Electric series- Raven Investigations BoxSet

by Stacey Brutger

  Now everyone was staring at her with varying degrees of curiosity and distrust, the tension in the room growing thicker by the second.

  “I’ve earned the right to stand before you.” She lifted her chin, refusing to back down.

  “They’re dying. If we don’t do anything, they’ll die off.” The cat flicked his fingers dismissively, clearly not interested in hearing more, but she could sense his tail flicking with agitation. “We can put an order to kill them on sight or even orchestrate a hunt.”

  She could practically feel his ears perk up in interest, and she was appalled at what they considered an appropriate response. “Until they create more, possibly better-enhanced soldiers. Do you think they’ll just stop? And if they find out they’re being hunted, do you really think they won’t retaliate?”

  “We’re stronger and faster than these soldiers.” The vampire-boy just shrugged. “It won’t be a problem.”

  Raven shook her head at the way the Council members were burying their heads in the sand.

  “These are trained soldiers. This is a government program. The human government will take each death personally. It will be war. The humans won’t know that you’re killing shifters. They’ll believe you’re killing human soldiers. People who can’t shift. People who look human. War heroes.”

  She looked each of the Council members in the eye, one by one. “You will be starting a war we cannot win.”

  Conrad snorted at the absurd notion that they wouldn’t win, but Donaldson held up a hand when he opened his mouth to say more. “She’s right. If we kill them, the humans will declare open season and hunt us to extinction.”

  When it looked like Conrad would protest, Donaldson addressed him directly. “You might be able to protect yourself, but what of your females and young? Your forces will be split between going out hunting and protecting your pack. Not to mention that we’re outnumbered thousands to one.”

  “This is a shifter problem.” Heloise was a witch, the fabled voodoo queen Marie Laveau. Her people could pass for human, and she obviously didn’t see why she should involve them.

  “Then you’re not looking hard enough.” Raven spoke through gritted teeth, frustrated that they couldn’t work together as a group of soon-to-be endangered species. “Look at the soldier closer. What is the one thing that is preventing his complete transition from human to shifter?”

  Curiosity and suspicion darkened the witch’s eyes, and her pupils expanded, swallowing all color. A frown marred her brow, her disapproving expression only emphasized by the severe way her black hair was slicked back into a tight bun, the style bringing attention to her unblemished, light coffee skin. Despite the faint wrinkles that dared to crowd the corners of her eyes, her exotic appearance drew attention.

  Then she flinched slightly, barely noticeable, and Raven knew the witch spotted the same thing she had—no magic.

  Heloise turned her spooky eyes on Raven. “I still don’t see how it’s any of our business.”

  The age of the woman pressed down on her, dragging her back to a time when voodoo priestesses ruled. If Raven peered deep enough in her eyes, she could see tortured souls writhing in agony, begging for mercy. Raven gritted her teeth and stood her ground.

  “They need magic. Where do you think the humans will go when they figure that out?”

  “Humans aren’t able to hold magic.”

  “No, but then they’re no longer human, are they?” Raven pointed to Tuck. “Whether you like it or not, they’re supernaturals now, and fall under the protection and rule of the council…unless you deny them. Which means the humans will finally have the weapon they need to finish us off. We both know humans are close to a solution. They won’t stop now.”

  “How would they go about getting magic?” Donaldson asked, quickly cutting through the tangled situation.

  “Blood transfusion would work for a while, but it won’t be a permanent solution.” Raven shrugged when they shot her a questioning look. “The magic will eventually fade from their blood, and their systems won’t be able to generate new magic.”

  “So they’ll need a supply of magic users.” Donaldson glanced at Heloise, but when the witch refused to acknowledge the conversation, he turned back toward Raven. “How else could they get magic?”

  “Best guess?” Raven shifted her feet, not liking the speculative look in his eyes, like she was the answer to their problem. And she had no doubt he would sacrifice her in a heartbeat to save the rest of them. The guys must have noticed the shift in the atmosphere, and closed ranks around her, Tuck included. “Ties to a strong pack might carry enough residual magic to keep them alive. Or…”

  Raven trailed off when a new, more startling realization came to her.

  “Or?” For the first time, Donaldson appeared concerned.

  “A magical talisman might work.” Her pack turned toward her, knowledge darkening their eyes as they realized the ramifications. “And I think the humans might have already come to the same conclusion.”

  “How?” Donaldson went from concerned to pissed in seconds, clearly not pleased to be kept out of the loop.

  “A few weeks ago we discovered an old insane asylum that had been repurposed for darker means. We thought the shifters were trying to create a pure race of paranormals, but the man in charge was a human doctor. He had a number of shifters, not to mention witches, imprisoned. We thought they were selling the magic-infused gems the witches were tasked with creating, but what if they were using them for a different purpose?”

  “And you only thought to tell us about this now?” Donaldson’s voice was deceptively calm, but yellow flashed in his eyes as his wolf rose with his anger.

