Animal Instincts (Entangled Ignite) (20 page)

“Let’s get out of here.” I touched his arm, my heartbeat fluttering with relief and gratitude that he hadn’t been badly hurt. “My car’s in the lot.”

“You should leave.”

“
We
should leave. Together.”

“There’s no together for us,” Luc said. “You should see that by now.”

“So I freaked out this afternoon. I got over it.”

“But I didn’t. When I saw that shifter grab you and tear open your arm, I realized what could happen to you to if we continue to be together.”

I looked at my arm. “The wound is almost healed.” Because it had been a shifter that bit me or because of my own bloodline?

“There are worse things that can happen to you. I can’t put you at risk.”

Before I could argue that I was willing to chance it, he vanished right before my eyes.

Chapter Twenty-Six

Heartbroken and hollow without Luc, I stumbled out of the warehouse. People were screaming and kids were crying as they were rounded up and forced into wagons.

“Where do you think you’re going?” A uniformed cop grabbed me by the arm and swung me in line behind a beefy man covered with tattoos.

Stunned, I didn’t even fight him. At the moment I didn’t care what happened to me. I would have climbed into the vehicle and allowed myself to be arrested if not for Ethan appearing out of the crowd.

“Let her go,” Ethan told the man. “She’s the one who called this in. That’s Detective Shade Cross’s sister.”

“Sorry, ma’am.” The uniform tipped his hat in respect. “I thought a lot of your brother. I was at the funeral. Sorry I didn’t recognize you.”

“No problem.” Not with him, anyway.

I skirted another lineup. Head down against the wind, I started for my car and found Ethan at my side.

“Hey, are you okay?” he asked.

“We stopped the man who was running the fights. I’m okay with that.”

A flicker of lightning seemed to punctuate my statement.

I wasn’t okay with Luc’s leaving me like this. Why couldn’t he have more faith in us? But what had I expected? I knew he cared about me but apparently not enough.

“You look exhausted,” Ethan said. “I’ll have someone drive you home.”

“I’d have to come back to get my car. I need the drive alone to figure out what I’m going to say in my statement,” I told him.

“If you’re sure you’re okay.”

“Positive.”

Thunder rumbled in the distance as Ethan wrapped his arms around me and kissed the top of my head. “You did good. Shade would be proud of you.”

“He’ll be thrilled. I’ll tell him all about it once I’m home.”

“Oh. Right.” He let go of me and pulled something out of his pocket. “Shade’s cell. I can’t use the footage as part of the case for obvious reasons, so I’m returning it to you.”

I took it from him. “Did you delete the video?”

“No. Maybe you’d better. You don’t want to watch it.”

Knowing I really didn’t but that I should anyway, I swallowed hard. “Thanks for tonight. I knew I could count on you.”

“You know you can always count on me.” Ethan gave me a quick hug. “Drive safe.”

I nodded and got in my car. I drove safe for as long as I knew he could see me. And then I let my anger at Luc take over. I sped off until I found a convenient place where I could pull over for a few minutes.

As much as I didn’t want to see what my brother had recorded, I pulled out Shade’s cell and found the video app. Maybe if I looked at what he’d recorded, it would convince me that Luc was right about us not being together and I wouldn’t be so angry with him. There were several numbered files, and I had no idea which was which, so I swallowed hard and chose one. It was almost a relief that it wasn’t the video of Jez being killed.

Shade had swept his camera around the audience. Disgusted by the number of excited kids with their parents and young teens in groups, I watched with my heart tightening. The expressions on the spectators’ faces—the anticipation of violence—made me more determined than ever to stop this kind of thing from happening again.

About to start another video, I realized that looking at the footage of Jez being ripped apart would be a mistake. I’d seen more than enough violence tonight in person. I didn’t need to see more. It wouldn’t make me any less angry with Luc. Wouldn’t make me love him any less, either.

Turning off the cell, I replaced it in my pocket and pulled away from the curb. Something about what I’d seen bothered me on a level I couldn’t quite reach. It would come to me, I was certain.

When I reached the expressway, I floored the accelerator. Told myself not to cry. So Luc didn’t think I was worth the fight. I was so angry I could punch him. Great. I was trying to stop violence, not promote it.

And punching him wouldn’t mend my broken heart.

