“He probably left them behind to shift, and then figured you’d be less afraid of him in skin than fur, so he shifted back.”
Bat’s mouth opened but she had no response. She tried to make sense of his words.
“He’s a VampLycan too. Remember how I told you we can shift into a different form? It’s faster to run and hunt for something when we’re not in skin.” Kraven turned his entire body to face her, forcing her to let go of the back of his pants. “It would just be weird to see us running around with hairy bodies on four legs, sporting a pair of jeans.” He chuckled. “Plus, it would be uncomfortable unless they had enough room to accommodate the other shape. We can pull it off in sweats but again…kind of weird looking.”
She realized her mouth hung open. She closed it and swallowed. “There’s more like you? What did you guys do, form some kind of club? Like those role-playing games? You have a group?”
All his humor disappeared and he looked angry again. “Goddamn it, Bat. Stop now.”
“What?” She wasn’t doing anything except trying to figure out if he had friends who were also into his pretend world.
“I know exactly what you meant. I’m not nuts.” He was really mad.
“Okay.”
He grabbed her and she gasped when he twisted, pulling her forward so they were both looking directly at the naked guy, Carver. He stood there listening with his arms crossed over his chest. He smiled, as if nothing was wrong with being naked. Kraven wrapped his arm around Bat’s waist, holding her in front of him, tight to his body.
“Do me a favor, Carver. Shift in front of her.”
The guy arched his eyebrows and glanced at Bat, then Kraven. “You want her to see?”
“She thinks I’m a basket case making shit up. Her mother was one of us but her father was human. She smells totally human for a reason. She didn’t inherit any traits from her mom. She didn’t even know about us. I’m tired of listening to her insult me. Please do it.”
“Are you sure about that?”
The new voice startled Bat and she turned her head, gazing up at another stranger. He was big but at least he had clothes on. Bat stared at him but he seemed to ignore her, his focus purely on Kraven.
“This is Red, my cousin,” Kraven informed her. “And hell yes, I’m sure. I didn’t want to shift myself because she already wanted to get away from me. Now I have backup, so I don’t have to worry about hunting her down.” His arm around her tightened even more. “She can’t run.” He looked at the naked guy. “Please, Carver. I’ve been waiting for this moment since she opened her mouth for the first time and pissed me off.”
Carver reached up and pushed his hair over his shoulders so it no longer hung down his front. “You owe me. She looks like a screamer, and I hate that shit. It hurts my ears.”
Kraven reached up and planted a palm firmly over Bat’s mouth. “No problem.”
Bat tried to pull his hand off her lower face but the second she touched him, his naked friend suddenly moved. He just dropped down on his hands and knees. Bat was stunned when he turned his face and winked at her.
He lowered his head then, and his body tensed. He arched his back and soft popping noises sounded, followed by something sickening like bones breaking.
Hair began to grow along his back, over his ass, and down his arms. It spread over his entire body. He threw his head back, his hair tossed out of the way of his face. Thin hairs covered his cheeks, where before it had been clean-shaven. His nose and lower jaw seemed to be expanding outward.
Bat’s legs would have given out under her if Kraven hadn’t been holding her up. She didn’t scream, but she did whimper loudly.
The guy wasn’t a guy by the time he took a step. He had four legs and kind of looked like some messed-up huge dog. The fur covering his body wasn’t overly thick, because she could see some patches of skin. The four limbs were wrong too. They were too muscular, and weren’t straight but instead all slightly bent, more similar to a man crouching on all fours instead of an animal.
He turned his head and peered up at her. His eyes were pure black, the irises and pupils seeming to have merged together into one color. He had a snout, his jaw was elongated. His mouth opened and she saw sharp teeth and fangs.
He growled and Bat was glad she’d already taken a trip behind a tree or she was sure she’d have pissed herself. She clutched at Kraven’s hand, no longer wanting to remove it from her face. She just wanted to cling to him.
