“I know,” I reply softly. “But I have to help Talyn.”
“Why?” Murphy seethes. “She's a Lycan's change. She's that Merck fellow's responsibility.”
I nod hastily. “True. But she didn't believe me.”
“Believe you?” His eyes slit, shoulders lifting in a small shrug.
“Believe that I could protect her—save her.”
Murphy sighs, his gaze pointedly moving around the destruction of Talyn Phisher's home. “And we can't. She's in too deep—Lanarre royalty? Even Merck admitted she was the strangest change he'd ever had. And the complication of the Masker...”
“Mutable.”
His eyes darkened. “That too.”
I grab a handful of my pale braids and toss them behind my back.
“If Casper finds out you've gone off the rails you won't have to worry about not having told the gents your news.”
My gaze latches onto his.
“He'll terminate your employment without a thought. You can't go solo on this, Narah. This case no longer falls under client needs anymore. Once you and I—as your partner—though I feel like a tolerated sidekick—discovered that Talyn was a Lycan hybrid, our duty was done. Lycan politics don't impact Final Enforcement's ever-changing model. We distribute justice to the criminals our lovely police force doesn't want to dirty their hands with. We help humans who have problems of the supernatural variety.”
I blink. That's the longest speech I've ever heard Murph make. “Until the circle closes,” I reply.
Murph nods. “Yes. Until our obligation comes to its natural end. Which it has. We've already used Enforcement resources for clean-up. Now you're saying we need to find Talyn. It's clear that others were here.” He gives an abbreviated laugh, stabbing his eyes at the mess all around us. “They fought. And now Talyn is gone. And it is abundantly clear that Merck—and Arden—for that matter, will not stop chasing Talyn until she's transitioned. Let. It. Go.”
My hands go to my hips, and I dip my chin.
I struggle internally with not following through. My nature intrinsically sees a task or promise through to the end. Possibly because no one saw anything through for me. All promises broken.
Until I was turned and mated by vampires.
I wish I could let it go. Let Talyn's life come to whatever conclusion fate has in store for her.
“You can't let go,” Murphy says softly.
I lift my head, giving Murph level eyes. “No.”
“Fuck it,” he says, taking my hand, he hauls me out of Talyn's busted up digs.
“Where are you taking me?” I yank my hand out of his.
We turn to face each other.
“If you're committing possible suicide, I might as well have some skin in it.”
I jerk my chin back. “Huh? You've lost me.”
“I might be a lot of things, but saving my own skin is top on the list. I might actually live to see the next night if I help you get this out of your system.”
“And if I say no?”
Murphy steps into my space, looming over my small frame. “You tell me to piss off, and I'll run straight to the boys and let them in on your secret.”
“Bastard.”
“Yes.” He jerks his head in an enthusiastic nod. “But someone has to look out for you since you won't.”
“And look out for you,” I say, sarcasm like thick honey on my tongue.
The corners of his lips turn up.
I shove him good-naturedly in the chest and he stumbles back. “Hey!”
“Let's go, ya brute.”
I wink.
He glowers.
10
Talyn
“So—what? Duncan was always a derelict criminal, bent on kidnapping me?”
Drake's head kicks back, eyes fixed on the ceiling. “Pretty much.”
I sigh, tipping my head back against the wall. “The whole ʻasking me out on a dateʼ after workout at the gym?”
“Ruse,” he replies in a bored tone.
“God.”
“Not a believer, I'm afraid.”
I narrow my gaze at him. Like Merck, this guy is super-tall, built like a pro-wrestler and maybe he'd even be attractive.
Except for the scales.
And probably a forked tongue. Wait a minute—does he breathe fire?
I shiver.
Drake sees my reaction and smiles, his eyes crinkling at the corners.
I'm so thrilled by his amusement. I shake off my curiosity for the moment. “You know, I think you shifters have to change into an animal that actually exists. It has to be a rule somewhere.”
A smile hovers at his lips. “And you're the authority on shapeshifters.”
“No,” I say defensively, “but in our world's ecosystem, I've never heard a breath of dragons as a real species. It's just bad science fiction.”
Drake's eyebrow cocks. “Really?”
He paces away, and I admire his wonderful body. In the middle of being a hostage, a crushing warmth steals my breath, piping through my system like lava.
I groan.
Drake whirls, staring intently at me, his concern is evident. “You're close.” His nostrils flare and a disconcerting twitch of his strange yet delicately constructed ears flicks. A rainbow waterfall like a shadow of colors ripples over his flesh head to toe.
I wheeze.
“Get these restraints off me!” I say loudly, denying my sexual needs.
Drake's hands fist, his eyes furtively moving about the room.
“Please,” I beg. My crotch is on fire, I'm exhausted and dirty and so low from lack of hope I can taste it.
He seems to come to a decision and extracts a knife from his back pocket. The blade flicks out with a smooth movement of his hand.
My eyes widen at the reflection of the metal.
With large eyes and a speeding heart, I watch him come.
