Taste of Darkness

by Katie Reus

  “I know.” Finn’s expression bled into one of confusion. “I didn’t think…she’s different than you were as a teenager. Definitely more hardheaded.”

  Smiling now, Victoria nodded. “Yeah. It’s just been her and her mom for almost seventeen years and now she’s been thrust into a wonderful—but overprotective—pack with more than one parental figure. It’s not just you who’s watching out for her, but pretty much every packmate and the smothering is getting to her. And I don’t blame her.”

  “That’s exactly what Lyra said,” he muttered again.

  It was odd to see her Alpha out of sorts. The male was normally cool and composed about everything. Before she could respond, he pulled out his cell phone when it started buzzing.

  He frowned at the screen. “Spiro was hurt fighting a couple rogue vamps. Nothing too serious. Want to stay here or come with me?” he asked, meeting her gaze.

  While she really wanted to make sure Drake was okay she simply couldn’t watch those two males fighting each other inside. And she wasn’t going to wait around for them to finish like some pathetic female. Like those women with the signs. “I’ll go with you. I assume Vega is going home with Lyra?”

  Sighing, Finn nodded. “Yeah. Let’s go before I change my mind about that.”

  Victoria started to smile when another cheer went up from inside and found herself cringing instead. She cared so much about Drake but tonight he’d surprised her and she wasn’t sure how she felt about it. She loved her packmates but the one thing about Drake that had always been different was that he listened to her. He didn’t go all alpha macho overprotective. Well, not too bad. But tonight, he’d been so determined to fight Gabriel instead of coming back to the mansion with her. The knowledge cut deep.

  * * *

  Conall glanced at his sister, Keelin, when she touched his forearm.

  “Should one of us tail the female?” She kept her voice low, though it was unlikely anyone could overhear them among the cheers.

  He shook his head, not worried about the pretty, slender female who’d just stormed out of the fighting arena. Glancing around, he tugged on his hoodie, wanting to keep most of his face concealed. He’d also slipped on sunglasses a few minutes ago, which might be considered a little odd, but he’d noticed a lot of supernatural beings at the fight wearing them so he didn’t stick out.

  “Why not?” She shifted from foot to foot, her gaze on the two fighters in the ring. The male known as Drake kicked the other male with brown hair in the stomach, the action savage. Very dragon-like in nature.

  “It will be better to follow him.” Conall had seen the way he’d more or less publicly claimed her. He wouldn’t be letting that female go far.

  Keelin bit her bottom lip, clearly unsure that Conall was right. “We should keep tabs on her in case we lose him.” Desperation edged his sister’s voice. She wasn’t used to missions or any sort of violence but she’d insisted on coming with Conall for this tracking mission. He hadn’t been able to deny her.

  “She has a dragon’s essence protecting her,” Conall continued.

  “I know, but…they’re not mated. I didn’t realize it was even possible for a dragon to give their essence to a non-mate. Maybe there’s something else going on.” His sister sounded unsure.

  His attention never wavered from the ongoing fight. “It’s not impossible if one gave it to her willingly. And he definitely gave it to her.”

  “Why would any dragon give a part of himself to a…wolf shifter?” Her question was one of true curiosity, not disgust. “It makes no sense.”

  “Why do males do anything for females?” Conall knew he sounded a little bitter but didn’t care. He had his own demons to deal with, though now wasn’t the time.

  Keelin’s frown deepened. “This might not even be him.”

  True. But Conall hoped it was. Their whole clan did. A powerful earthquake had rocked New Orleans four months ago, the event odd enough in the area, but their clan had felt the reemergence of a dragon into their world and had pinpointed it to New Orleans.

  All related dragons were linked to an extent so if one was born, their clan felt it on a molecular level. He’d been sleeping when he’d suddenly become aware of the existence of another dragon. But it hadn’t been a new birth, it had been a…reappearance. Keelin hadn’t known what the feeling had been until he’d explained it to her. She’d been five when… Conall cut off that train of thought.

  He didn’t want to hope too much, but it was impossible not to. He didn’t believe in miracles. Had stopped centuries ago.

