Elite Supernatural Trackers
Capture, Book Two
Heather Renee
Elite Supernatural Trackers: Capture © Copyright 2020 by Heather Renee
All rights reserved under the International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. No parts of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the written permission of the author.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, alive or dead, is purely coincidental.
For more information on reproducing sections of this book or sales of this book, email [email protected].
ISBN: 979-8624698444
Editing: Jamie from Holmes Edits
Cover: Covers by Juan
Dedication
To the girl who reads to capture all her dreams…
Catch!
Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Stay in Touch
Also by Heather Renee
About the Author
Chapter 1
There had been brief moments during the last several weeks when I thought things couldn’t get worse, but as tension continued to rise within the prison, I realized how wrong I had been.
More than a month had passed since I arrived at Mandora Supernatural Prison, a place for magical beings who may or may not have broken a law or two. I, for example, had only broken the rules by accident, but the warden didn’t care. From the moment he found out I could manipulate others, he’d stopped at nothing to make me his prisoner.
Warden Gillian was a Grade A douche, but for some unknown reason, I was still trying to help the psycho get his son back. Correction, I knew exactly why I was helping the warden—I wanted my freedom back, and that didn’t include being on the run for the rest of my life.
When—not if—I got out of prison, it was going to be for all the right reasons, not because I escaped, which would have been quite easy to do considering I left the prison almost weekly with the Fabled Four. My guys who were complete assholes to everyone else and only jerks to me as of recently.
I’d apparently grown on them like fungus and they hadn’t been able to get rid of me.
The threats from my feisty fairy sidekick Nixie helped with that, too. She kept them from manhandling me like they had when I first arrived in the prison. Instead of Jaxon attempting to choke me when I pissed him off now, he merely glared and yelled. Most of the time, anyway. It was a daily battle with him as we fought through our sexual tension.
The pent-up emotions between me and Jaxon had gotten so bad that poor Blake, the empath of our misfit group, could barely stand to be in the same room with us. I assumed it was like watching a porno without actually seeing the goods, and Blake couldn’t handle the sexual feelings being tossed around. That made me grin. A lot.
During the last few weeks, I’d healed up from our vampire run-in with the help of Mason, the fae of our group who had moderate healing abilities, before letting each of the guys and Nixie turn me into a battle-worthy witch. I’d had street training from spending most of my teen years in a group home, and being scrappy already helped considerably when it came to defending myself. But precision went a long way and I needed more concise moves if I planned to stay alive.
Our training took place daily in the prison gym when the other inmates were forced outside or stuck doing menial jobs. Since then, I’d built muscle in places I didn’t know could even get muscles.
Most of that wasn’t so bad. It was the tension between everyone that was slowly drowning me. Oddly enough, I missed the days when they all took turns yelling at me or hazing me in front of the other prisoners. Instead, it seemed like everyone was walking on eggshells, and I had no clue which of us was going to explode first.
“If that furball doesn’t stop staring every time we see him, I’m going to cut his eyes out,” Mason droned, complaining about Owen, the lion shifter, as we entered our lair.
We’d passed by him on our way back to the room, and he’d waved at me while appraising each of the guys without putting off any of the fear most inmates did.
“I vote you send him through a portal to Siberia. A lot less effort than dealing with him around here, if you ask me,” Spencer added.
“Well, nobody asked you,” I snapped.
Owen had been nothing but respectful since I declined his offer to help get me out of the prison. While it had seemed enticing at the time, he was a bigger risk than I was willing to take. I cared too much about my Fabled Fuckers to say yes to the unknown shifter.
Though, I had no problem being my defiant self and standing up for him, either. Some habits were harder to break than others.
Jaxon snarled at me and I glared back. “What?”
He shook his head and didn’t respond. Since I’d told him I needed space, the infuriating demon only talked to me when he was demanding something during training. My rejection of his efforts to have something more between us had put the biggest damper on our group vibe.
Blake rubbed his temples and paced around. “I’m going to my room. The two of you should do the same. Together.” He glared pointedly at Jaxon and me before slamming his door shut.
“You guys are going to kill Yeti,” Mason said bluntly.
“Shut it, Gunner,” Jaxon replied as I continued to the bathroom to take a shower.
We’d spent the morning training on orbs. I could finally pool magic together in each hand and either use the energy separately or merge them together. The act was tiresome, though, and caused me to sweat my ass off, so I needed to de-stink myself.
Shutting the door behind me, I ignored Mason’s complaints about needing to take a shit and locked the handle with my abilities. Another fun perk Nixie had taught me. The one thing I’d been disappointed in with my training was being unable to repeat the shocking ability I’d used when the vampire in Chicago had tried to kill me.
