Darkness Rising

by Katie Reus

  King paused for a moment, then nodded at his wolves, who silently strode out of the kitchen and toward the backyard. The others did the same so they clearly weren’t going far.

  But just like that, the tension in the room eased a fraction. Reaper looked at Greer with a new respect. Her steel spine was impressive. He wondered if she would order him around in the bedroom, order him to taste between her legs. No. He must not think of such things. Not now anyway. But later he would.

  “I apologize for barging into your clan’s home like this,” King said, his faint accent one Reaper couldn’t place, his tone and expression casual. Wearing a black leather jacket, black pants and boots, there wasn’t an ounce of apology in his scent. He was arrogant, if anything.

  “You are definitely not sorry,” Greer said, exasperation in her words. But just as quickly she smiled. And the most possessive part of Reaper did not like that she was smiling at this wolf who might be considered handsome. “It’s nice to see you again, however.”

  The Alpha smiled back at her, all charm and arrogance. “Likewise.”

  Oh, Reaper did not like this male. His dragon wanted to claw his face off for smiling at Greer. Claw it off, then rip his heart from his chest. Yes, his dragon thought, he would make a nice snack.

  “King, this is Reaper and Prima.” She added a bit more to the introductions then ordered everybody to sit in that haughty little tone of hers that Reaper liked far more than he should.

  Reaper wanted to pull her into his lap, to keep her as close to him as possible. But he knew she wouldn’t like that at all, so he simply sat but made sure it was close to her.

  “I’ve been hearing fairly substantial rumors that you two are looking to carve out some territory here.” King’s words were neutral enough but his wolf was in his eyes as he looked between the two of them.

  “The territory isn’t taken,” Prima said simply because she liked to bait others.

  Under normal circumstances, Reaper might have enjoyed watching this play out, but not with Greer in the room. And a pregnant female nearby. No, this would not do. “Prima.” Reaper gave her a hard look. “Is this necessary?”

  She lifted a shoulder, grinning. “No, but it is fun.” Sighing, she looked back at the Alpha. “I have a clan, and while this city is pleasant enough to visit, I’m not looking to take any of this territory—unclaimed as it is.”

  King looked at Reaper then, eyebrows raised.

  “Nor am I,” Reaper said. “I have been awake for only a week. I have no desire to take any of the land here.” Then he looked at Greer, thinking that he would only live where she lived. Since this was not her home, it would not be his either.

  She looked at him, but quickly glanced away, her cheeks turning pink. Oh yes, he liked that very much.

  The Alpha was silent for a long moment. “So why is someone spreading rumors about you? Because normally I can brush them off, but these came from decent sources.”

  “As I said, I have not been awake long. So I do not know. Perhaps someone seeks to sow dissent in your city? Perhaps the rumors are for your benefit only.”

  “Perhaps.” Reaper noticed that King did not deny it was his city. “Do you have any enemies I should know about?”

  “I’m sure I have a lot of enemies.” Something Prima was not concerned about.

  Reaper simply shrugged because he wasn’t going to repeat himself that he hadn’t been awake long. He did not like being questioned in general and he did not know this wolf. His tolerance would only go so far.

  King looked exasperated as he glanced between the two of them. “If you’re not looking to carve out territory, we have no problem.” Adjusting his jacket, he stood from his chair. “But things are changing, and soon enough this territory won’t be neutral anymore. So you can tell your Alpha that.” He looked to Greer then, his expression sharp.

  Moving quickly, Reaper was off his seat and standing in front of her. It might be forbidden for shifters to hurt healers but assholes did not always follow the rules. And Reaper would bring this house down around King’s head if he looked at Greer like that again.

  To his surprise, King simply grinned at the two of them. “That’s what I thought.”

  Reaper didn’t care if the male knew how he felt about Greer. It wasn’t a secret and he wasn’t going to hide it.

  “Clearly you two have enemies,” King said. “If you have trouble with someone, let me know. Cynara will know how to contact me.” Then he turned away from them, not afraid to give them his back.

