The Beast Within (15 page)

“Do we really have to go out there?” Donna’s gaze was caught by the setting sun out the window.

“You don’t.” John covered her hand on the table, drawing her attention. “But I’m going out to do the check. You can stay in here. It’s safe. The creatures weren’t able to get in here while the doc lived here.”

“Yet they still got her.” Donna shivered at the memory and John took her hand in both of his, drawing closer.

“Only because she went outside to nag her husband. Let that be a lesson for the future.”

She burst out laughing as he’d hoped she would and the disturbing memory left her eyes.

“I’d never nag you, John. Maybe just…forcefully remind you of things now and again.”

He pulled her in for a quick hug. “I think I can live with that.”

John patrolled the woods around the house and the fishing camp most of the night. Thankfully, all was quiet. Donna had volunteered to come out with him, despite her obvious reluctance. She was a trouper. He admired the hell out of her courage and willingness to do the hard jobs.

He’d left her inside, cataloging some of the scientific evidence they’d found in the hidden room. The last time he’d cruised into the mansion to check on her, she’d been on the phone with some of the other team members, relaying newly discovered information.

He’d checked in with the team leader earlier and received new orders. If he found no evidence of further zombie activity in the area tonight, they were to hightail it back to North Carolina. The team there was still in trouble and needed help. John was more than willing to enter the fight back on base, now that he could fully join the combat team. It had been hard for him to sit on the sidelines in a support role. He’d done it in order to be involved in the mission in which his little sister was so heavily involved. Meeting Donna had been a fortunate twist of fate.

Who knew he’d find his soul mate on a top-secret mission? John still couldn’t quite believe it. For sure his sister, Sarah, was going to be surprised. John smiled as he thought of his little sister. The smile widened as he finished his last circuit before dawn with nary a sign of a zombie. The place was clear. They’d gotten all the creatures the night before, thank goodness.

Donna was waiting for him with open arms. He stepped into her embrace and swept her into a hug that made her squeal as he swung her around. He dipped his head and gave her a smacking kiss.

“Now that’s something to come home to.” He loved the way she smiled at him with that soft look in her eyes just for him.

“But we’re not
home.
” She rolled her eyes around at the mansion that was serving as their base for the moment.

“Anywhere you are is home to me, Donna.”

“That is the sweetest thing anyone’s ever said to me.”

She actually teared up. Damn. He hadn’t meant to make her cry. John dipped his head and kissed away the tears as gently as he could, which only seemed to make it worse. Double damn.

“Don’t mind me.” She tried to downplay her emotional response and he let her.

“You’re beautiful, Donna.” He set her a little away from him. He couldn’t let her go completely, but he walked by her side as they entered the mansion. “So what have you been up to while I was out chasing shadows?”

“I found a lot of great information and sent it back to the docs at the base. I was on the phone with them most of the night, in fact.”

“Do you think you got it all? Or is there more to discover here?”

“There’s probably a lot more good information to discover, but it’s beyond my technical skill. I think I hit the most important stuff for now, but the lab contents have got to be boxed up and sent back to the science team.”

“Good. Buzz is going to do that while we head back to Fort Bragg tomorrow.” He paused as she turned to face him inside the giant kitchen of the posh house.

“You got new orders?”

He nodded. “We both did. I spoke to Commander Sykes a couple of hours ago. They’ve still got big problems on base and need all hands on deck. We’re heading back to North Carolina. You okay with that?”

“Yeah, I guess. So you didn’t find anything in the woods?”

“Not a trace. I think it’s safe to say that we got them all.” He hooked his thumbs into his utility belt as he leaned back against the kitchen counter.

“Thank goodness.”

“We have to drive to Knoxville this morning and we’ll catch a flight from there. You ready to face the rest of the team as a couple?” He laid his worries on the line. He wouldn’t hide their new relationship. He wanted her to acknowledge his claim to all and sundry.

“Sure, why not?”

