Page 13 of Malcolm

“I will not go,” Alek said; the vampire snorted. “The scent of dog is already horrid with this one.” He dodged the claws aimed for his throat by disappearing and repairing near thedoor. “I’ve also received correspondence from my third child; it would appear he’s having a slight disagreement with a few of my relatives.”

Tiller clicked his tongue in annoyance. “I hope you and others realize you’re not out of contract with me. Remember, the one you signed with your lives on the line?”

“Yes, yes, you are fond of reminding us of it over and over again,” Alek said boredly.

“I’ll go. There really isn’t any other choice, is there.” Malcolm's voice pulled Tiller’s attention away from the annoying vampire. His green eyes narrowed on nothing. “I knew this day would come, but I wasn’t expecting it would be something like this.”

Tiller frowned, his ears twitching. He truly didn’t want to send the man back to his land, but if he didn’t send someone, the issues would grow to the point that he’d have no choice but to ask for the blue jay's interference, and from there, his own interest would be put on hold.

“Fine, I hope that you’re able to deal with this matter in a timely manner, also.” He pulled a picture from the inside of his suit pocket and placed it on the table. Malcolm leaned forward, and the vampire reappeared by his side. “I’m also sending you because of this.”

The picture showed a highway, and along the road were bodies lying face down. Some were missing arms and legs.

“What is this?” Malcolm asked.

“It is a picture of the guards from the transport that was bringing those dolls from Doctor Nathan's lab to our world. Everyone was killed, and the transported bodies disappeared. Detective Jameson was one of the victims; the bodies have been gathered, and all have a singular telling marker that would interest you, Malcolm.”

The werewolf lifted his eyes from the photo to his. “What?”

Tiller grinned. “The person who attacked them ate two out of eight of the guard's hearts. There were claw marks around their necks; it’s very clear a werewolf was involved.”

Malcolm looked back down at the pictures. “You’re not sending me back home because of the disappearances.”

“No,” Tiller said with a grin. “I’m sending you back to find out just which of your little werewolf friends are working with the enemy. After all, a werewolf, without a clan, wouldn’t be hard to find, but this one doesn’t look to be without a clan. He left this.”

Tiller pulled something from his pocket and placed it on the table. It was a Celtic knot, and within the knot was a wolf with a shield in its mouth. “Does this remind you of something?”

Malcolm's eyes widened, and his hand shook as he reached for it.

“I did what I had to for our people,” his father said, weak and always simpering.

He rubbed his thumb across the front of the pin. “I’ll go,” he said, meeting Tiller’s stare head one. “I’ll find him and tear his head from his body.” Someone from his family was out murdering innocent people and using poor women for such evil.

Malcolm felt his rage grow; nothing was more shameful than harming a woman, and if the stories he’d heard from Raijin and Castian about what their own mates had gone through were true, the one working with them needed to be punished. Even more so when his own mate, who was still sleeping in his apartment, had been harmed by these people. He would return home, find the killer, and deal with this dishonorable murderer.

Tiller nodded. “Well, I’d much prefer you bring him in for questioning.”

Malcolm stood, his chair scraping back against the floor. “I’ll leave tonight.”

Tiller smiled. “See, this is what obedience looks like.” He turned his glare to Alek, who was eyeing the wolf thoughtfully. “If only all of you acted the same way.”

Alek didn’t even bother looking at him before disappearing completely from the room.

Malcolm

Malcolm gave Tiller a short nod before he walked out of the room. He would pack and grab Eliza, and after they stopped at her apartment, they would leave using human means.

He’d planned to use his sister's letter to go back home. It would seem he wouldn’t have to convince the damn fox of anything now.

As he entered the elevator, he felt his phone buzz. Pulling it out, he answered, “Hello?”

“I don’t know what you were thinking, but why is there a female in your apartment?” Alek’s question came from the other end and held a clear note of amusement. “She’s a fierce little thing.”

Malcolm felt his throat close. “What are you doing in my apartment?”

Damn that Vampire, he should have known he couldn’t keep Eliza's existence a secret for long.

Alek released a low hum. “I noticed a different smell on you, and you were a bit too eager to do Tiller's bidding. So, I got curious. Why does the big bad puppy want to go back home? And here we are.” He chuckled, only for something to go bang in the background. “Oh, it looks like she found me. I didn’t think you were the type to shack up with someone who’s not your—ow. Now, little love, that’s not nice at all,” Alek said before the line went dead on the other end.

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