by Ramona Gray
* * *
The mantorian watched as its brothers tore into the strange-smelling creature. Its cries were growing weaker and it buzzed its satisfaction as the blood stained the snow. It touched its feeler to the mantorian standing next to it and it buzzed in reply. They would finish destroying the creature and then hunt down the scent of the shifters. It had been many weeks since they had fed and the shifters would be more than enough to satisfy the hunger. It buzzed again, excitement coursing through its veins as its wings fluttered lightly in the cold air.
If they were lucky, there would be many shifters and they could –
A breath of air passed by it and warmth flooded its chest. It glanced downward, its eyes glowing in surprise at the black blood that coated the feathers of its chest. It touched the blood with one black-tipped claw and studied it in the moonlight. It was growing oddly weak and it sank to its knees as more blood poured from its slit throat. It watched with numb disinterest as a second creature, hissing loudly, attacked its brothers who were feeding from the fallen one. It buzzed softly and fell face-forward into the snow as howling filled the night air.
The five shifters bounded forward and snarling and barking, they attacked the mantorians feasting on Faren’s body. They drove them back as Adina and Neil joined them. They formed a protective circle around Faren and Adina fell to her knees beside him.
“Faren!” She screamed his name, staring horrified at the gaping wounds in his chest and torso. He was drenched in blood and Val shook him roughly.
“Faren, open your eyes!”
His eyelids fluttered open and he stared hazily at Val before his eyes rolled to Adina.
“Hello, Adina,” he rasped.
Blood bubbled from his mouth and Adina shrugged out of her jacket before struggling to sit him up. Val yanked Faren into a sitting position. The vampire screamed hoarsely as blood gushed from his chest and stomach and Adina made her own cry of pain.
“You must feed from me, Faren,” she said urgently as tears flowed down her cheeks.
“No,” he shook his head weakly. “I will not. Do not ask me to – “
He broke off, coughing weakly as blood flew from his mouth.
“Fuck, Faren! You are dying, feed from the human!” Val snarled at him.
“I cannot,” Faren whispered. “I want her love not her obsession.”
“I do love you!” Adina cried. “Do you hear me? I love you! Now drink, you fool!”
She pressed her throat against his mouth. “Drink!”
Her back arched and she cried out when Faren sunk his fangs into her throat. He drank greedily as Val stood and turned to face the other mantorians.
“Fuck - that buzzing!” Neil shouted. “What the fuck are these things?”
Val shook his head grimly as the mantorians drew closer. He glanced at Theran and the shifter bared his teeth at him. He could smell the shifters’ fear but he couldn’t fault them for it. He was afraid too. They were outnumbered and the mantorians were buzzing and hissing with excitement as they crept forward. Two of them flew into the air and dropped with deadly speed on to their group.
Neil swung his axe and the mantorian’s head fell to the ground. Its body hovered in the air for a moment, black blood jetting from the stump of its neck and the wings flapping slowly before they stopped completely and its body joined its head in the snow.
The other mantorian screamed in pain as Theran bit through its arm. He ripped the arm free and spit it out as Borek and Teagan fell on the mantorian and tore it to pieces.
The other mantorians didn’t seem to be bothered by the grisly end of two of their kind and hissing and buzzing loudly, they flew forward. The shifters launched themselves at the mantorians as Val and Neil surrounded Faren and Adina.
Asher gave a sharp howl of pain as the mantorian he was fighting raked its claws across his chest. Blood soaked his grey fur and he was thrown backward into the snow. He struggled to his feet as the mantorian flew toward him. Before it could land on him there was a loud growling behind him and a giant, grey wolf slammed into it mid-air. It knocked the mantorian to the ground and ripped its throat out before howling loudly. Kane returned to Asher, sniffing at the blood coating his chest before nudging him against the shoulder. Asher whined softly and Kane grinned fiercely at him before stalking toward the mantorians.
