Killer Rayne Read online

  Chapter One

  I fight as hard as I can, but he pushes into me with all of his weight. Hand over my mouth; I struggle to breathe as his gray eyes give me a window into hell. They seem to suck me in like a black hole. I kick, I flail, but nothing works. Panic sets in and when I reach for my power, nothing inside me answers the call.

  “Rayne, I’m inside your head. I have a first-hand view into your deepest fears and do you know what I’ve discovered? Me.” He laughs in delight.

  “You fear me. I consume your entire world and I have the key to destroy you. You won’t rest without me invading your dreams. Every time you gaze over your shoulder, you will wonder if I am far behind.”

  His voice becomes lower, deadly as he promises me no peace. I turn away from his stare, afraid of what else he’ll see in my own eyes. Then, there is nothing holding me down.

  I immediately wake and jerk myself upright in the dark room and reach for Selene, but she’s not here, hasn’t been around for three days. My heart is hurting from the loss, but it’s her fault. She lied to me and I’m not ready to forgive her. I can’t even look her in the eyes.

  Instead I call for Zara who is in the next room. Dammit Namen, what did you do to me?

  Zara wastes no time in coming to my side. Although I am grateful to her for allowing me to hide out in her home, I can’t help but be afraid that we could end up getting too close. We already have this bond, but I can sense the small hints of attraction that flow between us. The last thing I need is for me to crawl into her arms because I’m hurting.

  That’s not who I am and Selene deserves better than that. Zara hasn’t even tried to make that kind of move on me. I don’t think either one of us would be surprised if one of us tried to ignite that tiny spark. I really want Zara as a friend, just a friend. Yet, for the past two nights in her presence, the power that she represents has called to some of my deeper urges.

  Diana was definitely right. She told me that I would seek power, crave it. Ever since my power grew, it seems to be seeking something dangerous and darker. It’s actually scaring me, if I’m being completely honest with myself. I don’t want to be a power hungry person nor do I want to have an awkward relationship with a friend.

  Zara is funny, dangerous, and charismatic. She’s also determined to get her soul mate back. I want that for her as well. Because of her blood that flows through me, I also want her to take me there, to rip me open while she ravishes my body in ways that I’ve never imagined.

  Selene is too good, too nice to do to me what this power inside me is urging, and I don’t like it at all. Now, with Namen invading my dreams, it’s only adding to this stress. I need to be honest with Zara and ask her about this bond and if there’s a way to dampen its effects on me.

  This ought to be embarrassing.

  When Zara pushes open the bedroom door, she hesitates in the doorway as if reading my energy and wondering if this is a good idea. She’s tried not to read my thoughts without just cause and based on her expression, is trying to decide if that link should be open right now. It would be extremely easy to just show her what I’m feeling, but I enjoy the privacy of being the only one to access my mind. Namen is trying to take that away too.

  I kick the covers from off my legs and sit up straighter in bed so that I won’t look as though I’m trying to seduce her. Immediately, relief is in her expression. I almost get offended at that. Geeze, would that be so terrible if I were?

  Ugh. Okay, I’m completely not myself right now.

  I tug at the bottom of the long black t-shirt that I’m wearing to make sure that I’m not showing any underwear or extra leg, and then I pat the bed beside me needing her to have a seat. I can’t have her hovering over me. It just doesn’t feel right. She strides confidently over to sit next to me in her brown thermal, scarf, loose fitting blue jeans, and brown Polo boots. I’ve never seen her dress this well and I smile.

  “Hey, what’s wrong? I was just getting ready to head out,” she says, pointing back out the door. “The dogs are all sleep in the living room.”

  Zara has three dogs, one Doberman Pinscher named Nova and two German Shepherds named Tank and Camo. Two girls, one boy. They are big brats with their own room full of toys and a queen size bed. Absolutely ridiculous. When she said that she was a dog lover, she wasn’t playing.

  “I won’t take up your time, we can figure this out later. I forgot that you said that you were going to hunt,” I respond, feeling bad for holding her up from feeding. Maybe that’s why she was hesitant to come in the room, she didn’t want to have the urge to bite me.

