Christopher: Blood Brotherhood – Erotic Paranormal Dark Fantasy Romance (2 page)

He seemed to know she was there even before Kate could think that the cat might come at her. As she turned to run, the cat, bigger than any that Kate had seen in the zoos when they had existed, came after her. Kate knew about paranormals and other shifters being big, but this cat was much larger than even them.

She knew in that moment that he was a different kind of shifter, and she didn’t want him close enough to touch her. But by then, it was too late. When she was pinned to the floor, his big body over hers, she was terrified that he was going to hurt her. He couldn’t kill her, she knew, but pain was pain.

She looked up when a shadow moved over her face. The woman was there, and she looked amused for some reason. When she knelt beside her, Kate saw that like the man, she was tatted well beyond what she thought of as a social norm.

“I’m Skylar. This lug on you is Chris. And you would be?” Kate said nothing. “Ah, the strong silent type. Okay, I get it. But he’s not going to let you up until we get some answers or whatever is in that box comes out and tears us a new ass. But hey, it’s completely fine with me.”

Kate could have gladly gotten up and murdered her. But Skylar only stared at her as she stood over her. The man, the cat really, growled low and Kate looked at him. Even as a cat, he had the most incredible eyes.

They weren’t the dark color that she’d seen on cats. Shifters usually had the same color of eyes as their other bodies did. Browns usually, an occasional green or blue if the shifter had been turned. But Chris had blue eyes.
Just as blue as the oceans she’d seen over her lifetime.
And as she watched them, Kate was sure that she could see large animals, some of them as ancient as she was, moving in them. With a shake of her head, she tried to think how to get out of this mess.

“We have movement.”

Kate was suddenly free. The cat, Chris, had moved off her, but not away. He was close enough that she could touch him, his dark fur touching her arm that he was closest to. Her fingers burned to run all over him for some reason. But when the noise started again, she looked over at the crate as the couple was doing.

A bundle of cloth inside the crate moved. She supposed it might have been moving all along, but since she’d been on the floor, the building’s walls below them could have caved in and she’d not know it. Well, she would, but that wasn’t the point right now. When it moved again, the cloth falling away, the first thing she thought of was that it was a tiny paw. The second was that whatever it was, it wasn’t alone in the blanket that fell open.

Then it occurred to her what it was. Well, what they were. Puppies. There were about ten or so of them, and they came bouncing out of the cloth on the floor and toward them like they’d been ordered to do so. As soon as they were near her, Kate couldn’t help it…she pulled one of the little creatures to her face and it licked her.

“Chris, I’d very much like for you to be a man again.” Kate wondered at the tense sound of Skylar’s voice, but was too excited to have the wiggly puppies coming to sit all over her legs. She could see now there were eleven of them. Eleven roly poly little balls of fur. “Remy is coming. He said to stand down until he and the others get here.”

Stand down? They were puppies for heavens sakes. But when one of them went to stand by Skylar, she moved away from it like the thing was going to tear at her leg. Kate wondered if the woman had ever had a dog in her life. Laughing, she called the pup back to her and loved on him to sooth his hurt feelings.

“Why would they be in such a big box?” They both looked at her as she stood up. “The box came this morning and I wondered about it, but as it wasn’t addressed to me, I didn’t bother opening it.”

“Who are you?” Kate wasn’t going to answer that. She of all people knew enough about magic, and there was little doubt in her head that these two were covered in it, and that names were kept close. “I’d really like for you to tell me what the hell you have to do with all this.”

“I had nothing to do with them. Are you afraid of them? Because I’m pretty sure that you can pretty much squash them if they look vicious to you or something.” Kate reached down and picked up the one currently sitting on her foot. “They do look like they might rip your throat out, don’t they? Do you suppose they have something more than just their milk teeth? Perhaps they have five inch long incisors that will tear at you too. I know, you’re afraid of their claws. Let me see…oh yeah, I can see how these little things could tear into your flesh while they chew at your throat.”

