Part 24 (2/2)

What the h.e.l.l was going on? She and Bleddyn had been dancing around each other for weeks. He'd been interested-more than interested. Why had he rejected her?

”d.a.m.n it,” she mumbled and pushed herself up. Sunlight bounced through the winds.h.i.+eld and into her eyes.

A dark shape appeared in the corner of her eye. As she turned her head, the door was yanked open and she was pulled out of the truck. Before she could protest, a rank cloth was jammed into her face. Her eyes watered and she coughed. Then the foul-smelling concoction she breathed in overpowered her senses.

”Hurry,” said the brown-robed man to his companion. ”Tell the master I have a gift for him.”

The door's slam still ringing in his ears, Bleddyn pulled on his jeans.

An angry yowl echoed around the room as Methuselah sprang through the door and began to stalk Bleddyn.

What did you do to her, Wolf? Why did she leave?

Bleddyn dropped into a crouch and snarled, ”Go to h.e.l.l, Cat.”

The hiss that erupted from Methuselah's throat raised the hairs on Bleddyn's arms.

Mist began to s.h.i.+mmer around him as he began to s.h.i.+ft into wolf shape.

Stop this right now, both of you, snarled a sharp voice from the door.

Methuselah stopped, his tail las.h.i.+ng from side to side. He's hurt Meredythe, Keri. You felt her. You know.

Slowly, surrounded with dignity, Keri padded into the room and placed herself between Bleddyn and the furious cat.

What happened, Bleddyn?Again Bleddyn struggled to conquer the dark ent.i.ty that inhabited his soul. Once he had himself under control, he sank onto the corner of the bed.

”I refused her s.e.xual advances.”

Both Keri and Methuselah froze. Their exclamations were simultaneous.

What!

What?

Bleddyn locked gazes with Methuselah. ”So you see, Cat. I didn't hurt her.”

Methuselah sat down. His tail still lashed from side to side. Perhaps not physically.

Three steps had Keri in front of Bleddyn.

Why?

”Why what?”

Why did you refuse her?

His answer was delivered with a snarl. ”Because the devil living inside me could have torn her to pieces. You know what I'm like when the bloodl.u.s.t is on me. Without moonlight to counter the craving for violence... ”

Blinking back tears, he turned his face from the wolf and stared out the window. ”I will not allow myself to hurt her.”

Keri licked his hand. Bleddyn, you could no more hurt Meredythe than you could hurt me.

He dropped his forehead against hers and threaded his fingers through the thick fur of her neck ruff. ”Will you ever acknowledge the evil that lives in me?”

She sighed and licked his cheek. I acknowledge the evil that seeks to conquer your soul, Bleddyn. None knows better than I how it got there. But you master it. It does not master you.

Sitting up, he wiped his face with his hand. ”It's getting harder and harder. I didn't want to take a chance, not with the full moon only hours away.”

Keri sat back on her haunches and c.o.c.ked her head to one side. Put yourself in Meredythe's place. You rejected her.

Bleddyn's lips twitched. ”And she'll be mad as h.e.l.l once she's thought everything through.”

She may not come back.

Bleddyn stood up and grabbed the s.h.i.+rt he'd tossed onto the bed before he went into the shower. ”She'll be back. She left that d.a.m.n cat here.”

Methuselah's angry hiss followed him out the door.

If he weren't your son, Keri...

The wolf trotted toward the door. Calm yourself, Methuselah. Bleddyn's right. Meredythe won't leave here without you. She'll come back.

Methuselah remained seated. Lifting a paw, he licked it twice, then began to groom his face. That stupid wolf had no idea how angry Meredythe could get. His plans for the evening just might not develop the way he expected.

Methuselah began to purr as he pictured the anger Meredythe would let loose on Bleddyn. Tonight would be very interesting.

Rising, he minced delicately across the room. Numerous mouse nests were scattered about the mansion's unoccupied rooms. The center of the wolf's bed would be the perfect place for the bodies.

”Hey, Bowers, are you ever going home?”

Jon straightened away from the microscope, pulled off his gla.s.ses, scrunched his eyes closed and pinched the top of his nose. After blinking, he rolled his neck and shoulders.

”I just want to finish this report.”

Kim chuckled. ”Trying to make some points with the boss, huh?”

Jon simply grinned.

Kim grinned back. ”We busted our a.s.ses on this city alderman's case from the beginning and the work paid off. It's solved. Go home and rest. Better yet, give Meredythe a call and go out on the town. Celebrate. Thanks to us, there's another murderer behind bars.”

Jon turned back toward his microscope. ”She's not back yet.”

Kim shrugged out of his lab coat. ”What was that you mumbled?”

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