BloodSworn (14 page)

With another man.

The beast in him prowled its cage, seeking release. The lion
was so close to the surface that his skin rippled, the pain almost crippling.
Merrick welcomed the change, but no matter how much he willed it, his beast didn’t
take form.

Ever since he’d left the lab he hadn’t felt right and with
each passing moment, the sensation grew. He had to get to Trina. He fiddled
with the hat he’d appropriated from her, but even her scent didn’t calm him
this time.

Victor stepped into his line of sight and blocked the
doorway. Merrick almost lunged at him. Then he became aware of the silence in
the room.

“Oh, leave the boy alone.” The panther waved Victor away. “If
I had a new concubine, I would’ve cancelled all my appointments for a week.”
The old man smiled and crossed his arms over the little bulge of his gut. His
black hair, part of his panther heritage, was streaked gray. For someone over a
hundred and thirty years old, he didn’t look a day over forty-eight. “Why don’t
we reschedule for next week.”

Merrick stood slowly, aware of all the eyes on him. He tried
to convince himself that he had nothing to worry about. She was protected by a
pack of wolves. The knowledge was a double-edged sword, but Weston and his men
would not be swayed by Judith and her pack.

It didn’t matter.

His lion urged him to get his ass moving.

As if to prove his point, Beast pressed heavily against his
skin until it felt like it would split. He trusted his animal’s instincts and
gave a grateful nod to the old panther who had ruled his pack for generations.
“Next week.”

He didn’t wait for a reply, hated that they saw his reaction
to Trina. At least they assumed it was because he wanted to bed her. He did, in
the worst way, but he needed to see for himself that she was safe.

They were on the second level when the sounds of fighting
reached him. He quickly altered course and picked up speed. He inhaled deeply
and called his animal to the surface, uncaring of the pain ricocheting through
his back.

His body mass increased. Claws ripped through his
fingertips, and his fangs descended.

Trina was in danger, possibly fighting for her life.

He didn’t know how he knew, but he didn’t question the
knowledge.

Not bothering with the stairs, he launched himself over the
railing of the balcony. The landing jarred his injury, but he was up and moving
in seconds.

A few shifters loitered in the hallway, some joining in the
fray. Those who saw him scrambled out of his path. He didn’t give a choice to
the others, but picked them up and tossed them aside.

Victor inched his way to his right and shoved a few more out
of their path.

But it wasn’t enough.

He wasn’t going to get to her in time.

A roar ripped free from his throat, and all the men around
him froze mid-punch. Most didn’t even bother to turn, but dove out of the way and
a narrow path emerged before him.

He entered the mess hall, his gaze quickly scanning the
room. The fervor in him grew. Beast was ready to rip through anyone who got in
his way as he searched for Trina.

A wisp of wildflowers reached him, and the lion in him
zeroed in on the scent. He took a step when that haunting smell vanished.

The animal in him roared, the sound of it rumbling in his
chest. He stepped forward, nearly tripping over…

He glanced down to see Trina’s retreating form scuttling
around a table as if to avoid him. She was the only thing moving in the room,
but she did it in such a way that drew attention away from her.

He lumbered closer, the men parting before him until he
stood before her.

She froze, one hand raised, halting inches from his foot. In
her other hand rested her blade.

A bloodied blade.

Rage and fierce pride collided. Pride that she could defend
herself against warriors twice her size and rage that she needed to protect
herself from the very people who were supposed to keep her safe.

Trina craned her head back to look at him, leaving her neck
exposed. The image of her so submissive before him sent his mind from fight to
fuck so fast that even his animal gave pause.

But it was not a pose he wanted his men to see. It was
private between them, and he vowed to see her that way again of her own free
will.

He bent, grabbed her upper arms and lifted.

And froze, her body suspended in air, when he got a good look
at her face. Fury called up his beast. Rational thought retreated at the need
to rend everyone to pieces.

“It was a small scuffle. No harm. Fun.” Her voice squeaked
on the last word.

He appreciated that she wasn’t afraid standing before him,
his body half-shifted, when grown men had been known to cower.

The brilliant smile she cast him nearly had him swallowing
his tongue at the sheer sexiness. He wanted to strip her bare and see her
wearing nothing but that smile.

Then his attention sharpened when she winced, the bruise on
her face standing out sharply against her pale face.

“Who?”

The rough growl was the first word he’d spoken since he’d
entered. Desperate not to be caught in the middle of another fight, Trina
placed her hand on his chest. “Put me down.”

The scowl on his face deepened, and she thought he’d
refused. But when he lowered her, she realized she’d made a tactical mistake.
With his hands free, he grabbed the nearest shifter and hauled him off his feet,
the anger so fierce she wondered if he planned to rip the poor guy’s head off.

