Dark Power Untamed (The Children Of The Gods Paranormal Romance Book 50)

by I. T. Lucas

  Onegus had told her as much, so at least she knew that he wasn’t making it up to explain why she shouldn’t think of him as husband material, but it hurt nonetheless.

  Cassandra let a single tear slide into the pillow, and then she shut her damn brain and heart down and concentrated on the sensation of his hands on her body.

  He started a slow track up her thighs, his fingers tracing the inner side with feather-light strokes.

  As her core responded, igniting with need and flooding with heat and moisture, she shamelessly parted her legs a little to invite more. If this was all he could give her, she would make the most of it as long as it lasted.

  His fingers dipped lower, skimming the edge of her swollen petals and providing absolutely no relief.

  This was dangerous.

  The sexual frustration combined with the irritation from before provided combustive fuel for the volatile energy building up inside her.

  When the bottle of lotion on the nightstand started shaking, she whispered, “Onegus.”

  “Yes?” His fingers continued their barely-there strokes.

  The bottle fell down to the floor, the hard plastic making a thudding sound but not a splattering one, which was a relief.

  “Touch me before I explode.”

  He chuckled. “That’s the idea.”

  The lotion was the only item in her room that could have fallen victim to her energy. If he didn’t defuse it somehow, Onegus would be next.

  “I’m not joking.”

  Something in her tone must have gotten through to him, and those teasing fingers glided into her.

  Her moan was one of pleasure and relief.

  Then his mouth replaced his fingers and he gripped her hips, lifting her bottom to allow him better access.

  Grinding herself on his tongue, his lips, she groaned into the pillow.

  His grip on her hips tightened, holding her in place as his tongue found that most sensitive spot and flicked over it.

  Behind her eyelids, her eyes rolled back in her head, and as his mouth closed around that needy, pulsating bundle of nerves, the climax exploded out of her in a rush.

  “Onegus!” She shouted his name into the pillow.

  Kissing her folds softly, he caressed her sides as the ripples subsided and her panting slowed.

  She expected him to drop his pants and spear into her, but instead, he kissed her ass cheeks one at a time.

  “No rest for the weary.” He lightly slapped her bottom. “You have work to do.”

  She flopped around. “What about you?”

  “I’m the master of delayed gratification.”

  “Are you sure?” She glanced at the erection pushing against his zipper.

  He smacked his lips. “I got my dessert. I’ll have a full five-course meal tomorrow.”

  58

  Vlad

  As the plane touched down on the runaway at Milwaukee airport, Richard opened his eyes and yawned.

  “Good morning.” Vlad unbuckled his seatbelt.

  Since Kalugal had given Richard only one day off, they’d decided to save time by taking the red-eye. They’d left Los Angeles Tuesday night, and were going back today. Unless Wendy’s father wasn’t where he was supposed to be, it should be enough time for what they were about to do.

  Richard had slept through the entire flight, but Vlad had been too strung out to even close his eyes. The taser idea hadn’t worked out because they couldn’t take the device on a commercial flight, and getting one in Milwaukee would be too much of a hassle.

  Vlad would have to rely on his willpower to refrain from killing Wendy’s father. Richard wasn’t strong enough to hold him back, and even if he was, Vlad didn’t want to put him in the position of having to muscle down his mate’s son.

  The other thing that had kept him awake was that he still hadn’t told Wendy the big secret about his own father. She was his mate, and he was supposed to tell her everything, and the more time passed since his mother had revealed the truth to him, the more guilty he felt for not sharing it with Wendy.

  The truth was that there was no reason to keep it from her. The weak excuse he’d come up with to justify it was that he didn’t want to add to her burden.

  What he was about to do weighed heavily on both of them, and he figured that it would be better to save his news for after his mission was done.

  Neither he nor Richard had checked-in luggage or even carry-ons, and since the airport wasn’t big, they were out the door within minutes after landing.

