A Shifter's Curse, Raven Steele [the top 100 crime novels of all time .TXT] 📗

I leaned back in my seat, my shoulders dropping. “What do you know about it?”

“The chemicals are similar to heroin, but it’s also been mixed with traces of vampire venom. Some claim magic was also used. We’re still trying to determine its contents, but it’s been difficult to get our hands on a sample.”

“We?”

She ignored me and continued to tenderly wipe at the long blade.

Whatever this drug was, Samira was right. We couldn’t introduce something like this into the States. I didn’t want to bring harm to any human.

But I couldn’t outright stop the deal either. If I did anything to mess this meeting up, Silas would kick me off his team, setting me back weeks, possibly months.

First things first. This deal had to go through. I'd find a way to get rid of the drugs later. "We can't stop this transaction.”

Her hand stilled, and she leaned forward. "Did you hear what I said?"

I pushed away from the table. "You don't like it, stay away."

"I will do no such thing." She rose to meet me and crushed the space between us. We stood inches apart, each of our powers surging.

Her eyes were furious and ferocious. “Whatever game you're playing, you're going to get someone killed."

I met her fury. “And if you don't start playing the game, you’ll be the one who ends up dead."

"It's been a long time since anyone threatened me and lived."

"I don't give threats."

Before I could react, Samira took hold of my shirt and yanked me over the table. She wasn’t gentle as she dragged me out the back door. I stumbled down the steps and hit the ground hard. I bellowed out a warning, my fangs growing long in my mouth. This fight was a long time coming.

Her own fangs grew to sharp points and glimmered in the rising moon’s light. "You need to be taught a lesson on respect."

I tossed a rock at her, a lame distraction, but one nevertheless. I whirled around and sprinted toward the forest. We needed to take this fight away from the house. The last thing I wanted to do is hurt anything that belonged to Lynx.

As soon as I hit the edge of the forest, Samira tackled me. We tumbled to the ground, all fists and fury. She clocked me in the jaw three times before I bucked her off and flipped up to my feet. She attacked me again, but I kicked her. She flew backwards and crashed onto the ground, skidding until she hit a tree. She grunted, but the pained expression quickly changed to snarling and showing her teeth. When she went after me again, I landed a punch to her face and as she stumbled backwards, I reverse kicked, catching her chin with my boot. Her body spun through the air and slammed into another tree.

She looked up at me, surprised. "You're not a regular shifter wolf.”

I stomped toward her. “There is nothing regular about me."

I lifted my foot to kick her again, but she became a blur and I hit the tree instead, splintering it nearly in half. She swiped at me from behind, taking my legs out from under me. I was in the air for a second before landing; my head slammed against the ground. I spat blood and managed to scramble out of the way when she came at me again.

Anger and rage raced through my blood, surging power into my bones and muscles. For the next several minutes, I fought harder than I ever had before. Samira was the best fighter I’d ever encountered. After a while, I couldn't help but grin. It felt good to release all this pent-up frustration and anger on someone that could handle my blows. I even caught Samira cracking a smile—just before she undercut her fist into my jaw, sending me into the air at least ten feet. Air exploded from my lungs when I hit the ground. The pain from the blow echoed throughout my body.

She stood over me. "Why do you have so much power?"

"Why do you seem so intent on hurting me?" I countered.

"Because you are stubborn and cocky. Those two don't mix well together. It will get you killed."

"What do you care?"

She tilted her head to the side as if she'd never considered the question. Her lips tightened then relaxed. "You remind me of me centuries ago."

That's the only answer she gave me as she extended her hand toward me. I hesitated briefly before accepting it. She pulled me to my feet. I wiped the blood from my mouth with the back of my hand. "As much fun as this was, I need to head over to Fire Ridge. I guess we'll be seeing each other later."

I walked away, but she called after me. "We're going to have to work together eventually."

I gave her the middle finger.

Chapter 24

I arrived at the mansion much later than I intended. I was hoping to have a chance to talk to Ryder before we left, but Silas was already at the front door, looking a million shades of pissed. "You're lucky you showed up when you did. A moment longer and you would've been punished. And,” his scowling face turned into a slow grin, “as much as I would've liked that, I want you at this meeting tonight."

Moving past him and into the foyer, I searched the large room for Ryder, but he wasn’t there. I turned back to Silas, whose eyes were trained on me. I looked at my wrist, where old people wore watches. “I’m right on time.”

His eyes darkened. “Let’s just go.”

I followed him out the door. "Who else is coming?"

"We are," Gerald said just outside. Toby stood next to him, adjusting his belt as if he’d just taken a piss. I had learned the two of them had been friends since they were ten years old. I rarely saw them apart.

I didn't get along with much of the pack, granted I hadn’t taken the time, but I was happy Gerald was coming. With him there, I wouldn’t have to watch my back as much. It was good Toby was coming too. He was one of the few members who went out of his way to be nice to me. He had a gentler nature; he also was a lot smarter than about ninety percent of the wolves here. I smiled at him, and he gave me a half-hug in greeting. We fell into line behind Silas and Gerald.

"And what about Lilith?” I asked. “Is she coming?"

Silas smoothed back his wet-looking hair. Did he put gel in it? I noticed he was also wearing a suit. The only time I’d seen him dress up like this was the first night I’d seen him at the bar. Tonight must be something special.

"These vamps are in a blood feud with the Morgans. If we brought her, the deal would be off." He turned around and lifted a finger at me, then flashed it to the other two, his face growing stern. "Let me make this perfectly clear. Nothing can screw this up tonight. The Silver Claws stand to make an obscene amount of money, so be on your best behavior."

I resisted the urge to give him the same order.

"Let's go.” He turned back around. "Luke has the car running."

My head jerked toward him. Luke? "Was he planning on coming?"

Silas jerked to a stop, and I almost ran into him. He turned around slowly, giving me a strange look. “Does it matter?”

He searched my face as if waiting for some kind of reaction from me, but I knew better. I couldn’t let him know I felt an attraction toward Luke. I feared he might use it against me one day. That’s just how Silas was—always looking for people’s weaknesses.

“Don’t matter in the least,” I said. “I was just wondering.”

He didn’t move as he continued to study my expression. “He came to me a few hours ago, asking to come along. I thought it was strange, but he asked just nice enough that I’m allowing it, after making him run one of my less savory errands, of course.”

His eyes stayed on me, but I gave him nothing. Finally, after a random eye twitch, he turned away from us and made his way toward an SUV.

I sat in the backseat, directly behind Luke, deliberately avoiding his eye contact in the rearview mirror. As everyone else piled into the SUV, I bit my lip, thinking. I didn’t want Luke to come. I couldn't explain why. I wasn't even sure I knew myself, but I just felt better if he wasn’t there. Maybe I didn’t want him to see my bad side, if I had to use it. Or maybe I didn’t want him to