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“We cannot learn without pain.”
–Aristotle–
Finn
Much as I’d like nothing better than to stay with Elle, we rejoin the others. Tensions are high, I taste it in the air the minute we walk back in. And it’s easy enough to see why.
It’s no longer the crowd we left behind. Lucas and Tristan are back from their errand, and Lucas has Tytus by the collar of his shirt – again – and he’s all up in his face. Tristan, surprisingly, seems to be trying to hold him back, but Dom is on the sidelines, talking softly to Dani and Luz. I glance between the two groups, trying to figure out where I’m best suited to disarm the situation.
Elle squeezes my hand. “I’ll take Tytus, you go to Dani.”
After a brief hesitation – they’re both way larger than her – I head on to my lobisomem friend. She’s shaking her head as I approach. “Não, Dominic. Not even they could take a stand against this.”
“They who?”
Dom throws a look over his shoulder, taking in the still–pissed off Lucas a couple feet away. His voice is low when he answers. “My vrykolakas.”
My stomach churns at the thought of the creatures he calls pack. Part werewolf, part strigoi – a type of Romanian vampire – they’re foul. Or, were, before Dominic became their leader after defeating his cousin. Most of them had left after that, presumably never to be seen again. Yet just a few weeks ago, we ran into a wee bit of a pack that stuck around to protect Lucrezia. The sight of them had been enough to get Lucas all riled up.
Narrowing my eyes on Dom, I point that out. He shrugs. “Lucas always has a stick up his ass one way or the other, acting like he’s king, rather alpha. Look where it got us. The Reapers could’ve been disposed of long ago.”
“It’s true he took the softer approach, but he also tried to keep in mind that we live in a town full of easily killed humans – no offense, Lucrezia.”
“None taken,” she whispers, then glances behind Dom. Biting her lip, she says, “Be right back,” and takes off. A quick look around explains why – the roles have been reversed and now it’s Tytus who has Lucas in his hold, and they look nowhere closer to solving their issue.
“What, exactly, did I miss?”
Dom rolls like eyes. “Lucas flipped his shit when he found out Tytus didn’t tell us everything. Started talking about how he’s been more than accommodating, but it’s time for Tytus to leave the territory.”
“Which of course got our zmeu friend fired up, since he’s not ready to leave Elle behind, nor my training,” Dani adds.
“But if Declan only influenced the witch,” I say, “can’t we just break that hold, and be done with it?”
“Not quite.” Dom’s expression darkens. “For one, we can’t freaking find her, and two, Lucas is wary about making a move. He wants to protect the humans here.”
I shake my head. “We can convince him otherwise, and you know it. But what I don’t get is how the heck would a zmeu supposedly entrapped overseas end up linked with a witch here, in the Americas?”
They share a look, and Dani whispers. “Because he wasn’t punished overseas. Tytus admitted the Council thought it best Declan be removed from all temptations, so they forced him under escort across the ocean, and used elemental magic to trap him here.”
“Fecking hell! Seriously?” They both nod, and I groan. That explains also what else led the púca to me. It must have sensed the power in this earth.
“Finn, there’s more....” Dani trails off, unable to meet my direct gaze, and I taste her hesitation in the air.
Dom, thankfully, gives it to me straight. “Tytus said he’s figured out what the Reapers are after now – Elle – because they want to unearth Declan, and free him. If that happens, we’re screwed.” To Dani, he says, “That’s why we should have as much wolf power as possible with us.”
Rising voices from behind warn us Lucas and Tytus are nowhere near fixing up their issues. I’m about to join in the efforts to keep them apart, when Dani says, “It wouldn’t matter even if you called the vrykolakas, Dom. Aside from being a complete slap in the face for Lucas, they can’t really stand against a zmeu now, can they?”
A muscle ticks in Dom’s jaw. “There must be something we can do. If only we knew where the Reapers are, we could see how far along in their efforts they are to unearth Declan.”
Dani throws me a look, which Dom catches. “What? What is it you know?”
I sigh, rubbing the back of my head. “Not enough. Listen, there may be something we can try, but let’s wait until tonight, when things settle down. Can both of you meet me back here around midnight?’
Dom nods, and I can taste his questions in the air. Then a fury like no other fills up the air, and I hear Elle’s voice – only, it’s not quite hers.