  “I really couldn’t tell you about it while I was imprisoned beneath tons of concrete. They kind of frowned on giving phone access to the prisoners.” Vivid memories of the dead she left behind still haunted her. “They were holding species of every race, testing the strong and experimenting on the weak.”

  “And later?” Some of his anger was dialed back, those eyes of his searching her for weaknesses.

  “The escape got a little messy when they triggered their fail-safe and blew the place up.” She grimaced over her failure to catch the people responsible. “Unfortunately, Dr. Frankenstein and his minions escaped. I thought he was trying to create the perfect paranormal.”

  “Who did you think he was working for?” Vampire-boy appeared curious now he knew the situation also affected his kind.

  “Truthfully?” Raven eyed the council. “I thought they might have been working for the council. I didn’t know he was working for the humans.”

  The vampire didn’t react, not bothering to glance at the others to see if any of them might have issued the orders. “And Rylan? He would have never allowed you to be taken without a fight.”

  The hair on the back of her neck rose at his certainty. If she didn’t believe Rylan was one hundred percent her man, his interest would’ve raised her suspicions. “They kidnapped Rylan to get to me, maiming and nearly killing Nicholas in the process. They skinned him alive and left him for me to find.”

  “Summon them.” It was a command.

  “No.” Everything inside her shuddered at the idea.

  Fuck no.

  They would tear Rylan apart to figure out how he’d become so powerful. After the troubled past they’d survived together, she couldn’t bear for him to have to endure any more horrors.

  Raven met the vampire’s displeased gaze straight on, able to feel him trying to break past her shield and make her do what he wanted. The last thing she wanted was to bring any attention to the effect her blood had on vampires. “They are mine, and none of your concern.”

  A scowl twisted his face, but he subsided with a negligent shrug.

  Raven didn’t believe for a second that the matter was dropped. If they came after Rylan, she would put a stop to them, no longer caring what secrets were exposed. She quickly changed the subject.

  “One way or anoth
er, the future is changing. We must find a way to deal with this new threat. There are two factions in the government. One who wants us to live and one who wants us dead. I know who I want to support…before it’s too late.” She glanced at each of the council members. “If it was me waging war, I would attack the governing body first.”

  “Is that a threat?” Conrad bristled, but she ignored him.

  “A kill order for me is already in place. In the past three days I’ve had more than a dozen people come after me, and I’m afraid it’s only the beginning. Watch your backs.”

  Without waiting for a response, she turned on her heel and left, her warning heavy in the air.

  Chapter Twenty-three

  “Well, that didn’t go exactly as planned.” Raven was suddenly exhausted and pissed off at the Council’s ineffectiveness. Durant grabbed her arm, and she leaned against him, grateful for his support as he led her to the back office, the rest of the team following.

  “What did you expect? That they would offer their full support and band together to stop the coming war?” His amused comments were whispered in her ear, but they carried to the rest of the team.

  Actually, yes. She expected exactly that.

  He opened his office door waiting for everyone to pass through before he firmly closed it, locking them inside. “This office is secured.”

  Meaning they could speak freely, without having to worry about that pesky supernatural hearing thing. Durant leaned against his desk and crossed his arms. London remained by the door, but she wasn’t sure whether it was to stop anyone from entering or to stop them from running. Jackson halted in the middle of the room, carefully placing himself between her and Tuck.

  “So where does that leave us?” Tuck kept his back to the wall, his new understanding of the secrets of the paranormal world hardening his expression. While shifters might resemble humans, they were pure predator underneath in both their actions and thoughts. It was surprising that he was only learning that now.

  But Raven would give him credit for holding up very well under the strain of facing the Council. Being the center of attention in a room full of people who want you dead had to be a little unnerving. He didn’t even piss himself like most humans would.

  “They’re like any governing body. They will discuss, argue, jockey for position, and fight while they decide which is the best route to take.” Jackson shrugged as if to say there was nothing for them to do but wait.

  “I don’t think we have the luxury of time.” Raven murmured, sensing something just beyond her reach, a danger she knew was coming.

  “What do you see?” Durant came toward her, his voice low and melodic, so as not to disturb her light trance.

  “Nothing beyond the sense that something is coming.” She shook off the haunting feeling and focused on the group. “Your commander will meet with us?”

  “Possibly.” Tuck lifted his hands in surrender when everyone glared at him. “You’re only one pack out of hundreds. While you might be an important member, you’re not the leader.”

  Durant appeared amused, London lifted his brows, and Jackson remained impassive. They were leaving how much she wanted to share up to her.

  “Well, that’s not exactly true.” Raven rubbed the back of her neck uncomfortably. “I’m not a normal shifter.”

  Tuck scanned the room, studying everyone before his gaze landed back on her. “You’re more human than the others.”

  Jackson snorted outright at that, Durant grinned, and London just grunted and rolled his eyes.

  “You’ve got it backwards.” Raven gave him a little wave. “I might have been raised in the human community for a few years, but my ancestry is more ancient than any of the others.”

