Skin Walkers: Angel Lost (5 page)

Chapter 10

Back in his office, Monroe was relieved to find it empty.  He didn’t know where Tyce and King were, and honestly, he didn’t care.  He needed a minute alone to think about what Eden had said.  She felt invisible and alone, and he wasn’t sure how to fix that, or even if he should.  What he did know was that he shouldn’t have told her she was all he saw, regardless of the fact that it was true.  He was muddying the waters with his inability to keep from touching her and saying corny shit to her.  It couldn’t be helping her. 

The phone on his desk rang and he snatched it up impatiently, answering with an annoyed, “WHAT?”

“You’ve got a female there, one who was taken during the attack.”

He snarled as recognition of the voice on the other end registered.  “I
told
you to come in!”

“Shut up and listen!  They painted her red!  Do you know who I’m talking about?”

He growled over the line, but didn’t immediately speak.  He remembered Recker briefing him on the state Harlow EnemyHunter had been in when they’d found her.  “I could give two shits about red paint.  I want the location of the Megalya
headquarters
, and I fucking want it
now
!” 

“It wasn’t paint.  It was a mixture of Megalya blood and oil.  The female’s been marked as a mate.  The Megalya male who gave his blood will be coming for her.  Get her clean.”

He ground his teeth together.  “What the
fuck
does that mean?”  The Dominant was in rare form and he knew it, but he couldn’t stifle the rage that was pouring through him.  “She washed that shit off!”

“Not water!  His
scent
needs to come off of her.  It’s like a damn beacon, Crow, and he’s looking.  Doha
will
find her unless you can replace his scent.”

“With what?” Monroe snapped, at the end of his patience, but not wanting his informant to terminate the call until he got all the intel he could on Harlow’s situation.

“With a Walker’s!  Find that woman a mate!  If she’s claimed by another, the Megalya loses his marker.  It’s the only way to hide her now.”

“I’m ordering you to come in,” Monroe began, but his words were cut off when the line went dead.  He let his head fall back as his eyes closed, tightening his grip on the receiver until it cracked.

His Angel was still lost, his Estate was still a shambles, and his teams had not yet returned with StoneCrow’s missing.  Now, Harlow EnemyHunter was in danger, and needed a mate.  Typically, pairing Walkers was his favorite pastime, but not now.  He had more pressing issues than playing cupid.  Still, he’d do it. 

Sighing heavily, he lowered his head, staring at his office door.  Recently, he’d called on several of his Sentries to voluntarily test their mating compatibility with Brooklyn Ami, another issue that’d need to be addressed soon.  The pool of candidates was a viable option for Harlow right now, and seeing as how he’d heard no word from King or Mason on any other potential interests for Harlow, he’d simply have to pick a Walker and assign him to mating one Harlow EnemyHunter.  There was no time for anything else.

Drumming his fingers, he considered contacting King and giving him the task of notifying the chosen Walker, but time was of the essence.  Concentrating, Monroe shuffled through the invisible threads linking his Walkers to him before reaching out telepathically to one in particular. 
“Delain.”

“Dominant?” 

“I’ve got an assignment.”

“I am viable and willing, Sir.”

Monroe smiled at the oath his Walker Sentries had adopted. 
“You were in the pool of candidates for a potential claiming with Brooklyn Ami.  Are you still interested in being paired with a mate?”

“Yes!  Sir?  Am I chosen for Brooklyn?”

“Negative.  I have another Walker for her.  Harlow EnemyHunter is a human female on the Estate.  Are you familiar with her?”

“No, Sir.  Is she a relation of Mason’s?”

“Yes, his sister; regardless, she needs a mate, and she needs one immediately.  During the attack she was taken and apparently marked by a Megalya.  They’re coming for her, and she needs a Walker male’s scent to cover what was done to her.”

“My scent?”

“Claim her,”
Monroe commanded. 
“And be quick about it.  Take her off the Estate if you have to.  She may be resistant.  Persuade her.  It must be done, it’s either you or the Megalya, explain that.  She’ll appreciate it in the end.  Report back when she’s fully yours.”

“Yes sir.”

“And Delain…”

“Yes?”

“It’s got to be a full claiming.  There can be no question.”

“Yes sir.”

***

Remy stared in agitated silence at the mining ghost town nestled in the mountains.  It was too close to the Highwoods and StoneCrow Estate for Remy’s liking. Still, a part of him was relieved the Megalya hadn’t fled the state or gone to their headquarters.

“Any action?”
Haka queried through the mist.

Remy’s response was immediate. 
“No.”
He couldn’t help but wonder if the intel they’d received was bad.  Lifting his nose, he scented the air for the dozenth time, but all he smelled was forest and dying earth.  Even after all these years, the process used to rip open the land in search for gold and ore still left its mark, the land still not recovered.  Like a scarred-over wound that had never been cleaned properly, these old miner’s towns were testament to man’s greed and disregard for nature. 

“Maybe they’re not…”

Remy’s words were cut off by the deep timber of Bellis StCroix. 
“They’re here.  Stand fast!”

