The distraction gave Lucinda few seconds’ head start.
“Stop!” Ignoring Gavin’s shout, Raven charged after Lucinda, her wolf surging forward to give her a burst of speed to match the vampire.
As if sensing Raven was gaining on her, Lucinda whirled, her fangs bared.
Raven didn’t hesitate, she leapt the distance between them and brought down her sword.
The metal bit deep, decapitating the vampire with one swipe. The scent of blood filled the air as the body collapsed, the head thumping to the floor a millisecond later, rolling to a stop at Raven’s feet. The sword warmed in her grip, as if starved for the taste of more blood.
“Raven!”
She jerked at the sound of her name and turned, her brain taking a few seconds to process that they were still in the tunnels. She hauled herself back from the delicious edge of bloodlust, the murderous rage slow to release its grip on her, until the blade finally cooled in her hand.
Raven found herself drawn back toward Gavin. His eyes dropped to her blade, watching the blood drip off its tip, before he tore his attention away to resolutely meet her gaze. He remained safely ensconced behind the barrier. She could leave him. If he saved other people from the murder list, surely he could save himself.
She needed to get back to her pack.
He would only get in the way.
“Don’t even think about leaving without me.” His words were nothing more than a growl, but she sensed a thread of near-panic underneath and didn’t think it had anything to do with being trapped in a cage.
“Why trouble yourself with me? You can be safe. Free.” Raven didn’t understand.
“Let me out.” It was a demand. “You won’t be able to find your way out of the tunnels without me. Not in time. They already know you killed Lucinda. Any second now they’re going to be hunting for you. You’ll never make it without being captured.”
Raven debated for all of two seconds, then lifted her sword and brought it down against the barrier. The shattering of glass echoed down the tunnel as the spell broke, the static of magic faded, and Gavin strode boldly across the threshold.
Unable to stop herself, she lifted the sword and fell into a fighting stance.
Gavin studied her, unmoving, waiting for her to decide his fate.
As if his warning triggered them, a series of deep-chested howls echoed down the tunnel.
“The hunt has begun.” Yet Gavin didn’t move, calmly waiting for her decision. “Shall we go?”
Reluctantly, Raven released the sword. Instead of clanging to the floor, it vanished midair. Gavin stared at her a second longer, and Raven shrugged. “The sword is one of a few magical weapons the witches created to police their own. They’re usually reserved for a special few…those the sword deems worthy.”
“And it selected you.” He didn’t sound surprised.
Raven shrugged.
“What’s so special about the blade?” His eyes dropped betrayingly to her hand, suspicion darkening his eyes.
“It consumes magic.”
He sucked in a startled breath, maybe just realizing the significance. The paranormal community was battling with unrest. If the three factions ever went to war, the sword would be priceless.
A scuffling sound came from behind him, and Gavin whirled, lunging for the witch. He grabbed her by the throat, his eyes turning yellow as his wolf rose to the surface.
“Wait. I’m innocent.” The witch managed to cower despite being lifted clear off the ground and hauled forward. “I’m as much a prisoner as you.”
The stench of her words burned Raven’s nose, and her lips curled back into a snarl. “You lie.”
Magic rose, almost painful in its intensity, irritating her already sensitive skin. Raven lunged forward to stop the spell the witch began chanting, but Gavin beat her to it. He calmly broke the woman’s neck, then let the body hit the ground, not even blinking at taking a life.
Another howl came down the tunnel, closer this time, and Gavin raised an eyebrow. “We need to leave. Now. In another minute we’ll be surrounded.”
Chapter Three
Raven studied Gavin a second longer, noting the tension in his frame, as if he expected her to abandon him to a fate worse than death by giving him his freedom. Casper wanted him protected for a reason, making her promise to try.
Though she wasn’t sure she trusted Gavin, she couldn’t force herself to turn her back on him either. She wasn’t sure he would survive on his own. “Which way?”
He studied her for a heartbeat, as if expecting a trick, then gave a sharp nod and strode quickly down the tracks, calmly stepping over what remained of the vampire and onetime lover. The body had withered away into a dried husk, the flesh flaking like ash. Raven suspected a strong gust of wind from the next train that barreled past would carry off what little remained.
Skirting around the remains, Raven was surprised she didn’t feel any remorse.
With the sword gone, she waited for the power thrumming in her veins to settle—the magic should’ve faded when the witch died.
Instead, the spell continued to affect her on a deeper level.
As if she’d truly been cursed.
She bit her lip while she watched Gavin, disturbed by the way her wolf lingered at the back of her mind, as if stalking him. The beast was territorial, disliked having him so close. Raven rubbed her arm absently, but it did nothing to relieve the ache building under her skin. Instead of mating heat, it was the need to kill.
Her wolf knew Gavin wasn’t mating material and wanted him gone.
She kept a tight leash on her magic, waiting for it to lash out and infect him, but her power appeared to have no interest in him either.
She nearly sagged in relief.
More proof that her men wouldn’t be in danger, and the ache at the back of her throat lessened.
She just needing to stay alive long enough to reach them.
“Once we reach topside, how many people can we expect to give chase?”
