Whatever It Takes (3 page)

Busting through the clearing beside the road my legs finally gave out. Every muscle in my body begged for rest. I hadn’t slowed down since I ran from Josef a half hour ago. Even with my above average stamina that was a feat, my ribs were screaming in protest and my head was pounding.

Somehow I had to make it away from him and to Sabine. Wherever Priest had taken her I would have to find her. I already knew the tenor of her emotions from all the fear she had pushed into me earlier. So it was only a matter of getting far enough away from Josef and his beast to stop and feel for her.

This line of thinking had me wondering how I had made it this far, with a werewolf on my heels. If he had given chase I wouldn’t have made it even a few feet. Or maybe he liked to play with his women before he brought them to their knees. There was no accounting for what some guys thought of as foreplay.

“Gotcha.”

Josef scooped me up from the ground and threw me over his shoulder. I wiggled and beat my fists against his back. I tried grabbing onto his tapered waist to push myself free. But nothing seemed to work against his brute strength. Damn it! I felt like a chick straight out of a bodice ripper or maybe some creepy horror flick.

“Put me down! Now!”

Josef pulled me off his shoulder and the world shifted. My stomach did a nasty set of flips that would make any gymnast jealous. When my feet hit the floor my back also bumped into a car door. Now just where the hell had a car come from all the way out here? Did Josef really have me that distracted that I didn’t notice my surroundings? Not wise, Dara. Not wise at all. One hot guy chases after me and my brain takes a vacation.

His larger frame caged me against the passenger’s side door. Looking up into his eyes I knew the beast was riding him hard. Low rumbling growls left his chest with every breath. Josef the man was no longer holding tightly to the reins. He was in full mate claiming mode now. Nothing I could say or do would sway him and that was very bad for me.

“You’ve had others.” His eyes narrowed.

“Well duh, this is the twenty-first century.” He growled in response, but I wasn’t deterred. “What cave did you crawl out of?” I shot him a condescending look.

Of course I’ve been with guys, though nothing overly serious. I couldn’t bring myself to get serious with a guy when they weren’t the man I had been pining over for eleven years. No other would do for settling down with, than my childhood crush. Now was so not the time to think of Pastor Rathbone, not when a hormonally driven werewolf had me pinned to a car.

Besides, Josef wasn’t my father, so I didn’t need to answer to him. I was a hot blooded woman just like any other. Did he think I had been taking cold showers since I became a woman, while I waited for Mr. Right? That fantasy had gone down in flames faster than the Hindenburg.

Realization dawned behind his feral blue eyes. He must have figured out that I hadn’t just had one lover. Of course I wasn’t about to tell him that it had only been one guy to ever hit a home run. That wasn’t any of his concern.

Josef gripped my chin, forcing me to meet his eyes. “How many?”

His skin had gone so hot that it burnt and I had to jerk out of his grip. The man was losing the battle with the beast. Soon all that would be left of Josef would be his wolf. There was no telling what he would do if provoked. But there was also no telling what would happen if I allowed him to do as he pleased with me.

Some people were never themselves again after being with a werewolf. It was as if they had a hit of the best drugs they could get their hands on. The sexual high of being with a Were was beyond anything you could ever experience or so I’ve been told. Yet, as with any drug the withdrawal was worse than imagined. There was no way I was going to be addicted to Josef. I wasn’t willing to walk around like a heroin addict looking for another hit. No matter how damn hot he was.

So when in doubt be snarky, at least that’s my motto. “More than you could shake a stick at, wolf boy.”

Josef leaned forward, his mouth a hare’s breadth away from my own. His eyes were alight with mischief. His tongue darted out to wet his lips and I couldn’t help but follow the movement with my eyes. It was like I was being pulled under by a riptide.

“No matter. I’ll make you forget everyone before me.” His bravado was unflappable, cocky werewolf that he was.

I didn’t even have a chance to answer him as his mouth closed over my own. The kiss was soft, not demanding as I thought it would be. Fire raced through my veins chasing every sane thought away. His mouth kept a steady rhythm, coaxing a moan from me.

Ever the opportunist Josef slipped his tongue past my lips. When he caressed my tongue with his own that was my undoing. With a desperate hunger I never knew I possessed, I answered his kiss. Our tongues began to tango. Swirling, dipping, darting. What the hell had come over me? I was never like this with guys. It took most of my dates about three weeks before I even invited them in for a cup of coffee.

