The DarkWorld SkinWalker Series Box Set Vol II: The SkinWalker Series Books 4, 5 & 6: Blood Promise, Scorched Fury, & Fate's Edge (DarkWorld: SkinWalker)

by T. G. Ayer

  I smiled, happy that he finally knew me so well, but my attention remained on the gleaming dagger. It was said to have survived five centuries of protecting the supernatural world. How it ended up in my father’s possession I didn’t know, but I was grateful that I could have it with me even if it was just for the mental support.

  Of course, I was afraid that the dagger would fail me in a fight. I still didn’t know if it would answer to me as it’s bearer. Apparently, the Glyhs tended to be fussy about who wielded it. The weapon would defeat one’s enemy in entirety. But I knew one thing - if it’s power failed me, its blade certainly wouldn’t.

  Or at least I hoped it wouldn’t.

  I left not much later, with the dagger in a sheath at my hip, as close as I could possibly keep it. The weapon was said to glow when an enemy of the bearer was near. And I had a lot of enemies.

  I took a breath and patted the sheath.

  Glyhs or not, I was prepared for whatever they had in store for me.

  Bring it on.

  Chapter 20

  I headed home, pushing the motorbike harder than it deserved. I regretted having taken it, especially now when all I wanted was the feel of the wind on my fur, the feel of the soil beneath my paws as I ran.

  Not today.

  The streets were quiet this late at night and in the distance the dull lights of the Aon Building and the Willis Tower glowed like glow-bugs. The tree was somewhere out there, invisible without its own lights to reveal it from this distance, and yet just the thought of its sickness weakened me.

  I drove into the rain-soaked alley behind our apartment, rolling to a stop beside the wide metal door that led to the back of our building.

  The hairs on the back of my neck stood on end and my nose twitched, my panther sensing something was wrong.

  Key in the lock, I turned and scanned the alley. Everything glinted silver, the gray moon shedding its light on street and doors, windows and garbage cans, all wet from the dusting of rain.

  The narrow street was empty, nothing stirring except for a tomcat - a real cat from the scent of it - lurking in the furthest end. A light breeze blew through the alley, lifting the hair on my head, disturbing the surface of a puddle a few feet from me.

  The silvery surface shuddered and I swallowed a gasp. Something moved within the puddle.

  A reflection.

  The pool had reflected the passing of something. Something in the alley with me, but what I couldn’t see. Not with my human eyes.

  I shifted partially, bringing my panther sight to the fore while maintaining my human face. No sense letting whatever it was know I was onto it. The feline sight caught movement to my right, just beyond the puddle, moving out of the alley toward the street.

  A shadow, dark and wispy, taller and wider than I was, hovered along the street. It didn’t touch the ground, it had no descriptive markings. Just smoke, thick and black.

  And I didn’t like it one bit.

  People - paranormal or not - I could handle. Shadows were a little harder to fight, or to contain. The dark blotch floated around the corner and the hairs on my neck subsided, as if my instinct was finally calm in the absence of the shadow.

  I left the lock alone and ran after it, skidding to a stop at the sidewalk. The street was empty. Not a hint of the shadow remained. But I knew as well as any supernatural that just because I couldn’t see something didn’t mean it wasn’t there.

  I gritted my teeth. I could call Horner for backup, but I was heading out of the city anyway. There wasn’t a point. Not until I returned.

  A tiny part of me was fully aware that the shadow could probably move as fast as I did in shifter mode, but I also knew that the timing of this shadow’s appearance could be linked to any number of possibilities.

  It could be someone sent by Elan, the Ice Prince, or someone else from the Fae Council. It could even be Sean taking his envy one step further.

  Or, just maybe, we were onto something regarding the toxins killing the Ash Tree. The appearance of the shadow meant we’d shaken something up, and now all I needed to do was keep an eye on my shadow shadow.

  I kept my guard up as I returned to the door, one eye on the alley as I unlocked it and rolled the bike inside. After locking the door and securing the bike to the railing at the bottom of the stairs, I hurried up to my apartment.

