Once Bitten Read online

  I had to laugh. He knew Raoul almost as well as I did. The back of my neck was stiff, and I just wanted this all to be over. Both Zoey and Raoul needed a supernatural psych ward. Did such a thing even exist? From what I knew of Veryl, he liked to take out the trash, not put it in a care facility.

  The sun had set a while ago, yet the faintest pink glow remained in the western sky.

  Heavy metal music pumped out of the Charger, and I frowned. She was so bad for that.

  Jez had slid the sunroof all the way open, and I glanced nervously at the circling seagulls overhead. My footsteps quickened; my boot heels clicked loudly as I hurried to the car. I was not at all surprised to find her chatting up some ginger haired girl in the truck next to us.

  Shaking my head, I used my hair to hide my smile as I climbed into the driver’s seat and turned down the speaker volume. As Jez fished in her purse for her card, the girl’s boyfriend, or so I assumed, returned with two coffees and a bag of muffins.

  “Just in case.” I heard her say as she handed the card through the open window.

  “You’re unbelievable.” I tucked a gold chunk of hair behind one ear and started the engine.

  “Why, thank you, Alexa. To what do I owe such a fine compliment?” A few stray strands of wavy hair had come loose to frame her heart shaped face.

  “You put guys like Arys to shame.” I tsked and looked over both shoulders before backing out of the narrow parking space.

  “Good,” she quipped.

  I directed her hand away from the volume knob and signaled into traffic. She gave my hand a light slap, exactly the way a cat would, not quite enough to hurt but enough to exhibit her displeasure. Since she gave up on the volume, I didn’t slap her back like I wanted.

  “How can I not put them to shame? Most of them really don’t know the first thing about women: How to understand them, or what to do with them.” She pulled out a box of nicotine patches from her purse.

  “So you always say.” I glanced at the box in her hands while waiting for a red light to change. “Finally trying to quit?”

  She strained against the confines of her seatbelt in an attempt to turn partially around. Fumbling with the waistband of her leggings, she peeled them down enough for me to see the milky white of her left butt cheek. I didn’t notice the clear patch until she hooked a long nail under the edge and removed it. I did notice that Jez enjoyed going commando.

  “Try me, Alexa, just once. You’ll give up both of your men in a heartbeat. And yes, quitting again. Every time I turn around, Veryl’s wagging a finger in my face.” She slapped the new patch on to her ass and settled back in her seat.

  My heart sped with an anxious beat. I’d heard her come on many times before, but she’d referred to both Shaz and Arys as my men.

  “They are not both my men,” I said tersely.

  The guy in the next lane revved his engine, and I recognized the truck with the girl from the parking lot. Not wanting to encourage him, I eased off and allowed him to race ahead. “And why do you put it on your ass? Does it absorb into your bloodstream any better?”

  “Which one of them isn’t your man? Hmmm?” She winked a cat eye at me when I glanced her way. The pupil was a tiny vertical slit. “No, it’s just a good place to keep it out of sight.”

  I sighed. Technically, neither of them were mine but figuratively? I had to acknowledge the territorial claim I felt over each of them. I suck. I knew Shaz felt that Arys didn’t deserve any piece of me, but I felt that I didn’t deserve Shaz. He deserved so much more than what I could give him, but as long as he wanted me, I had no intention of cutting him loose.

  I followed Golf Course Road through town towards Raoul’s neighborhood. I wanted to check out some of the alleys and side streets. Hopefully, we wouldn’t pass his Jaguar anywhere.

  “If I were you,” Jez began, as she reclined her seat, “I’d enjoy it. Two fine looking creatures that want to ravage you, how can you go wrong?”

  “One of those creatures is a self-absorbed vampire and the other is someone sensitive and sweet that I don’t want to hurt. This can blow up in my face, Jez. Stop thinking with your…” I realized what I’d been about to say and censored myself with a chuckle. She laughed, a musical sound like the tinkling of wind chimes. “What I meant is that the physical and especially metaphysical fun can lead to some real emotional distress. It already has.”

  “Well, you have a very strong energy. Honestly, I’m surprised that you don’t have more power hungry wannabe lovers as it is.”

