Equites : Book 4 of the Heku Series

by T. M. Nielsen

  “Yes, I did.”

  “What did you do before becoming heku?”

  “I was a rancher.” Kyle sounded amused.

  “Were you married?”

  Kyle tensed. He hadn’t ever been asked that, and had repressed those memories far back into his mind.

  “I’m sorry, that’s none of my business,” Emily said softly.

  “No, it’s ok. I just hadn’t thought about any of that in a while. Yes, I was married.”

  “Did she know you turned?”

  Kyle sighed, “No, she died before I chose to join the heku.”

  “I’m sorry.” Emily’s voice was soft and warm.

  “Back when I was a rancher, there were just so many diseases and even a common ailment could kill you.”

  Emily nodded, “Have you ever dated a heku?”

  Kyle chuckled, “No, we don’t date.”

  “What do you mean? I see heku together all the time.”

  “Together, yes,” Kyle explained. “We don’t date, though. Did you date Chevalier?”

  Emily frowned, “No, guess I didn’t. So don’t evade the question.”

  “No, I haven’t.”

  “Ever considered a mortal?” Emily asked. She knew this was pushing it.

  Kyle chuckled, “Yes.”

  “Willing to give a mortal a try?”

  “Are you trying to set me up?” His heart skipped a beat as he wondered briefly if she meant herself.

  “Maybe”

  “No, I won’t date a mortal,” he said, lying.

  “Why not?”

  Kyle sighed, “I don’t want to watch someone I love die again. I don’t want to have to live without the person I love.”

  Emily thought for a moment, “Does Chevalier wish I would turn?”

  Kyle’s mouth fell open at this question. He paused and composed himself, “He’s never said.”

  “Do you wish I would?” Emily thought that seemed like an innocent enough question.

  “I… think we should get back to the books,” Kyle said. He enjoyed having the opportunity to watch and study her when she couldn’t see him, but he wasn’t going to go through these questions with her.

  Emily nodded and turned on the flashlight. She picked up another book and looked through it.

  “Hrm, what’s ‘dulcris cruor’?” Emily asked.

  Kyle took the book from her and looked at it, “You are.”

  Emily took the book back from him, “This is it then.”

  “I’m not sure we should tell anyone about this,” Kyle said after a few minutes.

  “Why not?”

  “Think about if you are attacked, the only way you have to fight it off is to ash, what if that’s taken away,” Kyle said.

  Emily nodded, “I realize that. I had to deal with it with Larsen.”

  “I just don’t know if it’s a good idea to take that defense away from you,” Kyle told her.

  “What’s bloodletting?” She ignored his comment.

  “Give me that,” Kyle said, and took the book. He read for a moment, “So the heku is completely drained of blood, and then feeds off of the ‘dulcris cruor’.”

  “Sounds easy enough.”

  “No, it’s not. Once the heku is drained of blood, their survival instincts will kick in and they won’t want to stop feeding.”

  “So let’s try it,” Emily said.

  Kyle smiled, “Not a chance.”

  “You’re afraid it won’t work and I’ll ash you?”

  “No, I’m afraid of draining you,” Kyle said calmly.

  “Oh, well, there has to be a way around that.”

  “It’s not worth the risk. The protection only lasts for about a week,” Kyle said, shutting the book.

  Emily picked it up, “I’m at least going to show Chev.”

  Kyle took the book from her, “I don’t think it should leave this crypt, and I don’t think you should tell anyone what it said.”

  “What if Alexis learns to ash? She could wipe out the entire city.”

  “Stop trying to protect us! If someone does something that scares her, then they deserve to be burned.” Kyle took the book and started tearing it into pieces.

  “Let’s try it,” Emily said again.

  “No, end of discussion,” Kyle said, dropping pieces of the book onto the floor.

  Emily’s flashlight slowly died, “Dang.”

  “I can get us out,” Kyle said, watching her again.

  Emily rubbed her arms, it was starting to get cold.

  “My turn?” Kyle asked.

  “Ask away.”

  “Why do you stay with the heku? It’s obviously not for protection,” Kyle asked her, and studied her face.

