Lexia (The Deadwood Hunter Series)

by Raithby, Rachel M

  I should kill her now while she’s asleep and vulnerable, and yet he stood, pulling the covers over her barely dressed body. When he’d nearly left the room, he heard a faint whisper that stopped him in his tracks.

  “Don’t leave me, I don’t want to be alone any longer.”

  She’d not even opened her eyes or moved, but he found himself walking to her bed, sitting on her soft mattress. “You’re not alone.”

  *******

  Lincoln woke with a gasp, and sat upright in Lexia’s bed. Her head in his lap and his hands tangled in her long hair, she was sound asleep; her body half over him clinging to him like her life depended on it.

  He had to leave now before it was too late. He felt now what had woken him, the beast within savagely pacing in his mind, claws pricking at his skin. The panther couldn’t handle being this close to this girl who made him feel things he shouldn’t.

  Carefully so as not to wake her, Lincoln slipped of the bed. Closing her bedroom door, he moved with silent predatory purpose from her house, pausing for a second to lock her safely in her home and then he let the beast out with a roar.

  The panther raced across the ground, taking pleasure from the simple things that ground him; the crinkle of leaves under his pads, the cool night breeze ruffling his fur, the scent of damp pine and animal trails. The panther roared again, snapping and snarling at anything in his way; the lines had become too blurred, he’d let them become blurred. He’d gotten close to her and now the man within him cared too much but he was more than just a man.

  The panther within him was as much a part of him as the man, if not more; he’d never denied his heritage as so many others of his kind had. Lincoln had never chained the beast and hidden away from his true nature in cities and skyscrapers. No, he’d clung to the fight his parents had fought their whole lives for, what they’d died for; to protect his race from those who destroyed it.

  But he’d messed up, he’d let his human feelings get in the way and now his two halves where at war with themselves. The panther turned sharp when it had reached a mile away from Lexia’s house and started to run in a circle around her home. A perimeter. He snapped and snarled at anything in his way but never once strayed further than a mile away.

  Maybe the lines aren’t so blurred after all; maybe my halves aren’t at war. Maybe I’ve already crossed the line.

  A wild, fierce roar sang out into the night and silenced the forest warning everyone a predator was close.

  Chapter 15

  When Lexia woke the next day the sun was high in the sky and her head pounded as she sat up.

  “Ouch,” Lexia cried as she moved her leg.

  Pulling back the covers she saw a thick bandage wrapped around her leg. Her brows creased, confused. Then she flopped back onto her bed and rolled over onto her side, hugging the pillow. Lexia bolted upright and brought the pillow to her face, she breathed in deep and almost moaned.

  “Lincoln,” she whispered.

  Her phone beeped.

  Lex you probably won’t remember last night, someone drugged you. Your leg was bitten by a wolf, rest it and it will be fine. I’ll come over later today to check on you, Lincoln.

  Lexia rolled over breathing in the wild musky smell of Lincoln on her bed and smiled, he’d rescued her again.

  How do u always mange to find me when I’m in trouble?

  A text came through seconds later. Did you not notice my shiny armor?

  Lexia laughed out loud; it felt good to laugh, to smile ridiculously over something silly.

  How’d you get my number?

  Kind of went through your phone

  Naughty!

  You have no idea!

  Lexia lay back in bed, hugging the pillow to her and tried to remember last night. She could remember dancing with Josh and feeling a bit ill but then the rest was blank. Her stomach retched and she curled up on her side pulling the covers over her head. I was drugged? Fucking Josh!

  She remembered now the look on his face as she took the drink from him, his eyes had lit up in delight when she’d downed it in one gulp and then he’d tried to take advantage of her. It’s a good thing I’m stronger than I look she smiled.

  But no matter how hard she tried, the memory of Lincoln in her bed wouldn’t come back to her.

  Hours later Lexia woke to a fading sky; her head had stopped pounding and her stomach rumbled in hunger. Gently she got out of bed testing her leg but it didn’t hurt anymore.

