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  “That’s why I’m here. I don’t know where he is. I…I…,” Copi struggled to get the words out without his voice breaking, without him cracking beneath the unknown world. Roan moved, silently edging toward him with his hands splayed open. He whined low as he slid on to the sofa and ran his nose along the back of Copi’s ear.

  “The wolf in you is strong, maybe even an alpha. With the right training within the right pack, you would make a brave and fearless leader. However, our Mr. Bourne is of a very old line. His will and his lineage are well known, as are the stories surrounding the elder vampire responsible for siring him.” Roan tapped his temple, indicating some sort of mental issue with Vischeral’s sire.

  “He maybe stubborn, but Vischeral is a friend, one for whom I have the utmost respect. Tell me, Mr. Dane, what happened?” Roan eased back on the sofa and leaned over to pour himself a drink from the decanter sitting alongside them.

  Copi started at the beginning, from being bitten and dying to waking up in Vischeral’s arms. He explained about being reborn to a world where, at long last, he’d found someone to love only to have Vischeral snatched away before they had the chance to consummate that love. Copi swallowed nervously as he skirted around the next part of the story. He didn’t want Roan to think he was losing it, but he needed to know if his vision had been real and if a vampire king really existed.

  “Spit it out, pup. You look like you’ve been sucking on a lemon. What is it?” Roan waited, watching Copi with more than a little curiosity.

  “I was hungry and with Vischeral gone, I got carried away and maybe drank too much of the blood he’s stored away. I saw, no I heard, maybe both; I’m not sure. But, there were wings, great big motherfucking wings and a name. Azarian. These red fucking eyes stared right out at me from the haze I was in and someone ordered me to kneel.” Copi tried to explain as best he could.

  “And, what, pray tell, did you do?” Roan’s eyes were as big as saucers as he lifted his drink to his lips.

  “I told this angel, vision, Azarian or whatever the fuck he was, that I didn’t kneel to any motherfucker, unless I’m giving head, and then it would only be to Vischeral.” Copi stared, open mouthed as Roan started to splutter and choke on the drink in his hand. Amber liquid ran from his nose and dripped from his chin as Roan nearly coughed up a lung. Tears ran freely down his smooth brown features as the coughing turned to laughter.

  “Oh boy. You kill me. You really don’t have a clue, do you?” Roan asked, slapping Copi on the back.

  “None whatsoever. I take it from your reaction that this Azarian really is a king?” Copi asked feeling more than a little bit foolish.

  “Not a king, but the King. Most know him by his other name, Malachi. Only the angel calls him Azarian. You must have really hit the big time getting a visit from him. His allegiance to the King and the preternatural world is well documented. I’ve never met him myself, but I’ve heard he’s a sight to behold. Rumor has it that it was the king himself that helped your Vischeral escape his sire. Not that Darklon could prove it.”

  “But then, the crazy old fool’s a few slices short of a full loaf these days. Still, he has his fair share of followers so you need to take heed if you’re thinking of getting your vampire back. It was most likely your turning that gave Vischeral away. When he sired you, Darklon would have homed in on the addition to his bloodline, giving away Vischeral’s whereabouts. Not the smartest move he’s ever made, especially considering he’s been living under the radar for more years than I care to imagine. But then, from what you’ve said, it’s not like he had much of a choice.”

  “I could tell something had shifted in the big motherfucker the night he turned up here with you. Our Mr. Bourne’s renowned for his disdain and anger. To put it mildly, he’s a nasty son of a bitch. One, I prefer not to piss off. But that night, I noticed a shift in his usual steel demeanor, and the way he looked at you was, well, it was going to end up exactly where we are now.”

  Loud snarling followed by a cacophony of barks and growls drew Roan’s attention toward the door to his den. He cocked his head to the side, listening to the riot of noise coming from outside, and then smiled showing off long, razor sharp canines that seemed to lengthen right before Copi’s eyes.

  “Excuse me, Copi. It seems there’s a little dissension in the ranks. Your arrival seems to have unnerved a few of my pups. All I can say is this, if you want to save Vischeral, you’ll need to head to Rome. Last I heard, that’s where his sire originated. But be warned, you won’t be able to walk in the front door like you did here. Be safe, and if you ever change your mind regarding the part of yourself that you’re trying to hide, I’d be more than happy to take you under my wing.” Roan held out his hand and Copi gaped at the lengthy fingers and deadly talons that wrapped around his hand.

