Deviant Warrior: (Dark Warrior Alliance Book Three)

by Brenda Trim

  “Damn. Was that you, Pip?” she laughed.

  “That is the magma, no’ your pet.”

  “I know that, Kyran. Where’s your sense of humor?”

  “‘Tis with the creature that you just alerted to our location, loudmouth,” he chided.

  “Aww, shit. Do you know what it is yet?”

  He stopped and placed his fingers over her mouth. Mainly because he wanted to feel her lush lips, but also to tell her to be quiet. She nodded her understanding. He noticed she glanced around, trying to get her bearings. There was a larger cavern ten feet ahead and he quietly made their way there. It gave him better room to move and fight and it had some illumination.

  When they entered the open space, he saw that what little light there was came from water that dripped from the ceiling down the walls. There had to be microscopic bioluminescent creatures in the liquid because it glowed green. They stood silently with Mackendra gripping his waistband. After several minutes, he heard the sound of footsteps coming from the opposite direction they had taken. It didn’t sound like more than one creature, however, it was large. “I doona know what is coming, but ‘tis big from the sound of it. Stay to my back,” he whispered and placed Pip on the ground. The little critter scampered toward the entrance.

  “I hope he’ll be okay,” Mackendra murmured. Kyran shook his head. That damn animal was becoming a nuisance, no matter how much his mate loved it. He prayed to the Goddess that nothing happened to Pip, or he may see hysterics.

  He stood back to back with her and felt his mate crouch down, adopting a ready stance. Within seconds, a humongous grey creature entered the room. It bellowed its rage and charged them.

  “How the fuck do we kill that? It looks like it’s made of rock!”

  “That is a Foawr. What have I told you aboot killing supernaturals, Mackendra?”

  “Right, chop off its head. No problem.” He chuckled at her wry tone and struck out at the being. He sliced the back of its right leg and had to duck the big, meaty fist that swung his direction.

  Kyran fell back and heard Mackendra scream out at the beast. Looking between its legs, he saw her rush toward it with her arm held in the air. Anticipating a strike, the creature pulled back its arm when Mackendra went in low. She slid her body across the dirt and held her knife in the air. Her blade cut through the groin area. The giant wailed in pain and grabbed its bleeding genitals. Kyran winced in sympathy, nothing worse than having your nuts cut.

  Not waiting for it to gain balance, he jumped on its back. His arm went around its throat and he attempted to slice his blades through the thick neck. Suddenly, Kyran’s back smashed into the stone wall, knocking the breath out of him. He faltered and lost his balance, falling to the ground.

  Kyran’s blood ran cold when a large arm swung out and Mackendra went flying. She grunted as she hit the wall and then landed on the dirt. He thanked the Goddess for the hundredth time that she had already taken his blood and was immortal. Otherwise, she would have been killed. The giant started in her direction and Kyran ran up its leg, latching onto its back.

  He smiled when he heard her outraged snarl. “You big ugly motherfucker. You’re going to regret that.”

  Kyran heard the rumble of the earth and prayed they didn’t face a volcanic eruption. Neither of them would survive that. He didn’t have long to contemplate that as his feisty mate ran back into the fray. He loved her bravery, but swore loudly. Having her in danger was a huge distraction. He couldn’t fathom her cowering in the entrance with Pip, but for a moment he wished she would. He needed her to be safe.

  The giant reached over its head and tried to grab hold of Kyran. Kyran stabbed its hands repeatedly and cut into the side of its neck each time. Blue blood sprayed Kyran in the face and arms. As muscle and sinew were revealed with each of his blows, Kyran kept up his assault. He didn’t have a sword and decided that he’d have to hack his way through to relieve this creature of its head.

  From the corner of his eye, he saw Mackendra go in low again, followed by a bellow. The little firecracker likely hit his groin again. Before he knew it, Kyran was pinned against the wall and the Foawr wasn’t moving. He couldn’t breathe, but didn’t let up in his attack, while at the same time, he heard his mate below him.

