Vynn (War Cats Book 4)

by Grace Brennan

  “He sounds like a bastard. I knew it. Ashley hasn’t told me much yet, but from what she has said, I knew he was. And I know she’ll regret it if she tries to somehow get revenge for his death.”

  “He was evil, and I hate the thought of her living with him. He was a drunk, and he was verbally and sometimes physically abusive. And he hated what we are. Oh, God, she grew up with a man who hates shifters, and she probably didn’t have another of her kind around to teach her about herself.”

  He nodded grimly, even though Sam couldn’t see him. “He told her that shifters were mean and disgusting. That there’s something wrong with her because she has a fox. She knew nothing about our culture, and she was suppressing her animal. She never shifts willingly, and she and her fox are always fighting for her body. I’ve taught her about some things since she arrived, and she was relenting on her fox. And then something happened, and she’s back to suppressing her.”

  “What a clusterfuck. I’m glad you’re there to help her, don’t get me wrong, but it should have been me and Garret. We’ll be down there as soon as the roads are passable. We have to fix this. I want to kill my fucking dad all over again for this.”

  “Agreed. I wouldn’t mind killing your dad myself.”

  A noise caught his ears, and he turned away from the window, heart lurching when he found Ashley glaring at him. “You’re talking about me, aren’t you? Talking about my dad. You just fucking betrayed me, and from what I heard, you’re on the phone with one of my brothers. What the fuck, Vynn?”

  Dread filled his system as he stared at Ashley, her grayish green eyes full of angry tears. And he didn’t mistake the wetness as anything other than an expression of fury. She was pissed the fuck off because she heard him. She wasn’t supposed to know. He was going to ask her brothers to come and then not say anything until they showed up to talk to her. Fuck, fuck, fuck.

  “Hey, Sam. I gotta go. I’ll call you later.” Not waiting on a reply, he ended the call and set his phone down. “Ashley, it’s not—”

  “No. Don’t you dare say it’s not what I thought it was. You fucking betrayed me, Vynn. You called my brother and told him shit I told you. And I told you what I did, expecting that you wouldn’t talk about it behind my back. You let them know I was coming. Then you said you wished you could kill my dad.”

  “He’s not the man you thought he was. Sam confirmed it.”

  “Of course, he’d tell you that. I’m sure he wants to cover his tracks. But this isn’t about my brothers. It’s about what you just did to me.”

  His heart wrenched right from his fucking body, he swore, as he took in the accusation and heartache in her eyes. His tiger was shredding his chest, begging him to fix it, and he almost hunched over from the force of the pain. He took a few steps closer to her, halting when she held up a trembling hand.

  “I only wanted to help, Ash. I swear. I thought if I could get you together with them, you could talk and get answers before you did something you regret. I’m all for revenge, believe me, but these shifters don’t deserve it. I only wanted to help. You can hear the truth of that—”

  “You don’t get to decide whether they deserve it or not. I do. And don’t even bring up shifter shit right now, Vynn. My dad was absolutely right. You can’t trust a fucking shifter. And Kelly and Jessica were right about you. They told me how you were. They told me what the tribe members think you’ll do, and I fucking defended you. But I see now that they were right. If you can betray your supposed mate like this, you’re definitely capable of hurting them.”

  Fuck, that hurt. Right in his chest, squeezing his heart up tight. “Ashley, you have to listen—”

  She shook her head, cutting him off again as she walked up in front of him, squaring up to him. “No. I don’t. And I’m tired as shit of people telling me what to do. Of thinking that what I think and feel don’t matter. I’m tired of always getting hurt. This is why I hate people. First my dad, always drunk and going off about every little thing, slapping me around, making me feel worthless. Now you, pretending you care and then going behind my back to betray me. Fuck this shit, Vynn. And fuck you. I’m done.”

  As she said the last words, her hands flew out and she slammed them into his chest to shove him back. It felt like she hit him with a livewire, electricity arching through his body, pulling his skin tight. Pain exploded, burning through his veins, the shock of her touch powerful enough to send his body flying backward. He grunted as he crashed into the desk, the impact powerful enough to break the hard wood surface and rattle his teeth.

