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Meredith managed a small smile. “Determined as always.” She tugged Brandy into a hug. “Should have known a regular man wouldn’t be enough for you. You need one that can turn into a wolf and piss off goddesses. You do like a challenge.”
“And fortunately I come from a long line of kickass bitches.”
“Damn straight.” Meredith kissed her on the forehead. “You get Reardon and get both your asses back here. We’ll all be waiting.” She motioned behind Brandy with her arm.
When Brandy turned around, all the sanctuary’s wolves were fanned out in a semi-circle in front of the house. That was strange enough to witness—again—but what really got Brandy was that she could feel… something. Wolf energy, maybe? Pack power? Canine courage? She couldn’t quite put her finger on it, but she definitely sensed that her wolves approved of her mission to get Reardon back.
After giving Meredith another squeeze, Brandy set off into the woods to the place Flidae had indicated. The rest of the wolves followed behind her, Lug and Midir in the lead and often rubbing against her.
“Am I back to being Alpha now that Reardon’s gone?” She scratched Lug between the ears then rubbed Midir’s nose.
When she reached the section of fence where Reardon had been found on the other side, the wolves each took a turn nuzzling her.
“You guys keep an eye on things here. I’m counting on you.”
Brandy climbed the chain link fence and hopped down to the other side. She stood in the general area where she’d found Reardon and turned in a circle.
“Not sure where the door is, Flidae?” What was she supposed to be looking for?
A moment later, all the wolves let loose howls that made Brandy’s skin prickle. A bright bolt of lightning crashed down to the ground and the woods around her were gone.
****
Reardon’s head still hurt so when the thunder boomed and the lightning crackled right inside the stone cell, he howled and covered his head yet again with his paws. When the echoing stopped, he considered staying like that until Flidae left.
“Reardon?” But it wasn’t Flidae who’d called his name.
His eyes shot open and he immediately got to all fours, straining at the golden rope tethering him and trying desperately to get to Brandy who was now in the cell too. He barked in an attempt to yell at her. Yell at her to run away from this place.
I need to shift.He’d never been so frustrated.
Brandy took a step closer, but Flidae got in her path.
“I’m not ready to let you touch him,” the goddess said. “And the only rules we are playing by are mine.”
“What a surprise.” Brandy folded her arms across her chest and turned her blue gaze to Flidae. “Why don’t you tell me how this is going to work so we can get on with it?”
Flidae glanced back at Reardon, who was still pulling on the leash and barking. “You actually want this beast?”
“Yes, I do,” Brandy said. “Very much. I happen to love beasts. I’ve made a career out of caring for them, and the one you’re holding prisoner right now is my favorite. I’d like him back.”
Brandy looked around Flidae, and when Reardon saw her face, he stopped barking. He knew he must look a sight. Spittle no doubt dripping from his mouth. His fur standing on end along his back. His claws extended and scraping the stone floor of the cell. He’d nearly lost all sense of civility.
But one look at Brandy’s face brought him back from the edge. She’d come for him, though it was at great risk to her own life. He meant enough to her that she was willing to face—and sass—a powerful Celtic goddess on her own terrain. Damn, was there anything sexier?
“That’s all that is on your mind, wolf? How physically appealing she is?” Flidae spat the words at him and her wrath grew. Again. He couldn’t have her angry now though. Not with Brandy here.
No. I’m also thinking of her bravery, loyalty, kindness…
“Lug and the others say hello,” Brandy said. “Silver Moon isn’t the same without you, Reardon.”
Oh, how he loved her.
“He hasn’t been gone long enough to be missed.” Flidae’s disgust multiplied before Reardon’s eyes.
“Reardon became an important part of our lives in wolf form. We love him as we love all our wolves.” Brandy shook her head. “Actually that’s not true. My son and I love himmorethan our other wolves. We knew right from the start he wasn’t quite like the others.”
“This is true. He’s selfish, greedy, brutal. A killer,” Flidae said.