  As Jez spoke, her eyes lit on me with a weight that I could feel. She studied me intensely for a long, drawn out moment, and I saw her lick her full red lips. I didn’t truly think Jez was into me. We’re friends first and foremost. The flirty “try me once and never go back” was a running joke she had with many of her straight lady friends. However, did I think she might be attracted to me as a power source? I did now.

  “Well, one is more than enough. At least with Shaz, there’s a real foundation.” I huffed impatiently at the guy in front of me. Could he possibly turn any slower?

  “I like him. He seems like a good guy. And Lord knows, you could use one.” She picked at one of her perfectly manicured nails, oblivious to the frown I wore.

  Unsure if I should feel insulted or not, I said nothing. I scanned the streets and sidewalks, scrutinizing everyone we passed.

  “So, where are we headed?” Her cell phone vibrated loudly, and she flipped it open to read a text message before punching buttons in response.

  “Cruising the streets near Raoul’s then heading to Lucy’s. I know she’s been in there even if I haven’t seen her myself.” A thought struck me, and I added, “There’s another area, too, adjacent to my neighborhood. That’s where she watched Shaz and I run this morning.”

  We cruised every street but Raoul’s. For that one, I parked down an alley, and Jez took a quick stroll around the block. When I asked if Raoul’s Jag was in the driveway, she said no. The kitchen light had been on, but she’d seen no one.

  Just after eleven, we pulled up at Lucy’s Lounge. The place was already pretty packed.

  “Is this place ever dead?”

  Jez eyed the small group of ladies in the parking lot. An eyeful of short skirts and cleavage enhancing tops had her ogling like a kid in a candy store. We weren’t even inside yet.

  “Aren’t you seeing someone?” I raised a quizzical eyebrow.

  “I see a lot of people; there’s no ring on this finger.” She wiggled the fingers of her left hand too close to my face, and I slapped it away. “I’m not dead, Alexa. I’m always open to meeting that one lady that just knocks my socks off.”

  “Just one huh?” My wry smile wasn’t lost on her, and I chuckled at her exasperation.

  “Who are you to talk about having just one?”

  “Ouch. Nice Jez.”

  Inside, the aggravating sounds of a recent Top 40 hit made me long for Jez’ heavy metal. The joint was packed with humans. It was strange to see the bar without Shaz.

  Most of the staff recognized me and nodded. A few of the local Weres were usually there, but I didn’t feel their energy anywhere.

  “Go ahead and grab a drink if you want,” I said close to Jez’ ear. “I’m going to use the restroom.” I didn’t have to tell her twice. I knew I’d come back to find her with a brightly colored cocktail in each hand. She just couldn’t resist a fruity beverage.

  After using the facilities and washing up, I was walking down the small hall back towards the bar when I felt someone’s eyes on me. Before I could turn to look, the lightest touch on my elbow had me startled into a defensive stance. It was just a human girl, and I relaxed until her scent hit me. It was David’s girlfriend, the one who had lied to the police.

  “I’m sorry,” she shouted to be heard over the bar noise. “I didn’t mean to startle you.”

  Mustering the best, forced smile that I could, I replied with a lame, “That’s ok.”

  “I wanted
to thank you.” Her eyes were downcast, and the scent of fear and anxiety trickled from her. I was keenly aware of her heart accelerating, the blood rushing inside her, just waiting for that perfect puncture to release it. Goddamn it Arys, I thought briefly. You’ve made me a monster.

  I considered playing dumb. How in the hell could she recognize me? It had been dark, and I hadn’t looked this human.

  Oh, God help me. I’m such a fool. I should have killed her, too. The thought came unbidden, and I knew that it wasn’t mine. However, I had to acknowledge that the vampires’ logic kept them touted as fictional. They have to be ruthless to stay alive.

  “Oh, that’s alright.” I felt more awkward staring into her beaming smile than I had sitting with Arys and Shaz earlier. I was at a loss for words. My eyes went over her head, searching for Jez’ shock of gold hair in the crowd.

