Midnight Poison (Paranormal Poisons Saga Book 1)

by A and E Kirk

  “Later,” Leontes said. “For now, you have to promise to protect her and—”

  “Protect her? Did I mention the witch shriveling into dust?”

  Kiara chewed on the inside of her cheek. “I didn’t mean to. It just happened.”

  “I know,” Leontes said. “You are blameless, but just to be safe, I will talk to Nicolette. I am better at interrogation.” At Kiara’s smirk, his lips twitched a smile. “Better at civilized interrogation. And you must promise that if anything goes wrong, you will leave this island without hesitation.”

  Kiara shook her head. “I won’t leave you.”

  “I promise, if you fly out, I will follow right behind.”

  Jaeger cleared his throat. “Um, remember me? I can’t fly.”

  “Oh, right. How is your doggy paddle?” Leontes asked with a smirk.

  Jaeger cast a sly glance toward Kiara. “Actually, I’m better at the breast stroke.”

  CHAPTER 57

  Kiara stabbed a fork at her colorful salad. “Why did Leontes try to hit you again?”

  They sat at the spa’s main restaurant overlooking the beach. Jaeger popped another French fry in his mouth. “You know gramps. Always the hothead. Let’s hope he has more luck than us. You sure Giselle’s not here?”

  “Yep. I would’ve felt the curse. It’s not something they can even try to cloak from me. Giselle isn’t here.”

  They had not been escorted around long before Kiara called things off, and the guides dropped them at the restaurant, happy to be away from girl who had nearly killed one of their own. Feeling like a failure, she had no real appetite, but forced herself to take another bite. If Leontes did not get anything, they were out of leads.

  The silence dragged until Jaeger took a deep breath. “About that kiss…”

  Kiara stopped chewing. What little she had eaten threatened to force its way back up. “It was a distraction technique, nothing more. I understand, and I am grateful.”

  “I wouldn’t say nothing.” He gave her a provocative grin. “I felt more than a fair amount of something. All good. And grateful really wasn’t the feeling what I was hoping for. I was thinking more along the lines of, you know, pleasure, passion. Maybe a twinge of lust. Granted, it wouldn’t be my top choice of how our first kiss went down, but—”

  “First?” Kiara’s voice sounded unnaturally high. She grabbed a paper napkin and began ripping off tiny pieces. “That would imply that you planned more than one.”

  “Well, yeah.” He put his hand over hers, stopping the shredding of the napkin. “Would more be such a bad thing?”

  At the far end of the restaurant, Roxy appeared, skipping toward them, waving and smiling. Kiara pulled her hand from Jaeger’s touch. “I don’t want to talk about it right now.”

  He held up his palms. “Fair enough.” As he stared out at waves crashing on the beach, he started to eat another fry, but stopped and flung it back on the plate. “I can’t just sit here. How about we go check out Adele’s office and look for clues or a connection to Nicolette. It beats hanging around doing nothing to find Giselle.”

  “No.” Kiara pushed the food around with her fork. “Leontes wouldn’t approve.”

  Jaeger sighed. “Okay then, we’ll stay here and talk about how I had to kiss you to stop you from sucking the life out of that witch, and how much I enjoyed our kiss, and how many more times I plan to kiss—”

  Kiara jumped up so fast the table rattled. “Let’s go.”

  “Thought so.” Jaeger’s smile crossed into smug territory as he followed her out.

  Roxy stopped and put her hands on her hips, sticking out her tongue in a dramatic pout. But she was not following them anymore. Kiara breathed a sigh of relief.

  Jaeger stopped a waitress to get directions, and as they headed across the compound to Adele’s office, he pointed to a swirling pattern of iridescent blues painted on the wall. “I’ve seen this on a lot around here.”

  In the middle was a stylized handprint with a complicated lattice design, and in the center of the palm was an eye, the pupil glittering with a clear red stone.

  Kiara had been lost in thought about what information they might get in Adele’s office. It was weird to think of someone studying her life when she knew so little about it.

  She looked up to see Jaeger fitting his own hand over the palm of the painted symbol. “It’s their security system,” she said.

  Jaeger stopped. “How’d you know?”

