by Lela Grayce
The threat was followed by another growling sound which was freaking perfect timing. Zazu rubbed against my legs, his scaled cat tail coiled around my calf like he would pull me away if things got dangerous. Precious.
“Uh, I’m here to check on you,” he replied, still studying the wall.
“And you didn’t bring coffee or donuts? You’re a terrible shifter. I thought you guys were all ‘must feed any chick no matter what’?”
“You’re stereotyping.” He scowled, before reaching down and grabbing a white bag with the label of the donut shop from down the street and a cup that could only be coffee.
“You shifters are all the same,” I rolled my eyes but my smile was genuine.
“Oh and…” He turned the coffee slightly and I could see that there was writing on the side that read ‘I’m one fart away from a poo’.
“Oh my god! That is the best thing ever!” I literally squealed.
“Before you open the door and attack me for my goodies, I have someone here I want you to meet.”
For the record I’d totally attack him for coffee. I’d climb him like a tree and claw his eyes out. Maybe. Probably. Most definitely.
“Okay,” I said, drawing out the word with a raised eyebrow.
Brutus stepped back and someone stepped forward; they were hidden behind him. Leather like boots entered first and I followed them up. Tight, black pants clung to lean muscular legs, followed by an equally tight grey button/pullover shirt with a black zipper hoodie thrown over. Judging by the attire it all screamed ‘I’m a bad boy and I know it’. My knees weakened but they didn’t bend. I mean, I saw his kind everywhere and was totally immune. Do I smell smoke? I think my pants just lit on fire.
“Uh, hi,” I said uncertainly, trying to get my eyes to move to the face but they were glued to the neck line that transitioned smoothly into a strong jawline that was just begging for a lick.
“My eyes are up here.” His voice wasn’t very deep but it carried a note of command that sat all kinds of wrong on me.
“Yup, be there in a sec,” I shot back, pleased by his little huff.
When my eyes finally traveled up to his face, I found it was one I recognized. It was the poisoned guy from the other night who had stumbled in. I had saved his life by revealing my super-duper-top-secret Mutt power that no one except Syd and Lyndee knew about. My face drained of color and I gulped. Why was he here? To thank me? I doubted that.
His hair was dark and tousled in an effortless sort of way. Blue eyes flecked with copper and gold regarded me and I fought the urge to lick my lips. He was gorgeous and those types of people knew it and thrived on it.
“And you are?” I asked, trying my best to hide my wobbly knees.
“You don’t recognize me?” His tone was filled with disbelief.
“Did you come here just to be an ass? I saved your life. And this is the start of a terrible thank you.” My fingers itched for a doorknob because it would be so satisfying to slam a door in his face, the button just didn’t have the oomph I wanted.
“Wait!” Brutus stepped between me and the other guy, which was impressive to do in the tiny area. “Look, Nik, we’re here to thank you,” he paused to give his companion a look, “and to ask some questions.”
“At least someone has manners,” I mumbled, giving me time to ask myself if I really wanted to answer questions.
I was suddenly so bone weary. All I wanted to do was crawl back into bed and ignore the world. I should have expected there to be questions. I guess I didn’t think that much about it at the moment. I was impulsive, what can I say.
“I suppose, but I reserve the right not to answer if I don’t feel like it. This is my life and frankly none of either of your business.”
“We understand,” Brutus agreed quickly. Too quickly...
I pushed the button and the wall turned back into a boring wall. Sighing, I looked down at Zazu who was still wrapped around my legs. His reptilian eyes regarded me, then he huffed and the sound nearly convinced me that he was a teenage girl. He rolled his eyes toward the door and I had absolutely no doubt about his maturity level.
Zazu followed me as I pulled open the door and stepped aside for the boys to enter. Brutus came in first, his bulk barely fitting through the door jam. The second guy wasn’t as tall as Brutus, but I could feel his ego enter with him.
I accepted the coffee and donut bag, then turned leading the way toward the kitchen. After switching the coffee pot on for my guests, I settled myself on a bar stool and started in on my breakfast.
