Beyond the Darkness

by Katie Reus

  “What about the other female, the one with the black hair? What is she?” Shar had been watching the other female with too much interest in the week they’d been watching Keelin Petronilla.

  “She’s mixed blood. I don’t know what.” But the couple times he’d walked past her in that club, he’d felt…off. Something about her had felt familiar, but not. He didn’t like what he didn’t know, especially since he wasn’t in top form. “We will avoid her for now.”

  “What should we do tonight?” Now that their scouts were dead, Shar meant.

  “We’ll follow them and when she’s alone, I’ll send out another attack. A larger one with hunters. I want to see how powerful she is.”

  “What if the hunters kill her?”

  “They won’t.” Not when he ordered them not to. Naram just wanted to test her powers, to see how well she battled. He had to be the one to kill her or he’d never get what he needed. When she was out of the way he’d eventually kill the rest of her kind or keep them as his slaves. As it should be.

  Chapter 4

  Keelin traced her finger along the stem of her martini glass, the nervous energy humming through her making her jittery. She couldn’t believe what had happened in that parking lot. The demon thing was bad enough, but the fact that she’d started putting off the mating glow while kissing Bran; just no. Absolutely not.

  She didn’t want a mate. Not now and maybe never. And definitely not one like Bran who was all bossy, Alpha male.

  She shifted against the leather seat of the private booth she was sitting in, trying to banish the reality of her situation, knowing it was useless. She wished she could escape him but until Finn showed up they were stuck waiting here at Bo’s place.

  Ophelia and Nyx were on the dance floor and Bran was…coming her way with a bottle of beer in his hand. He looked like a lethal predator stalking across the dance floor. More than a handful of females and some males turned to watch him move. He was like a beautiful piece of art, rough around the edges and a male you could never, ever tame. He didn’t look like most dragon shifters in the physical sense, at least not his face. He was way too hard and so very masculine.

  She tried to remain unaffected by him, but it was impossible. Especially now that she’d gotten such a wonderful taste of him. When he entered the enclave and tugged the heavy curtains closed, she started to push up from her seat. She didn’t want to be alone with him. Okay, she did, but she didn’t exactly trust herself.

  “We’re talking, Keelin. Here or out there.” There was no room for argument in his voice as he stood there watching her. For some reason she found his dominance incredibly sexy.

  “Fine, but you’re sitting on that side,” she said, pointing to the other side of the round table set in the middle of the semi-circle booth. Right now she needed a little distance between them, however much of an illusion it was. Because if he didn’t want space between them, there wouldn’t be any. Her animal side knew exactly who he was to her after that kiss and wanted a whole lot more.

  Bran’s green eyes narrowed and once again she was struck by the slight difference in his left one.

  “Is something wrong with your eye?” she asked, frowning at him.

  He stilled at her question before sliding into the booth across from her. His expression had gone carefully neutral as he watched her. “I didn’t think you were cruel,” he said quietly, a note of hurt in his voice scraping against her senses.

  Her inner dragon pushed at her, angry at the shift in Bran, demanding she make things right. Keelin wasn’t sure what she’d said though. “I…why would you say that?”

  His head tilted to the side the barest fraction, as if he was assessing her. “I can’t see out of my left eye. I was born this way.”

  She inwardly cringed at her callous question, wishing she could take it back. “I didn’t realize or I would have never…I’m sorry,” she finished lamely.

  Surprisingly, he relaxed at her statement. “I thought you knew.”

  She shook her head, not sure what to say now.

  He made the decision for her, launching right into a conversation of exactly what she didn’t want to talk about. “Do you want to talk about what happened in the parking lot?”

  She shook her head, her gaze trailing down to his full mouth. It was the only soft part of the male. And she still couldn’t believe she’d just let him shove her dress up like that. She’d been so primed, so ready for him it jarred her. “I don’t want a mate,” she blurted.

  “You sure about that?” he asked dryly.

  “Just because my animal side makes a decision doesn’t mean I have to be on board with it. I was stuck in Protective Hibernation for hundreds of years and before that sheltered to the point where I felt like a prisoner. I like my new life and I don’t want to be trapped by an overprotective mate.” No matter how sexy he was.

  He snorted, the sound full of derision. “Right.”

  Her back straightened at his tone. “Right, what? I’m telling the truth.”

  He leaned forward a fraction, pinning her with his hard gaze. “I’m sure you are.”

  She felt like there was some underlying meaning she wasn’t getting. She’d only been out of Protective Hibernation a little over a year and was still catching up on some things. She bit her bottom lip, hating the awkwardness that suddenly surged through her. While she loved her new freedom she sometimes cursed her parents for sheltering her for so long. Maybe if she hadn’t been sheltered, she would understand whatever it was Bran wasn’t saying aloud and she wouldn’t feel like that weak, silly female so many in her clan thought her to be. Wanting to get away from him and the feelings he evoked inside her, she shoved her drink away and started to slide out of the booth.

  “I’m also sure if I looked like my brother you’d feel differently.” Now more than derision, there was pain lacing his words.

  Her eyebrows drew together. What did his brother have to do with anything? “Your brother is mated to my friend.”

