Storm Shift (The Charming Shifter Mysteries Book 1)

by Calinda B

  He pulled blood from her veins, making desperate, sucking noises. That same strange, humming buzz filled her mind, growing into a roar. It pulsed through her bloodstream.

  The flashlight rested on the floor, casting an eerie light in the small space.

  Hung’s hands gripped the vampire’s neck. “You fucking blood-sucker! Let her go!”

  Grunting, he yanked the vampire’s arm, trying to wrench Chia free from his hold.

  Cecil shifted into his Husky self and launched at the vampire. His teeth clamped onto the vamp’s leg. Like a wolf tearing apart a deer, he shook his head back and forth, growling and snarling.

  D’Raynged hardly seemed to notice and kept up his feeding frenzy.

  Finally, he tore himself away from her. He kicked Cecil from his leg, as if the dog weighed nothing at all.

  Cecil banged into the side of the trailer, letting out a sharp yip.

  Chia’s consciousness dropped like a stone, back into her body. She let out a long, low moan, crumpling toward the metal floor.

  Hung lunged toward her, skidding to his knees. He caught her shoulders, before her skull bashed onto the corrugated metal.

  Gently laying her head down and smoothing back her hair, he asked, “Are you okay?”

  She softly pushed him away. “I’m fine. Honestly.” I’m freaked out, that’s what I am.

  Cecil crept to her side and licked her neck, cleaning away the blood.

  She pushed up to sitting, brushed herself off, and ruffled Cecil’s canine head. “Thanks, guys.”

  Cecil wagged his tail. Then he trotted to the end of the trailer and leaped off it, shifting to land as his human self. As he tugged on his pants, he faced D’Raynged. “Don’t ever try that again, blood sucker.”

  Hung pushed to standing, putting himself between the vampire and Chia.

  “I’m so sorry,” D’Raynged said. He wiped the blood from his mouth with the back of his hand. Then, he licked it, closing his eyes and shuddering, like he was feasting on a magical elixir.

  His eyes now appeared mostly blue as he stared at Chia. “I didn’t mean to drink from your delicious neck.”

  “Sorry doesn’t cut it, vamp.” Hung grabbed the chains and yanked them hard.

  D’Raynged fell back against the wall. He slid into the same cowering position as before.

  Chia studied the vampire. Her lips pulled upward in revulsion. She found it odd to not be experiencing anything she’d read about in vampire fiction, like arousal or obsession—only that same frigging buzzing and humming in her bloodstream.

  “It’s okay. I’m all right. A little surprised, but I’m okay.” With a trembling hand, Chia swiped her neck with her shirt sleeve and then looked at it. There were barely any traces of blood.

  Huh. Cecil did a good job of cleaning me. She cast her gaze at him, unsure whether to be grateful or disgusted. He’s going to kiss someone with those lips. A shiver whispered up her neck at the thought of being kissed by his bloody mouth.

  “I’m truly sorry, Ms. Petit. I’ve been without nourishment for quite some time. You were within biting distance and…” D’Raynged lifted his shoulder in a shrug. “C'est la vie.”

  Chia eyed him. I should be petrified. Instead, I feel sorry for him.

  “It’s okay.”

  Hung gaped at her. “What are you saying? Do you know what vamps can do to women? You’ll become his puppet. You’ll start dreaming about him. You’ll become obsessed. That’s what happened to Megan.”

  She pressed her lips together and shook her head. “Don’t be daft. His animal instinct took over, that’s all.” She waved her hand in the vampire’s direction. “I assure you I won’t become obsessed with him.”

  “You don’t know what you’re saying, Ms. Manager,” Cecil interjected. “Vampires really can bewitch a woman. Ask my Aunt Vivian. Oh wait—you can’t—she’s dead now.” He cast a narrow-eyed glare at the vampire. “One of his kind did it.”

  He stabbed his finger in the vampire’s direction.

  “I didn’t think you even knew about vampires. Why didn’t you think of this when I was telling you about Kyle and his talk of monsters?” Chia said.

  Cecil shrugged. “It didn’t cross my mind.”

