rogue shifter 07 - cut off (4 page)

"A year ago." We grinned at each other. Hunting together as a family had turned out to be so much fun, once Charlie had gotten the hang of it.

"You will have limited access to those abilities as well." Isaiah had conjured a deck of cards and was shuffling them over and over, the slapping sound starting to grate on my nerves.

Charlie's forehead wrinkled. "I don't have much demon blood."

Isaiah smiled, placing the queen of hearts and the queen of spades beside each other on the table. "It makes no difference. Your bloodline is royal." On their own, the two cards stood on end, then melted, remolding into tiny versions of Naberia and Fionna. They drew swords and circled each other. "Royal on
both
sides." He laughed when the tiny archdemon decapitated her rival, only to laugh harder when Fionna picked up her head and threw it at Naberia.

"Royal blood makes it stronger?" Charlie had scooted a little farther from the table. Isaiah could be creepy at times.

"Yes. Your demon magic is at its peak when you're here, so we're going to play with that for awhile. Does that interest you, nephew?" The two tiny rivals disappeared with a loud pop, along with the rest of the deck.

Charlie's mouth twitched, but he held the smile at bay and lifted his chin instead. "It does, uncle."

"You will agree to follow my instructions to the letter for the entire time you are my guest. This is for your safety and mine." Charlie nodded. "You will not use your magic unless I give you permission." Charlie nodded. "You will stay within the boundaries of my property, unless I give you permission to accompany me off the grounds."

"Yes, sir."

"Hmmm. I like that."

I whacked him on the shoulder. "Don't go overboard. Your ego is legendary, but I won't have you treating Charlie like your pet poodle."

"Never. The young man only shows me the respect I have earned as his trainer."

"Uh huh. Just don't get all
I am your master
on him."

"Killjoy." Isaiah looked Charlie over with a scrutinizing gaze. "The child is obviously fae and will have to be disguised." He said to Charlie, "I'm going to glamour you, like I did your mother. It will keep your identity a secret."

Charlie made a face. "Just keep me a guy."

Isaiah laughed out loud. "Another wolf, I think. A young enemy who has to give me years of service to repay a debt. You've been around wolves enough to know how they act."

"Cool." Isaiah was definitely succeeding in getting Charlie's mind off of Garrett's kidnapping. I was grateful for that.

"Stay away from the green goop." I added. They both laughed at me. I hugged my son for as long as he'd allow, which wasn't long, then kissed his cheek. "I love you, baby. I'll get him back and then I'll bring you home."

"Don't worry about me. Find Dad and keep yourself safe."

"Your mother has a nose like a male pixie in heat. If anyone can find him, she can."

I rolled my eyes. "Try to control yourself. He's still a boy."

"Not in Faerie." Charlie piped in. This was an old argument. In the world inhabited by the fae, one was considered an adult at fifteen.

"Nor in the DR," Isaiah smirked. He loved to give me a hard time.

I growled, "Isaiah..."

"I shall return him to you in perfect condition. Never fear."

"I'm holding you to that."

"Mom. Really? Maybe you should go find Dad now." He was staring at the floor with a pained expression.

"Sorry." I sighed. "I shouldn't treat you like a kid. I'll try to remember." He blessed me with a half-smile, a miracle from a kid who usually seemed so serious around me. "I'm proud of you. Listen to Isaiah. He's different here. Kind of cooler." I winked at the demon who'd been my trainer too.

"Uck. My reputation as a badass is shattered."

I ignored him. "We'll find Dad, Charlie. Don't worry. I love you."

"Love you, too." I smiled at my son, flipped Isaiah off and then dissolved into the lines, leaving behind the sound of male laughter.

CHAPTER SIX

Something was keening, the sound plaintive and unfamiliar. Jolted awake, I blinked several times to adjust to the fae light, then looked for the source of the sound. In the corner of the room was a small goblin, trembling and flattening herself against the wall, trying to force as much space as possible between us.

