by A. Vers
She stares up into my face, her gaze like weight with every pass it makes over my features.
I squeeze her hand, and she leans into me, her heat and strength seeming to add to mine. The sensation is odd. And it sends my heart racing.
“The man is dangerous. He needs to be stopped at all costs.” I look back over at the kin. “When I gave Alpha Callus the directive to hunt for him, I assumed we were all fighting on the same side to keep Silver Rock free from this taint. That was my mistake.”
Callus scowls.
I press a step in front of Nisha and Caine as murmurs raise all around us in angry snarls and harshly whispered expletives.
I hold my free hand up and they slowly descend into silence. “I ask now for volunteers to assist myself and my team in keeping the Silver Rock kin from that taint.”
Quiet descends over the clearing.
Ebony pushes from the tree behind her and her thetas follow loosely at her back. “You have my sight and my claws,” she says in that low timbre.
Nisha stiffens at my side and a touch of anger fragrances her scent.
Could she be jealous?
Something hot unfurls in my gut. I slip my hand from hers and slide my palm over her smooth stomach onto the lean curve of her hip. Her inhale is shaky and her scent spikes with pure feminine arousal. My cock jumps.
I dig my fingers into her skin in an inaudible response.
Fuck. Me.
Caine shifts beside us, his eyes glowing brighter. But I shove my roar of triumph deep down in my chest before I give in to the need to take her over the nearest picnic table.
“I welcome your aid,” I call to Ebony. Her thetas clap a hand over their bare, rock-hard chests in salute as well and my smile grows feral.
Callus’ jaw blanches in the low light across from me.
I just wait.
Slowly, the rest of the kin lose a trace of their aggression. They peel away from the pack in two and threes to stand behind Ebony and her enforcers.
Nisha’s hands tighten over my arm in an encouraging squeeze.
I dip my head to each group. “I ask that you stay in teams. The male is surprisingly fast and he may not be alone.” They nod and start down the hill to the tree line, Ebony and her thetas at the forefront.
My shoulders loosen a touch and I can only call the fucking emotion relief.
I turn my attention to Callus. “Where are the cats?”
He glowers. “Cold storage.”
I smile. “Good.” I give Nisha’s side a brief squeeze before releasing her and starting off in the direction of the rec hall. “Feel free to join your people, Callus,” I call back to him. “The more eyes we have on this, the better.”
His low grumbles follow me over the field and my smile only grows.
Chapter 23
Nisha
I trail Tanner and Caine toward the rec hall, my insides damn near humming from T’s touch. Or maybe it’s the moon so round and bright in the sky.
Hell. It’s probably both.
Tanner slips around the stone building and a large shed is visible near the back tree line. He stops and peers back at me. “You don’t have to go in.”
There is still a slight growl to his voice, making the already dulcet tone seem to vibrate deep into my core.
I square my shoulders. “I want to.”
“Nisha—”
“Tanner, I can do this.” My head shakes. “No, I need to do this.”
He turns and walks back to me, his silver eyes nearly as bright as the moon above. “I know,” he murmurs to me. His hands slide down my arms, shackling my wrists in his calloused grip. Those long fingers of his overlap around my smaller frame, and something about it makes my stomach quiver.
There is a pull to him. A sway. It makes me want to lean into his hard body. To wrap my arms around his powerful neck and lose myself in every small touch he offers.
But that would be dangerous, and a very bad idea.
I saw him with Ebony earlier. How he kissed her.
The heat the man sparks seems to extend wherever he wants it to go. And right now, though he seems interested, how long before that changes?
I don’t want to be the next Ebony. His next conquest.
Mouth tight, I carefully extricate myself from his grip and his eyes flash. “Lead the way,” I say.
He scours my face. Something hardens in his features before he lets his arms fall and he moves back toward Caine.
The demon peers at me quizzically as I near but otherwise doesn’t remark.
We follow Tanner into the building as he flips a switch on the wall.
Soft white light illuminates numerous shelves along every side. Canned goods, bottled water, and numerous types of snacks and jerky wait in bins and containers. Tanner bypasses all of it for a solid metal door with a heavy latch at the rear of the room.
He pulls on the panel and icy air spills out.
I rub my hands over my arms and slip in behind the demon.
The room is maybe eight by eight with tall restaurant style racks set in the rear. In the center of the space is a dark mound of black plastic.
Tanner crouches on one side and tugs back the plastic to reveal two large beasts. One is the tawny cat that attacked me, and the other a midnight jaguar with smooth ebony rosettes.
I step back and then stop myself, forcing my breathing to slow.
Dead. They are both dead.
They can’t hurt me now.
“Shouldn’t they have changed back to human?” I ask and am glad my voice does not shake.
Tanner glances up at me. “It takes conscious effort to shift between forms. Whatever form you are in when you die, is the form you retain. Think like a glitch or freezeframe in your brain.”
I make a face.
He turns back to the cats, removing the plastic more as he searches their limbs, paws, teeth, and open, glassy eyes.
At one point, he nods at Caine and the demon weaves crimson magick between his hands. A slim white case appears from thin air as the lights just outside the room flicker on and off.
