Sex Fae - Defeat the Darkness by Eliza March

Inspiration for this scene

Thank you for coming back to follow my WIP. This week I went back and made some changes in the previous chapters, because due to a plot twist and a character change in this week's scene the details had to be inserted. I had a tough time reorganizing everything after what you will discover happens to my heroine in this scene. We're about to see the plot unfold... Enjoy!

Disclaimer - Warning: It's unedited. This is the first book  in the Hearts in Darkness Trilogy, which,  believe it or not, is almost completed. The two other books are close to completion as well. Read about all the characters at the link below.

Chapters posted in March through May are here on the weekly blog list. Chapters posted prior to March are at  the DEFEAT THE DARKNESS page. Start there to read the book from the beginning.

  continued...

SEX FAE

Kyle kept his mouth shut and suppressed the guilt. All along, he’d suspected he was the one who infected Shelby with the jaguar virus. The flashbacks from that night progressively grew more vivid. Over time, details he hadn’t remembered came to him through his sense of smell and taste. What Victor was going to discover after compiling all their test results was that she was infected with his jaguar DNA.

That night in Guatemala, after Amyra left the tent, Kyle was too weak to fight his jaguar. He overpowered him and tried to claim Shelby. By the time he was able to fight back the cat, he’d already inflicted a small puncture wound on her neck. He licked the spot to stop the bleeding, but it was too late. Too weak to do more than stumble back to his bed, he passed out. She was gone when he woke in the morning. He remembered nothing but the shame from the previous night, and now he knew she suppressed the nightmares of his attack that haunted her dreams.

So far, the virus hadn’t killed her. Now his biggest fear was that it would drive her insane as so many of the jungle tales warned. The shifter gene he inherited from an ancient ancestor saved his life. Otherwise, the attack would have killed him or caused him to go mad.

What were the chances she had a werewolf in her family tree, too?

After Shelby went back to bed, he asked Dylan, “If the jaguar bit her and she ran a fever with all the symptoms, why hasn’t she shifted?”

“She can’t shift because it’s not in her nature, and she hasn’t gone through stasis to blend her DNA.”

“Will she go mad or die as the villagers claim?”

“No. Stop worrying, Kyle. If it hasn’t affected her before now, she’ll live. The only explanation for her survival is that she must have acceptable DNA. She’s not a shifter, but she’s definitely something. We just don’t know what.”

Kyle exhaled heavily. “What now?”

“I’m going back to my wing. Call me if you need me. I have the wolves out looking for any sign of Amyra.”

“Is she going to be all right?”

“Victor says the draught you’re giving her will suppress all her pain. She won’t shift as you did, but whatever powers she inherited should begin manifesting soon. Keep your eyes open for clues.”

“I will.” Kyle walked Dylan out. “Thanks for everything. I don’t know what I would have done—” Kyle’s voice cracked under the emotional strain.

“You don’t need to say anything. Along with my mental abilities, my mother gifted me with a bit of her empathic side. I know what you’re feeling. You need to put the blame at Amyra’s feet, not take it on as your own, boy.”

“It’s not easy not to blame myself for what’s happened to her.”

“Go take care of your woman. I sense her soul needs you, too.” With those parting words, Dylan vanished.

~~~~

Thirsty.

Shelby needed water.

Itchy. If only someone would please scratch the itch across her back.

Burning. Her skin was on fire. But what she needed were Kyle’s hands all over her and his mouth kissing and suckling.

Hunger. She was starving. She wanted to taste every inch of him and ride him until the ache between her thighs subsided.

Sex. He could feed this hunger, fill her empty heart, and soothe her aching body.

Her needs were insatiable, and she didn’t understand what was happening to her, but at least the joint pains and nausea dissipated.

~~~~

“Kyle, where are you?” Shelby’s voice sounded needy and whiskey smooth when she called to him.

“Right here.” He turned on the shower for her.

He’d just finished having another round of marathon sex with her and although they’d both been satisfied, she was ready again. He could smell the clean scent of her arousal calling to him.

Strange thing was his body couldn’t stop responding to her need. If she was ready, so was he.

“Do you want me as much as I want you?” she asked.

The simple question hit him with an erotic slam to his libido. “More,” he said. As if he needed to add to his already heightened awareness of her. Part was caused by an intricate mental link they’d developed in recent hours. The other part was something he suspected was from that secret genetic code of hers.

He wasn’t sure what she was, but whatever it was, was damned sexy. He’d never met a woman more sensual than her anyway. In retrospect, he saw how the potential for this new being was there all along. The sexuality had never been exactly dormant. This new erotic element of her nature was just another layer to discover about Shelby.

No, if he had to describe how he envisioned that layer, he would describe it as molten lava bubbling beneath the surface of an inactive volcano, waiting for the right moment to escape.

“Kyle, I need you to scrub my back. I think I have a rash.” Shelby tried to see her back in the mirror, but Kyle steered her into the shower. She didn’t need to see this yet.

“It’s not a rash.” It was wings. Fascinating. “Come. I’ll wash you all over.” He soaped up his hands and began the full body wash, complete with massage.

“Oh, that’s perrrfect.” She moaned and had Kyle’s cock bobbing up as if he hadn’t just had the woman three times.

The ripple under the skin along her spine reminded him of his own. They probably wouldn’t surface until she went through stasis. He was curious to see what hers would be like.

“The twitch in my back is so irritating,” she complained, then sighed. “I guess I should be happy the pains are gone.”

“Don’t worry. The irritation should let up soon.”

He handed her the jungle potion Victor concocted. “Drink this, baby,” he said, then carried her back to bed.

He climbed in beside her, cocooning her with his body. He skimmed his hand down her silken skin and marveled at how lucky he was that she didn’t blame him for all this.

His phone rang, interrupting him before his hand reached the point of no return. When he looked at the screen and saw it was Victor, he slid from the bed and stood. “I need to take this,” he told Shelby. “Can I get you anything while I’m up?”

He punched the button before she responded and said, “Kyle here,” into the phone. Victor’s words on the other end of the line left him speechless.

“Water would be nice,” she said.

This was a conversation he needed to take into the other room. “I’ll be back in a minute,” he said, glancing at her over his shoulder.

“Come right back,” Shelby said to his retreating back. Her words had that husky tone her voice got when she was aroused, only now it shot blood straight to his groin. Again. 

As soon as he was out of hearing range, he spit his words into the phone in a low whisper, “She’s a what?”

Victor repeated exactly what he’d just said, and Kyle still didn’t know any more than he had a minute ago.

