For the Power (For the Blood Book 2)

by Debbie Cassidy

  “All good?” Jace called down.

  A soft red light bloomed in the dark.

  “Clear.” Logan’s voice echoed off the metal walls.

  I lowered myself into the hatch and began to climb. Red bulbs were set in the wall periodically, lighting the way. This bunker was deeper than the one Noah and the guys had commandeered, although the room I landed in was roughly the same size as the one at our bunker.

  Our bunker? Getting cozy was not a good idea.

  Logan stood by the door leading into the main part of the structure, but Ash was nowhere to be seen.

  I glanced past him. “Where’s Ash?”

  “He’s inside,” Logan said. “He put the power on, and he’s doing a sweep.”

  Jace landed lightly behind me, followed by Sage. The djinn’s huge frame ate up what was left of the space, leaving it suddenly claustrophobic and close.

  “We could have stayed at my base,” he said. “The wards would have kept us safe.”

  “We could have, but then we’d have had a longer journey tomorrow. This works best. Also you get to scope out the tech and set what you want aside for the return journey.” I wiggled my brows at him.

  Sage’s surprised chuckle was low and sexy.

  Logan rolled his eyes. “If you’ve finished flirting with Mr. Smokeless Fire, then maybe you’d like to go through?” He swept an arm out toward the entrance.

  What? “I wasn’t flirting. I don’t flirt.”

  Jace cleared his throat. “Maybe we should just go through?”

  Logan dismissed me with a flick of his lashes and headed into the bunker. Jace followed quickly, as if eager to get away from me.

  “After you,” Sage said, with more than a hint of amusement in his tone.

  His scent was electric, like the beginning of a storm. It had the hairs on my nape quivering and made me want to lean back into him. Instead, I stepped away and through the door. Away from the tingle his presence sent down my spine.

  A control room, six cabins, a lounge, a kitchen, and a shower room with two toilets. It was cozy and functional, and damn, was I hungry.

  Sage and I sat at the table, scoffing our faces. We were the only ones needing actual food for sustenance, so we’d gravitated to the kitchen together. The place was stocked well, dried goods and tinned goods and long-life milk that had unfortunately gone off, but there was powdered milk too and we’d made hot chocolate for after.

  Sage was on his fifth can of tinned food, and I was on my third. The cans were papered in white with the names of the food neatly printed on. This was government-issue food, and there was no “best before” date printed anywhere on the tin. I’d gone for ravioli, garden peas, and was rounding off with some pineapple chunks. Sage had eaten five tins of beans for the protein value. Everything tasted slightly metallic, but it was food and it was good.

  The djinn sat back and licked his lips. “Did you know you make these little cute snuffly sounds when you eat?”

  A chunk of pineapple got lodged in my throat for a second. Had I heard him right?

  His gaze dropped to my lips, dimming then flaring bright. “It’s … distracting.”

  Okay, this was flirting, and the frisson of pleasure it sent through me was overshadowed by annoyance.

  I set down my fork and can. “Don’t.”

  “Don’t?” His smile was knowing.

  I met his gaze with a level one of my own. “I don’t do flirting, Sage. It’s a waste of energy and time.”

  He canted his head, his fiery eyes narrowing to slits. “Is it?” He tapped an index finger on the table. “I think it lightens the mood. It’s fun and it can make you feel good. But I get you like to keep that side of you under lock and key.” He picked up his can of food. “I can understand that you’re a warrior, and warriors know how to compartmentalize.”

  Is that what I did? Put my emotions in neat boxes? Tobias … Yes. I’d done that with Tobias and lost the chance to tell him how I felt. I picked up the penknife I’d found in one of the drawers and began to fiddle with it.

  “Your problem is the compartment marked ‘levity’ is permanently sealed,” he added.

  Fire licked at the base of my throat. “I can have fun, Sage. But right now, while we chase a cure that could save the world, isn’t the time to do it.”

  “And it wasn’t the time before either, was it? When would the best time be? When the world ends?”

  The fire died. “It won’t end. We’ll make sure of it.”