  Down in the kitchen Lexia made herself some food and text Alice back; she’d left her like a hundred messages. As she placed the plates in the sink Lexia heard a howl in the distance and her whole body went on alert. An image of a black, blue-eyed wolf flashed in her mind and Lexia knew it had come for her.

  She raced up the stairs limping slightly and grabbed a jumper and her knife. Pulling on her boots, Lexia ran out of the house and followed the sad, lonely cries of the wolf.

  As she ran deeper into the forest the animals grew quiet and then the black wolf slowly stalked towards her, its jaws snapping and snarling.

  “I don’t want to hurt you.”

  The wolf exploded into silver lights just like the last one had. Now what stood before her was a wild-looking woman, her hair was matted and her skin was smudged with mud and blood.

  She laughed at her, a twisted smile forming on her lips. “But I want to hurt you. You killed my mate, little hunter, and now you will pay.”

  Hunter? But Lexia had no time to think over her comment because the woman ran at her, turning into a wolf mid-jump. The wolf landed on her hard, slamming Lexia into the ground.

  Lexia pushed her off jumping to her feet; she held the knife tight in her hand and circled the wolf.

  Lincoln walked up to Lexia’s front door but he couldn’t smell her inside. He followed her trail into the trees and as he got further into the forest he heard the snarls of a wolf.

  “Lexia!” Lincoln ran flat out toward the sounds of fighting. Lexia was injured, she didn’t stand a chance against the wolf but as he stalked towards them he paused, shocked at what he saw.

  Lexia and the wolf circled each other then they ran, clashing in a fury of knife and claws. Lexia kicked the wolf away, slicing her knife into its side.

  Lincoln couldn’t move, this wasn’t Lexia; she wasn’t afraid like she had been with the vampires. She had a smile on her face, every move was thought through and calculated. How had he been so blind? As he watched her attack again, moving with grace, she twisted out of the wolf’s grip and sank her knife into its chest. The wolf gave strangled yelp before it fell to the floor.

  Lincoln stumbled backwards and turned away. He ran flat out through the trees; he had to get away from her, he needed to think. When he was deep into the forest he stopped and sank to the floor grasping his head, trying to calm the beast within him.

  He’d fallen for her. She’d seemed so innocent, so confused with her life and he’d thought she was good. He thought she just killed when there was no choice, but today... what he’d seen he shook his head. She was a good fighter, with training she’d be near impossible to stop but when he’d watched her, he was certain she’d enjoyed it.

  But maybe she’d had no choice; the wolf had attacked her last night. His panther snarled, frustrated with the man. Kill her, it said, she is a killer. He wanted to agree with his cat but what if he was wrong? No, he couldn’t kill her yet; he needed more evidence before he’d make a move.

  Lincoln let the panther take over. It ripped through his skin and took off across the ground and he ran for hours deeper and deeper into the Black Hill ranges. The cold mountain air ruffled his coat in a way that would normally bring him pleasure, but not tonight. Tonight his human half was too troubled and furious about having feelings for a girl that killed his kind. He let the mixture of anger and pain drive him on until he’d ran so far that he’d left behind familiar territory. He blocked out his human mind and let the predator rise to the surface. He spent the night hunting and running
until his paws couldn’t go anymore.

  Chapter 16

  Lexia woke Monday morning with the same feeling of dread that had troubled her all night. Lincoln hadn’t come to her like he’d said and hadn’t answered any of her texts. The death of the wolf was also playing heavily on her mind. She hadn’t had a choice, it was either her or the wolf and if she’d waited for the wolf to make a move, it could have ended in her death.

  Lexia hated to take a life but she knew she had no choice; what was really troubling her was Lincoln. Why hadn’t he been to see her? And as the week wore on and she hadn’t seen him once, Lexia worried she’d said something wrong on Saturday night.

