Jennifer Ashley: Wild Wolf

Finally, Eric leapt like the cat he was, landing on firm ground, and dragged the corporal well away from the hole before he released him.

Behind them, the basement disappeared, a rush of broken foundation, dirt, rock, and trees filling it in.

Graham. Misty looked at the wreckage of the basement she’d stood in a few moments ago, wondering if she’d just buried alive the man she loved.

"Five days,” Misty said to Diego as he walked her across the common yards after the paramedics had checked her. Xav had arrived while the paramedics were assuring themselves she was unhurt, his handsome face showing his relief.

“Reid told me that time moves differently inside Faerie,” Diego said as they walked. “I guess we have to believe him. You’ve been gone five days, your mother called your brother, who is also worried sick. Since none of us knew where you were, we couldn’t help.”

Xav shook his head. “I couldn’t exactly explain that you disappeared from a convenience store stockroom in a whirl of flowers. And I couldn’t follow. Why couldn’t I? I was standing right next to you.”

Misty shook her head. “I don’t know.” She broke off, feeling the press of Xavier’s shoulder holster against her. “Wait, maybe because you were carrying a gun. Iron. Maybe it didn’t let that through. Reid could come in with a tire iron, because he’s an ironmaster.”

“Yeah, well, Reid is missing too,” Xav said. “Peigi is about to go postal. My guys practically camped out at the convenience store, but we couldn’t follow you, and I couldn’t find that Ben guy. Trust me, I looked. And then he turns up here today, out of the blue.”

Diego regarded Misty sharply. “What happened to Dougal and Graham?”

“I don’t know.” Misty’s breath hitched. She wanted to break down and sob, sink to the ground and bury her face in her hands. “He was behind me in the basement. And then I—”

“Shh.” Xav went to her and put a comforting arm around her. “Knowing Graham, he found another way out. I’ve learned that Shifter spaces are more complicated than just holes in the ground.”

Misty wiped her eyes. “But I don’t know. What do I do?”

“It’s tough being in love with a Shifter,” Diego said, his dark eyes quiet. “Trust me. They’re wild and crazy, and wild and crazy things happen to them. But it’s worth it. We’ll find him. Shifters are hard to kill.”

“But not impossible.”

“I know.” Diego gave her a sympathetic nod. “Stick as close as you can to the truth. I’ll be there, and so will Xav. We can fill in the blanks.”

“Thanks, Diego. Is my brother all right?”

“Fine. Paul’s at your store, helping put it back together. Keeps saying if he doesn’t, you’ll come back and yell at him. It kept him from worrying. Xav has already called him and told him you’re all right.”

“Now he’ll yell at me .” Misty smiled. “I’m looking forward to it.” She took a breath as they neared the knot of soldiers waiting to question her. “When they’re done with me, I’m grilling Ben. He’s got Matt and Kyle, and probably some answers, which he’s going to give me, whether he likes it or not.”

Graham found himself stumbling into bright light and high heat. He’d pulled Dougal with him as he’d tried to find the ley line again. Dougal was collapsing against him, his Collar shocking at random.

He’d hauled Dougal all the way to the back of the cellar. They’d been there when Misty had come and called to him. Graham had opened his mouth to answer, and found himself breathing dirt. The ceiling had started coming down, the dirt wall behind him seeming to open to suck him in.

It had spit him out through a crack in rocks, and now bright desert sunshine poured over them. He’d expected to land back in the obsidian cave—a place he never wanted to see again—but he was on a ridge in the desert, overlooking the abandoned mine and the shack, with Dougal’s bike still parked beside it.

“At least we have transportation,” Graham said.

Or tried to say. His throat was so dry, his thirst so great, his words stuck and wouldn’t come out. He was weak, and Dougal was only half-conscious, his hand still bleeding from the Fae sword. It wouldn’t be blood loss that killed him, but the Fae spells in the sword.

The thirst and their state told Graham that Oison was still alive. The Fae’s spell would have died with him.

I hope Reid gets the bastard. Graham decided against speaking the words out loud, saving strength and whatever moisture was left in his body.

They’d die out here though. If he couldn’t get Dougal someplace safe, both of them would go.

Not Shiftertown, not right now. Graham wouldn’t worry about holding his own against the Shifter Bureau’s soldiers, but Dougal didn’t need to be interrogated by them right now, not when he was hurt. Dougal would go to pieces. No, they needed to lie low, heal, and then decide what to do.

Misty, I love you.

Graham wasn’t afraid to admit it anymore. He needed Misty in his life, as his mate, as his love.

He’d make her see that she needed to accept his mate-claim, and they’d live happily ever after. As happy as she could be shacked up with a Shifter, and sharing a house with Graham’s nephew with confidence problems and two cubs who liked to tear the place down.

He dragged Dougal into the shade of the shed before he made for the motorcycle, hoping there was still gas in it.

Rock clicked behind him, and Oison appeared. This time he was in his guise of the hiker, in T-shirt, shorts, and hiking boots. He looked ordinary and evil at the same time.

Graham stood up. “I’m not being your battle beast,” he said. “Not bringing other Shifters to you, not training to be in your army.”

“I know.” Oison said. He drew out his sword from the long pack humans would assume was for hiking poles or camping gear. “I gambled on making you a slave, because you’re a strong leader and could pull other Shifters to me. But it looks like you’re going to be a bad slave.”

“Damn right,” Graham said.

“I can barely control you. Therefore, I came to a decision.” Oison hefted his sword. “I will kill you, and take your nephew instead.”

The commander questioned Misty for a long time before he finally let her go. Diego and Xav had stood by her, the only ones allowed to stay with her, because they were human.

Misty, Diego, and Xav had come up with the story that the cubs had tried to run away—somewhat true—and Misty had gone after them, worried they’d get hurt. They’d led her out into the desert, where they’d all gotten lost. They’d found a cave to stay out of the sun, and there Matt had gotten hurt.

Why hadn’t she called anyone? the commander asked. Her cell phone hadn’t worked out there, Misty said. How did they survive? She’d brought plenty of water with her and snacks, knowing that Kyle and Matt, as wolves, liked to run off as far as they could. They’d been used to living half-wild up in Elko, and didn’t understand they couldn’t do that here. They were just little kids, weren’t they? So everyone should cut them a break. How did she get back? Walked to the road and hitchhiked in. She’d been bringing the cubs, Matt hurt, back to Shiftertown when the soldiers had spotted her.

Xav and Diego confirmed everything she said.

Xav walked away with her to look for Ben while Diego stayed with the commander. The soldiers, who’d been sent by the Shifter Bureau, weren’t leaving, it seemed. Someone had called in an anonymous tip this morning, Xav told her, that not all Shifters’ Collars were working. Eric was being questioned about that now, surrounded by the soldiers. Xav had no idea who’d called in the tip, but Misty had a bad feeling about it.