Infected wild magic.
The urge to use the power only increased, and her creature did nothing to curb the craving, humming in agreement to kill everyone in the vicinity and stop the threat before it started. Energy seeped past her shields to soak in the air around her, stirring a wind only she could feel. The breeze tugged at her hair and clothes as it swirled around her, waiting for her command.
“They couldn’t.” Jackson rose and stepped into view. “This wasn’t set for us.”
Shock pulled her attention away from the tree line, and the rising power eased, sinking painfully back into her skin. “You mean we were snagged in someone else’s trap?”
Raven could only curse her luck.
Jackson raised a brow, then stepped into her space, much too close for her peace of mind with the current riding her hard. “That or someone lost a box of nails on the road and we were just unfortunate enough to run over them.”
“I don’t believe in coincidences.” To resist touching him, Raven stepped back and shook her head to deny his effect on her.
The distance didn’t matter.
She wanted to reach out and touch what he so freely offered, the dragon influencing her every thought and emotion. She didn’t know what feelings she could trust, and what were manipulated by the dragon to get what it wanted.
Taggert came to stand next to her. “If it was a trap, then where are they?”
She knew what he was asking. He wanted to know if she could sense anyone in the area. Raven hesitated, unsure she could trust using her power, not with the recent changes she’d suffered at the witches’ hands.
She wasn’t sure she could handle any more things going wrong.
Taggert’s neon-green eyes had calmed to his normal whiskey color … almost. His beast hovered close to the surface, ready to leap into action. Since he wasn’t a pure-blooded shifter, he wasn’t able to change into his wolf, forever stuck in human form. His bloodline had become too diluted over the centuries by human blood.
Each time his wolf rose had to be sheer torture. If his beast ever tried to break free, he would be shredded from the inside out.
He trusted her to save him.
He was asking for that same trust from her.
Taking a deep breath, she nodded. To her shame, her hands shook at the prospect of failing them. Curling her fingers into fists, she closed her eyes and called up on the energy that had taken root in every cell of her body. It roared to her fingertips at her call, eager to do her bidding.
The ease with which it came should’ve been frightening.
No fight.
No struggle for control.
So why did her heart give an extra beat of excitement?
Raven tried to pluck at only the blue calming strands of her power, but the red cords refused to be separated. She hesitated. Every time she used that power, she would only grow more addicted. It would lure her into trusting it, relying on it, until she was firmly ensnared.
It was what the wild magic did to the witches who gave in to the temptation and dared to use it, then it consume them from the inside out.
She was different.
The magic chose her, but that was no guarantee she would be safe.
There was only one way to know for sure.
A test.
She called the power, and heat immediately built under her skin, swelling into a giant wave. Using electricity again was both comforting and alien. She waited for the blue lines of pure energy to scorch along her insides as it sought escape. She braced for the pain when the wild magic shimmered and flared to life. Like a limb waking, her hands tingled until the red lines grew brighter and brighter.
It was eating her magic.
She tried to rein in the power, but it fought her every step of the way.
The magic was sentient.
It didn’t want to be contained.
She almost dropped it in panic when the dragon pressed on her chest, pushing her to continue.
Raven waited to be overcome, prepared to shut it down hard, but the wild magic never took more, never tried to take over.
It only consumed the excess.
Keeping her from pain.
Much to her surprise, the red strands granted her more control, but a niggling worry hovered at the back of her mind. She hadn’t been able to curb it.
Taking a leap of faith, she released the magic.
It burst out of her in a blast. Like a pebble dropped into a pond, the ripples spread through the woods in an ever increasing wave. Anything with a heartbeat registered as soon as her power hit it. To others, it was invisible. To her, an eerie blue light expanded out from her.
Small animals registered first. They were in the trees, burrowed underground, even flying in the sky. Then her brows furrowed. Durant rounded the car and came to rest beside her, sensing her disquiet. “There should be more animals in the woods.”
“We are on the border of pack lands. Nearby predators could explain it.”
Taggert’s answer made sense. She began to relax when she spotted one human, then two, before a dozen more appeared. They were about a mile out.
With a wave of her arm, the energy floated to the ground like snowflakes and melted away. Raven looked at her hand and curled her fingers into a fist, marveling at the way the power had obeyed after so many years of struggle. The energy didn’t once fight her. It was a nice change, but she wasn’t sure she trusted it yet. Then she focused on the real threat. “Why would a dozen people be gathering in the middle of nowhere?”
Jackson scowled at her words, scanning the tree line as if he expected people to emerge at any moment. His eyes changed to a brilliant green as his wolf rose. It hovered so close to the surface she could almost reach out and touch the magnificent beast. His brown hair was short, dark and thick, tempting her to run her fingers through it. There was something too masculine, too purposeful about him that didn’t invite others closer. It made him ruggedly handsome and sinfully forbidden, and she couldn’t stay away from him.
He didn’t move, didn’t even appear to be breathing as he guarded her against attack. Something about seeing all that ferocity, knowing it was there to protect her, knowing it was there for her to touch, sent her pulse skittering.
