Renegade (Shadow Realms): An Urban Fantasy Dragon Shifter Romance

by Amber Ella Monroe

  His fingertips snuck up her shirt and grazed her belly until he cupped both breasts. He kneaded them, igniting a flame deep within her core. Moans escaped her lips, and the rain became heavier on the hood of the car. Much of it splashed against her legs and his arms as he held her in his grasp.

  Elaina gasped when his fingers smoothed against her skin. Her clit throbbed as he slid past it to reach her moist warmth. He held her gaze, and his irises swirled with red-hot intensity. Her hips moved of their own accord, encouraging his wicked fingers to dip in and out of her. He added another finger and stroked at her clit with his thumb, nearly taking her over the edge. His digits were slippery with her juices and drops of rain slid down his fingers onto her.

  He bent his head and took her with his mouth. Laving at her softly with his tongue and then sucking her firmly between his lips. Her back arched up off the seat and she gripped the leather beneath her. At the same time lightning cracked and rocked the truck on the ground, he plunged his tongue within her and started fucking her slowly. His fingers grabbed her ass, holding her open.

  Thunder rumbled above them, and her heart pulsed erratically as pending release danced throughout her loins. He feasted until she came, and a river of emotions washed through her.

  “Vicq,” she panted, as he continued to love her with his lips. “Enough. I need you now.”

  Ready for him, she lifted herself and released his cock from the confines of his briefs. She admired the hard, leathery contrast against her smooth, toned skin. Licking her lips, she reminisced how the thick head of his rod felt inside her.

  Vicq hardened even more in her palm. “Open for me again.”

  Without hesitation, she leaned back on the seat, spreading her legs for him.

  He gripped her thighs and pulled her closer so that his dick was poised near the entrance of her pussy. With her ass up to the edge of the seat, he guided himself inside of her. Her muscles clenched around him, adjusting to his width. Dropping kisses to her lips, he rocked his pelvis back and forth. Her body burned with pleasure, and before she knew it, she’d fallen back onto the seat.

  Elaina screamed in ecstasy when his cock plunged deeper. He grabbed her waist and pumped into her long and hard. His gaze never roamed from her face. He loved watching her as he took her into a climax. Even now, he paid keen attention to her body’s responses to him. His expression that of man on the brink of ecstasy.

  He lifted his hands to grab the roof of the SUV and drove into her intensely. She clawed at the hard seat cushions and held her heels to his back as another orgasm rushed through her. Her body shuddered, and pleasure coursed inside her, causing blood to rush feverishly through her veins. She cried out, unable to hold anything inside.

  Vicq’s fangs ripped from his gums, but he didn’t bend to feed from her. It would have been too much, even she knew that. So he gave. He slowed his pace, prolonging his erection. Her clit continued to pulse as the remnants of her climax stayed with her. Gripping the undersides of her knees, he opened her wider, thrusting deeply. The Trailblazer rocked, the metal frame squeaking to the rhythm. Rain pounded furiously around them. The sound of flesh hitting flesh filled the interior. Their breaths were synchronized and their pulses were reaching a crescendo.

  He tilted his head upward and groaned. His cum seared her insides on contact, taking her over the ledge once more. She arched her back off the seat and joined him in his receding cadence, milking him. Taking all of him, until there was no more to give.

  They panted until their breathing returned to normal. Ironically, at the same time, the rain began to subside into a mere sprinkle.

  Elaina had not fully regained her strength when Vicq helped her into her jeans and slipped on her heels. Without saying a word, he carried her to the passenger side and set her on the seat. There was no doubt now that she belonged with him. Damn the consequences. She’d never had an easy life and she didn’t expect it to get any easier.

  “I’ll drive. I want you to rest.”

  Elaina grabbed his hand before he could close the door. “Promise me one more thing.”

  “What is it, mi amor?” His brows creased together as he gave her his undivided attention.

  “The other option you were talking about...I want that. District 5 has regulated so much of my life and my decisions, but I want to make this choice for myself. I want it to happen in peace, not while we’re on the run.”

