Shaking off the old memories, Amalia waited for Nevin to explain. He didn’t. Instead, he pressed his body against hers, forcing her to back up a step and flattening her against the door. His unforgiving strength wouldn’t let her move. Interesting. She was stronger than most vampires, and definitely stronger than any youngling. Not that he was really a youngling anymore at over seven centuries old. Her gaze tracked over his face, down his neck without lingering on his scar, and lowered to his chest. His muscles bunched at her gaze causing the soft cotton of his shirt to tighten. Not for the first time, Amalia’s body responded to the sheer male presence he exuded. She’d been attracted to him from the start, but fate had stepped in forcing her to make that desperate decision before she could let him see that she wasn’t a monster.
“What do you mean you could call me to you at any time, Amalia?” His deep gravelly voice was quiet, and she sensed that was just the calm before the storm. He wouldn’t be one to yell, oh no, not this male.
His voice was deceptively soft, while his hands gripped her by the upper arm and he shook her slightly. “Amalia?”
“I can compel you to me,” she blurted. Where was the cool, calm, royal composure she normally had? This man had always thrown her off kilter, meeting him again hadn’t changed anything.
“Explain.”
“Most vampires can compel humans.” His head dipped in acknowledgement of that talent. “But because I’m royalty, my blood is of the oldest and purest line, I can compel any under my command.”
“I am not yours to command,” he gritted out, his warm breath caressing her lips.
“I never used my compulsion on you because I knew you would despise me. I never wanted this, you have to understand that I never—”
His kiss stole the words from her lips, his mouth pressed roughly against hers. His hands no longer gripped her upper arms, but instead skimmed lightly down until his fingers tangled with hers. Nevin raised their joined hands to her shoulders and pressed them back against the door. Amalia wasn’t worried about his strength. She had sired him, she could control him.
Nevin ground his erection against her core causing molten desire to flood her veins. She gasped at the sensation. It had been so long since she’d felt desire, and to feel it so intensely with this man she’d wanted for so long? It was almost too much for her. Her knees wobbled, but held. Not that it mattered, Nevin’s unyielding grasp kept her up. His mouth devoured her as he moved from her lips down her neck, settling against the delicate hollow of her throat. Nevin very gently grazed his fangs against the tender area and Amalia nearly came. Her knees did buckle, but Nevin seemed to be one step ahead of her, already releasing her hands and wrapping a strong arm around her waist. He lifted her until she could wrap her legs around his hips, while his lips continued their onslaught against her senses.
With her legs gripping his hips tightly, and Amalia’s back to the cool wood of the door, the heat of Nevin against her front nearly burned her. She didn’t care. Amalia wanted this man more than she’d ever wanted anything in her very long life. She would burn if it meant she could finally have him.
Nevin thrust his fingers beneath her waistband and slipped against her cool skin. Even over her panties his fingers felt hot, his heat branding her, letting her know that he was different. Her kind felt cool to the touch, why did he burn?
Reaching in between them, Amalia ran her fingers along his fly, then gripped him firmly through his pants. His hips bucked slightly, and she smiled against his temple. He nipped her neck, then sucked it hard. If she were the type to bruise, she knew he would have left a mark. Amalia kept teasing him through the material of his pants until he couldn’t stand it anymore and ripped his fly open, exposing his eager cock to Amalia’s cool fingers. It wasn’t enough though, and Amalia was trying to slip her shirt off. Nevin finally set her down long enough to yank her shirt off and pull her pants down. She kicked them off and one pant-leg got stuck in her heels, but she didn’t care. When Nevin lifted her up once more, her back against the door, her body open to him, she crossed her legs behind his buttocks, one shoe on, the other forgotten on the floor along with her tangled pants.
Nevin plunged his cock in, and thrust once, twice, then he was home. Amalia moaned, Nevin groaned. Her silken heat gripped his shaft, and she tightened her inner muscles, eliciting another groan from him. He bent down to tongue her nipples one at a time, then done teasing, straightened up and set a punishing pace. It wasn’t enough for her. She wanted his fangs in her neck, but he never came close. She thought he would have lost control by now. She was quickly learning he was always in control.
