Fanged Fury (The Adventures of Sydney Sedrick Book 3)

by Mandi Casey

  “You have to take care of yourself. I need to know when you’re not feeling well. I’ll tell you what’s going on with my Selected life, too. No more going to doctors and keeping me out of the loop. Deal?”

  She brushed hair out of my eyes. A little sparkle emanated from her stare. “Of course, dear. We’re a team. We always have been. We always will be.”

  “I love you, Aunt Judith. We do make a fine team, if I do say so myself.”

  Aunt Judith nodded. “I love you, too, Sydney. Now, it’s time for this old bag of bones to get some rest, as well you should, too.”

  Picking the book up off the kitchen table, she shuffled out through the door to go to bed.

  I slumped back into the chair, letting my head fall hard on the dark wood tabletop. Aunt Judith was going to be okay. She wasn’t one to sit around. There were always chores to do around the house or plants to be tended to. She just needed to eat more. I laughed in the empty kitchen, my emotions wound so tight I felt giddy.

  I couldn’t believe I had let myself be so stressed about Aunt Judith without just asking her what was going on. Thank goodness, because I didn’t know what I’d do if anything happened to her. I might take my chances, tuck tail and go back to Chicago, maybe hide in my parents’ house. Not that hiding would do me any good. Both Blake and Kieran had told me on multiple occasions that I’d be a sitting duck if I left the city. As long as I lived in Kenosha, they’d be able to protect me from my enemies. I needed to learn to protect myself better. I didn’t want to have to rely on others to do it for me. In reality, I wasn’t confident the ones I thought of as allies were just that. They may in truth be the ones I should be suspect of the most.

  The toothpaste burned my gums as I brushed my teeth in front of the bathroom mirror. Dark circles rimmed my eyes. I was tired but thrilled at the prospect of sleep. Tomorrow was going to be another long day. Michael still planned to tell Brianna she was dating a werewolf. I expected her to run from the city never to look back. Maybe part of me wanted her to react in such a way so she’d stop coming to Kenosha.

  I hated that she was put in danger of my enemies. There was more truth to her being in danger since Blake had told me about having to shed blood of my family to fulfill the prophecy. The blood candidate with the closest genetic code would need to be a sibling. Since Brianna and I were the sole grandchildren of the previous Selected, that blood would have to be my sister’s. I didn’t want her anywhere near the wolves. I no longer trusted Michael’s intentions where Brianna was concerned. There was a time not long ago that I was sure he was as much in love with her as she was with him.

  That was before I knew the truth.

  Turning off the bedside lamp, I snuggled under the covers to get a good night’s sleep when I heard a buzzing sound. My cell phone, lying on the pillow next to me, glowed neon blue, vibrating with vigor. Picking it up, I checked the menu. The little envelope symbol blinked on the screen telling me I had a text message. When I checked who’d sent the message, the urge to throw the phone across the room crossed my mind.

  Daire.

  With a groan, I touched the envelope on the screen to display his message.

  SWEET DREAMS. D.

  I closed the phone, thinking how I should reply. Deciding the best reply was none at all, I put the phone back on the pillow.

  The moment I closed my eyes, a tightening sensation crept around my lower back, settling in my gut. A layer of cold sweat broke out over my entire body. Kicking the covers off, I got out of bed. Realizing what was about to happen, I kneeled next to bed, waiting.

  There was no avoiding the inevitable.

  A whirling noise sounded in my head until it became unbearable. I covered each ear with my hands to muffle the sound with no effect. The noise was coming from within. My vision and hearing faded into nothingness. The burning on my skin from the friction of carpet as my body fell to the floor slid away.

  Blinking a few times, my senses returned. I was between my reality and that of the Underworld. My visions had always served a purpose. Someone was taking action against me or someone I cared about. The visions showed me some sort of detail, a warning of sorts. Unfortunately, the action may already have taken place. The time of the vision was not always linear to the time of my realm. Deciphering the purpose was difficult.

