Chapter Twelve
Onyx straightened her top, her head reeling from the passionate, and unexpected, kiss. Trying to keep up with Dagen’s thought process was making her dizzy. One second he seemed not to believe her, the next he offered her an olive branch. Or in this case a hell of a kiss.
She supposed she wasn’t much different. The magic and blood connection mentally and emotionally played havoc with them both. They were creatures of instinct who’d survived by following their intuition. Well, she’d survived, he’d thrived. It was natural to be suspicious of each other’s motives.
She hadn’t lied when she’d told him she was in this with him. Taking a deep breath, she took his hand. Big and strong and warm, it closed around her fingers, careful not to crush them. This was a man aware of his strength. There was no need for him to posture or show off.
The muscles in his broad back flexed as he unlocked the door to the communications center and ushered her inside. The chilly air hit her. He didn’t seem to notice, heat rolling off him. She fought the urge to cuddle against his chest. Kiss aside, they were partners until this war was over. She didn’t read anything into the embrace. As both had said before making love, it didn’t change anything between them. Sex was a convenient way to blow off steam. Anger and frustration often turned to passion. It didn’t mean anything.
The more she tried to convince herself, the more she understood she was lying. She’d tried to emotionally block herself off from him, but the barriers were impossible to maintain.
“Here.” He pulled a rolling stool out from under one of the unused desks and motioned to it. She sat and pulled it alongside his chair. “You okay?”
“I’m fine.” It wasn’t as though she could give him any other answer. This needed to be done, and it needed to be done now.
His eyes narrowed but he didn’t question her. Like her, he understood time was of the essence. Their relationship, or lack of one, could be sorted out when this was done, assuming they were both alive.
She pressed her hand against her stomach. He had to live. She’d promised Annalisa, made a blood vow to the journal…and to herself. Right or wrong, she considered the black wolf hers. Wolves were strong and free. Theo had been the one to teach her that, show her the way, and he’d been a kid like her. Without him, she might still be caged. Dagen was so much more.
He’d put down many rogue wolves as the lone wolf, protecting humans from becoming prey and the werewolf community from exposure. If humanity ever accepted werewolves were real, they’d hunt them to extinction. As the broker, he’d rescued innocents and saved lives. That area of his life wasn’t as cut-and-dried, delving into criminal elements, but he had standards he upheld. Human traffickers knew to stay out of his way if they wanted to live.
Dagen had done more to protect the world than anyone would ever know. She only had bits and pieces of gossip she’d picked up in dark corners of the world and from her sources. The world needed him. It wouldn’t miss her, a mage who’d never made a mark on anyone or anything and lived life barely leaving a ripple in her wake.
“I’m going to try Kade first.” His voice shook her out of her dour thoughts. “I was in contact with him more recently.” Without hesitation, he placed the call. It rang and rang and rang. She leaned closer, willing the gray wolf to answer. It would be anticlimactic after the intense lead up to this if he ignored them.
“This is quite the turnabout. I’m the one who usually calls you. How may I be of assistance?” She recognized the voice as Kade’s. She also recognized the question. It was the one the broker asked whenever he answered a call.
“Do you have access to a computer?” Dagen was all business, his voice clipped.
“Yes.”
“I’m sending you a link for a private chat room.” His fingers flew as he messaged. “Are you in contact with Devlin Moore?”
“Who?” She had to give Kade his due, he sounded truly perplexed.
Dagen smirked. “Nice try, but I’m aware of who you are. I’m also aware of the white wolf.”
“What’s this about?” The hardness in his tone made her glad he wasn’t in the room with them.
“Call Devlin. Get him in the chat room and you’ll find out.” When there was only silence, Dagen added, “You owe me five minutes of your time.”
A deep sigh came across the line. “Give me a couple minutes. I’ll contact him. Can’t promise he’ll answer. Unlike you, he tends to ignore calls.” The line went dead.
“Do you think they’ll show?” She glanced at the blank screen.
“Yes, if nothing else, curiosity will compel Kade. Devlin will want to make sure I’m not a security threat. They’ve both used my services, but they’d put the broker down in a heartbeat if they believed I was a threat to their mates.”
