Unnaturals (28 page)

`The green wagon?' Renee adjusted her rear-view mirror.

Mason turned in his seat to look out of the back window. `It's not one of mine. I can always feel the difference.'

`Bloodells?'

`Hard to tell without,' he frowned. `What the hell do we call it when we change?'

`Morph,' Renee said with her eyes on the rear-view mirror. `We morph into our hunting forms.'

`Not exactly a good idea here,' he said as his scales itched to be free.

`I could do it,' Syrus said. `It would be clumsy, and I'm not sure how much energy I would need.'

`One way to find out.' Mason flipped open a panel to reveal the cigarette lighter. He allowed scales to cover his finger. Tendrils of thick black energy seeped out.

He glanced at Renee. Her face was alive with excitement, shades of Huntress visible under her skin. Dark energy fed into the lighter socket. He felt its passing as a sweet sensation of pleasure and cold delight. `That enough?'

Syrus didn't reply. The cabin around him hummed with dark energy and Mason stopped the flow.

`Syrus?' Renee's voice deepened. Huntress seeped out of her. `Answer!'

`I got it.' Syrus sounded strained and Mason checked to see if the green wagon was still there.

`Do it, Syrus,' Mason said watching the wagon, his sense of danger growing stronger. `Do it now.'

`Yes, Sire.'

The car vibrated and power flashed over him. Mason stared at the green car in the mirror. Nothing had changed.

`Holy shit, Syrus!' Renee swerved and braked hard. Mason braced himself as Renee dodged the suddenly motionless cars in front of them. `What the hell did you do?'

`I missed.'

Mason dug his nails into the armrest as Renee fishtailed through the ocean of stationary cars. `What happened?'

`It is not something I have done before. The range was too wide.'

`They're still there.'

`Not for long, Sire.' Syrus's voice thickened with power. `Mistress, you need to drive faster now.'

`How much faster?'

`Floor it!' Mason yelled as he turned in his seat. The green wagon had closed the gap between them. `They're gaining.'

Renee changed down and the motor roared as horsepower surged to the wheels. Tendrils of black smoke shot out of the back of the ute while Mason hung on, watching the green wagon beginning to fall back.

`Hurry up, Syrus. I'm running out of freeway!'

Signs flashed past, warning Mason that they would soon be in city limits.

`It's done.'

Flames erupted from under the bonnet of the green wagon. Its front tyres shredded, rims biting into asphalt, forcing the wagon to a shuddering halt.

`Effective. Messy, but effective,' Mason said as the sense of danger eased.

`Not exactly what I imagined,' Renee said, slowing down as they joined normal traffic. `And the freeway is a mess. What did you do to all those cars?'

`I think I fried their electrical system. I meant to just hit the green wagon.'

`At least there were minimal casualties.' Mason bit his tongue in annoyance. He had sounded cold and callous.

`Yes, Sire. No one was killed.' Syrus sounded pleased. `But we have to take action. The police are seeking a vehicle matching our description. There were many witnesses.'

`Number plate change, please Syrus. And do the colour too.'

`It is done.'

Mason watched as the black bonnet of the ute swirled into a deep green. `Not the first time you've done this, I see.'

`Sire, it is a regular event.'

Mason chuckled. The excitement of the chase and Renee's look of irritation at Syrus's comment fed his good mood. `So. What is it you do that requires such camouflage so regularly?'

`Speeding,' Syrus said before Renee could speak. `Among other things.'

`Syrus, enough.'

Mason noted the warning and tucked away for later the idea of fleecing more information out of Syrus.

Renee hadn't finished. `And how come you call him
Sire
?'

Mason straightened. Sire? He hadn't noticed. Why?

`He wields dark energy in one of its purest forms, and more than my Magi, your sister, may.' Syrus went quiet for a second. `Sire is his birthright.'

`I'm not so sure about that,' Mason said, uncomfortable with the title and the serious undertones of what he suspected came with it.

`Uh-huh,' Renee muttered, slowing for an exit ramp. `Things are way too complicated already, Syrus. Let's not over-think everything.'

`Good idea.' Mason began to relax as they slowed in the traffic. He could see blue splashes of the ocean appearing between buildings. `I'm kind of looking forward to spending the day with you.'

