Chapter 20
I grab Evan by the collar.
I waste no time ending his fucking attitude because I don’t have time to deal with his bullshit. There’s a massive storm brewing outside with some type of paranormal who controls it. If we can’t work together, a lot of people will die.
He and his little team of assholes all look the same. Smug expression. Too much gel in their hair. Preppy shirts with the collars popped.
Who even pops collars anymore?
“Look at me before I remove your fucking eyes,” I warn between my fangs.
And I don’t hide them.
His heart rate changes once he realizes he’s in the hands of someone who holds much more power than he could ever dream of having. Evan gulps. His pupils dilate when they stay locked onto mine, my influence numbing his mind.
“You’re going to stop messing with Nariko and her team.
You’re going to be nothing but helpful and kind.
You’re going to help us get people to safety.
A massive storm is gaining strength, and it’s only going to get worse.
If you don’t, I will finally do the world a favor and kill you.
” I slam him against the wall, and everyone gasps, their boots thudding on the ground when they all take a step back at the same time.
I lean in, allowing him to see the reds of my eyes, the blood that colors them. Nariko’s blood. The blood that makes me more powerful than most vampires because I have my fated mate.
“And I will enjoy killing you, you arrogant fuck. I have friends who will gladly drain you of every drop. Do I make myself fucking crystal clear?”
“Crystal,” he answers, his pupils pulsating in agreement.
I drop him to his feet and drag a claw across his cheek deep enough to scar. He screams in agony. His cries are ignored as everyone is trying to get out of the bar to find a safe space to take cover.
“That’s a warning. Every time you look in the mirror, you’ll think of me and Nariko.
Remember, you deserved this scar for harassing my mate and her team.
She can take care of herself, but I’ll always take care of her first. Give me a reason not to rip out your heart and allow my friend to feed from it.
” I dig my claws into his chest, the rancid scent of his blood coating my fingers.
“You can use my truck!” he yells in hopes I’ll stop. “Take it. Whatever Nariko needs. She’s always been a better chaser than me. It’s just like The Dust Bunny. It’s storm-ready. Your best chance of survival is in the truck.”
I growl, pushing the air from my lungs out of my nose. “Give me the keys.” I hold out my palm, waiting for it to be filled. “Tick fucking tock, I don’t have all night unless you want to die.”
He pulls them out of his back pocket and hands them to me. “Thank you, Evan. Was that so difficult?” I shove him so hard, he flies off his feet, smashing into his team.
Like bowling pins, they fall at the same time.
Strike.
Millie, Jess, Reina, Ruka, Westin, Jazz, and Nariko crowd around me. Ruka is the first to speak.
“I’ve been pulling up a dozen different weather apps.
I have no idea what she is doing, but I think she’s controlling what we can see.
I know. I know it sounds fucking insane, but it’s the only conclusion I have.
I can’t tell you where the tornado is coming from.
I can’t tell you the direction it’s going in.
There’s nothing here. All the maps are empty.
All we can do is take cover. We need to find a storm shelter. Now.”
“Hide from the storm of the century?” Nariko scoffs and crosses her arms. “No fucking way. My camera is in the truck. We have the Trackers’ keys. We can chase if we want.”
“Chase? Chase, what? A fucking ghost, Nari?” Ruka shouts at her. “We have nothing to protect us.”
“We have what we know. We don’t need the data to keep ourselves safe.”
I don’t like that she wants to run headfirst into a tornado. If I try to stop her, she’ll only chase out of spite, out of anger, and when that happens, details are missed. I won’t lose her because of emotions.
I refuse.
The electricity comes back on, yet the light still flickers. Everyone is sitting on the ground, staying away from the windows, but it isn’t enough. This bar is going to be ripped to shreds if it’s in the path of a tornado.
“Ruka, you’re coming with us,” Nariko directs.
“Reina, Millie, Jess, try to get everyone to safety. We will keep you updated along the way when we find the supercell to see if it is producing a spin. Ruka, get the live feed on for our followers. Make sure you tell them that if they live here, to find shelter immediately.”
I’m so fucking proud of her. That’s my mate taking charge.
She isn’t scared at all. There isn’t a hint of fear coming from her side of the bond.
If anything, she’s excited. Adrenaline is pumping through her veins so much, I’m feeling the effects, too.
I’m charged with energy and ready to protect my mate at all costs.
