Hunting the Rogues (Shadow Claw Book 8)

by Sarah J. Stone

  Anybody could tell that the chimeras were a challenge. They were the toughest opponents anyone had to face in a while. Fergus could see how badly they lacked in combat technique. Their strategies were no use if they couldn’t get in close to them.

  The battle raged on. But at least they were winning.

  Chapter 7

  The clearing was bustling with injured wolves and bears, pack healers running about and tending to them under dim oil lamps and floating fireflies. The battle had taken most of the day and it was well into the nighttime. The half-moon watched on curiously over them.Luke and Fergus were busy being patched up. Viria should have been with them receiving the same treatment, but she’d taken after the chimeras when they’d retreated.

  Cassie and Diana headed right over to them once they’d dealt with a neighboring pack close by and successfully managed to include them in the pact of alliance. Warning them of the recent attack of chimeras, the Luna immediately started shifting her people.

  The Alpha of the Ruby Claw wolf pack, Dylan, joined them to make sure they came to no harm while the Luna took it upon herself to run the pack completely at the sanctuaries. They were a wise old couple with happy people. Their pack hadn’t seen or heard of such conflict since their last Alpha and Luna more than twenty years ago.

  “I didn’t think the outcome would be so disastrous,” Dylan said, looking at Fergus and Luke. The two waved at him weakly.The Alpha of the Golden Mane bear pack, Hugh, came up right behind them, moving around them to get to Luke and Fergus.

  “Checked the whole area,” he said. “They’ve disappeared. Half of my pack has successfully been relocated.”

  “I have a team waiting if there is any need of further assistance of any kind,” Dylan said. Hugh turned to look at him and his eyes widened in recognition. He moved forward to greet him as Cassie and Diana took to their mates.

  “God,” Cassie breathed, “this looks really bad, Luke.”

  “You think?” He sighed tiredly as he melted into her touch. “You should’ve seen Viria.”

  “She can handle it,” Diana snapped. “You guys can’t.”

  The men looked at each other incredulously and Luke shot a look at Diana. “Are you saying a little girl is stronger than the both of us combined?”

  “Yes,” the women said in unison and Cassie continued, “and you have no reason to feel insulted about it. It’s not a threat to your masculinity.”

  The Alphas mumbled under their breaths, feeling insulted, nevertheless. Everyone fell quiet all of a sudden as someone walked through the trees and into the clearing. Luke and Fergus looked up to see Viria walk into their vicinity, looking worse than she did before. Fergus could swear she wasn’t as scarred and bloody before she took off after them. Her bears were busy trying to lick the blood off of her but she scolded them, saying how unhygienic it was.

  “What happened?” he asked her.

  “Uh, yeah, well.” She sighed with a rub of her neck. “I accidentally killed the main leader.”

  “What?” everyone cried.

  “The guy had a deformity,” she explained. “Apparently every chimera has some sort of Achilles Heel. His’ was in the rib. I didn’t think it would kill him, though. I just wanted to maim and bring him back for information. Hold him captive and all.”

  Everyone continued to stare at her absolutely mind-boggled. It was hard to take in the fact that such a young person could kill and feel absolutely fine with it. All she wanted was information.

  “Viria” – Diana approached her gently – “we really need to patch you up a bit.”

  “What? No,” she said absently. “I need to get going and – oh, pleasure to meet you Hugh, Dylan.”

  “ViriaSchovsky,” Hugh addressed her and shook her hand. “It’s an honor to be acquainted with you. You have quite the reputation.”

  “It’s nothing, honestly.” She smiled and moved to shake hands with Dylan. “I suppose your packs have already started relocating?”

  “We’re almost done,” Dylan said and raised a brow at her. “You really need to get patched up.”

  “I could use a few bandages before I go on my way, I guess.” She sighed with a shrug and looked at Diana. “I really can’t stay too long, though. My energies have depleted and the HQ is far.”

  “I’ll take care of the major wounds then you can leave.”

