Dark War Chronicles Box Set One

by A. L. Kessler

  Dark War Chronicles

  Box Set One

  A.L. Kessler

  Copyright © 2013-2015 A.L. Kessler

  All Rights Reserved

  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright Page

  The Touch of Night

  In the Light of the Moon

  Dance in the Moonlight

  On Torn Wings

  Past Demons

  In the Shadow of the Moon

  Into the Night

  The Blood of Night

  The Touch of Night

  DWC #0.5

  England Early 1800's

  His warm lips pressed against mine with a feverish need. I parted my lips, granting him access. The need I felt was hair-raising and toe curling. My hands yanked against my bonds as I yearned to touch his face one last time. The soldier ripped him away and left me standing there, flushed. The cold autumn air bit into my skin as the wind rustled the dead leaves around my ankles.

  I caught his cobalt blue gaze through his windswept brown hair. He was walking to his death and all I could think about was his soft lips on mine.

  "I love you," just a simple whisper that the breeze carried to me.

  "And I you. Josh-"

  He shushed me as the soldier started to lead him away. "I know. We will meet again." A knowing look haunted those oh-so- blue eyes before he broke from my gaze.

  Not once did he look back as he was led up the rickety wooden steps to the gallows. The hangman's noose swung in the breeze before the executioner, shrouded in his black mask, caught the rope and placed it around my love's neck. Josh met my eyes again and I could have sworn a small smile graced his face as the lever was pulled.

  The clatter of the wooden door echoed in the early morning air and my heart stopped when I saw his dangling feet. I closed my eyes against the sight and wished that his last words gave me hope.

  Present Day

  I woke with a jump at the electronic chorus of my ring tone. The images of the dream refused to fade as I pushed away my drowsiness. For months the dream haunted me and left me with the same question: Who was Josh?

  The red glaring numbers on my clock flashed 4:00am. With a growl, I snatched the singing phone off the nightstand. "Mae speaking."

  A male voice chuckled on the other end. "Did I wake you?"

  "You know you did, you bastard. Now speak before I hang up and go back to bed." I fell back against my pillow. Not bothering to hide the huff of annoyance, I ran a hand through my brown hair to get it out of my eyes.

  A beat of silence followed and I knew what that meant. Dread filled me as I thought about what he wanted.

  "Fuck, really? It's been a month since the last kill." I sat back up and forced myself out of bed.

  Sanders sighed on the other end. "Exactly a month. Just like the two before. Superiors say we need you on the scene."

  I struggled into my jeans. As I hopped on one leg, I balanced my phone on my shoulder. "Need my ass, I'm your last resort."

  "Normally because you tell us it's not human."

  Because that was usually the case, but there was no point in arguing. Only the government knew about supernatural creatures. Well, them and a few unlucky civilians. Those civilians normally ended up dead, or turned into people like me. "Location?"

  I scribbled down the address he gave me. "See you in a few."

  I threw my long hair into a ponytail and then pulled a shirt on, the stretch fabric clinging to me, and adding to the natural curves I had. My jeans hung on my hips and brushed the ground when I wore shoes. I threw my running shoes on over mis-matched socks and grabbed my ID off the nightstand. Finishing off the outfit, I threaded my belt through the loops, added my gun and its holster and then threw on a warm jacket over that. I caught a glance of dark circles under my hazel eyes as I passed a mirror and it made me debate picking up coffee on my way.

  On the drive over my mind drifted back to Josh. His brown hair cut so that it barely fell to his jaw line, curling just right. I could see the details perfectly, his luscious lips that gave melting kisses and his piercing blue eyes. The curve of his masculine jaw begging to be caressed shadowed with just enough scruff to be considered sexy. I couldn't shake the panic the dream gave me.

