Lorena pulled into Jack’s driveway as the sun dipped low in the sky. She’d passed trucks and Jeeps on her way there, and had to squeeze past them on the narrow dirt roads.
Deacon stood on the porch.
“The extermination squad is here.” She walked toward him. “They’re heading out to the woods.”
“I know, I seen them.” He stood at the top of the steps and she stopped at the bottom. “We was downtown to say hello when they showed up.”
She gazed up at him, towering over her. She had two things to talk to him about. She drew her hand out of her jacket pocket. “Do you know what this is?” She opened her hand to reveal the black stone.
He squinted, frowning. “Come on inside.”
She joined him on the porch. He opened the door for her, his other hand brushing her lower back.
He led her through the house to the kitchen. Hazel sat at the head of the table. She had a book open in front of her and was writing in it. She looked up.
“Show it to her,” Deacon said.
Lorena walked over, the stone held up between her fingers. “Do you know what this is?”
Hazel looked from Lorena’s face to the stone, and back again. Her eyes gleamed behind her glasses.
“I’m disappointed you don’t know what that is.” Hazel clucked her tongue. “Such a shame.”
“My grandmother had stones, but she didn’t teach me much about them. Google tells me it’s a black opal.”
Hazel returned her attention to the book. “If you would learn the ways of your kind, you wouldn’t need a computer to tell you such things.”
“Where’d you get it?” Deacon asked.
“From Dr. Winston.” She tucked it back in her pocket. “He got it from the hand of a dead Wolvite. One of the ones you shot last night.”
Deacon’s gaze turned puzzled.
“What’s the purpose of it?” Lorena asked Hazel. “What does a black opal do?”
Hazel set her pen down and leaned back in her chair. “It’s the Witch’s Stone. It enhances the power of a witch.”
“Enhances it?”
“Yes, it magnifies her abilities. It’s basic witch knowledge. Even the youngest of witches knows this.”
Lorena had never read about it, but then, the agency’s books covered the basics, not the lore. She fought to school her irritation. “All right, so what was it doing in the hand of a Wolvite? Opals aren’t indigenous to this area. I doubt it just picked it up.”
Deacon sucked in a breath. “Maybe it attacked a witch.”
Lorena hadn’t considered that. Her stomach lurched.
“No one has gone missing or been attacked by them.” Hazel waved a hand. “Apart from my foolish grandson here. I know all the witches in this area and they’re all safe and sound.”
“So then the question remains,” Lorena said, “how did it get in the hand of a Wolvite?”
“My guess is, a witch put it there.”
Lorena frowned. Deacon tilted his head, like a dog.
“You mean after I shot it, Grammy?” he asked.
“No, before you shot it.” Hazel adjusted her glasses. “A witch, apparently, has been talking to the Wolvites.”
Lorena narrowed her eyes. “Deacon told me about that. I’d never heard of such a thing, but Dr. Winston said he’s read accounts.”
“There’s a great deal you can’t learn from your science books. You’re a witch, you don’t believe in things that science doesn’t teach you?”
Lorena looked between them. “So witches can talk to Wolvites? It’s possible?”
“Of course it’s possible. With the right witch.”
“So what does the rock do?” Deacon asked.
“I already told you, it enhances a witch’s power.”
Lorena snapped her fingers as she got it. “It would make communication easier! Right?”
Hazel didn’t appear impressed. “Yes, it makes communication easier.”
“So a witch was talking to the Wolvite right before I shot it?” Deacon rubbed his beard.
“Perhaps.” Hazel smoothed a hand over her book. “Or, the Wolvite might have been holding the stone for clarity of mind. A powerful witch can give a Wolvite intelligence and humanity, so they might communicate with each other.”
Lorena blinked. “So a witch—a powerful witch—must have gone into the woods and tried to reason with the Wolvites, tried to get them to stand down.”
“Sure didn’t work.” Deacon grunted. “Maybe she should have doubled up on the stones.”
“Who would do such a thing?” Lorena stared at Hazel. “You said you know all the witches around here, who do you think it was?”
Hazel’s eyes were hard and glittering. “I don’t know.”
“Sounds like dangerous business.” Deacon’s obliviousness was almost alarming. “Admirable, but damn dangerous, especially the way they’re acting now.”
“I don’t know who it was.” Hazel’s voice cut as sharply as her gaze. “But I’ll find out.”
