Chapter Ten

Chapter 10

G ryph, his paw firmly planted on the leader's chest, shot a glance toward Selene, blinking to focus his catlike night vision. How do you know? he thought.

"I just do." She stood with wide eyes, apparently unable to see the wolves, knowing they were creeping closer to her.

Gryph growled low in his throat, a warning to the animals taking advantage of the darkness to press in for the attack.

A flame flared in Brigid's hand, forming a bright glowing circle around her body.

What the hell? For the first time, Gryph noticed the woman had fire in her hands and wasn't burning.

Selene's mouth tipped upward in a lopsided smile. "Brigid likes to play with fire."

"Think that's cool?" Brigid dug her free hand into her jacket pocket. "Get a load of these." She pulled out what appeared to be tiny creatures, tossing them into the air. Soon, the little buggers flew around the room, giving off bursts of fire like fireflies blinking, only with real flames, creating a strobe-like effect over the room and its occupants.

The night couldn't get stranger. Having lived in the Lair most of his life, Gryph knew other animals, magical beings and mythical creatures existed, but he'd never known one to pack fire in her fist like a softball.

Red eyes gleamed in the shadows, the wolves of the pack inching closer, snapping at the fire-belching, flying animals when they came too close and singed their fur.

Already outnumbered eight-to-one, Gryph had to get Selene and her sisters out of the pool hall before the rest of the wolf pack surrounded the building, if they hadn't already.

"Come on, let's go." Gryph, returning to half man, half beast, grabbed their captive from the floor and dragged him out the door.

Selene scrambled after him.

As soon as he emerged into the open, a gale-force wind nearly knocked him off his feet. Pellets of hail rained down on him, stinging against his fur-covered skin. What the hell had happened to the weather? The forecast had been for a clear and cool evening.

Then he saw it, and had to do a double take. A small, tightly wrapped tornado spun in front of him, grabbing up any loose objects, spinning them into the twister and flinging them outward.

On the other side of the funnel cloud stood Deme's SUV, which was supposed to have been parked a couple blocks away. Aurai perched on the running board, her arms raised into the air, as if directing the chaos like a symphony conductor.

First the vine-throwing Deme, then the fire-wielding Brigid, now this... What were these women?

Witches. The answer came like a whisper in his mind. One moment he was wondering, the next he knew.

He glanced back at Selene, her body hunched low to remain standing, her gaze shooting to his at that exact moment.

"You, too?" he asked, his words whipped away by the blast.

Again she nodded, as if she heard him, even in the din from the storm.

When they got out of this mess, they sure as hell were going to have a conversation.

In the meantime, a pack of wolves stood in the street, leaning into the wind. Each time the wolves tried to make a dash for the door, hail pounded on them, driving them back. Gina stood on the ground beside Aurai, her hair twisting and dancing around her face.

"Get him to the SUV," Selene called out over the howling of wind and wolves. "My sisters will hold them off."

"Anything else I should know about you?" Gryph snapped, feeling the fool for thinking Selene defenseless.

Selene gave him an apologetic look, squinting as her hair lashed across her face. "I didn't mention that my sisters and I have special talents?"

"Yeah, but I thought you meant self-defense skills, not—" he waved a hand "—this."

"I'd say it's all about self-defense." Selene stepped out into the street, the tornado moving enough to allow her to pass behind it.

The shifter he had in his grip struggled against the restraining vines, his wolf snout jutting out of his human face, grabbing and tearing at the bonds. He jerked hard, ripping through enough to free his arms and lunge at Gryph with razor-sharp teeth.

Gryph dropped him in time to miss being slashed by vicious canines. The man rolled away, ripping at the vines around his legs, his body shifting into wolf form. Gryph dove for him, snagging a leg before he could make a run for it.

Deme, Brigid and Cal backed out of the pool hall at that moment, followed by the flying fire-breathing things.

Cal had drawn his weapon, ready to shoot anyone following them. When they cleared the door, Gryph shouted to Deme, "A little help here."

