Bellis: Skin Walkers Read online

  Skin Walkers:

  Bellis

  By

  Susan A. Bliler

  Copyright © 2017 by Susan A. Bliler

  www.susanbliler.com

  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  Cover fonts, spine, and back cover done by:

  Cindy Hubbard

  www.cind-e-designs.com

  Images courtesy of Shutterstock

  Editing done by:

  Leiah Cooper with

  So I Read This Book Today…

  http://soireadthisbooktoday.com/

  As always thanks to my Beta readers,

  Cindy Hubbard and AnnaLiesa Fauth

  I couldn’t do this without you two.

  Thanks for believing in me.

  ;o) ting

  This story is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidences are either products of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this publication can be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without permission in writing from Susan A. Bliler.

  DEDICATION

  For Cindy

  and

  For my Stalkerz who know what it’s like to always feel the rain.

  For my Stalkerz who are always facing something or fighting something.

  For my Stalkerz who don’t want to keep going but still wake up each day.

  “The dark’s not taking prisoners tonight.”

  I love you. I believe in you, and I have faith in you.

  Keep going. Keep fighting.

  What you need is coming.

  Stop hiding. I see you.

  Chapter 1

  Traitor!

  The sound of swaying pines creaking in the harsh wind and the light swooshing of hard flakes bouncing off the crusted snow’s surface was all Bellis StCroix could hear. Monroe’s most favored Skin Walker assassin, Bellis, had been sent to bring in a traitor. He slowly canted his head as he watched her through narrowed eyes.

  Dark-haired and pale-skinned, she was actually quite beautiful. Wavy hair, not quite as dark as the formfitting black bodysuit she wore, barely brushed her shoulders. Striking, no doubt, but it was her eyes that held his attention. Blue, but no color blue he’d ever seen. Well, almost. His own eyes were inky-black, with mere pinpoints of neon-blue in the center. Hers nearly matched the blue of his own.

  Bellis eyed her clothing. Odd. Shiny, and fitting her trim body like a second skin, it left nothing to the imagination. Her breasts were full, her hips and ass rounded, but she was fit. A warrior, if the weapons strapped to her thighs and the blood seeping from her nose were anything to go by.

  She’d come rushing from one of the dilapidated buildings mirroring several other structures in what was left of this ghosted-out mining town. Dozens of these old, forgotten towns peppered the state. That particular building held the scent of Walkers, Keepers, humans, and Megalya.

  Once the door slammed behind the female she’d thrown herself back against it as a sob wrenched from her throat. She stood staring up at the sky, her breath harsh pants that exploded in little cloud bursts in the frigid air.

  Studying her, Bellis felt an odd sensation he chalked up to disgust. Even from this distance he could scent her regret and…Walker blood. It had to be her, the person Monroe sent him for. This woman was the traitor. Monroe hadn’t said his prey would be female, and Bellis wondered at that. His natural first instinct had been to seek out a male. Hmph! You never knew what to expect when dealing with Monroe StoneCrow or Skin Walker enemies.

  Dipping his head he frowned as he watched the female, flaring his nostrils as he drank in her scent. He didn’t want to forget it, to lose it. If something happened and he couldn’t get to her now, he wanted to have her so firmly imprinted on his memory that he’d know her anywhere. Her scent, covered in the blood of his people, caused his inner beasts to stir.

  Monroe had given Bellis one clear directive. Bring the traitor to the Dominant.

  Canting his head, he balled his large hands into fists, watching the female. Someone would pay for the breach at StoneCrow, for the injured and the dead. His eyes narrowed as he watched her drop to her knees in the snow and frantically scrub her hands with fistfuls of snow. She would pay for what had been done at StoneCrow. She would pay for any injury sustained by the missing Keeper, Walkers, and human staff who had been taken.

  Decided, Bellis was about to step forward when he suddenly tensed. Out of the corner of his eye, he caught movement. He didn’t turn in that direction, didn’t even move. Just his eyes flicked in that direction before cutting back to the woman. She was still panting in the snow, trying to scrub herself clean, oblivious to the fact that now not one, but two predators were hunting her. Fucking Keepers! They wouldn’t keep him from his mission. No one would. Stepping from the dark recess where he hid, he sneered at the Keeper he knew as Hero and declared, his voice barely audible, “Mine!”

