“Here, there,” she replied with a shoulder shrug.
Training a finger along her cheekbone, down to her chin, he leaned close to her ear and whispered, “Let us find a private spot to better know each other.”
She rubbed against him suggestively. “Sounds like a wonderful idea.”
“I know just the perfect place.” Allowing the vamp to place his arm around her shoulders, she smiled at him as he led her into the woods.
Further they walked, the music grew faint. Suddenly, he stopped and turned her in his arms. Supreme male satisfaction on his gloating features made her want to punch him. Instead, she stared at him, appearing to be enthralled by him.
“Oh, you are a delectable bite, aren’t you? I’ll bet you taste as sweet as you look.”
Chuckling, she answered, “Oh, I’d wager you’ve never tasted anything like me before.”
“Really? Is that an invitation to sample you?” he asked huskily.
Behind him, Alex appeared. “Sorry, mate, she’s not for you.”
Whipping around, the vamp faced him, his eyes widening when he saw the sword he held. “A Slayer. I should have known. Why do you hunt a simple vamp such as me?”
“You know why. Do not pretend. It is unworthy of you.”
Faking a regretful sigh, the vamp shrugged his shoulders. “I get my meals from druggies and runaways. No one misses them.”
“You kill, and that we cannot have.”
Snarling at Alex, he dropped the handsome façade and made to grab her. She disappeared, reappearing beside Alex. “You haven’t been a vamp long, have you?”
“Hey,” he lifted his hands in the air, his features back to normal, “I don’t have time for this. I’m supposed to be setting up for the rave.”
“Sorry,” Alex said, “you won’t be playing tonight, or any other for that matter.”
“Dude, I’m just a harmless DJ. I make people happy. Give them awesome music lists to dance to. Why don’t we just go our separate ways, forget we ever saw each other, and call it a night?”
“Sorry, dude, can’t let you live,” Alex grimly informed him. “You’ve killed innocent people.”
“Hell with this!” The vamp bolted and met the flash of her sword as she swung, beheading him.
She leaned down and wiped the green blood off her blade on the dead vamp’s jeans. Sheathing it, she said, “Huh, that was easier than I’d expected.”
Alex gazed at the headless vamp, puzzled. “He really didn’t expect us to kill him, did he?”
“It was like he didn’t have a clue why we hunt his kind.”
“Typical of the Damned. They turn humans and leave them to learn how to survive on their own. A waste of life.” Taking the water bottle she pulled out of her backpack and handed to him, he sprinkled it on the body. They watched as the man ignited into flames. Sheathing his sword, he handed the bottle back to her. “Let’s return to Wulf Manor.”
Putting the water bottle back inside her backpack, she pulled it on. “Ready.”
They shape-shifted back into eagles and flew back to Wulf Manor. Bonfires had been lit in intervals around the manor, pushing back the darkness. Landing in the courtyard, they shifted back and were soon joined by Herrick and Michael.
“See anything while you were out?” Herrick asked, shouldering his rifle.
Alex answered, “We ran into a demon vamp at a rave party and had to deal with him. Otherwise, quiet. Here?”
“So far it’s been quiet. My mother is almost finished with the potion.”
“Do you think it will affect me and Kai?”
“She says it shouldn’t, but we will soon find out,” Herrick grinned, clapping Alex on the back.
Shaking his head at the Gypsy, Alex unbuckled his sword. “I haven’t showered in a couple of days. I won’t be long.”
Herrick and Kai watched as he walked back to the house. Alex opened the door and stood back as the women exited the house, carrying buckets filled with a yellow powder. Sulfur and salt, other ingredients she failed to recognize, the overpowering smell made Kai pinch her nose. Eyes watering, she realized Alex had forgotten to get the clean clothes she had in her backpack.
“Herrick, I need to give Alex his clothes, then I’ll be back to help you with spreading out the power.”
“We can handle it. Why don’t you take a shower as well? ” Herrick grinned at her with a sly look in his dark eyes.
Heat crept up her neck, to her cheeks. She mumbled, “Be right back.”