  She thought for a moment, and then her face lit up. “I just do. I didn’t even have to try. It was just there. This place hums with magic.”

  “Do you think the magic helps you remember?”

  “Not sure.” She traced an index finger around the red stone. “But I know how this works. Once you use the code to get in the system, you can control the whole security network. The cloaking spell, for instance. Or defensive wards that shield the island from attack.”

  Jaeger grinned. “You’re on a roll. Come on, let’s go see what else we can uncover.”

  It did not take them long to find the office. When they did, Kiara stood just inside the room and said, “Not exactly what I was expecting.”

  CHAPTER 58

  The lab was standard issue. Beakers, tubes, and Bunsen burners full of colorful liquids, some bubbling, some smoking. Jars on counters were full of whole cadavers or parts of natural and supernatural species. It reminded Kiara of Frankie’s domain, but without the homey feel.

  Jaeger’s head swung around. “This looks more like medical research than background on you. Think they’re trying to recreate the Midnight Poison?”

  “Maybe. And if they’re working with Fauxleander, this could be where they made the new batch of Retro.”

  “Let’s go check her office.” Jaeger hustled Kiara down the length of the room to a door with a placard that read Dr. Adele Geltin and swept his arm in an “after you” gesture.

  The thought of finding the answers sprung prickles of excitement on Kiara’s skin, but she paused. “Aren’t you afraid I’ll freak out again?”

  He flashed a mischievous smile. “That’s what I’m hoping for. Gives me an excuse to kiss you. Again.” She dropped her face in her hands and groaned. “Oh, lighten up. I’m not worried. You’re stronger than everyone gives you credit for. You can handle this.” She peeked out from between her fingers. He cocked one eyebrow. “Or if you’re scared, you could just stand watch while I go check things out.” As she strode past him into the office, he said, “You’re so easy.”

  “Shut up.”

  The office was furnished simply, with a large desk and a couple of metal chairs. Locked file cabinets lined the burnt orange walls. Jaeger picked the locks with a paperclip, and they went to work.

  “I’ve got something.” Jaeger pulled out a red file just as they heard someone enter the lab.

  “You think I don’t know that?” a woman said, her voice full of gravel. “I will take care of it when I return.” Then there were only the sounds of someone moving things around.

  The frustration in Kiara’s face turned dark. She opened a desk drawer and pulled out a letter opener. The silver blade glittered as she bounced it in her hand, testing the weight and balance.

  “I’ll get rid of them,” she said.

  Jaeger quietly locked the file cabinets and caught Kiara as she stepped toward the door. A smile lifted the corner of his mouth. “I’ve got a better idea.”

  She let him pull the letter opener from her hand and guide her backwards until her thighs hit the desk. He leaned forward, pressing up against her so he could drop the weapon back in the drawer. She felt the heat from his body emanating like waves off hot asphalt. He closed the drawer, and instead of backing off, he wrapped an arm around the small of her back.

  When he pulled her close, her breath hitched. “What are you doing?”

  “Executing a plan that won’t start a war.” Jaeger’s warm palm cupped the side of her neck. His cheek grazed against hers, the beginning
s of stubble scraping her skin was somehow pleasant. His hot breath tickled her ear. “But you’ll have to trust me.”

  She did not know about trust, but the nearness of him stirred a luscious tingling. The earlier kiss had lacked romance, but even with its shock value, it had left distinctive impressions, none of which were objectionable. In fact, she had enjoyed it.

  This time he touched Kiara with a gentle tenderness. His slow attention to her body gave her pause and piqued curiosity as to what his next actions would be. The memory of the hot desire of their dance at Night Shift came to the forefront of her mind and brought a blush to her cheeks.

  He lowered his mouth to her neck. His lips kissed her skin with gentle insistence. Sensations of pleasure spidered out from his caress and skipped down her spine in electric bursts.

  No one had ever touched her like this. No one dared get so close. It felt flattering to be wanted, but more than that, she felt normal, as if for a moment she was not a monster who everyone feared would go on a murder spree.

  Jaeger’s lips brushed that tender flesh just below her ear. He nuzzled closer, in no hurry, despite their unknown guest in the next room. She stifled a giggle as goosebumps raked down her arms. Her lids fluttered. She felt the nip of teeth and flinched.

