Cloaked Ties, page 13
Damn it, he hated that Casimir was making sense. About a thousand yards away was a loud commotion, birds took to the sky, squawking and crying out. He was on the move before any of it registered.
Skidding into the clearing, he looked around. The area sat mostly clear aside from a large stump in the middle. Sprawled out in the middle was a man he recognized, Ryan Larkin. There were other bodies of the men he’d hired to protect him.
Hope he can get a refund because they hadn’t done a good job.
Although from the looks of the two standing by him, Ryan wasn’t going to make it much longer. One man stood by his feet, his bronze skin and pale blond hair a stark contrast to each other. Another male was near the head. He was pale all over and when Kraven scented him, he didn’t get eagle. In fact, he got raven.
Interesting.
Casimir strode into view, barely acknowledging the two by the table as he made his way over to Kraven’s side. No doubt Larkin was recognized by him also.
His woman strode into view, her sleeveless leather jerkin tight to her body and her pants also molded to her form. Gods, she was magnificent. Her features were a cold mask as she went to Larkin.
“Where is he?”
The man gurgled something he couldn’t personally make out, but she did for she took to the sky once more.
More wolves poured from the woods. Shifters.
Yanking his mind from thoughts of Shira, he got to killing the interlopers. Doing what he could to protect her from down here.
The woman he recognized as Aditi walked into view, blood running down her arm but she didn’t seem bothered by it. She walked to the tall blond and they shared some words before she glanced at him.
At his side, Casimir waited.
Aditi approached.
“I hear you have someone looking for Larkin as well.”
He and Casimir shared a glance before the Alpha answered. “We do.”
“You should take him then. She will kill him when she returns and his information will never be known. We can help more if what he knows is revealed.”
“She’s always been in control before, what’s different now?”
“She found the one who’s betrayed us all these years.” Her gaze grew calculating. “But then, you already knew who it was. Also something she knows.”
“I’ll take Larkin. Are you staying or coming, Kraven?” Casimir shifted to look at him head on.
“You should go.” Aditi looked at her arm.
“I’m staying,” he said with a shake of his head. “But I can’t let you go alone.”
Casimir lifted an eyebrow. “I can take care of myself.”
“I know that but I have no wish to answer to your mate when she finds out I wasn’t there with you.”
“Leave.” Shira’s cold voice snuck in from behind him.
“Baby,” he began.
“No.” No room for argument with that one word. “You don’t get to talk. Get out. You can take Larkin but only if you’re gone in the next two minutes. Or I kill him. I have no desire to see you again, Kraven. You knew I sought the one who had done this. The one who was behind it all and you knew but you kept it from me.”
Betrayal drenched her tone.
“It’s not like that,” he tried.
“It was exactly like that. When a man I would just assume kill tells me but the man who’s been fucking me keeps it from me, how should I view it. You’re not even pretending you don’t know what I am referring to. So you knew. You kept it to yourself, keeping it from me and putting my people at more risk because he was still there.”
“You thought you’d gotten all of them.”
“I did. I got the ones who held me and beat me. Us. What I didn’t know until recently was that one of my own was in on it. But you did. Knew that the traitor was in cahoots with wolves from Stoneclash. It’s how they managed to not be wiped off the face of the earth as they should. Not Dyana of course because she isn’t one of them even if her family traces there.”
“Let me explain.”
“Get out. Off my land.”
“Not now, Kraven.” Casimir’s tone demanded obedience.
“This isn’t over, Shira.”
She snorted. “As far as I’m concerned it’s beyond over. Dead and buried. Land over it scorched to the point of no return. Show yourself off our land. I have an uncle to kill.”
Shira melted back into the shadows.
Fuck!
At least Casimir didn’t say ‘I told you so’ to him. Together they picked up Larkin and headed off in the direction they had to go.
* * *
Anger thrummed through her. Aditi and Tane were with her.
“I want you with the young, Tane. If anyone gets through our lines, you will be their last line of defense.”
He nodded, not even arguing.
“Keep them by the truck if you have to run. You know where to go. You know what. I want you to head there now. This place isn’t safe anymore. And I meant what I said that we were going home. I’m going to claim it now. We’ll send for you when it’s safe.”
The man took a deep breath and walked off. She faced Aditi.
“Don’t even try it, I’m not letting you go alone.”
“My uncle is a fucking asshole and I’m going to kill him.”
“And I’ll be by your side the entire way. You saved me Shira. No way you go there alone.”
“I don’t know how many he’s brainwashed to his way of thinking. They are all going to die if needed. That is my aerie and my Clan.”
“And you’re mine. We go together. I’ll just follow you even if you tell me not to.”
That was Aditi.
“I don’t want to lose you, Aditi.”
Her friend stepped close. “You think I want to lose you? That any of us want to lose you?”
“I’m the one tasked with protecting this group.”
“Clan. This is your Clan. And when we kick your uncle’s ass and get your aerie back, this clan will be part of Sky Shadow.”
“Let’s go.”
