The Gathering (20 page)

He focused his gaze back on Victor when the
old man shifted in his seat. Their eyes met and Garrett held his
gaze.

“I do hope you know you’ve only prolonged the
inevitable.”

“Rayna is gone,” Garrett said. “You’ll not
capture her a second time.”

“Are you sure of that?”

He wasn’t and that’s the part that scared
him. Getting her away only stopped them for the time being. He had
no doubt they’d keep trying until they’d succeeded in their plan.
They’d search for her until they got what they wanted.

There was only one solution that he could
think of.

Staring at Victor, he said, “If you’re so
intent on doing this, I’ll do it in her place.”

Victor’s eyes glistened as he watched him.
Garrett knew he was considering it… hoped the old man would take
him up on his offer. Not that he was looking forward to being shot
down like a rabid dog but if it saved Rayna from the same fate,
he’d do it.

“That’s very generous of you. But I afraid
Ms. Ford will have the most success.”

“Why?”

“Because her face is well known. The public
knows her and they trust her. She’s our best chance at this.”

Garrett shook his head. “You’re wrong. It
doesn’t matter who does it, the humans aren’t going to just accept
you.”

“You sound like Ms. Ford now.”

“Well, unlike the majority of you here, Rayna
isn’t an idiot.” He saw the wolf beside him move and didn’t have
time to brace himself for the blow. His head rocked back with the
impact and he was glad he hadn’t still been in human form. The
knock to the head would have split his skull.

When he lifted his head again, Victor was
scowling at him. “I’m beginning to dislike you.”

“The feeling is mutual.”

“Regardless of that fact, Garrett, you’ll
soon thank me.”

“Thank you? For what exactly?”

Victor regarded him with a gleam in his eye.
“For allowing your pack to live.”

Garrett stared at him and wondered what he
meant by that. He didn’t have time to contemplate the thought.
Victor looked toward the back of the room. The shuffling of feet
pricked his senses and Garrett didn’t even have to look to know it
was Rayna. He picked up her scent the moment she entered the room.
She hadn’t been able to get away.

“Excellent,” Victor said, grinning. “Bring
her to me.”

Her very presence agitated Garrett. It meant
he’d failed to protect her as he’d promised to do. When she stopped
beside him, her arms held tightly behind her back, a growl worked
its way up his throat when he glanced up at her. She was staring at
Victor, eyes flashing gold, and her features set into a mask of
stone.

“It’s nice of you to rejoin us, Ms. Ford. I
was just discussing your future with Garrett.”

She lifted her chin smugly. “You’ll not get
away with this.”

“Oh, but I will.” Victor grabbed his cane and
crawled slowly to his feet. “It is unfortunate your fate will be
grim but rest assured your mate will be safe and well cared for.”
He grinned and something in the look on his face said he wasn’t
telling them everything. “Provisions for Garrett, and the rest of
your pack, have already been seen to.”

“What is that supposed to mean?”

“It means they’ll live. Your mate’s future
has already been decided. Had been decided before all of this
began.” He stepped down from the raised platform his chair sat on
and stared at them both when he was steady. “Now, since this
interruption has caused me more problems, I must talk with the
others and re-plan. Enjoy your last night of freedom, Ms. Ford.
Come tomorrow, the world will see your gift.” He turned and started
out of the room. “Take them to the pit. I’ll not have them escaping
again.”

“What about Sabriel?”

Victor stopped and turned, looking at
Sabriel. He studied him for long moments before those hard eyes
narrowed. “Him as well. He’s useless to us now.”

Bryce stood in the shadows, his gaze
following Lydia. She’d roamed the house for two days now and he
knew she was searching for something. She’d glanced curiously into
every room she passed, and opened every shut door she saw. All but
one. The one she was currently standing in front of.

The office door was normally shut. None of
the pack members ever went inside. There was no need to. The room
held nothing but an ancient computer with no Internet connection, a
telephone and a few books. It was useless as far as an office went.
Besides, Malcolm’s scent still clung to the drapes and carpets. No
one wanted to be reminded of him. The room should be gutted and
refurbished. He’d put that on his list of things to do once Garrett
returned.

