by Dannika Dark
Shepherd flicked his cigarette butt out the door once Christian climbed out. “Detour.”
Blue’s disheveled hair obscured most of her face. “Everyone okay? Kids?”
Eve swept her hair back, her eyes glittering with tears. “My elbow hurts.”
“You could have internal bleeding,” Adam pointed out. “We should go to a hospital.”
Eve blanched.
“This is not an option,” Viktor said. “Everyone out. Shepherd will examine you. Blue, find his bag.”
Adam reached for the door. “Oh, you mean the guy who almost killed us? Yeah. Sounds like a plan.”
I gave Eve a boost before following. Once outside, I walked to the back of the trailer where Christian and Shepherd were standing. I spotted a dead deer beneath an overpass, but that wasn’t what they were looking at.
“You got a spare?” Christian asked.
“In the back.” Shepherd leaned over. “Son of a bitch.”
I leaned over and saw that the tire had blown out. “Forget the tire. The trailer flipped over. We’re not going anywhere.”
Christian swiveled around and arched his brow. “Is that so?”
He stepped off the edge and dropped to the ground.
Adam had already jumped onto the road and was standing with his arms out, waiting for his sister.
Eve sat on the edge and jumped when the undercarriage popped. “Don’t drop me!”
“Don’t be a drama queen. It’s like eight feet from the ground.”
“But I can’t see anything.”
“Come on already. The gas line might be leaking, and the whole thing could blow.”
Shepherd grinned. “That kid watches too many movies.”
“Viktor wants you to check them over and make sure they’re okay.”
“If they’re walking and talking, they’re fine. I’ll look at them after we get the tire on.”
I knelt down and hopped onto the road. On the opposite side, across a grassy ditch, an eighteen-wheeler went flying by. Trees surrounded the road, and four of the streetlights were out, putting us in a dangerous spot.
On top of the trailer, Claude stood with Carol in his arms. He looked fierce, unlike the gentle giant I was used to seeing. His nostrils flared as he took in the scents around us, but any scents were likely masked by the smell of burning rubber and metal. He jumped to the ground, his knees bending with the landing as if they were shock absorbers. Carol hopped out of his arms and staggered backward.
Blue appeared next. “We need to hurry up before someone calls the state police.”
Viktor sat on the edge and judged the distance before jumping off.
The RV rocked.
“Not until we’re off!” Blue yelled.
“Jaysus wept. Hurry your arse up. I don’t have all day.”
I walked around to the other side and my jaw slackened when I found Christian squatting on the ground. “You can’t lift this thing. Vamps aren’t that strong.”
“I’ll thank you not to use that word again.”
“Which one? Vamp or can’t?”
Shepherd moseyed around. “Need help?”
“Unless you want to know what it feels like to be roadkill, stand aside and give me room.” Christian cupped his hand around his mouth and shouted to the other side. “All clear?”
“Yeah!” Blue yelled back.
Christian anchored one knee on the ground and lifted the trailer with a Herculean effort. Veins I’d never seen were protruding from his forehead as the RV began to rise up off the concrete.
“Better hurry,” Shepherd said. “Someone might see you.”
“It’s dark, you eejit,” he grunted out, his arms trembling as he tried to push it over. When it reached the height of his elbows, it began lowering. Christian jumped back as it hit the concrete.
I folded my arms. “What did I tell you?”
He bent over, hands on his knees. “I just needed to test how heavy it was.”
I patted Shepherd on the arm. “Can you give us a minute alone? Make sure nobody slows down to help. I doubt they will, but if they see the kids they might have a bleeding-heart moment or something.”
Shepherd shrugged and headed off.
“Don’t let your ego kill us all,” I said to Christian. “You can’t lift a trailer. Don’t waste Viktor’s time—he needs to make other plans.”
Christian shot me a baleful look. “I don’t have time to dillydally around. I’ll get this fecking thing upright if it kills me.”
I gripped his shoulders until he stood up straight. “There’s another way.”
“And what idea could be weaving in that spinning wheel of yours?”
