Familiar Desires: 5 (Protective Affairs) (7 page)

“Who did you have in mind?” Will tilted his head.

“Lisabeth. The chief of police’s mate, well, if Mark wasn’t removed
by the Councils. Everyone knows she’s pissed at him and those around him, but
not everyone would realize that she only blames him and still has a little hope
that somehow he’ll wise up. Personally, I think it will have to be beat into
him. Well, his and a few other people’s asses thoroughly kicked.” Alana
scowled. Lisabeth was her friend. She’d happily take the job of kicking some
sense into one of them.

“He’s still police chief. That group will get handled, but
you’re right. If they contacted anyone outside of Devoe, Lisabeth is a likely
candidate. We’ll need to talk to her and get her back here.” Will’s lips tilted
up in a brief smile, but then returned to all business.

Alana raised a brow. Bringing her back didn’t seem like such
a great idea, especially if they had contacted her. The witches behind these
attacks were getting rid of anyone who might be a threat.

“I know it’s not exactly safe here, but they’re not going to
leave anyone who might have a clue about who they are or what they’re doing.
They’ll get around to going after those who said no. We’re not prepared to let
them remain out there unprotected. Especially known mates,” Will explained.

“All right, we know what we should be doing. Although the
police have interviewed them, you’ll want to talk again to the friends and
family and visit the kidnap sites if you think that will help you get an idea
of who’s behind this.” Jason stood. “We want you to keep an open mind. I know
we told you that there might be someone local in on this, but don’t overlook an
outside angle either.”

“I was going to look at all the angles anyway. The only
problem with getting started is the damn spell that stopped me just beyond the
city limits.” She stared pointedly at the two Council members.

“Don’t worry about that. When you’re with Michael and Kane,
you’ll be able to go wherever you need.” Jason waved a hand negligently. “Since
witches might be involved, we don’t want you leaving town alone.”

She understood it, but she wasn’t naïve enough to believe
her protection was the only reason they wanted her to stay near Michael and
Kane. It was that whole mates belonging with their mates and the Council’s
inability to keep its nose out of other people’s business.

“Ready?” Kane glanced over at her.

Alana nodded and stood. They should leave. There was plenty
of work to be done. Kane dropped some money on the table to take care of the
bill and put a hand at her back. As they walked out the door, Michael smiled at
her. It was a little too smug for her liking. She stopped in the center of the
sidewalk and frowned up at him.

“Why do you look so satisfied?” She tilted her head and
waited for an answer.

“I was thinking that it wasn’t so bad for a first meal
considering that you barely spoke to us the day before. We managed to talk some
and get a few of the facts out in the open and now you seem a little more
relaxed.” Michael shrugged.

“I’m resigned, I guess you could say, to working with you.”
She didn’t try to sweeten the words. One meal with them hadn’t changed her mind
even if it had given her plenty to think about. “I’m still leaving once we
discover who’s doing this and stop the idiot.”

Alana didn’t know enough about what they wanted to talk with
them about her plans to come back. Every time she thought about them as her
mates mixed feelings swept over her. Caution warred with desire to be with them,
drawing her attention away from everything but her two mates. Part of her
wanted nothing more than to claim her mates, but doing that while she was on a
mission didn’t seem to be the wisest thing. It would probably be best to wait
until they could focus on their relationship. If she was here for any length of
time, she would claim them and after that, she wouldn’t walk away from them. They
hadn’t sent that letter and what she’d seen was almost definitely a mistaken
impression, but still, she had some doubts that they could get along for a week,
much less for life, as mates. She wanted to keep a little distance between
them. Now wasn’t the time to discover if they could get along or build a life
together. They needed to focus.

“You’re not leaving, Alana. Not without us, not again. We’ve
learned from our mistakes.” Michael frowned, but sounded utterly confident.

She glared at him. “I’m not sure it was a mistake to leave
even if what I knew at the time was wrong.”

“Alana, the only thing you’re going to be doing in a few
weeks is settling into life here. You’ll be curling up with us in front of our
fireplace not running away again.” Kane cupped the side of her cheek and his
eyes locked with hers in open challenge.

She shook her head. “They’ve made sure that I can’t leave
the mountain without you while we’re supposed to work together, but we will
discover who is behind it at some point. I don’t think the Council is going to
keep me here after we solve these kidnappings.”

