Wolf Creek Enforcer (23 page)

Rafe walked over and put his hand out, shaking hands as he growled, “Next time, arrive via the front door.”

David grimaced when Rafe tightened his grip.  “Got it man.  No need for a pissing contest.”

Smiling
, Ian walked over and slapped David on the back.  “Glad you’re back, and don’t mind Rafe, he’s just not used to people popping in like that.”

Lisa’s eyes rolled, “And you are?  I seem to remember hearing three distinct growls, macho man.” 

Devlin strolled over too, “Did you find the book?  I wouldn’t mind having a look at it.”

David walked over to the kitchen and sat in Ian’s spot, pulling the book out from under his shirt and laying it on the bar.  Grabbing a piece of bacon, he waved it at Devlin, “Go for it, just don’t use any of the spells.  It’s going back
to the fae, I do not want this book in our realm.”

Ian sat next to him, pulling his plate
away from David and scowling at him.  Lisa handed David his own plate and dropped more bacon on to Ian’s. 

“Ian doesn’t share, he’s like a dog with a bone,” Lisa grinned at David.

Rafe pulled Lisa into his arms, grinning, “She never stops.”

Hearing Melanie come down the st
airs, Ian turned and waited.  Her jeans fit like a glove, making her legs look deceptively long and lean.  This time her t-shirt was purple, not violet or lavender, but so deep it almost looked black.  She had pulled her hair back in a simple ponytail high on her head.  He noticed she had failed to put any shoes or socks on, her bare feet so tiny on the hardwood floor.  Her toenails were the same color as her shirt.  How did she do that?  Shaking his head, he couldn’t help but smile when he saw her eyes shine with joy when she saw her brother there.

Running to David, Melanie threw her arms around him and squeezed.  “I am so glad you’re okay.  Ian told me you and Devlin were fine but I needed to see for myself.”  Releasing him, she turned and walked into Devlin’s open arms, gently placing a kiss on his cheek before turning to Ian.

She walked into his arms and raised her face up for his kiss, standing on the tips of her toes.  Ian leaned over, pulling her small body up against his and placing his lips on hers. 

“Mornin’ babe,” he grinned.

“Mornin’ Scooby.”

* * *

Melanie wanted the details of Braeden’s take down.  Sitting around the bar, they all filled her in while she ate, each with their own version of the story.

“Wait, you two chased his pickup?  Were you barking at it too?”  Lisa asked, innocently.  

Ian warned Melanie, “Not a word.”

Melanie zipped her mouth shut and threw away the key.

* * *

“It’s sad, you know?  He wanted power more than anything else and didn’t care who he
had to hurt to get it,” Melanie said.

“I’m glad the little fuckers dead,” Ian
had no remorse.

“Ian!”
His mother exclaimed, coming in the front door just in time to hear his proclamation. 

“Shit,” he mumbled under his breath.  “Hi Mom, sorry about that.”

“And so you should be, cursing---“

“Hush Elizabeth, he’s a grown man.  Men curse.”  Mack followed her to the kitchen, “Although we do try to keep our language clean around the ladies,” he gave Ian a dark look.

Ian sighed, “Hi Dad, again, sorry.”  He looked like a chastised three year old.   

* * *

“So your plan is to give this book to the fae?” Mack flipped through the pages, “Why not just destroy it?”

“I believe the magic inside would not allow anyone to destroy it.  Items like these do not simply go away, they tend to keep turning up if they’re not handled properly.  Besides, the book is not in and of itself good or bad, it’s the person using it that matters most,” David told them.

Mack nodded, “Even a good man can be corrupted by power, and a weak man would not be able to resist the lure.  I think handing it over to the fae would be the smartest way to go.”  Mack set the book back on the countertop and rose to leave.

Sayin
g their goodbyes, Liz told Melanie, “We’ll get together and plan your crossing over when you’re ready.  Just give me a call if you need anything.”

