She didn’t turn to look at Nikolai, because she knew it would make her weak. But she gathered his reassurance in her heart and let it strengthen her as she realized she needed to put the last of her reserves into this last command, because the life of the townspeople—and Nikolai—depended on this one.
She took a deep breath.
Then Irene turned to the demons, pushing her last magic into her voice as she spoke.
Kill the darkness. Tear it apart until it’s gone.
There was a moment of tense silence that had fear coating her heart, even while pain slid inside her body. A chill went up her spine as the demons tensed, preparing for a leap, and for a second, they looked like they were about to leap in her direction.
Then they all turned at once and sprinted back down, where they flooded the fields all over again and headed straight for the entity, which had started soaking Adam’s dragon form.
The demons leaped and bit in. The entity screamed—a silent scream that Irene heard in her head before she felt the darkness explode. It latched on to her as if it knew she was the culprit, intensifying her pain until she crashed to the ground. Because she no longer had any magic left in her, she couldn’t fight it, could only scream as it punched her over and over until she was numb.
Something white-hot seared in her vision, and something pounded at her mind. She heard Nikolai’s scream.
Then she heard nothing as the darkness took her.
Chapter 15
“The southern side has finally been cleared. We’ve had some outsiders hearing about the huge explosion here and wanting to check it out, and a team of human volunteers are taking care of that.”
“How?” Nikolai asked, looking up from the report he was reading and at Garrett, who was standing with his team of men.
“They’re saying the explosion is of the industrial kind and toxins are still present and entry is not allowed until it has been cleared,” Garrett intoned. “It took a while to convince them to use another pass in their land travel, but it worked.”
“Good. Any other thing I need to know before I make my report to the council?”
His men stepped forward one by one and briefed him on the things that happened in the week he was in and out of the office—something that couldn’t be helped, as he had two priorities that pulled him in two directions. The first was this, and he corroborated all the reports and finally took it to the council meeting held that day, finalizing the clearance: that the darkness was now eliminated completely, with not a single demon or charred area left.
Orville was officially safe again.
With the meeting done and his work done for the day, Nikolai headed to his next stop: the pastry shop, where he bought a box of chocolate cake and a box of cheesecake. He stepped out and got the boxes in his vehicle, about to get in the driver’s seat when he saw something that had him pausing. It wasn’t a sight he was used to, so Nikolai squinted as he stared at white-blond hair before the body it belonged to entered the local hardware shop…in the middle of the day.
Casually, Nikolai turned to follow and spotted her inside, talking to the human owner. Her expression told him she was listening intently as the owner discussed the difference between the bolts she wanted to purchase. The owner asked her a question, and she responded quietly, her tone a mix of shyness and awkwardness that had Nikolai’s chest tightening.
She was wearing a tank top, and there were still scars on her bare shoulders that she asked the witches who healed her not to remove—mostly because after the entity had been destroyed and had evaporated into nothingness, and Irene had lost control of her hold on the demons, it had taken everyone’s magic and energy to get rid of all the demons that remained. She’d collapsed right after commanding the hordes of demons, and he had to stop her bleeding from critical parts of her body before one of the witches had managed to seal her up.
That had been the scariest moment of his life, and he’d be glad to never repeat it again. He strode forward now and watched as she and Mr. Jones glanced at him. The man waved in greeting, while aquamarine eyes sparkled.
“Hey, Sheriff. How’s everything going?” Mr. Jones asked.
“Good. How are the wounds?” Nikolai asked, referring to the arm a demon clawed.
Like a proud warrior, Mr. Jones held up the bandaged arm with a beam. “It’s getting better. I hammered that son of a bitch with my shovel before it could hurt my kids. My feet are still swollen, need to put them up more I think.”
Irene smiled in response, obviously pleased. She offered to heal it, but Mr. Jones refused, saying she still needed to rest up. They got to talking, with Mr. Jones returning to the topic of bolts at hand and telling Irene that the ones on display were already sold out, but he had some at the back storage room.
The man made a move to stand up, but Nikolai held up a hand and shook his head. “I know where you keep your stuff, Mr. Jones. Stay where you are, and I’ll help her find the bolts she needs. How does that sound?”
Mr. Jones had no problem with that, which was why five minutes later, Nikolai found himself in a closed room with Irene and trying to find the bolt names she memorized.
“What did you need these for, anyway?”
Irene shrugged. “Just some handy things I wanted to do at home. My magic is still very weak and it will likely be a few weeks before its back, some of my non-existent toes are making me cranky, and I’m bored. How was work?”
“Work was good,” he murmured, approaching her. He stood behind her and breathed her in, hearing her breath stop. “I’ve missed you.”
Work had kept him busy, and Hazel—after taking care of Adam during his first few days down—had gone to Irene’s house immediately and taken care of her, leaving Nikolai with nothing to do but wait it out, since the witch doctor had more means to do so. Irene had woken up a few hours after she’d passed out, but Hazel had hovered over her like a mother hen and stayed there.
