SHIFT (Mackenzie Grey #1) (13 page)

“I think we should go in,” I told Amy and she sighed in resignation.

We went up the steps and into the darkened church. The pews were crooked and it smelled of incense and burnt out candles with a hint of something old that I couldn’t identify. The only light came from the altar where Jonah and Bernard stood.

“So…who are we here to see?” I probed as we approached them.

“
Me
,” a voice said from behind us and I whirled around to find…nothing.

“Okay, because that’s not freaky. What the hell was that?”

“Lucian,” Jonah called out with a smirk. “Stop playing games and come out. We don’t have time for child’s play.”

“Oh, you’re no fun anymore, Jonah Cadwell,” said the voice again and it had a very delicate British accent. From the darkness by the entrance, a white figure came out and down the middle in between the pews. He was of average height, lean, with blonde hair that was slicked back and came down to just below his shoulders. He was pale, like Edward Cullen pale, and that’s what made my eyes bulge out of their sockets.

“No way,” I gasped and the vampire smirked at me. His black eyes twinkled as he got closer to us and the alter lights hit him. He walked towards us—no, scratch that—he glided to us. It was so graceful and quiet, my jaw dropped and I was having a hard time picking it up. He was scary, definitely giving me the hebbie jebbies, but he was also beautiful. Like a porcelain doll.

“Well hello, who might you be?” he asked as he approached me. I couldn’t resist a flinch as his cold, clammy hand reached for mine and a shiver ran through me. “Wolf got your tongue?” he mocked and I had to shake myself out of the trance I was in.

“Mackenzie Grey,” I said and let him place a soft but chilling kiss on the top of my hand.

“
Mackenzie Grey
,” he repeated, “what a lovely name.” His eyes lingered on me for a moment, wondering what I was, and then they traveled to Amy who was beside me. “And you?” he said as he raised an eyebrow to Jonah. “Did you bring me a snack?”

I snarled.

“No, Lucian. She is our friend and under the protection of the Pack. Don’t touch,” said Jonah as he came down from the middle of the altar to the bottom by the steps where we were.

Lucian licked his lips as if he were hungry and nodded. “My apologies, young one,” he said as his eyes took in Amy’s small body. After much difficulty, he tore his gaze away. “What do I owe this pleasure, then?”

Jonah didn’t waste any time. “One of ours is missing. My brother Jackson.”

The vampires pale hand came up to his mouth with mild horror, but it looked exaggerated. “Oh no,
friend,
when?”

“Yesterday. He was on patrol in Central Park with his team. One of our wolves was killed and the other is in critical condition. Do you know what might have caused this?”

Lucian’s face went neutral and he dug his hands in the pockets of his all black dress pants that matched his black buttoned up shirt. “Did you come here, young wolf, to know who may have caused this, or to accuse me of doing it?” he questioned and his accent was so prim and proper, I had to remember that what he was saying was slightly threatening.

Jonah growled. “Should I accuse you?”

“Easy, Jonah,” Bernard whispered.

The vampire chuckled. “Oh, calm down, wolf. I didn’t mean anything by it, but your visits are rare and short in between. I was just curious as to why I would be the person you went to when the Fae seem like a more reasonable choice.”

“The Fae?” I questioned because it wasn’t the first time I’d heard the name mentioned but I hadn’t asked about it.

“The Fae are fairies. They’re a bunch of sneaky bastards and will make you their slaves for a lifetime and then some, if you’re not careful,” Bernard answered and I could sense some hostility in him.

“Were you a slave of theirs?” I asked because it sounded personal.

“No. My father was,” he said grimly and I dropped the subject. This probably wasn’t the best time to rehash any of that.

“So why would we go to the Fae?” Amy asked and I saw Lucian’s two black orbs zone in on her neck. He licked his lower lip slowly and I got a peek of his fangs. Oh crap.

The vampire winked at me once he caught me staring. “Central Park is Fae territory, if Jackson was taken from there, then I would assume the Fae might know more about this situation than I,” he said and looked to Jonah for confirmation. Ah, I see. Now I understand why the vamp might be a little defensive, I’d take offense too if a bunch of people assumed I knew something. Didn’t mean he was the good guy though. He had a creep factor to him that was making my skin crawl.