Elisandra
Talk about two pig–headed, stubborn fools! Between Lucas’ accusations, Tytus’ pride and my own haywire brain, it’s a wonder she didn’t show up sooner.
Then again, I’m almost glad when she does and takes over my body even more smoothly than before. “Are you two boys quite done pissing about?”
Tytus freezes, turning his head halfway to me. Lucas throws me a glare, “Stay out of it.”
“Now, lookie here.” I step closer, a different swag in my step as I cock a hip and with my index finger tap his forehead. “You may not like me ‘cause I’m stealing your golden boy away, but that doesn’t mean you can’t listen to me.”
Lucas glances at Tytus, as if trying to guess what’s going on, but she – I – goes on to flick his forehead. “I’m talking to you, boy!”
“Puta merda...” He grits his teeth, and storms out of Tytus’ embrace, stalking to me. “I’ve never had a woman disrespect me, and I’m not about to start now.”
I toss my head back, taking him all in, and grin. “Wanna bet, pretty boy?”
He takes another step closer, and Tytus steps between us, facing me. “Just the person I’ve been trying to get to.”
There’s a dangerous glint in his eyes, one she seems to pick up on as she recoils. Tytus moves closer. “Are we going to have a problem, little girl?”
I scowl at him. “No.”
“You need to leave Elle.”
“I’ve got other plans.”
“Then you leave me no choice.”
Tytus lifts his hand, but Finn comes between us. “No. Don’t do anything that’s going to make it worse, Ileana already tried.”
My ancestor growls, low and angry. “Ileana does not have my powers. I can remove her alter, once and for all.”
Finn shakes his head, and I could kiss him right then. We both could. “It’s not right, taking away a part of her. I don’t like it either, having her torn in two, but it should be Elle’s choice in the end.”
“She doesn’t know her own mind,” Tytus hisses. “And with Declan looming over our heads, we cannot afford to have Elisandra become a liability.”
Anger simmers under the surface, and I clench my fists.
I told you he doesn’t believe in us, she says. It’s hard to ignore her when the words sound so right.
“Declan is your problem,” Finn says, his voice tight with determination. “Elle is mine to protect, and I plan to do exactly that.”
He holds out his hand behind his back and I take it, marveling at how right it feels. She has nothing left to say, and retreats. Relief courses through me at the thought of no longer having to deal with her – for now, at least.
Finn turns to me, and smiles. “Come home with me, gorgeous. It’s time you get some actual rest.”
Finn
Somehow, against all odds, Tytus and Lucas both let us take off. Dominic promises to keep in touch with updates, so it’s without remorse that I leave him to handle our alpha.
The drive to my house is quiet, and I think it’s because Elle’s dozing off. When I park, however, I find her wide awake and staring at me. “You okay?”
She nods. “Thank you, for back there. Tytus has it right, though. I don’t know how much good it’s going to do, having her in me like this. Every time she takes over, I feel less and less like myself.”
I take her hand in mine, kissing it. “I’m here with you. And I know a thing or two about being plagued by the supernatural, remember?”
Elle grins at the already far-away memory of the púca. “Any updates on that?”
“Yeah... Looks like it may be the reason we can’t find the Reapers. But I’m about to remedy that tonight.”
Worry tinges the air, and I pull her to me, kissing her temple. “I’ll be fine.” Then I open the car door for her, and we head inside. “It’s not much,” I say by guise of introduction, “but you can take my bedroom, if you like.”
Elle turns to me, resting a hand on my chest. “Will you join me?”
The invitation is there in her eyes, and I drop my forehead to hers. “Aye, but not as you’re asking, little vixen. Tonight, we sleep.”
Looking more than a little put out, Elle follows me to the bedroom. I give her a shirt and pair of shorts that she can wear to bed, and she slides into the cotton sheets with a blissful sigh. Other parts of my body wake up, but I shoot them down.
When I climb into bed with her, it feels right. Right enough that I fall asleep immediately, and don’t wake up until my alarm rings close to midnight.
∞ ♦ ∞
I get to Claws Auto Shop in wolf form, and find Dom and Dani already waiting in the shadows. His dark fur blends in with the night, but Dani, as a sable wolf, is too visible – much like me.
If we do find them, I tell her, you’ll have to camouflage us or something.
She nods. Dom steps ahead, his eyes tinged with startling blue. Are you going to elaborate on this plan of yours?