Sensations flared to life as her dragon slowly woke from its slumber. Her senses sharpened, emotions became volatile, while logic grew cloudy under the bombardment. Taggert’s deep, woodsy scent wrapped around her, and she tensed against reaching out to brush against him.
“I don’t think they are a threat.” Taggert didn’t duck his head as he normally did when her attention fell onto him, but boldly met her gaze. He pulled a flyer from his pocket and handed it to her.
Raven touched the creases, noting it had been folded many times over. This was something important to him. More than a little bit curious, she unfolded the page.
“A circus?” She stared down in surprise at the colorful flyer. Then she noticed the location. “Why would someone set up a circus out in the middle of nowhere?”
Taggert pointed to a colorful ribbon at the bottom of the flyer. “It’s a freak show.”
Jackson relaxed and nodded as if it made complete sense.
Her lips curled in disgust, disliking the connotations. “What does that mean?”
“It’s code.” Taggert took the flyer back, his eyes sparkling as he reread the page again. “Most people think a freak show means people with deformities.”
Raven’s brows furrowed. “It isn’t?”
Taggert shrugged, trying to mask his interest, as if afraid to want something only to have it taken away. “Well, there were a few, but it was mostly what the humans were led to believe. Shifters didn’t come out of hiding until the paranormal conflict. Before that, they needed to find a way to hide in plain sight in case they were caught.”
It made a weird sort of sense to Raven. “And what better place than a circus.”
“Exactly. A freak show means shifters are running the circus. There a
re only a few sanctioned circuses remaining.” Taggert carefully folded the flyer, treating it like a beloved treasure.
It made her realize that he and dozens of other children like him had dreamed of escaping to the circus when they were young.
Jackson strode toward the back of the vehicle and began unloading the bags. “Why don’t you take Raven to the circus and show her?”
She peered at him over the top of the vehicle. “Are you sure that’s wise? I don’t like us separating.”
Jackson leaned his arms against the roof and raised a brow. “This tire needs to be changed, and don’t forget that Durant is in animal form. He needs more time to heal before he can change back. We can stay behind and fix the car and meet up with you two in the parking lot later.”
Raven dithered at the thought of leaving them, but the only way to take Durant with her would be to collar him. The leash laws stated any shifter in animal form in public must be leashed. In theory, it was a way to keep shifters under control, a law put into effect by humans to protect their own. The idea of putting a collar on a five-hundred-pound tiger was ridiculous, and everything inside her rebelled at the thought of clamping a collar around his throat.
In practice, the law was ridiculous. No human would be able to hold a beast if they wanted to go anywhere. The thick chains were stored in the back of the vehicle, but Durant could easily snap the metal like dental floss.
Raven refused to shackle him as if he were no better than a wild animal.
As if he concurred, Durant stretched out, firmly planting himself on the side of the road, clearly saying he wasn’t going anywhere.
“Let me borrow your phone. I’ll call a tow truck to fix the car, and we can all go together.” Raven held out her hand and waited.
Jackson shook his head. “We left all our phones at home.”
Panic grabbed her by the throat and squeezed, her arm dropping uselessly at her side. “So we’re completely cut off from the rest of the pack?”
They’d left home to allow things to cool down between the witches and the shifters after her last job. She needed to get away from all the interest she’d accidently garnered by rescuing a coven and preventing an all-out war between the two races. For her trouble, she’d been infected by tainted magic.
By leaving, she was stealing time to settle her newly arose dragon and get rid of that magic before it had a chance to spread.
Before people had time to discover the truth and began hunting them in earnest.
But she’d never intended to abandon her people and leave them behind to cope with the trouble without her.
Taggert stepped between them, and she realized that she’d been ready to leap over the car at Jackson to demand answers.
Her insides trembled at the near miss, and the blasted man just stood there calmly, not a whiff of fear on him. She rubbed her sweaty palms on her pants.
It was one thing to trust her, another to test it with his life.
Foolish man.
“We have a burner phone, but it’s for inbound calls. Only London has the number. You can’t check on them. We can’t risk it being traced.” Taggert inched closer, so slowly she hadn’t even been aware he was moving, until he was only a breath away. “If there’s any trouble, they’ll call us.”
He didn’t say anything else, didn’t ask to go to the circus, leaving the choice up to her. The childlike pleasure in his eyes had dimmed, and she found herself going against her better judgement. Taggert had been a slave all of his life. She wanted to please him, even if it was something as simple as going to a fair.
“Fine.”
Taggert’s smile was slow in coming, a small curling of the lips that he only shared with her.
She gave one last look at Jackson, memorizing his features, and he tipped his chin in acknowledgement. “Go. You have anonymity here. It would be the perfect time for you to see how other shifters work. Just keep to yourself. You can’t let anyone see that you’re an alpha or even a shifter if you can prevent it. We’ll see you soon.”
With great reluctance, she turned her back on them and crossed the road. In minutes, they were surrounded by nothing but thousands of trees in every direction. If she hadn’t known the road was behind them, she would’ve never found it. The spooky silence plucked her nerves.
“You don’t need to worry.” Taggert studied their surroundings, avoiding looking at her directly, taking his duty to guard her seriously.
Raven stiffened, and her hackles rose. “I don’t like leaving them behind.”