“So, what’s your questions?” I asked, my mouth full of doughy sweetness.
“I’d like to know exactly how you healed me,” the new guy ordered, placing his hands on the counter and leaning toward me.
“Your guess is as good as mine.”
“What?” he asked eyebrows raised in disbelief. I wanted to punch him.
“There's no learners manual for being a Mutt. It’s not like there's a wealth of knowledge out there that I can access and find out exactly what I am. Like most Mutts we don’t know Jack shit. We’re just trying to survive. Now, why don’t you start using your manners or better yet educate yourself before barging into someone's home and demanding answers no one knows.”
“He’s sorry,” Brutus supplied shooting the man a withering look.
“He looks remorseful, sure.” He didn’t. New guys’s nostrils were wrinkled with irritation and I got perverse satisfaction from it. “Let’s start over, what’s your name?”
His blue eyes blazed but then seemed to dial down to a simmer. I slurped my coffee loudly followed by obvious lip-smacking sounds.
“My name is Kreed.”
“Nice to meet you, Kreed. My name is Nik. I healed you because it was the nice thing to do. How I did it is something that I’m not sure about.”
“Being able to heal through blood is a skill only the clans of my race have but from what was described to me, you share that ability. However, exactly how you heal isn’t known to my people and there is no other race that does what we do.”
“Well, that’s interesting.” And it really was. Ever since my conversation with Ruvaen, I was hopeful that maybe this was the answer to my ability.
“How did you learn to heal like that?” Kreed asked, his voice not as harsh as before. He was generally curious.
“By accident,” I answered, making no effort to explain further.
“What sort of accident?” Kreed leaned forward on the counter.
“A bad one and a memory I don’t want to revisit,” I twisted on the stool hoping he’d drop it.
“Who else knows about your ability?”
“You two, the staff and my two best friends.” Should I be telling him this?
“Do you have any other abilities?”
I frowned at that. It was considered rude to ask another Mutt what their powers were. We needed an edge so keeping your abilities in the dark was the norm. You just had to be hyper vigilant about your location and the people around you.
“That’s pretty rude.” I slammed my coffee cup a bit too hard onto the table. “I didn’t grill you about you and your abilities.”
He opened his mouth, probably to demand that I answer, but Brutus stepped in again. “He doesn’t know Mutt etiquette. I tried to explain but he’s... stubborn.”
That’s one way to describe him. I’d use words like pompous, entitled, gorgeous, sexy… Wait a sec I wasn’t attracted to him, was I? I looked him over from the corner of my eye and concluded that yes, yes I was. Damnit.
“Just tell her the truth, Kreed. She’s trustworthy,” Brutus surprised me with that statement but it was true.
Kreed sighed then opened his mouth but before he could begin Zazu jumped onto the counter near me. He settled on his rump then trained both eyes on Kreed while a low warning growl reverberated from his chest. Zazu was a pain in the ass, but he always seemed to come through for me when I truly needed it.
Kreed locked eyes with the Chia and began a th
ree-minute staring contest. It wasn’t just shifters who did the whole dominance game. I rolled my eyes and let the animal and the adult measure whatever it was that mattered so much to them.
Zazu broke the stare off first and proceeded to lay down and eye my donut bag.
“Are you done measuring your dicks?” I asked Zazu, while taking another bite. “He’s bigger than you, what do you think that accomplished? If you try to pee on me again, I swear to every single god that I will throw you out.” I pointed a finger at his ugly-cute face. He yawned, then laid his head down and closed his eyes.
“He respects you,” Brutus said.
“He only respects me because I have the food. Let’s not kid ourselves here.”
“Look, Nik, I don’t remember much from that night.”
“When I was told about what had happened I was surprised and a bit angry. My people are watched closely. If you were half of my race you would need protecting. The way you heal is something that I have never heard of and with some careful research it shouldn’t exist. But I know of a clan that uses blood on their hands to heal. They have to physically touch the blood, unlike the rest where it must be ingested. It doesn’t explain what you did though.” He was clearly upset about the situation, not me in particular. He needed to work on his delivery.
