‘Hey! I’m Alex!’ He thrust out a tanned hand in my direction.
I stared at him, confused. He wasn’t a shifter – so who on earth was he?
‘The mage?’ he said.
I continued to stare. I didn’t want to be rude; I simply couldn’t help myself. This could not be the wizard we’d been waiting for. Not only was he far too young, but he appeared to be channelling Shaggy from Scooby-Doo.
‘You are Corrigan, right?’
‘Lord Corrigan,’ Staines growled.
I finally found my voice. ‘You’re Alexander Floride.’
‘Yup!’ He waved his still-outstretched hand. I realised he was still waiting for me to shake it so I reached out, almost withdrawing when I felt the buzz of magic emanating from his skin.
He hopped from toe to toe and beamed. ‘This is just for tracking, right? There’s not likely to be any danger, is there dude?’
The Arch-Mage is pushing his bloody luck, I snarled telepathically to Staines.
He agreed. We may well be doomed. Unfortunately, it wasn’t a joke.
***
I stalked out, attempting to look confident. It was clear from the expressions on the faces of the waiting shifters – both Brethren and Cornish alike – that they were having the same reaction to the mage that I had.
I coughed, ensuring all eyes returned to me, then spoke. ‘This is Alexander Floride, a mage from the city. We will travel to the site of John’s death where he’ll scan it for any signs of what might have occurred. We will find out who killed one of our own.’ We’d damn well better, anyway. I could still feel Lola’s pain rippling through my body and weakening my system. I could only hope it vanished soon.
Floride stepped forward. ‘Hi there. So, uh, yeah, I’m gonna hit the site, do some scrying and tell you what’s what. S’all good.’
I gritted my teeth. This guy could not be for real.
‘We need everyone who was present when his body was discovered to be with us so the scrying doesn’t get mixed up,’ Staines said. ‘Get a coat and wait outside.’
At least the small assembly was champing at the bit to finally have some purpose; we were venturing into the vicinity of finding out something about John’s murder, if nothing else. Indeed, it was bare seconds before everyone was outside and ready to go. Instructing Boyne to keep Floride as far away from any of the Cornish shifters as possible, in the vain hope that the less contact they had with him, the more likely they’d be to believe he actually had some real ability, I took the lead down the path. I was trying not to create too much of an air of urgency but I still maintained a brisk speed. The faster we got some answers, the faster I could get myself back to London to deal with the disaster that had happened there. There were some quiet mutterings further behind me to which I was tempted to put a stop. I forced myself to avoid snapping at whoever it was though. No-one needed to see how tense I was actually feeling.
I ducked under a low-hanging branch and began to pick up speed just as there was a sudden rush of flapping wings. I twisted my head as what seemed like hundreds of birds roused from sleep abruptly took off into the air. Then, almost immediately, there was a rumble and the very world trembled under my feet.
‘Earthquake!’ Boran yelled.
I knew instinctively it wasn’t anything like that at all, but whatever caused the ground to shudder was still strong enough to knock me off my feet. I grabbed the nearest branch to cling to as the tremor gained power, but it snapped off in my hand like a flimsy twig and I was sent careering down. Shifters behind me screamed and fear was filling the crisp night air with horrifying rapidity. Instinct flooded several people and they were unable to prevent themselves from shifting, the unexpectedness of the action ripping snarls of pain from their throats. They needed me and I had no idea what to do. All I could think was that I had to prevent the panic from escalating further.
Trying not to over-think it, I imagined a net covering the entire area, then I flung out the Voice to touch each individual mind. Be calm.
They were hardly awe-inspiring words but the innate compulsion in them did the trick. The snapping and growling ceased even as the tremors continued. Satisfied I’d done what I could for now, I immediately used every other sense to reach out and find just what had caused this. Whatever it had been, whether spell or actual Otherworld creature itself, it was incredibly dangerous. I damned myself for taking such a large group out into potential danger. It should just have been myself and the mage. In my eagerness to get to the bottom of this murder and get back to helping with the other ones in London, all I’d actually done was put everyone else at risk.
