Dark War Chronicles Box Set One (17 page)

Her tail twitched as she waited for him to approach. She knew that he weighed more than her and a straight on attack wouldn’t help. She needed to be patient as she watched him starting to circle around her, but she mirrored his movements to keep him in her view. She and her panther wanted the same thing. Him dead. Lunging forward he went at her with his front paws, balancing on his hind legs. She rose to meet him, their paws clashing with each other. Backing away from the useless locking blows, Kass changed her attack. Her claws caught him across the face, knocking him down on all fours and away from her.

Kass crouched low, waiting for him to try again. She just needed a couple good shots and then she could tear his throat out. The animal in her pushed against her human mind. It wanted the kill now. Snorting at her brother she lunged at him, only to be tackled from the side. Kass rolled towards the forest and jumped back to her paws. She didn’t look back as she took off into the forest, needing to separate the boys again. She bounded through her old pathway, breaking through the bushes and fallen branches covering it. Her animal instinct said stay and fight, but she knew she couldn’t win two on one. Garret caught up to her. He came up next to her and snapped his jaw at her paws. She lost her footing a little and slid to the side. He grabbed her neck, pulling at the tuft of skin, trying to get her to submit. Rolling, she took out his legs and they tumbled down a hill together. She landed on top and pinned him to the ground. Blood trickled from him as her claws bit into his skin. His teeth snapping at her throat, Kass reared backwards to avoid his teeth, causing her to lose her grip on him. She let out a roar as his claws swiped across her jaw. Red in her vision told her his attack did damage. She pounced at him and they locked in the air again. Batting fruitlessly at each other until she struck downwards, her claws catching one of his eyes. He stumbled backwards with a roar, scrubbing at his wound with the back of a paw.

Kass took a deep breath and let her animal instinct take over. Her panther gladly took control as she lunged forward and her teeth locked on Garrett’s exposed neck, with a jerk of her head a chunk tore out of his throat, blood staining the ground and his massive body falling.

She licked her lips to clear the blood off her muzzle. With a sniff of the air she knew that Stephan was close. Crunching of branches told her it was time to move. She could still survive if she could take him out. She climbed a tree and lay on a branch. The wind brought his scent closer to her and she reminded herself to wait. Steadying her breathing, she watched as her half brother padded under the branch. He sniffed the ground and looked around. She launched herself off the branch and fell on top of him. They tumbled with their paws flying in a poor attempt to push the other off.

His claws caught her across the stomach, tearing her flesh and fur. She roared at the pain, but caught his paw in her mouth. With a jerk of her head she tore into it. He shoved her away and they both landed on their feet. Taking advantage of his unbalance she tackled him. He shoved her face away with his good paw, but she swiped at his throat with her claws and struggled to keep him pinned. Teeth poised to bite, her brother snarled up at her and went for her throat.

Kass met him so their jaws clashed together and she kept him at bay. He flipped her over and his weight slammed her against the ground. Panic started to fill her as his bigger form held her. He snarled, baring teeth. As he went to strike he was taken out from the side.

Kass flipped back over to see Jax in panther form tearing out Stephan’s throat. She lay low as he approached her. Her panther was hesitant with the understanding that Jax was the reason they were here. Instinct said to attack him, but the mating said to submit. Jax lowered himself onto his belly and kept his head low as he crawled to her. When she didn’t run he rose and nuzzled her neck. His tongue lapped at the wound on her face to clean it. Her human mind came to the surface and she rubbed against him.

Jax’s human form took over his panther form almost like liquid. Kass envied the ease and control he had over his panther. He looked her over, examining her wounds. “Shift back.”

Kass tried to shake the fuzziness from her mind at his words. She still sensed danger and knew there were two panthers still out there. He had betrayed her, smelt of both of them. Her snarling stopped when he touched her head. “I killed your father.”

Her beast calmed and she was able to pull it back in. She groaned in pain as her body shifted and she fell in a heap to the ground.

“Smell like him and Sarah.” She whispered and pushed herself up with her arms. She studied the ground for a moment, waiting for it to stop spinning and for the blurriness to go away. “Feel like I had a forced shift.”

