Part 23 (1/2)

She jerked the strap of her purse higher on her shoulder and continued down the street, ignoring the festive Christmas lights s.h.i.+ning in many of the storefronts. She glanced to her right and spied her reflection in a s.h.i.+ning window. ”Okay, so your gut tells you he had nothing to do with the murders. That still doesn't give him the right to tell you what to do.”

A cold breeze whistled down the alley between two stores and she s.h.i.+vered. She'd forgotten her coat.

Turning, she took a step back toward the restaurant and came face-to-face with a woman wearing an old brown coat. Meredythe stepped back, involuntarily holding her breath and letting it out with relief when no overpowering odor reached her nose. She summoned a smile. ”Can I help you?”

The woman stared at Meredythe for a moment, then said, ”Come to us tomorrow. You will be a queen among women.”

Meredythe made a frantic grab for the flap of her purse. Notes, she had to take notes. ”What do you mean? Are you one of Mr. Anderson's followers? Do you believe you're a werewolf too?”

”One more night and all will be revealed,” the woman repeated. Then she slipped into the alley and disappeared into the darkness.

Meredythe turned to follow her, s.h.i.+vering as another blast of cold air swirled around her.

”Meredythe, wait,” Bleddyn called. ”You forgot your coat and you're going the wrong way.”

After one last glance down the alley-following an unknown person into a dark alley wasn't a very smart thing to do even if this was Smalltown, USA, and not nasty New York-she turned, planted her feet firmly and crossed her arms over her chest.

Bleddyn stopped before her and held out her coat.

”You forgot this.”

She arched an eyebrow, clenching her teeth against their sudden urge to chatter and refusing to allow her body to s.h.i.+ver.

”Please, Meredythe, put your coat on before you get sick.”

She dropped her purse to the sidewalk and grabbed her coat from his outstretched hand. Shrugging into it, she pulled her hood up over her head and yanked the zipper all the way to her chin. Bending over, she picked up her purse and hauled the strap onto her shoulder. Scowling, she pushed past Bleddyn and strode down the street.

When he grabbed her arm and pulling her to a halt, she shot an icy glare at him.

”Do. Not. Touch. Me.”

Obviously biting off a curse, he shoved his hands in his pockets. ”Please, Meredythe, I apologize.”

Some of the stiffness left her posture.

”I had no right to tell you not to interview Anderson.”

Meredythe relaxed more but remained wary.

Bleddyn s.h.i.+fted his weight as the wind whistled between them.

She didn't say anything.

”Look, Meredythe, I stay as far away from Anderson as I can, but that doesn't mean I don't know anything about him. Three times he's had animals removed from his farm because of neglect. He's suspected in a string of petty burglaries. His driving is so reckless, his license has been revoked. After the SPCA took away the last of his animals, he's threatened to shoot anyone who comes onto his property. Anderson is a dangerous man, Meredythe. There's no telling what he'll do. I don't want you getting hurt.”

As Bleddyn talked, Meredythe inhaled the cold night air and looked up at the almost full moon. Bathed in its luminescent glow, she felt her anger drain away. Maybe she did overreact. She shook her head, fighting the sudden lethargic feeling invading her body. No, she didn't overreact. Bleddyn had no right to forbid her anything. But she should have stayed to listen to his explanation after she set him straight about the fact that who she interviewed during the course of her job was none of his business.

”Meredythe?”

She jerked her gaze away from the moon.

”What?”

His voice had become amused. ”Do you want to stand here and stare at the moon all night?”

Jerking her purse strap, she stomped down the street.

”Let's get going. I'm sure the animals are wondering where we are. I know Methuselah will be pacing until I get back.”

Bleddyn walked by her side silently. He'd be better off keeping his mouth shut. At least she was going back home with him. Once they were there, Methuselah and Shadow would erase what was left of her anger and any possible thoughts of leaving from her mind. Besides, the demon in his soul was hungry. If he allowed his anger to overcome his self-control...

Meredythe would never forgive what he'd do to her. She'd probably run screaming -if she were able.

After pulling the truck to a halt next to the garage, Bleddyn glanced over at Meredythe. She'd spent the entire ride back to the estate flipping through her tablet, scribbling more notes here and there and mumbling to herself.

”Meredythe, we're home.”

”What? Oh. Do you need help with the groceries?”

”I can manage.”

”Good. I'm going to go see Shadow for a few minutes. He's restless.”

Shoving the tablet into her purse, she slid out of the truck and disappeared around the corner of the garage. A deep woof from Shadow told Bleddyn she'd reached her destination.

He got out and began gathering groceries. Leaning back against the truck, Bleddyn stared up at the moon and swallowed a deep breath of cold November air. Meredythe was safe.

The demon in his soul suddenly struck, fighting for dominance. Dropping the groceries, he braced his hands against the side of the truck and struggled to beat the darkness in his soul down with a powerful surge of his will. Gasping for breath, he leaned his forehead against the rim of the truck bed. He'd have to be careful tomorrow night. His control would have to be complete when he finally took Meredythe to his bed. The demon that rode his soul would not be gentle.

Pus.h.i.+ng himself away from the truck, he picked up the groceries and glanced once in the direction Meredythe had disappeared. He turned toward the house. Shadow occupied all her attention.

”There now. Everything is fine,” Meredythe crooned to Shadow as he stared at her through the chain link fence. ”You go to sleep and I'll see you in the morning. I'm sure Methuselah is wondering where I am.”

After a quick tail wag and low woof, Shadow disappeared into his kennel.

Meredythe stepped outside his enclosure and latched the gate. Throwing her purse over her shoulder, she shoved her hands into her pockets and trudged toward the back of the house. Soft light illuminated the kitchen windows and the light by the back door drove back the shadows of the night.

She sighed. When did walking into Bleddyn's house start to feel like coming home?

Chapter Twelve.

The next morning, Meredythe unlatched the gate to Shadow's run and stepped inside. The wolf-dog stuck his head out of his kennel and growled.

”Not now, Shadow, okay?” she mumbled as she leaned back against the chain link fence. With a sigh, she slid down its length until she was sitting on the ground. Hugging her knees to her chest, she stared up into the clear, blue sky. A fluffy cloud drifted into her field of vision and she grimaced.

”What am I still doing here?”