by Eliza Gayle
Looking up, her body tensed. “Kane, you scared the crap out of me.” His face was set in an angry scowl, dark brows furrowed and his mouth in a grim line. She swallowed hard. “What?” She was standing so close to him she could smell him. He smelled like pine and forest.
“Why haven’t you been answering Lucas’ call?”
She peered around his broad shoulders, expecting to see Lucas walk up behind him. “I know the truth about Lucas.”
Kane continued to glare at her as if he could see straight through her. “What truth is that?” Crossing his arms in front of his chest, he waited for her to answer.
“Lucas didn’t kill Lara. They faked her death.”
“They? What they? Kira, are you feeling okay?” He gently grabbed her shoulders and brought her closer. “I was there, remember? I saw Lucas kill her.”
She shook her head, “You’re not listening.” Kane cupped the back of her head and drew her to his chest. His warmth tempted her. Just for a moment she had second thoughts. After a moment, she shook her head to clear her mind. “No, Lara is a black witch and she and Lucas are trying to take control of me and my powers.”
Her worst fears were coming true right in front of her. “Kane, please listen. I had a vision and saw the truth. Lara wants to kill me but Lucas won’t let her because he wants the control instead. You have to help me.” Lifting her head, she peered into his deep blue eyes, looking for his truth. Would he help her or just turn her over to his brother? Confusion clouded his eyes, giving her a brief moment of hope that he might believe her.
Kira, I know you can hear me, I can feel it. Please, baby, tell me where you are? I just want to help you. Lucas again. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t block him.
His voice grew stronger in her head the closer he got so she didn’t have much time. Kane had to help her or let her go.
How? How could she get him to cooperate?
Kane wrapped his arms around her and stroked up and down her back, comforting her. “Shh. You’ve been through an ordeal. You’re stressed out.”
His touch sparked a new idea.
She pressed her lips to his, whispering against them. “Please help me.” He opened his mouth to speak and she thrust her tongue between his parted lips, thoroughly exploring his mouth in a hard and desperate kiss.
Shock rushed through her. Where she had expected him to taste sweet and sunny, he instead tasted as spicy as he smelled earthy, an unexpected sliver of pleasure burst inside her. Heat coursed through her blood, rational thought disappeared and her mind splintered. She completely forgot about her mission. She wanted more...more of his taste. Wanted to touch him skin to skin. To get closer she threaded her hands through his hair and wrapped one of her legs around him until he was pressed against her. It still wasn’t enough as her body screamed for his hands running across her bare skin.
Letting go of his hair, she ripped open her shirt and pressed his work roughened hands to her chest. The rough texture against her smooth, heated skin was intense and she got wetter in anticipation.
Kane broke away from her lips, panting. “Kira, stop. What are you doing? We can’t do this. It's not right.” His face wrinkled in concern, but his chest heaved and his hard penis pressed against her.
Ignoring his attempt to protest, she fumbled for the zipper on his pants. Quickly releasing him, she dropped to her knees.
Grasping her shoulders, Kane pushed her away, making her lose her balance and crash into the dirty on her side.
“No, this isn’t right. You belong to Lucas. You are his mate.”
At his last word, Kira’s lucidity momentarily returned, long enough for her to realize what she’d done.
“Oh my God! What the hell? What are we doing?” She scrambled off her knees, backing away from him. “What have you done to me? You’re one of them. You want to control me, too.” She grappled with the edges of her blouse, trying to cover herself. She stumbled backwards, desperate now not for sex, but escape.
“Kira, wait.”
Not giving him a chance to say more, she turned and ran deeper into the woods. Her inability to understand what was happening around her frightened her more than her mind could take. She grasped her head in her hands, trying to control the throbbing. But it was the pain searing her heart she couldn’t handle.
29
Sensing Kira’s distress, Lucas picked up speed. He’d been trying for hours to talk to her and she refused to answer. His frustration had long ago turned into anger and he couldn’t wait to get his hands on her. It was time they had a serious talk. He was her mate, and she couldn’t jerk him around like this. They needed to come to an understanding, no matter how temporary.
He didn’t know many details about how the mating call affected her kind, but the felines of his clan were restless and desperate to fuck until it was over. Kira seemed far more irrational and his instincts told him he was missing something important.
Bursting into the clearing, he came to a sudden halt at what he saw. His brother standing there in the open with his pants down around his ankles and his dick hanging out.
Growling, Lucas warned Kane of his presence. “What the hell is going on here? Where is Kira? You said you’d found her.” Lucas turned around, searching the area for Kira. Her scent was everywhere, including...
Slowly turning back to Kane, he realized just what had been happening here. A murderous red haze flowed through his brain. His heart pumped faster as the anger spread throughout his entire body, leaving him edgy and ready to spring. He could kill Kane for this.
“No, brother, it’s not what you think.” Lucas stalked closer as Kane grabbed his jeans and fastened them back into place. “Something is wrong with Kira. She thinks Lara is alive and that you and her are planning to control Kira’s powers.”
“What?” His body stilled. “That’s ridiculous. Where would she get a crazy idea like that?” He raised his eyebrows in question, pointedly looking at Kane. “And what the hell does that have to do with you standing here with your pants down and your dick hanging out?” His eyes narrowed. “Huh?”
