Immortal Danger

by Cynthia Eden

  The Born Master screamed, shrieking in pain and fury as the flames burned his flesh.

  The vampires lunged forward.

  Maya grabbed another torch.

  She wasn’t going to have much time.

  But he’d only need a few moments.

  The smell of burnt flesh seared her nostrils. She hadn’t killed Nassor, just hurt him like hell. A pain, unfortunately, that wouldn’t last long enough.

  The vampires swarmed him, some throwing their bodies onto his to stop the flames that were eating away at his pants.

  When they finally stepped back, Nassor lay huddled on the floor.

  Blisters covered his upper arms. His hair had been burned away. His pants hung in tattered clumps, exposing flesh scorched bright red.

  He shifted and she saw his back—the burns that ravaged his skin.

  He rose slowly to his feet.

  Maya lifted her torch.

  “That wasn’t smart, bitch.”

  Ah, so she wasn’t his “love” anymore, huh? Too damn bad. “What can I say?” She asked. “I’ve got a shitload of darkness in me and I just live to kill—kill—kill.” Maya smiled. “And for the record, I choose option three, the one where I don’t have to fuck you, but I do get to send you to hell.”

  He lifted his hand, pointed one blistered finger at her. “Bleed her dry.”

  A growl of hunger swept through the crowd. Fangs glistened.

  “And bring me the dragon—I need to—”

  A howl echoed from upstairs. Followed by another, another—

  About time.

  Her knees trembled as relief swept through her. Now if Lucas would just hurry his ass up and get the pack down there—

  “What the fuck is that?” Nassor snarled.

  Her smile widened. “My backup plan.” Her fingers were locked tight around the base of the torch.

  “Upstairs!” He screamed the order to Torrence. “Kill any damn wolf you find.”

  Torrence jerked his hand up, and half the vampires ran ahead of him, charging for the stairs.

  Good little soldiers. They’d make great prey for the wolves.

  And suddenly, her odds were much better.

  “You could have been a goddess,” Nassor grated. “Now you’re going to die, begging.”

  “Ah, and here I thought you knew me so well.” Maya took a step forward. “I never, ever beg.”

  “You will,” he breathed the words—then he shot forward and the other vampires attacked.

  Lucas stared up at Torrence, muscles quivering, fangs ready. He could all but feel the vampire’s neck between his teeth.

  The blond vamp is mine. He sent the mental order through his pack.

  Growls answered him.

  Then the pack charged.

  And blood soon filled the hallways.

  Her right arm was burned, scored with blisters and red flesh. They had her pinned on the ground, and their hungry breath battered her skin.

  Nassor stood above her, a satisfied smile on his no-longer-perfect face. “Ready to beg?”

  One of the vampires bit her, his teeth tearing across her wrist.

  Pain lanced her. “N-no.”

  “Fool.” He bent and his fingers wrapped around her throat. “You could have ruled at my side, now you’ll die at my feet.”

  Her lips trembled. She tried to smile as another vampire sank his teeth into her shoulder. “B-behind…y-you…ass…hole…”

  His eyes narrowed and it seemed to take a moment for her words to register, then he released her and spun around.

  She craned her neck, still wrestling with the others, and fought to see—

  The two vampires who’d had the sense to stay back and guard Adam lay on the ground, completely still, and Adam, he was—

  Huge.

  Dark green, with a body covered in thick scales. His claws—no, talons—were longer than her hands, and sharper than knives. His legs were as large as tree trunks. Hell, maybe bigger. Tall, thick spikes began at the back of his head and lined his backbone, ending at his swirling, powerful, and distinctly pointed, tail.

  His wings—batlike, with piercing talons on the tips—had spread wide, touching the tall, cavernous ceiling and the dirt floor.

  His head looked like a serpent’s and his teeth seemed to explode from his mouth—just as sharp as those talons. His eyes blazed with green fire and his fist-sized nostrils flared, sending puffs of smoke billowing around him.

  Oh, shit.

  The vamps were gonna die.

