Inferno (26 page)

“My friends are there and will report back any movement to me. I thought I’d make you aware of the situation so you could discuss it with Dante when he gets up. If you’re going to make a move on the boat, let me know so I can warn my people.”

“Do you think they’ll stick around to give us a hand?”

“Hard to say. They’re not wolves. I can’t order them around. I can only request. They’re talented people and unparalleled in the water. To be honest, I haven’t had a lot of dealings with them. They keep to themselves for the most part. I can tell you they have a stellar reputation among our people. If they agree to help you, you’ll be lucky to have them on your side.”

“I see.” Duncan looked thoughtful. “Well, I’ll give you a call back once we decide what to do.

I’m pretty certain we’ll be taking a drive out to Long Island tonight.”

“It could be a trap. In fact, I’d bet good money on it. The information was too easily obtained.”

“Oh, I have no illusions on that score. It most likely is some sort of trap, but we must take our opportunities where we can find them. Dante is a man of action who prefers to do battle head on rather than wait for a better opportunity. I’m of a mind to be the same way in this case. Like I said, we’ll let you know. Probably in an hour or two.”

“I’ll wait for your call. And I’ll be in touch if anything else develops.”

“Thanks for your help, Alpha. It is more than I expected and greatly appreciated.”

“No problem, but if this works out for you, I hope you’ll explain to me sometime how you got so tight with the Lords so fast. That’s a story I would love to hear.” Duncan laughed and assured the pack leader he’d be happy to regale him with the story over a pint of beer at the earliest opportunity. They chatted briefly about beer of all things, then hung up with a friendly goodbye. It sounded like the beginning of a friendship from where Megan sat.

She’d never interacted much with other shifters and was unprepared for how congenial the wolf Alpha appeared to be.

“You heard?” Duncan asked.

She nodded. “It could very well be a trap, but I agree with you. I think we can handle her between the three of us. I’d rather go out and face her than wait for her to attack again.” Duncan agreed with her and they finished their meal in pensive silence, waiting for Dante to rise.

When Dante entered the kitchen, he found a subdued wolf and grim-faced half-fey knight waiting for him.

“What’s wrong?” He was expecting the worst.

“Kevin called.” Duncan’s words were clipped, but he tried to put on a brave face. “His people found Siobhan, possibly hiding out on a yacht owned by her family.”

“So what’s the problem?” Dante breathed easier, pouring himself a glass of wine.

“It’s most likely a trap.”

“Why do you think that?”

“Kevin said the information came too easily.”

“I see.” Dante took a sip, thinking hard. “So at least we’re forewarned.”

“Damn, I knew you were going to say that.” Duncan shook his head, laughing softly.

“Am I so predictable then? I’m not sure I like that,” Dante mused, sipping his wine as he stepped over to Megan.

She looked at him with those worried wide hazel eyes he couldn’t resist. He bent down to kiss her, glad when she responded warmly to him. She was a beautiful thing to wake up to, and he liked having her in his home. Probably too much. He would have to deal with that when the time came.

“What do you say, sweetheart?”

“I’m with you, whatever you decide. I should tell you that we already assumed you’d want to check it out tonight. The wolf Alpha is waiting by the phone for your decision.” Dante laughed out loud at that. “Why does he need to be involved?”

“It’s all very mysterious.” Duncan’s eyebrow rose as he grinned. “Kevin called in some help from water
were
of some kind. He didn’t say what kind, but they’re still there, watching the yacht. He wanted a heads up if we decided to move in and indicated if those water shifters decided to help us, we’d be glad to have their help.”

“I wonder what kind of shifters are so good in the water?” Dante mused.

“Tigers, certainly, but the
tigre
clans probably don’t interact much with the likes of Kevin. It’s more likely some obscure tribe of
were
folk, but I didn’t think there were any polar bears or orca around Long Island, except their animal brethren imprisoned in zoos. Of course…” Duncan’s eyes narrowed as he thought, “…it could be selkies.”

“Selkies? Like the Irish myths about people who turned into seals? They’re real?” Megan asked.

