Chapter Fourteen

 

 

 

“Got a minute?”

Dracen turned at Tiarnán’s question to find him lounging against the wall of the training room. She dropped the chain she held and nodded. “Sure.”

“Why didn’t you come to me?”

“About what?” She called up a sword and tried not to wince when pain struck her palms. “Damn it,” she cursed.

“The demon blood.”

“And say what, Tiarnán? How do you broach that subject?”

He kicked a chair. “Same way as we do everything else. Blunt honesty. Christ, Dracen. You’re the closest one to me here and you’ve been shutting me out for almost a year. This vanishing act you pulled, I woke up thinking you’d been stabbed in the chest. I saw it in my head. When are you going to remember you’re not alone?”

“Coming from the lone warrior himself? Really? You, who is as much of a loner as I am?”

“Are we or are we not siblings?”

The accusation stung. “We are.”

He strode over the floor in her direction, a katana in his own hand. “So what was the problem?”

She stared at his face, hard angles lined with anger. While she knew what was imminent, the speed of his strike still shocked her. For a brief moment, she’d wondered if he would give her a break because she was healing. Apparently not.

Dracen rolled at the last second, bringing up a blade to block his downward attack. The familiar reverberation up her arm was soothing in an odd way. The pain was pushed back and she continued on to her feet, calling forth another weapon. So did Tiarnán.

She cracked her neck and watched his eyes, not the sword or whip he held. In her right hand, she had her typical tanto.

“I didn’t want to share it. You’re not telling me that you’re having problems with your mate.”

He bared his teeth in a silent snarl. “What did she tell you?” He struck with the whip and she dodged it all the while, moving in closer to where it wouldn’t be able to be used.

“That’s between us.”

“Dracen?” The word was a warning.

“Did you tell her there was nothing between us, nor had there ever been?”

“Yes,” he snapped, forgoing the whip and attacking with two swords.

God, his hits rattled her teeth. She kicked at him and flipped back out of range. “Then what’s the problem?” She winced at the tear of one scab.

“She’s still unsure about where she sits with me, and how the fuck did this get to be about me as opposed to about you?”

“Because I know how to steer a conversation.”

“Then,” he said, “I suggest I stop it and keep you too busy to converse.”

Words stopped for a while until they both halted the battle, sweat covered and bleeding from minor cuts. A bit more in her position, for some of her scabs had broken open.

“Now we talk,” he said as he bandaged up her injuries.

“I’ve known for a while. I could feel them. When I figured it out, I was trying to combat this darkness growing inside me. You know I can go into people’s thoughts, but I take it all with me. The good and the bad. I didn’t know how to handle the bad and I was scared I would do something to someone here. Plus with the blood issue, I wasn’t sure they wouldn’t be able to track me.”

“So you ran,” he accused, pushing on the last bit of gauze with more force than necessary.

“I left.”

“You fucking ran. There, you’re done.” He stepped back and crossed his arms.

Dracen looked at him. Really looked at him. Cowboy boots, jeans and white T-shirt that didn’t do anything to hide the muscles he had. Not to mention being sweaty only made them more defined. His hair had grown longer, and yet, there was a difference. The hard edge around his eyes had disappeared.

“She’s good for you, you know.”

He blinked, as if unsure by her change in topic. “Calida?”

“Yes, you almost look happy.”

“She is everything.”

“I can see that.”

Alarms blared and they both instantly ran for the door. “Where?” she called, unable to hear the internal communication.

“East perimeter.”

They ran into Cale, Taylor and Mal in the front.

“Stay here and help protect the kids, Dracen,” Tiarnán ordered.

She looked from Cale to Taylor and shook her head. “No, I’m going out there. Better that than I stay here and someone else is worried I may do something harmful.” Without waiting for a response, she dashed off, her sign shifting and prepping for battle.

New Order goons awaited them and she immediately jumped into the fray. Aminta and Tiarnán joined her.

“The others are checking the rest of the perimeter,” Aminta called to her.

“Be so much easier if you’d let us back in,” Tiarnán shouted.

She dropped her shields and nearly fell from her feet, the feeling of being so connected with her brethren was such a powerful thing.

“Better?”

“Yes,” Tiarnán said.

“Much,” Aminta agreed.

“Welcome back again,” Roz chimed in.

Billy and Cale’s voices were suspiciously absent, however, she didn’t focus on that, only the fight before her.

As they walked back to the house, Aminta glanced at her. “You’ve always been one hell of a fighter, Dracen but this…goddamn, it’s spectacular. I know our signs assist but yours takes it to another level. It’s out there, an extension of you but wielding its own damage.”

“I’d like to know about that as well. I’ve had my sign do a small bit of that but nothing like what yours is doing.” Tiarnán cleared his throat.

She shrugged and hopped over a log. “I don’t know. I also apparently have a tattoo on my back.”

“We all have them,” Aminta said.

