Darkness Clashes

by Susan Illene

  “Was it really necessary to kill the guy if he didn’t know anything?”

  Lucas gave me a grim look. “He was a vampire who enjoyed feeding on children. I did not believe he would be missed.”

  I relaxed a fraction. “Well, in that case, I wish I could have helped.”

  “It appears you’ve been too busy here.” His gaze moved over to the mystics, who’d stopped working on the ward to stare at him.

  “How about we go inside? I’ll bring you up to date.”

  “Very well.” He nodded and stalked toward the entrance.

  Yvonne rushed ahead of us to fix the ward for him.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Nik and Felisha were huddled close together on the couch when we came into the living room. She scooted away as soon as she saw us and he stood up.

  “Lucas, it is good to see you again.” Nik came forward to greet the nephilim.

  He didn’t even glance at me. The master vampire was lucky that our conversation had been cut off by Felisha’s arrival. That didn’t mean I wouldn’t be thinking about it and talking to him again soon.

  “Melena tells me you had some werewolf problems.” Lucas ran his gaze around the room. The mystics, Kariann, and Kerbasi had come in as well. “But it appears no one was injured.”

  “Fortunately for us,” Nik agreed. “Melena spoke with Derrick and convinced them to leave—for now.”

  “I’m rather disappointed she didn’t get into another fight,” Kerbasi said, studying his fingernails. “But I suppose two nights in a row is asking too much.”

  “What does he mean?” Lucas narrowed his eyes on me.

  “It was nothing.” I waved my hand away. “Just a sort of government SWAT team trying to kidnap Yvonne and her family. They were using magic—which was really underhanded of them, by the way—so I had to put a stop to it.”

  “And she was shot at least half a dozen times in the process,” Kerbasi added helpfully.

  I glared at him. “I still took six of them down.”

  “And Cori the other two after you collapsed from blood loss.” Amusement reflected in his eyes.

  “Kariann,” I addressed the female vampire. “Weren’t you telling me recently you had something to show Kerbasi in your bedroom?”

  She gave me a sly grin. “Oh, yes. I have some new torture devices he’d love to see.”

  Kerbasi gave her a skeptical look. “Torture devices?”

  “Come on, guardian. You’ll love these.” She took his arm and hustled him from the room.

  He’d eventually figure out they were sex toys and escape her, but at least it would get him out of my hair for a few minutes. Kariann loved to mess with the guardian’s head.

  Lucas took hold of my arm. “Did you kill these men who attacked you?”

  “No,” I said, frowning at him. “We couldn’t kill them or they’d just send more. Did I mention these were human guys from the Department of Homeland Security?”

  The kind he couldn’t touch without the archangel Remiel stepping in to punish him.

  “I don’t care who they might have been.” Lucas spoke in that quiet voice that would send most people running. “You allowed them to shoot you multiple times while you took care not to harm them?”

  “I didn’t say I didn’t harm them. I just made a point of not killing them.”

  “Excuse us,” Lucas addressed the others in the room.

  At a speed much faster than I could move, I found myself in the kitchen.

  “Where were you shot?”

  I shrugged. “Chest, back, a couple other places. I’m healed now.”

  “Take off your clothes,” he demanded.

  “What?” I glanced at the kitchen’s open entrance. “I’m not taking off my clothes in here. Anyone could walk in.”

  “No, they won’t.” He stared down at me. “Now show me where you were shot or else we can discuss why you didn’t call me for help before confronting the humans.”

  “The evidence of why I didn’t call is all over your shirt. We both know you lack any kind of restraint when it comes to humans and I’m not risking you going back to Purgatory again.”

  He crushed me to his chest. His musky scent enveloped me and his heart thudded against my ear. A flood of emotions hit me as he let down the wall that usually held them back. I squeezed my eyes tight against the onslaught of pain, fear, and worry. He was letting me feel every bit of it.

