Authors: Kassanna
Etienne burst out in laughter. After a few moments he wiped at his eyes with the back of his hand and spoke. “I’ll be outside when you’re ready.” He was still shaking his head as pulled the door open and quietly closed it behind him.
Myka spoke calmly. “You’re safer here.”
“Try and stop me,” Tee challenged.
Chapter Five
Etienne, alligator Alpha, Garmin, the gators second in command, and Armand, the Alpha of the small wolverine clan, waited for him by a truck parked under the house. Tee’s screams of a painful death drifted down to Myka. He nodded at the men he’d met the night before. Garmin and Armand raised their brows. He shrugged. Etienne climbed into the driver’s side of the super-duty truck with monstrous tires, and the engine roared to life. The other two swung up into the back of the cab leaving the front passenger seat for Myka. The headlights cut through the inky darkness only a few feet ahead of them and Myka wondered if they should have taken the trip as their animals. Elevated in the vehicle, they were still jostled as Etienne navigated the deeply rutted red clay road.
Garmin broke the silence. “Myka, what you do to Tee to have her yelling bloody murder.”
Myka glanced over his shoulder. “She was a little tied up when I left her.”
Etienne cleared his throat. “Tee the type woman that likes to get her way. You will have your hands full with her wolf.”
Myka caught his faint reflection in the passenger window and realized he was smiling. “That’s part of the fun.”
Armand snorted. “Give me a docile woman any day.”
Garmin jokingly responded. “Just gimme a mate. Feels like it’s getting harder to find the woman, the Goddess, destined for you.
Qui
?”
The other men made various sounds in agreement before a comfortable silence settled over them. Beyond the security of the cab the nocturnal insects and amphibians called to them. Low-hanging fronds from thick palm trees scrapped the sides of the vehicle, the foliage so dense in some places the moonbeams couldn’t break through. The headlights shone on small animals scurrying across the road.
Armand leaned forward in his seat. “Ya know in Montreal there are still some really cute bunny shifters.”
Myka tuned in his seat to look at the man in disbelief. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen a rabbit shifter.”
Garmin mock punched his arm. “Probably because you wolves ate them all.”
Etienne’s laughter filled the small space.
Armand shook his head. “There are still a few left, and they found sanctuary in Canada. But it’s hard to detect one. Personally I think they have developed a sort of camouflage for self-preservation.”
Garmin’s brows climbed his head. “You mean like a superhero? They have…uh…cloaking devices? What dis world coming too when you can’t even recognize your own kind?”
“I’m conflicted,” Etienne commented. “I mean what would I do with a little mammal? I’m not sure if I would mate with her or eat her.”
Myka took measure of each man and exhaled. “I have enough issues with a certain snake, I don’t want to think about the logistics of mating a bunny. You’d have to beat the beasts off who’d consider her dinner. That, my friends, would be a constant battle.”
The men nodded in unison. Their vehicle broke through the trees and came to a stop on the shore of a large lake. The headlight beams stretched across the muddy water, broken up by islands of dark grasses. Scattered along the open water were floating boathouses tethered to thick tree trunks, and a few of them anchored farther out and seemingly away from everybody else. Tendrils of fog licked at the bottoms of the structures giving them an otherworldly appearance.
Etienne switched off the engine as he stared through the windshield. “We’re here. That house over there.” He nodded in the direction of the building with a large deck wrapped around it. “That be Loubel’s home.” Etienne yanked the lever and the door silently swung open. “Let’s go pay the Viper Alpha a little visit.”
Myka and the others jumped from the cab. He took a few steps and his boots sunk into the muck and made sucking sounds with each stride. The dense patch of towering reeds bordering the water’s edge was deceptive. Giving the impression the land was solid. Mud inched up his leg to midcalf. Etienne and Garmin had moved with stealth, having no problem navigating the familiar territory.
Garmin hung back and raised his index finger to his lips, then whispered, “Welcome to the viper pit. We need to keep it down. These snakes don’t like no company.”
Armand’s accented voice was laced with frustration from his lack of easy movement. “It’s probably too late. Who wouldn’t hear us?”
The squeak of a door opening and loud footfalls confirmed Armand’s observation. A flash of light crisscrossed the weeds ahead of them. They looked at each other and shrugged.
