Rogue Warrior: (Dark Warrior Alliance Book Seven)

by Brenda Trim

  “Good to know. I had wondered if your weapon was goddess-touched. I can sense the magic of a goddess emanating from it. Are you really Odin’s shield maidens? That’s another one we hear. That you guys are here to exact Odin’s justice and do his bidding.”

  Rolling her eyes, she wasn’t surprised by the question. It was a common misconception. “Odin likes to believe we’re his bitches, asking us to fetch his mead, but no, we aren’t his anything. Freya would never allow it. She may be his other half, but sharing isn’t part of the deal, which makes me wonder how I came to be your mate. I had no idea it was even possible. I have heard stories about Fated Mates from my parents, but I never thought it would apply to me because I answer to a different goddess.”

  “I’ve heard of one other mating involving a Valkyrie. I have never given it much thought, and it doesn’t matter. You’re mine,” he barked, practically snarling his possession. “Why did Freya create you anyway?” he continued quickly.

  Cocking her head, she considered how much to share. “She created us to have an army of her own. It’s no different than what you do for the Goddess or Zander.”

  “I understand that. I will always follow my Goddess’s edicts. She created us and asked us to protect innocents against evil. I may have left the Dark Warriors, but I will never stop doing what the Goddess asked.”

  “There’s one major difference between us. I have no choice in serving my Goddess. I may be able to quit the Guild, but I can’t walk away from Freya. We are all at her command and must respond when she calls. If I don’t do her bidding, she kills me,” she admitted, recalling the conversation she’d had with Freya all those centuries ago.

  The lightning bolt to the chest might have given Tori immense power unlike anything she’d ever experienced, but it hurt like a bitch. The Goddess made sure it was extra painful, so they understood what they would suffer should they deny her.

  “And you say that you’ve walked away from the Dark Warriors, but you haven’t. Not really. Inside, you’re still one of them. I hear the longing when you talk about them. Deep down you know I’m right, just like I know you weren’t meant to go rogue. You just don’t want to admit you were wrong and eat crow to get back in.”

  Hands fisted by his sides, he narrowed his eyes at her. “You don’t know a fucking thing. I don’t want to be part of a straitlaced, by-the-book group that can’t see rules should be broken when the good of the realm and its inhabitants are at stake.”

  Poking the angry wolf in the chest, she challenged him. “If everyone in the realm took that attitude, anarchy would reign and no one would be safe. There wouldn’t be anything to stop them. A line must be drawn somewhere that no one can cross.”

  “You think you can talk sense into a dense male like me?” he teased, grabbing hold of her waist. She felt tiny, the way his hands nearly spanned the circumference, and his touch sparked her libido right back to life.

  “Honestly I don’t want to talk at all,” she murmured and stood on tiptoe to press her mouth to his. The alpha in him immediately took charge of the kiss, obliterating every thought but that of giving in to the undeniable passion between them.

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  Desire ignited like an inferno inside Santiago’s veins the moment Tori pressed her lips to his. He didn’t want to talk either. Talking tended to get him in trouble anyway. Heat poured through him with each delicious thrust and sweep of her tongue. Need snaked through him, rendering him stiff and ready to be buried balls deep inside her.

  Santiago dragged her deeper into his embrace, no doubt bruising her with the force of his desire. He wanted to pull back, but he was helpless to her ministrations. His body’s reaction to her was explosive and refused to be denied.

  Reaching under her shirt, he splayed his hand possessively on her lower back.

  “I need you, Santi,” she whispered, her shivery response skating over his mouth and eliciting an answering growl from deep in his chest.

  “You have me, dulzura,” he promised, kissing a path down the side of her neck. Clamping his teeth over the spot where her shoulder and neck met, he fought the instinct to sink his canines in and claim what was his.

  She arched into him as he caressed her back and lifted her shirt as he went. Wiggling out of her jacket, she let it drop to the ground. Accepting that as permission to go forward, he whisked her top off and stood back.

