Electric Storm (A Raven Investigations Novel)

by Brutger, Stacey

  She swallowed hard at that. She either had very powerful friends she didn’t know about or very ruthless enemies. They’d just painted a huge target on her back. “Which means?”

  “Congratulations. With your background, you’ve been grandfathered into the force without all that rigmarole. Sign the papers and you’re in. You will be issued a gun, a badge and the right to review every criminal case involving anything paranormal.” Scotts sounded as world-weary and tired as any cop who had over ten years in service. “Oh, and lousy pay.”

  Raven blindly looked at the innocent crumpled envelope, half determined to toss the thing in the trash.

  “Think very carefully before you decide.” Scotts disappeared within the bustle of the stationhouse without another word.

  She didn’t know if the advice was a threat or plea, but she knew that if she didn’t take this step, she’d just worked her last case for the police. After the way things had ended last night, she thought maybe that was for the best.

  She turned on her heel and left, desperately in need of air. The bright sun kissed her skin, but did little to penetrate the deep cold leeching away the last fragments of warmth her body had hoarded.

  Taggert stepped in front of her, blocking her exit on the sidewalk. “Jackson wouldn’t have left voluntarily. If he left at all, it was because he had to follow orders.”

  “Would he? Now that he has his wolf back, would he really want to stay and do his baby-sitting duty?”

  Taggert’s jaw tightened at her taunt, but he didn’t back down. “He wouldn’t leave you without a direct order. Even if he’d wanted to stay, they wouldn’t have allowed him.”

  She glanced away, and Taggert shifted to stand in front of her again, his whole body filling her vision. “You can’t believe everything you see or hear in other packs. They deal in politics. No pack is willing to work with another without compensation. They deal in lies. They steal. If they see you as weak, they’ll attack. He’s useful to them again, so they recalled him.”

  “And the rule about us not being allowed to be alone? The whole reason for the chaperone?” She was grasping at straws, but didn’t care.

  “Pack can recall their enforcers at any time.”

  “No matter if it left you in danger or not.”

  Taggert shrugged. “You can petition the council, but since you already mated me, I’m not sure it would matter.”

  Determined to retrieve Jackson and fulfill her promise to him, she lifted her chin. “Where did they take him?”

  Taggert touched her arm. “If we go now, they’ll see it as an act of aggression.”

  “Jackson’s back to being the enforcer. He’ll be safe enough for now.” Durant spoke for the first time, his voice a rumble at her back. “The conclave gathers in ten days. You’ll have a chance to express your interest in him then.”

  Though Durant might not like Jackson, he was willing to help her retrieve him. For her. “And they’ll just hand him over?” Her hands curled into fists at the thought of being denied, her skin crackling as energy swirled to life around her.

  Durant and Taggert didn’t look at each other with so much as a flicker of an eyelash, raising her suspicions. “As long as his alpha or the council approves the mating.”

  She narrowed her eyes and braced herself. “Tell me the rest.”

  “You’re a new alpha. Though unlikely, someone could challenge your pack status. Another complication is the meeting takes place during a full moon.” They both paused and gazed at her as if she was supposed to know what the hell they were talking about.

  “And?”

  Taggert winced while Durant smiled. “What they say about the full moon having an effect on the shifters is true. The animal side of our nature is more pronounced, and the need to mate increases.”

  “So?”

  “What he’s trying to say is now that you’re pack, you might be affected as well.”

  She licked her lips, uncertain where this was heading. “I’m sure I’ll be fine.”

  Durant smiled again, a wickedness gleaming in his gaze. “The meeting will also be a place where other packs scope out potential lovers. If you’re there, you’ll be sure to receive offers.” Now his smile disappeared, and a shiver passed over her when his gaze sharpened possessively on her face. “You will be one of the few female alphas present.”

  “I can take care of myself.” Neither of them said a word. “Anyway, I’ll have my hands full focusing on Jackson. No one will approach me.”

  Durant and Taggert shared a glance that all men share when they thought a female was being unreasonable. She hated that look. Taggert broke the silence first. “They won’t give him up without a price. You didn’t mark him when he had leave from the pack, so if you want him, you’ll either have to fight for him or bargain with his alpha to get him back.”

  She winced at the slight incrimination in his voice. He was right. She should’ve pushed mating Jackson last night, but Jackson had to play the hero and give her time to adjust.

  She was a fool. “And if I mark him at the club?”

  “Now that he’s healed, he’s a valued member of the pack again. Without permission from his pack alpha, it’s an act of aggression. You’d be risking both his life and your own.”

  “And both of you in the process.” So not an option.

  Taggert’s phone rang, startling all three of them. He fumbled with it before answered, his eyes locked on hers.

  “I’ll let her know.” He hung up the phone, his face grim. “We have to get back to the house. London found two intruders. They say they know us and are asking for sanctuary.”

  Raven rubbed her brow, quickly covering the ground back to the car. Disappointment settled on her shoulders, along with a deep anger that another pack was trying to take what was hers.

  And Jackson was hers. He knew it. She knew it.

