by Donna Grant
The vamp screamed and spun around, trying to dislodge Court. It wasn’t until the door to the club was thrown open and his brothers walked in that Court released the vampire and landed beside Skye.
~
Skye was startled beyond words when she saw Court change into a werewolf. First his eyes glowed an inhuman yellow, then a ferocious growl sounded from him. His bones popped out of joint and fur sprouted along his skin as his clothes were ripped and fell to the floor.
It all happened in a matter of seconds, but it was burned into her memory for all eternity. She was so absorbed with watching Court that she forgot about her two attackers. They got too close. One tried to knock the knife from her hand, but she refused to be that weak.
She fought against them, ducking and spinning to stay out of their reach. They were fast though, super fast. Many times they guessed what she would do and were there before she twisted away.
Adrenaline kept her going, but she knew she wouldn’t last long at this rate. And then Court was there, his teeth around the neck of a vampire.
Blood poured down the front of the vamp as Court clamped down harder. Skye slashed the vampire on her left and ducked when he tried to grab her.
The next thing she knew, Court was standing beside her. Her fingers itched to touch his tawny fur. He looked up at her with his yellow eyes, silently asking if she were all right.
She nodded, amazed at how huge he was. Court was easily twice the size of a normal wolf. He stood almost as tall as her chest, all danger and fury to anyone who looked her way.
The fighting had stopped in the club, but the music still played. Skye inched closer to Court as she looked up and saw Solomon, Myles, and Kane standing at the door.
By the way their eyes flashed yellow, they too were ready to shift and take on some vampires.
Court put his head under her hand and took a step. Skye understood. She walked with him to the door as his lips peeled back to show his sharp teeth and he issued a low, rumbling growl to the vampires.
As soon as Skye was out of the club, Solomon wrapped an arm around her. “You’re all right now.”
“They knew I would be there,” she said.
Solomon didn’t stop walking. He hurried her away from the Viper’s Nest with Myles on her other side. Kane was behind them, and Court loped ahead.
“They didn’t get you,” Myles said. “Focus on that.”
Skye looked down at her hand that still held the knife. It was because of Court. He had been there, but the vampires prevented him from getting to her. If she hadn’t had the knife, they would have gotten her.
By the time Gator Bait came into view, Court veered off to the left with Kane following him. Solomon and Myles ushered her around the back of the bar and through the kitchen to Myles’s office. Addison and Riley were already there.
“She’s in shock,” Addison told Myles.
Riley put a glass in Skye’s hand. “Drink this. All of it. Now.”
Skye didn’t look at what was inside. She tossed back the contents and swallowed. Then she spent the next few moments coughing as the bourbon burned its way down her throat.
“Now look at me,” Riley said as she leaned over to look into Skye’s face. “How do you feel?”
Images of the hissing vampires hitting Court with their fangs out flashed in her mind.
“Skye?”
She blinked as she recognized Court’s voice. He was kneeling in front of her. As she looked into his face, she’d never felt so relieved in her life. She threw her arms around his neck and held him.
His arms enfolded her in a fierce hug. “It’s all right. You did good.”
“They knew I would be there,” she repeated.
Court leaned back and cupped his hands around her face. “I know.”
“I’ll clean the blade,” Kane said and tried to take the knife from her.
Skye pulled her hand away, daring him to reach for it again.
Kane smiled. “I’ll return it to you.”
The night had gotten to her in ways she hadn’t known were possible. She knew a few basic moves to fend off an attacker that she’d learned through a website, but she had never been tested like she was tonight.
She breathed through her mouth as she grew nauseous. Skye handed the knife to Kane.
“She’s losing color,” Riley said.
Skye was soon wrapped in a blanket. She didn’t understand why until she started to shiver. That’s when she recognized that Riley was right. She was in shock. She knew because she’d experienced it one other time in her life.
Court adjusted the blanket and gave her a comforting smile.
How could he do that after what had happened? How could he pretend that someone hadn’t betrayed him?
“Who else knew we would be there?” she asked.
Court sighed. “An old friend.”
CHAPTER TEN
Court was livid. The anger was boiling over, souring his stomach like acid. Of all the people who might betray him, he’d never counted Scott as one of them.
Now he knew the truth.
Skye’s dark gaze watched him with confusion and worry. He hated that she was more anxious than when she’d left the bar earlier. Tonight was supposed to make her safe from the vamps once and for all. At least that’s what he had hoped for.
“Scott,” Myles said with clenched teeth.
Court rubbed Skye’s arms through the blanket. He didn’t want to talk about it in front of her. She was still in shock. And he was still getting over seeing her surrounded by vampires.
He didn’t like the helpless feeling he’d had when the vampires had prevented him from getting to Skye. In all the times he’d shifted, not once had he felt so...savage.
Skye lowered her gaze. Was she scared of him now? Was the shock wearing off as she remembered what she had seen him do? Court dropped his arms and stood, staring at the top of her dark head.
He prayed she wasn’t afraid of him. Skye was brave and courageous. If she feared him...
