Shifter Wars Complete Series

by Sarah J. Stone

  "Maybe so," Killian said. "But it looks like I managed to avoid getting popped by the Sapiens."

  He looked at me expectantly, like he wanted me to confirm our arrangement.

  "That, you did," I said. "Now, get out of here before they find us. And if you ever get yourself into a jam, tell the Sapiens that Connor Rickart owes you one."

  The corner of his mouth pulled up at this. He knew the value of a Sapien favor; it was like having a get-out-of-jail-free card. I just hoped that this would be a wake-up call for him to stop messing around with dangerous shit like this.

  "Take care, brother," he said. Then he turned and took off, and was soon gone.

  Once he was out of there, I realized that my little stunt had set some shit in motion that I needed to tend to quickly. I pulled out my phone and fired off a text to Jane.

  - Please, please tell me you're at the apartment.

  The response came only a few moments later.

  - I'm here. Why?

  Because shit's about to hit the fan. Stay put.

  Then the response:

  - Why do I have a feeling I'm not going to like this?

  I couldn't help but smile as I sent the reply.

  - Because you're not.

  I had to get to Sapien HQ as fucking fast as I could. Running to the nearest major street I flagged down a cab, wishing more than anything that I had my bike. Once in the cab, I threw a pair of hundreds onto his lap and told him to get to Midtown as fast as he'd ever gotten anywhere in his life. He was more than happy to help.

  A half hour later, I was in Sapien HQ. I hauled ass to Hanes' office and pounded on the door.

  "It's me!" I shouted.

  "Jesus, come in, then," he said.

  Seconds later, I was plopped in the chair across from Hanes' desk and filling him in on all of the details. I told him about the meeting with Mallory, how he found me out, and everything else. Once I was done, he looked down, pinching the bridge of his nose with his fingertips.

  "Let me get this straight," he said. "You let a fucking dragon know about the goddamn fox fall social? And strongly implied that the witness would be there? Are you out of your goddamn mind? Do you have any idea what would happen if the fucking fox upper crust found out that we put their lives in danger like that to draw out a dragon? We're pretty much using the fox aristocracy as bait!"

  "That's the plan," I said.

  "And what, you're gonna take the Thrasher clan and the dragon on all by yourself?"

  "Nope," I said. "That's where this gets good. See, right now we have a witness to a dragon meddling in shifter affairs, and on top of that, I've got the address of the warehouse where Mallory is keeping all of the drugs and weapons that he's about to put into circulation in the city. I know that the dragon society really doesn't give a shit about us little shifters, but they're never too pleased to hear about their kind pulling stunts like this."

  Hanes sat back in his seat, and I got the impression that he knew just what I was suggesting. "Then I guess we'd better reach out to our dragon contacts."

  A smirk formed on my lips.

  "Then I guess we should."

  CHAPTER 8

  JANE

  Everything about the evening ahead filled me with a palpable sense of dread. When Connor came back to the apartment last night and filled me in on everything that had happened, part of me wanted to shift right then and there, leap at his face, and gnaw his damn nose off. Foxes aren't exactly the toughest animals there are, but I figured I could do a little damage before he picked me up and launched me across the room.

  "You did what?" I'd shouted.

  "Listen," he'd said. "The place is gonna be locked down tight by the Sapiens. We'll be patrolling inside and out, and you won't have a thing to worry about. Then when Mallory shows up for you, we'll move in."

  I couldn't believe just how cavalier he was being about the fact that he was not only using me, but hundreds of members of the fox shifter society as bait for his stupid plan. But no matter how much I protested, he'd just say the same thing:

  "You've got nothing to worry about."

  Then he'd flash me that cocky smile that made me want to kill him and kiss him all at the same time.

  Naturally, I couldn't say a word about this to anyone else in fox society other than my parents, and they were none too happy about it. The Sapiens had plenty of fox agents working for them, so it wasn't going to be an issue to have a dozen or so of them blend into the party and keep an eye out on things. And more than a few bears, wolves, and lions, not to mention a handful of apes, would be patrolling the blocks around the hotel where the party was being held. As much as I wanted to doubt Connor, it sounded like a halfway decent plan. If all went according to how he'd outlined it, then they'd get Mallory before he even got in the place.