I went too far, I demanded, and now the Dragon shifter guy—Mutable, whatever—has decided I'm more trouble than I'm worth.
“Don't hurt me.”
He comes to stand in front of me then sinks to his haunches.
A single tear swells, tipping over the rim of my eye.
“Don't.” My voice is hoarse, my terror rides my skin, raising goose flesh everywhere clothes don't touch.
Instead of answering, Drake leans forward, his arms going behind my body. I instinctively tense just as he gives off an odor unlike anything I've ever smelled.
I relax instantly. It's air and sea and earth, wind along my nose. His scent is all these things and more.
The pressure of the ties snaps off my wrists and my aching arms fall forward. His hands move down first one shin.
“Ah,” I gurgle embarrassingly in response to his touch.
Cut.
Then the next.
When my legs are free he grasps my hands and lifts me to my feet. I come to his shoulder.
Fear sweeps in again.
More of Drake's sweet scent pumps into the air around us, assailing my nostrils, and I find myself falling forward. Into his arms.
At his mercy.
My intellect batters at the new scent drunk closing in. I'm drowning—and I like it.
I don't notice the commotion at first. When my feet leave the ground, my arms automatically tuck against a broad, muscular chest.
My face rolls to the flat muscles of his chest and I inhale deeply.
His scent is a drug, and I'm an addict.
A sudden crack breaks through my lethargy. My head jerks up and I peer out of the arms that hold me.
Merck and Arden burst into the room.
Oh, I think through the fog.
And they're not alone.
Enforcer Adrienne and her companion—a vampire by the looks of him—have arrived.
The cavalry is here to rescue me.
I look up at Drake and that small smile rides his full lips.
His eyes are no longer human.
“Leave and live another day.�
�� Drake says.
The answer to the forked tongue question has been answered.
I randomly wonder how enunciating S's must be. I giggle and Merck and Arden look at me.
“This is bad,” I hear Arden say like he's a million miles away.
“Which part?” Adrienne asks as a chair sails over her head, crashing into the cheap wall and buckling it.
“The part where a dragon has claimed Talyn.”
Someone groans. I realize it's me.
Claimed?
“Oh shit.” I recognize the enforcer's voice but my eyelids are already closing. Drake's scent is so intoxicating, I feel the buzz of his nearness take over.
“Bloody hell!” another voice yells.
But I'm already fading. As another fight ensues, I vaguely wonder what escape really means for me.
The noise dims, and even that question becomes unimportant as I doze off.
THE END
SHIFTER
An Alpha Claim Brief-Bites® Novelette
Episode 4
New York Times Bestselling Author(s)
MARATA EROS
TAMARA ROSE BLODGETT
All Rights Reserved.
Copyright © 2015 Marata Eros
Copyright © 2015 Tamara Rose Blodgett
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Cover art by: Willsin Rowe
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1
Narah
“For fuck's sake!”
I so didn't need a dragon Mutable mess. Didn't order that.
A chair cruises over my head, the leg catching the mess of my braids and jerking hard.
I know my hair's a liability—I've stubbornly kept it in a bid for femininity. As I land in an ungraceful pile on the floor, I regret the long hair, and not telling the boys I'm knocked up.
With a... I don't know? Fang baby?
As the enemy pours through the door to see what all the ruckus is about, I fight crying. I'm so in my damned head, my thoughts are cannibalizing my brains.
“Love,” Murphy calls out with soft urgency, “move your bony arse!”
I whip a palm into the air and his slaps mine, hoisting me up.
Jamie Duncan walks in, looking decidedly toothy.
Great. This is the stalker dude—he's not a human? My glare falls on a drunken and claimed Talyn Phisher in the arms of a hot dragon Mutable.
Not hot as in sexy, but hot-underneath-the scales.
Can't I just catch the criminals anymore? Now I'm refereeing mating too?
Ask me if I care. “Grab the client,” I say to Murph.
“Oh no, love, I don't do dragons.”
I turn to Murphy, hands on hips. “I'm not asking you to do him, Murph. Just get Talyn.”
“What?!” he yells. “Have you noticed anything a more sensible person would? Like scales? And fire-breathing? I will be a barbequed vampire if I get near his claim.”
My eyebrows shoot down. I stalk over to the dragon, muttering about how I have to do everything myself. I look up, way up—as steam lazily pools and dissipates out his ears and nose.
Wow. Up close he's a thing.
I suck in a balls-to-the-wall inhale.
Whatever.
Jamie Duncan is sleazing along the wall, and my blade is suddenly in my hand without me thinking about pulling it. Obsidian—volcanic glass hardened metal of champions—gotta love technology. “Back off mutt,” I say without looking at him. My peripheral vision will have to keep tabs on the Lycan because I've got fire-breather holding my client.
“Stay out of Mutable business, enforcer,” Duncan replies from my left, conveniently allowing me to place his position.
I give a hard eye roll. “Fuck off,” I say, and my blade's already flying. A satisfying meaty thunk and yelp have me curling my lips.
My focus returns to the Mutable. “Drop the chick, dragon.”