  The heat from Roan’s palm poured over his skin as he drew Copi in against him and gently kissed his cheek before rubbing his nose along the back of Copi’s ear. “I meant what I said. Anytime you want to explore the wild side, give me a call.” Roan’s eyes had darkened. His voice sounded rougher and more slurred as he turned toward the door leaving Copi inside feeling more than a little bewildered.

  He needed to leave. His head was swimming from the influx of information. Angels were real? “Jesus.” He slapped a hand over his mouth and flicked his gaze upward. “Sorry,” Copi whispered. Angels. If they were real, then surely that meant the whole God thing was true, too? And, if so…Copi shuddered. He didn’t want to think about the fact that the devil could at any minute pop his head up out of the ground and drag him down into the bowels of Hell. It was all too much. He needed a drink. Preferably, something strong enough to peel the paint off of metal and turn his brain to sludge.

  Slipping through the back of Roan’s woodland home, Copi skirted around to the front of the property where Vischeral’s SUV gleamed beneath the rising moon’s glare. Off in the distance, Copi heard snarls and the clash of teeth. The scent of freshly spilled blood drifted downwind to greet him, making Copi groan. He staggered forward, reaching out for the SUV. He locked himself inside where his senses rioted against the want to hunt and drink. Copi gritted his teeth against the primal urges.

  He couldn’t do this, not alone. He thought about being human and the struggles his race faced against the addictive lure of alcohol and drugs. It was nothing compared to blood hunger, to having your insides burn and an unquenchable thirst to drain the life out of anything with a pulse. Between his lust for blood and the untameable fury of the beast inside of him, Copi was losing the battle for sanity. He needed Vischeral so bad. He didn’t want to hurt people. Tremors wracked his body as Copi folded in on himself and tried like hell not to lose himself.

  “Get the fuck out of there and don’t look back.” The words screamed through Copi’s mind, startling him. Vischeral’s scent filled the car, swamping Copi’s senses and easing his fears.

  “Vish?” Copi whispered.

  Silence greeted him, but Copi complied with the demand and floored the gas. He didn’t look for the wolves or slow down. He wasn’t sure if he was hearing things, but the sense of dread etched in those few rushed words danced with icy fingers of foreboding along his spine. No amount of bravado was going to rise above that. He shouldn’t have returned there. He’d placed himself in imminent danger; however, he, at least, had a little more to go on and a direction to follow. He was headed to Rome.

  ~*~*~

  Chapter Nine

  ~*~*~*~

  Thunder Bay, Ontario

  Crouched low on the small outcropping of rock, the she wolf scanned the mist shrouded forest. Dark shapes slunk through the fog without making a sound. They searched for her. If she had been in human form, Alexa would have chuckled. They were not having much luck.

  The forms circled again and Alexa stiffened. One of them was missing. Instincts kicked in; Alexa rolled to the left mere seconds before a large black wolf landed exactly in the spot where she had been. Gaining her feet, Alexa darted t
hrough the trees running hard. Howls sounded behind her. She ran fast, dodging trees, leaping over fallen logs and splashing through the small stream that divided the island.

  At her back, she heard the others crashing through the underbrush as they chased her. Damian was in the front with Shaver and Khadlyn not far behind. Alexa bounded around a massive oak and suppressed a triumphant yip when the log cabin came into view. Behind the one story structure, moonlight reflected off of the lake’s calm surface.

  She loved the lake, loved romping through the surf in wolf and human form. But, there was no time for water play. Returning her gaze to the cabin, she caught movement from the corner of her eye. Alexa dropped to her belly as the silver blonde wolf sailed over her head. Khadlyn, the younger wolf, was always over eager. Bursting from her crouch, Alexa ran full tilt for the cabin door. Her claws dug into the soft earth, flinging it behind her.

