by Cynthia Eden
She sure as hell didn’t need to ask twice.
But he didn’t take like the starving man he was. Instead of falling on her in desperation, his head slowly lowered toward hers. He was giving Mora the chance to turn away. Giving her the option to refuse him.
She didn’t. She leaned toward him. She parted her lips.
His mouth pressed to hers. Softly. Carefully. He wanted to seduce. He wanted to tempt. He wanted her back. His tongue slid over her full lower lip, and then he lightly nipped that lip, before sucking it gently with his mouth.
Her gasp filled his ears, and her hands curled around his shoulders.
His tongue thrust into her mouth. So sweet. He’d always felt as if he got a little drunk off Mora’s kiss. He’d come to crave her taste. She was his wine. The kiss became rougher as the lust he’d held in check pushed past his control.
Mora.
Mine.
His hand slid to curve around her hip. He eased onto the bed, closing in on her. He was fighting to stay gentle, because he needed her to want him. He needed her desire. This wasn’t a dream. Mora was real. She was beneath his hands. She was—
Kissing him back.
Her tongue moved lightly against his, driving up the fever of his arousal. Her lips parted even more, and she gave that sexy little moan that he remembered so well. Her moan stroked right over him, cracking his control.
He wanted to strip her. He could have her clothes gone in a blink. He could have his jeans off with a wave of his hand. Then he’d be on the bed with her. He’d push apart her thighs and drive deep inside of her. Her nails would rake over his back. He’d plunge into her, again and again, not stopping until she knew that she belonged only to him. Mora would cry out her pleasure. She’d buck up against him and ask for more. Always, more. He’d never get his fill of her. He’d make sure she was as addicted as he was. She wouldn’t ever get away again. He wouldn’t lose her, he—
No.
Leo pulled away from Mora. He stood at the side of the bed, his hands clenched into fists, his breath heaving. Her eyelashes slowly lifted and she stared up at him, not speaking, but her breath was rasping out in the same rough rhythm that his was. She lifted a hand and touched trembling fingertips to her lips. Her lips were red and wet from his kiss, slightly swollen. Her cheeks were flushed, and he could see the desire in her eyes.
He knew she had to see the savage need stamped on his face.
“Leo?”
He forced his teeth to unclench. “I’m going to make everything better for you.”
Her head cocked.
“I can make it right. I can do something good.” He forced himself to smile at her. “After all, I’m the Lord of the Light. I swear, I’ve done more than just wreck the world. I know it doesn’t look that way, but just give me a chance. I can prove myself to you.” He needed that chance with her.
Her hand slid away from her lips. “I didn’t ask you to stop.”
He had to take a quick step away from the bed. It was either step away—or grab her again. “I need to take care of some things.” His control was about to shatter. He had to get away from Mora before that happened. His need had been denied too long. He had to tread carefully—very carefully with her.
“You’re leaving.” She didn’t move from her position on the bed.
“You should rest. Not many paranormals could recover from that kind of power blast.”
“I’m not like the others.”
No, she’d always been different. Not light or dark, not good or bad. She’d always just been…the one I wanted most. “I wish I could change the past.” He hadn’t meant to let those words slip out, but they were the truth. Brutal and savage. “I’d give my life to take away your pain.”
Her eyes widened and she leapt from the bed. Mora grabbed his arms and held tight. “Don’t say that.”
Why not? It was the truth.
“Never offer a life, not when you’re standing in front of Fate.” She licked her lips. He wondered if she could still taste him. He could still taste her. “You don’t…you don’t fully understand how my power works.” Her words came fast. “There are some things that I can’t control. Some things that just happen.”
His hand lifted and curled under her chin. On this, he wanted to be clear, and he didn’t need any warning. “I would give my life to take away your pain.”
She stared at him as if he were a stranger. As if she wasn’t the lover who knew him better than any other. “Leo?”
He wanted to kiss her again. Because he wanted it so badly, he stepped back. “Let me into your life again.”
“I-I don’t understand.”
