Tracey H. Kitts - Lilith Mercury 1 - Red (40 page)

“That’s right. My own pack mocks me. They say that I’ve been neutered.”

“But I thought they all thought that you and I were ….”

“They do,” he growled.

Marco slid to the edge of the bed and ran his fingers through his hair.

“The last pack leader kept a harem … Bade keeps a harem.”

He took a deep steadying breath before continuing in a much calmer tone of voice. “Natural wolves mate for life. I think it’s a disgrace to act like more of an animal than they do.”

RED

Tracey H. Kitts

201

I slid closer to Marco’s back, but was careful not to touch him.

“Does my touch soothe you?” I almost whispered.

“Yes.”

It hurt me to see him like that. He was a bundle of nerves and I couldn’t blame him.

“Then let your mind be still,” I said softly as I lifted up and wrapped my arms around his shoulders.

Marco leaned back against me and closed his eyes. As if by instinct I suddenly knew how to calm him. I placed my hands over his chest. With every breath I felt his nervous tension flow into me, and I breathed it out. Several minutes passed and the raging beast from before lay completely gentle in my arms.

“Thank you,” he said softly. “If you hadn’t been here this week, I don’t think I could have made it.”

“You’ll be fine.”

“I’m scared, Red.”

That was something I’d never expected to hear from Marco. I wasn’t used to seeing him so real … so human.

“What time do you leave for the hearing?”

“I’ve been given permission to use the transporter of a Hunter in Louisiana. Since this probably isn’t the best time to let them know that I built one in the basement of the club, I’ll be there first thing Saturday.”

“You know how to build a transporter?”

“I helped construct the one in your father’s office.” He smiled.

“So, you are capable of paying attention.”

“Once in a while.”

“Try to relax, Marco. Like you told me, worrying about tomorrow won’t change anything.”

“You’re right.” He sighed.

I had an idea, “Why don’t you tell me about what you’re going to say. I am part wizard. Try out your speech on me.”

“You know, that’s not a bad idea.”

Marco reached for his notes and I stopped him. “Without the notes.”

He looked worried for a second, but soon got his bearings. Over the next couple of hours I finally got to hear Marco’s point of view. No matter how I chose to look at things, either from the perspective of a Hunter, or the woman sitting on his bed, it made sense.

Marco was going to propose the enactment of what he called the werewolf code.

It would be a very involved process, but the gist of it was that contracting lycanthropy would no longer carry an automatic death sentence. People who were contaminated accidentally through an attack, for example would not be punished for something that they had no control over. However, knowingly infecting another person with the disease would still mean death, so the Hunters would still be involved.

If Marco’s proposal was accepted everyone would be doing what I’d done all along, only hunting rogue werewolves.

RED

Tracey H. Kitts

202

“It would mean so much to be able to go out in public and openly be who I am without being killed for it.” He paced the room as he spoke.

“Marco, there are so many other things that this could set into motion,” I warned.

As he turned back to me the passion in his words could not be denied, “I know.

But it would be a start to be able to walk down the street without wondering if people knew what was underneath this skin … if they would kill me for it.”

“They might still kill you for it.”

“Yes, but they have to see the reasoning behind what I’m saying.”

I sighed as I hugged a pillow to my chest.

“I’m surprised it’s taken someone this long to suggest something like this.”

“It hasn’t,” he said. “Others have suggested something similar in the past.”

“Why was I never told?”

“Because it was stricken from the history books.”

“But how could they! That’s misleading entire generations of people!”

“That’s wizards,” he said as he flopped down beside me.

“What happened to the other people, the ones with similar ideas?”

“They were most likely killed.”

My heart was suddenly in my throat. I couldn’t speak. The danger that Marco faced became very clear to me then and I better understood his anxiety. Yet again I was painfully reminded that the handsome man in front of me was not mine, but I didn’t know what I’d do if Marco didn’t come back.

“It’s alright, Red,” Marco whispered as he reached for me. “Too many people know what’s going on this time. I really don’t think they’ll kill me.” He brushed his fingers across my cheek gently. “But it’s nice to know that you care.”

“I never said I cared.”

“You didn’t have to.” He kissed me slowly and I tasted what I’d be missing.

“Besides it’s not the wizards that concern me most.”

“What

then?”

“It’s

Jacob

Mercury.”

“What do you mean? My father’s not trying to kill you.”

He grinned. “Jacob
would
kill me for the thoughts that I have about his daughter.”

I watched as Marco turned out the light and crawled back into bed. He pulled me on top of him and I snuggled my face across the hair on his chest.

“Red?”

“Hmm?”

“When I make it back, can I hunt the rabbits in your woods?”

“What?” I laughed.

“You know the little fuzzy, bouncy things in the woods around your house.

They’re everywhere.”

“Marco, I don’t care,” I snickered.

“Just so we’re clear, I’m not talking about using a shot gun.”

“I

know.”

RED

Tracey H. Kitts

203

“I like to hunt on the full moon, after the gathering. Some of the pack members do the same, but I like to hunt alone.”

He looked down where I rested against his chest and his eyes glowed in the dark.

“You sure you don’t mind me growing paws and running through your woods?”

“I’m

sure.”

He took a deep breath and dislodged my resting place slightly. “What about Alfred?”

I looked up at him, “They’re my woods. I’ll handle Alfred.”

Within a few minutes Marco’s breathing grew steady and I knew he was asleep.

* * * *

Friday morning found us all in a very solemn mood. Marco and I got up early and had breakfast before he walked me downstairs and out to my car. Once I’d put my purse in the passenger seat I turned back to Marco, hugged him tightly, and breathed in the scent of the man I knew I’d be missing.

The sound of boots crunching on the gravel of the parking lot caught my attention and I turned to see Sam coming our way.

“I hope you don’t mind,” Marco said. “I’ve asked Sam to keep an eye on you while I’m gone. With me out of the way for a week or so and Luther busy, I’m afraid there are those that might try something stupid.”

The look in his eyes let me know that now was not the time to remind him that I could take care of myself. And truthfully, I didn’t mind. I decided instead to tell Marco the truth. If I never saw him again, I didn’t want him to think that that was alright with me.

“I’m gonna miss you.” I smiled.

“You know where to find me.”

“Get back to work, boy. I’ve got this.” Sam winked at me as he walked past my car to his bike.

I watched Marco in the rearview mirror while I drove away. He stood there till I was out of sight.

RED

Tracey H. Kitts

204

Even with the prospect of Sam to keep me company, leaving Marco had been difficult. If Marco’s proposal for the enactment of the werewolf code was accepted, it had the potential to do three things. It could either promote peace among the human and lycanthrope communities. It could start an out right war. Or, it could trigger a combination of the two. Personally, I wasn’t sure what I wanted. Of course, I didn’t want a war. But, there was already a war raging inside of me. This particular battle had nothing to do with politics.

The man that I loved was far away, and not due to return for several more weeks.

However, the man that I found myself drawn to would be back shortly. And as he’d pointed out, I knew where to find him. But, was Marco what I needed to find? That’s the question I kept asking myself. For so long it seemed, I’d been finding the wrong sort of man.

As my dreams continued to be filled with images of men I knew, there was one that I did not. A tall dark stranger, whose face was still a mystery. But, I am still a werewolf Hunter and until I hear differently, Marco is supposed to be my enemy. That leaves little room for thoughts of anything else. Someday, I might have to kill him, but my mind keeps taking me back to the night we danced.

THE END.