THE SCENT
Book 2 of the Bryn and Sinjin series
HP MALLORY
Copyright © 2015 by H.P. Mallory
Smashwords Edition
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews. Please do not participate in or encourage the piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author’s rights. Purchase only authorized editions.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, brands, media, and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of various products referenced in this work of fiction, which have been used without permission. The publication/use of these trademarks is not authorized, associated with, or sponsored by the trademark owners.
CONTENTS
CHAPTER ONE
CHAPTER TWO
CHAPTER THREE
CHAPTER FOUR
CHAPTER FIVE
CHAPTER SIX
CHAPTER SEVEN
CHAPTER EIGHT
CHAPTER NINE
CHAPTER TEN
CHAPTER ELEVEN
CHAPTER TWELVE
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
ALSO BY HP MALLORY:
THE JOLIE WILKINS SERIES:
Fire Burn and Cauldron Bubble
Toil and Trouble
Be Witched (Novella)
Witchful Thinking
The Witch Is Back
Something Witchy This Way Comes
THE DULCIE O’NEIL SERIES:
To Kill A Warlock
A Tale Of Two Goblins
Great Hexpectations
Wuthering Frights
Malice In Wonderland
For Whom The Spell Tolls
Eleven Snipers Sniping (Short Story)
A Midsummer Night’s Scream (Coming Soon!)
THE LILY HARPER SERIES:
Better Off Dead
The Underground City
To Hell And Back
THE PEYTON CLARK SERIES:
Ghouls Rush In
Once Haunted, Twice Shy
THE BRYN AND SINJIN SERIES:
Sinjin
The Scent
For my son who makes my world a very happy place.
Acknowledgements:
To my mother: Thank you for all your support and love.
To my son: Thank you for always putting a smile on my face. You are my universe!
To Lenny: I love you more than you will ever know.
To Evie: Thank you for being such a wonderful beta reader! I appreciate you so much!
ONE
The pounding in my head had everything to do with the fact that Luce, the leader of my tribe, would soon be raiding Kinloch Kirk, home to my sister, the Queen of the Underworld. Even though I still considered myself loyal to Luce, and faithful to my own people, I wasn’t ready for that. Not by a long shot.
I wasn’t ready because I hadn’t convinced myself that Luce coming for Jolie and me was in our best interests. Yes, I’d known it was just a matter of time, but a little more advance notice would have been nice. Furthermore, it wasn’t as though I’d forgotten that I’d been purposely placed in Kinloch Kirk as a decoy. My main objective was to find out everything I could regarding the creatures of the Underworld, and to report back to Luce so he could, eventually, defeat them. But, even knowing all that, I still wasn’t prepared for Luce’s imminent arrival. Not yet. Not when I was right in the middle of my sister’s wedding after she had just been announced Mrs. Rand Balfour.
But it didn’t matter that I wasn’t ready for Luce—the decision was made and he was already on his way.
He’ll be here within the hour, I reminded myself as panic began to spiral up my body. I clenched my eyes shut tightly and tried to figure out what to do next. Luce would, no doubt, instruct me to do nothing—just pretend like everything was going along swimmingly, like nothing was out of the ordinary. And then he’d attack.
But I couldn’t just wait for Luce to show up. Although it pained me to admit to my own weakness, the truth was that I cared too much about my sister, Jolie, and her unborn child, to risk both of their futures. I didn’t know what Luce had in mind for Jolie, but there was an assuredness within me that I had to keep her away from him. I wasn’t sure why I felt that way, but I also wasn’t going to question it. I knew better. As a sensitive, I instinctively knew things that I shouldn’t have—things that were impossible to know. And if I’d learned anything during my thirty years, it was to trust my instincts. They had never failed me. And right now, my instincts told me to protect my sister, at all costs.
I have to get Jolie to safety, I thought while forcibly ignoring the roar of applause coming from the audience as well as the pain, which still throbbed between my ears. I opened my eyes and scanned the perimeter of the festivities in front of me, looking for my sister and her husband, Rand. But they were nowhere to be seen. Instead, I took in the flower-strewn pathway that led through the courtyard of Kinloch Kirk. More than one hundred wooden white chairs, all set up in rows, were facing the pergola behind me. It was bedecked with white tulle, ribbons and countless flowers in a riot of colors. Some of the attendees still sat in the chairs, talking amongst each other, but the majority were standing up and making their way into the center of the courtyard, thus blocking my exit.
I felt my heart racing as I took in the number of people surrounding me, all unarmed citizens who were faithful to my sister. When Luce attacked, none of them would be able to defend themselves; it would be a massacre.
There is nothing you can do for them, Bryn, I reminded myself emphatically. You have to focus only on Jolie. If you try to save everyone, you’ll end up saving no one!
I shook my head, growing angry with myself for even considering saving my … enemies. I had no business caring about anyone here. None. Why? Because not one of the people around me was a comrade of mine. And the sooner I remembered that, the better.