  “Would you believe love?” Emily smiled.

  “Take Chevalier out of the picture, then you would leave?”

  “Hmm, no, I guess not.”

  “Then why? I mean, look at all that has happened to you in the last eight or nine years. Why do you stay?”

  Emily pulled her knees up to her chest and wrapped her arm around them, “It’s the first place I’ve ever known where I feel like I am wanted… pathetic huh?”

  “Not at all.”

  “Don’t get me wrong, I’m pretty sure if I lost the ability to ash or reproduce, I’d be dropped out on my ass,” Emily laughed.

  “Oh I bet not. We’ve all become quite attached.”

  “Which brings me back to why in the hell you all don’t kick me out on my ass? Take Chevalier out of the picture,” Emily said, and laid her head on her knees, her face toward him.

  “Oh we’ve thought about it… but we’re afraid you’d wipe out Council City,” Kyle chuckled.

  Emily threw her flashlight at him. She couldn’t see because of the dark, but he caught it and set it down beside him.

  “If Chevalier was banished, for any reason, would you stay?”

  “I’ve thought about that before,” Emily said seriously. “I decided I would go to the Valle and offer to stay with them if they would un-banish him.”

  Kyle gasped. He’d never heard of anything like that before, “I would keep that little bit of information to yourself.”

  Emily nodded, “I will, but we’re being honest here, right?”

  “Right, next question. Did you love Keith?” Kyle watched her expression closely and noticed her arms tightened around her knees.

  Emily sighed, “I thought I did, but now, that I look back… no, I didn’t. You must have thought I was quite the idiot when you first met me. Here I come in the car with your Chief Enforcer. I have a bruise around my neck, and the within an hour I had the crap beat out of me.”

  “Quite the contrary. I was fascinated by you from the moment you stepped out of that car. It took a lot of control on my part not to kill him the first time he hit you.”

  “Why didn’t you?” Emily asked.

  “It was obvious to me that the Chief Enforcer was interested in you, and I wasn’t going to break his orders,” Kyle sighed. He’d often regretted that decision.

  “Oh”

  “Are we free to ask anything?”

  “Sure”

  “Did you ever consider me instead of Chevalier?”

  Emily nodded.

  “When?”

  “When we spent so much time together, after I thought Chevalier left, there at the first.”

  Kyle just watched her.

  “You were so different from Keith and Chevalier. Don’t tell him I said this… but, at that time, I saw a lot of similarities between the two of them. When you brought Patra to me, it showed me you cared. Then all of that time together, you never tried to fight with me, or hit me, or bite me.” Emily’s eyes were far away.

  “They are a lot alike,” Kyle knew how mad the Elder would be to hear him say that.

  “I know. Odd how I attract that kind isn’t it? One might think I liked bruises.” Emily frowned and then smiled, “I do see the differences though. Keith hit me for fun, Chevalier just has a temp
er… and it’s a lot better now.”

  “I’m waiting for the day when he oversteps and you disappear. If anyone on this planet could disappear forever, it’d be you,” Kyle said.

  Emily nodded, “I almost did in Colorado. If I hadn’t ended up pregnant… I would have been gone.”

  “That’s what scares me. If you hadn’t been pregnant, I don’t think you would have still been at my house.”

  “Probably not.”

  “Let’s make a pact. If you ever leave, you have to promise you’ll tell me where you are, and I’ll swear to not tell a soul,” Kyle said seriously.

  “I can’t promise that,” Emily said softly.

  “Just keep it in mind.”

  “I will.”

  “We should go in. You’re cold.” Emily heard Kyle stand up.

  “I don’t want to. We never get to talk, and down here we know no one can hear us.”

  Kyle sat down beside her and she leaned against his arm.

  “I want to try it, Kyle, and I want it to be you,” Emily said, looking up, though she couldn’t see him.

  “I’m not going to risk draining you.”

  “So we’ll have Mark there.”

  “Still too dangerous.” Even the thought of feeding from her made his mouth water. She was so close to him that her scent was strong and enticing.

  “Do the heku in Council City think I’m only kept in the palace for sex?” Emily asked, laying her head back on his shoulder.

