Skulk of Foxes

  Chapter Fourteen

  It was hard to bank down the temptation to run and find Charlotte Page and nab back the sphere again but after the day we’d had, we were all running on empty. And goodness only knew what unfortunate delights the dawn would bring. By unspoken agreement, we all got back onto the Mobikes and cycled to Julie’s house for a few hours’ kip before the next round of madness began.

  Unfortunately, when we rounded the corner onto her street, it was clear what that madness would entail. The screaming was audible even to Jodie’s human ears.

  ‘I need more!’

  Morgan glanced at me. ‘Is that…?’

  I nodded. ‘It’s Julie.’

  ‘Give me bloooooooood!’

  I winced. There was no doubt that the magic build-up was bringing her well-buried vampire traits to the fore. Maybe she could explain it away later by telling her neighbours she was preparing for a new acting role.

  I wasted no time in getting to her front door and entering. I found her in the kitchen, standing against a white-faced Finn. The heavy, metallic taint of blood hung in the air. Judging by the puncture wounds at his throat, Julie had decided that her hospital-donated blood bags were no longer enough. The idea that the small woman could overpower someone as large and hulking as Finn was worrying, to say the least.

  As soon as I stepped inside, Julie sprang at me. ‘Give me yours,’ she begged. ‘Give me your blood!’

  ‘I rather like it where it is, thank you very much,’ I said primly, arching an eyebrow over her shoulder at Finn.

  ‘It’s my fault,’ the Redcap muttered. ‘I offered her my veins. I thought it might help. Instead, she’s gone a bit loopy.’

  A bit loopy? I gazed at her flailing hands and the desperate entreaty in her crazed eyes. This usually sane woman was tipping over the edge. Fortunately, I knew a little something about madness. Not much, but enough.

  Reaching out, I took her hands in mine, snagging them before her manicured nails raked the skin on my cheeks. Then I stepped her backwards while murmuring her name, until her legs pressed against a kitchen chair. She sank onto it while I waved urgently at Morgan, who’d come in behind me. The others were sensibly keeping their distance.

  ‘Gin,’ I told him. ‘And lots of it.’

  ‘I’m not sure that alcohol is a good idea,’ he began.

  ‘It is for this lady.’

  ‘I don’t want it! I want blood!’ Julie screeched.

  ‘Shhhh.’ I knelt down in front of her, wrapped my arms round her waist and hugged her. She could probably have overpowered me if she’d wanted to and my jugular was there for the taking.

  I was taking a calculated risk. Finn and Morgan would yank her off me if she attempted to drain me dry, Morgan because he didn’t want me to get hurt and Finn because he wanted to help Julie. Giving her the suggestion of access to my blood without my permission enabled me to judge just how far gone she was. None of this was her fault. The magic in the air was simply worming its way into her every time she breathed.

  It took several moments but eventually I felt the tension in her subside and she started to relax. She didn’t try and bite me either, so that was a bonus.

  Her ragged breathing was starting to come under control when Morgan thrust a gin and tonic between us. I grabbed the glass and took a few chugs then offered it to Julie.

  She shook her head weakly. ‘Actually,’ she whispered, ‘I think your boyfriend is right. Gin isn’t a good idea. Could I have a cup of tea?’

  I gazed at her suspiciously. She’d tried this trick on me before. ‘Are we talking PG Tips or Long Island?’

  She smiled. It wasn’t a face-splitting grin but it was more like the Julie I knew. ‘PG Tips,’ she said. ‘With lots of sugar.’

  ‘I’ll put the kettle on,’ Finn said. He turned away but Julie reached out and took his hand.

  ‘I’m sorry,’ she said. ‘I don’t know what came over me.’

  ‘It’s not your fault,’ he replied. There was no censure in his eyes, although his tone was rather gruff. ‘You can’t help it.’

  Julie looked morosely at the blood soaking into his shirt. ‘Your poor clothes.’

  I snorted. ‘His poor neck, more like.’

  Finn stiffened but Julie’s smile widened. ‘Yes,’ she said. ‘His poor neck.’ She sighed. ‘You’ve been nothing but good to me, Finn. Don’t think that I don’t appreciate you.’

  I beamed at them. ‘Group hug?’