He slid a finger into Amalia’s mouth, and before she could do more than close her lips on it, he pulled it out and reached between them, slipping it through her curls. It was too much, Amalia screamed as she shattered, the feeling of fullness stretching her. He thrust balls deep, until his orgasm took hold. Nevin’s whole body stiffened and as soon as he finished, he’d pulled out and zipped up, leaving Amalia very aware that he was fully dressed while she had nothing on but a bra and one high heel.
Looking around, she found most of her clothes, but her panties were nowhere to be seen. She slipped her shirt back on and untangled her pants from her shoe, sliding them up over her hips, and zipping up without panties. She didn’t look at Nevin again until her shoe was on, and when she did look, she was shocked at the cold disdain on his face.
“Get out,” he grated the words,
Her mouth dropped. “What?” No one dismissed her.
He had already turned his back and was walking away. “No one controls me. Now leave.”
“This was to prove to me that you’re stronger than I am? Really?” Amalia stalked after him, “Oh, honey,” she shook her head as she condescendingly told him, “if you think that—“
An explosion rocked the apartment, throwing Amalia to the ground. Nevin’s hard body was instantly on top of her, taking some of the steam out of his earlier comments. Apparently, chivalry died hard, especially in a warrior such as Nevin. While debris rained down upon them, Nevin stiffened, then jumped up with an enraged roar.
“What the fuck!” he shouted.
Amalia shook plaster and wood splinters out of her hair and stood up, but Nevin blocked her view of whoever he was yelling at. Over the scent of smoke and explosives, Amalia smelled something familiar. Or rather, someone.
“Sebastian?” Amalia stepped out from behind Nevin and looked on in shock at her longtime friend.
With a mocking bow, Sebastian replied, “My Lady.”
“What is the meaning of this?”
“A friend of yours, princess?” Nevin’s glare froze her blood.
Laying her hand lightly on his arm, Amalia turned her attention back to Sebastian. “I thought so,” she said softly. “Sebastian, what is going on here?”
“We are saving you, my Lady, of course.”
“Saving me from what? And how? By nearly killing me with explosives?”
“Saving you from yourself, my Lady, and you know explosives won’t kill you, not unless you’re decapitated. Besides, we didn’t use that much.”
“Gee thanks, you were always so thoughtful. I’m supposed to be grateful you didn’t ‘use that much?’ Don’t be an ass.”
Ignoring her, he nodded his head in her direction, and two of Amalia’s personal guards were at her side instantly. Each man wrapped beefy fingers around her upper arms and nearly dragged her from Nevin, who stood watching, his eyes lowered, but deceptively silent.
“What the hell, Sebastian? My own guards?” She haughtily lifted her chin and ordered her men to release her, “You will both let go of me immediately.” When nothing happened, she tried again. “Let me go. Now. That’s a direct order.” Her guards weren’t listening to her. Oh the fuck no. Amalia closed her eyes in frustration, and as she opened them, she released the hold she had on her powers. Each male in the room shuddered as the cold prick of her power tingled over his skin, but still her guards hel
d fast. Out of the corner of her eye, she thought she saw Nevin move, but her focus was on getting loose. Both guards immediately went slack, their mouths gaping like a fish. Amalia stepped from in between them and glared at Sebastian who wore his usual mask of boredom.
“How dare you. Using my own guards?” Her anger simmered while her voice froze. “You forget yourself, Sebastian.”
He flicked a glance behind her, but quickly his gaze was back on hers. “Pity. The witch who made that potion swore it would sever the ties between sire and sired.”
Amalia was seething, but she’d learned long ago to never let emotions rule. Raising her chin haughtily, she said one word. “Why?”
“Because you, my dear queen, have a soft spot for that,“ he indicated Nevin. “Our line is pure, nobility only, and you brought that abomination into our seethe. At this of all times, when we should be gathering our people close, preparing for the next threat. Your people are starting to question your rule. And instead of leading your people, you are here, fucking a commoner.”
