Kayla tried to sleep, but her mind kept replaying Ryder kissing her and she wanted more. So much more. Her body ached with need and guilt. Guilt that Dylan was gone, and she was busy thinking about another man. Had she not loved him? She had begun to feel like their relationship was lacking something and even contemplated breaking it off. But he was dead now and she should honor his memory. Ryder was a temptation. A dark, sensual temptation. Perhaps it was the mystery behind him. The fact he was no longer human. Hell, some days she wondered if she was still fully human.
Kayla?
She bolted upright. “What the hell?” Ryder was in her head. Maybe if she ignored him, he would go away.
Kayla, I know you can hear me. Tara told me everything. Well, a lot at any rate.
She tried to swallow and calm her nerves. Did he know she’d been thinking about him?
I’m coming to your room and you will open the door for me.
Screw you! Did this telepathic thing run both ways?
Love, screwing you is tempting, but first we will talk.
Oh shit, he had heard her. Fine then. I’m not opening the door.
Then I will break the damn thing down. The choice is yours. A rap came.
Scattered thoughts bombarded her. Would he really break the door down? Probably. He sounded pissed, and she wondered what he planned to do. Maybe this conversation should take place in public and not behind her closed door. This time he beat on the door.
You’ve got three seconds, and then I’m taking this fucking thing off its hinges.
She scurried off the bed and ran to unbolt the door. Barely had it opened before he shoved his way inside. Kayla didn’t fear much in her life. She was a fighter and ready to defend herself, but the man standing in front of her was a force she didn’t understand or know how to deal with. He ignited a spark inside her that made her want to do things. Wicked, naughty things.
“I can explain.”
“I fully understand why you would keep secret that you are a survivor. I just wish you would have trusted me as much as your father did.”
This time she lifted her chin and braced herself for a battle, but his next action drew her up short.
“Before you get on your soapbox––” He shoved his right arm out and her gaze dropped to the black lines on his forearm. “Seems you have marked me, Ms. Reed.”
Kayla choked on her words but somehow managed to spit them out. “What the hell are you talking about?” She knew from previous conversations that Gordy had a marking on his arm that looked much like what was on Ryder’s.
“It would appear Gordy is no longer the only one with an odd tattoo that he didn’t get while binge drinking. I now make number two and you… You are the only female I’ve drunk from in weeks.” He shoved his arm back to his side. “You and Tara also seem to share some commonalities as well.”
“Oh my.”
His brow jacked up. “Really? That’s all you have to say?”
“I don’t know what to say, Ryder. I don’t understand anything that’s happening anymore. Yes, I survived the Red Death while my mother, sister, father, and boyfriend all died.” The sting of tears pissed her off.
“You had a boyfriend?” Was that a tinge of jealousy in his words?
She glared at him. “What does it matter? I had a life and now it’s gone. Like everyone else, I have to start over. Yes, I can hear telepathic communications, and apparently I can smell rogue vampires.”
“I had meant to ask you about that earlier but got occupied.”
She gave a half-hearted laugh and tried not to recall the demanding claim he’d made on her mouth earlier. “When did your mark show up? What does it mean?”
He scraped his fingers over his short hair. “We’re all learning as we go.” He started to pace and Kayla decided to take a seat in a nearby chair.
“Let’s go over what we do know,” he began.
“Sound plan.”
“You and Tara survived the Red Death. You both have telepathic abilities. We know that you can scent rogue vampires as can I. We need to test this with Tara, but I’m willing to bet she can as well.”
“Wait, why do you suppose you can, yet Jaden couldn’t earlier?”
He stopped. “Jaden is not a primordial. I sired him, so perhaps that is the reason. We also need to see if Gordy is able to scent them, and that should tell us something.”
“I think I follow. We will at least know if you are the only vampire who can.”
He nodded. “I will ask the others when I check in with them later.”
“Okay, what else?”
Ryder was busy fighting the desire to throw Kayla on the bed and strip her naked. Kiss every inch of her body then take her until she screamed his name. He wanted to brand himself on her soul.
What. The. Hell?
