Jett sighed and turned to Dante. “Just give me the papers.”
Dante pulled a sheaf of papers from the inside pocket of his jacket. He removed a pen from his pocket and clicked the end, then gave me his sadistic smile. “You know what this is, little puppy?”
“I hope it’s a warrant for my arrest, because I’m about to murder two motherfuckers,” I snarled, lunging at them. Nevil and the bouncer restrained me as Dante laughed merrily.
“Just sign the damn thing,” Jett growled.
“Right,” Dante said, edging away from him. He signed with a flourish and held up the document. “This, my dear, is your official contract as my servant.”
Servant, my ass. I’d never gotten that much respect from the despicable warlock.
As he handed the paper to Jett, the blood that had been pounding in my head drained. Had he just sold me to Jett? Jett?!
If I’d been mad before, I was now too enraged to speak. I could only fight to turn into a dragon so I could swallow him whole and never have to look at his haughty, beautiful face again.
“You bought me?” I sputtered at last, when I’d given up on shifting. “You think you’re going to own me? You? If you were the last person on the planet, I wouldn’t obey you, Jett.”
“Would you shut up for damn minute?” he asked, holding out the papers toward me. “I didn’t buy you. I bought out your contract.”
I stopped struggling and stared at him, a strange stillness settling over me. “What does that mean?”
“It means you are legally your own,” he said, opening his hand. The packet of papers slapped the floor at my feet. Jett turned on his heel and strode away. He paused for a second when he reached the bottom of the stairs, not turning back as he said, “Let her go.”
Nevil and the other minion released my arms as Jett slipped up the stairs. The silver bracelet and magic purple manacles fell away as I bent to pick up the papers, not quite believing what Jett had said. Was this another trick?
“What does this mean?” I asked, shaking the packet at Dante. “I’m free?”
“It seems so,” he said, looking bored as he surveyed the bar.
“I’m my own person,” I said, clarifying yet again. “You’re not going to hunt me down, or chase after me, or try to take me back? I don’t belong to you or owe you anything?”
He sighed and flicked his fingers at me. “Why are you still here?”
I blinked a couple times, my fingers beginning to shake as I stared down at the papers. There was my name, and Dante’s name. Nowhere on the papers was the name Jett.
Gripping the papers, I turned and raced up the stairs, away from the pits for the last time in my life. I burst out the door at the top of the stairs, into an empty bar with stools stacked upside down on the tables. I scanned the room, which was darkened and empty. As I shook off the magic, my shifter senses came back to me, and I realized the room wasn’t quite empty. My eyes adjusted, and I could make out a figure slumped on a stool at the far end of the bar, a whiskey tumbler in his hand.
“What the hell, Jett?” I said, making my way down the bar to where he sat alone. I smacked the papers down on the bar next to his elbow.
“I think the words you’re looking for are ‘thank you,’” he said, staring straight ahead at the rows of beers on tap.
“Thank you,” I said. “But why the hell did you do it like that? You couldn’t just tell me what you were doing? You said you’d stop hiding things.”
“I might have brought you here civilly if I could get two minutes alone to tell you,” he grumbled. “But Dante wanted to bring you here himself, so this is what you got. Sorry it’s not what you wanted.”
“Are you kidding?” I asked. “It’s beyond what I ever imagined I could have. But how did you get Dante to agree to this? And why?”
“Why?” he asked, turning to me at last. “Why did I buy out your contract, so you aren’t working as an indentured servant to a man who used you to kill other shifters for entertainment?”
“Well,” I said slowly. “Yeah.”
“Am I really such a horrible human being that you have to ask me that?” Jett asked, his dark eyes fixed on mine.
“I don’t know,” I said. “It depends on your answer.”
“I gave you my answer when you met the panthers, didn’t I?” Jett asked, a challenge in his eyes.
I knew exactly what he meant, and I could tell he was thinking the same thing. He’d introduced me as his mate. He’d already said it. I didn’t need to hear it again.
“You’re fucking impossible, you know that?” I asked, taking his chin in my hand and turning his face toward me. I didn’t know if I wanted to slap him or kiss him.
