Beauty and the Brute [Werescape III] (11 page)

Of course. Did he think I'm an imbecile?

Octavius nodded. “Stay two nights if you like. And grab a plate. Lots of stew in the pot.” He pointed with the glinting tip of his knife at the fire.

A large tall cast-iron pan was nestled partially in the embers on the flagstone hearth.

Brutus hustled to the heavy lid, clanging it against the stone hearth, scooping up two steaming plates of something that smelled almost beefy, and thrust one at me.

All the colored lumps meant winter root vegetables. Not bad for this time of year before new plants produced much of anything edible.

He nodded toward the table and blocked most of the firelight descending into a seat across from me. He shot me a dark stare and produced a pan of round golden biscuits, placing the camping tin between our plates.

If I hadn't been so damned hungry for fluffy soda bread, I'd surely have fallen on the floor with shock. Days with little more than dried fruit, meat, and nuts were pretty dreary. And with Brutus’ back to the door, the big warrior didn't worry someone could sneak up on him.

So we are definitely safe tonight.

Brutus dug in one of his pockets, hidden beneath the table, and produced two portable sporks flipping them open, passing one to me.

"Thank you.” After thinking I'd left everything behind for more than two days, I couldn't help but study the utensil.

He went right to digging in his meal and chewing.

Life at Yale's mansion often led to dining ritual. Something told me this meal only demanded consumption. Especially the way Brutus inhaled his food. So, I followed his lead. He graciously left me two biscuits while I chewed as fast as possible.

"Haven't had cooked food in a while?” Octavius asked.

Brutus shrugged and swallowed. “It's been a few days."

"In a hurry, like always, I suppose?” Ocatvius dragged the knife's blade along the length of his wooden carving, creating one long coiled shaving.

Brutus’ indomitable stare settled on me. “If anyone asks about Lorelei, we weren't here.

There are some Shifters working for a man out to find her."

Octavius dropped his work to his leather pants and studied me. “You on the run, little lady?"

Luckily, my mouth felt stuffed with dry cotton from a bite of salty biscuit.

Brutus turned to Octavius. “The bastard warlord meant to give her to the extraterrestrials.

She ran. I found her. Here we are."

Octavius nodded slowly, watching us with the intelligence of a man who rarely was fooled.

"Seems like a waste when humans struggle to rebuild what's left of the population here on

Earth."

Brutus sucked in a loud breath. “The warlord's Shifters are working for him."

Not Titus. I gulped down the lump of bread. “Only because they don't have any other recourse."

The pinched cutting stare Brutus locked on me almost made my heart stop.

"Well, little lady, let me clarify something for you.” Octavius switched his legs, crossing the lower one over the bottom. “You see,” he pointed at Brutus, “there are Shifters like Brutus, here, who have no stomach for the desperate acts Normals have been forced into in order to survive AEI. Then, there are those Shifters who opt to work with Normals as a way to survive.

Sometimes, they help Normals by keeping the status quo and saving lives. Other times, well, I

guess you've experienced the other side of the coin."

As if I needed things spelled out for me. Everyone knows what Shifters do. Titus is not one of those bad Shifters. “What are you saying?"

"This is a sanctuary. Shifters choose to live here without Normals. Away from what remains of civilization. If you can even call it that."

Brutus never blinked.

He couldn't be blaming Titus for my situation. “Brutus, Titus treated me like his daughter."

"You don't know what he intended,” Brutus growled.

What good did it do to care what Titus thought now? My Guardian was angry. At me. As if I

was a traitor. “Look, Brutus, you know I can't return to the coastal territories. And I know I'm only alive because of you. So, let's not discuss people in my past anymore. They're dead. My past is dead.” I stabbed at a lump of meat swimming in my dish's pool of dark gravy. “It's all gone."

"Well, I think we're all on the same page,” Octavius hummed.

"I'll tend to Trance while she finishes.” Brutus shoved up from the table and left.

The door squeaked and thumped.

"Boy, you've managed to unseat the only Shifter I've ever seen impossible to fluster."

Octavius watched his knife drag another long curl from the length of his carving. “That one never made much sense before. But,” he shot me a crooked smile, “I think you're going to make a man of him."