Just as the shaking began to subside, the wind lifted and I finally caught a trace of something up ahead. I inhaled deeper. The scent was pungent and musky, proving it wasn’t a spell. I had to protect the pack.
Stay where you are, I compelled. There may be aftershocks to come. Then I initiated a private link with Staines. Something’s up ahead. Look after the group here and retreat if need be.
Crouching low, I carefully moved forward. Whatever it was, it was some distance away and I had no desire to encourage it to head back this way. I had to hope that it believed the earthquake had felled all of its foes. It was the only way I’d be able to get close enough to bring it down. I would have to be silent and very, very stealthy.
Without any warning, a shape flew past me at high speed, crashing loudly through the undergrowth. I lunged forward to grab it but I was too slow, realising in shock when I spotted the long, brown hair flying behind that it was Mack.
Mackenzie! Halt!
She kept going. I was stunned; I’d thrown every iota of compulsion I had in me at her and she hadn’t even slowed. It seemed impossible that she’d broken through the hierarchy in the same manner that I’d done with Brady, but I couldn’t think of any other reason as to how she’d ignored my Voice. Right now, however, my more pressing concern was the mortal peril she was flinging herself towards – and the danger she was putting everyone else in too.
In a matter of seconds, I shifted, ignoring the clothing that ripped from me. Then I bounded after her with every ounce of energy I could muster, forcing my muscles to obey and ignoring the branches that whipped at my skin as I thundered forwards. I shot out a command behind me, freeing the others from their holding positions. Mack had simply given me no choice. I snarled aloud, using my claws to dig into the earth below to propel myself even faster. The ground shook several times, growing in intensity the further I got, but it wasn’t until I cleared the line of trees that I finally saw what manner of monster we were dealing with: a twenty-foot, horned beast with shimmering dark eyes and fur that rippled in the moonlight. From the corner of my eye I caught Mack still in human form and about to let loose with a dagger. I didn’t lose any momentum, however, and kept going until I slammed into the monster’s body and felt it shudder at the collision. Determined to bring it down before anyone got hurt, I widened my jaws and sank my teeth deep into its flesh, ignoring the foul blood that filled my mouth.
As my fangs clung on, three other shifters crashed into it. The beast flicked them off as if they were little more than fleas and stamped its feet. The moment it did so, the earth trembled again. At least I knew what had caused the bloody earthquakes.
Teamwork! You need to attack it together to bring it down! I mentally yelled.
The shifters heard me, thank goodness, three appearing from the right and three from the left. Losing purchase, I released my grip on the monster’s side then sprang upwards, clawing my way to its shoulder. It roared, spinning around in an attempt to throw me off, its hands grappling towards me. Silver glinted through the sky as a dagger slammed into its hand. It shrieked, allowing me a flicker of breathing space. Timing my actions to match those of the shifters below me and to cause maximum damage, I lashed out at its head, my claws fully extended. Several times I drew blood, but when it thrust down another heavy foot and sent yet another earthquake rolling across the ground, I lost my balan
ce and felt myself crashing to the ground.
I barely managed to stand back on my four paws when I saw the beast bending to swipe me. I rolled out of the way, just as Mack’s tiny figure sprang onto the thing’s shoulders, one small white hand curling round one of the massive horns on its head.
With no clue as to whether my Voice even still worked on her, I shot out a command. Goddammit, Mackenzie, shift now! Damn her mourning excuse. She had to change now or she'd fall prey to being killed with a single swipe of the beast's hands.
Knock it off its feet, Corrigan, she sent back, neither following the compulsion nor sounding even slightly panicked.
For a moment I blinked, still taken aback at her apparent ability to ignore my dominance. Then I finally recognised the potential of the situation and the calm determination in her eyes. I threw open the Voice link to everyone else instead.
Back now, I ordered, no longer even sure if they’d obey. However, to a man, the shifters around me followed my words, instantly pulling back.
On the count of three, we’re going to rush it. The aim is to knock it to the ground. Avoid its claws. Let’s stop another damn earthquake. I felt, rather than heard, the agreement around me. Ready? One, two, three!
