Scoundrel (Emerald Isle Tigers Book 1)

by Cass Reynolds

  This dude was either not a wolf shifter, or was seriously deranged.

  She turned to thank him, and froze at what at been revealed. The loose pants were tucked into the tops of tall boots, knife handles sticking out of both. A wicked looking saber hung from his belt, and she noticed even more scars crisscrossing his chest.

  He caught her staring and leveled his gaze at her, no longer attempting to hide the predator lurking behind his eyes.

  I’m going to die tonight, Diana realized. She held her breath, trying not to let the realization show on her face.

  At the very least, I’ll end up enslaved alongside Chase.

  The things we do for siblings.

  Chapter Three

  Draven walked beside Diana, trying to suppress the pleasure he felt at seeing her wrapped up in his cloak. He wasn’t supposed to be getting attached to her. He was merely curious what her game was. Obviously, it had something to do with the Arena fighter, and obviously, she was targeting him for some reason. She really needed seduction tips.

  If Jez had seen her attempt at manipulation, she may have straight up died of laughter. But he supposed it was a little unfair to compare Diana to a succubus.

  She was silent, apparently all out of small talk and pouty faces. Now she just looked tired, stress pinching her features. A woman this young and beautiful should not look like she had the weight of the world on her shoulders. It probably had something to do with her man being enslaved.

  At that thought, some of Draven’s sympathy vanished. He couldn’t shake the anger he felt at the nerve of another man claiming his mate. No matter that he’d seen her for the first time all of two hours ago, that he hadn’t had technically claimed her yet, or that he didn’t even want a mate.

  It didn’t take long for them to reach his home. It was an opulent apartment, in what had once been one of the most expensive complexes in the city – right on the waterfront, bordering the iconic Harbor Steps. He would accept only the best, at least since the Blink.

  That was when Draven had gone from being a shady ne’er-do-well to a broker of very expensive secrets, while his brother catapulted to the top of the science world with his studies on shifters.

  Of course, no one knew that Theron was studying them in an attempt to regain his own humanity.

  Draven reached out a hand to snag the back of the cloak. Diana seemed to be in a daze, walking right pass the lobby doors. She stumbled backwards when he grabbed her, not very steady in high heels. Even though she filled out that sexy cocktail dress like she was born to it, he was getting the impression that she didn’t dress up all that often. She definitely stood out among the 1800’s throwback fashion of Emerald Isle.

  “I’m in here, love."

  Love? Where the hell did that come from? He was using pet names on her now?

  Christ, he needed to pull himself together. As soon as they got to his apartment he intended to find out exactly what she was doing here, and he didn’t need any errant affection to distract him.

  Too late, though, because she’d definitely noticed the endearment, and threw him a sidelong look with one raised eyebrow. But that was all. No more fake outrage escaped her luscious lips.

  He ushered her inside, one hand on the small of her back. The urge to slide that hand further south was strong, but he knew he wouldn’t be able to cop a feel through the thick fur of his cloak. Draven gave a quick nod to the doorman, and impatiently stabbed at the elevator button. Thank god for the Fae, keeping his building’s elevators powered.

  In no time at all, they were walking into his apartment. He swung the door shut behind them, the click of the lock going off like a gunshot in the deafening silence. Now the gloves would come off.

  “So. Diana. Why are you really in Emerald Isle?”

  She avoided his gaze, wandering around the apartment, dragging her fingers across the plush couch and marble counters. “What do you mean? I never told you what I was doing here.”

  “You implied you were visiting, and we both know that’s a load of bullshit.”

  “We do?”

  “Yes. Obviously you’re here for the Arena fighter.”

  She looked at him, eyes wide in feigned innocence.

  His mouth tightened. He was done playing games. “The tiger.”

  Finally she looked at him, the pain and shock evident in her eyes.

  “How did you know he’s a tiger?” she asked, her voice hushed. “He didn’t shift in tonight’s fight.”

