Blood and Bite (Rune Alexander)

by Laken Cane

  He shrugged, then nodded at Rune. “If you recommend her.”

  Rune gave Tina the floater’s number. Sherry, besides lending her services to Shiv Crew when they needed an extra hand, was also the sister of one of Rune’s wolves.

  She’d also staked Rune’s mother, but Rune couldn’t really hold that against her. She’d been doing the job Rune had hired her to do.

  Ellis stuck his head into the room. “Can he come back in now?”

  “Yes,” Tina said.

  The boy walked back into the room with Ellis, his candy bar almost gone.

  Rune addressed her next question to both parents. “Wouldn’t it be easier to just allow the kid to help find missing people? I know it’d be impossible for him to help everyone who needs it, but maybe if you took the most serious cases.”

  “No,” Strad said. That was all, just no.

  Tina put her arm around Matthew. “Matthew found a missing child for a family friend fifteen months ago. My fault, I’m aware,” she snapped, looking at Strad. “It nearly killed him. He still has not recovered. He—”

  As if on cue, Matthew gasped and dropped his candy. His entire body stiffened and his eyes rolled so far back only the whites were visible.

  His back arched and he fell, but Strad caught him and gently lowered him to the floor. Tina put her fingers to her mouth, backing away from the seizing boy.

  “That,” she half-screamed, looking at Rune. “That’s from finding the last child.”

  “Z, call 911,” Rune ordered, and dropped to the floor beside the child and his father. “Jack—”

  “No,” Strad interrupted. “Paramedics can’t help. Doctors can’t help. We’ve had him to the best.”

  “His doctor gave me Valium for these episodes, but they don’t stop them. They only make him sicker.” Tina leaned weakly against the wall, her face pale, eyes wide. “Oh God please. Please.”

  “Tina,” Rune said. “You take the Valium. Jack, get her some water.” She looked at Strad. “What do we do?”

  “We wait,” he said.

  Tina huddled in the corner muttering about suppositories, but she took the water when Jack handed it to her.

  The seizure lasted for nearly five minutes and when he came out of it, Matthew lay quiet, dazed.

  “He’ll sleep now,” Strad said. “I’ll take him home.”

  Tina finally pushed away from the wall and leaned over to smooth her son’s hair over his forehead. “We need a home. He needs a home.” Her voice was low, angry.

  “I’m looking,” Strad answered.

  Rune stared at the boy, pretending not to be listening to the conversation. We need a home.

  “Your apartment is certainly not good enough. There’s not even a back yard or a place he can safely—”

  “He is not the one complaining,” Strad said, “and will be fine until I find a secure place.” He shot an uncomfortable look at the others in the room.

  If the circumstances hadn’t been so serious, Rune might have laughed. The berserker doing something as mundane as arguing with his wife…who would have thought?

  Rune had never been to the berserker’s house and had no idea where he lived. “I’ll need your address so I can come check on him or sit with him if you need me to.”

  “Thank you,” Tina said, and gave Rune the address.

  Rune smiled. “It’s what we do. We protect the humans.” Once upon a time, they’d protected only the humans. Not so now. Now, they protected anyone—human or Other—who needed protecting.

  She watched as the berserker lifted his son from the floor. With a tenderness she hadn’t thought the huge, raging man capable of, he carried the boy from the room.

  She sighed. “I’m going to see Raze.” She looked at Jack and Z, who’d stood quietly during the events of the last few minutes. “Anyone want to go with me?”

  “He won’t see you, Rune,” Ellis said. “Go have some lunch.”

  “And coffee,” Jack added. He knew about Rune’s coffee addiction.

  “After. I’m going to see Raze.”

  No one mentioned the berserker or his sudden family.

  As she strode down the hall, Z and Jack on either side of her, Lex and the twins came out of the break room. Lex looked fine—the setbacks, while sudden and vicious, never kept her down for long.

  “You okay, Lex?” she asked.

  “I am.”

  “Good.”

  “Rune—”

  “Not right now.” Rune did not want questions about Strad.