Etienne called out. “Loubel, a few of us came to talk.”
A crisp, raspy voice answered, “About what?”
More squeaking and low voices drowned out the background noise of nocturnal creatures. Etienne moved to an open space between the marsh grasses. Myka and the others struggled to get to the spot Etienne stood. Once Myka stepped on the packed earth, light flared in his face and he raised his hand.
“What de hell a wolf doing here, Etienne?” someone asked.
“It’s because of his mate that we came. You remember Gertrudis, you’re cousin, no? This be her man,” Etienne answered calmly.
Darkness enveloped them when the flashlights were cut off. The drone of a generator filled the air, and suddenly the area was flooded with light. Leaning on the railing with his arms hanging over the side was a taller-than-average man with dirty-blond hair tied behind his head. Tattoo sleeves covered both exposed arm.
He looked Myka up and down with disdain but continued to speak to the gator. “What dat got to do with me?”
Myka broke into the conversation while holding the snake Alpha’s gaze. “Someone from your clutch attacked what’s mine. I want him now.” He hastily studied the surrounding area.
Loubel narrowed his eyes and for the briefest of moments the skin rippled over his face. “You come to my pit and demand retribution without proof, dog?” He turned his head to look at Etienne. “Get this puppy out my sight before I make my cousin a widow.”
Myka snapped his head up and snarled before he took off running, shifting in midleap. Chaos broke out, the men behind him called his name while some of Loubel’s people scrambled to get to their Alpha’s side. Myka’s feet touched the railing and he rebounded off the top rail, his jaws open and pulled back to expose razor-sharp teeth. Loubel threw up an arm as Myka aimed for his jugular. His feet landed in the man’s chest, and he bit down on the shifters forearm. Rank blood flowed over his tongue. Loubel shifted.
The snake coiled its thick, scaly, green body around his chest and raised its head inches from Myka’s face.
* * * *
Tee listened to the rumble of Etienne’s customized truck, the glass-packed mufflers alerted everyone within a twenty-mile radius that he’d started the vehicle. After shifting to free herself she hustled to her room. Tugging on her jeans and vest she snatched her gun belt up off the back of the kitchen chair as she exited the house. Standing on the deck she watched the taillights fade into the darkness and vaulted over the deck railing landing in a crouch on the ground. Dust kicked up behind her as she ran toward her aunt’s home, calling Sint’s name. The screen door above her flew open, banging against the back wall, and Sint marched out, shotgun at the ready.
Light from inside the house bisected the night and Tee threw her hands up watching as the gun barrel was aimed in her direction then lowered. “Chile, why you out here screaming like a banshee? You scared the little ones.”
“Aunt Sint, I don’t have much time, but we gotta get to the viper pit. I need Uncle Percel’s airboat.”
Sint rested the weapon on her shoulder. “Make time. Why?”
“Stupid men and their beasts. Etienne gathered some guys, came and got Myka, and they all went to visit Loubel. I need to head them off,” Tee said it all in one breath.
“Ah, Hell. Percel!” Sint yelled.
Percel came to the door and rubbed his eyes. He raised his arms high and stretched. “Why all the commotion?”
“Etienne and Tee’s man, Myka, went for a ride to see Loubel.”
Percel raised a brow. “I swear, animals and they egos.” He scratched at his chest. “I suppose you want me to go get them before someone gets killed.”
Sint tilted her head. “That would be nice, but God forbid I put you out to doing anything important.”
Percel moved out the doorway and walked up to his wife. He dipped his head and rubbed his nose to hers. “If I actually said no, I would never hear the end of it.” He caressed her cheek before turning to look down the stairs at Tee. “I’ll meet you at the airboat, Tee.”
Tee offered him a brief smile of gratitude.
“Take the shotgun.” Sint held out the gun.
“I don’t need that, woman, I am the damn weapon.” He back tracked a few steps, reached past the doorjamb, and pulled out his boots. Jamming his feet into the footwear, he stomped a few times before turning on his heel and jogging down the steps.
Tee waited at the landing, and once she was sure Percel was behind her, she ran for the airboat tied to the dock behind the house.
