Sweet Destiny (The Jessica Sweet Trilogy Book 3) Page 5

  And what could he possibly say to that?

  “Why are you here, Nox?” She leaned toward him as she asked, scrutinizing him with intense green eyes. Eyes he couldn’t seem to look away from.

  “Isn’t that the question of the night,” he replied, hoping she would divert her gaze soon and free him from her visual grasp.

  “It is.” She blinked then, releasing him from her spell with that split-second action.

  Nox seized that moment of control and used it to study his hands. He hadn’t realized how much blood was on them, how it had crept beneath his fingernails and filled the creases in his skin. He should clean up. Get out. Run. But…

  “Talk to me, Nox. Before long, the Legion will be questioning you, and they’ll not be as pleasant as I am. You’re wanted for some pretty vicious crimes, as I’m sure you’re aware. It was Jessica made them call off the manhunt, at least with the intent to kill you on sight. Were you really under that Sorcerer’s spell, or does the evil that so obviously lives in your brother reside in your own soul as well?”

  Direct, to the point, and bloody fucking nosy. And yet he found himself wanting to pour his heart out to the woman. If he didn’t know better, he’d think she was playing some Vampire mind game on him. Of course, that was impossible, but the desire to tell her everything, from his very first memory to the horrors of his time with Fuhrmann, was overpowering.

  Nox opened his mouth to respond, but a sudden clenching of his heart had him on his feet and through the door in a trice.

  Raven had apparently awoken, and by the sounds emanating from the cellar, his sense of calm had deserted him.

  Chapter Seventeen

  R aven floated between oblivion and awareness with the scent of Jessica in his head, honeysuckle and wine, and a feeling of déjà vu that was overwhelming. He was in her cellar, he knew that, but the dirt floor and spider webs were gone. Replacing them were tile flooring, proper walls, and the bed he was lying on, all seeming foreign, out of place.

  Confusion warped his brain as the past mixed with the present. Why would he be in the basement cubby instead of upstairs with Jessica? It was Thanksgiving, they had a lovely dinner with her friends and parents, that funny little kid, Allie.

  The memories slammed into him like a freight train, Malcolm saying she was pregnant, Jessica not denying she had cheated on him, the fury that consumed him, the fight. The beast. Was that all real? With a bracing hand against the wall, Raven made to sit up, but the pain that assaulted his brain had him falling back against the mattress.

  The pain. He was more than familiar with these headaches. He’d suffered enough of them when his brother was screwing with him, running around playing at being the monster of Raven’s ancient history. He’d manipulated his mind, stolen his memories, so that suspicion would fall on Raven.

  Had Nox put those vicious ideas in his head? Made him think that Jessica had been untrue?

  He attempted sitting again, this time forging through the pain, struggling to regain some sense of reality. The agony had him hanging his head between his knees, as new memories assailed him.

  Malcolm, turning into a giant cat, attacking him. The battle, Raven’s beast in full control. Malcolm was no match. Had he really killed that fucking cat?

  And then like a ray of bright light, the full picture of the night’s revelations laid itself out before him, plain and clear, and he knew it was all true. No twin brother mind fuck, just betrayal—and murder. Only this time it wasn’t his brother doing the killing. This time it was Raven. He’d given the beast his head, and another man was dead by his hand. An innocent man…

  No—not innocent. He was nowhere in the vicinity of being innocent, no more than Jessica was. They had both betrayed him, and there was a Shifter spawn growing in her belly as proof of that duplicity.

  The beast stirred within him, it’s rage building until it was pounding at the base of Raven’s skull, fighting to escape, to kill, to destroy.

  But the stronger the desire to let loose his fury, the sharper the knives digging holes in his brain. The struggle created an agony so fierce it brought Raven to his feet, the roar he let loose his only release for the mental brawl taking place inside him.

