When The Fur Flies (4 page)

Chapter Three

Out of the darkness stepped the oldest, strongest, and most feared of the Vampires. He was simply known as the Elder, but his given name was Wilhelm Chambers. He was tall even for a Vampire at six feet five inches. His body was solid with muscles flexing beneath the simple white dress shirt and slacks. His skin almost glowed, paled as it was by years of living in the dark. It wasn’t fair that the undead one’s appearance was so attractive. The handsome bastard was a lethal piece of hot eye-candy, Allison thought with a sigh. If she hadn’t just been possessed by one even sexier than him, she might have been tempted by the deep brown eyes and brown waves of his stylishly cut hair.

Reginald let Allison slide down to her feet before he thrust her behind him in a move that was both protective and natural to the man. Allison clutched his arm for a second before letting him go. If there was a need to fight, he would need room to change quickly. Her heart thundered in a rhythm too fast, and her flesh still felt itchy and irritated. She rubbed at her arms as she peered around his arm at the Vampires’ Elder.

The beauty of these two alpha males didn’t fail to amaze her. Their power radiated from bodies designed by the Goddess to attract every female eye that should come in contact with them. Monsters should never have been created with such animal magnetism, yet weren’t most predators handsome and irresistible to their prey?

“Do you not wish to share your treasure, Wolf?” The brown eyes flashed red for the barest second. “I understand the need to keep the little chit to yourself. I, too, had found something worth keeping in my care, but she seems to have been taken out from under my nose.” The accusation hung in the air between them.

“My pack had nothing to do with your intended’s disappearance. We have no quarrel with you, Chambers.” The Vampire’s eyes narrowed at the use of his name. No one below him dared call him by his surname. Reginald glared at his opponent with the arrogant confidence of an equal. “You are threatening the Treaty by being above ground at the rise of the full moon. This is our time to claim the night.”

“You talk to me of treaties and here you are denying involvement with my beloved’s disappearance?” Chambers’s thick fangs flashed at them suggestively. Reginald widened his stance in an effort to block Allison further from the ancient Vampire. His thoughts echoed in her mind with a clarity she found remarkable and strange. He was wishing he could get her out of the line of fire before Chambers realized he was protecting not only a hot-blooded Witch, but the one responsible for the act against him. Reginald Leclair was an honorable Wolven, one who would fight to his death to protect her, even though she did not deserve his sacrifice. Her conscience ached with her remorse. He deserved far better.

“The Keeper lied to you by implicating us. If I were you, I would find out why she would do so. What does she stand to gain by causing a war between our two factions?”

“What doesn’t she stand to gain?” Allison drew a quick gasp at the Elder’s low hiss of hatred. She knew her cousin’s position put her in the hot seat with all three factions, but she hadn’t realized how deep and personal the hatred ran.

“The Keeper would never jeopardize the Treaty!” The heated words left her mouth before she had a chance to stop them. The man in front of her heaved a frustrated sigh that ended with a deep growl.

“Who are you to speak of the Keeper as if you have the right to defend her?” Chambers’s dark brow rose as he placed his hands on his narrow waist.

“She’s no one of consequence—”

“I’ll be the judge of that! Step aside. I shall see her for myself.”

“I don’t take orders from the undead, Chambers.” His voice dropped to a tone meant to intimidate. The gravelly sound had her stepping back, but the Elder only flashed his fangs, eager for the fight ahead. They would tear each other to bits right in front of her. Normally, she would have run for cover, but there was something strong running through her veins. It was a strange strength forcing her to straighten her spine and giving her the courage to act.

“Oh, for crying out loud!” Allison shoved the angry Wolf aside, only able to move halfway around him as his big body refused to let her past. A strong arm barred her from going any farther toward the Vampire. “I’m Allison Carver, Alexa’s cousin. Well, I was until the Coven disavowed me. Now, I’m alone in my actions.” Her face flamed hot as she became the object of the Elder’s assessing stare. She felt like her insides were on fire, whether as a result of his cold stare, Reginald’s furious growls, or because she knew her time had run out. She wasn’t sure the cause of the pain, but it hurt like hell. She covered her tense stomach with an arm.

