Not Quite Prey

by Kaye Draper

  The flares of power coming from Theo were increasing, and touching him hurt like hell. I set him on his feet and he just stood there, swaying, looking drunk. He blinked blearily at me, recognition flaring in his eyes before it was engulfed by the blankness again. “Pretty Sam.” He reached out to brush my hair back from my face and I flinched from the heat. My hands were blistered, and I could feel burns on my back and shoulder where I’d touched him.

  “What the fuck is going on?” I demanded, turning to Jules for answers. The butler shook his head. “No time, come here. He’s going to blow.”

  The hot aura around Theo had increased, massive waves of magical power pulsing off him. When I turned to look at him again, I realized his feet weren’t touching the ground. He was fucking levitating several inches off the soft grass, flames springing to life in his hair and dancing over his skin.

  Jules grabbed my arm and dragged me away, but I couldn’t stop staring. “We have to do something!” I shouted at the demented butler. “You’re the water guy. Put him out!” The sovereign of Westhold was on fire, and I was the only one panicking.

  Jules gestured, and a rippling dome of water rose up around us, with me and Jules on the inside and Theo on the outside. “He’ll be okay. But he’ll need protection when it’s over.”

  I shook my head at him. “You’re fucking crazy.”

  He gave me a tired smile. “Are you surprised? There really are some days I think sanity is overrated. You’ll understand that all too soon, Viceroy.”

  I growled at him. “I am not the fucking vice—”

  The bubble around us rippled. Jules frowned in concentration, pouring more power into the shield. I watched as the flames surrounding Theo flared higher, roaring into the sky, engulfing his body. Then, the new sovereign of Westhold exploded.

  Chapter 9

  The whole world went white for a few minutes, in that way it did when an explosive went off. Then Jules’ watery shield burst and a mist of evaporated water and falling garden debris rained down on our heads.

  I blinked, pulling on my limited reserves to strengthen my senses as I squinted through the mist in search of Theo.

  Not that there’d be much left of the body, after that. A building pain pressed against my sternum and I rubbed the spot. I hadn’t been wounded there. But it ached. Stupid fucking emotions. Stupid fucking Theo with his ideals and his arrogance and those blue eyes like flames. I hadn’t even gotten to finish yelling at him.

  I stood up from my crouched position and sucked in a deep breath of smoke-scented air. My hand was shaking when I lifted it to push the damp hair back out of my face. Numbness settled over me. Theo was…gone? So what. Big deal. One less politician. My hands clenched and unclenched restlessly by my side and the pain in my guts twisted like a knife as I was hit by a realization I really didn’t want to have right now. I couldn’t have…liked the arrogant fucker. I felt like I was going to puke.

  Jules came to stand beside me, clapping a hand on my uninjured shoulder. “You did well,” he said calmly. “You saved his life.”

  I blinked at the…whatever the fuck kind of cur he was. “For what?” I managed to get out. “So he could explode?” Getting shot might have been preferable to going up in flames under a malfunctioning protection charm.

  Jules bland expression melted into a grimace, as if he was about to tell me something I really didn’t want to hear. Fuck, I knew I didn’t want to hear it. But I still couldn’t quite make myself move. “He planned to tell you,” the butler said quietly. “I overheard your discussion in the study. You should know he was happy you agreed to be his viceroy. I haven’t seen him so happy since…in a very long time.”

  I shrugged off the water cur’s hand. “I didn’t agree. I said no and he went ahead with it anyway.” But I had to admit, it was starting to sound like that wasn’t exactly what had happened.

  Jules frowned. “I filed the paperwork myself, Viceroy. I saw your signature.”

  I narrowed my eyes. Fucking Ada! Had to be. “It doesn’t matter now anyway, since there’s no sovereign for me to serve!” My teeth ground together as the words left my mouth and I had to work to force the pain down and my jaw open so I could speak again. I gestured at the garden. “Aren’t you the least bit concerned that your boss just blew up?”

