Blood Legacy: Adult Urban Fantasy (The V V Inn Book 5) (21 page)

“No?”

“No. I came to like those women, a lot. I liked getting close to them, I liked their warmth and affection, and let’s face it—as a man, I couldn’t ‘fake’ an erection, so I knew the attractions I was feeling at the time, which was mainly a combination of like and lust, were real.
 

“It was a difficult situation to come to terms with. I was acting in my own best interests, not theirs. I was dishonest when I approached them as a male werewolf, one they thought they might have a potential mate with.
 

“The betrayal of their feelings, their wishes and dreams… it felt awful. But I had to do it to survive. And if I was completely honest with myself, I enjoyed it at the time. I felt something toward the ladies, even if I had dishonorable intentions and was misleading them.”

“You’re right,” I say. “You had no choice at the time. You had to fit in to survive.”

“Did I? Did I really? I could have gone off on my own. I could have pretended to be gay—although, with a few of the homophobic males in the pack, that might have been a dangerous choice.

“The point is, I did it. And I can’t change it now.”

“Why are you telling me all this, Candy? It’s your past. I have no right to judge or get angry over what you did before we met.”

“It may not be the same, but I’ve felt what you’re feeling right now. It’s tearing you up, isn’t it? The desire mixed with the guilt?”

I let my head drift back to the glass door behind me, the cold and isolation mirroring what I’m feeling inside. “Yes. It is.”

“If you can forgive what I did, how can you not forgive yourself what you must do?”

“But we weren’t involved when you deceived them. I’m very much involved with you now. It doesn’t feel right.”

“It’s not about my approval, Jon. Or about right and wrong. It’s about your acceptance of what you need to do.”

I’m quiet for a moment, letting her words sink in.

“I’ve gotten to know you these past few weeks. You’re a man who values integrity—which is a good thing. So let me ask you—are you fighting to seduce this werewolf because Vivian suggested it, or are you afraid of what doing so will mean to your honor?”

Her words twine deep within me, forcing me to see what I didn’t want to admit to. Maybe my issue really is protecting my sense of morals, what I feel is right and wrong. But surviving, as Candy pointed out before, is about doing what must be done, honor be damned.
 

I clear my throat, the chill from the night stealing my voice. “So after all that, you still think it’s a good idea?”

“To learn a skill that could unite the packs? Yes, without a doubt. To tear yourself up for feelings and emotions building about a woman you must ultimately deceive and leave? No. Let it go.”
 

Candy goes silent for a moment before speaking again, perhaps sensing I’m still on the fence. “Let’s look at this from a different angle—you’ve not made her any promises have you?”

“No.”

“She knows your Vivian’s servant, right?”

“Yes, she knew it the night she sent wolves to track me.”

“And wasn’t that to blackmail you so you’d do what she wants?”

“Yeah.”

“This woman isn’t expecting long term with you. She’s looking for a good time. And for you to help clean up her city. Do what you need to do and leave the guilt behind. It’s okay to enjoy it. It’s okay to feel. I know in the end what you’re having to sacrifice to do it, and I’m still here. I’m not going anywhere.”

“Damn, Candy. You’re making this too easy.”

She laughs. “What were you hoping for? Tears and screaming? Damning you to hell for cheating on me, when’ve we’ve made no commitments to each other and have only known each other a month?” I can almost see her shaking her head at me in frustration. “The bigger picture, Jon. Keep focused on the bigger picture. Life is not a game, it truly is about surviving. And what she knows will help you—will help
us
—to survive.”

“Thanks. I needed that.”

“Good. Now do what you need to and come home to me.”

We end the conversation and I feel lighter. I may not have a lot of experience with relationships, but I made the right choice in calling her. Pushing up from the cold concrete, I stride toward the bar, determined to do what must be done, and leave the guilt behind.

“I didn’t expect to see you back so soon,” Magda purrs from her seat behind the desk. She rises and approaches me, arms extended in greeting.
 

The alpha wraps her arms around my neck, snugging her soft curves against me, and rubbing me with them in a long, languorous stroke. I’d have to be blind and stupid to not see what she’s offering—a good time with no strings attached.

