“You act as though you’ve planned numerous felonies.”
“Outside the ones we’ve done here? Yeah. You forget, I’m the only one who wasn’t royalty before he was turned. I only gained that status when we formed the MC.”
“Tis true, Jonas.” Rasputin set a hand on his shoulder and stared dead into Jonas’ eyes. “You are now royalty with us. What were you, prior to being given this gift?”
Jonas fought to keep the distaste out of his mouth at the mention of vampirism as a gift. “I was a thief. A real, flesh and blood thief, who stole like we do. Why do you think Davin sent me with you?”
“I was under the impression that we were not to ride alone.”
“You’re the VP for a reason, Rasputin. Listen,” Jonas looked around. The land had started, then stopped, rumbling again, but no scenery changed this time. “The quickest way to take something you want is by a hard show of force. We don’t need the brownies interfering with our plans, and flying in will allow us that element of surprise on the truck.”
“Barring any other interferences, then we get what we want, you get what you want, and we are, as you say, “golden.”
“Right.”
The older vampire nodded. “Then we should retire for the eve, as we have much need for rest and nourishment and I, like Cristin, have found fancy with the taste of Fae blood, among other things.”
“Exactly.”
“Besides, we are ignoring the elephant in the room.”
Jonas nodded. The real reason they were in this mess was because of the Queen’s honor and honor to the MC to go after family. Chasing the creature responsible for murdering the Queen’s lover was incompetent but sometimes brotherhood did what was needed to and damn the consequences.
The two mounted their bikes, started their engines. Jonas made sure to follow behind, hoping he had planted the seed in Rasputin’s ear to have the MC bear down on the truck with as little extra as possible. That meant no guns, no bikes, just their pure vampiric strength.
Hopefully that would suffice.
He needed a miracle, if the tie to his sister was any indication.
The bond, a thread between them since he made her, was weakening, and his need to get back to her was quickening the longer he stayed in this cursed land.
Nothing would ease his guilt, but it would certainly give him comfort if he could actually talk to some Fae about a cure for his sister. He had no idea what was wrong.
That was part of why he kept this weakness of his from the club.
The club didn’t believe in problems; it worked on puzzles.
Jonas hadn’t gotten this far in life, and death, to be defeated by normal human logic, and looking at things as a puzzle to put together gave him perspective that helped not only back when they had gotten wind of valuable artifacts and Court art or objects that could be lifted, but also helped with this predicament in Faery.
Yeah, the puzzle methodology made stealing from the Court much easier. Of course, it had also made the vampires outlaws. But BFD.
Jonas wasn’t nearly as old as the rest of his club. Hence his more modern-day approach to thought, while discarding archaic notions of chivalry and righteousness.
That shit got him in trouble in the first place.
But he would make things right for his sister, even if it killed him.
Thieves’ honor.
Chapter 2
The ride to the clubhouse was slower than usual as Rasputin continued scanning the path in front of them while Jonas brought up the rear and kept a safe distance. The land to their left was changing again, and neither knew what it meant but Jonas had ideas.
The wind blowing hard against him now, he sped up just before the turnoff and signaled to Rasputin to go on.
The VP nodded and raced farther ahead, turning into the parking lot while Jonas blazed past him.
He needed to do further recon. Without the use of cellular phones as they had in the human world, they couldn’t connect.
Even worse, the air in Faery somehow blocked the mental telepathy that vampires used to communicate, so what he was about to do would put him on his own for the next day and a half.
Heading into Brownie territory would be a risk, but the ride would clear his head.
Second, he could find a place to watch and observe the roads.
This specific truck couldn’t be the only cargo traveling through this road.
They’d hijacked several vehicles over the course of their three-year stay in this hell. It had been lucrative, but most of the hijackings had been at cargo drop-off or pick-up locations.
There was a weigh station in the Brownie territory.
If he hauled ass, he could get there with time to spare and survey the area. Jonas hit the throttle at the thought, opening up his bike and pushing it faster.
The perfect heist depended on the element of surprise.
An hour later, he felt his energy wane. Looking up at the night sky revealed the slightest hue of blue settling over the skies, warning him that he’d need to either return home or go to ground before the sun rose.
Even if the thick clouds hovered over when the sun was out, the reflection of the sun off them only intensified the pain a vampire felt before he or she burned up.
Leaning into the upcoming turn, Jonas thought back to his sister and how her sickness was his fault. He didn’t like it, but he did what he did for the right reasons.
She had a good soul and didn’t deserve to die.
Yet he’d condemned her by changing her, and now her fate was sealed if he couldn’t get his shit together and pull off not only this heist, but find someone who could help.
Faery had to have magical healers who could treat the undead.
Yawning, Jonas pulled off to the side of the two-lane road and stopped his bike. He surveyed the area. Mounds to his left, steppe to his right. The land seemed to go on forever but a longer look revealed another road going off in a different direction.