  Her smile rose fully. Her eyes stayed locked on his. “A-Adam…”

  When his mouth opened in a roar, and the scent of brimstone filled the room, she knew the battle was over.

  The vampires ran, fighting each other as they fled for the door.

  He snarled. His tail slapped against them, the sharp tip piercing straight through two vamps and ripping out their hearts.

  Fire scorched three more, a blaze that blasted from his mouth. Then his tongue, notched in two like a snake’s, licked across his lips.

  The room was hot now, as fire chased up the walls.

  Sweat coated her skin. Maya tried to push to her feet. Adam could stand the heat, no question, but she couldn’t say the same for herself.

  Nassor grabbed her, jerking her against him and holding tight. His body shook against her and she could smell his fear, even over the flames and death.

  “H-he won’t hurt you,” he said and his claws were around her neck, again.

  Maya dug her own claws into his arm.

  “Stay away from me!” Nassor shouted to the dragon.

  She wasn’t sure the beast understood. Was the man gone completely, and only the dragon remained? If so, then if she didn’t get out of there, fast, she would join the dead vamps on the floor.

  The dragon’s wings flapped, sending the air whipping around them and making the flames dance higher.

  “Back away. I’ll kill her if you don’t—”

  The dragon’s mouth opened, teeth dripping with saliva.

  Wow. Maya’s heart thudded furiously against her chest. Adam was sure as hell amazing in his dragon form. Not beautiful. More like damn scary, but she’d never realized the raw power and fury that the man held in check.

  As the dragon’s hot breath fanned over her, she fully understood just how much he’d been holding back from her.

  The man had immense control.

  Did the beast?

  Nassor began to creep toward the door, using her body as a shield. The others fled, screaming as if they’d seen the devil.

  Or a very pissed-off dragon.

  And Nassor had thought he’d be able to control Adam. Idiot.

  They’d almost made it to the door when the dragon lunged forward. Its powerful tail snaked behind them and blocked the exit. Then the dragon crouched over them, its wings curling forward.

  “I-I’ll kill her!” Nassor screamed.

  Maya stared at the dragon, gazing as best she could into its glowing eyes.

  The dragon’s mouth opened.

  She drew in a breath. Tasted fire.

  Knew what was coming.

  Nassor shrieked, jerking her in his fury and fear.

  She closed her eyes, and trusted the beast as she trusted the man.

  His fiery breath danced across her skin and a scream of pain and horror echoed in her mind.

  When she opened her eyes, she was on the ground, her body covered in ash. Maya shook her head, rose slowly and swept her gaze around the room.

  The fire crawled up the walls, bright, hungry orange flames that crackled and seemed to laugh as they destroyed everything in their path. Smoke billowed around her and the heat lanced her skin.

  Skin that Adam’s fire had never touched. The dragon had been in control. Just like the man. She and Nassor had fallen to the floor, and the flames, they’d gone straight to Nassor.

  She spun around, looking for Nassor. Where was—

  “He’s gone.” Adam’s voice, soundi
ng slightly hoarse.

  She stilled, then gazed over her shoulder.

  Man, not beast. Tall, muscled, naked, he stood in the middle of the fire, his tanned skin unmarred by the flames.

  Maya ran to him, throwing her arms around him and holding on tight.

  Adam was stiff within her grasp, his body too tense. Her head lifted, “Adam, wh-what’s—”

  Part of the ceiling fell down, the wood giving way with a shriek.

  They jumped back, barely dodging the flames.

  Maya coughed as the smoke filled her lungs. “We’ve…got…to…go.” Now.

  Adam took her hand and they ran for the door.

  They raced up the stairs, toward the screams and howls that shook the fortress even as the fire greedily chased at their heels.

  When they reached the first floor and shoved open the thick door, they walked into a war.

  Wolves. Vampires. Clawing. Biting. Dying.

  Adam grabbed the vampire in front of him, drove his claws into the guy’s chest.

  The fight was on.

