“Argh… ugh.” Once more Charisse found herself struggling to survive as she was all but smothered in Hadleigh’s cleavage. Coming up for air she panted hard. “Trying to breathe here, Hadleigh.”
Hadleigh laughed softly, her sword arm thrusting forward as she blocked a dark shape flying in their direction. “Trying to keep you alive here, Char.”
Charisse glanced down at the armchair Hadleigh had just cut into two almost perfectly equal halves. Damn, she’d loved that old thing.
“What’s…” She attempted to turn in Hadleigh’s grip, she wanted to make sure that Nate was okay but Hadleigh all too easily scooped her up by the waist and yanked her out of the living room into the hallway.
Outside the house it sounded like a storm was suddenly raging, and was it getting really dark in here?
“Stop struggling.” Hadleigh commanded in the hallway in a firm tone as she ducked a piece of flying artwork, dragging Charisse down with her, imprisoning her in place with a tight grip on her arm.
Charisse stopped struggling, grrr… there was no way she could fend off Hadleigh’s superior enforcer strength and six foot six height advantage, but it didn’t stop her from giving Hadleigh’s shoulder a thump with her fist. “We can’t leave Nate.”
“If you stay, you’re only a distraction… worse, bitch Queen uses you as leverage.” At Hadleigh’s words all the fight left Charisse, although it didn’t stop her from making a token squawk of protest as Hadleigh abruptly lifted her up into the air… oof, she hated hanging upside down but loathed even more the idea of being hauled out of her own home over Hadleigh’s shoulder like a sack of flour.
Damn her cousin was right. Charisse bit her lip and tried to hang on to what little dignity she had left as Hadleigh hit the front door and passed beyond it outside to the yard.
“I’ve got her. Go! Go!” Hadleigh’s voice rang out loud over the sounds of mayhem and fighting going on inside the house.
Chapter Twenty-One
Charisse sighed in exasperation. “Hadleigh, can you please put me down? I’m getting a little bit tired of staring at your butt.”
“Those words will never pass my lips.” Vaughn assured his meld wife as he sidled up to them, his almost white blonde hair gleaming in the moonlight as he captured Hadleigh’s hand in his.
Blowing out a half sigh, a half breathless laugh, Hadleigh lowered Charisse to her feet on the grassy front lawn before turning her attention to her hand captured in Vaughn’s grip. “I’m going to start charging you rent for that hand Viking.”
Absently Vaughn bought it up to kiss the inside of her palm. “We’re married now, remember, what’s mine is yours, and in turn, all your luscious parts are mine.”
“Enough with the flirting you two.” Charisse found herself frowning at her house. It no longer resembled a pretty little white weatherboard beachside cottage, now it looked like some horror film nightmare. “Why have you boarded up my house? Nate and that she-vamp bitch are still inside.” She glared at Vaughn and then at all the other Maat warriors standing nearby, swords in one hand, hammers in the other. “And why are you all just standing there? Shouldn’t you be inside helping Nate?”
Charisse jumped in surprise as another Maat warrior appeared before her, seemingly from out of nowhere. Looking up she noted he’d apparently been up on her roof, covering the chimney. What the hell was going on? Why were they all out here whilst Nate was in there alone, facing off against Vamperella? She was scared, angry and had no idea why they were all just standing around. “Don’t just stand there! You all need to get in there and help Nate.” She used her sternest ‘do it or die’ Siren voice.
All the warriors, Hadleigh included, turned and started towards the house.
Charisse could have wept with relief… finally, they were going to help Nate.
“Hey, what’s going on here? Party?” Declan’s sudden appearance or something in his voice broke the power of her instructions.
All the warriors stopped moving and turned to stare at Charisse.
“Wicked cool.” The twins, Dash and Flynn, appraised her with grins.
“Interesting.” Marcus eyed her with electric blue eyes that seemed to weigh and measure all the possibilities and advantages of having a power such as hers on tap.
“Unsettling.” Drum eyed her warily before shifting his attention to Declan. “What the hell are you doing here?” His black eyes boring into the newcomer.