Men. “What?"

He snorted a chuckle and arched his brow, his eyes flaring the beginnings of a shift in gold.

"He's got to forget about his past. He won't be able to avoid the chore because you're such an exceptional teacher.” He winked.

Whatever. I shoved a bit of savory, um, venison into my mouth.

"You don't believe me?"

I chewed the lumpy remnants of a carrot and swallowed. “Mr. Octavius, if I thought he gave a hoot about me, I might. The man can't stand me. I'm useless. I can't do anything to help out."

He scoffed and waved a palm at me. “You don't know anything about men. Especially a man and his Wolf. Mark my words, he's more than happy to protect a little lady. And looks like he's found the one he wants to protect."

Why did all conversations with men have to turn down this road?

He turned his heightened vision back to his blade and stick. “Now don't get upset. You just need to know his Wolf's on the prowl."

Prowl? “For what?"

"What a man needs."

Me? Impossible. “That man hasn't had one thing nice to say. He hasn't even stopped glaring in his unique way the entire time I've known him. There's nothing about me he's even remotely cared to suggest is appealing to him.” Well, I wouldn't admit the steel pipe in his pants was a sign. “You're wrong."

Octavius nodded slightly and scraped the long object. “Sometimes, you've got to see what's inside a piece of wood before you can whittle away what you want from it."

Why was he changing the subject? Fine. I could just go along. “What are you working on?"

"A spoon. Nice and long. To stir the pot."

Octavius seemed the type to stir pots often.

The door swung inward presenting me with Brutus's unwavering standard expression. But he quickly flicked his gaze to Octavius. “I owe you for three days of oats for Trance. And, if you have any jerked meat—"

Octavius waved away the words. “You owe me nothing. Just see the little lady as far west as you can."

My Shifter looked about to grunt. But he managed a nod, apparently biting back an argument and turned to scan my plate.

Maybe I should have finished by now. But I was interrupted with the interrogation. I stuffed another scoop of deer stew between my lips.

"Sunrise then?” Octavius asked.

Brutus strode to the mantle, planting an elbow on the slab of dark wood, and focused on the dancing flames. “Yes."

"What did you leave behind?"

"New Pittsburgh. It's gone."

"What a pity. Lot of lives there. We need all the humans we can keep here on Earth."

Brutus didn't wince. “It's been coming on for years now. Would have happened sooner or later. The aliens don't give a shit about who they kill as long as everyone stays in line. With all the warlords bickering over water rights and game rights, it's amazing a few cities weren't cleansed."

"You're the drifter,” Octavius said. “You hear everything. Still no word of what the aliens want?"

Brutus shifted his shoulder blades to the mantle and flicked his gaze to me.

Watching me as if he wanted to mention how I was the placation piece in the grand game of

Normals pleasing the extraterrestrials.

His gaze flicked away to Octavius. “Do you think we'll ever know?"

The question was anything but a question. Brutus didn't want to discuss any of it. Surely because of me.

Octavius rose, skirting his chair to place his tools behind him on a long high table in the shadows. “I've got a large pot of water boiling out back. It the little lady would like a bath, we can prepare the tub."

Yes. Please. The man was a saint. “Yes."

"She needs to sleep,” Brutus snapped.

What? How could he stand there and look so damned right? I guess trying to keep my sleeping butt on his saddle tomorrow wouldn't be easy. I dabbed the end of my biscuit at my brown gravy.

"Come now, Brutus. You're breaking her heart."

"Which lodge do you want us in?” Brutus asked.

"Take the extra one here, in the main lodge. It's no trouble. Lorelei can eat her fill. You won't have cooked food unless you have nothing else to eat.” Octavius strode into black shadows in a dark corner. “If I don't see you in the morning, good luck. There's no way in hell any of us will tell anyone you've passed through here."

A door thumped.

Beauty wouldn't look at me. Damn, Octavius for his interference. Why mention the bath? I

had to get her out of here as soon as possible. To The Wild. Not floating in a tub of bubbles.

Yes, Wolf yapped.

The stupid mutt would want her nude. Curves dipping down beneath the frothy surface just enough to make my blood drain to my groin. Like now. And she slumped like her world had just ended.

