Dark Dawning (Totem Book 1) Read online

  “It’s really gorgeous. I like the colors and modern feel, but…” He turned in a slow circle, taking it all in.

  Okay, here it was. Was he expecting some tacky fishing trophy on the wall? Or maybe an old quilt on the back of the couch? If he liked her dad’s place, then this wasn’t for him.

  Ametta set her boots aside and stood with her hands on her hips. Let’s see which it would be.

  “Do you even live here?”

  She blinked and furrowed her brows. “Of course I do.”

  “Is your bedroom upstairs a mess?”

  “What? No.”

  Lucky held out his hands, gesturing to her house. “Yeah, this place is nice, but it feels like no one lives here. Where are the signs of everyday life? How about pictures of your family? Or maybe a table with all your designs spread over it? Life. Fire. You’re full of it, but it’s not reflected here.”

  “What do you mean?” Ametta stomped into the middle of the room. “It’s all me. How the colors go together, the lines and design of each piece, the original artwork.”

  “It’s beautiful, yes, but you don’t really live here. It feels too much like a showroom rather than a home. Makes me think your heart is somewhere else.”

  It was! It was as far away from Alaska as she could get, and damn him for noticing after being in her place for only a few seconds.

  None of it mattered. Why should she care if Lucky liked her house? She wasn’t trying to impress him. And the ache in her chest meant nothing. “I’m going to take a shower.”

  Lucky snagged her upper arm as she went to leave the room and tugged her against him. He bent his head forward, his gaze piercing into her as he caressed her cheek. “What are you running from?”

  Him. How did he get past her defenses so quickly?

  “Nothing.” She swallowed. “I’m running toward something. Toward my dreams. Alaska isn’t big enough for them.”

  “Alaska’s plenty big enough, baby.” His lips hovered less than an inch from hers. “You can make anything happen if you want it enough.”

  Her stomach quivered as molten heat zipped through veins. She shut her eyes. So close to kissing him. It surprised her how much she wanted it. If she just stood on her toes a little…

  “I am making them happen. Just not here.” Ametta turned from him and rushed up the stairs before he could see her face. Even more so, so she couldn’t see his face.

  The Whiskey Cask sat heavily between a dance club and coffee house. The restaurant was over a century old and a tourist attraction. The food wasn’t great, but their drinks brought in the most cultured connoisseur.

  It wasn’t a place Ametta frequented. All that dark wood and the liquor soaked counters screamed Alaska. Not surprisingly, Lucky knew the hostess on duty.

  “Hi, Daisy. Is Avery around?” His smile oozed suggestiveness.

  Ametta hated the way the other woman looked at him. Those sparkling eyes fluttering without an ounce of timidity. Waitresses and patrons stared at him alike. What they didn’t know was that she could have had him in her shower earlier if she really wanted.

  “Hey, Lucky. Haven’t seen you here in a while.” Daisy puckered her overly painted lips at him. She leaned toward Lucky and completely ignored Ametta. “Avery hasn’t been in for a while. Like two months. No one’s seen her or even heard a thing. Big boss man still hasn’t replaced her yet. Not that we were friends or anything, but I heard she was involved with a married man and ran off with him.” She smiled and twirled a red curl around one finger. “But I can help you with anything you need.”

  I bet you can. Ametta rolled her eyes and tugged on Lucky’s arm. “Thanks for your help. We really just wanted to see Avery.”

  Ametta didn’t even wait to hear a reply. She strode out of the restaurant and breathed in the fresh air. Lucky exited right behind her.

  “Why’d you rush out? We could’ve stayed for something to eat. Maybe asked a few of the waitresses if they knew anything. Daisy and Avery—”

  “Weren’t friends. Yes, I heard her. I suspect Daisy doesn’t have many female friends with the way she was acting.” She regretted it as soon as it came out of her mouth. Maybe her sisters called her a bitch sometimes, but she always minded herself around others. More so, she didn’t want Lucky thinking she was jealous.

  “Don’t worry, hot stuff. She’s not my type.” He moved in a little closer to her. Oh, yeah. There’s that grin. It was exactly what he was thinking.

