Rouen Chronicles Box Set

by Raven Steele

  “Just listen to me!”

  His gaze slowly met mine, and I caught a speck of emotion. Hope sprung in my chest.

  I glanced around to make sure no one was listening, but the crowd had gravitated toward the biggest fire in front. Beer cans made the rounds as everyone took a turn congratulating my uncle. “I need you to trust me.”

  Instead of waiting for me to explain, he went on the attack. “That’s exactly what I did! You promised me you wouldn’t kill Dominic without finding out where my brother is.” His expression darkened. “But you lied.”

  “Ugh! You are so frustrating! That’s what I’ve been trying to tell you. I kept my promise.”

  His whole body froze, except for his eyebrows, which shot up. “What?”

  “This is the part where you get on your knees and tell me I’m the best thing since churned butter. And how you’re going to do whatever I want from here on out.”

  He growled. “Briar.”

  “You’re about to feel really stupid, then start apologizing and probably other things… to make it up to me.” I nodded, thinking. “I’m really looking forward to those other things, by the way.”

  He stepped close to me. “Briar. Stop babbling and tell me. How did you keep your promise?”

  “Before I killed Dominic, I made him tell me where your brother was.”

  “You did?”

  “That’s what I’ve been trying to tell you!”

  “Where is he?”

  “He said he’s in Mandeville with the Linchen pack.”

  Luke let out a shaky laugh and his shoulders dropped. He ran his fingers through his hair. “You’re serious? Dominic said that?”

  I nodded my head. “Yes! I tried to tell you so many times but you just disapp—”

  He caught my shoulders, jerking me forward to press his lips to mine, not even letting me finish. I squeaked at the suddenness of it, then leaned into him, my hands clasping at his shirt. His fingers slid to my jaw, and he traced it with his thumb as his tongue explored my mouth. After a few minutes, I pulled away.

  “This is when—” I tried to take a breath before he pulled me forward and into him. His lips covered mine, cutting off my words. I tried again. “You say you’re—”

  “I’m sorry.” He pulled back, rubbing his cheek against mine. His expression was sincere and almost haunting. “I’m sorry I ran away from you, ran away from us.”

  “And…?” I tried to guide him.

  “And you’re the best thing since churned butter.” Humor dotted his eyes. When he saw that I expected more, he continued. “I will get on my knees for you, Briar, but you damn well better be gift wrapped.”

  Desire flooded his gaze, heating my insides. “I can use cellophane, or I have other ideas.”

  “I’m sure I can come up with something on my own.” He bent over to whisper in my ear, his hand clutching at my hip. “You’re trouble, Briar. The kind I would jump down the rabbit hole for.”

  I grinned. “A wolf like me would love to chase you down it.”

  He grabbed my chin, forcing my head up to look him in the eyes. “Except I’m the wolf in this scenario.”

  “I—”

  I didn’t get to finish my retort because all of a sudden I was flying backward through the air. I hit the ground hard and air exploded from my lungs. Invisible pressure tightened around my throat, closing off my airway. I clawed at my neck but there was nothing to grab. What the hell?

  A woman appeared before me. Through my watering eyes, I recognized Lilith, standing over me, her hand extended in a squeezing gesture. The wicked witch of the Silver Claws pack. One of them, anyways.

  “You killed him!” she shouted, tears staining her cheeks. She had been Dominic’s much younger lover. Well, ex-lover, now. “He was the greatest being to ever walk this earth!”

  I wanted to choke out some choice words, or at least roll my eyes at her declaration, but my throat was about to collapse. Colors I’d never seen before exploded in my vision.

  Hell balls. Just when I thought I was death-free, I was about to die all over again.

  Chapter 2

  Just before I lost consciousness altogether, Luke stepped behind Lilith and slammed a wooden board across her head. She fell over unconscious next to me.

  He dropped to his knees as I sucked in as much air as I could handle. “See what I mean? Trouble. Everywhere you go, you bring it with you.”

