His body was strung tight. All the muscles clenched until they almost quivered with the rigidness. She set her hand on his forearm, ignored the heat of his flesh and soothed her fingers in a figure-eight pattern needing to do something to reassure him. Chewing on her lip, she watched his face attempting to decipher the gist of the exchange.
He glanced up at the ceiling, lips pursed with irritation and then he pulled the phone from his ear and clicked the speaker on.
“Tarikat şefi has directed that you and the female come to the Maxim at midnight. You’ll receive instructions then.” The thickly accented voice of the male sounded disembodied as his nasally exhalation echoed in the receiver. “Bring the samples. Leave the weapons at home.”
Just as she was poised to ask about his ceremonial dagger, he set his fingers on her lips silencing the words. He dragged his fingertip across the bottom and stopped at the corner where he lingered for a second before touching the finger to his own mouth tapping it to indicate she remain silent. Okay, she wouldn’t say a word.
“The dagger’s not even sharpened.” He rolled his eyes and nodded, a wicked curve at the corner of his mouth. “It really is.”
She stifled the nervous giggle dangling in her throat.
“It is not permitted.” The male’s voice rose to a higher pitch giving away a growing annoyance.
“What are Kane’s plans? How will he know we can finish the mating?” Gunnar asked the question Nadia had been thinking all night. How the heck would they figure out compatibility?
A cackle followed the question. “All in good time.”
Nadia’s stomach twisted in dread. She trembled, thinking of the process Ivan had instituted. “More leeches?”
Gunnar shrugged a shoulder and took her hand in his squeezing supportively. “Whatever happens, you won’t be alone. I promise.”
She leaned against his shoulder. “I’ll do it if it means we are mated by morning.”
He kissed her temple. “Kane’s obviously not doing this out of the kindness of his heart. Fucker doesn’t even have one. What’s the catch?”
A snarl followed Gunnar’s query, then a long pause. Finally, the male responded, “You will uphold şefi with honor and respect.”
Gunnar scowled and mouthed, “Like hell.” He stuck his tongue out and scrunched up his nose. “Of course.” The reply dripped with sarcasm but the other male didn’t seem to notice.
“And, you will be informed of the price of such an intervention when you are brought to our location.” Nadia could tell the guy was being cagey.
“What if I don’t like the cost?” Anger bled into Gunnar’s tone.
“There’s no negotiation.” Emphatic, the male’s pitch deepened with a sinister inflection.
Nadia figured they had one choice, accept the deal or face the ultimate end-game. Her stomach roiled with nausea. Maybe, she wasn’t really that brave.
Gunnar squeezed her hand and winked. “You’re the strongest female I know.”
She forced herself to take a deep breath. Made herself relax. It would all turn out just fine. By this time tomorrow, they’d be mated. Together forever sounded amazing. Whatever the price tag for their blood-bond, she’d be with the male who held her heart, who gave her new meaning for living.
“Be aware of the consequences. If you don’t follow these orders, there will only be death. Şefi’s ingenuity for such measures is extreme.”
The male didn’t elaborate but Nadia had seen Game of Thrones. She could imagine some pretty wicked ways to be killed.
“It won’t get to that.” Gunnar’s firm tone sounded one part confident and one part furious. He gritted his teeth, his body vibrating with hostility. Nadia leaned against his side and simply held him.
“Then we will see you at midnight.” The phone clicked off before they could respond.
Gunnar dropped the phone on the side table, leaned his head back and rubbed his forehead. “This won’t be as easy as we think.”
“It never is.”
His fingers speared into her loose hair, sifted through the curls until he cupped the back of her head, massaging gently. “Have you spoken to your parents?” His soft tone held encouragement but Nadia didn’t intend to call them. They were under the impression that she’d be stuck at work for a long surgical procedure. Though, she’d written a letter for her father and tucked it into the side of her purse, just in case she never saw them again.
“No, it is better that way.” She bit her lip, hoping she’d made the right decision.
“It’ll be all right.” He wrapped his strong arm around her and tugged her into his lap. She leaned her head on his shoulder, breathed the scent of him deep into her lungs and nodded.