  A noise had the woman gasping, which drew both Hero and Bellis’ attention.

  A Bengal tiger, Bellis assumed one of the Keeper’s Soul Sentries, stepped into the clearing and snarled at the female.

  To Bellis’ shock, she scrambled to her feet, balling tiny blood and ice crusted hands into fists and challenged, “Run now, Walker, before you regret your decision.”

  The tiger angled his head, staring at her curiously, and Bellis made his move. It was easier than it should have been. The Keepers were confused by his actions and their own numbers. It was exactly why Bellis worked alone. The tiger reared back, lips peeling back to reveal sharp teeth as Bellis raced to the female. Behind him, he heard Hero’s muttered curse and then crashing in the brush, which told him Hero had more Keepers with him. The commotion drew the tiger’s attention.

  Bellis snatched the female, one hand clamped over her mouth as he hauled her off her feet and disappeared into the forest. He pulled a pressure syringe from between his teeth, injecting the serum into the woman’s arm before she even knew to struggle. Her dead weight was easier to handle than her fighting would have been. And just that easily, Bellis and his prize were gone.

  Chapter 2

  Hurry the fuck up! Bellis’ eyes darted to where his hostage lay unconscious on a cot in one of the cells below the stables at StoneCrow Estates. Bellis drew himself up to his full height, standing at attention facing the doors as footsteps approached. The package was delivered, the job was done, and he waited to be dismissed from assignment. Again, his eyes shot back to the woman, and traveled down her petite frame. Bellis gritted his teeth at the odd stirring low in his groin. Unconscious, she looked vulnerable, and it tugged at something deep inside of him, something that he was going to fucking ignore if it was the last damn thing he did. Still, he couldn’t deny that the figure-hugging latex suit she wore was sexy as all fuck! Once he laid her down, he’d studied her face up close only to discover that her skin wasn’t as flawless as he’d originally thought. A smattering of freckles sat high on her cheeks, but she’d covered them up with that makeup shit that women wore. It appeared to be the only makeup she had on though, because her full, pouty pink lips weren’t shiny like they were glossed, and there wasn’t any of that black shit around her eyes. Honestly, she didn’t need it. Her dark lashes were so full that they made her skin look even paler where they rested against her skin.

  Commander Remy McCabe’s frame filled the doorway.

  Bellis clipped out impatiently, “Crow?”

  Smirking, Remy shook his head. “Seems he’s not inclined to rush to interrogation.” He jerked his head over Bellis’ shoulder. “You’re to remain with the hostage until Monroe can get
free.”

  Already shaking his head, Bellis responded with a simple, “No.”

  Remy grinned. “Wasn’t a request, Sentry.”

  “Not a Sentry,” Bellis countered angrily. “An assassin. Remember that.”

  Remy snorted and stepped into the room. His eyes slid from Bellis to the unconscious traitor that Bellis’ big body had shielded from his view. “Can’t be that hard to guard a…”

  Bellis turned, nostrils flaring, as Remy’s words died off, the scent of confusion, anger, and betrayal swirling in the air. Canting his head he studied Remy as the Commander blinked in clear shock, his eyes locked on the female.

  Remy breathed out a barely audible, “Sam?”

  His recognition made Bellis tense, and when Remy stepped forward and knelt, lifting a hand to touch her cheek, Bellis ground out. “Hands off!”

  Jerking his head around, Remy’s face flushed with anger. “Fuck you! I know her!”

  Bellis couldn’t keep his nostrils from flaring repeatedly as he continued to drink in the telling scents wafting from Remy. There were many, but betrayal, anger, and hurt were fighting for dominance.

  “How?” He clipped out as his fists clenched at the many ways Remy could know this woman. He was a well-known playboy, and for some reason the thought of him knowing the woman in that fashion was infuriating, and not just because she was StoneCrow’s traitor.

