Electric Storm (45 page)

Taggert helped her rise as Durant stood in front of them, his large body protecting her. She grabbed his belt loop, gouging her nails into the hard muscles of his side to prevent him from doing something stupid like attacking. Gunshots at such close quarters could be lethal even for him if the old man got off enough shots.

Durant flinched, but the hum under her hand calmed. Then she saw a movement on the floor.

Sarah.

Though the rims of her eyes remained clouded, they were not that of a ghoul. Raven saw only Sarah. Recognition flashed between them.

The electric charge must have returned her humanity back to her. All the horror she lived through the last few weeks hollowed out her face. Her hand encircled a necklace at her throat, and a bitter smile came to her lips.

“No.” But Sarah didn’t listen, throwing herself at the old man, her arm raised to strike.

Grandpa turned and fired at point blank range, but she was already on him. After what felt like an eternity, they stumbled in an awkward dance and collapsed. Blood pooled beneath the bodies, spreading toward Raven in an ever increasing circle.

Durant cautiously knelt to check for life, but she knew it was already too late.

“She tore out his throat.” Durant turned Sarah over. Her sightless eyes stared up at them, her body pale and gaunt. “She’s gone.”

A terrible sadness riddled Raven’s heart. She hadn’t meant to bring Sarah back. The two powers must have mingled, merging to form an unholy union, one powerful enough to bring Sarah back from the dead and human. No one could ever know the truth.

The horror in Sarah’s eyes as she realized what she’d become would haunt Raven for a long time.

 
Chapter Thirty-six

R
aven stood in the shower, groaning as the heated spray pounded her aches away. Durant had ordered her and Taggert upstairs. Any protests she had died when he warned that time was short if she wanted to be at the police station in an hour to pick up Jackson. A thrill shot through her at the prospect of seeing Jackson again. Of claiming him.

With no threat, her animals were at peace, her power was recharging, taking the time to repair the damage Randolph’s power had inflicted. Though the last week had taken its toll, her new pack had been worth all of it. She just had one more task remaining: to prepare for the council meeting.

She reluctantly turned off the water and stepped out of the steam. And found a pile of clothing neatly folded on the sink, including her bra and panties. All the clothes were black, but instead of her normal gloves, she found in their place a colorful red pair that she knew didn’t come from her closet. She fingered the smooth leather, unsure how to handle the little kick of pleasure she got at seeing them.

After dressing, she walked into the bedroom to find Taggert waiting for her.

“Sit.”

A little uncertain of his demand, she sat in front of the mirror as instructed. He picked up a brush and stroked it through her hair. On the third pull, her head fell forward, and the tension slowly eased. Everything was finally over. No one would try to kill them today.

“The car is ready when you are.” Durant’s voice shocked her back to the present. She lifted her head to find his concerned gaze on her. “I can pick him up if you want to rest. I’m sure he’d understand.”

She peered in the mirror at her pale face, bruised eyes, and busted lip. Didn’t she look like a treat? “No. I need to finish this.”

She twisted her hair up, gritting her teeth as the muscles in her wounded arm and shoulder trembled at the simple move. She had a feeling even a mosquito would win a fight with her today.

Nerves fluttered to life as she rose to leave.

She would take Jackson’s blood and make him one of her own. Instead of dread, excitement lashed through her as they made their way downstairs.

The hall was clean like nothing had ever happened. Part of her was grateful. This was her retreat. Her place of peace. That had been shattered hours before, but Durant helped right it.

She brushed against him as she walked, catching the light fragrance of leather. His body tensed, but he didn’t pull away. “Thank you.”

He didn’t reply, only brushed against her in return as they walked toward the car. The ride to the police station was uneventful. The station was teeming even though it was barely eight in the morning.

As soon as she crossed the threshold, she saw Scotts and knew something had gone terribly wrong. Her feet stopped, and she waited for him to make his way toward them. Before he could say anything, she spoke. “He’s gone.”

Scotts ran a hand through his hair. The man looked like shit under the unforgiving florescent light, his dark coloring washed out. She doubted he’d gotten a lick of sleep. “He was released into the custody of his pack. With the charges dropped, I had no right to hold him.”

Disbelief winged through her. He’d left. Without saying good-bye, he’d left. She nodded Scotts, too numb to feel anything yet. “Thank you for everything.”

“Wait!”

He shoved a packet in her hand.

“What’s this?”

“An application. You had four nominations even before the station opened.”

“For what?” She didn’t bother to open the thick envelope, not even curious of its contents as she battled to keep her composure. The numbness that cushioned her at the announcement of Jackson’s disappearance gradually started to fade.

“Thanks to the media coverage on this case, the legislature passed their law to create two paranormal police squads. A person can apply for the job, then pass the blood tests and formal interviews, or a registered paranormal can be nominated into the position.” Scotts didn’t look any more thrilled about her nominations than she did.

She couldn’t help but be suspicious of what her mysterious benefactors would want in return. And the last thing she wanted was to register herself in the national database. How the hell was she supposed to fill in the question of species and/or talent?

“Who placed the nominations?”

