Raven Moon (35 page)

He brought her the bag. “I’ll be outside. Just let me know when you’re done.”

“Stay. Just promise to turn around. I don’t mind but Maddox, he’s not the type to share bikini photos of his mate.”

He backed away and turned. “I’ll check the instruments, and when you’ve changed, I’ll make coffee.”

Rave shuffled through jeans and shirts, mostly men’s but found a pair of jeans meant for a teen boy and a long sleeved black t-shirt. That would do until her clothes dried.

She stripped off her clothes. “I’m done, you can turn.” In all the chaos of her attempt to escape from the Kindred as a raven, she wasn’t sure if he’d seen her shift. That’s right he’d been ordered to leave. Maddox must have told him. Time for a little fun.

“Okay.” He turned and he gaped. “Holy shit.”

Rave roused her black feathers.
Ahh.
Nothing beat down feathers for a quick warm up. She cocked her head and peered at him. Not bad looking, he could be her next body makeover project. She preened her wings.

He slowly sat on a passenger seat. “Can you speak?”

Rave shook her head and then cawed.
Only ravenish.
She picked up the t-shirt and dropped it. He just sat there staring.
Get a clue. I’m going to dress now.
She hinted by poking at the jeans with her beak. He was too stupefied by her transformation to turn away.
Okay, but if Maddox finds out you saw me in the buff, he might tear your eyes out.
In seconds, she stood naked in front of the gaping pilot.

“Oh, shit. Sorry.” He shot up and fumbled to the front of the plane.

Rave snickered and then dressed. She smiled. “I’ll have coffee now and maybe a candy bar.” She mumbled. “If there are any left?”

“You got it.” He reached beneath the pilot’s seat and took out a plastic bag of every known brand of chocolate bar. He smiled like an alcoholic with free access to a liquor bar.

She grabbed one. “Yum, it’s the Halloween candy apocalypse.” She chewed the chocolate caramel and gulped down half of it. Still chewing, she scanned for weapons.

He brought her a mug of lukewarm coffee.

“Thanks.” She sipped it and made a face. Bitter. She swallowed. “Got a rifle?”

He shot her a nervous look. “Why?”

“Don’t worry. I’m not going to shoot you for handing me a gross cup of coffee. If the ravens report trouble, I’ll go after him.”

“But he told you to stay.”

“Stay works for canines, not birds.”

He shrugged. “Okay, but since all the rifles were loaded with silver he threw them out and kept machetes and swords.”

Maddox was probably in too much of a hurry to empty the silver ammo from the guns. “Not a problem.”

“Speaking of, your mate, he is Benandanti and you are pagan shifter.”

So Dennis knew of their factions. How much more did he know of Kindred whereabouts? Rave found a light sword and parried it. “Go figure.” She stopped her practice. “Wait until my parents meet him.”

He frowned. “Not into mixed marriages?”

“It’s way more complicated than that.” Time to fill in the newbie about their entire secret shifter society.

****

Maddox spotted the chimpanzombies feasting on two humans who had been taken down from a snowmobile. There was so little left, neither would rise. Pray, no humans were bitten to turn into this fiercer version of zombie. Gunshots fired. People screamed. The sound of growls. The Benandanti. Two snowmobiles driven by a man and a woman raced away. Then silence. What the bloody hell?

Maddox snarled at the chimpanzombies. The creatures raised their bloody maws at him, but then continued feasting.
Time to go badass werewolf
. He swiped the head off the closest chimpanzombie. The next one hooted a sickening moan and Maddox speared his claw through its skull and into its brain. He withdrew his claws and howled.

Damiano, the black alpha werewolf, and his pack approached the dead humans. Perhaps the victims were people they knew. The other werewolves on seeing Maddox turned their back in shunning. Damiano snarled at Maddox. “Did you not rescue your heathen mate?”

He growled back. “Yes. I returned to kill the remaining rage apes. Your territory is free of this new bane. As soon as I make sure there are no more ape bitten humans, I’ll leave.”

Damiano signaled Maddox to follow him away from the rest of his pack. Alone, he hissed, “I put the infected few out of their misery. However, two of the Kindred got away.” He narrowed his feral eyes at the ravens that watched from the limbs above and then stared back at Maddox. “Out of gratitude for you killing the rage apes, I’ll allow you to take your plane and leave our territory. You have until sunset and know this. If we meet again, I’ll not hesitate to challenge.”

Maddox bowed his head. “Understood.”