“Do you want to tell me where you live so I don’t have to keep coming to the bar to find you?”
 

“I practically live here, so this is the best place to find me six nights out of seven.” She leans in and takes a deep breath of air close to me, her nose brushing the hair near my ear, a sigh of anticipation escaping her.

I slide my hands down to cup her ass, hauling her closer and planting a kiss on her neck. Should I match her sexual assertiveness move for move and try to seduce her? Or should I stick to safe topics, like what I know?
 

“I have news on your killer.”

Yup, I went for safe and easy. Lame-o. I can almost hear Rafe’s laughter and Vivian’s disappointment in my head. Despite my determination, I’m not used to approaching seduction with an end goal other than sexual satisfaction.

She draws back and peers up into my eyes through her lashes. “Really? What do you know?”

“Buenos Aires has a cat problem. An hombre gato to be exact.”

“Hombre gato? I know what those are. But, they haven’t been seen in South America for centuries. You can’t even call them shifters.”

“Rafe and I took care of the invunche that killed the witch and the homeless man. Then tracked Cat Dudeout of its den. We think it might be headed this way.”

“An invunche? I don’t even know what that is. And you say the gato is headed toward San Telmo? That can’t be good. From what I was told, they’re more like human and animal aberrations created by magic. Man-like beast with huge claws, a cat head, and not necessarily a human brain behind the mask—if I’m recalling the stories correctly.”

I nod. “The invunche is a creature from legend, too. Also created by magic. They were usually guards for a wizard—and we have no idea what brought it here, either. And you’re exactly right on Cat Dude—or at least that’s what it sounds like from what we’ve been able to dig up. We think that could be what made the fatal wounds on the delivery man and the vampire. Would its magic prevent a vampire from healing the wounds?”

“I don’t know. Like I said, there’s been no sign of them in Argentina for well over a hundred years. The vampire could have died because the attack happened so fast. If the heart and head are removed before a defensive retaliation, you could very easily kill a vampire without there being time for healing.”
 

She runs a small hand over my chest, reaching the open neck of my shirt and tentatively touching me with her warm fingertips. “But the creature would have to be
very
fast to surprise a vampire. If that’s the case—meaning the gato is magically supercharged—we’ll have to be very careful when we hunt it. The wounds it inflicts on us might have the same effects.”

“Good point.” I squeeze her firm bottom one more time. “Glad I’ve got the super alpha on my side.”

She smiles, happy with my admiration of her special traits, thrusting her hips to grind against mine in response. “Let’s hope we’ll be enough to take it down once and for all.”

At a loss for words, I lean down and trail kisses up her neck again. Candy likes it when I do this, maybe she will, too.
 

Jesus! I can’t think about Candy while trying to do this. Is this even a good time to seduce her? Aren’t we supposed to be out tracking the gato? What the hell was I thinking coming on to her now? How do spies go home at the end of an assignment to the people they’re involved with and not feel guilt?

Because dead people don’t feel guilt, you fool. And those alive value life and love when they have it, doing what must be done to protect it.

The voice of reason is my own conscience, although I wish I could attribute it to Viv or Rafe. Can I do this? Candy’s quiet voice of support fills my head, and I know I can.

I think back to the skill this woman possesses, and what it could mean to shifters all over the world if I could share it and unite packs with the knowledge.

You can do anything you set your mind to.

Magda moans softly, arching into my embrace. The air in the office fills with sexual pheromones, triggering all my alpha tendencies to respond in kind, to take her like she wants to be taken. My body reacts to the delectable aroma filling my head, arousal growing whether I’m ready for it or not.
 

The pretty, dark-haired alpha feels my physical reaction and rubs her pelvis against mine, encouraging me further.

“Are you eager, my little alpha?” I whisper against her smooth skin. “Do you want me to give you pleasure before we hunt?”

I reach a hand to her front, cupping her mound through her thick pants. She whimpers, thrusting her heat fully into my palm.
 

“You need it, don’t you?” I move my hand to her waistband, intending to slip underneath to touch her. “Is there no one from your pack you can trust in your bed since Hector?” I skim past the fabric, my hot fingers delving down, creeping toward her center. “Can you be quiet so they don’t hear?”

