Beasthood (The Hidden Blood Series)

by A. Z. Green

  Jaz frowned. “What's wrong?”

  “Well...” he eyed her bandaged jaw. “I'm on perimeter guard duty. Just in case we get anymore unexpected visitors before Nik and Kain's d-”

  “-Slaughter?” Jaz butt in.

  Carr opened his mouth as if to say something but then thought better of it. “So I won't be free for a while.” She bobbed her head, her expression aging her. Her jaw ached in protest but she ignored it. “I think you should talk about this with him.” Her eyes snapped to his face as if he'd walked in on her stark naked. “What? I can practically smell the sexual tension rolling off you.” She hugged herself awkwardly. Carr rolled his eyes. “Don't get so worked up. My lips are sealed, but frankly, you need to get better at hiding your feelings. And fast. I'm around Nik most of the time and I can never tell what he's thinking. Even about you. But sometimes, as Weres, we can sense things. Like dogs can sense earthquakes and epileptic fits. Some of us. Not all of us. And it depends on the person. I'm just saying. Be careful.”

  “How do I not make it obvious?”

  Carr flashed her a grin. “Lie better. Or just get it over with.”

  Jaz raised a brow not understanding. “Get it...?”

  “IT, over with.”

  He gave her a teasing smile and Jaz felt her cheeks going red.

  “We're not like that.”

  Carr swung his jacket over his shoulder and strutted in front. “Much better. I almost believed you.”

  *

  Monday, June 27th, Evening- hours after the Dead Tree Pack trespassing

  “Are you busy?”

  Nik looked up from his desk to find Swain peering in from behind the door.

  Nik had been sitting in the darkness for several hours. He'd lost track of time. He couldn't get Jaz's startled face out of his mind. The terror in her eyes when she'd understood what he'd accepted. A duel to the death with Kain. She'd been worried for his safety. He had mixed feelings about it.

  But he had to accept the duel. If he didn't, he'd look weak and right now that was a very dangerous thing to portray. Any other time he'd have refused, but now, when things were very on edge, he didn't have a choice.

  He didn't. Did he?

  “No, come in.”

  Swain took the sofa bed on the wall opposite, sprawling on it, his hands interlocked behind his head. Nik took his legs off his desk and swivelled his leather office chair to the right to get a better look at his brother.

  Swain's eyes were focused on a spot on the ceiling. “So... a duel with Kain... that's got to be a tough one to swallow...?”

  Nik didn't move, regarding his brother with his flawless poker face.“Not really. It was expected.”

  Swain frowned, unhappy with Nik's answer. “Yeah, but the idea that you could die pretty soon-”

  “I'll be fine, Swain.”

  Something in Nik's voice made Swain sit up. Their eyes locked. “Why do you do that?” He asked accusingly. Nik looked at him, confused. “Why do you shut me out?”

  Nik kneaded his forehead. “Not now Swain.”

  “I may be your little brother but I'm not a kid anymore. You need to stop treating me like one!”

  “Then stop acting like one!” Nik snapped.

  Swain appeared to be astonished, and then he smiled victoriously. “That's more like it. A bit of emotion.”

  Nik glared at him and then sighed in surrender. “I know you're not a kid anymore. But you're still my little brother. I can't shake that mindset. Because I still feel I need to protect you. And because you still act like a horny teenager on Viagra.”

  Swain laughed so high it could have been called a giggle. Nik's severe expression cracked into a smile.

  “I can't deny that. I have a way with the ladies, Nik. It's a gift,” Swain mock-sighed. His older brother rolled his eyes, still smiling. Swain then gazed at Nik seriously. “But it doesn't mean I can't be more helpful. More useful. You can't protect all of us all the time. You'll go insane trying. Sometimes you need people to look out for you. I want to do that Nik.” Swain's eyes were on the verge of pleading. “Tell me what to do. I'll do anything.” Nik shook his head, about to reject his offer when Swain stopped him. “Please, Nik. For dad's sake, if not for mine.”

  The two brothers both had pain carved into their faces as they remembered their father. Their father who had been murdered when Nik was fifteen. Swain had been nine years old though he had always looked mature for his age.