  ****

  The night before was eventful. Nina was all alone in the High Council HQ. Cassie and Diana had left to assist their mate in the negotiations and pack training. And she couldn’t sleep. She didn’t. She shouldn’t. She was expecting her visitor.

  Nina had her barriers up as she lay in bed. The adrenaline kept her wide awake. Her ears were attuned to every creak and scratch she could hear in the place.

  The door slid open almost silently. The light scratch of the wood against the carpet alerted her. Slowing her breathing against her raging heartbeat, she did her best to imitate sleep. She felt the air shift with the intruder’s movements. Their soft breathing neared her until it was right above her ear.

  “I know you’re awake.”

  A spell took the intruder by the throat and knocked them to the ground. The lights turned on as they wheezed against the restraints.

  “You underestimate me, though,” Nina said as she leaned over a knee to have a look. It was a boy and he couldn’t be more than twenty years old at most. His platinum blonde hair was a curly mess on his head, and his doe eyes were the color of fresh soil, speckled with green and gold.

  “Name,” she ordered. He shook his head. Nina frowned. “Look, you need to explain yourself, either way and your name is just a formality.”

  “You’ll never take me alive!”

  “I doubt you’d be allowed suicide as a way out,” she stated, “with what Agatha has planned for you all.”

  “She has good reason!”

  “Do you even know what’s actually happening?” Nina shook her head. “Look, I’m going to keep you captive for a bit, okay? Until then, you have to tell me about yourself at least.”

  “Y-you won’t hurt me?”

  “Won’t do us any good, honestly.” She shrugged. “We have bigger messes to deal with and a young rogue who has no clue of what’s going on is not who we have on the list.”

  She could see the confusion in his eyes, but she did not dare let her guard down. Whispering a few spells under her breath, a chair floated to her and the boy easily lifted into the air and settled onto it. His arms and legs were bound by magic.

  Nina sat on the bed and cocked her head at him. “Well?”

  The boy gave her a suspicious look. “Well, what? I’m sure you already know what’s happening.”

  “I’m talking about you,” she said. “Tell me how you got into this mess and why?”

  The boy gave it a thought and figured it couldn’t hurt.

  “I’m Hunt Grace,” he said. “I went rogue two years ago.”

  Nina raised a brow at him. He talked funny, as if he came out of a medieval book. “All right, and then?”

  “Our leader, Joshua Callaway, was a lunatic,” he explained. “My father worked for a long time against him and I was supposed to help him out, but I ran away. Joshua broke into our house when he found out about my father’s agenda. He killed my father and took my brother away. I had to run.”

  It was pretty generic, but it sufficed for Nina. “Do you have updates on Joshua?”

  “He’s dead. Someone killed him off to take his place.”

  “Who?”

  He sighed. “I’m not sure,but I heard the vampires are doing better now under him.”

  “What’s your community called?”

  “Black Blood,” he answered. She nodded and sat back, hearing the large gates to the HQ close. Ivanna had returned. She reached for her phone and called her up. Ivanna was quick to get to her.

  “What the hell?” she breathed, taking in the sight. She looked at the intruder closely. “You look familiar.”

&nbs
p; “His name’s Hunt Grace,” Nina said.

  “You’re Cole’s brother…” she said.

  “How do you know him?” he gasped. “Is he okay? He’s alive?”

  Ivanna scoffed and rubbed her temples. “Goodness, child,” she said, “He’s the head of your pack now. We’re good acquaintances.”

  “What?” Nina said, absolutely confused.

  “What?” Hunt said just as clueless.

  “Oh, we’ll discuss that later,” she said with a wave of her hand, then looked determinedly at Hunt. “You have a lot to tell us, young man. After that, I’ll be sending you back to your brother.”

  ****

  Kalen took in Gael’s new abode. It was better than where he had visited before, although it had been a long time since he’d personally went to see him. This place was modern, made of glass, stones, and wood. It was beautiful, with plenty of sunlight pouring in from one side of the structure and illuminating the place within in a soft and pleasant glow.

  “I didn’t think sunlight suited his aesthetic appeal,” Kalen said as they climbed the slight slope. The cobblestone path was bordered with fresh grass that led right to the house. It smelled of mildew and damp soil, as if it had rained recently.