  As he watched the fighters, he frowned.

  “They’re both holding back,” Keelin murmured, mirroring his thoughts.

  He nodded slowly. “I agree. They both have good techniques but it’s almost as if they just want to fight, but not actually hurt each other.”

  “Not long-term anyway,” she murmured.

  He wasn’t sure what to make of it. They’d come here because they’d heard rumors of an undefeated fighter who’d come from nowhere and was now part of a wolf pack—but wasn’t a wolf.

  Conall didn’t understand why any fighter would restrain himself though. It wasn’t the dragon way and it wasn’t the supernatural way.

  He didn’t voice his concerns to his sister, but he worried about the female with the dragon’s essence. By having it, she could be a threat to their kind.

  Chapter Four

  Drake couldn’t believe Victoria had left the fight. He hadn’t actually wanted her at it in the first place, but after Gabriel’s challenge, he wanted her to see that he could defend her, take care of her. And he needed Gabriel to see that he could defend Victoria if necessary. Because deep down he wondered if that was why Gabriel had been pushing him, to force Drake to prove himself.

  Victoria seemed to think he would lose to Gabriel. Which sliced at his pride. While he wouldn’t hurt the Guardian too much, Drake was tired of the male questioning his worth, no matter the male’s reasoning.

  Victoria needed to see that he wasn’t a stray. And not someone to be pitied.

  He knew she’d wanted to kiss him though and he’d been willing to put away his pride for the chance to publicly claim her. He’d give up anything for a taste of the female and that should terrify him. On one level it did, but after having nothing for almost an eternity, he understood that a female like her was worth risking everything for.

  He’d wanted to go after her. Until Gabriel had attacked. Now he couldn’t follow until he ended this once and for all. His only consolation in letting Victoria leave was that he would get to beat the shit out of Gabriel. He wouldn’t hurt him too bad though. Even if the beast inside him craved spilling the other male’s blood.

  Jumping back, Drake avoided what would have been a hard punch to the jaw. Continuing to dodge Gabriel’s fists, Drake moved quickly, using his agility to jump into the ring.

  Gabriel followed, the dark-haired male just as agile. He’d left his blades somewhere, clearly understanding the rules of the ring. As far as Drake knew, the male had never fought here before. The Guardian’s green eyes went pure wolf as he bared his teeth at Drake.

  Watching him carefully, Drake let all his anger at the male subside. He had to let go of his emotion if he wanted to win.

  Dancing to the left, he punched out with his right hand, leaving his face open. As Gabriel moved in for the attack, Drake kicked out, slamming his foot into the male’s stomach. He didn’t attack as hard as he could have, however. Only because it would upset Victoria.

  Didn’t mean the other male wasn’t going home with a lot of bruises. And some blood loss.

  After that blow, it was on, back and forth between them, each punching and kicking the other with every opening. Instead of feeling drained, the sharpest sense of adrenaline raged through him, urging him to continue fighting. To destroy his prey. It was difficult to hold back but the thought of truly hurting Victoria kept him reined in.

  Barely.

  Because it would d
estroy her if he killed or maimed her friend.

  Drake wasn’t sure how much time had passed, but the crowd still continued to cheer and shout with each brutal strike. It didn’t surprise him considering how many fights he’d been in while in Hell. Everyone had cheered during those fights too.

  Of course those fights had been more brutal and he’d usually been in dragon form battling against wyverns or whatever else thought it had the strength to take him on. Regardless, there had always seemed to be an audience for violence. This plane on Earth was no different.

  The exception was he wasn’t being forced to fight for his life every day. He fought because it let out his aggression and calmed his beast.

  “Tired yet?” Gabriel snarled, sweat dripping down the side of his face. His eyes weren’t wolf anymore, but pure human as he jumped back from an ankle kick.

  “Nope.” Not even a little.

  Gabriel snarled again, the sound more animal than human as he rushed Drake.

  Embracing the other male’s hits, Drake returned his own, slamming his fists into the male’s kidneys, liver and ribs with a brutal force. Reality rushed back when two strong arms wrapped around him from behind.

