Dark War Chronicles Box Set One (86 page)

“Kass?”

She opened her eyes and looked up at him. “Do we have to go tonight?”

“If you want to get home in a timely manner, yes.” He laughed. “Come on.”

She groaned and sat up. “Fine.”

He gave her a quick kiss. “How’s the beast?”

“She’s fine for now. I’m not sure how long she’s going to be that way.” She stood and stretched. “Why didn’t you tell me that you had immortal blood in you?”

“I figured if I didn’t have a mark there was no reason to.” He shrugged. “It’s a generation behind, neither of my parents have their marks.” He hadn’t expected her to be interested in it since her immortal blood was causing so many problems with Lucius and her late family.

Kass met his gaze. “It seems to be being passed down less and less through families.”

“Some say it’s because we’re not blessed anymore. No one really knows where the marks come from or why they pass to some children and not the others.”

“Do you think that if we have a child it’d be passed down to them? My father always though my mark didn’t show because I was a result of rape.” Her gaze flickered away.

She’d never mentioned children before, he’d assumed that children weren’t an option. Why would they want to bring a child into their lives? “I honestly don’t know. Your father thought that you and he were being punished, but I don’t think that’s the case. I think it has to do with the bloodlines and genetics.”

She shrugged. “Doesn’t matter, I don’t think a child around the mansion is a good idea. Especially right now.”

It was like she picked up on his thoughts. He held his hand out to her. “Don’t dwell on it.”

Kass took his hand and they left the room to find Ayden sitting on the couch in the living room.

“The plan is we get there, we move Nuala’s coffin using my truck to the airport. I’ve already contact Lucius’ pilot and told him our ETA.” Ayden jumped up and grabbed his jacket and keys from the table. “Then we all head to the States.”

“What kind of trouble do you think is waiting for us?” Kass asked and Jax looked at her.

Ayden shook his head. “Hopefully nothing but some low level vampires, if that. The Circle has not been around here and though Tegan warned me that the Father is awake, I don’t expect them to start attacking Keepers and Originals, not yet.”

“Don’t stand there and lie to us.” Kass snapped. “You wouldn’t have asked Lucius for people to help if you didn’t expect trouble.”

“I called on Tegan and Zaaren, not Lucius. I needed a way to get Nuala to the States.”

It made Jax nervous that Kass was suddenly on edge about it. “Whom did you originally want Lucius to send?”

“I was hoping for Tegan, she’s more familiar with the Originals.”

Jax shook his head. “Lucius wouldn’t let her come here, not alone and he couldn’t come because it’s not his territory.”

“Tegan knows how to handle herself when it comes to the vampires, I’m hoping Lucius has you both trained well. We don’t want to piss off the vampires here more than needed. It doesn’t matter now, now it’s time to go.”

Kass shook her head and followed Ayden out. Jax sighed and followed the two. Between his parents, Sarah’s scent, and Kass’ sudden nerves, tonight was going to cause problems. Jax walked to the truck with Kass as Ayden locked up.

“I’ll sit in the bed.” Kass muttered. “I don’t like closed spaces.”

Jax kissed her. “Want me to sit back there with you?”

She shook her head and jumped in. “I’ll be fine. I’ll just lay down and watch the stars pass me.” She gave him a little grin. “You two have boy talk.”

Ayden laughed. “It’s a short ride, but if you insist.”

Jaxon nodded. Kass didn’t like anything that reminded her of cages. Though Lucius rarely used them, Kass had seen her fair share. He climbed into the cab, Ayden got in on the driver’s side and they were off.

“She always so nervous?” Ayden asked. “Or is it just because she’s far from home?”

“She’s had a rough life and is recovering from an injury that almost killed her.” Jax didn’t look at him. “She’s never been away from home.” Not Lucius’ home anyways.

He was about to say something when the side of the truck was hit and it rolled. The first thing that went through his mind was Kassity. He covered his head as the truck crunched around him. The sound of fighting came from outside the vehicle.

Cats. Big cats.

His heart skipped a few beats. “Ayden?”

“I’m okay, can you get out?” His voice was strained and Jax looked over at him. The human was hanging upside down, secured by his seatbelt.

Jax tried his door and it opened. “Yeah.” He unbuckled himself and braced for the fall. He crawled out and went over to help Ayden out.

The two panthers were rolling around and snapping at each other’s necks. Ayden looked at Jax. “A friend of yours?”