  Blinking hard, his vision blurry, he focused on her, gritting his teeth and breathing deeply through the pain and the remaining electrical currents running through his body. Her gray streaked green eyes were wide, her expression shocked as she covered her mouth with her hands. Inhaling, he fought to find his voice.

  “Well. I think you just found your shifter gift.”

  Chapter Twelve

  Ashley could tell her eyes were as wide as they could be, and her fingers trembled as she stared at Vynn, lying in the broken and shattered remains of his desk. Holy. Shit.

  What the hell had she done?

  There was a part of her that felt a little guilty. Going by the look on Vynn’s face, she’d seriously hurt him. But she squashed it. He deserved it, and more, for what he’d done. And if he stood back up, she’d figure out what it was she’d done, and do it again.

  That. Was. Awesome, her fox said, awe coating her voice.

  For once, we’re in agreement on something.

  “That was my gift? What was it?”

  He grimaced, rubbing his chest. “It was like a massive electrical shock. Hurt like hell.”

  He started to get up, and she held out a hand. “Don’t. Don’t get up until I’m out of the house.”

  Alarm crossed his face. “Ashley, you can’t leave now. You’ll freeze.”

  “I’m not stupid. I’ll find somewhere else to go where I can stay warm, but I won’t stay here. We have nothing else to say to each other. This, whatever it was, between us is done. You know, you had me fooled. I actually wanted to come back here and stay with you. I’m glad I overheard that conversation before I did something so stupid. Now I’m leaving. Stay away from me from now on, Vynn. Don’t try to stop me and don’t follow me.”

  Spinning on her heel, ignoring the look of anguish in his eyes—because surely that was all lies—she went straight to the mud room, shoving her feet into her boots and putting her coat on. She should probably get her clothes together, but she was too furious right now, and she had to work it out of her before it completely consumed her.

  Furious… and hurt. And that just pissed her off more. She hated that she’d given someone power over her. Again. Power to hurt her, to make her feel. What the hell had she been thinking to allow that?

  She stomped through the snow—well, more like waded—not sure where she was going, just sure she needed to get away. The emotions were all bubbling up inside her, testing her limits. What the hell had he been thinking when he called her brother? Helping her? Was he serious with that?

  When Kelly and Jessica were telling her what the Vynn they knew was like, she’d thought they were blind. Because the man she knew was nothing like that. But maybe it was she who was blind. Maybe the man he was with her was all an act.

  No. It wasn’t an act. He really was only trying to help, her fox said.

  Oh, Lord, not you, too. No, he wasn’t. He betrayed me. He went behind my back, to people he knows I hate, and told them things I only told him. Thank God I only gave him the bare bones about it, or everyone would know my business.

  Exactly.

  She furrowed her brow. Exactly what?

  He didn’t even know all of it and still wanted to help. He didn’t know all of it but still could tell how evil your dad was.

  I think evil is a stretch. And my dad? Isn’t he your dad, too?

  The fox recoiled. Hell no. I came from your mother. He had nothing to do wit
h my conception. And yes, evil. He was a rotten drunk who regularly slapped you around. How you feel like he was so amazing is beyond me.

  Ashley furrowed her brow. Her fox had a point about not coming from him. And… fuck. Blowing out a breath, she stopped inside the woods, watching the blowing wind swirl the snow around. Maybe she even had a point about Hank, her dad. About how horrible he was. But she sure as fuck wasn’t ready to admit that yet.

  Let’s say all that’s true. Let’s say Hank is a horrible man, and I shouldn’t be after revenge. Vynn still shouldn’t have gone behind my back telling tales. That’s my business, not his. And he knew how I’d feel about it. He stuck a knife in my back, plain and simple.

  That was what it felt like, too. A knife stuck between her shoulder blades, leaving a gaping, bloody wound exposed, that shot straight to her chest. To her heart. And it fucking hurt like hell.

  He knew you weren’t going to give on this. He knew you were digging in your stubborn heels and weren’t going to listen about not going after your brothers.