The wolf twisted and snapped at him.

Gryph let go of one leg and grabbed another to avoid being ripped to shreds.

Deme spun toward Gryph, whipped her hands into the air and, despite the storm raging around her, had their prisoner's four legs bound together so tightly, he toppled over in a snarling heap.

The wolves in the street howled, leaping forward, only to be slapped back by the twister. Several wolves burst through the door.

Brigid was ready with a ball of fire in each palm. As quickly as she launched a ball, another appeared in her hand. She twirled the balls, daring any wolf to make a play for her or any of her sisters.

Once Deme had their prisoner secure, she lassoed the pool hall door and jerked it shut, tying it with heavy vines, blocking the remaining pack members from exiting that direction. "We don't have much time before they'll be coming out the back."

The fireflies flew over the pack of wolves, spitting flames into their fur. Two of them got too close to the funnel cloud and were sucked up inside.

"Damn. Sorry," Brigid called out to the trapped creatures.

Gryph, still in a halfway state, dragged the angry wolf shifter along with him and stuffed him into the backseat of the SUV. Then he turned to help the others.

Wolves raced around the side of the building, joined the other members of the pack and closed ranks in a semicircle around them.

The tornado spun to the ground and disappeared as if it were a balloon that a child had let all the air out of.

"I couldn't hold it any longer," Aurai said.

"We've got it now," Gina called out, raising her hands to the sky. Brigid, Deme, Gina, Aurai and Selene joined hands. Cal stood on one side while Gryph stood on the other, wondering how they'd get out of this mess intact.

Gryph stepped out in front of the sisters and called back over his shoulder. "I can hold them off for a few minutes while you all get into the SUV and make a run for it." He let his inner beast loose, shifted into full lion and dropped to all four paws.

"I'll stay, as well." Cal raised his gun and aimed at the closest wolf. "Go."

"I'm not leaving you." Selene stepped up beside Gryph and put a hand on his shaggy shoulder.

"We're all in this together," Deme said.

Behind them, the SUV door slammed shut.

Gryph looked back in time to see their prisoner in human form, leaning over the steering wheel as he shifted into Drive and hit the accelerator, leaving a streak of rubber on the pavement as he shot forward.

"Hey, that's my car!" Deme started to run after him, but Cal snagged her arm.

"It's just a vehicle."

"Yeah, but it was mine." Deme glared after the retreating SUV.

Tattoo man hadn't gone a block before a commercial semi tractor-trailer rig appeared out of nowhere and broadsided the SUV so hard, it flew through the air. The SUV crashed through a fence and slammed into a building upside down, the roof crushed beneath.

Then the rig barreled toward them, engine revving, a gigantic bull plowing through a ring of amateur matadors.

Wolves scattered as they leaped over each other to get out of the way of the oncoming vehicle.

Aurai and Gina dove one direction, rolling out of the way. Brigid, Cal and Deme dove in the other direction.

Selene stood firm, her gaze on the oncoming monster of a truck, like a deer in the headlights.

Fear shot through Gryph. Fear for Selene. Still in lion form, he rammed into her, knocking her off her feet and out of the way of the truck. He barely cleared the wheels as the killer truck blew by.

Selene jumped to her feet as the sisters regrouped. "Run! Now! While they're still scattered." She led the way to Gryph's vehicle. He and Cal followed, bringing up the rear as the wolves regrouped and started after them.

Selene reached the vehicle first and slid in behind the wheel. The others piled in. Brigid, Cal and Gryph stood guard.

Cal climbed in, the windows down, his gun aimed out at the advancing pack.

"Get in," Selene yelled.

Gryph roared one last time, wanting to attack, not run. But if he wanted to stay alive long enough to figure out who had killed Amanda Grant and now the second in command of the Devil's Disciples, he had to retreat.

Selene pulled up beside him, leaned across the passenger seat and pushed open the door.

