Consumed (Dark Protectors)

by Rebecca Zanetti

  He shrieked in fury, stepping back, eyes going wide.

  Katie pivoted to grab Janie and began to tug her inside.

  Claws ripped into her elbows, yanking her away from the girl. Katie reached desperate arms out to her friend, struggling against the beast.

  Relief filtered through Katie’s buzzing brain as Max lifted the unconscious Janie and whisked her out of sight. God, she hoped the girl was all right. She dropped to her knees, flipping around.

  Focusing, Katie scissored her legs, catching the werewolf by the ankles.

  He jumped out of her hold. Leaning down, he raked devastating claws down her arms, digging in and lifting. “Myyyy Kaattieee.”

  Agony tore through her. Nerve endings fired, and her entire nervous system flared to life, sending an alert to flee. Brent dug his claws in harder. Katie’s stomach rolled, and black dots covered her vision.

  He threw her, and she bounced off a rock, darkness falling over her eyes.

  Jordan roared, the sound full of fury.

  Brent pivoted and jumped into the group trying to kill the lion ruler.

  Katie staggered to her feet. She wasn’t finished yet. Yelling, she tried to pull Brent’s attention away from Jordan. The beast turned his head, and Jordan was on him, teeth flashing as he dropped the werewolf to the ground.

  But the other big brown monster roared to the sky. With a dark smile, he lumbered toward her.

  She took a step back.

  Insanity lit the werewolf’s eyes a translucent yellow. “I’m Jaaaack.”

  Jesus Christ. Another fucking werewolf who could speak. Had Brent taught him? Katie dropped her stance, waiting until the monster was in range. With a howl, she shot a sidekick to its knee.

  The beast went down, swinging hard.

  She’d underestimated his arm span. He caught her by the wrist, yanking her into his matted fur. His claws dug deep into her flesh.

  Her head swaying, she tried to focus and found Jordan. Three werewolves were on him, Brent taking the lead. The lion bled from several areas along his back and flanks.

  The lioness within Katie snarled deep. Images whipped inside her head. Jordan mating her. The baby within her. So much hope. Desperation popped like firecrackers through her veins.

  Fear and instinct had her struggling for freedom.

  The cries and clashes of battle destroyed the day.

  Jordan bellowed, the yell full of fury and pain.

  Power cascaded through her like lava hurling from a volcano. Smooth, fiery, deadly. Opening her mouth to scream, her jaw kept widening. Fangs dropped low and sharp.

  Snarling, she let out a primal roar.

  The fighting ceased. For the briefest of seconds, every animal and beast in the clearing paused. All male, all reacting to the sound of an Alpha female.

  She shifted completely into a mountain lion, a sonic boom shattering the air and sending Jack flying past bodies. The fight erupted again, shifters attacking with renewed purpose.

  Sharp claws dug into the earth as she dropped to all fours. Electricity ignited her blood. Stunned ecstasy caught her off guard. She’d shifted.

  The animal took over, recognizing the danger. Vaulting over a downed beast, she landed on the back of a werewolf threatening her mate. Blood spurted into her mouth when she cut deadly teeth into its neck. Twisting her head, she yanked while slashing her claws down its vertebrae.

  The beast fell, landing hard and bouncing. Holding its back down with her paws, she ripped its spine out. The monster went limp in death.

  Bulky hands grabbed her, claws digging into her fur and throwing her across the clearing.

  She landed on her side, quickly rolling to her feet, her gaze on Jack.

  Colors flashed into her pupils, blood and rage assailed her nostrils, too many sounds pummeled her ears. After ten years of being human, her extra senses threatened to shut her down.

  The werewolf advanced, a hard glint in his hungry eyes.

  Cries of pain and death swirled in her head. Agony rippled on the breeze. Shoving those away, she focused on the threat, acutely aware of the cub nestled safely inside her. A maternal snarl hissed past her lips.

  Even through the confusion, an awareness grounded her. Different. She was different from before. More powerful, more deadly ... either from the werewolf virus or from mating Jordan. Maybe from both.

  Jack held a paw up, growling and allowing his claws to elongate. Sharper, much longer than any claws she’d ever seen. Although he’d inflicted damage already, he’d been keeping them sheathed. Smiling, he followed suit with the other paw. Make those hands. Furry hands with claws deadlier than any hunting knife.

