Vengeance (The Captive Series, Book 6) (19 page)

He went to grab her hand, but she shook her head no. Rising up, she pressed a kiss against the puckered flesh. This was how his humanity had ended, she realized. Her fingers dug into his back, drawing him closer as she swirled her tongue over the scar. His hand wrapped around her head, holding her closer to him as her fingers ran over his flesh.

She lifted her head to look at him. He held her close to him’ his eyes searching hers before he bent and claimed her mouth once more. Angling her back down on the couch, he slid the buttons on her shirt free, his eyes taking her in hungrily as he gazed down at her bared flesh.

Goose bumps broke out across her skin; she bit into her bottom lip as she watched him taking her body in. She wanted him back against her, touching her again, but she couldn’t get enough of him looking at her and caressing her with such reverence. Finally, after what seemed like forever, he lowered himself back over her.

A sigh of pleasure escaped her when his bare flesh pressed against hers. His heady, smoky and outdoor aroma enveloped her as he took firm possession of her mouth once more. Her fingers raked over his back; she tried to pull him closer against her, but she didn’t think she’d ever be able to get close enough to him.

The press of his fangs against her lips caused her to squirm. Before she could stop it, her own fangs extended to scrape across his full bottom lip. A rumble of pleasure escaped him, his hands slid down to the button on her pants. Her toes curled as she grabbed more fervently at his flesh. The world spun out of control at the same time it became so simple and focused.

They were the only ones who existed, the only ones who mattered. It was all happening so fast, she’d been trying to keep her distance from him, but she knew now that would be impossible. Neither of them knew how much time they had left, not when their enemies stood only a floor above. Not when the peace they’d all come to know was hanging by such a thin string.

No matter how much the reasonable side of her said she should stop this, that she’d only get her heart broken, the other side of her was screaming at her to take something for herself
finally
. To give into the desire he stoked in her with only a look. She refused to die without knowing what this man felt like. She may not be in love with him, or perhaps she was, she didn’t know, and she certainly couldn’t think straight when his hands were sliding her pants down her legs.

“I’ve never,” she whispered when he tugged her pants off.

The fingers running over her bare thighs froze. His gaze burned into hers before he leaned forward and clasped her cheeks within his hands. “Do you want to stop?”

She bit on her bottom lip, wincing when her fangs punctured her flesh. His eyes fastened on the bead of blood forming on her lip. The hunger in his gaze caused a small mewl to escape her. The last thing she wanted was for him to stop. “No, I just… I thought you should know.”

She hated the heat burning up her cheeks and face. He clasped hold of her cheeks as he bent to press a feathery kiss against her lips. She forgot all about her hesitation and apprehension as he kissed her with a tenderness that aroused her more than his demanding kisses had. Her world became focused on him again and the astonishing way he could make her feel so cherished and alive.

A small gasp escaped her; she bit her lip to keep from crying out when he moved into her. Her fingers dug into his back, she pressed her chin into his shoulder. “The pain will fade,” he murmured in her ear. “Hold onto me.”

He didn’t have to tell her that; she would hold onto him forever. Despite the discomfort, nothing had ever felt so right in her life as this man and this moment. Her heart swelled with love, quickly diminishing any doubts she may have had about her feelings for him. He was raw, he was ruthless, and he was holding her and touching her as if she were the most precious jewel in the world.

She turned her face into his neck and kissed him as waves of love and rightness crashed over her. She’d never expected to feel anything like this in her life. Clinging to him, shaking from the emotions rattling her and the strength of the bond she felt growing between them, she realized her soreness had faded.

He pressed soft kisses against her ear and neck. His hands slid over her bared flesh again, stoking her passion back to life. She lost track of time, lost track of everything except for him.

When it was over, she was shaking with emotion. He held her against his chest, his large body wrapped possessively around hers. She didn’t know if she felt like crying with joy or terror over everything happening between them. Sometime over the past week she’d come to love this man far more than she’d ever dreamed possible. She couldn’t lose him, yet she was convinced she would.

