Keri Arthur - Kissing Sin

Chapter 4

T he moment I paused, the shadows attacked.

Only it wasnt shadows but a creatureas black as night, as invisible as a vampire, and just as fast.

Luckily, so was I.

I rolled off the bed and twisted around, lashing out with a bare foot. The blow connected with solid darkness and the creature grunted, but didnt waver. It flowed over the bed and leapt at me, a flash of deeper black that slashed with wicked-looking barbed claws.

I ducked the blow then dove sideways, over the bed, grabbing at the weapons lying casually on the bedside table. My fingers scraped across metal, sending the lasers flying even as I grasped the knife.

Rhoan!

My shout rang across the silence. The creature hissed, a hushed sound that nevertheless irritated my ears. It came at me, a blur of arms and legs and claws. I backed away fast, ducking and weaving and slashing as hard as I could with the knife. One blow hit flesh, slicing deep and hard, until the shock of slicing through bone reverberated up my arm. There was a plop, followed by a gush of stinking blood, then the door was flung open and the room flooded by sunlight, revealing the creature to be humanoid in shape but not proportion.

Drop, Rhoan said.

I did, hitting the carpet hard. My breath whooshed out as darkness ran past me, chased by a thin beam of red. Glass shattered and footsteps retreated. Rhoan ran past.

I scrambled to my feet and ran after my brother. He shifted shape mid-stride and leapt through the broken window in wolf form. I remained in human form and followed, hitting the glass-covered ground beyond and cutting my back as I rolled to my feet and ran on.

The shadowy creature flicked through the trees, fast and elusive. The still air carried no scentif it had one at all, it was being smothered by the sharp aroma of eucalyptus and earth.

But it was bleeding, and it was the blood trail that we followed.

We ran on through the trees, dodging and leaping rocks and brush and ferns and logs. Then the air grew suddenly sharper, colder, and I looked ahead. The trees ended abruptly, leaving nothing but sky. I dove forward, grabbing Rhoan by the haunches, dragging him to a halt.

He snarled and snapped at me, his teeth grazing my skin but not actually hurting. I slapped his nose. Theres a cliff ahead, idiot.

He twisted around, looking ahead, then gave a doggy sniff and rolled out of my grip, shifting shape before walking forward. I stood but didnt follow. Cliff edges and I were not compatible items.

Theres a splattered black shape at the bottom of the canyon, Rhoan said, peering over the edge at an angle that had my nerves twitching.

It jumped rather than be caught, I said, amazed. Why would it do that?

It being the operative term, Rhoan said grimly. And it either jumped because it didnt see the cliff in time, or because it thought death was better than capture.

Itd have to be the first option, wouldnt it?

He shrugged. Who knows. One thing is certain, though. Ive never seen anything like that before.

No. But I very much doubt it was something nature made. I shivered and rubbed my arms.

He looked at me. You okay?

I nodded. I sensed it just before it attacked, and was able to keep out of its way.

He glanced down at the body one more time, then stepped back and turned me around. Lets get you back inside before you freeze to death.

We walked back to the cabin. Quinn was squatting down and examining the ground outside the window, but looked up as we arrived.

His gaze skimmed my nakedness, and the sweet taste of lust briefly stirred the air. But all he said, in a voice as cool as the air, was, These footprints dont belong to any creature Ive ever seen before.

Rhoan squatted beside him and ran a finger over the prints. Claws, he said, looking up at me. Just like its fingers.

I nodded. As I said, I dont think it was nature-made.

I think youre right. He paused, his gaze skirting the silent trees. Why dont you go get some sleep? Ill keep watch for any more of these beasties.

He hadnt seen or sensed the first one, and I doubted hed see or sense any follow-ups. Which begged the question: Why? I might not have sensed the creature until it was almost too late, but I had felt the sense of wrongness. So why hadnt my twin?

I didnt know. And part of me didnt want to know, because I had a vague suspicion it might just stem back to the drugs Talon and Co. had been feeding me.

But at least the creeping sense of wrongness no longer haunted the day. Maybe wed be free from attack for a while. I think Ill grab a shower first. I doubt Ill be able to sleep right now.

He nodded. I made my way back inside the cabin. Thankfully, someone had removed the severed arm, and made some attempt to clean up the blood. I wasted some time checking every little corner, then finally relaxed and headed for the bathroom.

But despite my protests, I did sleep, and sleep well.

Quinn was standing near the broken window when I woke, his hands clasped casually behind his back and body relaxed, but I could taste his tension. It stung the air, as sharp as the sudden spike in my pulse rate.

There are fresh clothes at the end of the bed. His voice was soft, neutral. Rhoan thought you might appreciate something warmer. Theres no shoes, however. All our feet are bigger than yours.

I dont need shoes. I crossed my arms and stared at his back, willing him to turn around and face me. Why are you here?

Here in this room, or here in general?

Both.

Ah. He paused a moment. Im here in this room as a second defense, in case another of those creatures got past Rhoan.

I can protect myself.

Not when youre fast asleep. He glanced briefly over his shoulder, his dark gaze skating down my blanket-covered body before looking away. You didnt even twitch when I came in.

Possibly because I knew his scent, and felt safe in his presence, no matter how annoying he could be at times. So why are you here on this rescue mission?

His shrug was little more than a slight hitch of one shoulder, and yet somehow so elegant. Muscles played enticingly under the burgundy sweater, and I had to resist the temptation to reacquaint my fingers with all that lean power.

Because someone has tried to kill me a number of times, and Im getting a little annoyed about it.

That doesnt exactly explain why youre here.

My would-be assassins were not of natural origins. I brought the bodies down to Melbourne for the Directorate to examine.

After your own labs checked them out, of course.

Of course.

So, you brought the bodies down. How does that connect with you being here?

You went missing about the same time I arrived in Melbourne. I stayed to help with the search.

Thank you.

He shrugged. We are friends who have been lovers. It was the least I could do.

Last time I checked, the definition of a friend didnt include ignoring said friend and telling them to go away.

You know why I did that.

Yeah, because you couldnt cope with me being a werewolf. I flung off the covers and sat up. Would you at least have the decency to turn around and look at me when youre talking?

If you would have the decency to dress.

Why? As you said, weve been lovers. You know my body intimately.

We are not lovers now, and I do not appreciate you flaunting yourself.

I snorted softly and reached for the clothes sitting on the end of the bed. That is so old-fashioned.

I am old-fashioned.

Yeah, and it was one of the problems that would have lain between us if wed been in any sort of relationship. I shook my head and got dressed. The jeans were several inches too long, but otherwise a snug fit, particularly around the butt. No surprise there, because my butt was bigger than my brothersan injustice of nature, I think. His dark green sweater was tight, the soft wool stretched to the limits around my breasts, providing little peekaboo holes of skin. If the oncoming night hadnt promised to be so cold, I would have gone without it.