Consumed by Fire

by Danielle Annett

  Dia’s eyes were the size of saucers. “But she—”

  “Sent you to kill me?”

  She swallowed hard and nodded.

  “Dear old Mom doesn’t like what doesn’t fit perfectly in her plans. A psyker daughter is a pesky inconvenience.”

  Dia didn’t say anything for several moments. The weight of the stares in my direction were making my skin itch.

  I sat back down, took another bite of my steak and chewed as I worked on reducing my powers to a more manageable level.

  “I’m sorry.”

  “Don’t be. I don’t need your pity.”

  “That isn’t what I—”

  “That’s enough.” Declan interjected, and all eyes turned in his direction.

  I was grateful for his interruption, and I knew he’d done it for my benefit. “I have some questions, and I believe I’m owed those answers.”

  With a last flick of her gaze in my direction, Dia nodded and resumed her seat.

  “Ask them.”

  “Why did you attack Aria at Sanborn Place?”

  “I was given orders to capture or kill. She was marked as a threat to our mission.”

  Not surprising.

  “And what is that mission?”

  “Restoring social order and giving the power back to the people.”

  Declan growled beside me. “And what people might you be referring to?”

  “Humans.”

  She was being oddly compliant. I looked at Robert, and got a grin out of him. Either he’d managed some serious schmoozing, or she was lying to us.

  But if she were lying, every shifter in the room would have scented it and called her out.

  “Where do your personal feelings lie in relation to your mission?”

  Dia glowered at me.

  “I want to secure my brother’s safety. I was told if I brought Aria in, they would stop hunting him.”

  Her reasoning was solid. If I’d been her, I would have done whatever I had to to protect the person I loved.

  That didn’t mean I was okay with her trying to kill me, though.

  “Will you make additional attempts to capture or kill my mate?”

  Wasn’t that the million-dollar question?

  Dia took a bite of her food and chewed. Stalling. She didn’t want to answer, which was answer enough.

  “I won’t make an attempt on her life so long as my brother’s safety and well-being are secured.”

  Declan mulled that over.

  “Do you believe the HAC will stop their manhunt if you deliver Aria to them?”

  “No.”

  Well at least she wasn’t a complete idiot.

  “Will my word that your brother will remain unharmed so long as he is within these walls assure you of his safety?”

  She flicked a glance to Robert.

  He nodded. He’d prepared her for this conversation and likely told her this was as good as it was going to get. Declan didn’t like Inarus. If it weren’t for me, he’d have already given him the boot.

  Inarus didn’t live in the Compound on a permanent basis, but since he’d been staying in the apartment above Sanborn Place and Sanborn Place was under repair, he’d started bunking with Caden.

  Inarus’ proximity had chafed Declan’s tiger from day one.

  “I want this removed.” She lifted her arm and displayed the spellworked cuff.

  “No. You’re untrusted. Earn my trust, and it will be considered. But until then, it stays on.”

  Robert’s nose twitched, scenting the lie. We couldn’t take the cuff off. It fell off when the magic wore off, but Robert didn’t need to know that, and he wasn’t fool enough to call out his Alpha.

  She chewed her lower lip. “Fine. We have an agreement.”

  “Good.” Declan resumed his meal.

  Teagan and Brock were the first to leave, followed closely by Dia and Robert.

  Declan pulled my chair out and took my hand. It was a little after seven, but I was already ready for a hot shower and my bed.

  “Aria, a moment?” Derek called out.

  Declan lifted a brow.

  “I’ll be fine.”

  He nodded, but didn’t look happy about it.

  “Have a care with my mate,” Declan warned.

  Derek placed a hand over his heart. “On my honor.”

  Satisfied, Declan left.

  When the room was empty, Derek closed the door behind him and resumed his seat.

  Ah. Positioning himself lower than me so as not to be a threat. I might not be a shifter, but I understood them well enough.

