by Heather Karn
"We'll drive until we reach home," Raven announced, his hands white knuckled on the steering wheel. "Tomorrow, Koda and I will head in to visit Connor."
"Connor?" I asked, not sure who he was speaking about.
"Connor Davis."
"The general?"
"The very same."
I shrugged. "I guess I didn't realize the two of you were on a first name basis, well, you with him."
"He's a good friend." Relaxing into the seat, Raven took a hand off the wheel and wrapped it around one of mine. "He and I met in a similar situation as how you met him."
"That's nice," Luella quipped. "That still doesn't explain what we're going to do with the stowaways. Where exactly are they going to stay? Are they even allowed to stay with us?"
Legion grunted. "I didn't think that far ahead..."
"Me either," Tanner murmured. "Is it always so bright out?"
Luella snorted and turned back to him. "Boy, this is dark compared to the middle of the day." Tanner's moan sounded a lot like mine when I'd realized what pain I'd been in store for the day following the night I drank blood for the first time.
"Your eyes will adjust," Raven offered to the vamlure, although he wore a wry smile and winked at me. "Just ask Koda for confirmation."
"It's torture, but you'll live," I laughed, remembering my first couple of days after my First Blood. "We'll buy you a few pairs of sunglasses."
"So they are staying with us?" Luella prodded, bringing us back to her original question.
"For now." Raven tapped the steering wheel with the fingers of his hand still holding it. "We'll have to figure out better accommodations later, but for now, our mansion will serve as their home." He squeezed my hand, further gaining my attention. "We haven't had much of a chance to discuss your new position, so we might as well do that now. First, your main goal is the safety and well-being of your House. That includes making sure there is shelter and food for them, and all basic necessities are met."
"Like blood," I added, to which Raven nodded.
"I have some extra vials at the mansion we can give them when we arrive, and we can arrange through our donators to retrieve a few more vials earlier than their scheduled donation slots."
"Wait." I held up a hand and took a steadying breath. "Are you saying that the vamlure in the back seat are part of my House now?"
"We left with you," Kindee announced. "We changed allegiances."
"I don't understand," I told Raven, squeezing his hand. "I thought you could only switch to a House that was your Second Lineage."
"It's not the rule, but it's nearly always the case for switching Houses. Most times Houses are changed when allegiances change. When someone switches to their Second Lineage, it's easy. For those who wish to change and have no connection to the House, the process is a bit different, and there are stipulations set in place.
"First, they have to give you an oath of loyalty, and they are not allowed to change houses again for another five years. No other House will take them if they try to change before that time frame. However, most never switch to another House after choosing one for themselves.
"Second, the new House must accept them. They can't join your House unless you want them to. It's your decision, and not one to be taken lightly."
"You're saying I should wait?"
"I'm saying you need to be certain of their motives and be prepared for a fall out with their former Houses. We may have been at peace long ago, but that peace has always been tenuous, thus the combined festivals were put in place to form friendships between Houses."
Grimacing, I peered over at Raven. "Did I just make it worse?"
"They did by trying to keep you there against your will. That is against all that the Houses stand for and the morals they were built upon. You were in the right to leave, and if those with us came willingly, then it was also their right."
"How long is it going to take to get home?" Shannon sighed, her eyelids drooping. I didn't blame her. After running almost full out for the last several hours, I didn't have much energy either, physical or mental.
Raven sighed and glanced at the clock. "We should be home around dawn."
My snort had him arching an eyebrow. "Are you serious? You want us to meet with General Davis tomorrow morning after we drove all night?"
"Yes. We don't have time to waste-."
"But we had plenty to spend down there."
"I had my reasons," Raven stated firmly, and I choked on my response. Captain Raven was back, not the man who could be considered my boyfriend. He must've felt me tense under his hand because he squeezed it lightly and softened his voice. "This is personal, Koda. For both of us. That monster killed your family, but he also orchestrated one of the largest terror attacks since the Great Reveal. If he's still out there and he's had ten years to conjure a new plan, it terrifies me what he might've come up with in that time. If you saw St. Louis fall, you'd understand."
