Electric series- Raven Investigations BoxSet

by Stacey Brutger

  He gave her a dark, unfathomable look, then grunted and took the container, tucking it easily under his arm, without breaking stride.

  Taggert and Durant were guiding the rest of the girls out the door, leaving Laura to struggle on her own. Once they reached the second floor, evidence of fighting was everywhere. The door was wedged open with the remains of a mangled soldier, but so little of his body remained that it was hard to tell he’d been human at one time.

  Raven recognized the handiwork…Randolph.

  He could kill in a thousand ways, but during battle he went for the most direct and brutal executions. With these men, he would want to prove a point by doing whatever created the most shock and awe and the most graphic destruction.

  Dozens of bodies were torn apart and scattered around the corridor, blood splatter decorated the walls and ceilings, drenching the floors, leaving behind pools of blood. Raven bent and gingerly picked up a crushed watch, unable to tear her eyes away from the blood dripping off it.

  Residual magic clung to the timepiece, the spell shattered when the watch broke. She’d bet the dozen or so dead here were what remained of the mercenaries. Bullet holes and the stink of spent gunpowder lingered under the overwhelming stench of death.

  “I don’t think we need to bother searching this floor.” Jackson guided her away. Blood spilled down the stairs in a steady stream. No one spoke as they walked through Death Valley, everyone doing their best to step around the blood and gore.

  They were halfway down the stairwell when a bomb detonated. The ground shook so hard everyone dropped to the floor as debris rained down. Cinders and sparks danced down the stairwell from the floors above. Plumes of smoke began to curl around them, sinking lower, making visibility difficult and breathing nearly impossible. Raven could feel the fire in the walls as the building began to burn, but the heat from the flames was comforting against her skin, her body soaking it up almost greedily.

  “Raven!” Durant handed off the girl he was carrying to Jackson and came back for her, striding out of the smoke like a god of old. His eyes were molten gold, the stripes of his hair clearly visible as his tiger burst free of his control.

  “I need to go back.” Raven edged away from him, every instinct telling her that going downstairs would be a mistake. Durant launched toward her, but too many people were in the way. She scrambled up the stairs, slipping on the blood as she reached the second-floor landing.

  Laura glanced down at the others, back up at her, then shrugged and turned to follow. “Why the hell not?”

  Raven hauled the body blocking the door out of the way. Just before it closed, Laura slipped into the hall. The door latched with a thunk as the locks engaged. Seconds later, heavy thumping battered the door.

  Durant.

  “Raven, open the door.” His voice was low and smooth, almost hypnotic as he tried to lure her closer.

  She backed away from temptation, nearly tripping over another body, her feet slipping in the blood. “You need to get downstairs. I’m going to buy us some time.”

  “Raven!” His roar was half human, half beast, the rage and loss in it making her heart clench.

  He thudded heavily against the door, throwing himself at it to get to her. She should be afraid, but her determination to save them only hardened.

  “It will hold, but we need to get moving.” Yet Laura remained frozen, watching the metal door with wide eyes.

  Raven scrutinized the woman, suspicious of why she followed her. “Why did you come?”

  “Because you’re right.” Laura turned away from the door, avoided looking at her as she stepped over the body on the floor, a moue of disgust twisting her face. “I got my friends into this mess. If helping you gets them out, I’ll do whatever you need.”

  Raven finally understood…she would do anything for the ones she loved, too. “Find me a window that overlooks the front.”

  “Follow me.” Laura took the lead, rounding the corner, Raven a step behind.

  But when Raven turned the corner, she saw Laura cartwheel her arms, her body slowly tipping forward into the gaping crater that had taken out the floor. Flames licked at the edges of what remained of the floor, as if the pits of hell had opened to claim them.

  Raven reached forward, grabbed the back of Laura’s shirt, and pulled her back to solid ground.

