by Lia Davis
I stood. Anger woke up my magick and made my wolf pace. I needed to get away from Von for a few. My emotions were battling inside me, confusing me. Hurt and sadness were winning. If Von believed the hybrids were rogue savages that needed to be put down, then he thought that about me.
When Von stood, I whirled around and glared at him. He pursed his lips and advanced toward me. “I don’t know what to believe now that I found you. I scent nothing but the truth coming from you, but you have no proof. Dare and I were barely eighteen when we joined the Enforcers. All we know is what Harrison told us.”
“I don’t want your excuses.” I pushed past him and descended the stairs to the backyard. I wanted to put space between us because I wasn’t sure I’d blast him with magick or kiss him. A few feet from the porch, I turned and said, “Harrison is no longer the man my father met and friended. He’s gone insane and wants absolute power. That’s why he fears the hybrids. We’re more powerful than he’ll ever be.”
Von stared at me, then growled. What the fuck? Whatever. I pointed at him. “If you don’t like the truth, then you can leave. Go back to Harrison and ask him yourself.”
Von launched over the railing and ran toward me. That was when I realized he wasn’t looking at me, but someone behind me. I turned and saw a man in a black hoodie standing at the edge of the tree line. Something was familiar about him. Then I caught the scent of my dad coming from him. “Von, stop!”
He stopped but didn’t take his eyes off the newcomer. Von’s hands were in half shift and he growled at the man. “Who are you?”
The man ignored him and spoke to me. “I have a message from your father.” He lifted his hand and held up a flash drive.
I couldn’t see his face fully because the hoodie shadowed his features. However, I did see the glow of magick in his amber-colored gaze. He released the flash drive. Instead of it falling to the ground, it levitated in the air. Then slowly it floated to me. My interest spiked. He was telekinetic.
When the flash drive reached me Von snatched it out of the air and stood protectively in front of me. Like a shifter protecting his mate. I stepped closer to Von and placed a hand on his biceps. “He’s not going to hurt me.”
I glanced to where the man stood and frowned. He was gone.
Meeting Vons stare, I held my hand out for the flash drive. When he gave it to me, I curled my fingers around it. Finally, something to focus on. I was betting that there was more than just a message on the drive. Otherwise Dad would send a coded message on paper or something.
Anticipation made butterflies swarm in my belly. I rushed past Von to the house. I hoped Eli had a computer.
10
Cassia
The first place I checked was the office attached to the living room. No luck. The office looked like it was for appearances. Eli furnished it but never used it. Then again, why would he keep a computer there when the house wasn’t his primary home?
Damn.
I exited the office and noticed that my four guys were sitting in the living room with their heads together. That couldn’t be good. Eli was the first to look my way. Then they broke apart. Hmm. What kind of secret male things were they plotting? Ignoring the whispering for now, I held up the flash drive. “I need a computer.”
Dare pointed to the coffee table. “My laptop was in the car. I just need to plug it in.”
“Thank you.” I rushed to the sofa and sat.
Dare plugged in the laptop and sat beside me so close our legs touched. His warmth seeped through our clothes and tingled my skin. Before I realized what I was doing, I leaned over and inhaled. He smelled like earth and spice. And mate.
He turned his head which put our faces inches apart. Heat boiled from my core and filled me. “Were you sniffing me?”
I jerked back and stared at the laptop. “How much longer before it’s charged?”
Gunner sat on my other side and took my hand. “You okay?”
“I’m fine. Just want to know what’s on the drive.”
Dare tapped my hand with the drive in it. I handed it to him. “He doesn’t talk much, does he?”
Gunner chuckled. “Nope.”
Dare rolled his eyes. “I can hear you.”
“I wasn’t trying to be quiet.” I smiled at him, showing my teeth.
The corners of Dare’s mouth twitched and he shook his head. “Do you know the password?”
I glanced at the screen. There was a prompt for a password. I reached over and typed it in. The screen flashed to one with a bunch of numbers on it. “What’s is this?”
Von sat on the other side of Dare. “It looks like code. Dare, can you break it?”
“Haven’t found one yet I can’t break.” Dare’s fingers flew over the keys. It only took him a few minutes before he was in. “There.”
A video of my Dad started. My vision blurred as his face filled the screen. His green eyes were watery and some of the light had dimmed. Sadness squeezed my heart.
“Hi Cas. I have to make this brief. Harrison has me bound to the mansion. The crazy fucker thinks that will stop me from protecting you. Little does he know that his Hunters aren’t as loyal as they pretend to be. I hope Gunner has reached you first as planned. I knew Harrison was giving the vampires blood samples to track the hybrids. I made sure yours was in there. Anyway, this drive includes all my notes and will answer most of your questions.”
He paused and I glanced at Gunner. He sat back on the couch and crossed his arms. When Dad started talking again I focused on the screen again.
“I need you to get the candle. It’s one of the relics Harrison is looking for. The candle was Carlyn’s. She used it to create the spell Harrison believes will make him immortal. You and I know that won’t happen. I’m not sure what the spell will do. I don’t want Harrison to be the one to find out first.” Dad stopped talking and glanced over his shoulder, then looked back at the screen. “I have to go. Read over my notes and the reference material included. It’s a lot of info. If you need help, go to Reese. Love you baby. See you soon.”