His eyes are like a snake's. Golden green, bisected by oblong-shaped inky pupils.
They're dilated, eating away at the smoldering peridot color.
Those riveting eyes fix on me. “No. This transitioning female is mine now.” He glances at where I stabbed Duncan, his eyes moving back to me. “However, I do appreciate you taking one more Mutable out of the equation for my goals.”
This guy. “Fine. Whatever fuels your fire, dragon-boy.”
“Narah,” Murphy says from behind me.
“What?” I turn slightly, grumpy from all the interference but still keeping a wary eye on Dragon.
The males who are connected to Talyn stand there—Merck and Arden.
God. Can't catch a break. Okay. “You two,” I wave my finger between the two, “flank dragon, get him all hot and bothered and we'll snag Talyn.”
Murphy says, “You do understand you're telling the Mutable what your intentions are?”
“Yup.” I nod. “Like he's wondering about my intentions?” I snort. As an enforcer, my intentions are always known.
Big exhale from Murph. Exasperation. Hear it a lot.
“I am Alpha to all,” the Dragon says.
My eyebrows rise, and I fight yawning; I'm all draggy. And hormonally pissed off. But Dragon doesn't know that.
Who the hell wants to deal with an Enforcer with all-day-morning-sickness, and who is also conveniently, a vampire.
Quick answer: nobody.
I feel the Mutables at my back. I guess it's not too great a sign that none of them will come near the dragon even with the prize of Talyn in the mix.
“Here's the thing,” I begin, “you just lay the client down right there, and I'll let you live, big boy.”
The hard edges of his lips twist. “You're charming, but I must refuse.”
Figures.
I don't wait for Arden or Merck to make their play. They've got my back or not.
I charge, low and hard.
Dragon's eyes widen at my speed.
Surprise, ember-dick.
Being tiny has its uses. Like now. I plow into his knees, wrapping his lower body and rolling as I do.
Heat warms my back.
Shit.
I tuck hard and begin to heave his large body with my momentum. A vague hiss ensues and I know Murphy is preparing to strike.
Dragon falls with Talyn.
Their body weight pins me.
Oh shit. Not feelinʼ it.
Dragon's eyes meet mine. A forked tongue slides out.
I pride myself on having nerves of steel. But when that hot tongue tastes my face, a scream wedges itself in my throat.
“Narah!” Murphy bellows from above Dragon's shoulder.
Fangs sink into Dragon's neck as half-changed Lycans each take a piece with their teeth.
A roaring fills my ears and heat encapsulates me.
Stealing the scream I never get out.
2
Talyn
I remember when saunas were in vogue.
It was the cool thing to do. Work out, use the sauna, cleanse your pores.
It's overrated.
My eyes pop open to the smell of singed flesh and air that tastes like metal.
Drake stands above me, his mouth opening and fire pouring out.
Oh. My. God.
Maybe I can just crawl away. Seems to be a theme.
I subtly begin to back away from between his legs then my eyes peg his dick.
It's very... sizable.
My core pulses, enjoying the view.
; That again.
I close my eyes in defeat. First violence, now this irritating lust issue. It doesn't matter, I tell myself, if I can just get away.
I scoot back as Drake blankets the room with fire.
Fur shrinks on bodies, melting against skin without a protective barrier. I gulp, breathing through my mouth. The smell of burning flesh, and the blood flowing underneath is gorge-worthy.
Enforcer Adrienne is hanging onto Drake's legs. She can't get purchase because they're covered with scales.
Time to go.
Drake seems to ignore her. Every subtle shift of his weight, and the hardened shapes shimmer like multifaceted jewels.
I'm mesmerized.
Sweat breaks out on my forehead.
The shrieking and chaos of the room is total. There doesn't seem to be a piece of silence in all the world.
A vampire hangs off Drake's shoulder like a tick with fangs. When my gaze catches sight of Arden I'm on my feet before I realize I'm moving.
“No!” I yell.
His spots are running together like melted candle wax, his animal is wheezing, fur standing like strangled patches of singed ivory islands in the raw charred skin that lies beneath.
I run to him.
The fire recedes, vaporing heat shimmers between us.
“Talyn, stop!”
Merck.
I slide in next to Arden, heedless of the torch of Drake's mouth all around us.
My fingertips hover over his wounded skin, unsure where to touch first. An unburned paw lands on my thigh, twice the size of my hand, and I close my fingers around claws meant to kill.
“Arden?” I say brokenly, huge teardrops landing on his charred fur.
He doesn't seem to mind.
“Talyn,” he chokes from the back of his throat, “get out of here.”
I shake my head, making myself dizzy. “Drake can torch us both, I'm not leaving.”
“Yes you are,” Merck jerks me from the floor. My frantic eyes move to Arden's, and he manages to shake his head, his dying eyes encouraging me to leave.
Drake's gaze finds us, and he smiles, striding toward us.
Adrienne rears back, a black glittering opaque blade arcing downward.
Angelic Blood (#5): Alpha Warriors of the Blood (The Blood Series) Page 32