Amalia could feel Nevin’s heat as he stepped up behind her.
“You should watch what you say,” he bit out, his deep gravelly voice making the threat all the more menacing.
“Or what?” Sebastian sneered. “You’ll watch it for me? Youngling, I have heard it all before.”
Faster than Amalia could track, Nevin had Sebastian by the throat, and a silver knife pressed against his heart. “But you haven’t heard it from me.” Nevin drove the blade home.
Amalia choked back the gasp that wanted to escape. As Nevin turned and strode away, Sebastian pulled the knife from his heart and threw it at Nevin’s back. “You missed.”
Without glancing back, Nevin caught the knife over his shoulder before Sebastian had finished speaking. “No, I didn’t. Consider me letting you live a gift. You owe me now.”
Sebastian spluttered, “The hell I do.”
Amalia nearly laughed at the sight of Sebastian at such a loss.
Once more Nevin was at Sebastian’s throat. Once more, he held the knife over his heart, but this time he placed it about a half an inch to the right. “I won’t miss,” he growled. Sebastian glared at Nevin but didn’t move. “Yield.”
Sebastian nodded his head.
“Say it,” gritted Nevin.
“I yield.”
Again, Nevin turned his back and strode away.
“Highlander.”
Nevin stopped, but didn’t turn around.
“I’m a very dangerous enemy to have. Be careful how you call in that debt.”
Nevin ceded the point with a nod of his own, and kept walking.
Amalia looked back at Sebastian. “I think you should leave, Sebastian. I’ll deal with you when I return.”
Sebastian stared at her for a moment longer. “I truly had only the best intentions towards you, Amalia.”
“I’m sure, Sebastian. Maybe you’ll remember that I’m a big girl, and can make my own decisions. I have several centuries on you, and lest you forget, I made you. It is merely out of respect for our friendship that I didn’t hold you as I do my guards.”
He opened his mouth to speak, but Amalia had had enough. “If I were you, I’d keep my mouth shut.” After a long pause, Sebastian bowed to Amalia and turned to leave. Amalia warned him, “Oh, and Sebastian?” He turned back. “If you ever pull a stunt like this again, I’ll rip out your fangs and stake you to the ground at dawn.” The steel in her voice left no doubt that she was serious.
Sebastian nodded. Amalia released her guards and they left. She rolled her neck trying to ease the tension. Turning, she looked in the direction Nevin had gone and debated following him. What if he’d gone into his bedroom? Or bathroom? The decision was taken out of her hands, though, when Nevin stalked out wearing a fresh change of clothes and looking like he’d showered.
Oh, and he was loaded down with weapons.
“What’s with all the firepower?”
“Someone blew up my apartment and I’m bloody pissed.”
“So, what now?” she said warily eyeing the sword strapped to his back.
“Now, we talk.”
“You want to talk?” She asked, incredulous. “A few minutes ago you couldn’t wait to get rid of me, and now you want to chitchat?”
“He was scared.”
“Who?” Amalia couldn’t follow his rapid shifts in topic.
He gave her a cursory glance, while he began loading bullets into the magazine he’d had in his hand. “If you’re his beloved queen, and he went to such extreme lengths to get you back to your compound, he’s afraid of something. I want to know what. So now, you tell me everything.”
“I told you I needed your help.”
He eyed her.
She sighed, “I actually do need you to help me. My people, our people, have been going missing. When we eventually find them, all that’s left is ashes. ”
“So what, exactly, do you want me to do?”
“You were able to track me, all those years ago.”
“Yeah. And?”
“And no one has ever been able to follow me. I want you to find the son of a bitch who’s killing off the Nightkind.” Her eyes narrowed, “I’ll take care of the rest.”
“Tell me about your powers. You held those men immobile.”
“Yes.”
“What else can you do?”
