Ravenheart (Crossbreed Series Book 2)

by Dannika Dark

  “Then you must figure out what Niko’s buttons are,” he said with a chuckle.

  “Niko doesn’t have buttons.”

  Viktor went back to reading his book. It had been a long eight hours without a break, and Christian had left early to pick up the costumes from the delivery location. Blue had joined him so she could get fitted with a blond wig. Luckily, Glass had never met Blue; he’d only seen her falcon.

  Niko gave me a close-lipped smile, his crystal-blue eyes trained on me. Sometimes I caught tiny flecks of light in them—a common trait among the ancients.

  “Give up?” he asked.

  “I don’t give up as easily as you.”

  He stirred with laughter. “And what does that mean? I don’t give up.”

  “What about dating?”

  His eyes widened, and he stopped moving.

  I smiled, sensing a weakness. “Why don’t you admit to everyone in this house that you—”

  Faster than I could track, he flashed toward me and covered my mouth.

  I snatched his hat and twirled it on my finger.

  “You win,” he murmured, amusement in his voice. “This time.”

  “Woo-hoo!” Gem shouted. “Look, Viktor! I hit the bull’s-eye.”

  Claude sat up from the weight bench and wiped his face with a towel. “It’s not necessary to arm her,” he said loudly.

  Viktor didn’t avert his eyes from his little book. “We discussed this. I won’t have any of you going in unprepared.”

  Claude stood up and stripped out of his shirt, using it to wipe his face. “I’m her partner. She doesn’t need a weapon with me around.”

  “Nyet. Everyone’s priority is to protect Blue. Gem, you are doing well in here, but do not deviate from the plan. I want you and Wyatt to remain near the stairs or higher points to watch and communicate with the team using your phones. Do not go anywhere secluded.”

  Gem looked over at Niko and me and furrowed her brow. Niko still had his hand over my mouth and his strong arm wrapped around me.

  I mumbled in his hand since he didn’t realize that we had an audience.

  Niko let go.

  “Winner!” I announced, tossing the hat in Viktor’s lap.

  He set down his book and clapped three times. “Shall we bring out the katanas?”

  “I like my knives small,” I said, watching Niko guzzle down a bottle of water. “Give the swords to Niko. I’m liable to cut the wrong person’s head off. That’s just way too many inches for me.”

  “That’s why it would never work out between us,” Christian chimed in from the door. “Ladies and gents, feast your eyes on the magnanimous Blue.”

  We waited, but nothing happened.

  Christian looked over his shoulder and briefly disappeared in the short hall before reappearing with Blue in his grip.

  Viktor rose to his feet.

  “Holy Toledo,” Wyatt exclaimed. “You look…”

  “Uh-oh,” Niko whispered. “This can’t be good. Her light is dark.”

  “I look like a porn star,” she bit out, referring to the blond wig that went well with her blue eyes. “Go ahead and make all the jokes. Get it out of your system.”

  Viktor snapped his fingers. “If anyone says an unkind word, you will answer to me.”

  We raised our brows in surprise as Viktor left the room.

  Blue waited, but when none of us took the bait, she left with a satisfied yet suspicious look on her face.

  Gem wiped sweat from her brow, her white T-shirt damp and her sweatpants drooping. “Did the costumes arrive? It’s not too late to change them.”

  Christian leaned against the wall. “They’re upstairs.”

  She sulked. “I’m going to look like a fool. A short girl with purple hair in a heavy kilt.”

  I bit my lip and turned to Niko. “How will you be able to find us?”

  “No two people have the same energy. If others are flaring, it’ll be difficult but not impossible.” He raised his arm and took a whiff. “I need to shower, or else I won’t need a special outfit for you to locate me.”

  “I second that,” Gem said. “I smell like a pig farm in the middle of July.”

  Niko strode ahead of her and held the door as they left the room.

  We still had another four hours or so before the party, so I strolled over to the target board to practice my throwing.

  “Do you want me to sharpen your weapons before we leave?” Shepherd asked.

