Savage Possession

by Belinda Boring

  “You are, but I love you for it.”

  “So are we all agreed? Each of us have our tasks?” Devlin asked, refocusing everyone. We all voiced our approval. “Then once you’ve completed them, I want you to report in and let Zane know what you’ve found. He’ll remain here to deal with the death of the human.”

  As everyone stood and began filing out of the room, I didn’t release Darcy’s hand. “Promise you’ll run at the first sign of trouble. I don’t care how brave you are, two wolves are already dead. I don’t need you to be a hero. I need you alive.”

  “The same goes for you,” she countered, and I nodded.

  “Return to me in one piece.” Embracing one last time, I finally let her go, watching as she left with Helena.

  “Damn, I thought it was going to get ugly there for a second,” Devlin laughed, scooping up the photos and sliding them back in his folder.

  “I guess that’s what I got when I married a warrior.”

  “She’ll be okay. I know that doesn’t help, but I doubt they’ll find anything out there other than bored guards.”

  “I sure hope so,” I murmured.

  Because if Darcy came home with even a hair missing on her head, there’d be hell to pay.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Darcy

  Blood. There was blood everywhere and it yanked brutally at my thirst. Licking my lips, my fangs already sharp, if Helena hadn’t gripped my shoulder, bringing me back to the present, I would’ve lost it, completely.

  “There’s nothing more we can do here.”

  I nodded, unable to drag my gaze from the crumpled bodies that had been carelessly discarded. The sight was almost hypnotic.

  “Darcy?” She shook me now, breaking the hold over me. “Breathe through your mouth. It’ll help.”

  Obeying, my mouth opened and although the scent danced over my taste buds, it suppressed my urge to drop to my knees and feed. As it was, blood caked my fingers from where I’d checked to see if anyone had survived this massacre.

  Everyone was dead. Gazing around the room that held surveillance equipment, two guards sat slumped against a wall, a third strewn across the floor. Static filled the two screens and the hardware attached to a computer system was smashed into pieces. I scanned the ceilings for cameras and sure enough, they were also disabled, severed wires dangling from them.

  There was a fourth body hanging partially out the back door as if the young enforcer had attempted to escape. Whoever had done this had cut him down, though. There was gore sprayed across the laminated floor, pooling around his severed neck. I didn’t have to look any closer to know it had been the killing blow.

  This was an efficient take down.

  “Have you called Devlin?” I asked, my head tilting as I stared at the puddle of blood. Blinking, I turned around to avert my eyes and focused, instead, on the makeshift altar beside the entryway. A reddish pentagram, drawn in what I assumed was one of the victim’s blood, had two black candles still burning within it. There were other items I didn’t recognize, but I didn’t need to. Bending over, I carefully blew out the flames.

  “I did. Careful, don’t disturb anything. They’ll want to examine everything when they get here.” Helena’s nose crinkled as she stepped away from the dead security officers. “We should wait outside. I don’t think it’s wise to contaminate the evidence.”

  “They’re going to know we touched things,” I answered, passing through the doorway and out into the afternoon sun. “We needed to see if there were any survivors.” There hadn’t been. Their deaths had been instant.

  “And they’ll take that into consideration. They’ll rule out our fingerprints and hopefully we didn’t disturb anything that would point to the culprits.” Helena shivered, rubbing her arms with her hands. The air was warm, but even I felt chilled. “This place doesn’t feel right, Darcy. The magic used here feels wrong. The sooner they arrive, the quicker we can leave. I don’t want to stay longer than we have to.”

  I knew exactly how she felt. We’d come to check on the Vortex and instead found a bloodied surprise. “You might as well check while we’re waiting. We came here to do something. Might as well get it done.”

  She nodded, moving toward the building, again. “Be back in a moment. Be careful.”

  Helena didn’t have to tell me twice. With the scent of blood still faintly in the air, every nerve ending in my body was on alert. I wasn’t worried about being attacked, though. The person who’d done this, or persons, would be long gone by now. They’d accomplished whatever they’d come for, and wouldn’t want to risk being caught.

