Wolf Tales 11 (27 page)

Amazing.
Shaking his head, he tried to recall exactly what had happened. He still had no idea. “I don’t know why I did it. I just had a really strong feeling I should link with him. I didn’t last more than a couple of seconds. The blast of power blew me right out of his mind.” He rubbed the back of his head. “I’ve still got a headache. I can’t even imagine how much pain Anton’s in.”

Keisha’s mysterious smile caught him by surprise. “What?” he demanded. “You look like you know what’s going on.”

“I wonder if Eve had her hand in this? Why else would you have linked?”

He’d have to think about that. He hadn’t actually sensed anyone else, but that would explain the sudden urge to do something he’d never done in his life.

Keisha glanced inside the room and then quietly shut the door behind her. “When you meet with the feds this morning, what are you going to say?”

He shrugged and followed Keisha down the hall. “The
truth, or at least as much of it as we can. Obviously we plan to avoid any mention of shapeshifting. The president appeared to agree with us on that, but that was last night. Luc’s going with me and I’m hoping he’ll do the talking. He’s better at that sort of thing than I am. I’m not sure if Tinker’s coming or not. He stayed in wolf form the whole evening, so there’s no reason for him to make a statement. Besides, he really doesn’t want to be away from Lisa right now.”

“I don’t blame him. Are you okay leaving Tala?”

Chuckling, he raised his eyebrows. “What do you think?” He shook his head. “No. Not really, but she’s got Mik, so it’s not like I’m leaving her alone. And don’t forget Igmutaka. He hasn’t left her side, either, though he’s more interested in Mik’s daughter. So long as the baby’s inside Tala, she’s got her own personal watchcat. Lisa’s only got Tinker, and he knows she’s dealing with the aftermath of all that happened yesterday. Plus, she had some spotting this morning. I think she’s concerned shifting might have done some harm.”

“What’s Logan think?”

“That she’s fine, but he wants to keep an eye on her, and if that’s the case, I imagine Tink’s going to want to keep an eye on Logan.” He laughed. He and Mik were just as bad about Tala.

No, big guy. We’re worse. Mik’s voice resonated with laughter. I have to admit, I sort of like having Igmutaka on our side. He’s sticking to Tala like glue.

Keisha’d obviously caught Mik’s comment. She was grinning as they turned away from Anton’s quiet room. “If you want my opinion, I think Mik just likes having another hot guy hanging around.”

AJ was still thinking of Keisha’s teasing comment as he and Luc left their car with the valet in front of the Fairmont. It was true that both he and Mik thought Igmutaka
was a beautiful man, but neither of them had thought of him sexually, which was sort of odd, considering. They knew he was Adam and Liana’s lover, but he was their unborn daughter’s spirit guide.

For some reason, he couldn’t look at the man as anything else. He wondered how Tala saw him, if she thought of him sexually. They’d accepted him as the baby’s guide without question. Now he wondered if Igmutaka expected more of them. Of course, he was a shapeshifter, but not Chanku. Maybe Ig’s libido didn’t run his life the way Mik and AJ’s did.

He was still wondering about the spirit guide when they got into the elevator that took them straight to the penthouse suite. Luc paused for a moment as they stepped out into the long hallway and studied AJ for a moment. “You okay? You seem really distracted for some reason.” Then he laughed. “Shit. That sounds like the sort of question Tia would ask me.”

AJ grinned and nodded. “Yeah. Still have a headache after last night, but I’m fine. Maybe a little spacier than usual.”

Luc nodded, but he didn’t pursue it. A sentry met them at the doorway to the president’s suite. Luc pulled out his wallet. AJ did the same, they showed their identification to the man, and were ushered inside.

Keisha had given her statement the night before and it was surprisingly simple for AJ and Luc to fill in what they knew. No one mentioned the power outage, and AJ suddenly realized that no one suspected any of them. It was an anomaly that would probably drive people nuts, but even the president hadn’t been aware of Anton’s plans to shut down power.

Maybe it was better that way. If the question ever came up, he would tell the truth, but until then, Anton’s part in the power outage was going to remain a secret.