  I groaned. “Bad habit.”

  He pursed his lips and pulled me into a sitting position. “Are you okay?”

  “I will be.” I kicked my foot at Lilith, hitting her thigh. “How are you related to Lynx?”

  Several people crowded around us. I stared up at Samantha and Jerry. My uncle pushed them aside. “What happened?”

  “This thing happened.” I motioned to her as Luke helped me to my feet. I didn’t let go of his hand. “What’s she even doing here?”

  My uncle turned to Jerry and motioned toward Lilith. “Get her out of here. And get me Gerald.”

  “I’m here.” Gerald stepped forward, the bonfire at his back.

  “How did Lilith get past security?” Vincent’s voice was demanding, sliding into his new role easily.

  Gerald shrugged. “I don’t know, but I’ll find out.”

  “She probably used magic,” I said. “Don’t worry about it, Vincent.” It sounded strange to call him that instead of uncle. Maybe one day we could tell the entire pack we were family.

  I jolted. One day? Was I planning on staying here? That was never the plan. Kill Silas and Dominic then get out of Dodge. Is that what it meant to stop running from my past and embrace my future? Putting down roots?

  “Are you sure you’re okay?” Luke tightened his grip on my hand, his brows furrowed. His gaze lowered to my lips where I was chewing on them.

  I hesitated, watching his eyes. Their dark edges bled with concern and the pools of blue drew me in. I inhaled a shaky breath. “Everything’s perfect.”

  He raised his eyebrow and pulled me away from the crowd. I glanced back. Jerry had Lilith heaved over his shoulder as he walked away, and my uncle and Gerald were too busy talking security to notice us leaving.

  When we were out of earshot, Luke pulled me to him. One of his hands rested on my hips and the other tucked my hair behind my ear. “I’m sorry about the way I acted. Really I am.”

  “You don’t have to explain. I get it.”

  “No, Briar. I should’ve trusted you. It’s just that, well…” His hand went to the nape of his neck. “The last almost five years of my life have been dedicated to finding Jake. I had to do some horrible things to stay on Dominic’s good side. So when you killed him, the only man who knew where Jake was, I guess I just lost it.” His warm hands gripped my flesh. “But I swear to you, I’ll never doubt you again.”

  I bit my lip again, considering him. I opened my mouth to tell him about what had happened that night. How I’d made a deal with Dominic to let him live in exchange for the location of Luke’s brother. How I’d given up everything for Luke, all my plans for revenge. Justice for my family.

  But the words stuck in my throat. I couldn’t tell him, not yet. So instead I ran my nose up his neck to his ear. My breath whispered over his skin, making him shiver. “Kiss me like you did before that psycho witch tried to kill me, and I’ll pretend the whole thing never happened.”

  He chuckled and caught my jaw, turning it to kiss me. My toes curled in my shoes, and I leaned into him, letting his mouth claim mine. His hand slipped under my shirt, skimming up my back, making me squirm. I broke the kiss. “Let’s get out of here.”

  “Actually,” he said, “How about we go on a field trip?”

  “To find your brother?”

  “To find Jake.” His lips caressed mine again, then he pulled away, smiling. It looked good on him.

  “I’d love a good road trip with you.” I swallowed a sudden overwhelming feeling. I’d never been on a road trip with someone before. It was always me a
nd the road, any relationships formed at my back.

  He took my hand and weaved us through the partying crowd into the back door of the mansion. There were half a dozen pack members rummaging through the kitchen, grabbing beer and food for everyone. We were sneaking past when I heard a gruff noise from down the hall, where Dominic’s office used to be. It was my uncle. By the tone of his voice, he sounded upset.

  Luke heard it too. “I wonder what’s going on.”

  “Not my problem.” I glanced up the stairs. “Before we go, I want to see if there’s anything I missed from Dominic’s old room.”

  He followed me up the stairs. “Gerald has already gone through some of it.”