  Doesn’t matter. He still didn’t have the right. And why the hell am I even talking to you right now? I should be suppressing you.

  I’m glad you aren’t. And I forgive you for beginning to do it again yesterday.

  That stopped Ashley in her tracks. What the hell do you mean? I don’t need forgiveness.

  Oh, I think you do. And I think you need to learn how to forgive.

  What—

  “Ashley! What are you doing out here?”

  Jumping and slapping a hand over her suddenly racing heart, she whirled around to find Jessica standing behind her. “Oh, you scared me. And I’m just getting away from Vynn.”

  Jessica’s chocolate brown eyes twinkled at her. “He finally get to be too much for you?”

  “Something like that. I’m not sure I want to go back to his house at all, but I don’t have anywhere to go until the snow clears and I can leave Durga.”

  Jessica’s smile faded, her eyes turning concerned. “It’s that bad? You’re welcome to stay at the palace. I’m sure Kian won’t mind. In my suite, or your own room. There are twelve bedrooms in there, so there are plenty to spare.”

  Ashley pursed her lips, considering the offer. But she didn’t really have another choice if she wanted to get out of Vynn’s house. “That would be great. Thanks. I’d have to go get my clothes, even though I really don’t want to go back there.”

  “If I were Kelly, I’d start prying,” Jessica replied with a soft laugh. “But I won’t. You can tell me or not, it doesn’t matter. Come on, let’s go to the palace and get out of this cold. We can send one of the men after your belongings.”

  She nodded, turning toward the palace. “I like the sound of that. What are you doing out here in the woods, by the way?”

  “I like to dabble in herbs, and there’s one I was looking for. But I don’t see—oh, I see one over there. Hold on just a second while I go fetch it, please. I’ll be quick.”

  Nodding, she smiled as Jessica rushed back behind them, and then turned, looking at the palace through the trees. It was still intimidating to her, but it really was pretty—

  A screech sounded behind her, and she turned, freezing in place when she saw a man with a mask over his face holding onto a struggling Jessica. She was trying to get away, jerking her way out of her coat and leaving him holding just the garment. But the man grabbed her blouse to yank her back, ripping it down the back during their struggle.

  Fury burned through Ashley’s veins, and she sprinted forward as the man tried to drag Jessica into the woods. Shit, what could she do to help? She could shift, but she didn’t think her fox could do much damage to the man. He was huge and thickly muscled, and even though her fox was big, she wasn’t a match for him.

  Her gift! She could zap him. But how? Remembering everything she’d been feeling when she touched Vynn, she channeled all her hurt and fury into her thoughts and body. Rushing forward, she shoved her shoulder into Jessica to get her away from the attacker and clamped her hands to the sides of the man’s head.

  With a loud roar, he crumpled, and she snatched her hands away as he fell to his knees. Turning to a shocked Jessica, she shoved her forward. “Move, now! The palace.”

  Terror flitted across Jessica’s face as she nodded, turning to sprint to the palace, her torn shirt streaming behind her. Ashley was right on her heels as they reached the door, and it burst open right as they reached it.

  “What the hell is going on?” the giant man with caramel skin and black hair demanded, his look concerned as he took in Jessica’s appearance.

  She shoved Jessica inside. “I’ll talk. Get in.”

  Jessica nodded, turning to go inside as another huge man with long blond hair appeared. Ashley frowned as she caught a glimpse of something between Jessica’s shoulder blades, but she dismissed it as she turned to the men.

  “There was a man in the woods. He grabbed Jessica and tried to take her away. I managed to stun him and we ran straight here.”

  “Fuck,” the one with blond hair spat. “Karis, Jameson! Get your asses to the woods now!”

  The darker man started to leave, then turned. “Thank you for saving her. I’m assuming you’re Ashley. I’m Kian, the alpha. And that’s Zane. You have my never-ending gratitude for saving a member of my tribe.”

  She nodded to him as two more men ran out of the door, watching for a moment as they ran for the woods, two of them immediately shifting into tigers, one white and one orange. Shivering at the sight of the apex predators, she went inside and quickly walked to Jessica’s room.

