Stonebound: Shifters Forever Worlds (Skeleton Key) (6 page)

“
H
ow much longer
. I’m not meant for trekking through woods,” Isabel huffed.

“I’m already regretting allowing you to come along,” Ana snapped.

“I’m sorry. I’m not a hiker.” Isabel tugged her on her pants, readjusting them. Her steps heavy as they stomped through the forests in the province of Viterbo. They’d gone as far as they could by car, then they’d looked at the scribbled directions Desideria had given them.

“See there’s the forked tree. Not much further,” Ana hissed her response. “But I wish you’d lower your voice and quit stomping so loudly. She’s bound to hear us and cast a spell. Maybe even turn us into trees.”

Or something. It was the
or something
part that made Ana nervous.

“Oh, and you’d rather sneak up on her and really piss her off? I’d sooner announce our arrival with foot stomping so that she knows our intent isn’t to sneak up on her

Good point.

“So, wise one, what do you suggest?” Ana asked Isabel playfully.

“I suggest you don’t move. Unless you enjoy pain.” A very deep, very male voice came from within the darkness of the heavily treed forest.

Ana glanced into the shadows but saw nothing, not even with her supernatural shifter sight.

“Wha—?” Isabel whirled around, turning round and round. A creaking sound betrayed that she was beginning to shift.

“Tell her not to shift. We don’t want to hurt her, but we will if she decides to turn into a tigress.”

Ana put her hand on Isabel’s arm, which already was covered in a thick, downy fir. “Don’t, sister. Not yet. Not until we know—”

“There’s nothing for you to know. Nothing at all. Except that you are trespassing.”

Out from the forest, strode three men. All with dark hair, all with dark, swarthy skin, and all with a menacing predatory look on their sculpted faces.

Ana glanced at Isabel, who was frozen in place, already back in her fully human form. Isabel’s gaze was focused on the one in the middle. The biggest one. The meanest looking one.

“We can take them,” Ana whispered to her sister. “If we shift quickly enough.”
What can three human males do against two fierce tigresses, after all?

Isabel’s stare didn’t waver from the one in the center. The one striding confidently their way, though he was still yards off. “I don’t think so.”

“She’s right, Ana. Listen to your sister.”

“How do you know my name?” Under her breath she whispered to Isabel. “Why not?”

“Shifters,” Isabel hissed.

“Correct,” the man—correction, the shifter—in the center said.

Ana didn’t care for the grin on his face. It was too… victorious.

What makes him think he’s got us under control?

“In case you ladies are having second thoughts,” he indicated the man to his left. “We have Tranqs. Though they are still experimental, I have it on good authority, from personal experience that they are extremely effective.”

Bastard!
“Who are you? We have business in this area. Who are you to say we are trespassing?”

“Who are you?” Isabel echoed Ana’s question, but the tone in her voice sounded far away.

Ana glanced at her sister. What was up with her?

“You are in the middle of Tiero territory,” the one on the left said.

When all else fails, bluff. “How do you know we don’t have permission to be here?”

Oh, God.
Ana didn’t care for the quick turn his smile took, straight into dangerous zone. “Because I am the one who grants permission.” He nodded, as though reinforcing his statement. “I’m Giovanni Tiero. And you, it seems are my guests for the evening.” He indicated his companions. “Tito and Federico. My brothers.”

“What kind of manners are those? Pointing a weapon at a lady?” If nothing else, Ana thought she could appeal to his sense of honor.

His laughter echoed in the forest. Dark and powerful. “Ladies? Your sister here, beautiful as she may be, was preparing to shift and attempt to rip us to shreds. Unsuccessfully, I might add, because well, shifters.” He pointed, first to himself, then to his brothers.

A low growling sound came from Isabel.

Giovanni smiled in response. “I like her,” he said to his brothers.

As if we aren’t here. Or as if we are furniture.

“I have business. So hurry up and give us the courtesy of your permission,” Ana exclaimed.

He gave her a haughty look from eyes that appeared glazed with black ice, so forbidding was his glance. “You have business here? What sort of business could you have on my land that I’m not aware of?” He turned that formidable stare toward Isabel.

Ana wanted to quake and tremble under his expression,

Not Isabel. No, that hardheaded sister of hers, foolhardy as well, released a laugh. Isabel’s laugh was genuine and elicited a quizzical, brow-raised mien from the tall, broad shouldered man.

“So, Giovanni Tiero,” Isabel began. “Our business is our own.”

Before Ana could blink, Giovanni Tiero had turned, making a complete one-eighty. “Bring them to the main house.”

