He started back toward the headlights and paused on the driveway. His body went rigid, and he stood still. Jax heard a car door open and a woman rushed to the man’s side. Her flowing red hair glowed brightly in the headlights. Jax caught a few words of what she said: “… another vision?”
The redhead placed her hand Tovin’s cheek. After a few moments, she mumbled, “There are more of them, but the place is unfamiliar.”
Jax didn’t understand what was happening, but he was curious to overhear more. He moved closer and tilted his ears forward to listen better.
“… could be promising—a hybrid breed.” The woman turned her head and blinked in Jax’s direction. “Time to set aside your curiosity of the chameleons. Our edict was clear. We must go tell the others.”
Tovin seemed to come out of his daze and nodded. The redhead’s hand fell away from his face, and she returned to the car. He stood like a shadow in the headlights. He gave a melancholy glance over his shoulder at the bear groaning in pain in the meadow and reluctantly opened the driver’s-side door.
Moments later the vehicle backed down the driveway and the headlights disappeared. Jax trotted after, sniffing the air, smelling something reminiscent of mint.
Emery’s deep groans drew his attention, so he leaped up a slope into the meadow where she was sitting. Jax scanned the area for Marika but couldn’t spot her anywhere. He stepped closer to the bear and squinted at her bleeding wound. Black fur dissolved away, and the animal’s bulky form shrank into that of a woman. Emery’s dark hair hung loose around her bare shoulders, and her hand went to her side where Quinn had knifed her. Blood stained her fingers.
Emery gasped. “It hurts like hell, but I think I’ll be okay. That nasty little witch took off on me before I could stop her. Think you could find me some clothes?”
She winced at him through the darkness. Jax didn’t hesitate. He limped back to his pile of clothing, shifted back to his human form and pulled on his jeans. He picked up his shirt and boxers and brought them back to Emery.
While she got dressed, he went to Alaric’s still body. His neck was bloody, and his eyes were open. Jax reached down to feel for a pulse and was relieved to find one. He announced over his shoulder, “He’s alive.”
“Thank God.” Emery walked up to Jax, touching his wounded shoulder. “You’re going to need stitches.”
He looked at the knife laceration Quinn had given him. His flesh burned, and the pain from his ribs took his breath away, yet he pushed away the discomfort. There were others to help.
“Check on Riley, and I’ll let out Deane,” she said and hurried up to the house with her hand pressed to her side.
Jax stepped over Ramsay’s still body, then passed by Dustin’s, feeling a little shell-shocked. Propped in the doorway of the house sat Riley. His eyes were closed, and his breathing was shallow.
“Hey, man—you still with us?” Jax muttered, touching his shoulder.
Riley’s lids lifted. He looked the picture of death and misery. His lips barely moved. “Unfortunately.”
Riley had been through more than anyone should have to endure in a lifetime. His mother was gone, never to return, and he’d killed his own father. Jax knew what hopelessness looked like. He squeezed Riley’s shoulder. “It may not feel like it now, but I believe everything’ll be okay.”
“How do you know?” the kid whispered back.
He heard Emery’s and Deane’s voices inside the home and felt a sense of calm come over him. “There are things you don’t know yet, but these people are like a big family. They look out for their own, and Aerilyn’s taken you under her wing. She’s going to look out for you.”
A deep voice said from the entry, “So will I.”
Deane stood beside them wearing a flannel shirt and a pair of pleated blue shorts that smelled of mothballs. He squatted down and said, “I don’t understand what ye are any more than ye, but ye be looking like hell. If yer—if Ramsay said ye need blood to survive, then that’s what I’ll get.”
Riley wrinkled up his nose. “I won’t drink your blood.”
Deane stood up and went outside. “Who said anything about my blood? I saw a chicken coop out back.”
“Gross,” Riley answered.
“Hey, mate,” Deane said before walking off. “Live to fight another day.”
Jax went inside to check on Aerilyn. The living room was a mess, and the door to the basement was hanging open. Deep scratch marks and gouges covered the wood. He shook his head and went down the hallway to the washroom.
