by N. M. Howell
“I understand that's a grand gesture, Riley, but we'll need more than a simple gesture to encourage us of your allegiance.”
With a frown, I looked down at the ground. I couldn't think of anything else that would convince him I had completely left Tempest Legion behind. Could I offer my blood? My flesh? If I dropped to my knees and offered him my mouth, would he be convinced then? I flushed and shivered at the thought of offering sex as my word.
That's silly, Riley, I scolded. He probably has dozens of lovers.
“What are you thinking about?” Zane asked.
I inhaled sharply and raised my eyes from the ground. Zane had stood from his chair and closed the gap between us, standing confidently before me. The flames from the fireplace illuminated his handsome chin, his arched nose, and his trim eyebrows. His face was rather square and his eyes were wild and wolf-like, brimming with pride.
“I was just...” I shook my head. “I was thinking how I might show you my allegiance.”
“Over time, Riley,” he whispered while placing a hand on my shoulder. “You can show us in time. Until then, I can accommodate your stay.”
He released my shoulder and walked to the door, sticking his head out to call out, “Forrest!”
Within moments, the shifter who had commented on my feisty nature appeared readily in the doorway. He stood tall in front of Zane wearing a pair of jeans without a shirt, his messy black hair hanging loose against light eyes. What was with these shifters walking around mostly nude?
“Yes, sir?” Forrest asked.
“Show Miss Riley to her bedroom and provide anything that she might need,” Zane instructed.
Forrest smirked. “I'd be delighted.”
When his blue eyes turned to me, I managed to smile politely and gripped my skirts to walk over to the door.
“And please, give her something more comfortable to wear. Her clothes are rather tattered,” Zane added.
“Of course, sir.”
Forrest held out his arm and smiled wide. Timidly, I took his arm and followed him down the lengthy stone hall covered with colorful carpet. I remained silent as we strolled, admiring the detail of the etchings in the walls. They appeared to be random designs that sunk into each other, rose up to the ceiling, and swirled back down in a collection of hieroglyphs.
“What are these?” I asked while stopped to trace one with my finger.
“Markings of our ancestors,” Forrest replied.
“How long have you been here?”
He chuckled and tugged gently at my arm to pull me towards the end of the hall.
“Quite a while, Miss Riley,” he whispered while patting my hand. “You can read all about it in the recreation room, if you like. I can accompany you.”
I blushed.
“I would love to do that when I have the time, but I'm currently focused on bringing down those damned vampires,” I explained.
“Feisty and determined. You're an exceptional creature,” he commented.
We stopped in front of a door as I stammered for a response. He was rather captivating, even more so than Adrian. His aura brimmed with boldness and his scent was far more alluring than any mischievous gaze that a fang could possibly offer. I was overwhelmed by his pheromones which were quickly becoming intoxicating. As I dipped, he caught me with ease.
“Still hungry,” he supposed.
“No, I'm rather exhausted,” I replied.
“We should get you comfortable.”
While I stood on my own two feet again, Forrest opened the door and revealed a humble, yet decorative, room. The walls were covered in murals much like the recreation room and the bed was a grand four-post bed covered in silk curtains. It looked cozy. There was no window, so I didn't have to worry about the sunlight that might peek through. We were in the center of a mountain, after all.
I stepped inside and smiled at my surroundings.
“This is perfect,” I whispered while running my fingers over the smooth, cotton sheets. “I couldn't imagine a better room.”
“I'll fetch you some new clothes. Any particular style you would like?” he asked.
I grinned as I flipped around to face him, carefully sitting down on the edge of the bed.
“Something easy to run in.”
Chapter Three
When Forrest left to retrieve me a new set of clothes, I threw myself back on the sizable bed and sighed contentedly. I could get used to this. There was no pressure to feed on a human, I wasn't being watched—to my knowledge, that is—and I didn't have to answer to the head of the pack like he was some sort of dungeon master. Zane was supremely sympathetic to my situation as well as utterly alluring. In fact, Forrest was proving to be the same.