Caine offers Tanner the case.
I watch as T removes two syringes. He palpates the side of the dark cat’s neck and inserts the needle. He pulls back on the plunger, filling the vial with surprisingly dark, viscous blood.
“What is the bloodwork for?” I ask as he caps the syringe and sets it back in the case before grabbing the other.
“Gage is working on an antidote to Brightex,” he mutters as he works. “We haven’t had a lot of luck yet because he can’t isolate how a supe’s body reacts to the drug if they are all dead by the time we get to them.”
My stomach tightens in sympathy to the now empty tone of his voice.
“We were able to take blood from Caine and Daisy at the hospital.”
I look at Caine in surprise.
He offers me a sinful smile. “I am fine, pet. I assure you.”
T snorts. “Short of the near orgy?”
I glance between them, face burning. “Orgy?”
Tanner climbs easily to his feet and every inch of his muscular frame ripples.
My thighs clench.
He watches me in silence for a beat. “For some reason, he took an upswing in power where it made all the others sick.” He hands Caine the case and walks around to me. “Now we need to figure out why.”
I stare up at him, my pulse hammering my ribs in a rapid beat. “And Gage can do that?”
“With a bit of help, yeah.”
I nod, mouth dry.
There is a burst of crimson light and I glance over as the case in Caine’s hands disappears like it never existed.
A warm caress smoothes over my shoulder and my eyes raise, locking in Tanner’s gaze.
“What now?” I ask softly.
“Now I alert the coroner’s office,” he says. “They will be able to verify that one of the cats here was the one that killed the human. That leaves Callus and the pack free from any charges.”
Oh.
I hadn’t given much thought to how the dead human would impact the pack. Odd how being around Tanner and his team left me just knowing it would all be resolved.
Somehow.
“Well that’s one good thing.” I exhale. “What do we do now?”
His irises are like molten mercury above me as he offers a toothy smile. “That’s the fun part.”
I tremble a bit. “It is?”
“Yeah. Because now we hunt.”
Chapter 24
Tanner
By dawn, the pack has combed every inch of Silver Rock and there is no sign of the man except for several trampled boot tracks and deep rivulets near the edge of the reserve.
I squat down next to the only full shoe print as Caine walks up beside me.
“Tire tracks,” he says.
Leaning down, I inhale just over the tracks. “Definitely,” I say as a trace of exhaust and rubber reaches my nose.
“Idea on model?” Caine mutters.
I rock back on my heels. “Hard to say. Size of the tire track could be an SUV or truck.” I press my hands to my thighs as I peer around. “If the pack had mobilized faster, maybe we would know. But as it is, he is long gone by now.”
His dark head cants. “On to greener pastures?”
I climb to my feet and stretch. “Maybe. We will keep an eye out for him anyway. Between the full moon run tonight, and everyone dragging ass back out tomorrow, Silver Rock will be crawling with enough noses that if he shows again, we will know.”
He runs a hand through his dark hair, further tousling the strands. “Ah. The infamous run.”
I look at him. “Not backing out on me now, are you?”
His crimson eyes flash. “And miss out on the plethora of carnal sin I can taste growing in the air? Never.”
My lips curve before I can stop him and we start back into the trees.
The demon is uncharacteristically silent for quite a while.
I glance at him. “How are you feeling?”
He peers over. “Well.”
“I mean after the dart?”
He turns and faces outward again, his expression mulish. “My magick is back in order. Though, my … temper is still a little heated.”
I blink. “Really? You seem pretty fucking chill to me.”
“I have had years to learn to keep my emotions off my face and out of my body, cat. It would take rather dire circumstances for you to notice a change.”
“You can always have Gage—”
“The Fire Fae will keep his instruments to himself,” he snaps coolly. “After sleep and a solid feeding tonight, I imagine any ill effects will fade completely.”
“Can you wait until tonight?”
His jaw mottles. “I will … manage.”
I grip his shoulder and he stops walking. “Do you need to feed now, Caine?”
He peers back at me. “Are you offering, cat?”
“Would you accept if I was?”
Something like surprise tracks over his face.
I squeeze his shoulder. “You saved my ass yesterday. Twice. Lust isn’t like blood. If you take some of mine, it won’t leave me weak. Just maybe calmer.” I release him and scrub my face. “And with the run tonight, I need to be calmer.”
“The pet is testing you?”
I glance up. “You can taste what I feel when I’m around her. So what do you think?”
He pivots. “I think feeding when you come together would sate me for days.” He shrugs. “But that still will not be until tonight.” He starts back off and I fall into step behind him.
“Callus could catch her before I do,” I say as we walk.
He frowns at me. “Pessimism is not your forte, cat.”
I roll my shoulders and shake out my arms. “Yeah. My bad.” I glance up at the sun lit tops of the trees and just inhale the clear air.
Silver Rock was always cleaner than Lock Lake.
“I do, however, have a question about tonight,” Caine says mildly.
My lips curve. “You can only take the willing ones, Caine. We’ve been over that.”
He scoffs. “They will all be willing if I extend my reach, cat. Yourself and the pet too, if I wish.” There is no teasing in his tone. No condescension. Just a stark honesty.
