Lost Library: An Urban Fantasy Romance (16 page)

By the time Lizzie turned back to John, he’d reached the black wolf. What happened next must have lasted no more than thirty or forty-five seconds, but it seemed like an eternity.

John grabbed the hind leg of the black wolf, wrenching him off his feet in mid-stride. As the darker wolf fell to the ground on his side, Lizzie could see the silvery wolf
—John—still had his enemy’s hind leg in his mouth. With one massive shake of his head, John hobbled the darker wolf.

Lizzie could barely make out the darker form of the other wolf as he struggled to stand, snapping
frantically at John as he did. Unsuccessful in his attempts to stand, the black wolf changed tactics and tried to drag himself away. Losing his grip on the darker wolf’s leg, John repositioned himself, grabbing at the slower, wounded wolf’s neck. The thick fur covering and protecting the wolf’s jugular couldn’t prevent what happened next. Instead of ripping or tearing at his enemy’s throat, John held the black wolf’s neck in his massive jaws and shook viciously until his enemy’s neck was broken.

Lizzie could feel the tears
slowly slipping down her face. She rubbed her face, surprised, because she wasn’t sad. All she wanted—with her entire being—was for John to walk safely away. And whatever that meant for the unnamed black wolf—well, she was okay with that. So she cried, tears of relief slipping slowly down her face.

Max tapped on the window,
startling Lizzie. Before she could react, Kenna had the doors unlocked. Max opened up the driver’s door and reached across to the bag stashed on the passenger side floor. He pulled out a pair of sweats and headed toward John. 

Alone in the car, both women looked at each other. Kenna spoke first.

“He didn’t have much choice. You know that, right? That black beast was headed straight for us. I don’t think it’s a coincidence, with all this space out here, that he headed straight for the car.”

Lizzie shook her head, confused. “What?” She wiped at her face with her sleeve,
then looked at the damp mark. “Oh. No. I’m not upset about him. Just seeing them…and John, having a gun pointed at him. Damn. I can’t even think straight.”

Kenna laughed, but with little humor. “You, cussing like a sailor. What’s next?
” She looked at Lizzie closely. They’d both had a few moments to collect themselves. “How are you—really?”

Lizzie thought for a moment,
then responded. “I think I’m developing a shell. A very thin shell. Give a girl enough shocks and suddenly the moon turning red seems normal. Not that we’ve had a red moon. Yet.”

They
shared a companionable silence for several minutes. Each was lost in her own thoughts. Enough time went by that Lizzie started to feel more herself, even to relax again.

Kenna must have felt the same. She soon asked
, “What’s taking the guys so long?”

They looked
out the window at the two men. John was now clothed in the sweats Max had pulled from the car. They were involved in an intense discussion. Maybe even arguing. The women shared a glance. Lizzie sighed.

Kenna said, “Let’s leave them to it. We need a few minutes to catch up, anyway.” She smiled conspiratorially at Lizzie.

Lizzie bit the inside of her lip. “Well, on a positive note, I did get some minor scoop on the book. Stupid book. Is it still at the house or did someone make off with it? Oh, no—are the dogs okay?”

“The dogs are absolutely fine. Getting fat at my mom’s house
—you know how she spoils them. And the book was still there after you disappeared. John took it someplace safe. I did ask him if the book’s alarm system went off when Lycan touch it, and he looked at me like I was nuts. That must be reserved for humans who mess around with magic books.” She paused, then looked knowingly at Lizzie. “And in case you’re wondering, he seemed way more concerned about you than that stupid book.” This was followed by a pointed look.

“Seriously?
You’re concerned about my love life
now
? While we’re in the midst of life-threatening and illegal activities?” Lizzie sighed deeply. “Besides, I really don’t need any help. I already have John on the brain.”

Lizzie pointed her finger at Kenna. “
It’s probably your fault. All of your nagging at me to date has finally caused a psychotic break, and I’m thinking about practically nothing but hard muscles and tight asses. Thanks a lot.”

Kenna
smiled widely. “If that’s a psychotic break, then I’m fine with it. I do think it’s past time you started showing a little interest again. I’m not sure if he’s the best person for you to get your feet wet with after so long. But if you do, you have my full support.”

Lizzie wished
Kenna could find another man to trust as much as she did her first husband. Well, her first husband before their marriage fell apart. But now was hardly the time for a conversation about her friend’s fragile emotional state. Besides, she would only deny it.

Kenna
prompted her to continue. “What about that damned book. You found out something new?”

Lizzie perked up at that. “It turns out, I’m magic. Or I have magic. I’m not sure on the specifics
, except it’s likely inherited. Someone in the family tree is holding out on us. Anyway, apparently it’s not the book I’m supposed to be reading. It’s a spell attached to the book. Not sure if that will help me, but understanding more about what it is—maybe that’s helpful. I’m guessing the book is like an anchor for the spell. Also, there are other things I’m supposed to be able to do. My source clammed up when I asked what other things.”

“
And your source was…?” Kenna asked.

Lizzie thought about that for a second. “
Grant’s daughter-in-law, I think.”

Kenna frowned in response. Before she could say anything, Lizzie kept going.
“I know, I know. But my gut says she was being honest. She’s also the pack’s healer. I’m not really sure what that means, other than she had some type of magic herself. She could read auras, and said mine was kinda like their old Record Keeper’s. She didn’t elaborate on the differences or even explain what an aura is, exactly.”

She remembered how
frail, or maybe fragile was a better word, Anna had been. Like she was ill or recovering from being sick. And sad. She’d been so sad.

