Taste of Darkness

by Katie Reus

  “Why the hell had Cody even been at your house when it was on lockdown?”

  “He came by because he wanted to see what he could do to help. One of the guards left him alone in the sitting room and went to ask Keelin if Cody was allowed entrance. When he returned, Cody was trying to pull one of my swords out of his back. That’s when the others realized Victoria and Keelin are missing. And…found their blood.” Conall let out a savage curse, his knuckles white against the steering wheel.

  Drake only cared about the wounded, missing females. “We’re going to find them.” Or Drake would die trying. But not before he ripped apart every inch of this planet to find Victoria. Fire burned in the back of his throat again, clawing, hungry to make whoever had dared to take his mate pay. He needed her safe, in his arms. With him.

  He never should have left her, even under guard. This was his fault. Guilt threaded through every fiber of him. How could he have left her? The passenger window shattered as he slammed his elbow into it. If they didn’t make it soon he was going to massacre the entire SUV.

  Conall didn’t respond, just took the last turn onto his street, the SUV slightly fishtailing as he revved the engine. He jerked to a halt directly in front of the iron gate in front of his house. Drake was already out of the passenger side before his brother had shut off the engine.

  He raced through the open gate, his heart pounding out of control. Gabriel stood in the open doorway. The male’s expression was murderous as he turned and motioned for Drake to follow.

  Inside the foyer the male named Cody was sitting on the wood floor while Greer was tightening a thick, multi-layered bandage around his middle. If he’d been stabbed in the back he was already healing with a swiftness that told Drake he was old.

  “What happened?” Drake asked as Conall stepped up next to him. He couldn’t scent Victoria’s blood, but soon enough he’d need to see where it was. To smell it, to track her…to save her. Because he refused to believe she was gone for good.

  “I was in there.” He tilted his head in the direction of the sitting room. “I was just waiting when I scented him. I started to turn and the fucker stabbed me from behind.”

  “Who?” Conall’s voice was a jagged-edged sword.

  “Nevin.” Cody winced as Greer pressed her hands on either side of his back and abdomen, a soft blue glow emitting from her as she started using her healing gift.

  Drake’s cousin. The tall, blond male. If Cody was telling the truth, Drake was going to kill Nevin as soon as he got his hands on him.

  Drake focused on Cody even though he wasn’t sure the male was telling the truth. For all he knew Cody was lying and was involved in all this. Unfortunately Drake didn’t know enough about his clan to know what the male’s motives could be. He might have memories of fighting with Cody when they were children, but that didn’t make the male a killer.

  “You’re sure it was him?” Conall asked.

  Cody nodded. “Pretty sure. I know his scent and I could almost swear I heard him say ‘I’m sorry’. But I didn’t see him.”

  “His scent is in the bathroom along with Victoria and Keelin’s,” Lennox said. “He had to have taken them. The bathroom window’s open. It’s what set off the alarm. If I had to guess he flew north. Even if he was camouflaged it would have been difficult to conceal them if he flew over the village. North is the only direction that makes sense if he wanted to escape unseen.” Fists clenched at his sides, his body vibrating with rage, he stood off to the side with Gabriel and Rhea.

  They all looked ready to wage war.

  Somehow Drake shoved his beast back down. The darkness inside him wanted out but the moment he let it free he’d lose all ability to reason. He couldn’t go on a rampage. He had to remain calm and sane.

  For Victoria.

  He closed his eyes for a moment and all he could see was her beautiful face, her long, black hair falling softly over her shoulders, her sweet, open smile as she teased him.

  She was depending on him. It was the only reason he hadn’t demanded to see the bathroom yet. He couldn’t see her blood and remain sane. Swallowing hard, Drake turned to his brother. “Why would Nevin target the females? What’s the first thing that comes to mind?”

  Conall started to shake his head but let out a savage curse. “It was long ago. Thousands of years ago. Our mother killed Nevin’s mother—one of her sisters—because she’d gone mad. She was far beyond saving and had started killing humans. Eating them as if they were sacrifices to her. It was before we were born, but I know the story. We all do. No one blamed our mother though. It was a just kill and it grieved her to do it. It could be why he targeted Keelin. And it’s possible he was behind your disappearance.”

