Moonlight Kin 4: Tristan (22 page)

Tristan shook his head. Everly was a strange
woman.

“Don’t you think you’ll attract too much
attention in your other form?” she asked. “I know this is New
Orleans, but even here a wolf running through town with a sword
around his neck is bound to raise a few eyebrows.”

“No doubt,” he said, “but I have no choice. I
need my other senses to find the Darkling. If by chance Isabel
phones you, please call this number.” Tristan pulled a business
card out of his wallet and handed it to her.

Everly’s eyes widened when she saw the name
on the card.

“I take it you know Pierre La Fontaine,” he
said.

“Know him personally?” She shook her head.
“No. But I do know of him.”

“He’ll know how to find me,” Tristan said.
“What you’re about to see isn’t something the Moonlight Kin share
with humans. I’d appreciate it if you’d keep it to yourself.”

Everly nodded and took a step back.

Fur rippled over Tristan’s arms, and claws
extended from his fingertips. He dropped to his knees, and his
vision faded before quickly snapping back into the place.

In his beast form, the scents in Everly’s
house were even stronger, especially the scent of death. He glanced
over his shoulder at the Moonlight Kin skull on the bookshelf.

Everly followed his gaze and hurried over to
cover it with a cloth. “Don’t move,” she said. Her fingers shook as
she slipped the sheath over his head then put the sword inside it.
“Do you need me to open the door?”

Tristan barked.

She flinched but hurried to the door and
opened it.

He was about to step through when she blocked
his exit. Tristan growled.

Everly thumped him on the head. “Knock it
off,” she said.

Shocked by her actions, Tristan didn’t do
anything for a moment. Then his gaze rose, though not very far
since they were close to eye level in this form.

“Save my friend,” Everly said. “I know you
love her, even if
you
don’t know you love her.”

Fortunately, Tristan couldn’t speak in this
form. He had vocal capabilities if he performed a partial shift,
but not a full one. For once he was grateful for that fact, since
he wasn’t sure what he’d say.

He barked at her again.

This time Everly stepped aside and let him
leave. Tristan raced out the back door, hitting the screen with his
shoulder. The world around him came alive, but the one scent he
wanted to smell more than any other remained elusive.

Tristan weaved his way through the side
streets, avoiding the more touristy areas, but it would take a
while to make his way out of town.

Every mile or so Tristan would glance down to
see if the lodestone glowed. At one point the lodestone did, but
the magic stopped abruptly. The water from the lakes and rivers
dampened the signal just like it had Everly’s gift.

Tristan tried to ignore the sun’s rapid
descent. He raised his head and sniffed the air.
Where are
you?
He couldn’t lose Isabel. He didn’t think he’d survive
another loss of that magnitude.

* * * * *

Stone came for Izzy as the sun dipped below
the trees. It wasn’t dark yet, but it would be soon. He pulled out
a knife and cut through the extension cord binding her hands.

“Time to go,” he said.

Izzy clenched her hands to get feeling back
into her fingers. She’d need to be able to use her limbs if she
stood any chance of escaping. She rolled off the bed.

“Grab your things and anything else you might
want from this realm,” he said. “We don’t have the same things in
our world.”

“What do you have there?” she asked.

“You’ll see.” Stone grinned.

Izzy didn’t want anything from this house.
The place held nothing but death. She grabbed her tote and threw it
over her shoulder.

Stone stood in the doorway and waited for her
to exit. They reached the front door. There was a gas can sitting
on the side table next to the couch. He grabbed it and began to
slosh the contents all over the house.

Izzy grabbed his arm. “What are you
doing?”

“Getting rid of the evidence, unless you want
your fingerprints found at a crime scene,” he said.

“What if they had family?” Izzy asked. “This
might be all the family has left to hold onto.”

Stone shrugged. “I’m sure you’re trying to
make a point of some kind, but it doesn’t change what I need to
do.” He went back to pouring the gas around the house.

The sick feeling returned. Izzy clutched her
stomach. Somewhere a family missed their daughter and
granddaughter. After today, a father would never see his daughter
again.

She turned and rushed out the door. Stone was
on her before she’d made it across the lawn.

“Where are you going, Isabel?” he asked,
blocking her escape.

