, straight black hair to her chin parted down the middle, and a slightly upturned nose. She was adorable.
Tears flooded her eyes once more, but she chuckled as she said, “Better than you are, I’ll bet.”
Alanna had spirit.
“Good girl,” Natalie said, “You’ll be safe with Agnes. She has the best security system in Five Bridges. Kryder won’t be able to reach you once you’re in her compound.”
“Took one to the leg, did you?” Agnes’s voice surprised Grant. He lifted a hand in greeting. Agnes inclined her head, but her attention was all for the patient on the ER bed.
Natalie twisted her torso to better see Agnes, then gave a yelp as the doctor dug the needle once more into her skin.
“It feels like the bullet started at the bottom of my calf, skipped the back of my knee then traveled up through my thigh. Burns like hell.”
Agnes craned her neck slightly to view the doctor’s work. “Not quite, but almost.” She pivoted slightly and called out. “Good, you’re here. Natalie’s being brave, but I want her out of pain. She’s suffered enough for one night.”
Emma appeared at the edge of the bay curtains.
Grant had never been more grateful for anything in his life.
The doctor stopped stitching as Emma gripped Natalie by the ankle.
Grant could feel her healing power as though it was a whirlwind in the small room.
“Oh. Thank. God.” Natalie’s whole body relaxed.
Grant leaned up to watch the wound begin to heal like magic. The sutures started rising to the surface of Natalie’s skin as the wound closed up below. The doctor brushed them off one by one then said, “Sure as hell wish I could close up a wound the way you do. It’s no fun hurting people that have already been hurt.”
When the wound was completely healed, Natalie rolled onto her back. “Thank you, Emma. If there’s ever anything I can do for you, just ask. But thank you.”
She remained where she was and looked like a limp rag. Pain would do that, especially after all the adrenaline left.
Grant sat back in his chair and took a long, deep breath.
~ ~ ~
Once Alanna had thanked them both about a hundred times for coming to her rescue, Agnes carted the young wolf off with an arm around her shoulders. Emma went with them.
Natalie watched them go and felt a sweet softness in her soul that sometimes good things happened, even in Five Bridges.
She wanted a shower and she wanted to be home for a while, to rest, to think, and yes, to be with Grant, if possible.
But would she be safe in her canal home?
Once they were alone, she was about to address the subject with Grant when he said in a low voice, “I’ve been thinking. Maybe some of my wolves should stay at your house with us.”
With us. She couldn’t help but smile.
She caught his hand with her own and squeezed. “It’s a good idea except for one thing: We won’t have much privacy.”
At that, his answering smile was slow as a lovely, wicked light entered his gold-green eyes. Her breath caught. His expression was just devilish enough that it set off his strong good looks in a glow of pure male testosterone. Her heart picked up its pace and for a moment she couldn’t breathe.
His lovemaking came back to her in a series of strong images that had her wolf making a sudden, fiery appearance. His gaze shifted about her cheeks, her throat and her arms where she could feel the iridescent wolf-heat moving around.
“Wolf,” he whispered.
“Yes. But back to my question. What about our privacy?”
“Well, privacy has its merit unless you’re under attack or dead.”
She chuckled. “That was put succinctly.”
“Besides. I have an idea.”
“What’s that?”
He shook his head. “No. You’ll have to wait, but I think it will work.”
She cocked her head. “Tell me.”
“No.” He stood up and extended his hand to her. “Can you fly yet?”
She shifted her legs over the side of the bed. She felt a sudden longing to remain right where she was. Kiara’s refuge was relatively safe and had almost as solid a security system as Agnes’s compound.
Grant was right. At the very least, they needed his men at her canal home. As lovely as it was, it only had a modest system and nothing that could combat a wolf like Kryder.
She nodded. “I can fly.”
Once in the air, she was surprised when Grant drew close and caught her around the waist. “Allow me.”
“I’m strong enough to fly, but I’m so not saying no.” She leaned against him, settled her head on his shoulder and let him do the work.