  “Of course not!”

  “Damon said it, and often, and I think I believe him.”

  “Damon was an idiot,” Kyle reminded her.

  Emily laughed, “Yes I know, but he has a point. Why do they keep me?”

  “I thought we covered this.”

  “I’m a moody pain in the ass with violent tendencies and the desire to run at any confrontation. I get attacked, kidnapped, tortured, I hate having guards…”

  Kyle stopped her with a kiss. He wrapped his hand around the back of her neck. For one brief moment, Emily leaned into him and touched his face lightly. Suddenly, she stiffened and pulled away from him.

  “You are a moody pain in the ass,” Kyle said, amused.

  “I’m sorry,” Emily whispered.

  “Don’t be… I’m not. No one thinks you’re in the palace just as a sex object for the Elder. I swear,” Kyle said, and took her hand, kissing it softly.

  “Now that things have turned awkward, shall we go?” Emily asked, laughing slightly.

  “I guess we should. I’m sure everyone’s wondering where we went,” Kyle said. He stood up and helped Emily to her feet.

  “I bet they don’t even know we’re gone,” Emily said, and took a timid step forward into the dark.

  “Oh I bet they do. It’s already 9am.”

  Emily gasped, “Dang.”

  Kyle picked her up and held her closely to him. Emily wrapped her arms around him as he blurred out of the crypt. Kyle replaced the cement slab and they walked back to the castle slowly.

  “If Mark says he’ll help, can we?” Emily asked when they neared the castle.

  “No,” Kyle said, laughing. “Drop it, ok?”

  “You do realize, I’ve set my mind to giving it a go. If it’s not you, then I’ll find someone else.” Emily grinned. She knew that would get him.

  “I could tell the Elder. One order from him and no one’d do it.”

  “Not in this faction.”

  Kyle turned to her, shocked, “You wouldn’t.”

  Emily raised her eyebrows, “I wouldn’t?”

  “I was about to come check on you,” Mark said from the door. He looked at them and then narrowed his eyes, “What’s up?”

  “I want to try an experiment, and I can either try it with you and Kyle, or I can go to the Valle.” Emily grinned, watching Kyle.

  “No, Em,” Kyle said sternly.

  “What experiment?” Mark asked.

  “Let’s just say I have the urge to drain Kyle,” Emily said, and walked past Mark into the castle.

  Mark looked at Kyle, “Do I want to know?”

  “No, you don’t. Damn we’re going to end up doing this,” Kyle mumbled, and walked into the castle.

  Chapter 18 - Scents

  “Why am I here? It’s making me nervous,” Mark said as he looked around the bathroom.

  Emily smiled, “For future reference, this is all my idea, and I threatened you both into this.”

  “Don’t do this, Em, please?” Kyle asked.

  “Here’s what we do… first we drain all the blood out of Kyle,” Emily said.

  “No, we don’t! Not with you around,” Mark said, shocked.

  “Then, when he’s drained, he feeds off of me.”

  Mark growled.

  “Then it’s your job to stop him before I die.” Emily smiled.

  “No, I won’t be a part of this,” Mark said sternly.

  “See, Em. He agrees, this is not a good idea,” Kyle said, standing by Mark.

  Emily shrugged, “Fine, but I bet the Valle will help me.”

  Both Kyle and Mark growled.

  “Calm down. I’ll take the blame… I want to know if this works,” Emily said, squaring off with the two heku.

  “There’s no good that can come of this,” Mark said.

  Kyle nodded, “I agree.”

  “So the question is, how do we drain Kyle? Won’t you die?” Emily asked.

  “We’re not draining Kyle. It’s out of the question,” Mark said.

  “No, I won’t die,” Kyle scowled.

  “You’re agreeing to this?” Mark asked him, shocked.

  Kyle sighed, “What are we going to do? Let her go try this with the Valle.”

  “Damnit, this is crazy… and I want no part of it.” Mark headed for the door, but Emily laid a soft hand on his harm.

  “Please, you’re the only one I trust to stop him before I get hurt.” Emily’s tone was soft and timid, and Kyle cringed at how manipulative she could be.