  Glancing down at my phone, I contemplated calling Mason to let him know I was okay. He’d rant a little about being right, but the sound of my voice would be a relief for him. For some reason, though, my thumb hovered over his name in my contacts. I hesitated for a brief second before pushing the telephone icon.

  It barely rang before he answered. “We’re almost there.”

  “Hey, I just wanted you to know me and Helena are fine. A little shaky, but safe. She’s inspecting the barriers now while I wait for Devlin . . . and you, I guess.”

  “She left you alone?” he thundered back.

  “Again, big girl. No one else is here, Mason. They were long gone before we arrived.” I didn’t tell him it looked like we’d narrowly missed each other. The blood was still clotting when we’d walked into the room. It was the reason my hunger had fired up.

  I could hear him let out a hard breathe. “I promise I’m not trying to be a neanderthal, sweetheart. It just drives me crazy when I find out you’ve been in danger.”

  “Near danger,” I corrected. “Honestly, we didn’t see anyone other than the guards. And they’re dead.”

  “I’m with Devlin and we’re about five minutes away. Call me if anything happens, okay?”

  “Okay, I will.”

  “I love you,” Mason whispered.

  “I love you, too.” Saying our goodbyes, I hung up and pocketed my phone. I’d started to lose my temper, again. I was going to need to get a handle on it and quickly. Regardless of recent events, people were expecting the old Darcy. With each emotional outburst and argument, I knew I was fueling their concern—especially Mason’s.

  Helena was just returning when a truck pulled up beside the half wall I was sitting on. Before I had a chance to hop down and meet them, Mason was already out of the passenger seat and wrapping his arms around me. Devlin removed his sunglasses and glanced at the small building.

  “How bad is it in there?”

  “They’re all dead.”

  “I came outside because the blood was triggering me hard,” I confessed.

  “I thought it might. There are some baggies in an ice chest in the back seat. Take care of your hunger.” He gestured over his shoulder before turning to talk more with Helena.

  I didn’t need to be told twice. Returning a quick hug, I broke out of Mason’s embrace and rushed over to the vehicle. Mason followed close behind, but I didn’t have time to be delicate about this. Sliding into the front seat so I could have the appearance of privacy, I ripped the bag open with my teeth and began drinking. Without a single word, Mason stood with his back to me, shielding me from prying eyes. I was grateful for his consideration as I emptied one and reached for a second.

  Being here had almost tipped the balance I worked hard at maintaining. It was a good thing Devlin had the foresight to bring something with him.

  “Feeling better?” Mason asked, his eyes focused in front of him.

  Resting my hand on his shoulder, I turned him around. Everything was packed away; all evidence that I’d had an urgent feeding need was hidden. “Yeah, thank you.”

  “Devlin was telling me on the way here that there were times he’d needed the same when he first started as an Enforcer. Apparently many experience the same need, so there’s no need to be embarrassed.”

  “Oh, I’m not embarrassed,” I replied. Hopping down from the truck, I closed the
door and slipped my arms around his waist. “I am glad you’re here, though.” I kissed the underside of his chin, my lips brushing over the light stubble. He desperately needed a shave, but his whiskered look was definitely sexy.

  “For a minute there, I thought you wouldn’t be.” He actually seemed to believe it.

  “Never. I’m always happy when you’re around. Once we’re done here, maybe we should go home and,” I pulled down his face so I could whisper my thoughts as I peered into his eyes. I was rewarded by a slow smile that spread across his features.

  “Really?” he drawled. I wanted to add a little more description, but Carlos and Asher arrived with two other Enforcers in the backseat.

  “You and Ms. Markson unharmed?” Carlos asked, his gaze skimming over me like he was checking for himself.

  “We are. We arrived just after the attackers left. I don’t know if they did anything other than kill everyone inside, but I’m sure you can determine that. Devlin’s inside if you’re looking for him. He’s in there asking Helena, I mean Ms. Markson, some questions.”