He switched to telepathy. I should warn you, Ryan and a dozen wolves, all airborne, will be joining us in about thirty seconds.
When did you set that up?
When Emma arrived.
Did I ever have a say in this?
He chuckled. The night air was cool on her skin. You always have a say, he said, and I’ll send them back to Savage if that’s what you want.
No. You’re absolutely right on this one. My house would be an easy target. But what will Kryder think when he finds out that you invited his wolves to set up defenses against him?
He didn’t answer for a moment, which made Natalie uneasy. She wasn’t sure she wanted to hear what he had to say.
It came anyway. No doubt he already knows. We were busy at The Sapphire Club, too busy to really be seeing anything. But my memories are filled with several women, dressed in blue silk. It looked like a uniform of sorts. They all had sapphire flame markings on their throats, though they were covered up with jewelry.
Right, she interjected. Those neck cages made up of diamonds. I can picture them. By now, she and Grant were flying across the main canal and were almost at her house. She watched as Ryan and his men showed up, right on schedule and began a descent into her backyard.
Grant slowed down as she added, So, you think he’s using fae women in his club and keeping tabs on the future.
A bunch of tabs. He began his descent.
As she watched the wolves, all powerful warrior-types, form into an array to the side and behind them, she said, We might have a bigger problem.
Bigger than Kryder?
Well, yes. I don’t know about you, but I’m starved. Only, how am I supposed to feed a dozen hungry men?
He chuckled. Slowing in the air, he directed the wolves into her garden though he drew back just enough and landed easily beyond the shrubs and not far from the canal. There were no tourist boats visible either, though she could hear one in the distance.
He drew her behind a shrub and pulled her into his arms. “Have I told you how proud I am of you, of what you accomplished at Neil’s and how you performed just now at The Sapphire Club? You were outstanding. I mean it, Natalie.”
“I could say the same, Grant. I reached a point where I knew Kryder’s fae had blocked us up completely in the future. I still don’t know how we escaped.”
He grinned again and drew her tighter against him. “I was just faster than the fae’s ability to read the future.”
“I like it when you’re fast.” The nearness of him, the wonderful sweet lumberyard smell of him, had her wolf doing somersaults.
“I’ll go fast for you, as long as you want, as long as you can take it.”
He kissed her and, for just a sliver of time, the world as well as its incessant cares and worries, vanished like smoke rising high into the atmosphere. All she felt, all she knew was the strength of this man’s arms around her, holding her tight, promising security at least for the moment.
A tourist boat rounded the bend in the canal not far from her house. The sound of the quiet motor was a soft, putt-putt drone that had Grant pulling away from her.
“It’s very peaceful here.” He drew her deeper into the shadows.
Natalie had placed the garden lights in such a way that she had few places on her canal-front property that gave her privacy.
He kissed her again, only this time his hands wandered in the nicest way. I love the feel of your lips, Grant. Like heaven.
His kisses pushed at her and she smiled because she knew what he wanted. She parted her lips. But when his tongue entered her mouth, her knees gave way.
He caught her tight against him, however, and kept her upright. The man had a way about him that made her legs refuse to hold her up. He’d have her on her back in a few more seconds if she didn’t stop him. But she really didn’t want to.
Her wolf had already started responding and her right hand slid to the nape of his neck urging him.
We should go somewhere. His deep resonant voice in her mind had her breathing harder still.
But her wolf sounded a quiet warning. She drew back and shifted her head, looking through her wolf’s eyes. She saw a familiar aura. Kryder’s fae is looking at us in the future.
The aura vanished, however, the moment Grant released her. “Was she here?” he asked.
She felt his sudden anger boil off his skin in waves.
“No,” she said quietly. “It was a remnant of a recent search. She may have been tracking our location in the future. No doubt Kryder knows we’re here by now.”
“Ryan,” he all but shouted.
His voice brought the tourists in the boat craning their necks in the direction of their hidden spot.