There he found Emery kneeling over Aerilyn’s furry body, talking on the phone. “We need a cleanup crew on the scene as soon as possible. We have a number who will need medical attention. Call everyone in. All hands on deck tonight.”
When she saw Jax, she got up and stepped away from the wolf lying on the linoleum. She exited the back door to continue her conversation, leaving Jax with Aerilyn. He kneeled down beside the wolf and put his hand on her side. Her chest cavity continued to rise and fall in a steady rhythm.
“I don’t know if you can hear me, but I’m here. You’re going to be okay,” he whispered. “Ramsay will never hurt you again. He’s gone. For good.”
Jax had been through loss before. If they’d arrived and found Aerilyn dead, he wouldn’t have been able to cope. She meant too much to him. They all did. When he hadn’t been looking, he’d built a life here. A family.
He leaned over to touch his forehead to Aerilyn’s. “You’re my family now. I will never leave you again.”
Twenty-Five
“He did well,” Emery said, looking across the room at Riley.
The Denver lodge was filled with members. Conversations filled the vaulted space and echoed off the brick walls. Aerilyn gazed at her student where he was sitting on the couch beside Deane. Riley’s skin had lost its translucent paleness. It was surprising what a difference a little blood made for his complexion. He hadn’t nearly recovered, but he didn’t look so near death.
“Sounds like the detectives have ruled him out in his mother’s murder and are looking for Ramsay—that’ll turn into a cold case real quick.” Emery lifted her drink to her lips and winced. She was still stiff and sore, despite her stubbornness in admitting it. “I never imagined Deane as a foster parent. Like ever.”
Aerilyn looked at the Irishman across the room and shook her head. “I don’t know. He was always really patient and sweet with me when I was a kid.”
Emery snorted. “Yeah, but Riley’s no cute little girl. He’s a pissed off, confused teenager. That’s like expert level parenting.”
Aerilyn had to agree. At least he’d been getting his foster son to school, and that seemed to be a challenge for some parents.
Warm breath touched the back of her neck, sending chills down her spine. Aerilyn turned her head, facing Jax. He kissed her jaw and put his hand on her waist.
“Ugh, enough with the public displays of affection. You guys make me sick.” Emery wrinkled her nose.
“Do we?” Aerilyn challenged her.
Her friend sighed and pressed her ruby-red lips together. “Fine. It’s not you, it’s the fact I haven’t had anyone between my sheets in weeks. And Petey jumping on my mattress doesn’t count.”
Jax stood between them and blinked at Emery. “You got a pretty deep cut. You need to give yourself time to heal before you get… active.”
Emery fired back. “I know for a fact you haven’t laid off the bedroom heat. How are you moving around so easily after getting stabbed and breaking your ribs?”
Jax’s cheeks flushed. “I’ve already healed.”
“What?” Emery frowned. “That was fast. I still hurt while putting on my shoes.”
He shrugged. “I’ve always healed fast. That’s not a shifter thing?”
Aerilyn looked at Emery and hesitated answering, “No, that’s not a shifter thing.”
Jax shrugged and pulled Aerilyn closer to him.
“What about your research. Foun
d anything new?” Emery asked.
Emery may not have noticed Jax’s change of mood, but Aerilyn did. She laced her fingers through his. “No, we didn’t find any members with the spelling of Jenyphr, but we won’t give up.”
She sensed someone behind her and turned around. Alaric closed his eyes and pressed his fingers to his brow. “I hate to interrupt your conversation, but I need to borrow your boyfriend. It’s time to get started.”
“Sure,” she answered with a nod. She was still trying to get used to her father calling Jax her boyfriend, a sudden and welcome change since she’d been abducted by Ramsay.
Alaric walked away, and Emery leaned in to ask Jax, “You nervous?”
“Oh.” He shrugged. “What’s to be nervous about? I’m only saying goodbye to my freedom.”
Aerilyn snickered. “As if. You’ll still have freedom.”
He turned to gaze into her eyes, and her heart sputtered in response.
