“Nadia?”
The chill deepened, through her skin, all the way to her bones, and she rubbed her palms across her arms. “I don’t want to say goodbye,” she blurted.
He crossed the space in one long stride and hauled her into his chest. His arms lashed about her, holding her in a tight embrace. “Neither do I, kjaere.” He slid two fingers under her chin and raised her head to meet his eyes. The vibrant blue had darkened into midnight pools reflecting the light. Emotion sparked there, deep and passionate. So caught in his stare, she hardly registered the brisk wind thrashing about them or the deadening of her nerves as he whipped the energy into a vortex and flashed them away.
But she had one last thought register within her mind. Take me away, Gunnar. Anywhere. Just, let me be with you.
Always.
Chapter Twelve
Take me away, Gunnar. Anywhere. Just, let me be with you.
Always.
Fuck! Those words were damned tempting. Nadia’s small voice echoed inside his mind, provoking him to think of things he should not. Could not.
What if it could happen?
What if?
Hell, there was a way; all he had to do was find it.
He held on to her for a minute after they arrived in the parking structure adjacent to the hospital, giving her the time she needed to adjust. Teleportation screwed up one’s perceptions and from the pallor of her face, she didn’t do it very often. She looked peaked, almost like she might be sick.
Hugging her, he hid the emotions barreling through him. Conflicting thoughts plagued him as he considered the possibilities. The more he considered that Andros was the key, the more he realized he mustn’t leave Nadia in the dark. He had to be honest. The worst thing for their relationship would be to build it upon lies and sleight of hand. Telling her what he knew and enlisting her support was the only way to go forward. He led her to a cement bench situated underneath a pathetic yellow light and directed her to sit. He took up the space beside her.
“I need to tell you something.” He bit into his lip, thinking of the best way to approach the situation.
Lines of worry creased her brow but she waited silently, her fingers slipped between his and squeezed. “Okay.”
“I know about Andros.” Before she could ask him to explain, he continued, “Izak told me about your conversation the other day in the P.T. suite.”
“And you think it’s possible he knows some way to mate outside of the council? Maybe they have their own scientists or something to test the blood samples and find compatibility. Maybe they have found a loophole in the traditions. Maybe they…”
He pushed his finger to her lips, silencing her. He couldn’t stand listening to her voice crack with hope and those tears in her eyes fucking undid him. “I don’t know what they know. But my boss wants me to find out.”
Crestfallen, she flopped against the cold cement of the backrest. “So, you are doing this for the kraliyet?”
Sliding his arm behind her, he tucked her against his side where she fit, perfectly. He leaned his cheek to the top of her head against silky, soft hair the scent of berries and cream. “Yes and no.” He licked his dry lips. “Yes, because that’s my job. No, because even though Mr. Komar warned me not to fall into any schemes that might get me into hot water, I can’t help but do that. Because, I have hope, Nadia. Hope to find a way for us to be mated. To be together. Always.” That last word was deliberate. Repeating her unspoken plea aloud validated everything she didn’t say but he felt as well.
Her slight body shuddered as she cried silently beside him. He turned to look at her, their thighs touching, their knees pressed together. “I promise you, I will find a way, but I must do this. I can’t turn a blind eye to some threat to the people I call friends, especially not after they killed an entire family, younglings included.”
She brushed a tear from her cheek. “They did that?”
“Right now, they are the only suspects.”
With her chin lifted and her eyes wide with astonishment, she pursed her lips. “Then, I want to help.”
He took her hand and brought it to his mouth pressing a kiss to her knuckles. “I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
“He’s being discharged just before dawn.”
Gunnar stood and helped Nadia to her feet. They walked side by side through the exit ramp and onto the sidewalk. “Well, now it looks like you aren’t going to get rid of me so soon.” He winked at her playfully. “Guess I am going to stick around for a while longer.”