As I waited, I reflected on the customs of the shifters. They weren't the monogamous sort, and I wondered if that applied to their women as well. The thought prompted me to sit up and cock my head to listen to the sounds of the mountain. It didn't make much of a sound. I could hear footsteps at the other end of the hall, but the stone walls seemed to block my hearing. I supposed this particular ability was still developing.
I sensed there were women in the area. As I sniffed the air, I picked up on a few young ones as well. They were likely somewhere deeper in the mountain, either hiding or even going to bed. The hour was late. They weren't likely to all be awake. Another deep breath provided me a better idea of who occupied the mountain. The bulk of shifters were male, and I presumed that I had met most of them initially in the tunnel. It smelled like dogs in here, but at least it didn't smell like rotting flesh. They kept it fairly clean for a primal home.
A knock came from the door. I stood timidly and opened it, finding Forrest on the other side. I smiled and allowed him to step inside.
“So, I couldn't find any skirts, but these leggings should do well to run in,” he announced while laying out a pile of clothes on the bed. “And this top is versatile. It's breathable cotton, so you won't sweat too hard.”
“I really appreciate it,” I said while walking over to inspect his findings.
“It's no problem.”
I lifted a few blouses and held them up to my chest. The material felt comfortable. It looked like the perfect outfit to go into stealth mode. As I held up a pair of black leggings, I noticed the same hieroglyph engravings marked in pale, silver patterns that I had seen in the halls. I studied them carefully.
“That's a protection spell,” he said while pointing. “It should help keep your location cloaked should you ever need it.”
I smiled. “It's perfect.”
“I'm glad to be of service. There's a restroom on the other side of the room that you can use to change. I'll wait here.”
I nodded and walked across the room to the white wooden door. Inside, I found a porcelain covered bathroom. Though it seemed much more lavish than the rest of the room, it was rather cozy. I timidly closed the door and began to undress, heatedly thinking about the shifter waiting for me on the other side.
My thoughts were naughty. I could admit to that much. It was difficult to contain my body now that it was in the presence of viral males. This had never been much of an issue before now. The coven was pristine, almost reserved in its sexuality, even though many of them glimmered with supernatural sexual energy. But these wolves were something else. I swear they could smell my arousal.
When I pulled on my new clothes, I came out and looked at myself in the wall-length mirror near the door. I smiled.
“You look ravishing,” he commented with a grin.
“I'm so used to those bulky skirts that I feel much lighter,” I said as I examined the leggings. “These are comfortable.”
“Those fangs can be rigid in their dress code. We don't care what you wear as long as you respect the pack,” he informed me.
While I looked myself over, Forrest sat back on the bed and watched me. I didn't look at him, but I could feel his eyes drilling into my body. It made me want him more. I took a deep breath and held it. Control yourself. There's wo
rk to be done. Work hard now, play hard later.
“Speaking of the pack, there are some things Zane would like you to know about us.”
My eyes caught his in the mirror.
“We're an intimate group and we protect our own, but many of us are not accustomed to the presence of a fang. They have been our sworn enemies since the war of 1912 when they invaded our territory,” he explained.
My brows furrowed together.
“War?” I repeated. Draven hadn't mentioned that. I recalled the conversation about the shifters and thought about what he had told me. Sirus and the head of their group, Rory, had made a peace treaty some decades ago. I frowned. “Who is Rory?”
Hurt glimmered from Forrest's eyes. I could tell I had struck a chord.
“Who told you about Rory?” he growled.
I jumped aside and clutched the edge of my blouse.
“I meant no harm. It's just that I was told the head of your group was Rory, yet I met your leader as Zane,” I quickly explained.
He frowned as he sat up, looking grimly at the ground.
“You don't need to concern yourself with Rory,” he whispered. “Your only concern is adhering to our rules. Respect the pack and respect the curfew.”