Before I could decide, Jett had slid his thick arm around my waist and pulled me in. My animal knew what it wanted. I hadn’t even decided for sure if it’d forgiven him, but nothing in my body resisted. When our bodies came together, a white hot flame of desire shot through me, and my mouth crashed down on his. This time, there was no trickery in it. This time, there was nothing in it but relief so intense it made my whole body tremble.
I slid my arms around his neck, and the next second, Jett had turned sideways on the stool, lifting me by the waist. I hopped into his lap, straddling his hips and wrapping my legs around him. After denying ourselves for so long, every beast within me was roaring for this to happen, none of them louder than my human.
Jett jerked my skirt from under my legs, dragging me against him until I could feel the heat and hardness in his lap. I gasped into his mouth, spreading my thighs and rocking against him. His hands found my ass, squeezing and dragging me harder against him with each movement until my panties were soaked.
A minute later, he shoved me backwards against the bar, jerking open his pants with rough, sharp movements. I sucked in a breath when he drew himself out, but before I could even reach for him, he’d wrapped an arm around my waist and lifted me back to his lap. Without a word, he yanked my panties aside and thrust his hips upwards, driving his cock into me. My mouth fell open in a wordless cry of pleasure, and I dropped my head back. Jett’s strong arm supported my weight as I wrapped my legs around him and rode him until I couldn’t hold back an orgasm any longer. Just as I was about to come, Jett’s hand buried itself in my hair, and he drew my head forward. My arms looped around his neck, my eyes fixed on his.
A glimmer of gold flashed in his eyes, and a growl built in his throat. “You’re mine now, Quick Silver,” he said, and he leaned forward, sinking his teeth into my lower lip.
I gasped in pain as his teeth broke the skin, but a bolt of pure erotic energy shot through me when I tasted my blood. My own teeth sank into Jett’s tongue when he pressed it between my lips, and he growled, raising his hips. As his blood spread over my tongue, mingling with mine, he groaned. My walls clenched around him as an orgasm gripped my body, and hot liquid spurted into me at the same moment.
As my heartbeat began to slow, a deep sense of peace and rightness melted over me. At last, my beasts were satisfied. I had claimed all my mates, and this time, when I felt an unfamiliar stirring inside me, I knew exactly what it was. Jett had awakened my panther.
13
Maximus
My knuckles slammed against the table and excited shouts rose around me. I grinned, flashing my teeth.
“You did well,” I said, giving his hand a good natured squeeze. Pride swelled inside me, though. A wolf beating a bear in an arm wrestling match was nearly unheard of, and I’d just defeated one of the biggest.
Jake sighed and swiped a hand through his dirty blond hair. The redness in his cheeks began to fade, but his forehead was still slicked with sweat. We’d been arm wrestling for a good ten minutes, and I could feel sweat beading on my own temples.
“I guess so,” Jake grumbled. “Next time, I’ll beat you.”
My wolf growled at the challenge, and I couldn’t help the smile that came to my face. “You can try.”
Jake narrowed his eyes, but t
hen he threw back his head and laughed. I’d known Owen’s second-in-command for years, and despite the bad blood between our clans, he’d always been decent to me, just like his Alpha. “Then my challenge is accepted?”
“Of course.” An alpha never backed down from a challenge, and I could feel my wolf pressing for the surface at the idea of a good fight.
Jake grinned and held out a hand. I gripped his in mine and gave him a firm shake. Jake chuckled and squeezed back before releasing me. We stepped away from the kitchen island to let the next pair show their mettle.
My fellow wolves who’d been watching clapped me on the shoulder and the back, congratulating me on my victory while Jake’s bears told him he’d “get me next time.” I just laughed, my confidence high. If I could beat him once, I’d do it again.
As I slipped between shifters back into the living room, I glanced around in search of my mate. Ariana was the only person I really wanted to share this victory with. Though I was a little disappointed she didn’t get to see me win, I could still share my excitement with her.