  At the same time a male from the Stavros pack grabbed onto Gabriel in the same manner, yanking him backward.

  Realizing how lost he’d gotten in the fight, Drake allowed himself to be pulled back, not fighting the other male’s grip because his beast knew he wasn’t being attacked. He’d never lost sight of his surroundings like this before.

  Breathing hard, Drake winced as a sliver of pain permeated his senses.

  “You two fuckers trying to kill each other for real?” the male holding him shouted above the crowd who all seemed to be talking at once.

  Looking back Drake realized the bear shifter from earlier was holding him, his expression fierce. “You can let go.”

  Warily, the male loosened his grip and took a step back. Solon, the male holding Gabriel, did the same. Drake and Gabriel glared at each other, both ready for another attack.

  As seconds ticked past, Drake became more aware of how injured he likely was. His entire body ached and he knew he had a few ribs cracked. At least. He would heal in a couple hours, but pain was still pain and every breath hurt. The only thing that eased it was seeing Gabriel bruised and bloody.

  To his surprise, Gabriel held out a hand. “Draw?”

  Drake thought that was respect in the other male’s eyes, but the Guardian was difficult to read. It made him wonder if he’d been right about Gabriel’s reasons for wanting to fight him. Drake nodded, unsure if the male meant about Victoria or simply this fight. He stuck out his own hand and stiffly shook Gabriel’s.

  “She’s like a sister to me,” Gabriel continued after they dropped their hands. “I have to know her mate will be strong enough to protect her.”

  “I am.” If Drake had a sister he imagined he’d be the same way. “She would tell you that she could take care of herself though.” Even though Victoria was a healer and one of the most non-aggressive supernatural beings Drake had known, she was still a shifter and very capable. It was one of the things he respected about her most.

  Gabriel half-smiled, blood trickling from his cracked lip. “I know. Want to grab a beer at Howler’s?”

  Drake blinked, unsure he’d heard him right. After just battering each other to a pulp, Gabriel wanted to get a drink with him? He might still be learning much about modern customs, but that was something friends did. And Gabriel had never treated him as anything close to resembling a friend before. Almost no one in the Stavros pack had. “Why are you asking me?”

  Gabriel shrugged, then winced. “Because that’s what males do. We beat the shit out of each other, then go have a beer afterward.”

  Drake wasn’t sure that Gabriel wasn’t lying, but he didn’t scent the standard acidic smell that usually accompanied an untruth. “Okay. I need to change first.” Howler’s was the club on the bottom floor of Harvest Moon Casino, owned by Finn, and Drake knew enough that he couldn’t go inside looking the way he did. He also wanted to speak to Victoria before he went out with Gabriel. She’d seemed so hurt earlier and he couldn’t bear that he was the cause of her pain. He needed to make his intentions clear. She was his.

  * * *

  Victoria’s eyes snapped open as she heard Spiro’s raspy voice. “You don’t have to stay here all night.”

  Sitting up straighter in the cushy bedside chair, she eyed her packmate who was stretched out on the bed in the medical room. “Are you sure?” Spiro had been stabbed deeper than the pack’s doctor originally realized. The vampire’s silver blade had made contact with his heart and the internal effect had weakened the male. She’d used her healing gift on him to speed up the process, but had decided to stick around in case he needed her again. If she used her gift too much it would drain her but she’d barely had to use any energy with Spiro.

  “Yeah. I’m about to head back to my room. It’s so quiet in here it was easy to pass out.” His voice was already stronger as he pushed up, the sheets rustling beneath him.

  She frowned at him, taking in his pallor. His naturally darker Mediterranean skin tone had a grayish tint to it. Standing, she checked his pulse and blood pressure then met his gaze. “You’re BP is really low. You needed the rest and likely need a few more hours of uninterrupted sleep. Have you been cleared to leave?”

  He grinned. “Not yet, Mom.”