Apparently, that was exactly the wrong thing to say. Or the right thing, depending on how you look at it.

Magda steps back, gently easing my hand from her pants. Desire smoldering in her dark eyes. She licks her full lips and glances down at the bulge in the front of my pants. “As much as I hate to admit it and stop what I want to happen—you’re right, this is not the time or place. We have a killer to catch. And I have no desire to put on a show for all the Weres beyond the door.”

I nod, strangely relieved things didn’t go further. I can do this. I can screw a woman to get what I want. A woman I care nothing for when I’m involved with someone else I really like. Even if the alpha’s not as crazy a psycho bitch as I claimed.
 

Damn, this is difficult.

Best to push it all away and pretend it’s not affecting me. That’s the guy thing to do.

I reach for my shirt hem, deciding to go with the flow and take the necessary steps to disrobe before shifting to my wolf form. “We need to get going then. Like I told you, it’s on the move. No telling if it’s out to kill again or just going for a stroll.” I pull the fabric over my head, revealing the tight washboard abs Candy was raving about earlier in the week.

Magda runs a hand down my chest and then lower, over the taut skin. “Make time for play when we’re done. I will have you, Jon.”

I smile, hoping I look sexier than I feel. And considering I feel like a cornered slab of meat she intends to eat, that’s not very sexy. “And you will, Magda. You will.”
 

I relay the location of where we last scented the Gato and explain how I’d like us to go there with me in my wolf form to track it better. She’ll stay as is and change to her hybrid form if needed. I’ve got to figure out how she does it before this adventure is over or enduring her attentions will have been for nothing.

Enduring. Who are you kidding? You like it. Like that a powerful woman wants you. Wants to—

Cutting off the unhelpful diatribe running through my head, I chuck the rest of my clothes and change into a wolf, the transformation happening so fast it’s like a blur of the light. Her eyes widen in surprise before sparking with interest. “You’re fast. Very fast.”

I wink.
Not in all things, I swear.
Realizing she can’t hear my internal thoughts, I turn toward the door, indicating it’s time to go.

She opens the office door and I’m off like a shot, forcing her to hurry to keep up. Loud cat calls and hoots follow us, her pack having no idea what we’ve planned. If they had, I wonder if they’d join us to help or hold on to denial a little too long, more content to blame Magdelena for the deaths and remain blind.
 

Ignorance is funny that way. If you’re happy with the status quo, you’ve got no reason to seek what’s behind the curtain. And let’s face it—some people are happier wrapped in hate. It’s a sad state to be in, but there it is. People do it every damn day.

The moment she opens the outer door to the street, I spring into the night air, feeling truly alive. It’s been a while since I took on my wolf form. The urge to run past the paved streets and tall buildings is strong, almost overwhelming, but I resist, promising my inner wolf we’ll be able to run free very soon.
 

Without worrying about the pretty alpha keeping up, I race down the darkened streets.

The fragrant night air billows past me, my lungs consuming huge gulps as I allow supernatural speed to course through me. The location we last tracked Cat Dude isn’t far, but on a hunch, I lead her toward the den Rafe and I found in the abandoned warehouse.
 

Tempting food odors—simmering pork, roasted beef, marinated chicken call me to stop and savor all the city has to offer. There’ll be time later. Now, I’m on the hunt. My body vibrates in eagerness to rend and tear, to pin down my enemy and feast upon its flesh. I snort through my nose, hoping to dislodge the visceral imagery mixed with all the food smells.
 

Whatever Cat Dude is, human or big cat, I doubt it’s on my preferred meat list. Parked cars fly past me in my haste, the forms of a few late night walking pedestrians a blur of color. I know they won’t see me too clearly when I pour on the speed like this, and that’s a good thing. The city has enough to handle with the recent deaths, no need to make matters worse by thinking they’ve got a large rabid dog running through San Telmo, too.

Within minutes I’m back at the abandoned warehouse, nose to the ground, scenting for recent signs of the hombre gato. If this thing is summoned by magic, what happens to it when it’s not killing? Does it magically disappear like the invunche did after we saw it kill? Or does it have a sentient awareness and it hides until it needs to feed?