  In fury, Raven lifted the bed, throwing it across the small space, but it wasn’t enough. Grabbing the mattress, he ripped it in two, spraying the room with foam and springs. After destroying the mattress, he went for the headboard, breaking the wood into a hundred shards. He then took each shard and pounded it into the drywall, shattering the dirt wall behind, and bloodying his hands in the process.

  In his frenzy, he didn’t hear the footsteps easing down the stairs and when Nox climbed the mountain of metal and fluff to get to him, he turned on his brother with murder on his mind.

  “Stop,” Nox whispered, and like a puppet with its stings cut, Raven fell to the floor, the beast running to hide deep in his psyche, away from this creature who would have him chained again.

  Raven gasped in ragged breaths and reached a hand to his brother. Nox clasped what was offered and pulled him to his feet.

  Both males, far too massive for this small space, stood hunched, facing each other as they waited for Raven to return to a place of serenity. Nox looked around at the chaos wrought by his twin and shook his head.

  “You’re still in no shape to be travelling, my brother, but it seems you’ve destroyed your resting spot.”

  “That I have, brother,” Raven said, that scent—her scent—still tickling his senses.

  Nox saw the flash of memory cross his brother’s face and made a decision. “It’s time to get you home.”

  Chapter Eighteen

  “C an I get you anything?” Piper sat on the bed beside me, anxiety dripping off of her in waves. She had already helped me change my clothes and scrounged up a wet washcloth so I could clean up a bit before crawling into bed. A shower would have been better, but I didn’t have it in me. These sheets were going to require a thorough washing.

  “I’m fine,” I assured her, my hand clasped in hers. She squeezed my fingers and looked away, presumably so I wouldn’t see the tears that were dripping down her face again. My eyes were surprisingly dry.

  “Hey,” I said, pulling her into a hug. “It’s okay. You don’t have to hide your tears.”

  She threw her arms around me, and quietly sobbed, her body shaking with grief. I looked over her shoulder at the men hovering near the foot of my bed. Alex was sitting on the mattress, his legs dangling off the end, a hand resting on the comforter covering my legs. Harrier leaned against the wall, watching over me like he was afraid I might break.

  Or perhaps he was there in case Raven decided to come upstairs and finish what he started. That was probably the more likely reason, and if I allowed myself to think about it, I was grateful for my uncle’s presence.

  Piper pulled herself from my arms and wiped her hands across her eyes as she sniffled. After one particularly unladylike snort she gasped and threw her hands over her mouth. Piper only snorted when she was drunk, and it usually triggered a bout of hysterical giggles between the two of us. Tonight, however, a tiny curve of my lips was all I could muster.

  Alex patted my leg and stood, looking for all the world like he was going to go downstairs and confront Raven.

  “Don’t,” I begged him, and he gave me innocent eyes. “And stop acting like you don’t know what I’m talking about. You know what he is. You’ve seen what he can do. I won’t let you be another casualty brought about by my stupidity.”

  “It would be my own stupidity,” Alex mumbled, but he returned to the bed, bouncing me a little with his frustrated landing.

  “You guys should go home,” I said. “It’s late, and I’m not going anywhere.” They both looked at me as though I’d suggested they should cut off their left big toes and feed them to my kitties.

  Damn it, bad analogy, and the tears I thought had been all cried out returned with a vengeance. Harrier straightened, glaring at my friends as if this new
surge of sorrow were somehow their doing. I waved him down and he reluctantly returned to his post near the door.

  “We’re not leaving you,” Piper assured me.

  “Especially with that animal still down in the cellar,” Alex said and he popped up again, paced the width of the room. “Why hasn’t somebody called the police? You’ve got a murderer in your cellar, Jessica. He shouldn’t be here. He should be in prison.”

  “Please, Alex, you’re not helping.” I pulled the blankets up and tucked them under my chin. He was still so new to this world, sometimes he didn’t think. What would the human police do with the likes of Raven? Lock him in a cage? He’d just mentally unlock it and walk right out. They wouldn’t be able to stop him.

