by Crissy Smith
“Any unusual scents you or your Pack noticed?” Dakota asked.
“There’re always new scents that belong to strangers. This area leads to a few of the harder hiking trails. It’s why we don’t come here often,” Damon explained.
“How’d you find it?”
“One of my Pack members was bringing a guy up here for a day of hiking. After she stumbled on the ritual site, she called me,” Damon said. “I came and saw for myself. It was creepy.”
She’d seen the photos and agreed with his assessment. “I’ll do some more digging on what the sigils mean.”
Damon nodded. “I added more guards to try to stop anything like this happening again.”
“I’m sure you’ll do your best. The only way to be certain is to catch these people and stop them.”
“We will.” Damon gestured around. “This is my territory. My Pack’s. I won’t allow this to continue.”
Dakota took his words as the threat they were. If she didn’t find who was doing this before Damon did, then he’d take care of it himself. “Let me work this. I’ll get to the bottom of it.”
The Alpha turned. His eyes were bright. “Right now, they’re sacrificing animals. How long until they capture a young or weak shifter? How long until we lose one of our own?”
He was right. “I know.”
“Let’s take a look around and then I’ll accompany you to the other sites.” Damon waved her forward.
“Sounds good.” She took the first steps toward where Damon indicated. Dakota had a feeling the investigation wasn’t going to be as simple as finding a few kids who hoped to summon a demon or talk to the devil.
The chill that traveled down her spine had been with her since she’d first heard about the case. This wouldn’t be easy to solve.
The scent of old animal blood hit her before she stepped into the small cave. Most likely a house cat had been the victim. Dakota might be a deadly jaguar in her other form, but she was still sickened at what the poor cat had gone through.
Every protective instinct she possessed had to be tamped down before she roared in anger.
Damon clamped a hand on her shoulder.
Since felines were mostly solitary, she didn’t have the same Pack instinct as some of the other shifters. That didn’t mean the soothing presence of a strong Alpha didn’t comfort her, though.
“It’s harder seeing it in person,” Damon murmured.
Yeah, it was. She’d thought she’d been prepared to be at the site, but the feeling of evil that remained shocked her. This wasn’t kids, no, she was certain of that. The cold dread that had been building finally settled in the pit of her stomach.
“Have you ever seen these signs before?” she asked, walking to the wall. In addition to the pentagram that had been drawn in blood on the ground were the sigils on the walls. Okay, so more than one house cat. She’d have to check with Animal Control to see if any one area in the city was reporting more lost pets than the others.
“Only at the other sites,” Damon answered.
“Hmm.” She bent down to look at the way the floor had been cleaned. Had the culprits brought a fucking broom? The brush swipes in the dirt indicated they had. How screwed up was that?
Even though she had the photos from the file, Dakota took out her phone and snapped some for herself, including the way the dirt had been brushed aside. Once she had seen what she needed, she rose to her feet. Damon stood out of the way, at the entrance to the cave. She appreciated that he was letting them work.
Dare and Gabe were placing trace evidence into bags to take to their lab. The three of them had been working together long enough that they didn’t even have to discuss who would do what part of the investigation.
“Almost done?” she called to her guys.
“Couple more minutes,” Dare replied without looking up from scraping the blood from the wall.
Dakota didn’t need to see any more so she strolled out of the cave and back into the fresh air. She couldn’t get away from the bad feeling but at least she could breathe in something other than blood.
Damon followed her.
“Are the other sites the same?” she asked.
“Pretty much.”
She nodded. They’d still have to check out each place to note any difference. Dakota wasn’t looking forward to how her night was going to be spent.
* * * *
Kieran knew before he even set foot inside his suite that Dakota was already home. His side ached and there was blood on his clothes. She was going to be pissed. He couldn’t avoid going inside, though. He needed to shower, change clothes then feed.
He slid the key card into the lock. The light flashed green and Kieran turned the knob before pushing the door open. One step inside.
“I smell blood.”
Kieran lifted his head to see Dakota sprawled on the living room rug. She had file folders and pictures scattered around her while lying on her stomach. “Just a scratch.”
She grunted. “I bet. Make sure you don’t get blood on the carpet again. The housekeeping crew is going to quit if that keeps happening.”
He stood above her, frowning. Dakota hadn’t even looked up at him. Where was the concern? “Uh.”
Laughing, she rolled over to peer up at him. “If you keep coming home bleeding, the novelty wears off.”
Kieran narrowed his eyes. “Remy called you.”
“Texted actually,” she corrected. “He didn’t want me mad at him.”
“What about me?” Kieran groused. “I should be the one he’s afraid of.”
She smirked. “Pretty sure that ship sailed when he learned you had to have five thousand thread count sheets and twelve pillows on your bed to sleep.”
“It’s not twelve pillows,” he grumbled. Kieran sulked as he made his way toward the bathroom to clean up. He passed his bed, disgusted to count that he did in fact have twelve pillows. Shit, Dakota was right. This was why he’d always held others at arm’s length and hadn’t shared his life with anyone. When he’d been stationed in Texas, neither Angel nor Remy had ever been to his residence. He’d kept his secrets. Now, after the years of striking fear in the heart of everyone he met, Kieran was losing that hold.
