Shock jolted through Rainn.
Nothing should have been able to sneak up on her. Nothing. Not only did she possess the heightened senses of all demons, but the wind whispered in her ear. It should have warned her that danger was approaching.
Gritting her teeth, Rainn slowly turned to face the intruder. Next to her, Ulric was already snarling in fury as the heat of his wolf filled the cramped cavern. One wrong move and he would snap.
She needed to remain calm.
Something that was easier said than done as she caught sight of the wizened old woman.
What was this creature?
Rainn sniffed the air. The female had aged like a human. Her face was wrinkled, and her hair had faded to gray. But she smelled like a…
Rainn wrinkled her nose. It was difficult to smell anything beyond the stench that filled the burrow. Still, she should be able to catch some scent. Especially if the female was a mortal. But there was nothing she could latch on to. The woman just smelled old. Really, really old.
It was almost as unnerving as the smile that curled the woman’s lips as she studied Ulric.
She looked like the cat who’d found its bowl of cream.
That couldn’t be good.
Ulric stepped forward. His body vibrated. No doubt he was struggling to contain his wolf. But thankfully he didn’t immediately attack the stranger.
Until they knew exactly what sort of creature she was, they couldn’t risk a direct assault.
“Who are you?” Ulric demanded.
The woman’s creepy smile widened. “You can call me Zella, if you insist on a name.”
Rainn pressed against Ulric’s side. She told herself it was to prevent him from doing something stupid. Deep inside, however, she knew she was seeking his warmth. It helped to banish the fear that was threatening to cloud her mind. Now, more than ever, she needed to think clearly. “The more important question is what you are,” she said.
The woman reluctantly glanced toward Rainn. “I am the key.”
“Key? You’re here to unlock the doorway?”
Zella scowled with impatience. “Your brain is too primitive to fully comprehend my vastness.”
Rainn snorted. “There’s nothing wrong with your ego.”
“Every part of me is perfect,” Zella said, seemingly incapable of understanding sarcasm. “That’s how I was created.”
Rainn’s brows drew together. She couldn’t put her finger on what was wrong with the woman, but there was something.
Was this creature responsible for the horde that had attacked the village? And for luring Ulric to the burrow? And more unnerving, was she responsible for the decay that was spreading over the land?
If that was true, she had to possess enormous power.
Ulric wrapped an arm around her shoulders. Did he sense her need for his touch? The thought was almost as alarming as the mysterious female.
Almost.
“I assume you’re Brigette’s companion,” the male said.
“My partner,” Brigette corrected in an overly loud voice.
No one bothered to glance at the forgotten female Were. She was a mere annoyance. It was Zella who posed the danger.
Zella shrugged. “She’s my servant.”
“Partner,” Brigette insisted.
“Hush.” The woman waved a gnarled hand and Brigette gasped in pain.
Rainn stiffened. Had Zella’s eyes flashed with fire, or was it a trick of her uneasy imagination? The woman blinked and the flames were gone.
“I assume my servant revealed our disappointment when we discovered the destruction of your pack hadn’t opened the doorway as we’d hoped?”
Ulric growled. Quickly Rainn poked him in the side with her elbow. A silent warning to keep a grip on his animal.
“What is the doorway?” she asked the woman. “And why do you want it open?”
“To release the llygrd.”
Rainn grimaced. She didn’t know what the llygrd might be, but she was betting it wasn’t good. Then she had a sudden thought. “Did you come through the doorway?”
Zella pinched her lips together, as if she’d bitten into a lemon. “A fragment of my spirit managed to enter this world before I was halted.”
Ah. A spirit from another dimension. That explained her “otherness.” It also made Rainn’s gut cramp with dread. Ulric pulled her closer, silently giving her the courage to continue.
“You used Brigette to bring the horde to this village?” Rainn demanded.
“Yes.” Zella shot Brigette a dark glare. “They were supposed to kill the entire pack. It wasn’t until they sailed away that it was obvious at least one had survived.”