Kane stood speechless as the precious seconds ticked by.
Of course he was. What could he possibly say that would explain his actions around Lucas’ mate probably only moments ago? Hell, Lucas would never understand no matter what happened.
One minute his brother had been helping him find a frightened and skittish Kira and the next...this. Even worse, for a split second when he’d spotted him, Kane had bore the familiar look of pleasure Lucas had seen many times before. He’d been fucking enjoying whatever she did. Lucas wondered if he’d even bothered to try and stop it.
With the undiluted rage rushing through his body, Lucas peeled his lips back in a snarl, revealing razor sharp fangs to his brother. “Cat got your goddamned tongue, little bro?”
Fucking with another shifter’s mate under any circumstance got a man killed. And rightly so. Even if he was family.
“Something is seriously wrong, Lucas. She wasn’t acting like herself. I’ve never seen a woman so frantic in my whole life.”
“And what about you, brother? Were you acting?” Lucas’ voice vibrated with anger as he took another step closer.
“I’m sorry, she took me by surprise. I should have handled the situation better. But we’ll have to have this out later because I think she needs our help.”
Taking a few steps closer, Lucas struck out, punching him straight in the face and sending Kane sprawling across the clearing.
“Stay the fuck away from my mate. I think you’ve helped enough.” Lucas turned back in the direction he’d come and stormed away. He couldn’t look at his brother right now, not unless he wanted to live with the guilt of murder for the rest of his life.
The beast in him clawed and fought against his will to do the right thing. He had to leave before he did something he would never be able to take back.
30
Winded from running, Kira stopped to catch her breath. She
glanced behind her and listened for any telltale sounds of someone following her but heard nothing over her own racing heartbeat. She couldn’t afford to stop for long, Lucas or Kane were tracking her. What would they do if they caught her? Kill her? No, she expected Lucas to force her into completing the mating ritual. Just like she had envisioned, he and Lara would tie her down and take what they wanted.
She wouldn’t let that happen. She’d make it to Deals Gap before Lucas, Lara, or Kane could catch her. Finding the sheriff would be easy. Getting him to understand her story—a whole other ballgame. She had to try, otherwise Lucas would eventually capture her and she’d be helpless to stop them.
Her training kicked in. She knew these mountains like the back of her hand. She wasn’t far from a small creek she could use to mask her tracks as well as her scent. Taking one last look behind her, she turned and took off for the water.
After what felt like hours of running, the woods thinned and Kira got her first glimpse at the town at the base of the mountain. Deals Gap. Often referred to as the inhospitable section of the southern Appalachians, it was nestled at the mouth of the Dragon.
Home for the strange and supernatural. A small number of humans settled in the area, but for the most part, the Dragon was only occupied by the exiled members of the Clans of MacDonald, Gunn and Comyn.
While all of the Clan members living in this area were direct descendants from the original groups from Scotland that were forced to flee persecution and destined to hide their abilities here in the mountains, these dwellers were the ones who broke the most sacred laws of the Councils.
But they weren’t the only ones who wandered through here. Only one road led through the heart of the Dragon and, despite the danger, all walks of life had recently become enamored by the seductive curves of the Dragon.
Reaching the Tree of Shame, Kira sighed. She’d made it. Raking her gaze over the tree, she wondered when would the mortals learn to quit challenging the Dragon? Whenever one lost life or limb, a personal effect of theirs would be added to the tree. Seemed like every time she came through the Gap, the stuff hanging there had multiplied.
Just past the small biker resort next to the tree, she spotted the sheriff’s office. Making her way across the road, she attempted to brush away some of the debris on her clothes and straighten her hair.
She needed a shower. Hopefully after she explained what was going on to the sheriff, he’d let her use his facilities to get cleaned up. She’d call her sister or maybe her mom to see about one of them coming to get her. She was going to need to hide for a while.
Pushing open the sheriff’s door, she heard the basketball game playing on the radio. She rolled her eyes.
What is it about the human men in these parts and their strange love of basketball?
Spotting the sheriff’s boots propped on his desk, her gaze traveled up to his face. Sheriff Dave was a good ten years older than her, but sitting there in his chair lightly snoring, his arms crossed over his chest and his hair hanging over his eyes, he looked ten years younger. Kira let go of the door and let it slam shut.
She smirked as Dave about jumped out of his skin at the bang. “What the hell is going on?” He squinted at her, taking in her appearance. “Uh, ma’am, what happened to you? Was there an accident? Did you have some trouble out on the trails? Are you hurt? You’re a mess.”
He sprang out of his chair and rushed around the desk. When he got closer he finally recognized her. “Oh my God, Kira, is that you? Here have a seat.” He motioned to the couch that ran along the wall parallel to his desk. “Can I get you something? Some water?”
The events of the last few days came crashing down on Kira’s shoulders as she started trembling. Shaking violently, she tumbled down onto the offered couch.
Looking at the sheriff, she watched his mouth moving with words she couldn’t hear or comprehend. He ran across the room, jerked open the closet door and retrieved a heavy wool blanket and quickly returned to her side. Placing the blanket around her body, she saw his lips moving again but still couldn’t hear what he said.