Beth and Nick entered the room during the questioning.
Luc glanced up and smiled. AJ noticed that Beth seemed quieter than usual, but Nick was more animated, practically buzzing with excitement. Luc was still discussing some of the night’s events with the officer. AJ watched the two kids for a moment.

Their voices suddenly slipped into his mind. Voices he shouldn’t have heard. They were mindtalking directly to each other, privately, and yet their conversation was as clear as if they spoke to him out loud.

Nick, I think it’s really going to be hard to convince Luc. He’s spent a lot of time training us.

This is such an amazing opportunity, Beth. Living in Washington, in the White House? Think of it. We would be part of the presidential family’s security team. We’d travel all over the world. They want us, Beth. You and me. Think of it.

That’s all I have thought of.

Beth glanced around, as if assuring herself their conversation was private. AJ focused on Luc as if he were involved in that conversation, but his mind was spinning. He’d never picked up private conversations before. The only one who could do that with ease was Anton.

Except Anton couldn’t pick up anything at all since he’d gotten zapped last night. And now AJ could.

What the fuck is going on?

He focused on Beth and Nick, eavesdropping without shame as the two kids discussed this absolutely amazing opportunity they’d been offered.

If he ignored the pain, it didn’t go away, but it didn’t control him, either. That was good. He’d been struggling now for hours, hanging on to what little of himself there was that seemed to be functioning, but it was terrifying, this sense that he was no longer the man he’d always been.

Anton lay quietly with his eyes shut and wondered how he would go on from here. Wondered if he would ever feel
whole again. He knew he was in the guest room at Luc and Tia’s house, though he’d much rather be home in Montana. He missed the smell of pines and the fresh, clean air. He missed the quiet.

He missed Lily’s laughter. Nothing quiet about Lily.

He really missed Stefan. Stefan would find something about this current mess that would make him laugh. Right now, Anton wondered if he’d ever laugh again.

At least his eyes still worked. He could speak, though it was exhausting, thinking about the words and forming them with a mouth that didn’t feel quite attached to his body. He could hear, but it was such limited hearing. He hadn’t realized how much a man missed when he heard only sound, not the thoughts of those around him.

He could no longer feel Keisha’s love, even though she sat in a chair beside the bed. So close, yet she might have been a million miles away. And the constant buzz in the back of his mind, the thoughts and conversations of the other Chanku across the country that had become such a welcome companion to his thoughts—that buzz was gone as well.

He might have cried out in frustration, but that wouldn’t do him any good at all. It would scare the hell out of Keisha and probably make Lisa and Tala feel bad. They would blame themselves for his strange disability. He was, after all, rescuing them when he apparently fried a few neurons too many.

It hurt to think about it, but he guessed he should be thankful he was at least alive. He had AJ to thank for that. Where in the hell was AJ? Hadn’t Keisha gone to get him?

He thought of opening his eyes, asking Keisha where AJ was, but then he felt sleep overtaking him again. That seemed to be the one thing he was really good at. Sleeping.

If he was going to excel at something, sleep worked. With that thought in mind, Anton drifted away once again.

Then he blinked his eyes. Opened them wide and looked
around. Apparently, he’d drifted somewhere besides sleep. He sat alone in a grassy meadow. Naked, just the way he’d been in bed. Grass tickled his butt and a warm breeze caressed his shoulders. He gazed around, struck with the familiarity of the meadow. He’d been here before, but it wasn’t the same.

Or was it? His memories felt as if they shifted, one within the other, and he rubbed his eyes with both hands. At least his head didn’t hurt anymore. The relief was exquisite, and more than welcome.

“Hello, Anton.”

He jerked his chin up and caught Eve looking at him, only it wasn’t Eve as he remembered her. The last time he’d seen her had been when she’d come to take Liana’s knowledge. Then she’d seemed every bit the powerful Goddess.

Now, she was more like the Eve he remembered, except for those strange eyes that seemed to swirl and pulse with various shades of color. He smiled at her. “Eve.” He tried to stand, but his legs were still rubbery. He bowed his head, showing her the respect she deserved. She had, after all, come through for him.

Maybe even more than he’d needed. “The girls are safe,” he said, fully aware she already knew. “With your help, we stopped the assassination attempt. Thank you.”

She walked across the meadow and sat down in front of him. “You did. Lisa and Tala are safe, the perpetrators are in jail, and it appears that you, my friend, are the only casualty.”