  Fear kept her gaze on the killer.

  Out of nowhere, satisfaction coursed through her. She lifted her ears in question. The feeling belonged to Jordan. He’d dispatched one werewolf and was gaining ground on Brent. Intriguing to be inside his heart, privy to his thoughts.

  Jack charged.

  Training and instinct kicked in. Katie lowered her head, shooting forward and between his legs. Bounding around, she leapt onto his back. Her claws dug deep, her jaws snapping to gain hold.

  With a roar, Jack reached back, grabbed her by the scruff of the neck and yanked her over his head.

  The world blurred as she crashed to the ground, rolling to the side to protect the cub.

  For two seconds she was a child again, scared and running from a bully. But this time Jordan couldn’t come to her rescue.

  Desperation had her mind blanking. Her shoulder pounded where Jordan had placed his mark. Her mate. She’d run from him ... and being part animal, he’d had no choice but to chase.

  Snarling, she flashed her teeth at Jack. Dodging to the side, she ran.

  All furious animal, Jack howled, his claws scraping down her flanks.

  Panting, her heart racing, she ran around a vampire decapitating a werewolf, past Lance and Baye as they battled several beasts, past fighting vampire soldiers and away from the entrance to headquarters. Toward the cliffs leading so far down to the sparkling ocean.

  Jack lumbered after her, howling.

  Her paws slipped on the wet grass, and she went sprawling. So many years had passed since she’d run in lion form.

  Jack gave a gleeful yowl and pounced.

  She turned onto her back, her hind legs catching him at the hips and thrusting him over her head.

  His arms spiraled. He hollered in anger as he went pummeling through the air.

  Katie jumped to all fours, turning around. Jack staggered to his feet, arms windmilling to regain balance. Roaring a battle cry, Katie lunged for him, hitting him solidly in the chest and bouncing back. Jack disappeared over the edge of the cliff. His holler turned to a high-pitched scream, echoing up as he fell. Finally, silence.

  She flipped around, surveying the area.

  Jordan snarled, fangs flashing, and tore the head off a werewolf. Jerking to the side, he threw the head over the cliff. Brent gave a howl of outrage. The remaining werewolves echoed his bellow. Glancing at the empty cliff, Brent and the still standing beasts shot back into the forest. Several vampires took off in pursuit.

  Jordan lowered his head, stalking toward her, his eyes primitive and gold. Sniffing her neck, he gave a short, satisfied growl. Moving closer, he nuzzled her jaw, wandering to the bite in her shoulder, which he nipped.

  Warmth flushed through her. Her mate.

  One by one, the remaining feline shifters stalked toward her. Forming a line, Noah bowed his head. His brothers and then the rest of the lions followed.

  A vow of allegiance from their soldiers to their Alpha female. A promise to follow and protect her, regardless of what happened to Jordan.

  Jordan nodded in approval.

  The shifters turned and bounded in pursuit after the werewolves.

  Then Jordan stretched his neck, turning to survey the sun lowering in the sky.

  A cold chill shoved away the warmth in Katie.

  The moon was coming.

/>   Chapter 22

  Katie shifted back to human with a series of sharp pops. Aches vibrated along her bones as they re-formed.

  Jordan shifted and instantly had her in his arms. “You shifted.”

  She leaned back, joy filling every pore. “I know. The mating must’ve changed me.” Hope flared hotter than the joy. “You, too! Marking me would’ve altered your physiology, too.” Her excitement dimmed. Hopefully Jordan had changed enough he wouldn’t turn into a werewolf. “We should go after Brent.”

  “No. Let Noah get the bastard.”

  A sudden thought made her gasp. “Janie was hurt.”

  Jordan nodded, stepping back to survey the cuts, bruises, and gashes marring Katie’s flanks. Gentle hands brushed along her hip. He leaned over to place a soft kiss above a bruise. “You need bandages.” He grabbed Katie’s hand and strode into headquarters. “Let’s hit the infirmary.”

  After stopping for Jordan to yank on jeans, and Katie to throw a loose cotton dress over her head, they limped down several flights of stairs. Opening the door at the medical level, Jordan held both hands up in surrender, keeping Katie behind him. “The fight is over.”

