Twins' Bond: Shifter Squad Next Gen, #9

By J.C. Diem

Nick has always been in his big brother's shadow and never quite felt like he measured up to Liam. When their little sister comes home traumatized from her latest abduction, Nick takes matters into his own hands. He decides to go on a hunt alone to ensure Alex won't have to face fear like that again.

 

Liam has always been the dominant twin and the leader of the younger generation of the Shifter Squad. His shoulders are weighed down by the responsibility Agent Steel has given him. Even with all of his skills and training, he can't always keep his team safe. Sometimes, he feels like a failure and that he'll never be good enough.

 

Both twins go off alone during their short break from missions, but their vacations are anything but peaceful. They'll be forced to confront their own issues that neither of them wanted dragged out into the light. It will either break them, or make them strong enough to face the ordeal they sense is coming.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Seize The Night Agency
• Release date: Apr 2, 2022
• ISBN: 9798201280727

Book preview

Chapter One

Nick

SEEING MY LITTLE SISTER looking so shellshocked and traumatized again brought my rage to the surface. Liam could sense how I was feeling through our bond. He didn’t argue with me when I said I was heading out for a few days. He knew I needed to blow off some steam until I could calm down again.

I headed upstairs to my bedroom to grab my duffle bag, stuffing my Colt, harness and spare ammo inside it. Alex was putting on a brave face, but we could all see that she was suffering. Returning downstairs, I crossed the room to kiss her on the temple, then headed for the exit.

Cool night air washed over me when I stepped outside. It was the tail end of summer and fall was rapidly approaching. My little brown fieldmouse was hidden in a pocket of my jeans. His head came out and he looked up at me, waiting for orders. Take me to a couple of random places, then take me to Denver, I requested and Epsilon obediently made us sink into the ground. Irene Dawson could be watching me right now, so I was taking precautions to throw her off my trail. I wouldn’t put it past her to try to use one of us as bait to ensnare Alex again.

I closed my eyes and didn’t bother to open them until the third time I felt myself rise out of the earth. The first two spots the mouse had taken me to had been somewhere quiet and remote. The sounds of traffic, TVs and people crashed over me the final time we surfaced. I automatically dulled it down before it could drive me crazy.

I looked around to see my zombie had taken us to the nightclub district in Denver. We’d emerged in a backyard of a townhouse that backed up to one of the clubs. Good work, Epsilon, I said with a grin, then looked around for somewhere to leave my duffle bag.

Spying an ancient treehouse in a tree next door, I studied it to see it was falling apart. The ladder that had been nailed to the trunk was missing a few rungs. No one in their right mind would try to climb it. Perfect, I said, then vaulted over the fence. I tossed my duffle bag up into the treehouse, then scaled the fence to the parking lot behind the nightclub.

Music was thumping so loudly that it drowned out all other noise the closer I drew to the building. The club was for humans, but shifters sometimes came here. I’d lied to the squad when I’d told them I intended to meet up with an acquaintance. I wasn’t here to meet anyone, but I had to stay for a while so I didn’t blow my cover.

I rounded to the front of the club and saw a long line ahead of me. Dredging up my most winning grin, I swaggered over to the bouncers, hiding money in my hand. I’m on the list, I said to one of the guys and surreptitiously showed him my bribe.

Name? he asked, eyes glued to the notes tucked inside my fingers.

Nick Garrett, I replied, using the alias my twin and I both used when we were going undercover or didn’t want to be known.

You can go in, he replied after faking a glance at the list.

I handed him the money on my way past. He made it vanish just as deftly as Yas could pick pockets. My hand was on the door, poised to push it open when I felt eyes on my back. I turned to scan the street, ignoring the annoyed humans who were lined up, impatiently waiting to be let in. Someone stood in the shadows further down the block. He stepped into an alley before I could make out his face. I assumed it was a man because he was taller than most women, but he’d moved far more gracefully than normal. If I hadn’t been on a personal mission, I might have followed the guy to see who he was. Since I had other plans, I pushed the door open and stepped inside the club.

The music was unbearably loud once I was inside the building. I blocked out the barrage as I squeezed through the crowd. Women brushed up against me, attracted by the looks I’d inherited from my famous parents. I smiled flirtatiously, but didn’t stop to talk to any of them. Picking up a woman for the night wasn’t my goal. I was just here to kill time before embarking on my plan.

I bought a bottle of beer, then headed over to the nearest wall to lean against it. Taking my phone out, I scrolled through the files I’d loaded onto it, refreshing my memory of my target and avoiding catching anyone’s eye. My aloof attitude was enough to deter women from approaching me.

I slowly drank my beer as I read through the files. After a while, I felt the same pair of eyes on me again. The hairs on the back of my neck rose almost as if danger was near. I looked up and scanned the club, trying to pinpoint my stalker. When I didn’t see him lurking around, I went back to my research.

Only half of my attention was on my mission now. The rest of my mind was busy trying to figure out who was watching me. It was useless to try to pick up a scent. The smell of perfume, deodorant, sweat and alcohol was far too strong. I could barely smell my own scent right now beneath the cloying odors.

