Night Creatures: Book 2

by Ebony Brightman

  Nisa slung her arm over Blake’s shoulders. “You look pretty awesome yourself.”

  “Salamat, kapatid.”

  Arlo came around to walk next to them. “Salamat, kapatid. What’s that mean?”

  “It’s Tagalog for ‘Thank you, sister’ or thereabouts. Our dad was Filipino and taught us a couple of words.”

  “We only use them when we’re both in a good mood.”

  Owen was waiting for them by the front door. He was handsome. Sexy even. But he was tightly wound. As low-key and disciplined as he usually appeared, she’d twice seen Owen explode into violence. Maybe he was the reason Arlo was nervous.

  “Did you ride over here with Owen?” Nisa inquired.

  “Sure did.”

  “How’s he been treating you these last couple of days?”

  “Fine. I’ve got my eye on him.”

  “And Shane? How’s he been acting?”

  “He was mostly MIA today. He left right after you guys. Came back in the afternoon. I could hear him lurking around the house but I never actually saw him.”

  Owen opened the door to Willa and Callum’s home. He’d done it without knocking and without using a key. She guessed for the pack they had an open-door policy.

  Owen led them through a formal entryway and into what felt like a Mediterranean villa. The house was airy and bright with plush furniture and arched doorways. There were books on shelves and art on the walls. It truly felt like a place to gather.

  “Ahhhh, welcome!” They heard him before they saw him—Callum’s booming voice traveling around the corner. Then he appeared with outstretched arms. Owen and Arlo stood to the side as he gave both Nisa and Blake a warm hug. “Thank you for coming.”

  “Thank you for the invitation,” Nisa said as she returned Callum’s affection. Then she stepped back and looked around. “Your home is beautiful.”

  “Is that roasted pork I smell? And ssäm sauce?” Blake stepped forward, walking deeper into the house.

  “Please excuse my sister. She forgets herself sometimes.”

  “Nothing to excuse,” Callum said. “Fearless women make the world go round.”

  Arlo laced his fingers through Nisa’s as Owen trailed after Blake, then Nisa looked up to see Willa coming down the steps. She was wearing a floor-length caftan. Silver and black and made of silk. It made her look royal, as though they’d been invited to the private chambers of a queen.

  “Well, hello, dears. I thought I heard your voices down here.” Arlo instantly moved forward to kiss Willa’s cheek. Then Nisa and Willa hugged as if they were old friends. “You look lovely.”

  “As do you.”

  “Where’s that sister of yours?”

  “I’m here!” Blake was coming out of what Nisa assumed was the kitchen. She was carrying something small between her fingers, and as she came toward Willa she popped it in her mouth.

  Willa’s eyes were inquisitive. “It’s wonderful to see you again. Come,” she waved them all toward the seating area, “come tell me about Peru.”

  Nisa shot Owen a look. She’d let herself forget that as much as he’d stayed with them to keep the peace, he was also there as Willa’s eyes and ears.

  Blake never missed a beat. “I was down there apprenticing a shaman, but it got to be a little much. You can only burn sage and rattle gourds so many times before it starts to get repetitive. You’re dehydrated and high and having crazy visions. I’m glad I went but it wasn’t for me.”

  Willa sat down on the couch, and Blake sat right next to her.

  “How long will you be staying with Nisa?”

  “Oh, as long as needed.”

  “And I’m assuming you’ll be keeping your gun in its holster?”

  Blake shrugged her shoulders, pretending not to understand Willa’s sly admonishment. “I guess we’ll just have to see. What time’s dinner?” she said conspiratorially. “I’m famished.”

  “Arlo, Owen?” Callum said. “Would you mind going to the kitchen and grabbing the appetizers? Lucinda made some wonderful crostini and cucumber coins.”

  Arlo and Owen exited while Willa turned back to Nisa. “How was your appointment today?”

  “It was good. Dr. Patterson and his daughter were wonderful.”

  “Fantastic,” Callum said. He was bringing drinks from the bar. Imported beers and glasses of wine and, for Nisa, a rosemary lemonade. Willa reached for wine while Blake reached for beer.

  “Will you call and let me know what the results are? Robert is usually pretty quick about those things.”

