Afterlife

by Dannika Dark

  “Bears. Fucking bears! Now get your ass out here.”

  I hung up and felt like a dancing fool on top of that large SUV. It wasn’t easy to take down a big animal with Mage energy, not without a struggle. Two additional bears only added to the likelihood that I would wind up somebody’s dinner.

  And I was nobody’s snack.

  My eyes widened at the massive claws on Skeleton Man’s bear as he clawed my leg and tore through my pants and flesh. He and the others circled the vehicle, watching my every move to prevent me from jumping down. They knew that all I needed was some flat land to flash to safety.

  Christian coolly strode up, hands in his pockets. “Well, that’s a dandy predicament you’ve gotten yourself into.” He pulled a piece of candy from his pocket and casually unwrapped it as I dodged another attack. “Did you know that a bear’s fangs are three inches long? But it’s their claws that do the most damage.” He looked over my attackers. “I don’t know—they look rather hungry to me. Bears eat up to ninety pounds of food per day. How much do you weigh?”

  Once again, destiny screws me over.

  Christian chuckled darkly. “Will Goldilocks escape to live another day, or will she perish in the jaws of three hungry bears?” He popped the candy into his mouth. “Tune in next week for the exciting conclusion.”

  “I’m not asking you to save me, you fanghole. Just make it a fair fight.”

  “Since when is life fair?” He tucked the wrapper into his pocket.

  One of the bears rocked the vehicle so abruptly that I almost tumbled into the clutches of another.

  Christian wanted to see me grow as a warrior, but he was also being a dick. Admittedly, I probably would have done the same thing to him.

  I pointed at the darker bear. “That one clawed my leg. He’s still got my blood on his paw.”

  A black look crossed Christian’s face, and he stalked toward the animal. The bear must have weighed half a ton, but Christian grabbed his neck and threw him into the front end of a BMW as if he weighed nothing. The animal bellowed in pain as it slumped to the ground and shifted into a man.

  My hero, I wanted to say in jest but jumped into his arms instead. When our eyes locked, sexual heat bounced between us like static electricity.

  He smelled amazing. Like onion rings and expensive cologne.

  What Harper didn’t know was that the only thing Christian and I needed to spice up our sex life was a battle. While toys sounded kinky, nothing titillated me more than the smoldering look in Christian’s eyes after he watched me fight. He winked and twirled me away as if we were dancing. While the two remaining bears circled the SUV to see what was going on, I kicked the naked man in the head until he fell unconscious.

  “I’m gonna have a talk with Viktor about this ‘no weapons’ rule.”

  Christian pushed up his sleeves as he faced the bears. “Where’s your creativity?”

  I flashed around the parking lot, peering into cars until I found what I was looking for. After smashing the back window, I pulled out a sheath. “Hello, darling.”

  Christian punched one of the bears before looking back at me.

  I sliced the air with the katana. “How’s this for creative, Mr. Poe?”

  He nonchalantly struck the bear again when it lunged at him a second time. “You should have torn the bumper off a car.”

  “Are you serious? They don’t put real bumpers on cars anymore. Besides, what would I do with a bumper? Thump his twelve-inch-thick skull with it?”

  “I was thinking more along the lines of impaling him in the arse.” He kicked the second bear when it grabbed a mouthful of his pant leg and ripped it off at the thigh. Christian stared down at his bare leg. “You insipid excuse for a fur coat. I’ll give you a good thrashing.”

  “What is it with you sticking things up people’s asses tonight?” I swiped my sword at one of the bears, lopping off his ear. “Thinking about what you want me to do to you later?”

  “Over my rotting corpse,” he growled, tearing the roof rail off an SUV and stalking toward the bear.

  Yeah, this night was about to get interesting. But not half as interesting as the hot sex we’d be having once we got home.

  If we even made it that far.

  Chapter 12

  Earlier that same day.

