“Fuck! Demetrius, grab her!”

  When I heard Daddy’s snarl, I realized I was moving toward the cloaked figure. My body was still vibrating with anger. He looked like the asshole that had hit my dog. My canines were extended so far that I could taste the blood where they had cut my lip. I launched myself at him, pushing us both to the ground as my power rocked the ground under us.

  A hard body slammed into mine, the familiar scent wrapping itself around me as I was encased in bands of steel. Dem wrapped his arms and legs around my thrashing body.

  “Calm down, Acushla.” His words did nothing at first to calm me. It was like being in someone else's body. I couldn’t control myself. The ground shook, lightning split the sky, and all of this was because the darkness inside me was boiling over. “Marissa, you can do this. Pull it back.”

  I let out a loud, ear piercing scream before I collapsed back against his body. His voice, the Irish lilt that I loved so much, soothed me and eased my darkness. Pushing it back. As always.

  “Are ya alright now, love?” His warm voice wrapped around me and I nodded softly.

  “Dem?” I said, softly.

  “Aye, love?”

  “You’re squishing me…” I said, a small laugh escaping me.

  He slowly released me, caution making him take his time to assess if I was truly myself, and in a move only a ninja can perform he vaulted us both up on our feet and wrapped his arms back around me.

  “I’ve got ya, love. I’ve got ya.”

  4

  Demetrius

  I waved people off as I pulled Mari into my arms. She was still unstable. I could not only see her magic rolling off of her, I could feel it. I had to get her calmed down or there wouldn’t be a single tree left standing in the area. Her telekinetic powers were growing rapidly - too rapidly.

  We had discovered them only a few weeks ago. Hades! That seemed like forever ago, now. I wasn’t sure if the Prince knew that Alexander had been taken in for questioning or not. I wasn’t sure if he knew the King had it in for his niece now...

  The only thing I was sure of was that Marissa came first. I would run away and hide her where no one could find her. If I had to, I’d move all of heaven and hell to keep my girl safe.

  The day, the one where she ran off after her father, still haunts me. My entire world came crashing to a halt at the sight of her being escorted through the main doors of the King’s throne room.

  Alex and I had only enough time to exchange a look before things went up in the air. We have a secret, one that no one can know of right now. It’s not time for that to come out, yet.

  I’d moved across the Canadian border with no issue. I’d been able to get to the veil, cross it and stay out of sight. I had been on the castle grounds, hiding in shadows, for a few hours before I finally located Alexander.

  Something was messing with my ability to locate him. I was a vampire, a hybrid of sorts if you wish, as I was part druid, thanks to my mother. It lended me a power that not many others had. With a drop of blood, I could locate anyone.

  It might take a long while to locate them, to tap into the energy they released, but I could do it.

  I had, however, not planned on the King’s guards finding me as I made it to Alexander. I had no idea why he voluntarily came here… I guessed I’d be finding out soon.

  We were escorted into the King’s throne room. It was, at one time, an altar room. Nothing more than a table to the left of the door, an altar and the steps that lead to it. King Gregor, the asshole, sat there with a cocky ass grin on his face. Alex growled as soon as his guard pulled him to a stop.

  “Ah, Alexander, my boy. It’s good to see you, again.”

  I was scowling as a guard held me in place. My feet were spread apart, readying myself to fight. I had made a promise before I left home that day. I promised Mari that I would bring her father home, and in one piece.

  “Uncle, I’d say it’s a pleasure, but I am not one to lie.” Alex’s words made a scowl pullat the King’s face.

  “You are just like your brother. No respect for me or my position.”

  “A position you stole. One that no one is happy you have.”

  “Alex,” I warned.

  “You should listen to your guardsman, Alexander.”

  My head snapped to the doors leading into the room. Her scent hit me and I tried to pull away from the guard holding me. Fecking hell! What was she doing here?! The doors came open then. Marissa was escorted in by another guard. His hand was wrapped tightly around her arm. She looked scared, yet pissed off, too.

