Chapter 18

 

Reece slapped at whatever was shaking her shoulder. Her hand hit something hard. "Ouch." She scrunched herself into a ball. The shaking started again. "Damn it!" She was in no mood to be jostled out of slumber. It was still dark outside. "Go away."

"Listen." Damian's voice was low and urgent.

She was immediately awake. She sat up and strained to hear. There was a high-pitched wail coming from far away. She frowned. What was that noise? A second wail, slightly different, followed. Soon, there was a chorus. "Wolves?"

"They're calling for Andre and Jeremy. We have problems."

She looked down at herself, fully dressed, and was grateful she'd been too tired to change into her pajamas. "What do we do?"

"We can't let them leave your apartment."

Reece followed him into the huge, open space of her loft. Andre paced the floor, circling the perimeter of the room. His motions were wild and restless, as if he were caged and needed to be free. Jeremy sat at the dining table, his hands gripping its edge, trying to anchor himself. As Reece watched, his nails began to lengthen and curve. A low growl rumbled in his throat, and he shut his eyes, struggling against the change.

"I've already called for Benito and Aurelius. If they can find the rogues outdoors and stop them, we can deal with Andre and Jeremy in here." Damian glanced at Andre. "He's never become a werewolf yet, at least, not without your help. I don't know how hard it will be for him."

Reece looked at Andre too. His pale gray eyes had a yellow gleam, and his jaw line was changing. "We could use more help." She dialed Hecate Earthbound's number and rushed into speech the minute Hecate picked up the phone. When she flipped her cell phone shut, she told Damian, "She's on her way."

"If we alarm them, they'll change faster," Damian told her. "We need to do everything we can to keep them calm, to make them feel unthreatened. And don't make any fast moves. It kicks in their predator instincts." Another round of howls filled the air. "Once Hecate gets here, I'll join Benito and Aurelius. The sooner we stop the rogues, the better for our friends."

"How do you calm werewolves?"

Damian shrugged.

Reece went to the stereo and put on her Susan Werner CD. Werner's calm, playful lyrics filled the air, and Andre's pacing slowed a fraction. Next, she went to the kitchen and grabbed a batch of refrigerated cookie dough to put in the oven. Sad, but true—the aroma of cookies always lifted her mood, and she rarely took the time to make them from scratch. Andre glanced toward the kitchen and edged closer. He was a food freak, like she was. The center of his eyes returned to their usual gray, even though they were still rimmed in gold. Reece put the tea kettle on, and Andre glanced toward the mugs. She was keeping him distracted enough, he was faring fairly well, but Jeremy had broken out in a cold sweat. He was shaking from the strain of resisting the change.

A low moan escaped Jeremy's lips as his shoulders began to hunch. "Help me," he pleaded. He was in so much pain, Reece glanced at Damian.

"Do it," she told him.

Damian kept his voice soft and calm. "If I hit him hard enough to knock him out, it will push Andre over the edge."

It was a moot point. Another chorus of howls sounded closer to the apartment, and Andre's eyes went feral yellow. Fur sprang from every pore, and he changed into his werewolf form in mere seconds. So much for that worry. Andre was a natural at shifting. A tormented whimper ripped from Jeremy. Reece could hear his bones grind as they lengthened and changed.

Andre, in wolf form, was every bit as beautiful as Andre the man. His thick, luxuriant fur was pitch black. He looked strong and agile, but at the moment, his yellow eyes were fastened on Reece and a menacing snarl sounded deep in his chest. Reece braced herself, prepared to zap him, when the door to her apartment opened and Hecate stepped into the loft. Her friend wore a long, black cape and looked every inch the witch. She made one, quick assessment of the situation, raised her arms, and chanted a singsong rhythm of words. She repeated them and motioned for Reece to join her. Andre shook his head. His posture relaxed. Jeremy loosened his grip on the table and sagged against the back of his chair. During the fourth chorus, Andre and Jeremy's eyelids grew heavy. They yawned, looked for a place to drop, and fell asleep.

"They'll shift back and feel refreshed when they wake," Hecate said. "You know the spell now, but it only works on wolves while they're changing. Once they're completely in wolf mode, it's too late."

"Andre had changed, hadn't he?" Reece asked.

"He doesn't count. He's mine," Hecate said with a smile. "My words affect him more. You'd have had to zap him and knock him out. That works too, but he'd feel it when he woke up."

Damian went to the balcony. "I'm going to help with the rogues." He leapt into the murky gray of near morning to join his friends. In a short time, the howling stopped. They'd either trapped the rogues or frightened them off, Reece wasn't sure.

Soon, Damian returned. "There were five of them. They kept moving so that Benito and Aurelius couldn't stop them, but when they saw me come and knew we could make a triangle and work together to trap one or two of them, they took off."

"Are they done for tonight?"

"They did what they came for," Damian said. "They won't be back for a while."

"What did they want to accomplish?" Reece asked.

"They wanted to make Andre and Jeremy change over. If they got lucky, the two would break out of here and join them. If that didn't work, the rogues still won. They showed us that it's dangerous harboring two werewolves and they let us know that they could push our wolves' limits. Andre or Jeremy, either one, could harm us, even if they don't want to."

"Not anymore, not since you know the chant," Hecate said.

