Consumed (Dark Protectors) (28 page)

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Authors: Rebecca Zanetti

BOOK: Consumed (Dark Protectors)
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Movement outside the window caught her attention.
Kalin.
The military leader stood close, head cocked to the side, focus on her. Gasping, she stepped back. Chaos ran rampant around him. He stood tall, moon glinting off medals. Slowly, a smile lifted his bloodred lips.
He could sense her.
Unbelievable. No way could the soldier see inside the rock. Yet somehow, he had a bead on her.
Lifting her chin, drawing on courage, she stepped closer to the window. So long as Kalin concentrated on her, the vision couldn’t come true. Her father would remain safe. She could even leave the window shut this way.
A werewolf backed into Kalin. The Kurjan shoved the beast away, his gaze never wavering. Seeing him in Technicolor and not in a dream world lent a surreal sense to the night. Thick black hair fell beneath his shoulders. The red tips seemed even brighter and his skin paler under the moonlight and surrounded by darkness. So different from her—from the vampires.
Even amid the battle, amid her fear, sorrow sank deep. She’d known him as a child. They’d almost been friends.
“I will kill you,” she whispered.
His smile widened.
No way had he heard her. No way. Even with the best of hearing, a vampire couldn’t have heard her words. But maybe Kurjans had better senses? Or maybe, and the mere thought made her want to hurl, maybe Kalin had a sense of Janie.
She sucked in air. “If you can hear me, you need to leave or you’re going to die today.”
His smile widened. Damn it, he could hear her. Most Kurjans had sharp, yellow teeth. Not Kalin. Deadly and white, the man had the teeth of a killer shark. He nodded to someone out of range.
Seconds later, the world blew up. The window crashed in. She flew backward, her shoulders hitting the wall right before her head smacked hard. Pain flared and she gasped. Lights flashed full and bright behind her lids. How many concussions could one brain take in a week?
Strong, cold hands wrapped around her arms, yanking her up. Swaying, she forced her eyes to open. Hazy shadows danced across Kalin’s face.
She struggled to focus. “You smell like the ocean.” Even in dreams, the Kurjan smelled salty.
He eyed her forehead, interest lifting his lip. “You’re bleeding.”
She shoved against him. “Let go.” Dizziness swamped her. She had to get out of there.
His hold tightened. Closing his eyes, he leaned in, breath above her cut. He inhaled, nostrils flaring. “So sweet.” With a sigh, he backed away. His lids flipped open, deep green eyes flashing.
Her head pounded. Almost in a daze, she studied him. A dark purple line surrounded his green irises. In the dreams she’d never noticed it. “Let me go.”
A Kurjan screeched in pain outside as a werewolf clawed sharp nails down its neck.
Kalin frowned. “Apparently that one needs to die.”
Janie shoved against his chest, the metals biting into her fingers. “Let go.”
“That’s not going to happen.” Kalin glanced at the ceiling and around the room. Finally, he focused on the deadly battle outside. “A few more minutes and we should be able to get away to the north.”
The fight did seem to be heading toward the cliffs to the west and the forest to the south. Janie opened her mouth to scream.
His hand slapped over her lips. “I’d hate to knock you out.” Anger had his arched brows meeting in the middle. Light brown, nowhere near as dark as his hair. “This doesn’t please me any more than you. I had hoped to wait.”
Anger and fear slammed away the haziness. She went limp. As he struggled to keep her upright, she slammed a hand into his nose, aiming for his brain stem.
His head jerked back. Blood spurted, burning along her neck.
Shock filled his eyes, and he dropped his hand. Then he smiled again, red coating his teeth, the image more frightening than anything Hollywood could create. “Oh Janet. I’m going to have so much fun with you.”
Janie dragged air into her lungs and screamed high and loud.
For two seconds, the fight stopped.
Heartbeats later, glass rippled and rocks flew as her dad and Max leapt into the room, skidding over the huge control panel. With a howl, Talen grabbed Kalin by the neck and shot-putted him back outside. Blood squirted across the wall. With a grim glance at her head, he slapped a knife into her hand. Then he was back through the window.
Max settled his stance in front of her, gun at ready. “Stay behind me.”
A pounding started in her temple. Dots danced across her vision. Confusion had her blinking. She pressed a hand against her skin, and it came away sticky. “We have to warn my dad.” The words came out slurred.
“About what?”