  “Kyran!” she screamed. He couldn’t draw enough breath to respond as he heard the panic in her voice. “I’m going to lure him away from the wall then you drop, okay. Hey smelly, come get me,” she taunted. She danced in and jabbed her blade into it then darted back. The giant lurched forward and then back again.

  The second time it did this, Kyran darted up higher rather than drop to the ground. The beast ignored Mackendra, sensing he was the bigger threat and tried to grab him. At that point, its movements were slowed and its hands were a bloody mess with several missing fingers. Kyran crossed his hands in front of the neck and sliced outward. Blue blood spurted from the deep cut, but its head remained attached.

  “Shit, that is disgusting. Between the spider guts and the blood, I’m beginning to really hate it here,” Mackendra declared.

  Kyran laughed and struck the creature again before it had a chance to heal. “Look oot! He’s going doon,” he warned as he sliced through the final tendon holding its head on its body.

  Dust and blood sprayed into the air as the giant hit the ground. “That wasn’t so bad. So, which way to the portal?” Mackendra said with a smile. Kyran gaped at his mate. He pulled her into his arms and kissed her hard. She really was perfect for him.

  CHAPTER NINTEEN

  Mack covered her nose with her hand. “Christ, that thing smells like a bag of ass. I don’t know why I’m still surprised by the crazy shit in this world,” she mused, shaking her head as she wiped her knife off before shoving it into her backpack.

  “Any surprise you had didna show. You never hesitated once in your attack where most humans would have crumbled at the sight. You never cease to amaze me.” Mack glanced back at Kyran. His tone was matter-of-fact but the respect was undeniable.

  Pride filled her at his admiration, and, until that moment, she hadn’t realized how much she had wanted his approval. He was a hardened warrior who bore his scars on his sleeve and she doubted he gave out compliments freely. She had barely scratched the surface of the depths to Kyran.

  She thought of the poor woman he had killed and understood more about how he was dealing with what he’d done. He was beating himself up. He hadn’t intended to end her life and had done everything in his power to try and save her. She couldn’t imagine the shame and humiliation of having to call his brother for help, but despite that, he didn’t hesitate to do what was necessary. And, she imagined that he fully accepted his responsibility and punishment.

  He was going to carry that cross the rest of his life, just like he did his perceived failure with his mother. Everyone deserved a second chance and she believed Kyran had earned his. It was easier for her to forgive him than it was for him to forgive himself.

  She smiled at him and took his hand in hers, lacing their fingers together. “You trying to get in my pants, leech?”

  He leaned in close and whispered in her ear, “I doona need pretty words to have you beneath me, mate. I’d bet you are one breath away from begging me to take you right here, right now.”

  “In your dreams, blood-sucker.” She supposed that would have been more convincing if she wasn’t so breathy. Her hard nipples and wet core weren’t helping, either. All he had to do was stand close to her and the heat of his body and breath had her aching. Ever since the skirm attacked her years ago, her body hadn’t responded to a man, even her fiancé at the time, and it was thrilling that her body was coming alive, even in she was out of control.

  He chuckled knowingly. “You tempt me, Firecracker, but this is no’ the time or place. I still sense Fae magic. We need to search the tunnels.”

  She called out to Pip and he came out of hiding and jumped into her arms. He was trembling, obviously terrified of what had happened. She cooe
d and reassured him before turning to Kyran. “I suppose we’re going to go the way that Foawr came.” The thought of running into another one was about as pleasant as a Brazilian bikini wax.

  “Aye, our best bet of finding anything is to go that direction.”

  “Of course it is,” she said wryly as she followed him, grabbing onto the back of his pants when the darkness enveloped them.

  “You stay up here, Pip. I need my hands free.” She lifted him and he quickly scrambled up and sat on the top of her pack, latching onto the short strands of her hair.

  “You should have left him in the jungle. He’s a nuisance,” Kyran grumbled.

  “You know you love him just like you know he’s going home with us, mate.” Being a Fated Mate was so different than what she grew up with. She’d always thought that it would be marriage and kids and you grow old and die. Now, she was looking at eternity with a vampire.

  “So, can vampires have kids?” she asked as she felt the path they were on slope down. The heat had intensified and she was beginning to sweat.