“What the hell is a sex fae, Victor?”

The Spaniard tried to explain. “A sex fae ingests the essence of an orgasm for sustenance. They need sex to survive. They consume sexual energy the way vampires consume blood. Shelby needs sex to live, and at the moment, thanks to the jaguar virus, she is also experiencing symptoms similar to a female cat in estrus.”

“Heat? She’s in heat?” Kyle grabbed a bottled water from the fridge and turned back to the den.

“Kyyyyle, where’s my water?” Shelby’s normally husky tone sounded even more ragged than usual. The pitch alone made him hard as stone.

He ran his hand over his face and groaned. “Listen Victor, I have to go.”

“Are you up to the task of…caring for her?”

“Don’t you worry about whether I can handle my former fiancée. We never had problems in that department before.”

“This is different.” Victor ignored Kyle’s sarcasm. “Max is returning with me later. The council reviewed the situation and gave Dylan permission to have the discussion with him. And, I will try to explain to Shelby what she will face in the coming few weeks.” Victor cleared his voice and Kyle knew he chose his next words carefully. “Her sexual appetites will confuse and distress her. She was never a sex fae before.”

“I was never a shifter or a vampire. For that matter, I’ve never been a hell’s spawn before, either. You of all people should understand the driving sexual nature of my demon. The jaguar’s no slouch in the sex department, but the demon’s sexual prowess is formidable. One reason I’ve kept it suppressed is I’m not willing to risk Shelby’s life for sex.”

“You need to be careful. Her demand on you will call to your beasts. It is important you know she will be voracious until she goes through stasis.”

“That wasn’t so different from when she was human.” Kyle chuckled lightly.

“Later she will regain some control. Until then, Max will stay with you, too.”

“What the hell—?” The growl rumbled through his body. “No. No Max.” He’d seen the way they looked at each other. He wasn’t opening that door again.

 “Somewhere along the way she also bonded to him. Dylan sensed it the same way he saw she was your soul mate. If this is true, she will need Max to survive—at least until she completes stasis. There is an advantage to him being a human. He won’t kill her in the process if she gets too demanding.”

Shelby’s need drove him to distraction. “Kyle, please. I need to come,” she cried out.

The jaguar roared and the demon attempted to unfurl his taloned wings. Kyle needed time to think with a clear head, away from the damned beasts inside him clamoring for release. He had to get a grip.

“You understand this is for her own safety?” Victor asked. “Kyle, are you all right?” he repeated when Kyle didn’t answer.

“I’ve got to go. I’ll talk to you when you get here.” Kyle clicked off, tossed the phone carelessly across the room, and strode back to the bedroom. His blood boiled for her, and he was so damn hard he thought he was going to explode.

He needed her as badly as she needed him.

Fuck it all. I’ll share her with Max to keep her safe if I have too, but I don’t have to like it.

...All rights reserved. No part of this may be copied or reproduced without the written permission of the author. Copyright 2012, Eliza March

Facing The Darkness - DEFEAT THE DARKNESS by Eliza March

If you just started reading my blog, you should probably know my muse abandoned me last year when I went through some personal medical issues. I began writing this story weekly to give myself the kick in the butt I needed to keep it moving forward. The story (originally intended to be a short story) has gotten bigger, more intricate, and expanded into a full length novel. Warning: It's also unedited. This is the first book  in the Hearts in Darkness Trilogy, which,  believe it or not, is almost completed. The two other books are close to completion as well. Read about all the characters at the link below.

Chapters posted in March through May are here on the weekly blog list. Chapters posted prior to March are at  the DEFEAT THE DARKNESS page. Start there to read the book from the beginning.

This story is about to heat up. You go ahead and read this chapter, I'm going to work on the next scene. 