“That Kalin is here.” The vision flared behind her eyes again.
“He knows.” Max stiffened when a werewolf flew by the hole in the wall.
Janie shook her head to concentrate. Her vision cleared. Pebbles scattered when she slid to Max’s side, her gaze on the monstrous fight outside. Talen and Kalin battled, concentration on their faces, their weapons flashing.
The interior door burst open. Three Kurjans jumped inside, two going for Max. Oh God. They’d breached headquarters. The third grabbed her, swiftly leaping through the gaping outside hole.
Wind bit into her arms. She kicked, shoving the knife in his throat. Blood coated her hand, burning like sparks from a fire.
He dropped her. She stumbled, wildly looking around for a safe place. Screams of the dying penetrated her eardrums.
Her father roared her name.
Turning, Kalin did the same.
A werewolf manacled her by the hair. Pain ripped along her scalp. She tripped, falling to one knee. The beast howled, fangs flashing, eyes morphing to red.
Oh God. He was going to bite her.
Talen started toward her. He’d never make it.
A wisp of sound ripped by her ear as a knife embedded in the werewolf ’s eye. He released her, yowling, turning away. She slowly lifted her gaze. Kalin stood at the edge of the cliff, having thrown the knife.
The leader of the Kurjan military had just saved her life.
Two werewolves stumbled, one falling right into him. They windmilled, Kalin’s eyes widening. Even across the courtyard, the green glint shone bright. He kept her gaze as he went over the cliff.
Max reached her first. Blood covered his torso. Hoisting her around the waist, he ran inside the now open headquarters and down the hall, passing two prone Kurjan bodies. Reaching an elevator, he shoved her inside. “Go to the tenth.”
The door slid shut.
Gasping, her mind reeling, she sagged against the far wall. Kalin had saved her. Then he’d fallen over the cliff. As a Kurjan, he’d be seriously injured but wouldn’t die from that. Guilt swamped her at the relief she felt.
She didn’t want him to die.
Chapter 30
 
“
Y
ou’re going to have to go through me to get out-side, Jordan.” Katie settled her stance on the rock floor of the small room, more than prepared to kick him in the face.
“Not a problem.” Energy danced on his skin. Fire lit his eyes.
Somewhere in there was the man she loved. “You go outside, and you lose me. You lose yourself.”
He blinked.
The sounds of battle outside filled the night. Screams, gunfire, more explosions. All under the moon. Terror and the urge to fight had her knocking her shoulders against the metal door. “We just need to last a few more hours.”
The lion shifted beneath his flesh, strong and powerful, fighting so hard.
Hope filled Katie for the first time that night. “You can beat this.”
He exhaled roughly. “I shouldn’t shift. If I shift ...”
She nodded. If he shifted, the animal might take over and heed the moon’s call. She just had to keep him out of the moon.
An explosion blasted the night. Rock fissured. Blasting heat and blinding smoke roiled toward them, throwing Katie hard against the door.
Jordan flew across the room to impact the far wall. He dropped to the rock floor with a sickening thud.
Gasping, heart racing, Katie struggled to breathe. The smoke diminished. A gaping hole remained where the outside wall had been. Shifters, vampires, Kurjans, and werewolves battled hand to hand, using guns and knives in a scene reminiscent of a war movie. All hell had truly broken loose. The ocean spread dark and mysterious into the distance. Light glinted off the dangerous weapons.
Moonlight.
She shook her head, trying to process the scene. The Kurjans were using werewolves. And explosives.
A ruckus sounded in the corridor. Had headquarters been breached?
Another explosion detonated. Sharp rocks pelted from the ceiling and walls. She cried out, flinching as one cut into her neck.
The churning smoke abated, called out to sea.
Brent stood right outside the gaping breach. Tall, furry, blood coating his fangs. His arms swept wide, as if welcoming guests for Christmas dinner. “Kaattieee and Jorrr-daaaan.” He rolled his massive head, mewling softly in the pretty moonlight. “Come outttsiiiide.”
Katie shivered. “Man, you’re creepy.”
Jordan launched off the floor toward the beast.
Panic halting the air in her throat, Katie leaped for Jordan in a tackle that threw them onto the sagging mattress. Pain ripped through her ribs when they met his hips. Rolling away, she grabbed him by the hair and tugged toward the far wall. With a growl of outrage, he yanked his head away and stood.
