Shifters of Grrr 2 (70 page)

She got into her car and sat there pulling in a deep relaxing breath. Everything would be alright soon. This was finally going to end. She heard a loud smack on the roof of her car. She stared out the window uncertain if a limb had dropped on her car or what had happened. A dog peered over at her from the roof of her car, its head at an odd angle. Its eyes glowed gold, it wasn't a dog. The wolf looked at her with intelligence and seemed to laugh. She started her car and took off in a cloud of dust and spraying gravel. She slammed on her brakes and heard the sound of claws raking the top of her car as the wolf went off the and onto the hood of the car. Bigger than the average wolf and clearly stronger since he hadn't just flown off her car when she'd slammed on the brakes, she assumed this was an immortal bounty hunter. He hopped off the hood and walked to her side of the car just looking at her.

Zorth had beat her to the punch again sending them after her. She saw two more one on each side of the car. They were legendary for their tenacity and they always got their man or woman. She stepped on the gas zooming down the road. She could see them running behind her car as she slowly pulled away. It was a sign that Zorth was desperate to bring her in. Using the bounty hunters was illegal on this world. There were realms where they were an acceptable option, but here all councils had banned their use. It wouldn't help her because who was she going to complain to?

She'd escaped that wolf pack for now, but she knew they'd be back. Even killing the mate wouldn't stop them, she'd have to take out Zorth too. Once he was gone they'd leave because no customer, no pay. First the woman and then Zorth because his grief would weaken him. She continued to head toward her goal trying not to think of the hungry wolves that had been waiting at her door. Were they after her dead or alive? The thought of running hit her hard but they would just give chase. Her only hope was to take out the mate then Zorth. It was too bad really because she had wanted to him to suffer and live a long life alone and miserable.

Why couldn't things just work out for once? Instead of getting better her situation just got grimmer and she knew it was all because of Zorth. By the time the day was done he would rue the day they'd met. He would realize his cold and cruel treatment of her had cost him the thing he wanted more than anything. He would know that he was to blame for the loss of his mate. She would be gone and he would soon follow.

She drove through the little town near the house she was going to. It was a resort area not far from the lake. There were only a handful of businesses along the highway and few houses. It looked like a good place if you wanted to get away from everything. Unfortunately, her worries were the kind that would hunt her down. She had no choice but to face them head on. She pulled off the road to study her map. The mate lived off the highway on a county road and it should be coming up soon.

She continued on with a watchful eye until she saw the sign for the road. She turned on it and the road wasn't as good as the highway but better than some secondary roads. She drove on and looked around not wanting to miss the house. She couldn't tell by the map how far the house was off the road. It could be right on it or a mile down a driveway. She knew she'd missed it when the road dead ended. This was becoming a frustrating task and she felt anger at Zorth and his mate wash over her. The least they could do was be easier to find.

She turned around and drove slowly stopping at each mail box until she finally came to one that was almost hidden by a shrub. She just
knew
she had found then right place. She decided to drive down to the house to check things out. She might even go ahead and try to complete her task if things looked good. She drove to the end of the road and the house was a large log cabin. She could see the lake shimmering behind it. It was within walking distance. The cabin, if you could really call such a large house a cabin, had a huge front porch and a well maintained yard. There was an SUV sitting in front of the two car garage but no other vehicles sat where she could see them.

She opened her door to get out and a dog appeared out of nowhere barking. She was more of a cat person, probably a result of being a witch. She got out and the dog growled at her and bared his teeth. A wave of her hand sent him running in the opposite direction with a whimper. He wasn't such a big bad guard dog after all, was he? She took a look around to make sure there were no more dogs or other possible pitfalls but she saw nothing.

She left the safety of her car but she was confident in her ability to either kill the mate or if she wasn't home, leave her a nasty possibly fatal surprise. Her future happiness and safety was riding on successfully completing this job. She had no choice and she was running out of time. She walked to the porch and up the stairs. She stood in front of the door and took a deep breath before knocking on the door. Once she got inside it would all be over.

Chapter 5

Found

He'd finally found out who his mate was and he should feel bad about browbeating Cherry and Harry until they shared what they knew. It was too important and so he'd pursued the information aggressively. It had been immediately evident to him that one or more likely both of them had the answer he was seeking.

"Who is she, Cherry? Her life is in danger and Serena will not stop until she destroys her. She has an unlimited source for potential power and she will find her soon. Harry, are you trying to kill your friend?"

Harry paled and looked uncertain. She glanced at Cherry who also looked shaken. "I'm not so sure..."

"Maybe I should point out that she's part of the investigation into Chief now and it's your job to keep both me and Damon fully informed?" He gave her a look that had felled far older and more powerful witches but she tried to withstand it to make a decision not based on fear. His respect for her grew as did his irritation. Harry might not be a white wolf, but she behaved like one.

"You're splitting hairs, Zorth," Harry accused.

He fought a smile. Yes he was and he'd do that and more to be at his mate's side to protect and care for her when, not if, Serena showed up. Serena was nothing if not stubborn and she'd shown herself to be resourceful. She'd learned enough magical tricks to fool him into believing she was at least a mid-level witch approved for training when she'd been a lower-level witch barely out of classes herself. He had known little about witch magic at the time but not just anyone would have fooled him so successfully. He asked himself more than once if her good looks and sensual nature had aided her, but he didn't think so. Maybe he chose not to think he was so shallow.