  “Call it part of the curse. Shifters can usually spot their own kind.”

  Her eyebrows shot up, surprise written all over her face. “You’re a tiger as well?”

  “Uh, yes. You shack up with one and you can’t tell?”

  Diana laughed, the notes ringing like bells through the air. “Shack up with one? What are you talking about? And what happened to your nobleman act, anyway?”

  “I suppose it went the same route as your southern belle. Obviously, we were both playing characters. But don’t try to lie to me. I saw the way you watched that fight. You love him.”

  She shook her head, sighing. “Of course I love him. He’s my brother, you presumptuous ass.”

  Draven blinked at her, momentarily dumbfounded. He had never even considered that they were siblings. She was completely right, he was a presumptuous ass. But then, if they were siblings, why wasn’t she a tiger shifter as well?

  “Huh. I see. Well you should still be able to spot another tiger shifter, growing up with one and all. But how are you not also a tiger, if you’re his sister?”

  She frowned at him. “I mean, I could tell you were a shifter. Gold eyes are kind of a dead giveaway, but even before that I knew. Doesn’t mean I could tell what kind. I assumed not a wolf...”

  She shrugged her shoulders, indicating the cloak still hanging off them.

  “But what do you mean, why am I not a tiger? It’s not genetic.”

  “Of course it’s genetic. How else would it be passed on?”

  “You really don’t know? It’s random. You called it a curse. That’s fairly accurate. The head Tiger just picks people at random. It’s a fun little game to him. As far as I know, bears are the only genetic ones.”

  Draven wasn’t buying her story. He and his brother were both tigers – what were the chances that they were both picked at random?

  “I don’t buy it. My brother and I are both tigers.”

  “Then I guess you both won the tiger lotto. Lucky guys.”

  “Why do you say lucky? My brother hates it. He’s the one who calls it a curse. He’s one of the most respected scientists on shifter affairs. He’s spent the last eight years trying to figure out how to get it out of him.”

  Diana shrugged, turning away from him. Draven could barely hear her muttered reply. “At least he’s not human.”

  “He wants to be human! He hates having to hide what he is, lest he be treated as an inferior. And at least we’re relatively safe here. Anywhere else we’d be hunted down.”

  She spun on him, rage burning in her eyes. “You sure you’re safe? In a city where they enslave your own kind and force them to fight to the death?”

  Draven looked away, fully aware of that uncomfortable truth. “They wouldn’t dare lift a finger against me or Theron. We’re too powerful here. And as for your brother... well, that’s unfortunate. I honestly don’t like see any others of my kind treated like that. Hell, I helped the last tiger slave they had escape the damn place.”

  He raked his fingers through his hair and paced around the room.

  This was not going as expected. He thought he’d be able to hate this woman, for obviously trying to manipulate him and for loving another man. But now there was no other man, and she was here trying to save her brother’s life.

  How could he hate that?

  But damn it all, he didn’t want a mate, and definitely not one who raised uncomfortable truths about his beloved city. He would just have to drive her off.

  Instead of helping
her, he’d make her despise him. He wouldn’t have to worry about a mate if said mate wouldn’t give him the time of day.

  Draven took a fortifying breath and squared his shoulders. Slowly he turned to face her, trying not to notice the riot of curls framing her face, or the legs that didn’t quit peeking out from under his cloak.

  Time to make his mate hate him.

  Chapter Four

  Diana thought she might actually be making progress. Draven was at least acting like a regular person now, rather than a character from a book. And if he’d really already helped one tiger escape, that was excellent news!

  Her eyes followed him as he paced the room, her expression hopeful. Any minute now, he’d offer to help her brother. Everything would be fine.

  But as he turned back towards her, she knew that somehow nothing was fine at all. His face was a mask again, cruelty shining in his eyes.

  His mouth twisted.

  Something had gone wrong.

