Page 52 of Reaper
All of the shifters told her that she had done better than they did when they first turned, but she put pressure on herself to do better and she should have progressed further along.
She wondered whether Liv had the answers, and while Reaper was distracted, she headed to talk to her friend.She had missed spending time with Liv, and as she made her way to the lab, she felt guilty that her training and sequestering herself away with Reaper at night had allowed her to neglect her friendship.When she reached the bottom of the stairs, she smiled as she watched Liv dashing around her lab.
“Hi, Livvy.”Ara smiled.
“Not you, too,” Liv groaned.
Ara laughed and pulled the small vampire into her arms.She was grateful that she fell into her arms without resistance, and smiled.
“I was kidding.I see your face every time Jade calls you that, and couldn’t resist.”
Liv snarled at her and Ara laughed again.Although she was a vampire, Liv wasn’t even close to vicious, although she tried.
“What are you doing?” Ara asked.
“Comparing how your blood differs from when you were human.I had a small sample of my blood from when I was human, but I drew several vials from you before you turned, so I’m recording the changes that I find.”
“Will my blood be able to tell you why I can’t shift as quickly as Reaper?”
Sensing her worry under the innocuous question, Liv reached for her hand and squeezed.
“From what I learned, each shifter is different, but no one takes to shifting quickly for the first few years.I think because it’s a huge physical adjustment; your bones are lengthening, teeth and claws extend, and your body is covered with fur that makes the shift hard at first.Your body will get used to it.Until then, don’t worry so much.You’re strong in both wolf and human form.”
“I knew that I would feel better talking to you.”
Liv squeezed her hand before she went back to the microscope and peered at the slide.Before Ara could pull up a chair and help Liv record the results, they both sensed tension in the house.Heavy footsteps thudded above them, and they both glanced at the stairs as Reaper and Kai darted downstairs.Reaper pulled her into his arms and squeezed.
“What’s wrong?” Ara asked.
“The perimeter alarms were tripped.Jade and Gunnar are out doing recon.Let’s go up to the central hub and see if we can spot movement.”
Within minutes, they watched as men dressed in black, military style garb, holding a various array of guns, surrounded the house.One man stood out, dressed in an impeccable dark-gray suit, bright blue tie, and designer shoes.He smiled at the camera.
“Do you recognize him?”
“I’ve never seen his face, but yes, I think it’s him.He likes high-end suits, and the shoes look familiar.”Ara swallowed.Ara turned to Kai and found Liv had left.“Where’s—”
“Locked in her lab.”
Relief flooded through Ara.
The other assassins flooded the room, and each silent as they assessed the situation.Ara took a split second, and counted at least thirty mercenaries, who were heavily armed.She didn’t know how many were in the surrounding mountains, but she knew that the man would know who he would be up against, and be prepared.
“Technically, we can’t kill them until they engage us or step foot inside the house with intent to harm.I have instructed Jade and Gunnar to surveil only, not engage.Until we know the entire situation, we should wait to see what they do,” Ghost said.
For long minutes, they watched as the men stood outside, not making a move toward the house.She didn’t know what they were waiting for.This was the exact situation she feared, but she had been trained by the best, and she knew that she would do her best to protect Reaper and the others from the monster outside.
Jade appeared silently.“Those men on the screen are all he brought.We aren’t surrounded, and from what I gather, they don’t have backup.Gunnar and I set up more sensors, in case.”
Ara kept her eyes on the screen during Jade’s report.She narrowed her eyes when the man in the suit broke off from the mercenaries and walked a couple of steps forward.
He paused before he held up a hand.His face turned away from the camera and he motioned for five of the soldiers to step forward.They flanked him, two on the right, two on the left, one who shadowed his back.He continued his casual stroll to the front door and without pause, knocked.
“It’s time,” Reaper sneered.
Ara nodded.No matter what happened, she would be free.
