Time To Die (Vampire Assassin League Book 32)

by Jackie Ivie

  She’d even been around guys who exuded sex appeal. It was like they’d been born with something indefinable. Extremely captivating. Truly basic. It got them noticed by just about everyone – especially women. Testosterone radiated off of them or something. Like a non-verbal promise of sexual satiation – and lots of it. That was probably what male fragrance companies were trying to copy and market.

  She’d never thought through this stuff. There hadn’t been a reason. Until right now. Because she’d never come up against anything like Tane.

  Holy crap.

  The guy was indescribable. Even the word gorgeous failed. His face was a photographer’s dream. She’d studied symmetry and Tane’s every feature was perfect. He had the smoldering thing locked in, too. Especially with his chin lowered and his eyes narrowed. His eyes were really amazing. The vivid blue was impossible to look at for any length of time. She tried meeting his gaze with an assertive one, but all kinds of buzzing had started up in her ears, and she could swear she’d heard someone whispering. She had to move her glance somewhere else. Anywhere. But nowhere on him was safe. Maybe if he was balding. Wore long trousers. A shirt. Had a raging case of psoriasis.

  Something.

  Anything.

  This was insane. And it had to stop. The entire world may have gone crazy this morning, but she was still Katherine Clark. Organized. Grounded. Completely sane. And Tane wasn’t that special. He was the X-Y chromosome combination. So what? He was just a man.

  But what a man.

  Kat nearly ground her teeth at the instant thought. There was no excuse for this. She was in his control. That made things unequal. And that made everything about Tane off-limits. Even if he was sending off male vibes that almost visually radiated from him, making every inch of her body react. Shivers continually flew along her skin. Her nipples had puckered more than once. Her knees had wavered. Her lower belly had quivered.

  And then he’d given that primal yell!

  Wow.

  She was lucky her mental faculties were still working, but she could probably thank her prior experiences with handsome guys for that. She needed to get outside. Inhale some fresh air. Clear her senses.

  “Look. Um. Tane. Thank you for rescuing me. And...whatever. But I really should...be l-l-leaving.”

  Kat’s voice wavered as she headed for the door. That was unfortunate. Tane didn’t reply. Nor did he stop her. She shoved against the wood and rope structure with her free hand. That was dumb. The door smacked her on the head as she rushed beneath it. The resultant stumble probably looked as awkward as it felt. She didn’t fall, however. That was a minor victory. Kat took a deep breath, straightened her shoulders, looked about, and couldn’t see much except tree limbs.

  Some gray sky.

  And a lot of dark mosquito netting.

  She could really start to hate the stuff. It was uncomfortable. Hot. She was already rain-soaked. Soon she’d be sweaty. That was going to be miserable.

  What was she thinking?

  It was already miserable. And if he hadn’t been so adamant about the netting’s presence, she’d have chucked it already.

  Stupid male.

  His deck wasn’t large. An instant dose of rainforest hit her. The scent of greenery. Damp wood. The buzzing of insects. The chatter of monkeys. Exotic bird calls. The rustling of leaves as raindrops continued hitting them. The deck had an overhang, protecting it from some of the elements. The only section dark with dampness was near the edge. Kat slid her knife back into its holder, and stepped forward, peeked over the side, and almost fell again with her move backward.

  Holy shit!

  They were a half mile in the air. At least. She wasn’t afraid of heights, but that drop could start a good case of acrophobia. She cleared her throat and tried to sound assertive as she called to him over her shoulder.

  “All right. Um. Tane?”

  “Yes.”

  His answer came from inside the structure. Didn’t sound like he’d moved.

  “I need you to come out here and show me the stairs. Or ladder. Or...whatever you use.”

  “There is no ladder. Or stairs.”

  “A vine?” she asked hopefully.

  “There are no vines.”

  “Then...how do you get down?”

  “I jump.”

  That was impossible. As such, it didn’t even warrant an answer. There had to be a way down.

  Period.