Wearing blue jeans, boots and a fitted blue t-shirt, Declan smiled easily at the assembled group before moving to place his arm around Charisse’s shoulder in comfort. With his wheat blonde shoulder length locks, stunning violet eyes, perfect skin, audacious dimpled smile and mouth-watering long lean physique, the man looked like he’d just come from a cover shoot.
“Enforcer, remember?” Declan shook his head in wonder, before looking down at Charisse. “Honestly, I’m beginning to worry about that one. Every time we meet up, I have to remind him that I’m an enforcer. I’m beginning to think he’s not as bright as Nell keeps on insisting he is.”
Drum growled a deep rumbling sound in the back of his throat, continuing to glare at Declan.
Vaughn reached over, patting his second on the shoulder, trying to calm him down, even though he too was glaring Declan’s way. “We didn’t call for any back up.”
Declan’s photo ready smile never wavered as he met the glares of the two over-sized warriors, both of whom were melded and mated to his cousins, but for some reason persisted on seeing him as some sort of threat. “Mrs McCabe put a call in, said she saw Hadleigh and several hulking men lurking in the vicinity up to no good.”
Hadleigh shook her head ruefully. “She’s never liked me. Goddess, accidentally step on that mincing little yappy dog of hers one time and she never forgives you. And it’s not like I even hurt it. I was the one that needed five stitches when it took a chunk out of my ankle.” Hadleigh walked back over to Charisse’s side. “Don’t do that again okay?”
“But Nate’s in there alone.” Even as Charisse said the words, a loud crash sounded from inside the house.
“That’s the way he wanted it.” Hadleigh shared.
Vaughn slipped up next to his wife, placing a casual but possessive arm around her waist. “I know he probably doesn’t act like it, but Nate knows what he’s doing.”
“Yes.” Drum acknowledged in a deep rumble, the scowl lifting from his face as he turned his attention away from Declan. “He talks a lot… but he’s a good warrior.”
“Phew.” Flynn slapped Drum on the back. “High praise indeed, coming from you big guy. How come you never say anything nice about my skills?”
Drum shrugged his massive shoulders. “Do you consider barely adequate, praise?”
“From you?” Flynn grinned. “I’ll take it.”
Charisse couldn’t help thinking it was strange, as long as she could remember Declan had always been around… but not. He’d been a standoffish beautiful but isolated child who’d developed into a cheerful, devastatingly handsome, good-natured teenager and man. But she couldn’t recall ever physically interacting with him prior to this evening. For all his smiles, laughter and teasing ways she didn’t think he’d ever hugged her before this moment and it was a surprisingly comforting hug.
He might be her cousin and Hadleigh’s enforcer apprentice, but Declan had always been a little bit of a mystery to her… and for that matter to the rest of the female side of the family. Of course, you’d have to be blind not to notice the man was drop dead gorgeous. And no one had ever been able to adequately explain why there always seemed to be a mysterious breeze around him that tousled his hair ever so invitingly. Or for that matter, why the light always clung to his skin making it appear so very touchable and lit his eyes so they turned into twin pools of dark purple fire. But still, despite his infectious smile and charming ways he’d always kept himself a little… apart, from the family.
Now that she came to think of it, the only female of the clan he ever i
nteracted with physically was Hadleigh… no wait, she’d seem him give Nell a big warm congratulatory hug on her wedding day. And here he was now, providing her with strength and support. Something tickled at the back of her mind… but then she lost track of her thoughts as the sound of splintering wood and breaking glass rent the air. Goddess, how much longer would this take? Heavens, please let Nate be alright.
She jumped as another loud crash reverberated from the house, as something heavy slammed against one of the interior walls and her little house groaned in protest. Declan squeezed her slightly tighter in reassurance.
“Twenty bucks says that was Nate.” Rafe eyed the house.
“I’ll take that bet.” Dash signalled, waving a hand in acknowledgment.
“A hundred says it’s all over in five minutes.” Flynn glanced at his watch.
“Make it ten minutes and you’re on.” Marcus’s full attention was on the tablet computer in his hand. “Nate thinks she knows more about Sek and Mot’s location than she’s let drop so far, he’ll need at least ten to get the info out of her.”