  “No really. I probably shouldn’t have approached you, but I didn’t want to risk losing my only chance to thank you. He made my life a living nightmare. I was ready to kill myself.”

  I had to give her credit for being wise enough to avoid saying David’s name. There was obviously no use trying to convince her that she hadn’t seen something she knew damn well she had.

  “Anyway,” she continued, suddenly in a rush to finish. “I can’t tell you what you’ve done for me. I don’t regret a thing about any of it. And, whoever or whatever you are is no business of mine. My lips are sealed.” Her eyes took on that wide solemn look of a child making a sincere promise.

  My smile felt small and tight, but it reached my eyes. I had to appreciate her guts. I can’t say that I would have approached the person that had grown claws and fangs before eating my boyfriend. Courage was an admirable trait, though it could be stupid.

  I offered her a hand. “I’m glad you’re alright.”

  “I’m Amanda.” Could her smile possibly get any wider? “It’s nice to meet you.”

  I didn’t like the spark in her eyes; I’d seen humans like this. My supernatural power and allure enticed her. This was often temporary but could be potentially dangerous.

  Fanaticism is a form of insanity.

  “Likewise.” I spotted Jez who was making her way to a group of college girls shooting pool. From where I stood, I could see the electric blue cocktail in her hand.

  “Look Amanda, I’m sorry but I need to get going. Have a really good night, ok?”

  I excused myself before the strange moment could drag on any longer. I hoped she didn’t take it the wrong way when I hightailed it across the club to Jez.

  Yeah, I felt like an asshole, but really, what could I possibly say to the girl? Thanks for not telling the cops that I ate your boyfriend? The bastard turned my stomach anyway.

  Besides, the scent of her blood was giving me a cramp.

  “I saw that you found a pretty thing to chat up so I wanted to have some fun, too.”

  Jez raised her glass in greeting, downing half in one sip. “No sign of our target. Think we should move on?”

  I pulled my cell phone from my pocket and found one missed call from Raoul, which likely meant that he was looking for Zoey, too.

  “Yeah, we’ll go as soon as you’re…” My words broke off; her glass was empty. “Ok then. We’ll go now.” That was fine by me. I wanted to get out of there before Amanda thought to approach me again.

  “Raoul called about ten minutes ago,” I told her when we were back in the car heading down the near empty main strip. “I think he’s looking for her.”

  “No voicemail?” Jez looked longingly out the window as we passed the 7/11; she was thinking about cigarettes.

  “Nope.”

  “Then, it couldn’t have been that important.”

  Typical of the small town, those who were not out for the evening were at home in relaxed comfort or already sleeping soundly. Most of the homes we passed were dark or dimly lit. I got back on to the main drag and followed it to my end of town. Once, that section of town had been the rich part, but over the years, it melded into the other old parts of town. Main Street, no longer the main drag, is a tiny business street and older than dirt. Buildings with painted murals give it the impression of being part of an old movie backdrop.

  “What a cute house,” Jez commented as she perused the houses with real estate signs on the front lawn. “This looks like a great place to live. So cozy.”

  “Yeah, well, it used to be. It’s growing a little too fast for my tastes, but it’s still home.”

  The last thing I wanted to see my little town turn into was a city with a condo on every block. They were already beginning to make an appearance on the outer edges of town where the land had been sold for development. We were just minutes away from two cities, was it necessary that we be one?

  A town like Stony is perfect for new Weres. Put one in the busy city center on their first full moon and see what happens. Not pretty. As long as I have the field out my back door linking me to the forest, everything is all good. If they developed it into a Starbucks and a shopping center, I was moving to a rural location on the double.

  I turned into The Glens, the neighborhood with the street that ran adjacent to mine off the field. We still saw no sign of Zoey anywhere. When I got out, to get up close and personal with the area, I could sense the remnants of the hybrid energy that Arys had tuned me into, but it was long faded.

  She hadn’t been here recently, and I couldn’t tell where she’d gone since. I growled in frustration and scanned the field from this angle. I tried to picture Shaz and I as both Zoey and Arys might have seen us, but I couldn’t do it.