“Right.” She ignored the tightness in her throat and busied herself looking at everything in the room but Dagen. The other wolves had claimed the human women tied to them by blood. They’d kill to protect them. She was the expendable one. It was difficult not to take it personally.
She jolted when his hand dropped on her leg. The stool rolled back a few inches. “Yes?” she asked, keeping her voice light and steady.
“I won’t tell them about your parentage.”
“Thank you.” She cleared her throat, grateful he believed her trepidation was about that and not their tumultuous relationship. The last thing she wanted or needed was pity. She’d been made to feel less than her entire life. It had taken years to build self-esteem, to become a confident woman unafraid to roam the world and face her enemies head-on. All it took was a few words from him to dent it. That’s all it was, all she’d allow it to be. She’d never again be a victim, captive to the whims of another.
It was a promise she’d made to herself on the night she’d escaped. She was not only living for herself but for Theo. To do otherwise would be to negate the sacrifice he’d made. Because of him, she’d escaped.
Then there was Annalisa. The alchemist had survived untold hardships, including the death of her beloved husband. Her ancestor’s bravery was something to aspire to.
“Here we go.” While she’d been lost in thought, he’d navigated to the online chat room. She pulled her stool closer. It was time to face the other lone wolves. She wouldn’t cower or hide from either.
A face appeared on the screen. She recognized Kade Alvarez from their previous meeting. His eyes widened when they landed on her, then they narrowed as he took in a shirtless Dagen. “This is unexpected. That mark on your chest real? It wasn’t there the last time we crossed paths.”
It was then she understood why he had hadn’t bothered with a shirt. Both men would want proof when he revealed his true identity. Black hair and eyes were common.
“Is the white wolf coming? I’d rather not have to repeat myself.”
As if on cue, another image winked on screen, giving Onyx her first glimpse of Devlin Moore. The newcomer had white hair and eyes, giving him an otherworldly appearance. He took in both her and Dagen, his mouth grim. “This is fucking interesting. Kade said the broker wanted a meeting.”
Rather than correct him, Dagen took control of the conversation. “My name is Dagen Kern. You know me as the broker. I’m also the black wolf.”
“Bullshit.” This from Kade. “That mark didn’t exist last time we met.”
“Easy enough to cover up. I don’t tend to broadcast who and what I am.” That was putting it mildly. The broker was so reclusive, no pictures of him were available and few people knew him by sight.
He shook his head. “You’re sitting next to a mage. While I appreciate the help Onyx gave me and Luna, I’m not stupid enough to take your word for this. She could have put the damn mark there. Hell, she could be working with Solange, helping me out a while back to lure me in now. Nope. No way.”
This was unexpected. It proved Kade was smart. It also proved Dagen had been a bit too successful hiding his identity as the black wolf. Devlin sat back, arms crossed, listening to the other two.
Smirking, Dagen pushed out of his chair. “Maybe this will convince you.” He shucked his jeans and shifted. He transformed in the blink of an eye, the man disappearing in one second, replaced by a huge black wolf. The white marking was visible on his dark fur. The sheer size of him—coupled with the tattoo—was an unmistakable calling card.
Both men leaned closer. “I’ll be damned.” Kade reached forward and touched the screen. “That night when you helped me, I realized you were the broker. I had a fleeting thought you could be the black wolf, but you had no tattoo.”
He shifted back and hauled on his jeans, zipping them but not bothering with the button. “Prosthetic skin covering. It’s a layer of protection when I’m out in the world passing as a human.”
“You’re the black wolf. Who is the woman?” Devlin’s white-eyed stare was trying to pierce her soul. “You’re a mage? That’s fucking convenient for Solange.”
She’d expected this, but it still hurt. Not that she blamed him. Mages didn’t have a sterling reputation among werewolves, and especially not among the lone wolves. She refused to be painted by the same brush. “My name is Onyx. Like the women in your lives, I was altered at birth, given a drop of the black wolf’s blood to form a bond, a connection. Solange decided to up her game and hedge her bets rather than rely solely on normal human women.”
A heavy hand fell on her shoulder. “Onyx is mine.”
