Scions: Revelation

by Patrice Michelle

  His black eyebrows slashed downward. “Her heartbeat is steady. Did you save her?”

  Mira nodded. “With Caine’s help. Yes, we saved her.”

  Not a flicker of emotion crossed his face. Instead, he bowed his head in acknowledgment and immediately turned, falling toward the ground. Before his human hands hit the leaf-covered underbrush, he’d shifted to a sleek black panther, then took off into the forest.

  Wondering about the man’s swift retreat, Mira stared into the dense woods for several minutes before she finally walked back inside the house. Talek stood once more and she waved him back, addressing Landon. “I just saw another panther.”

  Landon jumped up from the office chair he’d been sitting in behind the desk. His green gaze narrowed. “Where?”

  Mira waved to the front door she’d pushed closed with her foot. “He emerged from the woods and asked if I had saved Emma. When I told him she would be okay, he shifted back to his panther form and ran off.”

  Landon’s tense stance relaxed and he rubbed the back of his neck as he came around from behind the desk. “Damnit, I want to talk to him. Hawkeye could provide some much-needed answers.”

  He didn’t seem to want to interact…with anyone. I understand that feeling sometimes. “Maybe Emma can help when she wakes. I’m going to wash up and then check on my patient,” Mira said.

  Emma awoke to the scent of honeysuckle and the sensation of soothing warmth gliding over her body. The softness disappeared, followed by the sound of water falling into a container. Then the wonderful heat was back, stealing over her skin. It felt so good, she peered through half-closed eyes to see Caine leaning over her with a sponge, his black hair falling across his brow creased in concentration.

  Her heart melted when she realized Caine was bathing her body. Her side was a little sore, but other than that, Emma felt rejuvenated. For a split second she wondered if everything had been a dream, if she was still in the cabin with Caine.

  But when he looked up and his hazel eyes were shot with streaks of light green, she remembered everything that had happened to her—from Malac kidnapping her, his crazy plans for the Velius, her near-rape and Hawkeye saving her, to the memory of a beautiful vampire doctor trying to save her life as she bled out from a gaping wound that could’ve killed her.

  “You knew what I was, yet you rescued me. Why?” she asked in a whisper.

  Caine dropped the sponge in the water, then ran his warm hand up her belly, creating a sparking, heated path in its wake. He cupped his hand over her heart, the edge of his fingers resting just below her breast. “I didn’t know what you were when I met you in the club, but the electricity between us…was and still is…undeniable.”

  His brow furrowed as he ran his thumb along the inside curve of her breast. “When I went to your house and learned what you were, that you’ve been hiding yourself with those damned pills, I felt as if someone had ripped me in two. I hated how betrayed I felt.” His gaze snapped to hers. “But what I hated worse was that it didn’t matter—that I still felt the same way about you, regardless of what you were.”

  Emma’s eyes watered with tears. She gripped his hand and brought it to her lips. Kissing his palm with reverence, she kept her gaze locked on his as hot tears streaked down her temples. “This is what you were trying to get me to tell you in the cabin, wasn’t it? That I knew what you were and that I was a panther.”

  She shook her head slowly and she gulped back a sob. “All my life I’ve been told I had a vitamin deficiency and that’s why I had to take a daily pill. When Malac took me, he told me the pills’ true purpose was to mask my panther scent—and that the medicine was what kept him from finding me all these years. He has such horrible plans, Caine. He wants me to be his broodmare, to produce a legion of panther offspring who can shift at will.”

  Fury swept across Caine’s face and his eyes stormed, turning even greener. Worry filled her when he began to growl deep in his throat. Pushing aside her fear, Emma touched his stubbled jaw and continued in a trembling voice. “I only discovered what I was when I shifted to protect you. Please, please believe me.”

  Caine touched her hair where her tears had left damp trails. He vibrated all over with tension. “Did. He. Touch. You?” he bit out through clenched teeth.

  His slowly spoken words scared her. Emma worried if she told him what almost happened to her, he might go after Malac alone. She didn’t want anything to happen to him. Mira walked into the room, distracting her from answering right away, which was apparently too long for Caine.

