by Rosalie Redd
A strange sense of foreboding ran over her shoulders. She wasn’t going to Seattle, not anymore. For better or worse, her life was on a different path. In the back of her mind, she wondered if she’d ever see this place again.
With one last glance around the room, she hooked Coop’s leash on his collar and stroked his fur. “Let’s go find Tanen, Coop. Find him, boy.”
As she walked through the door, she didn’t look back.
CHAPTER 37
The lightening Lemurian sky was a welcome sign, a first for Alora. She paced from the small cook stove to the windowsill and back, following the same steps at each turn. A tratee fly flew in through the window and buzzed around her head. The light in its wing set off a small glow, but even her favorite night creature couldn’t bring her solace, not after what had happened to Bellamy. Hurry, Veromé.
The fly exited out the opening as quickly as it came. If only she could get rid of the memories so easily. The rhondo beast’s roar still echoed in her mind. Her pulse quickened.
Little pixels formed in the room, taking shape. Alora’s chest expanded and a sense of relief washed over her. The small dots connected until Veromé’s form solidified. Alora’s muscles tensed. She was eager to race into his arms.
Veromé focused on her, and his features hardened, his brow pulling low over his eyes.
Her heart stuttered. She inhaled. What’s wrong? Then, the memory returned—the fight, the accusation, the bitterness.
Blood pounded at her temple. “You’re still angry. If I was having an affair with Zedron, would I still wear this?” She raised her arm. The bracelet he’d given her for their anniversary sparkled in the light.
He glanced at her wrist. His features softened. “I don’t want to fight with you. Not about him.”
“Then, don’t.”
A chagrined smile crossed his face, and he opened his arms. “Come, my love.”
She raced to him like she’d initially wanted. He wrapped his arms around her, entwining her in his embrace. As she ran her fingers through his hair, she enjoyed how the soft strands cascaded around his shoulders. Her chest expanded, tears forming in her eyes. “I’ve missed you, so much. Kiss me.”
He drew back to study her and cradled her head in his palm. “I’ve never been able to resist you. How could I now?”
He brought his lips to hers, giving her a slow, tender kiss. She melted under his care, absorbing all that defined him, his taste, his scent, the commanding way he took control. All she wanted was to enjoy every touch, every moment, before she disappeared. He deepened the kiss, pulling her closer. A low moan vibrated in his chest, sending a shiver down her spine.
Her stomach fluttered, and she peered into his eyes. “Veromé…”
“Shh…” He placed his finger over her lips. “I want to look at you, burn the image of your beautiful face in my mind. So, when I work, I have my memory to keep me going.”
His enforcer work… The knot in her stomach returned full force. She glanced at the floor. Bellamy.
“Hey, hey, what is it?” He placed his finger under her chin, bringing her gaze up to his.
She pulled away. Her chest ached at the loss of contact, but she couldn’t bring herself to speak of the latest tragedy, not yet.
“Something’s happened. Tell me.” His commanding voice left little room for argument.
She faced him. Her eyes stung from unshed tears. “Bellamy…she’s gone.”
“What? How?”
“One of the wooden walkways…sh…she fell…”
“No. A rhondo beast?”
Unable to speak, she nodded.
He trailed a finger over her brow and placed a stray strand of hair behind her ear. “I’m so sorry, my love.” He embraced her once again, holding her tight.
The ache in her chest eased a bit. “I miss her already.”
“She was a good friend. We’ll both miss her. When did this happen?”
“It occurred just after the moon crested over the sky.”
“Other enforcers will already have hunted the beast.”
She placed her head against his chest. “I hate that you have to delve into these incidents. I worry—”
“Shh…” He held her tighter, and the warmth of his skin reminded her of how much she missed his touch.
She clamped her mouth shut to stave off the tears.
He leaned back to look at her, then peered out the window. His brow furrowed. “I don’t mean to change the subject, but we don’t have much time. My father gave me the details about your sanction.”
Alora’s throat tightened, and she pushed against him. “I don’t want to talk about Radnor or his decree.”
Veromé held on. “Alora, I’m sorry I made an assumption…about you and Zedron. I let my insecurities get the better of me.”