  Vicq squeezed her hand. “I will get you to the sanctuary as soon as I can. You will know peace one day, no matter what your choice.”

  Chapter 10

  Vicq maneuvered off the interstate and onto a main highway. The roads were getting longer, and their surroundings had become sparse as they’d traveled from state border to state border. A normal trip from the West Coast to the East Coast would have taken Vicq a matter of minutes. With them taking turns driving and stopping for rest and food, he’d estimated earlier that it would take about a week to reach their destination. He was thankful that they were halfway there already.

  The intimacy they shared, as well as the blood that she’d allowed him to consume, caused her more harm than good. His seed wasn’t as potent as his blood, but it would infect her in the same way.

  How many more times could he take from her before she grew too weak? She was still partly human, and could only stand to give a little at a time. How many times could he give to her before she crossed over as Dresdan? Although she’d confided in him that that was what she wanted, he felt that he regulated her choices just as the District did. Damn, but he needed her in every way possible.

  Elaina snored lightly in her sleep with her cheek pressed into the travel pillow, her face turned toward him. She had perfect, rosy lips that had been the highlight of his dreams whenever she starred in them. Her neck was graceful and long, and the jugular pulsed with the life she thought about trading to keep her sanity. Smooth brown hair framed her delicate round face. She was just as he’d remembered her months ago, and it seemed that she hadn’t aged a day. He couldn’t get enough of her and yearned to touch her honey-kissed skin even now. Every time he sunk his fangs or cock into her sweet flesh, he lost all control.

  Vicq tightened his grip on the steering wheel. He wanted her badly, but how could he ask her to sign her life away again? She’d essentially be repeating the same path she had before. Although this time, she wouldn’t be pledged to hunt the Dresdan...she’d be Dresdan. Fully turned, the District would have no use for her. They would kill her if she were caught, just like they did all of his kind.

  When he’d been with her, he’d sensed the hunger pounding in her gut and the anticipation in her veins. It must’ve been easy for her to mistake her blood hunger for sex hunger or food cravings, but Vicq knew a deprived soul when he saw one. She had the vampire agent in her veins and still resisted the urge to consume blood. Perhaps the human part of her anatomy balanced Elaina’s cravings somewhat. However, it was only a matter of time before she would not be able to withstand the hunger any longer.

  Right now, she was the closest thing to the hybrid District 5 was trying to create. Elaina was exactly what her organization wanted as a result of their experiments. Taking human recruits daily in the hopes of finding a candidate whose immune system could withstand the vampire agent without a complete change. From his understanding, none of it had worked. Not for long, anyway. Sooner or later, the humans either died or changed. Only when he’d met Elaina had he discovered that District 5 had successfully created a drug that postponed the change when the candidates failed to maintain the stasis phase.

  As part of her employment contract and District 5’s plan to maintain their tracker population, Elaina had been taking the drugs. Many trackers had been infected before while under Dresdan attack, and the drugs were one way of ensuring that they never crossed over. It had taken him weeks to convince Elaina that the drugs were bad. It had taken him even longer to gain her trust.

  Ultimately, Elaina had escaped the District to be with him. She’d near
ly lost her life because of it. To live, she’d taken his blood. He’d given just enough to save her, but not enough to change her. Through their frequent sexual encounters, they’d discovered that the more she took from him, whether by his seed or blood, the more it reactivated the vampire agent within her. During those times, she lusted after the blood of her enemies and craved more and more of him.

  Elaina had formulated another plan during their courtship. She wanted to expose District 5, and he had agreed to help her.

  They’d run out of time when Master Vampire, Russo, had sent out a band of his Soldiers to capture Vicq. Rather than risk Elaina’s life along with his, they’d parted ways. One week later, he’d escaped from the cell of the Dresdan prison with Leo. Because of the blood bond Vicq shared with Elaina, he was able to find her after she’d been labeled AWOL by her organization. He’d discovered that she had made a new life for herself and had been safe from the District and his world. His conscience would not let him interrupt what appeared to be the normal life that Elaina had always wanted. The one she’d always talked about when they would walk the streets at night. So he’d remained in the shadows...until now.

