Dark Tremor (Mated by Magic #2)

by Stella Marie Alden

  “Falcon, take me to the reservation. Your grandfather will know what to do. Please.”

  “I-I can’t.” Beady eyes flickered back and forth between the oncoming gangster and Terra.

  “Falcon. Please.” She grabbed his wrist. Pain clouded her beautiful eyes.

  “Stay here. I’ll be right back.” The little weasel turned on a heel and bolted.

  The look of rejection on Terra’s face made Jace want to punch him in the nose. Something wasn’t right. What was up with the skittishness?

  Jace would’ve followed to find out, but he wouldn’t leave her. Not like this.

  “Come on.” He placed an arm under her knees and another one under her shoulder and picked her up. “I’ll take you wherever you want to go.”

  She shivered uncontrollably in his arms. “He knows who I am. That’s why he’s here.”

  Jace had a bad feeling she was right. They needed out of there, fast. He doubted Mic would try anything with the media around, but who knew how fucking crazy the man really was. If the stories about him were true, Terra was in a shitload of trouble, and he’d just stepped right in it with her.

  He placed her in the passenger seat of his truck and shut the door.

  “What are you going to do?” Josh handed him the cat, blessedly in a carrier.

  “I don’t know yet.”

  “I booked a suite at the Vdara. Meet us back there. We’ll regroup and we can figure out our next move.”

  “Sounds good.” Jace ran a hand over his chin. “Sorry you and Nicole were dragged into this.”

  Josh shrugged as if the whole world weren’t being shifted off its axis. “Nicole has family here that she hasn’t seen in a while.”

  “Thanks for being here.” He gave Josh an appreciative smile, then headed around to the driver’s side.

  In the truck, Jace leaned over to put the cage on Terra’s lap, then turned on the ignition. “You doing all right?”

  “I don’t know.” Her fingers shook as she poked between the front grate and rubbed the cat’s nose.

  “Keep your face down. I’ll get you out of here.”

  He had to dodge several newscasters and a couple of firefighters, but after a few minutes, they were free and clear. “My brother booked a room on the Strip. You can stay with us until we figure things out.”

  “I can’t stay with you.”

  Not this again.

  He took a deep breath and tried to keep his voice calm. “Why not?”

  “Who knows what Mic will do. I don’t want to involve you.”

  “I’m already involved.” Turning onto the highway, he glanced in the rearview mirror. No one appeared to be following.

  “Still…” She rubbed her arms and shivered.

  He could hear her teeth chattering.

  Ignoring his common sense, he reached out and placed his hand on hers. Instead of pulsating heat, her skin was ice cold. Shit. She was most likely in shock. The little weasel had done a half-ass job healing her.

  “Stop…the…car.” She was shaking uncontrollably now. “Ple-please.”

  “Okay.” He pulled off on a gravel road and put the truck in park.

  Terra tumbled from the truck, took a few wobbly steps and doubled over, clutching her stomach with one hand, the other gripping the gravel like a lifeline. A heart-wrenching cry tore from her throat.

  He raced from the truck and crouched beside her. “What can I do?”

  “I…just ne-need…a…moment.” The words came out in small gulps.

  Screw that. The last thing she needed was to be left alone. He wrapped his arms around her, pulling her up and holding her tight against his chest, ignoring the energy that pulsed between them.

  Silent sobs shook her body.

  “Everything’s gone.” The desperation in her voice cut him.

  “We’ll fix it.” He tried not to notice how perfectly she fit against him. “Whatever you lost, we’ll figure a way to get it back.”

  “I can’t go back there.”

  He held her tighter, knowing she was right. A sense of guilt washed over him. If he hadn’t shown up, ignored the trespassing signs, none of this would have happened. Or maybe it would’ve and she would have had no one to protect her. His body tensed at the thought.

  “We’ll get you settled. You can come back to Jersey with us. With me.” He cupped her chin and forced her to look at him. “Mic won’t be able to touch you there.”

  “Now that he’s sure I exist, he’ll find me.”

