She finally caught her breath and pushed up to her knees, stumbling to her feet. The loss of her shoes became clear immediately as she felt the loose dirt stick to her feet. She’d also forgotten to grab her discarded panties before she’d run. That was the least of her worries. The biggest would be freezing to death or being found by that horrible creature. There were also other predators out in the woods. She wasn’t about to forget their near run-in with a bear.
She hugged her body, shivering. A hiding place would be good but she had no idea where it would be safe.
Dusti glanced up at the sky, dreading the coming night. The bears suddenly seemed tame in comparison to that hell beast she’d seen. It’d had an almost humanoid form except for the hair and wolf like features. It almost made her wish someone had dumped illegal chemicals in the area that had affected the wildlife, turning them into some kind of radiated freaks. She’d read stories of things like that happening. That sure hadn’t been some two-headed turtle though, nor caused by anything so simply explainable. The beast had been huge, a monstrosity.
A VampLycan. Vampires and Werewolves were real.
She stopped and leaned against a tree, breathing deeply, fighting hysteria.
She suddenly wished Drantos were with her. As much as she had hoped to get away from him, wandering around in the woods while wet and terrified was turning out to be so much worse. She was torn on how far to go from the river’s edge, too. How would he be able to find her? It was probably for the best if she stayed in the same area, to help him locate her. She had to have faith that he’d be okay and come looking. The alternatives were too much for her to consider. Drantos couldn’t die.
She bumped into a tree, distracted. A soft curse left her mouth as she paused, taking in her surroundings. The large, intimidating shapes of more trees spread out as far as the eye could see. The ground wasn’t level, plenty of large stones were littered around the area, and a few fallen logs blocked her path.
“I hate the outdoors,” she whispered, coming to the conclusion that she’d likely die on her own. Either the exposure would kill her or the animals would. Her gaze lifted to the tree branches as she wondered how she’d fare if she climbed one to get off the ground. The sun would go down at some point and she needed to make a decision.
She walked to one of the trees and wrapped her fingers around the lowest branch. It was a sad attempt, trying to pull her weight up. She was too exhausted. Frustrated tears blinded her until she blinked them back. Climbing was out of the question. She just didn’t have the strength.
Think, she ordered her mind. She took some deep breaths and slowly stripped with trembling hands. There was no way to dry what she had worn but she squeezed out as much water as possible. It was chilly being naked but worse when she redressed. She hoped the clothes would help her avoid cuts and scratches, at least. Her bare feet would be a problem but it was pointless to grieve the loss of her shoes.
She huddled next to a fallen log, trying to get warm. It was impossible to do but she was low to the ground and partially hidden. Chills shook her so hard that the fish in her belly threatened to come up but she resisted the urge. There was no certainty she’d see another meal. It would also probably draw predators.
“Drantos,” she whispered, wishing once more that he was at her side.
She turned more into the mossy tree. The smell of decaying wood was faint but the log blocked her from the worst of the chilly breeze. She only could hope that Bat fared better with Kraven. One of them needed to survive.
She decided to rest for a little while to regain her strength and then try to climb the tree again. Just a little break and I’ll be able to do it…
* * * * *
Drantos wanted to kick his own ass almost as much as the VampLycan he faced off against. He never should have touched Dusti until they’d reached the safety of the clan but she was just too damn tempting. They might have been across the river already if he hadn’t gotten distracted by his need to claim her body.
He snarled at the idiot who thought he could take her away from him.
“Don’t even think about running after her,” Drantos softly warned. “I’m going to shift and we’ll battle it out—unless you have no honor. Then I’ll just rip through my clothes. You know I’ll catch you if you get a few seconds’ head start, and the woman could get hurt if she gets between us. Decker doesn’t want that, does he?”
The VampLycan crouched, his intent to launch an attack again clear, but he hesitated. The enforcer’s side was already torn up from when he’d tried to dodge around Drantos to go after Dusti once already. It was possible he was buying minutes so he could recover from the wound a little. Either way, it gave Drantos the precious time he needed to strip.