  Ametta put a hand on his chest to make sure he didn’t move closer. He radiated heat under that flannel shirt. That hard, muscular chest. Maybe she should take him shopping and buy him some decent clothes.

  “Anyway,” she said, forcing herself to focus. “It really shouldn’t have been a surprise that Avery has left her job. Likely she left her home too. So it wouldn’t do us any good to go to her apartment. The married man angle is interesting, but unlikely. We do know it’s about a man, though.”

  “The bastard.” Lucky’s chest rumbled.

  “She likely lives with him, and he has to have a cabin somewhere. A grand place to show off his trophies. It can’t be far if she has to carry things.” Ametta tapped her chin with a finger. “I wonder if all the disappearances have happened in the Matanuska-Susitna Valley.”

  “That’s a lot of land. We can’t exactly hop in the car and go driving around checking out all the cabins.” Lucky shook his head. His hands fisted at his sides.

  “And it’s not likely one we could drive to.” Not that it would narrow down their search at all.

  The restaurant door opened and swung closed behind her. Someone called out Lucky’s name. Ametta turned with him and frowned at the brunette bouncing towards them.

  “Excuse me. Hi. I’m sorry, but I heard you were looking for Avery?” The waitress shifted from foot to foot, glancing between the two of them.

  “Yes. I’m Lucky Osberg. This is Ametta Dorn. Do you know anything that might help us?” He held out a hand, and she shook it.

  She turned to Ametta with wide eyes. “Ametta Dorn. Wow. I’m Cassie Jones. I really love your work. I’m studying graphic art right now, and one of my teachers, Nathan George, mentions you a lot.”

  Ametta smiled and lifted her chin. “Yes, Nathan. He was fantastic.” At least this woman was a smart one. “And thank you, Cassie. What can you tell us?”

  “Well…” Cassie paused to glance back at the door and then lowered her voice as she continued, “I got along with Avery really well. She was working with me for an ad campaign. The Cask has been booking more and more weddings in the past few years, so she wanted to do something along those lines. Lots of couples come in and look around, but there was one back in March. They made Avery scared. Not that she said so, but I could see it. She’s usually very cool and confident.”

  Cassie tucked her hair behind her ears. “So, the guy, he was really staring at her. Like he really wanted her. Not that I believe Avery was the type to sleep with a married, or soon-to-be married guy, but there was something going on. I only remember this because Avery was really bothered by them. She wasn’t the type to get jumpy with anxiety, but she startled at every shadow for a few days afterward.”

  “Can you remember their names?” Ametta mentally crossed her fingers.

  “No, sorry.” Cassie shook her head. “I know I shouldn’t be talking about patrons either, but Avery’s been gone for a while. She doesn’t have any family except a couple of cousins, and while they filed a report, nothing came out of it.”

  That wasn’t unusual either. Alaska had the highest rate of missing persons in the US. And if no one thought any crime was involved, investigators wouldn’t likely spend a lot of resources on the case. If the cops talked to Daisy, they’d just assume Avery ran off with a married guy. Really, what Avery was doing was going on a killing spree with a possibly engaged man.

  “We’ll find her if we can.” Lucky placed a hand on Ametta’s shoulder.

  “Thank you.” Cassie’s shoulders drooped as i
f a hundred-pound pack was just taken from her shoulders.

  “Did the couple leave an address or a number for Avery to call? I know you said you didn’t remember their names, but maybe there was a file or even a note in Avery’s calendar for the appointment.” Ametta guessed that any good manager would have a daybook or something like that.

  “I can check, if you don’t mind waiting a minute?” Cassie hurried back inside.

  Lucky stared off into the distance toward the mountains. “Nothing about this sounds right. Why would she just up and disappear? Why not tie off all loose ends first?”

  Because she didn’t want to deal with the goodbyes. It was just easier to up and leave.

  Ametta could sympathize. Everyone would protest. Those who loved living in Alaska couldn’t understand why anyone would want to leave. Not that Avery had left Alaska…

  “Maybe it was sudden. She might not have planned to go off the grid so soon.” She shrugged. Everything was just a theory at the moment. “Or perhaps someone else got close to figuring out she was killing shifters.”

