Shadow Watcher (Darkness #6)(29)

Then it occurred to him. Sasha. She was largely off duty. Had she been able to amble through the city, as she did, with Charles and Jonas at her back, she would’ve found this shifter by now. She would’ve felt its magic, used her sixth sense, and led them all right to it. Then Stefan would’ve moved in with his forces and snatched the thing up. So easy. When working with her, everything became so easy.

He was largely off duty, too and yet he had to admit he hadn’t ventured too far because he’d wanted her close and wouldn’t lead her into any sort of danger. He couldn’t help it. She was on his mind constantly. More than ever before. Even though she was safely locked inside the Mansion, he felt panic creeping into him that he wasn’t with her. Their life was on hold for this baby, and he couldn’t say he was really beat up about one shifter running around loose.

The implications of there being something larger behind that one shifter, though…

Stefan’s phone buzzed in his pocket. He fished it out and saw a text from Charles, “Shifter out front. One got inside. Paulie checking it out.”

“There’s more,” Stefan said, a blast of panic stealing his breath. “One’s inside the Mansion.”

Everyone sprung to life. Stefan sprinted ahead with Tim right at his side.

“What kind of shifter? What’s he after?” Tim asked, ripping off his shirt.

“Charles didn’t say. Paulie, the human, is going after it. He’s good in a brawl, but he doesn’t have control over his magic.”

“Any shifter, no matter how untrained, will rip him apart.” Tim stalled to slip out of his sweats. A moment later, a blast of magic saw a human change into a huge Kodiak bear. It didn’t take long for the bear to catch up with Stefan’s guards, and even less time for it to easily overtake them.

“He lumbers along and you think he’s barely moving,” Jameson said through his rapid breathing. “Look at his speed, though.”

Wolves and a mountain lion weren’t far behind, the shifters easily faster than anything with two legs. Stefan and his crew put on a burst of speed, but they were still going to be showing up late to the party. Stefan only hoped Sasha knew to stay put.

* * *

Paulie inched into the deserted hallway. He’d seen the Watch run through a while ago. They were probably headed to fortify the front and other entrances. Charles had clearly let the Boss know about the additional shifters. That wouldn’t stop the intruder, though. Someone was already inside checking things out. Trying to figure out what the deal with these people was, probably.

He glanced into a room off the hallway. It held a few couches and chairs and a bunch of silent clan members. These were the non-essential crowd, instructed to get the hell out of the way and stay quiet so the Watch could work. They were dressed and ready for battle. Each held a dagger or a sword, and all had watchful expressions. Their gazes tracked him as he stalked by.

One room down, a million to go.

Sasha had said the shifter changed near the back of the Mansion, then went into an area close to the strategy room. Paulie was about ten feet away from that, now.

He stalked up to the strategy room and halted beside the half closed door. I’ll be damned. She was right.

This door was usually either wide open, or totally closed. There were no half measures where this room was concerned. Someone was using it, or not. No one was allowed in here but a select few, and when they discussed business, they didn’t do it so others could hear.

Paulie peered through but could only see the end of the long table where a small portion of the territory map was visible.

The territory map. That made sense. The Boss was not one to f*ck with, so he should be one to steer clear of. Staying just outside the territory would accomplish that. Then watch and wait in case any sort of opportunity presented itself.

Paulie wanted to meet whoever was in charge. He knew what the hell he was doing. Very smart.

Paulie stepped directly in front of the door, gathered his magic, and kicked. The bang sent the door tearing open. It slapped against the wall. A blond man in his mid-thirties startled. His gaze snapped up to Paulie.

“What the f*ck are you doing in here?” Paulie asked in his deep rasp. His sword lit up a deep orange. He couldn’t quite pull more to push into gold. It would have to do.

“What are you? Are you human?” the man asked with disdain. “They let you filth run around?”

“I’m half, and you’re an idiot, being that you’re human, too, dumb-shit.” Paulie put just enough spite in his voice to make it sound like that was a sore subject. Might as well let them keep their inaccurate information.

The shifter, completely nude, edged toward the window. His gaze took in the sword, and Paulie’s stance. The man grinned. “Half, huh? And reminded of it constantly. Don’t know much about that sword…”

“I know enough. For example, I know that if I stick this pointy end in your soft parts, you won’t like it much.”

With a blast of greenish magic, the flesh of the man melted. Black fur sprouted as teeth turned into canines and nails turned into claws. A large black dog with yellow eyes now stood in the corner of the room.

“A dog, huh? Jesus—a little low on that totem pole yourself. Not even a wolf, or a dingo—you’re a damn dog.” Paulie stepped closer with a swagger. In a few more feet he’d rush the animal. He could probably try a spell, but he had that same problem Sasha had experienced when she first started—he kept using the inverted spells and blowing things up. He didn’t think killing this bugger was the best approach. They needed info. A flesh wound and bindings—he’d done that a million times in his old life.