  “Ah, yes, yes, bring our guest in,” Gregor said standing.

  Alex growled and tried to jerk away from the guard holding him. Panic flared in his eyes. I was right there with him, but I could see the determination on Mari’s face.

  She was standing tall, though there was a look in her eyes I hadn’t seen before. We were in deep trouble.

  “Do not touch her, Gregor!” Alex’s power rolled across us all. I cursed as Gregor’s eyes reddened. Fecking hell!

  “Daddy, I’m okay.” Her voice was loud and firm. No sign of fear in it. I tried not to show just how murderous I was at the thought of him touching her. I’d only been with Marissa for about six months, but she owned my heart and soul. If Gregor knew there was more to us, he’d use that to hurt us all.

  “Marissa, I’m so glad we finally get to meet, child,” he said as he walked towards her. He gripped her hand - which didn’t work in his favor. His brows furrowed then he stepped back. I fought to keep my mouth shut. I saw Marissa, she was acting casual as she evaluated the man before her.

  “I’d say it was a pleasure, but I was taught to not tell lies.” Alex chuckled when she said that.

  Like father, like daughter.

  “It seems, my little niece, that your smart mouth might get you in trouble.”

  “I mean no disrespect,” she bowed her head before speaking again, “however, I’d like to know why you took my father and his guard? You left word to come and get them… and that only I was to come? Did you think I was stupid enough to not heed the warning in that?”

  “She did not come alone either, Your Highness. The two mutts are in the courtyard with Esmeralda.”

  I relaxed hearing that name. Esmeralda was a very old seer, one loyal to the Prince. She was responsible for much of the rebellion that was coming, even if Gregor thought she was loyal to him. He’d never see what was coming. I hoped that was the case, anyway.

  “Well, explain yourself. Do you not heed the words of your King?”

  “Not at all. I was told by my father to never leave my guards behind. His wrath scares me more than yours does,” she said, shrugging slightly.

  I saw the tick of her jaw. She was fighting to keep herself in control. There had been little bursts of power escaping her lately. If she lost control now, we were all dead. Gregor would destroy us just so no one knew how weak he truly was. I’d never let that happen.

  This was his weakness. If you were stronger than he was, you died. He watched her for a moment then sighed, turning from us before speaking, “Release them.” He sat on the stairs once more. “You’re free to go. Take your human child and be gone, Alexander.”

  When Alex and I were shoved forward, he pulled Marissa in for a tight hug. I gave the guards one hard look before we all moved towards the door. In mere moments we were outside of the castle and in the courtyard. Esmeralda smiled and greeted us. Her eyes quickly darted around before she lead us to the gated-off area. With a pass of her hand the gate opened.

  “Be safe, my children. The darkness shall seek to find you. Don’t believe all you see.” And without another word we were pushed through the gate before it was shut. Kristos and Jocelyn, Mari’s ‘guards’ took off in their four legged forms.

  It was only once we were back to the small cottage that was tucked away in the woods, far from the castle, a place I had called home for years, that Marissa had a complete breakdown. Walls shook, the earth moved and it took all I had in me to calm her raging emotions.

  If I didn’t she would destroy this place and alert Gregor to her power.

  We stayed hidden away, accessing the situation around us before deciding to head home.

  Three days later we arrived, and Alex disappeared again.

  “Can I see your arm, sweetheart?” A soft voice came from behind us and I was pulled from my memories. I turned Mari towards the female wolf.

  “Sheri will not hurt you, my child,” Trenton spoke as he walked by. I could see Alex was dragging the man from the tree to the back of what used to be the house. Guess he needed a little privacy to get the man to talk.

  I definitely didn’t want Mari seeing her daddy in full-on torture mode. That shit was crazy scary. They disappeared behind the house… well, what was left of the house.

  “I’m fine. I just... I was a little upset.”

