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“Morning. Nora’s gone. I mean, she’s not gone, she left. Shit, that isn’t what I meant, either.”
“Not to worry. I know what you mean. Do you need any help with the blood packet? I put together a little kit with the packet and some good adhesive. This will work and will give us a real leg up on the League.”
“I’m good. I thought I’d put it on once I got to the bakery. There are places in the back of the kitchen where I can’t be seen.” Colby nodded and handed the small leather pouch to Hutch. Hutch started to leave and then stopped. “She means to kill him, doesn’t she?”
“I think so. Wouldn’t you? It will throw the League into a tizzy, and both of you will be safer if he’s dead. Does it bother you?”
“What? That she's killed? No. She did what she had to do to survive, and from what little time we’ve had to talk, it sounds like she never killed anyone who didn’t deserve to die or who wasn’t trying to kill her. The Master is a sick bastard, and the world will be a better place without him.”
“Agreed. I just wanted to make sure you’re all right with this. It isn’t an easy thing to send your mate into danger.”
“You sound like a man who knows what he’s talking about firsthand.”
Colby nodded. “I do. So never doubt that I don’t know what we’re asking of you—both of you. If I thought there was another way, even if I didn’t think it was a better way…”
“I know, but we both know there isn’t. This is the best shot we have at taking out the Master.”
“For what it’s worth, the legends say that there are few ways to kill a dragon. One is to lop off its head, which isn’t practical. The other two ways involve weapons made of obsidian. One is to pierce the heart or brain. Or alternatively, you can open them up with a weapon made of obsidian—what they once called dragon glass. I had two knives fashioned out of the stuff—a smaller one that will do the cutting and a stiletto that would do the stabbing. I made sure she had them and the retractable knife she requested.”
“Thank you, Colby, for everything. I doubt at this stage many people know how involved you are or the debt we all owe you, but one day they will.”
Colby smiled. “Even if they don’t, it will be worth whatever the cost. The threat of the Shadow League has loomed over all of us for too long. It should have been dealt with long ago. They will not prevail. It will take us time and blood, but in the end, good will conquer evil.”
“Spoken like a true believer.”
Hutch turned and headed out the door, not really surprised that his SUV was waiting for him. Nor was he surprised when he realized one of Colby’s men was lying down in the back. It seemed that the lynx-shifter meant to keep him safe. If only he could do the same for Nora.
* * *
There was something about kneading bread that seemed to soothe the soul—it wasn’t something you could do mindlessly lest you over-develop the gluten, resulting in bread that was tough and chewy. But when done correctly, you developed a rhythm that allowed your mind to rest.
Just before opening the store, he stepped into the back where no one could see him even if they were peering into the bakery, and he attached the baggie filled with a red substance he hadn’t really wanted to question.
The morning seemed to fly by, and he answered seemingly endless questions about the lack of Nora’s presence. It allowed him to build the scenario of the jilted lover who wasn’t handling her defection well. Not knowing how she would play it, he left doubt about who was actually at fault.
As the morning rush built to its crescendo, he could feel her presence as she neared the bakery. She maneuvered her way through the crowd. He could feel the people moving out of her way and could feel the fear and tension in her, running down the link. Masking his face into a hard line, he purred to her down the link. He trusted her to know what she was doing. She need have no fear. The strain and worry seemed to abate somewhat as she moved in for the ‘kill.’
“Bastard,” she snarled as she pounced.
No need for dialogue. Short, sweet, and to the point. She rammed the knife forward into the blood baggie with enough force that it made him gasp. People were screaming and trying to come at her as the blood began to flow from beneath his sweater.
“You stabbed me, you bitch,” he snarled as he dropped to his knees and placed his hand over the ‘wound.’
“I’ve done more than that, Hutchinson; I’ve killed you.”
Hutch pitched himself forward, resisting the impulse to break his fall with his hands. The last thing he saw before closing his eyes was Jax Miller wrapping his arms around her and wrestling the knife from her grasp.
“Doc?” Jax growled.
“Right here. I need room. Derek, get everyone out of here and keep them out.”
“Derek, cuff her and take her down to the jail. Put her in a cell and keep her there. One of you go with him. I don’t need her getting to anyone else today. I’ll bring the knife with me when I come.”
“What the hell is going on?” growled Colby from the street as he made his way inside.
“Colby,” said Jax, “keep these people under control and out of here. Derek, get that woman into a cell, now! Then send someone with a stretcher and a body bag.”
There wasn’t a person in town who didn’t know Jax was a Kodiak grizzly shifter. It was one of the reasons he and Derek could so easily keep the peace. Derek and some of the other townsfolk helped Derek wrestle Nora down the street while Colby pushed everyone outside and closed the door behind them.