Val hissed as the mantorian reached for him. He dodged its claws and hissed again as a familiar scent drifted to him. Abby appeared beside him and she grinned at him before skewering the mantorian with the sword she held in her right hand. She wrenched her sword free as Michael sliced its head from its body.
“Hey, honey. Miss me?” She winked at Val and he yanked her into his embrace and kissed her hard.
“I brought you something,” she said and handed him the second sword she was carrying. He swung it through the air as she studied the mantorians. “What the fuck are these things?”
“Mantorians,” he replied.
“Well, let’s have some fun,” she said as she raised her sword and grinned again at him.
Davin backed away, snarling and growling at the two mantorians who were advancing on him. He snarled again, saliva dripping from his fangs as one of the mantorians flew forward. There was a soft whistling noise and the mantorian dropped to the ground. An arrow was embedded in one red eye and it made a final buzzing noise before dying.
He turned to see Sara lowering her bow and she nodded to him as Radek stepped in front of her and growled viciously at the mantorian approaching her. He crouched and barked in surprise when the koran leaped out of the darkness and batted the mantorian from the air with one giant paw. It spun crazily and crashed into a tree and Meeka roared happily before pouncing on it.
Theran barked at Hanif and the two shifters surrounded a lone mantorian. It flew upwards in a desperate attempt to escape, and Hanif jumped and snagged its foot. He tore it free from its leg with a wet rip and the mantorian screamed in pain, blood pouring from its foot before it disappeared into the night sky.
Faren, Adina’s blood rushing through his veins, pulled his mouth from her throat. She rested weakly against him as he cupped her face. “Adina, look at me!”
She blinked blearily before touching his chest with her hand. “Faren, are you healed?”
He nodded and stroked her hair. “I’m sorry.”
“Do not be,” she said as he shifted her closer. “I wanted this.”
“I love you, Adina.” He brushed his mouth across her pale cheek.
“Aye, I know,” she smiled and he rested his forehead against hers.
Val crouched beside him. “Faren? Will you live?”
“Yes.” Faren looked around the forest. The mantorians were dead and the others were staring silently at him.
He stood and lifted Adina into his arms as Kane shifted to his human form. “Is everyone all right? Uncle?”
Asher shifted and touched his bleeding chest gingerly. “I’ll live.”
“Good,” Kane clapped him on the back before turning to the others. “Come, let us go home.”
* * *
“You’re losing your touch, my love,” Abby said teasingly before striking at Val with her sword.
He parried the blow and yanked her into his embrace, kissing her firmly on the mouth and sliding his tongue between her lips.
“No one wants to see that, leech!” Neil shouted from his spot by the fire. Sienna poked him in the stomach and he winked at her before kissing her and pulling her closer to him.
It was the next night and although it was late, the shifters showed no signs of retiring. Reese had insisted on a celebration for both the return of Kane and the others and their defeat over the mantorians, and the shifters had been more than happy to oblige.
Val took Abby’s hand and led her toward the large fire in the middle of the clearing. Michael was sitting on a fallen log, sharpening his sword. They sat down next to him as Meeka trotted by. Violet was sitting on top of his head with her tiny hands buried deep w
ithin his shaggy mane. She grinned cheekily at them as Abby laughed.
She gazed around the fire as Val put his arm around her waist and drew her closer. She rested her head on his shoulder and kissed his neck. “Did you know that Asher claimed Maria as his mate?”
“I did not,” he said.
“I’m happy for her,” Abby said softly. She watched as Asher handed Maria a small stone. Maria kissed him on the mouth and studied the stone before placing it carefully in her pocket.
“Where is Faren and Adina?” She asked suddenly.
“They have retired to Adina’s cabin. Faren said it was because Adina needed more rest after he drank so much of her blood but she did not appear tired.” Val grinned.
Abby laughed. “Did you ever think Faren could fall in love with a human?”
“I didn’t think Faren could fall in love with anyone but himself,” Val replied.
