Drantos Read online

  She finally caught her breath and pushed up to her knees, stumbling to her feet. The loss of her shoes became clear immediately as she felt the loose dirt stick to her feet. She’d also forgotten to grab her discarded panties before she’d run. That was the least of her worries. The biggest would be freezing to death or being found by that horrible creature. There were also other predators out in the woods. She wasn’t about to forget their near run-in with a bear.

  She hugged her body, shivering. A hiding place would be good but she had no idea where it would be safe.

  Dusti glanced up at the sky, dreading the coming night. The bears suddenly seemed tame in comparison to that hell beast she’d seen. It’d had an almost humanoid form except for the hair and wolf like features. It almost made her wish someone had dumped illegal chemicals in the area that had affected the wildlife, turning them into some kind of radiated freaks. She’d read stories of things like that happening. That sure hadn’t been some two-headed turtle though, nor caused by anything so simply explainable. The beast had been huge, a monstrosity.

  A VampLycan. Vampires and Werewolves were real.

  She stopped and leaned against a tree, breathing deeply, fighting hysteria.

  She suddenly wished Drantos were with her. As much as she had hoped to get away from him, wandering around in the woods while wet and terrified was turning out to be so much worse. She was torn on how far to go from the river’s edge, too. How would he be able to find her? It was probably for the best if she stayed in the same area, to help him locate her. She had to have faith that he’d be okay and come looking. The alternatives were too much for her to consider. Drantos couldn’t die.

  She bumped into a tree, distracted. A soft curse left her mouth as she paused, taking in her surroundings. The large, intimidating shapes of more trees spread out as far as the eye could see. The ground wasn’t level, plenty of large stones were littered around the area, and a few fallen logs blocked her path.

  “I hate the outdoors,” she whispered, coming to the conclusion that she’d likely die on her own. Either the exposure would kill her or the animals would. Her gaze lifted to the tree branches as she wondered how she’d fare if she climbed one to get off the ground. The sun would go down at some point and she needed to make a decision.

  She walked to one of the trees and wrapped her fingers around the lowest branch. It was a sad attempt, trying to pull her weight up. She was too exhausted. Frustrated tears blinded her until she blinked them back. Climbing was out of the question. She just didn’t have the strength.

  Think, she ordered her mind. She took some deep breaths and slowly stripped with trembling hands. There was no way to dry what she had worn but she squeezed out as much water as possible. It was chilly being naked but worse when she redressed. She hoped the clothes would help her avoid cuts and scratches, at least. Her bare feet would be a problem but it was pointless to grieve the loss of her shoes.

  She huddled next to a fallen log, trying to get warm. It was impossible to do but she was low to the ground and partially hidden. Chills shook her so hard that the fish in her belly threatened to come up but she resisted the urge. There was no certainty she’d see another meal. It would also probably draw predators.

  “Drantos,” she whispered, wishing once more that he was at her side.

  She turned more into the mossy tree. The smell of decaying wood was faint but the log blocked her from the worst of the chilly breeze. She only could hope that Bat fared better with Kraven. One of them needed to survive.

  She decided to rest for a little while to regain her strength and then try to climb the tree again. Just a little break and I’ll be able to do it…

  * * * * *

  Drantos wanted to kick his own ass almost as much as the VampLycan he faced off against. He never should have touched Dusti until they’d reached the safety of the clan but she was just too damn tempting. They might have been across the river already if he hadn’t gotten distracted by his need to claim her body.

  He snarled at the idiot who thought he could take her away from him.

  “Don’t even think about running after her,” Drantos softly warned. “I’m going to shift and we’ll battle it out—unless you have no honor. Then I’ll just rip through my clothes. You know I’ll catch you if you get a few seconds’ head start, and the woman could get hurt if she gets between us. Decker doesn’t want that, does he?”

  The VampLycan crouched, his intent to launch an attack again clear, but he hesitated. The enforcer’s side was already torn up from when he’d tried to dodge around Drantos to go after Dusti once already. It was possible he was buying minutes so he could recover from the wound a little. Either way, it gave Drantos the precious time he needed to strip.

  He quickly did it in record time. He could shift in clothes but they would be torn up in the process. The enforcer eyed him, moving a little to the left, tearing his gaze away from Drantos to look toward where Dusti had gone.

  Drantos shoved at his already open pants and they fell to his ankles. Good enough. At least the bastard has some regard for fair fighting. Apparently not all of Decker’s enforcers are totally like him.

  He’d tried to get Dusti to believe everything he’d told her but to be attacked by a VampLycan enforcer wasn’t how he’d wanted her to realize his world truly existed. He snarled again to draw his enemy’s attention. The male crept forward, trying to skirt around him, clearly his patience at an end.

  Drantos attacked, shifting as he slammed into the enforcer.

  His claws tore into meaty flesh and the male screamed in agony. Blood sprayed his own body. The fight was on.

  The male rolled when he hit the ground hard and tried to slash at Drantos’s throat. He ducked his head and savagely bit into the arm that had swung his way. Bone snapped under his powerful jaws. He was fighting for Dusti. It made him lethal and furious.

  She is mine!

  The taste of her on his tongue was replaced by rich, fresh blood. He viciously jerked his head, his fangs still embedded in the enforcer’s arm. The male roared in agony. Drantos released him and jumped back. He snarled a warning. Stop or die.

  The male stood and his front limb hung uselessly as he backed up. He flashed fangs and snarled his own warning. He wasn’t willing to concede. He was willing to die following Decker’s orders.

  The bastard glanced toward the river and quickly tried to take off that way, but with his injured leg, Drantos was on him before he could make it ten feet. He did glance at the water for a precious few seconds himself as his body landed on the enemy’s back. Dusti had gone into the river but she wasn’t within sight. He only prayed she had safely swum to the other side and hadn’t drowned. He’d been too occupied keeping the enforcer from getting past him to watch her progress.

  He and his opponent rolled together on the ground. The enforcer roared in rage and twisted, trying to get Drantos onto his back. He made another attempt with his good arm to slash open his neck. Drantos jerked out of the way but it was close. He actually felt claws brush against his skin. He thrust one arm back before stabbing his own claws into the male’s chest.

  His opponent’s eyes widened in disbelief as he realized it was a killing blow.

  Drantos felt no sympathy. Any enforcer of Decker’s who would attack other VampLycans to steal a woman deserved death—especially one who had come to kidnap Dusti and Bat.

  They knew why their clan leader wanted the women, and the outcome if Aveoth accepted a trade. They’d be helping the war begin. It would mean families fighting members from different clans. Cousins killing cousins. Brothers battling each other, in some cases, if they’d mated women from other clans and joined them to keep her with her family. Decker would probably have killed any of his enforcers who refused his orders but death would be preferable than starting a civil war.

  This man under him bought into his clan leader’s craziness.

  The male screamed when Drantos dug his claws in deeper, piercing his heart. It was a sickening