“I have a team going to see them. I personally, wanted to check in with you and see if you had…” Jonah paused, “any information.”

Lucian smirked. “I don’t. As a matter of fact, you’ll be surprised to know that one of mine have been taken as well.”

I gasped. “Why didn’t you mention it earlier?” I said and was a little ticked off. He was so busy being all theatrical in a freakin’ church of all places (I thought they weren’t allowed in here?) and he hadn’t mentioned we were in the same boat.

“Because I had to make sure you weren’t lying and actually holding my kind hostage,” he said and eyed me curiously. “You seem new, young Mackenzie Grey, so I will be kind enough to explain what the wolves haven’t deemed important to mention.” He regarded Jonah and Bernard sternly and they growled in response. “Vampires and Werewolves do not consider themselves close. At the moment we walk a very fine line between associates and enemies. We have a lot of history between us that goes back to our time in Europe where we seed from. So understand, I wouldn’t be surprised to find out that the wolves have taken one of my kindred, especially since we are in talks of territory disputes.” He looked around the cathedral. “Say, where is Sebastian Steel? I would have thought the Alpha Beta would have come to see me himself.”

Jonah cleared his throat. “He’s indisposed.”

“Hm. I’m sure he is,” Lucian said, baring his teeth. I stepped back from the glare of his fangs. “Now, what I want to know, if you’d be so inclined to answer, is why you’ve brought a Luna on what I’m assuming is a field assignment? Your kind seem so intent on keeping them hidden and safe within your own quarters, it’s shocking and a rare oddity to see one here so open and in the flesh. Not to mention a Luna that doesn’t seem…how should I put it…oh yes, she doesn’t seem indoctrinated yet, if you ask me,” he said as he slowly circled around me. I tensed during his perusal; it wasn’t hunger I saw in his eyes but there was a gleam in them that worried me.

“We didn’t ask you, vampire,” Jonah growled and I felt him flush against my back. He was staking his claim—which he had none, but I wouldn’t correct him—and I didn’t think Lucian wanted me the way Jonah was assuming. It was something else, I just didn’t know what.

“Right,” he said slyly and smiled, “none of my business.” He knew something. That all knowing look he was giving me was too obvious.

“Who’s gone missing?” Bernard asked.

“Cassandra,” he said with a grimace, like he’d drank stale blood.

“Your consort?” Jonah asked in shock. Consort? What were these guys into?

“Yes,” Lucian said tightly. “She went out for a feeding without me and never returned. We followed her trail to Strawberry Fields and that’s where it ends.”

Jonah placed his hand on my hip and gripped it tightly. “That’s where Jacksons scent ends as well.”

The vampire didn’t look surprised. “Do you think the Fae have something to do with this?”

“I don’t know,” Jonah whispered and I put my hand on top of his. He was desperate for any information on his brother and it’s hard when there’s nothing out there. He was grasping at straws and I wished there were something I could do—no matter how much Jackson got on my nerves.

“Have
you
sent anyone to see the fairies?” Amy asked beside me.

“No, little one, we have not. They are not too fond of the undead,” Lucian shrugged.

“What if they have someone missing as well?” she prodded.

“Then we need to find out, but it’s too much of a coincidence that both a vamp and a wolf were taken in the same place and on their territory,” Bernard said.

“Are you guys beefing with them also?” I asked.

“What’s up with the nineties slang, Kenz?” Amy mumbled and I rolled my eyes.

“The Fae keep to themselves, they don’t like to get involved in supernatural politics. That’s why the only land they have in New York is Central Park, which is fine by both our kind. In exchange, the wolves patrol their area, making sure it’s safe,” Lucian said.

“If they did take one of ours, then that treaty would be void and that could bring war,” Jonah said, but I think he was talking to himself. He sounded lost in thought.

“Yes it would, young wolf. It would indeed.”