Trina ducked under his arms, and tucked herself up close to
his body. He stopped, undecided, but ultimately shoved the other man away from
her.

“Since you all enjoy fighting, training rosters are doubled
for the next week.” A few men grumbled, but no one dared voice a protest, not
even to groan. “Leave.”

The room was deserted in under a minute. For such big men,
they could sure move.

Trina hauled ass toward the door when Merrick appeared
before her as if out of thin air.

“Not you.”

She bit her lips at his ominous tone. His face hadn’t eased,
if anything, he appeared more intense. The menace she’d touched upon earlier had
vanished when he’d entered the room. Too bad she didn’t know if the feeling
came from him or if he’d chased away the real danger. She wanted to trust him,
but her magic had never been wrong before. “It was a little scuffle to blow off
steam.”

He cupped her jaw and angled her chin up. Her breath
shuddered out of her body at his heated touch. Her voice faded at the brush of
his fingers, taking with it whatever point she was trying to make.

“Who?”

“Huh?”

His released her, his hands settling on her hips, drawing
her body against his as if trying to catch the scent of the person on her. She
shoved him, her palms hitting the hard wall of his chest. Her fingers flexed
against all that muscle, enjoying the feel of him despite herself.

He lifted her clear off the floor, and her legs
automatically wrapped around his waist for balance. He buried his face in her
neck, inhaling the scent of her hair. Her whole body tingled at such a simple
action.  

The shock of him so close to her center scattered the rest
of her thoughts. She peered up at him but her gaze never rose above the awe-inspiring
sight of his chest.

The heat of him pressed up to her front all cozy-like urged
her to touch. As if to encourage her, Merrick cuddled her closer, his arousal
tucked against her stomach. All she wanted was to crawl up him and steal a
kiss.

A single kiss she told herself, trying to convince her mind that
no harm would come from just a taste.

She stole a quick glance at him from under her lashes, and her
heartbeat nearly stopped to see his head dipped toward her. She arched up.

His breath fanned her lips, lingering, his mouth so
temptingly close she leaned into him.

Her eyes slid closed then snapped open. She didn’t want to
miss a second if this was going to be their only kiss.

A beep blared in the room.

She’d so completely forgotten their surroundings, it took
her precious seconds to realize that the sound was the intercom.

“What is it?”

Merrick’s lips moved, and she reached up to curl her hand behind
his neck and urge him to close the distance between them.

“The witches are waiting in your office.”

A splash of fear hit her belly, and she jerked away.

Only to have Merrick growl and cup her ass, holding her tighter
against him.

The growl nearly had her swaying toward him, nearly made her
forget about the witches. But she couldn’t allow a few minutes of desire, no
matter how deliciously tempting, to put her in the path of danger. If the witches
found her here, there was nothing Merrick or the others could do to prevent
them from taking her.

Not without starting a war.

She pushed against his chest, and the rumbling stopped. It
actually hurt to put distance between them. When she slid down his front then
stepped away, her body begged her to reconsider.

Merrick stormed away, his strides long and angry as if more
than ready to kill anyone who got in his way. When Merrick stalked toward the
door, fear threatened to swallow her.

Fear for Merrick.

Witches were ruthless, not afraid to take what they wanted.

“Wait.” She refused let him go in completely unaware and
vulnerable. She hurried forward, but stopped shy of putting her hands back on
him.

He quickly grabbed her wrist and placed her palm over his
chest to feel the steady beat of his heart. She had to scramble to remember
what she wanted to say.

“Watch your back around them. They will do whatever they
deem necessary to get what they want.”

 
Chapter Sixteen

M
errick’s
near-uncontrollable anger eased at her touch. The desire to strike and maim the
person who’d interrupted them dissipated a fraction.

It was her words and the naked fear in her eyes that finally
transmitted to him. He didn’t want to give the witches too much time alone, but
he couldn’t leave her so distressed. He ran his fingers over the backs of her
hands to soothe her, but his suspicions rose at her unease.

Her fear of the witches saddened him. They should be her
family. Instead, she was terrified of them. A lonely life compared to the
closeness of the pack.

Trina might be guarding her secrets, but he trusted her
judgment. “Explain.”

“Magic was used on two separate attacks last night. Magic
that can’t be bought off the market. Magic that doesn’t come cheap. A witch was
involved.”

Merrick nodded then lifted her hand and kissed her knuckles.
Unable to resist, he flicked out his tongue and stole the taste of her that
should’ve been his.

