All eyes swung toward the good-looking sandy-haired man. His lips pursed and he looked down at the tabletop.
"Dude, that's awesome," Ryon said.
"No, it's not," A.J. snapped, and Ryon blinked in surprise.
Aric wondered what the guy's story could be, why he'd left the force to become a rent-a-cop, but that was a tale for another day.
Nick quickly took the floor again, steering them away from the uncomfortable exchange. "A.J. has agreed to be the Pack's sniper, an area where he can really excel without having to go hand to hand with our nonhuman opponents. He's been practicing at my request and has accepted the position. Does anyone have an objection?"
It was a moot point if the job already belonged to A.J., but Aric knew Nick would listen. As it turned out, the Pack was supportive, agreeing that having a sniper on the team was a good plan. He'd be loaded with silver bullets for added protection.
"Good. This will also help Kalen, letting him save his magic for bigger problems, and believe me, there will be some. As for Rowan," Nick went on, "she's an officer, trained in firearms and apprehending criminals, even if she's used to human ones. She can fight, and she's proven herself in battle as far as I'm concerned-and we need every able-bodied soldier we can get. This is of course up to her, and the Pack has to agree."
"I'd be honored to be included," Rowan said eagerly. "Yes."
"Objections?"
Aric expected one in this case, and not surprisingly it came from Hammer. Their friend who was also sweet on Aric's woman. A growl escaped from Aric's throat, but he managed to make it sound like a cough.
"She did fine before," Hammer said worriedly. "But we didn't know she was with us until it was too late. I've got my doubts about bringing a woman into battle, cop or not."
Oh, the big man would have his hands full with his own mate someday, with an antiquated attitude like that. Aric smirked to himself. Sure, he'd had the same urge to protect Rowan, but he knew she wouldn't have it.
"Are you saying you refuse to fight at her side?" Nick asked sharply. "That what? Her sex will be a distraction in the heat of danger?"
"No," their friend protested with a scowl. "I'm a better warrior than that, and you know it. You asked, is all, and I said my piece."
"Noted. Anyone else?"
"Nope."
"It's cool, boss."
To Aric, it was anything but cool. Being in the minority, he kept his trap shut. For a change.
"Everyone be armed this time, and use your gifts as you can. Let out your wolf-and panther-only if you have to get that close to one of these creatures. Wheels up in one hour."
The meeting was dismissed, and Rowan turned to Aric. "You're upset that I'm going. I can tell."
"I'm overjoyed," he drawled sarcastically. "Does it make a difference? You'll do what you want because you're as stubborn as anyone I've ever met."
"Including you."
"Yep." He tweaked her nose. "Meetcha at the hangar."
He left her standing in the hallway, and he felt kind of shitty about that. But he needed some distance between this woman and his emotions. He had to psych himself for the coming fight, or risk endangering his friends. His mate.
In his quarters, he stood panting, the fever almost unbearable. He had the strength to get through tonight, barely. This would be his last battle.
He'd make it fucking count.
One hour later, he was armed to the teeth as he strolled into the hangar. He headed for the group and glanced around for Rowan, then spotted her coming in after him. As she joined him, he grabbed a gun from the waistband of his leathers and handed it to her, butt first.
"My extra hand cannon, complete with silencer. Figured you'd need one."
"Thanks. I was going to ask, since they confiscated mine when I got here."
"No problem."
Nobody said much else as they loaded into two Hueys, buckled up, and took off for Texas. Time to kick some Unseelie ass.
And catch his bitch of a wicked stepsister.
They crept through the foliage, and Aric blessed the carpet of pine needles for muffling their approach. They were prickly, and the heavy pine scent in the air made his wolf itch to sneeze, but they were useful.
The Pack fanned out, but Aric kept Rowan close. The woods were almost pitch-black, occasional slivers of moonlight providing a path, like the floor lights in a movie theater. The Pack could see much better, but their human companions were vulnerable.
Thankfully, the cabin wasn't far off the isolated county road, so their trek wasn't as long as some they'd been on. Even though they were moving slowly and cautiously, within a half hour the place came into view. Crouching, they froze as a unit. The hulking shapes of more than a dozen Sluagh were posted in the front, on the porch and perimeter combined. Some lumbering around, a few dozing. One in particular was snoring in one corner of the porch, so loudly he could be heard halfway to Dallas if the wind was right. Aric snorted to himself. No matter how evil you were, good help was hard to find.
"Be careful," Nick whispered. "They just look stupid. Go in quiet, kill as many as you can before the alarm is raised, and then A.J. will do his thing. Okay, my group, let's take the back."
Nick, Ryon, Jax, and Zan moved off silently, leaving Aric, Rowan, Kalen, and Hammer to cover the front. A.J. hung back in the trees, sniper rifle in hand. They were as ready as they'd ever be.
Aric's group moved forward, and then spread out to pick off the beasts hanging on the outer edges, the ones alone and close to the shadows. Taking a deep breath, Aric took aim at one and fired. Thanks to the silencer, the shot made the barest whisper. It struck the kill zone and the thing slumped to the ground, dead.
The problem proved to be the noise their rather large bodies made when they fell. Hearing the thump and a grunt from its fallen comrade, one Sluagh swung its big head around, searching for the source of the disturbance.
