Her Lycan Lover (21 page)

“And the other workers?”

“That thing killed them. The Fae was going to kill us. Shit, I don’t believe this happened.”

“No. He wasn’t going to kill us. He was going to torture us.” She watched as Quinn’s features darkened. He dug out his phone and spoke to Tristen, snapping orders and relaying technical sounding information about the Dark Fae.

“We need to leave here. Let’s go inside. You should lie down. I can sense your condition. When Fin and Tristen arrive, we’ll load up the bodies of the workers. I don’t want to leave the corpses out in the open. All sorts of creatures can smell blood. We don’t need additional problems to add to our list. I’ll let Edgar know once we’re gone. He might be in on this. We can’t trust anyone outside the clan.”

“You mean the Den.”

“They’re your clan now as well.”

“I’ve got to send out alerts to staff about the Den closing.” They exchanged looks. She wasn’t going to give in.

“Then inside and in bed. Don’t try my will on this. I’ll clean up. The gate is locked and as long as you’re next to me, anyone else like this twisted bastard will have to come through me. Won’t take me five minutes. Take this.” He thrust the gun into her hand.

“Is it still loaded?”

“Yes. And if I’m in the shower and something with grey skin and weird black eyes comes near you, shoot it. Tristen is close by. Won’t be too long until you’re surrounded by wolves.”

“Everyone needs to know the club is temporarily closed.”

Quinn squeezed her shoulder. “Always on top of things, love.”

“Easier to stay busy. Still no news about Sonya?”

“Not yet,” he replied. He picked up her laptop and guided her inside.

Seated on top of the bed, she worked on Den business, making certain staff knew of the changes and clients were notified of the temporary closing. Not too surprising considering the storm from yesterday. Several businesses were closed after the hail caused damage to buildings, homes, and cars. No listed fatalities. So far, only Sonya was missing. Yet as a shifter, she wouldn’t be listed openly as humans were on the news. Sherry pressed send on a list serve email about the last minute changes to the Den’s evening schedules over the coming week. That was all she could do for now and she put the computer tablet down.

Quinn came out of the closet wearing dark jeans and a black T-shirt that fit smoothly over his broad shoulders, tapering down and hugging his abs. With his dark hair combed back, dark stubble growing over his lean face, he looked dangerously gorgeous.

“Tristen and Fin will be here any minute. Otherwise, I’d give you another reason to scream,” he said. It only got better with the flashing of a decadent smile within a wicked expression that had her panting.

“And moan?” she asked, a shiver working through her body as he stalked across the room.

“And beg for more.” He pushed her back onto the mattress, and climbed on top of her. He bent his head, brushing his lips over her cheek, sprinkling kisses along her jaw. He returned to her mouth, and gave her a kiss so searing it left her digging her nails into his muscular arms. Quinn sank his hands into her hair, exploring her mouth, silently convincing her she could stay there for all of eternity. When he pulled away, he groaned, and ran the pad of his thumb across the edge of her lip as if relishing the feel of her. She snuggled within his arms, preferring to pretend their world was perfect, if only for a moment.

“You’re so delectable. And seeing you as a wolf, if I told you how beautiful you are, would it go to your head?” In all the world, this Lycan meant the most to her. How could the Fates have been so cruel as to bring them to together, only to make him mortal because of protecting her?

With a fleeting look of worry, he shook his head. “Come with me, my love. We can meet the guys outside.”

The gates rolled open, and pulling into the drive were two sleek, hybrid motorcycles she didn’t recognize. The riders wore black leather from the shoulders down. On top, shiny black helmets with darkened visors.

When they dismounted and removed their helmets, the light blond shock of Tristen’s hair caught and reflected the sunlight. Fin’s hair was buzzed. Gone were his usual dreadlocks making him look more like the marine she’d heard countless stories about at the Den. Both of them were marines. Serious for the most part. They stalked forward up the path. Two beta shifters, their eyes glowed with a dangerous awareness, sliding glances from side to side.

“Not too shabby. Phantoms,” Quinn said, eyeing the cycles.