  She racked her brain, but couldn’t think of what she had done to offend him. Maybe pointing out that this city wasn’t as safe as all that?

  Diana watched him carefully, tensing up. She was getting that primal feeling – that she was prey, and far too close to a predator.

  Draven was moving in very close, his face only inches from hers, invading her space. Her breathing became ragged – whether from fear or arousal, she wasn’t sure. Her eyes were level with his mouth, and all she could think about was how beautiful his lips were, and how she might like to taste them.

  She licked her lips nervously, and Draven’s nostrils flared, his eyes morphing back to gold.

  She was tempting the beast in his lair. Nowhere to run. If he decided to take her, there was nothing she could do about it.

  She knew she should be scared, and part of her was. But another part, a larger part, yearned for him to claim her.

  He raised one hand towards her neck. Her eyes rolled back in her head as it fell backwards, instinctively offering her throat to him. What was happening to her? She had met attractive men before, but none had made her want to supplicate herself in front of them, begging to please them.

  It had to be some wicked tiger magic.

  She felt his fingers brush her skin and then cool air embraced her, an onslaught of shivers racking her body. He had undone the clasp on the cloak.

  It fell to the ground, leaving her exposed. The only thing between her body and his hands was a too-small dress. The fabric clung to her, and she felt like she might explode. Her breasts were swollen, nipples tight with need. She knew they were on proud display, and she didn’t even care. She wanted Draven to approve, to treat her like a piece of meat. She imagined him ripping the dress from her body, doing things to her, things she didn’t even know she wanted, but craved on the basest of levels.

  Suddenly, he spoke, jarring Diana out of her reverie.

  “So, you’re in the city to save your brother I assume?”

  She scrambled to find her thoughts. Here she thought they were about to fuck like animals, and he was back to what she was doing here. Way to send mixed messages.

  “Um, what? Yes. My brother. He was captured by slavers about a month ago, we got to the city about two weeks later, and have been trying to figure out how to free him ever since.”

  “We?”

  “Our little band of misfits. Me, my other brother, our niece, and two friends. They’re holed up in an abandoned building not far from here.”

  “So you came to the Coliseum tonight, saw me, and decided I looked like a good mark?” There was an edge to his voice – not quite anger, but it something. Diana felt the hair raising on the back of her neck, but not in a good way.

  “Mark? I’m not sure what you mean by that.”

  “Don’t play coy, Diana. I looked like someone who could be someone and you wanted to convince me to help you free your brother. Do you offer yourself up to anyone who seems useful?”

  Diana stepped back a step, reeling, almost as if he had slapped her. She thought he was actually coming on to her, flirting, tantalizing, but instead he was just... proving a point?

  “What the hell is that supposed to mean?”

  His face was twisted into an ugly grimace, fury evident in every line. “Don’t play games with me! You came on to me, you flirted, you lied your way into my apartment, and then you basically asked me to fuck you! Does your brother know that you’d trade your virtue for his life? Do you think he’d be proud of that?”

  Tears were streaming down her face now, she was so hurt and confused and fucking pissed. Who did this guy think he was?

  “I had no intention of ‘trading my virtue’! I thought we were two consenting adults with a mutual attraction to each other, and I can see now that I was very wrong. But yes, if it would save my brother, I would sleep with whoever I needed to, and I am not ashamed of that fact.”

  “Any man would rather die than live with that shame on his head! You aren’t helping him, and face it, you can’t help him. Go find your friends and mourn him. He’s never leaving Emerald Isle alive.”

  Diana stared at him, finding no words. She was overcome with lust for this guy only a few short minutes ago?

  She didn’t bother saying anything else, just walked quietly to the door and out of Draven’s life.

  Chapter Five

  Diana paced back and forth across the living room of the ramshackle house. Melody watched her aunt with concern, but Gavin and Zephyr kept their focus on the cards in front of them. They cared about Chase, but his sister was talking crazy.

