Half Breed

By Cori Moore

Strength, smarts and sarcasm- these are the things that Fallen has always valued in herself. But what’s a tough bounty hunter to do when her latest job grabs her and runs away with her life? Fallen is a canid shifter who is good at her job. It doesn’t matter that she has never fit in with her pack, doesn’t matter that she cannot shift into the wolf whose wild heart beats in her chest. She is exactly who she is meant to be, a loner forged from the fires of a painful past. To relieve the frustrated fury of her inner wolf, she uses bounty hunting and the new job seems simple enough: find an arcane sword stolen long ago from her new mysterious employers. But there’s a catch. Wraith, the employer’s representative- charming, easygoing, and everything Fallen is not- is going to tag along as her unwanted partner.

As they track down the blade, the hunt becomes complicated. Wraith is a puzzle with secrets all his own. They must face off against an ancient human society pledged to protect the sword, while other supernaturals track their every move. To add to her problems, she finds herself reluctantly drawn to Wraith, forging a bond that she doesn’t know what to do with. And just when Fallen thinks she might have a handle on things, the search suddenly exposes the truth about her own heritage that shakes the very foundations of her identity. In order to save everything she cares about, Fallen will have to learn how to lean on someone else and find out who she really is.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Cori Moore
• Release date: Mar 28, 2013
• ISBN: 9781301103980

Cori Moore

Cori Moore has a Bachelors of English from Penn State, is addicted to traveling, and refuses to eat any blue foods. She has a voracious appetite for all things paranormal and would likely go insane if she ever ran out of great books to read. She was lucky enough to find her soul mate in high school, so she has a fantastic husband. She also has two silly shepherds that outweigh her and take her for walks, and agrees wholeheartedly with Peter Pan- who wants to ever grow up? She lives in Philly and kills zombies in her spare time, loves playing video games until 3 in the morning, and has enjoyed eating cookie dough ice cream for breakfast more than once.

Book preview

HALF BREED

Cori Moore

Smashwords Edition

Copywright 2012 Cori Moore

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

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Chapter 1

The stripper smiled at me as she slid around the pole. I didn’t smile back, but she still mistook my stare for interest and dropped to her knees to crawl silkily towards me. I watched as she undulated in front of me in the throes of feigned ecstasy.

She smiled at me as if were sharing a secret, and as she flipped back her long mane of hair, I furtively sniffed. The scent of my prey in my nose- sweet coconut and ripe raspberries, an oddly innocent scent on such an overtly sensual woman- cut through the cheap beer and cigarette-scented air. It made my breath hitch just a little in excitement. My beast growled her approval in my head.

Hey, honey. Like what you see?

I shrugged. I did, but not for the reason she assumed.

Gonna show some appreciation, chickie-poo?

I frowned. Chickie-poo? Was that supposed to be cute? Deciding not to take offense at the terrible endearment, I pulled a crumpled bill from my pocket and offered it up. She kneeled on the edge of the stage and expertly guided my hand to her g-string to slide the dollar into the strap.

The other patrons, all males, crowed their testosterone-tainted approval.

She grinned again before crawling away to finish her dance. I watched her as I went back to sipping my now warm beer. I could feel the hind-part of my brain, the part that reveled in the adrenaline-soaked chase, gloried in the pounding heartbeat of terrified prey, and dreamed of torn flesh between teeth, turn on in eager anticipation.

The girl flounced off the stage at the end of the song and my gaze stayed locked on the door she slipped through. My mouth was dry and my hands had gone a little clammy. My beast had the girl’s scent now and wanted nothing more than to hunt her down and crow its triumph to the world. It took iron concentration to remain seated. I forced my body to relax on the bar stool and waited for my prey to show.

When she appeared again from back stage, dressed in a barely-there slip of a dress, I made sure to catch her gaze as it skimmed over the room. Her lips twitched in a knowing smile as she made her way through the club. She plopped on the empty stool beside me.

So, you gonna buy me a drink or what?

I nodded my head to the bartender and slid a few bills forward to pay for her drink. She studied me as if waiting for me to start talking but if that was the case, she’d be waiting awhile.

So, did you like my dance?

