Chapter 19

CHAPTER NINETEEN

After Cross fetched clothes and other necessities for me from whatever source he magically seemed to have at his beck and call, I closed myself in the bathroom. A quick look in the mirror confirmed I didn’t have visible bruising on my face.

When I left the bathroom, Cross handed me my phone. “You might want to respond to Vena before your phone explodes, or she does.”

Glancing at my phone, I saw there was a string of texts asking if I was okay.

“I assume she knows what happened.”

“Yes. I let her know not to worry.”

Vena wasn’t the only one who texted. My parents had sent a few pictures of them enjoying their vacation already this morning. Grandma’s joyful expression made me smile as I saved the pictures and checked my other messages.

I opened a group message with Shepard and Cross and saw the back-and-forth conversation between the pair. While I was passed out, they’d worked to piece together what had happened and coordinated a search. If I hadn’t known they had started as enemies, at least on Shepard’s side, I would have thought they were…not friends but perhaps colleagues working together seamlessly.

“What’s this about the GPS locator?” I asked as I kept reading.

“Shepard found it on the underside of your car. We think that’s how Adriel found you outside the restaurant. It explains the crash as well.”

Frowning, I thought of my poor car that I’d paid off. “Other than a vampire trying to kill me, I now have to deal with insurance and finding a new car.”

“Don’t worry,” he said. “I’ve already notified your insurance and have a solution to your car problem.”

“Do you ever sleep?”

“I don’t need sleep, remember?”

“I remember. Just doesn’t seem right that you’re active around the clock.”

“You’ll like me for that later.”

“I like you either way.” My phone buzzed again. “I’d better text Vena.”

“Let her know you’ll see her in a half hour. I’ll need to get you to Shepard’s so I can join the search.”

After I sent her a message, we headed to the hotel lobby and out the front door where a middle-aged man wearing a full bellhop uniform opened the door for us. A valet was waiting just outside the door and handed Cross a key.

“All ready for you, sir.”

Cross took the key and gave it to me.

“What’s this?” I asked.

“A key to the SUV.”

I looked from him to a shiny new and ridiculously expensive SUV sitting in front of us.

“Cross, is this the solution you mentioned?”

“Yes, but I didn’t buy it for you, so no scolding me about expensive purchases. I bought it for our business. You’ll need it once the bakery opens and you need to deliver desserts to Blur.”

“It’s a company car?” I asked, making sure I heard him right.

He nodded. “For our business.”

I felt like I was being played—that he’d purchased this SUV for me. But if I was really going to use it to haul around supplies and possibly catering orders, I knew I couldn’t turn it down. The business and I would need it then.

“Did you have to get the bright red color with polished chrome work?”

“I wanted it to be a safe vehicle. It comes fully loaded with all the extra safety features. The red will stand out in traffic.” He shrugged. “The chrome was a bonus.”

Ah. There it was—the reason behind the purchase. He wanted me to be safe.

I leaned over and placed a kiss on his lips.

He smiled at the innocent peck. “What was that for?”

“For you being you.”

He gave me a kiss back. “That’s for you, and there are plenty more.” Walking to the driver’s door, he opened it. “Would you care to drive, or would you like me to?”

Even though I was still sore and a little leery about driving again, I sat in the driver’s seat. It was better to drive now and leave whatever bits of fear I might have behind me.

Driving the SUV came with a learning curve. My old car didn’t have nearly as many bells and whistles. It certainly didn’t have leather seats with a heater and A/C built in.

Once I figured everything out, I drove out onto the street.

I let off the gas through every intersection to look both ways. It wasn’t enough to anger the drivers behind me, but I knew it was just residual fear I’d have to shake.

By the time we arrived at the pack house, I felt a little more at ease driving, but I still had to unclench my fingers from around the steering wheel. Cross set his hand on my leg.

“You did well. Now, are you ready to reassure everyone?”

I looked toward the main doors where Vena, Anchor, Gunther, and Shepard waited. The fact that Anchor held Vena’s hand was probably the only reason she hadn’t stormed the vehicle.

“Ready,” I said.

Cross moved so fast that the sound of his door closing registered at the same time he opened mine for me. I smiled at him as he took my hand and helped me down.