“I don’t like you very much.” Kate shrugged at Skylar, not really carrying if she did or didn’t. There were a lot of people that didn’t like her, and right now, having this woman not liking her might be a blessing. Kate put the dog down and headed for the stairs.

“Where the hell do you think you’re going?”

“Home.” She didn’t stop as she made her way down the stairs. They’d try to follow her, but she doubted very much they’d be able to for long. Kate had powers of her own, and she wasn’t the kind of person that many would fuck with.

As soon as she was on the lower level of the building, she paused when she looked at the creatures. She heard rather than saw the big cat come up behind her. He didn’t move to knock her down, but watched her as she kept an eye on the creatures.

“There is something wrong with them. They’re not like the others, are they?” He said nothing, but moved to stand closer to her. Kate moved away and he stayed where he was. “I don’t mean the fact that they’ve been changed into something, but there is something else here. Like they’ve had their brains sucked out for the most part and they aren’t able to function. Just look at them. Someone has hurt them other than just being the creatures they were.”

The man that was walking into the wall fell over. His head had a large hole in it, and a part of his brain was still hanging on the sign that had at one time proclaimed there was a fire extinguisher below it. It had long ago been taken by someone, she guessed.

Moving to the door, avoiding the creatures, she was just going out the door when a huge man landed in front of her. Remy, she’d bet, and she started to back up enough so that he’d not touch her. But she fell backward, the cat behind her getting caught up in her feet, and she went down. And for the second time that day, he landed on top of her.

“Get off me, you moron.” The cat didn’t move, but Remy laughed down at them both. “You think this is funny? I don’t. Call off your animal and let me go. I have places to be.”

The movement out of the corner of her eye startled her. Just as the big bird—or whatever the fuck it was…the thing—came swooping down, she reached her hand up and grabbed Remy by the leg. Pulling it out from under him, Kate lifted her other hand and blasted the creature just as it put out his claws to no doubt grab up and kill someone. More than likely her.

No one moved as the big bird like thing screamed in pain as it died. His feathers, if that was what they were, burned brightly, the gaping hole in his chest bled badly, and she knew from experience that it wouldn’t last that much longer. Kate looked at Remy when the big cat finally moved off her.

“You know what that is?” She told him she’d seen them around as she stood up. “And you have some sort of power that makes it so you can kill them. What are you? Who are you?”

“There’ll be one more. They travel in pairs.” The sky darkened over her head and they all looked up when she did. “That’s his mate, I think. The male attacks first. Not sure why…he’s the weaker of the two. Then the female will come in and take whatever is left after he...he kills his prey. Usually humans. They don’t touch the other creatures.”

“Malefactors.” She asked him what that was. “The creatures. The ones that are walking around now. These are a little...I’d say slower, but I’m not sure that’s all it is. What do you know about them?”

Skylar spoke before Kate could. “She said she knows nothing. But they’re being drained again. And here, this is what Bob sent us.”

The little puppies were now in a box that Skylar handed to Remy. They scrambled out and were all over him when Kate decided that she’d had enough cuteness for one day, but before she could move to take off, the big cat stood in front of her.

“I don’t want to have to hurt you.” The cat yawned and Remy laughed behind her. Kate turned to him then. “Tell him to leave me alone. I saved your ass. I don’t owe you anything.”

“No. You do not, and I thank you for saving me. But for some reason I have a feeling you saved your own butt and not mine. Is that true?” Kate said nothing, but felt her fear of this man double when he stood up. Even having a puppy in his arms did not lessen how much she was afraid of him, nor lessen the fact that she knew that he’d try to kill her and never put the little dog down. “I’d very much like for you to say you’ll come back to the compound with us. I have many questions for you.”

“No.” He nodded, and before she could guess what the hell was going to happen next, she felt powerful arms around her and she was soaring up in the sky. Mother fuck, Skylar had her, and she wasn’t going to be happy when she figured out what Kate was. “I won’t stay there. Wherever there is.”

“Maybe, but now that I have your scent, you won’t be hard to find again.” Kate didn’t tell her that it wasn’t going to work either, but held on as they made their way across the city. It was different seeing this city with someone carrying you. The only time that Kate had this view was when she was flying herself.

