Forbidden Instinct

by Cassandra Chandler

  Miranda wouldn’t let it go. “Yeah, how?”

  He sighed, then pretended to scratch his nose, hoping Miranda would get the message. She did, but her reaction wasn’t what he expected.

  “Oh, you could smell it with your werewolf senses,” she said.

  “Miranda—” He let out a sigh.

  “What?” Miranda said. “We can know that her boyfriend is a vampire, but I can’t tell her that mine’s a werewolf?”

  He glanced at Eden, trying to read her response. Her eyes were wide and her mouth hung open, but then she closed it and smiled.

  “This is a really strange night,” Eden said.

  “Tell me about it.” Miranda shifted closer to Eden. “I’m guessing the vampire boyfriend is Shade?”

  “Yes.” Eden smiled and her gaze became a little unfocused. There was wonder and affection and longing there.

  Darren couldn’t resist putting his arm around Miranda’s waist and pulling her against his chest.

  “He offered to turn me,” Eden said. “But it was just too much to process. I’ve been so light-headed lately, I wasn’t sure if I was hallucinating or not. That’s why I wanted to talk to you. I figured if anyone would know about this, it would be you.”

  “Ask the oracle. I get it.” Miranda laughed. “Wow, you’re a woman in high demand. We were going to offer for Darren to turn you.”

  “Really?” Eden’s eyes widened.

  “We were going to try if you were interested,” Darren said. “I’m not even sure if I could. I’m still new to this all.”

  “Do you have like a werewolf mentor who’s helping you through it?” Eden asked.

  Darren snorted. “If only.”

  “Maybe Shade can help,” Eden said. “He says he’s old. Like hundreds of years old. I bet he’s come across werewolves before.”

  Darren wasn’t sure if that would be a good thing. “Isn’t there a rivalry or something between vampires and werewolves? That’s how the movies usually show it.”

  Miranda shook her head. “I don’t remember my dad telling me stories about werewolves and vampires interacting at all. If I’d known it would be this important, I would have paid more attention to them. I was always more into the fairies.”

  “I’m not complaining about that,” Darren said.

  Eden’s face lit up. “Are fairies real too?”

  Darren and Miranda shared a look.

  “Yeah, but that’s not a good thing,” Miranda said.

  “Oh.” Eden actually looked disappointed.

  He hoped she never had a chance to meet a fairy and find out just how wrong her apparent ideas about them were.

  “If Shade is as old as Eden says, maybe he knows about fairies too,” Miranda said. “We can ask him about the coin and the Fairy Lord. He might even be able to help us with the full moon.”

  Darren’s misgivings were still there. “I don’t know if that’s a good idea.”

  “Why?” Miranda craned her neck to look up at him.

  Darren stared at Eden, not wanting to voice his concerns in front of her. She must have read his doubts in his expression.

  “Whatever else he is, Shade is a good man,” Eden said. “If he can help you, he will.”

  Darren shook his head. “We’re still learning about all this. For all we know, Shade could be working for the Fairy Lord.”

  “The full moon is in two days,” Miranda said. “Jack can’t help us. If Shade is willing to, I don’t think we can shut that door.”

  Damn.

  “I don’t really understand everything you’re talking about, but Shade did say that we might have to run after her turns me,” Eden said. “I think he’d be breaking some sort of rule, but if it means we get to be together forever… We’re both willing to risk it. If he’s working for this Fairy Lord you guys are worried about, he’s already open to leaving him.”

  That was only somewhat reassuring.

  Miranda turned to Darren and said, “We need all the help we can get if we’re going to stop the zombie apocalypse.”

  She was right. What they were facing was so much bigger than dealing with his own…issues.

  “Zombie apocalypse?” Eden let out a laugh. “You’re joking, right?”

  He didn’t know what to say. Miranda was uncharacteristically silent as well.

  Eden’s smile vanished. “I know the other night you said something big and bad was coming, but a zombie apocalypse?”

  “I’m not one-hundred percent certain yet, but my visions have been…pretty horrific lately.” Miranda shook her head. “At the moment, I’m most concerned about you.”