“No, this is a full dragon, or so says Luc. I’ve only seen it once in the mirror.”

“Fuck, let me see this,” Aminta demanded.

“Yes.”

Turning her back, she undid her shirt and lowered it. Silence reigned.

“Is it there?”

“Oh yeah,” Aminta affirmed.

“Who did this?” the big brother asked.

She fixed her shirt and turned back to them. “No clue. When I saw it the thing was silver. And it moves, according to Luc, as well.”

“That one on your back was silver and red.” Tiarnán began walking again. “I mean, mostly silver but some scales are lined by red. Who is this mate of yours?”

She gave a small smile. “You know what I do.”

They fell silent as they continued the rest of their trek. Each lost in their own thoughts. When the large house came into view, she slowed, allowing them to take the lead.

They both looked at her. “Everything okay?” Aminta asked.

“Luc’s over there. I’ll see you later.”

She made a direct line to the man who leaned against a tree, arms crossed and ankles hooked.

“You look no worse for the wear, although you do have new bandages.”

“I was sparring with Tiarnán before the alarms went off.”

He tugged her close and kissed her. “I was working out.”

“So basically we’re both sweaty.”

“Yes,” he said with a grin, kissing her again.

“Wanna get dirty as well before we go clean up?”

“I’ll follow you anywhere, Dray.”

She took his hand and guided him back into the woods. They’d just come around a small copse of seedlings when her sign flared to life. Releasing Luc, she called up her weapons and waited, tip of the swords cutting through the fertile soil.

“Get me some fucking weapons, Dracen.”

She gave him the kama and put the other sword back in her hand. “Stay behind me.”

“Fuck that, I’m fighting beside you.” He adjusted to stand next to her. “What is it?”

Her blood burned. “I don’t know. Watch my back.”

“Always have it, babe.”

The forest went eerily silent. Dracen breathed deeply, waited, and thrust her blades up to the left. An unholy scream filled the air as the scythe-shaped limb fell free from the body it had been attached to.

The creature became visible to her eyes and Dracen hissed. “Cheza.”

“You always were good, human.” She shifted to human form and hovered just above the ground.

“And you’re still an ugly whore. You aren’t supposed to be here.”

“Ahh, but the rules have changed now.” She peered to Luc. “I see you have your mate.”

“Touch him and I’ll cut off something that doesn’t grow back.”

“I’m not here for that.”

“Like I’m going to trust you. What do you want?”

Past the treetops, the clouds had begun to darken and swirl. Cheza glanced up and for a moment appeared a bit uncomfortable.

“I just wanted to see the newest member of the family. I hear you have demon blood in you. So, come to our side. We’ll even allow your mate to live.”

“We’d rather die,” Luc said.

“Whatever is flowing in my veins doesn’t make us family in any way, Cheza.”

Lightning struck nearby and Cheza shook her head. “You were given the opportunity, don’t forget that.”

“Don’t forget what I did to your arm. Next time, it will be your head.”

Her laughter wasn’t kind but she left. Moments later the weather cleared.

 

Luc waited until the forest slowly returned to normal. “The fuck?”

“Cheza.”

He’d gotten that when she’d spat her name out as a curse. The hatred in her tone told him all he needed to know about the creature-woman they’d just faced.

“One of Them?”

“Yes.” She frowned and glanced up, checking above them.

“You expecting something else?”

“Lian.”

He pivoted. “I thought he was sick.”

“He is.”

“Then why are you checking the sky?”

“Those storm clouds and the lightning, that was Lian.”

“You have a lot of mystical shit around you, babe.”

The grin she leveled at him yanked him from battle mode to full-on ready for hot, pulse-pounding, knee-knocking sex. “So do you.”

Titanium covered the iron and steel as his cock pressed against his pants. His groan rose unchecked and he reached for her, taking possession of her mouth. Her curves melted into him as she wrapped her arms around his waist.

“I want to fuck you right here, Dray. Use the tree to hold you up as I pound my dick deep into you.”

“Yes,” she whimpered.

He almost asked her how her injuries were, but nixed that when she attacked the button holding up his pants. When she gripped him he shook, his craving was so intense.

The weapons were gone and he shoved a hand down the front of her leather, cupping her wet pussy then pushing two fingers deep inside her.

“Luc!” she cried, head lolling back as her internal muscles rippled around him.

“Right here, babe, and we’re just getting started.”

He worked her pants down and gripped his cock. She rocked on the fingers buried within her.

“Fuck me, Luc.”

“I will,” he vowed. He pumped within her then pulled free and sucked her cream off. Then he pushed back into her. Removing his fingers from her core, he held them to her mouth. “Taste yourself. I can’t tell you how much I crave your taste on my tongue. Taste what I do.”

Her lips parted and he grunted as she swirled her tongue around his digits. When she grazed him with her teeth he growled, fisting his cock. Running the head along her slit, he flexed his hips and drove into her.