He quickly did it in record time. He could shift in clothes but they would be torn up in the process. The enforcer eyed him, moving a little to the left, tearing his gaze away from Drantos to look toward where Dusti had gone.
Drantos shoved at his already open pants and they fell to his ankles. Good enough. At least the bastard has some regard for fair fighting. Apparently not all of Decker’s enforcers are totally like him.
He’d tried to get Dusti to believe everything he’d told her but to be attacked by a VampLycan enforcer wasn’t how he’d wanted her to realize his world truly existed. He snarled again to draw his enemy’s attention. The male crept forward, trying to skirt around him, clearly his patience at an end.
Drantos attacked, shifting as he slammed into the enforcer.
His claws tore into meaty flesh and the male screamed in agony. Blood sprayed his own body. The fight was on.
The male rolled when he hit the ground hard and tried to slash at Drantos’s throat. He ducked his head and savagely bit into the arm that had swung his way. Bone snapped under his powerful jaws. He was fighting for Dusti. It made him lethal and furious.
She is mine!
The taste of her on his tongue was replaced by rich, fresh blood. He viciously jerked his head, his fangs still embedded in the enforcer’s arm. The male roared in agony. Drantos released him and jumped back. He snarled a warning. Stop or die.
The male stood and his front limb hung uselessly as he backed up. He flashed fangs and snarled his own warning. He wasn’t willing to concede. He was willing to die following Decker’s orders.
The bastard glanced toward the river and quickly tried to take off that way, but with his injured leg, Drantos was on him before he could make it ten feet. He did glance at the water for a precious few seconds himself as his body landed on the enemy’s back. Dusti had gone into the river but she wasn’t within sight. He only prayed she had safely swum to the other side and hadn’t drowned. He’d been too occupied keeping the enforcer from getting past him to watch her progress.
He and his opponent rolled together on the ground. The enforcer roared in rage and twisted, trying to get Drantos onto his back. He made another attempt with his good arm to slash open his neck. Drantos jerked out of the way but it was close. He actually felt claws brush against his skin. He thrust one arm back before stabbing his own claws into the male’s chest.
His opponent’s eyes widened in disbelief as he realized it was a killing blow.
Drantos felt no sympathy. Any enforcer of Decker’s who would attack other VampLycans to steal a woman deserved death—especially one who had come to kidnap Dusti and Bat.
They knew why their clan leader wanted the women, and the outcome if Aveoth accepted a trade. They’d be helping the war begin. It would mean families fighting members from different clans. Cousins killing cousins. Brothers battling each other, in some cases, if they’d mated women from other clans and joined them to keep her with her family. Decker would probably have killed any of his enforcers who refused his orders but death would be preferable than starting a civil war.
This man under him bought into his clan leader’s craziness.
The male screamed when Drantos dug his claws in deeper, piercing his heart. It was a sickening
feeling, finding the beating source of the male under him and tearing into it. He watched the enforcer’s eyes as death took him. It was fast in reality but time seemed to stand still until the tense body under his grew limp. The male exhaled his last breath and his head slightly turned. Sightless eyes peered up at the darkening sky.
Drantos yanked his claws out and slowly pushed himself off the male. Then he turned his head, frantically searching for Dusti in the water. The river turned out of sight a few hundred yards up. She wasn’t anywhere to be seen. He sniffed the wind but could only pick up the scent of blood from the enforcer he’d just killed. He studied the surrounding area and crept toward the woods. There could be more of them out there, and he’d kill them all to prevent them from following Dusti.
It alarmed him that Kraven hadn’t arrived on the scene. It was possible his brother had already crossed the river with Bat. The wide flow of water might muffle sounds of the attack from the other side.
The other alternative could be that they’d taken his brother by surprise.
