by Dannika Dark
Lenore rose and strolled to the center of the room. She stopped in a pool of moonlight and stood with her back to him. “I want the best for you. Our friendship deserves a fresh start. We’ve both evolved, and we’re better off as allies than enemies.” She turned on her heel, her black eyes sparkling like two dark stars. “You’ve chosen a worthy match. Raven has the potential to become a powerful Mage—a force to be reckoned with. She’s not from the Old World. She’ll probably lead the revolution to change our culture.” Lenore approached him and arched an eyebrow. “She might even expose us to humans. The new ones are eager to merge the two worlds. They don’t know what it was like—how humans banded together to exterminate our kind. Some of the ancients desire war, but if we can’t even settle differences amongst ourselves, it’s a delusion of grandeur to think we would band together to defeat humans. Mortals haven’t evolved.” Lenore brushed lint off his shoulder. “They can build all the fancy buildings they want and fly in these tin cans, but learning that we exist would flip them back into the Dark Ages. Only now we have something to truly fear.”
The statement hung in the air, and Christian couldn’t resist taking the bait. “And what’s that?”
“Nuclear weapons,” she replied. “Biochemical warfare. Genetic engineering. They would experiment on us—find a way to genetically change or destroy us. In fact, I think humans would be so envious of our immortality and powers that they would do anything to harness that for themselves. They once wanted to destroy us, but thanks to science, we’ll be nothing but lab rats. Take care not to let someone as young as Raven pull you under with wild ideas.”
He folded his arms. “What you know about Raven could fill a thimble.”
“I never said I didn’t like her. I’ve given her nothing but high praise. She’s just not the match I would have chosen for you. I’m still admittedly shocked that you’re dating outside your Breed. If memory serves, you were always outspoken about interbreeding.”
“You should spend less time worrying about where my cock warms itself at night and more time finding your own fecking suitor.”
She lifted her chin. “Oh, but I have.”
Christian got a sinking feeling as she sashayed back to her chair and took a seat. “I’ll not be joining your side in unholy matrimony. So you can put that infernal thought out of your head, now and forevermore.”
Lenore lifted her glass with three fingers and chuckled softly. “I see you haven’t lost your sense of humor. No, Chrissy, it’s not you I want as my partner.”
A weight lifted off his shoulders. He would rather put hornets in his pants for the rest of his life than marry that woman.
She set down her glass. “Viktor continues to impress me.”
Christian marched forward and sat in the chair across from her. He tried to remain cordial even though he was having fantasies about tossing her through a window. “Since when do Shifters catch your fancy?”
“They’re growing on me.” Lenore crossed her legs and gazed out the window. She absently touched the long stem of a fern as if deep in thought. “I think we’d make a splendid match. He’s kind but not a pushover. He values secrecy and understands political and social maneuverings. It also doesn’t hurt that he has connections all over the world. Aside from that, Viktor’s a wolf.”
Christian’s blood went ice-cold as the horror of it all sank in. “And a wolf does it for you?” he asked coolly. “All that tail wagging and crotch licking. I thought you’d set your sights a little higher, like someone in your organization. We’re a wee group who contracts our services for money.”
Lenore finished her wine with a smile hidden behind her glass. “Wolves are protective of their mates. I’ll never have to worry about someone like Viktor betraying me.”
“He’s not your type.”
She pursed her lips. “And what type is that?”
Christian crossed his legs. “Subservient.”
“I prefer an equal.”
“I thought you preferred to live alone on a deserted island?”
She smiled wistfully. “It passed the time. For a while. But I missed companionship. Imagine the practicality of it. I could work closely with your team on special projects, and I’d never have to leave the house.”
Christian swallowed hard. “Phone messaging is a convenient thing.”
“I meant your house.”
He uncrossed his legs and gave her a thorny look. “Over my rotting corpse.”
Lenore drew in a deep breath and moaned as she let it out through her nose. “Would you rather we all live here? If I choose a partner, it only makes sense to combine our fortunes and properties. I wouldn’t dream of living across town. Of course, he would have to upgrade some of his rooms. They are a bit rustic.”
Christian stood and neared the door. “I’ll be outside.”
“Christian?”
He paused but kept his back to her.
“This isn’t about you. Despite the fulfillment that Keystone brings Viktor, he’s a lonely man. We make sense together, and I think he’s clever enough to know the value of a strategic pairing. We could become a power couple, and I haven’t seen too many of those in this city. I have resources at my fingertips. I’ll be extremely useful to Keystone.”
“You say it as if it’s decided.”
“You know me, Chrissy. I always get what I want.”
Chapter 17
I stood on the curb outside the club, searching the dark streets for Mr. Crawford. Despite the warm weather, I had put on a black blazer to conceal my light tattoo.
Why did Houdini always have to mess with my head? I couldn’t stop thinking about our conversation. Had I followed the rules instead of indulging in alcohol to smooth out the edges, I wouldn’t have drunk pure Sensor magic. But I didn’t deserve what had happened—or what could have happened—and the fact Houdini hadn’t intervened only solidified my opinion of him. In any case, that was a wake-up call. I needed to get my shit together before I turned into a wrecking ball and destroyed our plans.