  Blue parked her Mustang in front of a jaw-dropping white mansion that looked like something out of Beverly Hills. The iron gates by the road should have tipped her off, but this was beyond anything she’d ever seen. Most Shifters who lived in the country liked the rustic look—it blended in with the woods around them. But some families were loaded, and they liked to flaunt their wealth by constructing modern homes that rivaled anything out of an architectural magazine for billionaires.

  “Keep your guard up, amigo. I don’t like the looks of this.”

  Niko unbuckled his seat belt. “Is that not what you said about our last stop?”

  “I didn’t like the looks of that either. I still don’t. Where the hell were all the women? I only saw three in that whole pack. But I sure saw a lot of kids. Mostly girls.”

  “Yes,” Niko murmured. “I noticed deception in their light, but that could have been for any reason, including having strangers in their home.”

  Blue scoffed. “A run-down warehouse is hardly a home.”

  “What is it about this house you don’t trust?”

  “This isn’t a house—it’s a compound.” She flung open the door and got out.

  This assignment hadn’t opened her eyes to the crap going on with some Shifters—it just reminded her of it. The vast majority of animal groups were decent, but there were far too many who weren’t. Wolves weren’t any worse than lions or horses or cougars. She’d seen her fair share of immoral behavior even in a herd of deer.

  The sun glinted off the electric-blue paint on her Mustang. Wyatt said she should have purchased a classic, but Blue liked the power in her newer engine. She didn’t drive it much—a falcon has little need for a car. But if she was going to own a vehicle, why not drive something with a little kick?

  Her attention wandered around. Instead of gravel, a paved driveway led up to the house. Concrete covered the entire front except for a circular patch of grass and topiary in the center. Most people would have put a fountain there, but she liked their design better. The driveway branched to the left and disappeared, likely to an underground garage. She cast her gaze to the three-story mansion. The levels weren’t stacked neatly on top of each other but were set backward, creating ample patio space. She thought she heard splashing water—probably one of those fancy infinity pools.

  Niko rounded the car and joined her side. “Everyone’s inside. That’s unusual.”

  “Not really. They’ve probably got a bowling alley and movie theater inside this place. You should see how many windows there are.”

  He clasped his hands behind his back. “Perhaps you shouldn’t judge a man until you’ve been inside his home. Forgive my bluntness, but your opinions of people are highly subjective.”

  Blue couldn’t deny it. It wasn’t easy for her to trust people, especially those with power.

  “Well, let’s get this show on the road,” she said, offering Niko her arm.

  Blue was used to guiding her partner around in unfamiliar places. He was quite adept at learning the layout of a club, restaurant, and even the sidewalks outside their regular haunts. But while Niko could see energy and avoid colliding with people, animals, or even plant life, inanimate objects rarely gave off energy. Not unless they’d been recently touched or were made of certain stones. Sometimes he could simply follow someone’s energy trail, but it wouldn’t always point out stairs, chairs, or other obstacles.

  “Three steps,” she said as they approached the front door.

  He followed her movement, and when they reached the top, she let go, signaling there was nothing more to guide him through.

  Blue looked for a door knocker or doorbell but only saw a speaker box. She pushed
the button and waited patiently.

  “State your business,” a woman said.

  “Blue and Niko to see Sambah Freeman.”

  They waited another moment before the massive door opened. An older woman with a colorful wrap on her head that matched her ankle-length blue dress greeted them with a long look before stepping aside. “Come this way. He’s expecting you.”

  When Blue noticed the lady was barefoot, she reached down to unlace her boots. Then she tapped Niko’s leg to signal he needed to take off his shoes.

  The marble floors gleamed, pulling in light from all the windows. They passed a group of children gathered on a massive brown shag rug. Two older women were styling the children’s hair while keeping an eye on the others who played.

  Niko followed her energy trail without touching her. Sometimes it drew attention when she led him around, so he was always cognizant about how much assistance he took from her in front of watchful eyes.

  She glanced up at the lofty ceilings. The art was resplendent, including a gorgeous painting of lions walking through a golden field toward a ruby sunset. The other pieces were images of Africa, elephants, and a few abstracts. There were also masks, woven blankets, spears. She couldn’t take her eyes off each one as they approached the curved staircase.

