Rematch

by Rachael Slate

  They were getting worse. He was getting worse. If he didn’t find a solution soon…

  I could get it back for you. Wen’s offer tempted him, echoing through his mind. Fuck. He set the glass on the side table and shuffled his hands through his hair, dipping his head. She couldn’t. Logic told him so. She wasn’t his answer, no matter how enticing the notion was.

  He strode to the bookcase and removed his once-magical gourd. The hollowed out hourglass-shaped vessel used to contain medicine that healed the sick. It had emitted a soft, smoky glow. Now, the gourd sat barren in his strong hands.

  A poor trade.

  He’d long ago run through the list of possibilities, striking one off after another without success. The magic was gone. Theft would not replenish it. Although others possessed similar potions, he hadn’t lied to Wen about the dangers of thieving from an immortal.

  She would only get herself killed. He refused to have her blood on his hands.

  He already had too many others’.

  Ever since the Red Death pandemic had spread across the world, his rash decision had taunted him. Had haunted him.

  He’d made the wrong damn choice.

  ***

  Wen scowled at the closing door. At the click of the lock, she stomped her foot. My own safety, my ass.

  Cat burglars, as he’d labeled her, worked at night. The jerk. Why didn’t he want her to succeed? The only answer was…control. His house was impeccable. His belongings, more than orderly. Rules, rules, and more rules. She’d broken them, and for whatever reason, he’d allowed her to. If she succeeded in stealing the bracelet—and she would—that would probably be a swift kick to his male ego.

  Huffing, she explored her new prison cell. Sheer curtains adorned an enormous four-poster bed draped in red silk sheets. Luxurious. The cool breeze coming in from the open balcony billowed the curtains. She tilted her head and strode toward the balcony. He might have locked the door, but the balcony was wide open. She stepped out into the cooling night air, sliding her fingertips along the stone banister, and leaned over the edge.

  Two stories up. Below her, a garden brimmed with tropical plants, curving alongside the entire estate, and disappearing into the jungle beyond her view. In the distance, the squawking of birds and the chittering of monkeys echoed.

  An easy, ten-foot drop into the garden. There must be another way inside the main corridor on the ground level. She’d sneak past guards if she had to. The last golden rays of the sun were vanishing behind the hills. The cloak of night would provide her with adequate cover.

  In and out. She’d have the bracelet dangling in front of his face before sunrise. After shucking off her boots, she leapt off the ledge, landing in a crouch. Her landing had been soft. Barely a thud. She stilled for a moment and listened for any signs she’d been detected. The jungle sounds carried on like normal.

  Perfect.

  Wen rose and padded along the path. The stones were warm beneath the soles of her feet. The sun had set, but the stars hadn’t peeked out yet. Technically, it wasn’t nighttime. Rule not broken.

  A set of doors came into view up ahead. She trailed to the edge of the path and peered around a large tree trunk. No guards. She took a step forward and tensed.

  The jungle noises. They’d stopped. No birds. No monkeys.

  What the hell?

  She spun around, but she was alone. Her ears strained as she tilted her head, listening for the animals.

  There.

  A low rumbling. She whirled to face the noise and blinked into the darkness of the jungle. With slow, careful movements, she slipped her hand behind her back and gripped the four-inch knife she always kept tucked into the back of her pants.

  This island was a magical place. This breeze, probably fake. Maybe even the sunrise and sunset. Who knew with the Eight Immortals?

  Monsters? A definite possibility. She swallowed thickly, wishing she’d listened to Li’s advice.

  She swung the blade out in front of her in a defensive move. Right arm raised and poised to strike. Left foot back for balance. “I know you’re there. Show yourself.”

  The rumbling stopped. She squinted into the bushes. Leaves crunched. Something approached. Wen braced, holding firm. She would strike once, roll to the side, and thrust again. At least, that was her plan.

  The rumbling droned again, definitely animal. Perhaps…feline?

  A glint in the bushes drew her focus. Eyes. Gleaming, amber eyes. Higher than her head. She sucked back a breath. Fighting this huge creature? Bad, bad idea.

