He nodded slowly and held out his hand to me and I bit the inside of my cheek. I was not a public display of affections kind of girl. But he was my uncle and we were trying to make this right. I reached out and gave him a hug. Quick, very quick. I stepped back—his eyebrows were high with an unspoken question.

“You’re my uncle. It would just be weird to shake your hand, I think.”

With nothing else to say, I continued on the path as the skies above opened up and welcomed us back to Britain.

Alex followed him the whole way to Jack’s manor, running right at his hip where the second in command in a pack would run. It both amused and pleased him that the formerly submissive werewolf would willingly take the place.

Jack’s manor looked fairly silent. Liam knew there would be clothes and a working phone; Rylee and he had spent a little time there only a few weeks past. His bigger concern was booby traps and uglies might be waiting for them. Or worse, for Rylee.

He let out a low growl at the thought of someone trying to ambush her, but he knew that was more likely than people waiting with cake and cookies to welcome her.

They circled the manor twice and smelling nothing other than Will, Deanna, and a faint hint of Jack, Liam made his way to the back door and shifted. As a wolf he hadn’t noticed the misting rain, but buck naked … he let out a shiver and tested the door knob.

Locked.

With a sharp push of his shoulder, he popped the lock. One of the perks of being a shifter, he didn’t have to use much force to make things happen. Alex trotted in behind him and pushed the door shut with a hind foot.

“Dusty.” He let out a loud, fake sneeze as if to make sure Liam understood him.

“Yeah, a little.”

Liam wasted no time, going to the closest phone in the library. He lifted the old-school receiver, relieved to hear a dial tone beeping even if it was a bit scratchy with his proximity to it. Dialing Deanna, he wondered how his wolf would deal with Will now. Now that he knew he didn’t have long to live.

His hand tightened over the phone, creaking the old plastic.

Of course, Deanna didn’t pick up, Will did. Liam could tell just from the sound of his breathing.

“Will, Rylee needs a ride from the castle trail head.”

“Nice to hear from you too, old chap,” Will grunted. “Is she there now?”

“If she isn’t, she will be soon. Bring her to Jack’s place.”

“Of course, anything for you, O’ Mighty One.” Will hung up and Liam let out a breath as he put the receiver down.

Will loves her; he will keep her safe after you’re gone. Truth, though it might be, was not welcome in his head. The worst part was how quiet his wolf was. Above all else, he wanted to protect Rylee, and if that meant allowing Will to be a part of her life, then so be it.

He grabbed the phone and threw it against the wall, a snarl ripping out of him.

Alex cringed and stared up at him, licking his lips. “Boss?”

“It’s not you.” He stalked out of the room to find clothes. “It’s me.”

Chapter 11

We didn’t have to wait long at the trail before the sound of a vehicle reached our ears. But long enough that we were soaked. The only good thing was Liam’s clothes insulated me and kept me warm, despite the wet. Even gone, he looked out for me. The thought made me smile, and then cringe. Love struck was not something I thought I’d be in my life. Yet every once in a while I realized that’s exactly what I was.

Such a weird, weird world.

“You got friends everywhere.” Erik’s hand went to his sword as the vehicle drew close, and I shook my head.

“Not everywhere, but I have a few here. No need to get all freaky protective, not with …” I stood a little taller, straining to see who was driving the coming vehicle. I couldn’t help the surprise that colored my voice. “Will.”

“Not who you thought?”

“Liam hates him and the feeling is fairly mutual.” Deanna was the one I expected. But maybe she wasn’t answering her phone. Who the hell knew?

Will slowed to a stop and rolled his window down. “Hello, beautiful, you need a ride?”

My eyebrows shot up and I slid into the front seat. “I look like a fucking drowned rat, so keep your pretty words for the pretty girls.”

Erik slid into the back, behind Will. I had to admit, at least he was taking his role of protector and teacher seriously now. From where he sat, and the length of his sword, he could run Will through in a split second. Not that he would need too.

Will tried to grab my hand and I slapped him away. Hard. “What the hell, you think because Liam isn’t here you can make a move on me? Idiot.”

From the back seat, Erik tried, and failed, to stifle a laugh. Will’s jaw ticked and I just shook my head.

I pointed at Erik. “Will, meet my Uncle Erik. He’s a Slayer so treat him with respect.”

Will gave him a nod, and a slight widening of his eyes, but said nothing. Hell, I was surprised he didn’t ask what a Slayer was. Then again, he probably knew. I seemed to be the only one lacking in the “know your supernaturals” department. If you didn’t count Erik, that was.

“Where are we headed?” I assumed Liam gave Will instructions to meet up and I could tell by our direction we weren’t headed to Jack’s.

“The police station.”

I frowned, surprised that Liam would have run all the way into London proper after going to Jack’s place. Or maybe he was headed that way to meet us. Yeah, that was more likely. I slid down in my seat and closed my eyes, Tracking Pamela and Milly.

Milly was awake, Pamela was unconscious. I had a feeling Milly kept her knocked out on purpose. The more the kid’s mind was protected, the better. I was betting the less Pamela saw in the deepest level of the veil, the easier her life would be after. And yes, I did think she would come out of this; I had to believe. There was no other way to do a salvage like this.

The thing I couldn’t figure out was why Milly didn’t jump them both out of there. Or even herself. Not that I wanted her to leave Pamela, but couldn’t she even open the veil up to us, so we could come through? Fuck, this was one of those moments where the ability to Track frustrated the hell out of me. I could find them, know what they felt, even know if they died, but I couldn’t communicate with them.

“How long are you here for this time?” Will’s voice snapped me out of my thoughts.