Immediately he let go of Kenna to safeguard her from becoming attached to whatever this was. The power in the wall did not enter or leave him. It simply was him. His head whipped around to glare at the woman who had not moved from the hearth.
“What trick is this?”
“No trick. I am powered by those I was made to protect. I am powered by the One. Simply put, I am a symbiotic, artificial intelligence. Kenna’s genetic marker is mine. Through her I am yours. Were the first daughter marker to move to another, I would follow it. Since her family never ceased to exist, I have remained. My abilities were greatly diminished, as were yours without the connection to her, but now we are well. You guard your senses as you should. Open them and know the truth. I am an extension of you.”
Cautiously extending his senses, Lore frowned. There was certainly truth in what the woman’s projection said but there was much more as well. “I wouldn’t classify you as an extension of me. For one, I’m not inclined to wear skirts.”
“Humph,” Vivian sniffed. “Do try to keep up. I’m using the small words you can understand to explain a complicated concept. Please don’t remind me of Synth and his narrow view. It puts me in a bad mood.”
Kenna interrupted. “Can you heal me? Synth said he was bringing Celina because she needed your healing.”
Vivian’s expression change to a sad, compassionate smile. “I can help you, my dear. Assist in your recovery and certainly boost your immune system, strengthening you while you are within my walls, but I cannot restore life to dead tissue. My knowledge of Keeper physiology makes me the best doctor available. It doesn’t make me a real miracle worker. I’ll just look like one sometimes.”
“Again, we have much to learn,” Lore injected calmly, slipping an arm around Kenna to share her disappointment. “It’s time to let the others in. Is there something else you need to tell us before they enter?”
“Honey, if I need to tell you anything, I’ll do it. You brought that nice boy Landor with you. Do invite them in,” Vivian agreed as she faded from view.
“You like Landor but not Synth?” Lore questioned in amusement.
“Naturally,” Vivian responded. Her voice was coming from the spot a body had been standing.
Three hours later the Gray Lady was bustling with activity as trucks unloaded furnishings and equipment. Julianna directed the movers from the main hall. In the control room Vivian had pointed out, Kenna, Lore and Yuri were watching the approach of a private helicopter.
The room had a wall of screens above a bank of controls. There was local and regional radar, surveillance infrared, satellite views from every hunk of metal in the sky and several other screens Lore was realizing he could control with a thought.
“We can steal satellite access?” Yuri had asked as he stepped into the room.
“Uh-huh,” Lore confirmed absently as he explored the controls.
“Can they catch us?” Yuri wanted to know.
“Nope,” Lore responded.
Yuri pulled out the chair beside Lore. “This place is growing on me.”
“You have no idea,” Kenna agreed.
“Going to explain it?” Yuri asked.
Lore glanced around the room, considering. Most things in it were items he would have had installed. The things that were not could only be called extremely advanced. This amazing technological center would be the envy of any world power. It had been fashioned to his needs in ways he didn’t yet understand. The symbiotic relationship with Vivian was indeed interesting.
Her no-nonsense personality was one he was comfortable with. It was very military in its precision and lack of coddling. The problem was he had no idea how she’d manufactured the hardware around him. Her ability to create objects was a mystery as was the other side of her persona. The female element of her was very unpredictable.
The only thing he could honestly say he understood was her claim that she grew through the One. As he and Kenna increased, so would she. That was a common principal in Keeper society, interdependence.
“Nope,” Lore answered. “The Gray Lady has to make up her own mind about you. If she wants to tell you, she will. I want to see what kind of judgment calls she makes.”
“A test?” Vivian’s form materialized beside Yuri, causing the big man to start in surprise. “Really, Lore. We need to move beyond that.”
Lore leaned back, letting an arm drop around the back of Kenna’s chair. “You do enjoy scaring people,” he commented as Yuri glowered at the thing Lore was talking to.
Vivian looked at Yuri’s thunderous expression. “I’m guessing it’ll only work once with this one. My,” she addressed Yuri as he stood and backed up a few steps, “you are a big boy.”
Yuri simply raised a brow as his face regained its normal bland composure.
“Oh, and he doesn’t talk much. I think I like this one.” Vivian beamed at Yuri. “How do you feel about large, not-really-human women? Mmm?”
Yuri blinked and turned to Lore. “Did the house just make a pass at me?”
Lore was rubbing his jaw in an effort not to react. Kenna wasn’t so controlled and had to put a hand over her mouth to keep in the bark of laughter. Yuri’s complete non-response and the amazingly predatory look on Vivian’s face were too much.
“Ah, could be,” Lore evaded.
Yuri turned to face the female figure. “Was I mistaken in inferring that you are an embodiment of this structure?” he asked politely.
“And look how smart he is,” Vivian marveled softly, ignoring and answering Yuri at the same time, her eyes traveling over him in obvious appraisal.
“Madam,” Yuri stated firmly, “this is not an appropriate way to express yourself to a member of this household.”
“Sugar lips, that helicopter is about to land. We’ll talk when you get to your room. Then it’ll be just you and me.”
Everyone exited the control room as Vivian vanished.