“Why didn’t you follow the ships?” Ulric demanded.
“I am temporarily…” Zella tilted her head to the side. Was she considering her answer? Or searching for the words? “Restrained in my movements. I can spend short periods of time away from this area, but I quickly lose my powers.”
Rainn breathed a small sigh of relief. If the spirit was trapped in this location, that might give them the time to find a way to kill her. Or at least keep her locked in this burrow.
Seemingly unaware of Rainn’s inner thoughts, the woman gave another wave of her hand. On cue, Brigette screamed.
“My servant was convinced that her missing pack mate must have managed to escape during the attack. And that the Were was hiding in London.” Hints of flame returned to her eyes. “She wasted endless years searching. It was only with my prompting that she at last traveled beyond England to discover the information we needed.”
Rainn grimaced. She didn’t want to know what sort of prompting Brigette had endured. She might hate the bitch, but Rainn sensed the female Were had suffered over the centuries.
Be careful what you wish for…
“How did you find me?” Ulric asked.
Zella nodded her head toward Brigette. “Tell him.”
Cautiously, the female Were inched toward them. “I was in a demon bar in Madrid when I overheard two vampires discussing the new Anasso’s proclamation that the Rebels were no longer banished.” Brigette’s expression tried to be mocking, but she couldn’t hide her pallor. She was terrified of Zella. “I had no interest in the bloodsuckers’ politics. Nasty creatures. But then one of them mentioned a Rebel who had a pet werewolf named Ulric, who lived in Vegas.”
Ulric’s breath hissed between his teeth. “That’s when you decided to stage your elaborate charade?”
Brigette shrugged. “It worked, didn’t it?”
Rainn turned back to Zella. “Now what happens?”
The creepy smile returned. “First, you die,” Zella announced, glancing toward Brigette. “I don’t know why you were brought down here in the first place.”
“Ulric wouldn’t come without her. And you told me to keep him alive until you were ready.” Brigette pouted. “What else could I do?”
Zella clicked her tongue. “As usual you’ve created a mess that I must clean up.”
Rainn was astonishingly calm, considering she’d been told she was about to die. Honestly, her greatest concern was that Ulric would snap and get himself killed. “I wasn’t talking about me,” she said, covertly gathering her magic. “What do you intend to do to Ulric?”
Zella glanced toward the male Were, her features tightening with a disturbing hunger.
“His death will break the spell and the doorway will open.”
Rainn glanced back at the skeleton. “A sacrifice like the poor human?” she asked, more in an attempt to keep Zella distracted than any genuine interest.
The woman’s eyes filled with flames, the stench of brimstone nearly gagging Rainn.
“It was because of that stupid creature I was trapped in the first place.”
Tendrils of fire danced around the woman. Rainn’s mouth went dry. Okay, then. Clearly she’d touched a raw nerve.
Rainn kept her expression smooth as she used her magic to wedge air into the tiny cracks that spiderwebbed the ceiling. The stone was a thick granite, but it had hardened over the years until it was brittle. Perfect for her needs.
She grimly concentrated on her task, thankful when Ulric turned Zella’s attention to himself.
“You can’t be sure that the spell is attached to me,” he warned. “There were several of us on the goblin ship. Some were sold to the Anasso, and some were sent on to the slave markets. Maybe one of them has the blood you need.”
Zella’s eyes narrowed. Could she sense Ulric’s lie? Rainn wasn’t about to find out. With a last surge of power, she shattered the rock above them, sending an avalanche onto the woman.
Almost as if prepared for the collapse of the ceiling, Ulric grabbed her hand and charged past Zella even as the woman tried to reach out and halt them. A cloud of dust followed them into the tunnel, but miraculously the pile of rubble blocked the opening behind them. They’d made it out just in time.
Not that Rainn was stupid enough to believe the rocks would keep Zella and Brigette entombed for long. But it did give them a head start.
Racing up the stairs, Rainn was caught off guard when Ulric abruptly shifted into his wolf. Had he lost control of his animal? Or had it been deliberate?
