Hot Decadent Rising (Breath of Darkness)

by Candice Stauffer

  She shrugged her shoulders. “Demetri is not much of a people person. I’ve done what I can to help him develop better social skills, but a woman can only do so much.”

  “Is he a vampire?” Leland wouldn’t mind having a man like Demetri working for him as long as he was human and controllable. He’d flirted with the idea of approaching Demetri with a job offer in the future. “I’ve heard rumors that he has powers far greater than the vampires.”

  “My Demetri a vampire?” Mary laughed. “That’s funny. But I should warn you…he would not like hearing that you might entertain such a low opinion of him. In the world of immortal beings, think of him as being on the very top of the food chain. He is far more powerful than any vampire. He could easily kill any one of us sitting here with one careless thought.”

  “And you feel safe with him?”

  “He would never harm me or allow anyone else to harm me. The wonderful thing about demons is that despite all their power and strength they are utterly incapable of doing anything to harm their true mates. They are unstoppable immortal warriors, created to destroy any enemy, but their hearts are weak. As a demon, Demetri honestly believes that there is only one true love for his heart and soul. I own his heart and soul. He’s completely devoted to me, to my wellbeing and happiness.” Mary leaned over the table and whispered, “Demetri, come to me.”

  Leland looked up as Demetri slowly turned his head toward them. “He heard you?” He had the most powerful urge to run as far and as fast as he could, when he felt the floor vibrate beneath his feet.

  “I assure you he has heard our entire conversation and more.” Mary smirked. “I bet you're wishing you would’ve refrained from voicing a few of your opinions. But it actually doesn’t matter if you say them out loud or not. As a demon, he has the ability to hear your every thought.”

  “And that doesn’t scare the shit out of you?”

  “Why should it? It doesn’t matter what I think, say, or do. In his eyes, I can do no wrong. I own his heart and soul. In short, I own Demetri.”

  When Demetri stood up and started moving toward them, Leland felt as if fear had physically gripped his heart and was squeezing the hell out of it.

  He towered over everyone in the club. His body was huge. His chest and abdominal muscles visibly rippled beneath his shirt as he so very slowly walked. It was like the parting of the Red Sea. Everyone moved so quickly that several stumbled over their own feet to get out of his way. No one so much as brushed up against him.

  To Leland’s shock, his heavily armed bodyguards backed away to allow him to freely walk past them to the table. His bodyguards were considered the most lethal men in the business. No one ever got past them. And worse, he didn’t even bother to glance at them. He just kept walking without any visible regard for anything going on around him.

  Demetri pulled a chair out and sat down. Leaning back with his massive arms crossed over his chest, he glared straight into Leland’s eyes. Up close Demetri was so much more than intimidating. His eyes were solid black and seemed to burrow deep into Leland’s soul.

  “Leland has threatened to end my business arrangement with him because he doubts the sincerity of your commitment to ensuring my happiness.” Mary stood up and straddled Demetri’s lap, and then wrapping her arms around his neck she tipped her head back to look at Leland. “Or was it that you feared Demetri’s ability to keep my pets under control enough to murder your daughter?”

  Leland’s heart was pounding; his entire body was trembling. It was unquestionably the single most terrifying moment he had ever encountered. Demetri’s gaze never left his. Leland attempted to look away, but he couldn’t do it. His unblinking eyes, so full of dark hatred, just stared into Leland’s eyes for several excruciating, heart-stopping moments.

  “You wish to test me?” Demetri asked in a voice that resembled a large predator’s growl.

  Mary laughed out loud as she lifted her head to look up at Demetri. “It seems as though he does.” She reached up and traced his frown with the tip of her index finger.

  “Unfortunately, I can’t say I blame him, Demetri. I thought I mattered to you. Perhaps it is time for us to go our separate ways and end our arrangement. I’ve told you time and time again that you need to work on being more sociable. You act like such a terrible grump, that even he has noticed that you seem unhappy to be with me.”

  It scared the shit out of Leland when Demetri lifted his lip. Clearly, it was not a smile. It was the snarl of a predator seconds away from attacking and devouring its prey. “I do not appear happy enough for your liking?” Red flames burned in Demetri’s black eyes as he continued to stare into Leland’s eyes.

