Dead Shifter Walking (15 page)

I came in behind Jerry, eating at the island. He
turned mid-bite to rush me in a hug. “Thank all that is holy,
you’re alright.” Putting me at arm’s length, he scolded, “Don’t you
ever take on an undead shifter again. What the hell is wrong with
you?”

I shrugged out of his grasp, reaching for a
grilled cheese sandwich. “What would you have me do? Sit by and
watch it murder again?”

“Olivia, do you have any idea how powerful they
are?” Jerry asked.

I sighed, saved from answering when Tate waltzed
in. “Olie, good to see you up and about. Nice work with the undead
shifter,” he said joining Jerry and me at the island.

Jerry grumbled something under his breath. Much
as I liked Jerry’s protective nature, fighting and killing things
was what I did, a vital part of who I was.

A heavyset dark-skinned woman entered the
kitchen. From her attire, I assuming she was housekeeping. “You
need something to drink?” she asked me.

“Milk? I asked. While I would love a stiff
drink, I didn’t think that would be in my body’s best
interests.

She delivered me the glass and a plate for my
sandwich I had almost devoured, putting another on the plate.
“Thanks,” I said with a smile between bites. Jerry and Tate
continued to fight silently, trading looks and gestures that I was
not paying attention to.

At that moment, Mercer walked in the kitchen as
well. “What are you doing here?” I asked, shocked.

He raised an eyebrow. “Can’t I be
concerned?”

I rolled my eyes. “Try again.”

He pulled on his brown suit jacket. “There have
been some major developments from Tate’s side of things you are
going to want to see.”

I nodded, picking up my sandwich to follow him.
“You’re going to want to finish that,” he said.

I greedily ate the last bites, chugging my milk,
before following him to the second floor into a large conference
room.

Stacked upon the table, almost to my waist, was
file after beautiful manila file pertaining to the case. “Finally,”
I breathed, opening the first ones, grateful to understand what the
hell was going on with these murders.

I was lost in dates, facts, dollar amount,
eyewitness accounts (not really sure how Gunner managed that),
family history, medical information, schooling, employment,
unemployment. I finally had to ask for a whiteboard to sort through
everything. Mercer had already completed his own whiteboard and was
waiting to see if I arrived at the same conclusions he did.

The sun sank low in the sky and the moon shone
before I realized I was starving again. Tracking downstairs, I was
hoping for some additional grilled cheese; the clock above the
stove read 2:30 a.m. While creatures of the night like me were
still awake, the human help had probably turned in for the night.
Unsuccessful in my search, I was taking inventory of the
refrigerator when Blake walked in.

“What are you looking for?” he asked now fully
clothed in a light blue pullover that did painfully beautiful
things to his dark hair and eyes.

“Gold,” I answered with a shrug.

He shook his head smiling. “Why do I bother?” he
asked, coming around, he pulled out leftover pasta.

“No meat?” he asked.

“Correct,” I confirmed.

He shook his head, pulling a white plate down,
and dishing some out. It smelled amazing and my stomach growled yet
again. He raised an eyebrow. “Really didn’t think Jerry was telling
the truth about you being a vegetarian.”

“Well he was,” I said, following the plate to
the microwave where it couldn’t heat fast enough.

Handing me a fork, Blake leaned against the
island, watching me.

“What?” I asked, still watching the plate turn
round.

He ran a hand over his face. “Nothing,” he
said.

I shrugged, finding my subconscious doing
summersaults over all the information I had pumped in. There was
one brilliantly bright obvious connection; all the children went to
the same school. It just seemed too easy. The teenage boy who had
defensive wounds and the teenage girl I helped to the other side
went to the same school, same grade even. It was a bright obvious
connection that my gut didn’t trust, or rather didn’t think that
was the whole story. The art gallery was having a fundraiser for
the very same Thurgood Marshall High School.

Pouring over the financials had revealed a few
items out of place, things that Gunner couldn’t run down and
confirm. Once I finished my exhaustive list of items, I needed to
track them down.

Their medical history was sparse, and I couldn’t
help feeling something was missing there as I chewed on the fork
thoughtfully. Maybe they had a nurse at the school who could offer
some assistance.