  “Could be.” Lucky nodded and continued to gaze off in the distance.

  Cassie came back five minutes later and handed Ametta a folded piece of paper. “I couldn’t find anything. The logbook only had a tour written down for that time. No names. I wish I could help out more.”

  “You’ve helped us tremendously, Cassie. Thank you.” Ametta shook her hand. She peeked at the paper to see it was a scanned work photo of Avery.

  “I hope you find her.” Cassie gave them a small smile. “I don’t know why you came into the Cask, but if you were hoping for a tour for your wedding too, Renee’s doing them now. You two make a really cute couple.”

  “Thanks.” Lucky waved at the waitress as she jogged back to work. He grinned at Ametta. “That’s one smart gal there.”

  Heat crept up her neck. Ametta shook her head as if that could chase it away. “Smart maybe, but not terribly intuitive.” She sighed. “Maybe I should’ve asked her what the couple looked like. I’ve seen the guy, but—”

  “That’s not her.” Lucky plucked the photocopy from her hand and opened it fully. “That’s not the woman who was hunting me.”

  “I’m absolutely certain it’s not the same woman.” Lucky stated for the fifth time. “I thought I might not have caught her scent as well as the man’s, and I might have been mistaken, but I know women’s bodies. These two aren’t the same.”

  Ametta shot him a look and then directed her glare back to the road. He knew women’s bodies? Did he realize what a womanizing ass he sounded like?

  “And what you saw was definitely a golden eagle?” Kinley’s tense voice echoed in the car from the cell’s position on the dashboard.

  “Yes.” Ametta pressed down on the accelerator as the slow car in front of them turned onto a side road.

  “The man was human?” Kinley questioned.

  “Yes!” Ametta groaned. “We’re sure of it. I could smell it. Lucky could smell it. I’m sure any of the Meyers who were there would confirm it.”

  “So if it isn’t Avery, it’s another eagle shifter. That means they likely killed Avery.” Kinley grew quiet.

  Which meant they were back to square one. Ametta wanted to scream. The thought that anyone would kill someone was terrible, but a shifter killing a shifter? That was abhorrent. And why couldn’t the Black Shamans find these murderers? That was their job. These hunters eluded Azarius and Saskia. She would have never thought such a thing possible. Unless…

  No. She wasn’t even going to go there. Saskia was fine.

  “Ask Dad about other eagles. We’ll make a list and go from there. We’ll be there in about half an hour.” Ametta said goodbye to her sister and hung up. At least Kinley and her dad were safe in the cabin. Kunik grumbled about being ordered to stay in bed, but he must have been really hurt to listen to Kinley when she told him.

  Dad had almost died. Her throat constricted, making the knots of her emotions hurt even more so.

  And now he was stuck in bed with only Kinley in the house with him.

  Just the two of them. The injured old bear and the pacifist. Easy targets.

  “Oh my fucking god!” Ametta floored the pedal, and the force jerked both her and Lucky back in their seats.

  “What the hell?” Lucky stomped an imaginary brake.

  “They’re going after Dad and Kinley!” Ametta wished the car could go faster. Her knuckles turned white with her grip on the steering wheel.

  “Take a deep breath and slow down, baby. It was only a few hours ago that they were at the Meyers’ farm. They have a fresh kill to keep them occupied doing whatever sick thing they’re going to do. Your family’s okay.” Lucky patted her thigh and gave it a squeeze.

  Her foot eased off the gas a little, but her heart still hammered. He was right. Her father and Kinley were safe. Saskia would come home and be pissed she missed out on the action at the farm. Everything would be all right.

  She drew in a deep, quivering breath. Dammit. If anything happened to them, any of them…

  “You’re good. Everything’s fine.”

  Ametta turned to look at Lucky. The urge to crawl onto his lap and let him wrap his strong arms around her again surged through her. So easily he managed to comfort her. That soft baritone and his gorgeous, sympathetic eyes. He didn’t make her feel weak. He gave her strength, confidence, and a desire to jump his bones.

  Lucky squeezed her leg again and smiled. Oh, to kiss those succulent lips.

  “Watch out!” He screamed and lunged for the steering wheel.