But as I searched the living room and took a quick peek inside the massive dining room, I couldn’t spot her head of silver hair. My eyebrows furrowed as I continued my search, reaching through our bond now. There were dozens of people inside of Cash’s penthouse. She could very well be hidden behind a hoard of them, or maybe one of her other mates spirited her off somewhere.
When I couldn’t feel her close by, I stopped in my tracks, my chest squeezing painfully. I could feel Ariana there, her presence like a breath of fresh air, but the feel of her was muted like she was asleep. I couldn’t feel her dream state, though, which could only mean one thing. Ariana’s powers were being blocked by something.
Hot rage burned through me so fast that I nearly shifted. All I saw was red, and as adrenaline fueled me, a wave of dizziness crashed over me.
I grabbed the wall for support, nearly punching my fist right through it. I gritted my teeth as I sorted through the pack bond, trying to grasp at any more information I could get about Ariana’s state.
“Maximus, man?” Cash clapped me on the shoulder. “Are you all right?”
My breathing was too fast, and my mouth had already partly shifted. I had to calm down if I was going to convey what was happening. I breathed in through my nose and exhaled through my mouth. Every second counted. I got myself together, drawing the razor sharp fangs back into my mouth.
“Something’s wrong with Ariana,” I said quickly.
Cash’s eyes widened. “What? I just saw her with Owen thirty minutes ago.”
I didn’t bother asking questions. Instead, I charged past the dragon shifter back into the living room. I’d last seen Ariana with Owen as well. They’d been curled up on the sofa surrounded by shifters of all kinds. I’d let them be at the time. There were tons of other shifters to mingle with, and it was only fair to give Ariana time alone with Owen.
I growled, angry with myself. How could I have been so stupid? I should have been keeping my eye on her, even if she was with one of her other mates.
“Owen,” I barked the second I saw the bear alpha. “Where is Ariana?”
Owen looked up, his eyebrows raised. “She just went out on the terrace for a minute.” His gaze trailed from me to the closed balcony door.
I rushed through the living room and threw open the door. I raced around the side of the building until I could get a look at the entire balcony. Aside from two panthers making out on Cash’s furniture, there was no one else outside.
A growl rumbled from my throat as I spun on my heel, storming back inside. “She’s not outside,” I said, urgency making my words nearly run together. Owen and Cash stood behind the long sectional sofa, looking as worried as I felt.
“Where could she have gone?” Cash snapped.
“Can you tell through the pack bond?” Owen asked.
I shook my head. “Something’s blocking her powers. I have no idea where she is. All I know is that she’s alive.”
Heat flashed through the air as Cash’s gaze darkened with rage. Owen’s nostrils flared, and his fists clenched at his sides. Someone had taken our mate, and they were just as pissed as I was.
“Wait a second,” Cash said. He looked around the living room, his eyes narrowed in suspicion. “Where the fuck is Jett?”
My eyes narrowed, and I fought to get my words out past a growl building in my throat. “If that bastard betrayed us again…”
I didn’t finish that sentence. We all knew what another betrayal would mean. It wasn’t just personal. It was an act of war.
The music drifting from the surround speakers died suddenly, and the air grew thick with tension. All eyes turned on the three alphas standing in the middle of the living room, an array of emotions directed our way.
“Where is Ariana?” Shira asked, running up to us, having obviously felt my concern. “I just saw her outside half an hour ago. She was fine.”
“Then whoever took her did it in the last few minutes. They can’t have gotten far,” Owen said. Despite the turmoil in his eyes, he was still being reasonable while I fell to pieces. I wanted nothing more than to shift and race through the penthouse in search of Ariana’s scent. I’d find and track her, but if whoever took her did it outside, I’d need wings to follow her scent out into the night.
“Listen up!” Cash bellowed, hushing the whispers of the surrounding shifters. “Ariana is missing. Everyone search the apartment and report back immediately.”
There wasn’t a word of question or discontent about being bossed around by a dragon. Every shifter inside dispersed, racing through the apartment until they were sure Ariana was gone. I already knew from the hollow ache opening where my heart had been.