"But that only works if Reece is here when the rogues howl."

"Can you deal with them if you're alone?" Hecate asked.

Damian nodded. "But it won't be nearly as pleasant."

"There are worse things that can happen to a wolf, and they heal quickly." Hecate glanced at the two men, sleeping peacefully where they fell, completely reverted to their human shapes. She quietly pulled a blanket over each of them. "There's no spell that can lift their curse. In time, they'll learn to control it—usually." She started for the kitchen. "Did I see hot water for tea?"

The three of them settled on the balcony and nibbled on chocolate chip cookies while they sipped Constant Comment. "I was going to visit you today anyway," Reece told Hecate. "I was hoping to dip more silver chains. I was going to give some to Andre's family and friends and one to Jeremy's dad."

"You mean to protect the new wolves' families." Hecate looked thoughtful. "You should probably give a chain to anyone the new wolves care about. Does Jeremy have anyone else? A wife? Children?"

"Two sons who live out of town."

"Send them necklaces. And his wife?"

"An ex, Celeste. No love's lost between them."

"That makes things complicated." Hecate pursed her lips in thought.

The sun slipped over the horizon, and light washed over them. Hecate, Reece noticed, was beautiful even without makeup. She'd pulled her long, chestnut colored waves into a high bun in her hurry last night. Small, stray pieces of hair escaped and curled around her face. She reminded Reece of a Gibson girl. Reece wondered if, in one or two centuries, she'd still look decent. Hecate had assured her she would, but her mind couldn't accept the idea of being ageless.

Hecate finished her tea and went inside to rinse her cup. "You have everything here to make the potions you need. All you need are silver chains. Let's get some."

Reece sighed as she pushed herself to her feet. She couldn't remember when she'd lost so much sleep, so often. Was this what being a new mother felt like? She remembered her mom complaining about waking up every two to three hours when she had Joseph and Jenny. Babies are not conducive to eight hours of sleep. She'd felt sorry for her mom at the time, but she hadn't really understood how weary she must have been. Damian placed his hand over hers, concern plain on his face. "You're trying to live your normal life and help others. Do you need more rest?"

"Oh, for heaven's sake, gargoyle!" Hecate said, teasing him. "She's a witch. We're no pansies. She'll be fine."

But Reece was touched. She'd never met anyone as considerate as Damian. Part of her felt deep, happy pride. Part of her felt frightened. How could she ever live up to someone so wonderful? "Once I get moving, I'll be all right," she told him. "But if I sit down too long, it's going to be nap time for me."

"Let's keep you up and at 'em then," Hecate said. "Let's go."

Reece could feel Damian's worried look as she grabbed her sweater and followed Hecate to the elevator. On their way to the parking garage, Hecate smiled. "You're a lucky girl. He's special, but you already know that."

Reece smiled too. "He's not bad to look at either. Neither is your Were."

"Have two witches ever had it so good?" Hecate settled onto the passenger seat and flipped on the SUV's radio for the ride across town.

They were driving toward the waterfront when Reece's cell phone rang. She glanced at the caller I.D. Joseph. She flipped it open. "Is everything okay?"

Joseph rushed to say, "Eugene took Jenny's necklace. He threw his away, but now that he knows they protect us, he wants one. He took hers. Mom waited till he left the room, and then she gave Jenny hers."

What a putz! Reece took a deep breath to calm herself. She didn't want the words on the tip of her tongue to escape. She might cuss Eugene, but she tried not to do it in front of the kids. "I'll make another one and bring it over. Mom should be safe during the day, and I'll be there as soon as I can."

Joseph's voice was slightly calmer. "Mom will be okay, won't she? Nothing will happen when she drives us to school?"

"Is it still dark when she takes you?"

"No."

"Then she'll be all right. Mom will have a new necklace before she picks you up this afternoon."

"Thank you." Joseph's voice was small, and Reece inwardly cursed that a kid his age had so many worries. "I have to go now," he whispered. "Mom's coming." The phone went dead.

Reece fumed as she looked out the car window.

"Family drama?" Hecate asked. When Reece explained, Hecate's expression grew flinty. "So your step dad took a little girl's necklace from her to protect himself?"

"Typical Eugene." Reece told her about Eugene pushing past Jenny when the werewolves attacked him.

Energy crackled off Hecate when she answered. "Your Eugene could learn some manners. I have a spell that might help."

"You don't have anything awful in mind, do you? My mom likes the jerk."

"Stupid woman!"

The words stung, but how could Reece defend her mother?

Hecate sniffed dismissively. "I don't practice black magic. I suppose a putrid rash would only make him worse anyway. We'll just hope your mother grows a backbone someday."

Reece didn't think it likely. When they pulled in back of Hecate's shop, she let the subject drop. It did make Reece think how easily a witch could be tempted to bend the rules, though. If Hecate could flare up, tempted to zap someone, Reece knew it would be even easier for her, a beginner. She wasn't the most patient person to begin with. She'd have to beware.

After they entered the shop, Hecate said, "Let's get this out of the way first." She went to a drawer and removed a moonstone necklace. Its stone was in the shape of a crescent. She handed it to Reece.

"I don't understand." Reece's hand went to her silver chain. "I already have this."

"It's for Jenny," Hecate said.