Her easy acceptance floored him. In a flash, he realized he’d made a mountain out of a molehill. She’d never know how uneasy he’d been. No, that would remain his little secret.

“Yeah, why not?”

He laughed at himself and hugged her close. Damn, his woman was perfect.

They packed up and headed for Knoxville a couple of hours later and were back at Fort Bragg that night. John was proud of his new fiancée when they reported to Commander Sykes’s office for a full debrief. She took the bull by the horns, so to speak, surprising both men.

“Commander,” she spoke forcefully as he motioned for them to take the chairs in front of his desk, “John and I are engaged. Is that a problem?”

Sykes sat back in his chair and just looked at them for a long minute while John’s tension mounted. Then a slow grin stole over the commander’s face.

“I can’t say that I ever intended to run a team quite like this before. Seems like Noah’s Ark around here lately with everyone pairing off, two by two. But I have no objection. In fact, I’m very happy for you. Congratulations to you both.” Sykes leaned forward to shake both their hands, his smile genuine and friendly.

“Thank you, sir,” John replied, a little stymied by the man’s easy acceptance.

As usual, Donna was more open with her reaction. She gave Sykes a quick hug and accepted a friendly kiss on her cheek.

“Thanks, Matt. And thanks for pairing us up to begin with. I guess, in a way, we owe our happiness to you.”

Sykes held up his hands, palms outward. “Oh, I can’t take credit for this. This is all on you two. And if the brass gets on my case, you can be sure that’s exactly what I’ll tell them.”

They all laughed. John knew in his heart that Matt Sykes wouldn’t hang them out to dry. No, the commander was definitely on their side and he’d go to bat for them if necessary. He was that kind of guy.

John didn’t know how he’d gotten so lucky. Sure, being picked for a team that had to fight zombies in total secrecy wasn’t really the greatest stroke of luck, but it turned out to be a blessing in disguise. Not only had he found a mission that got his blood pumping, but he’d found a woman who would complete his world now and for as long as they were blessed to be together. If he had anything to say about it, he’d keep her forever.

Donna turned to him and took his hand. It was an inappropriate move in a military office, but he said nothing. When she looked at him with those beautiful eyes full of love, he’d give her anything. His heart, his soul, his life. And most especially, his love.

Somewhere in North Carolina

“B
emkey, the crazy bitch, offed Wallace. He was our main contact at Praxis Air.”

“I told you she was going to be trouble,” the man complained.

“It couldn’t be helped. She was part of the original team. She knew too much. She had to be let in. I never planned to leave her around for long though. She was a good scientist, but personally she was a liability.”

“Was?” The man sounded curious.

“She’s dead. One of the zombies must’ve got her or there would’ve been more to bury. I got the news through our source in the mailroom a half hour ago.”

“Can’t say I’m sorry. In fact, I’m glad we don’t have to worry about her anymore. She was a loose cannon.”

“I agree. But we’ll have to cultivate our other contact at the airline. We need them.”

“Not to worry. I’ve got some leverage against one of the owners. Praxis Air won’t be a problem.”

“You’re sure?”

“Positive. Leave it to me.”

J
ENNIFER
L
YON

“W
hat’s taking so long, Mira? If the wizard shows up…”

“He won’t.” Mira Tate kept her eyes on the road while answering her cousin on the Bluetooth. In seventeen years, the Wizard of Raven Mist had never attended the Remington Day Celebration. The entire town turned out, bringing gifts, drinking wine and celebrating the day the wizard had banished the demon who killed two of their citizens—Mira’s parents.

“He might,” Lacey insisted. “Besides, the party has started, the winery is brimming with townsfolk and Gram needs to give the toast.”

Mira turned down the private lane to the lakeside cabin and forced her jaw to unclench. “Lacey, you’re the one who forgot to pick up Gram.”

“I had an exorcism that took longer than I expected. It was for a couple moving into a new house. There were two spirits there who didn’t want to move or share.”

“You could have called.” Mira parked the car in front of the lake house.