  “I can wait a few more minutes. It’s not like my prey is scarce. There are humans everywhere. If something is bothering you, I want to know about it, Rayne.” Zara’s face is etched with concern.

  I sigh. “Namen is invading my dreams. I’m afraid to go to sleep because I feel like he can hurt me somehow. It’s just like when I thought he took my arm. I don’t know what’s real or fake and I don’t know how he’s doing it. But, if I can’t rest, I can’t fight and he knows it,” I tell Zara, not wanting to admit that I’m feeling vulnerable.

  Zara ponders my predicament and runs a hand through her braided hair that is still in singles, hanging down to her shoulders. “If I feed you more of my blood, then that should help because you’ll be more anchored to me, but it’s a temporary fix. You’re going to need Selene to work a spell to break it. It seems like you’re almost under a type of compulsion. When he touched you, he marked you somehow. I don’t know. He’s coming after you hard and I want to find out why.”

  “Okay, first, I don’t think I should have any more of your blood in my system if I can help it. I don’t know if it’s too much too fast, but you’re making me crazy Zara. It’s making me… want you,” I admit sheepishly. I almost want to run out of the room. So not me.

  Zara looks at me sideways and then smiles like a lion that just cornered her prey. My heart pounds in fear and anticipation. Zara shakes her head as if trying to come back to her senses. She then slowly gets up and then leans against the far wall.

  “Stop that,” she demands.

  “Stop what?” I ask, extremely lost as to what it is that I’m supposedly doing.

  “You’re reaching for the predator in me. Control your thoughts and slow your heart rate. You’re making yourself so vulnerable right now that I can’t help but feel you through the bond,” she says as if it isn’t rocket science.

  “Zara, I don’t even know what the hell you’re talking about, let alone how to not do it. All I know is that you or your aura is calling my power and it wants to reach out and meet it, physically,” I tell her. As if to drive the point home, a throbbing down below begins.

  Zara groans and crosses her arms.

  “Why am I feeling like this? I like you Zara, as a friend, maybe a best friend one day, but I can’t do this if my body is going to keep wanting you,” I admit, feeling foolish.

  “I apologize, Rayne; this is all my fault. It has been so long, since Sage, that I’ve formed a bond. I’ve forgotten how powerful my pure blood is. It didn’t occur to me that your own power would seek mine this way. It is controlling your carnal urges. My blood inside you is telling you to be all that I may need you to be. A donor, a lover, whatever. And your own power wants to dominate me, consume me.”

  “But why?” I ask.

  “It is how we purebloods make those we bond with loyal. For us, bonds are for life. I’ve never bonded with someone who wasn’t my lover, so I never thought it would affect you because we haven’t been intimate. Plus, you were with Selene so it wasn’t an issue.”

  “And now?”

  “Now, with your anger at her, mixed with the growth of your power, your chakra is seeking something else to feed on becau
se of my blood. Powerful beings seek other powerful beings and your body is craving me in the most basic way,” she explains, making it almost make sense to me.

  “So, this is all because of vampire blood? And you’re telling me that you really didn’t know this would happen?” I cross my arms, skeptical at her obliviousness.

  “I can’t say that it’s all because of the blood that there’s an attraction. You had to feel some kind of way toward me, Rayne for it to have erupted like this. I can feel your want as well as my own. As I said before, you are incredibly attractive. I definitely can’t say that I would mind if we went there, even if it were just once.”

  She shrugs casually as if we are talking about what to eat for lunch. I put my hands up in surrender.

  “Whoa whoa there, please don’t go there. I can’t deal, man.”

  Zara laughs and walks back to where I’m sitting. I nearly gulp as I become all too aware of just how much she definitely would not mind.

