Rouen Chronicles Box Set

by Raven Steele

  “Come on guys, let’s go.” I pulled at Samira when she disappeared out of my grasp. I could see her in the distance and ran to catch up with her. We raced as far as Lynx’s car, with Ryder and Lynx running and giggling behind us. I rolled my eyes. Couples.

  As soon as we reached the car, Lynx collapsed against Ryder, breathing heavily. “That was fun!”

  Samira flashed her usual dead look. I laughed. It felt good to know I wasn’t the only one she considered ridiculous.

  She ignored me and asked Lynx, “What happened back there?”

  Lynx took a moment to catch her breath before responding. “Just used a little bit of magic.”

  “You stopped time,” Samira stated.

  Ryder’s jaw fell open. “You can do that?”

  “Yep, she sure can,” I said proudly. “Pretty badass, right?”

  Lynx shrugged. “Just something I’ve always been able to do since I was little, but I can only do it for about twenty seconds, so it’s not super reliable.”

  He pulled her closer, his voice deep and breathy. “Briar’s right. That could come in handy sometimes.”

  Lynx blushed. “You think?”

  My nose wrinkled, but I laughed despite myself. “Eew, get a room, you guys.”

  Ryder opened her car door. “And that’s our cue. Let’s go back to your place.”

  Just as Lynx slid into the seat, I warned them, “You touch my bed and I’ll put Nair in your shampoo.”

  “I’m leaving, too,” Samira said. “There are still three hours left of darkness to complete my tasks.”

  I was about to ask her what work, but froze when a voice from the darkness said, “I found you.”

  Chapter 15

  All of us turned toward the tree line, ready to fight the unknown presence in the forest. Luke stepped out of the shadows and into the moonlight. He looked like Satan had run over him with a hay baler, with disheveled hair and dirt smears across his arm and face. His eyes were slightly glazed too, so I knew he’d had several drinks by now, and his eyes were dark and brooding. He held a beer can in his hand.

  I stepped towards him. “Luke, I’m glad you’re here.”

  Ignoring me, he glanced over my shoulder. “Hello Samira, Lynx.” His eyes moved to Ryder, and he gave a single nod.

  “I was just taking them home,” Ryder said. “You coming, Briar?”

  I glanced back at Luke. The beer in his hand was almost empty. “I think I’ll stay for a little longer.”

  Samira didn’t bother saying goodbye. She squeezed my shoulder lightly before speeding away into the night. Lynx closed the car door and waved goodbye, giving me a sympathetic look. I watched until darkness completely swallowed the red of their taillights.

  “What were you doing upstairs with all of them?” Luke finally looked at me, stepping closer where I could see him better. His right eye was bruised, and he had a small tear in his shirt.

  “How do you know we were upstairs?”

  “I’ve been waiting for you to show up. Everyone said you were out running. When they came back and you weren’t with them, I went looking for you. I walked around the house and saw you guys jumping from the window.” He shifted his weight, a hurt expression on his face. “So tell me, what were you doing up there? Without me. Something bad enough that you had to jump from a window, instead of just walking out the front door.”

  “Did you look through that box?”

  His eye twitched and his lips pressed together in a tight line, and I knew the answer. He was upset because he didn’t find anything that would help him. And it made the ever-present suffocating feeling in my chest tighten. I wished I could make everything right for him. I knew what it felt like to fall into a dark hole.

  I put my hand on his chest. “Luke, I—”

  “Don’t change the subject, Briar. For once in your life, just tell me the truth. Straight out.”

  My mouth dropped open, his harshness burning through me. “You’re right. We got an opportunity to search Dominic’s room.”

  “Why didn’t you call me?”

  “We couldn’t wait for you. So we took advantage. Everyone was distracted. And we found it, that room he keeps hidden.”

  “Did you find anything about Jake?” His voice cracked at the last word.

  I softly shook my head, and he closed his eyes. His face hardened.

  “I tried, Luke. I swear. We didn’t have a lot of time, but I searched everywhere for something, but there was nothing.”

