Shadow and Flame

by Katya Moore

  Chase growled. With effort, I shoved him back.

  "Boston. They’re being taken back to Boston, to the Witch Queen." The initiate hung limply in his wooden bonds. "They have a lair there. One of the old sections."

  Chase lunged at him, knocking me to my rear in his haste. He grabbed the man by the throat and snarled into his face. "Which. Old. Section?"

  "I don’t know!" the man wailed, voice cracking. "All I know is they’re taking them to Her. They’re..." A strangled laugh tore itself out of the man’s throat, his eyes taking on a strange luminescence. "They’ll have the location of the Proving Grounds. The means to take it. There’s nothing you can do. You’re too late. You’re already too..."

  Chase’s hand clenched, and the man began to turn purple. I put a hand on his arm.

  "A clean death," I reminded him gently.

  Chase’s eyes shifted to my face. He nodded tersely. "Clean death." He relaxed his hand slightly.

  "You’re too late," the initiate wailed. Tendrils of black snaked up his throat, curling at his jaw. I watched in horror as Chase ripped the collar of the man’s jacket back. The tattoos on his arms had stretched, writhing up his arms to his throat. The initiate gurgled and foamed at the mouth as the living ink writhed around his throat, over his face, turning his flesh midnight black. He gave a last gasp, then dangled lifelessly.

  "We gotta go, gang. The fire department’s here." Aric grabbed my upper arm and helped me to my feet. "I could only hold them off so long, and the smoke’s getting pretty thick." As if to punctuate his words, I heard a crackle, then something falling. Heat rushed into the room from behind us as the bottles behind the bar crashed to the floor. The whole wall was in flames.

  Chase shifted up to his half-dragon and let loose a long burst of flame, engulfing the dead initiates and the broken, magic-twisted tables. It was getting hot in there.

  Aric nodded, satisfied, and began to pull me toward the back door. "To Boston. We’ve got scouts to save."

  Chapter Twelve

  "We’ve wasted too much time already," Chase rumbled, pacing the floor of the study.

  Aric tapped at his laptop and shot him a dirty look. "We’re doing the best we can with what we’ve got. And we don’t have much. Boston is an old city. It has a lot of ‘old parts.’ We’ve got the best databases of Chosen activity at our disposal, now that the Elders have given us full access, but it’s going to take time."

  "Time Lina doesn’t have!" Chase threw up his hands in frustration. "She could already be dead."

  I walked over to him and put a hand on his shoulder. "No. We’ll find her."

  Chase stomped over to the window, shrugging my hand off. I didn’t move to follow. I didn’t see the point. He was beyond consoling. Our ride home had broken every traffic law known to man and good sense, and he hadn’t spoken a word the entire time. I suppose I should have been glad he had finally broken the silence, but his despair was contagious.

  "Cass is studying maps of the older sections of town to find likely hiding spots and lairs. Galen’s checking emergency services calls, seeing if anyone’s reported any abductions or bodies." I winced at Aric’s words. Chase didn’t flinch. "We’re throwing everything we’ve got at this. So stop being a dick."

  Chase snarled, but didn’t look at him. I glared at Aric. He shrugged, unrepentant.

  "I could try scanning neighborhoods. See if I can find anything." I took a tentative step toward Chase. "Once we narrow things down a little, I mean. I can scan..."

  "No fucking way," Aric snapped. "You almost killed yourself in Winchendon. Winchendon! They have, what, ten people there? This is Boston Fucking Massachusetts. Dense population, especially in the old areas. You do one block and you’ll keel over, and I’m not carrying you home."

  I crossed my arms. "It’s not your call, Aric."

  "He’s right." Chase continued to stare out the window. "I’m not going to let you kill yourself over this. I’m not going to let you kill yourself for me."

  "It’s not your call either," I retorted. "I’m..."

  "And don’t pull rank, either." Chase sounded more tired than angry. "It’s my sister. I’m running this one. And you’re not going to grind yourself to dust over this."

  I sat down on the sofa and sank my head into my hands. "I can’t just sit here and do nothing, dammit."

  "You can and you will." Chase’s voice was final. "We’ve got this."

