Circle of Desire

Chapter Nine

Ethan thrust open the restaurant door and walked inside.

His gaze swept the room, taking in the crowd gyrating on the dance floor and the overflowing tables and booths.

Kat wasn't anywhere near, yet she was still in the building. Her fresh scent teased his nostrils, drawing him on. As did the sensation of her pain.

He clenched his fists and headed left. Beneath the faint smell of sweat and alcohol, desire roamed. Given the full moon was closer tonight, that smell should have stirred his senses, made him hunger. Yet he felt dead inside.

Dead and cold.

He didn't stop to wonder at that. Didn't dare.

A woman stepped in front of him. She was a pretty Asian, her face full, her body luscious. "Care for a drink, stranger?"

The invitation in her dark eyes suggested she was offering far more than a drink. At any other time he might have accepted both the drink and the sex, but right now he had something far more important to do. Someone far more important to find.

"Sorry, I haven't the time to play." He tried to walk around her, but she stepped in front of him again.

"What will a drink cost you?" she murmured, her voice a smoky promise of heat.

"Plenty." Especially if Kat died. He picked the woman up and placed her to one side. "Sorry, but I'm in a hurry."

He continued on. Up ahead, a crowd had gathered around the restroom. A security guard thumped the door, but he didn't appear to be getting any response. The ice in Ethan's stomach rose, settling across his chest, making it difficult to breathe.

"Police," he said, pushing his way through the crowd. He reached the guard and flashed his badge, then said, "What's the problem?"

"One of the ladies reported hearing fighting, but whoever is in there has locked the door and doesn't appear to be responding."

Ethan nodded as he put his ID away. "Clear this area for me, and don't let anyone come past that last table. I'll take care of it."

The guard began pushing people back. Ethan waited until there was no possible chance of anyone seeing inside, then stepped back and kicked the door open.

The werewolf lay at the base of one of the stalls, a glittering silver knife lodged deep in his heart. He'd been caught early in the change, so that he looked like a malformed human who hadn't shaved in years. At least it meant he didn't have to explain the existence of werewolves to anyone — though he suspected his partner might know more than what he was saying on that subject.

Kat lay on the floor under the window, blood pooling around her face. A face that was mottled, and lips that were blue. For an instant everything seemed to freeze — his heart, his mind, his body — then he was beside her, quickly feeling for a pulse.

It was there — rapid, weak, but there. Relief surged but just as swiftly fled when he saw the garrotte still around her neck. He swore and released the wire's tension, easing it away from her bruised and bloodied flesh.

She coughed, then sucked in air, her whole body shaking with the urgency to breathe. He pinched her cheeks, trying to gain her attention. The danger was far from over yet.

"Kat, did he bite you?"

She rolled onto her back and continued to suck in air.

Blood poured from the vicious wounds on her right hand, and her neck was mottled and swollen around the paper thin cut. He couldn't see any bite marks, but that didn't mean there weren't any, especially seeing the werewolf was part way through the change. Even a bite from a berserker in human form could be deadly.

He grabbed her shoulders and shook her gently.

"Katherine, did her bite you?"

She shook her head and opened her eyes. They were brown rather than green.

"Don't think — " The rest of her words were lost to a bout of coughing that left her shaking.

He swore under his breath and did a quick but careful check. He couldn't see anything resembling a bite and relaxed a little. But she was still cut and bleeding, and he had to treat both wounds as soon as possible. He stripped off his jacket and wrapped it around her. "Let's get you out of here."

"Soul sucker," she gasped. "Outside."

"Kat, you can't go after it like this — " "No. But it may — " She stopped and coughed so hard her face went red.

"Attack?" he finished, and she nodded.

Given the commotion they'd raised in the last ten minutes, he very much doubted it. This thing, whether it was human or something else entirely, was smart, and hanging around in a place about to be invaded by cops wasn't smart. With any luck, by now it was halfway back to the hell that had spawned it. He just had to hope it wasn't taking Janie with it.

He took a business card from his wallet, scrawled the cabin's address on the back, then slipped his arms under her and carefully picked her up.

"Tell me if you sense it," he said.

She nodded and closed her eyes, leaning her head against his shoulder. Coarse blonde hair scratched at his nose.

The wig didn't suit her. It made her look brassy, cheap, and she was neither of those. But at least it might prevent her from being recognized by anyone later. He wasn't going to be so lucky.

And Benton was going to be furious.

He carried her out of the restroom and stopped near the security guard. "Call the sheriff, then call this number."

He handed the man the card and pointed to the department's phone number. "Get hold of Detective Johnson and tell him Detective Morgan has found another suspect." The sheriff and Benton weren't going to be happy about his interference, but right now, Ethan didn't care.