“Okay, there was a tornado spotted about five miles from here,” Ruka informs us. “Still no radar activity, but there are chasers on the ground and the vortex is gaining strength. They think it’s around an EF3 right now and only gaining power.”
“Is it headed this way?” I ask, scanning my eyes around the room to see scared people huddled in corners.
Ruka’s lips are a tight line, grim with bad news. “Yes.”
Lightning and thunder clash. Hail bursts through the window, shattering the glass.
Shards fly everywhere, clinking onto the ground.
A few people scream out in pain. One person has a hand to his throat, a piece of glass sticking from his throat.
Others are holding their arms, shouting in pain from small pieces of glass embedded in their skin.
“Fuck,” I growl, running towards the man bleeding out. “Move. Move. Get out of my way.” I don’t mean to sound rude, but I’m the only person in this bar who can help him and save his life. I squat next to him; his fear is rolling off him in waves, the bitterness of death clinging close.
I hate the way fear tastes. I swallow it down, the acidity of it burning my throat.
“Hey, hey, you’re okay, man. Look at me.
” I grab his hand, blood filling and spurting out his mouth when he tries to speak.
“Don’t talk. Save your strength. You’re going to be okay.
It’s a lot worse than it looks, okay? You’re going to be fine.
” His eyes dilate, my influence taking him easily given his blood loss.
Naturally, my fangs lengthen at the sight of blood, but I don’t hunger for it. The only blood I crave is Nariko’s.
“This is going to hurt, but you’re going to be okay.” Too many people are watching us. I can’t feed him my blood in front of everyone, but I can heal his wound. He’ll be weak for a few weeks from the blood loss, but at least he’ll live.
His blood-slicked hand grabs onto my arm, terrified and shaking as shock takes hold.
I tug the glass out, blood gushing, and I cover his neck with my hand to apply pressure.
I only have a few seconds before he bleeds out.
Turning my head, I press my thumb against my fang and cut to the bone, needing as much blood as possible.
Sliding that hand over the other to hold pressure, I rub my thumb across the wound. It doesn’t look suspicious. It doesn’t take long. He inhales a deep breath, no longer coughing up blood.
“First aid kit.” Nariko is at my side, ripping open gauze and preparing tape to hide the wound that will no longer be there. “Here.”
“Damn, Sugar. You were reading my mind. I fucking love you.” I rush to place the bandage on, giving him a fair amount of gauze and tape so it doesn’t come off anytime soon. “You’re all set. Just rest. You’ll be just fine.”
“Thank…you,” he chokes out, holding out his hand for me to shake.
I grasp it, emotion clogging my throat when I feel how grateful he really is. “You’re welcome.”
“Okay. We need to go.” Nariko tugs on my arm, dragging me to the front door.
“Millie, Jess, and Reina are staying behind to help. They will make sure everyone gets to safety. Hey!” she shouts at the bartender behind the counter, handing out waters.
“Does this place have a basement or a storm shelter? We need everyone away from the windows.”
“We have a basement and a refrigerator where we keep all the food. It will be cold, but it will protect people. Not everyone can fit in the fridge, though.”
Nariko leans over the counter. “Do not tell anyone about that, then. They will panic, and people tend to do desperate things when panicked. Get everyone to the basement. Now. Ruka!” she yells for her brother, and he is by her side in the next second. “We’re leaving.”
“Let us come too.” Evan and his team stand up from the ground and fix their shirts. “We can help. We can take the other truck we have.”
Nariko shoves past him, her shoulder ramming into his. “Stay out of my way.”
“Can’t say you didn’t deserve that,” Ruka adds to the blow, pushing by the Trackers, and following his sister outside.
Nariko twists the doorknob, and the door smashes against the wall, the wind strong and powerful rushing by. The trees across the street bend from the force, leaves becoming loose and peppering the air.
The unknown woman is gone, leaving a cracked parking lot and a dangerous storm in her wake.
“We have to find her,” Nariko shouts. “We have to try to calm her down and help her before she leaves every city in Oklahoma in shambles,” she shouts over the loud rumblings of thunder, wind, and rain.
Taking her hand, I remember Lorcan’s warnings about Ruka. If he chases tonight, he’ll die.
“Ruka, stay behind and help the others. Your sister and I can do this!” I yell, wiping the water from my eyes. It’s useless. The rain is coming down too hard and fast.
“What? No. I’m not missing this.”
I grab his arm when he steps forward, stopping him in his tracks. “Please, stay,” I beg him. “Stay safe. For your sister.”