Lorn glanced around once more, making sure no one watched them. He leaned forward a little and softened his voice. He stared into his father’s eyes. “If anything bad happens to Kira, it will be the last day you draw breath. I’ll hold you personally accountable.”
Shock took over his father’s face. “You’d try to kill me over her?”
Lorn didn’t hesitate. “Try? I’m your son. I always follow through with a threat. You taught me that. Decker had reason to be wary of me, and so do you. You couldn’t take him in a fight when this clan formed or you would have led it. I’m a much better fighter than you ever dreamed of being in your prime.”
“I’m your father! You’d attack me over that weakling?”
“I’ll demand blood if Kira’s is spilled. You do anything to her, or have someone go after her, I’ll be seeking yours, old man. Never threaten Kira again. I don’t even want you looking her way. It only pisses me off. Am I clear?”
“Yes.”
He saw a little fear in his father’s eyes. No guilt surfaced. “We made a bargain and I’ve kept my side of it. You might be able to force me to take some stranger into my home but you better be damn certain Kira is always safe. She’s the only reason you have any control over me. Enjoy it while it lasts—and pray she has a long, happy life. Your lifespan is the same as hers.”
Ladius spun away and stalked toward a group of elders. Lorn watched him go and grabbed his beer. His hands shook slightly but he took a sip just to cool his temper. It didn’t help. He was sure his father wouldn’t repeat anything that had been said between them. It would make Ladius appear weak. He’d rather die first.
Lorn knew hell. His life had always been a series of burdens and responsibilities he’d never wanted because of his birthright. He wished he could just leave. To flee the clan and live somewhere else, anywhere else, had been a fantasy of his for what seemed like forever. Dreams were for children though.
He couldn’t abandon the weaker members of the clan. They depended on him to protect them from assholes like his father and other VampLycans under Decker’s thumb. He’d never openly defied Decker but he had learned the art of manipulation from Ladius. It was a game he grew tired of playing.
He glanced at the newly mated couple accepting congratulations from other clan members. Their joyous smiles mocked him. He’d have to accept some woman his father had chosen for her lineage and suffer in silence. It was expected of him. He didn’t know Darya, nor did he want to. She’d expect to bare his children and share his home. He took another sip of beer. She would grow to hate him once she realized he refused to settle.
Kira’s face flashed in his mind. The bitterness returned. She had feelings for him. It made everything a thousand times worse.
Chapter Two
The thick woods were comforting as Kira picked up the pace, running to get away from the pain and the man who caused it.
One decision had been made though. She’d take her father up on his offer. No way could she remain with the clan to watch Lorn take a mate. The sight of them together would kill her a day at a time.
It was terrifying to walk away from all she’d known but she’d survived a year of college, after all. Not all of it had been good but humans weren’t so bad. She just had to keep her guard up around them and lie about her family to protect the clan’s secrets. She’d always gone with the story of having deceased parents and no family. It was best to avoid any questions.
That year had proved she could survive in the human world if she had to. It was possible she could become a real cop instead of just carrying a badge to scare off poachers. To serve and protect was something she’d been groomed to do.
A few miles later, she paused and noticed that the woods had grown too still. Her gaze drifted to the treetops, not spotting a single bird. She cocked her head and strained her hearing, not picking up the normal sounds of smaller creatures scuttling about. Rabbits were usually all over the area but none could be seen.
A faint whiff of smoke reached her nose and she turned in that direction.
“Damn poachers,” she muttered. They were stupid to start a campfire considering it hadn’t rained in weeks.
They were easy to locate as she followed the smell of burning wood. Four human men sat around the fire. They’d used a small clearing as a base camp. One quick sweep revealed four backpacks, the same amount of sleeping bags. She pumped the shotgun as she stepped around a tree into their view. Her badge hung from around her neck. They’d be able to see it clearly.
Four pairs of eyes locked on her in stunned silence.
“Hello,” she stated in a loud voice that would carry. “I’m a park ranger and you’re on protected land.”
They paled a little. She liked that. It meant they bought her cover. “Do you know the penalty for trespassing? Five years in prison. I guess you didn’t see all those pesky warning signs telling you to turn your butts around? Maybe you thought there wasn’t anyone around to enforce the law?” She paused. “There are thirty-eight rangers who patrol the area and ten of them are about to join us,” she bluffed.
“We, uh, didn’t see any signs.” One of them was a terrible liar.
“You’re not wearing a uniform,” another one pointed out.
“I don’t have to. Do you know why?” She didn’t give them time to respond. “I’m not supposed to see the public—because no one is allowed to be here. How did you miss seeing the fence you had to get over to reach this spot? Were your eyes closed while climbing it? That wasn’t a clue that you shouldn’t trespass? I know there are posted warnings every fifty feet. I check that they aren’t blown away every few days.” She pointed the barrel of her shotgun in their general direction just to make sure none of them went for a weapon.
One of the men had the grace to wince. “We just thought it was a lot of empty land.”
“You were wrong.” She slightly relaxed. None of them seemed aggressive or menacing. “It’s an animal rescue preserve. All the wildlife here is protected. You’re lucky you didn’t nab anything.” She couldn’t detect the smell of blood or see signs of them cooking anything besides beans. “It’s an additional year for every kill.”
