Authors: Doris O'Connor
Oh, she had to give it to the wolf; he was
smooth. His calm, collected presence a direct contrast to the outraged
detective and her own flip flopping anxiety levels.
“Aha, but I have a sworn statement by Mr.
Channing here that the altercation did not involve your client, so how do you
explain this, Lovel? Not to mention your client’s confession that she was in
that alley?”
Spencer’s voice had risen in his agitation and
his double chin quivered like a turkey due the vehement head bobbing, which
accompanied those shouted words.
“A mere miscommunication, and my client’s
so-called confession was clearly obtained under duress. I am well aware of your
methods, Spencer, and if you insist on this charade, then so will your
superiors.”
The silent threat hung in the air between them
and the detective’s air of importance deflated in front of Marnie’s eyes like a
sad balloon.
“As my report states, the recent animal
attacks, including the one that killed the deceased have been traced to an
escaped panther from the zoo.” He paused for effect and smiled at Marnie with
all the grace of the predator he was, before continuing. “You will find the
claw marks on what is left of the deceased’s body will match those of the
panther, who was killed two days ago.”
Marnie had to remember to close her mouth. A
panther? How on earth had he arranged that? One coy glance at his closed off
profile convinced her that she really didn’t want to know. The detective
clearly had a similar thought processes.
“How very convenient to produce an escaped
panther. Why is this the first I have heard of any escape?”
Another humourless laugh reverberated around
the room, before Lovel continued his voice now bored. “You weren’t informed,
because the escape was on a strict need to know basis. Even a man with your
limited intelligence must know the hysteria an escaped panther in the close
confines of inner London would cause in the general populace. The ill-timed
newspaper article following on from the deceased’s demise was bad enough. Tell
me, detective, did you enjoy your five minutes of fame?”
Another fist slammed down on the table, causing
Lovel’s eyebrows to rise.
“Damn it, I
know
it was her. She knows
something and I will not have another case taken off me, I won’t!” The
detective’s colour had risen to an alarming shade of purple at that shouted
exclamation.
“Blood pressure, detective, really. And I would
be most interested to learn how my client could possibly be involved in killing
the man. Are you suggesting that she somehow has the ability to turn herself
into a panther?” He cocked one eyebrow at Marnie’s strangled cough and passed
her the glass of water on the table. ”This isn’t the
X-Files.
And if
she could, would she still be sitting here? Really, detective, you do surprise
me. I wonder when your last psychological assessment was?”
Marnie stopped listening after that sarcastic
response, more confused than ever. Who was this Lovel to be able to pull so
many strings, and more importantly, who sent him?
She thought it wisest to keep quiet during the
long-winded formalities that followed and when she was finally free to go, the
iron grip on her arm increased her sense of chilly foreboding to fever pitch.
She blinked in the midday sun, as they stepped out of the gloomy police station
and tried in vain to shake Lovel’s hand off. He simply rearranged his features
into a chilling smile. “Don’t make a scene, human. Resistance is futile, but
if you’d like my wolf to come out and have fun, then you just carry right on
struggling.”
She stiffened her spine at the growled words,
refusing to be intimidated, even as she looked into the eyes of Lovel’s wolf.
One of his claws dug into her side, hard enough to draw blood, she was sure.
She swallowed the wince of pain. No way was she giving him the satisfaction of seeing
her run scared. They must want her for something, otherwise they, whoever his
employers were, would have just let her rot in that cell. When she said as much
out loud to the hulk towering over her, she saw grudging respect briefly flit
across his face, before he bundled her down the steps and into a stretch limo.
The blacked out windows meant the interior was too dark for her to see after
the bright sunlight outside and before her eyes could adjust, the locks clicked
and they were on the move.
Her hand connected with a strong male thigh and
she bit back the shriek of surprise as one large hand grabbed her round the
waist and settled her on the plush seat.
She scooted as far away from the man as she
could, her heart going into overdrive. From the scent filling the interior this
was another shifter, and when her eyes finally adjusted the air of wealth
surrounding her took her breath away. The man sitting opposite her reeked of
power, wealth and quiet determination, his voice a deep gravelly rumble as it washed
over her. Eyes the colour of the midnight sky assessed her and his lined face
broke into an amused smile at the way she instinctively straightened her
shoulders. His immaculate attire made her more aware of her own dishevelled and
rather smelly state, especially when he closed his eyes and inhaled deeply.
“I can smell him on you. It’s been such a long
time.”
Confusion welled up inside Marnie at the
whispered words, which held a distinct sense of longing and grief.
“Yes, well, like I said to the henchman you
sent; stop sniffing me then, it’s plain rude.”
His eyes flew open and his amused laughter
filled the interior of the limo.
“You have spunk, little one.”
Pain sliced through Marnie’s heart at those
words. How dare he? “Don’t call me that! I’m no one’s little one, least of all
yours.” Ion’s face swam in front of her and she screwed her eyes shut to stop
the hot rise of tears. No way was she going to give in and cry in front of this
stranger, no fucking way.
“Look at me, Marnie!” The quietly uttered words
held a definite command and she forced herself to open her eyes as his hand
cupped her chin and gave her no choice but to look at him. Whatever he read in
her eyes caused the silver haired shifter to smile and he released her.
“I am well aware Channing calls you little one.
You don’t seem to mind.” His smile deepened at the instant blush she couldn’t
hide. “I’ve had an interesting chat with the young pup already. You know of
course that this whole situation is untenable and has caused nothing but trouble.”
“All I know is that it’s none of your
business!” His eyes widened at her vehement denial. “Ion has done nothing
wrong. Whatever may have happened between him and me is private and besides,
it’s over. Lovel said he was in trouble, but why? He’s done nothing but protect
his pack and try to get me out of a sticky situation that was entirely due to
my stupidity. And who the hell are you to sit in judgement of him anyhow?”
