The Fury

by Sloan McBride

  He shuffled her to the only empty table near the back.

  The music changed again to a Marvin Gaye song and she said, “So tell me again why we’re here.”

  “I need to see someone.”

  His vague answer irritated her. With everything they’d been through already, surely he didn’t think anything he’d say would frighten her. Before she could ask anymore, he got up.

  “Wait here,” he ordered and left.

  Reese’s temper bristled. Did he really think she would sit like an obedient child while he mingled and ignored her?

  She watched him walk toward the bar closest to her and approach a tall, slender brunette. The woman had extremely long legs, a pair of black boots that went up over her knees and a skirt that barely covered her butt. If her boobs were any bigger, Reese mused, the neon tube top would be irreparably misshapen. A waitress came to take her order. A few moments passed before she glanced to where Dagan had been standing. He had disappeared along with the brunette.

  Reese tapped her finger to the beat of the music and sipped her amaretto sour. She’d been really looking forward to coming here. Okay, so the events of the last twenty-four hours had been bizarre and frightening and her bodyguard irritated the crap out of her, but it had been forever since she’d actually gone on a real date. She missed dancing.

  Dagan had been gone for some time and she wondered if she should go look for him. Sighing, she turned her attention to the dance floor. A hot, good looking man approached her table.

  “Would you care to dance, miss?”

  His voice was smooth like Vermouth and carried a European accent. Penetrating blue eyes beckoned her and she couldn’t resist. “Thank you, I’d like that.” She took the hand he offered.

  People parted as he led the way to the dance floor. Everyone stared at them as they passed. The band changed the tempo to something slow and the man pulled her close. He wound his left arm around her waist to the small of her back with fingertips splayed across her backside. The previously overrun floor now seemed deserted, or maybe she’d lost all concept of anyone else in the room. How could that be? She fought the urge to lay her head on his shoulder and let him negotiate the dance floor carrying her along. His movements were intoxicating and seductive and yet he’d not spoken to her since he’d asked her to dance.

  In a charismatic voice, he whispered in her ear. “What’s your name?”

  “Reese.”

  “’Tis beautiful and so are you.” He smiled and she felt a sudden need to kiss him. This was the second man in the last two days who had that kind of effect on her. She needed to get a grip.

  “I think you’ll be taking your hands off her now, Abu.”

  Reese stiffened at the steely voice. She turned to see Dagan glaring at the man holding her.

  “We’re having a nice time, Dagan. I hesitate to let it end so soon.”

  His cordial tone didn’t fool Reese, the warning had been crystal clear. Abu pulled her closer to the hard muscle and strength coiled in his body, ready to strike. If he and Dagan knew each other she’d bet him to be another form of mythical being and this could get ugly, real quick. She tried to pull away but Abu wouldn’t release her.

  Dagan’s nostrils flared and his eyes darkened. Abu smiled, but not with humor. His eyes changed color, first to dark blue then silver, like a kaleidoscope. She had to do something. Using all her strength, Reese stomped down with her heel and dug it into Abu’s foot.

  “Shakaah,” he yelled and shoved her away.

  Reese straightened up, readjusted her blouse and slung her hair back so she could glare at both of them. They treated her like some kind of possession and were acting childish.

  “Number one—,” she pointed at Abu who was rubbing his foot, “—I’m not a piece of meat and I’m certainly not someone who chooses to be in the middle of all this male insecurity.” She turned on Dagan who still glared at Abu. “And you are a piece of work. He and I were dancing. You have no right to stop me from dancing with him or anyone else?”

  “You are under my protection.”

  Abu chuckled and Dagan stepped forward. Reese put her hand on his chest.

  “You need to stop. This is ridiculous.”

  Abu reached around her waist and pulled her flush against him. He leaned down and nuzzled his nose against her neck. “You are fiery and brazen. I like that in a woman.” He gently bit her shoulder. “Your blood sings to me, Reese. I want to taste it.”

  Her eyes flew wide. Dagan leapt toward Abu and grabbed him by the throat, using his other hand to snatch Abu’s ponytail and yank it.

