Amber Flame (The Flame Series Book 4) (10 page)

Mary didn’t look in much better shape. Her cheeks were flushed where he’d marked her, and she held both hands away from her body as though trying to regain her balance. Her lips were swollen, her eyes glittering.

That’s when he caught her scent as well, part fae and now, yup, part wolf. It still shocked him that he and Mary were caught in a strange sharing of
alter
abilities. What the hell was happening between them?

Sure, he’d seen this first-hand between Brannick and Juliet, but now the same phenomenon was making him question everything he knew about living in Five Bridges.

“You’re sharing powers, aren’t you?” Warren’s voice had a good effect since it drew Fergus’s attention away from Mary.

He turned slightly to meet Warren’s gaze. “We are. It’s strange as hell.”

He heard Mary take a shuddering breath as he left her. He then moved back to the side of the map table.

Warren murmured, “Thank you for that. I suggest you do it a few more times throughout the night. It helps.”

Fergus caught Warren’s almost tortured gaze, then slid into telepathy.
But it’s Mary, isn’t it? I’m not just imagining that she’s alpha-mate material?

She is. I felt it the moment I arrived in the Graveyard last night. It shocked the hell out of me.

Against his will, Fergus stiffened. “Did you hit on her?” He asked aloud. The question was completely out of line, but again his mate-hunting cycle had also reached its peak and he had to know.

Warren pressed his fist against his own chest. “On my honor, no, Fergus. I knew even then she was yours. Besides, we were a little busy getting your ass into a sling for transport, if you recall.”

Fergus squeezed his eyes shut for a long moment. He breathed through a powerful need to pound the shit out of Warren for being so close to Mary during the shared ordeal. “I know this is wrong, but I wish you hadn’t been anywhere near her.”

At that, Warren appeared to relax. “Well, I’ll say this. I’m glad I was there, because if I hadn’t been, you’d be worm-fodder.”

Fergus chuckled. “You’re right. I would.”

Fergus?
Mary’s telepathic voice pulled his attention away from Warren, but she wasn’t standing at end of the table anymore. In fact, he couldn’t see her at all.

He rushed toward the door, but found her unconscious on the floor where she’d last been standing.

What the hell?

She was stretched out on the woven carpet, her blond hair laying in a thick wave off to the side. He didn’t know what was wrong with her.

He picked up her hand and patted it.
Mary? What’s going on? What happened? Are you okay?

Fergus, relax, I’m in the dreamglide. Warren said we didn’t have time to mess around and there you both were sparring with each other. Anyway, I’m in the foyer of your compound. I focused on Sydon and found him. He’s getting his rogue wolves worked up. In a few minutes, he’s planning to send them to the dungeon to slaughter your men. But it won’t be anything tidy and neat like a few bullets; he’s ordering his men to use their swords.

I’m safe here for now in Warren’s strategy room, but you’ve only got a few minutes to save your wolves. I’ll stick close to Sydon’s team in the dreamglide to keep you informed.

As Fergus stood up, he realized how much he trusted Mary. He’d stake his life on the truth of everything she’d just told him.

He waved Warren forward and told him what was going on. Warren was right with him.

Fergus led the way back to the entrance area.

Once there, Warren ordered two of his troops to stand guard in front of the closed door of the strategy room. No one was to go inside. They were to guard the door and the Revel woman, Mary, with their lives.

The men lined up, somber as hell.

Warren then levitated swiftly in the direction of the back patio. He stood on the threshold of the doorway and barked a series of orders that separated a number of his wolves from the rest. This team levitated into the air. Not all wolves could levitate, only those with enough essential power

Once they moved into position, Warren turned to Fergus. “Lead the way. My team is yours.”

Fergus levitated in their direction. They were ten wolves strong, each armed to the hilt as Fergus shot into the night air and headed east. As fast as he flew, Warren and his men kept up with him.

He arced well to the north of the Gordion Compound then circled back to come in from the east. To his surprise, he saw that though several of Sydon’s men milled around the front porch, most of these carried bottles of beer and no weapons. There wasn’t a single guard posted outside the actual structure, which meant that Sydon’s arrogance had left his flank exposed.

