Black Moon (Alpha Pack #3)(37)
Returning his attention to the silver wolf, he mulled over his challenge. Kalen couldn't see ghosts like Ryon could. In order to speak with them, Kalen had to use his sorcery to call the spirit back into its former body at the grave site. He was in short supply of graves and bodies here, so that meant he'd have to improvise. And the best way to do that was with an illusion.
Ryon wouldn't know Kalen was behind what was about to go down. If he suspected, it wasn't like he'd be able to prove anything. Pretending to enjoy his eggs and bacon, Kalen concentrated. Sent out a wave of energy that drew from air and light and a touch of shadow. The composition swirled to form a tall, menacing figure draped in what appeared to be a dark cloak. The white face was blank, and it stood beside the wolf, reached out a skeletal hand and pointed a bony finger at him.
The blond was engrossed in conversation with Zan sitting beside him and at first didn't notice the eerie presence. No one else in the room could see it, except for Ryon and Kalen, who pretended he didn't.
Ryon laughed at something Zan said, and glanced to his left. When he did, he choked on his food at the sight of the cloaked creep. A thrill of satisfaction wormed through Kalen's heart, even as it shamed him. Ryon had always been pretty decent to him and-
Focus, Kalen. Make me proud.
Doubt subsiding, Kalen sent another burst of magic at his creation, animating it briefly.
"You are no good to anyone with your worthless gift," it hissed at Ryon. "Die."
Ryon immediately went white and nearly fell off his seat. "What the f**k?"
Pushing a last surge at the figure, Kalen had it rush straight at Ryon and pass right through him before disappearing. The force of it knocked the wolf to the floor, where he landed on his ass.
"Jesus, man," Zan blurted, startled. He offered his friend a hand. "What the hell was that all about?"
"Didn't you see it?" He let Zan help him up and stood by his chair, clearly rattled. Wild-eyed, he spun in place, searching every inch of the dining room for the specter.
"I didn't see crap except you falling out of your chair looking like you'd seen a ghost. You did, didn't you?"
"Yeah. Shit." He tugged at his hair in distress. "But I've never had one attack me before. I felt the damned thing go right through me."
"No way," Jax said from nearby, frowning. "You all right?"
"Yeah. Or I will be, soon as I get the image out of my head of the Grim Reaper telling me I'm worthless and to die."
This caused no little alarm among his friends, who peppered him with questions. Kalen made sure to interject a couple as well, just to throw off any suspicion. When all was said and done, the group chalked it up as a random occurrence, not that Ryon was all that convinced. Appetite gone, the man excused himself and left.
Another twinge of guilt speared Kalen's chest. He'd upset a good man for nothing other than the sheer pleasure of watching another suffer. Worse, not everyone was fooled into thinking the incident was totally "random."
Mackenzie was glaring daggers at him. His chest tightened as she stood and stalked to his table. "I want to talk to you. Alone."
Out of self-preservation, he went on the offense. "You didn't take a big enough chunk out of my hide last night? Want a knife so you can finish the job, baby?"
Leaning over, she whispered ominously in his ear, "I know what you just did. So unless you want everyone here to listen to our conversation, I suggest you come with me. Baby."
Straightening, she marched out. Fuck me.
Ignoring the curious glances directed his way, he wiped his mouth, tossed his napkin onto his plate, and followed along. She led him down the corridor, not speaking again until she pulled him into the team's empty conference room. Perching one hip on the table, she crossed her arms over her chest and gave him a look of pure disgust.
"Want to tell me what the hell that was about back there?"
Damn, she looked sexy when she got all butch like that. It was a side of his doc that didn't come out often, and it turned him on. Probably not a smart idea to point that out right now.
Giving his full attention to her, he realized she wasn't just angry-she was disappointed. She couldn't hide the emotion in her blue eyes, or the exhaustion. He wondered if she'd slept any after she'd left last night.
He cared. Even though she'd rejected him, he cared far too much about her feelings. Her well-being. The thought of Mackenzie hurting, hurt him in turn.
"How did you guess it was me?" he asked hoarsely, slumping into a chair.
"I didn't have to guess. We're mates now, remember?" she spat. "I can't read your thoughts, but every emotion in you is coming through loud and clear to me. Including your rage and your guilt."
He tensed. "Since when?"
"This morning when you came to breakfast. I started to feel all of it, right after you walked in, and I know it's coming from you. If you focus, you can probably read mine, too."
"I don't need to feel them to get that you're upset," he muttered.
"Upset?" She stared at him, incredulous. "Kalen, what you did to Ryon may seem harmless, but the intent behind the act is very serious. Why would you do something like that?"
His gaze dropped to his boots.
"My God, that Unseelie creep has an even bigger hold on you than I thought. What does he have that lures you in?" Her anger dissipated, replaced by fear, and she gasped. "You haven't become . . . intimate with him, have you?"