He touched her chin, urging her to look up. “That’s normally how a new shifter feels. Why are you reacting this way?”

“Lack of control. I just want to go...home.” She frowned at how foreign but right the word sounded. “What happened with Sarah, did you see her?”

He nodded and tried to steady her by pulling her to his chest. She placed her head against him. “She shifted and ran. She was more...animal than human.”

“She won’t shift back.”

“Is there any reason to? She knew that I could take your father, and knew that you’d kill your brothers. She’ll be happier that way.” He kissed her head and picked her up. “I have clothes for us in my truck. I’ll take you back to my place for the night.”

“Lucius. Need to get back to him.” She could feel her eyes closing and she jolted to keep them open.

He looked down at her. “Lucius knows that I came for you. He would expect you to stay.”

The reminder hit her hard and she struggled with the idea of Lucius being all right with her staying. She curled up, laying her ear against his chest and listening to his heartbeat. Her panther was curled up inside her, content at the safe feeling that Jax gave off.

“He said that we could mate...if you want.”

Her eyes fluttered shut and darkness claimed her before she could answer.

Kass woke with something soft underneath her and something warm pulled over her body. She pulled it closer and snuggled into the padding she was laying on. The scent caught her off guard. Jaxon. She sat up and flinched as wounds pulled in different spots. Her skin stretched over her stiff bones as she moved, trying to stretch her muscles. Leaning against the wall, Jaxon met her eyes when she finally looked up.

“Morning, sleeping beauty.” He cracked a smirk at her as he pushed off the wall and went to her. “How do you feel?”

She shrugged and found even that hurt. “I’m exhausted and I feel like a young shifter again. My body protested against both shifts.”

“You sure nothing is wrong with you?” He asked and studied her eyes. Cupping his hands behind her head he pulled her in for a chaste kiss.

“Fine. I think it’s the control that Lucius gave back that’s messing with me. I have to relearn every stinking thing.” She groaned. “Good thing I took the fast track before.”

Jax’s eyebrows drew together. “How are you going to handle the full moon?”

“I’ve got it covered. Don’t worry.” She didn’t want to talk to him about that. She rubbed her eyes and stood. “Where are we?”

“My place, I didn’t want to take you back to Lucius in the shape you were in.”

He didn’t have to say it, she knew that he thought she had been too weak to face Lucius. “Thank you.” He stood and took her hand, stopping her from walking out the door. “Kass?”

She turned to him, waiting for him to continue.

“Please, just stay a little longer, let me hold you without having to share you with him. Just for a little while?”

She saw the plea in his eyes and it melted her heart. Her mate. The man who killed to keep her safe. Sure he had betrayed her, but he had proven himself the night before. She entwined her fingers with his and let him draw her back onto the bed. He wrapped his arms around her, tucking her into his body.

Chapter Fifteen

Kass took a deep breath before she walked into Derrik’s office. Sitting at his desk, he didn’t budge when she walked in. 

“I’m surprised you showed.” He shuffled a couple of papers. “Heard you went AWOL.”

She snorted. “I didn’t go AWOL, I got kidnapped, there’s a difference.”

“You know you’re going to be locked up for the night?”

Flashes of the government place came to her mind, but she bit her lip and nodded. “Yes. Lucius doesn’t know I’m here.”

“You just like to make my life hell, don’t you, kitty?” He chuckled and stood from his desk. “Come on, let’s get you prepared for tonight.” He led her through the empty club to the back door he had skipped during the tour. Taking out a key card he swiped it and the door opened. He waved a hand. “Ladies first.”

Kass took a deep breath and descended the stairs. The door clicked behind them, but she forced herself to keep going down. The darkness pressed against her and her breath shortened. She felt panic rise in her and her panther started to stir. Shakes started to rack her body and her stomach churned as she reached the bottom of the stairs.

A strong hand clasped her shoulder. “It’s okay, relax. The room you’ll be in tonight is built of iron and concrete, you’ll shift, be in the room all night, and shift back. This isn’t the government place.” He followed it up with a laugh. “I’m not going to leave you here for days.”