  “He did it for the stars,” Samuel said. “The blinds were supposed to be down. I guess the maid isn’t in today.”

  “It’s nice to see him making the most out of his retirement,” he continued with a nod of approval. “I think Gael was the busiest one out of all of us.”

  “Vampires tend to be a handful,” Samuel agreed. “He chose Cole Grace with good reason.”

  Kalen sighed and dismissed Samuel’s statement. They climbed up the stone step to the porch and rang the bell beside the door made of frosted glass tainted with colors. A dark figure shuffled behind it, and stopped.

  “Kalen?” came a croaky voice muffled by the glass between them.

  “Gael, it’s me.”

  With a clink and a click, the door opened smoothly to a rather bedraggled Gael, sporting hair like a bird’s nest on his head and an uneven stubble that needed shaving. He didn’t look too bad, though. Just more human. His skin had taken on a little tanning and his eyes were darker than before. He seemed to have aged a little.

  “It’s been a while,” Gael said and moved away to let them in, gesturing them forward. The two entered the place, looking around and realizing it was just as beautiful as the outside.

  “Nice place,” Kalen commented. “it’s a little far from civilization, though.”

  “I go down to town on a monthly basis and come back with all I need,” he explained, closing the door behind them and leading them in. “Want coffee or anything?”

  “We’re good,” Samuel said. “I just came to drop Kalen off. He wanted to talk to you about something. I need to go handle a few errands.”

  Gael nodded and Samuel took his leave after a pat on Kalen’s shoulder. Once he’d let, they took their places across from each other on the leather couches.

  “I figured it’s about Cole,” Gael said with a mile. “I can understand your concerns. What do you wish to know?”

  “All that I can about him and why you felt he was fit for your position,” he said. “Are you sure he’s trustworthy?”

  “I think he’s beyond capable,” he said. “Your trust is something he has to win over himself. If you’d give him the chance, that is.”

  “I just thought it would be better consulting the one who appointed him,” Kalen said. “But who is he to you?”

  “A good friend’s son,” he said. “I took him under my wing for a while to train him. He’d disappeared for a few years the last time he left after training and only returned a few months ago. He had it rough, but pulled through with a lot of strength and willpower.”

  “What had happened to him?”

  “Kidnapped,” he said. “He’s still a little traumatized and hasn’t been able to tell me much about that day, but he managed to escape. Travelled the world and read a lot. Fought a lot.Discovered more than I could digest. He’s quite a personality, isn’t he?”

  “He’s very similar to another person we know,” Kalen admitted. “ViriaSchovsky. Cole knows about her and wants her in the Council of Elders.”

  “Ah, the warlord?”

  “Is that how everyone knows her?” he rolled his eyes.

  “I’ve seen her in combat…” Gael admitted, which earned his a raised brow. “I had to take a look after news started spreading a few months earlier. Her skills are refined and she’s very intelligent in combat.”

  Kalen cocked his head to the side. “Are you still in contact with vampires and other beings in the realm?”

  Gael laughed. “You think I’d leave it all behind so easily?”

  “I get that it was rather unfair the way your powers were stripped off of you,” he said, “but I hope you’re not stressing too much over things like before. You should relax. It’s not your responsibility anymore.”

  Kalen wasn’t sure if Gael had really grimaced at the reminder, but he wished he was more sensitive and careful about the topic.

  “Sorry,” he started, but Gael shook his head.

  “No, you’re right.” He sighed. “It feels weird not having my powers. Sometimes I forget they’re gone. But I can’t just disconnect from the place that has been a major part of most of my life, you know?”

  “I understand that, and no one’s driving you away or anything.”

  Gael nodded reassuringly and Kalen took a deep breath. He knew Gael was still pretty upset about it. He didn’t dare think about it any further lest he be plagued with unnecessary guilt. Kalen knew the pain his brother had caused people could not be compensated for easily. And he did not want to be in any position to take responsibility of it yet.

