He slipped out on his side and she clumsily worked her way into his vacated seat. He said, “Stay put. I’ll help you.”
Yeah, as if she was going anywhere. Her legs were quivering Jell-O and she still couldn’t drag in a full breath.
He handed the front door key to her and then very carefully lifted her into his arms. Despite his best effort to hold her gingerly, she winced.
“Sorry,” he said in a tight voice, as though it disturbed him greatly to hurt her further. One of his arms hooked beneath her bent knees and the other was wrapped around her lower back, below the clawed flesh. But the material of her sweater and the lining in the jacket rubbed against the wounds.
He ascended the short flight of steps to the porch two at a time. When they reached the door, Taelyn held out a shaky hand and tried to get the key in the lock.
“Steady,” he whispered in his deep, intimate voice.
And, somehow, her hand stilled just long enough for her to insert the key and twist. She depressed the latch on the handle and gave a small push. He used his foot to create a bigger wedge, they passed through and he kicked the door closed behind them.
He set her on the sofa in the living room and quickly built a fire in the hearth to provide a bit of heat in the rustic, open-rafter log structure.
“Give me a minute to wash my hands of all this blood and change my clothes,” he told her. “Then I’ll tend to your lacerations.”
He popped the buttons on his shirt and stripped off the drenched material as he crossed to the kitchen sink. He dumped the shirt in one basin and toed off his boots and shucked his jeans and socks. Dropped those on top of the other garment.
Taelyn’s gaze was locked on his back. Wide shoulders, the right one bearing a tattoo of a sword stabbed into the ground. Of the Excalibur variety. That piqued her interest.
Though it flitted from her mind as she admired his chiseled muscles, tapered waist, killer ass—covered in black-boxer briefs—and powerful thighs.
Her insides sizzled again.
She tore her gaze away. Now was hardly the time to be lusting after a dangerous stranger. She had enough to contend with and a headful of questions that needed to be answered.
After he dried himself off, he briefly ducked into the bedroom. Emerged wearing nothing but a fresh pair of inky jeans, low on his hips, displaying elongated obliques. Her eyes feasted on his hard body, his wide chest and corrugated abs. She couldn’t help herself.
He knelt alongside her and removed the jacket from her shoulders. Then his long fingers curled around the hem of her sweater as he said, “We’ve got to get this off so I can see what kind of damage we’re dealing with.”
Her eyes connected with his. The peridot irises she stared into were filled with concern, regret and something wholly undiscernible, but mysteriously poignant that stirred emotions deep within her. And kept her pulse racing.
“Shouldn’t you at least tell me your name before you get me naked?”
CHAPTER TWO
Under normal circumstances, he would have chuckled at her little quip. But these weren’t normal circumstances. And she did have a point.
“Kage,” he told her. “With a ‘K’. Kage Deville.”
He held Taelyn’s gaze, searching for even the slightest hint of recognition. Nothing registered in her sky-blue eyes. Not even a flicker of remembrance.
Kage’s gut clenched.
The love of his life and the woman he’d sworn to protect for all of eternity didn’t have a fucking clue as to who he was. Who he’d been in her past. What he’d meant to her for centuries.
Granted, that was because of the ancient enchantment she was under. But still… It ate at him that there wasn’t so much as a glimmer of I think we’ve met before in her expression.
She said, “I’m Taelyn Abrams. I don’t know how you knew my first name. From my business?”
“Yes,” he lied. Because now was hardly the time to further muddy the waters. She needed the sword in hand for her true identity to be restored to her and that wasn’t going to happen until he located it.
So he concentrated on the present, most pressing issue. “I’m going to lift the sweater over your head. Very carefully.”
She gave a slight nod.
He gathered the material as he worked the garment upward. She raised her arms, but instantly realized the back of her bra had been severed by the clawing and attempted to cover herself as her breasts all but fell out of the now-loose satiny cups. But he had her trapped by the material.
Kage swallowed a groan of desire and frustration. He knew how those plump breasts felt in his palms, how her nipples pebbled against the fluttering of his tongue, how her skin tasted. And how her moans of pleasure sent his pulse straight into the red zone.
Hell, he couldn’t even control his cock springing to life behind the fly of his jeans at the hint of flesh and the recollection of her stripped bare and lying beneath him as he made love to her.
Kage whisked off the sweater and tossed it aside. Then he got to his feet and stalked into the bathroom. He ran warm water and soaked a washcloth. Grabbed the first-aid kit that came with the rental and was tucked under the vanity. He returned to the living room.
Taelyn sat with her back stiff and her arms folded over her chest. Her breathing was shallow. Her cheeks flushed.
She was insanely beautiful. Even drenched and disheveled, her long, dark-brown strands tangled and dripping water from the ends and her mascara smeared from the rain and her tears of pain.
His heart constricted.
It was pure hell seeing her like this. As torturous as it was that she didn’t know him from Adam. For her to have no idea how fiercely she and Kage loved each other.
He fought to tamp down his own agony. They had their work cut out for them—he had to concentrate on that. Taelyn was alive in the new millennium because of an imminent mortal threat. One she’d been summoned to battle. With him by her side.
