Only After Dark The Boxed Set Books 1 - 4: Shifters Forever Worlds (22 page)

His wide chest and broad shoulders were coated with a film of sweat.

Sweat she’d never get to feel.

Never get to taste.

His stomach dripped his hot, white essence.

Yet another thing I’ll never get to taste.

Hot tears burned the bridge of her nose. She didn’t even know his name.

F
or months
they’d logged on, spending evenings together, both of them assuming they lived too far apart to do anything about it. Both secretly happy about that while miserable at the same time.

She wished she could be around him. Wished she could have a normal life. Wished she could be like the other happy couples she read testimonials about on MysticConn’s website—couples that met online, then in person, then went on to form relationships.

It wasn’t meant to be, it seemed.

To remind herself of how it wasn’t destined, she would slip outside and let the moon touch her, briefly—just enough to put the change into place, then she’d go to the mirror and study the being there.

Repulsive.

She knew there was no way any man, especially not a man like WickedWolf, would ever want the creature that stared back at her.

Crimson eyes.

Fangs.

A face that dwelt between being human and a tigress.

She punched the mirror, shattering it. Then stared at the blood as it dripped onto the mirror’s shards.

Tears followed the blood, watering down the scarlet fluid.

WickedWolf had been the only thing she had in her life, but the extent of her feelings for him, and the fear that she—or her tigress—would push her to take their emotions to a new level—one that involved meeting in person, that meant she had to nip it immediately.

When she’d realized the depth of her feelings for WickedWolf, Valencia did the most difficult thing she could imagine, the most difficult thing she’d ever done.

She disappeared from his life. She broke her own heart.

And the last few months since then had been excruciating.

She’d logged on, but kept her status as invisible, knowing he couldn’t see her.

He’d logged on every day, at their appointed time. He’d waited for hours, and she’d watched her screen for hours, hot tears streaming down her face, knowing that her happiness was just a click away.

T
hat was then
, this was now…

A
nd now he’s here
.

And he knew her deepest and darkest.

And…

Her tigress emitted a low growl in Valencia’s mind. Her tigress wanted to know what was next.

And what?

As if Valencia didn’t know what her tigress wanted.

R
ory waited
for her to answer his question.

Why had she vanished?

Things had been so fucking perfect. He was right there, so into it, ready to take it to the next level. Then…

Poof!

Gone from his life. She never logged back on. He’d watched for the icon next to Tigress4Ever to light up. He’d even put the damned MysticConn app on his phone so he could check it when he wasn’t at his computer.

Nothing.

She never logged on again.

Worried that something had happened to her, he’d contacted MysticConn and asked them to contact her.

That had been futile. They’d refused to intervene, quoting some kind of bullshit about privacy and rights.

Okay, the rational part of his mind got it, totally. But his wolf didn’t. And the part of Rory that knew she was supposed to be with him didn’t get it either.

So he’d decided to reach out. Being in the military’s secret paranormal special ops unit had its perks. He had connections. He’d contacted one of the guys attached to his unit and asked if he could grab her info from the MysticConn database.

No luck.

His friend said their security was too tight.

Then Rory had come up with another idea. Buy the company. That way, he’d have access to all their records. He’d contacted his business broker the day before they left for Arceneaux Point.

And lo and behold, here she was. He’d have to cancel the buy order on MysticConn when he got back to town.

“I have blood on my clothes.”

Nice diversion tactic—changing the subject.

“Since you’re so prepared and all, can I take it you have a change of clothing?”

She nodded.

“And you’d like privacy?”

Stupid question, really,
he thought.

He’d seen her naked. That was on cam. That was then. Maybe she didn’t feel the same way now. It was so damned hard to tell.

He stood and walked away from the makeshift woolen blanket tent. He may as well take advantage of this time and call someone out to take care of the bodies.

He could call Lézare and see who he could assign. Or he could call Mae and see if she had any contacts in the area.

Nah, both those options would involve questions he would have to answer. He’d call his own guys out to handle it. They’d assume he did it, and that would be the end of the matter. They could be here before dawn if he called them right away.

He fished his cell phone out of his pocket.

A twig snapping caught his attention. Did those Scanlon flunkies have cohorts in the area?

He poised ready to sprint back to Valencia when a large form stepped out of the shadows.

Theo!

Rory’s shoulders slumped in relief. It wasn’t someone who’d be a danger to Valencia.

Then a thought hit him and his stomach tightened in knots. The smell of death, thick with blood, permeated the air.

Theo would have questions.

Damn.

Valencia would be blamed; questions would arise.

Double damn.

Theo cocked his head, nostrils on a nose perched in an olive complexion flared. “I’m following Valencia. What are you doing here, wolf? And why are there two bodies in the clearing?”

