Ravenheart (Crossbreed Series Book 2)

by Dannika Dark

  RAVENHEART

  CROSSBREED SERIES BOOK 2

  Dannika Dark

  Contents

  Summary

  Also By Dannika Dark:

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Back Cover

  WHAT’S NEXT

  Want More?

  Books by Dannika Dark:

  RAVENHEART

  Crossbreed Series Book 2

  USA Today Bestselling Author

  DANNIKA DARK

  All Rights Reserved

  Copyright © 2017 Dannika Dark

  No part of this book may be reproduced, distributed, transmitted in any form or by any means, or stored in a database retrieval system without the prior written permission of the author. You must not circulate this book in any format. Thank you for respecting the rights of the author. This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance of characters to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

  Edited by Victory Editing and Red Adept. Cover design by Dannika Dark. All stock purchased.

  www.dannikadark.net

  Official Dannika Dark Newsletter

  Summary

  Two weeks after joining Keystone, Raven Black is ready to take on the world as a criminal hunter for hire. If only her partner wasn’t a bloodsucking Vampire with a penchant for getting under her skin. Despite her lavish surroundings, Raven misses the freedom of life without rules. And Keystone’s next assignment is about to test her self-control in more ways than one.

  Dead bodies are popping up in the human district, and all signs point to a Breed serial killer. In order to catch him, Raven and Christian embark on a mission that takes their partnership into uncharted waters. Lives are at stake. Can Raven trust her instincts, or will she fall into a web spun from lies and deceit?

  Time is running out in this pulse-pounding tale of dark secrets, murder, and forbidden desires.

  Book 2

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  Also By Dannika Dark:

  THE MAGERI SERIES

  Sterling

  Twist

  Impulse

  Gravity

  Shine

  The Gift

  MAGERI WORLD

  Risk

  NOVELLAS

  Closer

  THE SEVEN SERIES

  Seven Years

  Six Months

  Five Weeks

  Four Days

  Three Hours

  Two Minutes

  One Second

  Winter Moon

  SEVEN WORLD

  Charming

  THE CROSSBREED SERIES

  Keystone

  Ravenheart

  Oh, what a tangled web we weave,

  When first we practice to deceive!

  - Walter Scott

  Chapter 1

  “Either that’s snow falling, or Wyatt’s fed me one of his magic mushrooms again.” Blue leaned against the stone railing of the interior balcony, her long hair caught in the wind as scattered flecks of snow darted about.

  I wrapped my oversized beige cardigan tightly around me, a chill racing up my spine. “I’ve lived in this city all my life. Nothing surprises me anymore, not even snow in October.”

  Blue turned around and tucked her hands inside the pockets of her soft brown leather jacket. “You might eat your words once you see Gem’s reaction to snow. Come on. Let’s head inside before we turn into ice sculptures.”

  A blast of icy wind whipped my black hair around as if to agree. We hustled toward one of the doors and entered a hall with arched ceilings, stone floors, and lanterns affixed to the walls—much like the rest of Keystone mansion.

  “How are you settling in?” Blue asked, the heavy door closing behind us. “It’s been two weeks since your arrival, and I only ever see you at the dinner table. Niko said you stopped your sessions in the training room.”

  As we passed by another window, I tucked a swath of hair behind my ear. “I guess I’ve been on edge after speaking with the Mageri. Viktor wanted to make sure they were aware of my existence so their Enforcers wouldn’t accidentally arrest me for not having a documented alias, but their knowing about my existence isn’t exactly helping me sleep at night. I didn’t go through all their ceremonial customs where they measure your gifts; Viktor was afraid they might catch on that I’m a crossbreed, and he wants to keep that a secret.”

  “He’s a wise man.”

  “I keep waiting for the Mageri Enforcers to come crashing through the doors with a warrant for my arrest. What’s to stop them? Their laws aren’t lenient, and the Mageri does what it wants where their own are concerned.”

  “Viktor won’t let anything happen to you,” she said smoothly, not a thread of doubt woven in her reply. “He has close relationships with his connections, and we perform an invaluable service for them.” She lifted her chin as we turned a corner. “You would be surprised what they’ll do to protect us. They don’t want the public finding out that they’re paying a group of mercenaries.”

  I paused at the staircase and rested my elbows on the balcony overlooking the lower floor. The areas within the mansion that were absent of windows usually had a few candles burning in the lanterns or candelabra.

  “Do you miss living on the streets?” she asked.

  “Like a hole in the head. I don’t miss sleeping in abandoned buildings, fighting juicers, wondering when my next meal will be, and smelling like an overripe banana. But… I miss the freedom.”

  Her thick eyebrows gathered as she frowned. “This isn’t a jail.”

  “I just mean if I want to go into the city, it’s a long walk or a cab ride. There’s a diner I like to eat at, and I miss the sound of honking horns. I’m sure you think that sounds a little loopy, but it’s hard to get used to silence. Sometimes I still hear the sirens in my sleep.”