  Miranda held out her hand to Eden. With barely a pause, Eden took it. Miranda closed her eyes. They both took a deep breath, letting it out in synch. They must have done this before.

  Even with all of Miranda’s talk of Eden, Darren hadn’t realized how close they were. Hopefully, that bond would last through their respective changes.

  Part of him was disappointed that Eden wouldn’t be joining their pack. That part was drowned out in how happy he was for her to have found someone to love. Like he loved Miranda.

  Miranda sucked in a breath, her eyes flying open.

  “What? What is it?” Eden said.

  Miranda shook her head, then grabbed Eden’s wrist, half-pulling her friend toward the car.

  “We’re leaving,” Miranda said. “Now.”

  Darren fell in step beside them. When Eden stumbled, he put his arm around her waist to help her.

  “What did you see?” Eden asked.

  He looked at the grim expression on Miranda’s face and knew before she answered.

  “Nothing,” Miranda said. “Nothing at all.”

  Chapter Twenty-One

  The streets were empty this time of night. Miranda started to say a prayer of thanks, but thought better of it. She didn’t know who was listening.

  Her chest hurt from the way her heart was pounding. Her neck ached from constantly looking over her shoulder at Eden curled up on the backseat, watching her breathe—willing her to keep breathing.

  There had been no encroaching fog in Eden’s future. No signs of an impending change or important events. Just silence. Darkness.

  Miranda could feel it pressing on her, like a bubble surrounding Eden’s fate. A bubble that was about to pop.

  Now she knew what the future looked like for someone who was moments away from death. She would never mistake it again.

  Shade’s house was on the outskirts of town. Darren blew through traffic lights, as if he could sense Miranda’s fear. She didn’t want to say anything out loud and upset Eden.

  Outwardly, Eden seemed okay. Maybe a little winded, but no worse than Miranda had seen her before. Something had changed and was speeding her descent.

  Following Eden’s instructions, they drove up a long curved drive. Shade’s house—mansion—was at the top of a hill. Lights were on, and a man was standing on the front steps. He was wearing a really nice suit, hands in his pockets. His casual stance made it seem like he’d been expecting them.

  “Vampire business must be good.” Darren stopped the car, then turned to Miranda and said, “Maybe you two should wait here.”

  Eden’s pale face appeared between them. Her eyes were unfocused until she saw Shade.

  She smiled faintly. “I need to introduce you.”

  “She’s right.” It was just an excuse, but Miranda didn’t want to say what she was really thinking.

  There’s no time.

  Miranda opened her door, then pulled her seat forward so she could help Eden from the back. As they emerged, Miranda realized both men were suddenly standing right next to them. She turned around to see them glaring at each other.

  She let Eden push away and stumble toward Shade. He caught her up against his chest.

  “Eden, are you all right?” he asked.

  “I’m fine,” Eden said.

  She smiled so sweetly, it tugged on Miranda’s heart. Miranda wasn’t sure i
f Eden was trying to reassure Shade or didn’t realize how close she was to death.

  “You need to turn her right now,” Miranda said.

  Shade’s eyes widened. “Excuse me?”

  “Turn her into a vampire,” Miranda said. “Now.”

  Shade laughed, but the sound was uneasy. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  “We don’t have time for this,” Miranda said.

  “This is Miranda.” Eden’s voice sounded breathless and her lips were tinged with blue. “She’s an oracle. And my best friend. You can trust her.”

  Miranda’s heart was in her throat. She knew that Eden was her best friend. She didn’t know that Eden felt the same way about her.

  “And what about him?” Shade asked.

  Miranda shrugged. “He’s a werewolf. And Eden doesn’t have much time left.”

  “A werewolf?” Shade’s smile faded. “Well, that’s a surprise, Mr. Calverton.”

  “Wait, you two know each other?” Miranda asked.

  “We met briefly,” Shade said. “Amid talk of vengeance.”

  “Mr. Reece.” Darren started to let out a low, steady growl. “So, you’re a centuries’ old vampire. Is that why you’re interested in antiquities?”

