Electric series- Raven Investigations BoxSet

by Stacey Brutger

  Reed held up his hands, as if trying to placate her, but Nadia shook her head, obviously furious at whatever he said.

  “Not about the labs.” Raven rubbed her bottom lip while she watched the wolves argue, then amended. “They would’ve killed themselves trying to stop them…or been recaptured.”

  The rest of the wolves appeared to be mute, and utterly loyal to Nadia. Their clothes were ragged and dirty, but they didn’t seem to care. They acted and fought like pack animals, nothing remotely human remaining.

  Nadia’s arms swung violently as she stormed off, the ponytail holding her long, dark hair bouncing against her shoulders with every step. With her back turned, she appeared quite dainty, her commanding personality making her size deceptive.

  And Dominick couldn’t take his eyes off her.

  Interesting.

  Reed approached her with complete confidence…and completely human. “There is no lab here, but we might be able to help you…if you want to follow us.”

  They didn’t go down the mountain as Raven expected—they went up.

  The rocky trail was narrow and arduous even for a shifter. She suspected the path they chose was purposely selected for them, because not only was the route a bit convoluted, it took stamina to traverse.

  A test.

  Also perfect security.

  No human could hope to follow them without being spotted.

  It was well after midnight when the person in front of her…just vanished.

  She’d glanced down to step over a small chasm, and when she straightened, the man was gone. Her dragon rose, ready for an attack. After searching her surroundings and finding nothing more threatening than a million or so rocks, Raven turned back toward the trail and studied the slope of the mountainside a bit closer. Her extra senses kicked in, her eyesight sharpening until it was like peering through a magnifying glass.

  That’s when she spotted a narrow opening cloaked in shadows. She doubted she would have even noticed it in broad daylight if she hadn’t seen someone walk through the small opening.

  Gathering her courage to follow them into the abyss, she nearly leapt out of her skin when Randolph materialized at her side. “It would be best if some of us remain outside as sentries.”

  There was a slight tightness around his eyes that surprised her, but she couldn’t blame him for his reluctance to go underground, a result of being a former guest in the labs, though he would most likely take her head off if she showed any sympathy. “You’re right. It would be better if you stay. You’re the best at remaining invisible.”

  But he was also correct.

  They needed an escape plan in case something went wrong.

  Having Randolph volunteer worked for both of them. The last thing she wanted was to be trapped with him in a tiny space, where he could study her every move.

  With a fortifying breath, she stepped into darkness.

  Stones scraped against her back while she shuffled through the snug opening, and she struggled against the urge to gasp for air, like it was in short supply. The floor had a slight slant, forcing her farther into the bowels of the mountain. After what seemed like an eternity, she caught up with Reed.

  “You okay?”

  The isolation gave the illusion that only the two of them existed in the world.

  She decided not to answer his question. Instead, she licked her dry lips and asked what really mattered. “How much farther?”

  “About a quarter of a mile.” The concern in his voice wasn’t reassuring. The darkness was so absolute, she could barely see his face in the crawlspace someone had generously dubbed a tunnel. The only thing that gave away his location was the way his vivid green eyes shimmered slightly, his wolf rising to help him traverse the passageway.

  After his answer, the space felt even more cramped, the rough walls gouging into her flesh. She pressed her hands against the cold stone, struggling not to shove Reed to get him to move faster.

  The air grew cooler the farther they traveled, the chill emanating from the stones themselves, and wrapping around her very soul.

  Something was wrong.

  She stopped moving, barely breathing, while she concentrated on locating the source of the trouble.

  Then the sense of her unease became clear…the mountain of dirt and stone above them had muffled the connection to her pack. When she first learned of the connection, she hated the lack of privacy. She hadn’t realized how much comfort she took from that same connection until it was gone.

  To keep from dwelling on the way she felt—like someone had reached in her chest and ripped out half her soul—she began to count her steps, and nearly jumped out of her skin when Durant touched her shoulder.

