by Aliya DalRae
What he hadn’t expected was to see her out there talking to someone. Not just anyone—Malcolm. Would that fucking furball never give up?
And he didn’t mean to eavesdrop, even though the cat had absolutely no business lurking around Jessica’s property anymore. His time playing spy for the Wolves was over, his presence no longer required. Adios muchacho. Sayonara cha-cha.
But there they were, and here Raven was with his bionic hearing, so eavesdrop he did. However, what they were saying made no sense whatsoever. He shook his head, certain his brain must be short circuiting, something, because he could have sworn the damn cat was accusing Jessica of carrying his child—Malcolm’s child—which was impossible. Right?
Raven took a step back onto the porch, his presence undetected by the two, and he listened, even though he knew he shouldn’t. Even though he knew in his gut that this wasn’t something he wanted to know.
“Wait, what?” Jessica was saying. “What are you talking about?”
“I’m talking about that baby you’re carrying. What did you think I was talking about?”
Raven saw Jessica shake her head, felt her confusion through the bond they shared.
“I’m not pregnant,” she said. “I would know if I was pregnant.”
“You are,” Malcolm said, placing his hand on Jessica’s stomach. “I can hear the baby’s heartbeat. And we both know there’s no way it’s Raven’s.”
Raven sat hard on the front step, his breath gone, his heart all but stopped, his head swinging left to right and back left again.
“Stop it Malcolm. Just stop it. We were together one time. Once. There’s no way I’m having your kid.”
“Once is all it takes, Jessica. You can deny it all you want, but you are pregnant and it is my child. Unless you’ve slept with someone besides Raven and me?”
Jessica hauled off and slapped the son of a bitch, and Raven almost cheered until her words registered. We were together one time. She really had slept with that fucking cat.
Something inside of Raven shattered. For centuries, the murderous monster who shared his skin had been tightly bound. Now those metaphoric chains burst into a thousand metallic links, and the beast roared his fury into the darkness.
Raven found himself on his feet, eyes sparking a violent purple, fangs biting painfully into his lips, hands fisted at his sides. A small part of him tried to rein himself in, knowing the destruction that was about to burst forth. But the beast was in control now, and he was raging.
Chapter Three
T hat low, primal scream hit me like a physical blow and had both Malcolm and me turning toward the house. What we saw sent shivers down my spine and turned my blood to ice.
“Jessica—run,” Malcolm shouted to me as he pulled his shirt over his head and kicked out of his sweats.
So I ran, but Malcolm’s panicked, “No!” told me I wasn’t going where he thought I should. I ran toward Raven, not away from him. I had to talk to him, let him know that it was all a huge mistake. If I could just get him to calm down and listen I was sure he would see reason. He would hate it, but he would understand, and we would be okay.
I got about halfway to the house before my self-preservation kicked in and I stopped. Raven was glaring at me, hot and furious, his eyes sparking a shade of purple I’d never seen before, not even in my visions when I thought he was killing those girls. His fangs were longer than usual, and his hands—his hands had curled into claws I’d only ever seen exposed when he was facing an enemy. Apparently, I was now that enemy.
“You,” he growled, taking a step in my direction. “You fucking slut.”
That really hurt, but my feelings were going to have to take a back seat to my survival. This wasn’t Raven anymore. There was a difference about him, beyond anything I’d ever witnessed. Beyond the way he destroyed that Sorcerer, even beyond the ferals he’d torn to shreds. For the first time in all the months we’d been together, I was meeting Raven’s beast.
And he was a scary mother fucker.
“Raven, please.” I hoped if he heard my voice it would get through to him, that he could regain control, but it only seemed to aggravate the beast further.
“I’m sorry! Please, let me explain!”
“No explanations, bitch. You fucked the cat, you can die with the cat.”
Before I could react, he was lunging toward me, those lethal claws reaching for me, the hatred in his eyes confirming that any hopes I had of talking my way out of this were beyond over. I was going to die, and a little part of me felt that I totally deserved it.
I could run, but it would be useless. I’d never be fast enough to outrun a Vampire, so I stood my ground, prepared to take the punishment I’d earned by betraying the male I loved.
Everything slowed down, the scene playing out like a stop action film. Each step Raven took toward me was one frame, one less second, I had to live, the tortured looks he shot at me in each frame so much more than I could stand. I swallowed hard, not allowing myself the “poor me” tears I didn’t deserve, nor the privilege of closing my eyes.
A split second before he reached me, though, something enormous and black burst between us. It caught Raven square in the chest and knocked him away from me, the two of them tumbling in a tangle of fang and fur. Frozen as I was, it took a moment for me to back away from the scuffle, searching for somewhere to hide.
As I sought out that safe place, I noticed for the first time the crowd gathered on the porch. Harrier, Taz and Perry stood paralyzed as Raven and what appeared to be a giant cat struggled between us. Rachel and my human friends watched from the bow window.
Harrier caught my eye, shot me a questioning look. He knew about my indiscretion with Malcolm, so when I nodded he just shook his head and went into action.