A chill slithered through Reece. "Does this mean what I think it does?"

"You're not the only one with Luna's genes. Jenny's gift isn't as strong. That's why her moonstone's only a crescent, but she still has the Rutherford bloodline."

"What kinds of talents will she have?"

Hecate went to a case in her shop and waved a hand over its top drawer to unlock it. She scooped up a handful of silver chains. "It's too soon to tell. She might only be a clairvoyant or psychic. She might be able to read the Tarot and the planets. Her talent will call her to it."

"Mine didn't call me."

Hecate raised her eyebrows. "I'm sure they did, but you're rather stubborn. I'd guess you didn't listen."

"Benito said that my powers didn't come to life until the werewolf touched me and my tattoo appeared."

"That certainly made them undeniable, didn't it? But they'd probably tugged at you before then, and you chose to ignore them. The more you listen, the stronger they grow, and your tattoo would have appeared anyway."

They left the shop. On the walk to her SUV, Reece asked, "Can you deny being a witch?"

Hecate settled in her seat and smiled. "No, dear, blood never lies. Once a witch, always a witch. The dreams would have started, the spells and chants would float through your mind, and then the odd moments would happen until they built to the moment of truth. If you're considering hiding Jenny's necklace and giving her another silver chain, you won't be doing her any favors. Her talent will announce itself, one way or another."

With a grim nod, Reece accepted the fact that even if she wanted to spare Jenny from magic, she couldn't. Unless… "What if Jenny's magic is really small? Wouldn’t she be better off without it?"

"Not if another witch sniffs her out. Or a rogue. Or…any other. She has magic now. Another supernatural can smell it. Some might take it as a threat."

"But if it's a small amount, can't they tell? Won't the scent be diminished?"

"Yes, it will tell them she's easy prey. But witches are given what they need. Jenny's gift can save her, if she uses it. She can only use it, though, if…"

"I know, I know, if she knows she has it."

Hecate sighed. "You're right to be wary of our gift. I understand your concern. It brings as many complications as it does blessings. But what is..is. You can't change who you are, but you can choose to be good at it."

Satisfied with that reasoning, Reece drove back to her loft. Damian, as usual, was standing at the balcony doors, watching the city. He didn't turn when they entered and seemed lost in concentration. Reece felt a prick of disappointment that he wouldn't join them, but there was something in his stance, the tenseness in his shoulders, that told her he was on edge. Hecate walked to the dining table and placed the silver chains on it. "All right, I've shown you the potion once. Now, it's your turn. What do we do first?"

To her surprise, Reece remembered each and every ingredient and step. Hecate beamed approval. "As long as you concentrate the first time you do a spell or chant, it's yours forever. You have this one down."

Damian turned from his study of the cityscape. "Before you start, since it's daylight and the wolves should be safe and both of you are here, would you mind if I drove the van to my nest?" He looked embarrassed. "Aurelius saw Paws again last night, and it bothered him."

"Is he going to be all right?" Reece could tell that Damian was worried. She remembered his telling her that a gargoyle could grow weary of helping mankind and become brittle and crumble. Paws must have hurt Aurelius in ways that other humans hadn't.

"Of course he is." But he didn't sound convinced of that.

"Go to him. This has been hard on all of us. Aurelius needs some cheering up."

Damian looked grateful that she didn't ask more. "I'll be back before you have to teach classes. Three-thirty, right?" At her nod, he grabbed the keys for the van on his way out.

Hecate gave Reece a questioning glance once he was gone, and Reece said, "Aurelius blames himself for failing the rogue Paws. He saved him from a werewolf attack and thought he was safe, but he'd been scratched, and at the next full moon, Paws killed everyone in his family. Paws holds Aurelius responsible."

"That doesn't matter," Hecate said. "The problem is that Aurelius holds himself responsible, and he shouldn't. Every good magic wielder does the best she can, but no one's infallible."

"Have you done things you regret?" Reece asked.

"Haven't we all?"

"But the stakes are higher with magic, aren't they?"

Hecate patted Reece's hand. "So are the rewards. You have to concentrate on the positive."

They spent the rest of the morning mixing their potion and dipping the necklaces. Even with the windows and French doors open, Andre and Jeremy had to leave the apartment and take a ride in the Hummer, so that they didn't scratch themselves raw. When the necklaces were finished, Hecate summoned a wind to blow the steam out of the kitchen and away from the building. Then she and Reece sealed the silver chains in freezer bags, put the bags inside heavy leather pouches, and placed the pouches inside a locked, metal box. Finally, it was safe for the Weres to return.

Jeremy went straight to the recliner and curled on his side. The apartment was chilly since they left the French doors open to the balcony while they mixed potions. Even wearing a pair of Andre's sweats—way too long for him, he tugged a blanket over himself to get warm. He was asleep as soon as he settled in the chair.

Andre rubbed his eyes and yawned too. He started to the couch.

Hecate tossed an affectionate glance his way. "Sorry, Were, but you'll want to go with Reece to deliver the necklaces to your family. And you have to work tonight, but I'll take you to my place when you're done. You've been a good wolf. You deserve a few treats. I'll come for you at the end of the night. Bring some snacks from your restaurant to take home with us."

Reece glanced at Jeremy. "Thanks for helping us," she told Hecate. "I didn't want to zap him when the pack howled. I feel sorry for him."

