Mystik Warrior: (Dark Warrior Alliance Book 2)

by Brenda Trim

  “I remember seeing the bloodlust when that skirm attacked me. I saw my death in his eyes. That would be awful to try and live with,” Elsie shared.

  “Yeah, I’ll just be happy when my head stops spinning and things settle down. I’ve had the world’s worst migraine for days now,” Jessie replied, swimming to the side of the pool.

  “Have the scientists been able to do anything about it?” Cailyn asked, getting back on the float.

  Jessie put her empty cup down. “Orlando, I need another drink,” Jessie called out before she turned back to Cailyn. “No, I’m not immune to everything, only human diseases. I have been feeling this immense pressure in my head that at first I thought was because of the changes in my vision. Apparently, it is the demon trying to gain control over my mind. As if,” her friend snorted and handed her cup over to Orlando for refill. “Anyway, he’s not able to control or influence me. They aren’t sure why, but have theories about my female hormones or something.”

  Breslin rose from her lounge chair and joined them. “It has nothing to do with hormones. Females are stronger and smarter than males, no matter the species.” Orlando returned, followed by Angus carrying a tray with four cups. “My point is proven,” Breslin said as she pointed to Orlando and they all burst into laughter.

  “Now I understand why you keep rebuffing me. Your eyes aren’t working properly. We need to fix that, sweet cakes,” Rhys said as he swam up behind Jessie and wrapped his arms around her exposed middle. Jessie wiggled out of his grasp and suddenly grabbed her top, gasping.

  “Fucking Rhys,” Jessie shrieked. Cailyn noticed one end of the string in Rhys’ hand and realized he had to have used his telekinetic power to untie Jessie’s suit. She couldn’t help but laugh.

  “Don’t be shy, gorgeous. I only want to play a little,” Rhys wheedled.

  “Not in a million years, playboy,” Jessie mumbled and rolled her eyes, but accepted his attentions with good humor. Cailyn was relieved to see that the most notorious man-whore of the compound didn’t offend Jessie. Her friend didn’t take promiscuity lightly, and Rhys didn’t know the meaning of monogamy, which wasn’t surprising given that he was a human-sex-demon-hybrid who needed constant sex to keep his beast at bay.

  “You’ll come to me eventually, sweet. Until then…” Rhys swam away on his back, giving a view of his large erection. Cailyn was convinced the guy walked around with a constant hard-on.

  Elsie ignored the byplay completely and brought the conversation back around. “What’s wrong with your eyesight?”

  “Ever since I woke up I have been seeing things in infrared, like I’m looking through heat vision goggles or something. The Dark Warriors are brighter than everyone else. No one can explain it, but it’s not the cause of the pressure. As I learned to turn off the infrared, the pressure didn’t dissipate, and that’s when I noticed compulsions. Thankfully, they have always been elusive and easily ignored, and are reducing in number and strength every day.”

  “I hate that your life is like this now. I feel like I ruined your life,” Cailyn voiced to her friend.

  “You didn’t ruin my life, it was the damned demon. All that matters is that I’m alive and have a future ahead of me. It will be a very long future, but a future, nonetheless. We both could have died that night. The one thing I am grateful for is that the scientists have reassured me that I am still fertile, unlike my male counterparts. So, our babies can still grow up together like we always talked about.”

  Cailyn laughed, recalling the many conversations they’d had as teenagers about that topic. They’d had many theories about whom they’d end up with, and who the father of their babies would be. She’d always wanted a guy with jet black hair and dark, smoldering eyes, which was funny because she’d never dated anyone with those features. All of her boyfriends had some shade of blonde hair and blue eyes. Knowing that she was Jace’s Fated Mate made her wonder how much their Goddess had influenced her throughout her life. It seemed too much of a coincidence.

  She considered what her life would be like. Her sister and best friend were immortal, and could potentially live centuries, while she would grow old and die if she stayed with John. The thought didn’t sit well with her. She didn’t know if she would be able to keep Jessie and Elsie in her life under those circumstances. On the other hand, if she mated Jace, she could be immortal too, and have magical babies with the man she loved, and have her sister and best friend for eternity. A frightening thought occurred to her. “What will your babies be, I wonder?” she asked Jessie.