“I sent Gram, Mom and Damon a psychic message. I couldn’t send the message to you, you’re magic-blind.”

She valiantly fought the urge to bang her head against the steering wheel. She loved her family, but they lived in a different world than Mira. A world of magic, while Mira lived in a little place she liked to call reality. “Your mom is on a private island doing readings for minor royalty, so she’s out of range. Your brother”—is an idiot. She sucked in a breath, trying to be fair. Damon was the strongest psychic in the family, but—“needs to scry to get the message. If he’s busy or distracted”—by his latest bimbo—“he won’t pick up the message in time.”

“But Gram usually gets my messages,” Lacey pointed out.

Twenty-four years old and she still hadn’t learned. Quit trying to reason with magicals. They were used to being special and getting away with crap like this, while the magic-blinds cleaned up after them. “Lacey, just take care of the party until Gram and I get back.” She turned off the car, killed the lights and was cast into darkness.

Total darkness.

A chill went down her spine. If Gram was here, why weren’t there any lights on in the cabin? Oh God, what if she’d fallen? Or had a heart attack? Or—“Stop it.” She flipped on her dome light and got a flashlight out of the glove box. Then she grabbed her keys and cell phone and got out of the car.

Her heart rate skyrocketed and bitter fear coated her tongue. Gram was all Mira had. Her parents had been killed when she was seven. Gram raised her, loved her. Gram never cared that Mira was magic-blind.

She made her way up the stairs. The door was unlocked. If Gram was in there that wasn’t unusual, which increased her fear that the older woman was hurt. She didn’t want to take the time to call for help, not when Gram could be lying on the floor with a broken hip or something. Easing open the door, all she saw were shadows. She flipped the wall light switch revealing the living room and kitchen. Empty. She saw the suitcase sitting by the couch. “Gram?”

No sound came except the hum of the refrigerator. Mira checked around the corner in the kitchen: no Gram. She checked the two bedrooms and the bathroom, but there was no sign of her.

She walked back out to the main room, willing herself to think. Gram couldn’t just vanish. She’d come to the cabin to meditate and consult with the spirits. Gram was a soul harmonizer and folks paid her a lot of money to find their soul mates. She didn’t drive though, so…

A lump on the floor by the suitcase caught her eye.

Mira walked over to it and bent down, ignoring her too tight skirt. It was a palm-sized, misshapen lump of purple plastic with black scorch marks. “Gram’s cell phone!” It looked like it had been hit by lightning or—

A wizard.

Her cell rang. She jumped, her heart slamming against her ribs. She glanced at the display. It was her other cousin, so she hit the button and answered, “Damon, Gram’s—”

“Been kidnapped! I just scryed a message from her that said, ‘Kidnapped, get the wizard.’ Then nothing, all contact was cut off. Mira, Gram’s in trouble! We need the town wizard. You have to get him to find Gram.”

A wizard kidnapped Gram? Mira’s fear turned to anger so fierce that it throbbed a violent red in her head. Why in the hell would a wizard kidnap her seventy-six-year-old grandmother for?

“Mira?” Worry threaded into Damon’s voice. “Remington’s a recluse, won’t even talk to citizens. What if he won’t see you? Or refuses?”

She walked out the door, locked it and started down the stairs to her car. “He’ll do it.” She’d make damned sure of it. Gage Remington owed her.

That wizard had gotten her parents killed.

Gage looked at the BlackBerry screen, noting where the two troll-demons were skulking in the forest behind his house. These giants from the first ring of hell were butt-ugly, vicious fighters. Every year on the anniversary of Gage’s sending back the higher-ranking demon that killed two of his citizens, the seal on the portal weakened.

Troll-demons slithered out.

While the town was celebrating with drink, food and gifts, Gage tracked and killed the trolls. If they escaped into town, people would die. The more human blood they collected, the more powerful their demon master in the upper rings of hell became.