Lydia glanced down the hall in both
directions before slipping inside the room. Bryce waited until she
shut the door behind her before detaching himself from his hiding
place and crossing the hall.

He listened for long moments for movement
inside but she didn’t make a sound. He waited a full five minutes
before opening the door to see what she was doing.

Her back was to him when he entered the room.
She was bent over the desk and his gaze was drawn to her backside.
The jeans Judith had found for her fit like a second skin and Bryce
would have had to be dead not to notice her rounded bottom. He
wanted to gouge his eyes out the minute he looked.

As much as he tried to deny it, he was
attracted to her. How could he not be? She was curvy in all the
right places, had a long mane of curly hair he wanted to sink his
hands into and lips he wanted to taste every time she looked at
him. His skin heated when she was near and he found himself seeking
her out. For that alone he wanted her gone. Well, that and the fact
he hated vampires. They were the reason he sought out the wolf who
infected him. Begged him to turn him into a werewolf so he’d live
long enough to destroy the creatures who took everything from
him.

The anger returned in an instant when those
old memories resurfaced and Bryce directed it at her. The girl
across the room who had bewitched him. There was no other reason
he’d feel the way he did if she hadn’t done something to him.

He crossed the room, grabbed her and flung
her against the wall, holding her in place. “What the hell are you
looking for?” he asked, invading her personal space. “You’ve been
sneaking around this house for days now. Why?”

She stared up at him, a look of confusion on
her face. Bryce glanced at her lips and bit his tongue. There it
was again. That familiar heat, the need to taste her. He growled
and tightened his hold on her arms. “What are you doing to me?”
When she didn’t answer, he shook her. “Tell me!”

“I’m not doing anything to you.”

“You are. There’s no other reason for what I
feel.”

Her eyes widened a bit then, her gaze locked
with his. The corner of her mouth twitched into what he thought was
a smile but it vanished as fast as he saw it. “What do you
feel?”

The moment she asked, the sensation of soft
hands caressing his flesh left goose bumps dotting his arms. The
heat intensified in his limbs, tremors danced up his spine and his
cock hardened within seconds. “Please stop,” he whispered, lowering
his head and closing his eyes. The sensation died in an
instant.

Bryce took several deep breaths, trying to
will his erection away. He wanted to kill her for stirring him, for
making him feel anything for her at all. For making him want her.
When her soft, “I didn’t know,” reached him, he opened his eyes and
looked at her.

The vibrant green of her eyes looked
different to him now. They were tinged with gold, her long sooty
lashes making them appear larger than normal. “Didn’t know
what?”

She smiled at him and the small action nearly
staggered him. “That we share a connection.” She lifted her hand
and touched his cheek, her fingertips grazing his face. “It’s a
wondrous thing.”

The way she was looking at him stole his
breath. The brush of her fingers on his face leaving a path of heat
behind. He stared down at her, his gaze roaming her face until he
was once again focused on her lips. “I need you to stop. Whatever
it is you’re doing, stop.”

“But I’m not doing anything. Not
intentionally.”

The anger returned and his hands gripped her
arms tighter. “Stop lying, Lydia. I can feel it. I feel it every
time I look at you.” She continued to caress his face and he asked
himself why he was letting her touch him. Why the feel of her
fingers on his skin felt so good. “Is this some kind of vampire
trick?”

She smiled at him and he saw her small,
dainty fangs. “No trick.” Her gaze flittered across his features.
“I thought it was only me.”

“Only you, what?”

Her fingers brushed against his lips. “I
thought it was only me who wanted you. I didn’t realize the
connection was there.”

She wanted him? Bryce stared at her for long
moments before the last of her comment registered. “Connection?
What connection? What are you talking about?”

“Bryce!” The sound of his name being yelled
from the front of the house startled him. He stepped away from
Lydia, staring at her and felt the loss of her touch. His body
still craved her, ached to have her near.

He turned his head, looking toward the door
when he heard the sound of footsteps hitting the floor at a rapid
rate. Someone was running.

