Nic (19 page)

“What?” Mindy asked. “Celina, you’re not making any sense. You should go to bed. We’ll talk in the morning, when you’ve sobered up.”

Celina balked. “You-you-you don’t see what’s right in front of you. You’re blind to the truth,” she said. “Izzy knew. Probably why she left.”

“I’m going to hang up now, before one of us says something that we’ll regret,” Mindy said.

“Too late!” Celina snapped. The empty wine bottle toppled onto its side. “You have already ruined everything for me.”

* * * * *

Mindy awoke blurry-eyed and confused the next morning. It had taken two hours to get back to sleep after she hung up with Celina. Her friend had said a lot of hurtful things, but Mindy knew it had been the alcohol talking.

What had gotten her friend so wound up was a mystery. A mystery Mindy planned to solve this morning.

She picked up the phone and punched in Celina’s number. The phone rang five times, then her voicemail picked up. Odd, since Celina was an early riser. Was she screening her calls or too hung over to respond? It just didn’t make sense.

Nothing about the last twenty-four hours made any sense. The outgoing message finished and was followed by a beep.

“Hey, Celina, it’s Mindy.” Words failed her. “We need to talk. I’ll be over in an hour.” Mindy hung up and wandered into the living room.

Nic was lying on the couch with an arm thrown over his eyes and his long legs propped up. His chest rose and fell evenly. He’d insisted on sleeping on the couch after Mindy told him that she had a perfectly good spare bed. Nic had smiled at her and said the only bed he wanted to sleep in was hers.

She tiptoed into the kitchen. Mindy had made it to the door when Nic said, “Morning beautiful.”

Mindy stopped and glanced over her shoulder. His amazing eyes were fixed on her. Suddenly she wished she’d put on something nicer than her sweats.

“How’d you sleep?” she asked. No way had he been comfortable. Her couch had a lump in the middle of one of the cushions.

“Pretty good.” He sat up and stretched.

“I’m going to make coffee,” she said, watching the play of muscles beneath his shirt. “Want some?”

“That’d be great.” He grinned. “But first I’m going to grab a shower.”

Mindy nodded and slipped into the kitchen. Her fingers shook as she measured out the scoops and filled the tank. She pressed brew and walked back into the living room. She’d just finished feeding her gang when she heard whimpering outside.

The sound tugged at Mindy’s heart. She threw the bolt on the front door and stepped out onto the porch. The hybrid was in the middle of her lawn, half-standing, half sitting. When he saw her, he dragged himself forward, his back legs limp beneath his big body.

“Oh no!” Mindy rushed off the porch and crouched down next to him. “What happened?” She scanned the canine from head to tail, but didn’t immediately spot any blood. Had he been hit by a car again?

Mindy stood. She needed to get him into the car, get him to the clinic. “It’s okay,” she cooed, and stroked his head.

“Mindy, get away from him,” Nic said.

She glanced toward the front door and saw Nic standing on the porch. He had a towel wrapped around his trim waist, his hair was slicked back, making it appear darker than it really was, and water dripped down his chest.

Normally a sight like that would disengage her brain, but something about his tone frightened her. “It’s okay,” she said. “He isn’t wild.”

Nic stepped down from the porch. “You’re in mortal danger. Move away from him slowly.”

She frowned. What did he mean by that? “I know he’s big, but he’s really a teddy bear. Trust me,” she said.

* * * * *

Nic was breathing hard. Not from exertion, but from sheer terror. Mindy didn’t understand. He needed her to move away from the Darkling before it killed her. If it drew blood in any way, she was dead.

“Mindy, I need you to come to me.” He took another step forward. “I know I’m asking a lot, but I need you to trust me one more time. That isn’t what you think it is.”

She stroked the massive creature’s head. “It’s a hybrid. A wolf dog,” she said.

Nic moved closer. The first wave of magic licked his skin. He closed his eyes and let it roll over him. “No, honey, it’s not. It’s a Darkling.”

“I don’t know what that is.” Mindy stared at him in confusion. “Nic, you’re scaring me.”

Before he could respond, the second wave of power struck. This time it hit like a tsunami, weakening his legs, driving him to his knees. Nic’s head dropped back. “Oh goddess, no!” he cried as fur rippled over his arms and down his legs. The towel fell as his big body contorted. His wails quickly turned to howls.