As soon as they landed, Remy and the box of puppies did as well. There were children in the yard, and as soon as the little dogs tumbled out of their temporary home, the children—about a dozen of them—came running. Kids and puppies went together like they were meant to be. As soon as she was let go, Remy took to the sky again to no doubt get Chris. Kate looked at Skylar.

“I won’t stay.” Skylar nodded and turned to the building. Kate stood where she was, not really feeling the need to chase after the woman and tell her again that she wasn’t going to stay. Things were...they weren’t out of her hands. She would give them what information they might want about the bird things, but that was all. Nothing else was any of their business.

Chapter 2

Chris tried to not think of the woman. But he knew as surely as she popped in his mind every ten seconds that trying to forget her was like telling himself that he wasn’t to breathe. There was something about her that made him crazy. Not to mention that since meeting her, or seeing her in this case, he felt stronger. And that frightened him on so many levels.

“You ready?” Chris looked at Remy when he spoke and realized he had not one clue what he was talking about. He knew that Remy had noticed that Chris had not been paying attention when he laughed at him. “The meeting. With the woman. She’s going to tell us what those things were, and a few other things while she’s willing to stay. Have you been out this entire time?”

“I was thinking.” Remy seemed to be asking him about what without actually saying anything, and Chris felt inclined to explain. He stretch his neck muscles, hearing them pop, and started to pace the floor. “She’s a shifter. I’m not sure what she is, but she isn’t just a shifter. And not like any I’ve ever seen.”

“Skylar said she touched her but still can’t figure out what she is. And there is a block on her mind that she can’t breach either. Whatever she is, she’s keeping it pretty much to herself. And I think that as soon as we get what we can out of her concerning some of the things we’ve seen lately, she’ll leave. Do you suppose she has something to add to our group?”

Chris waited for Remy to ask about her being his mate, and knew that it was impossible. So when the question came, he was ready with his answer.

“She’s dead. My mate died a few years ago, before I came here.” Chris knew the exact date, time, and minute that his mate had died. He’d been with her…she’d died in a car accident that had been his fault. “My kind are only given true love one time. I wasted mine long ago.”

“You wasted yours? How?” Chris moved to the window that he knew hadn’t been in this room before. It occurred to him that the view was wrong. That he was positive that they were nowhere near the ocean. Yet he could see the big liners on the water as if they had a front row seat to them. “Chris, are you sure that this woman isn’t your mate? Did you make a mistake the first time?”

“No, there was no mistake. She was...only our mates can carry our child. My wife, Pella, was pregnant when she was killed.” Chris didn’t bother looking at his friend. He knew that Remy had lost his wife too when she’d been with child, and he didn’t want to see the pity or whatever on his face. “I drove us over a mountainside when we were on our way home from a party. We were fighting. Again. She told me to slow down, but I was too...too much me to listen. Her neck was broken and I was thrown from the car. Our child died when there was no one there to help him come into the world.”

“I’m sorry.” Chris had heard it before. But he knew that Remy was sincere in his words. Only a man who had lost a child would understand how he really felt. “I truly am. But there is something about this woman that bothers you. What is it?”

“I don’t know. When I touched her, knocking her to the floor, my first thought was that she was with Benton. Not that she gave us any indication that she was, but it was...the fear factor, I guess, that made me think that. Then, as soon as I looked into her eyes, there was something so calming about her that I felt my cat relax. For the first time in ages. Then it felt as if she looked at him; not at me, but right at my cat.” Remy asked him what happened when he didn’t continue right away. “There was this connection. Like...I’m not sure. A connection that ran deep. Like she knew all there was to know about me and wasn’t really impressed by it. I’m not sure why that thought is there, but you asked.”

“Why don’t you sit down with her and talk? Maybe she can tell you why you connected.” Chris had thought of that and dismissed it. She wouldn’t give him any more than she had Remy, and he’d been using his mind control thing on her to no avail. He’d wanted to answer him when Remy had used it on her, and he’d not even been the target. “I don’t know how to help you. I suppose you could ask Skylar. She will more than likely know more than we would anyway. She’s had the most contact with her, not that there’s all that much going on verbally between them. Christ, I’ve never seen Skylar so frustrated with anyone before.”

