Deadly Clover

Prologue:

“God damn shifters! I didn’t sign up for this shite,” I hissed glancing around the pub irritably. Two of them were moving around the single pool table lining up a shot. I walked over ignoring the heavy drunken glances of the barflies. The tallest of them was aiming the eight and I slammed my dagger down into the slate blocking the pocket.
“Clover,” the bartender barked and I glared at him sharply.
“Since when did ya start lettin’ the mutts in Danny boy?” I demanded looking at the tall shifter.
“They’re militia Clover,” Danny sighed,”American team of the Forged.”
“Da pub is supposed to be mutt free,” I reminded him jerking the dagger up.
“You got a problem with that?” the shifter growled curling his lip high to the side showing fangs. Even in human form I knew a shifter when I saw one nothing they could do to hide those animal eyes. He was a feline mix, pardus.
“You think you can take me boy-o? I’d like to see you try.” I spat twirling the dagger easily. He held up a hand extending a claw out of his middle finger.
“Clover,” Danny warned and I slammed the dagger into its holder looking back at him.
“Tell Crimson I’ve got da perimeter tonight,” I called moving toward the two American shifters. My eyes skipped over the smaller male, he was lion mixed. Cats, are so much worse, they allowed their sex appeal to drive them. These two reeked of sex.
“Clover,” Danny called and I stopped in front of the pardus wondering for the umpteenth time why the hell these ex-marines agreed to be spliced. Sure we had a war on our hands but to throw away your humanity just so you could fight beasts at an advantage. The pardus moved towering me with his height and I looked up sharply letting my emerald eyes shimmer with the true Irish fury. “Uh, you’d better back off solider,” Danny warned the man.
The pardus’s bright blue eyes twinkled amused at the man’s request but when he saw the dual blades in my hands pressed into his soft underbelly he took a step back.
“Have a drink Clover,” Danny breathed anxiously.
“Not tonight Danny boy, when you get da smell of mutt out of da pub maybe,” I replied sheathing the daggers at my hips. “You gonna step aside soldier boy?”
“If I don’t,” he rumbled crossing his arms.
“Then I don’t mind makin’ ya another causality of war,” I assured pushing him hard making him fall back on the ground. I walked over him glaring down at him as he blatantly looked up my short plaid skirt. “Better warn Crimson Danny-boy,” I alerted stepping out of the pub into the cool night air.
Chapter 1:

I heard the man ask Danny if all Irish girls were such bitches. I smirked when Danny answered that I was the nice one. It was true though Crimson would have killed him with a smile.
I walked away into the dark letting the stink of the cats leave my nose. I looked around the dimly lit village with disgust. This was a safe zone walled up tight from the beasts that hunted us. Five years ago this was a thriving city but now. I sighed walking to the perimeter.
“Clover,” a deep voice rumbled and I blinked up.
“Hey Kieran,” I breathed looking up at the mountain of a man. I met Kieran six months ago when Crimson and I made it to this little slice of haven called Saoirse. He was a blessing and a curse a true Irish man with a thick mane of red hair and bright blue eyes hidden in a face of freckles. I liked him well enough but he also convinced Crimson and me to join the Forged Marines.
We are an elite team of fighters against mankind’s big mistake. Sometimes science just goes too far. A breakthrough cure came out using Xenobiotics, it was a medicine that mixed animal immune systems and organs for human use but they didn’t fully understand the side affects.
The humanoid genome shifted into a massive force within the host body. It turned the infected taller than normal by a good two feet, heavier and all muscle with dense skin that was damn near impossible to penetrate short of titanium blades or bullets, and insatiable nocturnal killers. Cities were destroyed and survivors were forced into safe zones.
Those of us who could fight joined up with the Forged but some of the higher up military officials decided to give mankind a better advantage by splicing soldier DNA with animals making them shifters. I hate shifters.
“Rough night?” Kieran queried studying me sharply.
“Danny’s got some shifters,” I replied blankly.
“The American militia,” Kieran nodded.
“You could have warned me Kieran,” I barked, “and I hope ta hell you warned Crimson.”
“You’re gonna have to get used to shifters sometime Clover,” he sighed. “They are here to aide us. They’ll be going on the raid with us tomorrow.”
“Take the men then, Crimson and I don’t like shifters,” I stated flatly.
“Awe you don’t even know me lass,” the pardus purred from behind him and I struck without thought slicing the meat of his bare stomach. He jumped back hissing wildly.
“Clover stand down,” Kieran barked stepping between us blocking the panther from my view. “They are allies.”
“They are beasts,” I spat. “You wanna trust dem wid your life dats your call. He comes near me again and Forged or not he’s one dead puddy tat.”
“Clover you forget your place,” Kieran warned. “I’m ordering you to stand down soldier.”
I spun the knife slamming it back home irritably before falling into attention with my hands clasped behind my back.
“I’d hate to think that my sister’s in trouble,” Crimson purred appearing from the blackness of night like a banshee. Her bright red hair and sharp blue eyes were more that a tip off that we had no true relation. I was ebony and emerald but we were Irish sisters born in the blood of saving each other’s asses.
“Crimson,” Kieran breathed stepping back near the pardus blocking him completely from us.
“I can smell the cat,” she stated flatly her disgust was plain in her voice. “You have a name soldier boy?”
“Orion,” he answered heatedly stepping around Kieran.
“Is there a reason you are following my sister Orion, soldier of the American Forged?” she questioned sharply.
“We have unfinished business,” he replied flatly.
“You are a shifter,” she stated darkly. “You have no business with a human.”
“Crimson,” Kieran sighed.
“Am I wrong captain?” she demanded harshly. “Is there legitimate reason that a pardus should be stalking a human member of the Irish Forged?”
Kieran dropped his gaze uncertainly and I felt a stab of pity for him. It was hard to stand up to Crimson on a good day but she would have this soldier tried for intended rape or worse to see him dead.
“I wasn’t stalking her,” Orion interjected and Crimson threw him a sharp glance.
“So my sister cut you for no reason then?” she asked and this time Orion dropped his gaze.
“I startled her,” he admitted softly.
“Drop it Crims,” I breathed and her ice blue eyes struck mine. “I was gonna do da perm tonight.”
“That’s the third night this week,” she murmured looking at me. “I believe Kieran will agree it’s my turn.”
Kieran looked up at me hesitantly. “You need to sleep sometime kid,” he admitted gently.
“Are d’ose your orders den captain?” I demanded irritably.
“Aye lass, stand down Crimson can take watch,” he nodded looking apologetic.
“Right-o,” I breathed looking at Crimson’s sharp gaze. “Watch your arse then girlie.”
“It isn’t my ass that needs to be watched,” she replied glaring at Orion pointedly. “I assume your business is finished and you are returning to your quarters near the west perimeter.”
“We aren’t on duty tonight,” he answered darkly. His dark blue eyes hit mine and I stiffened.
“Never the less it’s dangerous to be wandering around at night especially for your kind,” she hissed and I felt the unspoken statement. If she caught him alone she’d kill him.
“I’m headin’ out,” I murmured glancing up at him. “You wanna finish dis boy-o come on.”
“Clover,” Kieran snapped and I threw up both hands showing they were empty.
“Da boy can handle himself can’t ya lad?” I asked flatly.
“Clover dear,” Crimson purred and I looked back at her.” They aren’t worth it.” Kieran looked slightly relieved thinking she meant that they weren’t worth fighting but I knew she meant they weren’t worth saving.
“Night,” I replied walking past him. He turned following me through the city easily.
“She’s a killer your sister,” he murmured when we got a few blocks away.
“Aye she’d kill ya if you’re out alone, so do yourself a favor boy-o, don’t be out alone,” I replied flatly.
“You gonna walk me home to keep me safe then sweetheart?” he purred and I went still turning on him with both blades drawn.
“Dis isn’t a game soldier boy. Dis is war. Dis is death. Your kind disgusts me and I dunna want you in dis town,” I spat.
“We didn’t lose humanity just because we can shift,” he stated darkly.
“Aye ya did,” I growled. “You’re new pardus but in a year, maybe two, your beast’ll be da only thing controllin’ your mind. You already stink of sex ‘cause you cunna control his urges.”
“It’s true the earlier shift projects lost some of themselves but the procedures have been perfected since then. I’m not losing my humanity. I haven’t had sex with anyone. Anything you smell would just be pheromones,” he retorted.
“Well la ti da,” I hissed. “Call your friend boy-o and get to your quarters before shift change. If you don’t want to die before you prove your point.”
“I said we have unfinished business and I meant it,” he replied and I saw the glint of his claws come out. “You embarrassed me and cut me lass. I think this is in order.”
“You wanna fight me boy-o?” I smirked twirling the blades mockingly.
“The name’s Orion,” he rumbled swiping high and low. I jumped back flipping onto my hands kicking at his claws as I pushed off the ground swinging the blades near his healed abdomen. He pulled his stomach in taunt and the blades just missed as I landed back on my feet. “You’re good Clover isn’t it?”
“Dat’s one name,” I nodded.
“Orion,” a deep voice barked and he retracted his claws jumping a distance away agilely.
“Malachi,” he grinned looking at the lion from earlier.
“Our orders do not involve fighting with these females,” he announced coolly. “I’m told this Crimson would kill us upon sight. Return to quarters immediately.”
“Malachi I . . .” he murmured.
“No,” the man stated serenely. “She is off limits no exceptions. I apologize for disturbing your evening Miss Clover. The pub is all yours,” he called watching me with gentle golden eyes.
“Your friend has a score to settle Malachi,” I murmured darkly. “I don’t mind proving us humans can face beasts without becoming one.”
“Perhaps,” Malachi shrugged, “another time when your sister isn’t on duty.”
“One minute,” Orion begged glancing at me with a strange hopeful look in his dark blue eyes. Malachi looked at me before nodding turning his back to us in watch for the terror he knew lurked in the night. Orion prowled toward me holding out his clawless hands in no threat. I returned the blades to their holders and held out my own hands as he neared.
He grabbed them swiftly tugging me into his sweaty upper body making me cringe. “I knew I scented something from you,” he cooed dropping his head and breathing in along my neck slowly. “Come on the raid tomorrow Clover. I’d love the opportunity to watch your ass.”
I brought my knee up high and sharp hitting him square in the balls and he groaned dropping his head and kissing the hollow of my neck beneath razor sharp teeth.
“Not nice,” he moaned, “but you taste good.”
“Enough,” Malachi warned and as quick as he held me he was gone the two of them disappearing into the darkness easily.
Damn I hate shifters!