Chapter Twenty-one
“Would ye care to elaborate, Howard?” Angus asked.
“No.”
Everyone exchanged glances. As far as Phineas knew, Howard had grown up in Alaska, and since Bleddyn was also from Alaska, there was obviously something that connected the two shifters. Something bad.
Phineas took a seat at the table. “Bleddyn is allied with Corky. She’s the one who drugged Jack and me.”
Angus motioned to Jack. “Tell us what happened.”
“I was at the cabin when an SUV pulled up,” Jack began. “Tinted windows. I could only see the front seat. Bleddyn and Kyle got out and asked to see Brynley. I said she wasn’t there and they should leave. That’s when I heard shots. I whirled around and spotted Corky and Dimitri just as the darts hit. They must have been in the back of the SUV, and they teleported behind me to attack.”
“They shot you with Nightshade?” Mikhail asked.
“Yes. I fell down, and they dragged me into the cabin.” Jack made a face. “I couldn’t warn Phineas to stay away.”
“At least we now have proof that Corky is there,” J. L. Wang said.
“She claims to have a lot more Nightshade,” Phineas said. “We’ll have to careful capturing her.”
Angus nodded. “And you believe she’s hiding at Bleddyn’s ranch?”
“Yes,” Phineas replied. “She and Dimitri. After she shot me, they teleported Brynley and Bleddyn to her father’s ranch. Bleddyn left Kyle behind—”
“Who exactly is Kyle?” Angus asked.
“My brother,” a voice said from the doorway.
Everyone turned. Nate Carson stood there with John, Zoltan, and Gregori.
Zoltan stepped into the room. “Allow me to introduce the newest members of our community, Nate Carson and his mortal guard, John Brighton.”
Phineas rose to his feet. “Dude, you’re standing.”
Nate smiled sadly as he walked into the room. “I have my legs back. But I’ve lost my brother.”
Phineas glanced at Gregori, who remained in the doorway, a pained expression on his face.
“Welcome.” Angus shook hands with Nate and John. Then everyone walked over to the new guys and introduced themselves.
Phil shook Nate’s hand. “Thank you for always being there for Brynley. She’s my sister.”
Nate’s eyes widened. “Then you’re a werewolf, too?”
“Yes.” Phil nodded. “My father banished me from the pack years ago. Best thing that ever happened to me, actually. These are good people here.”
“Great to see you walking, dude.” Phineas slapped Nate on the shoulder. “How do you like being Undead?”
Nate’s mouth quirked. “It’s strange. A few days ago, I didn’t even know vampires existed, and now I am one.” He glanced around the crowded room. “Everyone seems very supportive. I didn’t expect that.”
“Yeah, it’s cool.” Phineas winced. “I’m really sorry about your brother. If I had been able to talk—”
“It probably wouldn’t have changed anything,” Nate interrupted him. “I’ve known for months that Kyle was hanging around a bad crowd. I tried to warn him, but he wouldn’t listen. He—he helped Bleddyn attack me. I don’t know what hurts the most. That he’s gone, or that he turned on me.”
Phineas patted his shoulder. “He was messed up, dude. I think he was on steroids.”
Nate sighed. “He was certainly too aggressive. Zoltan told me he was trying to bite you all. You had no choice but to shoot him.”
“It was me.” Gregori approached them. “I pulled the trigger. I’m sorry.”
A pained look crossed Nate’s face. “I understand. In war, we have to make tough decisions.”
“And live with them,” Gregori muttered.
“Let’s get back to business,” Angus announced, and everyone took a seat. Angus looked at Nate. “My condolences on your brother. Zoltan just explained the situation to me.”
Nate nodded.
“As soon as the sun sets in Wyoming,” Angus continued, “we can teleport you and John back home with a supply of synthetic blood. We’ll do whatever we can to help you with your transition.”
“Thank you,” Nate said. “I think I’d like to try one of those Bleers.”
