Predator Girl (A Paranormal Romance) (8 page)

No answer. She moved along down the hall. We stopped at one of the last doors near the fancy window. She nodded inside.

I stepped into a simple bedroom. Silver sheets were pulled tight over a queen-sized bed, no wrinkles like in mine. Clean clothes sat folded in a basket, no photos on the grey walls or on the nightstand. It was like a hotel room. Did Ilume have a maid, or was she some kind of perfectionist? The dresser and nightstand were a matched set, both black like the net canopy hanging around the bed. Talk about dark decorating. The only white in the room was from the curtains, which danced in the breeze of the open French doors. A balcony peeked in from the other side.

Something flopped down behind me. Ilume had dropped the dog pads by the dresser, scooting them together. Walking outside to the balcony, she shook the blanket out. Even from far back I could see the dust and fur flying off the fabric.

“Here,” she said as she returned, chucking the blanket at me. “That’s yours. It gets cold at night, but I tend to leave the space heater on. You’ll have to tell me if you need more than one.”

“Oh. Thanks.” I unraveled it, stared at it a moment. No fleas at least. As my eyes ran over the dog beds, it clicked. “Wait a second. Is that
my
bed?”

“Where did you think you were sleeping?” she asked, then flashed a smirk. “I don’t sleep with humans, and you’ve pissed Rex off enough as it is. You’re welcome to go sleep on the loft pull-out, but the wolves tend to roam at all hours. Being what you are, I can’t guarantee you’ll wake up with all your body parts attached.”

“Oh, I’m good then.” I tossed the blanket on top of the pads. It might not be comfortable, but no way on earth was I going to give a werewolf—like Rex—the chance to eat one of my legs or tear off other important . . . things.

Ilume shook her head, then muttered something like,
what have I gotten into
?

“What’s up with that dude anyway?” I dropped down into my bed. If I was going to live here, I wanted the pack facts. Plus, sharing a room with someone who not only tried to kill me, but who I didn’t know, was awkward.

Ilume went stone-faced. She moved to the dresser, not looking at me. “He’s pack alpha, although he wasn’t supposed to be until he turned twenty-one. His father was alpha, but he died last year. Rex took the position two years early.”

“So, apparently him becoming alpha wasn’t a good thing?”

“Well,” she trailed off, and then looked up from digging in her clothes. “You know, why are you so curious?”

I shrugged. “I’m a curious guy.”

“No, you’re meddlesome. That’s what got you into this mess.” She pulled a deep green tee over her tube top. The tee was super low-cut, the fabric clingy.

I tried not to imagine her tube top disappearing. There would be a whole lot of cleavage involved if it did. I wondered if she was wearing one of those strapless bras.

I shook my head.
Whoa
,
control, Jared
.

“I’ll tell you what,” Ilume said, pulling her dark hair out of the shirt. It waved down her back, brushing the top of her shorts. “For every question I answer of yours, you’ll answer one of mine. How about it?”

“Mmm.” I pursed my lips, carefully considering. It was obvious why she wanted to play this game; she wanted to hear about the Finders. The question was: would she ask things I shouldn’t tell her? I refused to put my peers in danger.

Oh, what the hay. I could beat around the bush. “All right. I suppose that’s fair.”

She smiled. “Very well. Since you’ve already asked a question, I’ll be asking the next.” She hopped onto her mattress, wrinkling the perfect bedspread. Lying on her side, she propped her head in her hand. “What exactly does a Finder do with his gifts?”

“We work for the government.” Rex had already said it, so I saw no harm in confirming what she’d been told. “Or at least most of us do. We tag Otherworlders, like faeries, nightlings . . . werewolves . . . so that we can monitor their activity.”

“Oh.” Ilume’s nose wrinkled. “Well
that’s
not invasive or anything. And here I thought American humans were all about equal rights. I guess if you’re truly abnormal that just goes out the window, huh?”

“Don’t say it like that. Look, we don’t hurt them unless they hurt us. We’re not trying to take away anyone’s rights. We’re doing it to keep the peace. The last thing humanity needs is to be faced with—”

“A threat?” She lifted an eyebrow. Her tone was almost seductive.

“Um. I was going to say
world panic,
but okay, I guess
threat
works, too.”

Although if she had any idea of the measures humans go to when they’re frightened, she might see it more my way. Teeth and claws won’t do any good should people start whipping guns out. I began to wonder how much she knew of humans.

“Hmm.” She ran her fingers through her hair.

“My turn,” I said when she didn’t comment further. “Where, um, where are we exactly?”