  Nik had witnessed their father's murder. Had seen his father's killer in the dead of night. The man's face concealed by the hood of his dark green, Hunter Jacket. Nik could never forget the small glimpse of the man's eyes. Shadowy, Cimmerian, coal- coloured. The colour of death.

  Swain watched as Nik gazed at the horrible memory sweeping past his eyes like a film reel. He saw Nik giving in.

  “Okay... I promise to involve you more. But you have to earn it,” Nik warned, pointing a finger in his direction. “You need to be at every council meeting, no excuse. Unless you're incapacitated by a life-threatening illness or dead. Spending the night in a woman's bed doesn't cut it anymore.”

  “Understood.”

  “I want you to help out with guard duty. I'll let Carr know and he'll assign you a shift. Make sure you're there.”

  “Yes, Pack Leader.” Swain stood up.

  Nik did too. He turned to gaze out the window.

  The sky was a pretty canvas of blushing oranges, electric pinks, deep blues and vibrant purples as the sun made way for the moon.

  He thought about Jaz, cooped up in her cabin with a fractured jaw. His heart seared, yearning for her touch. For her kiss. “I have a favour to ask of you. Something I want to keep to yourself.”

  Swain looked up, his eagerness was very evident on his face. “Anything.”

  “Tomorrow there's a council meeting. In the morning I want you to go and ask Jaz to be there. It's at twelve thirty. On the dot.”

  Swain stared, then frowned, then raised both his brows in a knowing smile. “So I was right? You've got a thing for her haven't you?”

  “I'm asking her to a council meeting, not a date,” Nik countered.

  Swain grinned wider. “And why would that be?”

  Nik looked back out the window, his hands slid into the pockets of his khaki chinos. “I think she should have a say in what happens. Or at least be involved in the discussion. She's family after all.”

  Swain was clearly surprised by his answer, though his skepticism soon jabbed through. “Family?” he questioned doubtfully.

  “Yes. To Garik, Maria, Erica, Thorpe and Eliza. And indirectly to me.”

  Swain hunched his shoulders as he argued, “She barely speaks to Garik or Erica. Has never even met her parents, and lets not forget that they aren't in this Pack anymore. I'm not even gonna argue about you-”

  “Good.”

  “-and if she's so close to Maria, why hasn't she suggested this before?”

  “Because it wasn't in Jaz's best interest. Now I think it is. And I know Maria will agree with me. Why are you against this?”

  “I'm not. I'm just looking out for you.”

  It was Nik's turn to be skeptical. “Looking out for me? What's that supposed to mean?”

  “I don't mean anything bad by it. Just that she's new to this Pack. It takes a lot of time, trust and duty spent earning a place on the Council. Plus she doesn't know much about this place and how it works.”

  “You seem to know a lot about what she thinks for someone you've barely spoken to.”

  Swain sighed, rolling his shoulders, remembering her saying something similar to him. He shrugged. “I guess I know how women think.”

  Nik's lip curved downwards in displeasure, before adding, “And I never said I wanted her on the Council. Just to be there for the meeting.”

  “Because you think she wants to hear about you asking others thoughts on your possible death sentence? Yeah. That makes sense,” he retorted sarcastically.

  Nik clenched his j
aw and then counted to five to calm himself down. His usual technique. “We're good friends. We're connected to each other through Lora and I know she'd want to be in the loop.”

  “You also know she's either gonna resent you as long as you're alive or make a scene at the Council meeting, right?”

  Nik shook his head. “She wouldn't do that.” But then he wasn't so sure about that so he added, “She'll understand.”

  “Oh come on! Even I saw the look on her face today, so I know you bloody did. She's been living in the outside world all her life, she doesn't get these rules and etiquettes and ideals. Sometimes I don't either but I respect them. She has no reason to.”

  “I'll sort it.”

  “Don't let her come to the meeting. Trust me Nik. For both yours and her own good. It's different to her, and to me. You're our friend, our family not just a Leader. It means more to us than business.