  Nisa sipped her lemonade. “I will, as soon as I know.” A bit of tension subtly released from Willa’s shoulders. It was small, but Nisa spotted it and so did Blake. “Shereen,” Nisa went on. “She’s not entirely human right? Not Lycan, but something.”

  Willa nodded, carefully selecting her words. “That’s a fair assessment.”

  Nisa waited for her to clarify, but it seemed the case was closed. This dinner was meant to ease the tension not to create more, so Nisa let it go.

  Arlo and Owen returned with food, and it wasn’t long before things felt fun. Callum turned on music and they laughed and made small talk. Then Lucinda appeared and said that dinner was served.

  The dining room table was quite long, so their places had all been set toward one end. It was no surprise that Willa sat at the head, while Callum took the spot on her right and Arlo took the spot to her left. Nisa sat next to Arlo, Blake across from Nisa next to Callum, and Owen next to Blake. That left a spot open next to Nisa, where Lucinda eventually sat.

  Dinner was in fact roasted pork. Lucinda had made bo ssäm, a Korean dish made of slow roasted pork and served with Bibb lettuce, rice, ginger-scallion relish, and a spicy chili sauce. The pork was tender and hot, Lucinda easily pulling it apart with forks.

  Lucinda wasn’t the friendliest Lycan Nisa had ever met, but the woman could cook. Nisa scooped rice onto lettuce, topped it with the pork, scallions, and ssäm, then took a bite and swooned. Flavors burst in her mouth, and the heat of the dish warmed her entire body.

  “Lucinda,” Nisa said, “you’ve really outdone yourself.”

  Lucinda looked at Nisa, as if the family cat had spoken. “Thank you, Nisa.”

  Arlo gave Lucinda a hard look, but then he turned back to Nisa and squeezed her hand. After that, things moved along nicely. Food was eaten and alcohol imbibed, all while music played.

  Willa and Callum had danced to Santana’s song “Smooth,” and then Owen and Arlo had sung every word to Ice Cube’s “It Was a Good Day.”

  It was Blake who heard them first. She went from clapping along to “Give Up the Funk” to complete stillness. A split second later, Arlo went stiff, and he and Owen stood up from their chairs. Callum’s mood soured and Willa looked exasperated.

  Callum spoke. “Well, this is an unpleasant surprise.”

  Nisa turned in her chair to see Benny and Shane walking around the corner and into the dining room. Benny looked sheepish. But Shane looked haughty and pleased as though ruining fantastic dinners had become his specialty.

  “We tried calling,” Benny said.

  Willa’s eyes were cold. “Not hard enough it seems.”

  Nisa turned back around in her chair, willing them both to simply go away—but she could see them in the mirror behind Blake’s chair. Blake on the other hand looked away from nothing. She was leaning back with her arms crossed as if she’d been expecting this fuckery.

  “Hello, wife.” Shane emphasized the word as though trying to twist a knife. “My invitation must have been overlooked. Since it’s my future being discussed here tonight.”

  “No,” Willa said. “All you managed to sully is a dinner among friends.”

  “Really?” Shane said dramatically. “I was told that the results of the paternity test would be read tonight. Which I found interesting since I wasn’t asked for DNA.”

  Arlo addressed Shane but his eyes were focused on Benny. “You’ve been misinformed. We’re ju
st here having dinner.”

  Benny interjected, trying to save his own ass. “I never told him the results were being read, only that you’d gotten the test done today . . .”

  “I like dinner.” Shane walked to the table, slipped around Owen and sat in the chair next to Nisa.

  Lucinda had gone to the kitchen for more lettuce, but she’d come back to the archway to witness this newly formed melodrama.

  Owen was watching Willa, waiting for permission to pull Shane’s legs out.

  Willa gave a small shake of her head. “Let’s all sit for a moment.” Then she motioned for Arlo to take his seat.

  Benny moved around to the other side of the table and sat next to Blake while Owen took the seat on the other side of Shane. Benny tried to say hello to Blake, but Blake held up a hand, not in the mood for pleasantries.

  “Lucinda,” Willa said. “Please grab two more place settings.”

  Arlo grabbed Nisa’s hand underneath the table, signaling that it was time for them to leave.

  “No,” Nisa said shaking her head. “He doesn’t belong here.”

