Authors: Rebecca Zanetti
Instead, with a smooth, deliberate move, he slid his hand around the back of her neck—and clamped. Hard. Lust glittered in his eyes, and for once, he didn’t shield it. “It’s not called lovemaking, Lil.”
She blinked and tried to swallow, heat spiraling through her chest. She couldn’t breathe. For more than three hundred years, he’d hidden that look from her. “Wh-what?”
His hand clenched, his wrist twisted, and he angled her head to the side. Tethering her. His head lowered until his lips hovered an inch above hers. “It’s called fucking. Want to be fucked, Prophet?”
“Um—” Her mind blanked. Sure, she’d wanted to push him a little bit. To gain control as he lost some of his. But she hadn’t considered the consequences of truly unleashing Caleb Donovan.
His other hand manacled her hip, dragging her against him. His erection pressed along her belly, pulsing in demand. Her skin ignited inch by inch, coming alive, her temperature soaring. No other man on earth could make her feel such fire, and she’d known it from the first time he’d kissed her, so long ago.
She sighed, leaning in to his heat. “Let’s go to your quarters.”
He leaned back just enough to allow her gaze to focus on his. “How civilized. The answer is no. We fuck here, Lily.”
Several precarious seconds ticked down as his words finally made sense in her brain. “Here?” In her office, where anybody could come by? As a counselor, she had an open-door policy, and so long as she wasn’t in session, anybody could knock.
“Yes, here.” He tugged on her skirt, sending the flowing silk down her legs to the floor. His talented fingers slipped inside her panties, brushing her clit.
Her mind whirled even as need roared through her blood. “We need to put the ‘in session’ sign on the door,” she gasped, tilting into his hand.
“No.” Holding her in place, he slid a finger inside her, smiling at her sharp moan. “Your desk is very pretty. Feminine and even dainty.” His voice remained calm, his features cut and hard. “We’d break it if I bent you over it.”
Fire washed through her, and he flashed his fangs. “Same with these pretty chairs.”
She tried to concentrate on his words. Was he talking about furniture? Her vision blurred as she tried to refrain from riding his fingers.
“Holding back, sweetheart?” he asked, flicking her earlobe with a fang.
“Not at all,” she breathed out, her heart galloping. Drawing on dare and courage, she flattened her palm against his erection.
He groaned in a dark plea. “Careful.”
Bravery filled her, along with triumph. She wasn’t the only one affected, and she could steal some of the control. “Why?” Squeezing him through his jeans with one hand, she released his zipper with the other.
He untangled his hands and stepped back to draw his shirt over his head. Muscled biceps and triceps rippled with raw power as he flung the shirt across the room.
She gulped, so much need roaring through her that her knees trembled.
He kept his gaze on her as he kicked out of his boots and shed his jeans. His muscled chest led down to cut abs and a formidable erection. The rebel was all male, without question. “Take off your blouse.”
The idea of defying him tempted her, but that wasn’t the way to make Caleb lose control. So, with a flirty smile, she slowly unbuttoned her blouse. The tension in the room rose noticeably each time she released one of the small discs. His shoulders bunched like a wolf’s about to pounce on its prey. Finally, she shrugged out of the silk and let it fall to the sofa.
“Bra,” he said, his voice beyond guttural.
She stretched her neck, taking her time, pretending to think about it.
Low and dangerous, a warning growl rumbled from his chest. Liquid need spilled from her in reaction. She flicked the bra free and then took her time shimmying out of the panties.
He stood, muscles vibrating, nostrils flaring. Hunger morphed his eyes into a blend of all the colors.
Lily panted out breath. A laugh down the hallway caught her up short. They’d forgotten the sign. She rushed toward the door, only to be caught by a steel-hard arm around her abdomen. Seconds later, her butt hit the wall, heated lips nearly burning her neck.
“No sign,” he whispered.
She struggled, trying not to groan at the incredible feeling of her skin against his. “Anybody could come in.”
“I know.” He bit her collarbone, leaving a mark. His mark. He slipped an arm beneath her thigh and lifted, paused, and thrust inside her with one hard push.