Gryph leaped in, the change coming over him slowly, his human side fighting back the lion defending his pride.

Selene hit the accelerator with all the force of a race car driver and sped away from the wolf pack.

After only a block, Brigid yelled, "Whoa! Stop!"

Selene slammed her foot on the brake, throwing everyone forward.

Gryph flung out his arms to keep his head from crashing into the windshield.

"What?" Selene shot a glance at the side mirror.

"My bike." Before Selene had come to a complete stop, Brigid shoved the door open and leaped out of the vehicle. "I wouldn't hang around here for long. See you at the station." With a quick nod toward their rear, she dove behind a bush and rode out on her Harley, leaning low over the handlebars as she sped away from the glowing fire of Deme's burning vehicle.

Selene followed, driving fast.

Gryph kept watch out the side mirror, hoping the members of the Disciples weren't following. Soon the wolves dropped back.

Before all the hair on his body receded, Gryph leaned over the seat. "Deme, if you'd hand me the duffel bag at your feet, I'll get dressed."

"I don't know. I was enjoying the scenery." She grinned, then reached down and came up with a gym bag, handing it across the seat. "Smart to keep spares handy. Does this happen to you often?"

"No." He gritted his teeth. He'd never turned in public. Balthazar had kept him in the tunnels until he'd matured enough to control his changes. He'd sneaked out on occasion as a young teen, but he hadn't officially been allowed to go topside until Balthazar was sure he could handle any situation without changing.

He was almost certain Balthazar hadn't considered a situation like being surrounded by a pack of wolf shifters with nothing but witches and an armed detective to help bail him out.

Selene kept her gaze on the road, slipping up onto the expressway as Gryph shoved his legs into the sweatpants he'd kept in the gym bag, never really expecting to have to use them.

His jacket lay over the console. Despite having to beat a hasty retreat from the pool hall, Selene had held on to it and made sure it came with them. Without his fur, the jacket was welcome. He slipped his arms into it and leaned back. "Who wants to fill me in?"

* * *

By the time they pulled into the parking lot of the police station, Deme had called 911 to report the fire, and Brigid was waiting on her motorcycle.

Selene cringed, realizing there was no keeping the truth from Gryph. Much as she'd liked being with him, once he knew what she was able to do, he'd probably never want to see her again.

"Witches, huh?" Gryph asked as he dropped down out of the SUV.

"Yeah." Selene glanced across at him as she pulled the key fob from the ignition and tossed it to him. She was quick to add, "We don't always use our...skills. Only when we need to."

"Some of those magic tricks your sisters pulled made shifting look tame."

"I wouldn't say that." Selene smiled across at him. "You're superstrong and ferocious when you've shifted. Not that you aren't strong in human form." Her cheeks heated at the memory of him thrusting into her, his taut muscles glistening in the natural lighting from his office windows. "Every gift has its advantages and drawbacks."

"Don't I know it." He turned toward her. "Let me get it all straight in case some of those so-called gifts are used on me. Deme, you, can throw vines."

"I have the ability to influence all things relative to earth." Deme slid out of the SUV and dropped to the ground.

"Not only can she throw vines, she can create a pretty convincing earthquake," Aurai said.

"Among other things," Selene added.

"Good to know." Gryph shoved a hand through his tawny hair. "I'll have to take out earthquake insurance. Never thought I'd need it in Chicago."

"Aurai can influence wind and weather," Selene offered, hoping he'd forget to ask her where her talent lay.

Aurai grinned as she climbed down out of the backseat. "My weather, plus Gina's ability to channel water, made the hail storm pretty handy, don't you think?"

Gryph nodded. "Gina's got water, and Brigid's pyrotechnics were pretty spectacular." Gryph got out of the vehicle and stood beside the others. "And what were those bugs she let loose?"

Aurai's smile brightened. "Not bugs. Miniature dragons."

"Fire-slinging, fire-breathing dragonflies and tornado tossing. What's that leave you?" Gryph stared across at Selene as she joined them in front of the building.

