Draining the glass, she poured herself another before turning to back toward Jared. “That thing in the parking lot—it wasn’t human was it?”
Jared stood in the living room doorway. “Afraid not. I know this must seem like a dream. Nightmare would be more appropriate. However, there are things that exist, you would otherwise never believe, if you hadn’t witnessed them firsthand.”
“What was that creature, or can’t you tell me?”
“It was a lesser demon.”
Tanya blinked. “A demon? As in red goat, slit eyes and large black wings?”
“Again, exaggerations tacked on to factual accountings, but yes, that’s the gist of it.”
“What do you mean by lesser, because if that was lesser I’d hate to see what greater would be like.”
“Demons are clever shape-shifting entities. For the most part, they look like regular people. That’s the truly dangerous part, because they are the farthest thing from human.”
“That thing was eating Jesse’s body. I don’t understand. Is it a living entity or does it feed on the living to stay animated? You know, like a zombie.” Tanya blinked at the words. She exhaled, pushing her hand through her hair. “I can’t believe this conversation is real, let alone its topic.”
She drained the rest of her whiskey and put the glass down with a bang. “You know what? I changed my mind. I don’t want to know. I just want you to leave, and for me to go upstairs, take a shower and forget any of this ever happened.”
Jared crossed his arms over his chest. “It’s a little late for that, Tanya, don’t you think?” He inhaled. “Especially since it’s clear that man, Jesse, was more than just a casual acquaintance.”
“What makes you say that?”
“His scent is strong in the house. More so than just a recent visitor.” He sighed, his expression softening. “Look, I know how unreal this all feels. And I know your emotions are moving between insane laughter and just plain insanity. However, this is real. I’m real, and so is the veiled domain you stumbled upon tonight.
“To answer your question, which was a good one by the way, demons are most definitely living entities, but they aren’t corporeal beings like you or me. They are supernatural or supe, as we refer to all paranormal beings, but they are pure energy. That’s how they change their form at whim. It’s what makes them so terrifying.
“They feed on living things for their life force. It’s what sustains them. The stronger the life force, the stronger the demon. All living things produce adrenaline. You’ve felt its effects yourself, how it increases the speed and force of the heart, making it race. When blood gets saturated with the hormone, the life force is brought to the surface as adrenaline courses through the body.
“Except for sex, fear brings the body to that point faster than any other human emotion. That’s when demons prefer to strike. They have an unbridled capacity for wreaking havoc and mayhem, and a particular taste for human females.
“The saddest part? Human females are so easily taken in by the demon’s deception, they go willingly. Like lambs to the slaughter. Tragically, that’s how we get what you saw in the parking lot tonight. Lesser demons, or lessers as we refer to them, are the unfortunate result of such couplings.”
Tanya sat on the couch and stared at nothing. Marlene was exactly the kind of female Jared described. Easily swayed by looks and the promise of adventure.
“What about the women that give birth to these…these…creatures?” she asked, still unsure.
Jared looked at her with the same sad expression he wore earlier. When he didn’t say anything, it wasn’t hard to guess the answer.
“They die, right?”
He nodded. “It’s rare that a demon will let a woman live after it’s finished with her. The level of life force raised by sexual climax is too much of a delicacy for them to resist, but in the unlikely event a demon does let a woman live, it’s certain she wouldn’t survive the birth of whatever offspring she carried.”
“What if she did survive? I mean what would happen afterward? Seeing that lesser, I can’t imagine the creature even in infant form. Not something you’d willingly put to breast.”
Jared looked at her.
“What?”
He opened his mouth to answer, but she put her hand up. “No. Don’t tell me. The mental images I’ve had already are enough to last a lifetime.” She swallowed hard, remembering the creature bent over Jesse in the parking lot.
Jared moved from the living room door to sit next to her on the couch. “That’s what my brothers and I were doing tonight. We got wind of the lesser’s location and hunted it before it could do any real damage. I’m sorry we didn’t get there in time to save your friends. If it’s any consolation, we lost one of our own to the creature earlier in the week.”