He said, "Think what you will of my methods but the truth is her life is in danger and which do you prefer, an angry cousin who's alive to be angry at you, or a dead one who won't be angry at all." Yes, he was pulling out the big guns the better to pressure them with. These girls wouldn't give in easily so he had to use every weapon in his arsenal.

Cherry looked in his eyes as if examining his very soul. "Is this what you truly believe?"

"I honestly fear for her life."

"She lives not too far from here," Cherry said.

Harry added, "Just passed Eagle Rock on a county road."

"Her name?" he asked.

"Arabella," Cherry replied.

Harry added, "Turner. It's the first road after the sign."

"We'd best not find out you misled us," Cherry said shooting him a narrowed eyed look.
 

"I would never mislead you two," he said innocently. Maybe he should have stayed silent because they both glowered at him.

"What are you waiting for?" Harry asked.

"Thank you both. It had to be done and it will save her," he said as he hurried out of Harry's house and to his SUV. He hopped in and hurried down the road estimating he'd be there in twenty minutes and hoping Serena wouldn't get there first.

He finally pulled down the county road until he saw the hard to find driveway and pulled in. The house was beautiful with a native stone base and sturdy log construction. It was three stories tall and had a gold tin roof. The front porch was huge but welcoming and the yard had many trees, bushes, and flowerbeds. It also had ornamental items including a water fountain where the water ran down several levels before running into the large basin at the bottom. He'd stalled long enough looking around at the lovely yard he was sure she'd created. It was time to man up and take the tongue lashing he was sure he'd receive.

He'd come to protect her but somehow he knew she wouldn't be grateful. She'd be pissed and want him gone. He couldn't leave and that wouldn't go over well either. He made his way to the porch and a dog came around the house. He ran to him his tongue hanging out from his exertions and he rubbed up against his leg. Since he was a demon, he loved all animals and didn't have the predisposition of preferring cats that most witches seemed to. He made up his mind based more on the individual animal and the dog was lovable and had good taste since he liked him.

He hurried up the steps before he got cold feet and knocked on the door. Luckily she had no peephole or she would have probably left him standing there. He heard footsteps coming toward the door and anticipation of seeing his mate filled him. For a moment he was overcome by happiness and he forgot that she would see his visit as an unwelcome intrusion. He was reminded instantly when she opened the door and her smile immediately turned into a frown.

"How did you find me?" she asked.

"The question should be if I can find you, who else can?" She paled and he should have felt guilty for making her feel fear but her life was at stake and he was willing to use any weapon available to get through to her.

"You think she'll find me?" she nervously licked her lip and he watched the movement like a predator. He wasn't a vampire or a wolf, he was a demon and they were the most dangerous of all.

"Yes, I have no doubt that she will. It is unbelievably simple to track someone down with just a few pieces of information. Even if she has a list of names, she can just visit each until she finds you. I could never let anything happen to you."

She let him in and closed the door behind him. She indicated that he should sit on the couch so he did. "Would you like anything to drink? I'm getting myself a bottle of cold water."

"I'll take the same if it's not too much trouble." He felt relieved that she was taking this seriously. He also felt hope that he could wiggle his way into her life and eventually her bed. Why was that wrong?

She came back and his eyes feasted on her. She was the most beautiful creature he'd ever seen or ever would. He was drawn like a moth to a flame and there was nowhere he could go where he'd be free of this need nor did he want to be. She came back moments later and handed him a bottle of water. She sat down in a chair across from him.

"Tell me about this witch that wants to kill me."

That wasn't what he was expecting and he wasn't sure what to tell her. He knew lying or leaving out important information was a sticky web he wanted no part of. On the other hand the way information was given could sometimes make it more acceptable to the one it was given to.

"A hundred years or so ago she was just a young witch. She'd just finished her training and she worked in a magic shop. I had magical talent but I wasn't a witch and had no training but it interested me. I left home with the hope of finding an instructor to train me. What do you know of soul mates?"

"Not much even though I have a handful of cousins that have found theirs."

"So you believe in them?"

"I could hardly dispute their existence after what I've seen."

He couldn't help smiling. Her belief would aid him, at least he hoped he would. "I suppose I'm a romantic deep down." He looked at her as she raised her brow challenging his statement. "I'd been raised to understand there was someone out there just for me. I'd also been told because of my position I might have to sacrifice my happiness to a political joining."

"Clearly that must not have happened."

"No, I left my family behind keeping in contact only with my oldest brother. I went on a pilgrimage of sorts to train in magic and find my soul mate. I met Serena and she misled me to believe she was qualified to train a witch. I found out she wasn't but I forgave her for lying. We weren't soul mates, we both knew that but neither of us knew when we might find that special someone and we found comfort in each other's arms. I saw she didn't really have much left she could teach me and she was starting to get too focused on me. I'd always been up front with her, I would settle for no less than my special one."

"I think I see where this is headed."

"Yes, the time came for us to part ways. I wasn't a poor man, I settle a sum on her that would see her in comfort for some time. She didn't say much but I could see she was hurt but the best thing for me to do was to make a clean break."

"Is that why she hates me so?"

"I thought so, but no. I'm part of a group that is hunting down the vampire that runs the blood drugs, you've heard of them and him, yes?"

"I have."

"She works for him and she is trying to disrupt the people hunting him down. She wishes to kill us both for money and power. She hopes by killing you, it will weaken me and send the others the message that their loved ones aren't safe. Causing me pain, suffering, and eventually death is just a personal bonus."