Blood Red Kiss

by Kresley Cole

  I like this woman.

  They left the crime scene arm in arm, and no one dared protest the actions of the boss’s wife. This time, as Lilica made her way down the sidewalk, she didn’t have to pretend to ignore the stares and whispers she generated. She ignored them for real, wrapped up in the experience of spending time with one of her many moms/sisters/whatever.

  Buildings stretched as far as the eye could see. Some were box-shaped while others knifed through the skyline, disappearing in the clouds. No matter the size or shape of the building, however, each connected to its neighbors through shared walls or concrete tunnels. A postwar precaution. That way, if one building was bombed, the people inside it could race into another without having to go outside, where there might be gunfire.

  “In here.” Bride drew her into one of the boxier shops, Mulier in Gloria, a boutique for women.

  A bell tinkled overhead, and a salesgirl rushed over to greet them. She missed a step when she realized the new customers were otherworlders, but quickly pasted a smile on her face; a sale was a sale, Lilica supposed.

  To her surprise, she remained in a state of euphoria as she tried on dresses, faux-leather pants, shirts, belts, hats, jewelry, gloves, lingerie, and a thousand pairs of high heels. Her first shopping extravaganza would go down in her personal history books as one of the greatest days of her life.

  She bought everything she tried on, even things that didn’t fit, because screw Devyn. She even picked presents for Jade . . . and one for Trinity.

  Maybe I can buy her love?

  I’m pathetic.

  What would she wear out of the store? Oh! That one. Lilica dressed in a white spaghetti-strap top, skintight black leggings, and ankle boots with white lace around the edges.

  “Nice,” Bride said with a nod of approval.

  Lilica smacked herself on the butt. “I don’t always wear sassy pants, but when I do, I wear ’em classy and smartassy.”

  The vampire snorted. She paid extra to have everything but the gifts for Jade delivered to Dallas’s apartment. As she signed the receipt, she said, “I love a girl who speaks in meme.”

  What would Dallas do when he got a look at her new clothes? Yank her into his arms as he’d done this morning? Would he actually kiss her this time, or spring away from her again?

  Kiss! Need shivered over her, her markings tingling.

  Can’t think about him. She’d only sink deeper into a state of desire for him.

  —I’m working. Knock it off. And my balls haven’t forgiven you.—

  Her eyes widened. She must have sent an image of them making out through the bond. But the most surprising part? He’d been able to push his voice into her head while she was so turned on.

  The bond was . . . strengthening?

  “Oh, wow.” Bride leaned in and sniffed her nape. “What perfume are you wearing?”

  “Uh, I’m not.”

  “You sure? Because whatever it is, it’s making me want to find Devyn and destroy a bed.” The vampire wiggled her brows.

  The salesgirl sniffed the air and shrugged. “I don’t smell anything.”

  Well, she was human, while Bride was a vampire with heightened senses . . . who’d probably detected Lilica’s arousal for Dallas.

  “Let’s get out of here,” she muttered, her cheeks burning.

  Outside, the clouds had evaporated. Bright rays of sunlight stroked her markings, only making her tingling intensify.

  Bride pulled a tiny stick from her pocket, and with the press of a button, that stick grew and grew until it provided an umbrella of shade.

  “I can tolerate sunlight,” Bride said, “but not for long. And just so you know, the scent you’re producing hasn’t lessened.” She pulled at the collar of her shirt, a pretty flush spreading over her cheeks, her pupils expanding. “Is it hot out here or just you?”

  She wasn’t the only one to react that way. Every otherworlder Lilica passed stopped to stare at her, and not with distaste. Not anymore.

  “I produce a special scent for Devyn,” Bride admitted. “It drives him crazy.”

  The bond with Dallas . . . Lilica wondered if she was unwittingly sending out smoke signals, for lack of a better phrase, to draw him to her side. “Yes, well, I’m sure I’ll be able to produce this scent for many men.”

  “Good luck with that.” Bride bumped shoulders with her. “Speaking of unbridled passion, you’ll be happy to know I’m withholding sex until Devyn properly apologizes for his poor behavior.”

