Wicked Love

by Michelle Dare

  4

  Solomon

  The nerve of this shifter thinking he can try something with my brother. Granted, he didn’t actually take a step toward him or anything, but I know a death glare when I see one. I’ve given them countless times over in my life.

  I’m about to talk to Ford when a scream wrenches through the air. The entire room seems to turn toward the doorway where Fiona stands in a barely-there costume with blood covering her hands and tears streaming down her cheeks.

  Aries pushes through the crowd to get to her. “Fi, what happened?”

  “Eaton, he-he… Someone hurt him.”

  I rub my hands together. Finally, the real entertainment has begun. I love a good staged mystery. It’s perfect for Halloween.

  Ariane is the next one to get to Fiona. “You’re not lying,” she says with a cock of her head.

  “No!” Fiona cries. “Why would I make something like this up?”

  “It’s Halloween and scary stuff is fun to do.”

  “My mate is out in the hall shifting to heal!” she yells. “I wouldn’t do this for entertainment!”

  With a quick focus on Ari, I scan her mind then Fiona’s. There’s nothing there but stark fear and the vision of Fiona’s mate on the ground with a chunk torn out of his leg and abdomen. That’s not something you can pretend. Now I also realize they’re dressed as Tarzan and Jane.

  Aries rushes from the room and goes in search of Eaton. I make my way through the crowd, most of who try to get to Fiona, while the others go in search of Eaton. He’s a wolf shifter and can heal from almost anything with a few shifts or more, depending on how quickly everything mends together.

  Ford is hot on my heels as I enter the hallway and follow a few of the pack to the left. It’s there we find a massive, light grey wolf standing on all fours. He shakes his entire body then raises his lips in a snarl.

  “Eaton,” Aries says in a low, commanding tone. “I can’t talk to you like this. Shift.”

  Eaton growls but ultimately his wolf slips to the back, allowing the human to reemerge. The alpha’s command is powerful within his pack. When Eaton does, his eyes hold nothing but pure murder.

  “Tell us what happened,” Aries states.

  Around me are Ford, Dante, Wake, Titus, Sevan, Keene, Kylest, and Raven. The others must have kept everyone in the ballroom so the pack isn’t separated and everyone can be protected easier. It’s hard to guard the ones you love when they’re scattered all over the place.

  “I was leaving the kitchen when I was attacked from behind,” Eaton begins. “I didn’t see or hear them coming. First, I was shoved hard into a wall. My head bounced off it, leaving me disoriented. The next thing I knew, blinding pain radiated down my side and leg. I spun and tried to focus on who did it, but all I saw was a blur of a being. Fi must have felt my pain and came looking for me.” Eaton shakes his head. “I never want to see that look on her face again.”

  “How did someone get into the pack house with none of us realizing it?” Dante asks.

  “If they’re fae they could have cloaked themselves so they were invisible,” Kylest states. As a fae prince, he would know.

  Raven, his mate, adds, “If they slipped in beside a shifter or even a vampire, they wouldn’t have known. Once the magic is in place, it’s very hard to detect. Only the strongest fae could have and, even then, there’s no guarantee.”

  “Will you two grab Davian and Robin and scour every corner of this house?” Aries asks. Robin is Kylest’s sister and Davian is a panther shifter who is Robin’s mate. Robin has the same strong, magical abilities Kylest and Raven have. “Once you’ve cleared a room, can you ward it off in some way so no one else may enter it?”

  “Of course,” Ky replies. “But if this being is fae or a mage, they could create a spell to make someone invisible. If they are already in the room, then I’m locking them in there with everyone else. And if I ward it off, if someone in the pack needs to use the room to hide, they can’t.”

  Aries’ eyes widen as he pushes through us and back toward the ballroom. Once he enters, he scans the room until he finds his mate and their almost three-year-old son, Quinn.

  “I’ll gather them and Paige and the girls and stay with them,” Wake says, rushing to his side. “Find this being and kill them,” he snarls as his wolf rises up.

