Already hard and aching, heat slammed into him as he met her steamy gaze. His cock twitched when she bit her bottom lip, the action so seductive and tempting.
Soroyan wanted to groan at how out of control his life had become. As if she were aware, Raven smirked. Her violet eyes grew smoky as she studied him intently. “Did you get rid of them?” she asked and her husky voice sent a shot of lust straight to his cock.
His attention was caught by a droplet of water that trailed from the nape of her hair down her neck, across her chest to escape under the thin slice of material that barely covered her breasts. His mouth went dry. It was all he could do not to rip her flimsy bathing suit off and find that rivulet of water that hid between the lush globes enticing him. He imagined how she’d taste, how her skin would feel against his, her arms wrapped around him. Her legs around his waist.
Everything about her turned him on, more than he’d been turned on in centuries, and Soroyan silently cursed. “Get rid of who?” he asked with a scowl, not wanting her to see his reaction to her.
“Your demons.” She smirked, her lips tilting upward. With some effort, he dragged his eyes from her mouth and met her gaze, but didn’t say anything. What could he say? He hadn’t, though he hated that she saw through him so easily.
“That’s some piece of hardware,” she said then, startling him when she reached out to touch the collar at his neck.
Soroyan held still, jaw clenched as her fingers seared his skin under the collar.
“Tierney told me what happened. I can’t imagine,” she said, surprising him. He had the feeling she didn’t care about much, so it surprised him that she would care about him.
Still, he didn’t want hers or anyone else’s pity. He’d been tricked so easily, something that should never have happened.
There was a blatant invitation in her eyes that set his heart racing.
No, don’t do it! his mind shouted, while his body screamed to take her here, now. Finally, knowing he’d do something they’d both regret, he moved away.
Raven’s arm dropped to her side as he turned and continued to his room, horny and aching with an insane need. What the fuck? Even with his mate, Delsie, he’d never been this out of control. Maybe he just needed to get laid. Dragging a hand through his shaggy black hair, he went and took an ice-cold shower.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Brother Sister Chat
Raven’s mouth-watered as the sexy, black-haired male walked away from her. A male of few words, he was definitely much wilder than any other wolf shifter she’d ever met. In fact, she could sense how dangerous he was, along with his tenuous control.
She contemplated him as she made her way down the hall and up the stairs. She’d just about reached her room, when she bumped into Tierney coming out of hers.
“Did you have a good swim?” Tierney asked with a smile.
Raven nodded. “I did. I also ran into Soroyan. He sure doesn’t like anyone, does he?”
Tierney smirked. “You just have to understand him.”
Raven raised an eyebrow, and Tierney chuckled. “Really, he’s actually a sweetheart.”
Raven snorted. “You’re full of shit.”
Tierney laughed. “Really, he is.”
“Niece, I think you are delusional,” Raven said.
Tierney shook her head. “I know he’s dangerous, possibly one of the most dangerous beings I’ve ever come across. Underneath all that, he’s sweet, and cares deeply for his brother, his pack, and now, for us here as well.”
Raven could only stare at her. She would never have thought of the big brute as sweet. Still, she wasn’t about to burst Tierney’s bubble. “Yeah, all right.” Then indicated her room. “I’m going to shower.”
As Raven took a long, hot shower and then dressed, she contemplated what Tierney had said along with why she felt the need to push Soroyan. She was aware it was like poking a great angry bear with a piece of straw, but she couldn’t seem to help herself.
She wasn’t looking for any entanglements and obviously Soroyan wasn’t either, still, she’d seen how he looked at her and felt his attraction. “It’s just fun poking at the beast, it means nothing,” she mumbled to herself.
Yeah, keep telling yourself that, an inner voice whispered. She pushed it away. She had her priorities and didn’t need anyone interfering.
After dressing, she knocked at her brother’s door and a moment later, the blonde human woman Chloe opened the door.