“Shit.” The oldest-looking one appeared ready to piss himself. “We didn’t know. We’re real sorry. We just arrived a few hours ago and we haven’t done anything but set up camp.”
Kira sighed. “I’ll tell you what. You look like nice guys.” She wasn’t really sure about the youngest one. He appeared kind of shifty around the eyes but she used the “nice guys” routine the most. “I’ll cut you a break. Dump dirt on your fire and clear off the land immediately. You do that and I won’t arrest you. It means you won’t have to pay fines and I have less paperwork to do. Deal?”
“It’s about two miles to where the fence was,” one of them protested. “It’s almost dark.”
“Then I suggest you pack up fast and jog. Did you forget about the other rangers on their way? Smoke travels for miles. They aren’t as easy-going as I am, boys. We’ve dubbed one of them Ranger Rage. He gets super pissed over idiots starting fires.” She waved a hand toward the flames. “That will set him off big time. Do you know how dry it’s been? Forest fires are a real hazard. He kind of beat the living shit out of the last guy who started one. He said it was worth the three-day suspension because he got to break the guy’s jaw. It amused him, thinking about that poor sucker needing a straw to eat from for a few months.”
They scrambled to put out the fire and she hid a smile while she watched. Humans were easy to intimidate. They hardly gave her trouble once she gave her scary spiel.
Veso really did detest idiots who set fires—but he wouldn’t have stopped at a broken jaw. He’d have buried their bodies and called it a day. The VampLycan could be merciless.
Her humor vanished as she glanced around the woods. The smell of their campfire would have traveled farther by now, and Veso wouldn’t be attending the mating ceremony. He was known to stay clear of any kind of relationship
s and definitely wasn’t the type to settle down. He’d bitched often about how the ceremonies were a stupid, unnecessary tradition, and resented being asked to participate. It was possible he might show up early to relieve her before the sun set, just to avoid the gathering.
“Hurry up,” Kira urged. “Hustle!”
The four poachers packed up their camp more rapidly than she thought possible, an impressive feat. “That way.” She pointed. “I’ll follow you until you’re over the fence. Don’t ever return. You were lucky I was the one who found you. Tell your friends to stay away too.”
They ran. She laughed when they were far enough away to not hear it over their gruff pants. The backpacks looked heavy and they weren’t exactly fit. She kept up with them for a mile. It was easy to trail their progress after that by climbing a tree. She waited until she watched them struggle to get over the fence.
“Job well done,” she muttered, now that they weren’t her problem anymore. She climbed down and returned to their camp.
It would take some time to remove their traces. She hated that part of the job but she rested her shotgun against the base of a tree. The fire pit they’d dug was shallow but they’d used stones to line it. Dirt covered most of the charred remains, though she’d still have to dismantle the thing. They’d lain out their sleeping bags too. It would be easy enough to sweep the area with brush to mute their scents.
It was necessary. Otherwise any VampLycans in the area would smell unfamiliar humans and believe there were intruders. She glanced up at the sky and uttered a curse. She wasn’t going to make it home before dark after all, unless Veso really did show up to relieve her soon. He’d been assigned the night duty.
Thoughts of Lorn hit and she fought back tears. Leaving Alaska was the right thing to do…and the only way she could survive him mating another woman. She’d wanted to be with him forever but had been denied. He’d been her hero at first, her only friend, and the love she’d felt for him had blossomed with every day they’d spent together.
What did he want to say to her? It plagued her as she set to work removing all signs of the campers. He’d probably tell her how sorry he was but he didn’t share her feelings. He might even give her the speech about how it would be unacceptable for them to be together. She couldn’t even shift into another form. That would put a damper on any clan couple’s relationship. He’d be running in the woods and she’d be left behind. Her two legs would never be able to keep up with his four.
If only Lorn wasn’t the first son of Decker’s advisor. Ladius would never accept her into his family. She knew VampLycan culture. She’d be considered flawed and too weak to be worthy of someone important. It was a miracle Decker hadn’t killed her already. He really hated humans but he loved to use her against her father.
Some guilt surfaced over that. She might be the clan’s pariah, but her father had become Decker’s whipping boy. A widowed woman in the clan should have lived in the basement apartment of the village lodge, hosting all events and visitors. Decker had assigned that task to her father instead as punishment. Her dad swore he didn’t mind but she knew some of the clan laughed at him, taunting him for being emasculated.
She sighed aloud. The entire situation depressed her. Lorn’s father and Decker were best pals. Their leader might have fled to avoid one pissed-off GarLycan clan leader but that didn’t mean his laws were no longer being followed. Ladius would rather slit her throat than allow her to be with his son.
Kira had no idea how Lorn’s brother felt about her. Lavos kept his distance. And Lorn’s mother just ignored her as if she didn’t exist.
A lot of the clan treated her as some kind of ghost. They walked by her as if she wasn’t there, not even acknowledging her.
“Boo,” she muttered.