  To make things worse, her dad had been very distant all week. He’d been working late and when he had been home he’d stayed away from her. Even Alice had given up trying to cheer her up. So when Lexia headed out Wednesday evening for a run not caring anymore about her safety, she was so lost in her troubled thoughts, that when the panther silently followed her she never noticed. She never heard the silent ping in her brain as he closed the gap between them. Then he leapt, landing on her, digging his sharp claws into her skin. Lexia wasn’t prepared as she fell forward, hitting her head hard on the ground.

  She screamed as pain burst in her skull and she rolled to the side, quickly getting to her feet. It took a second for her eyes to sharpen and spot the black velvet panther. He went for her again and she twisted out of the way, hitting him in the side with a kick. He slid across the floor, his claws leaving grooves in the soil.

  Lexia bent to get her knife but then paused, she couldn’t kill him; she didn’t want the blood of this beautiful panther on her hands. He leapt at her again and sliced into her flesh; Lexia kicked him away, wincing in pain and started to run.

  She pushed her tired muscles to move faster as the panther snapped at her heels. He roared, making her heart lurch in fright. The forest fell silent around her, alerted to a predator’s presence.

  Lexia tried to go faster but it was no use, he was faster than her and she was far up the trail, too far away from home. As he snapped at her heels again Lexia turned sharply heading off the track. He followed and she spun around to meet him head on. Lexia watched his lean, graceful body sail through the air, the gleam of sharp teeth as they neared her neck, she heard the boom-boom of her racing heart in her ears. Dropping to the ground Lexia pushed up into the panther’s chest sending him over the top of her. She rolled and jumped to her feet and braced for his next move.

  He circled her and looked at her with his intelligent gold eyes. “Please,” she whispered.

  Lexia just couldn’t take it anymore; if this is what she was to become, a killer, then she would rather be dead. She knew in her heart that this panther was different and she couldn’t kill him even if he could kill her.

  She sank to the ground, tears spilling from her eyes. “I can’t hurt you,” she said, looking into his eyes. The panther cocked his head then slowly crept towards her. Lexia closed her eyes, wrapping her arms around her knees. She was shaking from fear; she didn’t want to die but she couldn’t kill the panther.

  Lincoln reined in his cat; stalking towards her he looked at Lexia through his panther eyes. She had a knife strapped to her leg and yet she’d never used it. He scented the air as he walked around her shaking figure. Fear, that’s what filled the air. Why didn’t she fight back? Why couldn’t’ she hurt him like she’d hurt the wolf? Lincoln took one last look at her then disappeared into the trees.

  Lexia knew the instant he’d left. The forest creatures around her started to move, the birds started to twitter. She stood on wobbly legs and looked around; was this just all a game to him? When the panther finally made a move to kill, would she be ready?

  She walked home confused and frightened. The night had grown dark and Lexia stumbled over unseen obstacles under her feet. When she finally got back Lexia met her dad on the porch, his face covered with worry. She tried to block out his voice as he lectured her on the dangers of the forest at night and pushed past him into the house hoping he wouldn’t notice the new cuts and bruises marking her skin. But then he said something that made her freeze, made her skin go ice cold, made her heart lurch and stomach twist.

  “Give me the paper,” she said, snatching it from his hands. And there it was on the front page ‘Man stabbed to death’.

  “You must not go into the forest again until the killer is caught,” he ordered.

  Lexia gulped and forced the tears to stay, not to fall. “Yes, Dad.”

  She climbed the stairs and got into bed without any food and in her mud- stained clothes. As her weary head hit the pillow, she started to sob. Why did I never think about someone finding the bodies? Will they find out it was me?

  Lexia stayed home from school the next day. She hid in bed trying to block out the world. Her dad brought her breakfast before going to work. He kissed her goodbye and Lexia had to fight back tears as he left.

  What’s wrong with me? she thought. Why do I feel this way? She’d killed them in self-defense and yet seeing it in the headlines made her feel like a...a murderer.

  All day she laid in bed tossing and turning, griping at her stomach as it twisted and turned with dread; eventually she got up and made her way downstairs.

