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The first thing North saw when he charged into the storage room was the vampire holding his mate. Red blurred his vision, the need to rip Oliver apart propelling him forward. He didn’t stop to ask what was going on. It didn’t matter. The vampire needed to die.
“Wait!” Priscilla threw herself in his path. “North, stop!”
He skidded to a halt at the same time Oliver released Skye. She dropped to all fours and shifted back. Her tank top hung off one shoulder, but the rest of her clothes lay scattered across the storage room.
Completely focused on her, North tore off his jacket and wrapped it around her waist. “Are you all right?”
“Yeah, I’m fine.” She pressed her hand against her neck. “When I walked in, I saw Oliver attacking Priscilla.”
More footsteps thundered beyond the room, and a few seconds later Tobias and Samuel appeared. Right behind them were Sabina and Aisling.
“What the hell is going on?” Samuel asked.
“Priscilla?” Tobias slowly approached his sister. “Are you all right?”
“Yes, I’m fine. God, would everybody just calm down.” She still stood in front of Oliver as if protecting him from the group. North doubted the vampire needed any help defending himself. “He wasn’t attacking me.”
“Oliver?” Sabina remained near the door, her eyes fixed on her companion. “Please explain.”
“It’s true. I wasn’t attacking Priscilla.” He paused. “I was kissing her.”
“You son-of-a—” Samuel lurched toward the vampire, but his sister blocked him.
“I asked him to,” she blurted.
He pulled up short, a look of disgust contorting his face. “Why the hell would you want that filthy bloodsucker to touch you, let alone kiss you?”
“Because...” Her spine stiffened, and she inhaled. “I think he’s my mate.”
“What?” Samuel practically spit the word. “No fucking way would that happen.”
North eyed Oliver as Samuel continued his tirade. The vampire stepped forward and slid his arm around Priscilla’s waist, pulling her close. He knew that move. It was a sign of ownership and protection. A few days ago, he might not have believed that a vampire and a shifter could be fated mates, but after what had happened between him and Skye, he’d believe just about anything.
“Is this true, Oliver?” Sabina asked, cutting off Samuel’s rant.
He gave a single nod. “I believe it is. When we first arrived, I sensed my mate. At first, I thought it was Miss Seward.” His gaze drifted from Skye to caress Priscilla’s face. “But quickly realized my mistake when my actual mate arrived.”
“No way! No fucking way!” Samuel paced across the room, violently shaking his head. “This is not going to happen.”
“Samuel,” Tobias bit out.
“What?” He spun on his brother. “You’re going along with this bullshit? A vampire with our sister? Have you lost your mind?”
“Dude!” North glared at the shifter. “Shut! Up! We get it. You’re pissed, but that doesn’t mean squat if their fated.”
“He’s right.” Sabina said. “If they are true mates, nothing can keep them apart.”
“This is such utter and complete bullshit.” He spun and stomped out of the room. A minute later, the sound of the front door slamming echoed back to them.
“I do agree that this presents a few problems,” Sabina said. “But we will figure them out.”
Oliver gave his leader a single nod. “Thank you.”
“Of course.” She glanced at Aisling. “Anything for love, right?”
Aisling smiled. “Anything.”
“Sorry for attacking you.” Skye held out her hand to Oliver. “No hard feelings.”
“None.” He grasped her hand and covered it with the other. “I’m grateful that you wanted to protect my mate.”
“I always protect my friends.” She sandwiched his hands between hers. “So, if you hurt her, I will hunt you down and stake you through the heart.”
The vampire’s eyes widened. “Understood.”
“Awww, Skye, that’s so sweet,” Priscilla crooned. “I’d kill for you too.”
“Thank you.” Skye loosened her hold on Oliver and gave Priscilla quick hug. “Friends forever.”
Laughter huffed from North, and he shook his head. “Dude, we are so screwed.”
The vampire harrumphed his agreement.
Skye rolled her eyes. “You love it.”
Dragging her to him, he kissed the tip of her nose. “I love you.”
The playful glint in her eyes softened. “Ahhh, you’re so romantic.”
When she didn’t say anymore, he narrowed his gaze on her. “And?”
Her brows lifted. “And...thank you?”
He growled.
“Okay, jeez, don’t shit your pants. I love you too.”