  Aries nods and quiets the room. He takes a moment to update everyone. The more who know, the better. This way they can keep a look out.

  The one question floating around my head is why Eaton? He’s not a male who strikes me as having enemies, though I know better than most that enemies aren’t always someone you wronged. They can be a jealous lover or a best friend who was turned on you. The attack can come from someone you least expect.

  After Aries speaks, he turns to us. “Ford, Sol, will you help us look?”

  “Of course,” I reply.

  “Count us in, too,” my mate says as she walks to my side. While I never like the idea of putting my mate in harm’s way, she is one badass female. Not many have the combined power she does.

  Sienna is right behind her and moves to stand by my brother. When you combine shifters with vampire powers and even fae magic, as is the case with my mate, they have huge advantages over others.

  “Where’s Jupiter?” I ask.

  “Imogen has her.” I nod. She’s another female I wouldn’t want to mess with. She’s a mage with vampire healing and is mated to Titus, who is a wolf shifter in the Avynwood Pack. She may be young, but the power and knowledge she has is immense. She can put up wards, cast spells, and has fantastic intuition.

  “We’re not going to leave everyone unguarded,” Aries begins, “but it’s safer if they stay together. Power in numbers.” He directs Dante to fan the pack out throughout the room. The humans in the center, the shifters and other paranormals along the perimeter with some intermingled within. While the humans who are mated to shifters do have their long lives, they don’t gain any of their other powers unless one of my kind gifts them abilities. Humans are just as vulnerable as always without them.

  Everyone in our group each takes a section of the pack house. Aries goes to his home, which is next door, to make sure no one is hiding there. Ford takes Wake’s home and Orion takes his. Almost all of the pack live in the main house, except Aries, being the alpha, built a separate home nearby. Wake, his son, did the same. As for Orion, he and Ariane didn’t want to be as close to the pack. Yes, they are on the same property but farther up the mountain a distance away. The Avynwood Pack has a lot of land here in North Carolina.

  I teleport to the bedrooms and start making my way through them one at a time. I let every one of my senses take over. I listen for the smallest sounds. Try to find the faintest scents. Anything that would clue me in to what I’m looking for. If this being can cloak themselves, they could be anywhere.

  Room after room I explore until I cross over to the other side of the house. This isn’t a small place. And now that stuff has gone down, none of the couples are in their rooms getting it on. But I don’t miss the smell of sex in some of the spaces. Fate, I can’t wait to crack this case and get out of here for some alone time with my mate.

  I pause mid-step. Case. Oh. My. Fate. This is it! It’s finally time for Ford and me to put our paranormal agency into effect. It’s our first real case!

  The idea of an agency to rid the world of horrible paranormals has been a dream of mine. Okay, maybe not a dream, but something I can do with my brother to waste time. When you live an infinite number of years, you tend to get bored easily. Since there is no one out there who keeps paranormals in check, I thought Ford and I could do it. Currently, the good paranormals kill those who are bad to keep others safe.

  As if hearing my thoughts, Ford appears at my side. “Wake’s home is clear.”

  I grin and stare at him, no doubt with mischief in my eyes.

  “No,” he says firmly. “I don’t need to read your mind to know where your thoughts are. This is not
our first case.”

  “But it could be! Imagine if we solve this case. Paranormals from around the world would come to us when they have someone after them. We could be the best of the best. Well, we already are, but this could be something else we excel at.”

  I’m a cocky male. I don’t deny that. The Verascue name is known around the realms. It started with my mom and dad and how they built a legacy around themselves. Eloise and Seth Verascue spent thousands of years putting our family on the map. Then, when I came along, I added to our fantastic legacy. Add in my less attractive brother, our mates, and we’re unstoppable.

  “I heard that,” Ford says with no real bite in his tone. I don’t have my mind block firmly in place at the moment. “You’re the less attractive brother. Not me. I really wish you’d get that through your head. Lilah has been building your ego up a little too much.”

  “Please, brother. If you’d just look around any room we’re in, you’d see how everyone’s eyes are always on me.”