“Oh, hi. Come in,” she said, and opened the door wider so Raven could enter. She’d been shocked at the presence of the human in her brother’s home. Of course, that was nothing compared to her shock at the half-Ilyium male, Caden, or some of the others living here.
At first, she wanted to tear Caden to pieces, until Tierney explained how they’d found the guy.
“Yeah, you might want to be careful around him,” her niece warned as an after-thought, making her frown.
“Why would I do that?” she had asked, cranky at having to stay her hand.
Tierney smirked. “Because Genna is a little attached to him.”
“So? I can take that little midget no problem,” she said.
Tierney laughed. “Yeah, I’m not so sure of that. Genna is Adariasthorn’s Genesis child. Phoibos. Trust me, that girl has some wicked crazy powers.”
Raven had snorted, but decided to wait and watch.
Chloe fussed around Zander, making sure he had enough water, and that he was warm and comfortable. It almost appeared as if she were going to kiss him, but at the last second she stopped herself. Then without meeting Raven’s eyes, Chloe slipped out of the room and left them alone.
“I understand,” Raven said, grinning at her brother.
“Enough,” Zander bit out, making Raven laugh.
“Raven,” Zander began to protest.
Raven held her hand up. “It’s all good, I actually like her, and she cares about you. I think she’s good for you.”
Her brother blushed. “I’m glad you’re here,” Zander said suddenly, changing the subject.
Raven sobered. “I came to help, but there isn’t anyone here to kill, or anything for me to do,” she said, thinking about the job she’d left. “I need to get back. I’m working on something.”
“What? More vengeance?” he asked.
Raven ground her teeth. “They murdered my mate, you of all people should understand.”
“It’s been twenty years since you lost Lukkah. Twenty years of being alone, moving from place to place. Hunting. Killing. Not sleeping. Aren’t you tired?” he asked, light green eyes staring intently at her.
Raven opened her mouth to speak, and then closed it. She refused to explain her actions. Of all people, her brother should understand.
“I do, but you took care of the ones responsible and Lukkah wouldn’t have wanted this life for you,” he said.
Tears stung her eyes and averting her eyes, she went and slumped down in the chair beside the bed.
***
At the end of each day she and Lukkah would lay together and he’d run his fingers through her hair and tease her. “It’s raven-black. Soft and sleek as a feather.”
She would always snort. “I’m far from soft and sleek,” she’d say and then run her own fingers over the ebony scales of his back and arms, marveling at the faint white glow that surrounded each smooth, yet cool, silky scale. She’d been forever awed by the beauty of the dragon within him.
“Let’s make a baby, Raven,” he had said and the love shining in his eyes had warmed her heart and soul.
“I’d like that,” she replied and so they did.
They used to talk about them having lots of children and growing old together, and she’d wanted that more than anything. Then he and their unborn baby girl had been killed. Brutally taken from her. On that same fateful day, she’d been run from their village and threatened with death if she ever returned.
It had hurt, but didn’t really matter. All she wanted
was payback and it hadn’t been hard. She was an avenging angel after all.
Yet once she’d annihilated the group who killed her love, she’d been unable to stop. The Ilyium enjoyed killing any and all supernatural beings and so she killed them.
***
“Please, stay,” Zander said to her.
Raven shook her head. “You don’t need me here, brother. The kids are all grown up. They are strong. You taught them well, plus you have the wolves, two Genesis Dracones … shit, you even have tough-as-nails Phoenixes ready to fight. You don’t need me.”
“You’re right, and I’m intensely proud of all my kids, but they haven’t seen battle like you and I, and one of those Genesis Dracones is pregnant and the gentlest person I’ve ever met, and have you spent any time around the other one?” Zander said.
Raven shrugged. “Not much, she does seem a little crazy, though.”
It was Zander’s turn to snort. “That one is probably more dangerous than anyone I’ve ever met,” he said.