“God, that mouth,” he said before giving her a quick peck.
“You didn’t complain about my mouth last night.”
“Okay, anyway,” Tobias cut in. “I should go find Samuel. See if he’s cooled off any.”
“I’ll come with you.” North said. Though he didn’t want to leave Skye, now that Oliver was mated to Priscilla, his jealousy vanished. “Maybe he’s in one of the outbuildings.”
“I’ll check the front,” Tobias said. “Hopefully, he didn’t shift and head home.”
It would have been a dumbass move if he had, but North kept that comment to himself and simply nodded. From what he’d seen of Samuel, he reacted before thinking. That could get him into a lot of trouble. His gaze landed on Skye. Maybe now that they were bonded, some of her impulsiveness would be curtailed. A guy could hope.
He pulled on his winter gear and exited out the back of the lodge. The faint pink glow of sunrise had blossomed into a muted yellow, brightening the sky. In another hour, the sun would start to sink, and by three o’clock, it would be dark again. Ice crystals danced in the sunlight, turning the air to a glittering curtain. He inhaled, breathing in the crisp winter air.
He loved living in the bush. The night skies teemed with stars, sunlight filled the summer days, and the hills stretched for miles with nothing but natural beauty. As a raven shifter he had the privilege of soaring above the terrain and landing in places that had maybe never been seen by a human. He only wished Skye could join him. She had her plane, but it wasn’t the same as flying free. Nothing was like floating on the wind. Then again, she’d probably say something similar about being a wolf shifter. Nothing compared to speeding across the tundra. They’d make it work—no matter what.
The first placed North checked was the generator house. The comforting sound of the machine’s loud churning greeted him. Since last night, the smell of diesel had diminished, and everything seemed back to normal. He stepped inside, but the room was empty. Closing the door, he moved to the next building. Again, empty. He called Samuel’s name, but got no response.
The small metal warehouse was the only building left. If he wasn’t in there, North was giving up and heading back into the warmth. Let Tobias deal with his brother. As he pulled the metal door open, the hinges gave a loud squeak against the cold. Darkness cloaked the inside. Stepping in, he flicked on the light next to the door. A stack of insulation rested against the back wall, and his brother Bank’s old travel trailer was parked in the center. Other than that, the building was empty.
“Samuel?” He waited but got no response.
Deciding he’d done all he could to find the guy, he turned to shut off the light. As his hand lifted, a faint shuffle sounded from behind the trailer. Stopping, he cocked his head to listen. Maybe an ermine or a ground squirrel had made the warehouse its home. Maybe Samuel was pouting in the dark like a little bitch.
Another noise issued from somewhere beyond North’s sight. A gasp or gurgle? He couldn’t quite place it. Suddenly, his raven flared to life, erupting inside him with a violent screech. Adrenaline surged through his body, his senses ramping up. The smell of blood hit him, and the faint sounds of struggle magnified.
The sense of danger infused every cell of his body as he shot forward. His running strides ate up the distance between him and the trailer. Zigzagging to the opposite side, he raced along the camper’s length to the back of the warehouse and skidded to a stop. Samuel lay faceup on the ground, his complexion almost completely bled of color. Blood seeped from two long gashes at the side of his neck and slid across his skin to drip onto the dirt floor.
“Samuel.” North dropped to the ground beside him. “Can you hear me?”
A low groan pushed from him, flooding North with relief. He’d been attacked but not killed. But attacked by who? Hadn’t everybody been inside dealing with Priscilla and Oliver?
Before the question had barely formed, an arm wrapped around his neck and tightened. Flashes from last night in the generator house exploded in his mind. Not again. This time, he wouldn’t go down without a fight.
He drew back his elbow and drove it into his attacker’s stomach. The assailant gave a loud grunt but his hold on North didn’t loosen. The smell of fresh blood infused every heavy breath huffing from the man. Definitely a vampire, and North had a good idea who.
Dropping forward, he extended his arms and caught his body. With as much force as possible, North thrust his legs backward, planking. The move caught the vampire in the shins and knocked him off balance. He fell forward against North, chest to back, causing the grip around North’s neck to relax. Taking advantage of the position, North heaved his body to the side, rolled, and gained his feet.
