Bear Bait (Hero Mine Book 1) Read online

  “We can start with retracing your steps.”

  “That’s easy. My car is parked on the side of the road in the forest. I can take you to it. I ran out of gas.”

  “Good place to start.”

  “They were there. At least I think they were.”

  “Who was there?” Cade asked. Damn it, he should have gotten this information out of her last night. They had missed an opportunity.

  “I don’t know who they are.” She put her fork down. “My car ran out of gas. I got out, deciding to follow the road on foot. I had a vague idea of where I was heading from the GPS in my car. Then a car came. It stopped behind mine. I didn’t see anyone else get out of the car, because I ran. But next thing the demon … degetty was there, so unless he ran behind me all the way, he must have been in the car with them.”

  “Are you sure?”

  She arched her eyebrows at him. “I’m not sure of anything anymore.”

  “So they followed you in a car. And then they let the degetty go after you.”

  “Yes.”

  “And Kell was sure there was another degetty where we were. The same degetty? If not, that makes three in the forest in one night.”

  “And that doesn’t happen often?” Octavia asked hopefully.

  “It never happens. We get a couple every few weeks, interspersed with other things. But three in one night? I doubt it. Which means your degetty came to us? Why?”

  “Do you think it’s because…” She waved her finger at him and then at herself. “I don’t remember everything you said last night, but you called us mates. Do I want to know what that is?”

  “I’m a shifter,” he said, talking slowly to let that news sink in, but she took it in stride. “You remember? I said I was a monster too. I can turn into a bear.”

  “Of course you can.” Octavia shook her head. “I’m just going to go with it.”

  “Good idea,” Cade said, watching her intently.

  “And that was why said you would protect me?” Octavia asked.

  “With my life. Shifters have this… Let’s call it a gift. Although some say it’s a curse.”

  “This mates thing. Like a one true love?”

  “Yes. For shifters, it’s your one true love, or mate, or else it’s nothing. You grow up knowing that no one will be the right fit for you, unless you find your mate. And it’s a big world out there.”

  “Unless your one true love comes running into your life. Or herded into your life.”

  Cade nodded. “Looks that way, doesn’t it?”

  “Sure does.” She picked up his hand, palm facing upwards and traced her finger along the lines. His body trembled and he had to close his eyes in a bid to control himself. Her fingertip left a trail across his palm that left his emotions in upheaval in its wake. “I went to a fortuneteller.”

  “A fortuneteller?” he asked hoarsely.

  “Yes. I don’t know, after my mom died, I became aware of my own mortality. I wanted to know if I was going to meet someone, and how long I would live. I didn’t want to leave an orphan behind if I died young. Being an orphan at my age sucks, but for a child, it’s not something I would want.”

  “Don’t you have a father?”

  “No.” She shrugged. “Never knew him. My mom used to joke he was someone she met at the carnival when it was in town, but I think he was more likely to be the town drunk.” Octavia smiled sadly. “I just don’t know which town. We moved around a lot.”

  “I’m sorry. I can’t imagine what that must have been like.”

  “I didn’t know any better at the time.” She shrugged again, as if trying to dislodge it from her shoulders. “And it wasn’t all bad. My mom was fun. Unless she was really drunk. But she was my mom.”

  “What did the fortuneteller say?” Cade asked gently, trying to get her back onto the story. This was important, he was sure.

  “I thought he was a fake.” Octavia shook her head. “He said I would have a long life, two kids, and meet the man of my dreams. You know, the usual.”

  “Two kids, I can live with that,” Cade said.

  “Hold it, Bucko,” Octavia said. “He didn’t say anything about a shifter. I think he would have mentioned that, don’t you?”

  “So he was a fraud.”

  “I don’t know what he was. But I sure did meet someone. Matthew. A couple of days later at the station, as I got off the train.”

  That got his interest. “You mean you thought what the fortuneteller said had come true?”

  “Yes.”

  “And…” Although Cade wasn’t sure he wanted to know anymore.

