Dark War Chronicles Box Set One

by A. L. Kessler

  Markus stood in the circle of the others, everyone covered by their cloaks, hiding. Always hiding. Soon they wouldn't have to worry about that. "The stone wasn't at the woman's house, but another problem has presented itself."

  "Another problem? This just becomes more and more complicated." A woman spoke, shifting to allow the purple velvet of her cloak to catch the light. "What could possibly be keeping you from getting the stone now?"

  "Hunters." The answer made the vampires in the room inhale sharply. "The wolves have confirmed that the second woman living in the house is a Hunter."

  Silence filled the room while each vampire made their own assumption as to why there was a Hunter there. Markus cleared his throat. "We can only assume this means that the Hunters know something about this woman that we don't and sent someone to protect her."

  "I thought you said she was a normal." The man to his left spoke. The dark green hood shadowed his face but Markus knew the voice.

  "As far as my knowledge goes she is. If I find out differently then I will go in and rip the stone from her." Markus shrugged. "We have to follow our own rules, at least until Lucius knows we are in town." The rules set by the Originals were meant to keep peace, but the Circle took pleasure in bending them to their advantage.

  Muttering and nodding filled the small room. "Is the tomb secured?"

  "Yes, but there is a lock on it. All we know is we need someone of his blood to open it."

  Markus knew that. He'd been there when Zaaren sealed the tomb. "Has anyone been able to hunt down any of his relatives? Are any of them still alive for that matter?"

  "No one knows. He slept with a lot of humans and non-humans. Since he had a soul there's no guessing how many of them he might have gotten pregnant."

  The Father never did understand the risks. A vampire with a soul could still procreate; once the soul was gone they lost that ability. It was the way the gods worked when it came to that gift. Markus refrained from rolling his eyes. "Once he is raised the scale will fall in our favor. But first we have to deal with the Hunters and get the stone."

  "We await your next update then. Do not fail us, Markus. Though you are his favorite, we can still kill you."

  He didn't fear them. They couldn't touch him and survive. He outclassed all of them. "We shall see." He disappeared, transporting himself back to the hotel.

  Throwing off his black cloak, he snarled. How dare they threaten him? They would be nothing without his knowledge of the Father and the Originals. They were much too young to remember the riots and the final battle it took to lock the Father away. Zaaren would pay. He had led the Originals against the Circle and the Father, claiming it to be for the better of all. He would be the first Original Markus killed. He'd make sure of it.

  Chapter Six

  Renee woke slowly, coming up from a deep sleep. She realized she was wrapped around Coran and blushed. His deep rhythmic breathing remained unchanged as she untangled herself from him. She didn’t remember moving that close to him during the night, but apparently a warm body helped her sleep like a log. She got out of bed and let him sleep, not wanting to disturb the peaceful and untroubled look on his face. Even in such a short time, she’d learned that it was rare for him. Silently, she tiptoed out of the room and closed the door behind her.

  Renee padded down the stairs and into the living room where the television flickered, pausing at the sight of Tegan, wearing her sunglass indoors, again. Even though the afternoon sun shone through the windows, it wasn’t bright enough for them. "You must feel bad-ass with those glasses on. You remind of Cyclops, you know? From the X-Men? Do you have a power like his if you take them off or something?"

  The other woman started to chuckle. "I gotta say that's not the normal question I get. I have a sensitivity to light." Though the subtle hesitation in her voice told Renee that Tegan was lying. Of course, that seemed to be the story with everyone around here.

  "That must suck."

  "You have no idea." Tegan pointed the remote at the TV as Renee walked further in towards the other recliner.

  Renee sat down and put the footrest up. "So what are you watching?"

  "I set the DVR to record every episode of Dancing with the Stars and the boys have yet to figure out how to turn it off.” Tegan snickered and hit the play button.

  "Can I ask you something?" Renee turned sideways in her chair to face Tegan.

  Tegan raised a brow and shrugged. "Is it as personal as the sunglasses question?"