  “I find it hard as it is, but god knows how hard it will be for her to sit there and listen to all that. Talk to her about it. She may hate you, slap you around or whatever but it'll be better than the alternative.”

  “You still sound like you're giving me relationship advice, y'know.”

  Swain smiled. “Okay, you and her aren't a 'thing'. My bad. I shouldn't have made judgments. I know how much you loved Lora.” Nik bowed his head. Swain looked off into the distance, his brow furrowed. “It must be weird, seeing Jaz everyday, looking so much like her sister.”

  Nik gazed up with an intensity that knocked Swain back. “Jaz looks nothing like Lora in my eyes. They're very different.”

  Swain nodded, believing he understood. But he didn't.

  Nik wasn't putting Lora on a pedestal, saying how Jaz could never be compared to his sweet, loving Lora. In a way that was true. But in fact, he was defending Jaz because she was not openly sweet, bubbly and sociable. She was rash, packed a punch and didn't take any crap. Physically she was harsher, her features stronger and more striking just as Lora's had been soft, sweet and delicate. Jaz had her flaws, just like Lora'd had her minor ones. But he found himself loving Jaz for her flaws, more than he had loved and admired Lora's good qualities.

  He felt severely conflicted by that revelation. He had loved Lora dearly -we would have had a baby together for christ's sake-but not in the way he loved Jaz.

  And because of that love, he had to protect her. Even from his own brother. Even he couldn't know how they felt about each other.

  Edda was trustworthy, but had only seen the arguments, so she didn't know the extent of their feelings. He had admitted he cared for Jaz. But now as he considered doing something to remedy that, for Jaz's safety, he didn't think it was necessary. Edda would never say a thing. She hadn't for many years about a lot of things that had happened in the Pack.

  He didn't feel threatened by Swain, just not entirely sure. And that was enough reason to keep him in the dark. Swain didn't need to know anyway because it was none of his business.

  Swain responded with,“Okay, I'll tell her. As long as you soften her up a little beforehand. You don't want a woman stewing with resentment and anger. That would be much worse than anything that Kain prick will throw at you.”

  Nik chuckled despite himself. “I'll speak to her early tomorrow. You make sure you go and see her before twelve. I don't want her to be late. Whether she decides to come or not. Either way, I think she should at least be asked. She can throw it back in your face but I can sleep at night.”

  “You got it, bro.”

  *

  Wednesday, June 29th, Morning.

  After her heated session with Carr, Jaz left before him and headed out the gym.

  She was turning swiftly round a corner, when she bumped straight into a very solid chest clothed in a Ralph Lauren sweatshirt. A navy one with a small, yellow pony. She scanned upwards to meet light, almond eyes half curtained by wavy brown hair, and a playful smile she immediately recognized. “Swain,” she said offhandedly. She cleared her throat, touching her bandaged jaw self-consciously. “How are you?”

  He grinned at her strained rescue attempt for politeness and replied in a perfectly civilized manner, “I'm very well, thank you. And you?”

  “I'm okay. Er, thanks.” He smiled and then there was an awkward pause that Swain was secretly relishing in as he watched her squirm. “So... you don't look like you're on your way to the gym?”

  He shook his head. “I'm here to see you actually.”

  “Me? What could you want with me?”

  He grinned teasingly and under sultry eyelids he dazzled her with his almond eyes as he whispered, “Is that an invitation?”

  She leant back, knowing he was joking -at least she hoped he was- but still couldn't stop feeling uneasy with the lustful attention he was giving her.

  He blinked becoming purposeful again. “Join me in the kitchen?” She frowned at him as he half turned smiling light as he asked mischievously, “You don't trust me?”

  She produced a joke to cover her discomfort around him, “Of course I do. I still owe you for a cramped calf, don't I?”

  He grinned at her and even she had to admit he had very attractive smile. It had a boyish, but also mature sultry, carefree, and confident-without being arrogant- air to it. Something you could only pull off naturally.

  “When I get one, you'll be the first I'll ask for a massage. Follow me,” he responded, grinning brighter.

  He led her down a hallway she'd never been through before. It was near the front of the building where the swimming pool took up space, but you had to maneuver through several hallways before you could get to the kitchen.

