Born of Night (8 page)

Nardo closed the gate and sat across from them, ever watchful. Jessica drew her knees up to keep her feet from touching him. He noticed her movement and sneered at her before turning slightly to the driver. He tapped the back window and the driver took off, heading West, further down the road that passed in front of Gabriel’s house. The truck picked up speed, bouncing them in the bed and sending plumes of dust into the air like a thick fog.

The dark swallowed them whole as they left the lighted yard and drove down the oak shrouded road. The moon’s light pierced the thick canopy marginally as they progressed, and Jessica gave up trying to keep up with where they were going, since it didn’t seem to make any difference--they were headed in a straight line.

She snuggled against Gabriel, comforted by his presence and fearful of what would happen. The nervous fear had her stomach tied in knots. She hated the feeling.

Normally, she could handle herself pretty well, but there was something infinitely bizarre about the whole situation. She was completely out of her depth. If she’d known from the start what trouble she would dig up by trying to find her birth parents, she damned well would have brought her gun ... and enough ammo to take out an army of Rambos.

Jessica closed her eyes and tried to ignore the piercing stare across from her, not that she could see him, but she inherently felt that he could see her. Her skin prickled like she was being watched. She felt like throwing dirt in his eyes just for the satisfaction of it.

The truck slowed and swayed as it turned, and Gabriel tightened his arm around her. He still hadn’t said anything, and hadn’t tried to kill their abductors. She wasn’t sure if that was good or bad, but she’d rather see anyone’s blood but their own spilled.

They moved down a road narrow enough the tree branches scraped the sides of the truck. She thought perhaps they were going down some hunter’s trail, or possibly a long, winding driveway. The truck stopped after several more minutes of driving.

Jessica looked around but even with her eyes adjusted to the dark, she could see nothing but trees and more trees, and little patches of light striking the ground.

“Get up,” Nardo said roughly, kicking the gate open and jumping down.

Gabriel hopped down and Jessica sat on the edge, her legs dangling. He wrapped his warm hands around her waist and lifted, helping her gain her feet on the ground.

A woman came up, startling Jessica with her sudden presence. “I’m to take you with me,” she said in a cold, angry voice, grabbing Jessica’s wrist with a bruising grip.

She’d never felt more violent in her life than she did tonight. Everywhere someone attacked her. She’d had enough of it. Screw being a lady. Jessica pulled back. “No.”

“You mus’ go with her, chere. It’s d’only way. I’ll come for you soon,” Gabriel said reassuringly.

Jessica didn’t feel the least bit reassured. “I said no.”

“You don’t have any choice,” the woman ground out, tugging her forward.

Jessica dug her heels in, grabbing Gabriel with her free hand. She was just before ripping the woman’s hair out.

“Please, chere, for me.”

She sighed and released him. “Okay. You have to come back for me. I don’t want to be wondering if you’re dead or alive all night.”

“You know I live ta please, cherie,” he said, and she could hear the smile in his voice.

“I’ll kick your ass for you if you’re lying.” She felt a little assured that he wouldn’t run off and die on her. But not much. She refused to dwell on it.

Grudgingly, she went with the woman, who pulled her through the woods at a pace too fast for her to easily keep half blind. Brambles tore at her exposed legs, dirt and pebbles skittered into her sandals and under her heels. She kept up as best as she could, since she had no other choice.

She said nothing as the woman brought her to a lighted tent that looked big enough five adults could easily spread out inside.

The woman released her and opened the flap, gesturing for her to move inside.

When Jessica didn’t move fast enough, she pushed her. Jessica tripped over the opening and fell on the floor, sucking in a sharp breath as her knees bruised on the hard ground.

Jessica whipped her head around, giving the auburn haired woman a scathing look.

“You bitch,” she gritted out, her hands clenching with the need to rip that shiny red hair from her skull. She’d taken as much of this shit as she was about to take.

“Fuck you,” the woman sneered and raised her hand to slap Jessica.