Rage surfaced fast but then he calmed. Decker’s enforcer wouldn’t have attacked him if they already had what they wanted. Kraven also wasn’t one to allow anyone to sneak up on him. He was an excellent fighter.
He scanned the area again, still wondering if more enforcers would arrive. Long seconds passed. No one else came at him.
Drantos entered the woods to peer around but didn’t find any immediate threat. He returned to the clearing and stared down at the dead enforcer. He couldn’t leave him there. A hunter could come across the body. Not too many humans lived in the area but there were a few. It was also too close to the river. Some humans traveled along it. They might spot the downed man. It left him feeling torn between desire and duty. He wanted to go after Dusti but law demanded he take care of the evidence. Humans couldn’t learn of their existence.
He used his claws, digging into the earth. He’d bury Decker’s enforcer and send others back later to return the fallen man to his surviving family members. It was the best he could do. Even an enemy deserved a decent burial given by his loved ones, even if he had made a bad decision that had gotten him killed. He was part of the clans.
It took Drantos time but he finally shoved the male inside the shallow grave, covered him up with dirt and heavy rocks so wildlife wouldn’t dig him up to eat.
He walked into the river and submerged his entire body, scrubbing the blood and dirt from his skin. He returned to the embankment and retrieved his clothing. That’s when he realized his jacket had been destroyed. Claws had torn through the material during the fight. And another problem became known—Dusti’s shots hadn’t survived. They had probably rolled over them in battle, breaking the thin syringes. The liquid from them had seeped into the material of his jacket and the ground under it.
“Fuck.” He blew out a frustrated breath. He’d find her and make sure she was okay, then worry about the rest later.
He bundled his remaining clothing and boots, hooking them onto the highest point of a branch on his makeshift raft. He’d hopefully at least keep his things dry by pushing the damn thing across the river. He just wished Dusti were on it, too, warm, dry, and safe.
A snarl built up inside his throat. He needed to find her, and was outraged that she wasn’t at his side where she belonged. He’d kill Decker Filmore with his bare hands if Dusti died because that jackass wanted to use his own flesh and blood to start a war.
Chapter Seven
“I’m so screwed,” Dusti whispered, staring at pure blackness around her. The sun had gone down while she’d slept. The woods were unusually quiet with the exception of the breeze stirring leaves.
A soft crunch noise made Dusti blindly snap her head in the direction of the sound. She hugged her waist hard, pressing tighter against the log, praying it wasn’t some animal on the hunt for an easy meal. She silently swore to fight if anything tried to eat her.
Exhaustion had caught up with her while she’d tried to get warm and she’d dozed off. That little nap had turned out to be a mistake, one she only realized now. It was impossible to even see her hand in front of her face. The treetops above entirely blocked the moon, if it was even out. Her plan of climbing a tree wouldn’t happen until morning. She’d even debated on stumbling around in the dark but fear had kept her in place.
She imagined falling into a hole or worse, off a cliff. All the unseen dangers filled her thoughts. She could stumble right into a nest of sleeping snakes. Or a bear. She shuddered, hugging her waist a little tighter. Animals wouldn’t have to hunt for her if she found them first. It was best to just stay still and quiet.
No other sounds scared her so she started to relax. Her head lowered to rest on the tops of her drawn-up knees, her breath the only source of warmth against her chest where she trapped it there with her bent body. She was cold but she doubted she’d freeze to death overnight. Things could be worse.
“I should have climbed a tree,” she muttered aloud, the sound of her voice her only comfort.
“That would have been a good plan,” a deep voice stated from behind her.
Dusti cried out, startled, and nearly toppled over.
Firm hands suddenly curled around her shoulders and a big body eased down along her back, his thighs caging her body. “Easy. It’s Drantos.”
“Damn it! You scared the shit out of me.” She twisted though, grabbing hold of him. “I’m so glad you’re here. You’re alive!” She latched onto one of his arms. The warmth of his skin made her shiver again. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine. I’m sorry I couldn’t find you faster. You stayed in the river longer than I anticipated so it took time to track you.”