One of his large hands cupped my hip and pulled me flush against him. I could feel every muscle, taut with his need. A whimper escaped me when I felt his desire for me pressed against my stomach. That small sound coaxed the last of Josef’s beast to the surface, I felt the shift immediately. His kisses became urgent, demanding even. His touch went from a soft caress to a possessive brand. His slick tongue probed my mouth, the way a lover would probe my body. I felt my body respond to his hunger, heating to his touch. My breasts swelling in anticipation of his skillful caress.

Josef pulled back from my lips and my eyes fluttered open, he was beautiful to look at. His once deep blue eyes were now nothing more than midnight rings around two pitch black moons. All around me was the smell of sandalwood. It felt like I was breathing it in, taking it into myself. As if its fragrance alone, was changing me.

I didn’t have time to think about the implications of the smell. Or the fact he was pumping the air full of his pheromones. One minute I was catching my breath the next Josef’s head was darting forward. He caught my bottom lip between his teeth. Nipping and sucking on it, until every sane thought left me. I couldn’t even remember why I was running from him. Heat pooled between my thighs and that was the beginning of the end for me.

When he pulled away this time I was once more assaulted by the smell of sandalwood, stronger than before. It seemed to rise off Josef and wrap itself around me. If it was a visible being I would have been able to see it snaking its way around me.

“Mine.”

Oh God yes, I was his. After the heated way he responded to a few kisses, I was definitely his. Lock, stock and barrel. I shook my head to clear the crazy thoughts that seemed to invade my mind. I had never in all my life thought about a guy like this. Not even Ian and I had been in love with him since I was about fifteen.

I was trying to call up what I’d heard about steering clear of Weres. But my mind was fuzzy and all I could think about was finding a place to finish what we had started. Josef was watching me with expectant eyes. As if he was looking for a certain reaction. I was about to ask him what was wrong, when a vibrating in my bra stopped me short.

Another rumbling growl left Josef at the sound of my phone going off. I guess he didn’t like anything interrupting his fun. But then his eyes went to my cleavage as it vibrated with the ringing of my cell and an appreciative smile crossed his lips and I wanted to die of embarrassment.

Not wanting to entice him further I reached into my dress, fumbling for a few moments. After a few tries I pulled my cell free from its hiding place, my eyebrows shooting up in question. The screen flashed Commissioner Gordon, it was an inside joke between Vicktor and I. You see the beings of the Mythos didn’t give me any respect, much like the people of Gotham with Batman. Yet, Vicktor had high hopes for me. Therefore we had an odd friendship.

There was nothing funny about seeing his number now. A wave of unease swept through me, call it a premonition. Call it woman’s intuition. Call it whatever the hell you wanted. But something was rotten in Denmark I could just smell it from here. At least I would be able to once the smell of sandalwood faded. Besides I didn’t trust Priest and since he was last with Sabine, I suspected trouble.

Holy crap! Had I really been making out with Josef instead of trying to find the girl I swore to protect? I took a few deep breaths trying to calm my nerves. Something was very wrong here and I was going to get to the bottom of it, but first I had to face the music with Vicktor.

“Hello.” My voice shook. Damn I was either nervous or Josef had me senseless. I preferred the former, but not by much.

“Priest just called.”

No hello, are you alright? That wasn’t like Vicktor, he was cordial even toward his enemies. But right now he just sounded pissed beyond words, this wasn’t good. A hundred different scenarios flashed through my mind. If I gave Priest the benefit of the doubt, anything could have happened between here and the Council’s castle. There could have been an accident. Priest could have been overtaken by too many Nocturn goons. But the one that continued to plague me was that Priest was a traitor. See, I told you there were plenty of scenarios.

No matter what I came up with, Sabine was in trouble. She was my responsibility and now she was in trouble. I had promised her that she was under my protection and I had failed her. One more in a list of failures I could not recover from.

“Is Sabine ok?”

I motioned for Josef to get into the truck. I was functioning under the assumption that it was his. After all there was just something about a Hummer that seemed to scream mercenary to me. When he pulled the keys out of his pocket I almost laughed. Almost, because it would appear by the sound of Vicktor’s voice that this was no laughing matter.

“She was supposed to be with you. Or wasn’t that the last you reported?”

Now I was giving Josef all sorts of annoyed looks as he started the car. This was his fault, damn it. If he hadn’t tried to take my run, Sabine would be safe right now. She would be home with her father while I stalked the night for the creeps that had hurt her.

“Josef caught up with us. He sent Sabine on a head with Priest.”

