Nephilim War: Book 2

by Adrienne Kama

  “No!” he said again. “Smenkhare, wake up. Please wake up.”

  But of course, she didn’t answer. She couldn’t.

  He pulled her body close and held her. Already, he felt his face dampening with tears. He didn’t care what sight he made when Damon woke and saw him sitting in the corner, face stained with blood tears while he cradled the lifeless body of his Smenkhare in his arms.

  He pressed his face to hers and wept. “Come back to me,” he begged.

  Then, he heard something. He jerked upright, drawing her face away from his. He stared, unbelieving, as her mouth fell open.

  “Smenkhare?” he said in a tentative voice.

  She didn’t answer. Still couldn’t. But even as he looked on, he realized her throat was expanding. He could hear the bones in her throat crackle as if they were moving beneath her skin.

  Alaric gaped, unsure of what he was seeing.

  Her skin went from the putrid brownish-yellow it had been to the lush honey-brown it had been last night.

  She struggled to take in a breath. Then another. Then, quite suddenly, she opened her eyes.

  “Alaric.”

  Alaric opened his mouth, then shut it. He stared. “I killed you,” he finally managed.

  She moved to sit up, then seemed to realize she was in his arms and cradled in his lap. Instantly, her face heated with what Alaric took to be embarrassment. “You can’t kill me,” she said quickly, trying to set some distance between them. He held tight to her, unwilling to let her go.

  “But I did. You were dead. Your throat was crushed. I saw you, then…” he shook his head, “then you were alive again.”

  “I’m Ikari,” she said, as if that were explanation enough.

  “And you’re a female. There aren’t any female Ikari warriors.”

  She pushed at his prodding fingers and eased off his lap. “Save me. Now, I’ll admit you caught me off-guard and I panicked. I overreacted.”

  “Overreacted? To being strangled by a sleeping vampire? Is that possible?”

  “I’ve been killed before,” she said with a shrug, trying to be more nonchalant about the whole matter than he figured she really felt.

  He wondered if her skin were burning from being so close to him the way his burned from being close to her. His hormones had gone on full alert as soon as he realized she was all right. He’d felt her chest rise and fall against him, felt the tickle of her curls on his neck.

  Alaric studied her. “Is that so?”

  She nodded. “It’s part of my training. Every warrior has to be killed at least a dozen times before being sent out on missions. If not, dying while on a mission would come as too much of a shock for us.”

  Alaric wiped the dampness from his face. “You’ve been killed before,” he repeated. “As part of your training.”

  “Indeed. Oh, don’t worry,” she added. “The first few times, the Warlord did it himself. He didn’t let anyone else touch me until I was completely comfortable with the process.”

  Alaric opened his mouth to speak, then shut it yet again. He shook his head and dragged a hand through his hair. “Just exactly how many times have you died?”

  She shrugged, obviously still trying to maintain her façade of nonchalance. “I don’t know. I stopped counting.”

  “How many ways, then?”

  She stared up at the ceiling. “I’ve been strangled before, so don’t worry, you weren’t the first. I’ve been stabbed through the heart, drowned, smothered—”

  “Stop. I don’t want to hear any more. Had I realized you were such an old hand at dying, I wouldn’t have spent the last five minutes cursing myself to the seven pits of hell.”

  “I’m sorry if I scared you. You should be happy to know you didn’t kill me.” She met his gaze and set a smile on her face. “Also, I’m partially to blame. Usually when one of my Ikari brethren strangles me, they don’t do it with quite as much vehemence as you displayed. You truly seemed to want me dead, so I tried to fight you. In retrospect, I think that was a mistake. If I’d just let you strangle me and be done with it, I’m sure you wouldn’t have been so, er, passionate about it.”

  Alaric stared at her. “I thought I’d killed you. I was ready to end myself.”

  Neither spoke until Al-Kenna broke the silence by asking the time. “I’m to leave the compound today. To go into exile,” she added with a sneer. “It’s still early, though, so they probably haven’t been looking for me.”