  She couldn’t help feel that his pack knew it as well and had purposefully recalled him to active duty where she couldn’t touch him without a price.

  She had ten days to do research, prepare for the conclave, and find out what the hell another pack wanted in exchange for the mate they had stolen right from under her nose.

  The End

  Sneak Peak

  Electric Moon

  “Would you care to explain why you let three strange male shifters into my house without my permission?”

  Raven’s words halted Durant on the spot, but his eyes lit up as his animal rose to the surface. “What happened?”

  “Besides them seeing me half naked, you mean?” She took pleasure in the little growl of rage that rumbled from him. “How about a little invasion of my privacy? I could’ve killed them by accident.”

  “Did they touch you?” He inched closer, his eyes roaming her body for injury as he walked around her.

  His gaze left tails of heat in their wake, potent enough to stun her out of her anger. He appeared genuinely concerned. “I’m fine.”

  “The three brothers signed a privacy contract. Besides their excellent work, their guaranteed privacy is what makes them the best in their field.” He continued to hover over her with each word spoken.

  Then she noticed the molten gold eyes peering out at her. When she backed up a step, he mirrored her move. There was only a foot between her and the wall at her back. He was a furnace in front of her, throwing off heat hot enough to singe. And all she wanted to do was be scorched.

  “You shouldn’t have come alone.” The danger in him was enticing, calling out to something deep inside her to come out and play .

  “She didn’t.” Taggert stepped forward, a solid presents at her side and inching up the lust level to an almost unbearable degree. The men eyed each other, neither backing down. Then Durant caught sight of the collar and sighed.

  Her palms itched to touch them, and any emotions but panic vanished under the onslaught. “How the hell am I supposed to fight this?”

  Durant blinked and some of him returned enough for her to breath p
ast his rich leather scent. “You’re the alpha. You’re the one who has the control.”

  “Why does everyone keep saying that? I don’t understand. They say touch helps, but every time I get close to either of you, the desire is ten times worse.”

  Before she could retreat, he snatch up her hand and pressed it against his chest. The fast beat of his heart thundered under her palms, heat radiated up her arms and raw lust nearly brought her to her knees. Taggert slipped behind her, his arm once more around her waist. His hand found its way beneath her shirt, splaying over her stomach. Power rocketed through her body.

  His wolf.

  It was close to the surface as if it ached and was reaching out for her.

  She sucked in a sharp breath and grabbed his wrist. Her nails bit into his arm, and she felt a little rumble at her back that did delicious things to her body, reminding her of what his kiss had tasted like.

  Instead of protesting her lack of control, he prodded her forward, only stopping with her body securely caught between them. Durant gritted his teeth, sucking in a harsh breath that beaded her nipples and weakened her knees.

  “You can increase the lust or sooth those around you with a touch. Without any control, you’ll drive us insane before the week’s out.”

  She brushed her hands over the front of his shirt and felt the beast purr at her touch. Taggert leaned down and nuzzled her neck. She barely resisted the urge to give him better access.

  “I don’t think this is working.” She swallowed hard, trying not to so much as twitch least one of them broke.

  Durant untucked his shirt and shoved her hands underneath. They both sucked in a harsh breath and didn’t move. Fine hair met her fingertips, and she couldn’t resist stroking him. The hard muscles under her fingers flexed, begging for more and he shuffled closer.

  She felt the tigers’ near crazed need to be free and claim what it wanted. Instead of frightening her, she leaned her head against his chest, a light current, different than the normal electricity, rose at her touch. Power from his animal. “Shhhhh.”

  The tiger paused in its pacing and lifted his head. Time stilled as if the beast was waiting for her to take what she wanted and the beast so willingly offered. Taggert’s wolf took advantage of her distraction and brushed against her back, offering and taking comfort. She didn’t know how long they stayed like that when she finally had enough strength to lift her head.

  The tiger stilled looked at her through Durant’s eyes, but the restlessness and need had abated. Though he didn’t look completely sedated, he no longer looked as rattled when he’d first burst into the room. He still purred at her touch, but it was more a contented sound than one of lust.

  “Touch.” Durant smiled.

  Raven couldn’t prevent a heat of blush from filling her checks at the men’s obvious arousal. For some reason, what had just happened felt more intimate than sex. She reluctantly pulled her hand away, nearly sighing when Taggert dropped his as well and stepped back. She nervously cleared her throat. “We should go.”

  Now that they weren’t touching, she could feel the desire of so many shifters in the room beyond beating at the door, racketing the lust back up. Part of her calm evaporated in frustration. She’d hoped the effects would’ve lasted longer.

  “It was foolish of you two to come here with so many shifters so close to the full moon.” Gone was the contented man of a few seconds ago. In his place was a man intent on scolding her like a willful child.

  “It was better to face this now than be surprised at the conclave.” His lips tightened, but he didn’t refute her claim.

  “No female shifter is allowed out without protection for a reason.” He ran a finger down her cheek. “If someone touched you, I would’ve killed them.”

  Raven swallowed a gulp and resisted the urge to cross her arms. “I’ve managed to take care of myself for a few years now.” She drew up enough energy to make it spark between her fingers. “Why is now so different?”

