Some were nervous, others were brash, and a few deferential, while a couple were downright terrified. One spark, and the place would erupt into violence, a cauldron of trouble waiting to boil over.
Diane’s small form darted around the room, offering coffee and sweets and a smile, deftly handling the demanding shifters with a spine of pure steel, putting them in their place without ruffling feathers.
The dragon snarled at the overwhelming number of people crowded into its territory, and Raven struggled for control. She lifted her foot to retreat, then very deliberately set it back down. She would not run. She was not prey.
“They weren’t supposed to be here for another two hours.”
Griffin’s shook his head at the chaos, clearly amused to see so many different shifters crammed in like sardines. But when he looked at her, his eyes widened in alarm. For good reason. The dragon itched under her skin, wanting to roar and stake claim on its territory. If Raven lost control, she could accidently pull everyone’s animal to the surface, and the weakest shifters would be slaughtered.
Griffin tipped his head in submission, offering his throat. “Jamie and London are patrolling the grounds. No one is here to cause trouble.”
Anxiety poured off Griffin as he turned to survey the room, then he nodded as he came up with a plan. “Let’s get you into the office. It should help you stay calm.”
Raven hurried down the stairs after Griffin, but as much as she wanted to avoid the attention, she refused to be seen as weak. She lifted her chin and met everyone’s eyes squarely. People shied away from her, most quickly dropping their gazes in a show of submission, while a rare few met her eyes in challenge.
When she would have veered off course, Griffin grabbed her arm and whisked her inside the study, snapping the door closed behind him, then leaning against it for good measure. “Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea.”
Raven clenched and unclenched her hands, her claws pressing painfully against her fingertips. “Why are they here already?”
Griffin raised a brow in surprise. “They started arriving right after the conclave, their cars lining the road, just waiting for daybreak.”
“They were supposed to have appointments.” She passed the desk, noting the many messages scattered across the top. “Although maybe I should just be grateful that anyone bothered to show up at all.”
Something about her grumbled tone amused Griffin, and he finally relaxed his position at the door, but he didn’t move away…clearly determined to prevent her from escaping. Smart man. Raven heaved a sigh and rounded the desk, slumping in her chair.
“I wouldn’t be too sure of that. You issued an open invitation. A good portion of those who showed up don’t care about your investigation. They came to check out your pack, your strengths and weaknesses, and report back to their alpha. They also want to be seen as cooperating, not to mention more than one of them probably wants to impress the only unmated female alpha in existence.”
Raven felt queasy for a few seconds, and barely resisted the urge to reach out and smack him. “You had to mention that last one.”
“Of course.” His mouth quirked again. “Or did you not notice the lust-filled eyes that the majority of men present are eligible bachelors hoping to forge a different kind of alliance?”
The dragon calmed slightly, amused at her naiveté. She recalled resentment on a few faces, and mumbled, “Not all of them.”
Before she could work herself into a snit, Dominick entered the room. He appeared serene, and as unruffled as ever, his dark hair wavy and damp from his shower. He headed directly toward the desk and started organizing the scattered notes.
“Where’s Taggert?” Raven straightened, feeling very territorial on Taggert’s behalf.
Dominick glanced over without bothering to lift his head. “We feel it will be better if he stays out of sight. The last thing we need is for him to go wolf. The longer we can keep his change a secret, the more time we can give him to gain control, and possibly save his life.”
Raven deflated a little, already missing Taggert’s calming presence. “Right. We might as well get started, then. Something tells me this is going to be a hellishly long day.”
The first meeting went smoothly, the wolf part of a pack, and he clearly came out of curiosity, since he had no real answers. “Why did you come if you don’t have any names to give me?”
The wolf lifted a sculptured brow and shrugged, his smile more than a little smarmy. “To demonstrate our desire to cooperate.”
Raven barely managed to rein in her temper and not snarl at the blond buffoon. She had no doubt Conrad, the old wolf on the council was doing this to pay her back for daring to defy him and demanding change.
She smiled brightly as she stood, and the shifter lost his good cheer, his body tensing at her abrupt move. “Thank you so much for dropping by. I’ll make sure to note how much help you and your pack were during my investigation. You may be sure I won’t forget it in the future.”
He bristled at the very thinly veiled threat and stood, his smile more teeth than pleasure. “Of course. I’ll be sure to let my alpha know of your appreciation.”
The door shut solidly behind him as he left. Griffin shook his head. “You’re not making any friends.”
Raven threw her hands up in exasperation. “He has no intention of helping. He’s just wasting my time.”
“A pack is basically run by animals who merely have a sliver of humanity. They rely on protocol to keep their meetings from devolving into a bloodbath. You’re going to have to learn their ways if you want to have any hope of navigating their world.”
The dragon lifted her lips into a snarl, and Raven couldn’t agree more with the sentiment. “Sorry, but I’m not a girl to kiss anyone’s ass, especially not a jackanapes like him.”
Griffin smothered a smile, while Dominick gave a resigned sigh. “I’ll bring in the next appointment.”
