Driven by Night

by Aliyah Burke

  The stars he dotted up the legs of his pants. The swords—yes, there were two—went up around his shoulder blades. The whip went by his hip. As she lay there and watched him, a protective guard—much like an arm guard—unfolded and covered his skin up to the elbow. In another second there were wicked looking hooks sticking out of the bright and shiny material. Then it was all gone. The shink sound it made sent chills up her spine.

  He turned his head and met her gaze. There wasn’t much in the way of emotion for her to see as he stared at her but there was brief flash of heat. And that she wasn’t sure she hadn’t imagined.

  “Sleep well?” He picked up a few more weapons and placed them on his body.

  “Yes, thank you.” And she had. It had been one of the more restful sleeps she’d had in a long time. Life was really different when you felt safe and secure enough for a deep slumber.

  She sat up and ran her hand through her hair, shoving it back. At the bottom of the bed, folded neatly, was her clothing.

  “How do you make the weapons disappear like that?” she asked, reaching for her pants.

  “Magic.”

  She didn’t know what to say so merely climbed off the bed and with clothes in hand and headed for the bathroom for a much needed shower, swiping her suitcase along the way. Magic. That was his explanation. This man here wasn’t the one who’d delivered her such passion and exquisite release. Not at all. The one out there is the opposite side of the coin. Hard to the soft. Yin to the yang.

  Keeping her shower short, it didn’t take long before she was dried and dressed. Her reflection stared back at her and with a groan, she swiftly French braided her hair then tied it off with a red band she’d found in her pants pocket. If she was right about things they were staying overnight, which to be honest would work just fine for her. Long car rides had never been her thing.

  She left the steamy bathroom and found him on a cell phone, talking rapidly. Ignoring his half of the conversation, she went to her bag and opened it. Going to the table, she retrieved the disc before moving to return it to where she’d had it stashed.

  Calida sat on the edge of the bed and stared at it. The color had begun to change. It was no longer a rusty, dark brown hue. It wasn’t like it had turned hot pink or anything, but it was different. She stared at the hole near the bottom and realized whatever—or perhaps if anything—were to fit in there it would have to have a gradated side, or the layering wouldn’t allow for it to settle tight.

  It would definitely be an interesting-looking stone were that the case of what fits here. This was her first time really inspecting it since the day Mrs. Chen had thrust it into her hand. She’d been scared to touch it, not having trusted Tiarnán with the knowledge she had it until recently.

  She sniffed. “Like it was so long ago. I’m talking like it has been years and not days.”

  Days. Days since her life had been thrown into upheaval. Since what she’d once assumed to be myth and story was now real and very much a part of her life.

  “Days since what?” Tiarnán asked.

  “I got the disc from Mrs. Chen.” It was hard to think of that woman without recalling the building where she’d not only been killed but tortured. Her stomach roiled and she quickly put her focus on something else.

  Tiarnán. Always a good distraction. Especially when he stood near and she could see how perfectly his pants fit, highlighting his lean waist and powerful thighs. Or the shirt that did nothing to disguise the rippled abdominals or wide shoulders.

  “Are we here overnight or do we have to leave?” she asked as she put the disc away. It was already dark so she knew they’d been there for a good while.

  “We should go. Is there a reason you want to stay?”

  She reached for her boots. “Not a single one.” She could be as impersonal as he was. Right? Right.

  Her idea lasted all of five seconds. When he crouched in front of her and touched her cheek, her insides melted. God, I’m such a wuss. What is my problem?

  “Do you have plans which are best served here in a hotel room, Calida?” His hazel eyes simmered with heat.

  Yes. Yes. Yes! Both of us without clothing and finding new positions for sex. Her heart thundered in her chest and it took her a few tries to get the words out. “Nope. Should I?”

  “I don’t know. Your pupils are dilated, the pulse in your neck is rapid, and your heartbeat is racing. You tell me.”

  Damn him. “Just scared. This is all new to me, you know.”