  “Beautiful stairs,” she said, gripping the metal railing. “I like the way they curve upward.” That was her discreet way of warning Niko. There was no danger of him falling since glass siding ran all the way up.

  Once they reached the top floor, the woman led them through a large gym filled with expensive equipment. Two men lifting weights didn’t give them a second glance, but she had a feeling they were Sambah’s bodyguards. When they reached the windows, two glass doors automatically opened.

  Blue lifted her toes when she stepped onto the hot concrete. Lucky Niko. He could adjust his internal body temperature and make his feet a few degrees cooler to counter the burn. They veered right toward a swimming pool that went around the corner of the house.

  “He will see you when he is ready,” the woman said before taking her leave.

  The splashing grew louder as a man appeared from around the corner and swam toward them. The smell of chlorine hung in the air as he made long arm strokes, his head only surfacing when he took a breath from the side. Once the man neared the edge of the pool, he disappeared beneath the water. A few seconds later, he emerged and ascended the wide pool steps.

  The water glistened on his dark skin, and admiring his body was unavoidable. Her eyes strayed down to his white Speedos, which looked painted on. She could probably wash laundry on his sculpted abs.

  He lifted a towel off a nearby chair and dried his face. “You are early, are you not?”

  Blue shifted her weight to her other foot. “We agreed on a later time, but our last stop went pretty quick.”

  The man wrapped the towel around his waist and approached. “I am Sambah Freeman,” he said, bowing. “You must be Blue and Niko. Come, let us sit in the shade.”

  Sambah led them to a patio set on the opposite side of the pool. A blue-and-white rug blanketed the hard concrete, and a white umbrella shaded the glass table, blue sofa, and wicker chairs. Sambah gestured for them to take the sofa, and he sat in the chair to their left.

  Blue had barely gotten her butt in the seat before a man appeared with drinks. He set the frosty glasses on the table, each with a lemon wedge and sugar on the rim.

  “Thank you, Joba.” Then Sambah said something to him in a language that Blue didn’t understand, and Joba went back inside.

  Blue licked her dry lips, resisting the urge to drink.

  Sambah stared at Niko. “I wonder how it is that a blind man works for the higher authority. They are so particular. You must be very special.”

  Niko inclined his head. “No one is more special than another. May I?” He reached toward the glasses. “Lemonade sounds refreshing.”

  “And how do you know what I’m offering?” Sambah asked.

  Niko ran his hand along the table until he found the lower edge of a glass. “I heard the ice clinking when he set them down. I can smell the freshly squeezed lemons, and I haven’t had anything to drink since this morning.”

  Sambah rocked with laughter. “I see which one of you is driving the horse.” He steered his eyes to Blue as he reached for his own glass. “You must be parched.”

  “Was that your servant?” She kept her hands on her lap.

  After a long sip, Sambah set his glass on the table. “That was my brother. We serve each other in this house. Unlike most prides, we have no rank.”

  “But you are their leader.”

  Sambah hooked his arms over the back of the chair. “Formalities. It is the women who run this house. I am merely the instrument of their bidding. Not everyone likes taking on all the responsibilities.” He flicked his fingers toward her glass. “Joba is not a servant. But consider this: if you refuse to take what’s offered by a paid servant, you devalue their position. Sitting there, refusing their service, does not honor them any more than taking their offerings dishonors them.”

  Blue gulped down half her drink and grimaced at the sour bite of the lemon. There wasn’t enough sugar in there. “And what would you know about being a servant?”

  “Nothing. But I was a slave for three hundred years, so I know that accepting or refusing food means nothing. Look every man in the eye—acknowledge their existence. People use money and power as a way to elevate themselves above others,” he said, tapping his glass. “When you truly see a man for who he is and not what he is, only then you can change the world.”

  “How can one person change the world?”

  “Change germinates within you, and that is where the world begins.”

  “And where does it end?” Niko asked.