  “You don’t want to go? It would be safer for you—”

  She rounded on him. “I don’t care what would be safer. I know how to defend myself. I should be here, fighting. It’s where I belong, not holed up in some safe house like an insipid female. And if you tell me the Warlord is right to send me off, I’ll…I don’t know what I’ll do, but I’ll do something.”

  “I wouldn’t dream of saying any such thing. So, you don’t want to be sent off into exile. What would you like instead?”

  She studied him for a moment, then seemed to come to a decision. “I’m leaving the compound as he wishes, but I’ll be back.”

  “Ah, so your plan is to return to the compound and what?”

  “Fight, as is my duty and right as an Ikari warrior.”

  Alaric had to struggle to keep from smiling. To see his Smenkhare proclaiming herself a warrior was almost too cute to be borne. Still, there was a good chance if she saw the slightest glint of humor in his eyes, she’d turn tail and run. Instead, he asked , “Don’t you think the Warlord would notice you, the only woman among men?”

  “The Seer is remaining at the compound—”

  “But the Seer doesn’t plan to fight, does she? You would be the only woman on a battlefield of men. You’re smaller than male Ikari, you’re slight of build, not to mention the fact that your body, on its worst day, could never be mistaken for a man’s, so you’ll be spotted fast.”

  He turned away at the look of misery that crossed her face. Look on that face too long, Alaric, and you’re liable to do something stupid, he told himself.

  “They need me,” she insisted.

  “One, even two people don’t make that much difference when you’re dealing with such great numbers. But if you really don’t want to remain in exile, as you called it, you could come with me.”

  “Where are you going?”

  “To New York.” He shifted on the floor so he was sitting on the heels of his boots instead of flat on his ass. “To search for an old friend, and to a meeting of the Alliance.”

  “But we need you here.”

  Moving forward on his knees, he closed the space between them, half expecting her to turn and run. But she didn’t. She met his gaze and stood her ground.

  “You need me, honey?”

  “We all need you.”

  “My services, as they are, are best used elsewhere. Though I will try to be back before the imps come.”

  “So, you haven’t abandoned us?”

  He grinned. She really was a delicious little morsel. “No. So, what do you think? Will you come with me to New York?”

  A number of expressions crossed her face as she considered his proposal. All of them had the blood rushing to his already engorged cock. It strained painfully against the tight leather pants. Damn, if she wasn’t sexy as hell. He wanted to ease her onto her back, right here, and move on top of her. His desire to ease his throbbing erection into her was so powerful, he had to close his eyes for a moment to regain control. He refused to scare her again as he had last night. He was amazed she’d had enough courage to enter the archives after his behavior. He was even more amazed that she was still here after he’d literally strangled her to death.

  “I don’t think that would be such a good idea,” she said finally.

  “I think it would be a wonderful idea.”

  “Of course, you do. But only because you think I look like Smenkhare.”

  “Would you prefer to languish with the women and children?”

  “I don’t p
lan to do that, either.”

  “Think about it. How long do you think you’d be here before someone recognized you? You’re the Warlord’s daughter, after all. With your brown skin, and all that hair…you stand out.”

  She stared down at the floor and shrugged. He hoped she was considering his offer. It would please Alaric to no end to have her with him in New York. If he had time alone with her, he could break through these walls she’d set between them and make some progress with her. Hell, who was he kidding? If he had her to himself, he’d show her the myriad benefits of sharing his company. He’d show her nice and slow how wonderful he was. He didn’t doubt he’d have her eating from the palm of his hand in short order. Women did, after all, find him irresistible. And if all else failed, there was the blood.

  “When are you leaving?” she asked.

  “I’m flying out at nine-thirty.”

  “Are you flying from the private airport?”

  “I don’t do commercial,” he said, curling his lip arrogantly.

  She got to her feet and stepped away from him. “Very well, then. If I decide to take you up on your offer, I’ll meet you at the airport at nine.”