  “And we had dinner. It was good. And we went to the movies…”

  “And?”

  “I got chased by a degetty.”

  Cade frowned as he went over what had happened. “You were set up.”

  “No.” She shook her head, denying it too strongly “Why would anyone set me up?”

  “So that you would come here.”

  “I don’t buy that. How did they know I would come here?”

  “Who gave you Natalie Munroe’s address?” Cade asked.

  “Matthew, and before you ask, I trust him,” she insisted. “I can’t believe he would set me up.”

  Cade stood up and walked to the window, looking down across the forest. “Maybe the fortuneteller was a seer.”

  “A seer?”

  “Yes. Someone who can see the future. I mean, really see it with such clarity it can be picked apart… and used.”

  “Used?”

  “When this fortuneteller came into contact with you, by touch.” Cade closed his hand around Octavia’s. “He could see your future. And whatever he saw was enough for him to act on.”

  “Act on?”

  “He probably makes more money on selling the information he sees, than he does reading people’s fortunes. One in ten, one in a hundred, maybe even one in a thousand people have something he can use.”

  “And with me, you think he hit the jackpot?”

  “I do.”

  “And so I’m here. But now what?”

  “Now we go and get your car, and then we sit and wait. If I’m right, they will come to us, or contact you. I think they set the degetty on you, and gave you Tally’s name, because it was a sure way to get you here. Soon we’ll find out why. Why here.” He got up, picked up the tray, and then said, “Come on, let’s get some more coffee and tell the others what we know.”

  Octavia followed him. They went to the kitchen where his mom and brothers were eating and drinking coffee while organizing their day. “I have a delivery over to Bartley that I have to do today,” Seth said.

  “If it’s heavy, make sure you take Tobias with you, or ask one of your cousins,” Eva said. “You still need time for your shoulder to heal.” She looked up as Cade and Octavia come in. “Hi there, kids. Did you sleep well, Octavia?”

  “I did. Or at least I think I did. I cannot remember a thing,” Octavia admitted.

  “Tally’s potion is good stuff. You look a whole lot better.”

  “Thanks. I feel great, except for my feet. Whatever Tally put on them is wearing off.”

  Eva got up out of her chair. “Let’s go look at them while Cade makes fresh coffee.”

  Cade watched Octavia leave the room, wanting to go with her, but knowing she was safe with his mom. Especially since they were still inside the house. He was going to have to relax a little or else he would go crazy worrying about her. They had to get this degetty off her back.

  “She looks a lot better,” Seth said.

  “She does,” Cade agreed.

  “Has she said anything?” Tobias asked.

  “Oh yeah,” Cade said and sat down with his brothers while he waited for the coffee. The whole time he had one ear on the voices in the sitting room. “She was set up. Big time.”

  “Why?” Seth asked.

  “That’s what I’m trying to figure out. She had her fortune told, maybe by a seer, but whoever it was, h
e set her up with a man she thought was going to be the love of her life. And since I’m the love of her life, we know it wasn’t true. This man, Matthew,” he practically spat the word out, “he is the one that gave her the address of Natalie Munroe.”

  “Tally?” Seth asked. “Why Tally?”

  “Exactly what I’d like to know,” Cade said.

  “So the seer set her up with the degetty?” Tobias asked.

  “Or the seer sold the information.” Seth nodded.

  “Yes. I think he saw something, and then they set her up.”

  “And you believe her?” Tobias asked, holding his hands up to block Cade’s angry look. “What? I have to ask. What if you are the one being set up?”

  “Now you sound like Tally,” Cade accused defensively.

  “Tobias could be right, you can see that, or has love blinded you?”

  “No, I can see it. But whether I’m being set up or not, it does not change the fact she is my mate. And no one can fake that. I mean no one can make a shifter think he’s found his mate, can they?”

  “Not that I heard,” Seth said.

  “Here’s what I think,” Cade said, lowering his voice. “When the fortuneteller read Octavia, he saw me, or us.” Cade moved his finger around in a circular motion.