I yawned and stretched when the microwave
finally announced it was done with my food. Blake placed it on a
placemat on the island and sat down next to me.

“I think if I stare long enough, I will see the
gears in your head turning,” he said, settling himself tiredly.

I nodded. “Probably.” I devoured my plate and
felt my own exhaustion settle in.

“Where am I sleeping tonight?” I asked, rubbing
my temples.

“Same place as this morning,” he answered in a
sultry voice, “my bedroom.”

I raised an eyebrow at that. “Really? I would
have thought you had a guest room or two in this insane
mansion.”

He smiled. “You like the place?” he asked.

I gave him a dubious look. “Yeah it’s gorgeous,
like you don’t know that?”

He shrugged. “Can’t say I ever get tired of
hearing it.”

I smiled at him, setting my plate in the sink.
“Bed?” I asked.

He nodded, groaning. “But don’t tell anyone we
went to bed this early. I do have an image to maintain,” he said,
straightening out.

I laughed. “The image of the master partier? Out
till 6 a.m. with a different girl every night? I wouldn’t dream of
ruining your game,” I said, making my way upstairs.

“I know, I’m being domesticated now; different
night with the same girl,” he said, following behind me.

“How boring for you; I can always stay with Tate
if you need to go sow your wild oats,” I said seriously.

“Why? Do you want Tate to watch you?” he asked,
slightly aggressive, jogging to come even with me on the
stairs.

“No, but I also don’t want to deal with a horny
vamp,” I said, giving him a slight push teasingly.

He leaned in close as we reached his door. “Care
to help with that problem?”

I smiled, forcing my eyes away from his
perfectly formed mouth to his mischievous blue eyes. “Nope,” I
said, entering his room ahead of him.

Blake scooped me up with his lighting fast speed
and strength, depositing me on the bed. I may have let out a
schoolgirl squeal before I remembered myself.

“Blake, get off,” I chided with a hint of
laughter as he pinned my arms on the bed, that being the only
contact between my overly warm body and his overly tempting
broad-shoulder physique. I gave a half-hearted tug to free my
wrists, fighting back a smile as Blake smiled mischievously down at
me. My body warmed at the close contact and my heartbeat sped up.
What was it about this vampire that sent my common sense off the
deep end?

Leaning down, he gently brushed my nose with his
own soft skin, whispering, “Don’t forget…” He shifted his attention
to my mouth, the warmth from his breath increasing my breathing.
“you…” My heartbeat increased. “owe…” His lips brushed the corner
of my mouth as electricity shot straight to my groin. “me.”

I closed my eyes, waiting for a kiss that never
came. Instead, Blake moved off me, moving slowly and predatorily to
the other side of the bed, undressing. I tracked him with my eyes
rolling to my stomach, letting out a disgruntled sigh as he
stripped out of his light blue sweater, revealing the hardened
flesh underneath.

“Olie,” he said, drawing my attention away from
his god-like body. “If you continue to look and smell that way, I
will lose my ability to control myself.”

I smiled, walking with my knees on the bed to
him. “Control is highly overrated,” I said with a wicked smile.

His eyes glowed amber, exciting my already
heated libido. “No,” he stated, turning away. “If you won’t stop, I
will have to have someone else watch you. I will not put you in
jeopardy with all that is happening.”

I stopped short, settling my weight on my
calves. “Oh,” was all I said. It had never occurred to me that
Blake would be concerned about my mental status nor had it occurred
to me that the monster hijacking my brain could and would do it
during sex. Those thoughts instantly killed my frisky mood as I
moved off the bed, feeling sick.

Rejection never felt very good no matter what
the reasons were. “Olie,” Blake said gently as I gathered my bed
clothing keeping my back to him. I heard him move around the bed,
gently touching my arm, turning me. “Olie, look at me.” I did, but
I certainly didn’t like it. “It’s not for lack of wanting, but I
would never forgive myself if my desires caused you pain or
discomfort.” His blue eyes gleamed devilishly as he amended,
“Except for the good pain.” He leaned in close and kissed my cheek
lingering before pushing me towards the bathroom. “Go change.”