“For the time we have, let me in. Let me have the chance to show you that I’m not the monster you think.”
She caught her lower lip between her teeth. He had the feeling she was trying to stop herself from speaking.
Maybe that meant…she was going to give him a chance? I have to work harder. I have to show her that she can count on me.
“I’ll be back soon,” Leo promised her.
Her lashes lowered. “Where are you going?”
Once again, he told her, “There are some—some things I need to take care of.” My brother being the main damn thing. He knew Luke had to be lurking close by. But there was more that Leo needed to do, for Mora. He’d already taken so much from her. It was time he gave back. He turned away, before he gave into the need that pulsed just beneath his skin. Did she understand how badly he wanted her?
No, if she did, she wouldn’t let me so close.
He was nearly at her bedroom door.
“I saw what you did.”
Her words stopped him.
“I-I didn’t mean to scry. I wasn’t trying to see you, I swear.” Her words were low. “But our blood had mixed, and I touched a mirror, not even thinking. The image came to me, and I saw what you did to those men.”
His hand rose and gripped the door frame. “They had it coming.”
“Leo?”
He looked back at her. She stood next to the bed. “When they hurt you, they signed their own death warrants. If I’d known the truth sooner…” And the fact that it had been hidden from him for so long infuriated him. Rage grew inside of Leo, but he held it back. There was only one being who could have shielded those bastards for all those centuries. Only one. “They would have received their retribution sooner.”
She wrapped her arms around her stomach. “Punishment.”
Exactly.
“But you were supposed to be the one who protected.”
“And I will protect you. Always. I will never let you down again.” His words were a vow. Did she understand that? He would never put another before her again. In the time that Leo had left in the world, Mora would know that she mattered.
That she’d always mattered.
She didn’t call out to him again, and he walked out of her house.
***
Mora didn’t move, not until she heard the soft snick of her front door closing. Then she rocked forward onto her feet.
This is bad.
A shiver slid over her body. She could still feel Leo against her skin. Against her mouth.
So very bad.
Mora rushed out of her bedroom. She hurried down the narrow hallway and then burst into her den. She flipped the lock on her door, wanting that small bit of security in a world gone absolutely, positively mad.
What was she supposed to do? How was she supposed to stop the train wreck that was coming her way?
And—the question that had her insides shredding—how could she save Leo?
I can’t. He’s already gone too far.
Chapter Nine
Luke Thorne never had a hard time finding trouble. Usually, trouble found him. So when the sun set—because he preferred the dark—it wasn’t hard to find his way to the dive with the unexciting name of Sammy’s Place. Music blared from the old speakers, drinks poured freely, and plenty of gruff voices filled the air.
&n
bsp; Luke sidled up to the bar. The bartender glanced his way, raising a brow. “What you need?”
“Tell me that you have some decent whiskey in this place.” Luke’s fingers drummed on the bar top.
The bartender shook his head. “Not even close.”
Figured. “Then give me whatever crap you’ve got.” He sat on the stool, then turned his back on the bar, the better to study the humans around him. A few were clustered around a door marked PRIVATE, and those few had the big, bruising look of hired muscle. They glared whenever anyone got too close.
They glared and one even flashed fang.
Interesting. Luke slanted a quick glance back at the bartender.
The bartender grunted as he pushed a drink toward Luke. “Here’s your poison.”
“You have no idea,” Luke murmured. He downed the drink in one gulp and slammed down his glass. You didn’t savor cheap whiskey. You knocked it back. “You were right. It was shit.”
The bartender grunted.
Luke tossed him some money. Curious now, because he wondered just what—or who—the fanged thug was guarding, Luke sauntered toward the fellow. With every step that he took, the guards in front of that PRIVATE door seemed to tense more.
You should tense. I’ve had a bad day, and I’m about to take out my pound of flesh on the nearest fools I can find.
From behind the door, he heard a faint, pain-filled moan. Then a thud. Another thud… Sounded like a fist connecting with someone’s face.
“You need to keep walking, buddy.” One of the bruisers stepped into Luke’s path. “This ain’t your business.”
