City of Dragons: Blood Bonds

by Adrienne Wilder

  “Be still or you’ll get water up your nose.”

  She blinked, looking confused. “Where are we?”

  “Safe.” At least for now. And if he wanted to keep her that way, there were things that had to be done, decisions to be made.

  “How long was I out?”

  “About an hour. I had to get you warm. Medan really did a number on you.” He petted her cheek and stared into her haunted eyes. She was thinking about Tate. This close, it was impossible not to see the images whirling through her mind like a blender. Her regret, her fear. It burned in Farley’s chest, but the need to keep her safe burned hotter. “Haley.” Farley pulled her chin up. “Garrett called. He said something is happening downtown. Dobson is moving Alchemist teams and three of the Bureau’s board members have gone missing from their homes. He wants us ready to leave in two hours.”

  “But Dobson will have him charged--”

  “Garrett said we have to take that chance. With Dobson’s behavior, and the missing board members, it’s going to be hard for anyone upstairs to ignore him now. Dobson’s world is crumbling, and you just have to stay hidden for a week, maybe two. He can’t risk the colonel getting a hold of you. He’s panicked and that means he’s even more dangerous.”

  Haley made a face.

  “What?”

  “I’m having a hard time picturing that man panicking about anything.”

  But he was. That much Garrett had been sure about.

  “What?” she asked.

  “There’s a good chance Garrett won’t be able to get you out of the country.”

  “Wait. What happened to us leaving? As in you and me?”

  Farley shushed her and pressed his cheek against the side of her head. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled their bodies as close as possible. “That’s part of plan B.”

  “Plan B? We haven’t even tried plan A yet. How come something tells me I’m really not going to enjoy plan two?”

  Farley kissed her to make her stop talking. Now she was just looking at him with large dark eyes, afraid for him, when she should have been afraid for herself. He sighed. “I didn’t know what to do when Garrett told me this might not work. If Dobson somehow gets to you, the only Kin strong enough to save you will be Medan. So I called Justice.” Haley tried to look away, but Farley wouldn’t let her. He kissed her again and rubbed his thumb over her windpipe. “You’ll have to bond with her. Become her Enforcer. She can protect you, Haley.”

  “At what cost?”

  He gave a little up down with his shoulders. “As long as you live, what does it matter?”

  Haley shuddered. “I can’t go back to her.” A deep worried frown weighed down her full lips.

  “You won’t have to. I can act as your vessel.”

  “What? No! She’d kill you.”

  Farley plastered a mask of calm on his face. If he was lucky, Medan would just kill him. If he was unlucky she would make him kill others first.

  He tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. “I won’t go alone. Justice will be with me.”

  “No.”

  “Haley, please, let me--”

  “I said no! I can’t live through losing you.” She buried her face into his neck.

  Farley couldn’t help but think the exact same thing. Well, almost the same thing. Not only would he not live through losing Haley, he wouldn’t want to.

  Justice had warned him that she wouldn’t agree to this. Farley hadn’t argued because he knew the Male was right. But this had to be done. He was too weak to keep her safe from Dobson, too weak to keep the Queens at bay. With a little flesh and a little blood, Medan could. Justice had been worried about him getting it. Farley grinned because if there was anything he could do, it was convince Haley to surrender herself.

  Justice had promised to keep him safe, so that meant all he had to do was collect what he needed and get it to the Queen. The only problem was, he didn’t trust Justice either.

  That Kin was hiding something.

  Farley took her mouth, parted her lips, and ran his tongue along the inside of her cheek. Every happy moment he’d ever had tasted like that. A growl licked in the back of his throat and he heaved her up and out of the water. Steam billowed and hissed off of his skin.

  “Where are we going?” she asked.

  “The floor.” He held her to him, kissed her, moved her over the edge and onto the floor. The bath mat squished under his knees from the water running off their bodies. “I’d drown trying to do this to you in the tub.” Farley eased her back until she lay on the rug. The bathroom was small and narrow. He couldn’t stretch out his legs, and was forced to crouch. “Haley...” There were so many things he wanted to say, but this time wasn’t about talking. Farley wanted something to think about if Medan decided to kill him. He wanted somewhere to retreat to in his mind.

