Destiny's Revenge (Destiny Series - Book 2) by Straight, Nancy (management books to read .TXT) 📕

step in Samael’s direction when Samael pushed his body off the floor. He was on his hands and knees staring directly at Seth one second then transformed into a wolf in front of them. The wolf’s teeth were bared and he was ready to lunge. At that second a single gunshot echoed from the doorway as a uniformed police officer stood wide eyed, staring at the feral animal.

The wolf turned around and charged the police officer when a second gunshot sounded. This time the wolf whimpered and abandoned his charge, moving instead to the open front door and nimbly making his way into the night.

Relief washed over me: Seth and Amanda were safe. My heart was racing, but I knew they were going to be okay, so I stepped back through the tunnel to my reality and saw that Peanut was stretched across the bench seat with his head across my lap. I looked out the windshield to see that the rain had diminished enough to continue the drive again. I took a deep breath and let the joy of Seth and Amanda’s victory wash over me. I called to Rewsna again and showed her what had just happened.

“Lauren, I am pleased they are both safe, but you must get home now. It is not safe for you exposed as you are. The Council has not been able to locate your Max. Go home so that we can find him together.”

The brief relief I felt when I knew Seth and Amanda were okay was short lived. “Rewsna, I’ll look for him now.”

Her voice was clear and not as collected as before, “No, get back to your house. Max must be safe at the moment. The Beast is capable of many things, but he cannot be in two places at once. Go back to your house. We will all be meeting there.”

Chapter 23

The tiny house I had rented was busting at the seams from all the people suddenly occupying it. I had not met most of the Council members before tonight, but I assumed anyone at the house I didn’t know must be part of the Council. Mom, Dad, Seth, Amanda, Rachael, Melissa, and Wanda were all huddled in the living room. I noticed my brother and his family were absent, Rewsna had heard my apprehension when her answer resonated in my head, “Lauren, he has a protection detail en route to him. He and his family will be fine.”

Rewsna, Mike, and the others I had not met were in the kitchen. Remembering what had happened with Joe, Max, and Benny, I heard Mike tell Peanut to check everyone out. Peanut must have understood his mission was sensitive because I watched him systematically sniff every person in the small house. He looked like any normal dog greeting a house full of guests. When he was done, he came back to me and lay at my feet, not a hair out of place or even a rumble of concern.

Rewsna stepped into the living room, “Lauren, I believe now is the appropriate time for you to share with your family and friends what you know about Samael.”

I questioned her without words, and she responded silently with a simple nod. I took a deep breath and said, “I know you have all met Samael, the private investigator that my dad hired to find me.” I looked at my dad and his eyes darted to the floor. I’m sure that my telling him Samael was a serial killer only added to his anxiety. “I’m not sure how much detail to give all of you. After everything that has gone on these last couple years, it’s difficult to put everything into words.”

Blank stares looked back at me. If I told everyone the truth, I don’t know if any among them would have the courage to accept it. Seth and Amanda looked shell-shocked, and I assumed they would be the easiest to convince. I looked into the concerned faces of the others.

There were five in the room - Mom, Dad, Rachael, Wanda and Melissa - who would think I wasn’t stable. My hesitation must have made Seth and Amanda more nervous because Amanda spoke in barely more than a whisper, “What was that thing tonight?” All eyes in the tiny room left me to look at Amanda. Her ivory skin was ghost white, the color had even drained from her lips, and her eyes showed nothing but terror. Seth put his arms around Amanda in a protective way, but he, too, looked frightened.

“That was Samael.” I looked at all the other eyes staring at me seeing a mixture of curiosity and concern. “Mom, Dad, I told you Samael was a serial killer, although technically he’s more than that.” I could see the pain shining through my dad, and I knew I had to make him understand that he played no part in any of this. “He isn’t exactly human.” I looked to Rewsna to make sure she wasn’t giving me the international signal for “Shut up.” She gave me a slight nod, indicating it was acceptable to continue on.

“Samael is some sort of shape shifter. He can become any animal he chooses.” I reached down to my side and gently petted Peanut, “Except a dog. I first met Samael while Max and I were camping. He spooked the horses, one of the horses broke free from her lead, and Max left for just a few minutes to get her.” Shivers whipped down my spine as I thought about that night so very long ago. “Right after Max left Samael walked into the campsite. He told me I could choose a quick death or a cursed life. Well, I’m still here, so I guess you all know what I chose. He shifted into a bear right there in front of me and that’s about all I remember.”

Wanda was a woman with brute strength and no time for