“I’m sure the agency would love to know about it.” Lorena continued staring her down. “Being able to communicate with Wolvites would be hugely beneficial to us.”
Hazel’s entire presence seemed to prickle. That was the telling reaction Lorena was fishing for.
“Good luck getting a witch to give that up.” Deacon chuckled. “Sorry, Grammy.”
Melanie walked in the room. She paused when she saw them, then ducked her head and hurried over to the coffee pot next to the sink.
“Despite someone being foolish enough to confront them,” Lorena said, “it won’t matter after tonight. They’ll clear them out.”
Melanie glanced over.
“Until they come back.” Hazel snorted. “It’s our life, dealing with them.”
“We gotta watch out.” Deacon ruffled his hair. “They’ll flush some out in the chaos and we’ll have to pick them off.”
“We put the ward up.” Hazel looked at Melanie, her lips pursed. “Or at least, I hope we did. She botched so many spells she ought to be ashamed.”
Melanie turned from the sink, hair obscuring one side of her face, her expression set and angry on the other side. She didn’t say anything.
“Come on, Grammy,” Deacon chided. “Cut her some slack. You’re a good enough witch you don’t need too much backup, now do you?”
Lorena fought the urge to grab him by the shirt collar and smack him.
“Be that as it may.” Hazel sniffed. “She needs some lessons.”
“I’m sorry,” Melanie said softly. “I tried…”
“Wards are difficult,” Lorena said. “I couldn’t do one right either.” She turned to Deacon. “Can we talk?”
They left the room and Melanie scurried after them. She disappeared into the house.
“Let’s go sit on the porch,” Deacon said. “Might as well be outside while we still can.”
The afternoon was chilly and Lorena snuggled deeper into her jacket. They sat down on the porch swing and Deacon stretched his arm out behind her.
“Witches talking to Wolvites is a big deal,” she said.
“Sure is. Trying to have peace talks with them, that sounds like a fool’s gambit. And it sure didn’t work.”
She clenched her jaw. He wasn’t stupid, but he was blind. Blind to the machinations of his grandmother.
“So what’s going on?” He rubbed her back. “I didn’t expect to see you back so soon. Are you takin’ off?”
The other thing she had to talk to him about, the harder thing, had to be brought up now.
“I’m not leaving tonight. I don’t know about tomorrow yet, but not tonight.”
“I’m happy to hear that.” He squeezed her shoulder.
“I’m afraid I’m going to miss dessert again, though. I’m going out with the extermination squad.”
He stared at her, face blank. “What?”
“I’m a good shot and I know what I’m doing. I asked to go with them, they looked at my field training and my record, and they said I could.”
Deacon brought his fingers to his forehead. He rubbed his temple and squinted at her. “Why…would you volunteer for that?”
“I feel like it’s something I need to do, for the people of this town and for me.”
He lowered his hand. “It’s dangerous as hell.”
“So am I. And there’s enough of us we’ll have the advantage.”
“This ain’t gonna bring your Mama back.”
She looked down.
“I’m sorry.” He spoke gently. “But you getting yourself killed ain’t gonna avenge nobody. And it ain’t gonna protect anybody here.”
“I won’t get killed. I’m going in at the rear, with the people who will be sweeping after the main attack, to get the stragglers. It’s much safer.”
“It ain’t safe in those woods after dark for no one.”
“But you and your cousins do it all the time.”
“We’re also Lycan. No less dangerous, but slightly less foolish.”
“I’ll be fine. You saw that shot I took.” She lifted her head. “I could do that with my eyes closed.”
He slid his arm around her again and rubbed his chin with his other hand. “You said the work you do at your agency is how you help people, doing research, finding ways to eliminate threats. You said that’s the way you protect people. You’re already protecting us inside your lab.”
“It gets boring in the lab. I didn’t learn to shoot like that to pick off paper targets forever.” She placed a hand on his thigh and squeezed. “I promise you, I’ll be careful. I might not even get to shoot at anything.”
His blue eyes blazed, worried. “It ain’t my place to tell you what to do, but I wish you’d reconsider. I know what it’s like out in them woods. It’s a damn sight scarier than you think. It’s their land, and they know every inch of it.”
She rubbed his thigh. “I’ll be okay. I’ll call you as soon as I get out of the woods.”
He sighed. “I ain’t gonna rest easy all night.”
She scooted closer and propped her chin on his shoulder. “I’m going to stay for a few days, no matter what they decide. Take a few days off, and we can spend some time together.”