  Drake didn’t care so much about the why of it, he just wanted to know where he’d taken the females. Because it was clear the male was guilty. Without Victoria, Drake might as well throw himself back in Hell. Because that’s what life without her would be. He looked at Cody, fighting to keep his inner dragon contained. It was growing more difficult and he knew his dragon showed in his eyes by the way Cody flinched back from him. “Where would he have taken them?”

  Fear bled into the male’s gaze. “I don’t know.”

  Drake couldn’t scent a lie but it was difficult to distinguish anything due to how out of control his emotions were. Right now fire burned in his throat, the need to destroy anything and everything to get to the woman he loved was a live, dark thing inside him.

  As he looked at his brother, a vivid memory shattered through him like giant shards of glass slicing through his flesh. His throat tightened under the onslaught. He pressed a hand to his chest as the scene played in his mind like a movie.

  Drake looked at the note his cousin had sent him. He and Cody had been fighting over something stupid again. He couldn’t even remember what this time. Drake wasn’t sure why his cousin was such an asshole sometimes but the male liked to push his buttons. Cody was a couple years older too, he should act better. At least that’s what Drake’s mom said.

  Now Cody wanted to meet him. Drake would rather go play with his brother but he knew it would make his mother happy if he made things right with Cody. She always said family had to stick together.

  Stripping, he took off his tunic and pants and bundled them into a tight ball before shoving them in his small pack. He went to the open window of his room in the clan’s castle and hoisted himself up to the edge.

  Camouflaging himself, he tossed his pack out the window then jumped, shifting mid-air as he’d been practicing. The rush was exhilarating as it overtook him, his wings snapping out in the cool dawn air. Swooping down, he snatched his pack in his talons before it hit the grassy earth below. Then he twisted his body, angling down along the rocky ledge of the cliff that bordered one side of the clan’s castle.

  His cousin wanted to meet close to the border with the Devlin clan’s land. Drake knew he wasn’t supposed to go there, but he did it anyway.

  Maybe he should have told one of the warriors where he was going, but he was twelve—nearly a man—and didn’t need a chaperone everywhere he went. Besides, he’d be fine with Cody. His cousin might be a jerk sometimes, but they were family and could protect themselves.

  Miles later he reached the designated clearing. The big lake he and Cody liked to play in glistened under the rising sun, calm and beautiful. The sight always made him happy. It was early and no one was around. Not even Cody.

  Unless he’d cloaked himself too.

  Landing near the lake, Drake let his camouflage fall. He dipped his snout in the water and immediately pulled it out, giving his head a shake. Too cold for now.

  Shifting back to his human form, he hurriedly dressed and looked around the clearing. Dew shimmered over the grass like shiny jewels and he loved the feel of it under his feet.

  The sound of wings flapping behind him made him turn. Less than a moment later a giant dragon appeared. Not Cody. He and his cousin were about the size of adult rhinos and this mal
e was huge, like his dad.

  Drake smiled when he realized it was Nevin, his other cousin. Nevin was at least a decade older than him and Cody but sometimes played with them. He was handsome, according to pretty much every female, and Drake’s mother said he had a natural charm that would land him a good mate soon.

  Drake didn’t know why anyone would want to mate, but his mother assured him he would understand one day. He frowned as Nevin reared up and swatted at Drake with his paw.

  On instinct, he ducked and rolled out of the way as alarm punched through him. What was happening? Confusion made him hesitate and he wasn’t fast enough. Nevin’s talons sliced through his back as he flew through the air, landing with a thud twenty feet away.

  His ears rang and pain shot through him but he shook it off and shoved to his feet. That was when he noticed a strange female on the dragon’s back. She wasn’t part of the clan. There was a strange energy hovering around her, her dark aura setting off alarms in Drake’s head.

  Something was wrong. So very wrong. He needed to run.

  Without thinking he shifted forms, the abrupt change shocking to his system as his dragon took over in a ripple of sensation. Nothing mattered other than getting away.