  Flashing lights and flares lit up the pre-dawn air and made the location easy to spot. If those didn't tip me off, the line of police cars and row of unmarked black vehicles would have. Sanders stood at the end of the line with his hands on his hips, green eyes narrowed and his stance wide. I wasn't even on scene yet and he was pissed. As I parked my truck I knew this did not bode well for my morning.

  I got out of the car and slammed the door shut. "What?" I demanded as I crossed my arms.

  "My superiors changed their minds." He clenched his jaw. "Said we don't need your help, they've got it solved."

  I raised a brow. "They still on their human theory or did they go with the shifter one?"

  "Shifter, panther to be exact. A girl named Kassity DeBeau." He glanced behind him. "Can't let you on the scene, but it's just like the other ones."

  I bobbed my head in acknowledgement. He had given me all the information I needed. Smirking, I turned away and gave him a little wave. "Thanks for wasting my time, Sanders." Yet we both knew that he hadn't.

  I still had the files from the other scenes back at my house. They were gruesome. Some big animal had eaten most of the victims. Body parts were missing, the insides had been consumed, and blood was everywhere. There was no way that the kills were done by something human, which was why I had suggested it was a shifter or a lycanthrope.

  Not that anyone wanted to believe me then. Now it looked like they were taking me seriously. I was the best paranormal investigator in these parts, but even the amateur ones would have agreed with me. Sanders' superiors called me when they found the first body dangling over a branch in the woods. Instantly, the kill made me think big cat. A hunter. Now I knew that was the case and I had a name to start with.

  Massive searches through programs that I probably shouldn't have had access to turned up a death certificate for Kassity DeBeau, killed by a silver bullet to the heart two years ago. As the only known panther shifter in the area the government had kept close tabs on her. Their system showed me a living relative by the name of Josh DeBeau and that she worked at a bar on the outskirts of town.

  Leaning back in my chair I sipped my coffee. A feeling stirred in me. There was something wrong about this whole situation, something more than a few deaths. I tried to put my finger on it as my eyes studied the screen and the displayed information. My phone rang and without looking at it, I swiped it up and answered. "Mae."

  "What do you have for me?" Sanders' voice was light, but expecting.

  I looked down at the papers on my desk. "According to the government, Kassity has been dead for two years. Family member by the name of Josh DeBeau is my only lead." I needed to find him. Something kept tugging at the back of my mind telling me that this Josh was The Josh. A strange rush of sadness flooded through me as I thought about the Josh in my dreams. I shook my head, trying to shake off the feeling.

  "Strange, isn't it?" He asked and continued before I could give him shit for knowing already. "The higher ups won't let me dig deeper. Think you can?"

  "I was planning on it." I took a sip of my coffee. "I'll update you in a couple days."

  He was silent for a beat. "What are you up to tonight?"

  I looked at the address of the bar on the computer screen. "I think I'm going out for a drink."

  "You're going to look into this Josh character." He stated. "It's dangerous there. We know that bar has a history of violence."

  Having survived a vampir
e attack, I felt confident that I'd be fine in a crowded bar. Of course, I would be taking protection with me. "I feel like taking a walk on the wild side."

  "You already know something that you aren't sharing." The disapproving tone in his voice was one that I'd grown used to hearing. "You're going to get yourself killed."

  I looked at the burn scars that marred my left shoulder. "You always manage to save my ass." When the attempt on my life happened, Sanders had been there to pull me out of the burning building. I'd stupidly gone after the vampire who had attacked me as a child and I had only told Sanders where I was going. I was lucky he'd been smart enough to show up.

  "There will be a day where I can't."

  "Perhaps." I disconnected the call and looked back at my screen, once again faced with the question. "Who are you, Josh? What do you want with me?"

  Dressed in leather with my gun at my back and my knives in my boots, I almost felt safe as I entered the bar. I let my eyes adjust to the low lights and watched a couple people in the corner play pool. The far left side of the wall was tiled with mirrors that were all covered with spider web cracks making it impossible to see a clear reflection. Fake wood paneling covered the rest of the walls leading up to the dark oak bar. Neon signs hung above the bar and a fake barrel stuck out from the wall for the beer on tap.

