Chapter 6

Chapter6

Daphne satbeside a glowering Baptiste as he drove them out of Nexus. As she’d clambered into the truck beside him, she’d asked, “Changed your mind?”

He’d offered a dark look. “I need to get out of town for a bit, so might as well give you a ride. Where to?”

“The Mother says we need to drive to a place called Wyoming.”

He’d whistled. “You’re talking about an eight-hour drive.”

“And?”

“Whatever.” He turned them onto the road and didn’t say another word.

Neither did she, but she did reflect on what she’d seen the day before. The beast had fought his foes with ease.

Foes she’d intentionally led to Baptiste.

It began with her overhearing a conversation in town as she passed a group of men.

“…I don’t understand how you haven’t been able to track him,” an older male with graying temples stated to another.

“It’s like nature is against us,” whined a man with a mustache. “One minute we’ll have his scent, the next, a skunk comes out of nowhere and sprays us.”

The male with a nasally voice added, “The one time we could see him in the distance, but a sudden fog had us going in circles for hours.”

“Obviously Pack enemies are working against us, trying to make us weak,” said Gray Temples. “We have to get Baptiste back.”

As they passed out of hearing, Nelly murmured, “That’s Baptiste’s uncle, Frederick. He’s the one who arranged the marriage Baptiste didn’t want. He’s a Grade-A asshole. Can’t blame Baptiste for avoiding him.”

That knowledge gave Daphne an idea. “I need your phone.”

Nelly handed it over with only a single question. “Why do you have a devious look in your eyes?”

“Because I’m going to help Baptiste realize helping me is in his best interests. Stay here a moment.”

Phone to her ear, Daphne turned around and headed back for the group of men, pretending she was speaking to someone. “Yes, I know you don’t like meat. I’ll make sure the sandwich only has those icky vegetables you like.” She paused as if listening to a reply before adding, “It’s wrong you refuse to do what is natural. Wolves are carnivores. You’re supposed to eat flesh.” Another pause. “I’ll be along with your sandwich shortly. I’ll make sure no one follows.”

The men had gone silent as they heard her, and she knew by the way she felt the uncle’s gaze tracking her retreat that he’d understood who she supposedly conversed with. As planned, they shadowed her as she made her way out of town. Nelly drove her partway, ignoring the vehicles following, before dropping her off.

Daphne had pretended to not notice the men trailing as she made her way to the lake and the man brooding on its edge. Per her prediction, Baptiste had refused to help, and so she let his uncle do the convincing. She remained nearby but out of sight, keeping an eye on things in case he needed her to rescue him.

Turned out he didn’t. The man might whine and complain, but the wolf? He was impressive. He handled his foes with ease while the cowardly uncle fled.

Just in case she gauged wrong, Daphne kept an eye on Baptiste as he headed for town in his wolf form, the four legs making rapid work of the miles. When she lost sight of him because her own two legs weren’t as quick, she relented and called for a ride using the dreaded phone Nelly had loaned her.

The next morning, she joined Baptiste in the truck.

She waited until they exited the town boundaries before saying, “You smell much improved.” Nice actually. Turned out the man had a pleasant musk to him that she didn’t mind.

“I’d say you’re welcome, but I’d be lying. Any idea where in Wyoming we’re going? It’s a big place.”

“The Mother will let us know as we grow near.”

“What exactly is this mission?”

“Apparently, there is a witch of uncommon power who has been dabbling in dark magic. While the Mother usually wouldn’t care, as dark and light are required for balance, this witch’s experiments are poisoning the land and starting to spread.”

“Why send you? Why not notify the Cryptid Authority?” The agency governed those with magical gifts or nonhuman traits.

“They are aware, but rather than counter the witch’s doing they have declared the area off limits.”

“Whoa. They gave up? That doesn’t sound right.”

Daphne shrugged. “The Mother is also perturbed by their unwillingness to act. Apparently, some agents sent to deal with the witch haven’t returned. It is possible the witch might have taken them hostage and is using them as leverage.”

“If this witch is so dangerous, why is the Earth Mother only sending you?”

“Only?” Daphne took offense as she saw it for the insult that it was.

“I mean, yes, you’re tough, but let’s be honest, you are one petite woman with daggers against a witch that has supposedly managed to capture seasoned agents with guns, spells, and more.”

“What is it with males constantly assuming females are weak? Do you think that of Nelly?”

“I’ve seen Nelly with a gun. She’s got an affinity for weapons that makes her formidable. You have a pair of daggers. Ain’t going to do you much good against something with armor or a fireball.”

“Then it’s a good thing your beast is good in a battle.”

“How would you know?”

“I saw you fight yesterday.” She wasn’t one to lie. “Your uncle should have brought more men. It was an insult to your beast.”

