Beauty's Beast(19)

He cast her an incredulous glance, and in that instant she understood that he meant the Skinwalkers, the ones his sister had spoken of. The realization made it impossible to hold his gaze. Silence stretched. “You didn’t know?”

She shook her head, already feeling stupid. Her stomach knotted as she prepared to admit she had been spying on him. “I didn’t. Not until I overheard Aldara tell you in the woods. Vigilantes.”

He scanned her face as if assessing her answer. “That’s right. They are hunting newborns. Only they do not give them a choice. They find them. They kill them.”

Samantha shivered and then covered her face with her hands. “Why didn’t you kill me when you found me in the forest?”

“I almost did, but the Skinwalkers come in packs. You were alone.”

She kept her hands pressed to her eyes, as if this could block out the horror of his words. Here she thought she had reason to hate him. He also had reason to hate her. Enemies with only their parents’ friendship to keep them from tearing each other to shreds.

“I am so sorry and so ashamed.” Her words seemed hollow in the closed cab. She’d never felt more alone.

“Do you not think we deserve to die?” Something in his tone brought her to attention. His words were not delivered with sarcasm but something else, something more caustic. Was it self-loathing?

“Of course not. I’ll admit to being terrified of you at first. But you are quite obviously not the nightmare I was led to believe.”

“In what way?”

“You can think, for one, and feel, for another. You are loyal to your sister and your family. You protect the children.”

“I failed to protect them.”

She continued as if he had not interrupted. “You saved me from attack and you rescued the soul of an innocent creature.”

“I also killed one of my own kind.”

“Self-defense. He attacked you.”

The silence returned, filling up the cab until Samantha could not breathe in the gloom that surrounded him. Even his aura was growing darker by the minute.

“Alon, he is hunting your kind. He is killing mine. We can’t let that happen.”

He snorted.

“We have to bring your Ghost Children into the fight.”

He gave a quick dismissing shake of his head. “We? There’s no we.”

“There could be.”

“You’re a runner, little rabbit. Running all your life, you said. Now you wish to turn and fight?”

And suddenly she understood why the Thunderbirds had dropped her here with him. It wasn’t Bess she needed to find. It wasn’t to learn all she could about their enemy. It was to find Alon. Alon, the Naginoka who refused to join Nagi.

She sat back as the realization jelled in her mind. This Ghostling fought for the Balance and for Mankind. Maybe others would, as well.

He glanced at her sitting frozen against the seat.

“What’s the matter with you?”

“I—I’m not sure.” She felt nauseous as the shock and fear collided with the certainty of her realization.

He glanced out the windshield, his aura now glowing a pure silver. “Do you sense some danger?”

She shook her head.

“I won’t leave you unguarded. Not until I know you are safe.”

She knew he wouldn’t. He was a magnificent protector. The Thunderbirds could not have done better.

But his allegiance to her was transient. Would he leave her with his mother, or could she convince him to extend his protection to the impending battle?

“My family is trying to bring the Skinwalkers and Spirit Children into an alliance to stop Nagi.” She held her breath, waiting for his reply.

His laugh held no mirth. “They hate each other.”

“They hate Nagi more.”

That wiped away his sarcastic grin. “Perhaps. ‘The enemy of my enemy is my friend.’”

Sun Tzu, she realized, The Art of War. How perfect that he knew the strategies of so great a military commander.

She glanced at Alon as he drove in silence, the bunching of his jaw muscles the only indication of unrest.

“Even if you defeated his Ghostling army,” he said, “you can’t defeat his ghosts. Once they take possession of a human, even I can’t get them out. Not without killing the host, that is.”

She could. But if she told him then he would know she was a Seer. She wanted to trust Alon with her secret, but she had kept it so long, run so far. It was hard to release it to him.

“And Nagi is immortal. You can’t kill him.”

“I know it.”

“Then he’ll kill you, too. He kills anyone who tries to stop him.”

She held fast to a bravado she did not feel, lifting her chin in defiance, disregarding the worry that gnawed at her belly. “Then he’ll have to kill us all.”

“Yes. I’m sure he’s looking forward to that.”

Samantha stared at Alon, trying to decide what to do. If she told him that she was a Seer, he might abandon her or turn her over to his sire. But there was a third possibility flickering in her heart like a tiny, fragile flame. If she told him she could rescue possessed humans, heal all wounds and cast evil ghosts to the Way of Souls, could she convince him to join their cause?





Chapter 10



The ring of the incoming call made both Alon and Samantha jump. Alon glanced at the display, saw his mother’s name and number and pressed the button on the steering wheel to connect.

“Mom?”

“Alon?” It was his father’s voice. “Thank goodness. I tried the house and your cell.”

“I forgot it.”

“It only just occurred to us to try Aldara’s number in the truck. She said she left her phone in the glove box.”

Samantha flipped open the door and held up the phone.

“Has she arrived?” Alon asked.

“Yes. Safe and sound with the Beta and Gamma packs.” There was a long pause. When he spoke again his voice was a whisper. “She told us about the Deltas.”

“I’m sorry, Dad. I couldn’t stop them in time.”

“I know, son.” There was a pause and then his father cleared his throat. When he spoke again his voice held strain. “How’s Samantha?”

“Here with me. You’re on speaker.”

“Hello, Samantha. I’m looking forward to your arrival. Alon, we’re outside of Calgary at the Kootenay National Park.”

“Got it.”

“Samantha? I’ve had word from both your brother and your mother. They say that your father is alive. He’s safe.”

Samantha covered her mouth, stifling the little cry of relief. Tears sprang to her eyes.

“Samantha?” his father asked.

“She hears you, Dad.”

Samantha released the safety belt and tilted sideways, resting her head on Alon’s shoulder as she cried. He wrapped one arm about her and tucked her tight to his side.

“Oh, good,” said his father. “Nicholas located him. The Thunderbirds took him pretty far north. They’re on their way back. He was injured, but he’s all right now. I’ll let him tell you the rest. The Skinwalkers are meeting in Montana at the site of the Greasy Grass Fight,” said his father, using the old name for the Battle of Little Bighorn. “Samantha? Your brother has become a member of the Niyanoka community. He will ask to be appointed War Chief at the next council meeting. I think his chances are good. I’ll admit that I never expected them to accept him so readily. Bess says his gifts make him invaluable enough to overlook the Skinwalker half.”

What gifts did he have? wondered Alon. Was he a healer like Samantha, or was there something more?

Samantha dashed at the tears. “Thank you, Mr. Garza. Thank you so much.”

“Alon? Stay off the main roads. Keep out of the cities or anywhere a ghost might see Samantha. There is less risk driving than flying, I think. Get here as soon as you can. We’re safer together.” His father gave him directions for their meeting place and said goodbye.

Samantha moved back to her side of the cab, huddling now against the door. He waited for her to speak, but when she did not he asked the question.

“I thought Nagi hunted your mother. Why did my father caution me to keep you clear of ghosts?”

She drew a long breath and let it go. Then she faced him. Everything about her radiated the importance of what she would say. He gripped the wheel as anxiety snaked through him.

“What?” he asked.

“Do you remember when you said that Nagi would defeat us because of his ghosts, that once they take possession of a human even you can’t get them out?”

He nodded as understanding dawned. “But you can because...”

“I’m a Seer.” She wrapped her arms about herself as if huddling in a snowstorm. “I meant to tell you. But you are one of them. One of the ones hunting my family, and I was afraid.”