  He staggered forward, dropping the beer can. I pulled him to me, staring up into his eyes. “I swear on my father’s grave, we will find him.”

  He pushed me away, his face angry. “Why didn’t you wait for me?”

  “Dominic was leaving and a bunch of the shifters were going running. We had to make use of the moment.”

  “And yet,” his eyes burned with blue fire, “you had time to bring Samira here. Lynx.”

  “I …” My mouth was caught open. It was true. “Gerald said you weren’t coming for a few hours. I thought you were running shitty errands for Dominic.” I touched his eye. The bruise had already begun to fade, but there was a light scratch over his eye. I ran my finger over it, wondering what dirty work Dominic had him doing tonight.

  “You still could’ve called me. Maybe I would’ve seen something you didn’t.”

  Regret coursed through me, and I nodded. He was right.

  “I’m tired of you keeping me out as if I’m one of them.” He motioned toward Fire Ridge. “You know my only reason for joining. I’m not one of them. I’ve never told anyone about my brother. That shows how much I trust you, and I need the same trust in return. I don’t even care if a vampire drinks from you. I mean,” he ran his fingers through his hair, messing it up even more. It only made him look sexier. “I’d rather one didn’t because it makes me want to kill him. Thinking about the way his fingers were on you or how his lips have touched your flesh when mine haven’t. It’s driving me crazy.”

  “You want your lips on me?”

  “You know I do.”

  “And yet, you won’t stop me if you think I’m going to let him do it again?”

  His eyes found mine, and a trace of vulnerability slipped through as he shook his head. A rush of power flowed through me. He really did trust me. And that meant everything to me.

  I closed the distance between us, grasping his shirt. “I don’t think you’re one of them. You’re so much more.”

  His hands found my hips and gripped them tight. “You’re playing a dangerous game. It terrifies me.”

  “I’m doing what I have to do.”

  “I know you are. But what if … What if the hole you fall in is too deep? I don’t know if I can pull us both out.”

  “I don’t need you to. When this is over, I’ll pull myself out.”

  “What if I lose you in the process?”

  “What makes you think you have me?” I nuzzled his face, my thumb brushing his cheek.

  “You are mine. Whether you see it or not.” A possessive growl escaped his throat, and he slid his face forward to capture my finger into his mouth. He bit it lightly, sending heat straight to my core. He wrapped his tongue around it, sucking it deeper into his mouth.

  Fuck. I growled, my own wolf responding to his. I was flush against him now, and I could feel his hardness pressing into my stomach.

  “As soon as this is over, I will show you who you belong to.” He took my face in his hands and yanked me forward, his lips crashing into mine. Heat rushed through my body, and I sucked his tongue into my mouth, biting it harshly.

  He stilled, then grabbed my ass, lifting it up so my legs could wrap around his waist. He pushed me against a tree, invading my mouth with his tongue. His kiss was hot, possessive, and lit a fire inside me.

  I captured his cheeks in my hands, feeling the raging beast break out from inside me. She wanted more. I needed more. I threw caution to the wind and yanked at the bottom of his shirt. He leaned back, ripping it
over his head. Then he kissed me again, scraping my back against the back of the tree. I moaned into his mouth and my hands ran down his chest, tracing the lines of his muscles. His thumb traced over the tip of my nipple and I pressed my chest into his hand. I wanted to feel his hands over every inch of my skin.

  “Do you want this?”

  “Yes.” My voice came out breathless. “So much yes.” I wrapped my arms around his neck, giving in to the unbridled passion taking over my mind. It had been a long time since I’d given into reckless abandonment, and my whole body ached to feel him inside me. I’d forgotten how hot it could be. To not think, just react. Pure instincts. Raw passion.

  Just the way my wolf loved it.

  “Good.” He gripped my jaw, slowing the kisses until I thought I would die from impatience. I snarled, demanding more, but he took his time as his tongue explored my mouth, his fingers tracing my side. Then he slowly pulled back, smirking.

  “What the hell, Luke?”