  “Saw what? That we are overworked, underpaid…”

  “Underappreciated,” Seth added.

  “And don’t have a badge,” Cade added, and got a glare from Tobias.

  “Don’t start him on that,” Tobias said. “After you went to bed last night that is all he went on about, how Night Shifters get badges.

  “You both know I’m right,” Seth said.

  “And we both know we are not getting badges,” Tobias said. “And back to the real problem. What does anyone have to gain from all this? Conjuring a degetty, or buying a degetty, is not the easiest thing to do. I mean, your average human doesn’t know anything about them.”

  “And your average Other doesn’t know much more.”

  “Which means we’re looking at a rogue druid perhaps?”

  “Who wants a pet shifter?” Cade asked. “Because that is pretty much all I have going for me.”

  “What are you boys talking about?” Eva asked as she brought Octavia back to the kitchen.

  “Here, sit down.” Cade got up out of his seat to make room for Octavia. “How are your feet?”

  “Your Tally works miracles,” Octavia said.

  “She’s not my Tally,” Cade said awkwardly.

  “It’s OK, I get that she likes you.”

  “You do?”

  “I’m a woman, of course I can tell.”

  “It’s obvious to all of us, Cade.”

  “Which is why I walked her home.” He looked up at Octavia. “I needed to make sure she was OK, because we need her.”

  “So does this mean we are going after Octavia’s degetty?” Eva asked. “And do we know if it’s the same one Kell saw?”

  “We don’t know if it’s the same one. Tobias, would you get Wes and go back to where we captured Zinan yesterday. Seth, you go and show them where it was. But stay in the vehicle.”

  “I’m fine,” Seth said.

  “Do as your brother says,” Eva warned.

  “What are we looking for?” Tobias asked.

  “Any sign that another degetty was in the area. A trail.” Cade poured the coffee. “I want you to see if there is a trail leading to where I found Octavia. We were two miles to the east of here.”

  “You want to see if the degetty had eyes on both of you?” Tobias asked.

  “Pretty much. If we can link the two, we know we only have one left to track. If there are two more out there, we are going to have to tell the Council.”

  “I think we need to report this to Lucas, no matter what we find,” Eva said.

  “I’d rather have something concrete,” Cade said.

  “You have something concrete,” Eva said. “She’s sitting there cut to pieces.”

  “But we don’t know why. And I would rather do our research our way, on four paws. Not with some druid poking around in Octavia’s head.” He caught his mom’s gaze and held it. After talking with Tally last night, he was becoming more and more convinced that a druid was behind Helena’s madness. The squad might work for the Council, but that did not mean he trusted them.

  The only people he really trusted were his family, and Tally’s family. And Kell. He probably should not trust the Night Hunter, but he did all the same.

  “I agree with the not poking around in my head,” Octavia said.

  “What do you want me to do?” Eva asked.

  “Would you go over and check on Tally? She was upset last night, worried sick about Helena, and I want you to see how bad things are.”

  “Last time I saw Helena, she was fine.”

  “According to Tally, Helena is OK, unless magic is involved. It’s not just that she doesn’t believe in it, it’s like it doesn’t exist. Her brain just blanks it out. And those blanks are getting bigger. If you ask her about the weather, or her garden, she might seem normal; ask her about casting the circle, her brain can’t process it.”

  “OK, I’ll go over there. And what about you two?”

  “We are going to go and get Octavia’s car and have a good look around. The degetty may have arrived in a car. It gives us our only clue.”

  “A chauffeur-driven degetty, now I’ve heard everything,” Seth said.

  “We need to act fast. Before the clues are gone. One downpour and we’ll lose any possible trail.”

  “We are on it,” Seth said confidently as he drained his coffee and stood up.

  “Remember, your brother has ordered you to stay in the car,” Eva said.

  “And he always does as big brother Cade says,” Tobias said, putting on a voice and ruffling Seth’s hair.

  “Hey, cut it out,” Seth said. “I might be the youngest, but I am not a baby.”