  Alaric stood, but made no move toward her. This was real progress. Still, he had to fight down an urge to advance on her and force the issue. He wasn’t about to attack her the way he had last night. Instead, he shoved his hands into the waistband of his leather pants and smiled. “I hope to see you at nine, then.”

  Chapter Sixteen

  “You have my essence,” Raven reminded Charity as he led her through the dark tunnels toward the real world.

  He ran a finger over her cheek and set off a series of tremors in her body.

  They’d been walking for what had to be hours, but she wasn’t exhausted anymore, or hungry. Raven was here. Next to her. Though he still seemed distant, every now and again he’d touch her. The simple contact quickened her and made her feel alive. She was so attuned to him that every move he made had her body crying out with want. The sight of him called to mind their time together in Prague. Too clearly, she remembered the luscious feel of having Raven deep inside and moving within her. Right now, she wanted him inside of her with a desperation that scared her. Even running for her life as she was, she would have stopped in her tracks and lay on the ground, ready to receive him, had Raven told her to. The anticipation of being joined with him, of being one with him again was nearly too much for her to bear.

  “You two still back there?” Raven asked, drawing her from her thoughts.

  Aliceanna grunted, even as Myrddin responded that they were fine.

  “I’ve only stubbed my toe three or four dozen times,” Aliceanna said, caustic as ever. “But yes, we’re fine. We love to stumble around in the dark.”

  Raven had insisted they walk in darkness for stealth. Charity didn’t mind, though. Actually, she couldn’t say she was in complete darkness. She knew the tunnels were as dark as the tunnels Azriel led her through, but she could see the silhouette of the tunnel walls this time and make out the patches of green slime that clung to the walls. She could see where the corridor turned to the left or right, and where the walls opened to display a deep cavern—which they always walked past. Objects, though not entirely visible, were discernible in the gloom. She knew this new sight, this night vision, was due to Raven’s instructions to her that she could see if she tried. He had told her she had his essence.

  “I have an eye with me,” Myrddin said.

  Charity glanced over her shoulder at the wizard in time to see Myrddin slip a hand into the inner pocket of his overcoat. He came up holding a black orb. It was about the size of a tennis ball.

  “I could do a lighting spell and make it glow so we can see,” Myrddin said.

  Raven rejected the offer out of hand. “No magic. We’ve been walking through the tunnels for close to two hours now, and we’ve yet to come across any resistance. The ghouls I’ve seen haven’t attacked. I’ve no doubt if Azriel knew we were here, he’d have sent them to waylay us, even if he were unable to come himself. If you use magic, he’ll feel it and know we’re here. Then, the docile creatures we’ve been passing will act. Just stay close to me.”

  Raven was right. The ghouls hadn’t been a problem. And she’d yet to see any rogues. Charity could only guess it was because Raven was an unknown quantity. That he was powerful was obvious, and that seemed to be enough of a threat to keep the ghouls frozen with indecision. She realized the ghouls weren’t very threatening when forced to stand on their own, without Azriel. The most they did when they caught sight of Raven was scurry away and hide in the darkness of the corridors.

  Raven squeezed Charity’s hand and warmth spread from her fingers through her body.

  She sighed.

  “As for you,” he told her in a low voice. “What have I told you about all those dirty thoughts?”

  Charity felt her face heat. She kept forgetting he could read her mind. It was incredibly embarrassing to know he could see every wanton thought that made its way through her mind. Hell, it was unnerving.

  She swallowed hard and tried to smile. “I’m sorry.”

  “Don’t be.” He pressed her hand, palm down, against his stomach and rubbed until she felt the waistband of his pants pass under her touch. His guiding hand forced her touch further down until her fingers closed over the hard mound of his erection. Her breath caught in her throat when she realized he was thick and hard as a rock.

  “When I get you back to the compound,” he promised in a whisper, “I'm gonna take you to a private room and ride you till you beg me for mercy. Would you like that?”

