Dark Queen’s Army
Page 9
“Perhaps she is? After all, Jin’s talent makes her a perfect spy. The proximity of the Echelon system implies that whatever Eleanor is into has to do with a spy organization rather than with paranormals.”
“It’s probably a combination of both. What other use could the government have for paranormal talent?”
“Finding hidden deposits of oil?”
Turner chuckled. “Can any of us do that? Because that could be really helpful for refilling the clan’s coffers.”
“I wish. How far is Harrisonburg from the center of the Quiet Zone?”
“About an hour by car.”
“And you say that there are dozens of small towns scattered around the area?”
Turner nodded. “We can either post guardians to watch that mailbox twenty-four-seven and hope that she shows up or find out more information to narrow the search.”
“Let me check with Vivian what she knows about her sister-in-law. She and Magnus are in the Bay Area, sniffing around the mansion, but at this time, they might be back at the hotel already.”
“How is that going?”
Kian leaned his elbows on the table. “They picked up a tail. Vivian walked up to the gate and buzzed the security guard, asking to see the grounds. She and Magnus are pretending to be looking at properties in the neighborhood, and she said that she wanted to get ideas for her future garden. Naturally, she wasn’t allowed in. But when they drove off, someone started following them. I told them not to engage and pretend like they are exactly who they claim to be, go to cafés and bars, and have a good time.”
“Smart move. Are they still being followed?”
“Let me check.” Kian typed a quick text to Magnus. Where are you now?
A moment later, his phone chimed. “We are back at the hotel, getting ready for a night on the town.”
“Are you still being followed?”
“He followed us back to the hotel and then drove off. You were right about that.”
“Good. Can I talk with Vivian? I need to ask her about her sister-in-law.”
“Sure. Here she is.”
“Hi, Kian,” Vivian said. “What would you like to know about Eleanor?”
“Anything you can think of. What did she enjoy doing, hobbies, interests, the kind of men she dated. Basically, anything that might help us find her.”
Vivian sighed. “I never got to know her well. She was the older sister, and she wasn’t friendly. Not to me and not to her brother. She and Josh didn’t get along. What I know is from bits and pieces of stories I’ve heard over the years. Eleanor was into sports and very competitive, but she didn’t excel in any of them. She settled on skiing, which she was very good at, but not good enough to participate in any competitions. I think she chose to work as a pharmaceutical rep because of the flexible schedule, and the travel involved allowed her to take frequent ski vacations in different parts of the country. If there is a good ski resort in the area, with slopes for advanced skiers, there is a good chance you’ll find her there.”
“Bingo.” Across the table, Turner was grinning like he had won the lottery.
“Anything else you can think of?”
“Not at the moment, but if I remember something, I’ll give you a call or text you.”
“Thanks, Vivian. You were very helpful.”
“Any time.”
“There is a ski resort in the area,” Turner said. “One of the best in the country, and snow season has just started. I suggest that you send several Guardians on a ski vacation. In fact, I would have loved to join them, but unfortunately, I have a couple of rescue missions to plan for private clients.”
“Do you know the name of the place?’
“It’s easy to remember. Snowshoe.”
“Have you ever been there?”
Turner shook his head. “I like to ski, but I don’t have time for ski trips. The local slopes are good enough for me when I have some free time.” He sighed. “Which I haven’t had in a long while.”
Kian raked his fingers through his hair. “I haven’t skied in many years. I was damn good at it.”
It was one of the numerous things that he had sacrificed for his all-consuming work of heading the clan’s business empire and being regent of the clan’s American branch.
“Then perhaps you should join your men and have some fun. Take Syssi with you.”
“I don’t think she should ski in her condition.”
Turner waved a dismissive hand. “Pregnancy is not a handicap, and Syssi is still in the first trimester, so her center of balance hasn’t shifted yet. Besides, your wife is not a daredevil. She is a careful woman, so it’s not like she is about to go wild on the slopes.”
“Syssi used to ski with her family.”
“There you go. So, she’s not a beginner. Take your wife on vacation, Kian. She’ll enjoy it, and you will not feel overly guilty about missing work because technically, you’ll be on a mission.”
23
Mey
Mey’s poor nails were a mess, but she didn’t care. Waiting for Yamanu to return from his test was nerve-wracking in the extreme, and she’d been biting them and chewing at the skin around them like there was no tomorrow.
Maybe there wasn’t.
If the test had succeeded, Yamanu would have called her to let her know. The fact that it was after eight and he hadn’t called told her all she didn’t want to know.
Everyone was going to hate her once they discovered that Yamanu’s powers were gone. What if she transitioned and they voted her out of the village?
It could happen. Being immortal didn’t guarantee acceptance. Well, it did except for the clan’s enemies who obviously weren’t welcome, but things might change.
The clan had just not encountered a problem like her before. An undesirable Dormant or immortal was a concept they didn’t understand yet.
But they would.
Crap, what was she going to do?
Take a deep breath and get a grip.