Bowing my muzzle, I say, Aye. I think it may be my fault we can’t find the Reapers. When he’s silent, I tell him all about the púca, while Dani waits, keeping watch.
As I reach the end of my story, Dom only tilts his head to the side. And let me guess. You didn’t tell Lucas because, as usual, he’ll overreact?
And probably throw me out of the pack for disobeying, I reckon.
Dom snorts. It’s been known to happen.
Dani rolls her eyes at our antics and interrupts. Are we going to do this, or what?
Aye.
And what is this, exactly? Dom stares between us, and I sense his trepidation in the air.
Improvising, I say.
Then I take off on a run, and they follow in my footsteps, equally silent. It really is improvising, because I’ve got no clue what I’m actually doing except throwing a hail Mary. Every few kilometers, I stop and lift my nose in the air, scenting and tasting it.
After about three hours of what feels like going in circles, Dom catches up to me. Will you fill us in, already?
The púca is erasing traces of the Reapers’ presence, coating it with its own scent. You guys don’t know it, and I’ve only come across it when meeting the púca directly, so it makes sense I can follow it.
And if you find it?
I’m hoping to catch a fresh mark of the púca’s presence, ideally leading us to the latest spot the Reapers were at.
Dani joins my other side. And are we anywhere closer to that?
Another sniff in the air. Yep. This way. Another half an hour later, we end up deep in the mountains. At the bottom of a valley, there’s a cabin with a barn nearby. We wait patiently, then something moves.
It worked!
Dani’s excitement almost rubs off on me. At least until Dom says, Yeah, but we’ve got trouble.
I look in the direction he’s staring at, and the excitement is gone, just like that. Because tied up on something that looks like a wooden cross, is the witch. And surrounding her is Cade, with two of his men. But that’s not the sickest part. No, the worst is Cade drawing runes in the air, and using them to burn the flesh of her bare arms – marking her.
I make a move to help, but Dom steps in my way. We can’t. If we alert them we’re here, then it’s an automatic loss. Think about it – no way Cade is here alone with only a few Reapers.
Fiona’s raw scream of agony fills the air, and I squeeze my eyes shut. Then we don’t have a minute to lose. Let’s get Lucas – and Tytus. Now.
Dani nods. You two go. I’ll call Tristan, get him to join me, and keep an eye on these bastardos to make sure we don’t lose them.
We run off like hell itself is following us.
Elisandra
“You did what!”
I cringe at Lucas’ shout. Tytus, by my side, looks less than impressed. He woke me up barely a few hours after I fell asleep and dragged me to another house in the middle of nowhere. It turned out to be Lucas’ place, which was soon filled by Dom and Luz, and Finn.
I should’ve known something was up when he didn’t immediately join my side. Then I realized why. Lucas is beyond himself with fury, and my ancestor isn’t much better off.
“You should have told me about this the minute it happened,” Lucas growls. “And where the hell are Daniela and Tristan?”
“Keeping an eye on the Reapers,” Dom says, eyes glittering with warning. “We need to move, Lucas, before it’s too late.”
He clenches his jaw. “A lot of people are going to die because of this. You’re ready to have their marks on your soul?”
Something about the way he says it gives me shivers, but it doesn’t affect Dom. “Then it’s a good thing we’ll keep the fight away from town.”
Thick silence lingers between them, until my ancestor breaks it. “Unless you’re afraid.” He’s taunting Lucas with his words, and by the looks of it, it’s working. “And if that’s the case, you need to get over it.” Tytus glances around, ignoring Lucas’ snarl, and his gaze falls on Finn.
“You’ve got one thing right, though. This isn’t a fight for everyone. And I’ve already told you that you’re marked, wolf. You shouldn’t be around us.”
Lucas stares at Finn, nostrils flaring as he assesses the situation. “Is he right?”
Finn doesn’t get a chance to answer. An infernal neighing echoes outside, drawing everyone’s attention. Lucrezia moves to the windows, but Dominic beats her to it and pulls the curtain aside, revealing the black mustang with red eyes.
“What is that thing?”
Finn sighs, pinching the bridge of his nose. “It’s a púca, an Irish trickster meant for legends and myths, not the real life. But it’s very much real, and has followed me from my past, to here.”
He stares at Lucas, who glares back. Feet width apart, arms crossed, thundering expression, he looks ready to blow. His voice, when he speaks, is surprisingly calm. “How long have you known it was after you?”