She took five of her best warriors and they raced off in the night toward a place she’d been taken from, returned to, then left on her own.
Two days of hard travel brought her to the outskirts of the land. Sharing a look with her companions, they covered up their scent and continued on as humans, passing through. Even though she’d grown up here for a while, no one recognized her. Or the ones she was with.
They parked at a roadside picnic area and set up for a meal. As they ate, she explained what was going to happen.
Then finished eating and once they packed up, they split off, slipped into the woods and shifted.
Her bird knew exactly where they were and she relished in the idea of being home once more. Landing, she shifted into her clothing she’d carried and walked into the center space of the compound.
“Ralph Cortaine.”
Her uncle lumbered into view. Overweight and not in good shape, she took in the pasty skin and sunken eyes.
“Who are you? And how the fuck did you get by my guards?”
“Sad you don’t recognize your own niece.”
Murmurs moved through the crowd who was gathering.
“Samhna?”
“It’s come to my attention that I am the Alpha of Sky Shadow and you kept me in a cage to be tortured because you wanted it. Then when I came back, you made my life hell and I left again. You won’t push me out a third time, Uncle. I’m back and I’m taking my rightful place as Alpha here. You and those following you are no longer welcome here.”
He laughed and crossed his arms over his chest. “You, little girl, think to come here and challenge me?”
“I don’t think it. I’ve done it. As to where your guards are? My guess would be dead.”
“You don’t stand a chance.”
She headed toward him, picking up speed as she moved. “And yet, you’re still trying to distract me.”
A thinner man got in her way, reaching for her and she did a flip she’d learned from watching the felines, with their flexible backs. As she landed on him, her talons were out and had ripped out his heart. Baring her teeth at her uncle, she smashed it in her hand and dropped the useless organ on the ground.
Without even bothering to wipe off her hand, she headed for the man who’d made her childhood hell. Others tried to interfere but she took them out as fast as they got in the way. A cry from above had her glancing up in time to see a bird streaking for an attack when a black leopard took him down, ending his life with a single bite.
Then she was on her uncle and she had to focus on the fight at hand. It was hard and when he took his last breath, she bled from multiple injuries. Tipping her head back, she released a victory cry.
There were only a few of his people left and without mercy, Shira killed them. Then she glanced to the small group who had been found huddled in a dirty aerie. On the ground.
“Who speaks for this group?”
She still bled but wasn’t taking time to clean up before handling the rest of this business. A slender woman stood. There were remnants of bruising on her face.
“Are you going to kill us as well?” No fear just hushed acceptance.
“Who are you? And why were you in the hut?”
“We’re his. That’s where he keeps us.” She lifted her chin. “If you want us that’s fine. We won’t fight you.”
“My people don’t rape children. You can stay if you want but you will not be living like you were.” She sniffed and realized three were eagle shifters and two were lynx. “You will be expected to help out.” Shira skimmed them all once more. “Make your decision now. Staying or leaving?”
“You’d let us leave? We know where this place is.”
“I know. But, if you came back to try and hurt us, you’d be like he is now.” She moved closer. “You already know the world is an unforgiving place. My Clan is made up of people who don’t have their own place in it anymore. You want to be part of us, you are welcome.”
They all joined hands. The one who stood, never looked away from her. “We’ll stay.”
“Good. Now tell me your names.”
* * *
Two weeks later, the place was entirely different. All the dead bodies had been removed. Most of the aeries had to be redone and they were working on them, one at a time. The hut on the ground had been burned down after all usable resources had been pulled from it.
Her kids had arrived and were helping to calm the nerves of the seven she’d found.
Tane walked up to her and rested against the railing she was by. They’d just finished this connecting bridge between two of the smaller aeries.
“Aditi found another group of his followers.”
“And?”
The man had a new scar on his face from the latest battle. “She made examples of them.”
A smile tugged her mouth up. “Good.” She looked out over her land. “We have a way to go but people are realizing that we are not to be trifled with.”
Her phone rang and she pulled it out. Dyana.
“I have to take this.”
She walked off and accepted the call.
Months passed and the pain of his betrayal hadn’t lessened. For some reason she had foolishly assumed it would. After wiping her hands on the towel over her shoulder, she swallowed her anger. Tonight should be all about the celebration.
Even so, it wasn’t so easy. Head bowed, she gripped the edges of the heavy handcrafted marble as Shia reined herself back under control.
Exhausted was to tame of a word for how she felt and it went beyond the marrow of her bones. But it was over. Right.
“Alpha?”
She pivoted at the term, not sure she would ever get used to. A small smile curved up her lips as she saw Teller, a leopard shifter, and Mags, the deer shifter together.
“What can I do for the two of you?
“Everyone is waiting for you.” Teller shoved his scarred hands in his pockets.
“We said we would get you.” Mags bounced on her toes.
Her grin grew. “No cake until I arrive?” Their blushes gave her the answer. With a hand clap she said,” Never let it be said I kept a child and cake apart.”
They each took an arm and walked with her to where the party still continued.
