by Jex Lane
Darius’ eyes shot open. Commander Lock stood by his bed, syringe in hand. “Entering my room without my permission is an extreme breach of protocol.”
Lock shrugged. “Indeed it is.”
“I will report this.”
“Ya sure? It’ll force me to submit my own report,” Lock said and looked over at the two empty syringes. “I don’t think you’ll like what’ll be in it.”
Darius pressed his lips together as he shifted to a sitting position at the edge of his bed.
“Don’t be so sour, my lord, I ain’t here to harass ya about this shit.” Lock set the full syringe down with the empty ones.
“Then why are you here? In my room. Uninvited.”
“I’m here to help ya.”
“I don’t need any help.”
Lock chuckled. “You’re about to craze.”
Darius shot up. “I’m not.”
“Ya are.”
“No. No.” He couldn’t be. The calsanic only triggered during extreme situations, when primal urges took over. To have it happen was shameful.
Lock set a hand on Darius’ arm. “Have you fed since meeting Kat?”
“I tried.”
“And it made ya sick?”
Darius nodded.
“And you feel unreasonably possessive of her?”
He didn’t nod this time. Lock already knew the answer.
“You’re gonna craze. You’re too young to shake this off. Your options are to feed on her or starve to death.”
Darius pressed his eyes closed. “She doesn’t want me.”
“'Cause you’re a ninny.”
Opening his eyes, Darius scowled.
“Oh, right, that term ain’t used anymore. You’re an idiot, a fool, a simpleton, a—”
“Do you have a point or did you invite yourself over to call me names?”
“You been trying to fuck her and she don’t want that. Girl like her wants flowers, sonnets…you know, romance. Not a damned one-night stand.”
“But she’s fierce, a fighter…strong, independent.”
Lock laughed and shook his head. “Women ain’t so simple. She can be all those things and still want romance. How is it that you’ve gotten to your seventies without actually dating someone?”
“I’ve dated.” Darius squirmed under Lock’s harsh gaze. “Well, gone on dates. I—it’s not any of your business, Commander.”
“Well, if you want her, you’ll have to prove you want her for more than one quick fuck.”
“It would hardly be quick.” Lock didn’t bother responding. Darius sighed. “She’s too new to our world. I doubt she’ll ever accept the fact I can’t feed solely from her.”
“Why don’t ya give her that chance to decide for herself? There’s the exhibition tonight, and cadets have the night off. Ask her out. Avoid being a dick. Also, take the curb if you don’t want to end up raping her.”
“I would never—”
“When the calsanic happens, ya don’t have any choice. You’ll feed on her.”
Lock was right. Darius knew he’d be okay tonight, maybe even for a week, but after, his instincts would take over. When that happened, he’d seek her out in his incubus form and feed no matter what she wanted. The incubus—who was part of him and yet sometimes felt like something different—wouldn’t let him feed on anyone else until it took her. Darius didn’t have many choices here. He wouldn’t allow himself to rape her. No, he’d ask to be put in a cage before that happened. But he didn’t want to die either.
He had to convince her to let him feed from her.
He had to win her over.
It was literally life and death for him.
10
Kat
Kat’s limp body became little more than a rag doll as she tumbled across the dirt ground of the training arena. She bounced to her feet, straightened the unflattering grey cadet training uniform she wore, and lunged at Brick again.
The oversized hunter caught her punch midair with his palm and squeezed his fingers around her fist. She grunted in pain as her feet were swept out from underneath her and she was back to eating dirt.
A slew of choice words flew from Kat’s mouth.
“Alright, that’s enough,” Chase said before she could stand. “Cursing is against regulations.”
Dawn scoffed from beside him, her arms crossed and a bored look plastered on her face. “You’re literally the only hunter to follow that regulation.”
Chase’s persistent frown deepened. “I am not.”
Javi groaned. “Always this argument.”
“It’s not an argument,” Chase said. “It’s a regulation, and one our team is going to follow. We can’t afford any more missteps.”