  Farley stroked her stomach with his fingers to remember the softness of her skin. He circled her bellybutton with his thumb and bent down to suck along the edge. He caressed her curves, following the lines of her body until he reached the juncture between her legs. He kissed her at the top, then slipped his tongue into the folds.

  With one hand he pushed her legs wider; with the other he stoked her lower, lavishing in the wetness, the scent of her arousal, and the taste of her pleasure. He slipped one finger in and she arched her back. Heat bloomed over her, and a deep moan crawled out of her throat. The sound of her coming almost took him over the edge. Farley forced himself to keep control, even as she thrashed and cried out his name.

  He moved up, positioning himself over her. He wanted more, wanted it now. But this might be the last time he touched her like this.

  “Farley?” She looked at him, eyes glassy, her energy flaring. “I can’t Roll you so soon.”

  “Shh--this isn’t about me. Just you.” He flicked his tongue over her right nipple and rolled the other between his finger and thumb. “Just you. I want you warm, Haley. I want you burning inside.” He looked at her. She was bathed in the crystalline light he only saw through dragon eyes. Her hands slid over his neck and between his shoulders. She pushed there and he barked in surprise. So close, so close. He willed himself back down. Haley surprised him by flipping him over.

  “Wait, Haley ... oh God of Man...” Her mouth wrapped around the tip of his cock and sharp points grazed as she swallowed him down. Farley kicked, sending the heel of his foot through the layers of the pressed wood door. He came without warning, arching off the floor, trying his best not to scream.

  And failed.

  No more waiting. He couldn’t hold out anymore. He cursed the small room, fought for position. He finally just pulled Haley up and pushed her over the tub. She threw her hands out against the wall as he pushed himself inside. Her body clenched until it was a struggle to move. Farley wanted her closer, needed to feel her against him, so he pulled her back. The angle brought her quick, over and over, but Farley didn’t want it to end. Ending it meant this terrible thing was going to have to happen. That she might die. He might die and there would be a great void of nothing. An eternity without his own. Without her. Farley sank his teeth into Haley’s shoulder, consuming bits of muscle.

  Farley’s mouth locked, his throat spasmed and he drank her down. He didn’t sate himself even though he wanted to. Justice had warned him that if he did that, his body would spend it instead of holding it for Medan.

  Farley popped his jaws free, licked the wound and stayed where he was, inside her, the connection now more of a comfort than a needed pleasure.

  After a while he pulled her to the floor so he could hold her while he sat propped against the wall. His insides ached, his sex ached, and every bone from the top of his skull to his toes was on fire. Farley shut his eyes and breathed in her scent. Relishing it, committing it to memory. He wanted to tell her he loved her, even though she hated the L word. Kin can’t love...

  But Farley wasn’t so sure of that.

  She looked at him and he knew. She felt it too--a burn
so hot that it made the heat of metaphysics quiver. A Human emotion and they weren’t Human. “Haley--”

  A hard knock on the pressed board door cut him off.

  “Hey, if you two are quite through in there, Garrett’s here.”

  “Ken?” Haley looked at Farley with wide eyes.

  Farley shrugged. “His apartment was close, and I didn’t have any money for a cab.”

  From the outside Ken asked, “Oh, and by the way, who’s going to pay for the hole in my bathroom door?”

  Chapter 39

  At least Garrett had sense enough to bring clothes from Haley’s locker at work. They were only sweats and a flimsy t-shirt, but it was better than naked. No matter what Farley thought.

  “I just think you should try going bareback more.”

  “I’m naked enough.” No underwear, no bra. Yeah, this was about as publicly naked as Haley wanted to get.

