Her eyes blurred again and she hid her face against his chest.
This time he allowed her the escape. Fear colored her eyes, but bigger, deeper emotions swirled at the back. He tightened his grip and offered her his strength.
For minutes they just lay there. She shivered and Duncan dug around until he untangled the sheet from under their bodies and covered them.
“You want me.”
He would have been unable to hear her whispered words without his Vampire hearing. Duncan stroked up and down her back. “I thought I had made that obvious.” He kept his voice low. Intimate. Safe.
She curled more tightly against him and he felt more tears. “You don’t understand. You actually want me.”
He frowned, trying to figure out what she meant while pulling her even closer. He followed their link. It still wasn’t fully established, but it was stronger. Agony and hope overwhelmed him. “Baby, please explain. I want you. I want a relationship, a chance to see what we can become.”
“Nobody has ever wanted just me,” she whispered against his chest. “At first they wanted to study me. Some of the doctors thought they could win favors with my father if they found a way to make my Gift emerge. No matter the cost of their methods.” She rubbed her cheek against his chest like a kitten.
“Then, when it was obvious I had no Gift, they wanted to study me, to figure out what was wrong with me. Nobody saw me any longer. I was just a question that had to be answered. A puzzle that had to be solved. And then came the glory hounds and money seekers. Just because I had no Gift they thought I was stupid, an easy target.”
She lifted her head and met his gaze. “Not one of them saw me or even wanted me. Not like you do.”
His heart clenched and he kissed her.
His little Naema had to put a shield over her very vulnerable heart after being kicked in said organ more than once. In his anger he had blown that shield to smithereens. Once again he made her meet his gaze. “Tanasha, hear me when I say this. I want you. Not for what you can bring me or because of your money. I have money enough. I want you because you are the sexiest woman I have ever met. Pleasuring you is exalted bliss and pure torture at the same time. You are strong and brave and loyal. And you have the best rack in the galaxy.”
She chuckled, but still tears coursed down her cheeks.
He kissed them away.
“I’m sorry.” She nuzzled his face, curling arms and legs around him. “I’m sorry I hurt you. It’s no excuse, but I didn’t know I could.” She stroked her shaking fingers across his cheeks, his lips, his chin.
“Why did you?”
She snorted. “You exploded in my life. Since I’ve met you I’ve faced Marius, been attacked by Ferals and had more sex in a few hours than I usually have in a year.” Tanasha met his gaze, her black eyes whirling with emotions. “This link between us scares me. I thought I was alone in it and that terrified me. I don’t do well with unemotional sex and between all the lovema—all the sex, we haven’t spoken more than three words.”
Duncan covered her lips with a finger. “Lovemaking, not sex. Understood.”
She swallowed and nodded. “So much has happened in the last day, I was overwhelmed. When you continued to push I imagined you were just after a good fuck partner and I couldn’t stand the thought.”
He pulled her leg over his hip and held her close. His half-hard dick rested against the curve of her stomach. He wanted to tell her everything, but she was right. She’d been through a lot in the last few hours. And they still had to find her friend.
He curled his hand around the back of her head and kissed her with all the emotion he held inside him. “Just give us a chance, Nasha. Don’t let fear stand between us.”
“I won’t. Knowing you want me, no ifs and buts, is amazing. I will do my very best not to run like a coward again.”
They shared a kiss that made Duncan wish the rest of the planet was in another dimension. Heat and fire, but also tenderness and care coursed through them.
He pulled himself back with a groan and asked the comp to give him the time. “We need to get up. There are a few things I need to tell you.”
Tanasha nodded.
For a moment neither of them moved.
She giggled. “Not sure how much we’ll get done if we stay like this.”
He heaved an exaggerated sigh. “Quite a lot, I’d say, but none of it helpful to the case.”
One last kiss and they scrambled out of bed.
She picked up the shirt he’d torn off her. “I need clothes.”
Duncan shrugged and threw her another one. “Give the comp your details and have it make some.” He pointed at the rags she’d worn yesterday. “Make it something less voluminous. You need to be able to move without impediment.” And he wanted to see her in something other than a tent.
She threw him a look out of narrowed eyes, but agreed. While she was busy ordering more clothes he jumped into the shower and shaved. Tanasha stepped into the bathroom just as he finished. As much as he’d have preferred to join her, he controlled himself, dressed and walked downstairs.
He had little use for food, but his human friends necessitated a food synthesizer. With no idea what she’d like he made a little of everything.
Tanasha came into the kitchen and gaped at his efforts. “Whose army are you feeding?”
He shrugged. “I wasn’t sure what you were in the mood for. One of the bots will pack up any leftovers and take them to the homeless shelter ten blocks over.”
She cleared her throat, by his guess swallowing her laughter. “Thank you, everything looks delicious.” She kissed him. “And this is very thoughtful of you.”
Duncan poured them each a cup of coffee and added a glass of blood for himself. Unlike in his office this time it didn’t seem to bother her. Instead she studied him with curiosity.
“How often do you have to drink?”
“I’m close to five centuries. I don’t have to drink for weeks, sometimes months, but why abstain if I don’t have to? I tend to follow human standards and have about three meals if I can.”
