by Zoe Parker
His plain black t-shirt and faded jeans gave her no real insight either. Everything about him said predator but he wasn’t dressed like most of the older ones in her estimation. His sensible, scuffed up boots were something most of them wouldn’t be caught dead in. No flamboyant trench coats or exotic leather pants. Something that the Others favored in a very clichéd way. His lips caught her straying eyes. They were pretty lips and would probably be too pretty on most men. However, he pulled them off without looking very girly -
WHAT the fuck was she doing thinking about his fucking lips?!
The realization of the possible - and likely - path of those thoughts crawled up her spine like icy fingers. She’d just gotten a full dose of the hormones that Margie had warned her about. With a frown, she refused to listen to her hormones inserting themselves into her thoughts. Especially since she stood there bleeding from a bunch of wounds. Probably dying and she refused - REFUSED - to waste another thought on his pretty lips.
For fuck’s sake.
“We have no beef with you. Just leave her and you can have the brats.” The one held in the air, that entire time, finally spoke up. Kali looked up at him. She knew fear when she heard it, smelled it. He was very afraid of this stranger.
Interesting.
Without taking his eyes off Kali, the newcomer flipped the man around like he weighed nothing and slammed him headfirst into the concrete. The crack of his neck breaking filled the sudden silence of the alley. Then he planted a foot on the Strix’s chest and with an ease that caused fear, and some sort of weird fascination, to fill her belly - ripped his head clean off his shoulders. It was tossed to the side like a piece of garbage.
The Strix wasn’t going to be able to grow a new head back, like he did his face.
Even with the smidgen of satisfaction filling her stomach, she watched his killer with suspicion. It didn’t mean he was helping anyone but himself. Her frown deepened as she wished his face showed some of his thoughts. She was rather good at reading faces, but so far, she was getting a big fat zero. A whimper from behind her snapped her out of her thoughts and she stepped backwards toward it.
The girl had crawled back into the cubby hole to comfort her terrified brother. With slow deliberate steps, Kali situated herself as a shield in front of them. The stranger turned to face her, completely ignoring the remaining Strix behind him. Either he was stupid, which Kali doubted, or he wasn’t concerned about them at all. She was betting on the latter.
“What are you doing man? This could start a war!” The last one shouted coming up behind him. The pretty boy, yes he was indeed, turned his head enough to look over his shoulder. The Strix stopped dead in his tracks.
Couldn’t say she blamed him. Then once again, to her complete annoyance, he turned his full attention back to her.
“Why do you protect them?” he asked her. The deepness of his voice surprised her but she didn’t let it show. Nor did she let her face show how that softly spoken question caused all of her senses to explode. Goosebumps broke out all over her skin as her hormones made their presence known. After a few moments spent wrestling her unwanted libido, she raised her chin.
She owed him no explanations.
A white brow rose over one lens of his sunglasses as he said, “You were going to lose.” She rolled her eyes. It wasn’t like he was stating something she wasn’t aware of. “You were ready to die to save them?” She shrugged and the effort almost bent her over in pain. The movement pulled on parts that were reminding her rather quickly that she had a bullet or two somewhere in her.
A second sharp pain brought her hand to her wet stomach. Absently, she felt around to get a good idea of the injuries without taking her eyes off the man in front of her. The finger sized hole she discovered wasn’t a big surprise. The size of the wound would continue to grow until the bullet was removed. It had to come out. This was an obvious fact she knew about the situation. What she didn’t know was how much longer she could stand here without face planting. A fresh wave of dizziness washed through her. If she died and this man killed the Strix, what would he do with the children?
“You can’t have them.” The words left her mouth before she completed the thought.
“I don’t want them.” His response was quick and decisive; she didn’t doubt his words at all. His nostrils flared, and he cast a quick look over his shoulder then turned back to her. Shadows moved at the end of the alley. The Strix had called for backup and there was no way she could fight anymore.
Great, just fucking great.
“What brings you to our territory, Exiled,” a female asks from the mouth of the alley. Kali filed this reference away in her mind. The question was followed by a tall, blonde Strix moving closer to them and further into the light. Not that Kali couldn’t see in the dark. She could see everything, including his dozen or so companions.
“I go where I wish,” the Exiled answered.
“Hank here,” she points at the lone Strix that survived. “Says you killed one of mine.”
“He annoyed me,” answered the Exiled. That was some heavy sarcasm there, I don’t think he likes them. A reaction that got some appreciation from her.
“It’s unlike you to interfere in our affairs,” the Strix said, stepping forward to stand beside the Exiled. Kali thought it weird she kept calling him that in her head, but without any other title this would do for now. His eyes were still on her. He ignored the children completely.
“She really is a rare find.” The Strix talked while she walked closer to him. She was talking about Kali being the rare find and this only helped reinforce the weakness that was all but buckling her legs. The only reason she still stood was because of the kids.
“Piss off,” Kali mumbled, knowing that at least he heard. His eyebrows rose.
“Guard your tongue girl or else it be removed,” Hank said from behind him. The Strix, Hank, apparently heard too. She ignored him. It was a common answer from her and being threatened wouldn’t stop her from saying it again. He was lucky she was ready pass out. Normally, it would’ve been met with her fist in his face.