"But I did," I argued, but he shook his head.
"You weren't standing in the middle of it, or any of the attacks leading up to it. There isn't time to waste. Not one nanosecond. Sleep on the way back home."
"Raven-."
"I'll stay awake with him," Luella announced. "It's not like those of us here in the back will be getting much sleep. These boys may be comfortable, but Raven's driving leaves something to be desired."
He chuckled at her comment and squeezed my hand again. "Sleep, Koda. You're going to need it."
"And you aren't?"
"I'll be fine. After another vial of blood when we reach the mansion, I'll be all set. My body is accustomed to this where yours isn't yet."
Shannon nudged me and patted her shoulder. "You can use me as a pillow if you want."
"Don't take this the wrong way, but you're a little too short. I'll end up with a kink in my neck." Grinning, I turned to Raven. "Can I borrow your shoulder?"
"Please don't," Luella grumbled. "We don't need him to be distracted."
"Use my shoulder," Raven rebutted, flashing Luella a grin in the rear-view mirror. "I could use the distraction."
Grinning to myself, I set my head on his shoulder. Though it wasn't comfortable at all, I forced my body to relax, and before I knew it, my mind was starting to drift off. Avery set his head in my lap, and while I nodded off, I couldn't help but feel the sorriest for Jackson, who was still being crushed by the snow leopard, but who remained stoically silent throughout the ordeal. Maybe I shouldn't be complaining about driving all the way through. It would get us out of the truck sooner without having to re-cram inside.
The world was just slipping away when Raven yelled a warning, threw his arm across my torso, and slammed the brakes so hard I went flying forward toward the dash even with his arm holding me back.
Chapter 18
"What was that?" Shannon shrieked before anyone could think to ask what was going on.
"No idea, but I'm not staying to find out." I'd never heard Raven sound anything but collected, even when he was angry. Whatever they'd seen had disturbed him, and I could almost feel his racing heart through the arm still holding me back. It was like he wasn't even aware it was still lying across my chest as he pressed the accelerator to the floor.
"Mind explaining," Luella moaned from the back while holding her nose. Apparently Tanner hadn't been holding her tight or hadn't had the chance to grab her like Raven had me because her face had smacked into Shannon's headrest.
"Something's out there," Shannon murmured, her voice shaking. "It's large and ran out in front of us like a deer would, but it was no deer."
"And not a shifter," Raven concluded. "They wouldn't risk their life like that."
"Some are known to play chicken," Lee spoke up, but Raven was already shaking his head.
"I understand that some shifters like to dart out in front of cars, but this was different. It felt different. Everyone just hold on, sit tight, and if you have a weapon on you, keep it close and at the ready. Avery, do you think you c
ould climb to the back and have enough space to fight so Jackson can handle the front?"
If it was any other time, I was certain Avery would've shaken his head and stayed put. His feline apologetic stare proceeded him climbing onto my lap so he could survey the seating behind us. He grunted before his shoulders sagged. There wasn't much room, but even I could feel the waves of tension rolling off Raven, and even Shannon. With that in mind, Avery used a fair amount of caution to climb over the seat without using his claws, and he laid down on the laps of those in the back, with his head and fore paws resting on Kindee's lap where she still sat on Lee.
Jackson wasted no time rising from the floor and hopping up on me and Shannon, his hackles raised as he stared out the window closest to her. Raven finally noticed where his hand was laid across me and lowered it to squeeze my hand and returned it to the wheel. Taking a deep breath, I tried to focus on what Shannon and Raven had said, hoping to find some details I could use to figure out what was out there.
"How big?" I asked them. "What color?"
"Size of a large deer, dog shaped, black fur, or I think it was black. It was hard to tell in the dim lighting," Shannon squeaked, her voice still trembling. She'd taken to worrying the fur at Jackson's neck, and one of his ears.
My brain flipped through the images and pages of the dog section of our supernatural creatures textbook from this year. One by one, I tossed the options aside until I landed on two that were even the slightest bit plausible. Only one detail could help me with the final determination.
