Hunted By Firelight by Krista Street

Chapter 5

~ WYATT ~

My wolf prowled in my belly as I stood outside under a setting fae sun. Stars appeared in the sky, even though hanging lanterns illuminated the busy street in the capital’s business district where I waited outside, unseen, while Charlotte and Avery shopped.

I’d stayed away from Avery for the rest of the day, but had been keeping a close eye on her through messages with Charlotte and my silent stalking. And since Avery didn’t want to be anywhere near me, I’d booked a second room at the inn for the night.

Even though my new room was adjacent to Avery and Charlotte’s, I didn’t like it.

I didn’t want to be away from my mate. I wanted her at my side, within eyesight, at all times. But since she wasn’t actually in any danger that we knew of—crazy prophecies notwithstanding—it didn’t make sense to smother her like that.

Especially when she didn’t want it.

I eyed the boutique again that Avery and Charlotte were perusing. Since the SF had given me a generous budget to use while researching the strange illness that plagued Avery, I’d insisted that Charlotte take my mate shopping. Avery didn’t have any clothes here. What she’d packed for our trip to the Bulgarian libraries—before the alignment—was still back in our bed chambers there, so I’d told Charlotte to let Avery purchase whatever she wanted.

Scents from a nearby café carried to me on the warm breeze. A sweet spice and a fragrant herb sparked my senses. I didn’t recognize either, which meant they were fae ingredients.

My stomach growled, but I ignored the appetizing aromas and kept my focus on Avery. She and Charlotte were currently inside a dress shop. The female fae working with them gushed over Avery’s measurements. I gritted my teeth when the shopkeeper brought out a dress with a low-cut top and fitted waist, but of course, Charlotte wholeheartedly approved.

When my mate stepped out of the changing room donned in it, with her breasts straining over the top as the colorful blend of fabrics cinched in at her waist then flared gently over her hips, I nearly came in my pants.

She was so fucking beautiful.

But then two supernatural males strolled by on the street—one a wolf and the other a fairy—and stopped to give Avery a double take. I nearly lost it right then and there.

They whispered to one another under their breaths. Thankfully, they were downwind so I didn’t catch their exact words, but I was pretty sure they were sexual comments which would have made me attack even though I was on duty.

A growl rose in my throat when they nudged each other and snickered, but then they carried on, Avery none the wiser to their apparent lewd conversation.

I slammed a hand through my hair and dipped deeper into the shadows of an alleyway. I stayed like that, hidden from view, as Avery continued trying on new clothes. I watched her, knowing I was stalking her but unable to help it.

But then the hairs on the back of my neck abruptly stood on end. Again.

I crouched and whipped around, my hand going for my concealed weapon, but—

Nobody was there.

It was the third time I’d felt that way today.

Years of training and hand-to-hand combat prickled my senses. Someone had been directly behind me, sneaking up on me even though the empty alleyway was the only thing staring back at me, the air eerily still.

The same thing had happened an hour ago, and two hours before that. My senses had tingled, alerting me to something. Yet as had just happened, nothing was there.

I inhaled, my nostrils flaring as I scented for a supernatural, an animal, or another presence, but—

Nothing.

The air was devoid of anything other than the smells coming from the shops and the supernaturals walking by on the street.

In fact, the air was too empty.

There should have been scents from the nearby garbage. A rotting fruit, similar to a plum on earth, sat on the ground next to the bin. I should have been able to detect that withering flesh, yet . . .

Nothing came from it.

I tensed, keeping my back against the building, and my hand firmly on my particle gun. Its comforting whir registered against my palm.

My wolf whined, also on edge. He’d been pacing all day, mostly about Avery, but now . . .

He agreed. Something didn’t feel right.

I inched closer to the street but kept my attention on the empty alleyway behind me.

The first time I’d detected someone, I could have said it was a fluke. The second time, maybe an unusual coincidence. But three times? No. Three times meant something was at play here, and I wasn’t one to ignore my instincts.

The ancient tome’s dire warning came back to me. Only then will we rise.

My wolf’s magic heated my skin, urging me to shift, but I didn’t. I needed fingers right now—not paws—because I needed to contact Wes.

I blurred closer to the front of the alleyway, so if an invisible assailant attacked me, he or she would have to do it in public for all of the fae and supernaturals walking by on the street to see. That would of course attract attention and get frantic calls to the Fae Guard here in the capital.

Avery had no idea about this chilling development. She still twirled in front of the shop’s mirror, exclaiming her delight at the new fitted pants and shimmery sweater she’d tried on.

I pulled out my tablet, placing a call to Wes.

It took a moment to connect, since it required intricate magic to connect to earth from the fae realm.

“McCloy,” he said by way of greeting.

“It’s Jamison. I need backup. Now.”