“Did she tell you how any of this magic stuff works?” asked
Kenna.

“
Hmm. No. And I didn’t have a lot of opportunity to grill her.” Lizzie fiddled with her hair a little. She glanced quickly at Kenna and away. Then she said, “I did see John change into his wolf.”

Kenna said, “Really?
” Her tone expressed only mild interest.

Lizzie giggled. “Not like just now—with his clothes still on. He stripped first.”

Kenna
looked amused. “No, you didn’t. You little perv, you. Did you check out some naked man, Miss Lizzie?”

Lizzie replied, “I might have done.”

And Kenna laughed out loud. The kind of laugh that starts in the belly and works its way up. Once she stopped, she said, “Good for you. Good for you.”

They both had needed a good laugh and were feeling much more at ease after having recovered from doubled-over, tear
-streaming laughter. Witnessing a violent attack, even if the participants weren’t in human form at the time, had been difficult for both of them.

Both men returned to the car grim-faced. Onc
e they were settled inside with John in the driver’s seat, Max spoke. “I suspect the plane has been sabotaged. We’re heading up to the hangar to check it out.”

“Why would you think…?
” Lizzie started to ask.

Max interrupted her.
“Because they had a man on the plane. It makes sense that they’d ground the plane, as well.”

John didn’t say a word. He drove to the hangar in silence,
then hopped out with Max. A few minutes later, both men returned.

When they didn’t speak immediately, Kenna said, “And?”

Max replied, “The plane’s out of commission for at least a few days.”

Since Lizzie found air flight highly questionable to begin with
—big metal box suspended in the sky, who could blame her?—this was especially disturbing news. She was a devout vodka drinker on international flights. All that blue underneath her for hours on end…. She shook her head once and focused on keeping a level head. “How did you find the problem?”

Max
looked at Lizzie searchingly. Then he replied, “If it makes you feel any better, there was never a question of
not
finding it. Whoever’s responsible damaged one of the primary systems. They must have intended us to be grounded, not to crash.”

Kenna
’s reply was dry. “That’s comforting. We’re to be pursued, not murdered. A little like those ‘Wanted: Alive’ posters from the old West.” Clearly, she was as upset by the news as Lizzie.

John turned everyone to the practical problem of transport. “
Max and I discussed the safest, fastest way to get Lizzie back to Texas.

Kenna interrupted them. “Wait a minute. What about the pilot? Wasn’t he supposed to meet us? Can
we trust him, or is it possible he was a part of the sabotage?”

Max
replied, “I texted him as soon as John noticed trouble. He’s got a high-level security clearance. The guy who owns the plane has used him in several situations requiring discretion. Both his background check and personal experience say he’s trustworthy. He’s definitely okay. And we just called him and told him about the plane.” Max and John exchanged a significant look.

John said, “That level of seriously-pissed-off is hard to fake.”

John pulled the SUV out of the private airstrip’s property and onto the main road. “Once the escape is discovered, they’ll think to check on their man stationed out here. I estimate discovery is about…”—John quickly checked his cell—“now. So we need to discuss the plan and get rolling.”

“Maybe you
should tell me how you got me off the farmhouse property first. Clark thinned the guard out and made sure very few people or Lycan were present who were not completely loyal to him. But there were still several guards. I think the two guards outside were part of the Austrian group.”

John’s
cell had started buzzing. After glancing at the number displayed, John swore, pulled to the side of the road, and answered his cell.

John snapped,
“What the hell are you playing at, Clark?” He quickly stepped out of the car.

Since John was busy on the phone, hopefully getting some answers, Max responded to Lizzie’s question. “We had a helping hand when a small cold front blew through. It kicked up the wind enough to let us come in on the downwind side of the property. By the time the first sentry realized someone was approaching, we were almost on top of him. The second sentry was a little friskier, but must have had
less experience. We had him subdued before he had an opportunity to set off an alarm. Now that I know Clark lent a helping hand, the focus on keeping you in, Lizzie, and not on keeping us out, makes a lot more sense.”

John wrapp
ed up the conversation and headed back to the car. Max quickly concluded his summary. “No fatalities at the farmhouse, so my guess is the guards have likely been discovered by now. Or have freed themselves, though that’s much less likely.” Apparently Max was confident in his gag and tie skills.

John opened the car door and said, “That was Clark. He just told me that with Lizzie’s escape, his alliance came to an end. He gave me a warning that the Austrians have every intention of pursuing Lizzie. And they have a paid informant on the security staff at the airport.”

Clark had
expressed concern about the persistence of his former allies. John knew they must have some reason, other than simply acquiring a Record Keeper for their pack, to continue pursuing Lizzie. They had to know she would never willingly join them now. Clark had admitted to John the original plan was a gamble. It might have paid off if Lizzie had been interested in acquiring the security of pack membership. Idaho could offer membership in their pack, but also the added advantage of higher status. The big fish, little pond concept certainly applied. But also the fact that Idaho intrinsically valued the Record Keeper position more highly than Texas did.

John kept these thoughts to himself. He didn’t want Lizzie to be any more worried than she already was. And he could discuss it with her privately later.
Maybe.

“Why would he tell us anything?”
Kenna asked.

John wasn’t surprised by the question. Clark’s disclosure would
seem out of character for the man Lizzie described earlier. Not a bad guy. Not a good guy. Just completely motivated by self-interest. Or, more accurately, Idaho Pack interest. John had been impressed. It was a pretty accurate read on Clark, from what he knew of the man. Lizzie was a good judge of character, another small fact to file away with all the other characteristics he was finding increasingly endearing and admirable.