  “Don’t touch her ever again.”

  “You know there are better ways to get my attention,” another voice called out in a lilting accent.

  Dagan and Abu both turned in the direction of the sound. The onlookers parted to admit a well-built mountain of a man. Were there no normal people in this place?

  Dagan let go of Abu. He grabbed Reese by the arm and walked toward the other man. “Where in the name of Nammu have you been? I was just getting ready to kick your brother’s ass.”

  The new man laughed. “You two never give up. It’s been what, several thousand years? You’d think you could just let things go.”

  “Not likely.” Abu fixed his gaze on Reese. “Until we meet again.” He bowed, turned and disappeared in the throng of people.

  The music started playing and the mob broke up.

  “Come on,” the blond guy said, and led them to the opposite bar at the very end, away from the music as much as possible.

  “So what brings you here, Dagan? And who’s your pretty friend?”

  Dagan ordered a whiskey straight up for himself and another amaretto sour for Reese.

  “Nazi, this is Reese Whittaker. Reese, meet Nazi. He’s who I came to see.”

  “Nice to meet you, Reese. Please excuse my brother. He’s used to taking what he wants.”

  “Nazi.” She inclined her head. “Another one with no last name?”

  “Obviously.”

  “Yeah, well, your brother was a complete gentleman. Dagan, however—” she focused her glare on him, “—has a lot to learn about manners.”

  Dagan snorted.

  “You are so right, but don’t let Abu fool you. He would have taken you out back and fed on you for a while.”

  She coughed and Dagan patted her back. “Nazi.”

  “Why don’t I take Ms. Whittaker out of your hair, boys?”

  Reese turned watery eyes to see the same woman Dagan had spoken with earlier.

  “Don’t worry.” The woman cuddled up to Dagan. “I won’t let anything happen to her. Come on, sweetie.”

  She waited for Reese to pick up her drink and follow her away from the bar. “Damn tired of getting tossed around like a salad,” Reese murmured as she followed the beautiful woman, whom she hated on principal.

  “Don’t sweat it, hon. You’d think that as long as they’ve been around they would realize that the female of the species,” the woman smiled, “any species, is the better part of the deal.”

  Reese nodded.

  “I’m Ninti. Nazi and Abu are my brothers.”

  “I feel for you.”

  Ninti chuckled. “You’re spunky. Beware of Abu. He’ll snatch you up the first chance he gets.”

  Nazi and Abu were so totally different, not only in looks, but in personality and demeanor as well. Vampires. Did vampires exist? Not too long ago, she had no proof that gods existed. She wasn’t taking anything for granted.

  “Let’s play some pool.”

  Reese took a long drink from her glass. “Okay, lead on.” She glanced back to where Dagan spoke to Nazi and wondered why she couldn’t be around for the discussion.

  “What brings you here, Time Walker?”

  Dagan ordered them both another drink then rested his forearms on the bar. How would he find out what he needed to know without making Nazi suspicious? He’d never been very good at subterfuge.

  “I’d
venture to say your dilemma has something to do with the human female. The power radiates from her blood and her body. Kur will definitely zone in on her for just that reason. It is Enki’s bloodline.” Nazi downed his drink and snapped his fingers to get the bartender’s attention.

  “This isn’t about Reese Whittaker. I had to bring her along until I get rid of the vermin trailing her.”

  “I see. So why have you come here to seek me out?”

  Dagan threw back the whiskey and ordered another shot with a beer chaser. He glanced toward the stage to collect his thoughts. The band had begun their next tune.

  Taking a deep breath, he cleared his mind and faced Nazi. “Have you ever heard of a go’ras not working?”

  Nazi’s head whipped around. He stared at Dagan, who did his best to concentrate on the shot and beer, which had just arrived. “There is no instance I can recall where a go’ras did not work. It is powerful magick. Why do you ask?”

  Dagan shrugged. “Curiosity.”

  Nazi lifted a light brow. “And you say this has nothing to do with the woman?”