  Aric closed his laptop and looked at me. His ivory skin was paler than usual. "We could check the waterfront. Kiernan’s place. That’s the last time I... we saw the Wi..." I could see a few beads of sweat on his forehead as his voice cut off. He cleared his throat. "The last time we saw the Witch Queen."

  The last time Aric saw her, he was being tortured nearly to death, poisoned, and about to have his essence extracted from him in a dank, miserable basement. I could see the cracks in his indifferent expression.

  "We can send someone to check it out. I doubt she'll still be there." I chewed at my lip. "We know that spot. They'd be stupid to still be holed up there."

  "They can be pretty stupid," Aric said with a weak half-grin. "I... I can go. Check it out. With Galen." The beads of sweat became a thin sheen.

  I stood up and moved closer to him. "You don't have to go there. We can send Cass and Galen." I put my hand on his arm. He flinched at my touch. I started to pull away, but he clapped his hand over mine. His mouth tightened to a thin line.

  "Thank you," he whispered. I blinked in surprise. He clutched my hand tighter and pulled me closer, wrapping me in a tight embrace. He cleared his throat again. "Thank you for caring about me. About what's hurting me. Thank you for loving me." His voice was a tad too loud, and I realized he wasn't just talking to me. "I appreciate you trying to comfort me, even though I'd rather not admit to being in pain at all. You're a good person, too good, and you care a lot about us. We don't appreciate you enough." His eyes were on Chase’s back. Chase's grip on the windowsill tightened.

  "Aric," I warned gently.

  "No." He released me from his grip and looked me in the eye. "No one gets to shit on you for caring. Ever. If you can love a dickhead like me, and comfort me even when I'm being a tool, you're too good for this world, and we're supposed to protect the good things. There aren't enough of them."

  "I get the point, Aric." Chase sounded exhausted. "Could you go call up one of the McKinnett's bouncers to check out Kiernan's patch? I need all our manpower working on what they're working on. You included."

  "Don't change the subject..." Aric started to argue.

  "I'm trying to get you out of the room so I can talk to Sia. Alone. Asshole." Chase turned around and leaned against the windowsill, crossing his arms and glaring at Aric.

  "Oh." Aric closed his laptop and tucked it under his arm. He frowned. "Do you want that?"

  I nodded silently, then leaned forward and kissed him on the lips. "Thank you," I whispered.

  Aric grinned his crooked grin and sauntered toward the door. He paused in the doorway and turned to look at Chase. "Just don't be an asshole. That's my job."

  "Do it somewhere else." Chase's voice was piano-wire tight.

  Aric snorted and closed the door behind him.

  I sat down on the arm of Aric's abandoned chair. Chase stood by the window, watching me. I swallowed hard.

  "Look, I'm sorry I've been so pushy about trying to comfort you," I began. "I... I'm not used to being the one comforting people. Missi’s better at it, I was just trying to do what she does, and I guess I was doing it wrong, and I'm..."

  Chase ran a hand over his face and growled softly in frustration. "No, I didn't send Aric out of here so you could start apologizing. You are awesome. You are being a loving, caring person to a total asshole, and no I'm not talking about Aric this time." He stepped forward behind the sofa and rested his hands on the back. "I'm the one who's pushing you away when you're reaching out. I'm the one lashing out at everyone. I'm the jerk here, Sia, not you."

  I
stood up and walked to the front of the sofa. "You're in a lot of pain right now, Chase. No one expects you to be rainbows and sunshine."

  Chase snorted. "I know that. I also know that you've been trying your damnedest to help me, and I've just been taking and taking from you." He looked down at his hands. "I almost killed you in Winchendon, and I wanted to push you even harder. I hate myself for that."

  I took another step forward and rested a knee on the sofa. Cautiously, I reached out a hand to rest it on his. This time, he didn't pull away. "You love your sister very much."

  He growled softly. "I love you very much, too." He looked at me with weary eyes. "But I'm not acting like it. And I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."

  My breath caught in my throat. "Chase..."

  Chase stepped around the end of the sofa and pulled me close before I could catch my breath. He buried his face in my hair, his lips pressed to my forehead. "I don't deserve this. I don't deserve you."

  I gave him a gentle poke in the side. "You deserve love. And I love you. Just... let me in a little, okay?"