Ignoring them, Brick offered Kat his hand. She took it with a “Thanks,” and dusted herself off. She’d spent the last day and a half being pushed to her limits as her team tested her skills. Chase always seemed disappointed, while Javi encouraged her, and Dawn stood bored. She rarely had any other expression. Necrus bounced around distracted half the time, and Brick was impossible to read.
After meeting the team that first night, they’d shown her to her assigned room. Dawn, her roommate, still tipsy, crashed into a bed and fell into a deep sleep. Kat took the empty bed on the other side of the simple room, but sleep didn’t find her for many hours. As she listened to the sound of hunters training outside, she wondered how long it’d take for her to impress them, for her to get her runes. Javi mentioned that hunters usually trained for a year before getting them, along with their leather uniforms.
A whole year before she had the strength to take down Mont? She couldn’t wait that long.
And now, in the training arena—a huge covered structure with stadium seating—she was getting her ass kicked.
They weren’t quite alone. Tonight, there was some sort of special event happening she had to attend. Around them, people were working to set it up. She watched as a work crew brought in thrones—actual thrones—onto a platform.
This event is why Chase had the whole team up in the morning. He wanted to get some training in before the team took the night off. No one even knew what the event would be. Some kind of show, but was it a performance or fight? Most people were betting on a fight, but what kind? Witches? Shifters? Incubi?
That was seven hours ago, and it was only two p.m. now. Kat stretched her back, exhausted.
“Boss,” Javi said, “I think we have a good idea of her skill level.”
Chase eyed Kat. “Yeah. She should be in a year one team, not a year three.”
“Aw, come on, she’ll catch up.”
“In a few years.”
Every part of Kat wanted to argue, but she held her tongue. Even she could admit they were miles ahead of her in terms of skill. Earlier today, she had been lucky to even land a bolt on the range target while everyone else had a near bullseye every single time. And despite his size, she hadn’t managed to land a single blow on Brick. Nor could she track Javi through the woods—and, according to Chase, he left an easy trail for her to follow.
At least every time she got knocked down, she stood back up.
“I have to agree with Javi on this one,” Dawn said. “Give her a chance. It’s not like the commander is going to give us anyone else to fill the slot.”
“Why won’t the commander give you someone else?” Kat asked.
The team went quiet. Brick laid a hand on Dawn’s shoulder. And when Kat didn’t think any of them were going to tell her, he said with a gentle voice, “We lost someone.”
She wanted to know more, but the way none of them met her eyes told of pain, and she decided not to press.
“It’s not like we were star students before,” Necrus said. They shot him angry glares. “What? You know I’m right. We’ll be lucky if we graduate.”
Chase narrowed his eyes at Necrus then said, “I’ll figure out a training program for her, and if we’re lucky, this will only put us another six months behind. You’re dism
issed for the rest of the day, expect to be up early tomorrow.”
“It won’t take me six months—” but none of them heard her as they teleported away.
Except Javi.
“Is he right?” she asked him. “Will it really take me that long?”
Javi shrugged. “You wouldn’t be here if they didn’t think you were up to the challenge. Take it one day at a time, chica. Hungry?”
“I’m in too much pain to eat.”
Javi laughed. “I can take you to the infirmary. You need to get your physical and shots, anyway.”
“Shots?”
They walked through a courtyard packed with hunters. According to Necrus’ loud complaining earlier, hunters were pouring in from all over for whatever the Lord General had planned tonight.
“Yeah, they give us some stuff that makes it so vamps get poisoned if they drink our blood, and prevents them from turning us. You have to get them every few weeks.”
Kat scrunched her nose. “Ugh, really? I hate shots.”
“It beats getting drained.”
“Yeah, I guess. But if I don’t have to get them now, I’d rather not.” Kat headed towards the dorms. A few pain pills and a nap sounded like a good way to spend the next few hours.
Javi chuckled and stayed with her. She wondered if he’d been ordered to escort her around or if he was being friendly. “You won’t be able to avoid them for long. Doc Maryweather is tenacious. She’ll track anyone down.”