  “Not with my family’s help. I promise I’ll never let him anywhere near you. You’ll be safe. I promise.”

  “Why would you do this for me?” She blinked up at him.

  There was suspicion in her eyes. But hell, after everything she’d gone through, why wouldn’t there be?

  His heart tightened painfully in his chest. The need to protect her rode him hard. The need to possess her, even harder. He clenched his jaw, fighting for control.

  “Because I can and I don’t want to see anything bad happen to you.”

  She pulled her bottom lip between her teeth and looked down. When she finally looked back at him, there was acceptance mixed with resignation in her gaze.

  “Okay,” she said softly.

  He breathed out a sigh of relief. “Good. Now let’s get you to the hotel so you can rest.”

  “First, I need to show you something.”

  Chapter 12

  They drove past the Air Force base at Indian Springs, then Terra instructed Jace to drive north on Mercury Highway. Nothing but blue sky, scrub brush, and telephone poles for mile after beautiful mile. At high noon, desert shadows vacated, making the area seem even less populated.

  “Turn off here.”

  A familiar dirt road led deep into the hills and the truck’s shocks took a beating as he gunned the engine.

  About an hour later, she tugged on his arm. “Stop.”

  “Here?” He parked, shielded his eyes, and searched the terrain.

  “C’mon. Let’s go.”

  Her mine’s entrance was a hidden slit between two boulders, about twenty feet up the hill.

  While he sat and changed his shoes, she opened the windows and placed the cat carrier on the back seat. Pumpkin meowed sadly.

  “We won’t be long.”

  Jace rolled his eyes and she couldn’t help but laugh. Renewed by the freedom and the stones nearby, she took the lead and climbed, while his ass dragged behind. His breath warmed the back of her neck when she stopped for him to catch up. She squeezed between the two rocks.

  “I found this place when I was eighteen.”

  He put in one shoulder, then frowned and backed away. “I’m nowhere near as small as you.”

  She raised her eyebrows and glanced down his long muscular torso. Man, he was built. But he was also right, he wouldn’t fit through some of the smaller crevices. She’d have to make the opening bigger.

  Closing her eyes, she placed her hands on the warm rock. The earth trembled and the stones shifted, widening the gap.

  Exhaustion hit her like a brick wall. Her hands fell to her side and she swayed.

  “You okay?” Jace gripped her shoulder to steady her.

  “I’m fine.” Her body lit up at the heat his touch produced.

  They walked a few feet into the dark mine, letting their eyes adjust to the flashlight. She pointed it upwards.

  Tilting his neck up, eyes widening, he whispered, “Holy shit.”

  “Yeah.” Terra agreed with a sigh. The entire ceiling sparkled with pebbles of turquoise.

  “You’ve barely made a dent in here.” He shook his head and wandered up and down the narrow path, gaze up.

  “Careful. The mine’s floor is uneven.” Terra pointed the beam of light down in front of his feet.

  “I only take what I need, but that’s not what I wanted to show you. Here…” She lit a narrow fissure in the wall and leaned back so Jace could get a look. His arm slid around her waist.

  “
Fuck,” the curse came out in a heavy breath. He pulled back and stared at her blinking. “That’s at least ten solid pounds of dark turquoise.”

  “If you close your eyes you can feel it humming.” The vibration was subtle compared to the buzz his touch produced.

  “Do you know what you’ve uncovered here? This shit could have some serious repercussions if the wrong person got a hold of it. Damn.” He scrubbed a hand through his hair. “It could change the balance of power between the clans. Between humans and witches.”

  Terra’s breath hitched. She suddenly realized how isolated her thoughts had been, how narrow her vision was after living alone for so long. It wasn’t just Mic they had to worry about.

  “We could bury it. Close the entrance. The only other person who knows about this spot is Falcon.”

  “You trust him?” His words echoed in the cave, ominously.

  “Yes.” She tried to sound more confident than she felt, but even she could hear the hesitation in her voice.

  He stared, lips too close, and eyes too dark. “It’s safe here for now. Without the proper tools there isn’t anything we can do. Once we’re back at the hotel, I’ll call Jack and let him know what we’re dealing with. The sooner we get this thing secured, the better.”

