by J. C RIMELL
Chapter Thirty-Six
Leon felt close now. He had sensed a relatively fresh signature in the air just inland from the shore, on the edge of a small town. It was a picture postcard in the breaking dawn. Pastel-painted shop fronts and neat, pedestrianized sidewalks. How very charming. Having followed the unmistakable trail of Seth, he was intrigued as he took in the scent surrounding the house a few meters away it had led him to.
The building was guarded by two police officers and were momentarily joined by another police vehicle. Leon and his men crouched behind the thick greenery offered by the wooded area encompassing the home. He waited while the changeover took place between the officers. Once the second car had departed, he and his men found a way to the back of the property.
Seth had definitely been here, but on closer examination, Leon could no longer discern his presence. Yet something prickled his sensitive perception. He homed in on the intense feeling, wondering what was causing the strange sensation. He and his men kept low against the back of the house. Leon was just shy of the kitchen window ledge, and could hear the voices drifting through the window as if he was standing in the same room. The fact it was two females sung to his inner sanctuary, made his mouth water and his loins ache.
“There is no way in hell you're leaving this house until you get the all clear,” one of the female's said with a parental tone to her sweet voice.
Taking a risk, Leon edged closer and peered through the window.
A young female rolled her eyes and perched herself on the kitchen counter. “Fine,” she huffed.
“In fact,” the older female continued as she shoved a bowl of something into the hand of the other one. “Since I'm staying home today, too, we can watch movies and eat chocolate.” She took a sip from her cup in her other hand before continuing, “I'll even let you pick first.”
Leon's mouth curled into a cruel smile, he knew Seth had been here, his scent lingered heavily in the air. His thoughts became sharp with dark interest. What had lured the ancient Walker here? He wondered. Moving to the side of the window he stood to his full height. “We will secure this house and the occupants.” His voice was subvocal but easily heard by his men. “The females within are mine.”
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Fleet had selected Gunner, Ryker, and Nevada to head out and track down the Vampire King's coven. After a little gentle persuasion by Murphy, the Other, Seth, had offered information on the location, numbers and who the King was. The rest of the pack were on standby.
The group was loading up one of the packs' black SUV's, they would head North and travel light. Most of the equipment was of the military kind; Guns, ammo, detonators and flamethrowers to name but a few.
Madeleine had prepared a rucksack of medical supplies and strong pain meds. The packs' wounds healed naturally most of the time, but a few injuries took more time than others to repair. She suddenly went a little cold. The thought of her not being there to help them, and even more specifically, there to help Ryker, filled her heart with dread.
“Madeleine?”
His warm, baritone voice caught her attention as he entered the medical room, and she felt heat bloom across her skin. He looked lethally beautiful. Garbed in black on black military clothing skimming over his broad, muscular body that flexed and tightened with each move toward her. Madeleine saw the slightest hint of a limp that only she would notice. The bright florescent lighting made his lips more prominent, and the shadow beneath his cap a shade darker, forever hiding his eyes.
“You okay?” he asked, his rich tone full of sincerity as she fiddled with the stray curls that had fallen free again, trying to tuck them back into place.
“Huh, huh,” she replied, trying to avoid his gaze, even though she couldn't see it, she felt his stare like a warm ocean wave cascading over her body. “Here,” she said, handing him med supplies after she'd calmed her rebellious locks. “There should be everything you need if you, I mean, in case anyone is seriously wounded.”
When Ryker entered the medical room, he noticed the far away look in Madeleine's gaze. He was glad he'd decided to come and see her before he left. She'd been weighing heavily on his mind lately and keeping him awake at night. She'd always stirred a deep emotion within him he felt compelled to understand, but couldn't. He knew shifters were supposed to just know it when they found their mate. And although Madeleine was everything he could ever want and hope for, even against the rules that bound each one of them, he was inexplicably drawn to her.
But there was something missing.
