Chapter 30

Astrangled moan from the body on the chaise spurs me out of a stupor. I releaseAz’s hand and drop back a step to smack a palm on the big, red security alarmnear the door frame. I’ve joked about the klaxon being loud enough to wake thedead; after the first few seconds of ear-splitting noise, the Patriarch triesto raise his head.

Theyellow phone under the alarm button lights up and shakes in its receiver. “Stayhere,” I instruct. I don’t want Az near a wounded centaur. Injured animals –even half-animals – are dangerously unpredictable.

Thesecurity guard on the other end of the line sounds scared. And young. Why can’tthings ever be easy? Rather than bark orders, like I would if I was dealingwith pack members, I try to keep my tone calm and even.

“Thisis Rick Haskell, Alpha of Pack Houstonian. Send a medical team and three guardsto the Centaur Suite. Now.” Out of the corner of my eye, I catch movement. Azis within arm’s length of the Patriarch.

easy. “Don’t move another damn muscle!”

“S-sir?”the guard asks, voice cracking.

“Notyou,” I huff, turning my attention back to the guard. “The Patriarch has beeninjured, but I don’t think the attack happened here. Do you have securityfootage of his arrival? I need footage from the cameras in the elevators andhallways, too. Who was at the desk when he signed in? Are there any othercentaurs in the building?”

“Sir,I’ll dispatch the medical team and guards. Let me get my supervisor for therest.”

Figures.While waiting for the lackey to get his supervisor, I watch Az sink to herknees beside the Patriarch. She gingerly checks the severity of his wounds. Thereis blood spatter on his forehead, and the fur across his chest is matted andred. Az extracts a travel-sized pack of baby wipes from her purse and proceedsto clean the Patriarch’s face. Her hands are far too close to his teeth for mypeace of mind.

“Itold you to stay put, Princess.”

“Doyou really think I could just stand there and do something to help him?”

Isuppose it was a ridiculous expectation. Her compassion overrides her commonsense. Not that she actually possesses much common sense. “What do you need?” Iask. Obviously a lack of common sense is contagious.

“Towels.More water. Alcohol or peroxide. Lavender and rosemary or calendula if you canfind some.” She breaks off to coo soothingly when the Patriarch tries to jerkout of her grasp. Once he’s settled, she continues her report. “I can’t tellhow deep the chest wound is. I’m afraid of digging too deep and making thingsworse. His left shoulder is dislocated. I only found a small bump on hisforehead. There are magic burns everywhere. A witch or warlock did this.”

“ReaderStanton,” the Patriarch rasps. He inhales – a wet, sucking sound that does notbode well – and opens his eyes.

“That’sright,” Az murmurs, brushing her fingertips across his forehead. She holds abottle of water to his lips, but he doesn’t drink. “Just take it easy. Help iscoming.”

ThePatriarch struggles against her. Az finally gets the hint and curls an armaround his middle to help him sit more upright. By the time they are through,his face is gray and fresh blood darkens the corner of his mouth. “Is yourAlpha with you?”

Az’schuckle is a surprisingly light sound, given the circumstances. She cups thePatriarch’s cheek to guide his head toward me. “I’m not allowed anywherewithout supervision.”

“Inthese dark days, that is wise,” the Patriarch manages through clenched teeth. “I must speak with him.”

I’mtorn between waiting for the security supervisor so I can get a jump start ongetting to the bottom of this mess and complying with the Patriarch’s wishes. Screwit. The tapes will still be there in five minutes; there’s no telling how longthe Patriarch will remain coherent.

Islam the phone back on the receiver and cross the room to stand behind Az. Myhand lands on her shoulder; she leans back to rest her head on my thighs. “I amhere, Patriarch.”

“Rick,my son.”

Huh?Is he delirious? We’re friendly. Centaursare similar to Shifters. But ‘son’? It’s flattering, I suppose. “What did youwant to tell me? Do you know who attacked you? Is the Herd under attack?”

“Myson,” he insists, reaching for me. He grabs Az’s shoulders instead. “They tookmy son.”

Ah.Not delirious then. The clock startsticking in the back of my head. How long has the Patriarch been bleeding on thechaise while someone has his son? “Did they look like Shifters in half-form?”

“Yes,but they weren’t right. Too much magic.” He gives Az’s shoulders a weak shake. “Youhave to find him.”

“Ofcourse,” Az promises, wriggling out of his grasp. “As soon as we know you’rebeing taken care of, we’ll search for him.”

Impatienceclaws at me. Time is as big a threat as a kidnapper’s gun. I hate thesuggestion I’m about to make, but I can’t sit and wait. “Stay here, Az. I’llsend Jose to pick you up.”

“What?”Az turns away from the Patriarch to glare up at me. “Not a chance. You’ll needme to read the scene. Track the magic.”

“I’vedone this without you before.”

“Yeah,but you don’t to do it now.”

Thearrival of a three-person medical team and six security guards renders theargument moot. While Az directs the medi-fairies, I give the securitysupervisor a list of what I need. The middle-aged, bald, hook-nosed Cyclops isin charge of anything that happens in the ‘dome, but technically the attack onthe Patriarch happened outside the ‘dome.