Tristen held out his large hand to Quinn. “We wanted to meld into the background. Wish we’d gotten here sooner with your problem on site.”

“You guys are here now.”

“Sherry,” Fin murmured, coming over to kiss her cheek. He sniffed her hair, the skin at her neck, and his reddish eyes flickered, grew sharper. His nostrils flared. His mouth, on the other hand, didn’t move.

Tristen’s eyes, ever alert, bounced between her and Fin, and then a smirk unfurled upon his lean face. “Well, Sherry, I’m glad to see you’re doing just fine.” He closed his warm palm over hers. “You’re in good hands.”

Not so with Sonya. Sherry blinked away the sudden sting in her eyes. “Any news of Sonya?”

“Yeah. What
is
the word?” Quinn moved next to her, swathing her body with the heat pouring off his torso. He placed his arm over her shoulder, squeezing her lightly. “Come inside. We can talk.”

They all moved up the path. Stopping outside the doorway Tristen was about to set his helmet down on the bench outside the doorway. She shook her head. “Don’t. Nothing that lies close to your skin should be left out in the open.”

“Got it.” Tristen nodded, the muscles along his jaw twitching. “We’re not without our own tricks.” He flashed her a devilish grin before clicking a key fob causing the motorcycle lights to flash.

Once inside, Quinn brought them into the living room. He stood by the arm of sofa, a few feet in front of the fire place. “So you found a note?”

“Yeah. It was left behind on the front desk. You saw the contents. Nothing except the statement that Sonya was taken. The lettering is odd.” Tristen reached inside his leather jacket. He removed a small square of paper and gave it to Quinn. “It’s clean. Nothing nefarious. And not by the usual idiots. At first we thought it was a disgruntled claimant from the Justice Council. Retribution on Shawn. But after talking with you, we gather it doesn’t seem likely.”

Quinn unfolded the paper, leading the shifters around the sofa. She walked up to him, peering down at the paper. The handwriting was odd, scratch marks rather than writing. Sherry held her breath. A few more steps, and Fin and Tristen would see the circle now further marked with elaborate scrolling designs and pentagram she’d carved.

“What do you think?” Her stomach churned.

Quinn replied, “Strange as hell writing. You guys want to sit down? Take a load off.”

“Sure. We should discuss a plan,” Fin said.

She didn’t know what to do or say when Fin stopped short and stared at the floor. Waiting for someone to say something, she fought the need to explain. She had kept her spellcaster abilities secret, avoiding undue attention, but these shifters mattered to her. Would they treat her as though she were a threat? The staff had been hurt, two guards shot. Regardless that guards were wolf shifters and they’d heal fast, all the violence was indicative of things getting worse.

“So… this explains a lot.” Tristen was the first to say anything. “I wanted to ask, but didn’t think it was my business. Cool.”

“You don’t care?” Sherry asked, her chest about to cave in.

“Sherry, you’re marvelous and we adore you. Why would what you do or are, be a problem for us or anyone?”

“I thought you might think I’m related to the events.”
Cause I am.
She wrapped her arms around her middle. “I feel guilty.”

“Don’t think that.” Quinn reached over. “This isn’t your fault. We know of the Fae, Sher. This bunch isn’t something you created. We all only want you to be safe.”

Safe? All the attacks. And now people were dead. Sonya was still missing. That mind bending Fae hybrid threatening torture. Others like him were possibly roaming the city. They had to do something before it was too late. This wasn’t about her.

“No. I’m not the one who needs protection. We’re going back. Not just because this place may be unsafe. We have to find Sonya. And fast,” she demanded.

“Sherry, a search is already underway. There are teams set up and looking for her. Nothing yet.” As usual, Tristen and Fin got right to the point. They were the Den’s right hand team and were responsible for security and overseeing Quinn’s businesses. Tristen turned to her. “You’re involved. They’re probably coming for you, aren’t they?”

“Possibly.”

Quinn growled a rebuff. “Affirmative. That’s a reality.”

She met her soon-to-be mate’s intense gaze. “So, there is no point to remaining here in hiding. I’d rather hide out in the open while searching for Sonya.”

