Shadow

by Laurann Dohner

  “Beauty?” The snarl was recognizable.

  Beauty rushed into the living room to gape at Shadow. He was naked, his body tense, every muscle from his shoulders to his thighs defined. He sniffed, his head jerked her way and he stepped completely inside the cabin. The door slammed with one forceful shove of his hand, he locked it and revealed his fangs.

  “Go upstairs to my bedroom.”

  “Holy shit,” Breeze mumbled. “Impressive. I guess the sex was amazing. He wants you bad.”

  Shadow’s furious expression changed to confusion before glancing down his body. “Shit.” He cupped his semi-erect cock, attempting to hide it with one hand, frowning. His gaze shifted from Beauty to Breeze. “Human intruders have been scented a few miles from here inside the Wild Zone.” He glanced at Beauty. “Go upstairs, stay away from the windows and toss me down some pants.” He took a deep breath. “Please.”

  He spun away, marching toward the closet, revealing his beefy ass. “There’s a shotgun and ammo in the kitchen above the fridge, Breeze. Secure that area.”

  “I’m on it.” Breeze dropped the lunchmeat package aside and jerked her head toward the stairs at Beauty. “Move it. Get him some pants and avoid the windows.” She spun away and jerked open the cabinet that stored the weapon. “How many, Shadow? Are they armed?”

  “At least four, possibly more.” Shadow yanked open the closet and withdrew a duffle bag. “Officers are hunting them but that’s all we know.”

  Beauty rushed up the stairs. Her hands shook as she yanked open dresser drawers to find a pair of sweats and then darted out of Shadow’s room. “Here.” She tossed them over the balcony so they landed on the floor below.

  Shadow appeared in seconds, a handgun gripped in his fist. He tilted his head to look directly at her. “I want you inside the bathroom, curled into a ball in the tub. You’ll be safe from stray gunfire.”

  She wanted to protest. “I could fight with you if they come.”

  His horrified expression hurt. “No. Go where it is safe. Now, Beauty.”

  He put the gun on the table and bent to tug the sweatpants up his legs. Breeze appeared gripping the shotgun and paused by his side. A box of ammunition showed under her shirt where she’d stuffed it to keep her hands free to use the weapon.

  “The door in the kitchen is locked and I shoved the table in front of it. We’ll hear them if they attempt to enter the cabin that way.” She glanced at the front door. “Do you want to cover the front or the back?”

  “You take the front and I’ll take the back. Humans tend to be sneaky and think we’re stupid. They would choose to attack us from behind if their intent is to steal the Gift.”

  Shadow’s words stunned Beauty. “Why would they come for me?”

  Breeze glanced up, anger clear on her face. “You heard Shadow. Get inside that tub and stay down!”

  They think I’m useless. It stung as Beauty backed out of their sight but stayed close enough to hear their conversation.

  “Do you think they are really after her?” Breeze lowered her voice. “How would they know where to find her?”

  “There were meetings about us coming to Reservation, weren’t there?” He growled his words, obviously still furious. “Why else would they suddenly breach this area? It’s less protected than Homeland. Someone must know she’s here.”

  “I don’t know.” The shotgun pumped—a distinctive sound. “The humans really are curious about Species females. Justice and the council have purposely avoided our pictures being publicized by using victim laws to protect our privacy. They might just want to take pictures. Humans would know she couldn’t put up much of a fight. She’d be the perfect target in that case. They might also be after her for ransom if we do have another leak of information. Gifts are our weakest members and they think we’d pay the most for them.”

  Shadow hesitated. “The asshole who owned her wants her back. I know I’d do anything to retrieve her if she were taken from me. I made it my business to learn about him after I met Beauty. The few guards captured when she was rescued stated the human was obsessed with her. They feared death by him for allowing her to be taken.”

  “Son of a bitch,” Breeze snarled. “I didn’t think of that. He was one of the rich Mercile investors. He’d have the resources to send humans after her and he was never caught.”