  Could she be faster? Her gaze flicked to the doors. Would they open? Did she have any other choice?

  No.

  Wen lowered her blade hand and dashed down the path toward the doors. No noise sounded behind her. Four feet away from the doors. Three. Two. A force jerked on her left hand, and her body swung to the side. Weightless, she spun through the air. Her free arm wrapped around her head on instinct, bracing for the crash.

  It didn’t come. Wen lowered her hand and blinked. Her feet rested on solid ground, but didn’t bear her weight. Whatever had hold of her wrist still did, and it was lifting her up.

  “Now, will you listen?” The deep, accusing voice sent shivers down her spine.

  She twisted to the side and took in Li’s form. His scowl was even deeper than usual. His grip on her wrist, iron-tight, but not painful. She scanned past his frown toward her surroundings. Wait. They were in her room?

  “What? Why? How are we in here?”

  “One question too many.” He released her onto wobbly legs. She sank to her knees and planted her hands on either side of her body on the floor. Her stomach did a flip-flop, her head spinning with a bad case of vertigo.

  After setting her blade on the floor, she lifted one heavy hand and pinched the bridge of her nose. Her mind twisted with images, processing what had happened. “Some kind of animal?”

  He didn’t answer. Not that she expected him to.

  “You were warned. You will not be cautioned again.” He strode toward the door.

  “Wait. Thank you.”

  He paused as if she’d frozen him into a statue. But then he dropped his head and shoulders and sighed. Long and deep. Like a man troubled.

  Like maybe, he’d been human, once.

  A fuzzy tenderness tugged at her heart. The longing to…know him. Why? It was such an odd inclination. What could they possibly have in common? Yet he’d probably saved her life. Didn’t he at least deserve for her to care about his?

  “I said, thank you,” she murmured. “You know, for saving me.”

  Li froze. It had been years since he’d heard those words. Decades perhaps. Not everyone he’d healed had expressed such gratitude. Not everyone he’d healed had known it’d been him. He’d preferred the anonymity. Back when he’d had a purpose. He lowered his hands and grimaced. What a fool he’d been. He flexed his hands and sneered at them. In a moment of weakness, he’d stumbled into damnation…in a perfect body.

  He’d give it up to return to his old self. Lameness, welcomed.

  “Don’t say that.” He glanced at her over his shoulder. She rose from the ground with a fluid grace most mortals didn’t possess. Her slender form was lithe indeed. He twisted to regard her straight on.

  “Why not?” She tugged her bottom lip into her mouth. His gaze riveted on her soft, pink flesh. His cock twitched, aroused for the first time in years. He lifted a brow. Now that was odd. Why did she invoke such a response in his body…the body he despised? He’d once been proud, vain even. Where had that gotten him?

  “Because I did not save your life. I preserved one of my servants. What I did was nothing more than stopping a vase from crashing on the tile floors.” The lies stung his tongue. When he’d decided to check on her once more and found her room empty, panic had clutched at his chest.

  When he’d glimpsed Cat, ready to pounce…

  His scowl deepened as the need to reprimand her clashed with the yearning to pull her close. �
��I see why the Matchmaker warned you were reckless.”

  Her mouth dropped open. “Reckless?” She scoffed. “I prefer spontaneous, or fearless, maybe even—”

  He shook his head at her sassy retort, cutting her off. “You might have been killed, and I would have found myself short one maid.” The light left her eyes as he returned the subject to her servant status. Good. He wasn’t the heroic type anymore. Hadn’t been for a long time. He headed for the door.

  “Oh really?”

  His hand paused on the knob. She didn’t give up, did she?

  A feather-light weight brushed his arm. “Call it what you want. I’m still saying thank you.”

  Her sultry murmur spiked fire through his veins. He snared her wrist, whirled them both around, and gripped the back of her head with his free hand. Pressing her against the door, he barred her in with his frame. She gasped, a feminine cry that tantalized his ears. Her body was even more sensuous and lush than he’d imagined. Gentle curves that beckoned him.

  So long without touch. He eased his grasp and rubbed circles with his thumb along the silky skin of her throat. Her pulse beat frantically, but her eyes, those jade orbs fastened on him in hunger.

