[Willow Harbor 06.0] Warlock's Embrace Page 5

  Pax laughed. “You mean how they tried to kill one another several times? Neither were ever very good about following the laws of Willow Harbor.”

  “No they weren’t.” The rules were pretty simple. The number one being that you couldn’t kill each other within city limits. You’d think it would be an easy one to follow, but supernatural creatures tend to have short fuses.

  “All right. Have you found what you needed yet?” By the banging I heard in the background, Pax was moving stuff around in the kitchen.

  I missed my kitchen, but I missed Delpha more. “Not yet. I’ll keep you posted. Thanks for the heads up.”

  “No problem.”

  I set my phone down, thinking over the sudden appearance of Jackson. Was his timing really that bad? I wanted to be there for Delpha—I was sure it was a strange experience to be faced with family again. But it was more important to find her dad and prove to her once and for all that his leaving wasn’t her fault. If I couldn’t get her over the guilt, I had no chance of getting her to realize we deserved more.

  I continued driving, hoping the man I was looking for hadn’t moved again. I doubted it. He enjoyed his little private retreat, and considering all the work he’d done to protect it, it seemed unlikely he’d give it up. But stranger things had happened.

  I turned off the paved road onto one made of gravel. I rolled up the windows of my truck, shutting out the loud crunch as my wheels rolled over the rocks.

  I turned onto his unmarked drive. I hadn’t been out here in years, and by the look of the overgrown weeds, I highly doubted too many other visitors had been either.

  M.P. was a bit of a mystery man. A sorcerer-grizzly hybrid, he had traits and abilities from both sides. His grizzly need for space won out over him wanting the protection that Willow Harbor could offer.

  Loud barking announced my arrival long before my truck came to stop outside his small log cabin. I waited a moment, not wanting to deal with the animals if I didn’t have to.

  When the door to the cabin remained firmly closed I reluctantly pushed open my door and jumped out. The three Rottweilers lunged for me, but at the last second they stopped, falling into a line directly in front of me.

  “Cad?” M.P. emerged from his cabin wearing a flannel shirt and cargo shorts.

  “Yeah, it’s me.” I waved.

  “What are you doing out here?” He walked down the stairs toward me staring quizzically.

  “I need to talk to you.”

  “Well that’s a given.” He smiled. “What about?”

  “Do you have a few minutes?”

  “For you I have at least a half dozen.” His eyes twinkled. “I was just about to sit down to dinner. Why don’t you join me?”

  I glanced at my watch. It was after 11:00 p.m. but to each their own. “Sounds great. Thanks.”

  I followed him up the porch steps while the dogs watched with interest. I deduced it wasn’t all that often that their master told them to lay off a trespasser. Then again he probably didn’t get many of those either considering how remote his house was.

  He gestured for me to take one of two seats at his rustic wood table. He hadn’t been lying about the dinner part. A large bowl of salad and a plate of some sort of patties were placed in the center of the table. He took two plates down from a cabinet and set them down.

  “Wait.” I looked closer at the patties. “Are these veggie burgers?”

  “You have a problem with that?”

  “Since when are you vegetarian?” I tried to keep my voice neutral, but he was a half-shifter. Shifters ate a diet heavy in meat—particularly raw meat.

  “I decided to change things up.”

  “When do you change things up?” I put some salad on my plate to be polite even though I wasn’t remotely hungry.

  “Now. I decided to change things up.”

  “Great.” I looked down at my plate.

  “To what do I deserve the honor of this visit?” M.P. was very good at delivering lines in a way that they might be a joke, or they might not be. It was very difficult to discover which. I’d known him since I was a kid, yet I still didn’t know what his initials stood for.

  “I need to find someone.”

  “And you think tracking down a hermit is going to help you with that?” He piled salad and a pattie on his plate.

  I waited for him to take a bite of his food before I said anything. “It’s your blood I need.”

  He chuckled. “Oh no. I think I know where this is going.”

