Pure Claim

by Marie Johnston

  “Shift ends in forty-five minutes. Bennett has the Guardians surrounding the place. When Demetrius gives the signal, his vampires will take care of the Agents and recruits, while you and I hunt for Madame G.”

  “So that’s been his thing all along? Taking out Madame G?” X’s fingers deftly braided her short hair tightly to her scalp.

  “Even bigger.”

  She arched a brow. “Sigma?”

  “Bingo. The new generation of vampires don’t think their council regulates Sigma well enough. They think the organization threatens their existence and want to see it destroyed.”

  X whistled low. She finished her braid and tucked it back up into itself since she didn’t have anything to secure it with. “That could cause a vampire civil war.”

  “Yep.” He frowned despite himself.

  “What?”

  “Sometimes I wonder if shifters won’t be facing the same thing.” She waited for him to elaborate. “Before your partner killed Mason, he said some revealing things to Dani.” Dani Santini was the human mate of one of his Guardians. A member of his own pack had almost killed her, but Agent E shot his heart out. Literally.

  X wrinkled her nose. “He was always a douche.”

  Rhys had to agree. E solved the problem that had plagued Rhys about what he was going to do with the human-hating shifter.

  “He alluded to the Lycan Council being behind attacks on human mates. Then Madame G hinted that the council was also behind the slaughter of Mercury’s village.”

  X did one more final check of her weapons. The hybrid couldn’t sit still, and he was content to watch. “Why would they do that?”

  “She posed the hypothetical question of what if the council killed a colony of shifters with uniquely powerful abilities so none of them would fall into Sigma’s hands? Or was it because they thought they couldn’t control them?”

  “Sounds like you and Demetrius have some major council issues.”

  “They’re your councils, too,” Rhys grimly pointed out.

  X gave an indelicate snort. “No they’re not.”

  He decided not to argue. It was exactly as he expected. X only allowed herself to be forced into Sigma service so she could destroy Madame G. From what E said, Madame G had tried to break X for almost two years before he came along and they teamed up. She was eighteen when she was captured, and not even sadistic Madame G could destroy her. She was raised to be strong, following no one. There was no way she would submit to either council just because she was the first known vampire-shifter hybrid. And both councils would demand dominion over her.

  “Ready.” X fluidly rose. Rhys loved watching her strong body move. She was a work of art.

  He, too, rose. As much as he wanted to snatch her up for one last kiss, or rather, their first kiss, it wasn’t the right time. She was amped, ready to hunt and fight. He was too, but for a far different reason after her feeding.

  Rhys went to the door, giving the same two knocks as he had before. Two knocks echoed in return farther down the hall, so he opened the door.

  Agent R and Agent Z waited for them. R was only a couple of inches taller than X, with ink-black hair, light-brown eyes, and an olive complexion. He was always partnered up with Agent Z, and sometimes they were partnered with another female vampire, Agent O. Agent Z wore a perma-sneer and kept her long walnut-colored hair drawn back in a severe bun.

  “The only way up to Madame G’s suite is by elevator,” Agent Z briefed them. “We can’t even flash up there. Not that it’d do you two any good,” she finished with a smug grin about her vampire ability over shifters.

  Rhys repressed a smirk. It might not do him any good, but X was a different story.

  X made a theatrical show of rolling her eyes. “Ouch, that one hurt, Zitch. Tell me again, how was your last daylight stroll? Oh yeah, you can’t even step out the door half the day.”

  Zitch sucked in on her teeth before shooting back. “Maybe if it’s raining. Smelling like wet dog isn’t an issue for us.”

  Rhys remained impassive, but X was never one to let a challenge go. “The last time I smelled wet dog, yo’ mama was panting under one.”

  Zitch’s eyes went wide before she broke out in a grin. “Nice. I’ll have to use it on Agent O.”

  Agent R shook his head before turning, expecting them to follow. “Demetrius should be in place.”

  Getting shot at, I hope. Rhys didn’t want to like Demetrius. Aside from his history with X, Demetrius was also cocky and a vampire. If the male was dishonorable and undependable, and didn’t care so deeply about his species’ future, it would be easier to hate him.