****

Rave paced outside the plane. Her wing arm was sore from her previous flight. She wouldn’t risk another attempt. She gazed at the sky and her heart gladdened as the six ravens flew closer. They cawed, telling her the werewolf was slow but on his way. Better a slow but powerful werewolf than a fast raven prince. She thanked them for watching over him.

Dennis opened the door. “All systems are go. Is he back?”

“Any minute.”

A white wolf leapt over a log toward her. Her heart skipped a beat. Maddox. Rave dropped her sword and ran to him, meeting him halfway. He stood bigger than natural wolves, no need to kneel to hug him. She wrapped her arms around his thick neck and he licked her face. Normally a lapping wolfish tongue would have been a major yuck, but not anymore. Caw. Nevermore.

He shifted and she stood hugging a bare-naked man with a happy to see you hard cock pressing against her middle. “We need to leave before sunset.”

“Did you get the chimpanzombies?”

“Yes, and the Benandanti killed the infected humans.”

“Oh.”

He lifted her in his muscular arms. “I’ll fill you in while we fly.” He leapt up the steps and set her down. “Let’s go.”

Dennis already sat at the controls. “Seat belt and get dress sign going on.”

Maddox chuckled and put on the dark khaki clothing of a Kindred soldier.

Rave shook her head and sneered. “A Benandanti wearing Kindred’s clothes will be a big hit when we get home.”

Chapter 24

Rave woke and snuggled against Maddox. The reality of dealing with her raven murder about taking a werewolf, worse, a Benandanti werewolf mate would cause repercussions that would reach her parents. At least they would not return until spring and by then she would have sent them a long letter. She’d rather give up her future monarchy and even suffer banishment than give up Maddox. It wouldn’t be so bad living in the valley with the Fenrir werewolf pack.

From the pilot’s seat Dennis, turned to her. “We’ll be there in less than an hour. Now what?”

“Contact our air traffic controller and tell her Princess Ravenna is on board and prepare for our landing.” The sky was clear but a coat of snow glistened on the runway.

He nodded and radioed the former Pine Mountain Lake Airport. “Hopefully they will clear the snow.”

“Don’t worry, Angie will have the runway plowed. Have her tell Alpha Commander Dirk and Dora to meet us, alone.”

“Roger that.”

Maddox raised his brow. “Is that wise?”

She gave him a pointed glare. “You don’t think I’ll let them harm my mate, do you?”

“Your witch friend might have other ideas than welcoming me with open arms.”

“You can thank my maid of honor later for curing you of silver poisoning,” she snarked.

“Point well taken. I should be more concerned with your ravens mobbing me than being turned into a toad.”

“Don’t worry. Angie won’t say a word.” The cranky old raven shifter was the sole air traffic controller and preferred not to be involved with raven politics. The less ravens present the better. Let’s hope her raven suitors did not challenge Maddox. Not that she worried her mate would be harmed, but she didn’t want to be responsible for more raven deaths if they fought for her.

At the landing field, the plane skidded to a hard stop, causing items not belted down to be thrown about. Not bad. Kudos to Dennis.

Rave stepped down first followed by Maddox and Dennis. They were met by Dirk, Dora and three members of the Wolf Guard. Well, at least it wasn’t Dirk’s entire pack.

Dirk went partial werewolf and his pack growled on seeing Maddox, the Benandanti Templar. Dennis stepped back.

Rave stood in front. “Hey, don’t shift in your pants. It’s just me, a pilot and my mate.”

Dora stepped forward to approach but Dirk’s clawed hand held her in place. As if alpha male behavior was contagious, Maddox also gripped Rave’s arm in a tight protective hold.

Dirk sniffed and snarled. “Maddox, what the hell are you doing here?”

Dora playfully slapped Dirk. “Duh, what does it look like?”

Dirk rubbed his reddish beard growth and broadened a smile. “Hmm. Right as always, babe.”

Maddox bowed. “I have renounced the Benandanti and taken Princess Ravenna as my mate.”

Dora laughed. “I had a witchy feeling about him.”

Dirk looked at his wife and then at Maddox. “You’re no longer a Templar?”

“I still honor the All Mighty, but no longer follow the Benandanti’s faith.” He bowed his head low. “I wish to serve and combat the Bane and the Kindred.”

Rave hooked her thumbs into her belt loop and lifted her chin. “Actually, bragging rights go to Maddox. He killed Jaeger.”

Dirk cocked his head, his red furred ears out and his fangs fully extended. “Jaeger is dead?”