Her temples pounded in tune with the roar in her ears. Her mind was on overload. She couldn’t remember why she’d come. Although she was pretty sure she should be hiding from anyone who knew her. She opened her mouth to speak but only managed a grunt before passing out.
31
Looking around the tiny cabin, Kira didn’t recognize anything. She stood in a one room dwelling with a small cot in the corner, a kitchenette along the back wall, and a dark brown recliner all alone in the middle of the room. Where was she? And more importantly, why was she here?
She strode across the small space and peered out the window to see if she could get her bearings. Instead of analyzing her surroundings, she came face to face with Lucas. His fierce expression upon seeing her in the window startled her. She took three steps back and drew in a gulp of breath.
The door slammed open and he sauntered in. The glower on his face did not bode well for her. He stalked toward her, making her want to turn and run. Instead, she stood her ground.
“What the hell are you doing here?” His angry heat blew across her skin as he glared at her waiting for an answer.
“You brought me here, you big brute, that’s how it works.” She took a step forward, getting right into his face, daring him to say more.
“How what works? You aren’t making any damn sense, woman.”
She sighed. She was going to have to explain it all to him. She didn’t have much time left and he was her last hope.
“My mating call is controlled by you. Why do you think I fight it so much? Being controlled by a man is the last thing I can stand.” She took a step back. Had to. His angry lust called to her and she didn’t think she could control herself much longer. She loved him. Needed him to stay alive.
Shoulders slumping, she turned away. For the outcome had already been decided. When she woke again it would be all over. Her conscious self had lost the battle and could no longer see reality.
“I don’t give a shit about that. You betrayed me.” He didn’t yell, he simply spoke. His words ice cold. Remembering what had happened in the last twelve hours, she realized just how lost to her he was.
“You have no idea how much worse this will get. Unless we complete the mating ritual, all is lost for me. I am sorry for what has happened—what will happen.”
“Are you crazy? Mating ritual? How can you think of that now? After what you’ve done?” He turned from her and headed back to the door, leaving her alone as a single tear slid down her face.
“I am sorry, my love,” she said. “I should have told you sooner but I just couldn’t. Now you must let me go.” she whispered the last into his mind but he ignored her and kept going.
“Ms. MacDonald. Ms. MacDonald, wake up.” Someone was shaking her awake. Opening her eyes, she found herself staring into the warm, chocolate brown eyes of Sheriff Dave. “Finally, you’re awake. I have been tryin’ to get you to open those purty eyes of yours for fifteen minutes.”
Oh thank God, she was still safe.
She quickly sat up. “Sheriff, I need your help. I’m being followed and it’s not safe for me here. One woman has already been killed—well sort of, I think, and I’m supposed to be next.”
“Whoa. Whoa. Slow down.” He eased down next to her on the couch. “Someone’s been killed, you say? That sounds serious. How’s about you go back and start at the beginning and tell me what happened. You’re not making any sense.”
She jumped up and paced. “You don’t understand, Sheriff. I don’t have much time. I’ve got to leave here quickly and hide.” Her hands shook as she talked. “I watched him kill her with one bite, but now I don’t think she’s really dead.”
“Bite? Are you talking about an animal attack?” He relaxed back against the cushions, clearly relieved.
“No, well yes, uhm—sort of.” This wasn’t going too well.
“Honey, sit back down here, did you hit your he
ad? I think you might be hurt. You’re confused.” He patted the couch, beckoning her.
“You don’t understand. He’s a shapeshifter. A man who turns into a mountain cat. He and his witch Lara want to control my powers. There’s a whole clan of shifters living in the Dragon, but this one has gone rogue and wants to hurt me.” She was talking so fast trying to get it all out so she could leave. The sheriff just needed to go find him. Lucas might have the supernatural strength of ten men, but tranquilizers or bullets would still take him down
“Kira, sweetheart, why don’t you come on over here and lie down? Let me get you something to drink. What about food? Are you hungry? Sometimes low blood sugar can do unusual things to the mind.”
While she contemplated his question of food and drink and how he most likely chose not to use the word crazy just then, the door to the sheriff’s office swung open and her stepfather strode in.
“What are you doing here?” she demanded. This was a bad sign. She needed to get out now. She backed up a few steps.
“Honey, when you passed out on my sofa I was worried so I called your daddy to come and get you.”
Oh great, just what she needed. The sheriff was so gullible. So human. What had she been thinking coming here?
“He’s not my daddy,” Kira gritted out.
“It’s true, Sheriff, I’m just her stepfather.” He turned, facing her, his gaze raking over her appearance. “Sheriff, thank you for calling me. You were right, Kira does look ill and in need of her family’s care.”
Cringing at his words, Kira wondered about her chances of escaping here and not being caught by Lucas. She might rather take her chances with him rather than return to the clan.
“Lawrence, you might want to take her by the doc’s office. I think she might have a fever. She seems delirious. Been going on about a man in the Dragon turning into a big cat and attacking her and another woman.” He shook his head in disbelief, getting up from the couch. “Quite a tale if you ask me.”