  The smoke drifted through the doorway, sneaking into the hall and through the fortress like a thief—and she knew the flames would soon follow.

  Automatically, Maya fought the vampire that grabbed her from behind, raking him with her claws, pounding with her fists—and then she heard the humans.

  Their screams were weaker. Broken.

  Prey.

  Still trapped, wherever Torrence had caged them. Helpless against the fire that would soon sweep over the entire fortress.

  Maya grabbed a chair that had fallen onto the ground, a thin, spindly chair that looked like it was about two hundred years old.

  She snapped the legs in two. Reaching for the broken wood, she bared her teeth at the vamp who lunged for her.

  She staked him in midair, driving the wood into his heart and watching his eyes widen in an understanding that came too late.

  Before he hit the ground, she was already searching through the fighters.

  There.

  The bastard who’d first led her into Nassor’s lovely home. Trying to slink away.

  Not gonna happen.

  Casting one last glance toward Adam—he was more than holding his own—she ran for the vampire she should have killed on first sight.

  Adam fought to hold on to his control. Once unleashed, the dragon had been nearly impossible to cage.

  The death around him, the screams and the blood, they called to the Wyvern.

  Destroy.

  Burn.

  He shuddered and fought another asshole who grabbed him. The fire was spreading. He could hear the flames now, the hungry crackles coming ever closer.

  The beautiful fire.

  They needed to get out of the house. He looked over his shoulder, ready to grab Maya and—

  She was gone.

  Sonofabitch.

  He shoved the vampire into the wall. Heard the thud of his head connecting and turned away.

  “Maya?” Damn, his voice was hoarse. Like a frog’s. Because of the flames that had burned up his throat.

  Where was she? He knew she hadn’t fled—she wouldn’t leave him. He understood that fact with absolute certainty, so where—

  He caught a glimpse of blond hair. Saw the side of a man’s face, twisted with fury.

  His hands clenched and the dragon roared.

  Torrence.

  He leapt forward, shoving aside wolves and vampires. He had only one intent—kill.

  Another roar echoed his and the house trembled.

  A huge black wolf lunged for the vampire, reaching him two seconds before Adam could.

  The wolf knocked Torrence to the ground, locked his fangs around his throat.

  And the vampire lifted a too-familiar gun.

  Maya’s weapon.

  He aimed it at the wolf’s head.

  Adam kicked out, breaking bones and sending the gun flying into the air.

  The wolf snarled and his fangs found their mark.

  The vampire screamed, then his voice died to a gurgle. Blood spilled from his lips.

  Adam watched, dispassionate.

  When the wolf lifted his head, his teeth were stained red.

  The vampire’s head had been severed from his body.

  “Get your pack out of here,” Adam ordered, barely sparing a glance for the corpse. “The fire’s going to destroy everything.” Even now, the flames were eating the hallway. Licking against the ceiling.

  The wolf nodded its massive head and howled, sending out an unmistakable order to the pack.

  Adam searched through the chaos. Where the hell is Maya? His nostrils widened as he tried to catch her scent, but all he could smell was the fire.

  Shit.

  “Maya!” Not the yell he’d intended. A desperate croak of sound.

  Where would she go? Where? And why?

  His jaw locked and he stalked forward.

  She’d gone back into Temptation to rescue the wolf. She’d pulled him out of Blood Rock. Maya didn’t believe in leaving anyone behind.

  He stopped, barely dodging a wolf who hurtled past him as the beast took down a vampire.

  The prey.

  The humans who were still alive. She wouldn’t leave them for the fire. The cop in her wouldn’t let the vampire just walk away.

  Then he saw her. Leading a line of crying women and men, trying to fight off the vamps that leapt at her.

  “Lucas!”

  The black wolf turned, easily hearing the rough cry.

  Adam ran even as he ordered, “Tell ’em to protect the humans!” Because Maya wouldn’t be able to get them all out on her own.

  The flames were too hungry now. The heat surrounded them.

  So hungry, and too close. He grabbed Maya’s hand. Not going to lose her.