“Kassity is the one with the blue eyes.” He growled. “Sarah is the one with yellow.”

“Sarah?” Ayden’s hand went to his waist and Jax saw the gun.

“Don’t. Sarah is Kass’ sister. Let them fight it out for a moment. I don’t know if Sarah’s in her right mind.”

“What do you mean?”

Jax watched the two; their batting and snaps were still more of a warning than anything. “They’re just playing right now. Kass could overpower Sarah in a heartbeat.”

“Why are you so sure of that?” Ayden moved his hand away from the gun.

“Because Kass’ one goal in life is to survive. I’ve seen her take out two panthers twice her size. This is nothing.”

As if proving his point, Kassity pinned Sarah down to the ground and nipped at her neck. Sarah changed forms under Kassity and Jax held his breath. Last they’d seen of Sarah, she didn’t have any control over her panther.

“Kass, I’m sorry.”

Kass changed and stood up. Jax couldn’t keep his pride from showing. She didn’t shake or show any weakness from the quick shifts. “What are you even doing here, Sarah?”

“I ran to the campground dad used for hunting and I found her there. I was offered help from a vampire.” She stood up and brushed the dirt off herself. Her gaze shot to Jax and Ayden.

Jax held his hand out to Kass. “I’d love to offer clothes, but I didn’t think to bring any. Especially two sets.”

“Not to mention you totaled my truck.” Ayden snarled. “You apologize to Kass, but you are the one who attacked us.”

Sarah nodded. “I didn’t think she’d just talk to me. I’m learning to assert my dominance in different situations.”

“You totaled my truck.” Ayden said again.

Jaxon crossed his arms. “So you took this vampire’s offer for help and she brought you here. In exchange for what?”

“What do you mean?” Sarah asked and pulled her blonde hair over her shoulder, twirling it with a finger.

Kass shook her head. “We all know vampires don’t offer their help without a price. Lucius’ price is me being his killer in exchange for his protection.”

“Oh yes, because we all saw how well that worked out for you.” Sarah tossed her hair back and walked towards them, a sway in her body.

Jax wrapped his arms around Kass and pulled her close. He met Sarah’s gaze to show her that her body had no affect on him. “So what did you trade her, Sarah?”

“I belong to her clan.”

Kass tensed against him at the same time that his own body tightened. “What clan, the only clan here doesn’t belong to a vampire.”

“Are you so sure, Jaxon? I heard you abandoned them, walked out after winning one of the biggest battles this side of the war.”

Was that why his parents were so desperate for him to return? Because they thought he could take on the vampire.

“She’s part of the Circle. She’s strong, powerful, deadly.”

“And can control shifters who don’t have immortal blood.” Jaxon finished. “Which makes you one of her pawns.” His heart pounded and Kassity kissed his arm trying to calm him, but it didn’t work. “We’re not here to challenge her hold on the clan. We’re just here to help a friend.”

Sarah nodded and turned to Ayden. “Your mistress, Nuala. You’re trying to get her to safety.”

Ayden drew his gun. “Another step and I’ll shoot you. I’m not afraid of your mistress. And I can tell you that she is not a member of the Circle. She’s lying to you.”

“You wouldn’t know, you’re nothing but a Keeper.” She snarled, but held her hand up. “I can see that I’m not welcomed here. Kassity, I am truly sorry for what has happened to you.”

She turned, shifted, and ran off. Kassity sighed. “How does she have more control than I do?”

“She’s being influenced by the vampire.” Ayden growled. “Now is not the time. I need to get the truck towed and figure out if I can get a rental to get the coffin. For now, you two get to the grave and protect it.”

Kassity turned around before Jaxon could catch her. She slammed Ayden against the flipped truck. “Now is the time. Who the hell is this vampire?”

“Her name is Karina. She’s not a Circle member; I don’t know why she would tell Sarah that. But she is older than Lucius, not as old as Zaaren or Nuala. She’s scary, Nuala and I’ve met her once.”

Kass let him go. “She has my sister.”

“By all means, go in there and rescue her, but you risk becoming one of her panthers.” Ayden snapped. “And I will not have Lucius pissed off at me because his prize killer ended up with another.”

“I have immortal blood, she can’t control me.”

Jaxon shook his head. “We’re not going in there, not until I can confirm everything she said. I’ll talk to my parents and see what we can do. We won’t leave without Sarah.”