  Leland felt something deadly enter his mind, as a creepy chorus of high-pitched laughter echoed. A dark shadow moved behind his eyes. The pain started as an irritating, prickly sensation in the center of his forehead. In a matter of seconds an excruciating, crushing, vise-like pain enveloped Leland’s head. Seeming to notice his need for their help for the first time since Demetri walked over to the table, Leland’s bodyguards moved forward. But each one fell to his knees, clutching his head and crying out in sheer agony.

  “What about now?” Demetri laughed softly. “Do I appear happy enough to prevent you from placing further doubt in Mary’s head, or will I be forced to end your wretched life to prevent it?”

  Tears in his eyes, sweat dripping down his face and body, Leland opened his mouth to beg for his life, but no sound came out. Not even a whimper. His head felt like it was going to burst, he couldn’t close his eyes to escape Demetri’s cruel gaze.

  Giggling, Mary got up from Demetri’s lap, walked over, and stood behind Leland. Resting her hands on Leland’s shoulders, she leaned down near his ear. “Just in case you’re wondering, this is my Demetri when he’s feeling only a little unhappy. You’re very lucky he’s only playing.” She moved back to Demetri and wrapped her arm around his shoulder to lean against him. “That’s enough, Demetri. There’s no need to kill him yet. Go away now. Leave Leland and me to discuss the new details of the little arrangement I have with him. I’m convinced we can work out our differences.”

  A long, torturous moment of silence stretched on and on. Rather than subside, the pain in his head increased. Leland knew he was going to die a horrible, agonizing death. Mary had called Demetri a demon. He had no doubt Demetri was a demon or a god. They only doubt he had, was that Mary could control such a powerful being. He hoped like hell she could, but it wasn’t looking good. Despite the fact she’d called him off, Demetri didn’t move an inch. He didn’t even so much as blink. He just continued to stare into Leland’s eyes.

  “Stop it, Demetri!” Mary shouted. Leland realized that she appeared genuinely worried. “I need him! Kill him, and you will regret it!”

  Demetri blinked. This is not over. He knew it was Demetri’s voice in his head. I will come for you. He had a vision of his body being beaten and ripped to shreds, sprawled out in a pool of blood at Demetri’s feet.

  The pain in Leland’s head slowly subsided. His bodyguards started to stand up, but backed away rather than rush to his aide. He was definitely going to have them killed for betraying him. Demetri stood up and turned toward Mary, dwarfing her; he stared down at her for several seconds. Leland got the feeling that Demetri hadn’t actually decided whether or not he would kill him. He found himself holding his breath even after Demetri turned and walked away.

  Leland needed to find a way to end his business endeavor with Mary, quickly and quietly. But as he began to contemplate possible methods of getting it done, he remembered Mary telling him that Demetri could hear his thoughts.

  “I need to leave right away,” Leland said. “I have an important appointment.”

  Mary smiled. “I’m sure you do.” She waved for another man, unknown to Leland, to join them at the table.

  “My little pet, Jeremy Lang, will be joining you. He will remain with you at all times. Think of him as your shadow that won’t leave your side ev
en in the dark. Basically, he’s going to keep an eye on you for me, just in case you get the silly notion of backing out on your arrangement. He has already selected and sent out one of his most qualified associates to see to it that your daughter is properly disposed of.” She turned to Jeremy. “Haven’t you, Jeremy?”

  “Yes.”

  “Fabulous.” Mary gestured for Jeremy to lean down. “I knew I could count on you.” Exposing her neck to Jeremy, she pulled her hair back and tilted her head to the side. “I want to make sure our connection is strong enough for you to communicate with me at all times. Do it. Take my blood.” Her voice was low and lustful. Jeremy nuzzled and kissed her neck. Mary moaned with pleasure when Jeremy’s fangs scraped over her flesh. When he pierced her flesh and began to suck on her neck, she cried out in ecstasy.