Traken,the head of security, offers up only a token protest. Understandable. The headof one of the major factions in the city has been attacked. The heir to theHerd is missing. Panic’s going to set in as soon as word gets out. The head ofevery group will be clamoring for answers. Who wants that sort of pressure ontheir shoulders?

ApparentlyI do.

Small,soft fingers curl around mine.

AndAz, of course.

Trakenpromises to send me all that I’ve requested. He’d better. If I have to retrieveit myself, the ‘dome will be looking for a new head of security. News about theattack on the Patriarch, but not about his son’s kidnapping, spreads fasterthan I expected. By the time we reach the lobby, there is a crowd gathered bythe elevator bank. Az moves behind me when the mass of people surges forward.

“Rick!Rick! What is the Patriarch’s condition?” Maura Sanders, head of the Air SpriteGuild, flutters glittery wings in my face.

“Washe attacked here?” Franx, Chieftain of Ogres, muscles his way to the front ofthe crowd. His meaty fists are clenched. The two ogres behind him are armedwith short swords. It doesn’t take much to incite ogres to war. “What do youknow about this?”

That’sa little too much ogre in my face. When Franx negates the concept of personalspace, I don’t snap his neck like I really, really want. Az’d never let me hearthe end of it if I killed him in front of everyone. I press my Walther againstFranx’s gut, thankful that his billowing tunic will keep the gun out of sight. Thelast thing I want to do is start a riot.

“You’regoing to want to back off now,” I murmur just loud enough for Franx to hear.

Franxdoesn’t move.

The of the gun cocking sends himskedaddling back towards his minions. Ogres are bloodthirsty bastards, but theyaren’t stupid. And there’s a reason Shifters are at the top of the food chain. Whenwe’re in animal or half form, we’re undeniably deadly, but a Shifter in humanform can be the stuff of nightmares.

“Arewe all in danger? I’ve heard about the attacks on your pack,” says Elijah Holt,Elder of the Land Faery Association. “There is something amiss amongst thewitches, as well.”

Likethat’s a surprise. Before anyone else can shout questions at me, I hold up ahand. Mercifully, silence falls.

“Idon’t know what happened. I don’t know what’s going on. I don’t know who is indanger.” I yank Az closer so that we don’t get separated when we forceourselves past the unhappy, paranoid crowd.

Azjabs me in the small of the back with a finger. She places a hand on myshoulder to balance herself when she rises on her toes. If not for my Shifterhearing, her whisper would be drowned out by the barrage of questions. “Rick,it would be in everyone’s best interest to give them more than that.”

“Idon’t have time for a press conference, Az.”

“They are scared. You don’t have to coddlethem, but being in the dark only makes people more frightened. That fear’llmake it easier for Olivet to destroy them.”

Fine.If it’ll get us the hell out of here faster, then I’ll play nice with theothers. I hold up my hand again. It takes three seconds for the voices to diedown. My control over them is fading fast.

“Thereis a warlock attempting to take over this region. He’s using witches andcentaurs to fuel his magic. His first order of business is to take out my packbecause he sees us as the biggest threat. His goons look half-Shifted. They’revicious bastards. I don’t think they can Shift into any other form so I’veinstructed my people to remain in full human or full animal form.

“Isthis Council sanctioned?” someone calls out.

Iglance over my shoulder at my Council expert. She emphatically shakes her head.I don’t know how she can say so with such certainty, but I trust her. “No,” Ianswer. “This looks to be a rogue element.”

Tomy ears, I sound like a douche. They’re eating it up, though. Even Franx. Az’s suggestion had merit afterall. The restlessness that had permeated the lobby is gone. The overwhelmingrancid-milk tang of panic no longer fills my lungs with every breath.

“Whatare their chances of taking out the pack?” asks a brave soul in the rear of thecrowd. What remains unsaid is that if my pack falls, the rest of the PC willundoubtedly fall, too.

Itake the opportunity to look each of the assembled directly in the eye. Morethan a few cringe and retreat. Only the ogres hold my gaze for a few seconds.

“Let’sjust say they have a better chance of ice skating on Buffalo Bayou. In August.”I don’t want to come back to bedlam, so I can’t let that be my dramatic exit. “I’llkeep y’all apprised of any developments. In the meantime, warn your people tostay safe and stay in groups. If they feel especially vulnerable, have themstay here until this threat is over.”

Whilethey mull over my suggestion, I drag Az into the parking lot before she startsmy campaign for ambassador of the Paranormal Community. It’s not that I don’tlike the others, or that I’m as biased against them as humans are againstShifters. The pack tends to keep to itself. There’s less chance of someonestabbing you in the back if you never let them get close enough to prick youwith the knife.

“Doyou know why whoever is behind the curtain convinced Olivet to take control ofthe area?” Az asks as we rush to my truck.

“Because Mages are power-hungrysons-of-bitches with egos the size of the Gulf of Mexico?”

Azchuckles. “Well, yeah there’s that, but it’s not the entire reason. There’s avacuum here. The Paranormal Community is twice as large as it is in othercities, but there is no cohesion. No one in charge.”

