The Werewolf Tycoon's Secret Baby (The Woolven Secret Book 2) (15 page)

“There’s more,” Parker said casually.

Hell, Parker did everything casually, but Drew knew that there was more to the wolf than that. It made it easier for Parker to pretend not to care because he did care so very much.

“What is it? Out with it. We don’t have all day to wheedle it out of you,” Blake growled.

“If you would quit flapping your gums long enough for me to get the whole story out before you interrupt to berate me, this might go faster. I don’t know.” Parker popped a bit of chocolate in his mouth. “Just a theory.”

“I’m going to theoretically put my foot in your ass,” Blake said, with the same bored affectation Parker used on him now.

Parker waved away the threat. “She said that there are vampires after her. Kumarin’s brood.”

“You may tell her she can rest easy because they’ve been snatched up by our fed friends for their R&D.” Blake blinked. “Shit, why is Kumarin after her?”

“I think that’s the bigger question. See, I tried to do the bitey-marky thing, but was soundly rebuffed.”

Drew’s eyes narrowed. “Rebuffed? There aren’t many things on earth that can ‘rebuff’ a werewolf.”

“Right? I felt incredibly stupid. See, she’s a vampire, too.”

“Goddamn it. There’s no way out of this quietly, either. Your faces have been plastered all over the news.” Blake looked skyward, as he did often when dealing with Parker. Drew wondered if he was looking for divine intervention.

“Double wedding,” Warner said. “The only way through it is to do it.”

“She’s terrified of any more exposure,” Parker said.

“You’re past the point of no return now, boy. So is she. Once a light is on, it makes more sense to leave it on than bang around in the dark.”

“It’s a matter of convincing her,” Parker said.

“Maybe David can talk to her,” Blake said, then turned to Drew. “You have something else to say?”

“I do. It’s about Emmie.”

“Emmie? Santorini Emmie?” Parker said, perking up. “Do tell, brother. Do tell.”

“Well, since you were shit-faced in Vegas with our new vampire friend, you’ve become an uncle. My mate is a human who used to be one of us, but was violated in the most heinous of ways, so now she can’t be Turned. She’s also Peter Breslin’s ex-wife.”

“Is that why I saw Lenore Breslin here?” Parker asked. “I was hoping she’d spar with me.”

“She doesn’t have time for that. She’s on her way to hunt Peter,” Warner said.

“Damn it. I was looking forward to it.” Parker pouted.

“You can play with your nephew. He’s pretty good,” Drew offered.

“I can’t wait to meet the little furball.” He grinned.

“But we’re working on keeping him in pants. No Changing without permission,” Drew warned.

Parker snorted. “Sorry, bro. I’m the wrong wolf for that life lesson. How about if I promise not to feed him sugar? Isn’t that good enough?”

“He’s a sugar fiend. You know Gin’s truffles—”

“Yeah, I know Gin’s
truffles
. I know them intimately.”

“Parker! This is not the time,” Drew admonished. “Getting back on track. Emmie. We’re talking about sending Noah to Academy. At least until we’ve addressed the threat with Sebastian Monk. Addendum, I’m going to kill Royce DeVayne.”

He waited for his brother’s reactions. Blake, as Alpha, could forbid it. Drew had never disobeyed the Alpha before, and he didn’t plan on it in the future. Except for this one thing. It was non-negotiable.

“Sounds like you’ve made a decision. Not asking for permission,” Blake said.

“You’re right,” he acknowledged. “I want your support. I won’t even say I don’t need it. I do. But this can’t go unanswered. You put the pack on the line for your mate and, as Alpha, that is within your purview, but don’t ask me to do less for mine.”

“So she is your mate, then?” Warner asked.

“Yes.”

His uncle nodded his acceptance.

Parker laughed. “Goddess.”

Blake spoke. “You have it. Anything you need. We’re at war and many old grudges are settled in violent times such as these, regardless of the Council’s past decisions. We’ll protect what’s ours. He’s a threat to our way of life and a threat to your mate.”

“What about Sebastian Monk?” He’d already briefed Blake on the cloak they’d found and what happened in Santorini.

Mrs. Westwood knocked on the door, and she held Noah in her arms.

If it had been anyone else, Blake would’ve told her to come back in twenty. One did not tell the witch any such thing. Besides, she wouldn’t interrupt them unless it was important.

“I may have an answer to your questions about Monk.” She put Noah down and the boy ran to him.

Drew picked up his son and held him close. Today, he smelled like sugar and wet dog. He wasn’t sure he wanted to know.

“DeVayne was involved in all kinds of darkness, and you’re going to need magick to help defeat Monk. It seems these assholes summoned a demon.” Westwood sounded more irritated than anything.