“Curfew?” I asked.
“All shifters are to be in prior to midnight to avoid dealing with the fangs. We can bring you back food if you don't feel comfortable hunting on your own, but it's encouraged you venture out eventually,” he replied.
“That might be dangerous,” I commented.
Forrest smiled.
“Well, you have us with you, so it shouldn't be too great of an issue.”
He winked and I blushed again, allowing my black hair to fall over my face.
“Don't hide, Riley. You have a gorgeous smile,” he insisted.
The statement caused me to blush even more, my lips curling into a shy smile as I turned to hide it. I watched him in the mirror as he stood and gently rested his hand on my shoulder. His touch was electric. It sparked a deep, primal desire to ravish him on the bed right here and now, but I had only just met him. Though it wouldn't be that different from when I had met Adrian. I didn't know Adrian that well, yet he had explored my most intimate places mere days after our first meeting. What was the proper time frame for that anyway?
“We have a saying here in my family,” he whispered.
I could hear him breathing. His warm hand continued to rest on my shoulder, never daring to move anywhere else. The sound of his heart increased slightly as his blood pumped just a little bit faster. This was different than the cold, empty void that was Adrian. In fact, Adrian never really made much of a sound. But Forrest? He sounded more...human.
“What's that?” I asked breathlessly.
“Our bonds are instant, but everlasting,” he replied. “I can say with certainty that the sight of you inspires me to smile.”
I smiled at the sound of his words. I had felt it, too, when I first woke up in the cave surrounded by them all. There was this strange primal energy that drew me to them that I couldn’t quite explain. It was as if my blood betrayed me, drawing me toward them like the tide to the moon. I didn’t quite understand it, but I was ready to let it change me. As if accepting this primal urge would be the key to escaping the grasp of the vampires once and for all, and allowing myself to fully integrate with this new society. Goddess knew my urges needed satiating else risk going crazy.
Forrest made me feel warm, something I hadn't felt in such a long time. I missed the sun in that regard, how its rays would fill me with content as I laid out on the grass in the park. His hand, though it remained still, inspired a similar sensation. I knew that I needed more than just the company in that moment. I was ready to change.
“You've been more than comforting,” I responded. “And I'm starting to like it here already.”
“Good.”
A silence fell over us as we stood in front of the mirror. I could see his eyes fluttering between myself and my reflection. It filled me with excitement to see him standing so close, his muscles twitching as his arm relaxed around my shoulders. My stomach growled and interrupted our intimate moment.
“I'm sorry,” I chuckled.
“If you're still hungry, I can fetch you something,” he offered.
I shook my head.
“I wish I hadn't been struck with this affliction. I lament ever being bitten,” I whispered as my head lowered.
He raised my chin with a smile and smoothed a lock of hair from my face.
“It's not your fault. You might be stuck with this affliction, but it will never define you in the same way you define yourself. You're more than this,” he stated.
That smile was contagious and my cheeks burned as his warm hands smoothed over the back of my neck. I took his hand and leaned against him. It was the first real hug I’d had since leaving the coven. And perhaps it was the first real hug I had treasured since prior to leaving. This was the warmest comfort I could ever receive. As I buried my face into his bare chest and inhaled the wonderful scent of leaves and pheromones, I cherished every second in his arms, willing it to be ceaseless.
Chapter Four
I took a deep breath before knocking on the mahogany door. It had been a few days since I woke up in the werewolves' tunnel, surrounded by the nude men who would unexpectedly treat me with kindness and respect. Forrest had taken to me quickly, bringing me food in the evening when I would wake, and accompanying me out for my midnight meal. In the same way I enjoyed him, I also enjoyed Zane. The two were incredibly intelligent, attractive, and rather pleasant to be around.
