Everett gave it to Belizia. She was fast, and she could meet him blow for blow. But she was slow and didn't have the ability to read him like Everett could her. He could see her weak point each time she attacked. He just couldn't get to it.
The sound of weapons clashing shocked him briefly, but it didn't stop from attacking. Belizia turned to look over her shoulder, and it gave him the chance to surge in.
With the dagger in one hand and sheath in the other, he stepped to the left. Belizia went right as she tried to dodge him. He'd already thought about that. He tossed his right hand out and slipped the sheath under the leather belt. Twisting, he tightened the hold then jerked her backward hard.
Belizia collided with him, and they landed on the ground. Everett rolled several times until he ended up on top. Belizia screamed at him and tried to get up, but he weighed more than her and was much stronger.
"Why are you after me?" he asked.
"Let me up!" she demanded.
He forced her back down with the blade to her throat. "Answer me. What do you want?"
"It's not me!" He raised his eyebrows in question. "I'm not the one who wants you. I was sent to bring you back by any means possible."
"Who hired you?" She struggled again, and the blade bit into her porcelain skin. Red ran down it, seeping into her shirt. "This isn't cold iron so it won't make an unhealable wound, but that doesn't mean I won't kill you. Now tell me who's after me. If I believe your answer, I'll put in a good word for you."
"Almain Dupree said if I brought you to him he would make sure I was able to live how I wanted away from everyone else."
He scowled at her. "Why would you want that? I thought fae were very loyal to each other."
She laughed humorlessly. "I've been branded insane by my people because I didn't unite my family with Bastian's."
His face turned sympathetic. "It's not easy being considered a freak is it?" He grabbed her arm and hauled her up. "Attack any of them and I'll kill you myself."
They stood back for a moment to gauge the fight going on by the street. The fae world seemed to be in tatters. Almain was leading his group against Annaliese. They were well-prepared, but something was off. Why were they on the opposing side? What had happened for this to take place?
Everett watched in silence as the werewolves joined Annaliese's side. He watched as the few who could be spared dove in and out of the attacking fae. He hoped they were going to be alright. He had never seen them fight and he could honestly say he was impressed, but that didn't mean they couldn't be killed. He wanted to keep that from happening.
"Will the werewolves in the house listen to Dupree or another wolf?" he asked.
"They were rogue wolves I found on my way. They have no affiliation," Belizia replied.
"Come with me."
Not paying attention if she followed or not, Everett headed back to the house. He stepped through the fire with ease and strode into the house. Claudia had a rifle draped across her lap. Strictland's wolf lay by the fire on a white sheet stained red and brown. He wasn't doing well.
Claudia looked up, gun in her hands faster than Everett realized she moved. She wasn't looking at him. She knew him; she didn't know the woman behind him. This was her home and she was going to protect those in it. Strictland growled from his spot, but he didn't move. He knew who she was, but unless she attacked, he would offer a warning so his battered body could heal.
Everett held up a hand in the wolf's direction, and his body settled down even though his growl was low. The young man pitied the older one but he didn't have time to dwell on him. He looked back at Claudia.
"Where's the key to the panic room?" he asked.
Claudia handed them over, wariness written over her face. "He can't fight."
"I don't expect him to, but I'm taking the rogue ones with me. I'll post four, two at each door, but I need the rest."
She nodded. "Leave the young ones." She looked past him at Belizia. "Can she be trusted?"
"I'm more afraid of the firebird than I am a mere human," Belizia snarled.
Strictland growled deeply, warning her even more. Claudia smiled. "You should be afraid of an injured werewolf."
"Astra," Everett called. The russett wolf poked her head in the door. She'd been following him since he'd burst on the scene. "Watch her. I'll be back."
He walked to the door in the kitchen and pulled it open. The lights at the baseboards lit up as he walked down. Donovan had left the door open to the panic room so he didn't need to unlock it.
When he walked in, the three in the cells looked up. He finally got a good look at the ones who had killed innocent people to find him. They looked really young, but he knew that was false. They would stop aging when they changed. He felt bad for them. He should feel anger, but he could't. Not if they had done it against their wills.
"If I let you out, will you run?" he asked. They shook their heads, mouths wide open. He figured they hadn't expected him to be the one to let them out. "Good. I need your help."
"You're not mad at us?" the headed girl asked.
