“Obedience, you sniffling whelp of a dingo.”
The words escaped me before I could stop them. “Morris, I’m in so much trouble.”
“And what’s new, wolf?” This time he closed the connection.
I pulled in front of the cabins thirty minutes later. The sun was all but gone and my mood hadn’t improved.
Becca, Isa, and Mitty waited on the porch. I turned to Mase. “Help the others from the back and do your best to keep them out of my way. Forever.” I placed extra emphasis on forever.
“The humans?” he asked.
“That’s the vampire’s problem, not yours.”
I jumped from the van, ignored Talya as she got out of her car, and approached Becca. “The Moor?” I asked because I didn’t see him.
“He said to meet him at the island. I’ll take care of your people and get them settled.”
They weren’t my fucking people, but I wouldn’t argue the point with Becca. I never won because I always walked away feeling like a smelly dog when I tried. I whipped my shirt over my head, kicked off my shoes, and shucked off my pants. I needed to run as wolf.
“That damn bully is a wolf. You didn’t tell me about werewolves,” Grandma chided Talya.
Well that was something. I wondered if Talya told her humans about vamps.
I ran until I couldn’t hear them. I’d grown accustomed to the marshy soil beneath my paws. Whenever I went into the city for more than a day or two, I missed it. It sucked that if The Moor didn’t kill Talya and the humans I would leave. “Fuck you,” my human side said to the wolf at his loud roar. I increased my speed to keep him occupied, and my leg muscles ate up the ground.
We’d turned the small island into our place for challenges and ceremonies. Not that any were expected in the near future, but The Moor said he had faith the day would come. Semi-deep water surrounded the island and it was dangerous to get to without a boat. We had a dock with several fishing-type boats along with two airboats. Much of the Everglades were impassable without the latter.
Twenty minutes later, I shifted to human and jumped into one of the smaller fishing boats. We kept airtight boxes on board with clothing and shoes, but I didn’t bother putting any on. It took another ten minutes to get to the island.
The Moor was moving large chunks of limestone out of the pit area. It wasn’t a true pit because of the layers of limestone, which absorbed and collected water. We’d been clearing a circular area of rocks since we arrived. The Moor used the rock-carrying exercise whenever he needed to think.
He ignored me as I pulled the boat up on a marshy section of sand and tied it off. I walked closer before stopping and watching. He methodically carried one rock at a time and placed it in a pile far away from the pit. He could easily carry as many as his arms could hold, but he’d told me before that that wasn’t the point of the exercise.
He laid down the stone and headed toward me while pulling down the sleeves of his white button-down shirt. The vampire loved his dressy shirts. He buttoned the cuffs, which was the only difference between his formal shirts that required cufflinks and his everyday ones. He was powerful, deadly, and strange. He’d saved me from a group of cats when letting me die was easier. It risked his precarious situation with the cats’ vampire. I would never forget it. I owed him more than loyalty; I owed him my life.
The bond I had with Marcus was seamless—easy to understand and built on friendship. The one I had with The Moor was much more complicated. Mutual hatred and revenge formed our bond. I couldn’t fathom the years The Moor had lived. He’d told me a little about his early life. His mother was raped by his Moorish father. The Moor’s skin was a chocolaty brown, his eyes a striking blue. He could be Spanish, Mexican, Cuban, or even Native American. The faint accent he spoke with was hard to identify. He’d had years to learn different dialects from around the world, and I knew he spoke many languages.
For a vampire with his reputation, his gentleness always surprised me. He told me he was sick of war and blood. He wanted to live in peace and not lose another mate. I had no doubt that he would defend what was his with deadly force. I also knew he would help our allies if called. Was the yearning for peace what drew me to him? I’d thought of nothing but killing cats for so long that his gentle ways pulled me back from the brink of self-destruction time and again.
“I can almost see your brain twisting within your skull. Let us go out on the water and talk.”