Gavin didn’t spare her a glance, not even slowing his stride. “No shifter would dare kill you. It goes against their every instinct to harm a female, much less an alpha. A few rogues might want to capture you, claim you for their own, but none would dare harm you.”
“That leaves the vampires and the magic casters.”
His shrug was noncommittal, and Raven stumbled to a stop when only one alternative remained. “Humans.”
A spike of fear curdled her insides while gruesome images of the dissected bodies in the labs flashed through her mind. She could deal with the violence and quick tempers of the paranormal races. It was the humans who thought they had the right to rule the world who worried her—they would never stop hunting her in their quest for power.
Defeat a paranormal in battle, they respected you.
Defeat a human and you became a threat, a pest to be eradicated.
As if sensing she was no longer following him, Gavin stopped. “We don’t have time to discuss this right now.”
He knew something.
She was sure of it.
“What aren’t you telling me?”
He heaved a sigh and rubbed a hand down his face. “Many believe you’re a queen, but not everyone wants to be ruled. They love their power too much. War is coming. The only thing that’s unknown is whether the paranormals will survive this time.”
Raven flinched at the way he looked at her.
Like the coming war was her fault.
And maybe he was right.
Everything had been fine when war meant mutually assured destruction.
Until her.
She tipped the balance—and only one side could win.
But one thing bothered her. No one was supposed to be aware of her abilities. “Where did you hear that?”
“Does it matter?”
She wanted to smack him, barely restraining herself when her wolf leapt forward, wanting to lay fangs against his throat. What he didn’t know was that it
did matter. It mattered very much. Only a select few knew the truth…her pack, a few witches, and the ParaConsulate.
She refused to believe her pack would betray her.
Unless they told someone else, it meant the Council or the witches had ordered the hit on her.
Maybe they feared she was becoming too powerful, but she never expected them to take such a drastic step. With war coming, killing her was too big a risk—she was their only hope of salvation.
Mind churning, Raven hurried down the tunnel without answering his question.
“You know who took out the hit on you.”
“No.” Gavin sounded so close, Raven barely resisted lashing out at him, the tips of her fingers aching to unsheathe her claws. She refused to look at him, but when the silence continued to thicken, she finally relented. He would find out eventually. “But I have my suspicions.”
And if what she suspected was true, it would only be a matter of time before she was dead. They knew her greatest weakness…her pack. She would never abandon them, never leave them vulnerable.
The ones who wanted her dead wouldn’t stop going after her pack, not until they achieved their goal to either kill or enslave her.
The adrenaline from the fight suddenly evaporated, her magic settling into her bones, dragging her wolf with it, as if they were connected, leaving Raven exhausted and struggling to stay on her feet.
The lighting in the tunnel became sparse, the grime on the walls thicker, the smell of grease and oil more pungent, the urine stench fading slightly under the onslaught. The walls rattled, as if the earth had come alive, the passing train in the tunnel next to theirs deafening, even though she couldn’t see it.
The silence a few minutes later was almost worse.
“You’re going the wrong way.”
Raven paused at his softly spoken words, but didn’t turn, not sure she had enough strength. “And I should trust you…why?”
When she was met by silence, she peered behind her. Dizziness assailed her at the abrupt movement, leaving her disoriented, and she reached out to use the wall for support…either that or fall face-first in a puddle of questionable substance that sucked at her feet with every step. Her hand sank into slime as thick as snot, and she yanked her now-coated hand away, fighting against the urge to vomit.
“I owe you for saving my life.” Gavin scowled, clearly not happy with the turn of events.
She raised a brow, not believing him for a second. “It has nothing to do with us both being on your hit list?”
A muscle jumped in his jaw as he stubbornly remained silent, and she had a sudden feeling that if she left—even if she went the wrong way—he would follow.
“Safety in numbers?” Raven relented and gave a mental sigh. Relenting without demanding the truth went against the grain, but Casper had a reason for wanting her to rescue Gavin. She thought it was to keep him alive, but now she wondered if there was more involved.
Gavin studied her suspiciously, completely unconvinced by her sudden capitulation, then grunted in agreement. “I’ll deliver you to your pack if you give your word that you will grant me asylum until the end of the month.”
He turned and strode away without waiting for a reply, giving her the choice to either accept his proposal or be left stranded to fight her way out of the tunnels on her own. While she didn’t want him anywhere near her pack, the truth was, neither of them would survive the mercenaries on their own. “Agreed, but only until a new list is posted.”
His stride stiffened, but he didn’t protest when she followed him. A familiar warmth began to build under her skin, and it took her a second to recognize that Gavin was the cause. Just being near him left her wolf agitated. The beast crept forward, lurking just below the surface, and Raven slowed her pace more, hoping the distance would help.
It didn’t.
She automatically grabbed for her magic. Current snapped reassuringly along her fingers, and her stomach lurched in alarm when the flames began to drip to the ground, the sparks sizzling where they landed.
While the flames were blue, the tips of the fire flickered purple, and she quickly closed her fist, extinguishing the magic.
The wild magic wasn’t fading.