She was dressed in a simple suede gown, shredded around the hem and stained with all manner of things. Her filthy clothing and unwashed body lent a sour odor to the small room, adding to the many layers of unpleasant scents already present. Because she was an unseelie species, I assumed she was a prisoner like me, since unseelie weren't permitted at court. Showers and laundry facilities didn't appear to come with our accommodations, so I couldn't hold her accountable.

I tried to speak to her in the language of the seelie fae, but she only turned away, still moaning as if she were in pain. I'd learned some words in Isaiah's tongue so I asked her, "Are you in pain?" She looked at me, shocked, then nodded. "Where?" I asked.

She turned and showed me her back. The dress was in tatters across her shoulders, her skin shredded where she'd been whipped. Some of the wounds still bled. At least this was something I could help her with.

I was about to offer her my wrist, when the queen appeared. "Why aren't you feeding? I've heard goblins are delicious to vampires. I personally find them to be most adequate. Especially roasted." She laughed at her joke. At least I hoped it had been a joke.

"I've explained. I won't feed on innocent beings."

"She is unseelie, an animal."

"I am a cheetah." I shrugged.

Her mouth flattened in anger as her eyes flashed with gold. "You will regret your decision."

She beamed all of us to a hallway occupied by four fae guards and one large metal door. The sound coming from behind that door was loud enough to make me wince in pain. The goblin began to scream. She turned to run, but the guards held her in place.

Fionna laughed at the female's distress. "She recognizes the sound of a hungry slaugh." With a flick of her hand the wall that separated us became transparent, showing us the angry unseelie beast chained and covered with blood. Leathery wings were tucked behind his enormous muscular body, a hooked claw at the top of each. Saliva dripped from a mouth filled with rows of pointed teeth and fangs twice the length of mine.

I put myself between the girl and the queen. "Fionna, don't do this."

"Would you sacrifice yourself in her place?"

"Will you give me the use of my magic?"

"The slaugh has no magic. Should I allow you the use of yours?"

"A weapon?"

"He uses only his own natural gifts. You would have an unfair advantage." The creature roared, pulling at his chains, growing more frustrated and angry with each passing moment.

Without full access to my magic I might not be strong enough to fight him off. I'd be armed with only fangs and claws, my strength compromised because I hadn't fed in a day and a half. The slaugh was twice as tall and broad as Heinrich and Sasha combined. As much as I wanted to help this unfortunate female, Jackie and Charlie needed me to stay alive.

"I won't commit suicide for your amusement. Is there something else I can barter for her life?"

"The bartering for
your
life has already begun. This goblin scum is not worth protecting." She froze me in place then motioned for the guards to open the door. It took two of them working magic to move the enormous silver-plated portal. The young goblin was still screaming in her language as they forced her into the large cell. The door closed with a foreboding clang.

"She will die quickly but the pain and the terror will be great. You could have drained her into death, but chose not to. It is a much more peaceful way, I believe. Next time you will obey me, or all the females I bring you will die as the goblin shall."

Still unable to move on my own, Fionna forced me to face the cell. "Watch what you've done." As she regarded the spectacle, her own fangs grew, claws sprouting from her finger tips, her dark purple eyes sparkling with a golden lust. My stomach twisted into knots.

The slaugh's chains fell away and then the slaughter began. He killed without finesse or mercy, simply tearing into her throat with his claws and his fangs. I didn't fight against the spell, feeling that I should be present for her final few moments, but my anger burned deep as the innocent female was ripped apart and then consumed.

"I'm afraid she won't satisfy him for long. The next female will need to be larger, perhaps part seelie fae." The sport over, Fionna had transitioned back into her extraordinary form, a brilliant mask that concealed her black and rotted soul. She looked me over with irritation. "I'll keep you awake so your hunger grows."

Returned to my dim cell, I leaned my back against the stone and bent my knees, the wall supporting my slow descent to the ground. I was trembling with the need for blood, especially after watching that brutal display. To block out the physical, I forced my mind to go over what I'd learned.

"The bartering for your life has already begun."
What deal was she hoping to broker with my life? Surely she didn't expect Jackie to exchange herself for me? Or a fae? Or—shit. My stupidity was monumental. She wanted my son. That could be the only answer.