  Kat went to her knees. Crawled toward the edge, and peered over. The forest floor was obscured by mist, and it was a long way down. It looked surreal. That helped. She leaned out a smidge further and bent forward, to look beneath his tree house. There was a branch about a dozen feet below her. The next one down was twice that distance and on the other side of the tree. The limbs looked large enough to handle a jump onto them, especially if one stayed near the trunk, but it was beyond risky. He had to be joking.

  There had to be another way.

  The next scan of the area proved just as futile as before. There wasn’t anything resembling a rope. Or a ladder. There weren’t any vines hanging about either. And she was growing dizzy with this perspective.

  Kat pulled up and shimmied backward until the faintness ebbed and she could stand. There was nothing for it. Her options were limited. Stay out here. Or go back in. She was dusting her hands when she pushed on one side of the door. It swayed open with a whisper of sound. Swung back into place. It was darker inside than before. Tane hadn’t moved. His eyes gleamed neon blue with what light there was. He had them narrowed. Exactly like a predator.

  Kat looked at him, then away. She couldn’t hold his gaze. Worse things than before happened, and they came with even more direct consequences. A tremor ran her entire body. Her legs went crazily weak. Her breath caught. Her heart skipped a beat. A sliver of sensation shot through her lower belly. It wasn’t fear that caused any of it, either. And that was really scary.

  “O-o-okay.” Damn it. She’d stuttered. And she was trying to be assertive here! Kat cleared her throat before continuing. “You win.”

  She glanced toward him again. It was involuntary. Magnetic. His eyes flashed strangely, looking like almond-shaped blue laser lights. Kat eased her pent breath through her lips. Quivered as she inhaled another one.

  “What have I won?” he asked.

  “Um. I’m here. I can’t leave.”

  “I already had that.”

  Great. She had to deal with stubbornness, too? Men. “What do you want from me, Tane?” she asked.

  “I told you already. I want the netting off.”

  Kat looked toward him. Got hooked. Tried to stare until her eyes burned, before ripping her gaze away. He hadn’t blinked once. She should feel angered. Annoyed. Perhaps even defeated.

  She didn’t.

  Kat felt a vast amount of something really frightening. Despite the absurdity, she knew exactly what it was, too. She was experiencing excitement. As if she faced a terrifying thrill-ride at an amusement park. It made her clumsy. She had a hard time grasping the bottom edge of her covering. Even more trouble controlling her breathing.

  And for some reason, it sounded like each of his short breaths matched hers.

  CHAPTER FOUR

  Stunned, Tane couldn’t seem to move, not even when he tried to force himself to look away. Not only at her beauty – although she definitely possessed that – but at the amount of sensation that accompanied looking at her. He felt every speck of her emotions, from the hint of apprehension she felt first, to a pulse-pounding sense of excitement and anticipation. That realization almost sent him reeling.

  It was incredible.

  The reactions had been tamped down to a controllable level while she’d been outside. He hadn’t followed her. No need. He’d known exactly where she was and what she’d been doing as if he’d been beside her, watching. He’d even felt dizzy as she’d bent over his deck. It hadn’t faded until she regained her feet. He seemed to match her every physiological response to a level tha
t was unfathomable. He didn’t know how it worked. He only knew that it did.

  Years ago, when he’d been told of mating it had been a spark of hope. A bit of bright at the end of a dismal existence. Well. He should have gotten a massive warning, too.

  Direct sight came with an even bigger effect, akin to dumping fuel on a fire. Her eyes were a brown shade, but not as dark as he’d suspected. There were golden flecks within them, giving off hints of glimmer. Despite the idiocy, Tane locked gazes with her. A swell of music hit his ears to a deafening level, while his heartbeat quickened. His knees wavered. And then his fangs reacted. They erupted into long spikes. Razor sharp. He locked his lips shut. Took small breaths that matched hers. Watched as two dark spots of color appeared on her cheeks.

  By every god!

  Tane yanked his gaze away with a rapidness that made him light-headed. The move dulled the symphony in his ears. Strengthened his legs. Didn’t do much for how rapidly his heart was beating. Or the fangs that bit into his inner lower lip. This was unbelievable. He was supremely lucky. His mate wasn’t just here...but she was so beautiful! She was small. Trim. Extremely womanly. Her curves were apparent even dressed in loose-fitting safari-inspired clothing. She had sun-kissed, tawny-colored hair. It was a beautiful shade, not unlike a lion mane. It was perfectly complimented by skin slightly lighter than his. Akin to liquid caramel. Engendering a voracious need to touch it. And taste. Her lips were red-hued. Lush. Large.

