Werewolves Be Damned

Chapter Seventeen


Half an hour later, the gathering was called to order.

Nexi entered the Council’s Hall and Haven came barreling toward her. The sadness in Haven’s soul equaled her own. It became all consuming, but Nexi fought against Haven’s raw emotions. Now she needed to think straight, not crumble to pieces, and she’d wept until all that remained was emptiness.

Haven gripped Nexi with everything she had. “I can’t believe this is happening.”

Nexi couldn’t believe it either, but there was no denying the danger Kyden had landed himself in, and there was no running from it. When she backed away from Haven, Finn took her hand, and Nexi looked up into his warm eyes knowing she wasn’t the only one suffering.

Finn and Kyden were close, and the torment he suffered showed in his expression. She squeezed his hand tight and he responded with a hold as strong, clenching her hand for all the same reasons she did his—survival.

Drawing in a long breath, she scanned the crowd in the Council’s Hall, which was overrun with supernaturals, most of them werewolves. “What’s with the wolves?”

Finn tucked Haven against his side. “It’s the Texas pack. Holten contacted them immediately after Kyden’s disappearance. They’re here to battle Lazarus.”

One of the werewolves stood out among the bunch. His importance showed, since the other wolves surrounded him in a protective manner. Gesturing toward the wolf with a jerk of her chin, she asked Finn, “Who’s that one?”

He followed her direction. “Thor, the Texas alpha.”

Nexi examined him and she sensed a powerful presence. She spotted an arrogant light in his eyes she couldn’t find in any of the wolves around him, which she suspected was his alpha status.

She turned her attention to Talon when he stepped out into the center of the Council’s Hall. He raised his hand, silencing the crowd. “The reason why Lazarus has Kyden has yet to be discovered, but that doesn’t mean we won’t rip the cities apart to find him. Hunt New York and Salt Lake City for any remaining Texas wolves. Go out in pairs to be safe, as anything less will likely get you killed. These wolves have proved to be brutal and fierce. Do what you must to find Kyden and show no mercy in the face of what has happened tonight.”

The wolf known as Thor stepped in next to him, his blue eyes surveying the crowd. “As alpha of Texas, you have my authority to destroy any of my wolves who’ve assisted in this treason. If you have the ability to bring any back to me, then do so, so I can deliver their punishment personally.”

A nudge on Nexi’s elbow had her glancing to the left and she discovered a grief-stricken Briggs next to her. Without thought, acting on pure instinct, she threw herself into his arms and he caught her, holding her close.

Somehow being near the supernaturals dearest to Kyden relieved her. “We’ll find him, darlin’,” Briggs whispered into her neck. “We’ve got many to help with this. The wolves, and Lazarus, will have nowhere to hide.”

Nexi leaned away from Briggs and his wolfish scent remained fixed in her nostrils, as Zia told the crowd, “I’ll send a witch along with each group to assist in casting wards. Boundaries, so if Lazarus crosses them, we’ll be instantly notified.”

She turned to Briggs. “How did you know what happened?”

“We were contacted by Thor immediately after the news broke. I came right away hoping I could offer my aid in the search.”

The news…

We’ll find him…

The wolves, and Lazarus, will have nowhere to hide…

Her thoughts spun with the realization of her reality. So lost in her anguish over Kyden, she hadn’t really considered all the reasons this situation troubled her. Not only was Kyden gone. Lazarus had taken him. The vampire had already taken so much from her. How dare he take more? The torment that had nearly crippled her now melted into pure rage.

Briggs brushed his finger over her arm, and concern dripped off his voice at whatever had crossed her expression. “You all right, darlin’?”

“No. I’m. Not,” she said through clenched teeth.

She couldn’t stand in one place, shifting her weight and pacing in front of their group. How had this happened? Who was this vampire so intent on destroying her life? How dare he take so much from her? What gave him that right?

Scanning the room as she continued to pace, she noticed someone was absent. To Finn, she asked, “Where’s Drake?” He should’ve been here. He would’ve known she needed him.

Finn scanned the crowd then shrugged. “Don’t see him.”