I untied the boat and waited for him to settle before I started the engine. He held up his hand when we were halfway between the island and shore. I cut the engine. The nightlife had unique sounds so different from the mountains of Arizona.
“You surprised me,” The Moor said in a low tone.
He always had a way of throwing me off balance. “How so?”
“You didn’t kill the males. I told you to, gave you leave to play in their blood, but you summoned me, therefore allowing them to live.”
“They surprised me.” It was true. It saved their lives. Any aggression other than protecting their females would have ended with their deaths. Hell, it was probably the female trying to protect them that saved them all.
“Would you kill a child, Ivan? A cat? I’ve wondered for a long time.”
I wanted to say yes because it was the easy answer. But then I thought of Alba. As fierce as she was, she always protected the weak. She had been the good part of me. “Maybe. I don’t know.”
“You are pulled so many ways my friend. Tell me about the trouble that has your wolf battling your human side.”
He somehow always stayed a step ahead of me. If something was slightly off, he knew. “The other female...” He didn’t say anything, just waited for me to continue. “I know of her. She ran from Nicolas’s clan.”
“Interesting. I know of her too.”
I just bet he did. The vampires had their own agendas. They might have a difficult time being around each other, but that didn’t keep them from sharing their clan business. I’d give him something he didn’t know. “She has two humans with her. Humans who know about beastkind. I’m not sure how much or how little they’re aware of, but it’s enough to be dangerous.”
“Beastkind and vampire law is quite clear on the subject of revealing our secrets. What has you troubled about this?”
Death. To the humans and to the beastkind who broke our oldest law. “One human is at the end of her life and the other at the beginning of manhood. I admired the courage of both when faced with… well me.” I paused, trying to work out the need to protect Talya and her humans in my head. More confusion was my answer so I continued, “Neither showed fear. I smelled it on the boy, but it didn’t stop him from defending Talya.”
“So you wish to keep these humans?”
Now I laughed. Keep them. And I thought Nicolas had a deplorable pack. I relished The Moor’s first interaction with the old lady. “I challenge you to make Grandma do anything she opposes, including staying here.”
“Would she choose leaving and death over staying with us?”
“The woman doesn’t fear death, so I really have no idea. The boy will protect Talya. Her fate will decide the boy’s.”
“The law is even stricter on the one who gives up our secrets. Her death will not be pretty.”
I growled. It wasn’t teasing or light. It was suicidal. The Moor knew it was a growl of challenge.
“I see you have more to tell me.”
It took everything I had to muzzle my wolf. “She’s my mate. A goddamned cat.” I almost expected him to laugh, but he didn’t. His control saved my life. I was completely on edge and I needed to kill someone. Not that it would be The Moor, but if I physically attacked him, I was dead.
“I’ve heard she’s quite young.”
It was me who laughed. “I don’t give a shit about her age. She’s a cat.”
“The universe, Allah, Goddess, or God, whichever you accept, has a great sense of humor my friend. Our destiny will never be simple and we’re
meant to fight it. At least to a point. It’s when we stop fighting that the stars line up, but that is not our nature even if we know something is meant to be.”
I released a long breath. “I will never take her as mate. I will fight the Goddess until my death.”
He made a low rumbling sound deep in his chest, possibly laughter. “I’ve heard she wouldn’t take no for the easy answer and went after Dmitri.”
“Ha,” I belted out. “I’m fortunate in one thing only—she has no idea she’s my mate.”
The Moor stayed quiet for several minutes before speaking again. “In little more than a day we’ve expanded our clan and now stand ready at twelve.”
“You’re including the humans.”
“As I should. They’ve gained your respect.”
I could only shake my head. Four female cats, two males, two children, a human woman approaching her deathbed, a human teenager not yet out of puberty, and a crazy female alpha cat. Then there’s one of the deadliest vampires in the world with a mate who’s all heart. Add me wanting to kill every cat in my path and we’re pathetic at best. If we could be called a clan—it was derived in hell.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Talya
The two female cats, Isa and Mitty, and the vampire, Becca, fed us. It was a rich stew with plenty of meat and an endless amount of large rolls with butter. We sat on the porch because there wasn’t a table large enough to fit us.