“Andyou think that you should be the one in charge? Az, you just moved here. Don’tyou think that’s a little ambitious?”

“Notme! Who’d listen to me? I don’t even listen to me,” she protests with a laugh.

Ohno. No, no, no. Hell no. I don’t like where this conversation is going. “I’mnot going to be in charge of the Paranormal Community. If the Patriarchsurvives this, make him the leader. He likes that sort of shit.”

“Hecould do it,” she agrees easily. Too easily. “But you’d do a better job. Youlove this city, and you don’t tobe the supreme ruler over the PC. You’d allow them a measure of independence,but you wouldn’t put up with petty bullshit. You wouldn’t let the city orcounty push you around, either.”

Herresolute faith in me is flattering but likely misplaced. With Az in my cornernudging me along, I probably could unify the Paranormal Community. I’d do ahell of a job, too.

“Don’tpush me, Az. Try to force the issue, and you won’t like the consequences. Iguess I should be thankful that you didn’t openly defy or contradict me inpublic. This is new to you. I get that. I’ve given you an unprecedented amountof leeway, but in front of others you to respect my position. Or at least pretend to respect it.”

Shepauses near the passenger door. Her hand slips from mine to hang at her side. The corners of her lips curl down into afrown. At least we’re away from the prying eyes inside the ‘dome. “I respectyour position.”

“Whichis why you disobeyed an explicit order by going to the Patriarch.”

Shecringes. Regret flashes across her face. “I’m sorry, but I couldn’t leave himlike that.”

“Assoon as we have time to breathe, Greta is going to work with you on learninghow to fit in with the pack. Some of this forces you to go against yourinstincts, but you have to trust that when I give an order it’s for your owngood. If you don’t trust me, this isn’t going to work.”

“Itrust you.”

“Idon’t know that I believe you.”

“Soyou’re kicking me out?” Az staggers back against the side truck. Her face goeswhite and she presses a trembling hand to her lips. “I know I’m probably out ofsecond and third chances, but I….” She swallows, blinks rapidly as if fightingoff tears. “I don’t know. I think I’d rather you just break my arm orsomething.”

She’drather have me break her arm than kick her out of the pack. I’d like to breakevery bone in her father’s body and then systematically rampage through everylocation she’s been. It’s a little insulting, really, that she thinks so littleof my commitment. Didn’t I promise to wait seven long, celibate months for herto figure out what she really needs?

“Jumpingto conclusions is a good way to fall flat on your face, Princess.”

“Splat?”

“Ohyeah.” I tuck my hands in my pockets to keep from reaching for her. Asreassuring as a hug would be – for both of us – I don’t want to detract fromthe importance of the conversation. “You have to actually listen to what I say,Az. I didn’t say it had to be all or nothing right now. We’ll find a way forthis to work out.”

Shegrins and it’s like the sun coming out after a storm. “Thank you. I promiseI’ll be the best student Greta ever had. Whatever it takes to stay with you andthe pack.”

Evictingher hasn’t occurred to me since I invited her to join the pack. The thought ofnot having her around is enough to incite a panic attack. Telling her that,though, puts more power in her hands. That’s not something I need right now. Still,something has to be said.

“You’llalways have a home with me.” The words come out before I can stop them. Great. Notwhat I had planned on saying. I can’t call them back now. Not when they’resincere. Honest.

“Thankyou.”

She’sstanding so close I can feel the warmth of her skin and smell her perfume. Ican practically taste the peppermint of her lip gloss. Every cell in my bodyaches with the need to gather her in my arms and never let go. To sink into thesweetness of her kiss. Screw the seven month plan.

Iretreat a step. I won’t stop at one kiss. One minute of holding her against mewon’t satisfy this craving. Pushing things is too risky. Especially forsomething as fragile as this we’rebuilding.

Also,there’s a kidnapped seven-year-old centaur we have to find.

“Weneed to find the Patriarch’s son. His name is Daniel and he’s seven. Small fora centaur, if I remember correctly.”

Azstraightens. In a flash, she goes from smiling siren to serious assistant. “Wheredo you want to start?”

“ThePatriarch’s house. Since he couldn’t give us a rundown on what happened, we’llhave to retrace his steps as best we can.”

BeforeI can move to the front of the truck, small, strong hands clamp onto myforearms. The slight weight of her body resting against mine sends my nerveendings screaming into awareness. I brace myself for a kiss. Disappointmentcurls in my chest when Az’s lips merely brush across my cheek on their way tomy ear.

“Justso you know, I’m pretty sure I’m way beyond the liking you phase. Way. Beyond.”

Whenshe starts to withdraw, I wrap an arm around her waist to keep her in place. Oh,no. She doesn’t get to have the last word, or kiss, this time.

“Gladyou finally caught up, Princess.”

Hergasp of indignation gets lost in a kiss that sets fire to my blood. Her fingersslide through my hair and cradle the back of my skull. I was right: one kissisn’t enough. The taste and feel of her are intoxicating. This isn’t the timeor the place, but I am completely surrounded by Az and it is the most potentfeeling I’ve ever had. Better than a drink. Better than sex. Better thanShifting.

Andthat is the realization that scares the piss out of me.