She had her answer when they ran out of the burrow and Ulric placed his nose firmly to the ground. He was searching for something.
Jogging behind him, Rainn took the opportunity to study his wolf form.
He was massive, with a muscular body that moved with a liquid grace. His eyes were a dark gold and his midnight fur was glossy even in the darkness. As a human he was gorgeous. As a wolf he was…stunning.
A strange sensation expanded her heart. It felt like it was being stuffed with an emotion she didn’t want to name.
Giving a shake of her head, Rainn concentrated on their surroundings. Who knew if there were other creatures like Zella lurking in the fog.
Ulric zigzagged past the ruined village. His pace never slowed, although Rainn could see his hackles rise as he passed the spot where his parents’ cottage had once stood.
Where was he going? Following behind the wolf, who kept his pace slow but steady, Rainn was increasingly confused. They needed to get the hell out of there. Pronto. Instead, he was taking them to the edge of the steep cliff. If someone snuck up behind them, they would be trapped.
It wasn’t until he started down a narrow pathway that she realized he’d managed to find a breach in the fog. She’d been so rattled by the encounter in the burrow she’d almost forgotten the mist around them wasn’t natural. This was very likely their only escape route.
Rainn scrambled down the terrifyingly steep path, refusing to glance toward the razor-sharp rocks on the beach below them. A fall wouldn’t kill her, she reminded herself. Immediately, her mind whispered back that it would hurt like a bitch.
She stumbled twice, scraping her hands and sending her heart into her throat. But she managed to reach the flat ground without breaking her neck.
She’d take that as a win.
Next to her, a shimmer of magic swirled around the large wolf. She halted to watch in fascination. She had a vague impression of limbs lengthening and a muzzle transforming into bold, male features. Then the magic disappeared to reveal Ulric standing upright in front of her. Completely naked.
Her gaze began an appreciative slide down his broad chest, only to be halted by the sight of blood dripping down his ribcage.
She reached out a hand. “You’re hurt.”
He glanced down, his jaw tightening at the sight of the blood. “I must have scraped against a rock.”
“Shouldn’t it have healed while you were in your wolf form?” Rainn had seen werewolves heal broken legs, stab wounds, and burns that covered their entire bodies. A mere scrape should have disappeared within seconds.
“It doesn’t matter,” he muttered.
Rainn leaned closer. The wound looked like someone had used their fingernails to score four deep gouges into his flesh. She sucked in a sharp breath at the memory of Zella reaching toward them as they’d escaped from the burrow.
“Was it Zella?” she asked, lifting her gaze to his face when he didn’t answer. “Ulric?”
“She might have scratched me when we went past her,” he grudgingly conceded.
Fear crawled down her spine to settle in the pit of her stomach.
“Why isn’t it healing?”
Ulric made a sound of impatience. “I’ll worry about it later.”
“But—”
“Rainn, we have to get away from here,” he said, cutting her off and nodding toward the fog that hovered at the top of the cliff.
He was right. “Okay.”
With typical werewolf arrogance, he took the lead. Rainn didn’t protest. He possessed a superior sense of smell even in his human form. That meant he’d be able to detect any approaching danger long before she could. Besides, she wanted to keep a close eye on him. Ulric might pretend everything was okay, but she didn’t miss the pallor of his face, or the sweat that glistened over his naked body.
They crawled over the rocks that covered the beach, moving in silence. Rainn’s feet were wet, and her sweater was starting to itch, but she barely noticed. She was so damned happy to be away from the Village of the Damned.
She could breathe fresh air. See the stars sparkling overhead. And feel the salty breeze brushing over her skin. It was nothing short of paradise.
Once they were far away from the fog, Ulric found a path that angled up the cliff. It wasn’t as steep as where they’d come down, thank the goddess. And jogging to the top, they both turned toward the small town where the jet was waiting. The sooner they got out of there, the better.
“Wait.” Ulric reached to grab her.
She sent him a worried glance. “Do you smell something?”