She cried out, body arching, unable to tell the difference between pleasure and pain. “Oh God.” Her eyes shut, so many sensations bombarding her she couldn’t think. Her other leg lifted to clasp his hip, just to keep her balance.
His heartbeat thrummed in her ears. They were that connected. Her eyes opened to see him waiting patiently. Calmly. Oh, there was need and hunger glimmering in those incredible depths. But he waited.
“You sure you want to get fucked, Lily?” he asked softly.
It was a dare and maybe a slight punishment for threatening him with other men. It was also an opportunity for her to refuse; she knew he’d release her. Maybe even escort her politely to his quarters to gently make love in the bed.
She blinked, her body softening in surrender. Satisfaction and an odd regret flashed across his primal face.
Oh, no way.
Instinct ruled her as she skimmed her hands up his chest to wrap around his neck and pull. Hard.
Her teeth sank into his pectoral muscle directly above his heart. Not a nip, not a nuzzle, but a full sinking of teeth into flesh. She might not have fangs, but her canines were sharp enough to dig deep and draw blood.
Sparks burned her tongue and tingled down her throat. In all of her years, although she’d heard of the magical blood in vampires, she’d never tasted it.
Power flowed through her, making her own blood sing.
His breath caught, his chest tightening. Rough and strong, the hand at her thigh tightened enough to bruise.
She released him, licking him clean with a sigh of contentment. Then she leaned back, her head against the wall, her body pinned by his. One look at him and she forgot to breathe.
The glint in his eyes went beyond hunger, beyond lust to something deeper. Darker. More absolute. Possession and promise formed the hard lines of his face, and his nostrils flared like an animal on the hunt, all control gone.
She opened her mouth, but no sound emerged.
Slowly, deliberately, he ducked his free shoulder and claimed her other thigh, spreading her wide. Vulnerability hitched her heart, while a woman’s demand peaked her nipples into hard points.
He drew out and then thrust back in, his expression dangerous.
His shoulders rolled, yanking her groin harder into his until only her shoulders and head touched the wall. Her arms flailed to find purchase, finally grabbing his bulging biceps. Then strong fingers dug into her buttocks, holding tight as he began to pound.
She kept her grip on his arms, the muscles taut to keep her from being injured against the wall. Faster, harder, out of control he thrust. Her hair swished as she tried to keep her head in place.
With a low growl, he dropped to his knees and pivoted, setting her back along the carpet, pounding the entire time, his hold firm on her butt. She felt taken, overwhelmed, and on fire. Flesh slapped against flesh, Caleb treating her as a woman, a real woman, his growl deep and strong.
A spiraling started deep inside her, uncoiling outward to attack every nerve. Fire washed through her, clashing against the spirals, and she cried out his name, her nails digging into his skin.
Waves of intense pleasure rode through her, and she closed her eyes as the orgasm sheeted the room white.
He pressed hard, and sharp fangs sank into her neck.
She arched, another orgasm overtaking her, his image filling her mind.
With a low growl, he came, his hold tightening as he was overtaken. His fangs retracted, his chest damp against hers. “Lily,” he said softly, pressing a reverent kiss over her mouth.
Lily finished running on the treadmill, her mind on the night before. After the incredible sex in her office, she and Caleb had returned to his quarters to finish out the night. While a bit sore, her body hadn’t felt this wonderful in years.
After slowing down, she stepped off the treadmill and wiped a towel across her neck. The king had placed the treadmill in a private exercise room in her suite.
Apparently he figured she’d want her privacy when not in her customary prophet attire.
Rapid knocks fired on the door, and her heart leaped. Caleb had said he needed to attend the strategy meetings with the king, but maybe he’d changed his mind and wanted to return to bed.
That was a meeting she’d love to attend.
Her steps hurried as she maneuvered through the living room to the front door.
Prophet Guiles stood on the other side, dark circles under his eyes. “My dreams are getting worse.”
She sighed. “I’m sorry. Would you like to come in?”
He glanced at her yoga outfit. “Not really. It’s rather warm outside. Would you mind a walk in the fresh air?”
That sounded lovely. Lily reached for a jacket.
“I, ah, can wait until you change,” Guiles said, his gaze on the ceiling.
