Electric Storm (39 page)

“But what fun is the hunt where the prey is wounded. Women give a poor chase.”

He didn’t say anything as he latched one cuffs around her wrist. The cold metal felt like a thousand pounds.

“What if I can guarantee you the hunt of your lifetime?”

Soldier Boy ignored her, but his movements slowed a fraction.

“I met that shifter you keep on a leash the other night. Did she come back a little fried?” She said it mockingly, but she definitely had his interest now. He stopped and drew back, leaving one arm, and her legs free. She considered it a small victory.

“How do I know that was you?”

“She’s five six, brown hair and moves disjointedly until she gets the scent of her prey.” The description rattled something that hovered in the back of her mind, something she should know. She ignored it and forced herself to smile at the interest in his eyes. “You keep the men off me, and I guarantee that I’ll be able to escape your little pet. She makes it too easy for you, doesn’t she?”

The burly man ran a distracted hand down the pommel of the blade at his side, judging her. “You don’t look like much.”

“I survived seventeen years in the labs.” She leaned closer, ignoring the way he licked his lips. “I escaped there. You let me loose outside, and I can promise to give you a run for your money. You like to hunt, not chasing down half dead shifters. I bet your little pet kills a better part of them before you even get into the game. Do you miss the thrill of going after something that can kill you if you make a mistake?”

The heat in his eyes grew uncomfortable and only her self-control and the cuff kept her in place. “If they rape me in here, I’ll fight back. People will die. They’ll put me down before I even get off the table. You don’t want that, do you?”

Raven tossed her head in the direction of the cavern. “I saw the men in there. They won’t give you half the battle I can.”

“Don’t you have her stripped and tied down yet?” A skinny cowboy of a man strutted in the room, dressed in too tight black pants, cowboy boots, and a plaid, pearl-button down shirt topped with a string tie. The dark hair he sported was so greasy it appeared black enough to blend into the background and stank of gunky motor oil. A mustache, pitted skin, and cold eyes told of a man who liked women, but didn’t have time to waste romancing them to get what he wanted.

This would be her rapist.

She eyed Soldier Boy and raised her brows in challenge.

“She’s mine.”

Cowboy just laughed. “Don’t worry. There’s more than enough to go around.” He raised a hand, reaching to touch her face when Soldier Boy caught his wrist.

“No. You had the others. This one is all mine.” Soldier Boy gazed at her when he spoke, his words a promise.

A wave of relief threatened to weaken her spine, but she didn’t allow herself to show it. Talk about jumping from the frying pan into the fire, but she’d worry about that later.

“You can’t do that.” Cowboy jerked his hand away, narrowing his eyes when Soldier Boy took his time releasing him. Hatred thickened the air.

Soldier Boy straightened to his full height, his chest puffed up, his stare unwavering. “She’s mine.”

The man finally seemed to sense the danger. The vicious look tossed her way warned her that she’d better watch her back. As soon as Soldier Boy dropped his guard, she was meat for the taking.

“We’ll see about that.” Boots clumped out of the room. Soldier Boy nodded to her and left. Raised voices resounded in the small cavern, and she willed herself to remain calm. He’d keep his word; he needed the adrenaline rush too badly to let Cowboy win.

The cuff latched onto her wrist could be broken with time, but she wouldn’t be able to sneak into the cavern and release the others before her absence was noticed.

She searched her core, noting that neither her animals nor her power seemed to be very interested in helping her out. Not that she could blame them after the abuse she’d put them through. It was the vault that drew her worry.

With nothing to hold it back, it was leaking like a sieve, spilling poison into her system. It wouldn’t be much longer before it reached her core and put her out of commission. A few of the animals paced restlessly as the poison threatened their domain, and she felt helpless to do anything. Her hands were tied until her power came back online.

A small sound snapped her head around. She searched the room, but found nothing. “Who’s there?”

A shadow moved. A dirty face leaned out of the darkness, intelligent, kind eyes looked at odds with the collar and chain strapped cruelly around his throat.

“Digger?”

“Smart girl to play them against one another.” The whisper barely reached her ears, the range so low she wondered if she’d imagined it. Then he flinched. “They’re coming back.”

Then she heard the footsteps, too. She licked her lips and spoke quickly. “When they take me out, Griffin will come get you. Run like hell and don’t look back.”

He lifted a finger to his lips and vanished into the darkness, meshing with it so completely that even with her keen sight, she couldn’t detect him. She quickly refocused her attention away from him and cleared all expression from her face.

“So you’re the one who’s put my boys at odds.” An older, white haired man who could pass for anyone’s good-natured grandfather entered the room. The light scent of peppermint candies rose from him. Even his voice sounded jovial.

Not his eyes though. Those snake cold eyes observed everything, dispassionately cataloged every weakness and strength he could ferret out. “I can see why. There’s something different about you.” He rubbed his chin, the short, clean whisker rasping dryly against his hand. It was all she could do not to flinch under his regard.

“The police are closing in on us thanks to you. We’ll have to close shop in this area.” She couldn’t prevent a betraying twitch at his accusations, and a hard smile crossed his lips. “You didn’t think I recognized you from your picture in the paper?”

Relief struck hard, and Raven bit down on the inside of her lips to prevent another tell. Grandpa didn’t know that the police and her people were out searching for them this very moment. She could still make this work.

He continued as if he didn’t expect a response. “Nah, you’re the type of girl a guy doesn’t forget. Too bad you’re a filthy paranormal. Stink clings to your kind.” His hand lashed out. Fingers cruelly gripped her chin, dug down to bone, before she even thought to twist away. “Ross usually doesn’t send us his leftovers in such pristine condition. You must have been getting too close.”

