Bouquet of Regret (Angel's Shifters Book 1)

by Lenai McGoveran

  “Unfortunately, we must explain this to the vampires of the house so they are warned to steer clear of you,” Ryker murmured after sharing an odd look with Liam. They were up to something. I didn’t know what it was, but I did not like it. “All of us must go, I am afraid, but Matty knows his way around the place. He will show you to the game room, I’m sure, or perhaps you desire to rest? For now, you may sleep in his room if that’s what you desire to do. Otherwise, your place is with me. I do not trust those who dwell within my home to keep their fangs to themselves when I rest if you’re not within the area where I wake upon sensing another’s entrance.”

  Makes sense, I suppose, if my blood was as sweet as he claimed, plus I still believed I was some sort of pet. But Tammy felt pleased, which scared me. What was she planning? And why did Ryker seem content to let her have her way? I harbored no doubts he knew what she was up to.

  A Dreadful Mistake

  Sighing once the vampires left, I rubbed the back of my neck then met Matty’s gaze with a slight grin. Already seeming to guess what I was thinking, my little brother nodded with an enormous smile which a yawn followed. Now that Arctic left, I felt cold and tired again. I yawned myself, my jaw popping, and shook my head afterward to wake myself up a little. Chuckling, Matty proclaimed, “looks like I get to take care of you for once, Angel.”

  “Well, I’m in the best hands then, are I not?” I replied with a quirked brow. My lips curled into a fond smile when Matty’s cheeks reddened while he looked pleased. “Lead the way, my hero,” I added with a chuckle, and he smiled so brightly that my soul basked in its warmth.

  In the excited way only a child can, Matty turned to face a door I had not yet noticed and took several steps towards it. Yawning again, because I was sore and exhausted, I stumbled after him. “No.” I paused mid-step, my tired eyes taking in Matty’s stricken expression before I looked over my shoulder at Tammy, who stood behind us with her hands on her hips. “This is our only hope to gain freedom,” she declared in a haughty voice, and I furrowed my brow while looking at Matty, who frowned. “You are leaving. Now. While the leeches are distracted and together. I will stay behind and buy you time to escape, then you can come back for me once you have help.”

  Okay, there are several problems with that. One, Tyger listens to my thoughts, so I’m sure he will know I’m running. Unless, he has to be close, but still. Two, they are freaking vampires and shifters, so there’s no way we can outrun them if they give chase. Three, they can smell us, or at least the blood in our veins, so we can’t hide either. Four, I get the sense Arctic will know if I leave whatever area we are in. I sensed the distance between us, and it wasn’t enough to give us a snowball’s chance in hell. Five, Ryker started a bond between us, so I fear he’ll know if I leave his territory, like Marcus. Six, I have no clue where we are. Seven, sending me is a surefire way to ensure they will come after us. Liam waited for me and dangled Matty before my nose to get me to come here. So, saying I should go is stupid. Eight, I don’t want to go. I have no reason to. Sure, being trapped here is daunting, and I don’t like it, but Ryker never said we were. He hasn’t said we can leave, but he also did not say we couldn’t either. Nine, I don’t know what the mark on my hand does. I sure as hell don’t want to find out while I am tired and cold.

  Instead of saying any of that, I murmured, “I’m the one they want, Tammy. So even if I desire to leave, that’s a foolish idea. And guaranteed to fail. Me? They’ll come after me. If you want to go, by all means, leave. I won’t help you, nor will I stand in your way. I doubt they’ll let Matty leave either. Because I will not rest easy, not knowing if he got away or if something nastier caught him. Besides, Liam is fond of Matty and has taken him under his wing. Speaking of, Ryker hasn’t tried to hurt either of us, so why should we risk that over something doomed to fail? And I don’t want to leave. I feel like I belong here. Albeit, I’m missing a few pieces of myself too. But I know who they are and I doubt werewolves and vampires oft play nice together. So, no, we will not be leaving, Tammy, but you may.”