  “Damnit,” Mark said again and turned around. “Lay down, Kyle.”

  Kyle sighed and laid in the bathtub with his wrist out.

  “Great! Wrist only on me Kyle. I can’t hide the neck wounds from Chev.” She saw Kyle turn away from her, and knew he was mad about this.

  Mark knelt down, “You do realize how against policy this is for me to drain a member of the Council.”

  “My fault, remember,” Emily reminded him.

  “He’s going to kill me,” Mark said, moments before sinking his teeth into Kyle’s wrist. Instead of drinking, Emily noticed he was just letting the blood drain out and kept the holes open with his teeth.

  “Gah, this feels weird,” Kyle said.

  “You sure this won’t kill you?” Emily cringed.

  “No, but it’s damn well going to make me thirsty.”

  “Good, that’s where I come in,” Emily said, smiling.

  Emily sat down by Kyle and watched as the blood poured out of him and went down the drain. She saw his breathing slow, and he shut his eyes and concentrated as the color drained out of him. When the blood stopped draining, Mark moved away quickly and Kyle’s eyes flew open. He inhaled deeply and turned to face Emily.

  “Wrist, Kyle,” Emily said, and stuck her wrist out for him.

  Kyle lunged at her and pinned her to the floor. His teeth punctured the skin on her neck before she could resist. Emily shut her eyes and felt her body relax. She no longer had the desire to fight him about the bite location.

  “Enough, Kyle,” Mark said after a few minutes, and then pulled at the Chief Enforcer.

  Kyle growled and continued to drink.

  Mark moved back a few steps and lunged at Kyle, knocking him off of Emily. She looked up just as they crouched to face each other, both ready to attack.

  “Get back, Emily,” Mark ordered, and she saw Kyle’s feral eyes fall to her.

  Emily stepped back against the wall, her body tense. She smiled when she saw Kyle frown and shut hi
s eyes, standing up straight. Mark stood also, but kept himself between the two of them.

  “Holy shit,” Kyle hissed.

  Mark smiled, “That good, eh?”

  “Hey, eeew,” Emily said, watching them closely.

  Kyle stood up, “I’m ok.”

  “Do we try it?” Emily asked.

  “Oh, so I get to know why we did this?” Mark asked her.

  “It’s supposed to make me immune to Emily’s ashing,” Kyle said, and smiled slightly.

  “Ok, ready?” Emily looked at Kyle and he cringed.

  Kyle opened his eyes and looked at her, “Did you try?”

  Emily nodded, “Yes, nothing? Not even a burn?”

  Kyle shook his head, “Nothing.”

  “You two, I swear… you didn’t think this through did you?” Mark asked them, frustrated.

  “Yes I did,” Emily answered.

  “So you knew that Kyle now has your scent?”

  Emily cringed, “He does?”

  “Damn,” Kyle said. “How strong is it?”

  “The same as it is with Emily. I could bite you myself,” Mark said, and smiled evilly at Kyle.

  “I’ll… I’ll go to the mainland and feed, a lot.”

  “You better. If the Elder gets a whiff of you, the three of us will be banished for sure,” Mark said, and left the room angrily.

  Emily smiled at Kyle, “It worked.”

  Kyle moved to her and pressed his lips against hers passionately. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her against him.

  Emily turned her head away from him, “Don’t.”

  He kissed her neck softly and then let her go. He spun quickly with wide eyes when he heard movement behind him. Mark was at the door and had seen it all. He was glaring angrily at Kyle.

  Kyle blurred past him and disappeared out the door.

  Emily sighed and leaned back against the wall.

  Marked moved to her quickly, “Are you ok?”

  Emily nodded.

  “Please, forgive Kyle. I’m not sure his instincts were as under control as he hoped,” Mark explained. He put a scarf around Emily’s neck and followed her back up to the foyer.

  “Oh good, there you are, Lady Emily,” Storm said, walking up with her clipboard. “Elder Chevalier called and he’ll be arriving tonight.”

  Emily nodded and glanced nervously at Mark. Storm left, frowning, and returned to her office.