Tiger's Strength

by Kimberly A Rogers

  “Look out!”

  I wasn’t certain who had shouted, but it was too late. The Vampyre with lank brown hair was already on top of Madoc. A fiendish smile pulled at his thin lips, revealing bloodied fangs, as he swung his clenched fists into Madoc’s right back leg. The audible snap of bone was nearly buried beneath Madoc’s anguished roar.

  I charged despite a lack of stakes, but I wasn’t quite fast enough. The Vampyre, Ivar, broke Madoc’s other back leg sending him to the floor. I tackled the Vampyre away from him. Ivar pulled free, not caring at all that my claws raked long furrows down his arms, slicing through the thin material of his shirt and drawing sluggish blackened blood to the surface. He smelled . . . rotten. Like a carcass that had nearly decomposed. He struck at me, jagged fingernails scraping through my fur, but I managed to pull back before he could open a wound. Baring my own fangs, I circled him. I needed an opening.

  ΘΘΘΘΘΘ

  Raina

  ‘Come to me. Surrender. My bite is sweet.’

  I glared at the curly haired Vampyre. “Get out of my head,” I growled as I lowered my head and flattened my ears against my skull. My tail lashed in irritation as I watched the female saunter closer.

  I backed up warily as she sauntered closer, hand outstretched. There was something sinister in the lyrical way she spoke, no, she was almost singing. “Come now. Don’t be shy. Why fight? Why?”

  I couldn’t see her ears but there was something about her, the faint hint of greenish undertone to her pale skin. And, the lyrical voice. My hackles rose, and I spit a hiss. “You were a Banshee!” One of the few members of the Unseelie Court of old who had always been able to walk among humans and even made themselves valuable among the Seelie Court. Their voices were their greatest weapons.

  She gave me a sharp smile and opened her mouth.

  My breath caught in my chest. I couldn’t let her sing. If she hadn’t lost the Banshee signature gift, she could easily incapacitate us all. My back paw nudged against a canvas bag.

  I didn’t dare glance at it even as a plan started forming. It would be risky but . . . I didn’t have any other options. I backed up a little further, making a show of shaking my head and muttering under my breath about not listening. The Banshee turned Vampyre seemed to lose interest in singing as I felt her hunger sharpen. Good girl. That’s it. Just keep believing you actually have me ensnared.

  She rushed at me just as my front right paw nudged the canvas bag. I shifted into my mortal form and grabbed a vial out of the bag. She screeched, the sound ringing out painfully enough that I couldn’t help a shriek of my own, as the holy water burned the exposed skin of her face and neck. I felt something trickling out of my ear, but ignored it as I snatched up a stake and lunged forward. I stabbed her in the heart, and then wrenched her head around to break her neck.

  As she collapsed, I grabbed another stake and staggered toward Constantine. He saw me coming and twisted. The action forced the Vampyre to expose his back and I rammed the stake through his ribs, aiming for the heart.

  Constantine’s opponent fell to the floor, and he jumped over the body to reach me. His lips were moving, but I couldn’t hear anything over the obnoxious ringing in my ears. Looking over his shoulder, I realized Baran was still fighting one Vampyre while Roderick fought another. Then, two more Vampyres lunged at Baran’s back.

  I tripped and fell as my balance was thrown off in my attempt to dash forward. Constantine grabbed me, but I was too focused on Baran. Madoc was in mortal form as he knocked Baran to the left. The closest Vampyre’s fangs sank into the meat of his shoulder.

  Constantine hurled a vial of holy water at the second Vampyre. It broke on contact, and the Vampyre pulled back . . . mouth opening in a clear shriek as the water burned his skin. I could barely hear him above the ringing in my ears. I lurched forward grabbing up more stakes.

  Baran wrestled the Vampyre he had been fighting away from Madoc’s limp body while Constantine threw another vial of holy water at Madoc’s attacker. Then, he caught the stake I tossed him and used it to end the creature’s miserable existence. Sheer stubbornness carried me to them. I forced Baran’s name past my lips even though I could only sense the vibrations of my call. I tossed him a stake before turning my attention to the Vampyre still writhing on the ground, clawing at his burned skin. I gave a wordless shout of rage as I took the last stake in both hands and slammed it into the Vampyre’s chest.