Raven carefully let her mind go blank, thankful for the cold metal on her ass to give her something else to concentrate on. She wasn’t up to playing word games with this man. If there was any hint of trouble, he’d finish her now.

She suspected Grandpa had a bit of paranormal in him to be able to pick others like herself out of the crowd so well. Maybe that was why he hated them so fiercely.

“Police involvement gives us a little problem. A surplus of breeds. No sense taking them with us when there are so many of you.” He dropped his hand and stepped away, his fingers looped into his belt buckle. “We’re going to make things a good deal more interesting and shackle two of you together. We’ll see if this pack business works or if you’ll gnaw off the other’s arm to escape.”

A malevolent glint hardened Grandpa’s eyes, and a shiver crawled over her skin. Part of her confidence eroded under that glare. “You and the little wolf who objected so vehemently when you were dragged in here will be paired.”

The back of her throat dried, and she willed herself not to swallow, not to react. This man would sense any weakness and ruthlessly exploit it. He grunted, obviously disappointed in her lack of response.

The animals at her core began to pace and panic brutally grabbed her throat. Please not now. She desperately needed a boost of energy to keep them at bay. Hell, she’d even be grateful to be hit with that cursed taser. 

“You escape, you’re free.” He shrugged, a little smile quirking his lips. “It’s that easy.”

With the image of freedom dangled in front of them, the animals calmed. She and Taggert were well matched. He might be faster, stronger, but she could disrupt their trail and track the others when they got too close. The only complications would be managing the burnout and her animals with him so close.

“Take her and get them ready. The hunt will begin at one.”

She shot a quick glance at Solider Boy, who had entered behind the Grandpa, willing him to protest the change in plans. A muscle jumped in his jaw, but he kept quiet. No help from that quarter. She debated making a play now but stayed her hand. Everyone needed to be out of the cave. When she made her move, she had to be one hundred percent sure that whatever she did, she struck hard, fast and with killing force.

Then she saw the taser.

“Shit.” She gritted her teeth at the necessary evil, ready to swallow everything down in a faint hope that her core had recovered enough to restart.

The spark jumped from the gun to her before it even came into contact with her flesh. Pain rolled over her, the current snapping along her skin, seeking entrance. When denied, every muscle contracted in agony. She willed herself to remain conscious, desperately trying to clutch the electricity, cursing when the voltage dissipated without her being able to capture even a spark.

Darkness hovered over her awareness, and Soldier Boy pulled back when she would’ve succumbed. Not for humanitarian purposes. To preserve his precious hunt. She slumped on the table, helpless to do anything as her body continued to fight the painful effects.

The cuff snicked open, and she found herself thrown over his back, carried through a series of underground passages. He dumped her unceremoniously on the floor, knocking the breath from her lungs. While stunned, he efficiently latched an inch wide metal manacle around her wrist.

Cold bit into her ass when the man walked away, the temperature a relief after all the energy she’d handled in the last few hours. Her eyes traced the metal links to another cuff hooked to the wall just out of her reach. A light, pine filled breeze brushed against her face, and she knew the entrance had to be close. She struggled upright.

Shuffling feet drew her attention. She quickly scanned the cave for a weapon. No rocks or twigs were nearby. The stone walls were completely devoid of any power. There was nothing to use to defend herself. All she had left was the gold power Randolph left her.

Part of her hesitated to even touch it, but if it meant Taggert would go free, she’d take the risk. She carefully harvested a strand, sucking in a sharp breath when the cord nearly gutted her.

She wrapped up the unruly energy like a ball, prepared to throw it hard and fast, anything to get it out of her hold.

Sickening horror flashed through her when Taggert stumbled out of the darkness. She scrambled to swallow the current down, sucking in a sharp breath when everywhere it touched burned and became as sensitive as freshly broken blisters. Just when she thought it would kick her ass, it finally settled.

Her gaze shot to Taggert, half fearful she hadn’t stopped her attack in time. Though severely bruised and battered, all the wounds were old. They aslo looked worse than she’d first estimated.

Then she noticed he was alone. “Run!”

The walkie-talkie clenched in his fists squawked. “I have a rifle aimed at her head. Shackle yourself to her.”

She cursed herself for not seeing that this could happen. Those chocolate brown eyes locked on hers, and he resolutely walked toward her. Her heart slammed against her ribs as she watched him clicked the heavy weight to his own wrist, trapping them together. “Taggert.”

“He would’ve killed you.” He cradled his ribs when he settled at her side. He showed no remorse in his actions, running a hand lightly over her hair, fingering the strands with trembling fingers. The metal irritated his wrists, instantly turning his skin red.

An ungodly howl erupted, echoing in the caves, threatening to pierce her skull. A deep chill crept over her skin. Taggert bolted to his feet, jerking her up with him.

“Run!”

He pulled her along and some of his urgency washed over her. She stumbled over her own feet as she tried to keep up, cursing her clumsiness. Nothing had gone as planned. The burnout had scrambled her system more than she’d wanted to admit, the current coming and going in surges, but mostly going.

Her animals refused to settle as the gold power insidiously worked its way through her body, leaving black cinders in its wake as it consumed her from the inside out.

Another rage-filled howl spilled down the shadowy tunnel, washing over her, spreading goosebumps over her body.

Running sounded like a very good idea.

 
Chapter Thirty-one