"Once he joins Wedge's pack, he'll do better."

Reece looked at her, surprised. "Have you worked with Wedge before, too?"

"I'm a witch. He's a Were. We outsiders tend to stick together." Hecate gave a wave and headed for the door. She pointed to Andre, falling asleep on the sofa. "Last night wore them out, but get that bad boy wolf to his dad's restaurant so he can hand out necklaces. It would shatter him if anything happened to his family. I like that about him."

Reece took a quick shower and changed clothes before she shook Andre awake. She held the metal box. "Want to help me deliver these?"

He was on his feet in an instant. On their way to the door, he looked around and asked, "Where's Damian?"

"He went to his nest."

"What about Jeremy? Are you going to leave him alone?"

"I left a note. He's been living with rogues since his change. Some alone time might feel good. I don't think anyone will bother him during the day." She thought Andre would argue, but he didn't.

"It takes a minute to adjust to the idea that nothing's ever going to be the same," he said.

"In a couple of decades, we'll have this down pat."

Andre laughed. "I can't get used to that either, thinking of decades as chump change, but I know you're right." He followed her to the elevator. "Dad and Mom should be at the restaurant by now. Let's try there."

On the drive over, she asked, "Your mom works there too?"

"It's a family affair. Restaurants take a lot of man hours, even after they're a success."

She pulled to the curb in front of a brick building with red and white striped awnings over its two long, narrow, front windows. Red flower boxes spilled geraniums to the sidewalk. The trim and front doors were painted black. Gold letters on the glass read BISTRO. A CLOSED sign hung against the glass. "I've never been here. I'm impressed—rustic and charming."

"That's the point." Andre scrambled from the car and walked around to the back of the building. The kitchen door was open and the aroma of fresh baked bread and roasting chickens made Reece's stomach rumble.

"You didn't eat breakfast, did you?" Andre asked.

"I went to Hecate's to get the silver chains and then mixed potions and dipped them. I forgot to eat." Saliva pooled in her mouth as she entered the kitchen, and she was tempted to dive for a loaf of French bread.

Andre saw the look on her face and handed her one. "Go for it." Then he went in search of his father. "In here!" he shouted to her.

Reece chewed fast and tried to swallow her mouthful of bread before she met his family. Andre's father was sitting behind a large, antique desk when she entered his tiny office. His mother—a woman with classic, high cheekbones, large gray eyes, and lush, auburn hair—studied her when she entered. Andre looked more like his father with sleek, black hair, dark stubble, and sensual lips. Another man entered the office, and it was impossible not to notice the similarities. He took after his mother with thick, auburn hair. His was pulled back in a low ponytail. He also had her tall, thin physique.

"Reece, my mother, father, and baby brother. Family, this is Reece, my friend—the witch."

Reece blinked at the introduction. It wasn't what she'd expected, but the three new people studied her with interest, not shock.

"She's the new one?" his brother asked.

"Yeah, she's trying to get used to the idea, like I am."

"You're the girl who saved our son," the mother said. "We thank you."

"She's come to help you too," Andre said. "She's dipped necklaces in wolf bane potion to protect you. I can't be around you when you wear them, but they'll keep any rogues from attacking you, so you have to keep them on."

His mother looked concerned. "But then you can't visit us."

"I can't visit you if you're shredded to pieces either," he said bluntly. "I'll work at Dante's restaurant and keep in touch, but you have to wear the necklaces. Then the rogues can't blackmail you with another attack or hurt you to control me."

"But we'll lose you." His mother wasn't happy.

"Actually, Hecate and I made an adjustment to your necklaces," Reece said.

"We know what a close knit family you are, so we hung cameos on your chains. We only painted the inside with wolfbane potion and filled them with small amounts of the dried ingredient, so Andre can be near you until you open them."

Andre looked at her, impressed. "You thought of that, didn't you?"

"I know how much you like your family, so does Hecate."

"Thank you." He sounded so sincere, it made her heart thump.

His mother wrapped him in her arms. "You can stop worrying about us now."

Andre looked stern. "Just practice opening the cameos so that you don't fumble with them."

His brother pressed on the button and his flew open. Crushed wolfbane powder fell into his open hands. "Like dried herbs," he said, surprised.

Immediately, Andre began to cough. His eyes watered, and his brother shut the metal hinges quickly and ran from the room. He dumped the green dust down a kitchen sink and sprayed it away with water. When he returned, Andre took a deep breath. "Thanks."

"It works," his brother said.

"Is it strong enough?" Andre looked at Reece. "That will drive away any wolf that gets near them, won't it?"

"A pack of them," she assured him. "Call Hecate. She'll bring more for your brother when she picks you up tonight."

"Can you stay?" his father asked. "We were ready to take our morning break." He rose from behind his desk and circled it to join them.

Andre looked at Reece. "I don't know why not."

"Good! We'll bring a tray." His mother went to the kitchen for coffee, and Andre went for croissants.

"I should go," Reece said, backing to the door. This was a good time to flee, when Andre and his mother were gone.

"Won't you eat with us?" Andre's father tried to entice her to stay.

"No, I have to go to my studio today, and I have a few things to do first. Will Andre find a ride if I leave now?"

