Fires Of Solstice Part 23

She jerked the strap of her purse higher on her shoulder and continued down the street, ignoring the festive Christmas lights s.h.i.+ning in many of the storefronts. She glanced to her right and spied her reflection in a s.h.i.+ning window. "Okay, so your gut tells you he had nothing to do with the murders. That still doesn't give him the right to tell you what to do."

A cold breeze whistled down the alley between two stores and she s.h.i.+vered. She'd forgotten her coat.

Turning, she took a step back toward the restaurant and came face-to-face with a woman wearing an old brown coat. Meredythe stepped back, involuntarily holding her breath and letting it out with relief when no overpowering odor reached her nose. She summoned a smile. "Can I help you?"

The woman stared at Meredythe for a moment, then said, "Come to us tomorrow. You will be a queen among women."

Meredythe made a frantic grab for the flap of her purse. Notes, she had to take notes. "What do you mean? Are you one of Mr. Anderson's followers? Do you believe you're a werewolf too?"

"One more night and all will be revealed," the woman repeated. Then she slipped into the alley and disappeared into the darkness.

Meredythe turned to follow her, s.h.i.+vering as another blast of cold air swirled around her.

"Meredythe, wait," Bleddyn called. "You forgot your coat and you're going the wrong way."

After one last glance down the alley-following an unknown person into a dark alley wasn't a very smart thing to do even if this was Smalltown, USA, and not nasty New York-she turned, planted her feet firmly and crossed her arms over her chest.

Bleddyn stopped before her and held out her coat.

"You forgot this."

She arched an eyebrow, clenching her teeth against their sudden urge to chatter and refusing to allow her body to s.h.i.+ver.

"Please, Meredythe, put your coat on before you get sick."

She dropped her purse to the sidewalk and grabbed her coat from his outstretched hand. Shrugging into it, she pulled her hood up over her head and yanked the zipper all the way to her chin. Bending over, she picked up her purse and hauled the strap onto her shoulder. Scowling, she pushed past Bleddyn and strode down the street.

When he grabbed her arm and pulling her to a halt, she shot an icy glare at him.

"Do. Not. Touch. Me."

Obviously biting off a curse, he shoved his hands in his pockets. "Please, Meredythe, I apologize."

Some of the stiffness left her posture.

"I had no right to tell you not to interview Anderson."

Meredythe relaxed more but remained wary.

Bleddyn s.h.i.+fted his weight as the wind whistled between them.

She didn't say anything.

"Look, Meredythe, I stay as far away from Anderson as I can, but that doesn't mean I don't know anything about him. Three times he's had animals removed from his farm because of neglect. He's suspected in a string of petty burglaries. His driving is so reckless, his license has been revoked. After the SPCA took away the last of his animals, he's threatened to shoot anyone who comes onto his property. Anderson is a dangerous man, Meredythe. There's no telling what he'll do. I don't want you getting hurt."

As Bleddyn talked, Meredythe inhaled the cold night air and looked up at the almost full moon. Bathed in its luminescent glow, she felt her anger drain away. Maybe she did overreact. She shook her head, fighting the sudden lethargic feeling invading her body. No, she didn't overreact. Bleddyn had no right to forbid her anything. But she should have stayed to listen to his explanation after she set him straight about the fact that who she interviewed during the course of her job was none of his business.

"Meredythe?"

She jerked her gaze away from the moon.

"What?"

His voice had become amused. "Do you want to stand here and stare at the moon all night?"

Jerking her purse strap, she stomped down the street.

"Let's get going. I'm sure the animals are wondering where we are. I know Methuselah will be pacing until I get back."

Bleddyn walked by her side silently. He'd be better off keeping his mouth shut. At least she was going back home with him. Once they were there, Methuselah and Shadow would erase what was left of her anger and any possible thoughts of leaving from her mind. Besides, the demon in his soul was hungry. If he allowed his anger to overcome his self-control...

Meredythe would never forgive what he'd do to her. She'd probably run screaming -if she were able.

After pulling the truck to a halt next to the garage, Bleddyn glanced over at Meredythe. She'd spent the entire ride back to the estate flipping through her tablet, scribbling more notes here and there and mumbling to herself.

"Meredythe, we're home."

"What? Oh. Do you need help with the groceries?"

"I can manage."

"Good. I'm going to go see Shadow for a few minutes. He's restless."

Shoving the tablet into her purse, she slid out of the truck and disappeared around the corner of the garage. A deep woof from Shadow told Bleddyn she'd reached her destination.

He got out and began gathering groceries. Leaning back against the truck, Bleddyn stared up at the moon and swallowed a deep breath of cold November air. Meredythe was safe.

The demon in his soul suddenly struck, fighting for dominance. Dropping the groceries, he braced his hands against the side of the truck and struggled to beat the darkness in his soul down with a powerful surge of his will. Gasping for breath, he leaned his forehead against the rim of the truck bed. He'd have to be careful tomorrow night. His control would have to be complete when he finally took Meredythe to his bed. The demon that rode his soul would not be gentle.

Pus.h.i.+ng himself away from the truck, he picked up the groceries and glanced once in the direction Meredythe had disappeared. He turned toward the house. Shadow occupied all her attention.

"There now. Everything is fine," Meredythe crooned to Shadow as he stared at her through the chain link fence. "You go to sleep and I'll see you in the morning. I'm sure Methuselah is wondering where I am."

After a quick tail wag and low woof, Shadow disappeared into his kennel.

Meredythe stepped outside his enclosure and latched the gate. Throwing her purse over her shoulder, she shoved her hands into her pockets and trudged toward the back of the house. Soft light illuminated the kitchen windows and the light by the back door drove back the shadows of the night.