  As they waited for the Uber that Richard had called, his partner-in-crime checked the app for the car’s progress. “It’s five minutes away, or so it says. The damn thing keeps updating.” Richard looked up. “I hope we catch Roger Miller at home. If he leaves to run an errand, we will be stuck waiting for him and might miss our flight back.”

  Roni had gotten all the latest details on Wendy’s father. His address hadn’t changed since Wendy had left home, and he was working as an insurance agent for a local company. Fortunately for their plans, most of the week he did it from home, working from the company’s offices only on Tuesdays and Fridays.

  It was only a little after nine in the morning in Minneapolis, so he should be awake. Vlad had debated long and hard whether it would be better to attack while Roger was asleep, getting into his head when he had no barriers up.

  The problem with that was accessibility of long-term memories. Short-term memories were easy to access, but memories from nearly two decades ago would be buried deep, unless Roger thought about what he had done to his wife and daughter often and in detail.

  Since that was unlikely, Vlad would have to use more crude persuasion methods to get him to reveal what he had done. If Roger resisted or tried to lie, he could then enter his mind and pluck the memories that the interrogation would undoubtedly bring up to the forefront of the maggot’s mind.

  He would do his best not to kill Wendy’s father, but he probably wouldn’t leave him unscathed.

  “I wish we had Yamanu with us,” Richard said as the Uber dropped them one street over from Roger’s house. “What if he’s going to scream murder? Can you thrall him not to do that?”

  “I’m a good enough shrouder to put the three of us in a bubble of silence.” Vlad felt his fangs elongate. “No one is going to hear him scream.”

  “Easy, kid.” Richard put a hand on his shoulder. “Don’t work yourself up before we even get there. You need to keep calm.” He looked around him. “Maybe I should find something I can clobber you over the head with.”

  He was only teasing, trying to get Vlad to loosen up, but it wasn’t a bad idea.

  “When we get inside his house, look for something you can use. Just don’t smash my brain. Even immortals can’t recover from that.”

  “Got it.”

  As Vlad’s phone buzzed in his pocket, he didn’t need to look at the screen to know it was from Wendy. It was still early morning in Los Angeles, and she’d probably just woken up.

  Are you there yet?

  He typed back. We are walking toward the house. We will be there in less than five minutes.

  Don’t kill him.

  I won’t.

  Her return text was a row of hearts.

  I love you too. I’ll call you when we are done.

  59

  Onegus

  As Ingrid walked into the apartment she’d designated as the chief’s operation center, her eyes immediately zeroed in on the barren pedestal.

  “What happened to the crystal vase that was there?” She pointed an accusing finger.

  “It’s gone.” Onegus rose to his feet. “I bumped into it, and it fell before I could catch it.”

  Hand on her hip, Ingrid narrowed her eyes at him. “What really happened to it?”

  He sighed dramatically. “Is it really important? It was just some Chinese-made crap that probably didn’t cost more than twenty bucks.”

  “It was eighty-six bucks, and it wasn’t crap.” She tossed her
purse on the entry table and sauntered toward the kitchen. “But I know that your reflexes are too fast to allow it to fall. Did you bring someone up here?”

  He followed her into the kitchen. “It’s none of your business, but yes. Cassandra must have bumped into it, and I was too late to catch it.”

  That wasn’t how it had happened. The vase just exploded, and he had a feeling that Cassandra’s ire had something to do with it, but he wasn’t sure.

  Arching a perfectly shaped blond brow, Ingrid pulled a soda out of the fridge. “Cassandra Beaumont? The one you danced with at the gala?”

  “How did you know?”

  She leaned against the counter. “Your pictures were plastered all over the tabloids. You’re the chief, and you don’t need my advice, but you shouldn’t have brought her here. She’s not some random chick you picked up at a club. You’ve been photographed together. Being seen with her again is asking for trouble.”

  “No one saw us coming up here aside from the guys in security.” He rubbed a finger over the cleft in his chin. “I sense something special about her.”