“Do you think we’re compatible?” If only their biology were mere human. They wouldn’t have to face the worry of not being able to sustain a mating. Or worse, her taking a sip of his blood and dying right there at his feet.
“I know we are.” Confident, assured and filled with certainty, Gunnar kissed the top of her head. “We will be mated.”
“If you say so.”
“Oh, I do.” He laughed and snapped his fingers. “Ha, that’s a human pun.”
“Well then, I do, too.” She kissed the underside of his chin and met his gaze. “For better or worse, richer or poorer, in sickness and health; to de—”
He cut her off, his mouth covering her lips, his tongue slipping within. He drew in her exhalation, deepened their connection with a bruising force. When he pulled away, she swayed against him and clutched his shirt in trembling fingers.
“For better or worse, richer or poorer, to forever and always.” He gave her a lopsided grin and dragged his finger across her cheek, tapping her playfully on the nose. “Once we’re bonded by blood, there will only be health. There will only be forever.”
She closed her eyes, held onto him tightly. “That sounds wonderful.”
“It’s my promise.”
It was the closest she’d ever get to wedding vows and she’d happily take it. “We can get that engraved on our wedding bands.”
“How human of you, kjaere.” He tickled her side until she giggled.
“Blame it on Hollywood. I think it’s so romantic.”
“A Goblet Ceremony can be romantic.” Gunnar’s lips quirked for a split-second before his chin set in a mock attempt at being serious.
Nadia rolled her eyes. “Oh yes! Utterly romantic: Drinking blood, hoping your mate isn’t a troll. Wondering if you’re going to die.”
Gunnar laughed and rolled her beneath him. He braced on his elbows, chin grazing the tip of one breast. An eyebrow cocked as he licked his lip in a slow sweep. “A troll?”
“Save me from the trolls, Gunnar, and make us one tonight.” She pressed her fingers to the back of his neck and urged him closer.
“They can’t have you because you are mine. Tonight will just seal the deal.”
“Great, now I’m just a transaction.” She pouted, trying to hide her amusement behind half-closed eyes.
“You’re one deal I’d give everything to have.” He pushed forward, the thick wedge of his arousal brushed the apex of her thighs. On instinct, she parted her thighs, he settled between. Fully clothed, yet utterly intimate, she reveled in the closeness.
He rolled his hips and a little whimper escaped before she could silence it. “Gunnar,” she sighed his name, lost in the sensation of him above her, so masculine and hard.
“Kjaere.” He captured her nipple with his teeth through the thin cotton of her shirt and nipped. “What is it that newlyweds do after the wedding?”
She pursed her lips, pretended to think and replied, “Party?”
He moved to the other nipple, suckled until the fabric grew warm and damp. “They have their honeymoon night.”
“Oh, yes!” She embraced his shoulders pulling him even closer. “Show me.”
“Forever and always.” Gunnar kissed her tenderly. Reverently. And proceeded to love her in the best way
possible, like a groom taking his bride for the very first time.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Around ten in the evening, Mikhail returned with the vial containing the leeches. They were still fat and engorged. Each slosh of the water had a little tinge of crimson tainting the liquid. Just looking at the creatures had Nadia’s stomach twisting in disgust. Hopefully, she didn’t have to do that again.
On top of her samples, the male had brought with him a tiny capsule. Gunnar had swallowed it down with a long swig of whisky. Mikhail reminded them that the capsule’s GPS only worked while it was inside of Gunnar and to maybe avoid anything with high-fiber. Which of course had made everyone laugh, even if it was nervous giggling.
After a final warning to stay alive and be safe, Mikhail had exchanged a glance with Gunnar and teleported away. Now, they waited for the last remaining minutes to tick by so they could go to the club where the faction awaited.
What had she gotten herself into? Just a few weeks ago, she’d been a simple blue collar female, working her nightly job and taking care of her family. She’d hardly ever contemplated being blood-bound to any male. Her simple dreams for the future included bubble baths and paraffin treatments for her calluses. Tonight, she wore borrowed couture clothing and paced around a lavish upscale apartment owned by the male who’d won her heart. Her life had taken a drastic change and she didn’t want it any other way.
