Faine seems to be all right with the physical stuff I do. He helps kick ass when I need it. But today he was so mad at me. I bled all over him and he never batted an eye. I bet the shirt I ruined cost more than I make in a month. He gets personally offended when Im run-down and I think he and Mom might be uniting to keep me drinking all her potions and stuff.
Mom loves Simon. As for sudden. Lark took a deep breath. Look, I was freaked out when Simon first started all this love stuff. He took me to Lycia and all this Neest talk came up. I denied it for a while, and to be honest, I needed the time to process. But in my gut, I knew he was it. He told me that I wasnt human and that I lived in a world of magick and what I believed even though I couldnt see it, and why not believe I could love him? He was right. Ive never been so convinced of anything in my life than how I feel about him. And since the bond? I dont need a man to be complete and neither do you. But he makes me whole in a way I never could have imagined before he came along. Hes everything. Lark shrugged. Plus, sudden? Come on. I know he kissed you before.
Well, yes, he did. They were fabulous kisses. But what we did today? Well, thats a whole different level.
Youre scared.
Helena looked out over the hills beyond, at the sway of the treetops in the breeze. The stars were out and she wondered if the sky looked different in Lycia.
I have so many people depending on me right now. I cant afford to make any more mistakes.
You dont have to bond with him tomorrow. Though, if I know Faine and hes enough like his brother, hell want that eventually. As for mistakes . . .
I cant. I cannot talk about it anymore. Ive had a challenging day. Im barely holding it together and if you make me talk about the haven, Ill lose it.
You can cut yourself a damned break for once in your life.
No, not now. She pushed from the bed and Lark moved to her, pulling her into a hug.
You could have died today. Please dont do that. I dont know what Id do without you.
Helena returned her sisters hug. Holding on to what shed always counted on.
They went out to the deck where both men waited. The scent of food made Helenas stomach growl.
Come on then, lets get you fed. Faine moved to her, putting an arm around her shoulder, and she didnt mind one bit, which seemed odd, but whatever.
They settled at the table. The air was cool and she was glad shed taken Lark up on the offer of the sweatshirt that currently shielded her from the breeze.
Food got passed around and all was quiet for several minutes as everyone filled up.
Are you patrolling tonight? Helena sipped her tea as she spoke to her sister.
Not tonight. I took it off when I knew youd be here. I figured youd want to go out with me and then Id have to be the bad cop and make you stay in and I really wanted to hang out with you instead and make you rest.
I endorse that. Faine leaned back, his body radiating heat.
Me as well. Simon gave his brother a nod of solidarity.
Helena rolled her eyes. Im fine.
Lark waved a hand. No, you arent. I saw you change clothes. You have bruises on your torso from the concussion of the blast.
But thats all I have. Ill take bruises over being blown to bits in a car bomb.
Larks mouth hardened. We cant let this go unanswered.
Helena blew out a breath. Rebecca is so angry. Ive never seen her like this. I sat in on a meeting she had with the Full Council. Theyre done with diplomacy. Ive been officially pulled from Sato. She has a meeting in an hour or so with the other leaders. She said shed call me when it shook out.
Helena was silent for a while. I recommended the creation of a defense force.
Lark nodded. That would be my recommendation as well.
We need a presence out there. We need the humans to get a physical idea that we are here and we will defend ourselves. Patrols. That sort of thing.
I think the wolves would be up for that. I dont know about the Vampires. Theyve already declared war on the humans. Its just been in a holding pattern while we tried out this road show. Larks gaze locked to her sisters. The road show was a good idea.
Helena forked up some steak. Sure. But we cant do it all on our own. Yes, there are humans like Tosh and maybe more of them than those like Carlo Powers. But the fact is, weve been targeted with violence time and time again. Weve tried diplomacy. Molly delivered her speech and warned them, and now its time to follow up the talk with action.
How about a run first? Simon and Faine can shift and you and I can do a nice hard jog to get rid of all the days tension. Youll sleep like a rock tonight. We can do it and be back here by the time Rebecca is finished with her meeting. We can even use the hot tub afterward.
Oooh, youve got a deal.
They finished eating and headed back to their rooms to change. Or rather, Helena needed to change but Simon and Faine wouldnt need clothes to shift. Not that that would stop him from coming along to watch her change like a big ol perv.
She hadnt seen him in his other form yet and she was looking forward to it.
His gaze narrowed as she winced when she pulled her running bra on.
It makes me want to rip someones throat out to see you in pain.
He stepped to her, gently sliding his fingertips over her skin.
Im all right. But if you mean to stick around, you need to know this isnt the last time youre going to see me bruised up.
Im not going anywhere. He kissed her long and slow. But I still want to rip someones throat out for harming you.
He took her hand and she followed him out to the deck where Lark and Simon waited.
Both males had on shorts, which they discarded once they reached the treeline.
Helena used her magick to amp up her night vision and let the trees, the dirt and leaves, all the plants speak to her. All that magick seemed to flow around them like the tide.
Faine bent and the air seemed to shimmer and then he was gone. Or the human was gone and there stood a massive wolf-like beast. His shoulders nearly reached hers.
Wow. Youre huge.
He rumbled, pressing against her as she ran her hand through his fur, which was surprisingly soft. He looked back at her, still Faine, still shining with intelligence.
Should we run?
He tore out ahead, Simon following, nipping his brothers heels, pulling ahead.
Theyre going to do that awhile. Lets go. Lark started, her steps sure and fast on the trail.
No fair! This is home field advantage.
In the distance, Lark flipped her the bird and kept running. Helena got her ass moving, hurrying to catch up.
Faine felt trouble before he saw it. There was joy. Clan and pack togetherness. Running with his brother, his Neest near enough to scent on the wind.
