Imprint (Lycan Wars Book 1)

  ****

  Kira stepped off the bus and tied her jacket tighter around her waist as the cool wind off the bay water whipped around her. She took a deep breath and let out her sigh into the chilled air. A seagull landed without fear near her feet and pecked at a piece of discarded food.

  Kira eyed the buildings on the wharf and searched the fronts of the large industrial-style buildings for the series of numbers her father had written in his letter. They might have moved operations, but I’m sure they still own a few buildings on the wharf, her father had written. Kip was supposed to be working in one of these buildings. Kira took the sidewalk toward the water. When she spotted the restaurant sign, she put her hand on the doorknob and paused.

  Her father had always talked about a world that was unknown to humans — despite the fact that he knew it. Lycans, vampires…even demons and angels. She’d always thought they were fantasies in a world her father had created for her after her mother died. Growing up in the field where her father was an archeologist wasn’t lonely with stories about wars between vampires and lycans or angels and demons after the lore of the dig site’s history wore off. It wasn’t until her father had sent her a package from his latest dig that she’d realized her father’s dream world wasn’t fantasy at all — it was fantastical.

  You’re a seer, my dear. It means you can see the future. It’s a rare gift, which makes you a target in this world. In my foolishness, I had hoped to keep this from you. If no one knew of your gift, you could be safe from manipulation. But now, I fear it’s too late. Your mother warned me of this…

  Kira swallowed thickly, remembering the words her father had written. Manipulation… Now, she had no choice but to make herself and her powers known to a creature that might overpower her. Why didn’t you tell me sooner, Father!

  Dr. Malcolm Warner had been a historian for the city’s lycan clan for years and listed all the major players in the journals he sent to Kira. Due to circumstances I can’t get into right now, the only one you can trust is a young man named Kip. He and I kept in touch over the years… Her father’s words were her guiding light and with Kip’s help, she would be led straight to him.

  Kira dragged the heavy door open and stepped inside the darkened room. In front of her was another door with a small, barred window near the top. A restaurant with barred windows? She glanced around at the other buildings on the wharf. None of them were barred. This isn’t a bad part of town.

  “Name,” a faceless voice came from behind the bars.

  Kira jumped. “Kira…” She hesitated using her real last name. “I’m here to see Kip.”

  A pair of dark eyes appeared and swiveled around. Kira lifted her chin and hoped she exuded confidence.

  “Phrase.”

  She swallowed. “Phrase?”

  “Phrase!”

  “Surgit a plenilunio.” She had practiced the phrase her father had written in his letter all the way from the city. Although she’d taken Latin as a child, she was rusty on its pronunciation. From the full moon rises… Kira suspected that meant lycans.

  The eyes studied her. “Wait here.”

  Seconds ticked by into minutes and Kira began to sweat beneath her jacket. What if the phrase was incorrect? Would she be denied entry? Or would they tear her apart for being some sort of imposter? Her father hadn’t had contact with this clan outside of Kip in a long time. Surely they’d changed their security phrase since her father’s last visit.

  It was vital that she meet with Kip. She’d already lost a lot of time since her father’s disappearance and couldn’t waste any more of it on a technical detail. Her mind strayed to the black card she had left on the kitchen counter. If push came to shove, she’d hire Jace to find this guy.

  The black metal door opened and the pair of eyes, which belonged to an incredibly tall and muscular man, landed on her. “That’s an old phrase. Where did you learn it?”

  Kira stepped across the threshold. “I, ah…just got it from my father.”

  “Who’s your father?”

  “Which one is Kip?” She looked around the darkened room and hoped the bouncer would forget all about her father and the old Latin phrase. If her father hadn’t kept in contact with the clan, maybe it was for a specific reason. Trust no one but Kip. Why didn’t he trust the others?

  “He’s straight ahead at the bar.”

  “Thank you.” Kira kept her gaze fixed on a tall figure with curly brown hair. He was laughing with another individual at the bar. Kira felt as though conversations at tables around her had ceased and all eyes focused on her entrance. She ignored the stares from eyes that appeared to glow in the dimly lit setting, and chose the sight of a beautifully confident smile on a man she hoped was Kip. When she reached the bar, the man with the smile eyed her with approval. “Kip?”