"Selene has the gift of spirit," Brigid said as she climbed off her motorcycle. "She's telepathic."

"She can read minds and feelings of the living and sometimes the dead."

"I can't read all minds. And usually it's more a sense of what the person is feeling." She studied his face, looking for any sign of revulsion and finding none.

His eyes narrowed. "Is that how you found me down by the river?"

"Some thoughts come to me louder than others. I couldn't ignore yours that night."

"So you knew I hadn't attacked Amanda?"

"That's what she kept telling us," Cal said.

Selene nodded. "I didn't exactly read it in your mind. It's more like I sensed it. Again, some thoughts and feelings are more prominent than others."

"Cal, Brigid and I have to report in to the lieutenant." Deme motioned toward the building. "You want to continue this discussion inside?"

"If it's all the same to you, I'd rather not." Gryph's gaze captured Selene's. "The less people know about my...other side, the better."

"We understand." Aurai touched his arm. "For the most part, we like to blend in."

"With mad skills like you all have, that has to be hard."

Brigid shrugged. "We get 'em out and brush them off when we have to."

Gina patted Gryph's back. "Your secret's safe with us."

"Unless you hurt one of us." Brigid's eyes narrowed.

Gryph half expected fire to shoot out of her eyes and burn him for even standing close to Selene. He raised his hands. "Message heard, loud and clear."

Selene glared at Brigid and hooked Gryph's arm. "Can you drop me at my place?"

"Do the rest of you need rides home?"

"That's right." Deme's lips pressed together. "I don't have wheels."

"The lieutenant should authorize a vehicle from the motor pool," Cal said. "We're working a case."

"Think the department will cover the replacement cost of my SUV?"

"If not, your insurance will. It was stolen."

"By a shifter." Deme crossed her arms. "I'm still trying to figure out how to explain stolen, run into and flipped over with a guy still inside."

Cal pulled her against him and kissed her lips. "You don't."

Aurai raised her hand. "I'll ride in the cop car."

"It's unmarked and doesn't have all the whiz-bang stuff the patrol cars have," Deme warned.

"I don't care. I've always wanted to ride in back." She held out her wrists. "Wanna cuff me?"

Deme swatted at her.

Gina rolled her eyes. "I don't know what she's thinking."

Brigid laughed. "Too many erotic romance novels."

"Tattletale," Aurai said, pouting.

"I'll go with Brigid," Gina said. "I could use a little more wind in my hair."

That would leave Selene riding alone with Gryph. Her stomach tightened and her heartbeat kicked up a notch. "Will the lieutenant need statements from us about what happened at the pool hall?"

Deme frowned. "Come to think of it, you never told us whether you read anything in the leader's mind."

"I didn't get much. When you asked him if they'd turned a human that could have gone rogue, I got an image of a pitch-black wolf with green eyes."

"Most of the wolves at the pool hall were gray or brown."

"Think the black wolf was the one who attacked the woman?"

"I'll check with the crime scene investigators," Cal said. "Maybe they recovered black wolf hairs at the scene of the crime."

"If it was a black wolf shifter, how do we find him?" Deme asked. "We can't just line up all the seemingly human men in the city and tell them to shift and see what we get."

"I felt him when he showed up at the hospital. When he smothered Amanda," Selene said. "And I've felt him again since."

"When?" Gryph demanded.

Selene looked away, refusing to meet Gryph's gaze. "When you dropped me off at my apartment earlier today."

Gryph frowned. "When you weren't feeling well?"

"Which means he knows where you live." Gryph's lips pressed together. "Damn."

"I don't like it, Selene," Deme said. "Anywhere else?"

"I felt him again when the truck tried to run us over." Her brow furrowed. "I tried to read his mind, but it was as if he knew, and pushed back."

"And almost made roadkill out of you." Gryph gripped her shoulders. "Promise me you'll let us know the next time you sense his presence."

