by Brenda Trim
From somewhere close to the house she heard a deep male voice yell, “You fucked up, taking me away from my luscious angel.” The male’s long hair swirled around his head as he twisted then sliced through the enemy.
She thought it was Rhys given the comment, but couldn’t be certain because she hadn’t spent enough time around Orlando’s friends.
Her gut twisted and her chest tightened when she realized Orlando had happily spent time with her friends and family over the past weeks yet she hadn’t done the same for him. She had shut out that part of his life completely and that wasn’t fair to her mate.
Her mate’s curse brought her head around and snapped her back into focus. Good thing, too. She couldn’t afford to be distracted in the middle of one of the worst battles she’d ever been in.
Four Sheti surrounded Orlando, but he shifted in the next second, momentarily blinding the demons. He’d barely completed his shift when Santi’s wolf joined him, and together, their claws imbedded into two Sheti while their canines ripped out the throats of two more. It happened so fast she was hardly able to track his movements. Black blood sprayed and Orlando’s leopard roared when the gooey substance coated its fur.
Something hit her back and Ember was airborne before she knew what was happening. She cursed, her hiding spot had been discovered and a Sheti managed to catch her off guard. She went into battle mode and gripped her sword with both hands.
She swung and missed the first time, but followed the momentum, adding an extra push and caught the demon on the turn. Its arm fell to the ground and the demon crumpled as black blood spurted across her face and coated her glasses.
With a snarl, Ember cut through its throat and raced on as she swiped an arm, clearing the thick liquid before she was totally blind. She understood why Orlando had roared. Their claws and fangs weren’t venomous, but their blood was like acid to the skin.
The sun was setting and as she ran, she tripped over one of the twins. She couldn’t tell if it was Cade or Caell. His leg was hanging by a thread and his skin was blistered and bloody. If he hadn’t blinked, she’d have thought him dead.
Frantic, she glanced around and noticed Jace in the throes of battle. His war cry pierced the air as he took out three enemies surrounding him. The warrior was busy fighting and Ember knew he wouldn’t be able to help the vampire. She wasn’t far from the house and noticed Elsie and her sister standing on the other side of a large window. They were frantically waving their arms, urging Ember to get the vampire inside.
Taking a chance, she lifted the injured male and tried to drag him to safety. He weighed a ton and she didn’t get very far before she was attacked again. She fought the Sheti and wanted to shift but knew she couldn’t help the vampire if she did. Stabbing her blade through the Sheti’s chest, she pinned it to the rapidly dying grass.
Back at the male’s side, she lifted again, wincing at his groan of pain. Dirt and blood matted to his wounded leg. She didn’t see how they were going to save the limb. Her heart raced and she strained, throwing all her power into getting him to safety.
She’d barely made it to the carport when strong hands joined hers. She glanced up to see Zander standing there, no worse for wear. He was blistered from the sun, but not nearly as bad off as the vampire at their feet.
“I’ve got him. Shite, he’s verra bad off. He took off before we could stop him and I lost track of him. Thank you for helping for him,” the vampire king murmured.
“Will he live?” she asked, worried.
“I doona know, but we will do everything. I’ll take him to Cailyn. She can heal him. Get back to the others. Nate has things under control oot back. He’ll be up here to help as soon as his beast is done snacking on the demons,” Zander said as he hefted the injured vampire over his shoulder while keeping hold of the injured leg. The male cried out, but they were inside the house within seconds.
What was Nate doing in the back? Wasn’t that their majordomo? Did they let him fight in battles because he was a shifter? She hoped they had trained him to fight and didn’t just throw him at the demons because the vampires couldn’t be out in the daytime.
The hits just kept coming, she thought wryly, facing yet another piece of evidence about how she knew next to nothing about Orlando’s friends and family. Ember was convinced the Goddess was trying to prove a point.
She turned and rushed back into the fray while, at the same time, Kyran, Bhric, and Breslin took position under the portico where it was safest. It was a relief to see they had two strong warriors for their last line of defense.
