Page 9 of Heart of a Dire Wolf
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Nic shifted into human. The pants tied around his neck were well named, because they brought instant sweat. He stayed crouched before Skyla’s racing-hound thin, stilt-legged wolf. She had huge ears and the warmest solid brown eyes he’d ever seen.
He held out his hand in invitation. She moved closer and leaned her head against his hand. A trace of magic brushed his skin like the caress of a silk scarf, waking his hopeful dick. Pretty much his constant state around her.
“I’m damn sure you’re my mate, and my tiger agrees. I’m sensitive to magic, but I can’t work it for shit. My mother says tigers are thick-skulled, so it might take me longer to feel the mate bond.” He thought he might be sensing it already, but maybe it was just wishful thinking. She licked his wrist. “I want a month of hot sex with you, but I’d like to get to know you, too. I’ve been hoping to find you for a long time. I want to do it right.”
She whined and moved closer, butting his thigh with her head. He stroked her shoulders through the thick mane, which felt thicker and coarser than it looked.
Another drip of sweat made him wish for something to tie up his hair. “I’m Canadian. I’ve never been this far south. The auction house probably has traps and hunters in all the nearby towns, to catch any escapees, but we need clothes and transportation. If you’ve got friends you trust in Santa Barbara, let’s go there, so we can get the hell out of here.” He blew out a noisy breath. “I don’t know where St. George, Utah is, but I’d like to go, because I promised two bobcat boys I’d check on them.”
He impulsively kissed the side of her furry snout. She shook her head and sneezed in his face. He laughed. “Okay, okay, I’m sorry. You’re not a pet dog.”
He checked the knot to make sure his sweatpants would stay around his neck. “You lead, I’ll follow.” He raised a hand to shade his eyes from the sun. “If we hear hunters, we’ll stop and hide, because they’ll be looking for runners.”
* * *
The night was warmer than it had a right to be as Nic-the-tiger padded silently through Santa Barbara’s well-kept botanic gardens. The fat crescent moon provided enough light for his tiger’s eyes to follow Skyla along the tended trails. Her slender wolf looked almost spectral as she led the way to the small stand of California redwoods at the north end of the park.
In other circumstances, he would have reveled in an afternoon’s mountain run with his mate, getting to know the wolf side of her. She’d kept her humor despite all she’d been through, and her playful wolf amused his tiger. He might even have taken in stride the appalling heat and the newly unstable ground. However, the real threat of being shot with a high-powered rifle or caught in one of several traps they’d nearly triggered ruined any pleasure in it. So far, they’d outpaced the hunters, who were flying expanding spiral patterns in their helicopters, but that wouldn’t last.
He hadn’t seen much of Santa Barbara itself, except for closely-spaced Spanish-style houses on steep, terraced slopes, and yards full of exotic dry and potted wet-climate plants. The citizens seemed to take great delight in driving compact cars as fast as they could on the city’s narrow, twisty residential roads.
No one had given them a second glance as they walked in twilight, him wearing only filthy sweatpants and pilfered sandals, and her as a “dog” beside him. He talked to her when he could, telling her what he knew about the auction house, and guessed about the hunters who might be after them. He hoped the sheer number of escapees overwhelmed the local resources, and he worried that he couldn’t find even a wisp of a connection to the bobcat brothers. The magic that seemed to be an inherent part of Skyla kept him constantly aware of her, constantly wanting.
The garden trail dipped down and around into a noticeably darker section. A glance up explained why—the tall redwoods blocked most of the moonlight. He crouched down on the asphalt as Skyla’s wolf form vaulted over the railing and into the low-growing plants. She snuffled, taking in scent, then picked her way toward one of the huge trunks. Between one moment and the next, she became a human, kneeling at the base of the tree, the other hand touching the bark. He’d never known anyone who could shift that fast. Or keep their clothes.
“Guardian Ivylandi Hellica, I give you greeting,” she said quietly.
A capricious breeze brought a frisson of unfamiliar magic that tickled his fur. The tree bark seemed to warp outward and morph into a separate human-like shape. The bark faded from the skin to reveal a naked, spiky-green-haired, multi-pierced woman with glowing tattoos. He’d never met any dryads before, so had no idea if she’d stand out or blend into a swarm of them.
Another breeze of magic, and wispy, glowing orbs rose from the ground cover to light the area. “Sky!” She pulled Skyla to her feet for a hug and a kiss. “You’re back!”
“Not really.” Skyla hunched a shoulder. “I…” She looked to Nic, then back. “Weneed a huge favor, and it might be dangerous.”
The dryad grinned and gave Nic a lascivious wink. “If it’s as dangerous as Mr. Long and Stripey, I hope there’s more where he came from.”
Skyla shook her head. “I’m serious, Ivy. Very bad people want us. Hunters, maybe wizards. If they find out you helped us, they might hurt you or your babies.”
Ivy’s tattoos blazed red, reminding Nic of his mother’s oft-repeated admonition to never, ever cross a dryad, not even if the tree was a perfect scratching post. Ivy’s voice dropped an octave and became gravel and flame. “They will die.”
Nic-the-tiger switched his tail, wanting to answer the challenge and protect his mate.Down, boy. No fighting with mate’s friends.
Skyla patted Ivy’s arm soothingly. “I hope it doesn’t come to that, but it was only fair to tell you the risks. Can we borrow your old truck for a few days or a week?”
Ivy’s tattoos faded to gold and black again, and her voice returned to normal. “Sorry, it’s in the shop. How about my old hybrid?” She shrugged. “It’s cantankerous as hell, but maybe it’ll do better for you.”
“If it won’t leave you stranded. How about I buy it from you?” Skyla’s mouth pursed in a frustrated frown. “Except I can’t pay you until I get my life straightened out.”
Ivy waved dismissively. “I’ve got the motorcycle, and I know you’re good for the money.”
The faraway sound of a helicopter had Nic rising to four feet and listening intently.
“Deal,” said Skyla. “Where is it parked?”
“In the visitor lot, next to the Gardens’ van.” Ivy knifed a hand into the tree trunk beside her, and came back with a bejeweled key, which she handed to Skyla. “I’ve given you ownership. Say your full name as you turn the key in the ignition, and the onboard computer should behave. You can authorize your furry boy-toy, too.” Ivy put her hands on her slender hips and smirked. “I expect a detailed report on the sexy times when you get back.”
“I promise, and thank you.” Skyla hugged Ivy tightly for a long moment, then stepped back and shifted into her wolf form in the blink of an eye.