Chewing on her lower lip, she went upstairs, trying not to think about Alex naked, water running down his skin … to feel him pressed against her naked body. “Get a grip, girl, and stay on target. Lisle’s not gonna stay away for long.” At his door, she lifted her hand to knock on it, before she could make contact, it swung open.
Her jaw dropped.
Clad only with a white towel wrapped around his lean hips, she nearly swallowed her tongue. Drinking in his magnificence, realizing her girlhood fantasy fell glaringly short. He’d changed from the young man she’d seen in his dreams and it was breathtaking. Sleek and powerful, he was perfect in every detail. Towering over her, she tilted her head back to better see his face and nearly gasped. His eyes were glowing dark green in the soft lamplight. His handsome face tensed, his jaw flexed as he moved to close the short distance between them. The masculine smell of him made her heady; the heat coming off his skin seared her, making her want to lean into him and burn. He pulled her into his room. Kai jumped when the door close behind her, the click of the lock being turned sounded more like a gunshot than metal against metal.
“Alex,” she began, silenced when he cupped her face between his large hands and kissed her.
His warm mouth caressed hers and Kai clung to him, opening her mouth to welcome the invasion of his rough tongue. He devoured her, giving and taking, hungrily possessing her. Never had she seen this side of Alex, not even when he was with Lisle. He was wild and free, and he was with her. He lifted his hand and slid his long, lean fingers around her neck, pulling her up as he crushed her lips in a hungry kiss. Sliding her hands along the hard muscles of his stomach, she almost smiled at the low growl he issued deep in his throat. Giving and taking, her world was spinning out of control as his arms slipped around her pulling her closer into him.
In the midst of the pleasure, the incredible feel of him kissing her, she felt the darkness invade: the cold warning danger was coming their way. Pulling back away from him, Alex made to protest until she put her hand on his chest and stopped him. Feeling the beating of his heart, using him as an anchor in the maelstrom of rage, hunger, and fear pulling her in as she connected to the ones coming to kill them.
“Alex, they’re almost here!”
“Who is?”
“The Damned!”
“Dammit! That’s all we need is a pack of demon vamps on top of Lisle!” Frustrated, he jammed his hands on his hips. “I need the clean clothes we obtained earlier.”
Grabbing the backpack she’d dropped when he kissed her, she pulled out the clothes and handed them to him. “Hurry and get dressed! They’re two miles down the road from the manor and are speeding.”
Taking the clothes from her, he turned around and pulled on the jeans under his towel before whipping it off. Much to her regret, she didn’t get to see anything except a glimpse of his chiseled ass, which was quite nice to view, even better to touch. Trying not to smile at remembering how his ass felt under her hands, she cleared her throat and focused on the danger on their way to Wulf Manor.
Pulling one the faded black tee-shirt with a rock band logo on it, he asked. “How many vamps?”
She closed her eyes and focused on the vamps. “Twelve. Son-of-a-bitch!” She snarled, opening her eyes.
Alex was sitting on the bed, lacing the black leather boots she’d found for him. “What’s wrong?”
“Jeremy Waters is leading them and he’s no longer a ghoul but is a full on demon vamp.”
“Angel must h
ave turned him.” Slipping on his sword and fastened the silver buckle, he took the gun she’d given him and hooked it to his waistband, at his right hip. He took her hand in his and they rushed out of the room, hurrying downstairs. “Dammit, I didn’t think Lisle would have asked for their help.”
“She didn’t. Waters is pissed. Really pissed. Lisle is making a mess of his plans, and he needs to fix it before Angel finds out.”
“Great. Just great,” Alex grumbled as they headed outside. “Can you get a fix on Lisle? Is she close to us?”
“Yes. Jeremy is searching for her, too. She escaped the men he had watching her at the club. They followed her here. She’s hiding out in the woods and she’s not scared. In fact, she’s….”
“She’s what?”
“Happy. Something’s not right, Alex. This whole thing feels like a trap, and we’re the bait.”
“I agree. At least we’re forewarned. Thank God, your gifts are back! Herrick,” he shouted waving to gain the Gypsy’s attention, “we’ve company on their way!”
“Is it Lisle?” Herrick asked, lifting his rifle and set a bullet in the chamber.
