Raven Moon (36 page)

Rave rocked slightly. So much for a long letter of explanation. “Oh, guano shit.”

Maddox held her hand and gently squeezed it. “Perhaps, I should stay behind while you see them and explain.”

“I doubt they’ll listen with or without you. I’m so screwed.” Of course, she’d expected their disapproval but had hoped to give them time to process her mating.

Dora went all medical doctor tone on her. “Rave, you are a grown woman and it’s time you assert your independence from their influence.”

“Dora, it’s more complicated than that,” offered Dirk.

“Couldn’t be more complicated than a witch mating with an alpha werewolf,” she countered.

I’m alpha of our raven Avian Intel
. “Dora is right. If they want to disown me, so be it.”

“I doubt they would do that,” said Dora.

****

Maddox was impressed with the guards posted at various spots along the once popular national park. Stonewall barriers at various entry points but no ugly fencing or other barriers that didn’t blend with the natural beauty of Yosemite. Well planned out.

Dora smiled at Maddox. “We live in a smaller cottage but keep a room here.” The attractive brunette witch had a cheeky personality. No wonder Rave and she got on. She looked like she couldn’t harm a fly but her powers were nonetheless great. He hadn’t sensed evil as he was told he would in a Melandanti witch’s presence. If it had not been for his experience with other shifters in Skye, he might not have considered living amongst their kind. Yet, in order to stay with Rave, he would have gladly lived in the flames of hell.

Rave kissed his cheek. “As do I, Wolfiegang. Actually the suite.”

Dirk chuckled, “Wolfiegang?”

“After Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Did you know Maddox plays the piano like a concert pianist?”

Dora smiled. “You will love meeting Willow Bothwell.”

Rave poked him. “Another Melandanti witch.”

Maddox stiffened. Did she possess ungodly powers greater than Dora’s? “I thought Dora was the only witch left?”

Dora laughed. “Willow has few powers except for her ability to conjure music.”

He quirked a brow. “Indeed.”

Rave lowered her voice, “We raven shifters hid her from your former pack.”

“A lot to take in, but I’ll explain over a keg of Raven’s Tower beer.” Dirk planted an arm over Maddox’s shoulder. “Beer is on me for ridding the world of Jaeger.”

“Sounds good.” Maddox peered out the window and stared at the snow. “No sign of them.”

Dora asked. “You mean the zombiecles?”

Rave mumbled to Maddox. “Frozen zombies.”

He looked at her. Making up names for things was something Rave and Dora had in common. “I figured that much.”

Dirk shook his head. “Before the temperatures dropped a few made it into our far boundaries. We skewer their brains before they thaw. Come spring, the shit will hit the fan as more migrate in. We’ve cleared most of the towns near Yosemite but a horde has been spotted heading toward the Sierra. It sure as hell is good to have another alpha in the pack.”

Maddox nodded. “I’m happy to be of service. Once the zombies catch the scent of humans, they are relentless.”

Dirk sighed. “We rescued a few people hiding in high elevations but most of their party starved or froze to death.” He pointed his chin toward Rave. “Your feathery mate has saved the most survivors.”

Rave shrugged. “My Mob Squad and I. With our skills, we can fly over places most helicopters and planes can’t. Hawks help as well but not to brag, they’re not as good as us at ground work. That is, as birds.”

Maddox smiled with pride at Rave. “She even rescued me after I was riddled with silver bullets.”

Dora’s eyes widened. “Our silver anecdote vaccine.” She screamed. “Yahoo! It worked.”

Maddox stared at the doctor. “I was the first it worked on?”

“In order for the vaccine to work it must be activated by silver bullets and obviously no one in their right mind would volunteer to be the first to test it.”

He gave Rave an incredulous look. “So when you injected me, you were not sure it would work.”

Rave met his eyes with her always breathtaking smile. “I trusted the doc, but yeah, you were our first guinea pig. Or rather guinea wolf.”

They parked in front of a large lodge with a sign that read, ‘Wolf Guard Headquarters’.

“Each member of the Wolf Guard and Avian intel team has their own room.”

“Maddox will share my room. I have a king-sized bed,” said Rave, her voice flirtatious. She turned to Dirk. “Do you have clothes Maddox can borrow?”

Maddox shook his head. “That’s quite all right.”

“Not a problem,” said Dirk. “In fact, I have an extra uniform in your size.”