The thing’s ears lifted, again like a dog’s, since they were slightly pointed. He turned his head and made a soft whine and rushed off into the woods. He didn’t move like a horse or a dog but instead…unlike anything she’d ever seen. She watched him until he disappeared behind trees and bushes.
Kraven eased his hand off her mouth and bent down until his lips were near her ear. “What do you have to say now, my little hellion?”
Nothing. She couldn’t speak. Her mind frantically tried to come up with a reasonable explanation. She blanked. It was tough to think at all. The image of that thing she’d just seen couldn’t have been real but she’d watched the naked man change herself.
The other man, Red, stepped in front of them. She looked up at him. He cocked his head, an expression of pity stamped on his features. He glanced at Kraven. “I think she’s in deep shock. Was that really necessary?”
“Oh yeah. It was.” Kraven slid his hand under Bat’s chin and gently turned her face until she stared at him. He looked amused. “VampLycans are real. Who needs the damn meds now?”
“I hit my head,” she got out. “That—”
“Was real,” he rasped. “Don’t wimp out on me.” He leaned a little closer. “And you’re awake.” He let go of her chin and reached down.
She jumped when he lightly pinched her ass. “Ouch!”
Kraven eased his hold around her middle. “Lock your knees.”
She did.
He eased back, totally letting her go. He grinned. “You can’t talk, can you? You’re speechless. Finally!”
“Kraven!” Red scowled.
“You have no idea.” Kraven suddenly bent and one of his arms hit behind her thighs while he wrapped the other one midway down her back. He just scooped her up and then tossed her a little in his arms to adjust her better. “I’m going to enjoy this. Let’s go. Wrap your arms around me, Bat.”
She did. Kraven smiled.
He was right. She was speechless over Carver turning into some kind of big dog-like monster. A Werewolf/Vampire combination. It wasn’t pretty. It had been terrifying.
Everything Kraven had told her started to replay through her mind.
Her mother had been one? It wasn’t possible. There was no way her mom turned into one of those things. Her mother hadn’t even liked dogs. They’d never been allowed pets, her mom claiming to be allergic to everything with fur.
She muttered that aloud.
Kraven heard her and responded, “She probably avoided them because city animals would fear her and cause a scene when she approached.”
Bat let that sink in, thinking about it.
Kraven interrupted her thoughts. “We’re coming up on some of my clan, Bat. Are you listening to me?” He stopped walking, holding her stare.
“What?”
“Behave. That means keep your mouth shut. Can you do that? Everyone you’re about to meet is a VampLycan. You don’t want them to shift and eat you, do you?”
“Fuck,” Red hissed. “What is wrong with you?”
Kraven ignored him. “That means don’t piss them off, Bat. Am I clear? Keep your sharp little tongue firmly inside your mouth and your lips sealed. I smell my father. He’s the leader of our clan. Be respectful, or my spanking your ass will seem like a fun time compared to what he’ll do.”
“You struck her?” Red sounded horrified.
Kraven finally broke eye contact to look at his cousin. “No. Of course I didn’t hit her. Bat is…difficult. Wait until you get to know her. Just trust me. Enjo
y the silence while it lasts.” He started walking again, carrying her out of the woods and into a clearing.
Bat stared at the group of people milling around a dirt road in the distance. Two trucks were parked there. A few men approached them but they at least wore pants. Most of them didn’t have shirts on. She noticed everyone seemed to be really fit and muscular.
Kraven stopped when they reached the group and eased her down on her feet, mindful of the shirt she wore so he didn’t flash the fact she wasn’t wearing underwear. He took her hand, keeping a firm grip on it. She squeezed back, not willing to let him go either.
“Good to see you, Kraven.” The speaker was a short-haired man maybe in his early twenties. “We were worried when we heard the plane went down.”
“Did a rescue crew reach the survivors?” Kraven looked at the men.
“Yes. A human rescue crew found them yesterday afternoon. We ran into a couple of searchers in the woods, who said two couples had disappeared. We told them we’d found you and got you to safety, so they’d stop the search,” another guy explained. “We didn’t want anyone to get in our way.”