  She was a vision of passion and desire, standing there in her bra, her chest heaving with each breath. Her hands were shoving at his pants as she murmured, “Too many clothes.”

  Chuckling, he said, “I can remedy that.” Her bra was off, and he was toeing off his boots as she recaptured his mouth.

  Cupping her bare breast in his hand, he thanked the Goddess for blessing him with the perfect mate. She had called him a breast man and he had to agree wholeheartedly. He loved her breasts. Breaking their kiss, he bent and took one turgid peak into his mouth and sucked.

  “Santi,” she gasped, arching her back, giving him more.

  Cupping her backside, he tugged her lower body into his. He felt her heat through the fabric of her jeans and could smell the arousal pouring off her. He was spurred on by Tori’s breathless little cries as he shifted to feast on her neglected breast. Ravenous for more of her, he deftly unzipped her pants and removed them along with her panties in one smooth move.

  He stopped her hands when she reached for the button on his jeans. He didn’t want to leave the luscious feast of her breasts, but there was a far more satisfying temptation he craved.

  “Not yet. I’m hungry.” He allowed the growl of his wolf to enter his voice. His wolf was ready to claw free to reach its mate.

  With a gentle push on her shoulder, he laid her on the blanket. Kneeling at her feet, he spread her open to his gaze. His senses were full of the arousal coating her sex, and he wanted more. A blush stole up her neck to her cheeks as she watched him appreciating her nakedness.

  “You’re stunning, Tori,” he exclaimed, kissing her abdomen.

  His mouth left a trail of wet kisses as he was enveloped by her thunderstorm scent. His fingers bit into the flesh of her hips as he fought for patience. Reaching the apex of her thighs, he bent his head and flicked his tongue across her bundle of nerves. Her hips jerked and she pushed closer to his mouth, seeking more.

  Pinning her to the ground, he held her open while he indulged in a thorough, leisurely taste of his mate. He licked and suckled and teased her.

  “More,” she panted. “I need more.” Not done with her yet, he filled her with one of his fingers and growled his approval as she rode his hand. He brought her to a swift orgasm after his second finger was inserted. Uninhibited, she pressed her body into his face and cried out his name.

  Kissing her tenderly, he brought her down from her climax, watching the way she gazed at him with open affection. His heart swelled, holding that close for times when her scorn would undoubtedly return. At that moment though, he had plans.

  “I hurt to be inside you, dulzura. I hope you’re ready, because I am going to fuck you now.” He wanted to tell her that he needed her, all of her, forever, but held back.

  “It’s about damn time,” she teased, and clawed at the clasp on his jeans, pushing the fabric down his hips. Helping her along, he was naked in record time and draping his body over her.

  She wrapped her arms around his neck as he kissed her passionately. He rocked his hips, his shaft sliding through her slick folds. Their kiss became frenzied as more of her sweet honey coated his cock. Lifting his head, he held her gaze as he thrust into her to the hilt.

  Her eyes widened, and a groan slid past his lips. “When I’m inside you I’m home,” he confessed and pulled all the way out.

  The way the moonlight highlighted her skin, the curve of her breast, and her hard nipples drove him crazy. The enthusiasm with which she met his next thrust had him nearly losing it right then and there.

  Testing a theory, he flipped them over so she was riding him.
/>
  “Mmmm, I like a male who doesn’t mind giving up control,” she murmured. The grip of her around his cock as she rose and lowered back down was tight as a fist and made his eyes cross.

  He had to force himself to focus on why he had given over control. Calling lightning to him, he arched a bolt right into his mate. Her stories about how Freya had brought her back and the effect lightning had on her gave him the idea.

  She threw her hands out when the bolt struck her. A change overcame her at that moment. Her wings extended from her back, glowing a bright green that matched her eyes.

  Her core spasmed around him and he felt an electric charge course from her and into him. The heat of it sent them both careening into orgasm. She bucked on him like a wild bronco and the orgasm strengthened. His cock swelled, locking him inside her, joining them until it dissipated.

