Unstoppable.
“Halt. Friend.” Raven lifted her hand, keeping herself between the two men when Taggert began circling them.
Taggert was the only one of his kind remaining, the true two-legged werewolves having long since gone extinct more than a thousand years ago. When she unknowingly brought him home from a slave auction a few months earlier, her powers had infected him, activating his dormant DNA, causing him to shift into this alternate form. She was afraid she had destroyed him, but he considered it a blessing, a way to keep her safe.
She was the last known dragon. She and Taggert were the only two remaining true shifter royalty living, and he was determined to keep her alive by any means necessary.
Those who knew the truth both feared and revered them. The world was changing, and they were either going to save everyone, or doom them to another devastating war where no one would emerge unscathed. And until the council could figure out which, they couldn’t afford to exterminate them.
An uneasy truce existed between them…for now.
Taggert sniffed the air, slowly drawn forward, as if unable to resist her touch. He only stopped when her outstretched hand came to rest against his chest. A soft rumble tingled against her palm, and she found herself stroking him, the movement easing away the tension in her spine. He melted down until only a human man stood before her, his eyes glowing a vivid yellow.
“We’ll catch up later.” She absently brushed her fingers over him, unable to resist temptation, marveling at his power, then hastily yanked her hand away before she became any more distracted. “We’ll finish our training in the morning.”
He gave a subtle nod, almost like a bow. Without a stitch of clothing on, he should have looked ridiculous, but ridiculous was not the word that came to her mind as she gazed at him. Though he’d never been shy, the recent changes had given him a sexy confidence that was eye-catching.
He calmly strode around her, then past Griffin with barely a glance, his fangs flashing in warning. Griffin swiveled to keep him in view, his normally tanned skin a few shades paler. Seconds later, Taggert leapt over the side of the building without a moment’s hesitation and disappeared.
He was trusting her to keep herself safe.
It was the only reason he left without a fight.
With his new abilities, he’d transformed from a sweet boy to a man determined to keep her safe, constantly training, pushing himself to his limits.
Griffin turned toward her, his Adam’s apple bobbing as he swallowed hard. “So the rumors are true.”
His scent had turned slightly sour with fear. Something in his expression gave her pause, and then the truth dawned on her…he was terrified. Tendrils of dread worked its way under her skin, the deadly vines wrapping around her heart and squeezing. “He has phenomenal control. He’s not a berserker, a mindless killing machine that the legends claim.”
Griffin shook his head, his eyes dilating until they appeared black. “You misunderstand. He’s devoted to you. I have no doubt he will obey you in all things. His mission is, and has always been, to keep you safe. What worries me is the council. They can never know. They’re already disturbed about the amount of power you wield.”
A hint of unease crawled over her skin. The dragon went still at hearing the threat, then pushed forward until her skin ached, her body feeling too small to hold the beast. Raven stood balanced on a precarious edge between her old and new life. She came to the startling realization that she was no longer afraid of her dragon. She trusted the beast would do whatever possible to protect those she’d claimed as theirs. “I won’t let them harm him.”
The dragon grumbled in agreement and a spill of energy swirled around her, her skin hardening when tiny scales slotted together just below the surface. She flexed her fingers, marveling at the strength. To a human, she still looked normal, but with her enhanced senses, she could see tiny lines etched along her skin, defining each scale.
Griffin noticed the change immediately, and lifted his hands in surrender, his head slightly tilted in submission. “When anyone in the paranormal community becomes too powerful and threatens the council’s authority, they’ve been known to send assassins to take care of the problem.”
That gave her pause, her mind flashing to Randolph, their most renowned executioner. The man had been human at one time, but a short stay in the labs turned him into one of the most effective, efficient killers the world had ever known. Much to her chagrin, he was fascinated by her unique abilities so similar to his own.
Nor would this be the first time that Randolph was sent after her.
Though he hinted about pitting himself against her, she didn’t think he would go after her in an unfair fight simply because the council ordered it.
He even implied that they were friends.
That meant they would send nameless, faceless killers instead.
“I have no interest in taking over the council.”
Griffin shrugged. “Rumors are already circulating. You’re already changing the paranormal world, breaking laws that have remained in place for hundreds of years. While a few people have protested what they consider your abuse of power, more believe we need to change in order to survive, or we’ll become extinct.”
“That was not my intent. All I’ve ever done was protect my pack.” While Griffin had a very strict sense of duty to others, similar to her own, she couldn’t forget that he was also a rogue with his own agenda.
“You might not have a choice.” His voice softened. “Pack animals follow the most dominant alpha.”
The implications slammed into her with the force of a sledgehammer. “How do I stop it?”
Griffin shook his head. “I’m afraid it might be much too late. If it comes to war, they will follow you…even the council. The last war nearly destroyed us. You might be the only one who can save us.”
Raven rubbed her brow, trying to ease the gathering headache. “No pressure.”
Griffin snorted. “Tomorrow night we’ll go to the council, where you must convince them you’re their servant, willing to do their bidding. The only way you’re going to get what you want is by proving to them that they want the same thing.”