“We had a few problems. Decker sent some men after the women,” Kraven announced.
The twenty-something man glared at Bat. “Who the hell are they?” He sniffed and frowned, gawking a little at Kraven. “Why is your scent all over her?”
“She’s mine.” He kept his voice low. “I need to talk to my dad. We’ll discuss this later, after we reach home.” He jerked his head toward Bat. “Enough for now. Got it?”
The men grew quiet. They threw glances at her but it was clear Kraven didn’t want them to speak in front of her anymore. She was coming out of her shock enough to function, but it was still tough. Bat wondered if she needed a drink or a doctor more. Both seemed in order.
A good-looking man in his mid-thirties approached. His hair was down to his shoulders and he was fully dressed. Kraven let go of Bat’s hand and pulled her closer to his body, putting an arm around her. She let him, still trying to fumble through her thoughts and everything she’d seen.
The new guy stopped a few feet away—and didn’t look happy as he gave her the once-over with a sweep of his gaze. Then he fixed his dark blue eyes on Kraven.
“Drantos informed me of the situation.”
That perked her up, and she swiveled her head, searching for any sign of Dusti. She spotted her near one of the trucks. She looked okay. She silently urged her sister to look her way.
“This is Batina.” Kraven bumped against her. “This is my father, and our clan leader, Velder.” He paused. “Remember what I said.”
She stared up at Velder and blurted the first thing that came to her mind. “Bullshit.”
“Fuck,” Kraven sighed.
She recovered. “Sorry.” She cleared her throat. “You can’t be his father.”
Kraven ducked his head and shook it. Then he glared at her. “Why not? I’m dying to hear this.”
“You look about the same age.”
“VampLycans age differently than humans do. He is my father.”
Well, she could see a resemblance. “Okay.”
Kraven grumbled. “I know that tone.” He released her and grabbed her arms, twisting her until they were almost nose to nose when he leaned close. “He’s my father. My biological, fucked-my-mother-and-knocked-her-up-with-me father. Got it?”
“You don’t have to get so testy about it.”
“Is that really necessary? You’re being crude.” Velder stepped closer.
Kraven released her and ran his fingers through his hair. “Let’s get out of here. Decker has men in the area. I’ll explain everything later. Just don’t let her piss you off. You’ve been warned. She’s an attorney from L.A. Add in the fact that she was raised in a human world and didn’t know about us. She has a mouth on her that would make a saint turn into a raging homicidal maniac.”
Velder’s eyes seemed to darken. “Don’t talk to me that way.”
Kraven dropped his hand to his side. “Sorry. It’s been a trying few days.”
Velder reached out and gripped his shoulder. “I understand. We’re all on edge. It’s time to head out. She’s your responsibility until we reach the village. Then I’ll have her assigned to someone else.”
“No.” He paused. “I’ll be the one she stays with. I haven’t explained it to her yet but the blood tells. Do you understand?”
Velder growled. He studied Bat again, taking her in from head to toe. “That’s what your brother implied about the other one. Nature can’t be that cruel. I won’t allow it.”
Kraven suddenly moved, putting himself between her and the other man. “Dad,” he whispered. “Don’t do this. Don’t put me in this situation. You know me too well.”
“You just said she’s disrespectful and she angers you.”
“All true but it doesn’t change anything. I’ll leave with her if you won’t allow her to stay.”
“We’ll deal with this mess later. I already had this fight with Drantos. Right now we need to get back to the village. I’m worried about what Decker is planning, and if he got the GarLycans involved… They could attack.”
“Of course.” Kraven nodded. “Come on, Bat.” He grabbed her hand.
She tried to jerk away. “Not so fast.”
He spun on her. “Don’t. For one damn time, just nod and do what you’re told. Is that really too difficult for you? You thought I was bat-shit crazy this morning but now you know the truth. You’re way out of your league, Hellion. Shut up and come with me. We’ll have this out later, when everyone isn’t watching us.”