  “That’s because they’re waiting to see what idiotic move you’ll make next.”

  I take a step closer and get right in his smug face. “Idiotic? Try waiting for me to keep you in check. I’m not a wild card.”

  Ford scoffs, “That’s all you are.”

  “You’re jealous because I’m more powerful.”

  “Ha! You may have a stronger mind block than I do, but I’m just as powerful in every other way. Don’t think you’re better than I am.”

  “Wanna make a bet?” I reach forward and fist his shirt. Ford doesn’t even flinch. I love toying with him.

  “Bring it on.”

  Heels on the hardwood floor pull my attention from Ford and cause me to sigh.

  “I heard that, Solomon,” my mom’s voice carries down the hallway.

  “If I were trying to hide my irritation, I would have, Mother.”

  “You should be happy I’m here. The more the merrier to try and find whoever is after the pack.” Eloise Verascue comes into view and I shouldn’t be surprised by what she’s wearing. Yet, I am.

  A leather skirt with two slits that have been loosely stitched together over her thighs. The skirt barely covers her butt. Her top is as skintight as the skirt, with stitching up the middle loose enough where my mom’s breasts look like they’re fighting to break free, which I have to say is nothing I need to see. She’s got leather cuffs on both wrists and a freaking riding crop in one hand that she slaps onto the palm of the other.

  “Seriously?” Ford can’t hide how uncomfortable he is.

  “You couldn’t have dressed more conservative?” I ask her. “Did you think your children would want to see their mother as a dominatrix?”

  Mom smirks. “You’re both grown males. You have seen enough of this world that my outfit shouldn’t bother you.”

  “We’ve seen a lot, sure, but not our mother looking like she’s about to tell our father to bend over and take it like a good boy,” Ford states.

  I make a retching noise and buckle over, trying to keep my earlier drink from Lilah down. “Once we catch whoever this is, I’m getting out of here and bleaching my eyes and my brain of that imagery.”

  “How do you both know I’m not the one who likes to be bent over?” Mom asks.

  “That’s enough!” Ford yells. “There aren’t enough therapists out there to unpack this nightmare. I think I’ll take my chances with whomever attacked Eaton.” With that, Ford teleports away, leaving me with my mom, who I never want to see like this again. Fate, I hope my dad has more clothes on.

  5

  Ford

  A full body shiver takes over as I try to rid my mind of seeing my mom in all that leather. Why did she think that was a good idea to wear to a party where her children and grandchild would be? Not that Jupiter cares what she’s wearing, but Sol and I do. Fate’s sake.

  I’m standing in the medical room downstairs near the ballroom. Voices from throughout the house float to me, but no one is in this room and, for that, I’m grateful. I need a break from everyone for a moment to gather my thoughts.

  Somewhere in this house is my mate, the most important being in the world to me. She can take care of herself. Sienna may be a fox shifter and not very ruthless, but when it comes to those she loves, she’ll do what she has to. Plus, she has my vampire awesomeness flowing through her, thanks to me gifting her my powers. Most don’t assume she’s spectacular but rather just a timid female. While she can be shy and more reserved, my mate is one of the most powerful females out there.

  “You have to think that because we’re mated,” she says in my mind, a moment before she opens the door to the room I’m in and closes it behind her.

  The lights are off. I’m leaning against the counter with my hands by my side. Sienna slowly walks toward me. The dress on her accentuates her curves, makes me want to bite her supple—

  “Ford!” she yells in my head. “We’re supposed to be looking for the one who hurt Eaton, not thinking about sex.”

  “Who says I was thinking about that? I’m merely hungry and would like some of your blood.”

  “Uh huh. So it had nothing to do with you wanting to drink it from my breast where it’s pushed up, thanks to what I’m wearing?”

  “I mean, I wouldn’t say no to such a thing.”

  She places her hands on my chest and leans in to gently kiss my lips. I reach around her back and pull her against me. “One kiss.”

  “Mmhmm.”

