Darkness Rises

Chapter 16

As the meal drew to a close, Seth looked around the table. “Seconds, and Sean, I’d like you to leave us for a few moments. Please adjourn to the training room. You’ll find a selection of desserts and refreshments awaiting you. Spar. Gorge. Gossip. Do whatever makes you happy. We’ll let you know when our business here is concluded.”

Surprised looks were exchanged all around. Immortals visually consulted each other and found no answers as the Seconds rose, pushed their chairs close to the table, and headed for the hallway without comment.

Ami rose.

Seth touched her arm. “I’d like you to stay, sweetheart.”

Swallowing hard, she retook her seat.

Marcus wrapped an arm around her shoulders and drew her close.

Jenna cleared her throat. “I’m not sure what I should do here. I’m immortal, but I don’t hunt vampires yet, so . . . should I leave or stay?”

“Please, stay,” David said. “Your input will be particularly important in the matter we wish to discuss.”

Her eyebrows shot up. “Really?” She glanced at Richart, who shrugged.

“Krysta,” Seth added. “You’ll be immortal within the week, so you may stay as well.”

“Darnell, you stay, too,” David continued.

Darnell nodded, then called to the others, “Close the doors to the basement and the training room so we won’t have to listen to Sheldon get his ass kicked.”

“Oh, ha ha,” Sheldon said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. “Wait. You meant in a sparring session, right?”

Cam nudged him along.

Étienne wondered what the hell was going on. Seth had never done this before. Seconds were always privy to the business of immortals. They needed to be aware of every threat in order to better serve and protect them. What could Seth not want them to know?

The door to the basement closed. Boots tromped down stairs. The door to the training room closed.

“What do you think is going on?” he heard Sheldon ask.

“They can hear you, genius,” Cam reminded him.

“Oh. Right.”

Richart sighed and rolled his eyes.

Soon conversation began to flow below. Movies. Books. The latest goings-on at the network.

Here at the table no one spoke.

The tension rose. All present, like Étienne, believed an ax was about to fall.

At last, Seth spoke. “A situation has arisen. Something unprecedented. Something that has left even David and I uncertain how to proceed.”

Roland shifted slightly. “I thought you two had seen and done it all.”

“So did we. What we discuss here will remain between those seated at this table. Do not share this with your Seconds or with any other mortal members of the network. Torture will not extract this information from immortals. It will, however, draw it from most mortals. Considering the many enemies we have faced in the last few years, we cannot take that risk.”

All nodded.

What the hell was Seth going to tell them?

“I’ve misled you. I did it intentionally for the reason I just disclosed. I have kept from you a secret that was not my own to share and intended to keep it from you longer, but circumstances have eliminated any further hope of maintaining silence.”

Roland leaned forward. “Any secret you share with us will be guarded with our lives. Should anyone here betray you, I will take care of him or her myself.”

The pledge may have surprised everyone present, but none doubted the veracity of it. Roland may be antisocial and grumble, but he could be ruthless when defending a loved one and was a man any warrior would feel fortunate to have guarding his back.

“Thank you.”

A faint thumping began to distract Étienne. It took him a moment to realize it was the heel of Ami’s boot striking the floor as her knee bobbed up and down.

She stilled as everyone looked at her. “I’m sorry. I’m nervous.”

Marcus glared daggers at everyone.

Hell. This was going to be big, wasn’t it?

“As you know, Ami was a primary target of Emrys, who gained knowledge of her association with us through Montrose Keegan, then passed that knowledge along to Donald and Nelson.”

All nodded.

“Because mercenaries who may be linked to Donald and Nelson’s group have risen against us, I feel compelled to explain why it is more important than ever that we keep Ami out of their hands.”

It was unusual to order immortals to risk their lives to protect Seconds instead of the other way around. Immortals were very rare in the greater scheme of things, so the loss of even one had great impact.

Richart frowned. “Why did they want her so badly before? Did they find out she’s a gifted one?”

Seth leaned forward. “Ami is not a gifted one. She’s an extraterrestrial.”

Étienne stared at him blankly.

And he wasn’t the only one.

“She’s from another planet,” Seth clarified.

Dead silence.

Ami nibbled her lower lip. Marcus . . . was preparing to kill them all by the looks of his darkening features.

“That is so cool,” Krysta said, daring to speak first.

Étienne glanced over and found her staring at Ami with a combination of awe and delight.

“What planet are you from?” she asked.