  “At the moment, I’m more interested in vehicles.” Shade nodded toward Darren’s car. “I can’t help but notice you’ve had a little fender-bender. That’s a very odd shape pressed into what’s left of your grill.”

  Darren shrugged. It was a casual gesture, except his shoulders stayed a little hunched, his arms curved at his sides as if he was ready to launch himself at Shade.

  At the park, she’d seen Darren’s speed. And again just now as they exited the car. Shade must have seen it, too. He must know what he was dealing with.

  “I hit an animal,” Darren said.

  Shade laughed again, but his smile didn’t reach his eyes. He shifted Eden so that she was at his side, then angled his body to partially block her from view. “What kind of animal?”

  “The kind that turns into a man.” Darren was glaring at Shade. The tension between them building.

  “That’s a dangerous breed,” Shade said. “When did it happen?”

  “The night after the coins were stolen.” Darren’s shoulders hunched up further and his lips curled back from his teeth. Very sharp teeth. “But then, I’m guessing you already know all about that.”

  “These are my friends,” Eden said. “You can trust them.”

  Shade’s smile became more forced. “I’m glad you and Miranda worked out your differences, but you don’t know what you’re dealing with when it comes to her boyfriend.”

  “None of us do,” Miranda said. “The werewolf he hit bit him. Darren is still figuring out how to manage the change. We need your help. But Eden needs you now.”

  “I’ll take care of Eden.” Shade glanced at her briefly, as if he didn’t want to take his eyes off of Darren for more than a moment. “But that’s all I can do.”

  If Shade refused to help them, Miranda didn’t know where they would turn. Darren was handling his change okay at the moment, but they had no idea how the full moon would affect him. Eventually, Mr. Morrison would have holding cells available that could handle a werewolf, but that was months away.

  “Afraid of what your boss would say about you helping us out?” Darren said.

  Shade didn’t rise to his bait. “As a matter of fact, I am. And you should be, too.”

  Crap. Shade was working for the Fairy Lord.

  “You look like you’re holding it together,” Shade said. “Congratulations on that. But the full moon coming up will be more than you can handle on your own. My advice to you is find the werewolf who bit you. You’ll do less damage as part of a pack.”

  Darren shook his head. “That’s kind of a problem, since the guy’s dead.”

  “Dead how?” Shade’s brow furrowed.

  “Someone shoved one of those silver coins into him,” Darren said. “And that was before I hit him with my car.”

  “You killed a werewolf two days ago?” Shade stepped away from Eden. Darren mirrored the movement.

  Miranda didn’t like where this was going. She wasn’t sure if it would count in their favor or against them if Shade thought they had killed a Knight of Antares. It didn’t seem wise to take credit for it, given that Forester was probably the one who had managed to capture Niall and put the silver coin in him.

  “The fairy who put the silver in him killed him,” Miranda said. “The werewolf was doomed before Darren hit him.”

  “I don’t suppose you know the name of this mystery werewolf?” Shade chuckled, but the sound made her even more uneasy.

  “Niall,” Miranda said.

  Shade’s lips peeled back from his teeth. Miranda hadn’t remembered his canines being so long and pointed.

  “You killed Niall.” Shade let out a roar and leapt at Darren, hitting him in the chest and slamming him back into his car. The car slid a few feet across the drive.

  Darren looked dazed, but only for a moment. He shook his head, then growled.

  “Oh no,” Miranda said.

  Darren grabbed Shade by his arms and threw him over the car, then leapt onto its roof. Shade must have not missed a beat when he hit the ground on the other side.

  It seemed the moment Darren reached the roof, Shade impacted him again. They both flew through the air, hitting the ground and digging a deep groove as they landed.

  Miranda ran to Eden. They held onto each other.

  Shade was pounding on Darren, driving his head deeper into the earth. Darren reached out and slashed Shade across the chest. Blood sprang from the wounds. Shade staggered back and Darren leapt to his feet.