  “Behave,” Eva called out as they left the house. “I’m sure one day they will grow up and act their age.”

  “Don’t bank on it, Mom,” Cade said, getting up and giving his mom a kiss on the cheek.

  “That reminds me, can I charge my phone?” Octavia asked. “It’s dead flat.”

  “Sure,” Cade answered, and Octavia left the room to fetch her phone.

  “I don’t have a charger,” Octavia said when she returned.

  Cade took her phone and plugged it in. “There, it’ll be charged by the time we get back.”

  “Take care of each other,” Eva said, watching them leave.

  “We will,” Cade called. As if his mom needed to ask. He was going out with his mate. It was his duty to look after her, and protect her, even if it meant giving up his own life.

  He just hoped he wasn’t walking into a trap, especially one of Octavia’s making. Yet as he watched her stand and take a deep breath, and then lift her head to the sky, he couldn’t let himself believe she was a bad person.

  He just couldn’t. Was he blinded by the mate bond? Or did the mate bond mean he could see into her soul? If he could see into her soul, he was certain she was a good person.

  Chapter Ten – Octavia

  “It’s so beautiful here,” Octavia said as Cade led her to his truck. Cade had spoken briefly with his brothers, and told them to call him if they found anything. Afterward, he had stood and watched them walk across to another house nestled in amongst the trees. “Do shifters live in all of these houses?”

  “Yes. My aunt and uncle live there; this is ours. Then Roman lives in this one, he is retired now with an old injury, but helps run the furniture business that keeps us fed and clothed. This one is empty. And the occupants of the rest are not in the squad.”

  “And Tally? She doesn’t live here?” Octavia asked, surprised.

  “No, she lives in a cabin in the forest, about a ten-minute drive away, or a twenty-minute walk through the forest.”

  “So that was why you were gone so long last nigh
t,” Octavia said.

  “Were you jealous?” he asked.

  “No.” Octavia shook her head unconvincingly as she climbed into the passenger seat of the truck. She wasn’t prepared for the feeling of closeness she experienced sitting in the confined space with Cade. His body heat, with a dash of animal magnetism, washed over her, and she wanted to fan herself. Instead, she opened the window.

  “Hot?” he asked with a wicked grin.

  “No, I just like to feel the wind on my face.” She was lying to him again, afraid to show her real feelings. Octavia had no idea why. He was one of the good guys. Why was she afraid to open herself up to Cade, when she had been more than willing to believe in love with Matthew?

  Because despite Octavia trying to convince herself it was true love with Matthew, she now saw the lie. There had been no real spark, no heat, no wanting to drag Matthew’s clothes off and fall into bed. While Cade… Well, Cade was a completely different proposition. He offered her true love, served up on a platter, every time his eyes raked her body. And that scared the hell out of her.

  They drove along the dirt road leading away from the small enclave of houses where Cade lived, and out onto a narrow road, which wound through the trees, before joining a wider road, where he turned right.

  “How do you know where you are going?” Octavia asked. “I only have a vague idea where I left my car.”

  “I worked it out that, from where I found you, there is only one road for ten miles. So unless you walked for hours, then it has to be along there.”

  “I didn’t walk,” she corrected. “I ran. For around half an hour. Maybe more.”

  “This has to be it.” He signaled to turn right and followed the narrow road, keeping his speed low as they looked for her car. Nothing looked familiar, but it had been dark and she had been running for her life. Or so she had thought.

  “What if they are waiting for us at my car?” Octavia asked.

  “Then we know who we are dealing with, and I drive fast to get away,” he said easily, and then pointed up ahead. “Is that it?”

  She peered into the shadows cast by the trees. “Yes.”

  “I’m going to drive past slowly and you can take a look inside. If it looks safe, we’ll turn around, and come back. When we do, I’ll pull up behind your car, check that no one is planning an ambush, and then put the gas in.” He slowed the truck. “You are going to slide into the driver’s seat here. And if anything happens you need to hit the gas and not stop.”