Everyone smiled. Except Howard. He was frowning with a fierce gleam in his eyes.
“Any ideas what this Rhett Bleddyn and Corky are up to?” Angus asked.
“Power,” Howard said quietly. “Bleddyn wants all werewolves in North America to swear allegiance to him.”
“Corky could be planning to use vampire mind control on mortals,” Ian suggested.
Angus nodded. “So together, they could control both mortals and werewolves?”
“That would make us their enemy,” Phil said. “Vamps and shifters they can’t control.”
Howard fisted his hands. “He’s a cruel bastard who kills other shifters and any mortal who gets in his way. Even children.”
Silence permeated the room.
Phineas sucked in a breath. “I guess we’ll have to kill him.”
Howard gave him an intense look. “I thought I had.”
Angus sat back. “All right. We’ll go after Bleddyn and Corky—”
“And we rescue Brynley,” Phineas added.
Phil raised his hand. “I’ll take care of her.”
A surge of anger shot through Phineas, and he pivoted in his chair to face Phil. “Now you’re worried about her? What about all those years when she left you letters, begging you to come home?”
Phil gritted his teeth. “I was banished.”
“Do you have any idea what she went through?” Phineas yelled. “Abuse. Humiliation.” He stopped himself from saying rape. “She suffered, and you weren’t there to protect her.”
Phil’s form shimmered for a second as the inner wolf crashed against his restraints. “You think I don’t care? I left letters, too, begging her to leave with me. She never responded.”
“Enough, ye two.” Angus regarded them sternly. “We’ll get her. For now, ye need to calm down and keep yer wits about you.”
Phineas took a deep breath. “I want to be in charge of her rescue team.”
Angus studied him, then shook his head. “Ye’re too emotionally involved. Zoltan will be in charge. You and Phil will be on his team.”
Phineas cursed silently.
“I want a second team at Phil’s cabin,” Angus continued. “Jack, ye’ll head that team, since ye know how to teleport there. Any werewolves or Malcontents who show up—”
“Won’t live long,” Jack finished the sentence. “I’ll pick up Lara on the way, and I’ll take J.L. and Austin.”
“Verra well,” Angus agreed. “Then we need a third team, the biggest team, to assault Bleddyn’s ranch house and hopefully eliminate him and Dimitri and take Corky prisoner. Robby and I will be in charge so we can attack from two fronts. Freemont will remain here to coordinate the three teams.”
“Yes, sir!” Freemont sat up.
Angus scanned the room. “On Robby’s team, I want Ian, Stan, Rajiv—”
“And me,” Howard grumbled.
“I’ll go, too,” Nate offered. “I was in the army. I know how to fight.”
“ ’Tis no’ yer battle, lad,” Angus said.
“I think it is,” Nate replied. “Bleddyn and his pack turned my brother against me.”
“If I may suggest?” John lifted a hand. “Bleddyn’s land borders on the Carson ranch. You could use Nate’s home as a base to launch your attack.” He gave Nate a sheepish look. “If you don’t mind, sir.”
Nate smiled. “It’s a great idea. I should have thought of it myself.”
“Verra well.” Angus stood. “As soon as the sun sets in Wyoming, we move out.”
Brynley answered a knock at the bedroom door.
“These are for you.” The guard passed her a crystal vase containing a dozen long-stemmed yellow roses.
The minute she took the vase, he shut the door.
“Gee, thanks,” she muttered. Not that she minded being closed up in the bedroom with her sister. It was much preferable to spending time with Rhett Bleddyn or her father. Thankfully, neither one of them had contacted her during the day.
Since the Hunt went on all night for three nights, the werewolves tended to sleep most of the day. Only now, almost suppertime, was the house stirring. A big buffet was usually served at seven to energize all the guests for that night’s hunt.
She glanced at the window where the sun was lowering in the sky. What had happened to Phineas and Jack? Were they still in the cabin? Would they wake at sunset no longer paralyzed? If they did, they could probably overpower Kyle. If he hadn’t already used his stake . . .
