Dark War Chronicles Box Set One by A. L. Kessler Read Free Book Online Page B

friend would have done with that information? Put another silver bullet in me, and let me tell you how pleasant that is.” Kass snapped and put the broom away. While in the back room she grabbed her coat and bag, reminding herself that to go against Mae meant going up against Lucius. She growled as she spotted the trash by the back door.
    “I’m going to take the trash out.” Without waiting for an answer she gathered the three bags and pushed through the door.  The door clicked shut and a soft growl echoed through the alley as a hand curled around Kass’ wrist. She let the bags clatter to the ground as she turned her head to face her assailant.
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    Chapter Four
    J ax jumped and raised a brow when Kass ripped her arm away from him and swiveled, one foot in front of the other, fists up for a fight. He held his hands up. “I didn’t mean to startle you, I just wanted to see you before you went back to the mansion.”
    “Go away.” She glared at him and picked the trash back up to throw it out. He went to help her, but she pushed him away. She didn’t want him closer right now; not with the way her beast responded. “Don’t need your help, I need you to go so that I don’t get in trouble.”
    She saw the way his face fell when he sighed. “Okay, fine.” He muttered and headed down the alley. She relaxed when he disappeared around the corner and then she walked to the opposite end where the dumpsters were. Grumbling, she threw the bags in the dumpster. A gust of wind caught her hair, bringing the familiar scent of Jax for an instant, but then a stronger scent made her freeze, another male she recognized. No, no, what is he doing here. Her beast stirred in panic, both halves of her knowing that the only way she would survive an attack would be if she could shift.
    A large panther came from behind the dumpster, crouched low as he stalked her. Kass shuffled backwards, keeping her eyes on the cat in front of her. She tried to coax her panther out, but she didn’t have the control to bring her beast over the edge and out. Her heart thudded against her chest as she realized she needed to shift and break the barrier placed on her.
    He pounced, taking her to the ground. Claws tore into her flesh as she screamed and tried to get her knees between them. She struggled, shifting one up, then the next and she pushed at him, calling on the strength of her beast and forcing the male off her and into the middle of the alleyway.
    She ignored the blood dripping down her shoulders, the pain helped feed her beast as she worked on drawing it out. “I don’t know what you’re doing here Garret, but you need to leave.”
    Her half brother’s tail flickered as he growled. He crouched again, not hindered by how she threw him away. He stalked from side to side, keeping her trapped where she was. 
    Panic sliced through her as he bared his teeth. Come on stupid cat, shift. Her panther gave her a wave of pain as it tried to obey her but it did nothing except cause her to stumble.
    Garret rushed her and slammed her into the wall before he locked his jaw around her leg. He yanked her to the ground and tried to drag her down the alley.
    The new pain and the scent of more blood caused Kass’ panther to try harder to escape. A strangled cry left her throat and she kicked at Garret’s head. With each blow, his teeth tore down her leg.
    “What the hell!” Mae’s voice boomed through the alley, causing the struggling pair to freeze.
    Garret roared at the vampire, letting go of Kass’ leg. She pulled herself up, using the wall to help support her. Her vision blurred and spots danced, distorting the images in front of her. I will not pass out, I will not pass out. She tried to focus her gaze on Garret. His hind legs tensed and his tail twitched.
    “Mae, run!” Kass snapped a moment before Garret pounced, but the vampire was prepared. The glimmer of silver caught Kass’ attention, the large panther roared as it