  She had no idea how to answer them.

  But her body was aching. It was craving blood that had been withheld for too long. Not long ago she’d have ignored its calling, but things had changed.

  She and her monster had merged, much like RISC and SCRU.

  Now, now she wanted to feed.

  Would feed.

  It was just a question of from whom the blood would flow.

  Chapter Four

  “I tried to bring Raze out to see you. He refused to come.”

  She stared up at the young cop, not surprised. “Let me into his pod.”

  “Now you know I can’t do that.” But he picked at his thumbnail, darting his eyes away from hers.

  She just smiled.

  “Dammit, Alexander. I can’t just let you into a pod.”

  “He won’t come out so I have no choice. Take me back, Greg.”

  “He only has two days left. Come on. You can wait two days to see him.”

  She shook her head. “I need to see him now. It’s RISC business or I wouldn’t insist.”

  He believed the lie, or maybe he just wanted to believe it. “You can’t discuss much in there, you know.”

  “We’ll manage. Take me back.”

  He sighed. “If I get my ass chewed for this—”

  “You won’t.”

  He didn’t appear convinced, but did as she asked. It didn’t hurt that he had a crush on her. Before they got far, though, an older guard Rune wasn’t as familiar with stopped them.

  “He changed his mind. You can see him in a private room.” He winked.

  She lifted an eyebrow. “Raze changed his mind?”

  “He said he knew you wouldn’t go away.” Again, he winked.

  Asshole. “Just bring him.”

  “Already did. Come on, girl. I’ll take you back and we’ll give you oh…twenty minutes. That should be plenty of time to do what you can’t wait two days for.”

  She sighed. It wouldn’t be the best idea to deck the son of a bitch, but she was tempted to do it anyway. “Greg will take me back. You need to get the fuck out of my face.”

  He dropped his jolly smile like a hot rock. “Be careful, Alexander. You don’t scare as many people as you think you do.”

  “I don’t want to scare you. But this is the last warning I’m going to give you to get the fuck out of my face.” She moved her shoulders to loosen them, then dropped her fangs. They made an audible click when they popped through her gums.

  Shit. Why did I do that?

  She was embracing her Other a little too eagerly. The first part of her life had been spent hiding what she was, but after the Hawthorne battle and the clinic, she was showing herself all over the place. Part of her stood and watched in embarrassed horror, but her fucking Other was strong and unashamed.

  Maybe it was a good thing. Maybe it wasn’t.

  And in spite of what the guard had said, he was scared. His eyes widened and he took an involuntary step back. Which, of course, pissed him off even more.

  He clenched his fists, his face reddening. “Fucking monster.”

  She hadn’t heard that word for weeks, except in her own head. “What did you just say to me?” She ignored the old familiar shame streaking through her. She was past that.

  She was.

  Greg got between them. “Stop it right the fuck now, both of you. Alexander, I will put you out of here if I have to.” He glanced at her mouth and the fangs peeking out. “Put those aw
ay.” He looked at the other guard. “Boyle, shut the fuck up.”

  And with Boyle glaring after them, he took Rune to see Raze.

  Raze stood in the middle of the smallish room, his hands on his hips, waiting for her. He wasn’t happy.

  It was just her day to piss people off.

  “Ten minutes,” Greg said, and shut the door.

  She wasn’t going to argue for more time—neither man would have appreciated that.

  Raze was huge—the largest member of Shiv Crew next to Strad, who was the biggest man Rune had ever seen. But somehow, in his too short jail uniform, he looked smaller.

  “You’ve lost weight,” she said. “I’ve heard county food is pretty awful.”

  “Why are you here, Rune?”

  She blew out a long breath. “I needed to see for myself that you were okay. I was gone a long time.”

  “About as long as I’ve been in jail.” His voice softened. “You didn’t abandon us.”

  “Two more days. You get out Friday.”

  “I’m aware.” Finally, a little humor in his eyes. Raze wasn’t the smiling type.

  “I guess you would be.”

