His whole back flexed, and she realized that she affected him a lot more than he’d ever revealed. And Raven was charmed. “How about here?” She traced the same spot of skin again, unable to help herself.
He shuddered, those massive hands of his clenching. Then he pointed to his shoulder again. “Here.”
So stubborn.
At least some things hadn’t changed.
“Very well.” Raven shoved his back, but he was as unmovable as a wall. “You’ll need to sit or I’ll never be able to reach that spot.”
His shoulders relaxed slightly, and he lumbered toward the chair, his movements deceptively quiet, and she found the dichotomy fascinating. He should be clumsy and ungainly, but he was the most graceful man she knew.
He grabbed the same chair she used, whirled it backwards, then straddled it, keeping her in sight. His eyes were overly bright as he watched her every move like the predator he was. Most people would be afraid, but she knew he would never hurt her. Even sitting, he was intimidating, his bulk making the chair creak in protest. But she had no doubt that if she made a run for it, he would catch her before she managed two steps.
She followed him more cautiously, afraid to move too fast. He looked ready to snap, and she didn’t want to upset him. When she reached out to run her fingers along his shoulder, he tipped his head in her direction, as if he couldn’t get enough of her touch. He rested his arms on the back of the chair, his muscles straining as he held himself still.
At first she thought it was because he didn’t like having anyone behind him, but then she recognized the hunger in his eyes and realized it was to keep himself from lunging for her. Raven carefully skirted him, her fingers tracing lightly over his skin until she ran them down his spine, delighted to see him squirm at her touch.
His breathing roughened, the slight rumble making her sway closer to him. Raven shook her head, struggling to remain focused. She leaned closer, unable resist licking the sensitive area between his shoulder and neck, and immediately craved another taste.
The chair creaked ominously, and London growled. “You’re playing with fire, little one.”
Raven knew it…but she did love playing with flames. She leaned closer, deliberately brushing lightly against him, then whispered into his ear. “You taste delicious.”
“Do it.” The order was a rough growl, and she knew if she pushed him further, she would break his control. While she was tempted, now was not the time.
She scraped her nails lightly down his neck, distracting both of them, then bit down hard. Instead of struggling in her hold, he groaned, his head falling forward, giving her better access, urging her to bite harder.
She didn’t taste blood, but the pure power of his beast, along with a touch of honey, and his bear roared in triumph in her head. He was built for speed and strength. Pure determination filled her head, and she understood that his beast didn’t know how to back down. If one way didn’t work, he would keep trying until he found the way that did.
The same determination he used to win her over.
Magic curled through their connection, linking them together, and she gasped at the raw power of his beast. She withdrew her teeth, surprised when slight fangs scraped the inside of her mouth. A tiny trickle of blood trickled down his back, and instead of feeling a twinge of shame for injuring him, she took pleasure in seeing her mark on him.
Her saliva slowed the healing process. He wouldn’t heal in minutes the way he normally would for such a small wound. Instead it would close slowly, her magic changing him, permanently marking him as hers.
She ran her thumb along the bloody trail down his back, then brought it to her lips, still able to taste him in the blood instead of the coppery flavor that one would expect. London had turned to watch her from over his shoulder, his pupils dilating at the sight of her with the pad of her thumb against her mouth.
“You should run now.”
Raven’s eyes widened slightly at his husky comment—he was completely serious. She didn’t hesitate, bolting out the door. She’d barely reached the library when she heard wood shattering from the kitchen.
Instead of fear, a shock of pleasure and amusement tangled together, and she threw open the door and ducked inside the library.
Only to come to a screeching halt when it felt like she’d slammed into a wall.
Tension saturated the room. Their visitors remained on the far side by the windows while the rest of the group was facing them. Luca, Jase, and the other kids were at the far back of the room, watching both groups with fascination, doing their best to make themselves invisible so they wouldn’t be kicked out. Jase stood slightly in front of the others, always the protector.
Not surprisingly, Dina stood next to Gavin, fretting. Jackson, Durant, Rylan, and Taggert were by her desk. The rest of the team members were seated in the center of the room, and based on their hostile expressions, discussions weren’t going anywhere.
Very gently, she closed the door behind her, the snick of the latch echoing loudly in the silence.
“What has been decided?” She carefully made her way to her desk, then sat as if nothing had happened.
Tension dropped away from the guys, and Taggert immediately came to stand guard at her side, those hard brown eyes missing nothing. When he confirmed for himself that she was unharmed, the chocolate warmed with approval.
“Nothing,” Rylan snapped.
“The plan is sound,” Tuck countered at the same time.
When neither side backed down, Raven glanced at Gavin, probably one of the only impartial people in the room. “What did I miss?”
Chapter Twenty-two
DAY FIVE – MIDNIGHT – TALONS
Gavin grimaced at being put on the spot, but answered anyway. “The soldiers think the best way to sneak into the compound is not bothering to sneak at all, but instead turning ourselves over to them.”
Raven now understood the tension. Of course her men would protest turning her over to the enemy. She was surprised that they didn’t kill them for even suggesting it. She turned her attention to Tuck. The man was intelligent, and he wouldn’t have made that suggestion without reason. “What would we gain?”