His heated mouth grazed her ear, her toes rubbed against the bristly hairs on his shins causing shivers to slide over her cooling skin. “Are you ok?” he whispered in her ear.

“Yes,” she murmured as her fingers traced the corded muscles of his forearms. She didn’t know if that was true or not, but while she was in his arms she would choose to believe it. Her palm slid over a whiter, fainter scar on his upper thigh. Questions formed in her mind, but she decided later would be a better time for the conversation. She didn’t want to risk him withdrawing from her, not after what they’d just shared.

“I took a spear through the leg during the war,” he murmured when her fingers hovered above the jagged mark.

Her eyes flew to his; her heart leapt into her throat. He’d answered and he hadn’t withdrawn from her. “What about these?” she asked, taking hold of one of his hands and running her fingers over his scarred palm.

He stared down at his hand like he’d never seen the scars before or had forgotten they were there. His muscles flexed beneath her as behind her back, he lifted his other hand up and opened his palm to reveal the other scar. “I grabbed hold of the sword Kane ran me through with.”

Tempest became rigid as she waited for his face to become shuttered and his eyes to turn red. A line creased his forehead, but he didn’t retreat from her. “So much pain,” she said.

He smiled as he brushed back a strand of her hair. “If something is worth having, then you must expect some pain and sacrifice in order to achieve it. I would have sacrificed even more to attain freedom and peace in this land.” She swallowed the lump in her throat as she ran her fingers through the dark red, bristly hairs on his chest. “I’d sacrifice everything for those I love and care for.”

Her hands stilled in their exploration of his body. “Anything,” he said and brought her knuckles to his lips to kiss them. “I will keep you safe, Tempest.”

Unwillingly a single tear slid free. He wiped it away before kissing her cheek. His mouth tickled her ear; she couldn’t help but smile. Gradually she became aware of the noises upstairs again, the movement of little feet on the floor, the murmurs of voices trying not to be heard.

“Are Kane and his men still up there?” she inquired.

His head tilted back and to the side. “I don’t know,” he said after a little bit. His eyes twinkled teasingly when he looked at her again. “Someone distracted me.”

She chuckled as she turned her head to look at him. His fingers brushed over her cheeks before he grasped her chin and gave her a kiss. “We should get dressed.”

Disappointment filled her, but she knew he was right. He pulled her closer against his chest in a brief hug before reluctantly releasing her. Tempest gathered her clothes and quickly slid them on as heavy steps moved across the floor. She knew immediately it wasn’t any of the children or Pallas. William froze in the middle of pulling his cloak on again, his hands stilled on the brooch when the footsteps stopped near the door to the basement.

Tempest became completely still as she listened for any more noise. William glanced toward her, his eyes a shimmering red again. Before the knob on the handle began to turn, he grabbed her cloak and pulled her down to the floor. Tempest bit back a cry when he pushed her beneath him and shoved her cloak under the couch.

He pulled his own cloak off and thrust it under the sofa, storing away the bright white beacons. He tugged his crossbow free and pulled her close against his chest. Giving her a nudge, he pointed toward the end of the sofa and stayed over the top of her when she crawled toward where he’d indicated.

Tempest cautiously poked her head around the corner of the couch. The heavy footsteps thumped down the wooden stairs, causing them to shake beneath the weight of whoever descended. They were in the far corner of the basement, tucked away behind the couches and stacks of furniture, but she felt as exposed as she would if she were standing stark naked in the center of the room.

Would they be scented?
She wondered frantically as William’s arm tightened around her, and the feet stopped in the center of the stairs. The scent of mildew was stifling, but was it enough to cover the odor of what had occurred between them? A single bead of sweat trickled down her temple and onto her cheek. Frustration and apprehension made her belly twist; she gritted her teeth together as she fought the urge to scream.

The feet continued onward until legs, thighs, and finally a chest emerged. She knew it was Kane before she saw the back of his nearly bald head, but then she felt she’d know who it was the second the door opened. Kane turned toward the window they’d climbed in through, walked four feet forward and grabbed a blanket from a stack of boxes in the corner. Beside her, William remained immobile, but she could feel the tension vibrating his muscles.