“Once you settle in, Rave will show you the clothing center in Curry Village,” said Dora.

They stepped out of the vehicle and entered the lodge. The betas bowed to Dirk but on recognizing Maddox as the infamous Templar didn’t hide their contempt and growled.

Dirk barked, “Enough! At ease. Let’s welcome Maddox, hunter of the Kindred. He now serves in our guard.”

A beta kept his head down but muttered, “A Benandanti spy.”

Rave snapped. “Would a Benandanti take me, the destroyer of their bloodstone as a mate?” She tossed her hair to the side and displayed his mark.

No further argument ensued. They understood the ramifications of such a mating.

Dirk grinned, still bearing fierce fangs.

A young male of about twenty years of age walked in. Dirk waved him over. “This is Falco, son of our alpha leader, Talon and my cousin.”

Maddox bowed his head. The young man with the sandy blond hair smelled of hawk and wolf. The Benandanti had disparaged Talon for taking a hawk as a mate. Reality struck Maddox like a boulder falling on his head. He too might someday have a child with two shifting forms. What the Benandanti called deviled chimeras, like the devil who took on all animal forms.

Dirk asked, “Are your parents still gone?”

“Yes. Mother is flying over the incoming horde and doing a head count and father is with her in wolf form.”

“Ah, see, just like us. That is once Dora gives me her flight potion,” said Rave.

Dirk gave Rave a sheepish smile. “Umm, no offence, Rave, but King Corax and Queen Morgana wanted to peck my eyes out for sending you out on a dangerous mission.”

“Hey, not your fault. It’s my right to fly the nest. Why not get intel at the same time?”

“They didn’t quite see it that way. They came down pretty hard on Bram for not being the one to leave.”

Her tone saddened. “They’ll permanently ground me when I tell them about Cashel and Beccan’s deaths.”

Maddox gently pressed his hands on her shoulders. “You are not to blame. How were you or your men to know the hideous creatures would attack our kind?”

“Rave, why don’t you take a shower and then you can tell us all about those ape creatures?” suggested Dora.

Rave took out the little video camera from her satchel and handed it to Dora. “It’s all here, watch it while we take a quick shower and change.”

Maddox introduced Dennis to the pack, who except for his growling stomach had kept quiet as a frightened rabbit in its burrow.

Falco and Dennis, both pilots, instantly formed a bond. Soon they were talking about planes and snow conditions.

“Come on, let’s freshen up,” said Rave. She winked. “With a quickie shower.” Maddox, knowing she implied sex, gladly followed her up to the second floor.

Chapter 25

Rave stood in front of the screen. They’d just watched the video of the chimpanzombies and ape-bitten humans. Creatures faster than zombies with a craving for both human and animal flesh. The Wolf Guard and the medical staff, including the former army disease doctor, Captain Dave, she’d rescued in Sonoma looked horrified at the revelation. She turned off the screen and gaped at Gus, the surly bear shifter sat in the back. Odd. Why did he wake up from his winter sleep? His glance focused on Beth. Hmm.
Now I see.

Rave turned her attention from Gus and continued, “The Kindred’s new leader, Barker Creed has two of the creatures, but his whereabouts are unknown. Any questions?”

The audience murmured and hands went up. Captain Dave, who sat in the front in his wheelchair, caught her attention.

Rave smiled at him and at Beth, the veteran double leg amputee who sat next to him. “Yes, Captain Dave.”

“So you don’t know if anymore humans were infected with this new variant?”

“Not for sure. Fortunately, the chimpanzombies consume their victims so quickly none escape. However, we can’t eliminate the possibility that one bitten human escaped and then bit others.”

Captain Dave shook his head. “Fucking idiots. As if the problem wasn’t bad enough with slow ghouls, now we have to deal with critters that are faster and stronger.”

Maddox stood. “These rage apes and ape-infected humans will eat all animals and shifters in their path. We killed most of the chimpanzombies but the other two must be found ASAP. Based on the original count from Ted, we suspect as many as three apes are still in the Central Texas territory. I volunteer to take a team and hunt them.”

Dirk stood. “You and me, bud.”

Rave nodded. “I’m on it.”

“Me too,” said Dora.

Both Maddox and Dirk shot their mates a hard glower and in unison growled, “No.”

Rave frowned and muttered, “You’re not the boss of me.”

Maddox glowered. “One of them almost tore you to pieces.”