“My commander wants a cure. The program was started to keep soldiers alive. Unfortunately, higher ups became interested in other possibilities.”
“Obtaining their precious super soldiers.” She blew out a breath of annoyance.
He gave a sharp nod. “The government took over the program and development, but things didn’t work out the way they expected, so they hired experts.”
The hairs on the back of her neck prickled. “Experts?”
“We’re not the first…experiment.”
No.
No, they were not, and she knew it firsthand.
“When the commander discovered the kill contract on you, he purchased it.” Tuck didn’t flinch in the face of the growls around the room.
“No doubt from the goodness of his heart.” Rylan narrowed his eyes, studying the three soldiers as he would prey, trying to decide which part to take apart and eat first.
“Then why are they still trying to kill her?” Luca piped up from the back of the room, his face a picture of confusion.
“Even though the commander called off the troops, research and development decided taking you is worth the risk if it means finding a way to create their perfect soldiers.”
“It sounds like you both want the same thing.” Durant stretched out his legs, his lazy pose deceptive. She’d seen the man move. If he wanted, he could be on his feet, the soldiers on the floor in seconds. “Why not work together?”
“We think there’s a better way to go about finding a cure and avoid a war.”
Jackson snorted a laugh, as if he found the whole thing absurd. “If it came to war, what side do you plan to fight for? Humans will never see you as one of them.”
“Neither will the shifters.” Gavin pointed out.
“Not the purebloods,” Raven
agreed, but only if she could convince them not to kill the soldiers outright. Purebloods would consider them monstrosities to be put down unless she could give them a good reason…like preventing a war. “But there are communities where you would be welcome.”
“You’re not actually considering their suggestion, are you?” Durant shot out of his chair and stalked toward her, then planted his hands on her desk, leaning into her space. His eyes were golden but not heated, which meant that while he was agitated, he wasn’t downright pissed…yet.
“So you don’t want me to take the chance to possibly avert a war that was foretold ages ago?” She raised a brow at him.
Durant huffed, knowing she was right. Though his anger was diffused, when he straightened to his full height, he was no less intimidating. “Why is it your job? I called an emergency meeting of the Council at Talons. Let them decide.”
Raven should be pissed because he went behind her back, but she kept her mouth shut. She might be new to the shifter world, but she already knew how the Council would react. She was surprised Durant didn’t. “When do we leave?”
“Now.” He smiled like a cat who cornered a juicy mouse. She almost felt bad for him.
They ended up taking three vehicles to Talons. They left the kids behind with Jamie, Digger, and Nicholas, the rest of the pack opting to meet with the council. Gavin and Dina sat in the back while she and London occupied the front. Jackson drove the vehicle in front of them, while the soldiers brought up the rear.
But it didn’t last long.
London quickly overtook everyone, driving as if he owned the road and everyone else should get out of the way, much like his animal counterpart. The ride was silent, even Dina’s chatterbox nature quiet for once. They pulled up to Talons with a screech of tires, arriving in record time. Not surprisingly, the road to the abandoned warehouse was packed with vehicles.
Talons was the paranormal hot spot where the fanged, furry, and spell slingers went to blow off steam. It was also the business that Durant gave up ruling his own pack. The nondescript warehouse wasn’t anything special, just a two-story building crouched in the shadows, almost like it was hiding from the world, wishing to avoid attention and unwanted visitors.
The club was neutral territory for paranormals. No one dared pick a fight on the property—it could get them killed. She headed for the front entrance just as the remaining two vehicles pulled up. Rather than wait for them, she tugged open the large door. Instead of a normal locking mechanism, industrial-sized magnets sealed the door to ensure that only the right kind of people were admitted.
Raven stared at the door handle for a full second, surprised at how easy it was to open.
In the past she needed to use her power to gain entrance.
This time she managed it with strength alone.
She was becoming stronger, her paranormal nature more pronounced.
The others quickly followed, and the magnets snapped together with a small snick, sealing them in like a tomb. A long, narrow hallway loomed before them, shrouded in shadows. There was no décor in the confining space except for one prominent word clawed into the heavy wooden panels.
Talons.
Durant’s scent permeated the space, marking his ownership.
The door opened behind them, and Durant stormed toward them with a ferocious frown, his hair wild, the stripes more pronounced than usual. He edged past the rest—not even noticing when they quickly scrambled out of the way—and stopped just inches from her.
He smelled of hot leather and anger. He took one look at her, then heaved an aggrieved sigh and stalked through the second doorway. Only Jackson, London, and Tuck followed them into the den. It was decided that the rest would be safer if they remained outside.
The soldier looked a little freaked out, but he covered it well, his eyes wide as he took in his surroundings. Thanks to his extra senses, he was very aware of the threat surrounding him, and his beast must have been struggling to hold his ground and not flee from the bigger predators.
Raven gave him a nod, a silent promise to look after him, and he relaxed subtly. Then she turned and hurried after Durant, half expecting to see steam rising from him.