"Did its eyes glow?"
Raven shook his head right away. "No. You're thinking Hellhound. I can promise you it wasn't one of those beasts. It wouldn't have jumped out in front of us. If anything, half the truck would be a mangled heap if it was one of those creatures."
"I was hoping you'd say that," I confessed, my muscles easing. "It's likely a Freybug."
"A what?" Luella squawked. "What the heck is that?"
"A dog-like creature who loves to terrify travelers, mostly on back roads and in forests. It doesn't hurt most people, but they love to give you a heart attack."
"Well, it did," Raven grumbled. "But, I suppose that could be the creature. I don't know anything about them to verify that theory. Are they used for tracking?"
"Nope. Not that I know of, anyway. They like to terrify unsuspecting victims. That's about it."
Growling, Raven glared out the windshield. "Remind me if we see one of those things again to chase after it and give it a piece of my mind."
"So, we're assuming that's the creature?" Lee asked from where he sat behind Raven.
"We don't assume anything," Raven warned.
"Okay, so we're hoping that's the creature?" my brother corrected his statement.
"Yeah, we're hoping." Raven sounded less than convinced with his dry reply, but I didn't let it rub me the wrong way. The fact he trusted my idea to even be partially right was a miracle. "Actually, someone I know might have an answer."
Raven flipped through the contacts of his burn phone and when he chose one, the phone started ringing through the truck's Bluetooth. When it kept ringing, I wasn't certain whoever he'd called would answer, so when a female voice responded, I was relieved.
"Hey, Rave, what's up?"
Raven smirked at the nickname while I tried to keep from bristling with an unknown jealousy. "Hello, Kate. I have a random question for you."
"Okay, ask away. You never call unless it's something important, so I'm dying to know what you need to ask me."
"Do you have any Freybug in your area?"
Kate's chuckle was light and airy, and from her tone of voice, I guessed she had to be about Raven’s age. "Yeah, we had one move into the area about a month ago. He hasn't been much trouble, but we have received some complaints about him. Why? Did you see him?"
Rubbing his jaw, Raven's muscles visibly relaxed the tiniest fraction. "I think we did."
"He jumped out in front of your car?"
"Yes, Ma'am."
"Then yes, that's him. We think he's searching for a female, but we can't say for certain. We have a scientist on the team who's trying to study him, but the Freybug avoids him. It's like a game or something. There's so much we don't know about the creatures, but they have quite the personalities."
"So we noticed. Okay, thanks, Kate. I appreciate the information."
She chuckled again. "Any time. Call whenever you're in the area and come stop by for lunch. We haven't caught up in a while, and being out here, I'm all out of touch on the local gossip back in the city with Davis."
With a snort, Raven shook his head. "You know how much gossip I'm interested in spreading."
"Yeah, yeah, yeah. The only gossip you spread is the uninteresting kind: who killed what. Well, before you come visit, do me a favor and find out one juicy morsel I can squeeze out of you."
"Talk to you later, Kate," Raven laughed before ending the call and turning serious again. "Well, Koda's memory pays off again." He flashed a smile at me that sent a wave of excitement all the way to my toes.
"So we can relax, then?" Luella asked, her voice giving away the tension everyone was still feeling.
"I think so. I won't say to stop being cautious until we reach the mansion, but I think if the shifters want to return to their former position, it should be safe for them to do so."
That remark was met with mutiny by Jacks and Avery, and complaints from the back seat when Avery refused to move. Luella tried to push him away, but there was nowhere for him to go. With no room in front of their legs for him to lay, and our seat backs keeping him from being pushed to the front seat, they were forced to deal with him sitting on their laps for the next several hours. After the last time I tried to sleep, and the disaster I'd woken up to, I wasn't willing to try to sleep again. Because of that, Raven relented and announced we'd sleep for a few hours at the mansion, and then visit General Davis.