The boat rocked when Percel jumped into it. Tee wrapped both hands around the hardy twine and yanked at the knot to free it from the post. She tossed the rope into the stern of the boat and watched her uncle. For a big man he moved with fluid ease. He climbed behind the chairs welded to the boats floor and took a seat in front of the massive fan attached to the bow. Percel turned a key on the console to his right, gripped the gear shaft, and squeezed the lever. The blades behind him beat at the air and he eased the stick forward. The airboat jerked and Tee was thrown into her chair. She snatched at the safety belt connecting the two sides as the boat picked up speed cutting across marsh like a hot knife through butter.
Wind whipped at the tendrils of her hair freeing them from the security of her ponytail and sending the strands blowing across the bridge of her nose. Water sprayed her, dappling her exposed arms with moisture. Tee pushed the hair out her face and leaned forward in her seat. The sun was rising on the horizon, and she squinted to focus on the multiple structures floating in the tiny bay. Percel swung the boat around, and she twisted her body to see what was happening. She recognized the men standing on the shore searching each man’s face to confirm if it was Myka. Panic welled in her belly when she couldn’t locate him.
The roar of the fan quieted and the airboat gently rose and fell with the waves. Tee stared at the crowd on one of the larger houseboats. She caught blurs of black and green, deep growls and long hisses reached her and she realized Myka had shifted into his wolf and the vivid green coil was probably her cousin Loubel.
Ah shit
. She started stripping, unbuckling her holster first.
Percel laid a heavy hand on her shoulder, shaking his head when she glanced back. She shook off his palm and inhaled deeply trying to control the rapid pace of her heart. An audible gasp came from the crowd and Tee bit her lip, moving to catch glimpses of the fight.
He spoke quietly from behind her. “He don’t need you trying to come to his rescue. No man or animal will follow a weak shifter. The quickest way to earn our respect and help is to allow your mate to rise or fall by his own merit. He came to us. The wolf will live or die by our ways.”
* * * *
Myka snapped his jaws and shook his head, dodging the snake’s venom-laden fangs. The slim tail of his foe tangled around his legs making it hard for him to move without tripping. He knew if he released the body of the snake it would whip back and sink its sharp teeth into his skin and muscle. Myka reared back on his hind legs and tossed his head releasing the animal. He hustled backward, his paws sliding on the smooth wood. The snake landed with a sickening
thud
on the deck and Myka lowered his head between his paws ready to pounce. He followed the slow movements of Loubel with his eyes. Loubel lifted his head and darted at Myka, forcing him to jump to the side. He flipped midair to stomp on the body of the beast. Just as quickly, he jumped off as the green animal twisted around. Myka growled out a warning, pulling his lips past his gums to expose his canines. This was a fight he had every intention of winning.
He circled the snake as it slithered across the deck, keeping pace. The gathering around them moved back to give them space. Loubel opened his mouth wide and drops of venom fell from his fangs as he lunged. Myka pounced, catching the shifter midair. His jaws snapped shut around what he hoped was the snake’s throat. The snake stiffened in his mouth before going limp. Myka dropped him on the blood-splattered wood and turned, shifting into a man. A collective gasp made Myka turn to watch the snake slither toward him. Too late to counter the move, Myka knew he was a good as bit.
A boot stepped on the diamond-shaped head of the green viper. “Now, Loubel, the wolf won, no cheatin’.” Etienne raised his head to meet Myka’s stare. “I like the way you fight, dog.” He nodded his approval.
Percel pushed through the crowd and bent to lift the snake into his meaty fist. He gave the limp beast a good shake. “Shift!” He dropped Loubel.
Loubel morphed into his human form and rested on his knees. Anger rolled off him in waves. He rose to stand and lifted his chin.
“Listen to me. Someone with your clutch attacked Tee. She family. I will decimate this pit if that snake isn’t found,” Percel spoke calmly.
Loubel hissed.
“That show don’t scare me none but Sint will put the fear of the Goddess in you if you don’t, and I know you don’t want me to let her loose in your fold. Find the bastard.” Percel turned and walked away. He stopped abruptly. “And I want him by tomorrow night.”
The snake shifters that were part of the clutch started talking amongst themselves.
Myka watched as Tee squeezed through the crowd and stopped in front of him. He inhaled her coconut-laced scent, holding it in his lungs, and reached out to cup her cheek. She slapped his hand away and aimed a fist at his chin.