If they didn’t fucking die before they found the sword, that was.
Shoving aside his own torment, he put all his efforts into helping her heal. He sat next to her on the sofa and peered over her shoulder at her back.
Squeezed his eyes shut for a moment—because even the slightest of scratches on this gorgeous body made him want to do much worse murderous things than rip the throats from wolves.
He inhaled slowly. Opened his eyes. The marks were angry and bloody, but did not run deep. The shifter that had done this to her hadn’t gotten a good enough angle to maul her to pieces.
Kage said, “You’re going to be feeling this for a couple weeks. But I don’t have to stitch you up.”
She jolted. “You know how to do that?”
“Comes with the territory.”
She gazed up at him. “And what, exactly, is your territory? How do you know about men who can change into beasts? And what the hell is so important about a sword that we were nearly shredded?”
“It’s complicated.”
“Then un-complicate it for me.”
Kage sighed. “You have excellent timing and skill when under attack. And a steady hand when I calm you with my voice. Contemplate that while I do my thing here.”
With the washcloth, he lightly dabbed at the blood seeping from the edges of the cuts. Her body twitched from the sting and she clamped down on her bottom lip to keep quiet.
Even if she didn’t know who she really was, this woman was as brave as always.
He placed his forearm against her midriff and murmured, “Hold onto to me. This is going to hurt a little more.”
She kept one arm crossed over her breasts, yet let the other slip so she could clutch his wrist.
He continued dabbing around the sliced skin, then carefully cleaned the wounds. They weren’t horrendous gashes, but still vicious enough to piss Kage off that anything had gotten close enough to mar her.
After he washed off the rest of the blood that seeped down to her lower back and smeared outward to her shoulders
from her clothing, he turned the cloth inside out and draped it along the top of the sofa. He reached for the antibiotic and twisted the cap off with his teeth, then squirted an ample amount onto the towel and applied it to her injuries as delicately as possible.
She cringed. Gripped his wrist tighter. But didn’t utter a word. He held her stable with his arm braced against her until he’d finished.
He eased to his knees again and said, “I have to wrap the wounds so the antibiotic stays in place and you can heal.”
She nodded. Tears escaped the corners of her closed eyes, tormenting him further. She released him and he retrieved the gauze from the first-aid kit. He placed one end at her side, just above her waist. She pressed her fingers against it to hold it there while he wound the bandage to her back and then around to her front. He worked his way upward until he reached the undersides of her breasts.
Taelyn pulled in a long, quavering breath, then slid the straps of her bra from her shoulders and set the lingerie aside. Kage leaned into her, looking over her shoulder again to complete his task. But that caused her bare breasts to glide along his chest. Desire shot through him and his groin burned. She was a greater temptation than anything he’d ever known.
He worked down the lump swelling in his throat. Tried to think rationally, not get caught up in all the things he wanted to do to this woman while she was nearly naked and almost in his arms.
Her nipples beaded against his skin and that made him half out of his mind. But he crossed her back with the bandage, shifted ever so slightly to wrap it around at the tops of the mounds he knew fit his palms perfectly, and then made another pass at her underarms.
He tore off the end and secured it with tape. He stood and moved away, fighting the rampant need and dark desires holding him hostage. His cock pulsated in erratic beats, but he managed to keep his tone even as he said, “I’ll get you clean clothes.”
He collected a black T-shirt and dark-gray drawstring pants from the duffle bag sitting on the seat of the chair in the corner of his bedroom. Added socks. Then put them on the vanity counter in the bathroom, with access from the hallway.
Returning to the living room, he told her “Don’t shower, obviously. But there are plenty of towels and a blow dryer mounted to the wall. An amenity basket that came with the place has some necessities. Anything else you need, I can get from the convenience store on-property.”
“I’d prefer you didn’t leave me at the moment.” She stared up at him with wide eyes. She’d covered the front of herself with the throw from the sofa. Her fingers curled around the soft material at her chest, clutching it tight.
Kage sank into the cushion next to her and brushed away strands of hair that had stuck to her temple. “You’re safe here,” he assured her in a quiet voice. “There’s a protection spell on the cabin. No one can get in without my permission.”
“You practice witchcraft?” she asked, duly taken aback.
“No, I don’t dabble in magic myself. The spell was a gift. Now, why don’t you get into dry clothes?” He stood and took her hand, helping her to her feet.
She was a little wobbly as though weak in the knees, and there was no mistaking the sexual awareness in her shimmering blue eyes. Or the tinge of pain. Still not an ounce of recognition, though. All of which gutted him.
Kage walked the fine line of wanting to haul her up against him and kiss her senseless in hopes of jarring her memory—and leaving her to hunt down the pack that had shown up at her house and terrorized her.
But, of course, he could do neither. Especially the leaving her part. It was excruciating enough every time she died in his arms. To have her close to him now…that was the ultimate reward and he absolutely would not let her out of his sight. Until fate claimed her.
As it always did.
He stepped out of her way. She rounded the sofa and went into the bathroom, closing the door behind her.
