Wen Read online

  “I was raised with Wen's clan for a lot of years. My mother mated a VampLycan. They met when he was doing an art show. He was a tradesman.”

  He relaxed a little. “I didn't know they mated with humans.”

  “They normally don't. She was immune to mind control, and she kind of ended up in the middle of a fight with a small nest of Vampires who decided to crash his opening night at a gallery. He sold high-end stuff to rich people. The nest didn’t like having a VampLycan in town and thought it would be a good idea to attack him. He ended up killing all five of them and had to wipe the minds of all the humans present.” She paused.

  “Except your mother,” he guessed.

  “Exactly. He didn’t want to kill her though, and he spent a few days with her, trying to figure out what to do. Mom and Klentz fell in love. He took us home to Alaska with him. I was about a year old at the time.”

  “He accepted you. That's rare too.”

  “I was a cute baby. At least that's what Klentz always claimed. He was good to me.” She felt a wave of sadness. He had been a loving dad, even though he hadn't been the one to get her mom pregnant. That had been some loser who’d abandoned her mom after finding out she was expecting. “He died in an avalanche when I was fifteen. He used to go out sometimes to drag home fallen trees to create his art. It was a freak accident. He probably would have survived, but it brought down some boulders along with a mountain of snow. He was crushed under them. My mom left the clan after that and took me with her.” She paused. “Now you know my life story. Who is this Sherry?”

  “She's someone who works with us from time to time.”

  “And you call her legs?”

  He glanced away. “She's six-two.”

  “Ah.”

  He yanked open the door. “Climb into the back.”

  “Sure thing.” She had to climb alright. He gave her a little help and she scooted into a seat. “Thanks.”

  “No problem. So…Wen wanted your help because you know what we're dealing with?”

  “Yeah.”

  He sniffed at her again and his gaze traveled down her body, then back to her face. She could tell he was a little stunned.

  “I'm the bait, and I can guess what you're picking up. Do I smell like Wen?”

  “Yes. Strongly.”

  “That's the plan.”

  “He didn't tell me much.”

  “That's Wen for you.” Who the hell is Sherry to Wen? She didn't think she'd like the answer. “He's real closemouthed about some things.”

  Micah sealed the door, then rounded the plane to take the pilot seat. The entire thing shook a little when he started the engines. He twisted in his seat, handing her a headset. She took it and put it on. He adjusted his, then spoke.

  “Can you hear me okay?”

  “Yes.”

  She turned her head, watching as Wen strolled out of the building as if he didn't have a care in the world. None of the employees even looked his way. He'd obviously manipulated their memories and they were fine with whatever story he’d implanted. He got inside the plane and put on a headset.

  “Let's go, Micah. You're cleared for takeoff. They’re holding all air traffic until we're gone.” He turned his head. “You should probably take a nap, Gerri. We're going to be up all night.”

  Who the hell is Sherry?

  She resisted asking for about ten seconds. “Who’s Sherry?”

  Wen's lips pressed into a tight line and he shot a glare at the pilot. Micah ignored him, maneuvering the small craft toward the runway.

  “You didn't answer me,” she persisted.

  “Nobody.” Wen put on his seat belt. “We're taking off. Buckle in.”

  “I'm not dropping this. Have you forgotten how stubborn I can be? Just answer the question.”

  He twisted his head to glare at her. “She's a lawyer who occasionally works for my clan.”

  “A VampLycan?”

  “No.”

  “Lycan?”

  A muscle jumped in his jaw and he really looked furious. “No. She's human. Trayis is always buying up land when he can to expand our territory, and she handles some of the deals when the owners are from the lower states. She's also helped us with some legal issues. She specializes in business law.”

  “Does she handle you?” Jealousy was an ugly emotion that wouldn't be denied. Though he'd said he'd slept with some humans.

  He looked away. “We're taking off. Let Micah concentrate. It's windy today.”

  She refused to let it drop. “She knows what you are, doesn't she?”

  He ignored her. That answered that. Sherry was one of his lovers. It hurt but it also pissed her off.

  “Wen?”

  He twisted in the seat. “What?”

  “Does she know what you are?”

  “Yes. She does.” His eyes flashed a little, glowing blue. “She was saved by one of our clan about six years ago. She's immune to mind control, so we hired her. It was either that or kill her to keep her silent. Now we're protected under client privilege because she’s our attorney. Anything else you want to know?”

  “Were you the one to save her?”

  That muscle in his jaw twitched again. “Yes.”

  “Why am I here?”

  That question seemed to be one he wasn't expecting. “I told you.”

  “You said you needed me because I’m human and know what you are. You already had Sherry. I take it you weren't willing to risk her ass?” That hurt.

  His expression softened. “It's not like that.”

  “Fuck you, Wen.” She leaned back against the seat and closed her eyes, fighting tears. He could have taken the other woman on his hunt but he’d chosen her instead. It was going to be dangerous. He wasn't willing to risk Sherry's life. Just hers.

  “I told you the truth.”

  She flinched at hearing his snarled words. He was really loud over the droning engines as they sped down the runway. The plane lifted up into the air, swaying in the wind. She kept her eyes closed. Heights weren't her favorite thing, nor was looking at Wen at that moment.

  “Damn it, don't ignore me,” he demanded.

  She lifted her hand and flipped him off. “Just shut up. I'm taking that nap.” She hadn't put on her belt, so she just drew her legs up and curled sideways into the seat. It didn't matter if she was tossed around a bit at that moment. It was the least of her worries.

  “It's not like that, Gerri. I wanted you with me on this mission. No one else.”

  She opened her eyes and glared at him. “Right. You fuck this Sherry, don't you?”

  He said nothing.

  “That's a big yes. You lied to me.”

  “I didn't.”

  “You implied that I was the only human who you could trust not to stab you in the back if they knew what you were. Guess what? Be glad I don't have a knife right now. And it wouldn't be your back I'd be aiming for. I'd take your balls.”

  “She doesn't matter, Gerri.”

  “Bullshit. You're keeping her far from this mess and I'm the one you're willing to sacrifice. Just shut up, Wen. I don't want to hear any more of your lies.”

  “I wanted to be with you!”

  “Fuck!” Micah yelled. “Don't roar in my ear. I'm trying to fly.”

  “Stay out of this,” Wen snarled. “You had no right to tell her about Sherry.”

  “I thought you said that's who we were picking up! Their names sound a lot alike. I called her legs and she started asking questions. I didn't say anything about you screwing Sherry.”

  “I'm the one getting screwed now,” Gerri scoffed. “So he can keep her safe. She works for the clan, so she's more important.”

  “Goddamn it,” Wen snarled.

  He shocked her when he stood and climbed over the seats. It was a small, cramped area in the cabin. Micah started cursing and Gerri could relate. The plane tilted a bit. There wasn't a lot of space in the backseat and even less once Wen was almost on top of her. She slapped at him when he tried