The Wolf Within (22 page)

Or was that just Tate?

I shivered and gave myself a mental shake. Lord Marco was
not
Tate. And I had a werewolf and a vampire protecting me. I moved closer to Dan.

Another servant–a woman with cropped blonde hair—joined the first. “Lord Marco is expecting you,” she said with a slight bow. She led us away from the foyer, along a passageway lined with a series of doors. I focused on trying to slow my breathing, rather than thinking about what happened next. It worked, a little. My heart was only racing a little rather than pounding by the time the servant paused at one of the doors before knocking twice and opening it.

The room she showed us into was somewhere in the middle of the house. It had no windows but looked fairly normal apart from that.

If your idea of normal was very expensive furniture, extravagant floral arrangements, and an Old One, that is.

Not that Lord Marco looked like I expected either.

He rose from a chair pulled up to an elegant antique desk as we entered. He looked about my age.

That was the first surprise. For some reason my mind equated Old Ones with pictures of Nosferatu-ish monsters.

But this man was no monster. He was anything but. In fact, he was flat out gorgeous. Olive skin, dark hair cut close to his head that looked like it would curl if he let it grow longer and eyes a curious clear shade of green.

He wore a beautifully cut pair of pale linen pants and a white shirt and pretty much looked like he’d just stepped out of the pages of GQ. Or maybe Italian Vogue. I wondered exactly what European country he was from originally and what period of time. Despite his young appearance, there a sense of age surrounded him. Age and power. My heart sped up again.

Dan and I stopped, letting Jase going forward. To my surprise, Jase bowed. “My lord, this is Special Agent Daniel Gibson and—”

“Signorina Keenan,” Marco interrupted. “Ashley, is it not?”

His voice was deep, lightly accented and musical. Kind of sexy, in fact. Which only made me more nervous.

“Yes, my lord,” I said, following Jason’s lead on how to address him. I wanted to be polite and not upset him. But I didn’t bow and I kept my gaze away from his.

Marco came toward us and sweat started to break out on my back again. It didn’t matter that he looked like a model, my gut knew what he really was. I took an involuntary step backward and he paused.

“You are afraid of me?”

How did I answer that and not sound rude? I decided honesty was the best policy. “I seem to have a problem with vampires at the moment.”

He looked from me to Jason. “But you are not afraid of Jason?”

“No, my lord. I’ve known Jason a long time.”

“And me you do not know. Ah.”

I hoped I hadn’t offended him, tried to smile. He stayed where he was, looking at me curiously.

“I will not hurt you, Ashley. I do not take from the unwilling.”

I couldn’t help wondering how easily he turned someone from unwilling to willing with the power of that face and voice alone.

“It’s not you, exactly.” I managed.

“
Si
. I understand. It is Tate. He has done this to you. Allow me to apologize, Ashley. McCallister Tate is a problem I thought would no longer trouble us. It seems I was mistaken. He is no credit to my house.”

Nice to know that Tate had managed to fool everybody. And wait a minute, Marco’s house? Did that mean . . . Tate’s from your lineage?”

He sighed, looking apologetic. “
Si
. Yes. Sired by a wayward child.”

“Tate’s of your lineage?” I said, this time to Jase. “You never told me that.” It made me feel kind of weird.

“I didn’t know,” Jase said, holding up his hands.

“It is not something I advertise,” Marco added. “It is difficult enough managing our relationship with the public as it is. And after all, every family has its . . . what do you call them . . . bad seeds?”

“I think Tate is a bit more than a bad seed,” I said, only just managing to keep the sting out of my tone.

Marco nodded. “He should’ve been taken care of long ago, but he has evaded us. Believe me, now that I know he has survived, I am seeking to rectify the situation.”

That made me smile. I wouldn’t want to have the Old Ones after me. I hoped if they caught Tate, it would be a painful end.

“And of course, you will turn him over to the authorities if you find him,” Dan said.

Marco arched an eyebrow, looking almost amused by the concept. I found myself siding with him. The only thing to do with Tate was put him down like the rabid dog he was. No trial required. We all knew what he’d done.

“We have our own justice,” Marco said.

“And you’re trying to convince the public you’re just good citizens,” Dan retorted.

“You think Tate should be spared, Agent Gibson?”