Surely his prey wouldn’t take the long road and bypass the Shadowlands.
For a moment, he pondered hijacking the driver and truck to drive straight through the realm but the flaws in that plan became evident as his mind turned over the thought.
What if the driver was too weak? Or wasn’t able to get them to the Shadowlands because they couldn’t traverse through realms?
Surely, any information Davin had was good, else why give it?
A wild noise overhead caught his attention, forcing his gaze to the sky.
Jonas scanned the area, found nothing out of the ordinary.
The sound echoed again, this time closer, making even the vampire feel creeped out.
Jonas resumed his ride until something flew past him, forcing him to pull hard right onto a dirt road.
The path had been barren minus rocks and gravel, making it harder to steer, but Jonas held on, forcing himself to maintain control through the tight s-curves heading downhill.
Eyes open, body tensed despite knowing that he stood a better chance remaining loose, Jonas eased the throttle, hoping to coast down the winding path until he could steady himself but bumps in the road jarred his body.
Easing on the front brake, Jonas felt himself slow and regain control though he still headed downhill at too fast a pace for his comfort.
Jumping off and becoming a bird or bat would strand him and trash the bike.
He was already too far out from the clubhouse and in unfamiliar territory.
“Shit.”
Luck brought forth a large curved hill.
If he could further slow his speed up the turn of that hill, maybe he could lay the bike down and deal with the scrapes.
It’d suck for him but he’d heal fast.
His bike?
Going thirty mph would cause some damage that they could repair at the shop once he returned.
He’d care less about the bike if he didn’t have his doubts about the cargo and being back with his sister.
A rock in the
road made the decision for him. Just as he swerved to avoid it, he flipped the engine kill switch, found himself airborne and landing on his back before rolling several feet.
His bike skidded to a stop atop the hill just inches from him.
Air finally filled his lungs. He took another breath before he tried to move.
Stiff, he eased back down and waited for the vampire magic to take effect and start healing him.
Looking down, he saw the tear in his jeans and felt the sting of scrapes on his left knee, right elbow, and right side. His back ached, but he’d be fine.
Thank gods for being immortal.
After a moment, he hauled himself up and stumbled toward his bike. Picking up the helmet that flew off during his involuntary flight, he brushed dust off and set it back on his head, this time fixing the chinstrap so it stayed on.
Immortal. Not impervious.
He righted his bike and looked behind him. The land had changed again, and now was a straight path heading uphill to the main road.
Before him, the first rays of dawn became to crest the horizon. If he could make his way down the remainder of this dirt path, he could find shelter in the nearby village and get out of the sun in time.
The pull of slumber gnawed at his body, more so thanks to the injuries he’d sustained.
Starting the engine, Jonas rode slowly down the hill and decided to hide the bike.
Not only were the Fae unfriendly toward vampires, they usually scattered when they heard the rumble of motorcycles.
This world would never make sense to him.
Spotting the beginnings of a village, Jonas pulled off the dirt road and laid his bike down. Not happy about it, he made sure to rip up grass and toss it over the bike so that it didn’t stick out too obviously.
Satisfied as best as he could be, he used his injuries to help craft a story when he stumbled into the seemingly empty village.
Some of the Fae were kinder than they should be toward strangers. He’d learned very early on to have a care with his words, for the Fae would use them against you if you didn’t.
As far as he knew, the Fae he’d met couldn’t detect his undead status.
Coming upon the first wood and straw house he spotted, Jonas summoned what energy he could and hoped he could nail some weak Fae with compulsion to let him in and give him a place to crash for the day.
Knocking on the door, he waited until it opened and he saw a short, brown skinned creature with no nose and wide, brown eyes. Mousy hair strewn about, they looked tired but weak enough that he could push just a touch of compulsion into them and get his way.
“Hello.”
The eyes widened when the Fae looked up.
Shit. His cut.
Boots, leather, helmet, he practically screamed biker.
Catching the brownie by the chin, he forced it to look into his gaze. Lifting his helmet and brushing back hair, he caught the brownie’s stare and saw the immediate reaction.
Boom.
I need a room for the day. I mean you no harm. Just let me crash for the next seven to twelve hours. Show me where I may retire that I may be in total darkness.
He released the brownie’s chin and waited.
Turning, the brownie slowly waved him inside.
Good.
Scanning the simple cottage, Jonas kept his eyes peeled, helmet in one hand while he fisted his right hand and stroked his thumb.
Stupid human gestures.
Another minute passed and the creature showed him into a bedroom with but one window and the shade drawn. The pallet before him was simple. Straw, a blanket, some sort of stuffed rucksack for a makeshift pillow. “Here?”
The brownie nodded in reply.
“Tha—” he stopped himself. He’d learned a long time ago not to thank them.
Yes, they were horrible, but he had a feeling that what Rasputin had run into was not this creature.
Without saying another word, Jonas sat down on the pallet, stretched out, feeling his achy muscles, then leaned back against the wall and closed his eyes.