  “I can hear you,” Aliceanna sang out from behind them before Charity could answer.

  Still, intense desire swept through Charity at the image Raven’s words created. He knew she’d love that. She was desperate for that.

  “Naughty girl that you are, I knew you’d love it,” he said, repeating her thoughts out loud. He gave her hand a squeeze, forcing her fingers tighter against his erection, then let her go.

  “This really sucks, Raven,” Aliceanna said. “Myrddin and I could have stayed back at the compound. I don’t like the idea of leaving Alaric and Damon behind in a compound full of vampire hunters.”

  “They’ll be fine, Aliceanna. Galen has promised their safety.”

  Aliceanna snorted.

  This was the first time Charity had seen Aliceanna since Prague. The last time she’d seen the witch in training, Aliceanna had been flat on her back, naked save her mass of red hair, whipped, and had her face pressed into Alaric’s waiting crotch. If memory served, and Charity knew it did, Alaric hadn’t been the only male vampire in the room that night. Damon had been there as well. Aliceanna had been a sort of plaything—or maybe sex slave was a better term—to the vampires. After seeing the outspoken female crawling around on all fours at Alaric’s heels, Charity hadn’t been sure what to say when she saw Aliceanna waiting in the tunnel. When Aliceanna gave Charity a punch to the shoulder and expressed relief to see her, Charity was happy enough to follow her lead. She wouldn’t mention the scene if Aliceanna didn’t. Still, she wondered what kind of relationship the three shared. Were they lovers, or something less important?

  “Maybe we should take a short rest,” Myrddin was saying.

  “I’d rather get out of the tunnels and rest later,” Raven said.

  “Remember, Great One, not all of us have your strength. I think a ten-minute break may do us good.”

  Raven continued forward for a few minutes without answering. “There’s a cavern here,” Raven said at last. “We’ll go in and rest for fifteen minutes. After that, we have to move fast.”

  They followed Raven into the cavern. The ceiling stood high above them. If truth be told, Charity wasn’t sure if it was the top of the cavern she saw, or the dense blackness of the cave. The walls were made of gray and black stone and were shiny with grime. It was altogether an unpleasant place. And if the view wasn’t bad enough, the air wa
s sticky and hot. Even as she walked, her hair began to kink into tight curls.

  They found a relatively comfortable spot deep within the chamber and settled onto a series of boulders.

  “It feels so good to sit,” Aliceanna said.

  “Enjoy the next fifteen minutes, then,” Raven said. But he made no move to sit himself.

  “You’re not going to rest?” Charity asked him.

  “No. I’m going to keep an eye out for any movement.”

  He turned away and started forward. Charity got to her feet and went after him.

  “Wait, Raven,” she called as she trotted up behind him. “I want to go with you.”

  “You’re leaving Myrddin and Aliceanna in the dark?”

  “I don’t think Myrddin’s as blind as he pretends to be. He’s been making his way through the tunnels fine. He hasn’t complained once.”

  “Complaining isn’t Myrddin’s way.” He paused to allow her to draw up beside him. “If you come with me, there’ll be no dirty thoughts.” His voice was stern as he spoke, and only served to arouse her more.

  “I promise.”

  He led her to a small nook beside the entrance to the cavern and stood, still as stone, listening.

  “I can move tree limbs and dead leaves,” she said when she couldn’t take the silence any more. “A few small rodents, too, but that’s all. I can’t come close to moving a human body.”

  He focused his dark eyes on her and a tremor delicious swept through her body.

  “It’s just a matter of a thought,” he said. “Visualize the mind-blow and your enemy will be struck. If you want to hurt them, visualize the part of the body you want hurt and see the pain. Make the pain happen.” He paused, and she knew he was studying her. She tried to rearrange her features so the numerous carnal thoughts flashing through her head didn’t seem so obvious. “I wouldn’t tell you that you could do this if I thought it was beyond you.”