The wolf stared back at her when their gazes met. “I see the way you channel energy. I felt you do it when your lips were on me and you took my blood.” A shudder went through him, and she didn’t think it had anything to do with pain. “I can’t absorb it the way you do, but I believe the wolf can help channel it so it doesn’t kill us.”
Her heart leapt at his confession. She would’ve questioned him further when Sarah’s pacing grew more erratic. Raven didn’t know if Taggert was lying to protect her or not. His steady gaze held hers, and she took a leap of faith.
“If you’re lying and you die on me, I’ll bring your ass back just so I can kill you myself.” Without giving him a chance to say anything, she curled her nails into the cold earth and sucked in the power with a hard, steady draw. Her core filled in fits and starts as it sputtered, making it harder to work.
An off-tune, jerky hum from Sarah sent chills down her spine. Her brain shut down as the voltage arched through her body. Her fingers burned, the muscles of her body twitched in protest. When she didn’t think she could draw more, the power wavered below her.
Her heartbeat thundered in her ears, and every inch of her crackled with excess energy. She could barely breathe past the pain as her core grew brighter and pulsed. Acid burned through her veins, seeking escape, wanting freedom. But knowing Taggert stood connected to her made that impossible. The damned chain would ensure that if any slipped her control, too much would try for him first.
Just when she feared that her skin would burst from the strain, the darkness around her core shifted, curling tighter. Choking. Her breath left her in a rush. Then all the air was gone. Her lungs were starving. The world narrowed to the creature with the strangle hold on her guts and the bright core threatening to go nova.
A cool breeze brushed across her face as if in a caress, and the flare slowly died, scraped from her core. The creature stretched through her chest as if searching for more. When it found none, it curled up and stilled. Any extra boost she might have gained vanished, leaving her raw, edgy and without an ounce of spark. The ground was nothing but cool, clean earth.
When she had enough courage to lift her head, she found herself sprawled in the grass, Taggert’s yellow gaze no more than an inch from hers, and no sign of Sarah.
“You alive?” Dryness from controlling so much energy sucked the moisture from her, making her throat raspy.
A light hum rumbled in his throat, his beast too much in control to allow him to speak. The muscles of her arms trembled when she pushed herself upright, and a shot sounded in the night.
When she would’ve flattened herself, Taggert launched himself forward, caught her under the arms and hauled her upright. When they vaulted toward the cave, another shot echoed through the trees. Taggert threw them backwards. They took cover crouched behind another tree.
“Soldier Boy,” she muttered under her breath, cursing their luck. No one could’ve been worse. He was a hunter who loved noting better than running his prey to ground. Then she bit her lip. An idea sparked her mind, daring enough to work if Taggert didn’t kill her first.
“You want a fair fight,” She yelled at the shadows. “How is tying me to a dying shifter fair?”
Taggert jerked on the chain, but she didn’t take her attention away from Solider Boy’s location. She reached out and brushed her hand down Taggert’s arm, trying to convey that everything would be all right.
He narrowed his eyes, then nodded slightly. She licked her lips, praying that playing with Soldier Boy’s pride wouldn’t get them killed.
“Stay hidden.” She hissed the words and struggled to her feet. An animal at her center trotted out. As it drew near, Raven recognized her wolf. Fur brushed against her mind. The trembling faded, the fever abated slightly, and some of the damage done to her body began to mend ever so slowly. She didn’t know whether to feel grateful or scared shitless.
“Why don’t we even the fight?” She stepped out of hiding, raised her arm and pulled the chain taut between them. She could’ve kicked Taggert when he left the shelter of the tree with her, presenting another target. “Free me. Hunt me in the open without your gun like a man.”
A bullet tore through the night. She braced herself for impact, only to feel the restraints jerk. The chains broke. Her arm fell to her side with a tinkle of metal. It took her precious seconds for her to realize she was free.
“Run!” She shoved Taggert and took off in the opposite direction. When his footsteps thundered after her, she cursed. “You’re running in the wrong direction. Why can’t you ever listen? Get to safety.”