  “I miss my weapons more than just about anything.”

  “I know what that feels like.”

  “Anything I need to know?”

  “Yeah, actually. Rock County alpha—”

  “Already heard. What else?”

  “Want to sit?”

  “No. That’s all I do in here.”

  She nodded and reached out to squeeze his forearm. He wasn’t the smiling type and she wasn’t the touchy-feely type. Her touch on his arm surprised him.

  “Are you okay, Rune?”

  She grinned. “I’m okay. So anyway, the berserker went away to Pennsylvania while I was in the clinic. You heard about him leaving?”

  Raze nodded. “Didn’t hear why he went, though.”

  She forced the words out, hoping her eyes were blank. “He brought back a wife and a kid.”

  His jaw dropped. “The fuck?”

  “Yeah. We all were a little…shocked.”

  He ran his hand through his long, dark-red hair. “Dammit, Rune.”

  She shrugged. “The kid is in trouble. He’s about eight years old and get this—he’s clairvoyant.”

  Raze sat down at the chipped table. “Strad has a wife and a psychic kid. Go on.”

  She smiled inwardly and sat as well. “Strad and his…wife tried to keep the secret of what the little boy could do, but it got out. Long story short, when the kid does his reading, tries to find a person, whatever, it makes him sick. Worse than sick—does a lot of damage. He’s not recovered from the last reading he did months ago.

  “So a few weeks ago some assholes broke into the Matheson’s house to kidnap Matthew. There are no leads. If someone succeeds in taking the boy and forces him to use his gift, it’ll kill him. From what I’ve seen, no way can Matthew withstand doing another reading.”

  “So Strad brought the family here.” He nodded. “Best place for the kid with Shiv Crew looking out for him.”

  “Yes.”

  He stood and began pacing. “I need the fuck out of this hole.”

  “I know, baby.”

  He stopped pacing and looked at her. “COS is starting a branch in Spiritgrove.”

  She jumped to her feet. “Fuck no.”

  He nodded. “It won’t be good when Lex hears.”

  “Bastards. Fuck. Where are they building?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “I’m going to—”

  “No. Wait for me to get out.”

  She barely heard him. “They’re already here. Why was I not told about this?”

  “I doubt RISC knows. One of the fucks in my pod was bragging to his buddy about it. He said signups will begin next week.”

  “Fucking signups?”

  “Yup. COS wants all the members they can get, but they check them out pretty thoroughly first.”

  “To what? Make sure no vampires are trying to join?” She half-laughed, but had never been more unamused in her life.

  “I’m worried about Lex.” He studied the wall, which held nothing more interesting than a faint green paint.

  She opened her mouth, then shut it again. Could it be? “Raze?”

  “Just keep an eye on her.” His voice was gruff. “You need to get going.”

  She stood. What a fucking day. “Does she know?”

  “There’s nothing to know.” He strode to the door and banged on it until Greg pulled it open. “I’ll see you Friday.”

  And he was gone.

  She’d just climbed into her car when her cell rang. She glanced at the display. Strad. Dammit. “What’s up, Strad?”

  “Just checking on you.”

  His voice sent chills down her spine. Married or not, his blood was inside her. “I’m fine.”

  “Rune…” he hesitated. “Are you hungry?”

  She knew he didn’t mean for food. Her body tightened, crying out for what she needed, what she was hungry for. “Are you divorced?”

  “We’ve been separated for years. But no, we’re not divorced.”

  “Then fuck off, Berserker.”

  “You have to feed.”

  “I plan on it. Just not from you.”

  “You will not go to someone else.”

  “Fuck you!” She hung up and tossed the phone into the passenger seat as though it hurt to touch it. Fucking berserker.

  And fucking COS. Spiritgrove was the biggest town in River County, so it made sense they’d start a branch there—but still she wondered if they were coming to River County because that’s where Lex and the twins were.

  Gunnar the Ghoul would know where they were setting up. He never went outside the gates of Wormwood, at least not as far as she knew, but still seemed aware of everything that went on in the county. He was her best informant.