“A demon?” Parker blinked.

“Well, it is now. It was once a revered spirit, Okami. Kind of a Japanese ghost wolf. DeVayne’s evil warped it and now, it’s all that’s holding Monk together,” Westwood supplied.

“So, we destroy the Okami, we destroy Monk?” Blake asked.

“Here’s the thing. I think Monk wants you to come for him. He wants to die, but he can’t. Not until he passes the Okami to someone else. I believe he wants to pass it to either Lenore or Emmie.”

“You’re saying the Okami can’t be destroyed?” Drew demanded.

“Exactly. The Okami is forever. He is elemental, he is magick. Being chained to this plane will have twisted him beyond recovery. The only think we can do is find a vessel to keep the Okami. That solves Monk. DeVayne may be another matter entirely. I have a feeling there’s more to him than what we know.”

F
inding Lenore packing
up her gear, Emmie pounced on her.

“You’re lucky I heard you before you grabbed me!” Lenore teased as she hugged her back.

“I don’t want you to go,” she mumbled into her shoulder. “I know you have to, I know you will, but I don’t want you to.”

Lenore rubbed her back. “It’s going to be okay, Emmie. I’m the great and scary Lenore Breslin, remember? I’m so awful that your mate saw me near Noah and rushed to protect you. They fear me. Peter does, too.”

“That makes him more dangerous. I just wish it didn’t have to be you.”

“But it does and that’s okay.” Lenore broke the hug. “This is what I do.”

“Everything’s changing so fast, but maybe it’s supposed to change.”

“I think it is. I’ll let you in on a secret that should make you feel a bit better about things. I’ve got a little something in my pocket.”

Emmie gave her a knowing glance. “You mean your mate?”

“Him, and something that may be even more terrifying. Even his own people fear him, and he’s a bone fairy.”

Emmie shuddered. “I hope I never meet him.”

“You might. He’s coming here to meet me in Den Hollow. Westwood gave him a pass.”

“Someone needs to warn Gin! Just seeing him…after what they did to her—”

“Gin knows. Westwood got her permission first. It’s not like she’s going to bite the hand that feeds her chocolate.” Lenore stuffed the rest of her gear into her bag.

“What’s the plan?”

Lenore had never kept the nitty gritty truths from her, except for the truth about her past. It made her pause. Perhaps that darkness was best left sleeping. If Lenore would happily regale her with tales of all the other things that prowled the pitch, this must be truly horrible.

“The plan is to incapacitate him with Luchtaine and, barring that with his immunity, is to liquefy his bones.”

“That would be an awful existence.” Emmie put her hand on Lenore’s shoulder. “And to condemn someone you once loved to that is—”

“—necessary.” She squeezed her hand. “Look, I can live with putting my brother in a cage of his own making. What I can’t live with? Watching him destroy the world. Already, he could be spreading his infection. He’s an anti-social narcissist with a pleasure for pain. When he was using his…” She seemed to search for the right word to describe it. “…his unique abilities for the betterment of mankind, the safety of us all, it was something that could be overlooked. Now, he’s got all of the tools at his disposal to be the origin of a cataclysmic event. I choose humanity over him. I choose you over him. I choose Noah over him. Every. Single. Time.”

That’s why Lenore was a badass in Emmie’s book.

“I’m afraid this is the last time I’ll ever see you, Lenore. I’m afraid you’re going to die.”

Lenore grinned. “We all have to die. What matters is how you live. If I do, I won’t say don’t grieve me. Do it, but just a little. Do it so that when you think of all the things you want in this life but haven’t yet had, that you reach for them. For me.” She hugged her again. “And goddamn it, stop chipping at that wall in your head. If you break yourself, I’ll come back from the dead and kick your ass from here to hell and gone.”

“You think you’re going to die?”

“You’re not listening, Em.”

“I am. Answer me.”

“Well, it’s not an outcome I’m looking forward to, and I’ll do every damn thing in my power not to, but I’ve accepted it could happen. Not without him coming with me, of course. My handbasket to hell is a two-seater, thank you very much.”

“Why would you think you’d go to hell?”

“Anywhere away from you and Noah is hell, sister of my heart.” Lenore kissed her cheek. “Now, that’s my limit on feelings for the year.”

“Okay.” Emmie choked back her tears. “I’ll walk you.”

“You should stay here if Sebastian Monk is looking for you.”

“I think, with the kind of power he has, if he wants me, he’ll get me. I’m done being afraid, Lennie. It’s shadowed me long enough. I’d never forgive myself if I didn’t walk you down.”

