Chapter Fourteen
Onyx had her surprise at his ingenuity under control by the time he pulled into a spot in the parking garage. Never in a million years would she have considered creating an elite werewolf sniper unit.
A lone wolf worked…well, alone. The other two hadn’t deviated from that path. Dagen had forged a new one, creating the persona of the broker, amassing all these assets for one reason and one reason only—to defeat his enemies. She was simply another piece of that puzzle, no different from the snipers.
He’d never kissed them.
She almost snorted at the wayward thought. Even if he did take a lover, he’d never mix business with pleasure. It would muddy the waters, as it was doing with them. Get your mind off sex. Not an easy thing to do with him sitting right next to her. His presence, his essence surrounded her, pulling her attention back to him again and again.
“Where are we going?” They were in Manhattan, which made sense since Charles Armstrong, Solange’s lover and accomplice, had offices here.
He cut the engine and pocketed the keys. “There’s a restaurant with outdoor seating not far from here. It’s a popular area. First, we’ll get you some new clothes.”
To give herself extra time, she grabbed her bag and rummaged through it. Finding a pack of mints near the bottom, she shook one out and popped it in her mouth. “Want one?”
“Thanks, I’m good.” He waited until she’d zipped her bag. “I can take you back to the bunker.” It was impossible to read his expression, but he reached out and ran his thumb over the curve of her cheek. “It’s not too late for you to walk away.”
He meant it. She was his biggest asset in his fight against another mage, but he was willing to forgo that advantage to protect her. Her heart thumped hard against her chest. Warmth spread throughout her. When he reached into his pocket for the keys, she grabbed his wrist. “No.” It meant the world to her that he’d put her first. No one ever had. It solidified her resolve to see this through. “I’m not having second thoughts. I just needed a moment.”
His eyes searched hers for a long moment. Giving a curt nod, he shoved the keys away and opened his door. “Let’s go.”
Apparently, whatever he’d seen reflected in her face had reassured him. She met him at the front of the vehicle. “I don’t need new clothes.” That was pure vanity on her part. “We can go straight to the restaurant.” Now that they were committed to this plan, she wanted to get to it.
He snagged her hand, swallowing her smaller one until they linked fingers. “Clothes first.” Not to be deterred, he turned right. Not as familiar with the area as he was, she allowed him to lead. They passed several shops. She was beginning to wonder how far they were going to hike when he stopped and pulled open a door.
The sound of soft Celtic harps greeted her when she stepped inside the store. Sage and lavender incense perfumed the air. A woman in a long green dress, hooped earrings, and a multitude of chains around her neck smiled from behind the counter. “Welcome.” When she got her first glimpse of Dagen, her eyes widened. She swallowed hard enough to make her throat ripple.
Onyx opened her senses a sliver and caught a hint of magic. This woman wasn’t a mage, more a human with a little extra, but one who’d never trained. She was astute enough to sense something was different about Dagen.
“I love your place.” She walked toward the counter, hoping to put the woman at ease. “I’m hoping you can help me. I need a new outfit.”
Worry warred with financial gain with the promise of a substantial sale winning.
“What are you looking for?” The woman gave Dagen one final glance before giving Onyx her full attention.
They were the only people in the place. That might not last, so she decided to shop fast. She scanned the racks and tables. Oh, she could spend hours in this place. It was totally her style…
How had he known? He’d only seen her in jeans and leggings. Okay, he’d caught glimpses of her over the years, but this place was very much her. A lump rose in her throat and tears pricked her eyes. He hadn’t had to do this. Any store they’d passed would have provided an outfit. This place would allow her to dress to suit her, to build her confidence, add a layer to the arsenal of her power.
He prowled over from his position by the door. “Does anything suit?”
The proprietor linked her hands together, appearing concerned. “It all suits,” she told them both. “This place is wonderful.” She turned to him and put her hand on his chest. “Thank you,” she whispered.
He gave her a curt nod and resumed his post by the door.
There was no time to linger. When this was over, if she survived, she was so coming back here. She snatched a pair of leggings off a table. “I’ll start with these.” They were light, more the consistency of tights. She was about to grab a tunic off a rack—time was wasting—when she saw a dress. No, not a dress, the dress. Pulled toward it, she walked to the wall and touched the fabric.
“Isn’t it gorgeous?” The proprietor joined her, flicking occasional peeks toward Dagen. “The velvet is lightweight. A bit heavy for daytime but perfect for evening.”
“It’s stunning.” It wasn’t black but midnight blue. The top part was fitted, the neckline v-shaped. From there, it flared out and would fall to her calves.
“There are pockets on both sides. Something not enough dresses have, in my opinion. Would you like to try it on?”
Oh, she would. Squashing the yearning, she shook her head. “I need something more practical.”
“She’ll try it on.” Dagen spoke over her. When she glared, he shrugged. “You want it.” He looked toward the back of the shop at the footwear. “Boots, too.”
Sensing a good sale, the woman grabbed the dress from the rack and took the leggings from Onyx’s hands. “Come with me.”
