Forsaken Hunger

by Nikki McCoy

  Her hesitancy returned when she leaned in close and bit her lip. “Should we use protection?”

  “Drakons can’t carry disease or impregnate women. Part of the package.” With a deep kiss, he rolled her over and cradled her body beneath his, wanting as much as he could get. If this was the only intimacy they shared, it would have to last him through the dark expanse of his future.

  He lay between her thighs then stilled when his tip rubbed against her damp threshold. Memories of his past experiences crowded his mind. This wasn’t like the occasions where he’d sought temporary, physical release. For as strong as Daneya portrayed herself on the outside, he knew she could be just as fragile, and not only in spirit.

  “I don’t want to hurt you.”

  She framed his face with her hands and whispered, “I think I know that now.”

  When he slid past her cleft and lodged himself in her heat, they both let out gasps. The feel of her silken core gripping him sent tendrils of fire racing through his bloodstream. He forced his eyes open and stared down at her, watching for signs of distress. Her breaths came faster as he rocked his hips, burying his shaft deeper inside her with each thrust.

  “Are you doing okay?”

  She nodded and curled her legs around him. The change of angle urged him farther into her. He drank in her soft sighs with long kisses, quickening his pace as her sheath pulsed around him.

  Happiness spread throughout his entire being, or at least the closest he could come to the memory of it. In her arms, his past melted away like so much unwanted tension. He wasn’t a killer with a damned soul. He was merely a man loving a woman who needed him.

  For this one moment in time, they were free.

  He sat up and pulled her into his lap, lifting her hips in time to his fast pace. She took control and rode him with a passion of her own.

  Head thrown back, she clutched at his shoulders and moaned, “Saden.”

  “I’m right here, beautiful.”

  And he was. The pressure mounting in his groin reached a searing peak. At the last second, he dragged her mouth to his and swallowed her scream. His own orgasm bowled through him with fierce intensity. It raced along his nerves and took his breath away.

  They remained in each other’s arms until the fever gradually passed. She buried her face in his neck and tickled his skin with a soft laugh. “Thank you.”

  He was about to respond when a distant call stopped him.

  “Mom?”

  Daneya lurched back and stared at him with wide eyes. “Kennie.” She scrambled off of him and threw on her clothes in a rush.

  Saden raked a hand through his hair, torn between trying to keep her and letting her go. “Daneya—”

  “Mom,” Mckenzie called again.

  Daneya straightened her shirt then paused with her hand on the door. “Will I see you tomorrow?”

  “Yes, but—”

  She was gone in the next instant.

  He growled quietly and pinched the bridge of his nose. Dead air filled the room in her absence. Her parting words floated through his mind. While he hoped they meant she wanted to see him again, tomorrow wasn’t exactly something he was looking forward to. The time had come to gather more information on Gabriel, and the Vampyre’s recent increase in security wasn’t going to make it easy.

  Since resting was out of the question, he got dressed and prepared for another round of scouting. It was going to be a long night if he couldn’t find a way to get Daneya off his mind.

  Chapter Eight

  The air was crisp with an overcast of gray clouds in the sky. Fortunately, with the strong gusts of wind, it should clear up shortly. He needed as much sunlight as he could get for his plan to go through without a hitch. Saden took back his true form on the porch steps in front of the manor. Blade was waiting for him by the door with a beer in one hand.

  “Don’t you ever get tired of drinking that?”

  “You’d drink it too if you could remember what it does,” Blade shot back.

  He shook his head and strode inside. “Have you seen Daneya this morning?”

  “Why? Missing her already?” The teasing humor in his voice made Saden eye him warily. He held up both hands with a wide grin. “Hey, the vents in these walls carry sounds like a lonely siren.”

  Saden sneered in disgust. “You’re a sick man.”

  “I try. Haven’t seen Daneya yet. Kennie and Cherri bomb are in the kitchen.”