"But of course! One of us will get him where he needs to go."

"Good, then tell him good-bye for me." She turned to skit away and found Andre and his mother directly behind her.

Andre grinned. "Too much socializing? Are you running off?"

"I have…."

"I know how you are." He gave an eloquent shrug. "Reece likes her alone time. We're smothering her with all this attention." He pressed a cloth with a warm croissant into her hand. "I'll see you later tonight."

"Hecate's coming to get you after work," Reece reminded him. "She wants you to bring snacks home with you."

His gray eyes glittered with amusement. "I can do that. Then I'll see you sometime tomorrow. And thank you, friend."

She gave a quick nod before he could bend to kiss her cheek. These peoples' friendliness was beginning to overwhelm her. She turned and fled. Once back in her SUV, she wondered about Andre's remarks. Was she too much of a hermit? She shrugged. How had Hecate put it? She was what she was, and she was content that way. She drove home to find Jeremy pacing back and forth on the balcony, looking at the city below him.

"Are you okay?"

"I'm worried about my father."

She couldn't blame him. She would be too. "Then come with me. Let's take him a necklace. Is there anyone else who needs one?"

"You'd take me with you? When you know what I am?"

"It's daylight. You look normal. This is as good a time to visit your dad as any. I doubt he'd wear a necklace just because I asked him to, but you'll be able to convince him it's a good idea."

"Could we send one to each of my sons?"

"Hecate already thought of that." She held up two more necklaces in triple sealed baggies, taped in foil pouches. Jeremy still scratched at a small rash on his throat. He looked down at the sweats he'd borrowed from Andre. "I don't have any clothes."

"We'll stop at your house and you can pack what you need."

"I heard you say that you leave for work at three. I know I'm rushing you. Thank you."

She locked the pouches in the SUV's heavy, glove compartment before she drove away. The metal seemed to contain the wolfbane's effect. Jeremy didn't waste any time. When they reached his apartment, he stuffed a suitcase with the bare necessities and tossed on an outfit. At the post office, he sent a necklace to each of his boys, then Reece drove to the mayor's office to see Jeremy's father.

Lester Meyers came around his mahogany desk to hug his son. He stepped back to study him carefully. "You look all right. How are you doing?"

"I'm better now." Jeremy told him about his attempt on Reece's father, how he'd been caught, and how the witches and gargoyles were trying to help him.

Lester stared in silence for a moment, then shook his head. "This is all a little too much for me, but how can I argue? Not after what's happened to you."

"You know there are werewolves, that I'm one of them," Jeremy said. "But there's also wolfbane, a strong enough plant that it can poison us. Reece dipped silver necklaces in wolfbane potion. If you wear one, werewolves have to stay away from you." He handed his dad a cookie tin. "The chain's inside a sealed bag in here. Wait to put it on until I leave and never take it off."

His father shook his head. "I'll keep the bag and container and put it away when you visit me."

"I won't be visiting you."

Both Reece and Jeremy's father looked at him in surprise.

"Why not?" Lester asked.

"It's too dangerous. Maybe later, if someone stops the rogues, but not until then."

Lester pressed his lips together in a firm line. "I read about Leon Trent. I just wish you'd have found this young lady in time to save him."

Reece nodded. "With the necklace, the wolves can't threaten you to control Jeremy."

"Or vice versa." Lester smiled. "I know my son's been worried about me. I already got a call about which way the rogues would like me to vote on a housing issue, and without the necklace, who knows? I might have looked the other way."

Jeremy's expression changed from irritation to relief. "Now you don't have to cave in. I'm staying with Reece, and you'll be safe. I might not survive this, but I have a fighting chance."

Deep furrows etched Lester's forehead. "I'm sorry, son. If I'd have listened the first time, when they first came to me…."

"You did. I talked you out of it. I still feel the same. I'd rather die," Jeremy said. "I want you to vote your conscience, not what someone forces you into."

Reece looked at him with renewed respect. At first sight, Jeremy didn't look much like a hero, but he was one to her. She admired people who stood by their convictions. "Well, we'd better go," she said. "I have to work today. Good luck, Mr. Meyers."

"Lester, to you, dear. Thank you for helping us."

She shook her head. "Not just me. A group of us is working together."

He squeezed her hand. "Thank you anyway."

On the drive home, Jeremy said, "I feel better than I have since this happened. My dad and my boys should be all right now."

Making things all right wasn't enough for her. Fury stormed in Reece's chest. She could feel it building. She hated bullies. She wanted them punished and powerless. She wanted them pulverized to nothingness. Better yet, she wanted them beaten up and demolished.

Damian's van was in the parking garage when they got home. Good. She'd sit down with him, and they'd come up with a plan. They'd storm the warehouse and zap every werewolf in sight.

Damian took one look at her face when she stalked into the apartment and frowned. "Is everything okay?"

"I'm feeling a little vengeful."

"Dealing with victims can do that."

"I want to walk into Nash's warehouse and blast him."

"Just like that?"

"No questions, no games. It's time to take the rogues down."

"I'm a gargoyle, not a vigilante. I'm here to protect."

"What' wrong with preventing? Going on the offense?"

His brow rose. He looked like an irate school teacher. "Is that what you do in martial arts?"

"There are rules of honor. You know that."

