“I don’t give a damn what he does to the wolves. They’re a distraction, Taelyn. So you’re isolated.”
“Even worse news for you. He’s never fully distracted. And FYI—I’ve taken on a wolf and a vampire without breaking a sweat.”
“You’re so cute,” Vander said as he took a swipe at her—and sliced open her right side.
Taelyn screamed and dropped to her knees.
Vander added, “Cute but not so vicious.”
“Taelyn!” Kage called out as he descended upon the scene, along with the wolves.
He slaughtered two without missing a beat. Meanwhile, Taelyn tried to catch her breath.
Vander rolled his wrist, his sword rotating in the air, cutting a deadly path she didn’t want to be in.
“I’m neither a shifter,” he said, “nor a vampire. I’m a demon. And you don’t have any fucking clue as to how to kill me, do you?”
Panic seized her very soul. Because he was right.
In the background, she watched as Kage ripped the throat from wolf after wolf. There were at least a dozen of them. He did exactly what he said he always did—kept them at bay while she fought the head demon.
She wasn’t fighting, though. She was already injured, the pain nearly paralyzing her.
Vander shook his head. “I thought you’d prove to be an entertaining challenge, if nothing else. This is a very disappointing showing, Taelyn.”
“Imagine my dismay over not pleasing you.” She pressed her hand to her gaping wound. The rain beat down on her. She was drenched and bleeding and knew she was defeated. She’d been defeated before she’d even started.
Goddamn it.
There had to be something she could do. At least to aid Kage since he had an entire pack to fend off.
Her heart hurt. Her insides burned. Yet all she could think of was that Kage had sacrificed an entire eternity to protect her. He deserved so much more. He deserved to live and he deserved to see her fight for her own life.
Taelyn’s gaze fell on her sword, a couple feet away from where she’d fallen.
She glanced up at Vander. He gave her a triumphant look and raised his own sword.
She had only one choice.
“I’m not going to marry you, you know?”
He laughed heartily. “It’s much too late for that. I have to kill you, remember?”
“That’s the thing,” she taunted. “I can’t remember the things I’m supposed to. Unless…”
She gripped the dagger tucked into the waist of her jeans. It was Kage’s. He’d given it to her for the evening as extra protection.
She whipped it from its casing, sucked in a breath, spared a glance at the heavens weeping above and then sliced through flesh and bone.
“Taelyn!” Kage’s bellow echoed above the roar of thunder. And mingled with her scream of sheer agony.
The razor-sharp blade lopped her finger clean off. The appendage—and the ring—fell to the muddied ground.
Excruciating pain tore through her. She was on her knees, crying, heaving, trying with all her might to breathe.
There were flashes of light and myriad images that flickered in her mind. But she couldn’t latch onto anything because she was bleeding and in so much pain, she couldn’t think straight.
For a few moments, anyway. Then Vander’s voice penetrated the cloud in her brain and she focused on it.
“This changes nothing. I’m still going to kill you.”
“It changes everything,” she barely managed to say.
He lurched forward. She instinctively clasped the dagger with her good hand and drove it deep into his thigh.
Vander roared and sank to his knees. Was about to rebound quickly to his feet, so she had to act fast.
“I suddenly remember exactly how to slay a demon.” She lunged for her sword, gripped it tightly and just as his head lifted from gazing at his wound, she severed it.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Taelyn heard quiet voices through the haze in her brain.
As she slowly woke, she imagined herself in her house. In her room. Tucked under her covers. Listened hard for the sound of the shower running in the bathroom down the hall.
Welcome back from Oz, Dorothy.
She laughed softly. Mumbled, “I had the strangest dream.”
“Did you now?”
Not Vander’s voice. This one was deep and rich. A warm timbre that caressed her soul and sent a ripple of excitement along her spine.
Her eyelids drifted open. She stared at the two men near the door, who’d been conversing moments before and were currently staring curiously at her.
She said to Kage, “You were there.” Her gaze shifted to Marcus. “And you.” She let out a long breath. “Instead of a wicked witch, though, there was a deadly demon hell-bent on killing me.”
“A demon you slayed,” Kage reminded her as he moved closer to the bed. “In, oh, under ten minutes. A world record, I believe.”
“Is there such a thing?”
“Should be. Seriously impressive, love.” He winked.
“I hope that kid has survived,” she said of the young member of the kitchen staff at the bar where she’d encountered her first vampire.
No, not your first.
Just the first that she could remember after the enchantment had been disrupted by Vander’s ring.
Speaking of… Taelyn lifted her right hand and stared incredulously at it. Wiggled all five fingers. “Will you look at that? Good as new.”
“A gift from me,” Marcus said as he joined Kage alongside the bed in the log cabin. “You’ve proven over and over that no sacrifice is too great when it comes to saving human lives. You put everything on the line for your kind, Taelyn. Even when you’re not sure what you’re fighting for.”
“That’s not true,” she insisted. “I always know what I’m fighting for. And if I happen to take a wayward turn, there’s someone who’s willing to lead me until I find the right path again. Because he does the same—puts everything on the line for my kind.”