  He kissed me softly, then pulled away, letting my feet fall to the ground. “Come on. I need to take you home.”

  “What is your problem?”

  He kissed my nose. “You’re cute when you’re angry.”

  “I am not cute.” I shoved at his chest, but he didn’t move an inch.

  “Yes, you are, my little pup.” His smile grew bigger.

  “I am not your little anything.”

  “You’re wrong about that.” He pulled me to him, his hand on the nape of my neck protectively, wrapping his fingers in the back of my hair. “You’re mine, Pup. I will have you. And I will wait, because once I take you, I’m never letting you go.”

  My breath caught at the somber look on his face. I knew he meant what he said. He wasn’t playing a game with me. He was playing for keeps.

  Chapter 16

  The house was quiet when I entered. I leaned against the closed door, listening to the sounds of Luke’s bike driving away. Lynx was home. I could hear her steady breathing coming from her room. I didn’t detect Samira but, being dead and all, she could be here and I’d never know it unless she moved.

  I crashed onto my bed, thinking I’d sleep well since it had been such a long night, but as soon as my eyes closed, the nightmares returned. My brother lying on the ground, blood gurgling in his mouth as he struggled to say goodbye to his bride lying next to him. I wanted to tell him to stop fighting. She was already dead.

  I jerked awake, gasping for breath and drenched in sweat. Killing Silas had opened old wounds, the kind that batter the mind when the world is quiet and still. I didn’t know how much longer I could stand it. A mind can only handle so much. And I needed to handle a lot right now. I had to stay focused. My hands began to shake.

  Screw this.

  I jumped from the bed and removed the briefcase from underneath it. Just a little. Just enough to soothe the pain. I needed sleep. Plus, Angel had said the first time was always the worst, right?

  Popping off the top of one of the vials, I gulped it down in one shot. The liquid was cool in my mouth. The sting wasn’t as strong as what Angel had given me, but it was effective. My thoughts slowed and my brain could once again rest. I crawled back into bed and stared up at the ceiling that was beginning to open, revealing a world of wonder and hope. From that giant hole, I felt peace and love and happiness and all the things I had desperately wanted for too long.

  Finally, I fell asleep.

  The next day was fabulous. The best I'd had in a long time. I cleaned the house, including the fridge. I even tried to sneak into Sam's room, but it was blocked with heavy magic. No surprise there. So I had lunch with Lynx instead. Then I stopped by Sinsual to see if Eddie needed help with inventory or whatever. When he didn't, I convinced Ryder to go on a long motorcycle ride with me through the hills. The Silver Claws had a bunch of bikes, and I decided to take advantage of being in a pack, for once.

  I raced him to the top of a hill, overlooking the far-off mountain range. The view of the forest spreading out below me was breathtaking, and the smell of the woods called to me. My wolf thrummed beneath my skin, loving the thrill of the bike. I needed more.

  Ryder took off his helmet and peered at me. "What's your deal?"

  I removed my own and wiped the sweat from my brow. "What do you mean?"

  "You just seem so … " He searched for the word. "Happy."

  "I am. Soon I will be working directly under Dominic. I just know it."

  "How? The guy hates you, no offense."

  "I'm not sure, but I have a feeling if I give him the location to the Greybacks, he’ll forgive me for everything.”

  His face paled. "You can't be serious."

  "Why?"

  "Because you would be betraying my father.”

  "So? Jackson is a douche, no offense. He had you splayed out, ready to torture and kill you. He deserves it for what he did to you.”

  "I don't care about that. What I mean is, he will get revenge. You don't know him like I do. If you betray him, he will come after you and the people you care about."

  I swung my leg over the seat and walked to the ledge. It must've been a hundred feet to the bottom. I was pretty sure I could survive if I jumped. "I don't think so. Once Dominic finds where they are hiding, he's going to put them back into their place. They won't dare make any move Dominic doesn't approve of."

  "You're wrong, Briar."

  I laughed. "You're being paranoid."

  "And you're being careless, and it's pissing me off. What if something happened to Lynx?"

  "It won't. I promise."