She was panicking instead of thinking and planning. Besides, the experiment might have been partially successful, like the one Yamanu had done before, and that would be better than total failure.
They would hate her a little less if Yamanu could still function on some level.
When the door opened, Yamanu strode in with an enormous bouquet of flowers clutched to his chest and a shopping bag from Godiva hanging on his arm, which meant that he had good news.
Unless he’d gotten her flowers and chocolates as a consolation prize.
“It worked,” he said.
Those were the best two words she’d ever heard. Squealing with happiness, Mey ran up to Yamanu, but the flowers were in the way of her jumping on him.
He dropped them unceremoniously on the floor and opened his arms. “Go ahead, jump.”
She did, wrapping her arms around his neck and her legs around his waist. “It worked.” She peppered his cheeks with kisses. “You were able to shroud the fireworks.”
“I did and then some.” He carried her to the couch and sat down with her in his arms. “Anandur said that no one even lifted their eyes to the sky. It was like it never happened.”
“You have no idea what a relief this is for me. I was contemplating a future as a lone immortal living among humans because I was certain the clan would vote to get rid of me once they discovered what I had cost them.”
“Silly girl.” He tweaked her nose. “You would have never been a lone immortal because I would have gone with you. Where you go, I go. We are a team. Inseparable, invincible, undefeated.”
Mey smiled. “I love you too.”
“I know.”
“Did William and Anandur believe your story about love making you weak?”
“I embellished a little. I told them that I was too happy and in love to concentrate. Then Anandur asked what I’d done to make the results of today different from before. He thought that you had picked a fight with me to get me annoyed and not as stupidly happy.”
They’d been humoring Yamanu.
“They probably suspected something, at least Anandur did, but he is a good friend, and he didn’t prod.” Yamanu glanced in the direction of the discarded flowers and shopping bag. “Then again, he suggested that I buy flowers and chocolates, saying that coming home after a fight required the right ammunition. So maybe he believed me.”
“I’d better put those flowers in water.” Mey pushed out of Yamanu’s arms. “And I don’t mind celebrating with some chocolates.”
“I brought champagne as well.” He waggled his brows. “Let’s take that and the box to the bedroom. I came up with a few interesting ideas on my way home.”
Mey’s core tingled with excitement. “Aren’t you spent after such a massive shroud?”
“The way you charged me up, I have energy to spare. I told you, together we are invincible. You are the charge, and I am the cannon, together we are undefeated.”
“I like it.” She cast him a bright smile over the bouquet. It was such a nice thing to say, making it sound like they were a team and that his powers were somehow dependent on her participation. But it wasn’t true. All she had done was torment him.
“I see that you don’t believe me.”
“You are very sweet. But all I did was make you suffer. For a good cause, but still. My part was marginal.”
He shook his head. “I disagree. My hunger for you is so much more powerful than just a basic need for sex. No one else could have charged me up like you did. It’s a pretty simple equation. My sexual energy fuels my thralls and shrouds, and you fuel my sexual energy, which means that you are directly responsible for their potency. And let me tell you, I’ve never felt more potent than tonight.”
24
Yamanu
As Yamanu watched Mey put the flowers in a big cooking pot that she’d filled with water, he realized how neglectful he had been. His and Arwel’s place was the typical bachelor pad, and it lacked the niceties women appreciated.
Like a proper vase.
And that was probably just one item in a long list of things that Mey would have liked but hadn’t asked for. His mind had been so preoccupied with her transition and his faltering powers that he had barely functioned at his job, let alone thought of necessities like filling the house with groceries and making sure that Mey had all she needed.
Right now, though, all he wanted to do was get her in bed as fast as possible. Hopefully, she wasn’t going to insist that they eat dinner first. The only thing he wanted to eat tonight was her, and all he wanted to feed her were champagne and chocolates.
With a smirk, Yamanu got behind Mey and wrapped his arms around her. “I want to take you to bed.” He nuzzled her ear.
She shivered. “What about dinner?”
“We will have champagne and chocolates instead.” He nibbled on her earlobe.
“I can live with that.”
That was all the consent he needed. Swinging her into his arms, he carried her into the bedroom and deposited her on the bed. “Don’t move. I’m going to get the shopping bag.”
“Okay.” Smiling, she lifted on her forearms. “Don’t forget the wine glasses.”
“I won’t.”
When he returned fifteen seconds later, he found Mey nude, with just one silk scarf draped over her glorious body.
“Dear Fates, you are magnificent.” And fast.
Yamanu put the wine glasses on the nightstand and then uncorked the champagne. As the bubbly geysered up, some of it spilled on Mey, wetting the silk and making it transparent.
Yamanu swallowed.
Talk about sexy.
And then she went ahead and smeared the champagne, spreading it over her throat, her chest, and her belly.
He groaned. “I’m going to lick it all off you.”
Dipping his head, he lapped up the small puddle that had accumulated in the hollow of her throat and kissed her, letting her taste the champagne on his tongue.
“Hmm.” She licked her lips. “I want more.”