Abby laughed again as she relaxed again him.
“The young Sara seems to be happy,” Val said.
“Yes. She told me this morning that Radek had claimed her as his mate. She was more than a little excited about it,” Abby replied.
“He will be good to her,” Val said.
“I know,” Abby said. “I’m happy for her too. Hell, I’m happy for everyone.”
“You know what would make me happy?” Val nuzzled her throat affectionately. “If you joined me in our cabin.”
“You don’t want to celebrate with our friends?” Abby said teasingly.
“What I want, little dove, is to have you underneath me while I make you come repeatedly,” he murmured into her ear.
She shivered and took his hand before tugging him to his feet. “We can celebrate later. Good night, Michael.”
Michael rolled his eyes good-naturedly, “Good night, Abigail.”
They walked quickly towards their cabin as Kavine sat down next to Michael. “Hello, human.”
“Hello, Kavine.”
“Do you find me attractive?” She asked bluntly.
He stared at her and she raised her eyebrows. “Well, do you, human?”
“Yes.”
“Good. We should try mating.”
His jaw dropped and she smiled encouragingly at him as he cleared his throat. “Uh, aren’t you in love with Radek?”
She shrugged. “I was. Now I am not. I find you handsome and would like to know what it’s like to fuck a human. Are you willing?”
“We barely know each other,” he said.
“Do we need to in order to fuck?” She gave him a curious look.
“I guess not.”
“Good. Join me in my cabin.” She took his hand and he cleared his throat again.
“Kavine, are you sure?”
“Aye, human. Very sure.” She smiled again at him. “Are you worried I will hurt you? I promise I will be gentle with your cock. I know you are only a weak human.”
“I’m stronger than I look,” he said.
“Are you? Let’s find out,” she said sweetly.
Raina giggled loudly and Radek studied her curiously. “What is it, Raina?”
She pointed to her left. Kavine was leading Michael to her cabin and Raina giggled again. “Kavine is taking the human back to her cabin. Earlier I overheard her telling Verna she was going to find out what it was like to mate with a human. I hope she doesn’t hurt him.”
“Michael is very strong,” Sara said. “I’m sure he can handle her.”
Raina shrugged. “Aye, perhaps you are right.” She reached across Radek and squeezed Sara’s hand. “I’m so happy that Radek has claimed you and I have a sister now. Did I already tell you that?”
“Only about a dozen times, Raina,” Radek said. “I’m starting to think you will enjoy having a sister more than a brother.”
“Oh, I will,” Raina said.
Sara laughed and Radek pulled her into his lap before pinching her ass. “Do not encourage her, sweet one.”
“I am not,” Sara said innocently. “But I have always wanted a sister as well.”
Mia waved to Raina from across the fire. “Raina, come dance with us!”
She ran to join them as Radek nuzzled Sara’s hair. “I love you, Sara.”
“I love you too, Radek,” she said softly.
He kissed her, his hands stroking her back before reaching under her to squeeze her ass, and Sara blushed when Kane’s voice growled, “Perhaps you should take your mate back to your cabin, Radek.”
“Hush, Kane.” Reese squeezed his ass. “There’s nothing wrong with showing affection for your mate.”
She leaned down and kissed first Radek and then Sara. “Congratulations, you two. I haven’t had the chance to tell you how happy I am that you’re mated.”
“Thank you, Reese,” Sara said softly. She stroked Radek’s hair affectionately as Kane led Reese to an empty spot by the fire.
He sat on the fallen log and tugged Reese into his lap. “Are you happy, my love?”
“Very.” She smiled at him. “Are you?”
“Aye.” He glanced at his pack. “Our pack has grown substantially in the last two moons.”
“It has,” she said quietly. “And in a few months it will grow again.”
“What do you mean?” He asked.
She took his hand and rested it against her belly before smiling at him. He stared blankly at his hand and her grin grew when his eyes widened in understanding.