She nodded, the intensity in Gryph's expression making her very aware of the warmth of his hands on her arms. His jacket swung open, revealing his muscular chest, reminding her of what it felt like to run her hands across his taut skin.

His nostrils flared and his fingers tightened.

"You should stay with one of us tonight," Brigid said.

"Yeah," Aurai agreed. "He finished off Amanda to keep her from talking and ran down the Devil's Disciples dude. If the killer knows you can sense him, he might target you."

"And he knows where you live," Gina pointed out.

Selene shook her head. "I'll be fine in my own place. I have locks on my doors."

"What about when you open your store?" Gina persisted.

"Close it for the next few days," Brigid ordered.

Selene laughed. "I can't close my store for long, or I'll go out of business. And I can't hide in my apartment, I have places to go and people depending on me for the charity ball."

"I'll hire someone else to take care of things," Gryph announced.

"No way." She moved out of Gryph's hands. "I've worked too hard coming up with the costumes for the waitstaff. If you take it away from me, how will I pay the suppliers?"

" I'll pay them."

"No, this is a chance for me to get my name and my work seen." Selene crossed her arms over her chest. "I'm not going into hiding because of what might happen. It might not happen and I will have missed this chance."

Aurai leaned close to Gryph. "You're not going to convince her now. When she gets that look, she's planted her heels in the dirt and she's not going to let you change her mind."

Selene rolled her eyes. "I can hear everything you're saying, Aurai. I'm right here, and I'm not running scared."

"We don't want you to end up like Amanda." Gina slipped an arm around her waist. "You said he pushed back when you tried to read him. What if he attacks you?"

"You can't throw fireballs." Brigid spun a ball of fire in her palm.

"And you don't have the ability to tie him up." Deme stood with her fists on her hips. "What will you do to defend yourself?"

"I have a brain, you know." Selene glanced at her feet, wanting the conversation to end so that she could get home to bed. "I'll think of something."

"That wolf had to be huge and heavy, Selene," Cal said. "How is your brain going to fight him off? It could be like throwing a BB at a fence post. You might hit it, but it's not going to have any effect. You have to go after an animal that large with an elephant gun and blow it out of the water."

"I can handle it without an elephant gun," Selene said quietly.

"What aren't you telling us?" Brigid's eyes narrowed. "Was that you holding back the wolves attacking Gryph in the pool hall? By the goddess, when did you learn how to do that?"

Selene's cheeks burned. "It just happened."

"You did that?" Deme grinned. "I wondered why they couldn't get to Gryph."

"How?" Gina asked.

Gryph's frown deepened. "What are you talking about?"

Selene shrugged, not wanting to make a big deal out of it. Talking about her abilities only made it more apparent that she had some control over others' minds. How soon would it be before Gryph realized she might have the ability to control his thoughts and feelings? Thus the reason for her to stay out of relationships she really cared about. And for some reason, she felt this one had the potential to be one of those. "I can't explain it and, if it's all the same to you, I'd like to go home and get some rest. It's been a stressful night, as it is." To Deme, she added, "Let me know what you learn, if anything, from the lieutenant."

Deme gripped her hand. "Will do."

"Don't try being a hero," Gina added. "We're your sisters. We're in this together."

"Yeah." Aurai extended her other hand to Gina. Soon all the Chattox sisters stood in a circle and, as one, chanted:

"Feel the power,

Free our hearts,

Find our way

Be the one.

With the strength of the earth,

With the rising of the wind,

With the calm of the water,

With the intensity of fire,

With the freedom of spirit,

The goddess is within us.

She is power.

We are her.

We are one.

Blessed be."

They broke apart and Selene joined Gryph. "I'm ready."

It wasn't until they got into his SUV that he sat back against the seat and stared across at her. "Maybe you can fill me in on everything."

She looked away. "You heard it all from my sisters."

"I'd like to hear the part about your controlling a pack of wolves with your mind."

Selene lowered her eyelids and sent a silent prayer to the goddess to help her let this man go. There was no other way.