Except, she faced an unknown crucible later on that could bring absolute joy or intense heartache.
She took a deep breath, willing her pulse to slow. Okay, yeah, she was scared a bit—a lot—but Gunnar seemed rock solid, eager and almost gung-ho. Nadia wished she had his confidence that things would turn out in their favor tonight.
“What do you think is going to happen?” All sorts of scenarios ran through her thoughts and most of them were the horror story variety.
He came behind the chair she perched on and set his hands on her shoulders, kneading the tight muscles. “They’ll whisk us away from the Maxim right when they get there. We’ll be taken to an undisclosed location where we’ll meet with the one they call şefi.”
“Kane,” she uttered, still baffled by the fact a high-ranking male they all thought had died during the invasion had managed to survive.
Gunnar paused in his massaging and bent close, his breath on her cheek. “Don’t call him that, though. He has delusions of grandeur. Just call him şefi. It’ll stroke his freaking ego, and hopefully keep him complacent.”
She nodded. “All right. Then what?”
He went back to working the knots under her shoulder blades. “It depends on their agenda, I suppose.”
“Like if they really want to help us be mated?” It was the only thing she truly wanted from them, but playing their game came first, so she would be prepared.
“That or whatever collateral it is they want to make me commit to. I fear it will be costly.” He paused and kissed the top of her head before taking the seat next to her and grabbing the tumbler filled with whisky. He took a long gulp and set the glass down with a clank.
Nadia bit her lip, debating her next question but finally blurted, “Do you have the funds if they extort you? I don’t have much in savings.” She rubbed the bridge of her nose trying to stave off an anxiety headache. “Sorry.” God, she’d never felt her poverty in such a painfully frustrating way before.
Gunnar grabbed her hand in his and stroked over her knuckles. “I’m not as rich as the Komars but I’ve got enough in the bank for a comfortable life. You will never want for anything. What’s mine is yours. Every single cent. I mean costly as in, lives. Kane isn’t going to ask for a Venmo transfer. I’d bet an entire paycheck that he’s going to want blood. On my hands.”
Fear curdled in her belly at the thought. “Who?” she whispered, not wanting to know the possible mark.
He shook his head, scowling, “He’s got a target on many backs, ranging from Sevastian to Aleksi. I wouldn’t be surprised if he’d want their hearts delivered in a box. I’m holding out. They’ll have to mate us first or I do nothing.”
Nadia stood up so fast her teeth rattled and the chair fell backward hitting the tiled floor with a loud bang. “N-n-o,” she stuttered and swallowed the lump in her throat attempting to find her voice. “No, you can’t hurt them. Not for me. Or us!”
He was on his feet in a flash, arms wrapping around her trembling body. Soft lips brushed her cheek, soothed gentle kisses down to her mouth. Strong fingers caught her jaw, tilted her head back so their eyes met. “No, I wouldn’t do that. Kane doesn’t need to know I’m double-crossing him. Mikhail chipped me. He’ll come when I call. Hopefully, we will catch the faction and eliminate the threat to the kraliyet and our people.”
Her apprehension faded and she clutched his shoulders needing support. “That’s a good plan. A really good one.”
Gunnar tapped the side of her head with his finger. “Keep it all locked up in here, though. We don’t want them to know what’s going to happen.”
Right, shoring up her wayward thoughts would be prudent, for sure.
“Grab your sweater, kjaere. It is time to go get mated.”
She stepped back but his fingers curled around her upper arms staying her motion. “No matter what we face tonight, be brave. Just think that by this time tomorrow, we will be bound as mates forever.”
That sounded amazing, well the being bound part. The brave part, she could only hope she’d find her courage to make it through the unknown possibilities that awaited them at the Maxim.
But, being Gunnar’s mate was the most important thing she could ever want. She wouldn’t squander any chance to make it a reality.
»»•««
A deep pain in her shoulders throbbed in agonizing beats. Nadia shivered and tried to crack open her eyelids but a woozy sensation forced her to close them again. Her tongue stuck to the roof of her mouth and the back of her throat burned from her screams.