Tanya sat back. She searched his eyes, trying to put it all together. “You said demons were shape shifters. Aren’t you a shape shifter?”
“Yes and no. Yes, my family and my clan are shape shifters. We are dual-natured. We carry the characteristics of our animal, but we’re also human. Demons, on the other hand, are shape shifters simply because they can take the form of whatever creature they want, but they are in no way human, and that’s what makes them so dangerous.
“They have absolutely no compunction about killing to get what they want. They are completely devoid of emotion or feeling. Demons are for the most part impervious to anything that attacks them. They have few natural enemies. Thankfully the Sentinels are one of them.”
“The Sentinels?”
He nodded. “That’s what I am. My people. We protect and preserve against supernatural beings disturbing the equilibrium between humans and supernaturals.”
“Equilibrium,” she repeated blankly.
“Tanya, everything on Earth is either predator or prey. Everything has natural enemies. It’s what keeps things in balance. So why wouldn’t it be the same in the supernatural world? It’s the yin and the yang—opposite but equal—good vs. evil.”
She didn’t know what to make of it. There was so much more to this than she could ever have dreamed, and it scared her. “What about the other stories? The other legends?”
“What do you mean?”
“You know, vampires, ghosts, witches and such?”
“Ghosts are exactly what you’ve heard. People that have passed who got lost on their way to the light, or who have unfinished business on this plane. But the rest? All true.”
“The witch thing I can believe. My mom’s family is Wiccan. But vampires?”
“Good vs. evil, Tanya. Like I said before, everything in balance. Vampires as a species are no more good or bad than the human race. There are vampires who try to live in peace with humanity and others, well, let’s just say some suffer from a real superiority complex.”
“You mean humans as hot lunch?”
“More like humans as cattle. Strictly a food source to be bred and consumed.”
Tanya shivered, her eyes darting to the windows and doors to make sure she’d remembered to lock them.
“You don’t have anything to worry about. Nothing, and no one, is going to bother you. Life for you will pretty much remain the same. It’s just you know more than the average person, and hopefully you’ll be more aware. People aren’t always what they seem.”
Tanya took a deep breath, feeling the heat drain from her cheeks, and her stomach tighten.
“I didn’t tell you this to freak you out. Tonight I stood between you and death more than once, and because of that, you have a right to know—not only about me, but about everything else that’s out there. It wasn’t my goal to make you afraid.”
Tanya picked up a throw pillow and nervously picked at the fringe while listening to Jared. When he finished, he walked to the window. He pulled the curtains back and looked into the brightening sky.
“It’s almost dawn. I should get back. Aidan’s going to be pissed I left him with just Evan and Kyle to finish up, but I needed
to get you settled and explain.”
Tanya tossed the pillow onto one of the side chairs. “What about Luke? Isn’t he your brother, too?”
“No, he’s actually my cousin, but he’s my brother in the Sentinel Brotherhood. He’s a shifter, too, but limited to certain phases of the moon, namely the full moon and Hecate’s moon.”
“Hecate’s moon? Then his shifting must have something to do with crossroads and certain choices the clan may have to make, right?”
Jared gave her a half smile, surprised she understood the connection. “You weren’t kidding about your family’s Wiccan roots. Well, I guess that can be considered a plus in dealing with all this craziness. At least you have some appreciation for things considered beyond the norm.
“All clan business is decided at the dark of the moon. Luke’s next in line to be the alpha of his pack. Alphas always make up the council of elders once they retire, until then they flank the current elders at clan council meetings. He’s supposed to attend all meetings as a prerequisite.”
The mention of clan business had Tanya’s eyes narrowing as a memory flickered on the periphery. “Claiming her only gives her immunity until you mate, otherwise… Luke, don’t… I’ve made my choice…”
“Jared, is there something else I should know? Something else I should be wary of?”