  They swept through the punishment ward in the compound, making their way to the creepy stairwell to get above ground. The plan was for the Guardians to attack the facility and engage the Agents, distracting them so Demetrius and his team could wipe out as many as they could.

  The structure still hadn’t been fully rebuilt since the Guardians launched the assault that helped E escape. Normally, they didn’t keep ammo of that scale on hand, but Demetrius had sources who supplied them with heavy artillery, then and now. As far as Madame G was concerned, the shifters regrouped and attacked before she could fortify her headquarters against another attack. They didn’t want her to figure out it was an inside job until it was too late.

  *****

  X didn’t know how Demetrius and Rhys planned to lure Madame G out of her suite. She rarely left, and when she did, it was only to flash in and out somewhere mysterious. The dark mistress made it hard to get to her for a very good reason. A lot of people wanted her dead.

  The elevator would only work if she was expecting someone and wanted them up there. The madam kept her quarters heavily warded so it was impossible to flash in.

  Or was it?

  Of course, X had never tried. Nothing would say, “Hey, I’m part vampire,” faster than a flash. The vampires who worked for Sigma had commented on it, but had any of them ever really tried?

  “How does Big D plan to get Madame G out of her hole?” X stopped, causing the rest to do the same.

  Agent R answered, “His best plan is to attack and fight our way toward her. She won’t leave and let all of her work get taken over.”

  “We should try to flash there,” X replied.

  “You on crack?” Z laughed. “Everyone knows we can’t flash into her office.”

  “Have you ever tried?”

  R and Z both looked at each other. “Well, no, but we’d have to bring you two dogs with, and the trip would disorient you too badly.”

  “I’ve flashed along plenty of times,” X lied smoothly. “I’m used to it.”

  “I’ll manage,” Rhys added firmly.

  X held out her hand. “Hang onto us and you two try to flash past her barrier simultaneously.”

  Agent R radioed Demetrius. She grabbed onto Rhys’ hand, making sure he didn’t get left behind if the flash worked.

  “All right,” R finally growled, showing his fangs. “He’s going to signal the attack. Once it begins, we’ll try to get into her office and hunt the bitch down.”

  Deep in the recesses of the edifice, they couldn’t feel much but faint vibrations as artillery hit the walls. The same walls that were still weakened from the Guardians’ last attack. Loaded with even more lead, this time the structure may not survive. Even if they didn’t get Madame G, they would seriously incapacitate her for a long amount of time.

  Z threw her hand on top of X’s and Rhys’ hands, waiting for R so they could flash.

  By now, shouts filtered through the walls and down the hallway as Agents and recruits were running up to defend the building.

  R used both his hands to cup the hands of the group. “One, two, three.”

  R and Z focused, X watched intently.

  Their first attempt didn’t work, whether it was due to Madame G’s shields or the added weight of trying to bring along two bodies. Both Agents closed their eyes for deeper concentration, and X took the oppo
rtunity to use her flashing ability to enhance their power.

  They shimmered and disappeared. Instead of instantly reappearing in the deep-red and royal-purple chambers of Madame G, the group hovered in nothingness. It was like they were pushing against an invisible wall, until the flood of potent vampire power overwhelmed even Madame G’s cryptic forces.

  The abrupt arrival in Madame G’s office made them all stumble backward, releasing their hold on each other.

  Rhys staggered a little more than the rest, his head shaking, weaving on his feet. For a non-vampire, flashes could be like riding the merry-go-round for an hour; the world doesn’t quit spinning.

  R and Z wore puzzled expressions. X acted as if she was clearing her head, too.

  Rhys, hands outward to steady himself, moved slower. X took the opportunity to scan around. No malevolent force was storming out of any hidden nook or cranny.

  They all spun toward a wall at the sound of a strangled cry and Madame G’s yell. “Another attack you didn’t see?”

  “The seer is behind this panel.” X rushed to it and hit the lever she saw Madame G use the last time she was in the office.