  His skin turned gray, his teeth lengthening as his face started to morph. Fur sprouted everywhere Miranda could see. His fingertips ended in long claws, blood dripping from them to the ground. The change was happening faster than the last time. Darren didn’t seem to be fighting it.

  “Oh my God,” Eden said. “They’ll kill each other.”

  Punctuating her statement, Darren leapt at Shade, striking out with those deadly-sharp claws. Shade seemed to vanish.

  One moment, he was right in front of Darren, the next he was landing in a crouch behind him. It was like watching a live-action anime.

  Miranda had no idea what to do. With the threat Shade presented, she was sure there’d be no reasoning with Darren, no getting him to back down from this. They had to figure out a way to reach one of them. Shade seemed the only option.

  “Why did Shade attack him?” Miranda said. “How did he even know Niall?”

  “Niall was his best friend.” Eden seemed to pale even further as she spoke, turning almost to a dull gray. “I assumed they were both vampires, but…”

  “He was the werewolf who turned Darren.” Miranda led them to the porch, half supporting Eden.

  Eden made a visible effort to draw in a breath to speak. “Did Darren really kill him?”

  “Of course not.” Miranda hoped that Shade was listening. “Niall was already dying when Darren hit him—and even that was an accident. Darren tried to help, but ended up being bitten. Before Niall died, Darren said he was horrified at what he’d done—that he’d turned Darren.”

  Shade had been fending off Darren’s attacks to that point. When Darren lunged at Shade again and the vampire tried to leap away, Darren lashed out and caught his ankle, yanking Shade back to the ground.

  “We have to get them to stop,” Miranda said.

  “Get Eden into the house,” Shade yelled.

  Darren twisted Shade’s leg around at an impossible angle. The sound it made—the way Shade screamed—made bile rise in the back of Miranda’s throat.

  “Shade!” Eden tried to run forward, but Miranda held her back.

  It would be too terrible if Darren killed Shade. Aside from the fact that he was Eden’s lover, if Niall and Shade were best friends, Shade was probably a Knight of Antares as well. He
was their best hope of help for Darren.

  The entire fight was based on a misunderstanding. Darren wouldn’t be able to forgive himself if he killed Shade.

  She hoped.

  Because that was the flip side of this. If Darren killed Shade and didn’t feel bad about it, it would mean part of his humanity had slipped away.

  “Darren, stop,” she yelled. “You have to stop.”

  Shade had seemed distracted when Miranda explained Niall’s death. Maybe he’d been listening and understood what had happened. If she could just get Darren to back off and calm down...

  “Stay here,” Miranda said. “I’m going to—”

  Something changed in Eden. Her breathing hitched as her legs buckled. Miranda had to struggle to keep her from falling. She helped her sit on the smooth wood of the porch, propping her up against the railing.

  “No no no,” Miranda chanted.

  Shade was supposed to turn Eden. She wasn’t supposed to die. What had changed?

  The only thing Miranda could think was that she and Darren were here. If they hadn’t come along, Eden would have called Shade and they would have handled things together. Instead, Eden was freaking out—for very good reason. It must be aggravating her symptoms.

  Miranda would not be the reason her best friend died. She turned and ran toward the combatants.

  Shade had managed to grab both of Darren’s wrists, keeping his claws at bay, but Darren was snapping at him with those jaws. As she neared, she saw his ears and face extend farther, the change progressing even more.

  She threw herself on his back. She knew she didn’t have a chance of overpowering him, so she wrapped her arms around his shoulders and buried her face in his neck.

  “Please, Darren, please.” She sobbed. She couldn’t stop herself. “Let him go. Please let him go to Eden.”

  Darren barely seemed to register her presence.

  Shade dared a glance toward his house, where Eden had slumped to her side on the porch.

  “Eden? Eden!” Shade yelled.

  He turned back to Darren, eyes pinched tight as he took a deep breath. When he opened them, he seemed in control. Desperate, but in control.

  “Darren, I need you to listen to me,” Shade said. “I understand what happened with you and Niall. I heard Miranda explain. If we keep fighting now, Eden will die. And be assured, after that, I will kill you. And then you won’t be around to protect Miranda.”