  She lets me have that one then leans away while I chase her lips. “We have to focus, Ford. None of this right now. Later, after whoever is caught and dealt with.”

  “Incentive. I can work with that.”

  Using every shred of my willpower, I release my gorgeous mate and walk toward the door. Opening it, I sweep my arm out to let her leave first, but then someone running down the hall has me pushing her behind me as I step out.

  Rion slows when he sees me. His eyes are emerald green, letting me know he’s only a breath away from shifting. “Ari’s missing.”

  Those two words have my fangs descending, piercing my bottom lip. Ariane is as close to me as my own blood. She has my powers. I was the one to find her when she was pulled into a dream. I was the one to save her. Usually, when Ari feels a strong emotion, it hits me, and I have to find her to make sure she’s okay. I got nothing this time. However, I will murder whoever has her.

  “Get in line,” Rion growls low, reading my mind.

  “Can you find her?” Sienna asks and points to his chest. All shifters have an internal compass which points to their mate. Even Sienna and I have it. I wasn’t sure if we would since I’m not a shifter. It’s something I’ve become very used to. When we’re not together, I always know where she is and not in some creepy stalker way.

  “Something is throwing me off,” he states. “Some kind of magic. Every time I think I have a location on her, I get there and it’s moved. I don’t like this.” Rion rubs the center of his chest.

  “We’ll find her,” I tell him.

  Solomon and my mom walk toward us. I can’t help the shudder that takes me over. Freaking leather. I wish she’d change. Glad I didn’t drink from my mate a few minutes ago. I have no doubt I would throw it up if I did.

  “I will not change,” my mom says aloud. “Now, where was the last spot you saw your mate?” she asks Rion.

  “We were upstairs in the hallway. We each went in a different direction and then she was gone. I couldn’t feel her anymore. Not her anger or anything. Who knows who took her? They could have teleported her anywhere.”

  Pulling out my phone, I send a text to Raven and tell her where we are and that we need her and Ky. Or Robin for that matter. Any of the fae royalty will do.

  Robin is the first to appear with Davian following behind her. She’s dressed in a red one-piece bathing suit with a rescue buoy in her hand. Davian matches in red board shorts. He has a whistle around his neck and shows off his tanned skin.

  “How very Baywatch of y
ou,” I say dryly.

  “Not all of us can have a mother who’s as old as dirt who’ll let us raid her closet,” Davian replies then sees my mom behind me. “Sorry, Eloise.”

  She waves him off. “No harm, young shifter. I may be four thousand years old, but I look damn good.” She puts her hand on her hip and twirls the riding crop with the other.

  “Yes, you do, darling,” Dad states. He walks up behind her and slips his arms around her waist.

  He’s also dressed in leather pants but is shirtless and has a leather collar around his neck. Looking at them, you’d never know they’re as old as they are. Fate, I wish they would have thought of different matching costumes.

  “Do you think we can get a group discount at the therapist, brother?” Sol asks when he appears next to us. “This is way too much for me to wade through alone.”

  “We need someone immortal,” I tell him. “No way does a human have enough time for us.”

  Sol strokes his chin. “You’re right. Maybe a vampire or a mage. I think the fae would have too much fun with us.”

  “We would,” Robin interjects with a grin.

  “Can you idiots focus?” Rion growls. “I need to find my mate.”

  “Right,” I say and focus back on the task at hand. I have a problem focusing. There are squirrels running around everywhere, interrupting my thoughts. Even ones in leather who have no business wearing such things.

  Sienna slaps the back of my head.

  “Ow! What the fate?” I yell at her as I rub the area she just injured.

  “Oh please, you’re not hurt,” she states.

  Robin rolls her eyes. “How can I help?”

  Orion gives her a quick rundown of what happened with Ari and how he can’t sense her anymore.

  Stepping close to him, Robin lays her palm on his chest and closes her eyes. This is a new one for me. I’ve never seen one of the fae do this. Though, those in the royal family probably have all kinds of powers I haven’t witnessed.