Amy reached for my other hand and held on to me. She didn’t have to say what she was thinking, I already knew. We’d gotten ourselves involved in something that seemed best if we escaped. Self-preservation at its finest. No matter how much I wanted to help, I didn’t want to get involved if war was the ultimate outcome. This wasn’t something I wanted to expose Amy to, much less myself. I’d been pulled into the danger of this Pack, but I forgot that this wasn’t one of my paranormal books. This was real life and if we got involved, it meant a real death if something went wrong. I was not willing to take that risk.

My fears preoccupied my focus so I didn’t notice what was going on around me until we stepped out of the cathedral and the cold winter air hit my face. It was like a crack of a whip; it burned. I tried to rub my hands together but they were still holding on to Amy. Jonah was walking ahead of us with Bernard at his side.

“What’s going on in that head of yours, Kenz?” Amy asked.

“What you’re thinking. Maybe we’re in over our heads?”

“Yeah, I don’t know about all this. I’m all for excitement and adventure but this seems a little scary.” The fact that Amy admitted she was scared was a wakeup call. Even in the face of danger—or werewolves—she’s as tough as nails.

“I think I may need to get out of town for a little while,” I said and she stopped me in the middle of the sidewalk.

“Why?”

I sighed, “Jonah said that I may not be able to get away from the Pack unscathed. Their laws are very strict about lone wolves and I’d be categorized as one if I don’t join.”

“So what? When have you cared about labels?”

“Amy, they’ll kill me. It’s Pack or death, no other options. You heard what they said, they hunt lone wolves,” I said and waited. She examined something on my chest, avoiding eye contact. She didn’t blink or move, but she was breathing, which was at least good news. I didn’t want to reveal this to her just yet, but I didn’t seem to have much of a choice. If I left, they wouldn’t bother with Amy, she could go back to school without a hitch. But I wouldn’t be able to stay. If I did there’s no way Amy would be free of my mess. Better if I just removed myself from the equation; then Jonah wouldn’t be obligated to hunt me down and kill me once I refused Pack membership. It would be better for everyone.

“Kenz, they can’t do that,” she said innocently and I saw the glimmer in her eyes as they stared up at me helplessly.

“Amy, please don’t—”

“Don’t what? Feel like I’m losing my best friend? My sister? My Mackenzie?” she gulped. “You’re crazy if you think I’d let you go without me.”

“Hey, keep up!” Jonah yelled over to us.

“We’ll be there in a sec!” I called back and he nodded. “Listen to me, Amy, you have such a bright future ahead of you, you’re a freakin genius for Christ sake. I mean you’ll probably graduate and work for Google. And come on, you can’t
not
work for Google. They have sleeping pods for day naps and bikes to ride around with! It’s the dream job!”

“I don’t care about that. What’s the point of it all if I don’t have my best friend to enjoy it with me?”

I sighed. She had a point and if the tables were reversed, I’d be pitching the same tune to her. Amy had stuck by my side since the beginning of all this madness almost four years ago. And trust me, there had been some crazy times, but we managed and I couldn’t expect her to just shrug it off and go on with her life. She was right.

“Fine. Let’s talk about this later, I don’t want Jonah getting suspicious,” I said and she nodded.

We caught up to the two werewolves at the entrance to Central Park.
I guess we weren’t wasting any time.
We went in from Central Park West on 72
nd
Street since it was closer to Strawberry Fields. We passed the
Imagine
mosaic and headed toward one of the pavilions by The Lake.

“Why are we stopping here?” Amy asked as a cold breeze came through and she shivered in her bundled up winter clothes.

“Because we have to wait for one of the Fae to reveal themselves to us before we can see them. They have something called glamour where they can hide their true identities from not just us, but humans. Fairies in your culture are thought of as Tinkerbells. Unfortunately that couldn’t be farther from the truth,” Jonah said. “When they come, do not accept anything from them and try to avoid saying ‘thank you’ or ‘I’m sorry.’ You’ll owe them for the rest of your life.”

I looked to Amy immediately and I was nervous for her. Amy sometimes spoke before her brain even processed her thoughts and it had a habit of getting her into trouble. Trouble that could cost her life. Oy vey.