  Baran’s opponent dropped, throat gaping an ugly wound that bubbled brackish blood. And, then, the TDS finished the Vampyre off with a stake through the heart. I staggered, panting, as I looked around the room. Eight Vampyres were strewn about the floor. Madoc and Venetia were lying immobile and unconscious. Roderick was leaning against the side of the fire pit with blood covering his shirt.

  I stumbled again as the ringing in my ears continued and then finally sank to the ground, dropping my head. It was over. And, we were actually still alive.

  ΘΘΘΘΘΘ

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Raina

  I walked outside and nearly gagged at the scent of burning garbage. In spite of the vertigo and nausea plaguing me due to my burst eardrums, I persisted in joining Baran and Constantine where they stood in the large backyard. Baran scowled at my appearance, but I happily ignored that as I walked up to him. Leaning against him, I turned my attention to the reeves who were tossing the last of the Vampyres onto the massive bonfire they had built under the Emperor’s supervision. Other reeves and military personnel were swarming through the woods hunting for any other Vampyres.

  One of the military officers stomped over to us and snapped a salute. The scent of Ursa was strong in the air even though he currently maintained his mortal form. Grizzly if I had to guess at his specific branch. He spoke in a low gravelly voice as he glanced over at Constantine and me before focusing on Baran. “General Baran, I am Commandant Osborn. General Carter sent me ahead with reinforcements when we received word of the distress call put out by Magistrate Roderick Frost late yesterday. The bodies have been destroyed, but my men have found a cave containing the drained bodies of both Therians, including several Elf-born, and transient humans. They are being transported to the morgue that serves the Therian community as we speak.”

  Baran gave a curt nod. “Very good. What of the mechanics to repair our vehicles?”

  “They will be here before sundown, sir.” The commandant’s gaze flicked to me and he sniffed before rumbling, “Should I ask the Elves to send one of their own healers?”

  “No, one of the medics accompanying you will suffice. Continue with your duties, Commandant.”

  After Commandant Osborn saluted and marched off to bark more orders at his people, Baran glanced down at me. “Why haven’t you seen a medic?”

  “Venetia, Madoc, and even Roderick needed their attention more.” I glared rather pointedly at his bloodied wrists and added, “You need their attention too.”

  “Raina, you faced a corrupted Banshee and she was able to shatter your eardrums. You couldn’t hear anything six hours ago.”

  I shrugged, but didn’t admit that I was still having difficulty hearing anyone who wasn’t a rumbling baritone or bass (so basically anyone not Baran or the Ursa). “I’ll let the medics help me if you agree to get those bites disinfected and wrapped. Vampyre wounds may not turn septic like those inflicted by a Wendigo, but they still need to be cleaned.”

  Baran nodded. “Come on. Before you keel over.”

  The ringing in my ears and vertigo were coming back with a vengeance so I didn’t bother to protest his description. I certainly felt like I was going to keel over at any second. Holidays with in-laws were a lot harder than I ever imagined.

  ΘΘΘΘΘΘ

  Baran

  I paced around the SUV while one of the mechanics Osborn found yesterday stood nervously to one side. “Safe to drive long distances?”

  The Dhole gave a nervous little yip before she dipped her head. “Yes, General. Replaced the s
park plugs and the brake lines, and triple checked the steering myself. The vehicle is completely sound. You shouldn’t have any trouble even if you decided to drive to Florida.”

  “Good.” I nodded to her. “Thank you.”

  She snapped a quick salute. “Welcome, Sir.”

  Ready to leave Maine far behind, I hurried back inside the lodge. The bags were still packed and Raina’s convalescence was progressing well. In the two days since the attack, she had been alternating between sleeping and eating to encourage her healing along faster. My own wrists were nearly fully healed. Madoc had regained consciousness yesterday although his broken legs were still in the process of mending. Only Venetia remained comatose due to the severity of her blood loss.

  I passed several reeves and military personnel in the main area of the lodge as they studied the map for the continued grid search. Carter had yet to arrive, but his instructions were clear. The search would not be disbanded until we were certain we had hunted the last of the Vampyre clutches down.