  At the front door, she skidded to a halt and mouthed the customized handle. The door swung open and she ducked inside. In the middle of the living room, Alexa stopped, breathing hard. At her will, the change started. Pleasure pain rippled through her body. The thick coat of auburn hair receded into her skin, bones popped and reformed, her muzzle shrank as did her canines. After years of shifting, Alexa barely flinched from the twinges as her body shifted back to human.

  She lounged on the sofa wrapped in a soft, blue terrycloth robe when the other three wolves burst through the door. “Slow pokes, were you looking for me? I’ve been here for ages waiting for you.”

  Damian, the midnight black wolf, huffed in annoyance before padding into the bedroom. Shaver, a tawny brown, bobbed his head and followed Damian. Khadlyn, yipped in amusement, his blue eyes full of laughter. Alexa winked at him and rose from the couch. As she passed, Khadlyn rubbed against her leg. His deep chest vibrated with the equivalent of a purr. Alexa reached down and scratched behind his ears.

  “Hurry up and change. I’ll make us some omelets before we head out to Iniquity.” Khadlyn barked twice causing Alexa to laugh. “Okay, okay, I’ll make you two. Now, get your ass in gear. We can’t be late.”

  ~*~*~*~

  Several hours later, Alexa stepped from the speed boat onto a wooden dock. She ignored Damian’s proffered hand. His snort of irritation brought a mischievous grin to her full lips. To ease his male pride, she slid a slender arm into the crook of his elbow and leaned her head against his shoulder. He towered over her despite her five foot, ten inch frame. On Damian’s other side, Shaver hefted the large suitcase she’d packed.

  “You have a closet full of clothes at Iniquity. Don’t know why you needed all this shi…uhhh, stuff, too.”

  Alexa peeked around Damian and grinned. “Because I wanted to hear you whine, pup,” she teased. Damian suppressed a laugh and hip checked her.

  “Stop teasing the whelp. He’s right. You didn’t need all that shit and you know it.” The oldest of the bunch, Damian didn’t have a problem with calling Alexa out. She, in turn, loved to irritate the hell out of him. She lifted her head, a smart ass remark on the tip of her tongue, but it never passed her lips. From behind, she was lifted high into the air and spun around. Khadlyn’s whoop of laughter punched into the night air.

  “You carry the duffel, Shay, and I’ll carry the real baggage,” he sang over his shoulder as he sprinted for the parking lot. Alexa’s laughter drifted on the wind. Upside down over Khadlyn’s shoulder, she saw Damian shake his head and throw an arm around Shaver. They followed at a more leisurely pace with her bag tossed over Damian’s immense shoulder.

  Gods, how she loved the three of them. They were her best friends; her pack. Damian had been at her side before she was weaned. The two younger ones had gravitated to her and stood by her side as she fought against their alpha’s dominance.

  Alexa’s good mood vanished. The alpha of their pack, Trenton Stamos, ruled with a fist of steel. Most of the pack feared him and they had good reason. Cruel by nature, he took what he wanted when he wanted it. Since his return from the summit in the Appalachians, he’d been worse. The news of the renewal of the alliance between the vamps and the wolves had spread through the community like a flash fire. Trenton’s objections had been overruled. He didn’t take such disrespect lightly. Unable to strike at his enemies, he skulked home where his pack suffered the impact of his anger.

  The dues he demanded every month had tripled. If they weren’t paid, forfeits were accrued. Menial labor had been replaced by sexual favors. Mated pairs weren’t immune to the demands. Many female wolves had tried to escape, terrified of his sadistic attention. Their mates even assisted in their attempts as much as it broke their hearts. Alexa and her small band of brothers aided any who managed to reach them. However, trapped on an island in the middle of Lake Superior, escape was next to impossible.

  Drawing on the pack’s energy, Trenton cloaked the island from human observation. An ominous aura surrounded the isle. Ship captains avoided the section of the lake without knowing why. Pack members who managed to reach the water suffered extreme disorientation and often wandered back inland to avoid the stabbing headaches.

  Together, Alexa and her boys had escaped the mental thrall he held over the others. So many times, he’d tried to break her, both privately and publicly. He hated her mother and when Alexa’s mother died, he’d transferred his distaste to her. She’d always held her own against him mostly out of sheer determination. Over the years, she became a source of solace to the pack. She was their hope. They came to her for advice and help during her brief visits. The assistance they should have received from their alpha, she gave them as best she could.

