Maikoda: Power of the Moon (Blue Moon Trilogy Book 2) (22 page)

              “We do not know your role now, but if you trust the words of your father, then she must trust you to be her protector.”

              Trust him. He will protect you. The words echoed in Layla’s head. Her dream had been to tell her that Brett was her protector? Was that why she was so drawn to him? Not because she loved him, but because he was to be her protector. She frowned, so damn confused. Everything seemed to get more and more complicated at every turn.

              “Do you have the dagger?” she asked Pamuya.

              The older woman shook her head. “We have no idea where any of the artifacts are.”

              “Can I see the journal?” Taini asked Brett. “I’m curious to see if there are any clues.”

              Nodding, he bounded up the stairs to their room, while Layla waited, curious as to what the journal said about the roles of the Hania and the Protector. He had mentioned it before they left, but once she had the bracelet, she had been so enthralled with it and Martin with getting to Alaska, that she had not taken the time to really look at it.  

              He walked back into the room and placed the small book on the table.

              Pamuya and Taini walked over to it and each ran a finger across the surface. Like before with their memories, their hands started moving and the words on the page became like a movie.  Not nearly as impressive as the images created from their memories, but Layla saw flickers of the family that was Brett’s.

              His face was mirrored in that of the long dark haired Native American who sat at the table and first started writing the songs and stories passed to him from his father. Then she saw the deaths. Each Protector had died; living only long enough to pass on their stories to the next generation before they met their doom.

              The images stopped moving. Brett sat next to her, his arms folded across his chest, his jaw clenched tight. 

              “I guess, damned if I do, damned if I don’t, huh?”

              “You don’t have to do any of it.” Layla whispered to him.

              He looked at her and raised a hand to lightly stroke her face. “But if I don’t, that means you are unprotected. That means you could die.” He swallowed. “I couldn’t stand that. I couldn’t live with that.”

              “But if you do, you might die.” She touched his arm. “You saw the images, Brett. They were all killed. Even your father. Accepting the role of Protector is a sure way to die early.”

              She crossed her arms, stubbornly. “I won’t allow you to do it.”

              “You won’t allow it? It’s still my decision, but,” he said, almost patronizingly, “We can talk about this later.”

              Layla fumed. Not only was she to risk her own life, but now she had to risk the life of the only man she had ever truly cared about. She would have to kill her father and allow the sisters she’d just met, who had families of their own, to sacrifice themselves for her. 

              All so that she could become the Hania and save the world. Supposedly. What if she really wasn’t the Hania? Then all of this bullshit would have been for nothing. She was sick and tired of this crap.

*

              Martin met Layla outside. “You okay?”

              She sat on the porch, her breaths white puffs visible in the moonlight. “Yeah.”

              He sat next to her on the cold porch. “It’s starting to get to you yet?”

              “It started getting to me the night my mom died.” She gave a half-laugh, and then quieted for a moment before she looked up at him. 

              “You said that humans who are bitten by Weres and don’t have the gene suffer horribly.” She stared back out into the night. “Did she suffer? My mom, I mean.”

              Martin was silent for so long she thought he didn’t hear her question. Then he answered, his voice resigned. “She didn’t suffer for long, she was so much pain I had to help her end it.”

              Layla’s breath caught. He had to help her? How could he help her? Unless—he had killed her. Her mom had been dying anyway, but the fact that she had died at Martin’s hand was just too much. “You killed her?” 

              “I had to help her, Layla,” Martin answered quietly, his eyes on her intently. “I couldn’t let her suffer any longer.”

              She let out a short humorless laugh. “You couldn’t let her suffer? You couldn’t? She may have lived, you know.” Her hands shook with rage and sorrow, the anger an outlet for all the angst and uncertainty of the past few weeks. She was tired of these damn Werewolves trying to control everyone and everything. How dare he assume that he was worthy of taking her mother away? How dare he?

              “Layla,” Martin reached for her.

              “No!” She twisted away. “My mother might have lived. Brett lived. Mai-coh came for him and saved him. He could’ve done the same for her.”

