Kraven Read online

  Anger darkened his features. “You’re a menace!”

  “At least I’m sane!”

  “I’m telling you the truth.”

  Her gaze slowly examined him, from the top of his head down to his large feet. “So you’re half Vampire and half Werewolf?”

  “We prefer the term Lycan.”

  “I’m sorry. I’d hate to insult you.” She took a few deep breaths and her body tensed—right before she lunged.

  She barely made it a few yards before he spun her, grabbed her waist, and hauled her off her feet, and then she slammed against his body when he adjusted his hold so both arms secured her tight to his tall frame. Her feet dangled off the ground and she glared at his face inches from her own.

  “Put me down, you big ape!”

  “I’m a VampLycan.”

  “You’re a nutjob!”

  He snarled and the sound terrified her. He had to be one of those insane people who honestly believed his fantasy world, to learn how to make such frightening noises. She wondered if he practiced making them in front of a mirror but wasn’t about to ask.

  “Please put me down.” She didn’t struggle, afraid he’d hurt her. He was strong enough to do it.

  “Don’t run.”

  “I won’t,” she lied, staring into his eyes.

  He eased his hold enough that she slid down his front, feeling every powerful inch of him. It figured he had to be as big as he was, stronger than most men. It scared her. What if he decided his Vampire side wanted to suck her blood? She shivered and stepped away as soon as he allowed it. She sat on a nearby rock.

  “I’m sure you have questions.” He crouched close enough to grab her if she tried to flee a second time.

  “Not really.” She hated the feel of dirt between her toes. She couldn’t exactly run around barefoot. “I take that back. Where are my shoes and purse?”

  He glared. “You still don’t believe me.”

  “Sure, I do,” she lied. “Truth is in the mind of the listener. You have yours and I have mine. I heard what you said. I’m the future snuggle-bunny of some old rock pile who howls at the full moon. Now, what about my things?”

  “Forget the goddamn shoes and your stupid purse. I left them at the camp, woman,” he rasped. “You’re pushing my limit on patience.”

  He’d already pushed hers way past that point. Though she guessed him calling her woman, rather than a bitch, was an improvement.

  They studied each other, saying nothing. He straightened. She watched him pace the clearing. She glanced around the woods, looking for any sign of her sister, every time he turned his back to her. She’d wait until his lunatic brother showed up with Dusti before they escaped. They’d somehow have to find the crash site on their own, while ditching the crazy brother duo.

  He began building a fire pit with rocks. She had to admire his survival skills, if not his mental stability. He seemed to know what he was doing. Kraven walked a short distance into the woods but quickly returned carrying broken branches. He whipped out a lighter from his pocket and started a fire.

  Meanwhile, Bat’s gaze kept searching the woods. Worry ate at her over Dusti’s safety.

  “You’re half human, but you’re also half VampLycan.” He’d paused near her but she hadn’t noticed until he spoke.

  Her gaze met his. “Okay.”

  “I’m serious.”

  “I heard you. I’m half VampLycan. I’m also an attorney who’s good at retaining information and I’m even decent with equations. That means I’m one-fourth Vampire and one-fourth Lycan.”

  “Yes.”

  “Odd. I’ve never wanted to suck someone’s blood or sprouted hair during a full moon. Sometimes I get bitchy.” She forced a smile. “Now I have an excuse.”

  “I’m really going to turn you over my knee.”

  “My future lover will beat you with his walker, or maybe flap his rock wings to knock you out if you do. Don’t Gargoyles have those?”

  “Damn it, you little hellcat.”

  “Actually, according to you, I’m not feline. Was my grandfather a panther or a lion?” She crossed her arms over her chest. “That’s really going to get complicated if he was. Let me do the genetic arithmetic on that one.”

  He growled and his hands fisted. “I’m going to catch us something for dinner. You might be more willing to listen if you aren’t hungry. I can hear your stomach rumbling.”

  Bat was relieved when he left her alone. She stood, hating being barefoot, and tentatively looked around the clearing. There were no signs of his brother or her sister. Dense trees surrounded them and the only sounds she could detect were from nature. She hated the great outdoors.

  The urge to flee was strong but she had no idea which way to go or how to get back to the crash site. The fire he’d built was the only source of comfort, so she stood close to it, though her temper flared again, resenting that she felt helpless. She would have killed for a satellite phone and a burly security guard who had been a Boy Scout to help in her rescue.

  “Kraven is certifiable,” she muttered. “Now I have an excuse for why I don’t tan easily. It’s those pesky Vampire genes.” Bat snorted.

  She closed her eyes, taking deep breaths. It could be a lot worse. She had to keep reminding herself of that. She wasn’t dead. It wasn’t wintertime. No snow on the ground was a plus. The plane would have been reported as lost sometime the previous night, when it didn’t arrive at the airport. She lifted her head and opened her eyes to look for any sign of helicopters or other planes. Nothing.

  “Shit.”

  That Biker Bear guy had seemed saner than Kraven, and wherever her sister was, she could only hope he was taking care of her. Hell, maybe Drantos realized his brother had kidnapped her and was currently looking for them both. She’d just have to endure and be brave.

  Growling and grabbiness aside, Kraven didn’t really seem dangerous. He had used his big ape body to take most of the lumps when the plane had crashed. She admitted she would have probably gotten more injured if he hadn’t. He might be insane, but he hadn’t hurt her. He clearly loved to make threats but hadn’t carried out any of them.

  Her stomach growled loudly, the pains from hunger getting bad. His were probably worse since he had lugged her through the woods.

  A light sound of movement drew her attention. Kraven walked out of the woods with something grotesque. She averted her gaze. “What is that?”

  “A rabbit. I skinned it already so you didn’t have to watch.”

  That was considerate at least. Images of cute little bunnies flashed through her mind but as long as the meat was cooked, she’d eat it. Some of the upscale restaurants she’d been to served far worse. He wasn’t offering her bugs or snails.

  “Can I do anything?” Besides making sure you see a shrink when we’re saved?

  “Just relax. It won’t take long to cook. We have a lot of ground to cover but not much sunlight left.”

  “We’re returning to the crash site?” It was the best news he could give her. Maybe he’d had time to rethink his irrational behavior and would return her to Dusti.

  “No. My clan will have heard about what happened and should be searching for us by now. We’ll head in the direction they’ll be coming from, to hopefully meet up with them before your grandfather sends some of his clan this way.”

  She groaned, not hiding it. “This again? Listen to me, Kraven.”

  She paused, waiting for him to meet her gaze. He did and she saw how his eyes narrowed, his expression angry.

  “There’s not some supernatural plot at play here. We were on a plane and it crashed. Maybe you hit your head a little harder than I did so you’re not thinking straight. Maybe some of the shit you saw in your line of work, if you’re really a cop, made you escape from reality into this fantasy world. I know you sometimes have to actually do drugs if you’re working narcotics. Some guys get addicted or it screws with their minds. I get it. I’m a defense attorney. I know just how inhuman some assho