  These two were so formal and full of good manners. A part of me hoped they hung around because it would be fun to see them unwind a little. Maybe they needed to spend a little time with Daniel. If there was anyone who could corrupt a person, it was him.

  “I like them,” I said, as they left us and entered the security building, followed closely by their group.

  “From what I’ve heard, they come highly recommended. I know Zane’s offered to transfer them here on a more permanent basis, but they’re attached to New York. It’s a pity. I’d love to hear some stories about what it’s like living in such a big city.”

  “Getting tired of small town living, huh?” I elbowed him, teasingly.

  He kissed the side of my head. “Hell no. All those skyscrapers and no woods to run in? My wolf would go crazy within the week. I’m happy where I am and who I’m with.”

  “Good answer, Mr. O’Connor.”

  “I’m glad you approve.” Glancing at his watch, Mason darted a quick look in the direction of the doorway. “I wonder if Devlin needs us. Maybe he can drive Helena home and I’ll take you.”

  “Or we can just wait.”

  He frowned at my response. “I thought you wanted to get out of here as soon as possible?”

  “True, but I need to see this through. This was my responsibility. I’m not going to just shrug it off onto someone else.”

  “There’s nothing more you can do here, sweetheart. Let the others take care of it, it’s their job.”

  I could feel irritation spread inside me. “It was my job to come here. I’ll finish and then take Helena home. We still need to set up another time for me to come by and try another spell.”

  That was the wrong thing to say. “I thought you’d already done that. Why do you need more? Are you still feeling weird?” He spun me in his hands so he could study me closely. The action made me wish I were a few inches taller.

  “Will you stop worrying? You’re making me nervous. I’m scared that everything I say you’ll twist into some way to keep me home.”

  “I wouldn’t have to worry if you didn’t hide things from me,” he fired back.

  “I just told you why I wanted to take her home. How is that keeping secrets?”

  I didn’t need a mental connection to know he was silently counting to ten. I could see it in his eyes—his frustration and impatience with me.

  “I don’t want to argue with you. I’m going to tell Devlin we’re leaving.”

  “Mason, no.” I didn’t know how else to make him see. This wasn’t something I felt I could just walk away from, no matter how much I wanted to. If I was ever going to be taken seriously, I needed to stay.

  And I needed to talk more with Helena.

  “You’re coming and that’s it. I’m tired of everything being a fight with you the past few days. I don’t know what’s going on, but enough.” He was already walking away.

  “Don’t you dare dismiss me like I’m one of your Pack members.”

  “Darcy, you are one of my pack members.”

  “I’m also your wife,” I reminded him, angrily.

  “At least they would do what I asked instead of challenging me.”

  “You going to order me to obey?”

  “Should I have to?”

  “This is completely overkill and you know it. You need to recognize I’m not so defenseless, anymore. I’m a big girl and I can take care of myself.”

  “Is that what you think this is about? That I think you’re so weak that you need constant protecting?”

  “Isn’t that what you’re saying?”

  Mason looked shell-shocked. “Why is everything becoming a battle with you? Can’t it simply be that I’d rather drive home with you instead of Devlin?”

  “Because it’s never that simple. Look, I don’t want to get into it here with everyone standing around pretending this isn’t awkward. I’m going to take Helena home.”

  The muscle in his jaw ticked with suppressed annoyance. “Fine. I’ll see you there, then.”

  I turned, eager to get away. I wasn’t sure where this newfound defiance came from, but part of me relished in being able to speak my mind, even if it was to my husband, and ultimately, my Alpha. I knew I risked a lot by arguing with him. Many had done the exact same thing and had paid the consequences. I had a certain amount of leeway being his mate, but it wouldn’t take much to push the limit. In fact, judging from the way his eyes had widened and face reddened, I’d say I’d come close to straddling that fine line, or even stepping over it.