  “Unfortunately, no one knows. But, I fervently hope they aren’t born with fangs, cause I won’t be breast feeding otherwise,” Jessie observed. The sober expression told her that her friend was worried about the genes she would be passing on to any children she may have.

  “Yikes, I hadn’t thought of that. Are vampire babies born with fangs, Bre? If so, I may need to rethink nursing, too. I love my mate’s fangs in me but…” Elsie trailed off as she met Zander’s heated gaze where he sat talking to Santiago and Gerrick on the lounge chairs.

  “Nay, bairns are no’ born with fangs. Like all striplings, they get their fangs when they get their teeth. Their parents provide the small amount of blood they will need until the come into their powers when they reach maturity,” Breslin answered. Cailyn remembered what her sister had told her about all supernatural children being called striplings until they reached maturity at roughly the age of twenty-five. Breslin had been the one exception they knew of in the realm when she came into her power at the age of three.

  “Are you guys already trying to have a baby?” Cailyn asked her sister not sure why the idea shocked her.

  “Not intentionally, no. With supernaturals, the conception rate is naturally low, and there is no contraception that works on us. So it’s all left up to the Goddess. And, you should know birth control doesn’t work for you with Jace.”

  “What? How in the hell is that possible?” Cailyn managed after several shocked moments. She hadn’t used protection with Jace, but then, if her sister was right, there would have been no point anyway. Elsie said conception was rare, there was no way she was pregnant, and no reason to panic.

  “Divine intervention,” Jace answered as he slowly stepped out of the shadows.

  Her head swiveled and she was locked with glowing amethyst orbs. She knew what that meant, that he wanted her. The mere thought that this perfect male specimen wanted her made her blood boil, and had heat building between her thighs. An epiphany struck her. Jace had been made for her and carried part of her soul. How could she deny what was so clearly between them? But, how could she be with him when another man held space in her heart?

  *****

  “What do you mean? How can your Goddess make the pill I take useless?”

  Jace couldn’t help but smile at his mate’s confusion. The sight of her made him yearn to complete the mating. Everything about her was alluring; in fact, his heart had yet to settle into a normal rhythm. When he had entered the house looking for her, he feared that she had left the house again. The sound of laughter and voices had taken him to the pool.

  The sight of her in a skimpy black bikini had him rock hard in an instant. Her plush globes were overflowing out of the top, and if she shifted just right she would expose herself. She was the sexiest female ever born, and he wanted to take her to his room and pull the triangles away from her flesh so he could feast on her breasts again. His instinct was clamoring for him to claim her and finally complete the mating. She was an addiction he would never overcome, and didn’t want to.

  His encounter with Angelica had reinforced the fact that he wanted Cailyn, and he was resolved to try and find a way to be the mate she deserved. Cailyn had been right. There must be a spell forcing him to reject all intimacy, and he was determined to discover what had happened to him, and reverse it. Once that happened, he had every intention of claiming her fully. Cailyn was his mate, and he refused to live without her. He may not be an ideal mate r
ight now, but he had centuries to become the male she needed and deserved.

  A smile curved his lips. The first real smile he had felt to his soul since he was a stripling living at home with the love of his parents. “The Goddess’ power has no limits. Never forget, she created most creatures of the Tehrex Realm, and has ways of ensuring we continue.” He kicked off his shoes and stripped off his shirt.

  He enjoyed the way her eyes flared and pupils dilated as his chest was revealed. His mate wanted him as desperately as he wanted her.

  “Who is this Goddess? What is her role in your world? Am I supposed to worship her too?” Jessie piped in before his mate could gather her wits.

  Zander answered Jessie while Jace shed his pants and jumped into the pool in his black boxer briefs. He made his way to Cailyn’s side and wrapped his arms around her.

  “The Goddess Morrigan is our creator,” Zander explained, “meaning, she created most of the creatures that make up the Tehrex Realm. Her role is complicated, but the most important aspects are that she acts through her subjects to protect weaker beings from evil, and blesses those she deems worthy with their Fated Mate. And, no, you do not have to worship her, but I think you will find that she had a hand in your creation. I believe it is why you are so different from your male counterpart.”