Vladimir lay on his back, his black stare glaring up at him. Blood coated his lips as they pulled back in a feral snarl. The sight of the blood-crazed vamp halted North in his attack. Something was definitely wrong. He’d seen vampires after drinking from their blood-slaves, and they’d looked sated, never like this—so malicious.
The vampire shifted to stand, but North lunged forward and caught him in a strangle hold. As he dragged Vladimir to his feet, the sound of the warehouse door banging open ricocheted through the building. He sensed her immediately. Skye.
The need to protect her flooded his body. “Stay back.”
Before the words were out of is mouth, the giant blond wolf rounded the corner. At the sight of them, she skidded to a stop. The question of whether he was okay flitted across North’s mind. He sent reassurance back to her, adding a wave of calm. As a human she was unpredictable. As a wolf she would be driven by instinct. As a mated wolf she wouldn’t hesitate to kill at the least provocation. But even in his enraged state, North knew they needed to tread carefully. Killing Vladimir with his other clan members at the lodge could mean death for all of them.
The wolf’s lips peeled back, and a growl that left no doubt of her intentions reverberated from deep within her throat. The animal inched forward; her silver-blue eyes locked on Vladimir. He hissed at her approach. Skye’s warning grew louder.
The vampire’s muscles rippled under North’s hold. With shifter blood flowing through his veins, he would be stronger than usual, and North didn’t know how long he’d be able to restrain him. He tightened his grip around Vladimir’s neck. Nothing would give him more pleasure than to choke out the asshole.
“Go get Sabina,” he said, hoping his command would stop Skye’s advancing. It didn’t. “Skye, go get the other vampires. They need to deal with him.”
Her gaze shifted to him and softened. A frustrated whine whimpered from her.
“Baby, please, I don’t know how long I can hold him.”
She growled again, her intensions resonating through his head. She wanted the vampire dead because he’d attacked her mate. Fuck the consequences.
“As much as I love you for that, I need you safe.” The vampire’s nails dug at North’s wrist, drawing blood. He hauled his free arm back and punched Vladimir in the side of the head. “You do that again and I will let her have you.”
At almost the same height, it was difficult to have total control over Vladimir. North angled sideways and kicked the back of the vampire’s knees, dropping him to the ground. As North bent to secure his hold, Vlad tipped his head forward, and then slammed it backward.
Pain exploded in North’s head when the vampire’s skull connected with his nose. Blood poured from both nostrils, running into his mouth. He stumbled, trying to clear his sight as giant gray dots pulsed across his vision. The hesitation was enough for Vladimir to break free, turn, and bury his teeth in North’s neck. More agony detonated deep in the muscles as the vampire latched on and drank.
North grabbed a handful of Vladimir’s hair and yanked his head back, but the fangs remained imbedded in his flesh. He fisted his hand and punched, landing a solid blow to the side of Vlad’s face. Still, they remained locked. Gray mist swam at the edges of North’s vision as the vampire gulped down another mouthful of blood. The bastard was too strong from the shifter blood, and North was growing weaker.
He lifted his arm to deliver another punch when Skye’s wolf slammed into them. As the three of them toppled to the ground, Vladimir’s fangs pulled free and dragged across his skin, tearing open North’s neck. He ignored the pain and rolled to his feet, intent on taking the vampire down once and for all, but Skye beat him to it.
Her massive jaws locked around Vladimir’s neck and bore down.
“Skye, wait.” North hesitated, unsure whether he should stop her. As far as he was concerned, the asshole deserved to have his throat ripped out, but they’d have to deal with Sabina and the other vampires afterward. “We need to let Sabina handle this.”
She let out a loud growl that left no doubt that she didn’t agree.
He sent her a wave of calm. “I know. He deserves a lot worse, and I don’t give a shit about him, but I do care about you. I’m not saying let him go, I’m just saying don’t rip his throat out.” As an afterthought, he added, “Yet.”
She growled again. This time, her answer was less insistent. The vampire lay still, his breathing ragged and uneven, his black eyes wide and unfocused. Clearly, he wasn’t in his right mind. Not unlike a rabid dog, North was fairly certain he’d have to be put down.
The crash of the warehouse door banging open again echoed through the building, followed by what sounded like a brigade of footsteps. Tobias and Priscilla appeared first, with the three vampires right behind them.
“What’s happened?” Sabina asked.
