Leopard Moon (29 page)

The change swept through her, easier than it had ever been. She didn't fight it on any level. Clothing ripped and tore as her form twisted and morphed, the drug coursing through her human system burning off as her leopard self took primacy. She came back to herself, fully aware of Sek and his final promise. Her eyes saw the driver, still in the seat, turning towards her and she scrambled over the seats, claws ripping through the leather as she drove forward into the front.

She heard the driver hit the door locks, and he fumbled at the handle, yanking it open. She was on top of him, the two of them falling out of the car. She landed on top of him, growling. He was were, but young, and obviously not used to changing quickly. He had reached into his pocket and pulled out a gun, but Kess latched onto his arm, digging in with teeth. He yelped in pain, but didn't let go of the gun and Kess bit down harder, hearing bone crunch. The gun fell to the ground, but now she smelled something beyond the fear scent of the man in front of her. She lifted her eyes to see a wolf standing before her.

The wolf changed and Burke stood in front of her. She released her hold on the driver and changed shape herself. They stared at each other for a moment and then Kess ran to the back of the car, searching in Sek's bag. She found rope, and a spare change of his clothes. She pulled on the pants, rolling them up and slid into the shirt before running back with the rope.

"The others are on their way," Burke told her as he bound the driver. She tried not to look at him; even focused as she was on the danger her brother posed, Kess was still uncomfortable with his nudity. She was grateful when he ran back to his car and pulled on pants. "Finn freaked when Cormac didn't show up and Dad had me watching the parking lots—I saw you get into the car and tailed you, then called them when I saw where you were heading. They should be here in a few. "

"Sek has Cormac. I'm going after him. Follow the scent, but do not change unless you have to."

"How will we know when that is?"

"When I die. Look, I don't want a were war and neither do any of you. I want to keep this within the clan. You and yours are not to engage them unless absolutely necessary. Tell the others when they get here. I'm going to keep this between me and my brother." A cry of pain split the night and Kess bolted into the woods. Burke was pulling out his phone.

She was running, tearing through the forest, not waiting for Burke and the others to catch up with her. Sek was out here and he had Cormac. It was the time when no moon lit the night sky, when the wolves were at their weakest and leopards were at their peak. Kess followed scents she knew like her own: the warm cypress, juniper and pine resin of Cormac and the vetiver and musk of Sek. There were other scents too, all human. Sek didn’t travel alone. His contingent of muscle went with him.

Far behind her she thought she heard Burke as he ran to save one of his packmates. She hoped he heeded her warning and hadn’t transformed, at least not yet. She was hoping she’d be able to handle Sek on her own. Even if it meant going back with him; she’d do it to save Cormac.

The scents were stronger now. She was getting close. Another cry of pain split the night’s quiet. Kess was flying over the ground, ripping off clothes and pitching them behind her, intent on only one thing--getting to Cormac before Sek could kill him. She ran silently, bare feet making no noise. She picked up speed again, shucking off the last of her clothes as she came across the clearing, eyes already sharpening to wereleopard precision in the darkness.

Cormac was held between two huge men that Kess had never seen before. His hands were bound behind his back. He had been badly beaten, blood seemed everywhere and he struggled weakly in their grip. He was stripped to the waist and wore a spiked choke collar fastened around his neck that was so tight it cut into the tanned flesh there. Kess could feel the snarl rising in her. It ensured Cormac couldn't shift and Sek would find it amusing.

Sek and Cormac were of a height, but Sek was all sleek muscles and lean build and sharp angles. He stood in front of Cormac holding a huge silver knife that dripped with blood. Cormac’s chest and back had been laid open in a number of places already. Silver wouldn’t kill a werewolf, that much Cormac had told her, but it did significantly weaken them and it hurt like all hell. Another werecat--Bomani--stood behind her brother.

Sek was gesturing to his men to force Cormac to his knees. Cormac struggled and one of the men punched him in the side of the head. Cormac reeled and dropped.