  My foot had only just settled on the bottom of the stair case when Roderick called to me. Despite my innate reluctance to interact with him, I went to him rather than forcing a conversation in the open. I followed him into the family wing until he opened the door to a sitting room that smelled strongly of both his and Venetia’s scents. I hesitated and he quietly said, “Venetia is awake and she is asking for you. Since you are still here, I had hoped you would see her.”

  Years of ill feelings, of anger over her betrayal, struck me with such strength that I almost staggered. I almost walked away. But then the edicts of respecting one’s parents and obeying when it did not contradict the Way whispered through my mind. That alone made me grit my teeth and step over the threshold. Roderick did not follow and closed the door behind me.

  Moving slowly, I opened the bedroom door and stepped inside. Everything was silver and white. The same cool colors I remembered Venetia had decorated rooms she used with when I was a cub. It was . . . suiting for her. Venetia lay in bed propped against pillows. Her face had been turned away from the door when I stepped in, then she looked over at me. She still looked deathly pale and her face was gaunt, while the bones in her hands and arms seemed to stand out far more than usual even with the bandages wrapped around her wrists and the base of her neck. “Baran,” her voice was cool and steady as I approached.

  “I am glad to see you are recovering,” I replied.

  She sniffed, but said nothing at first. Then she tsked. “You have married the most impudent Therian alive.” I opened my mouth to defend my mate, but stopped when Venetia raised her fingers. “However, I am forced to admit that Raina is . . . good for you. Though the Creator alone knows why that is. It makes no sense at all to me.”

  “Raina is . . . a very unique woman,” I responded carefully.

  Venetia closed her eyes and drew a deep breath before opening them once more. She looked more at my chin than my eyes as she stated softly, “I wish to apologize for Celeste. Her behavior . . . I did not know that she meant to play at being a trollop. That was not why I brought her here.”

  “No. You merely brought her here to aid you in your quest to end my marriage.”

  Venetia grimaced. “Yes, that is true. I thought . . . When I discovered your marriage was one of those brokered peace marriages I was appalled. When I learned who they had chosen for you, I was certain that it was one of unhappiness. Her reputation paints her so differently from you and it is an accurate one. I was angry that you decided to marry an Elf-born and one who wasn’t even a Tiger. However . . . I was wrong. Raina . . .”

  A wry smile twisted her pale lips as she gave a rueful laugh. “She dared to face me and chew me out for being a terrible mother to you. She was so angry that I would attempt to separate the two of you and it wasn’t even her wounded pride. She was angry with me for your sake. I am glad she cares for you. However . . . However, I cannot help thinking that if I had handled things differently, handled you differently, then you would not have felt so compelled to desert the thought of love and making your own choice of mate by allowing a committee to select your future bride.”

  I remained silent for a long moment. Venetia had impacted my choices and yet . . . I shrugged. “What was damaging was still used for good. Had I acted differently, chosen differently, then I never would have married Raina. Creator knows I need her.”

  Venetia looked skeptical, but she slowly nodded rather than arguing. “I know you are to leave soon.”

  “Within the hour,” I confirmed.

  “Then, I bid you farewell.”

  I surprised myself by taking her hand in mine as I gazed down at her. “May the Creator grant you swift healing . . . Mother.” I hesitated half a breath before adding gruffly, “We will likely be required to endure seeing each other more often because Raina has these ideas about how often families should get together. She will likely insist on visiting again . . . if we are welcome.”

  Venetia squeezed my hand. “I will welcome you both.”

  Uncertain of how to feel at her change of heart, I merely bowed my head before taking my leave. Roderick gave me a grateful smile as he carried a tray of fresh broth that smelled of venison into the room. I hurried down the hall only to pause as I caught Madoc’s scent. Against my growing urge to escape, I forced myself to walk into Madoc’s room. The door was open and a medic was checking Madoc’s legs. Despite her youth and relatively pretty features, my brother wasn’t flirting. I glanced at his face again to be sure he was conscious. He was. Perhaps his injuries were more severe than I had been told.

  I cleared my throat as the medic looked up. She smiled. “General, your brother’s bones are healing nicely now he’s been able to eat more. It may take the full week for them to finish mending, but I don’t anticipate any complications.” She pulled the bedding up to his waist and nodded to us both. “I’ll let you two talk while I fetch your next meal, Madoc.”

