Westmore Wolves Series: Shapesifter Collection Bks 1-5 Page 20

  Not again.

  “Yeah,” Violet mumbled, distracted. Something wasn’t right. “When was Sage supposed to come back?”

  She staggered, gripping the counter, feeling the weight of eyes on her. Violet glanced up to find a man watching her intently.

  It was him. The one from her vision. Her stomach churned at the evil she saw behind his gaze.

  God. Where was Seth? Or Dante?

  No. Dante was at work. He would be out answering calls for fires. So it was possible he was already there.

  Seth!

  She called out to him, but he didn’t answer. Busy with angel business no doubt.

  “You okay, Vi? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.” Mel signaled to two of the other girls to take over and she led Violet into the kitchen.

  “Something’s wrong.”

  “I can see that,” Mel retorted and her eyes narrowed. “Spit it out.”

  “How much do you know about Seth?”

  The demon arched her eyebrow and tilted her head in consideration as she led Violet to a small stool. “That depends on a lot of things. Why do you ask?”

  “Can you get in touch with him? Like now?” Violet sat, her hands twisting nervously in her apron. She had to go out there and confront the man in the seating area. Sage was in trouble and she had to find her. But not without help.

  Her fingers prickled and the chill of frost against her skin made her rub her hands along her jeans.

  “I thought he was your super-duper guardian angel.”

  “He is. Sort of.” Violet looked down at the floor then lifted her gaze to meet the other woman’s eyes. “He saved me so I could make a difference and find my place. Yesterday, Dante was part of that plan. But today…I think I may have to do this on my own.” Violet sighed.

  Mel considered her. “You’re stronger than you think you are. Just remember that.”

  “Well…I hope so.” Violet looked toward the open kitchen door and made a motion with her head. “Who is the man out there? The bald one with the white beard?”

  Mel frowned. “Grogan? He works with Dante. At the station.”

  “Then why isn’t he with them on call now?”

  Mel shrugged. “They work in shifts, I think. Some of the guys come in here and buy boxes of muffins to keep them company on slow nights.”

  “I don’t think this is going to be one of them.” Violet stood. “I saw something. Yesterday and then again just now.” Worry settled in her gut. “Sage is in trouble and that man knows where she is.”

  Violet took off her apron and left it on the stool.

  “Where are you going?” Mel grabbed her arm.

  “To help Sage.” Nervous energy twisted Violet’s insides.

  “How? You going to smile at him and ask him where she is?” Mel pursed her lips, irritated with her. “Let me call in some reinforcements.”

  “I can’t wait. I saw a warehouse in my vision. Notify Sage’s mate and if you have any way to get a hold of Seth, do it. And if you can call over to the firehouse and leave a message with someone that would be great.”

  “What are you going to do?”

  “I’m going to stop a killer before it’s too late.”

  ***

  He’d been waiting for three hours. Seth ground his teeth in consternation and stared at the Fates and their ceaseless hand movements.

  “What do you mean we’re out of time? Violet’s bonded with her mate and if things are happening the way I think they should be, she’s building a life. Creating a future. What more does she have to do?”

  They said nothing, only plied their fibers, twisting more lives to fit their vision of the cosmos.

  “And I’ve been waiting. How is that for fair?”

  The women moved their hands, threads flashing. The youngest of the three glanced back at him. “She has to succeed. Two hours, Seth. Or your prize winter fae rejoins the fiber of the universe.”

  He started to open his mouth, but stopped as the cell phone in his back pocket began to vibrate. With a huff, he brought himself back to Earth and checked it.

  Another text from Mel shot across the screen and it vibrated once more, relief sliding through him that he’d remembered to put it on vibrate before he’d gone into the antechamber.

  Where the hell are you? Your project just walked out of here searching for a killer.

  What?

  He almost dropped the phone, stabbing at the button that looked like a phone in the hopes it would call her.

  Damned demon. She knew he wasn’t good enough with technology to do anything, but put the device on vibrate. And that’s because she had shown him how. It sucked being an angel no discernible skill, but getting himself in trouble.

