Rouen Chronicles Box Set

by Raven Steele

  “We can’t kill him until we know who is pulling his strings and how it’s related to Trianus. It’s got to be someone very powerful to convince Dominic he doesn’t need money.”

  “True. Speaking of which, where have you been? I assume it has something to do with Trianus?”

  “Later.” She folded her arms, her mouth tight. This was her thinking pose.

  I pressed my palms to the wall and lowered my head. “If those drugs get out, we could be in big trouble. I don’t think we should wait to kill Dominic. There may be too much damage to fix if we do.”

  “You’re only saying that because of some vendetta you have against him.”

  Straightening, I inhaled a breath to calm down. The last person I should be fighting is my roommate and friend. I think it was in the rules somewhere.

  “It’s about more than that now. It’s about protecting my friends and even strangers I’ve never met. You’ve seen what those drugs did to me, what it could do to others. You were the one always telling me this. If I felt I could take on the Nocturnas, I’d do it.” I paused. “Now there’s a novel thought! Why don’t you convince Mateo not to sell it at all? I saw the way you were blinking at him.”

  “I wasn’t blinking,” she said, but she averted her gaze, a very uncharacteristic Samira move.

  “Ah hah! I knew it, you do like him.” I grinned big despite our current predicament.

  “I don’t have time to like people.”

  “You like me.”

  “I tolerate you.”

  “Don’t say that, Sammie. We’re BFFFFBG’s.”

  She narrowed her eyes, trying to figure out what that meant.

  I clarified. “Best Friends Forever Fighting Fucking Bad Guys. I was hoping we could get matching tattoos.”

  She cracked one of her rare smiles. “Tattoos don’t work on my strong skin.”

  “Of course they don’t.” I put my arm around her shoulders and led her back to the conference room.

  Dominic was already inside shaking hands with Mateo. Shoot. That couldn’t be good.

  My earlier jovial mood dissipated. “What did we miss?”

  Angel looked over at me, his expression dark. “We are officially working with the Silver Claws. A small shipment will be delivered to Fire Ridge later tonight, as Dominic insisted.”

  Samira and I glanced at each other. We needed to destroy those drugs and fast.

  Chapter 34

  As promised, the drugs were delivered later that night. Since Samira was not invited back to Fire Ridge, I enlisted Luke and my uncle to help keep an eye on where the drugs were stored. I was hoping it wouldn't be anywhere too difficult so we could get access to them later.

  My stomach sank when I saw Terrence and Leroy wheel the crate into the mansion’s large safe. There would be no getting to it anytime soon. The best I could do now is watch for when they were removed and try to intercept them then. Hell, Dominic might even ask me to distribute them if I played my cards right.

  For the next few days, I kept a careful eye on the safe. Not much happened. For someone so rushed to have the drug right away, Dominic was not in a hurry to disperse it. He ordered Luke and Heather to make sure runners were set up to carry the drug across state lines, but he kept the new drug locked up. My gut told me that something was wrong, something was going on that I couldn’t see. I showed up earlier and stayed later, watching Dominic carefully every time he went anywhere. But the drugs remained in the safe, as far as I could tell.

  Luke drove me home for my very last session of Hell with my old friend, Holy Water. I secretly thought Samira had lied, saying it came from the Vatican. Personally, I thought she really got it from some demon friends, but who was I to question its source? I was only infusing my whole circulatory system with it. Eh, maybe it would give me superpowers or something.

  On the way home, my thoughts drifted to Angel and how he’d acted at the last meeting. It was obvious that I was under some kind of protection between Mateo and him. The thought warmed me, even though I didn’t understand it.

  I’d been avoiding talking to him ever since my intervention. I did miss him. He’d become more than my drug dealer, but I also couldn’t see him right now. I was afraid my temptation to ask him for more would be too much, and I didn’t trust him to tell me no.

  A small part of me wondered why he’d been so willing to share his drug with me. He’d offered it up easily, and then gave it freely after. I could understand giving me a freebie a time or two, but the only thing he’d ever asked in exchange was my blood. Did he really like shifter blood that much? Or was there something else going on?