“A Solitary Witch with a Wolven Alpha?” Dark eyes moved from one to the other before he did something entirely un-Vampirish. He raised his dark head and howled out a deep laugh that felt like nails on a chalkboard to Allison’s ears. She cringed as Reginald cupped her elbow with a firm, but warm hand. “That is rich!” He coughed as he got control of himself. “Tell me, how does something like this work? I thought Wolves only fucked other Wolves and the occasional human whore.”

“Don’t be an...” She stopped as Reginald pulled her backward to place his body back in front of her.

“Laugh all you like. Humans and Witches aren’t our prey. Coupling with them for us Wolves isn’t like playing with our food.” Reginald grinned as the Vampire hissed at him. Behind him Allison felt and heard his disgust with his own actions. He hated that he’d taken a Witch, especially one who would place his pack and their peace in danger.

“No, it’s more like playing with fire. Don’t worry, Wolf, you’ll not taint yourself with my touch, again.” Allison raised her hands over her head, feeling her magic snapping around her body with a sizzling heat. “The Keeper knows nothing of Elaina’s escape, or where she is hidden. You’ll not find her, Elder!” Her dark gaze landed on Reginald’s glare of warning before he could stop her as he intended. “The Wolves are too self-consumed to care about the life of a human. I alone rescued the poor child. I alone know where she is.” She slid a smile at her hissing enemy. “You’ll never touch an undead finger to her, Goddess willing. Now, leave me with my fate. So mote it be!” She let all the heat and energy pounding through her shaking body gather in her hands to be released as she suddenly slammed them down upon the broken asphalt in front of her.

***

The crash was deafening as white-hot light surrounded her dark body. Both males covered their eyes and braced themselves against a hot wind that blew them back down the alley like a pair of leaves. Reginald swung around as the light vanished and with it the Witch who had been standing behind him. He stared at the melted spot where she’d been standing. It stunk as the blacktop continued to pop and hiss with heat.

Wilhelm Chambers’s screech of rage had him turning toward the enemy. The oldest Vampire on the Eastern seaboard was frantically trying to put out the flames eating at his clothes and threatening to end his miserable life. Reginald took the advantage to turn, his clothes ripping to fall from his body as he changed fluidly into a big black Wolf. He took an offensive stance facing the Vampire.

“You think she’s escaped me, dog! I’ll hunt her down with every drop of blood I take! I’ll rip her flesh from her bones before I drain her dry and light her on fire!” Enraged, Chambers’s brown eyes flared blood red in the dark alley. Reginald lowered his big, furry head and opened his mouth to show a set of lethal teeth. His dark eyes narrowed as he dared the Vampire to follow the Wolf’s mate with a threatening growl.

“Do you think me scared of a filthy, flea-bitten dog? I’ll tear you apart, and then I’ll take her!”

“No one will be taken this night!” The soft, feminine voice was at direct odds to the deep growls and hissing going on. Both stopped the instant the little woman appeared at the end of the alley. She moved with a gentle grace, her steps causing her green skirt to swing around her pale legs. Her bare feet made no sound as she came to stand before them.

Alexa Carver’s hair was a shocking shade of blue black that hung past her waist in a silky, straight curtain. Her eyes were moss green in a face designed to fit a fairy rather than a Witch. She stopped just short of them with an insolent hand on her hip. “I do hope the two of you aren’t planning to break the Treaty on the cusp of the full moon.” One dark brow rose in a silent challenge of wills.

“The Treaty was broken the instant this dog’s mate abducted my bride. I will stop at nothing to get her back!” The Elder’s teeth snapped together in frustration.

“Mate?” Her dark head angled toward Reginald whose body instantly snapped back into his human form. His shirt was in ruins, but his pants survived the change well. “I did not hear of a mating ceremony, Reginald. Did my invitation get lost in the mail?”

“There hasn’t been one.” His gaze never moved from the Vampire, who stood with his fists clenched in anger. Revenge glowed in the red eyes, didn’t the Keeper see it? Didn’t she know the Elder wanted her blood with a fierce hunger born of hate?

“I hope you chose well, then.” She smiled kindly.

“Why don’t you tell the Keeper how well you chose, Leclair?” The dark chuckle sent a chill of foreboding down Reginald’s back. The Keeper was staring at the Elder as if she’d never seen him before. Wilhelm Chambers was not known for his sense of humor. Reginald highly doubted the Vampire knew how to smile. The Vampire seemed to be studying the Keeper with as much interest as she was him. Unfortunately, where the Keeper seemed curious about him, Chambers was glaring at her as if she were something to be squashed beneath his boot. Reginald thought it wise to break the tense silence.