  Sneering, her eyes narrowed, and I sighed. “Angel, if you do not take your brother and go, I will leave.” Well, yes, that’s the point. Go, Tammy, before they decide you’re more trouble than you’re worth. Go live your life and forget about us. We shall be fine. I doubt my monster can touch either of us here. “And, when I make it back to civilization, I will make it known that you fail as a surrogate parent. You’re placing your brother in harm’s way and risking his life. They drink human blood, Angel! How long do you think it will be until one of those monsters decides Matty would make a decent snack? By the time you know about it, it’ll be too late. He’ll be gone. Or worse. What if they make him into one of them!?” Reeling from her words, I stumbled a step back and shook my head while trying to come to terms with what I saw as her betrayal. She’d try to take Matty from me? Because if she declared I was unsuited to be Matty’s guardian, they’d send him to a foster home if they found us. I heard that speech enough times from hospitals and his school to know that. They allowed me to be his surrogate parent because I was his only blood relative, and I could provide for him. And because we stayed under the radar. As soon as someone high up hears of us, that’s over.

  “They’re not monsters,” I protested. “I know monsters, Tammy, and those we’ve met are not like that. Ryker has been nothing but gracious. Sure, they could kill us with ease, but so can any human. Guns, knives, hell they can use their bare hands. The only difference here is the vampires might kill us for a purpose rather than just to do it. I get that some of them treat humans abysmally, but do we not do the same to other creatures because we deem they are lesser? Vampires were once human, and some of them continue to bear one of our worst traits. Humans are a parasite upon this earth. All we do is take, but we never give. We destroy everything we touch and hunt a species to their extinction because we think it’s fun. Vampires are a parasite to humans if you want to get technical since a parasite requires another’s nutrients to survive. It’s about time that we as a species had something nastier breathing down our necks. Treat others as you wish to be treated, correct?”

  Scoffing, Tammy snarled, “do not side with those bastards, Angel. I bet they rape you as soon as you drop your guard. They’ll slaughter you and glory in your death! Where does that leave Matty? What if they turn him and make him kill you?” I doubt that’ll happen to us. Another human perhaps, but they were interested in me. I clung to that because it meant Matty would be safe so long as I kept him close. Otherwise, I didn’t understand what was so special about me. But if it protected my little brother, then I’d accept it.

  “I do not see that happening, but if it does, then there isn’t much I can do about it,” I answered with a shrug. Fighting against vampires seemed like a stupid idea. Physically, at least. I’d give them my sass and defiance since it seemed to amuse Ryker, but I wouldn’t run away or pick a fight with them. Learning to pick your battles was how you survived on the streets. Those who couldn’t recognize when to accept what was did not breathe for long unless they learned quick. “If it’s our time to die, nothing can save us anyway, Tammy. Here, however, Matty and I can be together without fear of someone selling him to a monster. I understand we are in the lion’s den. Honestly, I do. But, if the lions will coexist, why would we do something stupid like run away and risk that? Before you mention the lion’s getting hungry, I would remind you I’ll provide them meals. Ryker decrees only him, and I won’t argue. It’s not my idea of a grand time, no, but I’ve suffered far worse. What’s the difference between me working for wages and providing blood? Either way, the rent comes from me.”

  “I don’t care what you want!” Tammy screeched, and I flinched, my arm going around Matty when he grabbed the back of my dress and leaned around me to peer at her. I felt his unease and worry and tried to send silent reassurance that I wouldn’t let anything happen to either of us. I glanced down, giving him a smile which he tried to copy, but his bottom lip wobbled
. “If you don’t take him away from here, I’ll take him from you,” Tammy snarled. For several moments my heart beat coldly in my chest, spreading ice through my veins until I shivered. How could she say something so cold? “This is no place for a boy. Leave now or so help me, I will do everything I can to take Matty to safety. He should be your priority, not yourself, nor the leeches. Stop behaving like a selfish child.”