  “You know what I mean.”

  On a burst of frustration she slammed a fist on the table harder than she’d intended, making her drink skid across it. “No, I don’t!” Stunned by her sudden display, she tamped her growing annoyance down. Something about this male brought out too many emotions, making her behave irrationally. Standing, she started to pull the curtain back but Bran was lightning fast.

  For such a big male it surprised her how quick he was. He didn’t touch her, but he stepped forward so that she had no choice but to press back against the table until she was sitting on the edge of it.

  Leaning down, he caged her in, putting both hands on the edge of the table, his powerful body blocking her way. “You’re not lying.” Not a question.

  “Of course I’m not. I barely understand this conversation.” And being so close to him, inhaling that earthy, dark winter night scent that was all Bran was making her nipples tighten in anticipation of touching and kissing him again. Something she shouldn’t be thinking about. She needed to remember how obnoxious and domineering he was.

  “You’re a confusing female,” he muttered, still not moving.

  Against her will, her attention fell to his mouth once again. All the muscles in her body pulled taut as she imagined that mouth on other places and she swallowed hard.

  He inhaled suddenly and she knew he had to scent her desire. Stupid pheromones. He let out a low groan, one of his hands moving up to cup her cheek. For such a rough-looking male, he was surprisingly gentle. “Why did you take credit for killing the demons?” he asked softly, the question taking her by surprise.

  “I didn’t want you to get in trouble.” There had been no other reason than that. She knew how complicated supernatural politics could be and he was an Alpha in another Alpha’s territory. From what she’d seen Finn was fair, but still, something deep inside her hadn’t wanted Bran to face any sort of punishment.

  In response, his other hand slid up her leg, slowly, giving her time to stop him. Lookin
g into his hard face, she didn’t want to. She might not want a mate, but that didn’t mean she didn’t want Bran.

  “You want me to stop?” he murmured.

  She shook her head. “No, but I don’t want a mate. Okay?” Her words came out shaky, but with an Alpha, or really any freaking male, she knew she needed to be crystal clear.

  He murmured something that sounded like ‘okay’, but she couldn’t be sure. Unlike the franticness from the parking lot, his movements were slow and controlled as he brushed his mouth over hers. She leaned into him, holding onto his shoulders for support as his tongue teased against hers.

  As she did, his hand moved higher, his rough, callused fingers stroking up her inner thigh with determination. She was vaguely aware that she was glowing again but they were in the privacy of the booth. No one would be able to see them. And it didn’t mean she was going to mate with the male, just…have fun.

  When she sucked on his bottom lip, he groaned into her mouth, that wicked hand moving even higher until he teased the edge of her panties. Because her dress was such a tight fit, she couldn’t spread her legs very far. The restrictive feeling was surprisingly erotic as he dipped a finger under the silky material, shoving it to the side until his middle finger grazed her clit.

  She jerked against him, needing more.

  His tongue flicked against hers, teasing in the same way his finger started teasing her clit. Soft, gentle, with just enough pressure to make her crazy. Heat flooded between her thighs as he started rubbing her sensitive bundle of nerves in an erotic rhythm. It should probably shock her that a male was being so forward with her so quickly, but this was what she wanted. No more living like a protected princess. And she knew Bran would never hurt her.

  When he pulled his mouth from hers, she almost protested until he started feathering kisses along her jawline. The feel of his stubble rubbed against her skin, making her even more aware of him.

  “I want to feel you come on my fingers.” His voice was guttural, his words sending another shot of heat between her legs. “And on my tongue,” he continued, dipping a finger inside her, as if testing her slickness. “But that’ll be later.”

  Later? Her inner walls tightened around him, wanting more. She tried to find her voice, but he slid another finger into her wet sheath as he kissed his way back to her mouth. This time when he kissed her it wasn’t gentle, but that hungry claiming once again.

  Moaning, she tried to roll her hips against his fingers but he grabbed her hip, holding her in place as he thrust his two fingers inside her. Keeping them buried deep, he started massaging her clit with his thumb, using her moans as cues to how hard or how fast she liked it.

  Her entire body lit on fire with his caresses. He shouldn’t know how to please her so quickly, not when her former…lover, as in singular, had been so sadly lacking.

  Her clit pulsed steadily, the need for release building inside her. It wasn’t long until he found that perfect rhythm and her inner walls were clenching around his fingers tighter and tighter.

  Letting her head fall back, she closed her eyes as her orgasm built faster and faster. Her heart rate and breathing kicked up and he must have sensed the change in her because he began stroking his fingers in and out of her while still strumming her clit.

  The extra stimulation was too much.

  When he grazed his teeth along the column of her throat, a low growl emanating from him, her toes curled in her heels. She let go of her control, her climax taking over as pleasure surged to all her nerve endings.

  It pummeled through her in wave after wave, every inch of her sensitized as she wished they were both naked. She wanted to feel him pushing deep inside her, stretching her, giving her what she craved. Burying her face against his neck, she clutched his upper arms and inhaled his scent. That had just barely taken the edge off.

  She wanted more. A lot more. And knew he must too.

