She should be horrified by the viciousness, the need to inflict pain and win, but the dragon hovered right under her skin and enjoyed every second of it.
And though pleased that Jackson fought for her honor, he was theirs to protect.
Energy gathered around her like an invisible wind and sank painfully under her skin. Static built until it felt like a hundred bees stinging her, a hum rising like the swarm was circling overhead.
She waited for the opportunity to strike.
Jackson met her gaze for the first time, and he shook his head just once.
Wanted her to wait.
The split-second distraction cost him, allowed the gorilla to get too close.
Jackson took a hit to his ribs that would’ve caved in a normal human’s fragile chest.
Raven crept closer, ready to take action, when the doctor grabbed her arm. Energy crackled as it jolted into him.
It had to feel like he’d touched a live wire, but despite the pain, he didn’t release her. “Wait. Watch for a bit longer, little queen. See what we see. Look with your eyes and not your heart.”
Jackson used his nearness to Goliath to bring up his knee, clocking the man in the jaw and toppling him over.
Raven jerked out of Greggory’s grip, her skin prickling painfully as the energy continued to build. “I see two grown men beating each other to death for sport.”
Greggory shook his head. “Then you’re not looking deep enough. Goliath can throw punches hard enough to kill a man, but he’s not used to taking hits. If your man lands enough blows, he can take him out.”
Her temples pounded with dread, but she knew he was right. “If he doesn’t get himself killed first.”
* * *
They’d been fighting for fifteen minutes, each man bloodied and beaten.
Each man determined to win.
As if sensing that he was losing the battle, Goliath charged, gathered Jackson into a bear hug, trying to kill him by squeezing him to death.
Jackson worked his arms free and boxed Goliath over his ears.
She wasn’t sure which man would cave first.
Goliath flung Jackson to the ground hard enough for him to bounce. While he lay stunned, Goliath grabbed his head and dragged him toward the edge of the ring.
The crowd instantly retreated.
Dirt and rock gouging against the front of Jackson’s exposed body as Goliath heaved Jackson over to the sensors and steadily fed him into the current.
Jackson stiffened as electricity flooded his system. Every muscle went taut. His jaw clenched so hard she expected his teeth to crack.
Her stomach turned liquid, knowing from experience that his insides were slowly being cooked. “They’re killing him.”
Greggory’s face tightened, his eyes grim, and he glanced at Clancy. “Only he has the ability to call the winner.”
Raven followed his gaze to see the victorious gleam in Clancy’s eyes.
He didn’t take pleasure in the pain but reveled in showing her that he had the control.
Waiting for her to break and submit to him.
A growl escaped her throat and for the first time, actually contemplated challenging him.
Greggory ducked until their eyes met. “Now is not the time. You’ll force him to change. They will kill him and claim it was a justified shooting to protect the audience.”
Raven realized he wasn’t talking about rescuing Jackson, but keeping her beast in check. If she moved, Jackson would do anything to protect her.
A chill crept down her spine.
Greggory knew more than he should.
She’d kept her secret for so long she wasn’t sure how she felt being exposed.
He wasn’t their friend or enemy.
Yet.
But he was right.
Until they were ready to move, she couldn’t take any action against Clancy. To rescue Jackson would mean putting the others in her pack at risk. There were too many circus people scattered about for her to watch them all at one time.
Taking Greggory’s words to heart, Raven turned away from Clancy and the vengeance she craved, resolved not to let him win.
She might not be able to bring Clancy down, but that didn’t mean she still couldn’t help Jackson. Raven crouched right in front of Jackson, taking care not to touch. She placed her hands on the ground, buried her fingers in the dirt and stared right into the gorgeous green eyes of his wolf.
“Jackson.”
His name was a command.
Her voice snapped him out of the haze of pain consuming him. The instant their gazes met, the pack connection snapped back into place.
Pleasure and pain rippled over her skin. She purged all the current from him, gathering it into herself, her heart buoyant to discover that he’d only cut their connection to shield her.
The idiot.
The connection only served to make them stronger.
They’d been trying to tell her that all along, but she’d fought them every step of the way, not understanding what they meant until now.
She bled the energy from the circuit around the ring, re-routing it through her. As the current built, she converted it into tiny strands of pure energy, twirling it together into a rope. Her whole body hummed, delighted at working with live current again and being able to do something.
She fed the energy toward Jackson using the pack link.
His eyes immediately blazed yellow, brimming with suppressed power.
Without taking his gaze away from her, he pushed himself away from the electrical fence, lifting both his weight and Goliath together.
The crowd cheered while the shifters inched forward, falling silent.
Jackson brought his elbow back, slamming it into Goliath’s face twice in rapid succession.
The gorilla roared, grabbed his face, and lost his hold.
Raven stood at the same time as Jackson. Without notice, he took off running. The crowd gasped and collectively stepped back.
But Jackson wasn’t running to get away. He gained speed, leapt off the ground, and defied gravity by running up the pole. His momentum carried him twenty-foot high before he kicked off. He twisted mid-air, drew back his arm and nailed Goliath in the face.