              “Layla, think!” Martin said. “Mai-coh needed Brett alive to protect you. Your mom had done her duty. She had you, she raised you.” He sighed heavily. “He wouldn’t have come. She would have suffered for days.”

              “You don’t know that!” Layla yelled at him inconsolable. “You don’t know that! Oh my God, I can’t believe you killed her. You could have taken her to Mai-coh, you could have saved her; instead you killed her!” 

              She leaned against the porch railing, hurt rocketing through her. “I hate you.” 

              Straightening, she looked over at him, her face hard as stone in the moonlight. “I hate you. Screw all this bullshit. What is the use of saving the world when everyone you love in it dies?” She turned on her heel and marched off into the night not knowing or caring where she was going.

              Martin called out to her but she ignored it. She was out of here. If she had to march all the way back to Anchorage, she would, she thought, as she continued moving. She walked through the village towards the trees on the far side of clearing.

              If only she could make it back the car. They had actually left the keys in the car. Then she could drive back to Anchorage and take the next flight back to Florida and away from all this. She couldn’t believe that Martin, the man she looked upon with so much respect, had betrayed her like that.

              Did Brett know about her mother? She thought as she shouldered her way through the trees. If he did, she would not be able to forgive him. Just like she wouldn’t be able to forgive Martin. He had lied to her and made her think that Suzette had killed her mother, when all along it had been him.

              I had to help her. How was killing her helping her? And how did he know that Mai-coh wouldn’t come? Sarah had been the mother of his child. The child who was destined to become the Hania. Of course he would’ve come to save her. Until Martin got in the way.

              Stomping through the forest, she easily picked up Taini’s scent trail and followed it back towards the clearing, her feet moving with determination. She wanted to get as far away as possible. Maybe later she would contact Brett, but as long as this Hania shit was still going to happen, she wanted to be gone. Away from them all.

              She didn’t care if the end of the world happened. This war had been raging for centuries and she had just heard of it. Obviously, it really had nothing to do with the humans. Just the Weres. So, if she left and moved somewhere without Weres, she would be safe and finally able to lead a normal life.

              Her stomach suddenly clenched and she paused, her alarm warning her of danger. Damn. Were they following her already? Why couldn’t they just leave her alone? She picked up her pace, moving swiftly through the trees, veering off when she heard a sound to her left, the hair on her nape tingling, even as her stomach continued to ache. 

              Her breathing became labored as she continued her swift journey. The opening to the clearing was right up ahead. The scents from the car strong enough to tell her she was almost there. Once she reached it, she could hop in and drive away forever.

              A branch snapped close to her and she jumped. She was not going back. Her stomach cramped hard and she gasped, covering her hand with her mouth to stifle the noise. She stopped and crouched against the base of one of the big trees. Against the dark of the tree trunks and the white of the snow, her hair stood out and she tried to stuff as much of it beneath her jacket as she could. 

              Her hands stilled at the heavy breathing of two Weres close by. She breathed lightly, taking in their scent. They were both unfamiliar. They also didn’t carry the scent of the village. She remembered Taini’s warning too late. These forests weren’t safe at night. 

              The news story she’d seen when she was researching her sisters flashed into her head. There was a wild animal problem in the forests. Shit. She had a feeling that the wild animal problem was standing right next to her. 

              Menace rolled off the two wolves. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, determined to make a break for it. It was only two wolves and they weren’t even as big as Kuruk’s goons. 

              She was smaller, faster and had the element of surprise, which gave her an advantage, so she would be able to at least make it to the car. She picked up a broken limb and threw it as far as she could away from her and smiled as the wolves went after it.

              Sooner than she would have liked, the wolves changed direction and barreled after her the second she jumped up and ran for the clearing. She was not going to make it. Then she saw the car and relief poured through her, quickening her steps. She was going to make it after all. 

              Wrenching open the door, she hopped in the driver’s seat. Her hands flew to the ignition as the first wolf broke from the tree line and into the clearing. The keys were gone. 

              “No,” she mumbled as her hands frantically searched the floor for the keys. The wolf was getting closer. “No,” she reached up and checked the visor.