“Sir,” Yuri strode briskly beside Lore as the three of them went outside, “permission to pitch a field tent outside the gate?”
“You plan to make yourself the gate guard?” Lore asked.
“As long as necessary,” Yuri confirmed.
Three figures stepped off the chopper, each walking tall. Celina, between Boris and Synth, strode with her head up. Kenna smothered a gasp as they neared.
Celina had a swollen lip and the beginnings of a black eye, but that was not what caused Kenna to shrink against Lore for a second before she could control her reaction. It was the darkness swirling around the three of them. Night walked with these three. There was no other description for the mix of controlled violence they each embodied.
Boris’ hand gently clasped his sister’s elbow, but Celina did not need assistance. Previously she’d been a quiet, somewhat mysterious woman, her movements graceful. The woman she was now was just as graceful, but the closed-off nature of her soul changed everything. Boris mirrored her complete lack of contact on the Keeper scale. His face a mask of calm that was frightening in its coldness. Synth felt the same.
Greetings were restrained as Celina stepped away from Boris’ touch. He let her go easily, filling the silence after a brief “Hello” with a request for a place for Celina to rest. Celina’s need for distance was silent and unmistakable. Kenna knew better than to reach for her as she greeted her. Landor appeared at the castle door with Vivian beside him.
Synth was carrying a long metal box. On the top step he offered it to Kenna. “The journey took us to New England so I stopped by New York on the way back. You were wanting this, I believe?” He held out the safe deposit box to her.
“Thank you,” Kenna responded in surprise as she accepted the box. “How did you get the whole thing out of the bank?”
Synth smiled. “I was in a hurry so I didn’t bother the employees. They will not wish to admit an entire box is missing so I doubt they will quibble with any story you choose to tell them with regard to why you have it.”
Kenna raised a brow. �
�Handy talent you have. Lore, would you keep this for me?” she handed the heavy box to him. “Celina, can we show you where you can rest? This is Vivian. I hope Synth has explained who she is.”
Celina nodded with a tight smile as Kenna and Vivian led her into the castle.
Lore watched the group enter and had to remind himself that it was not necessary to have Kenna in sight at all times up here. He knew exactly where she was, this place allowed him to know the movements of each individual within its walls if he chose to focus on those details.
Boris and Synth headed for the kitchen, Landor joined them. The suppressed violence around them silenced the loud moving chaos as Keepers quickly stepped out of their way.
It was most of an hour before Kenna entered the control room where Lore was alone. On a conference call with U.S. General Hillier, he watched her enter and close the door behind her. Leaning on it, she flicked the lock.
Her breath came in light pants as if she’d been running. Around her wafted the distress she had no way of suppressing. He had felt it building as she did her best to reach Celina and still be respectful of Celina’s needs. There was nothing Kenna could do for Celina. Untried instincts made demands that Kenna had no idea how to express.
The drive to fix whatever was wrong rode her hard. Lore suspected it always would. Kenna felt responsible for whatever had happened to Celina. The enemy had not been coming for Celina, she’d been taken in Kenna’s place. At least that’s how it felt to his trembling woman as she leaned against the door and closed her eyes.
Being in this castle changed her. As Vivian promised, whatever it was she did, she appeared a miracle worker. Kenna was completely recovered physically, her body humming with strength. Not like his, but as close as she could come with every system working at optimum. At this moment, everything in her was churning in a whirling mass of frustration that was translating to anger.
Lore ended the call and rose, taking the two strides to bring him to her. Her soul in turmoil was not comfortable for him, perhaps not for the rest of the Keepers as well. They were still discovering how everyone was connected.
Both hands on the door beside her head, he covered her with his body. “It’s not your fault,” he informed her forcefully as his lips descended to her neck. Licking kisses up sensitive flesh did not distract her, but her head thudded on the door as she arched her neck into his mouth.
“It is someone’s fault,” she returned in deceptively mild tones. “Have you reviewed Vivian’s information on her visitor the other night?”
“Yeah.” Lore raised his head and watched her face. “We already knew Gregory had something to do with all this. Gregory was a tool. Dahshur would have come here anyway.”
“But not so soon.” Kenna’s hands were restlessly raking his rib cage in subconscious aggression as she continued. “A few more days and we would have been more in control of our powers.”
“Probably,” Lore agreed cautiously. “Things are always clearer after action.”
What he felt in her was different. The heat of aggression washed through her emotions, changing even the sexual awareness they could not escape. He leaned into her body, easily lifting her up the door to bring her lips to his. Lore growled into her mouth as he took it. His reaction to her in this mood was potent. The beast in him walked on the wrong side of the feral and was perhaps a bit too pleased his little mate could cross over with him.
Kenna’s knees came up to hug his ribs, her calves behind him as heels dug into his ass to jerk his lower body into her. The connection writhed with demand, her soul meeting his on a new level.
Lore ripped his mouth off hers, pulling back. “Be careful,” he hissed harshly. “Don’t start something we can’t control.”
Deep breaths pressed her breasts into his chest and he could feel the hard points of her nipples through the clothes. The addictive perfume of her arousal punched into his senses with new power. It burned him with its wild spice scent.