  And all she had to do was give him what he craved.

  On her way she called Z to tell him where she’d be. She couldn’t get a cell signal in Wormwood. “If you need me, leave a message and I’ll call you as soon as I’m finished with Gunnar.”

  “What about lunch?”

  “I’ll have something after.”

  “Don’t forget to eat, Rune. You’re too skinny as it is.”

  “You said I looked great.” She couldn’t help but grin. Z was almost a bigger worrier than Ellie.

  “You always look great, sweet thing. Just too thin.”

  “I’ll eat, I promise. And don’t call me sweet thing.” She pulled into a drive-through to get a cup of coffee before heading on to the graveyard.

  “How was Raze?”

  “Not great. He needs out. But he had some information.”

  “What?”

  “COS is setting up a church in Spiritgrove.”

  “Fuck me!”

  “Exactly.”

  “Where?”

  “Don’t know. I’m hoping Gunnar can tell me.”

  “If anyone can…”

  “Yeah.”

  She hung up.

  Part of her wanted to go home and decompress—but mostly she was just glad to be back, to have a life that kept her so busy she had little time to think.

  Thinking about things got her into trouble.

  Sure, the shrinks had helped.

  But things had happened that no amount of dredging up could make go away. They just were.

  She’d like to forget them. Bury them with the adoptive parents she’d killed.

  “But I’m better,” she whispered. “I’m so much better.”

  And that was the truth.

  Chapter Five

  She entered Wormwood through the main entrance. Wormwood was vast—the largest cemetery in Ohio—and had evolved into something close to a town. A town of Others.

  As though he’d been waiting for her, Gunnar the Ghoul stood just beyond the gates, his long-fingered hands clasped behind his back. A light wind picked up lank strands of
his thin black hair, waving it gently away from his high forehead and sharp cheekbones.

  “Hello, Your Highness,” he said when she reached him.

  “Hi, sexy.”

  “I knew you’d come.”

  “You always do.”

  “Yes. I am quite brilliant.”

  “For a ghoul.” She grinned.

  He looked down his nose. “For anyone, Your Provocativeness.”

  “I have a question.”

  “Of course. I will willingly make a trade.”

  She teased a Baby Ruth candy bar from her pocket. “Want some chocolate, baby?”

  He snatched the candy from her, holding it to his nose, his eyes closed. Finally he put it away and looked at her, his black eyes attentive. “Ask your question.”

  “The Church of Slayers has come to River County. They’ve opened a branch in Spiritgrove. I need to know exactly where.”

  He didn’t look surprised. “They are sneaky, those slayers.”

  “I’m aware. The address, Gunnar.”

  He gave her the address, adding, “They are not building. They’ve taken over the big Baptist church that was abandoned three years ago.”

  She nodded. “I know where it is.”

  He tilted his head, looking like a demented puppy. “You’re hungry.”

  Dammit. “No, I’m not.”

  “You are.” He paused, a hint of shyness entering his bottomless eyes. “I would gladly feed you, Your Highness.”

  She fought to keep her face blank. Feed from a ghoul? No. Just…no. “I—”

  “I retract the offer,” he said quickly.

  Fuck me. “Gunnar, I’m not hungry.” As though he wouldn’t know she was lying.

  “Here is a free bit of advice for you, Your Runiverse.”

  She lifted an eyebrow. That was a new name. “Yes?”

  “You’ve forgotten who you are.” Suddenly he lost his slightly vacant expression and peered at her through ancient eyes. “Blood and fire will rain down upon Spiritgrove and you must be prepared. There are choices to be made…beware you do not make the wrong ones.”

  She ground her teeth. “Fuck, Gunnar, you know I hate all that cryptic shit. Can’t you—”

  But he turned and disappeared into the thick copse of trees, and she hadn’t the heart to chase him. It wouldn’t do any good anyway.

  “Fucking ghoul.” She didn’t want to think about what he’d said. Choices. Had she ever made the right choices?