Chapter Two
DAY TWO: AN HOUR BEFORE SUNSET
Raven paused outside her office, able to hear the pack arguing, even through the closed door. While they wanted to help find Rylan, they weren’t willing to risk her life in order to do it. When she opened the door, the din subsided.
She nodded at Dominick, who was seated behind the desk. He’d held the pack together when they first escaped the labs, and she never cared to take back the reins, since he was so much better suited to the role.
Seven people stared at her expectantly, and she took a deep breath. “I know we’re all thinking the same thing—the labs are back.” Tension in the room swelled, a low growl filling the air from all directions as their beasts threatened to take over. High emotions could easily turn any situation deadly, since it might trigger them to change into a deadly animal at any moment.
“I also know none of you like Rylan, but if the labs are truly back, they won’t stop until they’ve recaptured as many of us as they can.” Jackson narrowed his eyes at the threat, almost like he was convinced she would vanish from under his very nose. She’d met him at the lowest point in his life….after he had lost his ability to shift, which put his position as a pack enforcer in jeopardy. He’d been relegated to minor duties, and practically fell into her lap. His fierce loyalty won a place in her heart, but when she healed his wolf, his alpha demanded his return. She risked her life to win Jackson back, firmly cementing his place in her pack.
When she tore her eyes away from him, her attention landed on Taggert, where he leaned casually against the wall, his stare no less intense than Jackson’s. Neither wolf was happy with her right now. Thankfully, Durant was caught up in an emergency session at Talons, so he couldn’t stop her from doing what needed to be done to protect her pack.
&n
bsp; London, an enormous Kodiak bear who was her security specialist, stretched out his legs, his chair creaking in protest. “You claimed Rylan as one of us. We won’t leave him behind.” His shoulders were stiff, clearly still blaming himself for Rylan’s disappearance, since the vampire was taken on his watch. Though she didn’t blame him, he couldn’t let it go. “What would you have of us?”
Raven exhaled in relief. “In the past, I’ve always clung to the background, doing my best to avoid drawing attention. To keep us together, I had to prove that I was mentally strong enough to ground a pack and keep us alive. That decision is now going to put every step we take under scrutiny.”
“You were always an alpha,” Dina protested. She was the caretaker of the group, and one of the strongest women Raven had ever met. Nothing got the chipper little fox down.
“Maybe, but ever since we made my position official, it put us under the dominion of the council. The last place we want to be is on their bad side.” Raven glanced down at her hands, remembering the blood on them, the hundreds of people she killed to escape the labs.
Worse, she feared the killing wasn’t over.
“What would you have of us?” Jenkins was a chameleon, his kind extremely rare. Despite his slim build, hatred burned in his eyes. The labs had nearly destroyed him trying to harvest his DNA, and he was determined to do whatever it took to strike back at them.
She met the eyes of each person in the room. Her closest friends. Her only family. “I’m going to petition the council to allow me to open up an investigation, so we can discover what’s really been happening to all the paranormals who have been disappearing.”
London stood, his chest expanding as he inhaled deeply. “When do we leave?”
They trusted her…just like that.
Raven should have been thrilled, but the thought of going back to the labs scared her shitless. She swallowed hard, then nodded once. “Tonight.”
The door was flung open, and she saw Nicholas standing on the threshold. She discovered his corpse abandoned across her driveway only three weeks ago, and his presence was a testament to his ability to heal.
When they captured Rylan, they left Nicholas’s skinned remains for her to find.
Vampires only died by beheading or the removal of the heart. While skinning Nicholas wouldn’t have killed him, it was excruciating for the victim, and took time and skill to accomplish.
Instead of giving him the normal blood baths, she’d given him her blood. In a week, he was able to remain conscious without screaming in pain from the tiniest touch of air. By week two, his skin was beginning to grow back, appearing like melted wax, his features gradually returning, so he resembled little more than a half-made clay figurine. His once long hair had just begun to sprout.
And as of yet he could give them no information about who had taken Rylan and tortured him.
He limped into the room and bowed to her. “Take me with you.”
Behind him, she could see a group of young shifters milling about in the hall, trying to appear as innocent as possible, pretending they hadn’t been caught eavesdropping. They were all orphaned and hers to protect.
“No.” Jackson pushed away from the wall. “She’s only allowed three people when going before the council. In case there’s trouble, she needs everyone there to be at the top of their game.”
Nicholas narrowed his eyes, but the effect was ruined by his nearly transparent eyelids, and the fact that his eyelashes had yet to grow back. While her blood had accelerated his healing, it also gave him an illusion of life he hadn’t felt in decades. Her blood was addictive. An obsession. She didn’t like the way he hungrily watched her, as if trying to decide what to nibble on first.
“Mistress—”
“Jackson’s right.” Dominick rose from behind the desk. “Durant is at the club. His loyalty to you is unquestionable, but his club’s affiliation with the council complicates things. I suggest you leave him as neutral. Take Jackson and London with you. Might I also suggest that you bring young Luca?”