  “Melena,” he murmured in my ear. “I’ve already lost my brother and with each day that passes I fear I may never see him again. I can’t risk losing you, too.”

  My throat tightened up. Lucas could be overbearing and protective, but it didn’t mean he didn’t have good intentions. His brother’s missing status was tearing him up inside and I was the only close person he had left. My guilt was going to swamp me if I didn’t say something about Micah.

  “Lucas, I…” My hand began to burn. Intense, scorching hot pain seared through my palm. I clenched it shut where it rested against his back and breathed through it. The vow really did keep me from telling him the truth. I’d known that, but I’d had to try on the remote chance I could get even a small hint out.

  “Sensor, quit stalling.” He let go and stepped away, unaware of my inner turmoil.

  His impenetrable mask was back in place. He’d allowed himself one tiny moment of weakness and now he’d shut it off again. It was easier for me to deal with the colder version of Lucas anyway.

  “Fine.”

  I grabbed hold of my shirt and slowly pulled it up over my head, taking note of the heat filling his gaze. I kicked off my shoes next and pulled down my pants. The kitchen was cool, but standing there with him staring at me took the chill away.

  “Want me to take off the rest?” I fingered my bra strap.

  His eyes roved from my toes all the way up to my head, caressing every curve and hollow without even touching me. In the next moment I found myself flipped around and bent over the table.

  “Perhaps, just to be thorough, I should check everywhere.” His finger hooked into my underwear. They were gone in the next moment, exposing me to him.

  “Lucas, this isn’t the best place for this.”

  “It’s the perfect place.” He nudged my feet apart and began to lick his way around my snake-chain tattoo. The tail wound around my right thigh and across my back with the head just below my belly button. I’d worried when I got it last spring that he’d hate it, but it turned out he enjoyed playing with the design.

  It was hard to deny the thrill that ran through me. We hadn’t had a chance for any kind of intimacy back in Spokane and it had been at least two weeks since he’d last appeared in my bedroom at night. Even that visit had only lasted a few hours.

  “Why do I have to be the only one naked?” I asked.

  “Because you’ve been the naughty one.” He pushed a finger inside of me, working me slowly.

  I moaned. Damn, but he knew how to make me feel good.

  “Saving one’s friends and refraining from killing people is not naughty.” I rose up on my toes to give him a better angle. “You can’t punish me for that.”

  “Yes, I can.” He removed his finger and pressed his cock against me. Somehow I’d missed him undoing his pants. “Are you really complaining?”

  “Only if you don’t get inside me right now.” I moved my butt suggestively.

  “That’s what I thought.”

  “Arrogant bastard,” I mumbled into the table.

  “You prefer me that way, sensor.” He positioned my hips a little higher and pushed inside of me.

  I gripped the edges of the table. My body practically hummed as we joined together. He stretched me until I thought he couldn’t fill me any deeper. The feeling was indescribable. Through our growing bond we could sense what pleased each other.

  He started out slow, teasingly, but before long he was thrusting harder and faster. Through gasps of breath I encouraged him. His fingers found their way to my clit and he rubbed it,
sending me even higher. I forgot the world around me. Even the screech of the table being pushed across the tile floor didn’t register. It was just the two of us.

  He brought me to orgasm several times before letting himself go. Holding me briefly, he turned me around and sat me on the table. I could finally see him naked, and he watched my perusal—a wry grin on his face—before stepping between my legs and pulling me closer to him. I buried my face in his warm chest.

  “Melena,” he said, resting his head on top of mine. “Call me the next time you run into trouble. I’m not telling you not to fight, but to let me join you so we can handle it together. I’ll even refrain from killing the humans if it pleases you so much.”

  I tilted my head up to look at him. His expression was serious, but I could see the hint of tenderness shining through his eyes. It still amazed me that I could mean that much to him.

  “Promise?”

  He hesitated. “Yes.”

  It was a half-truth, but probably the best I’d ever get out of him.