The screen went black as the video ended. My bottom lip trembled and my nose tingled. Eli placed a hand on my shoulder from behind me. Gunner pressed his leg into mine. Their concern flowed through the three mating links. Dare glanced at me and I saw his worry in his gaze. Knowing they supported me and they cared filled me with strength. It dawned on me that we needed to complete the mating and join the separate links together. But how?
Taking a deep breath, I focused on Dare’s laptop. There was a lot of information compressed on the flash drive. Dare opened a file labeled HB. I guessed the initials stood for Harrison Beck. I was right. The first document Dare opened held my father’s notes.
Dare released a low growl as he read. “Either your father has a vivid imagination or Harrison is more fucked in the head than Von says.”
Gunner grunted. “Harrison’s an idiot psycho.”
“My father is not a liar. I told Von what Harrison is doing.” I pointed at the laptop. “Those notes are what my dad witnessed while working with the asshat.”
Dare turned his gold eyes to me. “Harrison destroyed children. He never had us hunt down kids.”
I felt a tang of guilt coming from Gunner. My heart jumped to my throat. Had he hunted kids? No, he wouldn’t harm a child. At least I hoped not. If he had…well that would be the deal breaker for the mating. Pushing those thoughts to the side, I said, “His kill order goes for all hybrids. I’m guessing Harrison knew which Hunters to send where.”
My own words hung in my mind and left a bitter taste in my mouth. What if Harrison knew the three Hunters with me now were my mates? Could he have known? “Are you guys sure Harrison can’t track you?”
Dare shrugged. “Fifty-fifty. It was rumored that the bastard would go to a seer. Maybe he just had more eyes and ears than your father knew.”
Eli walked around the sofa and sat in an armchair. “Harrison could have targeted your father for the purpose of building an army
and tracking down the relics.”
I shook my head. “That would take a lot of patience. The Hybrid Project started years before Brooke and I were born.”
Gunner placed a hand on my back and rubbed. “Super villains don’t wake up one morning and say ‘Hey, I think I’ll be a psycho from now on.’”
He was right. Harrison would have plotted his scheme for a while until he got control over the council. “So, what’s the plan?”
Eli pointed at Dare. “Are you in?”
Dare stared at Eli for a long moment before he stood. “I need some time.”
Then he left the room. I met Von’s gaze and frowned. “I hope it isn’t too long because we are hiding out from a mad man.”
Von scooted over to me. “Give him two minutes, then go find him. Persuade him to stay. You’re right. All of us need to be bound if we’re going to survive the battle. I can’t complete the bond if Dare isn’t on board.”
I understood what he meant. Because he and Dare were linked, if Von completed the bond with me it would be like forcing Dare into a mating he wasn’t ready for. I released a sigh and went back to studying the laptop. “Find out where the candle is while I go seduce the bear.”
11
Dare
I paced the bedroom I shared with Von. Why I went to the room instead of going for a run, I hadn’t a clue. Part of me hoped Cassia would follow me. The other part wanted to run away from it all.
My whole fucking life was taken from me the day the witch bound Von and I and set our futures out of our control. I blamed my mom, Harrison, and even Von at times. But that wasn’t fair to my best friend. He was stuck just like I was.
The idea that Harrison played us the whole time pissed me off all the more. It made me want to make Harrison the hunted. A growl ripped from me, and I crossed the room to the door. When I jerked it open, I froze. Cassia stood in the doorway with her hand raised as if she were about to knock.
She smiled. “Hi.”
Fuck me. She was beautiful and smelled good. It took every ounce of my control to not bury my nose into her neck. “Hi.”
“We need to talk.” She pushed past me. “Close the door, please.”
Amusement twisted my lips into a small smile. She was polite when she was being bossy. “Have you come here to claim me?”
I meant the words as a joke to ease my own raw, feral mood. But hearing them out loud made me wish I hadn’t spoke at all. Cassia turned to face me, one side of her sensual mouth lifted. “Only if that’s what you want. If it’s not, then I’ll have to let Von go too. Or you too could find a way to break your bond.”
Negative. My bear growled the word in my head. I couldn’t imagine a future without Von at my side. He was my best friend. My brother. We’d even agreed to find a mate we could share. I just never dreamed that mate would also come with two others.
I studied Cassia and she stared back at me. Her eyes were the color of emeralds, just like her father’s. The only thing I knew about her was she had a sister, Brooke. That was only because Brooke was being hunted too. Although no one knew where she was. Except maybe Cassia. “Why don’t you just choose one mate? The rest of us would still help fight Harrison then part ways when it’s over.”
She winced and averted her gaze. Creases formed on her forehead. Then she shook her head and hugged herself. A sadness fell over her, making me feel like an ass for suggesting it. But it was a reasonable suggestion. Wasn’t it?
“I can’t,” she said softly. “I know it sounds crazy and maybe selfish but I can’t ignore my intuition telling me to claim each of you.” She glanced up and I cursed. Her eyes shone with unshed tears. “This feeling, urge, or whatever it is goes much deeper than my wolf wanting a mate. I can’t explain it.”