Melanie nodded politely and watched the door close behind them, “Is she going to kill me?  Cause it sure sounded like it.”

Stunned, they all stared at her, except for Lisa who laughed, “She means when you go into the pond and become a wolf shifter.  Some of the pack use that phrase, although it is kind of creepy.  Of course, we could call it ‘the change’, but then it sounds like menopause.  I’ll work on that,” she said firmly.

Rafe cleared his throat, “Do you want me to contact Robert now?  We can go down to the pond and see if I can reach him.”

“Yes,” David answered firmly, “I don’t want to keep this any longer than I have to.”

Leaving the house, Devlin strode beside David.  “So where was it?”

David smiled at Devlin, and noticed the others pace had slowed down to listen.  “You won’t believe it, but it was under his mattress.”

Ian stopped and turned back, “No shit?”

Rafe punched Ian’s arm and spoke to David.  “That’s so,” pausing, “well, pedestrian.  Why would you even look there?”

“Not the mattress at his house, but the one he used in the cave.  I went there after searching his house.  People, witches, wizards, whatever, tend to stick to predictable habits.  Plus, in his arrogance, he never thought anyone would find his lodging in that mountain.  Actually, it was stuffed inside the mattress, if you want to be technical.  But it’s the first place to look, like the freezer, etc. for valuables.”

“Were you a criminal in a past life or something?” Lisa asked.

David grinned
, “My job is to find people, but I’ve gotten to be a pretty good investigator over the years.”

Arriving at the pond, Rafe closed his eyes and concentrated on Robert.  Lisa held his hand, feeling the magic flow from the pond to them both.  Robert appeared seconds later, grinning and slapping Rafe on the back in greeting.

“Rafe, how are my lasses?”  Robert grabbed Lisa and lifted her off the ground with his hug.  He set her back on her feet and grabbed Melanie.  “Tis good ta see yer safe.” 

Rafe could see Robert
looking for Melissa amongst the group.  “She went home.” 

Robert muttered to himself, “She’s running scared.”

“We’re all good.  Now set her down or I’ll hurt you,” Ian threatened.

Robert released Melanie and greeted the others.  His smile fell when he saw the book David was holding. 

“I see you managed to get the book back.  That’s some powerful magic you have in yer hands there lad, and not the good kind,” Robert said.

“Yes, and that’s why Rafe called for you.  I’d like for you to take it back to Faery with you.  I don’t think it’s a good idea for it to remain in this realm,” David told him.

Robert nodded, “It belongs to our Queen, and she’ll be happy to see it returned.”

Melanie stepped forward, “Why would the Queen need a spell book?  I mean, I thought she was, I don’t know, omnipotent or something?”

Robert smiled at her, “She doona ‘need’ it, but twas never meant ta leave the Faery realm.  Tis a child’s study book, for learning spells and magic.  The children practice on each other, in the hands of humans, it could be lethal ta my people.”  Robert’s face was grim, “We will look into how it got here.  I didna recognize it when the wizard had it, his black magic protected it.  Now that it’s no longer in his possession, I can see it fer what it is.  But my Queen will still need ta remove the bad aura surrounding it.”

David held the book out for
Robert, glad he would no longer be in charge. 

Robert’s hands came up, then dropped to his side.  “I think you should giv
e it ta her.  My Queen will want ta meet you.”

David stepped back, surprise on his face.  “Go to Faery?  Hell yes!  I’ve always wanted to.”  He was grinning from ear to ear.

“Can I go too?” Melanie asked, bouncing on the grass.

“Me too, me too!” Lisa was holding her hand up like she was in elementary school. 

Robert’s laughter boomed, bouncing around the water and echoing back to them. 

“The Scott family are always welcome
in Faery, I’m sure the Queen will be happy ta see you all.”

Rafe groaned, he absolutely hated shifting through realms.

“Wait!”  Ian pulled Melanie aside, “I think we should stay here so you can rest.  You haven’t had enough time to recover.”