  “It won’t happen,” he swore viciously. “No one is taking her from me.”

  Master. Beauty’s knees gave out and she sank to the carpet as memories assaulted her. He would do anything to get her back if he felt he could. Just the thought of returning to her old life made her feel sick to her stomach. She’d be locked back inside a dark basement, only being brought out when he wanted to dress her up like the doll he thought her to be. Guards would taunt her again, terrify her and attempt to starve her into submission.

  She wrapped her arms tightly around her waist, hugging hard as the chills hit. Worse, the men hired to come after her would have to kill Shadow and Breeze to be able to take her from Reservation. No way would either Species allow her to be returned to the monster who’d held her captive all her life as long as they were breathing. That bit of knowledge drove the terror back.

  It’s not happening. No! Anger surged as she climbed to her unsteady legs and entered Shadow’s room. He kept weapons there too. She wasn’t going back to that hell. Never again would she be forced to suffer the touch of a man she hated. No guards would call her cruel names while they tormented her with threats of rape and molestation. She’d rather die first.

  Shadow’s bag had at least six weapons of different sizes. She grabbed one of the smallest handguns, testing it in her hand. It was heavy and cold. It should have a safety. She located it, making sure it was off and kept the muzzle pointed away from her body. It wouldn’t do if she accidently shot herself.

  She crept toward the closed window and peeked outside at the woods. There was no movement except for signs that it was a little windy. For once she wished she had the extremely heightened Species sense of smell—primate wasn’t as keen as canine or feline.

  Her heart rate remained unsteady, part fear, part anger. Shadow and Breeze were in danger. No way would she curl up and hide in a metal tub while they fought, if it came down to it. They might think her useless but she didn’t agree. No one had ever really given her the chance to prove she wasn’t defenseless but she’d managed to attack Torrent.

  Time crawled as the occasional whisper could be heard from below. Breeze and Shadow talked too low for her to pick up the words but she tensed when one of them growled. It had to mean they’d seen or sensed something they didn’t like.

  “Fuck,” Breeze said louder. “Tree trunks don’t move but that’s what I just saw. They are wearing expensive camouflage clothing. I’ve got motion in two locations.”

  “Three on this side,” Shadow snarled. “There are more than four.”

  “I’m calling it in on my cell phone.” There was a pause. “I have no signal.”

  “There should be.”

  Beauty had to agree. She’d called Breeze from her cell phone without trouble.

  “They must have taken out the antenna that boosts the signal this far out.” Breeze’s voice deepened in rage. “Do you have a satellite phone? They can’t stop us from using one of those.”

  “It’s upstairs.”

  “I’m on it,” Beauty called out, happy to do something.

  “I told you to get inside the tub,” Shadow snarled loudly.

  She ignored him to stride to the dresser. She’d seen one of the phones in the top drawer and pulled it out. It took her a few seconds to figure out how to turn it on. The Reservation number was programmed into the memory. She couldn’t get a signal.

  “Oh no. It doesn’t work.”

  “Bring it down,” Breeze snapped, her hearing keen.

  “No,” Shadow protested. “Stay up there where it is safer.”

  “We need help.” Breeze’s tone lowered. “They are approaching slow
ly but I see them. Bring it to me, Beauty. Hurry.”

  Beauty put the gun down in case they got angry at her for having one and rushed downstairs. She handed the phone to the Species. Breeze rested the shotgun against her chest, cradled in one arm, and tried to use it. A shocked expression paled her features.

  “This can’t be happening,” she whispered. “No signal is registering. How is that possible? We were assured these would work no matter what.”

  “They must be jamming the entire area.” Shadow growled. “These aren’t typical humans.”

  “What does that mean?” Beauty glanced between them.

  “The task force had jamming equipment that could choke all airways.” He looked grim. “Military grade and it’s not cheap or easy to come by.”

  “Do you think they are members of your team?” Breeze paled. “Would they betray us this way?”