He just shrugged. “We lowly lawmen don’t get to know the details. It’s all approved by committee. A human in the government or law enforcement has to vote for you as well as one pack or clan. The catch is the whole pack has to be in consensus for their vote to count. And no member can be nominated by one of their own.”

She swallowed hard at that. She either had very powerful friends she didn’t know about or very ruthless enemies. They’d just painted a huge target on her back. “Which means?”

“Congratulations. With your background, you’ve been grandfathered into the force without all that rigmarole. Sign the papers and you’re in. You will be issued a gun, a badge and the right to review every criminal case involving anything paranormal.” Scotts sounded as world-weary and tired as any cop who had over ten years in service. “Oh, and lousy pay.”

Raven blindly looked at the innocent crumpled envelope, half determined to toss the thing in the trash.

“Think very carefully before you decide.” Scotts disappeared within the bustle of the stationhouse without another word.

She didn’t know if the advice was a threat or plea, but she knew that if she didn’t take this step, she’d just worked her last case for the police. After the way things had ended last night, she thought maybe that was for the best.

She turned on her heel and left, desperately in need of air. The bright sun kissed her skin, but did little to penetrate the deep cold leeching away the last fragments of warmth her body had hoarded.

Taggert stepped in front of her, blocking her exit on the sidewalk. “Jackson wouldn’t have left voluntarily. If he left at all, it was because he had to follow orders.”

“Would he? Now that he has his wolf back, would he really want to stay and do his
baby-sitting
duty?”

Taggert’s jaw tightened at her taunt, but he didn’t back down. “He wouldn’t leave you without a direct order. Even if he’d wanted to stay, they wouldn’t have allowed him.”

She glanced away, and Taggert shifted to stand in front of her again, his whole body filling her vision. “You can’t believe everything you see or hear in other packs. They deal in politics. No pack is willing to work with another without compensation. They deal in lies. They steal. If they see you as weak, they’ll attack. He’s useful to them again, so they recalled him.”

“And the rule about us not being allowed to be alone? The whole reason for the chaperone?” She was grasping at straws, but didn’t care.

“Pack can recall their enforcers at any time.”

“No matter if it left you in danger or not.”

Taggert shrugged. “You can petition the council, but since you already mated me, I’m not sure it would matter.”

Determined to retrieve Jackson and fulfill her promise to him, she lifted her chin. “Where did they take him?”

Taggert touched her arm. “If we go now, they’ll see it as an act of aggression.”

“Jackson’s back to being the enforcer. He’ll be safe enough for now.” Durant spoke for the first time, his voice a rumble at her back. “The conclave gathers in ten days. You’ll have a chance to express your interest in him then.”

Though Durant might not like Jackson, he was willing to help her retrieve him. For her. “And they’ll just hand him over?” Her hands curled into fists at the thought of being denied, her skin crackling as energy swirled to life around her.

Durant and Taggert didn’t look at each other with so much as a flicker of an eyelash, raising her suspicions. “As long as his alpha or the council approves the mating.”

She narrowed her eyes and braced herself. “Tell me the rest.”

“You’re a new alpha. Though unlikely, someone could challenge your pack status. Another complication is the meeting takes place during a full moon.” They both paused and gazed at her as if she was supposed to know what the hell they were talking about.

“And?”

Taggert winced while Durant smiled. “What they say about the full moon having an effect on the shifters is true. The animal side of our nature is more pronounced, and the need to mate increases.”

“So?”

“What he’s trying to say is now that you’re pack, you might be affected as well.”

She licked her lips, uncertain where this was heading. “I’m sure I’ll be fine.”

Durant smiled again, a wickedness gleaming in his gaze. “The meeting will also be a place where other packs scope out potential lovers. If you’re there, you’ll be sure to receive offers.” Now his smile disappeared, and a shiver passed over her when his gaze sharpened possessively on her face. “You will be one of the few female alphas present.”

“I can take care of myself.” Neither of them said a word. “Anyway, I’ll have my hands full focusing on Jackson. No one will approach me.”

Durant and Taggert shared a glance that all men share when they thought a female was being unreasonable. She hated that look. Taggert broke the silence first. “They won’t give him up without a price. You didn’t mark him when he had leave from the pack, so if you want him, you’ll either have to fight for him or bargain with his alpha to get him back.”

She winced at the slight incrimination in his voice. He was right. She should’ve pushed mating Jackson last night, but Jackson had to play the hero and give her time to adjust.

She was a fool. “And if I mark him at the club?”

“Now that he’s healed, he’s a valued member of the pack again. Without permission from his pack alpha, it’s an act of aggression. You’d be risking both his life and your own.”

“And both of you in the process.” So not an option.

Taggert’s phone rang, startling all three of them. He fumbled with it before answered, his eyes locked on hers.

“I’ll let her know.” He hung up the phone, his face grim. “We have to get back to the house. London found two intruders. They say they know us and are asking for sanctuary.”

Raven rubbed her brow, quickly covering the ground back to the car. Disappointment settled on her shoulders, along with a deep anger that another pack was trying to take what was hers.