  They came through Ken’s bedroom. It looked like a war between Apple and PC had taken place on his desk. Both computers suffering heavy casualties. The living room wasn’t much better. Haley counted eight different game consoles, including a 1980’s Atari 64.

  “They still make games for this thing?” Farley poked it with his foot.

  “Hey! Be gentle with that. It’s an antique.”

  Garrett was at Ken’s kitchen table. When he stood up his head whacked the overhead light, adding a second welt to the one popping up on his forehead.

  “I brought you a couple of jackets from the PD. They won’t miss them.” Garrett nodded to the extra wide chair posing as a couch. “We need to hurry. The plane will be leaving in about an hour.”

  Haley picked one of the jackets and put it on. At least it covered her, unlike a certain pink T-shirt she was wearing. She handed Farley the other one, but he just held it.

  “Put it on.”

  He shook his head. “I have to stay.”

  She looked at him, then Garrett, waiting for someone to tell her this was a joke. “Put the coat on, Farley.”

  When you’re safe, I’ll follow. Until then, I’m staying here.”

  “You can’t be serious.” But he was. The expression on his face was deadly serious. She remembered what he said; he could act as her vessel. And Medan would need her flesh and her blood to form a bond.

  But he didn’t have that. Did he?

  You fed him, she reminded herself, because he’d made her. The same way Farley kept himself alive on the Hatching grounds, convincing Males he was worth keeping around by manipulating the need.

  “You bastard! You think getting yourself killed will make all this better?” How dare he, how dare he use her like that, especially now!

  Farley’s gaze came up for a second. “I don’t want to die, Haley.” He scrubbed a hand through his curls. “But I know what it takes to survive. To make sure you survive. You’re not safe yet. It would be stupid to think Nidia is out of tricks.”

  “Garrett...” Surely he could do something about this, talk some since into him.

  “Two of you are more likely to draw attention. This is for the best, Haley. Let’s go.”

  “I can’t believe...” She choked on her words. Had they both planned this?

  Farley stepped up to her and wrapped himself around her, pushed his face into her neck and thrummed. “Please, don’t leave angry with me.”

  She wanted to. Instead she held him back, inhaled his scent and kissed his temple. “Don’t you dare die on me, do you understand?” A part sob, part laugh broke loose from her throat. God of Man, please don’t die on me.

  It seemed wrong that Farley could laugh, even if it was half-hearted and kind of sad. “I promise you, that is one request I plan on doing my damnedest to follow.”

  Outside, the wind froze the tears on Haley’s cheeks as she followed Garrett out to the car.

  “I need your cell phone.” He handed it to her. She wiped the tears out of her eyes, off her cheeks, sniffled and tried to compose herself. Crying was such a damn bore. She envied those who never impressed the behavior.

  Garrett opened the door for her and she got in. Haley dialed. On the fifth ring Gregory answered, sounding wide awake.

  “This is Gregory.”

  “Can I please speak to Justice?” Even over the phone she could feel the change in him. Or maybe it was just her imagination.

  “I am here.” So strange. It was still Gregory’s voice, but the inflection and accent was all Justice.

  “Was it your idea?”

  His breath stilled.

  “Tell me, damn it. Was it your idea for Farley to go to Medan?”

  “No.”

  “Then who told him he could be my vessel? Which means what exactly? Because I don’t even know what the hell it means.”

  “I told him. He asked me how it could be done. He is your Marked. That means he is an extension of you. He can carry your blood and flesh to Medan so you won’t have to.”

  “Why would you do that, Justice? Why?”

  “He wants to keep you safe, Haley. It’s his duty as your First Marked.”

  Haley pressed her fingers to her temple. “That’s not my point.” God of Man, how could she expect him to understand? He had probably killed his way to survival like every other Kin.

  “You are afraid for him.”

  “Yes! He’s my friend, Justice. He’s all I’ve had for a century. He was the first Male I fed from, the first Male I ever had sex with, the first Male I Rolled. I’ve never known the world without him. Can you understand that? Can you possibly comprehend what that’s like? Survive at all costs? Survive? What the hell is it worth if there’s nothing left to survive for?”