“Have you ever heard of an elite shifter?” They both turned to Rick when he entered the room. Chris had hoped that Nate would be joining them, but the man stubbornly refused to have much of any kind of contact with them. He was there, and that was about all he could say about the man. “I heard from my friend, Janell. She said that there is a movement that is going on that Benton is behind. She said that he’s trying to get others to come here and get beyond our boundaries, and then do something to make it so he could enter here as well. I guess he’s figuring that once they’re in, they’ll be able to invite others in, like it’s some sort of human house that we can’t enter.”

“You mean that’s true, about you guys not being able to enter a house unless invited? I thought that was a myth or something.” Chris felt stupid the moment the question left his mouth. “I’m sorry. That was rude. And even though I am a fucking bastard most of the time, I didn’t mean to pry into your private business.”

“It’s fine, and true to a point. If a person invites us into their dwelling, be it home or cave, we can go in and be free to do anything and everything to them and their home. Entering a home without an invitation limits us by cutting off our ability to feed from those that live and work there. I have no idea why, but there has to be at least a little permission going down before we can have fun.” Rick laughed. “I was kidding, Chris, about the fun part. Believe it or not, we’re not all bad people, just that we were painted as monsters long before this shit started to happen.”

“Not according to some of the covers I’ve seen about you guys.” Remy asked Chris what he meant. “I heard them called bodice rippers. Or smut. You can call them a lot of names, I guess, but they’re read by women all over the world, and they paint vampires as this sex crazed beast that only feeds off helpless women when they’re in the middle of this sex orgy.”

“Some portray the women as the strong bossy type too. And it’s sort of a fun thing in these books to try and tame the woman, when it’s the man that usually gets his ass handed to him.” When Rick realized what he’d said, they all laughed. “Yes, I’ve read them. And have found them to be pretty good. There are a few that I’ve actually wondered if the author was indeed a vampire, but I’ve never checked to see. But back to my friend. Janell said to expect a few more vamps to come our way too. As well as a man by the name of Tim. Tim, she said, is harmless, but very easy to manipulate.”

“And you trust her?” Rick told Remy that he did with his life, and had on occasion. “I see; and we’re going to have to trust her as well, I guess. I wish there was a book. I’d just like once to say, yes, I knew that. I read it in our book.”

They had all wished that. In fact, young Ruben, Hector’s son, was working on a sort of manual now. He called it his summer reading. So far as Chris could tell it was turning into a novel, perhaps even a couple of them the way he was going at it. There were lists of things they could each do, what their tats looked like, and things that happened that only mated couples could do. He’d been photographed so many times by the kid to create a working knowledge of the work on him that he was sure that the kid could point out things on him that Chris wasn’t aware of.

As they moved to the gathering room, a large open room that had couches instead of chairs, drapes on the windows instead of blinds, and a long table of the best food in the world set up in the event that things went long and they might need a snack, Chris wondered what was going to happen to this place after they were finished with this assignment. Not just this talk, but with all the malefactors and Benton too.

Everyone was there when the three of them arrived. Chris looked at the woman, who had only spoken to a few people…the kids a lot more, and she played with the puppies. He’d even gotten down on the floor with them and let them romp all over him. He’d been completely surprised when they showed no fear of him smelling like a cat. Bob, in his note, had told them that the puppies, all of them, would be medically beneficial to them in the coming weeks. Chris believed the big dragon was right. He certainly felt better having them around.

Two of the little guys had been given to the daycare center to let the kids play with. Ann had taken one of them to keep her company, she said, and he was now sitting at her feet while the rest had the run of the building. He was wondering who was going to clean up after them when the woman cleared her throat to speak.

When she paused, her head tilted to the right as if she were listening to someone or something, Chris had a sudden thought that she was talking to Benton again. He wasn’t sure, but he didn’t trust her as yet and figured that was it. He stood up when she looked at him.