  I did think that he cared about me, but doubts plagued my mind. So for now, I was going to continue to avoid him, except for a few text messages here and there.

  At least I was feeling much better. The cold sweats were minimal now and I wasn’t as tired. By the time we were done with my very last session, I was a little weak, but otherwise okay. Luke held my hand as he pulled me up the stairs, laughing at my attempt to make him carry me again.

  That had been nice.

  Giving in, he pulled me up into his arms, cradling me. I inhaled a deep breath, smelling his musky scent. I rubbed against his neck and a rumble escaped his throat. I leaned up and kissed him. He stopped suddenly, flipping me so that I my legs were wrapped around his waist.

  He kissed me back, his fingers digging in to my ass to hold me closer. I bit his lower lip and he growled, pulling back.

  “I think it’s finally time I teach you that lesson.”

  I grinned and Lynx cleared her throat. I suddenly realized that I could smell Samira and my uncle Vincent too. I turned my head towards the living room. They were all sitting on the couch, watching us with expectant faces.

  I whispered to Luke, “I think they want us to give them a show.”

  “Not in the least,” Samira said. She was probably the only one who had heard me.

  He leaned over to grumble in my ear. “Private shows only, my Pup. Your body is for my eyes only.”

  I raised my eyebrow. “That’s if I decide to let you have it.”

  “Oh you will.” Luke dropped my legs and took my hand, guiding me into the living room.

  I sat next to Samira and slapped her knee. “Glad you’re back, Sammie.”

  I hadn’t had the chance to tell her how happy I was to see her at the meeting with Angel.

  Lynx leaned back against the couch, a homemade roll in her hands. “We were waiting for you to finish downstairs before Samira told us what happened.” She shoved a piece of the roll into her mouth.

  “You look better,” Samira said, unblinking.

  “I feel better.”

  “Good.” She was sitting on the edge of her chair, her back ramrod straight. “I apologize for being gone so long, but it was important.”

  “It was about Trianus, right?” Luke sat down across from them and motioned me over. I climbed into his lap and nuzzled his neck.

  “Yes. I needed to consult with some … uniquely talented people at the Ames de la Terra. I had to know if there was anything to Dominic’s story.”

  “And?” Lynx asked. She pulled the blanket off the back of the couch and wrapped herself in it. For the first time, I noticed dark circles under her eyes. There was a tug at my chest. Something was wrong. I’d failed her so miserably when Ryder died. I should’ve been there for her. Now that I was feeling better, I needed to see if I could help her.

  “I wish I had answers,” Samira began, “but they found nothing. As far as they know, Trianus is not here, at least on our earthly realm.”

  “Realm?” How many realms were there? That was the first time I’d ever heard there were more than one.

  She nodded, not explaining further. I stared at her, impressed; she really did know a lot. I guess that’s what living for hundreds of years does to you.

  “So what do we do now?” my uncle asked, leaning forward to look at her intently. “Is Dominic crazy?”

 
; Lynx jumped to her feet. “Anyone want anything to drink? I sure do.”

  “I’m good,” I said. My uncle and Luke shook their heads. Lynx turned to Samira. “Blood, Sammie?”

  Samira frowned. “You too, Brute?”

  “Huh?”

  “You just called me Sammie.”

  “Oh.” Lynx blushed. “Sorry!”

  I winked at Samira. “I like Sammie better.”

  Samira ignored me and said, “I ate earlier, but thank you.” Her eyebrow twitched, making me wonder if any deflection from her usual expression meant she was hiding something.

  “Fine. I’m getting wine.” Lynx hurried out of the room.

  “You’re drinking now?” I called after her, winking at Samira. We both knew that Lynx said she didn’t drink and yet, somehow, she always seemed to have some kind of alcohol in the house. And not the cheap crap.

  “You know I only drink once in a while,” Lynx called over her shoulder. “And tonight is one of those nights.”