  "Kind of. What did Coran call you last night? I saw the way you looked afterwards, I'm surprised you didn't deck him before bursting into tears."

  Tegan went still, concentrating on something, but the theme music came over the speakers and she came back to life. "He called me a whore, but that's not important. Look, hot guys, no shirts, drool worthy."

  Renee didn't appreciate the way she avoided the problem, but laughed and turned towards the screen, pushing away the nagging feeling. One of the guys on the show led a female dancer across the stage. Renee ignored the female and stared at the bare, glistening chest of the man. "Holy cow, look at those muscles! I just want to run my fingers over his chest." She made a low moan in her throat and made Tegan laugh.

  "And he isn't the best, wait until you see the Latino guy, gah, he's so gorgeous you just want to lick him. And when he turns his ass to the camera." Tegan fanned herself. "Wait, wait, wait, here he is." She waved to the screen, almost falling out of her chair.

  True to her word, the male dancer led his partner down the staircase with ease and between his rock hard abs, his shoulder length black hair, and caramel colored skin, Renee could barely keep herself from drooling over the man. With each guy and new dance they cheered with the crowd, hoping for the hottest to get the highest score. Smiling, Renee noted that with every comment and moment drooling over the men, Tegan relaxed a bit more.

  Coran woke, missing the warmth of Renee's body pressed against him, wonder where his human went. He paused at the thought. When did she become his human? He needed to put a stop to any attraction to her. His head shot up at the sound of cheering and laughing from the living room. Tegan and Renee, at least the two females were getting along.

  Standing at the bottom of the stairs, Orion leaned against the wall, watching the women with his brows drawn together. Coran came up next to him. "Jealous?"

  "Who me? Over some ballroom dancers? Never, they're probably all gay anyways." He shrugged and motioned to them. "What's got me is that Tegan is full on laughing. Like her and Renee are good friends."

  "Is there something wrong with that? I thought you wanted her to be happy." Coran stretched while he studied the women. Renee's face lit up every time she laughed. Which only made her look more human, more innocent. They both clapped enthusiastically at the end of a dance followed by lively chattering about the dancer.

  "Do you want someone else to make Renee happy?" Orion asked, his voice cold. "Or do you want to be the one to make her laugh like that?"

  Coran raised a brow at the bitterness in Orion's voice. "I don't have any attraction to her, Fae.” He couldn’t tell if he was lying to prove a point to himself or Orion. “And it's pathetic when you get jealous over a woman. Especially since you know Tegan doesn't swing that way."

  "I'm starting to think Tegan doesn't swing any way." Orion grumbled.

  "Come on now, we know that's not true. I think she just got tired of Lucius threatening or killing anyone she was interested in." Coran chuckled, his eyes still on Renee as she giggled with Tegan.

  Orion nudged him. "I can tell that you like her and the need you have to protect her is obvious."

  "It's because she's human, an innocent human." Even with her powers he figured she'd manage to convince herself that her ability did not exist once this whole mess was over. "You know that innocent humans don't do well in our world." He recalled the damage he had seen in his dreams and memories thousands of times and shook his head. "I don't want that for her."

  "I think y
ou're just too scared to face what fate has given you again. You lost Trisha, yes, but you've grown stronger since and you also have Lucius to back you. If you ask me, I think it's a sign and you shouldn't look a gift horse in the mouth."

  Coran raised a brow. "You're nuts. I don't want anything to do with fate and any attraction I have to her is purely physical and that’s it."

  "Oh really?" A wicked grin crossed Orion's face and he bounded into the living room, blocking the women’s view of the TV.

  Coran leaned against the wall, crossing his arms when they started to complain about not seeing the hot guys.

  "I think you’d much rather have a live show." Orion winked and started to wiggle his body to the beat of the music coming from the television.

  "You've got to be kidding me." Coran pushed off the wall and growled, his voice barely human, his beast waking and wanting to claim Renee. "Don't you do it, you bastard."

