Born of Fire

Chapter 2

Kenna fumbled with the straps on Sadie’s booster seat as Ben gently helped Charlotte into a more comfortable position in the limo. She swore under her breath until Ben leaned over to help lengthen the god-forsaken strap that wouldn’t reach around the girl.

Wasn’t the seat used this morning? She couldn’t possibly have grown in the last two hours, right? She let out a string of swear words in her head and gave thanks that she was too old to be subjected to this torture contraption.

She hugged the girls and felt a grin spread across her face at Sadie’s constant chatter.

“You’re going to visit us, right? We have lots of games to play and I’m really good at Mario Kart,” she said, barely taking time to breathe.

“I would never miss a game of Mario Kart,” Kenna vowed. “We can take turns kicking Ben’s butt.”

“You can try,” he said, and Sadie giggled.

“She said ‘butt’.”

Ben laughed. “Yes, and so did you.” He bent low to hug each girl affectionately, kissing each on their head. Pain filled his eyes when he touched Charlotte’s bald head. She wondered how tight a hold they had on his heart to cause him such grief at their pain.

“Those two are a riot,” she said, watching the limo pull away. She hadn’t known she liked children.

“I love those kids. I wasn’t a praying man before I met them,” he said.

Her grin fell at the concern etched into his handsome face.

“Charlotte,” she said. “How bad is it?”

“Not good.” He stared at the car as it moved farther away, his expression distant, then cleared his throat and grinned.

“C’mon, I’ll give you a tour of the place.”

She stiffened when he rested his hand on the small of her back and led her toward the hotel. He was still trying to act as though he were in charge. They were both feeling a little depressed right now, but giving in just a little might cheer him up. She could get even for it later.

He took her through the lobby back to the kitchens where the workers were busy cleaning up after the gala. Laura was speaking with one of the chefs when she caught Ben and Kenna looking at her. She barked some orders at the chef and a few of the waiters and walked toward them.

“Cleanup is running smoothly and I’ll be bringing the donations to the bank myself…” Kenna zoned out a little as the woman talked on for a few more moments. She eyed some leftover appetizers and walked over to them.

The beautiful red-haired server glared at her when Kenna picked up a plate but nodded her consent when she pointed at the stuffed mushrooms. She popped one in her mouth and picked up a few more before wandering over to the leftover chicken from the fajitas. She always got hungry before a fever and she figured she had only two or three hours before she was shivering in bed.

She carried her plate over to Ben as he finished his conversation. He led her out the doors onto a back patio where the employees took their smoking breaks. The red-headed server was talking to one of the children who must have lingered. The poor girl’s arms were covered in scars and cuts and Kenna wondered at the girl’s pitiful situation. Speaking of situations…

“I need to tell you about my problem,” she said, cutting him off as he talked about the different activities they offered at the resort. His scowl faded at being interrupted when he looked at her. She must already be paler than before to warrant such concern.

He nodded and led her toward the new pool house currently under construction, and plopped a large white helmet over her head before they walked in.

“This is on the way back to your room,” he said.

Moons and stars were the theme of the house’s décor. The large glass ceiling, modeled after the one in the lobby, depicted the various phases of the moon. The pool was one large circle and the hot tub framed it in a crescent shape. Both are currently empty, except for small bits of debris from the construction. She made up her mind to make a return visit and see this place in all its intended glory should things work out with her illness.

“This is beautiful,” she told him.

“A female in my pack designed it for me. She’s very talented.”

“Another lover?” He laughed at her frown. Damn, she didn’t want him to think she was jealous.

“Something like that.” He said as he led her back to the hotel.

He talked of the caves frequented by tourists just south of the hotel. He offered to take her, but she didn’t make any promises. She wasn’t a fan of enclosed spaces.

They returned to the room from earlier and she invited him to sit down on the tiny chair in his own hotel. She had to give him kudos for hiding his irritation, finally enjoying their little power-struggle game now that she was winning.

“Tell me about this problem of yours.” Her hackles rose at the demanding tone in his voice, but she ignored it. This was why she came here after all.

“For the past few months I’ve been getting horrible fevers, they come on suddenly and I’m incapacitated for hours.”