Her coy smile and flash of white teeth replied. `Even though we're going to deal with Ralph?'

He let his excitement show. `We're going to the beach. It's nice, considering.' A lump formed in his throat. `And it's only been a few days since we met, and those days have been chaotic and far too intense. It's nice to, you know, get to see you away from the others.'

`He appears to be nervous, Mistress. His heart rate is erratic.'

`Thanks, Syrus. Is this a date then?'

Mason rubbed at his nose, ignoring the butterflies in his stomach. What was it about Renee? He took a breath. `When we're together as Hunter and Huntress it's different. We're not us. I mean, we're connected in a way that is almost primeval. But now, today, this is us.'

`So, it
is
a date then?' She fidgeted with the steering wheel. `I mean, after we see Ralph, you want to go and have lunch together?'

`Lunch? Yes. In a restaurant. Together.' Mason put his hand back on her thigh. `I would like that very much.'

`I know a place.' She stopped at a set of traffic lights and he felt the temperature spike beginning. `Leave it there,' Renee said when he moved his hand. `I want to feel you on me. The more we touch the better we'll be able to control the reaction. Besides, I need to feel your touch.'

`No argument there,' he said, enjoying her touch while the heat remained bearable. `Maybe it's only when we are—'

`Aroused.' Renee turned into a narrow street. `I've been trying to concentrate on other things when you touch me. It seems to work.'

`It does?' He looked up from her leg and thought of the ocean and what it felt like. Temperatures cooled but remained warm, though within human range. `So it does.'

`Hold my hand.'

He let her long fingers intertwine with his, not speaking as she took them down the narrow street, savouring the sensation of normal contact with the young woman who had become part of his life in such a short time.

He held her hand, without having to be a monster.

Could he love her? Could he make a life with her and still be true to Ruth? What if he tried and failed?

The questions made his skin tighten into goosebumps. Renee's thumb caressed the back of his hand. He pushed the questions away. Answers would come in time.

`We're here,' she said, stopping in an alley.

`Where?' He looked at the red brick walls lining the alley, the ocean hidden by buildings.

`My place.' Renee clicked a remote on the dash. `This is where I live away from the Darkells.' A section of brick wall slid open and Renee drove into the concealed garage.

`This I did not expect,' he said as the solid brick door, its plate-steel lining and frame not lost on him, slid shut behind them.

`I come here a lot. The mansion's not for me.' A weapons locker hung on the wall across from them and motorbikes crowded the space.

`Security system disarmed, Mistress.'

`Thanks, Syrus,' she said, opening her door. `Keep an eye out for unwelcome visitors. The Bloodells are here in the city.

`Understood, Mistress.'

`You built this place?' Mason said, admiring the steel beams and serious concrete reinforcements.

`Yep. Wouldn't be much of a secret if I got the local blabbermouths to build it.' She walked to the weapons locker. Steps beside it led upwards.

`That's blast-proof glass?' He nodded at the locker.

`Everything here is designed to withstand impact from the outside. And inside.' Lights came on and Mason could see how some of the steel beams had been bent to shape. Finger imprints showed clearly; evidence of Renee's handiwork.

Incorporated with the garage was a lounge, big screen television and stainless steel kitchen. `What else is there?'

`Bedroom.' She turned and grabbed his hands. `Want to see it?'

He knew by the look in her eyes that she wasn't joking.

`You want to, I can see it in your face,' she said, letting his hands go. `But you're right. We don't know if even here it would be safe. This is bullshit, not being able to even kiss.'

`Maybe.' He pulled her in to him. `We can try.'

She pressed a wall panel. A steel door slid open revealing a reinforced room. `It's a holding cell for Bloodells, not that I've had one here.'

`Fire suppression as well?' He spotted the sprinklers on the ceiling.

The door closed behind them and she turned. `Try to control the thing that makes us burn. I want to kiss you so much.'

`Working on it.' He held a hand up between them. `Let's try no body contact, just a kiss.'

`Yeah,' she said, stopping just in front of him. `Just kissing.'

He tilted her face up as he leant in, wanting to taste her so much. Colour flooded her lips as he paused, her eyes alive.