  “I don’t think they’ve ever been sharpened. That would be great.”

  “When you’re done in here, leave ’em on the kitchen table, and I’ll take care of it.” Shepherd had on a tight black shirt with short sleeves. He never tried hiding the scars on his body, nor were they a topic of conversation.

  They just were.

  I grabbed three daggers from a table and stood beside Wyatt. “Is your friend gone?”

  He threw a knife, and it went outside the black line. “So says Christian. I’ll find out soon enough, but it’s been quiet around here. Too quiet.”

  I tossed a knife, hitting the mark. “I thought you didn’t like all the ghosts following you around.”

  He threw another dagger, and the handle hit the wall. “Blast!” He went to collect the dagger from the floor and bent down. “I guess I forgot what it’s like to have privacy. I’m so used to them being around every corner and creeping up on me in my sleep that the silence is almost unnerving.”

  Christian strode up and stood to the right of the board, arms folded as Wyatt returned to my side. “We can always swing by the cemetery on the way home and find you a girlfriend.”

  Wyatt threw his knife, and Christian didn’t flinch when it struck the board an inch from his cheek. “Don’t come knocking on my door for help if you ever die.”

  “Worry not. I’ll be too busy entertaining the ladies of the afterlife.”

  Wyatt snorted and pinched the front of his blue T-shirt to circulate some air. “Have fun with that. Most of them are one crayon short of a box.”

  “So how did Wyatt’s ghost know you?” I asked Christian.

  His black eyes lowered, and his expression switched to something I couldn’t read. “Just a man who loved a girl.” He pushed off the wall and gave me a pointed stare. “You see where love gets you?”

  I glared as he walked by me. That remark had more to do with my dating Detective Glass than it did about his general opinions on love and marriage. Maybe he had a point. Opening up to someone was only going to make me vulnerable. It had almost gotten me killed.

  When the door burst open, I spun around.

  Gem dashed toward us, her hair bouncing in the air as she leapt forward and wrapped her arms around Wyatt’s neck. Her feet hung off the ground, and he held her up, stirring with laughter.

  “What’s this about?”

  “I knew I shouldn’t have doubted you.” She squeezed his neck even tighter. “The costumes are divine!”

  “Oh ye of little faith.”

  Gem let go, and her bare feet hit the ground. She looked so much shorter without her tall shoes on—about seven inches shorter than Wyatt, who was the shortest man in the house at five-eleven.

  She whirled around and flashed out of the room.

  Christian arched an eyebrow. “That girl needs a speed limit.”

  An hour later, I dropped my knives on the kitchen table for Shepherd to sharpen while I went upstairs and made myself presentable for public consumption. After years of living on the streets, it took time to get used to all the grooming involved when it came to attending a fancy-pants social function. Running a razor over my legs and curling my hair for a date was one thing, but the amount of time needed to lacquer my nails, pluck my brows, and apply makeup was something else entirely.

  It irritated me. Here I was, decorating myself like a cake, while the men were probably hanging out in the game room after a five-minute shower and shave.

  I finished pulling the laces on my dress and stood in front
of the floor mirror. Lucky for us girls, we didn’t have to wear a kilt. The skirt had an irregular hem with several layers of different fabric, alternating between solid black and a deep purple tartan. The bodice that laced up in front was sexy, but it wasn’t an easy outfit to put on. I painted my nails as black as my hair, which fell past my shoulders in tousled waves, parted off-center.

  Even though it was just a job, I couldn’t help but feel a little beautiful. I’d never been to prom or invited to a wedding, so there’d never been an occasion to dress up. Funny how something insignificant can transform a woman into a different person.

  I also felt like a sausage too big for its skin in this tight dress.

  A knock sounded at the door. I shied away from the mirror and crossed the room, pretending to be doing something at my desk. The sun had gone down, but there was plenty of light from all the candles in my room.

  “Everyone’s ready,” Christian said. “I’m thinking about taking my bike.”

  I peered over my shoulder and barked out a laugh. “That’ll be a breezy ride.”