I did as he said, taking care of my bathroom
necessities, leaving the door cracked. When I came out, he was
already in bed, reading a book. Sliding in next to him, I stayed on
my side of the king bed, letting a deep sigh out as I slipped into
sleep.

Chapter 9

It was dark and cold; I wasn’t breathing, yet I
wasn’t scared either. I knew this place, knew these sensations; I
had stayed here a long time before moving on. I had stayed to watch
my pack to be sure they were safe and guarded. This time, I had
been called back, summoned from the Beyond by a great evil.

I sucked in a breath as the scene unfolded
before me. The darkened woods felt old and alive as the wind
disturbing the tree branches with a voice I could almost hear if I
stayed ever so still. I couldn’t feel the warmth of the fire,
casting shadows into the small clearing, nor could I hear the
person in front of me or make out any form other than a thick
shadowy blob of pure hatred.

Turning to my left, I saw the hazy outline of a
lion, his head reaching to my shoulder. A slow throbbing began and
the lion gained clarity and structure, turning to look at me with
eerie caramel eyes, flecked with darker hints of brown. His mane
darkened into blackness, while his body was striped with black and
light-brown fur. Unafraid, I brushed my hand over the softness of
his fur, letting my hand settle on his back.

“It is evil,” he rumbled.

I nodded, removing my hand and turning back
towards the darkness in front of me. While the forest contained its
own magic, the darkness from the blob radiated evil, death, and
decay. I was scared.

“Can you see him?” I whispered.

The lion shook his head; the movement
transferring to his shoulders as a man stood next to me with the
same caramel colored eyes and light brown hair. His nakedness
didn’t offend or excite me; it was as though all my emotions had
been removed, even to my own senses.

The man turned to the blob, shaking his head and
his shoulder-length hair, dipping to hide his face as he lowered
his head, growling softly.

“You must stop him,” he commanded.

I nodded. “I will always try.”

He looked at me sharply. “That is why the other
called to you and why I must do the same.” He turned his attention
to the shadowy figure, the muscles in his jaw flexing menacingly.
“I can only fight for so long; he will claim me like the rest. You
are my only hope, Executioner.” He said my title with authority and
I felt the binding form between us.

He turned towards me and I nodded, feeling his
pain as he tipped his massive head back roaring at the pitch-black
night sky.

“Who are you?” I asked, softly afraid of
breaking the spell.

He turned towards me, his jaw clenched, red
rimming those beautiful caramel depths as he lost the fight for
control. I noticed the long scar from his shoulder to stomach, the
slash on his throat, which still looked raw, and the tattoo of a
lion baring his teeth on his right thigh.

Suddenly he reached out, clamping his powerful
hands to my upper arms. Instantly, I felt the tug that was ripping
away pieces of his soul. He had suffered in silence I noted dimly
as a scream of pure pain ripped through my throat, leaving me
breathless as I looked back into his eyes, feeling the struggle to
regain his identity.

I clamped my own hands on his upper arm as well.
“Fight it,” I hissed through my clenched teeth, focusing on
braiding the pain. But I couldn’t; it wasn’t mine, and, while I
understood he needed me to feel it, I couldn’t control it.

“Do not let him win,” I hissed, trying to push
my strength into him. It bounced back as his black pupils turned
red, spreading the color into his entire eye socket.

I felt him slipping, watching only the hazy form
I had seen at first return as his eyes went blood red, and I was
holding onto air.

From the fire pit, I heard the roar as my blood
ran cold and my heart stopped beating. The lion returned to life as
the walking dead, his eyes hollow red orbs. His voice echoed inside
of me as he lost all control and belonged to the evil being in
front of me. My breathing was ragged and my tears fell heavily as I
tried to force my way to the blob. Screaming, I clawed the air,
unable to move, unable to manipulate anything, but fighting
nevertheless.

In slow motion, the blob turned blood-red eyes
toward me, looking for some cause of the disturbance I was
creating, but finding nothing, it smiled an evil toothy grin and
turned back to his latest conquest.

I was slammed back into my body, drawing a
shuddering breath, finding Blake latched onto my wrist as Tate was
pinning me down.