20 Shades of Shifters: A Paranormal Romance Collection

by Demelza Carlton

  She glanced at him. “You did?”

  “Yes, I’d had enough of him bullying you.”

  Gratefulness flickered in her eyes, but she didn’t say anything.

  “You’ll be surprised on what he said.” The tension in her neck began to unravel. He needed to get her alone and do a deep massage that made her forget everything but his fingers.

  “And?”

  “He claimed that both he and your dad constantly worried about you. They were worried you’d get hurt by using your ability and that’s why they wanted you to stop. In their strange domineering way, both he and your father were trying to protect you.”

  “I never got that feeling.”

  “Maybe you weren’t listening.”

  She jerked, knocking his hand off her shoulder. “You weren’t there, Anonghos. You don’t know what it was like… The rejection, the pain, the humiliation…”

  He flinched at the anger storming through her voice. She turned the car, the wheels squealing. He had to grip the door handle to keep from bashing his head onto the dashboard, and his heart slammed against his chest.

  For the rest of the three minute ride, they were silent. A distant gulf formed between them, and he was powerless to stop it. He thought she’d want to know that her brother and her father had really cared for her, but he’d guessed wrong. He stepped right in the middle of a stinging set’s hill.

  They drove into a parking lot, swarming with cop cars. She parked the car without saying a word and got out, slamming the door so hard the car shook.

  He slowly got out, not sure how to handle her anger, but he immediately inhaled the stench of death. He hurried over to Agnes, who didn’t turn his way.

  Agnes headed for a group of officers, who were huddled around a truck that was parked next to a large pine tree.

  Agnes wiped out her badge. “Detective Malloy. Lead investigator.”

  The officers parted. A tarp covered a body.

  A tall dark officer flicked up his lapel. “Officer Jameson.” He tilted his head. “She’s over here, Detective. It’s pretty gruesome.”

  “I need to see her,” Agnes said.

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  He led them over to the tarp and peeled back the tarp. Anonghos’s stomach tightened. Agnes released a small gasp.

  “Lord of mercy,” Agnes whispered.

  Anonghos reached for her hand, but she jerked it away.

  Daidhl must have been in a frenzy of hate. Betty’s throat was savagely cut six or seven inches from left to right. She was disemboweled, her intestines lay over her right shoulder. Unfortunately, the intestine was nicked, spilling fecal matter behind her shoulder. Unlike Reese and Nybo, who had straight cuts, Betty’s cut were jagged as if Daidhl had released all of his anger. He was getting worse, more vicious, more ruthless.

  Betty’s face was ghastly. The bastard had cut triangles below each eye, peeling back the flesh. They reminded Anonghos of arrows pointing to the eyes. He mumbled underneath his breath, “Was there a significance to this?”

  “Devil worship, possibly,” Officer Jameson answered. “Never seen anything so barbaric.”

  Betty also had cuts no her eyelids. The left one was at least a half-inch long.

  The ground was soaked with her blood. From the waist down, she was naked.

  “Did you find her pants or underwear?” Agnes asked.

  Officer Jameson shook his head. “No. We haven’t found anything around the body.”

  Agnes glanced at Anonghos. “I’m betting he took some organs.”

  “Can I talk to you in private?”

  She nodded and allowed him to lead her away.

  “Did Betty tell you what was missing?” he asked.

  “No, but I can see why she’s so angry. I wished he’d gone after me rather than her.” Her voice was soaked in guilt.

  An image of Agnes having her face craved up, organs slashed out of her body, and her throat grisly cut, flashed in his mind, sucking the air out of his lungs. Anger and fear surged through him like an exploding star. He gripped her arms tight, not caring who saw. “Never. Never. Say that.” He shook her hard, trying to knock some sense into her guilt ridden soul.

  “Anonghos, stop.”

  He growled, the dragon threatening to burst through. “Do you hear me? I won’t lose you.”

  “Anonghos, please.”

  Suddenly, he inhaled the sharp smell of sour milk. He abruptly stopped, but wrapped his arm around her waist pinning her to him. Several officers gave them strange looks.

  Officer Jameson approached them. He gave Anonghos a dubious look. “Detective, is anything amiss?”