  “We should probably get back to the others.”

  He leaned down and nibbled at one of my breasts. “Are you certain?”

  “I’m certain I’m already going to be mortified when I go back in there.” Damn, his mouth felt good.

  He bit harder. My head fell back and my lips parted as a thrill of sensual anticipation shot through me.

  “It would help if you didn’t scream as loudly as you do,” he said before licking the spot he’d bitten. “They might have otherwise assumed we were talking.”

  I pushed him away. The reminder of all the noise we must have made was enough to get me moving. We couldn’t do that again, especially not when we were in the middle of a crisis.

  “We’ve got werewolf and government problems. How about we focus on those and save the sex for later?”

  “It would help if you put on some clothes,” he suggested.

  I hurried to put my jeans and shirt back on while he flashed away to grab a fresh set of clothes from my house, where he kept a few things—just in case. There was a small part of me that didn’t want to go back and join the others, but I’d have to face everyone eventually.

  After Lucas returned, we entered the living room to grins and knowing looks. At least Kerbasi had fled the house and headed home so I didn’t have to listen to any snarky comments from him. Nik was ready with a wink for me, though.

  “You do realize killing his enemies makes Lucas more amorous, don’t you?” the master vampire asked.

  Strong arms wrapped around me. “She knows.”

  “Young ears in the room,” Diane spoke up.

  “Maybe Patrick should leave the room for awhile,” Kariann suggested. “Lucas and Melena haven’t seen much of each other lately. Their lack of self-control could get a little embarrassing.”

  “That’s not true,” I defended. “I have control. It’s not my fault if he doesn’t.”

  Kariann grinned at me. “Next time I’m recording the sounds you make so you can see how much control you really have.”

  “I think I’ll escort Patrick out now,” Diane said, blushing furiously.

  Her son didn’t seem all that bothered. In fact, he seemed a little disappointed he had to go, but she had him out of there in no time. Lucas and I moved over to sit with the others. He pulled me close to his side as if he thought I might run off. For a man who’d been a cold and ruthless enemy for the first eight years I knew him, he sure had turned affectionate since we’d bonded.

  “Perhaps someone can tell me exactly what has been going on around here?” Lucas suggested.

  Nik gave the nephilim a level look. “This could take a while. Do you have the time?”

  Lucas glanced at the clock. “I can spare a couple of hours.”

  “Where do you have to be after that?” I asked, turning to see his face.

  He gave me a look that said this wasn’t the time or place to discuss it. Fine. I’d have to work on slowing down his hunting spree later. At least we had the ball in New Orleans to keep him busy for the coming weekend.

  “Perhaps,” Nik began, “Melena should start with the DHS agent she met at Felisha’s shop and we’ll go from there.”

  I’d really hoped I could stay out of the spotlight for a while. It was bad enough people were sneaking covert glances at Lucas and me since we’d returned to the living room.

  Pushing down my embarrassment, I addressed Lucas. “Do you remember that guy, O’Connell, who I used to work with back in the military?”

  He hadn’t been around much during my army days, but that didn’t mean he hadn’t been watching. The archangels had ordered Lucas to protect me—though I hadn’t known it back then. All I’d known was he’d pop up at random times and either terrify me or save me. He’d hated having to protect a sensor. Now he did it willingly and I couldn’t get him to stop.

  “Do you mean the one who enjoyed criticizing your interrogation methods?” Lucas lifted a brow.

  “Yeah, that would be the one.” Funny that O’Connell thought my skills were useful now.

  Lucas ran his fingers through the back of my hair. “Did he approach you?”

  “Yesterday at the herb shop.” I went on to describe everything else that had happened, including my confrontations with Derrick. It was hard to believe he’d missed that much in the couple of days since I’d last seen him.

  Lucas addressed Nik. “What do you plan to do about your trip to New Orleans?”

  The vampire’s lips thinned. I’d forgotten that he was supposed to go to the ball as well. He nodded at Kariann.