"Which I respect. As do you." He shrugged. "Besides, who knows that it would work? Who knows that there are only the four of them?"

He'd anticipated having this conversation, she could tell. He was ready for it, and he wanted her to think things through. He didn't want her anger to bring out the worst in her. He was watching the emotions play over her face. "I have these same arguments with myself," he admitted. "It goes with the territory."

She gave a quick nod. He'd grounded her, as usual. She went to him, and he wrapped her in a fierce hug. She rested her head against his chest. "We'll stop the rogues." His voice rumbled in his chest. She liked the sound. "Are you going to be okay?"

She sighed, stepping out of his embrace. "I’m fine. I have to go teach. That always makes me saner, and I have to stop at my mom's house on the way. I have Jenny's necklace."

He ran a finger down her cheek. "Righteous anger is a beautiful thing, especially on you."

Happiness tingled over her—a cozy warmth. She hugged it to her, then gave a quick wave. "Take care of our stray till I get back."

"Will do. Stay safe."

When she pulled in front of her mom's house, Joseph and Jenny had just gotten home from school.

Joseph glared at her when she walked inside. "I thought you were coming earlier." He gave a meaningful glance at her mother's bare neck.

"Things got busy, but I brought Jenny this." Reece handed her little sister the chain with its crescent moonstone. "Hecate sent it. You can give Mom back her necklace."

Joseph frowned. "Why is Jenny's different than the rest of ours?"

"Because Jenny gets a girlie necklace like mine." Reece pulled her chain with its circle moonstone out for him to see.

He wasn't satisfied. "Why?"

Reece sighed. Joseph wasn't the type of kid who was satisfied with a glib answer. "I forgot to eat lunch. Do you have any microwave popcorn?"

He got the drift. "I'll help you make it." He pushed himself to his feet, took her hand, and led her into the kitchen.

Once they were alone and the sound of the microwave drowned out their voices, Reece said, "Okay, it's like this. You already know Hecate's a witch. She's teaching me to use my powers."

Joseph's eyes went wide. "So you're a witch?"

"Yes, and Jenny has the same genes I do. She has gifts too. She's just too young to know what they are. The necklace will help her."

She expected an argument, but Joseph asked, "Will it keep the mean dogs away?" He paused. "Were they mean dogs or something else? They had yellow eyes, and they stood up like people."

"They're werewolves, but don't tell anyone. They won't believe you."

"What did you shoot at them?"

"Energy."

"I have your genes. Do I have gifts?"

"No, it's a girl thing. I wasn't teasing about that."

He frowned. "I think you're wrong. I think there are witches and wizards."

Reece gave him a good, hard look. "Not according to Benito." She struggled to remember what the gargoyle had told her—that men are usually carriers of the gene. Usually. She sighed. Why hadn't she paid attention to the single word before?

He touched his necklace. "I can feel it, the spell you put on it. It's magic, isn't it?"

Reece cussed. "Damn it to hell…"

He shook his head. "It's all right, Reece. I like it."

She took a deep breath, struggling with her emotions. "Has anything changed? Do you have dreams now? Or feel energy running through you?" How did you know if a person was a witch?

"No. Is that what you feel?"

"Yes, and it's sort of scary sometimes."

Joseph looked at her. "Maybe I can just feel your magic."

"That would be nice." Reece wasn't taking any chances, though. She was going to ask Hecate about warlocks.

"You're not going to change, are you?" Joseph asked. "You're still going to spend time with us?"

"As long as you want me around."

Joseph balled his little hands into fists. "You're going to beat those werewolves, aren't you?"

"We're trying."

"We're?"

"Me and some friends. But you can't talk to anyone about any of this."

Joseph grimaced. "I'm not stupid. People would probably lock me up for being weird."

Reece stared at him. "When did you get to be so smart?"

"Just because I'm a kid doesn’t mean I don’t get things."

She nodded and knelt so that they were eye level. "You and Jenny need to come to my place for another weekend. We should talk. But it's not safe right now."

He shook the bag of popcorn into a bowl. "Come on. Mom's going to start wondering what we're doing if we stay in here any longer."

Reece followed him into the living room and looked at Jenny's neck. "Do you like the new necklace?"

"Love it. I'll never take it off." Jenny looked at Joseph to let him know that she meant it.

"You need to give Mom your silver chain since she doesn't have one." Joseph took the chain from Jenny and handed it to their mother. "Don't let Eugene take this one."

"You mean your dad," her mother corrected.

"I mean Eugene," Joseph said.

Her mother pressed her lips together but slid the necklace over her head. "Thank you."

"Don't take it off," Jenny said. "When the yellow-eyed ones saw our necklaces, they ran."

Their mother frowned. "Yellow-eyed?"

"Demon dogs," Jenny said.

Reece leaned forward, her voice low and serious. "If you see the dogs again, and they attack someone, stay far away from them. If the necklaces don't make them run, there's nothing else you can do."

Their mother looked from one of them to the other, confused. "Are you talking about rabies?"

"The dogs are crazy with their disease," Reece said. "And if they scratch you, you'll be infected." Her eyes met Joseph's.

He nodded, then glanced at the clock. "Eugene will be home soon. Do you want to talk to him too?"