His eyes locked onto her, watching in curiosity as she messed with her beautiful cinnamon curls. He'd often wondered what those strands would feel like entwined around his fingers. Heat flared in his stomach as he moved in closer. The scent of her filled his nose, and he studied every tingling sensation in his body. Every sign that might be the one telling him she was his. But when her gaze snapped up to meet his, something seemed to dampen the spirit in her bright sparkling eyes the way it always did.
Perhaps that was the confusion, he thought, the look in those cinnamon eyes was misleading. One minute he was sure she felt something for him, the next they seemed to fade behind clouds of doubt. He took the bag of medical supplies from her. “Thanks,” he said, tugging the peak of his cap down further, the way he always did when he was nervous or something bothered him. “I'll see you soon, Madeleine.”
She stared at him as he turned and headed for the door. Her heart skipped with a frantic pulse in her chest, and in a sudden burst of sheer madness Madeleine refused to hold back any longer.
“Ryker… wait!”
Ryker wheeled around to face her and she rushed to him, stopping a mere fraction away. Her breath was suddenly shallow and her tongue felt tied. She was overwhelmed with a desperate need to see his eyes.
Reaching up slowly, Madeleine tugged the peak of his cap back and took it off. Mesmerized, she watched him rub a nervous hand over his short, deep brown hair, his eyes dropping to the floor in an attempt to shield his gaze from her.
“Am I that awful to look at?” she asked with a shot of humor, followed by a nervous laugh. All she wanted was for him to look at her, allow her the privilege of seeing his feelings once and for all.
His head remained bowed, and she felt her heart sink a little inside. “I'm sorry,” she said, shoving the trademark cap into his chest, “my mistake.”
He clenched the cap in a tight grip and spat out a curse, dropping the bag he followed her as she exited through the doors into the corridor.
“Madeleine… c'mon, hold up!”
She kept on marching away from him, all too eager to put as much space between them as was possible. Only she wasn't quick enough.
“Madeleine… please.” He grabbed her shoulder in a firm hold and stopped her fleeing any further.
“I'm the one who's sorry.” He waited over countless heartbeats until she finally gave in and turned around to face him. Ryker looked her straight in the eyes and risked placing a hand on the nape of her neck in a gentle but possessive hold. He felt her body rise and fall with each breath she sucked in. Easing her tighter against him, he leaned in low and took her mouth with his own.
Her blood boiled as she marched away from Ryker. What was she thinking? He'd never allowed anyone to get close, to see into his soul and she was a fool to think he felt anything toward her. Obviously she had misread him, easy to do when someone hides the most important window into themselves.
She heard the heavy footfalls gaining ground behind her.
“Madeleine… c'mon, hold up!”
Like hell I will. She walked faster.
“Madeleine… please.”
She felt the weight of his large hand on her shoulder and was spun around before she had a chance to shrug him off.
Oh, sweet Lord. She had been about to bite his head off, not that she was easily provoked, but she felt a fool, and that stung like salt in a wound. But the moment she looked up and saw his eyes, shining like
tiger's eye gemstones, they made her feel weak. With hues of deep chestnut, burnt sienna, gold, and even flecks of red as the fluorescent strip lighting glowed overhead, she was lost. All at once, the anger inside of her melted away and a warm, fuzzy feeling settled in its place. Her stomach clenched and her mouth parted in complete awe.
She was enchanted.
Madeleine didn't resist when his hand slipped around her neck and tugged her in close, causing a small gasp to leave her lips. Her hands splayed across his broad chest and she felt his pectoral muscles bunch beneath her touch. She felt engraved against him. Like somehow she fit perfectly up close to his solid, muscular frame.
Then he kissed her.
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Cade had to get away. Unable to shake the irritation he'd had since dealing with the Other, he got on his Harley and headed out to see Kit. His wolf wouldn't rest. It paced back and forth in the forefront of Cade's mind, his eyes flared, still heated by anger that refused to simmer down. Leaving off his helmet, he allowed the wind speeding past him to blow through his hair and help clear his troubled thoughts. He had to see Kit and make sure she was okay, for both his sake and his wolf.
