Page 105 of Feral Possession

Muffled footsteps pulled his attention to the open door. Dove tucked her hands into the sleeves of her sweatshirt as she drew closer, her manner hesitant. Her golden hair formed a bird’s nest around her head. Shadows darkened her eyes. “I waited up for you. You were gone so long, I was afraid I’d never see you again.”

“You thought I’d run?”

“Shouldn’t you? I mean, after what happened at the casino, you and Shadow are so out of the closet. In fact, I’m certain you set the closet on fire.”

“I’m not running,” he growled. “Running is for the weak. We are not prey.”

She frowned, concern lining her brow. “We? Since when did you both become a we?”

He ignored her. “I can’t give up my hunt for Helen to go into hiding. Not after all she’s done.”

Dove stiffened, tightening her arms around her waist. “Perhaps you should focus on the most immediate problem. By now, the entire underworld knows you’re possessed, including your vampire clan. Worse, you ravaged a soul in front of hundreds of spectators. Those witnesses saw you break Council law as well as the laws of nature.”

Her judgmental tone set his teeth on edge. “You dare to berate me after I revealed my demon saving you? Losing Helen in the process?”

“Ouch,” Dove whispered.

The hurt in her eyes cooled his rising anger. Dove wasn’t the one at fault. He opened and closed his fists. “Helen set me up. Forced my hand and exposed me. Am I to let that go unpunished?”

“Yes, as a matter of fact. You are. It’s not as though she can help you clear your name at this point. Your troubles go beyond the shifty bookkeeping tying you to Zion. Do you hear yourself? You’re so consumed with Helen, it’s blinding you to everything else. To what’s important.”

“So I’m to give up the hunt because you, a simple necromancer, deem it unimportant?”

She winced as if he’d struck her but stood her ground, lifting her chin. “I may not be as worldly as you, but I’m not ignorant. My father became obsessed with catching my mother’s murderer. He abandoned me because of it. To this day, I don’t know what happened to him. Was he successful? Did his search drive him mad? Is he dead or alive? In the end, he let it destroy what remained of his life. That murder didn’t take just one life that night.” Her eyes hardened. “If you continue down this path, seeking revenge and reaping souls, it’s your actions that will ruin you, not Helen’s.”

Again with the lecturing. “You understand nothing,” he growled.

“I understand you’ve reaped three souls now. Shadow confirmed the truth of what happened to the security guard on the island, as well as what happened with Adam.”

“What do you mean, Shadow confirmed?” Marcus stopped his pacing, narrowing his glare on her.

“He surfaced while you were sleeping.”

“You spoke to the demon without my knowledge?” What else was she hiding from him? Shadows darkened around him, the lights flickering.

“I was going to tell you. It’s just the timing seemed bad. He said he grows stronger from reaping souls. That there were others here as well. Shadow isn’t the only one.”

“Others?”

“Yes. Celeste was able to translate Victor’s book. The creature inside of you is a shade. Drones like Shadow are all part of some supernatural hive. He and the others collect souls to feed a master. I didn’t want to believe it, but Shadow confirmed as much.”

“You knew this and didn’t tell me?” His battered flesh heated, energy swelling in his veins.

“I’m telling you now. Because it’s important that you not destroy any more souls. With each one, the demon will grow stronger.”

As would Marcus. This wasn’t a bad thing. Was she afraid he’d become too powerful for her to control? “I can see it in your eyes. There’s something more. What else haven’t you told me?” What other secrets did she keep?

She darted a glance to the shadows sliding beneath her feet, taking a step in retreat. “One more thing. And please know I did this to protect you. Back at the casino, I overheard Helen’s men talking. They mentioned an airport. I was afraid if I told you, that you wouldn’t be able to resist the urge to reap their souls, so I phoned—”

“Lord Steele,” Ida called out.

Marcus turned to find her hustling in their direction. “My apologies for interrupting, but your uncle is here.”

Marcus gnashed his teeth, uttering a low growl. He figured it was only a matter of time. He just thought he’d have more. “Send him in.”

“No need,” Tiberius entered the great room. Beside him were two men carrying a large wooden chest with an iron lock. “Set it down and leave us.”

Marcus met him in the foyer, aggression in his stance. “You’re here to arrest me? Alone?”

---