Читать книгу Unnaturals - Dean J Anderson - Страница 14

Tashia kept her eyes on Renee leading Mason away from the Flowers sisters.

`So strong.' She felt her neck, aware of how flushed she was. `Mmm. Violence. Lust. And now something old has awakened.'

She moved to keep Renee and a reluctant Mason in sight.

`Oh, my little fighter, you already know, don't you?' Tashia whispered, slipping after them. `He's done it and has no idea? Yes.' She stepped into the harsh lights of the service corridor, reaching the access door just as Renee stepped through.

`The toilets are down this way.'

`Okay, okay,' Mason muttered, stepping into the corridor. He glanced back, hesitating when he saw someone behind him.

Tashia smiled. `Mmm. Hello Mason.'

Renee spun around and Tashia felt it, a wildness rustling in the energies surrounding Renee.

Renee relaxed. `Oh, it's only Tashia. Hi.'

`Been having fun, have we?' Tashia moved closer, trying to feel it again.

Mason glanced back into the club. `The Flowers girls bit off more than they could chew.'

`Mmm.' Tashia felt his excitement but saw no sign of Butcher.

`Come on.' Renee pulled Mason away.

`Have fun.' Tashia reached out a hand to him but Renee's eyes flashed. Tashia felt Renee's savage energy rise again to brush against her. Ownership. Tashia pulled her hand back and let Renee lead Mason away.

`Mmm, delicious,' Tashia smiled. `It is a Huntress unleashed. Tonight will be very interesting.' She stepped into the club, seeking out the Flowers sisters.

Renee scrubbed at the blood on her hands, its scent still strong.

`What's with the scrubbing?' Mason leant against a wall, drying his hands.

`What?' Renee didn't stop scrubbing. She couldn't get the smell of blood off.

He reached in and grabbed her hands. `This is wrong. You fought well. Out there the blood wasn't a problem, but now it is. Why?'

Renee stared at his hands holding hers. `Let me go.'

`Whatever.' He moved away.

She could feel his eyes on her. `What do you care, anyway?' She scraped blood from under a nail. What if he did care?

`I don't.' He cracked a knuckle as she checked her hands, blood-free at last. She was in control again.

`So why ask, then?' She glanced at him. Was he aware of her?

He shrugged, looking away. `Forget it. Let's go.' Mason walked towards the door.

Not yet, she thought. Stay. `Did Ruth make you come here tonight?' Oh crap, why had she said that?

He stopped, looking back at her. `No.'

`You're limited to short answers, then?' Anger licked at her. Was he just going to ignore her?

`Okay, then.' He faced her, arms crossed. `I wasn't party to the big secret that Gaia shared with Ruth, and I don't feel the thing — whatever it is — that she feels for you both. I came tonight because it's my business to know what's happening in my own back yard. As for the Flowers,' he shrugged, `I had no choice once Ruth stuck her nose in.'

`So that's it?' Her ears began to warm. `You're here to keep an eye on us, and Ruth obviously.'

`Yes. We're supposed to find out more about what happened today.' He shrugged, waving a hand at her. `But you and Nikki seem to be busy trying to prevent that.'

`What's that supposed to mean?'

`Oh, come on. Nikki's all eyes for Ruth and,' he waved both hands at her, `you're dressed like a hooker with a leather fetish.'

Noise thrummed in her ears. `A hooker!' Her hair responded to the anger, moving back over her shoulders. `You know nothing about me.'

`You were obviously pissed off when Nikki dragged you away today. Still pissed off later when you were patrolling the island.'

`You followed me?' How had she missed that? How much had he seen?

His eyes narrowed as he watched her. `Of course, you're right. I don't know you, not at all. For all I know you're an assassin in a hooker's outfit.'

`Stop calling me a hooker!' Renee slammed her fist into his chest. Caught off guard, he cannoned back into a concrete wall.

Renee stared at her fist. How had she done that? How had she surprised Mason? And with no pain, no mark—

Cold, vice-like hands grabbed hers, the room blurred, her back slammed into cool concrete. Her hands were pinned above her head.

`What are you?' he growled, eyes black and close. Hard flesh pressed against her chest. `You're different from earlier today.'

`Get off me.' She pushed back but he leant his body hard into hers. It felt good.

`Talk first. What's going on? You're harder now, like me.' As he breathed her scent in, warmth spread through her body. No one had ever done that before.

`Now you want to talk?' She realised his black eyes were filled with golden flecks. Her mouth went dry at his touch, a strange intimacy to her.

`You even smell different,' Mason said. His grip eased but the darkness stayed as he scanned her face. `Not Darkells or Bloodells. Not even human.'

Renee swallowed. The new strength and energy she had begun to feel moved in her. His breath brushed her neck. `I think you need to let me go.'

`No.' His hands tightened on her arms as his face hardened. `What are you?'

Show him, her mind whispered to her. You want to. He can sense it. Show him.

`This,' Renee let it come, surging up from inside. `I have always been strong.' She pulled her arms down. Mason strained against her.

`But now I can do this.' Her skin hardened, matching his own. She pulled harder against Mason's grip. His elbows trembled under the strain. `I'm faster and my senses are…' Renee closed her eyes, hearing his heart boom so close. `Everything is so clear.'

His grip eased. He let her go, hands resting flat against the wall.

`I did this — to you?' His didn't move off her. Renee had to wet her lips as she felt herself grow warmer. Mason stood so close, his body against hers.

`Not really.' She touched his shoulders and, when he didn't react, let her hands rest on him. `It's a gift, one that isn't common. It was probably triggered by what happened today.'

`A gift?' His eyes softened.

Reneed felt him roll a strand of her hair against the wall. Goddess, it felt good.

`What?' he asked.