"Is the lady all right?"

"Yeah. If they want to talk to me, I'm staying at the address on the back."

The guard flicked it over and nodded. "And the lady?"

"Will be with me."

He headed for the door. The night outside was cool, unfettered by the odours of sweat and lust and curiosity.

He took a deep breath, clearing his head as he walked toward the car. Kat's sweet scent surrounded him, stirring his blood once more. Even bloody and bruised, she still smelled good. Still felt good.

He unlocked the car and placed her upright on the back seat. She stirred, blinking rapidly. Her breathing had evened out, but her mouth was still pinched with pain.

He squatted down next to her and opened up the small first aid kit. Inside there was antiseptic, swabs, bandages and a small pouch of dried herbs. Obviously, they were a cure-all for all manner of wounds. But they'd worked almost miraculously on the wound in her arm, and he wasn't about to gainsay the benefits when she was bleeding all over the seat.

He touched a hand to her cheek, and she opened her eyes.

He hated the contact lenses. On her, plain green was far prettier. "I'm going to have to take off your shirt to clean the wound properly." The collar was brushing the thin line around her neck, irritating the wound and making it bleed again.

"Don't need excuses." Her voice was little more than a husky whisper. "Just ask."

A mischievous smile played about her mouth, and heat shot to his groin. "I'm afraid even the thought of asking is out of the question tonight." It was just as well he'd sated the worst of his desires last night, otherwise restraint would not be so easily offered.

"Tomorrow," she said, closing her eyes again.

"Maybe."

"Definitely."

He eased the jacket off then undid her shirt buttons and peeled that away. Her creamy breasts were smeared with blood and showed signs of heavy-handed bruising. Anger rose inside him, swift and sharp. He swallowed it. The berserker was dead, and as much as he wanted to go back and kick the bastard's body, it wouldn't achieve anything.

After soaking a swab in antiseptic, he carefully cleaned her wounds then applied the herbs and bandaged them.

She bore it all without comment, even though he saw her wince. She was undoubtedly braver than he was — straight antiseptic would have had him screaming. He puthis jacket back on her and zipped it up as far as he could to keep her warm.

"Home, James," she murmured as he did up her seat belt.

He smiled and brushed a kiss across her lips, then rose before he gave in to the desire to taste her more fully.

Once they were on the road, he called Gwen to let her know everything was okay. Even so, she was waiting outside when they got back to the cabins.

She hobbled across to the car and flung open the door.

"Nice job of bandaging," she said after a few seconds.

"And you used the herbs."

"Why wouldn't I? I've seen them work, remember."

"That you did." She patted his arm. "Put her in my bed for the time being, Detective, because your boss isn't that far behind you."

He raised an eyebrow as he lifted Kat. "How?"

"I called him after you left. I thought you might have needed some backup."

Then they must have just missed each other, and for that he was grateful. Benton would have insisted on sending Kat to a hospital. She was far better here, under her grandmother's care, though only a day ago he wouldn't have admitted that.

He carried her into the cabin and placed her into bed, stripping off her shoes but leaving on his jacket. She was asleep, and he didn't want to disturb her any more than necessary. He ran his fingers down her cheek to her lips, then bent and kissed them. Lightly, gently.

She stirred, murmuring something he couldn't quite catch. "Sleep," he murmured against her lips. "I'll be here if you want me."

She didn't respond, and he spun, leaving the room before he could give into the urge to do anything more.

"I'll wait for Benton in the other cabin," he said to Gwen.

And hide any evidence that Kat and he had shared a bed.

Mark might know the truth, but there was no need for Benton or anyone else to know what was going on between them.

Gwen nodded. "I'll be in after he arrives. Then you can fill us all in on what happened."

He snorted softly. "Benton is not going to believe anything you or I say."

"Wouldn't he have seen the werewolf?"

"Yeah, but Kat caught him early in the change. He looked more like a deformed and hairy man, rather than a wolf." And that was a good thing — he had no real wish for Benton to start believing in werewolves.

"A man whose teeth measurements will probably fit the marks left on the last victim's bones."

"Which will make him think the wolf killed the kid, and Kat says that's not true."

"And it isn't, as you know." Gwen patted his hand again.

"Go clean up and rest while you can. It's going to be a long night once your boss gets here."

A long and noisy night, Ethan thought sourly, and headed into the other cabin.

"Goddamn it, Morgan, I distinctly remember telling you to keep away from this case."

"Keep your voice down." Ethan crossed his arms and leaned a shoulder against the wall. "Katherine's asleep in the other cabin."