I leaned my head against the cold wall and smiled. Jackie would never exchange Charlie for me. Caelen would protect them. Relief seeped into my body like a tonic, allowing me to relax and ignore the painful cramps and headache.

Fionna would not get what she wanted and would take it out on me. I could survive torture, and had many times, but never the loss of Jackie or Charlie. Closing my eyes, I forced the pain away and dredged up a happy memory spent with my family.

Charlie and I were shooting hoops in the driveway. "Dad, how come you're a cheetah and a vampire?"

"I was a cheetah for a hundred years before I was made a vampire. Fortunately, I was still able to keep my cheetah gifts."

"I wanna be a vampire, too. Can you make me one?"

"First of all, I'll never make someone vampire."

"Why?"

"I'd have to kill them first. It's murder. Secondly, only humans can be made. It won't work on a fae."

"How about demons?"

"Nope."

"No fair. You can move faster than anyone."

"You'll be able to travel the ley lines like Mom and I can one day. Then you'll get places just as fast."

"Yeah, but if you made me a vampire, I could move fast right now."

"Why this sudden interest in speed?"

"Jay's legs are longer so he runs faster than me when we race or play soccer."

"Jay just had a growth spurt. You'll have one soon and then when your cheetah powers kick in you'll be faster than Jay."

"Yeah?"

"Yep. And don't forget, if you were a vampire, you'd have to drink blood and stay inside during the day. No more deluxe burgers or pancakes or ice cream."

He looked at me in shock. "Oh, yeah. I forgot about that stuff. I guess I can wait."

"Wait for what?" Jackie had gotten home from doing her errands and was walking toward us in that feline way that made me want to kiss her.

"A growth splat."

"Spurt."

"Right." Charlie grinned as she giggled.

"You're already taller than me and you're only eleven," she complained. Jackie was 5'9".

"Jay's taller," Charlie said, scowling

"He's older," Jackie replied.

"He's always gonna be older. Does that mean he's always gonna be taller?"

"Not necessarily," I answered. I hadn't been able to take my eyes off of my sexy mate, so I pulled her closer and nuzzled her hair. Her soft body relaxed against mine.

Charlie rolled his eyes. "You aren't gonna start kissing, are you?"

"Maybe. Haven't decided yet." I smiled at Jackie and she giggled again.

"Gah." He made the finger down his throat motion.  "What is it with girls? Lately Linn wants to kiss me all the time."

Jackie and I both turned in his direction. "She does?" I asked.

"Yeah. Whenever she gets me someplace alone she tells me to kiss her. She says it's an important skill and we should practice."

"And what do you say when she asks?" Jackie's mouth curved down with motherly concern.

"Uh..." His skin pinked up. "I tell her..." He looked at the ground. "I usually tell her not now."

"Usually?" Jackie moved closer, hoping to hear all the details.

He looked so uncomfortable I tried to help him out. "You might want to say something like, 'Maybe we could go for a walk instead'. That should placate her."

"Hmm. I guess I could try that." He didn't sound particularly hopeful.

Jackie asked, not finished with her info gathering, "Do you...?"

"Oops. I'm late getting to Grady's house. Gotta go. See ya." Charlie ran off down the road, successfully escaping further interrogation. Aislin, his fae guard followed behind at an easy jog. Charlie seemed pretty speedy to me.

Jackie sighed. "I told you, that one's a vixen."

"Linn's a fae female who sees Charlie as a possible future mate. She's probably asked Grady to kiss her too. Maybe even Farrell."

"My god, Farrell's a hundred years old!"

"And will live until he's 5000 or more. He's still a child compared to the others." The look of horror on her face made me laugh out loud. "He wouldn't kiss an eleven year old child, but knowing Linn, she might ask him to."

She narrowed her eyes and pulled on my shirt, yanking me closer. I left my hands hanging by my sides, allowing her to control me, playing along with my deliciously possessive mate. "If she ever asks you to kiss her, she and I are having words."