  Elaina’s snoring fell silent as she hitched in a deep breath. She shifted on the seat, and then her eyes fluttered behind her lids before she settled back down.

  Vicq knew Elaina had love for him, but he’d seen the doubt in her eyes, as well. He was still a killer. And blood had always been his favorite main course.

  Chapter 11

  Vicq pulled into a battered parking lot and a cinder block warehouse came into view. This would be the last pit stop they made to change cars. For the most part, Vicq had taken over the driving, but during daylight hours they switched. The routine reminded her of when she’d left District 5 and joined Vicq. They’d always had each other’s back. He’d protect her from the dangers of the night, and she’d cover for him when he was most vulnerable, during the day. If he ever needed to venture out into direct sunlight for any reason, his age and strength would allow it, but he wouldn’t be able to withstand it for very long.

  Elaina peered out through the windshield into the darkness. If it weren’t for the two luxury cars parked out front, Elaina would have thought the place was abandoned.

  “How do you know this guy?” Elaina asked, as they rolled to a stop.

  “Emory is a friend of mine.” Vicq exited their truck and shifted toward the other side to help her down.

  “Is he Dresdan?” She couldn’t help but ask. It was always best to prepare before meeting one of them. It didn’t matter if they were friend or foe. She needed to know what she was dealing with or, unfortunately, going up against.

  “Last time I checked...he wasn’t.”

  Something told Elaina that there was more to that story.

  They headed toward the double doors, making do with what little light the one street lamp provided. Smoke billowed above them from the old paper mill they’d driven past on the way here. The smell seriously reeked, reminding her of how she missed the fresh ocean air from closer to the coast.

  “So, how do you know him?”

  “A few years back he got laid off from his job as a computer technician. Somehow, he got connected with the wrong crowd, began chopping cars, and ended up in prison. He was released a year ago due to criminal overflow at the facility where he was being held. He still has a thing for cars, and so do I. I tell him what I want. He finds it.”

  While they’d roamed the streets, Vicq’s addiction to fast, exotic cars and motorcycles had become just as great as his craving for blood. They would race up and down the interstates dozens of times, moving from city to city. Every few days, he’d change rides. Of course, the high-profile, top-of-the-line cars, he only kept for a day. Bringing attention to himself while on the run and with a warrant out for his capture by Master Russo would have been just plain stupid. He couldn’t indulge like he used to anymore. He was no longer regarded by his Master as a high-ranking member of the Dresdan Court. A Superior was what he’d been called. Made by a former Master, he possessed enough strength and power to uphold such a ranking. The title had been stripped from him, but his willpower to survive and carry on with his purpose had not been.

  “He’s expecting us,” Vicq said.

  He opened the doors to the warehouse, and the smell of leather and car polish disrupted her thoughts.

  They were greeted immediately by a raven-haired man looking to be in his thirties, who Elaina assumed to be Emory, and a very young, tall, blond woman wearing a red bodysuit.

  “Emory.” Vicq nodded in greeting and then shook the other man’s hand.

  “Long time, no see.” Emory smiled. “I thought you’d cut me off.”

  “I’ve been keeping a low profile.” Vicq placed his hand in the small of Elaina’s back. “This is Elaina.”

  Emory regarded her slowly, taking in every inch of her before saying, “How does it feel?”

  Elaina shook her head. “Excuse me?”

  Emory laughed. “My apologies.” He held his hand out. “Nice to meet you.”

  She accepted his hand and they exchanged a quick handshake.

  “That’s Paige,” he said.

  The blond behind him held her palm up and gave a short wave before backing away and then moving to the other end of the warehouse where some suitcases were sitting atop a table. It looked like she was counting cash or engrossed in something else that was clearly more important than exchanging greetings with them.