“Uh, Aim?”

“I know, Kenz,” she deadpanned. “I’ll zip it, I promise. You should too.”

I rolled my eyes. At least she understood the importance of it.

“Okay guys, look alive. Its show time,” Jonah said and I tensed beside him.

I followed his gaze across The Lake where there was someone…standing on the water. I had to do a double take because I thought my eyes were playing tricks on me but they weren’t; and that someone was headed our way. Just like the vampire, it glided across the lake and barely made a ripple.

Once this person—or Fae—got closer to us, the moonlight hit and I was able to get a good look. She had on a soft pink, spaghetti-strapped dress that seemed to be made out of sheer. She had flowing white—and I mean paper white—hair that almost hit the water, it was so long. Two strands of hair on either side were twisted and pulled back, keeping her hair away from her face. And I’ll be damned…the chick had elf ears. She stopped on the edge of the lake but didn’t touch land. Her eyes were a spooky, pale grey. Everything about her was just…pale.

“Jonah Cadwell of the Brooklyn Pack, it is about time you came and paid me a visit,” she said in a sing song voice. “Though I’m surprised Sebastian Steel sent his Beta wolf. I must be special,” she purred.

I peered over at Jonah and he was smiling, an actual, genuine smile. A low growl escaped me and luckily no one around heard it. I felt this possession take over and I couldn’t help but get the idea that there was some history between the two of them.

“Drusilla, long time,” Jonah said with a smirk.

“Long time indeed, love,” she grinned as if they were in on some joke we weren’t, “but I’m glad he at least sent someone competent enough to deal with this problem.” She rolled her eyes and sighed.

“What problem?” I asked and she pinned her pale grays on me.

“Who are you?” she requested as her eyes narrowed to slits.

“Shh,” Jonah hushed me. “This is Mackenzie Grey, Kenzie, this is Drusilla, the Fae Queen of Central Park.”

Oh.

“Nice to meet you, uh, your highness?” I sounded completely ridiculous and it was proven by Amy’s giggles behind me. I didn’t know this chick was the queen.

She huffed. “So mundane. Did you just recruit this one, love? I feel sorry for whatever wolf she breeds, won’t be that intelligent.” Oh no she didn’t. She was talking about the future wolf babies I was never going to have!

I growled. Jonah placed a grip on my forearm and I snapped my attention to him. “Not now,” he mouthed and I had to swallow my pride.

“What’s the problem, Drusilla?” he asked her, completely at ease.

She eyed me for a moment and then turned back to Jonah, who earned her bright smile. Bitch.

“Branwell has been taken and your wolves were supposed to be here to protect us. Is our treaty in jeopardy, love?” God, if she called him ‘love’ one more time, I was going to snap.

“Drusilla, my brother was taken from here last night. We came to see if you knew anything about it, which I’m guessing you don’t,” Jonah said and he ran his hand roughly through his hair. He was stressed and his desperation showed.

“Oh no, it’s the vampires!” she exclaimed and I shook my head.

“The vampires have someone missing as well. It’s not them,” I said because from the look of Jonah, he wasn’t in a position to speak. I could see the wheels spinning in his head as he tried to put this all together. Who was taking these people?

“Such a foolish little girl. You never believe a breath that comes out of a night walker,” she said condescendingly.

“Vampires can’t breathe, they’re dead,” I said.

“I think that was her point, Kenz,” Amy whispered. Oh whatever, that was lame.

“Boss, I think we need to head back and regroup,” Bernard said to Jonah, who nodded.

“Oh no, don’t go love. Why don’t you come and spend the night,” she paused and looked to me, “for old time sake.” Okay lady, I got the message.

I rolled my eyes. “I don’t think he’s in the mood to roll around in the hay with you. I don’t know if you got the memo but his brother’s been kidnapped.” I think I might have made her shit list.

“Mackenzie’s right, Drusilla,” Jonah started. “Now is not the time, although I appreciate the offer,” he said and bowed.