  I took the seat across from him and folded my hands in front of me.

  “You’re too trusting of the Coyote.”

  “I like to think I give everyone just enough rope to hang themselves with.”

  Derek considered that. “Declan is happy. You make him happy.”

  I waited. I didn’t have a response to that. My relationship with Declan had been rocky up until recently, but it was our business and ours alone.

  “On the surface, Robert supports your relationship. But did you ever wonder why he went against his Alpha and told you his failings?”

  When I first met Declan, he’d wanted to use me. He thought by ensuring I was emotionally invested in someone within the Pack that I’d be more amenable to coming to the Pack’s aid should they need it.

  He’d encouraged Pack-mates to court me. And then, he’d mate-claimed me against my will. I’d been dying, and there hadn’t been an alternative to save my life. Claiming me had been the only viable option.

  But the betrayal had run deep.

  We were past that now. But when I’d accused him of taking advantage of his position, of still having an ulterior motive, Robert had been quick to lay stones at Declan’s feet.

  I hadn’t given it much thought at the time, but looking back, I should have.

  “Robert isn’t your friend, and he can’t be trusted. On the surface, he supports your relationship with Declan because it brings stability to the Pack. But in his eyes, you’re a bad match. Any shifter in the Pack is a better choice than you. It has nothing to do with you as a person. I think Robert is actually fond of you. But he is closed-minded, and he doesn’t trust outsiders. No matter how long you’re here, you’ll always be an outsider. That fact can’t be helped. You’re not a shifter and correct me if I’m wrong, but you can’t become one, either?”

  I shook my head. “I don’t know. But I don’t plan on finding out.”

  The Lycanthropy virus, or Lyc-V for short, was a virulent bitch that attacked the body on a genetic level. It mutated DNA and tainted the host’s blood. But as much as it took, it gave. Speed, heightened senses, strength, and the inability to contract common diseases were just a handful of the benefits. In short, it was a disease. But no shifter would ever tell you they wanted a cure.

  I, however, was happy as I was. I was both pyrokinetic and telekinetic. I didn’t need anything else raging inside of me. My plate was already full.

  Derek nodded. “I can respect that. But understand that most of the Pack will take issue with it and use it as a means to push you out. Robert would never attack you. Nor would he challenge you. But if you die, he will dance on your grave and shove the next available shifter under Declan’s nose. Those two have a history. They were once like brothers, but something happened.”

  I opened my mouth to ask what, but he lifted a hand, halting my question.

  “I don’t know what caused them to drift apart, but I do know that while Robert has always put the good of the Pack first, he has also always found a way to get under Declan’s skin and screw him. I trust that where Dia is concerned, he won’t make any mistakes that put the Pack at risk. But if she slips her leash and kills you, I don’t see him stepping in to help you.”

  I digested that. “Isn’t my death detrimental to the Pack? If I die, there is a good chance Declan would too because of our bond.”

  He nodded. “There is that possibility. But
Declan is strong, the strongest Alpha we’ve had in my lifetime. There is a chance he could survive your death. It’s slim, but possible. There is also the matter of Robert’s ambition. He rose to Clan Alpha around the same time Declan rose to become Alpha of Clan Cat. Robert plots and schemes. It wouldn’t surprise me if he’d had his eyes set on becoming the Pack Alpha, but Declan beat him to the punch. If Robert had moved first, there’s a chance Declan wouldn’t have challenged him, just as Robert won’t challenge Declan now. Their strength and dominance are too evenly matched, and both men are qualified in their roles. But with Declan out of the picture …” He let the statement hang.

  “Then he could step into the position he truly wants.” I sighed and stared down at the wooden table, tracing a knot with my fingertip. “Declan trusts Robert.” Hell, earlier today, he’d told me to trust him. “But I appreciate the warning. I’ll keep it in mind when Robert and I come into contact with one another.”

  Derek stood and left the room. As a man of few words, he’d sure as hell given me a lot to think about.