I was thankful we’d put an end to a horrible practice for now. I had no illusions. Doyle might have run the fights, but other Kindred had done the grunt work and one of them could take his place. In the meantime, we had stopped the man responsible for all those deaths. Knowing Ethan, I was sure he would find proof that Doyle had either killed Shade or had gotten one of his men to do it.

But my brother still didn’t have his soul.

Without it, he was stuck here forever, unable to move on, unable to interact with this world unless he was melded with Boomer. As much as I didn’t want to say my last good-bye to Shade, I knew his remaining here would be wrong.

I had to get his soul back to him somehow. Cezar had said I could work for it like everyone else. The thought of corrupting other humans made my stomach churn. I couldn’t do it, not even for my brother. There had to be another way. Cezar had wanted Nik to stop the shifter fights. Would my involvement in doing so constitute work that would allow me to buy Shade’s soul back? Somehow I doubted Cezar would be so generous. That meant Shade’s soul was lost forever, unless…

Coming to an intersection of highways, I switched to the one going east and headed for The Ark.

…

Luc was desolate at leaving Skye, but he was trying not to show it when he reported to his father’s office. He knew she wasn’t done with the Kindred yet and wouldn’t be until her brother’s soul was restored. He had to make sure that she stayed safe. He closed the door behind him, cutting off the noise of the casino. Pop was on the computer embedded into the sea glass desk. Counting souls? Luc wondered as his father glanced up.

“Luc. Come in. Come in.”

Moving away from the door, Luc said, “Pop, there was a shifter fight tonight and—”

“Nik already enlightened me.” His father rose from his chair and walked around the desk. “Good thing Doyle Craven is already dead or I would find a much worse way to punish him before ending his puny life.” He clapped both of Luc’s shoulders with his meaty hands, his way of showing affection. “How dare anyone touch my children.”

“Nuala and I both came out alive.”

“Something to be thankful for. Everything is solved now? Cross’s sister won’t be causing any more trouble?”

It hadn’t been Skye causing the trouble, but Luc knew better than to argue the point. “Don’t worry, I made sure she won’t be back.”

“You sound smitten with her.” His father grinned and leaned back against his desk. At his touch, the embedded souls blinked as if in response to him before dimming to a more subtle green. “If you want her, she’ll have my protection.”

“She holds
The Book of Powers
.”

His father’s face went florid and his congenial attitude turned on a dime. “I
knew
she was trouble. I didn’t realize how much. If she
does
come back, I’ll—”

“You’ll do something to her? No, you won’t, Pop. That’s why I’m here. To tell you she’s under
my
protection.”

His father gaped at him for a moment before his eyes went dead. “So it’s like that.”

“It is. Unless you want to lose me forever, you’ll leave her be.”

The old man didn’t argue, for which Luc was grateful. That meant no matter how he felt, he accepted Luc’s vow of protection.

“So you finally know who you are.”

“I think I’ve known all along.”

“Then why did you send her away?”

“Because I love her.”

His father didn’t have a comeback, and a hint of sorrow flicked through his expression. Luc knew Pop was thinking of the woman he loved, the woman who’d given him a son, the woman who couldn’t be in
his
life. Luc knew he understood.

He started for the door. “If we’re done here, I’m going to find Nuala and ease her mind.”

“Your sister seems to be a little high-strung lately.”

Luc hesitated. “She loved Shade Cross, every bit as much as I love his sister.”

He loved Skye enough to let her go. They unfortunately had been born to two opposing birthrights. He wouldn’t ask her to give hers up—he couldn’t give up the family he loved—and he wouldn’t put her in more danger. He suspected Doyle hadn’t been the only one with a grudge against him, and what better way to get to him than through the people he cared about.

“Well, Cross is gone,” Pop said, “and Nuala better get over it and get back to business.”

Luc didn’t say anything in response, just nodded to his father and left his office. Apparently his father still didn’t know about the baby. Pop would love the fact that one of his children was breeding, Luc was certain. Family was everything to Pop, and he was ready for grandchildren. How he would take the news that the baby’s father was the late detective who would have brought down his operation if he hadn’t been killed—and a descendant of the Protectress, no less—was another question. One of life’s little ironies.

He thought about Pop’s offer of protection for Skye, until he had been faced with Skye’s inheritance. If only that hadn’t mattered to Pop. If only he could be with the one woman who could make him happy. He already ached for Skye. Thinking about how he couldn’t have her would only drive him mad.