No sooner had the last word left his lips, twenty shifters stepped out of the shadows. All tigers.

Ana glared at Isabel. “Did you have to piss him off? Did you?”

A
na sat
at the window bench, staring at the dark forest that surrounded the villa. Now she had to get out of here and hunt Esmerelda down.

It was the getting out of here part that worried her. She wasn’t convinced that would be easy. Not with so many shifters there to reinforce Giovanni Tiero’s orders.

Isabel paced the room. “Really?” She frowned. “He expects us to show up for dinner and behave casually. As if it’s a dinner party.

Isabel picked up one of the dozen dresses the housekeeper had brought in with the explanation: “Signor Tiero is inviting you to dinner.”

Isabel crumpled the dress between her fists and threw it at the wall. “How dare he!”

“Isabel. Please, calm down.” Ana had never seen her sister so worked up. “Why does this bother you. Let’s have dinner with him, then let’s explain our cause. I’m sure he will work with us. He may even help us.”

“Pffft. Did you see him? He’s a brute. He’s a—”

“You like him.” Ana watched her sister in the window’s reflection.

Isabel stiffened, whirled. Cheeks kissed with the crimson of anger, her mouth open in a perfect elliptical shape. She snapped her lips shut. “I.” Foot stomp. “Do.” Another foot stomp. “Not.” Isabel delivered a kick to the footstool near the dresser. “Ouch.”

She roared, a bellow that came from her tigress’s pain, then turned to Ana again. “Don’t say that,” she hissed, then flounced into the wingchair. “I will make him pay for this. How dare he do this? Does he not know who we are?”

We’re the powerless daughters of a shifter who is no longer around and delivered us to Bruno for security. Bruno, who is not going to protect us.

“For my sake. For Tino’s sake, please calm down. This is not the time to act hastily and Giovanni Tiero is not a man to antagonize.”

“Don’t tell me what to do! I’ll—”

Isabel’s tirade was interrupted by the door opening. At the threshold stood a boy with intense eyes. A boy who was a miniature replica of the Tieros.

“Who are you,” the boy said.

Isabel crossed her arms over her chest. “Who are you, little man?”

“I’m Vittorio. My friends call me Vax.”

Ana rose to her feet, eager to intercept Isabel, in case her sister took her rage out on the boy with the serious expression.

“I’m Capriana Valenti. My friends call me Ana.”

“Can I call you Ana?” He stepped closer.

“Of course.” Ana held out her hand.

The boy shook it solemnly. “Don’t tell my father I was here. I was curious about our new guests. It’s not often we get guests. You’re the second ones this week. I haven’t been able to see the witch. She’s confined in a different wing.”

Witch?

“Who is your father?” Isabel asked.

“Giovanni. Shhh. Someone’s coming. I have to go.”

And with that, the boy was gone.

And Ana’s question about what witch remained unanswered.

“He’s mated.” Isabel’s countenance had darkened, as had her mood.

“What?”

“Giovanni Tiero. That was his son.”

“Yes. I gathered.”
But you’re not interested.
She wasn’t going to tell her sister that. Because clearly there was something about that dark, menacing, formidable man that she found intriguing.

“Let’s go to dinner.”

“Harrumph.” Isabel’s exhale of exasperation was telling.

Too telling.

G
iovanni
—Mister call me Gio—Tiero was at the head of the table. He’d placed Isabel to his immediate right, and Ana sat across from her sister to his left.

Next to Ana was Federico. The seat next to Isabel held Tito.

The rest of the twenty something seats at the long table were empty.

“Where’s your crew?” Isabel asked with a sneer. “Surely you don’t feel safe with only the three of you here.”

Giovanni didn’t look at Isabel. In fact, his behavior was very different than earlier. Whereas at first he couldn’t take his eyes off her, now he didn’t even so much as glance at Isabel and he certainly refused to take the baiting. He remained stoic, his beautiful hawk face was immobile and void of expression.

He had been this way through the consommé, the salad, and now through the delectable spice-rubbed, roasted quail.

Ana couldn’t enjoy the meal. Her mind was on her mission. And on her questions. She’d tried to approach Giovanni with some answers

Finally, he turned toward Ana, and addressed his conversation to her. Only her. “What was your purpose?”

Ana took a deep breath. He could help her. This shifter, with all his muscle could help her find, convince or even coerce a witch to help Tino. Dare she ask for his assistance?

“First, I apologize for interloping on your territory without your permission.”

Isabel released a low grunt and an even lower laughing scoff.

Not low enough clearly, as a Giovanni Tiero’s brows drew down to a prohibitive vee.