Before sleep caught him, he felt something heavy fall against him.
Opening one eye, he spied the brownie now passed out, snoring heartily beside him.
What the fuck.
The sun was almost blinding sitting that high in the sky, but it kept Tempest awake long enough that she could see the road. Parts of it were winding and required her to slow the speed of the semi just to make sure she didn’t tip the truck and the cargo.
Upon waking yesterday, she was informed of the contents of her cargo, reminded once again that failure to deliver meant death, and that she needed to heed caution when driving through parts of her route.
Yawning, she simply ignored the foreman and pulled the truck onto the road, making good time until she’d hit the first truck stop. There were four on the way to her destination and if she made good time, she’d hit them all without trouble and make her delivery early.
Unfortunately, she’d decided to skip the first truck stop in favor of pushing for a faster delivery.
Payday was close enough that she could smell it.
The first stretch of road went without incident. She’d gassed the truck up, marveling at how Faery had managed to adapt some of the Earth customs.
Of course, a haul of this magnitude couldn’t just be magically transported. Even the Fae weren’t capable of such feats. The best they could do was use magic to enhance the gas mileage, since oil had to be brought in from the Earth realm.
Peering over the dash, she looked straight down the road and made the correct adjustments in speed to accommodate the road.
Luckily, being a half-breed meant the nights didn’t faze her nearly the way they would another creature. Her half vampire heritage helped her earn and with the cash she’d set aside, it would just be this one load and she’d be out of Faery.
Where? Who the hell knew. As long as she was away from the past that haunted her.
The road ahead lay straight so she put her foot down, kicking the truck into a higher speed. She’d been alone on the road for most of the trip so far, only seeing another semi or two going in the opposite direction.
Earlier when her senses were keen, she made sure to push the truck, knowing it could go much faster than she was willing to drive, but the weight of the cargo, along with its importance, made her more careful.
She blinked, wiping sleep from her eyes. Yes, keen vampire senses, but not as keen as the full-blooded version. Checking her mirror, Tempest frowned when she saw two motorcycles coming up on her rear.
Shit.
That might have meant trouble.
Slowing, she kept the rig steadily in the center of the lane while hoping both bikers would pass her.
Another moment later, they’d flown past her and cut her off, making her honk the horn.
The bikers didn’t seem to flinch.
They wore leather but she couldn’t make out their patches.
Looking in her rearview mirror again, she spotted several more bikers riding up on her.
Hoping this was just a group out for a ride in the Kingdom of Faery, she checked her nerves.
Out of the corner of her eye, she spied the two handguns and rifle sitting in the seat beside her. Both had been checked, loaded, and ready to rock if shit got hairy.
Her stomach burned and the hairs on the back of her neck stood up. She looked around, found herself surrounded and it looked like the bikers were slowing.
What the fuck were they thinking?
They weren’t vampires. Through her half-breed status, she would have sensed the presence of the undead before they came up. Why couldn’t she sense them as Fae?
She didn’t want to start shooting, that would cause problems; and even though she could plow through them like a hot knife through butter, the truck would sustain front end alignment damage and she might damage her cargo.
Slowing, she honked again and hoped they’d get the hint.
They
didn’t. Instead, they began gathering beside the driver’s side of the truck, lining up until she had four of them alongside her.
“Fuck it.” Heart palpitating loud against her chest, she steered the truck into the oncoming lane, hoping to put them off balance and allow her to pick up speed.
Instead, they sped past her and now she had six of them in front of her truck.
“Really don’t want a body count on my hands today, assholes.” She honked again and put her foot down on the gas pedal.
One of the bikers waved behind him and as she picked up speed, the bikers maneuvered until they kept pace with the truck and now were in the oncoming traffic lane.
Gripping the steering wheel, Tempest continued increasing speed but the bikers on her side kept pace. The two in front raced down the stretch of highway until they were a good distance from her.
By now, she’d reached for one of the guns.
Good thing too, because one of the assholes managed to leap off his bike and grab the handle of her door.
Swerving in attempt to throw him off only had her scraping the truck against that Fae’s bike—which somehow managed to continue riding straight.
What the hell?
She pointed the gun at the window when the thug’s ugly face appeared in the window. She got a glimpse of it out of the corner of her eye. Mauled features, the stuff nightmares were made of, stared back at her. Bald, wide eyes, thick lips and pale white flesh made her cringe. The creature curled its lips and bared fangs, liquid dripping gruesomely from its distorted mouth. It clawed at the window.
If she shot at it now, the sound would fuck her hearing up, set her off balance. Oh, not to mention the glass shards and guts exploding all over her.
“Damnit.
Swerving hard to her left again only made the creature lose grip just enough to hang by one arm before it yanked itself back to the door and managed to get a foothold on the steel stepping plate.
A rapping sound, like something clawing glass drew her attention to the passenger side.
20 Shades of Shifters: A Paranormal Romance Collection Page 130