  I stopped and looked back at him. “Does he know there was someone else pulling Dominic’s strings?”

  “No. That part is still secret, for now, but Vincent told him to search for any clues that Dominic might’ve been working for someone else. We need as many eyes and ears on this as we can handle without scaring everyone.”

  I continued up the stairs and down the long hall heading to the east wing. My stomach clenched when I passed where Ryder used to live. The room now belonged to one of the former Greybacks. I missed Ryder. Every day I thought about him. What I wouldn’t give to go back in time and change everything, starting with getting him out Rouen, exactly what I’d promised to do. Somewhere safe where he could’ve lived a normal life. I swallowed down the acid burning the back of my throat. He was too sweet for pack life.

  Luke reached out and took hold of my hand as if he could sense my sudden sadness. I hitched a breath and leaned into him.

  The door to Dominic’s old room was wide open. No reason to keep it bolted shut with force and magic anymore. That’s what my uncle promised. No more secrets. No more lies.

  The room was empty and smelled like it had been recently cleaned. All that remained of Dominic was the faint scent of Alpha pheromones. They’d remain for a long time. That kind of power couldn’t be wiped away with bleach.

  “I’ve never seen it.” Luke’s voice was quiet.

  “What?”

  “Dominic’s secret room.”

  “Consider yourself lucky. It’s highly disturbing.” I crouched down at the edge of the room and pulled back the carpet where I found a familiar button. I pressed it and the wall sunk in, revealing a private room. Dominic’s scent was stronger here, forcing me to hold my breath. I hated coming back here, but I needed to make sure I hadn’t missed anything.

  I stepped inside and turned on the light. My inflated lungs deflated a gust of air past my lips. “What the hell?”

  Luke came to my side. “I thought you said this room was full?”

  “It was. Where did everything go?”

  “I destroyed it,” a voice said behind us.

  I whirled around. My uncle stood in the doorway, his expression sour. “Everything in here was an abomination.”

  “But I told you I wanted to search it for clues!”

  “Nothing was here. Gerald went through it and so did I. Those paintings … ” He swallowed what could’ve easily been vomit coming up his throat. “I knew Dominic was crazy, but I didn’t understand the extent of his depravity, until I came in here.”

  “You must’ve saved something. Please tell me you did.” I looked around the room, as if trying to conjure something out of thin air. I couldn’t believe he’d gotten rid of everything.

  His expression softened. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know it meant that much to you. Honestly, I thought getting rid of it would be best, especially after everything he did to you.”

  I shook my head, too stunned to say anything. So much evidence in here. Samira was going to be pissed. She had already asked about the room’s contents. My head snapped up, and I opened my mouth to say all was not lost. I still had that box of stuff I’d given to Luke. Maybe we could look through there one more time. I closed my mouth quickly. My uncle didn’t know about that, and it wasn’t necessary to tell him.

  “What is it?” My uncle took a small step towards me.

  “Nothing. Just trying to remember what was in here. Maybe you saw something you didn’t recognize or maybe something had another meaning.”

  “Trust me, Briar. It was in everyone’s best interest to destroy it all.”

  “Maybe you’re right, but still. I wish you would’ve told me.”

  “Who were you talking to earlier?” Luke asked. “You sounded upset.”

  My uncle’s eyebrows lifted in surprise. “Was I that loud? I need to work on that. I’m not used to keeping things private.”

  “That’s why you’ll be a great Alpha.” I smiled at him, meaning every word.

  “I don’t know. I thought being Alpha I could protect you, but that may not be the case.”

  “What do you mean?” I asked.

  “I just got off the phone with a gentleman by the name of Edgar Rawlings.”

  “Where have I heard that name?” Luke cocked his head to the side, trying to think.

  My uncle backed out of the hidden room as if he couldn’t stay another second within it. “He’s a vampire. An extremely old and powerful one. But more importantly, he’s a member of the Ministry.”

  I shivered and followed after him. As soon as Luke came out too, I pressed the button, sealing up the secret room. “What does he want?”