“Your boy here has been helping himself to shifter blood. He attacked me last night and Samuel today.”
“Oh my God, Samuel.” Priscilla pushed past Tobias and ran to her brother, cradling his head. “Will he be all right?”
“He’d better be,” Tobias snapped.
Sabina stood ramrod straight, her face an emotionless mask. Nobody spoke, Vladimir’s uneven breathing and the Arctic wind the only sounds. After a strained minute, she lifted her chin an inch. “Oliver.”
Without further explanation, Oliver strode to where Skye still had the vampire pinned. Gently laying a hand on her back, he said, “I’ve got this.”
She hesitated, a grumble of protest vibrating from her, and then released her hold and stepped away to stand next to North. The need to touch her swamped him. His fingers curled into her fur, and in answer, she leaned against him.
Oliver hauled Vladimir to his feet and shoved him toward Sabina. The vampire stumbled and stopped, his gaze leveling on his leader’s face. His body swayed from side to side like a cobra moving in time to its master’s tune. Neither spoke, at least not verbally. Though North didn’t know much about their relationship, he suspected Sabina had created Vladimir. In essence, he was her child.
Finally, breaking the silence, Sabina said, “You can no longer control your bloodlust.”
His rocking stopped, his eyes rounding. “I can.”
“No.” She swallowed hard and shook her head. “You cannot.”
“Please.” The word keened from him. He dropped to his knees and pressed his forehead against her feet. “Please, please, please.”
For the first time since she’d arrived on the scene, Sabina’s emotionless demeanor broke. Her eyes glistened with unshed tears as she stared down at Vladimir.
Aisling laid her hand on Sabina’s shoulder. “Let me.”
“No,” she whispered, turning to her wife. “It’s not your place. This is my responsibility.”
Without being asked, Oliver and Aisling moved to stand beside Vladimir. When Sabina gave them a single nod, they grabbed his arms and lifted him to his feet.
“No, please, don’t do this,” Vladimir cried. “I am your child.” He reached for her, but Oliver blocked his touch. “You love me.”
“Yes, I love you.” Reaching out, she caressed his face. “Like a master loves a rabid dog. Despite the affection, the animal must be put down.”
The meaning of Sabina’s words registered, propelling North forward a step. “We can leave.”
“No.” She looked at him. “It’s customary for the wronged party to watch.”
The idea of witnessing her kill Vladimir made his stomach revolt. “That’s not necessary.”
Skye growled her disapproval, her piercing stare firm in her conviction to stay. What he wanted was to protect her from the raw violence of what was about to happen, but clearly, she didn’t need to be protected. He inhaled and nodded. “Okay.” His eyes cut to Sabina. “We’ll stay.”
“I’m not leaving either,” Tobias said.
“As is your right as Samuel’s brother.” Her gaze drifted back to Vladimir. “You are sentenced to death for your crimes.”
As she took a step toward him, Vladimir’s head began to violently shake. “No. Please. Give me one more chance.”
She stopped. “I’m sorry.” Her voice cracked. “There are no more chances for you.”
With that, her hand shot forward and plunged into his chest. He gasped, and his mouth opened in a silent scream. Yanking hard, she wrenched his heart from his body. The muscle beat a couple of times as blood gushed from her grip.
“Jesus,” North whispered. Shifters had their brutal punishments too, but he’d never seen anything like this.
A death groan shuddered from Vladimir as his body crumpled in Aisling and Oliver’s hold.
A faint cry broke from Sabina and she rushed forward to catch him before he hit the ground. “I’m so sorry.” Tears streamed down her face. “Inima mea,” she said, pressing a kiss to his temple.
North stroked Skye’s back. “Okay, we watched.” With a mental urge, he signaled it was time to leave. “We’re sorry for your loss, Sabina.” Feeling there was no need to say anything more. He motioned to Tobias.
Together, they lifted a still unconscious Samuel and carried him out of the warehouse, Skye and Priscilla following close on their heels. The winter wind swirled around North. He inhaled. Chilled air filled his lungs, clearing his head and expelling the gruesome scene he’d just witnessed.
The threat was gone. Vladimir was dead. Still, that didn’t ease the heaviness in the pit of his stomach. Now, all he wanted was for the storm to end and everyone to leave so he and Skye could be alone.