Provoked

CHAPTER 8

Kane shoved a branch down, his gaze on Hanson’s sprawling ranch house. Snowcapped mountains framed the log-style mansion, bright lights beaming out the myriad of windows in the morning hours. He’d finally reached cell service a mile out and had called for backup, but it had probably been a mistake.

Amber shook out her boots. “We had to call them.”

“Did we?” Kane eyed the two men standing over by the tree line. Mason was definitely in fighting shape, but the other guy had seen better days. A retired pediatrician, he even had a cane. Being human must suck.

“Yes. Besides, you said your friends might not make it in time.”

A wolf bayed in the distance.

Lightning ripped across the sky, and the wind whipped into action. A hell of a storm was coming. Kane glanced at Amber, who was now shivering. “Why don’t you wait in the truck?”

“No.” Her lips firmed. “I’m coming to get Grandma.”

“I promise I’ll call you when it’s time, sweetheart.” Earlier when he’d used the endearment, she’d pinkened nicely and almost listened to him. Keeping an eye on her, he gauged her reaction.

She smiled. Very pretty. “Thanks, but I’ll stay right here.”

Okay, nice wasn’t working. Next track. “I’m being unclear, and I apologize. You’re not going in the ranch house until I determine you’ll be safe.” Like it or not, he was responsible for her until turning her over to the king. The thought had his mind stopping for a nanosecond. For some odd reason, he didn’t want to turn her over to Dage. Interesting.

The pink turned to a fine red blush. “While I appreciate the apology, you can shove it. Stop telling me what to do.”

He frowned. How utterly confusing. “Hanson and his men will resist when we go inside. What could you possibly do to help?” She’d get hurt most likely, and he wouldn’t let that happen.

“I’m helpful.” She lifted her chin, eyes sparking.

He scratched his head. Bodily carrying her to the truck and tying her to the steering wheel seemed silly. Yet allowing her to get harmed for absolutely no reason seemed stupid. “There must be a way we can reach an agreement here.” Why in the world was she being so illogical?

Two massive wolves suddenly appeared at his side.

Amber yelped, hand to chest, jumping behind him.

Well now, good timing. Kane grinned down at the largest beast; a fully grown male with rich brown fur. Then he turned toward the men from Amber’s commune. “You fellas take the north side exit from what appears to be the kitchen. All I need you to do is make sure nobody escapes that way.”

Mason eyed the massive wolves. “Uh, you have wolves for pets?”

“Sure.” There was no doubt Kane would pay for that comment. “They’ll guard the perimeter.” Kane nodded toward the north. “Please take your position.”

Grumbling, the humans hurried past the fence-line and around the house, the ex-doctor moving pretty well even with his limp.

If Kane had known Terrent would make it in time, no way would he have invited Mason and the doctor. But they should be safe covering the northern exit to the house. Kane grinned at the biggest wolf. “Thanks for coming so quickly.”

Fur receded and the wolf morphed from animal to man with a popping of bones and a snapping of cartilage. Terrent stretched to his full height, shaking his thick head of hair. His dark eyes twinkled. Then he grinned. “Of course.”

Kane tugged Amber to his side. “Terrent Vilks, meet Amber Freebird.”

Amber pressed into Kane’s side, her face a blazing pink, her eyes squarely on the wolf’s face. “It’s, ah, nice to meet you.”

The naked wolf chuckled and captured her hand in his beefy one. He stood as tall as Kane, well over six feet, with a broad chest and powerful legs. “Sorry about the nudity, but clothes don’t make the shift.”

She nodded and cleared her throat. “Wolves. Shifters. Real shifters.”

Terrent gestured to the other wolf; a sandy-furred male who’d remained in wolf form. “This is Joshua—he came along for some fun.”

Kane nodded at the teenaged wolf. “Thanks for coming.”

The wolf snorted, paws shoving snow out of the way.