  There were only a few patrons this late at night, just the people playing pool and a couple that sat in the middle of the long bar. With the woman's tall heels, short skirt, tiny shirt, teased up hair, and plastered on makeup, I was betting she was here for something other than a drink. I shook my head as her acrylic nails traced up the man's thighs.

  I found my way to a seat at the end and watched the bartender. His brown hair fell to his chin, and his piercing blue eyes met mine right away. My breath caught and my heart skipped a beat. Josh.

  His eye widened a bit, and his jaw tightened before he finally approached me. "What can I get you?"

  "A tequila sunrise and good hearted conversation, Josh." I never broke away from his gaze.

  A slight tremor of tension moved down his body. "I can get you the drink, the conversation on the other hand-"

  "It's about Kassity." I lowered my voice, and let my eyes dip to his lips. They had just a bit of a red color to them making them look kissable.

  He paused at my words. "Stick around, we'll talk when I get off." He fixed my drink and placed it in front of me on a napkin.

  I sipped my drink as I waited, letting my eyes scan the room. The couple in the middle of the bar got up and walked out in a hurry, the woman's hand tucked down the back of the man's pants. A shiver crawled up my back and I turned back to the bar. Standing in a doorway of the back room, another vampire stared at me. His black hair and dark eyes made sent a shiver down my back. It wasn't often that I dealt with vampires, but I knew enough to keep my cool. I raised my glass and gave my best innocent smile. Judging by his scowl, he didn't buy it. He spun and walked into the back, allowing me a glance at the redhead behind him. Kassity. Well I'll be damned, she was alive. I used Kassity’s death certificate as a reason to check out Josh. I hadn’t expected to find her here.

  "Surprised?" Josh asked as he placed another drink in front of me.

  Either he could read my mind or I didn't cover up my reaction well enough. I paused as a distant memory came to me. Images of Josh's hands sliding over my body and heat rising in both of us took over my thoughts.

  I felt my face flush as I realized just what kind of heat it was.

  Josh chuckled. "Normally I wait until the second date for sex."

  Yep, he was reading my mind. "I'd appreciate it if you stayed out of my head."

  "Why are you looking for Kass?" He leaned against the bar.

  I met his eyes, not scared of him. "Why fake her death?"

  He jumped as if I had slapped him. "None of your concern."

  "Well, it is. She's come up in my line of work." I swirled the red straw in my drink.

  He laughed a little. "Well, you aren't a cop, so that makes you what? A private investigator? Bounty hunter?"

  "Doesn't matter, but I know you're family...somehow." Though I was still trying to figure out how a vampire and a panther were related. "You want to protect her, so you need to work with me." I gave him my best concerned look.

  "I can't talk here." His eyes darted around.

  I pulled my card out of my pocket. "Call me when you get off." I could sense the other vampire watching us, so I leaned forward and pecked Josh on the cheek as he glanced down at the card. The moment my lips touched his cheek, my head exploded in starbursts. I pulled back and put a hand to my head.

  "I'll talk to you later." He turned from me to help another customer that approached the bar.

  I set my cash on the bar and headed out. I wasn't sure if he would call or not, but if he was concerned about Kass then he would know I was his only option.

  I parked my car on the street. This early in the morning cars decorated the sides of the road and lights in houses remained dark. My house stuck out only because the green door clashed with the cream colored siding and the white trim.

  I walked up the couple steps to my door and paused. A noise caught my attention. Footsteps from behind me. I spun and drew my gun out of instinct.

  "It won't hurt me, human." Kass stood there, the wind whipping through her hair. Now that I saw her closer, I could tell that she was about my height and had the blue eyes to go with that vibrant red hair.

  "I carry silver ammo, kitten." I kept my aim trained on her. "What are you doing here?"

  "You need to leave Josh alone."