Chapter Four
H arrier stifled a chuckle as Tas attempted to explain to Jessica’s human friends the difference between a born Vampire and one who was turned. His humor faded when they heard what could only be a Vampiric roar coming from outside.
Harrier’s first thought was that they were under attack. However, when the howling continued without sounds of battle, a sick feeling in his gut went to war with his turkey dinner. There was only one Vampire missing from the cluttered holiday table, and soon after this realization struck him, so, too, did a stab of panicked fear.
“Harrier,” Rachel gasped—she was feeling it as well. Their niece was in trouble.
“Mind the humans,” he ordered his sister, and she nodded as he and the other males headed for the door.
“What’s going on?” Alex asked, trying to follow, but Rachel took him by the arm and held him back.
“It’s fine,” Rachel reassured him. “The males will take care of it.”
“But Jessica’s out there,” Piper added, her brows drawn.
The human male continued to struggle, arguing that he could help, but the kid had no idea what was waiting out there. Knowing he was in the company of Vampires was all well and good. Seeing one pissed off was a whole different story.
And Raven was definitely pissed.
When the three Vampires poured out onto the porch, it was to a confusing scene. Jessica was standing in the middle of the yard, and in the space separating her from Harrier, a strange battle ensued.
Raven was in full blown beast mode—Harrier had never seen it in live action, but there was no mistaking. Something had set him off and based on the super-sized creature he was currently fighting, Harrier had a good idea what it was. One look at Jessica, her guilty nod, was all the confirmation he needed.
Surprised as he was by Malcolm’s alternate form, he was the least of Harrier’s concerns. His niece’s safety was priority number one. He could worry about the rest later.
“I’m going for Jess,” he told the others, and Perry nodded. Tas had positioned himself out of harms way, already throwing out enough of his calming mojo to level a mountain gorilla, but so far it was having no effect.
“I’m with you,�
� Perry said. They left Tas to do his thing and headed into the yard.
Two steps out, a pile of blood-speckled black and purple tumbled in front of them, and Harrier had to backpedal a bit to let them fly by. Once clear, he was at Jessica’s side in a flash, Perry keeping himself between them and the enduring brawl.
“You okay?” he asked, as he wrapped his arm around her.
“No,” she said, her shoulders trembling. “Not even close. What the hell is that fighting with Raven?”
“I think it’s Malcolm,” Harrier said, feeling better now that he had her in his protection and was confident she was unharmed.
“Really?” she breathed. “Who knew?”
“Not me,” Harrier said. “But he’s not going to last long against Raven’s beast.”
Jessica gasped. “What? You have to help him!”
Harrier rolled his eyes, but she was right. If he and the others didn’t intercede soon, there wouldn’t be much left of that cat.
“Go inside,” Harrier told her as the paranormal pile rolled past again. “It’s going to take all of us, and we can’t be worrying about you.” Jessica nodded and headed to the porch. “Tell Tas we need him on the outside,” he added.
“Okay,” she said, taking a stuttering skip step toward the house as the fight worked itself toward them again.
“Harrier,” she added, before stepping onto the porch.
“Yeah?”
“Don’t let either one of them die,” she said, and disappeared inside.
Chapter Five
I still couldn’t get over the fact that that humongous creature was my little King Kat. Malcolm had never given any indication that he had more than one form. However, if they didn’t get things under control immediately, he was likely to die that way.
Tas joined Harrier and Perry in the yard, his focus never diverting from the melee taking place on my poor grass. I couldn’t hear what they were saying, but it was obvious they were trying to figure out the best way to separate the two beasts. I’d once threatened Raven and Harrier with the garden hose when I thought they were about to come to blows, but…
Tas seemed to read my mind. Before I could finish the thought, he had the sprayer in hand and was looking my way. Taking my cue, I lunged for the spigot, and turned it on full blast.
The next time Raven and Malcolm staggered by, Tas hit them with a powerful blast of water mixed with his own brand of “stop fight.”
Malcolm snarled and bit at the stream of water, and Raven roared in frustration as Tas aimed the makeshift water pistol directly at his face. Of course, this was just a distraction. There was no way a little water was going to keep those two apart.
Harrier and Perry jumped on Raven, doing their best to wrestle him to the ground while Tas turned the hose back on Malcolm, who seemed determined to renew his attack.
“Malcolm!” I screamed and he swung that huge black head my direction, staring emerald green daggers at me through the porch screen. “You’re not helping anymore,” I said, and he hung his head, chuffing his disappointment, but standing down, nonetheless.
With the cat subdued, Tas joined the other males in trying to restrain Raven, but my Vampire wasn’t having it. They had him down for a minute, and with Tas laying hands on him, I thought things would soon be under control.
I was so very wrong.
Even with two Warriors and a Soldier hanging off of him, Raven was too powerful for them to contain. He burst from their grasp, sending the three males tumbling to the ground around him.
And he only had eyes for me.
Terrified, I watched as he returned his focus to the object of his despair, his chest heaving with fury. Why I thought I would be safe enough on a screened-in porch, I’ll never know. What I did know was that once Raven’s beast scented its prey, nothing would stand in its way. Oh, and that I was the prey.