After the pain, will come the pleasure.

~~~~

When Shelby opened her eyes, she was in bed in a darkened room, but she could see detail as if it were fully illuminated.

Where was she?

The last thing she remembered was talking to Kyle before she suddenly began to shiver and sweat. That was followed by nausea and excruciating pain. Finally, it stopped, and then she passed out.

Her hair was in her eyes. She tried to brush it out of her face but in her weakened state, her arms were too heavy to lift.

In her drowsy state, she was still able to hear Kyle’s voice register. He was speaking with someone in the next room. The other man’s voice wasn’t familiar. His dialect was American, but when she listened more closely, she caught a slight Scottish burr in a word or two.

He stopped speaking as if he sensed her listening, and as soon as she struggled to sit, he said, “Ack, Kyle. Yer Shelby’s awake.”

What the heck? Still from her prone position on the bed, she quickly checked the room for a camera. Seeing none, she was still busy wondering how the Scot knew she was awake, when Kyle called her name.

“Shelby?” he said, “I’ll be right there.”

Then more male mumbling followed. A familiar voice with a soft Spanish accent she knew to be Victor Salazar’s, argued with another—a deep, gruffer voice that made all the fine hair on her back stand on end. She felt the urge to stand and fight or claw her way from the house. Weird reaction. Panic like she’d never known before filled her with dread even though her rational mind dismissed it.

The Scotsman said, “Hurry. She’s reacting to Garr.”

Kyle appeared at the side of the bed as if out of nowhere and gripped her shoulders to still her. With a strength she didn’t remember him having, he lifted her off the bed. Cradling her in his arms like a baby, he sat back down and calmed her with his soothing voice.

“Shh, relax. Everything will be all right.” He reached for a glass from the nightstand beside the bed. “Here, drink this.”

She took a sip and choked. “This is terrible.”

Kyle stood his ground. “Drink it. All of it. Victor says it will help ease your symptoms.”

“What symptoms?” When she woke up without any memories of how she got here, she figured that was what Kyle meant. “Do you mean, what happened in the car?”

“That and other symptoms you’re about to experience. Drink up. Victor made the concoction just for you.”

 “The stuff tastes like a combination of old, dirty socks and cut grass,” she said.

Kyle cocked his head to one side and asked, “You know that because…?”

 “Okay, never mind. I stand corrected.” She was too tired to argue. “It tastes like what I would expect that combination to taste like.”

Scrunching her nose before she did as he asked, she held her breath and quickly drank the rest down. Swallowing the potion actually soothed her parched throat and immediately eased her stomach cramps.

He looked tense when he took the empty glass from her and put it down on the night table.

 “What will I begin to experience?” she asked, watching him closely for a reaction.

“Come into the den so we can talk,” he said.

That didn’t sound like it was going to be good news but the blank look on his face didn’t give away anything. She usually could read Kyle, but not now.

He helped her stand, allowing her a moment to get her balance. Having him touch her triggered every sense in her body to a fevered pitch. The immediate sensation was at first not unlike touching an open circuit. She had to shake his hands off to regain her composure.

He moved away from her, edging closer to the door. “Victor is here already.”

“What about Max?

“He took some blood and returned to his lab. Come. I want you to meet our host, my friend, Dylan. We’ll stay here while you recuperate and hope the authorities track down Amyra soon.”

“Is he the one with the Highland brogue?”

“Brogue? Yeah, come to think of it, the old accent does pop out when he’s excited.” Kyle laughed. “I think he’s been in this country for a long time, though.”

“Tell me how you and Dylan met?” she said, as she tested her feet.

“An old friend of Victor’s put us in touch. They arranged for me to finish recuperating from the jungle ordeal here at his place when I returned. He freelances for local and state police as a consultant and when necessary, also for the FBI.”

“That’s handy under the circumstances.” She took one tentative step then another.

Kyle opened the door wider, and she halted mid step when she caught a strange scent in the air.

“Who else is out there? I thought I heard someone else.”

“Deep, gravelly voice?”

The sense of panic set in again. She couldn’t control the trembling in her hands or the vibrations rising from somewhere deeper inside her. She nodded at him but had to stop when the room spun.

“That’s Dylan’s friend, Garr. He’s here to help with Dylan’s ward, Jackson. You okay?”

Shelby winced and slowly shifted her attention to the doorway. “What’s that smell? Wet dog?”

“No. But I understand why you might think that.” Kyle looked like he was holding back a grin when he approached her and wrapped her in his embrace. “You’re trembling. There’s nothing to be frightened of here. You’re safe with any one of us. Do you understand that?”

“Yes,” she breathed. “I do. But something inside me doesn’t trust… I think it doesn’t trust Garr.”

Smothered by Kyle’s enticing scent, an overwhelming need for him sparked within every cell in her body. Relaxing into his familiar embrace, she was inexplicably drawn to the power of his presence. Suddenly, an exotic fragrance, emanating from both her body and his, permeated the surrounding air blocking the other repulsive dog scent. Leaning into him, she gripped his t-shirt and buried her nose in his chest.

“God, you smell…amazing!”

She fanned her fingers over his broad chest, testing the feel of him as he nuzzled her ear.

Kyle tilted her chin up with a knuckle and stared at her mouth. He brushed a finger over her bottom lip then bent his head to take her lips with his. The kiss started as if he moved in slow motion, but the longer his lips lingered, the stronger the pull between them grew. He opened his mouth enough to slip his tongue across the seam of her lips and tested the entrance.

Opening to him, their tongues tangled in that old familiar dance. A sigh escaped from her when he pulled her closer, and she didn’t miss the moan of arousal Kyle released against her lips when he pressed her hips against his obvious erection.

His muscles bunched and bulged beneath her touch, and his scent caused something beneath her skin to ripple. She shivered when she felt the same ripple answer beneath his. He held back some kind of unleashed power in the muscles beneath her fingers. Lost in the frenzy of her desire, she didn’t notice when Kyle took control until he moved her away, holding her at arm’s length.

“We shouldn’t keep them waiting,” he said with what appeared to be some amount of effort. His chest rose and fell with ragged breaths, so she knew he wasn’t unaffected.

That didn’t prevent her from being mortified by her lack of self-control. This behavior was out of character for her. Back in the car, she’d played into the role of damsel in distress. Here she was dropping at his feet the first time he glanced in her direction again, and she’d practically climbed his body. All the while, the image of him with that woman played repeatedly in her head.

The urge to hide her face in shame and run was so overwhelming that she shuttered her expression against him, refusing to allow him to see the emotions clearly expressed there. She wanted him, she needed him, and dammit…she loved him.

The fact that she was behaving like a cat in heat was even more mortifying under the circumstances. All that was left, that could be more humiliating, was for her to wrap herself around his body and rub all over him. That impulse almost surpassed the sudden desire she had to throw herself down on the bed and beg him to mount her. The urges were just so freakin’ irresistible. And the idea that it all sounded so damned appealing pissed her off even more.

…and that other scent, what is this feeling it’s causing? Although not unpleasant, the scent plagued her like a dream she couldn’t recall. Not foreign, but not entirely unfamiliar to her, either.

I know what it is… No, the identity was not quite revealing itself, yet.

The closest state she could compare it with was hunger. Hunger for Kyle? Yes. But hunger for something else, too.

~~~~

“It’s blood,” the Scotsman said from outside the doorway. “Follow me. I’m Dylan MacGregor. And that wet dog smell is coming from Garr over there.”

“How?” She gasped and felt heat rush to her cheeks when she noticed a darkly handsome man across the room glaring at her.

“Sorry,” Dylan said, “I didn’t mean to intrude. I’m a very sensitive psychic, and sometimes I can’t shut out strong emotions.”

“Oh, sorry.” Shelby glanced at Garr in the way of an apology said, “I-I didn’t mean to imply… It’s just my senses are off. I’ve never been so hypersensitive to… well, everything.”

“Nothing to be sorry about.” Dylan chuckled. “Come to think of it, he does smell a wee bit like wet dog after a good drizzle.”

The man named Garr emitted what Shelby could only compare to a low growl of warning. The sound made her hair stand on end the same way his scent had. Kyle stepped in front of her, and to her amazement, growled back. Victor came out of nowhere and held Kyle back.

This looked like the ultimate pissing contest. Testosterone reeked in the air. There was no mistaking it. Shelby not only smelled it, she felt it battering her like waves pounding the shore after a bad storm.

“Ah, men, I think yer frightening the lady.”

The wet-dog smelling man broke into a hard grin. “Sorry, Kyle. I was growling at Dylan. No offense, ma’am.”

“Uh, none taken,” Shelby said, and let out a sigh when the tension in the room eased.

Kyle had been coiled like a snake ready to strike and his growl had been different. Not like the sound a dog makes—or even a wolf. It was otherworldly in a way she’d only seen in horror movies. For a moment, she thought his eyes glimmered with a crimson light.

“What is going on? I feel like Alice when she fell into the rabbit hole.”

Victor held out his hand to her and asked, “May I?” But he was watching Kyle for a reaction. “We’ll explain everything. You should sit. Dylan will help you relax while we show you a few things.

“Of course.” Shelby glanced at Kyle and noted the tension still present in his jaw. He was working hard to control himself, but something else inside was fighting him for power. Instead of taking the hand Victor offered, she took Kyle’s. “You’re coming with me? Right?”