"No." Reece gave him a warning look. Joseph was taking diplomacy a little too far. "I have to get to the studio to teach a few classes, but I promised you a necklace, and I wanted to make sure I got it here."

Jenny put a hand to her crescent moonstone. "Tell your friend with wings to sniff the air at each house. He'll be able to smell them."

"What?" A sliver of worry wormed its way through Reece's veins. Jenny had never met Damian. What was her sister's gift? How did it work?

Jenny shook her head, as if in a daze. She returned her attention to the TV. "My favorite cartoon's starting."

Reece hesitated, then started for the door. Before she left, she turned to look at her little brother and sister. They looked the same, but she knew something had shifted today.

She fretted all the way to her studio. Could Joseph be a warlock? How much magic was in one sliver of a moon? But once she unlocked the door to her dojo and walked inside, she pushed thoughts of gargoyles, witches, and werewolves away to immerse herself in teaching. The dojo did that for her, helped her to block out everything else. Her mind didn't return to her worries until she walked outside into the dark. Werewolf hours. Something flew overhead, and she looked up to see Benito moving from one rooftop to another. Bless him. Her shoulders relaxed as she walked to her SUV. He followed her home. When she pulled into her apartment's parking garage, the white van's tail lights blinked on and off. She glanced around to make sure no one was there and gave a thumbs-up. Damian and Jeremy stepped out of the van and rode with her in the elevator.

When they entered her loft, Jeremy strode to the balcony and began pacing. The poor man needed something to do. Empty days were driving him crazy. Her computer was on, and a half finished game of Solitaire glowed on its screen, not enough of a distraction. Damian jerked his head toward him. "It's been a long evening."

"He's been restless all night?"

"He helped me make supper, but he's on edge, too much energy." Damian motioned toward a pot of chili on the stove. He looked tired. His broad shoulders sagged. His wings, furled tight against his back, drooped.

"How's Aurelius?"

"Better." Obviously not as good as Damian had hoped.

He scowled as she crunched a handful of crackers into her bowl. While she ate, she told him about her classes. When she mentioned Jenny's comments about sniffing the air, he tensed, excited.

"She's right. Let's do it."

Reece stared. He was ready for action too, something to take his mind off his worries. "Do what?"

"I have a list of all the properties Rome Nash owns in Bay City. There's a lot of them. Too many. You can drive me past them, and I can sniff for rogues."

"That's what Jenny meant?" "It's a brilliant idea, and there's no time like the present."

Jeremy padded into the kitchen. "Do you two have a plan?"

"We have an idea."

Reece finished the last of her meal. "Won't people notice you if you're hanging out the SUV's windows?"

"We'll take the van. It has tinted glass. They won't see that much of me."

She motioned toward Jeremy. "What about him? We can't leave him alone now that it's dark."

"He can come with us. It'll do him good. He needs to get out of here for a while too."

The too had some impact. Reece sighed. Taking a restless werewolf for a ride didn't appeal to her. None of this appealed to her. She'd like some time alone with Damian. She wanted to ask him about witches and warlocks. He ran a hand through his dark hair, tousling it. Her heart did a little flip. A rumpled gargoyle was an enticing sight. He glanced at Jeremy. The Were was as distressed as he was.

She shrugged in defeat. "Let's get this over with. When we get back, I'm going to bed. To sleep. I'm starting to feel like a nun."

Damian looked contrite. "You have to be tired."

"Tired, not dead."

Jeremy flushed. "I could lock myself in the van for an hour."

She waved that away. "I'm just grumpy. I need something to fuss about."

"Do you want to forget this?" Damian asked. "We can do it later."

She reached for her jacket. "No, it's important, but you owe me. Remember that. And the next time you make supper, I want a dessert."

His gray eyes sparkled. "Two debts I enjoy. It's a deal."

They rode the elevator down to the parking garage, and luckily Jeremy exited before them. They stalled when they heard someone call, "Hi, are you new to the building?"

"I'm staying with a friend for a few days," Jeremy told the unknown person. "My house is a mess right now, under renovation."

The other guy laughed. "You'll be here longer than that. Contractors tell you a week when they mean a month. Good luck, man."

Reece waited until she heard a car start and pull away before she poked her head past the elevator doors.

"All clear," Jeremy called. "Tell Damian to make a run for it."

Damian hurried to the white van, and they all climbed inside. Reece drove, so that Damian could roll down the window on the passenger side to sniff the air. "Like a pet dog," he grumbled.

"Just be glad I don't take you to the groomer."

He tossed her a dark look, but she ignored it. On the drive to the first house, Jeremy studied Damian's map. "All of Nash's houses are in rundown neighborhoods."

"Makes sense," Damian said. "Who's going to notice much where these homes are located?"

"True, they're high traffic areas. No one pays attention to comings and goings." Jeremy leaned forward between the bucket seats. "Are we driving past the house I used to stay at?"

"It's first up." Reece turned toward the rundown area. "Then we'll drive in a big circle around the city."

"No one can see in here, can they?" Jeremy asked.

"No, but if a Were's outside, it can smell you," Damian said.

"Even in human form?"

"How good's your smelling?" Damian asked.

Jeremy nodded. "Lots better than before."

It took fifteen minutes to reach Jeremy's old house. Reece started to slow down, to let Damian test the scents in the area, when Aurelius' "boy" pushed through the house's front door. He carried a half dozen garbage bags and stacks of used clothing.