“Probably not very reassuring when you have to help me like this,” I said softly.

He chuckled and kissed my forehead.

“You’ve had your time with her,” Vena said. “Hand her over.”

Cross led me toward the group but veered at the last second toward Shepard.

“I’m leaving her in your care.”

“Thank you for getting her out of there quickly last night,” Shepard said. “And for keeping me in the loop.”

Cross nodded, gave me one last long look, and then disappeared.

“When I said hand her over, I meant to me,” Vena said.

Grinning, I looked at my best friend and opened my arms.

“Come on. Give it to me.”

“That’s what she said,” Vena said before slamming into my arms hard enough to rock me backward. Even as I winced at the impact, I wasn’t worried she’d knock me over. Shepard didn’t have the same faith in her.

“Careful,” he warned.

She made a dismissive noise at him and hugged me hard.

“You really worried me,” she said into my hair.

“You should be worried. My driving is better than yours, and someone still hit me. You’re so screwed.”

Vena snorted. “Not for another nine hundred and fifty-three times.”

“Ugh. You need therapy. Let go of me.”

“No.” She hugged me harder before she actually let go of me. “I want to wrap you in bubble wrap and put you in a closet somewhere.”

“So I can come out of the closet?” I asked with a grin. “You know you’re the only girl for me.”

It was her turn to groan, but I saw the glint in her eye that told me some of her fear was letting up, thanks to my teasing.

“I want you safe. And since bubble wrap is too fun to pop, I’m going to put my efforts into finding the asshole who keeps hurting the people I love instead. Behave while I’m gone, and clean your room.” She waved to Anchor and Gunther. “Come on, boys. Let’s find a cat to skin.”

“Ew,” I said.

She blew a kiss at me and walked away with the other two.

I faced Shepard and saw the worry reflected in his gaze.

“I’m fine,” I said. “Promise.”

He wrapped me in a gentler and yet more intense hug than Vena’s.

“When Cross called me and told me what happened…” A fine tremor ran through Shepard.

“I’ll admit it wasn’t fun to be hit by a car, and I never want to do it again, but I really am fine, Shepard. The doctor looked me over and everything. No stitches, thanks to Cross. No concussion. Just a few aches that aren’t too bad.”

He sighed and kissed my temple without letting me go.

“Bubble wrap does sound like a good idea.”

“I hear it’s not very sexy or breathable.”

He grunted a small laugh.

“Was everything okay here? No attacks or anything?”

He pulled back to look at me and shook his head. “Everything was quiet.”

“Good. I’d rather Adriel stay focused on me.”

“I’d rather he die,” Shepard said.

“Yeah, well, I guess there’s that too. How are the Hunters? Miles?”

“The Hunters are exceptionally quiet while researching. Vena made me promise to ensure someone delivers food and drinks, or they won’t feed themselves. Miles has been increasingly agitated. Cross offered to compel him again tonight so he rests. I think the Hunters will take him up on the offer.”

Shepard’s hold finally loosened.

“What are your plans for today?”

“Whatever you want. Today, I’m yours.”

I smiled.

“I’m a little hungry. Why don’t we make me and the Hunters a snack to carry us over until lunch?”

Shepard led me inside to the kitchen where other women were already gathering to start lunch. I grabbed two apples and sliced them along with some cheese, nibbling as I worked. When I was done, Shepard and I brought the plate to the Hunters, who were in their room next to Miles’ room.

I knocked on their door but knew not to wait for them to open it. Most likely, they didn’t even hear it. Their hyperfocus when researching was like nothing I had ever seen before.

Opening the door, I found them both at a small table. Papers, books, and maps were splayed on every surface available in the room. Mr. Hunter had a magnifying glass and was peering at a map while Mrs. Hunter scrolled through a website on her laptop.

“Time for a break,” I said, scooting things over on the table to make room.

“Just a few minutes,” Mrs. Hunter said distractedly.

I would bet anything she didn’t even register who came into the room or why I told them to take a break.

I slowly slid the plate under her nose, stopping her. Her startled gaze snapped to me.

“Oh. When did you get here, dear?”

“Just now. It’s time to take a break and eat something before I have to get Vena to intervene.”

“You can put the plate down. I’ll eat while I work. Thank you for bringing it.”