“Personal experience?”
He held the door open for her. “I don’t like shots either.”
She couldn’t help the small smile that lifted on her lips. Whatever reason Javi was hanging around her, she liked it. It made her feel like she belonged. Just a little bit. She still needed to figure out the other members of her team.
“What’s the deal with Nec—” her question abruptly died when she opened the door to her room, and Dawn stood before her with no shirt or bra.
Just pants.
And high heels.
She held a shirt in each hand.
And Kat couldn’t pull her eyes away from Dawn’s chest.
It’s not like Kat wanted to stare, she even tried to look anywhere else—the book of hunter regulations on the nightstand, the weapons Dawn had piled on a chair, the laundry basket—but it was near impossible to miss those.
Or the silver runic tattoos scrolled across her skin. One began to glow a soft green then faded back to silver.
“Good timing, I need a second opinion. What do you think, this one?” Dawn held up a red shirt with some sequins on it. “Or this?” She raised a blue shirt with some flower accents…seemingly unconcerned that the door to the room was wide open.
Kat had no idea how to answer her question; she had the fashion sense of a lamp.
“You trying to get laid or teach a class of kindergartners?” Javi asked from the doorway. At some point, Kat had taken a few steps into the room but didn’t remember doing so.
“Ugh. Okay, the red it is. I didn’t want it to come off too desperate.” Dawn tossed the shirt on, sans bra. Did women actually go out without bras? Kat could never.
“I think you’ve frightened the newbie. Don’t worry, chica. Dawn has no sense of shame, you’ll get used to it. We don’t usually parade around naked.”
Dawn examined herself in a full-length mirror hanging on the wall. “The warriors do. They’ll use any excuse to whip out their cock or pussy.”
Javi leaned his shoulder against the door frame. “True enough.”
“Really?” Kat asked, although she shouldn’t have been surprised given what incubi fed on.
Javi laughed. “Like I said, you’ll get used to it. Who's your date tonight, Dee?”
Before Dawn could answer, a deep male voice said, “Hunters.”
Darius stood behind them, wearing a sharp suit and a friendly smile. He had no bruises from his fight two nights ago.
Whipping his head back and forth between Dawn and Darius, Javi chuckled. “Nice. Have fun,” he said to Dawn with a wink and teleported away.
The surge of jealousy that flooded Kat caught her off-guard. Why should she care that Darius had a date with Dawn? She had turned the incubus down. And yet…
“Lord Darius,” Dawn said, her voice suddenly sultrier.
“Dawn,” Darius said with a nod. “You look lovely this afternoon. Are you looking forward to tonight?”
Dawn’s eyes traced Darius’ shoulders. “I would be if the Lord General let anyone know what he had planned.” Dawn walked to him, her hips swaying with exaggerated femininity. Kat clenched her jaw. Dawn grabbed Darius’ lapel and slid her fingers across the expensive material. “Don’t suppose you know.”
Darius leaned in slightly. “It’s classified. But nice try.”
Dawn released his suit, and a sound of frustration came from her. “Fine. Give me a few moments. I’ll be ready soon.”
“Actually, I’m not here for you.”
Dawn shot a glance to Kat and smirked. “Oh. My bad. I assumed you were my ride to Lord Quillon’s party tonight.”
“Not tonight. I was hoping,” the incubus looked over Dawn’s shoulder to Kat, “you might want to dine with me. At a restaurant. Food. Actual food. I know it’s a little early, but if we go now, we’ll have plenty of time to make it to the event later.”
What? Hadn’t he wanted to go out with Dawn? She was sexy and stylish and forward. Kat stood there like an idiot.
When nothing came from her mouth, Darius added, “I know my behavior was atrocious the other night, please give me the chance to make it up to you.”
Tempting. So tempting. She hadn’t forgotten that kiss. But…
“Why?”
Darius’ eyebrows knitted, confused.