  He leaned in close and dragged his tongue along the shell of her ear. “Oh, I’d possibly believe that…” He paused. “If I couldn’t smell the spicy scent of your arousal.” His whispered words had her pussy creaming as he stepped away.

  What could she say? Nothing. So she ignored him and ripped back into her bag, wishing she were small enough to climb in it herself. She reloaded her Taser. She must have really lost track of time for when she looked up, there he was at the door taking food from the hotel personnel.

  “Thought we could eat here.”

  Her stomach rumbled by way of an answer. She was famished, much like she’d been as they’d stopped at the diner. “Smells delish,” she said, meeting him in the middle of the room. The cart was laden with dishes and she wanted to dive right in.

  Tiarnán put the food on the table while she helped. They sat across from one another and dug in. For the time being, she could ignore what was going on around them, and between herself and Tiarnán, if there was anything there. And she needed that break.

  Chapter Seven

  The roadblock had him frowning. Tiarnán downshifted and began to slow. “Calida. Wake up.”

  Rain fell in sluices, and he refused to ignore the warning ripple of power around him. Beside him, Calida sat up.

  “What’s going on?”

  “Apparently a roadblock.”

  “Out here?” There was disbelief in her tone, along with a lot of suspicion.

  “Guess so. Be ready.”

  “I am.”

  He took that to mean her Taser was beneath her thigh by the door so she could have easy access to it. They’d been on the road for a few days now and tension was increasing between them. He didn’t know what to do—he was a loner and the woman he would have gone to for advice, he couldn’t reach any longer. Another fact that had his own unease shooting up.

  She reached out and turned on the radio. He slanted a look in her direction then she spoke. “If we appear uptight and nervous they’ll get suspicious. If it’s people of The New Order, won’t they expect us to be that way given as they’re chasing us? But on the chance it’s just the cops looking for someone we should be as relaxed as possible.”

  “Point taken.” It wasn’t easy for him. He didn’t do relaxed—he was an intense person.

  Three cars away, he turned down the defrost, which had been running to keep the windows from fogging up, and cracked his side slightly open. Scenting the air, he had to sort through the addicting and intoxicating smell that was Calida. Then the exhausts from other vehicles as well as the rain itself and the nature all around them.

  He was beginning to question his wisdom of getting off the interstate and taking the smaller highway that ran parallel to it. Seriously questioning it, right about now. From his periphery, he watched Calida. She had one foot propped up on the dash as she sang along with the music pouring into the cab.

  Two cars away. His skin prickled and he checked his rear view. There wasn’t anyone behind them. Another escape option, if it was necessary. His tattoo slid along his skin, its agitation increasing along with his.

  She reached across and placed her hand on his, giving him a slight squeeze. “Relax.”

  “I hate you in danger.” His voice was barely discernible, it was so rasped.

  “Not a fan myself, but we’ll be fine.”

  One car. He still couldn’t make out the officers in the headlights. The rain had increased while they’d been waiting to get through the checkpoint. His nostril
s flared as he inhaled sharply. Still nothing to give him an advantage.

  The car before him moved on and he pulled up and stopped. Lowering the window, he waited for the cop to approach. The light nearly blinded him and he narrowed his gaze.

  “Sorry for the inconvenience, folks,” the man said as he stepped up to the window and swept his light over Calida as well. “Anyone else in here?”

  “No, sir.” He forced himself not to move when Calida jumped at a knock on her window. She lowered it, and he tensed even more.

  “So it’s just the two of you?”

  Tiarnán remained more focused on the man who was at Calida’s window than the one at his. “Yes. It’s just us.”

  “We need you to pull off to the side so we can check the back.”

  “Sure.” The weapons on him began to appear and he had to control himself. He followed the directions and pulled off. Shutting the windows, he glanced to Calida. Her skin was paler than usual. “You okay?” he asked.

  “Nope. Not even close. I feel like puking my guts out. This is a—” She snapped her mouth shut as the cops arrived.