“Not without you.”
“Damn it all to hell.” She jerked to a halt, resisting the urge to hit him over the head. “I can take care of Soldier Boy better without worrying I’ll injure you in the process.”
Didn’t he understand that nothing could happen to him or it would all be for nothing? Memories of another escape flowed through her mind. Of too many people who had died in her arms when she’d arrived too late.
Something didn’t feel right.
She turned toward Taggert. A shadow rose from the ground from behind him. A blade flashed in the meager light. Something in her expression must have warned him. He threw himself forward but not quick enough.
The knife sliced through the flesh of his back in a large sweep. What was intended to be a killing blow carved down to bone instead. When she reached to drag him away, Soldier Boy stepped forward.
If she tried to help Taggert, Soldier Boy would deal him the death blow. She retreated slowly, aching with the knowledge that Taggert could bleed to death mere feet from her while she was unable to do anything to help.
When Taggert struggled to rise, Raven shook her head. She switched her focus to see Soldier Boy drop down in a fighter stance.
When he lashed out with the knife, Raven dodged and struck back. The chain at her wrist snapped out, catching him across the face. Instead of stunning him, he struck back, hitting her forearm. The smell of her blood scented the air. That she didn’t feel anything warned her that the knife had cut deep.
Taggert growled as he got to his hands and knees.
A line between Soldier Boy’s eyes drew her attention. The hunt was too easy. She couldn’t wait for him to strike first. If she didn’t do something, he’d stop playing and kill them outright.
Still unable to raise even a spark, she did the opposite, drew his energy toward her. Any extra strength she received from her animals vanished with the use of her power. She stumbled, but quickly gained her footing. Without touching, there was no finesse but brute determination.
Soldier Boy’s gaze sharpened. He tightened his hold on the knife as if sensing a trap. The blade slashed through the air. She weaved, but he changed directions and hit her upper shoulder.
Her concentration faltered, and she lost her hold on the energy. Gritting her teeth, she swung around and faced him. His hand wove back and forth, the movement of the knife a distraction to draw her gaze. She studied the rest of his body, waiting for a slight tensing to tell when he would strike.
Breathing hard, she coiled her chain around her hand to make a metal fist, ignoring the twinge as the metal touched her still partially singed hands.
She dodged his next blow. Her ankle scraped against a fist-size rock.
When he swung again, she twisted and slammed her metal gauntlet against his face with an arm-jolting thud then used the momentum and rolled, snatching the rock.
Not fast enough. He sliced through the flesh her thigh. Pain streaked up her hip with every step. Damn, but she really needed to get London to train her on how to fight. She couldn’t rely on her powers anymore, not when they were so erratic.
She hefted the baseball-sized granite. When he lunged again, she brought up the rock and swung. The knife snapped with a ping, leaving him a two-inch blade. He’d have to get closer to reach her. If she could get her hands on him, she could tear the power from him.
Her wounds slowly oozed blood do
wn her arm, thigh and shoulder. Too many cuts, too many wounds, too much spent energy. Her body protested every small movement. If she didn’t finish this soon, she wouldn’t be good for anything.
She risked a glance at Taggert to see him awake, aware and waiting for the slightest signal to attack. Faint voices sounded behind her, too far away to be of any assistance.
Soldier Boy appeared to be distracted. She lunged forward, reaching for his aura. The instant her hand touched him, the shield around him bowed under her touch, met resistance, then popped like a balloon, and her power jabbed through. Energy danced through her fingers, and her core sparked, greedily gulping down everything within reach.
“Raven!”
Soldier Boy pulled back his arm and slammed his knife forward. Though she knew it was too late, she threw herself sideways.
The jagged edge meant for her heart sank into her upper shoulder. Her legs buckled. Taggert’s devastated gaze locked on hers as he struggled to his feet.
She reached up, ready to yank the blade free, waiting for the last second in order to preserve her strength when a blurred shape erupted from the woods to her right.