  11

  I paced the confines of Declan’s room.

  “I need to go check on Inarus.”

  There. I said it.

  I braced myself for Declan’s reaction.

  He leaned back on the headboard of his four-poster bed. His eyes hooded as he tracked my movements. “He’s fine. Come to bed.”

  No anger. That was good.

  I usually did my best to ignore the mate bond that connected us. It could be a royal pain trying to separate his feelings from my own, but right now, all I felt was a sea of my own anxiety and a hint of Declan’s calm.

  I rubbed at my arms. “Something feels off. Have you talked to Christian?”

  He sighed. “I don’t make it a habit of micromanaging my people.”

  Good to know. I’d make sure to remind him of that if he ever tried to micromanage me.

  “I’m going to call him.” I pulled out my phone and dialed Inarus’ number.

  Voicemail.

  I tried the office number.

  Voicemail.

  Shit.

  I threw my phone on the bed and ran my hands through my hair.

  “Do you want me to call Christian?”

  I nodded. “Please.”

  Declan exhaled a long-suffering sigh. I knew he thought I was overreacting, but something in me told me I wasn’t.

  He dialed Christian’s number into his phone and then scowled.

  “What?”

  “Voicemail.”

  “Can you call any of the other workers?”

  He nodded and dialed.

  After several tense seconds, he shook his head.

  Dammit.

  “Do you want to go to the city and check things out?”

  I looked up and met Declan’s stare. It had iced over, all hint of emotion gone from his expression.

  “Yes.”

  “Let’s go, then.”

  I grabbed my daggers, sheathed them at my hips, and slipped my feet into my military-style black leather boots.

  I didn’t want a fight. But I would be ready if a fight was what we found.

  It took us twenty-two minutes to get to Sanborn Place. Under normal circumstances it took half an hour. I drove the obnoxious orange Hummer Declan insisted on giving me and managed to shave off a few minutes.

  It didn’t feel like it’d been enough.

  Post Street, where Sanborn Place was located, was quiet. The streetlamps were on, illuminating the bare sidewalks.

  It was late. But it wasn’t that late. There should still be cars parked on the streets and people strolling about.

  I drove into the lower parking garage and parked.

  Declan’s expression was grim as we exited the vehicle. There were two other cars parked in the garage. Both sported vinyl stickers on the back windows that read Diamond Rock Construction.

  Christian and his crew hadn’t left yet. But if that was the case, why wasn’t anyone answering their phones?

  We climbed the flight of stairs leading to the street entrance.

  “It’s too quiet.”

  I nodded.

  I scanned the streets for any hint of movement but found nothing. The front door was open.

  If was after nine, and our posted office hours said we closed at six. Things should have been locked up for the night by now.

  The office was dark. I flicked on the lights, and Declan snarled beside me.

  Three bodies lay face down on the carpet.

  Shit.

  I rushed forward and checked the man on the left. Declan checked the two on the right.

  “I have a pulse.” I breathed a sigh of relief. He was alive.

  “Same with these two.”

  I rolled the man over and recognized Christian’s Hispanic features. I scanned his body for any injuries.

  “No blood. Nothing feels broken.”

  I gave Christian a shake.

  He moaned but didn’t open his eyes.

  Declan situated the other two workers on their backs, made sure they were breathing, and came over to help me.

  “Christian? Christian, wake up.” I shook him again.

  His head lolled to the side, and saliva dripped from the corner of his mouth.

  “I don’t know what’s wrong with him.”

  Declan lifted his eyelids. “Pupils are blown.”

  I frowned. “What does that mean?”

  “He’s drugged.” Declan lifted Christian’s dead weight and carried him like a baby in his arms as though he weighed nothing.

  “I’m going to put him in the car. Watch the other two, and if anyone steps through that door that isn’t me, stab them.”

  I rolled my eyes but nodded. I could do that.