  Sweat coated their bodies and their breathing was ragged. “Holy shit, that was amazing. Can you do that again?” she said huskily, bracing her palms on his chest.

  “I could do that until the end of time, dulzura,” he promised.

  “Giddyup, cowboy. This time I’ll use my lasso,” she teased as she leaned down and kissed him senseless. Goddess help him, he was falling for this feisty female.

  Pulling Tori closer, Santi didn’t miss the way she stiffened in his arms. He knew his mate still held reservations that he needed to break through before he won her heart, and ideas were percolating about how he could chip away at them, but right now he wanted to know her thoughts on what she’d found in Von’s office.

  “Have you ever met with Von at Bouche à Bouche?” he asked not liking the idea of his mate out with another male.

  He had to force himself to remain stock-still as she absently traced circles on his arm so he didn’t remind her she still hated him. “No, I’ve never been there. Too expensive. Besides, I never meet clients in public. I can’t believe it has anything to do with Angel’s Kiss. From everything I’ve heard, it’s an upscale realm restaurant.”

  Grabbing the other edge of the blanket, he wrapped it around her when she shivered. As she snuggled under the blanket, he swore he could feel her wings vibrating under her skin. The energy they gave off made his chest tingle. The electrical pulse wreaked as much havoc on his self-control as everything about Tori. He wondered if that was a Valkyrie trait, or because she was his mate.

  “It is a nice place. Mack would call it froufrou,” he shared with a smile as he thought of Kyran’s sarcastic mate. “I’m not surprised, just because you have money doesn’t save you from being an evil asshole. I can tell you they weren’t making the drug there, or Orlando and I would have sensed it. We will need to check it out.”

  Sitting up on her elbow, she let the blanket fall to reveal her tempting breasts. “I’m not your partner, wolf. I will check it out as soon as we are done here. Right after I check in with the Guild. Guess if I’m not killing you, I’m going to need another assignment,” she told him with a wink. “Lana is not going to be happy with me over this one,” she muttered under her breath.

  Unable to curb his reaction, he pushed her to her back and laid his body over hers, pinning her to the ground. Grabbing her wrists in one of his hands, he lifted them above her head. He ground his teeth against the desire that roared through him, unable to stop from rocking against her.

  The words he meant to say evaded him as she wrapped her legs around his waist, bringing her core in line with his hard cock. Turning the tables on him, she writhed and rubbed against him.

  “You,” he finally managed to get out, “aren’t going to the Guild. You’re coming with me, but first, I’m going to finish what you started,” he declared, and sheathed himself to the hilt, losing himself in her perfect body.

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  “You didn’t get to finish your painting,” Santi told her as he placed the canvas in the back of his vehicle. He’d made love to her a couple more times, but her need for him was nowhere near sated. She was sore in all the right places, but they couldn’t stay there anymore or Ben would come looking for them.

  “No, but I have enough inspiration to finish it later. Where are you taking me now?” she asked as she climbed into the passenger seat.

  “There’s someone I think you need to meet. I know there is nothing I can say to change your mind about me, and honestly, I’ve given up trying, but I want you to have all of the information,” he admitted as he turned the key. The Hummer’s engine roared to life and vibrated under her.

  “You killed my brother, Santi. I may be helpless against the mating compulsion, but I can’t forget that fact. I don’t know what you want from me, but I can’t promise you anything. What just happened doesn’t mean I’m going to spend the rest of my life with you. And, trust me, this isn’t easy for me. I don’t know whether I’m going to grab you and rip your clothes off or take your head off with my stalvajer. It’s extremely aggravating. I hope those goddesses are getting a good laugh over this one,” she growled and turned away from his penetrating gaze to glance out the window.

  “Let’s just focus on right now, and deal with the future when it comes. I don’t know about Freya, but I have no doubt Morrigan has been having a field day. But, she is looking out for her subjects. I’ve watched several of my fellow warriors get mated and go through their own bullshit and come out just fine.”