The briefness of it was a cruel tease, and he was desperate
to explore her further. Instead, he released her before he said to hell with
everything and took her as his beast urged. He almost stepped forward to do so
but stopped dead when he realized he’d left Trina’s hat in his office.

Alone with the witches.

“Guard her. Don’t let her out of your sight.” Merrick spoke
to the man hovering near the door.

Weston snapped to attention. If the outsider didn’t take
better care of what was his, Merrick would give him a lesson that he wouldn’t
soon forget.

With each step, Merrick battled with the urge to turn around
and take her, the need to scoop her up and mark every inch of her flesh nearly
uncontrollable. The witches, curse them, couldn’t have chosen a worse time.

He wanted to protect her, but had a feeling it was much too
late for that. He wanted to demand that she tell the truth so he could protect
her but was afraid she would just run. He needed to bind her to them in some
way, make her not want to leave him.

He didn’t see the hallways as he walked, but rather the terror
on her face when she heard the witches had arrived. So not only were the
vampires after her, the witches were as well.

What the hell could one woman have done to call down the wrath
of both races? And how was he supposed to keep her safe when he didn’t know the
blasted secret that was on everyone’s lips?

After the meeting, he would demand answers from his little witch.
The safety of the pack, his pride, needed to come first. And she was part of
his pride even if she didn’t fully understand it yet.

By the time he cleared the last step, his back was on fire. In
his rush to get to Trina, he’d pushed too hard. Now his body had locked up tight.
Walking alone used muscles that felt so taut they were going to snap if they
didn’t get relief soon.

Victor opened the door and entered first. Merrick followed,
taking in the scene at a glance. The witches came five strong, though none of
them looked sturdy enough to put up a fight.

Looks could be deceiving.

If Trina’s words were true, one of them was trying to bring
down the pack. Two of them were women, average in looks, but the taller one had
the power of the bunch. Her standing was given away by the position of the
others around her, the confident manner in which she gazed around the room and in
the way she stood, her back straight, shoulders back.

The others deferred to her.

Their appearance was a bit stark, muted colors, long
sleeves, and neatly cut hair either short or tied back. No make-up or
fingernail polish. He inhaled, but didn’t smell any perfumes or sprays.

The other three people were men. Well, two were men and one
was a boy. An apprentice maybe. The kid had a cagier mien. He cased the place,
noted the valuables, but seemed more interested in the exits and how soon he could
escape.

Smart kid. If Merrick had a choice, he would escape, too. He
smiled, showing more teeth than normal and sat behind the desk. The hat lay on
top, undisturbed, and he casually slipped it into the desk. Once it was hidden,
he relaxed a fraction. “I appreciate you showing up on such short notice.”

They followed his lead and sat, albeit stiffly as if they
thought he’d turn beastly and pounce on them. It had been a good thirty years
or more since he’d last requested assistance, and even longer since a
Familiaran had walked these halls.

“Let’s get to the point. Someone is using magic on pack
land, targeting my people. As I said in the message, I need a track and trace
done.” The tension in the room had an odd smell, almost rancid. Trina was right
not to trust them. He didn’t draw out the amulet, not until they had an
agreement and waited for them to speak.

They came here because they wanted something.

The leader primly folded her hands in her lap, but otherwise
didn’t move. “We are concerned. Vampires have been reported entering your
territory.”

They were watching the Den. It shouldn’t have surprised him,
it’s what he would’ve done in their place. “They attended the meeting this
month to request assistance.”

“And you just let them?” A nerve ticked along her eye. The
movement was slight, but it was there. He half-expected her to whip out a ruler
to smack the back of his hand like the school nuns of old. If he was one of her
men, he wouldn’t doubt that she would’ve sent out a little lash of magic for
good measure.

“Their request was reasonable. They were granted ten days
and limited to only one.”

Her lips puckered like a dog just threw up on her shoes.
“They are vampires. That’s reason enough to deny them.” She stood as if to
intimidate him. “It’s your job as Leo to keep this territory safe. You are the
line between the vampires and the humans. If you allow them through, blood will
be shed. The wars will return.”

How like the witches to conveniently forget that it was
their job as well, that they were supposed to be partners…before they’d
abandoned the pack.

But what caught his attention was her voice.

That wasn’t just worry. She knew something. “Why would the
presence of one vampire start a war?”

“Did they say what they want?” She ignored his question and stepped
closer. A buzzing filled his head like a swarm of flies crawling inside his
skull

His lion rushed forward, slashing at the spell as it tried
to burrow its way into his brain to find the answer. The urge to give in to her
demand instantly vanished.

A snarl rose to his lips as he rose to his full height to
tower over them.

“My apologies.” She scurried back to the protection of her
people like a little mouse.