§
Jo handed Kit another tissue as the theme tune from Titanic ended. “I forgot just how that movie gets to me,” Kit said, before blowing her nose. She felt bunged up, heady, and sluggish.
“I think the next one should be a rom-com,” Jo suggested, before getting up from the sofa. She grabbed the soft, fleecy throw and covered Kit's feet, then handed her the TV remote so she could scroll through Netflix. “I'll get you some medicine and restock the chocolates,” she said making her way into the kitchen and leaving Kit to choose the next film.
Fifteen minutes later, 'Something About Mary' was about to start. “Come on, Jo!” Kit yelled, her voice sounding foreign due to her blocked nose and her throat being rough as sand paper. When there was no reply, Kit shoved the blanket aside and shimmied off the sofa. Her body ached and she felt stiff with limbs like lead weights as she tried to stand, sending her head fuzzy. The kitchen seemed so far away as she hauled her sorry backside over to the door.
“Jo?” Kit saw a room full of men, each of them strikingly handsome and tall, wearing head to toe black military clothing. One of them was sitting next to her aunt at the table.
Kit weaved a little on unsteady legs, they were heavy and cumbersome and she grabbed the door frame to steady herself. Her heart rate notched up a gear as her wide eyes saw her aunt's vacant gaze. “Jo?” she whispered, her eyes darting around the room before settling on the man sitting far too close to her aunt.
At first glance she thought it was maybe something to do with the pack Cade worked with. But he wasn't among the men in the room and judging by Jo's deadpan expression, Kit could see something was way off.
“Who the hell are you and what have you done to my aunt!” She pushed some volume into her voice the sound scraping like glass against her throat, her body shook, adrenaline seeped into her veins.
Leon had hypnotized the woman who was now sitting across from him. He'd felt his veins hammer with excitement when she had entered the room, she was a vision he could never have imagined even in his wildest dreams. It had been a while since he had his hands on such a lovely treat. But these were not the best circumstances to become acquainted with the beauty who would later serve him and make an excellent vampire.
He glanced up at the young woman who demanded an explanation. He could see they were related, sharing slight similarities like their high cheekbones and oval shaped faces. Narrowing his eyes, he studied the young woman. It was obvious this female had snared Seth's attention and Leon could see why he'd be drawn to such a woman, why any man would be. He was overly aware his group of soldiers were restraining their own desires. They, as he, could almost taste the fragrant blood that rushed through the human's veins.
“I assure you, she is unharmed.” He rose from his seat, slowly moving aside as not to frighten the young woman any further. He didn't miss how she took a tentative step back. “Please, won't you let me explain? I promise not to hurt her.” He smiled flashing a hint of fangs. “Not for anything.”
“You know, we have cops right outside!” Kit's voice cracked as she moved backward away from the raven haired male. He chuckled, the sound suffused with pretentious arrogance as he shook his head. Her chest restricted and the all too familiar sensation of panic threatened to immobilize her once again.
“Yes, you did.” He stopped a few feet from her and slid his hands into the pockets of his combat style pants. “I'm afraid we had to take care of them.” His head tilted to the side as he trapped her fearful gaze. “Now, why don't you sit and we can get to know one another.”
There was something cold and vindictive in his tone. His eyes flashed red beneath their ebony spheres and scared the shit right out of her. Yeah, Kit thought, as her heart rate spiked, that is so not going to happen. She guessed he wasn't human, but had no idea what the hell he was. Kit needed to get help fast, and that meant leaving her aunt and making a run for it. She was filled with guilt and terror. The thought of leaving Jo with all these―whatever they were―almost overpowered her. The panic attack tightened its grip, but she was no good to her aunt standing here defenseless either.