Michael grinned. “I don’t think it will be necessary, but
don’t place any bets on your assumption. They don’t like things interfering
with matings and now that you’re back, getting you settled is one of their
highest priorities.”

Alana growled low in her throat. She hadn’t exactly
forgotten about the Council’s remarks about the mating, but she had put it out
of her mind. It should be her choice.

“Don’t get too upset about it right now. I really don’t
think it’s going to come to that.” Kane drew his hand down her back in a long,
slow sweep that she knew was meant to comfort her.

All it did was make her aware of how much she’d missed being
here and how much she loved their touch. She wanted to crawl all over them and
explore their bodies. Kane’s proposal of curling up in front of a fire sounded
much too good. The only problem was that she knew it wouldn’t stop at cuddles
and kisses.

“I may not be raising hell, but I’m still furious. I haven’t
accepted anything.” Alana had to point it out. Everyone seemed to be taking it
for granted that their relationship as mates would be sealed. As far as she was
concerned, it was still up in the air.

“We know that.” Michael turned and stepped in front of her. “I
hope you realize we’ve accepted the connection and all that it entails.”

She looked at him with a frown, wondering what he meant by “all
it entails”. They couldn’t have feelings for her. In spite of the intensity of
Familiar link, they barely had time learn anything about her during their very
short relationship. She didn’t think they even knew of her before she walked up
to them that night and it had been years since they saw her.

“Do you really think that only shifters are joined by mating
ties? The witch-mate bond might not have solidified for us yet, but it will.
The intensity of the desire I feel for you is proof of that, even on top of the
strength of the Familiar connection. I’ve never been more tempted into a public
display of sex before this. Even standing here, I want to haul you into my
arms.” His hands brushed up and down her arms.

She leaned in to him. She couldn’t stop herself and noticed
that he moved closer as well. His hands tightened and his head lowered. She
tilted her head for his kiss. His lips brushed hers softly back and forth.
Longing and desire twisted through her.

Alana had been alone for so long. It wasn’t the loneliness
that had bothered her so much. She’d missed the connection and thought she’d
never feel it again. Her fingers fisted on the sleeves of his shirt and she darted
her tongue over his wanting a deeper kiss. The heat of his body lured her
closer. Everywhere they touched tingled and sensitized.

His hand cupped the back of her neck. The kiss became
claiming and she could feel the hunger in the glide of his other hand down her
back. A third hand slid under her shirt and the streak of arousal that shot
through her tore her from the haze of desire. It was too intense and felt too
right. She drew back, pushing at Michael’s shoulders to gain a little more
distance when he was slow to release her.

His hands loosened enough that she could step back. Kane
stood to the side, an arrogant smirk curving his lips, but she didn’t miss the
arousal in his eyes or scent. The man wanted her just as much as his brother.
She’d like to say she backed off because the kinkiness freaked her out, but she
was honest enough with herself to admit that it had only been shock. She wasn’t
accustomed to two men touching her at the same time. Hell, she wasn’t
accustomed to men touching her in passion at all. They were her mates. Although
pissed and thinking they wanted someone else, she hadn’t been able to take
another lover.

“Think it will be easy to walk out on us again?” Kane raised
a brow.

“A kiss doesn’t mean anything. Let’s go.” Alana pulled out
of Michael’s arms.

He let her go and didn’t make her use any of her shifter
strength. Her mind was in turmoil and she wasn’t nearly as certain as she
sounded. That kiss had been too intense and she was reeling. How was she
supposed to keep her distance when all her damn cat wanted to do was shove them
down to the ground and fuck them senseless?

“Where to first?” Michael slid in behind the steering wheel
of their Jeep and half turned to look back at her. The rain had slowed to a
light drizzle, but it didn’t seem to be stopping.

Alana sighed. “We’ll have to set up meetings with the
families. So, let’s go to a few of the kidnap sites and see if that tells me
anything right off. Also, I’ll need to get in touch with the crime-scene techs who
processed the scenes. I’ll want to see the pictures they took. Maybe get a
sense of how it happened and talk with the investigating officers.”