  The panel swung open with a whoosh. Madame G displayed rare emotion on her porcelain face. Shock at the appearance of guests in her office, along with a heavy amount of rage, twisted her mouth and a deadly light shone in her black eyes.

  The enraged mistress had a firm hold on the seer’s chin. The seer herself had a calm demeanor. Her eyes shimmered with fright and…resignation. The female thought she was going to die today.

  Since she was a seer, she was probably right.

  Madame G glared at X and the rest of the group, before turning her churning gaze back to the seer. “You pathetic creature. You thought you could deceive me?”

  She raised her other hand, her fingernails curled into claws. X and Rhys both drew their guns, but weren’t fast enough. Madame G brutally raked her hand across the seer’s throat. X had seen a lot of carnage in her life, but Madame G nearly beheading the seer with one hand was among the worst.

  She and Rhys opened fire at the madam, advancing on her.

  The two Agents flashed to Madame G, forcing X and Rhys to cease-fire so they wouldn’t injure the vampires. They needed everyone at full strength.

  Madame G snarled at Agent R as he appeared in front of her, while Agent Z popped up behind. Her eyes glowing with rage, Madame G threw a hand up and flung them both backward like rag dolls.

  X dodged Agent R’s flying body, and just as Madame G’s eyes lost focus to flash, she dropped her gun and dived to catch a handful of the madam’s kimono.

  Everything went black and then X was on grass. Gunfire popped between the trees that surrounded the compound and the Agents trying to defend it. Lifeless bodies scattered close to the building. None of them were Guardians. A large explosion shook one of the exterior walls.

  Madame G above her chanted in a language X didn’t recognize. A supernatural storm brewed, the wind raged. The fight raging on around them had paused with the appearance of the dark vampire, X attached via death grip to the madam’s robe.

  Rhys, try to save the seer. We’re in the courtyard. X hoped the seer wasn’t dead. She wanted answers, dammit.

  In the small amount of time it took X to send the thought, Madame G noticed her. Another flash of shock in her dark eyes gave X enough time to roll quickly to the side to avoid getting stomped on by the deadly heels the madam wore.

  Sucking in a huge breath as she jumped to her feet, she unsheathed a knife. If Madame G had time to call on the dark forces that had been aiding her, all would be lost.

  Unseen pressure squeezed her lungs, she knew Madame G was trying to suffocate her. That might work in her office when X had no other choice but to remain compliant, but today X would not be stopped. Either Madame G or X, or both, would be dead shortly.

  X whipped her knife at the madam, who spun to avoid the cut of the blade. The bullet wounds Madame G had received after nearly decapitating the seer slowed her reflexes. X drew another blade in her left hand and charged the madam before her breath ran out.

  Instead of stabbing her, X pulled her right arm back and let a jab fly so fast and hard, the crack of Madam G’s cheekbone was almost worth the three weeks of torture.

  The pressure on her chest released, and X heaved a mighty breath.

  Madame G stumbled back, her hands cupping her face. Knowing she was no fighting match for X, Madame G sneered at her before lifting her hands high above her head. Then she flashed.

  Fuck!

  At the edge of the tree line, facing the compound, Madame G reappeared, her chanting increasing in volume and power. The wind buffeted and a flash of lightening raced toward the area of the compound that held Madame G’s suite.

  A bolt that was strong enough to demolish the entire wing appeared to hit an invisible dome. X scanned the tree line until she saw Mercury a few hundred yards away with his hands raised, silver gleaming strongly through his features, while one of the twins protected him.

  X smiled grimly. Madam G had gotten arrogant, increasing only her power, thinking all other creatures were below her strength. Where she had to sell or barter her soul for more power, Mercury’s abilities originated from within.

  With her smile in place, X faced Madame G, who was glaring incredulously at Mercury. Then her dark eyes caught X’s, and her rage returned. Madame G threw her arms even higher, wind swirled around her skirts, and her entire body lifted off the ground from her power.

  That crafty seer. Madame G was indeed ascending over the shifters, but it wasn’t going to be the way she hoped. X’s smile widened further, and she flashed.

  Reappearing behind Madame G, she grabbed the evil bitch in a headlock and dragged her down to the ground, hissing. “It was me you’ve been looking for all along.”

