Green shadow, p.25
Green Shadow, page 25
“Do we plant multiple teams under false names?” I bounced the idea off him—my blood racing. In my core, my dragon lifted his head. His scales were duller, and his eyes slightly cloudy. But he clutched to the bond with a strength greater than his appearance suggested him capable of.
Curtis’s lips quirked in a smirk. “Are you planning to lose, Lucan?”
My answer came out snarlier than intended. “No!”
A twinkle entered his eye. “Good. But I agree that seeding the playing field is prudent. Of course, you’ll need a partner.” My eyebrows rose.
“Who do you want to team with?” he asked, and I stared blankly ahead. Was his innocent question another test? Another key? Ugh. There were times when I hated how Curtis’s gift worked. Without guidance, I had to make the right decision on my own. One wrong choice and I might alter the best path. The pressure was maddening.
“I’ll have to think about it. My gut says Quinn but having him on a separate team greatly increases our chances.” I played with that idea for a time, and the longer I mulled it over, the better splitting up felt. I shook my head. “No, Quinn will take a second team.” I decided and considered who to pair with.
I didn’t have a lot of allies left. Most of my ‘friends’ had dropped me after my banishment. Not that my new circle didn’t have powerhouses in it. Running through the people I knew, comparing their strengths and weaknesses. I smiled when a name popped into my head. Yes, he will do nicely.
“I’ll ask Tyr,” I said, staring out one of the windows. “He’s the best combatant of all the kids, and his magic will be beneficial and easy to tone down. I’m sure I can talk Saber into acting as his familiar. The cat still has his collar from when he bonded to Mackenzie.” I tapped the arm of the chair with my fingers in a soothing rhythm. “You haven’t had Saber in the public eye, and I’m almost certain that word of our shadow kitty hasn’t spread to other cities. Saber will draw attention in the way we want.”
Curtis smiled but didn’t say anything. I guess that until I secured their agreement, the key wouldn’t lock into place.
We spent the next hour hammering out details. But for the life of us, neither Curtis nor I could find a solution to the most critical aspect— who would host the event? Master Dagmar was out, and so was anyone high-ranking in GreenRiver. It would raise too much suspicion, both with the Government and Jasper.
Engrossed in not tearing our hair out in frustration, Curtis and I both started as the large doors to the office peeled open.
Chris marched in, eyebrow raised. “I knocked, but no one answered, so I just came in.” She gestured to the middle-aged man at her side. “I think you’re going to want to hear him out.”
She motioned for the well-dressed man to step forward.
Confused, Curtis and I didn’t speak. Finally, the man gave us a broad smile. “This lovely woman mentioned you were having trouble regarding one of your hunters. Perhaps there is something I can do to help.”
Chapter 30
Lucan
Our mysterious guest came to a stop right behind my chair, and I twisted in my seat to take him in.
A man in his early forties walked beside Chris. Shorter than me, he was still over six feet tall. Yet, with his shoulders back and spine straight, he radiated self-assurance. The perfect image of a man used to walking into a room, confident that people would listen to what he had to say.
I rose, and out of the corner of my eye, I noted that Curtis had stood as well.
“Chris, who is your guest?” Curtis’s tone held no admonishment. He was a man who held absolute faith in his people. It must be important if Chris had brought this man in when she knew we were having a sensitive conversation.
Chris smiled at Curtis cheekily. “You mean you don’t recognize him?”
A pang of recognition shot through my mind. I’d never met the man. I was sure of that. But I couldn’t pin down where I’d seen his likeness.
Curtis’s eyes twinkled. “Chris, you know it is impolite not to formally introduce a guest. Even if others in the room are familiar with them.”
Chris let out an exaggerated sigh, and the man looked at me.
“Are they always like this?” he asked, a grin tugging at his lips, and his dark eyes creased with humor.
Wary, I didn’t smile but shrugged my shoulders. “Curtis is taking your side. When they team up, it’s even worse.”