Talon continued to set out rules, offered instruction on the best way to deal with the wolves, and any co-conspirators that might be involved. Nexi couldn’t hear it. She couldn’t get past the red-hot fury burning in the depths of her soul.

Inhaling and attempting to control her rage, she was overwhelmed with the scent of so many werewolves, reminding her of the werewolves that attempted to kill Kyden…and the ones at her parents’ home.

Right when her anger threatened to detonate, a deep growl, followed by many more, sounded from the entrance of the Council’s Hall. She turned to discover that Trefan—Finn’s younger brother and fellow guardian—dragged a man by the throat.

She’d met Trefan only once when she first arrived to the Otherworld, and after that, she saw him every now and again. He looked much like Finn, with blond hair, blue eyes, and had an easygoing way about him, but being in his early twenties, he ran with a younger crowd.

Trefan threw the man at Thor’s feet. “He’s one of yours. I hope you get more out of him than I did.”

Talon grasped the man’s throat and lifted him an inch off the ground. “What’s your name?”

He groaned. “Bayne.”

“You’ll answer me truthfully, Bayne.” Talon brought the wolf close to his face. “Why has Lazarus taken the guardian Kyden?”

“I don’t know.” Bayne gasped, his voice sounding strangled. “Lazarus never told me anything. I already told the other guardian that, but he wouldn’t listen.”

“He’s not lying to you,” Thor stated. “As his alpha, I know him well enough to detect such a thing.”

Nexi’s fingernails bit into her palms, and she stayed that way for the next ten minutes as she endured time-wasting questions. Her patience fled with each passing second. They needed to find Kyden and they were asking all the wrong things.

Her frustration built to the extreme and the thin line holding her control together snapped when Talon asked, “How many wolves are with you?”

Yet again, not thinking but simply acting on instinct, Nexi shot forward. Finn reached out to grab her, as did Briggs. Spinning away from their attempts, she also dodged more hands as they tried to stop her. A foot away from Bayne, she kicked out and hit his chest, hard. Talon lost his grip, sending Bayne and her tumbling to the floor.

“Where do the others stay?” she shouted, getting in his face. “Where is Lazarus?” There would be hell to pay for interrupting Talon’s questioning, for that she was sure. She didn’t care. Her only concern was finding Kyden. She belonged to him, as he belonged to her. Nothing else mattered.

Bayne didn’t say a word.

Grasping his head, she smashed it against the ground, sending a loud crack echoing off the walls as blood oozed beneath him. “Tell me.”

The determination in his expression shifted to fear. “You need to find Efren. He’s the wolf that knows Lazarus’s whereabouts. But there are many wolves joined to Lazarus now—more rogues than I could even count.”

She didn’t care how many where there, only where they were, and Kyden’s condition. “Have you seen, Kyden? Is he alive?”

Bayne winced, his blood drenching the floor beneath his head. “As far as I know, Lazarus is healing him enough to keep him alive.”

Relief rushed through her so fast she now realized she hadn’t been breathing easily. But what he said also confused her. Glancing up to Talon, she noted he didn’t look angry that she had intervened. “How can Lazarus heal him?”

“Vampire blood has healing properties,” he said softly.

Before she could issue another blow to Bayne’s head to gather more information, a firm hand yanked her to her feet. Then she found herself staring up at a tall, buff werewolf who was the definition of GQ, as mummers came from the crowd.

The arrogant twinkle she’d spotted in Thor’s gaze looked weak compared to what she discovered in this man’s chocolate brown eyes. His whole demeanor screamed power. He gripped her chin, turning her head from side to side, examining her with his cocoa-colored hair falling over his brow. “I don’t know you who you are.”

It seemed more like a statement than a question, but she didn’t get a chance to answer anyway, since Briggs interjected, “Nexi Jones.” Stepping in next to her, Briggs laid a reassuring hand on her arm. “Nexi, meet the Patriarch of the Wolves, Valor.”

Not quite prepared to talk yet, she inclined her head at the introduction.

