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Rand blinked. "It staked her?"
"Well, it was a woody plant," Cai said dryly. "Couldn't happen to a nicer vampire, promise. An army of harpies would be preferable."
Even so, his expression had darkened at the telling. Whatever his feelings about Goddard's mate, seeing her death had not been pretty, or brought much vindication before being replaced with a far more horror-stricken reaction.
Then the mask fell back in place and Cai spoke casually again. "I've said before this is a suicide mission. While I know you dig those, it will take both of us to get her out of there. Suicide-by-Trad is off the table until we save the girl. And if you die while saving her, then no one will ever know you got your heart's fondest wish."
Rand shook his head. "You like mocking the pain of others, vampire."
"Nope. I find my own pain just as hilarious. I'm equal opportunity." Cai sighed, then nudged him. "Go ahead and be a wolf. We'll get some more miles covered and see if we can stumble into the territory of your pack friend."
"Okay." Rand watched the vampire get to his feet. He could still feel Cai against him, hear the rough whisper against his ear. He curled his fingers around Cai's calf as he straightened.
"What?" the vampire asked, though his hand fell to Rand's hair, his shoulder, fingers curling in a brief stroke.
Rand shook his head. He expected the vampire could see what was in his head, the mix of emotions from what they'd just shared and what lay ahead. He'd simply wanted the contact, that one brief moment, to even things out.
And to remind Cai they stood at the starting line together.
It took several more hours, but then, between Rand's nose and Cai's night vision, they started to recognize some of the geographical features they'd discussed. Shortly thereafter, Rand came across familiar--and fresh--wolf markings. Fane.
Rand stopped, lifting his nose to scent the air. He yipped, a query. Cai heard nothing but silence in return, but like Rand, he sensed it when, a few minutes later, Rand registered that they were under scrutiny.
The big black wolf stopped again, only this time his body posture became stiffer, warier. Not openly aggressive, but prepared.
What's happening, wolf?
Not sure. Fane...feels different. Stay back.
Cai was tempted to toss out a comeback like who's afraid of the big, bad wolf? but from the wheels turning in Rand's head, Cai realized Rand wasn't worried about Fane hurting Cai. He believed the other wolf's wariness might be because Rand was in the company of a vampire, and Rand thought Cai hanging back might help the situation.
When Fane finally emerged, Cai wasn't as sure.
Fane was a gray and brown wolf. Not as big as Rand, but still a comparable size. He appeared when they reached a small open area of ground, where the wind moved the grasses so they threw finger-like shadows under the crescent moon. The same wind rippled over Fane's ruff, but otherwise, he remained stock-still. Though wolves used their noses more than their eyes, both senses seemed focused solely on Rand, not on Cai, despite Cai being visible across the clearing.
Cai squatted down next to a tree, attempting to look non-threatening. However, he watched the new wolf as closely as Fane was watching Rand. Rand's reputed friend was not projecting friendly vibes.
Rand moved forward a couple steps, ears pricked forward. Fane's tail and ears were straight up like a ramrod, and as Rand moved, Fane's lip curled, exposing glittering teeth. A rumble started in his chest.
All right, wolf. I'm being unobtrusive, but I'm not liking where this is going.
Handling this. Stay quiet.
I'm going to attribute that bossy attitude to your minimalist wolf speak and not you looking for an ass kicking.
Shut. Need focus.
Cai snorted mentally but subsided. For now.
Rand moved forward another few steps. His tail was lowered to a more horizontal position, his ears up but in more of an attitude of inquisitiveness.
Fane's growling increased, and his ears got flatter.
Rand wasn't a pussy, Cai gave him that. He curled his lip in return, offered a matching vocalization, though if Cai hazarded an interpretation, Rand's was more what the fuck, whereas Fane's was get the hell off my lawn.
Confirming it, Rand didn't press an attack, but instead sat down, then stretched out on his stomach. Though his head and shoulders were up, it was obviously a pose intended to telegraph that he wasn't here to challenge Fane's dominance. Cai recalled how Rand had done that with him in the study, and the feelings it had set off inside him.
Given the current circumstances, he didn't expect the other male to have the same reaction Cai had experienced. Fane remained wary and combative, but Rand taking the lower position seemed to reduce his aggression. He took another step into the clearing. Cai's muscles tightened, preparation if the male leaped onto Rand. He didn't think he'd moved at all, but Fane's gaze went to him, and that lip curled back again.
Yeah, you show me yours, I'll show you mine, and you can run back into the woods with your tail tucked between your legs.
Cai. Spread hands. Sit all way down.
The fuck I will.
Cai.
Cai did it. He'd already proven to Rand
how quickly he could leap up from that position, so it was more the principle of the thing than giving up a strategic advantage. Fane watched him a long minute, then his gaze returned to Rand.
Rand moved forward a few inches on his belly, and made another of those yip noises. Fane stalked over to him, and Rand cocked his head. When Fane stood over him, Rand touched his muzzle to the male's, a little nip at his chin, and then drew back. He couldn't pull off submissive, but Cai admitted he did a pretty good job of communicating non-threatening and hey, let's chat.
Then Rand bowed his head, a ripple moving over his body, that energy wave that preceded his shifting. Fane retreated a few feet, giving him the room, and Rand was there on the ground in his human form. He rolled to a one-knee position. "Come on, Fane. Talk to me. We need your help."
Fane backed up. For a second, Cai thought he'd just take off into the woods. He saw another shiver of energy go through Rand, and knew if that happened, Rand would shift, that blur of speed where flesh became fur, to give pursuit. But it turned out that wasn't needed.
Fane shifted, and now the two men faced one another.
Cai already liked Rand being naked so much of the time. Seeing two handsome shifters wearing only a wary, we-might-have-to-fight tense posture, was double the perk.
The other male was dark-skinned. He had thin dreadlocks and piercing dark eyes. His body was sculpted muscle, tight ass, semi-erect cock, probably from the mutual show of testosterone. He had long scars across his back, five score marks like a big cat had swiped at him. Perhaps a mountain lion.
Though they could converse as humans, it seemed a silent pissing contest was still in progress. Fane's brown eyes were sharp and aggressive, body angling as if he might shift again, for offense or defense.
"What's going on, Fane?" Rand said quietly. "I come as a friend."
"That remains to be seen."
Chapter Twelve
Though Rand knew it had triggered Cai's battle instincts, the brief confrontation, for the most part, was standard for shifters who hadn't crossed paths in some time. A way to confirm, "Okay, I'm still the guy you knew." Fane had a pack to protect, so unlike a human, he wouldn't accept Rand unconditionally on past experiences. Not after a two-year-plus disappearance from contact with any other shifter. A lot could change a wolf during that time period.