  “That’s me. Who are you?”

  “I’m…” She looked at the men at the bar. Drinks were left in their glasses, as the men appeared eager to listen in on her conversation. “I was told you could help me,” she said in a low voice.

  A brow arched and an unapologetic gaze raked her. “I’m sure I can.” The men sitting near him chuckled. “I’d like to know your name first.” He put a hand over his heart. “You know mine, so it’s only polite.”

  “Kira.”

  His brows meshed. “Kira…”

  He inhaled deeply and grinned. Kira ignored the creep factor building in her gut. “My father’s an archeologist. Malcolm Warner. He said I could come to you if I ever needed…”

  Kip nodded slowly. “Yes…yes, I know him,” he said gravely. His expression darkened; his eyes held concern. “Anything you need.”

  Perhaps they’d lost interest, but the men at the bar turned away and were conversing with one another again. Kira relaxed a bit and her tongued loosened. “I was hoping you could help me find him.”

  Kip took a swig of his drink and set it down firmly. He took her elbow and steered her away from the bar to a secluded spot in a dark corner. They sat down at a table. Kip leaned across the table. “What do you mean? Where is he?” he asked in rapid secession.

  “I don’t know. That’s why I’m here. He sent me a letter…said he was kidnapped. Then last night, I was attacked in an alley by three lycans—”

  “Wait, back up.” His voice was low, almost a whisper. “Did you say last night?”

  Kira nodded.

  “Three lycans?”

  She answered with a nod again. “I don’t know who they are. My father mentioned some lycans were after him and that I might be targeted also.”

  Kip squeezed his eyes shut. His next question made her wonder if he had heard the part about the lycans clearly. “Were you rescued by someone?”

  “Yes,” Kira said with a bit of impatience. She didn’t want to discuss Jace; he wasn’t important. “But the lycans…” Her voice trailed. She looked Kip straight in his eyes. “How did you know I was rescued?”

  His gaze shifted to a spot over her shoulder. “Was his name Jace? Your rescuer?” he whispered.

  Stunned, Kira nodded. “Yes. How did you—”

  “I thought I recognized your scent. Uh-oh. Jace!” Kip stood and moved around the table.

  Kira stood and whirled. Her eyes found Jace standing near the door next to the bouncer. Fists balled at his sides, his eyes were narrowed at the two of them. Kira unconsciously backed into Kip, who put two hands on her shoulders to steady her. That protective action only seemed to make the veins in Jace’s neck pop.

  The room was strangely silent. She was no longer the only person of interest. Everyone in the room looked at Jace, whose gaze remained fixed on her and Kip.

  “Jace?” A question from someone in the crowd. “Is that you?” A man stood from a table near the bar. “Wow, it’s been a long time. Why are you here?” His eyes shifted from Jace to Kira and Kip.

  Jace ignored the man at the bar and slowly stalked toward them. “Kipper, get your hands off of her,” Jace said in a low and steeled voice.
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  Kip obeyed immediately. He came around Kira and stood in between the two of them. “Jace—”

  Jace stopped a few feet from them. His green eyes turned a strange orange hue like the others in the room. He seethed. “What are you doing with her?”

  Kip raised a hand to Jace. “She came to me. I just found out who she is.”

  “And you’re touching her.”

  Kip groaned. “Give me a break, Jace!”

  Jace advanced.

  Kira sucked in a breath, her lungs on fire from having not breathed since her eyes had landed on her rescuer. Last night he’d been so caring and compassionate and now…now his eyes held a look of murder. “No! Stop!” Kira rushed in between them and held out her arms to brace for impact.

  Jace stopped himself before he ran into her. Kip remained firmly planted in his spot.

  Jace’s uncertain gaze moved back and forth from his friend to Kira. “I told you to call me.”

  “I didn’t need you. I needed Kip.”

  Jace’s gaze faltered. Kira realized her mistake. Jace’s hurt look softened her heart. She took a hesitant step toward him. Her fingers grazed the sleeve of his leather jacket. His murderous gaze vaulted to Kip.

  “How about we take this into another room, before your uncle finds out you’re here?” Kip suggested.