  Fuck. The last thing he needed was anyone attracted to this cursed body of his, yet Wen stared through him. As though peering at his soul. “How exactly are you proposing to thank me?”

  Her dark lashes fanned out as she lowered her eyes. Coy, she was. Like a feline, toying with him. It worked. He’d never been so intrigued.

  “I’ve already expressed my gratitude. I wasn’t making any offers. Unless, you’d like to tell me what that creature was?” Her eyes flashed at him, pupils dilating, her pink tongue flicking out to moisten her lips.

  Gods, but he loved the way she met his stare straight on. No hint of intimidation. What made a mortal such as her so emboldened? Still, she’d not loosen his tongue so easily. Whenever he gave Wen one answer, she asked a hundred questions more. Her venture into the garden and encounter with the spirit animal Cat had been a close call. He’d not fuel her thirst for a second glimpse.

  Her free hand flattened against his chest and he inhaled sharply at the warmth of contact. He hadn’t permitted anyone to touch this body. Hadn’t ever wanted anyone to. With her, the yearning was almost unbearable. He desired her hands, her mouth, her tongue. Everywhere.

  Her stroking lightened as she trailed her fingertips downward.

  He swallowed hard. He ought to stop this, whatever it was, but hell, curiosity demanded he allow her game.

  Her fingertips left his bare flesh, one by one, until only the tip of her index finger continued its downward path. An inch above his waistline, she paused. Her gaze flicked back up to his, one eyebrow arched. Was she asking his permission? Bloody hell, no way she’d missed the thick outline of his erection.

  She drew her bottom lip between her teeth. Indecisive? Perhaps he should encourage her exploration. He bent forward and feathered his lips against hers. Once. One taste, and then he pulled back.

  Her mouth parted, those soft, velvety lips inviting him deeper. He eased his grip off her throat and caressed his hand along her collarbone. Her warm, sweet breath heated through his body, making him shudder with need. Pressing his lips to hers again, he flicked his tongue along hers slowly, careful not to unleash too much passion upon her. She was mortal, after all.

  Delicate and fragile.

  She moaned, her body melting against his as she lifted her leg to stroke her knee along his thigh. Coaxing him closer. He released her other hand and she glided it across his abs, her exploration firing explosive sparks over his skin.

  This tight leather outfit she wore provoked him. Taunted him. He yearned to peel it off her. With his teeth.

  As he thrust his tongue inside her mouth, he skimmed his hand over her pert breast and around to grab her ass, aiding her thigh higher. Cradling his hips against hers, he ground their lower bodies together.

  Suddenly, she wrenched her lips off his, twisting her head to the side. Her skin was flushed, her breathing in irregular pants. She clearly desired him, so why had she stopped?

  “I believe this belongs to you.”

  He shoved off her and regarded the item she held out. Jade jewels winked at him. The bracelet. The bloody bracelet.

  How the hell had she known?

  ***

  Wen swallowed her triumph, bittersweet. Kissing Li had been the perfect distraction, but she was the one who’d nearly been sidetracked. He was every bit as decadent as she’d imagined.

  She’d almost not been able to stop herself.

  His gaze hardened on the bracelet, nostrils flaring. But he’d issued the challenge. She’d played his game and won.

  “What? You think I don’t know your tricks? The best way to prevent me from stealing your bracelet was to ensure it wouldn’t be there for me to steal.”

  She crossed her arms as he refocused on her. Would he be furious? Unleash a thousand curses upon her? Who the hell knew with an immortal.

  Slowly, he nodded and cleared his throat. “Well-played. You can keep the bracelet.” His lips quirked, and then he swung the door open and left.

  She exhaled a shaky breath. That was…unexpected. She frowned at the bracelet in her hand. Did this mean she’d earned her promotion? Huffing, she sat on the edge of the bed, then flopped backward. The mattress cushioned her in its luxurious softness, but it wasn’t nearly as enticing as Li’s heated embrace. Dammit, she couldn’t afford to be distracted by seductive immortals. She slipped off her clothes and crawled beneath the covers.