He poured the champagne into the flutes and handed her one. “To us.”
“To us.” Mey emptied it down her throat and gave him the glass to refill. “I love it.”
Glad that he’d splurged on the best bottle of champagne in the liquor store, he refilled her flute.
“Only the best for my lady.”
Which reminded him that he still hadn’t opened the box of chocolates, which he’d handpicked piece by piece.
Tearing through the wrapping, Yamanu opened the box and pulled one out. “Open wide.” He popped it into her mouth. When she was done chewing, he kissed her, tasting the sweetness of the chocolate and the tanginess of the liqueur inside of it. “Tasty.”
She reached for the box and pulled a piece out. “You can have one for yourself.”
He shook his head. “It’s much tastier combined with your sweetness.” He kissed her once more.
Two more chocolates. That was all he was going to feed Mey before feeding off her.
He popped another one into her mouth and took a sip of champagne before kissing her again. The tastes mingled.
“Last one.” He offered her a heart-shaped white chocolate filled with caramel. “For now.”
Taking another long sip from the champagne, Yamanu pulled the silk scarf down Mey’s body and bent his head to take a nipple into his mouth.
“It tingles,” she shivered. “Your mouth is cold.”
It was going to get hot soon, but he was about to chill it down with more champagne and switch his attentions to her other breast.
Yamanu had no idea where the patience to play was coming from. On the way home, he’d planned to take just long enough to tease Mey, but he was enjoying this too much to stop.
Even the pulsing heat in his straining shaft couldn’t force him to rush.
She threaded her fingers into his hair, fanning it out over her body. “This is better than the scarf. I love your hair.”
He lifted his head and smiled. “And I love everything about you.”
“Take your clothes off.” Mey gazed at him with hooded eyes. “You have no more reason to keep your pants on.”
He smirked. “Admit that you want to see me in all my naked magnificence.”
“Dressed or not, you are always glorious. But, yes. I want to gaze upon your magnificent body and touch it all over.” Her eyes drifted down to the bulge in his pants. “Someone is eager to say hello.” She licked her lips.
Fates, he almost erupted as he imagined them wrapped around his shaft.
Yamanu had let Mey pleasure him this way before, but only a few teasing licks because they were on a mission to induce her transition, and that wasn’t going to happen with oral sex.
But now that they had gotten an extension from Kian, the pressure was off, and he could indulge.
Taking his clothes off with immortal speed, he climbed on the bed and lay next to Mey. “Come, give me a kiss.” He patted his chest.
She turned on her side and leaned over him.
“Not like that.” He reached for her waist and lifted her on top of him, her long, lithe body a perfect fit for his. “Now, kiss me.”
Mey’s lush lips curved in a smile as she dipped her head and carefully pressed them to his.
He’d forgotten about the damn fangs.
It took practice to navigate around them, and Mey was still learning. He, on the other hand, was an expert despite his prolonged abstinence. It was one of those things that once learned was never forgotten.
Taking over the kiss, Yamanu flicked his tongue over Mey’s lips, and when she parted for him, he lazily pushed into her mouth.
For long moments, he teased her back and bottom with soft caresses, reveling in the sweet pain of delayed gratification.
Except, Mey wasn’t as patient as he.
Lifting her head, she looke
d at him and smiled. “You are an excellent example of a man being of two minds. The one on top wants to take it slow and tease me to death, but the one below is strongly disagreeing.”
He laughed, hugging her close but careful not to squeeze too hard. “I think it’s time to let the one below take over.”
25
Mey
Yamanu’s strong hands lifted Mey up and flipped her around as if she weighed nothing, and suddenly she found herself facing his impressive shaft.
He pulled on her hips, lifting her up, so her core was right where he wanted it.
Sliding his hands up the back of her thighs, he reached her bottom, squeezed it tight, and parted her lower lips with his thumbs.
Lost in the sensation, Mey gazed at the hard length bobbing in front of her eyes but didn’t reach for it. It was impossible to think while he teased her flesh like that.
“Take me into your mouth,” Yamanu commanded, breaking her daze. “But don’t let me climax.”
Yeah, she was well aware of how important it was that every drop of semen ended up in her womb. Still, Kian had given them another week, so maybe this time she could go for it and have Yamanu finish in her mouth?
It was tempting, but he’d told her not to.
Wrapping her hand around his shaft, she licked the tip. There was no way she could take the entire length of him, but she was going to do her best.
His hands tightened on her bottom, urging her to keep going.
As she sucked the tip in, he groaned, the breath leaving his mouth tickling her heated flesh.
She tightened her hold and added a second hand before sucking a little bit more and then pulling back to circle his shaft with her tongue.
He arched up, signaling what he wanted her to do, but this time it was Mey’s turn to torture him sweetly by going slow.
“Patience, my love,” she murmured against his velvety skin.
Dragging her tongue slowly up the hard column, she took him in her mouth again. His powerful thighs tightened under her.
As she took him deeper yet, his tongue parted her folds and licked into her sheath.