Terrent rubbed a hand through his long dark hair. “We approached from the back and took a look in the window. Four men are in a study at the western rear of the house, reading some sort of map. I scented several weapons, but they’re not visible. The rest of the house seems empty—no heartbeats or scents. What’s the plan?”

Amber caught her breath. “What do you mean? The rest of the house can’t be empty. My grandma is somewhere inside.”

Terrent gave her a charming smile. Or at least what the wolf probably thought was a charming smile. Even in human form, wolves looked like predators, and Terrent was the predator of the predators. “Maybe we missed her. Don’t worry, we’ll search the entire house.” His gaze met Kane’s over Amber’s head.

Kane gave a short nod. Grandma was not in the ranch. Damn it. Where had they put her? “Hanson is mine to, ah, question.” No way in hell would he allow Amber to watch him torture someone. It was bad enough she’d watched him decapitate two demons. “I’ll go in the front—you go through the back, and make sure not to change into human form again. We want to scare in a shock-and-awe moment—no kills unless absolutely necessary.”

Terrent nodded. With another mischievous smile at Amber, he turned and ran through the field. Once he was several yards away, he shot into wolf form while leaping through the air.

Kane rolled his eyes. What a show-off.

Josh followed with a short yip. Both wolves disappeared around the house.

Kane forced his face into a frown and grabbed Amber’s arms. Her small biceps were buried beneath layers of his thick coat. “You’re waiting in the truck. You can either agree, or I’ll tie you to the steering wheel.” Yeah, he was bluffing. With a growl, he let his fangs drop low. Those were probably scary to someone not used to seeing fangs.

Her eyes widened again. “Fine. But the second it’s clear, I’m coming in.” She turned and stomped to the truck, his coat dragging in the snow.

Good enough. The thought of such a brave sweetheart being injured by a jerk like Hanson set Kane’s jaw until his teeth ached. By the time he was through, Hanson wouldn’t even think about messing with the commune.

Kane jumped past the bushes and ran full bore across the snowy lawn, clearing a fence without missing a step. Leaping across the spacious front porch, he hit the front door exactly in the center. Splinters flew in all four directions as the door shot inside to crumble against a marble table. The table smashed to the floor seconds later.

The crash of glass breaking followed.

Men’s shouting filled the space.

He ran to the west, dodging through hallways filled with western art to land in a masculine study full of heavy leather furniture. A stuffed wolf’s head hung above the fireplace mantle. Terrent was going to be pissed about that.

One man sat behind an ostentatious leather desk while three others stood against the far wall, their mouths open and eyes glued to the snarling wolves that had apparently jumped in the window.

Good old Chuck and Alex were two of the guys. Apparently the drunks had survived the evening.

Glass scattered across the room, shards sticking out of leather furniture and in the oak floor.

The men from the commune stepped gingerly past the broken sliding glass door and surveyed the scene.

Damn it. They were supposed to cover the north side.

Alex made a dash for the window, and Mason punched him in the throat. Alex hit the ground.

Nice move. Kane gave a short nod to Mason, who nodded back, his blue eyes sparkling. The guy was actually enjoying himself.

“You Hanson?” Kane faced the man behind the desk.

Fat jiggled beneath Hanson’s jaw as he nodded, mouth wide, thinning gray hair standing up on his head. “Yes.”

“Where’s Hilde Freebird?” Kane fought a grin as the younger wolf nipped at Chuck, who shrank back against a billowing velvet curtain.

Hanson coughed. “I don’t know.”

Sometimes the direct approach was best. Kane grabbed a silver letter opener off the desk and threw it, lodging the sharp edge in Hanson’s left shoulder.

The man yowled in pain.

The wolves echoed the howl.

A soft gasp behind him caught him up short. Heat flared along his neck. Amber needed to learn to stay where he put her. He kept his gaze on the bleeding rancher as he addressed her. “You agreed to stay in the car.”

“I changed my mind.” Her boots crunched through glass as she scurried to his side.

Kane tuned his senses to survey the rest of the house. Nobody else was in the building. “Fine. Go search for your granny.” By the time Amber returned, he’d know everything Hanson knew.