  While she busied herself in the kitchen, I asked, “So what do we do now? About Trianus. And Tri-anus,” I emphasized the last part of the word. “What kind of name is that? Maybe it’s three people wanting a ride on the Hershey highway.”

  Luke’s lips moved to my ear as he grabbed my ass. “I like Bri-anus, personally.”

  I snickered and Samira tried her best to talk over us. “Trianus is a very ancient being. Said to be a powerful demon who can possess humans.”

  I shivered. It would be horrible to be possessed by an anus. Samira gave me a dead look—almost like she could read my thoughts. I schooled my face, trying to be serious.

  She continued. “I don’t have much more information about him, except that he was banished from the earth several hundred years ago.”

  “Could there be another player in the game?” Luke asked. “Maybe someone who wants to bring Trianus back?”

  “If they were, they’d need the Abydos blood to do it,” Samira said and I stilled, my blood chilling. “No one knows where it is, but I’ve heard rumors that the Morgans know something about it.”

  I practically held my jaw from falling open. How could the Morgans know about the blood? And why would they want it?

  Lynx came into the room just then, swigging a sip from a bottle of red wine. She set the bottle on the coffee table and slumped into the couch. “What does my family know?”

  “Possibly something about Trianus,” Samira said quickly.

  I frowned. Why wasn’t she telling Lynx the truth?

  “Can you find out if your mother knows something?”

  “Sure.” Lynx leaned into the couch, pulling a blanket up over her.

  “Is there anything else we can do?” my uncle asked. “I feel pretty useless. I’m not strong or young like the rest of you. But I am wealthy. If you need money—”

  “We don’t need your money,” I said quickly. Talking about money made me feel uncomfortable, especially if it had anything to do with my uncle’s money, which maybe should’ve been mine. We’d never discussed that point though.

  Luke tilted his head. “How did you get all that money anyway? I don’t remember you ever talking about a job.”

  My uncle turned to me, as if waiting for me to answer. He wasn’t going to break my trust, but he did say, “It’s time, Isabella.”

  All the heads in the room turned to me, and I swallowed hard. I slid off Luke’s lap, growing weak. I’d never told my full story out loud. Luke took my hand and squeezed gently, encouraging me to continue.

  I inhaled a shaky breath and began my tale.

  Chapter 35

  I remember my brother’s wedding as if it were yesterday. I can still smell the perfume of lilacs in the air, feel the warm summer breeze. Lights had been strung all through the trees and when the sun set, their warm light made the backyard appear magical.

  It had been the perfect day. The kind every bride wished for. I couldn’t wait for my brother to marry Sarah. I had always wanted a sister and finally I was going to get one. Sarah was … everything to me. She would take me places, tell me secrets; she treated me like a real sister, even though I was twelve years younger than her.

  The wedding ceremony began. I was Sarah’s bridesmaid. Just me. It made me feel so special. Watching her walk down that aisle. I don’t know who was smiling bigger that day. Me, her, my brother, my parents. They were sitting in the front row.

  She made it to the dais and my brother took her hands in his. I remember thinking how I wanted someone to hold my hands like that one day.

  But then everything changed.

  Shots fired. At first, I thought one of my other brothers had lit some fireworks as a prank—they were known for doing stupid things like that—but then everyone started running in all directions. This scared me, so I ran too. More gunfire. I tripped. When I looked back to see what had caused me to fall, I saw Sarah lying on the ground gasping for air, her legs riddled with bullets. My brother Will was on the ground too with his own bullet wounds, reaching for her.

  That’s when the men came, shifters, and they were killing anyone who moved.

  I tried to crawl under the platform that my brother had been standing on, but someone grabbed my legs and pulled me out. I recognized him. He had come to my father’s house a few times before. I had heard him and my father arguing before my mother ushered me away, saying he was from another pack and didn’t like something about my father’s business. I had hated him for speaking to my father like that.

  I hated him even more when he drew a blade and held the sharp end against my throat, making me hold really still. Any movement, and I’d feel it cut into my flesh.