For goodness’ sake. Lily glanced down at the perfectly appropriate yoga suit. It was time for her to truly join modern life and stop being so worried about what others thought. “These are decent walking clothes.” She ignored his uncomfortable shrug and followed him outside the door. “I have to tell you about my dreams, as well.”
Guiles nodded and led her through the lodge and out into the sunshine. “This is much better, don’t you agree?”
“I do.” She stretched her calves on each step. The vampires’ subdivision appeared similar to every other high-end gated subdivision in Oregon, if one didn’t look too closely. The stunning houses had bulletproof glass, steel-enforced doors, and underground escape tunnels into the mountains around them.
The front gate held normal-appearing attendants . . . with a cache of weapons within reach. Plus, missiles were implanted in the ground to take out any aircraft deemed a threat.
But, as a subdivision, the homes were lovely and the sidewalks swept.
Guiles cleared his throat, clasping his hands behind his back. “Are you going to obey Fate?”
Lily’s stride hitched and she nearly stumbled. “Don’t I always?”
“Then why haven’t you killed Janie Kayrs?” Guiles asked softly, his gaze on his polished loafers.
Heat washed down Lily’s torso. “You met Fate in a dream.”
“Her dictates were clear,” Guiles said slowly, regret filling his voice. “I don’t know why, but Janie has to die. Half of the world has believed that fact from her birth, and it was lucky happenstance the vampires discovered her location before other species.”
Otherwise Janie would already be dead. Lily shook her head. “It doesn’t make sense that Janie should die—she’s supposed to somehow change the world.”
“Change isn’t always good.”
“I know.” Lily lifted her face to the sun, her thoughts swirling. “How do we know for sure Fate is the one giving orders here?”
Guiles tripped and quickly regained his balance. “Who else could it be?”
“I don’t know, but so many of us are psychic, empathic, telepathic . . . maybe somebody has discovered our wavelengths and is manipulating our dreams.” Lily opened her heart fully and went on instinct. “I can’t believe Fate would want me to kill. Why not you? Or Caleb?”
“You’re the only one of us who can get close enough.” Guiles picked up the pace. “Bodyguards are always around Janie to protect her, even from Caleb and me. But not you.” He stopped walking near a Japanese maple, the brilliant red leaves just now falling. With a sigh, he leaned against a Realm-issued SUV. “It has to be you who protects destiny and does the unthinkable. You have the king’s complete trust, and you have access to Janie.”
“That’s true.” Lily stretched her neck, nausea rising from her stomach. “You really think murder is the right path?”
“Yes.” Sorrow filled Guiles’s eyes.
Lily studied him. The man she’d known and trusted for centuries. They’d followed duty and Fate together. Instinct flared alive in her, and she nearly doubled over in pain. “You’re psychic and telepathic, aren’t you?”
“Yes.” A gentle frown settled between his dark eyes.
Regret tasted like bile. “Why do you want Janie dead, Guiles?”
Guiles sighed, regret twisting his lip. “The vision is true. The one you saw of Janie as a prophet wearing a marking.”
Lily lifted her chin. “Your marking?”
“Yes. The only way she could earn a marking is if one of us dies, and I recognized the marking as mine. I changed it for your dream.” He ran a manicured hand through his thick hair. “I’m sorry.”
Anger flashed through Lily. “Sorry? For invading my dreams, for making me defy Fate and everything I believe in? For trying to force me to kill a friend?”
“No.” Guiles moved faster than a snake, a dark box in his hand. “For this.” Something sizzled on Lily’s skin, and darkness swamped her in unconsciousness.
Caleb slammed his fist down on the stone table. “Enough of this. The Kurjans and demons are not peaceful species, and frankly, neither are vampires. These talks are just a trap, and you know it.”
Irritation sizzled Dage’s eyes into a metallic silver. “There’s no way to trap us. Even with our best minds, we can’t figure out a way to trap
them
so far underground. No powers work. We’re as harmless as humans down there, and so are they.”
“It’s still a bad idea.” Caleb stood nose-to-nose with the king, finally letting his temper roar.