  Jules’s lips twitched and he stepped away, beckoning me to follow him. The steam and smoke from the explosion was starting to drift away as I took in the carnage. The center of the garden was a crater. And much of the surrounded area was crispy and brown from the heat. As we approached the indentation where Theo had exploded, a harsh, trilling call startled me, and I froze.

  I watched in confusion and growing suspicion as a large, brightly colored beast emerged from the hole. It picked its way delicately over the rubble, then paused to fluff out feathers that shimmered and flowed like living flame, dancing from its wings and body in flares of red, orange, yellow, and gold. Glowing blue flame eyes locked on me and the creature tilted its head, studying me. Maybe deciding whether I was prey. It was a sight to behold, both beautiful and terrifyingly ugly at the same time—like a cross between a peacock and a pterodactyl.

  I pressed my lips together as the thing continued to stare at me. Then I slowly shook my head. “No.”

  Jules sighed. “I need to go check on things at the mansion, make sure Ada and the others are handling the press and authorities.” He shrugged and flicked a hand at my bloody, singed clothes. “I apologize, Viceroy, but I think your appearance would only raise more questions. Perhaps you can take up those formal sorts of duties when you’re more presentable.”

  I narrowed my eyes at him. “No,” I repeated.

  He ignored me and walked away, crossing through the barrier and leaving me with…a fiend.

  Not a human. Not even damned a cur. The power that emanated from the creature before me was too strong, too pure to be anything but a fiend.

  I put my hands on my hips and glared at the stupid bird made of fire. “Fuck you.”

  The thing clucked and lifted its head, fanning out its tail like a giant peacock as it strutted toward me on big, leathery feet tipped with talons longer than my hand. I bared my teeth at it as it approached. I was careful not to move, not to give it any indication that it should start chasing me or try to eat me with that weird-assed dinosaur-pelican beak. It stopped in front of me and lifted a crest of brilliant red feathers along its head. Great, now it looked like a peacock with a mohawk.

  For some reason, the thought made me chuckle. Before I knew it, tears were streaming down my face and I was wheezing from laughing so hard. The bird-thing folded its impressive tail and came closer, tilting its head this way and that, as if I was a confusing puzzle.

  I sank down onto my haunches, grimacing when that pulled at my thigh wound, then finally gave in and flopped onto my ass on the charred grass. “You’re such an asshole,” I informed the monster in a flat voice.

  It scratched the ground with one of its massive feet, looked up at the sky, then back at me.

  I waved a dismissive hand. “Oh, by all means. Have at it, fucker. Enjoy yourself. Don’t mind me.”

  He came closer and I wondered if this was it. I was too tired and fed up to fight back. Maybe the fiend would just bite my damned head off and end it. But all he did was peck at my hair with his big, weird beak. I rolled my eyes upward to see he had grabbed hold of one of my blue streaks. He yanked and I yelped, jerking backward. “You fucking asshole!”

  The bird preened, strutting away with a mouthful of my vibrant blue strands like a happy magpie with a new shiny treasure. Then he spread his fiery wings and launched into the air, trailing long feathers of flame. I watched the monstrosity flap around the borders of the garden, probably kept in check by the wards. He was surprisingly graceful, for a big, nasty dinosaur bird. He glided over and settled his scary red ass on a tall tree and tucked my damned hair into the crook of a branch like he was building a nest.

  I sighed. Where had I gone wrong?
What the fuck had happened to my nice, lonely, quiet life as a monster hunter?

  Jules reappeared, frowning when he saw me sitting on the ground. “Are you well, Viceroy? I apologize, I assumed your wounds were healing on their own. Should I call for the physician?”

  I snorted. “Do not call for that shrew.” I remembered the last time she’d poked and prodded at me. No thanks. I’d rather pass out right here in the dirt until I recovered.

  He glanced up and found the fiend perched in the tree cooing over the stolen strands of my hair. His thin lips twitched in suppressed amusement. “He really is quite fond of you.”

  I glared up at the stupid butler, too tired to bother getting up. “Theo is a fiend,” I said evenly.

  Jules nodded, his eyes still on his boss. “Of course.”

