Forever Changed (The Mystic Wolves) (16 page)

“I’m sorry, sweetheart. I guess I was more tightly wound than I realized.” He shook a little as he reined in his emotions.

Resting my head on my hand, my elbow crooked, I gently patted his still heaving chest. “Never apologize.” Leaning in to briefly kiss him, again, I sat up completely. “But there’s nothing stopping us from going home and continuing.”

This perked him up and I tried not to laugh out loud when he jumped to his feet, tugging me up a second later. “Then say goodbye to the beach. Let’s go!”

Picking up our shoes and brushing off the sand, we didn’t waste any time heading back to the car. Excitement churned inside me at the thought of what was to come, my fears left behind at the shore. It was worth the risk we took leaving Mikey’s house and everyone behind, so we could get some alone time and perspective. I felt lighter than I had all day and it was because of my mate. There was no doubt he’d always take care of me—even when I wasn’t aware that I needed it.

Standing at the driver’s side, Mason winked before opening the door. “Ten minutes to get back, five minutes to say hi and bye, five minutes to get you naked and in my arms. Think you can wait that long?”

My flirtatious response was on the tip of my tongue, but something in the corner of my eye stole my attention. Standing under the light of a streetlamp, a lone figure watched, an ominous wave of danger emanating from him. It was a man, blond hair, medium build, dressed in jeans and black shirt; but that wasn’t what caused the hairs on my body stand on end. It was the knowing look on his face—the way his lips were curled into a knowing smirk that set of warning bells.

“Julian,” I whispered, the momentary shock at finally seeing him rooted my feet to the spot. I knew it was him. Everything in me screamed it, and I waited for him to spring into action. He was here; I was within reach, yet he stayed where he was, a complete look of smugness dripping off him. He nodded, acknowledging I’d recognized him and, without another word, he saluted me.

“Where?” Mason demanded, whipping around to study the area. “Get in the car, Darcy, and lock it. Now!”

Fumbling with the door handle, I didn’t hesitate, slamming it shut. “Mason, let’s go!”

I could sense his wolf rising to the surface through our connection, knowing there was an immediate threat to me, his mate. A loud growl erupted from his mouth as Mason took a step toward Julian, ready to destroy him—whether he shifted or remained human. Now that Mason had a target, there would be no stopping him. Locking the door, I prayed the surrounding metal would be enough to keep me safe.

Julian’s lips moved, and judging from the way Mason’s muscles tightened and body hunched, it wasn’t to say hello or give some other pleasant greeting. There was a cruel snarl now on Julian’s face, the shadows from the light casting a sinister glow over him. Fumbling for the phone I’d left in the center console, I quickly dialed Devlin, cursing when I dropped it in my lap.

“Devlin, Julian . . . He’s here. He’s here at the beach. Mason’s ready to shift and . . .” There was no preparing for what happened next. Changing into his sleek black form, Mason leapt at Julian, teeth bared and claws exposed. With a wave to me, one minute Julian was there and next he was gone.

He’d disappeared. Frantically I looked around the car and in the backseat, expecting him to reappear at any moment inside the car. There was no sign of him. Mason prowled about, fury gleaming from his eyes, rage over his prey escaping him.

“Darcy . . . Darcy . . .” Devlin’s voice interrupted the nerve wracking wait. Julian was gone and not knowing where he was terrified me.

I turned my attention back to the phone. “We’re heading to the house. Be ready.” My gaze never left Mason as he changed back,
stalking naked to the car. I had no idea if anyone saw him, but that wasn’t a priority at the moment. I had to trust if reports filtered back to the Enforcers, they’d remove any memory or evidence any on-looker had. All I could do was focus on was getting out of here, back to where it was safer.

“Damn,” Mason cursed, slamming the door so hard I was surprised it didn't break the hinges.
“So damn close,” he mumbled.

I didn’t argue. He was right. At least we knew where Julian was, now. He’d found me and the only question left was why didn’t he strike when he had the chance.