Raven lifted her brow at his unusual choice. “Why?”
“Two reasons—he’s learned a lot about magic since he’s been here, exposed to your own unique style of power, but I also think it would give you an edge with the witches. He’s got talent, but people will underestimate him.”
Luca snapped upright from his casual lounging position in the hall, coming to stop in the doorway. He wisely said nothing. She suspected he wasn’t even breathing, he was so still. Instinct warned her that trouble was coming. If they wanted to survive, they needed to work as a pack.
Ever since Luca joined her household, he’d been practicing his magic. He was a wizard, unable to cast any spells on his own, since he lacked the ability to collect the energy needed to power his magic. However, her house practically teemed with power…energy from her that had seeped in to the mansion over the years.
At first, she’d been worried the current would infect him as well, but he seemed to have a natural repellent…she suspected his ability to use the magic was what prevented it from contaminating his blood. Not only could he cast whenever she was near, he also managed to create charms that held a small spark to use whenever he had no access to any power.
While it still scared her to see him use the current she’d considered a curse for so long, he reveled in it. He was advancing farther and faster than anyone could have anticipated. She’d seen him in a fight, and she trusted him to give everything he had in order to protect her.
Raven nodded slowly, accepting Dominick’s counsel. “We leave in one hour.”
Luca let out a whoop of excitement, jumping in the air with a fist pump. A second later, still beaming, he disappeared with the rest of the kids when they charged up the stairs.
Battling nerves, Raven reluctantly parked the car and turned off the ignition. Like the first time she saw Talons, the nondescript warehouse sat crouched in the shadows. Menace hovered around the building, warning the unwary to back away.
The dragon used her eyes to peer out at their surroundings, eager to come out and play.
And instantly noticed they were being watched.
The street where they parked was deserted, no traffic, no hint of pedestrians or clubbers, as if they knew better than to venture down monster alley.
Trespassers could get eaten.
Luca’s excited chatter gradually faded under the grim atmosphere.
London and Jackson patiently waited for her to move first.
When no one attacked, Raven grabbed the door then paused. “Stay alert. We’re no longer alone.”
Without waiting for a response, she exited and took the lead. The temperature was cool, a hint of winter in the air. The night sky remained overcast, ready for her to call down a storm.
As they neared the building, shadows shifted. Raven stopped and tensed. The dragon pressed forward, and energy swirled around her. Static crackled between her fingers, and she wove them into a familiar pattern, a sphere of electricity beginning to take shape.
Griffin stepped forward, hands raised in surrender, his gazed riveted on her hand. “You made it.”
His covert approach made sense, since rogues needed to be sneaky and undetected if they wanted to survive.
Raven closed her fingers, crushing the globe, sucking in a sharp breath then shaking out her hand at the bite of pain. Energy didn’t want to fall dormant, fighting her every step, before it gradually faded away. “I’m surprised to see you. Rogues are not usually invited to council meetings.”
He raised a brow, his eyes finally lifting to meet hers. “You don’t know.”
Raven frowned, not liking surprises. “Know what?”
“Rogues have an alpha and territory thanks to you. We’ve earned the right to attend the council meetings.” He lowered his hands, shoving them into his pockets. “Jamie and I decided to show you our support.”
Raven repressed a growl. “You’re putting them in danger.”
He snorted. “
Rogues are always in danger. There is no getting around that. You’ve protected them as much as you can. Now they want to do the same for you.” He paused, turning to nod at the building behind him. “They know what they have to lose, but they also have the highest number of missing people. They can help make our case.”
When she opened her mouth, Jackson placed a hand on her arm. “Trust them.”
It went against everything in her to put others in danger, but both men were right. There was more at stake than just them. With a scowl, she shrugged off his hold and marched toward the door. When she entered the club, she found the unnatural silence jarring.
The hallway was empty, a last reprieve before she faced the council. There was no décor in the confining space, except for one prominent word clawed into the heavy wooden panels. Drawn forward, she lifted her hand, letting her fingers sink into the grooves.
She shivered, swearing she could feel the presence of Durant’s tiger where he so boldly marked his territory.
“Holy shit, that’s cool.” Luca stopped at her side and lifted his hand to mimic her, but stopped short of touching, as if he sensed the intent behind the word…mine.
The club had its own rules, and Durant ran it with an iron fist.
This was his territory.
You messed with it, and you messed with him.
A slight pressure brushed against her shield, a polite knock, and Raven recognized the signature. “Durant?”
“Please be careful. I don’t like the tone of the club. Something’s wrong.”
Her senses sharpened. “A trap?”
“Uncertain.” He hesitated just a fraction of a second, the action telling.
“Keep your distance until we know more.” She would not put him in danger, or have him risk ownership of his club on her account.
His tiger gave a rumble of displeasure, but he didn’t protest. “Agreed.”
Electric Night (A Raven Investigations Novel Book 5) Page 2