  Zephyr finally couldn’t take anymore. Sighing, he laid his cards down and swiveled to face Diana.

  “Look, you know we care about him. But we can’t just barge in there and break him out with sheer force of will. It’s the bloody Coliseum! Besides the guards, and other prisoners, most of the spectators are going to have some manner of nasty up their sleeve. It simply isn’t possible!”

  Diana glared at him, hands on hips. “How can you say that? What are we supposed to do, give up, accept his inevitable death, and just blow town??”

  The man sighed, his shoulders slumped, white hair falling forward to cover his face. “I don’t want to say that. But honestly, without outside help, I don’t know what we’re going to do.”

  “Can’t you just, like, yank him out with a tornado or something?”

  Zephyr glared at her. He had no time for wild flights of fantasy. “You know full well that I can’t.”

  “No, I don’t know that! You can make tornados and control them. Just make one dip down into the Arena, snatch Chase up, and we’re gone!” There was a desperate note in her voice.

  “You do realize that I normally use my tornados to kill people. You want I should deliver you Chase’s body?”

  “No. He’s a shifter, he heals fast. He could survive it.”

  Zephyr stood, pulling Diana into a hug. “Honey, people don’t survive them. That’s kind of the point. I don’t even know how long I’d have to practice to make a non-killer tornado.”

  A low growl sounded from the shadows, making all four of the room’s occupant’s jump in alarm. Then Diana sighed, already fairly sure she knew the source of that growl. This guy had some nerve, but for some reason she wasn’t even remotely surprised that he’d followed her.

  “What do you want, asshole?”

  Draven walked into the light, the flickering shadows from the fire making him look even more mysterious and deadly than before.

  “I told you, you’re not getting him out alive.”

  She turned towards him, face tight with fury. “I don’t remember asking your opinion. But now that you’ve given it, again, get the fuck out.”

  Of course, he did nothing of the sort. He merely stood there, staring at Zephyr with a warning gleam in his eye.

  “Who are you?” Draven asked

  Zephyr cocked one pale eyebrow, unsure why he was being singled out.

  “Who wants to know?”

  Draven�
�s lips raised in a silent snarl, displaying sharp, decidedly non-human canines. “The man who could rip your spine out of your body before you have a chance to blink.”

  Diana threw up her hands. Men. Posturing idiots, the lot of them. “Are you guys serious right now? Need a measuring stick? Draven, Zephyr. Zephyr, Draven.” Gesturing towards the man still seated at the table, and the wide eyed girl in the corner, she continued. “And that’s Gavin and Melody. Now that you’ve met everyone, get out.”

  Draven gave her a long, considering look. “I’m sorry for what I said back at my place. I can help you get him out.”

  As Gavin and Zephyr gave each other looks, Diana let out a long-suffering sigh. Now she would never hear the end of it. “You made it very clear what you thought of me. I have no idea why you would have changed your mind in the last hour.”

  “Yes, well, you don’t have all the information. But right now I’m your best shot. You really going to turn me down?”

  He had her there. She would never let pride and hurt feelings take precedence over her brother’s life. However, she did have lingering worries about his trustworthiness. Maybe he had just decided that the four of them would fetch some extra pocket money at auction.

  If they followed him, he would have all the power. He knew the city, they didn’t.

  It would be very easy for him to have slavers waiting around some dark corner.

  Diana stared at him, trying to pry the truth from his eyes, but it was no good. His expression remain carefully neutral, no hint of his true nature shining through.

  Well, it wasn’t like they had another option. Besides, they weren’t defenseless. She was only human, true, but she could fight. And Zephyr was a killing machine when he wanted to be. Usually he didn’t want to be, but if faced with enslavement he might change his mind. And there was always Melody...

  “Fine. We’ll go with you. But I warn you, any funny business and we’ll kill you where you stand.”

  Draven chuckled, no doubt deeply amused at the thought of them being any kind of match for him.