Ana kicked under the table, but her foot didn’t get Isabel’s. she gave her sister a dirty look, but it did no good as Isabel’s eyes were trained on the pattern on her still full plate.

“Apology accepted.” Giovanni tore off the leg of the quail.

Ana’s eyes widened at the ferocity with which he attacked the bird. Had she said anything wrong?

She didn’t have the time for niceties and things like that. “I need your help.”

He looked up from the quail’s flesh.

“Please,” she added.

Giovanni gave her a single nod, set the quail down, took a napkin, wiped his fingers. “What do you need help with?”

“I have a friend—”

Isabel released a short giggle.

“Stop.” Ana had enough.

Her retort cut Isabel’s giggle short. “Sorry,” Isabel mumbled, eye still down.

Why was Isabel so contrary?

“My friend is in… How to phrase this mess? “I have a friend in trouble… and he can’t be freed without the help of a witch that I’ve heard is in this area.”

“Esmerelda?” Tito asked.

Ana snapped her eyes his way. “How did you know?”

“She’s the only witch in this area,” Giovanni explained. “And she’s unavailable.”

“What? What do you mean?” This couldn’t be. She couldn’t be unavailable. After all of this, after everything they’d been through.
No, no. I don’t believe it. I can’t.
“What does unavailable mean?”

“She’s being held.”

“Where?” Isabel’s tone was snide.

“Here.” Federico said, as if it was that simple, and no big deal.

The answer to their problem, the solution, was right here.

“We need her.” Ana said.

“I can’t let her go.” Giovanni’s tone brooked no argument, no discussion.

“Can’t we discuss this?” Ana was ready to beg if she needed to.

Oh yes, she’d beg. And plead. And even threaten. And if she needed to she’d try to bribe. Somehow, she’d find a way to get money from her father’s accounts, though Bruno controlled them with a tight fist.

“Discuss?” He glanced at Isabel finally. “If your sister can contain herself.”

Isabel rose to her feet. “Contain myself? You—you.”

“Sit,” Giovanni ordered.

Isabel glared at him, unmoving, and very definitely standing. “You can’t make me.”

“You need a spanking. Such a petulant child.”

“Oh. Is that how you treat your wife? The mother of your child?”

Ana gasped. Isabel was going too far. Giovanni would refuse to help them if she kept at this. Ana turned to Giovanni to apologize for her sister’s actions

Only he had gone ashen. His swarthy good looks were pale, his features drawn, the earlier vibrancy vanished.

Tito stood up. “Please sit.” He addressed Isabel. “My brother has lost his mate. Sit.”

Isabel’s color faded, the anger in her face gone, replaced with the horror of her words.

“I’m—God. I’m so sorry.” Isabel lowered herself into her seat, then proceeded to become as small and as inconspicuous as possible.

“We apologize,” Ana started. Tears threatened, down deep but she knew they didn’t show yet, and she wouldn’t allow them to. “Please—”

Giovanni held up a hand. “I’d rather discuss the business at hand.”

“Of course, of course.” She gulped in a large breath. “My friend. We need this witch to set him free. He’s in prison in a wall. He’s a shifter. Won’t you help a shifter? One of our own kind?”

“What is this shifter’s name?”

Cristiano Ricoletti.”

“Never heard of him. Is he related to Marco?”

Ana nodded eagerly. “His son.”

“Marco never mentioned a son to me.” Giovanni looked at Federico and Tito. “Do you know of this?”

Both brothers shook their heads.

“His lion was suppressed. By the same witch we seek. Esmerelda. His mother didn’t want him to know he was a shifter.”

Giovanni rubbed his jaw. “Very odd.”

“You know Marco Ricoletti? You can ask him.”

“Not so easy. He’s in mourning, in Sicily. Or perhaps he’s in hiding. Or both. The Shifter Council has questions for him regarding his choice to take a witch as a mate. This is frowned upon.”

A fork dropped to the floor. Ana glanced toward Giovanni’s brothers. They had exchanged a look she didn’t understand. Not that it mattered. Her mission was to help Tino.

“Can you help?”

Giovanni looked toward one of the doors. “Bring the witch.”

Moments later, a beautiful woman walked in the door. with green eyes and hair so red it was on fire. Her gaze threw green daggers at Giovanni.

“Why do you disturb me?” She stood before them, clad in jeans and a peasant top in pristine white.

“Esmerelda. Sit please. It seems your services are needed.”

Esmerelda released a laugh laced with sarcasm, and took a seat next to Tito. She addressed Giovanni. “I’m your prisoner, yet you’re talking as if I’m your guest.”