  Her hair was secured in a bun at the back of her head but tendrils had come undone when she’d pulled off the hat. They slid like trickles of water over a shoulder and to a breast pocket of her shirt.

  Damn it!

  Why had he looked there? She had little nipples. And they were erect. Tane yanked his muscles to a painful level. Made fists with his hands and then shoved them into his chest. It was almost working when she spoke.

  “Well?”

  He was beside her instantly. He didn’t even know how. He looked down at her. She glanced up toward him and then back down. Her blush appeared again, darker this time. Her every breath was panted, as were his. He lifted a lock of hair with a hand that shook.

  “Um. Listen...uh...”

  He brought her hair to his nose and inhaled. She smelled so fresh. So...young! He thought he detected the aroma of wildflowers. A hint of honey.

  “I...don’t—. I’m not—. This is—.”

  She ended sentences abruptly, leaving a major portion unsaid but he knew just what she meant. She spiked a glance toward him again. This time she didn’t move away. Her eyes were incredibly warm. Golden-flecked. Mesmeric...

  “I don’t understand any of this, Tane.”

  He grunted something low. Deep. She expected him to make sense? Now?

  “I mean...you’re so—uh. And this is so—. And I’m feeling so—.”

  “I am going to kiss you,” he answered.

  She gasped. Tane lowered his head...and the shrill call of a Micronesian Megapode erupted between them.

  Kat cried out and jumped backward, her motion sending her toward the center tree. It kept her from falling. Tane’s reaction was much more visceral. He sprang so quickly, his head smacked through the ceiling rushes, dislodging several bits of dried grass that floated down. The bird’s distinctive call came again, louder this time as usually happened in nature. And that’s when it hit him.

  He’d programmed that sound into his satellite phone.

  He had a call.

  Tane dropped onto the floor and yanked the phone from where he’d shoved it beneath the material at his hip before it rang again. He had his teeth gritted as he clicked the connect button. His fangs sliced into his lower lip. Blood immediately welled in his mouth. His heart pounded in heavy thumps that almost hurt. He glared at the ceiling. Everything else was in an agony of tautness, holding back a mass of emotions he couldn’t even name, let alone place. He lifted the phone to his ear. The combination of responses accompanied his greeting. He couldn’t prevent it.

  “What!”

  Bits of old grass filtered down onto his head. He brushed his free hand at his hair, dislodging debris that was now wet, since he’d punched a hole in his roof. He narrowed his eyes at the opening and barely kept the groan unvoiced.

  “Whoa. Jungle man. Calm down. It’s me. Nigel Beethan. You know...the debonair, eternally youthful, entirely fascinating and—.”

  “Nigel!” The name was hissed through Tane’s teeth. That was a new sensation.

  “Well, yeah. I told you already. It’s Nigel. I’m calling you because we have an assign—”

  “Your timing is horrid.” Tane interrupted again, putting all his frustration into the words.

  “Oh. Right. My timing is horrid. You live on a deserted island surrounded by surf and sand, with nothing to do but watch time pass...and now – all of a sudden – you’re busy?”

  Tane growled the reply.

  “Look. It’s an easy hit.”

  “No.”

  “What? This is too weird. You called me last week, practically begging for something to do, and—wait a sec. I have another call. I’ll be right back. Yeah? What is it? Oh. Hi there, Takeshi. How’s it hanging?”

  Tane listened in disbelief as Nigel just started ignoring him. He chanced a glance across to where Kat stood. She had her arms folded and was watching him without one expression on her face. He should have tried harder to enthrall her. And this was a stupid time to think that. Tane had to look away.

  “You’ve named your triplets? That’s cool. About time. I was beginning to think they’d be Baby Number One. Baby Number Two. Baby Number...oh. That isn’t funny? Sorry.”