She sucked hard on his fingers as she gasped. Her legs were forced together by the leather of her pants, heightening the friction. God damn she feels good!

He thrust. She sucked. They both panted.

With the tree at her back, she couldn’t move away, and he pistoned harder, lifting her on her toes. He flicked his fingers over her exposed clit, her muscles flexing around him. Her silver lashes were lowered and he tugged his fingers free of her mouth. She looked at him.

“We’re not stopping.”

Thumbing her clit again, he then repositioned both hands on her hips, lifting her higher. She grabbed his shoulders, digging into him. He gripped her braid, wrapping it around his hand, pulling to expose her neck.

“I’ll never get enough of this pussy. Or you.”

She closed her eyes as an orgasm over took her. He powered up once more and came hard. Dracen opened her mouth in a wordless gasp, body trembling.

He allowed her to put her feet on the ground and slowly withdrew from her heat. Leaning close, he kissed her, and eventually his heart began to slow.

“I had something to tell you earlier,” he rasped, fixing his pants.

Her breasts jiggled as she tugged up her pants and distracted him all over again.

“You were saying?” She poked him in the shoulder.

“Right. Don’t blame me, babe. You’re the one with the fabulous breasts. You can’t expect me to ignore them.”

“Again, you were saying?”

She spread out her hands and he watched the blades disappear from the ground.

Wicked. Would have been beneficial in some of the situations he’d been in.

“When I was—”

He was interrupted by the phone Edmond had given him ringing. Frowning he dug it out and stared at the screen. The number told him all he needed to know. His father.

“Hello, sir.”

“Son. How are you?”

“Fine, sir,” he said, winking at Dracen. “What did you find?”

“A few black market deals have gone down with a sizeable amount of weapons and other gear.”

“And did you have the name of the purchaser?”

“Danvers. Joseph Danvers.”

He touched Dracen on the arm. “Joseph Danvers mean anything to you?”

She scrunched up her nose, and Lord help him, he wanted to kiss her on it.

“Who are you talking to?” his father questioned.

“My wife.”

Silence from his father and one raised eyebrow from Dracen. He tapped her on the end of her nose. May as well get used to it, babe. I plan on getting you to carry my last name.

“You’d better come home and explain that to your mother, because I’m not telling her, her only son got married without letting us meet the bride. Unless we know her already. Is it Stephanie?”

“What? God no. No, sir, it’s not Stephanie.”

“Okay, Laura? Terri? Carla?”

Dracen watched him and he knew she could hear his father. Problem was her expression remained blank. He couldn’t get a read on it. And Christ, why is the old man still rattling on with more names?

“You don’t know her.” He interrupted the litany of names. Dracen went to turn but he stopped her.

She gazed about. The gray streaks lightened and he knew she had gone into hunting mode.

“I have to go,” she said in a low voice his father couldn’t overhear. “Enjoy your call.”

She vanished before he could formulate a sentence.

Damn.

“Who is she?”

“I’ll bring her home to meet you, but right now I need to know everything you found out.”

His father filled him in and he paced as he listened.

“Thank you, sir.”

“Now, about your wife.”

He sighed and headed off in the direction she’d gone. “I’ll bring her home soon.”

“When?”

“As soon as we can.”

“Where are you now and why didn’t you mention it before? Everyone was worried and you were with your wife?”

“She wasn’t—it’s not like that.” He frowned, realizing he’d lost her track.

“How long have you known her?”

Luc crouched, hand skimming over the terrain. Then he glanced up. Would she have taken to the trees?

“Long enough to know she’s the one for me.”

“Then bring her here.”

He ground his jaw. “She can’t travel right now.”

“Why not?”

“She’s recovering from an accident where she nearly died.”

“Come soon.”

He dropped his head with a sigh. “Yes, sir.”

The call ended. Luc shoved the cell in his pocket and got back to tracking Dracen. He didn’t find her but he did run into the undisputed leader of the Guardians. Tiarnán.

They stared at one another for a moment. “Looking for someone?”

“My mate.” Tiarnán’s demeanor was uptight.

“Haven’t seen her.”

He blinked. “I heard you have a tattoo like Dracen’s.”

His gaze narrowed a fraction. “When did you see her tattoo?” It was on her back, so if he’d seen it, his woman would have not to have had her shirt on.

“After the perimeter breech, she showed me.”

Luc scratched his jaw. “She showed you? Just took her shirt off and showed you?”

Tiarnán nodded. “Your eye is like hers as well, just not the right one, on you it’s the left.”

“You saw her without her shirt?”

“What? Yes, she had her back to me.” Tiarnán lifted his head and scanned the sky. “Something’s off. Come on.” The man set off and Luc followed, unsure of what had just happened. They’d gone from talking about how he’d just seen Dracen’s naked back and now they were running through the woods.