Ana leaned forward, pushing her plate aside. “Please. It’s very important. It’s something you’re already familiar with.”

“That’s a good way to pique my curiosity.” The witch raised a red eyebrow, creases forming on ivory skin.

Ana glanced at Giovanni. How she wished she didn’t have to talk in front of him and his brothers.

Giovanni nodded, as if urging her on—or telling her he wasn’t going anywhere.

“You’ve met Ella Carrera.”

Esmerelda cocked her head. “Perhaps.”

“No. I know it’s so. You see, her son told me about the letter she left for him.”

“The lion shifter,” Esmerelda acknowledged with a slight smile. “I did his mother a… favor.”

“Yes!” Ana hoped that they were able to make a connection. “And she passed away.”

“Yes, I hear of things, even though I’ve moved to this godforsaken forest and away from my beloved Rome.” She glared at Federico across the table. “How is that lion shifter doing? I suspect now he realizes what he is?”

Ana nodded. “He knows. But he is in a predicament. And your sister said you were the only one that could help.”

“Which sister?”

“Desideria.”

Esmerelda’s eyes narrowed. “I hope you’re not hoping a friendship with her will garner favor with me.”

“No. No. I was hoping since you’re the only witch powerful enough—”

“I am,” Esmerelda affirmed.

Not very modest, though.
Ana bit her tongue and didn’t let her opinion be known. “Yes, since you are, we were hoping you could overturn Iniga’s spell. She used a Skeleton Key?” Ana still wasn’t sure what that key was about, but clearly it was magical. Ana recounted Tino’s dilemma, how he remained trapped behind the walls.

Esmerelda rubbed her temples. “Iniga isn’t around anymore.”

“Yes, that’s what I heard.” Ana was thankful, ever so thankful that Giovanni, his brothers, and Isabel were quiet, not antagonizing, not interfering.

“Lucky for you, because if she knew you wanted one of her spells countered, you’d find yourself in an unpleasant predicament.”

“Will you help?”

“I have to go there. I can’t do that from here.” Esmerelda glanced at Giovanni.

“Absolutely not.”

“She’d be on the way to another continent before we could blink,” Tito added.

Federico remained silent.

A coldness rushed through Ana. They couldn’t do this. They couldn’t keep Tino a prisoner. “No. I refuse to believe there isn’t something that can be worked out.”

“Do you have a way to guarantee me that after Esmerelda gives you what you want, that you will in turn bring her back and not grant her freedom out of gratitude.”

Ana contemplated the matter. Truth was, she probably would let Esmerelda go. She was Desideria’s sister and Ana would be appreciative.”

“You could leave me behind as collateral. What’s the worst that could happen?”

“No!” Ana wouldn’t agree to that.

Giovanni glanced at Isabel, with laughter in his voice, he said, “What makes you think I want the
pleasure
of your company?”

Isabel glared at him “It’s not about you.”

“Think of the dangers involved,” Ana cajoled her.

“Wait just a moment here,” Giovanni tapped the table for emphasis. “Are you implying we couldn’t protect your sister?”

Not from the looks you’re giving her.

“Pffft.” Isabel spurted. “I can protect myself.”

“Stop.” Ana raised a hand. “I’m not leaving my sister behind.”

“And more importantly, what incentive do I have now to help?” Esmerelda sat back in the leather and wood antique chair.

Ana looked at her sister, then at Giovanni. She didn’t even have any money to offer Esmerelda as payment

“Why are you looking at me?” Giovanni raised his brows at Ana.

“Hoping to appeal to your sense of decency.”

Isabel burst into mirthful laughter. “Decency? Him?”

Very slowly, and in a way that would have made Ana most nervous, Giovanni turned his head until his focus was fully on Isabel. “I think I will take you up on that offer. Let your sister be the collateral you leave behind. She needs a few lessons. Maybe even a spanking.” His eyes glittered dangerously.

“Ha,” Isabel challenged. “I’d like to see you try.”

Giovanni didn’t rise to her bait. He turned back to Ana. “Now, we need to give the witch incentive.”

“Thank you.” Ana wanted to hug him. And would have. If that formidable shifter didn’t scare the daylights out of her.

Giovanni turned to Esmerelda. “Well?”

“What can you do for me?” Esmerelda wasn’t going to make it easy for him, it seemed.

“I can testify on your behalf with the Shifter Council. Perhaps get your charges to go away.”

Esmerelda contemplated the matter. “I’m hungry.”

Giovanni called out to the hallway. “A plate for the wi—for Esmerelda.”