Luke swept his gaze over the fellow. About six feet, with tree-trunk-like arms. Obviously, someone liked to work out. “You’d be surprised at the things that are my business.”
Another faint moan reached his ears.
Too interesting to pass up. He was getting into that room. Luke narrowed his eyes on the human before him. “Get out of my way.”
The human’s eyes seemed to glaze. “Yes, sir.” He immediately stepped to the side.
But the guy with the fangs—the guy who didn’t even seem a little hesitant to be flashing his too sharp teeth with humans all around—immediately got in Luke’s way. “You don’t want me to hurt you.” The guy’s words were a growl.
Luke’s gaze swept over him. This fellow had to be around six foot three, and he was built along thick, stocky lines. His shaggy hair and his eyes were brown. Three scars slid across his upper right cheek—the guard must have received those scars when he was very young. Because I know this fellow’s a shifter, and shifters usually heal better than that. Conspiratorially, Luke leaned toward the guy. “Bear.” He smiled. “You have to be a bear, right? I’m usually great at calling these things.”
The bear shifter’s muddy eyes spat fury at him.
“Run along.” Luke motioned vaguely with his hand. “You’re in my way.”
The bear shouted back, “Fuck you, bastard!” Then the fool had the absolute audacity to put his hands on Luke.
Your mistake.
Luke caught the guy and sent him hurtling in the air. The bear shifter crashed into the bar, and the music just kept right on playing. Luke rolled his shoulders. “I’m feeling a little better now.” He kicked in the door. Nothing was PRIVATE when he was near. And, as soon as that door was out of Luke’s way…
He saw that his suspicions had been dead on. Sure enough, someone was getting the shit beat out of himself in there. A man with dark hair and a swollen, bloody face was tied to a chair in the middle of the room. Luke rolled back his shoulders and called, “What fun do we have here?”
The man who’d been beating the poor bastard in the chair spun toward him. His hand was bruised all along his knuckles—yeah, that happened when you used your fist as a battering ram. The guy’s head was completely shaved, and a gold hoop hung in his ear lobe. “Who the fuck are you?”
“I’m someone who was bored and in the mood for a fight.” Serious understatement. “May I ask, why are you beating the hell out of that fellow?”
“Angus! Braun!” Veins bulged as the fellow shouted for his crew. “Eliminate this joker!”
No one rushed in at the guy’s command. Luke gave a little laugh. “Sorry, I think I’ve already eliminated your guards. They won’t be running to the rescue.” Luke sauntered forward.
“This is my place!” Spittle flew from the screaming man’s mouth. “You can’t just—”
“Oh, so you’re Sammy?” Luke nodded and tapped his chin with one finger. “Got to tell you, your whiskey selection sucks. If you expect me to keep visiting, you must do better.”
Sammy swung at him. The guy’s fist thudded into Luke’s jaw. Luke didn’t move. But Sammy sure did start screaming.
“My hand! You broke my fucking hand!”
“That’s what happens when you hit steel.” Luke shrugged, unconcerned. “Oh, yeah, and it’s my turn.” He drew back his fist and drove it straight into Sammy’s face. He cold-cocked the guy with one punch. Too easy. “Had to be a human,” Luke said as he studied the fallen man. “I wanted more of a fight.” Oh, well. He turned for the door. The fight had ended far too soon. He’d have to find another battle.
The battle with my twin is waiting. Our time is up.
“W-wait…L-Leo…”
Luke’s shoulders stiffened. “What in the hell did you just call me?” He spun to glare at the bound man.
The fellow’s lips were busted and bloody. “L-Leo…I know…y-you’re Mora’s f-friend.”
Luke’s head cocked. “Is that what I am to Mora?”
“N-need…help…”
“Yes, you quite obviously do.” Luke motioned to the unconscious man in the room. “Sammy will wake eventually and probably start beating you again. But getting involved in human affairs isn’t typically my thing.” Still, he found himself stalking closer to the injured man. Luke’s nostrils flared as he scented all of the blood soaking the guy. “Interesting.” Now he was even more curious. His curiosity had always been a weakness. “Your blood…it’s not fully human. What exactly are you?”