He frowned. “How often do you get these fevers?”

“They’re random, anywhere from once a week to several a day. I can usually feel them coming on, like now. I’m extra hungry and my legs are feeling shaky.” She hated telling this strange wolf about her weaknesses. She only hoped it would be worth it.

“You’re obviously in heat, but the fevers are usually minor. They don’t last longer than a few days, either.”

She hadn’t thought of that. It could be why her mystery fevers were worse this week. The slight rise in body temperature was nature’s way of letting the female werewolf know she was ovulating and ready for impregnation. Unlike what was depicted in popular books and movies, being “in heat” didn’t usually leave them as wanton s*x machines. Sure, she had a higher s*x drive, which explained her sudden impulses to shag a strong Alpha, but it was manageable. Being a werewolf was about controlling your impulses. When you want to, of course.

“Have you been to a Healer?” Ben asked.

“Yes, he said this was connected to my magic. That’s all he could tell from his spell.”

“Jacob seems to think this is somehow connected to your parents. He doesn’t know who they are and he was very vague about how he came to adopt you.”

She was surprised Jacob would have talked to the Alpha on her behalf, let alone inform him about her adoption. He’s the one who told her that it was against werewolf politics to use a middle man.

“I called him, I like to research visitors to my territory before I allow them entry.”

“So you already knew about my predicament? Why are you asking me so many questions?” She frowned at him.

“I’ll learn more by hearing about your situation first hand.” He stroked an imaginary beard as he thought. It made her wonder if he had recently shaved the goatee he wore in his picture. “I know almost every werewolf in the states, he’s right that I’ve the best shot to help you. We’ll have to start by finding your parents. What do you know?”

“Not much, really. Jacob and his partner in the Guard were on assignment in Nebraska when they found me. They saw a woman trying to stab me with a funny looking dagger.” She pulled the dagger out of her purse to show him, the green jewel glinting in the light that poured through the open window.

“They ruled out the few werewolves in the area as my birth parents and took me back to the Training ground in Norway. Jacob adopted me when I was five and I’ve lived there my whole life.”

“Why didn’t they turn you in to the local Alpha as is protocol?”

“They’ve never really given me a straight answer. All I could gather was they felt it unsafe to leave me near the person who tried to kill me. That, and I think my dad grew attached.” She smiled at the memory of his stories. He had told her many times that she peed on him when they had found her and he had been the only one who could quiet her down. She suspected from the faraway look in his eyes that he didn’t mind.

He was still examining the dagger when she finished speaking. He fingered the bird-shaped emblem with the ruby and emerald eye sockets, and handed it back to her.

“I don’t like that the Council would blatantly ignore the rules, attachment or not. Any one of the Alphas on this continent would have taken you in and protected you.”

“Don’t let them hear you say that,” she warned, glancing around though she knew they were alone. “The rules are for us to obey.” Not that she was a complete stickler for the rules, but the slightest suspicion of dissent could land someone in hot water these days. Ben was probably safer than most with his brother being on the Council and all, but she didn’t want to risk him getting hurt.

“Uh huh,” he grunted and handed back her dagger.

“I’ll have the local Healer come take a look at you. He’s a werewolf and will have a greater understanding of your physiology. You’ll have to wait to meet with a Historian. The Council issued a protection lockdown for all of the Slekt. No one is to leave their homes or travel the area without a Guard escort. “

“Why? What’s going on?” Only in extreme circumstances would the Council issue such an order.

“There have been a few murders of our Get in the last few weeks. You were only allowed to travel here because Jacob has some pull with the Council.”

“Why didn’t anyone tell me about this? Why didn’t Jacob tell me?” She knew the answer to the last question. He probably did try to talk to her about it, but she refused his calls.

“I’m telling you.” She frowned again, that wasn’t an answer to her question. “You’re my responsibility while you’re here. I don’t want you wandering about town.”

She fully intended on telling him where to stick his responsibility when she felt a wave of vertigo wash over her. She closed her eyes tight as a haze of fog filled her vision. It eased a little and she stood shakily.