“No, it’s worse than Lisle. We’ve demon vamps on their way here.”
“Are they Lisle’s creations?”
“No. They work for Angel de Morte, current leader of the Damned. They plan to attack us.”
“Well, that confirms what Mary said that we were to be ready. Michael, Thomas, bring out the silver ammo! Children, add wood to the fires!”
Women and children hurried to throw more wood onto the fire, the flames soon reaching for the sky. Herrick’s sons returned, handing out cartons of bullets. Water jugs were passed around. Crosses had been written onto the plastic cartons with a black marking pen.
Mary and Gaeta hurried toward them. The old woman was holding an empty bucket in her gnarled hand. “Done! We had enough to include the barns as well. Our livestock will be safe.”
“Gaeta,” Kai asked, “are you certain the powder you created will keep the Damned out?”
Anxious, the old woman shrugged her narrow shoulders. “I do not know. I’ve only read that it had worked for my great-grandmother when their village was beset by the demons seeking her and her daughter for their powers.”
Kai ordered, “Mary, stay beside your father! Do not get separated, do you understand? Do not reach out to me and do not open your mind to the Damned! They must not know you are special. Got it?”
“Y-yes, I understand. Be safe, Kai.”
Winking at her, she smiled. “We’ve faced worse. Haven’t we, Alex?”
“Indeed we have.” The faint rumble of powerful engines warned them they were out of time. “Herrick, get the women and children inside the house! The Damned cannot enter without permission.”
“Can’t they burn it down?” Michael asked as his wife and sons huddled closer to him.
“Not with us guarding them,” Alex reassured him. “Go and settle them into the ballroom. They’ll be safe in there. I promise you. Men, take position at the windows. Shoot only when I give the signal. Kai and I will meet Waters and his henchmen at the gate. Let’s hope the powder works. If not, we’ll have a helluva fight on our hands.”
“We have faith in you, Master. And you, Miss Kai,” Herrick said with confidence.
“I’m glad you do, Herrick,” she replied, “cuz I’m running a bit short on faith right about now.”
Grinning, he clapped her soundly on the back. “Do not worry, Miss Kai. I have enough faith for both of us.” Resting his hand on his heart, he gave her and Alex a short bow. “Slayers, we will defend you as you defend us.”
“Just don’t shoot us.” Kai cocked her eyebrow at the men, who sheepishly grinned at her. “I freakin don’t need any more scars.”
“We’ll take better care where we aim today, I promise,” Michael assured her.
Drawing her gun, she asked Alex, “Ready?”
A wicked, predatory smile upturned his delicious-looking mouth. “Lead the way, my lady.”
“Great.” She rolled her eyes at his eagerness. “You’re starting to remind me of Sin.”
“I like Sin,” he replied as they headed to the closed gates.
“You do?”
“Yes. He is an honorable man, handy in a fight.” Alex drew his gun, set a bullet in the chamber.
“Of course you would. You, two, are a lot alike.” The headlights from the cars broke the dark lane. “Alex, don’t take this the wrong way, but I really wish Sin and Mina were here with us.”
“Me, too.” Before she knew what he was about, Alex pulled her to him and kissed her. Savoring the taste of him, she wanted the kiss to go on forever, the moment broken by the roar of car engines.
Alex drew back. “Kai, if I should fall, leave Wulf Manor.”
“What?”
“Leave here. Go straight to Berlin, to Faeroes and tell him what’s happened here.”
“What about the gypsies?”
“Leave here! I want you to survive. You must survive!” he pressed his forehead to hers, gazing into her eyes, forcing her to see his desperation.
Placing her hand along the slant of his hard jawline, shivering at the feel of the whiskers he allowed to grow, she whispered, tears blurring her vision, “Without you, there is no reason to live.”
“Woman, what am I going to do with you?”
“After we kill these assholes, you and I are gonna have some alone time, that’s what!”
Grinning at her, exposing his white teeth, Alex chuckled. “Yes, ma’am! Now, let’s put these bastards out of their misery, shall we?”
“Yes, sir. Let’s set them free.”