She reached for his belt loop. His strength outmatched hers by far. She needed to get inside his brain. “The lion is winning, Jordan. Stay the hell away from the courtyard.” Then she turned, forcing a smile. “You want us, Brent? Come on in.”
Scooting in front of Jordan, fear making her shoulders shake, she shoved her butt into his groin in an effort to make him
move back.
Brent tilted his head to the side. “Come ouuttt, Kaaa-tiiiieee.”
A sharp jab of her hip into Jordan’s balls made him hiss out a breath. With an irritated snort, he retreated back against the far wall. He cleared his throat. “Come on in, cousin.”
Katie crept to the center where she could intercept either male if they pounced. Deep breaths. She needed deep breaths. Surveying Jordan from the corner of her eye, a roaring filled her ears. The lion leader stood tall, his face pale, sweat along his brow. His shoulders shook. He looked like a junkie needing a fix. Bad.
Brent licked blood off his lips. A Kurjan went flying by behind him, followed by Talen Kayrs, wicked knives flashing. Death rattles echoed from out of sight.
God, she hoped the vampires and shifters were winning.
Air whispered. Brent charged her, both paws slamming into her shoulders. With a cry, she shot a knee to his groin, but he pivoted, blocking her kick.
Jordan tackled Brent around the waist. They went sprawling across the hard rock floor, pebbles flying. Inches away from the opening, the two threw punches almost too fast to track. Jordan nailed Brent between the eyes, and the werewolf slid into the night.
Standing to his full height, blood dripping down his face, Jordan took a step forward.
“No!” Katie grabbed him by his jeans, tugging back.
Dage Kayrs slammed into Jordan, sending all three of them sprawling. Katie landed hard, her shoulder popping.
“Sorry.” The king tugged them to stand. “Kurjans.” He eyed Jordan, turning to view the moon. “Shit.”
“Yeah.” Jordan wiped blood off his chin.
Sharp claws scraped along the jagged hole in the wall. Brent staggered closer, a gash bleeding from above his right eye. Fur matted an ugly red down his monstrous face.
Two werewolves collided with Talen near the cliff’s edge, sending the vampire sprawling. Dage growled and threw a knife at Jordan. “My gun went over the cliff—headquarters breached, need to get to level ten. I’ll try to get back.”
With a battle cry of all battle cries, the king leapt for his brother.
Jordan twirled the knife in his hand. “Come here, cousin.”
Brent smiled. “Neeeed more than a kniiiife.”
Shock, fear, and pain all commingled to freeze Katie in place. The night took on a surreal sensation ... cloudy and confusing.
Brent stalked forward. He feinted toward Jordan and grabbed Katie by the hair. Jerking her before him, he dug claws into her neck.
Pain shot through her nerve endings. The haziness disappeared to be replaced with cold, harsh reality. The beast could decapitate her with little effort. The idea of the babes inside her had her mind scrambling for purchase.
Jordan stiffened, fire lighting his eyes. “Let her go.”
“Go outsiiiiide.” Brent twisted, dragging Katie through the gap into the night. His claws retracted. Blood slid down her throat. Her heels dragged in the dirt and grass.
The moon beat down, covering her. She fought the urge to sigh and relax right into the rays. Even after the mating, the moon calmed her. Tears filling her eyes, terror filling her heart, she slowly shook her head at Jordan. “Don’t come out here.”
Soldiers rushed into the main entrance to headquarters. Crap. Had it been breached? Were the kids all right?
Brent slid a furry arm around her neck, lifting her off the ground. She dug both hands into his fur, fighting to breathe, her feet kicking uselessly. Tears filled her eyes. The pressure against her windpipe increased. The beast growled. “Come out.”
Jordan’s knuckles turned white around the knife handle. He took a step forward.
“No,” Katie whispered, the tears blinding her.
Sorrow filled his tawny eyes. “I’m sorry.”
Faster than sound, he dropped into a baseball slide, catching Brent at the ankles. The beast released Katie. She landed on Jordan, lungs compressing. He tucked, rolling them backward and into the room. Tossing her to the mattress, he lunged to his feet.
The world spun. Her mind bellowed in pain. Dots danced across her vision, and her entire body went cold.
With a bellow of outrage, Brent charged, hitting the lion square in the chest.
They went down in a tangle of arms, legs, and fangs.
Growling, punching, and kicking, the two fought like rabid animals. Brent clocked Jordan in the temple. The lion roared.