Kess saw Sek raise the knife for a killing blow and her change took her in mid-stride. Her screamed protest ended in a full-throated leopard roar. The shift blasted through her like a lightning strike and she bounded forward on cat’s feet, leaping to put herself between the knife and Cormac. It sliced into her side, dragging across her sleek coat, but she was already slashing with her claws at Sek’s face.

She twisted, landing between Cormac and Sek, growling at her brother in warning. The wound along her side would do little to slow her down; silver had no effect on leopards. Sek had his hand clapped to his face and when he took it away, she could see the marks from her claws across his cheek and jaw. "Little sister," he hissed at her, then motioned for his men to let Cormac go. The young werewolf staggered back to his feet slowly, backing away until he rested against a tree and Kess paced him, carefully keeping herself between Sek and Cormac.

Kess could hear the rest of them arriving. Alaric, Burke, and Finn moved slowly into the clearing, inching their way over to Cormac. The odds were still slightly in the werecat’s favor, Kess knew. The wolves would be concerned with protecting the wounded member of their pack and at a fraction of their full power. They’d be hard pressed to fight off four wereleopards at the height of theirs. Even with Kess on their side, it still meant the risk of injury or death. Kess was hoping it wouldn’t come to an all-out fight.

She faced Sek, who was smiling, blood running down his face. "Let’s see how badly you want to keep your pet, Kess." He looked at his men and gave a warning. "No one intervenes." He was changing, not even bothering to remove his clothes, just letting the transformation shred them.

Sek circled her, ears flat against his blocky head, canines on display. She did the same, mimicking his movements. Sek launched himself at her, powerful jaws trying to catch her around the throat. She twisted away, feeling his teeth graze her nape and shoulders, as she kicked back at him and leaped away.

She lunged at her brother. They were evenly matched--Sek had only a few pounds on her and he would be as fast and agile as she was. Sek danced out of the way, but not before she got the chance to smack a paw against his head. She hooked her claws into the flesh she caught and heard him growl in pain.

He tackled her. They were tumbling, each of them struggling to find purchase, to get a hold on the other. The sound of their growls and spitting echoed through the clearing. Sek was a blur, his black coat blending with the darkness, but Kess could see just fine. She came in low, angling for his throat. Sek dodged, snaking out of the way.

Kess made sure to keep an eye on Cormac. His father was helping him up, releasing him from the ropes and collar. Burke and Finn flanked them. Unbound, Cormac was mobile at least. Burke, Finn, and Alaric should be able to get him out of here.

Sek tried to bowl her over, but she surprised him. Instead of fighting his momentum as he smashed into her, she went with it, flipping over backwards. She grabbed onto him with her front claws and pushed off with her back paws, sending him over her head. Blood flew, the iron scent of it thick in her nostrils.

Her brother was on her again, on top of her, trying to dig his teeth into the fleshy part of her nape. His weight hampered her. He shook his head back and forth, trying to disable her. Kess rolled, pinning him for a second. The hold on her broke and she leaped away. Sek managed to smash her in the face with his paw, but he didn't claw her. They went back to circling each other.

She realized that she had the upper hand in this fight. Sek was fighting to disable, not kill. He didn't want to hurt her if he could help it. That gave her a distinct advantage, since she didn't have that problem.

Sek tried to take out her flank. He drove forward, aiming for her back legs. Kess flung her body sideways, out of the way of his teeth. She hit the tree she was aiming for, using it as a springboard for her back feet and propelled herself right back at him. He wasn't expecting it. She hit him with her full weight, sending him flying.

She watched Sek right himself. He stared at her, cat to cat. She saw him get lower on his legs, a sure sign he was going to attack. She braced herself, watching for the twitch of those back legs that would signal his leap.

His legs launched him into the air, but it wasn't at her. He went for Cormac. Kess saw Alaric shove his son out of the way before he rolled in the opposite direction. Kess was already moving, but Sek was fast. She didn't think, just let fear and adrenaline propel her forward, bounding closer with every second.