  Katie elbowed him, sidling to view the small vestibule. Max and Garrett flanked the single doorway cut into rock, guns in hand, stances set to shoot. Stone-cold determination sat comfortably on Max’s wide face. Anger and youthful bewilderment filled Garrett’s eyes. But his hold remained steady on the gun, and a hard line of conviction angled his jaw. The kid wouldn’t hesitate to shoot.

  Jordan stepped forward. “The werewolves are gone—soldiers are pursuing them north.”

  Max nodded. “I sent my mate, all the kids and nonsoldiers, as well as the injured to the level ten secured section. We needed to bring Janie here.” His expression remained the same, but a low hitch caught on his words. “Dage and Talen should be teleporting home any minute.”

  Fear rolled in Katie’s stomach. With a nod, she shoved open the door to the small room better equipped than any big city hospital. Five beds lined the far wall, and Janie lay motionless in the farthest one, attached to several beeping machines. Cara held her hand from the far side of the bed while Emma checked her pulse, her gaze on the watch adorning her wrist.

  Katie’s steps slowed on the spotless tile as she approached the bed. Janie’s cheeks lacked any color, her skin pasty and her lips blue. A devastating purple bruise marred her left temple to her jaw. The air around her seemed ... heavy.

  Cara glanced up, tears shining in her dazed blue eyes.

  Emma gently placed Janie’s arm back on the bed. “Her pulse is way too slow.” Pressing several buttons on the nearest machine, she shook her head. “I can’t get any brain readings.” She bit her lip, an obvious struggle not to cry on her face.

  Garrett hovered closer. “Janie? Wake up.” The protector was gone, and a scared brother stood in his place. “Please.”

  Katie slid an arm around his waist. He burrowed as close as he could get, his body trembling.

  Male voices echoed outside, and then Talen Kayrs stalked into the room followed by the king. Dressed in black combat gear, a dark scowl covered Talen’s dangerous face. The massive vampire hurried toward the bed, stopping cold in the center of the room.

  Then he blinked. Twice. Metallic green shot through the normal gold of his eyes.

  “Janie?” He held a hand toward the bed, hesitantly moving forward. Once reaching his daughter, he dropped to his knees. “Janie?” Hoarseness lowered his voice to something guttural and full of pain.

  Tears filled Katie’s eyes. She held Garrett tighter even as Jordan hugged them from behind. Fear had her shoulders shaking. The boy’s entire body stiffened, terror cascading off him in scents of sulfur and grass.

  “Janie?” Talen smoothed a stray curl off the girl’s face. “Baby, wake up.” The entreaty, the desperate plea from a father for his child, had Katie swallowing a loud sob.

  Dage moved closer to his mate. Dark circles lined under his eyes. Teleporting his brothers twice in one day had obviously taken a toll. “Emma?” The king took in the beeping machines with a glance.

  Emma shook her head, leaning into the king’s large body. “She’s in a coma. Pulse slow, immeasurable brain activity.” The queen swayed, her face as pale as Janie’s.

  Talen covered Cara’s hand with his free one. “What about blood?”

  Emma closed her eyes, her hand to her head. “I don’t know. Vampire blood for a human teenager might kill her. Mates can take blood, but I just don’t know about a girl Janie’s age.”

  Vampire blood was magical and full of healing power for their mates. But the thick liquid could be deadly for other races. Uncertainty kept Katie grounded in place. Too bad shifter blood didn’t help humans.

  Garrett shrugged free. “We share a parent—similar genetics. What about my blood?”

  Dage rubbed his chin on top of Emma’s head. “His blood would be safer than any of ours.”

  Uncertainty wrinkled Emma’s brow. “Yes. But he’s still a vampire, and Janie is human. Plus, even though the kids share a mother, Cara’s genetic makeup had begun to alter when she became pregnant with Garrett. We don’t know ...”

  Cara bit her lip. “I can’t get anything from her. No feelings, no thoughts ... nothing.”

  As an empath, the girl’s mother should be able to feel something. Katie shuffled her feet, denial slamming hard into her brain. Janie would be okay. She had to be.

  Talen kept one hand on his wife, the other on his daughter. He turned toward Cara. “Mate?”

  Cara’s lips trembled. She eyed her mate and glanced past him to their son. “Are you sure, Garrett?”