  Tane’s canines started to retract, pulling free of his flesh as they resumed normal size and length. He sucked on the wounds while he waited. He didn’t dare look toward his mate again. He wondered what the penalty was for disconnecting the call and how quickly it would happen. Nigel was the second-in-command of the Vampire Assassin League. Akron’s chosen protégée. Akron wasn’t a vampire Tane wanted to cross. Then again, it might not be a severe infraction to hang up on the kid. If it was, Tane could always say a blip in the environment must have caused a disruption in satellite service. It wasn’t unreasonable. They were experiencing a supremely wet rainy season. Tane was still debating it as Nigel started speaking to his caller again.

  “Wait. What? You’re naming your third-born after me? Oh. Takki! I can’t even. You’re going to make me sob like a baby here. Wow. I am so honored. Look! Gotta run before I need tissues! Oh, Takki. You—! Uh. ’Bye, man.”

  Tane heard what sounded suspiciously like a sniff, and then Nigel spoke to him again.

  “Um. Tane? You still there?”

  “Yeah,” Tane replied.

  “I can’t even remember why I called. Whatever it was, I’ll handle it. So...you have a good day, okay? Adios.”

  The connection went dead. Tane pulled the phone from his ear and looked at it in disbelief.

  “You have a phone?”

  Kat’s voice was even. Calm. Tane glanced over at her. Looked back at the phone. It was useless to deny. Just as it was useless to pretend the call hadn’t happened. And at the worst possible time! They’d been about to kiss!

  That had certainly changed. The entire mood had been altered. Tane focused on the plank floor beneath him. It looked hard. Dirty. Whatever had filmed the floor was turning to mud as the wood got sprinkled with raindrops. His tree house wasn’t even dry anymore. But his mate hadn’t sounded upset. Or Angered. Or confrontational. Then again, Tane didn’t know her that well. How was he supposed to know?

  “Uh...” He didn’t really have a reply. His answer dribbled off into nothing.

  “All right. I’ll phrase it differently. Who are you? And just what the hell is going on?”

  “I can explain.” he offered.

  “Oh, really? This should be good. And I can’t wait to hear it.”

  Tane pulled in a breath. Opened his mouth. Shut it again. How should he start?
Should he tell her about vampires? Tane glanced toward her again. She had an eyebrow raised now, as well as her arms folded. She was projecting stern body language with that pose. He looked back at the phone in his hand. He eased out the breath he’d inhaled.

  She didn’t look receptive to hearing about vampirism, not at present anyway. Maybe he should tell her about his past – the mortal one. Describe how a large ship called a caravel from the Colonial Spanish Empire had been shipwrecked on one of the islands. His father found more dead than alive. Brought back to health by a cadre of women who had become something like a harem.

  Tane opened his mouth again. Shut it.

  It would be hard to explain any of that without bringing up his age. And immortality. Perhaps he should start with mating. Describe what her arrival had done to him. Tell her why he’d responded as he had. That he suffered a level of want and need and desire that wasn’t going to go away.

  Ever.

  “I’m waiting.”

  Her words decided him. He couldn’t explain much of anything. Mating wasn’t something he could speak of. He needed to show her. But, not here. And definitely not now. She no longer sounded noncommittal. Her voice had projected something close to how she looked. Skeptical. Annoyed.

  No.

  He had the wrong word. She sounded irritated. That was probably worse. She didn’t even sound angered....maybe because he didn’t mean much to her.

  Tane snarled at the thought and squeezed his fingers about the phone, crushing it. When he opened his hand and tipped it, only bits and pieces fell out. He heard her gasp. That’s when he turned his head and gazed directly at her. Something must have warned her because her eyes went wide and she lurched backward, stopped by the center tree directly behind her.

  “You know...I was a little hasty. Explanations...can um. Wait. It’s been nice meeting you, Tane, but...I should be going now. I...just need a little help to get down, and—ah!”

  Tane leapt across the space, grabbed her to him, and shot up through the hole in the roof. It stopped her words. Her scream wasn’t loud, nor were the gasps for breath that followed it. She needed to calm her breathing. He was matching her, and that affected his ability to move. And that altered the length of time to his home. But he didn’t dare let her finish her words. He wasn’t remotely going to acquiesce to her request.