              Hell. She was out of time. The wolf reached the car and almost ripped the door off the hinges. He grabbed her by her arm and yanked her out. 

              She growled at him before sinking her teeth into his hand. He yelped and released her, throwing her against the car. Instantly, she transformed and leaped forward, wincing when she was pulled back by her hair. She had forgotten the second wolf.

              Incapacitated, she stood still as the second wolf wrapped her hair around his hand. 

              “Go on,” he growled, “make me do it.”

              She snarled at him but remained mute. He must have snuck around the car while she was fighting off the first one. She needed to clear her head and think. These two didn’t look like the brains of any operation, so she was betting there was someone else and she needed to get out of there quickly before the boss showed up. 

              A wave of pain gripped her and she closed her eyes as she almost doubled over. Too late. She would have to figure out another way to get out of this predicament. A sinister chuckle sounded behind her and her hair stood on end.

              Oh no. No. That voice sounded like—

              “Hello Layla. We meet again. Imagine that. Here, of all places.”

              She opened her eyes and looked into the green orbs of Suzette. The Were bitch who just would not die.

~*~

Chapter 9

              The last time Layla and Suzette had met, she had almost slit her throat. This time the blonde Were had plenty of backup to Layla’s none. That still did not stop Layla from wanting to slit her throat.

              She bared her teeth even as the other Were smiled at her. 

              “Suzette,” she hissed, struggling against the tough looking Were holding her. He tightened his grip and she winced as her hair was yanked back exposing her throat to Suzette. A dangerous position to be in.

              The blonde walked up to her, long legs encased in impossibly tight denim and a stylish jacket wrapped around her torso. She also wore a pair of laced up fur lined leather boots and leather gloves on her hands. 

              Obviously, the Were was still living in the lap of luxury. She didn’t look as if she had suffered any and although her hair was cut short, it succeeded in highlighting her cheekbones and large, luminous eyes. All in all, with the exception of being a sociopath, Suzette was still fucking gorgeous.

              Suzette’s full lips curved into a smile. “It’s so good to see you, Layla.” She ran her hands along Layla’s neck and Layla resisted the urge to pull away. 

              “I even brought some friends to our little party.” 

              Laughing lightly, she moved to one side, seconds before the scent assaulted Layla’s nostrils and she closed her eyes briefly. Amy, Suzette’s little blonde cousin stood hand in hand with Ray. 

              His faux Mohawk was still present as were the fitted jeans and the muscles. He looked good enough to eat. Right now, instead of his clothes, all she wanted to do was rip his head off. She smiled tightly. Guess his charm wasn’t working as well as he’d hoped.

              Suzette laughed. “I’m sure you remember Amy and my new second-in-command, Ouray. Or in your case, simply Ray.” She walked around Layla and ran her hands lightly over Layla’s skin. “Yes, I had to promote him when his older brother Wattan was…killed.” 

              Her hands slid around Layla’s throat. “You remember, don’t you Layla? How Wattan’s throat was slit open?”

              Ray’s eyes darkened with rage. Great. Not only did she have one sociopath, she also had a homicidal psychopath to look out for. Amy clearly wasn’t interested in the long talk, she thought as the other woman pulled out a nail file and worked her nails. Okay, make that two sociopaths and one psychopath. Either way, she was not going to have an easy time getting out of this one. 

              “Ouray had such a fun time with you, especially the last night you were together,” Suzette continued. “Too bad he wasn’t able to finish the job.” She sighed dramatically, then leaned forward and whispered into Layla’s ear. “We will have to rectify that.”

              An involuntary shiver raced through her body. She couldn’t help it. Suzette had changed. Not only was she arrogant, but there was a level of threat, a level of decisive menace that had not been present in the old Suzette. Cold echoed in the woman’s voice; deep and intimidating and it scared the fucking shit out of her.

              “Oh, we are going to have some fun tonight.” Suzette straightened and walked away, tired of her game. “Bring her,” she ordered the Were holding Layla. “We still need to eat and unfortunately, we need her alive.”