As he entered the casino, the vivid sights and sharp sounds of his father’s world intruded on his thoughts. On his way to the elevator and Nuala’s quarters so he could reassure his sister that he was all right, Luc was just wondering if there was a magic spell that would make him forget Skye when he saw her cutting across the casino floor.

Someone screamed and then a cheer went up on the other side of the room, drawing his attention until he realized the response was merely to a big win at one of the tables. Luc went after Skye, and her destination became clear when she left the casino proper for a hallway that went to only one place.

The high roller room.

A group of giggling young women got in his way, and by the time he got around them, Skye was already talking to Nik, who stood sentry at the doorway. To Luc’s distress, Nik gave Skye access and then came down the hallway toward Luc.

“What are you thinking? Why did you let Skye in there?”

“She talked me into it. Said she was doing this for her brother. I would think you of all people would understand.”

A flash of something that reminded Luc of regret flickered over his brother’s face.

Luc realized he hadn’t actually thanked Nik for coming to his rescue. This was the first time in two decades that Nik had shown himself as someone Luc would be proud to call brother.

“Thanks for standing up for me tonight,” he told Nik. “I owe you.”

Nik didn’t make any protestations at the “owe you” part. He didn’t agree with Luc, either. Nik simply glared at him.

“Yeah, okay.” Shaking off his brotherly feelings, Luc started for the entry. “I have to stop Skye from doing something she’ll regret for the rest of her life.”

“You’re too late,” Nik warned him.

Luc’s gut tightened when he entered the room and saw that Skye was the lone gambler at the blackjack table, two cards already in front of her. There was only one bet she could make that would be accepted in this game.

Her soul.

It didn’t take a genius to know why she was here. If she won, she would demand that Shade’s soul be returned to her brother.

But this wasn’t the way.

If she lost the game, she lost
her
soul.

…

The muted sounds of the casino were the only noise in the shadowy room that suggested danger hid in every corner. I was staring at my cards, a king and an eight. Eighteen. I couldn’t take another card, though with a nine and a three, the dealer would. I was trying to decide what I could do to make sure I would win anyway when I heard Luc’s voice.

“You can’t do this. You’ll lose.”

I watched him coming through the doorway. Knowing he was concerned about me made my broken heart flutter.

Even so, I asked, “Are you saying the game is rigged?”

“I’m saying it’s in the house’s favor.” He looked to the dealer. “Kill the game.”

“But she already made her bet.”

Luc’s expression grew threatening, and the bones in his face shifted and settled so quickly I thought I’d imagined it.

“Are you really going to go against my wishes?” he demanded of the dealer.

He couldn’t stop me, not now, not when I was so close. “It’s not up to you.” I couldn’t believe he was interfering, not when he knew how much this meant to me. Another reason to be angry with him. “Unless you can guarantee your father will return Shade’s soul to him, I’m playing this out.”

“If you don’t win, you’re
both
lost.”

“Why do you care?”

Now that dark glare was aimed my way. I glared back. I knew the chance I was taking, that if I lost, I would be a servant to the Kindred, exactly the reason I’d chanced the high roller room rather than trying to earn Shade’s soul. Though the idea of losing made my head go light, I figured the gamble was worth it.

Besides, no one said I had to play fair.

Don’t interfere, Luc.

I looked at the dealer, who drew an ace for himself. The ace could count either as a one or an eleven. If he decided it was a one, he could draw another card and still beat me.

Oh, look,
I thought,
a nine, a three and an eleven.
I held my breath as I waited to see if he would buy it or not. If he did, that would make twenty-three. Two points too many.

The dealer looked puzzled for a moment as if he wasn’t sure.
A nine, a three and an eleven,
I repeated, feeling a trickle of sweat roll between my breasts
.

“Twenty-three!” Luc quickly said.

My pulse jumped. I flashed a look at Luc and realized Nuala had entered the room and stood next to him.

The dealer was still staring at his cards, seeming even more puzzled. “But—”

“Can’t you count, man?” Luc demanded.

Nuala joined in. “Twenty-three.”

The dealer’s brow pulled in a frown as if he was struggling with that, but he said, “Right. Twenty-three. You win.”

I was so relieved, I suddenly felt boneless. “Then I’ll take my brother’s soul.”

“No!” Nuala shouted. To my horror, she told the dealer, “Scratch that.”