  I didn’t want to fight with him. What I really wanted, and had intended to do, was go home, lock ourselves in our bedroom, and spend whatever remained of the day making love. I wasn’t interested in the constant battle of wills we seemed to fall into. A lot had to do with the new source of aggression that fired through my veins from the vampire conversion.

  If I were truthful with myself, however, I’d admit some of it was because I enjoyed it. I was a new person since embracing this new future of mine. It just happened to come with a little more attitude than others were used to. Me, included.

  “Let’s go,” I murmured, as I passed by Helena. She kept a lingering gaze on Mason before finally following behind me. There was a lot we’d talk about in the car. A lot had happened here.

  And no doubt, there would be more to deal with once I returned home.

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Mason

  Staring at my computer screen, the blinking cursor hovered over a link. I’d been searching the Internet for the past two hours for possible answers for Darcy’s epic mood swings and came up with a few.

  She was on drugs.

  She was bipolar.

  She was having an affair.

  Each reason gave long lists and signs, but none of them were correct when it came to her. I didn’t even think this was related to her becoming part-vampire anymore. It was as if she was an entirely different person. Each day, she became less and less like the woman I fell in love with.

  I was becoming desperate. I couldn’t sit by and watch her drift away from me. Yes, she was present and there were moments were she almost seemed herself, but then I’d say something and she’d explode. It was like walking on eggshells around her; the constant second guessing myself was starting to wear me out.

  The more I thought on it, the stronger I was convinced I couldn’t wait any longer. This wasn’t normal and there was no ignoring it. On our drive back to the house, I spoke with Devlin about it and he agreed. After telling him about the conversation, even he’d been shocked at how rapidly she’d gone on the offensive. It wasn’t like her at all, and it was time to do something about it.

  Unfortunately, she hadn’t shown up, yet. As the hours slowly started ticking by, my patience began cracking. Darcy wasn’t answering her phone and I was starting to feel more stalker than husband. She’d never brushed me off like this. Even my texts were ignored.<
br />
  As my knee bounced underneath my desk, I vowed to give her sixty more minutes and then I’d go looking for her. I didn’t care how it made me look. She could yell all she wanted. This last episode had finally convinced me that my instincts had been right.

  I’d just been foolish to dismiss them, but that wasn’t going to happen anymore. I was going to get to the bottom of this, even if I didn’t like what I found.

  A knock at the door had me clicking out of the website. “Come in.” Leaning back in my seat, I smiled as Daniel entered.

  “I wondered if you were in here. I figured you’d be in making sure Darcy was okay. Making sure every hair was accounted for . . . yada yada.” Taking a seat on the couch, he laughed.

  “Don’t even start,” I growled, not meaning to take my annoyance out on him.

  He caught my tone and cocked his eyebrows. “Touched a sore point, huh?

  “You don’t want to know.” Scrubbing my face with my hands, I let out a loud sigh. “How’d everything go with you? Get your memory wiped?”

  Daniel nodded, tapping his temple. “I remember going with Vivien and Zachariah and next I’m standing before Zane. That is some scary shit. Remind me to never piss off a vampire. I’m not a fan of compulsion.”

  I had to agree with him. I wasn’t, either. “At least something went right this afternoon.”

  “Comments like that are going to make me break my ‘no pry’ policy. I try to stay out of marital drama, but for you, I’ll make an exception.” Clasping his hands behind his head, Daniel waited.

  “I don’t even know where to begin,” I admitted. “Other than there’s something wrong with my wife.”

  “Other than she loves your ugly mug and worships the ground you walk on, I can’t see what.”

  “Ha, ha. I’m being serious, here. Quit the jokes for a minute.”

  That got his attention. “I talked with her the other night. I overheard her yelling in your bedroom, but I thought you two worked it out.”

  “I thought so, too, but it seems like those outbursts are happening more often. She basically accused me of treating her like a child at the meeting and then, when Devlin and I went to the vortex, she flipped out on me there, as well. All I asked was for us to drive home together and she reacted as if I’d declared her incompetent. I can sometimes see her point, but it’s not like her to be so . . .”