You already know how good you look up there.

True.

And you’re so humble about it.

Facts are facts, she said with a shrug.

Her eyes drifted over me and I could guess what she was evaluating- my unassuming outfit of jeans, a dark tee and a butter-soft leather motorcycle jacket. I dressed for comfort and ease of movement, not style. She likely saw a girl who lacked what she had in spades and thought I’d make a good mark.

You’ve got a nice body, she said. You ever think about dancing?

I barked a surprised laugh. Hell no. I was born missing a rhythm gene.

But you’re hot. All you’d need to do is crawl around and pout, arch your back and point your toes, and the guys would go wild.

Is that your recipe for good tips? I asked, bemused despite myself.

Her dark eyes drank me in as she leaned closer. Her victims probably mistook the intensity of her gaze as actual lust, but I knew it for what it was. She was hungry and it wasn’t for my body.

So, you wanna get to know me a little better, baby? she purred.

No. Not really.

She arched her eyebrows, evidently deciding that I just needed some persuasion. I watched her sip her Appletini as she calculated her next move with me. She leaned in closer again, conspiratorially. My name is Delilah.

I smirked but didn’t call her out on her little lie. Maybe it was a stage name.

What’s your name, sweetheart?

None of your business.

Really? Because your eyes were glued to me on stage. I’d guess you want to be all up in my business, she grinned saucily.

You’re right, I admitted. I was staring pretty hard.

Okay then. Why don’t you come with me to one of the private rooms in the back?

Really, I said sternly. No thanks.

Confusion flashed across her face. She obviously wasn’t used to being turned down. Brow furrowed, she slipped off her stool and leaned over me. What is up with you? You’re telling me that you weren’t waiting for me to come over here?

Oh no, I was definitely waiting for you.

Then what’s your deal? Her voice turned significantly harder. She was getting irritated. I tended to have that effect on people.

I shrugged even as my beast raked claws against the backdrop of my mind, growling her displeasure. I ignored her and watched the stripper as she grabbed her little purse from the bar top and pouted at me.

Fine. I’m not gonna waste my time if you’re not interested.

I felt my lips curve into a small smile. I didn’t say I wasn’t interested in you.

She watched me for a moment. I was pissing her off but she evidently decided that I was just playing hard to get.

Look, she crooned, leaning closer. I can make sure you have a really, really great time tonight if you let me take care of you, honey.

She draped an arm over my shoulder and I flinched despite myself. Sharp spikes of pain radiated from where her overly warm skin touched mine. My beast started to pace frantically in my head.

I appreciate that, I said stiffly. But you’re really not my type.

Her laugh was sharp. I’m everyone’s type, baby. And you haven’t seen me move for you yet. You’ll enjoy it.

I turned my face away from the girl, teeth clenched as I tried to ignore the blistering barbs stinging me from the point of skin contact. My beast gnashed her teeth within me, frustrated by this farce of a hunt, pissed at the pain our prey was causing us. The desire to let the beast out, to allow this girl to see the danger she was actually in, burned in my gut, boiling and unsettled like food poisoning.

The stripper mistook my body language as a reluctant yielding. She rubbed her nose sensually against my neck, lips dragging behind. The syrupy scent of sweet coconut and the ripest of fresh raspberries suddenly poured over me in a thick wave that made my nose twitch. I could almost taste it on my tongue.

My body suddenly tightened on its own volition, a wave of heat washing through me. Damn- the little seductress was good. Too bad I knew what she was doing.

If you come with me to a back room, she whispered in a voice that promised rumpled silk sheets and mind-numbing pleasure. I promise you’ll be coming back for more. I’m going to show you the time of your life. You’ll beg me to never stop.

She was persistent- I’d give her that. I exhaled slowly and shifted to look at her. When our gazes met, I let the illusion slip a little; let my gaze fill with all of the unbridled, raging fury of my chained beast. My monster rolled within me and I felt the familiar ruffling sensation of fur scratching along my insides as she swam up into consciousness and peered out of my eyes. There was no subtlety to my beast- she was all sharp, lurid edges and naked, raw hunger.

