Drantos (VLG Series Book 1) (21 page)

“What is going on here?”

The deep voice of a man startled Dusti and she twisted her head, staring at the mid-thirty-something big guy storming out of the woods. He was dressed at least, not a creature. He wore a shirt, faded jeans, and running shoes. His hair was a little long and she took note of the resemblance to Drantos. It was probably another cousin of his.

“Dad.” Drantos released her and lowered his head.

Dusti gaped. She glanced between both men, rubbing her freed hand to return blood circulation to her fingers. They only looked a few years apart. Drantos had said VampLycans aged slowly but it still came as a shock.

“I asked what was going on.” The man halted a few feet away and sniffed. “Is this one of Decker’s associates?”

“She’s his granddaughter.” Drantos lifted his head. “She and her sister—”

The slightly older man snarled and lunged, attempting to grab Dusti.

She gasped and jerked back but Drantos was faster. He put his body between them. A loud, terrifying snarl came from him. Their bodies clashed and Drantos used his chest to shove the other man back.

“Don’t!”

“You’re protecting Decker’s kin? Get out of my way, son. That’s an order.”

“No! Listen to me, Dad. She isn’t aligned with Decker. She hates him as much as we do.”

“Lies,” the other man growled. “She’s his blood and I know what that means. She’s to be offered to Aveoth in exchange for the GarLycans’ help to slaughter the other clans. I’ll kill her before I allow that to happen. Is the sister dead?”

Drantos widened his stance and lifted his arms, his claws sliding out. Dusti backed up until a tree blocked her escape. She was tempted to make a run for it but Yonda took the opportunity to creep up on the left, glaring at her. Dusti held still, afraid to move farther away from Drantos's protection.

“
No
. She’s with Kraven. I know you’re furious but listen to me,” Drantos demanded. “They had no idea about us or what was going on here. Decker lured them to Alaska by letting them think he was dying. You know his daughter fled. Antina mated with a human and never told her daughters about their heritage. They had no real contact with Decker.”

“They still pose a danger. I can’t allow a war to begin. Their deaths will end it here and now.”

“Don’t make me do this, Dad.” Drantos didn’t budge. “You’re being unreasonable.”

“I’m protecting the lives of many VampLycans. Two deaths are better than dozens or hundreds. It must be done. Get out of the way right now.”

“No!” Drantos snarled.

His father snarled back.

Dusti gawked, horrified that it seemed son and father were about to fight. More clothed people arrived, watching both men. She glanced at the strangers, seeing shock and dismay on many faces.

“You’re going to challenge me?” Velder hissed the words. “I gave you a direct order, Drantos. Two lives are not worth many more. We both know it.”

“I’m not challenging you.” Drantos spoke loud and clear. “They are the granddaughters of Marvilella. Don’t forget that. She was clan. They need sanctuary.”

Velder seemed to consider that briefly. “We’ll give them to Aveoth ourselves then, without strings. He can pick one of them. That is the best option I’m willing to afford.”

“This one is
mine
.” Drantos growled low. “Aveoth doesn’t get her—and Kraven will fight for her sister. The bonds won’t be denied. Don’t ask that of us.”

The other man stumbled back a few steps until Dusti could see his face. He appeared completely horrified. “No!”

“It’s the truth. You’re not turning them over to the GarLycan. I’ll fight Aveoth to the death before he touches what belongs to me, and Kraven feels the same. You can ask him when he arrives, which should be soon.”

“Tell him you forbid it!” Yonda shouted. “She’s
human
. Smell her. Weak!” The woman turned her head and spat on the ground. She glared at Dusti. “Not worthy of one of your sons. She’s already causing dissension in our clan. Your son is openly defying you. Kill her!”

The older man snapped his head in her direction and his features twisted into a mask of rage. “Stay out of this.”

Yonda dropped her head and backed away. “I’m sorry, Velder.”