She nodded and started to eat. “What have you found?”
“Finish your food first.” He smirked. “You need to keep up your strength.”
Tanasha studied him with raised brows.
“Eat. I won’t say anything until you’ve had sustenance.”
She rolled her eyes but continued to eat. Ten minutes later she’d finished her plate and he his glass of blood. Duncan took her hand. “Let’s sit in the living room, it’s more comfortable.”
She followed without hesitation and sat on the large sofa.
Duncan dropped down beside her and rested his arm along the back. His fingers tangled in her luscious hair. “I went to find a source, another Vampire who I’ve suspected of having an in with a faction of the Ferals. I’ve known Hugo for decades. We’ve never been very close, but we have worked together. He always seemed to be able to lay hands on data just when we needed it. He’s dead.”
“What? What happened?” She put her hand on his free one. “I’m sorry.”
Duncan cleared his throat and told her what had happened at Hugo’s place.
When he fell silent, Tanasha gripped his hand more tightly. “What did you find?” she asked in a whisper.
Duncan rubbed his eyes. “It looks like I was right. The Ferals are branching out. They’ve begun trade in Naema blood.”
Tanasha turned ghost white.
She jumped up and began to pace. “They are insane. Naemas kept out of the last war because they didn’t think it concerned them. Vampires were killing humans, not us. If it comes out that Ferals, that Vampires, are not only trading in human slaves, but in Naema blood, the Senate will demand that they are swept off the worlds.”
She came to a standstill in front of Duncan, her hands clamped together.
Duncan loosened her clenched fingers and kissed them. “I know, love. It will be a bloodbath. Vampires will have to make a choice
of which side to fight on. There are enough Vampires who don’t like the new rules and only follow them because they don’t want to be shot on sight. If war breaks out and humans once again hunt all Vampires, many will join the Ferals. Why not enjoy yourself if you’re getting shot at anyway?”
Tanasha gripped his fingers tightly. “Naemas will go to war. We’re pretty hard to kill so new weapons will be developed on both sides.” She shivered. “This could last decades and exterminate whole worlds.”
Duncan couldn’t restrain himself anymore and pulled her onto his lap. She cuddled against him with no hesitation. “Take a deep breath, Nasha, we’re not there yet. If we can stop this in its tracks none of this will happen.”
“If it comes out none of us will be safe,” she whispered against his chest.
He kissed her cheek. “If what comes out?”
Tanasha shook her head and curled up tighter. Her heartbeat raced against his chest.
Duncan gave her his warmth, hoping she would trust him.
“Naema blood is a power source to Vampires.”
He tried to suppress all response, but was only partly successful. “Really? I thought that was one of those big myths.”
“No, both the Naema Senate and the Vampire Council agreed centuries ago that it was something that had to be kept secret to protect the Naemas and to stop Vampires from going on power trips.”
“Looks like somebody found out.”
“And he found a Naema to work with him.”
Duncan remained silent. She would have to work through that betrayal by herself. He could only offer his support.
“How did you find out?”
“Hugo and I had one passion in common, we both love an Old Earth story called The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. It is the story of a young girl, who is transported into an alternative dimension where she meets a group of haphazard characters, all in search of something. They travel to a great city to meet the wizard and find their dreams. Hugo has figurines of all the characters but the Tin Man wore a brain around his chest.”
Tanasha frowned at him.
He cleared his throat. “The Tin Man was in search of a heart, it was the Scarecrow who looked for a brain.”
“What kind of story is this?” she asked with a small smile.
“I believe it was aimed at children, but when you have a deeper look you find a lot of valuable themes and qualities. We discussed those for hours.”
Her brows rose and her smile grew. “Philosophical discussions? I have to admit I didn’t see it coming.”
Duncan wasn’t too sure how he felt about her laughing at him, but her kissing him made up for it. “Hugo had evidence of the Feral leader working with the Naema, a ledger that identifies the credits that changed hands.”
She swallowed. “Between whom?”
He cupped her cheek and kissed her lightly. “There are no names, only combinations of letters and numbers. NZ1 seems to be in charge and so far the only recipient for Naema blood. The trade started about three weeks ago. It also describes dates and times when other products, my guess is human blood slaves, changed hands. This ledger could give us potential starting points to trace the financial transactions.”
Tanasha leaned into his hand. “Chances are NZ1 channeled the money through so many relays we’ll end up on one of the outer planets.”
Duncan’s brows shot up. “And what would a good little Naema know about relays and hiding money trails?”
She only smiled. When he would have dug deeper and asked again, she kissed him, wiping his brain clean of any thought other than holding her as close to him as possible. Their tongues tangled and she sucked his deep into her mouth. Duncan grew hard at the thought of feeling her suck his cock the same way she was sucking his tongue.
His hand slipped under his shirt and caressed the smooth skin of her back.
She moaned but pulled back. “We don’t have time.”
He cleared his throat. “Indeed—”
Before he could say anything else the doorbell rang.
They both froze.
“Do you have a house bot?” she asked, her breath uneven.
“No,” he groaned, “it’s down at maintenance.”