“A friend of mine is in need of assistance. I would suggest that we tread lightly where he is concerned. Things are not always as they seem, he said.” He nodded, not having a clue what the woman was talking about, but headed for the door. He was both surprised and a little pissed that Rick started out with him and the woman.

“I can handle this, I think.” Rick nodded, but didn’t pause in his walking with him. “Seriously, just let me handle this.”

“The man is my friend as well. I want to go and help him too. You can have your fun with the woman if you want, but after we go to my friend.” Chris wanted to ask him if he knew what was going on, but Rick only smiled at him. “You smell of her. Otherwise I’d tell you to sit the fuck back down and I’d handle whatever he’s gotten himself into.”

They waited while the woman said she’d be back in a few minutes. Several volunteered to go as well, but Remy said that they’d be fine, to call if they needed them. He was glad to know that someone had some confidence in their ability to take care of this.

“Of course I smell like her. You were told that I knocked her down several times. What does she know about this that you and I can’t handle?” Rick only laughed, which made Chris think that the man needed his head taken off. “Why won’t people just say what you ask them? Every time I ask a question lately, I get laughed at or my question goes unanswered.”

“You asked me one question, Chris, one that you know the answer to already. We’re going to see what she can do. And I’m up on the rotation with you. That’s all.” Chris said nothing, not understanding him at all. Not really understanding anyone lately, it seemed. “This woman, I think she walks where few would, does what is least expected of her, and treads on toes that are better left alone. What do you think?”

“I think she’s trouble.” Rick was still laughing when they got into the large vehicle, with the woman in the back. Chris turned to her. “What are you?”

“Does it matter?” No, he thought as he buckled in. He’d ridden with Rick before and knew the man had a death wish when he was behind the wheel of the car. “I’m a little of everything. Elite shifter for sure, vampire too, but made not born. That’s really all you need to know. I go by Kate. You can call me that or continue calling me that woman. Either works for me since I won’t be here very long.”

He thought about when he was holding her down. She’d looked into his eyes and he had a feeling that she could see him. Really, really see deep inside of him. And that she might know all there was to know about everything that he’d ever done, ever said, and who he had hurt and loved. To be honest, Chris was a little afraid of her. Rick told him that he should be just remembering that the man could read his mind as well.

Why do you say that?
Rick just looked at him, then at the road again.
You say that like you really mean it. What do you think you know about her? Or me, for that matter.

Because, my friend, I believe that she’s one scary bitch. And when cornered, I’d stay the fuck out of her way if I were you, even if you’re not on the receiving end of it.
Chris asked him how he knew.
I don’t for sure. But I’d say, just from what I’ve heard, that there is something more about her than she’s letting us see right now. I think that Kate has some very deep secrets that no one will know unless she lets you. And even then, I’m not so sure I’d want to know what she knows about us. I’m a little...I was going to say afraid of her, but it’s more than that. I’m terrified of what she might know.

Chris was still thinking about her when they pulled up in front of the building. He’d been by here several times in the last weeks, mostly to go from one point to another, but today, he looked in the shops and wondered what they were doing there. They weren’t damaged. Not a single window was broken out. There was no trash in front of the building, and he thought there might be electric to the place. He knew that they’d not bothered with this end of town as yet. Then he saw him.

“That your friend?” Rick said that it was. But instead of moving toward him, the three stood still. When he moved finally, coming out of the alley between two buildings to the left that they were parked in front of, Chris watched as he shifted from human to bird in breathtaking beauty. As a hawk, the man landed on Rick’s shoulder.

“This is Cobb…he wants us to stand here for a few seconds. There is something he wishes for us to see in that building right there.” They watched, but Chris found himself paying more attention to the bird than his surroundings. He wondered what he was too. Then Kate spoke to him through a connection that he’d not known was there before.

You cannot see if you do not look.
He nodded and grinned.
What is so funny? You do need to know this. And why are you even here if you have no intentions of paying attention to your surroundings?