The guys had assumed it was an instinctual reaction I’d be able to repeat in time or if I was ever in another life or death situation. The latter seemed more likely to happen than the former.
I glanced in the mirror, reached a hand up to my fairy friend, then set her on the counter. “You’ve been awfully quiet today.”
She shrugged and got comfy on the washcloth while I unbraided my hair. “Just been thinking.”
My brow raised. “About?”
“I may need to leave,” she said, and I was surprised to hear a bit of sadness in her voice. Nixie was never sorry about anything. Honestly, I had expected her to leave weeks ago, but our friendship had continued to grow, so I never mentioned anything about her abandoning me to deal with the Fabled Four on my own.
“Uh, what the hell are you talking about? Did something happen? If one of those Fabled Fuckers did something to you, I will shove my foot so far up their ass they won’t walk right for a year.”
She grinned. “As much as I would love to see that happen, it has nothing to do with you guys. Weirdly enough, you’ve all grown on me, some more tha
n others. It’s just, the stronger I see you get, the more I’m pissed the hell off that my powers are still diluted. I need to speed up the growth process of my wing and make sure the damage done by that damn disaster demon isn’t permanent.”
The hatred in her tiny face made me shiver. If Luxor wasn’t already dead, I’d almost feel bad for him. Nixie still wasn’t over losing her wing and I didn’t blame her. It had consequences she hadn’t been prepared for.
“Where will you go? Do you have a fairy world or family you’ve never mentioned that would help?” It wouldn’t surprise me if one existed and I didn’t know about it.
“No, the family I did care for is long deceased, and the others I rarely claim. They very well could be dead as well, and were too vicious even for my liking. I didn’t get the torture-love gene like the rest of them and it made for an awkward growing up until I left. Anyway, that was all centuries ago. I need to see Greggor. That slimy demon will know what to do. Somehow, the shithead knows everything. As annoying as it is, it’s useful for a price.”
Ah, poor Nixie. After my first meeting with a psychotic fairy when I was arrested, I knew what she meant about the torture-love. The little bug that told me I’d broken witch laws had held no humanity in her little body when she’d made me almost bleed to death before Jaxon and Mason showed up.
Then, I’d been reckless and saved Nixie, unknowing at the time if she would be just as crazy as the first fairy I’d encountered. Thankfully, she hadn’t been, and even though she tried to push me away when we first met, I understood that she was just afraid. Letting people in after being hurt by blood was scary shit.
“I’ll go with you,” I said, right after I’d turned on the shower in hopes that if the guys could hear us before, they wouldn’t be able to any longer.
She shook her head. “I’m not dealing with your boy toys going all alpha male and making things worse. I can get there on my own. It will just take longer if I can’t use my normal powers or fly.”
“No, this is non-negotiable. You’re not going by yourself when we know my powers will work against Greggor. I could be useful in persuading him to do what you need without you giving up more than you’re comfortable with.”
Her eyes narrowed as my words seemed to set in. I had a valid point, but when she still didn’t respond, I kept going.
“We can sneak out. I know where the keys to the vehicles are. We don’t need the guys to come with us if you’re really worried about it. I’ll clear it with the warden, and since he seems to enjoy it when I piss off his minions, I doubt he’ll object.”
Her tiny finger tapped against her thigh as she got up and fluttered around the counter. “Okay, if the warden will give you a pass, then let’s do it. Otherwise I’d be hitchhiking, and I’d probably end up leaving a trail of bodies from the idiots who annoyed me on the way.”
My head shook as I smirked. She acted like she hated people, but the more I got to know her, the more I realized she was just guarded. Her bit of information about her family earlier confirmed my assumptions, but I’d let her keep her secrets. For now.
After Nixie and I had cleaned up, which included me taking a thirty-minute shower and her bathing in a soap dish, we were greeted with dinner.
“What did you guys do?” I asked suspiciously.
Mason winked. “We brought you a nice warm meal. What’s wrong with that?”
“You assholes are rarely nice unless you’re trying to avoid our wrath or you need something,” Nixie said as she fluttered down from my shoulder to the table. While she couldn’t fly properly, she could at least get around a little better when she was traveling downward.
“She has a point. So, what’s up?” I glanced at Jaxon, who was avoiding my gaze before moving on to Spencer, but he wasn’t giving any information up, either.
Mason, on the other hand, was grinning like he’d just gotten laid, so I focused on him. “Well, you gonna tell me what has you so giddy?”
He leaned forward and tapped me on the nose—his favorite thing to do to me. “I don’t think I am. At least, not yet.”
Mason was continuing to stare, which told me he was hoping for a reaction of epic proportions, but I wasn’t going to give him one. “Okay. I’ll just enjoy the food and wait until you’re ready.”