`Sorry?' She blinked. Had he heard that?

`It's a gift then, this change?'

`I'm becoming Huntress,' she said, smiling. It felt good to say it. `It's been ages since one of us has had it.'

`Huntress?'

`Yes.' Renee smiled further, letting him see her teeth.

`Teeth?' Mason's skin softened. `Anything else?' He shifted but did not move off her. Renee felt his heart quicken.

`Nails.' She called them out and held her hand in front of his face. `I couldn't break one earlier.' Renee ran a single black claw down his chest, stopping over his heart. `Satisfied?'

Mason frowned at her. She shrank back as his lip curled but then she felt it. Sound vibrated from deep within his chest. His whole body hummed against her.

Goosebumps exploded across her. `Mason?' Concrete shards fell on her, and she saw that at his fingers were digging into the wall.

`We need to...' He closed his eyes as blue static raced across him. Mason's breath came hot on her neck as the static bit into her.

Yes, he felt it too.

The door to the toilets slammed open. `That damn bitch is a psycho,' Rose cursed. `Wait until I—'

The woman froze as Renee looked at her. `Oh fuck.' Her eyes widened. Renee smiled, not caring what Rose saw.

`Flowers?' Mason growled as he hardened under Renee's hands. `Still shooting your mouth off.' He winked at Renee. Cool air raced in where his body had been. `You really have to learn to keep that mouth of yours under control.'

`Mmm, it appears so.' Tashia slipped into the room and Lilly peeked around the door. Tashia's smile widened. `We can leave.'

`No.' Mason moved towards Rose. `We're, done.'

Mason stood close to Rose as Tashia put a hand on the girl's shoulder. `So, little girl, you have all the makings of a fine potential Bloodells: arrogant, narrow-minded and…' As he sniffed her, Renee moved to his side.

`No, you smell too good,' he said. `They would just drain you and, if you survived, it would only be as their toy to fuck and feed on.'

`Oh,' Rose withered and stepped back.

Mason glanced at Lilly. `If you spent more time learning from Renee, and less time trying to prove that you're better than her, you might stand a chance.'

`A chance?' Lilly slipped into the room. `Bloodells have never come here. This country is off limits.'

`Mmm, it is so,' Tashia raised an eyebrow as Renee nudged Mason.

`Not any more. After tonight we will know more.' Renee said, taking Mason's hand in hers and making sure Rose saw. `Love what you've done with your hair.'

`Fu—' Rose went white as Tashia's long fingers dug deep into her shoulder.

`Let's go.' Mason glanced down but didn't pull away.

`Later, then,' Tashia said, grinning at Renee.

Renee gave Rose one last look as Mason pulled the door open. `Stay out of my face, Flowers, or next time I'll tear yours off.' Renee smiled, showing her new, razor-sharp teeth.

Tashia pushed the Flowers girl further into the toilets.

Renee couldn't resist looking back as the door was closing. Her smile widened as Rose threw up on the floor.

`I've never held another woman's hand before, other than Ruth's I mean,' Mason slowed, looking down.

She rubbed her thumb on the back of his hand. `I've never had a man hold mine before.'

`What?'

`Long story. Here.' She went through the door into the club, hoping he hadn't seen her blush. The music washed over her as Mason stood with her. He must like me, she thought.

`You're not like Nikki?' he asked, scanning the club.

`Goddess, no,' she said shaking her head. `Where is she?' Pain shot up her arm as Mason's grip crunched the bones in her hand. His skin cooled in her hand.

`Damn it. Didn't waste any time, did they?'

Renee couldn't speak. Ruth and Nikki lay entwined on the stage as the crowd moved as one to the music. Energy filled the club, pulsing out from the stage.

Renee felt it come; his anger bit into her hand as Mason morphed into Butcher.

`Mason, no!' She pulled him in and wrapped her arms around him. Butcher's twisted face filled her vision; hard flesh expanded against her. `Stop! Don't let him control you!'

`No!' His flesh warmed as Butcher's face faded. `It hurts.' He spasmed as hard flesh rippled across him. Hot and cold pressed against her. `I don't know why that happened.' Mason moved in her arms. `You can let me go.'

`Maybe.' She interlaced her fingers behind him. `Kiss me.'

`What?'

`Kiss,' Renee tightened her grip on him., `me.'

`I…don't think—'

`You want to,' she said, resting her brow against his. Gold flecks moved in his eyes and she smiled as his hands rested on her hips. Strong thumbs caressed her exposed skin.

`Renee,' Mason whispered, wetting his lips. `I haven't kissed another, since I met Ruth. It never felt right to do so.'

`And now?' She waited.

Mason didn't say anything. His body pressed hot against hers as another pulse of energy washed over them. The crowd moaned in delight.

`Close your eyes.'

`Why?' He slid his hands around her, fingers touching the skin of her lower back. `You going to bite me now?' Mason swayed with the music and Renee moved with him.

His hands are clammy, she thought. He's nervous. I make him nervous. Good.

`No,' she said, moving her face closer. He glanced at her lips. `I've never met anyone like you, Mason. I don't care about who or what we are right now.'

She pressed her hips against him and his hands dropped lower, holding her buttocks. Renee ran her hands up his back to his shoulders. `Close your eyes.'

`You're dangerous,' he said, tilting his head, torn between her eyes and lips. `But—'

Renee kissed him. His taste exploded into her mouth as Mason let her in. She felt the blue static sizzle across them again. Her eyes closed as Mason wrapped his arms around her, tasting her, as the room grew hot around them.

She felt it, wanted to have him.

Heat and noise roared around her. It didn't matter to her. All that did was his lips on hers, his flesh against hers. Two words screamed in Renee's mind as darkness washed over her.

He's mine.