“Hey, what goes on in there?” a young woman asked me from the line.
I ignored her as a black car pulled up in front of me. When the passenger window rolled down, I peered inside and saw Crawford behind the wheel.
“Get in,” he said.
“I’ve only got two hours. Where are we going?”
“Around the block. I know a place.”
As I climbed into the leather seat, I looked down at my leather corset and shorts. Dear God, don’t let this man take us to Taco Bell.
The car made a right, and we drove several blocks with classical music on the radio to fill the awkward silence. I thought about breaking the ice by asking him what he did for a living, but if my hunch was correct, it had something to do with cage fights. Outside the window, just above the streetlights, I glimpsed a falcon soaring through the shadows.
“So tell me about the side job you’re offering,” I finally said. “Are you sure that I’m qualified for whatever it is?”
Crawford pulled behind a large department store and drove past the dumpsters and loading dock. The large brick wall gave us complete privacy, and since the store was closed, we wouldn’t have to worry about an employee walking up. He shut off the engine but kept the battery on.
Crawford turned off the music. “I’m looking for a special woman. A Mage who’s dexterous, strong, and has powerful light. Are you that woman?”
“So I’ve been told.” Since I wasn’t supposed to know what he was offering, I had to sell myself without being obvious. “You can’t stop a bar fight without having all those qualities. Are you looking for a bodyguard?”
His tongue swiped his bottom lip. “I’m a wealthy man, and I can offer you a chance to make a lot of money. More than the chump change you make at that bar.”
“Doing what?”
“I need assurance that I can trust you.” Crawford exited the vehicle, slammed the door, and then got into the back seat. “Step into my office and we’
ll discuss the details. I dislike modern cars. They build a wall between you and the passenger in the front seat.” He lowered an LCD screen from the ceiling and typed something on his phone.
I stepped out of the car and climbed into the back, making sure to leave my door open.
Crawford set his phone on the backrest and shifted toward me. “Close the door, please. I don’t want a spotlight on us.”
I shut the door and noticed a sword mounted on the ceiling. Not a big one, but he’d customized hooks to hold it in place and keep it out of sight.
Crawford twisted toward me and briefly touched the mole on his chin. The smell of his expensive cologne was overwhelming. “I’m looking for a woman who’s got fight in her,” he began. “Most of the ones I meet play by the rules. You’re not that kind of woman, are you?”
“Rules are for sheep.”
His lips twitched. “Before I make an offer, I want you to know how serious I am. Each time I call on your services, you’ll receive ten thousand.”
My breath caught. This was serious money.
He gestured toward the pouch behind the passenger seat. “Reach in there.”
When I tucked my fingers inside, I gripped paper and pulled out a yellow envelope. Inside were three stacks of bills.
“Count it if you like,” he said. “It’s all there. You might want to start carrying a purse.”
“I don’t get it. You know I can’t stay away from work that long. Is this an advance?”
“I want you to see how serious I am about my offer. Money speaks louder than words.”
I shoved the cash back into the pouch. “Okay. You’re serious, but what’s the offer?”
He glanced out the back window. “I want you to juice me.”
What the hell? “Is this a test?”
“I like rough play,” he said. “I like to resist, and I need a strong woman who can take it from me by force.”
I blinked in surprise. “That’s what this is about? Why all the cloak and dagger? You could ask any woman at the club to do this. I bet there’s even a room for it.”
My blood pressure skyrocketed, and I shifted in my seat. What a waste of time.
“They won’t indulge fantasies like mine.” When he touched his phone, the LCD in front of us lit up with an image. “I need visual stimulation for this transaction to work.”
When I glanced at the screen, my blood chilled. A girl no older than seven was crying. I steered my gaze away when a large hand entered the frame to slap her. That hand wore the same ring as the one on Crawford’s middle finger.
My fangs punched out, and blood roared in my ears. Fury stole my reasoning like a thief in the night. John Crawford represented the villains I used to hunt and kill—loathsome men who didn’t deserve to breathe the same air as everyone else. Most were human killers, but Crawford was special. He was my white whale.
His eyes rounded when he saw my fangs. “Impossible! I saw you flash. I saw—”
Before he could flee, I lunged and pulled his hand away from the door handle. We tussled for a minute, and I sank my fangs into his neck and drank his noxious blood. Like poison on my tongue, I could taste every wicked thing about him. Something inside me took over—something dark. I wasn’t Raven anymore.
I was the Shadow.
My mask fell off as I drank. It didn’t take much to weaken this pathetic slug. Before he could even think about fighting me off, I gripped his hands and locked fingers. “You like it rough? Well, you’re in luck.” I pulled his light so fast that it snapped against my palms.
Crawford bit his bottom lip. What an absolute fucking nightmare. As the video continued, all I heard was the plaintive sound of a sobbing child.
And this evil little toad was getting off on it.
I glared down at him with cutthroat eyes. “Lights out.” His energy surged through me like a roaring freight train. An audible snap sounded, followed by a flash of light. Crawford’s core light—the light that preserved his immortality—was now mine, leaving him a shell of a man.