Sorry his ass.

She wanted answers and had cast magic to get it. She just
didn’t expect to be caught. “Leave. Now.”

She appeared startled by his command. “What do you mean?”

His mouth tightened, and he allowed Beast to rise to the
surface and be seen through his eyes. “Get your ass off of my property.”

“What about the track and trace?”

Merrick flashed a hint of fang, pleased to see them recoil.
“You’ve proven you can’t be trusted. I have no use of you.”

“But the vampires—”

“Are not after you. If you don’t engage them, you should be
fine. They will be gone in a week.”

“What did they want?”

“It’s too bad you didn’t ask instead of demanding answers by
force.” Disgust coated his words. He nodded, and Victor opened the door. The
two shifters standing guard immediately entered, ready to escort the witches
out.

The woman tried to smile, but the expression looked misplaced
on her face, more of a grimace of constipation. “We’re both leaders of our
people.”

“More’s the pity.”

She ignored his remark as if she’d heard it before. “If my
people are in danger, we deserve to know what we’re up against.” Her eyes
narrowed. “You should’ve sent a warning.”

Merrick crossed his arms, conceding their point, but only a
little. They didn’t care until their precious world was threatened. “You
should’ve attended the meeting yourself if you really wanted to know.”

“How about a compromise? You need our help, and we need
yours with the vampires.” She looked pissed that she had to deal with animals.

“I’m listening.” The tension in the room escalated. He took
perverse pleasure in smelling sweat on them. He wanted them gone and out of the
Den. Trina wouldn’t be safe until they’d left.

She gestured and two witches stepped forward, the man and the
woman. “They will remain as possible Familiarans to your pack. In return, you’ll
extend your protection to us against the vampires.”

Merrick shook his head. The witch didn’t even have the balls
to commit her people to the cause. He didn’t need a dick to know he was being
screwed. “We don’t—”

“You said the Den was attacked with magic. They would be
able to help protect you against further trouble, set wards and find out who
cast the spells.”

“And in return, you want us to actively patrol the streets of
Oz again?” Merrick used the shifter slang because he knew it would annoy her. Shifters
avoided their section of town as per the witches’ request. They must really be
worried if they were inviting them back.

“Yes.” Her chin rose, a gleam of satisfaction ringing her
eyes. She had him, and she knew it. Their pact all those years ago at the end
of the war left them with little choice. If the witches requested protection,
the pack had to honor it. And to boot, she would have two of her spies in the
Den.

“We’ll agree to extra patrols, but we’ll take the boy
instead.”

“What?” Three people spoke at once, but the boy’s squeak was
the loudest.

“Unacceptable.” The crone was furious, her eyes spitting
fire. Static filled the room as magic rose. Thanks to Trina, his beast was on
the constant lookout for it. Whether she knew it or not, Trina exuded the same
magic just by breathing.

Hers was different, subtler, almost a caress. It made theirs
seem heavy-handed in comparison. He’d bet it would piss this woman off if she
found out. 

Merrick shrugged. “Then you are denying our request for
assistance?”

That was fine by him. If she refused, the shifters weren’t obligated
to do the rounds in Oz.

“He’s only an apprentice. He doesn’t even have any
training.”

“All the better.” Her outrage made him more determined to
stick to his decision. The boy reminded him of Trina: on the run, alone and in over
his head.

* * *

“What are you going to do with the kid?” Victor leaned
against the door, sniffing the air as if to clean his nose of the witches’
magic.

Merrick grunted and sat. “How the hell should I know?”

As if satisfied that the room was clean, Victor ventured
near the desk. “If he has any magic, he doesn’t have a clue how to use it.”

 “I know, but I couldn’t risk having the others run loose in
the Den.”

Victor nodded agreement. “I’ll have the kid bunk on the
second floor. At least you got him away from the witches.”

Merrick put the boy from his mind. What bothered him was the
uncontrollable urge to hunt down Trina just to have her within touching
distance. Distracted by the thought of her, he ran a hand over his hair,
realizing it was over an inch long and in desperate need of a cut. And it irritated
the shit out of him that he was primping like some schoolgirl for her. “What’s
your opinion of Trina?”

Victor didn’t answer right away, studying him as if to gauge
whether he wanted the truth or not. “She’s trouble.”

“Yes.” All sorts of trouble that he wanted to protect, not
to mention get his hands on and do all sort of wicked things to.

“But she’s also in a lot of trouble.”

Merrick nodded. “And?”

“If you’d chosen anyone else, I don’t think you would care
so much. That she is a doctor, a blood specialist, is almost like fate. If she
can help cure CreedMark, she’s worth it.”