The man chuckled and strode forward, hand extended. I allowed myself to skim his surface emotions – nervousness, amusement, and a deep sense of obligation. I took his hand. “I’m Lucan Green, Lifer here at Catch and Release.”
“Jonas, Jonas Hart.” A twinkle entered his eyes. “However, you may know me better by another name.” He let go of my hand and took half a step back. “I was once known as Senator Ryan Hallcrest.”
Stumbling back, I reached to brace myself on the chair behind me. It can’t be. Ryan Hallcrest is dead. I suddenly remembered who he reminded me of. Six years ago, the brutal double murder of a senator and his daughter had been front-page news for weeks. It was the same incident that had poisoned me against my mate. The shadow looming over Terra that I had struggled so hard to overcome.
“How?” The word came out stumbled.
His smile was softer, sadder. “That is a very long tale.” Then, wiping his hands on his dress pants, he moved to take the second chair.
I sat ungracefully, then turned to stare at Curtis, who’d regained his seat. Chris perched lightly on the edge of his desk.
“Did you know?” The words were guttural. A deep sense of betrayal on my mate’s behalf filled me. My dragon, so enraged that anyone could know of this charade and allow it to tarnish Mackenzie’s name, pushed forward, causing my eyes to heat and a rumble to build in my chest.
Curtis shook his head, and Chris gave me a reproving look. “No, Lucan. I did not know of this subterfuge. But I know Miss Green, and it would not be out of character for her to do something like this, then carry the burden alone.”
The ire rising within me cooled. Mackenzie was absolutely the type of person to make the world think she was a monster. In her mind, whatever atrocities she had committed weren’t absolved by her acts of kindness.
Leaning forward, I sucked in ragged breaths as the implication of what I saw sunk in. Lost in the depth of how momentously I’d fucked up, I didn’t hear anyone approach. When a warm hand rested on my shoulder and squeezed, I started. Looking up from my hunched position, I saw Jonas crouched in front of me.
“Take a deep breath, hold it, now release it slowly.”
I did as the man suggested and got control. Then, nodding my thanks, I expected him to move away. But he didn’t.
Crouched in front of me, he told his tale. “Terra came to my house to kill my daughter. I found her sitting at a low table in Avery’s room, sipping fake tea out of a chipped cup. My heart stopped.” The ghost of the panic he must have felt entered the man’s eyes. “I knew who she was and why she was there.” He had crossed the wrong people politically, and Terra went to make an example of him. “I begged her for my daughter’s life, knelt, and offered her my neck.”
My hand clenched as he spoke. Moisture gathered in my eyes.
“Her face was a blank mask, and I couldn’t tell what she was thinking. So, I pleaded with her to make it quick and not let my daughter see.” Tears gathered in the man’s eyes as he spoke of the most painful moment of his life.
He chuckled wetly. “The expression on Terra’s face was utter confusion. She looked as if I’d knocked the wind out of her. Not that it lasted. Her eyes narrowed, and I could tell she was thinking hard. Then, suddenly, she stepped back. Ordered me to gather what was absolutely necessary and run.”
He blinked some of the water out of his eyes. “I asked if they would punish her. Terra gave me a cold stare and assured me that no one would even think to search for us.” He wiped his eyes with his hand and sat back on his heels.
“I asked her why she didn’t flee. She was certainly powerful enough. She told me that she, like me, would do anything to protect those she loved.”
I put my head in my hands and clenched my eyes shut. I was trying desperately to hold in the emotions fighting to escape. I was an idiot, blinded by what the world wanted me to see, never trying to look past the obvious, and letting others sway my judgment while ignoring my instincts. My dragon sat smugly inside me. He’d never questioned our mate’s worth, never looked at her with horror. For the first time since I learned of her past, I accepted what my beast knew all along. Mackenzie was more than worthy of us. Now, I would have to prove to her that I was worth forgiving. A task that, knowing how wary she was of betrayal, might be impossible.
Pulling myself together, I managed to say. “Her name is Mackenzie now. She has three brothers and one sister. None by blood. I think they would very much like to meet you.”