  Knocking softly, she waited only a moment before Jessica appeared. She had tears brimming in her eyes that she quickly dashed away as she held the door open for Ashley. She walked inside, looking at Jessica in concern.

  “You okay?”

  “Yeah, sorry. Just a little shaken up.”

  She shook her head. “You don’t have to apologize to me. You have every right to be upset right now.”

  Jessica smiled shakily at her and then turned to where a new shirt was sitting on a chair. “I appreciate that, but I’m a submissive tiger. I tend to say I’m sorry a lot, so if you’re going to stay here, you might want to get used to that.”

  She opened her mouth to reply, pausing when she got sight of Jessica’s back and saw the mark again. “Do you have a tattoo? This is probably going to sound like I’m judging, but you don’t seem the type to have one.”

  Jessica jumped and whirled around. “I almost forgot about that. Yeah, I guess it’s a tattoo, but I don’t know what it’s for. You’re right, I’m not really the type to have one. I’m not the one who got it. It’s just always been there.”

  She frowned, walking forward a few steps. “Can I see it?”

  Jessica nodded and turned around as Ashley came closer. Stepping up right behind her, she studied the small tattoo centered in the middle of Jessica’s shoulder blades. It was two letters, a capital DB, the letters curly with swirls. The B had a tail that ran underneath the two letters—an actual tail, although she couldn’t tell the kind of tail it was, or if it was supposed to be specific at all.

  The ink was black, but it was shimmery, kind of metallic. She cocked her head this way and that, watching the letters appear to dance with the shimmering ink and her movements.

  “And you said you never went out and got this? How is that possible?” she asked as she stepped back, turning away to give Jessica privacy to change her shirt.

  There was rustling for a moment. “I’m decent now. And I don’t know. My only theory is that it was inked onto me before I came here when I was ten. My memories before coming to Durga are hazy at best, and I don’t have many. That and the fact that I don’t remember getting it makes it probable that it happened before I got here.”

  “So you have no idea what it means. It seems odd to tattoo a young child, so it has to have a meaning. And it’s so specific. At least, it feels that way.”

  Jessica nodde
d. “I agree. It has meaning, I just have no clue what it is. And I have no idea how to find my parents to ask. I know they were nobles of a tiger tribe on the East Coast, but that’s it. The only person who had the tribe’s name was Kian’s father, and he took it to the grave with him. I guess I’ll never know.”

  Jessica looked sad about that, and it made Ashley feel guilty for even bringing it up. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to bring up something that’s painful to you.”

  “Oh, it’s okay. It’s something I resigned myself to a long time ago. And it was a nice distraction from thinking about someone trying to kidnap me.”

  Jessica’s words were rueful, but a flash of fear shot through her eyes as she said them, and she wrapped her arms around her waist. Before Ashley could answer, a knock sounded on the door.

  “Jessica, it’s Kian and Zane. Can we come in?”

  Jessica walked to the door, opening it and allowing the men to come inside. “Did you catch him?”

  Kian shook his head grimly. “He was gone when we got there. We have warriors out looking, but there were no unfamiliar scents to follow.”

  Jessica’s eyes widened. “Which means it was a member of the tribe.”

  Zane nodded, the look in his eyes murderous. “Exactly. We’re calling Vynn to see if he can track him, but the woods around the palace have had a lot of traffic. Even his gift might not be able to help.”

  Kelly appeared in the door, knocking briefly before going to Jessica and pulling her into a hug. “I just heard. You okay, honey?”

  “I’m fine,” Jessica replied, squeezing her friend tightly before pulling out of the hug.

  Kelly turned to the men. “I heard that last part. So you’re trusting Vynn? Is that wise?”

  Zane’s eyes shot to Ashley. “Kelly,” he said, a warning in his eyes.

  “Oh, she knows how we feel,” his mate replied with a wave of her hand.

  She frowned, her thoughts floating back to this morning. “I’m pretty sure y’all were right about him, too.”