“Too bad. Shut the fuck up, sit down, and make sure we haven’t missed anything,” Dage shouted right back.
Caleb tightened his hand into a fist, and the king straightened his shoulders to take the hit and probably retaliate. They’d see if the copied tables could take a good hand-to-hand fight.
An alarm blared through the lodge, stilling both men.
“Shit,” Dage said, tapping a communicator around his wrist. “Status?”
“Realm SUV broke through the front gate,” came the terse reply as engines sounded in the background.
“Did you fire?” Dage asked.
“No. Prophet Guiles was driving with Prophet Sotheby half-covering his body. We couldn’t risk hitting her.”
Caleb’s head jerked up. The world crashed into him, deafening in a sudden silence. “Lily?”
Dage grabbed his arm. “Let’s go.”
They ran out of the room and through the lodge just in time to jump into a Hummer driven by Jase. Caleb slid into the front while the king careened into the back next to another soldier. The vehicle squealed out on the asphalt before they’d even closed the doors.
“What the hell?” Caleb said.
Jase punched the accelerator, his face fierce in concentration. “The two prophets were positively identified as the SUV crashed through the gate, and Lily appeared unconscious.” Jase glanced at Caleb and grimaced. “The guard said Guiles was using her as a shield, so they immediately began to pursue.”
Rage and an entirely new feeling ripped into Caleb’s heart. What was that? Fear? He didn’t like it . . . at all. “Where the hell does he think he’s taking her?” There was no way the SUV could outrun the Hummers.
As if on cue, the vehicle whipped around a corner and through the damaged gate, heading full-speed for the open road.
Jase tapped a button on the dashboard. “Do we have eyes on them?”
A speaker in the dash crackled before a voice came through. “Yes. They’re heading east on Salamis Road. Fast. Too fast,” the guard said. “We haven’t lost visual, so both prophets are still in the vehicle, but we can’t shoot.”
Jase nodded. “Hold tight.” He pressed another button. “Do we have visual from air?”
A different speaker flared to life. “No. Satellite offline for an hour with routine updates,” came the terse reply, this voice much deeper than the guard’s.
“The bastard knew our schedule,” Caleb said grimly, his hands tightening with the need to draw blood. “Tell me we have air support.”
“Negative,” Jase said, shooting around a corner. “All air support is currently over the peace-talk sites conducting drills on both evasive and aggressive maneuvers. Guiles would’ve known about that, too.”
“The helicopters are not that far away,” Dage said, cocking a gun from the backseat.
Jase nodded. “I’ve had them diverted—it’ll take about an hour for the closest to reach us.”
Lily didn’t have an hour, and Caleb knew it. “This isn’t making sense. Where the hell is he taking her?”
“Away from us,” Dage said tersely. “Which means to somebody who will protect him from us. But the question is why . . . and who?” He leaned toward the front seat. “Weapons?”
“Two guns and three knives,” Caleb said thoughtfully, his gaze on the empty road ahead.
Jase flashed him a look. “You arm yourself with two guns and three knives to practice for the peace talks?”
“Yes. It was a light day.” Time to confess all. Caleb exhaled heavily and turned to tell the king about the dreams and Fate’s dictates. He left nothing out, noting the tension rising in the vehicle with every word he spoke. “I’m assuming Gules has been receiving similar instructions, but I don’t see how kidnapping Lily will accomplish Janie’s death.”
Dage rubbed his chin, his eyes seriously pissed. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I didn’t want to be left out of the peace talks, and I thought I could contain it.” Caleb eyed the king’s gun. “Don’t shoot me.”
“I won’t.” The king lowered the gun, his shoulder hitting the vehicle’s side when Jase cut a hard corner. “Right now, anyway.”
“Fair enough.” Caleb scrubbed both hands down his face. “They’ll need air transport to get her away from us.”
Jase nodded. “We’ve monitored all air traffic for years, and nothing has come into range today that would give us pause.” He eyed the top of the window of the Hummer. “Even without the satellites, we have radar and would’ve caught anything suspicious.”
“So he’s driving her somewhere?” Caleb asked.
“Apparently.” Dage swore as his shoulder hit the side again. “How well do you know Guiles?”