  We stood there, holding each other. He stroked my hair and rested his forehead on the top of my head, letting me caress his back in gentle circles. We didn't say anything. We didn't need to. Being together was enough.

  "You’re right, you know. I’ve needed this. I’ve needed you." His voice was soft, his breath ruffling my hair gently. "I’ve missed holding you."

  "I’ve missed you. Ya big jerk." I squeezed his midsection. He laughed and cradled me close. "Just tell me what you need, and it’s yours. Even if it’s just…this."

  His arms wrapped around my waist as he pulled me tight to his body. "I need to not think. Just for a little while." I could feel his heart pounding. "Can I not think with you?" His lips closed over mine, warm and urgent and seeking.

  I pressed my body into his. "Anything. Anything at all."

  He rumbled deep in his chest and guided me onto the sofa.

  Chapter Thirteen

  "Are you sure..." I started to say as he lowered me back against the sofa.

  He pressed a finger gently to my lips. "No. But I need to feel something that isn't awful right now. I need you."

  I hooked a leg around his and gave a gentle tug. "Then come here."

  His blue eyes were dark with desire. "In due time." The hint of a smirk danced at the corner of his mouth. "Take your dress off. Let me look at you."

  His voice was rough, commanding, and made my body burn. I tilted my hips up and shimmied my dress off over my head. I felt my hair cascade around my shoulders as it freed itself from the fabric. The dress fell to the floor behind the sofa. I gazed up at him, lost in the near-black of his eyes. He took me in hungrily, ready to devour every inch of me.

  "Your bra," he urged. I reached back and unclasped it, freeing my breasts. His gaze was like a hundred hands caressing my body, touching every tender nerve and setting them ablaze. My fingers slipped beneath the hem of my panties. "No," he commanded. "Those are mine."

  I leaned back on my hands, thrusting my breasts up at him. "I don't think they'd fit you," I sassed.

  His eyes glinted at that. "Another time, perhaps," he said with a smirk, then returned to business. "Touch them. I want you to run your hands over your breasts."

  I felt self-conscious for a moment. We were in a public area in the house. I was bare and he was fully-clothed. And now he wanted me to fondle myself. I could feel the blush rising from my chest to my face.

  "I want to watch you, Sia," he urged. There was a gentleness behind the command. "I want to see you pleasure yourself for me."

  Awkwardly, I reached up and cupped my breasts. The corner of his mouth twitched. I ran my hands over the soft skin, catching my nipples between my fingers.

  "Close your eyes. Touch yourself like you're alone. Thinking about me."

  I obeyed. My eyes drifted closed, and my fingers coursed over my breasts, stroking my nipples into firm peaks. I cupped them again, lifting them and rubbing the pads of my thumbs over the erect nubs. I tilted my head back and moaned softly. I could feel his eyes on me, and I could feel moisture and heat pooling between my legs. I thought of his mouth on my breasts in the hot tub. I thought of his lips trailing down my stomach, his tongue flicking over my clit, and it was all I could do not to reach between my legs.

  Chase sensed my arousal and urged me onward. "Do it. I want you to touch yourself. I want you to touch yourself like you want me to touch you."

  His words were like wildfire. My body ached with need. I slid my right hand down my stomach and into my panties. I moaned again as my index finger slipped into the slick moisture of my labia, caressing the burning flesh and seeking release. My clit was swollen with desire already, and touching it almost hurt. Pain mixed with pleasure as I stroked myself, arching my shoulders into the back of the couch and pressing my hips up against my hand.

  I felt exposed. I felt wanton. I felt shameless.

  I heard a rustling sound and started to open my eyes.

  "Eyes closed," Chase reminded me. "Focus on that wet pussy of yours."

  I felt the blush returning. My hand paused in its ministrations.

  "I'm focused on that wet pussy of yours," he added. I could hear the grin. That did it for me. With a saucy smile, I used my thumb to pull down the front of my panties, exposing myself to him as my finger slid back over my clit. I heard a soft moan of pleasure at that. I worked at myself, sending shivers through my body as I drew closer to release. I moaned in ecstasy. Closer. Ever closer.

  Chase's hand wrapped around my wrist and pulled my hand away before I could reach the summit of my pleasure. My eyes flicked open in surprise and no small amount of annoyance. He pinned my wrist to the back of the sofa with a wicked grin that almost did the job on its own.

