Chapter 14
They landed near the fireplace, and Zane had to stagger back to lean against the worn rocks. “Do you have boulders in your pockets?” he growled at the young vampire, releasing his arm.
Garrett slowly looked around, his gaze finding his sister as she stood near the kitchen. “Janie. Are you all right?” Both menace and relief echoed in the vampire’s low tone.
Janie nodded and jumped into her brother’s arms with a sigh of relief.
Jealousy, odd and unnecessary, whipped through Zane. What would it be like to have her leap at him without a care in the world, sure she could trust him and that he’d catch her? Whether the woman knew it or not, he’d never let her fall. Although his relationship with her family was surely suspect.
Man, he hoped he didn’t have to kill any of them.
He glanced at his two brothers sitting quietly at the table. The cabin wasn’t large enough for four men and one tiny human. The climate grew heavy with the sense of power and testosterone. “Everyone patched up?” Zane asked.
Logan nodded and then eyed him head to toe. “You seem . . . different.”
Sam’s head jerked up as if to scent the air. He looked from Zane to Janie and then back, his eyes lightening. “You didn’t.”
“Didn’t what?” Logan drawled, a dimple winking in his left cheek.
Zane cut them both a look to shut up.
Garrett Kayrs lifted his head and took a deep breath. Slowly and way too deliberately, he set Janie away from him. “Janie?” he asked.
Her hands fluttered together, her eyes wide. “It just happened.”
Garrett growled, his eyes flashing a bright aqua, and then rushed Zane.
Zane dropped into a fighting stance just before the vampire slammed him into the rock chimney. Shards ripped into his back and pinged off the floor. “Knock it off.” He cuffed Garrett on the side of the head the same way he would Logan before punching Garrett’s thigh and knocking him to one knee. “I have ten years of combat experience on you, kid. Wait for the right time to battle.”
Garrett shot a punch up into Zane’s groin.
Zane doubled over, waited, and then groaned when the agony hit. His eyes watered, while his temper flew. “Damn it.” He slapped his hands above Garrett’s ears, careful not to break his skull. Then he grabbed the young vampire by the nape, pivoted, and threw him across the room.
Garrett landed on the table and smashed to the floor.
Holy fuck. Zane leaned over, trying to breathe again. He’d forgotten vampires fought dirty.
“Zane!” Janie rushed forward and bent to help her brother up. A table leg rolled across the floor. “Stop hurting Garrett.”
Son of a bitch. Zane was the one with swollen balls. “Everyone calm down,” he groaned.
Garrett swore and leaped through the air at him.
Logan intercepted Garrett with a tackle a second before he hit Zane, the two young soldiers impacting the door and flying right through it. Snow billowed up and covered the floor.
“Garrett!” Janie jumped to her feet and rushed toward the outside.
Zane reached out with one arm and caught her at the waist, forcing her to a quick halt. She struggled against him. “No,” he said. “Stay away while they’re fighting.” If one of the men accidentally hit her, they could take off her entire head. They were young and out of control . . . and both defending family.
“Screw you,” she muttered, turning and aiming a punch at his dick.
He turned at the last second, but she still grazed his groin. Nausea skidded through his gut. Damn fucking Kayrs family—they all went for the balls.
The sound of punches and grunts echoed from outside, and Janie fought him hard, trying to get outside.
“Stop.” Zane was done being gentle. He picked her up by both arms and strode across the room to drop her on the bed. She bounced, her eyes on fire, fury spinning a glorious red across her stunning face. He leaned in until his nose nearly touched hers. “Get off this bed, and I’ll flip you over my knee, regardless of who’s here.”
She blinked, rage darkening her eyes to a midnight blue. Then the combative woman tried to kick him in the balls again.
He swiped her foot away from his junk and pivoted to glare at Sam, who sat on a chair in front of the demolished table, a bowl of carrots in his lap. Sam finished chewing one and swallowed. “What?”
“Stop them,” Zane ground out.
Sam shrugged. “Why? They’re evenly matched and have too much energy. Let them beat the shit out of each other.”