Tanasha swallowed and scrambled off his lap. “You better answer then. The comp should have finished my clothes. I’ll get dressed.”
Duncan sighed and attempted to be grateful for the interruption. They needed to plan on how to deal with Marius.
The bell rang again.
He frowned and picked up a dagger he had on display.
Something was wrong. His churning gut told him so.
Chapter Seven
Duncan checked the screen and switched the dagger into his left hand, the one invisible when the door was open.
His next-door neighbor Mary waited outside. She held a small cup in her hands. She was pale and her lips trembled. Duncan had exchanged maybe three sentences with his neighbor since she moved in.
He frowned. “Tanasha?”
She leaned over the upstairs banister and narrowed her gaze as she saw his stance. “What?”
“Hide in the wardrobe in my room.”
“Why?”
“My neighbor stands outside my door, looking as if she’s about to ask for sugar or something like that. I don’t eat, so I’m a bad choice. Also she’s shaking like a leaf.”
Tanasha nodded. “They’re using her to trick you.”
The bell rang a third time, even more insistently.
Duncan nodded. “Hurry.”
He could have saved his breath. Tanasha had already walked into the main bedroom. “Don’t come down until I call you.”
She didn’t turn around, just waved the back of her hand at him.
Not particularly comforted, he couldn’t do anything else.
He was out of time.
Duncan opened the door. “Mary, what a surprise. How may I help you?”
As soon as she stepped over the threshold four Ferals pushed after her.
Duncan jumped forward and thrust one of them against the hallway door outside the entrance with his mind. He kicked a second one in the nuts and sliced his dagger across his throat. Blood gushed and the Feral dropped to the ground.
A third attacked from behind, punched Duncan’s kidneys and pushed him against the wall. Pain shot across his middle, but he used the momentum to bounce back with a jumping kick that hit Feral Three across the face.
“Stop or she dies!” A roar echoed through his apartment.
Duncan stopped moving.
The last Feral held a laser to the back of Mary’s neck.
A live laser.
Duncan raised his hands and stepped back, cursing in his mind. He could try to disarm the attacker with his power but the slightest hitch or bump could set off the laser. If he didn’t get it right Duncan could kill Mary.
And the other two Ferals recovered some. The one he’d just kicked stumbled to his feet, glaring at him and wiping the blood from his broken nose.
The one he’d thrown against the wall, whom Duncan mentally christened Wally, strode up to him and punched him.
Agony burst across his face.
Duncan shook his head to get them all back into focus. Wally dragged the body of his dead buddy into the apartment, leaving behind a trail of blood. That won’t draw attention. But we’re probably leaving before anybody notices.
The Feral holding Mary smirked, showing long, filthy fangs. Hygiene in general didn’t seem to be a priority. He reeked of sweat and garbage.
The human woman sobbed. “They grabbed me when I came in from work.”
The Feral with the broken nose leaned closer and drew a couple of bloody lines across her cheek. “And we’ll set you to work once we’re done here.”
She moaned. Her knees gave out and the Feral holding the laser had to grab her by the back of her shirt. Mary hung in his grasp as if all strength had left her body.
The fucking laser never wavered.
“I’m guess
ing you’re after me. How about you let Mary go and I will follow you willingly and without making a fuss?”
The Feral tilted his head. “Maybe. Let me think about it.”
Duncan nodded, scrambling to find a way to get the laser away from the other Feral without endangering the woman. She hadn’t stopped sobbing. The Feral was too focused. Any attempt to disarm him was too great a risk.
Hopefully Tanasha heard what happened and stayed hidden.
Duncan’s fists balled. He needed to keep their attention on him. Wally joined the group around Mary and pulled her out of his cohort’s grasp by her hair. Duncan jumped forward and punched him. The Feral hissed and dropped Mary, but before Duncan could punch him again, the other two grabbed his arms.
Duncan threw one against the closed door with his power. The second picked up one of his metal sculptures and slammed it into Duncan’s face.
Pain exploded across his head. His knees weakened. His vision blurred. Duncan shook the blood out of his eyes, struggling to focus through the agony. He hung in the grasp of the second Feral, struggling to focus his talent and defend himself. Wally stood before him. Punches rained down on Duncan, to his face, his chest.
Duncan nearly blacked out. The one who’d held Mary took his free arm and the two of them came close to yanking his shoulders out of their sockets as they wrenched his arms back. Cold shackles slid across his wrists.
Immediately his arms dropped down. He lost all feeling in his upper body. They dropped him to the floor and he fell sideways.
T-Guards. Fuck, I’m so screwed. The nanites in the cuffs made movement impossible and substantially slowed down his healing ability. As long as he had the nanites in his system he would heal human slow. But even worse, they hacked into his nervous system and stopped his telekinesis. He had no way of defending Tanasha or himself.
Wally kicked him in the ribs. Duncan pulled his legs up, the only part of his body he could still feel other than his head, and protected his balls from another vicious kick.
Then Wally strode to the shivering and huddling Mary. The two at Duncan’s side pulled his head back, making sure he didn’t miss the cruelty and triumph in Wally’s eyes as he yanked Mary up. “Find the Naema,” he ordered the ones holding him.
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