  He didn’t know why Nevin wanted to hurt him, but his predator side screeched at him to flee. His heart pounded wildly as he took to the air. Another surge of panic slammed through him, making his flight clumsy. His cousin breathed fire at him so he banked right, planning to dip behind Nevin who still hadn’t moved from the ground.

  As he did, the woman threw something at him. It looked like a shimmering cobweb as it flew through the air, spanning out in a snare that caught his wings.

  Pain immediately erupted through his system, as if a thousand daggers had been embedded in his wings.

  Screaming, he let loose a stream of fire as he fell to the ground. Before he’d even hit, he shifted back to his human form almost against his will. He had no control. As he cried out, blackness swept through his system like a wave, dragging him into unconsciousness.

  He wasn’t sure how much time had passed, but when he opened his eyes he was naked and chained to an altar of sorts, his arms above his head and his ankles strapped down. Dripping water sounded somewhere in the distance and candles flickered everywhere. Based on the damp smell he was in a cave, he was sure of it. He blinked slowly, trying to get more of his bearings as a dull throb ached through his entire body.

  Poison.

  He’d been poisoned. Maybe from the weird cobwebbed net. It must have been spelled.

  Full blown panic raged through him, the shot of adrenaline welcome, but he couldn’t speak, couldn’t summon the strength to try to break his bonds. He tried to open his mouth, but nothing would come out.

  “Ah, you’re awake precious boy.” A sickly sweet female voice spoke somewhere to his left.

  Drake turned his head and saw the same woman from before striding toward him. She had on a thick-looking purple robe with the hood pushed back. Her dark brown hair fell around her face in ropes that looked like snakes. He blinked, wondering if he’d imagined it, but it was still the same creepy sight when he opened his eyes again. His heart hammered against his ribs.

  “I’m truly sorry you’ll be awake for this, but maybe it is best.” She lifted one of her hands, revealing a dagger as she glided toward him with a graceful gait that seemed almost inhuman.

  But she was human. He could sense it. Confusion filtered through his pain. “You’re human,” he rasped out, surprised his voice worked.

  “I am.” She smiled, her eyes like dark endless pools of blackness, sending a shudder through him. “And you are going to give me so much power.”

  At that she smoothly slid the blade deep into his abdomen, smiling evilly as she did. Agony burst inside him, a starburst of colors exploding in his line of vision as he watched blood drip off his stomach onto the slab altar under him.

  When he struggled against the chains, she laughed, the harsh sound echoing around the cave. Forcing himself under control, he stilled, knowing he wouldn’t be able to break the chains. Not until the poison had worn off. Unfortunately he didn’t know if he would have enough time.

  He was young, but he wasn’t stupid. There weren’t many reasons to capture a dragon shifter and it didn’t take long to figure out that this crazy female probably wanted to open a Hell Gate.

  His throat clogged with tears and he prayed for his mom and dad to find them. His dad was more vicious but his mom was a better hunter. There was no one as good as her. She had to find him. Had to save him.

  His tears dried as he scented his cousin Nevin nearby. He didn’t have much mobility so he couldn’t look around. “Nevin?” Drake called out, his voice raspy. He didn’t understand why his cousin was here, why he would do this to him.

  Boot steps echoed around the cave and a moment later his cousin stepped into his line of sight, sidling up to the woman who was now licking the bloody blade. Revulsion tore through Drake, dulling some of his pain.

  “Why are you doing this?” he croaked, unable to comprehend why his cousin would hurt him.

  Nevin’s greenish-gray eyes darkened, his face twisting into a mottled rage Drake had never seen on anyone before. “Because your mother killed mine. Now I’m taking what matters to her most.”

  “But…we’re family.” His voice broke on the last word, the betrayal slicing through him bone deep.

  “You’re no family of mine,” Nevin snarled. “And you’re going to suffer far more than my mother did before she died. An eternity in Hell.”

  Drake blinked as the memory faded as fast as it had come. Seconds had passed though it felt like an eternity. He focused on his brother. “We should keep him secure while we search for the females.” After what he’d just remembered Drake was ninety percent certain Cody wasn’t involved, but he still wanted the male locked down. When Conall nodded he continued. “How fast can we get a search party together?” Without knowing Nevin’s goal it was impossible to know where he’d gone. But the male wouldn’t be able to fly too far carrying two females.