For a split second, a shudder visibly traveled through Kyle, and then he forced a smile along with the composure that once seemed so natural to him. He rubbed the inside of her wrist with his thumb, and along with the heat it sent to her core, he sent reassurance.

The dog man stood. No, she couldn’t think of him like that now. There was nothing canine about him. Too big, too  much power. More like wolf and hunky, intimidating male.

Garr strode to the door. “Why don’t you all get settled? I should check in with the guards.” He picked up a backpack of sorts before he moved toward the hallway. On the way out, he looked over his shoulder, made eye contact with Shelby, and winked. “Nice meeting you, doc. I’ll take a shower before I stop in again.”

She gasped, heat rising in her cheeks once more. “Oh, no. Please that’s not...” Then she heard his deep rolling laughter all the way out the door.

Everyone moved around the room, settling on their spot, each finding a comfortable position like a battle station. Relaxed isn’t what she’d call it. What she found was even she looked for a spot with certain vantage points. Vantage points she wasn’t aware off until that moment. Chair. Door. Escape.

Windows? None.

Even more strange.

“Your thoughts are instinctive. You are feeling the beast within you practicing survival techniques,” Dylan said.

Beast? She was already getting used to having the man in her head, although it was highly disconcerting to think he could rummage through her thoughts, so easily.

“I only hear what you’re projecting so loudly I can’t shut it out. I’d never invade your privacy unnecessarily.” Dylan sounded insulted.

“Of course you wouldn’t.” And she believed it. “I’m going to have to turn down the volume I guess. It may take a while though. You know, I’m still freaking out about all this.”

Victor interrupted. “The world holds many secrets the average person is unaware of. You are about to be introduced to some of those secrets. There’s no need to be afraid. You will be shocked, surprised, disbelieving at times, but it is all true and we will all be here to see you through this.”

“But what? Why me?” she asked and glanced from one man to the other.

Victor answered first. “While you were in Guatemala you were exposed to a virus that caused your blood to mutate. The change in your blood is causing other changes, too.”

Shelby’s stomach dropped. As a doctor, how many times had she been present when a patient was given the bad news? Hundreds? “What sort of changes? Cancer?”

“No, nothing like that,” Kyle said. “What you have won’t kill you as far as we know.”

Dylan spoke next. “Before we go into more detail, I’d like to offer you access to my mental link. I can keep your emotions from becoming involved while we explain everything and it will seem to be a movie, a visual explanation under controlled conditions.”

“I don’t know—”

“It’s best this way, Shelby. There’s so much you need to know.” Kyle looked deadly serious. “Any other way is too difficult for the mind to absorb. I don’t want you to suffer any more than you will.”

“Uh, that sound ominous.” Shelby pulled her hair out of her face and asked, “Just how much suffering?”

“You saw me shortly after I was infected. How did I look?”

“Okay,” she said and turned to Dylan. “If there’s an easier way, I’m in. I’m no glutton for punishment. My mind is in your hands. And I know I haven’t said so, but I appreciate what you are all doing to keep me safe.”

“You’re welcome, doctor. As I told Kyle, someday I’m sure you’ll return the favor.”

...All rights reserved. No part of this may be copied or reproduced without the written permission of the author. Copyright 2012, Eliza March

Defeat The Darkness: Blood Moon Rising Installment by Eliza March

Inspiration for
Shelby & Kyle

Chapters posted in March and April are here on the weekly blog list. Chapters posted prior to March are at  the DEFEAT THE DARKNESS page. Start there to read the book from the beginning.

DEFEAT THE DARKNESS last week ....“You need a ride somewhere?” Max asked.

Kyle patted him on the shoulder. “No thanks, my ride’s just down the road.”

“You going back through the woods?”

“No. Through the cemetery... 

Continuing on from last week... 

"I parked on a side road back there. I’ll call you.” Kyle walked away with remarkable control considering how volatile his insides felt. As soon as he was well hidden by the underbrush, he traced to where Dylan had met up with Garr and the wolves.

“What do you think?” he asked Dylan.

“I think if you want to keep her alive, you need to bring her back here. We’ll help her through this.”

“If what he said about her blood is true, someone or something infected her,” Salazar said.

“I keep having flashes of memories, but nothing more than the scent of her blood.” Kyle licked his lips and remembered the fragrance and the rich sweet taste. His head swam and his knees buckled. He sat on an old headstone close by, before he fell down and embarrassed himself.

“It doesn’t matter now.” Garr offered him a hand up and clapped him on the back. “The full moon is less than two nights away. We don’t have much time to prepare her for her first shift. Go get her.”

“I don’t know if I can face her. What the hell have I done?”

“Kyle, there’s no choice,” Dylan said. “Garr’s right. You want me to come with you?”

“Allow me,” Victor Salazar offered, stepping forward. “She and I have met before, and although it was under terrible circumstances, I believe she came to trust me.”

“Good idea, Victor. Being a doctor, you can spew all that medical mumbo jumbo with confidence,” Garr said. “Dylan, will just go all mental.”

“You may need me to probe her memories to discover if this was you, Kyle or some other jaguar, or worse yet, Amyra. It will help to know what she’ll be facing,” Dylan pointed out.

“You’ll get your chance, Dylan. Victor and I will bring her to your place. Now all I have to figure out is what to do about Max. Have any suggestions?” He’d just finished telling him to keep her away. Now he was ready to go in and kidnap her if necessary.

“Tell him what he would expect to hear—you’re hiding her out until Amyra is located. He’ll believe that,” Garr suggested.

“He may believe it, but he isn’t going to like it,” Kyle mumbled. “He won’t be comfortable being out of the loop.”

Dylan added, “We’ll come up with something else later when I have a chance to talk to the council. Now get going, Kyle.”

“Hop in, doc, and buckle up,” Kyle opened the passenger side for Victor and walked around to the driver’s side.

When he slipped into the seat, he told Dylan, “I’ll call Max and fill him in on the way. He can be prepared to take our side when Shelby balks. I’ll make sure he doesn’t warn her that we’re coming.” He punched the button, put the phone on speaker, and waited for the call to go through.

Kyle assumed Max would go along with the plan for the time being, but when he had time to think it over, they had better have some reasonable explanation to account for the change in Shelby. Max wasn’t going to accept a line of bull—not when it came to her.

 “Max? Is Shelby at home?”

“No. She’s volunteering at the clinic. Why?”