Left with no other recourse—and she really wanted to try on the dress—she followed the owner to a changing room. In no time, she had the leggings and dress on. It fit her perfectly. She turned from side to side, admiring it. It might not be practical, but it boosted her morale. If she had to she could run in it, especially with the suede ankle boots the owner brought. They were black, practical, something she’d wear again.
“You done in there?” The curtain was pulled back before she could answer. Dagen’s eyes heated. His curt nod of approval was as good as a sonnet of praise from another. “I’ll tell her we’re taking everything.” He glanced at her jeans and discarded top. “Leave those.”
She swallowed her objection. He was right. They didn’t need the extra baggage weighing them down. They had to be ready to run or fight depending on the situation. By the time she’d checked the pockets to make sure there was nothing in them and grabbed her bag, he was at the counter paying.
The owner smiled at her when she joined them. “The dress fits you perfectly.”
She smoothed her hands over the fabric. “Thank you.”
“Here.” Dagen looped something around her neck. The silver chain was longer than her other necklaces and settled at the base of the v-neck. Attached to the end was a silver pendant of a wolf howling at the full moon, depicted by a moonstone.
Her fingers trembled as she lifted it to get a better look. “It’s stunning. Thank you.” The clothing hadn’t been strictly necessary but practical. This was a generous gift. He could have chosen any of the different designs from the case, but he’d chosen a wolf.
Possessiveness and pride flickered in his eyes before vanishing. He peeled off several large bills and pushed them across the counter. “Will this cover it?”
“I’ll get your change.”
He shook his head at the owner. “Keep it.”
Onyx held her peace until they exited the shop. “You didn’t have to—”
He pressed his fingers to his lips. “I wanted you to have it.” After checking their surroundings, he angled his head to the left. “Let’s go.”
Walking alongside him, a sense of optimism filled her. It might be misplaced, but she couldn’t help herself. Their link was different from what the other lone wolves had with their women, but that didn’t make it weak. They were bound together, joined in their quest to end the threat to them once and for all.
No one would accuse Dagen of being romantic or softhearted, but she’d never forget this night, come what may.
…
He’d lost his mind. It was becoming a familiar refrain around her. What had possessed him to buy the wolf pendant? The dress was bad enough. It fit her like a glove, cupping her firm breasts, sloping in at her curved waist before flaring out again. The leggings and boots were practical for running and fighting. The dress and necklace were not.
He’d sensed her yearning for it, and her determination to set it aside and get something sensible. How often had she done that? Her life had been anything but a bed of roses. For all he knew, he was the first to buy her anything. His wolf chuffed, liking that idea. He couldn’t deny the sense of satisfaction that filled him to have her wearing something he’d purchased.
It’s business , he reminded himself. And good tactics. It built her confidence. He might not have had a relationship before, beyond a one-night stand or an occasional hot weekend, but he wasn’t stupid. What a woman wore affected how she felt about herself, and he needed her at her best.
He was damn lucky she hadn’t taken him up on his offer to take her back to the bunker. What had he been thinking? He hadn’t been, not with his big brain, anyway. The urge to keep her safe was almost as large as his desire to take her to bed. Talk about complicating the crap out of the situation. The only way to fight magic was with more of the same. It was the one thing he couldn’t do. As much as it pained him, he needed her help. That meant she had to stay and fight alongside him.
The restaurant loomed ahead. His snipers would be in place and cover their retreat, if necessary. Otherwise, they’d fade into the woodwork without detection. “Showtime,” he told her. “You ready?” She’d been unusually quiet since they’d left the shop. That worried him. Was she having second thoughts?
Her smile was forced, but she nodded. “As ready as I’ll ever be.”
A waiter seated them at one of the outdoor tables and took their drink orders. Nearby buildings blocked the sun as it descended in the sky. Evenings were longer this time of year but it was closing in. Soon the night crawlers would come out to play.
“So what do we do now?” Her attention was on the people walking by.
“Now we order dinner.” He flipped open the menu their server had left. Her growl of frustration had his wolf’s ears perking up. Dagen barely suppressed a smile.
“How can you even think about eating?”
He set the menu aside, having made his choice. “I’m hungry.”
She absently opened and closed the menu. “I suppose this is nothing new for you. I’m used to flying under the radar, not actively putting myself in the path of danger.”
Reaching across the table, he placed his hand over hers. “We’re not alone. We have backup.”
“You’re right.” She played with the wolf pendant around her neck. “You’re right,” she repeated. “Do you think one of their scouts will see us?”
“It’s not a matter of if but when.” He sat back, allowing the waiter to place their drinks on the table and take their orders. Alone again, he picked up their conversation. “Our faces have been blasted to everyone in their network. I can guarantee they have spies in the local packs, as well. Money talks and Charles Armstrong has plenty to toss around.”
“People are always drawn to power. Wolves on the outer perimeter of the packs would be easily seduced by the promise of more, a chance to advance above their station.”