“This is a family issue. Tell the others to prepare for our journey home and keep your mouth shut about what you’ve heard. I won’t abide gossip.” He spun around, addressing the rest of the people who’d approached. “My son isn’t challenging me for leadership. This is a family disagreement. We’re leaving. Go now!”

Yonda spun and fled, running fast. She was buck naked but didn’t seem to care. Dusti watched her until she was out of sight and saw the others follow. She turned her focus back to Drantos’s father. He seemed to be having a glaring match with his son.

“Don’t even think about hurting either one of them,” Drantos warned. “Kraven and I will leave the clan if you make us.”

“You just defied me in front of the others.”

“I’m not going to let you kill Dusti or her sister. She’s innocent in this mess. Decker Filmore might be their blood relation but that’s the only tie they have. Plenty of our people have blood ties to others in his clan. It doesn’t make them our enemies.”

“Decker will target our clan to get them back.”

“I’m aware but that doesn’t mean I’m willing to hand Dusti over. I’ll leave with her and go somewhere else if you don’t want to fight him.”

“I’d rip out Decker’s heart and feed it to him if he ever dares step into our territory. It’s the GarLycans I don’t want to fight with.” Velder paused, glanced at Dusti, then back at his son. “We have kept the peace since settling in this area. We have too many women and children, Drantos. I have to protect them at any cost. They are yours to protect as well, your responsibility as my son.”

“Dusti is my one,” Drantos stated firmly. “I’m certain.”

“We’re done talking right now. This is not over though. No one is going to forget what they witnessed here but we’ll face the consequences later. I don’t want to leave our clan unprotected, now that I know what Decker plans. He could have already contacted Aveoth to launch an attack.” Velder spun around and raised his voice. “Move out. We’re returning home.”

Drantos turned and frowned at Dusti. He glanced at her feet. “I’ll carry you. Come here.” He reached for her.

“Forget it.” She inched around him and avoided touching his hands. The ground was cold against her bare feet but she didn’t want him touching her again. “I can walk.”

“Dusti.” Frustration sounded in his voice.

She avoided his gaze. “Save it. Don’t you have a girlfriend to go apologize to?”

“Damn it,” he snarled. “It isn’t like that.”

“Spare me.” Despite the fact he’d protected her again, she was still mad and hurt. His girlfriend or ex situation, whatever, didn’t sit well with her. She hurried her pace, following his father. The man wasn’t friendly and he’d wanted to attack her but it beat arguing with Drantos. There was no excuse for him being involved with one woman and then having sex with her. He hadn’t mentioned anything about Yonda, and he should have.

More people were ahead of them once they cleared a thick area of trees. A dirt road curved out of sight and two pickup trucks carefully drove along them, stopping where the group assembled. They were a rough, fit-looking bunch. Yonda walked to one of the cabs and jerked the door open. She withdrew folded clothing from inside and dressed. It stunned Dusti that she seemed unaware of all the men around her. Some of them were glancing at the bent woman putting on sweats, obviously checking out her ass.

What kind of world does Drantos live in?
It unsettled her and made her even more leery of VampLycans. Her mother had been one of them and had fled. She was starting to understand why. They just weren’t…human enough. Their modesty was nonexistent and they seemed like a brutal race.

The sight of Bat and Kraven across the clearing, along with Red, made her feel relief. Her sister looked worse for wear but alive. She seemed to be arguing with Kraven. Velder switched directions and advanced on them. She went to follow but Drantos suddenly gripped her arm, gaining her attention.

“We keep some sarongs in the trucks for when we shift. Come with me and let’s get one wrapped around your legs. They’re cold.”

“My legs aren’t your concern.” She jerked out of his grasp. “I’m going to go check on my sister.”

He planted his body in her way. “Cover your legs first.” He glanced around and seemed mad. His voice lowered. “They are staring at them.”

She glanced at a few of the men nearest them and noticed they were appraising her. She didn’t like it. “Fine. I’ll wear a sarong.”

He pointed at the truck that Yonda wasn’t near. “Over there.”