“DEA,” the injured man gasped.
Luke frowned. “That’s not a type of paranormal.”
“D-Drug Enforcement…A-A—”
“Oh, right. That has nothing to do with me. And I still don’t get why you think Leo—um, why you think I—would help you.”
“Y-you took my m-motor…cycle. Y-you…owe me.”
“Not likely.” He should walk away, but something about the fellow was nagging at him. “How well do you know Mora? Are you her friend?” Perhaps he could use this DEA person.
“Th-thought so…” He strained, trying to break out of his ropes, but he just bled more. “Sh-she tried to…w-warn me…sh-should have trusted…her.”
Now Luke hurried toward the man who’d just become the most interesting human ever. Semi-human? Luke crouched down so he could be on eye level with the bleeder. “Mora told you—she told you about your future? She told you what was coming?”
“Yes…she was w-waring me…s-see that now…trying to ch-change things…”
That interfering little trickster. If Mora had intervened with a human’s life—or semi-human’s life—then what would she do for a powerhouse paranormal? Especially one she’d been fucking?
Oh, Leo. The game is hardly fair between us. Not when you’ve been stacking the odds in your favor.
“Tell you what…” Luke grabbed the ropes and ripped them apart with one tug. “I’ll save your bloody self, and then you can owe me. Got it? I’ll be your new boss, not the DEA.”
He waited for the fellow to nod. Instead, the guy just slid out of his chair and hit the floor. Typical. Sighing, Luke bent and scooped him up. He threw his “friend” over his shoulder and sauntered out. The humans were still dancing and drinking. They barely even glanced his way, and a few moments later, he was outside, free and clear. He glanced around the lot, trying to decide which vehicle he’d steal. He settled
on a pick-up truck. Luke dumped his new protégé in the back and headed for the driver’s side. He—
“You wanted Mora dead.”
Right on time. He’d just started to have fun, so it only stood to reason that Leo would be appearing now. And, sure enough, that was his twin storming around the front of the truck and marching up to Luke. Luke wrenched open the door—
“What the fuck are you doing?” Leo slammed the door shut in the next breath. “You have freaking wings! Since when do you drive a pick-up truck?”
Since he hadn’t wanted to scare the human—semi-human—shitless by having the guy wake mid-flight. But Luke didn’t bother to explain himself. He never did…well, not unless he was talking to his mate, Mina.
So instead of answering Leo, Luke swept his gaze over his brother. “Shouldn’t you be seducing Fate again? Trying to convince her that you’re her one true love?”
Leo grabbed him and shoved Luke up against the side of the truck. “I killed them.”
“You’ll need to be more specific. I’m sure you’ve killed a lot of people.” Luke smiled. “And how does that work out for you? I mean, you’re supposed to be so good. Yet death follows you like a shadow.”
Leo growled.
Luke just kept smiling. He knew his smile always infuriated his brother. So strange, once upon a very long time ago, they’d been the closest confidants. Best friends. And then a prophecy had torn everything apart.
One brother will kill another.
And the world will fall.
“You sent those bastards after Mora,” Leo accused furiously. “They were dark. Just like you. Did you think I wouldn’t ever find them? Did you think I wouldn’t find out the truth?”
“I think I have no idea what you’re rambling about. So why don’t you try explaining yourself, clearly.” Before I lose my patience and let my claws fly.
Leo lifted his hand—and then he drove his fist into the side of the truck. Again and again and again. A deep dent appeared beneath his blows.
Luke watched him, frowning. This was…unlike Leo. A wild tension gripped his brother, something that Luke had never seen. “Leo?”
Leo’s fist stilled. “They hurt her. I-I didn’t know…I swear, I didn’t. I would have gone back to her immediately. But they hurt her. Tossed her from the window. Broke her bones. Put fire to her skin. And they said I’d sent them.” His eyes burned bright red.