  It made me think, though. What would happen to Raven? For the first time since I met him, the first time since that woman cursed him all those centuries ago, he had killed someone without just cause. Well, without legal cause by Vampire law anyway. This wasn’t something they could sweep under the rug or pretend never happened. This was murder, and the Cat Shifters were going to want justice. One more molted feather to stick in my cap.

  I heard some commotion downstairs but didn’t want to think about what it might be. Harrier was at the door, listening, in full guard dog mode. I slid down the headboard until I was prone and yanked the covers over my head.

  “Jessica?” Piper had regained her composure but was still concerned.

  “Yeah, Piper,” I said, my voice muffled under the blankets.

  “Well, Alex has a point. Shouldn’t we call someone? You know, the authorities or something?”

  “Mason’s already been contacted,” Harrier said from his new spot by the door.

  “No offence, Harrier, but what’s he going to do? Are you even prepared to handle this kind of situation?” Alex was being exceptionally brave, talking to Harrier like that. I peeked out from my blanket fort to find Harrier looking at me as though I had somehow offended him by making him deal with the humans.

  “They’ve got this,” I said, and rolled over on my side. Raven would pay for what he did tonight. I didn’t know how, but someone, either the Vampires or the Cats, would see it done.

  Chapter Nineteen

  N ox helped Raven up the stairs and out onto the porch where the two Legion males were waiting. Tas, the pretty one with the blond hair and the Australian accent, rose from his place on the rusty swing and was at Raven’s side, ready to help in any way possible. Together they maneuvered him to a black Hummer in the driveway.

  Raven was still in no shape to be moved, and it took both Nox and Tas to wrangle him into the vehicle. Once inside, he fell over and curled into the fetal position on the back seat. Tas climbed in the driver’s seat, leaving Nox to ride shotgun.

  The Soldier, Perry, stood at the driver’s side window, receiving instructions from Tas.

  “Stay with Harrier and Rachel. I’m sure one or both will want to hang here with Jessica, but I don’t want them unprotected.”

  Nox thought Harrier was probably capable of protecting them all but chose to remain silent.

  “I don’t think the cats are going to do anything tonight,” Tas continued, “but those little shits are unpredictable. If they think Jessica is harboring Raven, they could come here to retrieve him, and she doesn’t need to deal with that.

  “Mason will have called the Overlord by now, and I’m sure they are working out the details. Until they get word from their leader, though, there’s no telling what those Shifters will do. I’d rather have you here as backup for Harrier, just in case.”

  “Yeah,” Perry said, scratching his head. “Whatever you need.”

  “I’m also not sure what the humans’ plans are for the night. Wouldn’t be surprised if they stay here as well, but if they decide they want to go home, and Harrier feels it’s safe, you make sure they get where they’re going.”

  “Of course, but Tas?” Perry motioned to the back of the Hummer where Raven was clutching his head and moaning. “What happens now?”

  Tas shook his head, giving Nox a wary glance. “One thing at a time, mate,” he said, fist bumped the Soldier, then closed the window as he pulled out of the drive.

  “It was a logical question,” Nox said when they were well on their way. “What will your Mason do with him?”

  Tas pulled up to an intersection and stopped, looked both ways and turned left once the traffic, consisting of a single vehicle, cleared.

  “If I were you,” Tas said without looking at him, “I’d be more concerned about what Mason’s going to do with you.”

  Nox looked out the window at the passing countryside. The road they were on was serpentine and hilly with houses dotting either side. Thick woods backed many of the homes, some of which were set upon knolls with steep angled driveways, others nestled down in dips and gullies. The entrances to the latter looked more like the first drop on a roller coaster ride Nox had seen on the internet.

  “Not that I’m complaining,” Tas continued, “but what were you doing there tonight? We thought you’d be miles away by now.”

  “So people keep saying.” Nox spoke to the window, his breath creating a misty fog on the glass that dissipated as quickly as it formed.

  “Is there an answer?” Tas asked, turning once again, taking them further into the desolate country.