Charisse wanted to scream. How could they be so casual? Make jokes? Bet, with Nate’s life on the line?
“He’s going to be fine.” Declan whispered in her ear.
“You don’t know that.” She whispered back, too scared to voice her doubts any louder in case they affected the warriors and froze them with the same dread that was all but choking her. Okay, Nate was a Maat warrior, had been for over a hundred years now. She had to have faith, had to trust in him, just like his fellow warriors were doing. But Destiny was such a tricky psychotic lunatic, unpredictable and in pain thanks to the knife she’d managed to slam into her eye. What if Destiny realised she had nothing to lose? Wouldn’t she do everything in her power to take Nate out with her?
It was as if Declan sensed her thoughts, flexing the arm he had around her, looking down at her with sympathetic eyes, then he blinked, his focus switching to something on top of her head, he frowned, though it was still a gorgeous frown.
“What?” Charisse asked, suddenly petrified with fear.
Declan shrugged it off. “It’s nothing… you just have a little something.”
“Oh Goddess.” She reached up immediately to pat her hair, her hand coming away tacky and wet.
Declan was still frowning at the crown of her head. “If it wasn’t black, I’d swear it was blood.”
“It is… vampire blood. It must have happened when I stabbed Destiny in the eye.” Charisse bit back the urge to dissolve into hysterical laughter as she stared at the blood now smeared across her hand. “It was bound to happen sooner or later.”
Declan shrugged. “I can only assume by that comment that sometime recently you did a favour for Darcy.”
Charisse tamped down hard on the full-fledged bout of uncontrollable overwrought laughter that threatened to engulf her, it seemed like Declan knew Darcy’s tricks well.
Hadleigh let out a small exasperated chuckle. “The only thing you can take comfort in when it comes to Darcy’s shenanigans is that at least it’s never your own blood.”
“That’s the truth.” Charisse and Declan said the words at the same time, sharing a commiserating smile. Thank Goddess for her family was Charisse’s follow up thought.
“Looks like I called it.” Marcus’s voice interrupted the family bonding moment. “Ten minutes and all is silent.”
Charisse stared at the boarded over front doorway with apprehension; yes suddenly it was all too quiet. Goddess, was Nate lying in there hurt? Dead? She bit her lip to keep from yelling at the warriors to hurry and pull off the planks so they could find out. Oh Goddess, please let Nate be alright.
Dash and Flynn held up their hammers, looking towards Vaughn for approval, however, before he could give it, there sounded a loud thud against the planks boarding up the front door. Then another thud, as one plank creaked and split, more thuds, more boards breaking up.
Every warrior suddenly had a sword in their hand, ready, even Declan had drawn his from the scabbard he had on his back. Oh Goddess, please let it be Nate. Let him be alright. Charisse had never prayed so hard in her life.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Fighting in an enclosed space was not the most favourable of situations. Add a pissed off vampire Queen with a knife sticking out of her right eye socket to the mix, and that’s when things really started to get challenging. Nate had two choices when Cyd plunged her knife in; go in for the kill whilst Destiny had her guard down, with Cyd potentially getting caught in the melee, or get Cyd out of the danger zone once and for all.
He chose the latter. He’d always choose the latter if Cyd’s safety was on the line.
Knowing that Hadleigh would be there to catch her cousin helped as he raced forward to snatch up Cyd. Destiny was shrieking in shock and pain, whirling in a frenzy of rage, nails raking the air, catching Nate across the back, leaving behind four deep furrows between his shoulder blades as he heaved Cyd across the room into Hadleigh’s waiting arms.
Destiny kicked out, sensing a threat was too close as she sent the coffee table skidding into the back of his knees and an armchair flying across the room. A lamp and several photo frames followed, dangerous sharp missiles in a room that had suddenly gotten a lot darker and a lot louder as planks were hammered into place by his fellow warriors, blocking all the windows, all the exits.
Nate crouched, his sword drawn and ready in the suddenly pitch black room. His body taut and alert, thankfully the gripping ache in his gut had eased knowing that Cyd was clear of the building… safe. Now it was time to deal with the bat-crap-crazy vamp Queen, who had gone all too quiet and still. Fuck, where was the bonkers bitch?