“Fire,” he said, pointing toward the airport.
“Oh crap,” she breathed, catching sight of the smoke billowing into the air.
“It can’t be a coincidence.”
“No.” Rainn didn’t need to see the jet to know it was on fire. It’d been the only plane at the remote airport.
Ulric swore in a rough voice. “Until we know how many servants Zella has, it might be safer to go on foot. I don’t want to stumble into a trap.”
Rainn’s gaze remained on the plume of dark smoke that was spiraling upward.
“What about the crew?” She sucked in a sharp breath. “Oh. And Levet. We need to see if they’ve been injured.”
“We can’t do anything for them now.” Ulric turned to angle away from the distant town. The rolling meadows seemed to stretch endlessly toward the horizon that was turning pink at the edges. There had to be another town out there somewhere. Right? Ulric picked up speed as they hit a road carved into the mossy ground. “Once we’re away from here I’ll call Chiron,” he promised.
Rainn squashed her pang of guilt. The fire might very well be the bait to lure them into a trap if they managed to escape the village. They wouldn’t be able to help anyone if they died.
They made a wide circle around the fog that was continuing to spread outward. Instinctively they both crouched low as they scurried toward a nearby hill. The cresting sun threatened to expose their presence to everyone in the area. Including any humans.
But expecting Ulric to veer off the road, Rainn barely avoided ramming into his large form when he came to an abrupt halt.
“Now what?” she asked, glancing around in alarm.
He sucked in a deep breath. “Do you smell that?”
She sniffed. The rich scent of wild thyme and heather was laced with the ocean breeze. But there was something else. Something cold.
“Vampire,” she whispered.
“Tarak.”
“Chiron’s master?” she asked in surprise.
Tarak had been released from imprisonment a few months ago. She hadn’t met him, but she knew he’d been secluded with his new mate in his private lair.
Ulric nodded, bending down to touch a small imprint on the dirt road. “His trail is headed for my old village. Chiron must have sent him to look for us.”
Rainn’s heart clenched with fear. Oh crap. Had the vampire been sucked into the fog? She scanned the area, looking for any sign of the leech.
Then, she realized the cold scent was laced with the hint of salt.
“He was with the mermaid,” she said, following the scent until it abruptly disappeared. “He left through a portal here.” Her nose wrinkled as yet another smell teased at her nose. Then relief raced through her. “Oh, and the gargoyle. He’s alive.”
Ulric snorted as he straightened. “Of course the aggravating pest survived. He’s like a cockroach.”
Rainn ignored his sour words, glancing around the emptiness that surrounded them. “If they were here to help us, they’re gone now.” She glanced toward Ulric. “We need to put some space between us and Zella.”
He offered a slow nod, his expression distracted, as if he was considering their limited options.
“Let’s see if we can find Tarak’s lair,” he abruptly announced.
“Do you know where it is?”
“Scotland.”
“That’s a fairly large area to search,” she pointed out in dry tones.
He shrugged. “It’s on the northern coast.”
She swallowed a sigh. As much as she wanted to urge him to find the nearest human city and hop on a plane back to Vegas, she knew it was a waste of breath. Ulric wasn’t going to return home until he’d destroyed the spirit responsible for massacring his pack.
Besides, she wasn’t here to worry about Ulric. Or his safety. She was supposed to be performing the task the Oracles had sent her to do. And she had no doubt in her mind that Zella was the evil she was supposed to battle.
Still, she needed an opportunity to rest and regain her strength before she returned to do her duty.
“I don’t have the ability to make portals,” she muttered.
It was a source of unending annoyance. Every other fey creature could easily travel from place to place. A zephyr, however, who was a master of the wind, found it impossible.
Ulric gave a lift of his shoulder. “Then we’ll drive there.”
She glanced around, once again noting just how isolated they were. “Drive?”
Ulric pointed toward a patch of grass that had been nibbled to the ground.
“There have been sheep through here recently,” he said. “And where there are sheep, there are humans.” He nodded toward the hills. “Let’s find them.”