  “Aye. Aside from Elsie, vampires are born, not made. Your human myth of being turned through a bite is false.”

  “What?” she practically yelled. “Elsie is a vampire? I thought she was just immortal.” That explained why their friendship had changed and they hadn’t talked lately. Elsie knew that Mack hated vampires and wanted them all dead.

  “Aye, she is. Calm doon, lass. She didna tell you because she feared you’d try to kill her, and judging from the knife you plunged into my heart, she was right to be afraid.”

  “She was really afraid of me?” She questioned if she would have hurt Elsie. At the time, she was blinded by her prejudice and had to admit that she may have tried to kill her friend.

  “She didna want to have to fight you, but I think she was more afraid of losing your friendship. She has always spoken so highly of you and how she wouldna have survived Dalton’s death withoot you and SOVA.”

  “I value her friendship, too. In fact, she was the first true friend I ever had. And, I don’t think I ever told her that.” She considered her history with Elsie. Mack acknowledged that she had always been a hard person to get close to, but Elsie didn’t give up. While they hunted, Elsie constantly asked question after question and at first Mack had ignored her completely thinking it would deter the woman, but Elsie persisted, and eventually, Mack began answering. Before she knew it, Mack had told Elsie her life story and they had forged a close friendship. She had missed Elsie terribly in the past months and hoped their friendship could be the same now that she knew the truth. “So, how did she become a vampire?”

  “She was kidnapped by a demon. I believe it was the one you saw holding the females prisoner. Anyway, Elsie was tortured and when we found her we didna think she would survive. Vampire blood has healing properties as you know, so several of us gave her our blood to save her. It took four of us to donate our blood. Shite, in the end she had more vampire blood than human.”

  “So, is that what made her a vampire?”

  “No’ exactly, the Goddess had a hand in it, as well. The Goddess Morrigan appeared at their mating ceremony and told us that Elsie would be the only turned vampire.”

  “Of all that she has been through, to come out the Queen of Vampires is poetic justice. Your kind is lucky to have her. She will be a strong and fair leader. I can’t imagine being in her shoes,” she admitted. He pulled her next to him, grabbing her hand when the path widened.

  He chuckled and brought their hands to kiss the back of hers. “You do realize that you will be a Vampire Princess after our mating ceremony is completed. I am second in line to my brathair.”

  Mack’s steps faltered with his words. She hadn’t considered that Kyran was a prince and what that meant for her. “I am not princess material, Kyran. I wear combat gear and carry a weapon, not a dress and tiara.”

  The glowing water was back and she saw it was trickling down the walls in this area. She looked up at Kyran and was stunned by his profile. The green light cast shadows across his face that made him look raw, sexy and dangerous. He was scanning their surroundings and God help the next creature to cross their path, but at that moment he looked as if he could tear the head of anything that approached them.

  “That is exactly the kind of princess the realm needs. The Tehrex Realm isna like the human world. Zander may have the duties of any monarch, but that doesna extend to pretty dresses and parties for the females. We are all warriors, including Elsie and my puithar, Breslin.” He tugged her hair and gave her the sexiest smile ever. That simple act made her tingle all over. Damn, he was hot.

  “Knowing Elsie is in the lead is a relief. I won’t fuck up too bad, then. So, what are we looking for anyway?” she asked, getting back on track. She vaguely recalled the ivy-covered stone arch they had come through days ago, but had no idea if that was what all portals looked like.

  “I’m no’ certain. Portals vary in appearance. The Fae portal in Seattle is an old VW bug that is guarded by Elvis the troll.”

  She knew of only one troll in Seattle and that was the Fremont Troll, but that was a stone sculpture…although, it did have an old car with it. “You aren’t talking about the Fremont Troll, are you?” She couldn’t imagine the stone beast coming to life and running down the sidewalk.

  “Aye, I am. Why? Have you met Elvis?” He pulled her to the side to avoid a rock she couldn’t see.

  “Uh, not officially, but I have taken my picture with him. That is wicked cool. I want to meet him when we get back.”

  “You want to stroll up and meet a troll the size of a house? Does nothing scare you?” The amusement in his voice made her smile.