  Oh, to be a fly on the wall of the Targon’s bedroom. “I liked you before, but now I think I love you.”

  They reached the diner where Lilica was to meet Jade, and Bride breathed a sigh of relief as cool air-conditioning chased away her flush.

  While there were multiple waitresses and two cooks at a griddle, the only patrons were Jade and John, and both wore strained expressions.

  Had John politely asked everyone else to leave?

  The pair sat at the farthest table, their backs against the wall. As Lilica and Bride joined them, John’s nose twitched and his shoulders straightened, but he revealed no other hint of unease.

  Jade looked Lilica over and gasped. “Wow! You are so beautiful.”

  “I know, right?” She fluffed her hair. “But, uh, you look like crap.” Her sister had a scratch on one cheek and a bruise on her chin. She’d lopped off her snow-white tresses, the uneven strands now swaying just over her shoulders. “Do I need to punish anyone in particular?” she asked, casting John a pointed glance.

  “Nope. I did this to myself.”

  She frowned. “Why?”

  Rather than answer, Jade said, “John actually saved my life.”

  Well. “Thank you,” Lilica told him.

  He nodded curtly.

  She handed Jade a bag filled with accessories and feminine tops, and her sister thrilled over every gift, warming her heart.

  Jade’s attention finally moved to Bride. “Who’s she?”

  “I think she’s one of our . . . donors.”

  Emerald eyes widened with interest. “Really?”

  “Really,” Bride responded.

  As the two girls fell into an easy back-and-forth, getting to know each other, Lilica studied John. Such an odd male. Anytime Jade moved, even the tiniest bit, he moved with her, ensuring that the same distance remained between their bodies, yet he couldn’t hide the longing he projected, as if he desperately wanted to touch her.

  He was clearly an alpha used to getting his way. So why didn’t he simply take what he wanted, damn the consequences? That’s what the doctors at IOT had done—what they wanted, when they wanted.

  After a waitress had logged in their order, Jade noticed the bandage on Lilica’s hand.

  “What happened? Do I need to punish anyone in particular?”

  “Already done.” She told her sister what she’d told Dallas. About the Schön, about her suspicions considering Trinity. Tears burned in her eyes, but she blinked them away just as she had throughout her childhood. Tears revealed weakness. Weaknesses were exploited.

  “I can’t believe . . . how could she . . .” Jade patted her uninjured hand. “We know it’s the disease, not her, but more and more I’m having trouble distinguishing between the two. I just . . . I’m so sorry, Lilica. I really am.”

  “Thank you. But I’m not giving up on her. I can’t.” It would be like giving up on herself.

  “I was able to find her through the spirit realm. I could, in theory, find her again and lead AIR straight to her door. So why didn’t she try to kill me?”

  An excellent question. Clearly she considered Lilica the bigger threat. But why?

  “I won’t sit idly by while she plots your murder,” Jade said.

  The fierceness of her tone struck a chord within Lilica. I’m a priority to her. Higher on the totem than Trinity.

  The knowledge astonished her . . . secretly pleased her. I’m a horrible person. “Everything will change when she’s cleansed of the
disease.”

  Bride traced a fingertip over the edge of the table. “I hate to ask, but what makes you think Trinity can be cleansed?” Her tone was gentle and without a single hint of malice.

  “Hope,” Lilica replied honestly.

  “But what if you’re wrong . . . ?” Still using that gentle tone. “How many will die while she roams free?”

  “Maybe I could lock her up in a secret location.” A difficult suggestion to make. Captivity would be hell on earth for her sister, reminding her of her childhood, but at least it would buy her time and save others. “Just until we find a cure.”

  “We’ve locked up the Schön before.” Bride smiled sadly. “The doctors became infected.”

  “Because they did their doctor thing and worked with infected fluids,” John said. “On the other hand, when the hosts died, the disease was able to bypass security barriers to infect those who hadn’t handled the fluids.”

  Jade’s brow furrowed. “How can a cure be found if doctors can’t work with infected fluids?”

  Death couldn’t be the only answer. It just couldn’t.