Across from Ami, Sarah nodded. “Are you from Jupiter? Because I’ve always wanted to know what’s at the center of that big-ass storm.”

Some of the anxiety left Ami’s face, replaced by a tentative smile. “No, I’m from a planet called Lasara in another solar system. But I can tell you what’s in the storm on Jupiter.”

Seth held up a hand. “Let’s save that for later.”

Roland leaned forward. “Are there others from your world here?” His gaze remained on Marcus, though he spoke to Ami.

If either immortal were telepathic, Étienne would swear the two were silently communicating.

Then again, they had known each other for eight hundred years. Speech may no longer be necessary.

Ami shook her head. “No.”

“Will there be others?”

“No.”

Étienne felt Krysta tug his hand and listened to her thoughts.

She’s all alone? Do you think she crashed?

I don’t know.

A slew of questions leapt from lips all around the table.

David cleared his throat. “Your questions can wait. And, if Ami isn’t comfortable answering them, I trust none of you will press her.”

In other words, leave her the hell alone. Message received. Ami wasn’t comfortable discussing her origins. Not surprising, considering she had been tortured by the humans who had captured her. Or, at least, he assumed Emrys and his men had captured her.

That also explained why they had pretty much dissected her, taking advantage of her regenerative capabilities to learn everything they could about her alien race, the bastards.

“There’s more,” Seth said, face somber.

More?

Everyone gave him their full attention.

“Ami is pregnant.”

Several immortals gasped.

Sarah’s face lit up. “Oh, my gosh! Congratulations!” She started to jump up, intending to run around the table and embrace the couple, but Roland stopped her.

Étienne peeked at her thoughts and caught her confusion, then her understanding.

Krysta squeezed his hand. Is this as bad as I think it is?

Yes. He felt for Marcus. No wonder he had been so tense lately.

They don’t know how the virus will affect the baby?

Right.

Or what will happen with the whole human and alien DNA combining thing?

Gifted one and alien DNA. Yes.

“Jenna,” Melanie said. “You’re the only immortal we know of who has ever had a baby, so I would appreciate your input as I guide Ami through her pregnancy.”

Jenna nodded. “Of course. I don’t know how much help I’ll be though.”

Bastien spoke up. “Did you cramp when you were pregnant?”

“Yes. Throughout most of the pregnancy.”

“How severe were the cramps?” he pressed.

She thought for a moment. “They were like mild menstrual cramps. In fact, for the first two weeks I was pregnant, I kept thinking I was about to get my period and didn’t realize I was pregnant. So they were more annoying than painful. Nothing that would make me reach for pain relievers or anything.” She grimaced and glanced around the table. “I’m sorry. Is that too much information?”

“No.” Bastien turned to Melanie and raised his eyebrows.

She smiled. “I know. I know. You’re brilliant.” Bastien brilliant? Must be an inside joke. “Thank you, Jenna.”

Nodding, Jenna turned to Ami. “Congratulations, Ami. How bad is the nausea?”

Ami grimaced. “Pretty bad.”

“I’m surprised you made it through dinner.”

“I almost didn’t. The smell of most food tends to make me gag.”

Jenna nodded. “I was the same way. I threw up half a dozen times a day sometimes in my early weeks.”

Some of Marcus’s tension eased. “That’s normal?”

“Sure. It—”

“Is Ami infected with the virus?” Roland interrupted.

Marcus met his gaze once more. “No.”

Melanie shook her head. “I’ve found no trace of it in her blood.”

“If she were infected,” Roland asked, “would she turn immortal or vampire?”

“We have no way of knowing,” Seth answered.

Somber stares all around. So she couldn’t be transformed.

“If you’re worrying about me growing old, dying, and leaving Marcus alone in a few decades . . .” Ami began.

Yes, they were. Marcus had come very close to the edge after losing a woman he had loved for eight centuries. Like Étienne, everyone present feared what losing Ami would do to him.

“Then don’t,” she continued. “My race is very long-lived. It will take me centuries just to get my first gray hair.”

Their time together would still be finite, but at least they would have centuries rather than decades.

“Ami and the baby are both doing well,” Seth announced. Thus far went unspoken. “I trust you understand now why I want Ami to be protected at all costs?”

Everyone nodded. This was unprecedented. Étienne didn’t remember ever having heard of an immortal female giving birth or an immortal male fathering a child with a mortal. And he would have heard it if it had happened.

“Then you also understand why she will not be aiding us in tracking down the mercenaries this time.”

