Shifter (Wicked Woods #6) Read online

  “I hope so,” Sophie said.

  “Me too.” Fallon was at the door. He looked beautiful, slender, golden haired and perfect as he stood there. He was still wearing modern clothes, dark jeans and a hooded top, and those made him look out of place against the old fashioned splendor of the palace.

  “I’ll leave you alone with Briony to figure it out,” Sophie said, stepping past the young vampire with a smile. Briony suspected that Sophie would have liked Briony to choose Fallon, if it was up to her. When had Wicked’s most dangerous vampire hunter gotten to like him enough for that?

  Fallon didn’t wait, hurrying over and taking Briony into his arms. He kissed her, his tongue entwining with hers in a kiss so searing, she couldn’t help kissing him back for a second or two before she pulled back.

  “Briony,” Fallon said, breathlessly, moving his lips down to her neck and her shoulders. His gaze drifted over to the bed. “Finally, I get a chance to be alone with you.”

  Briony shook her head gently. “No. We can’t.”

  “You don’t want to?” He nibbled at her ears, causing her to arched her back closer to his chest, while his hands pulled her closer. He turned her around until his lips captured hers and they continued kissing more passionately as Fallon led her gently to the foot of her bed.

  “I want to help you,” Briony said. “I want… I have the scepter now. I want to help you, and I can actually do some good here in Palisor.”

  “Haven’t you done enough for everyone else?” Fallon said. “I know you’re thinking about this crazy plan of Josh’s just because it would be what’s best for the kingdom, but what about what’s best for you?” He searched her face earnestly. “What do you want?”

  How had he managed to turn it around to that? Briony wasn’t sure. She wasn’t even sure that she had an answer. “I can’t help myself. The people here see me as the blood heir. Even the scepter reacts like I am.”

  “And what does that mean?” Fallon asked.

  Briony tried to look like she’d made her mind up. “I have to fulfill this prophecy. I have to find out what I’m meant to do with the scepter. There has to be more to it than just having it, or so many people wouldn’t have died over it. My father…”

  She tried not to think about finding King Waltham after Marcus’ vampires had attacked to try to take the scepter.

  “I know,” Fallon said. He looked thoughtful for a second or two. “I’ve been trying to find out more about the scepter, trying to help, but… well, I’m a vampire among the fanged elves. I get the feeling that it’s hard enough for most of them not to try killing me.”

  “I’m just glad you’re here,” Briony said. She kissed him, gently, even though she knew she probably shouldn’t, as confused as she was, with loving both him and his brother Kevin.

  “At least I’m in the same world as you this time.” Unlike Kevin, Briony couldn’t help thinking with a tiny stab of something close to pain. Fallon kept going. “I don’t care who they think you should marry. I don’t care about anything. I love you, and I’m going to do everything I can to be with you.”

  “Everything?” Josh asked from the doorway.

  Briony was starting to wish that the doors were locked, but that was one of the things about being a ruler in a castle like this. Privacy was something that happened to other people. She tried to compose her features as she looked at Josh, trying to keep her expression polite and composed even though the king of the werewolves had more or less set her up when they’d come here. He’d known that only one werewolf would be allowed into Palisor, but he’d also guessed that it would put him in a good position to become her consort and gain power there.

  The trouble was, it was difficult to stay angry looking at Josh. He was a very handsome man with short brown hair and well defined, athletic features. He had the body to go with it, not as heavily built as some of his brothers, maybe, but still strong and good looking. He’d found a light colored tunic and hose to wear that came close to matching Briony’s dress. She found herself wondering if that was deliberate.

  “What are you doing here, Josh?”

  Josh laughed. “A deal is a deal, Briony. You’ve fulfilled yours. But I’ve yet to fulfill mine. I thought I should.”