  “I’ve told Jade you are both in a position of power,” John said, speaking up for the first time. “You have something AIR wants. Bargain.”

  “Good idea, except we’re missing the key ingredient to a successful bargain,” Lilica said. “Trust.” Although, if she were to bargain with Dallas, she could unearth his every move and countermove, just as he could unearth hers.

  Problem one: What was there to bargain over if Trinity couldn’t be tested or treated?

  Problem two: AIR could plan something despicable without altering Dallas.

  Problem three: What if he managed to hide his intentions from her?

  Gaze on Jade, she said, “Find me in the spirit realm tonight. We’ll talk to Trinity. Her response will dictate our next actions.”

  The tiny hairs on the back of Lilica’s neck suddenly stood up, and a nervous sensation twisted her stomach. Nervous? Why?

  The answer stomped into the diner, a little bell over the door tinkling.

  Rage pulsed from Dallas as he neared her. She jumped to her feet, her heart thundering against her ribs. When Bride and Jade attempted to stand with her, she held out her arm, a silent demand for the pair to remain seated.

  Dallas’s gaze locked with hers in challenge before it swept over her new clothes. He missed a step, the intensity of his rage . . . changing. A bolt of desire slammed into her with so much force, she stumbled back.

  He stopped a whisper away from her, cupping the back of her neck and hauling her closer—never close enough—bending his head to sniff her.

  “That scent . . . it was like a summoning finger. I didn’t need to check the tracker.”

  As he lifted, her attention dipped to his mouth, his beautiful, sensual mouth, and she couldn’t look away. Couldn’t catch her breath. Couldn’t think of anything but kissing him.

  “Yes. Kiss.” A growl rose from him. A second later, his lips were pressed against hers.

  12

  Every possessive instinct Dallas possessed continued to scream. Take Lilica here and now. Here. Now. The audience didn’t matter. He would strip her out of her new clothes—Will be careful not to rip, look so good on her, want her to wear them again . . . so I can strip her out of them again. He would let the world know she belonged to him—and he to her.

  Here. He wound his arms around her and cupped her ass, lifting her as he continued to eat at her mouth. Now. She wound her legs around his waist, clinging to him, her breasts smashed against his chest. Her taste . . . as rich and decadent as she smelled, reminding him of everything he’d loved in the past, everything he loved right now, and everything he would love in the future. She was sex, victory, and a high like no other.

  No more waiting, he decided. He needed her, and she needed him. He would have her. Here and now. He would give her that orgasm she’s been wanting.

  Good plan. He bent down to lay her on the table.

  A hard shackle suddenly clamped around his bicep and wrenched him backward, forcing him to sever contact with Lilica. He roared with fury. No one kept him from Lilica!

  “Enough!” John No Last Name entered his awareness. “This is a public place, Dallas.”

  Like he cared. He palmed a gun and aimed at the Rakan. In the back of his mind, he heard a woman shout, “No!”

  He heard Bride order, “You will not fire. You will put the gun down. Now.”

  Compulsion. She’d used it on him before, and he’d been unable to stop his body from obeying her. This time he was able to override the compulsion, his finger twitching on the trigger.

  “Dallas,” Lilica said, her voice trembling. “Put down the gun.”

  He . . . obeyed. Not because he had to, but because he wanted to please her. He sheathed the gun, the fog of desire beginning to clear inside his head.

  He was in a public place, with windows, and he’d almost taken Lilica on a table. He’d aimed a pyre-gun at a fellow lawman, and he would have shot to kill.

  “I’m so sorry,” he said, voice ragged. That damn bond! He had to shatter it or accept it, because he clearly couldn’t go on like this much longer.

  “Trust me. I understand.” John cast a side glance at the green-skinned beauty now standing beside Lilica.

  Jade. Lady Delirium. The knowledge filled him. Jade had the power to read the thoughts of those around her, as well as amph and borrow alien abilities, but only for a day or two.

  “I’ve got myself under control,” Dallas said, and after a slight hesitation, John stepped out of the way. His gaze found Lilica of its own volition. She was panting and wringing her hands as she spoke with Bride about . . . his ears twitched . . . compulsion.