“You just want to see the bone fairy.”

“You’re right, I do want to see him, but I want to send you off proper. It was actually Drew’s idea.”

“This I gotta hear.”

“He said to send you off with my love, not my fear, and he was right. So, that’s what I’m going to do.”

“I will take your love, and I’d take your fear if I could. I’d take it with me and put it in a box and bury it so far from you it would starve.”

“Thought you said you were done with the feelings?”

“I lied. Shut up and hug me again.”

“Are you scared?” Emmie asked.

“Maybe a little, but I’d be stupid not to be.” Lenore tightened her arms around her one more time. “Okay, I’ve got to go.”

“I’m walking you.”

“If you insist.”

Emmie put her arm through Lenore’s. “I do.”

She walked with her out of the door and down the path toward the small village of Den Hollow. “I need to ask you something else before you go.”

“What is it?”

“Noah. Drew wants to send him to Academy and I… I don’t know.” Part of her wanted Lenore to tell her it was a terrible idea. She wanted so desperately to keep him with her. Five was much too young for him to be so far away.

Only he wasn’t five now anymore, was he?

“I’d do it. I know you’ll miss him terribly, but the only place safer than Aphelion is Academy. And he’ll get to be a child for just a little bit longer,” Lenore said.

“I was hoping you’d tell me it was a terrible idea.”

“You have to do what you think is best, Em.”

“I know this is best, I just don’t want it to be.”

“So you didn’t need to talk to me at all, did you?” Lenore asked.

“No, I did. I value your opinion in all things.”

“What about my opinion about Drew?”

“Of course.”

“He says he’s your mate.” She obviously had more she wanted to say, but seemed at a loss.

“Yes. He is.”

“How do you feel about that?”

“I feel… the same thing. That he is mine and I am his.”

Lenore nodded. “I spoke with him today. I told him that he can never, ever give you the bite.”

“I know. He told me. But we didn’t need it. We have the bond anyway.”

“I’m so happy for you, Emmie.”

It didn’t take long for them to reach the edge of Den Hollow and there stood a creature that she almost couldn’t wrap her head around.

He was bigger than any of the Woolvens, a giant, really. The parts of his body not covered in armor were covered in bones that seemed to be outside of his skin. He spread his wings, and they too were made of bones—tiny skulls.

His eyes were black as the night, and his skin a strange blue.

No wonder Gin had been terrified. This was a bone fairy. None of those bones that seemed to be a part of him were his.

“Before we go, hunter, I must speak with the little sugar fairy.” He didn’t bother to introduce himself. His voice was deep and somehow made of shadows—nightmares that were ground to dust on the sharp points of his vocal chords as he spoke.

She shivered.

“The little sugar fairy doesn’t want to speak with you, Watcher. It was by her grace you were even permitted to pass the magick that guards Den Hollow. I can’t ask her make any more of a sacrifice after what your people did to her.”

“I seem to remember your witch twisting our general’s head off like a toy for trying. She should feel safe enough.” He nodded. “I have a gift for her. You know what I am. The purpose I serve. I will not hurt her.”

“But she doesn’t,” Lenore put her hands on her hips.

“I told you I required a boon to help you. This is what I have asked for.”

Lenore narrowed her eyes and Emmie could feel her brewing for a fight. Em put her hand on Lenore’s arm to stay her. “Let me speak with her.”

“No, I won’t even ask it of her.”

“Maybe she wants the chance to face her fear on her own terms. It’s her choice. I’ll ask.”

She started toward Gin’s shop without waiting for an answer. Inside, she found Gin behind the counter, pale and drawn.

“Hey,” she said.

“He’s still here, isn’t he?” Gin tucked a bit of pink hair behind her ear.

“He is and he wants to speak with you.”

“I can’t, Emmie. Don’t ask me to.” Gin’s white face blanched even paler.

“I’m not asking you to. I’m asking if you want to. If you don’t, Lenore and I will tell him to go to hell.”

She laughed nervously. “Look at you. Not too long ago you were going to run from Drew Woolven, now you’re ready to tell the freaking Watcher to take a flying fuck at a rolling donut.”

“You bet I would. I’ve always been better at standing up for others than myself.”

“I can’t.”

“Okay.” Emmie didn’t push.

“I should, though, shouldn’t I?” Gin’s eyes were haunted.

“He says he has a gift for you.”

“Beware of bone fairies bearing gifts.”

“I beware of all fairies, except you. Actually, I beware of most things. I’m such a coward.” Emmie shook her head. “But I don’t want to be. I needed that to change. I don’t want to be afraid anymore.”

“Neither do I.” Gin popped a cupcake in her mouth and offered Emmie one.