  Considering the substantial power Reaper felt rolling off the wolf, he could understand the arrogance. Hopefully he would be a good Alpha for this region. Reaper did not believe in having neutral territories anyway. All territories needed to have a leader or they eventually devolved into chaos.

  Within seconds, the Alpha’s wolves strode through the kitchen, following after him.

  Greer let out a long breath as the door shut behind them.

  “Well that could have gone differently,” Cynara said, striding back into the room with the others.

  “I could have ripped his head off for speaking to you like that,” Reaper said to Greer. He was still tempted to go after the wolf, even if the male had simply been baiting Reaper.

  Greer patted him once on the chest. “Simmer down.”

  He liked the feel of her touching him so he did not respond. Just stayed still, hoping she would keep her hand on him. And maybe move it a bit lower.

  As if she sensed his thoughts, she turned to look at him, her eyes narrowing.

  He simply grinned until she dropped her hand.

  * * *

  Greer’s heart was still racing even though King and his wolves were gone. She had no doubt that her clanmates and friends here could have taken on the wolves. But everyone would have been injured and some potentially killed. And that kind of bloodshed in the middle of the city? No one wanted that. It was such a balance for supernaturals, maintaining the peace. Especially when they had to keep their existence hidden from humans. “Fiona, Ian? I would like to talk to both of you alone.”

  Reaper frowned at her but she ignored him. Something she had to force herself to do, because ignoring such a sexy, enigmatic male was damn near impossible. The way he’d jumped in front of her when King had been acting like an ass was sweet.

  Once she was outside on the back patio with the mated couple, she sat at the large, rectangular table with them. “You guys are part of our clan even though you don’t live with us,” she said, stating the obvious because she wanted to set the tone for this conversation. “With your news today, I realized I haven’t checked in with you nearly enough, especially considering the way you’ve been acting tonight.” She arched a brow at Ian. “It seems I need to.”

  Fiona let out a sigh of relief, reaching out to squeeze Ian’s hand. “He’s been stressed out because of the pregnancy.”

  Ian simply gave her a strained nod. His espresso-colored hair had grown a little bit longer since the last time she’d seen him and he had scruff on his face. His amber eyes glowed with far too many emotions right now.

  “Talk to me. Tell me what’s going on.”

  “I’m fine.” But when his eyes shifted to his demon side, then dragon, then human, flickering out of control, she knew he was lying.

  Greer reached across the table and took one of his hands in hers. She could feel the tension rolling off him. “You’re not fine, so let’s not pretend otherwise. I’m not going to force you to talk to me right now, but the door is open. And if you’re willing, I can inject some of my healing gift to calm you. Sort of like human drugs but no weird aftereffects. I won’t do anything you don’t want, but I don’t like what I’m seeing from you, Ian. You’ve got to be a rock for Fiona right now.”

  He was silent for a long moment as she withdrew her hands. Finally he spoke. “I lost Fiona for so long and I’m terrified that something is going to happen to her and the babies.” His Irish accent, normally faint, was thick now as
emotions choked him. “I’m afraid that they’ll be taken from me somehow. I’ve…been having nightmares.”

  “Oh, honey.” Fiona leaned into him and wrapped her arms around him in a big hug. “We’re not going anywhere.”

  Sighing, he returned her hug as he laid his chin on top of her head, inhaling deeply. “Knowing that doesn’t make the nightmares any better.”

  Greer stood and smiled at both of them. “You two need to talk more.” Clearly. “Don’t keep things bottled up inside, Ian. Talk to your mate. You’re a team and you support each other. And don’t forget that I’m here. Even though you live hundreds of miles away, I am still your healer. Please come to me for anything. I can’t force you, but I’d like to do a phone conference once a week to check in right now.”

  Ian paused, then nodded. “I’m okay with that. And…I’m sorry I was a dick to your friend.”