`Just a kiss,' she whispered, holding his head with her hands. Mason couldn't hold back any longer and pressed his mouth onto hers. Heat flashed as Renee explored him with her tongue.

He pulled back, picturing the ocean, swimming in it. Renee pulled him back to her lips and he didn't hold back from enjoying her exquisite taste. He buried any trace of Hunter, holding onto his humanity. She broke away, cool air rushing across his lips.

`It's working,' she whispered and he felt her body inch closer. `More.'

He didn't refuse, kissing her without fear. Cool ocean waves crashed down in his mind as he held her. Warmth spread across his chest as Renee pressed into him, the firmness of her breasts hard on him as her fingers dug into his back.

Images of cool waves faded. Renee, naked on the bed in the lake house, flared to life; her desire for him laid bare.

`Whoa,' he said, breaking off the kiss.

She held him tightly against her. `I want you so much I ache,' she whispered. `We can stay here. Water gushed around them.

`Steam?' He looked up. The sprinklers had been activated but the water formed into steam.

`Damn it.' Renee moved away as the steam filled the room.

`We're doing that?'

`Unfortunately.' Renee pressed her palm on a sensor pad and the door slid open. `Come on. We need to cool off.' Her disappointment was clear as he followed her out into the air-conditioning.

`I'm sorry,' he said, surprised at how he felt. `I lost control.'

`No. I slipped up, thinking about last night.'

`You weren't alone.' He shrugged, smiling at her surprise. `It was a night to remember.'

`Well, at least we can kiss.' She grinned. `If we keep our minds out of the bedroom. Come on. Let's go find Ralph.' She eyed him up and down, turned and stepped through yet another doorway Mason hadn't noticed.

He reached it just as she unbolted a solid steel door, daylight seeping in as it swung heavily open.

`Jeez, you love your plate-steel doors.' He helped her pull it open, then held it for her to step through.

`I haven't used it for a while. Needs—'

Renee spasmed. Blood sprayed across his face — hers. Red hair swirled as she fell towards him.

Movement filled the alleyway behind her.

`Poisoned,' she managed to gasp, blood filling her mouth.

She moved her hand and he saw the wicked sharp barbs of a huge metal arrowhead protruding from her chest.

Hunter screamed to be set free, rage almost drowning out her whisper.

`Don't let me go.'

 

Ralph ran. His Wolf writhed within, howling to be set free.

He didn't care who saw. Long wolf claws dug into the footpath as he raced towards the scent. Blood. Renee's.

Behind him followed the sound of pack brothers letting their Wolf seep through.

`This is insane!'
Ricco yelled.
`It can't be them!'

`Bloodells. Here.'
Ralph leapt over cars in his path.
`At Renee's. I can taste them. Blood has been spilt.'

`War!'
Ricco's words sharpened with his Wolf growing stronger.
`The treaty is no more.'

`We hunt!'
Ralph let Wolf out, bounding into the alleyway, blood thickening in his senses.

He would prove himself.

He was her Wolf.

Her alpha.

 

Pete slammed the brakes on, patrol car screeching to a halt.

Every hair on his skin stood up. `Shit!' He remembered where he was and gunned the vehicle into a parking space.

Cold sweat formed on his face. His gut churned. But his eyes locked onto the figures that had leapt over his car. Disappearing down an alleyway.

`Jesus Christ. Ralph.' He fumbled for the door handle. `No way.'

He sucked in a deep breath, steadying himself as he stood beside his patrol car. What he had seen wasn't possible, but he had seen it. He had seen the shimmer of something other as Ralph and his mates had bolted past.

He had seen faces changed, but still recognisable. Hard and with skin darkening. Just like his brother's face so many years ago.

Cool metal filled his palm. Somehow his pistol was heavy in his hand.

He ran, following four men he thought he had known and understood.

Until today.

`So, how does it feel, Butcher?'

Mason tore his eyes away from Renee's pale, bloody face. She clung to his arms, her hands losing strength.

The biggest of six Bloodells men stood ready, crossbow aimed at him. `How does it feel? To be hunted.' He spat on the ground. The men behind him raised their weapons.

Renee spasmed. He heard her heartbeat falter. The poison of Unnatural origins tainted her blood. Its stink fouled his senses.