  “In me. In her. In Joba. In the children downstairs and the lions chasing each other on the lawn. In your daughters and sons. Be the example that compels others to change.”

  Blue placed the chilly glass against her neck, the icy condensation dribbling down her chest.

  “Where are my manners?” Sambah rose to his feet and held out his hand. “Let me take your jacket. The rooftop soaks up the sun.”

  Blue lowered the glass and shook her head. She had thrown on a flannel button-up over her tank top, expecting to be indoors most of the day. Shifters usually kept it chilly inside their homes.

  “Come now,” he said, crooking his fingers. “Do not drag my reputation as a hospitable host through the mud.”

  “You can sit, Mr. Freeman. I’d rather keep my clothes on if you don’t mind.”

  A smile touched his lips. He inclined his head and returned to his seat. “If there’s one thing I’ve learned in my life, it’s to never argue with a woman.”

  There was no hint of a breeze. Blue set her glass on the table and felt her chest beginning to sweat. “This is never an easy conversation to have, but we’re here to inquire about your son’s death. Do you have any questions from what I conveyed on the phone?”

  “That the higher authority wishes to stick their noses in our business to find out what else they can control?”

  “That’s not what I said.”

  “That’s what I heard. I never hear what is said: I hear what is unsaid. In all the years since the higher authority came to be, they have never done anything for Shifters outside of giving us land to keep us quiet.”

  “Land is a generous asset. Other Breeds would kill for it.”

  Sambah shook his head. “We have numbers, and that makes them afraid. The land offerings were made to conciliate Shifters, but since the recent cage fights, people no longer know what to believe. Their representatives were involved in wicked affairs, and it undermines the trust we had in them. So I am taking a wild guess that they are searching for our weaknesses. Why else would they look into deaths?”

  Sambah made a good point—too good.

  I need to make him trust me, she thought.

  She crossed
her legs. “In case you’re having issues with other prides that the Council won’t resolve. In case someone doesn’t have access to a qualified Relic.”

  “Perhaps,” he muttered, looking off toward the setting sun.

  “I know it’s not easy talking about the loss of a child,” Blue said, softening her tone. “What can you tell us about his death?”

  “Less than what I can tell you about his life. I have twelve sons and seven daughters, but King was my youngest. The others were given American names at the request of my mate, but King was very special. He was born to do great things, and that is why I gave him an auspicious name.”

  “Was he to inherit your fortune?” Niko asked.

  “I would have given the world to King. So smart. So full of joy and honor. All my children are different, and I am grateful I can give them all this. They don’t know what it’s like to belong to someone—to be property. And it’s my intention that they never do. They’ve heard the stories from their elders, but as we old ones begin dying, so will our history.”

  “You’re a first-generation slave?” Blue asked. “I’m so sorry for what you went through.”

  Shifters could live for hundreds or even over a thousand years, but it wasn’t as common as one might think. Due to fights, battles, and even accidents, many never saw past middle age. The more invincible a person felt, the more reckless they behaved.

  “First we were sold to humans. But when the immortals discovered some of us were Shifters, we were sold to the highest bidder. Now imagine a world where you’re free and you must see your previous master walking the streets. None of these men were held accountable.”

  “If immortals were held accountable for their sins, there wouldn’t be enough jail cells.”

  Sambah paused for a moment in thought. “My tribe was slaughtered and stolen from our home. They killed the old ones and gathered up everyone else—mostly men and young women. Many children were either killed or left behind to die of starvation. We were shackled around the wrists and neck, so we couldn’t shift to fight back. I won’t describe the graphic nightmare aboard the ships. Some fled when their shackles were changed or temporarily removed, but few of them survived. Where is a lion to go in a strange country? They were hunted and killed, so we had to escape in human form in order to survive. So many tribes lived isolated from the world. I had never met a Vampire or a Mage until I came here. Our elders told stories of Chitahs—pale men with golden eyes and skin that would change patterns like that of a cat. But we never saw one. Not until I came here.”