Midnight Poison (Paranormal Poisons Saga Book 1)

by A and E Kirk

  Dimitri lifted his shirt and grimaced at his pudgy torso covered in blood. It would still be a good forty-eight hours before the wounds fully healed. Oleander was more formidable than his research had led him to believe. He looked out the windows. The helicopter had not risen at all.

  “Dammit, Klaus, go now or I’ll have your head!”

  “Sorry, boss, no can do.”

  “What?! Why not?”

  “For one, I haven’t a clue how to fly this bloody contraption.” The pilot punched a fist into the metal control panel amid sparks and flares and ripped out a handful of sparking wires. The whir of the propellers immediately died. “And two, someone would like a word.” He pointed outside the window.

  Wearing her tattered red dress, Kiara hung from one of the rotating propellers, coming into view every few seconds.

  She smiled. “Wheeee!”

  When she spun out of sight. Dimitri twisted, trying to keep her in view.

  With a great screech of metal, the helicopter’s door ripped off. Cold air rushed in. Dimitri shielded his face with his arms. Fingers sunk into his wounded belly and yanked him out. He screamed in pain and tumbled onto the tarmac.

  Kiara huffed an angry breath and shoved her frazzled curls out of her face. Leontes’ dagger glittered in her hand.

  “You bitch!” Dimitri pushed awkwardly to his knees.

  “That’s no way to speak to a lady.” The pilot hopped out of the helicopter and took off his helmet. His body transformed from short and thick to tall and thin. As his face changed, his dark hair turned pale blond and ruffled in the wind.

  Dimitri squinted. “You—You’re Mab’s—”

  “Aye. The name’s Callahan. Not at your service.” The fairy twirled his wrist as he bowed.

  “If you’ve come for Oleander, she’s mine!” Dimitri lurched to his feet only to cry out and drop to a knee, grabbing his stomach. “It’s me you have to strike a deal with!”

  “Oh, there be no bargains this night,” Callahan scoffed with a laugh. “It’s quite the interesting collection you keep in your basement. Shifter, humans, sorcerers. Fair folk. Winter fair folk. Her majesty weren’t too pleased, you stealing her subjects.”

  Dimitri swallowed with an audible gulp.

  Callahan’s smile reminded Kiara of a shark. “She be itching for a personal chat.”

  “No, he’s mine.” Kiara stomped in front of Dimitri and glared up at the fairy.

  Her vision was spotty, the psychic link taking its toll. While curious at how she would fair against a fairy, this was not the night she wanted to find out.

  “Easy, pretty Oleander.” With a good-natured smile, Callahan raised his hands “Wouldn’t dream of stealing credit. I told my queen all about you being the one saving her folk, and she graciously extended an invitation. She’ll throw a royal ball in your honor!”

  “Kill, kill, kill, kill…” Nero lifted her hand that held the dagger.

  “Kill, schmill. Let’s go!” Roxy shook Kiara’s shoulders. “Fairies throw the best parties!”

  Kiara massaged her head, a headache blooming. “I can’t. I have a mission.”

  “Queen Mab would love to help. Let’s bring Dimitri to her together.” Callahan offered her his hand.

  Behind Kiara, Dimitri’s face began to peel back. Mouth lengthening into a snout with jagged teeth doubling by the second.

  “Kill!”

  “Party!”

  “Kill!”

  “Party!”

  “We could kill Dimitri at the party,” Kiara said.

  Nero shrugged. “Sure.”

  “Yay!” Roxy squealed.

  “That can be arranged,” Callahan said.

  Dimitri surged forward, jaws wide. The shift took over his body and began morphing him into a giant grizzly.

  “Shut up!” Kiara slammed a fist into his face. Her blow crumpled his snout flat and launched him into the air. Dimitri’s body shriveled back into human form as he spun out on the helipad.

  Callahan skipped back a step.

  “Liars!” Kiara pointed a bloody finger at Dimitri. “You know who hired the multi-shifter. Therefore, our contract is null and void. Which means I can kill you. And you.” Kiara stabbed the dagger in Callahan’s direction.

  “You’re on your own, mate.” Callahan shot Dimitri a look, equal parts pity and glee, as he stepped off the roof of the building with a wave and dropped out of sight.