“She must have been taken from the terrace,” Shira said, confirming our suspicions. I felt her guilt through the pack bond, but I didn’t have time to dissuade it yet. It wasn’t her fault, but right now I needed Ariana.
“I’ll see if I can track her scent,” Cash offered, already on his way to the balcony doors when the elevator dinged.
My breathing hitched as I caught a whiff of Ariana’s jasmine scent, and she joined back into the pack bond at full strength. Relief spilled through me, chilling the heat raging beneath my skin. I raced over to the elevator as the doors opened, revealing my mate standing beside… Jett.
As quick as my temper had been cooled, it was reignited. “I thought we told you you couldn’t be alone with her,” I growled, shaking with barely contained rage. I grabbed Jett by the collar of his shirt and yanked him out of the elevator.
“Maximus,” Ariana gasped. She grabbed my arm, and that’s when it hit me. I could smell Jett all over her. And more, I could feel their bond.
I blinked in surprise at my tiny mate. She’d claimed her last mate. But when?
“Let him go,” Ariana said, her voice calm, as if she knew I’d never do anything that hurt her, including hurting her fourth mate. She was right. I wouldn’t.
I released Jett’s shirt. Maybe I should have felt hurt that she’d claimed Jett before talking to us about it, but I didn’t. That shocked not only me but my wolf, who’d gone quiet now that our mate had been returned safe and sound.
“You’ll explain later?” I asked.
Ariana smiled and took my hand. “Of course.”
I closed my eyes, and my anger and fear finally lost their hold. My mate was safe. All was well.
Ariana stood on her tiptoes and gave me a quick kiss on the cheek. But it wasn’t enough. I wrapped her in my arms and held her tight to my chest. She squeaked in surprise, and I rumbled a laugh. I was so glad she was okay. I couldn’t bear the thought of losing her again.
“I’m all right,” she whispered against my ear. Her hot breath stirred my animal instincts, and my relief became something… more.
“Everyone out!” Cash declared. “I think that’s enough for one night.”
You read my mind.
I slowly released my mate, but not
before searing her lips in a passionate kiss. I’d never take my eyes off of her again if I could help it.
14
Ariana
“And our top new story, Meghan, is the continuing attacks by costumed assailants,” the perky black-haired news anchor said from the TV. “They are described as extremely fast and ‘inhumanly strong.’ Authorities urge caution when using public areas, especially at night. As the death toll rises, it leaves us with one question. Are monsters real?”
“Ugh, turn it off,” I said, pushing my bowl away.
“Sorry,” Owen said, jumping up to switch off the TV.
Jett frowned into his bowl, still full of the oatmeal we’d had.
“We need to stop this, like, yesterday,” Cash said.
“What should we do?” Owen asked.
“Let’s head back to pack land,” Maximus said. “Every clan is sending their best fighters. The alphas should be there to greet them.”
“What do you think, Ari?” Cash asked.
Again, I found myself in the awkward position of everyone looking at me. Sometimes I still resented the burden of being Silver Shifter, though I’d accepted it, too. I’d lived half my life in a cage, for fuck’s sake. I didn’t know how to stop a bunch of mutant vampires!
But I had one more mate now, one who knew a lot about vampires.
“Jett?”
He looked up from where he’d been staring without seeing, a startled expression on his face. “What?”
“You’re the expert on vampires,” I said.
“Yeah,” he said, his lip twitching with disgust.
“Have any ideas?”
“It would help if I had my phone back,” he said, scowling at Maximus. To my surprise, Maximus handed it over without a word.
Since our mutual claiming as mates, we hadn’t had a chance to talk, but thanks to the wolf bond, at least Maximus knew. He still didn’t trust Jett completely, but I could feel a sense of ease in him that hadn’t been there before. Ironic, since Maximus had been the mate who had the most trouble accepting that I was fated to be with all of them. But now, he knew that if Jett and I had claimed each other, it would be nearly impossible for Jett to betray me, and that put his mind at ease. I knew the others would feel the same once I told them.
Her Panther: An Urban Fantasy Romance (Silver Shifter Book 4) Page 8