* * * * *

Mindy stared in horror, not truly understanding what she was witnessing. No sign of Nic remained after the transformation. In his place stood a brindle-furred beast with a long snout, sharp claws, and massive teeth.

“Nic?”

The creature’s head dropped and it stalked forward, baring its fangs and growling. Mindy knew this was it. She was about to be ripped to shreds. All the stories Izzy told her through the years came rushing back.

Izzy is right. There are monsters in the world.

The beast rushed her. Mindy closed her eyes. He hit her legs hard, sending her flying off to the side. Mindy landed in the grass and immediately rolled to her feet as the two animals came together in a clash of claws and teeth.

They tore at each other, ripping chunks of fur and flesh off. Blood covered their sides as they broke apart and attacked again and again. Mindy couldn’t seem to tear her gaze away from the horrific sight.

She’d seen dogs fight, but their aggression had been nothing like this. These two creatures were trying to kill each other. Nic might actually die. Mindy’s heart exploded in her chest. The thought of him dying left her bereft, left her more frightened than she’d been when she’d discovered Marco’s body at the base of her steps.

* * * * *

Nic had to block Mindy’s terrified expression out of his mind. One look at her face had told him that he’d lost her, but there was nothing he could do about that now. His heart had nearly stopped beating when he saw her so close to the Darkling.

All the stories about their abilities were true. The Darkling’s magic had called to his wolf and demanded that it reveal itself.

Now Nic was in a fight for his life—for both their lives. He could feel his body weakening, but didn’t dare let up.

The Darkling’s magic wrapped around him, siphoning his power drop by drop. Soon he wouldn’t have the strength to continue to fight.

He had to end this. Trouble was, they were evenly matched.

Blood dripped into his eyes and matted his fur. Nic stumbled, but somehow managed to stay on his feet. The Darkling struck again, tearing a furrow down his side. The magic burned like acid, eating at his skin.

Nic whimpered at Mindy. Tears streamed down her face.
Run!
he tried to shout, but all that came out was a fierce bark.

He swayed. He wouldn’t last much longer. There was a reason why Darklings were the bogeymen of the Kin. Just stay awake long enough to get her to safety. His mate’s safety was the only thing that mattered to him.

Nic latched on to the Darkling’s leg and shook his head, trying to tear it off. The move didn’t work, but it did leave his neck open for a counterattack.

* * * * *

Fear made Mindy finally move. Nic was hurt. Blood was everywhere. With the hybrid gripping his throat, he wouldn’t last much longer. She had to do something. She scanned the yard for a weapon. There was nothing.

Mindy ran to the side of the house. The only thing there was a hose. She snatched it up and checked to make sure her power-washer nozzle was screwed on tight. As weapons went, it wasn’t much.

She turned the water on and ran back to the front yard. Nic was lying on his side, but he hadn’t completely given up. Mindy pointed the nozzle at the animals and squeezed the trigger.

Water blasted the hybrid in the face, shocking him enough to release Nic. He turned toward her and snarled. Mindy sprayed him again.

“Bad doggies!” The words brought out a giggle that threatened to release the hysteria Mindy held inside.

The hybrid snorted and shook his head, sending crimson droplets in every direction. Nic was trying to struggle to his feet, but couldn’t seem to manage. The hybrid stalked Mindy. Nic threw his head back and howled. The sound was different, but she didn’t have time to analyze the “hows” or the “whys.”

“Stay back!” She held up the nozzle in front of her like it was a gun.

The beast hesitated, then kept coming.

“I’m warning you.” She glanced over her shoulder to judge the distance to the door. Mindy didn’t think she could make it to the house before he got her. “Don’t move,” she said, hoping he could understand her.

He kept coming.

A streak of bright orange ran past her legs. Hannibal’s fur was raised, along with his tail. He yowled and spat at the hybrid, but it paid no attention to him.

That was until her cat launched himself onto the creature’s back and clamped down on his ear. The hybrid snarled as Hannibal’s claws dug into his fur, finding the tender skin beneath. He tried to shake the cat off, but the tabby held on tight.