Her mind wasn’t fully on looking at the very old crime scene.
She was still thinking about their conversation. They hadn’t tried to demand
after her denial. She knew the urge was illogical and likely insane, but she
was a little disappointed that they hadn’t been more aggressive in their claim.

“That might be a problem,” Kane offered from beside her.

“Why?” She frowned at him. Was nothing going to proceed
easily this time?

“All except one of the kidnappings took place inside or just
outside of Corona City and were handled by their department. We haven’t had a
good relationship with them in years.” Michael exhaled heavily and lifted a
hand in almost a shrug.

“How bad is it?” She leaned forward.

From what she remembered, the police department in Corona
City had always cooperated with the department here in Devoe. In fact, she
could remember one time her brother had been caught speeding on the side roads
in Corona City with some other boys and her father had been notified by the
Devoe police before he even arrived home.

“Almost no cooperation in years and open suspicion. There
have been some human disappearances too, but we can’t find a link between them
and the disappearances here. The chief of police there has an obvious grudge
and thinks we’re somehow involved. Covering it up, you know.” Michael grimaced.

She knew what he meant. The human disappearances could be a
coincidence, but it also might be something more. They didn’t have enough
information to rule it out or in. All they knew so far was that it wasn’t for
ransom and bodies hadn’t been found.

“Damn, all right, I’ll put in a call to Dillon and see what
he can do.” Alana took a deep breath. She definitely wasn’t the person to cut
through this kind of mess.

“Dillon?” Kane touched her chin, turning her head so she met
his eyes.

“Dillon Arronson, the head of the regional Protectorate. He
can cut through bureaucratic bullshit and prejudiced attitude so much better
than I can. And he has the power to back it up.” She smiled. That was one job
she wouldn’t want.

“Well, get him on it. If he can get it done fast enough, we
can visit today after we check out one or two of the kidnap sites.” Kane
nodded.

When Michael began driving, she made the call. It was short,
but Dillon said he’d get right on that and get back to her. Dillon was always
busy and she honestly didn’t know when the man found time to sleep.

“He’ll get in touch once he’s spoken to the chief of police
in Corona.” Alana put her phone back in her purse. “Let’s take the site closest
to us, the one not in his district. Maybe Dillon will work fast.”

“All right, we’ll take you there. That’s one of the first
kidnappings though. It’s been open to the public for months.” Michael started
the Jeep.

“I know. I want to look at where it is. How public is it?
Think about things like did this happen during the day or night. Was there a
chance of it being seen? Would it have required planning? Was it somewhere she
went every day or regularly at least? Was it somewhere she wasn’t likely to go
alone?” Alana needed to know at least some of these things. With the number of
people missing, the disappearances weren’t random. Were the first people
targets of opportunity or were they chosen?

The lack of bodies was a good thing, but it didn’t mean they’d
find the missing people alive. Hopefully, discovering the answers to some of
her questions would get them closer to determining who was behind the
kidnappings and finding them. There was an organized element to this already
though. If they hadn’t left any trace in the early kidnappings to lead right
back to them, the more recent kidnappings would have even less.

Michael drove them out of the city, but barely. He turned
onto a side road and stopped near the gated entrance to a grassy field. She
looked around the area. It might have been the time of day, but there were no
other cars on the road. Yet it wasn’t exactly isolated. There were houses a
short distance down the street.

She opened the door and stepped out of the Jeep. Ignoring
the light rain, she focused on her surroundings. She could hear the screams and
laughter of children playing not too far away. It was out of the way, but still
felt close to safety. Considering this wasn’t on a main road that led down the
mountain, it would have taken some looking to find such a perfect place.

“Her car was found off the road a little bit farther down.
Her phone was on the ground near the gate. From what we were told, there was no
reason for her to be here. It isn’t on the way to her house. Julia didn’t have
any appointments and even if she did, a normal meeting wouldn’t have brought
her here.” Michael walked up beside her. His hand settled low on her back.

“Julia was a nurse. There was another set of tire tracks,
but nothing special about them. Mark said it was probably a van, minivan or
something such as that, but couldn’t completely rule out pickup trucks.” Kane moved
up on her other side.

“They picked a good spot. The noise and openness make this
seem like a safe area. Hell, just stepping out of the car and hearing those
children would relax most people. She was drawn here and ambushed. This wasn’t
by chance. They wanted her.” Alana paced along the road.