  But it all sounded far, far too easy.

  Standing in front of the full-length mirror in the Bedroom at Connor's place, I took one last look at the glamorous deep blue dress that my parents had bought for me. I couldn't help but notice that the neckline was surprisingly low for something my parents picked out; I figured they weren't screwing around about getting Leonid ready to pop the question…if he didn't pop something else first.

  "Damn," Connor said. "You look good enough to eat, girl."

  I made a half-smile and looked up at him, my eyebrows rising as I glanced over his outfit. He was dressed in a sharp black tuxedo, tailored perfectly for the hard, broad angles of his body. His shoes were polished to a mirror shine, and his hair was slicked back and shiny. And even his five o'clock shadow had been tamed. He looked like a new man.

  "That's…a good look for you," I said.

  "Oh, this shit?" he asked. "Figured if your parents were gonna go along with this fucking crazy plan, the least I could do was look nice for them."

  "Very gentlemanly of you," I said, stepping over to him and looking him up and down.

  My eyes locked onto his, and I felt my mouth open just a bit. I reached up and adjusted his bowtie gently, and as I stared deep into his eyes, I felt a strange tugging at my heart, a feeling that I'd never felt before. It was like a soft longing, a gentle awareness of the calm and safety that I felt when near Connor. For as rough as he could be, as crude and hard-headed, he'd put my safety before everything else during our short time together. Hell, he'd even killed for me. No other man could say that.

  "I have my moments," he said, flashing me one more of those killer smiles.

  His phone buzzed from the other room, and he hurried off to get it while I finished looking over my outfit. Moments later, he came back.

  "Limo's here," he said. "I'm ready if you are."

  "A limo?" I asked. "Not riding up on the bike?"

  "Figured a gown like that wouldn't look so damn pretty after getting exhaust blown into it for twenty minutes. Besides, we need to fit in."

  Five or so minutes later, the two of us were inside a sleek, modern limo and headed to the hotel. As we drove, I watched the evening city pass by through the windows, and as I looked, part of me seemed to realize that after tonight, my life would never be the same.

  We soon arrived at the hotel, a grand, old-style building on the west border of Central Park. The front of the building was abuzz with activity as limousines dropped off a whos-who of the most important members of fox society.

  "Jesus," Connor said, sipping a whiskey as he looked over the crowd. "Some real heavy-hitters up here."

  "I told you," I said. "This is the event of the year for the fox society. So, I hope you're not planning on making too big of a scene."

  He held up two fingers.

  "Scout's honor," he said. "I did use to be a bear cub, after all."

  I gave him a playful jab to the arm, noting just how hard and solid his bicep was. The limo let us out in front, and soon we were among the crowd.

  "Now," he said. "You and I are gonna be joined at the hip tonight. So don't go wandering off anywhere. You step outside to get some fresh air and you migh
t end up in a dragon's claws."

  “I'll do my best," I said. "But if Leonid tries to put his hands all over me, I might end up wishing for a dragon to end my suffering."

  "Aw, go easy on the little brat," Connor said. "Can't blame him for wanting to put a ring on the sexiest little fox in this place."

  I couldn't help but blush. It was hard for me to believe, but I was actually falling for this guy. Despite the circumstances, found myself wishing that we wouldn't have to part. But it was stupid to think this way. After all, he was only here because I was in danger. It was best to just hope that I made it through all of this in one piece, then I could start my life as the doting housewife of some snooty rich kid. Better fate than most, I supposed.

  The social was a grand affair, with dozens of men and women, all the upper-crust of the fox society, dressed in elegant evening wear and gathered in the main hall of the building. A pair of massive, spiral staircases dominated the room, and several ornate chandeliers hung from the ceiling. Couples danced in front of a small orchestra, and waiters all in black zipped here and there with trays of drinks. Though the circumstances were less than ideal, the event was certainly something.