Jessica lunged for her, her fingers curved into claws, digging into the woman’s legs as she dragged them out from under her. The woman went down and rolled instantly, slashing at Jessica with her nails. She growled primitively, missing Jessica’s eyes by a hair’s breadth.

Jessica drew back in a split second, crouching on her haunches, sidling past the center pole of the tent, keeping the woman distant. She eyed the tent opening, wondering if she could make it past. She decided to risk it. She dove for the opening, running into the dark. The woman’s fingers scrabbled at her dress, pulling her back just as Jessica ran into a meaty wall.

Cruel fingers dug into her arms, making her gasp as she fought the hold. Jessica kneed him in the groin, and he barely grunted before crushing his fingers into her biceps.

“Lavinia, can’t you do any fucking thing you’re told? Are you so weak you can’t hold on to a human?” the man sneered the last word like it left shit in his mouth.

The woman, Lavinia, came up behind her and snatched her hair, pulling her head back until she thought her scalp bled. “Kiss my fuckin’ ass, Lado,” she ground out and dragged Jessica back inside.

Jessica growled in impotent fury as her arms were forced behind her back and tied to the center pole. She kicked out as Lavinia came around her, connecting with her shins. Lavinia cursed and grinned maliciously before slapping her hard across the face. Bright light exploded on the left side of her face, and Jessica tasted blood as her teeth rattled.

The woman chuckled and tied her feet together while she sat there, stunned. Lastly, she gagged Jessica, then zipped the opening closed as she left.

Jessica blinked the pain back, focusing on her surroundings. There was nothing inside but sleeping bags rumpled from their fight. She craned her head around, looking for a weapon or something to cut the cord, but still found nothing. The tent was empty of anything even remotely useful. Obviously, they’d been expecting to house her inside it. The thought left her cold and miserable.

She couldn’t sit there and worry about it. She refused to worry about it. Worrying caused more harm than good.

Jessica wiggled her fingers, thankful the rope was at least loose enough the blood flow hadn’t instantly cut off. No amount of wiggling could free her, however, and trying to rip her hands loose only made her shoulders and muscles ache. She tried pushing against the tent pole, but the post was so secure, it didn’t move no matter how hard she pushed--almost like it was mounted in a cement foundation. If that was true, then they routinely stayed out here ... or held prisoners inside.

She fervently wished she could do something useful, like dislocate her shoulders and slip her hands under her feet. But the pole would still be in the way even if she could do that trick. She considered her options and came up empty. With the gag tight on her mouth, she couldn’t work it off and chew on the ropes.

She sighed heavily through her nose, shaking her hair out of her face.

There was nothing to do but wait and see if Gabriel would uphold his promise to her. She just hoped he didn’t do anything stupid--like getting killed before he could rescue her.

The wry thought did little to ease the tension cramping her belly. In all honesty, she knew she had no one to rely on but herself. Smart people didn’t trust their fate to others. The urge to let Gabriel play her hero and sweep her into his arms went beyond tempting, but it was completely irrational. More than likely, they were outnumbered, definitely weaponless, and in the middle of nowhere.

She was going to have to get free by herself and try to do something. She just wasn

’t sure how much she could do if someone didn’t come back inside ... and by then, it would probably be too late....

Nardo pushed Gabriel roughly, driving him ahead to the luna clearing where the pack met each cycle, when the moon sat fat in the sky and pulled them to shift with near irresistible force. Gabriel stumbled from the forceful push and whipped around, his voice a menacing growl, “You push me again, I’ll kill you, mon ami.”

Nardo returned his menacing look, his eyes flashing in the dark, but he said nothing.

He did not touch him again as they walked.

Gabriel thought of Jessica being taken away by that bitch, Lavinia. He hoped she did nothing so foolish as to hurt Jessica, for if she did, she would regret it.

His fury rolled inside, like the flames of a white hot blaze. He should have expected this. He had, but not so soon, and not when he was with Jessica.

His brains fled to his cock every time she was near. Had he gotten a handle on his lust, he never would’ve been so foolish as to take her home, or any other place he’d ever been. The pack could sniff him out so easily. He should have known they were waiting to take him.

