Dead World 3
Dead World 3: Crimson (Deadworld Trilogy)
Jordan Summers
Contents
Copyright
Back Cover Copy
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Epilogue
Thank You!
Other Dead World Titles
Copyright
DEAD WORLD 3: CRIMSON
Copyright 2013 Jordan Summers
Originally published by Tor Publishing in 2009. The book has been re-edited for re-release.
All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, brands, media, and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of various products referenced in this work of fiction, which have been used without permission. The publication/use of these trademarks is not authorized, associated with, or sponsored by the trademark owners.
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ISBN: 978-0990445425
Back Cover Copy
On the run from the law, Gina “Red” Santiago and Sheriff Morgan Hunter search for the proof needed to clear their names. Unfortunately, the danger doesn’t just lie in No-Man’s-Land. Someone close to them is about to betray them for the Other blood running through their veins.
Politician Roark Montgomery is desperate. It’s the eve of the election and he still hasn’t found the fugitives. If the information Red and Morgan have gets out to the public, it’ll destroy his career. Roark will use every resource at his disposal, even if that means bargaining with a traitor.
With enemies all around, Morgan and Red’s only option is to face the assault head on. It won’t be easy, but they know two things Roark doesn’t: Love is worth dying for. And it’s never smart to corner a hungry wolf.
1
Gina “Red” Santiago crawled out of the dark tunnel straight into the jaws of hell. The hot fetid breath of the desert hit her in the face as something growled near her ear. The hair on the back of Red’s neck stood on end.
Not bad enough that she’d been framed for murder, now she’d have to contend with being eaten alive.
The rumbling growl deepened.
Red gulped and glanced over her shoulder at the men coming out of the tunnel behind her. “Morgan?”
“Don’t move,” he said.
Morgan Hunter and Demery Wilson’s gazes were fixed on something to her left. Red’s heart stammered in her chest, as she forced herself to look at what held their attention.
Please don’t let it be a bear.
A large canid stood a few feet from her. It dipped its head and bared its teeth. Drool hung from its bottom jaw in long, liquid strings that dropped onto the sand. He was big, but he was alone. Thank goodness! Red’s relief was short-lived, as a mixed pack of canids poured over the dunes on silent feet and quickly surrounded them.
“Dung,” she muttered under her breath.
“It’s okay.” Morgan squeezed her hand, but didn’t look at her. “I’ve got this.” He rose to his feet and peeled his clothes off. His movements were deceptively unhurried.
The canid beside Red took a step back to assess the new threat.
She did a quick head count. “There are too many.”
Demery came out of the tunnel and immediately took up position on her other side, so Red was sandwiched between the two of them. He pulled his dreadlocks back and secured them at his nape.
As he stared at the circling pack, his dark chocolate-colored eyes took on a red glow and fangs pushed past his blunt teeth.
Without the ability to shape-shift, Red went for the only weapon she possessed—her laser pistol. Morgan stilled her hand before she could withdraw the weapon from its holster.
“Too noisy and far too visible at night,” he said. “We don’t want to give away our position.”
Red’s hands clenched into tight fists and her face flushed. They’d removed their indenti-chips so the satellites couldn’t track them, then she, Morgan, and Demery had slipped across the boundary fence that divided the republics from the lawless area known as no-man’s-land.
Thus far, they’d evaded Roark Montgomery and the International Police Tactical Team, but one blast from her laser pistol would change that.
She cursed under her breath at her own carelessness. Red knew better than any of them how IPTT operated. As an officer with the tactical team, it had been her job to enforce the rules.
But there were no rules in no-man’s-land. Here her tactical team training was all but useless.
The largest canid, a coyote hybrid of some kind, stilled, sensing a change in its prey. Something in the canine’s bloodline had given it added size and darker coloring from the rest.
It watched them for a few seconds, then yipped excitedly. The sound spurred the whole pack. Soon they were all barking, baying, and yipping.
Morgan watched the alpha break away from the pack. Things were about to get bloody. He’d already identified the animal as the leader. Alphas always recognized other alphas. The canine moved in for attack.
He didn’t want to hurt it if he could help it. The beast was fighting for its pack’s survival. Morgan knew a thing or two about that, but he was fighting for more than survival. He was fighting for his mate. He glanced at Gina.
The warmth and assurance he saw in her hazel eyes fueled his conviction. “Let’s do this,” he said.