“So, what you’re saying is that I’m similar to your kind but not entirely.”
He nodded. “When the blood was on your hands what did you do? Did you connect to it at all?”
I thought back trying to remember the feeling of what I had done. I hadn’t connected to the blood, just the heat I held inside. Could the heat be what I had connected to? “Hmm, no I didn’t connect to the blood, it helped, but it was something else.” I shrugged not having a clue but having more food for thought.
“In any case, this ability of yours is unexpected and incredibly valuable,” Kreed said. “I’m relieved to know that not many know you can do this, it’ll make this easier.”
“You aren’t planning to kill me right?” My voice squeaked a bit.
“What? Of course not, Nik, we’re here to help you.” Brutus’ sincere words and expressive eyes helped to ease the sudden tension.
Something occurred to me then that I hadn’t thought of before. “At the white place, Ruvaen said that there was a connection between us, almost like an infatuation but not to that extreme. Is there a connection between us?” I asked pointing back and forth between Kreed and myself.
“Yes…”
“.... sort of,” Kreed said.
I looked at Brutus alarmed by this revelation. Was Kreed infatuated with me? He had a funny way of showing it with his assholery act so far. He was easy on the eyes and in any other situation I would totally jump all over him but it wasn’t genuine it was a side effect of healing him. Mother Shifter.
“It’s complicated, Nik. This ‘side effect’ differs between male and female. Females feel drawn to whoever healed them while males feel protective, and in rare circumstances, possessive.”
“And which is he feeling,” I asked Brutus, pointing at Kreed.
“Just protective,” Kreed reassured.
Which probably explained his snappiness. “What does Ruvaen think of all this?” I asked, curious.
“My father is aware and is concerned for your safety,” Kreed said, his eyes flashing again. I’d be lying if I said that it didn’t make my heart speed up and my stomach swoop. “Only a handful of people know about your ability but that could change. The staff is trust-worthy, but anyone can be bought for the right price. We can’t take the chance.”
Wait. “Ruvaen is your Dad?” They looked nothing alike.
“He is and my king.” Kreed shrugged, trying and failing at making it sound nonchalant.
“You’re dad’s a king? That makes you a prince,” I announced almost
accusatory.
“Once that would have been true, but my people have nearly become extinct. No sense saying the title when it’s not true,” Kreed said.
I could still hear the fire of anger in his words. What happened? “Do you think I could have a small amount of your race in me?” Changing the subject seemed like a good idea after seeing his reaction.
“It’s possible but there’s no way to know for certain and if word ever got out, you’d be hunted,” Brutus said gently.
“Hunted by who?” I asked.
“By the ones who destroyed everything I had and more,” Kreed said. “I made a vow and I intend to see it through. Make no mistake about my intentions, I will kill you myself if you put anyone I care about in danger.”
Kreed’s threat was clear I was nothing to him but an inconvenience. If he didn’t feel protective or honor bound to be here now, he wouldn’t be.
So much for hoping there was a heart underneath his cold exterior. This was par for the course treatment, actually. Mutts weren’t worth the time or effort according to those of Pure blood. I wouldn’t make the mistake of trusting Kreed, since he didn’t have my best interest in mind. I hardened my resolve. I’d wait this out, learn what I could, then leave him stranded in the dust.
Never underestimate the power of a Mutt when she’s been cornered.
“How much danger are we talking?” I didn’t trust Kreed not for a second but strangely I felt I could trust Brutus and Ruvaen. Kreed had issues and I didn’t want it anywhere near me.
“Your healing skills would be invaluable in the wrong hands,” Brutus answered, looking between me and Kreed, probably smelling mutual distrust.
“Are you being deliberately obtuse with me or are you in some dumb way trying to protect me?”
“Are you always so callus about your safety?” Kreed asked with a feral gleam in his eyes.
I pushed the stool back in my haste. I hated when anyone leaned over me, maybe I was more dominant than I thought.