  "Where's your father, little girl?" the shifter growled. He shook my shoulder hard with his other hand. I tried to keep my head back from the motion, but I wasn't strong enough and the blade cut into my throat.

  “Open your eyes," he barked. “See what happens when I’m disobeyed.”

  Next to him, a woman waving a gun around like a silk scarf laughed. The sound made my stomach heave.

  The shifter yelled at her. “Find Apollo! I want that blood!”

  Warm liquid trickled down my neck. My bottom lip trembled and I fought off tears. Chairs that had once been in rows lay scattered across the lawn. The strings of lights had been ripped down, many of the bulbs stomped on. But there was just enough light remaining to make me never forget how many bodies there were. They were everywhere. Everyone I knew and loved. Slaughtered. Several of them had shifted into their wolf forms, probably to attack, but it hadn’t helped. They were still gunned down.

  I searched for my father's face among them, even as the great shifter called his name, but I eventually stopped looking when my gaze settled upon what lay right in front of me, the one thing I had been trying to avoid looking at. Will and Sarah, both still clinging to life.

  But not for long.

  A thin and greasy-haired shifter I didn’t recognize jumped on top of Will and rammed a blade into his shoulder. The shifter’s silver eyes gleamed in the night as he stabbed Will everywhere, except for in the place that would kill him. Sarah watched helplessly but didn't cry. She was so strong. Instead, she whispered words of strength and encouragement to my brother.

  Something about her kindness enraged this new shifter, and he jumped to his feet, pressed a gun to Sarah’s head and pulled the trigger. Her wedding dress wasn’t white anymore …

  The silver-eyed shifter’s head snapped my direction, hunger and rage swimming in those dark orbs. He adjusted the bloodied knife in his grip, and I feared he’d toss it at me. Instead, he cocked his head to the side, studying me with those sharp eyes.

  The larger shifter gripping me tight, shook me again, and shouted, “Apollo! I have your daughter. Show your face or she'll die with the rest of them!"

  Hot tears stung my eyes. Had all my family really been killed? I scanned the bodies on the ground, spotting my twin aunts with their bright red hair made darker by the blood coating it. Next to them
was one of my uncles. I didn't want to look anymore. It couldn't be true.

  I struggled against him despite the sharp blade at my neck. "You bastard!" That was the first time I had ever sworn in my life. I had heard my aunt call her husband that word once and it seemed very appropriate now.

  The shifter chuckled and gripped me tighter, his nails digging into my forearm until I yelped. "You are your father's daughter."

  I attempted to stomp up on his foot but he moved it out of the way and kneed me hard in the back. "Hold still."

  A giant wolf jumped out of the forest, his gray coat matted with blood. I recognized it immediately. "Father!"

  His fur ruffled then shimmered until he returned to his human form. Tall and muscular. Blood ran down from his shoulder, covering much of his body. I never thought someone could live with that much blood on them.

  "Let her go, Dominic," he snarled.

  Dominic. That was his name.

  Dominic laughed. "You should see yourself right now. The great Alpha has fallen!"

  My father's gaze dropped to mine and he stared at me intently as if he wanted to say something but he didn’t speak. His eyelid twitched, and I barely shook my head. I didn't understand what he was trying to tell me. He stared at me harder until I practically felt the heat from his gaze. That's when the words appeared in my head as if he were shouting them at me.

  "Use the dagger."

  My eyes darted around trying to see what he was talking about. I couldn't see any weapons near me.

  "Bow to me,” Dominic said, “and I might let you live.”

  My father growled low in his throat. "Let my girl go, and you shall be the one to walk away."

  I continued my search for the dagger, knowing it must be here if he could see it. I risked moving my head a little, feeling the blade cut my skin. That's when I spotted it. Dominic wore a dagger sheathed on his thigh.

  "You will bend your knee, Alpha." Dominic nodded toward two shifters that must’ve been hidden in the darkness. They stalked toward my father, their guns trained in his direction. As long as I’d known my father, he’d never lost a fight, but he’d never fought guns before. I searched the darkness. There could be more of them hiding out there. I hadn’t developed my night vision yet to see.