  Dimitri spat blood, and then spoke in a rush. “It was Nicolette. The witches’ ambassador. She asked for a shapeshifter. There. Our contract is back in force.”

  Kiara tsked and wagged a finger as she stalked toward him. “That’s not how this works.”

  Dimitri’s face lost all color. His eyes skittering for an escape. “You can’t kill me! You don’t have your master’s permission!”

  “I don’t…” Kiara’s steps faltered. “What master? Da Vinci?”

  “You really don’t remember?” Dimitri smiled and shoved himself up to his feet. “No, not him. You served—”

  A knife thudded into Dimitri’s throat. He grunted in surprise as the strike knocked him several feet back through the air before he slammed to the ground, gurgling blood.

  “Are you all right?” Leontes grasped her shoulders.

  “Why did you kill him? He was telling me things I wanted to know.”

  “He was about to shoot you.” Leontes pointed at the ground—and the gun Dimitri had dropped when the knife had struck him. “Did you not see it?”

  “Of course, I did,” Kiara lied.

  She had been too focused on getting answers. She scratched her head, nicking her forehead with the dagger. A white wolf trotted over to nuzzle her hand as a group of Alpha’s people arrived on the roof. Several of them huddled around the shuddering Dimitri, blocking him from Kiara’s view.

  She stroked Jaeger’s fur. “We should help Alpha finish the job.”

  Leontes gingerly took his dagger from her hand and sheathed it on his hip. Then he wiped the blood from her forehead. “Callahan’s crew made sure there was no more resistance for us to encounter.”

  “Darn. I was hoping for another battle.” She took one step, but her legs wobbled so badly that she collapsed against Leontes.

  “Yes.” He gave her a dubious look. “I can see that.”

  When she clutched his arm for support, he made a noise of exasperated irritation and swept her into his arms, holding her stiffly as he headed for the stairs.

  Kiara nuzzled her cheek against his chest. “You did okay, fighting wise. For a wimpy diplomat.”

  He chuckled softly. “Thank you for the tremendously generous compliment.”

  She breathed deeply, letting his scent soothe the tired, nervous beat of her heart. She felt crisper. Her vision cleaner and clear of any hallucinations. She watched his face and reached to wipe away a smear of blood.

  “Kiara,” Leontes warned.

  She wrapped her arms around his neck and snuggled closer, reveling in the contact, but knowing his embrace would not last for long.

  CHAPTER 49

  “Ow!” Jaeger yelped. “Someone get this monkey off me! He keeps pulling my hair!”

  “He’s just saying thanks,” Kiara said. “You not only helped rescue him, but also his owner from Dimitri’s prison, so he’s picking out the parasites.”

  “I don’t have parasites, unless he gave them to me. Ow! All right, you’re welcome.” Jaeger swatted away more affectionate grooming and jumped in the back of the ambulance to join Kiara. With an annoyed screech, the monkey scampered away.

  “Just be glad you didn’t deal with the gnome.” Kiara showed a spot on her arm where a missing chunk of flesh was filling in. “He bites. But to be fair, at first he thought I was there to eat him.”

  “There were creatures from the fairy realm? Those are hard to come by.”

  “That’s why Callahan and his crew were none too pleased. Apparently, Dimitri’s known for the rare and high-end items.”

  Outsi
de the club, lights flashed as people milled about. Alpha had called in the private supernatural medical services and contacts within the police department kept human authorities out of the picture.

  Since his change back had left him naked, Jaeger wore a blanket draped around his hips given to him by the EMT who had checked him over.

  “You don’t have any wounds,” Kiara said, studying his bare torso. “You look…healthy.”

  She cleared her throat and tried not to remember their free abandon on the dance floor, the music, their bodies moving in sync. It brought a blush to her cheeks. She concentrated on herself instead. Wounds were healing. The medical technicians had washed the blood from her skin, but…

  “Another dress ruined,” she said wistfully, picking at the torn garment barely covering her body. “I liked this one, too. Thanks for getting it for me.”

  “My pleasure completely. Don’t worry. I’ll get you a new one.”

  “Like hell,” Leontes said as he rounded the back of the ambulance.

  “Why not?” Jaeger said. “Don’t you think she looks amazing?”