  “He already knows.” A deep voice boomed from a staircase to the right of the bar.

  Kira beheld an impressively tall and large figure with broad shoulders and a square jaw so like Jace’s. “Jace? Who is that?” she whispered.

  Jace answered without turning around to look. “My uncle Roman.”

  She barely heard his low voice. His lips had thinned into two straight lines, and a tic twitched in the side of his jaw. She thought she’d seen a glimpse of fear in his eyes but it was now masked behind a dark hardness. Kira looked at Roman. Although the older man smiled, his eyes held the same shadowy mystery. Clearly the two had history, but what kind? What would separate them?

  Jace grabbed her still outstretched hand and dragged her to the opposite side of the room. Kip followed. “There’s an empty room up the stairs to the right,” Kip said from behind.

  Kira looked back and saw that Roman kept watching them as they approached the stairs.

  When they had closed the door to the room, Jace walked to the window and gripped the ledge. Kira and Kip exchanged a nervous glance. Jace kept his back to them.

  “Okay, let’s get back to why you’re here, Kira,” Kip said after a few minutes of tense silence.

  Her eyes moved to Jace’s back.

  “You can trust him,” Kip urged. “He’s my best friend. Now, you said your father is missing and he told you that I could help.”

  Jace whirled. “Your father is missing? Who is he?”

  Kira moved to a dark couch and took a seat. She reached inside her wristlet and produced a folded envelope. “Malcolm Warner. He sent me a letter before he went missing. He said a group of lycans were coming for him and that I had to find Kip.” She raised her eyes to Kip. “He said to trust no one but him. That he was the one good one.” At the high praise, Kip’s uncertain gaze moved to Jace. Kira watched as the veins in Jace’s neck bulged. “He said your loyalty was to the survival of the clan and not to power.”

  “Your father never introduced the two of you?” Jace asked.

  “Her father left the clan shortly after your uncle took power. You don’t remember him?”

  Jace shook his head. “I vaguely recall a historian.”

  “Well, Roman and Malcolm had a disagreement about how he assumed control of the clan,” Kip said.

  “How do you know that?” Jace asked with a hint of suspicion. “I’m the one who relinquished control.”

  “You know I love history. I’ve seen his notes on our history and have kept in touch with him over the years. Last I spoke to him was a few months ago before he left for a dig. I’m assuming this has to do with the clan. Which lycans are targeting us?” Kip asked.

  Kira shrugged. “My father didn’t say. Just that by the time I read the letter, they would have him and would be coming for me.”

  “You?” Jace moved quickly to the couch; his eyes held grave concern. “Why you?”

  Kira looked at Kip. Her father had insisted she trust him. Yes, Jace had imprinted on her and would probably protect her with his life, but could she trust him just yet? Could she even trust Kip? Her father hadn’t spoken to Kip in months. Perhaps he was no longer an ally. She sighed and put her head in her hands. I don’t know what to do.

  Kira felt the letter slip from her hand. Jace was reading it. “You’re a seer.” He looked at her with surprise and a bit of disbelief.

  “Huh,” Kip said. He folded his arms across his wide chest. “If you’re a seer, why didn’t you see those lycans coming?”

  Kira rolled her eyes. “I don’t know how to access my power. I don’t even know if I believe it!” She bolted from the couch and walked to the window. “This is the first I’ve heard of it.”

  “‘I didn’t know that you had the gift, but apparently, they’ve found out,’” Jace read. “‘Get to Kip and have him hide you. The clan will protect you.’”

  She’d scrutinized those words a thousand times yet still couldn’t make any sense of them. “I can see the future,” she whispered. She stared at the still bay water that extended out for miles. “I wish I had known that years ago. I could’ve avoided a lot of things, starting with those lycans in the alley last night.” Her gaze shot to Jace, who looked away when their eyes met. If she had avoided that alley, Jace wouldn’t have rescued her. He’d be free from the imprint. He was embarrassed to have her know how connected he was to her now; she’d seen it in his eyes in the elevator. Did he want to be free of her? Could he actually desire it now that he was so enslaved?

  “It’s possible your father didn’t know,” Kip said.

  “No,” Kira said harshly. “He knew. He said he wanted to protect me, only that plan failed.”