Her sword clanged and made her arms shake when it met the spiked back of one of the Sheti. It rattled her and made the pain in her shoulder flare. Note to self…don’t attack their backs. Ice went flying by her head and slammed into the demon, freezing his legs and torso into a solid block of ice. Startled, she looked around and saw Bhric laughing maniacally.
“Feel the freeze, arsehole,” the vampire prince cursed as more ice left his palm.
In the next moment, fire shot past Ember’s head and a group of Sheti burst into flames. Breslin had her arms outstretched, unleashing her fiery inferno. The combination of the blues and whites added to the reds and oranges was mesmerizing. Ember couldn’t help but be awed by their gifts of fire and ice.
Those were badass powers to have. Seeing it, she understood why the Tarakesh family had been leading the vampires for centuries. She imagined Zander and Kyran had equally impressive powers.
She lifted her blade, ignoring the agony that came with the effort and was preparing to slice the Sheti’s head off when Bhric stopped her. “Nay. Wait, lass. Kyran has this one. Go help the others.”
Before she could ask his meaning, Kyran appeared with an enormous sword clutched in his hands and the demons head was rolling to her feet. Immediately, Kyran disappeared. When she looked around, he reappeared next to Bhric again. Powerful family, indeed.
Shaking her head, she took off and headed for her mate. He was surrounded, but that didn’t deter his vicious claws. He sliced and tore through everything in front of him. Ember joined the fight, a new surge of adrenaline giving her renewed strength as she cut through Sheti.
The ground shuddered and had her stumbling. Panic quickly followed. Her fight-or-flight instinct kicked in and told her to get the hell out of there. Whatever was causing tremors that substantial was going to swallow her whole.
“Bout damn time, Nate,” Mack shouted so close Ember’s head whipped around. She hadn’t been there a second ago. Obviously, Mack and Kyran had bonded to the point they shared one another’s power.
It was a painful reminder that she and Orlando weren’t as close as the other mated couples and she wondered if she would ever share his empathic ability. She’d never had a special power and didn’t know what it would be like to have one.
An enormous dragon rounded the corner and she prayed it was Nate. The enormous beast had slate gray scales and a head as big as her body. If not for the familiar glint in its red eyes, she would have believed it to be demonic. She’d recognize Nate’s peepers anywhere and hope sparked they might defeat the enemy.
Nate breathed sheets of fire to her right, reminding her to focus and stop gawking. When she looked back to the fight, she noticed that countless tiny men were running towards her, shouting as they waved small machetes in the air. Their crazy red hair flew about and their pointy shoes were comical, but what stood out most to her were the razor-sharp teeth they sported.
Thinking they had new demons to face, she lifted her sword, but Mack placed a palm on her arm, stopping her. “The gnomes are with us. They were helping Nate,” Mack said before she turned and lifted her hands in the air. “Leave some for me, dammit,” she shouted.
Ember shook her head. She had not spent enough time at Zeum with her mate to understand anything going on in his world. She’d kept him from all of this. She was shocked that he didn’t hate her. She’d never forgive him if he’d denied her the pack and her family.
The female kept hold of her sword and hacked the head of a Sheti then turned with a pout on her face. “Yeah, but I want to be on the top of the killboard,” she complained.
Ember wondered what they were talking about, but what was clear to her was that this was a very competitive group and Mack strived to be the best. She couldn’t help but smirk at her filthy pink shirt that read It Wasn’t Nice Knowing You But It Sure Is Nice Getting Rid Of You.
“This isna the time for foreplay, mate,” Kyran growled with glowing gray eyes.
The battle shifted with the help of the gnomes and Nate, leaving few Sheti to kill. Ember looked for Orlando and saw him making his way to her side. He’d shifted back and was bleeding from several cuts.