  “Where have you been for the past three hours? And, who have you been with?” Cailyn asked Jace, ignoring Zander. He smiled at how possessive his mate was of him already. It had clearly been impossible for her to hold her curiosity in any longer.

  Jace turned her in his embrace so she was facing him fully. The spark of hurt coupled with anger in her eyes both cut and excited him. “I went to one of the beaches on the Sound to think. I ran into an old acquaintance while I was there,” Jace turned and glanced at Zander, “Angelica is here, and she is hunting for the Mystik Grimoire.”

  Cailyn gasped, “Are you okay?” Cailyn asked at the same moment Zander asked, “What did she say?”

  “She approached me on the beach with several of her lackeys and tried to exert control over me. She was confident of her power, and ordered me to produce the Grimoire, saying we were going to rule the world together.”

  “What the hell is she thinking?” Zander asked.

  Jace gathered his thoughts. “She knows the Grimoire has returned, and will do anything to get it. She was surprised to find that she wasn’t able to control me. Cailyn had suggested that she may have cast a spell over me when she held me captive, and now I know Cailyn was right. I felt a foreign force when I fought her, but was able to thwart her with the help of Cailyn’s soul.” He ignored the gasps from in the others in the room. No one but Zander and Cailyn had been aware that he had ever been held prisoner.

  Cailyn reached up and cupped his face in her hands. The empathy and compassion in her eyes touched a vulnerable part of his soul. “I am so sorry you had to face that on your own. I can’t imagine what that was like for you.” She stood on tiptoe and placed a chaste kiss on his lips, a kiss of comfort. Goddess, he loved this female.

  He knew he had been falling for Cailyn, but when he had begun to love her he didn’t know. The warmth that spread from his soul to encompass hers was the most amazing feeling. He found his home. This was what he was made for, to love this female. He squeezed her tighter and closed his eyes, allowing the feelings to wash over him.

  CHAPTER TWENTY

  Zander’s voice brought Jace out of his reverie. “How did you get away from her?”

  “When she realized she had no power over me, and saw that I was about to kill her, she vanished. She hides it well, but was furious and lost control. It was good to see she feared me too.” He didn’t mention her parting threat to Cailyn. Jace would protect her and make sure she was okay. He’d willingly lie on that stone slab for the rest of his life, or die to ensure his mate’s safety.

  “How did she find you in the first place?” Cailyn asked accusations in her eyes as she looked up at him.

  “I didn’t call her if that’s what you are asking. I don’t know how to get in contact with her, and wouldn’t even if I did. Given what she did to me, I never wanted to see her again,” he reassured his mate.

  “I wish you knew how to find her because I want to rip her to shreds and set the remains on fire for what she did to you.” Her lips turned down in a pretty frown, and he couldn’t help trace her bottom lip with his thumb. She was a dangerous distraction. Right in that moment, he wanted to kiss her passionately.

  “She’s a blood-thirsty one,” Breslin remarked making Cailyn laugh. Jace matched her smile and lightly pressed his lips against hers. “I like your puithar, Elsie. I’m verra glad she’s a part of this family, and so is Jace, I’d wager.” Cailyn laughed harder and pulled away from him, looking over her shoulder.

  “I like your candor, Bre, although you may be jumping the gun a bit,” Elsie commented.

  “I doona believe I’m jumping the gun. The Goddess has plans for us all, as you well know,” Breslin countered with confidence.

  “Och, we need to focus on the important issues. Cailyn had a valid question. How do you suppose she found you? Do you think she placed a magical tracker on you all those years ago?” Zander voiced his concern.

  “I’m not certain, but I wouldn’t put it past her to place a tracker on me somehow. It makes no sense otherwise. I don’t hang out at that beach. In fact, I’d never been there before.” Jace settled Cailyn into his side and kept her close.

  Zander ran his hands through his hair as he contemplated the situation. “‘Tis concerning if she has amassed that much power. What do you think her next move is?”