  “You need to calm yourself.” He looked down, and she followed his gaze. Electricity crackled around her hands, little sparks of light that bounced off the solid rock like a sparkler.

  Pure energy had a habit of infecting shifters, pulling their beasts closer to the surface. Since they were heading toward a cave full of them, they could be walking into a fishbowl full of piranha, and they were the only food.

  “How?” The dragon sat crouched under her skin, ominously silent, claws pressed against her ribs, either biding its time, or plotting, but not helping her cope one bit.

  It wanted out.

  It wanted to destroy.

  It refused to be imprisoned underground.

  Not again.

  All her senses went haywire, so heightened it only aggravated the dragon more.

  Raven was desperate enough to try anything.

  If she didn’t get ahold of herself, she might end up burying everyone alive.

  Durant didn’t hesitate, wedging himself between her and the wall. With every breath she took, his delicious leather scent soaked into her. Though he was just as hard as the rock against her back, there was a lovely heat to the muscles surrounding her. The wicked gleam in his eyes told her he would do anything for her…all she had to do was ask.

  Raven tried to keep from touching him—infecting him—but the big tiger would not have it. He reached for her hands, uncurled her fists and pressed them against his chest. He jolted at the touch, his breath escaping in a hiss, and she yanked her hands back.

  But instead of releasing her, he kept his hold on her wrists, pinning her in place with his body.

  A slight purr rose from his tiger, distracting her from her panic. Raven stroked her fingers against his shirt, more to sooth herself than him, and cursed the fabric separating them.

  The air became electric for a totally different reason, and her cheeks heated. When she leaned back to give herself room to think, she ended up smacking her head against rock, the sharp pain knocking some sense into her.

  “Are you sure this was such a great idea?” Raven swallowed hard, peering up at him reluctantly, afraid of what she would find. Even though the other shifters gave them space, she was very conscious of not being alone.

  Shifters didn’t have the same privacy hang-ups as humans did about sexuality and nudity.

  “This is the best idea I’ve had all day.” There was a smile and a healthy dose of lust in Durant’s voice. The heat in his gaze was pure animal, those beautiful orange eyes glowing hot enough to singe.

  Then he dipped his head, stealing a kiss…stealing the air from her lungs, and making her forget they were in a cave.

  Forget they were in a mountain.

  Forget her own name.

  He took charge of the kiss, like he was starving for her and one taste wasn’t nearly enough. Because of their proximity, the purr she found so enchanting seemed to tingle through her nerve endings, and any thoughts—other than figuring out a way to get closer—simply vanished.

  She slipped her hands over his shoulders, enjoying the way his muscles bunched at her touch, as if desperate for more. When she nipped his lip, his hands tightened painfully on her hips, and she heard his claws slice through the fabric of her jeans. Only then was she aware that he’d lifted her up, maki
ng it easier for her to take what she wanted.

  She slowed the kiss, reluctantly pulling away, already missing the way his lips felt so hard and demanding on her own. Raven rested her forehead against his, not ready to face the world yet. “Your timing sucks.”

  Durant chuckled, sounding utterly masculine and very pleased with himself. “I didn’t expect—”

  “—me to lose control.” When she tried to turn away, he pushed closer and pinned her to the spot. Cold stone dug into her spine while delicious heat soaked into her wherever they touched. The contrast heightened her senses, making her more aware of every inch of him pressed so intimately against her.

  “I didn’t expect you to respond to my touch like something right out of my deepest fantasies.” He ran the tip of his finger across her bottom lip, looking ready to give her another panty-melting kiss. Much to her disappointment, he didn’t follow through with the promise. “And if you’re afraid of losing control again, I would suggest practice.” He dropped his hand to her shoulder, his thumb caressing the pulse pounding at the base of her throat. “Lots and lots of practice.”