Amalia paused, wondering how much to divulge. “I can manipulate the air surrounding me. I can make it feel like hundreds of swords are piercing your skin. I can hold you suspended in the air. I can disappear. I have very few limitations.”
He had finished loading the magazine and was working on a second one.
“What are you using for ammo? Those bullets are like nothing I’ve ever seen.”
“Aye, I make them myself. I was a blacksmith in a former life.” His tone implied one word duh. “They’re silver and on the inside is holy water.”
“Holy water?” Amalia blinked. “You know that doesn’t really work on us, right?”
“Seems to have worked just fine for me.”
“It might be the silver bullets that are working. The holy water is useless. Where did you come up with that?” When he didn’t answer, she teased him, “Did you read every vampire novel out there?”
Damn her, he felt his face get hot. “Alright, here.” He thrust the bottle towards her. “Drink.”
Amalia stared at him, then looked at the bottle, and rolled her eyes. “Really?” she sighed. “Fine.”Nevin watched her take a swig of the holy water. She choked and began to shudder.
“Stupid female.” He was instantly in front of her, trying to get a good look at her face, and what he saw shocked him.
She was laughing.
“Oh, you are too easy,” she said, a smile still hovering about her lips. Shoving his holy water back at him, she asked, “Did I pass your test?”
Grinding his teeth, he ignored her taunt. “I want to see where you found the last body.”
“As you know, there are no bodies.”
“The ashes then, if you will.”
Dipping her head, Amalia turned away and Nevin found he didn’t like that. Strangely, he wanted her with him. But he had her taste now, he could find her anywhere.
Chapter 5
They materialized in Amalia’s living room.
“This is where you live?”
“Yes, why?” She glared at him, “I like my house.” Amalia knew she sounded defensive, but she couldn’t help it. She had worked hard to make this space her own. Although house might have been a bit of a misnomer.
He turned around to take in the full view. “I guess I expected something more . . . gothic.”
“This isn’t the Middle Ages anymore, Nevin.”
His murmured “I know” was nearly too quiet for her to hear. A stab of sympathy pierced her heart. What was it about this Highland blacksmith that had arrowed through her defenses from the first moment? She’d been asking herself that question
for centuries, yet she wasn’t any closer to an answer now than she had been then.
Shaking off the maudlin feelings, Amalia glanced around her condo trying to see it through his eyes. Colors, lots of colors. There wasn’t a single white wall. Too many throw pillows, a comfy and slightly worn sofa, and art. She had artwork on every wall. So maybe it was a little cluttered, but it was home, which was more than she could say about the Castle of the Nightkind in Germany. She’d never felt at ease living in the castle. She had rooms there, to be sure, but she tried not to stay for too long. It reminded her of her years at Court, and those weren’t years she enjoyed remembering.
“It suits you,” he said after a moment. “But why are we here? I wanted to see where you found the ashes.”
Amalia blinked. “Yes.”
“Here?”
“Here.”
Her lips were pressed tightly together. She didn’t like knowing someone had been in her personal space, especially since very few of her kind knew about her haven. The implications were astounding.
“Has Sebastian been here?” The question sounded as if it had been dragged from Nevin’s throat. His normally gravelly tone was deeper and harsher. Might he be jealous?
“Yes.”
Nevin growled, but said nothing else. Amalia could feel her lips curving upwards, but bit her lips from the inside, so he wouldn’t see her smile.
Watching him work was intriguing for Amalia. She had asked him to help as an excuse to talk to him. Seven centuries was a long time to pine over a man. While she had known he could track better than most, she realized just how true that was as she watched him. He did nothing more than look around her home, nostrils flaring, eyes searching. Yet she knew he missed nothing.
His lids slid shut briefly as he inhaled. When he opened them, the feral intensity frightened her.
“You have his scent.”
“I do.”
“How?” No one she knew could get it that quickly.
He ignored her question. “Who knows about this place?”
“Only a few trusted friends.”
“I want to meet them.”
“Do you really think it was one of them?”
Highlander Reborn Page 2