  “Right.” She glanced up at the ceiling and blinked back tears.

  Everything she’d worked for was gone, or would be soon. If she went with Jace, she’d spend the rest of her life indebted to the Iesco clan.

  “Hey.” He touched her arm.

  She pulled back as if burned and he frowned.

  “I’m fine.” Or at least she would be. With or without his help, she would survive. She always had before.

  Blinking hard, she clenched her fists, and turned to walk the mine, perhaps for the last time.

  Jace grabbed her hand, not letting go when she tried to pull away. Her legs went weak when large fingers wrapped around her much smaller ones. Allowing him to touch her was a bad idea.

  “Thank you,” he said, taking a small step towards her.

  “For what?” The words caught in her throat.

  “For trusting me with all this.” He didn’t let go, but instead gave a small squeeze, his warm breath soft against her lips.

  A sizzling warmth radiated through her hand, up her arm, and down to her toes. She let out a small moan. It wasn’t fair what he did to her. Other than the few kisses that Falcon had stolen, she’d never let another man touch her, let alone affect her so much. Every cell in her body cried out, wanting his lips on hers.

  She licked her bottom lip, expectantly.

  “We need to go.” His voice went low and tight, but he didn’t release her.

  “Yes,” she squeaked, then swayed under the power of his touch.

  In the darkness, with just the flashlight illuminating the small area, shadows danced across his handsome features. Just one caress. One taste. What could it hurt? To know the passion that his smoldering eyes promised.

  He leaned forward

  Bracing herself, she closed her eyes and parted her lips. Her body buzzed anticipation. One small movement and his lips would touch hers.

  “This can’t happen.” With a ragged sigh, the air cooled, and he was gone.

  Her chest constrained, she opened her eyes, and blinked up in disbelief.

  “Fucking solstice mating heat,” he mumbled. Letting go of her hand, he took a step back and raked his fingers through his hair.

  A small tremor saved her from the humiliation of his rejection.

  “Do you feel that?” She squatted on her toes, with both hands on the mine floor beside her.

  Someone was coming.

  “No.” His brows drew down.

  Without waiting for him, she bolted toward the two boulders at the cave’s entrance. Sure enough, a black car zoomed towards them.

  “Get behind me,” Jace demanded, pulling her back and blocking the entrance.

  “No way.” She squirmed around, then knelt and placed her hands on dirt. “I’m not waiting this time.”

  With a large burst of energy, she sent a ripple of power through the ground, directed at the approaching car. The tremor undulated through the desert heat with the sound of a freight train. At impact, the car lurched, spun, then rolled several times before skidding to a halt fifty feet in front of them.

  The passenger side door creaked open, and a body fell heavily from the upside down vehicle. She was about to send another blast when she recognized the man.

  “Falcon.” No, no, no. It hadn’t been one of Mic’s men. What had she done?

  She darted towards him.

  At the bottom of the hill, Jace yelled at her to stop.

  The driver of the vehicle crawled through the passenger door, shoving Falcon’s unconscious body out of his way.

  Mic.

  Terra froze in her tracks.

  “You have something I want girl,” he snarled, wiping blood from his forehead, while keeping his eyes centered on her.

  She couldn’t breathe. She knew she should run, but her legs were cemented into the canyon floor.

  “Give me what I came for and no one else gets hurt.” The ground began to tremble.

  Falcon groaned, hugging his arms to his stomach. He was alive. But why was he hanging with Mic?

  With a stomp of his foot, Mic sent a blast towards her. The earth rocked and a small fissure opened in the earth in front of her.

  “Terra.” Jace’s truck pulled up between her and Mic. Through the open window, he yelled, “Get in.”

  “I can’t leave Falcon.” Another quake sent her reeling into the side of the truck.

  “Get in the fucking truck.” Jace produced a fireball that struck Mic square in the chest, making him stagger to the ground, motionless. “In case you haven’t figured it out, your boyfriend is working for your daddy.”

  “No.”