  “You weren’t a full alpha then. You had the DNA, but you only woke when you started to interact with other shifters. Most shifters will give you respect, but there are more than a few who crave what you can do for them and won’t ask your permission. If they attack, you will have to retaliate or be seen as weak.”

  A sickening sense of dread circled her gut. “Why are they so eager to throw away their lives?”

  Durant snorted, his eyes darkening as a wave of heat snaked under her skin and caught her breath. She had no doubt he did it on purpose to put her on edge. “I like your confidence about your abilities, but you don’t know how persistent weres can be, especially with something as precious as a female alpha.” He crowded closer, his lips hovering over hers. “And if you don’t leave now, I’ll have you striped and sprawled across my desk in less than minute, tasting every delicious inch of you.”

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  Sneak Peak

  The Demon Within

  Blood trickled from a gash, coating the rough surface of stone beneath Caly’s fingers. Warming it. Pulling her arm back, she ignored the cut and parted the vines.

  And caught a glimpse of stone.

  Spreading the vegetation further, she stilled when powerful thighs filled her gaze. The voices of the men arguing disappeared in the background as she tilted her head back and looked up.

  A black beetle so large it had to be on steroids paused climbing the statue and flicked a perturbed glance at her. With a little hiss for disturbing him, the little critter launched itself in the air with a flutter of wings. She flinched, bowed backwards to miss being hit in the face.

  And met the open-eyed stare of a statue, a man forever captured in time. All thoughts of bugs vanished. Caly’s lips parted, her eyes widened and her breath stuttered out of her mouth.

  There was a God.

  The man—and from her view kneeling on the moss covered ground, he was most definitely a man—was absolutely gorgeous. Not in the normal sense, not by Hollywood standards. Prominent cheekbones, a full, sharp nose and a strong jaw kept his face from being too feminine.

  Desire twisted through her, and a deep yearning tightened her chest. A bubble of hope swelled. This was a man she could depend on to not let her down. When she looked at him, the chaos inside that defined most of her life settled.

  She felt normal.

  Reality crashed over her, settling heavily on her shoulders. Desire for a damn statue. How ironic she could be attracted to stone when live men left her cold. But here, in the middle of nowhere, she found a man who turned her on like nobody else, and he wasn’t real. It was enough to make her cry.

  Little details filtered into her brain. A thrill of excitement thrummed under her skin. The answers she sought about her condition were stuck in the past; she only had to uncover the clues.

  This was why she came here, what quieted her protests against the mission, all for the chance to learn if there was a possibility for her to be human again. To find a way to finally destroy the demon infection that had taken root and flourished in her body. Each time the darkness opened up in her, the harder it became to fight. The more she wondered why she fought it at all.

  The mission forgotten, Caly took her time to catalog each odd detail, a dark thrill brushed against the edge of her awareness. The statue wasn’t what she’d come to expect from this region. Instead of native garb, the grey stone man had chiseled, close fitted pants. Two inch carved straps crisscrossed his chest, appearing to almost dig into the stone. His long hair, wild with waves, was tied back from his face.

  Her fingers twitched to run her hands over him. Though his complexion was tinged green with age, the fierce expression drew her gaze instead of repelling her. The turn of his lips was anything but sensual, yet their full form made her think of sex and what a man could do with a mouth like his.

  Strong shoulders led down to a lean, sculptured chest. His open shirt did little to disguise his physique. The statue shouldn’t have impressed h
er, but it was as if the stone called to her. She had to curl her fingers into a fist to resist touching him. A streak of light filtered through the canopy, wavered a moment then illuminated him like an offering. Something just for her and no one else.

  As she watched, she swore his chest moved to breathe. It took a physical effort to pull her gaze away, regulate her breathing, and longer to tuck away the desire to stake claim. The weird light faded, and her focus came to rest on a knife strapped to his right side. The fifteen-inch dagger rested close to his body, the curved handle arched up, wrapping along his ribs. What drew her interest was the intricate design etched along the outside of the scabbard and handle. It was too detailed for any stone crafting of the time. Or it should have been.

  Absorbed in the discovery, she leaned forward for a better look. It reminded her of something important, but she couldn’t put her finger on it.

  A heavy hand landed on her shoulder, jolting her attention back to her surroundings, leaving her guts in her throat.

  “Did you find anything of interest?”

  Oscar.

  Shit.

  “No.” The protest rose automatically to her lips. Her fascination with the statue triggered her unease again. Especially the way it so completely made her forget her surroundings and the mission.

  It took more force than she liked to drop her hands to her sides. A hand she hadn’t even known she’d raised. The vines swung inward, the statue disappeared from sight, and her stomach dropped. Caly honestly didn’t know if her reaction was due more to the fact she messed up or because the statue was no longer under her watchful eye.

  She had an awful, sinking feeling it was the latter.

  “Nothing of interest.” Guilt caused her to flush, but she didn’t want the old man to find the statue, feeling protective of the stupid thing. She tried to tell herself she was overreacting, but her mind didn’t agree. She held her ground, waiting for him to move away.