“Victor Salazar and I are heading into town. I need to take her some place safe. Remember that danger I mentioned? It’s worse than we thought.”

“You also said you were the danger. You didn’t want to endanger her—”

“Doctor Hamilton, this is Victor Salazar. I reviewed the DNA data you sent me. I need to examine Shelby and run a few more tests, but Kyle wants to do them some place where she’ll be protected.”

“I don’t think she’ll agree to go with you.”

“I’m counting on you to talk her into it. Max, Victor says this mutation could be serious.” Kyle shook his head at Victor when he started to interrupt. “We’ll be there in fifteen minutes. Can you meet us?”

“I’m heading out the door now. Where do you plan to take her?”

“I’m not going to tell you that and put you in danger, too. And Max, don’t warn her that we’re coming. If she bolts, we’ll lose valuable time.”

“Doctor Hamilton,” Victor interrupted, “I promise I will stay in constant touch with you. I may need you to run some tests for me. You have the means, correct?”

“Uh, yes. I-uh… Kyle, we’ll talk about this when I see you.” Max disconnected and Kyle punched the power off button.

“Damn. He’s going to figure out what we’re up to sooner or later.” Kyle sighed. “I don’t know how to keep all this from him when he’s already seen the scientific evidence that beings like us exist.”

“Dylan will make the decision about what to do with him after he goes to the council. It won’t be the first time they have made an exception, especially if the human in question can help us.”

“What else can they do?”

“Several of the members have the ability to do a powerful mind wipe. Dylan is one of them.”

Kyle stepped on the gas and Victor white knuckled the sissy strap. “My driving making you nervous, Victor? Being three-hundred years old and an immortal, seems like you’d be immune to fear?”

“We can be injured.” Victor looked a bit sheepish when he answered. “The pain is as painful now as it was when we were human. Although fortunately you have not experienced a mortal injury yet, returning from death hurts the most.”

“Wimp. Shifting the first few times was no party, either.” Kyle snorted at the immortal. “Don't worry. I won’t get you killed, Victor.”

“I always thought if I learned how to drive one of these—”

“What? You don’t drive?”

Victor shook his head. “I didn’t have a need—”

“It’s not about need, man. When I lived in Boston, I didn’t need to drive, either, but no red-blooded young man hits sixteen now-a-days without getting his license. It’s a ‘rite of passage’.”

Still weaving in and out of traffic, Kyle glanced over at Victor. His hand no longer held the sissy strap with a death grip. “Listen, when all this is over, and after you’ve taught me how to manage my demon, I’ll teach you to drive.”

Victor looked unsure until Kyle added, “We’ll buy you a sweet little Lamborghini like Dylan’s—”

“Yes!” Salazar perked right up. “I would like a—how do you say? A ride like Dylan’s.” Victor’s face was as animated as a sixteen-year-old boy’s contemplating his first naked girl.

“Well, let’s save the princess, fight the demons, and thwart the evil Queen’s plans, first.

“You are joking?”

“Not really. All this sounds like a Grimm’s fairy tale.”

“Ah, the brothers Grimm. I met them once. The council wasn’t happy with all their diaries getting out.”

“Really? So I guess they weren’t writing fiction after all.”

Kyle shook his head and released a sigh. He was doing a lot of that lately. His head wanted to explode. This was too much for him to take in. How was he going to break it to Shelby?

He turned the wheel, rounded the corner, and brought the Jeep to a screaming halt behind Max’s Vette. He jumped out and checked the interior on the way by. His friend had already gone inside.

Victor turned three-hundred and sixty degrees and said, “Smell that?”

“Yes. She’d been here.” Kyle’s gut churned. "Not long ago, either." 

As he and Victor bounded up the steps, Shelby was unsuccessfully struggling to break free of Max as he dragged her out the door. When she bumped into him she stopped fighting Max.

“You!” she gasped and went limp, deflating like a burst balloon.

He held on and Max backed away.

“I’ll take her now.” Kyle said, “You and Salazar go in your car. We’ll meet up at the same place where I met you earlier.”

Max stared at Shelby who’d gone pale at the sight of him and nodded. He asked, “Shelby, are you okay with this?”

“I’m not sure.”

“You wanted me to find Kyle for you,” Max said, sounding defensive. “I found him.”

“How?” Shelby’s lips continued to move but no sound escaped.

Kyle hated to see her so distraught, but it was for her own good. She was going to be tired of hearing that before this was all over, and he was going to take the brunt of her anger.

Victor moved closer to Kyle and Shelby. “We must go.” The scent of brimstone grew stronger. “You’re in danger, Shelby. We’ll take you to safety.”

Her attention shifted to Max for approval.

“Go ahead. They’ll explain everything, and I’ll call you later. Take care, babe.” He kissed her cheek before helping Shelby into Kyle’s car. After the door closed he said, “We’ll be right behind you. Be careful.”

~~~ Danger

The interior of the Jeep never felt so stifling to Kyle before. With the outside noises muffled by the hard top, the silence inside the car hurt his ears. Besides, the beat of her heart and the scent of her blood distracted him. Everything about her called to his basic instincts—to claim, provide for, keep, and protect. 

Catlike attributes
forming

Dylan had to be right. Shelby was his soul mate and now, with the scent of the cat in her blood, his jaguar roared for release.

Maybe he’d been right from the start. He wasn’t the best choice of guardians under the circumstances. Who would heed the danger he posed to her?

“Did Max know where you were all along?” Her voice sounded thick with emotion, and he didn’t dare risk looking to see if there were tears.

“Not until today. I made him promise not to say anything to you—”

 “What changed your mind? Not only did you suddenly show up where I work, what the three of you just did came damn close to the definition of abduction. If I hadn’t agreed, would you have taken me anyway?” 

Her voice sounded stronger, more indignant. To his way of thinking, that was a good sign even if his answer wasn’t going to make her a fan.

“Yes. Absolutely.”

“Dammit, Kyle—”

“I warned you this was serious. After that drugging in Guatemala, I’d think you’d believe me. I won't risk your safety.”

She shivered although the night was hot and humid. When he stared at her to gauge her reaction, he noted the perspiration on her upper lip glistened in the moonlight. Ready or not, the moon approached its zenith, and the fever was upon her.

“What’s happening?” She turned and stared directly into his eyes when he turned toward her. “And where are you taking me?”

“The where is simple enough. I have a friend who lives in a remote Parrish out by the bayou. He offered us his guest house until the authorities track down the danger.”

“And what exactly is the danger? That woman?”

“Yes.” There was no point in denying it. “But under the circumstances, I’m not sure how safe you are with me either.”

“What are you saying?”

“I’m not the same man I was when I left here.”

"I trust you, Kyle." She shivered again, doubled over, and more sweat formed a sheen all over her face. “What’s happening to me?”

“Victor thinks he knows what’s wrong with your blood. He brought some jungle plants known to ease your symptoms. Max said you hadn’t had many, but you don’t look so good now, Shelby.”

“I’m on fire, and every muscle in my body aches. It’s getting worse.”

Kyle glanced at the moon and cursed. It was going to be a blood moon. He stepped on the gas and drove faster as Shelby slumped over in her seat. She was better off being unconscious until he reached Dylan's and Victor could dose her with the medicine he brought with him. Too well, he remembered the fever and the aches. When her joints began to stretch, the pain would feel like every bone in her body was breaking. It was excruciating to experience, and he'd like to spare her as much of that as possible. His protective instincts wouldn't survive her pain.

...All rights reserved. No part of this may be copied or reproduced without the written permission of the author. Copyright 2012, Eliza March

Bonus Chapter - Defeat the Darkness by Eliza March

Take off your tie
and...stay a while

DEFEAT THE DARKNESS

Book 1 Hearts of Darkness Series

 By ELIZA MARCH

My WIP is getting more interesting page by page. When I wrote some of the other chapters, I must have subconsciously known where I was going. But some of these twists I never saw coming. I think that's the most interesting part of writing a story. What about you? When You're writing what makes you grin? When do you feel that sense of accomplishment?

Read on...some things are getting clearer and the danger is mounting.

Chapters posted in March and April are here on the weekly blog list. Chapters posted prior to March are at  the DEFEAT THE DARKNESS page. Start there to read the book from the beginning.