  “Oh, yeah?” Ingrid’s eyes sparkled with interest. “Do tell.”

  There was no harm in telling her his suspicions. She was a smart woman, and she wasn’t prone to gossip. She would keep whatever he shared with her confidential.

  “Cassandra emits energy like a high-voltage wire, especially when she gets agitated or excited. I have a feeling that the vase just exploded because Cassandra got mad at me.”

  “What did you do?”

  “Nothing.” He leaned on the counter next to her. “She thought this was my shag pad.” He crossed his arms over his chest. “Cassandra has standards. She demanded that I introduce myself to her mother before agreeing to get closer.”

  “That’s kind of old-fashioned. Did you actually do it? Or did you thrall that idea out of her head?”

  He cast her an amused glance. “I’m the chief. I don’t thrall humans willy-nilly. I met with her mother.”

  “And?”

  “She’s almost as lovely as Cassandra, and she emits similar energy, just not as potent.”

  “Do you think that they are Dormants?”

  He smoothed his hands against his spiked hair. “I feel a pull to her that I haven’t felt toward any woman before, and it scares the shit out of me. I wasn’t looking for a mate.”

  Ingrid’s lips twitched with a stifled smile. “Is the big bad Onegus afraid to face his feelings? Or are you afraid of the beautiful and bewitching Cassandra Beaumont?”

  He chuckled. “When you meet her, you might be scared too. That strange power of hers is like a keg of dynamite, and she has a very short fuse.”

  “Well, if she feels so special to you, go for it. Try to induce her.”

  “I don’t think that I’m in love with her yet. And until I do, I’m going to use damn protection.”

  “What happens once you realize that she’s the one? Since you’ve already had fun with her, I assume that she’s susceptible to thralling?”

  “She is, but I don’t want to overdo it and cause damage.” He sighed. “I can’t stay away from her, and it’s driving me crazy. Spacing our encounters is torment.”

  “Yeah.” Ingrid pursed her lips. “You need to get her somewhere secluded, tell her the truth, get her consent, and then have fun until she transitions. And if she doesn’t, thrall the memory away. We also have the option of Kalugal compelling her silence. Even Eleanor would do for that.”

  Onegus shook his head. “I’m not overly keen on involving others in my private affairs.” He cast her a sidelong glance. “I don’t know why I’m even telling you all this.”

  She patted his arm. “Because even the chief needs someone to talk to. But if you don’t want to involve anyone else, the vacation option is still there.” She smiled. “The cabin becomes available soon. Leon and Anastasia are coming to the village tomorrow, and Anastasia’s friend is going back to that cult place Sunday evening. If you are willing to do the cleaning yourself, you can take Cassandra to the cabin on Monday. The Odus have their hands full with driving the guests around and serving the Clan Mother.”

  “I can’t take a vacation until everyone goes home.”

  “Then invite her for the next weekend. It’s not like there is a rush.” She chuckled. “Except for your insatiable craving for her, that is.”

  60

  Vlad

  “Take a deep breath,” Richard said as they walked up to Roger’s front door.

  “I’m okay.” Vlad fisted his hands inside his pockets.

  That’s where his hands were going to stay unless Richard couldn’t handle Roger on his own, which wasn’t likely with his immortal strength. They’d agreed that Richard would do the physical intimidation while Vlad reached into Roger’s mind.

  Secretly, he hoped that Richard would kill the bastard. Then blood wouldn’t be on his hands, but Roger would be dead and unable to hurt anyone else.

  There was no answer when Richard knocked on the door. He rang the bell.

  “Hold your horses,” Roger shouted, and a moment later, the door opened.

  The guy was still handsome for a drunkard who was in his late forties, but Vlad could sense the monster inside even though he wasn’t particularly empathic. Given Richard’s icy demeanor, he felt it too.

  “Roger Miller?” Richard asked.

  “What do you want?”