Rory’s instincts to protect her from prying rose. “She’s here. They were trying to hurt her.”

“And you did that?” Theo asked. “You killed them?”

Before Rory could answer…

“I’m done.” Valencia’s voice carried through the thickness of the forest. “You can come back.”

A part of Rory—a huge part—rejoiced. She did want him back. Even if it was as nothing more than someone who shared her secret, at least she wasn’t shutting him out.

He studied Theo. What was the large lion shifter going to do now?

“She’s waiting.” Theo nodded in Valencia’s general direction. “And I’m guessing it’s safe to say she’s not expecting me.”

Rory nodded. “Safe to say. Why are you here?”

“When she left so abruptly, Alexa became concerned. She asked me to keep an eye on her.”

How the fuck did I not notice him trailing her—us?

Rory knew how. He was clearly too preoccupied with keeping up with Valencia to notice.

That could have been dangerous, if Theo had been an enemy.

Rory blew out a sigh. He wasn’t, that’s what counted. But from now on, no more letting his guard down.

“What’s taking you so—” Valencia stepped into view, the blanket half-draped over her like a navy colored ghost. “Theo!” She looked between Rory and Theo. “What are you doing here?” She turned an accusatory eye on Rory. “You knew?”

He shook his head. “No.” He gave her a look. “I was just telling Theo how I had to kill those two guys trying to take you hostage.”

Her eyes became slits. “Wha—oh. Yes. Rory saved me. I was out from a Tranq.”

Good job.

Rory nodded. She’d taken his lead and run with his story. And she was in fresh clothing. They got lucky on that one. Theo would never have bought the story if she was the one with the most blood on her.

As it was, Theo would assume Rory had shifted and killed them in wolf form, which would not leave blood on his clothes, unlike Valencia’s weird half-shift thing.

Theo frowned, as if something was on his mind, then a smile appeared. “Glad you’re safe. Alexa would want you to go back to Arceneaux Point.” He stepped forward and gave her a hug.

“I’m not.” Valencia’s words were blunt.

Theo’s frown reappeared.

Valencia took a step back. Before Rory could warn her that the toe of Theo’s boot had pinned her blanket to the ground, she was stripped of the wool and stood before them, uncovered.

Beams of moonlight penetrated the trees’ thick cover, alighting on Valencia.

A snarl, then her eyes began their transformation to crimson.

Her face stretched, mouth adjusting, fangs extending. Her claws shot out from the tips of her fingers. Her face was a mask of pain from the half-shift.

Theo took a step back. “What the fuck?”

Rory rushed forward, jerking the blanket free and throwing it over Valencia, holding her, hiding her, allowing her the time to shift to herself.

Theo watched them open-mouthed, his expression confused.

After a few moments, arrhythmic motions and silent sobbing alerted Rory that she’d become fully human again. He kept his arms around her, shielding her, though she was still under the blanket, still crying.

Rory looked toward the cleaning. “I was going to call my men to clean up the mess,” he told Theo.

“I’ll have it handled.” Theo turned toward Valencia. His expression softened, as did his tone. “Valencia. I know someone who can help you with your situation.”

V
alencia pushed
the blanket away from her face but kept it at an angle to still provide cover. She was thankful that Rory didn’t move his arms. She looked at Theo. What could the lion shifter know about this?

“Who could possibly help me?”

“Leandra.”

“Leandra Mathieu?” Valencia knew that name, though she didn’t know her personally. She’d heard a rumor or two, things whispered when no one thought she was paying attention.

He nodded.

“How do you know that swamp witch?”

An amber light gleamed in the depths of Theo’s dark eyes.

Valencia could have sworn she saw anger flash across his face.

What’s up with that?

“Yeah.” The anger was gone from Theo’s face. “I think if anyone could, she would be the one to help. Hang on.” He stepped away, pulled a phone out of his pocket, spoke into it, then returned, the phone tucked away again. “There’ll be someone here to take care of the bodies within the hour.”

“You have guys this close?” Rory asked. “We’re hours from Arceneaux Point.”

A different streak of panic rushed through Valencia even though Rory told Theo he was the one who killed the two thugs. What had Theo told her family? Is that who he called? “What did you say? Was that Alexa? Did you talk to her?”

“No. I called my team.” Theo patted her shoulder. “Relax. I don’t want to disturb Alexa. She and Reese are on the way to New Orleans to look for Evie.”

“Why? What’s Evie done?”

Theo shook his head. “I think she’s pitching a fit because Mason Martinez was at the masquerade ball.”

“What?”
Evie’s ex?
“Why was Mason there?”
I am so out of touch.