  Well…that wasn’t true. He was good at matching up couples. Especially lately.

  “Hello?” he said when it stopped ringing.

  “Jesus, Seth. Get your butt back over here. We have a problem.” The line went dead and he shoved the phone back in his pocket. He had to get to the café before it was too late.

  Chapter Eight

  Violet marched out of the kitchen and into the dining area, but the man was gone.

  “Oh, no!” Hoofing it, she ran out the front door into the humid night. Crickets chirped and she caught the salty scent of fire on the breeze.

  Where in the world was she going to try now? Failure snapped at her and she grit her teeth. She could do this. Sage was counting on her.

  “Looking for someone, cupcake?”

  The voice exploded out of the silence of the night and she spun on her feet.

  “You!”

  Grogan leaned against the side of the café, his body half hidden in shadow with only the shifter shining out of his eyes. Lean and dangerous, he moved like the predator he was.

  Dragon.

  Just like Dante.

  A couple passed by them and went inside the café, and for a moment Violet wanted to call out to them, but realized if she did that, whatever chance she had at making a difference would be gone. It was up to her.

  The bite on her shoulder gave a twinge and he smiled, stepping in her direction.

  “He marked you already. My, that was fast.” He walked with an arrogance that set Violet’s teeth on edge.

  “He’s my mate.”

  “I can smell him on you. A shame really.” He lifted his fingers to touch her. “I was observing you yesterday and couldn’t help but notice your reaction when you saw me tonight. Now why was that?”

  Violet backed up, nervously licking her lips. “I know you’ve done something with Sage. Let her go.”

  A dark chuckle slipped from his lips, followed by a thin line of smoke. “No.”

  “What has she ever done to you?”

  Grogan laughed, a harsh bark of a sound. “Oh, sweeting, you don’t ever want to find out.”

  A sick smile slid over his face and Violet shivered. “Take me to her.”

  “Oh, with pleasure. This way if you please.” He started walking down the sidewalk, not waiting for her to follow. His pace grueling, he led her away from the populated areas and toward a warehouse. Just like the one in her vision.

  “Inside.”

  He opened the door and ushered her in. There in the middle of the room, was Sage. Bound and gagged, she lifted her chin defiantly.

  “You bastard. Why did you bring her?”

  “I couldn’t let her live. Not after what she saw, now, could I?” Grogan pointed at the floor. “You. Sit.” He pulled a knife from his pocket and flipped it open, a noise drawing his attention and he glanced away.

  Violet lowered herself into the dirty floor, taking in everything about the place that she could. Filthy windows, large dark spaces and many places for two women to hide if she could get Sage free.

  Seth!

  She wanted to call out to Dante, but even in the heat of their mating yesterday there was no indication that he could hear her thoughts. Right now she would have given anything to be able to get ahold of him.
They were so new at the mate game they hadn’t even exchanged cell numbers yet.

  The idea was so absurd that it came close to bringing a nervous giggle from her lips.

  No. She had to maintain her cool.

  Cool.

  Her fingertips tingled and a frost formed on the end of them. She’d heard something yesterday in her apartment when she and Dante had been in the throes of passion. It sounded like ice breaking and, sure enough, when she went over to investigate, there had been a puddle of water on the carpet.

  Did that mean their mating triggered something? She’d felt a tug inside of her and decided it was now or never to give it a try.

  Her fears of being ordinary reared up, but when Sage looked her way, with spitting anger in her eyes, she realized that even ordinary girls could be extraordinary when it came down to it. Like now.

  A ringing sound filled the space and Grogan swore. He answered his phone, stepping away from the two women. This was her chance.

  Violet scrambled off the floor and scooted over to Sage.

  She pulled the gag away from her. “Are you hurt?”

  “No. Untie me. Quick. I can shift and get us out of here.”

  “Why did he take you?” Violet fumbled with the slick rope, tugging at it until one of the ropes loosened.