  I rolled my eyes. Of course. Like it just made perfect sense. “He’s a fiend. And he’s been hiding it from the entire population of Westhold. You know, the human and cur population of the human city he’s supposed to be running?”

  The butler sighed and folded his long legs, surprising me when he sank down to sit on the ground beside me. “I’m afraid you’ll have to get your explanations from the sovereign. All I can tell you is he has his reasons.”

  I scoffed. “I’m sure he does. Like the fact that if anyone knew what he really was, they’d be throwing him a public execution instead of an inauguration.”

  I felt betrayed myself. All this time, I’d thought Theo was nothing but a weak, idealistic human. I’d fallen for his innocent, harmless act just like everyone else—swallowed it hook, line, and sinker. I’d known there was more to him than what met the eye. I was secretly fascinated by the seemingly soft, unremarkable human who had the backbone to rule a city. But it was all a lie. What kind of fucking moron was I?

  “He wants so badly for this to work,” Jules said quietly. “For his city to be the example of how things can change.”

  I turned my head to watch the thing in the tree as it let out a happy trill and launched itself off the branch to glide in circles toward the ground. “This is fucking stupid.”

  Jules’s eyes followed Theo’s descent. “He’ll regain his more human senses soon, as his power settles and begins to wane.” He shrugged. “He was abandoned by his clan. He was too human-like for them. But he was lucky enough to be raised by a human-cur couple. They raised him as a human and instilled in him the importance of blending in. I think…he became sick of hiding. But it is the one strength that will help him achieve great things.”

  I pushed myself to my feet and turned back toward the mansion. “Well, good luck with that.”

  I started walking and the butler scrambled to his feet to follow me. “Where are you going?”

  I kept walking. “To find my guild.”

  He caught up to me and his even expression and butler façade was back in place as he rattled off information in a professional tone. “They are accounted for. The ogre and the leprechaun assisted the guards…until the humans in the crowd became alarmed that they were part of the attack. They were taken to a safe place with Ada. But they were already out of the warded room and waiting for you when I checked in.”

  I waved a hand at him over my shoulder. “Thanks.”

  I wasn’t surprised when I saw Fin and Emerson waiting impatiently on the other side of the screen of trees. “Viceroy?” Jules called after me.

  I turned to glance back at him. “No. I’m not the fucking viceroy. This is your damned mess.”

  He straightened his jacket and ignored the pterodactyl-peacock that came to watch the exchange. The big bird reached the guy’s chest when it was standing on the ground. “Everything will be taken care of,” he assured me. “The garden can’t be seen from outside when the wards are activated. There’s an illusion that keeps it looking undisturbed. And Theo is known for keeping exotic pets from time to time.” He gestured toward the high stone wall that surrounded the grounds of the mansion and sure enough, there were a few stupid peacocks perched on the top. “No one will be surprised if he stays out of the public eye for a time after his attempted assassination. And his people are well used to his periodic absences. He goes on business trips every time his rising comes.”

  I blinked at him and stopped walking, forgetting not to care. “Rising?”

  He nodded. “Yes. Similar to the human myth about the phoenix. His power builds up inside him until it needs release. He’s periodically forced into this form, but he will slowly regain his human-like consciousness.”

  I turned back around and kept moving. When I crossed the ward, Fin and Emerson were waiting. They were practically leaking concern and frustrated worry, which Fin showed as angry cussing and Em showed by snatching me up off my feet and hugging me so hard my ribs creaked.

  I groaned at the pressure on my bullet wounds, and the ogre cross hastily set me back on my feet. “Sorry, Sam.”

  “Sam!”

  I groaned as Angel hurried toward us from the direction of the mansion. He crossed the distance in long, hurried strides, looking exhausted, long flyaway strands of silver hair coming loose from his braid to whip about in the breeze. “I’m glad you’re okay,” he said, reaching out a graceful hand to squeeze my uninjured shoulder.

  I growled at him and pulled away, hating how my beast instincts surged up to the forefront when he touched me. “Right. I’m sure you were really worried, since you only show up now.”

