Dark War Chronicles Box Set One

by A. L. Kessler

  “I don’t like this.”

  His panther shot up at the thought of an unhappy female. “What? Having a drink with me? Have you never had a guy buy you anything?” He leaned back in his chair.

  She shook her head. “You showing up, me working here, the attack last night-“ She paused, paling as the words bubbled out of her mouth.

  He leaned forward, trying to conceal his panic. The panther inside him longed to jump across the table and comfort her. “Attack? What the hell happened? You were unharmed when I left you in the alley.”

  “There was a panther there that attacked me, it was nothing.” She shook her head.

  Every muscle in his body tensed. His instincts ran wild as his panther moved in him. The need to protect this woman, his mate- But she’s not my mate. “Sounds like it might have been a big deal.”

  “I’m just on edge after it. Earlier I thought I smelt another one of us.”

  He wanted to reassure her, he wanted to make sure that she felt safe. “Why are you so scared if there is another one of our kind around? Why would they even attack you?”

  “I don’t want to get into that.” She sipped her drink and sighed. Her sleeve slipped down her arm and he saw a scar that ran up the entire length.

  “Brutal scar, looks like it was done by a claw.”

  “A birthday present from my father.” She whispered, closing her eyes. “Right before I left home.”

  His fist clenched and he tried to keep his emotions in check. Rage flowed through him at the thought of her father harming her. Of anyone harming her. “When’s you’re birthday?” He asked, trying to keep the conversation going.

  “Early next month. After the full moon.” She smiled slightly. “I’ll be twenty-five.”

  Twenty-five. He frowned as he watched her. “So you left home, obviously your father wasn’t happy about it, what about your mother?”

  “Dead.” Her face went blank.

  Time to back away from that subject. “I’m sorry to hear that. You said you’re on edge still, from the attack last night?” His mind drifted back to his meeting with the panther last night; he had mentioned that a Garret went to talk to her. He narrowed his eyes as he realized what must have happened.

  “Clubs make me uneasy, this many people make me uneasy....a lot of shit right now makes me uneasy.”

  He held his hands up. “Okay, got it. Don’t see why you’re working here.” Not that he cared at this point; now he would be able to see her away from Lucius.

  She rolled her eyes. “Lucius makes the rules, I follow them. What don’t you get about that?”

  “Why do you choose to stay with him?” He leaned forward. His eyes searched her face to see what she truly believed.

  Her gaze dropped. “I don’t have a choice. He keeps me safe and that’s what I need.”

  “Keeps you safe? He stripped you of all control, which allowed you to be attacked, and he loans you out like some type of-“

  “Say it and I will smash your face in.” She hissed.

  What he wouldn’t give to know what she was thinking. “Okay fine, but you know I’m right.”

  “He protects me. He’s an asshole, but he’s nothing compared to what I have dealt with.” She downed the rest of her drink and he raised a brow. She shook her head. “That scar is one of many.” She slammed her glass back down, stood, and wandered back to the bar.

  Jax leaned back in his chair, thinking on what she had said. ‘A gift from my father.’ It didn’t make any sense, no mention of the siblings and the years didn’t add up. He shook his head and sighed, trying to figure out what he had gotten himself into.

  Kass dumped dirty glasses into the sink behind the bar. “I like my bar better, less dishes to do at closing.”

  “Then your master shouldn’t have gotten my wolves killed, and you could have stayed there.” Derrik grumbled, passing by her with a bag of trash.

  “I shouldn’t have to pay for his stupid mistakes.” Crossing her arms, she leaned against the bar and watched him. “Besides, seems to me that you have plenty of staff, you don’t need me.”

  He threw the bag into a pile with others he had collected. “Maybe it wasn’t all about getting staff. We have an alliance, I should be able to borrow his people too.”

  “I don’t want a part in this stupid war.” Kass strode across the floor and started to pick up debris off the floor. “If it wasn’t all about getting staff what was it about?”