This wasn’t what I expected. I lived in tents and huts in South America. I never wanted to repeat that experience. I had no idea where we would all sleep. Cecily needed a firm bed. I’d heard enough of her complaints about the hotel beds. A blanket on the floor wouldn’t cut it.
And worrying about where we slept was stupid because when the male vampire arrived, chances were good we’d be dead. I could barely look at Rondy and Cecily. They had no idea what awaited them.
The smoke from the small outdoor fire pit kept the mosquitoes down but tickled my nostrils and reminded me of the time in South America I wanted to forget. Cecily, the nurturer, rocked the baby in her arms as she slept. The two female cats who shared the back of the van had formed some type of a bond with Cecily. Shy with me, they spoke freely to her. The male cats remained quiet. Until dinner was underway, I had no idea they were like me and had never been here. They at least might have a chance. The male child who belonged to Isa repeatedly tried to catch my eye, but I ignored him. I felt guilty, but there was too much on my mind. Rondy was unusually quiet. He must sense that all was not as cozy as it seemed.
I smelled the wolf before he walked up to the fire with the vampire. It was a calmer odor coming from him this time. Still alluring and that pissed me off. I had no idea what the calm meant but knew I would find out very shortly.
The vampire stood in front of us, his legs a foot apart, and his arms at his sides. “I am The Moor and you are now in the Southeast clan territory. We were five until tonight.” He took his time and looked at each one of us without speaking. His eyes rested longer on me and I squirmed. He finally gazed away and I let out a short breath. “You will not be forced to stay. What you see around you is how we have lived for over a month. The main house will be ready shortly and accommodations much finer. That shouldn’t be the reason you decide to stay. I yearn for peace and that includes peace inside the walls of my home. If you cannot abide by my rules, most of you are free to leave. The humans will remain here or choose death. I leave that decision in their hands.”
Ivan had moved closer to me and when Cecily exploded from her seat on the porch, Ivan pulled me back.
“I don’t know who you think you are, but I’ll stay here only if I choose to. First, I promised my friend Rondy a trip to Disney World.” Cecily was now up in his face.
I tried to twist away from Ivan. “No, let her do her thing.” He couldn’t hide his smile.
The vampire’s eyes went to his mate’s and when I looked at her, she was grinning. Cecily strikes again.
The Moor put a hand on Cecily’s shoulder. “Woman, there are reasons for my actions and you are welcome to choose death.”
She pulled her leg back and kicked forward with everything she had. I froze in shock and stopped trying to free myself from Ivan as Rondy went into action. He tried squeezing between The Moor and Cecily, but she pushed him back as she danced around on her injured foot.
The Moor cast a stupefied gaze at Ivan. “I thought you said she had one foot in the grave. That foot just connected with my leg.”
Uh oh.
Now Cecily’s attention turned to Ivan. “I’ve had more than enough age comments from you, young man. You are nothing but a liver-lilied bully who needs his mouth washed out with soap. You tell this Moorman we will be leaving first thing in the morning or I will twist one of your long furry ears off.” She was breathing so hard I knew a heart attack was imminent.
My wits kind of returned. “Cecily, please. He’s not joking,” I pleaded.
Cecily looked over her shoulder shifting her attention back to The Moor. “You think you can snap your fingers and kill us? I’m harder to get rid of than that. Pull out your guns and knives and I’ll still kick your ass.”
Maybe there was quicksand in Florida and it would swallow me. I really should have mentioned vampires during her million and one rounds of questions. Something like… vampires could end the human race as well as beastkind in a matter of weeks. Or maybe… vampires actually rule the world, humans just don’t know it.