  "Uh uh. You don't get to do that. Not yet." He smothered my protests with his lips, pinning my head to the sofa with a passionate kiss. He pressed his body between my knees, and I was suddenly aware of bare flesh, firm muscles, and a very erect penis pressing into me. His shaft slid against my folds but did not enter me. It was torture, agonizing and thrilling all at once. I groaned against his lips, writhing against him and seeking that sweet elusive release. He pulled back slightly, taunting me with his cock. I whimpered with need. He chuckled deep in his chest. "In due time. I need all of you. I want all of you."

  Gently, he took my other hand in his and laced his fingers through mine. He brought my hand over my head, and pulled my other hand over to join it, neatly catching my fingers with his. It was an easy grip to slip from. I knew I could be free in a moment if I wished. But I wanted to know what he had in store for me, so I let him guide me down to my back on the sofa cushions. He pulled out from between my knees and nudged my legs up onto the sofa with his knee. I hated to let him go, but again, curiosity won.

  "Eyes closed," he repeated. I closed them with a smile. His lips pressed against my forehead, then each eyelid, then the tip of my nose. I giggled at that, but the mirth was short-lived as he took my mouth with a ravenous kiss. My lips parted, and our tongues tangled with wild abandon. My breath came in ragged gasps at the raw urgency of his kiss.

  His free hand cupped my cheek, pulling me closer, then slid down the side of my neck. The tips of his fingers trailed over my shoulder, then down to the top of my right breast. His fingernails raked the soft flesh gently, drawing his fingertips around my nipple. He paused there, not touching it, just resting his fingers against my flesh. His lips moved away from mine to nibble down the edge of my jaw. He nuzzled upward, tipping my head back, and began to tease at my throat with his teeth. The fingers struck home, toying with my nipple as his teeth worried at my flesh. I gasped aloud, then writhed in tormented pleasure.

  Slowly, he nibbled his way down to my collarbone, toying with my nipple all the while. I whimpered and moaned, wriggling helplessly. That deep, throaty chuckle resonated through his chest again, sending a cascade of tingles through my body. Finally, I felt the warm wetness of his mouth embrace m
y nipple. I moaned with every fiber of my being at the contact. He flicked the nub with his tongue, and I arched into his mouth, craving more, needing more. He released the right nipple and turned his attention to the left, prompting more writhing and moaning on my part.

  His fingers trailed down the curve of my stomach. My breath quickened. My hips bucked of their own accord, seeking his touch. He smiled against my breast.

  "Now, now..." he tutted, holding my nipple between his teeth as he did so. I cried out softly, tormented and tantalized. "I told you I needed all of you. And I will have all of you." He released my nipple and planted a kiss between my breasts. His free hand reached for something on the floor, something he looped around my wrists and deftly wrapped around the arm of the sofa. Through my sensual haze, I realized it was his belt. I chuckled. Cass would find this turnabout very amusing. I found it devastatingly arousing.

  "Don't move. I'll be right back."

  My eyes flew open. I saw the evil grin on Chase's face, just before he buried his face in my stomach. His lips coursed lower, lower. I felt a tug at the front of my panties and saw Chase had caught them in his teeth playfully, making growling noises like a puppy playing tug of war. I couldn't help but laugh. Chase released the fabric from his mouth and pulled them past my knees with his hand. My laughter was cut short once more by a well-applied tongue. I screamed aloud in ecstasy as he drew his tongue between my labia, flicking at my clit with the very tip of his tongue. The contact was almost too much. I pressed my shoulder blades into the couch cushion and thrust my hips upward. Chase was having none of that. His hands gripped my hips, holding me still, keeping control of my body as I lost all control of my mind.

  "All of you," he whispered into me as I gasped and moaned my way toward climax. He pulled away, and I cried out loud in anguished frustration. "All of you," he repeated firmly.

  I spread my legs and locked eyes with him. "All of me," I begged. "Now. Please."

  A hungry smile spread across his face. "How could I say no to that?" He gripped the back of the couch with one hand, the front edge with the other, and lowered himself over me. I watched his muscles ripple with the effort and felt my desire intensify. Chase knew how to put on a show.