  I tugged my phone from my jeans pocket and tapped out a message to Lily.

  Need to talk. Urgent. Meet me at my apartment.

  I was about to shut off the screen when I paused.

  After a moment I texted Please.

  Like Lily, I didn’t enjoy being ordered around. I smiled as I pulled a change of clothes from my closet and headed into the shower. Lily had a key, so I enjoyed the heat of the water on my skin in peace, however hurried the shower may be.

  I escaped the shower before I became too relaxed, then dragged on black jeans, and a black long-sleeved turtleneck. The weather had changed, nights bordering on icy, and Christmas was around the corner.

  I was buckling the holster for the dagger around my waist when I heard my room door open.

  “You here?” her voice came through the closed door.

  “Yeah.”

  I pulled the bathroom door open, then scraped my fingers through my long hair. I was looking around the room, frowning when a brush came sailing through the air.

  Catching it with a grateful smile. “Hey,” I said, as I dragged the brush through my hair.

  Lily sank onto the bed and crossed her legs, swinging it back and forth. “So what’s up?” she asked, watching as I drew my hair into a high ponytail and secured it tightly.

  I refused to hesitate on this. Best to get it over and done with. I cleared my throat and set my hands on my hips. “Dad took me aside today. Just before I left the house.”

  “Sounds ominous.” The swinging leg stilled.

  I straightened then turned on my heel and headed to the closet. “He came across some research while he was working on a treatment for Logan,” I said as I pushed the clothing aside and opened the secret panel on the back wall.

  It opened with a whoosh as Lily asked, “So what was so important about this research?”

  I slipped on a holster for the gun over my shoulders, and another around my thigh for a knife. “He found something that he thinks can help walkers who can’t shift.”

  A glance over my shoulder confirmed the leg was swinging again. While she digested that, I took a handgun off its hook, popped the chamber and filled it with bullets, before sliding it into the holster. My movements were practiced, sure and quick. Nothing I haven’t done a million times before.

  Lily was too silent.

  When I turned to face her, her eyes narrowed. “Where are you going?”

  I shrugged. “Sand Beach, Maine. I need to check something out.”

  More swinging. “At this time of night?”

  I raised my eyebrows. “When has the time of day ever been a problem?”

  She avoided my gaze.

  “Lily?” I didn’t need to threaten her. She and Anjelo had long ago declared me their Alpha, and ever since Lily usually did what I asked her.

  Usually.

  She sighed. “I have it on good authority that you need to be more concerned about your safety.”

  “Whose good authority is that?”

  Her back stiffened as she folded her arms.

  “Lily?”

  I took a step closer and she threw her arms in the air. “Okay. Okay. If he ever asks I’m going to swear you forced me to tell.”

  “Lily.” More warning now than question.

  She boosted to her feet then walked around the bed to the window. “Anjelo.” Facing the street, I couldn’t see her expression and I suspected she needed the privacy.

  “What about Anjelo, and what about my safety?” She could have her privacy but she still needed to answer my questions.

  Without turning she said, “I’ve been talking to Anjelo.”

&n
bsp; The room vibrated with silence.

  “How?” I was stunned.

  “He’s in the Graylands. Apparently some people,” I noticed she didn’t say ghosts, “have the ability to travel to this world. Anjelo’s been coming to see me ever since he died. It took me a while to realize he wasn’t a figment of my imagination.”

  I sighed. “I should have told you more about the way it works.”

  “It’s okay. Anjelo explained.”

  “How is he?” I wanted to cry. Just the thought of Anjelo made me want to scream and throw things.

  “He’s … adjusting.” She laughed softly. “I think he’s frustrated at not being able to do anything.”

  “He is talking to you, isn’t he?” I said, understanding how unsettling it was to not be in control, to be at the mercy of someone else entirely. With Anjelo caught within the bounds of death and undeath, Lily would forever be in limbo.

  It was something that I needed to fix.

  Lily nodded, her hair dropping forward to frame her face like a curtain ready to hide from the world as soon as she felt threatened.