“Long enough.”
“You should have come to me first thing, not let this get so out of control.”
Finn’s features harden with determination. “I can fix this.”
“Be my guest.” Lucas steps to the side, making no other move to help him.
Unable to stand back anymore, I walk to Finn and touch his hand, intertwining our fingers. “You can do this. If I’m able to get my crazy alter in hand, you’ve got this.”
Not exactly true, she’s quick to point out.
The only way I’ve gotten her in hand is when she wants me to, but I need to show Finn some support. Whether or not that’s real, is another story altogether.
My fibbing seems to work, as his emerald gaze clears up and he smiles at me. “Right.”
Despite my bravado, when he walks out, I fear I’ll never see him again. Luz and Dom step by my side in comfort, while Lucas and Tytus glare in the background.
“He’ll be okay,” Luz says.
“Celtic wolves are known for their resilience,” Dom adds.
I appreciate their encouragement, but my stomach still clenches at the thought he’s facing the creature alone.
Finn
The púca is pacing impatiently in front of the house. “Back for another ride so soon?” I ask it, forcing an arrogant pitch to my tone.
It neighs, throwing its massive black mane in the air. “Do not push your luck, faoladh. You owe me.”
“What’s that, precisely?” I move closer with each step, refusing to let the beast get to me again. “Really, tell me. What’s so bad you have to chase me across oceans?”
The red eyes glint. I swiftly glance around, ensuring no humans linger. The last thing I want is any innocents getting hurt.
To my surprise, the púca moves towards me. “Do you remember the dragan whose case you prosecuted?”
Not what I expected. My steps falter. “What?”
“Tsk,” it says. “You cannot have forgotten.”
I didn't. Ciaran Loughey had been charged with negligent manslaughter when his company's faulty security proceedings led to a loss of life. The victim had left behind a family – three kids, a husband – and I'd sued on their behalf, prosecuting him. It was, ultimately, the case that sent me into self–imposed exile.
But what does this púca have to do with it?
“You're right, I didn't forget. Merely put it out of my mind. For the record, I didn't know he was a dragon until I was facing him in that blasted courtroom. Not that it helped. He got away scot–free – justice, my royal arse.” Bitterness infuses my words, and I can't hold it back.
The púca stops its infernal neighing, and watches me, its glare unflinching. “If only you'd let it stop there, foolish one.”
Surprise makes me silent. For a bit, at least. “How did you know?”
“I was there, wolf. It was I who led the robbers to the jewelry store. It was I who played trickster to you, leading you to the wrong clues.”
“And why would you do that?”
“Because the dragan owed me, too. And he promised to pay his due, if I helped him get the insurance money. See, he refused to part with the gold in his own mansion.” A snicker. “Tsk, these dragons. Always so selfish.” Then its gaze falls on me again. “And I would have gotten my due, if not for your intervening.”
I shake my head, refusing to accept blame for a crime I did not do. “Ciaran was still alive when I left him. If you were truly there, you'd have witnessed him overseeing my punishment.”
The púca laughs again. “Only after you beat him first. And besides, he was never the same. His reputation was ruined by a faoladh wolf. And he especially never paid me, avoiding me and setting his witchy goons on me.”
“So go get your due from him!” I’m missing something, as the story makes no sense. Why come after me, when Ciaran is the real target?
The red eyes burn of an inner fire. “Ciaran was killed months ago, foolish one. By his own people. Which means the only one able to give me my due, is you.”
It really dawns on me then. As the man responsible for Ciaran’s downfall, it now makes sense why the púca came for me. An eye for an eye. Out loud, I say, “So you've come to collect.”
“Yes.”
“If it's money you want, I've got none.”
“Then I will settle for your pain.”
I refuse to take a step back, knowing what awaits me. But if it means I can pay my due, that I can return to Elle, it’ll be worth it. What’s one more beating, when I’ve already had enough?
The púca rears back its head, then lifts both legs up. Its hooves hit me smack in the chest, sending me flying backwards. My lungs rattle in my ribcage, and each breath is agony.
Fight it, my wolf demands.
I can’t. If I do, the debt will be unpaid.
A growl escapes me, my wolf pulling from my insides, trying to get out. If you don’t fight, we will both die. I shake my head, standing up – only to have the púca jam its head in my side, sending me flying again.