  Cell phone in hand, Conall was texting. “Already on it. Every capable clan member will help.”

  “I’m calling the Devlins.” Drake wasn’t asking for permission as he pulled his cell phone out. He’d seen the look on the leader’s face when he asked about Keelin. Like a male ready to claim a female. Bran Devlin would help without question. Right now they needed all the help they could get.

  It didn’t matter how far away Nevin had taken Victoria. Drake would get her and Keelin back. No matter the cost.

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Head pounding as a dull throb splintered through her abdomen, Victoria remained still as she struggled to regain consciousness. The faint scent of sulfur and blood teased her nostrils and she heard muttering.

  A male’s voice. His words were incomprehensible.

  She remembered being shot. Twice. Then she’d forced her wolf back from taking control over her body so she’d remain in human form—because she needed her blade. Even as she fought the pain, that knowledge was clear in her hazy mind.

  Fighting the panic welling up inside her, she cracked open her eyes. Blinking in the dimness, she immediately knew she was in a cave. Shadows played off the stalactites above her, the icicle-shaped points ominous looking.

  She was lying on her side on a gold-colored blanket. A white towel was wrapped around her middle, the majority of it stained crimson from her blood. Her gunshot wounds were already healing though, the bullets likely having been pushed out already. Without touching her abdomen or removing the towel she couldn’t be certain, but as a healer she healed faster than others of her kind, despite her young age.

  Another jolt of panic punched through her as she remembered Keelin. Where was she?

  “Why are you doing this?” Keelin rasped out, her soft voice echoing in the cavernous space somewhere close by.

  Even though Victoria couldn’t see Keelin, a small dose of reli
ef filled her that the female was alive. Victoria was afraid to move too much until she’d taken complete stock of the situation. Lying on her side, her head was next to a stalagmite formation, blocking her from seeing anything past it. Taking a steadying breath, she called on the part of her that made her a healer. A warmth from deep within spread out directly from her middle, immediately easing the throbbing in her belly and making it easier for her to breathe.

  “Because your family deserves to die!” Nevin screamed, his rage-filled voice making Victoria cringe. She remembered the male was one of Drake’s cousins. Somehow related to him on his mother’s side.

  “Did you sacrifice Drake when he was twelve?”

  “Of course I did, stupid girl.” He started muttering again under his breath, the words not making sense. Or maybe they were. It almost sounded like he was speaking another language. Maybe Latin based.

  Taking a chance, Victoria slowly pushed up, thankful she was able to remain quiet. Discomfort shredded through her, but that was the least of her worries. Ignoring the pain, she peeked around the edge of the stalagmite and her throat tightened in horror. Keelin was stretched out face up on a stone slab like an offering, her hands bound above her head with some kind of chains. Her clothes had been cut away and too many slices to count were all over her body, the blood flowing freely down the sides of the slab.

  As horrible as that was, the sight of the partially open Hell Gate two feet from her supine body was a whole lot worse. Victoria had seen one exactly like it in New Orleans months ago. It explained the sulfuric stench.

  A huge black area of viscous-looking material floated in the air, about two feet off the ground. Dark mist swirled around it and just like in New Orleans, this gate was only open a fraction in the shape of a crescent moon. Smoke curled out of the crescent opening, like the fingers of the dead reaching into the land of the living. That smell it emitted made her nauseous.

  Similar designs to the ones she’d seen in New Orleans were painted in blood on the ground around the makeshift altar and on the uneven cave walls. The male was clearly doing a ritual spell. He was hunched over a big text he’d placed on the end of the altar near Keelin’s feet, his eyes glued to it as he read. He was either doing an Akkadian ritual spell like that psychotic vampire from New Orleans or some other spell. Either way it didn’t matter because the bastard was trying to open a door to Hell. She didn’t care why, she just knew she had to save Keelin—and avenge Drake. This bastard was going to pay for taking away Drake’s childhood and so many precious years of his life.