He resisted the urge to throw all the pillows at the wall and went into the bathroom instead. He turned on the shower, letting the dual water heads heat the small room.
All right, he liked his comforts. After being held and tortured for years, Kieran deserved to have the best his money could buy. That was all it was. He wasn’t a snob or anything. He wasn’t.
Damn, why was he letting Dakota’s teasing get to him? He closed the bathroom door before tugging his shirt over his head. The claw mark on his side pulled, causing a hiss to escape, but he was already healing. Once he had blood, there would be no mark on him at all.
Kieran finished undressing then stuck his hand into the water to check the temperature. Yes, he enjoyed scalding-hot showers as well. There was something about the cold that took him back to those long days where he hadn’t known if he would see the next dawn.
“Stop it,” he muttered. There was no reason for his thoughts to have gone so dark or back to the cell that’d once been his home. He had more than he could have ever hoped for. Being able to wake up every day with Dakota, working closely with his best friend and having the man who was like a father to him completed his life. That there were more people in his life like Jackson, Alex and Mitch was a bonus. Kieran should have been happy, not getting lost in memories that would only lead to pain.
He climbed into the shower, closing the glass door behind him, encasing himself in heat and steam. Kieran picked up the bar of soap and ran it over his wide chest. There were scars on his body, which was rare for a Walker. The years of abuse he’d suffered had left a mark on more than just his body, though. At times he felt as though his soul was marked.
The shower door opened behind him, but Kieran didn’t turn. He’d heard Dakota enter the bathroom, the clothes droppi
ng and her steady breath.
Kieran closed his eyes as her slick palms spread from his back to his stomach.
“You know I would have been worried if Remy hadn’t already told me you were okay,” she said. “I thought you’d be happy I didn’t freak out.”
“I am.” He blew out a long breath. Kieran really was happy. He didn’t want Dakota to worry about him.
“Then what’s wrong?” Her lips trailed against the back of his neck.
“I don’t know,” he confessed. Kieran had been fine kicking ass and showing those assholes who was the boss. Then he’d headed home to Dakota. It wasn’t until he’d set foot in the back door of the casino that it dawned on him he’d gone almost an hour without thinking about his father. That was when it had struck him that he could have been taken by surprise. He’d let his job and the thrill of the night keep him from being on guard. Not only could he have gotten himself killed, but Remy and Dakota as well. “Just in a mood.”
“You can do better than that,” she said. “Talk to me, please.”
“I let myself forget.”
She took the soap from his hands. Kieran leaned back as she took over cleaning his body. He kept his eyes closed to enjoy the attention. It was a reminder that he needed to keep sharp. He’d not let anything happen to Dakota. No, he’d die before Dakota was hurt.
He must have made some sort of sound that alerted her to his thoughts, because she dropped the soap before yanking him around.
“Look at me,” she demanded.
Kieran opened his eyes.
Dakota cupped his face. “What did you forget?”
“That I have a target on my back,” he whispered.
“Because of your father?”
“He’s going to come,” Kieran said. “He doesn’t bluff.”
“I’m not scared,” she told him.
“I am,” he admitted. “Terrified, like I haven’t been since Caspar rescued me from hell.”
She nodded. “Then it’s a good thing that I’m here. And Caspar, Remy, Jackson and all the others.”
“Our friends,” he whispered.
“Our family,” she said. “Yours and mine.”
Kieran scoffed. “Neither one of us had any reason to believe in family.”
“No, we don’t,” she agreed. “Or we didn’t. But haven’t the last few months shown us that we have people who care about us?”
They had. When his cousins had come to town, it had been agents, Jackson’s people and even the Alpha who’d helped bring them down. Dakota was right. Family. The word had always made him sick. After being cast out of his clan, Kieran had never wanted to hear any association with the word family again. But that was what his little group had turned into.
“I’m an idiot,” he muttered.
“Then you’re my idiot,” she teased. Dakota lifted to the tips of her toes and kissed him. “And I’m not going to let your father or anyone hurt our family.”
“I won’t either,” he vowed.
“Good. Now why don’t you show me that you’re really okay?”
He grinned then pushed her back against the tile. Kieran dropped to his knees, which had the water hitting his shoulders and side. Ignoring the sting where the claw marks were slowly healing, Kieran ran his hands up her inner thighs. “Let me taste what’s mine first.”
“Yeah.” She breathed heavily already but widened her stance.
Kieran lifted her left foot, guiding it to his shoulder.
“Please,” she begged.
He trailed his fingers through her slick folds before leaning in and inhaling her sweet arousal. Kieran flicked out his tongue and tasted her just like he’d asked.
Dakota moaned then gripped the back of his head. She pushed him into her harder. Kieran used his tongue and fingers to bring her pleasure. Each time she cried out, Kieran was spurred on harder. He loved claiming her body as his. He might not have been a shifter, but he held the same urge to let others know she was marked.