For the second time tonight, I prepared myself for my impending demise. And for the second time my rescue came from a place so unexpected it left me frozen in my tracks.
Chapter Six
W hat in the name of Christ just happened? One minute, Nox was standing under an apple tree, doing his best to ignore the ramblings of a lovesick cat Shifter, and the next all hell had broken loose.
He’d hardly noticed when the cat stopped talking to him and stalked off to intercept Jessica before she returned to her holiday party. Hadn’t even been curious enough to tune into their conversation, wondering instead if it was time for him to take off before the Legion sensed his presence.
Raven’s current demonstration was proof of how inadequate Nox’s own psycho killer impersonation had been. He’d never seen anything like it. And based on the level of destruction raining down, Nox realized he should have been paying closer attention.
And where did that cat come from? It was bigger than a lion, but black as pitch with fangs like a saber-toothed tiger. It had just appeared out of nowhere and attacked Raven, intercepting the Vampire before he could harm Jessica.
Nox wandered out of the shadows to watch from the middle of the barnyard. He’d become so enthralled with the spectacle before him, he was oblivious to the fact that he was in full view of the three Legion Vampires trying to intervene.
The tension in his neck uncoiled when Jessica removed herself from the battlefield. However, it soon became obvious that these three were no match for his brother when he was in his truest form. The cat stood sidelined near the porch as Raven tossed away the other Vampires and turned his focus back to Jessica.
Nox knew that he should intercede, that he was probably the only one who could, and yet he hesitated. The large Vampire with the reddish hair was up first, and he tackled Raven before he could make another move on Jessica. The blood flying from the Scot’s mouth was visible, even from this distance.
Jessica was screaming, begging Raven to stop, but her voice only proved to anger him further, strengthening his resolve to destroy. Those three were getting their hats handed to them, and Jessica was going to die because of it. He gave them points for trying, but they simply were no match for Raven’s beast. They never stood a chance.
And so Nox did the only thing he could. He walked right into that yard full of Legion fighters and, knowing he was signing his own death warrant, he took control of the situation.
Chapter Seven
R aven couldn’t think, could only react. After that cat disappeared, the Vampires attacked, but they were gnats to him, weak, tiny pests for him to smash under his thumb.
He laughed as Harrier flew through the air, the Warrior’s hot blood showering down on Raven like a sweet, summer rain. It was glorious.
How long had it been since he’d felt so alive? So powerful? For centuries he’d harnessed the beast, first by force, more recently by choice, but now it was free, in control, and raging.
To think he had chosen to contain this, had been happy to play lap dog to the lying bitch before him. But no more. This was one betrayal they would not come back from, a treachery he could not forgive.
And the price for her duplicity would be death.
Tas and Perry had not recovered from their first attempt at subduing him, and Harrier was still shaking off his last flight. With them out of the way, there was nothing standing between him and his target. Oh, there was the cat, but he was licking some pretty serious wounds himself. Even if he tried to intervene, Raven would just kill him first. Either way, the cat was going to die.
But first, Jessica.
A mere twenty feet stood between Raven and retribution. He shook long, black hair out of his eyes, flexed razor-sharp claws, and screamed his anger, his frustration, his despair into the night.
As he took that first step toward the resurrection of his past, he felt a firm grip on his shoulder. He spun around, prepared to break the offending hand, but pulled up short when a knife’s edge of pain pierced his brain. Raven blinked. The sheer magnitude of agony pounding through his skull nearly blinded him but he was just able to make out the person hol
ding him in his mental grasp.
The beast must be more out of control than he thought. He could swear he was staring himself right in the eye. As that cold glare bored into him, the pain increased tenfold, and Raven knew.
He was not hallucinating, but rather looking into the face of his twin. And so, Raven added another name to the list of people he was going to kill tonight.
Chapter Eight
H arrier dragged his ass up off the ground again, convinced he’d hit his head so hard he was seeing double. A quick skull shake cleared his mind and provided understanding—Nox.
Raven stood frozen between Harrier and the house, his mirror image grasping him by the shoulders and staring at him with an intensity that spoke volumes. This was more than just a couple of murdering bastards in a dick measuring contest. By the look on Raven’s face, his brother was giving him a mental ass-kicking.
Which suited Harrier just fine. A glance at the house told him that Jessica, for once, had done as she was told. The cat was still standing guard, but he wasn’t doing so good. The blood pooling around him on the patio looked black and lethal.
Raven and Nox didn’t move.
Harrier had never encountered the evil twin in person. Being told that a male looks exactly like one you know is different from seeing it with your own eyes. The resemblance was remarkable. Had he not known what the Warrior was wearing, he wouldn’t have been able to tell them apart.
And watching Raven, for once in his life, get beaten like he stole something? Harrier couldn’t help the smirk.
But on the off chance Nox didn’t have things under control, Harrier squared his shoulders and approached the two.
“Nox, I’m presuming.” The male nodded, his focus on his current task.
“Can I help at all, or am I just in the way?”