  Greer brushed it off. “He’s a big boy. It’s fine.” She still wanted to tell Ian about her suspicions but now wasn’t the time. Ian and Fiona needed some privacy. “If you feel like it, come share a drink with us before you guys leave.”

  “Thank you,” Ian murmured.

  Once inside the living room, Greer found Reaper waiting. For her, she guessed. She’d assumed he’d be in the kitchen with the others talking about King’s visit and trying to narrow down who was talking trash about him and Prima.

  Nope, he was waiting in front of the massive fireplace instead, his arm stretched out on the mantel, looking all sexy and good enough to eat. He surprised her by staying where he was, just watching her.

  Dang it. “I assumed you’d be trying to figure out who was making false claims about you.” She needed to keep the conversation on anything other than the way he was staring at her with unbridled hunger.

  He blinked once, his dragon eyes disappearing to be replaced by bright green-amber eyes she wanted to drown in. “Prima has decided to go find out who the liars are. By her own admission she plans to ‘bash some heads in and make people scream in agony as I set them on fire.’”

  Greer wanted to be surprised, she really did. But that sounded about right. “And you didn’t want to partake in the fun?”

  “The only fun I want to have is between your legs.”

  “Reaper!” Once again, he seemed to just say what was in his head. And it was all about her.

  He shoved away from the mantel, covering the distance between them in seconds. “You would have let me take you up against the door earlier. Or at least demanded I carry you upstairs. Deny it.”

  She shook her head, because she couldn’t. Because she’d wanted just that. To find privacy with him and completely lose herself with Reaper.

  When he took another step toward her, she held up a hand, needing distance. “Look, I…like you. A lot.” Far more than she should. “But we have things we need to deal with right now. Your former friend is dead and someone is going around spreading rumors about you. Tonight could have ended very differently if King had been less levelheaded.”

  “Yes, he could be dead right now.” He was all arrogant confidence.

  “I don’t think we need to…explore anything between us right now.”

  “Explore?”

  “You understand exactly what I’m saying. We need to…not…” Ugh. She couldn’t even think, let alone make complete sentences around him right now. She sounded like an idiot. “We’re not having sex,” she finally rushed out.

  He lifted an eyebrow. “Right now.”

  She wanted to say ever, but couldn’t find the word. Because she wasn’t sure she believed it herself. Getting involved with this dragon would only bring her heartache, however.

  “How are your friends? The ones outside?” he finally asked, breaking the tension.

  She blinked, surprised by his question. But she liked that he’d asked because she could tell the question was sincere. “Oh…they’re fine. But thank you for asking. What you said back there in the kitchen, about Ian’s scent being familiar. How so?”

  He shrugged. “I cannot explain it, he just has a familiar scent. It is pleasing to my dragon.”

  Hmm. “Okay. Let me say goodbye to Cynara and Justus. I’m sure they’re ready to get out of here.” Greer could hear them talking in the kitchen in undertones. “Did your friend Damari leave already?”

  “He left before Prima.” Reaper watched her closely, not backing up or giving her any personal space.

  God, it was impossible to breathe around him. She simply nodded and left the room.

  “So are you going to jump that fine dragon?” Cynara asked as Greer walked her to the main gate at the end of the driveway.

  “Are you going to mate with Justus?”

  “Ouch, okay.” Cynara grinned and gave her a hug. “I guess I deserved that.”

  Greer glanced back up the driveway to see Reaper and Justus talking by the front door, their words too low to overhear even with her supernatural hearing. She kept her own voice low as she turned back to Cynara. “He loves you and he wants to spend forever with you. This is the only advice I’ll give. Don’t wait too long or someone else will snap him up.” Greer wasn’t sure that was true because Justus had eyes for no one but Cynara. But she didn’t want her friend to lose out on mating because of her fears. Of course, Greer should probably listen to her own advice, but things were far different where Reaper and her were concerned. There had been no hint of the mating manifestation, so what she was feeling was raw lust, nothing more. It wouldn’t be smart to pursue anything with him.