She cringed. “Right.”

“Oh shit. You spent time there?”

“Don’t want to talk about it. You promise you’ll come in the morning?” She tried to shake off the fear of going in there. The idea that Lucius wouldn’t agree with this stuck in the back of her mind and the fact that she hadn’t told Jax where she would be tonight all made her nerves stand on edge.

He nodded. “I won’t leave you in here, kitty.” He went and took the padlock off the door and opened it. “I’ll even bring you breakfast. We have a recovery room too, for the morning after.” He swung the door open.

There she faced the empty room and took a deep breath before she walked in. When the door shut the chaos began. Pain tore through her body as her panther panicked and she shifted in an explosion of fur and skin, her human consciousness dragged down to dark depths.

Jax came storming into the main room at Lucius’ until his petite human stepped in front of him. He had searched all over the woods for Kass. He never caught scent of her and now his panther was panicking.

“Lucius isn’t seeing anyone-“ He shoved her aside.

She growled at him and caught his wrist. “He’s really in a mood.”

“I don’t give a shit. Kass is missing.” He snapped at her. “So go tell your master that I demand to see him. I’ll be waiting here.” He threw himself into a chair by the fire. He could tell by her hesitation that she debated on arguing or going to get Lucius. In the end she spun on her heels and walked out of the room.

It wasn’t long before Lucius came in. His eyes had bled to black. “She’s not here.”

“She is safe though?” Jax asked. “She was in my arms and she disappeared. I was hoping she was here and would give me an answer.”

Lucius laughed. “She’s probably out trying to fulfill her part of the bargain she made with me.”

“You’re a bastard. What did you promise her?” He shot out of his chair. 

“That you two could be mated as long as she remained my killer. I sent her on a job.” He shrugged. “So that’s probably where she is. She didn’t return after the full moon.”

Jax rolled his eyes. “Who did you have her go after?”

“Not who, what. The stone that Tegan set away.”

Jax looked at the human who glanced down and shuffled her feet. “Great, that could be anywhere.”

“Yes, but if she is successful it means that you two can be together.” He shrugged. “So take it or leave it Jax.”

“Fine.” Jax turned to Tegan. “So where did you send it?”

She turned her head towards Lucius, her black sunglasses obscuring her eyes. “Sent it away.” She whispered and her body slouched. Her confidence melted away as she fidgeted with her hands.

Lucius put a hand on her shoulder. “You won’t get much from her, her mind has been fucked with, remember?”

Jax snickered. “Sucks for you, pet. You never told me what the stone was, you took me off the job and stuck Kass on it without explanation.”

Lucius raised a brow. “It’s a soul stone.”

The vampire confirmed what Kaden had already told him. “The legendary one?”

“Yes. Tegan was entrusted with its protection and someone forced her hand. Now we have to figure out where it is.”

“You know who did it?”

“No.”

“Shame, I’d like to see the punishment you have planned for them.” Jax laughed and turned to leave. He gave the two a little wave. “See ya around. I’m off to find Kass.”

He could have sworn that Lucius said something under his breath as Jax walked out, but it didn’t matter. He would be free to mate Kass as long as they could find the stone. Though his mind wandered to where she could have possibly been the night before. There had been no news of a dead human or an animal attack. Worry settled in the pit of his stomach as he resumed his search for her.

Blood. She needed blood. With her panther mind in complete control, Kass paced the room. A faint smell of humans graced her nostrils, but she had no way out of this room. The feeling of being trapped made the need to get out and hunt worse. Her human mind tried to swim to the surface, but the beast kept it at bay. With the full moon in the sky it was her night, not the human’s. They should have been running in the forest chasing down deer and random humans stupid enough to enter the forest at night.

She licked her muzzle at the thought of human flesh being torn from the bone. Again her human self tried to take over, but the thought of blood and food kept her back. Jumping off the ground she tried to knock down the door again. It didn’t budge and the feeling of being trapped grew. She roared in anger and tried again. Each attempted failed. She dragged her claws down the walls, but no matter what she did she remained trapped. She went back to pacing. The need to eat human flesh still filled her, but it faded as the night went on.