  Laura coughed, covering her mouth with the crook of her elbow, her eyes watering from the smoke. “The only windows on this floor are on the other side. We’re going to have to go back and head up the next floor.”

  “We don’t have time.” Raven estimated the distance, some twenty feet across, then began to back up. “I need you to get downstairs and find the rest. Keep them inside until I give the signal.”

  Laura stepped in her path, ignoring the way her eyes watered from the smoke. “You can’t make that…can you?”

  Raven couldn’t help it, she smiled. “As I’m reminded with annoying frequency—you’re thinking too human. I can make it. We don’t have a choice.”

  She could feel a timer in the back of her mind ticking down much too fast.

  She needed to move right the fuck now.

  “Fine.” Laura spun away, putting her back to the wall. “Take a right at the end of the hall. There’s a conference room at the end where the bigwigs meet that has a wall of windows.”

  Raven gave the women a sharp nod, then charged toward the gaping hole. She didn’t even have to call her animal for help. Her dragon rested close to the surface, waiting to be called, and she launched into the air, soaring over the crater, gliding to the other end, where she landed lightly on her feet.

  She glanced back over her shoulder at Laura, then nodded and took off running. When she turned the corner, she trailed to a stop. The whole front of the building had taken serious damage. So much damage that Raven wasn’t sure how the structure was still standing. She didn’t need to find the windows anymore—the walls were completely destroyed.

  Stretched out before her was what appeared to be an army. There were a dozen trucks scattered over the area with close to a hundred resolute soldiers armed to the teeth. They would never back down, firm in their belief that she was destroying their last hope for a cure.

  This could only end one way…a massacre.

  The men hid behind their armor, their guns pointed at the building, various sections shooting off bursts of gunfire every few seconds, their sole purpose to destroy her family.

  She couldn’t let that happen.

  The ground between the soldiers and the building was littered with bodies, many of them their fellow soldiers. The commander had kept his word to fight with her, but the soldiers outside obviously didn’t care the people they killed were once one of them.

  They now saw them as the enemy.

  A flurry of movement sent a group of soldiers surging toward the front, and Raven knew they were out of time. Then her stomach dropped when she saw what they were carrying.

  Rocket launchers.

  “You got to be fucking kidding me!”

  Chapter Twenty-seven

  Raven sensed the magic in the air, a shield separating the two forces, but the barrier was weak and wouldn’t hold against the continual assault. While shifters could take a lot of abuse, a rocket launcher would kill even the most resilient, not to mention collapsing a whole building on top of those who’d survived the bomb would finish off even the hardiest.

  As she shuffled toward the ledge, darkness gathered around her in a wild rush. The dragon etched along her skin stretched, slithering along her body until every inch of her felt armored. Pressure built around her until her very atoms felt as if they were being pulled apart and reformed. A rush of heat burned over her skin, the pain both terrible and wonderful, as the volatile pressure detonated.

  Without hesitation, she stepped off the ledge just as the men raised their weapons, and she flung her power outward. Wind whipped around her as dark flames engulfed her. When Raven landed, the ground shook. She glanced dow
n…and stared in pure shock.

  She’d shifted.

  Into a fucking dragon.

  And she’d survived.

  She’s always assumed if she ever tried to shift, the many creatures she carried would turn her inside out. Giddiness sparkled through her blood. Her scales looked like they’d been etched out of solid pewter, all silver and black, her form almost disappearing in the darkness.

  “Fire!”

  Raven turned in time to hear the missiles launch. Time slowed as she watched them fly toward her. Without hesitation, she twisted, knocking one out of the air with her tail, detonating it on impact. Two more slammed into her side, rocking her back, the pain stealing her breath, crushing her ribs, and she desperately leapt to catch the last rocket aimed at the building, a little ungainly in her new form. Her claw barely nicked the missile, but it was enough.

  The rocket exploded in air, the percussion slamming into her face, searing her eyeballs until they felt gritty and burned.