I wisely keep my mouth shut.
Even with the Brightex in his system, he is purring up the wrong damn tree.
“Then what do you want to know?”
He plucks at his T-shirt with an almost forlorn expression. “What does one wear to a pack run? I imagine some clothes are required, though I do not understand why.”
My lips tremor. “Well, I can tell you,” I begin, finally giving in to the grin. “Or we can always go shopping.”
***
Nisha grumbles sleepily next to me, but the demon seems more than ecstatic at the necessity of appropriating proper 'running' attire.
"Why can't we just have him poof me clothes again?" she asks under her breath as Caine practically skips a few steps ahead.
Despite sleeping for most of the morning and afternoon, she still appears to be half asleep. And I know with her body readying for the change, all her extra energy is gone.
"Because when he pulls clothes with his magick, they have to come from somewhere. It's like theft."
Her brow knits. "Ah. That."
I chuckle.
It's nice, in an odd way. Just myself, Nisha, and Caine walking down main street two towns up the highway.
Could we have gone into Fallen Ridge? Probably. But I refuse to chance the man appearing without extra backup. And with Ruin, Gage, and Horan all guarding Daisy just in case the man returns for her as his next shifter puppet, it’s the demon and myself.
So whether Nisha likes it or not, she's stuck with me until this whole fucking mess is over. And judging from how far she keeps moving away ... she isn't thrilled by it. At all.
Ever since last night, she has been standoffish. Cool.
But inside my body is on fire from her heat. I want to wrap her fucking long ass legs around me. Hell, wrap her around me.
"What about here?" Caine calls.
I look up to find a small boutique. A few soft looking dresses are on display in the window. As I gaze at them, I can picture Nisha in every single damn one and it only adds to the fire torching my veins.
"Sure. But I doubt they have anything in your size," I call back, eternally grateful that my voice is clear of the need.
Nisha's lips tremble out of the corner of my eye.
Caine salutes me with one long middle finger and pulls open the door. “After you, ladies."
I snort but trail Nisha inside.
The store is a wash of indie brands in every color imaginable. Like walking into a fucking rainbow with high price tags.
Nisha hovers at my side. "So ... What am I looking for?"
My head turns slowly. I let my eyes trail from her battered sneakers up to the high ponytail she seems to prefer. My body hardens.
Shit.
"No shoes. You won't need them," I exhale. "Think soft, movable. You need to be able to run in whatever you wear, and if you do shift, you won't mourn the loss. But it needs to be somewhat formal. A pack run is a ritual. A way to tie the group together. That begins with observing certain traditions."
"Like?"
"There are several rites and any discrepancies or issues will be brought up and resolved.”
She nods.
“Most women will be wearing dresses," I say honestly. "It's not sexist. But when you run, you will feel the heat. The wind. Everything about a pack run is sensual, invigorating. Every branch that touches your flesh is like a lover's nails. Scratching, drawing you closer. The scents of earth and fire are primordial. Primal. It brings out the beast in all of us. The darker more savage instincts. That is also why ... You can’t wear underwear."
Her full pink lips part. "What?"
I turn to face her fully, catching the blooming heat a
long her collarbones. The urge to lean in and inhale her scent is demanding. Hard to ignore. "No panties or thongs. No bra either. You’ll want easy access for your partner. And it wastes less fabric."
She gulps. "Partner?"
My smile is all teeth. "You will lay with someone tonight, Nisha. Be they male or female. Or both." Her flush scorches across her pretty cheeks. I want to turn her backside the same color as I bend her over before me. My hands clench. "By the end of the night, you will have someone between those lush thighs, sweetheart. And everything you thought you knew about sex ... It will go out the proverbial fucking window."
Chapter 25
Nisha
It takes everything I have not to grab Tanner and push him to the floor. But standing there, with his silver eyes fixed on me, I can't move. I'm frozen like a deer in headlights. But inside? Lava.
Every word the man speaks is fucking sin. Hot and sexy in that near rumbling drawl. I want to climb him like a tree. My core is hot, slick. I need to be filled. To be taken. It's not a want anymore. It's a need.
Please, to whatever god may be listening, ease the desire. Just a little.
I shake my head, trying to clear it. "Okay. No underwear and a dress. Got it."
His smile grows wild. He looks like the big bad wolf. Like he wants to eat me alive. And boy oh boy do I want to let him.
Instead I dive into the racks of clothes, Caine tight on my heels.
"How about this one?" he says casually, grabbing a gown and reaching around my body to offer me a glimpse.
My head continues to spin. "Where is he?" I breathe.
“The cat?” A pause. "Near the entrance. He is watching the exterior. Why--"
I grab his arm and haul him deeper into the store. He makes no sound, merely follows.
At the rear, obscured by numerous racks and a short partition wall, I turn to Caine with a glower. "What are you doing?"
His crimson eyes widen. "Beg pardon?"
I motion frantically down my body. "This—this heat!" I snap.
Something like sympathy moves across his sinister face. "Oh, kitten," he all but croons. "That is not me."
My jaw drops. "Caine. Stop fucking around. I can't think like this. Do you know what I want to do to him?"