My teeth clenched tightly of their own accord as I realized I was going soft—maybe I was starting to fall victim to Stockholm syndrome. I’d been here too long and, consequently, I was starting to empathize with them, starting to sympathize with them. And that wasn’t good. It wasn’t good because I didn’t belong here. I wasn’t one of them—I had nothing in common with the creatures of the Underworld. I was an Elemental and loyal to my own people, and my own tribe.
So why was it that I still felt like a boulder had just dropped into my gut? Why did I feel nauseous and … guilty? Why couldn’t I manage to look anyone directly in the eyes?
My heartbeat was racing and I could feel sweat beading on my forehead and the small of my back. It seemed like slow motion as I faced fully forward again. Then my attention fell onto a pair of frosty blue eyes. They were the bluest eyes I’d ever seen and the only pair of eyes that could cause me to catch my breath. And they were currently narrowed on me in obvious suspicion.
Sinjin.
I could do nothing but hold his gaze for several seconds. My entire body seemed to be suddenly immobilized, like I was stuck in tar. All I could do was stare at him, unable to escape his mistrustful expression. I had to wonder if he was using his vampiric powers of persuasion to hold me captive, to ensure that I couldn’t budge from my current stance. And then I remembered his powers didn’t work on me.
I could tell by his weary mien that he knew I was up to something—Sinjin could read my body language as if I were an open book. It wasn’t a tr
ait of his that I enjoyed, by any stretch of the imagination. Especially since I couldn’t read him. And that was the sticking point. As a telepath, I could pretty much read anyone’s thoughts. Well, anyone’s except Sinjin’s, that is. Sinjin’s thoughts were as much a mystery to me as his actions. He was the most unpredictable man I’d ever met.
Another few moments and the undeniably handsome vampire stood directly by my side, thanks to his ability to materialize at will. He was dressed smartly in a two-piece black suit with a black dress shirt underneath it. The darkness of his outfit was no surprise. As a rule, Sinjin always wore dark colors, and usually black. I was convinced it was because he was more than aware that black matched his hair, his incredibly long eyelashes, and the five o’clock shadow on his cheeks and jaw. It also set off his remarkable ice-blue eyes.
“Bête Noire,” he whispered into my ear as he gripped me by the arm, none too gently. He pulled me so close to him that not even an inch of air separated us. Not wanting to witness the depth in his eyes, I chose instead to focus on his chest. I immediately noticed the boutonniere in his right breast pocket. It was a single rosebud, the crimson color of blood, and suited him perfectly.
“What?” I grumbled, feeling slightly overcome by his cologne. It was something light, clean and … icy. I was suddenly very grateful that he was standing beside me because it meant I didn’t have to look him in the face and, more specifically, in the eyes.
“What insidious plans are you concocting in that lovely head of yours?” he inquired, not pausing for me to respond. “Perhaps you are contemplating yet another assassination attempt on me?”
I shook my head, but found I couldn’t speak for a second or so as the weight of the situation I was now facing beat down on me. “They’re coming, Sinjin,” I finally managed to say in a wavy, unsteady voice. I turned my head and my eyes finally found his.
He tightened his grip around my arm, and I didn’t even know how it was possible when he pulled me even closer. We were so close that I could feel the coldness of his breath as it fanned out across my naked décolletage. It resulted in making goose bumps all over my skin. “Who is coming?” he demanded in a steely voice.
“Luce,” I answered without pause. I immediately heard his swift intake of breath, which surprised me, considering he was a vampire, and thus, couldn’t breathe. “We have to get Jolie to safety,” I continued, suddenly feeling like I would pass out. My heart was pounding hard and my breathing was close to hyperventilation. Sinjin didn’t respond, so I half-wondered if maybe he hadn’t heard me. “We have to get my sister to safety, Sinjin,” I repeated.
He thrust me directly in front of him so we were face to face. Then, since he towered over me, he gripped my chin roughly before lifting it so I was forced to look him in the eyes. I could read the silent warning echoing in his penetrating expression. His jaw was so tight, it looked as if he were gnashing his teeth together.
Sinjin was my sister’s protector, the guardian to the Queen of the Underworld. And he took his position very seriously.
“If this is some type of plot …” he started while baring his fangs to let me know just how much trouble I would find myself in, if such were the case.
“This isn’t a plot,” I railed back, offended and angry that he would even consider it. I attempted to free myself from his iron clasp, but he wouldn’t release me.
“You do realize,” he continued before suddenly drawing me forward. I had to brace my hands against him so I wouldn’t smash my breasts up against his chest. He brought his other hand to the back of my neck and held it there, forcing my head between his pectorals. “That if this turns out to be a plot designed to ensnare your sister, I will not hesitate to drain your delicious, little body of every drop of that precious Lurker blood.” “Lurker” was the name my sister’s people gave to my kind, even though we didn’t refer to ourselves as such.
Rage started to simmer in my stomach. Anger and a strange feeling of hurt, or maybe it was betrayal, began to brew from deep within me. Regardless, it was silly, really. As far as Sinjin and I were concerned, we were still enemies as we always had been. I’d even attempted to kill him once upon a time. Granted, the attempt wasn’t entirely wholehearted, but I had attempted it all the same. So where loyalty was concerned, Sinjin certainly didn’t owe me his.