  Elaina’s attention was diverted when Emory motioned for them to follow him to the back of the warehouse. They moved between about a half dozen luxury cars of different brands parked with only a couple of feet of space between each one. The exteriors were so flawless, immaculate, and glossy that she could see her reflection against the panels as she passed. She also noticed the shelves of car parts and buckets of wax and paint flanking each wall.

  They were led behind a wall of glass enclosing where there was a desk and file cabinets set up. Emory opened up the safe sitting out on the desk.

  “I’m glad I could be of assistance again,” Emory handed Vicq a set of keys. “This barely puts a dent in the debt that I owe you, but—”

  “Consider it paid in full.” Vicq pocketed the keys.

  “I owe you my life. Don’t be a stranger. If there is anything else you need...”

  “I’ll send word out to you if I do. Elaina and I will reach the sanctuary in a few days. You’re still welcome.”

  Emory’s expression turned solemn before his gaze shifted to Elaina once again. “I like to hold on to a little bit of my humanity while I still have it.”

  That was when Elaina saw it. A flash of fang as Emory bit his bottom lip while studying her. They were small and sharp. Far from the noticeable and larger fangs that Vicq had. Nonetheless, they were still there. She narrowed her eyes, countering his stare, and saw swirls of ruby red within his irises.

  “You told me that he wasn’t a Dresdan,” she addressed Vicq, but never took her eyes off of Emory.

  “He’s not. Yet. He’s like you,” Vicq replied.

  “You, too?” Elaina’s lips parted slightly and her mouth became dry. She didn’t think it likely that she could be the only one capable of carrying the vampire infection, and in the past, it had dawned on her that others like her were living free from the clutches of District 5, but now with physical evidence, she found herself actually surprised.

  Emory nodded. “How long have you been infected?”

  “For months,” Elaina said. “By Vicq. And yourself?”

  “Sit, please.” Emory gestured toward the chairs.

  They took a seat with Emory sitting behind his desk facing them.

  “I’ve been infected about six months. The dealings that landed me in prison are ironically the same ones that led to my infection. It seems many vamps have a thing for fast rides. I got in way over my head when I tried to help out someone who I thought was just another innocent man trying to turn his life
around after exiting the PEN. He turned out to be a Dresdan. A hungry one at that. He drained me until I was certain I was dead. During the fight to escape him, I must have come into contact with some of his blood, which I believe was what infected me. And it spread quickly. My body felt like it had frozen, my muscles were on fire. Without enough blood inside me, I was too weak to move, and in pain, but I just wouldn’t die. I prayed for death to come. It didn’t happen. Morning came and my skin burned like a wildfire. If it weren’t for bags of trash being thrown over my body throughout the day, I probably would have fried to death. Salvation came to me that night.” Emory paused to exchange glances with Vicq.

  Elaina turned to Vicq. “You saved him?”

  “I don’t know if saving him is the appropriate phrase,” Vicq replied. “I could have put him out of his misery quickly, but he had not an ounce of blood left for me to siphon. I’m not sure what sparked my sympathy for him that night. I just couldn’t bring myself to end his life with my bare hands...so I gave him what was taken from him. I figured he’d either expire or change eventually, but his body remains in stasis.”

  “You knew immediately that I was infected too. How?” She asked.

  “It takes one to know one,” Emory said.

  “Why couldn’t I tell?”

  “You should learn to embrace who and what you are. If you never acknowledge your true nature, you will never see past your own disguise. Nor will you be able to distinguish your own kind. Dresdan. And those like myself who are infected,” he said. “You would have known earlier that Paige and I carry the infection if you had paid attention.”

  Elaina was silent but knew that what Emory spoke was the truth. She was ashamed because she had become something she’d once been against. District 5 had fed her lies about the Dresdan. “Why haven’t you crossed over then?”

  Emory grinned. “I’m stubborn. But unlike you, I embrace both sides. My human and Dresdan side. When was the last time you looked at yourself in the mirror, Elaina? I mean, really, truly took a good long look at what you are.”