"Come on, you big bastard," Aric said under his breath. "That's right, come on over and see what's going on."
Sniffing the air, the creature ambled toward his spot. A few steps later, it came upon the other's body and lifted its head to let out a roar. Aric fired again, striking this one in the heart as well, and it crumpled.
To his left and right, his group began taking out the rest of them, but their luck couldn't hold. Someone's shot went wide, hitting one beast in the shoulder instead. The creature let out a booming cry that brought the area to life and made his ears ring.
"Fuck."
Time to dance. They rushed the remaining creatures, picking off as many as they could before the numbers overwhelmed them and he, Hammer, and Kalen had to resort to their gifts. Just as he shot a Sluagh to his right, he spun to find two more nearly on him. He threw out a hand, unleashing his fire, grimacing as they burned, squealing.
Not far from him, Kalen was doing a good job of protecting himself and Rowan from the onslaught, using his magic to dry them to husks. Hammer used his gift as a Tracer, teleporting from one place to another in an instant, barely avoiding decapitation. Aric was so distracted seeing him do that in battle, he nearly got himself gutted.
He collided with one of the creatures, causing him to drop his gun. Shit. In desperation, he pushed his body into the other's massive bulk, then forced a rapid half shift, his fingernails becoming razor-sharp claws. Then he drove them through rancid flesh into the beast's heart. It gave a grunt and fell as he yanked them free again.
Another beast rushed him from the side and he threw out a hand, using his gift of telekinesis to stop it cold, lift it. Then he sent it flying backward with the speed of a runaway train. He gave a shout of triumph as it slammed into a tree with a crunch, slid to the ground, and fell still.
Hammer and Kalen were easily dispatching the last of the Sluagh, though the bigger man was bleeding. Seeing that the path to the front door was now clear, Aric ran, vaguely aware of Rowan racing behind him. He paused long enough to give the front door a couple of hard kicks, and it crashed inward.
Sprinting inside, he searched for the witch. The one he longed to see burn for her crimes. He spotted the white-haired man who must be Chappell running for the back of the cabin, and Rowan shouted.
"I'll get him!" She took off, weapon in hand.
"Be careful!" He scanned the room; it appeared to be empty. Until she spoke.
"Did you miss me so much you had to come back for more?"
Right in front of him, Beryl appeared out of thin air. She hadn't changed. Long hair flowed around a face that should have been beautiful, if not for the ever-present coldness in her eyes and the cruel twist to her mouth.
"I'm here to toast your skanky ass," he snarled, taking a step forward.
She laughed huskily. "Good luck with that."
Aric released his fire again, throwing out a hand. But Beryl was just as fast, uttering a word in Latin and raising a palm toward him. His flames were deflected with a roar as crimson light drove them back, the power of the clash tossing him backward. He landed hard, the hit jarring his spine, and lost his hold on the flames.
The red light enveloped him, entering his body like a million volts of electricity. He screamed, couldn't help himself, the pain was so great. Writhed on the floor like a cockroach that had been sprayed, waiting to die and helpless to do a fucking thing about it.
Then a loud boom sounded and he was released from the light's power. Raising his head, he saw Beryl go flying, crash into a wood-and-glass case, the kind that held little knickknacks. Wood crunched and glass showered everywhere. In the entryway, Kalen stood, staff in hand, whispering another chant and sending a second bolt at the witch.
Aric didn't think he'd ever been so happy to see any of his brothers. No doubt, Kalen was one of them.
Beryl shrieked in pain and rage, flying up into the air with superhuman strength and speed. She flew at Kalen, firing a return blast that lifted him off his feet, propelled him back to smash into a wall. He slid to the floor, and the two of them returned blows.
Aric pushed to his feet, moving around behind the witch. He had to help Kalen while her attention was focused on him. Aric tore off his shirt, let loose his wolf. Shifted, kicked free of his pants and shoes, and ran. He leapt, hitting her between the shoulder blades, taking her to the floor. She twisted and he went for her throat, clamped down, fully intending to tear it out.
"Aric!" Nick's voice shouted. "Don't kill her!"
Damn it! He held his position, kept her pinned. Somehow he managed to suppress the need to tear the head off the bitch who'd caused him such pain. Several sets of footsteps approached, his team joining them. Where the fuck was Rowan?
"Aric, let her up," Nick ordered. "And you, witch. Get to your knees, nice and slow."
Aric moved aside, growling, hackles raised. Ready to go against his leader's command and tear her to shreds if she tried anything. "Now, on your feet. Slowly."
The men surrounded her. Kalen was the closest, keeping a wary eye on her. But even he wasn't prepared when she raised a bloodied finger and pressed it to the center of his forehead.
"Abyssus abyssum invocat," she hissed. Then she withdrew her hand and licked her own blood from her finger, looking quite pleased with herself.
Kalen's eyes drooped for a moment, and he staggered as though about to pass out. Hammer steadied him and the Sorcerer seemed to shake off whatever she'd done. Immediately, he mouthed his own incantation and the witch went rigid, arms going behind her back.
"She's bound," Kalen said in a tired voice. "We can transport her now."
Aric shifted back to human form and went for his pants. Yanking them on, he looked around for Rowan and spotted her emerging from the hallway. "Thank God," he said, striding toward her. Grabbing her, he pulled her against his chest. "I was way past worried about you."