The creases around his eyes, furrowed brow, and thin, pursed lips indicted the depth of his regret. Her nerves tingled, and she couldn’t help but forgive him. “Veromé, you know I can’t stay mad at you.”
The first rays of the morning sun crested over the horizon. She gave Veromé one last kiss before her skin tingled. Dots formed in front of her eyes, her vision pixelating as her body transported molecule by molecule to her private cell.
Veromé’s eyes widened, and his voice faded with each of her heartbeats, but not before she’d captured a few of his words. “Did…tell Noeh…Ursus? Friends…turned…enemies…”
A sudden coldness enveloped her. No, oh, no. In her distraction over Bellamy and the rhondo beast, she’d forgotten to warn Noeh. The Ursus are coming…
Tanen crashed through the heavy underbrush. Small ferns, clover, and moss squished beneath his shoes, extra wet thanks to the recent rain shower. He raced on, letting the beast close to the surface. This gave him the energy and power to burn off some of his frustration. The devastation Mauree could do with the blue sunstone was a nightmare of gigantic proportions. His need to warn the Keep’s residents of the impending danger urged him onward. Dearest Alora, I pray I arrive in time.
Unbidden, a memory of Sheri with her warm smile and her beautiful hazel eyes entered his mind. The way she’d made love to him, her touch part salve, part elixir, had teased him, taunted him. A heaviness crept over his shoulders. He’d brought chaos and mayhem into her life, leaving destruction, uncertainty, and fear in his wake. To make amends, he’d cleaned up her place, repaired her book and left his most precious adornment—his lapel pin. Even so, it paled in comparison to his deeds.
His stomach heaved and this time, bile came all the way up. He choked, spitting out the vile fluid, the hot taste burning the back of his throat. Maybe this was his soul’s way of cleansing himself from the inside. He prayed it would be this easy.
Movement flashed out of the corner of Tanen’s eye. Before he could turn to look, something sharp nicked the skin at the base of his skull. He stiffened. A trickle of blood ran down his neck.
“Don’t move, Tanen. You’re wanted on suspicion of treason.” Saar’s deep voice rumbled through his chest.
A surge of adrenaline poured into Tanen’s veins. “I came to warn you—”
Saar gripped Tanen’s arm and whirled him around. He placed the tip of his sword under Tanen’s chin, and narrowed his gaze. “Are you threatening me?”
Tanen curled his lip. “Mauree is on her way to Roan’s Rock. She’s gone rogue, joining forces with Jakar. For all we know, he’s enlisted some new recruits.”
A loud hiss escaped Saar’s lips. “So she is coming…as we anticipated. Somehow, I’m not surprised she’s with the enemy. How do I know you aren’t working with her?”
“I give you my word.”
Saar huffed and withdrew his sword. “Show me your mark.”
Tanen unbuttoned his shirt and pulled the material free, exposing his chest. His marking for honesty darkened.
Saar inhaled. “Tell me more.”
Tanen’s muscles relaxed. “Mauree has the blue sunstone. I believe she intends to use it against the
residents of the Keep at the Ostrum ceremony.”
Saar’s gaze narrowed on Tanen once again. “What’s your involvement?”
Tanen clenched his jaw, and his beast growled. “It’s complicated, but I’m not the enemy. We don’t have time to discuss this.”
“You stole the stone, didn’t you?”
Tanen pursed his lips. “You have no idea how much I regret what I’ve done.”
Saar’s eyes darted back and forth as he evaluated Tanen. His mouth drew into a thin line. “We need to send the civilians inside. Many of the warriors are along the territory perimeter. I’ll alert them. You continue on, call for a portal, and tell the civilians the ceremony is cancelled.”
“Agreed.” Tanen thanked the gods the commander had seen the light.
Saar gripped Tanen’s arm. “One last question. Did you release Mauree from her cell?”
“No, I did not.” Tanen’s marking for honesty pulsed once again, darkening.
Saar glanced at it. “That bodes well for you, but not for the traitor…the one who betrayed us all. I’ll catch up with you later.”