  Christian had on a long-sleeved black Henley shirt with the buttons undone so one of the flaps was hanging to the side. His kilt matched my dress—deep purple and black, but he didn’t have a satchel or whatever those things were that I’d seen in the front. Instead, a wide leather belt with silver studs held up his kilt.

  “Nice socks,” I said. They were long and black, but not long enough to cover his knees. I barely noticed his black lace-up boots.

  “The gents got the shaft with accessories,” he remarked, walking in and admiring himself in the mirror to the right of the door.

  “You could have had matching socks.”

  Christian ruffled the skirt in the front. “I will say one thing, I like the easy access.” He glanced over his shoulder. “For the weapons, I mean.”

  “Sure.” I closed the distance between us, tugging at my bodice.

  “You should see what the others have done. Wyatt’s wearing one of his ridiculous shirts, and Shepherd—” His words cut off when he caught my reflection in the mirror. Christian turned on his heel, his lips parted. “You look… fetching.”

  “Since when is Christian Poe nice?”

  “I just meant your Vampire side,” he quickly said. “So… you look half nice.”

  “That’s more like it. What’s under your skirt?”

  He gave me a wolfish smile. “You’ll have to take a ride on my motorbike to find out.”

  “No, thanks. Gem and I are going with Shepherd.”

  He averted his eyes and looked around. “I see you’re settling in.”

  I followed his gaze to the red blanket on my bed and grey painting with the red tree. “I keep meaning to ask Shepherd for his drill.”

  “For what?” Christian strode over and lifted the picture with one hand. He took the nail off the side table and leaned over the bed before pressing the nail into the mortar with only his thumb. After straightening the painting, he put his hands in his pockets and stared at my bed.

  I fiddled with the laces on the bodice, which covered my hips and stopped just below my breasts. The dress fabric above it had an off-the-shoulder style.

  “Here, let me.” He closed the distance between us and ran his fingers between every section of lace, giving it a hard yank.

  “I need it to be looser, not tighter.”

  “Unless you want to come unraveled in the middle of a dance, I’m strapping you in.”

  I looked at my mask on the bed. It matched the plaid design, embellished with glitter and adorned with black feathers over one eye. “Are the men wearing masks?”

  “Aye. But should you have any trouble finding me, just look for a bevy of females. I’m going to make Beatlemania look like child’s play.”

  “Don’t make me laugh. This corset will explode. Can’t I just leave it off? The dress covers me just fine.”

  “Don’t be childish. This is what a woman wears to enhance her God-given figure.”

  “If you tighten it any more, I’ll be able to rest my chin on my breasts.”

  “Don’t you have a necklace to create a distraction?”

  I had a long necklace with a spike that was really a weapon, but no one was going to let me in the party wearing that.

  Christian turned away and lifted something sparkly off the doorknob. “Don’t get all excited. When we were picking up the costumes, the man had a box full of trinkets he was trying to sell us and… Well, I thought it looked like you.”

  A silver chain swung from his index finger. I reached out and cupped the pendant—a multifaceted ruby-colored heart with a crown on top.

  “The Queen of Hearts,” he said, releasing the chain and letting it fall into the palm of my hand.

  I chuckled at the Alice in Wonderland reference. Especially after the tattoo I’d put on his neck, which was now gone. “But it doesn’t match.”

  “Neither do you,” he said, pointing between my mismatched eyes. Christian turned to leave. “Anyhow, it’s nothing fancy. Just a trinket. We’d better get our arses downstairs before Viktor sends up a search party.”

  “Christian,” I called out as he opened the door. I closed my fingers around the necklace, the words caught in my throat.

  He glanced over his shoulder. “No need to show gratitude. Get your mask, and let’s show these plonkers how Keystone likes to party.”

  Chapter 27

  We drove to the masquerade ball in separate cars, Gem and I hitching a ride with Shepherd. He had a metallic-grey Jeep Wrangler with black interior, and it was a lot roomier in the backseat than Wyatt’s Mini Cooper. Christian changed his mind about riding with us, though the visual of his kilt flapping in the wind made me wish he hadn’t. He’d been staring out the window for most of the drive.