Because he still held my neck immobilized, I couldn’t look at him when I spoke. I had to address his crisp, black suit jacket instead. “Listen carefully, you glorified leech,” I started, my voice bubbling with ire, “I’m telling you the truth.” When he didn’t respond, I struggled to extricate myself again, but he simply held me in place. It appeared like it took zero strength for him to do so. Which, as a master vampire, was closest to the truth because he did possess astonishing strength and power.
I heard the deep rumble of his chuckle and moments later, he let me go. I took a few steps away from him, trying to reestablish my personal space. Then I glared up at him and tried to rub the stitch out of the back of my neck.
“Very good, my little assassin,” he said, but the sarcastic laugh died on his lips. “As long as we understand one another.”
“We do,” I managed to reply. My voice bristled with fury as I watched his gaze leave my face and travel down to my bust. My breasts nearly overflowed the ridiculous dress Jolie had insisted I wear as her maid of honor. “Sinjin!” I yelled at him, feeling irate again. “Stop staring at my boobs and focus! This is serious!”
He cocked his head to the side and raised his eyebrows as if I were asking a difficult task of him. “Alas,” he started, no doubt preparing to utter another ridiculous comment about my ample breasts, but I interrupted him.
“Didn’t you hear a word I just said?” I insisted, throwing my arms into the air to show my frustration. At his blank expression, I continued. “Luce and my people are in the process of attacking Kinloch Kirk!”
“And how did you become privy to this information?” he demanded. His tone hinted that he was less than convinced I was telling the truth, despite my dramatic display.
“Because a little carrier pigeon just happened to drop by my tower window earlier with the announcement,” I answered, rolling my eyes at him as I shook my head in pure exasperation. But, in usual Sinjin form, he didn’t lose his cool. Instead, he regarded me with an amused smile as I frowned and threw my hands on my hips. “I know because Luce told me!”
“Ahem,” Sinjin cleared his throat, now eyeing me with unmasked amusement. “Why do I find myself doubting the accuracy of your claims?”
Although he might have found it entertaining, I didn’t; I was panicked. “It doesn’t matter if you believe me or not!” I shouted. Realizing that time was of the utmost importance, I attempted to push past him so I could continue searching for my sister. “Let Luce turn you into a pile of ash—and see if I care!”
“I am not quite certain, Princess,” Sinjin started. He reached out and gripped my hand, forcing me to come to an abrupt stop. “Whether you are, perhaps, creating this hoax in an attempt to destroy your sister’s happy day? Perchance this is nothing more than an ill-planned attempt to exact some sort of revenge on her?”
“What?” I asked in disbelief, dropping my mouth open in pure shock that he would even conceive of such a thing. “Ruin my sister’s wedding day?” I nearly spat at him as I felt my eyes narrow of their own accord. “And just why in the hell would I do that?”
Sinjin shrugged like the idea wasn’t that far-fetched. “You are her prisoner, after all …”
“I’m her sister, first and foremost!” I protested, wanting to slap the cocky smile right off his smarmy face. Then I decided I was doing nothing more than wasting valuable time, so I yanked my hand from his and started forward again.
“And what, exactly, did Luce tell you?” Sinjin inquired as he easily caught up with me. He gripped me around the arm again, trying to keep me from walking away from him.
I turned around to face him and crossed my arms in front of my chest to
discourage him from further feasting on my cleavage. “He said he was coming for my sister and me—to bring us back with him. He said he would be here within the hour.”
The smile fell off Sinjin’s mouth and he studied me quietly, as if trying to ascertain whether or not he should trust the word of his enemy. That was when I realized I needed to do my damnedest to make him believe me, because it would be a hell of a lot easier to protect Jolie with Sinjin by my side.
I took a deep breath and exhaled. “Sinjin, I know we’ve had our disagreements and I know what you think of me,” I started.
“Do you?” he asked in a surprised tone with another of those charming yet self-satisfied smiles that made me want to gag. “Go on.”
“I think I have a good idea,” I grumbled. “But regardless of how much you distrust and dislike me, I hope you believe that everything I just told you is the truth because so many lives depend on it, including my sister’s.”
“And, yet, you are ever loyal to your own cause,” he pointed out. He shrugged as if that were reason enough to doubt whatever came out of my mouth.
“Yes, I will admit I am,” I started, but then paused because I couldn’t even be sure how loyal to my own cause I was anymore. It seemed that every day I spent at Kinloch Kirk made me distance myself further and further from the person I used to be and the life I used to live. “To an extent,” I corrected myself. “But what I can promise you, which is absolutely the truth, is that my number one priority is my sister and her baby.”
Sinjin didn’t say anything for the stretch of four heartbeats. Instead, he just studied me with razor sharp eyes, as if he were reading my thoughts to evaluate my honesty. “You believe Luce would harm our queen?”
“I don’t know,” I answered immediately before sighing in frustration at not knowing more than I did. “I mean, I don’t think he would …” My voice trailed off as I doubted the truth of my words. “I don’t know what Luce’s plan for Jolie is, and that’s the problem,” I finally admitted with a heartfelt sigh. “I don’t even know what his plan is for me.”