  Briony tried not to look surprised at that. Of course Josh would keep his word. That was the thing about him. He could manipulate people one moment and be a perfectly nice guy the next. He wasn’t evil like Pietre, he just liked to make sure things turned out his way. He had also been a good ally to her and the Preservation Society against the vampires who terrified the Wicked Woods.

  “What do you mean by keeping your word?” Briony asked, wanting to check anyway.

  Josh nodded as if he’d been expecting her to say that. “I’m going to help you find the power in Palisor to get rid of both the vampires here and those back in Wicked, of course. Together we’re going to make sure that your people don’t have to worry about vampires like Marcus again, while mine will be safe from Pietre. We’re going to do it, Briony. Together.”

  Chapter 2

  Kevin ran with the rest of the werewolves following him, eating up the ground in his wolf form, the distance disappearing in easy strides. Beside him, Carol’s dark furred wolf form kept pace with him, while on the other side the smaller form of Jake bounced along, keeping up despite the difference in their sizes. The rest of the werewolves from Wicked’s pack followed behind him, and that was a strange kind of feeling, but a powerful one. All those wolves were following him, ready to fight just because he’d ordered it, looking to him for orders.

  They came to the edge of the trees near the town, transforming back into human form and adjusting clothes rumpled or torn by the change. Carol reached over, starting to straighten out Kevin’s shirt, and Kevin pulled back, even though he could see the hurt look that he got from her.

  He had other things to concentrate on right then though as they made their way to the diner, walking down Wicked’s quiet streets. Things like the danger to all the people he’d come to know at George’s diner. They were good people there, all members of the Preservation Society, all trying their best to make sure that the town stayed safe from threats like Pietre and other human-hating vampires.

  The diner came into sight. It had an old fashioned look to it, like someone might be able to walk in from nineteen fifty and feel right at home, with a big sign out front saying George’s, the big windows showing an interior with booths and tables spread out in front of the counter, and the pictures on the walls that Kevin couldn’t see at this distance but he knew mostly showed moments from George, the owner’s life. Though not from his life as a vampire after he’d been turned by Pietre.

  The hardest part about being at the diner was the people who weren’t there. People, he admitted to missing. Briony should have been there, waiting on tables and smiling at customers as they tipped her. Her great aunt should have been there too. Despite himself, Kevin liked Mrs. Edge a lot now that she’d gone from hunting both vampires and werewolves to focusing on the fight against the vampires. Even as an old woman, she’d been able to fight better than almost anyone thanks to her Hugtandalfer heritage. Now that she had transformed, it would have been useful to have her around for the fight to come. Her and Briony, two of the best vampire slayers in Wicked.

  But they weren’t here, which meant that it was up to him and the other werewolves to defend the diner against Pietre’s vampires. Kevin’s eyes narrowed slightly as he thought of that. Pietre had attacked them so many times, in so many different ways. He was going to make the vampire pay for his constant harassment of the town. He and the other werewolves got closer to the diner, spreading out in a rough line to defend it.

  “I can smell vampires,” Carol said beside him. There was anger there that didn’t quite disguise the trace of fear in her scent. Kevin knew she wouldn’t be scared of the fight itself, but she’d been captured and tortured by the vampires once. That kind of thing left a mark.

  “It’s going t
o be fine, Carol.”

  “I don’t need a pep talk,” she snapped back. That was her. She’d always rather be angry than scared.

  “Do you think the diner’s defenses are working?” Jake asked.

  Kevin thought. They’d had holy water sprinklers and more there before, for the last attack. Would those be ready again?

  “We can’t take the chance,” he said. “Just remember to keep out of the way of any holy water that does come your way, Jake.”

  “I’ll be fine,” the boy promised. “What I want to know is where Pietre’s vampires are. I can smell them, but they aren’t here.”

  Kevin nodded. Here on the street, he could smell them too. Yet the only vampire he saw in the next few seconds was George, the diner’s grey haired, fifty something owner, who stepped out onto the street with a questioning look. He was a well-built man who had spent some time in the military, and still had that sense of crisp neatness about him, even wearing casual slacks, a shirt with its sleeves rolled up and a cook’s apron over the top.