If some of the first victims were chosen, then it was likely
the kidnappings had all been deliberate. She knew it was a leap since she’d
only looked at one of the sites so far, but she didn’t think she was wrong.

“What else are you thinking? I can see that you think there’s
more.” Michael’s hand moved up her back to her shoulder. His fingers gently
squeezed.

Alana kept walking and looked around the area. “This
happened quickly. Julia probably didn’t even get a scream out. I wouldn’t rule
out someone local involved in some way. She had to be drawn here and that would
take someone she knew. As you said, this wasn’t on her way home.”

So far everything here added evidence to the suspicion that
there were those in Devoe working to aid these attacks, if they weren’t the
actual kidnappers themselves. She wasn’t going to rule anything out completely
though until she found solid evidence. Even known enemy groups were still on
her list, although they’d moved down to the bottom.

If this wasn’t locals, whoever set it up had to be in the
area long enough to get to know the roads and the areas safest for them to set
up the kidnapping. They’d also have to find a way to lure their prey to them.

“So how do you think they did it? It was fairly muddy that
day and there wasn’t any sign of a struggle.” Kane’s hand touched hers and then
it slid over hers before closing around it in a gentle clasp.

“Drugged. Most likely darts shot from that group of trees.
Or it could have been a simple blow to the head. The last would definitely be
someone she knew. I don’t think any shifter would give their back to someone
they didn’t trust.” Alana nodded to a group of trees near a corner of the
fence.

Her phone rang, a heavy bass beat announcing a call from the
Protectorate. She answered, bringing the phone up to her ear.

“I’ve got you a meeting with the chief, but be warned, he’s suspicious
of the citizens of Devoe. He thinks one of them might be behind the
disappearances down there. I get the feeling he doesn’t like shifters or
witches much at all,” Dillon said without preamble.

“Yeah, well, he’s going to be getting more than me. I told
you the situation was complicated here and might involve witches. The Council
has two wizards with me for protection.” She skirted the issue of just why
those specific two wizards were assigned.

“I talked to the Council and the Devoe police chief before I
called the chief in Corona City. I wanted more specifics on the issues he had
with them. They filled me in and he’s expecting the three of you. He wants
cooperation. He says there are similarities in the kidnappings and they might
have been done by the same people. Work with him,” Dillon ordered.

“Of course. I don’t know how they could be connected, but if
they are, it might help us discover who’s behind it,” she said and thought
about it. More information was good. It might amount to nothing, but if there
was a connection, it would add another level to the situation.

“You have to wear your uniform. He wants to know that you
are with the Protectorate,” he rattled off the last of the instructions as
almost an afterthought.

“I will.” She tapped her foot in irritation. That meant
going back to Devoe and changing.

“Good, when you learn something get in touch with me.”
Dillon didn’t wait for a response. The call ended as soon as he finished
talking.

It wasn’t strange. He tended to say what he was necessary
and get onto the next thing on his list. She stuffed her phone back in her
pocket and looked around one last time. It didn’t feel like the work of any of
the hate groups after them, but this might be bigger than it seemed. Even more
so if the chief of police was right. There had to be more going on than witches
getting rid of rivals and enemies if the human disappearances were connected.

“We have to go back to Devoe. I need to change into my
uniform before heading down to talk to the chief of police. He wants to make
sure I am who I say I am.” Alana smiled, but didn’t feel very cheery.

“All right, and while we’re on the way, you can tell us
about what you don’t think could be connected.” Michael waited until she turned
and then they all headed back to the Jeep.

“The man thinks the human disappearances are connected to
the abductions of the witch and shifters that happened in his jurisdiction.”
She bit her lip. In a way, she hoped they weren’t. Right now, she had a pretty
good idea of the motive behind the kidnappings, but add in the humans and
everything changed.

“Well, he’s got a point. How many kidnappers could be in one
area at the same time and both seem to stay in the area even after word of the
disappearances hit the news?” Michael frowned and opened the back door for her.

The probability of two serial kidnappers in the same area
was small, but she wanted to see what the chief had. The drive back to the
hotel gave her time to think. Even though he’d agreed to talk, the chief of police
probably wasn’t going to be too friendly to them.