  Instead of feeling threatened, she imagined his hands roaming over her, his only thought to give her pleasure. “Durant.”

  She meant his name to sound like a reprimand, not a husky plea.

  Then, before she could change her mind, she pushed him away. She slid down the length of his body, his arousal like a brand against her stomach. They both froze, and her breath hitched as she struggled to remember why putting distance between them was such a good idea.

  By the time she gathered enough willpower to pull away, she swore she heard a little growl of displeasure escape him. Without a word, not sure her brain could come up with anything but a mindless jumble of sound, Raven mindlessly headed down the crack in the mountain, very conscious of Durant following so closely that they touched every few minutes.

  She felt pursued.

  Cherished.

  When they burst into a large cavern not ten minutes later, Raven was both disappointed and relieved. The cave was massive, thirty feet high, and nearly double that across. Stone towers held up the ceiling, while also offering some privacy. Sounds and smells were amplified in the enclosed space, which quickly became unbearable to her hyper-aware shifter senses.

  The center appeared to be a kind of way station, a place where people gathered. It was a hive of activity, similar to a small city, where everyone appeared to carve out their own existence, some even hawking or trading small wares.

  Small lanterns were scattered throughout, the dim light revealing the cave as much as it concealed. Shadows stole around the room, the darkness impenetrable, strategically blocking her from seeing everything.

  “What do you make of the place?” Durant had been silent since they emerged. He looked a little worse for wear, scrapes and scratches all over him from the cramped fit. He absently brushed his arms, removing some of the dirt and smudges, smoothing out his clothes like a ruffled cat.

  “The structure itself is amazing. They’ve built an entire community here, right under everyone’s noses.”

  The rest of her team finally emerged from the jaws of death. London reminded her of a bristling hedgehog…with very sharp teeth and fangs. A snarl twisted his face, his bear obviously not happy with the snug passageway. Those massive arms of his flexed, as if holding back his animal counterpart, his normal soothing scent of leaves had an almost rotten smell, and his knuckles were bruised, as if he’d fought his way out of the mountainside.

  Griffin popped out seconds later, just as wide-eyed, and more than a little feral. Shifters didn’t enjoy cramped spaces, and she imagined his confinement with a group of hunters made him appreciate it less than most. His eyes were splintered a brilliant green, revealing his rogue status. Unlike most rogues, it was a permanent, hellish state for him, so she wasn’t too concerned. The fresh-cut wood smell she associated with him had a little singed flavor to it.

  Dominick emerged last, those green eyes of his almost reflective in the darkness. His mop of black hair stood a little on end, matching the coat of his wolf perfectly. After a few seconds, his normal flinty look slid back into place, hiding his thoughts once more. The autumn scent she associated with him was muted, the freshness a little stale as he surveyed their surroundings.

  She searched for signs of unrest. He was the only other one of her group who had been locked away in the labs, but he appeared to be in perfect control, as ever…until his attention strayed to Nadia. His eyes flared to a deeper green, and Raven couldn’t help but smile as she saw him struggle with his attraction.

  The bastard deserved a little torture after his amusement over her similar struggles the past few months.

  Observing them helped contain her beast, the creature watching like a mother hen with her chicks as it categorized all their injuries. They were all battered and bruised, but their injuries were already healing.

  “A quarter of the shifters are normal. Weak. Rogue.” Durant stopped surveying the cave and turned toward her. “There are no purebreds.”

  Meaning that he and Dominick were the only ones.

  Which gave them an edge.

  Durant had a certain charisma and charm that he used skillfully to get what he wanted, while Dominick exuded a pure alpha-ness that demanded obedience.

  “Griffin, I want you to mingle and learn as much as you can. While you’re nothing like them, I think seeing a surviving rogue outside of their home will help them open up to you. See what you can find out about the labs.”

  “I’ll take a more direct approach.” Dominick didn’t even turn in her direction while he studied his prey. She had no doubt if anyone could interrogate this group and get answers, it would be him. Ignoring the ramp to the main floor, he dropped fifteen feet to the main level and stalked through the throng of shifters observing them.