  He headed that way with Blade following behind. Cherri didn’t bother to acknowledge their entrance from where she was washing dishes at the sink. Her melancholy mood of late was getting worse by the day. Though Blade had informed him that she stayed mostly to her room, it worried Saden. In his experience, the old adage of having to watch out for the quiet ones was no misnomer. Especially when it wasn’t their natural state. Something was troubling the woman and it put him on edge.

  What sounded like an argument faded when Mckenzie saw Blade step into the room. She jumped up from her seat at the island and ran to him with a sandwich in her hands. “Taste this and tell me it isn’t made with pure awesomeness.”

  Saden peered over at the banana and pickle slices drooping from the peanut butter filling and snorted. “Go ahead, Blade. Tell her.”

  Blade shot him a dark look then ruffled the kid’s hair. “I don’t need to taste it. It was made by you so it has to be awesome.”

  Mckenzie beamed a full set of pearly whites then went back to her chair. Cherri pursed her lips in disapproval, but didn’t say anything. Instead, she dried her hands then kissed Mckenzie on her temple. “I’ll be back for lunch, brat. Don’t get into too much trouble while I’m gone.”

  After the woman left, Mckenzie swallowed her mouthful and got up again. “Why do you guys always wear trench coats whenever you go outside?”

  Blade and Saden glanced at each other then walked to the island. One by one, they pulled out their weapons from sleeves, pockets, harnesses, belts and boots. By the time they were done, half the island was covered in an assortment of blades, garrotes and other toys they’d acquired over the years.

  Mckenzie’s eyes were round and her mouth a perfect saucer. “Wow! Can I play with some of them?”

  “No,” they answered in unison.

  Her little face pulled down in a pout. “But you taught me how to use throwing knives yesterday.”

  “Those can be used in self-defense,” Saden replied. “I don’t want to undermine your mom’s rule about limiting what weapons you use until you’re sixteen.”

  “She told you about that?”

  He realized his mistake too late. Like everything else he knew about Daneya and her daughter, he’d learned from spying on them. Hovering close by in his dragon form or sitting outside their windows at night while not on assignment. Not exactly a truth he wanted to make them aware of yet, if ever. A single, lifted brow from Blade told him he was on his own on this one. “I mean, I would guess that was her rule. It’s what I’d do if I had a daughter.”

  Mckenzie seemed to accept this with a gloomy slump of her shoulders.

  When they were done loading their weapons back up, Blade tossed his empty bottle into the trash and pulled another from the fridge. “Cheer up, half-pint. I’ll show you how to use a grappling hook later to—” He grunted and nearly doubled over as blood rushed out of his face.

  “Blade?” Mckenzie said in alarm.

  Saden grabbed her arm before she could run over. “He’s fine, little one. Just needs to take a quick breather.”

  Blade recovered with a grim smile. “No worries.” To Saden he said, “I’ll be back soon.”

  Saden nodded, figuring it should only take his friend an hour to get his next assignment from Serrakus. Which gave him plenty of time to make the window for his plans on Gabriel. “Why don’t you make a list of the music you like and I’ll pick it up while I’m out later,” he said to Mckenzie in an attempt to distract her. He went to the counter and poured a cup of coffee.

  �
�Anything I want?”

  “Anything your mom won’t try to kill me for.”

  “Well, that cuts the list in half,” she muttered. “You won some points last night, you know.”

  He sputtered and coughed around the coffee in his mouth. “Excuse me?”

  “With Mom. She was smiling for the first time in days when she came out of your room. I don’t know what you said but whatever it was, it worked.”

  He tried to ignore the stirring in his chest without success. He’d made her smile. Definitely an improvement. With effort, he reined in the urge to ask Mckenzie what else her mom might’ve said or done after leaving his room last night.

  “Mom told me you were a Vampyre before you were…changed. Is that true?”

  Saden paused in his inventory of the groceries they had left and gave her his full attention. “It is.”

  “So that means you had a power, right?”

  “Yeah. Basically I could manipulate electronics.”