  “As you should be. Now, come sit. My name is Sheri. I’m mate to the Alpha of our pack. I’m also a healer. You have blood on your arm. I wish to make sure you are not too badly injured.”

  “Demetrius, if you would step this way a moment?”

  I nodded to the Prince.

  “Yes, Sire.” I placed a kissed against Mari’s forehead before I spoke, “I will be right back, love.”

  “Okay,” she said, sitting on the tree she had just knocked down. She wrapped her free arm around her middle and I had to fight to stay where I was. I cut my gaze from her to the Prince and back.

  “She is safe. Do not fret, my boy. Alex is... busy, so as her protector and mate it is your call as to what we do next.”

  I scrubbed a hand along the back of my neck and nodded. “Aye. I think we can be going to the old pass. Ya know the one?”

  “Done. Let’s give Alex a few minutes to conduct business then we will go. I am going to look for my-” He trailed off as a big crash came from the tree line. I heard someone curse and then the panther, Thor and two wolves came crashing through the tree line.

  I shook my head as the prince’s daughter, in her panther form, was tackled by the brute of a dog. She jumps up, hisses playfully at him and butts him with her head. The Alpha wolf, Ramport, shifts as he comes into view. He, too, is chuckling at the display before us.

  “THOR!” Marissa took off across the yard and the dog met her. He, of course, tackled her to the ground and she dissolved into sobs and giggles.

  Thank fuck they found that crazy ass dog.

  5

  Marissa

  There are many things to explain. Many things to redo and a lot of things that will have to be redone. It’s been twenty-nine hours or so since I blew up Daddy’s house - which I’m still not sure he is over. Hell, I’m not even sure I’m over it.

  We’ve moved to the old compound on the mountain. The compound is made up of a large ski lodge that butts up against the mountain side with smaller cabins surrounding the three remaining sides. The Old Pass leading to the site hasn’t been used in years, other than hiding people, or just as an occasional get away… not that I’d really know much about any of that, the compound hasn’t been occupied in a long while.

  I pull my blanket around me a little more as I sit in the swing on the porch. It’s so quiet out here. No sound except that of the few animals in the woods and the snores coming from the floor beside me. Thor hadn’t left my side since I came outside. I smile as I rest my head against the side of the swing. The creaking of the porch boards has my head snapping up.

  “Sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you.” Talia says as she comes over and sits on the opposite end of the swing. She too has a small blanket wrapped around her shoulders.

  “It’s okay. I was hoping you were Dem. They’ve been in that cabin for a long time. I heard Daddy raise his voice once already.”

  “Yeah, Dad’s been very vocal in there as well...” Talia ground out. Her words drew Thor’s attention causing him to get up so he could sniff and lick all over her before laying back down and resuming his snoring.

  I smile down at my dog.

  “What do you think they’re doing in there?” I ask, generally concerned and anxious to find out.

  “I don’t know. I can’t get within fifty feet of that cabin before I’m sent back this way by one of my pack. Assholes,” she grumbles and I nod my agreement.

  Yep, been there, done that and sent back as well. With a sigh I tug my blanket up a little higher.

  “Can I ask you something?” I say, my head laying against the swing.

  “Sure. I mean… we are family.”

  “What’s it like? Being in a pack of wolves… I mean, with you being a cat?”

  I wasn’t very good at the ‘not putting my foot in my mouth’ thing. I didn’t want to offend her. I had never had many people around me. From the earliest time I can remember until I met Demetrius, it was always just me and Daddy. I’ve not really had any friends to talk things out with before. I had Kristos and Jocelyn, but they were usually out on four legs patrolling, and even when they were available it wasn’t the same as having a real friend to talk to about things.

  She laughed at my question, then sobered. Her gaze went out across the yard. She took in a deep breath before she spoke. “It’s still new. Until my birthday I’d been pure vampire. Being the only vamp in a pack was… odd, but they never made me feel out of place. I was always made to feel like I belonged. Well, once things were established. You know, sometimes kids can be assholes so it was a rocky start, yet still normal.”

