IN THE FORM of the dragon, Joseph crouched down. He extended and moved his massive wings to launch them into the air. He moved quickly, at incredible, unbelievable speeds in and out of the trees, but he never once broke through the canopy of trees.
Everything around her was a blur. Mia wasn’t sure how fast they were moving. All she knew was that she’d never moved that fast. Not even on her motorcycle.
The warmth of his body seeped into her front side as cool air moved over her backside. She couldn’t believe anything could move at such an incredible speed and see where it was going. She knew she couldn’t see very well. You can see where you’re going, right?
What do you mean? I prefer to close my eyes and hope for the best. His teasing laughter filled her mind as he swooped down and turned sideways, tucking his wings to his side to maneuver between two huge trees.
Mia laughed out loud. You’d better not have your eyes closed. No matter which way he moved, she never felt as if she might be at any risk of falling off his back. She never felt any sense of being in danger at all. The only thing she felt was perfectly safe. And wonder. Lots and lots of wonder for the way he was able to travel at such remarkable speeds without hitting even a branch in the dense forest.
The faster he moved, though, the more breathing started to become a challenge for her. Each time she tried to catch her breath, the wind slammed into her and caused her to gasp.
The more you struggle to catch your breath, the harder it will become. Let go of the struggle and give it to me. Allow me to regulate your breathing before you pass out.
I never pass out. But she did what he said. At once she was breathing easier, but she started to feel the brush of leaves touching her. Don’t you think we are getting a little too close to the trees?
Actually I was just thinking that I’m not moving fast enough to accidentally get close enough to make this flight very exciting. I’m playing safe since you’re with me. Normally I would’ve crashed a few times by now.
As Joseph maneuvered his massive body through the dense forest, Mia nearly forgot the danger, the threat surrounding them. But then, lifting his head and upper body, he stopped abruptly in mid-air.
They were entirely surrounded by the most hideous-looking winged creatures she’d ever seen. He’d positioned his body as if he were standing on his hind legs and released a roar that rumbled and echoed all around while spaying the ghouls with fire.
A group of ghouls came from above. He flipped back, exposing his belly, shielding her, and incinerated the ghouls. .
Joseph maneuvered again, shooting straight up like a rocket. He broke the treetops. Then, tucking his wings, he dove. He was moving at an impossible speed. The ground was coming too fast.
At the last possible second, he pulled up.
Unable to perform the maneuver, many of the ghouls giving chase smashed into the ground. Haden came down fast and crashed his massive body into several of the remaining ghouls, knocking them out of the sky. As they tumbled to the ground he sprayed them with fire.
Are you okay? Joseph asked.
You’re kidding, right? This is amazing. You’re amazing. I’m addicted. I wish we could do this forever.
* * *
Deep within the dragon Joseph was grinning like a fool. Any other woman would be fainting in fear. In truth it had scared the hell out of him. Not nearly amazing as you.
Shit. Here we go again.
He turned sideways and moved between two trees.
Together, Joseph and Haden had destroyed hundreds of ghouls, but so many more were in the sky that it seemed impossible to kill them all.
Go up, Joseph! Go up! Haden shouted in Joseph’s mind. Demetri and Nikolas are headed straight for you!
Joseph shot straight up but not soon enough. Haden moved to take the initial impact, but Demetri hit Joseph head on. The impact knocked Mia off his back. Joseph instantly changed direction. Tucking his wings close to his body, he raced toward her, but Demetri did the same and was closer to her. Joseph tried to put a spell of protection around her, but it didn’t work. His power was inaccessible. He knew Demetri would finish her off if he failed to get to her first. He reached for her mentally, but there was nothing. The impact had knocked her unconscious.
Free falling out of the sky, Mia was surrounded and being attacked by ghouls. He could feel their claws and teeth ripping and slashing her flesh, but he unable to create a shield around her. She hit the forest floor hard. Completely merged with her, he felt her body hit the ground.