“I believe that Avery and I would enjoy meeting them as well. My daughter is downstairs. I couldn’t leave her at home, and she doesn’t remember much about our life before we moved to Rankin Inlet. I will have to tell her soon. She should know what we are risking.”
I nodded. “You said that you wanted to help. How?” Curtis asked, speaking up for the first time.
“I traveled here because it’s come to my attention that Terra is active again. When the news of Terra stopped coming in, I prayed that she had found a way to escape. So I did some digging; this was the last place I’d tracked her. When I set out, I wanted to ask you some questions about her. But then your assistant recognized me, despite the changes I made.” He had changed. His hair was lighter and longer, but his disposition mattered most. Gone was the aura of a politician, and it did more than anything to keep his identity hidden. “She thought it important that I meet the two of you.” The man seemed to gather himself. “How can I help?”
Curtis smiled and glanced at Chris. She smirked and met his gaze, a silent communication passing between them. Finally, coming to a resolution, Curtis nodded, and they broke eye contact. It wasn’t magic, simply two people who knew each other on the next level, speaking without words.
“I think, if you are willing, we have the perfect way for you to contribute.” Curtis then filled them in on the plans for the tournament we’d sketched out.
Jonas clapped his hands together. “I may have moved on from politics, but I couldn’t help making new connections.” His smile was sheepish. “I can get you the venues and make sure word spreads fast. Though I don’t have the personal funds to host the event.”
Curtis waved a hand. “Funds I can handle.” He shuffled papers on his desk. “Will this jeopardize your identity? Make you a target? I will not have Mackenzie’s sacrifice be in vain.”
Jonas shook his head. “No. My original home was on the other side of the country. With news travel being so slow, there should be no reason for anyone who knew Ryan Hallcrest to suspect that the tournament hosted by Jonas Hart is anything more than a bout of entertainment.”
Curtis nodded, “Very well. Now we need the stakes. What will be incentive enough to draw out our quarry?”
We were all silent for a moment. Money was my first thought; though it would draw good fighters, it wouldn’t necessarily appeal to the people who held Mackenzie. I focused more on their motivations. They wanted the world to know they had teeth. “We advertise that there will be a national press release, fame across the continent.”
Curtis nodded. “Yes, that would align with their goals.”
“What else do they want? Did Terr…Mackenzie give you any hints?” Jonas asked.
“Yes. Mackenzie’s captors want what they believe regular humans lost. Power.” An idea began to form. “Give me a second.” I rose and moved to lean against the wall not dominated by a lush oasis.
Pulling out my phone, I punched in a number. It rang three times before a low female voice answered. “What?” she barked.
“Crystal, it’s Lucan. I need your help.”
Her voice instantly became more pleasant. “Oh, hey, Lucan. Sure, what can I do for you?”
“Stone shifters have a natural ability to infuse objects with magic, don’t they?” I asked, wanting to be sure of my idea before presenting it.
“Yeah, though we each have specialties. Some are better at healing magic, some combat spells, and some just pure power. Why do you ask?”
“I need to have a gem infused with substantial power, raw or elemental. Something that anyone could use. Maybe activated with a phrase instead of inner power. Is that possible?”
There was a pause.
“That’s a dangerous ask, Lucan. Whoever creates the charm would be responsible for the damage done by its magic.” She hesitated, and when she spoke again, her voice was tentative and much lower. “The creator would leave a fingerprint. Our Tribe doesn’t tolerate the misuse of magic, and it’s why we are so selective about who we create magical artifacts for.”
It surprised me that Stone shifters had such regulations on their power.
“We’ve devised a plan to flush Mackenzie out, a competition of sorts, but we need sufficient bait for it to work. The people holding her want power, and something like this would be a huge draw. If it makes you feel better, we can build in a failsafe.”
I needed to convince her to do this. It was the only thing I could think of that would guarantee the humans’ participation.
“I like Mackenzie. She’s cool.” A disgruntled note entered her tone. “Are you making plans to rescue her without me?”
I heaved a sigh. “Yes. But I’ll explain later, and you have a part to play.”