Being a Walker gave him no scent. It was the absence of any smell that made him so different from humans and shifters. Humans picked up the odors of the places they’d been and what they’d touched. Day Walkers’ bodies never held a trace of anything. He wished she could wear his scent but, her being unable to, he wanted Dakota to give off the aroma of taken. Her happiness, satisfaction and contentment worked to claim her. At least to the paranormal world.
“K!” she shrieked as her orgasm slammed through her.
He had to reach out and catch her so she didn’t fall. Her legs shook as he stood with her in his arms. Kieran quickly turned off the water before stepping out of the shower.
Dakota snagged a towel off the warmer and ran it over his shoulders as he carried her into the bedroom. He laid her down on the mattress, following to cover her body with his.
“Inside me,” she demanded.
Kieran climbed to his knees, spreading her thighs before gripping the base of his cock. He gave himself a few strokes as her gaze followed the movement. He loved teasing her, but he couldn’t hold back much longer. He ached to fill her again.
“Kieran,” she whined.
“Keep your eyes on mine,” he ordered.
She looked up at him. Kieran would never get tired of the love and trust he saw in her eyes.
He pushed in the tip of his shaft before pausing.
“Take me,” she said. “Claim me.”
Kieran slid the rest of the way inside her slick pussy. He groaned as she clamped her inner muscles down on his cock.
He pulled back slowly before plunging in.
“Mine.” He snarled the word. Kieran set up a steady pace, pumping his hips and driving deep into her.
Dakota held on to his shoulders, but never let her gaze slide from him.
The connection between them was strong and the spark that linked them flared. There was electricity in the air surrounding him. There were times when they made love and everything remained normal. Other instances, like tonight, the fire that ran from her to him almost consumed him. He needed so much.
“More! Please, I’m almost there,” she yelled.
Kieran increased his thrusts until she screamed and climaxed. He slowed down when she collapsed onto the bed. He continued with lazy strokes until he came inside her.
Dakota wrapped her arms around his shoulders before sighing with pleasure.
“Good?” he asked. Not that he needed validation, but he couldn’t resist.
“The best,” she murmured and closed her eyes.
* * * *
Kieran picked up an extremely disturbing photo from the pile that Dakota had left on the floor. There was something about the words written on the cave wall that struck a familiar chord with him. He just couldn’t remember where he might have seen them before.
“Every one of the sites had that one drawing on the wall,” Dakota said as she walked into the living room. She’d pulled on a pair of cotton pajama bottoms and a tank top while he merely wore sweatpants.
“There’s something…” He tapped the photo against his lips.
“What?” she asked.
He’d seen it somewhere but where? Kieran tried to rack his brain, but it wasn’t coming to him. He strolled over to the desk where he had a laptop that was connected to the Organization’s database. He pressed the power button then set the picture down on the desk.
“Kieran?”
He glanced over at his shoulder. “Yes?”
“What are you doing?”
“This symbol is familiar. I’m trying to remember from where,” he explained.
“Okay,” she said.
“I’m going to put it into the database we keep and see what comes up,” he told her.
“I already did that,” she said.
“But I’m concentrating on my cases. That will cut back the amount of data you’ll have to sort through.”
“Sounds good.” She ran her hand down his back. “You need to get the search started then go feed.”
>
It would be best. He couldn’t afford to be weak. At any moment his father might show up and Kieran would have to fight. “I will.”
“And take Jackson with you,” she said.
Kieran frowned. “Why?”
“You know why,” she responded.
“I don’t need a babysitter,” he said with a growl.
Dakota slid up next to him before turning and hopping on the only open space left on the desk. She kicked her legs while smiling.
“What?” He scowled.
“You’re sexy when you’re cranky.”
“I’m not cranky.”
“Are so,” she singsonged. “Besides, you can ask Jackson if he recognizes the symbol. Isn’t he like a billion years old? He might know.”
Kieran barked out a laugh. “He’s not a billion years old, but I’ll tell him you think that.”
“Go ahead,” she replied. “I’m not afraid.”
“Fine,” Kieran agreed. He snapped a picture of the photo then transferred the image from his phone to his computer. As he worked on setting up the search, Dakota watched him.
“Don’t you have work to do?” he asked. Dakota was always working. It wasn’t like her to hover.
“Yep.”
He completed the command for the computer to run then stepped back.
“Now go,” she ordered.
Kieran narrowed his eyes at her. If she was up to something, it wouldn’t bode well for him.
Dakota laughed. “I just want you strong. I ordered dinner for an hour and a half. Be back here? Please.”
“Fine.” He gripped the front of her tank, yanking her forward, to kiss her deeply.
Dakota was panting by the time he released her. “Damn,” she managed.
“Just wanted to make sure you didn’t get any ideas while I’m gone.”
“Oh, I have all kinds of ideas,” she practically purred. “I called Jackson for you as well. He’s meeting you by the back door.”
Damn, how long had he been staring at the photo? “Think you’re sneaky, don’t you?”