  “Listen to your friend.” Hung pointed his thumb toward Cecil. “Why do you think I bound him with silver chains? More importantly, why do you think I warned you to stay away from him?”

  “I promise I won’t get bewitched. At least I hope I won’t.” Chia pushed to her feet, and moved away from the vampire. “Do your other victims feel something right away? Like, some ‘can’t keep my hands off him’ kind of attraction?’”

  “Absolutely. Don’t you?” D’Raynged cocked his head, staring at her like she was the freak of nature, not him.

  “Nothing except my neck hurts. And, I’m pissed that you stole some of my blood.” She raised her hand to her neck, again, and patted the holes with her fingertips.

  “I told you, I apologize.” D’Raynged sounded contrite, which didn’t fit her limited knowledge of vampire behavior.

  Aren’t they supposed to never say they’re sorry for anything? “And, you sure won’t do that again, right, vamp?”

  She cast her sternest, strongest gaze at D’Raynged.

  “I will not,” he said, crossing his chest with one, long elegant finger. He looked to Hung. “She’s right, you know. I’m fairly certain I won’t have the same effect on her.”

  His gaze shifted to her, and he studied her with apparent interest.

  “You’re just saying that so you can have her again,” Hung growled.

  “No. She’s different. She’s not like most humans. I can’t put my finger on it, but…”

  “Am I magic?” Chia stood taller.

  “I don’t think so.”

  Her chest slumped.

  “You do have a different chemical make-up. It’s in your blood.”

  “In my blood?”

  The vampire nodded.

  She shivered. That’s the same thing my grandfather’s spirit said to me.

  D’Raynged adjusted his position so his hands hung over his bent knees.

  “Thank you for the nourishment,” he said. “I’m starting to feel myself again.”

  Chia cocked her head, noticing his coloring had improved. Plus, his cheeks looked less hollow. “You do look better.”

  “Now that we have the niceties out of the way we have more important things to attend to.” Hung glared at D’Raynged.

  “Yes. Like your poor cousin. I felt the spirit drain from her earthly form. We were linked, you know.” The vampire lifted his hands. The chains binding him clanked against the wall.

  “I know,” Hung shot back. “Why do you think we’re in this mess?”

  “I swear I tried to end things. She was cute but so young. I tried to break the bindings. When she left to head back to Two-Cross, I thought she had gotten the message.”

  Cecil, who’d been watching the whole exchange from the ground, hopped into the trailer and settled next to Chia. He put his hand on her shoulder, patted it, and smiled at her.

  She reached to put her hand on top of his and gave it a squeeze. When Hung’s eyes landed on her and Cecil’s hands, her breath caught. Is he jealous? She gave Cecil another squeeze and let go.

  D’Raynged continued speaking, apparently oblivious to human emotions and unspoken signals.

  “When she returned, she was ecstatic. She said she came out to her people up in Two-Cross and we could be together forever. I have no idea why she did that.” He shuddered. “I don’t do forever, especially with a young woman like that. She knows nothing about a vampire’s life.”

  “Now she knows nothing at all,” Hung said, in a flat voice. “She’s dead.” The last two words came out like a shotgun blast, aimed at D’Raynged’s heart. “You did a pretty piss poor job of stopping things.”

  “I told you, bounty hunter. I tried. She was too far gone. She was addicted to me.” His shoulder rose and fell in
a “what can I say, I’m a hot vampire” kind of way.

  “Now you know why I didn’t want you to get close to him,” Hung said, boring holes in Chia’s head with his eyes.

  She huffed out a sigh. “I told you, it won’t happen. I don’t feel the least bit obsessed with him.”

  You, however, are a different story.

  D’Raynged pushed to standing.

  Hung lurched toward him. “What are you doing?”

  “I’m stretching my legs. Like she said, I’m chained to the wall.” He shook one of his silver shackles at Hung. “I’m weary of it. You told me I’m being used as bait for the bounty hunter. I’m also quite tired of being tailed by him—Kyle something-or-other or whatever his name is. He thinks he’s Mr. Super-Stealth but I can hear him a mile away. Not only that, he’s a lousy shot and he stinks. Instead of hoping the bastard who killed Megan comes to me, I’d like to suggest something a little different and certain to be far more effective.