  Dagan resisted the urge to run his hands through his hair or wipe the small trickle of sweat from his brow. “No, nothing to do with her.”

  Nazi turned hard, skeptical eyes toward him. “This is a strange question coming from you, a time walker. I wonder whether you’re being truthful with me.” He held his hand out with his palm facing Dagan.

  Dagan had erected a barrier to keep the God of the Mind from reading his true thoughts. He hoped it worked. One did not generally hide anything from this particular god. His heart rate increased as Nazi probed, and he fought to remain nonchalant while being scanned. Every ounce of energy he could spare went to strengthening the barrier.

  Nazi lowered his hand. “I get nothing from you, which in itself is unusual. You’re blocking me.”

  “I told you the truth.” Dagan turned and ordered another beer.

  “You know Abu’s behavior was a little bizarre even for him this evening.”

  “He and I have come to blows for things far less than a woman.”

  “True,” Nazi agreed. “I’m sure you were too caught up in the situation to notice that his eyes had changed and his aura had deepened as well.”

  Dagan faced Nazi. “What does that have to do with anything?”

  “The power in her is stronger than any I have felt in centuries. When you draw near, her aura changes and power surges through her body.”

  Dagan frowned. He’d never intended to be anything more than a time walker. But, in the last forty-eight hours, things in his predestined world had tipped—toward Reese.

  With an unspoken hunger, Dagan watched Reese dancing with Ninti on one of the raised circular spaces. In those black pants that did nothing to hide her delectable form, her body swayed to the music. His temperature rose by leaps and bounds and his cock thickened.

  “I don’t need to be in your mind to know your thoughts.” Nazi’s words tore Dagan’s gaze away from the woman who tormented him.

  “What do you mean?”

  “With the power she holds it will be difficult not to get drawn in by her. Kur will not give up this prize easily.”

  “I know.”

  A gorgeous redhead walked by, catching Nazi’s eye. “Well, I wish you luck.”

  “Yeah, thanks.”

  Nazi caught up with the redhead and put his arm around her shoulders. Dagan shook his head.

  He stared at Reese. Something unusual had happened when he’d touched her in the shower and she’d touched him. Fires the likes of those in Mount Cradacus fueled his body’s reaction to the female. The torture of caressing her soft skin had nearly caused him to combust. Tonight when he’d seen Abu touch her so intimately, a red haze had clouded his mind. If he didn’t know any better, he’d think it was the fury.

  The go’ras should have rid her of any knowledge of him. That it didn’t created a new set of problems.

  Dagan gathered Reese and her things for them to go.

  The drive back to her house seemed to take forever. Over the past few days, she’d strained to hold onto a small thread of sanity; add in Dagan and some ancient demon out to kill her and she had the makings for a full blown psychiatric meltdown.

  When they arrived at her house, Dagan said, “Go inside. Make sure all the windows and doors are locked. I’ll be there in a moment.”

  “Where are you going?”

  “I’m going to speak with Rufus.”

  She raised a questioning brow. “Rufus?”

  Dagan nodded. “He’s out there keeping watch.”

  Grinding her teeth together, through tight lips she said, “What do you mean he’s out there?”

  He shot her a droll glare. “He has been out there all day and this evening at Slow Burn, keeping in the shadows.”

  “Why in God’s name would he be doing that?”

  “Because I told him to.”

  She crossed her arms and frowned. “A bodyguard?”

  “Exactly.”

  When she opened her mouth to fling harsh words at him, he got out of the car, leaned his head in and smiled. “Yell at me later.”

  Count to ten, count to twenty.

  A nervous itch raked up her spine as she climbed the front porch steps and faced the scorched spots on the wood. She chalked the shiver that raced across her skin to the chill in the air. Stepping inside the front door, she flipped on the light. A whirlwind blasted by her nearly knocking her to the floor. Spinning, she found an enigmatic man standing in her living room. Uninvited.

  “Hello, Reese.”

  The tone of his voice caressed her like that of a lover, his smile cold and calculating. His short, elegantly styled hair was a cross between blond and white. She allowed her gaze to travel over a well-toned body encased in black leather to rest on glittering, intense amber eyes.