  My breath left my lungs as a gasp while I tried to recover from her verbal slap. Was I acting like a selfish child? Was she right? Did I fall for a pretty lie because I wanted to feel special? I mentally shook myself to dispel the fog of doubt her words created. What I felt with Arctic was too poignant, too profound, to be anything other than real. Ryker didn’t ask for my blood tonight, because he said I was too tired, scared, and heartbroken. No, I wasn’t wrong that we could be safe here. I’ve never made a decision that was reckless for Matty. I wouldn’t risk him. I couldn’t. I tried to stop the pain gripping my heart due to the harsh words Tammy threw at me, but I couldn’t. Instead, I gasped and placed my hand over my heart while fighting the tears burning my eyes.

  “Leave, Angel, or I’ll kill you myself,” Tammy threatened in a cold, cruel voice, and I glanced at her in surprise.

  “Do you really think you’ll survive long enough for us to come back for you?” I asked quietly, pain muting my voice.

  “I don’t care. I’m not thinking about me. I’m trying to protect Matty, the boy I’ve raised like a son. I don’t care about you or me, I just want my boy safe,” Tammy scoffed. Her boy? He’s my brother! She only traveled with him when he came to visit me. Otherwise, he was at his boarding school. It was an all-year school, so he didn’t get summer vacation, which was part of why I picked it. That way, he wouldn’t have months to miss me or be without a safe home. And, while knowing Tammy would adopt him were anything to happen to me made me happy, that didn’t mean I wanted her to take him from me.

  “You are not my mother,” Matty growled while his hand on my dress clenched tighter, and he wrapped his other arm around my waist to hug me. “If you loved me, you never would have hurt Angel! She’s the reason I know what love looks like! She sacrifices everything for me so I am safe and happy. I miss her, but I understand what she’s doing and why. I don’t like it. I hate that because of me, Angel is constantly hurt and threatened. That she starves, so I can eat. Wears clothes with holes, so I have new clothes that way no one makes fun of me at school. She gets bullied, but because of everything she gives up, I have more friends than I know what to do with. Sure, some would leave me if they learned how poor I am, that I’m an orphan. But it makes Angel happy when I tell her about what I do with my friends, how we hang out, and do typical kid stuff, so I keep our secret. Angel is my guardian angel, and I won’t let you tear her down like this. She loves me. You love yourself.”

  My eyes closed at my little brother’s words, and the harshness hatred lent his voice. Had he always hated Tammy? Or was this a new, sudden development inspired by Ryker? Or did he encourage the flames of hatred that already burned deep within Matty’s heart? I suppose once this tense situation was through, I’d have to ask Matty. A long talk between us was overdue. “Matty! How can you say that?” Tammy cried, and I gave her a sidelong glance.

  “Because you are a stupid bitch who hurt my most important person,” he snarled in reply. “You heard Angel say they want her here and took it to mean she’s thinking of herself. I know the truth. Angel believes that since they want her here, that means she can keep me safe. Why risk upsetting Angel if they value her? She isn’t thinking of herself at all. What she took into consideration is she can offer herself in exchange for my safety if we stay. The only reason I’m willing to allow it without kicking up a fuss is from what I saw earlier, I know she can be happy here. And, before you argue, already Angel offers her blood as rent. She said so herself. But it isn’t to pay her way. It’s to pay mine. So, don’t you dare accuse my older sister of having only selfish desires!” I swallowed audibly because of the conviction in Matty’s voice and lowered my gaze to meet his eyes. “I know you,” he murmured in a gentler voice, “and I understand the way you think. I love you too.”

  Sighing, I smiled at my little brother before ruffling his hair. I should have known he would understand even if Tammy didn’t. Matty always came first. Always. I was all he had, and I for damn sure would not risk him because he was all I had as well. The room dropped several degrees, and I switched my gaze back to Tammy warily. Her icy fury wrapped around me, and I tensed my shoulders to prepare for whatever may come. I was not expecting her to reach into her pocket and pull out something that fit in her palm. Uh oh. Before she flipped it open, I centered Matty behind me, tapping his nose when he tried to peek again.