“If you get hungry, there’s a vending machine in the lobby.” She bumped her hip to his, eyes sparkling with unmistakable hope. Her playful laugh transformed her face and he couldn’t resist, grabbing her wrist and yanking her backward into his chest. Before she could say anything, he swooped down and captured her mouth, kissing her with hard, branding kisses. Her little moan reverberated through him igniting his blood into an inferno of lust. Above his fangs, a throbbing ache blistered the tender flesh and the points lengthened. God damn, that had to be the start of his mating serum. Had. To. Be. ’Cause all he could think about was sinking his fangs into her flesh, uniting them as one, forever. It took considerable amounts of willpower to drag himself away from her and set her aside. Unable to speak with his canines crowding his mouth, he waved at her to continue onward. Yup, he was definitely hungry, but that vending machine had nothing in it that could quench the hunger spearing in his gut.
Only Nadia could do that.
They held hands until the last possible second, and reluctantly Gunnar bid her goodbye as she returned to her duties. A few hours remained until Andros’ discharge, and as much as he was eager to interrogate the little flea, doing it at the hospital didn’t work for his plans. No, this whole issue had to stay on the down-low.
He planted his ass in an unforgiving plastic chair and grabbed the closest magazine. Idle sitting around cramped his style, he preferred action and being knee deep in the trenches. This whole dig-in-and-wait had him bored within a few minutes. Leaving Nadia there to deal with Andros was not an option. Every bone in Gunnar’s body refused to move even an inch toward the doorway. The protective instincts drove his responses. And, he wasn’t even mated fully to her. Hell, the idea of what he’d be like once they united through blood, kind of scared the piss right out of him.
A chuckle rumbled in his chest. Damn, he’d be worse than Tray. And that was saying a lot. Traian had caveman down pat.
Since his boss gave him this current assignment, he had little else to do but sit there and wait for Nadia. And Andros.
The first page of the magazine had an advertisement for some wazoo face cream and on the opposite side another ad for makeup took up half the page. He flipped the cover back and scowled. How did he manage to grab a woman’s magazine? A quick perusal of the stack of magazines on the side table had little else to offer. Couldn’t there have been a Sport’s Digest or Forbes 500 journal? Maybe he should take a nap. Except, the minute he closed his eyes, images of Nadia, naked and writhing beneath him, had him squirming in his chair. There had to be coffee somewhere. He got out of his seat and hit the linoleum walkway leading into the corridor. A young female in a pink and white striped uniform walked past him, her head down and fingers flying over the screen of her cellphone. Teens these days, Gunnar thought before stepping in her way and saying, “Excuse me.”
The girl started, jolted to attention by his brusque tone and massive body blocking her way. She turned green eyes up at him. “Oh, hey Gunnar. What’s up?”
Of course! It was Traian’s young cousin, Yasimen. When did she grow up and turn into a teenager? “Miss Komar,” he inclined his head, as was protocol for the ruling family. “Perhaps, you can assist me. I am looking for some coffee?”
She made a disgusted face. “You don’t want to drink the shi…um, crap, we have here, trust me, it’s disgusting, but there’s a Starbucks right around the corner.”
Gunnar shrugged. “I’m good with shi…um, cra
ppy coffee.”
A concerned expression twisted her aristocratic features which were so like her brothers, Sevastian and Pietr. “Wait, why are you here? Is Uncle Tray okay?”
He nodded. “Tray’s fine. I’m here for me.”
Her lips twisted and her phone chimed several times. She couldn’t ignore the urge to look at the screen. As she viewed the text messages, she replied absently, “Oh good, glad Tray’s fine.” With her head tipped down and eyes on the screen she started walking away. A few paces later, she stopped and called back to him, “Oh, the coffee machine’s in the basement by the triage rooms. It tastes horrible. There’s no cream or sugar or macchiato, so don’t say I didn’t warn you.” She didn’t bother to say goodbye or wish him well. Typical, Gunnar mused. As much as he hung around the Komar family, he’d never really be accepted as one of them. And that was the cold hard truth. It might come in handy when it came time to convince Andros he truly wanted to rebel against the people he called family.