Valor studied her a moment before he turned to Talon. “Is this the new one I’ve been hearing about?” At Talon’s nod, Valor said to Nexi, “You’re strong willed, I see. Are you Kyden’s mate?”

Her mouth parted, but again, nothing came out.

“She will be,” Talon stated.

Nexi did not want to cry in front of his crowd, nor did she want to break down in front of this incredibly powerful stranger. However, the determination in Talon’s voice, and the meaning of his words, sent tears streaming down her cheeks.

Shocking her, fatherly warmth touched Valor’s expression, making her feel oddly protected, then he wiped the tears off her cheeks in a gentle move seeming so contradictory to his tough nature. It also seemed to surprise Briggs, since his eyebrows rose.

Valor lowered his hand from her chin, stepping away from her. “We’ll deal with this wolf, Bayne. Then I’ll do what I can to help you.”

“The Otherworld thanks you.” Talon sighed, cupping Valor’s shoulder. “I thank you.” At Valor’s soft nod, Talon turned to leave the area and his eyes met Nexi’s, appearing almost grateful.

Not exactly the reaction she expected, since she still thought he’d be mad about the whole kicking Bayne out of his arms incident. Perhaps, though, right now none of it mattered, and that she understood. What she didn’t understand was why he seemed so grateful to her. What in the heck had she done?

Her attention shifted to Valor as he pointed to Bayne on the ground. “Thor, this member of your pack has betrayed us, make an example of him.”

Briggs took Nexi’s hand and pulled her off to the side of the crowd. She turned to him and whispered, “What was that all about?”

“Valor appears to like you.” Briggs tilted his head, his amber eyes in line with hers. “He doesn’t offer his help to many, and normally stays clear of dealing with Otherworld business. This is a great honor, giving you his help.”

“I’m grateful for it.” The more powerful supernaturals searching for Kyden, the better.

She looked at the commotion in front of her, as Thor knelt beside the wolf, and said, “You’ve disgraced your pack and endangered not only humans, but also your family. Your poor mother is heartbroken over what you’ve done, and the other young wolves have cast out your little sisters because of your treachery. Nothing will forgive what you’ve started here, and you’re lucky I show mercy to your family by not destroying them. Not all alphas would be so generous.”

“Calder,” Bayne shouted in a desperate plea. “Brother. Do something.”

That name Nexi recognized, and she remembered Kyden mentioned it the night they discovered Lazarus’s plan. Calder had been the werewolf from the Texas pack whom Briggs had found.

She looked to Calder as he stood near the corner of the cathedral, and his eyelids were lowered, head bowed. “I told you we had to leave,” Calder implored. “That you had to stop this, but you didn’t listen and now…there’s nothing I can do for you, brother.”

Thor shifted into a golden-brown wolf with deep silver eyes. He growled loudly and it rumbled through the Council’s Hall to send vibrations under Nexi’s feet. As if on cue, the other wolves shifted, including Bayne.

Nexi’s gasped as she caught sight of Valor. She’d thought Foley had been a big wolf, but nope, Valor’s wolf-form stole her breath. His cinnamon-colored fur had black-frosted tips and he was almost twice the size of Thor, closer in size to a pony than to a wolf.

His eyes stayed trained on hers, penetrating all her defenses. Being watched by him, she’d never felt so exposed, as if he could read her mind and discover all there was to know about her. The strangest part was she didn’t mind him doing it. It didn’t feel intrusive. He wasn’t judging or prying, he was simply curious about her.

Thor’s deep growl forced her attention to the battle. He stalked Bayne, circling him as Bayne scrambled back. The other wolves growled low, making every hair on her arms rise, almost as if they were encouraging Thor.

A second later, Bayne lay dead on the ground. Talon stepped forward, slammed his sword into the wolf’s side, and Bayne vanished.

In the same moment, Thor shifted and called, “Let this be an example to those who have shamed us and what will happen to anyone who joins those who betray us.”

The other wolves howled in response.

A soft choking noise came through the midst of the loud growls. Nexi looked to the corner again and found Calder’s face streaked with tears. Her heart reached for him, as she couldn’t imagine how hard that must’ve been to watch the death of his brother.