Maddox gave him victorious fanged grin. “Sorry to rob you of your prize but yes, I ripped his bloody head off.”

Dirk growled. Was it frustration? Or satisfaction?

Dora elbowed Dirk. “Tone down the wolf.” She winked at Rave and giggled. “Before you shift in your pants.”

Dirk smirked at them. “Very funny. Again.” He turned and bowed to Maddox in solemn respect. “I honor you for killing Jaeger.”

Rave smiled. “I thought that would make you approve of my mate.”

Dirk rose and smirked at Dora. “Good thing they didn’t hear that.”

Witches had the ability to telepathically communicate with their mates, something Dirk and Dora didn’t know when they first met.
I bet whatever they communicated had something to do with sex.
Rave turned to Dora. “Would you like to see his bite?”

Dora nodded enthusiastically and glanced at Rave’s throat. She was such a sex fiend. Who wouldn’t be with hunky Dirk? “I don’t see it.”

Rave turned around and pulled her hair up. “We thought we might have to keep our mating a secret.”

Dora chuckled. “Not from us.”

Dirk narrowed his gaze at Maddox and snorted. “Everybody scented your intent a year ago when you first caught her aroma and her kickass body.”

Maddox blushed and smiled down at Rave. “My wolf knew all along we were mates but my religious fanaticism fought my true nature. Fortunately, fate brought us together.”

Ignored by the shifters, Dennis gaped. One werewolf and a raven shifter was one thing but seeing others must have disconcerted him.

Rave turned. “This is Dennis, our pilot. He has vast information about the whereabouts of the Kindred.” She whispered to Dora, “And a sweet tooth.”

Dennis swallowed and offered his hand.

Dirk took it. “Pleased to meet you, but just to clue you in, we werewolves normally don’t shake hands.”

Dora elbowed Dirk. “Just don’t tell him you sniff asses like dogs.”

Rave laughed. “Ah, you just ruined all the fun.”

Dirk shook his head and winked at Dennis. “Don’t worry. It’s all about proper eye contact depending on your rank. One of our human pack members will explain it all.”

Dora dragged her glance toward the plane. “Did Cashel and Beccan fly in separately?”

Rave’s initial joy on her return, crashed and a lump formed in her throat. “They were killed.”

Dora hugged her. “I’m so sorry.”

Rave muttered, holding back tears. “Oh, Dora, it was awful.”

Dora released her hold and met her eyes. “It’s all right, honey.”

Dirk’s voice was accusatory when he turned to Maddox. “Explain.”

Maddox looked at Rave and she nodded. “Her heroic men died while protecting Rave after she broke her arm.”

Dora gasped. “You broke your arm?”

Rave nodded and shivered. “It’s set, but I can’t fly, although I managed some flight while rescuing Maddox.”

Dora studied her arm. “Actually, after what happened to Bram last year, Willow and I worked on a formula to accelerate avian wing bone healing.”

Rave raised a brow. “Accelerate, as in how fast?”

“As in overnight.”

“Cool.”

Dirk’s tone darkened. “Zombies don’t go after shifters in their totem forms. Who killed Cashel and Beccan?”

Maddox met Dirk’s fierce eyes. “These were not human zombies!”

Dirk cocked his head. “Huh?”

Rave took command. “The so called vaccine success you heard about was a failure. Instead, those foolish scientists created chimpanzombies. Stronger, faster and with an appetite for anything that moves.”

Dirk shook his head. “Like slow zombies were not enough.”

“We’ll give you the full details at the lodge. After a long hot shower.”

“Good idea, before we all freeze to death,” agreed Dora.

A beta opened the door of a large yellow tank-like snowbus and they boarded. They sat in the middle seats and embarked toward the main Wolf Guard lodge. Rave whipped out her compact and applied fresh lipstick. Her eyes didn’t look bad without her usual dark makeup.
Funny, how fast you can get used to the natural look
.

Dora gave Rave a sheepish smile. “One more thing.” She hesitated. “Not sure if this is good news or bad.”

Rave raised her brow. She had lived through chimpanzombie attacks, Mad Mamma Moxie, a Jaeger family reunion, and died. She couldn’t imagine much worse. “Spill it, Doc.”

“Your parents arrived in the rookery a week ago and have been fretting about your whereabouts.” The raven’s territory was on the north side of the park near El Capitan, the spectacular vertical formation that once drew millions of tourists. Raven shifters held their private meeting on top of the granite monolith.