Benton threw a hand out as he continued to pace. "I don't care who's asleep. I want to know what's going on."

"You won't believe what's going on." Nor did he want the captain to believe. But he had a suspicion Gwen planned otherwise.

"What was that thing we found in the restaurant's restroom?" Unlike Benton, Mark kept his voice low. He was sitting on the sofa and looked as tired as Ethan felt.

"It sure as hell didn't look entirely human."

He shrugged. "I think maybe he was some kind of mutant."

"So how is a mutant connected to the case?" Benton stopped his pacing and glared at Ethan for a moment.

"And why did it attack Miss Tanner?"

"He was apparently working with the woman behind all the kidnappings and murders." He paused, then added, "I think if you check the bite marks on the last victim, you'll find they match the mutant's."

They both stared at him for several seconds, then Benton swore and resumed his pacing. "So Tanner was tracking it?"

He nodded. "It must have spotted her, because it attacked her in the restroom."

"And she killed it." The captain shook his head. "I should have her head on the block. We needed that man for questioning."

Ethan only realized he was clenching his fists when he saw Mark studying him. He flexed his fingers and tried to relax. "You almost did have her neck on a block," he reminded Benton shortly. "And it's hard to be precise with a knife when someone is strangling you from behind."

The captain sniffed. "You know we found a second body at the restaurant."

Ethan glanced at Mark. "Where?"

"In one of the booths," his partner supplied. "We discovered it after everyone had been questioned and released. Looks like he died the same way as that old man in the barn."

In the middle of a crowded restaurant? This woman was obviously bold when she took them — sexually and spiritually — or had some sort of magic happening that prevented other patrons from seeing what she was doing.

"Did you run that other check for me?"

Mark nodded. "And your straw-clutching guess was right. In each case, there were reports of disappearances over a three night span before the kids were taken."

"All men?"

"Yep. And the body of one was recently discovered. The report says cause of death unknown."

"But I'm guessing he was found in a somewhat compromising position?"

"Naked and aroused." Mark shook his head. "The boys in the labs still can't get over that one. They say that considering an erect penis is little more than stimulated flesh, it shouldn't remain erect because the blood naturally seeks out the lowest point of a body, not the… umm… highest."

"It's probably something to do with the way he died."

Ethan glanced at the door separating the two cabins.

Though he'd heard no sound, the hint of summer touching the air told him Kat was awake.

"No one knows how any of these men died," Benton exploded. "And that's the damn problem. That and the fact I just can't see the link between the kids and these men."

The door opened, but it was Gwen who stepped through.

"That's because you're convinced the answers lie in the ordinary," she said, voice sharp. "And this case has nothing to do with the ordinary."

Kat followed her grandmother through the door. She no longer wore the wig and her eyes were once again green.

But they were haunted with exhaustion and pain, and her face was pale. She should've been asleep, probably would have been had it not been for Benton's booming voice.

She no longer wore his jacket, and her low-cut shirt revealed a tantalizing glimpse of her breasts. Her black skirt swirled around her thighs as she headed for the second sofa, showcasing long, wonderful legs. He wasn't the only one who silently admired them as she sat.

Her gaze rose to his and, for an instant, there might well have been no one else in the room. Though she was tired and still in pain, the need in her eyes was every bit as strong as the one that pounded through his veins. The momentary smile that touched her lips did strange things to his breathing. Tomorrow, she'd whispered. He suddenly wasn't sure he could wait that long.

"What do you mean?" Benton's voice cracked the brief silence. "If you two are withholding information — " Gwen's snort was contemptuous. "The only thing we're withholding is knowledge you're not likely to believe."

"Right now, I'm desperate enough to listen to even the most outlandish theory."

"Then I've got one that'll blow your jock off." Gwen perched on the arm of the sofa beside Kat. "The thing that is taking these kids is called a Mara. It's an ancient spirit that can enter houses by taking the form of a cat or vapour. It seduces men and eats their souls while they're in the midst of passion."

Benton stared at her for a second. "This thing is human."

His voice was harsh. "Your granddaughter saw it."

"The fact it can take human form doesn't make it human," Gwen said dryly. "As yet, we have no idea why it is taking these kids, but it is stealing their souls. And doing so while they are in great pain."

"The second kid was torn apart," Mark said. "The first drained of blood. How's that related to this soul stealer?"

There was very little doubt in Mark's voice, Ethan noted.

But then, Mark had seen the disintegration of the zombie firsthand. That would be enough to make anyone believe that something beyond the norm was going on in this case.

"The first kid was drained by a vampire who was working with the soul sucker. Kat killed it in the warehouse. You probably would have found a man-

shaped black stain on the concrete."