Goliath didn’t react at first, his hands clenched at his sides, ready to finish the fight.
Jackson landed lightly on his feet, his attention focused solely on her as if nothing else mattered.
The big man teetered, shook his head as if to clear it, then gradually tipped backward. He landed flat, a ring of dirt kicking up around his body, knocked out cold.
The crowd fell silent, then let out a victory cheer.
Clancy’s smile vanished, the shifters stood unmoving. They glanced at Clancy in shock, waiting for his reaction, then peered at Jackson in a sort of awe. It shook them to see their best fighter beaten by her man in less than fifteen minutes. Doubt entered their eyes, wondering who was stronger … their alpha or Jackson.
And if Jackson would be able to beat him in a challenge for the pack.
Hope burned painfully in a few for a chance for a better future.
Jackson didn’t wave or acknowledge the crowd, and Raven couldn’t tell if he was pissed at her interference or not.
She refused to fidget under his uncompromising stare.
She would not apologize for protecting him.
“He’s waiting for you to recognize his win.” Then Greggory left to kneel next to Goliath’s prone body, leaving her to stand all alone.
Raven cocked her head and observed Jackson.
Greggory was right.
Battered and bruised, he stood as a proud warrior victorious in battle.
Waiting.
Every nerve ending in her body prickled painfully to life under the intensity of his regard. Raven let instinct guide her and stepped over the ring, the dragon rising from her bones to twine through her body. She worried about discovery, the energy snapping and alive around her.
She almost stopp
ed and turned around.
Her steps slowed.
Jackson would understand.
But to leave without touching him was impossible, a compulsion she couldn’t resist.
The closer she drew, the more energy gathered, seeping from her hold. She swallowed it down, fed it to the dragon, knowing the influx would only make the beast stronger, more dominant. Sooner or later, it would come down to a fight between them, and she wasn’t sure who would win.
Dragons were dangerous creatures at the best of times, but the wild magic that infected her blood made her unpredictable. The combination had nearly destroyed the world once. If she lost the fight for dominance and the dragon took over, she feared she’d lose the last shred of her humanity. The last time that happened, she woke up covered in blood and the labs holding her had been destroyed.
She’d barely survived.
With wild magic coursing through her blood, she might not come back sane if it happened again.
Current snapped along her skin, seeping into the air as her fear rose, no longer contained by the dragon. If she couldn’t grab it fast, she’d end up putting her pack in more danger.
They would get themselves killed trying to protect her.
The threat was enough to give the dragon pause.
Tiny pieces of armor slotted together under her skin, effectively caging the power.
From the outside, she appeared nothing more than human … as long as no one touched her.
Tips of claws pressed into her chest for daring to question the dragon’s loyalty.
Raven came to a stop in front of Jackson to see worry tightening his brows. Wishing she knew what the hell she was doing, she lifted her hand, but hesitated to reach out to him.
Jackson had no such qualms.
He boldly stepped into her touch. Right before impact, a spark arched between them. Her palms stung as her flesh heated, and her fingers flexed, pressing into his chest just short of drawing blood.
Jackson’s back bowed, and he pushed himself closer.
The extra energy leaked into him, boosting his beast until all his senses had to be on fire.
The armor melted until bare skin touched skin.
A growl rumbled up from his chest, but it carried no pain whatsoever. Pleasure tingled through her at his obvious enjoyment.
He didn’t seem to care about her clumsy fumbling around in the shifter world.
She shuffled closer, the desire to wrap herself around him overwhelming.
Clancy shoved his way through the crowd, thunder darkening his face. Jackson twisted, putting himself between them, and she saw his claws slowly lengthen.
“Not here. Too many casualties.” Unable to resist, she touched his back, then brushed her hands down warm muscles, enjoying the slight tremble he couldn’t control. “Soon.”
He inhaled, his chest expanding at the double meaning of her words, and her cheeks heated at the unintended flirtation.
Clancy grabbed Jackson’s wrist and lifted his arm in the air. “The winner!”
The crowd cheered and pushed forward, eager to greet the new champion. Some just wanted to be close to his prowess, others wanted to touch, while some males reeked of testosterone, sizing him up as some prize.
Fear left a sour taste in her mouth, possessiveness crushing her in its grip.
As soon as Jackson lost or stepped out of line, he would be put up to bid for the next hunt.
He’d just been proven too dangerous to keep.
Chapter Sixteen
The crowd surged toward Jackson, and Raven stepped back to avoid being touched, the current still riding her hard. Sensing her unease, Greggory stood at her side like a sentry, pushing back a few curious people.
“We should leave now.”
Something about the total lack of emotion in his voice caused her to stiffen. Instead of looking at him, she went up on tiptoes, desperate to spot Jackson in the throng of people, but he’d been swallowed up by the crowd.
Raven allowed herself to be lured away, but she had no intention of leaving. As they neared the door, she launched herself up and glided through the air. She landed lightly, crouched on top of the bleachers. There was no extra boost of energy. The dragon hadn’t taken over. The action was all instinct. She should be anxious at the ease she managed to jump ten feet without thinking twice. It meant the barriers between her and the beast she’d harbored were failing. Soon, there would be nothing separating them, but she couldn’t seem to make herself care.