  Staring in disbelief, Leland shook his head. Where the hell was Demetri? When Jeremy lifted his head and licked his lips, Leland said, “He doesn’t need to go with me. It’s not necessary. I’ve no intention of backing out of anything.” He didn’t want the vampire following him around. What if Jeremy decided to use him as a food source? Nope. There was no way he was going to agree to a vampire hanging around.

  Mary took a deep breath and released it with an exaggerated sigh. “Shall I ask Demetri to join us again?”

  “No,” he answered quickly. “I’m sure having Jeremy around will be great.” Compared to Demetri, a vampire would be great company. He handed the folder to her.

  Mary shook her head. “Keep it. It’s yours.”

  ***

  Rather than risk the pain of attempting to pass through the safeguards without consent, Eli waited and watched Nikolas walk down a two track road leading to the demon’s property. Kara had gotten under his skin. He had to see her. He was desperate. He had to know she was okay.

  “I wonder what reason a wolf and his badly behaved pack of mutts would have to come sniffing around my place.”

  “They’re hunting me.”

  “I thought you were going take care of it. I can’t believe you’re still allowing Samuel to run around masquerading as their leader.”

  “I’m working on it.”

  Nikolas smiled. “What brings you to Astoria?”

  “Demetri.”

  “He’s one of the reasons, but there’s another.”

  “You brought a woman here to recover.” Regardless of what Nikolas was willing to share he planned to tell him everything he learned about Demetri, but he hoped to use it to get some information about Kara before going out to deal with his pack.

  “Kara Terrick. And rest assured that as you deal with your pack she will be under my protection.”

  “Do you know why she was targeted?”

  “I will show you what I know as of this moment.” He motioned for Eli to follow him. “She’d been shot in the head. When they tried to dump her body she managed to jump from the car. Mia discovered her. While attempting to help Kara, Mia saw you in her memory. She was nearly full term.”

  “Why didn’t you tell me? Did the baby survive?”

  “I knew you would show up. Before Mia had found her the baby had passed. He was too far gone for any of us to reach.” He pointed at a tiny grave. “I’ve taken enough information from Kara’s mind to know that she has had a rough past. Her father put the hit out on her. The father of her child, Thomas Borden, is the one who shot her.”

  “Demetri knows that you saved her. He told me that her father is Leland Terrick. He is somehow connected to Mary. He said that Mary will set out to kill her.”

  “Demetri showed up at the hospital. What else did he tell you about Kara?” Nikolas asked.

  As tempting as it was, Eli knew better than to lie. “That she is my mate.”

  “What do you say, Eli?”

  Eli shrugged. “I don’t know her.”

  “That’s funny. She has quite the memory of kissing you. She will sleep for several weeks. She was shot in the back of her head. Her brain was severely damaged. If Demetri is right, if she is your mate, know that she is in serious trouble. Even now, unconscious, under the influence of a compulsion, she burns for revenge. A mother’s love never ends. She won’t run from her father, Mary, or anyone else she has reason to believe had any part in her little one’s death. She will run to them. You won’t be able to stop her.”

  “I told you that I don’t know her, but when I leave here I will go and find her father and the father of her baby. I will kill them. Once they’re dead Kara won’t have any reason to go after them.”

  Lifting his brow, Nikolas gave him knowing smile. He held out his right hand and conjured up an article from a newspaper. “This will help you recognize the men under her father’s employment.”

  As he looked down at the pictures in the article, he felt as if he’d been punched in the gut. “A lot of her energy is connected to this.”

  “I didn’t notice. Perhaps you have a deeper connection with her.” Nikolas gestured toward the house. “Would you like to take a peek at her before you leave?”

  “No.” It was big deal for a demon to allow a Lycan to enter his home. “Thanks. But it’s not a good…yeah, I would. But first, I’ve more to tell you. Zack was right. Demetri didn’t kill his mate. And he wanted me to know. I assume to tell you. He told me that Mary is attempting to achieve immortality. He said that in order to fund her endeavor to achieve it, she has formed a connection with Leland. I thought it was odd. From what I understand, a demon can give his immortality to another female if he kills his true mate.”

  “It is odd. Can I ask you to keep it to yourself?”