That explained the bits of humanity found amongst the soot. Ethan looked at Kat. "Is that why you were attacking him with stakes?"

She nodded. "White ash."

Her voice was little more than a croak, and he raised an eyebrow, glancing at Gwen for explanation.

"Most stakes will damage a vampire," she said. "But to ensure a kill, it's best to use white ash."

"And the mutant in the restroom this evening?" Though Benton asked the question, his expression suggested he really didn't want to know. "How is that connected?"

"Ethan has already told you it was working for the soul sucker. And it was a werewolf," Gwen said, meeting Ethan's gaze for a moment. "Not a mutant. Not a freak of nature."

He had a sudden, unsettling feeling the old woman was beginning to figure him out.

The captain scrubbed a hand across his mottled cheeks.

He looked sick, Ethan thought. Heartsick.

"You're seriously expecting me to swallow this," the captain said, voice flat.

"You have the werewolf, and I guarantee his bite will match those on the second kid's remains. You have the residue of the zombie who tried to force Kat and Ethan off the road. You have the charcoaled remnants of humanity from the warehouse." Gwen crossed her arms and studied Benton coldly. "What further evidence do you need that something beyond normal is going on with this case?"

"More than that," he bit back. He glared at Gwen a moment longer, then resumed his pacing. "We know this

… woman… is taking these kids. We don't know the reason." He glared at Gwen again, as if daring her to contradict him. "Why, then, is it killing the men?"

"Like all things, it needs to eat to exist," Gwen said.

Mark swore softly and she gave him an amused look.

"Amen to that, Detective."

"So the question we have to answer is, why the kids?"

Ethan said.

"Maybe it has kids of its own, and needs the terror of human children to feed them," Kat whispered.

Ethan raised an eyebrow. "Seriously?"

She nodded. "I drugged the werewolf's drink. He said they'd been in the area for ten months. He also said they couldn't leave until the kids were old enough."

"If that's true, why is it taking the children to warehouses to kill them? Why not kill them wherever it's keeping its own kids?"

Kat shrugged. It was Gwen who answered. "Maybe it needs these children for something more than feeding, Maybe it has to do with whatever ritual it's performing."

"If this thing is supposed to be a spirit, how the hell can it have kids?' Mark asked.

"Until we know more about it, we won't know the answer to that." Gwen pushed to her feet. "I feel the need to scry.

Kat?"

Kat rose and followed her grandmother into the other cabin. Benton and Mark looked at Ethan.

"She can sometimes see future events," he explained.

"Through a crystal ball."

Benton snorted. "You really believe that rubbish?"

Until he'd met these two, he hadn't really believed in anything supernatural, despite the fact he'd been born and raised in a community of werewolves. But the last couple of days had certainly opened his eyes to just what was out there. "I thought you were willing to use anyone who helps solve this case?"

"Doesn't mean I have to believe it."

"Believe in them. They're the real deal."

Mark's blue eyes glimmered with amusement. "You've changed your tune over the last few days. Wonder what the reason for that is?"

"I've seen things — " "I just bet you have."

Benton's gaze wavered between the both of them. "Am I missing something here?"

"Nothing important," Ethan muttered, shooting an annoyed look his partner's way. "Did you come up with any ID matches for the driver that attacked us?"

Mark shook his head. "Not yet. And it's a long shot, at best."

Everything about this damn case seemed to be a long shot. Including finding Janie alive. He scrubbed a hand across his jaw. He couldn't think like that. He had to find her. Anything else was simply unacceptable. "The lab boys find anything unusual when examining the second kid?"

Mark frowned. "Maybe. They found some dirt under a couple of his fingernails."

"Most kids have dirt under their fingernails."

"Yeah, but this stuff was slightly phosphorous. It didn't come from that warehouse in Springfield, that's for sure."

It was a clue. Maybe their first. "They trying to place it?"

"It's going to be a long task, so don't expect miracles."

He didn't expect miracles. He only expected answers.

"Nothing else?"

"The kid's clothing and shoes were still damp. He'd been immersed in water a couple of hours before his death."

"No telling whether it was bath, river or sea I suppose?"

"It wasn't sea water, but that's the only thing they are sure of."

Another possible clue that led them nowhere. He glanced at Benton. "What about the old man? Any clues there?"

"No — " A shrill ring interrupted him. The captain swore and dug his cell phone out of his pocket. "Benton here."

It was bad news. That was obvious from the captain's expression. After listening for a few minutes, Benton said, "Where?"

He scrawled down an address then hung up. "Another kid's gone missing," he said grimly. "And this time, the mother was killed in the process."