She swallowed anyway, awareness flaring to the forefront of her mind. Her hands were bound behind her back so tightly that it strained her shoulders. They’d hog tied her, connecting a rope from her ankles to the one around her wrists. A gag pressed her lips apart but it had grown damp and each time she breathed in, the oily stench triggered another bout of nausea. She sat on her knees in a dank room. Above her, a solitary light bulb flickered on and off, but it wasn’t Gunnar doing the electrical syphoning. At least, she didn’t think it was him since she’d been dumped in this chamber a long while ago and they left her there, alone.
Perhaps she should have been prepared for the grab and dash. But her head had been so far up in the clouds of hopes and dreams the idea hadn’t really registered. When they’d arrived a few minutes before midnight at the Maxim restaurant, she’d been ogling the architecture. The smell of Russian delicacies permeated the area and she’d wrongly thought they’d go inside, find a table and await the faction.
Instead, someone grabbed her from behind, shoved the cloth into her mouth and teleported her to, well, she had no idea where. And, she hadn’t seen Gunnar since they’d strolled hand-in-hand toward the Maxim’s front doors.
“Gunnar,” she cried out for him with her mind. The screaming hadn’t worked. Neither had telepathy. Despite his warnings to be brave, she was at the pee your pants terrified level. This was not how the night was supposed to go.
She needed to do, something. Anything.
The drugging chemical in the gag had dissipated and now her thoughts were less muddled. The clarity brought a new sense of urgency. She had to get out of there. Rocking to her side, she ignored the cold of the cement and the bruising sting on her hip as she fell to the ground. Bringing her feet as close to her hands as possible, she blindly groped for the knot binding her in the kneeling position. Her nail split but she ignored the twinge, latching onto the tether with her thumb and index finger, attempting to find the loosest spot. It seemed to take ages as she seesawed the coarse rope, pushing it from the first bump and hoping
it would slacken. Just keep moving it, she coached herself, needing to stay engaged, needing to work that damned thing free. An inch gave. She guided the longer end through a tight ring of rope, unraveling it bit by bit until finally the entire thing came loose.
Not wasting a minute, she struggled to her feet and swayed as pins and needles marched up her thighs and the feeling in her toes surged back from the numbness. Staggering to the door on the opposite side, she assessed the barren room, hoping to find something to help her remove the rest of the rope still binding her arms behind her back.
The door swung open. Bright light speared into the darkness blinding her temporarily. She stumbled backward, new terror racing through her veins. Her back hit the wall and she fought to take a breath, to open her eyes and face whoever walked into that room.
“Be brave, kjaere,” she heard in her thoughts. Whether it was Gunnar truly speaking to her, or her memory conjuring up his earlier warning, Nadia wasn’t sure, but she steeled herself, rolling her shoulders back and lifting her chin.
She might not be brave right now but she sure as hell would act like it.
»»•««
Pain exploded in Gunnar’s jaw as another strike cracked bone and sent him stumbling. He careened into the far wall. A burning ache seared his hip as he collided with cold brick. So far, he’d deduced the room they’d tossed his ass into was little bigger than a closet. Littered with broken tiles, dirt, and other garbage, the ground only added to his lack of equilibrium. The major contributing factor came from the sack over his head and the way they’d restrained his arms with titanium shackles around both biceps. They’d added in the rope at his wrists just to be badass fuckers. Now, they played “wack-a Gunnar” waiting for him to spill his secrets like a freaking piñata. Not happening.
Every time they landed another blow, he took the chance to assess the four W’s. He’d figured out the “what” and “why” pretty early on. They wanted to inflict a little pain and scare the shit out of him to make him mentally and physically weak. The torture he could handle. Not knowing “where” they’d taken Nadia, and “what” she endured destroyed his sanity. He only kept it under control for the sheer purpose of finding out the rest of the details. After he found out where the hell they’d taken them and what the purpose of this violence meant, he’d let the beast loose and take out the “who” in the situation.
Mated in Treason Page 25