  Orion slid his shirt off in a slow movement, matching his hips to the beat, revealing a sculpted and tanned chest. The wolf in Coran snarled and the need to claim his mate took over. Before his human self realized it, Coran had catapulted over the table between the two recliners straight at Orion, knocking the television off the wall mount. The crashing sound of it hitting the floor echoed through the room and Coran started wrestling with the Fae. The boys tumbled into the dining room, knocking over a couple of chairs.

  Renee and Tegan started laughing at the two when Orion pushed Coran off him. "Outside, now. fuck dude, you broke the TV, it was a joke." He dusted himself off as he stood.

  Coran glanced at Renee, glad to see her laughing, because he was embarrassed. He wondered how his wolf could take over in such a way, even after centuries of practice. He rubbed his eyes and walked out of the house, slamming the door behind him.

  Renee calmed her laughing the moment she spotted the destroyed television. "Really, was that necessary?"

  "You have no idea." Orion sighed. "I'll go talk to him. Tegan, you got the mess?"

  "Why do I always have to clean up the messes?" She grumbled, but gave Orion a thumbs up as he walked out.

  "I'll help you with it. So much for Dancing with the Stars." Reneelooked at the front door, wondering what had gotten into Coran to make him attack Orion.

  "So true." Tegan shrugged. "Shit happens. I told you, mood swings." She shook her head and went to examine the cracked screen.

  Renee followed her. "Want help moving it?"

  "Please." Tegan grabbed one side while Renee went to the other.

  "So, what do you think that was all about?" Renee asked while Tegan led them to the door separating the house from the garage.

  Tegan was silent for a moment before her lips curled into a knowing smile. "I think someone was jealous."

  "Jealous? Jealous of what? Orion stripping in front of us?"

  "You."

  "Me?"

  "Yes, you."

  "What about me?"

  Tegan shook her head as she set the television down, leaning it against the wall. "Coran was upset because Orion was stripping in front of you. It had nothing to do with me." She laughed.

  Realization dawned on Renee and her eyes widened. "You're kidding me, why on earth would Coran be that upset about it?" Her mind turned back to the conversation with Orion the night before. “He protects what is his.” She walked past the covered car and back towards the door.

  "I think he's attracted to you."

  "Really? Well that's kind of cool, cause um," Renee picked at a loose string on her jeans, not meeting Tegan's eyes. "I can't explain it, but I'm really drawn to him. Don't get me wrong, he's hot, but it's more than that." Though drawn to him was an understatement. A mere glance at him made her insides clench and his touch made her tension and stress melt away. He gave her a sense of peace and safety, of being complete and she wanted more of that. Every time he pushed her away, she felt a small piece of her heart shatter.

  Tegan paused, her back to Renee. "More how?"

  "Even though I don't know him, I feel like there's just something about him calling out to me. I trust him, despite everything that's happened to me I trust him." Renee didn't feel like she could mention the wolf she saw behind Coran, nor could she manage to explain her emotions in a coherent sentence.

  Tegan's head bowed before she continued back into the house. "Do you believe in fate?"

  "Fate? Like all-things-are-destined kind of fate?"

  Tegan nodded.

  Thinking for a moment, Renee tried to put it into a context that she believed and understood. "I guess so, I mean I truly believe that God has a reason for everything and certain people are put in your life for a reason." She closed the door behind them. "Why?"

  "Fate chooses destines for people and it’s possible that Coran is who was chosen for you." She turned to face Renee, her lips pressed in a line. "It's not something that I can really explain to you, not without sharing some of Coran's history with you."

  "Why won't you? If you think we're...fated to be together why can't you tell me?"

  "It's not my story to tell. We all have...tortured pasts and it's not right for me to tell you his. It's just not." She ran a hand through her long white hair. "So you and he are going to have to work things out, because between people chasing you and his mood swings about you, it makes things hard on us all."

  Renee sighed. "Wow, I'm sorry, I know you're all close and I didn't know that I was causing problems for everyone." Hurt tinged her voice.