  “Sure, but if you are talking about him then he can’t be all that bad or I figure he’d be dead,” she shrugged. No way would Kyran or his fellow warriors leave a creature like the Foawr to roam free in Seattle.

  They came up to a split that had four tunnels connecting to it. She guessed one of the tunnels went to the magma chamber because the heat hit them in waves. She glanced down each of the other tunnels, but couldn’t see anything.

  “You have that much confidence in me?” he asked, shock clear in his tone.

  “Yeah. Somehow I don’t imagine you’d leave a violent predator free to roam the city. Besides, didn’t you tell me that the Goddess gave you guys an edict to protect humans and the realm from the demons? I doubt she would be okay with you ignoring any type of danger.”

  He leaned into her ear, his hot breath falling in puffs against her neck, making her shiver with arousal. “So, you are listening to my lessons. I hope you remember the one aboot me breaking you.”

  She scoffed at his arrogance. “I do remember that one very well. I believe it ended with me being the one to break you,” she countered and sauntered down one of the tunnels.

  She felt his eyes burning into her backside as she retreated. She enjoyed the easy banter they had, but it was disconcerting to feel so comfortable with him. She had always been somewhat distant in her relationships. Some of her boyfriends had even called her cold. But, the biggest difference with Kyran was the heat between them. She had never experienced a consuming passion, until now, and it threatened to engulf her. The thought was both exhilarating and terrifying. Kyran believed she was brave, but in the face of his appetite, she was a quivering mass of Jell-O.

  “Do you always walk into unknown situations unarmed, Mackendra? If so, I doona know how you have survived this long,” he chastised as he caught up to her.

  She was immediately irritated with herself. She was always prepared for battle and had worked hard to hone her instincts, yet here she was lost in thoughts of Kyran. She yanked out her blade at the same time he wrapped his arm around her waist, pulling her close to his side. “My warrioress. I know ‘tis hard no’ to think aboot me,” he teased. This whole mind-reading was irritating. He had told her they would be able to read each other’s minds, but so far she hadn’t heard anything.

  “
Shut it, vamp. Do you sense anything?”

  “I sense Fae magic, as well as, another life-force. Stay close because I doona know what we are facing.” She nodded and tightened her grip on her knife. The glowing water wasn’t as profuse here, but thankfully, she could still see.

  They rounded a corner, nearly bumping into a man. An unnaturally-good-looking man with luminescent skin. Kyran shoved her behind his body and the guy didn’t miss the move as he eyed them with his odd, orange eyes.

  “I didn’t expect you to survive the Foawr. I have to thank you for that one. I’ve been trapped in these tunnels for days trying to avoid it.”

  “Who are you?” Kyran demanded.

  Mack looked this new person over. The handsome man had on dirty leather pants similar to the one’s the dragon had given Kyran, as well as, a shirt that was so dirty that she couldn’t tell what color it used to be. His skin wasn’t as dirty as his clothes. She cocked her head to the side. Was his skin glowing? No, she decided, but it did have an odd iridescent quality to it.

  “My name is Rhett. And, whom do I have the pleasure of meeting?” His friendly manner put her at ease, but she wasn’t going to trust that after her experience with Nate. Mack snuck around the side of Kyran, holding her knife down at her side. She’d fight and die beside her mate, if necessary.

  “I am Kyran Tarakesh, Vampire Prince of the Tehrex Realm and this is Mackendra Callaghan, my mate. I see that you are a fire demon. Do you live here in the volcano?”

  “It’s a pleasure to meet you both. I’m not familiar with the Tehrex Realm. And, to answer your question, no, I don’t live here. I live in Duamutef, but I come here often to let my demon out safely.”

  “Forgive my ignorance, but what is a fire demon? You’re not like any of the demons I’ve come across.”

  Rhett met her gaze and laughed. “I’m going to go out on a limb and say you’ve encountered demons from hell. My home realm of Koine is nothing like hell. It’s very similar to Khoth, actually. Don’t worry, I’m harmless,” he winked at her and she couldn’t help but smile back. Pip chose that moment to peak out from around the side of her head and squeak.