It was good.
And then the jarring change. Steel. Man-made things in a wild space. Gun oil. Black powder but something else. He growled and slowed. Simon was adjusting, slowing and moving back, Faine knew, to be sure Lark and Helena were covered.
There were No Hunting signs all around the property and it was May, the only hunting allowed around the area was turkey. He doubted it was a law-breaking turkey hunter whod sent the hackles on his neck rising.
To his right.
Faine slowed and got low, moving with more stealth than anyone watching ever could have imagined possible from an animal so large.
His beast sensed a threat to his mate. An incursion onto protected land. Neither could be borne.
The thread Helena was at the other end of hummed. She was close, but concentrating. His beast was not worried. She was exemplary. A fine mate, canny and vicious.
Theyd hunt this interloper together.
Simon moved off to the left, flanking the intruder.
A burst of sound as the human realized he was surrounded by two huge beasts with sharp teeth and claws. A scream and then running, night birds breaking into flight, a beacon to where the human was.
Helena and Lark streaked off, clearly as comfortable hunting with each other as Faine and Simon were.
He growled and snarled, taking off, Simon bounding ahead and east.
It was another several minutes until they reached a trail.
Helena bent, her hand on a tire track. Her magick flowed through the space.
Faine edged next to her, pressing against her as he bent to scent the area. The other thing hed smelled back near the house had been silver.
He pushed her, getting her attention.
What? Her voice was low, her gaze moving around, vigilant.
He jerked his head back in the direction of the house.
No. We should track this vehicle out to the main road.
We cant catch him. Not at this point, Lark said as she came back to them. Simon is running ahead to see, but chances are, once they hit the pavement they took off and wont look back. Seems they pissed their pants at the sight of a big giant
Her voice was drowned out by the sound of a huge explosion. The ground shook beneath Faines paws and he knocked both women down, keeping them beneath his body.
Simon came tearing back up the trail, teeth bared. He skidded to a stop, sniffing and poking at Lark until she grunted, sitting up. Faine moved back.
Something blew up. Lets go see what it was.
But Faine had a feeling he knew exactly what it was.
* * *
HELENA let him lead. It wasnt like she could keep up with him anyway. At full speed shed never seen anything faster. Not in person. And Simon? When hed come back after the explosion? He was a blur of movement, of shining, sharp bared teeth and bunched muscle that had made the span of his shoulders so wide it had sent a ribbon of fear though her.
Helena had faced rogue werewolves and had been fucked up a time or two. But if shed ever bumped into a Lycian who meant her harm, shed have been long in the grave.
Still, it didnt help the sense of dread as the glow in the sky grew. The scent of burning wood choked the beauty of the pine needles shed been breathing in only minutes before, and when they got to the top of the rise, Faine waited, the shorts hed pulled off before hed shifted were on again.
Im sorry.
Lark started forward and Helena grabbed her hand, moving with her.
Just ahead was their beautiful home, engulfed in a raging fire, the front of it blown off.
Oh my god. Lark clapped her free hand over her mouth and Helena put an arm around her as they watched. Simon had been taking up the rear, guarding them, but hed shifted back and pulled Lark into his arms.
Youre okay. Im okay. Helena and Faine are okay. Its just stuff. It can be rebuilt. You cant be replaced, Pixie. A house can be.
Lark cried, burying her face in Simons chest, and Faine stood behind Helena, pulling her back against his body, wrapping his arms around her.
We need to call the fire department. And Meriel.
The cars were in the garage. All our stuff was in the house, including the cell phones. Larks voice was numb.
Helena would do what she could to make things better. Ill go to the house down the hill to call. Its only half a mile or so. Ill be back as soon as I can.
Youre not going anywhere. Faine kept his hold on her.
You dont have any clothes on. Youre nearly seven feet tall. No one is going to want to answer the door if you come with me. Ill be back. You can trail me from the treeline if you like.
He turned her slowly. Youd let me do that?
Surprised, she cocked her head. Lark and Simons house just got blown up. Im sure youre concerned the people at the house down the road might be in danger, or the perpetrators who did this could be hiding between here and there. Ill need the backup. I dont have any weapons on me, or a phone, and my magick is depleted. She shrugged. It makes sense.
Faine, keep an eye on her. Kill anyone who looks at her the wrong way. You got me?
Helena had never heard Simons voice that way. His beast must have been very close to the surface. His magick seemed to spark against his skin, hot and full of rage.
She took Larks hand. Ill be back as soon as I can.
Faine shifted again and they ran to the road and then he watched from the trees as she kept to the road.
The neighbors were agitated at first to have been woken up, but once she explained that she needed them to call 911, that their house was on fire and everything was inside, including her phone, they invited her inside where she made the call and also notified Meriel, who said shed send someone over immediately and urged them to stay safe.
They invited her to stay until the fire trucks arrived, but she explained her sister and brother-in-law were waiting. The neighbors kindly sent her back with a thermos of hot tea and sweaters.
And a reminder that not all humans were like the ones whod blown her sisters home up.
Chapter 12
HELENA moved through the office with singular purpose. Shed flown back to Los Angeles and would be heading back to Seattle in only a few hours to meet with the full Council of Others. This time shed be addressing the new military arm of the COO.
The FBI was still at Larks. Still sifting through the smoking rubble looking for clues. Anderson had come out to oversee everything himself. Lark had spent the night across the hall from Faine and Helena at the hotel where the Clan put up out-of-town visitors.
Lark had left first thing upon waking to head back to the house. Simon had gone as well, which at least made Helena feel better knowing her sister would have some backup if she needed it.
But it was Rain Jaansen who stepped out of the warren-like maze of cubbies, offices and conference rooms that held the Gennessee Hunter Corps.