For a heartbeat, silence followed, then came a rapid, “What happened? Are you, Charlotte, Avery, and her parents somewhere safe?”

“We’re still okay. Charlotte, Avery, and I are in public. I don’t know where her parents are.” I kept my attention focused on every slight movement. My eyes felt gritty. The lack of sleep was catching up with me, but now wasn’t the time to grow complacent. “I’ve been feeling strange things all afternoon. I think someone’s following me.”

“Any idea who?”

“No. None. Whoever it is, I think they’re using cloaking spells. No scents. I can’t see anything, hear anything, smell anything, but something’s off. My instinct’s telling me someone’s following us.”

“We can bring you all back to headquarters. I can send portal keys.”

My jaw tightened. That meant leaving the fae realm.

An image filled my mind of Avery weak and dying. She’d weakened after spending two weeks on earth, and it was only when we’d returned to this realm that she’d been reborn. I didn’t know if returning here was what saved her, but I couldn’t risk her health again.

Who was to say transferring realms wouldn’t trigger something new. What if she weakened again? Except this time, what if we couldn’t save her? There were no imminent celestial events. I couldn’t risk that.

“No. We’ll stay here. I don’t want to risk Avery’s health. A realm transfer could trigger another downfall.”

“Copy that.” Another pause, and I knew he was sending rapid-fire messages. Whirring sounded in the background, then tapping. “I’ll send Squad Three. I’d send your squad, but we’ve had a little skirmish break out. Squad Three is my only free squad until tomorrow morning, but they won’t be able to mobilize for a few hours as they’re currently returning from a short assignment in Canada.”

“And my squad?”

“In Jakarta.”

“Shit.” I would have preferred working directly with my own squad. Having Dee Armund at my back would have been preferable, but Squad Three would have to do. And no doubt Charlotte would be happy to see them since that was her squad.

“You know the drill,” Wes said. “Keep low until they get there. I’ll send an expedited message to the king’s advisor asking for clearance for Squad Three to enter.”

I growled. “Hopefully no issues from them.” The king and queen could prove problematic when Supernatural Forces’ assignments spilled into their realm. It wouldn’t be the first time they’d denied our requests.

“Hopefully not. Considering Bavar Fieldstone is Squad Three’s commander, the king and queen may be lenient, but if they’re not you may need to contact the Fae Guard. They’re better than nothing.”

“I will if it comes to that.” But I hoped Wes was right about the king and queen allowing a quick entry since Bavar was their nephew. “I’ll need Avery’s parents out of here too. I can’t guard them if Avery’s in danger.”

“I’ll take care of it. Anything else you need?”

“No. I’ll be in touch.”

As soon as we hung up, I sent Charlotte a message. I made sure to keep out of sight, but I still kept a constant eye on Avery.

Her laugh rang out, carrying into the streets. Another dress adorned her. This one was longer but had thin straps, which highlighted her lean arms. After training with Dee for three months, her body was toned beneath her natural curves.

She was so strong now, so alive. So different from the weak shell she’d been just yesterday.

And even though Avery didn’t remember anything, her lilac scent clung to her, the fragrance as ripe as a freshly bloomed flower. And her mannerisms were the same. She still dipped her eyelashes when she was unsure, and fiddled with her hands when she was nervous.

She was still my Avery. Mine. Which meant I needed to keep her safe.

I paced on the street, no longer trying to conceal myself. Avery’s attention was on the mirror anyway, and if she saw me out here? I sighed. She may not be happy, but circumstances had changed. Staying away to please her was no longer an option.

Charlotte’s head dipped when my message finally reached her. The damn messages always took longer to reach devices in this realm.

The smile on her face disappeared. She glanced out the window, in the direction in which I’d told her I was waiting.

Her slight nod followed before she said something to Avery and then took their items to the counter.

I pushed away from the building I was leaning against when Avery and Charlotte emerged from the shop. Several bags dangled from their hands. Even though Avery was still smiling and laughing, Charlotte’s emotions now looked forced.

She did as I’d trained her to do, constantly checking her six and never letting her guard down. Still, it made me uneasy that Charlotte and I were the only SF members currently in this realm protecting Avery.

While I knew Charlotte was capable, she was also green. What was supposed to have been a low-risk assignment for a brand-new corporal had just flipped.

I stabbed a hand through my hair. Because that inexperience was something that could not only get Charlotte killed but my mate too.

At least Charlotte was taking my warning seriously. The young corporal had said something to Avery about it getting late and needing to head back. They left the shop promptly and began walking to the inn as I’d ordered Charlotte to do.

In the evening light, shadows rimmed Avery’s lower eyelids. I knew she was tired, but she still seemed sad that their shopping trip had been cut short.