I waited for him to strike. I waited for my friends to die. They were the longest seconds of my life. I almost fell over when the vampire threw back his head and laughed. A few seconds later, Becca joined in and then to my complete astonishment, Ivan’s blaring laughter followed.
When they finally controlled themselves, Cecily wasn’t through. “Well, if you have a sense of humor I could probably be talked into staying a few days.”
“Ma’am,” The Moor made a formal bow. “Please be my guest to stay as long as you like.”
How the hell did she do it?
Cecily, having no idea how close she came to death, spoke again, “So, do you turn into a furry dog or cat and do you eat rats?”
The Moor didn’t hesitate in answering. “No, ma’am. My mate and I are vampires. We sustain ourselves on blood.”
Both Cecily’s and Rondy’s eyes found mine. “There are a few things I neglected to inform you of.” I swear my voice did not just squeak.
“I will take care of you later, young lady.” Cecily wagged her finger before turning back to The Moor. She placed her hands on her hips. “Prove it.”
I moved my foot around searching for the quicksand. I planned to dive in headfirst if it was there.
“I do not turn into a bat, ma’am, but I can flash to another location if that will ease your mind.”
Cecily shook her head. “No, I want to see fangs.”
“She’s the bat,” muttered Ivan.
“I heard that. Don’t think you’re out of trouble you mange-covered dog.” She didn’t even look at Ivan when she said it. She waited for fangs and that’s just what she got.
The Southeast clan vampire bared his sharp retractable teeth until she was satisfied. Ivan backed away from me and Rondy slipped his hand into mine. I squeezed and Ivan growled. Rondy dropped my hand and I glared at Ivan.
My world had gone nuts.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Ivan
During the altercation between The Moor and the old woman I hadn’t thought about my hatred of cats. Hadn’t noticed their sour smell or had to tamp down my desire to kill them. They surrounded me and I hadn’t noticed.
What captured my attention most was Talya. The scent pouring off her was seeping into my skin, clouding my thoughts, and exciting my wolf.
I leaned in closer and took a deep breath. “I will speak with you now,” I whispered into her ear before walking into the trees. These trees were nothing like the tall pines from Northern Arizona, but they swallowed you severa
l feet in. It rained here almost every day, so your feet sank into the marsh. As wolf, I moved quietly. With human shoes that was almost impossible.
I wasn’t sure if she’d follow, but she whispered to her young male human, “Try to keep Cecily out of trouble. I’ll be back in a few minutes.”
I continued walking and heard an alligator slither through the brush and move away from us.
“What was that?”
“Alligator.”
“It was large.” She didn’t sound afraid, just curious.
“Medium.”
She didn’t speak after that and stayed about ten feet behind me. Obviously, the gator or thoughts of other large animals didn’t bother her. I hoped I did. She needed to be afraid of me.
I stopped in a cleared area not far from the new house. We would have campfires here along with stories and all the things families enjoyed. A family I didn’t want or need. I would remain on the outside looking in, but that’s how I wanted it. I turned and watched Talya move closer. She walked with the same determination she did with everything else. No fear. More like a sense of purpose.
She spoke before I did. “You plan to challenge me now.”
A gruff laugh burst from my throat then faded into the night. “It’s the other way around, kitten. I’m the alpha. If you want the position, you challenge me.”
“And die.” The two words were matter of fact.
“And die.” I gave it back.
She moved a foot closer and her voice dropped to a husky growl, “Ahh, this is payment for keeping my friends alive.”
A step closer. And now I could feel the breath of her words against my skin. “I said I would do anything.” Her palm flattened against my chest.
What the hell? I stepped back so suddenly I almost tripped. She planned to trade her body for her friends’ lives. My anger exploded. Her arm dropped to her side and I grabbed it, twisting so she spun as I pulled her back against my chest. I wrapped both my arms tightly around her. Too tight, but I didn’t care.
Fang Chronicles: Ivan Page 11