  “I don’t know.” But Sage looked away and Violet knew she wasn’t being entirely honest.

  That was fine. They barely knew each other, but she wasn’t going to just let him win without at least trying. Violet thought to her connection with Seth and nibbled on her lip.

  Seth?

  Nothing.

  Damned angels. Never around when you needed them. She wished that she and Dante had had time to forge a mental bond. Maybe it would come with time but for now she had to try anything and everything to get them out of here without becoming dragon chew toys.

  “Have you tried reaching out to your mate?”

  “I have.” Sage gave her a feral smile. “He’s on his way and pissed as hell.”

  “Good.”

  Sage wiggled her hands, breaking free. The smile on her lips died as she looked up and saw Grogan approaching.

  “You bitch! You think you can escape me? Now? We had you once and that fool let you go. You won’t be so lucky this time.”

  Cold dread sunk into Violet’s stomach. This was what she sensed in Sage. The sadness. She’d been abducted before. No wonder she didn’t want to talk about it.

  A brush along Sage’s arm told her everything she needed to know. The feeling of helpless terror as she was taken from her home. The group of women held against their will and the mate that stared at her through the bars, giving her hope against the pain. A forced attempted mating and a bite on her arm had left her vulnerable, but no more. Carrick had found her and now they were one.

  He just needed to get his ass here. Now.

  And if he brought her mate…all the better because she could tell things were about to get a little interesting.

  Sage hissed at Grogan, her cat showing in her eyes. “Back off, asshole.”

  Righteous anger and fear sizzled through Violet. No one should have to go through this—especially not twice.

  “I’m going to make you bleed.”

  His form began to shift and the dragon Violet knew was beneath the thin veneer of humanity burst forth. His massive body filled the warehouse, flames shooting from his gaping maw.

  Sage tugged at the ropes holding her feet, angry tears sliding down her cheeks. She wiped them away with a brusque motion, staring the dragon down. “Not again, you bastard. Not ever. You can go to hell.”

  Sage stood, chin up, and stopped Violet as she started to ask a question. The dragon roared, stalking forward, his luminous eyes tracking their every movement.

  “Another time. Come on!” Sage grabbed Violet’s hand and they ran in the opposite direction of the raging dragon.

  Fury leapt inside of Violet, she reached into herself, pulling at the wintery chill nestled inside of her.

  Protect. Defend.

  Violet spun on her heel and shot a bolt of frost from her fingertips, aiming at the flames pouring from Grogan’s mouth.

  “Don’t stop running!” Sage tried to urge.

  “He can’t get away with this.” Next the ice. Water came up from the ground and fell from the air, making a wall of ice to surround the women. More and more cold poured from Violet as if a dam had burst. The sleeper had awakened and she was in a bitch of a mood.

  ***

  Dante had just finished the neighborhood call when Seth appeared.

  He didn’t explain, but judging from the look on the angel’s face, he didn’t have to. Something was wrong and when he got to the warehouse and saw it was on fire, he knew it was their firebug. What he didn’t expect was the Alpha of Westmore to pull up with Reid, his second in command.

  “Dante.” Carrick greeted him and both men turned when they spied Mel coming down the street.

  “Grogan has Sage. And Violet.” Mel’s face was pinched with worry. “She said she had to do this on her own. What kind of screwed up shit is that, Seth?”

  “Ask the Fates.” The angel spat, heading for the flaming doors.

  “You might want to give me a minute.” Dante sucked in a breath and reached for the handles, pulling the doors open. He hesitated a moment, his gaze searching out his friend’s eyes. “Carter? You got this?”

  Carter nodded. “Go. Save your mate.”

  “Thanks, buddy. Come on, Carrick. Let’s kick some dragon ass.” Dante went inside, Carrick close behind. The scene that met his eyes almost stopped his heart. His little mate stood tall alongside Sage, battling Grogan. Outgunned and outsized, he knew true terror when the old dragon belted out a swath of flame only to have it repelled by an icy blast of winter fire.