His gaze shifted to her. He recognized her smell though he wasn't sure how. Scents weren't his forte. "What's your name?"
She shook under his eyes. "Lydia."
"No, Lydia, I'm not. But I will be if you attack anyof the werewolves here. Then I may have to kill you."
The man in the other cell scrambled to his feet. "We won't. We've done enough to this pack for no reason."
"Your name?"
"Travis, and this is Alexa. We're sorry about your friend."
Everett nodded and went to unlock the cells. He stepped back to let them out. His heart went out to them. If anyone understood being lied to, it was him. He could forgive them this one time. He needed their help, and being angry wouldn't make it easier to work with him.
"How old are you?" he asked.
Alexa frowned. "Travis and I are twenty-five. Lydia's seventeen."
"I'll talk to Donovan. When this is over, I'm going to need some help at my clubs."
Travis was confused. "You'd help us?" Everett nodded. "Why? After all this?"
"Everyone deserves a second chance. Yours starts now."
He turned and went up the stairs, smiling when they followed. He hadn't planned on offering them employment, but Donovan's plan would be different. He wanted to see them become something. Lydia was too young, but he was sure they'd figure out something for her as well.
They came back into the living room. Belizia sighed and turned away. She was ashamed to see them because she'd gotten the other boy killed. And it had been all for a lie. It seemed meaningless now, but still she couldn't face them.
"Astra, Domino, and Kaley will go with me," Everett said. "The rest of you will guard Claudia and Strictland. Donovan and the others are fighting. We need to back them up. Do not go past the fire, but kill anyone who does that is not us."
"Malcolm will kill me if you get hurt," Claudia argued.
"And I'll regret it forever if I don't help." He pressed his forehead to hers. "I'll keep them as safe as I can."
She kissed his cheek. "Go."
Everett pulled away and turedn towards the door. He didn't need to say anything. Those with him were ready to fight as one for the same thing; to take Almain Dupree down.
~~~~~~~
Mal wasn't sure what he should do. There was so much going on, he wasn't certain where to go. Donovan and Bastian were fighting alongside Dupree's guard, Ezra and several others were wreaking havoc on several fae who were ill-equipped to face them, and the rest of the combatants were fighting with all their prowess.
This wasn't what he'd expected. When he'd talked to Almain Dupree, he hadn't had any inclination he would attack. He should have known better. Fae were well-known to say one thing and mean another. Dupree had already known he was coming after Everett, but it was clear he wasn't prepared for Annaliese to come to their aid.
Donovan's growl echoed through all of the fighting. Mal shoved the person away from him and started across the driveway for him. He was glad they were in the middle of nowhere. How else would they explain this? It would be damn near impossible.
Someone slammed something into the back of his head. He went sprawling into the gravel, face burning as it hit first. Another blow to the head kept him in the dirt, but he managed to lift his hands to protect it as best as he could.
There was a nasty snarl before air moved over him. He felt a hot breath on his hands as the beating subsided. He didn't have the heart to lift his head just yet. Not until a strong hand yanked him up. The same hand went around his waist then held him tightly.
Everett's face was right next to his when Mal looked up. All fat from his face had disappeared in the week he'd been gone. He hadn't been fat to begin with, but now there wasn't an ounce on him. Mal could tell by the way he held him.
But when he looked at him, he was the same Everett Mal knew. That boyish grin pulled at his lips even though this was not the time to be flirting.
"When did this happen?" Lydia asked.
"Right before I came to get you," Everett said. "Belizia, can you get me a path to Dupree?"
"I can do you one better," she said.
"Astra? Domino?" The two wolves appeared out of nowhere, flanking Everett quietly. "Bring your Alpha here."
They took off across the yard, maiming any and all who got in their way. The couple was dangerous when they were united in something. Hunting was their best adventure, and it showed as they picked through friend and foe by scent.
Mal couldn't help but laugh as Domino took down the fae about to stab Donovan just as Astra grabbed him by the seat of his pants. The Alpha grumbled but he went with the she-wolf. Ezra popped up somehow, just as battered as Mal. He wiped blood away from his mouth, spitting the rest out several times.
Astra stopped beside Mal as Donovan wiped at his butt. He was making sure his pants weren't ripped because showing his underwear was such a bad thing at this point. He looked at the small group before him, eyes finding Everett immediately.
