When she got inside she was shocked to see Devon, a were she recognized as one of Rafe’s least favorite lackeys. He was what Rafe had called a “failed experiment”. When Jenna first decided to change herself she was looking through the notes that Rafe left behind. She found and ignored a number of write ups Rafe had done describing the different things he attempted to do before deciding on what he would do to himself.
Devon was a mix of snake and lynx. Rafe had been trying to create an assassin comparable to vampires. It didn’t work out quite the way Rafe wanted. Reptiles simply didn’t mix well with mammals. Devon had brown black scales punctuated by scattered tufts of hair all over his body no matter what form he was. He looked diseased. It would be exceptionally difficult to blend in with the human population and act as an assassin when you look like a circus side show. Additionally he wasn’t able to completely shift. According to the notes only parts of his body changed and when they did he seemed to be deformed. At that time Rafe had abandoned a number of other trials he planned involving birds or other non-mammals. Devon had been one of the mixed weres left behind at Tairneach manor the night Rafe died.
Jenna noticed a few other odd looking were combinations. They seemed to be standing guard at some doors to rooms on one wall. The main body of the group which was milling about the building or playing sentinel on guard in various locations were armed men in army green uniforms. Jenna wasn’t sure if Devon was in charge or if there was someone else around here that he answered to, but at the very least it wasn’t Cadifor.
One of the men in suits who had brought her here snapped her out of her assessment of her new situation. “Come this way. There are a few people who would like to speak with you.”
Brennus was seething in the back of her mind. You’re about to find out that you were tricked in to coming here for someone else’s agenda. Jenna was led over to Devon and a small lanky mousy looking man wearing glasses and a white lab coat. They were staring at what appeared to be copies of some familiar looking paperwork.
“Jenna, it’s good to see you,” Devon sneered.
“Somehow I don’t think you were very being very sincere,” Jenna cooed and reverted back to her simpering temptress mode. She generally believed all men were malleable if she batted her eyed, flashed her cleavage and gave the distinct impression that she wanted to be in their bed.
Jenna could feel disgust and frustration emanating from Brennus. She still believed that she needed some kind of back up before going after Aislinn and Brennus believed that they were short on time and these men weren’t remotely trustworthy.
“So why exactly do you need me here?” Jenna could already guess what they wanted.
“First we’d like to thank you Jenna for recruiting those druids to translate the majority of these notes. They did a nice job of making quite a few things more clear than we could have possibly determined on our own.”
Jenna smiled at him. “What are you after Devon? Since when do you work with the human government?”
“Since none of the other groups involved in the current political mess would be willing to help me find an antidote to what Rafe did to me.” He glared harshly at Jenna.
“What have I done to earn such venomous looks from you Devon? I wasn’t the one who turned you.”
“Maybe not. But somehow I fell a distinct kinship to the freaks you created on your own, following in that lunatic’s footsteps. You have no idea how long I worked to get my hands on this information,” he said and picked up a pile of papers that he threw at Jenna. “First Rafe and his insanity and then you got in my way. Now it seems that no matter what we do there is something just not quite right here. So, I was wondering if you could shed some light.”
“You know I didn’t make them Devon,” Jenna smiled stepping up a bit closer to the man and running her hand up his chest and over his shoulder. “The druids did that. I only ordered it.”
Devon brushed Jenna’s hand away. “I’m not asking you to help with the formula. That angle was already approached with unfortunate results. In fact the only reason you are standing here right now is because I let the feds funding this think you were the one who got to those useless druids. Lucky for you my plans coincided with something they wanted.”
“So you’re not really working for them.” Jenna riffled through some of the papers on the table.
“I’m working with them because some things I need happen to be similar to some things they want. If all goes well then they will be able to make or unmake whatever kind of were they want. For my cooperation I get to unmake myself and all the rest of the freak show weres you and your predecessor created. The humans and I have a very clear understanding. Unfortunately I hear that my notes are incomplete. The one piece of useful information my men retrieved from the druids before they died was that you with held some crucial notes and information.”
Devon nodded to someone standing behind Jenna. She hadn’t event realized that the man was behind her. One of the men from her lengthy ride here put a large meaty hand on her shoulder and a gun prodded her back. “Now Jenna I’m tired of failures here. I want whatever it is you have hidden and I want it now.”
Aislinn had yet to decide if she liked coming to the reservation. It was beautiful. The forest and the manor held so many terrible and wonderful memories. She could look at a spot on the ground and remember a body being there or making love to Cullen on that spot. It was disturbing contrast. She prayed that one day soon she would be able to forget all the death and destruction and merely have a happy life with her children and her mate.
She placed a concerned hand on her stomach. Rissa saw the gesture and placed a reassuring hand over Aislinn’s. With Drake and the other betas in tow they walked the path toward the standing stones in silence. The plan was for her to speak with Brinah and then they would immediately go back to the Madadh-alluidh Saobhaidh. It would make for a long day of driving but everyone was intent on that being the best plan.
It seemed like each time Aislinn came back to this place she felt the power here more intensely. It was as if she was becoming more attuned to it. The thought scared her a little. She still wasn’t completely comfortable with that part of herself. “Well here we are,” she said nervously as they all stopped outside the stone circle and stared at it as if it might come to life at any moment.
“Alright,” Drake said clearing his throat. “Please be quick about this. Is there any way at all you can let us know if you need help?”
“I don’t think so Drake,” Aislinn smiled wanly. “Even if there was I don’t think there would be anything you could do about it.”
Drake heaved a heavy sigh and the other betas grumbled about how much pain Cullen would cause if something happened here.
Rissa was the voice of confidence in the situation. “It’s gonna be fine,” she smiled with forced cheer. “You’re going alone. Brinah will be the only one there. It’s not like you’re taking Jenna in there with you this time. It will be fine. Now go and get it done so we can all go home.” She hugged Aislinn and kissed her cheek then shooed her toward the stones.
Aislinn took a deep breath and walked between two of the large run covered monuments and toward the stone slab at the center of the ring. Instantly she vanished from the other’s view.
It wasn’t difficult to bring Brinah here this time. Not only was she getting better at controlling her own thoughts but she was so determined to speak to Brinah that truly there would have been no way for her to focus long enough to bring anyone else.