Another infuriatingly lazy smile was his
response. “Ah, as to that, you will find out soon enough. You seem awfully
quick to defend the young pup. Why is that, I wonder?”
“Like I said, none of your business! I’m not
answering another question until you tell me who the fuck you are and where the
hell you’re taking me.”
The smile slipped off his face and the low
warning growl made Marnie jump as his body tensed. Oh, heck, now she’d pissed
him off. Probably not the best move.
“If you want him to live, then you better start
talking right now, young lady. Ion and Lucas are facing execution for dallying
with a human and risking exposure of the paranormal community through their
actions. The council has been watching them for some time. You, my dear, were
the last straw, so if you care for Channing at all, I would suggest you start
talking.”
Chapter Nineteen
Ion paced the confines of the luxurious prison
he’d been assigned at the council’s mansion with barely restrained fury. In his
wolf form his paws padded silently across the polished oak flooring. He needed
to run, to hunt; to tear his unsuspecting victim to shreds and maybe then he
would find some measure of peace. He needed to howl at the moon and to run
until he collapsed with exhaustion. Maybe then he could forget the look in
Marnie’s eyes when she had looked back at him on the steps of that damned
police station. Or the way she’d pushed her shoulders back and her hands
opening that door had trembled.
Damn it all to hell and back. He’d failed her
miserably. Instead of protecting her, he’d not only taken her willing body, but
he‘d destroyed her innocence and exposed her to forces far greater then she
would ever be able to cope with.
His wolf whined pitifully low in his throat and
his claws sliced through the floorboards as earlier events unfolded again in
front of his eyes.
He had driven around aimlessly, desperately
trying to get his wayward emotions back under control and eventually found
himself in the parking lot of his club. Apart from a few human cleaners the
place had been empty and they had given him a wide berth after one look at his
expression.
Slamming the door to his office shut, he’d been
immediately assaulted by the scent of vampire and sure enough Lucas emerged
from the shadows. His old friend looked as though he hadn’t slept or fed in
days, his skin stretched tight over his cheeks, eyes hollow, clothes dirty and
he took the generous measure of brandy Ion passed him wordlessly, gulping the
golden liquid down in one.
The glass flew across the room with a muttered
curse and Ion took a small amount of comfort at the vamp’s muttered curse.
“
Foutu bordel
, Ion. You couldn’t convince her to drop this foolish
plan?”
“Would I be here, if I
had?”
His wolf’s furious growl
vibrated though the stillness of the darkened room and Ion downed another glass
of the fiery liquid, the raw burn down his throat echoing the fire in his heart
and veins.
“I still maintain she is
the one
, Ion.”
His wolf had whined at that whilst the man
shook his head.
“Give it a rest, Lucas. Isn’t it bad enough my
mother died believing this nonsense! It fucking killed her, looking for the
elusive female. She doesn’t exist! Marnie is many things, but she’s not got
ancient blood in her. We would sense it.”
“Who’s to say I didn’t, Ion? You forget I had
her blood.”
It had taken all of his willpower to stop
himself from shifting and tearing the vamp’s throat out at that unwelcome
reminder, but the scent in the air had stopped him.
Shifter, ancient shifter at that and before he
could even swivel round to face the door it flew open.
Ion’s claws sliced through another layer of
flooring, remembering Lucas’ quiet apology in his ear, before they had been
overpowered and marched to the council headquarters like criminals.
“I’m sorry, Ion, this is the only way. I
promised your mother I wouldn’t stop looking.”
What the fuck did the vamp mean? He made a
promise to his mother? When? When she lay dying, having been skinned alive by
the hunters, who had lured her into a trap? The bait being the human who would
ensure her son would find his mate. He had torn them all to shreds with his
claws and teeth and even now he could taste the sweet scent of revenge in his
nostrils, grief and despair following close behind, like it always did. Lucas
had gotten to her before him, he remembered now. His mother whispering in his
ear, before she had smiled at Ion and breathed her last in his arms. His wolf
howled his frustration, grief and anger long and hard, and he could just about
hear the echoing yips of his pack over the blood pounding in his own ears. They
had arrived then, ready to give witness in the trial that loomed over him for
his leadership.
Lucas had alerted the council in a last ditch
effort to keep Marnie safe and Ion had to endure hours of questioning over the
nature of his relationship with a human, until he had been locked up in this
room to await his fate. He would gladly give his life to ensure she was safe,
but the quiet steel in the council leader’s voice and barely controlled fury
whenever Marnie’s name was mentioned, had left a bitter after taste in Ion’s
mouth. All his senses screamed at him that all was not well. If he got his paws
in that vamp he would finish him off once and for all.
A new scent in the air had him shifting in the
blink of an eye. Marnie was here and she was terrified. If they harmed a hair
on her head he would rip the whole lot of them apart, bloodlines, pack order
and council rules be damned.
****
Marnie heard the mournful howl of Ion’s wolf,
the minute she stepped out of the limo in front of the huge Edwardian mansion,
the gravel drive crunching under her feet. Her heart constricted painfully and
she failed miserably at hiding her body’s immediate response, as her head
lifted and she sniffed the air instinctively, searching for Ion’s scent. The
faint reminder of him on the breeze wrapped itself around her like a comforting
blanket and she shut her eyes for a second to regain her equilibrium.
When she opened them again, she just about
caught the elderly man’s knowing smile as he watched her reaction, one hand on
her elbow steering her up the stairs and into the wide hallway of the
impressive building. Once again she was struck by the signs of wealth all round
her, from the marble flooring to the curved staircase and the crystal
chandelier demanding her eyes upwards to the high, frescoed ceiling.