“I know a thing or two about a thing or two.” I traced my finger along his jugular until his fangs elongated.
He shook his head. “We can’t. A wee drop is one thing, but you’re asking for too much.”
I tucked my hands inside his coat and wrapped my arms around his warm body. “Lives are at stake. I can help, and you know it.” I rose up on tiptoes, my lips to his neck. “Let me have a drink.”
He growled low and cradled my head in his hands. “You shouldn’t tempt me.”
I leaned back and tipped my head to the side. “We don’t have much time to fix this situation before someone calls the police and they send out a tow truck. Viktor’s on a tight schedule, so we can either play this game of cat and mouse”—I leaned in and ran my fangs along his neck—“or we can lift this damn trailer and get the hell out of here. What’ll it be, Mr. Poe?”
Christian didn’t like the idea of making this a regular habit, especially given his history with Lenore and the control she’d had over him. But as decadent as his blood was, it had no influence over me. Not that I could tell.
Still, I wasn’t going to take without asking.
“Can I drink from you?” I whispered.
He staggered forward and gave me a roguish grin. “Aye, Precious. Take all you need.”
My fangs sank into his neck, deep enough to puncture the vein. Warm blood flooded my mouth, and my Vampire nature took over. I pulled hard and drank as much as he would allow. I’d forgotten how invigorating it was, how delightfully sinful. The adrenaline sharpened on my tongue, and the more I drank, the more I felt the connection between us growing. It was as if his blood was binding with my own. My sore shoulder no longer bothered me, and my cheeks flushed with the rejuvenating quality of his power. Beneath his lust, I picked up on other emotions I hadn’t expected to find. Like worry.
His erection stirred against my lower belly as he gripped my hair in a loose fist.
“Gross,” I heard Adam say. “They’re making out.”
When I leaned back, Christian locked eyes with me. The connection lingered, and it was as if we shared one mind. I licked my lips, and his eyes followed the movement of my tongue.
“Let’s get this show on the road,” I said.
He stepped back and bowed dramatically before extending his arm. “Ladies first.”
I squatted next to the RV and wedged my fingers beneath it. Christian did the same. We looked at each other and held a silent countdown before putting our backs into it. Up until that point, the heaviest piece of machinery I’d ever moved was a washer. On a dolly. With the help of a neighbor.
The muscles in my arms were so taut that I imagined them snapping beneath my skin. My back strained beneath the weight, and my shoulders felt like they might pop right out of their sockets. But with both of us working together, we lifted that bad boy up to our chins before shifting our hands so the heels of our palms were up.
With my right knee bent, I held another silent countdown with Christian before we shoved with all our might. The trailer sailed forward and made a racket when the tires hit the concrete. For a minute, I thought we’d pushed it too hard and it might tip the other way, but it merely teetered before steadying.
Applause erupted from the other side. I blew out a breath and staggered around to keep myself from falling
into the grass. Did I just lift a thirty-foot trailer?
“The window’s busted,” Christian pointed out. “You wouldn’t happen to have any duct tape, now would you?”
I rubbed my back. “Ask Shepherd. That man carries the most random shit in his coat pockets.”
Once I caught my breath, we joined everyone on the other side. Shepherd was eyeballing the spare tire affixed to the back.
Blue darted inside the trailer. “Where the hell are the tools?” she yelled.
Another car drove by, but this one didn’t slow down. Humans were spectators who didn’t like getting involved in anything that might put a damper on their schedule. Not unless it was something visually exciting to video and upload to the internet.
Claude mussed Carol’s hair and strolled to the door. “I’ll clean up inside.”
Carol looked around, and Viktor caught her gaze.
“Why don’t you children go in and help clean,” he suggested. “Better you stay off the street. You might get struck by a car, and then where would we be?”
After a few groans, the kids piled in. Someone flipped on the lights, and the engine fired up briefly before cutting off.
“Engine works,” Blue announced, hopping out of the trailer. She strode to the back and rested her arm on Shepherd’s shoulder. “Where’s the jack?”