I was kind of interested in the answer to that myself. What did Dan want to do to the man who had kidnapped and almost killed me?

Dan straightened his shoulders, “No. But I think there’s a system to follow.”

For some reason his answer annoyed me and I found myself feeling a little more sympathetic toward Marco.

“You are young,” Marco said. “Idealistic.” He made a dismissive gesture. “But you did not bring Ashley here to discuss legal ideologies.”

Jase nodded. “My lord, Tate—”

“He thralled her,” Marco said with another flick of his hand. “So I was informed. May I come closer?” he added, turning to me.

I nodded but couldn’t stop myself taking another step backward as soon as he moved. Marco stopped again with a frown. He took a deep breath, almost if he was smelling the air and his face cleared. Then he looked at Dan. “Perhaps if we do this on the couch. If you hold her, your touch, it will comfort her.”

“We’re not bonded,” Dan said.

Marco looked surprised. What did it take to surprise an Old One? I had no idea what the hell they were talking about but decided to add it to the long list of things I needed to discuss with Ani.

“My mistake,” Marco said. “Still, you care for her, yes?”

“I can do it,” Jase said.

“I do not think adding another vampire to the situation will relax Signorina Keenan.” Marco retreated to one of two long sofas in the middle of the room. “If you would bring her over here, Agent Gibson.”

Dan held out his hand and I took it, allowing him to lead me over to the sofa. Under Marco’s instructions, Dan settled into the corner against the arms and I sat with him, my back resting on his chest, his arms locked around my waist.

The feeling of Dan at my back was almost as unsettling as having Marco only a few feet away. He was warm and solid and smelled better than ever. And the shifter buzz I’d normally feel was different somehow . . . warmer. More appealing. I moved away slightly but he tightened his grip, drawing me back.

“Relax, Ashley,” Marco said. “Your wolf will protect you.”

“He’s not my wolf,” I muttered, ignoring the warmth spreading through me wherever Dan was touching me.

Marco smiled. “As you say. Now, may I approach you?”

I nodded and with Dan holding me, managed to stay still as Marco came nearer. Thankfully his scent was nothing like Tate’s. He smelled earthy and strange but not unpleasant. I relaxed a little.

Marco reached out and touched my forehead. Then I flinched, shivered and started sweating again. Marco lifted his fingers.

“Peace,
cara
,” he murmured. “This will not take long.” His fingers descended onto my skin again

I leaned back against Dan and closed my eyes, fighting the panic the touch of cool skin had awakened. Then the touch was gone.

“Well?” Dan asked.

“There is something there,” Marco said. “I am not entirely sure. . . .”

My eyes flew open. That didn’t sound good. “What do you mean, not sure?”

“I can take care of this, Ashley,” the vampire said, “but I fear you will not like my method.”

I shrank back against Dan, heard him murmur something soothing in my ear. It didn’t help. “What does that mean?”

“I need deeper contact to determine exactly what Tate has done and to remove it. I will need to thrall you myself.”

“No
way
.” It was an automatic response. Dan’s arms tightened around me.

“Ashley, you have to let him do this,” Jase said from the opposite sofa.

I cringed. “I don’t want to.”

“You will be free of him after this,” Marco said.

“Yeah but will I be free of you?” I snapped and saw Jase wince. I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself. I couldn’t piss off an Old One.

Marco pursed his lips. “I give you my word.”

“That’s what Tate said.”

“My word carries more weight than his. My word on my line.”

Jase made a choking noise.

More vampire games. “What does that mean?” I demanded.

“It means, Signorina Keenan, that if I play you false in this you are owed a debt by my lineage. An unlimited debt. You may call on us at any time.”

That won’t help me if I’m dead because you’re lying
. I managed to bite my lip before I spoke the thought out loud then glanced guiltily at Marco, realizing he might just be able to hear me anyway.

“You would almost own us,” Marco continued.

My own private vampire army. Just what every girl needs.

So, Tate in my head or Marco? Marco, whose blood had spawned Tate. But it had also spawned Jase and I knew there was no evil in Jase. I wasn’t so sure about Marco but his eyes didn’t carry the same inhuman expression as Tate’s.

Maybe he was just better at hiding what he was but I was going to have to take that risk.

“All right,” I said with another shuddering breath. “Do it.”