  When they had made their bid for freedom, he’d met them on shore, hackles raised and teeth bared. Nonchalantly, she’d strolled forward and stopped within striking distance while still in human form. He’d lunged for her, jaws snapping. But, she’d studied him; she knew his moves. Confident in his power, he had become predictable. Shifting quickly, she’d met his lunge and rolled his ass in the surf. Behind her, Damian, Khadlyn and Shaver shifted and took up positions to defend her.

  Trenton had gained his feet and lunged again. Alexa met him tooth for tooth, snarl for snarl. She’d been terrified, but determined. It had been her only chance at freedom. When Trenton slipped in the mud and went down, she had barely managed not to howl in triumph. While he writhed on his back, she’d gone for his throat. The feel of his fur between her fangs had been exhilarating; she should have killed him then. Instead, she’d leapt over him and trotted away without looking back. An insult in the highest; a wolf never gave an enemy its back. It was too dangerous.

  He hadn’t come after her or her friends when they boarded the speed boat, but his howl of outrage had echoed through the trees as they sped away. Her visits to the island since were few and far between. The night’s run had been the first in almost a year and the emotion of seeing the ones left behind had swamped her. Sadness lurked in their eyes. Hope was gone.

  A warm palm cupped her face. A thumb caressed her cheek. She looked up into Damian’s eyes. “Stop, Lexi. You do all that you can for them.”

  “It’s never enough.”

  Khadlyn bent at the waist and stood her back on her feet. His laughter was gone, his eyes serious.

  “They would say differently.”

  Alexa pulled away from them both and wrapped her arms around herself. “Because they need to believe in something. All of the money from Iniquity goes back to them, but it’s never enough. Not with Trenton’s greed. What happens if we have a bad month?”

  “Do you think the vampire king could help them?” All eyes turned to Shaver. He was their idealist; the dreamer. His innocence soothed them all. Alexa smiled and reached for his hand.

  “I’m sure Denali has too much on his plate to worry with us. He was there when Jorn’s pack was attacked. Word has it the Nephilim are no longer limiting their attacks to the vampires. We have to save them ourselves. Somehow.”

  “Maybe, but tonight we celebrate. It’s Iniquity
’s birthday and you have people waiting for you.” Khad dangled the keys to the Jeep in front of her face. “If you’re too upset, I can drive while Dame here holds ya hand.”

  “As if, pup. I’m driving.”

  Damian snatched the keys and sprinted for the Jeep. The other two males scampered after him. A small smile played at her lips. “Take me home, boys.”

  ~*~*~*~

  The exotic nightclub sat on the outskirts of downtown Thunder Bay. It opened its doors to humans and preternaturals alike. The pulsating music throbbed so loudly even the humans standing outside moved unconsciously to the beat. All eyes turned expectantly to the parking lot when the cherry red Jeep Cherokee screeched to a halt bouncing its occupants around like ping pong balls.

  “Fucking hell, Damian, you get your license at Wal-Mart?” Khadlyn jeered as he leapt clear of the open jeep. In the rear view mirror, Alexa watched Shaver's eyes follow the spectacular show of athleticism. She shook her head sending her long mane of auburn curls dancing over her shoulders. Shay had it bad for their bad boy pack mate.

  Damian circled around to where she sat in the passenger seat. Swinging the door open, she climbed out onto the running board two feet above the ground. The patrons awaiting entrance into the club received a nice view of barely covered ass in the process. Heavy male hands closed around her slender waist and swung her the rest of the way to the ground, setting her carefully on the spiked heels of her thigh high, black leather boots. Tugging at the hem of her matching micro-mini leather skirt, Alexa grinned up at Damian.

  “I could have gotten down myself macho man,” she teased.

  Damian growled and tossed a glance toward the club and the gawking males. Alexa's eyes followed and a wolfish smile widened her lush lips. Lust radiated from the males lining the wall. It permeated the air around them. Every eye locked on her. With deliberate sensuality, Alexa arced her back and let her head fall back to rest on her shoulders. She ran her fingers through the tangled mass; she detested the tangles, but she loved the freedom of riding in the open jeep more.