The girl reacted instantly, going stiff and very, very slowly backing away from me. She didn’t run and a small part of me was sad about that. If she’d run, my beast would’ve snapped control from me in instinctive chase. Although it was always bad to lose control of my beast, a tiny part of me always enjoyed it.

But it definitely would have ended very badly for the stripper.

All of that pretty, manufactured warmth drained from the girl’s face, leaving her cold and alien, the angles of her face abruptly sharp as blades. Still achingly beautiful, but it was no longer a human beauty. She shrank away from me, prepared to run. I read the readiness in her stance.

You don’t want to do that, Mariel, I said quietly. You really don’t.

What do you want, ton t’ishael? she demanded.

I didn’t recognize her curse word but I got the gist of it. Well, that’s rather rude.

What do you want? She repeated, her eyes raking over me swiftly. She knew that I was a predator but didn’t know what kind.

You, I said calmly. My voice was mild and I didn’t make any movements, but she flinched as if I hit her. The rank scent of rotting coconut and spoiled raspberries suddenly assailed my nose. She was afraid.

I offered you me and you didn’t want it.

I don’t want your body, Mariel. Or to be your meal, for that matter.

Her eyes flashed an inhuman white and I felt an answering heat in my own gaze. The beast sat up inside of me, licking her chops and ready, oh-so-ready, to strike if I would just let her. And I couldn’t. I yanked back hard on her chain.

How do you know my name? Who are you? A spattering of hot, spicy energy raked over me as she tried to rein in her fear.

I rubbed my chin thoughtfully, trying to look relaxed as I dissipated some of the painful pulses of energy she was forcing through me. You took something from your previous employer. I’ve been hired to deliver it back to him.

It wasn’t his in the first place!

Not my problem.

She didn’t even ask me what I wanted. She already knew. But ... but it’s not fair. I got it now. Can’t you see that it’s not fair?

I’m not getting paid to think about what’s fair.

Mercenary, she snarled.

Bounty hunter, I corrected.

You and your kind are just ruthless bruisers and bullies. You should all be wiped out.

She’d managed to piss me off. I grabbed her wrist in a bruising grip, clenching my fingers enough to let her know I could crush her wrist quite easily.

You should be a little more careful with your words, succubus, I growled. You didn’t hear me badmouthing your race. I’m politely requesting something that I could have just taken.

But I need it.

I cast a subtle glance around the club and was glad that the other patrons and the bouncers weren’t paying attention to our little drama. Mariel followed my gaze and I watched her think about calling over the bouncers for help.

You shouldn’t, I warned her. They’re human and you’ll just get them hurt.

She sighed and I dropped her wrist, stealthily curling my seared hand into my pocket. It throbbed from the pain of touching her skin, even for just a moment.

The siren stone is mine.

If you need it so bad, you should try to bargain with your ex-boss. You didn’t need to steal it.

She bared her teeth at me. Screw you, shifter!

Ah, is our honeymoon period over so quickly? You wanted to jump my bones just a second ago.

You have no idea what I’ve been through to get out my flock! Can’t you even try to see my side of this?

I’m not getting paid to walk a mile in your stilettos, sweetheart. I gestured to the exit doors. There’s no point in talking anymore. Let’s finish this.

I watched her think about her options. She could still try to make a run for it but we both knew that I had her scent now and she would die for her effort. I had my beast chained, but there were limits to my control. In the end, she made the smart choice. She murmured that she couldn’t be seen leaving the club with a patron and slipped away, but I wasn’t worried. I could smell the defeat on her and my beast had gone silent, disgusted with the disappointing end to my hunt.

I was alone in my head for the moment and, as always, not sure if that was a good thing or not.

I left the club and waited in the parking lot, arms crossed and head bowed as I leaned against the side of my sweet black Honda DN-01 bike. The cool night breeze felt wonderful against my over-sensitized skin. I hated being touched with good reason.

Ten minutes later, Mariel slipped out of the club. Her eyes were puffy and red, her shoulders curved in as if expecting me to hit her. It made me uncomfortable. I could be a hard ass, but I wasn’t completely insensitive.

You’re too pretty to be crying, I said quietly. It was the best I could offer in terms of being nice.