Blue and red lasers pulsed throughout the club. Black fabric clung to the walls, giving the impression of space, while drapes hung around the booths, adding a false sense of intimacy.
Smells burst over her, stronger than ever, and it took a moment to sort them. The fresh scent of shifters, the spice of vampires and the sharp, overly sweet stench of the odd magic user were all added to the mix. Every time a practitioner used their craft, a splash of magic skittered along Raven’s arms like she’d brushed against cobwebs.
The touchy-feely shifters didn’t have any boundaries or understand the concept of personal space, especially between unclaimed men and women. Now that she was an alpha, not to mention a female, they maintained their distance a bit more. It helped that her men surrounded her like a protective wall, London’s bulk blocking her completely from view.
Packs of shifters were grouped together, a cloud of vampires observed the crowed a short distance away, looking for potential prey, while a gaggle of witches were scattered throughout the room, hawking their wares, each group there to make contacts and build alliances.
The crowd noticed the power change as soon as her pack entered. Conversation dimmed as they stole the attention of everyone in the room. Seconds later the murmurs turned into a small roar as everyone spoke at once. They were like a bunch of gossiping hens, and she rolled her eyes in annoyance. As Durant led the pack toward the back room, the crowds parted on the dance floor without his tiger needing to say a word.
For a fraction of a second, she could’ve sworn she saw Randolph in the crowd. He gave her a nod, then disappeared between one step and the next.
People watched her avidly, her presence drawing most of the attention, but she knew a few caught sight of Tuck, noting his strangeness, as a ripple of unrest spread through the room like wildfire.
She quickened her pace. She trusted that they wouldn’t attack directly—her reputation was enough to deter most people, not to mention the rules of the house—but she didn’t want to push her luck.
Tending the bar, Cassie gave a wave and Raven returned it. The young woman had been turned into a vampire just a few short months ago. She was managing remarkably well for one so young, her bloodlust practically nonexistent thanks to the blood Durant donated regularly. Shifter blood was extra-potent and usually forbidden for vampires to consume without permission, the severe penalties often dissuading all but the most determined.
Death had a way of doing that.
When they entered the meeting room in the back, the entire council was already waiting, looking rather annoyed at being summoned. The council consisted of a witch, a vampire, a cat shifter, and two wolves. They were old school, having earned their places on the council the hard way…buy killing their predecessor. They were all apex predators and made sure no one ever forgot it.
The vampire’s appearance was the most deceptive, because he resembled a teenage thug. Nothing human in him remained. He saw all humans as food and an annoyance that must be dealt with on occasion. The witch had shadows dancing in her eyes of the souls she’d sacrificed for power. But she and Raven were allies of a sort…the witch had hired her to discover who was murdering their own.
Unfortunately, Raven became infected with wild magic in the process and claimed one of their precious spelled weapons. While a few wanted to kill her outright, others thought she might be their salvation. They were hedging their bets, allowing her to live…for now at least.
The cat was a wild card, his animal finicky, his unpredictability often catching people unawares. He always seemed amused by what went on around him, not really caring unless it directly affected him and his people.
Which left the two wolves—one hated her with the passion of a thousand burning suns and tried daily to have her executed, and the other was the leader of the Co
uncil.
Though Donaldson was a friendly, his friendship often came with strings. She was a tool to be used. Once she was no longer useful, she had no doubt she would fall out of favor and become persona non grata.
“Why have you ordered us to assemble?” Conrad, the curmudgeonly old wolf snarled, hatred burning in his eyes. Of course he blamed her. It didn’t matter that the Council made it clear that they should be called when danger threatened supernaturals.
No one else on the council protested the demand.
They were all curious.
“Tuck.” She glanced back over her shoulder at the soldier. He gave a sharp, barely noticeable nod and stepped to her side, halting at parade rest. “Meet one of the super soldiers the humans are creating.”
The whole room stilled, the silence almost deafening as everyone’s attention centered on Tuck.
“You would bring this abomination here?” Conrad snarled, his teeth and claws ready to tear Tuck apart as he lunged. Durant quickly stepped into his path, which only set the old wolf off more. “Get out of my way.”
“We have two choices here, but if you kill him, we learn nothing.” She didn’t look at Conrad, directing her statement toward Donaldson.
His face hardened. He clearly found Tuck as distasteful as Conrad, but he would listen. He lifted his hand, and it was enough to stop Conrad’s advance.
“You can’t be seriously willing to listen to anything he has to say,” Conrad growled at Donaldson, and she suddenly wondered about the balance of power in the room. Conrad looked ready to kill Donaldson.
She glanced at the other members of the council, and they looked just as disgusted by Tuck’s mere existence.
They would not intervene.
Well then, she would have to make them.
“You don’t want to hear about how the humans are creating an army? You don’t want to know how they are creating them to exist without pack or allegiance to any alphas? You don’t want to learn how they can infiltrate our ranks and kill us from within? How it will appear to humans that it’s a paranormal war and we’re killing each other? Like we’re a threat, and they must rid themselves of us once and for all?”
Electric series- Raven Investigations BoxSet Page 81