  I highly doubted he could possibly know. “You don’t…”

  “This is about the girl, isn’t it?”

  “What girl?” I played stupid.

  “Has there ever been more than one girl for you?” His gaze was light, without anything resembling judgmental.

  “What makes you think this has anything to do with her?”

  “Because it has to be pretty important for you to drag yourself out here.”

  “I should have visited sooner.” Guilt seared me. M.P. was an old family friend. Despite all the bad history between our types, our bond had lasted.

  “No, you shouldn’t have. I came out here because I wanted to be alone, not to host parties.”

  I smiled. “So maybe it is about her.”

  “You tracking her daddy?”

  So he did know. I thought over my options. Laying it all there sounded like the best one. “She still blames herself for him leaving.”

  “It wasn’t her.” He poured a glass of water from a worn metal pitcher.

  “I know.” I poured myself some water too.

  “No, you don’t know. There’s no way you could possibly understand, but you are right.”

  I knew better than to ask for clarification. He’d keep talking and eventually I’d figure out where he was going with the conversation.

  He took a long sip of water. “What do you know of my kind?”

  “I know your powers are similar but also different from mine.” That seemed like the safest place to start.

  “Yes. And you know that warlocks nearly wiped us out by aligning with the witches?”

  “Yes. I know.” And even though I wasn’t even a thought at the time, it was still a stain upon my conscience. It was part of the reason why I spent my life making pizza rather than working on spells.

  “Those who lived weren’t left unharmed and the residue is still there in the descendants.” He’d set down his water by this time, and he was looking off into the distance.

  “The residue?” I wasn’t entirely sure I wanted to know where he was going with this, but I knew it was important.

  “Yes. The residue. It makes most of us go crazy in our own ways. Some are more violent than others.” M.P. folded his hands on the table as if emphasizing that he wasn’t one of the violent ones.

  I put some of the pieces together. “So he left to protect his family?”

  “Yes and no.” He scooted in closer to the table. “You need to understand something. Billy loved them something fierce. More than normal for a sorcerer to manage to feel.”

  I nodded, hoping if I didn’t interrupt I’d be rewarded with more details.

  “And he was afraid. You’ve been afraid before, haven’t you?”

  “Yeah.” I’d been afraid of losing Delpha from the moment I realized I might really have the chance to have her. “I have.”

  “Then you should understand why he left. The reason I won’t say he left to protect them is that I don’t believe he was really a danger to them. ”

  “I can’t imagine that. Leaving the ones you love.” It was hard enough to make myself leave on this trip.

  “Sure you can. You’d go to great lengths if you thought it was your only choice.” He returned to his food, taking small bites.

  We sat there in silence until I brought things around to my original question. “Does all of this mean you’ll give me some blood?”

  He said nothing, so I continued.

  “This is me going t
o great lengths for the one I love. I need to help her.”

  “Sure. I’ve got plenty of blood. There’s no reason I can’t spare some.”

  “Great.” A weight lifted off of me. “I think I have everything else I need in the truck. I can set up out back. It won’t take long.”

  “Sure, have at it.” He stood to start clearing the plates. “But if you’d rather, I could just tell you where Billy is.”

  “Wait, what?” I froze, one hand on the pitcher of water.

  “I know where he is. We’ve kept an eye on each other over the years.”

  “Where is he?”

  “A few hours from here. He went higher into the mountains.”

  “Any more details you can spare?” I tried to dial down my impatience, but I was eager to find her dad and get back to Willow Harbor.

  “Sure, I’ll tell you all about his place on the road.”

  “On the road?” I set the pitcher down on the counter.

  “Yes. I’m coming with you.” It wasn’t a question, and I knew better than to try to talk him out of it.

  “You are?”

  “You want Billy to talk to you, don’t you?” He rinsed the dishes in the sink.

  “Yes.” I nodded.

  “Then you want me along.”