  Blue appeared to my right side and pushed herself up on the flat ledge, taking a seat on what was a perilous three-story drop. “The streets were your home, and the places we live become a part of who we are—for better or worse. It takes a little time to get used to new surroundings. We’ve all been in your shoes. Keystone will grow on you, especially once it’s your turn to do laundry.”

  I laughed, remembering Christian’s morning visits to my hamper and all his grumblings. “I guess there’s no better way to get to know my housemates than to handle their dirty drawers.”

  For the first few days, I had done my own laundry. But after a while, I surrendered to the idea of handing my panties over to someone else to clean. It seemed tedious to have an assigned laundry week and still be doing my own laundry all the time.

  Blue’s phone vibrated and she slid off the railing, her boots stomping against the hard floor. “Viktor’s ready.”

  “Has it been thirty minutes?”

  Her grey feather earrings floated on the air as we moved briskly down the stairs. Blue was the
other woman in the house and considerably different from Gem. It wasn’t just her maturity and straightforward way of speaking, but she was a tough lady. Sometimes you could see it in her eyes—a look I caught in my own reflection. She appeared to be more levelheaded than most everyone else in the house, and the most loyal to Viktor. Blue had a regal way about her that made me want to straighten my back whenever I was in her presence, yet she also had a strut that told everyone not to mess with her, especially considering the small hatchet on her hip.

  Blue traced her finger along the wall. “So what would make you feel more settled?”

  “I wouldn’t mind having a few personal things,” I admitted. “All I came in with were the clothes on my back, so my room still feels like a hotel.”

  To complain about my living quarters would be like bitching about winning the lottery. I had a luxurious bathtub, my own fireplace, a scenic view, and privacy. But after my first paycheck, I began dreaming about sheets with a higher thread count, fresh blankets—anything to add personality to my otherwise Gothic living quarters. Maybe a few odds and ends would make the situation feel permanent.

  Blue huffed out a breath when we reached the lower landing. “You can borrow Wyatt’s computer when he’s asleep and shop online.”

  Where’s the fun in that? I thought to myself. “I’d rather go to the store. On second thought, maybe I’ll just put it off for now. I don’t really want to waste my money on a cab ride to the city. Why are you wearing your coat? Viktor just wanted us down for a meeting.”

  Blue played with the zipper on her jacket. “I try to come prepared. Sometimes when he calls a meeting, he wants us to head out, and I hate having to hike all the way back upstairs.”

  “Can’t you just flap your wings?” I quipped.

  We turned right and strolled down a long hall that led to the dining and gathering room.

  Blue managed to look elegant and formidable all at once with the way she walked. “Then I’d have to get dressed all over again.”

  I chuckled. “Elevators would be an improvement.”

  She lowered her voice as we neared the room. “That would mean installing electricity all over the house.”

  “It’s just elevators.”

  “First it’s elevators, then it’s a movie room. We’re lucky he agreed to equip the kitchen with modern appliances. Viktor’s adamant about limiting which rooms get power, so don’t hold your breath on any big changes.”

  When we entered the dining room, everyone was seated at the long wooden table except for Gem, who was standing behind Viktor’s chair on her tiptoes, peering through the arched window. The muted light from outside soaked into the ends of her purple hair.

  Sunshine had offered a temporary respite from the rain, but two days ago a cold front had moved in, signaling the end of autumn. The candles in the round iron chandelier were unlit, but the light from the window was sufficient.

  Keystone had been on hiatus after turning Darius over to the authorities. Wyatt always had something to research, so he spent hours in his computer room, where some of the other members of the group liked to congregate. I’d been a tad antisocial this past week; Viktor said I needed to adjust to my new surroundings before he put me on assignment. I think that was code for gaining weight. I’d been living on the streets for so long that I’d skipped meals. The Vampire side of me didn’t need food, but because the Mage side did, starving had caused me to drop a few pounds.

  Claude rectified that by always filling my plate with seconds, and I wasn’t allowed to skip meals.

  I took my seat next to Christian, with Viktor on my right at the head of the table. He turned around in his chair and said something in Russian.

  “In English,” Gem said in a singsong voice.

  “You know what I said.”

  “Yes, but they don’t. It’s rude to exclude present parties.”

  He reached around and captured her small wrist. “Come sit down.”

  “But it’s snowing! I’ll miss it.”

  Wyatt’s chuckle ended with a comical snort.

  Gem stepped back from the window and thumped him on the head as she walked past his chair. “What’s so funny?”

  He tugged his slouchy grey beanie over his ears. “You wouldn’t think snow was so magical if you’d grown up in the eighteen hundreds.”

  “To be sure,” Christian agreed.

  Gem sat across the table between Claude and Shepherd. “If this is your woe is me story about how you walked twenty miles in the snow with no shoes to saddle a horse, then you can save your breath. Snow is magical.”

  “It magically freezes your little toes off,” Shepherd murmured as he rubbed his chiseled jaw.