  “Nisa . . .” Arlo said.

  “Oh and you do?” Shane interrupted.

  “Yes,” she said. “Because I belong with Arlo. If he belongs here then so do I.”

  Shane guffawed. “He’s going to use you just as I used you. He’s going to fuck you and ruin you and when he’s done, you’ll be the same dumb cunt that you’ve always been.”

  The buzzing in Nisa’s ears muffled Shane’s words. Her vision narrowed to a tunnel until all she could see was his contorted face spewing bile. So it was almost without thinking that she grabbed her fork and jammed it into his thigh.

  Shane screamed as Nisa shoved back from the table and came to standing. Arlo grabbed her arm trying to pull her away. But Nisa was straining against him, still yelling obscenities at her husband. Shane shook as he pulled the fork out of his leg. Then his hand balled into a fist.

  He threw a punch right at Nisa’s belly but Arlo quickly spun her away and his kidney absorbed the blow. Once Nisa was safely out of reach, Arlo spun back ready to attack. His wolf bubbled out, ripping his shirt and pants as his body became too big to contain.

  Shane jumped out of his chair, kicking it over, as he again went for Nisa. But Owen was quicker. He’d leapt from his chair, too, and grabbed Shane by the shoulders working to keep him away from Arlo.

  Willa and Callum yelled for everyone to calm down, but it was too late. No one was listening.

  Owen hurled Shane hard, and Benny caught him as Shane stumbled back. Then Owen turned his attention to subduing Arlo—to stopping imminent bloodshed.

  Shane twisted, trying to get out of Benny’s grasp. “I’m going to kill you, you fucking bitch.”

  Suddenly Blake’s head fell back, her body convulsing with bone-breaking spasms. A snarl ripped from her lips, then everything stopped as fur exploded from her flesh. Her dress fell away in shreds as her face reshaped to sharp teeth and muzzle. She had changed in seconds. Where Blake once stood there was a six-and-a-half-foot Lycan. She was silver with black markings and bright yellow eyes—and she was howling bloody murder.

  Callum was the first to move. He sprang at Blake, trying to get his arms around her, but she jumped onto the table then lunged for Shane. Benny threw Shane to the floor and tried to act as a shield, but she grabbed Benny by the face and flung him out of the way.

  Owen went furry as Shane scrambled backward. But Blake was too quick, too determined. She pounced on Shane, coming down on his torso with all of her weight. Bones crunched and he wheezed, tears welling in his eyes as he tried to squirm free.

  Then Blake reached down and wrenched Shane’s head.

  All went quiet when they heard a snap.

  CHAPTER Fourteen

  Blake had twisted Shane’s head so far around that his chin was resting on the Persian rug. His chest was sunken in and his eyes open and dull. Blood trickled from his mouth. He was gone.

  Nisa was frozen, her body refusing to move as she struggled to comprehend the sight of her dead husband.

  Blake was still raging and vibrating with blood lust. Owen took a brisk step forward, determined to get to Blake before she could do any more damage.

  He reached out, grabbing Blake’s opposite shoulder to spin her into a bear hug. But Blake was ready for that. She brought her hand down on the crook of his outstretched arm, and as he jerked forward, brought her elbow up to jab him under the jaw. Owen’s head whipped back and, before he could recover, she dropped her fist and hammered him in the groin.

  Owen snarled as he doubled over, but Blake didn’t stop. Her claws tore into his shoulders as her foot came down in a vicious calf kick. Owen threw a hand out before he hit the floor and used the momentum to pivot back to standing. He’d been caught off guard before, moving to simply restrain her. But now it looked as though he’d have to take her down. He brought up his fists, his body ready for violence.

  Blake kicked out with her right. Owen raised his thigh to block, then planted his foot and nailed her with a right cross. A left hook was next and a lighting fast roundhouse. Blake reeled but rebounded. As a human, she would have been down for the count. But as a Lycan, this was just a warm-up.

  Owen threw another right—but Blake dipped left and it glanced off her shoulder. She hit him in the liver with a brutal jab, then a left hook found his muzzle. Air whooshed from his lungs as she kicked him in the gut.