  “We have a few questions for you.” He flashed the fake FBI ID that he’d printed from the internet. It wouldn’t have fooled a ten-year-old, but Vlad reached into the maggot’s mind and made him believe it.

  “About what?” Roger still blocked the door.

  “Your daughter.” Richard took a step forward. “Let’s get inside.”

  Reluctantly, Roger moved, letting them into his house.

  The place was a mess. Newspapers and magazines covered every surface, including the couch and one of the armchairs facing it. Several pairs of dirty socks littered the carpet, and there were empty beer cans everywhere.

  Roger collected the newspapers strewn over the couch to make space.

  “The housekeeper quit on me.” He motioned for them to sit down. “Did anything happen to Wendy?” There was a note of concern in his voice that surprised Vlad.

  The monster who’d abused her until she’d managed to escape him couldn’t possibly care for her.

  “That’s what we are trying to find out.” Richard sat down and pulled a little notepad and pen out of his pocket. “When was the last time you saw her?”

  “I’ve already answered all those questions. I haven’t seen her since she was recruited. I have no idea where she is, and why she’s thrown away a well-paying job. It was probably for some dick.” He ran a hand over his thinning hair. “I did everything I could to raise her so she wouldn’t grow up to be like her drug-addicted, whoring mother, but she turned out to be exactly like her.”

  Vlad’s fangs punched out, but as he lunged for the maggot, Richard got in the way. “Stop right now, kid. I’ve got it.”

  “No, you don’t.” Vlad pushed him aside.

  “What the hell?” Roger’s horrified expression probably saved his life. “What are you?”

  The satisfaction of seeing it cooled Vlad’s murderous intentions. “I’m your worst nightmare.”

  Instead of tearing the jerk’s throat out, he took hold of his mind, clamping invisible fingers on his cognition and bending it to his will. He had never done that before, but it came naturally to him. If he wanted, he could have fried Roger’s brain, turning him into a vegetable. Would Wendy be mad at him if he did that?

  Forcing his mental fingers to ease the pressure, he asked, “What did you do to Wendy’s mother? Where is she?”

  Roger sucked in a breath. “I don’t know, and I don’t care. She was a druggie and an unfit mother. I told her to stay away from me and from Wendy or I’d end her miserable life. I thought that I was protecting Wendy by removing the bad influence, but apparentl
y that shit was in her genes and there was nothing I could do to fix that.”

  “Did you kill your wife?”

  He shook his head. “She still had enough brain cells functioning to never show her face in this house again. Either that or she died from a drug overdose. I don’t know where she went after I kicked her out.”

  Reaching into his mind, Vlad looked over the memories Roger had summoned. The abuse and humiliation he’d inflicted on the poor woman were enough to have Vlad’s blood boiling in his veins, but he didn’t see Roger killing Wendy’s mother. Was it possible that he’d suppressed the memory of that?

  Perhaps his monstrosity hadn’t crossed the line into murder?

  “And you think that you were a fit father?” Richard asked. “You abused your daughter.”

  “I was strict with her, so she wouldn’t turn out like her mother. I did the best I could, but it wasn’t enough.”

  “Why did you keep her if you didn’t want her?” Richard asked.

  “Who said that I didn’t want her? I wanted to raise her right, to make sure that she never touched drugs, that she did well in school, and that she didn’t sleep around. But despite my best efforts, she ended up being a disappointment.”

  “You consider abusing her your best effort?”

  Roger waved a dismissive hand. “I don’t know what she told those shrinks in the government program, but I never hit her in the face or did anything to disfigure her. What I did was nothing compared to what my father did to me, and I turned out all right.” He lifted his shirt and turned around. “That’s a souvenir from my asshole of a father.”

  Roger’s back was crisscrossed with old welts, but that wasn’t an excuse for what he had done to his wife and daughter.

  Richard winced. “Your father was a worthless worm, and you followed in his footsteps.” He clapped his hands. “Here is the applause.”