Please stay with me,
she implored, but she fully expected him to launch to his feet and bolt across the basement at Kane. Instead, he remained beside her, his eyes the color of rubies once more. He didn’t look at her when she slid her hand onto his.

Kane turned away and climbed back up the stairs. Her shoulders sagged when the door crashed shut again. Beside her, William bowed his head and took a deep breath. He shuddered; his fingers unfurled from where they’d dug into the floor.

He leaned against the sofa; his head fell back as he took another breath. She sat and stared at him, unsure of what to say or do. She’d given herself to this man, someone she didn’t really know, but loved and trusted. A man who was as violent and savage as he was kind and caring, whose reddened eyes turned back to blue when he took hold of her hand.

She had no idea what would happen when they walked out of this room, but she believed that because he hadn’t gone after Kane now, he wouldn’t snap and do it later. That was what she told herself anyway, but she knew there was no guarantee.

She couldn’t shake the hideous feeling that one, or both of them, would not be making it out of this town alive.

William kept hold of Tempest’s hand as he edged his way carefully up the stairs. The front door had opened and closed a half an hour ago; some laughter from the children had been heard since then and what sounded like a ball bounced across the floor. All things he didn’t think would be happening if Kane and his cohorts were still upstairs.

Tempest stayed close against his back, the heat of her body warming him. Her wintry scent was still emblazoned on his skin and in his nostrils. Soothing him even as he longed to throw open the door, rush into the street, and beat Kane to within an inch of his life before tearing his heart out.

He wasn’t entirely sure what had happened between the two of them. He’d stayed away from women since his change because he’d been uncertain if he could keep himself from harming them, but when he’d been touching her and kissing her, he’d known nothing but peace and a feeling of belonging so strong, he’d never known something like it could exist. He’d had no concern over hurting her; he’d simply known he never would have. He’d die to make sure no one ever hurt her. He would
not
lose her.

He had to be more careful, he’d let his guard down, he’d forgotten where he was and what was going on when he’d been with her. If Kane had come down those stairs five minutes earlier, they would have both been captured and most likely killed. He could never take that chance with her again. She’d come to mean more to him than any other woman he’d ever known in the short time they’d been together, and he didn’t intend to ever let her go.

Glancing back at her, he met her troubled eyes as she hovered by his shoulder. No, he definitely wouldn’t let himself be distracted in such a way again. No matter what it took, he would keep her protected and safe.

Grabbing hold of the doorknob, he turned it to the side and opened it a centimeter. He kept his crossbow before him as he nudged the door open further with his toe and poked his head out. No one moved on the other side of the door, but voices drifted from down the hall. Tempest stepped out beside him; her hand clamped around his as her gaze traveled up and down the hall.

She gestured toward the back of the house and turned away from the voices. Walking with her, he followed her into a dining room. They had just stepped inside the room when a boy walked in from the other side. William jerked the crossbow up and aimed it at his heart.

The boy froze, his eyes widened as a startled, “Ugh,” escaped him.

Tempest leapt forward and threw her arms up in front of the child. “No!” she hissed. “It’s Abbott. He’s a friend.”

Tempest drew the boy’s attention from him when she spoke. A radiant smile lit his face before he threw his arms around her waist, rocking her back a step. “Tempest!”

“Shh,” she whispered, enveloping him in a hug. “The children can’t know we’re here. It could put them in jeopardy, and they’re not very good at keeping secrets.”

“Sorry,” he whispered back sheepishly. His gaze flew nervously to William before he focused on her again. “I’m glad you’re safe.”

“You too. Are all those men out of the house?”

“Yes.”

“Good. You have to get the children upstairs and settled, now. Is Pallas out there?” she inquired.

The boy nodded. “Yes.”

“Tell her to stay behind with you,” Tempest instructed.

The boy released her. William watched him walk out of the room before turning to Tempest. Her face had paled as she listened to the scuffling feet and protests coming from the other room. “No complaints or you won’t be able to come back down,” Abbott admonished.