The old fairy tales had always appealed to her, though she didn’t understand why people thought the shifters had to put on and take off their seal skins in order to shift. Because of that aspect of the story, she hadn’t believed such creatures really existed.

“Aye, they’re real enough but rare. Very rare indeed,” Duncan confirmed. “I didn’t realize they’d made it to the new world and settled here. The last time I was in this realm, most of their leaders were convinced they should isolate themselves from humanity. The last I knew, they were hiding out in enclaves in the most inaccessible areas of the Irish coast.”

“Maybe they moved?” Megan puzzled it out. “They could probably blend in on Long Island.

Although the area isn’t known for seals, there are miles and miles of coastline—much of it privately owned. If they struck it rich and were able to buy a place along the shore, they could come and go as they pleased and no one would be the wiser.”

“Very likely,” Dante agreed. “Myself, I’ve never met a seal shifter. According to legend, they’re supposed to be among the most handsome of beings. Yet I don’t know how good they’d be in a fight.”

“Kevin seemed to think they could more than hold their own. He said, in fact, we’d be lucky if they agreed to help us,” Megan offered.

“All right then.” Dante polished off his wine and put down his glass. “Give Kevin a call and tell him to let those water
were
know we’re on our way. If they want to help us, they’re welcome.” Duncan picked up the phone as Dante tugged on Megan’s hand. She stood and followed him from the room. Once he had her in the living room, he pulled her into his arms and kissed her the way he’d wanted to since the moment he rose.

She was breathless by the time he let her go. Breathless but smiling. He loved the way she responded to him.

“Now that’s what I call the right way to start my evening.” He rubbed her lower back with long strokes of his hands. He wanted to make love to her, but they had things to do and villains to catch. “After we take care of this business, tonight you’re mine. All right?” She nodded, her eyes wide and so innocent-looking he could almost cry. She was so young compared to him. Young and vital. She was like catnip to a
tigre
. Irresistible and seductive. And he would have her again tonight. No Duncan. Not if he could help it. Just him…and her.

Poisoned blood be damned.

But they had work to do first.

They took Dante’s car to the north shore of Nassau County, following the coast to the quaint and bustling town of Port Washington. There wasn’t much cover as they approached the marina, but that couldn’t be helped.

Dante went first with Megan. He didn’t want her in the path of danger, but he needed her nose.

If there were explosives on the boat, she’d be able to smell them. Likewise, she would be able to sniff out anything else he might miss, and she did have a natural defense to most magic. If Siobhan got the drop on them, Megan would probably be okay. She had fast reflexes and knew how to handle herself if fireballs started raining down.

Duncan was acting as backup. They hadn’t gotten a straight answer from the wolf Alpha about the supposed water
were
who had been on site. If they were still there, Dante didn’t see them.

“The yacht is the last one in this row, way at the end.” Megan reported after checking a diagram at the main entrance and walking a short way to the right arm of the complex docking system.

He didn’t like this setup at all. They’d be too exposed on the final approach to the boat, which was moored at the very tip of one of the marina’s spindly arms. It was a prime location that must’ve cost a pretty penny. Not only was access to the open water achieved more easily from that location, but it was quieter away from shore without a lot of foot traffic on the small ramps that connected the boats to land.

They would have some cover until they got near the end of the arm of floating planking to which the yacht was moored. The last few yards would leave them out in the open and very vulnerable. Still they had little choice. They’d have to approach cautiously and keep to cover as much as they could until that final stretch. That would be the most dangerous part of this plan. If any surprises had been set for them that would be the place.

Keeping that in mind, Dante set out with Megan, taking the lead and keeping to the shadows between the smaller boats as much as possible. They had quite a distance to traverse. Boats of many sizes were all connected by a network of skinny pathways that bounced up and down on the water as they walked.

There was no direct route to the yacht. Instead, they had to make their way over a series of connected walkways that led like a maze toward their goal. There was some advantage to the circuitous route, providing them darkened spaces between smaller boats for cover and places where they could stop and observe their destination.