Vicktor was repeating what I had just told him. Telling the Quiet Man everything that was going on, I was sure of it. He was always in the loop, a very prominent member of the Council. I was taking bets he was who Sabine was being groomed for. But one never really did know, now did they? At least not where a marriage in the Mythos was concerned.

Wherever Vicktor was, so was the man I had dubbed the Quiet Man. He was always hiding in the shadows, using his cloak and cowl to remain unseen. I’d never been given his name when we were introduced, but his voice was unmistakable. I heard it now murmuring a reply to Vicktor. The sound of his voice was like light and shadows playing across my skin. The kind of voice that stays with you long after the speaker has left the room.

“Are you with the Architect, now?”

Josef grunted in annoyance, I’m sure he didn’t like being referred to by his job title. But this right here was his entire fault. Butting in where he wasn’t wanted or needed had now landed us with a major problem. Think ass deep in a den of vampires with a paper cut. Yep, there would be bloodshed. And guess what? There wasn’t a Band-Aid big enough to stem the flow.

“Yes.”

Now we were in a whole hell of a lot of trouble. If anything happened to Sabine I would never forgive myself. She had been put through enough already. There was no need for her to be stressed any further. Not when I could have kept her safe and Josef could have kept to himself.

“Be here by sunup.”

The line went dead and I knew something was very wrong. Josef was growling under his breath. Something about a Son of Perdition, which to me sounded like some sort of prophecy. Then wrapping it all up with over his dead body. I had to wonder just how close he was to the truth since it was him Vicktor would be gunning for if anything happened to Sabine.

“You alright there, wolfy?”

Josef grabbed my hand and brought my wrist to his mouth. Gently he ran his canines over my pulse dragging a whimper from me. I felt him smile against my skin, it would seem my reaction pleased him. Damn, possessive werewolves. Already thinking I was his, but we would just see about that.

“The Quiet Man thinks to turn you from me. I can assure you he’ll have his work cut out for him.”

I was annoyed, how dare he insinuate that I was his to be turned. I yanked my hand from his grip. As soon as I was free of his touch my mind began to clear. Then it hit me, my assistant James, had warned against a werewolf’s pheromones. A chemical their bodies gave off when they hunted the one they thought was their mate, their true alpha match. The one who was able to balance them, anchor their beast. It was their body’s natural reaction. The wolf didn’t really have a choice. Although, the process wasn’t limited to ‘the one’, it could be repeated until a perfect mate was found. After all you couldn’t really blame them for their chemical makeup.

With one look at Josef I knew he was enjoying this. Not just his beast but the man as well. He liked the fact that someone he thought of as a strong woman would bend to his will. That he was able to make me forget good sense. Well we would just have to see about that, now wouldn’t we. There was no way I was going to become a simpering idiot for Josef, no matter how hot I thought he was. So he could just check his ego at the door, thank you very much.

“They won’t need any help in that area. You have done plenty to make me turn from you.”

I used air quotes in several places. From the look Josef was giving me out of the corner of his eye I knew he didn’t appreciate my attitude. Maybe he had never been put in his place by a woman. Well, there was a first time for everything and I liked being a trailblazer. So let the games begin.

“Besides, if Sabine gets hurt I’ll kick the crap out of you myself.”

Josef took one hand off the wheel and cupped the back of my neck, his fingertips massaging the knots away. My tension and anger slowly fading as if they never were. The scent of Sandalwood began to fill the car once more. He was pulling that wolf crap on me again.

“Stop that or else I won’t wait to find out if Sabine is ok. I’ll just cut my losses and take you on now.”

“You’ll do no such thing.”

I opened my mouth to protest and Josef turned to look at me, his eyes had become drowning pools of onyx. Oh God, he had gone feral again.

“You will do as I say when we reach the Council.”

“Not happening.”

I shook my head, pheromones or no pheromones there was no way I was going to do whatever he said. Did he really think that if he said jump I’d say how high? Josef needed to get real. Guys like him were a dime a dozen. It was just too bad for him I was counting my pennies and not in the mood to spend.

“Besides, I want to know what a Son of Perdition is. Is it some sort of prophecy?”

Josef eyed me in question, “Heard that, did you?”

“Yeah, well you’re not exactly subtle when you’re angry. So what is he or it?”

“I cannot tell ya.” He didn’t even bother to meet my eyes.

I knew damn well he didn’t need to look at the road to drive safely. His wolfy senses would be enough, so why avoid eye contact? He was hiding something and I was determined to find out what it was. Too bad no one ever told him a secret kept from a woman wasn’t a secret for long.