“Very well, love. If you need any assistance in finding the missing, I will offer what I can, I give you my word,” she said and turned around to leave. I held my breath until I couldn’t see her retreating figure glide across the lake anymore. I hadn’t realized how cold I was until a shiver came through me and my teeth chattered. Amy snuggled in closer to me and we tried to warm each other up.

“Is the coast clear?” Amy whispered.

“Yeah, she’s gone,” Bernard answered and his body sagged in relief. I’ll have to remember to ask him—when the time is right, of course—what happened to his dad and if he’s still alive. I imagined it wasn’t easy for him to see the Fae Queen and not want to throttle her. I know I did.

“We need to call Sebastian,” Jonah said, “if it’s not the Vampires or Fae, then there’s a million possibilities and it’ll be next to impossible to figure this out in time.”

“How safe is it to contact him?”

“I don’t know but we need to try, I don’t know what to do anymore,” Jonah said and I wanted to take him away from all of this. Gosh, when did I become such a softy?

I dug into Jonah’s pocket, making him jump, and pulled out his phone. It wasn’t locked so I swiped it open and scanned his contacts for Sebastian’s number.

While I waited for someone to answer, three sets of eyes watched me. We were on a time crunch and it seemed like Sebastian was the only one who was capable of helping.

“Hello?” a gruff voice that belonged to the Alpha himself, answered.

“Bash?”

“Mackenzie,” he sighed and I didn’t know if he was disappointed or glad to hear from me. “Where are you?”

“Safe, if that’s what you’re wondering,” I said and he chuckled. It sounded beautiful.

“Yes, that is exactly what I wanted to hear. Good. Stay away from the warehouse until Jonah gets this squared away,” he said with relief. Yeah…I’m about to burst that bubble.

“Jonah is with me, Bash. We had to leave the warehouse.” I waited. “So…we need you,” I whispered into the phone and I heard a small gasp from the other end of the line. Maybe it was my imagination.

“Where are you?” Sebastian lost all the weakness from his voice and I heard the Alpha in him, loud and clear.

After I explained to him where we were, he told me to stay by the
Imagine
mosaic and he’d be there in twenty minutes. How he was going to pull that off was beyond me.

“What are you thinking, Kenz?” Jonah said as he grabbed his phone from me. I shook my head and smashed my lips together. If they needed an Alpha to track Jackson down, then that’s what we’ll get. I didn’t want to mess this up more than I already had.

The guys waited for Sebastian by the Central Park West entrance, while Amy and I sat on the ground, tracing the word
IMAGINE
, which was written on the ground.

“What do you have in mind, Kenz?”

“Nothing really, I just think we need his help. We have nothing but a pile of missing people,” I said.

“Yeah, well I think Jonah’s worried Bash will hurt you—turn you in to the Summit. I don’t think he will though,” she said and my eyes snapped to hers.

“He will if he has to.”

Amy snorted. “Kenzie, sometimes I think you’re a little slow, like special bus, handicap slow,” she said as she rolled her eyes. “Sebastian won’t hurt you because he wants in your pants, dude. Just like Jonah.”

I waited for her to tell me she was joking, but I got nothing. She was dead serious and I felt the blood drain from my face and a serious case of vertigo was messing with my equilibrium.

Amy put a hand on my back to keep me up straight. “Easy there, babe. Just take some deep breaths. It’s not that bad,” she said with a smile. “Two hunks after you isn’t the end of the world.” If she only knew, which she didn’t and I can’t say I’m totally clear on it either, but getting involved with either of them would be disastrous. Besides having to become a Luna and a fifties-style housewife, after James, the thought of being with another guy sort of freaked me out. I spent the last couple of months reflecting on my past relationship and after what happened between James and I at Angelina’s during brunch, I had come to a solid decision—I wanted to be alone. It took me a while to realize it and there were still times when I got lonely, but it’s such a momentary, inconsequential feeling. Besides, this whole three days out of the month Change that takes over, didn’t help my chances being with anyone. It was difficult keeping this secret from James for almost four years. I didn’t want to go through that again. Secrets could be suffocating.