  “Yes.” Garrett yanked up his sleeve. “Losing a little blood is no big deal. And I’ve been eating healthy lately.” Hope and determination rode the boy’s words, and his teeth dropped low and sharp.

  “No.” Dage grabbed his arm. “You’ll take off your wrist with those things.”

  Emma nodded, reaching for a syringe. “We want to inject her.” She rolled Garrett’s sleeve up past the elbow and swabbed his vein before sliding in the needle. Filling the shot, she pivoted toward Janie. Dage slapped a bandage on the inside of his elbow.

  Talen turned his daughter’s arm over, exposing her vein and flattening his hand over her small palm. “Not too much.”

  Emma nodded. Seconds later, she’d injected about half the contents into Janie. “That’s enough for now.” Smooth movements had a bandage covering the wound. She exhaled. “Now we wait.” Tossing the needle into the garbage, she turned toward Katie and Jordan. “You both need medical attention.”

  Right around dinnertime, Katie handed a green gun to Lance in the fully stocked armory. “How many werewolves survived earlier?”

  The shifter passed the weapon to Dage. “Several. And they may not have attacked with their full force today.” He tugged down an almost see-through T-shirt. The shifters wouldn’t remain dressed for long, so the easier it was to tear clothing, the better. “The Chance brothers are scouting the area as we speak ... checking out defensive positions. Where’s Jordan?”

  “He went to check on Janie.” Katie fought the sick rage burning in her gut. “Last I heard, there was no change.” The girl’s death would cripple the Kayrs family. The Realm.

  Dage nodded. Fury and despair swirled bright blue throughout his silver eyes. “I’m going to recheck the secured areas down below. We have three hours until the moon rises, until the werewolves are at full power.” He frowned. “Do you think they’ll wait until the moon is high or hit early?”

  Katie shrugged. “Waiting would be smart, but they’re ruled by blood and death, so instinct may take over.” But there was no doubt the monsters would be hitting and soon.

  Dage slipped from the room.

  Lance sighed. “Is there any way I can talk you into protecting the kids in the lower levels? You just shifted for the first time—being on the front line, especially where that jerk Brent wants you to be, is a bad id
ea.”

  “I’m not going to the front line.” She settled her stance.

  “What?” Lance rounded on her, fury lighting his stunning eyes. “You’re not saying what I think you’re saying.”

  “I am.” She didn’t have time to convince her friends she knew what she was doing.

  “No.” Lance reached for a green gun, his hands trembling as he checked the clip. “You can’t possibly be considering staying with Jordan while he shifts into a werewolf. He’ll kill you—I won’t let another one of my friends die. Don’t make me fight you on this.”

  The mating could still save Jordan. Katie had to have faith in the possibility. “He won’t hurt me. And if his brain begins to explode, I have to shove him under the moon.”

  Lance took a step back, shock crossing his face. “You’ll allow him to turn into a werewolf?”

  “If that’s the only way to keep him alive.”

  Lance’s head shook wildly. “Well, if that isn’t the fucking worst plan I’ve heard in my entire life, I don’t know what is.”

  Anger narrowed Katie’s eyes and shoved doubt to the cellar. “I know what I’m doing.”

  The smile sliding across Lance’s handsome face contained darkness and raw fury. “You don’t know shit.” He took a step toward her, gun aimed at her abdomen. “I really wanted to wait until you were forced to kill Jordan, but that’s not going to happen, is it?”

  Shock kept her immobile. Then fury slammed her hand against the gun, swiping the barrel away. “Wait for what?”

  He shot a hand into her hair, tangling and yanking. Pivoting, he hauled her back against his front, the gun pressed into her rib cage. “You’re being awfully slow here.”

  She struggled, surprise causing her mind to blank. This didn’t make sense.

  Pain flared along her ribs as he shoved the gun harder. “Stop fighting me.”

  She stilled. Fear flared bright. The baby. “What are you doing?” Her mind fought with reality. This was a terrible mistake.

  The hand in her hair tugged to the side, exposing her neck. He ran his mouth over her jugular, teeth scraping just enough to draw blood. “The scent of your blood covers the stench of Jordan on you. Barely.” Lance bit. “I guess you’ll be bleeding a lot in the future.”