Fifteen minutes later, he was back in that same plastic chair with the same magazine in his lap. His steaming cup of coffee sat beside him untouched. One sip confirmed that he had a cup of java that Gunnery Sergeant R. Lee Ermey would be proud of. He flipped through the pages of the girlie magazine absently perusing the fashion trends and articles regarding health care products. Luckily, he was secure in his masculinity and recognized none of those things were contagious.
As he turned the next page, he found his attention trapped by an article. The photo caption included a shiny set of golden wedding bands. The article was titled “Best Proposals.” Earlier, Nadia had expressed her deepest secrets and she’d spoken of a wedding. She wanted more than just a mating that united the Kan Asma in an unbreakable blood bond. Her fantasies included the human traditions, as well. He’d seen enough human nuptials in the movies to envision his own and his stomach clenched with an unfamiliar emotion as he imagined Nadia walking toward him, decked out in a white gown and shimmery veil. She would be gorgeous, her smile tremulous, her joy palpable. And, he wanted that for her. For himself. Son of a Bitch! Andros better have something up his sleeve that would give them hope. Because, if he couldn’t bond entirely with Nadia through the union of their blood, he’d take second best and the humans had that one pegged perfectly, right down to the something borrowed and something blue and the rings and the “I do’s.” He’d be so proud if Nadia wore his ring, a banner about her finger claiming her in both worlds.
Nadia will be mine, he promised himself.
He just had to find the way.
»»•««
The time slipped by and Gunnar managed to down not one but two cups of the corrosive Joe. Finally, sometime before five in the morning, Nadia texted him that she’d be bringing Andros down. She included a couple of smiley faces and a heart. The silly icons made Gunnar smile. Even in those small moments, she managed to finagle her way through his tough exterior and make him feel a burst of happiness. Son of a bitch, he hated not being able to keep her with him from here on out. He preferred having her be his, staying with him, sharing his bed and home.
Well, maybe not his current digs. There was nothing there but creature comforts and an open floor plan in a downtown high-rise. Nadia mentioned a house and a dog. He’d gladly give those things to her but they could never live like the Komars. Traian paid him a nice salary, but in Los Angeles, where life was expensive, lavish up-scale mansions were way out of his budget.
Luckily, the elevator chimed and he found himself on his feet rushing to where she was pushing the cretin into the lobby area. A familiar pang of disgust zoomed into his thoughts but he kept it under control. This male had done unspeakable things to Bethany, nearly draining her dry and leaving her to bleed out behind the Komar Industries building. Thin and gaunt, he looked harmless. Gunnar’s fingers curled into a fist on reflex. He wanted to pound into the male for all the past violence and for trying to finagle his way into Nadia’s head. Deep breaths helped to slow his steps and rein in the pacing beast he kept caged behind the human façade.
Nadia sent him a warning glare and he all but came to a stop forcing himself to walk so damned slow. He trailed behind them, as she pushed the wheelchair through the automatic glass door and exited the building. Gunnar wasted little time and sidled right up beside them. “Well, lookie who we have here.” Gunnar smirked but didn’t bother hiding his fangs.
“Ah hell, I knew something wasn’t right with my discharge. What’s that pansy ass doing sending his lackey to do a male’s business?”
Gunnar exhaled slowly and moved in front of the wheelchair. He crossed his arms over his chest scrutinizing Andros through narrowed eyes. “I’m not here for Traian Komar. I am here for us.” Holding his arm out, he motioned for Nadia to come stand beside him. Ever dutiful, she pushed the wheel brakes in place and crossed over taking a place by his side.
“You told me that there was a way to bypass the mating rites,” she glanced at Gunnar, seeking approval and he nodded, indicating she could continue. “We want that.”
Andros leaned back in the wheelchair and it rocked side to side as he laughed maniacally. “Right, and I’m being pranked. I never said there was a way.” His stringy hair whipped around as he looked from right to left, up and down and glowered, “Where’re the cameras? I’m sure Komutani is having apoplexy hoping I’ll dime off my friends for your ‘twue wuv’.”
“We’re serious,” Nadia whispered, desperation bleeding into each word.
After cracking his knuckles, Andros shrugged a shoulder. “Take this up with the Elders. I’m sure you could end up as one of her possible selections. Though, I’d pay to see her guzzle some other asshole’s blood while you were powerless to stop it. After what happened to Sergei, it serves you and the kraliyet right.”