“Well, I guess I’ll have to ask the Quiet Man.”

Josef growled, “You’ll do no such thing. When we reach the Council you’ll keep quiet and let me handle Vicktor and Lord Slade.”

“Keep dreaming.” I huffed.

Although, I was excited that now I had a real name for the Quiet Man. Who would have guessed he was a lord, a high honor in the Mythos. The status of lord in their world was not something inherited. It can only be received by battles won and allegiances made. This Lord Slade had to be ancient for such an honor to be bestowed upon him. No Mythos being would dare cross him and live to tell. Boy oh boy tonight was full of excitement.

“They will not trade you for the child.”

Trade me, why hadn’t I thought of that? It was the best idea I’d heard since coming to Scotland. At least they were keeping their heads in the game, even if I couldn’t say the same for myself. It was known far and wide that Kristoff had a price on my head. Ten million dollars to be exact, a little steep if you asked me, but I could live with it if Kristoff could.

It would only make sense that the Nocturns would want to make a trade. I was practically bouncing in my seat with excitement. As long as we got there in time Sabine would be alright. By keeping her safe from any further pain, I would be able to keep my promise to her after all.

“That’s a great idea.”

Josef snarled and jerked the wheel making me glad I had opted for a seatbelt. He stopped the car on the side of the road. Before I knew what was happening Josef was wrenching open my door. Deftly he unhooked my seatbelt and pulled me from the truck.

My protest died on my lips, when he shoved me against the side of the Hummer. Wedging himself against me. Dear God, I hoped that was a gun in his pocket, because if it wasn’t then I was in deep trouble. Josef fisted my curls forcing me to look at him. His lips were pulled back, exposing his lengthening incisors.

“That is not a great idea. Do you have any idea what the Nocturns will do to you? What Kristoff wishes to do to you?”

He shook me for emphasis, annoying really. I was beyond capable of taking care of myself. Besides Kristoff had made it clear tonight that given half the chance he would have me killed. So yeah, I did know that my chances were pretty slim when it came to surviving the Nocturns. But so long as Sabine was no longer in harm’s way I would gladly switch places with her.

I shook my head so that he would get the message and release my hair. I knew if I backed down he would assert his alpha status and there was no way I was going to let that happen. I didn’t care how many pheromones he pumped into the air around us, I wasn’t a damn puppet.

Squaring my shoulders I shot back, “If Sabine is safe that’s all that matters. There is nothing you can say or do to stop me. So get over it.”

He shook me again, “I will not get over it as you so naively put it. You are mine, therefore you will do as I say.”

What the hell was he on? If he thought to win me over with his dominate act he had another thing coming. Because now I was just pissed off and there was no going back. I shoved at the solid wall of muscle he called a chest. Josef stepped back of his own accord, because there was no way I could have moved him if he didn’t want to be moved.

“A little F.Y.I. don’t boss me around, it’s the fastest way to my bad side. Try flowers or candy next time.”

A slow wolfish grin played at his lips. His eyes slid over my body with an apprising look. “Poppet, you don’t have a bad side.”

A frustrated growl left my lips. I was getting tired of sparring with him; we were only standing here wasting precious time. Because it seemed that he wasn’t willing to give an inch and I wasn’t either, so we were at an impasse. Right now, all I wanted to do was get to Sabine before anything else happened.

Josef pushed against me harder, an answering growl vibrated in his chest. “Do not push me when the Bad Moon’s Rising.”

No, it had just been speculation on my part. This so could not be happening. I didn’t need a crazy instincts driven werewolf on my case. I had hoped he was only being a possessive playboy. That the attraction I felt for him had to do with nothing more than over active hormones. Maybe even my nonexistent sex life. Maybe even some pheromone induced lust. Because this right here was not an answering of my soul to his claim, no way this side of hell it was.

Most werewolves loved to play the field until they found the one, their other alpha. That’s what I thought Josef had been doing. But now he was telling me that I had awakened his alpha instincts. Which meant that I was a strong enough female to bare him a full pack. Oh hell no. There was no way I was going to be a brood mare for a caveman.

“The only one pushing here is you. So back the hell up.” I struggled against his hold on me. This time he didn’t even pretend, he just stood his ground.

“Be still, the beast likes a good fight.”

Josef noticed the look of horror on my face, fear rushed through my entire being. I didn’t want anything to do with Josef’s beast. No way, no how. His words gained him the response he was looking for, because instantly I froze. He took the opportunity and buried his face in my hair.