The hybrid raised a claw to rip Hannibal away. Mindy blasted him in the face with the water before he could touch him. Water sprayed everywhere, including onto her cat. Hannibal leapt off the hybrid’s back and ran into the house.

More howls filled the air. This time they weren’t coming from Nic. The hybrid cocked its head to listen, then took off toward the woods.

When Mindy was sure that he was gone, she walked over to Nic. He was on his side, bleeding, and he didn’t appear to be conscious. Mindy didn’t want him in the house, but she couldn’t bring herself to leave him out here.

She went into the house and got a beach towel, then laid it next to the beast. Mindy rolled “Nic” onto the towel and dragged him across the lawn. She was glad he was out cold, because there was no way to get him up the stairs without causing him more pain.

Mindy got him down the hall and into Tart’s doggie cage. She was grateful that she’d decided to buy the largest one. If she hadn’t, there was no way he would’ve fit. As soon as she had him inside, Mindy went into her bathroom to retrieve her first-aid kit.

Nic didn’t stir as she cleaned his wounds and stitched him up. Mindy bandaged him quickly, then locked the cage. Blood covered her hands. Nic’s blood. She even had a streak across her cheek.

She’d done everything she could think of to save him. For a second, she’d thought about taking him to the clinic, but Mindy quickly dismissed the idea. Nic wasn’t an animal and he wasn’t
human
.

Werewolf
.

The insidious word whispered through her mind. Mindy’s hands trembled. Werewolves weren’t real. Monsters weren’t real. This had to be a nightmare. Soon she’d wake up and Nic would be sleeping on the couch. Everything would go back to normal.

She stared at herself in the mirror. Nothing would be normal after today. Mindy couldn’t go back to pretending that none of this was real. Nic was a monster. The kind of monster Izzy had warned her about.

He was also the man who’d saved her from Marco and Emmett. And the man who’d fixed her car. And the man who’d made love to her like she was the only woman on the planet who mattered to him. The question was, which one was the
real
Nic La Croix?

Mindy turned the water on in the shower as hot as she could stand it, then stripped out of her clothes and stepped under the spray. It hurt, but she didn’t care. Mindy scrubbed and scrubbed until her skin glowed bright pink and there was no trace of blood swirling around her toes.

What was she going to do now?

She needed to call Celina, but she wasn’t sure how much her friend knew. Nic had gone to a lot of trouble to keep his secret. Mindy couldn’t betray his trust. He might have misled her, but he’d also saved her life. That counted for something.

* * * * *

Nic groaned and came to slowly. Every muscle in his body ached. He moved and felt a sharp pain in his side. He touched the spot and encountered gauze. What the hell happened to him?

He inhaled and caught Mindy’s intoxicating aroma, then slowly opened his eyes. Bars came into view. Had he been arrested?

His hand slipped down, hitting bare skin. He was naked. That wasn’t a good sign, if he was in jail. Nic blinked, trying to clear his vision and foggy head.

Something meowed.

Nic turned his head to find Mindy’s one-eyed orange tabby, Hannibal, glaring at him. He scanned the bars again. They surrounded him. Not jail. A cage.

Fear enveloped him. Nic sat up quickly. His head banged against the top of the cage and he yelped. Hannibal sniffed at him, then turned tail and strolled silently out of the room. He looked around, but didn’t recognize the bedroom. How had he gotten in here?

Mindy arrived in the doorway. A wary expression shadowed her soft features. “I thought I heard movement,” she said. “Glad you’re finally awake.”

Nic shifted to sit up, but with his wide shoulders and large frame he couldn’t move much. “What happened? How long have I been in here?” It was obvious that whatever occurred was bad—really bad, if he was locked inside a dog cage.

Mindy’s eyes widened. “You don’t remember?”

He shook his head and groaned again, clutching his temple. “No,” he said. “How did I end up in here?”

She bit her lower lip. Despite his weakness and confusion, his body responded to the innocent act.

“I put you in there,” she murmured. “Four hours ago.”

The effect of her words was like being doused with cold water. Everything in him deflated. Four hours? A lot could happen in that time period.

“Why would you...” Memories of a garden hose and a fight came rushing back. “Mindy, I’m not sure what you think you saw—”