  “An uncontrollable shifter under Lucius’ command.” He looked her up and down. “I know your clan, Kass.”

  She froze and her breath caught. “Fuck.”

  “Fuck? Not the response I expected.” He raised a brow. “It was hard not to know what clan you came from. You’re strong, you can resist the change if you want and force it in others without causing pain. Your clan killed off most of their females until your blood family and a couple immortals were all they had left.”

  She swallowed. “How come everyone is so interested in my past tonight?” She felt the panther shifting in her as Derrick came closer and she stumbled back a couple steps. “Stop.”

  He did as she commanded, stopping a few feet in front of her, but remaining in touching distance. “I’m more interested in what the clan has done to push you away.”

  “You said it yourself, they’ve killed off most of the females that aren’t blood.” She growled. “The clan is made up of my father, two half brothers, and my half sister.” She felt a pain in her chest, a pressure pushing outwards as memories flashed in her head of running away from her brother’s, fighting to survive.

  He reached for her as she started to go down to her knees. “Control, Kassity, fight her back.”

  “Can’t,” she gasped, the pressure in her chest started moving through her body. Her blood boiled as her bones cracked. “I can’t.” She couldn’t figure out what had happened to the block in her as the beast tried to climb its way through her.

  He knelt by her, placing a hand on her shoulder, but pulled away when she cried out and doubled over.

  “Get away. She doesn’t like you.” Her spine bowed as the heat consumed her body and her bones started shifting. “Fuck.”

  Derrik moved away from her as her body continued to shift.

  Kass cried out in pain as her body fought against the panther trying to take her over, she could feel the fur pushing out. It would flood over her body if she stopped fighting. The bones creaked and cracked under the strain; shifting into strange forms. She could see the movement under her skin that told her the inevitable change was coming. “I’m sorry.” She glanced up at Derrik, who dropped into a fighting stance. “Can’t stop her.”

  Jax looked up from his phone when he felt a thrill go through the air, hitting his beast hard. Kassity. His chair clattered to the ground as he jumped up and ran to the bar area. Her back bowed as she growled, her hands shifting right before his eyes. He could hear the wet sound of the bones moving under her skin. He sprinted to her and knelt by her side. Derrik started to protest, but Jax shot him a dangerous look to shut him up.

  “Kassity, listen to me.”

  She looked up at him, her eyes yellow and her face starting to form into that of her panther, but just his touch seemed to have stopped further changes. “Get away.” Her voice was a snarl through the half formed muzzle.

  “Focus on my voice.” He whispered and put his forehead against hers. “Breathe in and out, visualize the panther going back to where she belongs. It is not a full moon. You have the power here.” He locked his gaze with hers and after a few moments she closed her eyes and followed his count for breathing. The fur slid back in, bones shifted without the sickening pop and crackle display and when she opened her eyes they were her normal, human, blue. “Now we’re going outside to get you some air. I think Derrik can handle cleaning up.” He glanced back at the wolf in question.

  Derrik nodded. “Yeah, you and I can chat later, kitty.” He stared pointedly at Kass.

  Jax helped her u
p and put a hand at the small of her back, leading her to the parking lot. Once they were outside Kass pulled away from him, her gaze distant. “You okay?”

  She looked at him, the question catching her off guard. Her mind went back to when he touched her. His touch cooled the burning and the pain, like he had poured water on the fire, and now she felt nothing but calm. Thanks to him. Rubbing her eyes, she couldn’t believe that she had told him to get away or that the panther had made it past the block. “Yeah, I’m just tired.” She shrugged and started towards her car, rolling her eyes when she heard him behind her.

  “Kassity, look-“

  She didn’t know what came over her, but she spun, grabbed a handful of his shirt, shoved him against the car, and kissed him. Probing with her tongue, she coaxed him to part his lips. When he did their tongues danced together and he tangled his hands in her hair, holding her head to his. A moan escaped her mouth as she pressed her body up against him. Feeling him grow hard between them made her panther start craving him. “Thank you.”