  Leontes dropped Jaeger a steely stare. “Of course. But it might remind her of this horrible night.”

  Kiara hugged herself. “It wasn’t all bad. We saved people. Are they okay?”

  Leontes nodded. “All are recovering nicely. Although, one keeps asking about his monkey. Anyway, they will receive whatever care they need and assistance getting home.”

  “I should help,” Kiara said. “Who knows how many others he’s taken?”

  “No,” Leontes said firmly. “This falls under shifter jurisdiction. Alpha and his people are taking over the club and checking Dimitri’s records to track other victims. They will do their best to set them free. You have done your part. Time to get you home.”

  As Leontes took Kiara’s hand and helped her down, she said, “Maybe we can come back and you could dance with me.”

  Leontes stiffened. “I do not think that would be wise.”

  “Sure it would. I want to show you the moves Jaeger taught me.” Kiara lifted her arms and gyrated her hips in slow, seductive rotations.

  Leontes swallowed hard before turning narrowed eyes on Jaeger. “I am going to kill you.”

  Jaeger shrugged and jumped from the ambulance, almost losing the blanket.

  Leontes tugged off his trench coat and threw it to Jaeger. “Put this on before you embarrass us all.”

  “I’m not embarrassed.” Jaeger flashed a wicked grin, but donned the coat and tossed the blanket inside the ambulance. He ran a hand over the leather. “Hey, do you know how many bullet holes are in this thing? How’d you survive that many hits? I knew you could go all ninja vampire. But why didn’t you use your fangs and rip a few throats out?”

  “Too messy,” Leontes said. “Weapons are far more elegant.”

  “Elegant? Did you not see the bloodbath you left behind?”

  “Regardless, I will leave the throat-ripping to you. I think you still have some fur in your teeth.”

  “Very funny,” Jaeger said, but turned away and wiped at his teeth just in case.

  Smiling, Leontes took off his shirt and wrapped it around Kiara. “You look cold.”

  “She looks hot to me, gramps.”

  “Oh, enough, puppy.”

  Kiara was not cold, but she did not complain. With all the hoopla, adding two handsome, half-naked men to the mix embellished the evening’s excitement. They were both tall, with Leontes the leaner of the two, Jaeger a bit stockier and slightly broader in the shoulders. Both had muscles cut in all the right places. Leontes more refined to Jaeger’s rugged.

  “I know, right!” Roxy exclaimed, appearing in front of Kiara, walking backward as Leontes led her to the car. “They are such hotties. And look at you! Always complaining about my outfit, and at the moment, I think I’m wearing more clothes!”

  “Not now,” Kiara muttered.

  “Now is the perfect time.” Roxy leered at both men, then cocked her head and studied Leontes. “Let me think. Hmmm. I’ve got it!”

  Kiara hoped a glare would shut her up, but no such luck.

  “Leontes belongs at the helm of a pirate ship.” Roxy skipped along as they headed to the car, breasts bouncing, chains jangling. “He’d be totally dashing in breeches and boots, a white silk shirt billowing in the breeze, surveying the ocean with a fierce grin on his handsome mug while he plotted his next treasure hunting adventure! Oh! And a sword sheathed at his waist. He does seem to like sharp things.” She sighed. “Yes, he’d be a naughty pillager that could plunder my down-under any time, if you know what I mean.” She winked.

  At Kiara’s groan, Leontes asked, “Are you feeling unwell?”

  “I’m fine,” Kiara said quickly.

  “And Jaeger!” Roxy twirled, sending the tails of her lacy jacket spinning out around her. “With that cute butt in tight jeans, racing his stallion across the open range. Riding through town, he’d tip his hat to all the ladies, that cocky grin making them blush. He’d be famous as a quick draw with his pearl-handled revolvers, but in the sack…” Roxy licked her lips and ran her hands down her sides in a sensuous motion. “He’d move slow and torturous, taking his time before bringing me to heaven.” She threw back her head and cried out, “Yes! Yes! A thousand times, yes!”

  “Yes, what?” Leontes asked Kiara. “Are you all right? You are sweating. I hope you have not contracted a cold.”