In fact, no one slept the rest of the drive to the mansion. For those sitting on others, it was too uncomfortable, as well as those who were being sat on. After the Freybug scare, I couldn't help but keep a steady watch out the window. If Gerald was right, some unknown man was searching for me, for my people, and making plans to rule the world. Back on the surface, we were exposed. Even Raven's tight hold on my hand did little to comfort me.
To ease my tension, I asked the one question on my mind. “So, who’s Kate?”
Snorting, Raven shook his head, a large smile on his face. “She’s a fellow Elite.”
“That’s it?”
He shrugged. “To me, although Avery thinks she’s a hottie.”
The snow leopard snarled, and a warning rumbled in his throat. It definitely wasn’t a sound of agreement. More like the sound of a man warning his friend to back off. Although the two were close, and Raven was Avery’s team leader, I wouldn’t have put it past the two to have a friendly, or even less friendly, fist fight over one of them spilling a sensitive secret. Since Avery continued to grumble, but otherwise stayed still, this information was pretty much common knowledge. Maybe not for those in the truck, but someone other than Raven knew.
“That doesn’t explain who she is,” I clarified, and Raven shrugged.
“There’s a science lab about twenty miles east of here. They’re also one of the dozen or so historical bunkers. They house both scientists and historians who are trying to piece together the facts and myths of each race. About five years back, I was asked to go visit the Fourth Bunker and have a conversation with one of the historians. That’s where I met Kate. My team at the time came with me, and we each gave information, although they were most concerned with me. I refused to give them venom or blood, but I didn’t mind spilling all I knew about our history.”
“So, Kate’s a scientist or historian?” I asked, still trying to piece that part out.
“Neither. She’s a soldier. Her team is responsible for protecting the records and the personnel. Does that clear it up now?”
I nodded
.
“Good. Now, just relax and don’t worry. I’m not going to ruin our relationship over a cougar shifter.”
Well, she was a member of the feline family, which was probably why Avery found her attractive. One day soon I’d ask him how he felt about her. Maybe the feelings were mutual, but I also knew better than to push the issue.
When we pulled into the circular driveway to the mansion, the sun had colored the horizon a mix between a deep purple and a rosy pink. I couldn't remember if that meant the day would be nice and sunny, or if bad weather waited just past the horizon. Knowing our luck, torrential downpours would release from the heavens the moment Raven and I were to go to Headquarters.
"Welcome home," Raven muttered, his voice dry, but also full of relief. I didn't have to ask if he was as exhausted as the rest of us. He didn't even bother backing the truck into the garage, but pulled up to the sidewalk leading to the house. "Grab your belongings. Everyone but Koda and I will be in charge of going shopping for food and necessary items for our new companions when we leave to talk to Connor Davis. Avery will pay."
"When are the two of you leaving to see the general?" Shannon asked while she opened her door, allowing Jackson to hop out, although with how stiff he was from being in the cramped truck, he slid down and almost biffed it on the asphalt drive. After catching himself, Jacks trudged out of the way so his wife and I could follow after him. Neither of us climbed out with grace, and I was glad that even Luella walked with a bit of a limp at first before her muscles loosened.
Strong arms wrapped around my body, pinning me against a hard chest with my arms locked in Raven's vice-like grip. "As much as I'd like to spend the day sleeping, we'll be leaving in four hours. This news can't wait a second longer, and he needs to be aware of all that we've learned, including about Koda."
Even the stiff morning breeze wasn't bitter enough to wake me up any as I pulled out of Raven's hold to trudge to the back of the truck to grab my weapons and bag. One after the other we took our belongings inside. The vamlure followed Raven and I into the basement where we set up an area for them to sleep in the exercise section while Avery and Lee carried air mattresses downstairs. Since Rashel refused to leave Legion's side, and Kindee put up a stink about sleeping beside Tanner, the single male elected to sleep on a couch in our living area. Raven was nice enough to donate some vials of blood from our mini fridge to our new House mates, who all moaned in pleasure from the taste of nutritious blood. Even their eyes were a bit brighter seconds after they swallowed. He instructed them to drink another vial when they woke up, but not any more than that. I wasn't sure we had more for them to drink once the morning's vials were finished anyway.