  He let out a growl and punched his hand straight through the bed’s headboard. “I’ll shred him to pieces. I’m going to—”

  “Hawkeye saved me in time, Caine!” Emma panicked and quickly sat up, pulling the covers against her chest, speaking as fast as she could. “Malac…didn’t get a chance to do anything—”

  “What is it?” Landon came barreling into the room, his expression alert, wereclaws on full display. Jachin and Talek were directly behind him, fangs and vampire talons extended. Laird and the blond man from the club quickly followed, looking equally intense. Kailtyn stepped into the room behind them. Everyone was on alert. Ready to battle.

  Mira stood frozen in the center of the room, while her brother and Talek glanced at her for acknowledgment that she was okay. Tension arched through the air, and the men glared back and forth between each other, testosterone rising. The fierce looks on the vampires’ and werewolves’ faces made Emma’s heart pound with anxiety. Did their hatred run so deep?

  The sudden ringing of a cell phone sliced through the thick adrenaline hanging in the air between the different species.

  Caine’s chest heaved and his eyes glazed as his fists opened and closed reflexively. Landon growled at Caine, “Answer the damn thing before a fight breaks out.”

  Caine pulled his cell phone from his pocket and looked at the caller ID. His gaze snapped to Landon’s. “It’s the Velius bastards who kidnapped Emma from the club.”

  He flipped open the cell phone and tilted it so Emma could hear a woman speaking. “Hello…I’m assuming this is the Lupreda who took Emral from us. Because you used Roland’s number to find us, I’m returning the favor. My name is Jade.”

  Caine’s eyes instantly narrowed. “This is Caine. What do you want, Jade?”

  “To talk.”

  Jade? Emma’s heart thumped. She pulled her knees underneath her and gripped his hand. Once Caine muted the phone, she said, “Jade’s not with Malac. Before Hawkeye rescued me from Malac, my aunt told me the panthers splintered into two factions a while back. She said I could trust Jade, that she wouldn’t mean me harm.”

  Caine’s jaw tightened, suspicion in his hazel gaze. “They kidnapped you!”

  Emma ran her hand through her messy hair. “I—I’m beginning to think they did it to keep Malac from finding me first.” Expelling her pent-up breath, she continued. “It’s a long story.”

  “Caine?” Jade called. “Are you there?”

  Caine unmuted the phone. “Yeah.”

  “I think we should discuss this in person.”

  “Discuss what? The fact I’m going to tear every single one of you apart for drugging and kidnapping Emma? Your man tried to kill us,” Caine gritted out, his gaze snapping to Emma.

  “He was trying to protect Emral,” Jade said, concern in her voice. “Can I talk to her?”

  Caine gripped the phone tight. As he laced his fingers with Emma’s, she could see the complete distrust on his face. “No, and her name is Emma.”

  The woman on the other end of the line sighed. “This is why I think it’s best that we meet in person. And because they’re there with you, we’d like the Lupreda and Sanguinas representatives to come with you and Emra—Emma.”

  Caine tensed and glanced toward the curtain-covered window. “How’d you know they are with me?”

  “Hawkeye told me when he called to say Emma was safe.”

  Caine narrowed his gaze and Landon dipped
his head to acknowledge that Hawkeye had been around, then the Alpha and Jachin exchanged meaningful looks. Tense shoulders relaxed and wereclaws, talons and fangs retracted. Returning his gaze to Caine, Landon gave him a curt nod and mouthed the word, “Trap.”

  “We’ll meet, but we choose the place,” Caine said.

  “Fair enough,” the woman replied in an appeased tone. “Call me back with the location and the time.”

  The moment Caine snapped the cell phone closed, Kaitlyn stepped forward. “All right, everyone, please go to the living room. We obviously need to talk, but Emma must get cleaned up and put on some clothes first. She can meet us downstairs when she’s ready.”

  Once everyone but Caine left, Kaitlyn looked at him and raised her eyebrow.

  “You expect me to leave?”

  Emma almost smiled at the surprise in his voice. Kaitlyn put her hands on her hips and sighed. “Yes, you, too. Emma needs some time to herself.”

  Caine’s fingers tightened around Emma’s. “But she might need help—”

  “And that’s why I’ll be here if she needs anything.”