“Let’s get back to the house,” she said.
He slid an arm around her waist and just as together they moved toward her back gate, Ryan and three of his men landed in front of them.
“Yes, Boss.” Ryan had a fierce, wild look about him. All the wolves on the property were warriors. Not one of them was under six-foot. Each was muscled like Grant. Ryan was the shortest but had to be six-two.
“We may have had an intruder, an invisible type. I want the men flying overhead in quick unpredictable patterns and patrolling the perimeter in the same way. Let’s keep our visitors on their toes even if we can’t see them.”
Ryan nodded to the three men. They disappeared but as they entered the property, each man gathered a group of three more warriors and before long, the entire house looked like a stage for war games.
Natalie approved.
The tourists did as well, since they started applauding from the boat.
Ryan opened the gate for them.
“What food have you got coming in?” Grant asked. “We both need a meal, especially Natalie. But I want the men fed as well.”
Ryan smiled. “I knew you would. I’m having steaks brought in and the grill fired up. Beer. Potato salad.” He met Natalie’s gaze. “I asked around and the best Italian Revel restaurant said you often order pasta primavera. I took the liberty. They said for you, they’d deliver. Will that do? There’s time to change the order if you want.”
“Sounds perfect. Exactly what I would want.” She smiled, then added, “And a beer or two as well.”
“Then we’re set.” He shifted his gaze to Grant. “Anything else, Boss? We’ve only got a couple of hours til dawn. We’re bedding down here for the day, right?”
“Yes, just for tonight, though.”
Ryan’s expression sobered. “How’s Alanna?”
“Shaken up. She was fighting her abductors when the van drove up. She’s strong, that one.”
“She’s…special.” There was just enough of a pause that Natalie watched him closely. “She’s got spirit.”
“I suppose,” Grant said, his gaze drifting to the warriors now flying overhead. “For now, she’s safe at Agnes’s.”
“Good. That’s good.” Ryan looked relieved which confirmed Natalie’s suspicions that the young wolf, in a very short time, had gained Ryan’s attention.
For the next hour, Natalie kept her wolf at the fore and set her to running around the property as well, even along the canal-side stretches. Between her wolf and the men patrolling everywhere, they would know if the fae, Kryder or anyone else made an appearance.
The steaks arrived along with her pasta dish. She sat with Grant in the garden at a table not far from the canal. She ate her pasta and sipped her beer.
“Your wolf is working,” Grant stated as he sliced off another very red bite of porterhouse.
“Yes, she is. She might just be the best thing that could have happened for me, given Kryder’s fixation on my abilities.”
“You’re right. I also wonder if she’s a wild card, that maybe Kryder didn’t know about her.”
“It’s possible.” She watched his expression as he chewed. She had to smile. “You are enjoying that steak.”
“Hell, yeah I am.”
His complexion glowed as he dined on the rare meat. The men were wolves. She suspected they’d all be happier if they could hunt for their food and not just buy it packaged from the supermarket.
There was continual talk of moving Savage Territory to the White Mountains in the northern part of the state. She supposed one day it could happen, but it would take years to move the Federal legislature to approve plans for a hundred square miles of National forest to be set up as a preserve for alter wolves.
Finishing her last bite of pasta, she realized she longed for some solitude. Though it was barely one in the morning, she was worn out. Of course, learning new skills and getting shot up in a rescue, might have had something to do with her need for rest.
“I’m about ready to retire, Grant. I need to rest. But feel free to hang with your wolves if you like. I’ll keep my wolf roaming the house for a while yet, as well.”
“Sounds like a plan. But are you okay?”
“I am. Just a little tired.”
When she rose from her chair and started to pick up her dishes, one of the wolves was before her. “I’ll get that for you, ma’am.”
She was surprised by his deferential address. “I’m not—” But Grant caught her hand and warned her with a quick squeeze. She addressed the wolf. “Thank you.”