  “Thank you,” he called after her. When she was gone, he turned wary eyes on me. “Am I to be arrested?”

  “No. You were a victim of poor friends. Not particularly wise, but not against the edicts.” I tapped my fingers against my thigh before I added gruffly, “I wanted to clarify something. You’re an idiot. Have been for a long time. However, I realize that I have been hard on you, maybe too much so, and that contributed to some of your poor decisions. But, Madoc, I was hard on you because I saw your potential. It was beyond frustrating to watch you act with recklessness when you could be better.”

  Madoc stared at me as though shocked I wasn’t chewing him out. His brow furrowed. “You’re the paragon of the Therian Way. Always perfect, always doing what’s required of you. I thought you hated me.”

  I shook my head. “No. I don’t hate you. You are my brother, and I care for you even when you act like an idiot. What I would like to see is you making something more out of yourself than a restless rebel without a cause.”

  Madoc’s expression fell as he muttered, “I will never be a good soldier.”

  I chuckled. “You would have to be willing to take orders. No, you would be about as good a soldier as Raina. Utter chaos would plague the ranks with you two.”

  “I quite agree,” Raina chirped with far too much cheerfulness as she sauntered into the room, hands stuck in her coat pockets. She grinned at me and then at Madoc as she drew out a card with the Tracker emblem of a paw inside a laurel wreath on one side. She had scribbled something on the other side, but I only caught a glimpse as she set it on Madoc’s bedside table. “My number as well as that of a very good friend of mine who happens to be a recruiter for us wild and undisciplined Trackers. If you ever decide to join, call Hondo. He’ll get you sorted.”

  Madoc stared at her in surprise before picking up the card. “Thanks. You’re not so bad for a Leopard.”

  Raina grinned, then her attention was drawn to the far corner of the room. “Are those troll tusks? Cool! I always wanted to get a set but my brothers sat on me when I tried
in my rebellious teens to sneak into the Barrier.”

  I frowned at her while Madoc had the grace to flush. Neither of us cared for the reminder of the events that led to his acquisition of those tusks. Raina ignored us both as she smiled up at me. “Bags are in the car, TDS. You can drive.”

  “You aren’t allowed to drive right now,” I reminded her. “Why are you so cheerful?”

  Raina’s grin grew as she giggled. “Constantine is in trouble with Ama. She’s yelling at him right now and blaming him for us running into Vampyres over Thanksgiving because he bailed on our plans. It’s always great when Ama is yelling at someone else.”

  I shook my head at her, but Madoc finally cracked a smile. Raina beamed at him. “Next time we’re taking pictures with those tusks. It will annoy my older brothers so much. Take care of yourself, Madoc.” She turned back to me and patted my arm. “Hurry up, TDS, we have places to go.”

  As Raina sashayed out of the room, I turned my attention back to my younger brother. I put out my hand. When he took it, I gave his hand a firm shake. “Stay out of trouble, Madoc.”

  “What do you think about me joining the Trackers?”

  I didn’t hesitate at all in my response. “They would be a good fit for you.”

  ΘΘΘΘΘΘ

  She stood beside him, feeling his fury roll off him in hot waves that made her beast yearn to hide, as they both watched the television screen. The video had been playing all day. Senator Ulysses Hewett Cunningham lunging toward a young pregnant Elf who had just been kissed goodbye by her husband. His security team and several Elves prying him away while others held back the husband, preventing him from shifting to defend his mate before the video cut off.

  A reporter’s image appeared as the video shrank and moved to the upper right hand corner of the screen. He was one of theirs, a Vulpine, but he hid his true feelings well as he spoke. “Senator Cunningham’s attack on an Elven mother-to-be the morning after Thanksgiving is being pronounced by his staff as a nervous breakdown, but his party as well as President Grey Wolf and Vice President Carroll are denouncing him for revealing his true prejudices in a despicable act. The latest reports have confirmed that the Senate has not only cancelled the special vote on the registration act but also shelved the bill. In addition, Senator Cunningham has officially announced his resignation. The now former senator will face criminal charges for the attack.”