~~~Grieving

Shelby opened a bottle of wine, checked the shrimp creole in the pot,and thought about the strange sensation she sensed when she left for work thismorning. Someone had been watching her for weeks. But lately it felt different.

She poured the chilled Bordeaux through an aerator into a wine snifter.As she swirled it, watching the translucent red liquid coat the inside of theglass, she suddenly shivered, remembering the slow drip of blood from longwhite fangs.

Recently, she hadn’t been able to get Kyle out of her head, day or night.Some nights she woke up and swore she could smell him. This morning, rightbefore daybreak—in that moment before conscious thought takes over—she sensedhim in the bed beside her. There was something else, too—the scent of the wildswamp, a sharp hint of cinnamon, and another scent. A coppery, metallic scent. Blood. When she rolled over and openedher eyes, there was no one there but the scent remained.

Taking a long sip of wine, Shelby closed her eyes and inhaled. Anotherimage materialized—a predator, a black jaguar, and a dark winged demon—morphinginto a man. It could have been Kyle, but in the dark, in the shadows, it couldhave been anyone his size. Like the shadow in the alley this morning.

Hallucinations. Nightmares. Dreams. Max said the effects of the drugwere long lasting according to Victor. At least the nightmares had eased intomore pleasant, if not equally distracting, dreams. The reoccurring dreams eachwent from an HD version of she and Max making love together in a sweatyembrace, and eventually ending up with Kyle joining them. Neither man seemed awarewith the other’s presence. When they were all exhausted and satisfied, thedreams ended with Max on one side of her in the morning light and Kyle on theother side in the dark shadows.

The dreams were occurring nightly. Probably because she was horny ashell. Knowing the pleasure Max was capable of bringing her set her teeth onedge. Because if, and when he joined her in her bed, now they kept it platonic.He tried not to touch her—something they’d both agreed on.

Heat shifted inside her and her panties got wet thinking about thehard broad planes of his chest. Apparently, she was confused about what she reallywanted. They decided that rebound sex and a long-term affair were two differentanimals. Nothing prevented them from trying again with Kyle out of the picture.But they both knew that wasn’t the case. Kyle wasn’t completely out of thepicture—not while she was dreaming about making love to him nightly. It wasn’tfair to make love with Max until she sorted out her feelings. Max wanted more.

The continuous dreams of the two men started after she’d been back afew weeks. Every time she closed her eyes, she could taste Kyle on her lipswhen Max kissed her. In her vision, it was Max entering her and filling her.Then, when she opened her eyes, Kyle was the one inside her, staring deep intoher eyes, silently pleading for forgiveness. The sexual dreams were so vividand realistic she always woke up startled and feeling as if his hands were stillon her in the dark.

In all the dreams, he had fangs—the fangs she’d remembered from thatnight in Guatemala. In these dreams, they didn’t repulse or frighten her theway they had then. In these dreams, his eyes bored into hers. He teased herthroat with his fangs, and licked her neck with his rough tongue, sendingripples of pleasure through her. The nails on his hands were sharp and pointedwhen he stroked her back. Intriguing how gentle he could be, considering theway his muscles rippled with power beneath his flesh.

The oven timer went off bringing her back to the present with a shiver.When she opened the oven door, the delicious smell of corn bread filled the air.Perfect! What southern girl didn’t know how to make a batch of melt-in-your-mouthcorn bread that could fill up a belly and satisfy any hunger? Nothing satisfieda craving for home like corn bread.

A glance at the clock reminded her that Max would be home any minute. He’dbeen staying with her after that first week. She got over being uncomfortableabout him replacing Kyle in the apartment. It wasn’t as if he hadn’t spent timehere before. Besides, her place was closer to the clinic and bigger than hisapartment. He moved most of his clothes in and slept over, but he used thespare bedroom.

One of the things they’d agreed not to agree about, were the sleepingarrangements. Although they’d had world rocking sex back at his place, theyhadn’t slept together since that first week. He was adamant about when she didinvite him back into her bed, that she be sure her feelings for Kyle were gone.That didn’t make resisting Max any easier. Hard as it was to abandon thecomfort of being in his arms, she fought back her need and desire for him.

Each night, she dreamed her dreams of Kyle and Max, knowing shecouldn’t stop them—not wanting to really. They were so vivid—so real—sosatisfying. It was as if Kyle was right there, in her room, making love to her,the way he once had. The dreams continued, even after Max said the drug was outof her blood.

Tonight, dinner was a special occasion—a thank you for all Max haddone and a chance to ply him with drink and ask him for a favor.

Now that she’d had time to think about it, something had been verywrong about that night in the jungle. In her heart, she knew Max had been rightabout Kyle all along. He wasn’t capable of hurting her. Certainly, not likethat.