  “Enough beating around the bush.” Durant straightened from the desk, tucking his arm possessively around her. “If you want to get anything done, you’ll want your commander to talk to her. The others are unpredictable at the best of times. When Raven gives her word, she keeps it. The others are stubborn, but the majority of paranormals trust Raven. She’s been protecting and helping them for years without asking anything in return.”

  “If the call to war comes, they will rally around her.” London said it as there wasn’t a doubt in the world. “They trust her word.”

  Raven struggled to take a deep breath while she tried to absorb what they meant. She’d been considered a nuisance most of her life. At one time or another, every species had tried to kill her, capture her, or manipulate her into working for them. Along the way she must have also gained the respect of a community that would rather kill than ask for help.

  “They trust her,” Jackson reiterated with a shrug. “Everyone knows if she gives her word she will literally walk through hell to do what needs to be done, no matter the cost.”

  “You’re the living proof. She’s the only reason why you’re not dead where you stand.” Durant gestured to the door. “Anyone in the club beyond would’ve killed you without a second’s hesitation as soon as you set foot in the club. That they let you live, that they didn’t even approach you or protest you entering the club is a tribute to her influence over them.”

  Tuck appeared startled by the news, and she gave him a pained smile. “They really don’t like outsiders. Unless you’re a fur-and-claw-carrying member of the club, unless you’re pack, you’re an outsider.”

  “And you think they’ll eventually accept us.” He sounded skeptical, and she didn’t blame him after this rough introduction.

  “If it comes to war and you stand on our side, they will. They won’t like it, but they’ll allow you to live.” He gave a pained sigh, and she winced at her word choice.

  “I’ll talk to the commander.”

  The meeting with Tuck’s commander was set for morning, just a few short hours away. They sent Dina back to the mansion to give the others an update while the rest of them decided to wait for morning in Durant’s apartment on the second level of Talons. They used the side exit and climbed the metal fire escape. Rylan, Taggert, Gavin, and the two remaining soldiers joined them, although she didn’t like the idea of inviting the soldiers to stay at Durant’s space even for a few hours.

  Halfway up the stairs, she paused, stiffening at the feeling of being watched, then peered up. Her team noticed her distraction and went on alert, the soldiers stopping short when everyone drew to a halt. Peering down at her from the rooftop was Griffin, and she propped her hands on her hips. Despite knowing his father was here, he came anyway…to support her. While she was thrilled, she knew it cost him. “Were you able to hear anything from up there?”

  “Not much, but the whole place is abuzz and rumors are flying.” He gave her a rakish grin, then the twinkle in his eyes faded. “People are already arguing and taking sides.”

  Between whether to follow her or the council.

  She bit back a disgruntled sigh. She’d done everything in her power to stop the coming changes, but it was like trying to catch raindrops—impossible.

  A shadow dropped from the sky, sending her heart racing. She leaned over the railing to see Griffin staring up at her with a smug grin, and she rolled her eyes. “You might as well come up and join us.”

  Instead, he shook his head. “I have a lead on the Cadre that I want to follow.”

  Gavin stiffened, and Raven gripped the railing, ready to vault over. “I can—”

  “No,” Griffin waved her off. “You have your hands full. Consider this an official police matter now. My team is working on it.”

  His legs were braced apart, his chin high, bracing for her argument, but protesting was the last thing on her mind. “You’re sure?”

  He nodded once, his posture relaxing, but Raven couldn’t help but meddle a little. She glanced back at Gavin to see him scowling at Griffin. “How about an inside man to help with your hunt?”

  Both men gaped at her, curiosity and caution alive in their eyes, and she spoke to Gavin. “I promised you help, yet I’m being pulled in the opposite direct
ion.”

  Hell, it felt like she was abandoning him and going back on her word. “Police assistance is the best I can do until this mess is over. I don’t want to drag you into my battle, not when you have your own war to wage. The choice is yours, but I worry what will happen to you if we wait much longer to go after them.”

  Griffin answered first. “If you vouch for him, that’s good enough for me.”

  The cop waited expectantly, those dual eyes of his that pronounced him rogue were off-putting when he focused them on a person. He used them to unbalance his prey, used them to hide his sharp intelligence from others while they often treated him like a half-feral beast, but she knew better. “If you give him a chance, he won’t let you down. But watch out for him, please. Gavin’s name is on that list, and they’ll be coming after him.”

  Griffin studied the other man for another minute, then shrugged. “What do you say?”

  Gavin turned back to her, and she gave him the only advice she could. “I trust him. If anyone can take down the Cadre, it will be Griffin. He’s done it before with other groups and with less help. Once he’s on a case, he won’t stop until those responsible have been stopped—one way or another.”

  The two men stared each other down, searching for weaknesses, both full of pride and determination, each wanting to do the right thing in their own peculiar way. Gavin finally gave a grudging nod and flung himself over the railing. He landed easily, barely making a sound, then turned to glance up at her. “Consider our bargain complete. Go do what you’ve got to do, and I’ll take care of this.”

  “What?” Surprise shot through her as she watched them walk away. “I didn’t expect that.”

  She wasn’t sure she deserved it either.