Giving Lydia a final look, he reluctantly
turned and crossed the room before stepping out into the hall.
Charlotte was running toward him. The look on her face told him
something was wrong. “What is it?”

“Come see.”

Bryce followed her. Most of the pack filled
the foyer. The front door was open and he could see people outside
on the lawn. A trickle of fear crawled up his spine. It had to be
Carmen.

He slowed his gate and tried to think of how
Garrett would handle this. He smiled to himself. Knowing Garrett,
he’d just kill Carmen where she stood and go about his day like it
didn’t happen.

When he reached the door, he stepped out onto
the porch. A quick glance at those on the lawn caused his
apprehension to die. Carmen wasn’t among them.

A man in his late twenties stepped forward.
He was tall and lanky, his dark hair unkempt. He looked nervous and
cleared his throat before speaking. “Jacob has been hurt.”

The mention of Jacob’s name and Bryce
searched him out in the crowd. He didn’t see him. “Where is
he?”

“Here,” the man said, turning back to those
in the yard. They parted and Bryce saw him then. He was sitting on
his knees, his head lowered. A woman was by his side; her hand on
his shoulder.

Bryce crossed the porch and stepped into the
yard. Those present moved as he walked toward Jacob. “What
happened?”

“Carmen.”

Reaching Jacob’s side, Bryce knelt in front
of him and reached out, lifting Jacob’s head. His face was slashed,
dried blood crusting his eyes and cheek. His shirt was torn, more
scratches showing the extent of his injuries. “Why?” Bryce asked.
“Tell me everything.”

The man who initially approached him came
forward and knelt beside him. “She had Jacob followed and was told
he’d been seen talking to your pack leader. When she questioned
Jacob, and he wouldn’t tell her anything, she did this to him.”

Bryce sighed and lowered his head to see
Jacob better. “How you doing, man?”

Jacob gave him a weak smile. “Had better
days.”

“Think you’ll live?”

Jacob laughed, then coughed and held an arm
over his ribs before nodding his head. “Yeah. That old bitch is
getting slow.”

Bryce grinned and stood. “Let’s get you in
the house.” Turning to the man he’d been talking to he asked,
“What’s your name?”

“Danny.”

“Help get him into the house.” Bryce turned
and noticed the others in the yard staring at him. He counted
seventeen and wondered why they were all there. Surely it didn’t
take so many to bring Jacob to them.

When Jacob was in the house and settled on
the sofa, Bryce pulled up one of the side chairs and sat down. He
glanced at the others, the people who brought Jacob to him. They
were all crowded near the doorway. One look at their faces and he
knew they were scared. Their eyes were too wide. They stood too
close together.

Turning back to Jacob, he looked at the boy,
man, lying there staring up at him. “Okay, Jacob. Tell me what
happened.”

“Is Garrett here?” Jacob asked.

Bryce shook his head. “No. He found Rayna and
went after her.”

Jacob sighed and closed his eyes. He was
quiet for long minutes before opening them back up. When he looked
at him, Bryce knew what he was about to say wasn’t going to be
good. “She’s working for the Collective. She left this morning to
join them.”

“Working for them how?”

“I don’t know. She said we’d all pay soon.
That Garrett would do exactly as she said once everything was done.
Whatever it is, her reward for helping them directly affects
us.”

“How so?”

Jacob shook his head. “All she said was, that
soon we’d belong to her. That Garrett would belong to her.”

“And Rayna?” Bryce asked. “How does she play
into this?”

“She’ll be dead.”

* * * *

The pit was exactly that. A filthy hole in
the floor of the basement that reeked of rotting flesh. They were
tossed down into it and left with nothing.

Rayna wiped her hands on her jeans. The room
was dark and dank, she could hear things scurrying in the darkened
corners. It took several minutes for her eyes to adjust to the low
light.

“Are you all right?”

She turned at Garrett’s voice. That deep
garbled, otherworldly tone he had when the wolf was present made
her remember she wasn’t alone. “Yeah. I’m fine.” He was standing
near the wall, his head lowered to accommodate his height with the
low ceiling. She crossed the room and wrapped her arms around him.
“I didn’t think you’d make it in time.”