The sound of Max’s keys in the lock drew her attention to the entry. Wow,he looked great. A long lock of hair escaped the rest, clasped neatly at hisnape. His tie was loosened, and a tuft of light blond hair peaked out from hiscollar.

“Shelby? What’s that scrumptious smell?” His grin was broad andteasing. Something in her heart shifted.

 “Your favorite from Mama Leon’s,shrimp creole, and I made my mamma’s corn bread.”

“What do you want now?” Max tweaked her nose playfully and took theglass of wine she handed him.

He knew her too well. She huffed a little, but he was right, so shewrapped her arms around his waist and looked up at him with her sweetest smile.“You’re not going to like it.”

“I figured that out when I smelled dinner.” He chuckled good-naturedlyand kissed her lips. It was playful but a pulse beat later, it heated. Anawkward moment, she felt him harden against her. Both of them moved apart atthe same time.

“Go on and sit down,” she said breathing roughly. “I’ll bring in thefood. It’s all ready. Bread’s on the table. Go on, shoo.” Here was her chanceto make up for her self-centered behavior and a way to soften him up.

She went back into the kitchen to catch her breath and picked up therest of their meal. From the time she and Max had been kids, to as recently aslast week when he discovered a new Thai take-out, they had agreed on almosteverything. Tonight, she hoped he’d agree to help her find Kyle. She couldn’tstop wanting him or loving him despite what happened.

She carried the food to the table and sat down. Max was alreadybuttering his cornbread and eyeballing the creole. “You must want a big favor,”he said, grinning broadly.

She poured him more wine and he raised an eyebrow. “Plying me withliquor, too?”

“Don’t be ridiculous. A little wine won’t affect your senses. Now tellme about your day.” She took a sip from her glass and exhaled, forcing herselfto relax.

No matter how he felt about her, surely he cared about Kyle as much asshe did. The men had formed an almost brotherly bond from the start. It seemed inevitable—adeep connection—one neither could deny.

“Uh huh,” she replied to something Max said then went back to herthoughts.

When she entered the picture, she fit right into their friendship. Eventually,she succumbed to the attraction she felt toward Kyle, but that didn’t changeher relationship with Max. Where Max complimented her in so many ways, Kyledrew out her inner strengths—challenged her to move outside her comfort zone. HadMax been drawn to Kyle for the same reasons, she wondered? It had been Kyle whoencouraged Max to follow his heart as a researcher instead of becoming asurgeon like his father.

Max and Kyle, two such differentmen—so diverse yet so similar—they were opposite sides of the same coin.

Did Max miss Kyle as much as she did?

Damn. Had she been so lostin her own pain she failed to see his?

“Shelby? Are you listening to a word I’ve said?” Max had the lastpiece of the cornbread in his hand and his plate was empty.

“Of course—do you want more?”

“You were not listening and yes, I want more. But you eat, and I’llget it myself. You haven’t touched your dinner.”  

“Sorry, I was wool gathering.” She picked up her bread and took a biteas Max went to the kitchen for more.

With him or without him, she was determined to find Kyle and confront him.He was the only one who could put an end to her nagging questions. Why? Why? Why? Not knowing kept her frommoving forward. They had to figure out why her emotions were all over theplace.

He would help her find Kyle.

~~~~~

 “What do you mean? No?” she shouted at him. Shelbyscowled and her face turned bright red.

Max thought back. Had he everturned her down before? No, probably not judging from her reaction. This timehe had to, because there was no way to keep Kyle’s secret and make Shelby happy,too. If Kyle thought she was in danger then Max was going to keep her out ofit.

“I don’t want to be cruel, buthe knows where to find you if he wants you.” He spoke softly to ease the impacthe knew his words would have.

Shelby turned away from thedishes and gasped. When her eyes filled up with tears, he hoped he hadn’t gonetoo far. But she blinked back the tears, narrowing her eyes, and glared at himas if he’d grown two heads.

“That was cruel and justdownright mean, Max Hamilton.”

“But true. Right?”

Determination flashed in hereyes before she glanced away. Clearing her throat, she stared out the kitchen window.“What’s the matter with you? You’ve never been mean to me like this before.”

“Look, I’m sorry. You’reright. That was mean.” He sat in the kitchen chair and pulled her into his lap.“I admit, I’m confused about my feelings. If he’s out of the picture, it leavesus a possibility, but—” He held up a hand holding back her argument. “You knowI don’t want you on those terms. I want you to be happy, but I want you alive.If it means keeping you away from Kyle’s crazy ass bitch, then so be it.”

“I get it. Tell me, Max, doyou miss him?”

“Like my right nut—" Shelby giggled."Oops,sorry.” He laughed. “It’s an expression he used.”

“I never heard—”

“He wouldn’t aroundyou. Just the guys. We’re attached to our privates in a way you gals can’tunderstand.”

“Then you do miss him?”

Max thought for a long moment.He liked having Shelby to himself, but nothing was ever as good as the three ofthem together. They laughed harder and worked better together. Of course, hemissed Kyle. It pissed him off that his friend could walk away from him andShelby. But if he was as worried about her as he hinted  this morning, Maxunderstood.

“Yes. Even though I want youmore than anything, babe, there are moments I miss him like hell.”

“I’m sorry I’ve been so self-centered.I should have realized since you’ve known him longer than I have. How can youstand it?”

“Being with you has helped.”He nuzzled her neck and she swatted him.

“You men are so shallow.”

“Yeah, we are. Perfect wouldbe all three of us together again.”

“Are you that into Kyle?”

Max couldn’t hold back thelaughter. “Hell, no. Not like that. But think about how much more fun it wouldbe having two of us pleasuring you.”

“Oh, you are teasing me now,”she said.

Max noticed how fast her gazeflickered away when he mentioned a ménage. Her cheeks flushed and she did thatnervous blink—not much, just enough to make him wonder. Had she considered it?

And why had he mentioned it? He’dbeen joking, but since he brought it up, how did feel about sharing her withanother man? It would be better than not having her at all. If the other manwas Kyle, Max realized he was okay with the idea.

“Of course I am.” No pointmaking her uncomfortable with something that would never happen. Kyle wouldwalk away, but he’d never share her.

Unless it was for her own good.

He wasn’t sure if Kyle wouldever adjust to that way of thinking, but two of them could keep her safer thanone.

The sooner he met with Kylethe better. They needed to discuss the virus in Shelby’s blood.

~~~Discussion

 Kyle arrived right after sundown and settled in, waiting for his friend to show. He hadn’t been surprised to receive the text from Max late last night. After seeing him in the alley yesterday, he figured he had more questions. The text sounded ominous. Max warned him he had information about Shelby that Kyle should know about. Kyle still had questions about her condition so they were even. Kyle glanced at his watch. Maxshould be there any minute.