"That's Paws," Jeremy said. The sleeve of a plaid, flannel shirt escaped the pile. "Those are Bones' shirts." He winced when Paws threw them in a dumpster.

They were almost past the house when Paws' head snapped up and he turned to stare at the van, sniffing the air.

"He smells me," Jeremy said.

"He might smell all of us." Damian rolled up his window. "I caught the scent of two werewolves in the house, besides Paws."

"Spikes and Choco." Jeremy's voice sounded sad. "I wish you could help them."

"If we can stop the pack leaders, maybe we can," Damian said.

Reece's hands tightened on the steering wheel. If they could stop the leaders… Who'd put a sicko like Bones in charge of three, innocent newbies? Her anger returned. Damian was letting his sense of honor get in his way. She didn't want to turn vigilante, but she wanted to do something. "Why don't we just kill them?" The words caught her by surprise. She rushed to explain. "They're a menace. They're horrible. Why not get rid of them?"

Damian stared at her. "In cold blood? Just walk in their warehouse and destroy them?"

"Why not? You think the four at the warehouse are the ringleaders, right? They're the ones giving the orders and ruining peoples' lives. I've always believed that when you don't do anything, and you let something happen, you've condoned it. If we let them live and hurt someone else, we're partly responsible."

"And I've always believed in innocent until proven guilty." Damian looked at Jeremy. "Have you met Rome Nash?"

"No, is he a Were?"

"Strictly human, but we think he might be the pack's alpha."

"A human?" Jeremy gave that careful consideration. "I've only seen Paws give orders. Selena's the enforcer. Your Rome Nash might not know anything about Weres attacking people. He might just feel sorry enough for them to give them places to stay. If I watched someone shift, I'd feel sorry for them, especially if they're new."

"So we don't know who their alpha is."

Jeremy shook his head.

"What about Paul Mercury?" Reece persisted. "Could he be the alpha? He was the first werewolf to attack me. We know he's part of the gang."

"He's the middle man," Jeremy said. "He's the one who approaches businessmen and tells them that they'd be safer if they paid for protection. He's the one who talked to my father."

Reece could see Paul in that role. With his slick good manners and good looks, he'd be the perfect negotiator to demand blood money from victims. She reached a red light and stopped. When she looked in her rearview mirror, she saw a rusted, tan Ford behind them.

Jeremy glanced and said, "That's Paws' car. He's following us."

"What do you want me to do?" Reece looked at Damian.

"Drive slow so that he knows we're going past every rental that Rome Nash owns."

Reece grinned. "So that Paws knows that we know."

"Exactly." Damian leaned back in his seat and relaxed.

Reece drove to the next house, and Damian rolled down his window and sniffed the air. "Three Weres live here." They drove to house number two. Damian sniffed. "Four." At the third house, there were two more. Paws followed them as they circled the city. When they returned back to their starting point, Damian leaned his head out the window and gave him a wave. Paws flipped him off and turned into his driveway.

"Fifteen," Damian said as Reece headed back to the apartment.

"That many?" She licked her lips. Jeremy's face looked pinched and frustrated when she glanced at him in the rearview mirror. "Are you all right?"

"That's a lot of lives ruined."

How could she argue with that? How greedy were they? How many more people would they change? "The rogues have to be making bunches of money each month. You'd think by now they'd have enough."

Jeremy nodded. "Each time they shift someone, they risk exposure. You'd think they'd have enough to control and keep track of by now."

"Stopping would be the smart thing to do," Damian said, "but it doesn't usually work that way. In my experience, greedy people always want more."

He was proved right when they turned on the TV late that night to watch the news. Every channel told how a prominent business leader's daughter died from an unknown disease that caused high fevers and extreme pain. The girl was twelve years old.

Damian cussed. Jeremy's face went pale. "I almost didn't survive my attack," he said. "She was probably too young to make it through."

"That's how the infection works," Damian said. "The disease either kills you or turns you."

"She might be the lucky one," Jeremy told them.

Reece carried her bowl of ice cream to the kitchen, half-finished, her appetite ruined. She was so tired, she could hardly function. And she was just downright mad.

"Go to bed," Damian told her. "No magic fairy will turn werewolves into puppies while you sleep. There'll be plenty to do in the morning. We'll step up our game. We'll start keeping watch over each house with rogues. Someone has to lead us to their alpha someday."

"How can you watch over all of them? There aren't that many of us."

"There are three of us gargoyles," Damian said.

"I can help after my classes."

"And maybe Hecate will pitch in. We'll manage somehow, but for now, get some sleep." He gently gripped her shoulders and turned her toward the bedroom. He gave her a soft swat on her fanny and said, "Go. You can't stand watch if you can't keep your eyes open."

She sagged on the edge of her mattress and kicked off her shoes, then pulled the blankets over her. Damian's plan might work. She dreamt of cute, fuzzy pups who romped and frolicked until a massive, dark Were, his lips foaming with drool, came to snap and snarl. Run, she silently cried, but he swiped a huge paw at them. They tumbled about, each sliced by his claws. She jerked awake and heard Andre and Hecate in the kitchen, talking to Damian and Jeremy. She pushed herself out of bed to join them.