Her people had done wonders. To glance around one wouldn’t assume there had been a bloody battle so long ago.
Aditi led the cheer when she stepped into the light. With a look that promised retribution, Shira finally held up her hands for silence.
“I’m going to make this short because,” she put a hand-on each child’s shoulder, “there is cake. “
A cheer rose.
She released them with a squeeze. Shira took a deep breath and made a half circle with one hand.
“Look around. The men and women you see are Clan. We. Are. Clan. We protect one another. Support. Love. Train. Defend. More changes are coming, they have to in order for us to not only continue protecting what we have here, but also to allow us to return to some semblance of living.”
Shira pivoted to look at those behind her. “We are no longer hidden from the world, but we are safe. Our young can play outside. Shift and enjoy being in their other form. We will train so we are ready but we will merely survive no more. Sky Shadow Clan will live!”
Her Clan roared in response.
“Now,” she said. “Cake.” While the young were served cake she gazed around. Aditi approached.
“Nice speech.”
“Bite me.”
“Now, now. We both know your tastes run a bit more lupine.”
“Aditi.” It was a warning.
“Tell me I’m wrong.”
Shira wished she could. Desperately. The words wouldn’t leave her mouth.
“My point exactly.” Aditi sounded far to smug.
Rolling her eyes, she ignored her friend. Aditi, never one to be put off, wrapped an arm around her shoulders and pressed a kiss to her cheek.
“Fine, I’ll let you have the night before I start pushing you back to him.”
“Let it go.”
The wind shifted and her body snapped to attention. Every fucking cell in her body knew and craved that scent for it belonged to the one man who had proven the capability of ripping out her heart.
“What the fuck is he doing here?” she growled her question.
Seconds later another familiar scent reached her. Aditi didn’t speak, just stood at her side. Around them, the party fell silent and she could feel the tension and fear from her people. Lifting her chin, she faced the group who had just entered into their space. Sure, to get here they’d been on Sky Shadow land for a while now but no one had alerted her.
Tane moved by the Alphas of the Tatra Pack and Kraven who stood on the other side of Dyana. A move that Shira understood, they were protecting her, even though she was a warrior herself. There was also her godchild there.
Keeping her gaze off Kraven, as much as she could, she focused on Casimir and Dyana. Moving forward, she didn’t miss how Aditi moved with her, at her position to Shira’s right.
God, she hated formalities, they weren’t that kind of group. They hadn’t been able to be. There was law and order, but pomp and circumstance for another group, wasn’t what she knew how to do well.
Thankfully, Dyana knew her. She smiled at her and stepped forward, holding Van in her arms. Then they were embracing.
“I’m so sorry for everything,” Dyana whispered. “Thank you for having us here. I was afraid you would say no.”
Hugging her back, Shira closed her eyes. “I would never turn you away, Dyana.”
Van gurgled breaking the moment. Dyana grinned at her then shoved her baby into her arms. “Good. Now,” she clapped her hands, drawing attention, “I want some of that cake I’ve been smelling.”
In true Dyana way, she broke the tension. People around them laughed and Tane waved her forward. Aditi followed, leaving her alone facing not just Casimir but also Kraven.
The leader of the Tatra Pack walked up to her and wrapped her in his arms. A move, not to long ago that would have made her long to fight her way free. But this man, had fought at her side, helped defend her people. It didn’t hurt that he was mated to a good friend of hers.
“You’re family now.”
He kissed her cheek and walked off, leaving her holding his son. A huge honor and show of trust. Van was the first born to the Alpha and he walked away leaving his son in her arms on land not of his Pack. Almost humbling that he hadn’t questioned if he would be safe, just assumed she would protect him.
And she would.
Kraven shoved a hand through his hair, longer than it had been last time she’d seen him. Those dark eyes of his saw so much and right now, they were on her features with laser focus.
“Will you talk to me?”
It was easier to look down at the face of the small wolf shifter she held in her arms. “I have nothing to say to you.”
“Then listen.”
Two words edged with a fierceness she hadn’t expected.
“So talk.”
“I was wrong.”
She didn’t speak, just continued looking and cooing at Van.
“Shira?”
“You made a statement, one I’m not going to argue with you about. Are you done talking? I would like to celebrate with my Clan.”
Ignoring her body’s desire to touch his, she walked away. She got to the middle of the opening when he called her name.
“Samhna Cortaine.”
Aditi’s eyes rose in her direction and the group fell quiet. Dyana walked up licking frosting off her thumb. “I’m taking him back, you can’t use him to hide. Time to make your decision, Shira.”
She turned back to the man who, damn it, owned her heart, mind and soul. Not to mention her body.
“There a reason you’re bellowing my name across the compound, Mattias Kraven?”
He moved toward her, every inch of him the capable warrior she knew him to be. God, just watching him made her desire ratchet up. Biting the inside of her cheek, hard enough to draw blood, she fought to stay focused on him. Not her growing need.
“I fucked up.” His voice didn’t soften, nor did it waver. “I withheld information from you that I shouldn’t have.”