As much as she probably hated me, she still couldn’t hide the quick, flattered smile. All succubi liked to be admired and she was no different. You don’t mean that.

Yeah, I do. It’s the truth.

I held out my hand and waited patiently until she pulled a small, cloudy crystal out of her bra and plopped it into my palm. I held it up to my eye. It was an unassuming, plain thing but I could feel the fluttering pulse of its innate charm.

She watched as I slid the siren stone into my jacket pocket. I shrugged at her scowl. Talk to your ex-boss about it.

That bastard will only try to force me back into the flock and I’ve already bought my freedom. I don’t belong to the flock anymore. I make my own choices, choose my own lovers. I’m not going back to having Irial tell me what to do.

It may be safer for you, you know.

Succubi belonged to a flock that was controlled by a single incubus. The arrangement could be anything from an archaic pimp and hoes setup to a more corporate system. Mariel had belonged to my current employer, a business-oriented incubus named Irial who allowed his succubi to buy their way out of the flock if they wished. Mariel was the only one who ever had.

None of this was any of my concern, but I still found myself offering her some advice.

You should try to lay low for a while.

Her eyes flashed balefully. Why should I listen to anything you say?

I was supposed to kill you.

Mariel went stiff, her eyes flashing that inhuman white again. To her credit, she didn’t try to run from me.

Why are you telling me? she whispered. She looked extraordinarily young and alone. It was hard to care about that though. I was always alone.

I climbed onto my bike. Because I decided not to. I was supposed to follow you home, kill you, and take the stone. The incubus may try to get someone else to do it, but maybe he’ll be happy to just get his stone back.

She didn’t ask why he wanted her dead. Very few succubi actually ever left their flock. Why didn’t you accept?

I didn’t answer her. You should lay low and you should make sure you don’t kill any of the humans you feed from. I gave her a steely glare. When I spoke again, my voice was full of cool darkness. You kill someone and your life is forfeit.

How can you be so sure that I will?

You don’t have the stone to take the edge off of your hunger and you might lose control. If you eat too much from one human, you’ll kill them.

And why do you care about some random human?

I growled. All you need to know is that I do. Humans needed a shepherd. Unfortunately, all they got was me.

She cringed and nodded after a moment. I understand.

Good.

I started my bike, appreciated the lovely throaty roar. The succubus remained still, just watching me. As I started to move, she lifted a hand. Wait-

I frowned and waited.

Who are you?

What does it matter?

Anger burned in her lovely dark eyes. You won’t even give me that much? You’re warning me that I may still end up dead by your hand and I can’t even get your name?

I don’t make up the rules of the universe, sweetheart, I said calmly. I just live in it.

She glared at me and I sighed. She was having a royally bad night. After all, her gifts lay in seduction and manipulation and she could use neither against me. It had to make her feel powerless and I couldn’t think of an actual reason to deny her something as small as my name.

I’m Fallen.

She said nothing but she didn’t have to. There was nothing else to say. I pulled my helmet on and sped into the night, leaving the succubus alone in the parking lot.

Chapter 2

I loved my little apartment. It was one of the few things that I could claim as mine, along with my bike. And I didn’t like it because it was nice, because it wasn’t. It was cramped and hunched and tired, like an overworked matron who was close to retirement. The building had paper thin walls and ancient, groaning pipes that spouted warm water with stubborn reluctance. But it knew that it was old, and it was aging gracefully.

And it was my den and it was special.

I walked in, dropped my helmet to the floor, and proceeded to carefully set both the ordinary and the mage locks over my doorway. It was an intricate set of psychic steps but it was one that I was dedicated to keeping up. I needed the extra layer, the extra bubble of insulation that set my den away from the rest of the world.

As soon as the final mental click sounded, my shoulders dropped. I let myself go. It was like releasing a breath held too long, dropping the fake cloak that I draped over myself every day so that I could pretend to fit into the world. Even my beast stretched lazily inside of me, relaxed in our space.

It was only here in my den that I ever felt I was truly myself. And it hurt that the weight of my human persona was so heavy, that I was so inexplicably different from what people saw in the street ... but it was an old and familiar pain. Not something I wanted to linger over unless I wanted to be depressed for the rest of the night.