  Meanwhile, I was having a bit of fun with Shepherd. He’d created a stir when he wanted to go shirtless, but Viktor forced him to put something on. His tattoos made him easily identifiable, as did the scars that looked as though someone had cut him with a knife many times over. The man liked to intimidate, and I could respect that.

  Wyatt wasn’t going to be difficult to spot in a crowd. He would be the only one at the party wearing black cowboy boots and a shirt that said KILTED FOR HER PLEASURE. We weren’t certain that Viktor noticed it since the font was Celtic and it surrounded an infinity knot. The men’s masks were slightly different—a metallic silver that covered both eyes and the forehead with intricate designs.

  I had to admit the guys looked sexy as hell, but I kept that little detail to myself. Viktor was the only one dressed to the nines like a true Scotsman, even though he was actually Russian.

  Blue, well, Blue was astonishing. Her wig looked completely real—gentle waves of flaxen hair that almost reached her waist. Her blue gown was a lush satin with white stones scattered across the dress like glittering stars. Blue-and-white flowers were pinned on her mask, and Gem had given her a pale-blue crystal necklace. Even her nails were painted blue, and not one of the men made a joke when they saw her graceful transformation.

  I anxiously peered between the front seats as we neared the valet parking in front of Patrick Bane’s mansion.

  “Looks like we got here just in time,” I said with a chuckle.

  Claude poured out of Wyatt’s car and began kicking it, giving every woman within a ten-foot radius a good view of his strong legs and God knows what else. He hated riding in that thing, but he’d been the last one out of the house and lost his choice. Meanwhile, Wyatt was still sitting in the car, arguing with the valet through the open window. It didn’t look like he wanted anyone parking his baby, and the valet looked determined to get him out of that car.

  Claude swaggered up to the Jeep and opened Gem’s door. “Stay with me, beautiful female,” he said, offering his arm as an escort.

  “Why don’t you two get out,” Shepherd grumbled, a cigarette dangling from his mouth. “My date’s about to get into a fistfight.” He was staring at his partner, w
ho was wrestling through the open window with the valet.

  When I opened my door, Christian snatched my wrist.

  “Now what kind of dolt would I look like if you fell and ripped your dress while getting out? Stay there.”

  A few seconds after getting out, he opened my door. I bunched up the layers of my dress and searched for the side step.

  Christian reached out and grabbed my waist with both hands before setting me on the driveway as softly as a feather landing. When he flashed a smile with fangs, I stepped back. He took pleasure in reminding me that I hated Vampires.

  We took a brisk walk toward the doors, keeping our voices low. The light from inside and classical music gave the illusion I was about to step inside a magical music box.

  “Don’t lose sight of me,” he said. “If you run into trouble, just say my name and where you are. I’ll keep an ear out for you.”

  “It’s not me you need to worry about. Romeo is a smooth talker, and I’m afraid if he tries anything with Blue, she won’t see it coming. We really pissed him off last night. Maybe we drove him over the edge.”

  “What good is an edge if you can’t push someone over it?” Christian adjusted his mask. “Don’t wander off.”

  When we arrived at the door, a man took our names and reviewed the guest list before granting us access.

  I shivered as I stepped into the foyer, my heels clicking against the marble floor. Guests masqueraded in elaborate costumes with no faces. Some had masks attached to a handle, while others had ostentatious pieces that covered their entire head. One young man glided past me in a white wig, stockings, green breeches, and a mask that was nothing more than a slim ribbon with two holes cut for the eyes. He even had white powder on his face, and I turned to watch his regal demeanor.

  I knew better than to say anything confidential in public since Vampire ears could be listening. Gem also advised against making remarks that could be perceived as insulting. That kind of behavior was fine in a bar, but these events were high-class.

  And boy, did I want to make a remark about the lady wearing a thick ruffle encircling her neck that made it look like her head was on a platter.