Blood painted the sand crimson as Morgan’s bones snapped and his muscles reshaped. He fell to his knees and coughed. His blunt teeth tumbled out of his mouth onto the ground, before quickly being replaced with razor sharp canines.
Morgan’s hair and skin thickened over his vital organs and talons sprouted from his fingertips. He let out a pained scream that fractured into a howl, as he became more wolf than man.
The second the change was complete, Morgan took off toward the alpha, ignoring the rest of the pack. If he could take down the leader, the others would fall. He was counting on Demery to protect Gina no matter the outcome of the fight.
Morgan tackled the alpha. The impact sent them tumbling end over end. Sand flew everywhere. The moment they stopped, Morgan lunged for the canid’s ruff.
Before he could latch on, the hybrid struggled free and leapt to its feet. Its big head whipped around with surprising speed and its powerful jaws caught Morgan’s arm.
Blood welled in the beast’s mouth and it shook its head, attempting to tear off the limb.
Morgan cried out and clamped down on the canine’s ear.
The animal yelped, releasing him in the process and jerked its head away. Blood ran down the side of its face as it licked the bits of flesh from its teeth. The fur on its back rose higher and its tail stiffened, then the animal attacked again.
This time Morgan was ready for it. He felt the impact and allowed it to carry him over so he could roll the canine beneath him. Morgan grabbed hold of the alpha’s throat and sunk his sharp teeth into its neck.
Blood poured into his mouth. The coppery aroma filled his lungs, making him...hungry.
Despite his instant revulsion, Morgan swallowed the warm, tempting liquid. The sweet taste hit his system like a laser blast to the gut. A sharp rush of power followed it.
The feeling spread through him until his body trembled from the onslaught. Morgan clamped down on the animal’s throat even harder.
The alpha whimpered beneath him, but Morgan didn’t care as his senses sharpened and the world around him came to life.
What was happening to him? Was this a side effect of Raphael Vega’s vampiric blood pulsing through his wolf veins or was this something else entirely?
Fear slowly replaced Morgan’s euphoria. He had lived with his wolf through war, loss, and pain. His feral nature was as natural to him as breathing.
He didn’t know what he’d do if it went away. His wolf was what kept him bound to Gina. If Morgan lost that t
ie, then everything they’d sacrificed, everything they’d worked to protect would be for naught.
Without his wolf, who was he? What was he?
The animal stopped struggling beneath him and tucked its tail between its legs. A moment later, it exposed its abdomen in defeat.
Morgan growled low and deep, then slowly released the canine. It staggered to its feet and dropped its head in submission. The pack’s excited yipping stopped. The silence that followed was unsettling.
Morgan shifted until he could stand like a man, then made eye contact with each of the animals. In turn they ducked their heads and kept their gazes averted. He threw back his head and howled.
When Morgan finished, the pack scattered into the darkness. He slowly turned to face Demery, expecting to see the same submission.
The vampire’s red eyes glowed, then Demery grinned, flashing sharp fangs and deep dimples. “Way to go, wolfman,” he said, then clapped.
Some of the tension in Morgan’s body deflated, but not all. He grabbed a canteen and swished water around in his mouth before spitting it out, then he took a drink and swallowed.
“Is it over?” Gina asked.
“It’s done.” Demery glanced back at Morgan. “At least that part,” he amended. “I think I’m going to scout ahead. Be back in a few.”
Blood smeared Morgan’s body as he stared at Gina. He needed to see for himself that his mate was safe. Needed to reclaim what was his, so no one and nothing could ever take her away. Only then would he stand a chance of getting his beast under control.
Morgan’s body contorted. When it finished, the man Red loved was standing before her naked.
“Come here.” His guttural voice raked the air, scoring the night.
Her knees quivered and she felt her body tighten in anticipation.
“I said come here,” Morgan repeated. This time his words weren’t nearly as garbled.
Red hesitated, then slowly approached him.
Morgan circled her, much like the pack had earlier. He stuck his nose in her long, black hair and inhaled deeply. “You smell nice,” he growled.
Red wanted to point out that she was in desperate need of a shower, but one look at Morgan’s face stilled her tongue. Raw hunger etched his features and desire burned in his amber eyes, turning them molten gold. Her breath caught in her throat as she waited to see what he’d do next.
“Mine,” Morgan said, then whispered, “I need you to take your clothes off.” A plea and a demand.
Her fingers trembled as she unbuttoned her shirt. Red wasn’t scared, but she was nervous. Between fighting murder charges and Morgan’s false imprisonment, they hadn’t been able to spend a lot of alone time together.