  “Who the hell are you and how did you get into my house?”

  He laughed. “I must say, the strong invisibility ward did its job well. I knew I wouldn’t find it on my own, so I waited for you to come home. When you opened the door, I took the opportunity to rush in before you could close me out again.”

  The stranger waved his hand and the front door slammed shut.

  “What do you want?” Reese angled toward the fireplace, putting greater distance between them. If she could play for time, Dagan would show up.

  “He’s busy,” the stranger said, as if he’d read her mind. “I could have you before he breaks through the door.”

  Her gaze wandered around the room, searching for the best escape route.

  “Running is futile. I am meant to have you, Reese. Surely you realize that.”

  “I don’t realize anything. I’m guessing you’re Kur.”

  He inclined his head.

  “You won’t get me without a fight,” she stated with bravado.

  His amber eyes swirled like molten lava. “I wouldn’t have it any other way. The fight makes it more intoxicating.” Kur reached out his hand. “Come to me.”

  His silky voice echoed in her head. The command to come toward him replayed over and over. Against her will, her right foot stepped forward, then her left. She struggled to gain control of her body, but she was losing.

  “That’s right. Come to me so I can inhale the sweet scent of your blood. My enemy’s blood.”

  Reese fought to keep her senses. She reached inside her purse and wrapped fingers around the Beretta she’d put there before leaving for the nightclub. Gripping the pistol with both hands, she dropped the bag and pointed the barrel at Kur’s heart.

  He lifted a blond brow. “Your will is strong. That is interesting.” Kur smiled. “Give me the weapon.” He held out his other hand. “Place it here in my hand and let me kiss you.”

  She released the safety. Her hands were shaking but she didn’t take time to worry about it. If she did, she’d be dead.

  Anger crossed Kur’s face and he took a step toward her. She pulled the trigger. The sound r
everberated through the room. The impact caused Reese to step back but she recovered and took aim again.

  “Felkah,” Kur screamed. He pulled a bloody hand away from his shoulder. “You shot me.”

  “And I’ll do it again.”

  He laughed. “I bet you would. The nice thing about being me is that the injuries heal quickly.” Kur glanced at his wounded shoulder and then back at her. “Even the nasty ones.”

  He took another step toward her and she screamed. Fragments of the splintered front door flew everywhere. One lodged in Kur’s thigh and he cursed loudly. Reese’s hopeful gaze fell on Dagan’s powerful form.

  “Are you the welcome wagon?” Kur sneered and pulled a piece of wood from his leg.

  “Hardly, I’m your ticket back to the Underworld, permanently.” Dagan raised his arm, reached behind him and drew his sword.

  “Ah, I see Pyre has been busy.” Kur carefully removed his jacket and dropped it on the floor. A long scabbard hung at his side from which he pulled a thick bladed sword. He glared at Dagan. “I seem to remember being here before.”

  “Not quite. The last time you had five others with you.” Dagan rolled his wrist swinging the sword. It made swooshing sounds as it cut through the air. “This time it’s just you and me.”

  Kur smiled. “Let the fun begin.”

  The first clang of blades startled Reese. She didn’t know what to do. Should she raise her weapon again and shoot Kur? No, she wouldn’t be able to get a clean shot. She might hit Dagan. Where was her bat when she needed it?

  The men knocked over lamps and smashed tables in the ferocious battle. The seasoned warriors took pieces of each other. Dagan’s muscular arms delivered powerful strokes. Kur countered with fine moves and backward spins. She could have been watching a well-staged movie scene.

  Kur slipped on some of his own blood and stumbled forward. This gave Dagan the opportunity to slice him across the shoulders, close to his neck. Kur whirled around and cut Dagan’s forearm. Weakened, Kur struggled to stand straight and his blows were less forceful.

  Two minions appeared in the shattered doorway. Reese swung around, pointing the gun in their direction. From out of the darkness, a whirring sound came just before a jewel-handled dagger imbedded itself in the back of one of the galla’s heads.