Chapter 17

“We need to leave. Now,” Mason commanded. I’d seen him take this authoritative stance before. Once he made his mind up, there was no budging.

After the silent drive back to Mikey’s home, the air had exploded into questions the second we exited the elevator. Everyone had something to say, questions to ask, or details to share. Tension was thick as the friendlier banter from earlier was replaced with full-on battle strategy. We finally had the answer to our biggest question—Julian was alive, so the threat of him getting his hands on me became frightfully real.

“I agree; but is going back to Woodside Hollow the smart choice?” Devlin asked, pacing back and forth. It had been like this for the last few minutes, the men and Christina creating ruts in the library carpet as Mikey and I watched them walk, in silence.

“Why wouldn’t it be,” Daniel asked, momentarily stopping. “We’re strongest when we’re amongst Pack. Plus, we have our own security system set up on the property.”

“Don’t forget the nexus is there, as well,” I threw in. “That extra power boost will come in handy.

“Plus, Vivien and her coven is there. And Zane, and his followers. Strength in numbers.” Mason dragged his fingers through his hair, thinking out loud. “We can’t stay here. No offense, Mikey.”

“None taken. I agree. While my home is fortified like Fort Knox, it’s not a suitable place to make a stand and fight. All Julian needed to do was sit outside and wait. I agree, you all must leave; but to where?” I leaned back against Mikey’s scaled body. I was sad I hadn’t been able to visit longer with him and explore his books like the others had; but the situation had taken a dramatic turn for the worse.

“Did you find anything while Mason and I were gone?” Devlin shook his head, Christina looking equally disappointed.

“Nothing that can help us,” she admitted. “But I can’t shake this feeling that we’re forgetting something. Something important.”

“What do you mean, Chrissy?” Devlin quit his pacing and laid his hand on Christina’s arm. “What are you thinking?”

“Well, it makes sense that we’re searching the records for Julian, trying to see if there’s anything about where he’s been all this time. Maybe we need to focus more on how we can stop him. We know he’s here, but what about his magic? Has it grown? Lessened? We know Darcy is the one he wants, and that her magic can’t be suppressed. What if there’s a way to change the prophecy?”

“Like remove it?” Hope tingled within me.

“Yes, or make it so you no longer serve any purpose for him. He wants to possess you so he can be immortal, right?”

“Other than killing me, I don’t see how that would work,” I replied, disappointed. In theory it made sense. Take away the object of his power boost and Julian would have nothing to covet.

“But,” Devlin interrupted, a slow smile on his face. “What if there was a loophole? It was common practice back then for seers and practitioners to include an ‘out clause’ when making predictions about the future.”

“Surely, you would’ve known if there was.” Mason had stopped moving, as well. “Isn’t that one of the first things you would’ve checked?”

If Devlin took offense at Mason’s tone, he didn’t show it. “I did search for the seer after my sister died, but she proved elusive. After a while, I believed her dead and stopped searching. If I was looking for her, I assumed Julian would be, as well. He’d want to remove any threat to his plans.”

“Or, like us, wonder if there was a way to thwart his efforts,” I echoed. “It makes sense.”

“So, the question is did the seer survive? What are the chances?” Christina added.

“Anything is possible,” Mikey chuckled, causing us to all turn to look at him. “And this is where I believe I can be of more assistance. Mason, if you will, please bring me the jeweled box on third shelf over there.” With a sharp claw he pointed to the far wall. “Open it up and you’ll find a business card. I wondered why I felt impressed to keep it. Now, I’m convinced it’s for this very reason.”

I watched as Mason rifled through the small container and removed a rectangular card. “Diana Jacobsen, proprietor of Fortunate Voodoo.” He flipped it over, only to find the back blank. “I don’t understand.”