  “Fffffuck!” Remy buried his hands in his hair and held on. “Sam,” he repeated again as if he couldn’t believe what his eyes showed him. He spun on Bellis, eyes narrowing to thin slits. “You’re sure?” He stood and fully faced Bellis, jabbing a finger behind him in Sam’s direction. “You’re a hundred percent fucking sure she’s the one? Maybe you’re wrong. Maybe you grabbed the wrong person.”

  Bellis’ own eyes narrowed as he regarded Remy curiously, his head slowly shaking back and forth. “Never wrong. She’s the traitor.”

  Remy paled and cursed loudly. “FUCK!” He turned back to face Sam, squatting down on his haunches. “Go out and tell Bodi to contact Monroe. Get the Dominant down here, now.”

  Bellis shook his head again. “No.” He jutted his chin toward Remy. “You tell Bodi.”

  Remy shot to his feet. “Goddamn it, Bellis! I know her! I…” He swallowed hard. “I took her to Apex! I brought her here when Sky McDonnough stole her truck!”

  Tilting his head, Bellis felt his fists tighten. “It’s your fault? The attack? The wounded? The dead? Monroe’s Angel?” His eyes cut to the female and then back. “You brought her?”

  “I didn’t know,” Remy snapped in fury. “How could I fucking know?”

  Something wicked was churning inside Bellis now, but the thought of Remy endangering Walker lives for the sake of a fuck wasn’t the main source. No, rage was simmering at the fact that Remy had endangered Skin Walkers for a sexual relationship with Sam, and there was no question that they’d been intimate. Remy kept women close for one reason and one reason alone. Everyone knew he’d been trying to fill the void left when Mason EnemyHunter mated Remy’s Amanda. Remy had unrelentingly believed his fellow Walker had stolen his Angel, but that wasn’t the case. It couldn’t have been. There had never been an affliction, which meant Amanda Chandler had never been Remy’s.

  Angered, Bellis shoved Remy aside and planted himself in front of Sam. “You risked us all for a fuck?” Even saying the words felt wrong. They felt like an attack on the defenseless female unconscious behind him, and that enraged Bellis further.

  “I was looking for my One!” Remy argued. “She wasn’t just a fuck!”

  “Charming.” The word, spoken groggily, had both men turning to stare at Sam as she used shaky arms to push her upper body off the cot. Her eyes pinched closed and she inhaled sharply as if the movement hurt.

  “Sam! What the fuck?”

  Remy took a step closer, but Bellis slammed his palm into Remy’s chest, stopping him. “Get away from the prisoner!”

  “I know her!” Remy repeated on a growl, but Bellis countered with one of his own.

  “I said,” Bellis’ lips curled back to reveal elongated incisors. “Step away from the prisoner.”

  “Boys, boys.” Sam clicked her tongue. “Tsk, tsk, tsk. Arguing over little ‘ol me?”

  “You used me!” Remy accused, glaring at her. “You fucking played me.”

  Her playful tone vanished. “You let yourself be played, Skin Walker. Worse, you were an easy game.”

  Bellis watched as angry color suffused Remy’s face.

  “Easy?” Remy balled his hands into fists. “I trusted you. I cared for you!”

  “You never cared for any of us,” Sam sneered. “You used us. We bought you time while you looked for her.” She planted both hands on the edge of the cot and glared up at Remy. “Being used doesn’t feel so good, does it?”

  Remy turned with a snarl and stalked from the room muttering, “I’m getting Monroe!”

  Bellis watched him go, then turned to frown at Sam. She was staring at him now, her head cocked as she let her eyes slide up and down his large frame.

  “Where’ve they been hiding you, handsome?”

  He growled in response.

  “Mmm,” she hunched her shoulders and feigned a shiver. “A Demon Walker. I like.”

  Bellis growled louder, peeling back his lips to bare his teeth at her. To his utter confusion, Sam smiled and then winked at him.

  Flustered, he exited her cell, slamming the door behind him as he went out to the command center. Remy was facing the wall in a trance. Bellis knew it meant he was contacting Monroe through the mist, Skin Walker telepathy. He waited.