  “While having zero fun?” His grin was wicked and roguish.

  Despite my best efforts, a smile teased my lips.

  He ducked his head. “Aha, she smiles.”

  “Why do you care?”

  Confusion painted his features and then his mouth turned down. “Honestly, I’m not sure.”

  Our gazes locked, and an indecipherable awareness leapt between us. I was first to drop my gaze.

  “You best eat up.” Sage’s gravelly voice was delicious friction to my senses. “Your Fangs are hungry.”

  Well poof went the delicious friction. Instead, my stomach tightened in apprehension. Yes, the Fangs were waiting for me. Waiting until I’d fueled up, so they could feed off me. The thought sent a shudder rippling through me.

  Sage’s jaw hardened. “You’re afraid.” He sat forward. “Have they hurt you? They may be Noah’s boys, but they’re still Fangs, and if they’ve hurt you, then—”

  I held up a hand to stall his words. “I’m fine. I made a deal, and I intend to honor it.”

  He snorted. “A very djinn thing to say.”

  I smiled at him. “Is it?”

  He nodded slowly. “Yes. We are slaves to honor, but we know how to give our word and yet keep hold of it at the same time.” His smile was conspiratorial. “I can teach you, if you like?”

  Why did it seem like he was offering to undress me? “I’m good. Thanks.”

  He spooned some more food into his mouth.

  But my curiosity about him, about the djinn as a race had been piqued. “Is that where the whole be careful what you wish for warning comes from?”

  He swept his tongue across his bottom lip. “We don’t grant wishes, but we do like to play with words. And yes, you must always be wary when making a deal with a djinn.”

  “Well, my deal doesn’t really have any wiggle room. They helped me try and save my friends, and in return I agreed to be their walking blood bag until they found a replacement.”

  His brows shot up. “And did you save your friends?”

  “No. One died, and the other … The other was taken by the Vladul.” I met his gaze. “But I’m going to get him back.”

  “Is that why you wish to come with us when we attack the Foundation?”

  “Yes. I can’t let him languish there.”

  “You love him,” he said bluntly.

  My pulse skipped. “He’s my best friend.”

  “That too. But you love him as well.”

  My cheeks grew warm. “And how would you know?”

  He shrugged. “Your heart beat faster when you were talking about him, and your pupils dilated a fraction. Aside from that, I can taste it in your words.”

  I let out a snort. “Taste that I’m in love with my best friend?”

  That same conspiratorial smile. “There are many things that djinn see that humans and other creatures can’t. Voices and music have distinct shapes and colors that change and shift depending on the speaker’s emotions and who they are speaking to.”

  He could see my words? “And what else have you learned?”

  He dropped his gaze almost coquettishly. “If I told you all your secrets it would ruin your journey of self-discovery.”

  “Fuck self-discovery. I’m all about the information, right here and right now.”

  “I know you are. It’s your hunger. But sometimes information, emotions, and relationships need to be left to stew before they can fully mature.” He looked up, his lips toying with a smile. “I can te
ll you that you’re attracted to me, though.”

  “Am I? I hadn’t noticed.” My tone was flippant.

  Thank goodness for my poker face. I’d been blocking my physical reaction to him. Ignoring how every time his eyes flared, something inside me tightened in anticipation of something I didn’t understand, or how every time he got close enough for his body heat to brush against my skin, a delicious shiver ran up and down my spine. It had to have been because of the otherworldly magic that coursed through his veins.

  Now was the time to say something to deny the attraction, but the words stuck in my throat. Instead, I deliberately scooped some pineapple into my mouth and chewed it slowly. His gaze dropped to my lips and lingered for a moment.

  He finally leaned back and grinned, flashing his perfect white teeth. “Don’t worry. It’s reciprocated.”

  Oh, fuck. What did I say to that?

  Ash appeared in the doorway, breaking the tension. His attention fell to the empty cans and then rose up to skim my throat. My breath caught, because yes, he was here for the power that flowed through my veins.

  “I’m ready.” With a sigh, I pushed back my seat and slid the penknife into my pocket. “Let’s get this done.”