  When she stopped screaming there was only the sound of the car engine, the wheels on the road, rain starting to tap on the windshield. Garrett clicked on the wipers.

  Haley inhaled. The action made her hearts hurt, but there were no tears.

  Finally, she wasn’t crying.

  Voice calm, Justice said. “Farley is not as weak as you think he is.”

  “I don’t think he’s weak.”

  “You do not?”

  No. Maybe. Okay, fine, yes. “Quit trying to change the subject.”

  “The subject has not changed. The subject is still about Farley. You fear for him because you see him as weak. You see him as not in control of his temper. You see him as Kin. And you see yourself as something other. The weakness you fault him for is the strength it takes to survive. Farley understands that. Any Kin that has fought his way from the belly of the Hive understands that. It is more than eat or be eaten. It is about a willingness to sacrifice a part of yourself. And that is something that you have not learned to understand.”

  Haley dropped the phone, kicking and screaming. Her fist struck the dash and it cracked. Beside her Garrett sat motionless, his eyes straight ahead, his knuckles white on the steering wheel. When the tantrum subsided she picked up the cell and put it to her ear. Her breath rattled over the receiver.

  “Better?” Justice’s serenity made her want to gouge his eyes out.

  “No. No, I’m not.”

  “I see.”

  “You won’t let her kill him. Tell me you won’t let her kill him.”

  “I will protect Farley.”

  “That’s not good enough. I want you to swear to me you will not let her kill him.”

  He was quiet for a moment. “I swear to you, I will protect him with my life.”

  “Good.”

  The highway split, and they passed under a bridge. Up ahead the first exit for air-cargo appeared. They were getting there too fast. Everything was happening too fast.

  “Haley?”

  “Yeah?” Her reflection stared back at her from the passenger window, highlighted by the dash lights. I look tired. She felt worse.

  “You will not be lost to her.”

  “Yeah, well. We’ll have to see about that, won’t we?”

  “Be well, Haley Night.”

  Her hand dropped back into her lap
, feeling like it weighed a million pounds. The light on the screen blinked out. In the darkness the sun flickered on the horizon. The orange and red glow ate out the stars.

  Haley looked at the clock. It wasn’t even six. The sun wouldn’t start to rise for another half hour.

  “Oh, dear God, Garrett, stop the car. Stop ... STOP!” Garrett pulled the sedan over into the emergency lane. Haley threw open the door and scrambled out. Fire danced on the horizon.

  “Haley, get back in the car!”

  She looked at Garrett. His face was a gray mask of fear.

  He knows. He knows what it is, that’s why he was in such a hurry.

  “What is it?” She asked him.

  Garrett shook his head.

  “Tell me, Garrett.”

  He rubbed his face with his hand then scrubbed the top of his brush cut. “It’s Niles. It came over the wire about ten minutes before I got to Ken’s. He escaped the ADF.”

  “All those people...” The flames were huge. She’d never seen anything like it.

  “He hasn’t left the prison grounds. He’s leveling the place.”

  “How did he get out?” She waited for her boss to answer.

  “No one escapes the ADF.” Well, obviously that theory had been blown out of the water. “They’ll dispatch a unit.”

  And that meant they’d kill him. Niles Fury, the Male who had watched over her. Kept her safe. Kept her alive. A Male who owed her nothing. A Male she didn’t even know.

  “I can stop him.” As the only Female employed by the CFKR, it was her job to stop him.

  “No, what you need to do is get in the car, so you can get somewhere safe.”

  “And if I leave? Then what happens? When he gets done tearing apart the ADF, where do you think he’ll go?” There were a lot of people in the heart of the city. A lot of Human flesh waiting to be consumed.

  “Let the Alchemists deal with it.” Was he serious? This close to people? When the Alchemist teams arrived even more life would be lost. This wasn’t like Garrett, she knew that. He was being a friend and looking out for her. “Get in the car, Haley.”