  Nassor’s fortress burned to the ground and the screams of the vampires trapped inside echoed the taunting whispers of the fire.

  The humans were safe. Huddled in the darkness, staring with wide eyes that were glassy with confusion and fear.

  Maya’s gaze locked on the house. She’d tried to go back for the vampires inside, but they’d fought her, wild, maddened, and determined to die with their Born Master.

  Dumb-asses. Hell was going to be a lot hotter than that fire.

  Lucas paced toward her. She turned toward him. Found him naked, as were the other werewolves. “Torrence is dead.”

  She raised her brows at that. She’d wondered about him. She’d seen no sign of the bastard once she reached the main floor. “Your kill?”

  He nodded.

  “Then your pack has been avenged.” Word would spread about his vengeance, because not all of the vampires had been stupid enough to choose the fire. Some had escaped, and they’d carry the tale of this night. Wolf attacks. A dragon’s revenge.

  Don’t screw with the wolves, or the dragons. She could already hear the whispered warnings that would haunt the feeding rooms and bars.

  Some would just be stupid enough to forget in the coming years.

  Such was the way of the supernatural world.

  “Your dragon saved my ass.”

  She blinked at that. Her gaze darted to the left for an instant. Adam stood next to the humans, talking softly to them. He wore a pair of jeans—too tight. She didn’t know where he’d gotten them, probably taken them from one of the humans.

  “Torrence was going to use one of your silver bullets on me, a head shot.” Lucas grimaced. “The bloodlust was riding me so hard, I didn’t realize what was happening until too late.”

  Adam had wanted the kill, but instead he’d saved the wolf.

  The Wyvern could still surprise her.

  “I owe him a debt.” He nodded his head toward Adam. “Tell him. If he wants to collect, he’ll find me in L.A.”

  A blood debt owed by an alpha wolf. Not something that was offered every day. “I’ll tell him.”

  Lucas stared at her with eyes that reflected the moonlight. “If you gro
w tired of the dragon, you know where you can find me.”

  She held that powerful stare. “Yeah, I know.” But it wasn’t really a matter of her growing tired of Adam. It was a matter of the job being done and of them having two separate lives, on two separate coasts.

  “When the pack’s clear, I’ll call the cops. Make sure they know where to find the humans,” he said.

  She needed to leave the scene before the boys in blue arrived. As it was, she knew Adam was trying to convince the men and women that they’d just been at a party that got way out of control—too much alcohol, too many drugs.

  The humans were dazed, frightened, and probably willing to latch on to any explanation.

  Sometimes it was just easier to believe a lie than to accept the truth—especially a truth that would change a person’s life.

  “Good-bye, vampire.” He lifted his hand to her.

  Her fingers wrapped around his. She kept her gaze on his face, all too aware of the naked power of his body. “Good-bye, wolf.”

  He smiled at her then. “You weren’t what I expected.”

  Yeah, she got that a lot.

  “I’ll be near, should you need me.” Soft, almost tender words. So at odds with the hard jaw and the fierce gaze.

  Before she could speak, the man disappeared. Shifted into a wolf with a snap of bones and a shudder. Fur exploded over his flesh. His nose elongated, a muzzle appeared, and powerful claws shot from his fingers.

  The wolf tossed back his head, howled at the night.

  Whimpers came from the humans.

  She heard Adam swear.

  The pack took off, running hard and fast across the desert.

  Maya knew she hadn’t seen the last of Lucas.

  Not a friend. There was too much uncertainty between them for that. But perhaps, just perhaps, he was someone she could count on when her back was to the wall and hell broke lose in L.A.

  Adam strode toward her.

  She noticed a human male huddled behind him, clad only in a pair of dark boxers.

  Ah, the mystery of the jeans had been solved.

  “Where’s the wolf?”

  “Gone.” It was time for her to go, too. She began to march toward the motorcycle, Adam at her side. “He wanted me to give you a message.” She straddled the bike, looked back at the burning house. The flames were so bright.