Her attention returned to Kage, who said, “About this dream…”
“Doesn’t matter,” she assured him. “I made it safely home to Kansas, didn’t I?”
“Rhode Island, love.” He shot a look toward Marcus and added, “She always did have trouble with geography. Hell, she’d get lost on her way to battle were it not for me to guide her.”
Marcus snickered.
Taelyn mused, “Ah, there’s the British sarcasm. How I’ve missed it so.”
“All kidding aside,” Kage said as he carefully sat on the edge of the mattress. “How do you feel?”
“Extraordinary, actually.”
“And you are. Once your slayer instincts kick in, you typically heal much faster.” He gently pulled the comforter, inched the hem of her tank top up and peeled away one side of her bandage. “See?”
The wound had already sealed. “Jesus. How long have I been asleep?”
“Not even a full day.”
“I am truly a wonder,” she quipped. “Because the way Laoghaire sliced me open, my appendix should have fallen out.”
“Bastard,” Kage muttered.
“That’s putting it mildly. So,” she ventured as she sat up and settled comfortably against the mound of pillows. “What now?”
“The woman does not have an off switch,” Kage announced.
Marcus said, “Davian is still holding his own. Though his confidence was likely shaken when his most powerful demon was so rapidly defeated.”
“By a girl, no less,” she said with smirk.
“I doubt he thinks of you that way,” Marcus told her. “More like a continual threat. So he’ll have to counteract, of course.”
“Then I’ll fight another demon.”
Kage groaned. “So quick to die.”
“No. You know that’s not true. You also know…this is who I am. This is what I do.”
He kissed her forehead. “Yes. I believe I sufficiently drilled that int
o your thick skull.”
She smiled softly. “I haven’t exactly seen you turn tail and run, yourself.”
“I don’t have a tail, love. I’m a classy immortal, not a wild beast.”
With a laugh, she said, “Classy might be stretching it. Sexy as hell, sure. I’ll even give you devastatingly handsome. A complete rogue. A little too cocky for his own good but all in all…quite studly.”
He nipped at her bottom lip and said, “I see the sass has returned full-force.”
“Did it ever truly go away?”
Kage grinned. “Thankfully, no.” He kissed her in his slow, sensuous way. Lighting her up and making her sigh when he eventually pulled away.
“And that’s my cue to leave,” Marcus said in a dry tone.
“Wait,” Taelyn called out. She waved her right hand in the air and told him, “Thanks again for the magical repair.”
“You’re very welcome. Oh, and there’s something else…”
“I’m enchanted again?”
“No, actually.” Marcus chuckled. “Perhaps you’ll find our new deal a more advantageous one.”
Her brow furrowed. “I don’t recall striking a new deal with you. Or the council. Did I mumble something in my sleep? Because I’m pretty sure that’s not legally binding.”
“It was made without your consent, I’ll admit. But I’ve known you long enough to suspect you’ll favor it.”
“Well, then, color me intrigued.”
Marcus told her, “As a reward for your service and sacrifice over the centuries, the council has granted you immortality, Taelyn.”
“What?” she and Kage said in unison.
With a nod, Marcus explained, “We are indebted to you both. This seemed the best way to demonstrate our deepest appreciation for all you’ve done to help us maintain the balance of good and evil.”
Taelyn’s gaze met Kage’s. Her heart soared and tears prickled her eyes. “Immortality. That means an eternity for us.”
“How will I ever survive it?” he mocked, though emotion shone in his seductive, peridot irises.
“What if I promise to behave?” She batted her lashes at him.
“You are mentally and physically incapable of it.”
“So negative.” She brushed her lips over his and said, “Really, you’re going to have to work on this surly disposition if you expect me to stick around for all of time.”
“That is precisely what I expect.” He kissed her again.
When they finally came up for air, Marcus was gone. Taelyn was certain he’d told them goodbye. And was equally certain Kage hadn’t heard the sentiment any more than she had.
“Wow, this is a whole new ball of wax,” she said.
“No.” Kage tapped the pad of his finger against the tip of her nose. “It’s not. Just because you’re immortal now doesn’t mean you can’t be killed. It’ll take some effort, yes. But you of all people know immortals can die by slayers’ hands, vanquishing spells or powerful demons. So you still must take precautions. No going off half-cocked. And, of course, ensure your bodyguard is always close by.”
“I wouldn’t dream of leaving home without him.” She pressed her lips to his. Then asked, “Kage, do you have my ring?”
“Of course I do, love.”
He fished it out of the pocket of his dark jeans and held it up between finger and thumb. “A symbol of my everlasting love and devotion.”
“I don’t need a symbolism of either—I know it in my heart. But I want everyone we ever meet to know I belong to you. Only you. Even in death, I’m yours.”
He slid the ring on her finger. Raised her hand to his mouth and lightly kissed her knuckles. “You’re my one and only, too. Even in death.”
She nodded. It might be a morbid notion, but it was the reality in which they lived.
Taelyn said, “I love you with all my heart and soul.”