“You will if it comes down to it.” Ayden growled.

Jax knew it was true, but he couldn’t just let it go without trying for Kassity. She wouldn’t admit it out loud, but she wanted family and her sister was family. She’d been put through many of the same horrors as Kassity and just needed guidance; even if it was under Lucius.

Kassity swallowed. “We give her the chance to come home with us. From there we find a nice territory for her to stay in. She won’t be able to survive under Lucius. She can’t be his killer and I won’t have her stripped of her control.” She put her hands on her hips. “Jax, go talk to your parents, Ayden, go find another truck. I’ll watch the grave.”

“I’ll bring you some clothes, until then stay hidden. Then I’ll go talk to my parents.” Jax kissed her cheek.

Ayden nodded. “Just down the road, where the dirt ends, take a left, it’s about a half mile in, you won’t miss it.”

Jax watched as Kass walked off. He wanted to go comfort her, but knew they needed to focus on the situation at hand. He turned to Ayden. “If we can swing it, we’ll rescue Sarah, if not I know that we have a mission to complete here.”

Ayden nodded. “So does she, I can see it in her face. She’s focused, even if the reality of losing her sister hurts.”

“She’s been trained well to ignore pain.” Jax mumbled and then headed back towards the house, thankful that they weren’t far from it. Ayden had been smart to purchase a property with enough room to hide Nuala.

Kassity turned left when she got to the end of the dirt road. Sarah’s appearance had thrown her for a loop and she knew that Jax’s words were just comforting lies. She knew neither one of them would put things in jeopardy with Lucius. Sarah had nothing to offer Lucius and wouldn’t be welcomed in the territory. She looked up when she reached the tomb. The brick square building had vines crawling up its walls and the white door made her think of old schoolhouses. She shook her head and sat on the steps that led up to the door.

Naked and in the forest, she should have felt right at home, but all she could think about was the vampire that could control shifters. Lucius had the ability to pull a beast out and push it back, but not to fully control them. It seemed that this vampire had something different and yet similar to Lucius.  Crunching leaves brought her attention forward and she snarled at the scent.

“What do you want, Sarah?”

“A chance to talk to you without the men around.” Her sister stepped out from behind a tree. She tossed Kass a dress. “It’s all I had in my car.”

Kass pulled it on and tried not to sneer at the frilly summer dress. “What did you want to talk about?”

“My mistress wants you to join us. She can free you from Lucius and give you the control you so very much need.” Sarah held a hand out to her. “I know I’ve hurt you in the past, but now is my chance to make up for it. Let me protect you like I should as your sister.”

Kass raised a brow. “I’m not trading one vampire for another. The only reason I have a lack of control right now is because I was almost killed a few months ago. Why don’t you come home with us? We can find you a nice little territory to live in.”

She shook her head. “Kass, don’t you understand? I’m happy where I am. She’s given me strength and control, something I could never get with our family.”

Kass held her hand up. “Your family, they were never mine.”

“Now I have a clan, like it should be.” Sarah sighed. “Please, just come meet Karina and the clan leaders.”

“I can’t, I have a job to do.” Kass sat back on the step. “And then I’m going home. Where I belong.” She never thought she’d think of Lucius’ territory as home.

Sarah shifted in front of her and Kassity cursed. She called on her beast but the animal refused to come to the surface. She panicked, but the creature refused to come up. Sarah launched herself at Kass, pinning her to the ground.

Kass kicked her off and lowered herself into a fighting stance. In human form she was fast, but she wouldn’t be able to out run Sarah and without her beast responding she had no real chance of fighting the other panther. A vampire appeared next to Sarah, her blond hair tightly braided and falling past her waist. Her gray eyes met Kass’ gaze. The tall, slender vampire stepped forward and put a hand on Sarah’s head.

“Kassity DeBeau, is it?” Her voice was soft, but sent shivers down Kass’ back. “Panther killer of Lucius DeBeau, sister to Sarah Everet, killer of the Dark Moon clan.”

“You know an awful lot about me.” Kass kept her gaze on her. Her heart pounded in her chest and her panther started to respond to the new threat.

She chuckled. “I make it my business to know what my fledgling is up to. For instance, I know that the Circle is trying to bring Lucius in for trial. I know that he is supported by and was...raised by Zaaren, the Original. I know that his human is the blood whore to the father and that his territory will soon be under attack.”