Jordan head-butted Brent. Blood flew out of the beast’s nose. Scissoring his legs around the werewolf, Jordan reversed their positions. With a shout of pure, raw fury, Jordan plunged the knife into Brent’s neck.
The monster yowled in pain, grabbing onto Jordan’s arms.
Rage filling his face, his arms visibly vibrating, Jordan shoved deeper and twisted. Sweat covered his bleeding torso, dark circles lined his eyes, and blood coated his jeans. Grunting, fighting, he decapitated Brent.
The werewolf ’s head rolled across the floor.
Katie gagged twice, forcing bile down.
Jordan snarled, stretching to his feet. Bruises cascaded across his flesh. Several gashes bled freely, including two in his head. His eyes morphed into a yellowish brown. Not lion, not man, not even werewolf. All animal, though.
The scent of blood, death, and smoke overcame the salty brine from the ocean. Katie used the wall to help her stand.
Jordan slowly pivoted toward the hole in the wall.
The sound of fighting had abated somewhat—at least outside. Katie inched toward the opening. “Unlock the door and let’s go check on the kids, Jordan.”
“Moon.” The rays shone down on dead werewolves and downed vampires, sparkling off weapons. He held a bloodied hand out. “Mooooon.”
Oh God. Katie searched the battlefield for help. Anybody left standing had headed inside ... the kids must be in danger. “Jordan! Headquarters was breached. We have to go check on Janie and the other kids.”
He took another step closer, paying her no mind. “Warmth. I’m so cold.”
One step and she slid her hand into his. Pain flared along her battered knuckles, and she bit back a wince. “I’m having twins. Girls.”
His entire body went rigid. “Twins.”
“Girls.”
For several long, heavy moments of silence, they stared at the moon spreading over the ocean. Jordan tightened his hand around hers. “Pain. This is unbelievable.”
“I know.” She tugged him toward the far wall, pushing him down.
He yanked her on top of him to straddle his legs. “Need to stay here.” Tucking her close, he burrowed his face in her neck.
Relief and hope coiled through her. She wrapped her arms around his neck, tightened her thighs against his, and held on. “We’re gonna make it.”
His palms slid up her back to dig into her shoulders. His body shook with violent tremors. Sweat from his chest soaked the front of her shirt. A low moan escaped him, vibrating against her jugular.
“Should we try to go inside?” She could unlock the door and lead him farther underground.
“No. If I move, I’m jumping outside.” His voice trembled.
“Okay. I had a vision of our girls ... I know it’s true. How about we think of names?” she whispered. Anything to keep him in place. A fight might be going on down below, but the biggest fight of her life existed right here. Doubt and fear slithered down her spine. She shook them off.
“Names?” He shuddered against her.
“Yes. For our girls.”
He took several deep breaths against her skin. “How about Menace and Mayhem?” His voice came out muffled, but clear.
She gave a low laugh, holding tight. “Those sound perfect for
your
daughters.
My
daughters would be something like Faith and Charity. Or Hope.”
“Hmm.” His breath panted out, heating her neck “Too much irony there, I think. How about Milly and Molly?”
“Too cutsie.” She rocked against him “Kitten and Jackass? After us?”
“Funny.” His hold tightened. “Samantha and Sidney? Call ’em Sam and Sid?”
She liked that. “Perfect.”
“Though I have no doubt Mayhem and Menace will fit just fine.” He nipped her collarbone. His mouth was hot. Too hot. “You saved me. I mean, by biting me.”
“You saved me first. By biting me.” The marking on her shoulder pounded in agreement. “We’re a team, Jordan. We save each other.”
“I know.”
“You’re not alone anymore. Punishing yourself was a waste of time.” She stroked his hair, getting lost in the thick strands.
“Maybe.” He groaned. “We did what we had to do ... for peace. It’s over.”
The note of acceptance in his voice warmed her throughout. Now they just needed to survive the night. His body shuddered against her, the too hot sweat pouring off him and coating her shirt. Every inch of her body hurt, and her shoulder was probably dislocated. If the lion wanted to get out of the room, no way could she stop him.
The strength required in refusing the moon was nearly impossible to gauge. Ninety-nine percent of creatures couldn’t come close. Jordan was the strongest man she knew, but he was battered and depleted. She gentled her voice. “Just a few more hours.”
Far in the distance, a wolf howled to the moon.

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