Amber nodded and ran from the room. The ex-doctor limped off to help her. Mason kept watch by the gaping hole in the wall, and the wolves remained still.

The rancher sighed. “Listen. I have no clue where Hilde Freebird is. We went to the hospital to get her, and she was already gone. You have my word.” He gingerly reached for the protruding letter opener, grimacing as his fingers touched. With a groan, he yanked the weapon out. “Leave my house now, and I won’t call the police.” Blood slid down his shirtfront and over his protruding belly.

Chuck made a move.

Terrent stopped him, knocking the guy down and landing on his chest, teeth bared. The wolf ’s paws were wider than a normal man’s hands, his claws dangerous and extended. But he hadn’t used them. Yet.

Chuck whimpered. “Get him off.”

Hanson’s other two thugs remained still and silent.

Kane didn’t have time for this shit. Reaching over the desk, he grabbed Hanson by the collar and threw him across the room. The man hit the mantel and fell hard. He cried out as his face impacted the floor. A second later the stuffed wolf head landed on his legs.

Grabbing the bloody letter opener, Kane stalked across the room and dropped to his haunches. He placed the sharp end against Hanson’s good shoulder. “Tell me where she is. Now.”

“I, I, don’t know,” Hanson sobbed.

Kane pressed the metal into the man’s flesh.

The rancher cried out, his entire body shaking. The smell of urine filled the air. “I really don’t know,” he gasped.

Sometimes Kane just couldn’t get a break. Taking a deep breath, he allowed himself to feel. Just for a second. Hanson’s fear and pain slammed into him, and he shoved the sensations aside. Then he delved deeper, using the empathic abilities he hated. Irritation and frustration mingled in his gut.

The guy was telling the truth. Shutting off all emotion, Kane tightened his hold on the weapon. “Okay. Here’s the deal. We’re leaving here, and you and your men won’t tell a soul about us. Got it?” He shoved slightly.

“Yes,” Hanson groaned, his entire body shaking.

“And you’ll forget your plans for the northern rocks and never bother the village again. Right?”

“Yes.” Hanson’s shoulders slumped against the floor.

Kane turned so the other men couldn’t see and allowed his fangs to drop and black to shoot through the violet of his eyes. “If you bother them again, I’ll be back. And I’ll eat you for dinner.”

The man gasped, and then his eyes rolled back in his head. He relaxed in unconsciousness.

Kane rose, facing the wolves. “We’re good here. If you wouldn’t mind, would you keep an eye on the village for the time being?”

Terrent growled twice, his saliva dropping onto Chuck’s neck.

Kane fought for patience. “I know you’d like to kill him, but I’d consider it a favor if you allowed him to live this time.”

Terrent gave a disgusted snort, tossing his head toward the mounted wolf head.

“Fine. If you want to kill him, hurry the hell up.” Kane didn’t have time for this crap.

The wolf smiled.

Chuck whimpered.

Panting, the wolf seemed to consider the situation. Then he gave almost a bored, canine shrug. With a quick swipe to Chuck’s nose, he turned and leaped through the window. Joshua followed suit.

Mason scratched his head, eyes alight with intelligence. “Something tells me that was no ordinary wolf.”

“No. And I’d appreciate it if you kept that to yourself,” Kane said.

Slowly, Mason nodded. “That would be best.”

Kane pivoted to find a pale Amber in the doorway. Shock covered her face as she stared at the still bleeding Hanson. “You stabbed him again.”

“He’ll live.” Kane strode forward and grabbed her arm. “Say good-bye to Mason and let’s go.”

A rustle sounded in warning. Kane shoved her out of the way and turned in time to hear the firing of a gun. The bullet impacted his chest in a burst of pain. Leaping across the room, he grabbed the gun from Chuck and slammed his forehead into the guy’s already scratched nose. Chuck flopped into unconsciousness. Kane crushed the weapon into bits.

Mason’s eyes widened as he leaned against the broken door frame. “Are you all right?”