  “I’ll be fine.” Emma squeezed Caine’s hand, then untangled her fingers from his. “But she’s right. I’d like to take a shower and put on some clothes.” Letting her gaze slide over his bare chest, she chuckled. “Maybe they can find a shirt for you to wear, too.”

  Caine glanced down at his naked torso and snorted. Leaning over, he kissed her forehead, then whispered in her ear, “I’ll be right downstairs if you need me.”

  Emma nodded and pushed at his hard chest, her heart pounding at the muscles underneath her fingers. “Go on. I’ll be fine.”

  The moment Caine walked out of the room, Kaitlyn shut the door. Facing Emma, she shook her head and mumbled, “Lupredas and their strong protective streaks,” as she walked over to the chest of drawers near the closet and rifled through them.

  Once she’d pulled out a few articles of clothing, Kaitlyn carried them over to the bed and sat down with the bundle in her arms, her expression sympathetic. “I know you’re probably feeling a bit outnumbered, surrounded by a bunch of werewolves and vampires.”

  The truth was Emma was completely torn. She trusted and cared for Caine, but she didn’t want the werewolves to attack Jade and her people. “I am a bit confused at the moment.”

  “These clothes should be close enough to your size.” Kaitlyn handed her the bundle, then smiled. “I grew up living a human life for twenty-four years. I didn’t know that my father had been bitten by a werewolf before I was born and that as his offspring I carried Lupreda blood in my veins.” She gave an ironic chuckle. “At least not until I met Landon. My point is, I totally understand how you feel, because I was in your position not too long ago.”

  “I might be a panther,” Emma said, her voice trembling, “but I was also raised thinking I was human all my life. I only discovered what I was when Malac took me, but the fact remains, I am Velius. I don’t want to go to this meeting with a plan to ambush those of my own race. It’s not right. My aunt said Jade can be trusted. I have to give her the benefit of the doubt. She might be able to help me rescue my aunt. I passed out before I could get a feel for the area of town where Malac resides…and Jade may know.”

  Kaitlyn squeezed Emma’s hand. “When you come downstairs, you can help fill in the missing pieces. Then we’ll discuss all the options.”

  “I don’t believe Jade would harm me,” Emma insisted.

  “That may be true, Emma, but the panthers have had no problem murdering three Lupreda zerkers and in doing so—”

  “Zerkers?”

  Kaitlyn nodded. “Lupreda who are permanently caught between human and wolf form.”

  Emma’s brow furrowed. “Are you talking about a werewolf?”

  “Yes, the Lupreda call it their Musk form. The Lupreda discovered too late that only mature wolves can handle shifting in and out of their Musk form. Once those three Lupreda went zerker—unable to shift back to human form—the wolves declared that no Lupreda can use their Musk form until they’ve fully matured. The Lupreda are bound to their wolf form during the three nights of a full moon. That they can’t control, but the older ones can call forth their Musk form at will any other time.”

  Emma thought about the fight she’d witnessed between Malac and Caine. “When Malac shot Caine, Caine was shifting to what must’ve been his Musk form. That arrow forced him to shift back to human form at the same time it seemed to literally destroy his strength. What was in that weapon?”

  “Thank goodness for small favors,” Kaitlyn mumbled, piquing Emma’s curiosity, but she continued on, distracting Emma from the question she wanted to ask. “When the vampires first created the Lupreda, they used silver collars to keep them from shifting to their wolf form until the vampires were ready to hunt them. Over time the werewolves developed a deadly allergy to silver. So silver around their neck keeps them from shifting from their human form and if infused in their system, the metal can kill Lupreda.

  “Apparently the Velius have figured that out and are using those silver arrows on the Lupreda to their complete advantage. They kidnapped the zerkers, then left their burned bodies in strategic places meant to incite a war between the vampires and wolves. It probably would’ve worked, too, if Jachin and Landon hadn’t been on speaking terms.”

  “Um, the Lupreda and Sanguinas still seem wary and distrustful of each other,” Emma said with a frown.

  Kaitlyn sighed her agreement. “They have decades of hatred to overcome, Emma, and the panthers’ devious and murderous acts aren’t making that any easier.”

  “That was Malac’s doing,” Emma interjected, finally piecing together the conversation between Caine and Malac in the cabin. “He admitted his role in killing some of the Lupreda to Caine before he kidnapped me.”