  Nadia seemed to sense his location at all times, turning to keep him in sight, and Raven watched in amusement as the two of them circled each other. Both made googly eyes when they didn’t think the other was looking, the intensity scorching. Raven wasn’t sure whether they would ultimately tear each other’s head off…or their clothes.

  Her wolves didn’t appear nearly as aggressive or suspicious of him. She wasn’t sure if it was something they were picking up from Nadia or if they noticed he was a pure, and recognized his authority.

  “Where do you want me?” Although London didn’t look in much better shape, she should just be glad that he could even grunt words at her…his normal way of speaking. “You’re a fighter. You know injuries. Help patch them up. Let me know if you learn anything interesting.”

  But he was already storming off, a pack of wolves scattering out of his path as he lumbered down into the miniature city.

  “You’re one of the few shifters ever invited to our hidden sanctum.” A female tiger sauntered up to them, the slightly snarky tone belying the smile she bestowed on Durant, ignoring Raven as though she didn’t exist.

  The she-tiger traced a hand down the front of Durant’s shirt, suggestively fingering the holes the claw marks left behind. “Why don’t you follow me, and I’ll see to your wounds.”

  Without waiting to see if she would be obeyed, the woman sauntered away, confident she would get what she wanted. Her massive, wavy hair reached the middle of her back, the dozen shades of brown stunning, the strands swaying with the movement of her hips.

  Durant turned toward Raven and lifted a single brow, his mouth quirked at the blatant flirting.

  Raven heaved a sigh, wishing he didn’t have to go off with the young beauty. “Go.”

  It actually hurt when he nodded and followed like an obedient cub who’d fallen under the female’s spell.

  Against her better judgment, Raven found herself following their movements, unable to let him out of her sight.

  Tigers were rare, females even more so. Even though Durant was a part of her pack, he hadn’t joined it willingly. When he seated himself before the
female, the smile Raven found so charming lit his face. He was so good at oozing charm, she couldn’t tell if his apparent fascination was real or an act. A little voice in the back of her head couldn’t help but wonder if he regretted his decision to join her pack.

  Even as she watched, the tiger pulled Durant’s shirt off, pressing herself against him until her breasts were practically smashed into his face…as if he needed help finding them the way her figure-hugging top put them on display.

  Much to her gratification, Durant stiffened at the assault.

  Too bad the she-bitch didn’t notice.

  Tigers weren’t pack creatures, the males only interacting with their own kind during mating season. That didn’t keep the dragon from watching the woman’s every move, its temper a slow simmer waiting to erupt.

  Then the dragon pushed it too far, starting to eavesdrop on the conversation.

  “Are you in the neighborhood for long? We could use a man like you to lead us.” The she-bitch then proceeded to put even more bandages around his already-wrapped ribs. “I could show you the ropes.”

  Those eyes of hers peered up at Durant, gauging his reaction, leaning over even more to give him a better view down the front of her shirt—just in case he missed the broad hints of what ropes she was willing to show him. “We would make a great team. We could take this group and build them into a real army, force the other shifters to see us as something more than trash.”

  Durant met Raven’s gaze, his own eyes slanting to gold as he stared at her. “Sorry, but I’ve already been claimed.”

  The amusement in his voice soothed the dragon, and the beast eased her claws from the undersides of Raven’s ribs, where it had been trying to claw its way out.

  The she-bitch followed his gaze, then gave a husky laugh, easily dismissing her. She batted her lashes up at him. “I can take you away from her any time I want. I think you’d find my company much more enjoyable.”

  Durant grunted. “I doubt it.” his bland tone utterly lacking in any kind of romantic interest.

  His response, or lack of response, only pissed the tigress off more. “I could petition your alpha. I’m sure he would find us to be a suitable match.”