She glanced around at the sand dunes surrounding them. Not exactly the place for this or the best timing, but Red wasn’t about to deny him pleasure—or herself. She pulled at the last two buttons and they popped off, dropping onto the ground before being swallowed by the sand.
Tension thrummed between them, creating waves of heat that electrified her nerves and ratcheted her need. Morgan’s breathing deepened and his muscles quivered.
“I’m afraid if I touch you, I’ll ravish you,” he said.
Red’s gaze locked on his mouth and she licked her lips. “You don’t see me stopping you. Do you?”
Morgan groaned. “Take off the rest of your clothes before I rip them off you.”
The air rushed out of her lungs as Red’s world narrowed on the feral male in front of her. One taste of his skin and she’d be lost. She inhaled, catching his musky scent on the hot breeze. She shucked her shirt and seductively shed the rest of her clothes.
Morgan tongued his long, sharp canines in anticipation. “I can’t wait to taste you. I’ve dreamed about it. Ached for it. I’m done waiting,” he said. “Get on all fours.”
Red’s stomach fluttered with anticipation and she dropped instantly.
The second Gina’s knees hit the sand, Morgan was on her. He pushed her onto her hands, did a quick check to make sure she was ready, then entered her. One thrust into Gina’s tight warmth and Morgan was home. The only home he’d ever need.
It seemed like forever since he’d last lost himself in her body. He trembled, caught between savage need and emotional overload. “Please forgive me,” he rasped. “I didn’t want it to be like this.”
“There’s nothing to forgive.” Gina wiggled closer.
There would be nothing gentle about this taking. Morgan was too far gone. He pulled back and drove into her. Flames raced along his spine as her tight sheath gripped him.
Morgan held her narrow waist so he could watch their bodies join as he pounded into her. He couldn’t seem to get deep enough. He wanted to crawl inside her until they were one heart, one being.
He brushed a kiss against her neck and felt Gina tremble beneath him. She pushed her long hair aside to give him better access.
At the sight of her bare skin, his canines lengthened into fangs. He should’ve been horrified, but Morgan was too out of control to care. He could smell the blood coursing through Gina’s veins. It would be sweet. One taste, that’s all he needed.
His mouth watered even as revulsion filled him. Morgan had promised himself he wouldn’t bite her again. Gina’s delicious scent wafted in the air and desire swamped him.
His gaze fastened on his mark at the curve of her neck. The mark he’d left so the world would know that he’d claimed her. He tongued the spot, licking the salty sweat from her skin.
“I’m sorry,” he murmured, but I have to…
Morgan needed to mark her again to reinforce his claim. He kissed Gina once more.
“Do it!” she demanded.
He growled, then latched onto her shoulder, biting deep where he’d bitten her the first time they’d made love.
Red gasped and her legs nearly gave out as pleasure swamped her. It had always been great between them, but tonight seemed different. More intense.
Morgan rumbled deep in his chest as his rough tongue lapped at her tender flesh. Red could hear him swallowing as he drank in her essence. Her blood set fire to something inside of him.
He moved like a beast, driving his hard flesh into her. Skin slapped heated skin, bonding two bodies, while repairing wounded souls. He needed this. She needed this.
Red needed him.
A chorus of grunts and moans punctuated his movements as Morgan conquered her flesh and laid siege to her heart. “Mine,” he ground out, taking one last drink before licking the wound to seal it. “And I’m yours.”
“Always,” she said.
Morgan cupped her sensitive flesh, then squeezed.
Red exploded on a long, drawn-out gasp, taking him with her into oblivion. Strong hands clamped down hard and he bellowed as his body jerked.
Spent, they collapsed onto the sand.
“I don’t deserve you.” The hot brush of his breath bathed her neck as tears silently fell from his eyes. His fingertips glided over her skin lovingly as if he were trying to memorize every inch of her.
Red hugged him.
“I’m sorry I bit you. I promised myself I wouldn’t, but...” his voice trailed off.
She tried to see the tender spot. “You know I love it when you bite me.”
Morgan frowned. “You don’t understand. I’m different now. I’m not sure what’s happening to me. Raphael’s blood... It’s changed me somehow. I’m a wolf, but my desires have altered.”
Red stared into his amber eyes. “You are still the man I love. I’ll take you in any form I can get you,” she said.
Morgan slid out of her.
The loss of warmth was acute.
“Just don’t ever leave me again. Okay?” She touched his cheek.