If anything, it was spreading.
“Snap out of it.” Gavin reached for her, and she nearly fell over her own feet as she scrambled away. He heaved a sigh but thankfully dropped his arm. “You’re in no condition to walk, let alone fight your way out of the tunnels.”
“You’re right.” She was too unstable, and she feared what would happen if he touched her. “Go without me. I’ll make sure you’re not followed.”
“Unacceptable.” Gavin came toward her, intent clear on his face, his expression hard.
“I don’t understand. I’m giving you a way out.” He should be relieved. Instead he looked furious.
“I gave you my word.” The words were sharp enough to chip cement, and he fisted his hands on his hips, clearly not willing to relent. “We either leave the tunnels together or not at all.”
With every step he took toward her, the light, earthy scent of his wolf beckoned her own beast to creep forward, a growl rumbling in her chest as she fought the urge to lunge and nip at him.
Gavin halted and lifted his hands, then tipped his head to the side, exposing his throat in submission. Her wolf quieted at the surrender, and Raven cocked her head as she wrestled for control. With every second that passed, the rational part of her mind receded further while her wolf felt more and more real.
Fur brushed across her consciousness, and she’d swear she could reach out and touch her wolf. Her senses sharpened, and the stench in the tunnels became nearly overwhelming. The feeling of being trapped underground stole into her mind, making her want to claw at the walls to get out.
It took a full minute for her to form words. “Am I going feral?”
Her wolf whined in her head, as if to say she was sorry, bowing and hunkering low…and a bit of the panic receded.
“No, but once the mating urge has begun there will be no escaping until your wolf is sated.”
Raven blanched, automatically reaching for her magic, hoping to repress the beast and buy herself time. Blue strands of current rose from her bones and shimmered in her veins, sending static crackling along her skin. Seconds later a strand of red twined around the blue, turning everything a royal purple. The heat turned cool, easing the worst of the fever, but it wasn’t gone completely, and she knew it would only be a matter of time before it returned.
She should be relieved, grateful for the reprieve, but her stomach churned with dread. Every time she called her magic, it took less and less time for the magic to be converted to the new blend. Soon the blue strands would disappear forever, and she didn’t know what it would mean for her or her pack.
Magic always had a cost, and she was afraid of what the new change would demand from her in payment. Until she knew, she needed to keep it contained.
To make matters worse, the wolf didn’t retreat with the magic, which meant the two factions of herself were no longer at war. She should be thrilled. Unfortunately, it also meant she could no longer rely on her magic or her beasts to manipulate each other into doing what she wanted. If she was desperate, she might be able to force the issue, but she couldn’t imagine the consequences of such an action.
Gavin suddenly stiffened and looked behind her. “We need to leave. Their bodies will be noticed soon.”
He was right, the smell of death and decay hung in the air.
“Go.” Gavin didn’t wait, racing down the tunnel, not bothering to look over his shoulder to see if she was following. No doubt his shifter senses told him her every move.
Needing no encouragement, she quickly shadowed him. They traveled no more than a few turns when a series of excited yips echoed down the tunnels.
Gavin cursed, twisting sideways to wave her forward. “They released the hounds, and they’ve caught our scent.”
He took a sharp left
, then slowed, pointing to the ground. “From here on out, the third rail is live. If you touch it, you will fry.”
Raven reached out, trailing her hand in the air above the rail. The energy pouring off it was strong enough that she felt a small breeze floating down the tunnel. Her wolf nipped at her in warning, and she pulled her arm back, curling her fingers into a fist to resist the urge to play with the current.
“Why keep the railing live?”
“They hooked it up so they could have power in the lower regions. You can’t have one without the other.” He shrugged, his gaze intent on the murky tunnel. “Not to mention it’s another safety measure. If a paranormal was careless enough to touch the rail, they wouldn’t survive the electrocution. Others, not so much. The rail keeps away the rest of the unwary. It’s also a great tool for torturing those who step out of line.”
She pulled her attention away from the rail and focused on Gavin. Even with the additional speed of her wolf, she was barely able to keep up with him. The others were gaining, their footfalls thundering in her head. Deep, throaty howls were stealing closer with each second.
“If Lucinda is dead, why are her minions after us?”
“They have no choice. They’re slaves. If they want to see their mates again, or gain visitation rights, they must obey.”
Raven shook her head, not understanding. “But they’re free now.”
“Of her.” Gavin cast her a cynical look. “There are always more who crave power and will take it any way they can, even if it means stepping on the necks of the weak.”
He gave her a pointed look, which she pretended not to see, but she couldn’t dispute that most alphas behaved that way. Raven wasn’t a typical alpha, refusing to turn her back on those in need…even him. Others thought her foolish, but she needed to live with her decisions.
“The people chasing us have no choice. Both female and male will eventually go insane without their mate. They’re doomed to experience the abuse and torture of their significant other, unable to protect them. The ones chasing us have been separated from their mates for too long. The need to protect Lucinda—even though she’s dead—is imprinted on them. All they know is she’s the only one who can give them their mates back.”
Electric series- Raven Investigations BoxSet Page 60
