Savage Breath of Darkness

by Candice Stauffer

  “Fuck off, bitch.”

  “Do you want me to force them to obey you?” Zack asked.

  “Only if you don’t mind.” She kept her eyes on the wolves.

  “Anything for you.” She knew the instant he allowed the wolves to see his true identity. They both dropped to their knees and trembled in fear.

  “Oh, my goodness. You poor mutts thought Zack was just a guy with big sexy muscles. You didn’t realize my cute cuddly snuggle buns is demon.” She turned her head slightly to look at Zack. “You’re a sneaky demon today.”

  “I hope you aren’t expecting an apology.”

  “Not at all. I like it.”

  “Do you?”

  “I do. And I’ve decided against talking to them. I don’t want to hear what they have to say.” She looked at Julie. “Are these the only two?”

  Julie nodded. “Caleb killed the others. These two ran off before he could get to them.”

  Emily knew Zack wouldn’t let the wolves off with a warning. They were as good as dead.

  “Take Julie home.” He bent his head. His mouth was close enough to hers that she could feel the heat of his breath on her lips. “I’ll take care of them and come for you.”

  Hunger rose in her. Sharp. Painful hunger. It startled her.

  Wrapping her up in his arms to hold her close, he bent down to rest his forehead against hers. “It’s natural.”

  Getting up onto the tips of her toes, she reached up and clasped her hands together behind his neck. “What I am feeling for you right now is not natural.” Her voice was a breathless, husky whisper. “It’s too intense.”

  His eyes went from dark-brown to a spellbinding golden-brown. She savored the way her body ached for his. Needed his. Demanded his. “It’s not a bad thing.”

  “Not at all.”

  He merged his mind with hers and shared erotic images of their night together. “You want me.”

  He made her way too aware of being a woman. Her stomach was flipping, and her head was spinning. “I need you.”

  He was incredibly sexy. Far too sexy in the most wickedly wonderful ways. “Bad.”

  “Super bad.” The heat radiating from his muscular body sizzled over her flesh, caressing her everywhere. “Right now.”

  “Kiss me.” It wasn’t a request. It was a demand.

  Meeting his gaze, she miraculously found the strength to resist. His body was so hot, so wonderfully rock-hard solid against her soft, feminine curves. “Now?”

  “This instant.”

  “But…”

  Slowly he lifted his lips. It was not a smile. It was a snarl that revealed sharp lengthened incisors. “They aren’t going anywhere.” He framed her face between his hands. “I need to taste you,” he whispered against his lips.

  “Oh. my god, Emily. You had better kiss him.” Julie laughed. “I’ll close my eyes.”

  He smelled so good, so addictive. His body was so strong and solid against hers. “Just a little kiss.” Any more and she’d go up in flames and beg him to take her.

  His mouth captured hers. His lips. His tongue. His teeth. The atmosphere charged as he kissed her passionately, pouring his love for her and his hunger for her into it. Lust erupted in her. She returned his kiss with just as much love and hunger. Her body was so hot and wet, so very empty. She ached for him. She knew he could easily remove the barrier of their clothing with a thought and bury himself deep inside her body. And, if not for her sister standing so close, she would’ve commanded him to do it.

  12

  Emily walked across the street with Julie. She was thrilled to spend time with her sister after such a long separation, but she couldn’t wait to be alone with Zack again. Everything in her wanted him. Needed him. More and more. Every second.

  “I’m not going to lie, Emily. I peeked. That was one hell of a hot kiss.”

  “He has a brilliant way of making every fantasy a reality.”

  “You’re lucky. He’s really hot.”

  “That he is.”

  “ I can’t believe how cold it is this evening.” Julie stated, her entire body visibly shivering. “It was so warm this morning.” She glanced over her shoulder. “Are you sure Zack is okay with those two?”

  “He’s perfectly fine.” Emily took her jacket off. “Put this on.”

  “Are you insane? You’re wearing a t-shirt. You’ll freeze.”

  “You don’t need to worry about me getting cold. It’s only a prop to appear normal.”

  “You don’t get cold.”

  “I don’t even feel the cold.”