Raven narrowed her eyes in disbelief and Zander nodded. “She has no idea of what she is capable of, but she’s learning fast. I worry about her.”
“I’m sure she will be fine,” Raven protested.
Zander held her gaze. “Please, Keshiel. I need you here, things are heating up. We’re being attacked. My wards were knocked down when I was captured. We have a missing wolf and a group of wolves waiting to pledge their allegiance to Kyrian, but it all hinges on his son being found, and I’m utterly useless,” he said, staring down at his slowly healing body.
“Zander—” she protested. He wasn’t fighting fair.
“Raven, twenty years,” he said again, making her sigh.
Maybe he was right. It wasn’t like she hadn’t considered giving up the life. In fact, a few times she’d thought about settling down somewhere, maybe even growing a garden. Only she planned to do it alone, in peace and quiet.
“Okay, I might have taken the avenging part a little too far,” she admitted, meeting her brother’s gaze.
“A little?” he teased.
Raven grinned. “I can’t help it, just the sight of an Ilyium fills me with a killing rage.” That had been why she hadn’t stopped—that driving need to wet her blade with their blood.
Besides, the power she gained when their soul sank to the depths of hell wasn’t unwelcome either.
“Do you ever miss it?” she asked.
Zander studied her for a moment. “No,” he finally said and she couldn’t help but wonder if he was lying to her or himself.
After agreeing to stay a little while, Raven stood up. “I will get to work on setting perimeter wards,” she said, noting how worn out her brother suddenly appeared.
“Thank you,” he said.
Raven leaned down and kissed his cheek. “I will find a way to break this spell on you.”
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Unwanted Companion
Soroyan’s fists clenched and unclenched as he made his way down the hallway toward the underground garage.
The noise, the bodies so close, it was all beating down on him. Pain pounded his skull like a sledgehammer, and on top of it all, he felt like crawling out of his skin.
He may have lost his wolf, but he hadn’t lost his senses. The build-up of all the different scents. Different supernatural people. The noises, conversations. The TVs, kids and wolflings playing … the sounds of pots and pans on the stove as Thaniel cooked in the kitchen … It was all grating on his already fried nerves. He couldn’t take the proximity to everyone anymore. Although if he were honest, he’d admit it was the scent, sight and voice of the siren who seemed to have bewitched him, that was the biggest threat to his sanity.
He needed to get away.
Maybe get laid, burn off the steam.
Yes, that’s what he’d do.
Soroyan stopped halfway down the hallway. He could hear Raven in the great room talking with Tierney, Julie, and Genna. Then he caught Brimstone’s voice. “Their eyes are purple,” the male Phoenix said.
“They are not purple, they be violet and amethyst,” Genna growled at him and Soroyan knew they were talking about Tierney and Raven’s eyes.
Just the thought of how Raven watched him with her knowing smile and heat in her gaze made him even harder. It had been so long since he’d had any real physical contact with someone that he couldn’t help once again wonder what it would be like to feel her skin next to his. To taste her … Stop! No, he really didn’t want to see her at the moment, but if he planned on getting to the city, he’d need Tierney’s help.
He could have asked Sami, or Jax to give him a ride, although with the mood he was in, it would be better for him to go alone. It wouldn’t have been an issue if he’d still been able to shift. Then he’d run in wolf form to the city, expend some more energy. In human form it would take way too long.
Masking his inner struggle, he strengthened his resolve and turning around, he made his way back down the long hallway and into the great room. Sure enough, Raven stood beside Tierney, the two of them deep in conversation as both Genna and Xeata, together with Brimstone, taught some of the Raizarch wolves how to play the PlayStation.
He didn’t make it far, before he felt Raven’s intense gaze settle on him briefly, before looking back at her niece.
Soroyan kept his own eyes trained on Tierney as he made his way across the room.
“Soroyan,” Tierney said with a bright smile.
“Can I borrow your car again?” he asked, purposely not looking at Raven.