  “Suffice it to say that I was there for my own reasons, none of which are any business of yours. Should your Warlord wish to interrogate me, that is, of course, his prerogative, but I would suggest he not keep me from my brother’s side for long. There are triggers I’m unable to predict, and therefore unable to plan against. I can’t help him with these until I know what they are. I won’t know what they are until they’ve triggered a response in him, and if I’m not nearby, it could be dangerous to anyone who is.”

  “I’ll be sure and tell Mason you said so.”

  “Thank you,” Nox nodded at his reflection in the window, then turned to face the driver.

  “And thank you for your assistance with Raven. I’ve never felt a mind so dead set against manipulation. My brother’s beast seems to be quite tenacious in certain areas, and I’m afraid without your help, things might have gone differently.”

  “Yeah, well, Malcolm still died.” Tas’s grasp on the steering wheel tightened, and Nox considered him as the male’s knuckles turned white. Apparently, not everyone shared Raven’s obvious hatred for the cat. But then, Raven had a singularly unique view on the subject.

  “True,” Nox said, and unable to come up with anything more substantial, repeated the sentiment. “True.”

  Chapter Twenty

  U nwilling to leave me alone, my friends had planted themselves on my bed, Piper at my side and Alex curled up at the foot with a spare blanket and pillow. They had a much easier time falling asleep than I did, though. So, when their breathing evened and Alex gave a little snore, I crawled from beneath the covers and crept out the door.

  Careful to tread lightly on the creaky fourth stair from the top, I made my way downstairs. I was hoping for some alone time, a few moments to breathe, so I could wrap my mind around everything that had happened in the last few hours. Of course, that was too much to ask.

  The kitchen was dark, but I could just make out my uncle’s form by the tiny bit of light creeping in through the window. Harrier was sitting in a hard kitchen chair that he’d moved in front of the door, a formidable barricade between me and the things that go bump in the night. His chin rested on his chest and, like my friends above, his breathing was slow and steady.

  I glanced at the microwave. Three a.m. I started to say something but Harrier beat me to it.

  “I hear ya there, little one.” He didn’t move, just whispered those words to the room, and I sighed. “Trouble sleepin’, then?”

  “Yeah,” I said and walked to the kitchen counter where I kept the booze. I had a shot glass out and the lid screwed off the tequila before I remembered. Damn it. “You want a shot?” I offered Harrier in
stead.

  He shook his head as he rose from the chair and turned to watch me. “Nah,” he said. “Need to keep a clear head, I think.”

  “Wish I could fog mine up a bit.”

  Harrier took the few steps required to pull me into his arms and gave me an awkward hug. My uncle had a huge heart. I knew it, his sister knew it, and he probably knew as well. Converting that into practical use? Well, he was still working on that.

  I hugged him back and stepped away, giving him his space along with a pat that said I knew he was trying.

  “Where’s Rachel?” I asked as I leaned against the sink and played with a dark speck of something under my fingernail.

  “She’s asleep on the couch. I tried to get her to go upstairs to one of the spare rooms, but she wouldn’t hear of it. Said she wanted to be her for you when you came downstairs.”

  “You guys are going home for the day, though, right?”

  Harrier frowned and shook his head. “Why would we do that? If the cats are going to do anything, they’ll do it during the day. I won’t leave you to face that on your own.”

  “You could call my dad. I’m sure he’d be happy to send a few dozen wolves to protect me so you guys could get some proper sleep and rest.”

  Harrier stepped away and moved to the door where he stood staring out the window. I joined him there, wrapped my arms around his waist and laid my head on his chest. There was a chill deep inside of me I couldn’t seem to shake, and when he dropped his arm around my shoulder, I basked in his warmth.

  “What did Mason say?” I asked, knowing my uncle would have called his boss by now.

  “What you’d expect. The Clowder wants Raven. We can’t give Raven to the Clowder for fear he might kill more cats. You know, the usual.”

  “What about Alex and Piper?” There was no way Harrier had neglected to inform Mason about their desire to call the cops.