“Understandable.” Taggert wandered closer as if to offer comfort, but refrained from actually touching her … as if afraid. Heat flushed her face, and she ducked, hurt that he considered her a monster to be feared.
Not that she could blame him. She had nearly killed him.
And as much as she wanted to protest, she couldn’t say it wouldn’t happen again.
No one was safe around her until she learned her limits.
The dragon wrapped around her, almost like a hug, trying to reassure her that they wouldn’t let anything happen to the pack, but Raven wasn’t convinced.
And until she knew for sure, she needed to maintain her distance.
Taggert glanced at her when she didn’t reply. “I meant that you have nothing to worry about with the circus.”
“You sound really sure.” Raven reserved her judgment, surveying the forest for any sign of threats. There was no thicket to struggle through, no lower branches to impede their way. The place was eerie, almost groomed. They were basically sitting targets, easily tracked and hunted from miles away. Fear prickled along her spine, a gut-wrenching terror that gripped her in its claws and refused to release her.
They were being watched.
She resisted the urge to whirl and hunt for the threat.
The dragon hunkered down, more curious than alarmed.
It wanted to hunt and explore the forest, dodge the trees and taste the freedom that stood just out of reach. The craving grew until her hands shook, and she almost gave into the impulse.
A glow on the horizon grew brighter through the tree line, and she knew they were getting closer to civilization. Her feet picked up speed, practically running from the temptation of getting lost in the woods and never returning.
When Taggert grabbed her hand and pried open her fist, she nearly tripped over her own feet.
“Don’t.” She yanked away from his touch, only to have him tighten his grip, stubbornly refusing her.
Emotions dropped from his face, and she knew her rejection had she’d hurt him.
They broke through to a clearing seconds later and encountered a sea of cars. His lips flattened, and his chin rose in defiance as he nodded to a couple that stood off to the side … holding hands. “We should blend with the crowd.”
Even knowing she shouldn’t, Raven gave in to his poor justification. Pack craved touch. To refuse was a punishment. He’s been through too much in the last few weeks for her to deny him this small thing, not when his very touch made her pulse pick up speed. She brushed her thumb over his wrist, marveling at the texture of his skin. She’d been denied such intimate contact with others for most of her life in fear that she’d kill them with her touch. Her pack taught her another way of life, and she refused to give up this small gift he was giving her.
“Tell me what to expect from the circus.”
He was so slow to answer that she sneaked a peek at him from the corner of her eyes, wondering if he’d changed his mind. He was more volatile since she’d brought him back from the brink of death. Much more alpha. He wouldn’t be pushed around without retaliating.
And deep down, it thrilled her to know that he could defend himself, even from her if necessary. The creature hummed in agreement, enjoying the challenge, and Raven had to shake off that thought.
A group of girls piled out of a car near the entrance of the circus. One of the girls caught sight of them—or more precisely, locked eyes on Taggert. The young thing sm
iled, an inviting blush on her cheeks as she scanned Taggert from head to foot.
Raven narrowed her eyes, feeling talons rake across the undersides of her ribs, the dragon determined to pounce and beat the girl to a pulp.
Taggert was hers.
She clamped down on Taggert’s hand, stepping closer, until their arms were entwined.
Mine.
Taggert’s stride hiccupped. His gaze dropped to their hands and awkwardness crept over her, but she couldn’t bring herself to release him. When she looked up, a secretive smile curled his lips.
He didn’t even notice the girl’s eyes dim with disappointment or her pout as she flounced away.
It might have been the only thing that saved the little twit’s life.
Chapter Three
“One shifter and one human to see the freak show.”
Raven stood back, keeping her senses locked down tight as the man at the ticket counter cast her a quick glance. Short and squat, his face wrinkled, his eyes sunk into his skull, he reminded her of one of those evil garden gnomes. She felt exposed standing there, vulnerable under his stare. He probed her mind, and it was everything she could do not to shove back at the intrusion. He narrowed his eyes when he couldn’t break her shields, pushing harder until it felt like her skull was about to crack.
The probe was messy.
No finesse.
Though not alpha strength, the signature all wrong, it was still pretty damned strong.
He tried to force her beast to react. If directed at anyone weaker, they wouldn’t have been able to resist the call, especially after he’d amped up the juice. He studied her eyes, teeth and hands like some specimen on the auction block, looking for signs of a change.
After a minute, the old, grisly man grunted then turned toward Taggert, his faded eyes glowing a pale blue. “Show me.”
Taggert’s wolf leapt toward the surface, barely contained by his body, and all the hair on her arms rose at the unbridled wildness.
Rogue.
Her throat closed at the implications. If anyone mistook him for a rogue, they’d be well within their rights to kill him on sight and ask questions later. She stepped closer, ready to protect him if anyone dared to lift a hand against him. While the dragon wanted to revel in his wildness, the human side of her just wanted to ease him. To have their animal so close to the surface was painful, even more so when they couldn’t shift like Taggert. It was all she could do not to run her hand down his back and soothe the wildness, even if everyone discovered that she wasn’t exactly human.
Raven Investigation 04 - Electric Legend Page 2