…
A muscle in Dagen’s jaw flexed. Their skepticism was understandable, but his first instinct was to protect Onyx. She tensed beneath his hand but didn’t shrug him off. He’d seen the slight flinch before her chin tilted up. It couldn’t be easy for her. She hadn’t asked to be involved in this, was as much a victim of Solange and Charles as the rest of them, but she was the only one dealing with suspicion from all sides.
Hell, he was as bad. Worse, because she’d lowered her guard enough to be intimate with him. Some women might use sex as a weapon, but not her. For all she’d been through, she wasn’t hard at her core. Tough, yes, but not cynical or cold.
Yet a piece of him worried Solange might have some link to her because of her past. Onyx had been a child. There was no telling what the mage might have done to her. The intricacies of magic were beyond his scope of knowledge, leaving him at a disadvantage.
It was time to deflect attention back onto the subject. “Onyx has uncovered some interesting facts about how we came into existence at the same time.”
Devlin smirked. “We already know about that, and so would you if you’d bothered to answer any of the messages we sent.” Keeping track of one another’s whereabouts was a game they all played. They might not have known what he looked like, but they’d both had Dagen’s phone number, as well as the broker’s. “I discovered that tidbit after Charles and Solange kidnapped Zoe. I’m more curious to know how your friend dug out that information since only the parties involved would be privy to it.”
He raked his fingers through his hair. Damn his mistrust. It had kept vital information from him.
“I’m good at ferreting out facts.” Onyx’s voice lacked any inflection, sounding flat.
“If you have something to say, say it.” Hands on his hips, Dagen glared at the men on the screen.
“I believe she’s working with Solange. I don’t trust her.”
“I’m afraid I have to side with Devlin.” Kade shook his head. “I appreciate what you did to help Luna and me, but I won’t put her life at risk.” He hesitated before adding, “The blood link is powerful. No one understands it more than we do, but you need to be careful.”
Something dark and ugly solidified inside him. When it came down to it, he’d always been on his own. Inside, his wolf growled, angry at his fellow wolves. They’d both expected better. “I appreciate the concern.” His words were polite but the tone said, “Fuck you.” Both men frowned.
A warm hand came to rest on his arm. Some of the anger bled out of him. He wasn’t fully alone. Onyx had made a blood vow, had risked her life, and had come to him with information when she could have taken it to Solange.
Who’s to say she didn’t?
God, the suspicion was tearing him in two. He couldn’t condemn the other lone wolves for questioning her loyalties.
“They’re right to warn you. They’re on your side.”
“So are you,” he countered. Whatever was between them, he’d support her against strangers. For as much as being lone wolves linked them, he had more of an actual relationship with her than he did with them.
And whose fault is that?
He wished the logical voice inside him would shut the fuck up. His wolf snarled, liking it even less.
“Let’s look at the facts, shall we.”All business now, she squared her shoulders, dropping her hand back in her lap. He missed the contact, that tiny link that joined them. “You and your women survived your altercations with Solange.”
“It was more than an altercation.” Devlin’s brow lowered and his lips thinned. “That bitch killed Zoe.”
Onyx paled. “She’s dead?”
“No, she’s alive and I plan to keep her that way.” Devlin looked straight at him. “I want to help, but as long as you’re with her…” He canted his head toward Onyx.
There was something else there, something concerning Zoe and why she was alive. He might have given no physical clues, but Dagen had caught a glimpse of anguish followed by determination before it vanished. Both men were masters at hiding their emotions when they wanted to but both were devoted to their human mates.
“I made a blood vow.”
“Onyx.” She owed them no explanations. His word should be enough.
“No, they need to understand.” She appealed to Kade. “You saw me work, understand what a toll it takes. I made a blood vow to protect Dagen.”
Kade scrubbed his hands over his face. “I’ve been researching magic since Luna’s run-in with Solange, tapped some sources for information. Blood vows are serious shit and binding. You witnessed this?”
Dagen nodded. “Yes. It was made in blood and fire.”
“What exactly does that mean?” Devlin demanded.
Kade released a long, low whistle. “It means she’s tied her life to his. If he dies, she dies. The vow is powerful. Add their blood connection on top of it and it’s unbreakable.”
Intellectually, he’d understood that, but to hear someone else put it so bluntly left a lump in his throat. She’d done it without hesitation. The negative voice inside him was strangely silent, as was his wolf.