Then she laughed, somewhere off to his left. A low grating humourless sound followed by a loud hiss as metal scraped against bone. Damn, she’d pulled the knife free, as if the bitch didn’t have enough in her personal armour of wicked sharp nails and pointy teeth, now she had his knife.
“Oh Lover, if you wanted to get me alone in the dark, you just had to ask.” Destiny had moved, her voice now sounded off to the right, double damn her cat quick reflexes. “Of course I think you forgot one small thing when you put together this little plan of yours Stud.” She was on the move but he couldn’t exactly pinpoint her. “I’m a vampire remember, I can see perfectly well in the dark… even with one eye.”
Nate tensed, listening for the slightest whisper of leather or drop of falling vamp blood to pinpoint her location. Come on bitch… make a move, make a mistake.
Two things happen simultaneously, Destiny moved and from the direction of the chimney came a loud rattle as about fifty glow sticks hit the ground and spilled out of the fireplace, courtesy of Flynn, thank you brother.
Nate leapt up high, his sword piercing Destiny’s side and lodging in the wooden ceiling, he meant to pin her there but Destiny was too quick, tearing herself free of the blade, leaping from the ceiling to the far side of the room. A hissing laugh issuing from between her broken teeth as she stood enveloped in the golden glow now filling the room.
Her one good eye glowed iridescent silver as she ignored the tear in the side of her catsuit and the deep cut just below her ribcage. Destiny grinned, a chilling broken smile, her own black blood smeared across her chin and jaw. “Not as romantic as candlelight but I suppose it’s the thought that counts.”
Nate moved forward a few feet, broken glass and knick knacks littered the floor, making traversing the room that little bit trickier. “Seriously, if you have to keep running your mouth all the time at least pick a topic I give a damn about, like where I might find your former clients, Sek and Mot.”
“I’d much rather talk about what I’m going to do to your friend Cyd once I’ve dealt with you and all your warrior pals.”
“Is that supposed to rile me? Get me to act rashly? Cyd is safe. Please, I’m a professional, if I don’t kill you, then I have absolute faith my fellow warriors will skewer you the moment you step outside. You might s
ay that it’s your… destiny to die tonight.”
“Did they bring an army? Last time we fought it took three of them to keep me occupied, and I walked away with nary a scratch.”
Nate laughed with genuine amusement. “Oh bless your chipped fangs. You believed that carefully choreographed act? Tag teaming you was all part of the plan to play your narcissistic, over-confident, catsuit wearing ass so I could place that tracker on you. Even now, you don’t get why you and I have been having this drawn out little game, do you? It’s because every time we talk, you drop just a little bit more information on Sek and Mot, but you’ve become a time waster now and you almost hurt Cyd… enough’s enough. Tell me where I can find them and I’ll kill you quick… my word as a warrior of Maat.”
“A game, please,” Destiny scoffed, tossing her head back. “You would never have allowed your little friend who couldn’t fly to be damaged if it was all just a game.”
“I blame myself for Vivian getting hurt, who knew you’d be so obsessed that you’d be willing to cling to the side of a skyscraper to spy on me. That’s why I changed the venue and lured you here.”
“Lured me here? Now who sounds over-confident?” Destiny used the toe of her boot to send a pillar candle lying on the ground hurtling through the air in Nate’s direction. Even with one eye the trajectory was good, forcing Nate to duck and move, circling the room.
They clashed, Destiny diverting his sword with the edge of her knife even as his boot swept out, kicking her legs out from underneath her. She rolled as she landed, coming up on the other side of the sofa. Panting hard, she glared at him with one silver eye for a moment before launching herself up over the sofa. Nate bought his sword up, but not high enough as tricky Destiny somersaulted off the ceiling. Nate ducked just in time to avoid a blade in the cheek as she landed on the top of a side table across the room, crouched low and ready.
With a jagged smirk on her face Destiny reached over with one finger, pushing a large vase off the table next to her, sending it crashing to the floor. “Whoopsie, so clumsy of me.”
To Seduce A Siren Page 20