Fergus contacted Mary.
We’re on the east side of my compound. Can you get us in unseen?
He explained about the lack of exterior guards.

I’ll head in your direction, but you’ve got to move fast and do as I tell you each step of the way.

Understood.

He counted the five seconds it took Mary to get back to him. Each one felt like an eternity.

All right, Fergus. The foyer is swarming with wolves, though half of them are drunk. I don’t see Sydon anywhere, but his execution team has levitated down to the lower levels. Can you arrange for one of your Gordion wolves, maybe a female carrying cleaning gear, to let you in through the east window of the living room?

I’ll get on it.
He knew of one female wolf, Brynna, whom he could trust and who would have the presence of mind to perform this small act of subterfuge. It took a moment to contact her telepathically, but once he did, she said she was on it. He warned her about Sydon’s unruly bunch by the front entrance.

Don’t worry,
Brynna telepathed.
I can handle them and I’ll take the route through the kitchen. It shouldn’t be a problem getting the east window open.

But as soon as you’re done, Brynna, I want you of there.

You’d better believe I won’t stick around. Several of us are in hiding. I take it you’ve got a plan to get rid of this monster?

I do. And thanks.

My pleasure. And by the way, we’re so happy you’re alive. Warren let both Harley and Ryan know. The word spread fast. All right, I’m gathering supplies now.

Fergus kept his team hidden in the forest to the east of the compound. He relayed to them what Brynna was planning to do.

As soon as he saw Brynna pretending to wipe down the window, then open it, he checked the immediate area once more. He still couldn’t believe Sydon didn’t have a single wolf patrolling the exterior of the compound. Unbelievable.

Fergus moved swiftly to the window that led into the long living room. He rarely used this space and fortunately the thirty yards to the foyer, where Sydon’s wolves had gathered, would make it easier to sneak in.

By now, Brynna had already left the room. He lifted the lower portion of the window up and leaped inside, waving for Warren and his team to follow.

He moved toward the door leading to the hall and waited there. Though he could hear Sydon’s men in the foyer, he was stunned by how quiet the rest of the compound felt. Then again, he wasn’t.

By now, a good number of his people had probably escaped into the forest seeking shelter in several places he’d set up just for this contingency. The rest would be hiding out in their apartments, trying to fly below Sydon’s radar.

Mary’s voice hit his mind.
I can see you’re in the house, but the crew near the front door has a direct line of sight to your doorway. Can you create a diversion outside? Otherwise you’ll never be able to get to the secret door.

I’m on it.

Fergus contacted Warren telepathically and let him know what needed to be done. Warren in turn sent one of his men outside into the nearby pine trees.

Mary, I’ve sent a man into the forest to make some noise. Let me know when we can head into the hall.

I’m watching the foyer now.

As directed, a sudden burst of automatic gunfire sounded to the east of the compound.

They’re heading out,
Mary said.
Hold. Hold. All right, you’re clear. Move!

Fergus didn’t hesitate, but levitated through the doorway and felt Warren and his men follow swiftly behind. He turned to the right, away from the foyer and flew swiftly to the end of the hall. Once there, he found the latch that opened the hidden door. Because a tall cabinet was attached, he moved it carefully.

The moment he had access to the secret passage, the well-trained warriors darted through the opening, each levitating to keep from making a sound on the stone floor.

Fergus went in last and closed the panel. To Mary, he said,
We’re in.

No one saw you and I can keep up with you, so get moving, wolf.

Fergus loved the way she talked to him.

Inside, the wolves were lined up, waiting for him.

He levitated swiftly past them. There were no lights in the stairwell, but his
alter
wolf vision enabled him to see in the dark as though a warm glow lit the space.

He descended to the dungeon area on the third level. Once there, he flew as fast as he could along the hallway. Through the adjoining wall, he heard his wolves howling, more than one in pain.

When he arrived at the end, he drew up.
Mary, we’re in position.