“You carry my pup in your belly?”
“Yep. As they say in my world, I’m knocked up.”
He didn’t reply and she stroked his face lightly. “Kane? Are you still happy?”
He wrapped his arms around her and she made a breathless squeal of pain. “You’re crushing me, Kane!”
“I’m sorry, my love.” He released her immediately and rubbed her belly. “I’m sorry, little one.”
She laughed. “I don’t think he or she can hear you just yet.”
“Perhaps not,” he said.
“Are you still happy?” She asked again.
He cupped her face and kissed her before nodding. “Aye, Reese. I have never been happier. I cannot wait to hold our pup in my arms. I love you.”
“I love you too, Kane.”
END
Please enjoy an excerpt from the next novel in the “Other World” Series.
CLAIMING QUINN
(Other World Series Book Five)
By Ramona Gray
Copyright 2015 Ramona Gray
“Silas, man you have to go with us.” His younger brother checked his reflection once more in the mirror before turning back to him.
“Seriously, dude, if you don’t come with us the ladies will drop us in minutes.” Gage gave him a pleading look.
Silas put his feet up on the worn coffee table. “Gage, I’m tired, my feet hurt and there’s a show I want to watch.”
Gage rolled his eyes. “God forbid you should miss your home improvement show.”
Silas ignored him as Gage dropped onto the couch next to him. “I don’t know why you watch those damn shows anyway, you already know how to do everything they do.”
Silas grunted and leaned back against the couch.
“C’mon Silas, please,” Gage said.
Silas sighed. He found it almost impossible to deny his younger brother anything he asked. He supposed it was because of the guilt he felt every time he looked at his sibling. Silas knew it wasn’t his fault that their parents had died in the car crash when he was twenty and Gage only ten, but it didn’t end his guilt.
He was in his first year of university, working toward his degree in architecture, and enjoying his first taste of freedom from his parent’s rules. He was only six months into it when his parents were killed. He had left university and flown home immediately. It was nearly two weeks after his parent’s funeral before the truth of it had hit him. He was comforting Gage after another nightmare and as he held his crying baby brother, he had finally realized that his parents were gone. They were alone.
He had quit university and taken a job with a local construction company. Their parents had struggled to get by and the little money they had left their two sons had gone toward their funeral costs. The last fifteen years had been difficult but he and Gage had soldiered through it together and, on the better days, he liked to think that Gage was doing well. Even though he had lost his parents at such a young age, Silas hoped he had done a good job of filling the void.
“Gage, I’m tired,” he repeated. “It was a long day today, the weather’s miserable and I don’t particularly feel like going out in it again. Besides, don’t you have midterms this week? You need to be studying.”
Gage grimaced and ran a hand through his long blonde hair. “Yeah, yeah. I’ve got all day Sunday to study.”
Silas frowned at him. “Gage, you need to take your classes seriously. You’re this close to getting your BBA. Do you really want to throw it away for a bit of meaningless sex?”
“Stop lecturing me, Silas. I don’t need to hear it right now okay?” Gage muttered.
“Gage – “
“I mean it, Silas!” Gage jumped off the couch and paced back and forth in the small living room. “Can’t we just go out together on a Friday night and have a good time?”
Silas rubbed his forehead and Gage, sensing weakness, spoke quickly. “It’ll be fun. You’ll see. And we won’t be out that late. Angela said she would come if her girlfriends went, and her girlfriends will only go if they think you’re there. I told them you would be. If we show up without you, they’ll leave and take Angela with them and the guys will kill me.”
“Gage, I have no interest in any of those girls. They’re way too young for me,” Silas replied.
“Yeah, yeah, I know. But they don’t know that. They all think they have a chance with you and at the end of the night when they finally figure it out, they’re more than willing to hook up with my friends. You’re the ultimate wingman.”
“Jesus, Gage.” Silas shook his head. “Whatever happened to just going up to a woman and talking to her?”