  Tomorrow, she’d plead her case to Li…and win.

  ***

  The next morning, Wen searched her closet for a fun outfit, but the only garments hanging inside were a dozen maid’s outfits. Starched white blouses and pleated skirts. Completely uninspiring. She sighed and dressed, then headed straight to Li’s collection. The hallways were empty, but she caught the occasional glimpse of another servant. All men. All so involved in their own tasks they didn’t pay her any attention.

  Invisible.

  She squeezed her fists. Staying here was not an option. The image of her brother being led away by men in hazmat suits flickered through her mind.

  Live every minute and love every second.

  Matthew had written her that note before he’d climbed aboard the quarantine bus. The day he’d spotted a sore on his skin, he hadn’t tried to hide it or flee from the authorities. He’d accepted his fate with more bravery and dignity than she’d ever witnessed.

  If anyone deserved to be avenged, Matthew did.

  His death hadn’t been an act of nature…but of demons. The monsters who’d unleashed the Plague God and the Red Death had to be stopped.

  As a Lotus, Wen would have the opportunity to fight, to win.

  And to kick those assholes back to Dìyù—Hell.

  During her Lotus test, she’d screwed up. Li and the Matchmaker were correct to call her reckless. Curiosity had bitten her all right—in the ass. If she didn’t fight her way back into the League, she’d never honor Matthew’s memory. Warm moisture pooled in her eyes. She wiped the backs of her hands across her face and sniffed away the stinging tears. Focus, girl.

  The door of Li’s toy room opened for her entry and the lights switched on as she strode down the aisle, straight to the bracelet’s case. She pressed a button and the glass lowered. The fake inside vanished as the lasers that had projected its image flickered off. She placed the real one back inside and raised the glass once more. There. She certainly wasn’t going to keep a trinket she’d won through a kiss.

  His kiss.

  Flushing at the memory, she skimmed one fingertip along her lower lip. Her eyes closed and she recalled Li’s taste. Decadent like dark chocolate. One taste had been overpowering and addictive.

  A rattle broke her musings. She jerked around, but no one else was inside the chamber. Frowning, she strolled down the aisles and scanned for company. Li probably would announce h
is presence, right? Maybe another servant?

  Unless…the noise had come from one of these artifacts. Quite possible for them to be enchanted. Shaking off the creepy sensation crawling down her spine, she stilled to listen for the noise again.

  Clink.

  She spun toward the back of the chamber. Padding forward, she squinted at each of the objects. China vases, bronze weapons, parchment scrolls. An assortment of treasures to rival any museum.

  She pressed forward, toward the end of the row, and paused at the last case. Tilting her head, she studied the jade box inside. The small, square box was unadorned save for the gilded lock on one side. Darn. She’d bet the key was on a certain immortal’s body, and she’d already used her trick once on him.

  He wouldn’t fall for it twice.

  As she pressed her nose to the glass, the box emitted a low hum. Intrigued, she reached for the button to depress the glass.

  “Do not touch that box.”

  Wen jumped back, her heart ramming into her throat. Exhaling and trying to catch in a breath, she twisted around. Li.

  How in the hell had she not detected him? “You scared me.” Darn immortals.

  “Good.” His gaze fixed on her. Dark, impenetrable eyes. He was wearing a modern suit today, the cut accentuating his broad shoulders and all around yummy physique. The one she’d ogled and fondled last night. His long hair was tied back at his nape with a leather thong, making him appear both cultivated, and savage.

  “Why not? It’s just a box.”

  The corner of his mouth quirked. “Tell that to Pandora.”

  Wait, what? “That’s Pandora’s box?” She peered closer at the object.

  “Hardly.” He scoffed. “Things are kept in boxes for reasons, Wen. Don’t go unleashing them.”

  “Oh.” Right, made sense. Still, whatever was in the box had to be powerful. Its call tingled along her skin. She wanted to open the box, even if her brain told her doing so was a very bad idea.

  “You don’t like my gift?”

  “Huh?” She blinked once. Oh, the bracelet. “Not really a jewelry kind of girl.”