  Fury exploded inside her, and she lifted her head and roared her rage at the world. She expected to feel different after shifting—wilder, more dangerous and out of control. She swung her head toward the waiting army that seemed determined to destroy everything she held dear.

  Fire burned in her gut, slid up her throat, and steam billowed out her nostrils. Thunder rumbled overhead like falling boulders and lightning crackled, as if summoned by her mood. Giant bolts struck the ground around her, and she greedily soaked up the energy, pleasure replacing the pain as static crackled over her scales.

  A few of the soldiers fired, but none of the bullets penetrated the scales. In fact, they felt more like being splattered by raindrops while on the back of a bike—annoying as hell, but more distracting than painful. The gunfire tapered off, the silence stretching while everyone gaped at her.

  She narrowed her eyes at the troops, easily spotting the man in charge.

  “Do you really want to start a war that you can’t possibly win?” Raven was surprised she retained the ability to speak, her voice deeper, low and seductive.

  “You attacked a government building—”

  Raven huffed out a breath, and steam billowed around her again, causing them to jump back in alarm. “Do you mean when you lured me out in the open, attacked my men, tried to kill us, then kidnapped and brought us here, where you planned to experiment on us? I want to make sure I understand what I’m being charged with before we continue.”

  Soldiers around them shifted uneasily. When the man’s mouth just opened and closed a few times, she continued to speak.

  “Or do you mean when you hired assassins to kill me? Or when you sent armed troops to my home to destroy it? Or when you sent even more troops to attack the paranormal council? I’m confused.” She grinned, revealing rows of teeth nearly as big as the soldiers. “You took their queen, then expected no repercussions?”

  “You have a cure—”

  “There is no cure!” she bellowed in frustration. She lowered her head, stretching her neck until she could look them in the eyes, softening her voice. “There never was a cure. Frankenstein…your Dr. Mengele…lied. Surprise.” Raven shrugged her massive body.

  Even as she watched, the spirit deserted the army, many of them lowering their weapons. Those with tainted blood appeared devastated, a few of them furious, not ready to back down. “They promised us a cure if we obeyed.”

  “Tell me—do you really want a war?” She abruptly straightened to her full height, watching with amusement as dozens of soldiers flinched away. “What if I tell you I can help you?”

  The few of the soldiers glanced at each other, a few going so far as to drop their weapons. One of the more hardened soldiers stepped forward, his tag identifying him as Markan. “Where is the commander?”

  Raven hesitated, not sure she could trust them. These men had been about to take down the building with the commander inside.

  Did they want him alive or dead?

  Rubble settled behind her, and Raven swung her head around to see the shifters emerge from the building, her pack in the lead. Next to them the commander strode toward Raven, a little worse for the wear, a dozen or so of his soldiers next to him.

  Raven tensed, expecting gunfire, her tail lashing in agitation. Thankfully, her pack held back, somehow knowing her tenuous control would shatter if they were in danger.

  “Commander?” Markan lowered his weapon slightly, his eyes tracking everyone. “We thought you were dead. We were told—”

  “The doctor is dead. He had his own agenda and wanted me out of the way. If it wasn’t for Raven and her people, he would’ve succeeded. Stand down.” He lifted his hands in front of him. “They’re…friends. The queen has given her word that she will help us.”

  The soldiers actually listened, lowering their weapons.

  The commander quickly took charge, shouting orders, and people on both sides began to gather the injured and dead, cautiously keeping an eye on Raven and the shifters.

  Her men gathered around her protectively.

  To her surprise, Rylan was there, striding toward her without an ounce of fear, his full attention on her alone.

  She ducked her head, hunkering down to make herself smaller, suddenly shy to have them see her. He came to a stop in front of her, setting his hand on her paw without hesitation. “Raven.”

  As if it was a command, flames curled inside her, sluicing along her veins, the darkness drawn inward, until her body felt cramped and too small. There was no snapping of bones or popping of muscles. The flames simply consumed the larger shape, leaving behind her human form. Thunder and lightning crackled and boomed overhead, striking the ground around her, and she watched the electrical current twist and flash around her, coming to rest in her bones.

