Never Cry Wolf (Night Watch #4)(71)
Author: Cynthia Eden

He wouldn’t just kill for Sarah King.

Very slowly, Lucas lifted his head and he stared at the mark he’d made on her flesh. A claiming mark. The way of the wolf. His gaze met hers. Sated green. Wide open, seeing all of him, accepting all.

No, he wouldn’t just kill for her.

If he had to, he’d f**king die for her.

After all, it wasn’t every day that a wolf found his mate. And when he found her, he knew to hold on tight.

Because if he lost her, only madness would be left.

The scent of blood was like a punch in the face. Dane narrowed his eyes as he studied the bodies still lying on the twisting road. No big surprise that the dead shifters hadn’t been found by someone else. Most folks stayed the hell off this road.

It was known to be a hunting ground. Humans who got lost on this trek didn’t always make it back out. And the Other, they either came there to hunt or to die.

The coyotes had been there to hunt, but the dumb sonsofbitches had wound up prey.

“A silver bullet right between the eyes,” Jordan said, staring down at the body. “Yeah, that’ll take you out, no matter if you’re coyote or wolf.” He glanced up at Dane. “Sarah’s a good shot.”

“And Lucas is a f**king brutal killer.” He turned away from the younger shifter and stared at the remains of the other coyote. Rage had been riding Lucas hard when he’d made this kill. Because the ass**les had threatened Sarah?

Did the guy even realize how important she’d become to him? Maybe, if he was smart, he did.

“I guess that’s from Marley’s fire.”

Dane’s gaze tracked to the right. The demon had sure been burning wild. Those scorchmarks were all over the place. The scent of ash lingered in the air, tangling with the blood. He inhaled, drawing the scents in deeper. He’d have to get past the blood and fire first, then he’d find Marley. He’d get a lock on her and run the demon down.

His eyes closed and he inhaled.

“Fuck!” Dane’s eyes flew open. His heart had kicked hard in his chest and his claws burst out.

“Dane? What is it? What’s—”

He grabbed the silver knife that had been tossed onto the side of the road. He barely felt the burn on his hand.

“Drop that, Dane!” Jordan shoved at his hand. “Are you crazy? That’s silver!”

“Blood.”

“Yeah, there’s blood all over the place out here. Now let’s get the bodies moved and find that demon.”

Dane shook his head. “Her blood.”

Jordan’s eyes widened. “Marley? You’ve already got a lock on her?”

It wasn’t Marley’s blood. “Lucas didn’t tell me she was here.”

Jordan tensed.

“He didn’t tell me.”

“Dude, he told us to come and get Marley, what the hell are you—”

“Karen!” Not Marley. He didn’t give a shit about her.

“Her blood—it’s everywhere.” Too much blood. Human blood. He’d never forget her scent.

“Karen?” Jordan grabbed Dane’s fist and ripped the knife away. He hissed out a breath at the scorch of the silver and tossed the weapon into the woods. “That woman you found with the coyotes?”

The thunder of his heartbeat filled Dane’s ears. “Sarah’s knife was used on her.”

“On Marley?” Jordan shook his head. “You’re losing me here.”

Dane’s teeth snapped together. “On Karen.” She’d been attacked but she was gone now. No body. Just blood. Was she alive? What the hell had happened out there?

Trap.

Karen had worked with the coyotes before. Had she been in on the attack? Had Sarah fought back and stabbed her? Was she dead?

“Dammit, I don’t know!” Jordan yelled, grabbing his shoulders and Dane realized he’d been snarling his questions. “We’re not here to find her.” Jordan shook him. “We’re here to find Marley. Dammit, Mar-ley. The demon bitch that is after my brother, our pack. Karen . . .” His eyes narrowed. “I don’t know her. She doesn’t matter.”

She does to me. “Only two people really matter to you.” The words flew out. “Lucas and Cammie.” Oh, he knew all about Jordan. The wolf who’d left them a boy and come back a broken man.

Got to be broken to see it.

He’d seen it. When the vampires had taken Jordan, he’d changed. Lost the light he’d held for years and finally become as dark and dangerous as the rest of his pack.

And as for Camellia, or . . . Cammie as Jordan called her—Dane knew all about her, too. She’d been taken by the vamps just as Jordan had, and during their captivity, Jordan had become the girl’s protector. In the years that had passed, Jordan still snuck away to see her, when he didn’t think anyone was watching. But Dane was always watching. He knew all about Jordan’s little obsession. Still young, but Cammie was growing up fast. Was Jordan counting down the days?

Jordan’s eyelids flickered and rage burned bright in his stare. “You don’t know what the hell you’re talking about. If you’re not going to find the demon, I will.”

Then he spun away and headed for the woods.

Jordan had a good sense of smell, no doubt, but picking up the demon wasn’t gonna be easy.

Then Jordan started running. Maybe it was that easy. Where was Karen’s body? No body meant she could still be alive.

And why does it matter? The woman had trapped him, taunted him . . . and—

And I f**king want her alive.

He chased after Jordan. He couldn’t leave the other wolf alone. If he did, Lucas would skin him alive.

A burst of speed sent him through the bushes. Branches clawed at him, but he shoved them out of the way. It didn’t take him long to catch the scent Jordan was following.

No way to miss the scent of the dead.

He jumped over a fallen tree, snaked to the right and burst into a clearing.

“Didn’t have a damn chance,” Jordan shook his head and stared at the body.

Not Karen. There wasn’t a whole lot that you could tell about those burned remains, but the scent was wrong. Whoever had died right there—it hadn’t been his redhead.

“Marley’s work.” Obviously. Dane’s gaze lifted and scanned the scene. His nostrils twitched. Marley had made a mistake. Most demons were hard to track, but a demon who’d been playing with fire . . .

He inhaled.

. . . a demon who’d been playing with fire might as well have left a trail of ash to follow.