  Jaeger lifted his head. He flashed an impish grin and dropped light kisses on the corner of her lips and then down to the tip of her chin.

  “Don’t worry,” he said. “I’m no vamp. Just giving us an excuse for hiding in her office. Pretend you’re enjoying it.” He started to lower his head but raised it briefly with a serious expression. “And so will I.”

  A playful wink and his mouth went back to work, traveling a lazy path down her neck and then back up and across her jaw in an ardent discovery of her flesh.

  “So that’s your excuse this time.” Kiara’s breath stuttered. “A…ah…cover?”

  “Mmm,” he hummed against her skin.

  Even if it was a mere pretense, he seemed completely committed to authenticity. His lips surged on, relentless in their exploration, his tongue taking the occasional delicate taste that elicited a shiver.

  Her body felt warm and sensuous. The enticing feelings that vibrated under her skin drummed with a delicious familiarity. Now when his teeth teased, she did not flinch. Instead, her chin tipped back, her body languid, breath thick, chest heavy, the weight pushing air from her lungs in a deep sigh.

  On her throat and shoulder, his mouth grew hotter, more insistent, his breath quickening, as did hers. A tightening in her core slithered a mounting heat that moved lower. His splayed hand moved over her ribs, the curve of her breast. A hot rush tingled between her legs and down her thighs. She pressed her hands against the small of his back and rocked her hips against him.

  His breath caught, and he immediately paused.

  She froze. “Sorry. Was that wrong?”

  Something rumbled in his chest. “No,” he spoke against her throat, his voice hoarse. “No, that’s...good.”

  With a low groan, he lifted her up and set her on the desk, then he eased his hips between her legs. Kiara inhaled a heady musk as the passion rose between them. Lifting his head, Jaeger gazed at her from under thick lashes, his eyes shining with desire and warm as melting honey.

  “That’s perfect,” he whispered between heavy breaths. “So very, very perfect.”

  He tangled his fingers in her hair and started to lean her back onto the desk as he brought his mouth down upon hers.

  She felt his breath, warm and sweet, a moment before his lips—

  “Well, would you look at that,” said an old woman who had opened the door.

  Jaeger swore. Loudly.

  He shoved back and turned away, hands raking his blond hair into a mess before lacing behind his head. With the suddenness of his departure, Kiara threw her hands back on the desk to keep from falling.

  Jaeger swore again. Less volume. More intensity.

  Kiara caught a glimpse of his profile, anger apparent, before he faced away.

  “This is a surprise.” The woman used a cane, but her other hand fluttered to her chest like a dying bird.

  Kiara pushed down her skirt, which was bunched around her hips, and hopped off the desk. From the heat on her face, she knew she was blushing, which went right along with their plan. Just like her heavy breathing.

  She smoothed back her hair and braved a smile, but did not know what to say. After a quick glance at Jaeger, who still had not turned around, Kiara said, “Uh, hello. We were just, um—” She took a second look at the elderly woman and cringed. “Oh my God. Adele?”

  CHAPTER 59

  The witch leaned heavily on the cane, her expression grim. “Yes, Miss Blackwood. You didn’t kill me. Although not for lack of trying.”

  Adele Geltin now looked to be in her eighties or older. Despite the cane and slightly hunched posture, she still carried herself with a sophisticated bearing. She had lost weight, the skin on her arms hanging thin and slack, but her face was relatively smooth of wrinkles, and her eyes were sharp and calculating.

  “I wasn’t really trying,” Kiara told her.

  Adele let out a harsh laugh that ended in a throaty cough. “I’d probably be dead if you were. Our High Sorceress of Healing has the strongest of magic, but I doubt even she could have brought me back from a full Oleander assault.” She gestured down toward her new older version. “As it is, this is the best she’ll be able to do.” Then she turned her gaze to Jaeger who stared from behind the desk. “Does Leontes know how well you two are getting along?”

  Kiara and Jaeger exchanged worried looks.