Her lips twitched, like she might smile again, then she sighed. Her mouth fell into a neutral line. “You’re in the great outdoors. Your home in Loralin is just a short plane ride over the border. You’re in Canada, deep in the forest where humans rarely tread.”

It felt like ice cubes slid down my neck. “Canada?” I had left the country?
Peter’s going to have a hell of a time finding me now.
I’d figured we were just a few miles out of town. A few cities away at the most—a traceable distance for Peter.

“Don’t look so down, mortal.” Ilume’s voice softened. “You chose to attack me, to follow me longer than you should have. I couldn’t leave you there to run off and tell the human government about my existence. I have to protect my family, just like you protect yours.”

Family.
Mom popped into my mind for the first time. I relived the sight of her and Charles, climbing off each other and the kitchen counter.
Ugh, shudder
. Maybe being kidnapped wasn’t such a bad thing. It’s not like I was dying to be home right now anyway, and I’m sure they didn’t miss me. This was a great chance to learn about this pack, gather info for the Finders.

I snorted. Ilume gave me a funny look but didn’t comment. “Why do you call us mortals? Are you guys immortal or something?” I asked her.

Wouldn’t that be a discovery? Faeries and elves were the only things on record that came close to the description of immortal. Even then, certain breeds of them still died after so many hundreds of years.

“We call you mortals because you are normal. Simple. Human.” She shrugged. “Apparently we use the word a little differently than you do.”

“Why were you in Loralin?” It was the first time I thought to ask this question.

Her face turned cold. “That’s not for you to worry about.” Stretching, she rolled off the mattress. “We’ll play more of Twenty Questions later, mortal. I’m starving and it’s getting close to dinner time. I’m sure you’re hungry. You’ve been out for over a day.”

My brows shot up. “You knocked me out for
a day
?”

“Didn’t mean to.” She shrugged again, this time all innocent-like. “Come on. I’d rather you be in the kitchen now versus later. The rest of the pack will be home from hunting soon. I want you out of sight by then.”

“Fine with me.” I wasn’t all that enthused about meeting more wolves to snarl and bare their teeth at me. Rolling to my feet, I became Ilume’s shadow as we entered the hallway, wondering what the next twenty-four hours would bring.

Chapter Twelve—Ilume

I
 would never tell anyone just how much he fascinated me.

Of course, Jared annoyed me too with his persistent questions and such. I was afraid to tell him more than he needed to know. Pack info was strictly confidential, most of it. It had been pounded into our heads since childhood not to reveal anything to anyone, especially a human. However, after Fox had nearly dragged him out to his death, I had a feeling my new pet would keep quiet should I blow any secrets.

That night, Jared cooked the raw rabbit I gave him. It was the first time I’d seen someone reel at the sight of raw, bloody meat—the very thing my pack drooled over. One palm over his nose, he plucked the slab out of my hand and dropped it in the sink.
What is he doing
? He washed it, holding his breath, then dug around the cabinets until he found our one and only frying pan.

I leaned against the back counter, watching the meat sizzle and turn colors on the stove. I guess I’d have to start watching the Food Channel if I was going to keep him. I’d forgotten how delicate the human stomach is, how their system doesn’t burn bacteria and disease like ours.

At the smell of cooking meat—and fresh human—pack members appeared, shooting me displeased looks. Every time I turned around someone was peering over the edge of a couch or standing in the lower hallway, tight-jawed. I had to flash my fangs and growl to make them turn away.

They’d never looked at me like this before. My status as alpha female was taking a serious hit. I’m not sure why I risked their trust in me, other than I knew he could help us. I would make Jared into a weapon against the Jackals, the pack who so desperately wanted our territory. My dislike for the punk had dissolved when I realized that, because of his talents, we might still have a chance to find the Jackals and stop a war.

My stomach clenched. Thoughts of the Jackals brought up thoughts of Thagen, the frosty look he’d given me in the club.
You either find another home to settle into, or you die in the spar it will create
. His words haunted me. They haunted me almost as much as his goodbye.

I don’t love you anymore
.

Sleep was near impossible that night. Besides the fact that I laid awake thinking of Thagen, Jared snored so loudly one could’ve heard him from Asia. He had the pitch of a motorcycle, and at one point I got so fed up that I launched a throw pillow at his head.

“Hey,” he mumbled, stirring on the floor.

“Roll over and shut up or go outside,” I said, pointing at the door. “You’re worse than someone with nasal polyps, you know that?”