  The force of it shoved Owen back, but he quickly faked her out with a sweeping roundhouse then delivered a sidekick to her chest. Blake smashed into a wall. Before she could go on offense, Owen lunged forward. He hooked his claws around the back of her neck, then tried to knock her out with a merciless knee thrust.

  Blake swiftly crossed her arms to block the hit. Owen threw her to the side, and she landed on all fours. He stalked after her, grabbed her by one arm, then rolled back into a sitting position. Before she could yank away, he’d locked her head and torso between his legs.

  Blake twisted and snarled, trying to break free. But Owen had her. Her wrist was turned at awkward angle as he held her shoulder down, then yanked her arm up to dislocate the joint.

  Blake howled.

  Sharpness gripped Nisa’s abdomen. She sunk to her knees . . . then to her bottom. She rocked back and forth as Blake continued to struggle.

  “Blake! STOP!” she shouted.

  At Nisa’s command, Blake froze then let her body go limp. Arlo looked back. He’d adopted a protective stance between Nisa and the melee, so he hadn’t seen her drop. Fur melted away as he shrunk back to human and kneeled at her side.

  “What’s going on? What’s happening?”

  Nisa grimaced, still holding her belly. “I’m just . . . something’s wrong.”

  Owen let Blake up, the violence in her body having subsided. Her arm hung slack as she scrambled to Nisa and then crouched protectively over her sister. Arlo stiffened. Having a murderous Lycan so close to his mate was difficult. But Owen followed from a safe, minimal distance to make sure she didn’t do anything rash.

  Willa told Callum in a low voice to call Dr. Patterson, but Arlo asked that they call 911 instead. Lucinda pulled out her phone and dialed the emergency number, then reported that an ambulance was on its way.

  Blake whined, worry a storm in her pale yellow eyes. Nisa looked to Arlo even as she endured another lightning bolt of pain. “Why isn’t she turning back?”

  “She probably can’t, she probably hasn’t calmed down enough to make the change.” Arlo looked up. “Willa, will you help her?”

  Willa was standing just behind Nisa’s shoulder. She put her hand on Nisa’s forehead. “I’ll help your sister after the ambulance has taken you. You’ll go to Cedars-Sinai, and Dr. Patterson will meet you there.”

  They could hear the sirens approaching outside.

  “Benny,” Callum said, “give Arlo your shirt and pants.”

  Benny stripped down to his boxers.

  Arlo
donned Benny’s clothes, then gently scooped Nisa up to carry her to the entryway. There were two changed Lycans in the house and a dead body on the floor. They’d need to keep the EMTs outside.

  Owen, Lucinda, and Benny stayed with Blake and a very dead Shane while Willa and Callum helped Arlo and Nisa to the front door. Nisa didn’t want to be away from her sister. She could tell Blake felt the same, but at this point they had no other choice.

  They stepped into the night as the EMTs rushed toward them with a gurney. Arlo laid Nisa down. They strapped her in, then whisked her away with Arlo by her side.

  #

  Dr. Patterson showed up at the emergency room not long after Nisa. She’d been lying in the hospital bed, a fetal heart monitor stuck to her belly, when the doctor had breezed in. He smiled at Nisa and flipped through her chart, his untroubled demeanor immediately calming.

  “When did the pain start?”

  “At dinner,” Nisa said. “We were at Willa’s and it just started shooting across my abdomen.”

  “Was it accompanied by any weakness in the legs,” Dr. Patterson asked.

  “No. I don’t think so.”

  “Well,” Arlo said, “you did have to sit down when it hit.”

  “True,” Nisa admitted, “but that was more because the pain was so bad.”

  “What did you two do after you left my office this morning?”

  Arlo answered. “Went for lunch, went to a movie, walked around the mall.”

  “And you refrained from sexual activity?”

  “For the most part,” Arlo said.

  The doctor blinked, waiting for further explanation.

  Arlo relented. “We didn’t go past second base.”

  “I see.” Dr. Patterson suppressed a smile. “And did anything stressful take place today?”

  Arlo again fielded the question. “There were some difficulties at dinner. But if you want to know more you’ll have to talk to Willa.”

  Dr. Patterson put the chart back. “Understood.”

  Nisa frowned. “Should we be worried Dr. Patterson? What do you think caused this?”