  “What’s that?” Cecil said.

  “Let me hunt the hunter. I’m an expert at hunting. I have years of experience.” He waved his hand dismissively, making the chains rattle and clang again.

  “Not a bad idea, Hung.” Cecil stroked his chin.

  Chia nodded, still feeling sorry for the vampire. Chained to a wall without nourishment. She tsked. “I agree, Hung.”

  “Who gave you both your hunting strategy certificates? Wally’s World of Hunting?” Hung’s hands landed on his slender hips. “How do we know this fool won’t simply slither away? Vampires are hardly trustworthy.”

  “This isn’t a matter of trust, bounty hunter. Besides—I never slither.” D’Raynged eyed Chia. “So, you want the bounty hunter captured?”

  “Absolutely!” Chia held up her fist and shook it. “He killed an innocent shifter for no good reason. He has to be brought to justice.”

  D’Raynged nodded. “I’ll do it for her. She gave me sustenance. Think of it as getting square with one another.”

  Hung’s eyes grew flinty as he studied the vampire. “Why would you do that?”

  “Because I’m as curious as all of you are as to why she doesn’t respond to me like other humans.” The vampire gave him a bored look. “I prefer my meals fearful and their pussy’s wet. I usually fuck after I feed.”

  D’Raynged made the crass statement sound elegant and refined with his Southern diction. Chia let out a laugh.

  “What?” His eyebrow arched, casting an imperious gaze her way. “You don’t think I do? Just because you weren’t overcome with desire…”

  “I’m sure most are,” she said. “Just not me. Let’s do this, Hung. Let’s see what the vampire can do for us. I have a feeling he’ll find Kyle—the murdering son of a bitch.”

  “This is a big, fucking joke of an idea,” Hung said. He clenched his hands into fists.

  “But leaving him in a dark trailer, chained to the wall is a great idea? It’s stupid.” Chia glared at him.

  “It’s not stupid, it’s logical.” Hung glared back at her.

  “Oh, please. Sometimes logic isn’t the answer.” Chia swished her hand, shooing his words away.

  Hung let out a long sigh. “All right. You jump out of the trailer and stand back. Mutt, you help watch over him while I unlock him.”

  “Got it,” Cecil said. He pushed to his feet and stood near the vampire.

  Chia clambered out of the cargo hold.

  Hung fished out his key chain and retrieved a tiny, silver key. He held it up to the vampire’s face. “Don’t make me regret this.”

  “I won’t, I assure you.”

  With a sigh, Hung fit the key into one of the locks.

  Cecil tensed, putting his hands out.

  Chia’s breath caught in her throat.

  Hung slowly twisted the key in the lock.

  D’Raynged shuddered. His eyes glittered.

  Hung eyed the vampire, warily. “If you try something…

  “I won’t. I’d say Scout’s honor but we all know that would be a lie. I did kill a Scout, once.”

  Hung’s lips pressed tightly, before saying, “This is a mistake.”

  The vampire stiffened.

  “Do it, Hung. I don’t think he’ll do anything,” Chia urged.

  Hung sighed. “Okay. But don’t say I didn’t warn you.” He removed the lock and stood back.

  Collectively, they all stood stiffly, waiting for the vampire’s next move.

  Chapter 15

  In a blur, D’Raynged flew from the back of the trailer.

  Hung yelled, leaping out of the way.

  Cecil fell backward, landing on the floor.

  Chia screamed and scuttled back toward the dirt road. She scanned the dark woods for the vampire. “He’s gone!”

  “Goddamnit,” Hung roared, jumping from the truck. “Cock-sucking piece of shit vampire. I knew we shouldn’t trust him.”

  He picked up the flashlight from the bed of the cargo-hold and trained the beam on the forest.

  She cocked her head, listening. The sound of a stream of liquid falling against leaves came from the trees.

  “Wait! I know that sound!” She’d spent far too much time in the woods with her grandfather and his logger friends. They’d disappear behind trees and she’d hear the trickle and splash.