He’d begun to notice the burning on his arm while talking with Tara. Had tried to ignore it because he feared what it was, but it had become impossible. When he’d finally left her, he dared look down at his arm and there it was. His emotions had exploded into a ball of fury, and he’d slammed his fist into a wall. He didn’t have time for shit like this. Everyone was fighting for survival, and he needed to be at his best. Having his mind clouded with thoughts of Kayla was not on his agenda. He now understood Gordy’s dilemma.
“I still don’t get what is happening and why you and Gordy have a mark on you,” Kayla interjected.
“How are you feeling?”
She stared at him from across the room. It was best they kept their distance.
“I feel fine.”
She lied. Her desire snapped in the air like a bolt of lightning and threatened to strike him down where he stood. Should he call her out on it? Probably not because he was quickly learning if cornered, she retreated. He needed her with him on this so they could figure out how to handle it. He hoped no one else came down with this affliction, whatever the fuck it was.
“So, what are your plans? I mean are you going to let Gordy and Tara be together?”
“It seems it’s what they both desire, but I’m not sure if she is safe.”
Her gaze narrowed. “Should I be afraid of you?”
He focused on her until she shifted in her seat. “You should always fear me.”
“That’s not comforting. I’m not even sure I understand what you’re feeling.” She glanced at his arm. “And why that symbol?”
“You don’t even want to know the extent of my desire for you at the moment. I would suggest you try to keep as much distance between you and the other men, lest I have to kill one of my own.”
She worked her lip. “Umm, damn. Okay.”
“Ironic.” He lifted his arm to study the lines that had marred his skin. “I never wanted to be tied down and now here we are.”
“What’s happening to our world, Ryder?”
“I don’t know. Only the strong will survive, but who that will be is anyone’s guess.” As much as he wanted to be near Kayla, he had to get away from her. “I need to go.” He left her room before she had a chance to speak. In the corridor, he was happy to find everything quiet. The hour was midnight, and most were asleep except for the men on guard duty. Ryder was positive there was another who was also awake.
He made his way to the lower level where Gordy was being held. Outside the door, the guard opened it for Ryder then stepped aside. Once inside the room, he sealed them both in.
Gordy was on his back on the floor, staring at the ceiling. “I’ve counted the dimples in the tiles half a dozen times now.” He never broke his concentration.
“I’m sorry you have to go through this.”
Gordy snorted. “You’ve no idea what I’m going through.”
“Oh I think I do.” Ryder held out his arm and finally the other vampire broke his fixation on the ceiling and looked at Ryder.
Gordy leaped to his feet. “When did that happen?”
“Only a few hours ago.”
“Kayla?”
“Yep.”
“I’d say welcome to the club, except this club fucking sucks.”
“I have only one question for you.”
“Shoot.”
“Is Tara safe with you?”
“I’d rather die than harm her.”
“She feels strongly for you as well. I’m letting you out of here to go to her with one stipulation.”
Gordy flexed his fingers. “I swear if I feel any urge to harm her, I will seek you out immediately.”
Ryder gave a nod. “Fair enough. Remember, she must consent.”
“I will starve myself if she refuses to feed me, but she will not bleed for any other man.”
“Understood. I will take her out of the rotation.” Ryder opened the door and stepped outside. “Gordy is free to go.” He’d hardly gotten the words out when the vampire was nothing more than a flash past him. He opened his mind and searched for Kayla. He found her still awake.
Kayla, I have set Gordy free to be with Tara. I thought you should know.
Is that a smart move?
I pray it is.
He closed off his mind and headed for the front door. Once outside, he looked up and marveled at the darkened skyline. New York City should be full of lights and bustling with life. Instead it was dead. A few lights glowed, but for the most part the city was dark.
“Tegan, you bastard. Why haven’t you answered my call for help?”
A light breeze brushed over his face.
“I am not at your beck and call, Vampire.” The deep voice of the archangel prickled his skin.