She nodded, conceding that he had a point. “Fine.” She glanced around, spotting Dusti again. “Can I talk to my sister?”
“After we’re home. Let’s go.” He hauled her toward one of the trucks.
A woman handed him a piece of material as they passed the truck’s open passenger door, and Kraven accepted it. “Thanks.”
He led Bat to the open tailgate and surprised her when he suddenly dropped to his knees and released her hand. He opened the sarong and wrapped it around her waist, tying it at her hip. He looked up.
“Thank you.” She felt better with most of her legs covered.
“You’re welcome.” He stood and hoisted her up into the bed of the truck. “Take a seat.”
There were benches on each side of the bed. She sat near the front and Kraven took a seat next to her. He kept close. Bat looked over the top of the cab and watched her sister get into the other truck. Drantos wasn’t with her but she recognized Red.
“Where’s your brother, and why isn’t he with my sister?”
Kraven followed her gaze and frowned. “I don’t know. Maybe he’s doing something for our father.”
“Can’t we go to that truck?”
“You’ll get to talk to Dusti soon. The priority right now is getting back home where we’re safer in numbers. It’s unknown how many of your grandfather’s enforcers are out here looking for you.”
She frowned, remembering what he’d told her. “He really wants to hand me over to some rock guy?”
“GarLycan. Yes.”
“Does this GarLycan shift into something with hair too?”
“He can grow wings from his back and turn into stone.”
She bit her lip, trying to imagine that. It wasn’t pretty. “For real?”
“Yes.”
“I’d just tell this GarLycan that I’m not interested in being his lover.”
“Aveoth wouldn’t care what you wanted. It’s your blood he craves. You’d be held prisoner at the cliffs.”
“What’s that?”
“It’s just like it sounds. Tall, sheer cliffs where they live in caves. I’ve only seen the place once from a distance, when I was an adolescent. You’d be trapped thousands of feet above ground with no way to get down.”
“How do they— Oh. They can fly. I was wondering how these things get up there.”
“GarLycans, not thin
gs.”
“Whatever.” Bat reached down and played with the soft material of the sarong.
Kraven leaned in closer. “How are you holding up?”
She held his gaze. “I don’t know.”
He surprised her by wrapping his arm around her waist and pulling her closer. “It’s going to be fine, Bat. I’ll never allow anything to happen to you. That is one thing you can depend on.”
He was being sweet and she didn’t understand why. “You don’t even like me. I’ve been such a bitch.”
He shrugged. “Maybe I like bitches.” He smiled to soften his words. “I do like you, despite the shit you give me.” He lifted his other hand and caressed her cheek. “Trust me for once.”
“Your father hates me.”
“Don’t worry about him.”
“You look the same age.”
“It’s how it is. Didn’t your mother look young?”
“It’s good genes.”
“For those with VampLycan blood. She wouldn’t have aged if she’d lived. Not the way a human does. I’m sorry you lost her so young.”
It hurt. She was starting to believe everything Kraven had told her…and with it came the pain of betrayal.
“She never said a word, Kraven. Not one. She talked about growing up in Alaska. She loved the woods but she said she never got along with her father. He was controlling and wanted to run her life. That’s all she shared about him. Nothing about how they weren’t human, or that he was dangerous to us. I should have known though. We always moved when he found us. And Dusti saw it. She’s always hated him. Why didn’t I see it?”
The truck engine started and the driver pulled forward on the dirt road. Kraven braced his legs, keeping a tight hold on her. “Perhaps Antina realized you couldn’t shift, so she thought she was protecting you by letting you believe you were fully human. I’m certain she didn’t do it to be cruel. You gave me the impression that she loved you.”
The truck turned around on the side of the road and Bat clutched Kraven and the edge of the bench seat as they drove over a few large rocks. They were heading away from the clearing. She had a lot of questions for her mother but she’d never get the chance to know the answers. It wasn’t fair.