“I’ll hold you to that,” she said, a cheeriness in her tone. Mumbles echoed from her side of the phone. Crystal put her hand over the receiver and said something to the voice. It rumbled, and she removed her hand. “Holden’s in too. Let me know what type of power gem you want, and I will get it.”
Thanking her, I hung up.
I walked back over to the group. “I have our incentive,” I said before explaining my conversation with Crystal. Chris whistled in appreciation.
Curtis went rigid in his chair. His eyes milked over with white. His voice, when he spoke, was barely above a whisper.
“Power and prestige will draw them. Light and darkness will confound them. Only one can free them.”
He slumped forward, and Chris placed her hands on his chest, halting his forward momentum. Blinking a few times, Curtis straightened, then looked at us, his eyes becoming shadowed, his tone resigned. “Get your prize together, Lucan. The rivers are merging. There is no saving her if your bond breaks. We only have one shot to free Mackenzie.”
My dragon bared his teeth within my mind.
No pressure, right?
Chapter 31
Mackenzie
The carriage rocked. Shadow and I had finished a short mission and were heading back to the compound. I worried Shadow would become cold after my rebuff in the field. But he hadn’t, and I was glad I hadn’t ruined the budding trust building between us.
I instantly knew when he blocked the window to where the driver sat, even with the veil over my eyes. It changed the way the sounds reverberated in the small space, and once we were as private as the circumstances allowed, he removed the magical blindfold and handed me a nut bar.
“Thanks,” I said. “How long do we have?”
“Not long. Our target was close by, and it won’t take us long to get back to base.” His lips twitched. “We have a meeting with Dr. Smith when we get back, so there is no delaying our return.” He winked and shifted in his seat.
“How are you adapting to the changes in your power?” I asked. Having noted the white spark when we were in the field, Shadow had been attempting to harness the new aspect of his magic. It was slow going. Wielding the light was so opposite to the darkness he’d mastered.
Lacing his fingers behind his head, he shrugged.
That good, eh?
“It will come, or it won’t. I don’t want to discuss it. Let me tell you a story instead.” We’d been doing this a lot lately. Sharing stories of our past to help strengthen the friendship growing between us.
Nodding, I settled in.
“I went on a mission shortly after you arrived. It was in this city in the middle of nowhere. I think it started with a G, but I honestly can’t remember.” He waved his hands to accentuate his tale. “Some higher up, in one of the many organizations in bed with our hosts,” his voice drawled with sarcasm, “wanted someone taken care of.”
A pang of homesickness shot through my chest. The place Shadow described could have been my home. Knowing nothing good would come from expressing the feeling, I kept my sadness to myself.
“They wanted me to take out a shifter. The woman turned into some sort of predatory bird.” He sounded impressed. “She had the bad taste, I guess, to mate with a human, and the man wanted out.”
I wanted to be shocked by how casually Shadow talked about killing. But I wasn’t. After all, I was exactly like him for a long time. I started to change close to our escape, thanks to the love and support of my brothers and sister. Shadow didn’t have that, didn’t have anyone to show him a better path. I hope to get a chance to introduce him to my siblings. I had a feeling he would fit into our rag-tag family well.
“I get there and hide on the neighbor’s roof. Two guys were at her door, asking her questions. They went inside for a few minutes, but she kicked them out quickly. Afterward, she got into a big row with her man and stormed the backyard. I knew it was the best I was going to get.”
I listened intently to the tale.
“Except, and here’s the kicker, it was all a set-up. I don’t know how, but the bastards knew I was there and ambushed when I attacked.” I grinned at the self-deprecating tone. “The men were tough and got some good licks in. One had empathic magic. The other just hit like a hammer. I didn’t have time to get a closer look.”
Gut clenching at the similarity, I tsked out loud at my companion. The mention of empathic magic brought an image of Lucan the first time we’d met, striding toward me naked, his empathic powers trying to seduce me into giving up my vampire captives, to mind. I fought the heat that rose to my cheeks.