“Oh, bah.” He muttered something to himself then rolled onto his stomach, pulling the blanket up to his ears.

I flopped back down, letting my hair spill over the pillows. Moonlight seeped through the curtains, turning the room silver like my sheets.
So beautiful
, I thought. The moon was my peacemaker, my guide. It was the only thing that called to me besides the howl of my wolves, and I answered every time.

Rolling the covers back, I slid out of bed. The French doors squeaked, but Jared barely moved as they closed behind me. The balcony floor felt like ice beneath my feet. I walked to the railing where I had a perfect view of the mountains beside the woods.

A half moon lounged atop the trees, no longer orange and full like it had been. The autumn equinox was near, the leaves slowly turning red and yellow. I shivered. It was brisk for a late summer evening. I feared another cold winter ahead.

Thagen loved autumn
. I wanted to hit myself for thinking that, for now I visualized his dusty fur. When fall comes, Thagen’s brown coat turns coppery. When the pack was still one, he would be gone all day long, reveling in the cool weather.

He had followed me on the autumn equinox two years ago. I had gone for a run to the river; too busy hunting to notice his presence. I transitioned as I hit the lake, covered in sweat and in need of a bath. I hated trying to shower at home, for someone always wanted the bathroom. Thinking there was no one around, I dove in, the water cold and refreshing.

When I surfaced, Thagen appeared a few feet in front of me. He suppressed a grin as I gasped. His cheeks bobbed in and out of the water. “If the Jackals tried to attack us, all we’d have to do is have you transition,” he said. “Your pretty little behind would make quite the distraction.”

“Oh my God,” I had groaned, rolling my eyes. I tried not to blush. “Thagen, you pervert! Did you follow me here? Jeez, stop treating me like a juicy steak. I hate it!”

“I tried not to drool.”

“Ugh, you’re impossible.” With that I swiveled around, making a beeline for the old dock. Even under the water, I could feel my body temperature raging. I was not in the mood to deal with his jokes.

I surfaced, clinging to one of the dock’s legs. Not a second later he popped up on the other side, throwing back his sun-streaked hair. He grinned that perfect smile he’s always had then laughed. “Why do you always run from me?” he asked. “What? Do I really look like I’m going to eat you, my juicy steak?”

“Occasionally, yes, you do.”

I slid further around the corner, trying to hide my bare skin from view. I guess it didn’t matter anymore. He’d just seen everything—which Rex would totally kill him for if he found out. At the time, I knew Rex liked me, and there were whispers about him choosing me for a mate.

Seeing my unease, Thagen quit teasing. His face softened. Slowly, he reached up and ran two fingers along my cheek. I should’ve pulled away, but I didn’t. His touch left a strange, buzzing sensation under my skin.

“You know I mean you no harm, Ilume,” he whispered. “Honestly, I mean you quite the opposite.”

“I,” I trailed off, tensing up as I realized what was about to happen.

Leaning across his side of the post, he kissed me. His lips were wet, frozen from the lake water, but it didn’t matter. Fireworks went off in my head, burning up logical thought. This boy was supposed to be my sister’s. I’d told her she could have him. She talked about him like a human girl babbled about a celebrity.

His hand lightly brushed my arm, sliding down until our fingers locked together. I forgot about my sister’s love-struck antics—infatuation wasn’t love anyway. Sliding my fingers around his neck, I pulled him closer, knowing I could never tell anyone that I’d just made out with Rex’s rival and my sister’s mate-to-be.

I tuned back in to reality. Wet lines streaked my face, tears blurring my vision. My mother—being the only one to discover our affair—told me I’d done the right thing, letting Thagen go and keeping my promise to Leslie. But now, once again, I wasn’t sure. Leslie and I had never been very close. She’d been raised with wolf pups her age and formed bonds with them instead of me. I did love her, but my love for Thagen, her bronze wolf, had run deep.

I had been waiting for the meeting with Thagen to truly take effect on me. And now that I was home, in the place we both belonged with his image fresh in mind, it did. It was terrifying to know how love can be flipped upside down, leaving you with so much pain. So much hate. I did, I hated him.

Other books

Tarzán el terrible by Edgar Rice Burroughs
Not A Girl Detective by Susan Kandel
Cain’s Book by Alexander Trocchi
Sealed In by Druga, Jacqueline
Harbinger of the Storm by Aliette De Bodard
The Transit of Venus by Shirley Hazzard
Nocturnes by Kendall Grey
Smugglers! by Karen King
Agent Bride by Beverly Long


readsbookonline.com Copyright 2016 - 2024