“Sure, of course. Where are you going?” she asked, pulling keys out of her pocket.
“Club Purgatori,” he said.
“Ah, good idea. Maybe Sin will have found out something about where to find Val Jean,” she said.
Soroyan didn’t say anything as she began to hand the keys over. “Is one of these for your apartment?” he asked, trying not to groan at his body’s reaction to Raven, whom he could still feel studying him.
“Yeah, this one, do you want to crash there tonight?” Tierney asked and he frowned until he realized what she meant.
“Yes, I’d like that,” he said.
Tierney nodded. “Okay, so it’s on the twelfth floor, apartment number six. Do you want me or …” she glanced at her aunt. “Raven to go with you?”
Soroyan shook his head. Loki! He was trying to get away from Raven. The last thing he wanted was her, or even Tierney tagging along.
“All right, call if you find anything and need back up,” she said, and slid her phone into his hand as well. Surprised, Soroyan slipped it into his pocket. Turning away, he hurried into the kitchen where he heard Sami talking to Thaniel.
“Sami, do you have any of that magic liquid you put in my drink at that club?” Soroyan asked.
Sami raised his eyebrow at his question. “Nectar, you mean?”
Soroyan nodded. “Yes, that’s it.”
“Sure.” Sami walked over to the cupboard where they stored their alcohol and pulled out a large bottle and set it on the counter. When Soroyan reached out to grab it, Sami yanked it away. “Wait, you headed out?” he asked with a frown, eyeing the keys in Soroyan’s hand.
“What business is it of yours?” Soroyan asked with a snarl, so close to the edge he had to dig his nails into his hand to stop from attacking the other male.
Sami raised an eyebrow. “It’s not,” he said, then held up the bottle. “Just let me put a bit of this in a flask for you, you only need a few drops per drink, not sure what drinking the whole bottle would do to someone,” he said and Soroyan felt like a total asshole for the way he was acting.
He remembered Tierney’s words telling him that there were people here who cared, he just he didn’t know how he felt about it. Still, his reaction only proved that he needed to get away from everyone, clear his head. Go sate the need burning inside of him, then surely he’d feel better.
Okami wolves were very sensual creatures and once they hit puberty, they we
ren’t often shy. He’d abstained from sex since his mate had died all those long years ago and now was paying the price. He should have listened to Kyrian and at least fucked some of the females that had let him know they would be open to the offer. Yet no female had attracted him, until now. Only his body had been so long without sex that he couldn’t seem to handle this new attraction.
“Here you go,” Sami said, snapping him out of his musings as he handed Soroyan a thin metal flask.
Soroyan took the offering and slipped it into his pocket. “Thank you. Sorry I snapped.”
“No problem,” Sami said and the concern in his eyes made Soroyan quickly turn away.
“Don’t forget, only a few drops per drink,” Sami called to his back as he rushed from the house.
He hurried over to Tierney’s black Dodge Challenger, anxious and sure that he had just gone too long without sex. He pulled the door open, moved the seat back and slid inside when someone opened the passenger side door and slid in on the other side. The wild, untamed scent was quickly followed by sweet honeysuckle and made his heart race at the sight of Raven beside him. No, this couldn’t be happening!
Soroyan ground his teeth. “What are you doing?” He was so hard with need, it was almost painful.
“Jax just got a call from someone. Apparently, a few Were-wolves have just returned to their den. He said you’d want to be told and that I should go with you, in case you need a hand.” Raven paused. “Besides, I needed to get away. I’m not used to being around so many people. You don’t mind, do you?” she asked, staring at him.
Soroyan tried not to notice the pulse in her slender neck, or the swell of her breasts under the black tank top she wore. He attempted to regulate his racing heart and tell her to leave him alone. Having her tag along was definitely not in his plans for this evening. Yet no matter how hard he tried, the words to tell her no just wouldn’t come out and he couldn’t figure out why.
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