  “Well, using the clan is out of the question,” Jace said decisively.

  Kira heard Kip sigh and knew a fight would soon ensue.

  “Jace, I know how you feel about the clan, but her father’s right. If another pack of lycans is hunting her, the safest place for her is with us. We know the city and can move her around in our network with ease. Besides, we don’t know who these guys are or the size of their clan. It could be highly formidable.”

  “They sent three of their own after her. Three.” Jace emphasized his point by holding up three fingers. “That job should’ve required only one. They must have thought she was powerful enough to send more than one guy after her.”

  “True. The more lycans, the higher the probability of success.”

  “They want her badly. And if that’s the case, then my uncle will want her too.”

  Kip put both hands on his hips. “Do you want another war? Is that it? Because that’s what’s going to happen if we don’t do what’s necessary to keep her safe before we know what’s really going on.”

  “I know that!”

  “Then what do you propose?”

  Kira watched the exchange with interest. She had a feeling the pair of them would make a decision with or without her input. Regardless, they were clearly troubled by the news of another clan of lycans encroaching on their territory. And what did Jace mean by his uncle wanting her for himself?

  “My uncle…”

  Those two words from Jace were enough to draw the look of resignation on Kip’s face. “You’re right.” He looked at her with worry in his eyes. “If Roman knew you were a seer, he would use you for his own purposes.”

  “I don’t see how,” she interjected. “I don’t know what to do or how I’m supposed to do it. What is he going to do? Force me?”

  “Not while I’m alive,” Jace said firmly, his eyes unyielding.

  Kira believed him. She warmed at the thought of not one, but two lycans who would defend her. Her gaze remained knit
ted with Jace’s. He smiled slightly, a look of expectation in his eyes. Kira didn’t disappoint and returned his grin.

  “Fine, fine. She’ll stay with us,” Kip said. “We have more than enough room anyway.”

  “Let’s just get her out of here before my uncle asks questions.” Jace stood and opened the door. Roman stood on the other side flanked by two men.

  “Did I hear you talking about me? It’s good to see you, Jace. It’s been too long.”

  “Uncle,” he said stiffly.

  “Is that all you have to say? I’m hurt.”

  From her vantage point near the window, Kira could only observe Jace’s rigid back, his balled fists, and Kip’s tense stance, slightly angled forward.

  Roman’s bald head and heavy goatee came into view as he leaned to his right side. His beady eyes, which didn’t seem to be full of pain at his nephew’s silence, studied her. “Aren’t you going to introduce me to this lovely young woman?”

  Jace exchanged an annoyed look with Kip. “Kira, this is my uncle Roman. Roman, Kira.”

  “Ah, Kira.” Roman stepped into the room but was stopped when Jace’s large hand landed with a thud on Roman’s chest. Roman arched a brow at his nephew.

  “We don’t have time for pleasantries. She’s a friend of…a client and we were just leaving.”

  “A friend of a client? Really…” He sounded unconvinced and easily swiped Jace’s hand away.

  This isn’t going to end until he’s satisfied. With an outstretched hand and a forced smile, Kira walked to the door. “Nice to meet you. I was just here to see Kip, who was so kind to help me.”

  The longer Roman’s lips lingered on Kira’s hand, the darker Jace’s eyes became. At one point Kira could’ve sworn they began to glow. She did see his shoulders rise and his chest strain the fabric of his grey t-shirt. Was he shifting?

  “Oh? Help with what exactly?” Roman’s gaze found Kip.

  “It would bore you,” Kip said.

  Roman’s smile did not meet his eyes. “I’m not so sure. It’s been a slow day for me. Anything would interest me right about now.”

  “You’ll have to excuse us, uncle.” Jace snatched Kira’s hand from Roman’s. “Kira has another appointment and I’ve got to meet a client.” He shoved past Roman and right in between his two accompanying men. Kira tightened her grip on Jace’s hand and grabbed his arm with her other hand in a struggle to match Jace’s speed. Kip followed on their heels.

  “Where are you taking me?” Kira whispered into Jace’s ear.

  “Our place,” Jace responded.

  They bounded down the steps and rushed through the downstairs bar, past startled patrons, and out the front door.