  Finally, Remy blinked and hissed. “He’s not coming.” Turning, he faced Bellis. “You’re to remain with the prisoner.”

  Bellis shook his head.

  “She’s a fucking flight risk,” Remy argued, “and she’s your charge, so if she escapes it’s on you. You want that?”

  Fuck no. But he didn’t want to remain near Sam any longer than he needed to. He pointed at Bodi. “Put him in charge of her.”

  Bodi didn’t even look up from the monitor he was studying. “Can’t. I’ve gotta type up my daily report and get it to the Dom. No time to babysit.”

  “I’m not doing it,” Bellis ground out, but when he turned to frown at Remy, the asshole was smirking and holding a cell phone out to him. “Who is it?”

  Remy shook the phone. “Monroe.”

  Snatching the phone from Remy’s hand, he snapped his teeth, causing Remy to jerk back.

  “What?”

  He could only set his lips into a grim line as Monroe commanded he stay with Sam. Apparently, the attack on the Estate hadn’t gone unnoticed by local authorities and officials from the nearby Air Force base were coming to meet with Monroe. He didn’t have time to deal with Sam right now, and that left Bellis in charge of her.

  “She’s caged,” he argued. “There are Sentries outside the cells in the Command Center twenty-four/seven. What’s the big fucking deal?”

  “She’s the big deal,” was Monroe’s cool response. “Stay with the woman, Assassin St Croix. It’s not a request!”

  The line went dead and Bellis crushed the phone until pieces broke off and fell to the ground. Remy failed to hide a smirk before turning to walk out of Command.

  Fucker!

  Chapter 3

  Bellis paced the length of hard concrete in front of the row of cells. Sam’s eyes tracked his constant movement, but he ignored her completely. Well, he tried anyway. Her eyes on him had his hackles up. She didn’t make sense. None of this made sense. By the Gods, she was maybe five feet and a few inches, a hundred and twenty pounds at most, and her hands and fingers were so fine-boned that Bellis couldn’t understand Monroe’s over-precautions. Hell, she was locked in a cell, what harm could she do? Why was everyone so worried?

  “What are you?” she asked, her head tilted at an angle that spoke of genuine curiosity.

  She’d have to stay curious.


  Her eyes narrowed on him. “You’re like no Walker I’ve ever seen. I’d doubt you even were one if not for that halo around your throat.”

  He continued to ignore her, finally slowing to a halt when he felt the mental nudge indicating attempted communication. Eyes fixed, he listened to his instructions, then blinked before turning dark eyes on Sam. To his surprise, she smiled at him.

  “Is this the part where you kill me?” she asked mockingly.

  Three more Sentries filed into the room. Bodi stopped in front of the door to her cell, punched in the lock code, and a loud metal clang sounded as the lock disengaged. He stood aside so Bellis could enter.

  Sam tried to hide her fear. To her credit, her hands didn’t shake and her lip didn’t tremble, but he picked up the faintest scent of trepidation. The scent was so faint that the other Walker wouldn’t scent it. They weren’t like him. He was more animal than man.

  “Stand,” he commanded.

  When she slowly rose, with a liquid grace that belied her dread, he grabbed her arm and spun her to face the wall. Accepting cuffs from Bodi he quickly slapped them around her delicate wrists before pulling her from the cell and leading her to an interrogation room.

  It irked him that she was afraid, but it bothered him even more that he felt compelled to soothe her. He didn’t. Instead, he masked his features behind a dark scowl and did his duty.

  At the thick metal door, Bodi once again shielded the keypad with his body before he punched in a code that buzzed the door open. He opened it, preceding Bellis and Sam into the room. The space was large, dark, cool—and completely intimidating.

  One lone chair sat in the middle of the room, just under a hanging light that shone brightly down on the chair. Bellis led Sam over and shoved her down onto it, which earned him an irritated look.

  ***

  Sam feigned disinterest as she was marched into the interrogation room. Years of hiding her emotions from Odium and the other Megalya were invaluable right now. Still, if the demon Walker towering over her now could put his ear to her chest, he’d hear her heart attempting to smash its way out of her chest.