Emmie took it gratefully. Nothing was better than baked goods from a sugar fairy. “I kind of thought so. We’ve both been afraid for so long. I wanted to give you the chance to face him on your own terms. It doesn’t hurt that Lenore will kick his ass from here to perdition. Not to mention Westwood. You’ve got a veritable army at your back.”

“I do, don’t I?” Gin ate another cupcake. “Sorry, I fuel on sugar when I’m nervous.”

“It’s your face. Put what you want in it.” Emmie wasn’t there to judge.

“He’s the Watcher, right?”

“That’s my understanding. It’s not one of those who hurt you,” Emmie reassured her.

“I’ll go. I’ll hate myself if I don’t. It’ll be that voice in the back of my head telling me all the things I should’ve done. All the things I can’t do. It’ll be the proof that voice needs that I’m weak.”

“You’re not weak. You’re amazing. Look at everything you’ve survived and all you accomplished. Eat another cupcake.”

Gin took her advice and crammed one into her mouth. “Do you think I should take him one?”

At least, that’s what Emmie thought she said around the mouthful of mushy cupcake.

“Yes, I do. You’re not scared. Or at least, it won’t look like you are. Put it in a pink box, too.”

Gin nodded. “Yeah, you’re right. I should give Lenore something as well.” She gathered the treats in the boxes and then wrapped her arms around her stomach. “I’m going to hurl.”

“No, you’re not. You’re going to go out there, give him his damn cupcakes, and you’re going to accept whatever gift he has to give you with your head held high.”

Gin nodded, but didn’t move.

“We’re both going to defeat our fears.” Emmie took her free hand and led her toward the door.

“You should know, I really want to run back the other direction.”

“You and me both.”

Emmie hoped she was doing the right thing, but was comforted by the idea that if it all went to shit, Lenore and Mrs. Westwood would back their plays.

They crossed the long field to where Lenore stood patiently waiting with the hulking monster of a Watcher.

When he saw her, he sank down to one knee, head bent so that he was on her level.

Suddenly, Emmie wanted to tuck Gin behind her and hide her from the bone fairy.

Gin approached carefully, keeping a safe distance.

“Do you know who I am?” he asked. His voice sounded like it echoed from beneath a rockslide.

“They tell me you’re the Watcher,” Gin acknowledged.

Lenore stood back, seemingly relaxed, but Emmie knew she was poised to strike, if necessary.

“I am Kasadya. I am he who watches. He who punishes. My gift is death.”

Swell guy
, Emmie thought.

“What do you want from me?” Gin asked, trembling.

“I bring you the heads of your abductors.” He pulled a sack from the belt at his hips, that seemed to be the only thing holding his loincloth in place. Kasadya offered her the bag.

“What am I supposed to do with that?”

“Take them, mount them above your home so all know the punishment for trespassing upon you.”

“Would it be rude to say no thank you?” Gin asked.

“You do not accept my gift?”

“I accept your action, and it is… appreciated. Honored.” She nodded, obviously realizing she’d found the right way to pursue the outcome she wanted. “But I leave the proof to you. It’ll make you stronger, won’t it?”

“It will, little sugar fairy. I am shorn up by the bones of the guilty.”

“Then take them, with my thanks.”

He pulled the heads out of the sack, and she watched with awful fascination as they became part of his exoskeleton of death.

“You are brave, and I am sickened by what has happened to you. As are many of our kind. Bone fairies are not all evil.”

“Yet, you have thousands of bones that make your armor. Weren’t they all guilty?”

“Over thousands of years,” he answered.

“I see.” She shoved the box at him. “Here.”

His onyx eyes gleamed. “A gift of sugar?”

“Yes. I meant it when I said you had my thanks.”

He accepted the box and stood, causing Gin to take a step back. It finally registered exactly how big he was. How powerful. But instead of roaring out his greatness, glorying in the space he occupied, he stepped back as well, giving Gin room.

“Thank you, little sugar fairy. I shall treasure it.”

“You’re not supposed to treasure it; you’re supposed to eat it.” Gin couldn’t stand it if she gave someone something she’d baked with her own two hands and they didn’t eat it. People’s joy at her desserts, their enjoyment—it fed her in a way that the sugar never could.

“I cannot, but I thank you the same.” He turned to Lenore. “I am ready.”

“Goodbye, Emmie. If you need me, call.”

Emmie hugged her yet again. “Be safe, Lenore.” She turned to the Watcher. “Keep my sister safe for me.”

He nodded and they headed off on their mission. Lenore didn’t look back.

“It bothers me that he didn’t eat my cupcakes.”