  Finn gave me a sideways glance; apparently I still wasn’t his best friend in the world, even if he now tolerated me. ‘Maybe not,’ he said. He looked at Julie. ‘Me and you though?’

  She nodded. I moved back so she could stand up and the pair of them embraced. Although things now seemed a lot calmer, I angled myself so I could watch her face for signs of snarling or elongating fangs but she kept both her eyes and her mouth firmly shut.

  When she was relaxed enough to let go, Finn busied himself with the tea. ‘We’re not the only people daft enough to go outside with all this magic shit going on.’

  ‘Tell me about it,’ I said. ‘Pimply teenagers have no regard for their own safety.’

  He shook his head. ‘No. That’s not who I mean.’ He glanced at Morgan and me, looking distinctly unhappy. ‘There was a hunter.’

  Morgan drew in a sharp breath. ‘A vampire hunter?’

  Finn nodded. ‘He was waiting outside for us to get back. He tried to grab Julie.’

  Gasbudlikins. That was all we needed on top of everything else. I thought we’d got rid of those arsebadgers, at least for now. ‘You’d think they’d have the sense to stay away.’

  Morgan frowned. ‘I suppose they think they can take advantage of the chaos to go after Julie again.’

  ‘One track bloody minds.’ I rolled my eyes. ‘Why can’t they just fixate on breasts and arses like other men in the world?’

  ‘Was it just one hunter?’ Morgan asked.

  ‘Yep.’

  Morgan’s jaw clenched. ‘Is he still out there?’

  Finn shook his head. ‘No. I’m pretty sure I’ve scared him off for now. I wanted to do more – you know, break his legs or hurt him enough that he’d get the message that Julie is off limits. But he scarpered pretty damn quickly.’

  Having seen what Julie was like when we entered the house – as well as hearing her from the other end of the street – I was hardly surprised. All the same, I was pissed off. Why couldn’t we have just one problem at a time to deal with?

  ‘Bad things come in threes,’ Morgan murmured, as if reading my mind.

  ‘Bad things can piss off. I’m bad enough for all of us,’ I returned.

  He smiled at me but his expression was tinged with worry. I grabbed the glass of gin again and downed it. If the apocalypse was nigh, I wouldn’t have to worry about a hangover.

  ‘We need to get some rest before the next round begins,’ Morgan said. He gestured at Finn. ‘Are you okay with Julie?’

  ‘We’ll be fine.’

  Julie frowned. ‘I am still here, darling. I might be crazed with bloodlust but there’s no need to talk about me as if I’m not.’

  ‘I’m sorry.’ Morgan ran a hand through his hair. ‘It’s been a long night but we’ve found a dragon – and he’s willing to help destroy the sphere. For the first time there might be…’

  I held up my hands in horror. ‘No! Don’t say it!’

  ‘…light at the end of the tunnel,’ he finished.

  My shoulders sagged. ‘You said it,’ I muttered. ‘Now we’re definitely doomed.’

  Apparently unconcerned that Morgan had consigned us all to hell with his sexy loose lips, Julie pointed upwards. ‘The guest rooms are ready. Feel free to kip down wherever you want.’

  I glanced over. In theory, grabbing one of Julie’s beds and snuggling up to Morgan was my idea of heaven. The actress was bound to have some furry handcuffs kicking around somewhere; I could tie him up and have my wicked way with him. Unfortunately, the only thing I
really wanted at the moment was sleep.

  By unspoken agreement, we all headed upstairs. Morgan took my hand and gently steered me into a room. ‘We’re only sleeping,’ he warned. ‘We need to rest. But all the same, I want to know you’re close.’

  I gave him a tired smile. ‘Oh, I’ll be close all right. Drooling on your shoulder and snoring in your ear, but close.’

  He smiled back. ‘Paradise.’

  I closed the bedroom door and wriggled out of my jeans. The bed was even more inviting than Morgan’s broad chest. I was going to dive down, close my eyes and fall fast asleep in an instant. Or I would have if the front door bell hadn’t suddenly rung, echoing round the house and making me jump.

  I looked at Morgan, wide eyed. ‘I can’t think of any good reason why someone would ring Julie’s doorbell at this time of night.’

  His expression was grim. ‘Me neither.’

  I didn’t wait but flung the bedroom door open and pelted back down the stairs. Finn was already there, gripping a steel baseball bat in his hands.