“He’s part of your family now. The Tiero sister and Mason’s brother Mark.”

She’d heard of them. She’d gotten an email from Alexa about the Tiero cousins, family members that none of the Arceneaux siblings had met. Another email announced their cousin Vittorio Tiero, called Vax, had taken a human as a mate and upset the old school European apple cart. Yet one more informed her that Veila Tiero and Mark Martinez had become a couple.

God, my life is a series of emails. Emails, but no contact.

“You should come home more often.” Theo’s tone wasn’t accusatory, but there was an underlying manner that plucked at her guilt.

“I know. I’ve had a lot going on.”

“I can vouch for that.” Rory’s arm was still around her. He pulled her closer against his body.

Theo cocked his head. “You two know each other?”

“Yeah.” Another squeeze from Rory.

Valencia leaned her cheek against his chest. He was her knight in shining armor. She’d have to leave him yet again, but for now she could enjoy his presence. His strong arms. The scent of him, all male, musky, a hint of earthiness and pine.

Rory moved the blanket slightly so it covered both their faces. He looked down at her. She liked the half-wicked smile on his face. She wanted to return to it.

How did I ever walk away from this? How will I again?

“Follow me. We’ll take my truck. Give me your keys, both of you. I’ll have my guys bring your cars back to the house. We’ll zip to Leandra’s quickly.”

R
ory looked
at the time on his cell. It took the three of them a hell of a lot less time to return to Arceneaux Point than it did to get to the spot where Theo found them. Theo wasn’t kidding when he said they’d zip to Leandra’s quickly.

Theo drove past the driveway that led to the main house.

“You know where you’re going?” Valencia asked from under the cover of the blanket Rory had draped over her. He’d kept his arm around her.

There was no way he was letting her go. Not after losing her the first time. He felt her heartbeat synchronizing with his, the two pulsing as one.

He lifted the blanket and leaned in. “I’m not letting you go,” he whispered, knowing Theo could hear his words with his shifter hearing, and not giving a damn if the whole world heard them.

She gave him a small nod, but sent him a warning with her eyes. Rory put the blanket down, leaving it open enough for her to look out.

Moments later, Theo pulled onto a country road, sending pebbles and dirt flying. He kept driving, the road turning into more of a lane, then almost becoming a wide path. The plant life changed, yielding to cypress trees and reeds, the scenery more marsh than woods.

Rory looked out both side windows. “She lives in the boonies?”

Valencia adjusted the blanket, moving it aside. “That’s why they call her swamp witch.”

Theo slammed on the brakes, pitching them forward, no seatbelts to stop their forward momentum. Bracing himself with one hand, Rory grabbed Valencia to keep her from pitching into the dash.

What the fuck?

Theo glared at the blanket. “Don’t call her that. You don’t know her.”

Valencia raised the blanket above her head. “I’m sorry. It’s what Evie and I called her when we were younger. We heard stories…” her voice was genuinely contrite.

Theo put his foot on the gas, nosing the truck forward, his profile as if cast from granite, his expression unapproachable.

A few hundred yards later, he brought the truck to a stop, this one a lot less abrupt, then killed the engine. “We walk from here. I don’t want to risk the truck getting stuck.”

“Should we have done this in the morning?” Rory asked. “So she doesn’t have to be wearing this blanket?”

“Can’t. I’m leaving in the morning for New Orleans.”

“What is it you think the swa—” She bit the words back. “—Leandra can do to help me?”

“I don’t know. But if anyone can, I’d put my money on her.”

“Is she really that powerful?” Rory asked.

“She is.” Theo opened the door, pulled his large frame out of the pickup and looked at them expectantly.

Rory got out of the truck then held the blanket above her so Valencia could get out without having to wrestle with her oversized wool protector.

She gave him an appreciative glance, then slid across the bench seat. He moved the blanket along with her, ensuring she was covered the whole time.

Theo flicked the button to lock the doors on the truck, then closed his softly.

“Make sure you don’t—”

Valencia shoved the door closed with a loud slam.

“—slam the door,” Theo finished his sentence.

Beneath the blanket, Valencia winced visibly, then murmured a soft, “I’m sorry.”

“I’d rather not attract any attention.”

“I should have known better.” Her tone was remorseful.

Theo nodded, then stepped off the road—to use the word liberally—and headed toward a cluster of trees and bushes.

“Ready?” Rory put his arm around Valencia.

She looked up at him. “So ready to end this hell.”

The blanket moved slightly. A sliver of moonlight touched her face.

She gasped. A low growl came deep within her. Her emerald eyes, glowing almost a luminescent green were now infused with a dark crimson.

Rory covered her up immediately. “Careful.”