“It is a genuine shame you are injured, it devalues you.” The female Strix commented, giving her an appraising look. Devalued her? Kali snorted. The Strix dismissed her with a look and studied the carnage around them. “You did this?” she asked in surprise. Kali shrugged again and clenched her teeth to swallow the bile that rose into her mouth from the movement.
That’s not good.
The Exiled stared at her consideringly, then said, “Your smell hasn’t matured. You’re still in your Shed stage - but still managed to kill them. It’s rather fascinating.” He smiles and for some reason Kali shivered. That smile was scarier than the fact he smashed a guy’s head in like a tin can.
After a quick look at him, the female Strix walked to his side and smiled at Kali. The Exiled - she needed a real name for him - had his head cocked slightly to the side watching her with a blank face.
Why did she feel like he was waiting on something?
She chewed on the inside of her cheek. A few minutes ago he moved faster than a Strix. Now he was behaving like a Lupe. Was he like her maybe? A mix of both. She didn’t have the scent glands like Lupes did, but she had an incredibly good sense of smell. After taking his scent deep inside of herself she knew without a doubt he was nothing like her. Every single creature had its own unique scent. Strix smelled like sweet candy. Lupes like clean river water. Hybrids like fresh oranges.
He smelled like…snow. Cold nights and crisp clean air. He smelled so good she wanted to cross the few feet separating them and - Jesus! Her mouth shut with a snap.
“What are your interests here?” At the Strix’s question he looked at her and she stopped before stepping too close to him. His gaze returned to Kali. The Strix continued, “She’s on my property, which makes her my property.” The woman didn’t look nearly as confident as she did initially.
The hell it does! Kali opened her mouth to say exactly that
when the Exiled man did something that silenced her completely. He crossed the distance between them and leaned down until his face was just a breath from hers.
His smell wrapped around her like a warm blanket, one she wanted to rub against and sink into. It was almost overpowering. Almost. His deep huff that bordered on a growl, pulled her closer to him with invisible hands. She looked up to meet two reflections of her bloody face, her amber eyes lit up like candles.
“I should kill you,” he whispered so softly it was barely more than a breath. Oddly enough, it didn’t scare her. Should usually means ‘won’t’. She let her eyes flick over the Strix then back to him.
“I don’t think you’ll need to,” she replied just as softly. Kali could literally feel her life dripping out of her and down her pant legs.
“You think you’re dying?” he asked in the same quiet monotone voice.
“Yeah, I’m pretty sure that’s what’s happening. If not tonight, then soon.” Either she would die tonight or one day in the near future, simply because of what she was. Hybrids don’t reach adulthood; most of them never took a second breath.
“That is not why I should kill you,” he answered as if reading her thoughts. Her reflection frowned down at her. He cocked his head to the side again looking every inch the predator. “It is not what you are, it is who.” She was now officially confused.
‘Who’ had never been a factor in her future death. Just the past one. This was a new development.
“ - what are your terms, Exiled. I do not have all night. Already offers are being made for her.” The woman’s voice broke through the fog that had settled over Kali. Oh yeah, she had momentarily forgotten about the big blonde mosquito.
The Exiled’s lips parted and she saw more sharp teeth than she expected. What the hell was he? Strix have four feeding teeth on the top jaw. Lupes have four on the top and two on the bottom. This guy had an entire mouthful. Before she could turn to the Strix to give her opinion on the ‘terms’ the bitch was offering, he leaned forward and licked her from her chin to her upper lip. In shock, she stood there feeling the phantom touch of his tongue dipping between the lips of her open mouth.
Protests from the Strix present filled the small alley, followed by growls that were common place with Lupes. Forcing her attention away from him was more difficult that it should be in a situation where her life was on the line, but she managed it. Her eyes went to the head of the alley where a large group of Lupes stood. A very large group.
“Daddy!” The little boy yelled from behind her. The group of Strix were turned to face the new threat, all except the woman standing next to the Exiled.
He continued to stare at Kali, because his gaze was giving her chills up and down her spine, there was no way to miss him licking his bottom lip. Leisurely, with his face showing emotion for the first time. Pleasure.
God, that was hot.
For the first time this weird encounter with him was starting to make sense. Margie’s warning was echoing in her head as she puzzled out the hormones and the draw to a man in a situation that should involve a lot less bone-jumping. It boiled down to him being alpha male and her being this new creature of instincts and fucked up brain chemistry. Out of all the creatures in the world, she was attracted to one who had enough balls to say he should kill her.
“Release them now, Sandra!” The apparent Lupe leader demanded, taking several steps towards the children that Kali still shielded.
“Daddy, they hurt Mommy…” A child’s choked sob is followed by, “She just stopped moving.” That sound tore at her, as did the little girl’s voice drenched in tears. It was enough to make her heart ache and eyes burn from unshed tears. Maybe if she had been a few minutes faster she could’ve saved their mommy. She hadn’t and the woman’s body had disintegrated leaving behind bloody, empty clothing as Kali fought the Strix.
The natural, weird, order of things.