  Jax blinked at her when she pulled back. “Um, of course, anytime?” He gave a soft laugh and brushed a hand down her cheek. “I’m sorry that your panther reacted that way, but I’m glad I was there to stop it.”

  “What were you doing there after closing?” She nuzzled his head, and then pulled back when she realized what she was doing.

  He gave her a chaste kiss and she pushed to make it more. Leaning into him she ran her tongue over his bottom lip; he pulled back to speak. “I needed to talk to Derrik.” When he captured her lips he tugged on the bottom one and groaned into her mouth as her hands snaked around his waist. “Kass, not here.”

  “Only place Lucius doesn’t watch.” She whispered against his neck and then nipped at his ear. Feeling the shiver slither down his body, she did it again.

  His hands skimmed the curves of her, settling on her hips. “Damn that stupid little bloodsucker.” He whispered as he kissed down her neck. Nuzzling the crook of her neck, he wiggled his hands under her shirt.

  She gasped at the bare skin contact. “Even my panther likes you.”

  “Cause mine can calm yours, we talked about this.” He flipped so he pressed her up against the car. “I love feeling you against me.” He whispered in her ear, tugging her hair just a little.

  She gave another small gasp and leaned in to kiss him, but he avoided her peck. He kissed behind her ear, sending shivers up her spine. Pulling her well-loved black shirt over her head in a quick motion, he continued his assault of warm kisses down to the swell of her breasts. Kass leaned her head back and moaned. Heat followed his lips. His hands smoothed over her waist, to her ribs, until he cupped her breasts. His thumbs brushed against her nipples through the thin purple lace of her bra. Her breath caught as heat rose in her, a different heat than her beast caused. Her eyes met his, but a figure moved behind him, coming out of the door of the club.

  “C’mon you two, not in my parking lot!” Derrik waved a hand at them.

  Kass flushed as she pushed Jax away and bent down to swoop up her shirt. “So not cool.”

  “You enjoyed it and you know it.” Jax kissed her cheek and moved to his own car. “I’ll see you later.”

  Kass closed her eyes and leaned her forehead against the freezing car. The cold helped clear her mind, but fire ran through her again when she thought about what just happened. “Fuck.”

  Chapter Six

  Kass stumbled into the mansion a couple hours before dawn and shoved the door closed behind her, bolting it in place. Even for a shifter the solid wood doors with the stripes of metal bolted down them provided a small challenge. “Stupid medieval door.”

  “Don’t like my door?” Lucius asked from the corner, his arms crossed as he leaned against the wall. “Or was your first night at the club not fun?”

  “I don’t like the crowds there, neither does my stupid cat.”

  “Derrik called saying you almost shifted in front of him. Your cat is getting stronger and better at getting past the block.”

  “Well, that’s nice of him. You should have known that I would have been wound up after a night there.” She moved passed him, hanging her coat by the door.

  Lucius put a hand on her shoulder then shoved her face first into the wall. His massive hand pressed against the back of her head.

  “If you want a meal, all you have to do is ask.” She snapped and trying to push off, but he didn’t give. Instead, he sniffed up her neck. She held still, scared of what he would smell.

  He frowned. “A panther, not your little Romeo either.” He released her.

  She balked and turned to face him. Her heartbeat sped up at the idea of another panther near her. “I didn’t scent another panther in there, and one certainly didn’t –” She paused. “Anyone in there could have been a panther, a lot of people rubbed up against me when I walked through the dance floor.” She tried to swallow the fear climbing her throat. “I didn’t see any of them there.”

  “But that doesn’t mean that they weren’t there. They can blend in and it’s been a while since you’ve seen any of them.” Lucius adjusted her hair so that it was behind her shoulder. “I won’t let them get you, and if they do, you know I’ll fight like hell to get you back.”

  “Just so you can have your prized killer.” She mumbled. “But you’re right, I’m safest with you. You know how fucked up that is?”

  He chuckled. “Very. Has Garret tried to get at you again?”