  “Fine, if that’s how you feel, then so be it. Angel, take your brother out of here, or I will kill you. I don’t know why the monsters want you, but I suspect it isn’t good. Therefore, I won’t regret killing you. I hope you use this chance to get the boy to safety, then allow them to capture you. Hopefully, they’ll do us all a favor and kill you on the spot rather than bring you back,” Tammy growled. Her words sliced through the part of my heart that was fond of her like razor-sharp icicles. Tapping Matty’s shoulder twice, I backed away from her once he stepped back. The blade of her knife was bigger than I expected, but if need be, I could get it from her. However, I would sustain a few injuries first. “If you do not leave, I will use this.”

  Matty continued towards the door until she barked, “not that one! You know very well that door leads to the rooms and not the front door, Mathew!” I felt and sensed my younger brother’s cringe. He loathed his full first name. Even as a baby, he cried when our father insisted on referring to him only as Mathew. I always called him Matty, because the shorter name suited him better since it sounded more playful. He was born a flirt since, even at only hours old, he flirted with the nurses in the hospital. A soft growl brought my attention back to the present, and I glanced at Matty, quirking my brow at his mutinous expression. Still, he tugged on my right hip to turn us towards the other door, the one Tammy entered the room through.

  She followed us, her knife held securely and ready to strike. I hoped she might drop her guard so I could relieve her of it, but she knew me well enough to know better. Ensuring Matty stayed safely behind me, I backed towards the door, following his lead. I sensed his fury that I kept myself between him and the danger, although I also perceived his fear and the rage that caused his body to tremble.

  A soft sigh of relief fell from my lips once we went through the door. However, my hopes that there might be someone, anyone, on the other side died a horrible death in the flames of Tammy’s fury. Seriously? How was there no one around? One would imagine a place as big as what I saw so far would have at least a maid to help keep it so spotless. I knew there were cooks in the kitchen, which only made the absence of anyone suspicious. However, Tammy didn’t care in her anger since she stalked us to the front door. Which someone left unlocked. How convenient. Someone planned this, which made me against the idea. What price would we pay for this? Because I doubt we’d escape.

  It was still dark when I turned around after closing the front door. I didn’t see any boxes to indicate an alarm, so there was that at least. However, I still did not like the absence of people. No. Someone was playing a game, and we were the unfortunate pawns. Hmph. Technically we could sit on the porch and wait for Ryker to find us, I suppose. Right as that idea occurred to me, Tammy opened the door to hiss, “if you don’t get going, I’ll release the dogs!” I scoffed, but upon seeing the fear in Matty’s eyes and how his cheeks paled, I nodded. He pulled my hand, trying to drag me along, and I smiled, patting his head before kneeling in front of him.

  “I won’t let anything hurt you,” I promised, “now stay close.” Nodding, Matty started running, and I sighed before chasing after him. So much for that. They definitely dressed him for this. He wore jeans, running shoes, and a hoodie while I was in a dress an
d boots. Still, I kept up with my baby brother. Straining my ears, I listened for signs of something following us over the harsh sounds of our breathing, the crinkling of leaves, and the sticks snapping under our feet. My hand tingled again, and I ignored it even though it worried me. It started when we left the house, but it happened more often the further we went. Was it a tracker? Or something more ominous? I glanced at it and forced my eyes back to Matty when it appeared to be growing darker. Fan-fucking-tastic.

  Poor kid was trying his hardest to keep running, but I could see he was tired. Since he wasn’t into sports, he never built his stamina. The tingling in my hand became a steady buzz, but I ignored it, I would run for as long as Matty could. He was such a trooper.

  The sky was lightening when Matty slowed to a stop, panting with his hands on his knees while I regulated my breathing beside him. The tingling buzz in my hand was barely not painful, but I focused on Matty rather than the not quite painful sensation. Once his breathing slowed, I smiled and ruffled his hair. I didn’t know where we were, but I suppose the only thing to do was keep moving. We knew what was behind us.

  I glanced at my hand again, frowning when the once nearly invisible lines looked as dark as the night sky. Furrowing my brow, I peered closer at it, noticing that there seemed to be a faint hint of red in the center. Ah, crap. Hopefully, that didn’t mean what I feared it might. If I was right, this would hurt. How much farther can I go?