“Why do you want me so much?” she clarified. “You don’t even know me,”
“But I’d like to. And perhaps if you get to know me, you’ll understand why I desire you. At the very least, you can learn more about incubi. I’m supposed to be your guide here, after all.” When Kat hesitated, he added, “I’ll keep my flirtation to a minimum. Promise.”
“I don’t know…maybe when my muscles aren’t killing me.”
Dawn, who had been watching the exchange in silence, stepped forward. “Would you excuse us for a few moments, my lord?” she said as she shut the door in Darius’ face. “Are you fucking crazy?”
“Wha—”
“Darius is a bigger stickler for the rules than Chase is. He never sleeps with hunters—and we try. Shit, do you know how many times I’ve made a pass at him? I’d give my left tit to fuck him.”
“That’s…graphic.”
“Go on the date with him and have some fun. You look like you can use it.”
What the hell? Kat wasn’t really warming up to her new roommate. “I don’t need fun.”
“Damn, girl, yes you do.” Dawn threw open the door to the closet and went digging in her clothes muttering “nope, nope, nope, this” and tossed Kat a dress. “Put that on. What’s your shoe size?”
“Uh, eight.”
“Hm. Be right back.” Dawn teleported from the room, then reappeared. “Put the dress on,” she said and disappeared again.
Kat inspected the dress. Black with a plunging neckline and decidedly less material than she’d ever consider wearing normally. Reluctantly, she stripped and slipped it on. The material barely covered her ass, leaving her feeling exposed.
Dawn reappeared with silver and black heels in her hand. “These should fit.”
“I don’t know—”
The hunter didn’t wait as she shoved the shoes into Kat’s hand then went into the bathroom, coming out with a paddle brush, a comb, a spray bottle, and a hair tie. She motioned to Kat’s bed. “Sit.”
Kat sat, and Dawn crawled behind her. She dragged the brush roughly through Kat’s hair, attempting to tame it as Kat buckled a shoe strap around her ankle. Pleasant smelling liquid came from the spray bottle and a few painful tugs later her h
air was in a neat, tight bun.
She stood, and before she could look at herself in the mirror, Dawn shoved a few pills and a glass of water in Kat’s hand. “Swallow.”
“What is—”
“Trust your new teammate, and swallow.”
Kat did. And almost immediately her pain melted. A purse replaced the glass in her hand. Makeup, tampons, and a wooden stake inside.
“I always keep a few preloaded, never know when I’ll get a last-minute invitation,” Dawn said as she plucked the lipstick out and used it on Kat. “There. Not bad.”
“I—”
Dawn grabbed Kat’s elbow and ushered her to the door. “Have fun,” she said and shoved Kat out of the room. She nearly crashed into Darius.
His jaw went slack. And he stared. Unabashedly.
Kat heard the deadbolt on the door click. No turning back. She took a deep breath and looked at the incubus. “I’m not really sure what just happened, but I think we’re going on a date now.”
11
Darius
Darius said nothing. He couldn’t. His lungs were frozen.
Ilertha help him. The dress Kat wore left little to the imagination. Her lips red and inviting. Her wild hair tamed. Her stilettos—Marcel Vernier, expensive, likely borrowed—accentuated her luscious legs. Muscular calves. Perfect thighs he wanted to spread open.
Darius wasn’t sure which version of Kat he preferred: rough and wild, or sleeker and put together. He settled on both.
Kat went to tuck her hair behind her ear only to remember it was tied up. She palmed the side smooth. “Well… um, should we go?”
Gods, how would he make it through the night without ravaging her? “Yes. Yes, of course. You look gorgeous.”
She rolled her eyes, but red touched her cheeks all the same.
He motioned down the hall and put his other hand on the small of her back. She glanced at him. For a moment, he thought she would say something. Reject him. But instead, she sucked in a nervous breath and walked.
The close contact gave him a direct line to her emotions. Beyond the obvious apprehension, it pleased him she also felt excitement and desire. For all her denials, she was, at the very least, curious about him.