“I don’t want to stay behind, I feel great, Ian.  The pond has completely rejuvenated me.”

“Faery will be good for her Ian, the magic there is in the air,” Robert could hear Melanie imploring Ian.

Ian sighed, he was outnumbered.
      

Robert flashed David, Rafe and Lisa first, then came back for Ian, Melanie and Devlin.

Melanie was shocked at how much smoother the ride was to Faery.  There was no vortex, no wind, no sound.  Her equilibrium was slightly off, but the trip was instantaneous, not like when she traveled through time. 

Looking around, she was amazed at the sight before her.  It was too beautiful for words.  She stood in awe before a castle, the
mortar so white it blinded her.  She had to look down and wait for her vision to adjust.  Feeling the grass beneath her, she curled her toes, each blade of grass softly caressing her feet.     

Slowly she lifted her head, moving past the castle and up to a sky so pretty, she wanted her paints so she could capture it’s blue and pink hue.  She knew she could never describe the beauty she was seeing, but she could paint it and try to show its’ brilliance. 

She felt Ian’s arms surround her and leaned back in his embrace.  “Kind of dull here, isn’t it?” Ian had his chin on her head but she knew he was smiling. 

“What a glorious place,” Lisa said quietly. 

They all acknowledged Lisa, her words could not be bested by them.

“Come along, I’ll show ye around later.  I think it best ta see the Queen first.”

Following Robert as he nodded to the men guarding the castle door, they stepped inside and waited again as their eyes adjusted.  He gave them a couple of minutes, then took off down a short hallway.  Only it wasn’t short, it seemed to grow longer as they marched pass each door.

Melanie was twisting her head from side to side, wanting to see everything.  She only had a moment’s impression of a very large room when they’d entered the castle.  Once her eyes had adjusted, Robert had been moving and she didn’t have an opportunity to stare like she wanted to.  The floor was black and white checkered, that much she could see.  Marble maybe?  Then the floor changed and she was lo
oking at the sky.  Gasping, she felt like she was falling to the earth.  Ian had his arm around her, which helped to ground her and keep her moving forward.

Melanie pulled her head up, the floor was making her dizzy.  Now she
could see what she hoped was the end of the hall, since there were another set of guards at the double door. 

Robert stopped and spoke to the guards, then told them to wait a moment while he
checked to see if she would admit them. 

Standing in the hallway, Lisa and Melanie looked at one another and giggled.  They could not believe they were waiting to meet the Faery Queen.  Surreal was the only word to explain it. 

Melanie looked at the guards, seeing two gorgeous men in kilts.  Oh my God!  They were twins!  Long, black hair fell past their shoulders.  They stood with feet braced apart, arms crossed over their chest.  Her eyes rolled down their bodies to their legs, then back up to their faces.  They were grinning at her, both having a dimple mirror opposites of the other.  Sparkling blue eyes devoured her.  She felt Ian’s chest rumble as he growled.  Patting the arm across her waist, she turned and wrapped her arms around him, trying to calm him down.

She heard a growl next her, and saw the exact same expression on Rafe’s face. 

“Chill Rafe, those two probably came out of the womb flirting with the nurses,” Lisa said. 

The twin guards laughed, winking at them. 

Both Devlin and David leapt in front of the guards when Rafe and Ian put the girls aside and stepped forward.   The twins were reaching for their swords when the door opened.

“Haud on!” Robert shouted as he pushed himself between the two guards.  Sighing, “I dinna want ta know.  Follow me if you want ta meet the Queen.

The twins stepped back, once again crossing their massive arms over their chest.

Rafe and Ian growled as they passed the twins
, tucking their mates tightly against their bodies. 

Chapter 16

David held the book to his chest like a shield, feeling like a kid being brought before the principal for some childish misdeed.  He was expecting a grand
room with some kind of golden thrown, but instead there was a sofa and a few chairs arranged around a small table.  Another set of doors led off into what he presumed was her private bedroom.