The image Andros provoked had a burst of anger detonating in Gunnar’s belly. Fire scourged his veins and his fangs lengthened to deadly points. “Don’t antagonize me. You won’t like the results.” Gunnar recalled exactly what Andros jibed him about. If his boss hadn’t been on the up and up, Traian’s sister would have been mated to the half-breed bastard, Sergei. Instead, right before the actual Goblet Ceremony rite began, the two of them orchestrated a switch. Gunnar had cut into Dimitri’s wrist and caught his blood in an unmarked goblet. Tray made sure that it was placed in the center of the altar and through a little bit of silent encouragement, Anna chose the goblet with Dimitri’s blood. Later, though, it became known that Sergei had attempted the same deception. He’d had help from those who supported an insurrection. All of those involved had been found and executed by Ivan in a bloody show of aggression and control. Sergei rotted in the Komar Industries dungeon carrying out his sentence in abject misery. He deserved the punishment.
Scratching his thin jaw, Andros smirked, “Then you’d never learn if there’s actually an underground society gathering in strength and numbers, eager to overturn the mating rites and desiring to supplant themselves into the ruling cabinet.”
“That’s a death sentence,” Gunnar warned.
“Not if we are able to overpower them with stealth and numbers.” Andros’ pitch heightened to a shrill excitement. He liked what he was spouting off about and Gunnar saw the confidence sparking in his dull eyes.
“Unless you have the more powerful híbes, any attack is futile.” He had to warn this little weasel, even if saying the words left a bad taste in his mouth.
Andros blew out a breath and dragged a hand through his long hair. “Another reason to revolt. It’s worse than inbreeding aristocrats. We are left with the benign talents while the rest of you wield great power. It’s time for that to end. It should be luck of the draw.”
Nadia stepped close to Andros and put her hand on his bony shoulder. Gunnar saw red. His instinct kicked in and the demons within his genetics reared to life. Aggression flooded his veins and he dug his nails into the flesh of his arm to keep himself from lashing out and strangling Andros to death with his bare hands.
; “Is there any chance that we can?” Nadia’s small voice gutted him. It was filled with so much hope and desire, Gunnar wanted to force Andros to simply say yes.
When Andros lifted his hand, fingers touching Nadia’s hair, Gunnar couldn’t contain the vicious snarl inside his throat. It reverberated within him. Andros looked past Nadia, staring hard at Gunnar. The creep was playing games with her emotions and it infuriated Gunnar to no end.
“I like you,” Andros declared as he licked his lips hungrily. “You were always so nice to me and had a smile when you came into my room. Your hands are soft, too. I really liked it when you touched me.”
Fingers curled into claws, Gunnar forced himself not to fall for Andros’ baiting.
“I’ve got to go back to work.” Nadia stepped away. Her nervous tension wafted in zinging little currents that mixed with the oxygen and the pungent scent akin to black licorice twisted his belly, provoking the animal instincts of his nature. He wanted to hold onto her, reassure her, and fend off any threat that brought her unease. One look at Andros showed the feral beast the whelp hid under the guise of weakling. It scented Nadia’s distress and unlike Gunnar’s need to protect, Andros’ showed predatory features, like a vulture circling quarry.
“Do you have someone to pick you up?” Nadia asked gently.
Andros pinned his beady stare on Nadia and smirked with a malicious show of fangs. “Assume I’m going with Gunnar. Hear he’s got a sweet limousine.”
Gunnar rolled his eyes. And if his boss got one whiff of Andros in the cab of that sweet limousine, Gunnar’s manhood would be seriously in jeopardy. Not to mention his neck, and all the nerves surrounding it. “Right, peon. We’ll use the old fashion method once you tell me where the fuck to go.”
Andros tapped his steepled fingers to one of his elongated fangs. “All right then, I’ll tell you where my secret lair is.” He took a dramatic breath, held it and exhaled through his nose. “Hooters. I’m parched.”
Mated in Treason Page 15