He chuckled at his own sorry joke and wandered out of Phineas’s view. If Phineas strained his eyes to the left, he could make out one of Jack’s shoes. No doubt Jack was just as frustrated as he was.
Noises came from the kitchen. Kyle was raiding the refrigerator, banging cabinet doors shut, and dropping utensils into the stainless steel sink with a clatter.
Brynley would be at her father’s ranch now. A prisoner. She’d run away before, so she would probably be watched and guarded.
Footsteps headed to the sofa, then a creak as Kyle settled down, and gulping noises as he wolfed down his food.
Time crept by. He thought about Brynley, recalled every detail of their lovemaking, and prayed he’d have a chance to love her again. He strained, trying so hard to make his body move that beads of sweat rolled down his temple.
Snores came from the couch. Kyle was sound asleep. He was a lousy guard, but then he knew they weren’t going anywhere.
More time passed. Phineas kept trying to budge, but to no avail. A phone buzzed on the kitchen table. One of the sat phones. Freemont, most probably, wanting to know why they hadn’t checked in. Luckily, it was set on vibrate, and Kyle was sleeping right through it.
The minutes dragged by. Kyle kept snoring, and no one teleported in. No call from Rhett, so Brynley must be cooperating to keep Jack and him safe.
The sat phone buzzed again.
A terrible thought crept into his mind. If he and Jack were still on the floor at dawn, the sun would shine through the cabin windows.
And they would be toast.
She’d forgotten what an orgy of blood and guts occurred each month at her father’s house. Brynley had avoided the official hunt for five years now, ever since that night she’d become the prey. She’d started going to smaller hunts, hosted by friends she could trust, or she’d hunted with the Lost Boys at Phil’s cabin.
Dimitri had materialized with her, arriving next to Rhett and Corky in the woods bordering her father’s enormous backyard. It was there, in that grassy clearing, that the werewolves returned from their hunt, naked and bloody from gorging on their kills, many of them dragging dead carcasses behind them.
Each month, steel rods were erected down the length of the backyard, like rows of clothing rods in a closet, but with hooks instead of hangers. There, the elk and deer would be suspended and dressed. A row of fire pits were ready with spits for roasting.
Up on the hill, the giant ranch house sprawled. It had been purposely built on a hill, so her father could look down at anyone approaching.
Her father’s pride and joy was the covered back patio, equipped with an enormous outdoor kitchen and bar. Slabs of meat would be barbecued, bottles of beer guzzled down, and the party would continue for three nights. Gorging and hunting. Food and blood. Booze and sex. The Alphas who attended her father’s parties were allowed to take any women they wanted. Of course, the Supreme Pack Master’s daughters had always been off-limits, until that night five years ago.
She spotted her father on the patio, dressed in jeans and an unbuttoned shirt, talking to a female werewolf, still nude and smeared with blood across her breasts. Caddoc Jones didn’t look a day over forty-five, although he had to be four times that age. He fisted his hand in the woman’s long hair and pulled her close for a kiss.
Brynley looked away. She’d always suspected his infidelity and cruelty to Mom had incited the fight between him and Phil, resulting in her brother’s banishment.
Rhett noticed her discomfort and chuckled. “Wait here.” He strode into the clearing.
His stride and posture, clearly that of an arrogant Alpha wolf, made him stand out. Also the fact that he was neatly dressed while most of the returning hunters were nude and covered with blood, guts, and grime.
He marched down the center alley, framed on each side with rows of hanging carcasses. Blood dripped, staining the grass. Female Lycans reacted to his prowess, brushing their long hair over their shoulders to show off their breasts.
Brynley was suddenly immensely grateful that she’d fallen in love with a Vamp.
“Rhett!” Caddoc Jones strode to the edge of the patio and gazed down onto the backyard. “It’s about time you showed up. You’re late for the Hunt.”
Rhett stopped in the middle of the yard. “I’ve already been hunting tonight. And I’ve caught the most amazing prey.”
Caddoc lifted an eyebrow. “Indeed? Where is this prey of yours?”
Rhett glanced back, motioning to Dimitri. The Malcontent grabbed Brynley and zoomed forward, depositing her next to Rhett. He dashed back to the woods and Corky.
It seemed odd to Brynley that no one looked surprised that Rhett traveled with a few Malcontents. Apparently, they were accustomed to seeing him with vampires. But they were surprised by her appearance. Murmurs spread among the werewolves till everyone in the yard was staring at her.
She took a deep breath and looked up at her father.
He stared at her. At first she thought his face completely expressionless, but then she noticed the clenched jaw and eyes so intense he could probably kill a deer without touching it. He was pissed. Well, she supposed she had caused him some embarrassment by running away from the wedding he’d planned. That had been a rule drummed into her and Phil since infancy. Never, ever contradict or embarrass their father in front of his minions.
“I’ve brought her home,” Rhett boasted. “And she’s agreed to marry me in three days.”
Caddoc’s eyes narrowed. “Has she?”
He didn’t trust her. Well, he was right. She had no intention of marrying Rhett. Ever.
“Brynley!” a female voice squealed. A pretty young woman in a flowery cocktail dress ran across the patio, or attempted to. With a laugh, she kicked off her high-heeled sandals and sprinted barefoot across the yard.
Brynley’s heart expanded. “Glynis.” She grinned when her sister threw her arms around her with an exuberant hug.
They’d always hugged, especially after Mom had died and Phil had left. As the only females in the family, they’d clung to each other for support. They’d always understood there were no hugs to be had from their father or Glynis’s twin brother, Howell.
“Thank you, Rhett! I knew you could do it.” Glynis grinned at him, then at Brynley. “I’ve been begging him to bring you home.”
“Mission accomplished.” Rhett winked at her.
She giggled and pulled Brynley toward the patio. “Isn’t he dreamy?” she whispered.
“I know!” Glynis frowned at her. “I was so devastated when you ran away. If you had just stayed one more day, you would have met Rhett, and you would have seen how perfect he is for you.” She glanced toward their father and lowered her voice. “And you wouldn’t have upset you know who.”
Brynley stopped about six feet from the patio, where her father was still staring at her.
Glynis stepped between them, a wide grin plastered on her pretty face. “Brynley’s come home, Dad! Isn’t that wonderful?”
Bless her, Brynley thought. Glynis had always wanted to believe they were a happy family. This was the only world she knew, so she clung to the notion that it was a good one. Brynley had never had the heart to purposely burst the pretty bubble her sister lived in. She’d protected her over the years in hopes that her sister would escape by marrying a nice werewolf who would treat her well. Whenever a questionable guy had shown interest in her, Brynley had chased him off.
Caddoc glanced at Glynis, then back at Brynley. “I’m sure you two have a lot of catching up to do. Glynis, she will share your room until the wedding.”
Glynis clapped her hands together and grinned at Brynley. “We’ll have so much fun! It’ll be like summer