“I chose better than you it would seem, Chambers. Mine was willing.” Sort of... He shrugged a shoulder, relieved when the Elder’s glare shifted back to him.

“Did your little Witch even know you were claiming her when you slid into her hot body? And where is she, now? Where did your little Witch go?” Wilhelm taunted lowly.

“Witch?” Alexa’s voice raised an octave as her eyes widened. “You chose a Witch?” She spoke each word slowly, her hands clenching over her stomach. Her features changed from relaxed to stricken and back to stoic so quickly that Reginald wondered if the stark emotions were a trick of the streetlights beyond the alley.

“Shit.” In all his dealings with the Keeper, he’d never seen her alarmed, until now. She knew exactly who the Witch responsible for abducting Elaina Dunt was. He saw the knowledge in her eyes as she shook her head at him.

“This cannot be...”

“Well, it is, Keeper. Your little cousin is now the Alpha’s bitch.” Chambers hissed as Reginald turned on him with a fierce growl of warning.

“If you value the peace and safety of your people provided by the Treaty, you will leave this place,” Reginald demanded, on the edge of losing control over his Wolf. No one insulted what was his, even if he didn’t particularly want it.

“Fool, do you not see that the Treaty is already broken?” the Vampire hissed loudly. “A Witch stole my intended! A Witch
you
have made a member of your pack! This joins your two races, leaving mine in the cold without my beloved. The Treaty...”

“The Treaty stands!” The walls of the buildings around them shook as Alexa’s voice boomed like thunder. Her eyes burned green as she turned to look at Chambers with command in her demeanor. “I would see Elaina Dunt returned to you—
if
she so wishes it. The days of taking women to your bed against their wills are over, Wilhelm. These are not the Dark Ages.”

“Elaina accepted my proposal—”

“Of her own free will?” Alexa placidly folded her hands over her stomach. “I will speak with her of this. If she elects to return to you, then I will bring her back to you myself.”

“So, you do know where she is kept.” Wilhelm took a menacing step toward her, stopping as Reginald angled his body to block the Vampire’s path. “You have broken your role as Keeper.” He accused her with a pointed finger, not deterred a bit by Reginald’s attempt to protect her.

“I give you my oath. I do not know where she has been taken, but I think I know who—”

“The Witch has taken her from me!” Wilhelm yelled angrily. “If Elaina is not returned to me by the new moon, I will have your blood as payment!” His hate thrust out at her with a threat that would have made grown men wet themselves. The Keeper stepped forward until she was within inches of his finger.

“If you take my blood, Wilhelm Chambers, it will be the last blood to flow over your undead lips.” Her green eyes flashed to black as she folded her hands in front of her chest and bent her dark head to him. “As I will it, so mote it be in the Goddess’ name.”

Reginald watched as Wilhelm’s head snapped back at the curse Alexa placed upon him. His pupils burned bright red as he bent down to eye level with the tiny woman. His mouth opened, and his teeth gleamed sharply as he glared at her.

“You are brave, Keeper. Brave, but foolish. I’m already cursed.” He stared at her for several seconds more before quickly turning away from her to melt into a thick vapor that moved quickly down the alley and around the corner.

“You are crazy, Alexa Carver!” Reginald shook his head as she turned her head to look at him.

“
I
haven’t tied myself to a
Wolf
.” She sighed softly as she turned to him. “This won’t be allowed, Reginald. Tainting the bloodlines between the races is simply not done. The balance of the Treaty is upset. Danger of war has never been nearer. I fear...” She took a deep breath as she fought her need to appear unmoved when inside he could tell she was crying out. “I fear for Allison. She has been on the road to her own destruction for so long. Now she has mated with you.”

“Like you said, the ceremony wasn’t performed. She isn’t my mate in name—”

“Only in deed.” She interrupted him with a raised hand. “I can sense her essence mixed with yours, Reginald. Did you bite her?” When he looked away she sighed. “I see.” She rubbed at her forehead with one hand and held her stomach with the other as she stared at him hopelessly.