Play, Wolf whimpered.

A Wolf playing with a woman only ended up one way. And I wasn't ready to make that mistake.

The door squealed with a vengeance.

Marcus sauntered into the firelight.

Blond and tan, the Shifter attracted females from distant shores.

"Evening, Brutus.” Marcus managed a straight-lipped smile. “Augustus said you were looking for a knife for your charge?"

Yes, everyone think of an excuse to parade his hairy carcass in front of my charge.

Mine, Wolf growled.

Sit, Wolf. I nodded.

Marcus had enough sense not to skirt the table and sit beside her. But he really pissed me off when he stood with his back to me where I couldn't see the seduction in his eyes that he surely used to draw her attention.

"Thank you,” she chimed.

The half of her face I could see sported a beaming smile.

Why did she grace him with such a display of happiness? I hadn't lured any smile out of her.

And her heart just kicked into a trot for him. “It's time to go, Lorelei."

Her gaze slid to mine.

Would she argue?

She rose, gripping a biscuit, the knife, and spork, and joined me.

The lazy way she blinked at me wasn't going to smooth over she'd been flirting with another

Shifter. Females and their games.

Marcus slapped on a frown of a smile and bowed slightly like a warlord's servant. “Sleep well."

Rip his throat out, Wolf snarled.

I'd fix Marcus’ good wishes. The smug son of a bitch coming onto my Beauty.

Kill, Wolf growled.

Marcus’ eyes flashed golden.

Sensing my change in demeanor. Too late. I lunged for him.

Lorelei jumped into my chest.

Too Gods-be-damned foolish. She'd pay for it later. I grabbed her slender curve of a waist and tried to shove her behind me.

Her arms slithered tightly around my chest. “Brutus, what's wrong?"

"Let go, Lorelei,” I spat through grated teeth.

"No! He didn't do anything. What's wrong?"

Women.

Octavius burst from his back room into the firelight and stood between Beauty and Marcus.

"Nobody is endangering your charge, Brutus,” he said calmly.

"Like hell! You weren't here,” I growled.

Her curves sank into my chest, her heart thrashing out a staccato, as we wrestled, one clinging, the other attempting to shake loose of the other's hold.

Her lips brushed my chin. “I'm alright, Brutus,” she whispered. “Let's just get some sleep."

Her hot breath stoked up a rash along my jugular.

Or my Wolfen hairs were sprouting. Sleep. Forget sleep with those curves branded upon my memory. A room alone with Beauty meant mating.

"She's a wise little lady, Brutus,” Octavius said, pushing Marcus toward the exit. “Go on.

Remember you said she needs some sleep."

If I did anything to Marcus, she'd probably hold it against me forever. Like I was an animal.

The way Normals thought. “Let's go, Lorelei."

She didn't trust me the way her arms remained wrapped around my chest. Or she thought her body might keep the others from attacking me. But Beauty as a shield was unacceptable.

She'd know that much before dawn.

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The door clapped behind us.

If I released his hard ribcage, would he go back inside and tear Marcus to shreds? I didn't want to look into those burning orbs of his. But the only way to be certain he wouldn't do something stupid like attack the Shifters who promised to protect us for one good night's sleep was to make eye contact. I slid my gaze up.

His glowing eyes held no emotion.

"Promise you won't go back in there, Brutus."

His chest expanded and contracted. “You have my word."

But not enough of a heartfelt promise to warrant a happy tone. Or at least a normal tone. Oh well. Time to test him. I slid my arms from his iron body and took a step aside.

Cold air rushed between us.

Those shimmering eyes watched me every second.

Made my breath catch in my throat. Something told me not to worry. Maybe my little extra sense that saved my butt at the subdivision. We needed to just get some sleep. “Well, where's the room? I'm hoping the floor isn't crawling with insects.” Hopefully, he'd laugh at my stupidity.

He bent, threw his saddle over his shoulder, grabbed the saddlebags with a fist, and stepped around the side of the cabin.

The darkness hid an addition to one side. Or just how the cabin wasn't a true square. So, we crossed a threshold, into a room as brightly-lit as the part of the cabin where we ate venison stew. Even the fireplace looked identical to the other one.