  I hated the Ministry. They were the governing body over the Principes Noctis, a group of supernaturals who believed they should be the reigning species, not humans. They used to be a small group, but in the last twenty years, their numbers had grown. The only group to stand against them was the Ames de la Terra.

  I knew little about either group, since I’d never had any interest in joining anyone. My only interest had been my revenge. Samira belonged to the Ames de la Terra, so I knew if I had to choose, I’d choose them.

  “He called me to talk to you.” Vincent looked pointedly at me.

  I wrinkled my nose. “Why?”

  “You killed Dominic,” my uncle began slowly.

  “And?”

  “He was a member of the Ministry.”

  “Again, and?”

  He sighed and chewed on invisible words as if he could make what he was about to say go away. “The Ministry doesn’t have many rules, but one of them is, if a person kills one of the nine members of the Ministry, which is supposed to be near impossible, then they take their place.”

  Luke stepped back, more stumbled. “Are you saying Briar has to join the Ministry?”

  “That’s what they are saying.”

  I laughed out loud. “Not going to happen! Not in a million years.”

  “I told them that too, but they said you only have one option. If you decline the position, you must assign someone else to take your place.”

  “Let them choose! I don’t care.”

  “It doesn’t work that way. You have to assign it. It’s your right.”

  “And if I refuse?” I crossed my arms over my chest.

  “You can’t. He said you have forty-eight hours to choose someone or they will come find you.”

  “And do what?”

  He shrugged. “He didn’t say, but I don’t think we want to find out.”

  “Vincent’s right.” Luke held my hand. “We want to keep the Ministry as far away from Rouen as possible. They became deeply involved with Coast City and nearly destroyed it. We can’t have them coming here and undo everything we’re trying to accomplish.”

  “What the hell am I supposed to do?” I asked. I turned to my uncle. “Do you want to do it? Maybe it would be good to have someone nice on the council.”

  He lifted his hands in a stopping gesture. “No way. It’s a den of vipers. Not only that, but whoever accepts the position will have a target on their back. Members of the Principes Noctis all vie for a position on the Ministry. It’s the highest rank you can obtain.”

  “So whoever I choose could possibly be killed? Ugh! I don’t need this right now.” I glanced at Luke, pouting. “Our
road trip!”

  He forced a tight smile. “It can wait. It’s only two days.”

  I groaned. “Why don’t you go without me? I know you want to see your brother.”

  “It’s okay. We can wait.” His smile transformed from forced to genuine. “Really. It’s fine. I’m not going to leave you to deal with this alone. Maybe together we can come up with a name.”

  “This is going to suck.”

  Luke wrapped his arm around me. “Let’s go talk to Samira. I’m sure she’ll have some ideas. If not, I can think of half a dozen names of people I hate who’d jump at the chance to join the Ministry.”

  “I do too, but hating someone and signing their death warrant are two different things.”

  “I’m sorry,” my uncle said. “Truly, I am.”

  Groaning, I rubbed at a growing sick feeling in my gut. I had hurt enough people, and now I was being asked to hurt someone again.

  How many people were going to have to die before this was over?

  Chapter 3

  I left Dominic’s old room, anxious to get out of the place that had been a madman’s sanctuary, and headed downstairs with Luke by my side.

  “Son of a bitch,” I cursed. My bone-Luke-hard feelings from earlier had evaporated.

  “Are you okay?” he asked me.

  “Just pissed is all. I really hope Samira has a solution. I don’t want to think about this anymore.”

  “You don’t need to go see Samira,” my uncle said as he followed down the stairs behind us. We walked across the entranceway toward the front door.

  “Actually I do.” I opened the front door and jumped when I saw Samira blocking my way. “Mother Mayhem! What the hell are you doing here?”

  She pushed the wire-rim glasses up the bridge of her nose. “Vincent called. Do you have somewhere we can talk?”

  “This way.” My uncle motioned toward Dominic’s old office.