  Cold wet leaves embraced my bare feet as I padded through a dark forest filled with trees. The moon was full in the otherwise black sky. Angry howls pierced the night’s silence, coming from multiple directions. Werewolves occupied the area, but they couldn’t detect my presence. No one could, unless they traveled between the realms. I’d been lucky so far with having but one occurrence of near detection. Luckily, I was able to leave the area before the suspecting lightning demon, Andras, decided to look further for the presence he detected.

  The flames of a campfire burned off in the distance, drawing me closer.

  A male voice echoed in the night. “The Master will not be pleased we have not been successful in finding the woman yet.”

  The man speaking had a crazed look in his eyes. His movements reflected that of a nervous criminal. A single woman stood among four other men among the group, all hovering around the fire while listening to the one speaking.

  Another man stepped into the light of the fire, his skin pale blue. The ragged clothing he wore gave me the impression he’d run through dense tree branches to get to their meeting. “You’re right. The Master is not going to be pleased. We must hurry before he becomes impatient. We all know what happens when the Master gets pissed. He’ll take it out on all of us.”

  The members of the group nodded to one another in somber agreement. Whoever the Master was, the beings before me held him in awe. It was clear they feared him to the point where they would go to great lengths to avoid his wrath.

  The first man turned his head, giving me a better view of his face. A thick black tattoo circled his eye, running the length of his jaw, ending somewhere below the neckline of his jacket.

  “We’ll find that bitch. She’s going to pay for running from us, too. Master didn’t say we had to deliver her unharmed. He just said to bring her to him.” The tattooed man’s lips contorted into a malicious sneer as his shoulders shook in agitated amusement.

  Who did they mean by ‘the woman’? Was it me they hunted?

  The sole female of the group stepped around the blue-skinned man, who I assumed was a demon, to stand in the firelight. The woman’s skin was dark as night with silver patterns swirling at various peaks over her skin. The woman must be from the Underworld. Her skin resembled Kasdeya’s and I wondered if she, too, was a fire demon.

  With a closer look, I realized the rest of the group consisted of demons, minus the one with the tattoo on his face. I couldn’t be sure he was a human, but he appeared to be from his outward presentation.

  The demon woman raised a fist into the air, sprinkling something on the fire. After a moment a globe of light sprung from the flames.

  “We will find her. She is close this night. I can feel her. The Master will reward us greatly when we return.” The woman’s expression didn’t change. No emotion reflected on her face. Kasdeya didn’t show emotion, either.

  I wondered if my cantankerous fire-demon friend knew this woman.

  A crushing squeeze tightened around my spine. Was Kasdeya in on the hunt with the group? My Selected powers were growing, including the sensations while experiencing the visions. What I was seeing could be a warning that Kasdeya was going to betray me.

  Lifting my hand in front of my eyes, my arm began to fade. I was being sucked from between realms, back to my own reality.

  My chest heaved as consciousness returned. I inhaled a sharp breath.

  Using the bed frame, I dragged myself up to sit on the edge of the bed. My mind reeled as I tried to decipher what warning I was supp
osed to take from the vision.

  The comforter felt cold against my sweat-slicked skin as I inched it up to my chin.

  Dale, the mailman, had told me he’d been approached in the woods by a male demon. The demon gave them a proposition, to help him find who he was after, or they would pay a price. Dale, who I considered somewhat of a close ally, had said his family did not plan to help the demon in his hunt, but they were busy arming themselves against the onslaught of the demon’s attack.

  I’d have to ask Dale to describe the demon. I needed to figure out which one was the ringleader of the group from the woods. I also needed to find out the identity of their Master who was calling the shots.

  My eyelids became heavy. Grateful for the escape, I slipped into the sweet abyss of sleep.

  “Ah, there you are, my sweet. I think you like making me wait.”

  I groaned in dramatic fashion at the intrusion. There was no way I’d invited him into my dreams. He’d somehow wormed his way in on his own.

  “Daire, don’t you have better things to do then harass me while I sleep?” I glanced down and found myself in a bright orange bikini. I had to admit, the color went well with my skin tone. Taking assessment of our surroundings, I realized we weren’t in my bedroom. We were on a beach.