  Sage’s expression was suddenly serious, making me wonder what color my words were now?

  Chapter Seven

  Ash led me down the corridor to the control room. We’d decided on the public place to do this. Decided that everyone would be present, so no one lost their head. They’d feed enough to take the edge off their hunger and no more. There would be no repeat of the Logan incident. There would be no oops, I almost drained you.

  Logan and Jace were leaning up against the long desk that sat under a bank of blank monitors. They were both dressed in the regulation black combat trousers and shirts that seemed to come as standard with these bunkers, but Logan’s hair was damp and swept off his forehead and his designer stubble had been neatened up. He’d obviously showered. He’d rolled up his sleeves to expose his powerful forearms, which were crossed over his chest almost defensively, as if it were me that was coming to take something from him, not the other way around. Even his expression was accusing. God, he was infuriating.

  Jace’s smile was fleeting, almost nervous, and he looked like he’d spent ages raking his hand through his dark hair.

  Sage trailed into the room behind us and leaned against the doorframe. His massive body blocked the exit, and his arms were folded loosely across his chest. Strange that between him and Ash, the task at hand didn’t seem so daunting.

  Ash locked gazes with Sage and the djinn’s eyes dimmed a little. It was almost as if they were communicating, but that was ridiculous, right? Okay, focus and breathe. This would be over quickly. It was clinical, and it was … man, who was I kidding. I was lunch.

  Ash pulled me against his chest.

  “And why do you get to go first?” Logan’s voice was thicker. A sign of his hunger?

  Dammit, we should have done this before we’d left the main bunker, but after Jace had extracted enough blood to keep Noah going while we were gone, I’d been pretty woozy. The Fangs had agreed to wait for our first stop.

  And here it was.

  My hands grasped at Ash’s waist, and his grip on me tightened. He cupped the base of my skull, fingers sliding through my hair as he tilted my head to the side. My nose brushed his chest as he cradled me.

  “I think he wants us to drink while he holds her,” Jace said to Logan.

  Sage’s snort was saturated with derision. “So, which one of you is it that can’t be trusted?”

  Jace’s sigh was loaded with emotion.

  “Really?” Sage said. “I’d have thought it was Logan.”

  “It is me,” Logan said. “I’m the one she doesn’t trust.”

  Was that regret tinging his tone?

  Ash’s lips brushed the top of my head, and then heat caressed my back.

  “Don’t worry,” Logan said tightly. “I’ll make it quick and painless.”

  “No.” My tone came out sharper than intended. “Don’t take the pain away.”

  The last thing I needed was to be moaning and tingling with endorphins while he took what he needed. The thought made my stomach ache.

  Logan’s chuckle was a raw thing. “Riiight … Have it your way.” His lips touched my skin. “You better brace yourself, Eva.”

  The puncture was quick, sharp, and deep, and my resulting gasp was just as sharp. Logan began to suck, and my artery burst into flame. My scream was sudden and involuntary, filling the room with the echo of my pain. But the fire was racing outward, spreading, burning brighter and brighter. No thought, no thought. Oh, God. No. No.

  “Logan, dammit!” Jace’s voice was a whiplash.

  His lips left my neck for a brief second, taking the fire with them. “She asked for this.” Anger, real and potent, coated those words.

  Ash’s chest vibrated against me. No more. Don’t let him hurt me. The words were locked on my tongue, buried under the aftershocks of agony as I tried to pull free of Ash.

  “Fine,” Logan said.

  His lips found my neck again. “No.” The word was a weak plea.

  Ash’s fingers caressed my scalp, stilling me, reassuring me, and then ice froze the fire in its tracks, soothing and calming. Fire? What fire? Oh, God. Thank God. The ice simmered into a teasing, caressing heat. It was happening, the thing where my body revolted on my mind, where my nipples tightened and my abdomen contracted. This was a new kind of torment. Give me the fire instead.

  No. “Stop. Don’t.”

  My words were garbled, as if I’d been drugged, which I had because Logan had flooded me with incubus endorphins, and the thoughts, all the fucking thoughts going through my mind were naked and carnal and—

  “Stop.” My voice came out sure and strong this time.