Nikolai had, too, worrying endlessly when Irene hurt all over and experienced the loss of some of her toes. But she’d powered through it and had gotten better, taking it one day at a time.
They’d shared hugs for comfort. They’d shared kisses. But Nikolai refused Irene seeking him out for that one little thing, not wanting to hurt her tired body. That had been a week ago, and he didn’t miss the hot little looks she gave him when she thought he wasn’t looking. There was also sadness there, making him eventually realize that she thought his rejection was because he was tired of her.
And that got him thinking—about himself, about his life, and about who mattered to him the most.
He turned her around to face him now, watching the smile playing on her face that was filled with surprise. His eyes met hers, not holding back as he kept his emotions open for her to see—emotions that had her smile sliding off, had her surprise changing to shock. Aquamarine eyes receiving his message, a silent quiet confession.
“I’ve missed you, too,” she admitted.
Her head tilted up, and it was the most natural thing in the world to lean down and capture her mouth with his. He savored this kiss, just like he savored all other kisses with her, reigning in his impatience as slow eventually turned hot and heavy. The moan that came out of her drove him crazy, and the way her hand palmed him through his jeans had him groaning and breaking the kiss as he leaned his head against her shoulder.
“Irene…”
“Nik…” she shot back, her voice filled with need. “I want you inside me. Please.”
He heard the certainty in her voice. This time, she didn’t need to ask twice as he slid her top down and squeezed her breasts, then slid her skirt up and her tiny lace panties to the side. She unzipped his pants playfully and took his cock out, stroking it until he was almost at the brink before they both positioned it at her entrance.
Anticipation sang in his bones, which he also felt in hers as it vibrated in the air. Pleasure overtook it as he slid in slowly until he was to the hilt, and he had to grit his teeth when she
tightened and clamped around him. He could feel her wetness, could feel her desire, and he realized there was no point in waiting as they were both already ready for this.
They moved at the same time, the pleasure building up. There was no magic involved this time, but that didn’t lessen the pleasure, and he found himself reveling in the rawness of their union. They did their best to mute their sounds in case someone was outside, but that didn’t dim the pleasure—and soon, Nikolai found it reach the point of no return as he pounded into her with everything he had.
Her legs wrapped around him as he thrust her against a wall repeatedly. His tongue found hers and hotly tangled. Her whisper floated in his ears, earning another groan.
“I’m coming, Nik. I’m…”
She didn’t get to finish her sentence as her muscles clamped so tightly around him. She exploded for him instead, and he watched her mouth open and her eyes blur as it took over her.
A few more thrusts later, he was following her into that moment of bliss before he buried his head against her neck, inhaling her scent in.
“That was…”
“Yeah,” she finished for him in a murmur. Her hands tilted his head up, and her mouth sought his again before she stared into his eyes. “Thank you for everything.”
“I should be thanking you. For being a badass witch I had no idea I’d fall in love with.”
Her breath caught in her throat, her eyes searching his. Then her smile bloomed, taking him in completely.
“I love you too, Sheriff.”
He chuckled at that.
Happy, at peace, Nikolai kissed her smile off and proceeded to pleasure her again.
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Erik – Band of Bears
CHAPTER ONE
Valley Joy was the kind of sleepy town that didn’t really bring much excitement about, considering its main hobbies involved the following: too little population where everyone knew everyone, gossiping between neighbors being a common thing, and no fun places to go to at night.
Erik O’Riley wasn’t a fan of the first, because he couldn’t be as invisible as he wanted to be. Cities and crowds were much better for the likes of him, where he could move without too much detection.
He didn’t really like the second, because what if one of the neighbors found out his true nature by accident? It would be all over town in less than a day, and they’d probably hold pitchforks while demanding to burn him at the stake.
He definitely wasn’t a fan of the last because…well, where were you supposed to drink and pick up women willing to heat up the sheets with you?
But Erik had a job to do—and unfortunately, that job included going to Valley Joy.
It was late afternoon by the time he arrived in town, and he headed straight to the police station and looked for the town sheriff right off. Erik waited in the station’s tiny waiting room, trying to ignore the young blonde secretary gawking at him. He’d give it five hours, tops. He was pretty sure his appearance would be described a couple times over as gossip was passed around regarding the new neighbor.
Ten minutes later, he was ushered into the sheriff’s room and finally met the man.
John Malone was as robust as the day Erik had met him ten years ago in the city—but the man looked somewhat happier now, he had lost that sour expression he wore all the time. They exchanged pleasantries for a bit, with Erik politely asking about John’s family and kids. He didn’t miss the way the sheriff’s face lit up when he answered.
Then John got right down to business. Without preamble, he pulled out a folder and slid it on the desk towards Erik, who picked it up without a word and began reading. There were pictures along with the files of victims and the nature in which they died—each eerily similar, each more violent than the last.