If they could kill Gage and harvest the blood from his master wizard triskellion over his solar plexus, their demon boss would rise to the ninth level of hell and become a demon lord.

Not a fucking chance. Shoving the BlackBerry into the pocket of his pants, Gage moved with the silence acquired from decades of training and nearly two centuries of being a master wizard. His shirt had been torn off in his battles with the trolls he’d already killed tonight. The half-moon filtered through the tree branches and wind filled the air with the troll-stench just ahead. He caught sight of the two he was searching for and frowned. They were running toward his house. Why were they going that way instead of deeper into the forest where they had a chance of losing him, or doubling back and killing him? He lifted his sword and prepared to move.

“Oh shit!” Rhys yelled.

Gage stopped and jerked his BlackBerry from his jeans. “What?” he asked the ghost on his screen. Rhys Warwick had been the wizard who trained Gage into a master wizard. He’d been dead and quiet for a decade before Gage had fried his powers and then summoned his old mentor from his death-sleep. Unfortunately, Gage didn’t have enough power to send Rhys back to his rest.

“There’s a woman at your front gate and the troll-demons smell her.” The screen changed to show him the image. His wrought-iron fence was eight feet high and stretched across the front of his house. The woman was stabbing the buzzer at his intercom.

“I silenced it,” Rhys said. The ghost wore a karate gi stamped with the master wizard triskellion symbol, a black belt and a steely-blue-eyed gaze.

“Gage Remington!” a woman’s voice hollered loud enough to shake the trees.

She must have realized the buzzer wasn’t working. “Troll balls,” he snarled and shoved the BlackBerry into his pocket. Then Gage launched into preternatural speed and caught up to the two trolls. Using the element of surprise, he killed then quickly.

“I know you’re in there, Remington!” the woman yelled, rattling the iron bars.

Gage wiped the sweat pouring into his eyes and whipped around to race toward the gate.

A scream pierced the night.

Gage broke through the edges of the forest. Ignoring his gothic monstrosity of a house on the left, he ran full bore for the gate. He saw the problem immediately—another troll had reached through the gate and had grabbed the woman’s neck. Two other trolls were climbing over the fence.

Gage reached the fence in time see the woman shove her fist through the bars.

The troll holding her bellowed and fell back, releasing her.

Stunned, Gage looked down to see that she’d stabbed the creature in his bulging eyes with her keys. The thing was rolling on the ground, trying to jerk them out.

Brutal and resourceful—he admired that. He jerked his sword up and beheaded the creature. Then he turned to the two crawling over the fence. He reached out his hand and grabbed the iron bar to send enough power to the motor to open the gate and get between the trolls and the woman. Instead, his triskellion—the three spirals within a spiral—shorted out and sent a bolt of pure electricity into the bars.

The trolls touching it shrieked in agony and went up in flames. The bars turned molten red, then gray and finally fell to the ground in a long row of chunky ash. It smelled like burning iron, hair and rotten, greasy meat.

Gage sighed, so damned tired of his fucked-up power. He ignored the burn on his hand and glared at his unwanted guest. She was a plain-looking woman wearing a black skirt, an ugly blouse and high heels. Although he did notice her hair. It was a deep mahogany color that gleamed over her shoulders. Her face was pale and tight, her brown eyes huge. “You need to get out of here,” he growled, while trying not to breathe in the lingering stench.

Her eyes widened and she yelled, “Behind you!”

Gage gripped his sword with both hands, ignoring the hot flash of pain in his burned palm and swung around, beheading the troll just as it leapt toward him with its teeth bared.

“You are summoning demons.”

The accusation hit him in the back and boiled his blood with outrage. He had spent the last seventeen years doing everything within his severely limited power to protect the town. Gage turned and narrowed his gaze. “Pay attention, woman, I am not summoning demons, I’m killing them. Besides, these barely qualify as demons; they are merely trolls.” Real demons would be a more serious problem with his fried magic. “But they won’t hesitate to kill you and consume all your blood. Run along while you still can.”