  “Like Caleb?” Julie asked. “He never gets cold.”

  “Yes.” Emily wondered why Caleb hadn’t showed up to protect Julie from being ambushed by wolves.

  “You so brave. I can’t believe you stood up to them.”

  “Me? Brave?” Emily laughed. “Not at all. I knew Zack was protecting us the entire time. They wouldn’t have gotten through him to hurt us. And if they would’ve attempted to touch us at any time, they would’ve dropped dead.”

  Julie’s eyes went wide. “He’s that powerful?”

  “Yes.”

  “Does it scare you?”

  “No. Never. He would die for me.”

  “You two look wonderful together. He really loves you, Emily.”

  “I love him. He’s perfect for me.” She paused. She wanted to know why Caleb wasn’t around to protect her. “Where’s Caleb?”

  She shrugged. “I don’t know. We aren’t together anymore.”

  “I’m sorry to hear that.”

  “It’s for the best.”

  “You don’t mean that, do you?”

  “Absolutely. He never…he lacked enthusiasm.”

  “For?”

  “Sex.”

  “Really?”

  “He would act all hot and bothered and then come up with some emergency to run off to.”

  “That’s strange.” Not really. She’d went through the same thing with Zack.

  “Not strange. Frustrating and depressing.”

  “You’ve never been with him?”

  “Not once.” She took a deep breath and sighed. “I am not the woman he wants.”

  “He’s with another woman?”

  “I’m not sure. He claims I am his soulmate, but he’s not happy with me.”

  “Has he told you that he’s not happy with you?”

  “He broke up with me and then, after I suggested we see other people, he said he planned to leave town.”

  “Did you actually want him to date other women?”

  “No. I wanted him to want me the way I want him.”

  “You were trying to wake him up.”

  “I definitely didn’t expect him to dump me.” Her laughter held no humor. “My plan to heat things up backfired.”

  “I am really sorry.”

  “Don’t worry. It’s for the best. He’s too intense. Too demanding. I have no idea what he’s thinking or what he wants most of the time. Other than he wants what he wants. And he doesn’t want sex. Not with me anyways.” Julie took a step back and tripped on the curb.

  Emily knelt next to her. “Where do you hurt?”

  Julie lifted her head. “Do you think it’s possible for a vampire to be bipolar?”

  Emily shrugged. “I have no idea.”

  “I never knew where I stood with him.”

  “Have you been seeing other guys?”

  “No. I tried. I went out to meet guys.” She looked up at her. “That’s how I ended up being attacked by wolves.”

  “Maybe you two just need a little time…”

  Cutting her off, Caleb threw Emily away from Julie. She landed with her leg twisted beneath her

  “Stop!” Julie jumped to her feet.

  “You need to be destroyed before you go too far and kill her.”

  “She was helping me, Caleb.” She grabbed his arm. “Leave my sister the hell alone. She didn’t hurt me, Caleb. I swear she didn’t hurt me. She was helpi
ng me.”

  Emily could tell by the look in his eyes that Caleb didn’t believe she was innocent.

  “I fell. She didn’t hurt me.”

  “Get your ass inside your apartment.”

  She knew he wasn’t going to stop. He truly believed that he needed to kill her to protect Julie.

  I need you, Zack! Now! Right fucking now!

  I’m with you. Don’t look away from the son of a bitch for a second. It was a command. She couldn’t have looked away if she wanted to. She couldn’t even close her eyes. A gust of wind rose from out of nowhere. The ground rumbled.

  No! Oh, fuck! No! You can’t kill him! “Fuck!” She realized Zack would kill Caleb. And, as much as she didn’t like Caleb at the moment, she didn’t want to take him away from Julie. “You need to get your ass away from here.”

  Fury, deep, violent fury filled Caleb’s eyes. “I’m not going anywhere.”

  “You’re going to get your stubborn ass killed. Take Julie and get the hell out of here before Zack gets here.” Zack was so deeply merged with her that she could feel his fury, his determination to kill Caleb. Nothing would stop him. Tremendous waves of power crashed down all around them.