Kenna chuckled in a dark rumble he’d never heard before.
“What? Afraid, big boy?” she challenged. “Little me too much to handle?”
“Kenna, we’re playing with fire. We’re both unpredictable in this mood.”
“You’re the one who pointed out that exploring our power is the gift we’re responsible to give our people,” she countered. “Besides, pissant is on his way up here. I can feel him coming and he’s got his attitude all fired up. It’d be wise for me to work off some of this energy before he gets here.”
Humor sliced through the dark power she drew from him. “Using me for sex because you’re mad?” he snarled, but couldn’t hide how it amused him.
Kenna leaned forward and nipped his neck. “Got a problem with that?”
“Oh hell no,” he breathed as her mouth ate around to his chin in stinging little nips, her body arched away from the door into the hard bulge of his erection. “But having a look in the documents from that box is…” He paused as she bit him a little lower.
“Tell Vivian to look at it,” Kenna murmured. “She’s us, only faster. We’ll know exactly what everything is.”
“Right,” he agreed. “Excellent use of…the equipment.”
Her busy hands or her brilliant mind, both were doing an outstanding job of using what was available to her. Lore gave up being the voice of reason and responsibility. It literally wasn’t possible when the lovely little darlin’ in his arms needed every damn thing he was. Everything he could give her, be for her. It would never be enough, but he’d damn well keep giving her more.
Impatient fingers clawed at his shirt, and Lore did what came naturally. The shirt disappeared. Her hot mouth opened over his shoulder in approval. Another talent discovered but neither marveled. There would be time later.
“More,” Kenna demanded in his mind, her face lifted to watch the wild in his eyes as he stripped them.
The next instant a naked beast had his mate pinned against the door, and she was snarling impatiently as he rubbed her breasts on his chest. They weren’t kissing. This was too intense to lose eye contact as he lowered her over the hard core of need. His need, hers? She drove him to this fast, furious demand, but there was nothing he wanted more than to take her every way she needed it.
Thrusting up into the tight, wet welcome of her body flashed blinding heat across every system. Together they jumped into the blast. His body slammed her back to the door in a pounding rhythm.
It was good, so good. Kenna clawed down his chest and met him in the place where the One writhed in carnal pleasure. They were everything and nothing. His body drove them, but hers housed the fierce souls as they fed on the thundering blaze.
Children of the eternal flame, who could say if that fire lived in hell’s halls or lighted heaven’s gate? It simply was them, and they were not of the humans’ world anymore. Embracing the truth of that fact was the core freedom for them and their people.
Lore’s growl built to a roar as her tight channel exploded around him. There was no letup in the furious pace of their mating as he joined her in that fast, hard blast of white-hot pleasure. When at last they were calm enough to be still, he continued to pin her to the door, panting into her shoulder as her small hand petted the back of his head.
At last lifting his head, he regarded the temptress in his arms. Her head was resting on the door, graceful neck arched, eyes closed.
“Your guest is pulling up.” He kissed her neck and moved to disengage them.
Kenna opened her eyes languidly and a tiny frown appeared on her face as she glanced around them. “Lore, what happened to the clothes?”
Not letting her go, his grin was way too arrogant. “Hell if I know. Julie will have to bring us some.”
“We can’t do that again. Disappearing clothes is…” Kenna paused as they both felt Gregory and his group’s energy. It slithered into the castle with a bitter scent as the men were ushered into a room to await the royals. “He is planning to challenge us,” Kenna stated as Vivian fed them
information in a nanosecond.
Clothes appeared as if from thin air, fluttering to drape on the backs of chairs as though carefully placed there.
“I said, anything you need I can provide,” Vivian said in brisk tones though her form did not materialize as they looked at the clothing. It was exactly what they had been wearing before. On the seat of two chairs appeared old-fashioned serving platters, each with a steaming white towel and a perfectly dry towel neatly folded side by side. The difference between the two trays was one held Kenna’s makeup case as well.
“Thank you, Vivian.” Kenna was already using her warm towel. The information from the safe deposit box was both shocking and pretty much what she expected. As with any information, the measure of its usefulness depended on how it was distributed. She had a very good idea what to do with the facts that involved Gregory’s ancestors and their claim to her people’s throne.
Lore was much more casual with his towel, mostly he was watching Kenna going over data, dressing in determined motions as she became immersed in her family’s history. By the time she was fully clothed, hair brushed and a little makeup applied, her sharp mind had come up with a very extensive plan.
“Damn, baby,” Lore mused as he dropped into a chair, having only bothered with pants. The plan in Kenna’s mind was simple and devastating to the man waiting for her. Also, she wanted to handle Gregory on her own. It was a very old family matter that was about to be put to rest in a very modern fashion.
“It’s my family,” she stated. “Time I took care of it.”
“Vivian with you at all times,” was Lore’s one requirement.
Kenna’s smile was darkly menacing as she agreed. “Of course. She’s going to enjoy this even more than I am.”
* * * * *
Gregory waited in a relatively small sitting room. Graciously appointed but very obviously a woman’s private reception with its feminine décor, the room was jammed with large men. Kenna’s entrance was met with grim expressions.
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