“Listen here, you pompous-idiotic-ass-knob, you don’t know me or what I’ve been through. So let me make one thing clear, I will kill you without hesitation and with a smile on my face if you threaten me or my people. You’ve threatened me once and I advise that you never do it again. We all hide stuff so you best hide whatever you're lugging around or ones liable to get… curious.” I sniffed, then sauntered out of the room. I needed a long shower and Lyndee, but she wasn’t here and was currently out of cell territory. Make that an extra-long shower.
A hand wrapped around my upper arm and I wretched it free on instinct while pivoting to face my attacker. Kreed stood there, jaw clenched, hand still outstretched toward me. Some emotion sparked in his eyes, but I couldn’t make it out.
“What?” I asked harshly. Zazu, winding his way through my legs again his little chest vibrating.
Kreed opened his mouth to say something, then closed it. His molten eyes roamed my face looking for anything recognizable. He cleared his throat, visibly shaking his head to clear it. “Where are you going?'' The gruffness of his voice was unexpected.
I wonder if he sounded like that when he first woke up in the morning. Was he a side sleeper or a starfish? “I’m going to my room if you must know. You don’t need to accompany me everywhere. I did just fine on my own.”
“You’re right,” he said awkwardly.
I tilted my head because he was confusing the ever-loving shit out of me. First, he threatens me, then he’s worried. This hot and cold attitude of his was getting old, fast.
“Kay, I’ll go do that then.” I turned around and started for my room again. What a weirdo.
“Don’t do anything stupid,” he warned.
And there was his shining personality. I flipped him the bird over my shoulder, not bothering to turn around to see his reaction. “Make yourself at home, shithead.”
The shower had been two degrees below burning-in-hell and it was glorious. The time I spent in the bathroom was equal to the amount of time spent taking three showers. Was I hiding from the other people in my penthouse? No, if they really wanted to get in here they would’ve already. Was I stalling
so I could get my head on straight and ignore the obvious attraction I felt for Kreed? Hell to the yes I was.
Ugh, what a nightmare this was turning out to be. The bright side, when this was all over, I’d have no more cancer. Still had no idea what Ruvaen had seen in me that would warrant him wanting to heal me, but I’d be eternally grateful to him.
I suddenly wanted to see Ruvaen and sit with him while he talked about anything. It was safe with him. He didn’t judge me for being a Mutt. He saw me and thought that there was something worth saving. I had no idea what that was but I’d spend the rest of my life trying to understand and live up to his expectations.
I’m sure if I asked Brutus he’d take me back there but I had wasted away the day taking a long, hot shower and doing my regular beauty routine. Now it was getting late and I needed to get ready for my meeting at Crimson Damnation. If I didn’t feel like clubbing earlier, I really didn’t feel like it now, but I had committed to D.C. so I scoured my closet and found the sluttiest dress I could find. It was black, tight, and shimmered with sparkles when I moved. The overhead lights at the club would make the dress look fantastic. There were cut outs in the material above and below my breasts and two on each hip that angled down so you could see just a peek of my ass. It was barely modest and paired with blood red high heels, dark shadowy eyes, and red lipstick I was dressed to kill. Strangely, I liked it. Nothing like putting on armor that only a chick could pull off.
Maybe tonight wouldn’t be all that bad. I’d do what D.C. wanted me to do, then I’d get a drink and dance until my feet hurt or until I was cut off. It sounded like the perfect pick me up after everything in the past few days.
I grabbed a black clutch and put in all the essentials: lipstick, perfume, extra toilet paper because clubs always seemed to run out. I put in my phone and small foldable flat shoes that were a genius invention. Checking one last time in the mirror, I bared my teeth making sure there was no lipstick on them, spritzed myself with a fragrant mist that wasn’t too heavy, rolled on deodorant, then I was ready.
Crimson Damnation was on the opposite side of town and since it was the weekend traffic shouldn’t be too heavy. I’d be there in plenty of time. Public transportation was an option since it was dark but all the crazies came out the closer it got to the witching hour. I’d have to drive my own vehicle.