"Who let them out?" Donovan asked.
"I did," Everett said. He let Mal go and stepped away from him. "I have a feeling there's a hell of a lot more to this story, and we need all of them to tell it."
Ezra dabbed at his mouth and nose to make sure he wasn't bleeding anymore. "All of whom?"
Everett pointed past them. Belizia emerged from a crowd of fighters with Dupree in tow. He tried to fight her, but she had a good grip on his neck and hair. There was a low rumble from Domino and Astra that could only be taken as laughter. Even Ezra coughed to cover one.
Belizia shoved Dupree in front of them, watching in satisfaction as he rolled in the dirt. She stood over him as if she were hunting him. She might as well be.
"You set me up, you piece of shit!" she thundered. "You said he would kill me if we let him live."
Everett frowned. "Why would I do that?"
"It was a scare tactic," Donovan surmised. "If he could drum up enough fear, Dupree could get her to do anything. Too bad really. Everett's the least lethal of us all."
"Well, he used to be," Ezra quipped.
"No, he still is. He may have more training now, but he's still gentle. He let these people out because he thought they wouldn't cause an issue. So far he's right."
"He threatened us," Travis said. "It was a quiet threat, but it was there."
Mal turned his attention to Everett as he knelt in front of Dupree. Ezra gripped the back of his shirt in case extra help was needed. He understood the reason. If Mal did as well, it would make them both easy targets.
Everett looked at Dupree with a mixture of pity and anger. He was made becasue seven people had to die, but he felt pity becasue there was nothing he could do. He was bound to be targeted once people and other creatures found out he was alive.
He drew in the dirt because he didn't have anything else to do. He couldn't speak even as the sound started to sound distorted around them. Nothing right or good enough to say.
"I would ask you why, but I think I already know the answer," he said finally. "Why use innocent people?"
Dupree laughed. "Are you really that naive?" Everett looked up at him. "You're more powerful than any fae, werewolf, vampire or other creature save maybe a hellhound or demon. You can do anything. Yet, you're being sequestered by a pack of werewolves. And you smell like fae."
Belizia smashed his head into the gravel. "Other people's sex lives are your concern now?"
Everett shook his head, and that seemed to stay her hand. "That's not important right now. What is important is that you sent your underling to get me regardless of what I was doing or who I was with." He paused to pick up a rock. "You needed me because you wanted Annaliese's place."
The satisfaction that once covered Dupree's face fell. He stared at them with hate filled eyes, and Mal wondered what he was planning. He also wondered what had happened between the two for Dupree to loathe Annaliese enough to want to take her place.
"Bastian?" he asked. The fae warrior strode up to them, clothes and skin covered with fresh blood. "What did he do?"
"He staged a coup. Half our people sided with him. There was chaos for days until we could get to him. Annaliese had to ban him from our home to make sure it never happened again. However, it seems he may have found a loophole." Bastian's face was cold and unfeeling. His anger was barely contained as he stood in the semicircle of people. He was clearly unhappy with Dupree being alive.
"I'm not the one pining over someone's mate," Dupree antagonized.
Everett ticked his lips as he reached forward and slammed the fae's face into the ground. He held his hair as the man groaned and spat gravel from his mouth.
"It's amazing you're still alive," he mused. "You talk too much."
"And you don't pay attention to your surroundings."
Dupree smiled as several arrows whizzed by. Ezra jerked Everett backwards. They rolled one time before coming up on their knees. They looked at each other, trading grins before going in for the kill. Ezra took the new assailants while Everett tackled Dupree. The fae had shaken Belizia during the diversion adn was trying to get back to his allies.
"Donovan, move!"
Everett turned just as Mal slammed into the Alpha as another volley of arrows careened towards him. There were several sickening thuds as the arrowheads sank into the werewolf's body. Donovan caught him before he fell into the dirt, his face contorting.
"They're silver-tipped," he muttered.
Dupree's laughter pierced the air. "Good! He'll die within minutes if they're not removed. And that's even better. Now I'll finish what I started. I'll take my place as…"
He never finished his sentence as Everett removed his head from his body.
Donovan handed Mal to Ezra. "Get him to Claudia. She has to save him."
"What are you going to do?" the second asked. He easily lifted his companion up, nose wrinkling at the smell.
"I'm going to try and save that boy from making a huge mistake."