“I want to hear what you have to say. Mind telling us why you think you caught their interest? Could help in us getting Sonya back and protecting you,” Tristen said.

She glanced over at Quinn.

He nodded. “Fine. You feel guilty and this might help make you realize you’re not to blame. You might as well fill them in. They need to know everything.”

Sherry’s hands became cold. “The Dark Fae are crossing from rips in the ley line. An energy fault line that runs through Denver. All over the world and beyond.” She waited to see how that information sank in with Tristen and Fin.

“Not surprising,” Fin said.

“My role as a spellcaster is to prevent Fae from crossing realms along the energy fault line—ley line. There was a glitch. I was suckered by skirmeter into spelling time. The ley ripple may have allowed more Fae to cross. This is the first time I’ve seen them.”

“Skirmeter?” Tristen asked. “What the hell is that?”

“Creatures that assist the Fae.”

Fin leaned forward. “They would need help. Fae mind bend but to kidnap, they couldn’t do that alone. Especially when they give directions and a cellphone number to call tonight.”

Quinn come up, right next to her, and drew her to him. “They’ve crossed over from their realm into our city. The pair I met yesterday is from a low house. The Fae from today is similar to the other ones. They only come when they’re looking for power. Like what you felt. They suck it out of beings.”

Her insides pinched. “Well, it all correlates. And a day ago, they found out there was a passage open on the ley line. More are on the way if the entrance isn’t properly sealed.”

“We’ve had dealings with all kinds. So not to worry.” Fin looked around the living room.

Tristen frowned. “What is it that they’re fucking looking for in Denver? Power for what? They’re greedy from the get-go. More than most. Shifters know that from birth. Either direct experience or it’s drilled into our head by parents.”

“I know firsthand. Had a friend they attacked.” Fin chimed in. “Hate those freaks. Fae don’t abide by rules. They make it up as they go. Well, I’m in just because they’re useless as hell.”

Sherry inhaled. A moment of truth. “It could be that they’re looking to harness enough power to bring down the entire energy fault line. Then they’d be free to cross. They need four spellcasters. And then they’ll try to harness the ability to control the elements that make up all of creation. It’s not a new idea… and you’re right. They are hungry to rule or get something. I have no idea. But for them, it comes about rarely, and they’re always on guard for weak points in the Earth’s boundaries. There’s some condition, like a disease for Fae, when they bind with a human this time around. I had heard about it on the gossip lines between casters and after seeing that one today, it sure seems true. Weak or not, they have power to do harm.” She swallowed at the mention of weakness, her gaze faltering. She glanced down at the floor. “There’s a breach in the portal and it’s got to be fully repaired. Soon.”

“Sonya, does she know about this place?” Fin asked, ever perceptive.

“No. But she knows about the property manager and he already proved useless in keeping Fae away,” Quinn answered.

“Then bank on the fact that more will be on the way. Chances are once they figure out their inside man is down, those things will be here. Soon,” Tristen said, then pointed to Fin. “Got the pack?”

Fin removed the backpack he’d been wearing and tossed it over to Tristen. “We have some experience with beings from other realms. War is war.” Fin and Tristen along with Sherry’s cousin had served in Afghanistan. They were always serious—as in seriously prepared. They had to be as the enforcers.

“Can we spread out over a table? We have a few things that we’ll need to put together.” Tristen faced Quinn.

“Sure. Anything you need, just let us know.”

“What are we missing?” Tristen turned toward Fin.

Fin scratched the back of his neck, over a black tattoo, the muscles in his arm flexing. “Fuel… diesel. At least a gallon.”

“You got any fertilizer?” Tristen asked.

“And a couple of extra spark plugs,” Fin added.

She’d known Fin and Tristen as long as she’d known Quinn. Except Fin and Tristen generally flanked Shawn in his role as head of the Justice Council. A highly organized group that had the chore of settling disputes amongst shifters. And everyone knew shifters weren’t always the most logical of creatures when their welfare or that of their families was at stake.