I wanted a shower. Like all canids, I had a sensitive nose and the pungent stink from the strip club had clung to me, but business came first. Grabbing my laptop, I fired off a quick email to Irial, promising to drop off the stone the following afternoon.

My stomach growled and I tried to remember the last time I’d eaten. I tended to forget. A glance into my ancient little fridge told me that it was a good thing I’d pulled this job in record time. I desperately needed to go shopping.

Ugh, I hated shopping.

I munched on a handful of stale crackers, more to keep my body running than out of any real hunger as I strolled into my bedroom. I wouldn’t be getting paid my full amount since Mariel wasn’t dead, but it would be enough to keep me afloat until I found my next hunt. Already I could feel the itch for a new job, a true hunt that would challenge me and sate my beast, at least for a little while.

I stripped off my tee, getting ready for a shower, and caught my reflection in my scarred dresser mirror. I paused for a moment, studying myself and wondering why I didn’t just kill Mariel. I could’ve, and my beast would’ve gloried in the rush. I had no illusions about my monster- she was an unabashedly bloodthirsty creature.

I hated to admit that the reason was because I felt an affinity with the lone succubus.

She was like me. She should belong to a flock, one of many, and yet she was all alone. I was a canid shifter- and canids were social creatures that needed Pack like they needed air. And yet, I was always, eternally separated.

This line of thinking wasn’t going to get me anywhere that I hadn’t been before. With a disgusted sneer at my own reflection, I stomped into my bathroom, dropping clothes as I went.

My bathroom was little more than a closet, but I finally coaxed some lukewarm water from the ancient, rusted showerhead and relaxed under the spray.

I was stepping out onto my thin bathmat when I first felt it. It was as if someone had swept a feather down to the base of my spine, an intimate tickle of awareness that made my skin tighten in a sweep of goose bumps and my breath hitch. I froze in place, sketching an automatic mental check of my locks. Nothing had touched my wards. I opened my mouth and breathed in slow and long and my nose told me that everything was normal.

I waited, tense and dripping water onto the old linoleum, but the feeling had disappeared just as suddenly as it had occurred. I finally forced myself to move, walking stiffly to the window and peering through my dusty blinds. I really needed to do some housecleaning at some point.

I lived on the second floor of the building and had a good, wide view of the street below. But it was late, especially for the humans that I shared a building with, and the street was empty.

I suddenly realized I was still naked and hovering at my window. Shaking my head at myself, I went back to the bathroom and grabbed a towel. I dressed with my skin still damp because if I needed to be prepared for something I’d rather not be butt naked when it went down. Most canids were comfortable with nudity but I wasn’t most canids.

I kept tracing over my wards and checking my view of the street, but the feeling was truly gone. My beast was silent, completely quiet inside me, which should’ve been proof that everything was okay, but I wasn’t sure.

I’m getting paranoid, I muttered to myself. And I’m talking to myself. I need to buy a goldfish or something.

My beast offered no opinion of her own, but then she wouldn’t. She was a creature of action and emotion and could likely care less about my mental state. I sighed. And now I was psycho-analyzing my wolf.

I decided to go to bed before I truly worked myself into craziness.

***

I slept poorly, but that was nothing new. I finally gave up on sleep around noon and headed out to run my errands. Like most shifters, I was mostly active at night and I glared at the ball of sunlight burning cheerfully in a brilliant blue sky. Slipping on sunglasses, I hopped on my bike and dutifully headed downtown.

The address I had scribbled on a piece of paper for Irial’s office led me to a sprawling complex of boring, brown-box suites rented out to random specialized organizations- private practice doctors, low-budget law firms, and small time real estate offices. As I slipped through the outer door of Building C-12, I followed signs to a glass door with the words Lodestone Escort Services, Inc written in elegant script.

I slipped inside and knew I had the right place. The succubus behind the glass desk, tapping delicately at a computer, had the same lush beauty as Mariel. Her pale hair was slicked back and she was a little more conservatively dressed than I was used to seeing a succubus; the grey suit jacket and skirt would’ve been at home in a corporate atmosphere. The crimson silk teddy she wore as a shirt would not. She lifted a professional smile that warmed considerably as I drew closer.