“Not very. I haven’t been working long as a prophet. I’m a soldier.” But if he had gotten closer to Guiles, maybe Caleb would’ve seen the danger in the smooth vampire. Guilt swamped him. “All I know is that the guy is old and dresses like he’s going to prom every day.” And now he held Caleb’s woman against her will.
“We’ll get him,” Jase said grimly.
“Was the guard sure Lily was just unconscious?” Caleb asked the one question he’d rather not.
“No.” Jase cut his eyes to Caleb before focusing back on the road. “But if a prophet dies, another takes their place, and we’d know if that happened, so I’m sure Lily is alive.”
Good point. Caleb could hold on to that hope until he wrapped his hands around Guiles’s neck. “Thanks.”
“No problem.”
A
boom
sounded from the dash, followed by a smattering of gunfire. “Shots fired—shots fired,” shouted the guard.
Jase barreled the vehicle up a hill, and Caleb took in the scene below with one glance. “Son of a bitch.” A long hauler was parked to the side of the road, while a helicopter’s blades swung into motion behind it. “They trucked the copter in.”
Two Realm soldiers fired at the long hauler, where several Kurjans fired back, their skin protected by the forest’s darkness. A quick glance at the helicopter confirmed shielded windows. Damn it.
Jase slammed his foot on the accelerator and gestured to the northern forest. “Kurjans moving in from the other side. They’re taking a huge risk with the sun being out.” He swung the Hummer around, and everyone jumped out the southern side, between the two Realm SUVs, already firing into the forest. Green bullets ripped into the metal from return fire.
Caleb ducked to keep from taking one in the face. Thank God the sun didn’t bother vampires as it did the Kurjans. “Lily?” he shouted, rushing toward the other SUV, where a guard was down, blood dripping from his neck. Caleb felt for the faint pulse, his gaze on the helicopter shielded by the truck. “Man down. He’s out, but not dead.”
A flash of blond from inside the helicopter caught Caleb’s eye. “Lily,” he yelled, leaping over the SUV.
“Jesus, Caleb,” the king bellowed from behind him, sliding to the front of the other SUV to provide raining bullets of fire. “Get down!”
Nothing mattered but getting to Lily before the helicopter took off. Caleb wove, dodging bullets, hitting one Kurjan in the neck as he flew past. Bullets impacted his chest, his shoulders, even his thighs, yet he kept going.
Jase appeared on his right, Dage on his left, both providing cover. He didn’t hesitate, even when the king grunted in pain from impact.
Only Lily mattered.
The helicopter lifted into the air. With a primal roar, Caleb leaped across yards to land inside, hitting the farthest wall with a loud
crunch
. Pain slashed across his forehead, and blood splashed. Something hard slammed into the back of his head, and darkness overtook him. The last thing he heard was Lily screaming his name.
Lily glanced around the lush lady’s quarters. Flowers abounded on every fabric, on every wall, even on lamps. All different colors of flowers, different species, resulting in a hodgepodge of clashing flora that overstimulated the senses. Her head began to ache, and not just from being Tasered and tossed in a helicopter.
Did Franco truly believe the ridiculous bedroom suited her?
With a sigh, she limped over to the closet and threw open the door. The Kurjans had removed the tracker from her heel, and it hurt. Rips and Caleb’s blood marred her yoga outfit, and the Kurjan who’d escorted her to the absurd room had ordered her to change.
She glanced down at the long strip of skin revealed across her breasts from the damaged material. Yes. While the idea of donning clothing purchased by Franco made her ill, she’d rather cover more of her flesh if she was about to meet the Kurjan leader in person.
She had to find out where they’d taken Caleb. Fear for him made the room whirl. Why would the Kurjans allow the Realm Rebel to live? It didn’t make sense. Unless they wanted to use him against her. She’d do anything to keep him alive.
At the thought, she stumbled against silk and cotton clothes. She loved him. Not the sweet love she’d thought she’d felt in her youth, but a desperate love determined to keep him. To love him and even fight with him. Fight anybody for him.
God. She had to save him.