Nixie’s head snapped up, surprised by my nonchalant attitude. “Fuck that. I want to know.”
Leaning in closer to her, I whispered not-so-quietly, “Don’t forget, we all have our secrets. We can let them have theirs.”
She grinned before biting into the tiny slice of bread one of the guys must have cut for her. We weren’t exactly conventional, but we were slowly becoming a family.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Mason growled, clearly displeased we’d turned the tables on him.
“Oh, nothing.” I grabbed my plate and began eating the burger they’d gotten me, but I was only one bite in when Mason stood.
“That’s bullshit. You can’t do that.”
“Can’t do what?” My eyelashes fluttered at him innocently.
“She’s playing you, bro. Don’t fall for it,” Spencer warned while Jaxon watched our interaction silently and Blake grinned.
Mason turned toward his brothers. “And what if she’s not? What if they have something planned that will get us all in deep shit? You know it’s possible.”
The fae was such a smart supernatural, but thankfully none of them seemed worried.
Jaxon shrugged. “She’s a grown-ass woman who can make her own decisions.”
Asshole. Of course he wouldn’t care, which made me want to leave with Nixie as soon as possible.
Mason was clearly not happy about being shown up by our secret, but he still didn’t spill what he knew, and neither did the others. Instead, we all ate awkwardly in silence.
“It’s your turn to sleep on the couch,” Spencer said to Jaxon as he got up from eating.
Every fifth day, things got even more awkward when Jaxon was required to vacate his own personal space so I could sleep in his room. Without him.
Once I’d been healed up from the vampire fight, the guys had decided we would rotate whose bed I slept in, while I also took my own turn on the couch.
This was the third time I’d be sleeping in Jaxon’s bed, and my wishes to have him in it with me hadn’t faded, but my stubbornness still won out. He had hurt me, and I needed him to know that wasn’t okay. More importantly, that I wouldn’t put up with it.
Even if it killed me a little more every day.
Chapter 2
The previous night, I slept like shit in Jaxon’s bed. His smell was extra heavy, like he’d marked his territory just to further piss me off. Nixie was cranky as well, and I wondered if we were both tired or just PMSing.
Both were possible since I was due for my period anytime. Thankfully, witches only had cycles every few months. I’d have to ask Nixie—when I wasn’t so cranky from lack of sleep—if periods were a thing for fairies, too. She was one lucky bitch if not.
“Good morning,” Blake said warily, already sensing my mood.
Glancing around, I confirmed Jaxon was gone and settled onto the couch. “Morning.”
“I take it the sandman wasn’t your friend last night?” he asked.
“Not exactly. Where are the others?”
“Jaxon went for a run and the other two are getting food. Want to get Nixie and join them with me?” As soon as the words left his mouth, I had an idea, but hid my excitement.
“I’m exhausted. Do you think you could just bring me back a bagel and some bacon? Oh, and definitely coffee. Two cups if possible.” My mouth was already watering, and I hoped we made it back in time to still enjoy my liquid gold while it was still steaming.
He eyed me suspiciously, but before he could question my motives, Nixie shrieked. “I’ll let you check on her while I head out.” Then, he was out the door, avoiding whatever fit my fairy friend might have been having.
Even though the guys had accepted her
as a part of our group, they were smart enough to acknowledge what she was capable of and kept some sort of distance.
Racing back into Jaxon’s room, I searched for her, but couldn’t see her silver hair or wing anywhere. “Nixie?”
“Down here,” she snarled.
After taking a step around the full-size bed, I found Nixie tangled in a pair of Jaxon’s boxer briefs and covered my mouth to suppress the laughter.
“It’s not funny. My wing is stuck in the junk hole. Get me out!” She was having a massive fit with fairy dust flying everywhere, and while I normally would have let her suffer a little longer, we didn’t have much time to waste.
Once she was free of Jaxon’s underwear, I set her on the dresser. “As much as I’d love to hear how you ended up down there, we need to go see the warden. We have a rare moment of freedom and need to get permission from Gillian to go see Greggor.”
Her eyes lit up with glee. “Those idiots left us alone even after we told them we had a secret?”
“Yes. Now, let’s go.” I threw a sweatshirt over my head and kept my yoga pants on that I’d slept in. Normally when I left the lair, I was either wearing workout gear or the hideous yellow jumpsuit, but I didn’t have time to change, and the stretchy pants would pass well enough for workout attire if someone questioned me.
Grabbing Nixie, I darted to the front door, peeking out before stepping into the hallway. The coast was clear, and I made a run for it with Nixie tucked into the front pocket of my sweatshirt. We passed a guard, but I waved instead of getting nervous, and he simply glared as I commented about changing up my morning run routine.
Capture (Elite Supernatural Trackers Book 2) Page 1