  Madame G stiffened as X’s words sunk in. X shoved her knife deep into the female’s ribs, angling it up. The madam gasped and lightening hit the ground by X’s feet.

  She withdrew her knife and slammed Madame G onto her back, then straddled on top of her. The air was once again devoid of oxygen, and X jerked as she tried to take a breath. Madame G took advantage and hit the knife out of her hand.

  X launched a fist into the madam’s face. The hit was enough to stall Madame G’s control and allow X to draw a breath. She pulled another knife out of her boot and peered straight into Madame G’s evil black eyes. Her look of incredulous shock was deeply satisfying to X.

  “You couldn’t break me because I was meant to destroy you.” With one hand, X grabbed the madam’s chin, narrowly missing the madwoman’s fangs.

  Madame G snarled in fury, her black eyes flashing a rage filled red. Using her knife, X slashed across Madame G’s throat and kept sawing the vampire’s head off and end her for good.

  The wind died down further with each cut, the storm was growing weaker, but X sensed energy building, gathering under her. She gritted her teeth. She had to finish this before Madame G gathered her dark power one last time.

  With a final hack, the spinal column severed. Before X could breathe a sigh of relief or celebrate her victory, the energy in the madam’s body coalesced and blew outward with a mighty roar.

  A flash of light and Madame G’s body exploded. X was thrown backward, the air knocked out of her, pain shooting through her jarred bones as she rolled. The percussion deafened her, white light blinded her, heat seared her skin. An inky pit formed under the remains of Madame G and spread to gobble up every speck of the madam’s body. X scrambled further back, not knowing what the pit was, but suspecting it had to do with whatever evil forces Madame G dabbled in. X’s limbs were sluggish when she tried to scoot herself out of the way. She was bleeding profusely, her ears were ringing, and her head was pounding.

  Part of Madame G’s arm lay at X’s feet. She had to move or the black hole was going to swallow her, too. Her vision doubled, she tried to shake it off. She thought someone was calling her name, but everything w
as muted.

  So this was how it was going to go. X knew she probably wouldn’t survive the ultimate confrontation with Madame G, but she didn’t think she’d be so helpless. She felt like a newborn kitten that hadn’t yet learned to walk and had been drop-kicked down a flight of stairs.

  Dimly, she was aware of more shouting, but her consciousness faded and all she could do was watch the fathomless hole creep toward her.

  Strong arms secured her under the shoulders. She registered the scent of her mate. Didn’t the seer make it, or did Rhys ignore her and rush out there instead? The jarring movement of him pulling her back sent waves of pain through her torn body. Darkness finally claimed her.

  Chapter Four

  X woke up to muted sunlight streaming through the windows of a small cabin. Shit, she hated passing out and waking up somewhere else.

  Drawing in a deep inhale, she sat up and looked around. This must be Rhys’ place. She had seen the lodge that housed the main Guardians’ headquarters before and the quaint cabins that dotted the woods around it, but she’d never been in any of them. She could’ve breached their security and spiritual measures at any time but never revealed that info.

  Voices murmured out on the porch. No doubt, Rhys was keeping everyone away while she healed. The sonic boom Madame G created when X beheaded her was pretty damn epic. It almost shattered X’s body along with it. If she hadn’t fed from Rhys that day, she might not have withstood the explosion. Without Rhys to pull her away from the evil black hole that came to claim Madame G, she would’ve been sucked in, too.

  As if her thoughts conjured him, she recognized the swagger of his footsteps as Rhys entered the cabin. He peeked his head in the bedroom to check on her.

  She must look like a hot mess. The longer part of her hair was tangled like an eagle’s nest swirled high on her head, and she had G-splatter all over her clothes. Rhys was considerate enough not to change her while she was passed out. He knew about the unpleasantness many experienced while unconscious at the Sigma compound.

  Instead, he had stretched her over a top sheet in her torn, sooty clothing. She scanned herself. Most of her gear survived. A few hours of cleaning with a Q-tip and it might not stink like blown-up-bitch anymore.