  His worried expression melted into irritation and his gold eyes practically sizzled. “You and I both know I’m no good in a physical fight. We can’t all be big, bad sabertoothed cats, Sam.” He crossed his arms over his chest and looked down his perfect nose at me. “I’ve been inside, using my magic to lull the agitated crowd and keep people from panicking. I had to alter the perception of anyone who happened to look this way when the fun started. I’m so sorry to disappoint you by not rushing to your side.” His shimmering eyes flicked to the side, toward Fin and Emerson.

  I narrowed my eyes at him. “I could give a fuck less. It’s not like I need you rushing to my defense like I’m some helpless girl. Get over yourself, siren!”

  His golden glare bored into mine for a moment more, then he pulled himself up straighter, slapped on an easy smile and turned to the giant bird monster. “Just couldn’t hold it in anymore, huh bird-brain?”

  I gaped when he stepped closer and ruffled the monster’s head feathers. “Don’t feel bad. It’s not your fault. Our Sam has that effect on people.”

  I glared at him, ignoring the fact that Angel apparently knew all about Theo’s big secret. “I’m pretty sure it was the fucking gunfire that triggered it.”

  Angel arched a brow, his wicked lips curving into a sarcastic smile. “Oh, right. I’m sure that’s all it was.”

  Whatever. I rolled my healing shoulder and turned away, gesturing at Fin and Emerson. “Let’s get the fuck out of here.”

  Jules and the phoenix monster were still watching me. “You’re leaving him?” Jules said in a flat, disappointed voice. “After all the trust he’s placed in you, you’re abandoning him, judging him when he can’t even speak to defend himself?”

  I whirled, lifting my middle finger at him. “I never asked for his stupid trust. And he lied to me. He lied to everyone. Do you know how much fucking danger he put us in every fucking time he asked for our help?” I clenched my hands at my side, my claws coming out, puncturing my palms as I tried to keep from attacking. “One time. One little slip up, and everyone would have known what he was. And my guild, my mates would have been standing too close to him. He could have gotten us all jailed, or exiled, or killed for helping him. We were never given a choice in that. Don’t you get it, asshole? I said no to all of this. And he dragged me into it anyway. I was stupid enough to fall for the lies. To believe—” I choked off the rest of my words, whirling and marching past Fin and Emerson.

  To believe he was my friend, was what I’d almost said. And that was what hurt most. He had endangered the whole guild. But he h
ad insisted on cozying up to me. Talking to me. Worming his way in so I almost found the annoying fucker endearing. Fucking feelings. This was why they were no good.

  I stomped away, a confused leprechaun and ogre following behind me. The back corner of the mansion where Theo’s office resided was in a shambles, but it was already being cleaned up by an efficient, professional team of humans and cur magic-workers. Within the hour I’d bet no one could even tell the place had been shot up and nearly burned down.

  I strode into the office, past the guards who let me in because they thought I was the fucking viceroy. Grabbing the ornate handle, I flung the polished wood door of Theo’s private bar open and grabbed out two bottles of whiskey, smiling with my fangs bared when I read the labels—both of them were over fifty years old.

  Turning, I left the way I’d come in, storming around the side of the mansion and out to where the cars were parked. The valet girl stared wide-eyed at me as I gently set my loot in the console and climbed inside with my ogre and leprechaun. “Oh, grow a pair, Sally,” I snapped at her, snatching my keys out of her soft, stupid human hands. “And you might want to find a new job. Your employer is an asshole.”

  Then I pulled out and headed home.

  No one spoke a single word. My mates might be annoying sometimes. But they weren’t that stupid.

  I glanced at the golden treasure sitting in the console. I knew nothing was going to erase the heavy pressure in my gut that reeked of hurt feelings and betrayal. But twenty thousand dollars’ worth of booze was a good start.

  Chapter 10

  I knelt and sighted along the barren, rock-strewn ground, waiting. Half my attention was on Fin and Emerson on either side of me. Em was watching his scanner to make sure nothing crept up on us from behind. Fin had his shotgun propped up on a boulder to ease the strain on his short arms, his bright green eyes glued to the horizon. The guys were getting better all the time. We almost functioned like a real guild.