A tall man on the far side of the club caught my eye. He seemed to be using a couple of dudes for cover. I shifted so I was leaning one shoulder against the wall rather than both. Lifting my phone up higher to my face, I surreptitiously watched my potential stalker while pretending to read.

After a few minutes, the guy went on the move. I went on full alert, but didn’t let him know I knew he was approaching me. He got halfway across the room, then stopped at a table to talk to a couple of women. I blew out a breath when I realized he’d been watching them rather than me.

Don’t move, a voice said from directly behind me. Vampire charisma washed over me and I obediently froze. The voice was female and she had an accent that I couldn’t quite place. Hold your phone up higher, she commanded. I did as I’d been ordered and she read the file over my shoulder. Killion, she said in what sounded like loathing. Do you know him?

He’s my enemy, I replied woodenly.

What a coincidence, she said and her cold finger stroked the back of my neck. He is my enemy, too. I couldn’t see her reflection on my phone, proving she was a vampire. She leaned forward to press her cool cheek against mine and I realized we were almost the same height. Go to the yard of the house where you hid your belongings, she ordered me. Don’t let anyone see you. With that order, she sped away so quickly that none of the humans saw her move.

Epsilon’s head poked out of my pocket again and swiveled to look at my face. I’m okay, I said as my feet carried me towards a back exit. Don’t take me home yet. I want to see where this goes, I ordered. His whiskers twitched, which I took for assent. We both knew he could take me home as long as I was standing on the ground rather than on concrete.

I hadn’t come to Denver to pick up a one-night stand like the rest of the team believed. My real plan was to hunt Killion down before he could snatch my little sister from us again. Now that Heath Franko was dead, the master vampire was probably Irene Dawson’s second in charge again. He’d fallen out of favor with her after he’d failed to kidnap Alex in Albuquerque, but the witch might need him and his nest in order to take her from us again.

Our squad had failed to keep Alex safe from our enemies too many times. I was determined not to let Killion get another chance to steal her away. I figured working alone would give me a better chance of sneaking up on him and ending his miserable life.

Liam would be furious if he knew what I was planning. It was lucky our twin bond didn’t work like a mating bond. We had to deliberately reach out with our minds to talk to each other. It was hard to scan each other’s thoughts without permission. If he knew what I was planning, he would have forbidden me from hunting the vampire down and told Uncle Mark and our folks about my scheme. I only had a few days to track my quarry down before my twin would become suspicious about my absence. I hadn’t expected to be ensnared by a mysterious female vampire, but I was curious to see what she wanted from me.

Chapter Two

I RETURNED TO THE BACKYARD of the townhouse to find the vampire waiting for me. Her back was to me when I vaulted over the fence. She had long, pale blonde hair twisted into an intricate braid. She wore tight black jeans and a black t-shirt that clung to her shapely body.

My breath caught in my throat when she turned to face me. She was the most beautiful woman I’d ever seen, even though she was a bloodsucker. Her skin was like alabaster and her eyes were blue, although her pupils were almost fully dilated. I felt my wolf stir, then he whispered something that shouldn’t have been possible. She is our mate!

What is your name, wolfling? she asked.

Nickolas Levine-Garrett, I replied, unable to lie beneath her charm and still reeling from what my wolf had just declared.

Let me take a look at you, she said, crooking her finger for me to move closer. I obeyed and stopped a couple of feet away from her. She was only an inch shorter than me, so our eyes were almost at the same level. I can smell Alex’s and Yasmine’s scent on you, she mused.

Alarm flashed through me, but my face remained impassive. I remembered the ancient female master vampire my sister and Yas had told us about. She’d attempted to steal Harlan’s Impala. Emma had transported her to Jade Falls and had pushed her over the waterfall. Obviously, the fall hadn’t killed her. I wondered why she’d returned to Colorado.

How do you know the wolf and vampire? she asked.

Alex is my little sister. Yas is my colleague.

Unlike most vamps, this one took care of her appearance. She managed to keep her face clean even without a reflection. I couldn’t stop her from searching my pockets for my wallet. Epsilon scrunched down as far as he could so her fingertips didn’t brush against him.

Flicking my wallet open, she was unsurprised to see that I worked for the PIA. You are one of the supreme alphas’ sons and Alex is their missing daughter, she assumed, then put my wallet back into my pocket. I took a deep breath to capture her scent and frowned inwardly. I could sense that she was a vampire, but I picked up on something else as well. Somehow, she also smelled like a werewolf, but it was extremely faint.

What do you know about Killion? she asked, replacing my wallet, then taking a few steps back.

Not much, I replied. He appears to be Austrian, he’s a powerful master vampire and he’s at least a few hundred years old. He’s working with a witch called Irene Dawson and they keep trying to kidnap my sister.

Tapping her bottom lip with an immaculate fingernail, she eyed me thoughtfully. Why did you come to Denver tonight?

To trick my twin into thinking I’m hooking up with someone.

She smiled in amusement and the tips of her fangs appeared. Deception between brothers is never wise. What is your real plan?