Tensing at Bellis’ warning, Remy scanned the quiet ghost town situated below him and his team.  No one had informed him that Bellis had been assigned to this mission, but that didn’t negate the fact that, if the assassin said Megalya were here, they were fucking here!  Remy tapped the subvocal mic at his throat to contact the human Sentry team.  “They’re here.” He lifted his rifle a little higher when Josef responded, “Copy.”

Remy stared across the clearing, catching sight of the human team glassing the town below them.  Walker rifles didn’t have scopes.  Didn’t need ‘em.  Hell, it was rare that Walkers even carried weapons, but after the attack on the Estate, all bets were off. Every Walker waiting to rain hell down on the Megalya compound was armed to the teeth.

Counting the human males, Remy was relieved for the billionth time that Harlow wasn’t among them.  She’d trained hard to be a Sentry, but he knew it was more than just his request that had dissuaded her from coming on this mission.  She’d been taken during the attack on the Estate and slathered in slimy, red oil.  Even now, Remy could still scent the lingering, pungent aroma that had coated his Angel. 
Fuckers!
  Whatever the stuff had been, it had enraged him, and not just because it had been put on his Angel without her approval.  No, there was something about the oil that pricked at him and made him want to gut things.

“We’ve got movement.” 

The words crackling across the line drew his gaze back to the task at hand.  He heard the Megalya long before he spotted the baldheaded, pasty creature poking his head out a door to scent the air.  The beast was closer to the human team, and Remy flicked a glance to where Josef and his team were secreted in the thick foliage of the forest.  He didn’t see them, and if he didn’t see them, the Megalya didn’t either.  Seeming satisfied, the Megalya disappeared back into the building. 

“I’ve got a stray,”
Bellis spoke over the mist. 
“You all are on your own.  I’m going for the traitor.”

“Traitor?  Wait!  Who is it?”
  When Bellis didn’t respond, Remy ground out,
“Damn it, Bellis, what if you need backup?  At least tell me which way you’re heading.”

Silence.

“Son of a...” Remy muttered, but then he spotted Keepers Hero and Valor at the door of the building.  He tensed, and when Hero and Valor rushed the building, Josef and his team popped up from cover and dashed to follow the Keepers into the stronghold.

“Damn Keepers!” Remy jerked his chin toward the compound, then he and his team were moving.

Chapter 11

Harlow’s muscles ached as if someone had filled a pillowcase with bars of soap and had a go at her.  Weariness tugged at her, but for the first time in days she felt a sense of accomplishment.  She and some of the staff had cleared all the debris from the east wing where the cafeteria and school rooms had been hit.  It had taken three full days of sweat and muscle, but  reconstruction was finished.  Now, she and Nyree were helping put the finishing touches on the space in the first of what would be many steps to returning the estate to normal. 

Her back jeans pocket buzzed and she pulled her cell phone free, scanning the text Mason just sent. 

Harlow, almost finished with work?  Amanda’s making lasagna.  She says it’ll be ready in five.

“Who’s that?” Nyree asked, as she dipped her brush into the pail of cheery yellow paint they were using on the cafeteria walls.

“Mason, inviting me to dinner.”  Her stomach grumbled its vote, and she decided she’d change her plan for the night.  Her intention had been to do what she’d done every night since Remy had left, which was go to his suite, shower, eat, and rest until it was time to work again.  Tonight though, she couldn’t resist the prospect of someone else cooking. 

Mason and Amanda had invited her over every night, but she’d only gone the first night and had immediately left when Mason started trying to talk her out of a relationship with Remy.  She was too tired, and too worried about Remy’s safety to tolerate Mason bashing him and what Harlow hoped was blossoming between them.  Still, guilt bit hard each night when her brother texted.  Tonight she’d surprise him and, hopefully, he’d be more respectful of her and Remy’s relationship. Because if he wanted to have a relationship with her, he’d need to accept Remy too.

Nyree eyed her, knowing that things between Harlow and her brother were a little strained lately.  “You going?”

Harlow shrugged a slim shoulder.  “Couldn’t hurt.  Besides, Amanda’s a great cook.”

“You know,” Nyree began.  “He’s just worried about you.  He’d just found you and gotten you to the Estate, where you should have been safe, when you were taken.  Let him be a concerned big brother without busting his balls.”

Harlow nodded, knowing Nyree was oblivious to the tumultuous relationship between her brother and her soon-to-be mate.  Opting to change the subject, Harlow plucked at the turtleneck she wore.  “Good Christ, it’s hot in here.”

Nyree laughed. “Well, maybe if you didn’t wear stinking turtlenecks every day.  Hell, Harlow, if I didn’t know any better I’d think you were hiding a hickey.”

Harlow snorted.  “I wish!”  She was hiding something though, and it was much bigger than a hickey.  She truly wanted Remy at her side before she flaunted his halo around her neck, or let anyone know that she was his Angel.   Time for another change in subject.  “So, aside from the obvious differences with their Soul Sentries, and a Walkers ability to change, is there anything else that’s different about your Keeper?”