Jax whispered, “Love is sacrifice. I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
He kissed her before he went off to find her father, and Aerilyn was left staring after him. She might have worried about him feeling penned in, but it had been Jax who’d brought it up with Alaric. It had been his decision. She’d been left out of it entirely.
A chiming glass rang out through the dimly lit hall and everyone quieted down to look at Alaric. He raised his hand and said, “As you know, a lot has transpired over the last few weeks. And I would like to thank you for your service and loyalty to Genus Society. Although a number of you have helped in numerous ways to put things right, there are few who deserve the spotlight. Garren, Deane and Emery—we are lucky to have you protecting us and upholding our laws.”
He paused to allow the crowd to clap and cheer for the enforcers, who tried to ignore the attention. Alaric smiled and spoke up again, “I would also like to show appreciation for one of our newest initiates, Jax, who stepped up to fight when the cards were down. And to my daughter, Aerilyn, I am proud of your strength, but I pray you never put yourself in danger again.”
A number of people laughed at his comment and snickered. He held up his hand again and waited for silence. “It is time for us to celebrate the continuation of our millennia-old society with the induction of our newest members. We can only live on through the future generations. Initiates, please step forward.”
The crowd parted to make room for the few who came before Alaric. Jax was joined by two young shifters.
“Let all here be witness to the acceptance of membership of these initiates.” Alaric closed his eyes to take a deep breath before continuing.
So many times in her life, Aerilyn had watched her father carry out his duties as lodge leader, but never had she been so excited. Not even during her own induction as a member.
“… my friends, when you take this solemn vow, it is a promise to live by our laws and to join our global family so that we may support and protect one another as kin. Are you prepared to live by these tenets?”
Her heart raced as Jax glanced over his shoulder to look at her and whispered, “I am.”
The End
Half-Blood Secrets
Half-Bloods, Book Two
Chapter One
Deane made his way down the wooden stairs into the basement level of the Denver lodge with Emery, his rookie partner, following behind. The air was cool and dry, and the smell of stone and earth filled his nostrils, calling him back to his youth in Ireland.
Wall sconces lit the way as they walked along the brick corridor. A woman’s voice filtered into the hall. “I believe there are venom glands recessed above the upper canines. I’d like to take a tooth out to confirm they’re hollow and get a pure sample of venom. Time is of the essence.”
Deane rounded the doorway first, joining Alaric, the Genus Society lodge leader, and Doctor Khatri in the confined room. The doctor nodded at him in greeting, and her almond eyes traveled from his face to the covered body on the exam table.
As soon as she entered, Emery wrinkled her nose. “You have some air freshener or a fan or something? It’s oh-so-nasty in here.”
Alaric crossed his arms and leveled his gaze at the enforcer. “Did you expect the body would smell like roses after two weeks? Ramsay may have been a blood-sucker, but they rot just like the rest of us.”
Emery pinched her nose while affixing a sour expression on her face. Her red lips formed a tight line, and she blinked her long black lashes at the covered body of the deceased blood-sucker.
Deane was all too familiar with the aroma of death, but it was something he’d never gotten used to. He slipped his hands into his slacks pockets, trying not to inhale too deeply, and asked, “Anything new, boss?”
“Besides the fact I’ve been on the phone with Consul Beaumont every waking minute since Aerilyn’s rescue?” The lodge leader sighed heavily. The stress was evident on his face; dark circles shadowed his eyes. “We don’t know how many of these blood-suckers are out there, how long they’ve been running around undetected and what kind of danger we’re in.”
A look of guilt washed over Emery’s face, and she lowered her hand from her nose. “I’m sorry I couldn’t stop her from escaping.”
She was referring to Marika, of course. Emery had been beating herself up about the young blood-sucker’s escape into the wilderness when they’d rescued Alaric’s daughter and Ramsay’s son from their abductors’ hideout in the Rockies.
Deane took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “At least ye weren’t locked in the basement, unable to lend a hand. Nobody blames ye anyhow. From what I hear, ye were fierce—even got a scar to prove yer brass.”