Shifters weren’t shy about nudity and she was glad about that as she watched him saunter in her direction. She would never get enough of admiring his sexiness. He made her mouth water and her body ache. Foreplay indeed, she thought. She’d never thought fighting as particularly arousing, but given that anyone of them could have died in this battle she was oddly turned on to see her mate so victorious.
Orlando reached her side and pulled her into his arms. His kiss was passionate and ignited more need. Now was not the time to get lost in her desire for her mate. They were standing in the middle of a battleground with onlookers surrounding them.
Staying close, she broke the kiss and took stock of the others around her. Everyone was injured in some way, except Nate, she noticed when he finally shifted back. He had a large dragon tattooed on his chest that matched the color of his eyes. And, he was just as muscular and hot as the warriors. This was no fluffy butler, she noted.
Orlando led her into the house as the gnomes began the process of piling the bodies for disposal.
“Thank the Goddess the Rowan sisters are here to replace the protections,” Bhric muttered as he followed them inside. “Fuckers kept gnawing at the spell until it crumbled.”
“I wondered how they got in again,” Orlando commented. “How is Caell? I saw you pulling him off the field,” he asked her. She sensed how worried he was for his friend.
“I don’t know. He was alive when Zander grabbed him, but he was in bad shape. His skin and his leg…” Ember trailed off and chided herself as she felt his concern deepen. “But, he said Cailyn was going to heal him.”
Orlando’s question seemed to mobilize everyone as they all began running for the front doors. Ember followed behind, her own worry escalating. They entered a room to the right that looked big enough to house fifty people. Caell was laid out on the floor and his twin was sitting by his side, reprimanding him for rushing into the sunlight.
Jace knelt next to Cailyn and placed his hands over the male’s leg. “I did everything you told me and his skin healed, but his leg, it won’t heal,” Cailyn blurted as tears brimmed.
“You’ve done, great, Shijéí. You saved his life. If Ember hadn’t acted quickly, he wouldn’t have made it,” Jace assured her.
“So he’ll live?” Ember asked as she stood alone wringing her hands. She felt awkward because Orlando had followed Nate to get clothes, but she needed to know if the male was going to make it.
“Yes, thanks to you two. Now, let’s see if I can save this leg without surgery,” Jace said as he turned to Cailyn. “I need more saline in this area.”
The two worked quickly as the group hovered, waiting to see what happened. Elsie broke away from Zander and approached Ember. Suddenly, she wished the ground would open and swallow her. The vampire queen didn’t like her and the feeling was mutual, but standing around as they waited to see whether a fellow warrior would live was not the time to get into it with the female.
“Thank you for what you did for Caell. He’s new here, but part of our family and it would’ve been devastating to lose him. Listen, Ember, I know we haven’t gotten off on the best foot, but I want you to know you’re always welcome in this home,” Elsie said, surprising Ember.
“That means a lot. I never realized how close knit a family you are. It’s something anyone would be blessed to be a part of,” Ember replied. She doubted she and Elsie would ever be best friends, but it was a start.
Thankfully, Orlando returned a second later and wrapped her in his arms. Elsie clapped him on the arm before she returned to Zander’s side. Ember felt his emotions before he opened his mouth and wasn’t surprised by what he said next.
“Liege. I’m sorry I wasn’t here to help sooner. If I had been, Caell could’ve been spared this,” Orlando confessed.
“Doona blame yourself. We have known they were lingering around the property, but didna know they were eating away at the spell. You have a mate and need to be with her. We all understand,” Zander told Orlando.
Ember heart dropped at his words. She was the one to blame. She’d been selfish and hadn’t given one thought to what her mate needed or wanted. She expected him to leave everything for her, and, he did, without complaint. Even now, he wasn’t blaming her or mad at her. She had to believe her position within the pack was more flexible than she claimed.
Despite the attacks, she knew the demons weren’t specifically targeting the shifters. She suspected they were trying to divide the power in the realm.