“Last year, I had the pleasure of vacationing in New Orleans, taking in the sites and rich culture. For a dragon like me, it was like an all-you-can-eat buffet of knowledge. I felt quite gluttonous by the time I left, with all those interesting people alive and bursting with stories. I met young Diana one night, and spent quite a bit of time in discussion with her.  At the end, I felt that there was still much to be learned from her and we exchanged phone numbers. There was something about her, more than what appeared. My gut tells me she holds the answers you seek. I suggest a small detour to see her before you return home.”

“I’m not sure,” Devlin countered. “Can we afford to be unprotected and away from where we’re our strongest? What if this is just another dead end?”

“I would never lead you astray, Enforcer. Neither would I put my young friend in harm’s way. You asked for my opinion and I have given it. Might I add, I’m usually never wrong?”

“What about Julian? He’s out there still. He disappeared into thin air back at the beach,” I asked. It still bothered me he’d been able to do that.

“It’s complicated magic, but a simple matter of shifting from one place to another.” Christina answered.

“Simple matter?” Mason retorted. “Nothing simple about it.

Christina shrugged her shoulders. “I know, but that’s what I’m guessing he did. He would’ve appeared further down the street. It was meant to rattle you, throw you off, and let you know his presence.”

“Well, he succeeded. I thought for sure he was going to try something more.” I wrapped my arms around myself, and rubbed the chill from my skin.

“By not making a move, he revealed he’s the same flashy, arrogant bastard as when I first met him. He doesn’t see you as a threat, so he merely toys with you. He thinks it gives him an advantage, but it backfired. It gave us an insight to his character, something we can work with.” Devlin grinned, his worry ebbing.

“So, what’s our next step? Home or New Orleans?” Daniel asked, folding his arms over his chest. “I’m good with either.”

“What do you think, Darcy?” Mason asked, approaching me and crouching down beside me.

“As much I want to go home, I trust Mikey.” I couldn’t explain it, but the moment he’d spoken Diana’s name, a wave of certainty had washed over me.

“Then detour it is.” Standing, Mason addressed the whole group. “But we take no more risks. We stick together and we find this woman, ask our questions, then leave. In and out. Agreed?” We all nodded, the group focused again with renewed purpose. “Then let’s get going. No time like the present.”

And just like that, our quest for answers continued in a new direction.

****

My stomach dipped as the plane’s wheels lifted off the tarmac, rising steadily into the air. No matter how many times I flew, I would probably never get used to the sheer exhilaration of knowing I was flying. It blew my mind that something so big could defy gravity. Being surrounded by all things supernatural and enchanted, it was simply one more thing to consider as magic.

This time around, the guys chose to huddle together to come up with a strategy for when we landed. With their heads bowed closely, I decided to keep my distance and let them figure it out. Too many cooks in the kitchen and something always got burned. Besides, they were better at planning than me; and I knew they’d fill me in with whatever they decided. I trusted and loved them. The plan they developed would work and fulfill its purpose.

“How do you handle that?” Christina asked, nodding in their direction. She’d chosen to sit with me, but so far we hadn’t spoken two words. Something told me she wasn’t as comfortable with traveling by plane as I was; her white-knuckle grip on the armrests was proof enough of that fact.

“What?” I asked distracted, taking another peek through the window.

“Three dominant men clucking around you like you’re their little chick to protect.” She cocked her eyebrow as if daring me to deny that’s how they acted. I couldn’t and I laughed at the image.

“It’s okay. I know where their hearts are and they mean well. But yeah, sometimes . . .”

“It can be a little overbearing?” Christina interrupted, and I smiled.

“Just a little. That’s when I usually put my foot down and tell them to back off.”

“Do they listen?”

I studied Mason, my proud Alpha and mate, as he argued with something Devlin said. There was nothing he wouldn’t do or give to keep me from danger. It was the same with his second-in-command. Now that the cat was out of the bag about Devlin being my uncle, there was no telling how crazy he’d go with the whole protection thing, either. “If they know what’s good for them.”

We quietly chuckled. It was true. Men who had no problem taking their cavemen tendencies to the extreme surrounded me, but it was also comforting. If given an alternative, I’d pick the way things were right now. I wouldn’t trade them for the world—flaws and all.