He didn’t immediately respond, but when he did it was to accuse. “You told my uncle where to find me.”

“I didn’t tell. He just happened to follow.”

“You manipulated me into coming.” His hands gripped his steering wheel so tight it creaked.

“Would you have preferred the torture?”

“I would have preferred you leave me alone.”

“How long are you planning to self-flagellate?”

“None of your business,” he growled.

“Would it help if I said you might very well die helping me take out this witch?”

He sighed. “This might be hard to believe, but I don’t want to die.”

“Are you sure? Because if the witch doesn’t succeed in ending your life, I might be convinced to do it.”

He snorted. “Gee, thanks”

“You’re welcome. I can make it quick and painless.”

“You are ridiculously cocky.”

“I’m not sure how being truthful is arrogant.”

“It’s annoying.” He stopped the truck abruptly, jolting her.

“Why aren’t you driving?” she asked as he exited the vehicle.

He came around to her side and opened the door, saying, “The only reason you asked me to come was because you needed a chauffeur.”

“Nelly says one must have experience and a license to drive.”

“Well, you can’t get the latter without the former. So, let’s go. Get behind the wheel.”

“Really?” Her tone brightened as she immediately hopped into his seat. Her lips pursed as she realized her feet couldn’t reach the pedals.

He clambered into her spot. “First things first. You’ll have to adjust the seat until you can see over the steering wheel and reach the pedals. You’ll also want to tilt the rearview until you can see behind you.”

“I’m surprised humans would think to add a mirror to watch for enemies at their rear,” she commented.

“It’s to watch for cars.”

She wiggled on the seat before noting, “Why is it not adjusting?”

“Because you’ve got to use the levers.”

She eyed him blankly and he sighed as he leaned over. “They’re these little buttons on the side.” He stretched over her lap, and her breath caught while her heart did a fluttery jump.

He did something that brought up the level of her perch. Then he leaned between her legs and yanked the seat forward.

For once she had nothing to say because she found herself feeling strange. Tingling. Noticing the hairs curling at his nape. How the fabric of his shirt stretched over his broad back.

As he slid away from her, his touch ignited something in her that had been dormant for centuries.

Desire.

The shock of the realization led to her missing part of his instructions.

“…it’s automatic so once you release the brake, the truck will start rolling.”

“Can you explain again? I’m not sure I fully understood.”

“Right foot goes on the left pedal. Hold it as you shift into gear,” he explained.

“Shifting being that stick.” She put her hand on the knob and her foot on the left pedal.

“Yes. Now, holding the brake, click it to the letter D.”

She eyed the symbols blankly and had to admit, “I don’t know how to read.”

He put his hand over hers. “This spot.” He kept hold as he pulled the lever into a spot with a symbol of a circle cut in half.

The truck noise changed.

“Ease your foot off the brake,” he murmured.

The moment she did, the truck began to lightly roll. “Now gently press the gas. The pedal to the right.”

Her foot tapped it and the truck lurched.

Baptiste, who’d grabbed hold of the wheel, yelled, “Take your foot off.”

The truck slowed.

“Okay, this time do it slowly. You want to work up to speed.”

This time, she managed to get them rolling without the jerking. The road ahead beckoned and she couldn’t help but smile as she crowed, “I’m driving!”

“You are but do me a favor and don’t crash.”

“Fear not. I shall master this skill,” she promised.

Their first full stop at something he called a red light gave them what he called whiplash. But after that, she grasped the concept. He let her drive until he claimed the roads would get busy and dangerous for a new driver.

She allowed him to take over and spent that time observing what he did. If she could drive, she could get that license Nelly spoke of, and then she wouldn’t need to ask for help.

Their voyage took longer than the eight hours he’d claimed. A tire that required changing because it went flat had them waiting overly long for something called a “tow truck” that didn’t actually tow them. Then there was construction on their roadway. The fourteen hours left Baptiste droopy-eyed. When he recognized the sign for an inn, he insisted they stop for the night despite being close to their destination.

He pulled a plastic rectangle from a secret drawer in front of her seat—he called it a glove box despite it having no gloves—and used it to rent them a room with two beds.

“Sorry, we have to share. Not sure how much room my card’s got to spend,” he apologized.

“It makes sense we stay close to one another. We can take turns on watch.”

“Pretty sure we don’t need to do that. The door is locked, and no one knows where we are.”

Since he would simply argue if she tried to explain she agreed. He’d soon learn what it meant to travel with the Mother’s paladin, just like Nelly and Clive had. Luckily Clive had proved very good at shielding. Unfortunately, Baptiste had no magic to set wards of any kind. He plunked himself on a bed and went to sleep.

Daphne allowed herself a light repose.

The attack came in the middle of the night.