The soft cry of distress from Janie struck right to Zane’s heart. A tree crashed to the earth outside. He turned. “Stay here and I’ll get them.” He pinned her with the glare he gave young demons during training and waited until she nodded.
He didn’t believe the nod for a damn second.
The young fighters burst through the door frame, ripping half of the wall apart. Furious hits and kicks punctuated groans and growls.
“Enough!” Zane reached down and dragged them both up by the hair.
Logan punched him in the ribs, and Zane threw him down hard. He bounced twice.
Garrett snorted and hit Zane in the knee. Zane tossed his ass down, and the vampire bounced three times.
“Let’s try again.” Zane hauled them both up again. Bruises and cuts marred their faces, while anger vibrated around them. He shoved Garrett. “You’re scaring your sister.” Then he pushed Logan the other way. “You’re pissing me off, and you ruined my cabin.”
Both young soldiers turned to view the missing wall. Snow drifted around, and the heat from the fire dissipated.
Garrett turned again, his gaze finding Janie. “How the hell could you?”
Zane stepped to block his view, his voice lowering to deadly. “Watch your tone with your sister.”
Janie scrambled to her knees on the bed and leaned around Zane. “Are you all right, Garrett?”
Garrett snarled. “Sure. The demon here hits like a girl.” At Janie’s indrawn breath, he hastily added, “A girl who hasn’t been trained to fight.”
“A girl?” Logan lunged for Garrett, propelling them both into Sam. He crashed to the floor. Carrots flew in every direction and rolled through the snow. “God fucking damn it,” Sam muttered, standing and yanking both kids up by the ears.
Logan howled in surprise, and Garrett hissed in pain.
Sam eyed Zane. “What’s the plan?”
“Take them to Realm headquarters and land right outside the main lodge. Check on Mom, and tell the king I’ll bring Janie within the hour.” Zane ignored the fist she plowed into his kidney. “Now, Sam.”
Both Garrett and Logan began to protest, and with a wink, Sam zipped them all from sight.
The wind whistling, his cabin demolished, Zane turned to view his mate.
It was time to reach an understanding.
Janie eyed Zane warily. “Is Sam strong enough to transport both Garrett and Logan?”
“Yes,” Zane said. The guy had been punched in the groin too many times, and irritation glowed a bright green in those amazing eyes. She realized she didn’t know him.
Not really.
The kid she’d played with was gone, and this man had fought battles she couldn’t even imagine.
He’d overpowered both Garrett and Logan, two predatory vampires, with an easy grace and an effort not to injure them. With the controlled authority of a warrior. Underestimating him would be a mistake.
Even so, they needed to get a couple of things straight, and she couldn’t let his earlier threat go unanswered.
“You ever try to spank me, and I promise you’ll lose a hand.” She kept her voice level and as pleasant as possible.
His cheek creased, while his eyes warmed in amusement. “Ah, baby. I accept that challenge.”
The low tone zinged right through her body to land between her legs. She shivered.
He frowned and leaned down to gather her up, blankets and all. She squawked and grasped his shoulders as he strode toward the still crackling fire to deposit her on the large ottoman.
Then, with a sigh, he turned back, grabbed the entire mattress, and propped it over the gaping hole in the wall. “I liked this cabin,” he grumbled.
Janie swallowed, watching him move. All predatory grace and economical movements—just like a big cat considering dinner. “What did you think would happen when you brought Garrett here?”
Zane grimaced and scooped her back up, dropping into the chair with her on his lap. “I thought I’d have more time to get them out before fists flew.”
Right—because vampires were so quick to think before acting. She tried to sit primly on his lap and not sink into his muscled heat. This was all just beyond her. As if disagreeing, the markings across her back began to burn. She shifted against him.
He exhaled slowly. “We need to talk.”
“I know.”
“So stop moving.”
Heat filled her face. Oh. Well then. She half-turned to see his face. “Did you mark me on purpose?”
He paused, his eyes searching. One thick hand banded around her nape, caressing. “No.” He didn’t expand, just waited and watched.
She nodded, while both an unexpected hurt and a welcome relief flowed through her. She’d hate him if he’d tried to manipulate her like that, but even so, he hadn’t
wanted
to mate her, and that made her heart ache. “Okay.”