She managed to wiggle enough to get to her knees, leaning heavily against his chest. Warmth radiated off him as if he were a living heater.
“You’re freezing cold.”
“Why aren’t your clothes wet?” She touched his chest to assure she hadn’t imagined the dry feel of his shirt.
“One of us got to use that raft I built. Strip down now, take it all off. I’ll give you my shirt. I had to unfortunately leave the jacket behind.”
“Why?”
“Remove your wet clothes, Dusti. They’re just making you colder.”
She only hesitated for a second. The lure of something dry against her skin was too much of a temptation to resist. It took effort to back away from him and rise to her feet. She instantly missed being against him. His big hands helped her tug the still very damp clothing from her body. The chilly wind seemed a bit colder without the thin barrier when she stood naked. Drantos tugged his warm shirt over her head.
“Can you see anything?”
“Yes,” he admitted softly. “Don’t worry. You’re just an outline and I’m not enjoying it as much as I wish I could. Are you okay? I don’t smell blood.”
“I’m frozen and terrified but fine. What happened? Is that thing still out there? Is it coming after us?”
“He’s no longer a threat. I handled it.”
She allowed him to pull her into his very warm arms as his words sank in. His bare chest radiated wonderful heat that had her hugging him as tightly as she could. His big body felt heavenly while he cradled her against his front.
“Handled it?”
“Yes.”
“You got away from that thing?”
“You could say that. That particular enforcer of your grandfather’s won’t be a problem to us again.”
“How? You grew claws, didn’t you?” Her mind was fraught with questions and her sanity depended on getting answers she could understand. “Drantos, is that what you look like when you shift?”
“Yes. I told you what my people are.” He rubbed her back. “That really was one of your grandfather’s enforcers. It’s what we look like in our other form.”
She shivered again but it had nothing to do with being cold anymore. “That didn’t look like a wolf.” She clutched at him tighter. “You don’t look that scary, do you? That
thing looked like some kind of hell beast. It’s because he’s evil, right? I totally want to believe that.”
“Damn it, Dusti. Don’t make things up to account for what you don’t want to believe. We’re half-breeds. Part Vampire and Lycan. It’s why we don’t look like wolves. We’re more.” He sighed, sounding frustrated. “Let’s talk about this later. I’m just glad you’re safe. Right now we need to find shelter and get you warm. We’re in no immediate danger.”
“How?” She wasn’t really sure she wanted to hear the answer.
“How am I going to find shelter?”
“How did you deal with that creature?”
He said nothing.
“What happened?” Dusti wasn’t about to let the subject go. “How did you get away from that thing?”
He took a deep breath. “Do you really want to know?”
“No. I’m just talking because I love the sound of my voice.” She rubbed her face on his warm chest. “Answer the question.”
“Let’s find somewhere more comfortable to get you warm. We’re too in the open here. We’ll talk then.”
“Fine.”
He lifted her without warning. “Wrap around me and hold on, sweetheart.”
She didn’t chastise him for the endearment. Her arms wound around his neck and her legs hugged his waist. She should have been embarrassed that her bare pussy pressed against his lower stomach but she was too cold and tired to care. His shirt hung low enough that it covered her ass when his arms shifted their hold to shelf her butt. He started to walk.
Dusti dozed in his arms until sometime later, when he adjusted both their bodies to sit down. She had to release her hold around his hips. He cradled her on top of his lap and kept her firmly against his chest, with his arms around her in a hug.
“This is the best I can do. We can’t have a fire.”
She tensed. “Are there more of my grandfather’s things looking for us?”
“They are men, Dusti. Not things. And probably, but that’s not the only reason we can’t have a fire. I forgot to grab the lighter I used when I had to abandon my jacket. I had other, more serious things on my mind at the time. I’d borrow one from Kraven but he seemed to have lost his jacket too.”