“As I love you. You are forever mine.”
“And you’re forever mine.” Holding their clasped hands to her breast, Taelyn told him, “I have one final request.”
“What’s that?”
“Let’s go help our son.”
Excerpt . . .
Reviewer’s Choice Award-Winning Novel
HEART OF THE DAMNED
“Forever Mine” series - Book 2
By
Calista Fox
He conquered a world in decline... Then set his sights on the raven-haired object of his desire.
North America, 2051
Not all humans are good.
Not all demons are evil.
Jade Deville had heard those words uttered by her mother on more than one occasion. Never publicly, of course, for that would incite much controversy. Yet she would whisper in the darkness of Jade’s bedroom when, as a young girl, Jade asked about the various species so that she might better understand the dangerous creatures that ruled the world in which they lived.
Now twenty-six years old, Jade still had a difficult time understanding her mother’s stance. History books and the sparse remainder of humans across the continents following the ten-year world wars that started in 2016 proved the demonic community was as treacherous and deadly as the long-ago threat of bio weaponry and nuclear bombs, all of which had been destroyed by the demons before combat had even ensued.
Despite her mother’s empathy that had never truly been explained, Jade could not muster an ounce of compassion for the damned. After all, it had been werewolves who’d viciously attacked and killed her parents when she was just eleven.
As she left her cottage on the banks of the narrow river that snaked its way along the outskirts of the village of Ryleigh, in northeastern Maine, she zipped her black leather jacket against the nip of the crisp late-autumn evening. And the biting sentiment lingering in the back of her mind, tonight more foreboding than usual.
Fat snowflakes glistened in the occasional silvery rays of moonlight when they penetrated the dense forest of skyscraping pine trees and the spindle-fingered cloud cover overhead. Jade wove her way along the worn path that led to the heart of the village. The ground was hard beneath her feet, frozen, and with a light dusting of white that would likely turn into a foot or two of fresh powder by the time she returned home.
If she returned home. One could never be too sure in this day and age, and Jade in particular.
Someone watched her. She sensed his presence. Felt his gaze on her. It wasn’t the first time. Nor was the one who followed her human. There were no snapping of twigs beneath his feet, as with her own. No scent wafting on a stiff breeze. And she didn’t hear the slightest hint of his breathing or see a puff of frosty air, as was the case with her, a human.
She suspected what tracked her was a wraith from the Demon King’s army. They were the most difficult to spot with their black cloaks blending into the inky night as they floated weightlessly over the land, making nary a sound. Yet they left an ominous chill in the air, if one paid close enough attention. Jade always did.
Despite not being able to see her pursuer, she had the right to demand he show himself and to confront him. The Demon King Davian—who’d commanded the outbreak of wars when he rose to power thirty-five years ago—had surprisingly, upon his victory, issued several royal decrees in favor of the defeated and in the name of peacekeeping in the new world. One of which proclaimed no demon within his alliance could stalk, hunt or harm a human, unless said human was a slayer or witch who made the initial predatory move. Not a common occurrence because they were in limited quantities these days.
In fact, Ryleigh was extremely fortunate to have two of their own slayers, who served as magistrates. Most towns shared a slayer amongst a hundred or so other settlements. Not great odds against those rogue demons who defied the law and certainly not a comfort or assurance of safety, Jade suspected.
Her community was well protected for a reason. Regardless of the laws governing immortal interactions with mortals that might suggest it wasn’t necessary to have a duo of slayers in s
uch a remote, lightly human-populated area, the village sat in the shadow of the demon ruler’s vast legion of allies.
The kingdom sprawled along the ridge of a portion of the New Brunswick border. Many of the vampires, shapeshifters and other unholy beings made residence within and outside the castle walls. Dark and foreboding as it rose above the pines, the castle lent a sinister and perilous presence to the region.
King Davian was the most revered of warlords. Given his massive following and that he oversaw the biggest geographical expanse—that being all of North and Central America—he possessed the power to reign over the three stewards he’d appointed within his territory. They were considered administrators of designated communes in the western and central regions of the U.S., and from Mexico to Panama.
As part of his law that kept demons from hunting humans, the king had also declared no more than two demons at a time may roam close to or enter a village, the perimeter of which—in Ryleigh’s case—the slayers patrolled.
That latter pact might not have been broken this evening, but the no stalking restriction had clearly been violated by whoever tailed Jade.
A dark shiver chased down her spine and it wasn’t from the frigid gust whistling in a shrill tone through the trees. It was from the wraith himself. Agitating her further was that she couldn’t discern in which direction the threat came or how to counteract it. Although she possessed above-average fighting skills, thanks to her father, she’d be no match for a ghost—the very reason she didn’t call him out.
* * *
(End of Excerpt)
Books By Calista Fox
* * *
From St. Martin’s Press
The Burned Deep Trilogy
Burned Deep
Flash Burned
Burned Hearts
(Coming October 4, 2016)
* * *
Burning Obsession
BodyGuard (Butterscotch Martini Shots Book 2) Page 26
