by Zoe Forward
Kane sipped his coffee before demanding, “Explain to me what’s going on. Why are these wacko groups so interested in you? How does what happened to your mother play into this? And what the hell is going on with you and that Ashor fellow?”
Kira squinted at Kane. What could she tell him that wouldn’t cause him give her the look? The one that said she was bat-shit crazy. “There are some things I can do that I’ve never told you or Markus. That’s what the magi and Hashishins are interested in.”
“What kind of things?”
“I can sense people’s energies and their emotions. I also have a gift for healing, not just performing Western medicine as I’ve been trained. I can heal by touch. That’s what caught their attention. I’m sure the Hashishins wants to use me for some disgusting ritual or just outright kill me. The magi are convinced I’m some sort of sacred healer destined to work for them.”
He still threw her the look—the one that combined skepticism, incredulity, and challenge all in one powerful glimpse. Internally she cringed. After years of desperate attempts to gain Kane’s rare approval she thought she’d outgrown this need.
“Don’t give me the loco stare. You asked for answers.” She crossed her arms in front of her chest.
“Prove it.”
“No. You’ll just have to take my word for it.”
Kane opened his mouth to argue, but at that moment her food arrived. She bit into the generously buttered raisin toast and closed her eyes. Bliss.
Kane sipped his coffee and eyed her. “What’s this got to do with your mother?”
“I helped someone escape torture from the Hashishins. Terek came looking for his prisoner when he killed my mother.”
“You helped one of those magi-guys, didn’t you?”
She nodded.
“It was him. The Ashor guy, wasn’t it?”
“Yep.”
“Gratitude can’t be the only reason he’s absurdly obsessed with you.”
“He believes I’m this sacred healer that belongs with them. I don’t agree and refused the job.”
“He went completely apeshit on Vance over you. Explain that.”
“Are you interrogating me?”
“Just answer the question.”
“I don’t respond well to grilling.” She ignored him and focused on her food.
Tightly he said, “Could you please answer the question?”
The bond between her and Ashor was their personal dilemma. She preferred that it remain secret. Foolishly, she missed Ashor, even if he had behaved like a complete ass. She could make him admit he was mistaken. Then she’d take great pleasure in making him pay for it. Just the thought sent the heat of arousal through her body. She hoped she wasn’t inadvertently transmitting this to him.
Running away wouldn’t break their connection. It had linked them for years. Deep down she didn’t want to cut her link to Ashor. Doing so would sever a piece of her soul. Without the reassurance of that ever-present connection, she’d be alone…lost. She wondered if he felt similarly. He probably didn’t have time to reflect on this because he was so obsessed about the akhrian business and caffeinating himself into insomnia. They were going to have to work this out. She would return to him. The only question was when.
Kane cleared his throat and glared a clear answer-me.
Where had these rambling thoughts started? “Ashor thinks I’m the magi’s healer and it’s his responsibility to protect me.”
“There’s more to it. I can tell.”
A tic spasmed furiously in Kane’s cheek. His lips flattened and he squinted. This was full interrogation mode. She’d played this game with him many times. It sucked.
Kane’s cell phone rang, saving Kira from further questions. For the moment. Kane rose and walked away from the booth toward the front door.
As she ate the hash browns and raisin toast, she mused about her future. No job. No money. No Ashor. All she had to look forward to was hiding and evasion. Bleak.
Kane slid back into the booth. “That was Markus. He says some guys snatched him right after he got out of the building the other day, but he just escaped and is headed north. Lucky little snot. I’ll meet him in Virginia where I’ll beat the crap out of him.” Relief and affection laced Kane’s tone.
A shiver of darkness slid down her spine. Headlights of an arriving car flashed through the plate glass entry windows.
“They’re here, Kane. The bad ones. They’re in that car that just pulled in. We’ve got to get out of here.”
“You’re sure? You using that sixth sense shit or something?”
She nodded.