  “Oh.” She studied her sandwich as if it somehow contained the mystery of life. “Is it true that Vampyres can bond with humans to have babies?”

  Apprehension set his instincts into overdrive. These weren’t normal questions for a nine year old. Even one who belonged to a member of the DCM. “It’s rare but it happens. Why the sudden history lesson, Kennie?”

  “If a half Vampyre, half human kid had a power as well, when would it start showing?”

  “Kennie—”

  She held up both hands and adapted a perfect expression of innocence. “Just curious. Really.”

  That explanation didn’t fly with him for a second. He made a mental note to ask Daneya how much she wanted her daughter to know about Vampyres. “Normally, Vampyres can access their powers through their aethras at three or four years old. While a hybrid is biologically born a full-blooded Vampyre, it wouldn’t come into its power until around the mid-teen years.”

  As she nodded in contemplation, he noticed faint shadows under her eyes that hadn’t been there before. Her skin wasn’t showing its usual healthy glow either. He felt her forehead with the back of his hand. “Are you feeling okay?”

  “I’m fine.”

  Daneya walked in at that moment, worry creasing her brow. “What’s wrong? Are you sick?”

  “Nothing’s wrong!” Mckenzie said in exasperation. She flashed Saden a look he could swear begged him not to speak of their conversation then carried her plate to the sink. “Can I play video games until Blade gets back, Mom? He said he wouldn’t be long.”

  “Sure, sweetie.” When Mckenzie passed by on her way out, Daneya squeezed her daughter in a fierce hug and kissed her temple. “Love you.”

  “Love you, too.”

  Saden watched Daneya with no small amount of trepidation. Half of him expected to be accused of taking advantage of her last night. The other half was caught up in the memories that still permeated his thoughts. Her tenderness beneath her warrior exterior. It was that contrast in her nature which appealed to him most.

  She marched over to him until only a yard separated them. “I’m going with you.”

  “What?” It was then he noticed the black, long-sleeved shirt, cargo pants and combat boots she was wearing. A gun was holstered at her waist and her hair was pulled back in a tight braid.

  “You’re going to infiltrate Gabriel’s house while the sun is high, right? It gives you the advantage since UV rays don’t affect you anymore.”

  “How did you know?”

  She cocked her head to the side. “I’ve been on enough missions to know when one’s about to go down.”

  He almost grinned at her brazen confidence. Almost. There was no way in this realm or any other he was going to let her go. Too many variables existed that could put them both at risk. One little mistake and she could end up in Gabriel’s custody. He would be recalled by Serrakus for working with and endangering a human while conducting his assignment. Not to mention the complications of getting her in and out of a mansion patrolled by leisonguardes undetected.

  No. It was not going to happen.

  “I think it’s best if you stay here.”

  “And I think you could benefit from a partner in this,” she countered. “Gabriel knows you’re on to him and he’ll be ready. You need someone to watch your back.”

  “This is a simple recon job. I’m just getting information on him. I’ll be in and out.”

  She narrowed her eyes in scrutiny. “You’re afraid I’ll get hurt.”

  I’m always afraid of that. He touched her cheek gently, more than relieved when she didn’t pull away. “There is that.”

  “Well, I’m not a naïve little girl anymore,” she said in a hard tone. “I can take care of myself. And you.”

  Those last two words stunned him for a brief second. While he knew she longed to go for her own reasons, the knowledge that a part of her could conceive of wanting to protect him made him want to forget about his mission, take her upstairs and pick up where they’d left off. Fortunately, his irritation at her persistence was enough to keep his head clear.

  “And what will you do about Mckenzie if anything goes wrong?”

  “I trust Blade to return her and Cherri to Vincent if I don’t come back. Besides, we won’t fail. This is just like every other job I’ve done since joining the DCM.”