  “What’s going on here, Kevin?” he asked. “You aren’t all here for lunch, I guess?”

  “We heard that Pietre was causing trouble in town,” Kevin said. “We heard he was heading here. Wait, why don’t you know that?”

  There was something wrong there. Something very wrong. That’s when the first howl of pain went up from the end of their defensive line. Another quickly followed.

  “Someone stabbed Chris,” Carol said, looking down the line. “Where are they coming from?”

  Kevin didn’t know. He looked around, trying to figure it out. “Everybody watch your backs. No, better than that, every second person turn around. I don’t want anyone sneaking up on us.”

  “This close to the diner?” one of the werewolves asked.

  “Just do it,” Kevin ordered. There wasn’t enough time to stand there and debate it. Not with his werewolves getting hurt. Three of those who had come were on the ground. He didn’t know how badly injured they were. But how could vampires get close to them without being seen…

  Kevin found himself remembering Pietre’s trick of appearing and disappearing, wrapping the shadows around himself so it seemed like he was invisible. Could he have somehow taught that trick to other vampires? Would he have, since it was something they could just as easily use against him? There was only one way to find out.

  Kevin looked down the line, checking the end of it where the three werewolves had been hurt. There was a wall casting a long shadow there. Kevin walked towards it, trying to look like he was just checking on the injured wolves, but actually straining his senses.

  That was why, when a vampire appeared in the shadow of the diner halfway there, he was ready. He caught the arm holding the knife that swung towards him, breaking it effortlessly and catching the silver blade as it dropped. He stabbed the vampire once, then again, striking the heart. He had a brief instant to look at the vampire, which seemed to be no more than a high school kid in a t-shirt and cut of jeans, before it died and blue fire leapt up to consume it.

  That wasn’t the only thing that leapt up. Vampires appeared from the shadows, charging forward at the wolves. One leapt at Jake, and the smaller wolf dealt with it easily, but when a second tried to join in, Kevin jumped forward to intercept it. Her. It was a girl maybe Briony’s age, with cheerleader good looks and blonde hair tied back in pigtails like she was deliberately trying to be cute. Maybe that was what made Kevin pause just long enough for fangs to sink into his neck.

  With a roar of pain, he shoved the vampire back. He leapt forward, transforming into a wolf mid leap and tearing at the vampire. He managed to get a grip on her neck, snapping it easily, then letting go as her body started to burn to ash. He looked around for the next vampire. There were plenty to choose from, though his werewolves seemed to be handling them. Kevin threw himself at another of the previously invisible attackers.

  Again, he quickly slipped in, got a grip on the vampire’s neck and ended it. It was easy. Almost too easy. Kevin pulled back from the fight, changing back into human form and trying to think. Vampire after vampire was falling to his werewolves, but there was still no sign of Pietre. He looked around at the vampires still fighting, too, and he could see just how young they had to be. Newly made, and mostly, it seemed, from high school age kids. In fact, he thought he recognized one or two. Hadn’t they been in his classes when he was a substitute there?

  That was almost enough for him to tell his wolves to leave them, but he knew he couldn’t. They were vampires, eager to feed on humans. They had to be stopped. More came towards them, openly this time, heading down the street. Again, they seemed to be no more than kids.

  Jake was there beside him. “They’re newly turned,” he said. “My vampire side can sense that. They can’t be more than a few hours old, if that.”

  “Pietre must have turned them, one after another,” Kevin guessed. “That’s just… sick, doing that to kids.”

  Jake nodded. He’d know better than anyone. At only fourteen, Pietre had turned him. “I guess it explains why he’d teach them how to disappear,” he said. “He can’t think that they’d survive a fight with us, and even if they do, then they still won’t be powerful enough to be a problem for him.”