  Shit.

  His mate had balls.

  A stupid grin crept across his face that quickly fell away at Carrick’s outraged growl. Mel and Seth entered the building, the demon ranting at the angel.

  “Jesus, Seth. When you go offline, tell a girl. All kinds of crap is raining down and no one can get a hold of you.” Mel’s eyes sparked and for a second Dante almost felt sorry for the guy. But only a second.

  What kind of guardian angel lets a woman walk into an abandoned warehouse with a fucking arsonist?

  His dragon rumbled.

  “What the fuck do you think you’re doing with my wife?” Carrick’s roar over took the crackling of the burning structure.

  “Great. Now stand back, lizard boy.” Mel stepped into the flames, the fire dancing around her hair like an orange aura, and with a snap of her fingers it vanished within a ten-foot radius.

  “Well, now that’s a handy trick, Mel.” Carrick took his opening and hurried inside to find his mate.

  “Demon.” Mel shrugged.

  “I’m drafting you for the volunteer squad.” Dante called out to the woman.

  “Nope. You’re paying me. Now come on. My boss is in there.”

  The other firefighters leapt into action. Smoke filled the air and flames licked up the sides of the old warehouse, turning the old dry wood into kindling. He had to get them out or they would die of smoke inhalation before he was even done fighting the bastard.

  Dante didn’t wait. He stormed inside and found Grogan temporarily halted by a wall of ice and his very stubborn mate.

  Carrick roared, shifting into wolf form. His second joined the fight, leaping on the dragon and drawing blood. The problem was, it wasn’t much. Two wolves against a dragon wasn’t much of a fight. The wolves would lose every time. Unless there was a pack. Mel ignored everyone else, her eyes on Sage and Violet.

  Where was Seth?

  The angel was at the doorway, motioning for the others to come. Mel brought out a weary Sage, but Violet refused.

  “No! He needs me.” Violet stood her ground.

  He met Violet’s eyes and saw the fear and determination there and lost it. He shed his human skin without tho
ught, his dragon bursting forth to reclaim his mate from the creature who held her hostage.

  Grogan heard him and turned, the old dragon lunging for him in quick succession. He pushed Carrick and Reid out of the way but not before Reid was caught by the arm and thrown against the wall.

  The women joined the other two men, helping a wounded Reid outside.

  Grogan tried to stop them, but Dante held fast, blocking the dragon as his people made their escape. Flames licked up the sides of the building but Violet kept at it, spinning snow and ice out of the air and directing it at the burning embers.

  “Go!” He roared at her. “You’ll die.”

  “No. I won’t leave you.”

  Then Grogan struck. His teeth ripped into the side of Dante’s neck, dropping him to the ground.

  ***

  Violet saw red. Grogan’s maw surrounded her mate’s neck, teeth sinking deep as he held Dante to the ground. She screamed. Building a lance of the most durable ice she could muster, she darted forward, impaling it as hard as she could through the old dragon’s eye. He released Dante and snapped at her, but she pushed until it went deep, imbedding inside of his brain. She formed a second one from the blood that stained the floor, her mate’s blood, and thrust it deep into his chest. Dropping his head to the ground, Grogan stilled, death claiming his body at last.

  Tears slid down Violet’s cheeks as she raced to Dante. Her knees buckled, she rested her head against her mate’s chest. His heartbeat faint in her ears, she summoned the last of her energy to keep them safe as the firemen battled the last of the flames.

  Epilogue

  “You’re doing too much again.” Sage crossed her arms, giving Violet a stern look.

  “What? I can’t just sit around. And neither can you.” She picked up a tray of dirty dishes and brought them back to the kitchen. She knew Sage was right. She’d strained herself at the warehouse, but that was nothing compared to her mate. A few days rest would mend the tired feeling that had crept into her bones but Dante…he had been seriously wounded and she had never been more scared in her life.

  The bell to the door chimed and Dante and Mel came inside. The bandage on his neck still made her stomach twist even after the two weeks it had been since the incident.