He turned his head toward her. The angle was too awkward for a kiss, but their faces hovered close together.
“You better come out of those woods in one piece. You might still have trouble walking when you leave here, though.”
She slipped an arm around his back and rested her hand on his opposite hip, above his belt. “You might not be walking so well, either.” She pushed her other hand into her jacket pocket and pulled out the stone. “I would give this to your grandmother, but they want to keep it for study. I have to take it back.”
“It’s all right. Expect she’s got some of her own.”
Lorena rolled her eyes. He would catch up. He had to catch up, eventually. She slipped the stone back in her pocket.
They walked out to her truck and sat inside. He didn’t try to talk her out of going again, instead, they made out. His mouth was bliss. He explored her body, under her jacket, then under her shirt. She had no intention of dying, but she wanted to fuck him right there in the truck, just in case, so she had something of him to carry into battle. Like a warrior carrying the colors of his Lady, only she was a warrior carrying the scent and touch of her Lycan man.
Her Lycan man? Had she already gotten so attached? To a near stranger?
“I wish I could come with you tonight.” His lips were near her throat. “They won’t let us, though.”
“It’s for your safety.” She rubbed his side. “We can’t put anyone at risk, even if they’re good at picking off Wolvites.” She cupped his jaw. “And I’d be worried about you.”
He laughed. “You think I ain’t gonna be worried about you?” He looked out the front window, toward the sinking sun. “Gonna take Grammy home soon, then come back here and hunker down for the night. Zeke’s coming over, too. If anything comes through that ward, we’ll cut it down.”
She nodded.
He returned his attention to her. “Wish I’d thought to bring a condom.” He moved his hand from her hip inward, and wedged his fingers against her crotch. The fabric there was damp.
“We can’t do anything in front of your cousin’s house. Someone might come outside.”
Deacon popped the button on her jeans. “You think they ain’t aware we’re out here gettin’ frisky?”
Her cheeks grew hot. She didn’t stop him from sliding her zipper down, though. Nor did she stop him from pushing his hand into her panties.
“I feel like a teenager.” She gripped his shoulder. “Making out in the driveway and hoping we don’t get caught.”
“I don’t have a whole lot of shame. Didn’t have much as a teenager, either.” His voice curled around the nape of her neck. “Nothing to be ashamed of.”
She spread her legs as much as she could with her jeans and panties still in place, and gasped when he pushed one of his thick fingers inside her. She kissed him hard. She would have reciprocated, but if she got his cock out her will would dissolve and she’d ride him even if they had an audience, even if they didn’t have any protection.
He added a second finger. She whimpered and clung to him, and worked her hips against his hand.
He fingered her slow and deep, his breath ragged against her neck. She groaned into his hair, jerking her hips faster, desperate.
Coming on his fingers felt excruciatingly good, as good as when he’d eaten her out, as good as when he’d fucked her. He’d claimed her body. She craved more even as she shuddered through her orgasm, her need insatiable.
He drew his hand out and sucked his fingers clean. Her head swam.
“I guess I owe you one again.” She gripped him and pulled him to her mouth.
“Damn, woman,” he rumbled against her lips. “I can’t get enough of how you smell and taste. I just wanna rub you all over me.”
His body beckoned to her. She would spend the night in his bed. Everything she had to get through before that seemed irrelevant.
“You can do that tonight. We’ll get naked and rub all over each other.”
He drew back and looked into her eyes. She held his gaze, mesmerized. She could drown in those ocean-blue depths.
“I’ll take your IOU.” He smiled. “You sure as hell better come back tonight to make good on it.”
“I will, I promise.”
They could barely let go of each other; finally, Lorena slid away and buttoned up her jeans. She would need a change of pants before she went out. The sun had nearly sunk below the horizon, the sky darkened. They had to get moving.
“You be careful tonight too,” she warned, as Deacon got out of the truck. “Everybody will be in danger.”
He leaned across the seat and kissed her. “I will.” He touched her chin with his thumb. “You better call me the second you come out of those woods.”
“I will.”
She waited until he walked back to the house before she started the truck, more to get an eyeful of him than out of caution. She loved the way he moved, his stance, his swagger, the shape of his body. Had she ever found a guy so attractive? Perhaps not, but then, she’d also never been on a whirlwind sexual adventure like this.
He waved as she pulled out. She waved back and steeled herself. Shit was about to get real.