killer thriller

Caius Winters

Blood poured from my ears and I he'd my claws up to my throat, trying to resist the telepathic pressure of his claws tightening around my neck.

How had he gotten so powerful? So quickly! I tried to speak but my throat closed around the words, the beep of the heart monitor rising when he left Mara’s hand to face me.

Ronan’s usually impassive face was a mask of hard lines and shadows, as his large hand clenched to fists.

He was going to hurt me. I was sure of it. I held up a hand, my vision blurring at the way my blood-stained gray claws bounced off the top-bright fluorescent.

“What the fuck, Ro? She was dying alright? I didn't mean to hurt her—” I gasped, coughing through the metallic ball building in my throat just before the other two walked in.

“Winters? Ironside? What in the world is happening here?” Dante’s Alpha bellow drained the air from the room and I watched Ronan’s body stiffen as if he had suddenly been struck by thunder.

The wiry doctor shuffled in behind us, freezing at the door like he wasn't sure what was going on but would hate to come in the middle of any of it.

“This little shit gave Mara his blood, Milburn. His fucking blood!” Ronan started when I managed to stretch to my feet, my bones still humming from the impact of his blow.

“I’m fine.” I snapped, shrugging off the brunette when he reached for me with concern and pity reflected in his pretty bronze eyes. 

Rage simmered in my chest at the thought that I’d been bested so easily by the maverick.

“Enjoying your new position a bit too much aren't you? Getting used to throwing your weight around now that you’re relishing my leftovers?” I barked icily, watching a wave of heat redden his neck and ears before he turned his back to me.

“You did fucking what?” Dante’s incredulous tone wasn't one of surprise, but of fury. 

Goosebumps as fat as a maiden’s ass popped up on my neck and back.

“She could have died before you got here, alright? I did her a fucking favor! I did us all a favor, Milburn,” I hissed, looking him in the eye for the first time since our fight and seeing only my agitated face reflect back to me on his blank expression.

“Oh, I bet you did. Caius Winters the bloody Saint, how fucking pious of you—” Ronan quipped sarcastically, and I reined in the urge to scream and pound his head with my fist.

“Ask the doctor, you bleating psycho!” I growled, breaking the heated glare the new Beta was giving me when he let out a frustrated sigh, shrugging his apology.

“How dare you do this here? Have you both completely lost it? Should I have you incarcerated to help you cool down?” Dante hissed out a cold snarl that made the rest of us screw our lips shut, only the noise of our ragged breathing filling the silence.

“Unngh—” Mara’s soft grunt drained the air from the room in the blink of an eye.

My wolf shot my body forward, and we were all clustered around her bedside in seconds, staring 

“Gentlemen…I’m afraid I’m going to have to ask you to leave—” Strauss murmured, a strained look lining his face before he mopped off the sweat dotting his wrinkled forehead with a white kerchief.

“I go nowhere until we're sure she's alright, and his blood didn't upset anything,” Dante growled, giving me a sidelong glare that told me an unbearable punishment was well on its way to me…like an accident waiting to happen.

I watched the older man’s throat bob before he nodded, one red tongue flicking over his thin lips.

“I understand, Your Highness, but your presence here is only going to aggravate her condition,”  

I trailed one shaky hand over the damp mop of curls lining her small oval face before freezing when Dante’s long thick hands circled my wrist.

“Yeah, he’s gotten it into his head we can't touch his woman lately,” Laziel commented, and I gritted my teeth against the pain of the wolf crushing my bones before I met his stormy blue eyes.

“The doctor’s right, why don't we chat outside?” 

I followed behind his broad, straight back and regal shoulders, pausing only when we were safely behind the heavy oakwood doors of the royal study.

The hum of the heater filled the room with other noises. 

The bubbling fish tank that shone its luminescent orange and blue lights on the dark vanish tiles, the crackling of flames in the large tiled fireplace, and the beeping of the fax machine the Alpha clicked off as he settled behind the large desk.

Leaving the rest of us to stand around awkwardly before Laziel stretched himself into one of the plush leather sofas, never one to make himself suffer for the greater good.

“So. What is it I missed out on during my exile?” I rapped crassly when none of the men offered anything and the minutes ticked by awkwardly.

Dante’s blue eyes pinned mine with such a deep look of concentration that the moisture dried from my mouth.

“We think Mabel had something to do with your cousin…sister’s poisoning,” Dante offered, and I straightened my spine from where I had rested it on the walls.

Mabel the rake-thin maid? My heart beat faster in my ears when I wondered how long they’d kept this from me.

No…there was no time for that now!

“What are we waiting for then? I say we summon the woman and torture her until she gives us something we can use—” I started, scowling when they shifted their weight uncomfortably. 