Why, hello, she purred. Her greeting was perfectly innocent until you saw the dark, carnal invitation in those sea-blue eyes. She smelled like salt water taffy and jasmine, sweet and exotic.

Hi, I’m here to see Irial.

May I ask your name? She made it sound like a dirty invitation.

Fallen.

She waited for a surname and I just watched her until she smiled again. I’ll see if he’s available. Her eyes said that if he wasn’t, she would be happy to oblige me in any way I’d like.

She lifted a phone and murmured softly to someone while I glanced casually around the waiting area of the office, trying to escape the innuendoes written in the succubus’ body language.

The reception area was very much like the succubus behind the desk: classy and pretty and totally different than the ratty outer hallways of the building. The carpet and chairs were done in cool shades of grey and white that looked modern and tasteful.

He’ll be with you in just a moment, the succubus finally said.

Great. I dropped onto the snazzy white sofa that looked more comfortable than it felt.

The succubus’ gaze was heavy on me and when I caught her staring, she gave me a practiced bashful grin. I’m sorry, but you’re so easy on the eyes.

I smirked. I’d never met a succubus yet that cared if their mark was male or female. Thanks, I muttered.

My name is Ariel.

I nodded.

She paused for a moment. If you’re here to set up an appointment with someone, I’d be happy if you considered me. I mostly do the receptionist thing, but I’d love a night on the town with you.

I nodded again, noncommittally this time.

I’d even offer a discount, she added.

I didn’t bother to explain that I wasn’t here to arrange for an escort. I just tapped my fingers impatiently on my knee.

Irial strolled in a moment later and I jumped to my feet. He was thin and shorter than I thought he’d be, neat and trim in a smart grey business suit tailored to him. A head full of dark curls that he’d carefully styled to look careless, and a salesman’s oily smile finished him off.

Hello, it’s nice to meet you.

His voice caught me off guard. I’d had the deal brokered through my usual contact, Gabriel Black, and had never actually spoken to Irial. His voice was like simmering caramel, melodious and rich. His handshake was gentle and lingered too long, but his scent of cloves and maple wrapped pleasantly around my nose. His eyes appraised me as if he couldn’t help himself and I mentally rolled my eyes.

Irial, I greeted shortly. Just here to deliver your property.

Yes, of course. Please, he gestured. Step into my office.

I wanted to just dump the crystal into his palm and be on my way, but he turned and strolled deeper into the office suite before I could say anything else. Ariel’s wistful gaze tracked me as I followed her boss away.

Irial’s office was done in the same color scheme- chrome and shining white. He sprawled elegantly into a leather chair behind a wide glass desk. His smile was sharp.

You’re prettier than I thought someone in your line of work would be.

I wanted to scowl, but carefully remained impassive. He gestured to the chair opposite his desk but I remained standing. My beast lifted her head and growled a warning that only I could hear.

Oblivious to my inner monster, Irial’s eyes traveled slowly up and down my body. If you ever want to leave your current line of work, I employ more than just my flock of succubi, you know. Some clients prefer the variety.

Thanks for the offer, I said drily. Can we get down to business now?

He waved an imperious hand. Yes, I guess we should be done with pleasantries. So, you found Mariel.

I did.

He licked his lips and I tried not to see the sudden eager gleam in his eyes. His fingers twitched. So, she’s dead then. Was it bloody?

No.

He looked disappointed. My beast wondered if it would be fun to eviscerate him. What? It was a clean kill? What did you do- strangle her?

I blinked slowly. No. I didn’t kill her.

He frowned, abruptly sitting up in his chair. But you were supposed to, he said petulantly.

I’m not an assassin.

Storm clouds had gathered across his impish face. Some women may have found his boyish features attractive, but he looked unfinished to me. I had a clear cut deal with Mr. Black. Mariel dies and the stone is delivered back to me.

I’ll accept the partial payment for the return of the stone, I said calmly. I pulled the cloudy crystal from my pocket and tossed it onto his desk.

He watched it skitter across the glass before