My tablet buzzed in my pocket. Relief poured through me when I read Wes’s message. He’d spoken with Avery’s parents, letting them know that their daughter was retiring for the night, and that the SF needed them to return to earth’s realm.

Good. They were going back to earth.

I needed to keep Avery’s parents out of the picture. Guarding Avery with only Charlotte at my back was bad enough, but to also have Bryce and Danielle under my protection? Out of the question. I needed all of my attention on protecting my mate and protecting her only.

Despite not having slept for two days, my mind stayed sharp. I let my wolf out more, just enough to heighten my senses. My eyes glowed as they allowed me to see in the dark, and my nostrils continually flared as I searched for threatening scents.

But so far, none. And my sixth sense was no longer tingling. The other three times it had warned me that something imminent was about to happen, but now, it was calm. In other words, whatever, or whomever, I’d detected back in the alleyway had retreated.

The only scents around us now were the common aromas in the capital—spicy foods, magical metallic wards, and the hundreds of individual identifying scents of the fae and supernaturals I passed.

My chest rose when I took a deep breath and craned my neck to better assess the coming intersection. Avery and Charlotte walked ahead of me. Avery still didn’t know that I was tailing them.

My fingers tapped against my thigh as I checked my six again. Still nothing.

Even though I hated Nicholas Fitzpatrick with a passion, I was eager to get an update from him. With any luck, the gargoyles would have found more in their search to explain what had happened to my mate, and possibly to explain why we were now being followed. And with any luck, we would know if leaving this realm again was wise. If it was, I’d have Avery back at SF headquarters in a heartbeat.

It was dark by the time Charlotte and Avery returned to the inn. I’d loped silently ahead of them to first scope out the inn’s perimeter before their arrival.

It was clear.

Still, tension continued to slide along my limbs even when they both stepped over the inn’s threshold unharmed. The magical wards around the old building flared, their metallic scents of copper and iron firing before settling once again. I could only hope those wards would be strong enough to keep out whomever’d been tailing me.

“Major Jamison.” Charlotte dipped her head respectfully when we all met in the small entryway. She stood ramrod straight, her eyes sharp.

“Corporal Morris. Avery.” I greeted them, then glanced around the empty room.

All looked normal.

Avery’s cheeks flushed, and as before, she looked anywhere but at me.

My stomach tightened. “How was the shopping trip?” I asked, hoping my light question would put Avery more at ease.

“It was fine.” Her brows pinched together. “Are Bryce and Dan—I mean, my parents—back yet?”

I placed my hands on my hips. “I’m afraid not.” I paused. If Avery were a normal protectee, I would have made up a white lie as to why her parents were no longer here, but she was my mate. I couldn’t lie to her. “They’re no longer in this realm.”

Her eyes widened. “They aren’t? Why not?”

“Because I asked them to leave.”

Her lips parted. “Why would you do that?”

“My job is to guard you and you alone. It’s harder to do that if I also have to guard your parents.” Before she could ask for specific details, I nodded toward the numerous bags she and Charlotte held. “Did you get everything you needed?”

Energy crackled around Avery when we briefly made eye contact, but as she had previously, she quickly looked away. “I did. Please thank your, err, boss for me. That was very nice of him to supply me with so many clothes.”

“It wasn’t General McCloy who gave the order to take you shopping.” Charlotte arched an eyebrow. “It was Major Jamison. He said to let you get whatever you wanted.”

A flush danced up Avery’s cheeks. “Oh, um, in that case, thank you.” She took a deep breath. “Anyway, should we head upstairs?”

“This way.” I ushered Avery and Charlotte down the hall. Before I realized what I was doing, I placed my palm on Avery’s lower back, gently guiding her toward the stairs.

Her entire body stiffened, and electricity buzzed under my hand. I snatched my hand back, gritting my teeth that I could no longer touch her as my instincts screamed at me to do.

Avery gave me a side-eye, her breathing fast, then she side-stepped to put Charlotte in between us.

I locked my jaw tighter.

When we reached the end of the hall, we trudged up the stairs, me leading the way, Charlotte bringing up the rear. I tried to be subtle, but I scoped out the hall before allowing Avery to step out of the stairwell.

“It’s getting late,” I said, when we approached our doors. “Probably best to turn in.”

Avery gave me a funny look, then glanced between Charlotte and me. “Okay, I guess that makes sense since we didn’t sleep last night, but it’s kind of early, isn’t it?”

Charlotte yawned, the gesture sounding entirely genuine. She slung an arm around Avery’s shoulders. “Girl, come on. It’s been a long day.”

As before, Avery’s shoulders relaxed under Charlotte’s easygoing nature. My mate peeked over at me, her gaze lingering on my face when she thought I wasn’t looking, but as soon as I faced her, she bolted into the room.