  After a time, my parents found Connor and I. My mother was dressed in one of the impossibly elegant ball gowns that she wore for such occasions, and my father was looking as dapper as ever in one of his perfectly-tailored tuxedos.

  "There's our darling girl," my father said, a small trace of fear in his voice.

  He leaned in and hugged me, followed by my mother.

  "Mr. Rickart," my mother said, looking Connor up and down. "You look…halfway presentable. "

  "Why thank you," Connor said, giving one of his lapels a proud tug. "Couldn't help but hear a little skepticism in your voice."

  "I just didn't think you'd clean up so well," my mother said. "You look halfway to handsome."

  "Not too late for me to head back to the apartment and dig out one of my leather vests," he said with a sly smile.

  "That…won't be necessary," my mother said, matching his smile with one of her own.

  "Connor," my father said, "I hope that you're serious about having this place locked down like a fortress. The last thing I want is my little girl being stolen, or worse, on what's supposed to be one of the happiest nights of her life."

  Good lord. If he thinks that this one of the happiest nights of my life, then he really doesn't know me very well at all.

  "Trust me," Connor said. "We got security out front and inside. No damn bears are gonna be getting in here. You got my word, and the word of the rest of the Sapiens."

  My father allowed himself a small, pleased smile.

  "Good, good," he said, sounding like he meant it.

  I might've been imagining things, but I could've sworn that Connor was beginning to win over my parents. Maybe, just like me, they’d thought he was just some sleazy biker bear, but, also like me, had learned over time that he was a competent, resourceful Sapien agent who wasn't afraid to do whatever it took to get the job done. At least, that's what I liked to imagine they were thinking.

  "Still not crazy about you being Jane's date instead of Leonid," my father said. "It just looks bad."

  "Dad," I protested, "I've got the whole rest of my life to be Leonid's date for nights like this. At least let me have tonight with someone who actually knows how to have fun."

  Before any of us could say another word, Leonid called out from a nearby crowd, "There she is!" he shouted out as he hurried toward us.

  Leonid greeted us all, and I could tell from the iciness between Connor and Leonid that there was no love-lost between them.

  "Mr. Rickard," Leonid said.

  "Leonid," Connor said, nodding slightly.

  "Anyway," Leonid said, “I wanted to make sure that you were available for the dance in a bit."

  "Ah, that's right," my mother said. "The couples dance. I'd forgotten all about it."

  "I'm gonna need a fill-in," Connor said.

  Truth be told, I'd forgotten about it too.

  "This whole evening is about the new couples of the fox society making their intentions for one another known for all to see," I said. "And the couples dance is how this is done. Any couple that dances together is expected to be wed within the year."

  "It's a bit of a courtesy," my father said. "So everyone knows just what weddings to plan for."

  "Sounds, ah, very well-organized," Connor said.

  I could tell right away that this wasn't the exact wording he wanted to use.

  "It is," Leonid said. "And it's just about to begin. So, I'll be needing to borrow Jane from you for just a moment. But thanks for keeping her company for me."

  "Whoa, wait a minute," Connor said. "I need to have you by my side tonight. You know the drill."

  Leonid flashed him a confused look. "And why is that?" he asked.

  Oh, fuck. Leonid can't find out about what's going on. He'll blab it to everyone who wants to hear.

  "Ah, no reason," Connor said. "You two go on ahead. I've got some things to check in on."

  With that, he took off, and my parents soon followed suit. It was just me and Leonid, and I could tell by the look on his face that he was more than happy for it to be that way. Me, I was worried; I wanted Connor nearby.

  "Been waiting to have you all to myself," Leonid said, taking two glasses of champagne off of a nearby tray, handing one to me, and raising the other. "And here's to many more nights of me having you all to myself.”