  ‘You got our backs?’ I growled to Morgan who was right behind me.

  ‘I’m here,’ he answered.

  We exchanged glances then I reached for the door and opened it.

  I was fully prepared for anything: bazookas, rampaging Fey minions, Rubus. What I hadn’t expected was the sexiest-looking man I’d ever seen in my life lounging against the door frame and glinting at me with his baby blues.

  As his eyes travelled down my bare legs, his grin widened and exposed a dimple in his cheek. He straightened up, a dark red curl falling across his forehead. ‘Well, well, well,’ he drawled with a faint Scottish brogue. ‘If I’d known the faeries were this gorgeous I’d have come to Manchester sooner.’

  Morgan pushed past me, temporarily blocking my view. ‘Who the fuck are you?’ he snapped.

  The handsome Scot bowed. ‘You rang and I answered. I am Monroe.’ He said this with a flourish, as if we should instantly know who he was.

  Finn dropped the bat. It landed on Julie’s perfect parquet flooring with a clank and he bounded forward, gripping Monroe’s forearm with his hand. ‘Monroe! It’s a pleasure to meet you!’

  Monroe inclined his head. ‘Indeed. And you are…?’

  Finn beamed. ‘I’m Finn. I’m a Redcap. I’m the one who called you!’

  Monroe seemed to relax slightly. ‘Well then, it’s a pleasure to meet you.’ He looked Finn’s massive shape up and down. ‘I can’t imagine,’ he murmured, ‘that anyone ever says otherwise.’

  Morgan cleared his throat, still unimpressed by our visitor. ‘Finn, who is this?’

  ‘Monroe!’

  ‘I got that part,’ he said drily. ‘Who is Monroe?’

  ‘The lead werewolf. The one from Scotland that I left a message for.’

  ‘I prefer Alpha,’ Monroe said. He looked up and down the silent street. ‘I see that you wee people have been having some trouble so it’s just as well you called us. It wasn’t easy getting into the city unnoticed with the army around and I suspect that things are only going to get worse. We could feel the magic rippling twenty miles before we saw the city.’ He shook his head, his shaggy red hair ruffling as he did so. ‘What have you lot been up to?’

  I popped my head round Morgan’s shoulder. ‘We?’ I asked hopefully. ‘There are more of you?’ Hopefully they’d all be as good-looking as Monroe. Morgan was more than enough for me but that didn’t mean I couldn’t appreciate a bit of eye candy and do some window shopping, while still clinging onto my man.

  Monroe gave me a long, slow, easy smile. Then he gave a low whistle. Seemingly from nowhere others appeared, detaching themselves from shadows and from behind cars and low-lying rooftops. I counted a dozen in total. They trooped in behind Monroe and waited for instructions. I was liking the werewolf more and more; I needed minions who behaved like this, too.

  ‘May we come in? We’ve had a long journey.’

  Finn nodded like an eager puppy and stepped aside. Morgan moved as if to enter and then frowned. The hairs on the back of his bare arms seemed to straighten and quiver, and his eyes narrowed to thin blue strips. ‘What is this?’

  ‘Julie,’ I interjected hastily. ‘She has a barrier in place. She needs to invite you in for you to come inside.’

  Monroe frowned in suspicion. ‘The only being capable of such a feat is a vamp—’

  His word was lost as Julie herself appeared. She shuffled past me and peered at Monroe, obviously liking what she saw as much as I did. ‘Well, hello, there.’

  The werewolf king doffed an invisible hat. ‘I know you,’ he said.

  She smiled. ‘You might have seen me on television.’

  I waited for the inevitable expression of delight but Monroe just pursed his lips. ‘No. We’ve met before. I was just a bairn so you probably won’t remember me but you came to my uncle’s estate once.’

  All at once, Julie’s demeanour changed. She was no longer smiling; in fact, her body language and her expression were icy cold. ‘Oh yes,’ she said. ‘You’re one of those werewolves.’

  I glanced at her askance. When she didn’t immediately fess up, I nudged her. ‘Go on.’

  She sniffed. ‘I went to the werewolves to petition them for help in dealing with the vampire hunters. They declined – and not very politely, either.’