  Agnes gritted her teeth. “Anonghos, will you release me? You’re embarrassing me.”

  “Sorry.” He reluctantly obeyed. The sourness was growing stronger. “Do you smell it?”

  “Yes,” she nodded. “Daidhl’s definitely here. He could be anybody, or he could be invisible.”

  “Stay close.”

  Frank and his partner, Jeff Holmes, arrived, and hurried over to the crime scene.

  “Oh God, Jeff. I smell spoiled milk.” Frank pulled out his gun.

  “So?”

  “The killer’s here.”

  Jeff looked around, his steely gray eyes scanning the parking lot. “Are you sure? I don’t see anyone suspicious.”

  “I told you, he smells like spoiled milk.”

  “And I told you you’re crazy.”

  But Frank wasn’t looking at Jeff. He was staring over Agnes’s head, his face pale.. “Shit, Agnes! Move!”

  Officer Jameson’s brown eyes turned gold, and he opened his mouth to reveal sharp, jagged teeth. “You’re dead, Detective.”

  The evil voice was loud enough to catch the officers, who all pulled out their police specials.

  Jameson lunged for Agnes, his hand turning into a claw. He scratched Agnes, his talons ripping through her shirt and flesh. She cried out, holding her arm. Blood seeped through her fingers.

  Anonghos yanked Agnes out of the way, shoving her behind him.

  Anonghos growled. “You’ll pay for that, Daidhl.”

  Jameson released a mechanical laugh, stirring Anonghos’s rage. Puffs of smoke exhaled out of his flaring nostrils. He tried to transform, sweat rolling down his face, but his muscles and bones wouldn’t move. He was trapped in humanoid form. It had to be the damn human blood.

  “You’re too weak to stop me.” Jameson swung, his fist hitting Anonghos square in the jaw. He fell to the ground, smashing his head against the pavement. The world swam around him.

  Frank roared, “No!” He ran toward Jameson, firing repeatedly.

  “Don’t!” Anonghos yelled as pushed himself up. “You’ll only make him mad.”

  Frank stepped in front of Agnes, shielding her with his body. Ignoring Anonghos, Frank continued blasting Jameson. The noise was deafening, blocking out Anonghos’s pleas for Frank to stop.

  Bullets riddled Jameson’s body. He released an angry shriek, then vanished.

  “Die, Agent Malloy.”

  Frank flew back almost twenty feet.

  “Frank!” Agnes screamed.

  His gun fired into the air, and he crashed into his car. Blood gushed down his nose like a wild river. His eyes fluttered shut.

  Realization slammed into Anonghos. While everyone else was stunned, including Frank’s partner, Frank hadn’t panicked and had jumped into action, sacrificing himself to save his sister. He really was a hero.

  Anonghos managed to pull out his eruptor and aimed it where Jameson had last stood, but if he wasn’t there, he’d kill the stunned officers.

  Blood drained from Jeff’s face. “Holy shit!” He whirled around, waving his gun in search of a visible target.

  “Get control of yourself!” Anonghos glared, afraid the idiot would start shooting wildly.

  Agnes ran over to her brother’s crumpled body. “Frank! Frank!”

  Her tough exterior shattered into a thousand pieces.

&nb
sp; Anonghos swayed as he followed her. “Stay calm. Terror is what Daidhl wants.” He tightened his grip on his eruptor ready to blast Daidhl into the Netherland if he made another ugly appearance.

  Jeff rushed past Anonhgos and pulled out a radio. “Agent down. Send the paramedics.” He gestured toward the shocked officers. “Fan out.”

  They came out of their stupor and followed his orders with guns pointed ahead, slowly moving across the perimeter of the parking lot.

  Anonghos fell next to Agnes. “I’m sorry.”

  Tears streaked her face. “I can’t believe it. He risked his life for me.”

  “I know.” He’d never forget what Frank did for her. He hadn’t been lying. He really did care for his sister.

  “He can’t die. He just can’t.”

  “You need to stay calm. Daidhl could be lurking, ready to attack again.”

  She shook her head. “Betty says he’s gone.”

  “Why didn’t she say something earlier?”