The next man was another wolf, his clothes a little worn, and not nearly as polished as the first one. She couldn’t help liking him more for it. He ignored the seat, and rigidly stood to attention in front of the desk, nervous energy swirling around him. “I want to report that there are a handful of missing teenagers near the riverfront.”
Finally, some information she could use. “Are they all shifters?”
He hesitated, then finally shook his head. “Only one. The rest are all homeless kids we’ve adopted in our cluster.”
“Do you have proof that they were taken?”
“No.” His shoulders stooped as he deflated, his expression turning haggard.
“Could they have run away?”
He looked at her blankly. “Where would they go?”
Meaning kids on the street were no safer than shifters without a pack.
“Then give me all the information you have. I can’t promise I will find them, but I will look.”
He snapped back to attention, opening his mouth a few times before speaking. “Thank you. That you would even listen—thank you.”
As he left, the weight of his hope rested heavily on her conscience. She stared at the door a second longer before turning toward Dominick. “How did he find out about the meetings?”
Griffin spoke first. “Rogues have an incredible communications system in place. They need to know what areas are dangerous and what territories safe. Their lives literally depend on it.” He studied her carefully, and asked his next question without any inflection. “Do you want us to weed them out?”
“What?” Raven was shocked that he would even ask. “No! If anything, their information is more valuable. They are the largest group targeted by the labs. Unfortunately, they will also have the most unreliable numbers, since no one keeps a record of who is in what territory.”
Dominick scanned the next name on the list and went to the door. “Dorboleski.”
One, two…five rogues entered the small chamber, dramatically cranking up the tension in the small room. These men were in rough sha
pe, their clothing shabby and a bit tattered. Their hair was longer, the bodies lean and mean. Wildness clung to them.
Raven pushed back her chair, giving herself space to move. “Gentlemen. Do you have anything to report?”
“Our group is small, but the numbers have been dwindling more and more over the last few months. After five years, we’re at less than half our original numbers.”
“Do you have any proof that the labs took them?”
A muscle clenched in his jaw, and one of the wolves growled low in his throat. The man whirled and glared at the smaller fellow until he nearly knelt at his feet in submission, offering his throat. When the spokesman turned back to her, he gritted his teeth, barely in control. “No. Nothing. But our group has been together for years. We keep track of each other. None of us would leave without word. None of us want to die without at least being acknowledged.”
Raven studied the men closer, noting the bruises, the near-starvation. She had no doubt the others were in similar shape. She stepped forward and lifted a hand, halting abruptly when he tensed.
“May I?”
A muscle jumped in his jaw again as he held himself rigid, then he nodded, swallowing hard.
As if bracing for a blow.
She gently rested her hand on his chest and immediately felt his wolf rush toward the surface, his control nearly shattering. She sensed nothing but the desperation to keep his group safe.
Raven dropped her hand and stepped back. “I think we both know that the members of your group are already gone, but I will take all the information you have. I will search for them, and save them if it’s not too late.”
He bowed his head and nodded. “We are grateful for anything you can—”
“I can’t offer you a position in my pack, but I can give you some protection for what is coming. Head toward the back of the house and see Jamie. Tell him I sent you. He’ll help train anyone who’s willing. We’ll do our best to help your people survive the coming war…if we can.”
His head snapped up, and he froze, studying her with an unnerving expression. His eyes began to glow, growing brighter and brighter, tears glimmering in them. He remained so still, she would never have mistaken him for human. Then all at once, the men moved in tandem and knelt at her feet. “Our lives are yours.”
Raven nearly tripped over herself as she stumbled backward. If she hadn’t rammed into the desk, she would’ve sprawled on her ass. “Not necessary. Please.”
Griffin sighed and pushed away from the wall. “Gentlemen, if you would follow me, I’ll show you where to find Jamie.”
Raven dropped back into her seat, shaken at the powerful devotion her promise had elicited.
Dominick crossed his arms and stared down at her from his superior height. “You can’t fix them all.”
She gave a disgusted huff, refusing to be intimidated. “I’m not trying to save everyone. I’m just trying to do the right thing.”
He dropped his arms and opened his mouth to argue when a commotion erupted in the foyer. They both fell silent and stared at each other before charging toward the door. They couldn’t afford an incident. If a fight started, the crowd would tear into each other, and the alphas would hold her responsible for the casualties and demand reparations.
She couldn’t afford to be distracted by challenges, not when she needed to be out there finding Rylan.
Dominick threw open the door, and she spilled out into the foyer behind him, taking in the scene with a glance. Some of the rogues were cowering against the wall, while others showed their aggression by facing off against a group of wolves that were obviously from a pack, if their dominating attitude was anything to go by. The few cats appeared to be amused at the commotion, making no move to interfere. The small cluster of witches were no better, glaring at everyone, ready to zap them with magic if anyone so much as stepped in their direction.
It was a disaster.
“What the hell is going on here?”
Everyone’s attention swung in her direction. Many of the shifters were close to losing control, their eyes glowing bright, their animals ready for a fight.