  “That’s a pretty negative energy, even for a hybrid,” Jez said, following my gaze to the empty field.

  As a full-blooded Were, she could feel supernatural energy stronger than the average shifter though she wasn’t adept at manipulating it.

  “You known a lot of hybrids in your time, Jez?” I slid a sidelong glance at her, curious now.

  “A couple.” She shrugged as if it was no big deal. “I didn’t know either of them very well, but I can safely say they weren’t the happiest of people.” Her gaze drew distant. “A suicide and an accidental overdose. I guess it’s not the easiest existence.”

  An image of Belle’s brutalized corpse flashed behind my eyes, and any sympathy that I might have felt for Zoey vanished. Her personal vendetta with Raoul was strikingly similar to my own, but I wasn’t willing to murder over it. She had no excuse.

  “That’s terrible.” I breathed. “I almost wonder if Zoe is doing all of this so that someone will take her out and end her misery.”

  Jez studied me. I met her cat eyes evenly. “Do you think it’s a good idea for you to be so wrapped up in this? I mean, a target hit shouldn’t be personal. You know?” Her tone was carefully neutral, but I bristled at her judgment anyway.

  “No, I guess I could just go home in time to catch some good late night TV and paint my toenails. That would take care of everything.” The sarcasm in my tone came out far heavier than I’d intended. I had to bite back a further snappy remark that came unbidden, dancing on the tip of my tongue. “I’m sorry, Jez. I’m stressing out. This growing damn vampire bloodlust doesn’t make it any easier.” I tried for an apologetic smile and lifted my hands in surrender. “That’s no reason to be a bitch, I know. Pun intended.”

  “You are so lucky that I don’t just kick your ass right here.” Her crossed arms and narrowed eyes betrayed the joking tone she forced into her words. If she’d been leopard right then, that gold and black tail would have been twitching like mad.

  “I know.” Even though I said it, we both knew that a real fight between us would be a pretty tight match that would never happen. Sure, we had faced off for fun, but we never went beyond sparring, thankfully. I couldn’t imagine anything really causing us to stand against each other in a true fight to the finish.

  When my phone rang, we both jumped. A bad feeling settled into the pit of my stomach, and I went cold. My palms were damp when I flipped o
pen my phone.

  Arys was on the line rather than Kylarai. Adrenaline coursed through me when he said calmly, “Alexa, you better come to Squires Sports Bar. Kylarai’s been stabbed, and Raoul’s half breed is on the run.”

  “What happened? Is Ky ok?”

  Jez and I dropped our minor bitch session. I turned back toward the car, and Jez was already a step ahead of me.

  “Just get over here.”

  The phone went dead in my ear as Arys hung up. I had the car on the road in seconds with a screech of tires.

  “Kylarai’s been stabbed at the sports bar. They found Zoe.” I mumbled to Jez who nodded as if she already knew. “I don’t know how bad it is.”

  Squires Sports Bar is a billiards bar near the highway. It’s a place to catch the latest hockey game and consume pizza and wings. It definitely wasn’t a regular part of my evening experiences.

  “I didn’t think she would turn up in public so obviously. She must be asking for it.”

  “Me neither. Arys said she’s on the run. We have to hurry.”

  The five-minute drive felt like forever, and I gave a little cry of frustration when we approached the train tracks on Golf Course Road. A slow moving train effectively blocked the two closest crossing points. To access the one near Raoul’s neighborhood, I’d have to make a U-turn and cut around town in a partial circle. The trip would be faster if we waited it out, but waiting is not one of my strong points.

  “Just relax, wolf girl,” Jez murmured with her voice low and soothing, a cat’s soft purr. “It’ll be less than a minute.”

  She reached over and gently stroked the back of my hand with one finger. It wasn’t a human urge, but our animal instinct to comfort another. Despite our difference in animal form, Jez and I had forged a pack bond.

  The thought that Kylarai was hurt because of Raoul’s dirty little secret had my gut clenching. I was scared and pissed. Then, suddenly, the sweet copper scent of leopard blood was at the forefront of my senses. I fought the rising bloodlust as it fed on my fury.