  Tori couldn’t understand his faith in Morrigan. Her experience with gods and goddesses had proven to her how selfish they really were. Odin had actually called her a wench once when asking for his mead, and Freya had tasked Tori with eliminating a male who had rejected her advances. Her wings fluttered under her skin, itching to come out.

  “In my experience, happy endings are for those special massage parlors,” she mocked, smoothing her hands down her pants, trying to hide her nerves. “Where are we going again?” she asked, changing the subject.

  “Across town,” he answered cryptically.

  “No shit, Sherlock. Okay, smartass. Where are you taking me?”

  “To talk to someone who can answer your questions about your brother,” he finally admitted.

  Her heart stopped for a beat as a thousand thoughts and emotions went through her at once. Reticence emerged at the fore. Suddenly, she didn’t know if she wanted answers. If Santi were right, then she would be grappling not only with what Santi had done, but her brother’s actions, as well.

  “How is that going to do any good? I thought those who were addicted to Angel’s Kiss were mindless.”

  Stories were rampant throughout social media. Posts on TRex, the Tehrex Realm’s main platform, illustrated the devastation being wrought by the drug. Tori hadn’t paid attention to the scattering of stories until the drug had touched her life. She’d been living with her head in the sand for too long. Too caught up in her own goals. Now it seemed as if every other story was about losing another addict.

  “Not exactly mindless, but close enough. Look, I know this is a long shot. All I ask is that you keep an open mind. If you’re going to go in there with your mind made up about what Tobias can tell you, then I might as well keep driving. I’m not doing this to waste your time or mine,” Santi warned, his hand tightening around the wheel until she could see his bones pressing against his dark skin.

  As much as she wanted to rant and rail at him, he had a point. How the hell did he know her well enough to know she had a propensity to react without thinking? They hadn’t spent that much time together.

  “I want answers bad enough that I promise to give this Tobias a chance to give them to me.” Swallowing past the sudden lump in her throat was difficult.

  Warm fingers squeezed hers where they had fisted on her lap. “I’m right here with you, dulzura. I won’t leave your side.”

  All she could do was shake her head as she fought back the tears. She missed her brother dearly, and thinking of him still hurt. Especially, when she considered she might not have really known him in the end. Her brother had been the one to find her when she wok
e up a Valkyrie on Earth. Freya had sent her to the fields behind Miguel’s house, and the instant the small boy had seen her he had run to their parents for help. She recalled how he had begged their parents to keep her rather than send her away. She learned months later that Valkyrie weren’t adopted into families. They were feared and most often shunned, but Miguel had saved her from that fate.

  They had talked daily until the last decade or so. Guilt ate at her because she knew the bulk of the distance between them could be placed on her shoulders. She had become so focused on making enough money to retire and buy her studio to paint full-time, that she missed his calls and didn’t respond to his texts.

  Santi pulled to the side of the road and parked the car in a residential neighborhood. The area didn’t look familiar and wasn’t one she had been in before. Trash was heaped in the front yard of the house Santi had pulled up to. A dusty, broken big wheel was among the piles, making her wonder if children lived there. The neighborhood was predominantly human, if her senses were to be trusted.

  Climbing out of the vehicle, she nearly jumped back in as the stench hit her. She gagged as the overwhelming smell of rotting food choked her. Bags of trash were littered among the broken bikes and toys.

  “It’s not pleasant,” Santi murmured as he stopped at her side. The beep of his car alarm engaging startled her, making her jump.

  “It’s awful. How can a shifter live in these conditions? Their sense of smell is a hundred times more powerful than mine,” she observed, placing her hand over her nose.

  Santi chuckled darkly. “He doesn’t give a shit anymore. Not only does he tolerate these conditions, he has also ran from his family. Doesn’t want to go into the clinic Hayden just opened.”

  That surprised her. All supernaturals needed others surrounding them, but for shifters, it was greater because their animal sides were pack creatures. “Why don’t they come and get him and make him go to the clinic?”