Fang Chronicles: Zenya's Story (3 page)

“How far do we need to go?”

“We’ll get there late tonight.”

“I think I can safely shift now and go faster.”

“Yes, but the wolf odor will be stronger, and I don’t want you leading anyone to where we’re going.”

“Do you really think we’ll make it out?”

“I learned a long time ago not to wish for anything good. I’ll meet you at the backpack; I need privacy.”

He didn’t argue, just made his way back. She’d filled the water bottles in the river, but he didn’t remember her doing it. There were four left. It would be a long day without enough water, but it wouldn’t kill him now. His thoughts drifted to her comment about not wishing for anything good. He didn’t even know why it bothered him. He ate more food and handed over the pack when she came back.

Ignoring him, she drank some water, grabbed a piece of jerky, then slung the bag over her shoulder and started walking. He followed.

Four hours later, the jungle thinned and between the trees he could see a mountain range in the distance.

“We can’t leave the jungle until dark, so now we rest.

He didn’t bother arguing.

Chapter Four

He woke with his head in her lap and the smell of cat permeating his nostrils. “Do you have a death wish? I fucking don’t want your filthy cat body anywhere near me,” he said as he rolled away too quickly. The pain in his ribs caused him to suck in air.

“I think if you were going to kill me you would have, so please stop with the death threats and your foul language.”

He almost laughed. The bitch had balls. She was right, though; he probably wouldn’t kill her unless she gave him a good reason. His brain was finally functioning past thoughts of her death, but she was still a cat and he didn’t want her touching him.

He rested quietly until the sun set and knew they would start off again soon. “Why did you help me?”

“For some reason Amy cares about you.”

“I barely know her.”

“She thinks of you and Brandt as part of her family. I didn’t ask her why, but she was upset when they all thought you were dead.”

“I am dead.”

“That’s nice. If you want any pity you’re asking the wrong woman.”

“You mean cat.”

“Whatever, wolf.”

They finished off the last of the water and food in silence. She neatly placed the empties in the pack and then looked at him. “Do you mind if I sleep for an hour before we get started?”

“As long as you don’t expect to rest your head on my lap.”

“I’ll somehow resist, but I need you awake and keeping watch. An hour from now we need to go.”

“I’ll wake you.”

She lay down, curled into a tight ball, and shortly after breathed in and out steadily. He tried to look anywhere but at her. Every few minutes his gaze returned. Her hair was dirty, but he remembered the color as a honey blonde with sun-streaks. Her facial features were delicate with a cute sharp-angled jaw. The first time he saw her, her cat eyes didn’t cause the anger they did now. His memory flashed on light green orbs that darkened to emerald with yellow flecks when her emotions heightened. The darker green stood out the first time at Amy’s house when one of his pack wolves tried to attack her. That wolf was dead now, along with the entire eastern pack.

His anger built with the memories of the battle. He became so lost in thought that the imagined smell of smoke made his eyes burn.

The plane landing.

A vampire subduing him.

The last terrible images of his pack.

Vampires and cats slaughtering everyone.

Franklin, the vampire leader of his pack and his best friend, torn to pieces.

The screaming of she-wolves as the children died.

Those same she-wolves torn limb from limb shortly after.

He remembered everything, the graphic details imprinted on his brain forever. Now he had a chance to exact his own revenge and something to live for.

The hour went quickly. Right before he leaned over to wake her, she cried out in her sleep. The sound was heart rending and ended on a low moan of desolation. “No. My baby. Please.”

A small piece of his heart shifted. He’d heard the story of her clan leader killing her child.

Zenya’s eyes snapped open and she wiped her tears away without acknowledging her nightmare. Gaining her feet quickly, her lithe form seemed more cat-like than ever, and his eyes followed her with something besides hatred. He wouldn’t take the time to consider exactly what he felt.

Neither spoke as they started walking. There was no more food or water, though she could shift to cat if she wanted and catch one of the small animals running through the vines and leaves. She didn’t offer and he wouldn’t ask. They didn’t have a machete and at times they had to veer off course because of the heavy growth.

It took an hour to get to the first of the mountains, and the uphill pace was excruciating on his ribs. He put one foot in front of the other, refusing to give into his weakness. They skirted around a small human village and kept heading higher. Two hours later he didn’t think he would make it.

“How are you doing?”

His stumbling made it obvious, but his stubbornness came through. “Just go. I’ll keep up.”

She did and he managed another hour. She stopped and he collided with her back.