“Fuck the jack. I need a socket wrench.”
I looked alongside the bottom. “What about the storage area?”
“Jaysus wept. We’ll be here a fortnight at this rate.” Christian patted the tire on the back. “Let me handle it.”
Shepherd poked him with his finger. “Bust that tire, and I’ll bust your ass.”
“Shut your gob and show me what you need.”
“Show-off,” I muttered, heading over to Viktor. “Anything I can do?”
He glanced at the woods. “Search the perimeter while they’re fixing the wheel. I do not like this location.” Viktor snapped his fingers, and Blue darted over. “How well can you see in the dark?”
“Pretty good. I don’t normally fly at night though, and the trees are dense.”
“Circle the area. Fly back if you see anything suspicious.”
She bustled back to the trailer and looked left and right before shifting into a beautiful falcon. After she ascended into the night sky, Viktor collected her clothes and went inside.
To the sound of Shepherd and Christian’s curses, I distanced myself from the trailer and traversed the woods. While I already had decent night vision, Christian’s blood allowed me to see a smidge better. Perhaps even hear better, but not enough to pick up someone’s heartbeat or hear a cricket tap-dancing on a rock.
I used my Mage gift to search for large currents of energy. Twigs snapped beneath my shoes, and a branch jabbed me in the ribs when I circled a tree. I broke it with ease, still marveling over my temporary Vampire strength.
I turned a sharp eye toward a movement in the tree overhead, but it was only an owl rustling its feathers. Nothing looked out of the ordinary. If someone wanted to ambush us, they would have already done it by now. But if it gave Viktor peace of mind, I was willing to get poked in the eye by sticks and step in muddy holes. Just don’t let me run into a skunk.
I froze in my tracks when a rumbling growl sounded from up ahead. Bears didn’t growl like that. It sounded more like a…
My heart skidded to a stop when I heard it again. Nope. That was definitely a wildcat. Probably a mountain lion. I bet it smelled the dead deer in the road and was waiting impatiently for us to leave.
This was not in the brochure.
“Nice kitty kitty,” I sang, backing up slowly. Christian’s blood could be unpredictable. Sometimes his strength lasted for hours, but I hadn’t tested it every single time to know for certain what the limitations were. What if this thing ripped out my throat before I had a chance to fight it?
I spun around and slammed into someone.
“Miss me?” Christian asked.
I punched his shoulder. “You scared the shit out of me! Hasn’t anyone ever told you that you shouldn’t sneak up on people in the woods?”
“I’ve heard you shouldn’t sneak up on a bear.” He wrapped his arms around me.
“There’s a hungry mountain lion nearby. We should probably get out of here.”
“Scared of a little pussy?”
“And you’re not?”
“Never have been.” He snuggled me close to him. “My blood is coursing through your veins, and all I want to do is fuck you.”
“There’s a hungry animal out there.”
His lips touched mine. “Aye. That would be me.”
I locked my hands behind his neck. “We could get mauled.”
“Not if he’s behind you. You’ll be the first to go.”
“And you wouldn’t make the ultimate sacrifice by offering your life for mine?”
He chuckled darkly. “It’s not my ambition to wind up on some wild animal’s dinner plate if I can help it. A mountain lion can run up to fifty miles an hour. How fast can you run?”
“So while you shadow walk to safety, I’ll be nothing but a carcass on the side of the road.”
“I’ll be sure Shepherd stuffs your remains in the refrigerator. There’s plenty of room in there.”
I kissed his lips. “You’re such a fanghole.”
“I’d never leave you behind. Come on. Viktor’s impatient.”
“He’s not the only one.”
Chapter 13
Niko dashed up the stairs toward Wyatt’s office as if he had wings on his heels but jerked to a stop when he turned the corner and sensed an unfamiliar light in the hallway. He drew his katanas, which airport security had almost confiscated after an hour of questioning.
“Hold up there,” a man said gruffly.
Niko studied the light, and there was something familiar about it.
“It’s Crush Graves. Raven’s father?”