Kage plowed a hand through his hair. He had a lot of explaining to do—he could also see the questions in her expression. So he stoked the fire and then grabbed boxes of last night’s leftover Chinese food from the fridge and heated them in the microwave. He opened a bottle of Sangiovese, which Taelyn preferred, and poured two glasses.
There was a white paper bag with accompaniments on the rectangular dining table and he dumped the contents onto the wooden surface. Collected chopsticks and napkins and set everything out on the coffee table in the living room, in front of the fire.
Taelyn joined him, returning to the sofa while he chose the adjacent chair. He leaned forward and pushed the Mongolian beef toward her, knowing it was her favorite. He inherently threw in the order whenever he had takeout.
She unsheathed chopsticks, broke them apart and dug in. Chewed for several moments, then nodded and said, “Extra spicy. Nice.”
“There’s rice and low mein, too.”
He selected the chili chicken. They ate in silence for a few minutes, then she set aside her carton and reached for her wine. She sipped before asking, “So why were you not shocked to the core of your being that seemingly normal men can turn into wolves—and without even the need for a full moon?”
“They’re shapeshifters. And they’re not just wolves,” he informed her. “All manner of animals can shift. Bears, panthers, tigers, lions—”
“A reverse genetic evolution Darwin hadn’t considered?”
He gave a noncommittal shrug. “There are various rituals that allow them to change at will.”
“I wouldn’t believe they could if I hadn’t seen it for myself.”
“Understandable. Other demons and immortal beings exist as well. Innumerable species. Also wraiths and vampires.”
Her brows shot up. “Vampires?”
“Yes. The most predatory of the damned, in my opinion. They enjoy stalking their prey. Thinking of it as sport. Hunting them until they can hear the pounding of the human’s heart, the rush of blood through their veins, the fear seizing their souls. Vampires will deceptively advance in a slow, measured pace. Give the illusion there’s a chance for escape. But there never is. Once they decide the thrill of the chase is over, they go straight for the kill.”
Taelyn took a bigger drink from her wineglass. “I’ve always avoided books and movies of that nature. Especially when they feature zombies.” She shivered. “The reality is certainly more surreal and terrifying than the fantasy.”
“Zombies are puss—uh, not that ferocious. If you’re not cornered by one, it’s easy to sidestep them. Every other preternatural creature, however… They truly are deadly. Well.” He waved a hand in the air in a dismissive manner. “For the most part.”
Her gaze snapped up to meet his. “For the most part?”
“Historically, the immortal world has been largely governed by a council that maintains the balance between good and evil with the mortals.”
“How is that even possible?”
Holding her gaze, he told her, “Because not all demons are evil.”
Her eyes narrowed on him. Something sparked in her brain and she conceded, “And not all humans are good.”
“Exactly.”
Kage deposited his empty box on the coffee table and lifted his glass. He sipped as he stood, then paced before the fireplace.
He said, “There are plenty of rogue demons that exist outside the rules and regulations of the council. One such demon has been forming a vast legion of allies, as a matter of fact. And poses a threat to the human race.”
“How do you know all of this?” she asked in a tentative voice. As though she wasn’t quite sure she wanted to hear the answer.
He stopped, turned to face her and said, “I’m a steward of the council. Among other things, they sent me for the sword.”
She gave a quick, jerky shake of her head. “What is so important about this sword?”
“It belongs to a demon slayer. The best of the best, actually. In the right hands, threats of this magnitude can be defeated. In the wrong hands…utter annihilation wi
ll ensue.”
“I’m sorry,” she said as she rubbed her forehead with her fingertips. He suspected she had a raging headache from all of this—and he had no doubt her back ached. Yet she persisted. “A sword can save the human race?”
“In the right hands, as I told you.”
He drained his wine, retrieved the bottle and gave himself a refill before splashing more into her glass. She was going to need it.
“And which hands are yours?” she dared to inquire.
Kage chuckled, though it held little humor. “I stand on the good side of the fence.”
“So you’re searching for this sword to reunite it with a…slayer.”
He nodded.
“And the wolves? They’re trying to locate it as well so they can keep that reunion from happening?”
“Yes.”
She sighed. Took a longer drink. Then speared him with an intent look. “What happens if the sword forever goes undiscovered and ends up in no one’s possession?”
“Then we’re all pretty much fucked.”
CHAPTER THREE
Taelynn blinked.
Jesus Christ. This guy is serious.
She wasn’t sure how she knew it. She just did.
Perhaps it was the way he’d taken on the wolves. Knowing so much about how to combat them. Maybe it was the way he’d rescued her. How he’d been so concerned for her well-being. How gentle he’d been with her, especially trying not to hurt her further when he was getting her to safety and as he’d taken care of her.
Then again, what if he was the stalker? And she was now trapped here?
Taelyn gave this its due consideration.
Hastily realized, though, that she didn’t feel trapped.
If anything, she felt protected. From whatever roamed outside those doors, waiting for a better chance to maul her to death.
And Kage Deville—the devilishly handsome stranger who’d enthralled her from the onset—was so excruciatingly conflicted.
He wanted to tell her more—she could see it in his glowing green eyes. Particularly when the rims darkened, depending on the subject matter.
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