  Oh come on. "I need information. Are you going to talk to me?" I lowered my gun.

  Kass' eyes swept the area around us. "Can I come in?"

  "Um, yes?" The question threw me off guard, but it was probably safer inside. I holstered my gun and then let her in. "Why did you fake your death?" I walked through the living room where a lone couch and TV sat and then to the small dining room table off to the side of the kitchen.

  "I had no choice, Lucius arranged it."

  I motioned to the table and she took a seat.

  Lucius. The name had turned up in other cases, but he always eluded me...and killed my contacts. Fuck. "You're directly connected to him?"

  "Yes."

  "You know that you put yourself in danger by being here, right?" I sat down across from her.

  She nodded. "But you being near Josh puts him in more danger."

  I wasn’t as concerned about Josh. "The police are convinced that you're killing people."

  "As a panther, yes."

  "Why?"

  "I've been losing control."

  I raised a brow. "You've been a panther all your life."

  "Lucius." It was a simple response and I knew what was going on.

  "He's controlling you."

  "He owns us."

  That was serious stuff that I didn't want to mess with. "You need to go, I don't want you...hurt."

  "What will you tell the cops?"

  I sighed. "I don't know yet." I stood. "But I have what I need."

  She followed my lead, her chair scraping across the floor. "And Josh?"

  "Won't be contacted." I lied. Pieces of the puzzle didn't fit, and I felt Josh could put them together for me.

  Kass looked relieved as I showed her out. I took a moment to gather my thoughts, locked the door, and decided I wanted some sleep before Josh called.

  England Early 1800's

  His lips met mine as our sweat covered bodies entwined. He whispered against my cheek. "I love you." We sprawled on the layers of soft handmade quilts near the fireplace. The cabin walls held in the warmth, or maybe it felt that way because we were so close.

  "My sweet, sweet Josh. You are my world." I kissed him and stroked a hand down his cheek. "Goddess save us."

  "What is wrong?" His brow creased in concern.

  I gave him a sad smile. "They will come for me."

  "I will not let t
hem take you."

  "You would be killed for going against them." I could not bear the thought of his death on my hands and looked away from him.

  His lips brushed against my neck. "A life without you is no life."

  I knew in that moment that he would do anything to save me when they came. I would not pass their trial, I would be charged of witchcraft and Josh with treason for protecting me. I laid my head on his chest. He stroked my hair until we both fell asleep entwined in each other, his words echoing in my mind.

  A life without you is no life.

  Present Day

  My eyes shot open when I heard a noise in the living room. A glance at the clock told me that the day was just starting. Another crash had me reaching for the gun at my bedside.

  A figure appeared in the doorway and my gun was up, aimed and ready to fire. "It's Josh and Kass, don't shoot." His voice sounded strained. I flicked on a lamp with my other hand and pointed the gun at the floor. Josh stood in my doorway, leaning heavily on it and cradling an unconscious Kassity.

  "Help?"

  Well, didn't this case just keep getting weirder? "Put her on the couch, I'll be there in a sec."

  Once he left the room I slipped out of bed and threw on my jeans and a shirt. I tucked my gun in my waistband just as a caution. With both of them here and Lucius involved, I didn't want to take any chances.

  A few minutes later I walked into the living room with a first aid kit. I knelt by the couch and went to pull the blanket off of Kass. "I've never cared for a lycan before."

  Josh put a hand on mine to stop my motion. "She'll heal, she needs food and rest. Please don't turn us out. Lucius attacked us and he owns this city. We have no other place to go in order to heal."

  "I'm not going to send you away." I ran a hand through my hair. "I had a feeling this was going to happen."

  Josh's head snapped towards me, his eyes narrowed. "You knew this was going to happen?" A strange chill went through the air as he started to call on otherworldly powers.

  I shivered at the small display. "I didn't know she had a link to Lucius until we talked. A lot of my cases lead to him, then he tends to kill my contacts."