“Oh my!” Glynis rushed forward, her eyes sparkling with excitement. “What beautiful roses! Are they from Rhett?”
“Who knows,” Brynley mumbled.
Glynis plucked the card from the clear plastic trident and read out loud. “ ‘All my devotion, all my life.’ And it’s signed, ‘Your loving Rhett.’ Isn’t that sweet? And they’re your favorite color, too. That’s so romantic!”
“Did you tell him yellow was my favorite?”
“Well, yes. But it’s still romantic. The nearest florist is miles away.”
“And he had one of his minions drive to it.” Brynley strode into the bathroom and set the vase into the white porcelain trash can.
“What are you doing?” Glynis pulled the vase out. “It would be insulting not to accept this.”
“That’s the idea.”
Glynis huffed, then returned the vase to the bedroom and set it on the bombé chest. “There, perfect.” She smoothed down the long skirt of her rose-colored silk gown and wrinkled her nose at Brynley’s jeans and T-shirt. “You know, you really should dress for dinner.”
Brynley rolled her eyes. “I never did understand that. Why does everyone dress so fancy for dinner when they’re just going to strip it all off when it’s time for the Hunt?”
“It’s tradition,” Glynis insisted. “It’s been done this way for centuries. Besides, I like dressing up. It’s fun. You can borrow one of my dresses.”
“I’m not going.”
Glynis set her hands on her hips. “Dad will expect you to be there.”
“You can tell him I’m ill.”
Glynis’s face turned pale. “You want me to lie for you?”
Brynley saw the fear in her sister’s eyes. Damn but her father had picked her guard well. He knew she’d never do anything that would endanger her sister. “Don’t worry. I-I’ll eat dinner. I won’t get you in trouble.”
Glynis smiled with relief. “Thank you. Maybe, if you’re lucky, Rhett will ask you to hunt with him tonight.”
“Right. ’Cause nothing says romance like slaughtering a defenseless animal together.”
Glynis tilted her head with a confused look. “Don’t you want to hunt?”
And risk being the prey? “Not tonight.” Not here. What she loved most about hunting was not the kill, but the rush of the wind as she ran through the woods, the power and freedom she felt as a wolf. But here, she could never feel powerful or free. Here she was helpless and trapped. Her inner wolf growled with frustration. “I’ll stick close to the house.”
With a smile, Glynis hugged her. “I’ll keep you company then. Would you like to try on one of my dresses now?”
Thirty minutes later, Brynley was dressed in a midnight-blue gown, and her sister had pulled her thick hair back into a loose French braid. The guards escorted them down the staircase.
A few dozen guests were lingering in the great hall, sipping wine and chatting. They looked so posh and elegant. No one would ever suspect that in a few hours, they would be furry and ripping into dead animals to feast on bloody entrails.
“Do you see the mural?” Glynis whispered. “Isn’t it wonderful?”
Brynley spotted the artwork through the crowd. It showed a pack of wolves moving through a forest. “It’s beautiful.”
Glynis grinned, then stiffened. “He’s coming for you.”
“Who?” Brynley groaned as Rhett moved to the base of the stairs, where he waited for them. He was dressed in a black tuxedo, his shoulder-length dark hair slicked back, his dark eyes watching her intently.
“Good evening, ladies.”
His voice did nothing for her. God, how she missed Phineas.
When she remained silent, Glynis quickly spoke up. “It’s lovely to see you again, Rhett. Thank you for the roses.”
“My pleasure.” He lifted a hand to Brynley. “Would you take a walk with me outside?”
“Oh yes, Brynley, you should.” Glynis begged her with her eyes. “The garden is lovely this time of year.”
The guards crowded around her, so she had nowhere to flee. The guests stopped their chatting to watch. Rhett grabbed her hand and tucked it into his elbow.
“Come.” He led her to the front door.