              Layla bit her tongue to hold back the bile threatening to rise. She knew what Suzette liked to eat and she had an uncomfortable feeling that they would be hunting close to the village tonight. She hoped no one was out looking for her and cursed her stupidity.

              If only she’d had the common sense to think before she acted. Martin wasn’t the one at fault for her mother’s death. Yes, he had dealt the killing blow, but her mom had already suffered.

              The person she should blame was the one walking ahead of her; the one who had bitten her. Layla didn’t care about being the Hania anymore. She had more important things to do, like killing Suzette.

*

              Brett remained still. If he moved, Layla might die. He cursed his luck. He had followed her after Martin came back and announced that Layla had run off. Martin had wanted to follow her himself, but as Protector, Brett wanted to prove himself. He’d remained a good distance behind her to give her space, give her time to calm down. 

              Now he regretted his decision. He had barely been able to stop himself when he noticed Suzette among the pack. Not good. He peeked back around the tree and held his breath. Suzette and the others were walking away. Amy looked back towards the tree line, a smile on her face and he wondered briefly if she knew he was there. 

              She turned back towards the group and as they moved on, he noticed the five snowmobiles parked across the street near a snow drift. No cars. That probably meant they were staying in the forest somewhere. 

              For the first time he felt bereft. He could not bear it if Layla was gone. She was his whole reason for being; literally and figuratively. He would have to do everything in his power to save her even if it meant dying in the process. His life was nothing compared to hers. He smiled wryly. Layla was right. All the Protectors did seem to die early. 

              Suzette tossed a length of rope to one of the big Weres holding Layla. Brett watched carefully, determined to follow. He wanted to make sure Suzette and the others were unarmed. As much as he bragged about being a badass and fighting off Weres, he wasn’t stupid. An armed Were was a much greater danger.

              He touched the car keys in his pocket.  He had grabbed them at the last minute before they’d been taken by Taini and her group and now he regretted that decision as well. Layla may have been able to stand a chance, if she could have made it to the car and the keys had been in it. By the time he had spotted her, she was already surrounded. 

              The Were wrapped Layla tightly with the rope, then jerked her head back to growl at her. Layla snapped back at him, her eyes flashing even yards away from him. He was secretly proud that she was still showing her strength. It meant she hadn’t given up. Hold on babe, he thought. I’m coming. 

              They placed her on the snowmobile in front of another Were in tight jeans and a gelled Mohawk. The guy smiled tightly as Layla glared at him. The two females hopped on their machines and the two males still standing grabbed two squirming packages before throwing them across their laps as they started the vehicles. They grinned as they gunned the throttle and swerved away from the road towards the mountains.

              Brett grabbed his phone. As much as he had wanted to call Martin earlier, he couldn’t take the risk that the Weres would be able to hear him. The fight would have started before Martin could arrive.

              Together, he and Layla could’ve probably taken five normal werewolves, but Suzette was smart and always had a back-up plan. They had learned that the hard way. He didn’t want to risk Layla’s life. And although Suzette needed her alive—for now, she was also very unpredictable and a few cards short of a full deck. 

              Martin answered on the first ring.

              “Did you find her?”

              “Yes, but it is bad news. Suzette got to her first.” He was quick to relay the message; there was no time to waste.

              Martin sighed. “I had a feeling. The Weres going missing; the forest no longer safe. I knew it had to be a Hunter.”

              Brett nodded, even though the old man could not see him. “Unfortunately, I won’t be able to follow them. Suzette did not take the road, she and her pack—about five of them—used snowmobiles.”

              “So, she is in the forest somewhere. That makes her harder to track.” Martin grunted and then paused. “It also makes it easier for her to spring a trap if we try to follow her.”

              Suzette was using the same offensive tactics they had used themselves back home, Brett thought with a frown. It would make sense that she would. She was a former Hunter and she was Martin’s protégé. She knew how he operated. He only hoped Martin knew her as well as she seemed to know him.

              He grimaced. As much as he wanted to, he didn’t have time to wait. The least he could do was to start the tracking process while he waited for backup. He could stay out of sight, travel downwind and follow them while the tracks were still fresh. 

