Part 20 (1/2)

”But Seth means nothing to you. Why would she go after him?”

”In war one always kills off friends, family and loved ones first. That's how it works.”

”What? But that means-”

”She'll come after you next.”

Bella's shoulders shook. She rubbed her arms, attempting to fight off the s.h.i.+vers. He had frightened her and her fear scent filled him with shame. He shouldn't have said anything. But not telling her would have blemished the trust he had earned so far.

She settled at the edge of the couch. Severo touched her hair tentatively. He wanted to take her in his arms and make the world go away. To make it all better.He fisted his fingers. That power was not in his hands.

”So,” she said softly, so faint he had to lean in to hear, ”you killed her family?”

”Her brother and father.”

Sitting on the couch, he pulled her lithe body onto his. She tucked her head into his neck and cuddled as he wrapped his arms about her. He wanted to be a safe harbor for her, but he feared her trip down the rabbit hole was only just beginning.

”Before Elvira-Evie-had blooded her teeth, her family used to hunt werewolves. At one time, in the nineteen fifties, the United States had a bounty on all wolves. Paid something like a dollar a pelt. The nation went into a hunting frenzy.”

”Mortals hunted you?”

”No, they hunted the real wolves. Mortals were-and are, for the most part-unaware of our breed. But noting the hunting frenzy, the vampires took it upon themselves to hunt werewolves. They didn't get paid for the pelts, but it didn't matter. It was for the thrill of the hunt. They captured my parents.”

He had to swallow, to digest this cruel memory, which he'd thought to press back, far from reach. It hurt in his heart to recall it, as if the steel trap crushed his muscles all over again.

Bella's fingers played across his chest. So fragile. And yet she was far stronger than him, for she had stood boldly before his werewolf.

”Do you know what happens when a werewolf is skinned?”

”You don't have to tell me if it hurts.”

It would wound him far worse to keep his secrets from the woman he loved.

”I stood at the edge of the vampire encampment after following my parents' scents for miles. They were dead, strung up by their heels alongside a wood cabin with half a dozen other werewolf pelts. It takes only a few hours, though, before a werewolf transforms itself into a were.”

Bella's gasp heated his chest. He clutched her, clinging, stopping his own tears only through force of will.

”I fled at the sight. I knew I had to protect myself. And yet I ran right into a trap. A bear trap clamped about my left ankle.”

”That's why you limp.”

”Yes, the bone never did heal right. They took me into captivity. I vowed that if I ever escaped, I would kill the men who had done this to my family.”

”And Evie? Was it her family who did this to you?”

”Yes. Yet Evie's father was a mortal. The father took vampires for lovers and there were a few witches who served the family.

They used their ability to tame us wolves as a power magnet for vampires. There would be days they'd set the vampires on us for fun. To torture us.”

”Oh my G.o.d.”

”It was Evie who asked that my life be spared when her father wanted to force me to s.h.i.+ft and skin me alive. She begged for a plaything. I...knew she favored me, but she also couldn't understand that freedom was what I most wanted. I played along, bending to her desires, allowing her to think she was seducing me, preparing me to be the one who blooded her fangs.” ”She bit you?”

”No. She didn't get the chance.”

He cupped Bella's chin and held her as a most precious thing. He'd been given one more chance to have goodness in his life after Aby. He didn't want to lose it. But she needed to know everything.

”Weres come into their werewolf at p.u.b.erty. The young ones are always the most difficult to control as the new skills of s.h.i.+fting are honed. Because of my uncontrollable rages, I was able to escape. I killed both the father and his vampire son, and left Evie crying on the porch of their home.

”I ran into her years later. Still she professed a pining love for me. I had never had anything but disgust for her and her family, yet, though I did not admit it to her, I was grateful to her for sparing my life. Still, I spurned her. She vowed revenge, which I deserved.” He exhaled, tracking the swift beats of his heart in his throat. ”So, yes, Bella, I have killed.”

”You were only avenging your family. I can't imagine seeing your parents being tortured like that. You poor man.”

He snarled. ”It's been over seven decades. I take care of myself. Those who think to threaten my peace, or my former pack, have only to answer to the werewolf. Evie has every right to pursue a vengeance she holds to be just-but Seth was a cruel blow.”

”He had no idea what he'd gotten into. Oh, Severo, what will happen now?”

”She's not coming after me directly. And that means she's playing a very dangerous game. I will protect you with my life, Bella.

But I'd feel better if we spent some time teaching you how to handle a few weapons.”

”I think that would be good.”

Her desire to learn defense surprised him. Truly, she was as strong a mate as a wolf could wish to have.

The man actually had an a.r.s.enal in the storage room behind the garage. She was surprised only because it was so huge, not because he had one.

Bella lingered in the open doorway as Severo strode before the shelves and counters, selecting a few throwing stars and tucking them in the pocket of his leather jacket, hooking what looked like a medieval mace over his arm. He paused before a wall of pistols and rifles.

Over his shoulder, he grinned at her. A boy with his toys.

Last night had been sweet. She hugged herself at the memory of the quiet darkness and his soft breaths as they'd lain in bed. No s.e.x, just tender kisses, strokes. Mostly they'd spooned into one another. They hadn't needed words.

After hearing how Severo had witnessed his parents' cruel deaths, Bella believed any vengeance he had taken had been just.

Now, more than ever, she wanted to meet Elvira.

”b.i.t.c.h,” Bella muttered.

”What's that?” He approached her with an armload of interesting weapons.

”Just thinking about what I'm going to say to the mistress of the night when I finally meet her.”

He nodded as they exited, and pulled the door locked behind them. They headed outside. Crisp fall air necessitated that Bella wear a jacket, and she'd pulled her hair behind her head in a ponytail. All business. She wanted to learn.

”If all goes well,” Severo said, ”you'll never see Elvira. I want that b.i.t.c.h's head on a platter with as little collateral damage as possible. My grievance is only with her. Though, if any of those vampires who chased you are still alive, I'll take their heads, too.”

They strode across the backyard and through a rusted iron gate that led them through the ten-foot wide hedgerow and out to the valley. The hill was clean of trees and cut a sharp line against the overcast sky.