That she understood the nature of the wolf didn’t surprise him. “From what I’ve uncovered, that’s exactly what’s happened. The local alphas are working to uncover the traitors in their ranks, but it takes time. They have to tread carefully. Last thing they want is to piss off their pack with baseless accusations and cause dissention in the ranks.”
She ran the tip of her finger around the rim of her glass. “To have a traitor in their midst brings into question the alpha’s position. How good an alpha is he if he can’t keep his people’s loyalty?”
“Exactly. The white wolf uncovered a traitor in the Brooklyn Pack. Their alpha’s had a quiet word to his counterpart in the Manhattan and Queens.”
“There are three packs in the city, right?”
“Officially. Unofficially, Charles Armstrong has built a pack that rivals the other three combined.”
She took a sip of her sparkling water, her hand steady, whatever nerves had plagued her earlier settled. “That’s disturbing. So many.”
“Numbers are unknown, but he’s pulled some from local packs and recruited across the country. As a broker, I’ve gotten word of unattached males leaving their packs. Mostly younger ones, looking for opportunity, money, and a chance to fight. Most packs prefer peace these days. It’s more profitable.”
“But wolves, being wolves, will always have the urge to hunt.”
The waiter returned with large plates of pasta and a basket of garlic bread. After asking if there was anything else he could get them and being assured they were fine, he moved on to other customers.
“You’re not wrong.” He handed her a piece of the bread, gratified when she took it from his hand. He couldn’t suppress his need to feed her, to care for her. It was becoming a problem.
“Delicious.” She finished the bite she’d taken. “There’d be rumors of immortality, too. People talk, it’s their nature. No matter how hard Solange tried to hide her true purpose, the word would get out. That would attract a different sort, older, more seasoned wolves.”
The lasagna he’d ordered was spiced to perfection. He enjoyed a mouthful before responding. “Charles uses the younger ones as scouts. They’re expendable. He surrounds himself and Solange with the more experienced fighters.” The man wasn’t stupid. Dagen would never make the mistake of underestimating him. “Tell me some of the places you’ve lived.”
“What?” She lowered her fork, frown lines marring the smoothness of her forehead.
“What are some of the places you’ve lived? I know about Mumbai, Munich, London, and Paris.” They’d crossed paths in each of those cities. “I don’t know where you were in Romania, except for the castle where we found the journals.”
Elbows on the table, she folded her hands together and rested her chin on them. “Why?”
He shrugged. “Why not? It’s a beautiful summer’s evening. We’re enjoying an excellent meal.”
“We also have people trying to kidnap us, possibly kill us. Solange might decide to remove us and go after the other lone wolves again.”
“They won’t attack here. Too well populated. We might as well enjoy ourselves.” He didn’t need to add, “In case the worst happens.” She understood the stakes as much as he did, possibly more, considering her upbringing.
A twinkle appeared in her eyes. “Sort of a ‘fuck you’ to anyone watching.” She nodded. “I like it. Let’s see, I enjoyed Barcelona and Oslo.”
Spain and Norway. The places mentioned had something in common. “You lived primarily in Europe.”
She pointed her fork at him. “Figured it was safer to keep an ocean between me and Solange. I traveled through parts of Asia and Africa. Spent a winter in Australia. The outback is deadly but beautiful. I met an Aboriginal shaman who could see into a person’s soul, tap into the knowledge of the land and his ancestors.”
“What did he tell you?”
“That I’ll be faced with choices, impossible choices, and that my decision would change not only my fate but the world’s.” She gave a careless laugh. “No pressure, right?”
Icy cold crept down his spine. There was truth to the words that wouldn’t be denied. When it came down to it, she’d make her choices, he’d make his, and God help them all. “Lots of moving around. Couldn’t have been easy.”
She shrugged. “Better than the alternative.”
“Tell me about your childhood.”
She carefully placed her fork on the side of her plate. “Why?”
“That’s where it all began for you. You don’t like talking about it, but there could be something there we can leverage in our fight.”
“I try not to think about it.” She rubbed her forehead and sighed. “But you’re right. The years rolled one into another. I learned, I was prodded, tested, and found lacking. I didn’t have any concept of the outside. My entire world was the subterranean lab where she kept me.”
“That woman needs to die.” To do that to a child was unconscionable. It proved without a shred of doubt that Solange was pure evil. His wolf stirred inside him. “We’ve got company.”
“Where?”
“Moving closer. I’m sensing one, male energy. Keep talking. We’re two people enjoying a meal. Your life changed when Solange kidnapped a male wolf.” It took balls of steel to nab a pup. The entire pack would have searched endlessly for the missing child. Werewolf births were not nearly as plentiful as that of humans. Each death was a blow to a pack.
“Theo.”
“That was the boy’s name, right? The one who died during your escape.” The energy was getting closer. The muscles in his shoulders tensed. All his senses ramped up, as they always did when the hunt was on.
“Theo,” she repeated. All the color leached from her face. Lurching to her feet, she grabbed her bag and bolted.