“If I leave and come back in an hour, I’ll find sweaty cheese and brown apples. Eat.” You too, Mr. H.”

He mumbled something.

I shoved a slice of apple at him. He took it and slid it into his mouth, not looking away from the map.

Sighing, I put down the plate to confiscate the map and laptop.

“Eat, and I’ll give you your things back,” I said.

“I don’t remember her being this bossy,” Mr. Hunter said.

“That’s because Vena normally does it,” I said. “Eat. And while you’re eating, you can tell us if you’ve discovered anything.”

“We’ve discovered a lot of dead-ends,” Mrs. Hunter said, accepting the plate from Shepard. “Oh, and we heard from your parents. They are having a marvelous time. Your grandma took a selfie with a handsome young man. She said she would bring him back for you.”

“Not necessary,” Shepard said.

Mrs. Hunter smiled at him. “Good to hear.”

I poked Mr. Hunter’s arm when he picked up a book. “You’re not done eating.”

He sighed. “I concede. My wife was right, though. We’ve reached a lot of dead-ends. But…” He scooted from the chair and hurried over to the bed to weed through a pile of papers. Pulling out something that looked horrifically similar to the sheep scrotum map, he opened it.

“This might explain how a vampire can turn into a cat.”

Shepard accepted the nasty, weathered scrap. I peered around his arm to see there was writing on it.

“Is this fae?” I asked.

“Yes. Old fae. I was able to translate it loosely. Basically, it’s saying that a powerful fae, and I’m talking really powerful, would have the ability to turn humans into shifters. Since vampires were once human, I suspect it would be the same principle.”

“And that’s how Adriel is different?” I asked. “A fae made him into a shifter?”

Mr. Hunter scratched his head. “I’m not fully convinced. Power like this is nearly unheard of, and who of the fae would grant such a gift to a vampire? Especially one as twisted as I’ve heard Adriel is? I need to research some more to make sense of this.”

“Maybe Adriel coerced someone to give him shifting power,” I said.

“It’s a possibility,” Mrs. Hunter said, even as Shepard said it was impossible.

“A vampire can’t control a fae.”

“A deal then, perhaps?” Mr. Hunter said.

Mrs. Hunter shook her head. “The fae are stingy unless it benefits them. I can’t see Adriel having anything that would entice a powerful fae to give such a gift.”

Mr. Hunter sighed. “We’ll keep researching.”

“After you eat,” I warned.

He took his plate and shoveled some of the food into his mouth.

“I’ll need to call Effora about this,” Shepard said. “Excuse me.”

Since I wanted to hear the conversation, I followed Shepard out to the hall and to his suite. He brought out his phone and called Effora, placing it on speaker.

“Hello, handsome. How may I please you today?”

“You can please me by telling me what you know about creating shifters.”

“Creating them?” She gasped throatily and then burst out laughing. “Darling, when I said it was lunchtime, I meant real food, not me.”

Shepard and I looked at each other in question.

“Effora, this is important. Can you put your snack aside for now?” Shepard asked.

“And deny my meal?”

“Delay. Not deny.”

“You always were good at edging me, Shepard. Very well. Eloise, darling, I’ll feast with you momentarily. That’s a good girl.” Effora sighed. “Lots of good energy in that one. But she is gone. Now, what do you desire, Alpha?”

“What do you know about creating shifters?” he repeated.

“Not much. Why? Are you thinking of adding an extra animal to your menagerie? A lion, perhaps.”

“Effora, I believe a fae gave Adriel the power to shift into a cat.”

“That’s a serious allegation,” she said even though her tone remained playful.

“It is. I have King Curran and the dwarves breathing down my neck and vampires who are on a killing spree. I need answers.”

“If you allowed me to breathe on your…neck, you’d have more answers and fewer worries.”

“And if you don’t want to take this call seriously, then I’ll hang up.”

“Oh, very well. I’ll look into it for you. Why don’t you pop in tomorrow so I can debrief you?”

“I already know what you mean by debriefing, and I’ll pass. Call back when you have useful information.”

He hung up only to get an incoming call from King Curran. Shepard swore under his breath.

I patted his arm. “I’ll see about lunch,” I said and left him to his call.