Saar disappeared into the dark forest. Tanen ran on, eager to arrive at his destination, but he couldn’t stop dread’s cold fingers from running down his spine.
CHAPTER 38
A drop of water landed on the back of Sheri’s hand, reminding her of tears. The brief rain shower had ended, but a few stray droplets still dripped from the trees. Wet ferns slapped against her legs as she headed down the trail, chilling her calves. Chasing after Tanen had seemed like the right thing to do, but now, doubt quivered in her stomach. Was he really out here? Her chest tightened, squeezing the ache in her heart. I have to find him.
Coop strained against the leash, pulling her along. His soft chuffs, punctuated by an occasional bark, kept her moving. He seemed to have Tanen’s trail, traversing along the little-used path like he knew exactly where to go. After what seemed like hours, but was perhaps a few minutes, Coop slowed. His ears pulled back. A soft whine eased from his throat.
Sheri’s pulse spiked. She stopped.
With a quick glance, she scanned the area. Dark shadows penetrating between the branches were broken only by the beam from her flashlight. Her hand started to shake, and the flashlight’s glow turned the trees into monsters.
Strong and powerful, an astringent smell wafted by on the wind.
A deep rumbling formed in Coop’s chest and he barked, again and again. His rigid stance and forceful display raised the hair on the back of her neck.
Strange, guttural grunts filled the air. The muscles in her shoulders tensed.
The branches of a nearby pine rustled. A bald man wearing a pair of jeans, a dark T-shirt, and a blue bandana around his throat crept onto the path. Even in the dimness, his dark orbs reflected the moonlight.
A scream threatened to break free, yet, at the same time, an unfamiliar urge to fight him, beat him at his own game flared to life. Where the impulse came from she wasn’t sure, but she held on to it, using the energy to fuel her courage.
Coop strained against the leash, his front paws leaving the ground with each tug. His barks echoed between the trees.
From among the bushes another man stepped forward, one she recognized—the guy who’d ransacked her home—Jakar. He hissed and his long, barbed tongue snapped dangerously close to her face.
The scream she’d held in erupted from her throat. Coop’s barking increased into a frenzy. She couldn’t hold him any longer. Her pet yanked free and raced toward the bald man with the bandana. Her companion attacked, sinking his teeth into the man’s leg. The man’s fingernails turned into claws, scraping through Coop’s fur.
“No!” Her chest constricted. Before she could think, she ran toward her beloved pet.
Jakar jumped in her path. “Who do we have here?”
She stopped. Blood pounded through her veins, feeding her anger and keeping her fear at bay. Over Jakar’s shoulder, Coop bit into the creature’s flank. The evil beast screamed.
Sheri focused on her opponent. Jakar’s nostrils flared, as if he were reading her scent. “You, again. Though, this time, you’re no longer human, you’re…Dren.” Jakar’s mouth pulled into a grin.
A short pained whine tore through the trees. Coop sailed through the air, landing in the soft moss at the base of a nearby fir, motionless.
“Coop!” Sheri’s blood boiled. Energy, hot and fast, built in her chest, growing in intensity with each heartbeat. Sparks pulsed from her fingers.
Jakar focused on her hands, his smile fading from his lips.
With all the rage she could muster, she ran at him. She clutched his biceps, her fingers tingling with energy. Little lightning bolts of electricity visibly trailed down his arms. A burst of light lit up the darkness. His scream pierced the night.
I’m…no longer human. What little doubt she had left was laid to rest. She couldn’t ignore what she’d done.
With a quick turn, she faced his companion.
The evil beast sprinted toward her. His tongue whipped in and out of his mouth. She dodged, and the barbed tip snapped next to her shoulder. Spittle, sticky and warm, landed on her cheek. A sour tang ran up her throat.
He pulled her into his grasp, and his claws bit through her coat, piercing her shoulder. A ball of pain ripped through her and her heart thrummed, as if it were about to explode. Long trails of energy snaked from her fingertips, enveloping her and the unearthly being. He screamed. The deafening sound skated over her nerves.
His grip loosened, releasing her. With his mouth extending into a silent scream, he slumped to the ground into a pile of black sludge.