  “It might just be Malac, but all the panthers have been masking their scents, and until their motivations are clearly understood, Landon and Jachin have to look out for the best interests of their pack and clan. Their truce is tenuous enough.”

  When Emma tensed, Kaitlyn tilted her head, an encouraging look in her hazel-blue eyes. “No matter whether you’re panther, werewolf, vampire or human…it’s always in your best interest to be prepared for anything. Wouldn’t you agree?”

  The woman had a valid point. Emma was going purely by what her aunt told her about Jade. The female panther could’ve changed over the past twenty years. Malac was definitely insane, and even if Jade might not want to hurt Emma—as she claimed—her intentions toward the Lupreda and Sanguinas could be completely different. Emma didn’t want to put Caine, his pack or the vampires who’d helped her in jeopardy. She nodded mutely while her stomach churned in turmoil.

  Kaitlyn smiled. “Good. As long as you’re willing to consider a contingency plan, we can make sure those testosterone junkies downstairs hold their primal instincts in check.”

  Emotions welled within Emma. The thought of going against a race she barely knew, yet one she was very much a part of, weighed heavily on her chest. She impulsively hugged Kaitlyn. “Thank you for understanding.”

  Landon’s mate hugged her and leaned back with a wink. “We women have to stick together to keep these alpha men in line. Do you think you can get a shower on your own? There’s plenty of extra supplies in the linen closet.”

  Emma gripped the blanket and stood up from the bed. She felt a little woozy for a second, but her mind quickly cleared. “I’ll be fine. Fill everyone in on what we’ve discussed and I’ll be down as soon as I’m presentable.”

  The moment Emma entered the living room, all conversation stopped. Everyone stared at her, making her feel like a bug under a microscope. She resisted the urge to fluff her damp hair, but couldn’t quite stop herself from biting her lower lip.

  Caine jumped up from the wingback chair he’d been sprawled across sideways and was by her side before she dug her teeth too deep into her lip. He looked sexy as hell in a thin, black V-neck sweater. Cla
sping her hand, he pulled it to his mouth and kissed her knuckles. “Hey, beautiful,” he said in a soft tone and finished in her mind, Are you feeling okay?

  Emma blinked away the emotion that swept her heart when his deep voice, full of worry, entered her mind. His intense hazel gaze held hers for several seconds until she realized he was waiting for a response. She gave him a tremulous smile and nodded. “Thanks to you and—” Emma swept her gaze to Mira sitting on the formal couch between Talek and Jachin “—Mira. I can’t thank you both enough for all you’ve done.”

  Mira inclined her head and smiled. “If Landon felt strongly enough about you to ask for our help, that was enough for us.”

  Caine released Emma’s fingers and settled his hand against the small of her back as her wide gaze locked on Landon. He was leaning against the side of the other wingback chair Kaitlyn was sitting in. “Why did you help me?”

  “Apparently, I’m not the only pack member who does crazy things,” a man with longish blond hair snorted from his position near the window.

  “Shut up, Roman!” Laird elbowed the blond in the arm.

  Landon’s gaze held Caine’s as he addressed her. “Caine is the pack’s Second. He cares for you. That’s why I helped.”

  Caine was Second to the Alpha? Emma glanced at Caine to see him shaking his head. Banked tension vibrated in his edgy tone. “I’m no longer Second.”

  Landon instantly straightened from his relaxed pose. “The hell you aren’t—”

  “Emma, why don’t you tell us why you think Jade can be trusted. We want to help you and your aunt if we can, but we need to know everything you do before we meet with the other Velius,” Kaitlyn said.

  Emma had seen the anger flash across Landon’s face when Caine said he wasn’t the Second. She wondered what that was all about, but was thankful Kaitlyn had intervened. They needed to stay focused, not fight. Time was ticking and she hoped that Jade could help her find and rescue her aunt. Nodding to Kaitlyn, she began with the story Mary told her about the panthers splintering off and the fact Malac took Hawkeye when he left and she stayed with Jade. She told them about Mary and her brother Roland’s history, how Roland created the pills that masked the panthers’ scent and how Mary hadn’t seen her brother since she took Emma to hide her from all the panthers. “She didn’t trust that they wouldn’t begin to fight over me.”