One of the guards opened it.
“I wish to be alone with her,” Rhett murmured to the guard, then escorted her onto the porch.
“You must at least pretend to like me.” He squeezed her hand tightly till it hurt. “I will not be embarrassed in front of others.”
“Then you should marry someone who is willing.”
He led her down the steps to the flagstone path that would take them to the garden on the side of the house. “You are my choice.”
“Why?”
He arched an eyebrow at her. “You don’t believe you’re worthy of me?”
She snorted. “I’m not going to be cooperative.”
“Not a problem.” He squeezed her hand painfully again. “I’ll enjoy forcing you to submit.”
Pig. Alpha pig. She pulled her hand from his grip. Her inner wolf growled.
A door slammed in the driveway, and a young male werewolf ran toward them. “Master! I need a word with you.” He glanced at Brynley. “In private.”
Rhett frowned at him. “It had better be important.”
“I’ll go back inside,” Brynley offered, and hurried back up the steps and into the house before Rhett could object.
She weaved through the guests in the great hall and eased into the parlor. More people mingled there, but she ignored them and rushed across the room, peering out the windows till she could see Rhett and his minion where they’d moved farther down the flagstone path. She raised the window an inch and squatted next to it. Even with her extra-sharp hearing, she had trouble hearing their conversation over the voices in the parlor until Rhett suddenly shouted.
“Kyle is dead?” he bellowed.
“Yes, sir. Three shots to his chest.”
“And the vampires?”
“Gone, sir. The cabin was empty.”
Brynley’s breath caught. Yes! Phineas and Jack were all right! They’d escaped. And they would come looking for her.
The minion kept talking. “We took Kyle’s body back to your ranch. What do you want us to do with it?”
Rhett scoffed. “Dump it back at his brother’s house.”
The window suddenly clicked shut. “What are you doing?” Her father’s clipped voice sounded annoyed.
Brynley straightened. “Enjoying some fresh air.”
“I doubt it.” Caddoc Jones glanced out the window. “Come. The buffet has started.” He took her elbow and steered her toward the dining room. “You defied me when you ran away. Have you ever known me not to punish a member of my pack for disobedience?”
She swallowed hard.
His grip tightened on her arm. “I will forgo punishment this time under one condition. You will go through with the wedding and marry Rhett Bleddyn.”
The prison walls were closing in. “May I join the Hunt tonight?” If she shifted, she could run like hell. The thought of her father’s wolves chasing her down was terrifying, but she was getting desperate enough to take the chance.
“You will remain indoors.” He handed her a plate. “Enjoy your evening.” He turned on his heel and left.
She set the plate back in the stack. She couldn’t eat when she was suffocating. She pivoted, feeling entirely hemmed in by her father’s well-dressed, happy minions.
She spotted one who looked uncomfortable. He was standing in the corner, quietly eating. Thomas, Trudy’s husband. She’d mentioned he would be here.
She eased over in his direction. “Hey, Thomas.”
He inclined his head. “Miss Jones. I didn’t know you had returned.”
“It was . . . unplanned.” She lowered her voice. “Corey’s doing great at school.”
Thomas exhaled with relief, and a brief smile flitted over his face before his guarded expression returned. “You shouldn’t say his name here.”
“Do you have a cell phone on you?”
He gave her a wary look.
She shrugged. “I can’t seem to find a single phone in this entire house. Crazy, isn’t it?”
“Miss Jones, I suggest you do whatever your father tells you to. Excuse me.” He strode from the dining room.
With a groan, she leaned against the wall. What was she doing? Thomas and Trudy were good people. She shouldn’t get them into trouble. She was just so damned frustrated!
“Oh, there you are!” Glynis rushed toward her, grinning. “Guess what? Dad made special plans for us. He ordered all the latest movie releases. We get to have an all-night marathon in the media room!”
With a dozen guards outside the door, no doubt. Phineas, please hurry.
The wedding was in two nights.