Shift - 02 (19 page)

The force threw me against the ground and I skidded across the broken asphalt. My back throbbed and burned from the pavement, and when I got to my feet the hunter already had his blade mid-swing. I dropped both daggers and grabbed his wrists, trying to keep his blades away from me. But he had too much momentum.

The blades neared my chest and I used the adrenaline to call my magic. I didn’t focus on either element, but something strangely familiar came. Magic burst between us and without so much as a push, his body flew over my head and crashed into a lamppost. It dented upon contact and the glass from the light shattered. His body collapsed to the ground as glass rained over him, and although his chest rose and fell, he didn’t try to get up.

I turned my back on him to face Jameson. His power was alive and rushing towards me in streams of heat. I called my element to meet his, but instead of my own blue flames, I took control of his magic. The yellow flame stopped at my hand and I pushed it back. His magic moved from my fingertips and took aim for their creator.

Flames exploded over Jameson’s body, scalding his skin and knocking him to the ground. He screamed as the fire wrapped around him, but it quickly faded as he pulled his magic back. He squirmed and I moved towards him, letting my power hum beneath the surface.

Rayna dropped her whip and tackled the other hunter to the ground. She threw her arms at him, a fury of fists cracking against his face.

Jameson got to his feet as I approached, jumping towards me with a spin kick. I dodged his kick with ease and came back to parry him, but he continued to spin and brought his elbow across my face. My body jerked to the side and in the same motion, his other fist hit me. I fell on all fours and rolled away, forcing some space between us.

I got to my feet and Jameson was already swinging a blade towards me. I caught his arm and hugged it against my body, turning with force until his shoulder cracked. The blade fell to the ground and he grunted in pain.

Jameson pulled away, his arm dislocated and hanging by his side. He winced as he lunged towards me, and I wrapped my hand around his throat. His head snapped back, his feet flew out from underneath him, and I slammed him into the ground.

He groaned and reached for another weapon, coming back with a nickel-plated .45. Surprise overwhelmed me as he drew the gun. I’d seen the cage at the compound full of ammunition, but I'd never known a hunter to use one regularly.

Jameson tried to take aim, but he was winded and hurt, his good arm holding up his dislocated one.
 

I ducked as the gun went off and then jumped on top of him, pinning his arms to the ground. The gun broke free. With my knee on his chest, I pushed the gun against his cheek.

“So this is what it’s come to. The elders are going to try and kill me, and the hunters resort to guns to win their battles?”

Jameson grunted, struggling against me. “It doesn’t matter what you do. They won’t stop,” he said through gritted teeth.

I cocked the hammer back and jammed the barrel against his face. “And what makes you think I will?”

“Please…” he pleaded, his brown eyes opening with fear as I pushed the cold steel against his face. “I have children…”

I stared down into his helpless eyes and anger roared inside me. I was tired of being hunted. It was bad enough with the demons; I didn’t need the Circle after me too.

Jameson’s eyes were welling with tears and full of fear. I should’ve used him as an example and sent him back in a body bag. But I wasn’t a murderer.

I pulled the clip from the gun and threw them in separate directions across the street.

“Tell the elders if they come again, I won’t be so generous. Next time, I’m taking this personally.” I stared into Jameson’s eyes, making sure he felt every ounce of anger that scorched inside me.

He nodded and I pushed myself off of him.

Jameson gagged and coughed as he struggled to his feet and ran down the road, leaving his fellow hunters behind. A few moments later, the squeal of tires sounded and a black SUV roared down the street. Jameson sat in the driver seat and represented exactly what the Circle had become. Cowards.

“This isn’t going to stop, is it?” Rayna stepped up beside me, breathing heavily.

I turned the ring on my finger. “It’s only going to get worse.”

Chapter 14

Marcus was on the couch, surrounded by torn leather and white fluff when we got home. Tiki sat beside him, his head down and looking ashamed, like he’d just been scolded.

“What happened here?” Marcus stood, and he didn’t sound impressed.

“Willy had an accident, of sorts,” Rayna said.

“I’m never leaving you home alone again.” Marcus’ eyes narrowed as he saw the blood on our hands and face. “You two have some explaining to do.”

We told Marcus everything. He was as surprised as we had been about Willy, but seemed to expect what we told him about Vincent and the Circle.

“I expected the Circle to react, but not with such immediacy. I thought we’d have more time…I shouldn’t have left.”

“You had to go,” Rayna said.

“Did you have any luck tracking down Riley?” I asked.

Marcus shook his head. “He vanished after the fight with the rogues. He's the most skilled among the hunters; tracking him will be impossible.”

“Is everyone else okay?” Rayna asked.

“Most will recover, but the hearts that mourn for the hunters who died, and their families, will take time to heal.”

“I’m sorry…” Rayna said.

“It’s to be expected in our line of work. The rogues tracked Riley as far as they could, but once they got to the edge of the state, his trail vanished. With the Brothers at his command, he could be anywhere by now.”

“Well, he already came here…kind of,” Rayna said.

“What? When?”

“Chase saw him when we took Tiki shopping. Then he was in Chase’s dream and when he woke up…there was a lot of blood.”

“We don’t know exactly what happened–”

“Enough.” Marcus sighed. “Offers from werecats, Riley astral projecting into your dreams, Tiki partying to all hours of the night. None of this is good.”

Tiki looked up briefly, only to hang his head again.

“Astral what?” I asked.