  He hustled her into the car. Roxy had disappeared, but on the drive back to the mansion, the visions she had stirred so vividly lingered in Kiara’s mind as she dozed in the passenger seat.

  “You didn’t save me,” Jaeger said, annoyed and defensive.

  “Oh, yes I did, and you were so grateful you hugged me.”

  “I did not hug you.”

  “You most certainly did.”

  “Did not.”

  “Yes, you did. With gusto. Shall I request the security footage to prove it?”

  “Well, if I did, it was only because I was delirious.”

  “Agreed.”

  “Thank you.”

  “With joy at me saving you.”

  “No! I meant I wasn’t in my right mind. I’d been shocked with a million jolts of taserlectricity—”

  “Taser what?

  “It’s a thing. And I’d been knocked out—”

  “By a little girl.”

  “Hey.” Kiara perked up, but at Leontes’ wink and conspiratorial smile, she snuggled back down.

  “By a super ninja freak fighter.”

  “Thank you,” Kiara murmured.

  “You’re welcome.”

  “What is this overwhelming obsession with ninjas?”

  “Then, when I was fighting the two, no wait, it was ten shifters—”

  “There were two.”

  “Exactly. But it took ten to bring me down.”

  “Or you fell.”

  “I didn’t fall.”

  “Tripped and fell. I am certain the security footage would again bear witness.”

  “My fist is going to fall into your face.”

  “Are you going to try to hug me again?”

  “Yeah, right after my fist falls into your face. More than once.”

  Kiara drifted off with a sleepy smile.

  Leontes steered the car through the Institute’s gates and headed down the drive, finally pulling inside the mansion’s garage. Vampires had been scuttling around in packs since they had arrived at the compound. All seemed tense and busy. Leontes parked and hustled Kiara up the stairs with a hand to her back. More vampires moved out of their way, careful to avoid eye contact.

  Kiara squinted at the deep lacerations in the immortals’ otherwise flawless skin. Well-fed vampires healed nearly instantly. Leontes and his recent battle were proof of that. She thought the damage was another hallucination, until Leontes began studying the battered vampires with concern.

  “Let me see what is going on. Then we are all changing,” Leontes said.
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  “Good. I’d love a shower.” Kiara yawned. “Then bed.”

  Jaeger grinned. “My thoughts exactly, gorgeous. We’ll finally get that shower you owe me. I’ll scrub your back then take you to bed myself. Ah, the spoils of battle are sweet.”

  Kiara started to laugh, but ended up snorting, which made her laugh and snort more. She managed to say, “You’re the worst.”

  “I’m actually the best, which you’ll enjoy first hand once we get naked in the shower.”

  Leontes guided Kiara further away and shot Jaeger a dark look. “Try anything of the sort and it will be the last thing you do.” When Kiara shrugged out of Leontes’ shirt and handed it to him, he tried to drape it over her shoulders. “No, you keep it on.”

  “Do you want your coat too?” Jaeger asked with an innocent look.

  “Try to give that back to me and I will burn it. With you still in it.”

  The three rounded the corner into the open hall with the balcony overlooking the assembly room and stopped short. Blood smeared thick trails across the white marble. Chunks of flesh stuck to the wall. Down below in the assembly room, bodies lay strewn and gored. A leg was wedged in a chandelier.

  The scene was not unusual in an undead headquarters, but there was something else mixed with the perfume of blood, death, and fear. Leontes recognized it as out of place. A new scent. An intruder. Kiara and Jaeger had a more specific reference.

  The two looked at each other and said, “Fauxleander.”

  CHAPTER 50

  Kiara reached Frankie’s lab first. Stacks of files and books were toppled in heaps. Pieces of broken beakers and test tubes glittered around the room. Two female vampires and three purpled zombies splayed shredded and forever dead on the floor.

  Kiara became terrified at the sight of Frankie. The petite vampire’s skin had turned from its usual pale white to a sickly, ashen grey. Her clothes, torn and rumpled, hung in ragged strips. She kept adjusting her spectacles trying to find a way to see better through the cracked lenses. Blood oozed from the savage slash in her throat. Despite her battered appearance, Frankie kicked violently through the debris and muttered unpleasantries.

  “Frankie!” Kiara rushed to her side and lifted Frankie off the ground, wrapping her in a fierce hug.