Sek landed lightly and jumped again, claws out and jaws open, still focused on Cormac. Cormac was trying to get out of his way but he was wounded. He'd never be fast enough to dodge. Alaric and the others were already moving, but Sek was closer. They'd listened to her and stayed human, counting on her to handle her brother and prevent a war neither side wanted. She had to win.

Kess cut a hard right and flung herself at her brother, slamming into his side. Sek's throat was right above her shoulder. She latched onto it, jaws locking down like a vise. He struggled to break her hold, but nothing short of her death was going to make her let go of him until she was ready.

His claws slashed at her. She raked his stomach with her back claws. More blood scent filled the cold air. Kess could feel him weakening beneath her. His body was moving sluggishly. She still hung on. Sek whined deep in the back of his throat, a pitiful sound, before finally going limp beneath her.

She let go. His heartbeat was faint in her ears, but still there. Kess stared at the sad, broken heap of fur before her. As much as she hated him, he was her brother. She wouldn't kill him. She wouldn't have that on her conscience too.

She limped over to where Cormac was sprawled and nudged him with her head, rubbing her cheek against him. He put his hand on the side of her neck, rubbing the strong muscles. He was alive, though the silver knife had done a number on him. His grey eyes were glassy but he gave her a weak grin. She huffed a breath at him in return.

Kess faced the other wereleopards. The two younger ones were snarling, their faces morphing and becoming more catlike as she watched. She drew her lips back in a hiss that bared bloody fangs. She slid forward, giving herself plenty of room to move.

"ENOUGH!" Bomani's deep voice shattered the quiet. He stepped in front of Kess, facing the other two wereleopards. "She has defeated Sekhmet in a fair challenge. You will not attack the new head of the clan."

Kess blinked. The two wereleopards returned to normal, their usually impassive faces stunned. She hadn't fought Sek for control of the clan--that hadn't been her intent at all. She didn't want it. But apparently, she had it now.

She changed back into her human form. She could see steam rising from her skin where the cold air hit it. Bomani inclined his head towards her, almost in deference. "You defeated him in single combat."

"For Cormac’s life. We fought over that and nothing else." She tried to keep the panic out of her voice. How could she get out of this?

"It still stands. The clan is yours." Bomani looked almost pleased.

No. Absolutely not. She had no desire to go back to Miami, to live a life plotted out for her. She would make her own life, and she wanted to make it here. She looked from Bomani to the still form of her brother. He wouldn't let her go, not really. He'd be back if she tried to stay. Unless…

"I don't want it." When Bomani opened his mouth to protest, she held up her hand. "But I will take it, on two conditions. The first: that a proxy holds the clan in my absence. Bomani, that's you." He shook his head angrily. "It has to be you. Sek can be a figurehead for all I care or you can lock him in the basement, but you will be my voice while I'm gone. Because I'm staying here. I want to go to college, to have a life."

Bomani frowned. "This is not the way things are done."

Kess ignored him. "Second: he is never to contact me again. The clan is to keep him away from me at all times. If I see him near me or mine again, I will not be so forgiving."

"And if we don't agree to this?"

Kess made her voice hard and cold, like black ice. "He dies now and I send you packing back down to Miami. And you'll tear each other apart trying to figure out who gets to be the next clan leader until nobody's left to hold the territory." She held Bomani's gaze with a steely one of her own, putting every ounce of strength she had into it.

Slowly, he nodded. "You give us little choice. Agreed."

Kess didn't relax, even though her bluff had worked. "Swear it. All of you."

"By rite of challenge, we swear to these conditions," Bomani intoned in his powerful voice. He looked at the wereleopard to his left and inclined his head, indicating it was the young man's turn to speak.

"I swear it."

Bomani looked to the wereleopard on his right and inclined his head once more. "I swear as well."