  Monroe shrugged, his muscles rippling as he did so. Mmm. ‘We don’t get involved unless our own livelihoods are threatened.’

  Morgan crossed his arms. ‘So why are you here?’

  ‘Because our own livelihoods are threatened,’ the werewolf answered smoothly. He shot an amused look at me and looked back to Morgan. ‘Don’t worry, mate. I can tell you’ve marked her. She’s all yours.’

  Marked me? That had better be a metaphorical mark. Morgan relaxed slightly. I felt rather smug that he was laying claim to me, despite his caveman-like leanings. ‘Actually,’ I said, ‘I’ve marked him.’ I put my arm around Morgan. ‘So hands off.’

  Monroe grinned. ‘I don’t swing that way – though I can see the attraction.’

  I smirked. ‘He is rather sexy, isn’t he?’

  Morgan growled something under his breath. I reckoned he’d been appeased enough. He really didn’t have anything to worry about; the werewolf might be dripping with sex appeal but he was far too cocky for me. I’d strangle him before too long. I had enough cockiness to last a lifetime; I didn’t need others to add to it.

  Julie tilted her head. ‘I’m not sure about this,’ she said.

  ‘We need their help,’ Finn told her.

  ‘I needed their help before. They declined.’

  From the group behind Monroe, there was a growl followed by a deep snarl. I blinked and stared. One of the younger werewolves was sprouting dark fur all over his body. His face was changing shape too, his chin, mouth and nose elongating into what could only be described as a muzzle.

  ‘The magic,’ Monroe murmured. ‘I strongly suggest you make a decision either way before Phil here becomes fully furry and tries to eat your neighbours.’

  We all turned to Julie. Well, everyone else did – I couldn’t tear my eyes away from the Phil the Furry.

  ‘Fine,’ Julie snapped. ‘You may come in.’

  Monroe smiled as if he’d expected nothing less. He stepped across Julie’s threshold and then he was inside.

  Chapter Fifteen

  If I’d thought Julie’s house was getting crowded with our small group, it was nothing compared to now. Rather than attempt to fit into her kitchen, we headed for the vast living room. I took a couple of minutes to put my jeans back on, not because I was embarrassed by my naked legs but because I knew it would make Morgan feel better. I was getting pretty good at this thoughtfulness lark.

  By the time I got downstairs again, Monroe had made himself comfortable in a large armchair. He pointed to a man who looked more like a bear than a wolf with his massive broad shoulders and over-indulgence of facial hair. ‘That’s Malcolm.’ The bear
man inclined his head.

  Monroe moved on. ‘This is Dwight.’ A smaller, bespectacled man smiled. Monroe shifted his finger, pointing at different werewolves in turn. ‘Enright, Goddard, Matthew, Peterson, William…’

  I held up my hand. ‘I’m not going to remember. You might as well stop now.’

  Monroe raised an eyebrow. ‘You don’t want to know the names of the people who are here to save you?’

  ‘You’re not here to save us,’ I pointed out. ‘You’re here to help us save the world. If you snowflakes can’t manage that without formal introductions, you know where the door is.’

  Despite my words, my tone was pleasant enough. I knew I was being rude but I really wasn’t going to remember all their names and I was bloody tired. I’d make it up to them once this was over.

  Monroe gazed at me for a long moment and then shrugged. ‘Fair enough. So,’ he asked, ‘how did all this happen? How did we get to the stage where the world needs saving?’

  Morgan leaned forward and outlined what had happened, leaving out the teeny-weeny little fact that a great deal of our woes could be laid at my doorstep. Once he was finished, he fixed Monroe with a hard stare. ‘We can’t afford to worry about the welfare of a new group of people. We have enough on our plates as it is.’

  Monroe snorted. ‘You don’t need to worry about us, little faery. We are werewolves. We are perfectly capable of looking after ourselves. We’ll help you retrieve this sphere and ensure the dragon destroys it. Our strength and might will guarantee your success.’ He sounded utterly confident.

  I could feel Morgan bristling at both Monroe’s self-assurance and being described as ‘little’. It was time to put all this to bed – and to go to bed.

  ‘It’s settled then,’ I said, standing up. ‘We get a few hours sleep and then we head to Charlotte Page’s house to get the sphere.’

  ‘Assuming this little human still has it. Passing it to a cleaner was not a wise move.’