“Come on, Wildcat. Let’s go back to my old rooms and shower. I don’t want to get black blood all over my leather seats,” Orlando murmured. He leaned down and kissed the top of her head. She shook her head at his comment. Her mate and his obsession with his damn vehicle.
“He’s going to be ok?” she asked as they walked away.
“Yes. The demon blood didn’t infect the wound so Jace will be able to heal him,” Orlando replied as he ushered them up the stairs. What he wasn’t talking about was the weight that weighed heavily on his heart. And, like it or not, it was the same one weighing on hers.
CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE
“I didn’t realize how nice your bathroom was,” Ember said as he led her into the large area. He reached into the shower and turned all four showerheads to hot, anxious to get his mate naked.
“We haven’t spent much time in here,” he observed. “Here, let me help you with that.”
A smile stretched across her face. “Such a gentleman,” she purred as she ran her hand up his chest.
Reaching for the hem of her soiled top, he lifted it over her head and tossed it aside. “I have learned a thing or two in my time. Just like I know that you aren’t in the mood for a gentleman tonight.”
Her bra followed her shirt to the floor, allowing her lush globes freedom. They bounced, drawing his attention. Damn, he loved her breasts and couldn’t resist palming and squeezing them. She leaned into his touch and fire ignited in her amber depths.
“What gave me away?” she asked as she grabbed his shirt with both hands and ripped it down the middle. His shaft went rock hard and his balls drew up tight at her display while his hands flew to her waist.
He was completely out of control and wanted to ravage her. His sultry mate drove him to the edge of sanity.
“That feral look in your eyes might have been my first clue,” he murmured as he allowed a partial shift and shredded the fastening to her jeans. He pushed them down her long legs, along with her silk panties, and watched as she stepped out of her shoes and kicked the fabric aside.
She stood before him and her nipples puckered under his scrutiny. His eyes roamed downward to the landing strip between her thighs.
Sexiest. Sight. Ever.
“How can one female be so perfect?” he asked. Unable to stop himself, he leaned down and took one nipple into his mouth. Her eyes slid closed and her head fell back.
“Not perfect,” she panted as she arched her back.
“Open your eyes, Wildcat,” he ordered.
“I love when you call me that…” she moaned.
He lifted his head and her taut nipple poppe
d from his mouth. Her mewls of objection had him chuckling.
How could he not love the fiery female who accepted him even when he was shattered in a million pieces? Time and again she’d jumped by his side without hesitation.
“I have so little to offer you and I’m certain I drove you to the point you’ve questioned if we even have a future. But, I promise to love you with all that I have and I will never stop trying to deserve you,” he promised.
Steam filled the room as their heat burned out of control. His leopard clawed at his mind, demanding to be set free. Not until he had his fill first.
“I love you, Orlando, and always will. I am the one who doesn’t deserve you—” he put his fingers over her lips, cutting off her reply.
“My mate is perfect in everyway. I’ll not have you defiling her good name,” he teased. “I love you.”
“I want you inside me,” she pleaded as claws extended from her fingertips.
“I’ve got this. Your sharp tips are way too close for Mr. Happy. One cut and the night would be cut short. I have plans for you, Wildcat,” he said with a wink.
Leaning down, he kissed her lips as he shucked his jeans. Her hands went to his chest and around his neck. Her touch calmed and inflamed him like none before her. It took great effort to keep control and not rut on her like the animal inside wanted to do.
He picked her up and groaned when her legs wrapped around his waist and brought her dripping core in line with his cock. He tightened his arm around her waist to stop her frantic movements as he walked them into the shower.
“You’re a cruel, cruel male,” she muttered before she nipped his lower lip.
Looking deep into her glowing amber gaze, he saw his future and was floored all over again that this incredible female was his. She objected when he set her on her feet.
“I’m hungry, love, and you promised me a feast,” he murmured.
“Yes, I remember.” she replied then slightly widened her stance. Her arousal was a thick cloud in the bathroom and drove him to the brink. His leopard roared again, making it difficult for Orlando to hold back his beast.