Niko lowered his swords. He’d come close to doing something regretful, and part of it was his lack of focus. Emotions were making him irrational.
“I don’t give two shits,” Crush growled. “Close the shop. I don’t have time to worry about that right now. I’ll call you later.” After a beep sounded, his silver light approached. “You’re probably wondering what I’m doing here.”
Niko sheathed his swords, remembering that Shifters were securing the property. “I didn’t notice anyone outside.”
Crush clapped Niko on the shoulder. “I didn’t know you could see anything, friend. Don’t worry, my buddies are good about staying out of sight. I’ve got eyes all over the property. This is a big piece of real estate you got out here.”
“Any news?”
“That Gravewalker doesn’t tell me jack shit. Got a mouth on him though. Between you and me, I’d knock his lights out under different circumstances. Cocky little son of a bitch. I’m surprised Switch has held it together.”
“Where’s the boy?”
“Switch is keeping a close eye on him. I don’t know where they are. I can’t even find the damn bathroom in this place. Maybe I should stay outside.”
Niko walked at a sedate pace. “No, you’re safer inside. We appreciate your assistance.”
“Anything I can do to help. That’s a damn shame what happened to your friend. She’s a sweet girl, and I hope you guys find her.”
Niko rested his palm over a sharp pain that lanced through his chest. Perhaps it was just an energy spike.
Though Wyatt had booked his flight, Niko hadn’t been prepared for all the security checks. His swords had to go through as checked luggage, and that required packaging them in accordance with their rules. After the flight, he had to ask an older woman to help him at the baggage claim. The modern world posed so many new obstacles that it made him appreciate the difficulties of his past.
“You’re welcome to stay as long as you like,” Niko offered. “Kira does the cooking, and she can make you something anytime you’re hungry.”
<
br /> Crush’s light pulsed. “I don’t like other people waiting on me like I’m some kind of Daddy Warbucks. No offense. You got yourself a nice setup here, but I’ll fix my own sandwich if I get hungry.”
Niko entered the room, and Wyatt’s smoky-blue light spun into view from his chair. The room smelled like french fries and peanuts.
“Hey, buddy. Did that cab driver I sent find you?”
“Yes.” Niko eased up to the desk, and when he found the edge, he turned and leaned against it. “Tell me every detail of what happened.”
A wrapper rustled as Wyatt took a bite of food. “Someone snuck their ass into the courtyard and snatched Gem. We found her kimono by the pool. She doesn’t just leave her stuff lying around like that. There was water everywhere, and I swear, we didn’t hear a thing. Switch picked up more than one scent, but he lost the trail.”
“Viktor said you found a coin.”
“Yeah.” His chair squeaked, and then he said, “Here.”
Niko held out his hand, palm up. When Wyatt gave him the coin, Niko considered the weight of it before feeling the edges and both sides.
“Some weird writing on it. Looks really old.”
Niko bit the edge and tasted it with his tongue. He was absolutely certain that Cyrus had left it behind. It had always been his calling card. “What did the security cameras in the city reveal?”
“You’re a lunatic if you think I’m going to check every camera in Cognito. We don’t live near the human district anyhow. For all I know, they flew out in a helicopter. That’s possible, you know. There’s a lot of land out there. I once heard of a guy making an escape using one of those antigravity—”
“Stay focused,” Niko said, knowing how Wyatt’s train of thought often went off the rails.
Wyatt finished what was probably a candy bar as the familiar sound of the thin wrapper drifted into the wastebasket. “Crush showed up with all his Shifter buddies. Look, I know Viktor gave them the green light, but I don’t like a bunch of wolves running around the property. Makes me nervous.”
“You know what makes me nervous?” Crush asked. “Men who let women go swimming alone at night.”
Wyatt’s chair squeaked, and his blue line funneled in a circular motion. “Don’t try to pin that on me. We come and go as we like around here, old man. I’m not anyone’s watchdog. The courtyard is walled in. It’s not like we have secret tunnels or doors out there. What are the odds that someone would scale three stories and execute the ultimate heist?”