Jackson. Coming low and fast.
He launched himself head first into danger. Just when she expected them to collide, Jackson shifted to his wolf mid-flight in an awe-inspiring display of power.
Shifting normally wasn’t smooth, wasn’t graceful. Jackson’s shift to his animal form was different. There were no muscles popping, no bones snapping or rippling fur, no blood as flesh reformed. What should’ve taken minutes, he managed in seconds. Part of her wondered if she might have changed something by trying to fix him.
Then all thoughts vanished when Soldier Boy went down, arms locked around the wolf, a crazed smile on his face. The wolf yipped. Then there was a snap. A horrible sense of disbelief clenched her heart. The bodies were still. As each second passed with no movement, the vise around her throat tightened.
Regret staggered her. Regret for not taking the chance to mate Jackson when he’d wanted. But there was hope. He was still in wolf form. That meant he was still alive. She clung to her shaky reasoning as she crawled toward him. She groped for her core, but there wasn’t enough power to try to bring him back from the dead, much less heal him.
Hands reached for her, and she struggled, determined to reach Jackson. Durant cupped her chin, forcing her to look up. His lips moved, but she couldn’t hear anything as the buzzing in her ears.
“He’s alive.”
She followed Durant’s nod. Fur rippled as the animal pulled free of the weight trapping him. Soldier Boy’s arm flopped on the ground, and Jackson turned toward her, a savagely triumphant expression in his eyes. Eyes she recognized, fiercely proud and reveling being in his wolf form once again.
The big wolf was gorgeous, the lines of his body tightly packed with muscles, and easily twice his normal size. His fur was an amazing mix of tawny gold tinged with black instead of the normal black and white of his race.
Tears clouded her vision.
He took a hesitant step and whined when his foot refused to hold his weight. As he limped toward her, she couldn’t grasp that they’d made it.
“You’re alive.” Her eyes caressed Jackson’s form, looking for any sign of further injuries.
“And under arrest for murder.” Scotts’ voice broke through her shock. She turned from Jackson to face the resolute expression of the police.
Chapter Thirty-three
The pain grew in waves as the numbness wore off, but if Raven could’ve reached Scotts, she would’ve smacked him. The worst thing was that she couldn’t even catch her breath to curse him. Remorse darkened Scotts’ gaze, but it wouldn’t prevent him from doing his job. Jackson licked her face, distracting her from her anger almost like he was trying to tell her that he’d be all right.
“Taggert?” Her voice emerged as a rasp. She tried to turn, but Jackson had crawled in her lap, effectively pinning her in place.
“He’s fine. A few nasty scratches, but he’ll be as good as new after a few days.” Dominic helped Taggert stand and eased him down next to her. Only when he carefully leaned against her did she finally believe that everything might work out.
Dominic’s laser-green gaze pierced hers. “I’m more worried about your wounds. Let me see your injuries before Scotts calls those medics he’s been threatening to have trample through the forest and destroy evidence.”
Raven stilled at Dominic’s warning. That’s the last thing she needed. She couldn’t allow others to touch her blood and question how fast she healed. If someone got curious and ran her DNA, she’d be screwed.
“Fine.” She gripped the knife, ready to jerk it out when Durant’s large hand latched onto her wrist.
“Wait. Let me get a bandage first.” With a serious flex of muscles, he slipped out of his shirt to reveal a close fitting tee that drew attention to his body. He ripped the material into strips. The men exchanged a look. Taggert slipped an arm around her waist and tightened his grip.
“I can do it.” She wiggled, trying to break free. Durant couldn’t touch her blood.
They ignored her. Durant nodded, lifted the makeshift pad, while Dominic gripped the knife handle. One jerk and the metal slipped free with a juicy sound. She struggled, but it did no good. Blood spilled down the front of her shirt. The pain spiked when fresh air hit, twisting through her chest as if the knife took a chunk of her shoulder with it.