              “Martin, look, I have to go. I have to make sure she’s okay.” He hung up amidst Martin’s protests, even as he acknowledged that it was a stupid idea.

              Hurrying to the car, he unlocked the trunk and removed the pack he had put in there earlier. Careful not to disturb then too much, he placed the flash bombs he had made earlier into the bag, laying them side by side, using their clothes to pad the bag and zipped it shut before he strapped it to his back. 

              Suzette had fucked up this time, he thought as he walked confidently across the street. Not only had she taken the woman he was born to protect, who was to stop the war and free Mai-coh, she had also taken the love of his life. Damn it to hell she was going to pay. With her life if she so much as harmed a hair on Layla head.               

              Yeah, she needed Layla alive, but she was vindictive and might still decide that Layla could survive a few broken bones and perhaps losing a few pints of blood. In her bloodlust, anything was possible when it came to Suzette. 

              Oh, he hoped that she would make the mistake of touching Layla. It was all he needed. She was dead already.

*

              “Wakey, wakey.” 

              Cold water splashed onto Layla’s face and she bolted upright. Her mind was clear even though she had passed out during the ride back. Ray had made no bones to make her comfortable, enjoying every bump she had to endure and in her trussed up state, she wasn’t even able to adjust or brace. 

              By the time they had gone a few miles, she had passed out from pain; waking up when she fell off the snowmobile. Ray angrily tossed her back onto the vehicle when the convoy had to stop because of her. That was all she had needed. It had taken her less than a second to leave a clue and with Suzette riding ahead, there was one less eye on her.

              Her only concern was Suzette’s cousin Amy. The girl had eyed her thoughtfully. She only hoped her breadcrumb was enough for Martin. The cold stone floor was hard beneath her bruised ass. 

              Footsteps sounded above her head. A basement. Or a back room on the ground floor of a house somewhere. Cage bars surrounded her on two sides, securely attached to the stone walls which made up the little corner where she was trapped. 

              Ray—Ouray—walked towards her, entering her prison, his hands clenched and his teeth bared. Her stomach started churning almost immediately.

              “Awake yet?”

              Layla touched her cheek and winced, working her jaw to loosen it up. He had hit her. She thought back. When they had reached the house, he had tried to kiss her and she had bit him. Then he hit her. 

              She knew what he was doing; he wanted her angry and fighting so that he could break her spirit or break her neck. If she ignored him, he couldn’t harm her. If he tried, she would kill him with her bare hands even if it meant that she died with him.

              He laughed as he noted her hand to her cheek. “That’s what happens when you want to play with the big dogs.” He circled her as she struggled to her feet and struck out with his foot, laughing as she fell to the ground hard. 

              Teeth clenched, she struggled upright again. This time, she was ready for him when she tried to stand. He struck out at her and she twisted away, her wince of pain diminished when he slipped. He caught himself and glared at her, but didn’t strike out in rage.

              Interesting. He had probably been ordered not to hurt her. This was going to be great.

              A piercing whistle sounded and Ouray looked up at the ceiling. He turned away, his steps slow and measured. As he left, he locked the cage, smiling as he pocketed the key and walked up the stairs. 

              “Enjoy your stay.”

              Layla wanted to say something smart back to him, but she was too tired to think. She walked around her cage as she shook the bars, testing their strength and was more than dismayed that they seemed solid enough.

              Suzette was nothing if not thorough.  She would make sure that even in her transformed state; Layla would not be able to break free. How was she going to get out of here? She couldn’t use the same trick she had with Kuruk. Suzette wouldn’t trust any of her people that much to leave her completely alone for too long.

              She looked around the small space. There were three other cages, separated; almost like jail cells, the walkway between them forming a cross. Each cage was connected to two of the stone walls and none of them touched the other. She would get no help from another prisoner, if there was another one. 

              Her cell was furthest away from the lone window that let light into the basement and contained a blanket in one corner and a bucket in the other. Great. All the luxuries of a five star hotel, she thought sarcastically.