“Of course,” Roland voiced, and glared at everyone else until they nodded or said the same.

Antisocial, but loyal. Roland was going to be protective as hell of that baby once it was born.

If it was born.

Étienne silently prayed that all would be well with Ami’s pregnancy and that she would give birth to a healthy babe. She had suffered tremendously at the hands of Emrys and his doctors. He hated to think of her suffering more.

Seth thanked them for their discretion and for forgiving his deception. (It had been Seth who had told them all Ami was a gifted one.) He then wished them all happy hunting.

Every immortal present, save Seth and David, hugged Marcus and Ami and congratulated them before seeking out their Seconds.

Étienne hugged Ami, then Marcus, slapping him on the back.

Krysta smiled down at Ami. “Are you having any weird cravings? Can we pick something up for you while we’re out hunting?”

Étienne’s chest swelled with what he could no longer deny was love for her.

Ami smiled and shook her head. “I’ve really been having a hard time keeping anything down. Anything but lollipops, that is. They seem to be the only sweets I can tolerate.”

“Lollipops it is,” Krysta promised with a smile.

Étienne and Krysta moved away as Jenna hugged Ami and started to chat her up.

“When do you want me to transform you?” he asked as they sought out Cam to let him know they were leaving.

“Tonight?” she asked hopefully.

He nodded. “Let’s let David know before we leave.”

A few minutes later, calling good hunting to those within, Étienne and Krysta stepped out into the night. As they crossed to his car, Étienne glimpsed Roland and Marcus within the shadows of the forest that surrounded the drive.

Roland dragged Marcus into a rough hug.

Marcus’s hands clenched into fists on Roland’s back, knuckles showing white. His mind was full of what-ifs. And all were terrifying.

Roland’s mind was full of the same, along with a heavy dose of concern for his friend and . . . guilt. Roland was keeping something from him.

Étienne frowned. Who the hell was Zach? And what did he have to do with Ami and Lisette?

“Where do you want to hunt tonight?” Krysta asked, unaware that they weren’t alone.

Étienne hastily looked away from the duo before Roland could catch him staring. Opening the car door, he waited for Krysta to slide inside. “Let’s try UNCG.” Lisette had been hunting there of late.

“Okay. Let’s pick up Ami’s lollipops on the way so we won’t forget.”

“Sure.” He closed the door. Strolling around to the driver’s side, he glanced at the forest and discovered the elder immortals were gone.

They only encountered three vampires that night. All were insane. So all were destroyed.

Étienne was unharmed in the brief battle. Krysta barely earned a scratch. Yet they both bore their fair share of bloodstains when they returned to David’s home and claimed what Étienne called a quiet room in the basement.

“What’s a quiet room?” she asked, checking it out.

“A room that has been so thoroughly soundproofed that the other immortals in the house won’t be able to hear anything that transpires within it.”

Good to know.

“So. How are we going to do this?” Krysta asked, beginning to feel a bit anxious now that the time of her transformation was at hand. Guilty, too, because she hadn’t told Sean of their plans for fear he would spend hours trying to talk her out of it.

“Let’s wash the blood and sweat off first,” Étienne suggested and peeled off his coat.

“Sounds good to me.” Krysta removed her own coat.

Minutes passed as they disarmed.

She grinned and shook her head as the pile of weapons they stacked on the nearby love seat grew. “We’re quite a pair, aren’t we?”

He winked. “Perfect for each other.”

She agreed wholeheartedly.

Her breath caught as he drew his shirt over his head.

All that muscle . . .

His long fingers dropped to the zipper of his pants.

Krysta hurriedly yanked her own shirt over her head so she wouldn’t miss anything.

He slid the zipper down. Tucking his thumbs in the waistband, he peeled off the pants and his boxers and kicked them aside.

Her heart beat faster.

He was already hard.

“Waiting for anything in particular?” he asked innocently.

Grinning, she pulled her sports bra off and let it fall to the floor. “Have I mentioned how much I love it when your eyes glow?”

“No,” he murmured, his luminous amber gaze devouring her as she unfastened her pants and slid them down to her ankles, along with her bikini panties. “Damn, you tempt me.”

Good. Because she couldn’t wait to feel him inside her again.

Groaning, he closed his eyes for a moment, then turned and strode into the bathroom.

As she followed him, she heard the faucet give a faint squeak. Steam poured from the shower as she entered the sleek room.

Immortal Guardians must have a thing for bathrooms, because this one, like those in Étienne’s home, was as gorgeous as a millionaire’s spa.