“First,” Marcus said, “Tiki needs to be with you two, or me. We've got too many enemies for anyone to be out alone, especially at a place like Revelations. Second, what's important is your safety, Rayna. I’m not saying you have to go, but it’s an option we should consider. We can’t do anything more for you here, you need to understand that.”

“But–”

“No buts. An experienced shifter might be the best option. However, I would like to speak with Chief before we decide anything.”
 

“I’ll set up a meeting.” Rayna stomped out of the room.
 

Marcus watched her leave before running a hand over his smoothly shaven head.
 
“Is she okay?”

“She’s really against this, but it’s our only shot. If she doesn’t get help soon… ”

“I know.” Marcus sighed. “And where's Willy now?”

“With the Wolves. Grams decided it was best for him;
 
they could help him control his beast.”

“Much like what the Chief is offering to do with Rayna.”

“Exactly.”

“It’s done.” Rayna came back into the room. “Tomorrow night.”

********

The sun had already set when we got to Shift. The only positive to having Willy gone was we didn’t smell like wolf, so we weren’t forced to put on their pheromones again.

I hadn't heard from Willy yet and that made me nervous. It'd only been a few days, and I was worried, but I pushed the nerves away. I was here for Rayna.

We followed Garrett through the same rooms as before, and once we settled ourselves on the couch, Charlie came out.

“Marcus Starkraven, it’s nice to finally meet you,” Chief said.

Marcus looked slightly taken aback, but nodded. “You as well.”

“I understand you have some questions.”

Marcus nodded. “I’m interested in knowing exactly how you can help her.”

“When we help someone bring out the beast, we like to do it in parts, with another shifter present to help control the beast. The first shift is painful, but once she’s learned control, the process is not as lengthy, and over time becomes less painful.”

“Why can’t we do this on our own?”

“Shifters always respond better to their own kind. Rayna’s beast doesn’t understand her other magic; it understands other werecats. Having one present to help coax the beast out is the safest method.”
 

“And you’re confident you can do this?”

“There is no guarantee. Most I’ve worked with have made it just fine, but not everyone makes it through unscathed. It’s a traumatic experience for both your mind and your body. Most come through the shift safely, but for some, only parts of them come back, and the rest…well, not everyone survives.”

“So there’s not only a risk I’m going to die, but if I don’t, there’s a chance I’ll go crazy?”

“Even among born shifters we have our casualties. There are many risks involved, but none as high as attempting this on your own.”

“You think I’m not strong enough to do it?” Rayna’s green eyes challenged.

“I’m saying you shouldn’t have to. There is more experience in this tribe than you have pride, my girl. The Hollowlights are a family, and whether you choose to join that family is up to you, but regardless, we want to help you through this.”

“So you’re saying once she shifts, she won’t be forced to join the pride?” I asked.

“We don’t force membership among our people. We may be animals, but we are not wolves.”

“What do you think?” Marcus looked to Rayna.

“Do you really want to know?”

“Chief, is there somewhere the three of us can speak privately?”

“Of course. Garrett, will you please take them to one of the meeting rooms?”

Garrett nodded and led us through a doorway and into a small room with four chairs and a small round table.

“Take your time, and come back through here whenever you’re ready,” Garrett said.

“Let’s sit,” Marcus said and closed the door behind him. “Now, I want to hear what you really think.” Marcus watched Rayna.

She avoided eye contact and stared at the table. “I don’t know…”

“If you have something to say, now is the time.”

Rayna shrugged. “I don’t want to go.”

“Why is that?”

“Because I don’t want to, okay?”

“Rayna, you need to understand how important this is. This could–”

“I know how important it is, but it’s nothing we can’t handle.”

“I’m honored you have that kind of faith in us, but we’re not equipped to deal with this.”

“I just...I don’t want to leave,” she whispered.

“Without Chief’s help your life is in danger. I won’t risk that.”

Rayna was silent. Her gaze stayed locked on the table and confusion filled her eyes.

“What if I go too?” I asked.

“What?” Rayna asked, finally looking at me.

“What if I come?”

“I’m not sure you’d be welcome, Chase. Not to mention you’d be a little…out of place,” Marcus said.

“We can't just ship her off. With Riley, the Circle, the Ring, and Willy, there's too much going on. I’ll go with her. That way she’s not alone.”

“She’s hardly going to be alone. There will be dozens of shifters there.”

“Can I have a minute with Chase?” Rayna looked to Marcus.

Marcus lowered his gaze and after a moment, he nodded. “Of course. I’ll be outside.”
  

“What’s up?” I said, trying to lighten the mood.

“Why are you really pushing me to go with them? You said yourself it’s a
monster
inside of me. Why would you want it to come out?”

 
“I say a lot of things without thinking, but it doesn’t mean that’s what I believe. I think this is the best thing for you. I don’t want to see you go through that again, not alone.”

“You guys keep using that word. I haven’t been alone. You guys have been there every time.”

“That’s not what I mean and you know it. Chief can help you, Rayna. So you don’t have to go through this over and over again until it kills you. So you don’t have to worry. So I don’t have to worry...”

Rayna’s green gaze lifted and met mine. “You’d really come?”

“Of course I would. Besides, I could use a few days away from this place.” I smirked.
 

Rayna smiled.

“So we’re going?”

Rayna shrugged. “Well, it can’t get much worse, so I guess it couldn’t hurt.”

We walked out into the hallway and Marcus was leaning against the wall. His massive black hands were deep in his pockets and he looked lost in thought.