  He shook his head. "I can't get behind this. You've been my best friend ever since you came into the pack. You've been the only one to ever give a damn about me, but this? It’s wrong.”

  “Ryder—”

  "I have to go. I'll see you back at Fire Ridge. I hope you reconsider."

  He drove away, leaving me alone on top of the hill. Whatever. He'd see I was right.

  Energy surged through me. I threw off my clothes and jumped straight over the cliff, shifting as I went. The rush from flying through the air made me feel more alive than I ever had. I landed on my feet and raced through the woods.

  When the sun began to set, I returned to the bike. By the time I’d shifted back into my human form, the sky was painted in oranges and reds melting into a burning horizon. I gazed at it for a while, mesmerized by the power behind those colors. I wished I could dive into the blaze and absorb some of it into me. I blinked, realizing I was probably still high.

  I chuckled to myself and made my way back to Fire Ridge. By the time I got there, some of my elation had worn off and doubt had wormed its way back into my thoughts. What if Jackson found out I’d betrayed him? What if Dominic never put me back on his detail? What if we never found Jake or the Big Baddie, and I had to let Angel drink from me for the rest of my life? Questions I’d never have the answers to.

  When I reached the mansion, I headed out back, pulled by the smell of barbecue. Jerry was working the grill, serving up huge steaks.

  “Can I get one of those?”

  “Sure thing, sweetheart.”

  “Hey, is Dominic back?”

  “Not yet, but soon.”

  I grabbed a bottle of whiskey, dropped into a chair and immersed myself into everyone around me. Anything to distract myself from my hand that kept twitching on its own. I hated feeling this way, like my life was going to go to shit any moment. I needed to get it together before I messed everything up.

  A fire burned hot and high as the night wore on. My hand continued to twitch, even after the whiskey was gone. I turned my attention to Jerry, who was telling a joke in a loud voice. I faked a laugh when he got to the punch line. My skin started to itch from the inside out. I felt like everyone was looking at me, even though when I turned my head, no one even blinked my way. But they were probably thinking it; they knew I was hiding the truth, that I’d killed Silas on purpose. And they hated me for it. If it wasn’t for Luke and Gerald’s trust in m
e, they’d probably kill me and bury my body in the forest behind us.

  After a month or two, Luke would move on and no one would even remember I’d existed. Except maybe my uncle. But eventually, he would move on, too.

  I jumped to my feet, anxious to leave. When was Dominic coming back? As soon as I gave him the location for the Greybacks, he’d trust me again. Then I could kill him and move on from this place. I felt eyes on me as I left, heading into the house where it was dark and mostly empty. I found a corner deep in the shadows and gasped for air.

  Keep it together, Briar.

  Voices drew my attention from down the hall. I snuck to where I could hear better. Dominic was back and by the sound of the female voice, he was talking to Heather.

  “I let you have those two Greybacks, and you lost them?”

  A memory flashed in my mind. The two Greybacks Samira had compelled to walk into a restaurant and say nothing, even when Terrence beat them up.

  “Someone was helping them, I swear,” Heather responded with desperation in her voice. “We couldn’t even smell where they’d gone to. You have a traitor inside the pack.”

  Dominic’s hand slammed on his desk. “Don’t you dare lie to me!”

  “It was probably Briar. You know she was gunning for Silas’ position.”

  There was a deadly silence, and then Dominic’s voice. “Except she was still in the basement when that happened. Maybe it was you who helped them escape.”

  Heather gasped. “I swear, Dominic. It wasn’t me.”

  I smirked, knowing it was probably Luke and Samira who’d helped those Greybacks escape.

  “I want the Greybacks found!” Dominic’s voice boomed. He slammed his fist again. “They are destroying everything I’ve worked for.”

  “I’m sorry, Dominic,” she said, her voice submissive. “We’ve looked everywhere, spoken to everyone. No one knows anything.”

  I grinned, and a thrill raced through me. This was exactly what I was waiting for. Plus, I’d be able to shove it in Heather’s face, the little bitch. I walked silently down the hall.