Secrets Of Night

Chapter One


Kierra stood in the thick woods, surveying the three floors of the brick mansion that housed the Shape-Shifting Senators of the Order of Night for Area Four. She crept silently through the woods and slid behind the massive trunk of an old maple tree, concealing herself in its shadow. She peered around it, careful not to expose her form to their enhanced vision.

A strong masculine hand clamped around her mouth, and she drew in a shocked breath through her nose. A warm summer breeze glided past, rustling the leaves above her head and carrying the scents of pine, earth, and something else extremely tempting and forbidden. The muscles in her body--tense with need to react and defend herself--relaxed as she realized she had nothing to fear from the newcomer. His hand slid from her mouth and down her neck, causing her to shiver. Soundless movement brought the Vampire Kale around to stand in front of her. The moonlight filtered by the dense canopy of trees partially illuminated the area.

Even though it was forbidden for her to mix with other races, she could not stop her body and mind’s reaction to him. Her gaze roamed over his body as her heart increased its tempo. He easily stood at six and a half feet tall, with long black hair, and pale blue eyes. The rippling muscles of his body were large and well defined. Full lips were turned up in a playful smile, revealing a small dimple above a strong jaw. He wore the usual black tank top and black leather pants, which hung perfectly on his lean hips.

“Witch,” he stated in greeting.

“Anemic brat.” She cast him a contemptuous smile. She hated it when he called her Witch. Her race took it as an insult. “And once again I shall remind you that the politically correct term is Sorceress. I don’t chant, draw pentagrams, or brew potions. Now get back before they see you.”

“Which brings me to my first question.” He walked around the tree, coming to a stop behind her. “What are you doing here?”

His whisper sent heated breath across her neck and cheek. A mild shiver of delight traveled down her spine. She wondered if he had any idea of the effect his presence had on her. Part of her wished he would go crawl back under whatever rock he had crawled out from under, while the other side wanted to know why he was here in the first place. She had taken a great risk in coming herself. So what motivated him? She looked at him over her shoulder. “I should ask you the same thing.”

“I was just out for a stroll. How about you?”

She rolled her eyes, refusing to rise to the bait. Could he ever be serious? She focused her attention back to the front of the house. Three black SUVs were parked in the circle drive with their motors left running. Two men, dressed in solid black, stood off to the side smoking. Their faces were illuminated faintly by the red glow of their cigarettes as they inhaled, but she did not recognize them. The bay window of the dining room revealed the five Shape-Shifting Senators seated at a long table, along with ten other people who Kierra assumed were also Shifters. “There’s a lot of activity going on in there.”

She felt the slight pressure of his body behind her as he peered over her shoulder at the house. A wave of heat washed over her as his chest came into contact with her back, and she found it increasingly harder to think clearly.

“I agree, but that still doesn’t tell me why you’re here.”

She drew in a tight breath as she refocused on the problem at hand. “Earlier today, a group of five young Sorceresses were attacked,” she whispered. “They all ranged between twenty and twenty-five years of age. Their powers were just starting to surface and were still very unstable. Three of the women were taken and the two that returned were scratched up and bitten. They said they were attacked by a group of Shifters they had not seen in this area before.”

“Are the two that got away certain that the other three were taken and not killed?”

“They said they were being shoved into the back of a van. They only escaped because Emmaline shocked her captor and then reached out and shocked Catheria’s. They both ran for it as Emmaline placed a shield around them. They’re very lucky Emmaline was able to control her magic.”

“You know, even if the Senators had something to do with this, they wouldn’t have been stupid enough to bring them here.”

“I know. But you have to admit that their absence during the Order’s biannual meeting last night, coupled with this abduction, is more than a little odd. No new Shifters would’ve been able to settle in this area without the consent of their Monarch and the Area Four Senators. I want answers, and I figure this is as good a place as any to start getting them.” They were either here illegally with the blessing of the Senators, or their Monarch was involved with whatever they were up to. Without knowing, she couldn’t very well turn it over to the Shifter Triad member. She had to know if they were all corrupt or just the ones who were in front of her.

Kale stepped back. “And now you plan to just waltz in there with guns blazing? Without consulting the Order first?”

She turned to face him. “I’ve been a Senator of the Order for ten years now and you’re also a Senator as well as Triad, so now that we’ve talked, I’ve consulted. And I don’t plan on going in there guns blazing. From the looks of it, they’re getting ready to leave so I am going to sneak in.” Her stare became fixed on the strong line of his jaw as he crossed his arms and cast his best that isn’t going to fly look.

“Do you really expect me to stand here and do nothing?” she asked, directing her gaze back to his face.

“Such youthful impulses can get you into trouble.”