If she was going to live in the kill-or-be-killed shifter world, she needed all the edge she could get.
Greggory cursed and quickly followed. “You’re taking chances that can get us all killed, little queen.”
A chill slithered down her spine at the casual title, but he made no move to stop her.
It wasn’t fear that held him back, and it disturbed her that she wasn’t able to discern his true motives. Right now he pandered to her, but she had no illusions. The instant she went against what he wanted, he would go through her to get it.
From her vantage point, Jackson remained in the center of the ring, standing perfectly still. A few women flirted, but he kept his eyes trained over their heads, not paying them any attention. But she couldn’t get rid of the image of them circling around him like birds of prey.
Some grew bolder at his lack of attention, running their hands over him. Raven swallowed hard, muscles trembling under the strain not to leap to his aide and defend her claim. One woman didn’t like being ignored and dragged her nails down his chest, leaving bright red welts behind.
Marking him.
A growl rumbled up her throat. To prevent herself from going over there, ripping off her arm and beating her with it, Raven gripped the top of the bleachers until the wood splintered under her touch. It could’ve been made of sawdust at the ease it fell apart.
Then she realized what was actually happening. A red haze filled her vision until all she wanted was to tear everyone apart. “They’re going to auction him off.”
Greggory stood motionless as if afraid that any action on his part might draw her ire.
Smart man.
Clancy raised his arms, and the crowd quieted. He faced Jackson and rocked back on his feet, all good cheer like an evil Santa Claus. “As a bonus for your win, you get the choice of what you want to do for the remainder of the night. You can spend the evening running free in the forest or you may select a woman of your choice.”
Raven blinked at the innocent options, her suspicions confirmed when a few of the men smirked, while the women fluffed up their hair or stuck out their chests. Her heart grew heavy, then crumbled to dust. “It doesn’t matter what option he selects, does it?”
Greggory shook his head. “If he runs, the humans will chase him until dawn. They use three-inch metal darts, painful enough to keep him motivated, but not enough to kill. The guards will follow to keep the humans safe. If he fights back, they will put him down.”
“And the women?”
He dropped his eyes from hers. “Some just want to brag they had sex with a shifter. Others want the thrill of danger.”
He didn’t say more, holding something back, and her insides turned to lead. “Or?”
His face twisted in obvious reluctance. “Some men and women like to inflict pain. If he chooses the wrong one, he could be whipped and tortured for hours. Either way, Clancy gets paid.”
Blood drained from her face until the tent seemed to sway. Raven very much doubted she could stand by and watch him walk off with another woman or listen to him be tortured. The dragon agreed, rising under her skin, fury bubbling in her veins.
The crowd grew quiet as they waited for Jackson’s choice. Her claws thunked into the wood beneath her palms, gouging grooves into the bench.
“A woman of my choice.”
That was the last thing she expected him to say, and her heart twisted at his gruff voice. Raven went cold, no longer able to feel her skin, struggling to find enough air to breat
he. She knew she couldn’t keep the men to herself forever, but his answer devastated her, the loss leaving her feeling like a hollowed-out husk.
As the women jockeyed for position, Raven wanted to march over there and challenge them for Jackson. Her pulse pounded in her skull. She couldn’t watch him choose another woman, not when she wasn’t sure she could control her urge to draw blood.
Raven dropped from the bleachers and stumbled to keep her feet under her when she landed. She strode toward the exit, her dragon fighting her every step of the way, tearing up her insides with the need to fight for Jackson.
He deserved more than what she could offer.
He deserved a choice.
“I want her.”
Silence followed.
People shifted their feet as they turned and a murmur went through the crowd. As if a thousand spiders swarmed over her, Raven froze, hunching her shoulders as dozens of eyes landed on her.
“Little queen,” Greggory whispered her name.
She turned slowly to see the crowd part, and Jackson stride toward her, his muscles rippling, his sole focus on reaching her. Heat flooded his eyes as their gazes met, a promise of what he would do when he got his hands on her.
The crippling pain of him picking another woman evaporated as hunger to touch him roared to life.
Then Clancy stepped between them. “You misunderstood.”
Jackson continued marching forward, stopping just a breath away, his face hardening with determination. “You said any woman in the room.”
Fangs flashed as he spoke, the threat palpable.
Tension swamped the tent, the humans shifting uncomfortably. Clancy noticed the subtle change in attitude, his eyes narrowing in calculation. He couldn’t risk being seen as a liar or a cheat or he would lose the local clientele. It would cost him less to forfeit a night than lose customers. He smiled congenially, then stepped out of the way. “You are correct. Enjoy your evening.”
His smile was more gritted teeth than anything pleasant. There would be no forgive or forget with him. Come morning, they could expect retaliation.
Then Jackson stood before her, his delicious heat soaking into her skin. One irrational, totally stupid thought popped into her head—any punishment was worth not seeing Jackson leave with someone else.
Raven Investigation 04 - Electric Legend Page 15