As if I had just suggested we find a clogged toilet and stick our heads into it.

“Negative. Mabel’s dead. Let’s just say she didn't have a change of conscience and off herself,” Laziel’s offhanded drawl made my blood run cold, and I whipped around to face him incredulously.

“What?” I echoed, not sure I’d heard him correctly but he only shrugged and I realized in the silence that followed that they were all watching me…as if waiting for the other shoe to drop.

“How the hell could I have killed her if I didn't even know she was dead, you big fucking mountain goof?” I snapped, motioning at the room around us with my hands and watching the brunette’s pretty lips scrunch up in offense.

“It was a fair assumption given how on edge you’ve been,” Laziel answered airily, raising his hands in surrender when I tried to show him the edge of my fist.

“So that leaves us with nothing. We don't know who the hell is running these hits or why. All we know is they want Mara dead. That makes them an enemy of Infinity.” Dante growled, steeping his hands over the large rim of his desk, his blue eyes shifting to bright turquoise slits until I was forced to look away.

No matter what was strained between us now, I couldn't argue with that.

We needed to protect Mara until whoever this killer is was found.

Dante seemed to think he could send her away after…to a remote pack somewhere up the mountains, but I wasn't so sure.

She hadn't even stayed six forthnights in the pack and we had already gotten so drawn to her.

Who’s to say I would be willing to let her go when she was ready?

I thought about the fax letter i’d received, deciding whether or not to tell the Alpha the bad news now that he appeared calm, or to give it to him when shit hit the fan.

“You got something for me buddy? You better spit it out, I can tell from your eyes that you're hiding shit from me,” Dante commented breezily, unstopping a large bottle of wine and pouring himself one sparkling goblet.

Waving for the rest of us to sort ourselves out. Typical… the selfish prick.

Calm it was then.

“Kiernan Bones just became Alpha of Shadow Pack. His coronation is tonight.” 

I said it quick and fast…like ripping off a band-aid and sticking salt to the wound so the flesh around it hardened.

Became tougher to wound the next time.

“What?” 

“I should’ve went for the elite stuff, rat blood just isn't going to cut this.” Dante hissed testily, rising to his feet to pace the luxurious space.

His eyes had a faraway look to them that I found unnerving, but Laziel interrupted the tensed silence before I could.

“You all know what this means right? That bastard’s never going to stop coming after us now until we're a pile of ash and bones on the ground!”

The tension in his voice set my teeth on edge.

Of course we fucking remembered, it was impossible to forget the night Dante slaughtered Leila like a pig on a freaking barbecue.

The night we had become sworn enemies with the Shadows, because no one could have Leila if Dante didn't have her.

Not after everything the pack had sacrificed for her.

“I will never forgive you for killing my mate, Dante Milburn and the Three of Infinity. Watch your back, because I will pay you back in blood.” 

We’d poured over the letter Kiernan sent for what felt like hours, tossing it into the fireplace of this very study in the end.

And now, his threat was about to become a reality.

“What do we do?” Ronan, ever practical hissed, his large hands balling to fists at his side.

“I can head over there right now and cut him down for you.” 

“Then you will surely die. No…no that won't do.” Dante replied testily, waving his hands like Ronan’s offer to sacrifice his life for him was a normal market day.

Kiernan Bones had been a force to reckon with even then. 

The headstrong heir of the great warlock, Alpha Diego Bones, defender of Hades was what they called him.

I could only imagine how much more powerful he’d gotten after his father’s death.

Yes, Ronan, for all his muscle and tact wouldn't stand a chance against an army of that size…alone.

“So what? You want us to just sit around doing nothing while that bastard goes around looking for how to destroy us?” Laziel thundered, a vein straining so hard in his forehead that I thought he was about to have a coronary.

There was nothing that would ruin his day faster than having him he told he couldn't go around killing the enemy for the fun of it.

Not without us waking up to three hundred thousand of his battalion completely surrounding our fortress.

It would be a dreaded battle…there was no telling which side would come out on top. 

But with Mara here…

“If we mate—” I started, but Dante’s hard blue eyes flew to me before I could utter another word and I wisely kept my mouth shut, heeding Ronan when he motioned me to shut my trap.

“Infinity Fortress is no place for Mara. I thought I made that much clear?” The Alpha deadpanned in a voice that brooked no argument, but my spine was all stiff when I bowed, biting my tongue.

“This meeting is dismissed. Leave my sight, all of you.” Dante barked darkly, but his voice had become several octaves lower, as though he was aware he had gotten too worked up with me.

Ronan was right, now was not the time to bring it up.

There were other ways to get stronger. Like forming allies with strong commanders from other packs.

Commanders like Triel’s father.

It was about time I gave him a callback and found out what exactly it was that he wanted.