Hidden Moon (Nightcreature 7)

"No. " He kissed me. "Never. "

"Sabina actually did us a favor by locking us in here. "

His face darkened. "I'm going to kill her. "

"I don't think you're going to find her. "

"I will. "

The lights went on with a click, and we scrambled up, Malachi shielding me with his body.

I dived for my clothes, even as I glanced around his shoulders at the man and woman who approached.

The man was tall, far too thin, and older than anyone I'd seen standing. His hair had faded from blond to white, but his blue eyes were sharp and a little frightening. Or maybe it was just the arsenal he carried with him. Two pistols, one on each hip, a shotgun over his shoulder, a rifle cradled in his emaciated arms, bandoliers of bullets slung across his scrawny chest.

Who was this guy?

The woman was also tall, made even more so by black spike-heeled boots. She was both curvy and slim, blond and unbelievably gorgeous. Her jeans were designer, her cobalt blue blouse silk. When she reached up to shove her hair out of the way, I caught a glimpse of a pentagram tattooed on the palm of her hand.

"She's a werewolf," I blurted.

The woman's perfectly plucked eyebrows lifted. "Been doing your research. "

"You aren't going to deny it?"

"No. But I'm also not an evil blood-drinking beast. This" - she lifted her hand, revealing a pentagram with one point ascendant - "cures them. "

"Them who?"

"Werewolves. Like him. " She pointed at Mal, then frowned. "Why aren't you furry and why isn't she dead?"

"If you don't mind," Mal said, "I'll be puttin' on some clothes before you tell me just who in hell you are. "

"Be our guest," the old man murmured, the German accent I hadn't noticed when he first spoke deepening so I couldn't help but notice it now.

Mal and I managed to cover ourselves with what was left of our clothes. My shirt was sliced, but I was able to tie it over my breasts so I wasn't flashing anyone. He made a kilt from his pants but gave up on the shirt.

"You think you could let us out?" I asked.

"Perhaps you, but not him. Not yet," the woman answered.

I crossed my arms over my chest. "I'll stay with Mal. "

"Suit yourself. Now tell us what happened. "

"And who might we be talkin' to?"

The two exchanged glances; the old man nodded, so the woman began. "This is Edward Mandenauer, leader of a group called the Jager-Suchers, or Hunter-Searchers. I'm Elise Hanover. We hunt monsters. " She contemplated us both with an amused expression. "You don't seem surprised. "

"After what I've seen lately," I said, "not much surprises me. "

She dipped her chin. "In World War Two there was a project begun by the Nazis. "

"Mengele, werewolf army. " I waved my hand. "Fast-forward. "

"You know about it?" She glanced at Mandenauer, who scowled at me so ferociously I got kind of scared.

"We have a doctor who served in the war; he saw things. And Mal's been around awhile. "