  Without a second’s hesitation, Rylan caught her close when her knees wobbled, keeping her upright. Instead of leaving her naked, the dragon etched on her skin remained like a large tattoo covering her from shoulder to knee. It moved on her body, as if swimming under her skin. Talons sank into her as the beast settled over her like a comfortable blanket. She should’ve felt self-conscious about being nearly naked in front of so many people, but she was too exhausted to care…or maybe one of the perks of being a shifter was finally rubbing off on her.

  Durant and Jackson stood guard in front of her, blocking the view. London grunted, stripping out of his top. Uncaring of the sparks still clinging to her, he slid the shirt over her head, the hem dropping around her knees like an overlarge dress.

  To her surprise, she recognized Donaldson and Griffin, Brant, and more than a few detectives, as well as Lester and his cloud of vampires, not to mention Nicholas and the kids from the house, including Digger, Gavin, and Dina. The little fox leaned against the rogue, while the wolf almost seemed to enjoy the attention, hovering protectively over the petite woman at his side when anyone he didn’t know wandered too close.

  Aaron and Kevin and most of their pack emerged from the building as well. To her shock, Heloise and Randolph—even Cassie and dozens of others she recognized from the club emerged.

  They were some of the most powerful paranormals in the area.

  All standing behind her in support.

  “My queen.” Donaldson bowed his head toward her, a twinkle of pleasure and amusement in his eyes despite his battered appearance. The guys around her parted to allow him to come closer.

  She couldn’t think of anything to say, suddenly uncertain. “Donaldson—”

  “Why don’t you take your men home and put your house in order. It would be an honor to serve in your stead and clear up this mess.” He was giving her an out. Heloise watched from a step behind him, her mysterious eyes dark and reserved. When Raven nodded without hesitation, the witch’s stance eased, and she bowed her head once in acknowledgment.

  Heloise expected her to go back on her word, but Raven had no need for more power, nor did she care to be the center of attention. She was more than content to leave the business side o
f things to them. She’d rather spend time with her pack.

  “I would like that. I have no interest in politics, now or ever.” Raven turned until she located the commander, her body still feeling heavy and a little awkward.

  As if he’d been waiting for her attention, he strode forward with a group of his soldiers. “We would like to discuss terms and how to move forward from here.”

  “Donaldson, as head of our Council, has volunteered to act as liaison.” She gave him an apologetic smile, tired beyond measure. Energy hummed distractingly under her skin, searching for a threat to destroy, eager to be free again. “He’s a good man, hard but fair.”

  “If news of this gets out, you know someone else is going to try and recreate this project again.” He spoke to both of them, but his attention remained on her.

  Raven studied the building and understood what he was asking. They had to get rid of all evidence. “Are the lower levels cleared?”

  “Most of the shifters who were housed here were released or destroyed a long time ago.”

  “Are you sure?” He seemed so convinced, but Raven had her doubts. Frankenstein wasn’t a man who gave up his experiments easily.

  “They were moved out before we even arrived. It was part of the deal—no experimentation.”

  “And the ones upstairs?” Annoyance bled through her exhaustion.

  “Upstairs?” He appeared genuinely confused, and she didn’t detect a lie. “You don’t know.”

  “Know what?” His face hardened, the commander in him bleeding through.

  “He was running another experiment on the top floor, a breeding program.” She was gratified when he paled, looking sick to his stomach. She took pity on him. “He offered you a serum to create the perfect creature, but it didn’t work. They were his backup plan.”

  He gave a tired snort. “To think we had the audacity to die on him. I should’ve known something was wrong as soon as he stopped doing tests. He said the soldiers were getting better and continued to offer the serum to new recruits.” His brows scrunched. “He had proof. A group of men who took the latest serum weren’t getting sick.”