Court refused to finish the thought. He raised his gaze to find his brothers, Addison, and Riley staring at him. It suddenly felt as if he were a lab rat being studied.
“What happened in there?” Riley asked. “As soon as you sent the text, Addison and I came back here.”
Court ran a hand through his hair. He was wired after shifting and battling the vampires. It didn’t help that he craved the feel of Skye’s body like his wolf yearned to run.
He leaned back against Myles’s desk. “Jacques and Anton came up on either side of me. I assumed they wanted to give me shit about the previous night, but they were too interested in Skye. I knew every vamp in there was focused on her, but I didn’t realize how much until it was too late.”
Court closed his eyes as he recalled the fear that had spiked through him when he saw the vampires closing in on Skye. He took a deep breath and opened his eyes. “I saw them moving towards Skye, and I tried to get to her.”
“But they stopped him,” Skye said with a little tremor in her voice.
Court shifted his gaze to her. She was no longer hunched over, but rather sitting straight in the chair. Beautiful and brave.
Her eyes lifted to look at the others. “They were beating him, kicking him. I had no time to get out with the vampires blocking my way. Then they were on me.”
“I shifted,” Court said, picking up where Skye left off. “And began attacking. Skye fended off the vampires with the knife until I could get to her. That’s when y’all came in.”
Kane snorted. “This could’ve gone very badly.”
“Operative word is could’ve,” Solomon said. “It didn’t.”
Myles grabbed Addison’s hand. “How desperately do they want Skye, Court?”
“They’ll continue to come after her.”
Myles’s lips thinned. “That’s what I thought. Skye, you realize you can’t go home, right?”
“I do,” Skye said and lifted her chin.
Solomon cr
ossed his arms over his chest. “Court’s place is out. It’s the second stop they’ll make after Skye’s since he was with her inside the club. That leaves Kane’s apartment or my house.”
“The LaRue house.” Riley shrugged when Kane looked at her. “I’m thinking how tiny your apartment is. There is plenty of room at Solomon’s. Besides, it’s outside the city so we can keep the battle from overflowing into the streets.”
Myles winked at her. “I agree with Riley.”
“Then we need to get to my place,” Solomon said.
Court glanced at the clock on the wall. “They’ll be watching the bar. Getting Skye out is going to be difficult.”
“Not too difficult,” Kane said as he pulled out his phone and dialed a number.
Skye looked from Kane to Court. “Who is he calling?”
“More weres.” He watched her carefully to see how she would react to that news.
“Oh,” she mumbled.
Other than that one word, she didn’t so much as twitch a muscle. Perhaps she wasn’t as afraid as he thought. Then again, she had never seen him shift before. For those unaccustomed to such things, it could be very frightening.
A moment later, Kane ended the call and nodded. “Griffin and the Moonstone pack will be here shortly.”
“Marcus can lock up the bar,” Myles said.
Kane looked at Riley. “You stay beside me. If the vampires can’t get Skye, they’ll take anyone they can get.”
“That goes for you, too,” Myles said to Addison.
Skye shifted nervously in her chair, drawing Court’s attention. Getting her out of the city and to the house he grew up in was going to be dangerous. But so was staying at the bar.
The LaRues were generally left alone, but the vampires wanted Skye because of her articles. It was time to remind the vampires – and all the factions – who the LaRues were.
Court pushed away from the desk and walked out of the office. He wanted to confront Scott, but it would only end with his jaws around the detective’s throat. He wouldn’t be able to control his anger. The last thing the LaRues needed was the police at their door because one of their own was dead.
He slammed his hand into the back door in the kitchen and stepped out into the night air. The humidity was thick, the threat of rain hanging heavy in the air. September was prime time for hurricanes. That’s all they needed on top of the chaos.
“Talk to me, Court,” Solomon said from behind him.
Court clenched his hands into fists. He wanted to be alone. He didn’t want or need any of his brothers worrying about him. Ever since their parents were murdered by Delphine and her people, Solomon and Myles had tried to protect him and Kane.
“I’m an adult, Solomon. I can handle this.”
“The great thing about family, kid, is that you don’t have to. We’re here to help. Let us. Scott might have been your friend, but Myles is the one who called him.”
Court hung his head, keeping his back to his eldest brother. “She could’ve been taken. God, you have no idea how close they came.”
“I saw the bloody mess you made in the Viper’s Nest. With us, words aren’t always needed. You got to her, Court. She’s safe.”
“For now.”
Solomon sighed audibly. “I know you like her. I’ll do everything I can to ensure you don’t have to endure what I did.”
Court squeezed his eyes closed. Perhaps there would come a time when Solomon no longer felt the pain of loss from the murder of his woman. It had been years, but the violent death had shaken the brothers as nothing since their parents’ murder had.
“She was your fiancée, Solomon. That’s a bit different than me desiring Skye.”
There was a pregnant pause. “The sooner we get to the house the better. Griffin and his pack will be here soon. I need you ready.”
“I am,” Court bit out.
“No, you’re angry. You need to push that aside. The only way Skye is going to get through this is if you have your head on straight. We’ll deal with Scott and his betrayal afterward.”