  Cynara simply made a humming sound and shrugged.

  Okay, she didn’t want to talk about it. Greer respected that. She just wanted her friend to be happy.

  By the time she said goodbye to Justus, Cynara, then Ian and Fiona, who followed after them, and returned to the house, Reaper wasn’t waiting for her.

  She fought the disappointment coursing through her and sent her own Alpha a message about what had happened with King and the others.

  Because Conall was right—no matter how small something seemed, he needed to be kept in the loop. Something was going on right now and she hated that they couldn’t figure out what it was.

  No matter that Reaper was so nonchalant about everything, she didn’t like that ancients were dying across the globe and that someone was now trying to start trouble for him and Prima. She wasn’t sure the two things were connected, but either way she didn’t like them.

  She didn’t want anything bad to happen to Reaper. The male was definitely growing on her.

  Okay, more than growing on her. He was under her skin and all she could think about. Even as she stripped off her clothes and got in the shower, the hot jets of water pulsing everywhere, all she could think about was what it would feel like to have his hands on her, his cock inside her as his mouth devoured her own.

  Oh, she was in trouble. So. Much. Trouble.

  Once she’d dried off and slipped under the covers of the huge bed, there was a knock on her door. Even without calling out, she knew who it was. “Yes?”

  “Go on a date with me tomorrow?” Reaper asked.

  “Date?”

  “I am told that is what it is called. I would like to take you out and get to know you better away from interruptions and other supernaturals.” His voice was seductive, luring her in.

  But…ancients had been murdered and someone was spreading rumors about him and Prima. She should say no, but…there was always going to be something going wrong, and her dragon had released her claws and was threatening a revolt if she said no. “Okay.” The response was out before she could stop herself. And really, she didn’t want to. At this point, she had to stop trying to fool herself because her dragon was having none of it. They’d go on a date and if something happened, well, it happened. She was a grown woman.

  And he was trouble.

  Chapter 14

  Standing, Brennus looked at the six men seated around the long, rectangular table. Behind him, four screens were on as they waited for hi
s fellow clanmates to join them for this conference call.

  Humans and their technology did have a purpose after all.

  A moment later, the first image blinked on-screen, then the next, then all of the individuals on the screen looked back at him and his people.

  His father was on the top left screen, his expression formidable. “Let’s get right to this. Ancients are waking up faster than we predicted and we can’t kill them all. So we need to make our move now. We need to establish dominance in our chosen territories.”

  “How soon?” he asked, nodding once in respect at his father. This was the moment he’d been waiting for. Hell would soon rain down on humans. It was time to take their rightful place.

  “Two days. Max. Perhaps sooner. Too many clans have spotted our sentries scouting their land, and if they communicate regularly, this won’t end well for us. We must strike now that we are all aligned and ready.

  “Is everything in place?”

  His father paused. “More or less. Our numbers are many and we are dragons. The humans and other shifters will bow to us. Once we create chaos and disable all nuclear sites, the world is ours for the taking.”

  As it should be. “What about Abana?” he asked, referring to an ancient who had recently risen in Africa. The female had been friends with the twins—the only known dragon twins hatched into existence. Abana was still a wild card as far as Brennus was concerned. Reaper, the twins, and certain dragons around the globe they already knew would never work alongside them so his clan had dismissed them as possible allies. But Abana? They were undecided on her.

  “She will be a strong ally or a dead foe. She gets to decide.”

  That didn’t exactly answer Brennus’s question, which pissed him off, but he held his temper. His father was Alpha after all.

  His father continued. “Also, Mira will be taken care of soon.”

  He knew that Mira was in South America…for some reason. She was there with a male they did not trust. August McGuire. The male had too many ties to the US human government. He had far too many allies, with humans and supernaturals alike—all over the globe. He was part bear and part something else. Brennus didn’t trust hybrids to begin with, but he really didn’t trust August—it was impossible to truly trust the male without knowing his other nature. “Good. I take it the plan is the same as always?”