“You’re lucky, you know. Not many people can say they have people who love them so unconditionally and completely.” She almost sounded wistful and my heart hurt wondering if she had someone who looked out for her.

“I know; that’s why you won’t ever hear me complain . . . much. Besides, right now I’m so far out of my element, I’m grateful to hand the reins over to them. I told them what I needed and they listened. As far as I’m concerned, as long as they don’t completely shut me out, I’m okay. I need to keep a little control for myself and they respect that.”

“I can tell. I’ve seen other men not even consider their partners’ feelings or opinions. Mason really impressed me back there by letting you make the decision. Most would just lay down the law.” It warmed my heart when I heard someone else recognize the character traits I saw in my husband. The admiration I heard in her voice wasn’t misplaced. Despite being an Alpha wolf, he always strove to act fairly.

“Me, too. That’s why I’m grateful he’s the one I’m bound to forever. I couldn’t imagine giving my heart to anyone else but him.” Christina let out a soft sigh, her focus still on the small group, and it sparked my courage. “Talking about hearts . . . and you can totally not answer this if you don’t want to, but . . .” I hedged in asking, doubt making me wonder if I was being rude.

“You want to know about Devlin and me?” Her face flushed slightly and she bit on her bottom lip. “Now there’s a story. It’s kind of complicated.”

“I don’t mean to put you on the spot, but I saw the kiss you shared.” Now it was my turn to blush. “And, I could tell there’s some sort of history between you, other than what you already said. Did you two date?”

“Hmmm, I wouldn’t exactly call it dating, more like we provide each other comfort. Being a vampire isn’t as glamorous as some think. Yes, it has its perks, but it does get lonely. Endless years of existing; and not everyone is fortunate in finding their soul mate.” Christine nudged me gently and my faced heated, again.

“So you and Devlin have an understanding?” It surprised me how delicately I was trying to word my question. It wasn’t uncommon for two friends who were attracted to each other, but not wanting the commitment, to have a friends-with-benefits arrangement. It just didn’t seem like Devlin’s style; or Christina’s, the more I got to know her.

She must’ve suspected what I was hinting at and burst out into laughter. “Oh, your face is priceless. Sorry, Darcy, but this is the twenty-first century, it is okay for two consenting adults to have sex and enjoy it.”

I choked on my spit. “I . . .” Leaning forward, she pounded a few times on my back until I got my coughing under control.

“You are such a sweetheart.”

“I didn’t mean to pry, I was just curious.”

“Well, let me answer it as tactfully as possible. Whenever Devlin and I can meet up, whether for business or pleasure, we like to spend a little time together. Our friendship goes back at least a hundred years, and he’s saved my life on countless occasions. He’s the reason why I agreed to become an Enforcer and, frankly, I enjoy his company. I know you see him a certain way, but he’s an extremely gifted . . .”

“Okay, I get it, you don’t need to continue!” I thought I was going to combust right there and then, my skin reaching nuclear heat from embarrassment. Cursing my stupid curiosity, I desperately wanted to change the subject.

“You sure?” She was making fun of me and I relaxed into my chair.

“Yeah. I’m sorry. I deserved that.”

“You did, but I understand. You’re his best friend and niece. Of course you’d be intrigued.”

“He doesn’t share much about his past or his life outside of what he shows me. He always tells me it’s for my own protection and that I know what’s important; but I don’t like being kept in the dark,” I confessed.

“He definitely has his secrets. I’ve known him for a while and sometimes I think I’ve only scratched the surface of who he is as a man. He keeps things to himself, he’s probably one of the most private people I know; but on the other hand, what you see is what you get with him. Even with a million questions, you still feel you can trust him with your life.” Christina brushed her fingers across her chin, caught up in her thoughts. It reminded me that although he and I had a close relationship, this woman knew Devlin in an entirely different way than I did. I couldn’t help feeling a little jealous.