  “As soon as you are no longer a threat to Julie.” Caleb moved toward her. “I am not going to sit back and allow…”

  Julie pressed the taser to Caleb’s back. He dropped. His body convulsed.

  “You just shocked him.”

  Julie held up the taser. “Joseph gave it to me.”

  Lightning erupted, violently crisscrossing the sky as thunder shook Julie’s apartment building. As a gust of wind came up from behind, Emily turned just in time to see Zack hit the pavement with the force of a bolt of lightning. Surrounded by electrical currents he stood up with his wings fully extended. She felt his rage, she saw it in his solid black eyes, and it was pure evil, it was murderous. Insane. Unstoppable.

  Caleb lifted his head. “What the hell did you do to me, Julie?”

  Emily realized Zack was going to murder Caleb. It was her fault. She knew better than to make an attempt to reconnect with her sister. Julie was about to lose the love of her life.

  Eyes burning red and power in the form of fire swirling around him, Zack walked toward them. He lifted his hand and waved it toward Caleb.

  “Zack.” She held her hand up to stop him. “Wait. This is my fault. I was…”

  He stopped and looked at her for a few seconds, but then he returned his focus to Caleb. “If you had a problem with my mate you should’ve taken it out on me.” A deep, animalistic growl rumbled in his chest and throat. “Let’s see how strong you really are, Caleb.”

  “Damn it. Don’t you dare fucking kill him, Zack.” She got up and tried to take a step toward him, but her broken leg cracked and buckled. He turned and caught her up in his arms before she landed. She looked up at him. “Let him go for now, Zack. Please. Let him take my sister home.”

  Jaw clenched, his eyes slightly narrowed. “I can’t.”

  “I didn’t mean for this to happen.”

  “You didn’t cause this to happen.”

  “I knew better. I should’ve stayed away from her.”

  “No. You’re wrong.”

  Emily realized that if he couldn’t control the rage, she’d never had any hope of existing without being a killer. At any time, she could be transformed into a killer. It was over. He would kill Caleb. And she would find a way to end her life. She had no hope, no desire to hope. Everything inside her instantly stilled; even her heart stopped racing.

  “I won’t allow it.”

  She didn’t even bother to yell at him for messing around in her head. He would never understand her truth. She was the one who nearly killed her sister. She just looked up at him. Her farewell to him. He had known all along. He tried to tell her. He didn’t believe she could be as dark and dangerous as him. But she knew better. “I will always love you, Zack.”

  13

  Zack knew the difference between right and wrong. Killing Caleb wasn’t a symptom of the tainted blood in his system. It was his right. It was his responsibility. He didn’t know a fellow demon who would allow the son of a bitch to walk away, to go unpunished. He looked down at her. “He attacked you. He hurt you, Emily.”

  “I know.”

  Dark, murderous rage filled his soul, burned in his soul. He wanted to break every fucking bone in Caleb’s body. He wanted to rip his damn heart out of his chest. He didn’t try to hide the low, ominous growl rumbling in his chest and throat. “He went too far, Emily.”

  “I know.”

  His expression immediately hardened. Clenching his jaw, he narrowed his gaze as he appeared to search her face for something. “Why the hell are you defending him to me?”

  “I’m not.”

  “I will not allow him to get away with attacking you.”

  She tipped her head back to look up at him. “I’m too tired to argue with you.” Shaking her head, she frowned. She looked broken. Beaten down. Defeated. “Do whatever you need to do to end this once and for all.”

  “This doesn’t end.”

  “Kill him.”

  “We will never end.”

  “I told you I am too tired to argue with you. Put my ass down and kill him.”

  “You belong to me. You are mine to protect.”

  “I know.”

  “He had no right to touch you.”

  “I know.”

  “You cannot expect the impossible from me.” He had to kill the son of a bitch. No one would ever lay a hand on her and survive. Rage boiled in him. Dark. Murderous.

  “Damn it, Zack. I am not arguing with you. I don’t expect a damn thing from you.”

  “You promised to never stop fighting for us.”

  The anguish in her eyes broke his heart. “I meant it.”

  “You mean it.”