Vorlyk, the kid vampire, stood in front of them.

Chapter Five

“I didn’t think you would make it.” His youthful voice sounded over the noises of the night.

What the fuck
. Nicolas grabbed Zenya and had her neck in his hands ready to snap. The bitch tricked him.

“You don’t want to do that.” The vamp’s eyes went amber.

“Why not?”

Zenya wasn’t moving. Smart cat. Her life was a split second from forfeit.

“Because I couldn’t care less if you live or die, but I’ll protect her. If she dies, I’ll make the torture you’ve suffered seem like child’s play.”

Nicolas turned her sharply around to face him. “What have you done?” He shook with rage.

“Saved your ass for Amy.”

“She’s a wolf.”

“She’s my friend and so is Vorlyk. He’s here to help.”

“You’re a fool.” He pushed her roughly away so he didn’t give into the subconscious need to strangle her.

Straightening, she walked into Vorlyk’s waiting arms.

That pissed him off even more, and, even exhausted, his wolf almost burst through his skin.

“He’s got broken ribs and a compound fracture in his arm that needs to be reset but otherwise he’s ornery and showing typical wolf behavior.”

“He’s the only wolf I’ve known, so I’ll take your word for it. He’s damn stubborn.”

She actually laughed. “You have no idea.”

Them talking like he wasn’t there didn’t help his already sour mood, but it threw him for a slight loop realizing she knew about the injuries he tried to keep hidden. He wouldn’t give her or the vamp the satisfaction of knowing he gave a shit.

Finally the vamp turned his way with a disgusted look on his face, “Can you make another thirty minutes, wolf, or do I need to carry you?”

“Don’t fucking touch me.” Zenya’s singsong voice rang out at the same time as his, using his exact words.

The vamp laughed. “This should be fun. Let’s go.”

They walked another two miles, and while Nicolas struggled with each step, Zenya and the vamp talked.

“I’m sure no one followed.” Zenya murmured.

“Good.”

“How’s Madayah?”

“As mean and ornery as ever. She’ll get along great with your wolf.”

“He’s not my wolf.”

“Can I drain him and then have him stuffed as a souvenir?”

“Ha ha. No wonder Madayah is ornery.”

“She’s worried.”

“So am I.”

They stopped talking when the lights ahead became clearer. The enormous stone house was part of the mountain. Nicolas wasn’t sure if it was one home or several apartments. He never expected to find luxury high in the South American mountains, but from what he could see it was no straw village.

His wolf suddenly came to attention; cat eyes stared from the darkness and he stopped walking. “Cats are surrounding us.”

“And your point?” The vampire’s voice held mild disgust.

Nicolas saw two cats, in their mountain lion bodies, walk into the clearing to stand between him and the mountain villas’ front door. One adjusted her gait to accommodate only three legs. The other’s body was half mutilated. There were more in the shadows, but they stayed out of sight. Nicolas’s wolf bristled threateningly, knowing additional cats were there, just not how many he needed to kill.

The disfigured cat rubbed against the vamp’s side.

“I told you she would come tonight. I won the bet and now you’re washing my back.”

The cat shifted to human. On one side her body was twisted muscle and tendons, but half her face showed the beauty she once possessed. Nicolas couldn’t imagine the amount of suffering her injuries caused. Beastkind could take a lot of pain. He knew it from experience.

The vampire kissed her full on the mouth, obviously not caring that part of her lip pulled down from twisted sinew.

The woman disengaged with Vorlyk and gave Zenya a long hug. “I worried for you. You’ve been gone for months. Vorlyk walked down the mountain every night saying you would be back.” Her eyes moved to the wolf. “He’s ready to drop.”

He was. The darkness he’d held off for the past few hours closed in. He didn’t feel himself caught in strong cat arms and barely heard the vampire’s laugh. “I really think he’s yours.”

***

The breaking of his arm woke him up. He couldn’t get away from the pain or the multiple sets of cats holding him down.

The vamp’s voice was matter of fact, showing no emotion, “It had to be re-broken in order to be set properly. I can’t feed from you and help you heal until we’re finished. Are you ready for the next step?”

He couldn’t breathe, but he managed to nod his head. He heard the yell and realized it came from his raw throat. He was a fucking pussy.

“No, you’re just at the end of your endurance,” Zenya whispered.

He didn’t realize he had spoken out loud.

“He’s a gorgeous pussy.”

“You are no longer needed Talya.”