  Declan deposited each worker, one after the other. He made quick work of it, and within ten minutes, the office was empty of everyone but us.

  “Inarus isn’t here.”

  Inarus was a teleportation capable TK. If he wasn’t back at the Compound, why wasn’t he here?

  Declan crouched beside Inarus’ desk and inhaled. “His scent is strongest here.” He touched the carpet.

  “He ports in on that spot. He doesn’t usually use doors unless he has to.”

  Declan frowned. “His scent trail begins here, but it leaves through the front doors. It’s heavy. When a person walks in or out of a room, their scent trail is light. They don’t spend a significant amount of time in any one place, so their scent lingers in the air for a short time. Inarus’ scent is embedded in the carpet. He was dragged.”

  I cursed. “We need to get the others to the Compound and hope Frankie can wake them. I want to know what the hell happened.”

  Declan rose from his crouch. “You and me both.”

  I shut off the lights and locked the office on my way out.

  Movement on our right caught my attention.

  “Vampire.” Declan spat the word like it was dirty.

  I drew both my daggers from my waist.

  Two vampires approached from our right but made no overtly threatening movements. When they were fifteen feet away, they stopped and looked each of us up and down like they were surveying an insect under a microscope.

  The vampire on my right had rust-colored hair combed back to smooth perfection. Dressed in a three-piece black suit that was clearly tailored, he was the picture-perfect businessman.

  The vampire to my left was his complete opposite. He sported ripped denim jeans, a wide necked sleeveless shirt, and had shoulder length blue-black hair that framed his hard-edged face.

  Of the two, I was more worried about Mr. Suit.

  Ripped Jeans smiled in my direction, displaying twin rows of razor-sharp teeth.

  Wonderful. Clearly he was one for the dramatics.

  “We’ve been waiting for you,” Suit said. His voice was cultured, with a hint of a European accent.

  “As you can see, I’ve arrived. What can I do you for?”

  Ripped Jeans
took a menacing step forward.

  “I wouldn’t,” I warned.

  He ignored me, and with lightning speed, reached for my throat. His hand was a blur, but Declan caught the movement and twisted the vampire’s arm behind his back.

  Crack.

  He howled in pain.

  “I did warn you.”

  Mr. Suit scowled but made no move to help his companion.

  Ripped Jeans struggled for a moment, and Declan twisted again. Another bone snapped.

  “If I were you, I’d stop moving and state your business.”

  “Release me at once.”

  I sent a questioning look to Declan.

  Gold flecks filled his gaze. He smiled.

  “Sorry. He’s having too much fun. Let’s try this again. What do you want?”

  Mr. Suit answered. “My employer requests an audience.”

  I kept my eyes on him, trusting Declan to keep Ripped Jeans under control.

  “Who’s your employer?”

  He smiled and shook his head.

  So it was going to be like that? Alright, then.

  “Tell your employer I respectfully decline. Have a good night.”

  Declan shoved Ripped Jeans away from him.

  His right arm hung limp at his side, and he whirled on us with a snarl but didn’t lunge.

  I tightened my grip on my daggers.

  The idiot wasn’t going to walk away.

  “That is …” Suit paused for a moment as though searching for the right word. “Unfortunate.”

  I braced myself.

  Ripped Jeans lunged low, aiming for Declan’s knees. He managed to wrap his arms around one leg, but Declan caught him around the waist, hefted him into the air, and threw him across the street like he was throwing a dodgeball.

  The other vampire took me in the stomach. With lightning speed, he crashed into me, shoving me off my feet and onto the pavement.

  We rolled on the ground, each trying to gain the upper hand.

  I plunged one dagger into his side between the fourth and fifth ribs. The blade slid in with little resistance. I twisted the handle and felt my dagger scrape bone.

  Mr. Suit snarled and lunged for my throat.

  On instinct I shoved my arm up, and instead he got a mouthful of leather.

  I pulled my dagger out and stabbed again.