  “She’ll have to go in my stead.”

  “Can you afford to lose her for a couple days?” I asked. “It’s not exactly a good time to have one of your strongest people out of town.”

  Lucas’ hand paused on the back of my head. “If Nik doesn’t send one of his highest ranking people, it will be considered an insult. As it is, his not attending this particular ball will be considered bad form. Supernatural politics can be rather…complex.”

  His expression took on a sour look.

  “Can’t we go as his representatives?” It seemed like the logical choice to me.

  “I’m afraid not.” Lucas shook his head. “I do not live here on a permanent basis and most would consider me neutral. Except, perhaps, Chicago but that is another matter entirely.”

  Why had Ariel and Micah lured him there? And how bad was it? I really didn’t like the way their plans included manipulating Lucas and forcing me to watch. If this went on too long I’d have to find the means to circumvent the vow.

  I clenched my hand. Only the faintest trace of magic stirred there now. Would it grow back if I cut it off? I held back a shudder—that would have to be a last resort.

  “What about me?” I asked, turning back to the conversation. “I live in Fairbanks and I’m definitely not neutral.”

  “You may see it that way, but everyone else sees you as my mate. It ties your loyalties to myself—not Nik. The most we can do is put in a good word for him while we’re there and support Kariann.”

  “He is correct, Melena.” Nik got up to pour himself a drink. “I cannot leave town right now, but if you two go with Kariann it will appear less suspect. They know I’d keep all three of you here to fortify my position if I truly believed it was tenuous.”

  My senses spiked and I frowned. Emily and Hunter were heading straight for Nik’s house and moving faster than they usually drove. That funny tingling sensation that came when you knew something was wrong ran through me. I stood up and looked at Yvonne.

  “I need you to adjust the ward for Hunter.”

  Without explaining further, I rushed toward the door.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Lucas followed close behind me as I came out of the house. Emily brought the car to a grinding halt and jumped out of it to race around to the other side.

  “Mel, I need your help. Hunter is hurt,” she said, giving me a wild-eyed look.

 
She pulled open the door and I gasped at the blood-covered werewolf in the passenger seat. Hunter’s face was covered in cuts and bruises. His eyes were swollen shut and his jaw looked like it might have been dislocated.

  “What happened?” I asked.

  “The guys in the pack at our school attacked us out in the parking lot.” There were tears in her eyes. “They held my arms and made me watch while they beat him up.”

  “I’m going to kill them for touching you,” Lucas swore, pulling her into a consoling hug. “Slowly.”

  “It’s not me you should be worried about,” she mumbled into his chest, “but him.”

  Lucas looked at Hunter and a grim expression came over his face. He ducked down and lifted the young werewolf carefully into his arms.

  “You’re lucky I like her more than I dislike you,” he said to the wounded boy. Then he carried him off to the house.

  I checked Emily over as we followed him. “Are you okay?”

  “Yeah.” She nodded. “They grabbed me, but they didn’t hurt me.”

  I put an arm around her waist and guided her inside. Lucas set Hunter down in the middle of the living room floor and Nik kneeled over him. The master vampire bit into his wrist and let his blood drip into the groaning boy’s mouth.

  Hunter would have eventually healed on his own, but he was still young enough it might have taken a couple of days. With the amount of pain flooding my senses, I didn’t think it was just his face that was damaged. He favored his ribs as well and had an arm curled around them protectively.

  Emily settled down behind his head and ran her fingers through his hair, encouraging him to drink. He choked after two swallows. The master vampire pulled his arm away and helped Hunter sit up.

  The swelling had already started to go down and he opened his eyes.

  “Thanks,” he said in a raspy voice to Nik.

  “Tell us what happened,” Lucas ordered, standing at the feet of the werewolf.

  “They said I better not show my face again at school…or it would be worse next time. I’m officially out of the pack.” He pulled his knees up and rested his head against them.