  I grabbed the last plate from the table and set it by the sink. “Ok, works for me.” Hopefully M.P. would smooth things over when I showed up.

  “But we need to bring the dogs. They don’t do well by themselves.”

  I looked out at the dogs laying out on the porch. “Fine by me.”

  “All right then. Let me pack, and then we can get this show on the road.”

  Seven

  Delpha

  “Another round please.” I held up my beer to get the bartender’s attention. As usual it was Drifter serving, his silver beard gleaming in the low light. He nodded in recognition. We were in his namesake, hole-in-the-wall bar. The place may have been ancient with bare wood floors and a mostly austere interior, but it had a warmth that very few modern bars could ever match. Add in its location so close to the shore, and Drifter was never going to have to worry about business.

  I didn’t really need to order more beers yet. I wasn’t even halfway through my first, but I wanted to be prepared when Jackson finally showed up. I had no clue what was taking him so long, but I didn’t have a good feeling about it. His sudden appearance back in town was bad enough without his mysterious errand that was taking ages.

  I should have taken the time to change out of my swim suit like Mattie did. Instead I’d simply peeled off my wet suit and tossed a sundress over my bikini. I wasn’t one to get cold normally, but I was shivering now.

  Drifter set three beers down on the table. “You sure the third member of your party is going to show up?”

  “Absolutely.” I smiled. “And if he doesn’t, we’ll have extra.”

  “You okay, Delpha?” He hesitated by the side of the table.

  “I’m doing fine.” I wasn’t going to push my luck by using a word like great or even good.

  “Well, if that changes you tell me.” He nodded toward Mattie. “Where’s Pierce tonight?”

  She smiled at the mention of Pierce’s name. It was sweet even if it was a little bit sappy. “He’s finishing up some work. He’s going to try to meet us.”

  “Enjoy.” Drifter walked back over to the bar.

  Mattie watched him walk off. “I’m still not used to the way everyone knows everyone here.”

  “It’s annoying at times.” I sipped my beer. “But it’s just small town living.”

  “My parents would hate it here.”

  “Mine did.” The words slipped out without really thinking about it. I couldn’t blame it on my 2/3 of beer.

  “Oh.” Mattie turned her beer bottle around on the table. “You don’t talk about your parents much.”

  “There isn’t much to say.”

  “Jackson, my man!” Someone shouted from the doorway.

  I groaned internally. Jackson was always popular despite his less then wonderful traits. He was fun to be around, that was for sure, but with that came a recklessness, not just in terms of physical danger but with how he treated people—including his very impressionable young cousin. At least he would provide enough of a distraction that I didn’t have to tell Mattie anything else about my family.

  Mattie watched as he hugged a long line of people. “I’m sorry about all of this.”

  “Why are you sorry?”

  “I had no idea you two were related.” She wrapped her hands around her beer. “I never would have signed up for lessons with him had I known. At least not without talking to you first.”

  “I had no idea he was back. Plus, I was bound to see him eventually. I’m glad it happened in a more private way rather than here or something.” I nodded to where he was bumping chests with a wolf shifter. Jackson was so weird.

  Mattie pulled her phone out of her bag. “It’s a text from Pierce. Are we going to be here awhile? Should I still have him meet us?”

  “Sure. We’ll have to talk with Jackson for a least a little bit. The more the merrier.” I actually meant that when it came to Pierce. He was a good guy. Plus with him around for Mattie I could slip out whenever I wanted. There was no chance in the world I was leaving Mattie alone at Drifter’s. It’s not like she was weak. She wasn’t at all. But she was human, which meant she was always a bit at risk around town. Being the mate of a powerful shapeshifter helped, but no human was ever completely safe here.

  “Now where’s that beer I was promised?” Jackson put a hand on the back of my chair.

  “Here you go.” I passed a beer into his hand, hoping he’d take the beer and get distracted talking to someone else.

  No such luck. He turned a chair around and sat down on it backwards. I groaned again, this time out loud.