Troubling her more, no one went to Calder and offered him comfort. He’d done so much to help them, regardless that he’d left his pack. He hadn’t killed any mortals. He told them of Lazarus’s plan, and who knew what could’ve happened if he hadn’t. Tonight, he’d come to help, and that made him a friend.

Leaving Briggs’ side, she approached Calder, and once in front of him, she wrapped her arms around his shoulders. “I’m sorry you lost him.”

Calder held her tight, sobbing into her neck. “It’s Bayne who did this to himself.” His voice wavered. “It was what he deserved, but…”

“He was still your brother.”

Deep emotions raced through her as his sadness draped over her body. Every ounce of his pain was shared in his embrace, and it wrenched her guts. She’d been here before. She had lived the pain he experienced, more than once.

When she leaned away, she caught Valor’s gaze, and deciphering his look was impossible. Apparently, he was like Kyden, unreadable if he wanted to be. But for a short moment his expression softened. It appeared that he liked that she had comforted one of his wolves.

“Where do we start?” Finn called.

Another hand tightened around her arm, and Talon pulled her away from Calder. “There’s no reason to believe they have left Salt Lake City, but we’ll search in New York, too.” To Zia, he asked, “Will you assign areas?”

She nodded. “Of course.”

Talon looked down to Nexi, tugging her forward. “Come with me.”

On their way through the Council’s Hall, Haven ran toward Nexi, obviously sensing the emotions rushing through her. Nexi yanked herself out of Talon’s grip, then collided with Haven and hugged her.

Calder’s pain reminded Nexi of her own heartbreak, both past and present. She wouldn’t end up like Calder, mourning the loss of Kyden. She’d lost enough. She wouldn’t stand by and allow it to happen again. If that meant she had to face Lazarus, then so be it. And she had no doubt he’d find her if she was free from the Otherworld, just as he had before—with the blood connection.

Her chances of defeating Lazarus were not favorable, but the truth was, no one else would die around her. She’d not sit around waiting for everyone else to deal with him. The time to take a stand had come and she intended to show Kyden she cared for him as much as he did her.

“What are you going to do?” Haven whispered.

Nexi stepped back and watched Haven’s face pale with worry. “I know it’s only been a short time since I came here and met you, but my life is better because you’re in it.” She kissed Haven’s cheek and whispered in her ear, “I love you. So, so much.”

“You’re scaring me.” Tears welled in Haven’s eyes. “Why are you saying goodbye?”

Nexi didn’t have the heart to tell her and luckily, Talon broke the silence as he snatched up her hand and led her away. Haven’s cries followed her, and she heard Finn consoling her. As she matched Talon’s stride, a pull from behind her had her glancing over her shoulder.

Zia’s expression mirrored Haven’s with palpable concern. She mouthed the words, “Be safe.” No doubt, from her mind reading abilities, Zia would know of Nexi’s plan. It surprised her that Zia didn’t intend to stop her. Maybe she understood. Zia had lost loved ones, too.

Once they arrived in the Council’s Foyer, Talon turned her into him, and rested his hands on her shoulders. “This blood connection between you and Lazarus puts you at too great a risk to leave the Otherworld. Kyden would want you safe. I’ll honor his wishes by ordering you to stay behind.”

Nexi nodded, having nothing to say. He had a valid point. She sympathized with why he gave that order, because it made him feel like he did right by his son. However, what Kyden wanted had long past. Her decision held strong. “Is that all?”

“Return to your residence.” Dropping his hand, he strode toward the Council’s Hall. “I’ll come to you with any news.”

Nexi focused on each step he took, held her breath, and waited for an opening so she could make her escape. Talon should’ve known by now, she did not intend to stay behind, and he seemed to forget she had a habit of not listening to orders.

Hadn’t she already proven that, a few times over?

The second after Talon vanished into the Council’s Hall door, Nexi darted toward the portal. She’d wrapped her fingers around the wrought-iron handle when Drake’s voice echoed around her. “Stop right there, Nexi Jones.”