  "That's not what I'm saying, it would just be easier if you two could get your hormones settled." Tegan rubbed her eyes under her glasses. "I'm sorry, just things have been rough lately, even before you came into the picture."

  "Right." Renee said before grabbing a book out of her bag and sitting down to read, ignoring the other woman. Renee had thought the two of them would be able to get along, now she felt like Tegan just saw her as an annoyance.

  Coran paced the plot of land they called the lawn. Orion shook his head and leaned against the townhouse. "Really man? You don't care about her? You just slammed me into a TV for taking off my shirt."

  "It's complicated." Coran stopped and stared at his friend. "You wouldn't understand, the love of your life is still alive and won't die either. Renee is human."

  "And if fate has chosen her for you? That’s some serious shit." Orion cocked a brow. "You really want to deny fate?"

  Coran growled, feeling his wolf rise up. "And if I fail to protect her? I don't want another human dying in my arms because of my mistake."

  "What makes you think that Renee will die like Trisha?" Orion shook his head. "There is nothing saying that she will."

  Coran closed his eyes as the memories of holding Trisha in the court of the Circle came rushing over him. He could still feel her blood dripping over his arms while he cradled her body to him. The ragged attempt of her last breath, when she cried for him, but what he remembered most was the bloodsucker who killed her. The raging red eyes that locked on to Coran's the moment Trisha's soul left her body.

  "I can't go through that again. I won't. Besides I'm immortal, she'll grow old."

  "Then you watch over her and enjoy the time you have together. Times are different now and the Circle doesn't dare come here. Hell, the Circle has hardly shown their faces for a couple hundred years, ever since the Original's went into hibernation."

  Coran sighed, remembering his time with the Circle. The rules and expectations for those who lived in their territory still gave him nightmares. Had it not been for Lucius, Coran would probably still be there. "Really? You want me to march in there and tell her what I am and hope she doesn’t run screaming? Next you want me to tell her that I will watch her grow old? I’ll hold her dying frail body while I stay the same as I am now?”

  "Not exactly what I said, but it's a good start. You can't fight fate, things get screwed up if you do." Orion shrugged. "So she's a human—"

  "She's an innocent human that has no real idea about the supernatural." Except f
or the fact that she could see Orion's wings and Coran's beast, but he didn't want to get into that debate. If it got back to Lucius he would send Kassity to kill Renee, and Coran wouldn’t allow that. "You know that most of the time they get killed, bound, or worse, enslaved."

  Orion shrugged. "Maybe we could find a vampire to tie her to, that would solve the immortal problem, and then Tegan would actually have a human female friend."

  "Bad idea." A snarl left Coran's lips. "You would really want to condemn someone to that? Tegan is a different situation than a regular human. A Blood Human."

  Orion sneered at the term. "Regardless of Tegan's origins she's still mostly human and I'm willing to bet that she'd help Renee through anything."

  Coran shook his head. "It doesn't matter, once Renee hands over the stone and it goes back to Lucius, things are over. Renee goes back to her life of schoolbooks and tests while we continue to fight this war."

  "Simple as that? You aren't even willing to try for a chance at happiness?"

  "My happiness was stolen from me a long time ago by the same type of creature we work for. Renee doesn't belong in our world." And yet, Coran didn't believe it. He wanted to run inside and hold Renee close like he had the night before. A strange ache started in his chest and he refused to give in to the urge to rub it.

  "I can see it in your eyes. Go back to her Coran, it's only a matter of time before she finds out about our world and then you have no excuse." Orion put a hand on Coran's shoulder. "At least you have a chance with her, and trust me, she likes you. So don't throw the chance away and don't let her get away from you. Or you'll always be wondering what fate was trying to hand you. What does your beast think?"

  Coran laughed and closed his eyes so he could feel his wolf. "He likes her and she does manage to calm him." He shook his head. "I don't know how to explain what I am to her." Even if she already suspected what he was, he couldn't come up with an easy way to say 'I'm a werewolf.'