When he was gone, Grant rose to his feet as well. “As long as you’re with me, you’ll find the wolves will want to take care of you. They’ll see it as their obligation. It’s a pack-rank thing.”
She met his gaze. “Am I with you?”
He offered a crooked smile. “For now, yes.”
She wanted to ask about the future, but it didn’t make sense to broach the subject. They were lovers at this point, there was no doubt about that. But could they be more? She was fae. He was a wolf working toward become an alpha of an entire pack. Maybe if he’d been a permanent beta like Ryan, the discussion would be much simpler.
As it was, she repressed her concerns then she kissed him again. “See you in a little while.”
She almost said she intended to have a nice soak in her bathtub but thought the better of it. No doubt one mention of her being naked in water would have prompted him to follow after her. In any other circumstance, she would have done so. But with a dozen wolves around, she wasn’t exactly eager for all of them to know what they were up to.
She said good-bye to the security detail and thanked them for their service. She was already working at learning their names and noted again their deferential attitude toward her because of Grant. Most of them touched their foreheads and offered a small bow. It would have been unsettling, but her wolf revered them so that all she felt was gratitude.
Once she reached her bedroom, she set her wolf on guard once more. The iridescent specter padded around restlessly, tongue lolling. Her wolf was content and loved being on watch.
She set the bathtub waterfall flowing, poured in some bubble bath and watched the foam rise. A delicious sensation of pure decadence moved through her, of sinking into a warm bath, of floating, of feeling at peace with the world and life. Sometimes, for brief moments, there was nothing better than a bath.
With the temperature just right, and the water level at the height she preferred, she stepped in. As she sank, she took her time and savored every second. Because the tub was deep, she floated easily. She’d made sure the bath was exactly the right size. She let her head sink as well until her hair was fully covered and swaying beneath her.
She waved her arms back and forth to approximate the gentle movements of the ocean when the sea was calm. She’d often wondered if this was what she’d experienced in utero when her mother moved around, a padded jostling, a rocking, a sense of being cocooned, safe, cared for.
The only thing she lacked was a glass of wine. But the beer still moved slowly through her veins and had left her at ease.
As the bubbles began to recede, she scooted up and played with them, letting herself relax. She tried hard not to think about the night’s events. This was her down time, as much as it could be.
Maybe for that reason, she began to ponder her evolving relationship with Grant. He was all man and more than she’d ever dared hope for once she’d become an alter fae. What rose to disturb her was an uneasiness about her part in the Fae-Wolf Wars.
She’d spoken to Grant about the role she’d played. She’d at least done that, but could he truly forgive her? Could she forgive him?
After her bath, she spent some time reading then watched an hour or so of TV. Every once in a while, she could hear the wolves laugh at something. She could also see some of them cross over the backyard on patrol.
As dawn approached and the shutters came down, a powerful longing for Grant’s company surged over her. She knew he’d needed time with his wolves, but he would also need time with her. And she needed him.
Grant?
I’m here.
She smiled. She heard and understood the urgency in his voice. Feel free to join me at any time.
Sweetheart, I’m coming to you now.
She wore a lavender see-through negligee and was reclining on the bed when he walked in. His deep voice flowed over her. “You look wonderful.” His gaze raked the length of her. “Did you enjoy your alone time?”
“Infinitely. Are your men settled in for the day?”
He chuckled. They drew straws for the guest rooms. The rest will sack out on your couches and the floor.
She was about to protest because it seemed an uncomfortable way to spend the sleeping hours, but he lifted a hand. “Those on the floor will shift to wolf-form. Believe me, wolves can sleep anywhere.”
“Good to know.” She smiled. “You said something earlier about having a certain idea about our time together tonight.”
“I do. How would you like to go dreamgliding? We could find a beach somewhere on the California coast. Even if there are joggers up this time of day, no one will see us.”
She understood exactly what he was suggesting. Shivers chased up and down her arms and legs. Would she really be making love with a man, on the beach, even with the sun rising?
“Sounds like heaven.”