Chapter Five
He continued to look out the window as the sky brightened, but Tanya’s eyes never left his back, the heaviness of her question hanging between them. Jared turned and walked toward the couch to sit.
“Yes, there’s more, but it’s not something you need to fear.”
She eyed him warily. “I’ll decide what I should be afraid of or not.” Her voice was sharp with anxiety, but she already knew. Her gut instinct had been right. He had saved her from his clan. “Your brothers were going to kill me in the woods when I was watching, weren’t they?”
“Possibly,” he said without preface. “There was no way I would’ve let them. You’re an innocent and shouldn’t be made to pay for something that was an accident.”
“It wasn’t accidental, Jared. I followed you into the woods of my own volition.” Tanya chewed her lip, a hundred questions forming in her mind. “So what happens now? Are they coming after me?”
He shook his head, adamant. “No, of course not. They aren’t going to hunt you or anything. You make it sound like the Sentinels put a price on your head. We’re not the mafia, Tanya, and wolves don’t bounty hunt.”
“What then? You still haven’t answered my questions.”
“The moon’s cycle is waning. That means there’ll be a new moon in about ten days. Your case will be put before our council then.”
“My case?”
“Yes,” he answered quietly.
Tanya stood up and stalked halfway across the room. At least they were speaking a language she understood. If the Sentinels had an elder council, that meant there were laws to debate. If nothing else, she could wrap her head around that.
“I’ll get some kind of council-appointed attorney, or someone schooled in your laws to help plead my case, right?”
She dragged a hand through her long hair, pacing. This was definitely one for the law books. “I hope your laws take crazy into consideration. I must be fucking out of my mind!”
Gesticulating, she stopped mid rant and whirled around. “Jared, what did Aidan mean when he said I had immunity?” Her mind sifted every past defensive argument she’d read.
With two strides he was within an arm’s distance of her. When he finally spoke, he began slowly. “Tanya, the only reason Aidan didn’t attack was because I put a claim on you.”
“A claim on me.” She hesitated. “Like some sort of captive?”
“No,” he quickly continued. “A claim as my intended mate.”
Her hand went to her forehead in disbelief. “Why not strip me naked and put me on an auction block.”
“Tanya, don’t. It’s not like that. Claiming a mate is major for my kind. Try to understand. I only did to save you. In that moment, it was the only way to stop them.”
“Stop them?”
“Think about it. If you suddenly burst in on a pride of lions in the middle of a kill, how do you think they would react? With us, it’s the same premise. The one difference is we retain a link to our humanity when we are in animal form, but, as with all things wild, our animal nature sometimes gets the better of us. Especially when we are in protective mode.”
Tanya’s mind spun. “So you’ve marked me with some medieval, testosterone driven stamp, and because of that, the other Sentinels won’t kill me.” She exhaled, sinking onto the edge of the couch. “I guess I should be grateful you managed hold your presence of mind.”
“That isn’t it at all. Claiming you gives you immunity from clan laws until we go before the council. There we plead your case. Until then, according to our laws, you are under my protection. No one can touch you.”
“What happens if the council doesn’t agree I’m an innocent bystander? After all, you ranted back in the woods how you told me to stay put, and I didn’t.” She looked at him with renewed fear clawing at her chest. “It’s hopeless, isn’t it?”
Jared didn’t know what to say. Surely the council wouldn’t censure her. It had been centuries since the clan last condemned a tenderfoot to capital punishment. Still, with the recent resurgence in demon activity, who knew what fanaticism might rear its ugly head. Truth, he didn’t know how the council would decide, but there was no way he would let Tanya know that.
“Nothing is ever hopeless, and you proved that tonight. In the worst of circumstances you stood up to Aidan. Covered in dirt and leaves, with your hands on your hips and spitting mad, you held your ground against the Alpha of the Sentinel Brotherhood. Maybe the council should be worrying about you, and not the other way around.”