The tension ratcheted up another level as the Strix and Lupes faced off at the head of the alley. Grief and anger wafted down the dark alley towards her from the Lupe standing in the front. A male whose eyes kept darting to the children behind her. As if an invisible green flag dropped, the fight broke out between them. There were a pretty equal amount of them so she turned her attention back to the man in front of her. He was the most dangerous one in the alley, after all. He stood, watching her still, unmoved by everything happening around him. His rather broad shoulders blocked her view of them.
“She is mine, I will have her.” Sandra threatened to the Exiled before turning to see her people losing, thank god, and disappeared in a blink. The companions she brought that were still breathing, followed suit.
Kali now stood with several Lupe gazes on her and tall dark and, well hell, sexy. The standing thing was going to be short lived. She was surprised it was still a possibility.
The father of the children stepped forward and said, “Ebon, I have no problem with you but if you’re going to hurt that woman…we’ll have to try to stop you.” He was reluctant, she could hear the hesitancy in his voice but she had to give him kudos for having the balls to say it. And mean it.
She appreciated his statement, even though the ‘try’ blew it all to hell. He had honor which rose him in esteem in her mind. Kali figured if they did try to fight - oh, she had a name now - Ebon, they would lose. Nevertheless, she wasn’t worried about Ebon killing her. He had ample time to have finished the job that was already started, and to her, he didn’t come across as the waiting type.
She flinched as she felt, more than saw, him move. He grabbed her shoulders lifted her off the ground and moved her from in front of the children. Ultimately, his grip on her shoulders was the only thing keeping her on her feet. It was also keeping her in place.
“Don’t hurt them.” Kali’s whispered words were only heard by him. He considered her a moment then moved them further away. With the path to their father open, the children ran to him. The vise holding her shredded heart hostage released. They were safe in the arms of their family. “Looks like you don’t have to worry about killing me… Ebon.” With the ghost of a smile on her face she exhaled and, as if a signal to her battered body, she fell unconscious into Ebon’s arms.
Chapter Three
Staring down at her slack face, he contemplated what had to be done next. Her death was a better choice than being involved with him. He lifted her into his arms. To his irritation, part of him admired her. She fought with a dirtiness he appreciated. Understood even. She fought with her entire body, heart and soul. No half-way measures for her. Shifting her weight in his arms, he raised a hand to touch her face.
He’d been alone so long that even considering bringing her into his life for more than a night of pleasure gave him something he’d thought lost a long time ago. Hope.
The taste of her lingered in his mouth and he knew - KNEW - with absolute surety who she was. There was no way to deny it and selfishly, he didn’t want to. Gently, he traced her cheek with his fingertip. Her left eye was completely swollen shut, her mouth was a mashed, bloody mess. Her bottom lip so swollen it was as big as both lips normally were combined. But to him, at this very moment, she looked like the most beautiful thing in the world.
Also, the most dangerous.
“Ebon, she is bleeding out. You need to let us help her.” He turned to look at the Lupe speaking and barely managed to keep a snarl in check. No one but he should touch her. His instincts pushed at him to use his claws and teeth to show his dominance. But the wetness of blood seeping into his clothing from her wounds complicated the situation.
Ebon was a killer, not a healer. The knowledge to fix her was beyond him and yet the desire to fix her was pushing him. Some things were inevitable and if he were being honest with himself, he admitted he didn’t want to fight this part of his fate.
Ebon was tired of being alone.
He leaned down close to her ear and whispered, “I will be close.” The pure strength of his control over his instincts was th
e only thing that allowed him to hand her carefully over to the Lupe. They would heal her but he would be watching. She was a hybrid, and he couldn’t trust that the Lupes - currently in her debt - wouldn’t kill her.
Without saying anything, they hurried from the alley. He stood watching until they were completely gone from sight. Feeling an odd tightening in his chest at the loss of her, he shook himself like a wet dog. The bond was already taking hold even if they hadn’t had a decent conversation yet. But they would.
Determined to discover more about her, he walked in circles looking for her scent trail. Finding it, he followed it back to the running car. With care, he stepped around the mangled driver’s door and sat in the seat, letting her smell saturate his senses. The sudden need for her presence slammed into him.
It took a full minute for him to regain his normal composure.
He needed no one. Ever.
Until now.
His eyes missed nothing as he took in the bent steering wheel, the cigarette butts, the empty soda cans. All signs that long periods of time were spent in this car. A small purse and phone sat on the passenger’s seat. On the floor sat a leather bag he knew by the shape contained a laptop. Her emotions were layered in the scents of the car. Anger. Fear. Grief.
His eyes landed once again on the mangled steering wheel and he wondered what made her do this. He also wondered what made her feel the grief that she was coated in. One day he would ask her.
He gathered her things and, after another deep breath of her scent, got out of the car.
He would let the human authorities take care of the car. From the looks of things, it was a rental and given the state of it, she’d be paying for the damage regardless. He dug through her purse and found her license with her name and address on it. With inhuman speed he went straight there. He paused outside, listening. No dogs or other pets. Their kind couldn’t keep animals. Something in them saw animals as prey.