  She wiped her cheeks. “I told you. She’s frightened, afraid that Daidhl can still hurt her.”

  Her voice was calm, but frustration flickered in her eyes and her jaw was set taut.

  “She’d damned well could be right,” Anonghos muttered.

  “Frank, Frank! Can you hear me?” Agnes clasped her brother’s hand. “Please, don’t leave me.” She bowed her head.

  Although he felt like he’d been just thrown around in a black hole, Anonghos’s senses were on red alert–his ears keen, his eyes eager, his fists ready… Ready to protect his mate at all cost. What if he couldn’t transform into a dragon? Daidhl would be unstoppable. Anonghos needed help.

  A siren shrieked and rotating red lights lit up the dreary lot.

  “The place is secure,” Jeff stated, but his voice shook. Obviously, the man wasn’t totally convinced.

  Anonghos hid his bitter laugh. The idiot didn’t know how wrong he could be. Daidhl could be watching, despite what Betty’s ghost said. Betty wasn’t exactly stable.

  The paramedics rushed over to Frank with a stretcher, while Agnes was still holding his hand.

  “Excuse me, ma’am.”

  “Yes, of course.” She released Frank’s hand.

  She watched them examine Frank and check his vital signs with a sorrowful gaze. Anonghos wanted to tell her words of comfort, but none came to mind. She clasped Anonghos’s hand with her shaking one. He squeezed hers, hoping to send her comfort.

  She raised her chin. Tears and anger glistened in her eyes. “We need to end this.”

  “I promise you we will.”

  He frowned. There was no weapon on Earth that could kill a Mistonian. He needed to contact Taog. He recalled another Mistonian invading Earth and mere humans had destroyed it, but he couldn’t remember how they had done it. Studying history wasn’t his forte. The creature hadn’t possessed the same great powers of Daidhl, but it would be a start.

  Agnes’s captain approached them. Anonghos didn’t remember him being here. Was this the captain or was it Daidhl again?

  He spotted the brown sedan and thought perhaps it was the captain’s, but wasn’t sure. He thought that Frank had been driving that car.

  The captain looked down at Frank as the paramedics worked on his still body. “Agnes,” he said softly. “Go with Frank.” He gestured toward Betty’s corpse. “For now, there’s nothing else you can do. Go with Frank. He needs you.”

  Agnes bit her lip. “Thanks, Captain. You’ll keep me in contact, especially with what the coroner finds?”

  “Of course. And I am sorry, Agnes. Frank was one of the best.”

  She puffed out her chest. “He’s a Malloy. He’s not dead yet, Captain.”

  The captain bowed his head. “Yes, you’re right.”

  Anonghos sniffed, but didn’t detect anything sour, but then again, he hadn’t detected the scent earlier until it was too late. He wasn’t sure if this person was the captain. He had get Agnes far away from him.

  Daidhl had said she was next.

  “Come on, Agnes.” Anonghos forced himself to keep his voice normal. “We’ll follow behind the ambulance.”

  Agnes glanced over at Betty’s exposed body. “If Frank dies, I’ll kill the bastard.”

  Death reflected in her eyes. She meant it. And Anonghos would be at her side to rip out the Mistonian’s black heart.

  Chapter 18

  Agnes clutched Anonghos’s hand in the dreary waiting room. The smell of antiseptic and anesthetics nearly choked her lungs. The buzz of the television that nobody watched made her want to scream. People murmured among themselves. The emergency doors opened as more people filed inside. Each time she held her breath, wondering if Daidhl had slipped inside to finish the job of murdering her brother.

  He was winning, and they were losing.

  The horrific scene in the parking lot replayed over and over in her mind–Jameson’s eyes turning gold and opening his mouth to reveal sharp teeth, Anonghos being thrown to the ground like a rag doll, Frank rushing to protect her with his life, her being helpless. Now, Frank lay in the hospital struggling to live.

  She should have reacted faster and shot Daidhl rather than being a too-dumb-to-live-heroine. It was her fault Frank lay dying.

  Pain throbbed in her arm where Jameson had scratched her. He clawed her like a demon, nails ripping into her flesh so deeply they required stitches. She shivered uncontrollably.

  Anonghos glanced at her. “Are you cold?”