Groaning, I try to hold my wolf back – but my vision is already swimming, and still the púca comes at me. When its hooves hit me again, and again, I give in to the pain – to the suffering he demands.
Just before it kills me, the púca bends its head down low and whispers, “I lied. Your suffering is not enough. I want my due payment, or I will take what truly matters to you – your mate.”
Darkness tries to claim me, but a moment later Elle is there, crying over me.
Elisandra
“Help me!”
The minute the púca is gone, and Tytus releases me, I run outside and try to get Finn to move. He’s a mess of bruises, blood and dust, but I don’t care. His heartbeat is strong under my hand, and that’s all that matters.
I try my best to hold him up, but in his weakened state, his limber self is heavier than usual. Dom sees my struggle and moves forward, ducking under Finn's other arm and taking most of his weight.
“Thank you,” I whisper.
Finn groans, then drags his gaze from the ground to Lucas. His cold onyx eyes are fixated on me, but at the sound, he switches to Finn. “Well? What does the creature want?”
If it wasn’t for Finn’s weight on me, I’d march there and punch him myself for his indifference. I know Finn wouldn’t want me to cause more trouble, which is the only reason I stay silent.
A second later, Finn breathes out, “Payment.”
“For what?”
“Dues accumulated in the life I left behind.”
Lucas frowns. “You told me that was in the past. That your self–imposed exile would never interfere with this pack.”
I sense Finn's shaking, and it takes me a moment to realize he's angry. “And it hasn't, has it? I fought the púca myself, and intend to keep doing so. As for your other statement, aye, I did say that. But I didn't possess all the facts at the time. The púca was waiting to collect from the dragan I chased after. And despite my family demanding a replacement as alpha, and leaving them behind, none of it helped. It has come to collect, and because I don't have the money, it intends to collect in pain, and suffering. Until I'm dead, or driven insane.”
I shiver at his admission. Having seen the creature itself, sensed it malice, it shouldn’t come as a surprise. But this is the first I hear the defeat in Finn’s voice – like he’s done fighting whatever punishment is coming his way.
He's yummier by the second.
Shut up, I tell my alter.
But he's a bad boy! Dragans and exile? Yum!
I don't respond, instead trying to emit as much support as I can, hoping Finn will be able to taste that in the air around him.
After another beat, Lucas says, “How much does it expect?”
Finn rattles of a sum that makes my jaw drop, but Lucas doesn't even flinch. “Is there a reason this creature acts like some mafioso out to collect?”
I’d been wondering the same thing. Finn turns his head to the side and coughs. Blood spatters on the ground, but still he doesn’t make an attempt to sit or stop talking.
“A púca does collect money, but no one really knows what it does with it. Some say it redistributes it among the poor. Others claim that it lives in a cave made of gold, like a dragon.” His voice drops a few octaves and I strain to hear the rest. “My mum always said that it transports the money to a different land of fairies and goblins, where the greed coins bring is turned into something good.”
Lucas snorts at that. “Fairytales, then. That is what you bring me?”
Finn says nothing. Not for the first time, I wish I had some of his abilities, so I could figure out what he’s feeling. He squeezes my shoulder a bit, as if sensing my worry, and I try to temper it down. For once, he needs to focus on his internal battles, not mine.
After a heavy silence, Lucas says, “And if this creature gets the money – the sum you mentioned – it will leave you alone?”
“So it says.”
Lucas nods. “Then consider it done. I'll have it tomorrow, and you can put an end to this.”
Shock reverberates through Finn, into me.
“Why?” he asks.
Nothing in Lucas’ expression changes as he shrugs. “Because you're my pack, my family. And we have bigger things to worry about than some trickster who wants payment.” Then he looks at me. “Take care of his wounds, and make sure he's back in tomorrow.”
I nod, and Dom helps me carry Finn to his truck. He drives us home in silence, and helps me bring Finn inside. As Finn lounges on the sofa, Dom nods towards a corner, and I follow him.
“Will you be okay with him?”
“Yeah,” I whisper, “but what's this about an exile, and him being an alpha?” Finn had mentioned leaving Ireland, sure, but I’m starting to think it was only half the story.
Dom glances between us, then rubs the back of his neck. “No offense, but it’s probably best you get him to explain that.”
I watch him leave, then turn a mystified stare towards my boyfriend. Just who, exactly, is Finn McConnell?