“I’m not a youth. I’m a hundred years old. Just because I wasn’t alive when the dinosaurs roamed the earth, doesn’t make me a youth.” Twenty years ago, she had moved out of the convocation dorms younger Sorceresses lived in until they grew into their magic. As any other Sorceress would have done, she declared her independence with the blessing of the convocation’s elders. It really irked her when he made references to her age, and she was beginning to think he did it on purpose. She silently cursed herself for rising to the bait this time and giving him the retort he had no doubt sought.

He rolled his eyes. “No, I don’t expect you to stand here and do nothing, but I am going in with you.”

She placed her hands on her hips, her gaze meeting his. “You can’t do that. You’re part of the Triad, and they would have your butt in a sling for something like this.” She couldn’t believe he would be willing to give up his position as one of the ruling members of the Order of Night to help her.

“Being part of the Triad is how we’re going to keep our butts out of the sling.”

She threw her hands up in defeat, knowing there was no point in arguing with him. He could be impossibly stubborn when he wanted to be, and it seemed like any time he was around her, he chose to be.

She turned from him and peered around the tree again as the sound of multiple voices reached her ears. Senators Eric and Bree led the group out of the house, the dim yellow parking lights bathing their faces in a soft glow. The lights in the house had all been extinguished, casting the rest of the group in shadow. She could not make out what they were saying, but from the tone, it appeared they were arguing. At times like these, she wished she had the super hearing the Vampires and Shifters had inherited. Kierra whispered over her shoulder, “Are you catching any of this?”

“Pieces. Eric’s pissed off that one of the others challenged his authority. Now Bree just told them all to shut their pie holes, in a not so nice manner.”

Kierra watched as Bree yanked open the lead SUV’s passenger door and climbed inside. For a person who shifted into a rabbit, Bree could be pretty fierce. The others followed suit. Kierra and Kale both lay flat on the ground as the SUVs passed by. The sound of dirt and rock crunching under the tires faded, signaling the coast was clear.

“So how do you want to do this?” Kale asked as he got to his feet and extended his hand to her.

“When I arrived I made my way around the perimeter and noticed a back door.” She jumped up and released his hand. “I believe it would be best to enter through it.”

“Lead the way, Witch.”

*

Kale followed closely behind Kierra as they approached the mansion. He strived to keep his thoughts on them getting into the house undetected, but was finding it rather difficult as his eyes continued to drift to her black, leather clad, heart-shaped backside, watching the sway of her hips. Her strawberry-blonde hair was twisted up in its usual fashion on the back of her head, showing off the slim column of her neck.

He couldn’t see much of her as she marched ahead of him in the dark, but he’d practically memorized everything about her. The black top she wore hugged her large breasts, causing a gentle swell to peek above the fabric. Her skin was like fine porcelain, and he craved to run his hands over its smoothness. A slight dusting of freckles ran across the bridge of her pert nose. But it was her eyes that always captivated him the most. The jade green deepened or lightened a shade with the change of her mood. It made him wonder what color they would be when filled with passion. He knew the rules though, and knew that he could never have her. Her race only mated with mortal men, and yet he could not deny her beauty or the desire he had for her. She still filled his lusty dreams.

When they’d first met, he had thrown mild insults at her in an effort to push her away from him. He assumed that if she thought he was a jerk, it would be easier to keep her at a distance. Instead, she had given back as good as she got, and over time, it became more of a flirtation.

Kale shook his head slightly as they arrived at the back door of the mansion and refocused. He scanned their surroundings for any sign of movement, but found none. The Vampire had to admit that the Shifters’ lack of attendance had raised a few questions for him as well. He had mulled over contacting the rest of the Triad concerning their absence, but in the end figured he had better do a little investigating of his own first. When he had arrived here tonight, he had planned to just check in and have a chat with the other Senators. He had been willing to give them the benefit of the doubt. Now with the abduction and the apparent illegal immigrants, he knew a chat was not going to cover it.

As long as they weren’t caught, he would not have to worry about any repercussions for their B and E.

“Can you pick the lock?” Kierra whispered.

Kale used his mental power to unlock the door before opening it slightly to peer inside. Darkness greeted him, but he didn’t have any problem seeing the layout with his enhanced vision. The door led into a large kitchen with tiled countertops lining three of its four walls. He spotted a set of service stairs to his right. The coast was clear. He reached back and took Kierra’s hand, trying not to think about how soft and delicate it was in comparison to his, or what it would feel like if she were to touch him anywhere else. He whispered, “It’s pretty dark in here. Keep a hold of my hand so I can navigate for you. We’re going to take the service stairs.”

He felt the light squeeze of her small hand in answer before they stepped into the house.