Slumping against the couch, Tanya covered her face with her hands. She hated feeling vulnerable. Jesse did his best to make her question herself every chance he got, but this was entirely different. She’d never felt so out of her element. She may have stood up to Jared’s brother, but that was self-preservation.
“Things could be worse, Tanya. I could be a vampire.”
“You’re not funny,” she shot back from beneath her palms.
Jared slid his arm around her shoulders, giving her a reassuring squeeze. When she finally uncovered her face and looked up, he spoke softly, but with conviction. “I promise I’ll do everything I can to protect you.”
“How? You’re only one person.”
“I know, but I’m not the only member of my clan who thinks the death vote should be abolished. It’s ancient. As ancient as we. The rule harkens from a time when our survival depended on keeping our duality a secret. Secrecy is still paramount, but there are other ways.
“Besides, many of our kind have human mates. It goes against the grain to have that kind of law on the books. I’m certain there would be many who would stand with us if they ruled against you.”
Tanya nerves were still on overdrive. She had reached her breaking point and huddled into herself. Jared slipped his fingers beneath her chin, but she wouldn’t turn to look at him.
“Tanya—”
She shook her head.
“It’s going to be okay, trust me.”
Trust him? She didn’t know him, no matter how comfortable she felt while with him. He was part and parcel of this nightmare come to life. A sob welled inside her, but when it released it was more of a whimper. She needed someone, anyone, at this point. So she buried her head in Jared’s chest.
He swiveled to hug her better, whispering reassurances into her hair. Tanya lifted her tearstained face, as a half sob hitched in her throat. Jared leaned in to kiss her forehead, but her hand snaked around his neck, pulling his mouth to hers, instead.
She kissed him, hungry and insistent, pouring everything into a kind of desperation. Clutching at him, she climbed to straddled his lap, twisting the front of hi
s shirt in her fists until she tore his shirt down the middle..
The lights flickered in the room. A loud buzzing crackled, and static filled the air. Bulbs exploded from lamps all over the living room, and Jared pushed Tanya out of the way, covering her against flying glass.
Shocked, she scrambled from the couch. “You… you need to go.”
‘Tanya?” Jared stared at her standing in the middle of the broken glass. “How did you do that?”
She blinked at him, slack jawed. “I didn’t do anything.”
“Well, it wasn’t me.” Jared got to his feet as well, and Tanya took two steps back from him. “That was no ordinary electrical surge. That was supernaturally sourced. If it didn’t come from you, and it didn’t come from me, then it came from someone or something else.”
“She shook her head, refusing to consider the point. “You have to go, and I mean now.”
“Tanya, please listen to me. I’m not being unreasonable when I say I think it best if I stay. Clearly, you’re in danger. You need to understand what’s at stake.”
Tanya opened her mouth, but words wouldn’t form. This was crazy. A mistake. There was no way in hell she was waiting around to end up like Jesse and Marlene. If he wasn’t going to leave, then she would.
Her thoughts whirled as she paced. She didn’t feel threatened, but that was no guarantee. Her track record wasn’t exactly stellar when it came to men, and though she had practically given this guy a tongue bath, he was still a stranger.
Yet, he stood between her and real danger once tonight and was willing to do so again. Why? Was he a Good Samaritan or did he have Knight in Shining Armor Syndrome? Her brain hurt from thinking rationally about a completely irrational situation. She needed balance.
Balance is key. Balance good, karate good. Everything good. Balance bad, better pack up, go home. Understand?
She stopped her back and forth, and an inner chuckle gave her a second to catch her breath. Way to go, Mr. Miyagi.
“You okay?”
“That’s a loaded question.”
He offered a half shrug. “I don’t blame you for ranting one minute and acting punchy the next. This is a lot to process. Why don’t you go take a shower? It’ll relax you. When you’re ready, we can finish talking. In the meantime, I’ll make us something to eat.”
The Wolf's Secret Witch: Howl's Romance (The Sentinel Brotherhood Book 1) Page 4