“I have to get back to my hotel,” she said and swayed, nearly falling to the ground. Strong arms supported her at the elbows and she felt Ben lower her back onto the loveseat. She tried counting in her head until the dizziness passed. A cold wash cloth was being set onto her forehead, followed by bitter pills being pushed into her mouth and a cup held to her lips.

A part of her didn’t want his help after he had challenged her earlier. Yet she relaxed under his attention. It was nice to let someone else look after her since she and Jacob had argued. She would show her adoptive father that she could track down her own answers. He didn’t have to hold her hand anymore. She could help the Alpha figure out who’s killing people and he would owe it to her to help her.

“I’m not leaving,” she said. “I can help you find the killer.”

“I don’t need help. Taking care of the people here is my responsibility.” He gently touched a cold hand to her forehead. “You would need some damn good resources to be of any use in your condition.”

“I was raised by Jacob Erickson.” She weakly turned her head a little to lift an eyebrow at him.

“I’ll give you a week.”

***

The light beneath her should have blinded her, but it was the darkness of the sky above that seared her vision. She was on the same beach as the last time she hallucinated, and the time before that. She always came here in her fever dreams. The realness of this place both frightened and delighted her curiosity.

She bent and dug her fingers into that soft sand, her tan skin stood out in contrast to the white around her. Everything was crystalline and white, except for the vast ocean that appeared to be made entirely of fire. Blue and white flames licked the shore like water and lit the world around her though the land glowed with a light of its own.

It was this fiery ocean that frightened the Catholic raised woman. She uttered a prayer for forgiveness in case she had unwittingly done something that hell itself would seek her out. She reached out to God in a desperate plea to return to herself. She just wanted to be home.

With that thought came an agonizing cold on her forehead and she squinted her eyes in pain. Soothing words answered her whimpers and the pain eased as she slowly gained consciousness. She woke to Ben’s relieved expression, and realized she was lying on the bed in only her underwear. She tended to soak through any clothing during her fevers and he must’ve removed them for fear of her overheating. While necessary, it seemed a little pervy.

“You had me worried,” he said with a nervous laugh. “You prayed for God to deliver you from this hell. I’m not that bad of company, am I?”

She smiled and wished she could think of a clever retort. “It was a dream. There was a lake of fire.”

“Don’t you worry about that lake of fire. We’re going to figure out what’s going on. There’s no need to pray for Heaven yet. Besides, you’ve still got some sinning to do.” He winked and she hoped she didn’t blush.

“Why don’t you rest up and shower and I’ll get some work done in my office. When you’re feeling up to it we’ll go check out the location of one of the murders. Hopefully you can find something we missed.”

A few hours of sleep and a hot shower later and she felt good as new.

A short while later, they pulled behind a vacant grocery store. Ben sat there for a minute or two as he looked at the empty loading area before them. He rubbed his eyes and looked over at her. “Here we are. This is where the latest victim was killed. The building across the canal over there is where her office is located. I’d like you to sniff around and see if we find the same scent.”

He pulled a black lacy bra out of his briefcase and she raised an eyebrow. “This belonged to the victim.”

“Yes,” he said in answer to the look she gave him, then his expression grew serious. “We were lovers.”

She wanted to roll her eyes, but he was obviously upset at the woman’s death. He turned to give her privacy as she began to remove her clothing. She could learn a lot more on four feet instead of two. She folded her underwear into her jeans and t-shirt so he wouldn’t see the granny panties she was currently wearing. They were the only clean ones she had. She suspected he would never let her live it down if he saw them.

As soon as she stood naked, she began her change. The hair on her head receded into her scalp as fur spread over her body. Her back legs shortened and twisted and she fell to all fours, stretching out the muscles until they accommodated her unsteady limbs. The change was almost fluid as her body shifted into her lupine form.

His voice was steel and serious as he spoke. “There were two other deaths before Mrs. Harris; an elf and a were-lion.” So his lover was married to someone else, she huffed. She lowered her nose to the ground and nudged the pebbles and dirt with her nose in search of a scent.

“All three victims were mauled to death. It looked like a werewolf kill. I’ve already questioned all of my people, none of them are responsible.”