When I passed the women in the recreation room, I picked up a few stares. They eyed me curiously, but kept their hands busy either reading or sewing. I still hadn't met the young ones. Perhaps my senses a few nights ago were wrong about there being children around. I wasn't used to these powers.
I raised my hand to knock again, but the door swung open and Zane greeted me with a familiar smile and a nod.
“Come in,” he instructed.
He pulled back the door to reveal a round table in a large office. The table held a few shifters who I did not initially recognize. They watched me walk in with Zane whom sat me on the opposite side of the table next to him. I gulped and rested my hands timidly on the table.
“Meeting will commence,” Zane announced. “Riley, this is my council. From the left, we have Leo, Warren, and Wyatt. Gentlemen, please, welcome our guest.”
The three nodded to me and I offered a polite smile, keeping my gaze steady while trying to figure them each out individually.
“We're here to discuss the situation in which we find ourselves. Our rivals across the forest intend to hold a ceremony in the coming weeks called the Centennial de Sang. Riley has explained to me what exactly this entails and I have offered our allegiance in taking down that coven in order to prevent it,” Zane continued.
“What is this ceremony?” Leo asked. His coloring was much lighter than the rest, his hair a little brown and eyes a bright amber.
He was looking at me. I swallowed hard and licked my lips before replying, “They kill one-hundred humans every one-hundred years as part of some sacred custom. The reason is beyond me, but they were trying to make me part of the council on my twenty-first birthday.”
“Is Sirus still the head of the coven?” Warren inquired.
“Yes.”
“And do you have any information about the coven that might be useful to us?” implored Wyatt.
I nodded.
“Anything you might need to know. I'm fairly certain I can tell you.”
The three men exchanged glances and then looked back at me.
“So, Riley, what bright idea do you have about taking down this coven?” Leo inquired.
I stared blankly at him. Idea? I didn't have any idea. They were too powerful for me to fathom, their powers ranging from mind-reading to physical manipulation. It would take more than me and a pack of wolves to destroy
them.
“I'm not entirely sure, to be honest,” I replied. “But I could potentially sneak back into the coven and take them down from the inside.”
“And how would you propose taking them down?” Wyatt asked.
“Well, we could start by discovering how they source the humans for their ceremony. That information would be on the hard drive of Sirus's computer,” I explained.
“Why have you not fully transformed? Why is it you refuse human blood?”
My eyes fell to the table. A flash memory of Sirus almost forcing me to bite that unconscious human appeared over my vision, causing a heavy bout of nausea. I frowned.
“Because it's not right,” I whispered.
“But you're a vampire,” Warren insisted.
“It's not in my nature, okay?” I snapped. “I was a vegan as a human and I'll be vegan as a vampire, at least as much of one as I can.”
Zane patted my shoulder.
“This is ridiculous, Zane. How do we know this is even half true?” Warren asked.
“She's not lying,” Leo rebutted.
Warren glanced over at Leo curiously.
“Really?” he asked sarcastically. “Because she won't bite a human? That's a laugh.”
Leo shook his head.
“Her color is different. Fangs who feast on humans are relatively pale and odorless. She's more of a pink hue and she still smells like a human,” he explained.
I peered down at my black clothes and secretly sniffed at my blouse. I couldn't smell anything other than the shifters in the room.
“I don't smell anything,” I whispered.
“You can't, but I can,” Leo replied. “You don't smell like rotten blood either. Most of those fangs reek of it.”
I shrugged, returning my gaze to the three men still peering at me. It was eerily quiet in the room. I wasn't sure if they were reading my mind, or even if they could read my mind. To prevent any unwanted poking, I raised my mental gates and attempted to keep my focus on the situation at hand. I glanced at Zane who was watching his family.
I suddenly felt vulnerable. Turning to Leo, I tried to read what was going on behind those mischievous eyes of his. If he could smell my blood, chances are he could smell the arousal that had plagued me since first waking up here. By the way his eyes narrowed and breathing quickened as he met my gaze, I knew that he could.