  A few seconds later, D’Raynged sauntered from the canopy of trees, zipping up his fly. “Whatever is wrong with all of you? Can’t I be allowed to relieve myself? You’ve held me captive for over twenty-four hours, bounty hunter, without nourishment. Once I feed, it’s inevitable that waste products build in my body.”

  Hung let out a long sigh.

  Even though nighttime had fallen, Chia swore his cheeks were pink. “I think you scared us. We all thought the worst.”

  “Fine, fine,” D’Raynged said.

  “So…” Chia began.

  “You have a question, right? More study on the freak that is me?” D’Raynged pulled a handkerchief from his jacket pocket and wiped his hands.

  “Well…since I didn’t know vampires exist and now here you are…” She smiled but didn’t think the vampire could see her face in the dark.

  “Go on.”

  “Well…I hope you don’t think I’m being rude, but…” The next words rushed out in a whisper. “Do you pee blood?”

  She figured her cheeks were pink since they were suddenly hot.

  Hung coughed.

  “Here’s a suggestion…next time, why don’t you watch so you can see for yourself, hmm?” D’Raynged let out a laugh. “Show works far better than tell. Then, you can assess the substantial size of my endowments, should you crave other exploration.”

  “Never mind.” Chia wanted to crawl under Hung’s truck and hide.

  “Okay. Bodily functions handled.” Hung hustled toward his pick-up. He opened the back seat and retrieved two rifles from the back-window gun rack.

  “Shall we proceed? Your hunter isn’t far.” D’Raynged put his head back and took a couple of sniffs. “I can smell him.”

  “Can you?” Hung said, stepping forward. “Where is he?”

  “He’s out there.” D’Raynged swished his hand toward the trees. “He’s lying in wait somewhere, hoping I emerge to feed. Like I eat musk-ox, or elk.” His lip curled in a wolf-like sneer. “Humans. You disgust me with your simple minds.”

  “Quit the snark and lead the way,” Hung said. He pointed toward the trees. “And, whatever you do, don’t kill him.”

  “Fine, fine.” D’Raynged shrugged and headed into the dark woods.

  “Mutt, you shift and follow him. I’ll stay in the rear with Chia.” Hung handed Chia a rifle.

  “Roger that,” Cecil said. In a flash, he shifted and took off after the vampire.

  Chia paused, listening. “Do you hear that?” She asked, frowning.

  “What’s that?” Hung tilted his head to study her.

  “When the vampire stepped into the woods…he didn’t make a sound. Cecil took off and it sounded li
ke a bear crashing through the forest.” She took a few steps, heading into the canopy of trees. “I can walk quietly, but I still make sound.”

  “Vampires are different,” Hung said.

  “Apparently.”

  “I do not want you to have anything to do with him, ever again.”

  The flashlight beam bobbed up and down, illuminating tree trunks and the forest undergrowth.

  “You’re not my master.” She pushed aside a branch, ducking under it.

  “Think of Megan. I loved that girl.” Hung stepped over a small log.

  She couldn’t see his face but the words had a ragged, harsh quality. She hopped on the log and jumped off it.

  “I mean it. I won’t let that happen to anyone I care about. Not on my watch.”

  “You care about me?”

  His words made swirls of heat coil in her belly. Her heart stretched and yawned, like it just might wake up and feel something good for a change.

  Hung said nothing. Instead, he stepped to the side so they could walk next to one another through a clearing, blanketed with wildflowers. He put his hand on the small of her back, guiding her. His touch brought instant heat and longing.

  “We don’t know one another at all,” she said.

  It’s been a while since I’ve been with a man. Too many things to deal with…and not a lot to choose from in this tiny town.

  “True. I suspect we knew one another in other times. I always like to test my theories.” Hung increased the pressure on her back.

  She could hear the smile in his voice.

  “Other times? What does that mean?” She moved closer to him.

  “You’ll just have to wait and see, won’t you?”

  His question summoned a response, but she didn’t know what to say. Her words tangled in her throat, like she was back in middle school, starting to see guys as something more than playmates to boss around. Silently, she trekked along, following Hung’s beam of light, hyper-aware of every move he made. Her hand reached for a lock of hair. She twirled it around her finger.

  Finally, she summoned up the nerve to say, “I guess we will.”