One of the more aggressive wolves straightened, pulling back his beast, running a hand down his suit. “We were discussing who should be next. Pack has a higher standing, and should—”
“Bullshit.” One of the rogues snarled and shoved forward. “We were here first.”
The aggression ratcheted up until it became difficult to breathe.
A nasty shove sent one of the men careening in her direction. Raven quickly sidestepped, her patience at an end.
“Enough!” A growl tumbled out of her, low and deep like an avalanche of rocks, the sound shaking the house slightly. Energy crackled around the room, swirling around everyone, giving a few of the more aggressive shifters a little nip for their display.
Everyone stilled, their eyes locked on her, recognizing her as the biggest predator in the room. The audience was split between awe and downright terror. Jackson and Taggert charged down the hall, leaping over the balcony overlooking the foyer, uncaring of the dangers. They didn’t make any sound as they landed next to her, and she envied them their stealth abilities, feeling like a clumsy elephant by comparison.
Although she didn’t need their help, since no one was stupid enough to attack her in her own home, she appreciated their show of support.
Then the front door slammed open, and Randolph charged into the cramped space, weapons at the ready. Energy snapped around him, the charge bitterly cold compared to the heated voltage she used. His bland, indistinct appearance that made him so unforgettable in a crowd was a little ruffled as he scanned the room for the threat.
He stopped searching when he spotted her.
The crowd grew even more silent, if that was possible, everyone taking a giant step back from the palpable threat that sucked the oxygen from the room.
Raven knew instinctively that the council had sent him.
She wouldn’t put it past the old fart Conrad to have staged the fight in the first place to cause trouble.
The dragon went on defense, clawing at the seething energy that had become so much a part of them. The house practically hummed with the current stored within its walls, allowing her to draw on even more power.
Blue lightening arched down her arms, pooling in her hands, and she forced the energy into a round sphere that crackled and popped with power. “What are you doing here?”
She could practically hear the whole room audibly gulp at her challenge.
Jackson tensed at her side, determined but leery. What concerned her more was that Taggert showed absolutely no fear or hesitation, as if he now believed himself to be invincible.
It would get him killed.
Randolph cocked his head, surveyed their audience, but dismissed them. He straightened, his weapons disappearing with barely a flick of his wrists, so quickly that if she’d blinked, she would’ve missed the movement. “I sensed trouble. I wanted to make sure you were okay.”
Raven was nonplussed.
No matter how hard she concentrated, she couldn’t detect a lie.
The council’s trained assassin had actually rushed to her rescue.
For some reason, it didn’t leave her feeling all warm and fuzzy.
Despite her reservations, she closed her hand over the globe, shattering the sphere. “No need. As you can see, I have everything well in hand.”
Amusement lit his eyes. “Wonderful. Then you won’t mind if I stay and help you mediate any further disputes.”
As one, everyone straightened, seemingly finding the floor or ceiling suddenly fascinating, no one stepping forward to object.
Raven snorted at his high-handedness. When she would’ve spoken, she noted energy gathering near the kitchen door.
And she wasn’t responsible for it.
She wasn’t the only one who spotted the change. She glanced at Randolph suspiciously, not putting it past him to attack when her back was turned, but he gave
a small shake of his head, indicating it wasn’t him either. His weapons were back in his hands, and they each began to edge forward.
A hazy figure could be seen in the mist, continuing to consume energy as took shape.
Others began backing away.
Not that she could blame them, either. Even from this distance, she could feel the amount of voltage he was consuming, cannibalizing it from those nearest.
“Are you doing that?” Jackson sounded gruff, the enforcer in him uncertain for the first time.
Not that she could blame him. How did one fight a ghost?
“I’m not sure. He’s drawn to my energy, almost feeding on it.” She lost her train of thought when his features became clearer.
The man was no more than eighteen, his lanky body looking stretched, as if he’d grown quickly, but hadn’t filled out yet. Despite his transparency, it was obvious he was a shifter. His brown hair was streaked with blond, the strands shaggy and matted. His bright blue eyes were dull but piercing.
Her throat tightened as she noted the hundreds of wounds scattered over every inch of his body. Some were jagged, torn flesh, while others had been made with medical precision. She swallowed hard, recognizing the pattern from her own stay in the labs. Raven approached cautiously. She’d been able to pull bodies from the grave, but she’d never seen a live ghost, not while she was awake, anyway.
She couldn’t help wonder if Randolph’s powers, mixed with hers, had somehow drawn it to them. “When did you die? Where?”
She ignored the way the current began to snap along her skin, watching it leap from her to him. She began to taper off the energy, severing him from the stream of power, but then stopped. If he came from the labs, he was her best clue, and maybe her only chance to find Rylan.
With each second, the apparition grew stronger, while she weakened. Randolph must have encountered the same problem, because he retreated and allowed her to take the lead.
The ghost man turned and focused on her for the first time, not acknowledging anyone else.
Or not able to see them.
As the pull of energy increased, the dragon hissed in outrage and began to yank it back. The reversal launched her stomach up in her throat, her body feeling like it just dropped ten feet and hit the pavement face first.
Electric Night (A Raven Investigations Novel Book 5) Page 6