  “So why send them against us?” Carol asked, changing back into human form and finishing off a dark haired girl who was writhing in pain on the ground.

  “As a distraction,” Kevin guessed. “He’s obviously sent the first batches of new vampires to keep us busy.”

  “While he does what?” Carol insisted.

  One possibility came to Kevin. “He lost a lot of vampires in Marcus’ scheme. The ones who weren’t trapped in Palisor were mostly killed in the battles after that. What if he’s trying to build up his followers again, and using the school to do it? He’s sent these ones this way, then maybe he and his remaining vampires are at the school, making more like them?”

  “But that’s…” It seemed even Carol didn’t have the words for it. Maybe she was just thinking about how easily it could have happened to her if she hadn’t been a werewolf. “We have to stop them.”

  Kevin nodded. He pointed to four of the werewolves still there. “You four, stay here and protect the diner. The vampires that come this way shouldn’t be strong, but they might come out of the shadows, so stay alert. Try to help the three who are wounded too. The rest of you, come with me.”

  “Where are we going?” one of the remaining werewolves asked.

  “We need to get over to the high school,” Kevin said. “Now hurry, but stay in human form. We’ve probably shocked enough people for one day.”

  “I doubt they’re that shocked anymore,” Carol pointed out. “After all the fights there have been around Wicked between us and the vampires, I’d be surprised if even stupid humans could keep pretending we don’t exist.”

  “Carol…”

  “What?” she demanded. “I didn’t say I wouldn’t help them, did I? If you want me at the high school, or anywhere else, that’s where I’ll go.”

  Kevin shook his head. “It shouldn’t be just because I want you to do it, Carol.”

  Carol shrugged. “Do you really have time for a debate? I thought we were in a hurry.”

  They were, so Kevin started to run. The rest of the werewolves ran with him, heading for the school. He just hoped that they wouldn’t be too late. Except of course, for so many of the students Pietre had transformed, they already were.

  Chapter 3

  Running over, Kevin was briefly concerned that they might not be able to get into the school easily; that the high school’s security would see him with what appeared to be a gang of rough looking, disheveled individuals and refuse to let them inside, even if he was a former teacher there. He’d thought that it might have caused problems, having to knock them out to get in.

  Yet one look at the school told him that they had much bigger things to worry about. The large, slightly dated buildings of Wicked’s high school
were quiet in a way that full school buildings never truly were. Ordinarily, there would have been at least a few kids out in between classes, or running because they were late, or just hanging out in one of the large open spaces nearby. Now though, there was nothing. Even the small security hut on the gate was quiet, though Kevin quickly scented the reason for that. When he looked inside, there was a middle aged man in a security uniform, dead and bloodless. Kevin motioned the wolves with him past the gate.

  That was when a second security guard leapt out from the shadows beside the gate, throwing himself at Kevin. Kevin didn’t even hesitate. He grabbed the man, who in life had been bulky and muscular but who was too young in vampire terms to be truly strong, and slammed him back against the security hut. Kevin hit him once, twice, and then grabbed him, stepping behind the man to pin his arms.

  “Where are they?” he demanded.

  The guard opened his mouth wide, showing fangs as he tried to turn his head to bite Kevin. Carol stepped forward and broke his neck, then shoved a piece of wood that looked like a chair leg from one of the chairs in the guard hut into him. The vampire guard died without a sound.

  “What did you do that for?” Kevin demanded.

  “He was going to bite you,” Carol shot back. “Besides, you know he wouldn’t have said anything useful. You probably know as much about where they’ll be as he did.”

  Annoyingly, Carol was probably right. There were only so many places that the vampires could use if they wanted to keep a large number of students in one spot. Of those, some offered the vampires better opportunities to control the students than others.

  “The gym,” Kevin declared. “They’ll be in the gym.”

  “There,” Carol said, reaching up to put a hand on his shoulder. “You see, I was right.”

  “Just… don’t kill anyone else without my say so,” Kevin ordered.