  “Listen, Rayne, I am a vampire. I told you already that blood and sex go hand in hand. I’ve taken your blood and so much of mine is flowing through you. I can’t help but want to do both with you. That doesn’t mean that I will push you, when you so obviously want nothing to do with that scenario. Your emotions are just heightened right now. Once you work things out with Selene, which better be sooner than later, and once you get used to this power, you’ll be fine,” Zara promises.

  “I want to be your equal, Zara, not your food source or lover,” I tell her honestly.

  She bows in her formal vampire way and smiles at me. “I want you to be my equal as well, Rayne. But, I’m just telling you what is in my nature. I’ve never really had a friend that I could confide in. I want you to be that. Without sex. You are beautiful, but I have my mate as do you. I still need your help bringing her back by my side.”

  I sigh again. “Okay. We’ll figure this thing out. For now though, I think you should definitely go feed, far away from here. Tomorrow we need to speak with Jaxson.”

  I know how angry he is with me, but I can’t say that I blame him. I brought Anubis into something that he wanted no part of, and then I killed him.

  “I agree. Now, try to meditate before you fall asleep. Maybe if you keep your mind clear, Namen will not be able to enter your dreams. We will find a way to rid you of his invasion. Good night, Rayne.”

  “Night,” I whisper as Zara gently closes the door behind her, leaving only her scent of cinnamon and mint.

  Chapter Two

  When I told Jaxson what I had done, he tried to kill me. Zara had to throttle him in order to get him to calm down. She then promised him that she’d kill him as well as any remaining pack members if a hair on my head was harmed. That was yesterday, once he finally healed. I know that I have no right trying to face him today, but there is still too much work to do. I want to truly apologize for my failure. I know that I can never make up for the life of his alpha, but I want to stay committed to finding justice.

  As I get dressed in a dark blue romper and brown open toed sandals, I begin to shudder at the thought of being face to face with Jaxson. I may be stronger than him, but I don’t have the rage that he has. Right now, I simply feel defeated. A look in the mirror and a tiny pep talk later, I walk outside to the car to wait for Zara.

  Zara has a red Dodge Challenger with twenty inch rims and a stereo system that you can hear two blocks away. She likes to drive fast. For her to be three hundred something years old, she sure acts like a teenager. As I lean on her car, she comes out the house in sunglasses, a fresh white t-shirt, cargo shorts, and white shoes. I shake my head.

  The days are warm, but the nights are cold. Spring is still here and by this evening, I’ll have to be in jeans and a jacket.

  “What?” she asks, noticing my head shake as she unlocks the car door with a remote.

  “Nothing at all,” I respond, sliding into the car.

  “Whatever,” she says, buckling up. “Don’t you think we should find Selene first? I mean, we’re going to need her help. You might as well get this all settled with her and apologize for telling her you’ll kill her brother.”

  “I won’t apologize for that. I meant it.”

  “You may not have to.”

  “And why do you say that?” I ask, turning toward her as she pulls onto the road.

  “Because, I’ll do it for you. That way, she can hate me instead.”

  ◊◊◊

  Forty minutes later, we are pulling up at the pack’s estate. There are ten cars either in the driveway or on the street. This is all that’s left of Anubis’s pack, Jaxson’s pack. My heart starts to beat quickly and Zara reaches to grab my hand in reassurance. She gazes at me through her sunglasses and smiles, fangs showing. She’s ready if there’s a fight. I left Katsu at Zara’s in hopes of appearing diplomatic, but now, I’m wondering if that was a good idea.

  I feel like I’m walking the plank as I make my way to the front door. The pack’s compound-like house is huge. Two homes were combined after Anubis purchased all the properties on the block in order to make plenty of space for the pack to be able to shift and learn the ways of werewolves. High walls and expertly placed trees create a perimeter and a means to maintain privacy. Many pack members choose to live here and roam the woods behind the home.

  Before I can even knock, a wolf that I’ve never seen before pulls it open. He’s average height, only looming over me by two inches and his hair is cropped closely to his head. He seems ex-military to me. A growl forms in the back of his throat and his eyes are ringed yellow in anger. I can feel it coming off of him in waves. My tattoo responds to his challenge.