  He noticed and grinned. “Sorry that took a little bit.”

  “What was it you were doing?” I tried to sound nonchalant, but it was strange. Even as I kid I knew Jackson didn’t put off a beer when it was offered for free.

  “Just paying someone a visit.”

  And then it hit me. “Not Cad, right?” That was all I needed to make things more a mess.

  “No.” He took a long swig of beer. “I didn’t see Cad.”

  I’d learned early in life the importance of how someone chooses their words. “You didn’t see him because he wasn’t there, or you didn’t seek him out?”

  “Does it matter?” He rested his hands on the back of the chair. I wondered if he realized how ridiculous he looked sitting that way.

  “Of course it matters.”

  “I might do a crap job of it, but I’m still your big cousin. You don’t have a brother, but you have me.” He took another swig of beer.

  I stiffened. “I don’t need protecting. I am just fine on my own.”

  “Of course you don’t need protecting. If there’s anyone who doesn’t it’s you. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be protected.”

  “I’m not following.” I drew circles on the table with the condensation from my beer. If I’d been in a better mood I’d have come up with some more creative shapes.

  “Just because you don’t need something doesn’t mean you don’t deserve it.”

  “Ok. Let me rephrase myself. I don’t want protection, ok? I am perfectly fine taking care of my myself. Plus I have great friends.” I patted Mattie’s arm.

  “I don’t doubt that.” He nodded toward Mattie. “But I’m back now, so I plan to be more involved.”

  “Involved? Right. You’re not my father.” I glared at him.

  “I’m quite aware of that.”

  “Then stick to being my cousin. The one who comes around when he wants to, when he’s not too busy.”

  “Delpha.” A look of pain crossed his face.

  I felt a tinge bad, but that didn’t change the truth. There was no sense sugar coating it. No one had ever sugar coated anything for
me. “I’m just saying.”

  “I’m going to do a better job this time. I’m older. You’ll see.”

  “Sure.” I looked down at the table.

  “Pierce!” Mattie’s exclamation had me glancing up just in time to watch Pierce walk over to the table. In many ways he still looked like the same kid I knew in high school, but there was a nice lightness about him now that he had Mattie.

  He kissed her on the cheek as he took a seat next to her. “Hey, Delpha. And, uh, Jackson? It’s been a while.”

  “Pierce? Oh lord, you’ve grown up. Found a nice mate, too.” Jackson winked.

  Pierce bristled ever so slightly, but I doubted Jackson even noticed. “I have. And what about you? Any particular reason you’re back?”

  “I’m here for Delpha.”

  I choked as a sip of beer went down the wrong tube.

  I waved Mattie off as she looked over worriedly.

  “For Delpha?” Pierce narrowed his eyes. “I wasn’t aware she’d called you.”

  “She didn’t need to call. I knew she needed me.”

  “Oh come on.” I pushed my beer away. It teetered, but thankfully at the last minute it didn’t fall. “You didn’t come back for me.”

  “Maybe I didn’t come back for that reason, but I’m here now. Isn’t that all that matters?”

  I wanted to argue. I really did, but then I noticed someone walk through the door. Someone I never wanted to see, let alone today of all days. I was starting to believe this might end up being one of the worst days of my life.

  Unfortunately she saw me at the same time I noticed her. Bridget strutted over wearing a hot pink skirt and tank top that alone would have made her stand out of the crowd of mostly dark colored clothed patrons. “Hello, Delpha.”

  The hair on the back of my neck stood up, but I plastered a smile on my face. I was doing that a lot lately, but I couldn’t let her see how much she got to me. That would mean she’d won. “Hey, Bridget. How are you?”

  “I’m good.” She thrust out her chest. “Have you seen Cad? I was hoping to talk to him about something that happened earlier.”

  “I don’t keep tabs on him. Sorry.” I kept eye contact. I would not let her win. I repeated the words to myself over and over.