“I’ll be fine.” Kane took a deep breath, his chest hurting like hell.

The ex-doctor ran into the room, his spectacles lopsided on his face. “I heard a gunshot.”

“Everyone is fine,” Kane said mildly, wanting to snarl instead.

Mason nodded, his lips twisting as he glanced at Amber. “She’s not safe with us, is she?”

“No. But we’ll keep her safe.” Kane took a deep breath.

Mason nodded, holding out his arms.

Amber rushed into them for a huge hug. “I’ll miss you.”

“Ditto, Freebird.” Mason dropped a fatherly-type kiss on her forehead. “When things calm down, you’d better call.”

“I promise.” She wiped away a tear as she hurried over and hugged the doctor. Then she turned toward Kane.

He nodded. “We have to go.”

Quick steps had them through the house and across the lawn. The storm had opened up to shoot clumps of snow down on their heads. The wind whirled more white around them and made sight difficult.

He opened the passenger side of the Chevy and lifted her inside, pushing her to the driver’s position. “Drive while I heal.” Blood dripped down his chest, not nearly as warm as the irritation filling his gut. Terrent had warned him about the presence of weapons. Two seconds using his empathic abilities, and he forgot logic. Which was why he never used them. What if he’d allowed Amber to get hurt?

With a growl, he ripped off his shirt as Amber pulled the truck onto the main road. A bullet hole dotted an inch above his heart. “Good thing Chuck is a lousy aim.”

Amber clutched the steering wheel, struggling to stay on the road. Wind threw snow against the windows in a fierce tantrum. She blinked back tears at the thought of leaving Mason, Dr. Bill, and the rest of the family. As soon as she found Grandma Hilde and figured out a safe path for them, she’d call the others.

Kane’s blood filled the cab with a copper scent. She coughed, her mind spinning. “I’ll take you to the hospital.”

“No. Get on the interstate going north. There’s a place we can ride out the storm.” Kane wiped blood off his chest. Grabbing his cell phone, he glanced at the face and grunted. Dialing, he lifted it to his ear. “Hi. Amber has a grandmother who was taken from Pinecone Hospital a couple hours ago, probably by demons. Send scouts out and find her.”

He paused and waited. “I have a plan. No. We have a hell of a storm going on and you can’t land. Find the grandma. I’ll bring Amber in when the storm passes. She needs to be trained first, anyway.” He sighed and listened, hand tapping on the armrest. “No. No training whatsoever. I need some time, Dage.” After listening for another minute, Kane hung up.

Amber’s mind fuzzed at the thought of her grandma with the demons. “We have to find her, Kane.”

“We don’t know where to look.” He eyed the angry black sky. “But our scouts will find her. Dage will send them to the hospital, and then he’ll contact our sources in the demon nation. Chances are they didn’t take her far, and we’ll get her back soon. For now, we need to get to safety.”

The wind rocked the car, and Amber cried out, struggling to stay on the road.

“Pull over.” Kane reached two fingers in his chest and extracted the bullet. His flesh made a squishy sound as the lead sprang free. “Ouch.”

Amber swallowed down bile. “Now that’s just gross.” She rolled the truck to the side of the road, fighting to keep the vehicle stable.

“Switch places with me.” Kane threw the bloodied shirt on the floor.

“No way. You’re injured.” The guy was crazy.

Apparently he was done talking, too. With a sigh, he grabbed her arms and hauled her over his lap and into the passenger seat while sliding toward the driver’s seat. Smooth movements had the truck back on the road.

Blood still coated his chest, but the hole was slowly closing. His defined abs tightened as he settled into the seat.

Amber reached for the seat belt. The storm swirled around them, all white and gray. Her grandmother was probably alone with demons. Actual demons. And Amber sat in the middle of a storm with a vampire who tortured a man as easily as most people picked up bread. No emotion, no regret, just pure coldness in execution. As she eyed the still bleeding immortal, her heart sped up.

Who was Kane Kayrs?