Tugging the elastic band from the end of her braid, she untwined her hair and finger-combed it while she admired Étienne’s gorgeous form.

He held his hand out to her.

Smiling in anticipation, she took it and stepped into the granite-tiled shower more than big enough for two.

Steam encapsulated and caressed them as he slid the glass door closed. Drawing her up against him, Étienne stepped back into the fountain of water and let it flow over them like hands.

Krysta touched his shoulders, drew her fingers down his slick chest as he tilted his head back.

Water turned his hair into a sleek, black cap, straight and soft and shiny against his handsome face. Reversing their positions, he settled his hands low on her spine.

Krysta arched her back and reached up to run her fingers through her hair as the warm water swiftly saturated it.

Étienne pressed his hips into hers, sliding his hard cock between her parted thighs and sending shocks of pleasure through her.

Her breath caught. She lowered her chin and met his gaze.

“You’re so beautiful, Krysta.”

Abandoning her hair, she gripped his biceps. “So are you.”

He leaned closer.

Anticipation rose as she focused on his lips.

He drew back, a bar of soap and two washcloths in his hand.

Had he just been reaching past her?

“Tease,” she grumbled as he stepped back, breaking all contact.

He laughed. But that glowing gaze continued to roam her as he lathered up one of the cloths and handed it to her.

Krysta took it and began to vigorously scrub one arm, removing splotches of blood as she watched him lather up the other cloth and return the soap to the dish behind her.

“Slower,” he instructed, voice silky smooth.

She paused.

Étienne kept his eyes on Krysta, focusing on her exquisite, expressive face as he drew his soapy cloth down one arm in long, leisurely strokes, then up again.

Hunger flared in her gaze as she watched the motion, then mimicked it herself, slowing her movements to sensual strokes.

He smiled, hard and aching and loving the suspense, loving having to wait, loving making her wait, knowing how explosive it would be when they finally joined.

He drew the cloth down over his other arm.

Krysta did the same.

He slid it down his side, over his hip and down one leg.

Krysta continued to follow his lead, her gaze frequently skipping to the erection that strained toward her.

Up one leg, then down the other. Then back up the leg and his other side. He slid the cloth over his chest, dragging the material over his nipples and imagining it was her hands.

Krysta did the same, gasping and biting her lip.

He dropped his cloth. She dropped hers and took a step toward him.

Étienne shook his head. “Not yet.”

She stopped and stared as he slid his soapy hands over his chest. Then she cupped her breasts in soapy hands and squeezed them with a moan.

His pulse raced. For a moment he forgot to move.

Her hips shifted restlessly as she continued to fondle her breasts, stroking, squeezing, and pinching the hard, pink tips. Then she slid one hand down her flat stomach.

Étienne slid a hand down his own.

Her fingers brushed the dark thatch of hair at the juncture of her thighs.

His fingers brushed his.

She widened her stance.

His body caught fire.

She slid those delicate fingers between her legs and moaned again as she stroked the nub hidden there.

Étienne fisted his cock, heart pounding against his ribs as he drew his hand down the long length and squeezed the sensitive tip.

She eased back a step. Water struck the back of her neck and sluiced down over her shoulders, rinsing the soap away and making her skin gleam as she continued to squeeze and massage one breast while stroking herself between her legs.

She rubbed and circled and pinched her clit, breath coming quick, as her eyes met his. Her hand slid lower. Arching against her palm, she thrust two fingers inside her warm, wet sheath.

His hand tightened on his cock.

“This is where I want you,” Krysta whispered, withdrawing her fingers, then thrusting them inside again, imagining it was him.

Étienne’s eyes flashed an even brighter amber.

“Only you,” she murmured, need rising. “So long and hard and thick.”

Muttering something in French, he blurred.

Krysta heard the shower door open, became weightless, then found herself in bed on her back in seconds. Étienne loomed over her, no longer soapy. Muscles bunching, he settled himself between her thighs, then thrust inside her.

Pure pleasure.

Krysta cried out as he buried himself deep, then withdrew and thrust again. And again. And again. Reaching down, she grabbed his ass and urged him on, arching up against him, moaning with every breath.

He cupped the breast she had neglected in one large hand, squeezing and caressing and doing all of the things she had been imagining when she had touched herself.

“I need you,” he growled.

I need you, too, she thought, so breathless she couldn’t speak.

Fire burned through her. She arched against him. Over and over. So good.