As one, we pounded forward, eighteen shifters all aiming for the same point. The force of our collision was just enough and the beast lost contact with the ground as it staggered backwards – long enough for Mack to embed another dagger in its neck. It groaned, falling forward onto is knees with blood gushing out of the wound and spraying onto the dark ground. Then, with one final groan and massive hands flailing upwards, it collapsed completely.
Chapter Eleven
I prowled around the fallen monster, sniffing at its blood-dampened fur and noting the numerous old battle scars criss-crossing its body. My earlier supposition had been correct – the damn thing wasn’t from this plane. I had no idea which demon demesne it hailed from as the only lingering scent I could ascertain was the strange one from Mack around where she’d clung on to aid her attack, and I was still no clearer as to what manner of evil Otherworld beasty it was. It definitely found its way here via a portal though. I ran my tongue over my fangs. There was nothing to suggest it was John’s murderer but the two had to be linked; it was just too unusual a creature to assume otherwise.
A movement caught my eye and I swivelled round to spot Mack herself bending down to wipe the blood off her hands. Her expression was nothing more than vaguely irritated. A hot, scalding anger rose up in my throat. Not only had she broken my Voice, she’d also put everyone else’s lives in danger. I wanted to wring her long, white neck. Shifting back, I strode up to her and grabbed her shoulders.
‘What the hell did you think you were doing?’
She seemed startled that I was upset and attempted to extricate herself from my grip. I wasn’t about to let go that easily though. ‘I thought that it might have been what killed John,’ she said, with the air of someone who couldn’t give the tiniest shit about the potential consequences her actions might have had. ‘I wanted to kill it back.’
It took everything I had to calm myself down. ‘That part I understand, but what fool part of you thought that you could take it on by yourself?’
‘Is your pride dented, my Lord?’ Her eyes, with their odd little yellow flecks, flashed at me and I detected a hint of amusement. ‘Who’s the kitten now, then?’
I raked my gaze over her face, wondering if this was going to be where she told me she deserved to take my place as head of the Brethren. Frankly, I wasn’t sure I had any counter-argument to offer. I forced the issue, watching her reaction with care. ‘I compelled you.’
Mack shrugged. ‘So in the heat of the moment it didn’t take. You’re not my alpha, remember.’
Almost without realising it, my hands tightened on her shoulders. Given her total insouciance, I was starting to think she had absolutely no clue as to the import of ignoring my compulsion. I had to be sure though.
‘I am the Lord Alpha. I am everyone’s alpha.’ I sounded like a dictatorial tyrant with a rod shoved up his arse. Right now, however, I didn’t care. Come on Kitten, I silently added, if you want this job, then it’s yours. But you can have all the shit that goes with it too.
‘Hey, you’re new at this game, remember?’ The corner of her mouth quirked up. ‘It’s not my fault if you’ve not fully come into all your lordly power yet.’
I glared at her. She really didn’t get it. And the power created by being Lord Alpha didn’t expand over time. It was a static thing. Conflicting emotions flickered across her face as it suddenly struck me that perhaps Staines had been right. Had taking away Lola’s pain meant that I was temporarily weakened? It hadn’t lasted long; after all, I’d used the Voice to compel everyone else immediately before and after Mack’s show of defiance. With the power of her grief and her thirst for vengeance added into the mix… I pondered the idea. Either way, my opinion that she was potentially the strongest shifter I’d ever met was coalescing into something deeper.
As if continuing to defy me at every turn, she dropped her head into a submissive posture. What the hell was going on now?
‘I’m sorry, my Lord. My disappointment at realising this was not my alpha’s murderer along with the adrenaline from the fight has caused me to speak out of turn. I bow to your ultimate authority, in accordance with the Way.’
I wanted to shake her. Mack’s volte-face not only baffled me, it annoyed me more than I could have thought possible. A breeze rippled through the still air, sending goosebumps across my skin, and I abruptly remembered I was standing naked in front of her. Not only that, but I was supposed to be acting like the Lord Alpha. It wasn’t the over-complicated Way Directives that were concerning me, however. I gritted my teeth. ‘Your punishment shall be meted out in due course, shifter. Your role in taking down the beast is noted in your favour.’ I quickly walked away before she could say anything else. I was starting to think I didn’t have the self-restraint to continue any conversation with her. Besides, the woman was utterly confounding.