“How the hell did they follow us?” Kane muttered as he threw twenty bucks onto the table and pulled Kira out of the booth.
He dragged her to the kitchen side of the serving counter, pushing through the surprised complaints of several employees.
As they exited the side door, Kane unholstered and ordered, “Stay behind me.”
A tall, dark-skinned Hashishin barreled toward them with a gun in one hand and a spray bottle in the other. That spray bottle worried her more than the gun.
As the Hashishin closed in, he pumped the spray bottle furiously. It had a remarkable six-foot range. Droplets hit Kane directly in the face.
Kane spat angrily and shot the aggressor in the head.
Kira turned away in time to avoid the spray. Out of the corner of her eye, she monitored the other two men who were now about twenty feet from them.
Kane threw Kira to the ground behind a car and complained, “I thought they wanted you alive. This is really shitty cover.”
She examined the gravel now imbedded in her scraped hands. Her knees stung, likely skinned through the pants. “That stuff they sprayed on you is going to knock you out. Give me your gun.”
He shook his head, but she could see him fighting drowsiness.
“I need the gun. Give over now. They’re closing in.”
Kane passed out before he had a chance to make a decision.
She grabbed the gun from his limp hand, aimed, and shot three rounds into the closest leg of the man nearing the trunk of the car. The guy screamed a child-like, high-pitched wail as he hit the ground. Rotating around in her lying down position, she squeezed off four rounds into the chest of the second man as he rounded the front of the car.
Crawling to the trunk, she peeked around the fender. The Hashishin clutched his wounded leg. Kane’s training echoed in her head: If they’re trying to kill you and you got one shot in, fire again. And then one more time for good luck. With no hesitation, she fired an additional three rounds into his chest. No other dark auras felt to be in the area.
She pawed through Kane’s pockets until she found his keys and ran for his SUV.
A few curious patrons trickled from the front door of the restaurant. They viewed the dead men in morbid fascination. The police would arrive shortly. If there was one thing Kira did not think she could handle, it was explaining this mess to small town law enforcement.
After positioning the SUV as close to Kane as possible, she took several minutes to drag his inordinately heavy body close to the car. She struggled to cram him into the back seat. His body fell onto the floor, but she didn’t have time to care. Within seconds, she squealed out of the lot and headed back toward the magi estate. She needed protection while she tried to assist Kane through the poison. Well, perhaps she was using this as an excuse to go back. She looked forward to yelling at Ashor for his idiocy.
Once back on the interstate she realized she wasn’t exactly sure how to get back to the magi estate. As she drove south, she hoped her intuition wouldn’t let her down.
****
Ashor ascended the stairs slowly. He couldn’t come up with a non-lame apology.
His head was so screwed up over this. He couldn’t have her, but he needed her. He needed to protect her, but wasn’t supposed to touch her. He desperately wanted to touch her, but was forbidden. As the battle in his mind waged, he massaged his f
orehead against the budding headache.
Fuck it. All that mattered was she was his.
The bedroom door hung open. “Kira?” He knew she was gone before he entered.
Calling forth seichim, he searched for her essence. She was not within the estate. Instead, she felt far away. She’d left? Again? How had he not known?
Kira, where are you?
Not there. Her clipped tone suggested finality.
Where are you?
Nothing came back.
Where are you!
Silence.
He gasped a hoarse denial. Suffocating pain pinched his chest. His back slid along the wall until he was at a squat.
This was his fault. He’d treated her callously by diminishing their spiritual sexual experience to a common rut. But she wasn’t supposed to actually leave. Even if they couldn’t be involved physically, she was the akhrian and in accepting that role she would always be close. Protected and nearby.
Yet, she had never accepted the role.
She needed his protection. Away from him and them she was in danger. Nothing else mattered. That meant he would go get her and bring her back, kicking and screaming, if need be.
As he threw on his coat, her voice registered in his mind. I need a bit of help.
Where are you? he bellowed in her head.