  “A little,” she lied. Terror had turned her blood to ice.

  He wrapped his arm around her, his warm body fighting the fear threatening to take her over. She was a cop like her father, a Malloy–bred to laugh at the enemy.

  But not this time.

  She hated this place. The hospital only reminded her of death and pain and misery. Anonghos had survived the attack, but he was an alien. Frank was strong, but he was only human. He might not make it because of her. Her chest hurt as if it were being crushed.

  She looked around the room. Daidhl could be anywhere––a staff member, another admitting nurse, an Hispanic family huddled in one corner, an elderly woman surrounded by two younger women, or a mother with two young children… Any one of them could be Daidhl in disguise, just waiting to look at her with those deadly golden eyes and a mouth full of sharp teeth.

  She dragged her iPad out of her purse and flicked through the pictures, trying to figure out a clue. Anything that they’d missed. Usually there was a pattern, but the victims had different color hairs, different positions, different social status. What was the connection?

  Anonghos hugged her tightly, distracting her. He kissed the top of her head, sending chills down her spine. “Are you okay?”

  “Such a silly question. No.”

  He hung his head, his dark hair hiding his face.

  “I’m sorry. For the first time, I feel the killer is slipping through Justice’s fingers. And now, he’s gone after my family. Frank’s all the family I have left…”

  Her voice trailed off as a well of pain swelled in her throat.

  The victim’s hollow pictures and grisly crime scene failed to prickle anything with her. “This is so damn frustrating. I’m not getting anything from these photos. Usually, I do. Why when I need my abilities to work they’re on vacation?”

  “I don’t know.” He rubbed her knee. “Frank seems to be a tough agent. He’ll pull through.”

  “Will he? People told me my dad would. They were wrong.”

  “I’m sorry. It’s hard to lose someone you love.”

  The hardness in his voice caught her attention. She really didn’t know much about him except that he was an alien shape-shifter and a member of a space Confederation and had the best six-pack of abs she’d ever seen.

  “Have you lost someone you cared about?” she asked softly.

  “Hasn’t everybody?”

  “That’s not an answer.”

  “I don’t like to talk about my past. Talking doesn’t chan
ge anything.”

  “Sometimes talking will ease the pain.”

  He shrugged. “Hasn’t been my experience.”

  “Do you have any brothers or sisters?”

  He raised an eyebrow. “Not going to let this drop, are you?”

  “We’re probably going to be here for a while, and I just realized I really don’t know anything about you.”

  “I could say the same for you.”

  “No, not true. You know about my brother and father, and that my mother’s dead. You know I live alone, and I’m not the greatest housekeeper.”

  He sighed and unwound his arm from around her shoulders. The warmth he’d provided slowly ebbed way. He leaned back in the metal chair that could barely contain his large, muscular body.

  “Let’s just say my childhood wasn’t a happy one.”

  “So, do you have any brothers or sisters?”

  “No, but I consider my best friend to be more like a brother. I don’t know what I would have done without him.”

  She looked carefully around the room, not wanting anyone to hear their conversation. “Is he part of the crew of the Orion?”

  He shook his head. “He’s the personal guard of our queen.”

  She opened her mouth to ask another question, when the double doors into the emergency room opened. A tall pretty nurse held a clipboard. “Detective Malloy.”

  Agnes grabbed Anonghos’s knee hard to steady herself.. “I’m Detective Malloy.”

  Her confident voice hid the turmoil rolling around inside her.

  As the nurse walked toward them, Agnes thought she was the shadow of death, ready to tell her that her brother had died. Pain severed her heart, pulling it in two.

  “The doctor would like to talk to you about your brother.”

  Anonghos put his hand over hers, and she glanced up at him, needing his strength. She couldn’t talk, afraid she’d become a blubbering mess.

  He helped her out of the chair and locked his arm around her shoulder. She quickly shoved her iPad back into her purse, then forced her trembling legs to move.

  “This way,” the nurse said.

  Dread breathed on the back of Agnes’s neck. She was too afraid to pray, too afraid to hope, and too afraid to be alone. She leaned against Anonghos, hungering to listen to his beating heart. He’d made it out of here alive.