  “So.. wait, what?” I sat up and looked her over. I took in her scent and it was then that I realized she had a mixed scent. Damn! I certainly was slow on the game here. I shouldn’t have missed that before.

  Her smile reappeared.

  “Seems we are both rare commodities. I was born vampire. My father, obviously is the culprit there, but my mother was a shifter. A panther like me.”

  “Does it hurt?” I ask, scared and unsure I want to hear the answer.

  “You mean shifting?”

  At my nod she chuckles. “Not really. It did the first time. I mean,” she shifts on the swing and turns to face me more, pulling her legs up, “I’d never shifted before. It was when my special abilities kicked in. I thought I was dying. My body was on fire. It was a night I hope to never relive again.”

  “I thought the world was exploding the night my gifts, or whatever they are, awoke. It was so painful. Dem just held me until it stopped. It’s scary as hell. I can’t control the darkness once it starts building up inside me.”

  My gaze went from my lap to hers as she spoke.

  “I feel a sort of tug. It’s as if I’m being pulled by a magnet towards something, but there’s nothing there.”

  Her words made me sit up and turn to face her fully, taking the same pose she had.

  “Yes! It’s all consuming sometimes. I’m not sure Dem realizes how close I am to jumping over that ledge. I just want to go back to the way things were.”

  “Yeah, but I don’t see that happening. I like being a vampire, it’s safe ‘cause I’ve always been a vampire, but when I’m in my feline form, my panther lessens my fears and prevents me from worrying so much. She’s in charge, and she has a bit of a temper.”

  We both laugh at that and I relax back into the swing.

  “Yeah, I have a bit of a temper myself and now, when I’m emotional, things start to happen. Dem says I have something close to telekinesis, but it’s more than that. There’s something more. I just haven’t put my finger on it.”

  “Mine is a kind of sixth sense, I guess. It’s annoying, I know that.” She pauses and looks out over the property before continuing, “You wanna go for a walk? I’m tired of just sitting here. I need to stretch my legs.”

  “Hell, yes. Thor, come on.”

  I stood, stretching myself up onto my toes. It felt good to get up and do something. I hated just sitting on my ass.

  “So, what is this place?”

  Talia moves to walk alongside me as I lead us up the path towards the ski lifts. My eyes scanned the area as we walked.

  “It was a big ski resort once upon a time. I believe it was run by a pack of shifters. But I could be getting my stories mixed up. It’s been abandoned for years, now. Daddy uses it as a halfway point when he’s needing to hide someone or whatever. I’ve been up here a few times with him, and once with Dem. I love it here. It’s quiet, peaceful.”

  This place is like the carnival for me. I’d been here, many times, but never to stay like we are now. Not like we had a home to go back to… I mean, I did kind of blow it up.

  Thor loped around, sniffing, snorting and woofing from time to time.

  I grinned as we walked up the hill side. I scanned the area again, my eyes darting around as the shadows moved. My mind was messing with me again. Thor darted off ahead of us and started barking. Talia and I jogged after him. We came to a stop at the hilltop and I think the breath whooshed from me.

  “THOR! NO!”

  My dog had treed a cub. Where there was a cub there was always a mama and a mama bear was no one to mess with. Holy Jesus!

  “Get the dog and get him away from that tree, now!”

  Talia growled out her words before she hit the ground on all fours. Her pelt shook. Her panther eyes glanced at me, then to the tree. Her body turned, she snarled and took off towards the beast of a bear coming our way.

  I grabbed Thor’s collar and tugged him back. I gave him another yank and we moved up the path. I looked around, scanning the area for Talia. When I spotted her, I gasped. The bear had swatted her, sending her body rolling over into the tree line. She didn’t stay down long. With a thunderous roar she was on all fours and leaping to the bear’s back.

  “TALIA!”

 

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