  “Gael,” he started seriously, “you do know that should Cole mess up anywhere, then you will be held partly accountable?”

  “I chose him very carefully, Kalen,” he assured him. “Don’t you worry. He’s got it in him to selflessly look out for everyone.”

  Kalen wasn’t sure if Gael had meant it sincerely or out of spite. Maybe it was just the guilt making him feel attacked. So he simply shrugged. “Well, I should be taking my leave. Is there anything I can do for you before I leave?”

  A thoughtful look fell over Gael’s face, and he nodded. “Tell Heather to keep away from me. I’m handling myself well on my own.”

  Kalen gave him a concerned look. “You know Heather—”

  “Is not needed anymore,” he cut him off. “Please, I have my reasons. It’s best if she stayed away.”

  Kalen breathed through his nose as he tried to find reasoning in Gael’s request. He found none except that maybe it was an attempt to detach himself from the realm and try to indulge in fellow humans more. Or maybe he’d found someone else? That couldn’t be. Gael was a very sincere man who did not jump from one woman to another. He did not go behind people’s backs.

  “All right. I’ll visit again if I get the time.”

  “You’re welcome whenever, Kalen.” Gael smiled. And why wouldn’t he be? He had gifts awaiting Kalen.

  Chapter 8

  “Good grief.” Viria sighed and waved her hand about. “What is that nitwit of a specie doing?”

  “Money making,” Ivanna said and Viria gave her a deadpanned looked. Ivanna put her hands up, “Ultimate control over humans and chimeras?”

  “For what?”

  “I dunno. Greed is a powerful thing.”

  Viria narrowed her eyes at her sister. She stood up from behind her desk.

  “Ivanna,” her voice took a dangerously low octave, “do you think I’m dumb?”

  Ivanna did not dare lose her ground to give anything away, although she knew it was absolutely useless.

  “What?” she asked, playing coy and confused. “You think I’d hide something from you?”

  “AHA!” Viria pointed an accusatory finger at her with glee.

  “Goddammit,” she wh
ispered under her breath, “Fine!”

  Ivanna paused to collect her thoughts and opened her mouth to continue, but was cut off by Mitch barging into Viria’s office.

  “Viria, you’re back!”

  “It’s been around twenty minutes, yeah,” she said leaning to the side to get a look at him. “What’s up?”

  Mitch blinked at Viria and she knew he would have a lot of questions. The amount of beating her body had taken this time was brutal in comparison to all the others. It was worse than when she’d let herself get captured and kept in the torture cells.

  “My mornings have never been weirder. What happened to you?” he breathed. Ivanna’s eyes widened and she scurried forward to take a look at Viria’s face and arms. In the heat of the discussion, she hadn’t noticed how much worse Viria looked compared to before.

  “Holy shit, Viria!” she cried. “I’m so used to seeing you come home a bloody mess, but this is downright crazy!”

  “I’m all right, guys.” She rolled her eyes and Ivanna smacked her upside the head.

  “I’m getting Fae,” she declared and rushed out of the room.

  “IVANNA, GET BACK HERE AND TELL ME WHAT YOU HAD TO!” Viria yelled, but she’d already disappeared. Groaning, she slouched back against her chair.

  “Are battles usually this bad?” Mitch aske., “I could’ve helped.”

  “Not until you master proper control over your powers, Mitch,” she said as she took off her cloak, leaving herself in a short sleeved, blood-stained shirt that clung to her figure. There were rips in her shirt that looked a lot like claw marks from wild beasts. Mitch had to tear his eyes away from her. He didn’t realize how prominent her figure was and it was concerning because raging hormones was the last of things he was expecting to feel when not really alive.

  “Well, uh…” he coughed, “erm, what kind of control?”

  “Like making sure the dead remain dead,” she stressed. “Like the corpses you attacked me with the first time.”

  “Ah, yeah, I can try that,” he said.

  “What happened to the other guys out back?”

  “I didn’t really know what to do and was waiting for you to come back,” he said coming forward and plopping onto the seat before her desk. “Like, should I kill them again or let them be?”