  Though she was much younger than Spiro, a lot of her packmates called her that teasingly. It was in her nature to care for them both as a nurse and a healer. “Why don’t you stay put and I’ll find Ophelia.”

  “You can’t just let me sneak out of here?” His voice was hopeful.

  Victoria just snorted. “And risk her wrath?” No way in hell. The doctor was barely five feet flat, with long, dark, curly hair she usually wore in a ponytail. She was adorable and incredibly caring for all her patients, regardless of species, but Victoria had seen her on a rampage more than once. Older than Finn by about fifty years, she’d been alive a long time and pretty much nothing got past her.

  As if talking about Ophelia had conjured her up, the petite female strode into the room, a warm smile on her face.

  She raised her dark eyebrows at Victoria. “You’re still here?”

  “I’m about to head out.”

  Ophelia gave her an unreadable look. “That sexy dragon of yours is looking for you.”

  Victoria blinked in surprise. “He is?” He hadn’t called or texted—not that she’d been obsessively checking her phone or anything. And she wasn’t sure she liked Ophelia calling him sexy.

  “Yep. Heard he and Gabriel beat the crap out of each other and I told both of them not to bother coming to the clinic. If they want to intentionally hurt themselves, they can heal all on their own.”

  Victoria hid a smile and nodded. “Good for you.”

  “Is there anything you want to tell me?”

  She looked at the female in confusion. “Uh, no.”

  “Do you know about the mating habits of dragons or—”

  She felt her cheeks warm up. “I’m not having this conversation with you!” Especially not in front of Spiro. Sometimes shifters were just too damn open about everything. While she didn’t mind talking about sex she wasn’t having a ridiculous medical conversation with Ophelia where the female would probably want to draw her a diagram. It didn’t matter that Victoria had a Doctorate in nursing science, Ophelia liked to over explain everything. Without waiting for a response, Victoria left the clinic and headed for her rooms. It was close to midnight and she wanted to sleep in her own bed.

  And not obsess about the fact that Drake hadn’t contacted her after that dominant display of his.

  When she made it to her wing of the house, she let out a frustrated growl. She and Drake were in each other’s rooms so often his scent still lingered outside in the hallway. His set of rooms was right around the corner on the next hallway and part of her was tempted
to go find him, but she decided not to.

  She still wasn’t sure what to say to him and he hadn’t tried to contact her after his fight.

  As she stepped inside, that pure masculine scent of his wrapped around her, teasing her senses. It took all of two seconds for her to see him sitting at her desk near one of the huge bay windows. She let the door close behind her. A dim lamp was on, the only illumination in the large space.

  He immediately stood, clutching something wrapped in a blanket. “I didn’t want to wait in the hall and you’ve always let me in your rooms before so—”

  “It’s fine, Drake. You’re always welcome here.” She’d noticed that with her he seemed to apologize for things that didn’t need apologizing for, as if he was worried she’d be angry with him or take away her friendship. It broke her heart. Sometimes, like earlier today when they’d been driving, he’d let his guard down and had been his fun, humorous self, but times like this when she could see the wariness in his gray eyes, it clawed at her.

  She eyed his face, noting there was just a fading bruise on his left cheekbone that would be completely gone in the next hour. He healed at a rate faster than her Alpha. “Are you badly injured? I can heal you.” Because even if he’d acted like an idiot and fought with Gabriel, if she could take away his pain, she wanted to.

  He shook his head, but didn’t take a step closer, so she closed the distance between them, moving around her bed toward her desk. But she didn’t reach out to touch him, still feeling too awkward.

  Before she could say anything, he shoved the bundled blanket at her. “I made this for you. Be careful unwrapping it.”

  “Uh, thank you.” Turning to the bed, she laid it on the cushy comforter and unrolled it to find a gleaming small blade—dagger sized—with an intricate design down the middle. A dragon and wolf were intertwined in the middle, making her breath catch. The way they were entangled together made his intentions crystal clear. A small, insecure part of her told her she was wrong, but she knew what he was trying to say. It shocked and pleased her on the most primal level. “Drake…” Her vocal cords refused to work as she met his gaze.