  Eli laughed. “What’s odd is that you would ask and not demand. But yes, I will keep it to myself.”

  “That’s good. It’s been a long night. I’m not sure I’m up to the task of killing you.”

  They laughed together as they walked toward the house.

  “Oh, damn. I almost forgot. The local pack is being led by Jeremy Lang,” Eli said.

  “A vampire leading wolves?”

  “I know. It’s seriously screwed up, right? And Mary is the old leader’s mate.”

  “The one they killed?” Nikolas asked.

  “Yep.” The closer they got to the house, Eli began to experience a strong urge to turn around and run. He figured it had to do with safeguards designed to keep people out.

  “So, she’s a Lycan?” Nikolas waved his hand and the front door opened. “And it has nothing to do with safeguards. You wouldn’t have stepped foot on the property had I not invited you. Maybe you’re nervous.”

  “Maybe.” Eli nodded. He wasn’t surprised that Nikolas was able to pick up on his thoughts. The demon had always had an extraordinary ability to do so with just about anyone. Maybe nothing. He was nervous as hell. “Demetri claimed she’s a Lycan, but it’s possible the leader never turned her. There’s a good chance she wasn’t his true mate.”

  “I’ve noticed your kind tends to struggle when it comes to identifying true mates. Perhaps you should start a support group.”

  “That’s funny.”

  “Though we’ve had our differences we’ve fought side by side in the same battles for many years. You have your reasons. I have mine. I don’t blame you for challenging Joseph, or for taking Mia. If I’d thought another male was attempting to claim the woman I believed was my mate, I would’ve killed him. The days go on and on without end, but until we find our mates, we never know life. They are to be treasured and protected. I admire the fact that when you realized you were wrong you tried to make amends for it.” Nikolas offered his hand. “Kara is in the room at the end of the hallway. She’s putting up one hell of a fight to resist the compulsion. She might hear you if you connect with her. She’s a strong physic. Conceivably, if you are her mate, your presence will calm her a bit. Her recovery will take less time if she relaxes.”

  A part of him feared he was making a mistake by being there. He’d been wholly wrong about Mia. How could he be sure Kara was his mate?

  Time
slowed as he hesitated by her door. He took a deep breath and released it with a groan. He’d spent a long time working on a plan to get on with his life. If Kara was his mate it would change everything. He didn’t have time for a mate. He definitely didn’t have time to take on a mate with so many problems. He had problems of his own. He needed to focus on killing Samuel and reestablishing his reign over his pack.

  What's more, she was human. Not every human was bad in his opinion, but he didn’t want to be tied to one. Not as a mate. He’d learned the hard way that many were too full of hatred and greed to be trusted. Some of his kind, mostly the younger, viewed his opinion as harsh, but he didn’t. The younger generations hadn’t been around when humans hunted down and attempted to destroy his kind hundreds of years ago. Males and females, including children, had been tortured and slaughtered because some humans believed his kind were possessed by evil for no other reason than their DNA.

  His mother had died a very long time ago, but he felt her hand smack the back of his head, hard. She’d raised him to be an honorable man. She’d taught him to respect women, and to defend women and children if they needed to be defended. No matter who or what they were.

  He opened the door and walked inside. Shutting the door behind his back, he paused for a moment. It wasn’t a shock to see the black incandescent flames surrounding her. They were beautiful. Enchanting. Mesmerizing. But they were a deadly hedge of protection. Nothing could breach it to harm her.

  Touching just the edge of her thoughts he stared at her for a long time. She was absolutely still, but he felt the weight of her agony and her frantic fight to wake up, to get revenge. She was as formidable as she was determined. He didn’t remember moving, but he was standing at her side.

  While looking down at her and studying her every feature, sadness and shame filled him. His heart stuttered as if it might stop. It hurt. It ached. It was like a knife had pierced it. This was his fault. She looked so small and so pale, lying in the center of the oversized bed. He should’ve saved her the day he’d met her at the gas station. He could’ve prevented her baby’s death if he’d been more aware. He could’ve prevented the grief that was swallowing her up and devouring her soul.