  “When did he first make contact?” I asked, moving slowly, afraid she’d stop being so forthcoming.

  She sighed. “From the beginning.” She looked up at me, guilt flickering across her honey eyes. “I knew before he was dead because he came to me. It’s not … I mean I didn’t know at the time that he’d died. I just began to see him, to hear his voice. At first I couldn’t make out what he was trying to say but maybe he got stronger? I dunno. Eventually he became clearer, and he was able to explain what happened.”

  I stiffened, sure that the pain in my eyes reflected her own. “What did he say?” My voice was hushed and outside a soft rain began to fall.

  “He fought back. They beat him up pretty badly. Something must have been wrong with him because when he went to the lab, he suffered convulsions. They were confused but they couldn’t help him. Whatever was wrong with him . . . he said they never spoke about it.”

  “Could have been a broken rib or pierced lung or arteries. Something during the fight.” I was talking to myself because one glance at Lily confirmed her thoughts were elsewhere.

  “He said that I need to take care of you. That something terrible was coming and that you need to be prepared for it. And that your life was at risk.”

  I frowned. “I’m always in danger. Surely he knows that?”

  “But that’s what he was trying to say. This is way more than your normal danger. He couldn’t be specific because he wasn’t able to find out details. But what he did say was don’t trust Agent Chou. Anjelo thinks he’s only there to safeguard the interests of Omega and the people who run it.”

  I raised my eyebrows. “Maybe Anjelo and I need to have a chat.” Agent Chou had proven his loyalty with the help he’d given me but I wasn’t naive enough to think he’d never double-cross me.

  Still. A talk with Anjelo would help.

  “He said you’d say that.” Lily grinned.

  “He knows me too well.” I sank to the mattress and rubbed my forehead, mimicking my father’s actions. Did he feel this way too? Like the weight of the world lay on his shoulders.

  Not that I was arrogant enough to assume I was so important, but sometimes it all just felt too much. The Ash was dying, Tara was in trouble, Logan was adrift in the sea of his own memories, and now Anjelo was implying there was danger on the horizon.

  I groaned and pushed to my feet. “Okay. Tell Anjelo I need to see him as soon as he can arrange it.”

  Then I frowned wondering how he’d arrange it. Would he appear beside me, or visit my dreams? Let’s hope he wasn’t about to pop into my bedroom to discuss world-ending stuff.

  “So, about what Dad said,” I said, facing Lily. I’d given her enough time to digest the line of thought. Now, I had to be straight with her. “Dad suggested that he could try with you.”

  She didn’t reply.

  “I told him I thought it was a lot for you to consider. I said I’d tell you, but that it would be your decision entirely.”

  When Lily finally raised her eyes to me they were filled with tears. “He’d do that for me?” My father’s intentions were clear enough to her, and I was relieved it hit her deeply.

  I nodded. “I was afraid you wouldn’t want to consider it.”

  With a tilt of her head she asked, “Why not?”

  “Because of Niko. His brother…” Shame filled me. I’d never been able to erase the shame of my relationship with the man who’d hurt her so badly.

  Lily sighed and came to stand in front of me. “You’re the smartest, most stupidest person I know.”

  I scowled. “Eh?”

  “How could you ever think that I’d hold you all responsible for what your uncle did?” She was shaking her head, looking at me with disappointment in her eyes.

  Sighing, I said, “Guess it’s what family does. We all feel responsible. And it’s not as if he’s been properly punished either, languishing in some Sentinel prison awaiting some sham of a trial.” I drew a breath. “Even now I’m so afraid that having Dad be the one to help you, to administer the drugs and be there while you shift–”

  “You’re afraid they look too much alike?”

  I nodded.

  “They don’t. And they aren’t the same person. Even I can see that, silly.”

  I smiled weakly.

  “Kai. You have to stop worrying about everyone else. It really is time to let me make my own decisions.”

  Pursing my lips, I said, “Okay, Lynx. I promise to try. But right now, I have somewhere I need to be.”