  The moonlight reflected against the dark water, shimmering against the gentle waves.

  Daire sat in a bamboo lounging chair placed next to mine in the sand. Holding up a pink umbrella-topped drink, he said, “I thought a nice relaxing evening out would do well for our”—his eyes raked my bikini-clad body a little too close for comfort—“relationship.”

  My hand felt cool. Looking down, I found a matching beverage in my palm. Lifting it to my lips, I enjoyed a stiff swallow of orange juice mixed with a healthy dose of vodka. Lowering my eyelids, I glanced sideways to appreciate the sight of Daire’s body. His skin glowed against the moonlight but held a bit more color than his vampire counterparts. When he readjusted his legs, the muscles in his thighs bulged.

  My fingers ached to touch him.

  The curse kicked in as my eyes roamed the length of his body without trying to hide my appreciation. The gentle breeze felt like thumbs flicking my nipples, shooting rapid bolts of molten heat between my thighs. Sitting up straight, I got off the lounge chair while downing the rest of my drink. The liquid burned my throat, making me cough. The glass, empty a moment ago, was once again filled to the brim.

  The alcohol didn’t do much to quell my body’s thirst for his carnal attentions. “Daire, I need you to wake me up.”

  Daire rose and came over to where I stood, our toes digging in the cool, gritty sand. Taking the drink from my hand, he leaned over, putting them both into the sand, digging their bases under the grains to keep them upright. Seeing the lean, toned muscles in his back ripple sent visions across my mind of the sexual positions he could accomplish with being so in shape. I wanted to lick his pristine flesh in long sensual sweeps with my tongue.

  Standing up, he grabbed me by the elbows. “Sydney, calm down. This is nothing more than a dream. You have the power to wake up at any time. You, Selected, are in control. It is your choice whether you go with what is happening or if you end it.”

  I shook my head. “You’re lying. If I could force myself to wake up, I would. You’re making this happen.” Lifting my arms to the sky filling with twinkling stars, I said, “The sand on my toes, the suit I’m wearing, it’s all you. None of this is my doing.”

  Daire smiled. “My sweet, you are here because you desire it so.” He brought me against his naked chest as he lowered his lips to my neck.

  The cool slickness of his tongue glided along my skin, sending tingles down the side of my body. Every hair along the wet path stood up at attention.

  I took a step back. Daire didn’t let go. He came forward. He put a foot behind my ankle, causing us to fall against the sand. He used the palm of his hand to cradle my head from the fall. The harsh texture of the grainy substance against my flesh emphasized my body’s sensitivity.

  With his weight on top of me, I squirmed against him. I struggled with my desires. I half-wanted him to take me there on the sand. It wouldn’t matter. We were in a dream-state. Blake couldn’t hold what happened in a dream against me. It wasn’t like I was cheating on him. Besides, I couldn’t cheat on him since we weren’t dating. I was an independent woman, capable of thinking for myself. I was also a grown woman with needs. Daire just happened to be present and more than willing to fulfill them.

  My struggles spurred him on. He took my wiggling against his chest as encouragement. A strong hand captured my jaw. He forced his lips against mine, all while using his knee to separate my thighs.

  He stopped moving and said, “Sydney, you can say ‘no’ at any time. I am here to help you with what you’re going through. I won’t deny I’ve wanted you the first time you were in my arms.”

  The memory came rushing back of when I met Daire for the first time when he’d caught me out of the air as I plummeted to the gym floor at the vampire’s royal palace. The second we made eye contact I knew he was going to be a problem in many aspects of my life.

  I was right.

  Letting go, I stopped fighting. My body tightened with need. I knew Daire could dull the lust coursing through my body, at least for a little while. His ministrations the other night had allowed me to tolerate Blake and Matt in the same room. I hadn’t been consumed with wanting a threesome on the store’s floor because of their masculinity.