To track and kill Killion and wipe out his nest if I can.

Isn’t that the Paranormal Investigation Agencies’ purpose? she queried. Why would you attempt to undertake this task on your own?

Because I’m expendable, I said. I sounded wooden to her, but the words were bleak inside my head. My brother, Liam, is our leader and Alex is proving to be a formidable necromancer, I explained. I’m ordinary in comparison to them. If I die, the team will be able to go on without me.

I felt Epsilon stir and hoped he wasn’t sending my thoughts to Alex. We were within her range, after all.

Studying me closely, the master vampire slowly closed the distance between us until we were close enough to touch. Your parents are a mixture of werewolf and vampire. They have passed this trait down to their offspring. You seem to be mostly werewolf, but I sense vampire inside you. She leaned forward and her lips brushed my neck. For a moment, her fangs pressed against my vein. It was so dangerously erotic that my body responded to her and I grew hard.

You desire me, she pulled back in surprise to say. Why?

Because you’re my mate, I said, which shocked her to momentary silence.

I’m a vampire. Our kind are mortal enemies. How could I possibly be your mate?

I don’t know, but my wolf has already made his decision. You’re ours.

Not even her frown could mar her beauty as she looked at me in bewilderment. What would you do if I released you from my control? she asked.

I’d ask you to come with me and help me take Killion down, I replied.

She knew I couldn’t lie while I was beneath her control, but she still seemed doubtful. Taking a few steps back again, she withdrew her vampiric charisma from me.

Now back in control of myself again, I looked at her for a few seconds before holding my hand out. I’m Nick, I said as if we were just meeting for the first time. Who are you?

Looking at my hand in bemusement, she placed hers in mine. My attraction for her strengthened at her touch. I am Freya, she said.

I shook her hand, then released it. So, Freya, why are you here in Denver?

For the same reason you are. I have been tracking Killion for fifty years. I learned he was in the US and I came here to look for him. I heard he owned a nightclub in Denver, but it’s been closed down and he appears to be gone.

While I couldn’t read minds, I had a feeling she was telling me the truth. Her face twisted when she said Killion’s name. She had a grudge against him, just like I did. We both want him dead, so why don’t we team up to take him down? I suggested.

Freya looked me up and down in amusement. How old are you, Nickolas?

Almost twenty-three, I replied with a shrug. But I’ve been training to become a PIA agent since I was five.

You’re so young, she mused quietly. You’re just a babe compared to me.

Just for the record, I don’t care about age gaps, I said with a charming smile. I don’t have a problem becoming mated to an older woman. Brynn was going to gloat her butt off when I came home with the vampire who was destined to become my wife. Any reservations I’d had about being tied down to one woman had vanished the moment our eyes had met.

Her frown returned at my cocky reply. Vampires don’t take mates, she said dismissively.

I’ll change your mind about that while we’re hunting the leeches, I said with supreme confidence.

Why should I agree to aid you? she asked. I hunt alone.

We’ll have a far better chance of catching our target if we team up, I pointed out. I know where he was last seen and it’s a long way from here.

Debating about it for a few seconds, Freya nodded reluctantly. Very well, Nickolas. I agree to be your partner during this hunt.

My heart quickened and she frowned again when she heard the rapid beat. Just hearing the word ‘partner’ from her lips was a joy to my ears. I held my hand out and she looked down at it mistrustfully. Epsilon can take us to the place where we last saw Killion, I said in a coaxing tone.

Who is Epsilon? she asked in confusion, then her eyes widened when the mouse stuck his head out of my pocket. It’s a zombie, she said in realization.

You might want to keep your eyes and mouth shut, I warned her and reached over to take her hand. She had enough time to squeeze my fingers in alarm, then we descended into the ground.

Chapter Three

WE SURFACED NEXT TO the highway where Alex had been kidnapped by Tyson Jabari. I almost smacked myself in the forehead when I realized I’d left my duffle bag behind.

Freya released my hand and took a couple of seconds to compose herself. It’s disconcerting to travel beneath the ground like that, she murmured. I figured she’d been enlisted to join the war to take down the demons a few years before I’d been born. Most vamps had been too bamboozled by my parents to remember much about it.

Can you go back to Denver and get my duffle bag? I asked my zombie. Epsilon’s response was to squirm out of my pocket and drop to the ground.

How can that zombie understand you? the vampire asked.

My little sister made some of her minions smarter than usual. She gave us all our own personal helpers.

I sensed that Alex was powerful, Freya said in a disturbed tone. Yet your mother surpasses any necromancer I’ve met before.

My mom used you in the war against the demons? I asked.

She nodded and crossed her arms as if she was cold. Vamps weren’t bothered by the temperature like the living were, so it had to be for comfort. Everything changed after that fateful night, she said quietly as Epsilon returned with my duffle bag.

I left it sitting on the ground, but bent to pick the mouse up. What changed? I asked curiously, tucking my zombie back into my pocket.

Lexi Levine and her husband weakened my kind, Freya said with a scowl. "We were