  “I meant it.” She turned her head to the side to avoid meeting his gaze. “I refuse to fight for us alone.” Still avoiding his gaze, she moved as if to jump from his arms. “Put my ass down and kill the son of a bitch.”

  “You’re wrong, Emily. I am not giving into some uncontrollable lust for destruction, for blood, for death. You feel my true nature. My dark, savage nature. I am a demon. A dragon. And I am mad as fucking hell. You are my mate. No one hurts you and lives.” At the sight of a single tear falling from her eye, everything in him stilled. That’s the moment he knew beyond any doubt she owned his ass. He couldn’t fail her. Not knowingly. While killing Caleb was his right, his responsibility, he couldn’t do it. His rage melted away instantly. “It’s okay, Emily.” The tear fell from her eye in slow motion.

  Zack would’ve done anything for her. Besides, Caleb was going to fucking die. He figured he didn’t need to kill the bastard in front of Emily or Julie. He glared at Caleb. “Take care of Julie. We will settle this later.”

  “No!” Julie shouted. “Don’t touch me.” She tried to shove Caleb away from her.

  “Let me down, Zack.”

  “Your leg is broken. You won’t be able to stand on it. It will take several hours to fully heal.”

  “I need to let her know I’m okay. Will you help me, please?”

  He nodded, lowering her slowly, carefully until her feet touched the ground. “Don’t try to put any weight on your leg. I have you. Just lean on me.”

  Her lips curved in a smile, a beautiful smile, taking his breath away. “I know you have me. Thank you, Zack.”

  “You’re welcome.”

  “I don’t want to go anywhere with him,” Julie said.

  “Let him take you home.”

  Julie shook her head. “He hurt you.”

  “No. He didn’t really hurt me. I am fine.” Emily nodded. “He was protecting you.”

  “From you? You wouldn’t hurt me.”

  “He knows that now.”

  “Don’t make excuses for the dumbass. He didn’t need to attack you.”

  “He truly thought I was hurting you.” Emily s
hifted her gaze to Caleb. “Isn’t that right, Caleb?”

  “It’s only a matter of time before you hurt her.” He turned his gaze to Zack. “You’re both disasters waiting to happen. You’re both dangerous.” He looked at Emily. “You are going to stay the hell away from Julie.”

  “Take care of Julie or do something about getting rid of us,” Zack growled. “It’s your choice.”

  “This isn’t over,” Caleb said.

  “You’re right,” Zack bit out, between clenched teeth.

  Julie hugged Emily. “Don’t disappear again. I can’t stand being away from you.”

  “She’ll see you soon,” Zack said, knowing it would piss Caleb off. He wanted the son of a bitch to attack him, to give him a damn good reason to kill him. Not that he didn’t have one. But he knew Emily would more readily forgive him for protecting himself.

  Emily looked up at him and smiled. Not if you purposely provoke him.

  That doesn’t sound like something I would resort to doing. I have no idea what you’re talking about.

  Her soft laughter filled his mind, his heart. You are so bad, Zack.

  Do you want me to change?

  Never.

  Once Caleb and Julie were out of sight, Zack scooped Emily up in his arms.

  “I wouldn’t have hurt her.” Hearing doubt in her voice, shook him to the core. He looked down at her upturned face. “I am better now, right? I mean…”

  “You would never do anything to harm your sister,” he cut her off. Attempting to hide the rage rising deep within his soul, he lifted his head.

  She laughed. “You can’t hide it. Not from me.”

  “Don’t you dare laugh right now. Nothing about anything that happened tonight is funny. This wasn’t the first time he attacked you.”

  “The first time he attacked me, He was protecting Julie. I deserved it. You know it’s true. I’m glad he stopped me. If he hadn’t intervened I would’ve killed her. I am glad he cares about her.”

  “You are my world. You are everything to me.”

  “He truly loves her, Zack.” She took a deep breath and released it with a sigh. “He thought he was protecting her. Besides,” she smiled, “we both know the real reason you let him go.”

  “Enlighten me.”

  Nibbling on her lower lip, she grinned up at him. “You know damn well I would’ve kicked your ass if you hadn’t let him go.”