  “—the ability myself,” she was saying. “I call it voice voodoo and—”

  “I call it voice voodoo too!”

  You’ve got to be kidding me. Dallas had just kissed her, had just threatened a fellow agent as well as his best friend’s wife, and Lilica was taking a moment to connect with the female.

  The two even shared a small smile.

  “It requires all my strength, and after I use it,” Lilica said, “I’m completely drained for the rest of the day.”

  “You just need practice,” Bride replied. “I mean, think of it this way. If you started lifting weights, you’d have to work with the lighter ones before you could move on to the big ones. The more you lift, the stronger your muscles grow.” She lowered her voice. “But be careful where you practice and who you practice on. Among humans, voice voodoo is one of the most feared alien abilities, and where there’s fear, there’s violence. Oh, and voodoo rarely works on family, and that includes non–blood related family. Intimate ties create an immunity of sorts.”

  Like the bond he had with Lilica.

  “Thank you.” She embraced the vampire, actually clinging to her, holding on far longer than could be deemed polite, but Bride didn’t seem to mind, was clinging right back. Together, the two reached for Jade, who clung just as tightly.

  How little affection the sisters had received throughout their lives.

  He rubbed the pang in his chest. Lilica would love to hug Trinity like this. How much would she hate Dallas for destroying the girl?

  First lesson he taught would-be agents: Never allow your emotions to supersede logic. Or a job. Or doing what’s right.

  “Tonight Jade and Lilica are going to use my ability to spirit-walk.” John spoke to Dallas but directed the words to Jade as she broke from the embrace. “Before you protest, don’t. I’ll be with them. They’re going to meet with Trinity.”

  His first instinct? Like hell! “Why?”

  “To help decide their next move. They’re beginning to accept the need for Trinity’s incarceration.”

  That was something, at least. Far from mollified, however, Dallas stalked to Lilica’s side and held out his hand. “Let’s go home.”

  She batted his hand away. “Dream on. My food hasn’t arr
ived.”

  “Forget the food. It’s crap. I’ll have crab cakes delivered.”

  Her midnight eyes widened, and she licked her lips. “Today?”

  “So suspicious.” He tsk-tsked. “Yes, today.”

  “Lobster cakes too. And salmon. And you can’t toss them in the garbage.”

  “Deal.”

  He offered his hand again, and this time, she accepted. Satisfaction bloomed even as the contact nearly sent him into another uncontrollable spiral of lust. He bit his tongue until he tasted blood. Calm. Steady.

  “What are these cakes?” Jade asked.

  “The devil’s candy,” John muttered, somehow nudging her away from the group without actually touching her.

  Through Devyn, Dallas knew a little about the guy’s sitch. As an otherworlder foster child, John had endured some of the worst abuse ever recorded. Only a few months ago, he’d been captured while on an off-the-books mission, his skin peeled from his body. And as soon as his “pelt” had grown back, he’d been skinned alive again.

  Upon his rescue, Devyn had to lock him up for his own safety. He’d been little more than an animal, snarling and attacking anyone who neared him. The difference in him was astounding, and Dallas wondered whether Jade had anything to do with it.

  If she was anything like Lilica, she’d stripped John to the studs and rebuilt him into a stronger, better version of himself.

  “You,” he said to Bride. “Devyn is looking for you and mumbling about finally giving you the spanking you so richly deserve.”

  Merriment danced in her emerald eyes. “Ah, yes. A spanking. A one-handed round of applause for my magnificent ass.”

  Lilica nodded enthusiastically.

  “You are a bad influence on my girl,” he said, and led Lilica to the door.

  “Your girl?” she whispered, her grip tightening on his hand.

  Silent, he shouldered his way outside. Releasing her—and swallowing a curse—he scanned the sidewalks. No suspicious activity or—

  His gaze returned to the short, curvy blonde across the street. Her back was to him. She peered into a shop window—a shop for power tools. She wore a dark jacket, a hood hiding her hair, but several strands had escaped, pale ribbons whisking in the breeze.