Joseph knew the moment Mia opened her eyes, scrambled to her feet, and realized she was face to face with a vampire. He looked hideous. Her mind was working, trying to process all that had happened, when she sensed a greater threat from behind. She turned to face it.
Transforming from his dragon to his human form midstride, Demetri, arms raised as he summonsed power to him, took a step toward her. Joseph knew he wasn’t going to make it to her before Demetri. The seconds passed with agonizing slowness. A split second before Demetri reached her, Haden swooped down in the form of his dragon and sent Demetri hurtling back several hundred feet.
The instant Mia turned to face the vampire a knife pierced her belly.
Joseph reached the vampire and wrenched its head to the side. With a wave of his hand he created flames to incinerate the vampire’s remains. He took Mia in his arms.
Still in his dragon form, Nikolas was at Joseph’s side. Haden is injured. He won’t be able to hold Demetri back much longer. Move with me past the treetops. As soon as we break through the spells, shift the hell out of here.
You know I can’t take her through them. She’ll be destroyed.
Trust me. This is Demetri’s magic. I know it very well. He used this same spell on me thousands of years ago when we were adolescents. You don’t recognize it because we’ve never used it in actual battles since there’re so many major flaws in it. I know how to get you and Mia through the spell safely. It’s simple but it’s tricky. We don’t have time for you to learn it. We need to hurry. But keep in mind you won’t be able to shift more than a few hundred yards from here.
Regardless of their recent disagreements, Joseph knew Nikolas wouldn’t cause him to do anything to actually kill Mia. Let’s do it. Side by side they moved quickly up to and through the treetops. They kept moving higher and higher until they were past the spells.
Shift now!
* * *
Sensing Joseph’s distress, Mia opened her eyes. Cradling her in his arms, he slowly went down to his knees and lowered her onto the ground. “Joseph.” As she stared up at him, excruciating pain gripped her body. Gasping, she drew in a sharp breath and reached for the knife sticking in her belly.
Joseph took her hands to stop her from ripping knife out. “Leave it. I’ll take it out.”
She could tell by the fear and sadness in his eyes that she was dying. She smiled up at him. Her warrior. Her lover. He was alive. Her heart would always live on with him. Long after her death, the love she shared with him would go on and on. That was all that mattered. She could die in peace.
“No. I told you I would follow wherever you go in this life or the next. I could never live without you.” He could hear the sounds of battle all around him. Nikolas and Haden were in the sky fighting, buying him time. “If you die, I have nothing.”
“Joseph, I …” She coughed, choking on her blood. She was terrified but forced a smile on her face. “It’s okay.”
“Shh. Don’t try to talk out loud, Mia.” Pouring his power and his healing energy into her, he bent his head and kissed her brow. “I need you to relax. Don’t fight it. Don’t struggle at all. Let me breathe for you.”
Joseph. She had much she wanted to tell him and so much living to do with him, but it was over. She had to convince him to continue without her. It took more strength than she thought possible, but she reached up to touch his jaw, the strong, perfectly chiseled jaw she adored. She traced his frown with the tip of her index finger. I’m oka
y. Let me go. I will always love you, Joseph.
“You won’t give up. I won’t allow it. I’ll bring you back again and again if I must. And if I can’t bring you back I’ll follow you. I won’t lose you. And I will always love you.”
She felt him pouring his power into her, attempting to heal her. He’d been injured by the impact, and she could tell he didn’t have the strength to sustain both of their lives. You can’t. I’m too tired. You have to let me go.
She was right. He couldn’t save her. He wouldn’t have the strength and power to bring her back this time. If only she really were his true mate and he could give her immortality. But she wasn’t. He couldn’t.
Joseph felt Demetri’s presence an instant before he heard Demetri’s voice. “Unbelievable.” Demetri laughed out loud. Joseph kept his back to Demetri, fully prepared to allow Demetri to kill him. “You choose to allow me to kill you and allow her to die because you still don’t believe she belongs to you.”