She shivered, wrapping her arms around her waist. “How did they get here?”

Gage didn’t have time for this. “Get out of here. Now.” He made it a command.

“Demons don’t just appear.” She sucked in a breath, her chest rising with clear outrage. “You’ve opened a portal!”

He didn’t need this shit. “Lady, I’m about ready to open a portal and toss you into hell. Get the hell out of here before I do it.” He had to get her away from the danger. The portal should reseal any minute now, but until he was sure no trolls were on this side, she was at risk.

Her eyes widened until he could see the ring of white around her irises. Hot color flooded her face. She dropped her arms and took a step toward him. “Don’t you dare threaten me, wizard!”

Swear to the Realm, could the gods have found a more irritating woman to drop on him tonight? He took a step closer to her and looked down at all five feet, eight inches of her and refused to notice the way her breasts filled out that ugly top. “Leave.”

She tilted her head back. “Can’t. My car keys are in that…mess.” She gestured to where he’d killed the troll she’d maimed with her keys.

Gage felt his left eye begin to twitch. He walked over to the troll rotting into dust and snatched up the keys. Shaking off the remaining troll filth, he held them out to her. “Go.”

She ignored the keys. “Not until I get what I came here for.”

He knew he was going to regret asking this, but this woman was sticking like glue and he had to find a way to peel her off. “And that would be?”

“I want to hire you.”

He had to do another sweep of the forest for remaining trolls, have Rhys check with his spectral eyes and make sure the portal was sealed. And this woman wanted to hire him? Because he looked, what, bored? “Too late, already have a job killing the trolls.” A spider-crawling sensation went up his spine. He jerked around, trying to see what set off the feeling.

“You have to find my grandmother!” the woman yelled at his back.

He didn’t see anything in the direction of his house. “I don’t do missing persons.” He barely paid attention to her. Instead he shifted his gaze to study the shadows cast by the branches waving in the breeze. He couldn’t pick out any trolls.

“She’s been kidnapped!”

“Call the police. Call a psychic. Call Ghostbusters. Just get the hell off my property.” The spider-crawling sensation wouldn’t ease, but he couldn’t see the threat.

“A wizard kidnapped her.’

Gage spun around, holding his sword carefully. “A wizard? Are you sure?”

She nodded. “Gram sent a psychic message to my cousin. Plus, I found this.” She held up a lump of…something. “It was Gram’s phone. It looks like it’s been hit by lightning. It was in the house where she went missing and there’s no storm tonight, so it couldn’t be lightning. That only leaves a wizard.”

Fuck a troll, his night just got worse.

Another wizard kidnapping someone out of his town was a direct challenge to his authority. For seventeen years, Gage had managed to keep his fried powers a secret by living as a recluse and scaring away anyone who came near his house. He forced those who needed to contact him to use the Internet, and he had a staff of paid liaisons to keep an eye on the town. But now he needed more information. “What’s your name?”

“Mira Tate.”

That last name was like claws digging into his gut. “One of the Tates who own the Enchanted Winery?”

“Yes, my grandmother is Calia Tate.” Her eyes went hard. “And you’re going to help me find her.”

“Give me the phone and I’ll see what I can find out.” He held out his hand.

She snatched her fist away. “No. I’ll pay you but I’m working with you. I’m not going to let you get my grandmother killed the way you did my parents. We work together.”

The shock punched him. She was the
daughter
of the couple that the demon killed. He refused to let the guilt surface. Emotions got in the way. Moving quickly, he caught hold of her hand, took the phone and replaced it with her keys and stepped back before she registered what happened.

She looked down at the keys, then back up at him. “You can’t—”

“Just did.” He forced his voice into flat disinterest, but his fingers were tingling. Was it from touching her? No, it had to be the phone. He most definitely felt a wizard’s power, so Mira was correct. The phone was destroyed, but maybe Rhys could get some information out of it. “You can’t bully a wizard. Go home. I’ll let you know if—”