Moon Sworn (Riley Jenson Guardian 9)

"Put them back how?"

"The vampire tripped on some loose carpeting going up the stairs, hit the hall stand, and knocked himself unconscious."

Meaning I'd have to ensure there was loose carpet. "And the wolf?"

"Before the vamp had his accident, he and the wolf had a minor altercation. The wolf was knocked down and smacked the back of his head on the tiles."

And given I'd neutralized my scent before we'd come here, no one would scent me. "Neither man has appropriate bumps."

He glanced at me, his smile cold. "Oh yes they have."

I snorted. "And you stopped Lyndal from hitting him."

"I built my bumps into their memories."

"You could have done it to hers."

"It's not easy to account for bruising to the front and back of the head. In a case like this, where you're adding memories and forcing them not to see certain things, too many complications can risk blowing the whole thing."

"Which is what happened with me."

He nodded. I grabbed the vamp's arms, dragging him back through the hall and up the stairs. I was sweating by the time I reached the landing. He might appear to be little more than a string bean, but he obviously had heavy bones.

I dumped him on the floor, knocked over the hall stand, then ripped up a little of the carpet covering the top step. Then I ran back downstairs to grab the werewolf. Him I dragged into the kitchen.

I locked the front door as I came out. Quinn touched my back lightly, guiding me across to the car. At least the ear-splitting music had stopped. "We must find time to undo your mind restraints, too."

"As I said, that's not important right now. We need to track down our killer first then confront Blake."

He opened the passenger door and ushered me inside. "You do know that this time, defeating him won't be enough."

His words had something twisting inside, if only because they were forcing me to confront what I'd long known but hadn't really admitted.

Because the guards inside that house weren't the only ones who were dead men walking.

Blake and whoever else was involved in this scheme were, as well.

But not via the Directorate.

Not via a gun.

It could never be that easy.

No, I had to kill Blake the same way he'd killed my grandfather.

With my wolf.

It was the only way to keep the pack from coming after me and Rhoan and everyone we loved.

Chapter 15

Twelve hours later, with Evin and Lyndal safely tucked away in the West pack's heartland and with Harris's promise to keep them safe at all cost, Quinn and I walked into the day division's tiny conference room.

Sal was the only other person who'd arrived, and she was working at the terminal and frowning at the images flickering across the remote screen. She spun around as we entered, and her smile was wide and genuine.

"Well, well, if it isn't our lost wolf," she said, voice droll but humor crinkling her eyes. "Enjoy your holiday, did you?"

"Totally." I plunked down on the chair next to hers. "I'd love to say I missed your cheery face, but the truth is, I couldn't even remember it."