  “You don’t want to go there,” Zara warns, voice as cold as death.

  Her energy gives my resolve a boost. It slips into my own with such ease, awakening power inside of me. “I’m here to make peace, but if you test me, I will defend myself,” I promise. I finally start to feel like myself again. “Now, move aside.”

  The wolf looks back as if listening to orders that I can’t hear and then slides out of our way. I still get a push from behind for my trouble. I ignore it as I wind my way into the meeting area where we just planned to go after the lamia. It seems like so long ago that our plans were ruined and I was forced to kill a good man.

  All the wolves in the room stand up and flank Jaxson who is standing at the head of the table, facing us, rock solid arms folded across his massive chest, face turned down in a frown. He has on a black t-shirt and jeans, reminding me of when I first saw him as a bouncer. There are twelve wolves in total in the massive room. Four females and eight males, all of various ethnicities and heights.

  They look like the mafia as they make no effort to hide their anger toward me. Some of their faces show hints of weariness, sorrow, and anger. Most of the werewolves look to be about my age with a few exceptions here and there. More than a few have seen battle, by the energy they project.

  The room temperature drops a few degrees and I force my feet forward, focused on the task at hand.

  I keep my gaze down and motion for Zara to stay where she is. Then, I walk slowly to meet Jaxson. Once he’s towering over me, wordlessly, I lift my head so that my neck is exposed in submission.

  I am definitely not a submissive person but in this situation, I will do what I must to make peace. Jaxson reaches out with lightning speed and grips my neck tightly, only giving me a slight ability to breathe. I don’t move as I allow Jaxson to make a choice. It seems like minutes that he holds me firmly before forcing me to lock eyes with him, shaking me. I refuse to turn away from his prying stare as he seeks whatever it is he’s looking for.

  Finally, he lets me go, defeated, and less angry. There are tears in his dark eyes but he blinks them away quickly, refusing to show that kind of weakness. I grab my neck and cough as he turns away. Still, I refrain from backing down from his muscled form.

  “We shall keep Anubis’s word as his last request. You are pack. No harm shall come to you,” Jaxson dec
lares.

  Half of the werewolves in the room cry out in rage. Their human voices turn to growls and whimpers. The other half remain silent, fearful of backlash. Jaxson turns on all of them and roars. “It is done!”

  I back away as one tall wolf with short, dark hair and eyes steps forward. He looks to be at least half Hispanic with a very light, olive skin tone. He’s dressed in an expensive navy business suit and is sporting a no nonsense look. “Nothing is done. By pack law you must earn your title as alpha, even if you were the second. Just because you can follow orders doesn’t mean that you can give them. Until you win, I do not recognize you as my alpha.”

  Jaxson stares at each of his pack members one by one until he stops at a man that seems to be in his early seventies. The man nods his agreement with the man in the business suit. Jaxson then throws up his arms as if he can’t believe this is happening. He steals a glance at me and Zara before puffing up his chest, poised to speak.

  “Are you formally challenging me Christopher, to a battle for alpha?” Jaxson asks humorously. I don’t blame him. He doesn’t look like much, but I know how much looks can be deceiving.

  Christopher takes another step forward and raises his voice more for show than to be heard. “Jaxson Kellog, I, Christopher Hughes, herby contest your claim for alpha through battle.”

  “I accept your challenge and declare that everyone within the sound of my voice bear witness to this fight,” Jaxson growls.

  He’d just given Zara and me front row seats to this drama. I wouldn’t have it any other way. I have a stake in Jaxson winning this after all. Next, the old man that Jaxson had an unspoken conversation with stands up. All eyes fall on him.

  “Tomorrow night, this shall be settled. Today is a day for mourning. There will be no more interruptions this day. Rayne Whitmore, if there is something that you’d like to state, please do so and leave quietly. Until this is settled, we will not recognize you here,” the old man states. His hair is gray on the sides, hinting at his age, but his body is solid as he stands proudly, commanding everyone’s attention. There is no hatred in his voice, simply a matter of fact.