  “Whatever it is, I don’t think she intends to leave me be. Her disappearance was a regrouping. We need to be wary of her,” Jace advised, shuddering when he thought of the look on her face before she vanished.

  “I guess it would be asking too much for a way to overcome her,” Zander sighed heavily.

  “How can we find out what she did? Will Evzen know?” Cailyn asked.

  “If I don’t know, then Evzen won’t either,” Jace informed his mate.

  “What about the Rowan sisters?” Gerrick queried from his lounge.

  “Rowan sisters? Count me in,” Rhys chimed in, excitedly.

  “No, you’re not going,” Gerrick replied curtly.

  Cailyn tilted her head to the side. “Why not?”

  “Because last time I was there, I didn’t leave for a month. Best month of my life. I didn’t even mind Zander locking me in the dungeons for missing patrols. I’d happily do it again,” Rhys answered, flashing his panty-dropping smile.

  “Okay, no Rhys. Who are the Rowan sisters?” Cailyn asked.

  “They are witches. The only triplets born to the realm, and they are notorious for their love spells. It’s all about sex, drugs, and rock and roll for them. They could bespell you to love me,” Jace joked, winking at his mate. He loved the sight of her flushing cheeks. “Gerrick, you have the right idea, we should visit them. If anyone can discover malignant magic, it’s the Rowan sisters.”

  *****

  Prowling the streets of Queen Anne, Kyran searched relentlessly for an outlet for his rage. He needed a vicious bloody battle, but hadn’t come across many skirm. Inevitably, his thoughts went to Bite and how he had been banned. He hung his head, remembering the reason. It had only been a few days, and still the image of the battered bruised body he’d left lying lifeless haunted him. That poor female didn’t deserve to die, and he was responsible. Self-hatred seethed beneath the surface. He never lost control. From an early age he had been deviant, but had never done anything like that.

  To complicate matters, Kyran was fighting the compulsion to seek out Mackendra. He didn’t understand his draw to her, and frankly didn’t like it. She had come to consume his every thought. He liked the stubborn tilt to her chin, which in itself was astonishing given that he preferred his females submissive. Her ample bosom and her vanilla citrus scent were intoxicating. He chained those thoughts
in the dungeon of his mind. No one had free reign with him.

  Now, he not only needed an outlet for his rage, but a release for his lusts even more. He hadn’t tried another female since the incident. Too many demons had been haunting him, and he feared the changes that had begun. He needed pain and dominance during his sexual encounters, and now those fantasies included a particular female chained to his wall.

  A million tiny pins and needles assaulted his flesh, breaking his reverie. A feral smile broke over his face, exactly what he needed. He followed the trace of skirm to a clearing near Magnolia and stopped dead in his tracks. Mackendra was engaged in a battle with three skirm. She was a thing of beauty in motion. He inhaled deeply, and caught her citrus-vanilla scent.

  The skintight leather pants and tight black t-shirt made his mouth water. He held back his chuckle when he read ‘Make My Day Punk’ on her tee. The vixen had attitude. She swung a large blade and pivoted gracefully on her black boots. The soles were bigger that his shit kickers, and it surprised him how fluid she was. Her spiky black hair gleamed in the moon. He drank in her whiskey eyes, getting drunk on the sight of them. She was a fine female specimen, dare he say, the finest he had ever seen. And he had seen many over his long life.

  When her blade sunk into one of the skirm’s chests and he flashed, Kyran knew her blade was titanium, and he wondered how much she knew about his world. Clearly, she was aware of what type of weapon to use against this enemy.

  As she spun and executed a perfect roundhouse kick, he noticed the human male that was fighting with her. He wondered who he was to Mackendra, and why he even cared. It mattered naught to him if this male was sleeping with her. If only that were true, he thought, as he clenched his fists.

  He watched as she bounced on the balls of her feet and was caught by the sight of her ample breasts bouncing with the movement. He was distracted by his overwhelming desire to taste those breasts. He wanted to hear her moan and cry out, and imagined her secured to a cross. His cock hardened, and he cut off the erotic images before he pulled a Zander and threw her over his shoulder and carried her off to make the fantasy a reality.