Durant knocked away her hands when she grabbed for the pad and deftly applied enough pressure, stopping any protest she might have given by stealing her breath.
She gritted her teeth, cursing her weakness. Tears tore at her soul as blood soaked his hands. The fight drained out of her, and bitterness sought a target.
Unwilling for the police to see them in such a vulnerable position, she snarled. “There is a cave that way. Why don’t you see if you can rescue someone there.”
She jerked her head, indicating the vast darkness beyond the circle of trees. As soon as Scotts glanced away, Dominic pocketed the knife with her blood on it.
“Head south about two hundred yards. Why not try to catch the others before they escape.” She didn’t say instead of harassing us like she wanted, but it was a stretch.
Tact.
That was her.
A mask descended over Scotts’ dusky, dark complexion and the hardnosed detective took over as he ordered his men about. What he didn’t do was leave them alone. Raven gave a subtle nod to Dominic to oversee the police. He hesitated, gave her one last searching glance and melted into the surroundings like he’d never been there.
“Too many people saw your wolf kill. I have no choice but to haul him in to the station.” Scotts paused, a bit resigned at her stiff attitude. Raven kept quiet less she say something irrevocably damaging. “I’ll do my best to process him quickly. I don’t see any issues with you being able to pick him up in the morning after we’ve cleared him. This is a clear case of self-defense.”
Despite the turmoil, Scotts’ statement was a huge concession.
For her.
Though she fought it, she was grateful. And that made her all the grumpier. Most shifters brought in on murder went through an inquisition that took months. By the time they gained their freedom, most went a little insane at being confined.
Only a very few packs had the political sway to reclaim their members from such a charge without huge fines and a lot of favors changing hands. Any law enforcement officials would say it doesn’t happen at all.
“Thank you.” Although she knew she was pushing him, she couldn’t resist making a demand. “Will you allow me to see if I can get him to shift?” She couldn’t stand to see him locked with chains and shoved in the metal wagon reserved for shifters in their animal form with only the bare minimum of padding to protect them.
Depending on the strength of the shifter, it could take hours to revert back to normal. Most didn’t have a choice when their animal contorted back to their huma
n shape. But she had a feeling that Jackson was different. And a sinking suspicion that she’d made it worse with her interference.
Now she’d possibly infected Durant as well. Guilt battled for dominance, and she quickly shoved it away. She’d deal with Durant later.
“Jackson—” Even as she spoke, his fur receded, flowing into him like water. His back arched, a hiss escaped as his muscles pulled tight, and his body settled back into itself. He blindly reached for her, and she grabbed his hand. “I’m here. I have you.”
The whole process was very private, and she hated that Jackson had to go through it in such a public manner. She brought his hand up to her face and brushed her cheek against his fingers to soothe them both. Someone thoughtfully handed him a pair of shorts.
“Sir.” The radio crackled to life, the static startling in the deep silence of the forest. “We have two bodies slaughtered here.” In the background, you could hear someone retching. “They’re bad.”
“Shifter?” Scotts gave her a probing look. They both knew he wasn’t asking if the victims were shifters.
“From the pieces we can find, it appears so.”
Raven lifted her chin, daring him to even suggest that it was one of hers. When no other report came across the radio, the sour taste in the back of her throat dissipated. Digger and Griffin had escaped. The guards were dead. Somehow, she didn’t think Grandpa was one of the casualties.
“Secure the scene and search the forest near the opening. See if you can find any tracks leading from the cave. Watch for both human and animal. I’ll send the techs in with the crime kit. We should be there in twenty minutes.”
“Yes, sir.” The young voice wobbled a little, but she had to give him credit, the man didn’t back down at the prospect of being alone in a forest full of shifters. Scotts replaced his radio and nodded to rookie at his side. “Cuff him.”
A deputy licked his lips and resolutely pulled out a set of cuffs from his belt.
Affronted on Jackson’s behalf, Raven glared at Scotts. “Are those really necessary?”
Electric Storm (A Raven Investigations Novel) Page 29