  Adele shrugged. “Don’t worry. I’m not about to do something stupid again. If I’d known who you were…” She sighed. “Guess it doesn’t matter now. I still owe you an apology. Unless you’re planning on taking another shot at me, then I won’t waste the breath.”

  “No ma’am,” Kiara assured her. Whatever wrath had taken hold of her before no longer existed.

  “Ma’am.” Adele snorted and shook her head. “Guess I’d better get used to that. So assuming bygones are bygones, would you like a tour around my lab? I can show you all the failed attempts at Midnight Poison. Maybe you could give me some insights.”

  “I really don’t remember anything.”

  “And you wouldn’t tell me if you did, I’m sure. Please join me, Miss Blackwood.” Adele ran a glance up and down Jaeger, who still stood behind the desk. “Perhaps you’d like to take a moment to compose yourself before joining us.”

  Kiara looked at Jaeger, who cleared his throat and nodded, looking down, a slight blush to his cheeks. “Sounds good. You go. I’ll, uh, be right out.”

  Kiara followed the witch as she shuffled out the door.

  Once in the lab, Adele led the way toward a metal cabinet. “In all my research, I couldn’t find out how you became a one-of-a-kind supernatural hybrid. Were you born this way, supernaturally contrived, or the product of some sort of scientific engineering?”

  Kiara shrugged. “Don’t know.”

  “Were your parents hybrid, perhaps?” When Kiara shook her head to indicate she did not have a clue, Adele sighed. “I’ve tried genetic mutations, but couldn’t get anything to stick. However, I’m not surprised at your lack of fairy. Their chemistry component simply destroys anything it comes in contact with.” She picked up a file and handed it to Kiara. “Here’s one of my failures at the Midnight Poison.”

  While Kiara flipped through the file, reading the various notes and scientific jargon, all of which meant nothing to her, Adele fiddled with liquids bubbling over various flames.

  “Have you ever wondered if verusuvenum might work to get your memory back?” she asked.

  “The ancient truth serum?” Kiara said. “I thought it was illegal because it’s fatal.”

  “It’s not always fatal to vampires,” Adele said, still fiddling with flasks and test tubes. “Something to do with the fact that they are already dead in so many ways.”

&nbs
p; “I think I’ll pass.”

  Adele shrugged. “It’s just my scientific mind wondering if you actually know the truth, and the verusuvenum would either force you to tell it or reveal if your memories are permanently gone. Perhaps we’ll never know.”

  A sudden smell filled the room. Kiara wrinkled her nose and waved her hand in front of her face. “Ugh! That’s disgusting.”

  The doctor handed Kiara a face mask, which she gladly accepted and held over her nose and mouth. Breathing became easier, but her eyes started to burn and water. She rubbed them clear. Adele spoke, but Kiara could not hear the doctor very well over the sudden hammering of her heart.

  Jaeger appeared, wandering on the other side of the lab, acting distant and annoyed. About what, she didn’t know, and trying to figure it out gave her a headache. A bad one.

  “What do you know about Retro?” Kiara rubbed her eyes again. It felt like someone was trying to punch their way out of her head through her eyeballs. Adele’s intense gaze weighed heavy, aggravating the pain accelerating in her skull.

  “Retro? Never heard of it. Care to elaborate?”

  When Kiara opened her mouth to decline, the room began to spin like a top. Nausea hit and she swayed, lightheaded, vision blurred. She pulled the mask from her face and whispered, “Jaeger.” Then she managed to yell a hoarse, “Jaeger!”

  She heard running footsteps. Jaeger swept her up in his arms, any irritation dissipating into concern. “Whoa! What’s wrong?”

  “It could be the fumes. Let’s get her some fresh air,” Adele said.

  With Kiara cradled in his arms, Jaeger followed Adele out a sliding glass door and onto a patio that overlooked the ocean. Amid the soothing sound of pounding surf, Jaeger gently set Kiara on a lounge chair. “Breathe the fresh air, gorgeous. You’ll feel better.”

  Kiara tried to sit up but the world spun. “Leontes…”

  A pained look skimmed over Jaeger’s face before he smiled and eased her back. “Easy. Let’s give it a few minutes before we call gramps. I’m rather fond of my throat, and he might rip it out if he thinks I let something happen to you.”