Aiming their guns at the driver in the lead SUV. The vamp was no longer wearing his human face. His mouth filled with teeth and he was frothing at the mouth with his eagerness to run them down. Suddenly the front of the SUV crumpled, as if it had hit a cement barricade, except there was nothing there. The vamp launched through windshield and hit the invisible barrier with such force it reduced him to a bloodied mass of flesh and broken bones.
She saw the line of yellow powder the gypsies had spread. “Holy smokes! It worked! The powder really works!”
Alex replied grimly, “It won’t against guns.”
Shaking her head at him, she gave him an arched glare, “Always the positive one, aren’t ya?”
“Ready yourself. They’re getting out of their cars.”
Sure enough, the men stumbled out of the wrecked vehicle, bleeding green blood out of their cuts. Lord, they smelt rancid! Older a demon vamp was, the worse they smelt. These guys were experienced. Crap. The other two cars slid to a stop behind the damaged SUV. Jeremy Waters climbed out the backseat of the third car, holding a semiautomatic in his hand. The rest of the vamps piled out of the cars, holding machine guns.
“Well, well,” Jeremy said, “if it isn’t Kai Jordan. Nice to see you have recovered from your bout with dead man’s blood. You do understand that I had my orders. No hard feelings?”
“Oh, there’s hard feelings alright, and I’m really going to enjoy hurting you before I kill you,” she smiled tightly at him.
Instead of being alarmed at her threat, Jeremy observed the dead vamp lying on the ground. “Care to explain how you created an invisible road block?”
“Wanna explain how you’re Undead and not Angel’s faithful ghoul anymore?”
He shrugged as he smiled at her, exposing his fangs. “Angel kept her promise to promote me.” His eyes turned red as he demanded, “How did you create an invisible wall?”
“Family secret.”
“As resourceful as your mother was.” Jeremy tried to step across the yellow powder, unable to cross it. To his men, he ordered, “Check it out.”
He kept on smiling at her and it was creeping her out. She watched his men try to find a way past the barrier. One flew in the air and tried to pass, bounced backward, quickly returning to the ground with a bloodied nose. They ran down the line of powder, disappea
ring from sight.
“Alex, why aren’t we killing them?”
He gave her a surprised glance, apparently not expecting her to talk to him telepathically. “I want to learn what they know. The Damned are always chatty. Perhaps we will glean what their true mission here is.”
“I already checked their minds.”
“As you said earlier, those strong enough can block you. Let’s play along for now.”
“Then we kill them?”
“Then we kill them all, including Jeremy Waters.”
“Good,” she replied with a malicious smirk that made Jeremy nervous.
“So,” Jeremy said, breaking the silence, “I heard your plane met with some engine trouble on your way to Berlin. Nothing serious I hope?”
“Something you planned?” Kai gripped her gun tighter in her hand, itching to put a bullet between his eyes, especially after the hell she and Alex endured lost the wilderness.
“Sadly, it was not me this time. Rumor is Harklee had a hand in it. Quite ingenious using rockets to bring down a plane carrying vamps, don’t you agree?” He gave her an admiring once over. “You are quite a resilient woman, aren’t you? Who’d have thought you would have been able to have survived jumping out into broad daylight. Quite impressive.”
Ignoring what almost sounded like a compliment, she asked, “Did Harklee wind up a vamp, like you did?”
His polite demeanor vanished. Jeremy snarled, “That two-faced bastard is not worthy to be even a ghoul! His agenda brings destruction to the Borne and the Damned. There’s a bounty currently issued for his death, the sooner the better for all of us.”
Well, that settled the question whether or not Harklee was working with the Damned. If they didn’t want him, then he was running rogue. Double crap. “What brings you all the way out here to the boonies? Can’t be because of my charming personality. Perhaps it’s because of Lisa, or as she is better known as Lisle Breber?”
“Then you have seen her, I take it?” Jeremy tensed, gripping his gun tighter in his hand. For the first time, he addressed Alex, “Mr. Walker, or rather should I address you as my lord, Baron Wulf, have you spoken to Lisle lately? Bet it was a nasty shock to realize the woman who brought destruction to your family was not dead, huh?” Jeremy smirked.
Wulf's Redemption (Borne Vampires Book 3) Page 18