He nodded at her abdomen, the place she’d been knifed by Quinn, one of the blood-suckers now lying in a body bag in the adjoining room’s walk-in fridge.
Alaric leaned against the metal table and looked at Emery. “Deane’s right. You and Jax were the last ones standing—that’s nothing to be ashamed of. But the fact remains that with Marika’s escape, she could have alerted the rest of their kind to our existence. Who knows if these blood-suckers are organized like us and, if so, whether we just triggered an all-out war.”
Emery appeared to have temporarily forgotten the foul smell. Her green eyes lit up at the mention of a fight. Deane leaned toward her and held her gaze. “That wouldn’t be what we’re hoping for. Just to remind ye.”
She scowled back at him. “What’s wrong with you? You’re Irish. Why don’t you like a good fight?”
“I’ve done enough of it in my time to have my fill,” he answered grimly. Then he reached toward her abdomen, and she pulled away with a wince. “Its that fight that left ye with those bandages and a mark ye’ll take to yer grave. Ye should be proud ye saved yer friend, but a fight for the sake of fighting isn’t worth a damn thing.”
Emery rolled her eyes at him, and Doctor Khatri cleared her throat. The doctor pulled back the sheet that covered Ramsay, exposing the sallow blood-sucker. Her gloved hands reached to part his lips and expose his teeth. She grabbed a tool that looked like a pair of pliers from a tray and asked Deane as she worked, “How’s your young charge doing?”
He watched her carefully pull one of Ramsay’s canines from his mouth and swallowed. “Hard to tell—he doesn’t talk much. Ye know how many hoops ye have to jump through to become a foster parent? I don’t know why I volunteered for this.”
Except he knew why he’d done it. He’d made a promise, one he wasn’t about to break. Although Riley was a blood-sucker, Ramsay’s son to be precise, he was like a youngling shapeshifter just coming into his powers. The kid had more to worry about than high school—he was different from everyone else. Plus, Riley had no one, something Deane could relate to.
“I think it’s great Finn was able to help ‘lawyer’ things out so quickly. I think about Riley trying to eat dinner with a bunch of mundanes while eyeing the bloody drippings from their steaks.” She laughed and wrinkled up her nose. “Say, isn’t Aerilyn bringing him by your plac
e soon with all of his stuff?”
Deane checked the time on his phone and sighed. He wasn’t used to taking care of anyone else but himself. “Aye.”
Doctor Khatri set the tooth and pliers on the metal tray and looked at Deane. “Remember, he’s a seventeen-year-old who’s going through a lot of changes and will have special needs. Are you fully prepared for what that will entail?”
“Who better to keep an eye on him than my best enforcer?” Alaric chimed in. “I can’t have our only living specimen in just anyone’s hands.”
The doctor paused, holding a needle and an empty vial. “I understand your concerns, Alaric, but what about the day-to-day issues, like how often the boy needs to feed and whether animal blood is sufficient? We don’t know what kind of care he requires yet.”
“Yes, yes, or what his weaknesses are,” Alaric said.
Doctor Khatri seemed to think better of responding and put her attention on Ramsay while Alaric’s eyes widened. He patted his breast pocket and pulled a phone out. Alaric handed it to Deane. “It’s Ramsay’s. I haven’t looked at it yet what with the massive amount of cleanup we had to do at that old couple’s home and working with Ryker regarding the police investigation into Riley’s mother’s murder. Too many balls in the air right now to do it all myself.”
Deane touched the power switch and watched the phone power on. Its welcome screen asked for fingerprint recognition, so he lifted the edge of the sheet covering Ramsay and found the blood-sucker’s hand. Deane pushed Ramsay’s pale thumb against the button and breathed a sigh of relief when it worked. He didn’t waste time stripping down the security and changing passwords.
“Check his contacts,” Emery said, peering around his shoulder to stare at the screen.
“Getting to that,” Deane muttered as he opened the call log. He took a moment before responding, “The last outgoing call was made that night on the mountain, right around the time we broke into the cabin. It’s to a place called TailGators.”
Half-Blood Descendant: A Paranormal Series (Half-Bloods Book 1) Page 24