  Both of them got out, immediately soaked, while the two opened the back door and one more checked the bed of the truck. Although he’d partially been expecting it, when the attack came he was a bit shocked by how many appeared. They’d used the weather to mask their stench.

  “You will die!” one cop cried, raising his weapon and shooting the tires on his truck.

  Seconds later, the man dropped his sidearm and fell to the ground, screaming in agony. The two darts in him told him exactly what had happened—Calida and her Taser.

  Demons swarmed and other creatures appeared as well. His tiger pushed his power through him and he used his ability to camouflage to remain a step ahead. He threw his knives, dispatching the things near Calida. Then he switched to the stars, sending them to embed deep into his target where they put poison in the enemy. The others slipped up his leg within reach of his hands.

  He battled his way to her side, ignoring the attacks that landed on him. All that was important to him was protecting her. Grasping her arm, he put her at his back and drew his swords.

  “Are you okay?” he asked over the downpour of rain.

  “Peachy,” she snapped. “How the hell are we going to get out of here? They slashed your tires.”

  “Tiarnán Malone.”

  His blood ran cold at that voice. “Run,” he whispered to Calida.

  “What? No way.”

  “Damn it, don’t argue with me. Run. Now. Hide.”

  She didn’t say a word, and he prayed she would be safe. Her scent faded, telling him she’d listened. He flexed his fingers around the hilts of his katanas and waited. Even the other demons and otherworldly creatures fell silent. The rain soon became the only sound.

  One second he wasn’t there and the next he was. As if the rain drops had created him. The glare from the headlights of the idling police cars sitting for the blockade shone upon the newcomer.

  Tiarnán ignored the rain slicing down his face and stared. “Hara.” Time, I have to buy time so she can get further away.

  “You do know I can read your thoughts, right?”

  Tiarnán sneered. “Read this one.”

  Hara tsked and tossed his head. He looked amused. The rain didn’t seem to land on his black leather and his hair wasn’t wet either.

  “You know you don’t stand a chance against me. I’m not that fool Gravett who can’t even get a single artifact from a woman. Or take care of you.” He stepped closer. “And your precious Lian isn’t here to keep you safe.”

  It wasn’t easy but he kept his mind blank. “I don’t need Lian’s protection. I’m no longer a little boy. Your daughter probably could have used yours when she got captured.” He spun one sword. “Besides, you’re not supposed to be here. Don’t your kind have rules?”

  “Rules, rules, rules. How pathetically boring. Rules, my dear boy, are made to be broken. You will give my daughter back and you will pay for taking her from me.”

  Hara’s eyes burned red and fire flew from them. Tiarnán swore and rolled out of the way. Coming up, he released five stars before running at the one before him and swinging his sword to take off his head.

  Hara avoided the sword but he hadn’t missed all the stars. Two were buried deep in his chest. The ground rolled and heaved in time with Hara’s painful cry. Tiarnán tipped his head and glared at Hara. He had a katana in each hand again and he itched for another opening.

  “I’m going to kill you.” Hara hissed, his forked tongue peeking through his lips.

  Faster than he could blink, Tiarnán changed a sword for more stars and launched them at the being. “It won’t be as easy as you think,” he taunted. Using his gifts, he faded into the background, grateful for the tiger’s help.

  “After I kill you I’m going to find your woman. Once I rape her, I’m going to peel the skin from her body, one layer at a time.”

  Tiarnán killed another demon and threw it at Hara. By the time it hit him, he’d relocated again, so the answering blast missed him.

  Rain mixed with his blood as it ran down his body. Hara faced away from him as he tore the head off the demon who’d hit him. “You’re just delaying the inevitable, boy.”

  Hara whipped his hands out and a pulse flew from them, searing everything in its path. Including Tiarnán. It hit him square in the chest, knocking him back through four trees before he stopped. He found himself looking at legs clad in black leather.

  “I’ve told you, boy, you’re no match for me.” Hara glared at him, hatred spilling from his dark, serpentine gaze.