  The band changed their tune to a slower song, and it was clear that this meant it was time for the couple's dance. Dozens of young couples, many I recognized from academy, made their way onto the dance floor and paired up. Leonid took my hand in his and placed his other hand on the small of my back. Out of the corner of my eye, I could see Connor watching the events with the careful eye of a security guard. The dance began, and Leonid held me close. It was clear that he was over the moon, but I wanted to be anywhere else but there.

  "Everyone!" a voice called out, one that was strangely familiar. "Could I have the band please stop for a moment?"

  The music came to a halt, and everyone in the ballroom turned toward where the voice was coming from at the top of the stairs.

  My heart dropped when I saw just who it was: Mallory. He was dressed in a lavender tuxedo, his blond hair slicked back, a pleased smile on his face. In one hand was a glass of champagne, and to his left and right were two beefy men who were almost certainly bears.

  "What a lovely gathering we have tonight," he said, looking over the crowd. "It's not all that often that I get to come out to parties among the little shifters like this. You foxes are all so cute in your outfits; I just want to eat you up. And…maybe I will!"

  He allowed himself a small chuckle. But no one else was laughing. I turned toward Connor, and saw that he was watching me from a nearby crowd, a look on his face that seemed to say: "just stay calm."

  "Now," Mallory continued. "If any of you don't know who I am, my name is Izrianiz Mallfenics, but you can just call me ‘Mallory;' I think it's just more casual that way, don't you agree? Anyway, I am, indeed, a dragon, and I'm crashing your little party."

  "Just what the hell do you want?" one of the fox elders demanded.

  Mallory, not turning to look at him, held out an extended finger in the fox's direction. "Now, normally an outburst like that would have you turned into a smoking fox pelt, but I'm in a more…benevolent mood tonight. So, I'll just get to the point and make it clear that I'm here for a particular girl."

  His eyes scanned the crowd and when they finally settled on me I felt like I just might faint where I stood. "Ah, there she is!" Mallory said. "That's the fox that I want."

  Leonid turned to me, a wide-eyed expression of terror on his face.

  "I'll be damned if you think you're going to have my daughter!" my father shouted, his voice booming through the hall.

  "Oh, I'll be having her," Mallory said. "And there isn't a damn thing anyone he
re can do about it."

  My father wasn't having any of this. He rushed toward Mallory, the men at his sides changing into bears as he did. The bears leaped and pounced on my father, pinning him down to the ground. Screams and shrieks sounded from the crowd, and my heart pounded like a drum.

  I knew that whatever was going to happen, it was going to happen now.

  I turned to Leonid and saw that he looked to be on the verge of wetting himself.

  "You there, down there!" Mallory shouted, pointing to Leonid.

  Leonid placed his finger on his chest, and mouthed "who, me?"

  "Yes, you," Mallory said. "That girl right there, your date, is the one I'm here for. Now, unless you have some objection to me taking her, I suggest you get the fuck out of here right now."

  I turned to Leonid again to see if he had any intention of defending me. "Um, good luck!" he shouted to me.

  And with that, he shifted into his fox form and darted across the ballroom floor as quickly as his little feet could take him. Soon, he was gone.

  "Ah," Mallory said, "so much for chivalry. Now, young lady, why don't you come along with me before I have to start hurting people?"

  "Not gonna happen, Mallory," Connor called from behind me. I turned and saw that he was approaching my side. He started at Mallory hard, his eyes steely and fearless.

  "Oh, it's you," Mallory said. "I told myself that I wouldn't make a mess, but I think for you I'll make a bit of an exception."

  His eyes still on Mallory, Connor spoke to me. "Just stay calm," he said. "And go with it."

  I nodded just enough that he could see me.

  "Then get down here and do it face-to-face," Connor said, his voice still firm.

  I couldn't believe what he was saying. Going toe-to-toe with a dragon was suicide, and Connor was here trying to pick a fight with one. I worried that he might've gone out of his mind.

  "Sounds like a plan," Mallory said.

  With that, a pair of massive wings sprouted from his body, the rest of his form staying human. Gasps sounded from the crowd as Mallory lifted up into the air and came down to face Connor and me.

  "You might want to get out of here for this one," Connor said to me.