Court lifted his head and faced his brother. “Apparently, the vamps need to be reminded who is keeping the peace around here.”
“Agreed.” Solomon’s eyes flashed yellow. “I’m more than ready to pay the Viper’s Nest a visit and deliver some justice. But not until we know for certain who is working with the vampires.”
“I’ve never felt so...powerless. It’s a new emotion, and frankly, I fucking hate it.”
Solomon’s gaze lowered to the ground. “You prepared Skye with a weapon. That’s more than I did for my woman. We’re werewolves, Court, not superheroes.”
“Almost the same damn thing. The vampires used a coordinated attack, Solomon. It worked, sort of. They’ll use it again.”
Solomon’s blue gaze lifted to meet Court’s. “I’m counting on it.”
Court watched his brother walk back inside the bar. Each of them had dated, but nothing lasted longer than six months. Solomon was the one who didn’t shy away from love. He shouldered the most out of all of them, and it wasn’t fair that he’d had his happiness ripped from his arms.
With a glance at the sky, Court returned to the bar. He paused, nodding to Marcus and the other cook as they worked the tickets.
Marcus knew what the LaRues were. He’d known ever since Solomon had saved him years ago. If anyone could keep the bar safe while they were out, it was Marcus.
Court walked through the kitchen. He glanced out into the bar and spotted Gage, Griffin’s brother, sitting with another Moonstone were, Jaxon.
It was time.
Court made his way to the office. He stopped in the doorway when he saw Skye talking to Riley. Skye turned to him, her dark eyes meeting his.
“Ready?” he asked.
“No.”
He could understand that. But if they were going to have any sort of chance, Skye had to be on board all the way. Court walked to her and squatted beside her chair.
“I never intended for you to see me shift-”
“I know,” she said quickly, looking down at her hands.
Court sighed. She was afraid of him.
“Riley will stay beside you,” Court said, glancing at his cousin.
Skye’s forehead puckered in a frown as her gaze snapped back to his face. “Where will you be?”
“I’ll be near.”
Riley rose from the chair. “I think you should be the one with Skye. I’ve been ordered to stay next to Kane anyway.”
“Whatever works,” Skye said.
Court would feel better if he was beside her, but he didn’t want her any more afraid of him than she already was. “Is there anything you need?”
“My knife.”
Kane walked in, followed by Griffin. “It’s here, Skye.” He handed her the weapon, and she tucked it back in her pocket.
Court stood and motioned to Griffin. “Skye, this is Griffin, head of the Moonstone clan. He’s a friend.”
She gifted Griffin with a half-smile as she climbed to her feet.
Court watched Griffin’s green eyes look Skye over appreciatively. When Griffin turned his gaze to him, Court was using all of his control not to bash the wolf’s face in.
Griffin merely smiled before nodding his head of dark brown hair to Skye. “Nice to meet you, ma’am. Kane told me you’re in a spot of trouble. My people and I will be happy to help.”
“Thank you,” Skye said and moved closer to Court.
It helped to tamp down some of his anger, but the more Griffin looked at her, the worse it became.
Griffin laughed and slapped Court on the shoulder. “No need to worry.”
“Let’s get moving,” Myles said as he strode into the office. He grabbed Addison’s hand and walked back out.
Kane motioned Riley out with Griffin following them.
Court looked down at Skye. She squared her shoulders and walked out of the office. He waited a moment, watching her before he followed. Behind him was Solom
on.
“What’s the plan?” Skye asked over her shoulder.
Court put his hand on her back and ushered her through the kitchen and out the back door. “We leave as one. Griffin will stay with us while his wolves set up a wider circle.”
“You have a vehicle that will fit all of us?”
Solomon chuckled as he let the bar door close behind him. “We’re walking.”
Skye’s eyes widened. “Isn’t that going to give them ample opportunity to attack?”
Court nodded as Griffin walked out of the small fenced-in area at the back of the bar. “Probably.”
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Probably? Had he just said probably? Skye wasn’t so sure she was up for this. Matter of fact, she was certain of it.
She was unceremoniously – but gently – pushed through the gate by Court. His large hand was warm through her clothes, steady. He thought she had courage, which was the only thing that kept her legs moving. If he knew the truth – that she was the biggest scaredy cat around – his opinion would change drastically.
But she wasn’t going to tell him. She wanted him to think she was courageous and bold for as long as she could. Eventually, he would learn the truth.
Her legs felt wooden, and her stomach still rolled from the adrenaline dump earlier. The bourbon Riley had kept feeding her was helping. Otherwise, she would still be sitting in the office with the blanket as a shield.
“Oh, God,” she muttered beneath her breath as they walked farther from the bar.
Every shadow, every sound was a potential attack. Skye was completely reevaluating her love of horror movies. If she survived the night, she was never eagerly watching Freddy Kruger again.
She glanced at Court. He was stoic, solid. Tough. He didn’t appear fazed by the night at all.
Except for when he’d shifted and tore through the vampires.
Skye shivered as she recalled those few seconds that had felt like months. Afterward, she’d made a complete fool of herself and threw her arms around him, just thankful that he was alive.