“Anywhere!” she snapped. “As long as it’s
away from you.” Izzy caught the odor of smoke a second before she
saw the flames rise.

“Get in the car,” Stone said. “We don’t want
to be here when the fire department arrives.”

Stone drove her in the same direction as the
cabin she’d stayed at with Tristan. Izzy saw the exit for Jean
Lafitte Park and was surprised when Stone took it.

If Tristan was alive, would he still be in
the area? Izzy’s mind raced with ways she could contact him.

Frosty, where are you
?? she thought.
I need you.

Stone didn’t take the road toward the cabin.
Instead, he continued on until they arrived at a swamp tour boat
dock. He pulled his car to the end of the road and parked.

“We’ll have to walk from here,” he said.

The trees leading into the swamp were thick
with undergrowth. All kinds of things could be hiding in those
weeds. Was it too much to hope that an alligator got Stone?

Izzy glanced at him. He’d probably kill it
and eat it. As she lifted her tote, it hit the cellphone in her
pocket. She needed to call Everly. Heck, she needed to phone Mindy
and say goodbye.

“This way,” Stone said, walking toward a
fallen tree that concealed a rugged path.

She followed, but Izzy continued to search
for a way to escape. She wondered if werewolves were afraid of the
water like cats. If so, she would take her chances with the
gators.

Even as the thought slipped through her mind,
Izzy heard something large splash in the water. She stared at the
murky inlet that ran along the path.

“Don’t worry,” Stone said. “I won’t let it
get you.”

“Being gator bait is preferable to what you
have in mind for me,” she said.

He laughed. “I won’t be one of the ones vying
for you,” Stone said.

“Good!” she said.

Stone smiled. “You might wish that I was by
the time the breeding challenge is over.”

Izzy stumbled on a root. “Breeding
challenge?”

“Yeah.” Stone ran a hand through his short
black hair. “When an eligible female arrives in our world, males
come from all around to see who can breed her. They each get a shot
at the woman until one of them succeeds in impregnating her. The
last woman had to endure forty warriors before she was with child.”
He shrugged. “Nearly killed her. With any luck, it’ll take you a
hundred.”

Izzy’s stomach gurgled. She had just enough
time to step off the path before she vomited onto the leaves of a
plant.

“Not this again,” he said as if the whole
thing bored him. “You’re only delaying the inevitable.”

She threw up again then rubbed her mouth with
the back of her sleeve.

Stone grabbed a water bottle out of his small
tote and handed it to her. “Rinse your mouth. I don’t want to have
to smell that, too. You already smell
funny
.”

She swished water in her mouth then dug into
her tote for a mint. She popped it onto her tongue. With any luck,
she’d choke on it.

Izzy knew she needed a shower. He didn’t have
to point it out. “I don’t stink,” she said affronted.

“Yes, you do,” he said. “You smell like that
wolf.”

She couldn’t smell anything, but it made Izzy
unduly pleased that Stone thought she smelled like Tristan.

They continued down the trail until they
reached a small clearing. At first, Izzy thought the clearing was
natural. Once they got closer it was obvious that someone had
cleared the area. What wasn’t so obvious was how, since none of the
trees were cut.

The area reminded Izzy of the crop circle
photos she’d seen online. It wasn’t as elegant, but there were
striking similarities. Did that mean that Darklings were showing up
around the world? The people hoping for aliens were going to be
very disappointed if that were the case.

Stone pulled out a weird sphere from his bag.
He placed it in the center of the clearing and stepped back. “This
will take a little while.”

“Take your time,” she said. “I’m not in a
hurry.”

The shadows lengthened around them and her
heart sank. Tristan wasn’t coming. No one was. She was on her own,
and she had no one to blame but herself.

“Since we have time, can I call my sister and
my friend to say goodbye?” she asked.

“Sure,” Stone said. “But if you say anything
to warn them, I’ll come back to kill Mindy and your friend. Do you
understand?”

Izzy frowned. “You know my sister?” The idea
terrified her.

“How do you think I found you?” he asked. “I
could’ve killed her anytime, and would have had I known she wasn’t
a Sighted-One.”

She shuddered at how close Mindy had come to
dying. Izzy had to do something to protect her. “I’ll come with you
willingly if you swear to leave my sister alone.”