  Shadow shook his head. “No. It’s not the task force out there. I’m just saying, if they got their hands on that equipment, then they aren’t a standard group of humans. They have money and contacts.” His gaze slid to Beauty. “Get upstairs.”

  “You think Master sent them after me?”

  He growled. “I told you to stop calling him that.”

  “That’s what you think, isn’t it?”

  He nodded sharply. “He is rich and could hire the best mercenaries. Go upstairs.”

  “Where are our males? Where is Torrent? He’s supposed to be hunting them.” Breeze passed the phone back. “Do as he says, Beauty. Stay in the tub. I’m sure they are armed. The gunfire will at least draw some of the residents here if they don’t pick up the scent of humans on the wind first.”

  “Two more,” Shadow growled. “That’s seven in all unless you have spotted more.”

  “Eight,” Breeze hissed. “One is in the trees. I just saw a glint reflect off something. He’s probably using binoculars to check us out.” She hugged the wall tighter, trying to hide. “We’re greatly outnumbered.” She released the shotgun with one hand and used her knuckle to tap the wall. “Not good. Bullets are going to slice right through the wood. This is one of the original cabins that was already here, not the better-quality ones we built.”

  “We have to assume the worst.” Shadow spoke calmly but he looked furious. “There are more of them than Torrent knew of. Security wasn’t aware of it either or they would have given him more accurate information.”

  “You want to assume Torrent and the officers in this area are dead?” Breeze grimly met his gaze.

  “Yes.”

  “We would have heard it if they shot our males. They couldn’t take out a Species in a hand-to-hand fight. They are human.”

  “Silencers.” Shadow looked out the window. “We wouldn’t have heard anything either if they have snipers taking them out from a distance. Our males wouldn’t have even spotted them until it was too late. They could fire before their scents were picked up.”

  Breeze paled but focused her attention out the window too. “What do we do?”

  “Beauty? Get upstairs.” Shadow sounded calm when he spoke.

  She hesitated, watching them. Fear and dread raged inside her. Her friend and the man she loved were in danger because her of her past. Shadow had admitted they were outnumbered and she had spotted fear lurking in Breeze’s eyes before she’d looked away. She was the most fearless woman she knew.

  “I could go out there and surrender to them.”

  Shadow’s head whipped in her direction and his gaze filled with fury. “What?”

  “They’ll leave with me. Both of you will be safe.” It was a sacrifice she was willing to make. She held Shadow’s gaze. “You’ll find me again with the task force. I know you will. You have to live to be able to do that. Master won’t kill me. He obviously wants me back pretty bad to hire those men.” She hugged her waist. “I can’t let you die.”

  He snarled. “Get upstairs. Don’t call that bastard ‘Master’ again and no way will I allow you to be returned to him.”

  At one time she would have run from his harsh tone but she knew Shadow now. Beauty held her ground and kept eye contact with him. “It makes sense. You’ll die trying to protect me but they’ll still retrieve me in the end. This is the only way to avoid that.” She glanced at Breeze. “Tell him I’m right. You both need to survive. Those men out there need me alive to get paid. I know the man who used to own me.” She carefully avoided his name. “He just wants me back. The task force will find me the way they did before.”

  Breeze’s mouth opened then closed. Tears filled her eyes but she blinked them back. “What makes you think we’ll lose? I’m so proud of you right now for being brave enough to offer your life for ours but it’s not happening.” Her features tensed. “Now get your ass upstairs and in that bathtub. We’re Species. We fight. No way are we just sending you out there to be returned to a prison.”

  Beauty’s shoulders slumped in defeat. “You know I’m right.”

  “We’re stubborn by nature.” Breeze suddenly grinned. “And we love a good fight.”

  “Get upstairs,” Shadow ordered.

  She met his gaze. He was still enraged. No amount of talking would change their minds.

  “Do it before I tie you up and put you there,” he rasped. “I’ll do anything to protect you, even that.”