That didn’t sound at all promising. He sighed. “Is there any hope my abilities will return?”

Eve glanced away. Her chest rose and fell with her deep breath. “I don’t know. The Mother was very cryptic when I asked.”

“I see.” That really didn’t sound good. “What did she say?”

Eve reached for his right hand with both of hers and squeezed his fingers. “That to achieve great things, sacrifices must be made.”

He nodded. What could he say? Though he realized he had a new appreciation for Adam’s suicide attempt just a few months ago. Some sacrifices were more painful than others.

Eve was nodding and smiling. “That’s exactly what I was thinking. We’ve all made sacrifices to gain something else. Adam gave up his grief in order to find love again, and while it doesn’t sound like much to give up, for Adam it was a very difficult thing. I gave up life to fill the role I was destined for. Liana gave up her life as a goddess in order to find love.”

Anton gazed at her hands, so tightly wrapped about his big mitt. He was trying to imagine life without the mental abilities he’d taken for granted for so long.

It wasn’t easy.

“Would you have done anything differently, if you had known the sacrifice you would be making? Would you have tried to free Lisa and Tala another way? Risked the death of your president?”

He thought about that for just seconds and realized that no, he wouldn’t have done anything differently. “It was the only way I could see to rescue the girls and find out who was behind the whole plot. The girls are safe, the men who orchestrated it are all behind bars.” He shook his head, hating the fact that he’d been forced to make such a choice, but at the same time realizing that, even knowing the outcome, he would do it again.

Smiling, Eve squeezed his hand. “I thought so. Go home to Montana. Rest. Let your mind heal. AJ has what you need. You’ll know when you’re ready to take it back.”

“What I need? What do you mean? I don’t understand.”

“You will, my friend. Now rest.”

His world spun and left him feeling dizzy and disoriented.
He blinked, tried to focus, and rubbed his hands over his eyes. Keisha lay beside him on the bed. At first he thought she was asleep, but she blinked, opened her eyes wide, and smiled at him.

“You’re awake. I was getting worried. You’ve slept so soundly. It felt like you were a million miles away.”

“If you only knew.” Smiling, he rolled to his side and kissed her. “I love you. I was so afraid for you last night, I couldn’t even let myself think about the danger you were in.”

She brushed his face with her fingers. “I saw you lying on the floor and I couldn’t reach you. Your mind was shut down entirely and I wanted to go to you, but I’d promised to keep the president safe. I wanted to stay with you, but I couldn’t.”

“You did the right thing. Have they caught everyone? I should know more of what happened, but it’s all so vague.”

“It’s going to get very ugly. Milton Bosworth’s aide was the ringleader. It sounds like the guy’s insane, as if Bosworth rubbed off on him a bit too much. He had help from a member of the White House staff and the director of the special service agency that Bosworth formed and Baylor once worked for. The whole agency appears infected with the same fanaticism that marked Bosworth—and they hate the president. Passionately.”

Anton thought about the things Bosworth had done that had impacted the pack—Ulrich’s kidnapping, Manda’s twenty-five-year nightmare, Daciana’s twisted upbringing. So many people hurt by his hatred and his twisted mind.

“Bay’s going to be called to testify,” Keisha said. “All about the meeting they observed at the restaurant as well as the death of Rolf Jurgens, the one who warned him of the plot.”

“All of them were involved? All those people in a plot to assassinate our president?”

Keisha nodded. “The staff member switched the security guard watching over the president. He’s the one who got our paperwork to get us into the venue. The man who shot me, who was trying to kill the president, is the longtime director of Bay’s old agency and very close to Bosworth’s aide. He has a terminal illness—only months to live, so he volunteered to be the shooter. The plan was, when the wolves attacked he’d shoot at them, only he was going to miss and hit the president. It would all be a terrible accident.”

Anton tried to make sense of it. “But the wolves didn’t attack. He fired anyway. He could have killed you.” Just saying the words left him cold inside.

Keisha gently touched his hand. “It was five minutes to nine. The minute he knew we weren’t going through with our part, he chose to act without us. He wanted the president dead. The aide had him convinced that if he succeeded, he’d die a hero.”