Meeting him at the cemetery inSt. Loupe Parrish was Garr’s idea. The wolves were usually too territorial toinvite humans into their midst, but they wanted to be sure Max wasn’t followed. Thewolves could watch out for strangers and remain hidden in the trees. He and Maxcould speak freely, while Dylan stayed in the shadows in case Amyra showedup.

“What made you come up withthe gruesome idea of meeting here?” Max tilted his head in the direction of thelarge mausoleum gate with the head of a snarling wolf.

 “It’s quiet. Isolated. I can think out here.”How much did they have to say to each other under the circumstances? Kylefelt Max’s tension sending waves of anger into the surrounding air.  

“Look, Kyle, I won’t pretendto understand what happened to you in the jungle, and if you don’t want to talkabout it, fine—”

“You said something aboutShelby’s blood?”

“Yeah, besides the drugs, Ifound something else. The virus I found in her blood is unidentifiable by ourstandards. It appears to be mutating her blood cells.”

Kyle’s blood turned to ice inhis veins, and he had to fight back his fear or risk unleashing his demon.Lately, it was closer to the surface, waiting, ready for the first opportunityto burst free. Now wouldn’t be the best time for him to lose it. “What kind ofvirus?”

“The closest I could come, whilecomparing it to other viruses with similar characteristics that infected humans,was cat scratch fever. But it isn’t that either.”

Kyle was careful not to showany emotion, even though his heart raced within his chest wall. He racked hismemories of that night in Guatemala trying to remember details. Had Amyratouched Shelby? Had he? “What sort of symptoms is she manifesting?”

“That’s just it. None, sincethat first week. I attributed most of her nightmares and hallucinations to thedrug. She was eaten-up with bites when she returned and suffered fromreoccurring fevers, so I checked her for Malaria.”

“What kind of bites?”

 “Bug bites, mosquito and flies, I figured. Shetested negative for everything. I contacted Dr. Salazar, but he didn’t have anyexplanations about the fever. He sent me information about the drugs that womanused, and I did a blood cleanse on her. But after I sent him her blood testswith the strange blood cell mutation, he never returned my calls.”

“He’s actually here. Heprobably never got them.” That idea worried him. If Salazar left before Maxsent the reports, then Amyra could have access to them. If he was the one whoinfected Shelby, it meant they’d been together that night. Why couldn’t heremember the last few hours?

Max gripped his arm. “Can youtalk to Salazar? Ask him if he’d be willing to look at my data?”

“Of course. Don’t worry, Max.If her symptoms aren’t getting any worse, maybe she’s fighting off whatever shehad.”

Max shook his head and droppedto sit on a nearby stone. He scrubbed his hands down his face and then staredup at Kyle. “I tested her blood yesterday. It’s still mutating.”

“I’ll talk to him and get backto you. You stay close to Shelby. Don’t let her out of your sight. I think thatwoman may be in town.”

“What’s her deal with you,anyway?”

“I don’t know. A womanscorned, maybe. I wasn’t interested, so she was determined to get even. I neverimagined she’d go this far.”

“How far?” Max looked worriedand damn well should be. Kyle had to convince him that this was dead serious.

“Murder. The police called ina friend of mine who occasionally consults for them. A couple was foundmurdered not far from Shelby’s apartment. The eerie part about the killing wasthat the guy looked remarkably like me and the woman, like Shelby.”

“Coincidence?”

“Her heart was ripped out ofher chest and placed in the guy’s hands.”

“Geeezus!”

“Amyra is just evil enough tohave done something like that.” Kyle poked Max in the chest, warning him,“Watch your back and Shelby’s. I have a few friends who are operating aneighborhood watch in the area. But I feel better knowing you are with her.”

“What are you going to do?”

“I’m going to find that bitchand turn her over to the proper authorities.” That sounded normal enough, eventhough the proper authorities were the vampire council and the wolf pack. Noneed to go there.

“Don’t do anything stupid—”

“I’m going to be the bait, butI’ve been assured the authorities are going to keep close track of me.”

“You should know Shelby wantsto find you. She’s trying to solicit my help.”

Kyle stared at Max and heldhis breath. “What did you tell her?”

“I told her that you knewwhere to find her if you were interested.”

“What the fuck?” The curseescaped without thinking. It must have been hard for Max to say something thatcallous to her. It was more like the attitude he took with most other women.Never with her. “That was cold, even for you.”

“Yeah. She said the samething.” He shifted uncomfortably under Kyle’s scrutiny. “You wanted me to keepyour secret. I needed to distract her. She can always tell when I’m lying.”

“So you hurt her to keep heraway from me?”

“You said it was for her owngood. Was that the truth? Because I believe if you could find a way to makethis right, you still would.”

“If. But it’s not likely.”

“I want her, Kyle. And I don’tfeel right pursuing a relationship with her under the circumstances. You twoneed to settle what’s between you.”

“I settled it that night inGuatemala.”

“She doesn’t think so, notanymore.”

“What are you talking about?”

“She’s remembering moredetails. She heard you call out her name and realized you had to have beendrugged, too.”

“Well, talk her out of it. Idon’t want to be the reason she gets hurt, Max. Not again. And if she pursuesthis, believe me, I’ll hurt her.”

“What the hell does thatmean?”

“I told you. She’s in danger.”

“Are you saying she’s indanger from you?”

The sound of multiple lowrumbling growls started coming from deep in the woods.

“Max, leave this alone. Ican’t explain—”

“Did you hear that?” Max jumpedup, glancing around then into the woods.

Kyle knew the wolves werewarning him to shut up. They’d made it clear that no humans were permitted to know about their existence. This lineof questioning skirted the subject too closely.

“Sounds like growling comingfrom that stand of trees?” Max started in that direction but Kyle grabbed hisarm and held him back.

“Careful. May be a pack of wilddogs out there.”

“Yeah, you’re right.”

“Hey, I need to get back andfind Salazar. You keep Shelby safe and away from me. I’ll call you as soon as Ican setup a meeting with Salazar.”

The growling stopped, but Maxglanced back in the direction where Garr and the others were positioned. “Youneed a ride somewhere?”

“No thanks, my jeep’s justdown the road.”

“You going back through thewoods?”

“No. Through the cemetery.”

All rights reserved. No part of this may be copied or reproduced without the written permission of the author. Copyright 2012, Eliza March