Get up, Joseph! Protect yourself! Don’t you dare let him kill you!
My angel, the one and only love of my eternal soul, do not deny my love. Joseph bent down and kissed her lips. You cannot expect me to survive without you. Don’t be afraid. We are just continuing our journey together. He gently held her shoulders when she tried to get up. Stay still.
You can’t allow him to kill you. If you are able to survive this you must live. You must find your true mate. You must find true love.
“What makes you certain she’s not your true mate?” Demetri asked.
Joseph didn’t respond, though the question got him to thinking. Why had he come to that conclusion? Damn it. The laws. Oh, damn it all. The only reason he’d believed it was because of laws made by his elders hundreds of years ago. And he, a demon who’d always rejected the laws in the past, had failed to recognize his mate because of the laws. He was an idiot.
True love … suddenly he realized the truth: he’d found it. She was his mate. She always had been. There was no other. Even his dragon recognized her. Oh, damn. He truly was an idiot.
* * *
An imbecile. Mia had no idea what it meant, but his thoughts gave her hope that he would fight to live. Now get up off your ass and do something to defend yourself!
Staring into her eyes, his lips parted in wicked grin. “Not myself. You. Me. Our future.” He was the image of absolute confidence and strength as he stood up and turned away from her to face Demetri.
“It’s too bad it took you until now to figure it out. If you’d only opened your mind to the truth before, none of this would’ve happened. Well, I suppose there’s really no reason to waste time wallowing in regret.” Demetri said.
“I suppose you’re right.” When Mia heard Nikolas’ voice, she lifted her head to get a look at him. Nikolas and Haden stood on either side of Joseph with their backs to her. The movement caused her a great deal of pain. She looked down at knife in her belly. She had to get it out. Wincing, she reached for it but stopped when a loud boom echoed all around. She looked up and saw Nikolas, Haden, and Demetri in the forms of three huge balls of fire shooting up into the sky.
Breathing a sigh of relief, she closed her eyes.
“Mia, can you hear me?” She opened her eyes. Joseph bent down and kissed her forehead, and then he wrapped his hand around the knife in her belly. “I need to take the knife out. I can hold the worst of the pain, but it’s still going to hurt like hell.”
Tears in her eyes, she nodded her head as she closed her eyes again.
Joseph pulled the knife out.
Her eyes flew open. The pain was shocking. She felt his hand over the wound, sending warmth and taking the pain, and then he gathered her up in his arms. He leaned his back against a tree and cradled her.
Her heart was laboring.
It was now or never. He bent his head and pressed his lips firmly on hers. His kissed her deeply.
Mia felt as if she were soaring with him. Flying, with nothing to stop them. It was a place where no pain or fear could touch them. If it was dying, it wasn’t bad at all.
She was aware he was taking her breath. He was suffocating her, but she didn’t fight.
She trusted him.
* * *
One heart. One mind. One spirit. We’re forever connected. United as one. Watching her, monitoring her thoughts, Joseph kept his mind merged with hers.
It’s you, Mia. It’s always been you. I never understood. I couldn’t. You were too good, too perfect to be mine. But you are the one. The only one for me. He took her last mortal breath. She was so weak from the knife wound that he only waited for few seconds before her heart stopped beating. Come back to me, Mia. Take my eternal breath. There’s no way I’ll ever allow you to get away from me. Feel my love for you as I feel your love for me.
* * *
Mia stirred. She knew she was in Joseph’s arms. Protected and loved. She opened her eyes. His head was bent over her. She knew he’d healed her, healed more than the knife wound and her broken bones. Her poison, her cancer, was gone.
“Joseph?” She touched his face. He didn’t respond. She jumped out of his arms and struggled to pull him into hers. “No! Joseph! You can’t do this! Joseph! You can’t leave me.” She cradled his head against her chest.
“Mia.”
“You’re okay.”
“Yeah. No. Not really. I kind of hurt like hell all over. Please don’t keeping moving me around,” Joseph said.
