Flesh & Blood: Trust Casefiles, #8

By Lee Cushing

She swore to protect humanity from supernatural monsters. Now she risks becoming one.
As part of a covert organization known only as the Trust, skilled demon hunter and werewolf Catherine McBride struggles with her growing addiction to human flesh. But when she's tasked with infiltrating deep into demon-controlled territory to sabotage a secret operation that could send shockwaves across the world, she believes it will take her mind off her growing supernatural urges.
Teaming up with a host of unlikely characters including an ex-navy seal, a magical witch, a science teacher, and a captured demon, Catherine and her team must unravel the demons' plot and put a stop to them. The demons are determined to free themselves from dependency on human blood. If they succeed, it could have devastating consequences. And if Catherine can't control the werewolf inside her, she could put her friends – and all of humanity – in grave danger…
Can Catherine unravel the demon plot? Or will her supernatural nature doom them all?
Bursting with exhilarating action and high-stakes suspense, Flesh & Blood is a riveting supernatural thriller that will delight fans of demons, werewolves, magic, and all things paranormal

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lee Cushing
• Release date: Dec 2, 2021
• ISBN: 9798201686055

Lee Cushing

Lee Cushing is a paranormal thriller author and a lifelong fan of the occult. Having become obsessed with supernatural folklore and the world of horror from an early age, Lee has spent years studying tales of the occult and immersing himself in stories of otherworldly phenomenon. He’s also the owner of a number of vampire and horror-related groups in Facebook, where fellow fans of the supernatural come together to celebrate and discuss all things paranormal.  His debut novel, Voodoo Mambo, blends high-stakes action and shadowy agencies with a dark underworld of demonic creatures and their insidious plots to attack humanity. Lee draws his inspiration from classic horror movies – including Hammer and Universal – as well as beloved TV shows including Doctor Who, Supernatural, The Avengers, and Buffy The Vampire Slayer. 

Book preview

Chapter One

Covering the parachute with dirt, the silver haired man in black combat fatigues looked around the field where he had landed and made for the nearby woods, unhooking the P90 attached to his belt.

He stepped over the fallen leaves scattered across the ground, moving past the trees.  Stopping when he saw a woman with jet black hair kneeling over a body of a man in a similar combat outfit, Cutter Smith raised the gun as he approached her.

The woman turned at the last moment and faced him, letting him see the sharp fangs between her lips.

Did you kill him?

Scarlett Rose stood up as she heard his Texas accent, As much as I would love ripping all your throats out, you know I can't do anything to harm any of you.  She looked down at the corpse, He was dead when I found him, his neck was broken.

Let's get moving.  Cutter paused by the body, We need to locate the others, we can come back and bury Cooke later.  He looked at the Strigoi, You're a good tracker, you must have an idea where they came down.

Looking around the woods, Scarlett stopped when she began facing in one direction.  I can smell the werewolf over there, one of the others is with her.

Cutter pushed her to start moving, Take me to them.

––––––––

Catherine McBride pulled the door of the barn shut and moved behind a tall stack of hay bales, beginning to slip out of her combat fatiques.  Finishing changing into civilian clothes, she pulled her red hair from under the coat and let it fall over her shoulders.

She snatched up the P90 from on top of one of the bales as the barn door was pushed open.  She lowered it when she saw the man enter, speaking with an American accent.  Any sign of Cutter or the others?

Bryan Strong watched her lower the weapon and relax, Not yet.  Perhaps they've gone onto meet up with the local co-ordinator, what did you say his name was?

Victor Stanislav.  Catherine returned to the barn door and closed it again, Get changed, we should try to blend in until we reach his hotel.

Moving behind the bales of hay, Bryan removed his black combat jacket.  Why did you choose me for this mission?  I'm just a teacher at the training academy.

You have a background in science and you were the nearest thing to an expert with skydiving experience we could get on such short notice.  Catherine paced up and down along the floor, You can identify the research that we need to destroy.

Finishing getting changed, Bryan stepped back into view and watched her also remove the automatic he had left in the bag, I'm not sure about that.

Catherine shoved the gun into his hand, Take it, but keep it hidden.  This isn't Texas, anyone not a police officer will be arrested if they are caught carrying a weapon.

Doing as she suggested, Bryan slipped the gun into the pocket of his coat.  Now what?

We get to the hotel and hope we meet up with Cutter and the others.  Catherine opened the barn door a little and glanced out into the night, Make sure you don't leave anything behind.  If the security police begin searching the area, I don't want them finding anything to let them know we are here.

Checking to make sure everything was in the bag, Bryan zipped it up.  That's all of it.  He slipped the strap over his shoulder, Anything else I need to do.

Try not to draw too much attention to yourself.  She pulled open the barn door, We should try to get to the town before the sun comes up.

Right behind you.  Bryan followed her out into the field and to the side of the road, How far is it?

Continuing to stay ahead of him, Catherine glanced back.  About a mile.  She pressed on for a few more minutes and stopped, Into the trees, now.

Rushing after her when she dashed to the other side of the road, Bryan followed her into the wood running alongside the road and crouched down.  He watched the armoured police car go past, waiting for Catherine to signal that it was clear.  You think they were looking for us or the others?

I doubt it, but we should stay off the road to be safe.  Catherine started walking again, If any of the others had been found there'd be an entire squad out looking for us by now.

Reaching the end of the wood where the way ahead was replaced by fields, Bryan saw the fires in the distance.

Catherine got to the field of torn apart tarpaulin tents first and began walking among the burning boxes.  She stopped by one of