Dirk shot Dora a quick look. “He’s right, it’s best for our mates to stay here in the safety of our compound.”

Dora huffed. “I can fly and by tomorrow morning so will Rave. Besides I must collect spinal fluid samples.”

Falco stood. “My father includes my mother in all his missions. I think we should take Rave, commander of Avian Intel, and the doc. So get over it.”

Rave laughed. “You tell them.” His hawk sensibilities did not put up with alpha wolf bullshit. She smirked at Maddox.

Maddox swore under his breath and sat back down. His mate would always be in the thick of it. Somewhere deep down, past the need to protect her, he felt proud of her bravery.

In commiseration, Dirk mumbled to Maddox, “This is the price we pay for finding our soul mates.”

Rave sighed. It didn’t take raven foresight to know Maddox and Dirk would become best friends. She answered more questions and informed them Dennis knew of several Kindred bases. She winked at Dirk. “I’ll sit and let our commander discuss the possible logistics.”

“Oh, I get a turn?” Dirk asked with sarcasm in his tone. “Maddox is right. We must find Creed and the last two apes. Another team will head to Texas to get rid of the overlooked escaped apes and any possible infected humans. However, we have an immediate concern. There’s a horde on its way and we can’t afford to leave our compound unprotected when the snow melts. A team must remain here. Falco will take the helicopter and pick up Talon and Phoenix. As soon as they arrive, I’ll discuss our plan of action with my uncle.”

****

Maddox caught their scent as the royal party arrived. King Corax and Queen Morgan were to meet Rave, alone. He knocked on the bathroom door of her suite studio. “Ravenna, they are here.”

She walked out; her hair swept up to blatantly display her silvery mating mark. She wore a black raven feathered cloak over a red velvet corset and a red and purple flowing skirt. Her makeup was subtle but her lipstick was deep red, making her lips look sexy as hell. “What do you think of my formal attire?”

He smiled. “Lovely but is it wise to show them my bite?”

“We might as well get our mating bond out in the open.”

He scratched his head. He wore his new Wolf Guard uniform. “I hope I’m not underdressed.”

She grabbed his lapels, her purple eyes brightening his mood. “You look quite fetching. In fact, since you will be a royal consort of the realm I need to get you a wardrobe for special occasions.”

A gentle knock sounded on the door. “Princess Ravenna?”

She opened the door. A man in a black raven uniform bowed low. “The king and queen await you downstairs in a private chamber.” His look shied off Maddox and he twisted his upper lip in slight disgust.

Rave turned to Maddox and kissed him, long and hard to spite the audience. She released him and sighed. “I’ll send for you soon.”

He winked. “Yes, Princess.”

After she left, he savored the lingering scent of her kiss and the lipstick that stained his lips. He went in the bathroom and cleaned off the smudge. Why intimidate her parents further by flaunting their intimacy? He may never win them over, but their approval didn’t matter, at least to him. Would she give up the love and respect of her family?

Maddox paced as he tried to listen. His hackles were up. There were at least twelve raven shifters downstairs. What if they grabbed her and took her? They’d have to leave the continent to escape his reach. Something ravens were quite capable of doing. His fangs and claws emerged. Finally, a knock on the door. A growl vibrated in his chest. He focused on remaining in human form.

He followed the same smug bloke who had escorted Rave earlier. In the room surrounded by luxurious furnishings that faced a tall fireplace, King Corax and Queen Morgan stood; both were tall, imposing and attractive. The king wore a feathered cloak and his queen dressed in a similar manner as Rave but with a blue corset and matching frilled skirt.

Rave’s face was puffy and her eyes red. He was tempted to touch and comfort her but she remained stiff and braved a smile. “Father, Mother, let me introduce you to Maddox, former Templar and now a fellow soldier in Dirk’s Wolf Guard militia.”

Hurt frayed his nerves on not hearing her refer to him as mate, but perhaps their customs were different. Maddox bowed. “It is an honor to make your acquaintance, your highnesses.”

King Corax narrowed his black eyes at Maddox and curled a slow smile. “We are eternally grateful to you for saving Princess Ravenna.”

Queen Morgan smiled. “Let us sit.” She turned to a raven attendant. “Arrange for coffee and tea.” Her manservant nodded and left.

Rave sat beside Maddox. His anxiety eased, but not by much. Her father had not stopped watching him. Not in obvious distain but as if pecking at his brain, in the same way a psychiatrist would a patient.