Gabriel felt like hitting something. His fists tightened with the urge. He knew he’d soon have the chance to satisfy the bloodlust.

They crossed the guardian-like trees into the clearing, moving toward the center.

Nardo parted from him silently as they reached the center, moving back into the shadows of the trees. Gabriel stood in the placement of the accused. A mark of shame for the worst trespass on pack laws, the accused stood surrounded by the pack, yet alone.

The last time the pack had met to try an accused had been a few months back, when Raoul had trespassed into vamp territory to claim a human woman.

Gabriel had done much worse, and he knew it. He didn’t expect to fair as well as Raoul.

He expected to die.

A dead calm settled over him. No matter their decision, he would not allow harm to come to Jessica. They’d taken her father. They would not take her too.

Regret left a bitter taste in his mouth, vanquishing the lingering sweetness of her kiss. He’d wanted so much more, and he had no right to those desires. No right to her....

Gabriel angrily thrust the thought to the corners of his mind, preparing himself for judgment. To help her, he must remain clear, focused. He could not allow thoughts of her to distract him in an already deadly contest. One false move could prove instant death ... no chance for survival.

Yet still, she entered his thoughts. He knew little enough of her, but even his limited contact had him distracted to the point where he thought of nothing else. He resolved to destroy those urges. He couldn’t have her, but neither would anyone else. He would see to it.

He looked up at the sky a brief moment, feeling the energy of the moon course through him. The moon shone down clearly, gilding his muscles with silver, days from ripeness. Had the moon been full dark, he would still have known he was not alone. Gabriel needed no light to see his brethren move from the shadows and into the circular clearing, ringing him until there was no opening for retreat.

Low, feral growls carried on the air, angry rumbles of dissension. His beast tensed at their challenging voices. The air vibrated with their energy, moving like chain lightning through the crowd. His beast answered their challenge, eager to face them, unmindful of the odds. His brain clouded as his beast threatened to take control. It stretched inside, uncurling through his limbs, making his muscles jump with power and barely checked violence.

It seduced, promised the euphoria only animalistic existence could provide ... the high of the fight, the rush of wolfen speed ... the taste of kill.

Gabriel closed his eyes and gritted his teeth, his hands clenched tightly. The lure was as seductive as a woman, stronger, in a way that insanity beat the sane.

With effort, he fought it back, until he was panting for breath. He opened his eyes and faced his pack as he would an enemy. What he saw confirmed what he’d already suspected. A shudder of remorse surged through him.

They were all naked. Ready to shift.

Ready to kill.

He knew it with absolute certainty.

More than anything, that fact brought home how serious his situation was--as if he could have ever been in doubt. And still, he did not regret finding Jessica, nor staking his claim to her. He regretted not warning her away from New Orleans, for not fighting her stubborn streak and getting her out of the city while she was still safe. The warding medallion would never hold now. It was a miracle the power had lasted as long as it had. Without it, she would be in danger wherever she went ... any place that neared a Lycan stronghold. She might not ever be safe again. She needed a mate able to fight for her, able to secure their place in the world. Perhaps an army would not even be enough....

He told himself he could have made her go, even though it was foolish to think she would have believed anything he said.

The menace of the pack quieted as their leader came forth, moving with stealth through the parted bodies and into the clearing.

Gabriel faced him, shielding the anger from his eyes, tamping down his sudden, fierce urge to shift. Gabriel did not speak. Instead, he waited to hear what the charges were. They were not animals--not yet.

Deron, pack leader, had forced them to retain some measure of humanity in the pack structure. He’d ruled them for over two decades, taken control when it looked as though the vamps would wipe out their race entirely in these parts. They’d been easy prey then, solitary. Deron had forged them into a group. Now Gabriel wondered how far Deron’s humanity extended. Ideally, Gabriel would be allowed to face his accusers and deny their accusations, and would be granted a fair trial by his peers.

He nearly sneered at that thought.

They were eager for blood, anyone’s blood--especially one who’d found someone precious and rare ... and dared to deny them equal chance to pursue it for themselves.