She shoved off the ruined yoga outfit and donned a long blue skirt. A scramble through tops showed only corsets. Not the proper ones from times gone by, but those more recent, tight, and rather revealing. Franco was being an ass.
She tugged a blue and white one over her head, nearly bending over backward to zip it up. At least it had a zipper hidden among the many ties. Glancing down, she sighed at the mounds of her breasts pushed high. “This is to be worn
beneath
a sweater,” she muttered. One more quick glance through the closet proved there were no sweaters.
Several sets of high heels lined the bottom of the closet. Not a chance. Skirt or not, she was going barefoot. Much better for both running and kicking if necessary.
Her heart racing, she hustled into the attached bathroom, which was even gaudier than the bedroom, if that were possible.
Wide enough for two, a claw-foot tub lay in the far corner next to a toilet and a shower. A cursory search of drawers failed to reveal potential weapons. She hurriedly washed blood off her bare arms and hands. Then she brushed her messy hair from her face, gathering courage at the glimmer of the diamond earrings Caleb had given her.
A knock sounded on the door.
Smoothing down her skirt, she padded in her bare feet across the velvety carpet and opened the door, drawing on her professional smile.
Franco stood in the hallway dressed in full black Kurjan uniform with red medals adorning his chest. He’d pulled his black hair back in a band, the ends turning the customary blood red. The purple of his eyes deepened in his stark-white face as he looked down from his seven-foot height. “Lily.” The word emerged as a satisfied growl as his gaze dropped to her breasts.
Lily fought to keep her smile in place. “You forgot to include the sweater, Franco.”
The smile he flashed showed sharp fangs. “I forgot nothing.” He held out his arm, as regal as any prince. “You must be hungry after your ordeal.”
“Ordeal?” She slid her hand through his arm, cataloging weapons. His waist holster held a gun, and his thick boots probably hid another, along with a knife. “That’s a fine description of being Tasered, knocked out, and kidnapped.”
“I do apologize for the rough treatment.” He closed her door. “Perhaps the nicely decorated suite lifted your mood?”
She glanced up in surprise. He was serious. The guy actually thought he’d done something nice for her. Okay. She could play along for the moment. “I do love flowers.”
Relief crossed his pasty face. “I’m so glad.”
“Where are we, anyway?” she asked.
“A temporary stronghold in northern Oregon. We only had a small window of time before the vampires’ helicopters could give chase. Don’t worry, we’ll move again soon. This time to my headquarters in Canada.” He led her down a long hallway to a dining room full of antique furniture, pure crystal, and original oil paintings from the masters. A bouquet of fresh lilies served as the centerpiece on a Louis XV walnut dining table. Prophet Guiles stood across the table as they entered.
She cut him a hard look. “Guiles.”
He blushed, his shoulders going back. “I did what I had to do.”
Franco pulled out a chair and settled Lily into it before crossing to the head of the table to sit. “I have to admit, dining with two prophets has never been on my bucket list.” He smiled and unfolded his napkin. “Having all three under my roof is certainly nothing I’d ever considered.”
Lily took a sip of water from a crystal glass. She needed to find out about Caleb, but she had to be careful. “What’s your plan?”
A pregnant woman balanced a tray of soup bowls she delivered gracefully to each of them.
Franco smiled. “Lily, this is Beatrix. She’s mated to my second in command, Dyne.”
The woman nodded, her gaze downcast as she hustled from the room.
Lily lifted an eyebrow. “I thought you had a relative named Kalin as your second in command.” Kalin, the Kurjan butcher, was both crazy and dangerous.
Franco’s red lips tightened into a white line. “Kalin has turned against me, and I have ordered his death. He will not walk the earth much longer.” Franco slipped his spoon into his soup. “Dyne is a distant cousin and does his job well. He’s the ideal enforcer.”
An
ideal
Kurjan killed well and on demand. What about the poor pregnant woman? Obviously, she’d been human before being mated. Had they given her a choice? Lily took another sip of water. “Why is Guiles still alive?” Those who made deals with Kurjans usually died.
The prophet coughed and glared at her. “Be nice.”
“He’s alive because I haven’t killed him yet.” Franco licked his spoon clean. “Eat your soup, Lily.”