Resentment built but she used it to her advantage. Anger had a way of making the task of cleaning up the camp seem to go faster. It was still a laborious process though. She wasn’t allowed to make any mistakes. Her father would pay for it, one way or another. The last thing she wanted was for someone to point out to him how flawed she was once again. It upset him when the clan criticized her. He took it more personally than she did. He cared what they thought. She’d stopped giving a shit years before. There was no way to please them.
Kira stepped back and studied the clearing. Darkness had fallen and her eyesight wasn’t great at night, but she didn’t spot anything that looked disturbed. The smoke-blackened stones the hunters had used were now buried under inches of dirt. The pit they’d dug had been filled in and she’d sprinkled moss over the area to mask the raw earth scent. She inhaled again, not picking up anything out of the ordinary.
Cleanup was one job she wouldn’t miss once she left the clan. Dirt clung to her hands as she brushed them down her pants. Her belly rumbled, a reminder she’d missed lunch and it was well past dinner. Her dad would be pissed that she was late but it couldn’t be helped. She gave the clearing one more check as she walked around it, studying it from every angle.
Veso would sweep the area, too. His senses were more heightened than hers. He’d find the flaws if she’d missed anything. She bit back a groan. He’d bitch at her if she had. The guy loved to bust her ass. She was one human he had to tolerate, not that he was overly happy about it.
Where is he? She cocked her head to listen. It was surprising that he hadn’t found her already. It was almost a game to him when they shared shifts to hunt her down and try to sneak up to give her a scare, just to prove she wasn’t as skilled as everyone else in the clan at being aware of her surroundings. The wind whispered through the treetops and leaves rustled but she didn’t pick up anything else.
“Huh.” She shrugged and walked to the tree she’d rested her shotgun against.
She came to a jarring halt.
Her shotgun wasn’t there.
She crouched down and saw the indent in the loose dirt where the butt had rested, sure she wasn’t wrong about where she’d left her weapon. Her body tensed as she slowly lifted her head to stare into the dark branches above. She didn’t see anything since clouds hid the moon.
“Very funny. You got me. I didn’t hear you, Veso.”
She straightened and stepped back, prepared for him to jump down to land in front of her. He liked to do that in an attempt to make her scream. She firmly sealed her lips together, not willing to give him that pleasure. The guy could be a first-rate prick, but he had some good qualities too.
Nothing happened. Which just pissed her off.
“Come on. Do you always have to pull this shit? I didn’t smell you coming either. It’s that human blood of mine. We’ve already established I don’t have enough Lycan in me. Get down here and return my gun. I’m tired and I want to go home.”
The hair at her nape prickled and she spun, expecting Veso to be behind her.
There was someone there all right, but it wasn’t the VampLycan.
Even in the darkness, the man’s face was distinctive. It was the unusually pale skin that made him appear stark against the night. Terror gripped her as it sank in what he was.
“Are you looking for a burly dog about this high?” He had a slight accent, something European, and his hand was just as white as his face when he raised it about six inches above his head. “He growls a lot and has a nasty disposition?”
“He’s indisposed at the moment.”
She jerked her head to the left, staring at another shape that seemed to just appear out of the darkness. His white face made him look almost as if he were just a floating head, since his clothes were black, hiding his shape from the neck down. He spoke without an accent. American.
“A few of our friends are playing with him.” The first one drew her attention. “He’s not very welcoming.”
Oh shit! Her heart raced but she fought to slow it down while trying not to panic. Take a deep breath. Chin up. Don’t show them fear or you’re dead for sure. It was easier said than done but she drew in air, released it slowly, and cleared her throat.
/>
“You’re trespassing in VampLycan territory. That means you’re in violation of the treaty. You need to immediately leave the area.”
She straightened her shoulders, wishing she had her shotgun. It wouldn’t kill a Vampire but it would sure do some damage if she unloaded a few shells into their faces. They’d be damn sorry while they healed and it would give her time to run before they got back on their feet.
“She’s cute, isn’t she?” The Vampire in front of her sniffed. “And she smells so human. Of course she’s more, isn’t she? She’s going to be delicious.”
“I could use another snack,” the one to her left added.
They were doing a great job if they meant to scare her. Kira fought her instinct to run. The hunt would end up getting her killed. She held her ground, though they were faster, stronger, and she was in deep shit.
“Are you trying to start a war?” She knew they wouldn’t dare. VampLycans were feared by bloodbags because the latter had to go into hiding during the day. It made them vulnerable. Not to mention, VampLycans were far stronger. “You need to leave.”
“Who’s going to make us?” The one in front of her stepped closer. “You?” He laughed. “Your friend? He won’t be joining us.”
The implications were bad. VampLycans and bloodbags didn’t get along well. That they were here would mean a fight at best, and they’d come to break the peace treaty at worst. There was nothing to stop them from killing her, either way.
It seemed she wasn’t going to leave tomorrow after all. Instead she’d be murdered on clan soil.
“You think we’re the only two out here? That would be a no. He’s just my patrol partner.” Veso would hate her calling him that but she had other things to worry about, like why they had invaded VampLycan territory and what exactly they planned to do to her.
The one to her left spoke. “We only found you two.”