Stone’s brow arched in surprise.
“Really?”

“Yes,” Izzy said. “I want your word.”

He laughed. “Sure.”

“No, I mean it,” Izzy said, advancing on
him.

“I swear I won’t touch Mindy,” he said. Stone
didn’t bother to mention that it would be difficult to get to her
now that she’d mated with one of the wolves.

Izzy studied his face. “Okay.”

Stone chuckled at how gullible she was. Izzy
pulled out the phone he’d given her and punched in a number. He
heard voicemail pick up.

She deflated before his eyes. “Hey, Mindy,
it’s me. I just wanted to tell you...” She sighed. “I just wanted
to say that I love you very much, and I hope you have a long and
happy life.” Izzy choked on a sob. “I’ve got to go. Take care of
yourself.” She disconnected the call.

“I imagine that’s disappointing,” Stone said.
“Your last chance to speak with your sister and she’s not home.
She’s probably with that wolf of hers.”

Izzy turned on him. Her eyes narrowed, and
her expression became a mask of pure hatred. “I hope so,” she
snarled. “At least then she’ll be safe from the likes of you.”

“You’d better make your other phone call
while I’m still feeling generous. The energy is building. Soon the
portal will open, and this disgusting world will be gone.”

Her fingers trembled as she punched in the
last number. It rang and rang, then a harried voice came on the
line.

“Everly?” Izzy asked.

“Oh my God! Where are you?” Everly asked.

Izzy gave a pained laugh. “You wouldn’t
believe me if I told you,” she said.

“He’s there with you, isn’t he?” she
asked.

Izzy’s face paled. “I don’t know what you’re
talking about.”

“Tristan came by earlier looking for you,”
Everly said.

This time Izzy did sob aloud. “He’s
alive?”

Her palpable relief pissed Stone off. He’d
really thought Izzy was better than that. He should’ve known that
wasn’t the case.

“Of course Tristan’s alive,” she said. “Why
wouldn’t he be?”

“It’s a long story,” Izzy said. “All that
matters is that he is.” Her eyes widened as Stone approached.
“Listen, Everly, I just wanted to call to say goodbye. You take
care and get out of town.”

Stone grabbed her hand before she hung up.
“Don’t be like that,” he said. “Invite her to the party. The more
the merrier, I always say.”

“No!” Izzy struggled in his grasp. “Run,
Everly! Run!”

Stone struck her with the back of his hand,
knocking her to the ground. The loud thwack carried over the line.
Izzy’s grip on the phone gave way. He put the receiver up to his
ear.

“You still there?” he asked.

Silence greeted him. He wanted to laugh.

“I can hear you breathing. You might as well
answer me, especially if you want your friend to live,” he
said.

“I’m here,” Everly said.

“Good,” Stone said. “We’re at the tour dock
in Lafitte Park. Go past the fallen tree, and you’ll see the
trail.” He glanced at Izzy, who staggered to her feet. “Oh, and
come alone, or she’s dead.”

Izzy screamed for Everly to stay away, but
Stone had already hung up.

“You bastard!” She rushed him. Her fists
pummeled his chest and grazed his face.

Stone dropped the phone onto the ground and
stomped on it.

“No!” Izzy renewed her efforts, but it didn’t
do her any good.

He countered every blow, waiting for her to
wear herself out. It took longer than he expected, but eventually
she dropped to the ground.

“I’m going to kill you,” she said softly.

“I have no doubt you’d like to,” he said.
“But we both know you’re no match for me. Even your boyfriend
wasn’t strong enough to take me.”

Their gazes met. “He would’ve been had you
not sucker hit him with a pan.”

“Believe that if you must, but my people are
stronger than the Moonlight Kin. It’s why they fear us so,” he
said. “I really should’ve killed him when I had the chance.”

She hoped that Everly was smart enough to
stay home, but even as the thought flitted through Izzy’s mind, she
knew her friend would come. It wasn’t in Everly’s nature to
run.

Izzy thought of Tristan. He’d been to
Everly’s house. He was looking for her, but it was unlikely that
he’d find her in time. She was just grateful he was alive. It would
give Izzy something to hold on to, something to dream about while
she walked through hell in the Darkling world.