  Reaching between their bodies, she started to undo his belt but he instantly stepped back, withdrawing his fingers and all that delicious body heat as he did.

  Confused, she stared at him. “Why are you stopping me?”

  He shook his head once, the action sharp. “I don’t…that was just about you.”

  “It should be about both of us,” she whispered, not fully trusting her voice.

  His jaw tightened, his green eyes flashing with some emotion she didn’t recognize. He didn’t respond though. But she understood Alpha shifters well enough. This had been about him dominating her, showing her the pleasure he could bring her with just a few strokes. Probably part of his plan to convince her to mate with him. How could she be so stupid? And there went her obnoxiously bright glow, dimming once again.

  Dropping her gaze, she slid from the table, tugging her dress down as her heels clicked against the floor.

  “Keelin—”

  Straightening, she held up a hand, but couldn’t look at him. “I get it.”

  He grabbed her hand, forcing her to look at him. “You get what?”

  She struggled to find her voice as she stared at his hard face when the curtain pulled back.

  Nyx’s eyes widened when she saw them. She had a mixed drink in her hand. “Oh, I thought…should I come back?” She was already starting to let it slide back into place when Keelin shook her head.

  “No.” She stepped out of Bran’s embrace, yanking the curtain open. “I’m just grabbing a drink,” she muttered, hurrying past her friend on wobbly legs. Ophelia was making her way to them along with Solon and Jason, who must have just arrived.

  Ignoring what she imagined was Bran’s intense gaze behind her, and the fact that everyone could likely scent what they’d just done, she disappeared onto the dance floor, mixing with the crowd and getting lost. With her shorter height, even in heels, it was easy to disappear. She glanced behind her and when she didn’t see him, she knew he couldn’t see her.

  Instead of heading to one of the packed bars, she made her way for the front exit. She wasn’t going to wait around for Finn any longer. She could just fly back to the mansion and call or text her friends from there. She knew they’d understand and it wasn’t like they were depending on her for a ride. And once she was in the sky pretty much no one could try to attack her and definitely not track her, so she wasn’t worried about being alone. Besides, she was a freaking dragon. She could take care of herself.

  As she stepped out into the cool night, she inhaled the fresh air, automatically glancing around for a place to duck behind so she could strip. She didn’t particularly mind being naked in front of others but she knew Bo had cameras set up everywhere and didn’t want to flash him or his security guys.

  Before she’d taken two steps, she sensed Bran before she even scented him. As if her body was simply that attuned to the sexy male. “I’m heading to the mansion,” she said without turning around, stepping out into the parking lot.

  His hand clasped around her upper arm, firm but gentle. “Keelin, damn it—”

  They both stilled at the sudden charge in the air. It was almost like a soft buzzing filled the atmosphere, growing louder and louder until… “What is that?” she whispered, automatically grabbing his hand and taking a step back. She might be a dragon and able to take care of herself in most situations, but she wasn’t a warrior and something weird was happening. All the hair on her arms and on the back of her neck stood up.

  Bran clasped her hand tighter, but instead of moving with her, tried to push her behind him. “I don’t see…there.” His body pulled taut as a dozen, no, two dozen male forms emerged from the vehicles in the parking lot.

  But they weren’t males or men. They were formed like men, as if mimicking their likeness, but they didn’t have substance, their skin color a dull gray, their entire being monochrome. Even their clothes were all the same dull color and everything matched. They all wore loose black pants and T-shirts and their feet… Her stomach roiled. They didn’t have feet, but were all moving forward on a mass of dark gray cloud-like substa
nce.

  Bran shoved her back fully now, moving them toward the door when it opened with a clang as it slammed against the outer wall. She didn’t have to turn around to know it was Bo. His half-demon scent was embedded in her brain. She didn’t know many of his kind and it was unique.

  Even though Bran tried to keep her behind him, she managed to peer around his huge body. The mass of beings stopped, their lack of any movement preternatural. She couldn’t tear her gaze from them. And maybe she was being paranoid but she could almost swear they were all looking at her.

  But that couldn’t be right.

  “Give us the female,” the beings said in one voice, sending an icy blade traveling down her spine.

  Her blood chilled.

  They weren’t speaking in English, it was ancient Aramaic, which was creepy all by itself. As a Petronilla dragon, the gift of her clan was to understand any language on the planet. Right now she wasn’t sure she was actually thankful for it. Not knowing these things wanted her might be better.

  Bran stepped forward, but Bo let out an angry sounding snarl more feral, animalistic-sounding than human. He raged at them in the same language. “Who sent you?”

  “Give us the female,” they repeated.

  Another snarl then he started chanting. She understood the actual words, but they didn’t make sense in any context.

  Until the things let out a united scream, the horror of the sound washing over her like jagged glass scraping against her bare skin.

  She grabbed Bran around the waist, ready to pull him back when he turned and tackled her to the ground. Before they’d landed the scream stopped and a loud rush of wind rent the air. Keelin’s hair blew back even as Bran crouched over her. Just as suddenly the wind died and black dust particles landed all around them.

  “They’re gone,” Bo said, motioning for the two security guys who had come outside with him to go back in.