She placed her hands over her mouth, holding in her scream. How could any of this be real? But she couldn’t ignore what she’d seen with her own eyes…what she’d done with her own hands.
Coop…
She glanced toward the tree.
He was gone.
She inhaled, fighting the fear coiling inside.
Creature after creature descended from the trees. Their dark eyes bore into her.
“Halt. Don’t attack.” Jakar emerged onto the path, Coop’s limp form in his arms.
Her heart stuttered. “What did you do to him?”
Jakar curled his lip. Unmistakable red welts marred his biceps where she’d touched him. “Your pet is still alive and will remain so, as long as you cooperate.”
A tendril of fear snaked its way into her heart. She couldn’t speak, couldn’t move.
“You love your little friend, don’t you?” His tongue lashed out, snapping in the air.
She struggled to believe this was happening, yet, somehow, she knew this was as real as it came. “Wh…what do you want?”
“Well, your assistance, of course.” His mouth curved into an evil grin. “You have a mighty fine gift. One that would come in handy in our little war.”
“N…no.” Her fingers trembled, so she curled her fist. She wouldn’t show him her fear.
“I guess you don’t care for him as much as I thought.” Jakar opened his mouth, displaying his serrated teeth. Saliva dripped off the end of one long tooth, glistening as it fell.
“Wait!” She hated herself for giving in so quickly, but she couldn’t let anything happen to Coop.
“Ah, that’s better.” He smiled, handed Coop to one of his cohorts, and nodded down the path. “You first. I’m with the scouting party, but the rest of my kind isn’t far away.” His dark eyes gleamed in the light.
Seems she didn’t have a choice. She raised her chin and headed along the path. Tanen, where are you?
Not a minute later, two large males and a female strode onto the path. They were different from the others with bulky frames and dark hair. Mauree ran her hand over one of the male’s biceps. The muscles in his shoulders tensed, and he crossed his arms. Mauree chuckled, and her attention focused on Sheri.
Sheri’s jaw tightened as hatred, deep and powerful, welled from an unknown source, pushing away her fear
.
Jakar shoved her forward. “Look what I found. She’s a Dren now. Seems Tanen must’ve changed her.”
Mauree snorted. “The only way that could’ve happened is if he got his saliva into an open wound. He wouldn’t dare.”
Sheri’s mind reeled. Three times the charm. She’d bitten her cheek leaving the tissue raw and sore. Tanen had kissed her. A knot formed in her stomach.
“Why did you bring her here?” Mauree walked around Sheri, her gaze raking over her from head to foot.
Jakar tsked. “She has value. Killed one of my scouts…electrocuted him with her touch.”
“What do you propose to do with her? If she’s like any of the others, she’ll need to feed, need to drink blood or go crazy. Melissa struggled with that when she came to the Keep and stole Noeh from…” Mauree’s features hardened, and a tic formed in her jaw.
A Dren. Is that a vampire? A scream threatened, but Sheri swallowed the shriek before it could escape her lips. Pulling on her newfound strength, she raised her chin. At least there was someone else like her, this Melissa. Maybe she’d get the chance to meet her…if she survived.
Jakar shrugged. “I hadn’t planned to keep her that long. Only want to see if there’s a way to steal her power.”
“You’re no Ram.” Mauree’s clipped words echoed off the trees.
Sheri inhaled. The words tumbled from her lips before she could stop them. “Ram? You know my ex-husband?” How many Rams were out there in this world? It had to be him. That he’d somehow been a part of this sent a chill down her spine.
Jakar’s gaze focused on her. “What’s your name?”
She clamped her jaw shut and pursed her lips.
He raised an eyebrow. “It wouldn’t be Sheri, would it?”
She tried to maintain her composure, but couldn’t hide the slight flinch.
Jakar’s smile revealed his serrated teeth. “Isn’t that interesting…he wanted so much to reconnect with you.”
Mauree waved her fingers. “Enough. This is a waste of time.”
Heat flushed through Sheri, and the urge to fight, to hurt these creatures welled inside. Sparks flared from her fingertips.