She sighed. When did walking into Bleddyn's house start to feel like coming home?

Chapter Twelve.

The next morning, Meredythe unlatched the gate to Shadow's run and stepped inside. The wolf-dog stuck his head out of his kennel and growled.

"Not now, Shadow, okay?" she mumbled as she leaned back against the chain link fence. With a sigh, she slid down its length until she was sitting on the ground. Hugging her knees to her chest, she stared up into the clear, blue sky. A fluffy cloud drifted into her field of vision and she grimaced.

"What am I still doing here?"

Shadow stepped out of his kennel and sat on his haunches, ears p.r.i.c.ked forward.

Glancing his way, she stated, "I'm a reporter, a d.a.m.n good one. I go in, get my story and then get out-except this time. I've learned everything I can from Dr. Bleddyn Glyndwr, so why am I still living in his house? I should have left here days ago."

Shadow whined.

Meredythe broke eye contact and s.h.i.+fted as the cold seeped into the seat of her pants.

Shadow whined again.

Another glance in his direction. "The werewolf cult? Yeah, that's a good one. Right here under my nose the whole time. I should have been asking questions in town as soon as the roads were pa.s.sable, so why didn't I? What is it about Bleddyn Glyndwr that keeps me here?"

Shadow rose to his feet.

Smiling, Meredythe crossed her legs and rested her elbows on her thighs. Cupping her chin in one hand, she continued, "But then I wouldn't have met you."

Shadow woofed and wagged his tail twice.

Ignoring her cold behind, she dropped her hands into her lap, leaned her head back against the fence and closed her eyes. It was time to leave. Her heart told her Bleddyn was not the killer. She'd pack up her stuff and go, stopping in town long enough to find out what she could about Morton Anderson although her gut told her he was too fixated on Bleddyn really being a werewolf to be the murderer either.

Bleddyn... Last night's conversation leaped into her mind. Biting her bottom lip, she fisted both hands. To think, he'd had the gall to tell her to stay away from a possible lead. Who did he think he was to tell her who she could and couldn't interview? Arrogant, egotistical...

When a cold nose touched her cheek, Meredythe jerked herself away from her musings and opened her eyes. Shadow stood before her, staring into her eyes. Then his tongue lolled out of his mouth. White teeth flashed.

Oh s.h.i.+t! What on earth possessed me to come into Shadow's run? And why did I take my eyes off him?

After one quick swipe around his muzzle, Shadow's tongue disappeared back into his mouth. Then wolf-dog sat down, ears p.r.i.c.ked forward. A soft whine escaped his throat.

Slowly Meredythe relaxed and raised a hand to his neck. Another, more eager whine escaped as she began to stroke his soft fur. Sighing, he leaned into her hand.

"Oh Shadow," she murmured and threw both arms around his powerful shoulders.

Whining happily, the wolf-dog wiggled as close as he could.

Tears now streaming down her cheeks, Meredythe hugged him, laughing as he licked the moisture from her cheeks. Her back banged against the chain link fence when he flopped into her lap.

"Woof."

"I love you too, you silly boy," she said as she struggled under his weight. "Move over-you're squas.h.i.+ng me."

With another happy woof, Shadow scrambled off her lap. Another swipe of his tongue had her wiping her face on the sleeve of her parka.

Meredythe pushed herself to her feet. Shadow stood before her, tail wagging.

"You're all right now, aren't you, boy? You'll be okay, won't you?"

Another low woof. He grinned a doggy grin.

She grinned back and stroked his head. "You wonderful, wonderful boy. I have to go tell Bleddyn. Is that all right with you?"

Shadow whined and leaned into her hands. His tail continued to wag.

"I'll be right back and give you the brus.h.i.+ng of your life. How does that sound?"

"Woof."

After a few more quick strokes, Meredythe stepped out of Shadow's run. Then she sprinted to the house.

Bleddyn's sharp hearing registered the back door bang off the wall over the loud pulse of the hot water streaming over his head.

"Bleddyn!"

As he turned off the water, he heard Meredythe slide into the downstairs' hallway and skid to a stop before the open door of the study. Keri's questioning whine drifted out. She didn't know what had Meredythe so excited either.

He raked his wet hair off his face as he concentrated on Meredythe's thumping steps. Whatever she wanted must be important-she was leaping up the steps two at a time. Then she landed at the top of the stairs and dashed down the hall.

Frowning, Bleddyn wrapped a towel around his waist. Could something have happened to the wolves? He stepped through the door of the bathroom just as Meredythe shoved the door to his bedroom open and launched herself into the room.

"Bleddyn! You'll never guess-"

All thoughts of Shadow disappeared from Meredythe's mind as Bleddyn stepped out of the misty bathroom wearing nothing but a towel. A drop of water tumbled from his chin to his chest where it meandered obliquely across a well-formed pectoral muscle into dark, curly hair. Her gaze followed the droplet through his chest hair and down through the increasingly thin line of hair that plummeted over his flat stomach and disappeared beneath the towel. The obvious bulge against the front of the towel was impossible to miss.

She swallowed. "Oh my G.o.d."

Bleddyn combed the wet hair behind his ears with his fingers and smiled.

"Do you want something?"

Her gaze traveled slowly back up his body, stopping once again at his chest.

"Meredythe?"

She jerked her eyes to his face. Heat flooded her cheeks. "What?"

She watched as his hands dropped to the towel and tightened it.

"Do you want something?"

She licked her lips. "Umm. Yeah. I... "

He chuckled.

She s.h.i.+vered and jerked her thoughts back to the wolf-dog. "Shadow let me touch him. As a matter of fact, he crawled into my lap."