  Ametta snapped her head around in time to see the moose on the road. There was no way to avoid it. Lucky yanked the wheel to the left, and the animal hit mostly on his side.

  Glass shattered. The car veered into a ditch and turned on its side. The moose screamed.

  The sounds alone tore at Ametta’s insides. The screeching of car and animal. Crunching, snapping, gushing.

  This couldn’t be happening. Not now.

  Lucky’s arm flopped into her chest. His body hung limply above her, still strapped in his seat with the belt. Blood streaked his face.

  The moose lowed, a mournful cry. How could it still be alive? No, she. She didn’t have any antlers. Imagine if it had been a bull. The antlers would’ve skewered them.

  “Lucky.” Ametta’s own voice startled her. She could talk. Shrill as her voice was. “Lucky!”

  He didn’t reply. Was he even breathing?

  “Lucky!” She fought with her buckle. Why wasn’t it coming undone?

  No, no, no. He couldn’t be dead. He was a fire bear. A hero. He survived being hunted and shot. He deserved better. His death should be of old age in his bed surrounded by loved ones. Not by some fucking moose in the road!

  Finally she undid her belt. She pushed the airbag away from her. When had that gone off? She didn’t remember. Her vision blurred for a few seconds.

  She couldn’t pass out. She wasn’t allowed.

  Please, Lucky. She choked back a sob. Her heart twisted. When had she come to care so much?

  Ametta rolled to her knees. Her window was unbroken, but flushed against the muddy ground. She raised her hand to touch his face. So hot.

  She leaned her face in close to his. Warm breath. He was still alive.

  “Thank God,” she muttered as tears poured down her face.

  The moose cried again but fast lost volume. One of her long legs kicked uselessly at the air.

  “I’m sorry, moose. So sorry I hit you.” If Ametta had a tribute for the animal, she’d lay it out. The poor soul was dying painfully. No one deserved that.

  Okay. Focus. She had to get Lucky out of the car and call for help. Her cell had to be somewhere in there. The dashboard was shredded, but the phone might have survived.

  Ametta pushed back her seat and crawled to the rear end of the car. While the front was demolished, the back was seemingly in perfect shape. She pushed open the hatch and checked her emergency
bag. Flares, first aid kit, a knife, water, and a blanket.

  Using the blade, she cut Lucky’s seatbelt and eased his fall. There was nothing she could do to stop it, but he didn’t wake any which way. The moose fell silent as she dragged Lucky through the car and out the back to the edge of the road. She bundled him up with the blanket before crawling in to find her phone.

  She discovered it under her seat with a cracked screen and cursed. Busted.

  No more crying. This road was the main one to Wasilla. Someone would be along soon. As much as she wanted out of the state, Alaskans always stopped to help. She’d never had to change a flat tire in her life.

  Ametta washed and cleaned Lucky’s wounds. None of the cuts were deep, thankfully, and the few spots with glass, she was able to pull the shards out. Though, if he had any internal injuries, she couldn’t tell.

  How long had it been since the collision? Fifteen minutes? Thirty? She wasn’t sure. It could have been an hour or more. Lucky’s bleeding stopped, and his cuts started to heal. She cradled his head in her lap and wondered where all the cars were.

  Lucky twitched and groaned. His handsome face scrunched up as he opened his eyes a little. “Mm. Loving this view.”

  Too relieved to slap him, she smiled. “Shut up and rest. Someone will be along in a few minutes. How do you feel?”

  “Like I’ve been put through a meat grinder.” His voice was dry and gravelly.

  “Well, you did get smacked by a moose. Any broken bones or anything?”

  Lucky tested his limbs and took in a deep breath, letting it out with a hiss. “Hurts. But I don’t think anything’s broken. Just bruised. Want to kiss me better?”

  He held up a hand as if she might try to whack him for the comment. Instead, she bent forward and lightly kissed him. Tender as it was, something warm spread throughout her body. No man had ever made her feel so immensely… immense in every wonderful way.

  She didn’t hold the kiss, too awkward with the positioning. Sitting up, she stroked his head as his gaze seemed to go between intense lust and awe.

  The drone of a distant vehicle turned her head away from him. A green pickup truck headed their way.