She spun and advanced on it. Drantos was the one to open the passenger door. The floor had piles of folded material. He grabbed a black one on top and turned, opening it. He even started to bend, as if he planned to help her put it on. Dusti just yanked it out of his hands.

“I can do it myself.”

“Dusti,” he whispered. “You need to trust me.”

“Fat chance,” she muttered, figuring out a sarong was a lot like a thinner version of a big towel. She wrapped it around her waist and tied it in a knot so it formed a skirt that reached her ankles. “You were dating that woman before we met. That’s all kinds of messed up, Drantos.”

“Look at me.”

She released the soft material and threw her head back, glaring at him. “What?”

“I told you it wasn’t like that. We were having sex.”

“She wanted your father to kill me. She said I wasn’t good enough for you. She acts like a jealous girlfriend.”

“It’s because you’re human. It’s difficult to explain.” He frowned. “We’ll discuss this at length once I take you to my home. Now isn’t the time. You’re still in danger and so is the clan. Just stick close to me and do as I ask.”

She just wanted to hug her sister and go home. She was done with Alaska, her insane grandfather, the whole VampLycan thing, and especially Drantos. Her life had turned to shit ever since she and Bat had boarded that flight. She was hungry, sore, and felt miserable. They’d survived a plane slamming into the ground and then had been kidnapped from the crash site. To make things worse, she’d almost been attacked by some hell beast. The near drowning in the river and almost turning into a human Popsicle hadn’t been fun, either. Last but not least, she’d learned that her mother had been keeping big secrets from her daughters and she wasn’t what she’d appeared to be.

All those things had lowered her guard enough to trust the man in front of her. Who was a cheating bastard.

Tears filled her eyes. It was too much. It just all slammed into her at once. They weren’t alone in the woods anymore and people were around them.
Maybe not people. Creatures in skin.
She darted a frightened look around, really understanding that she wasn’t anything like them. Her and Bat were surrounded by the things they probably would have paid money to see featured in some horror movie.

I’m having a breakdown
, she acknowledged, but didn’t try to reign in her emotions.
I’m entitled to one after all this shit has happened.

It wasn’t actually Drantos’s fault that her grandfather was some kind of evil mastermind or that Vampires and Werewolves were real. But he’d been the one to tell her the truth and take her away from the other survivors from the plane. Maybe a rescue team would have found them and she’d be back in her apartment if he hadn’t done that. She’d still be clueless—and happier for it.

“Dusti?” Drantos inched closer and tried to take her hand.

“Don’t!” She stumbled back.

He growled. “Keep your voice down.”

“Fine,” she whispered. “I know you saved my life a few times but stop touching me.” His earlier words replayed through her mind. “I just need you to back off me right now, okay? Just leave me alone.”

He blanched, his expression paling.

“I mean it. Don’t keep grabbing me.” She fought tears by blinking them back. “I just want to go home. Do you get that? I want the hell out of here. I’m so done with all of this shit!”

Movement from the corner of her eye made her startle and she jerked her focus off Drantos. Yonda, now dressed in sweatpants and a tank top. The woman grinned slyly. “You heard her. I know
I
did—and I’ll repeat it to anyone who asks. She just renounced you, Drantos.”

“Fuck,” he growled. “She didn’t. She doesn’t know anything about our culture. Knock your shit off.”

Yonda proceeded to murder her with a ferocious glower. Dusti wasn’t about to forget that she could transform from a woman into a hell beast and tear her to shreds with her claws. Pure hatred seemed to radiate off the dark-haired beauty, directed solely at her.

Velder’s sudden appearance almost right behind Dusti had her jumping again, twisting to stare up at him. He hadn’t made a sound when he’d snuck up on her.

“Dad,” Drantos argued. “She’s been raised by humans. She’s just upset because she misunderstood about Yonda and I. Yonda’s manipulating the situation because she’s pissed that Dusti isn’t a full VampLycan. It’s none of her business.”