  “No, I think Mae scared him off for a while. No one would expect me to be paired up with another vampire.” She ran her fingers through her hair and put it back in front her shoulder. “I don’t even know how he found me, since I’m supposed to be dead and all.”

  He shrugged. “With Mae snooping around who knows how many people found out you are alive. It’s possible she told someone. Granted, the human police force barely admits to your existence, so I doubt they said something to their higher ups.”

  “So what now? If they were at the club then they might be able to trace me back here.”

  “Don’t panic, it’s not going to help the situation. You go about things as normal, if need be I will step in. They are in my territory without permission.” He pushed her against the wall again. “Now bare your neck.”

  She resisted rolling her eyes as she pulled her hair away from her neck and tilted her head to the side. “What happened to Tegan feeding you?”

  He kissed her pulse before sinking his fangs into her skin. She tensed and made a small noise, not ready for him. Without his power, no pleasure came from the feeding and Kass closed her eyes as he continued to pull from her vein. She curled her hands into fists and tried not to fight against him as the pain grew. When he pulled away he wiped the dripping blood off. “Tegan is still...ill because of what happened.”

  “What exactly happened, you said another vampire got in her mind. I’ve never seen her so...distraught before.”

  “Essentially, he mind fucked her, forcing her to do things that were against my orders. Something that is extremely painful for her. They left lasting damage when she is questioned about her actions.” He rubbed his face and sighed. “She’s a mess, and I can’t do anything about it.”

  Something crossed his face that she didn’t see too often, compassion that only seemed to show when he talked about his human. “How did they get to her?”

  “I don’t know, she can’t say.” He sighed. “Don’t worry about her though, we’ll find the stone and find out who touched her, and then I’m going to kill them.”

  “Strong words for someone who doesn’t care about their human.” She snorted and he glared at her.

  “If you want to keep your free run today, I suggest you keep your thoughts to yourself and go.” He growled. “Or, if you want, I’ll force your change so that you remember I am your master.”

  She bowed her head in apology and then walked past him so she could make her way to the back of the property and to the woods.

  Jax wai
ted until Kass sped out of the parking lot. Derrik walked over to him chuckling. “You damn near mated in my parking lot. I know this is a safe place, but c’mon...keep it in your pants.”

  With a shrug Jax turned to him. “She was the one who jumped me. Know much about her? Or did you just borrow her from Lucius?”

  “I don’t know her story. Not beyond the pieces that I can put together.” Derrik started towards the other end of the parking lot and Jax joined him. He needed more information on Kass and he’d use any resource he could to get it.

  “Like?”

  “The typical stuff that most people already know. Rumors that she’s from the Black Moon Clan, the fact Lucius stripped her of her control, things like that. We know that she works for Lucius, we’re just not sure doing what.” Derrik glanced at him. “Is there a reason you’re so interested in her?”

  Jax laughed. “My beast likes her.”

  “Right. I’m sure there’s more to it. Let me remind you again, this is a safe place.” Derrik snapped.

  “I get that, I really do, and I don’t plan on harming her.” His thoughts traveled back to his job to bring Kassity back to her family. Did he really intend her no harm? “I’m working on something for Lucius and Kass just caught my attention. That’s it.”

  Derrik raised a brow. “You’re working for Lucius too?”

  “Trying to locate a stone that he lost. Know anything about it?”

  A growl trickled from Derrik’s lips and Jax knew he’d found a sore spot. “I know that he’s hiding something from his allies about it. He sent my wolves to protect some type of grave. It was a blood bath. I know he mentioned something about a stone and a soul, but I never got the whole story.”

  “A grave?”

  “Never got the whole story on that either.” Derrik shook his head. “Look, do the job and get out of the territory. I know that sounds harsh, but Lucius has a habit of killing mercenaries that work for him. Especially ones that show interest in his people.”

  Jax stiffened. “This has happened before?”

  “Lucius doesn’t allow his people to get close to others. He believes it makes them weak. He has a problem with us letting our members mate.”