Mia caught movement out of corner of her eyes. “Oh, damn it, Joseph. We have visitors.”
Despite being in intense pain, Joseph got his feet and somehow managed to find the strength to bring Mia up with him.
Seconds later a black mist with veins of blue and white electricity formed a few hundred feet away. In the midst of it she saw the forms of two men. “It’s Nikolas and Haden,” Joseph said.
“I know.”
The mist began to evaporate. Side by side Nikolas and Haden walked toward them. “Are you strong enough to get her out of here?” Haden asked.
“Sure. What about Demetri?” Joseph asked.
“He retreated.” Nikolas replied.
“Are you sure?”
Nikolas nodded. “As strange as it is, yes, I’m sure.”
“It doesn’t make sense since they clearly had us outnumbered, but even the vampires fled the area,” Haden added.
“What about Caleb?” Mia actually liked him. Not that much—he was a vampire after all. But she didn’t want any harm coming to him on account of her.
“He’s fine. He bailed ship after Demetri knocked you off Joseph’s back.” Haden laughed out loud. “I guess he thought your fall looked a little too painful to risk it happening to him.”
. “Well then, as long as everyone is okay, I guess now would be a great time for you to take me home, Joseph.”
He frowned. “Mia, I’m sorry, but Eli destroyed your home.”
“He destroyed the boutique? What? How?”
“He blew it up.” He took her hands in his. “We will rebuild it.”
“I know. It’s okay.” She saw the pain in his eyes. She knew they could and would rebuild it, but for the moment she wasn’t in any rush. She wanted time alone with Joseph. She looked up at Haden. “Will you and Caylee look out for the girls for a while?”
Haden nodded. “Of course, we will.”
She briefly glared at Nikolas, and then she turned back to Haden. “You won’t allow your brother to torment Brianna?”
“I wouldn’t think of it.” Haden paused. “You know that eventually Nikolas is going to come to his senses.”
“I know. It’s a shame, but I supposed worse things could happen,” Mia said.
“You know I’m standing right here.” Nikolas growled the words. “I can hear you. I’m perfectly capable of looking out for Brianna. And don’t worry about my intentions. I don’t plan on tormenting her.”
Mia waved Nikolas off as she looked up at Joseph. “Take me to your home. We can worry about the bou
tique later. I need a vacation.” With all that was happening with Mary, Demetri, and the vampires they couldn’t leave for long, but she would take and enjoy any time alone with the man she loved.
The war against evil wouldn’t disappear. It would be waiting for them to return.
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Hot, Decadent Rising (unedited)
INTENDING TO KEEP his conversation with Mary Tate private, Leland Terrick leaned across the table. “You sent two vampires to the hospital, and both have been destroyed.”
“It happens. Vampires aren’t always the smartest creatures,” Mary said. “I’ll send more.”
“Convince me. Tell me why you are so certain the next vampires you send out will be able to find Kara and that bastard and kill them. My men told me that a woman killed one of them. Not only killed—t he damn vampire got down on its hands and knees and begged for mercy.”
“If you’re referring to Mia Harte, I can assure you that it was a trick or an illusion of some sort. Her demon killed the vampires. Not her.”
“My men do not lie to me, and they sure as hell aren’t easily deceived by illusions. They’re highly skilled at their work. They’re the best of the best.”
“Whatever.” Mary smiled. “Mia won’t be an issue for much longer. She has a special talent for walking blindly into traps. I’ve almost killed her several times. I’ve made special arraignments for her. Soon, she will be dead.”
“When it comes to killing, almost doesn’t count.” Leland was having serious regrets about getting Mary involved. If her vampires managed to kill Kara and the baby after his men failed, he would be indebted to her. And the last thing Leland wanted was to owe anything to a woman crazy enough to believe she had any form of control over vampires. “What makes you think the vampires will do as you command and not turn on you?”
Exquisite Breath of Darkness Page 29