He gasped in horror. “You can’t… You can’t!”
I tipped my head and grinned foolishly. “But I did.” After opening my door, I detached his sword from the interior roof and stepped out. I preferred knives, but the sword felt good in my hands. Like it knew exactly what to do. “Come face your death, mortal.”
Anticipating his every move, I coolly walked around to his door and tapped the blade against the glass. There was no escape, and he knew it. I could flash, and he couldn’t.
Crawford dove between the seats to drive off, but he wasn’t fast enough. I already had the driver’s door open, casually leaning against it as I waited for his next move. No need to make this a gory death. Crawford was a human now, and all it would take was one little poke through the gut.
His car turned on and off using a push button, and I had no idea where the key fob was. All I could do was wait, and my patience was as thin as his grey hair.
Crawford climbed out of the passenger seat and looked at me over the top of the car. “That money is just a drop in the bucket,” he said calmly, his composure returned. “I can make you rich. Return my immortality, and we’ll work out an exceptional arrangement. You’ll never want for anything.”
“I just bet.” I spat on the ground as his dark blood churned in my stomach like spoiled meat.
“We all have our secrets,” he went on, turning his gaze downward. “How many people know about your little secret? Does the Mageri know you’re a half-breed?”
I slammed the door and rounded the car from the rear. “I don’t like veiled threats.” When I reached the other side, I set the pointy tip of the sword against the concrete and rested my hands on the pommel. “I’m not here to make deals. You picked the wrong woman. That’s a mistake you’ll have to live with for the next thirty seconds of your life.”
He held out his hands, beads of sweat clinging to his wrinkled forehead. “Wait! If I die, my fortune goes to the Mageri. Wouldn’t you rather see it go to the little children? I can make this right. That video isn’t what you think. It’s old, and she was an actress!”
I gripped the handle with my right hand and drew in a deep breath.
Crawford’s last words put the nail in his own coffin. “They had a choice. They wanted to do it. And I gave them plenty of money.”
I swung my arm. Bright-red blood gushed from his neck. When he tried covering the wound with his hands, blood sprayed outward.
Crawford didn’t deserve a quick end. I wanted him to suffer for years before the sweet release of death. His victims deserved justice.
I tossed the sword to the ground, and the metal clanged against the concrete as Crawford bled out. Ignoring the gurgling and gasping, I reached into the back seat and snatched the envelope filled with cash.
Someone seized my arm, and I spun around and threw energy into him.
Flynn gave me a hard shake and glowered. “What the bloody hell have you done?”
I wrenched away. “Taking out the trash.”
He noticed the envelope. “I knew you were trouble.”
“How did you know I was here? Did you follow me?”
“Of course I followed you. I stepped outside for a smoke when I saw you getting in the car with that deranged cad.”
“You warned me to stay away from him.”
He snorted. “You suck at taking advice.”
I stepped forward and narrowed my eyes. “Did you know about his perversions?”
“A few months ago, a lady quit after going off with him. Seems he likes it rough and wanted her to assault him or something along those lines.”
I gave Flynn a hard shove and forced him into the back seat. Seconds after viewing the video, he shot out of the car and stumbled backward. When the audio filled his ears, Flynn dove back into the car and pounded his fist against the screen until it broke.
He got out, his breath heavy. “If I’d known about that, I would have done something about that manky bastard myse
lf.” Flynn put his hands on his hips and looked down at the body. “We can’t leave him here like this.”
“Help me lift him,” I said. “We’ll dump his body in the trash. I can drive the car somewhere and clean it, strip the plates, remove personal items—”
“Have you lost your mind? You want to toss him in the bin? That’s exactly the kind of thing that draws attention from the Mageri.”
“And what do you know about body disposal?”
“That there’s a learning curve.” He took out his phone and sent a message. “I know a cleaner who owes me a favor. Did anyone else see you leave together?”
“About thirty humans. What’s the doorman’s name? He saw me go with Crawford. His name starts with a G.”
“I’ll take care of Gordon.”
“What do you mean by ‘take care of’?”
Flynn put his phone in his back pocket. “Money takes care of everything. He’s a good chap and knows how to keep secrets. Did you think I was going to bury him in cement? I’m not the mafia.” He ran his fingers through his windblown hair. It defied gravity and refused to lie flat, as if he’d stuck his finger in a light socket.
Why the hell am I thinking about his hair when I just murdered an elite?
“Why was Crawford considered a VIP?” I asked. “Please don’t tell me he works for the higher authority.”
“Money makes you important. I don’t know what kind of personal connection he has with the owner or if it’s just about money, but he’s not an official. That much I know.”
I sat on the trunk of the car and stared at the wall that stretched all the way down to the end of the shopping center. What would Viktor do if he found out about this? I glanced up at the falcon sitting atop the building.
Great. Blue was the most loyal member of Keystone, and if anyone would report this back to Viktor, it would be her. Maybe it would look better if I got the jump on her and called him myself. Or called the higher authority and reported the incident. Or ran away and joined the circus.