“All will be well,” Marco said. He knelt by the sofa, reached up and put his hands either side of my face. “Now,
cara
. Look at me.”

I had to fight to obey him but finally I managed to meet his gaze.

This time it didn’t feel like falling, more like a cool green breeze blowing through me. I floated, surrounded by warmth and that pleasant sense of green, like lying in sunshine in a forest. It was even more seductive than Tate had been. Panic flared.

“
Tutto bene, cara
,” Marco’s voice whispered in my mind. “I will be done here soon.” He paused and I floated again, more relaxed.

“Hold a moment,” the voice came again. He made a satisfied sound. “I have it. Now,
cara
, listen to me. I can ease these memories for you . . . take them away.”

To not remember. It was an enticing offer. But I needed to remember. It was important. For me and for the case. “No,” I said. “No, I don’t want to forget.”

“Brave,” he said. “Then I leave you with this, Ashley. You are free. Of Tate and any other. You are safe.”

The greenness surrounded me, flooded through me and I sighed happily, nestled in warmth and the teasing scent of Dan.

“I release you,” Marco said, and this time it was my ears that heard him, not my mind. The green warmth washed away slowly. I blinked, feeling not quite awake.

“Ash? Are you okay?” Dan’s voice sounded loud in my ear, sending a pleased shiver down my spine.

I blinked again. For the first time in days I felt truly relaxed. Boneless almost. I wanted to melt into the man holding me. Which made me realize that perhaps I felt a little too good.

And, even though I couldn’t see Dan, I somehow knew that he didn’t want to let go of me. That he was turned on too. I straightened, pushing at Dan’s hands. He loosened his grip slowly and I wriggled free. “Yes. Yes, I’m fine. Thank you, my lord.”

Marco rose to his feet and held out a hand to help me up.

“The pleasure was mine, Signorina Keenan.” He looked at me strangely for a moment and grinned, a wicked dimple flashing in his cheek. “And should you ever decide you are willing. . . .”

I couldn’t help smiling at him, even as I shook my head. Behind me Dan made a rumbling noise and Marco looked over my shoulder.

“Perhaps not. Your wolf does not seem to wish to share.”

“He’s not my wolf,” I repeated and Marco laughed as Dan rumbled again.

***

“Well, that was fun,” I said as we drove out of Marco’s gates. I stretched my arms above my head, as far as the ceiling of the Jeep would allow, feeling loose and relaxed. “What’s next?”

Jase peered at me curiously. “Are you okay? You sound a little buzzed.”

I bounced on the seat. “I’m fine.”

“You’re not fine,” Jase said. He peered at me closely, a wrinkle appearing between his eyebrows.

“Relax,” Dan said. “Her metabolism is doing some weird things right now. It can have some odd effects. And the full moon is only six days away.”

That sobered me for a moment but then I started humming
Blue Moon
under my breath, swaying softly. Dan was wrong. The buzz I was riding wasn’t the moon or lycanthropy. It was a combination of whatever Marco had done to me and my getting too close to Dan for too long. Contact high.

“She needs coffee or something,” Jase said.

“She needs pack,” Dan said shortly. “Ani will calm her down.”

“Like a good little doggie,” I said solemnly, then laughed as the car seemed to spin a little. “Bad dog. Woof.”

“Oh, this is going to be fun,” Jase muttered. “How long to Ani’s?”

“We need to go to my place,” I said. “I have no clothes.”

“Fuck,” Dan said. “Can’t you manage?” He twisted in his seat to look at me before someone honked at us and he turned back.

I pouted. “No. I’ve been kidnapped, rescued and then done over by an Old One. I want clean clothes. I want my stuff.” My happy bubble burst and I heard my voice quiver.

“Hell, don’t cry,” Dan said. “We’ll get your damn clothes.”

I sniffed. “Don’t swear, it isn’t nice.” I sounded so much like Bug it made me laugh again.

“Why don’t you try and rest?” Jase suggested.

“Not tired,” I sang. “We should go out. We should go to Plasma.”

“It’s four o’clock in the afternoon. Plasma’s closed.”

I pouted. Then brightened as we passed a familiar green and red sign. Krispy Kremes. My stomach rumbled. “I’m starving. I want a donut.”