Tempest leaned against the wall and rubbed at her temples. Stepping closer to her, William wrapped his arm around her shoulders and held her close. He strained to listen for the front door opening and those men returning. Instead all he heard were the muted footfalls of the young boy approaching before he stepped into the doorway again.

“They’re all upstairs,” Abbott said.

Tempest kept hold of his hand as she led him into the front room. William squeezed her hand before releasing it. He strode over to the thick drapes on the window and pulled back the corner to peer outside into the street.

“Why did you want the children upstairs, Abbott?” A young, curvaceous woman asked as she appeared in the other doorway leading toward the hall. She stopped mid-step before releasing a small cry and racing across the room to throw her arms around Tempest. Tempest happily embraced the woman he assumed was Pallas.

William turned his attention back to the street and the vampires, mostly in white, walking up and down the road. Some of them stood in front of the buildings with their hands clasped before them and their shoulders thrown back. At the end of the road, he saw the large hotel Tempest had told him about.

Is the fake queen in there?
He pondered as he stared at the building. He kept himself positioned so he could look outside while they talked with Abbott and Pallas.

“Who are you?” Abbott asked him.

“A friend. He’s here to help us,” Tempest replied hastily.

“Where did you meet?” Pallas inquired.

William turned toward her in time to find Pallas’s gaze running over him admiringly, before lingering on his ass. He glanced at Tempest who folded her arms over her chest and glowered at her friend. Pallas’s eyebrows shot up when she turned to find Tempest glaring at her.

Good, she’s just as possessive of me as I am of her;
William hid a smile before focusing on the street again.

“What did they do when they realized I was gone?” Tempest inquired.

“They tore the house apart,” Abbott answered. “Then the town.”

“Did they hurt any of you?”

“No. They were enraged, and more than a little puzzled as to how you escaped without notice.”

“They know you went through the mountains,” Pallas said. “And sent a lot of troops to look for you there, with no luck obviously.”

“How did they know that?” William demanded.

Pallas glanced at him before focusing on Tempest again. “The guy you pushed off the cliff survived.”

Tempest ran a hand through her dirty hair. “I don’t know how to feel about that,” she murmured. William took hold of Tempest’s hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze, she was tougher than she gave herself credit for, but she wasn’t a killer.

“What happened with that man?” Pallas asked. “Did he hurt you?”

Unable to hold it back, a growl emanated from William at the thought. Pallas glanced between the two of them before her mouth quirked in a smile. “He would have, but he didn’t get the chance,” Tempest replied.

If he got the chance to find him, William would kill him too. Tempest may not have the stomach for it, but he did. “He’s probably still in this town,” William said.

“Most likely,” Pallas agreed.

“Have they been bringing you blood?” Tempest asked.

“They brought us blood the other day, but for the most part they’ve been ignoring us,” Abbott said.

“What has been going on in the town?” William asked.

Abbott folded his hands before him, his fingers fidgeted nervously with each other. “The blizzard shut a lot of the activity down, but I think they’re getting ready to move on since the storm stopped.”

“What makes you say that?”

“There’s been a lot more activity since yesterday, and they started packing their belongings in the house.”

“I don’t know what they’re going to do with us,” Pallas said.

He did, but he wasn’t about to tell either of them that, yet. “Have you seen this so called queen?” he inquired.

“No, but are you sure she’s not the queen?” Abbott asked.

“No, she is most certainly
not
the queen,” William grated through his teeth.

Abbott and Pallas exchanged a look before focusing on Tempest. “How did you two meet?” Pallas inquired of her.

“I got caught up in the storm when I left the mountains, William saved me,” Tempest replied.

“And how do you know she’s not the queen?” Abbott asked.

“I just know.” He was unwilling to reveal any more about himself right now, not until they were free of this town and there was no chance someone could turn him in.

“We can trust him,” Tempest urged. “Believe me, we can.”