  “Yes.” He opened the door. “I don’t feel like getting buried alive again, so maybe we can continue this conversation about twenty miles from here.”

  Terra glanced back at Falcon, who was now fully conscious and starring at her with huge, guilt-laden eyes. Her chest compressed as she realized the truth of Jace’s words.

  Mic stood, face fuming in deep red.

  “ARRGGH!” A stomp of his foot opened the earth, creating a growing canyon headed straight towards them.

  “Damn it, Terra,” Jace pulled her by the top of the jeans, held on, and floored the gas with the door open.

  The truck lurched, she bumped her head on the dash, but managed to get into the passenger seat.

  Jace leaned out and grabbed the door handle with one eye on the rearview. “Did he just open a fucking ravine?”

  Terra looked over her shoulder and cringed. “Yeah and it’s still expanding. You might want to gun it.”

  “Going as fast as I can, sweetheart.” He slammed the door.

  Pumpkin meowed pitifully.

  “Try to go faster.” She squirmed over her seat to get the carrier, and placed it on her lap. Her teeth clenched to stop the rattling.

  The tires squealed and skidded when Jace sped onto the two-lane highway.

  Terra’s white knuckles let go of the cat, and she whooshed out the breath she’d been holding when Vegas skyscrapers loomed in the distance.

  And she’d thought her day couldn’t get any worse.

  Chapter 13

  After he passed the famous fountains, Jace maneuvered the truck down into Vdara’s exclusive parking lot. He handed the valet his keys, then rushed to open the door for Terra.

  She sat with brows furrowed and refused to take Jace’s hand when he reached to help her out of the truck.

  “I can’t go in there.” She hugged the damn cat carrier against her chest like a lifeline, her eyes huge.

  “Why the hell not?”

  “Look at me.” She glanced down at her torn jeans and dirty plaid button down.

  “You look fine.” Better than fine. She looked sexy and mussed, and he w
anted nothing more than to ravage every inch of her hot little body.

  Not going to happen, he reminded himself.

  God, he needed a drink. Or two. And a cold shower.

  Terra’s eyes glanced around nervously, chewing on her bottom lip.

  “Come on,” he said, self-control slipping. He gripped her hand and ignored the heat that burned between them. “If you’re worried about it, Nicole should have something you can wear.”

  Terra remained silent, her gaze downcast the entire elevator ride. He all but had to drag her across the lush maroon carpet. He dropped her hand to knock, and Josh opened the door.

  “I was starting to get worried about you.” His brother’s eyes were laced with concern as they entered.

  “Yeah, me too,” said Jace, bolting the lock.

  Josh frowned and watched his gesture with narrowed eyes. “What happened?”

  Strolling across the room to the bar, Jace poured himself two fingers of rye, and downed it in one swig. He poured another, and one for Terra. She took it and ventured a weak smile, then bent over to get the meowing ball of fluff out of the carrier.

  “We had a little run in with Mic Luggerio.”

  “The Brasmatia clan leader?” This time, Josh headed for the bottles.

  “Yeah. And not only does he know where a large chunk of dark turquoise is, but he’s a fuck more powerful than any earth witch I’ve ever come across. I don’t even want to think about what the bastard could do with that much power.”

  A feminine throat cleared, and Josh’s wife came into the room, wringing her hands.

  “Jace. Thank God, you’re all right.” Nicole’s dark eyes roamed quickly over Terra and the cat. Her mouth twitched down and then righted itself into a fake smile that didn’t reach her eyes. “Oh. You’re both here.”

  What the hell was that all about?

  Jace toned his voice to sound like his brother Jack, all command and not to be disobeyed. “Terra’s going to be staying with us. She’s going to need some clothes. I was hoping you could help her out.”

  “Of course.” Nicole’s lips tightened. “And what about that…cat? We can’t keep it here.”

  Terra visibly paled and held Pumpkin close.

  “The cat stays,” Jace said, firmly. “I’d appreciate it if you could call down to the front desk and have them send one of their workers to get food and litter. If there’s an issue, remind them of what the Fialko’s add to their bottom line.”