Your mood obviously hasn’t improved. Maybe I need to seek help elsewhere.
In a calmer, less severe tone, he replied, What kind of trouble did you find this time?
Look, I don’t always attract trouble. I did, however, have a bit of an altercation and Kane is down. I’m headed back in your direction, but I can’t remember how to get there.
What’s wrong with Kane?
A Hashishin trying to abduct me sprayed him with something. I need to get him somewhere safe, so I can help him through the poison.
A couple hours and they already found her? Kane was an idiot to remove her from their protection. He stewed, but reined in his anger enough to provide directions.
He paced in front of the house in a useless attempt to dissipate apprehension.
An hour later, she called to him. I’ve got a new problem. Just off the highway and there’s a police car flashing its lights on my tail. Do I stop? Or do I drive to you?
Ashor stopped pacing. Don’t stop. We don’t know who’s in that car. Drive here and we’ll handle it.
Ashor pushed through the door of the practice room, getting the immediate attention of Christian and Javen. Based on the way Christian cradled his left arm, Javen was winning.
“Christian, I have a situation that requires your skills.”
“I’m not sure I can charm Kira into whatever it is you want her to do.”
“Although that would be useful, it’s unlikely to work. She’s too stubborn. Kira decided to leave us. She met Kane and got into a fight with a couple of Hashishins. On her way back, a police car tagged her. I advised her not to stop. I want you to get rid of the police.”
Christian grinned. “That sparkling personality of yours get you into trouble? Does Casanova need some advice on how to communicate with his woman?”
“Like I’m going to take advice on women from you. Are you going to be an ass or lend some assistance?”
“Lead on. Coming Javen?”
Javen produced a rare smile. “I wouldn’t miss this one.”
****
As Kira pulled toward the gates of the magi estate, they swung open. The police car pulled in behind her. Christian appeared unexpectedly at the police car’s driver side window. He spoke with the officer for a minute. The blue lights turned off and the car drove away.
Kira mused that kind of persuasiveness sure would be handy.
Christian sauntered to the driver’s window of the SUV and knocked lightly on the glass. “I see you found some trouble again, Doc. Congrats on sending a burr up Ashor’s butt. I’ve never seen him this worked up.”
“He really can’t be that upset. He’s the one that didn’t want anything to do with me. Where is he?”
“He’s at the house. Can I hitch a ride?”
“Sure, hop in.”
Throughout the entire drive to the main house Christian had a wide smile. “So why’d you take off?”
“Needed a break from you guys.”
“Ashor say something in particular to cause the rift?”
“You know Ashor.”
“I’ve never seen him say anything that didn’t cause a woman to try to tear his clothes off.”
“Been there and done that. It’s the after-sex bit that he’s got some difficulty with.” She parked and as she jumped out of the car said, “I’d think you’d be more concerned about my safety.”
He did a cursory up-and-down. “You look fine to me. I’m interested in the details of what Ashor said to make you leave.” He chuckled to himself. “I’ve never seen him so unbalanced over a woman. It’s hilarious.”
“Then ask him for details. Mind helping me relocate Kane from the backseat to the house?”
Christian grunted as he lifted Kane. “I tried asking Ashor about it, but he got prickly.”
“I’m sure it’s not because he missed me.”
Christian balanced the majority of Kane’s weight against the car and turned to Kira. Uncharacteristically serious, he said quietly, “Ashor is so messed up over wanting you, it’s really pitiful. It’s entertaining as hell to see him make an ass of himself. But his needs are in direct conflict with the vow he’s lived by for over a century. This vow requires he never be involved with you, if you’re the akhrian, which I think you are. So, don’t deceive yourself into thinking he’s not into you. He is. Believe me. And big time. So, try to disregard the bullshit spewing from his mouth.”
“He really was a complete bastard. He called me ‘just a good fuck.’ That doesn’t fly in my book.”