  My breath came in rapid, shallow bursts. I was losing control of my conscious thought. My body robbed my mind of control. My baser instincts kicked in. I grabbed his firm backside with my hands, grinding him against me. “Are you going to talk all night or are you going to do what you keep telling me you’re so damn good at?”

  Daire laughed. “Ah, my dear, Sydney. All you had to do was give me a sign. I’ve waited a long time for you to come around.”

  He moved in to capture my lips with his when my mind cleared, a little. Questions regarding his statement swam in chaotic patterns in my head. He said he waited a long to for me to come around. Did he mean he waited for me to agree in having sex with him? Or did he mean he’s been waiting for me to move back to the city and take my position as Selected?

  Before Daire’s lips touched mine, his image wavered. Gazing into his eyes, the orange rim around the red glowing orbs faded until the entire eye was a pale pink color. His skin began to fade. I could no longer feel the touch of his hands caressing my sides or the stimulating weight of his body.

  Startled to consciousness, I found myself back at Aunt Judith’s, covered by my favorite purple comforter. I brushed the hair away sticking to the sides of my face then wiped the sweat beaded on my forehead. Sitting up, I touched my pillowcase. Soaked.

  That was some dream.

  What did Daire mean?

  I’d have to talk to him and find out how long he had been waiting for me. What was he waiting for me to do?

  My cell phone vibrated and the blue glow blinked once more on the screen. I picked it up to see someone sent me another text message.

  Daire.

  I knew I shouldn’t read the message, but curiosity consumed me.

  YOU ARE LEARNING, MY SWEET. SEE YOU SOON. D.

  I must have been the one to end the dream before we went too far, but I didn’t know how I accomplished it. Taking a deep breath, I felt the power of the Selected grow within me. I had just controlled part of the dream we had shared. I, a human with powers unlike any other, had just bested a half-vampire, half-demon.

  Stretching my arms above my head, I checked the time on my phone. It was a few minutes before my alarm was set to go off. I decided to get out of bed, take a shower, and get ready for the day.

  The steam cleansing my pores invigorated me. It felt good to get t
he sweat off coating my body from the dream shared with Daire. Using a new razor, I lifted my leg and put my foot on the side of the tub after lathering up with shaving gel. The razor shaved close to my skin. The underside of my calf burned. Upon taking a closer look, the skin was swollen and red, like skin braised by sand.

  My blood ran cold at the sign of the first evidence that these were more than mere dreams.

  Finishing getting ready, I sprayed myself with an extra dose of perfume to cover any scent that may have lingered from the dream. I didn’t want Blake to smell Daire again, even though I didn’t expect him to show up at the store since I’d told him I needed break.

  Sitting on my bed, I put my favorite black boots on over jeans, picking a tight, long-sleeved teal shirt to complete the ensemble. Back in the bathroom, I checked my reflection. Grandma’s pink ruby necklace gleamed in the morning sunlight coming from the narrow window against the far wall.

  The weight of the Other’s world felt heavy on my shoulders that morning. I didn’t know who Daire was, what he wanted, or what he intended. He was half-vampire. The vampires in the city belonging to the coven wanted to have the prophecy fulfilled, for all of them to gain the ability to walk in the sunlight, allowing them mobility during the time the wolves took advantage of thinking they were safe because the vampires couldn’t tolerate the sun’s rays. Daire didn’t need the prophecy to be fulfilled to walk in the sun.

  Kasdeya, the fire demon, was a bit of an enigma. Despite her scary personality flaws and pure hatred toward all beings—human or Other—she seemed to want to be friends. I tried not to overanalyze her motives too much. She’d despised me in the past. She’d even threatened my life on multiple occasions during the preparation of the Blood Rites Ball. She said she’d use my body as a shield should the king of vampires be in physical peril.

  Brianna and Michael being in town complicated my life even more. Michael planned to tell my sister of his true nature, meaning Blake would be around to help if she went ballistic and made a run for it. I didn’t want to think of my mother at the moment, but her swollen red nose and slurred words popped into my mind. She’d lied to me my entire life, keeping the secret of my fate from me while I walked the streets of Chicago, ignorant of surrounding threats.