“But I’m glad the mating happened.” Nothing else on earth was the true green color of his eyes.
Her shoulders hunched. “Right. Because now you can use my powers and keep me from the Kurjans.”
His hold tightened. “No. Because you’ve been mine your entire life, and I’m tired of waiting.”
A humming erupted in her core. The guy sure liked to control everything around him, and the strong hold and possessive tone promised the real Zane was showing up. So much for the sweet kid she’d once known. That kid she could’ve easily swayed. This guy? Not so much. A new determination hardened his jaw and made her pause. She tried to lever herself back but didn’t move.
“Let me go,” she murmured.
“Not a chance.” He stretched his neck. “I’m tired of fighting what I want. I want you, Belle, and now I have you. No regrets, no recriminations.
Mine
.”
That humming exploded into flapping wings, igniting an ache just for him. “I’m not into the whole vampire caveman routine, Zane.”
“That’s unfortunate.”
Her hand folded into a fist. For years she’d wrapped the most dangerous immortals in history around her finger, even while carrying an impossible mantle of responsibility. For once, a predator looked at her, and she had no clue how to handle him. No clue if she
could
handle him. Irritation swept through her at his changing the game. “You’re nicer than this,” she whispered.
He slowly shook his head. “I’ve never been nice, Belle.”
“What do you want?” she asked, digging her free hand into the quilt.
Satisfaction lifted his upper lip. “Glad you asked. Want to know what I like best about you?”
He’d thrown her off balance, and she didn’t like it. Not one bit. “Sure.”
“Your independence and willingness to throw yourself into danger for those you love.” His free hand flattened over the blanket, capturing her thigh.
“Thank you.” She eyed him, wondering at his point, even as her nipples hardened.
“That ends today.”
Damn it. “You are such a vampire.”
“Vampire-demon hybrid,” he said without a hint of a smile. “I protect what’s mine, and nobody, including you, will change that.”
All right. The possessive words shouldn’t thrill her in such a way, so she frowned. “Listen, you can’t just start issuing orders because you chose to mark me. I choose to go my own way.”
His smile seemed more of a warning. “You chose to get into bed with me, and any consequences we’ll accept together.”
She lifted an eyebrow. “You consider marking me and binding us together for eternity a consequence?”
“That’s not what I meant.”
All control had been wrestled from her, and she needed to reclaim some power. “I make my own way. Just because we mated doesn’t mean you’re responsible for me.”
Amusement, genuine and dark, sparkled in his eyes. “That’s exactly what it means.” He cocked his head to the side. “You are now my number one priority, and even you aren’t going to hinder my ability to ensure your safety.”
She blew out air. “God, you remind me of my father.”
Zane’s head jerked back. “I do not.”
“Do too.” Although she’d always thought her father rather charming and his overbearing ways cute. It felt different coming from Zane, and she wanted to rebel instantly.
Zane licked his lips. “Maybe there’s more vampire in me than I thought, because I meant exactly what I said. Get on board now, Belle.”
What an arrogant ass. “Speaking of your vampire-demon heritage, how the hell did you mark me with a damn Z?”
“All demons mark their mates with the first letter of their demon family name.” That amusement deepened. “Didn’t you know?”
“No.” Her mind spun. “I thought only the Kayrs family marked their mates because they’re the ruling family. Most vampires just mate with a good bite during sex.”
He chuckled. “Pride. So much pride in that Kayrs family.”
“Meaning what?” Anger prickled her skin.
Zane leaned closer. “Vampires don’t mark mates. Demons do. Figure it out.”
She blinked. Once. Twice. A third time. “Oh.”
“Yes.
Oh
. Not only that, vampires can’t teleport. Well . . . except for the king. Many demons have the gift.” Zane settled back. “The Kayrs family wants people to think they’re purebred vampires, but there’s a dirty little demon somewhere in their far past. Like it or not.
That’s
why they can mark their mates.”
Well. Unfortunately, that did make sense. Janie shrugged. “Doesn’t matter.”
“Didn’t think it would.” Zane caressed her nape, sending tingles through her entire scalp. “I care little about your family’s heritage, so long as you understand mine.”