“No. He. Did. Not!” Christian hooted, and dropped Kane. “That’s priceless. Ashor is like the maestro when it comes to saying the right thing to women. Guess this tips the scales in my favor for being the best.”
“I don’t think Kane is going to appreciate that.” Kira kneeled and rolled Kane’s nose out of the dirt.
Ashor closed in with Javen hot on his heels. She stood on her tiptoes and placed a kiss on Christian’s cheek. “Thanks for explaining.”
Christian greeted Ashor with a grin. “I guess some of my charm does work on her.”
Ashor’s face mottled red.
Kira elbowed Christian and whispered, “Stop goading him. He looks like he’s going to explode. It’s a good look for him, don’t you think?”
Tears poured down Christian’s cheeks as he rocked with laughter. He choked out, “Javen, little help with Kane.”
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Kira hadn’t so much as recognized his presence as they moved toward the house. Ashor would rather she do anything than pretend he wasn’t there. Sound barely crested his throat to vocalize when she immediately held up a hand to stop him.
“Not interested.” Her tone clearly indicated he was in the penalty box. Shoulders stiff, Kira didn’t glance at him as she sped up and marched past.
Javen and Christian dumped the unconscious Kane in the infirmary. Christian snort-laughed before covering it with a cough. Javen turned his face away, but Ashor caught his snicker.
Ashor scowled at the guys’ failed attempts to suppress grins.
Kira pulled a chair next to the bed. “The poison is thinning. He has to be conscious before I can try to get this stuff out of him.”
Ashor glared get-outta-here at Javen and Christian.
“Uh, Christian, why don’t we go tidy up the exercise room,” Javen suggested.
Christian shot Javen a what-the-hell with a double eyebrow raise. There was nothing to actually clean up in the exercise room.
Javen darted his eyes between Ashor and Kira meaningfully before resuming silent eye contact with Christian.
“Oh, yeah, sure. We’ll be back in a few.”
<
br /> Ashor grumbled to Kira, “We are going to talk about it.”
“Now you want to talk? I thought you’d decided I was just a fairly decent fuck. A little one-night-stand sort of thing. Disposable.”
“I was wrong. I’m sorry.”
“What? Are you horny again and realized your easy lay deserted you? Want to push me up against the wall and have a quickie?”
“No, I don’t want to push you up against the wall. Actually, that’s a lie. I don’t want there to be lies between us. But that’s not the point. I’m sorry. You’re not just a good fuck.”
“Now I’m not even good at it?”
“No, that’s not what I meant at all. Damn it. You’re the best damn…I’m not even going to say it. This is about more than sex and you know it.”
“Is it? You didn’t seem to think so a few hours ago.”
Kane moaned.
She held up her hand. “Truce. Let me get this stuff out of Kane.” She gripped Kane’s arm. Drawing the evil energy toward her caused an initial mild sting. Then her chest cramped as the dark magik swamped her. The evil energy was tremendously displeased to be unseated.
She tore away from Kane once she felt fairly confident she had drawn most of the evil into herself. Then the potion went to work. This wasn’t walmwilde. Dark power tore through her with a cold chill as if assessing where best to attack. Squeezing pain attacked her brain. She grabbed her head as her knees crumpled. How could she be so stupid as to neglect the basics? No foundation of positive energy to fight and contain it. The pain dug in. Objects around her looked wonky, as if malformed.
Ashor shook her until her gaze connected with his. “Stop screaming,” he commanded. “Focus.”
The heat of his energy transmitted through his hands, pushing into her body. The dark poison shrank away as if repulsed by his energy.
“Force it out of you. Just get rid of it.”
She grabbed Ashor’s head to pull his mouth toward hers in order to draw more of his energy into her body. He returned the kiss without reserve, allowing her to take what she needed.
She pulled away. One deep breath and she pushed out the dark energy with a forceful exhalation. It oozed from her pores, vacating. She pinched her nose against the pungent sulfur.