His lips teased the sensitive skin of her neck.

Do it, she urged him.

He reached down between their bodies, sought the source of her pleasure.

An orgasm ripped through her, wringing a cry from her lips as her muscles tightened and her body clenched around his cock.

Pain followed as his fangs pierced her neck.

Krysta’s hands clenched, her nails digging into his flesh.

I’m sorry, he thought.

She forced herself to loosen her hold and tried to relax into it. It’s okay.

He continued to move inside her with slow thrusts. His fingers went to work once more, stroking her clit and sending sparks of renewed pleasure dancing through her.

Her breath caught.

Yeah. That helped.

He thrust harder, squeezed her breast.

That helped a lot.

She felt him smile against her.

The pain continued. But he fed the pleasure, building it until she was once more thrusting and straining against him.

Another orgasm swept through her.

Cold began to seep in. As did weariness.

As darkness closed in, she thought she heard him say, I love you.

Krysta woke to the feeling of being watched. Frowning, she opened her eyes, then jumped when she found Étienne lying inches away, staring at her intently.

“Don’t do that!” she said, heart racing. “You startled me.”

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to. It took you longer to regain consciousness than I expected and I was worried.”

“Oh.”

She lay there for a moment, taking stock of things. “I don’t feel any different.”

Smiling, he brushed her hair, still damp from their shower, back from her face. “You will.”

He wasn’t kidding. Within hours she felt like she had a really bad case of the flu. Nausea. Vomiting. (Étienne was a little miffed when she wouldn’t let him hold her hair for her, but she did not want him to watch her puke. Gross.) Fever. The worst headache she had ever had in her life.

For someone who hadn’t been sick himself in over two centuries, Étienne was surprisingly helpful. He brought her hand-squeezed orange juice mixed with club soda to settle her stomach. Crackers and salty pita chips, too. He kept her supplied with ice packs for her head and a wide selection of DVDs to keep her entertained while the virus raged through her.

He told her stories of his youth. Stories of his immortality.

He even admitted that he and his twin had once wagered over which one of them could go the longest without sex.

“No sex at all?” she asked, fever making it feel like flames were pouring from her eyes.

He nodded. “No sex. No pleasuring oneself. Nothing but cold showers. It was the longest thirty-two years of my life.”

“Thirty-two years!”

He nodded, his smile wry.

“Who won?”

“Neither. It was a draw. Lisette found out why we had been so pissy, as she put it, and told us to cut the crap and get laid or she’d tell Seth it was distracting us when we hunted.”

She smiled. “What would Seth have done?”

He laughed. “Honestly, I have no idea.”

The room began to spin. Her stomach turned over.

She closed her eyes and hoped it would calm. The whole vomiting thing was getting old.

“Krysta.”

Had Étienne just said her name? She tried to pry her eyelids open, but couldn’t.

Krysta, darling, please wake up.

Wake up? She wasn’t asleep. She had just closed her eyes for a second.

Cold needles pricked her skin. Pain pierced her. Everywhere.

Screaming, Krysta finally managed to open her eyes and found herself in a bathtub full of ice and water with Étienne at her back.

Étienne ignored the cold stinging his skin and locked his arms around Krysta, holding her tight as she fought to get out of the tub.

Melanie and David emptied more bags of ice into the water.

Tears threatened as Étienne subdued Krysta. Tears of relief. He had thought he had lost her. He had been talking to her, telling her about that stupid bet, and she had lost consciousness.

There had been no dreams or thought. Her breathing had become shallow.

David had sensed his panic and come to check on her. Melanie had followed. The alarm that had crossed her face when she had taken Krysta’s temperature had scared the hell out of him.

Krysta’s struggles slowed. Her breath came in pained pants.

Étienne could regulate his body temperature enough to warm her, but that would defeat the purpose. I’m sorry.

She didn’t think an answer to him. Étienne wasn’t even sure she was lucid.

Then one of her hands—shaking violently—rose, clasped one of the arms he had clamped around her, and gave it a light squeeze.

Eyes burning, he dipped his head and buried his face in her hair.

“Could I just say again that this is awesome?” Krysta asked as they strolled, hand in hand, through UNC’s campus in Chapel Hill.

Étienne laughed. “Which part?”

“All of it. Being so strong and fast. Being able to see so much. I can’t believe I can walk around in the dark without a flashlight now.”