She stopped near the wall of the store, a few yards from where the body was found. Her nose detected a hint of magic and her fur stood on end. She grew up at the Guard training center, around every type of magic user imaginable and knew their scents, yet she couldn’t place this one.

She knew she had scented something similar before, but couldn’t remember. She stood there with her nose to the ground hoping to jog her memory, but walked back towards Ben when nothing came.

“You found the strange scent, too.” He looked over to where she had scented the strange magic. “I’ve never smelled anything like that before.” He frowned and turned toward her. “You have a similar scent, but somehow… cleaner.” A light went off in her head, it was the same thing she smelled during her fevers.

“Admittedly, I suspected you when you first showed up. I called Jacob, and he said I hadn’t left Norway until a week ago. The murders started three months ago.” So that’s the real reason he was so willing to let her stick around.

She walked over to the car and changed back into human form and stood there naked for a moment. She was lost deep in thought until the wind changed direction and she scented him.

“Look out!” she shouted.

Ben went onto the defensive and dodged the werecougar that had attempted to turn his jugular into kibble. Kenna took their moment of distraction to return to wolf form and ran toward the two. His eyes were glazed over and he didn’t attack like a seasoned hunter, though he was full grown. Ben was trying not to hurt the werecougar and stepped out of the defensive posture, standing tall and authoritative.

“That’s enough, Frank.” Ben’s voice was deep and the force of his command sent shivers through her body. If they weren’t evenly matched she might’ve crapped herself. Poor Frank.

The werecougar stilled but didn’t drop to his belly and grovel at his Alpha’s feet like she had expected. His eyes were glossed over and feral though he stared at his master. He made no indication that he would submit.

“I don’t want to kill you. This is your last warning, Frank.” Ben made no threatening gestures and kept his hands at his sides and his eyes on the cougar. To the untrained eye he looked relaxed, but he kept his balance steady on the balls of his feet, ready for attack.

For a moment she thought his warning worked, but the cougar pounced lightning fast. One moment he was standing there and the next he was lying dead at his Alpha’s feet.

Ben knelt and stroked the cougar’s fur for a long while, his eyes brimming with sadness and loss. He stood and lifted the cat into his arms.

“Change,” Ben commanded and she growled. He looked down at her and her bristles lowered. The scent of his emotions clouded around him and she nodded her head in understanding. Here was a man who had just killed someone he was charged with protecting and he was barely keeping it together. She walked around to the passenger side of the car and began her change while Ben tucked the body into the backseat and covered him with a spare blanket.

“I’ve never killed anyone in my life,” she admitted while she dressed. “I was assigned my role by the Council, I can’t really be challenged for it.” Pummeling those who found her unworthy of her position wasn’t the same thing.

“I hope you never have to kill.”

Ben rested his elbows on the top of the car and laid his head on his arms.

“I’ve known Frank since I was a little pup. He taught me to ride a bike.”

“I’m sorry for your loss. Do you think this means you found your killer?”

“No, I don’t think so. At the very least, I don’t think he was working alone. We have yet to account for what we scented earlier.” He lifted his head and stared at her thoughtfully. She raised her eyebrow, wondering if he was wanting another fight so soon after the last one.

“What is that look for? Am I a suspect?” He laughed.

“It wouldn’t take a psychic to know you’re not responsible, even without your alibi, Kenna. You’re one of the most naïve and innocent people I’ve ever met.” She balled her fists up at the insult. “Yet you’re somehow connected. Bringing you here… it’s just a gut feeling I have.” She wanted to argue, but was having the same impression as well.

She opened the car door and hurriedly buckled herself in. They rode in silence for a long while until at last he sighed and glanced at her.

“I didn’t mean to insult you. I just wanted you to know where things stood.”

“I know.” She relented and thought about what he said. “I have the same feeling.”

They returned to their silence until they pulled up in front of the hotel. Then a thought occurred to her.

“Did you say the killings started three months ago?”

He nodded.

“That’s when my fevers started.” She peered at him in the darkness. Fear crept through her chest and she knew he saw her alarm..

He considered her words. “I think I should take you to my Healer tonight.”

“What do you think this means?”

“I don’t know yet. I’m hoping he will be able to come up with some answers.”