Nyree smiled.  “He’s a lot like a Walker male.  Possessive, loyal, insatiable.”  She blushed at the last word, lifting a hand to her throat.  “No halo, though.  No outwardly obvious sign that I’m mated.”

Harlow stopped her paint brush mid-stroke.  “We should have a wedding!  It’d be perfect.  You’d exchange rings, there’d be your proof, and the Estate would get something positive.  We really need something good right now!”

The idea sent a zing of excitement through Nyree, but she stifled it.  “I don’t know…  The Domina is still not herself, and after the attack Monroe won’t want outsiders here.”

“We won’t have outsiders,” Harlow insisted.  “We can do all the prep and ceremony ourselves!  The kids could do the decorations, it’d be a good back to school project to get their minds off the attack.  I’m positive all the females would pitch in where they could, hair, makeup, dresses.  I’ll do the cake!”

“But Eden…”

“Monroe wouldn’t want his Estate floundering because the Domina was injured.  He’d be proud of us for keeping things moving, for bringing joy to the Estate, for not letting the Megalya win.”

“Hmm, might not be a
bad
idea.”

“Oooh, it’d be so much fun, Nyree! Just think on it, okay?  No decisions right now, and no pressure.  I just think it’d be something good.  You’d get a ring so everyone knew you were taken, which doesn’t hurt around here.  You know these Walkers.  If they think you’re available, they’re like damn Vikings, carrying you off.  I hear Keepers are worse?”

“Yeah,” Nyree laughed.  “They had to be warned, threatened actually, to keep away from all females.  Apparently, they think of us like doughnuts.  If they see one they like, they just take it.”

“It helps that we’re filled with cream and have a hole, right?”

Nyree threw her head back in a loud laugh, and Harlow joined her.  Their laughter died down as the door to the cafeteria opened.  They’d kept it closed to keep the strong scent of paint fumes from wafting through the main house.

A Walker entered, and Nyree instantly recognized him.  Delain was built like all the rest, massive and thick with muscle, but he had surprisingly gentle eyes and full lips.  He looked younger than he was, and had made friends with many of the females on the Estate because he was known as a really nice guy.

“Hey, Delain.” Nyree waved her paint brush.

“Harlow EnemyHunter?” Delain asked, his eyes going straight to Harlow as his brows lowered in a determined gaze.

Nyree glanced at Harlow, asking quietly, “You know Delain?”

Harlow shook her head as the Walker approached.

“Delain,” Nyree began, by way of introduction.  “This is Harlow.  Harlow.  Delain.”

Harlow held out her hand, but when Delain took it, he didn’t shake it.  Instead, he pulled Harlow hard into him, ripping a gasp from her.  Quickly, he tore the halo from around his neck, ignoring the scorch of his own flesh as he was branded with the removal.  Harlow’s eyes widened in shock, and she got out one word before Delain thrust his arm forward, locking his halo around her throat.

“DON’T!”

Harlow’s eyes rolled back as she slipped into unconsciousness.  Swept up into Delain’s arms, he studied her quietly.

“Delain?” Nyree asked nervously.  “What…what in the hell are you doing?”

“She’s in danger,” he explained. “The Megalya marked her when they took her.  Monroe said this is the only way.  She needs to be claimed to override the mark on her.  I have to make her mine.”

Nyree fidgeted nervously. “Will that even work?  If she’s not your Angel…”

Delain shook his head.  “Doc Jenny’s not sure, but Monroe said it’s the only way.  We’ve got to try.”

“You sure you couldn’t have
asked
her first?  I mean, she said she doesn’t even know you!”

“There is no time.  I’m a good Walker, Nyree.  I’ll be a worthy mate.”

She didn’t doubt it, but still.  Something had her feeling like this was a really bad decision.  “Does Mason know?”

Delain shrugged.  “Don’t know.  Don’t care.  Her brother isn’t my concern.  She’s in danger, and the Dominant has assigned me to protect her.”

“What about her Commander?  Does he know…?”

“Commander McCabe hasn’t yet returned from assignment.  He’ll be notified when he returns that one of his Sentries has been taken off Estate for her own protection.  When I return, she’ll be my Angel.”

“Off the Estate?” Nyree gasped.  “Is that wise right now?  Seems it’d make more sense to stay where we’re protected.”

“The Megalya that marked her, Doha, knows she’s here, and he’s coming for her.  His intention is to take her, and to mate her when he finds her.  It’s in her best interest that I take her away.  Besides, I’ll need her full attention to get her to accept my claiming.  We need to get to know each other, and fast.  She’s got to be mine fully for the Megalya’s mark on her to be removed.”

Nyree swallowed hard.  “What if it doesn’t work?  If she’s not your Angel, and the claiming doesn’t take, what then?”

Delain shrugged, looking nervous.  “We’ll cross that bridge if we get to it.”

“Well.” She eyed Harlow’s unconscious form.  “She’s a good woman, Delain.  Take care of her.”

Dove-gray eyes lifted to Nyree.  “I will.”  Then Delain left the cafeteria, and the Estate, with the female he was tasked with making his, and with little time to make it so.