Kit peered over the tall male's shoulder at Jo and her stomach twisted in pain. It had the desired effect as the male turned away from her to follow her gaze back behind him. Kit span on her heel. Her body pumping fast with adrenaline and the fear, she bolted through the living room and threw open the front door. She sprinted across the porch and into the orchard leading to the drive and the main road. It was taking every ounce of effort she had, her body far from capable to be pushed to its limit's right now. But she had to. Her aunt depended on her and that was enough to propel her forward.
She called out toward the keeper's cottage and prayed Aden would hear her. But the closer she got she soon realized he wasn't there. No! The sound of the heavy wood cutting machinery in the distance drowned out her cries for help.
Kit didn't dare turn around as she ran over the dewy grass that soaked her socks. She let out a sharp scream as she neared the gates and saw two of the men from inside the house standing there, waiting for her.
No! How the hell did they do that? She hadn't even seen them.
Pivoting sharply, she leaped over the shrubbery and took off toward the forest which stretched out from the back of the property. The air was like fire in her lungs, her head was numb and pain coiled around her body as her silent tears fell and blurred her vision.
Twigs and stones and brambles bit at her feet piercing her skin through the cotton of her wet socks. Branches whipped her face and snagged her hair. She wanted to scream, for someone to hear her. But she pushed on, thinking of Jo in danger spurred her forward through the thickness of limbs that surrounded her.
Leon sent three of his men to bring the female back to him. They were under strict instruction to return her alive and unharmed. He now knew the woman with him was called Josephine, and the female that had fled was her niece, Kit. He'd found out snippets of information by sifting through some of Josephine's memories. He discovered he loved her mind. It was deep and complex, filled with emotion and warmth and it fascinated him. He wanted to lift the trance but now was not the time. First, they had the job of bringing back the young woman who would help draw out the vermin he sought to find. Then he could finish the business with Seth and his brother's once and for all.
The low distant rumble of a motorbike suddenly caught his attention.
“Sire,” one of his men beckoned him from the window of the living room, “we have company.”
Cade checked the pulses of the two cops slumped forward in their seats of the unmarked Ford. He cursed low as his canines elongated, his wolf storming his way forward. They were dead, most likely from the bite marks on their necks. It was obvious vampires had killed them and they had been sloppy, leaving their evidence for the whole world to s
ee.
Damn it. These were human officers. They had families which meant things were going to get messy and Henderson would be mighty pissed. He turned his attention to the house, his concern was now for Kit. Cade's eyes shifted to wolf, predominantly seeing rich colors like scarlet and yellow and enhancing his periphery vision. His muscles twisted and stretched, the animal within was desperate to get out. But Cade held it back as he ran toward the building with nothing but fury unfurling in his gut.
He caught the unmistakable trace of Kit's scent before reaching the porch. Slowing his gait, he lifted his nose in the air and everything told him she'd gone through the orchard. His wolf's hackles rose and growled, the sound humming loud in Cade's chest. Something else had followed her, the smell was heavy and foreign, like rust and metal, acrid and uncomfortable in his nose and throat. Too far out to send a clear telepathic message, he grabbed his cell phone and punched speed dial, then waited for Henderson to pick up.
“I'm going after Kit, the two cops out front of the house are dead and there may be more vampires inside.”
“Cade?” Jack heard the line go dead. “Fuck!” He jumped up checking his gun was in his holster and made a mad dash out of his office and across the foyer of the precinct, beckoning his team to join him.
Her fragrance was everywhere, and Cade picked up subtle hints of her blood, lavender, and warm spice. His stomach curled in tightly, his wolf snarled, viscous and seeing only red. Cade removed himself and set his inner beast free.
Kit couldn't hear anyone behind her, but she could feel their presence gaining on her like an arctic chill licking the back of her heels. Before she reached the edge of the forest bordering the coastal road into Shadow Creek, the hunter trapped her. He was dangerously attractive, his lithe body stood like a solid, impenetrable wall before. Having blurred past with such speed, she'd felt nothing more than an icy breeze cut across her skin, sharp like frostbite.