  “Is it? Because it looks to me like this is some kind of personal vendetta to get back at Gabriel for trying to kidnap you.” Or revenge for kidnapping her the first time. It made him think again about the peculiar questions McKenzie had asked. Her cheeks flared a bright crimson and her hands curled into fists. “Even if it were, could you deny the same? You can’t tell me that when your Drakonem gave you this assignment, you didn’t feel some urge to exact justice for what Gabriel did to you.”

  He growled softly, unable to argue with that. At this point, she and Mckenzie were the only things keeping him from giving in to the temptation of killing Gabriel. Consequences be damned. “I can’t let you go, Daneya.”

  “Why not?” she cried, flinging her hands up in the air.

  Because you’re mortal and I’m not! he wanted to shout.

  They glared at each other in tense silence until she seemed to drop her anger and stepped closer. So close, he could feel her breath on his neck. “I don’t regret what we did last night. But I’m not above putting that bullet in your head if you try to keep me here.” Her threat was undermined only by the yearning in her eyes. “Please, Saden. I need to do this.”

  He was fucked. He knew he was, even as he cursed himself for his weakness when it came to her. With a low groan, he jerked his chin toward the door. “If you’re coming, you’ll need better weapons than that gun.”

  Saden ignored her triumphant grin and led her to the weapons room on the third floor. A quick revision of his plan formed in his mind as he looked over the instruments hanging on the far wall. He chose several compact items she could carry on her person without sacrificing her speed or range of motion.

  “I’m best with a gun, though,” she said, looking askance at the set of shurikens he gave her.

  He bit back the fact that he was already aware of that at the last moment. “A Vampyre’s power lies in the manipulation of whichever element they are most in tune with. Natural or fabricated, physical or mental, the element can be comprised of any one of those things. The sound of a gunshot will give you away. Once your position is made, the Vampyre can turn your weapon against you. I’ve seen a man shredded alive from the blast of a round being magnified by a thousand and sent back at him in calculated currents. That was done by a Vampyre with the ability to manipulate wind.”

  She gaped inelegantly then handed him her gun, replacing it with the shurikens. “Good to know.”

  “Keep in mind, we’re there to get information. Nothing more. Kill only if you have to and get out when I say so.”

  “In and out. Got it.”

  “I have a few things to check on before we leave. I’ll meet you downstairs.�
��

  She opened her mouth as if to say something but instead, pulled him down by the nape of his neck for a searing kiss. His arms folded around her of their own accord, crushing her to him. Everything else disappeared as it had last night. There were only the two of them and the acceptance she made him feel.

  A sliver of reality pierced his conscience at the danger he was falling into. His emotions around her were beginning to spin precariously out of control. The line between innocent and protector becoming blurred each time she touched him. He had to keep a level head. Had to be able to walk away when the time came to let her go.

  She bit his lip teasingly before breaking apart and leaving the room. Saden took a minute to readjust himself and collect his thoughts. Something told him he was in a lot more trouble than he’d bargained for.

  After a shower and change of clothes, he went to the garage. The sedan he’d purchased the morning after taking in Daneya and her family would stay in case Blade needed to get Mckenzie and Cherri out of the manor. While he thought the motorcycle would better suit Daneya’s style, it was too loud with zero protection. Which left his pride and joy—a two door Maserati Gran Turismo MC, built for speed with an engine that purred like a kitten.

  He stripped out of his trench coat and popped the hood to check the fluids.

  At a whisper of sound to his left, he spun around with a knife already in hand. A man emerged from the shadows wearing black leathers that set off his dusky blond hair. He was as tall as Saden with a familiar goatee and relaxed posture. “Phoenix?”

  The man greeted him with a dip of his head. “Saden. How are you?”

  Saden gripped the knife harder, a sneer curling his upper lip. While he didn’t know Phoenix personally, he was well acquainted with the guy’s history. A traitor among his own kind. The worst kind of criminal there was. It was said he had led a group of Djinn to his clan of Rakshasas. Every man, woman and child had been slaughtered mercilessly except for him. By the time the Drakonem had captured him for his crime, he’d already become a host to one of the Djinn involved, making him immortal.