  Locking away the pain that owned his body, Tiarnán staggered to his feet. One hand curled about his katana the other held the handle of a dagger. “And I told you, I’m not so easy to kill. Besides, you still won’t get Haley back.”

  A low rumble echoed on the air. “You’re half dead now.”

  “And you’re bleeding. What’s that feel like?” he asked. “The burning, pain, and unease to know that I can make the great Hara bleed. And no matter that I’m injured, I still won’t tell him where his baby girl is. Or what I’ve done to her.”

  “I can’t die, I’ll survive. But you, I’m going to take great pleasure in killing.”

  “You used to think you couldn’t bleed either. Times are changing.”

  “Your time has ended,” Hara bit off. He lifted one hand and flicked it in Tiarnán’s direction.

  Before whatever he did could land on him, a roar filled the air and Tiarnán was surrounded by the smoky mist that accompanied his tiger spirit. Tiarnán wasn’t sure what it was but he knew it wasn’t his tiger.

  “This is not allowed, Hara. You agreed to wait for the battle. Breaking the rules puts us all in danger.”

  An echoic female voice severed the darkness. Strength waning, Tiarnán tried to locate where it originated but failed. It was just there.

  “This doesn’t concern you, Uma.” Hara tried unsuccessfully to pull the silver stars from his chest.

  “But it does. You kill him, we all die. I’d rather wait until the battle for the results to present themselves. Why the rush? It’s not like time has suddenly begun to mean something to us.”

  “I hate him.”

  Tiarnán tried to move but found he could go nowhere. In fact, if not for the mist holding him up, he would have collapsed in a heap on the ground. The rain began to slow and he could smell the death he knew surrounded them.

  “You hate everyone, Hara. Wait for the battle to commence.” A slight pause. “You endanger my life again and I will be who you have to deal with.”

  In a moment Tiarnán sank to the wet and muddy ground as the silver vanished from around him. Barely able to turn his head out of the sucking slime, he tapped his tiger for all the strength it could and would give him. Lurching to his feet, he looked around.

  Everything was dead. Demons. Members of The New Order. Only he breathed. And hopefully Calida.
>
  The scream that pierced the darkness chilled him to the bone. Calida. Digging deep and finding energy he hadn’t believed he had left, he sprinted off into the night, praying he made it in time.

  * * * *

  Her scream was cut off as the man latched his hands around her neck. Calida fought with everything inside her. He outweighed her by over a hundred pounds and held her down with ease.

  She’d run when Tiarnán had told her to, despite all her misgivings about doing so. How far she’d gone she hadn’t a clue. Her sense of direction had vanished as she’d stumbled about in the dark and rainy night. Somewhere along the way, she’d dropped her Taser as well, so now she was unarmed.

  She raked her short nails over his skin, drawing blood and curses from her assailant. Stars began to float in front of her eyes as she slowly lost consciousness. Bucking her hips, she tried again to dislodge him.

  “I’m going to enjoy killing you. Then I will fuck you.”

  Necrophilia? Eww, you nasty pervert. Suddenly she went limp. Her last desperate attempt to gain the upper hand was to make him believe he’d put her under.

  He loosened his hold and when he removed his hands, she struggled to stay still. The man put two fingers against her neck and she lunged up, fist made, and drilled him hard in his balls. This time the night filled with his cry of pain.

  “You bitch!”

  Lightheaded, she squirmed out from under his flopped body and began stumbling backwards as she gasped and inhaled as much air as she could get to her oxygen-deprived lungs.

  He rocked back and forth. “I’m so gonna kill you.” He lifted his head and, courtesy of a flash of lightning, she watched as it rolled from his shoulders before the rest of his body fell forward with a thump.

  What the fuck?

  It didn’t matter that she hadn’t any clue where she was. She bolted. Two steps later she ran smack into a hard chest. Immediately she struggled, desperate for freedom.

  “Calida.”

  “Tiarnán!” She threw her arms around his neck and held on.