  Wyatt leaned forward. “That isn’t the only thing it’ll freeze off. I once knew this guy who made a bet on how long he could—”

  Viktor cleared his throat, silencing the chatter. “The higher authority may have a case for us soon, but it’s still pending. I don’t like to sit idle too long, and some of our side projects are at a standstill. You know what that means.”

  “A vacation?” Wyatt asked sarcastically. “Come on, Viktor. You know how I hate going into those shops.”

  I furrowed my brow. “What shops?”

  Gem held up the crystal pendant around her neck, tapping it against her nose. “When it gets slow, we go relic hunting. And I don’t mean the Relics who work as doctors and advisors, but as in antiques.”

  This piqued my curiosity. “To decorate?”

  Niko barked out a laugh and quickly squelched it. “Apologies, Raven. I don’t mean to laugh at you.”

  Christian leaned back in his chair, fingers hooked behind his head. “I would, if I had a sense of humor.”

  “Your barber clearly does,” I suggested.

  Wyatt laughed and made a gun with his index and thumb, firing it at Christian.

  I patted my hand on the table to get Wyatt’s attention. “Why don’t you like going into those shops?”

  He turned his mouth to the side. “Sometimes the dead get attached to things, and those shops are reselling used items that belonged to people. Dead people. Not all of the deceased are mental, but when they follow me home like stray puppies, it interferes with my ability to do my job.”

  Shepherd struck a match and lit his cigarette. “Do you really need all of us to go?”

  “Of course,” Viktor said, combing his fingers through his silver-and-grey hair. “This is a job, and you each have specific skills that have helped identify items of interest. Besides, it’s good for us to get out together and socialize. You’re turning into a bunch of turtles.”

  Christian lowered his hands to his lap, his Irish accent thick with annoyance. “I socialize plenty.”

  “The bar doesn’t count,” Viktor said sharply. “When do you ever go to places that don’t serve alcohol? Just because we’re between assignments does not mean we should treat it like a vacation. The devil finds work for idle hands.”

  Christian abruptly stood up, his chair scraping against the stone floor. “These idle hands have been busy folding laundry all week.”

  “Don’t be so dramatic. Go warm up the van.”

  Christian inclined his head and swiftly moved out of the room.

  Viktor wagged his finger at me. “You spend too much time upstairs, and Niko has informed me you haven’t been training this week. Keystone is your family now, and you need to put away those old habits of isolating yourself from others.”

  “Raven wants to shop for bedroom decorations,” Blue said, rising from her seat. “I’d say that’s a good sign that she’s making herself at home.”

  My face heated with embarrassment. The crossbreed member of Keystone—formerly known as the Shadow, a merciless killer—is now on the hunt for linens.

  Viktor clapped his hands together. “Splendid. We’ll make this an afternoon adventure.”

  While most of us rode in the van, Christian tailed behind on his motorcycle and Wyatt in his red Mini Cooper with the
blue door. Viktor decided we should get my shopping out of the way before relic hunting, so we pulled up to a Kohl’s department store and went inside. I’d been cooped up for the past two weeks, so not only was it great to get out, but this was an opportunity to get to know the team outside of work.

  I stuffed a faux fur throw into my cart. Poor Viktor. He looked lost lugging around two of my black shopping carts. I glanced over the shelf and spied him taking a seat on one of the bed displays.

  When it came to clothes and home décor, there just weren’t any Breed shops for that. It would require labor, factories, and transporting the goods. Viktor had explained that most people purchase the necessities online to avoid going into human establishments. Immortals usually hold on to their old furniture and goods, which is why most of them acquire large homes. When it comes to clothes, some go to Breed resale shops or just hire a tailor to avoid visiting human stores. Having once been a human, I understood why. There was a distinct feeling of not belonging—of security cameras, inquisitive glances, and rules. Immortals often made direct eye contact with each other and held it, whereas most humans averted their eyes and tried to mind their own business.

  “Raven, I did not think this would take so long,” Viktor said, turning an accent pillow between his hands before tossing it aside.

  I pushed my tall cart toward him and parked it. “Didn’t you say earlier you wanted me to bond with the team?”

  He lifted his grey eyes up to mine. “I have not seen the team in an hour.”

  I sat on the bed next to him, amused by the situation. “Why are we going relic hunting? I thought you said Keystone did the jobs no one else would do.”

  “That’s right.”

  “Antique shopping?”

  “And that is something no one else will do.”

  I swept my hair back. “You made it sound badass.”

  He eased off the bed and straightened his button-up shirt. “These jobs are what separate us from the rest. Do we hunt down criminals? Of course. But we also transport victims to safe houses, research cold cases, spend more time investigating crimes with insufficient evidence, and on occasion, we visit the local shops and make sure everyone is compliant with the law. The higher authority only sends out Regulators when they issue warrants or to document a crime scene, so we have no one to police the streets outside of a few volunteers.”