Dante called a halt when they were nearing their goal. He wanted to take a minute to scout out the area. Chances were, there was something foul waiting for them in their not too distant future.

Siobhan wouldn’t have left her hiding place unguarded. Not after the things they had encountered at her home.

Megan grabbed his hand as he saw movement on the deck of the boat they were heading for.

Someone had come up from below and was doing something on deck. It was a man. An older fellow. Definitely not Siobhan. Maybe her father?

Megan pulled at his arm as he moved forward. “This smells bad,” she muttered, sniffing the air.

“It smells like…”

“What?” Dante asked while in motion. He was heading for the boat more quickly now, intent on his target.

“Dante, stop!” She tugged at him urgently, her voice pitched low so only he could hear it.

“What’s the matter?”

“That’s—” She broke off as a blinding pain crashed through her skull. The heel of her hand ground against the pain between her eyes. “Oh Goddess!”

“What is it?” Dante crouched to next to her as she doubled over in pain. “You know him?” It was all she could do to nod her head as the magical prohibition did everything it could to stop her. Dante must’ve realized what was going on. He supported her by the elbows and dragged her into a shadowed aisle between two boats where no one could see them.

“It’s your keeper, isn’t it?” Dante’s expression was grim. “That’s the only thing that could be causing you such pain.”

She tried to nod again, but wasn’t sure if she actually made any movement. The malevolent magic held her in its grip, denying her the ability to identify the man she’d seen on the deck of the yacht.

“Dammit! I hope Duncan is watching. If that man is the one who did this to you, we’ll need Duncan’s special touch to overpower him.” Dante stood, peering over the top of the boat they were crouched behind, though Megan tried desperately to draw him back.

Fear rose within her, choking her. It was like nothing she’d ever felt before—a cold dread that seeped into her very bones. She, who feared little in life, was deathly afraid now, facing a man she’d known for many years. She knew how cold Poferov could be. She’d experienced his frigid demeanor and soulless cunning many times.

She’d never dared to go against him. She wasn’t sure she had the courage to do so now. She was nearly paralyzed with fear on Dante’s behalf should he confront Poferov in any way.

“Don’t!” she whispered, fighting with all her might against the compulsion not to speak. “He’s too dangerous.”

Dante crouched down beside her once more, cupping her cheek in one powerful hand. The look in his eyes told her much. She read sympathy, caring and a ghost of something that could have been love, were they both free to feel such things for each other. It warmed her to think this brave man could be so gentle with her when faced with such danger. She hated the fact that she’d ushered such evil to his doorstep and involved him in her problems.

That Poferov was involved in this at all was her fault. Megan felt the weight of it in her heart and on her conscience. She felt like she had brought this upon them. Her mistake, her vulnerability, her stupidity in believing the lie the
Altor Custodis
agent had perpetrated upon her and her family. Why hadn’t she questioned it before? Why had she blindly believed? Simply because her mother had?

“Will you be all right here, Megan? I don’t think you should go any closer. Let me handle this.” His voice was a balm to her bleeding soul. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry, Dante.” Her broken whisper sounded painful even to her own ears.

He shushed her gently, drawing her close for a short moment. “Stay here. Stay hidden. I will slay your dragon, sweetheart, and then we can celebrate together—just us two.” The promise in his eyes was nearly her undoing. If she could be free from Poferov’s control—if Dante could kill him—her blood would be cleansed of his evil magic. She would be free to be with Dante as she knew he desperately wanted and needed. She wanted it too. She wanted to feel the bite of his fangs into her skin, the reward of his passion as he took her essence into himself.

She wanted to share everything she was with him—if only for as long as it could last.

She didn’t delude herself with dreams of forever. She and Dante could only have a short time together, but she vowed to make the best of it.

“Will you be all right?” he asked tenderly.

A single tear trickled down her cheek as she nodded. He kissed it away and gave her a soft smile.

“Stay alert and stay here. I’ll come for you when it’s done.”

“Be careful,” she managed to whisper, though Poferov’s tainted magic tried to silence her.