Alexander’s body slumped and she knew he’d do what she needed him to do. Thank heavens. ‘Come on,’ she urged. ‘You must go now.’ She stood up and turned to the door but before she could step towards it, Chester Longchamps reappeared.
‘Alan couldn’t find any wolfsbane but that’s alright because he’s gone one better.’ He displayed the crossbow in his arms. ‘It’s been a while since I fired one of these but I’m pretty sure I remember how to do it. And look!’ He grinned coldly. ‘Silver bolts. These will kill a werewolf stone dead, so I guess we’ll know the truth of the matter either way in about three seconds’ time.’
Oh God. Fear ripped through Mallory. She began moving towards him. As he raised the crossbow and aimed, she panicked and threw herself at him, knocking the crossbow to the side at the very moment he fired.
Time seemed to slow. She was aware of the silver bolt leaving the crossbow, and she was aware of the air rushing past her as it flew by her ear. And she was very aware of Alexander’s howl of pain as it slammed into his flank and he collapsed.
He was already on the floor writhing in agony as she ran to his side. In truth it was little more than a flesh wound but the silver would be seeping into his blood and poisoning him.If he didn’t receive medical treatment very soon he would die. Horribly.
And Chester Longchamps was already re-loading the crossbow and preparing to fire again. ‘You made me miss,’ he spat. ‘That won’t happen again.’
No. She had to stop him. She couldn’t allow a world where Alexander MacTire didn’t exist.
‘He’s definitely a fucking werewolf.’ Longchamps sniffed derisively. ‘He wouldn’t be in such agony right now if he weren’t. But you were right that it’s not the full moon so that means this bastard is strong – likely an alpha, probably from one of the more powerful wolf packs. The Fergusons, perhaps. Or the Stewarts.’
He paused. ‘I heard rumours a while back about the MacTires, and their alpha in particular. I didn’t believe them at the time.’ He smiled nastily. ‘Well, well, well. It appears those rumours were true.’ He reloaded the crossbow and pointed it in Alexander’s direction.
Mallory felt sick. ‘Stop!’ she said, her voice ringing out. She’d kill Chester Longchamps before she’d let anything else happen to Alex, even if shewasjust a squib and even though the vampire could snap her neck before she managed to even bruise him. ‘Don’t shoot. You can’t do that.’
The vampire laughed. ‘I can. This is my home, my domain. I can do whatever I want.’
‘I will release you from all your contractual obligations to me if you let the wolf go.’ The words fell out of her mouth in desperation. ‘No favours and no secrets.’
‘No fucking Clouded Map either,’ Longchamps spat. ‘He destroyed my only chance of getting hold of it by destroying that jug.’
That wasn’t actually true because Alexander hadn’t smashed the jug, but Mallory wasn’t going to argue about it, not right now.
‘Handy for you that we closed the contract only moments ago,’ Longchamps continued. ‘One might almost think you planned for this to happen.’
Hardly; she hadn’t told him to throw the damned jug at Alexander. ‘Our contract is officially over, but if you let this go I will get another bellarmine jug for you.’
‘How?’
‘I will find a way. Just give me time.’
Alexander’s breath was already ragged, his eyes were closed and he appeared to have lost consciousness. Mallory started to shake with fear for him. ‘I will get you what you need free of charge. I promise.’
‘And if you don’t?’ Longchamps sneered.
‘Then my blood is yours,’ she said simply. ‘You can drain me of every drop.’
‘You’re just a squib. Why would I want your blood?’
‘Chester,’ she pleaded, ‘nobody else can find you a bellarmine jug. You know I’m your best chance. It’s only March and we have until August. Give me another eight weeks then you’ll still have the entire summer to use the Clouded Map. There’s still time.’ She tried to keep her voice steady. ‘You know there’s nobody else who can help you. Let me do this.’
‘Why do you care so much about one wolf? Werewolf, or otherwise?’
Because I love him, she thought. But she only stared at the vampire and said one word: ‘Please.’
He stared back with hard, unfeeling eyes. ‘Four weeks.’
Mallory swallowed. What if that wasn’t enough time? ‘Six. Just in case.’
‘Fine,’ he muttered. ‘But if you don’t come up with the goods by then, I’ll drink you dry.’ He pointed at Alexander. ‘And then I’ll find this bastard and end him, too.’ He laughed. ‘Assuming the MacTire alpha lives beyond the end of today, that is.’
He lowered the crossbow. ‘Now all of you need to get out of my fucking house.’
Chapter