Wrestling for control of my emotions, I spotted Anton under the shadow of a huge oak tree and hailed him. ‘Do you know what this thing was?’
He seemed pleased that I was asking. ‘No, I’ve never seen anything like it before. Do you think it’s what killed John?’
I shook my head. ‘Unfortunately it appeared to rely more on its ability to make the ground shake than anything else. The evisceration your alpha experienced showed more,’ I struggled to find the right word, ‘finesse than that beast was capable of.’
He inclined his head. ‘You’re right, my Lord Alpha.’ A sly look came into his eyes. ‘Somehow Mack seemed to avoid your Voice order to hold back.’
I opened my mouth to offer some inane answer but, fortunately, Staines joined us and replied for me. ‘It’s not uncommon. Sometimes rage takes over, overpowering anything anyone else might do. Miss Mackenzie no doubt assumed her alpha’s murderer was present and was prepared to do whatever it took to bring him down.’
Anton snarled, a deep rumble that gave away his true nature as a werebear. ‘I’d have done the same if I was as reckless and stupid as her.’
I flicked Staines a glance. Is that true? That anger can block out the Voice?
He shrugged mentally. I’ve heard of it before. I imagine, my Lord, that you’re concerned she did to you what you did to Brady.
I flung everything I had at her, Staines. She didn’t even slow down.
She’s a mere werehamster. You’ve heard, no doubt, of those stories of women who find the strength to move cars off the bodies of loved ones in the wake of terrible car crashes? I imagine what she did is simply something similar. She’s not even Brethren. Don’t worry about it.
I grunted acknowledgment. She still requires close attention. I have no desire to cling on to the position of Lord Alpha if…
Please. It’s a ridiculous notion, my Lord Corrigan.
I threw him a look. You’re bein
g overly obsequious all of a sudden.
His eyes narrowed in my direction. And you’re being overly paranoid.
Aware that Anton was regarding us both carefully, I cleared my throat and spoke aloud. ‘Whatever that damn thing was, it had to come from a portal. It’s not from this plane. It’s just as well we brought the mage here after all.’
‘For once I have to agree,’ Staines said. ‘He may even be able to shed some light on what it actually is. Considering his fee, he needs to do something.’ He glanced behind, his gaze landing on the hapless mage, who had taken it upon himself to sidle up to Mack. ‘I’ll see what he knows.’
I watched Staines stride over and begin talking. Now that the danger was over, Floride was relaxed and laughing. He murmured something to Mack, licking his lips in an overtly sexual manner. I frowned. Then I walked over to join them.
He grinned at me with irritating good humour, offering up a mock – and very sloppy – salute. ‘That’s not the first time I’ve seen pack members’ rage mean that an alpha’s compulsion doesn’t work properly. You guys are taking this death pretty seriously.’
The wizard was becoming more annoying by the second. I wondered what else we were supposed to be doing, other than taking a brutal murder ‘seriously’. ‘Do your thing, then,’ I snapped.
A satisfying flicker of nervousness shuddered through him. ‘What now? But I thought…’
‘We haven’t got all day, or night. The thing that killed the Cornish alpha left no traces.’ I nodded towards the fallen monster. ‘That did. So you need to scry and tell us what you can see.’
‘Alpha dude, I’ll do better than that, I’ll show you.’
I held back my snort at being called ‘Alpha dude’. It was doubtful that the Arch-Mage put up with that kind of attitude. Aware that I was still attempting to maintain good inter-relations with his kind – and that Mack was watching me carefully as if waiting for me to react to the subtle insult, I simply folded my arms and acted casual. I was gratified to spot a faint blush cross her cheeks. It was unusual for shifters to be disturbed by another’s nudity and I liked that my own lack of clothes was unbalancing her. It was about time something did.