  The kitchen was on the very left of the building, right next to a spacious dining room concealed by frosted double doors. They had a thin border of clear glass framing them and Jaz could just make out a grand table. It was so huge she was sure it could seat the whole village and then some.

  The kitchen, opposite, was tiled with white limestone. The walls were a light sunflower yellow and the ceilings were very high with exposed varnished beams.

  This part of the building did not possess the curved stone walls that her old cell/bedroom and Nik's room was molded from. They were above ground here. The walls were thick and still had that signature shapely appearance that gave the place character, but apart from that, the design of the upper levels was completely different.

  The curves of the walls were tamed by the straight lines of the cupboards and worktops. They were made of a sturdy looking white granite. The cupboards were solid oak with charming old brass handles that reminded Jaz of her bedroom desk.

  There were three -yes three- enormous stainless steel, built in fridges at odd ends of the room, -just in case one happens to be too far away, she sniggered in her head- a walk in freezer on the left wall and a pantry on the opposite wall.

  A very conspicuous stainless steel sink occupied the right hand side corner, where a length-ways window expanded across that one wall stopping inches from one of the three monstrous fridges that stood next to the pantry sliding door.

  The same window was stretched along the opposite side, leaving the middle wall in front of them dressed in a white splash-back. This wall was swamped by the gigantic, professional ten burner caterer cooker. The stainless steel that clothed it was so shiny she could see herself from that distance reflected in it.

  In the middle of the kitchen was a solid oak island with the matching granite worktop. Silver barstools with white leather were scattered around it, pans and saucepans hung over it on a metal hanging rack like a stainless steel chandelier. She counted eight barstools in all and took the one closest to her after watching Swain park himself casually on his.

  The room was completely empty. Surprising. Seeing how much people ate here. How much she now ate and happily didn't put on any weight. Not in fat anyway.

  Swain, guessing her thoughts, told her something about the staff being given the day off so it was more of a help-yourself-day, but she barely listened to what he was saying.


  Then she asked, “So, what is it?”

  “I have a message from Nik.”

  She managed impassive as a response. “Okay.”

  “He's asked me to invite you to the Council meeting at twelve-thirty today.”

  Jaz's brow furrowed. “Why? I'm not a council member. I've never even set foot in that room before.”

  “He thought you'd want to be present when they discuss the coming duel,” Swain clearly disagreed with the idea.

  Jaz bristled at the last word. “What would be the point in that? What could I say that they, let alone he, would want to hear? That's if I'm even allowed to say anything at all?”

  Swain gave her a look that showed he had thought the same thing and found the whole thing pointless. “I guess he wants you to know what's going on. To feel in the loop, he said.”

  Jaz snorted. “It makes no difference to me,” she remarked so indifferently it left Swain with his mouth hanging open, staring at her in disbelief. “He can do what he wants. He's going to anyway whether I come or not.”

  “You don't care if he goes?”

  “Of course I care. He's my sister's- my dead sister's husband. That counts for something in my books. I feel like I have a duty to make sure he's okay, for her sake. But he's already made up his mind. I don't understand why he couldn't just say no. I mean just because some tosser demands a duel he has to accept it? Why?”

  “He doesn't have to. And in past times he hasn't. But this time it's different. Things are very tense at the moment. He doesn't want to look vulnerable or chicken to anyone. I know it must be hard to understand-”

  “Huh! The part about not looking weak? I understand perfectly. It's all about pride and status and power. Men. They're all the same no matter where they are.” She folded her arms in annoyance. “But if he wants people to see him as a guy who thinks for himself. Who's strong and doesn't take any crap from anyone then he should have declined it. In fact he should have told Kain to go fuck himself.” Swain's face lit up in amusement. “The fact Nik's scared that he has to keep up an appearance, to look tough by accepting this duel, actually just makes him look weak. Appearing strong and being strong are not the same thing. He's doing it because he feels he's got no other choice, but he does. He should give the other Packs who doubt his strength a big 'Up Yours' by not doing what everyone expects of him. That he doesn't care what people think.”