Kayla couldn’t stand another second under the covers or in the bed. Her entire body was strung so tight she wanted to scream. If it were possible to crawl out of her skin, she would shed it like a snake. Instead, she got out of bed and dressed. Opening the door to her room, she peeked into the hall and found it empty. She knew she shouldn’t be sneaking about, but she’d strapped a gun to her thigh and a knife to her waist. With her new freakish ability, she could smell any rogue vampires and apparently her telepathic link went both ways if she got into trouble.
With relative ease she slipped downstairs and outside where everything opened up around her. Finally, she could breathe. Maybe a walk in the fresh air would help her think. As she headed down the sidewalk, she heard voices in the distance. Curiosity got the better of her and she followed the sound, clinging to the darkness of the buildings. Around the corner she spied Ryder, and he was speaking to a man Kayla had never seen before. Slightly taller than the vampire, the man was as muscled as Ryder but his hair much longer. There seemed to be something about him that led her to believe he wasn’t human.
She snuck closer, intent on listening when Ryder went stiff and turned his head slightly.
“I know you’re lurking, Kayla.”
Shit. Discovered, she came out of the darkness to stand beneath the same lone street lamp the two men were under. “I should have known you would smell me, and how is this light working?”
Ryder hiked a brow. “Tegan’s power. It flipped on the minute the archangel appeared.”
Kayla looked at the other man with renewed awe. Tegan, the archangel. The one who’s unborn son was to be their savior. “Wow.” It also explained the power that crackled around him. It took on a life of its own.
“Tegan, may I introduce Kayla. She is a survivor of the Red Death, and one of the reasons I wanted to talk to you.”
“Interesting. This is the female that caused your mark?”
She was beginning to dislike that word. “What does it mean?” she asked.
He hiked up broad shoulders. “Who the hell knows what the Almighty has devised for humanity. I can speculate from a previous conversation but can’t guarantee anything.”
“What did he say, exactly?” Kayla wanted to hear every word that had condemned her race.
The angel stared at her for several moments before he spoke. “To quote my father, ‘Humanity is being cleansed.’ It’s my father’s way of speeding up evolution. Only the strongest will survive.” The angel shrugged. “Apparently he was tired of watching humanity murder each other.”
“Wow. Unfortunately, he had a point about us murdering each other.” She couldn’t deny the world had become a horrible place. Death and destruction filled the news every single day. Humanity had indeed done this to themselves. “I’m going out on a limb here and guess vampires and Red Death survivors are part of this new evolution?”
This time Ryder spoke up. “It would appear so. I was hoping Tegan would be able to shed some light on the markings.”
“The figure eight comes from the ancient serpent and means infinite immortality and continuity. I’m guessing you are indeed immortal.”
“And the heart?” Ryder asked almost afraid.
“I would think that’s obvious. Eternal love. It is a mating mark and Kayla is your mate.”
“Shit,” Kayla muttered.
“But the women have no such mark. Wouldn’t it make sense for them to have it as well?” Ryder pointed out.
“It would, but do not think my father is going to put all the answers in plain view. From what you have told me thus far, I’m guessing a surviving female carries something that triggers a mating desire within the vampires. Kayla here would be a better mate for you than say a human who never contracted the illness.”
“Why?” she asked.
“It’s assumed those who can survive the plague carry angel or demon DNA. Do you carry a birth mark that resembles a wing?” Tegan pointed his question at Kayla.
“No marks at all.”
“Since you don’t carry the mark of a nephilim, then you must have a demon in your ancestry.”
That news caused her to take a step back. “That’s impossible.”
“I am afraid it’s not all that uncommon. As much as it pains me to say, not all demons are bad. Many have lived among humans for centuries and spawned offspring.”
She wanted to retch right there on the sidewalk. Her thoughts quickly went back to the black-skinned monster Ryder shot when they entered the city. “I don’t understand why this is happening, but what can we do about it?” She met the angel’s gaze. “What does your son have to do with this? In helping us?”
“I wish I knew the answer to that. Other than he will carry the DNA of good and evil just as I do.”
She shook her head. “But he’s not even born yet. We can’t wait twenty years for help.”
“My son will be born any day. Remember, he is not mortal and his growth is not measured the same as yours.” Tegan tilted his head. “I must go, my mate needs me.” Then he was gone, and the light flickered off.