Free Full Moon Rising - 02 by Heath Stallcup Page B

makes it worth it.”  Mitchell sighed and slipped the flask back in his pocket.  “Anything I need to know about these two before we go in?”
    “I pretty much covered the high points in my debrief, Skip.  Natashia was the one who pulled my fat out of the fire and N adia’s her daughter.  They’re natural born wolves and can shift at will.  The rest…well, pretty much doesn’t apply.  I’m not sure what they can tell us that we don’t already know.”
    “I may need your help to read their body language in there.  You know them a lot better than I do.”
    Jack turned to Mitchell.  “Skipper, we wouldn’t have anything if she hadn’t risked it all to bring it to us.”
    “And you don’t find that just a little bit too convenient?  Just show up out of the blue with this dire warning?”
    “She wouldn’t set us up, sir.”  Jack started to get mad.
    “Her mother was at the ambush that your squad was slaug htered at…”
    “And she saved my ass!” he interjected.  “I trust them with my life!”
    Matt was silent for a moment and let Jack calm down then he stated simply, “Good.  Because if I decide to trust them, I’ll be trusting them with everybody’s lives.”
     
    *****
     
    Rufus Thorn paced his study, worry creasing his long face.  “Why have they not called?  Surely they have made it to the military base by now?”
    Georgio followed in mirror to his steps.  “I do not know S eñor.  She should have called by now, I am sure of it.”
    Scenarios played out in their minds, none of them good.  Rufus hated worrying about his people.  He had contacted ev eryone he could think of, but none had access to the base, and to be honest, none lived anywhere near where they were going.  All of Thorn’s people were in the Gulf area.  Vampire and wolf alike, they were willing to do whatever he wanted but none could answer his questions.
    Moments later, a young maid entered the study.  “Monsieur, you have a call.” For a wolf, she was timid and her face reflected concern.
    “Is it Natashia?” he asked.
    “Non.  It is a man.  He would not give his name.” she squeaked.
    Rufus went to his desk and pulled out the phone.  He hit the lit key and answered.  “This is Thorn.”
    “Ah, Rufus.  You sound good after all these years.” 
    If Rufus’ blood could run any colder, it would have chilled to ice.  He recognized the tinny voice immediately.  It sounded as though Foster was on a train, but he could still detect the superior tone and his odd inflections.
    “Paul.  What can I do to you?” he asked, purposely chan ging the greeting.
    Foster laughed lightly.  “Ah, Rufus.  Surely you aren’t still upset at how we left things all those long years ago, are you?”
    “Meet with me, Foster, and I’ll show you how forgiving I can be.” He replied coldly.
    “Yeah, I don’t think so.  At least, not until we can agree to a truce.”
    “That will never happen.  When next we meet, I will hold your cold undead heart in my hands and will rip your throat out with my teeth.”  He hissed.
    “Such violent tendencies, Rufus.  You should really talk to someone.  Perhaps counseling?”
    “We are done, Foster.”  Rufus was about to hang up when Foster interjected.
    “The Lamia Humanus!  Thorn!  They are planning som ething!”  He paused to see if Thorn would hear him out.  When he didn’t hear a dial tone and saw that the line was still connected, he continued, “I am proposing a truce so that we may form an alliance in order to deal with the Lamia Humanus.”
    This time it was Thorn’s turn to laugh.  “I could never trust you again, Foster.  You are…”
    “A Blood Alliance.” He interrupted.  “Blood honor, for the duration of the alliance.”  Thorn was silent.  “The Humanus intend to begin the Apocalypto, starting with the human hunters.”
    “I am aware of this.”  Rufus responded flatly.  “I am taking precautions as we speak.”
    “Really?