I can see you, and I’ve got my eyes on the hallway outside the dungeon cell. Timing will be important if you stand a chance. Some of the rogue wolves have already gone into the cell, but there are at least eight outside, waiting. They’re all focused on the wolves getting hurt, though it wouldn’t take much to divert their attention.

Fergus knew they couldn’t risk getting discovered or they’d never even make it into the hall.

Fergus, you’ve got to be really careful at this point.

I understand.
At the same time, he could hear the shouts of the rogues. One of the captives cried out in pain. He had to do something.

Warren was right behind him. Fergus told him the situation, then added,
Let me see if I can set up another diversion. I’ll have Mary get me out with the least possibility of detection, fly above the guards, then hopefully get them headed away from you.

Sounds like a smart move.
Warren responded.

He contacted Mary and relayed the plan. She agreed that it was the best strategy, but added,
Just wait for my signal.
She was cool as hell.

He felt for the mechanism that would open the hidden door enough to allow him to slip through. He held his hand above it, waiting for Mary’s command.

Hold, Fergus. Hold. On my command. Hold. And … now!

The snap of her last word had him pulling the mechanism, and the door slid open about ten inches. Like the arrangement on the ground floor, this door also held an attached shelving unit, which made it heavy. He gave it another push, slipped through, then closed it. He rose into the air.

About thirty feet away, Sydon’s rogues were clustered around the doorway of the dungeon just as Mary had said they were. They jeered at the prisoners inside.

In order to continue avoiding detection, he levitated to a horizontal position close to the ceiling and began gliding down the passageway. He held his breath as he flew above Sydon’s men.

His movement must have caught the eye of one of the men since he started shouting about an intruder.

Fergus put on some speed and called back, “Come on, motherfuckers.” He bolted down the long hall, away from the secret door and the rogue warriors.

Mary’s voice entered his mind.
It worked. Four of Sydon’s wolves are flying after you. The rest are shouting all kinds of things. Let Warren know he’s clear to move.

He shifted his telepathy to Warren.
The ruse worked. Mary says you’re good to go.

Fergus knew the rogue wolves would start firing, so as he reached the top of the corridor, he whipped to the right, into the intersecting hall. A hail of bullets followed. He’d just escaped getting hit.

He dropped to the stone floor to stand his ground and wait.
How we doin’, Mary?

Warren and his team are leaving the secret passage. The four who followed you have slowed their pursuit. They’re ten feet away from the upper hall. Warren has part of his team engaging with the wolves by the door. He and the rest are heading toward the four near you.

Everything happened fast.

He heard Warren give a battle shout and guns being fired. He didn’t dare engage yet or he’d get caught in the crossfire.

Mary, give me a blow-by-blow. What’s going on with Warren?

He’s brought three down, the other is rounding the corner in your direction now!

At the same time the last words hit his mind, the fourth rogue appeared. Fergus fired point blank into his chest.

The wolf flew backward, landing in a heap in the corner.

Mary spoke quickly.
All four of the nearest wolves are down. Warren is heading back in the direction of the original cell. The rest of the team has subdued the others who were outside the cell. I think a couple of them are dead. Warren just got there. He’s issuing some orders. I think your team has secured Sydon’s force in the cell.

Fergus turned the opposite direction. He stood twenty feet from a broad, ascending staircase leading to the second belowground level. With all the gunfire, someone must have heard.
Mary, is anyone coming down the stairs to this level? Do you see anyone?

No, there’s no one. Wait. I’m seeing movement from the ground floor. Let me check it out.
A few seconds passed, before Mary continued,
It’s Sydon. I see him now. He’s already reached the second level. He’s heading in your direction toward the third level.

I can hear him, heavy boots on stone.
But he didn’t hear any other sounds.
Mary, doesn’t he have a guard with him?

He’s alone.

More arrogance.
That’s good news. Thanks.

For a split-second, Fergus thought about taking Sydon down with a single bullet. But he knew in order to regain his pack, he’d have to battle Sydon again in another dominance fight.