Grinning, he shook his head. She had been immortal for a couple of weeks now and had made the adjustment beautifully. She wasn’t even squeamish about infusing herself with blood, though he suspected that would have been vastly different if she actually had to drink it.

“I can hear everything,” she marveled. “Which can be kinda creepy. I’ve never paid much attention to wildlife, so I don’t know what animals are making the sounds I keep hearing and I’m hearing a lot of sounds. And the smells . . . So many! Good and bad.”

“It’s heady, isn’t it?” he asked.

“It really is.” She leaned into him and sent him a flirtatious look. “You smell very good, by the way.”

“As do you.”

“Those vampires,” she said, “on the other hand, do not smell good. They smell like . . . old blood or rancid meat or something.”

“Excellent.” He had caught their scent only seconds before she had. “How many are there?”

Her nostrils flared as she drew in a deep breath. “Four.”

“How far away?”

“That one’s harder.” She bit her lip. “A mile?”

“Almost two.”

She swore. “I’m still having a hard time judging distance.”

“It will become easier as you grow more accustomed to your heightened senses. The vamps are also traveling quickly, so that can throw you off.”

“Oh.”

“Sounds like they’re headed for Keenan Stadium. Let’s see if we can’t keep them from tearing it up for shits and giggles. That’s a saying, right?”

She laughed. “You can ease up on the slang now. We’re together.”

He grimaced. “I just don’t want you to think I’m too old for you.”

“I don’t. And, if I ever had—which I didn’t—one night in bed with you would have convinced me otherwise.”

“Minx. Don’t arouse me before a fight.”

“Why not? It might distract the vampires.”

He laughed. “I guess it would. Let’s go.”

Holding her hand, he sped toward UNC’s football stadium.

Halfway there, he stopped short, jerking Krysta to a halt, too.

“Ow,” she complained, rubbing her shoulder. “Maybe we shouldn’t hold hands when we run at preternatural speeds.”

“Forgive me,” he said absently, senses on high alert. He raised her hand to his lips. Do you smell that? Answer me with a thought.

She sniffed the air. Her brow furrowed. Is that . . . gun oil?

Yes. Let’s head up to the roof. He motioned to the building beside them. Since she hadn’t had much experience with jumping yet, he lifted her into his arms and nimbly leapt up onto the roof.

I really want to learn how to do that, she said as he lowered her feet to the asphalt.

Étienne pulled the infrared scope from his pocket and raised it to his right eye.

Is it mercenaries? she asked, scanning the darkened campus with her sharp brown eyes.

It took him a moment to confirm it. Yes. Even with the scope they’re hard as hell to locate. There are two in the bushes there. He pointed. Two more on that roof nearly hidden by the air-conditioning unit. Another on that one. More on the ground. They must be wearing that camouflage netting I’ve seen hunters wear. Without the scope, I can’t differentiate them from the foliage.

Wow. These guys are determined. How many are there?

I don’t know if I’m seeing them all. There don’t seem to be nearly as many as the last time. Maybe a dozen.

He drew her over into the shadows beside the air-conditioning unit and handed her the scope. I don’t think they’ve spotted us yet.

So, what’s the plan? she asked as she peered through it. What are we supposed to do with them? Wait. What’s that clicking noise?

Shh. He listened. Counted the clicks until they stopped. What time is it?

She consulted her watch. 3:00 AM.

They must have been ordered to check in at the top of every hour. They were clicking their walkies to give a head count and let their leader know they’re still in position and that all is well.

How many clicks were there?

A dozen.

Why do you think there are so few?

I don’t know, and we’ve run out of time to speculate. The vamps are almost here and we can’t let the mercenaries get them.

What do you want to do?

He needed to read the minds of the soldiers before he killed them to ensure none possessed any information. The current assumption was that they wouldn’t. But he wasn’t comfortable with letting the opportunity go by. And then there were the tracking devices he and Krysta both carried. You take care of the vampires.

Her eyebrows flew up. Really? You trust me to do it by myself?

You could handle those boys with your hands tied behind your back, he said proudly.

Don’t you want to read their minds first to see if any are worth recruiting?

They aren’t. They’re broadcasting as loudly as a bloody boom mobile and I’m getting nothing but depravity. Go get ’em, Tiger.

Are you trying to use slang again or is that a new pet name for me?

Both? I thought, as a warrior, you might want something more fierce than sweetheart.

Rising up onto her toes, she brushed his lips with hers. I like sweetheart.

And I love you. Go do your thing.

She drew her swords and grinned. Will do.

There’s just one more thing . . .