  Her dad called to say he would be home late, so Lexia fixed herself tea and sat in the front room, zoning out in front of the TV. She thought she caught a glimpse or two of black velvet in between the lush green undergrowth but she never sensed the panther’s presence and soon the night had grown dark, the sky full of bright stars.

  Lexia made her way to bed, dragging her heavy feet up the stairs. She just couldn’t seem to lift the gloom that hovered around her making her feel sluggish and depressed, but as she walked into her room she was hit with a cold chill; it swept over her body warning her of the panther’s presence.

  Lexia went to the window and opened it. Looking out into the darkness, the tops of the dark trees dark shadows rustling in the breeze, the night was clear and a half-moon cast an eerie glow over the landscape. She could feel him watching her, the chill whispered over her skin making her shiver. It called to her, telling her to go to the panther and she found herself stepping forward as if to follow its call. No, I will not be fooled again. She couldn’t just walk to her death, she had to fight.

  A soft breeze played with her curled hair as she stepped back. The forest had grown quiet, too quiet; all the animals were aware of the presence of a predator. Lexia centred her mind, focusing only on the cool dark night and the slight whispers of the trees. She let her mind wander till everything became white noise and that’s when she felt it. The rush of power as she connected to her new side, it heightened her senses, cleared her mind until she thought of nothing but finding the panther and finishing his game.

  There you are!

  Lexia jumped from the window landing in a crouch, the shock easily absorbed into this new, stronger body. Frozen, one hand still on the ground the other brushing hair from her face, she searched for his golden eyes floating in the darkness.

  Lexia ran with inhuman speed chasing him down. She followed him deep into the forest until she’d lost his trail. Where are you, kitty? Reaching out with her sense she focused on the slight hum of power that lingered in the air but she’d found him too late and the panther jumped down from above, knocking her to the forest floor. All the air left her lungs as she gasped, her head hit the ground and her vision blurred slightly; the blow would have killed an ordinary human but as she was beginning to realize, she was far from ordinary.

  “There you are, kitty cat,” she taunted.

  A low, deadly growl slid from his throat as he snapped at her neck, his sharp claws pierced her skin. He snapped at her neck again and dug his claws further into her skin. She gasped in pain as warm drops of blood slid down her shoulders onto the leaf-covered floor. Ok, time to get him off me. Come on, Lex, think!

  Lexia struggled in his grip, trying to knock him off balance. His claw
s ripped through her muscle as she struggled but she gritted through the pain and kicked with all her strength, but still couldn’t get him off. Then he made his mistake; he put his hind leg on her thigh and in that split second as his back leg lifted off the floor she twisted with all the strength she had, making him off balance. The cat fell to the side and Lexia flipped over whilst reaching down into her long leather boot to pull out her silver knife. Before he knew what was happening, she was on top of the cat, knife to his throat, holding his head to the ground.

  “Now play nice, kitty,” she whispered into his ear.

  He let out a deep, deadly growl that vibrated down his body before trying to move, but Lexia was ready and she sliced the knife across his throat, just enough to break the skin. The panther froze and then pure golden light exploded between her fingers. They were no longer holding fur, it was like water slipping through her fingers. With a gasp she leapt back into a crouch, knife in her hand ready to fight at whatever emerged.

  The light faded and what was left behind was the most exquisite man she had ever seen, completely naked! He had lovely golden skin that covered hard as steel muscles with a light sprinkle of dark hair; he was tall, maybe 6’4”, broad muscular shoulders and his face Oh his face was heaven. His dark wavy hair framed golden-brown cat eyes, high cheekbones, a straight nose, and his angular jaw was covered in stubble. His mouth was so sensual and beautifully sculptured. Oh the things he could do with that mouth! she thought.

  But she’d met this man before. Lexia froze. In that moment, as emotions crashed through her mind, Lexia thought her world had finally ended. Nothing was as it seemed and her heart clenched in pain as she looked into the face of a man she’d come to trust, a man that had comforted her, protected her and now was trying to kill her. The wolves had nothing on him because this game the panther was playing was the cruelest of them all.