  The warmth of Logan’s mouth on my skin retreated with a flick of his tongue. “Fuck …” He staggered away, taking his body heat with him. “Fucking hell.” Something scraped across the floor. A chair?

  “Shit, Logan. Sit.” Jace’s concern was evident in his tone, but my body was still floating, slowly coming back to earth. I hated that it wasn’t mine to control, that they could have this effect on me against my will. That for those long seconds, my body hadn’t been my own.

  A sob caught in my throat as Jace took Logan’s place. Oh, God. Again. I’d have to relinquish control again. Ash’s body tensed.

  “It’s okay, Eva. I’ll make it quick,” Jace said softly. “I wish … I wish I didn’t need this.”

  “No endorphins.” I pushed the words out through gritted teeth.

  “I’m sorry, I can’t control that aspect like Logan can.” He sounded genuinely apologetic. “It doesn’t work that way with me.”

  Ash’s fingers massaged the nape of my neck reassuringly. I lifted my chin to look up into his face. My gaze grazed his stubbled chin and caressed his lips before meeting his pale irises. My reflection stared back at me from his obsidian pupils—lips parted in a daze. I clamped my mouth shut and clenched my jaw.

  Hated this. Fucking hated it.

  “I’m going to touch you now,” Jace said. His tone was lower, slightly breathless. It sent a tremor through me. “Close your eyes, Eva.”

  My eyelids fluttered closed and then his fingers came to rest lightly on the column of my neck in the valley that led to the slope of my shoulder. Okay, this wasn’t so bad. His touch was light and non-invasive. Was he feeding? Was this it? I opened my mouth to ask just as my skin began to tingle. It was a slight buzz at first, just beneath the pads of his fingertips, unnerving but not uncomfortable.

  Ash’s arm around my waist flexed and a low rumble vibrated in his chest. A warning.

  “I know.” Jace’s tone was tight, almost as if he was in pain. “Just a little more.”

  The buzz intensified, spreading across my skin and seeping into my veins, and then every nerve in my body came to life, fizzing and writhing and wrestli
ng an unwanted moan from my lips. No. Not again. Fuck this. I bit down on my bottom lip hard enough to draw blood and not caring. Just no more moans. No more.

  The sensual tremors passed through me, down to the place that throbbed and ached with a need that was private and, right now, unwelcome. Ash’s body tensed against me. His lips found the crown of my head, pressing against my scalp soothingly. The action diverted my attention to his mouth, to his body, to him.

  Jace’s fingers were gone, but my body was still rippling with sensation.

  “Ash.” His name was a soft exhalation on my lips.

  And then his hand was tightening in my hair, enough to tilt my head up, enough to force me to look into his unfathomable eyes. My turn, they said, and then his mouth claimed mine. There was no holding back this time. No pulling away, because he needed this, and I … I wanted it. The unease that had gripped me under Logan’s and Jace’s attentions melted away, and a new kind of heat unfurled in my belly. I pushed up on tiptoe and raked a hand through his hair, opening for him, claiming his tongue and tasting him as he was tasting me. He pulled back slightly, mouth parted, and his fangs slid out farther from his gums, reminding me what he was and what he needed. A spike of adrenaline shot through me, but instead of pulling me away from him, it drew me closer, flush up against his chest, so my breasts were pressed against his taut pectorals. Ash’s fangs didn’t repel me. Instead, my pulse throbbed, eager to submit beneath them.

  “Take what you need.” My words were a breathless whisper against his lips.

  He pressed his forehead to mine and then ran the tip of his nose down the side of my face and into the curve of my neck, then back up until his mouth was settled over my artery. He laved the spot with his tongue, once, twice, and my body shuddered in response, and then he slid into me, smooth and practiced, and fuck, the world was a rainbow of sensation. Glitter and disco balls and every inch of my body was charged with energy and need and want, and yes, I wanted his mouth back on mine—coppery and sweet and intoxicating. Our tongues wrestled in a match that neither of us wanted to win because it was about tasting and submitting.