  She spun and jogged up the stairs. The handgun felt a little better in her hand when she retrieved it from the dresser top. The safety was off and she entered the bathroom. One glance at the bathtub made her turn and go into her bedroom instead. She peeked out the window, looking for signs of the men Master must have sent after her.

  She was Species and she’d fight too.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Shadow fumed. Beauty had dared offer to give herself up to those humans to be returned to the male who had abused her. The idea was insulting and outrageous.

  “Calm,” Breeze whispered. “I’m almost choking on the scent of your rage from across the room.”

  He didn’t spare her a glance. “She was willing to give up.”

  “I heard.” She sighed. “It was sweet.”

  He growled. He’d rather face an army of heavily armed humans than allow Beauty to be captured.

  “Her heart was in the right place.”

  “No, it wasn’t.” Her heart belonged with him.

  “Damn, Shadow. Give her a break. She’s putting us before herself. Do you really think she misses the bastard who held her captive? I was there when she was brought to us. There’s no way she wants to go back. It proves how much we matter to her.”

  His temper cooled slightly. “They are holding their positions. What are they waiting for?”

  “I don’t know but it beats them opening fire on us.”

  “They don’t want to risk shooting Beauty if that’s who they are after. That’s why I wanted her in the tub. It might help hide her if they can look for heat signatures. It depends on what they are using. Her size is going to make it easy for them to distinguish her from us if they can see through the walls.”

  “Like in the movies?”

  “Yes.”

  “Working with the task force taught you a lot.”

  He didn’t deny it. The technology the task force had at its disposal was impressive. “How many Wild Zone residents are out here?”

  “About forty in all.” Breeze paused. “They were specifically told not to venture into this area but I’m hoping the stench of human intruders prompts them to ignore the order.”

  “Me too.” A little help would be good but it might just get some of them killed. He didn’t want that. “I wonder what is going on at the gates. Maybe they launched another attack there to keep Security busy.”

  “Another attack?”

  He grimaced, realizing he hadn’t filled her in on all the information. He told Breeze about Moon being tranquilized. “It had to be a diversion.”

  “A good one,” she agreed. “We’re screwed. Security would have ordered all available officers t
o the gates to assist there. General protocol is to take all the officers assigned to ground patrol to the hot spot while the ones on the walls keep their posts. They wouldn’t dare leave their positions for fear of a wall breach. Somehow the humans got past them.”

  “It’s not over.” He refused to lose hope. “There are eight of them but humans are weak. We have a chance.”

  “Not a good one,” she whispered. “What the hell though, right? It’s a beautiful day to kill some bad humans. Some of them are going out with me. I figure I’m on borrowed time anyway.” She paused, her voice lowering. “I always figured I’d die at Mercile.”

  Shadow hoped the mercenaries would decide it was too risky to rush the cabin. Time wasn’t in their favor. The longer they were on NSO land, the less chance they had of fulfilling their mission. Species officers would eventually swarm the area.

  Movement drew him from his musings. Part of a tree trunk separated and took on a human shape. It lunged forward to another tree.

  “They are coming.”

  “I was about to tell you that. Two of them just darted closer.”

  “Don’t shoot until you’re sure you have a target. There’s open space between the cabin and the woods. They’ll be exposed when they attempt to reach us.”

  Breeze took an unsteady breath. “I guess I should tell you that I’m not a really good shot. I’m better at fighting with my hands but I’ve passed my training. I won’t shoot my own foot.”

  He clenched his teeth. “Shoot them in the feet instead. It will slow them down.”

  “I can do that.”

  “Avoid chest shots. They’ll be wearing vests. Target their legs or heads. Just get off as many shots as you can.”

  “Got it.” Determination sounded in Breeze’s voice.

  Shadow took a deep breath, tracking the movements in the woods around them. One human darted closer and he almost reached where the trees had been cut back from the cabin. He was close enough that the black markings of paint on his face were visible. These were definitely not typical humans. Skilled mercenaries.