John didn’t interrupt, waiting patiently and as still as a cat. It gave away his true nature, though no ordinary man would have figured it out.
When Erik was done, he looked John in the eye.
“So these happened in other towns?”
John nodded. “Neighboring towns. Started further away near the border and steadily drew closer. The last few victims were in the town nearest to ours, a week ago. Then it stopped.”
“Hmm. Did someone warn you? Gave you these reports?”
“The sheriff in the neighboring town did. We all look out for each other.”
Erik looked at the file again, his attention riveted on the bite marks of whatever was left of the victims. They were a combination of violet and black, with yellowish bubbles forming at the sides. Odd.
“Any clues as to what we’re after here?”
John shook his head. “It’s not a shifter. I can’t identify the marks.”
“Doesn’t look vampire, either,” Erik murmured.
“No. Can you stop this from happening in Valley Joy?”
“I’m the man for the job.”
“Great,” John said with a sigh. “I could help, but I want to keep up my human appearances and not disappear when we get victims. I need to reassure the townspeople with my presence.”
Erik nodded, opting not to say that a cat shifter wouldn’t be much help, anyway—not when the victims were torn apart like this. John went on to explain that the attackers didn’t stay in the same town for too long—either they got tired of staying in once place easily, or just didn’t want to draw too much attention.
When they were done discussing, they both stood up and shook hands.
“I’ll take care of this problem for you, Sheriff.”
That was, after all, what he came here for. Shifters like his kind were meant to protect—with the right incentive and motive.
“Great. Let me show you where you’ll live in the meantime. There is plenty of food and honey in stock.”
Wonderful. A sheriff after Erik’s heart.
The sheriff led the way out of his office. With one last glance at the folder, Erik followed.
*****
He hadn’t been lounging in his new house—a one-story suburban style place with a bedroom and the basic appliances needed—for more than an hour when he saw lights turn on at the house next door, and voices carrying through. He was standing in the kitchen, eating a juicy steak and contemplating dessert when his sensitive ears picked up the male and female tones.
Quietly, Erik moved towards the living room, not turning any of his own lights on. Through the window, he saw the man—an affable looking fellow who seemed to be trying his hardest to make the woman laugh. Erik noted that his tone was verging on desperate, and wondered how long until the woman cracked.
Erik couldn’t see the woman with the way the porch arch was blocking her from sight, but it was obvious from her tone that she was being painfully polite…and putting him in the friend zone. Erik couldn’t help his grin when the persistent date finally got the picture as she didn’t invite him inside for coffee and practically slammed the door in his face.
“Call me when you can!” the man shouted hopefully before dejectedly shuffling away.
Erik chuckled, then shook his head. He went back to the kitchen to take care of the dishes, the neighbor forgotten as he got lost in his own thoughts. It was too early to shift and scout the area, especially with someone his size—he would need to do that later when everyone was asleep. Valley Joy had lots of forest areas, but it would be best to start securing the houses nearby first before venturing there. In this case, he only had two neighbors in this particularly area, so that was going to be a cinch.
He placed the dishes in the dishwasher, then decided that dessert would be a good idea right now. A light turned on in front of the kitchen window beside his sink. Erik looked up.
He froze.
The polite woman from earlier was now in his field of vision—clearly so. She’d turned on the lig
hts in her kitchen, where a wide window gave him a view of her going to the fridge to pour herself a glass of white wine.
But that wasn’t the only thing she was doing.
Erik watched as the woman drank the wine in one huge gulp, then took out the bottle again and started drinking from there. Two gulps, before she placed it back.
He watched as she began removing her dress, right there in plain view, shimmying it down until he was treated to the sight of creamy skin, a perky butt and a handful of breasts encased in tight, tight underwear. Her hands went to remove her hair from its chignon, and brown hair cascaded down her slender shoulders. He could see her face—not gorgeous, but arresting enough to catch his attention as he took in her long lashes and dark-colored eyes.
Pink lips made for kissing.
Then the woman turned around and bent over to pick up something she’d dropped.
And what had been passing interest for Erik suddenly shifted to full blown desire.
He imagined that ass on his hands, where he molded them as he pressed his front against her back and kissed that soft-looking spot at the nape of her neck. Then he imagined sucking on it before he turned her around to face him and kissed her mouth instead, her soft moan urging him on as he began sliding her underwear off. Then his fingers would be there, slipping inside her. Then his fingers would be replaced by his cock as he thrust inside her wet heat…
The fantasy was so vivid, Erik had to take a physical step back as he felt his blood pound and his erection strain against his pants. Then he reined in his control, telling himself to get a grip. This wasn’t the time to be a horny bastard, not when he had a job to do.
But Jesus, it had been a few months since he’d last slept with a woman.
Still, this was wrong. He shouldn’t be peeping on an innocent woman, because that just made him an asshole.
He glanced through her kitchen once more, and to his relief, she was no longer there. But where were her curtains? Why were her windows all open?
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