  Lily gave a firm nod. “And I’m coming with. Logan is my friend too.”

  “No-”

  Lily raised a palm. “Don’t even bother.”

  I narrowed my eyes at her, but I didn’t fight her. I had the power to stop her, all that was required was a flick of an Alpha eyebrow, but our family needed help. Did I have the right to stop anybody from helping?

  “Fine.” I stood stiffly and pulled on a suede leather jacket. It crackled as it settled against my body. “But you’d better keep up.”

  Lily snorted. “I’m Pariah, but I can still run, you know.”

  We headed into the living room and I smiled as Lily threw her backpack over her shoulder.

  “What? Did you bring every single piece of weaponry that you own?”

  Certainly not the first time.

  “Never hurts to be prepared.”

  “Always hurts to have too much choice.” I raised an eyebrow. “Use what works for you so it comes naturally in a fight. You don’t want to be reaching for a gun, then have to struggle to find what you need. Or grab a dagger and waste time remembering what to do. Your muscle memory is still a little too young.”

  Lily shook her head, a little impatient as she rolled her eyes. “Geez, Kai. The bag is just backup. In case we run out, or need more.”

  I smiled and said, “Let’s hope you don’t stab yourself in the back while running.”

  “Way ahead of you, sister.” She opened the backpack to reveal a thick leather lining.

  “Smart thinking.” I gave the bag a nod then asked. “You have enough ammo?” I gave the two pistols and three revolvers a pointed look.

  “Yup. And I’ll grab more if you think we may need it.”

  I nodded absently as she hurried back into the bedroom. She was back in less than a minute.

  We locked up, then fell into shifter speed, racing out of the apartment and down the street so fast that only Superman, and demons, would be faster.

  Or maybe the Fae?

  Chapter 21

  Lily ran beside me, her shifter speed much slower than mine. But I didn’t mind compensating for her. She was so strong now, since Anjelo’s death, so determined. I didn’t have the right to tamp that part of her down.

  We reached Bar Harbor after sunrise, using country roads and national forest routes, stopping every hour or so to catch our breaths. The advantage of bein
g a shifter meant that even traveling at supernatural speeds, we recovered pretty fast.

  Unless of course we were injured.

  The coast was beautiful, the sand and ocean drenched in the dull morning glare. Gulls rode gusts of wind and salt coated my lips as we stood on the rise above the nearest beach. It wasn’t Sand Beach, but it wouldn’t take long to find the place. I checked my phone for the coordinates Baz had sent, then plugged them into the GPS.

  “We’re about a mile from Sand Beach so let’s move.”

  Lily stayed a little behind me, following my lead as we ran.

  And when we did stop on the hillside above the beach, the view caught my breath. The curved sandy shore was a narrow golden strip, bracketed by a verge of grass and tall fir trees, and the blue waters of the North Atlantic. The shore opposite us was a disorganized pile of rocks. All in all, it was a stunningly gorgeous beach - the perfect place to hide out.

  Not that Sienna would know to hide out.

  Logan hadn’t mentioned trees or grass. But if Sienna had been looking out at the sea the entire time, he would have missed it.

  I shook my head and stared down at the empty beach. Hidden by the firs along the rise we watched the shore. “You think she’ll come here this early in the morning?”

  I shrugged. “It’s a Saturday. Who knows?”

  “Doesn’t she have a job or something?”

  “We don’t know. And besides she’s only twenty. She may be studying somewhere and Logan just caught her in one place on a road trip somewhere.” I sighed. “This could just be a wild goose chase.”

  Or worse. Sienna could very well be studying abroad and that beach could be Mykonos or Ireland or Durban for all we knew.

  “But we have to chase it.” Lily nodded then glanced back at the sand. A gust of wind threw sand in the air and I heard the rustling of the grains as they landed. “You want to get closer?” Lily asked.

  I studied the shoreline all the way until the rocks. “I’m not sure we should reveal ourselves so soon. Or at all.”

  “Nobody knows we’re here, Kai. Only Baz, and you swore him to secrecy.”