They both nodded, but he could see the uncertainty in their gazes as they surveyed him from head to toe and back again. Pallas’s gaze wasn’t admiring this time, but analytical when it settled on his face. Her head tilted to the side; her nose wrinkled as she planted her hands on her hips.

“If you think so,” she said to Tempest.

“I
know
so,” Tempest replied. “Have the fires been going since I left?”

“They started again last night,” Abbott said.

“How long do you think the men staying here will be gone?” William asked.

“At least a few hours, that’s usually how long they’re out anyway,” Pallas said.

Dropping the curtain into place, he turned toward Tempest. “I’m going to go out there and see what I can learn. Is there some place you can stay hidden, besides the basement?”

“I’m coming with you,” she protested.

“I’d prefer it if you stay here.”

Her chin jutted out and her eyes narrowed. “No.”

“I can move faster by myself.”

“I know this town far better than you. I can help you find what you need, and I can help you get away if it becomes necessary.”

“They may recognize you; the only one who knows me is Kane.” He could practically hear her teeth grating together as she tried to come up with a new argument for him.

“No one will recognize me, not in one of their cloaks and with my hair this color.”

“Tempest…”

“I’m not staying here, William. No matter what you say. I’ll only follow you out later if you try to leave me here”

He rubbed at the stubble already starting to line his jaw. She continued to stare defiantly at him with her shoulders thrown back and her eyes unwavering from his. “I don’t want you out there, it could be dangerous.”

“I could say the same to you.”

He released a snort of laughter. “You and my sister will get along well,” he muttered. “We’ll have to darken your hair again; the color has worn off a lot.”

She gave him a small smile. “Easy enough.”

“There’s some shoe polish in the closet in the hall. I’ll get it,” Abbott offered.

“Go and get the cloaks,” he said to her, unwilling to leave her here alone in case Kane or the others came back.

“I will.” She hurried from the room.

His attention was drawn back to the window when a line of horses rode into view. There were at least thirty vampires out there, all riding tall in the saddle. He struggled to recall the last time he’d sent word back to Aria that he was still alive. It had been before Chester, but he couldn’t remember the exact number of days. He couldn’t allow her to start searching for him, couldn’t allow her to enter into this town unprepared. He knew she would wait only so long before she hunted him down, he had no doubt about it.

He believed he had at least seven days before Aria started looking for him, but time had become a blur in his mind. It would be enough time to get free of this town again. He could feel Pallas’s gaze burning curiously into his back, but he didn’t look at her again. He had no answers for any of her questions.

“Here.” His attention was pulled from the window when Abbott arrived again and handed out a tin of black shoe polish.

“This is going to make a mess,” he said as he took it from him. “Thank you.”

Abbott stepped away from him as Tempest reappeared in the doorway with two white cloaks draped over her arm. “Can you get me a towel?” he asked Abbott.

“Yeah.” Abbott walked out of the room as William unscrewed the top of the shoe polish. He dipped his fingers inside and dabbed some of the black polish on them before turning his attention to Tempest. “Put the cloaks on the couch for now.”

Tempest tossed the cloaks over the back of the couch and stepped toward him. He began to rub the shoe polish onto her hair, careful not to use too much, so he didn’t get it everywhere. Her silvery hair had become a deep brown color by the time he stepped away from her. The sable color emphasized her pale complexion and made her eyes seem nearly black, but there was no concealing her subtle beauty.

Sighing, he wiped his hands on the towel Abbott handed him. He gently ran it over her hair to wipe away any excess polish that would stain the hood of her cloak. The color had lightened by the time he was done, but it was still a chestnut color, and he was satisfied no more would come off her hair. Done, he handed the tin over for her to use on him.

“Not too much,” he told her as she dipped her fingers in and smeared it into his hair.

When she was done, she toweled his hair off and stepped away. “There’s no red left,” she sounded saddened by this as she put the top back on the polish and gave it to Abbott.

“Good.”

She stared at him before turning to Pallas and Abbott. “If they come back before us, open the curtains to let us know it isn’t safe to come inside,” she told them.