“You three will fight your war with Solange, but you’re lone wolves. You’re strong and smart and immortal. With her loss to the white and gray wolves, you’ve already bested her twice. I’ve been running and hiding from her for years. Unlike the human women you mated, I didn’t have the luxury of ignorance. My life will always be in jeopardy as long as she lives. She’s a powerful mage, one willing to dip into dark magic, something I’ve sworn never to do. I’m at a distinct disadvantage.”
For the first time, he glimpsed respect from the other wolves. His pride in her grew. He hadn’t expected her to open up and share. When it came down to it, she was a human with a little something extra, but she wasn’t wrong when it came to comparing her skills to Solange’s. The other mage would stoop to any level to reach her goal—immortality for her and her lover.
“But whatever I have, I’ll use in service of the black wolf. My goal, no, my mission in life is to protect him. The most expedient way to accomplish that is by destroying Solange.”
“Where are your parents?” Devlin asked.
She shook her head. “They’re not a factor in this.” Not quite the whole truth but not a lie. “This is between me and her.”
“No,” Dagen corrected. “It’s between us and her.” Whatever happened when the dust settled remained to be seen. But there was no doubting her dedication to her goal.
Kade gave a curt nod. “Good enough. What about, ah, the personal side of your relationship? That can make things…difficult.”
Talk about an understatement. “Unlike the two of you, I’ve been aware of Solange’s plans for several years.”
Devlin growled. “And you didn’t fucking tell us.”
He canted his head toward Kade. “Who do you think planted the rumor that got to him?” That silenced the white wolf. “I knew he’d pass the information on to you. If he hadn’t, it would have been passed along by a third party.” He put his hands on the top of the desk and leaned forward. “I became the broker for three reasons—money, resources, and information. We need all three if we want to defeat our enemy. Onyx and I have been circling each other for two years. We’re both aware of the blood connection and have agreed our physical relationship changes nothing. We’re aligned in our goals. We’re partners until this is done.”
“And after?” Kade asked, casting Onyx a quick glance.
Dagen straightened and met her gaze, not surprised to see her head at a proud tilt. Maybe he shouldn’t have been so blunt, but they all needed to be on the same page, and it wasn’t anything he hadn’t already said to her.
“That’s none of your concern,” she answered before he could. “You made your own personal decisions and mated. We’ll make ours.”
The gray wolf shook his head. “The connection is important, more than you realize. It’s what saved us.”
“For once, I agree with Kade.” Devlin didn’t look happy about the admission. “The connection is everything.”
His wolf made happy noises, but Dagen was troubled by that information. “I guess we’ll find out. I’ll keep you updated.”
“Do that. Onyx helped Luna and me, so if I can do anything to assist, reach out.” With that Kade’s picture winked out.
“Same goes.” The white wolf signed off.
Dagen left the chat room, making sure there was no electronic trail for anyone to follow. “That went better than expected.”
“Did it?” Sighing, she played with the end of her braid, her shoulders slumping, unlike the proud woman from moments before.
His wolf whined. He wanted to take her into his arms and comfort her. The past couple of days had been a rollercoaster of ups and downs. It was little wonder she looked tired. It was getting tougher to curtail his need to take care of her. It was easy to justify it—she was his partner in this, a mage with significant power—but it went beyond that.
The other wolves weren’t wrong. The connection was important, more than he was ready to admit. “I think it’s time to go hunting.”
…
Solange looked up from her desk, her open journal in front of her. There was something she was missing, some key ingredient. Immortality was within her grasp and she wasn’t about to lose it.
The werewolf leaned against the doorway, arms crossed over his chest. Like all his kind, he was tall and broad. Shaggy brown hair fell to his shoulders. Unlike the other werewolves on Charles’s payroll, this one answered only to her.
“You called?” His voice was emotionless. It matched his eyes.
Ignoring the moment of disquiet at glancing up to find him there, she tilted her head in a quick nod. “Time for you to go hunting. I want the girl. Find her and bring her back. The black wolf will follow her.” The blood link assured that.
The wolf pushed away from the doorway, his gaze narrowing. “She’s in the city?”
“Yes.” She waved him away. “Find her. Bring her to me and to no one else. Now go,” she ordered, but he was already gone.