I was an ass. Crossing the distance, I pulled her into my arms. Instantly she hugged me tight and pressed her cheek to my chest. Relief flowed through me and my bear rubbed against where she pressed into me. The beast wanted his mate. Looks like we have to share.
Lifting her chin so our gazes locked, I told her something no one but Von knew. “I understand. My great grandmother was a witch. A powerful, full-blooded elemental witch. She claimed three mates as her family. My mom said it was a way to balance her powers and protect her coven.”
A brilliant smile lifted Cassia’s lips. “And one of her mates was a bear.”
I nodded. “My mom meant well and believed she was doing the right thing by binding me to Von. But I’m not so sure anymore. At first, we believed we were fulfilling our destiny and on the right side. The more we learned about the hybrids…”
I released her and moved to the sliding glass door that led out onto the balcony. Cassia’s soft footsteps told me she followed. She slipped an arm around my waist and leaned into me. “Now your pissed that Harrison wants us all dead. Because it could have been your grandmother or mom that was hunted down.”
“Yes.” I kissed the top of her head. “It was easier to believe the ones we hunted were rogue. In the last year, Von and I started letting them go. We’d catch them and get them to give us something to proof to Harrison they were dead. Then we’d give them the phone number to a contact at Sunshine Lives.”
She jerked her head up, her eyes widened. “You know about that?”
“Lewis can be very persuasive. He’s taking back the council.”
“I know. I worry for his safety going against Harrison. It’s harder when I can’t talk to Dad to see want is going on.” She fisted her hand in my shirt and I sensed the anxiety building inside her, bleeding into the bond I shared with Von.
“Hey.” I turned and framed her face in my hands. “Lewis has allies both within the council and outside. He’s been able to get over half the Hunters on his side.”
The ones who were loyal to Harrison were just as power hungry and evil. I kept that to myself even though Cassia probably already knew.
“I can still worry.” She gave a halfhearted smiled. Her strawberry and lavender scent sharpened then softened as her emotions roll off her.
Dipping my head, I claimed her mouth. Sensations exploded within at the connection. Raw hunger like I’ve never experienced gripped me by the balls and the heart. She was mine. And she tasted of heaven and home.
She wrapped her arms around my neck then hopped up to wrap her legs around my waist. I started moving. The destination was the bed. I had to have her. The need to be buried deep inside her was too much for me to ignore.
I broke the kiss and trailed my lips down her jaw to her throat while lowering us to the bed. Cassia growled and groaned at the same time. The sound sent a heatwave of desire rushing through my veins.
I rocked my hips into her core and she whimpered. My bear roared, wanting to claim her. “I want you.”
“Yes.” She tugged at the hem of my shirt.
I rose up and ripped my shirt off and threw it to the floor. A wicked smiled formed on her face right before she shoved me, making me fall on my back on the bed. She giggled, then licked my stomach just above the waist of my jeans. Pleasure rippled through me, setting every nerve ending on fire.
Just as she unbuttoned my jeans and lowered the zipper a knock sounded on the door. Cassia and I growled at the same time. Then she laughed.
Sitting up, I kissed her mouth, lingering for a few moments. “Whatever Von wants better be important.”
“I agree. Unless he’s coming to join us.” She waggled her brows. My dick stood to attention at the idea of the three of us tangled together. Cassia sighed and frowned. “Eli is with him.”
With a growl, I got off the bed. She must have sensed Eli like I could Von. After all, she was bonded to Eli. When I reached the door, I yanked it open and scowled at the two males outside. Von glanced to my undone jeans then to Cassia behind me. A slow smile formed.
Eli, however, wasn’t as amused. “We found where the candle is.”
Cassia
They found the candle? That was fast. I jumped off the bed and rushed to the guys in the
doorway. “Where is it? When do we leave?”
Eli shook his head. “You aren’t going anywhere. Von and Gunner will go. You, Dare, and I are staying here.”
I crossed my arms and glared at him. “Why can’t we all go?”
“Because,” Eli stepped into my space. I straightened my spine and stared into his blue depths as he spoke. The other guys tensed but didn’t move. “You are safer here for now. Plus, there was a map of the location the candle could be at on the flash drive. We aren’t sure it’s actually there.”
Or that it might be a trap. He didn’t say the words out loud, but I heard them in my mind. I wasn’t sure if he pushed the thought to me or my telepathy was picking up on his even with the wall I built around the ability.
I pursed my lips and thought back to him, “The possibility of a trap is why we should all go.”
Eli’s pupils expanded, dominating his blue irises. A growl rumbled from his chest. “Don’t argue with me. Your safety is our priority.”
Gunner held up and hand. “Wait. Are you two mind-linking?”
I glanced at Gunner, then Von and released a frustrated groan. “Eli thinks it might be a trap.”
Von shrugged. “Of course, it is. That’s why you aren’t going.”
I threw my hands up and marched back to the bed. When I got there, I jumped on it landing on my back and bounced once. “Fine. If you die, I’ll have Reese find your ghosts and I’ll kick your asses.”